A09339:3855
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.
Now because true faith is no dead thing, it must be expressed by special actions; the principal whereof is Invocation, whereby either prayer or thanksgiving is directed unto God. When death had seized upon the body of Jacob, he raised up himself, and turning his face towards the beds head, leaned on the top of his staff by reason of his feebleness, and prayed unto God: which prayer of his was an excellent fruit of his faith. Jobs wife in the midst of his affliction said unto him to very good purpose, Bless God and die. I know and grant that the words are commonly translated otherwise,1 Curse god and die: but (as I take it) the former is the best. For it is not like that in so excellent a family, any one person, much less a matron and principal governor thereof would give such lewd and wretched counsel: which the most wicked man upon earth having no more but the light of nature would not once give, but rather much abhor and condemn. And though Job call her a foolish woman, yet he doth it not because she went about to persuade him to blaspheme God; but because she was of the mind of Jobs friends, anda thought that he stood too much in a conceit of his own righteousness. Now the effect and meaning of her counsel is this: Bless God, that is, husband, no doubt thou art by the extremity of thine affliction at deaths door: therefore begin now at length to lay aside the great overweening which thou hast of thine own righteousness, acknowledge the hand of God upon thee for thy sins, confess ⟨p. 807⟩them unto him giving him the glory, pray for the pardon of them and end thy days. This counsel is very good and to be followed of all: though it may be the applying of it (as Job well perceived) is mixed with folly.
Nowe because true faith is no dead thing, it must bee expressed by speciall actions; the principal whereof is Inuocation, whereby either praier or thanksgiuing is directed vnto God. When death had seazed vpon the bodie of Iacob, he raised vp himselfe, and turning his face towards the beds head, leaned on the toppe of his staffe by reason of his feeblenesse, and praied vnto God: which praier of his was an excellent fruite of his faith. Iobs wife in the midst of his affliction saide vnto him to very good purpose, Blesse God and die. I know and grant that the words are commonly translated otherwise,