A14216:10
The Sum of Christian Religion
The sum of Christian religion: delivered by Zacharias Ursinus in his lectures upon the Catechism authorised by the noble Prince Frederick, throughout his dominions: wherein are debated and resolved the questions of whatsoever points of moment, which have been or are controversed in divinity. Translated into English by Henry Parry, out of the last & best Latin editions, together with some supply of wa[n]ts out of his discourses of divinity, and with correction of sundry faults & imperfections, which are [sic] as yet remaining in the best corrected Latin.The summe of Christian religion: deliuered by Zacharias Vrsinus in his lectures vpon the Catechism autorised by the noble Prince Frederick, throughout his dominions: wherein are debated and resolued the questions of whatsoeuer points of moment, which haue beene or are controuersed in diuinitie. Translated into English by Henrie Parrie, out of the last & best Latin editions, together with some supplie of wa[n]ts out of his discourses of diuinitie, and with correction of sundrie faults & imperfections, which ar [sic] as yet remaining in the best corrected Latine.
Oxford: printed by Joseph Barnes, 1587Oxford: printed by Ioseph Barnes, 1587
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.
For the better effectuating of which their purposes, & more cunning & currant bringing them to pass, how of late years, yea & days, many fugitive persons of this our Country, ordained & sacred by their Superiors to this good end, have made their return in swarms unto us with outlandish minds & Doctrine, to inspire the people with heresy & rebellion: none so far in any course of life removed & ⟨image 4⟩estranged from public action, whose ears have not been moved, & his very heart wounded with these tidings. No time or season which they have omitted, no place, no creek, no corner in this land which they have not sought out, no person from almost the highest potentate to the lowest worm, whom they have not felt, &, except he hath been too sound, sounded & wagged & lifted at too, that they might plant & supplant, set & unset, root in & root up,1 & all, as one of their old whining Prophets soothly & solemnly with tears full often telleth the Christian world, to bring us home unto the lap of our mother, holy Church, of which their Lord the Pope is holy father. Well may he be her father, but then such a father doubtless hath he been unto her, as is recounted by ancient History Aruntius a Roman to have bin unto his virgin daughter Medullina,2 with whom in the dark, rapt with a pang of drunkenness, he committed incest. But were the Church of that remorse of conscience & resolute courage in revenging herself for this spiritual villainy, as was that virgin for suffering that corporal force & ravishment: She would burn within her inflamed with a fiery zeal of holy indignation, & drawing out this incestuous Roman, who hath defiled her in the darkness of Idolatry, himself drunken with the cup of fornication, would bring him unto the altar, even that altar of the Lord, which he hath made a witness of so many his hateful pollutions & incests, & there slay him before God, for the appeasing of his ire & wrath towards her, & for the washing away of this so grievous a blot & high reproach of her Virginity.
For the better effectuating of which their purposes, & more cunning & currant bringing them to passe, how of late yeares, yea & daies, many fugitiue persons of this our Country, ordained & sacred by their Superiours to this good end, haue made their returne in swarmes vnto vs with outlandish minds & Doctrine, to inspire the people with heresie & rebellion: none so farre in any course of life remooued &