A14216:1424
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 They confound the office of the Mediator with the nature or person, that is, they go from the office to the nature. As, Christ is sent of the Father: therefore he is inferior to the Father. The rule to answer this, is: The inequality of office doth not infer inequality of nature or persons. Or, as Cyril saith; The sending and obedience, take not away the equality of power or essence. So the father is said to be greater than the Son, not in nature or god-head, but in manifestation. For not the Father but the Son was made base and miserable in the humane nature assumed. Where therefore Christ saith that his Father is greater than he, it is meant in respect of his humane nature, and in respect of his office of the Mediatorship.
4 They confound the office of the Mediatour with the nature or person, that is, they go from the office to the nature. As, Christ is sent of the Father: therefore he is inferiour to the Father. The rule to answere this, is: The inequalitie of office doth not infer inequalitie of nature or persons. Or, as Cyrill saith; The sending and obedience, take not away the equalitie of power or essence. So the father is said to be greater than the Sonne, not in nature or god-head, but in manifestation. For not the Father but the Sonne was made base and miserable in the humane nature assumpted. Where therefore Christ saith that his Father is greater than hee, it is meant in respect of his humane nature, and in respect of his office of the Mediatourshippe.
5 They exclude and shut out the Son & the Holy Ghost from those things which are attributed unto the Father, as the fountain of all divine operations: As, The Son saith that his works are the works of the Father. Therefore he is not author of them, neither doth he those works by his own power, but only is the instrument whereby God the Father doth them. The rule and answer hereto is, those things which are ascribed unto the Father as fountain, are not removed from the Son or the holy Ghost, to whom they are communicated, that they may have them their own, and proper. For the Son worketh*