A09339:3854
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.
Hitherto I have entreated of the two-fold preparation which is to go before death: now follows the second part of Dying-well, namely the disposition in death. This disposition is nothing else but a religious and holy behaviour specially towards God, when we are in or near the agony or pang ⟨p. 806⟩of death. This behaviour contains three special duties. The first is to die in or by faith. To die by faith is, when a man in the time of death, doeth with all his heart rely himself wholly on Gods special love and favour and mercy in Christ, as it is revealed in the word. And though their be no part of mans life void of just occasions whereby we may put faith in practise, yet the special time of all is the pang of death, when friends, and riches, and pleasures, and the outward senses, and temporal life, and all earthly helps forsake us. For them true faith maketh us to go wholly out of our selves, and to despair of comfort and salvation in respect of any earthly thing; and with all the power and strength of the heart to rest on the pure mercy of God. This made Luther both think and say, that men were best Christians in death. An example of this faith we have in David, who when he saw nothing before his eyes but present death,1 the people intending to stone him, comforted him at that very instant (as the text sayeth) in the Lord his God. And this comfort he reaped, in that by faith he applied unto his own soul the merciful promises of God; as he testifieth of himself:2 Remember (saith he) the promise made to thy servant, wherein thou hast caused me to trust. It is my comfort in trouble: for thy promise hath quickened me. Again, My flesh failed and my heart also, but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. Now look what David here did, the same must every one of us do in the like case. When the Israelites in the wilderness were stung with fiery serpents, and lay at the point of death, they looked up to the brazen serpent which was erected by the appointment of God, and were presently healed:3 even so when any man feels death to draw near, and his fiery sting to pierce the heart, he must fix the eye of a true and lively faith upon Christ, exalted & crucified on the cross, which being done, he shall by death enter into eternal life.