A09339:3783
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.
The third objection is taken from the examples of most worthy men, who have made their prayers against death. As our Saviour Christ, who prayed on this manner, Father if it be thy will, let this cup pass from me, yet not my will but thy will be done. 1And David prayed, Return, O Lord, deliver my soul, save me for thy mercies sake: for in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave ⟨p. 777⟩who shall praise thee! 2And Hezekiah, when the Prophet Isaiah bad him set his house in order, and told him that he must die, wept sore, and that in respect of death. Now by the examples of these most worthy men, yea by the example of the son of God himself, it may seem that the day of death is the most terrible and doleful day of all. Answer. When our Saviour Christ prayed thus to his father, he was in his agony, and he then as our Redeemer stood in our room and stead, to suffer all things that we should have suffered in our own persons for our sins: and therefore he prayed not simply against death, but against the cursed death of the cross, and he feared not death it self, which is the separation of body and soul, but the curse of the law which went with death, namely the unspeakable wrath and indignation of God. The first death troubled him not, but the first and second joined together. Touching David, when he made the sixth psalm, he was not only sick in body, but also perplexed with the greatest temptation of all, in that he wrestled in conscience with the wrath of God, as appears by the words of the text, where he saith, Lord, rebuke me not in thy wrath. And by this we see that he prayed not simply against death, but against death at that instant when he was in that grievous temptation. For at other times he had no such fear of death, as he himself testifieth, saying,3 Though I should walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. Therefore he prayed against death only as it was joined with the apprehension of Gods wrath. Lastly, Hezekiah prayed against death, not only because he desired to live and do service to God in his kingdom, but upon a further and more special regard; because when the prophet brought the message of death, he was without issue, and had none of his own body to succeed him in his kingdom.