A14216:1218
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.
Out of this then which hath been spoken we answer unto the argument which was, That which is done by the unchangeable decree of God, is not done contingently but necessarily. All things are done by the unchangeable decree of God; nothing therefore is done contingently, neither by fortune, or chance, but all necessarily. First we say, there is more in the conclusion than in the premisses, when the opinion of the Stoics is objected to the Church. For albeit the church confesseth all events, in respect of gods providence, to be ⟨p. 421⟩necessary; yet this necessity is not a Stoical fate & destiny, because the church defendeth against the Stoics both liberty in god governing things at his pleasure, & a changeableness in second causes, & showeth out of gods word that god could both now do, and from everlasting have decreed many things, which neither he doth, nor hath decreed. And therefore the church also hath abstained from the name of fate, 1least any should suspect her to maintain with the Stoics an absolute necessity of all things. Secondly if removing stoicism, yet notwithstanding the necessity of all things & the abolishing of contingency, fortune, & chance, be objected: we make answer to the Major by distinguishing the words, For those things that are done by the providence & decree of god, are done indeed necessarily, but by that necessity which is by supposition, or of consequence, not by simple necessity or absolute. Wherefore it followeth that all things come to pass, not by simple & absolute necessity, but by that of supposition or consequence. And necessity of consequence doth not at all take away contingency. The reason hereof is this: Because the same effect may have causes whereof some may produce it by an order changeable, some by unchangeable order, & therefore in respect of some it is contingent, & in respect of some, necessary. For as the originals or causes of contingency in things are that liberty which is in the will of god, and Angels, and men, and the mutable nature of the matter of the elements, together with the readiness or inclination thereof to divers motions and forms: so the cause of absolute necessity in God is the very unchangeable nature of god;
Out of this then which hath beene spoken we answere vnto the argument which was, That which is done by the vnchaungeable decree of God, is not done contingently but necessarily. All thinges are doone by the vnchangeable decree of God; nothing therefore is doone contingently, neither by fortune, or chaunce, but all necessarily. First wee say, there is more in the conclusion than in the premisses, when the opinion of the Stoicks is obiected to the Church. For albeit the church confesseth al euents, in respect of gods prouidence, to be