A14216:1419
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.
4 Unto whom the eternal Father communicateth the same essence which himself hath, & that whole, he is of the same essence with him. Unto the eternal son, the eternal father communicateth his essence the same and whole. Therefore the Son is ⟨p. 505⟩of the same essence with the father. The Minor is proved because Christ is the only begotten and proper Son of the Father: begotten therefore of the essence of the Father. But the divine essence, or God-head, by reason of the immensity and great simpleness thereof, can neither be multiplied nor divided: Therefore the Father communicateth the same, and that whole unto the Sonne. Wherefore as in respect that it is the whole essence of the God-head, which is communicated unto him of the Father, he is coequal with the Father; so in respect that it is the same, which the father hath and retaineth, he is coessential and consubstantial with the father.
4 Vnto whome the eternall Father communicateth the same essence which himselfe hath, & that whole, he is of the same essence with him. Vnto the eternall sonne, the eternall father communicateth his essence the same and whole. Therefore the Sonne is ⟨p. 505⟩of the same essence with the father. The Minor is prooued because Christ is the onelie begotten and proper Sonne of the Father: begotten therefore of the essence of the Father. But the diuine essence, or God-head, by reason of the immensitie and great simplenesse thereof, can neither bee multiplied nor diuided: Therefore the Father communicateth the same, and that whole vnto the Sonne. Wherefore as in respect that it is the whole essence of the God-head, which is communicated vnto him of the Father, hee is coequal with the Father; so in respect that it is the same, which the father hath and reteineth, he is coessential and consubstantial with the father.
Now it shall be expedient to set down the general heads of those reasons, wherewith the heretics both old and new oppugn this opinion and doctrine, that there is both an equal, and one and the same God-head of the Father and the Son, and also of the holy Ghost, and to adjoin those rules, whereby answer may be easily and soundly made unto their objections.