A14216:114
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.
Fifthly,1 we are to consider the degrees of them who teach in the Church. For therefore is the authority of the Prophets and Apostles far higher, then of other Ministers of the Church: because God called them immediately, to declare his will unto other men, and adorned them with Testimonies of miracles and other things, by which he witnessed that he did so lighten and guide their minds with his spirit, that he suffered them to err in no one point of doctrine: other ministers are called by men, and may err, and do err, when they depart from the doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles. Wherefore the Apostle Paul, Ephe. 2. sayeth: That the Church is builded upon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles. And 1. Cor. 3. That he had laid the foundation, and other then that could no man lay: others build upon it gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble. Now it is manifest that they, who may err, ought to be tied unto their doctrine, who are warranted by the testimonies of God that they can not err. Wherefore all other teachers in the Church must not bring any new point of doctrine, but only propound and expound those things unto the Church, which are delivered by the Prophets and Apostles.
Fiftly,1 we are to consider the degrees of them who teach in the Church. For therefore is the authoritie of the Prophets and Apostles far higher, then of other Ministers of the Church: because God called thē immediatly, to declare his will vnto other men, and adorned them with Testimonies of miracles and other thinges, by which hee witnessed that he did so lighten and guide their minds with his spirit, that he suffered them to erre in no one point of doctrine: other ministers are called by men, and may erre, and doe erre, when they depart from the doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles. Wherefore the Apostle Paul, Ephe. 2. saieth: That the Church is builded vpon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles. And 1. Cor. 3. That hee had laied the foundation, and other then that could no man lay: others build vpon it gold, siluer, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble. Now it is manifest that they, who may err, ought to be tied vnto their doctrine, who are warranted by the testimonies of God that they can not erre. Wherefore all other teachers in the Church must not bring any new point of doctrine, but onely propound and expound those thinges vnto the Church, which are deliuered by the Prophets and Apostles.