A09339:3999
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.
God in the Gospel generally reveals two points unto us: the first, that there is perfect righteousness and life everlasting to be obtained by Christ: the second, that the instrument to obtain righteousness and life eternal is faith in Christ. Moreover when this Gospel is dispensed and preached unto us, God reveals unto us two points more: the first, that he will make us particularly to be partakers of true righteousness and life everlasting by Christ: the second, that he will have us without doubting to believe thus much of our selves. And for this cause every man to whom the Gospel is revealed, is bound to believe his own election, justification, sanctification, and glorification in and by Christ. The reasons and grounds of this point out of the word of God are these: I. 1. Joh. 3.23. This is his commandment that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another as he gave us commandment. Now to believe in Christ, is not confusedly to believe, that he is a Redeemer of mankind, but withal to believe that he is my Saviour, and that I am elected, justified, sanctified, and shall be glorified by him. This is granted of all men, yea of the Papists themselves, which otherwise are enemies of this doctrine. For Lombard saith,1 To believe in God is by believing to love, and as it were to go into God: by believing to cleave unto him, and as it were to be incorporate into his members. II. Paul, Gal. 2. 16. first of all propounds a general sentence, That a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Christ. Afterward he adds a special application, Even we (namely Jews) have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Jesus Christ: and in v. 20. he descends ⟨p. 843⟩more specially to apply the Gospel to himself, I live (saith he) by the faith of the Son of God, who hath loved me and given himself for me. And in this kind of application there is nothing peculiar to Paul, for in this very action of his, he avoucheth himself to be an example unto us, 1. Tim. 1. 16. For this cause (saith he) was I received to mercy, that Jesus Christ should show first on me all long suffering unto the ensample of them which shall in time to come believe in him to eternal life. Again,