A14216:1365
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.
These words of the holy Evangelist they corrupt and deprave, who raise again Samosatenus blasphemies from the pit of hell, expounding this beginning of the beginning of the gospels preaching, done by Christ. 1But contrary, S. John and the Church, even from the Apostles and their scholars time, do understand that beginning of the world, wherein all things to have been first created by GOD, Moses in the first Chapter of Genesis recounteth. For John saith, that the World was made by him: and further, that even then in that beginning he was God, and that the true God creator, which is only one, and was in the beginning of the world. Reply 1. Beginning doth not signify eternity. Therefore we deprave it who so expound it. Answer. We do not so expound it: but that even then in the beginning of the world was the Word; and therefore was before the creation of the world: and whatsoever was before this, was from everlasting: And so is the scripture wont to speak. Eph. 1.4.1. Pet. 1.20. Pro. 8 22 23. &c. where we may see a large place concerning wisdom; whose eternity is there signified in this, that it is said to have been before the creation of the world. ⟨p. 481⟩Reply 2. Beginning, often signifieth the beginning of the gospels preaching. Ye were with me from the beginning. I said not to you from the beginning. Answer. This showeth that sometimes it so signifieth, but not always. And we are still to construe it of that beginning which the text showeth. As also in other places, Revel. 1.8. I am α & ω, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. The word] The corruptors say; The man Jesus Christ is called the Word: because he speaketh and teacheth the will of the father. We say, that he is called indeed the Word for this cause, because he declareth God & his will; but yet in respect of his divinity, not of his humanity. The reasons hereof, 1. Because his humanity was not from the beginning of the world. 2 Because this Word was made flesh; that is, took on humane nature. 3. Because this Word did lighten all men from the beginning of the world, whosoever had the knowledge of God, and how much soever they had. He was the life and the light of men: lightning every man, which cometh into the world. Again. NO MAN hath known the Father but the son, and he to whom the son will reveal him.