A14216:1934
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.
1 WHAT JUSTICE OR RIGHTEOUSNESS IN GENERAL IS.
1 WHAT IVSTICE OR RIGHTEOVSNES IN GENERAL IS.
A Definition so general of justice can scarce be given, as may agree both to God and creatures, (even such as may agree to the furthest and highest kinds of justice or righteousness, which are, Uncreate, and created righteousness) except we will make a definition full of ambiguity. For uncreated justice or righteousness is God himself,1 who is the very squire and rule of all justice. Created justice is an effect of uncreate or divine justice in reasonable creatures. This created justice or righteousness may be defined generally, in such sort as the definition shall be alike common to all sorts thereof. Justice therefore or righteousness in general (as it agreeth to reasonable creatures) is a fulfilling of those laws which belong unto reasonable creatures: 2or is the conformity or correspondence of reasonable creatures with the laws appertaining and belonging unto them. It may be also defined on this wise: Justice is a conformity with God, or with the law of God: Or, it is a fulfilling of Gods law. 3For justice or righteousness is the observance of the law:4 as sin is the transgression of the law: & the name Righteousness is derived from Right, which is the law it self: and conformity with the law is righteousness it self. This we must know because we must be justified by the fulfilling of the law: & we must understand that the law is not abolished, but established, by the gospel. For the righteousness & justice of the Gospel is the fulfilling of the law: but doth not at all disagree from the law. Object. He that is just and righteous is conformed and agreeable unto the law. To justify is to make just. Therefore to justify is to make one agreeable unto the law. Answer. All this is granted: that is either in himself to be so, or in another. Now these are all one, the imputed righteousness or justice of an other, the righteousness, of the Gospel, the righteousness of faith. Wherefore to justify is, to assoil and absolve one from sin, for that justice or righteousness, which either is in himself, or in an other. This signification & meaning of the word is proved throughout the whole Epistle to the Romans: It was imputed to him for righteousness.