A09339:3962
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.
Touching the third point. How long conscience bears witness, it doeth it continually; not for a minute, or a day, or a month, or a year, but for ever: when a man dies, conscience dieth not; when the body is rotting in the grave, conscience liveth and is safe and sound; and when we shall rise again, conscience shall come with us to the bar of Gods judgement, either to accuse or excuse us before God, Rom. 2.15,16. Their conscience bearing witness at the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ.
Touching the third point. Howelong conscience beares witnes, it doeth it continually; not for a minut, or a day, or a moneth, or a yeare, but for euer: when a man dies, conscience dieth not; when the bodie is rotting in the graue, conscience liueth and is safe and sound; and when we shall rise againe, conscience shall come with vs to the barre of Gods iudgement, either to accuse or excuse vs before God, Rom. 2.15,16. Their conscience bearing witnes at the day when God shall iudge the secrets of men by Iesus Christ.
By this first duty of conscience, we are to learn three things. The first, that there is a god: and we may be led to the sight of this even by common reason. For conscience bears witness; Of what? Of thy particular doings. But against ⟨p. 834⟩whom or with whom doth it give testimony? thou mayest feel in thy heart that it doth it either with thee or against thee. And to whom is it a witness? to men or angels? that cannot be, for they cannot hear the voice of conscience, they cannot receive consciences testimony, nay they cannot see what is in the heart of man. It remains therefore that there is a spiritual substance, most wise, most holy, most mighty, that sees all things to whom conscience bears record; and that is God himself. Let Atheists bark against this as long as they will: they have that in them that will convince them of the trueth of the godhead, will they nill they, either in life or death.