A14216:1033
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.
By the name of Trinity, are understood the three manners of being in God, that is, three not essences, but persons of the same divine Essence. Now Trinity and triplicity, as also Trinal and triple differ. That is said to be Triple, which is compounded of three essences, or is distinct by three essences. Trinal is that, which in essence is but one and most simple, but hath three manners of being. God therefore is not Triple; because there are not moe essences: but Trinal, because he being one according to his essence, is three according to his persons.
By the name of Trinity, are vnderstoode the three maners of beeing in God, that is, three not essences, but persons of the same diuine Essence. Now Trinity and triplicitie, as also Trinal and triple differ. That is said to be Triple, which is compounded of three essences, or is distinct by three essences. Trinall is that, which in essence is but one and most simple, but hath three manners of beeing. God therefore is not Triple; because there are not mo essences: but Trinall, because he beeing one according to his essence, is three according to his persons.
This difference of essence and person is to be observed and held. 1 Least the unity of the true God be distracted. 2 Least ⟨p. 344⟩the distinction of the persons be taken away. 3. Least another thing be understood by the name of person, than the truth of gods word declareth. For person in this place doth not signify only a relation or office, as the Latins are wont to speak, Principis personam tueri, to defend the person of the Prince, as of old, Sabellius falsely taught: much less doth it signify the countenance, or visible shape (as in these days Seruetus sported and trifled with the word, person) representing the form, or gesture of another; such as is the person of a stage player: but it signifieth a thing subsistent, truly distinct from others, unto whom it hath a relation & respect, by an incommunicable property: that is, it signifieth that which begetteth, or which is begotten, or which proceedeth; not the office, or dignity, or degree of him that begetteth, or is begotten, or proceedeth. Furthermore, the persons are not any thing separated from the essence, but each of them are the very selfsame whole essence of the Divinity. But the difference is in this, that the persons are each distinct from the other, but the essence is common to them three. And, that the person is no other thing subsisting, or other substance, than the essence, may be understood in some sort, by the example of a man. One and the same man, or one and the same substance, is a father and a man, or a son and a man: and yet the manhood, or, to be a man, is one thing; the fatherhood, or, to be a father, another: but there is not one subsistent which is the father, and another subsistent which is a man, but one and the same subsistent is both, because both manhood and fatherhood is in him: manhood absolutely, fatherhood respectively as in regard of his Sonne.