A14216:144
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 their former arguments our adversaries add, that it Objection. 11 is a shame that the holy Ghost speaking in the Church should be subject to the examination and judgement of another: 1and therefore we must not examine him by the rule of the Scripture. But seeing that the same spirit speaketh in the Church and in the Scripture: when we do examine the voice of the Church by the Scripture, we do not subject the holy Ghost to another: but we compare him with himself. And by this means first we give unto him the praise of trueth and constancy, while we do acknowledge and testify that he is always like himself, and doth never square from himself: then also we confess that the supreme authority of pronouncing the will of God belongeth unto him, while we do not seek, whether those things be true and certain which he hath spoken, but whether those be his words, which men ascribe unto him: and this we do even after the selfsame manner which he hath prescribed us: and after that we find out by the rule of the written word, that any thing hath proceeded from him, to that without making any controversy we submit our minds & wills. Contrariwise it is easy to see that our adversaries themselves are guilty of that contumely against the holy Ghost, of which they accuse us. For while they will have the authority of giving judgement, concerning the meaning of the Scripture, and of deciding controversies, not to belong unto the Scriptures but unto themselves: by this very thing both they imagine that the holy Ghost may dissent from himself, and do make themselves judges higher then the holy ghost and the word of God.
To their former arguments our aduersaries adde, that it Obiection. 11 is a shame that the holie Ghost speaking in the Church should bee subiect to the examinatiō and iudgement of another: 1and therefore we must not examine him by the rule of the Scripture. But seeing that the same spirite speaketh in the Church and in the Scripture: when wee doe examine the voice of the Church by the Scripture, we doe not subiect the holy Ghost to another: but we compare him with himselfe. And by this means first we giue vnto him the praise of trueth and constancie, while we doe acknowledge and testifie that hee is alwaies like himselfe, and doth neuer square from himselfe: then also we confesse that the supreme authoritie of pronouncing the wil of God belongeth vnto him, while we doe not seeke, whether those things be true and certaine which hee hath spoken, but whether those be his words, which men ascribe vnto him: and this we doe euen after the selfesame manner which he hath prescribed vs: and after that we finde out by the rule of the written word, that any thing hath proceeded from him, to that without making any controuersie we submit our minds & wils. Contrariwise it is easie to see that our aduersaries themselues are guiltie of that contumelie against the holie Ghost, of which they accuse vs. For while they wil haue the authoritie of giuing iudgement, concerning the meaning of the Scripture, and of deciding controuersies, not to belong vnto the Scriptures but vnto themselues: by this verie thing both they imagine that the holy Ghost may dissent from himselfe, and do make themselues iudges higher then the holy ghost and the word of God.