A14216:1113
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.
2 The Stoics have devised in stead of providence an absolute necessity and order of all things, being in the very nature of things, whereunto not only all other things, but god himself also is subject.
2 The Stoickes haue deuised in steede of prouidence an absolute necessitie and order of all thinges, being in the verie nature of things, whereunto not onlie al other things, but god himselfe also is subiect.
3 The Peripatetics did imagine, that God indeed doth behold and understand all things: but yet doth not order and rule all things, but moveth the celestial motions, and doth by them send down by way of influence some power and virtue unto the lower parts of nature: but the operations themselves or motions depend of the matter and of the wills of men: that is, they will have the providence of GOD to be a prescience or foreknowledge in god of all things, but not a will decreeing, causing, and ruling all things.
3 The Peripatetiques did imagine, that God indeede dooth beholde and vnderstand all thinges: but yet dooth not order and rule all thinges, but mooueth the celestiall motions, and dooth by them send downe by waie of influence some power and vertue vnto the lower partes of nature: but the operations themselues or motions depend of the matter and of the wils of men: that is, they will haue the prouidence of GOD to bee a prescience or foreknowlege in god of al things, but not a will decreeing, causing, and ruling al things.
Contrarily, The Church teacheth out of the word of God, that nothing is extant and cometh to pass in the whole world, but by the certain and definite, though yet most free and most good counsel and purpose of God. Which that it may the better be understood, these three questions are to be considered.