A09339:4351
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.
Reason I. Joh. 3.14,15. As Moses lift up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the son of man be lift up: that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life. In these words Christ makes a comparison on this manner: when any one of the Israelites were stung to death by fiery serpents: his cure was not by any physic surgery, but only by the casting of his eyes up to the brazen serpent, which Moses had erected by Gods commandment: even so in the cure of our souls, when we are stung to death by sin, there is nothing required within us for our recovery, but only that we cast up and fix the eye of our faith on Christ and his righteousness.
Reason I. Ioh. 3.14,15. As Moses lift vp the serpent in the wildernesse, so must the sonne of man be lift vp: that whosoeuer beleeueth in him shall not perish but haue euerlasting life. In these words Christ makes a comparison on this maner: when any one of the Israelites were stung to death by fierie serpents: his cure was not by any phisicke surgerie, but onely by the casting of his eies vp to the brasen serpent, which Moses had erected by Gods commandement: euen so in the cure of our soules, when we are stung to death by sinne, there is nothing required within vs for our recouery, but onely that we cast vp and fixe the eye of our faith on Christ and his righteousnes.
Reason II. The exclusive forms of speech used in scripture prove thus much. We are justified freely, not of the law, not by the law, without the law, without works, not of works, not according to works, not of us, not by the works of the law but by faith. Gal. 2.16. All boasting excluded, only believe. Luk. 8.50. These distinctions, whereby works and the law are excluded in the work• of justification, do include thus much: that faith alone doth justify.