A09339:4140
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. S. John penned his first epistle that he might show unto the church of God a way how they might ordinarily and fully be assured of the love of God and of eternal life: and therefore he affordeth us many pregnant testimonies for this purpose. 1. Joh. 2.3. And by this we know that we have known him, if we keep his commandments. And v. 5. He which keepeth his word, in him is the word of God truly accomplished: by this we know that we are in him. chap. 3. 10. By this are manifest the children of God and the children of the devil. and v. 19. By this we know that we are of the truth, and before him we shall make our hearts confident. chap. 4. 13. By this we know that we dwell in him & he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. chap. 5.2. By this we know that we love the sons of God, when we love God and keep his commandments. v. 13. I have written these things unto you which believe in the name of the Son of God, that ye may know that you have life eternal. To these testimonies, first of all answer is made, that none of them do necessarily imply a certainty of divine faith; because we are said to know the things which we learn by conjectures. Behold a silly and poor shift. Saint John saith, chap. 1.4. These things we write unto you that your joy may be full. Now it is but an uncertain joy that riseth by conjectural knowledge. Again this knowledge brings forth confidence and boldness even before God, c. 3. v. 19,21. and therefore it can not but include an infallible certainty: and to put it out of question that the knowledge here mentioned is the knowledge of divine faith, or as unfallible as it is or can be, it is added, chap. 4.16. And we have known and believed the love which God hath toward us. Secondly it is answered, that all these speeches are general and not concerning particular men: but it is false: for when Saint John saith [we know] ⟨p. 876⟩he speaks of himself and includes the rest of the Church in the same condition with himself. Now he himself was fully assured of his own salvation. For Christ a little before his departure out of the world, did comfort all his disciples partly by renewing the promise of life everlasting and of the presence of his Spirit unto them; and partly by praying unto the father for their final preservation:
Arg. 3. S. Iohn penned his first epi•tle that he might shew vnto the church of God a way how they might ordinarily and fully be assured of the loue of God and of eternall life: and therefore he affoardeth vs many pregnant testimonies for this purpose.