A14216:1486
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.
Secondly, it is confirmed by divine promises and prophecies. For the Messiah in the old Testament was promised to be such a one, as should be the seed of the woman, of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, &c. But this Jesus, the Son of the Virgin Mary, is that promised Messiah. Therefore he must needs be true man, issuing of the blood and posterity of the woman and the Fathers, and therefore to have been indeed begotten of the substance of Mary, and to have taken true flesh.
Secondly, it is confirmed by diuine promises and prophecies. For the Messias in the old Testament was promised to be such a one, as should be the seede of the woman, of Abraham, Isaac, Iacob, &c. But this Iesus, the Sonne of the Virgine Mary, is that promised Messias. Therefore he must needs bee true man, issuing of the bloode and posterity of the woman and the Fathers, and therefore to haue been indeede begotten of the substance of Marie, and to haue taken true flesh.
Thirdly, The office of the Mediator confirmeth the same. The sin of men in respect of gods truth and justice, could not be punished in any other nature, than in a humane nature, which should be of the same kind with ours. But in the Mediator which is Jesus Christ alone, our sins were to be punished. Therefore he must needs be true man, who hath humane flesh, ⟨p. 523⟩not created of nothing, or borne else-whence, but sprung from the blood of Adam, as well as ours. Moreover, It was necessary for Christ not only to take, but also to retain our nature for ever: Because GOD hath decreed to bestow, and doth bestow the benefits, which Christ by his death hath purchased for us, by this man CHRIST upon them only, who are and remain engrafted into his mass and flesh, as members into their head, or branches into their vine. 1. Cor. 15.21. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. John. 15.6. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch and withereth Lastly, It behoved Christ to be made and to continue our brother for ever, that as he is flesh of our flesh, so we also of the other side might be flesh & bones of his flesh and bones, by the same spirit dwelling in us.