A09339:4611
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 IV. Eph. 4. Mention is made of gifts which Christ gave to his church after his ascension, whereby some were Apostles, some prophets, some Evangelists, some pastors and teachers. Now if there had been an office in which men as deputies of Christ should have governed the whole church to the end of the world, the calling might here have been named fitly with a gift thereto pertaining: and Paul (no doubt) would not here have concealed it, where he mentioneth callings of lesser importance.
Reason IV. Eph. 4. Mention is made of gifts which Christ gaue to his church after his ascension, wherby some were Apostles, some prophets, some Euangelists, some pastours and teachers. Nowe if there had beene an office in which men as deputies of Christ should haue gouerned the whole church to the ende of the world, the calling might here haue beene named fittely with a gift thereto pertaining: and Paul (no doubt) would not here haue concealed it, where he mentioneth callings of lesser importance.
Reason V. The Popes supremacy was judged by sentences of scripture & condemned long before it was manifest in the world: the spirit of prophecy foreseeing and foretelling the state of things to come. 2. Thess. 2.3,4. The man of sin (which is that Antichrist) shall exalt himself above all that is called God, &c. Now this whole chapter with all the circumstances thereof, most fitly agrees to the sea of Rome and the Head thereof: and the thing which then stayed the revealing of the man of sin, v. 6. is of most expounded to be the Roman Emperor. I will allege one testimony in the room of many. Chrysostom saith on this place, As long as the Empire shall be had in awe, no man shall straitly submit himself to Antichrist: but after that the Empire shall be dissolved, Antichrist shall invade the state of the Empire standing void, and shall labour to pull unto himself the Empire both of man and God. And this we find now in experience to be true: for the See of Rome never flourished, till the Empire decayed, and the seat thereof was removed from the city of Rome. Again