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. IIII.

Ch.

TO returne againe to that which was before mentioned: shall we beleeue all that say they haue the spirit?

Ioh.

Dearely beloued,* 1.1 beleeue not euery spirit [i. doctrines, which men brag∣ging of the spirit doe teach;] but trie the spirits whether they be of God: for ma∣ny false prophets are gone out into the world.

Ch.

How may we discerne of spirits?

Ioh.

Hereby shall ye know the spirit of God;* 1.2 euery spirit [doctrine] which confesseth that Iesus Christ [the Messias] is come in the flesh [is made true man; this beeing the substance of the Gospel,] is of God.

And euery spirit that confesseth not that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh,* 1.3 is not of God: but this is the spirit of Antichrist, of whome ye haue heard, that he shall come, and now already he is in the world.

Ch.

We feare: because these false spirits are of great power, to perswade and se∣duce many.

Ioh.

Little children, ye are of God, and haue ouercome them:* 1.4 for greater is he that is in you [Gods spirit,] then he that is in the world [the spirit of Sathan.]

Ch.

But the doctrine of these men is of great account, and hath many followers in the world; ours hath but few which imbrace it.

Ioh.

They are of this world, therefore speake they of this world,* 1.5 and this world [i. ignorant and vngodly men] heareth them.

We are of God: he which knoweth God, heareth vs:* 1.6 he which is not of god heareth vs not. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of errour [namely by the liking and applause of the world.]

Ch.

How may we preserue our selues against these seducers?

Ioh.

Beloued, let vs loue one another, for loue commeth of God:* 1.7 and euery one that loueth is borne of God, and knoweth God: [by a speciall knowledge, whereby they are assured that God the father of Christ is their father: Christ their Redeemer: the holy Ghost their sanctifier.]

He that loueth not, knoweth not God, for God is loue,* 1.8 [i. wholly bent to shew his loue and compassion to his people.]

* 1.9[For a proofe of this,] herein was that loue of God made manifest among vs, because God sent that his onely begotten Sonne into the world, that we might liue through him.

* 1.10Herein is that loue, not that we loued God; but that he loued vs: and sent his Sonne to be a reconciliation for our sinnes.

Ch.

What of all this?

Ioh.

* 1.11Beloued, if God so loued vs, we ought also one to loue another.

Ch.

How can God manifest his loue to vs, he beeing a spirit inuisible?

Ioh.

* 1.12No man hath seene God at any time: [neuertheles] if we loue one ano∣ther, [that is a signe] that God dwelleth in vs, & his loue is perfect in vs: [i. that loue wherewith he loueth, is throughly made manifest towards vs by our loue: as the light of the moone shining on vs, argueth the light of the Sunne shining vpon the moone, of whom (as from the fountaine) the moone takes her light.]

Ch.

How may we know that God dwelleth in vs?

Ioh.

* 1.13Hereby doe we know, that we dwell in him, and he in vs: because he hath giuen vs of his spirit.

Ch.

What other signe haue you of Gods dwelling in vs?

Ioh.

* 1.14We haue seene and doe testifie, that the Father sent that Sonne to be the Sauiour of the world.

* 1.15Whosoeuer confesseth [in faith and loue] that Iesus is the Sonne of God; in him dwelleth God, and he in God.

Ch.

The deuill will confesse Christ.

Ioh.

And we [which is more] haue knowne and beleeued the loue which god hath in vs.

Ch.

Declare how our loue should be a signe of Gods dwelling in vs?

Ioh.

* 1.16God is loue, and [therefore] he that dwelleth in loue, dwelleth in God & God in him.

Ch.

God is loue we grant, but how may we know, that God is loue to vs?

Ioh.

* 1.17Hereby is that loue perfect, [i. fully made manifest in vs;] that we may haue boldnesse [to stand before him without feare,] in the day of iudgement: for euen as he is, euen so are we in the world [not in equalitie, but in conformitie of holinesse.]

* 1.18[As may appeare by the contrarie] there is no feare in loue [i. when a man is assured of Gods loue to him, he doth not distrust nor seruilely feare him in respect of his sinnes] but perfect loue casteth out feare: for feare hath painfulnes [check∣ings and torments of conscience;] and he that feareth is not perfect in loue.

Ch.

What other signe is there that God is loue to vs?

Ioh.

* 1.19We loue him because he loued vs first [as when a man warmes him, the heat of his bodie is because the fire is first hote.]

Ch.

If this be so, then they which loue not their brethren, are loued of God in Christ: seeing all generally say they loue God.

Ioh.

* 1.20If any man say, I loue God, and hate his brother, he is a lyar: for how can he that loueth not his brother whom he hath seene, loue God whome he hath not seene?

* 1.21And this commandement haue we of him, that he that loueth God, should loue his brother also.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Vers. 1.
• * 1.2

  v. 2.
• * 1.3

  v. 3.
• * 1.4

  v. 4.
• * 1.5

  v. 5.
• * 1.6

  v. 6.
• * 1.7

  v. 7.
• * 1.8

  v. 8.
• * 1.9

  Vers. 9.
• * 1.10

  vers. 10.
• * 1.11

  vers. 11.
• * 1.12

  vers. 12.
• * 1.13

  vers. 13.
• * 1.14

  vers. 14.
• * 1.15

  vers. 15. A sincere confes∣sion or the Gos∣pel, a note of cō∣munion with Christ.
• * 1.16

  vers. 16.
• * 1.17

  vers. 17. To ••e like God in holines of life, is a ••igne of his lo••e to vs parti∣cularly.
• * 1.18

  vers. 18.
• * 1.19

  vers. 19. Our loue of God, a signe that he loueth vs parti∣cularly.
• * 1.20

  vers. 20.
• * 1.21

  vers. 21.