A14216:110
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
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 whatsoever either is not by the express testimony of the holy Scripture delivered,1 or doth not consequently follow out of the words of the Scripture rightly understood, that we hold may be without any hurt or conscience believed, or not believed, changed, abrogated, and omitted.2 For we must ever hold a necessary difference between the books of the Prophets and Apostles, and the writings and doctrine of others in the Church: first, that the Scripture only neither hath, nor can have any error in any matter; other teachers both may err, and oftentimes also do err, when they depart from the written word of God. Again, that the Scriptures are believed on their own word, because we know that God speaketh with us in them: others have credit, not because themselves say so, but because the scripture witnesseth so, neither a whit more than they can prove by the Scripture. Wherefore we do not reject others doctrine and labours in the Church: but only setting them in their own place, we submit them unto the rule of Gods word. This doctrine first is delivered of God himself, and that not in one place only of the Scripture: as Deut. 4. You shall not ad unto the word which I speak unto you, neither shall you take away from it. And in the last Chapter of the Apocalypse: I protest unto every man, that heareth the words of the Prophecy of this book, if any man shal ad unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book. And if any man shall diminish of the words &c. Neither only by these words is forbidden, that ⟨p. 30⟩no false things & openly repugnant to the written word be added to the doctrine of the church, but also that no uncertain things, or things not appertaining unto it be mingled therewith. For it is not in the power of any creature to pronounce what we are to think of God and his will: but this is only to be learned out of that which is disclosed in his word. And therefore the men of Beraea are commended, Act. 17. Who searched the Scriptures daily whether those things were so.
And whatsoeuer either is not by the expresse testimony of the holie Scripture deliuered,