A09339:3794
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 now the third point is manifest, namely in what respects death is more excellent then life. It may be here the mind of man unsatisfied will yet further reply and say, that howsoever in death the souls of men enter into heaven, yet their bodies, though they have bin tenderly kept for meat, drink, and apparel; and have slept many a night in beds of down, must lie in dark and loathsome graves, and there be wasted and consumed by worms. Answ. All this is true indeed, but all is nothing; if so be it we will but consider aright of ⟨p. 782⟩our graves as we ought. We must not judge of our graves, as they appear to the bodily eye, but we must look upon them by the eye of faith, and consider them as they are altered and changed by the death and burial of Christ, who having vanquished death upon the cross, pursued him afterward to his own den, and foiled him there, and deprived him of his power. And by this means Christ in his own death hath buried our death, and by the virtue of his burial, as sweet incense, hath sweetened and perfumed our graves, and made them of stinking and loathsome cabins,1 to become princely palaces, and beds of most sweet and happy rest, far more excellent then beds of down.
Thus now the third point is manifest, namely in what respects death is more excellent then life. It may be here the mind of man vnsatisfied will yet further replie and say, that howsoeuer in death the soules of men enter into heauen, yet their bodies, though they haue bin tenderly kept for meate, drink, and apparrell; and haue slept many a night in beddes of doune, must lie in darke and loathsome graues, and there be wasted and consumed by wormes. Answ. All this is true indeede, but all is nothing; if so be it we will but consider aright of ⟨p. 782⟩our graues as we ought. We must not iudge of our graues, as they appeare to the bodily eye, but we must looke vpon them by the eie of faith, and consider them as they are altered and changed by the death and buriall of Christ, who hauing vanquished death vpon the crosse, pursued him afterward to his own den, and foyled him there, and depriued him of his power. And by this means Christ in his owne death hath buried our death, and by the vertue of his buriall, as sweete incense, hath sweetned and perfumed our graues, and made them of stinking and loathsome cabbines,