A09339:3356
A Golden Chain
A golden chain: or The description of theology containing the order of the causes of salvation and damnation, according to Gods word. A view whereof is to be seen in the table annexed. Hereunto is adjoined the order which M. Theodore Beza used in comforting afflicted consciences.A golden chaine: or The description of theologie containing the order of the causes of saluation and damnation, according to Gods word. A view whereof is to be seene in the table annexed. Hereunto is adioyned the order which M. Theodore Beza vsed in comforting afflicted consciences.
Cambridge: printed by John Legat, 1600Cambridge: printed by Iohn Legat, 1600
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
1Answer. We grant that they which believe by such a faith• which is in hypocrisy & only lasteth for a time; that they are deceived whilst they think that they do truly believe, and yet do not indeed: for they are like them ⟨p. 699⟩which dream that they are kings, when as they very beggars: but we say, that they which believe by a true faith, do know whether they truly believe or no: and they are not deceived when they say and think that they truly believe. For they are like unto them, which handling a precious stone, by reason that they are endued with sense, know and say, that they handle it. And if no man might certainly know, whether he believed truly or not: why doth the Apostle say,2 Try your selves whether you be in the Faith? And if it be so, no man can ever certainly know, whether he be justified: considering that they only which truly believe, can be justified. And if a man giving credit to an other mans words, doth certainly know that he believeth him: how much more doth he know it, which being endued with true faith by the holy Ghost, believeth the Gospel? In a word, godly writers have proved against Schoolmen, that they which are endued with true faith in Christ, can not be ignorant of it. But (say they) no man is certain of his perseverance in faith: and therefore out of this universal proposition, He which believeth, namely, with a true and constant faith, is elected to life, no man c•n conclude that he is elected, by reason that albeit he may know, that he is endued with true faith, yet he can not tell whether it shall be perpetual. This collection is absurd, and the learned have fully proved, that true faith is perpetual. And therefore they which certainly know, that they believe in a true faith, are also certain, that the same their true faith shall never perish in this world: partly for the promise of God, I will put my fear into their hearts, that they may never depart from me: 3and partly for the prayer of Christ, I have prayed for thee Peter, that thy faith do not fail. Seeing it is so, it is very certain, that God by his word, in which generally he saith, that all the faithful are elect, doth reveal to every man his election: considering that the proposition taken out of the Gospel, is most certain, and every faithful man may certainly assume to himself, that he is endued with true faith in Christ.