A09339:4181
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.
1The seared conscience is that which doth not accuse for any sin; no not for great sins. It is compared by Paul, 1. Tim. 4.2. to the part of a mans body which is not only bereft of sense, life, and motion by the gangrene, but also is burnt with a searing iron: and therefore must needs be utterly past all feeling.
1The seared conscience is that which doth not accuse for any sinne; no not for great sinnes. It is compared by Paul, 1. Tim. 4.2. to the part of a mans bodie which is not onely bereft of sense, life, and motion by the gangrene, but also is burnt with a searing yron: and therefore must needes be vtterly past all feeling.
- 1•eared conscience.•eared consci••ce.
This kind of conscience is not in all men, but in such persons as are become obstinate heretics and notorious malefactors. And it is not in them by nature, but by an increase of the corruption of nature; and that by certain steppes and degrees. For naturally every man hath in him blindness of mind, and obstinacy or frowardness of heart; yet so, as with the blindness and ignorance ⟨p. 889⟩of mind, are joined some remnants of the light of nature, showing us what is good and evil. Now the heart of man being exceedingly obstinate and perverse, carrieth him to commit sins even against the light of nature and common conscience: by practise of such sins the light of nature is extinguished: and then cometh the reprobate mind, which judgeth evil good, and good evil: after this follows the seared conscience, in which there is no feeling or remorse: and after this comes an exceeding greediness to all manner of sin.