A09339:3789
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 sixth objection is this. Violent and sudden death is a grievous curse, & of all evils which befall man in this life, none is so terrible: therefore it may seem, that the day of sudden death is most miserable. Ans. It is true indeed, that sudden death is a curse and a grievous judgement of God, and therefore not without cause feared of men in the world: yet all things considered, we ought more to be afraid of an impenitent and evil life, then of sudden death. For though it be evil, as death it self in his own nature is, yet we must not think it to be simply evil: because it is not evil to all men, nor in all respects evil. I say it is not evil to all men, considering that no kind of death is evil or a curse unto them that are in Christ, who are freed from the whole curse of the Law. And therefore the holy Ghost saith,1 Blessed are they that die in the Lord for they rest from their Labour: whereby is signified that they which depart this life, being members of Christ, enter into everlasting happiness; of what death soever they die, yea though it be sudden death. Again I say, that sudden death is not evil in all respects. For it is not evil, because it is ⟨p. 780⟩sudden, but because it commonly takes men unprepared, and by that means makes the day of death a black day, and as it were a very speedy downfall to the gulf of hell. Otherwise if a man be ready and prepared to die, sudden death is in effect no death, but a quick and speedy entrance to eternal life.
The sixth obiection is this. Violent and sudden death is a grieuous curse, & of all euils which befall man in this life, none is so terrible: therefore it may seeme, that the day of suddaine death is most miserable. Ans. It is true indeed, that suddaine death is a curse and a grieuous iudgement of God, and therefore not without cause feared of men in the world: yet all things considered, we ought more to be afraide of an impenitent and euill life, then of suddaine death. For though it be euil, as death it selfe in his owne nature is, yet we must not thinke it to be simplie euill: because it is not euill to all men, nor in all respects euill. I say it is not euill to all men, considering that no kinde of death is euill or a curse vnto them that are in Christ, who are freed from the whole curse of the Law. And therefore the holy Ghost saith,1