A09339:404
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
Chapter 21 › The negative part.Chapter 21 › The negatiue part.
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.
let him know, that the creature cannot comprehend the image of the Creator; and if it could, yet God would not be worshipped in it, because it is a dead thing: yea, the work of mans hands, not of God: and therefore is more base then the smallest living creature, of the which we may lawfully say, it is the work of God. This evinceth, that no kind of divine worship belongeth to an image, either simply or by relation, whatsoever the sophistical schoolmen jangle to the contrary. If any man be yet desirous of images, he may have at hand the preaching of the Gospel, a lively image of Christ crucified. Gal. 3.1. O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, to whom Jesus Christ before was described in your sight, and among you crucified? The like may be said of the two Sacraments. And that saying of Clemens is true, in his fifth book of Recognit. If you will truly adore the image of God, do good unto man, and ye shall worship his true image: for man is the image of God. II. The least approbation of idolatry. Hos. 13.2. They say one to another whilst they sacrifice a man, let them kiss the calves. Now a kiss, is an external sign of some allowance of a thing. Gen. 48.11. Therefore it is unlawful to be present at Mass, or any idolatrous service, though our minds be absent. 1. Cor. 6,20. Ye are bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirits, which are Gods. Rom. 11.4. What saith the Scripture? I have reserved unto my self seven thousand men, which have not bowed the knee to Baal. Euseb. 3. book. The Martyrs, when they were haled unto the temple of idols, cried out, and with a loud voice in the middest of their tortures testified that they were not idolatrous sacrificers, but professed and constant Christians, rejoicing greatly that they might make such a confession. That which may be objected of Naaman the Syrian, who worshipped in the temple of Rimmon, is thus answered, that he did it not with purpose to commit idolatry, but to perform that civill obeisance, which he was wont to exhibit to the Kings majesty. 2. King. 5.17,18