A09339:4691
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.
6. Lastly the articles, Remission of sins, Resurrection of the body, and Life everlasting, contain a confession of special faith. For the meaning of them is thus much:1 I believe the remission of mine own sins, & the resurrection of mine own body to life everlasting: & that by the judgement of learned antiquity. August. saith, If thou also believe that thou shalt rise again & ascend into heaven (because thou art sure of so great a patron) thou art certain of so great a ⟨p. 1021⟩gift. And, Make not Christ less, who brings thee to the kingdom of heaven, for remission of sins. Without this faith, if any come to baptism, he shuts the gate of mercy against himself. And, Whosoever faithfully believeth, & holds this profession of his faith (in which all his sins are forgiven him) let him prepare his will to the will of god, & not fear his passage by death. 2And, The whole Sacrament of baptism stands in this, that we believe the resurrection of the body & remission of sins to be given us of God. And, He gave these keys to the Church —, that whosoever in his church, should not believe his sins to be forgiven, they should not be forgiven unto him: and whosoever believed, & turned from them abiding in the lap of the said church, at length shall be healed by faith & amendment of life. And, That which thou hast heard to be fulfilled in the glorious resurrection of Christ, believe that the very same shall be fulfilled in thee, in the last judgement and the resurrection of thy flesh, shall restore thee for all eternity. For unless thou shalt believe that thou art to be repaired by death, thou canst not come to the reward of life eternal. And in ancient time the article of the resurrection hath been rehearsed on this manner,3 The resurrection of this flesh: and the last applied unto it, To everlasting life. Hence then two main opinions of the Church of Rome are quite overthrown, one that we cannot by special faith be certain of the remission of our sins, and the salvation of our souls: the other, that a man truly justified may fall away and be damned. Now this cannot be, if the practise of the ancient Church be good, which hath taught us to believe everlasting life jointly without remission of sins.