A14216:1487
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.
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. Eph. 5.30. We are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. John. 5.56. Eph. 4.12.16. Rom. 8.11. &c. Wherefore except Christ had indeed taken our nature, without which he cannot be our brother, we should loose that comfort ever needful and necessary for us, which consisteth in the Brotherhood only of Christ with us: I am of his flesh and of his bones.
Thirdly, The office of the Mediatour confirmeth the same. The sinne of men in respect of gods truth and iustice, could not bee punished in any other nature, than in a humane nature, which shoulde bee of the same kind with ours. But in the Mediatour which is Jesus Christ alone, our sinnes were to bee punished. Therefore he must needes bee true man, who hath humane flesh, ⟨p. 523⟩