A14216:1076
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 2: 2 How God made the world.
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.
11 The world was created of God the father by the son, and the holy ghost. Of the son it is said, Joh. 1.3. All things were made by this word of the holy Ghost. Gen. 1.2. And the spirit of GOD moved upon the waters. And Job. 33.4. The spirit of GOD hath made me. 2. God created the world most freely, without any constraint, not ⟨p. 363⟩by any absolute necessity, but by necessity of consequence, 2that is by the decree of his will, which decree though it were eternal and unchangeable, yet was it most free. For neither was God tied to the creating and sustaining of things, neither if he had not at all created the world, or did annihilate it being created & bring it to nothing, were he therefore less good, or less happy. 3. God made the world with his beck only or will, without labour, wearisomeness, 3motion or any change of himself, that is, not by any new action of his, but by his forcible will only, which from everlasting would that things should on a sudden exist and be, at such a time as he had freely appointed and decreed. Isai. 40.28. The Lord hath created the ends of the earth; he neither fainteth nor is weary. Now to work any thing with his beck and word only, is the highest and chiefest manner of working.4 For there are five kinds of operations, and agents. 1. A natural agent. 2. That which worketh with an appetite. 3. Men and Devils. 4. Angels. 5. God; which three latter sorts are voluntary agents.5