A09339:3773
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.
Sentences of Scripture are either Legal or Evangelical, the law and the Gospel being two several and distinct parts of Gods word. Now this former sentence is Legal and must be understood with an exception borrowed from the Gospel or the covenant of grace made with Adam, and revealed to him after his fall. The exception is this. Thou shalt certainly die whensoever thou eatest the forbidden fruit, except I do further give thee a means of deliverance from death, namely the seed of the woman to bruise the serpents head. Secondly it may be answered, that Adam and all his posterity died, and that presently after his fall, in that his body was made mortal, and his soul became subject to the curse of the Law. And whereas God would not utterly destroy Adam at the very first, but only impose on him the beginnings of the first and second death; he did the same in great wisdom, that in the midst of his justice he might make a way to mercy: which thing could not have been if Adam had perished.
Sentences of Scripture are either Legall or Euangelicall, the lawe and the Gospel beeing two seuerall and distinct parts of Gods worde. Nowe this former sentence is Legall and must be vnderstood with an exception borrowed from the Gospell or the couenant of grace made with Adam, and reuealed to him after his fall. The exception is this. Thou shalt certenly die whensoeuer thou eatest the forbidden fruite, except I doe further giue thee a meanes of deliuerance from death, namely the seed of the woman to bruise the serpents head. Secōdly it may be answered, that Adam and all his posteritie died, and that presently after his fall, in that his bodie was made mortall, and his soule became subiect to the curse of the Lawe. And whereas God would not vtterly destroy Adam at the very first, but onely impose on him the beginnings of the first and second death; he did the same in great wisdome, that in the midst of his iustice he might make a way to mercie: which thing could not haue beene if Adam had perished.
The executioner of this punishment is he that doeth impose and inflict the same on man, and that also is God himself, as he testifieth of himself in the prophet Isaiah,1