A14216:136
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.
To be short, because our selves in writing and teaching do expound the Scriptures, and do exhort all men to the reading and hearing the exposition thereof: Out of these they conclude, that besides the reading of the Scripture, the interpretation of the Church is necessary: and that therefore what the Church doth pronounce of the meaning of the Scripture, that is without controversy to be received. But we first confess that the interpretation of the scripture is necessary in the Church, not for that without this to come unto the knowledge of heavenly doctrine is simply impossible, whereas both God is able, when it pleaseth him, to instruct his even without the Scripture it self, much more then without the exposition of his ministers: and the godly learn many things out of the Scriptures without interpreters: and of the contrary side except the eyes of our minds be opened by the grace of the holy spirit, heavenly doctrine seemeth always alike obscure unto us, whether it be expounded by the word of the Scripture, or of the church: ⟨p. 45⟩but for that it pleased God to appoint this ordinary way of instructing us, and himself hath commanded the maintenance and use of his ministry in the Church, that it should be an instrument which the holy Ghost might most freely use for our salvation. Again,1 although interpretation of scripture be necessary, yet this is so far from granting any licence unto the ministers to bring new ordinances into the Church, that nothing doth more tie them to this doctrine alone, which is comprehended in the Scriptures, then this very function of expounding the Scriptures. For to interpret another mans words, is not to feign at our pleasure a meaning either divers from them or repugnant unto them: but to render the same meaning and Sentence either in more words, or in more plain words, or, at least, in such, as may be more fit for their capacity, whom we teach: and withal, when there is need, to show, that this is the mind of the author, which we affirm to be.2 Now such an interpretation of Scripture is made by these means: that first the phrase be considered, and the proper sense of the words found out: then, that the order and coherence of the members or parts of the doctrine, which is contained in the text of Scripture, be declared: