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.

CHAP. II.

Ch.

IF this bee true which hath beene said, that the blood of Christ doth clense from all sinne; and that if we doe confesse them they shall be pardoned; our corruption tels vs that we may sinne freely.

Ioh.

* 1.1My little children, these things I write vnto you that yee sinne not.

Ch.

Alas, we fall oft by infirmitie: what shall we then doe?

Ioh.

If any man sinne, we haue an aduocate [who in his owne name and by his owne merits pleads our cause] to the Father Iesus Christ the iust [and therefore fit to make intercession.]

Ch.

But how may euery one of vs in particular know that Christ is his aduocate?

Ioh.

* 1.2He is the propitiation [i. a couering of sin or reconciliation, as the propuiato∣rie of the Arke couered the lawe,] and not for our sinnes onely, but also for the sinnes of the whole world [not onely Iewes but also Gentiles of all sorts.]

Ch.

Be it that I knowe him to be my aduocate, may I not be deceiued? howe may I knowe that this my knowledge is effectuall to saluation?

Ioh.

* 1.3Hereby are we sure that wee knowe him [here, that knowledge is meant, whereby a man applies Christ and all his benefits to his owne soule] If we keepe [to keepe is not to fulfil, but to haue a care and desire to doe it; for God of his mercie, to his seruants accepts the will for the deede] his commandements.

Ch.

Many among vs professe that they knowe Christ, but their liues be not accor∣ding.

Ioh.

* 1.4He that saith, I know him, and keepes not his commandements, is a li∣er, and the truth is not in him.

Ch.

How may it be prooued, that the endeauour to keepe Gods commandements is a marke of faith and fellowship with Christ.

Ioh.

* 1.5[He in whom the loue of god is perfect, may hereby know that he is in Christ.] But he that keepeth his word, in him is the loue of God: [i. not that loue where∣with God loueth him; but that, whereby he loueth God] is perfect indeed: [i. sincere and sound: perfection being opposed not to imperfection, but to hypocrisie:] hereby [therefore] we know that we are in him.

* 1.6He that saieth he remaineth in him, ought to walke euen so, as he hath wal∣ked: [and therefore he must needes indeauour himselfe in the commandements.]

Ch.

Declare vnto vs some of the principall of these commandements?

Ioh.

* 1.7Brerhren, I write no newe commandement vnto you: But an old com∣mandement which yee haue heard from the beginning: this olde commande∣ment

is the word which ye haue heard from the beginning.

Againe, a newe commandement I write vnto you,* 1.8 that, which is true [to wit that the commandement is newe which he will not write [in him] who renueth the commandement of old giuen to Moses] and also in you, for the darkenes is past [i. the hardening of the minds of men vnder the old testament, wherby they did but in a small measure vnderstand the word [and that true light] a greater measure of il∣lumination, as also the writing of Gods lawes, not in tables of stone, but in the fleshie hearts; so as they be transformed into the obedience thereof] now shineth.

Ch.

Well, set downe this commandement which is so ancient, and is now renued.

Ioh.

He that saith [as many among you doe] that he is in that light [than is,* 1.9 that he is both plentifully enlightened and borne anew] & hates his brother, is in darke∣nesse [vnder the estate of damnation, not yet truely regenerate,] vntil this time.

He that loueth his brother abideth in that light; [is truely enlightened and re∣generate••] and there is no offence, [i. he will giue no occasion of euill] in him.

But [on the contrarie] he that hateth his brother is in darkenes,* 1.10 and walketh in darkenesse [leadeth his life in ignorance and vngodlinesse] and knoweth not whither he goeth because that darkenesse hath blinded his eies.

Ch.

What mooneth you to deliuer vnto vs all these notes and signes of our newe birth, and communion with Christ?

Ioh.

Little children I write vnto you because your sinnes are forgiuen you;* 1.11 for his names sake [i. by Christ and his merite; that ye may be certified to your com∣fort of this.]

[And that no kind of men among you might doubt of this,* 1.12] I write vnto you Fa∣thers, because ye [delighting to tell and heare of olde and auncient matters] haue knowne him [that is, Christ] that is from the beginning•• I write vnto you young men, because ye [delighting to shewe your valour and strength] haue ouercome the euil one, [that is, Sathan:] I write vnto you litle childrē, [who delight alwaies to be vnder the fathers wing,] because ye haue knowne the father.

[And againe, because we are dull to mark•• and remember that which is good for vs:* 1.13] I haue written vnto you Fathers, because ye haue known him that is from the beginning: I haue written vnto you young men, because yee are strong, and the word of God abideth in you: and ye haue ouercome that wicked one.

Ch.

If wee bee in the estate of grace vnder Gods fauour in Christ; howe may wee abide in it?

Ioh.

Loue not this world [the corrupt estate of mankind out of Christ,* 1.14] neither the things that are in the world [for first of all; to giue reasons,] if any man loue this worlde, the loue of the Father [wherewith he loued the father] is not in him.

[Secondly] for all that is in this world, as the lust of the flesh [the corruption of nature,* 1.15 which chiefly breaketh out in euill concupiscence] the lusts of the eies [the fruite of the former, stirred vp by outward prouocations, especially in the eie, as it is manifest in adulterie or couetousnesse] and the pride of life [i. Arrogancy and am∣bition among men in common conuersation of life,] is not of the father, but of the world.

And [thirdly] this world passeth away and the lust thereof:* 1.16 but he that ful∣filleth the will of God, abideth for euer.

Ch.

What other things are we to doe, that we may continue?

Ioh.

* 1.17Little children, it is the last time; and as ye haue heard that Antichrist shall come, [a speciall Antichrist, the chiefe of all other; who is now manifest to be the Pope of Rome] euen now are there many Antichrists [heretickes, denying ei∣ther the natures of Christ, or his offices; or the vniō & the distinction of his natures:] whereby we know that it is the last time.

Ch.

Those whome you call Antichrists, were of our companie, and professed as we doe.

Ioh.

* 1.18They went out from vs, but they were not of vs: for if they had beene of vs, they should haue continued with vs. But this commeth to passe, that it might appeare that they are not all of vs.

Ch.

How can we be assured of our continuance in grace: for we may fall as well as they doe?

Ioh.

* 1.19But ye haue annointment, [the grace of Gods holy spirit, resembled by the annointings in the old Testament] from that holy one [Christ, Luke 1. 15.] and know all things.

Ch.

If we know all things, then you neede not write vnto vs of these matters.

Ioh.

* 1.20I haue not writtē vnto you, because ye know not the truth: but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth [i. ye can distinguish betweene the sound doctrine of the Gospel and errours.]

Ch.

What is this lie which you speake of?

Ioh.

* 1.21Who is a lier, [a deceiuer, a seducer,] but he that denieth that Iesus is Christ, [the Messias or Sauiour of mankind.] The same is that Antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Sonne.

Ch.

These whome you meane (say they) defend the doctrine of God as well as we; and they vse to call him Father.

Ioh.

Who so denieth the Sonne, hath not the Father.

Ch.

What doe you inferre vpon this, if it be the last time as you haue saide?

Ioh.

Let therefore abide in you, that same [doctrine concerning Christ] which ye haue heard from the beginning:* 1.22 [which the Apostles preached, and before them the Prophets since the beginning of the world] If that which ye haue heard from the beginning remaine [ye beleeuing and obeying it] in you, ye also shall continue in the same, and in the father.

* 1.23And this is the promise which he hath promised vs, euen life eternall.

Ch.

We cannot perswade our selues of perseuerance, seeing men so commonly fall away from Christ among vs?

Ioh.

These things haue I written vnto you, concerning them that deceiue you; [not meaning them of you, as you seeme to take it.]

* 1.24But that annointing [the spirit which ye haue receiued of Christ and which hath led you into all truth] which ye haue receiued of him, dwelleth in you [ubideth in you, and will so continue:] and ye neede not that any man teach you, [any other doctrine beside this which ye haue learned alreadie:] but as the same Annointing teacheth you all things, and is true and not lying, and as it taught you, ye shall abide in him.

* 1.25And now, little children abide in him; that when he shall appeare, we [being iustified in Christ.] may haue boldnes, and not be ashamed, [neither Sathan nor

our consciences accusing vs for sinne,] before him at his comming.

Ch.

We are still in doubt to returne backe to that which you said before, how an endeuour to keepe the commandements, should be a signe of fellowship with Christ.

Ioh.

If we know that he [God] is righteous,* 1.26 know ye that he which worketh righteousnes is borne of him [as a child is knowne to haue such a man for his fa∣ther, because he resembleth him.]

Notes

• * 1.1

  Vers. 1.
• * 1.2

  Vers. 2.
• * 1.3

  Vers. 3. An endeuour to keepe the com∣mandements, a signe of fai••h.
• * 1.4

  Vers. 4. Faith without o∣bedience, a note of an hypocrite.
• * 1.5

  Vers. 5.
• * 1.6

  Vers. 6.
• * 1.7

  Vers. 7.
• * 1.8

  Vers. 8.
• * 1.9

  Vers. 9. Profession ioined with ha••re•• and malice, a note of an hypocrite.
• * 1.10

  Vers. 10 Loue of our ••ro∣ther, a signe of regeneration.
• * 1.11

  Vers. 11. Vers. 12.
• * 1.12

  Vers. 13.
• * 1.13

  Vers. 14.
• * 1.14

  Vers. 15.
• * 1.15

  Vers. 16.
• * 1.16

  Vers. 17.
• * 1.17

  Vers. 18.
• * 1.18

  Vers. 19.
• * 1.19

  Vers. 20. Gods spirit dwel∣ling in the heart, a signe of perse∣uerance.
• * 1.20

  Vers. 21.
• * 1.21

  Vers. 22. Papists denie Ie∣sus to be Christ: for though in words they mag∣nifie him, yet in their doctrine by necessarie conse∣quent they denie him to be a king, a priest, a pro∣phet.
• * 1.22

  Vers. 23. Vers. 24.
• * 1.23

  Vers. 25. Perseuerance in the knowledge and obedience of the Gospell, a signe of commu∣nion with Christ.
• * 1.24

  Vers. 26. Vers. 27.
• * 1.25

  Vers. 28.
• * 1.26

  Vers. 29.