A14216:1046
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
Part 2 › OF GOD. › Section 8: 8 How the three persons of the godhead are distinguished.
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.
8 How the three persons of the godhead are distinguished.
These persons are distinguished two ways:1 by their inward works: and by their outward works. Their inward works are those which the persons have and exercise one towards another. By these then they are distinguished, in that the father is and existeth of himself, not from another. He begot the Son, & inspired the holy Ghost, by communicating his essence unto them after an unspeakable manner. The son hath his being from the father, begotten of him from everlasting, that is, he hath the same essence with the father, but communicated unto him from the father. The holy ghost proceedeth from everlasting from the father and the Son, that is, hath the same essence, but communicated unto him from the father and the Sonne. Objection. That which is not understood cannot be discerned or distinguished: the manner of the begetting and generating of the Son, and of the proceeding of the holy ghost is not understood. Therefore they cannot be discerned or distinguished. Answer. Those things cannot be discerned, which are not at all understood, neither in respect of the proper causes thereof, nor in respect of the effects. But that the son is begotten of the father, and the holy ghost proceedeth from the father and the son, we know out of the holy Scriptures. We understand also in some sort, what this is, namely, the son to be begotten of the father: For to be borne or to be begotten, is to be produced out of his essence who begetteth to have his essence communicated unto him of him who begetteth. Albeit the manner, whereby the eternal father communicated his essence, the same whole and entire unto his ⟨p. 350⟩son, we conceive not. The like also is to be understood concerning the proceeding of the holy ghost.
THese persons are distinguished two waies:1 by their inward woorkes: and by their outward woorkes. Their inwarde works are those which the persons haue and exercise one towardes another. By these then they are distinguished, in that the father is and existeth of himselfe, not from another. Hee begot the Sonne, & inspired the holy Ghost, by communicating his essence vnto them after an vnspeakable manner. The sonne hath his beeing from the father, beggotten of him from euerlasting, that is, he hath the same essence with the father, but communicated vnto him from the father. The holie ghost proceedeth from euerlasting from the father and the Sonne, that is, hath the same essence, but communicated vnto him from the father and the Sonne. Obiection. That which is not vnderstoode cannot be discerned or distinguished: the manner of the begetting and generating of the Sonne, and of the proceeding of the holie ghost is not vnderstoode. Therefore they cannot bee discerned or distinguished. Aunswere. Those things cannot be discerned, which are not at all vnderstoode, neither in respect of the proper causes thereof, nor in respect of the effects. But that the son is begotten of the father, and the holy ghost proceedeth from the father and the sonne, we know out of the holy Scriptures. We vnderstand also in some sort, what this is, namely, the sonne to be begotten of the father: For to bee borne or to be begotten, is to be produced out of his essence who begetteth to haue his essence communicated vnto him of him who begetteth. Albeit the maner, whereby the eternal father communicated his essence, the same whole and entire vnto his