A Golden Chain, Title page 1 – Chapter 1
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.
Printed by IOHN LEGAT, Printer to the Vniuersitie of Cambridge. 1600.
To the Christian Reader.
CHristian Reader,
there are at this day foure seuerall opinions of the order of Gods predestination. The first is, of the olde and new Pelagians; who place the cause of Gods predestination in man; in that they hold, that God did ordaine mē either to life or death, according as he did foresee, that they would by their natural freewill, either reiect or receiue grace offered. The second of them, who (of some) are tearmed Lutherans; which teach, that God foreseeing, howe all mankinde beeing shutte vp vnderunder vnbeleefe, would therefore reiect grace offered, did hereupon, purpose to choose some to saluation of his meere merciemercy, without any respect of their faith or good workes, and the rest to reiect, beeing mooued to doe this, because hee did eternally foresee that they would reiect his grace offered them in the Gospell. The third Semipelagian Papists, which ascribe Gods predestination, partly to merciemercy, and partly to mens foreseene preparations and meritorious workes. The fourth, of such as teach, that the cause of the execution of Gods predestination, is his merciemercy in Christ, in them which are saued; and in them which perish, the fall and corruption of man: yet so, as that the decree and eternall counsell of God, concerning them both, hath not any cause beside his will and pleasure. Of these foure opinions, the three former I labour to oppugne, as erronious, and to maintaine the last, as beeing trueth, which will beare waight in the ballance of the Sanctuarie.
A further discourse whereof, here I make bold to offer to thy godly consideration: in reading whereof, regard not so much the thing it selfe, penned very slenderly, as mine intent & affection: who desire among the rest, to cast my mite into the treasurie of the Church of England, and for want of gold, pearle, and pretions stone, to bring a rammes skinne or twaine, and a little Goates haire, to the building of the Lords tabernacle. Exod. 35.23.
The Father of our Lord Iesus Christ grant that according to the riches of his glorie, thou maiest bee strengthened by his spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in thy heart by faith; to the end that thou being rooted and grounded in louelove, maiest bee able to comprehend with all Saints, what is the breadth, and length, and height thereof; & to knowe the louelove of Christ which passeth knowledge, that thou maiest be filled with all fulnes of God. Amen.
Farewell. Iulie 23. the yeare of the last patience of Saints. 1592. Thine in Christ Iesus, W. P.
A GOLDEN CHAINE: OR, THE DESCRIPTION OF Theologie. THE CONTENTS.
1 Of the bodie of Scripture, and Theologie. pag. 1
2 Of God and the nature of God. ibid.
3 Of the life of God. pag. 3
4 Of Gods glorie and blessednes. pag. 5
5 Concerning the persons of the Godhead. pag. 6
6 Of Gods workes and his decree. pag. 8
7 Of Predestination and creation. pag. 10
8 Of Angels. pag. 11
9 Of Man & the state of innocencie. pag. 12
10 Of sinne and the fall of angels. pag. 13
11 Of mans fall and disobedience. pag. 15
12 Of Originall sinne. pag. 16
13 Of Actuall sinne. pag. 19
14 Of the punishment of sinne. pag. 22
15 Of Election and of Iesus Christ the foundation thereof. pag. 23
16 Of the vnion of the two natures in Christ. pag. 25
17 Of the distinctiō of both natures. pag. 27
18 Of Christs natiuitie and office. pag. 27
19 Concerning the outward meanes of executing the decree of Election, and of the Decalogue. pag. 36
20 Of the first commandement. pag. 38
21 Of the second commandement. pag. 42
22 Of the third commandement. pag. 54
23 Of the fourth commandement. pag. 61
24 Of the fift commandement. pag. 66
25 Of the sixt commandement. pag. 73
26 Of the seuenth commandement. pag. 82
27 Of the eight commandement. pag. 88
28 Concerning the ninth commaundement. pag. 95
29 Of the tenth commandement. pag. 100
30 Of the vse of the Law. pag. 101
31 Of the Couenant of grace. pag. 102
32 Of the Sacraments. pag. 103
33 Of Baptisme. pag. 107
34 Of the Lords Supper. pag. 111
35 Of the degrees of executing Gods decree in election. pag. 113
36 Conce…ning the first degree of the declaration of Gods louelove. pag. 114
37 Concerning the second degree of the declaration of Gods louelove. pag. 121
38 Concerning the third degree of the declaration of Gods louelove. pag. 124
39 Of Repentance and the fruit thereof. pag. 128
40 Of Christian warfare. pag. 129
41 Of the first Assault. pag. 130
42 Of the second Assault. pag. 131
43 Of the third Assault. pag. 134
44 Of the patient bearing of the Crosse. pag. 136
45 Of the calling vponupon God. pag. 138
46 Of Christian Apologie and Martyrdome. pag. 139
47 Of edification and Almes among the faithfull. pag. 140
48 Of the fourth degree of the declaration of Gods louelove, and of the estate of the Elect after this life. pag. 141
49 Of the estate of the Elect at the last day of iudgement. pag. 143
50 Of the estate of the Elect after iudgement. pag. 144
51 Concerning the order of the causes of Saluation according to the doctrine of the Church of Rome. pag. 146
52 Concerning the decree of Reprobation. pag. 163
53 Concerning the ex…tion of the decree of Reprobation. pag. 164
54 Concerning a new deuised doctrine of Predestination, taught by some new and late Diuines. pag. 167
55 Of the state and condition of the Reprobates when they are dead. pag. 175
56 Of the state of the Reprobates in hell. pag. 176
57 Of the Application of Predestinanation. ibid.
AN EPOSITION OF THE SYMBOLE OR Creede of the Apostles. THE CONTENTS.
The Creede. pag. 185
Faith. pag. 187
God. pag. 198
The three persons. pag. 202
The Father. pag. 205
Gods omnipotencie. pag. 212
The creation. 217. 221
Gods counsell. pag. 218
The creation of heauen. pag. 228
The creation of Angels. pag. 231
The creation of Man. pag. 236
Gods prouidence. pag. 242
Adams fall and Originall sinne. pag. 252
The couenant of grace. pag. 259
The title, Iesus. pag. 262
The title, Christ. pag. 266
The title, Sonne. pag. 271
The title, Lord. pag. 278
The incarnation of Christ. pag. 279
Christs humiliation. pag. 295
Christs passion. pag. 297
Christs arraignment. pag. 300
Christs execution. pag. 328
Christs sacrifice. pag. 350
Christs triumph. pag. 356
Christs buriall. pag. 376
The descension of Christ. pag. 372
Christs exaltation. pag. 370
Christs resurrection. pag. 379
Christs ascension. pag. 396
Christs sitting at, &c. pag. 407
Christs intercession. pag. 409
Christs kingdome. pag. 417
The last iudgement. pag. 420
The holy Ghost. pag. 436
The Church. 451.488
Predestination. pag. 453
The mysticall vnion. pag. 483
The communion of Saints. pag. 500
The forgiuenes of sinnes. pag. 506
The Resurrection of the bodie. pag. 509
Life euerlasting. pag. 516
AN EXPOSITION OF THE LORDS PRAIER. THE CONTENTS.
The exposition of the Lords prayer. pag. 525
The vse of the Lords prayer. pag. 561
Of the circumstances of praying. pag. 562
Of Gods hearing our prayers. pag. 563
The prayers of Paul. pag. 564
A TREATISE TENDING VNTOUNTO a declaration, whether a man be in the estate of damnation, or in the estate of grace. THE CONTENTS.
1 How farre a Reprobate may goe in Christian religion. pag. 574
2 The estate of a true Christian in this life: which also sheweth how farre the Elect beeing called, goe beyond all reprobates in Christianitie. pag. 584
3 A Dialogue to the same purpose, gathered out of the sauorie writings of M. Tyndal and Bradford. pag. 617
4 How a Reprobate may performe all the religion of the church of Rome. pag. 642
5 The conflicts of Sathan with a Christian. pag. 756
6 How the word of God is to be applied aright vntounto the conscience. pag. 663
7 Consolations for the troubled consciences of weake Christians. pag. 666
8 A Declaration of certaine spiritual Desertions. pag. 674
A case of Conscience. THE CONTENTS.
A case of conscience resolued out of the word of God; How a man may know whether he be the child of God or no. pag. 685
A Discourse taken out of the writings of Hier. Zanchius, wherein the aforesaid Case of conscience is disputed, and resolued.
A Direction for the gouernment of the tongue according to Gods word. THE CONTENTS.
1 The generall meanes of ruling the tongue. pag. 713
2 The matter of our speech. pag. 714
3 The manner of our speech, & what must be done before our speech. pag. 716
4 What is to be done in speaking, and of wisdome. ibid.
5 Of trueth and reuerence in speech. pag. 718
6 Of modestie and meekenes. pag. 722
7 Of sobrietie, vrbanitie, fidelitie, and care of others good name. pag. 725
8 Of the bonds of trueth. pag. 729
9 What is to bee done when wee hauehave spoken. pag. 730
10 Of writing. ibid.
11 Of silence. pag. 731
12 An exhortation to keepe the tongue.
TWO TREATISES:
I. Of the nature and practise of Repentance.
THE CONTENTS.
1 What Repentance is. pag. 738
2 Of the causes of Repentance. pag. 740
3 How Rep…ntance is wrought. pag. 741
4 Of the partes of Repentance. pag. 742
5 Of the degrees of Repentance. pag. 743
6 Of the persons which must repent. ibid.
7 Of the practise of repentance. ibid.
8 Of l…gall motiues to Repentance. pag. 752
9 Of motiues Euangelicall. pag. 755
10 Of the time of Repentance. pag. 756
11 Of c…rtaine cases in repentance. pag. 758
12 Of the contraries to repētance. pag. 757
13 Of corruptions in the doctrine of repentance. pag. 761
II. Of the combat of the flesh and Spirit. pag. 762
The treatise of Dying well. p. 773.
The treatise of the right knowledge of Christ crucified. p. 815.
A Discourse of Conscience. THE CONTENTS.
1 What conscience is. pag. 831
2 The actions or duties of conscience where the point is handled, Howe any thing is saide to binde the conscience. pag. 832
3 The kinds and differences of conscience, where is handled libertie of conscience, and the question disputed whether a man may in conscience bee vnfallibly certain of his saluation. pag. 867
4 Mans duty touching conscience, which is to get and keepe it. pag. 900
A Reformed Catholike: OR, A DECLARATION SHEWing how neare we may come to the present Church of Rome in sundrie points of Religion: and wherein we must for euer depart from them. THE CONTENTS.
1 Of free will. pag. 910
2 Of Originall sinne. pag. 915
3 Assurance of saluation. pag. 918
4 Iustification of a sinner. pag. 925
5 Of merits. pag. 940
6 Of satisfactions for sinne. pag. 945
7 Of Traditions. pag. 950
8 Of Vowes. pag. 955
9 Of Images. pag. 961
10 Of reall presence. pag. 966
11 The sacrifice of the Masse. pag. 972
12 Of Fasting. pag. 977
13 Of the state of perfection. pag. 980
13 Of the worshipping of saints departed. pag. 985
15 Of Implicite faith. pag. 991
16 Of Purgatorie. pag. 995
17 Of the supremacie. pag. 996
18 Of the efficacie of the sacraments. pag. 1000
19 Of Faith. pag. 1003
20 Of Repentance. pag. 1006
21 The sinnes of the Romane Church. pag. 1014
An aduertisement to Romane Catholikes. pag. 1018
The foundation of Christian Religion, gathered into sixe principles. p. 1029.
A Graine of Musterd-seede. THE CONTENTS.
A man that doth but beginne to be conuerted, is euen at that instant the very child of God, though inwardly hee be more carnall then spirituall. pag. 1046
2. Conclusion. The first materiall beginning of the conuersion of a sinner, or the smallest measure of renewing grace, hauehave the promises of this life, and the life to come. pag. 1047
3. Conclusion. A constant and earnest desire to be reconciled to God, to beleeue and to repent, if it bee in a troubled heart, is in acceptation with God, as reconciliation, faith, repentance it selfe. pag. 1048
4. Conclusion. To see and feele in our selues the want of any grace, and to be grieued therfore, is the grace it selfe. pag. 1053
5. Conclusion. He that hath begunne to subiect himselfe to Christ and his word, though as yet hee be ignorant in most points of religion: yet if he hauehave care to increase in knowledge, and to practise that which he knoweth, hee is accepted of God, as a true beleeuer. pag. 1053
6. Conclusion. The aforsaide beginnings of grace are counterfeite, vnlesse they encrease. pag. 1054
The bodie of holy Scripture is distinguished into sacred sciences, whereof
One is principall. Theologie is a science of liuing well and blessedly for euer.
Other attendants or handmaids.
I. Ethiques, a doctrine of liuing honestly and ciuilly.
II. Oeconomickes, a doctrine of gouerning a familie well.
III. Politiques, a doctrine of the right administration of a common weale.
IIII. Ecclesiasticall discipline, a doctrine of well ordering the Church.
V. The Iewes commonweale, In as much as it differeth from Church gouernement.
VII. Academie, the doctrine of gouerning Schooles well: especially those of the Prophets.
CHAP. 1. Of the bodie of Scripture and Theologie.
THe bodie of Scripture, is a doctrine sufficient to liue well.
It comprehendeth many holy sciences, whereof one is principall, others are handmaids or retainers.
The principall science is Theologie.
Theologie, is the science of liuing blessedly for euer. Blessed life consisteth in the knowledge of God. Ioh. 17:3. This is life eternall, that they know thee to be the onelyonly very God and whome thou hast sent Christ Iesus. Esai 53.11. By his knowledge shall my righteous seruant (viz. Christ) iustifie many. And therefore it consisteth likewise in the knowledge of our selues, because we know God by looking into our selues.
Theologie hath two parts: the first of God, the second of his workes.