A09339:89
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.
Distinction of persons, is that, which albeit every person is one and the same perfect God, yet the Father is not the Son or the holy Ghost, but the Father alone; and the holy Ghost is not the Father or the Son, but the holy Ghost alone: neither can they be divided, by reason of the infiniteness of their most simple essence, which is all one in number, and the same in the Father, the same in the Son, and the same in the holy Ghost: so that in these there is diversity of persons, but unity in essence.
Distinction of persons, is that, which albeit euery person is one and the same perfect God, yet the Father is not the Sonne or the holy Ghost, but the Father alone; and the holy Ghost is not the Father or the Sonne, but the holy Ghost alone: neither can they be deuided, by reason of the infinitnesse of their most simple essence, which is all one in number, and the same in the Father, the same in the Sonne, and the same in the holy Ghost: so that in these there is diuersitie of persons, but vnitie in essence.
The communion of the persons, or rather union, is that by which each one is in the rest, and with the rest, by reason of the unity of the Godhead: & therefore every each one doth possess, love, and glorify another, and work the same thing. Joh. 4.10. Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father is in me? the words that I spake unto you, I speak not of my self, but the father that dwelleth in me, he doth the works. Prov. 8.22. The Lord hath possessed me in the beginning of his way: I was before the works of old. And vers. 20. Them was I with him as a nourisher, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing alway before him. Joh. 1. 1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and that Word was ⟨p. 7⟩God. and chap. 5.19. The Son can do nothing of himself, save that he seeth the Father do: for whatsoever things he doth, the same doth the Son also.