A09339:4078
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.
The third is fear: in causing whereof conscience is very forcible. If a man had all the delights and pleasures that heart can wish, they can not do him any good, if conscience be guilty. Belshazzar when he was in the middest of all his delights, and saw the hand writing upon the wall, his countenance changed, his thoughts troubled him, his joints loosed, and his knees smote together, Dan. 5.9. Yea the guilty conscience will make a man afraid, if he see but a worm peep out of the ground: or a silly creature to go cross his way: or if he see but his own shadow on a sudden: or if he do but forecast an evil with himself. Prou. 28.1. The wicked flieth when no man pursueth him.
The third is feare: in causing whereof conscience is very forcible. If a man had all the delights and pleasures that heart can wish, they can not doe him any good, if conscience be guiltie. Belshazzar when hee was in the middest of all his delights, and sawe the hand writing vpon the wall, his countenance changed, his thoughts troubled him, his ioynts loosed, and his knees smote togither, Dan. 5.9. Yea the guiltie conscience will make a man afraid, if hee see but a worme peepe out of the ground: or a silly creature to goe crosse his way: or if hee see but his owne shadow on a suddain: or if he doe but forecast an euil with himselfe. Prou. 28.1. The wicked flieth when no man pursueth him.
Terrors of conscience, when they are more vehement cause other passions in the body, as exceeding heat, like that which is in the fit of an ague, the rising of the entrails towards the mouth: and swooning: as experience hath often showed. And the writer of the book of wisdom saith truly, cap. 17.10. It is a fearful thing when malice is condemned by her own testimony: and a conscience that is touched, doeth ever forecast cruel things. For fear nothing else, but the betraying of the succours, that reason offereth, &c. they that did endure