A14216:1071
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.
15 Objection. Whatsoever hath a beginning hath also an ending. The celestial bodies have no ending. Therefore they had no beginning. Answer. The Major is to be distinguished. Whatsoever hath a beginning naturally, by motion or alteration of a preexistent subject, hath an ending also and is corrupted, to wit, naturally, by motion. The celestial bodies are not corrupted, that is, naturally; for they have not a matter which is capable of another form. Therefore they had no beginning, that is by natural motion. For, by order of nature, corruption followeth the generation of one thing out of another. Now although heaven is not corrupted naturally; yet is it corruptible by the absolute power of GOD working without any motion. For the omnipotency of the Creator is able most freely either to preserve in the same state, or to change, or to bring to nothing as well those things which he formeth out of other things, as which he produceth out of nothing.
15 Obiection. Whatsoeuer hath a beginning hath also an ending. The celestiall bodies haue no ending. Therefore they had no beginning. Aunswere. The Maior is to bee distinguished. Whatsoeuer hath a beginning naturally, by motion or alteration of a preexistent subiect, hath an ending also and is corrupted, to witte, naturally, by motion. The celestial bodies are not corrupted, that is, naturally; for they haue not a matter which is capeable of another forme. Therefore they had no beginning, that is by naturall motion. For, by order of nature, corruption followeth the generation of one thing out of another. Nowe although heauen is not corrupted naturally; yet is it corruptible by the absolute power of GOD woorking without anie motion. For the omnipotencie of the Creatour is able most freely either to preserue in the same state, or to chaunge, or to bring to nothing as well those things which he formeth out of other things, as which hee produceth out of nothing.
- 1Heaven is not corrupted naturally, but by the power of God.Heauen is not corrupted naturally, but by the power of God.