A09339:4199
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.
That we indeed by faith receive Christ with all his benefits, we must put in practise two lessons. The first is, unfeignedly to humble our selves before God for all our wants, breaches, and wounds in conscience: which, being unto us a paradise of God, by our default we have made as it were a little hell within us. This humiliation is the beginning of all grace and religion: pride and good conscience can never go together. And such as have knowledge in religion and many other good gifts without humiliation, are but unbridled, unmortified, and unreformed persons. This humiliation contains in it two duties, the first is confession of our sins, especially of those that he upon our consciences: wherewith must be joined the accusing and condemning of our selves: for then we put conscience out of office, and dispatch that labour before our God in this life, which conscience would perform to our eternal damnation after this life. The second duty is Deprecation, which is a kind of prayer made with groans and desires of heart, in which we entreat for nothing but for pardon of our sins, and that for Christs sake, till such time as the conscience be pacified.
That we indeede by faith receiue Christ with all his benefits, we must put in practise two lessons. The first is, vnfainedly to humble our selues before God for all our wants, breaches, and wounds in conscience: which, beeing vnto vs a paradise of God, by our default we haue made as it were a little hell within vs. This humiliation is the beginning of all grace and religion: pride and good conscience can neuer goe togither. And such as haue knowledge in religion and many other good gifts without humiliation, are but vnbridled, vnmortified, and vnreformed pe•sons. This humiliation containes in it two duties, the first is confession of our sinnes, especially of those that he vpon our consciences: wherewith must be ioyned the accusing and condemning of our selues: for then we put conscience out of office, and dispatch that labour before our God in this life, which conscience would performe to our eternall damnation after this life. The second dutie is Deprecation, which is a kind of praier made with groanes and desires of heart, in which we intreat for nothing but for pardon of our sinnes, and that for Christs sake, til such time as the conscience be pacified.