A14216:1066
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 CREATION. › Section 1: 1 WHETHER THE WORLD WERE CREATED OF GOD.
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.
And although out of Philosophy, or those general principles, which are naturally known, it cannot be known or showed, Whether the world was created from everlasting, or in time: and also, Whether it was to have been created, or no: Likewise Whether it shall endure for ever or no: and whether it shall remain the same, or is to be changed: (for these things depend only upon the will of God, which is only declared to the Church in his word:) yet notwithstanding it may be known by the light of nature; sithence the world was, that it was by God alone produced out of nothing. For even the sounder philosophers are enforced to acknowledge, that GOD is the cause efficient, or maker of all other things which are: Therefore he was the maker both of the first matter of all things, and of those celestial and heavenly spirits, and of the soul of man. But these things are not produced by GOD out of any matter; Therefore out of nothing. Wherefore, whatsoever arguments are brought of Philosophers against the creation of the world, it is easy to perceive ⟨p. 358⟩that those were not framed out of true philosophy, but by the imaginations of men; if the order of the generation and mutation of things instituted in nature, which was created of God, be discerned from creation.
And although out of Philosophie, or those generall principles, which are naturallie knowen, it cannot bee knowen or shewed, Whether the woorlde was created from euerlasting, or in time: and also, Whether it was to haue beene created, or no: Likewise Whether it shal endure for euer or no: and whether it shall remaine the same, or is to bee chaunged: (for these thinges depend onely vpon the will of God, which is onely declared to the Church in his worde:) yet notwithstanding it may bee knowen by the light of nature; sithence the woorlde was, that it was by God alone produced out of nothing. For euen the sounder philosophers are enforced to acknowledge, that GOD is the cause efficient, or maker of all other thinges which are: Therefore hee was the maker both of the first matter of all thinges, and of those celestiall and heauenlie spirites, and of the soule of man. But these thinges are not produced by GOD out of any matter; Therefore out of nothing. Wherefore, whatsoeuer argumentes are brought of Philosophers against the creation of the woorlde, it is easie to perceiue ⟨p. 358⟩that those were not framed out of true philosophie, but by the imaginations of men; if the order of the generation and mutation of things instituted in nature, which was created of God, bee discerned from creation.