A09339:4012
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.
Arg. 2. Matth. 16. Whatsoever ye shall bind in earth, shall be bound in heaven. ⟨p. 846⟩Here (say they) to bind, is to make laws constraining conscience according to Matth. 23.4. They bind heavy burdens, and lay them on mens shoulders. Ans. The sovereign power of binding and loosing, is not belonging to any creature, but is proper to Christ, who hath the keys of heaven and hell: he openeth and no man shutteth, he shutteth and no man openeth, Revel. 3.5. As for the power of the Church, it is nothing but a ministry or service whereby men publish and pronounce that Christ bindeth or looseth. Again, this binding stands not in the power of making laws, but in remitting and retaining of mens sins, as the words going before declare, v. 18. If thy brother sin against thee, &c. and Christ showeth his own meaning when he saith, Whose sins ye remit they are remitted, and whose sins ye retain they are retained, Joh. 20. 23. having before in the person of Peter promised them this honour, in this form of words, Math. 16. I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven, whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, shall be bound in heaven. This which I say, is approved by consent of ancient Divines. August. Psal. 101. serm. 2. Remission of sin (saith he) is loosing: therefore by the law of contraries, binding is to hold sin unpardoned. Hilar. upon Matth. cap. 18. Whom they bind on earth, that is (saith he) leave untied of the knots of their sins. Lombard the popish master of sentences,1 The Lord, saith he, hath given to Priests power of binding and loosing, that is, of making manifest that men are bound or loosed. Again both Origen, a