A09339:3903
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 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. Eph. 4.24.
The second, is the vertue of Christs resurrection, which is also the power of his Godhead, whereby he raised himselfe from death to life: & the verie same power serueth to raise those that belong to Christ, from their sinnes in this life, and from the graue in the daie of the last iudgement. Now the knowledge of this double vertue must not be onely speculatiue, that is, barely conceiued in the braine, but it must be experimentall: because we ought to haue experience of it in our hearts and liues, and we should labour by all meanes possible to feele the power of Christs death killing and mortifying our sinnes, and the vertue of his resurrection in the putting of spirituall life into vs, that we might be able to say that we liue not but that Christ liues in vs. This was one of the most excellent and principall things which Paul sought for, who saith, I haue counted all things losse and do iudge them to be dung, that I may knowe him and the vertue of his resurrection. Phil. 3.10. And he saith that this is the right waie to know and learne Christ, to cast off the olde man which is corrupt through the deceiueable lusts, and to put on the new man which is created in righteousnes & true holines.