A09339:3949
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.
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.
And I say that conscience is in all reasonable creatures, that none might imagine that some men by nature haue conscience in them, some none at all. For as many men as there are, so many consciences there be: and euery particular man hath his owne particular conscience.
The proper end of conscience is, to determine of things done. And by this conscience is distinguished from all other gifts of the mind, as intelligence, opinion, science, faith, prudence. Intelligence simply conceives a thing to be or not to be: opinion judgeth a thing to be probable or contingent: science, judgeth to be certain and sure: faith is a persuasion, whereby we believe things that are not: prudence discerneth what is meet to be done, what to be left undone; but conscience goes further yet then all these: for it determines or gives sentence of things done, by saying unto us, this was done, this was not done, this may be done, this may not be done: this was well done, this was ill done.
The proper end of conscience is, to determine of things done. And by this conscience is distinguished from all other gifts of the minde, as intelligence, opinion, science, faith, prudence. Intelligence simplie conceiues a thing to be or not to be: opinion iudgeth a thing to be probable or contingent: science, iudgeth to be certen and sure: faith is a perswasion, whereby we beleeue things that are not: prudence discerneth what is meet to be done, what to bee left vndone; but conscience goes further yet then all these: for it determines or giues sentence of things done, by saying vnto vs, this was done, this was not done, this may bee done, this may not be done: this was well done, this was ill done.