A09339:3948
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.
I add, that the proper subjects of conscience are reasonable creatures, that is, men and Angels. Hereby conscience is excluded, first of all from brute beasts; for though they have life and sense, and in many things some shadows of reason, yet because they want true reason, they want conscience also. Secondly ⟨p. 832⟩from God the creator, who being righteousness it self, needeth not conscience to order and govern his actions. And whereas Peter sayeth, 1. Pet. 2. 19. that men must endure grief wrongfully for conscience of god, his meaning is not to show that God hath conscience, but that men are to suffer many wrongs because their conscience do bind them, in so doing to obey Gods will, which conscience directly respecteth.
I adde, that the proper subiects of conscience are reasonable creatures, that is, men and Angels. Hereby conscience is excluded, first of all from bruite beasts; for though they haue life and sense, and in many things some shadows of reason, yet because they want true reason, they want conscience also. Secōdly ⟨p. 832⟩from God the creator, who beeing righteousnes it selfe, needeth not conscience to order and gouerne his actions. And whereas Peter saieth, 1. Pet. 2. 19. that men must endure griefe wrongfully for conscience of god, his meaning is not to shewe that God hath conscience, but that men are to suffer many wrongs because their conscience doe bind them, in so doing to obey Gods wil, which conscience directly respecteth.
And I say that conscience is in all reasonable creatures, that none might imagine that some men by nature have conscience in them, some none at all. For as many men as there are, so many consciences there be: and every particular man hath his own particular conscience.