A09353:1137
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.
Now in that John saith. 1. John. 2.2. That Christ is a propitiation for the sins of the whole world: his meaning is not, that all the world shall be saved, but that the elect, chosen out of all the world, shall have Christ their propitiator. For so saith Christ himself, that he asketh not for the world, but for them whom the father hath given him out of the world. Now it cannot be, that he should be a propitiation for them, for whom he doth not vouchsafe to pray.
Now in that Iohn saith. 1. Iohn. 2.2. That Christ is a propitiation for the sinnes of the whole worlde: his meaning is not, that all the world shalbe saued, but that the elect, chosen out of all the world, shal haue Christ their propitiatour. For so saith Christ himselfe, that he asketh not for the world, but for thē whom the father hath giuen him out of the world. Now it cannot be, that he should be a propitiation for them, for whom he doth not vouchsafe to pray.
Secondly it is false that God will have none damned. ⟨image 156⟩For seeing that some men are condemned, it must needs be either with his will, or without his will. If without his will, then violence shall be offered to the will of God, something being done against it, which is impious once to think, if with it God must needs change his mind, which cannot be. Neither is there any cause why we should think that God is an accepter of persons, if so be he ordain any to condemnation: because he was not moved hereunto by any inherent circumstance of any mans person: neither oweth he ought to any man, and may do with his own that which seemeth good unto him.
Secondly it is false that God will haue none damned. ⟨image 156⟩For seeing that some men are condemned, it must needes be either with his will, or without his will. If without his will, then violence shalbe offred to the will of God, something being doone against it, which is impious once to thinke, if with it God must needes change his minde, which cannot be. Neither is there any cause why we should think that God is an accepter of persons, if so be he ordaine any to condemnation: because he was not moued hereunto by any inherent circumstance of any mans person: neither oweth he ought to any man, and may do with his own that which seemeth good vnto him.