A14216:1392
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 the sixth class, belong those places of Scripture, which speak of the of the of the Mediator. The Argument is this. The Mediator, without whose merit and present efficacy, there could be no friendship or amity joined between God and sinful men, 1must needs have been always in the Church from the very beginning of the world. This proposition those things confirm which have been before spoken of the Mediator and his office. But the son of God only (not the Father, nor the holy ghost) is that Mediator, by and for whom the faithful also of the old Church were reconciled unto god. Therefore the son of god was subsisting from the very beginning of the world. The old Church might have been received into favour for Christ to come, but by him it could not, except he was then being: for there can be no efficacy or force of him that is not. Whence it is necessarily proved ⟨p. 495⟩that Christ was before his incarnation: for there cannot be friendship between God and men without a Mediator now existing or being. But in the old Testament there was friendship between God & men, that is, believers. Therefore either he, or some other was Mediator of that Church: there was no other, but he only, because there is but one Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus. 1. Tim. 2.5. But that there cannot be any amity between God and men without a Mediator now already being, shall also appear by that which followeth. For it is the office and function of the Mediator, not only by deprecation or entreaty, & sacrifice to appease & pacify the father, but also to confer & bestow all the benefits, which he obtaineth, by his power & efficacy, upon believers, to make the will of god known unto men, to institute a ministry, to collect, gather, & preserve the church, & that wholly. Mat. 11.27. No man hath known the father, but the son, & he to whom the son will reveal him. Therefore neither did Adam know god but by the son, & by a consequent the son existed at that time. Hither are referred the testimonies, not only which speak of Christs merit to come, but of his efficacy also and power. Eph. 1.22. He hath made all things subject under his feet, and hath appointed him over all things to be the head to the Church.