A14216:1914
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
Part 2 › OF EVERLASTING LIFE. › Section 1: 1 WHAT EVERLASTING LIFE IS.
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.
1LIFE is defined among Philosophers diversly; and it is indeed a word of divers significations, & signifying divers things. In general it is, either the very existence and being of the soul with the body, or the operation of a living thing: that is, it signifieth to be, or to do those things which are proper unto a living nature, for it is taken both for the first act and for the second. Therefore death is the destruction of a living thing and of the power or faculty of working. Or, Life is an aptitude of a living thing to work the operations proper unto it, and is also the operations themselves, by reason of the Union of the body with the soul. Generally, both as touching god, and Angels, and men, it is the existence or being of a ⟨p. 671⟩living thing, and the faculty or power wherewith every living thing being endowed doth exercise the operations and actions of life. Spirits also live: but they have not that from life, but from their very nature & essence. Now when we mention everlasting life, we restrain the word: for then it speaketh of the everlasting life of men & Angels. That is called Everlasting, 1. Which hath neither beginning nor ending. 22 Which hath no beginning, and hath an ending, as the decrees of god. 3. Which hath a beginning, but shall have no end, as everlasting life.
1LIFE is defined among Philosophers diuersly; and it is indeede a word of diuers significations, & signifiyng diuers things. In generall it is, either the verie existence and being of the soul with the bodie, or the operation of a liung thing: that is, it signifieth to be, or to doe those things which are proper vnto a liuing nature, for it is taken both for the first act and for the second. Therefore death is the destruction of a liuing thing and of the power or facultie of woorking. Or, Life is an aptitude of a liuing thing to worke the operations proper vnto it, and is also the operations themselues, by reason of the Vnion of the bodie with the soule. Generally, both as touching god, and Angels, and men, it is the existence or being of a ⟨p. 671⟩liuing thing, and the facultie or power wherewith euerie liuing thing beeing endewed dooth exercise the operations and actions of life. Spirits also liue: but they haue not that from life, but from their very nature & essence. Now when we mention euerlasting life, we restraine the word: for then it speaketh of the euerlasting life of men & Angels. That is called Euerlasting, 1. Which hath neither beginning nor ending.