A14216:1207
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.
The fourth Sophism, of Contingency and liberty or freeness.
The fourth Sophisme, of Contingency and liberty or freenesse.
1That which is done by the unchangeable decree of god, is not done contingently and freely. But all things are done by the unchangeable decree, or counsel, or providence of god. Therefore nothing is done contingently and freely. Answer. The Major is either particular, and so concludeth nothing: or being generally understood is most false. For an effect which is the some in subject and matter, is changeable and unchangeable, necessary and contingent, in respect not of the same cause, but of diverse, of which together it is produced & doth depend, and whereof some are changeable, some unchangeable. ⟨p. 417⟩In respect therefore of second and nearest causes, some effects are necessary and certain, which are produced out of causes always working after one sort, some are changeable. which have a changeable cause, that is, such as is not always working after one sort, and producing the same effects. In respect of the first cause, namely the decree of god, which is unchangeable, all effects are unchangeable and most certain, even those, which in respect of second causes, are most uncertain. As, that the bones of Christ should not be broken, it was a thing contingent in respect both of the bones, which in their own nature might as well have been broken, as not broken, as also of the soldiers, who as concerning the nature of their will, might have chosen to do either; but in respect of the decree of god it was necessary: for by his decree were the wills of the soldiers so ruled, that they could not then neither would choose the contrary. Wherefore the unchangeableness of the decree of God, which is a necessity by supposition, or conditional, doth not take away either the contingency of events, or the liberty and freeness of a created will, but rather maintaineth and confirmeth it. For GOD accomplisheth his decrees by reasonable creatures, according to the condition of their nature, when as by objects represented and showed to their understanding he inclineth and bendeth their will, that it should with free and inward motion choose or refuse that, which seemed good from everlasting to GOD, and was decreed of him. For if, when God worketh well by evil creatures, there is not taken away in them, through the decree or providence of God, and his good working, that which is accidental to them, that is, corruption: