A09339:4173
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.
If any shall demand why God doth not perfectly regenerate the conscience and cause it only to excuse, the answer is this. God doth it for the preventing of great mischiefs. When the Israelites came into the land of Canaan, the Canaanites were not at the first wholly displaced Why?1 Moses rendereth the reason; least wild beasts come and inhabit some parts of the land that were dispeopled, and more annoy them then the Canaanites. In like manner God renews the conscience, but so as it shall still accuse when occasion serveth; for the preventing of many dangerous sins which like wild beasts would make havoc of the soul.
If any shall demaund why God doth not perfectly regenerate the conscience and cause it onely to excuse, the answer is this. God doth it for the preuenting of great mis•hiefes. When the Israelites came into the land of Canaan, the Cananites were not at the first wholly displaced• Why?1 Moses rendreth the reason; least wild beasts come and inhabit some parts of the land that were dispeopled, and more annoy them then the Cananites. In like manner God renues the conscience, but so as it shall still accuse when occasion serueth; for the preuenting of many dangerous sinnes which like wild beasts would make hauocke of the soule.
Thus much of good conscience: now follows evil conscience:1 and that is so called partly because it is defiled and corrupted by original sin, & partly because it is evil, that is, troublesome and painful in our sense and feeling; as all sorrows, calamities, and miseries are, which for this very cause also are called evils. And though conscience be thus termed evil, yet hath it some respects of general goodness, in as much as it is an instrument of the execution of divine justice; because it serves to accuse them before God, which are justly to be accused.