A09339:4644
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.
Touching the fourth conclusion, they hold it the safest and surest course to put their trust and confidence in the mercy of God alone for their salvation: yet they condescend, that men may also aput their confidence in the merit of their own works, and in the merits also of other men, so it be in sobriety. But this doctrine quite mars the conclusion: because by teaching that men are to put confidence in the creature, they overturn all confidence in the Creator. For in the very first commandment, we are taught to make choice of the true God for our God, which thing we do when we give to God our hearts: and we give our hearts to God, when we put our whole confidence in him for the salvation of our souls. Now then to put confidence in men, or in works, is to make them our Gods. The true and ancient form of making confession was on this manner: I believe in God the father, in Jesus Christ, and in the holy ghost, without mention making of any confidence in works or creatures: the ancient Church never knew any such confession or confidence. Cyprian saith, He believeth not in God, who putteth not affiance concerning his salvation in God alone. And indeed the Papists themselves when death comes,2 forsake the confidence of their merits, and fly to the mere mercy of God in Christ. And for a confirmation of this I allege the testimony of one Ulinbergius of Colen, who writeth thus. There was a book found in the vestry of a certain parish of Colen, written in the dutch tongue in the year of our Lord 1475. which the Priests used in visiting of the sick. And in it these questions ⟨p. 1006⟩be found. aDoest thou believe that thou canst not be saved but by the death of Christ? The sick person answered, Yea. Then it is said unto him, Go too then, while breath remains in thee, put thy confidence in this death alone: have affiance in nothing else: commit thy self wholly to this death: with it alone cover thy self: dive thy self in every part into this death: in every part pierce thy self with it: infold thy self in this death. And if the Lord will judge thee, say: Lord, I put the death of our Lord Jesus Christ between me and thy judgement, and by no other means I contend with thee. And if he shall say unto thee, that thou art a sinner, say: Lord, the death of my Lord Jesus Christ, I put between thee and my sins.