A09339:3776
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.
Thus it appears in part what death is: yet for the better clearing of this point, we are to consider the difference of the death of a man and of a beast. The death of a beast is the total and final abolishment of the whole creature: for the body is resolved to his first matter, and the soul arising of the temperature of the body, vanisheth to nothing. But in the death of man it is otherwise. For though the body for a time be resolved to dust, yet must it rise again in the last judgement and become immortal: and as for the soul, it subsisteth by it self out of the body and is immortal. And this being so, it may be demanded, how the soul can die the second death. Answ. The soul dies, not because it is utterly abolished: but because it is as though it were not, and it ceaseth to be in respect of righteousness and fellowship with God. And indeed this is the death of all deaths, when the creature hath subsisting and being, and yet for all that is deprived of all comfortable fellowship with God.
Thus it appeares in part what death is: yet for the better clearing of this point, we are to consider the difference of the death of a man and of a beast. The death of a beast is the totall and finall abolishment of the whole creature: for the bodie is resolued to his first matter, and the soule arising of the temperature of the bodie, vanisheth to nothing. But in the death of man it is otherwise. For though the bodie for a time be resolued to dust, yet must it rise againe in the last iudgement and become immortall: and as for the soule, it subsisteth by it selfe out of the bodie and is immortall. And this beeing so, it may be demaunded, how the soule can die the second death. Answ. The soule dies, not because it is vtterly abolished: but because it is as though it were not, and it ceaseth to be in respect of righteousnesse and fellowship with God. And indeede this is the death of all deaths, when the creature hath subsisting and beeing, and yet for all that is depriued of all comfortable fellowship with God.
The reason of this difference is, because the soul of a man is a spirit or spiritual substance, whereas the soul of a beast is no substance, but a natural vigour or quality, and hath no being in it self without the body on which it wholly dependeth. The soul of man contrariwise being created of nothing, and breathed into the body, and as well subsisting forth of it as in it.