A14216:1466
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.
12 He is our Lord by right of redemption. For he alone, paying the ransom for us, delivereth us from the power of the Devil: by his spirit regenerateth us, and causeth us to begin to serve him: and in this liberty, whereunto he hath brought us by his merit and power, he also preserveth us, against all both outward and inward enemies, even to the end: and being raised from the dead he fully enfreeeth and delivereth us from all sin and misery, and endoweth us with eternal bliss and glory. And seeing he hath delivered & freed us, it is manifest that we were Servants; and truly so we were, and are by nature Servants and bound-slaves of the Devil, from whose tyranny Christ hath delivered us, and hereupon now are we the Servants of Christ: because us, who were by nature his enemies and deserved to be destroyed of him, he notwithstanding preserved and delivered. For* serui, or servants, were first so named by the Romans from seruando, which is in signification preserved, because, when in the wars they might have bin slain of their enemies, they were preserved. But this dominion of Christ over us is special, that is, extendeth it self only to the Church. Objection. If we be redeemed from the power of the Devil: therefore a ransom hath bin paid him for our redemption: For from whose power we are redeemed, unto him is the price and ransom due: But God gave not him the ransom: Therefore we are not redeemed from the power of the Devil. Answer. From whose power we are redeemed as having bin supreme Lord over us, and holding rightly his dominion over us: unto him the price & ransom is due. But the devil is ⟨p. 517⟩no supreme Lord, but the executioner of the supreme lord,3 which is God, who alone hath and holdeth by right dominion over us. Wherefore in respect of God Christ redeemed us; for unto him he hath paid the price: But he hath delivered us or set us at liberty in respect of the Devil. For we are given unto Christ our redeemer to be his own, neither hath the Devil now any more right or power over us. And this christs dominion and power over us cost him enough, who therefore also hath care of it, and preserveth it. Of that Dominion we dispute especially in this place.