A09339:3665
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
Chapter 8: Of legal motives to Repentance.Chapter 8: Of legall motiues to Repentance.
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.
The misery before man, is a dangerous snare which the devil lays for the destruction of the soul. I say it is dangerous: because he is in setting of it twenty or forty years, before he strikes: when as (God knows) men do little think of it. It is made of three cords: with the first, he brings men into his snare: and that he doth by covering the misery and the poison of sin: and by painting out to the eye of the mind, the deceitful profits and pleasures thereof. With the second, he hopples and ensnares them: for after that a man is ⟨p. 753⟩drawn into this or that sin, the devil hath so sugared it over with fine delights, that he cannot but needs must live and lie in it. By the third, he draws the snare, and endeavours with all his might to break the neck of the soul. For when he seeth a fit opportunity, especially in grievous calamities; and in the hour of death, he takes away the visor of sin, and shows the face of it in the true form, as ugly as himself: then withal he begins (as we say) to show his horns; then he rageth in terrifying and accusing, that the soul of man may be swallowed up of the gulf of final despair.
The miserie before man, is a dangerous snare which the deuill laies for the destruction of the soule. I say it is dangerous: because he is in setting of it twentie or fourtie yeares, before he strikes: when as (God knowes) men doe little thinke of it. It is made of three cordes: with the first, he brings men into his snare: and that he doth by couering the miserie and the poison of sinne: and by painting out to the eye of the minde, the deceitfull profits and pleasures thereof. With the second, he hopples and insnares them: for after that a man is ⟨p. 753⟩drawne into this or that sinne, the deuill hath so sugered it ouer with fine delights, that he cannot but needes must liue and lie in it. By the third, he drawes the snare, and indeauours with all his might to breake the necke of the soule. For when he seeth a fit opportunitie, especially in grieuous calamities; and in the houre of death, he takes away the vizar of sinne, and shewes the face of it in the true forme, as ougly as himselfe: then withall he begins (as we say) to shew his hornes; then he rageth in terrifying and accusing, that the soule of man may be swallowed vp of the gulfe of finall despaire.