A09339:3902
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 much of the merit of Christ crucified. Now follows his virtue which is the power of his godhead, whereby he creates new hearts in all them that believe in him, and makes them new creatures. This virtue is double: the first is the power of his death, whereby he freed himself from the punishment and imputation of our sins: and the same virtue serveth to mortify and crucify the corruptions of our minds, wills, affections, even as a corrosive doeth wast and consume the rotten and dead flesh in any part of mans body.
Thus much of the merit of Christ crucified. Now follows his vertue which is the power of his godhead, whereby he creates newe hearts in all them that beleeue in him, and makes them newe creatures. This vertue is double: the first is the power of his death, whereby he freed himselfe from the punishment and imputation of our sinnes: and the same vertue serueth to mortifie and crucifie the corruptions of our mindes, wills, affections, euen as a corasiue doeth wast and consume the rotten and dead flesh in any part of mans bodie.
The second, is the virtue of Christs resurrection, which is also the power of his Godhead, whereby he raised himself from death to life: & the very same power serveth to raise those that belong to Christ, from their sins in this life, and from the grave in the day of the last judgement. Now the knowledge of this double virtue must not be only speculative, that is, barely conceived in the brain, but it must be experimental: because we ought to have experience of it in our hearts and lives, and we should labour by all means possible to feel the power of Christs death killing and mortifying our sins, and the virtue of his resurrection in the putting of spiritual life into us, that we might be able to say that we live not but that Christ lives in us. This was one of the most excellent and principal things which Paul sought for, who saith, I have counted all things loss and do judge them to be dung, that I may know him and the virtue of his resurrection. Phil. 3.10. And he saith that this is the right way to know and learn Christ, to cast off the old man which is corrupt through the deceivable lusts, and to put on the new man which is created in righteousness & true holiness.