A14216:1111
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.
But albeit there be more in number, and more evident arguments in nature of Gods providence than of the creation of all things out of nothing, and therefore the Philosophers do more acknowledge that, than this: yet by reason of the pride of mans heart, which hardly suffereth all good to be ascribed unto God; by reason of the judgement of our sense, unto which most things seem to go by fortune, especially the wills of men: by reason of the knowledge of Gods providence, darkened by the fall of man; by reason of our desire of avoiding and declining by any means gods fight and Judgement; by reason of the small compass of mans mind, and understanding; whereby when men measure God, they cannot easily imagine in him, the government of all things in the world, as being partly hard or impossible, and partly as unworthy of God: and lastly by reason of confusions & sins, all which evils would seem to have God their author, if it should be granted that God governed all things; we find experience every one both in our selves and others, how hardly the true Doctrine concerning Gods providence getteth place in the mind; and that natural light sufficeth not to the right understanding thereof, so great variety of opinions and errors concerning this point of doctrine doth sufficiently declare. Now there are of these, three sorts especially.
But albeit there be more in number, and more euident arguments in nature of Gods prouidence than of the creation of all things out of nothing, and therefore the Philosophers doe more acknowledge that, than this: yet by reason of the pride of mans heart, which hardly suffereth all good to be ascribed vnto God; by reason of the iudgement of our sense, vnto which most things seeme to go by fortune, especially the wils of men: by reason of the knowledge of Gods prouidence, darkened by the fall of man; by reas•n of our desire of auoiding and declining by anie meanes gods fight and Iudgement; by reason of the small compasse of mans minde, and vnderstanding; whereby when men measure God, they cannot easily imagine in him, the gouernment of al things in the woorlde, as being partly hard or impossible, and partly as vnwoorthie of God: and lastly by reason of confusions & sins, al which euils would seeme to haue God their author, if it should be granted that God gouerned all thinges; we find experience euerie one both in our selues and others, how hardly the true Doctrine concerning Gods prouidence getteth place in the minde; and that naturall light sufficeth not to the right vnderstanding thereof, so great varietie of opinions and errors concerning this point of doctrine dooth sufficiently declare. Now there are of these, three sorts especially.