A09339:4030
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. 3. God hath now in the new Testament given a liberty to the conscience, whereby it is freed from all laws of his own whatsoever, excepting such laws and doctrines as are necessary to salvation, Col. 2. 10. If ye be dead with Christ, ye are free from the elements of the world. Gal. 5.1. Stand ye in the liberty wherewith Christ hath freed you, and be not again entangled with the yoke of bondage. Now, if humane laws made after the grant of this liberty, bind conscience of themselves, then must they either take away the foresaid liberty, or diminish the same; but that they cannot do: for that which is granted by an higher authority, namely God himself, cannot be revoked or repealed by the inferior authority of any man. It is answered, that this freedom is only from the bondage of sin, from the curse of the moral law, from the ceremonial and judicial laws of Moses, and not from the laws of our superiors. And I answer again, that it is absurd to think that God gives us liberty in conscience from any of his own laws, and yet will have our consciences still to remain in subjection, to the laws of sinful men.
Arg. 3. God hath now in the new Testament giuen a libertie to the conscience, whereby it is freed from all lawes of his owne whatsoeuer, excepting such lawes and doctrines as are necessarie to saluation, Col. 2. 10. If ye be dead with Christ, ye are free from the elements of the world. Gal. 5.1. Stand yee in the libertie wherewith Christ hath freed you, and be not againe intangled with the yoke of bondage. Now, if humane lawes made after the graunt of this libertie, binde conscience of themselues, thē must they either take away the foresaid liberty, or diminish the same; but that they cannot doe: for that which is graunted by an higher authoritie, namely God himselfe, cannot be reuoked or repealed by the inferiour authoritie of any man. It is answered, that this freedome is onely from the bondage of sinne, from the curse of the morall lawe, from the ceremoniall and iudiciall lawes of Moses, and not from the lawes of our superiours. And I answer againe, that it is absurb to thinke that God giues vs liberty in conscience from any of his owne lawes, and yet will haue our consciences still to remaine in subiection, to the lawes of sinnefull men.