A14216:2010
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.
6 What the sacramental union is.
6 What the sacramental vnion is.
THE foundation or matter in the Sacraments are the rites & ceremonies or external visible actions instituted by God, which are performed by men after a certain & solemn manner, & are called by a relative or respective name signs or sacraments. The term respected or correlative, is Christ & all his benefits, or the internal spiritual working of God in us according to the promise of the gospel: this is called the thing signed or signified by the sacrament, because it is signified and confirmed by the outward rite. The relation it self that is between these, (which maketh both to become relatives, or respectives, being in their own nature absolute things,) is the order instituted by God, the signifying of a spiritual thing by a corporal thing, and the sealing of the thing signified. The correlatives are the things signified and the signs. Hereby now appeareth that this conjunction of things with their signs, or sacramental union, is not corporal or local. Now this union consisteth in two things. 1. In a similitude and proportion of the signs with the things signified. 2. In the joint-exhibiting or receiving of th• things, and in the lawful and right use. The faithful only, in the lawful and right use, receive the signs of the ministers, and the things signified of Christ: and when we so receive both, that is the sign, and the thing signified, the same is called sacramental union. For in these it consisteth, and not in a presence of the thing and the sign in one and the same place, and much less in any transmutation or transubstantiation.
THE foundation or matter in the Sacraments are the rites & ceremonies or externall visible actions instituted by God, which are perfourmed by men after a certaine & solemne maner, & are called by a relatiue or respectiue name signes or sacraments. The terme respected or correlatiue, is Christ & al his benefits, or the internal spiritual working of God in vs according to the promise of the gospell: this is called the thing signed or signified by the sacrament, because it is signified and confirmed by the outward rite. The relation it selfe that is betweene these, (which maketh both to become relatiues, or respectiues, being in their own nature absolute thinges,) is the order instituted by God, the signifieng of a spirituall thing by a corporall thing, and the sealing of the thing signified. The correlatiues are the things signified and the signes. Heereby now appeareth that this coniunction of thinges with their signes, or sacramentall vnion, is not corporall or local. Nowe this vnion consisteth in two things. 1. Jn a similitude and proportion of the signes with the thinges signified. 2. In the ioint-exhibiting or receiuing of th thinges, and in the lawfull and right vse. The faithful onely, in the lawful and right vse, receiue the signs of the ministers, and the things signified of Christ: and when we so receiue both, that is the signe, and the thing signified, the same is called sacramental vnion. For in these it consisteth, and not in a presence of the thing and the signe in one and the same place, and much lesse in any transmution or transsubstantiation.