A09339:4349
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.
IV. Reason. If faith alone do justify, then we are saved by faith alone: but we are not saved by faith alone; and therefore not justified by faith alone. Ans. The proposition is false: for more things are requisite to the main end then to the subordinate means. And the assumption is false: for we are saved by faith alone, if we speak of faith as it is an instrument apprehending Christ for our salvation. V. Reason. We are saved by hope: therefore not by faith alone. Ans. We are saved by hope, not because it is any cause of our salvation. Pauls meaning is only this: that we have not salvation as yet in possession, but wait patiently for it, in time to come to be possessed of us, expecting the time of our full deliverance: that is all, that can justly be gathered hence.
IV. Reason. If faith alone doe iustifie, then we are saued by faith alone: but we are not saued by faith alone; and therefore not iustified by faith alone. Ans. The proposition is false: for more things are requisite to the maine ende then to the subordinate meanes. And the assumption is false: for wee are saued by faith alone, if we speake of faith as it is an instrument apprehending Christ for our saluation. V. Reason. We are saued by hope: therefore not by faith alone. Ans. Wee are saued by hope, not because it is any cause of our saluation. Pauls meaning is onely this: that we haue not saluation as yet in possession, but waite patiently for it, in time to come to be possessed of vs, expecting the time of our full deliuerance: that is all, that can iustly be gathered hence.
Now the doctrine which we teach on the contrary is, That a sinner is justified before God by faith: yea, by faith alone. The meaning is, that nothing within man, and nothing that man can do either by nature or by grace concurreth to the act of justification before God, as any cause thereof, either efficient, material, formal, or final, but faith alone: all other gifts & graces, as hope, love, the fear of God, are necessary to salvation, as signs thereof, & consequents of faith. Nothing in man concurs as any cause to this work but by faith alone. And faith it self is no principal but only an instrumental cause whereby we receive, ⟨p. 936⟩