A14216:1220
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 fifth Sophism, of the mutility or unprofitableness of means.
The fifth Sophisme, of the mutility or vnprofitablenesse of meanes.
That which shall be unchangeably and necessarily, 1by the will & providence of god; in vain to the furthering or hindering of that are means applied, as the use of the ministry, the magistrate, laws, exhortations, promises, threatenings, punishments, prayer, our study & endeavours. But all things are done by the decree of god unchangeably, neither can they which work by the providence of God, work otherwise than they do. Therefore all those means are vain & fruitless. Ans. It is not necessary, that, the first & principal cause being put, the second & instrumental cause should be removed and taken away. In vain are second causes & means applied, if god had determined to execute his decrees without means, neither had commanded us to use them. But seeing god hath decreed, by those means, in some to work faith & conversion, some to bridle & keep under, & some to leave excuselesse; & hath for that cause commanded us in his word to use them; they are not in vain used and applied. Yea when there cometh no profit by these means, yet they profit to this that they leave the wicked without excuse. As therefore the sun doth not in vain daily rise and set, neither are the fields in vain sowed, or watered with the rain, neither bodies in vain with food refreshed, though God createth light ⟨p. 424⟩and darkness, bringeth forth the corn out of the earth, and is the life & length of our days: so neither are men in vain taught, or study to conform their life unto doctrine, though all available actions and events proceed not from any but from God. For God from everlasting decreed, as the ends, so the means also, and prescribed them unto us, whereby it seemed good to him, to bring us unto them. Wherefore we using those means do well, and obtain profitable and fruitful events: but if we neglect them; either by our fault we deprive our selves or others of those blessings offered by God; or if God even in this contempt of his word have mercy of us or others, yet our conscience accuseth us of open and grievous sin. Wherefore we must use means,