A Golden Chain, Dedication 1 – Note
TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE, EDWARD Lord Russell, Earle of Bedford. Grace, and peace, &c.
Tit. 1.15.RIght Honourable, excellent is the saying of Paul to Titus, To the pure all things are pure: but to the impure and vnbeleeuing is nothing pure, but euen their mindes and consciences are defiled. In which wordes he determines three questions. The first, whether things ordained and made by God, may become vncleane or no? his answer is, that they may: and his meaning must be conceiued with a distinction. By nature, things ordained of God are not vncleane: for Moses in Genesis saith, that God saw all things which he had made, and they were very good: yet they may become vncleane either by lawe, or by the fault of men. By law, as when God forbids vsus the things which in themselues are good: without whose commandement, they are as pure as things not forbidden. Thus for the time of the olde Testament God forbade the Iewes the vse of certaine creatures; not because they were indeeede worse then the rest, but because it was his pleasure vponupon speciall cause to restraine them, that he might put a difference betweene his owne people and the rest of the world: that he might exercise their obedience, and aduertise them of the inward impuritie of minde. Now this legall impuritie was abolished at the ascension of Christ. By the fault of men things are vncleane when they are abused, and not applied to the ends for which they were ordained. The second question is, to whome things ordained of God are pure? He answers, to the pure:Act. 15.10. 2. Tim. 4.3. that is, to them whose persons stand iustified and sanctified before God in Christ in whome they beleeue: who also doe vse Gods blessings in holy manner to his glorie and the good of men. The third question is, who they are to whome all things are vncleane? his answer is, to the vncleane: by whome he vnderstands all such I. whose persons displease God, because they doe not indeede beleeue in Christ: II. who vse not the gifts of God in holy manner, sanctifying them by word and praier: III: who abuse them to bad endes, as to riot, pride, and oppression of men, &c. Nowe that to such, the vse of all the creatures of God is vncleane, it is manifest: because all their actions are sinnes in that they are not done of faith: and a mans persons must first please God in Christ, before his action or worke done can please him. Againe they vse the blessings and creatures of God with euill conscience, because so long as they are forth of Christ, they are but vsurpers thereof before God. For in the fall of the first Adam we lost the title and interest to all good things: and though God permitte the vse of many of them to wicked men; yet is not the former title recouered but in Christ the second Adam, in whome we are aduanced to a better estate then we had by creation.
Hence it followes necessarily, that (to omit all other things,) Nobilitie, though it be a blessing and ordinance of God in it selfe, is but an vncleane thing, if the enioyers thereof be not truly ingrafted into Christ, and made bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh. The blood vnstained before men, is stained blood before God by the fall of Adam, if it be not restored by the blood of Christ the lambe of God. And hence it follows againe, that Nobilitie must not dwell solitarie, but combine her selfe in perpetuall fellowship with heartie louelove and syncere obedience of pure and sound religion: without the which all pleasant pastimes, all sumptuousnes of building, all brauerie in apparell, all glistering in gold, all delicate fare, all delightfull musicke, all reuerence done with cappe and knee, all earthly pleasures and delights that heart can wish, are but as a vanishing shadow, or like the mirth that beginnes in laughing and endes in woe. A happie thing were it, if this consideration might take place in the hearts of all noble men: it would make them honour God that they might be honoured of God with euerlasting honour:1. Sam. …. 22.26. Psal. 2.12. and it would make them kisse the Sonne least he be angrie, and they perish in the way.
I speake not this as though I doubted of your Lordships care in this very point: but mine onelyonly meaning is to put you in minde, that as you hauehave begunne to cleane vntounto Christ with full of purpose of heart, so you would continue to doe it still, and doe it more: & withal to manifest the same vntounto the whole world, by honouring Christ with your owne honour, and by resembling him specially in one thing, in that,Prov. 3.9,10. as he grew in stature and yeares, he also grew in grace and fauour with God and men.Luk. 2.25. And for this very cause (without any consideration of earthly respects) I further present vntounto you an Exposition of another part of the Catechisme, namely the Symbole or Creede of the Apostles: which is indeede the very pith and substance of Christian religion, taught by the Apostles, imbraced by the ancient fathers, sealed by the blood of martyrs, vsed by aSocrat. hist. eccl. l. 5. c. 10.Theodosius the Emperour as a meanes to ende the controuersies of his time: and hereupon hath beene called the bAugust. de Temp. ser. 119.rule of faith, the dAmbr. ser. 38.keye of faith. And furthermore I hope that your Lordship will accept the same in good part, the rather because you vouchsafed when you were in Cambridge to be an hearer thereof when it was taught and deliuered. Thus crauing pardon for my boldnes, I take my leaue, commending your L. and yours to the protection of the Almightie.
Ann. 1595. Apr. 2. Your L. to command, William Perkins.
The Contents of the booke.
The Creede.
pag. 185
Faith.
187
God.
198
The three persons.
202
The Father.
205
Gods omnipotencie.
212
The Creation.
217,221
Gods counsel.
218
The creation of heauen.
228
The creation of Angels.
231
The creation of man.
236
Gods prouidence.
242
Adams fall, and originall sinne.
252
The couenant of grace.
259
The title, Iesus.
262
The title, Christ.
266
The title, Sonne.
271
The title, Lord.
278
The Incarnation of Christ.
279
Christs humiliation.
295
Christs passion.
297
Christs arraignment.
300
Christs execution.
328
Christs sacrifice.
350
Christs triumph.
356
Christs buriall.
367
The descension of Christ.
372
Christs exaltation.
378
Christs Resurrection.
380
Christs ascension.
396
Christs sitting at, &c.
407
Christs intercession.
409
Christs kingdome.
417
The last iudgement.
420
Of the holy Ghost.
436
The Church.
451,488
Predestination.
453
The mysticall vnion.
483
The communion of Saints.
500
The forgiuenesse of sinnes.
506
The resurrection of the bodie.
509
Life euerlasting.
516
In handling of the foresaid points for orders sake, is considered,
1. The meaning, or such points of doctrine as are necessarie to bee knowne thereof.
2. The duties to be learned thereby.
3. The comforts that Gods pleople may gather thence.