A09339:3993
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.
Men uncalled, are such as never heard of Christ by reason the gospel was never revealed unto them, nor means of revelation offered. That there have bin such in former ages, I make manifest thus. The world since the creation may be distinguished into four ages. The first, from the creation to the flood; the second, from the flood to the giving of the Law: the third, from the giving of the Law to the death of Christ: the fourth, from the death of Christ to the last judgement. Now in the three former ages, there was a distinction of the world into two sorts of men, whereof one was a people of God, the other no-people. In the first age in the families of Seth, Noah, &c. were the sons of God; in all other families the sons of men, Gen. 6.2. In the second age were the sons of the flesh and the sons of the promise, Rom. 9.7. In the third, Jews and Gentiles; the Jews being the Church of God, all nations beside ⟨p. 840⟩no-church. But in the last age this distinction was taken away when the Apostles had a commission given them that was never given before to any, namely, to go teach not only the Jews, but all nations. Now this distinction arose of this, that the Gospel was not revealed to the world before the coming of Christ, as the Scriptures witness. The prophet Isaiah saith, 52.14. that kings shall shut their mouths at Christ, because that which had not bin told them they shall see, and that which they had not heard shall they understand. And 55. 5. that a nation that knew him not shall run unto him. Paul saith to the Ephesians that in former times they were without God, and without Christ, strangers from the covenant, Eph. 2.12. And to the Athenians he saith, that the times before the coming of Christ were times of ignorance, Act. 17.30. And that it may not be thought that this ignorance was affected, Paul saith further that God in times past suffered the Gentiles to walk in their own ways, Act. 14. 16. and that the mystery of the Gospel was kept secret from the beginning of the world, and is now in the last age revealed to the whole world,