A14216:185
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.
Nevertheless the Major, or first proposition, is to be declared more at large. First it is said, whosoever abideth not in perfect love, that is, as Christ expoundeth it, he that loveth not God with all his hart, with all his soul, with all his cogitation, and with all his strength. With all his hart] by which are understood all the affections, inclinations & appetites, or desires. For God will have himself alone to be acknowledged the chiefest, and himself to be loved above all things: and, that men may rely on him, he will have the whole hart to be yielded up to himself, not part to him, and part to another: and to this is opposed, not to walk before God with a perfect hart. Objection. If we ought to love God with all our hart, then ought we not to love our Parents. Answer. It is lawful for to love other things also besides God, but nothing above God. We ought to love our Parents, but not chiefly. For we ought to ⟨p. 61⟩love all other things for God. It followeth, with all thy soul] by which he comprehendeth that part which is willing to any thing, or the motions of the will: then therefore he meaneth, with thy whole will and purpose. Thirdly, with all thy cogitations] by which he understandeth the understanding and mind: so much as we know of God,1 so much also do we love him; therefore when we shall know him perfectly, that which is in part shall be abolished. And therefore our love of God which now is but in part, shall then be perfect. Lastly, with all thy strength] in which all inward actions agreeable to the Law of God are contained. Secondly, it is said, In the Love of God: 2as unto whom, being once manifested and doing good unto him, man is bound: whereupon the Lord calleth himself our God. Now to love God, is to acknowledge him to be the chiefest good, and to be the chiefest good to us: and so to love him, that thou wilt rather forgo all things then thou wilt depart from him, or not be joined with him: for that which is best, that thou dost most desire, and dost covet most of all to be joined with it.
Neuertheles the Maior, or first proposition, is to be declared more at large. First it is said, whosoeuer abideth not in perfect loue, that is, as Christ expoundeth it, hee that loueth not God with al his hart, with al his soule, with al his cogitation, and with al his strength. With al his hart] by which are vnderstood al the affections, inclinations & appetits, or desires. For God wil haue himselfe alone to bee acknowledged the chiefest, and himselfe to be loued aboue al things: and, that men may relie on him, hee wil haue the whole hart to be yeelded vp to himselfe, not part to him, and part to another: and to this is opposed, not to walke before God with a perfect hart. Obiection. If we ought to loue God with al our hart, then ought we not to loue our Parentes. Aunswere. It is lawful for to loue other things also besides God, but nothing aboue God. We ought to loue our Parents, but not chieflie. For we ought to