A09353:1121
A golden chain, or the description of theologyA golden chaine, or the description of theologie
A golden chain, or the description of theology containing the order of the causes of salvation and damnation, according to Gods word. A view of the order whereof, is to be seen in the table annexed. Written in Latin by William Perkins, and translated by an other. Hereunto is adjoined the order which M. Theodore Beza used in comforting troubled consciences.A golden chaine, or the description of theologie containing the order of the causes of saluation and damnation, according to Gods woord. A view of the order wherof, is to be seene in the table annexed. Written in Latine by William Perkins, and translated by an other. Hereunto is adioyned the order which M. Theodore Beza vsed in comforting troubled consciences.
London: printed by Edward Alde, 1591
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.
IX. They teach, that that faith, which they make to be the main pillar of mans justification, is nothing else, but a knowledge and illumination of the mind, concerning the trueth of Gods word. The which if it be so, I would fain know why the devil might not be saved, who hath this faith, which is the ground of justification with them: & yet, albeit he have this faith, no man will be so simple, as to think, that he is, or can be, accounted one of the faithful.
IX. They teach, that that faith, which they make to be the maine pillar of mans iustification, is nothing else, but a knowledge and illumination of the minde, concerning the trueth of Gods word. The which if it be so, I would faine know why the deuil might not be saued, who hath this faith, which is the ground of iustification with thē: & yet, albeit he haue this faith, no man wil be so simple, as to think, that he is, or can be, accounted one of the faithfull.
X. They maintain, that the love of God, cometh before reconciliation with God, which is made in the work of justification: but contrarily, unless we were surely persuaded of Gods love to us, in the justifying and sanctifying, it were impossible for us to love God. 1. Joh. 4.14. We love him, because he loved us first. Even as we see that the sun by his heat, must first warm the air, before the air by any heat of his, can warm our bodies.
X. They maintaine, that the loue of God, commeth before reconciliation with God, which is made in the worke of iustification: but contrarily, vnlesse we were surely perswaded of Gods loue to vs, in the iustifying and sanctifying, it were impossible for vs to loue God. 1. Ioh. 4.14. We loue him, because he loued vs first. Euen as we see that the sun by his heat, must first warme the aire, before the aire by any heate of his, can warme our bodies.