A14216:1446
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.
1 ONE essence is not three persons, for, one to be three, doth imply a contradiction. God is one essence. Therefore there cannot be three persons of the godhead. Answer. The Major is true of an essence created & finite; that can not, being one, be the same and whole substance of three, or be three: but it is false, of the infinite, most simple, and individual essence of the Godhead. For this as it existeth one and whole together in many, nay in infinite places and things, so may it be, remaining one, the same and whole essence of moe: yea and moreover it is necessary so to be: seeing the generation of the Son, and the proceeding of the holy ghost, is the communicating of the essence of the Father.
1 ONE essence is not three persons, for, one to be three, doth imply a contradiction. God is one essence. Therefore there cannot be three persons of the godhead. Aunswere. The Maior is true of an essence created & finite; that can not, beeing one, be the same and whole substance of three, or bee three: but it is false, of the infinite, most simple, and indiuiduall essence of the Godhead. For this as it existeth one and whole together in many, nay in infinit places and thinges, so may it be, remaining one, the same and whole essence of moe: yea and moreouer it is necessarie so to be: seeing the generation of the Sonne, and the proceeding of the holy ghost, is the communicating of the essence of the Father.
2 Whose operations are distinct, their essences also must needs be distinct. The internal operations of the father, the son, and holy ghost are distinct. Therefore they have also distinct essences. Answer. The Major of this reason is true of persons having a finite essence: but being understood of the divine ⟨p. 501⟩persons it is false, if it be meant of those internal operations, whereof the Minor speaketh. Wherefore inverting the Major, we return it back upon the adversaries themselves. For whereas the internal operations, namely the generation of the son, & the proceeding of the holy ghost, are the communicating of the fathers essence whole & the same in number: it must needs be that there is not a diverse or distinct, but one divine essence of all three persons.