A14212:48
A collection of certain learned discourses, written by that famous man of memory Zechariah…A collection of certaine learned discourses, written by that famous man of memory Zachary…
A collection of certain learned discourses, written by that famous man of memory Zachary Ursine; doctor and professor of divinity in the noble and flourishing schools of Neustad. For explication of divers difficult points, laid down by that author in his catechism. Lately put in print in Latin by the last labour of D. David Parry: and now newly translated into English, by I.H. for the benefit and behoof of our Christian country-manA collection of certaine learned discourses, written by that famous man of memory Zachary Ursine; doctor and professor of divinitie in the noble and flourishing schools of Neustad. For explication of divers difficult points, laide downe by that author in his catechisme. Lately put in print in Latin by the last labour of D. David Parry: and now newlie translated into English, by I.H. for the benefit and behoofe of our Christian country-man
Oxford: printed by Joseph Barnes, 1600Oxford: printed by Ioseph Barnes, 1600
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.
A sacrament doeth not become false, though sometimes it be in vain ministered unto the reprobate making show of faith. For in it self it still remaineth a seal of grace, though not unto them, because they believe not: as the sun howsoever in it self glorious and glistering, yet shineth it not unto the blind, because they see not. For it is a sign, conditional, so offering and sealing grace unto us, that withal on our parts it requireth faith & conversion: which whosoever bring not with them, it neither bestoweth nor sealeth unto them any thing, neither is it unto them a sacrament, that is, a seal of grace, through their own fault: for it is no use but an horrible abuse of a sacrament, to be received of the reprobate without faith. The scripture every where teacheth that nothing can be accounted a sacrament without the use thereunto appointed by God:1 If thou be a transgressor of the law thy on cumcision is made uncircumcision. And This is not to eat the Lords supper. 2And he which offereth an ox, 3is as if he offered a dog. The baptism of Simon. Magus was a true sacrament, but not unto him,4 for his hypocrisy, as Peter witnesseth, Thou hast no part nor fellowsh p•nth business, for thy heart is not right. That sop in the Lords supper was a true sacrament, but poison to Judas, not because in it self it was evil, but because the evil man did evilly receive that which was good. To conclude, by Lombard his own confession, baptism is alike holy, whether ministered unto the good or evil: & therefore alike true. But will you call Peter sacrilegious, ⟨p. 28⟩because to Simon Magus a reprobate, but professing the Apostolic faith, he in Gods name offered grace, and to his power sealed it by baptism? But this he did not absolutely, but with condition if he truly believed: as Phillip said unto the Eunuch, thou mayest be baptised, if thou believe withal thy heart. If therefore he did not truly believe he sealed nothing unto him, as rightly faith your friend Lombard, The visible baptism did nothing profit Simon Magus, because he wanted the invisible. Moreover he discharged his duty, which was not to search the secrets of hearts, or sound the unmeasurable gulf of Gods predestination, but to baptise the professors of faith, whether hypocrites, or no. For the church judgeth not of things so secret, but only the hart-searching God.