A14216:1080
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.
2 Objection. Of nothing is made nothing. Answer. This principle and rule is true as concerning that order which was appointed by God in nature now created. Further by such an agent, as is created it self, nothing is made of nothing: but that which is impossible to a creature is possible to God the creator. And it appertaineth to our comfort, that God hath created all things of nothing. For if he hath created all things of nothing, he is able also to preserve us, and to hinder the attempts of the wicked, yea to bring them to nothing.
2 Obiection. Of nothing is made nothing. Aunswere. This principle and rule is true as concerning that order which was appointed by God in nature now created. Further by such an agent, as is created it selfe, nothing is made of nothing: but that which is impossible to a creature is possible to God the creator. And it appertaineth to our comfort, that God hath created all things of nothing. For if he hath created all thinges of nothing, he is able also to preserue vs, and to hinder the attempts of the wicked, yea to bring them to nothing.
5 God created the world at a certain and definite time, 1and even in the beginning of times, not from everlasting. For first, all things were created of nothing, and therefore have a beginning. Secondly, it is to be known out of the sacred story, how long the world hath lasted. For according to the verity of the scripture, by Luther's account, they are from the creation of the world to the Nativity of Christ, years, 3960. and so to our time, namely to the year of Christ, 1579. there shall be years 5539. According to Melanchthon's supputation, the years from the beginning of the world are 5541. For from the beginning of the world unto Christ he numbereth 3962. years. According to their supputation of Geneva, from the creation of the world unto Christ, are 3942. years and six months. There shall be then to the year of Christ, 1579. from the Creation of the world, 5521. years, and six months. According to the supputation of Beroaldus, from the creation of the world unto Christ, are 3928. years, and so then shall be to the year of Christ 1579. from the creation of the world, 5507. years. These supputations accord very well one with another, as concerning the grand number, though in the lesser number some years are either wanting or abounding. By these four supputations then, of the most learned of our time, compared together, this at the least shall be apparent, that God created not the world before these 5541. years past, and therefore it was not from everlasting.