A14216:2122
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.
2 What are the ends of circumcision.
Circumcision was instituted, 1. That it might be a sign of the grace of God towards Abraham's posterity, and that doubly. First, that God would receive the believers by the Messiah who was to come: Secondly, that he would give them the land of Canaan, and grant his church a certain place there, until the coming of the Messiah. 2. That it might be a bond to bind Abraham and his seed unto thankfulness, or to faith and repentance, and so to keep the whole law. 3. That it might be a mark to distinguish the Jews from other Nations and Sects. 4. That it might be a sacrament of initiating and receiving them into the church. 5. That it might be an accusation and a signification of uncleanness. For that rite did show, that all men were subject to sins, and unclean. 6. That it might be a sign, which should show and signify that the means of their deliverance through Christ which was to come, should not come elsewhence than from the blood of Abraham.
CIrcumcision was instituted, 1. That it might bee a signe of the grace of God towardes Abrahams posteritie, and that doubly. First, that God woulde receiue the beleeuers by the Messias who was to come: Secondly, that he would giue them the land of Canaan, and graunt his church a certaine place there, vntill the comming of the Messias. 2. That it might be a bond to bind Abraham and his seede vnto thankefulnes, or to faith and repentance, and so to keepe the whole law. 3. That it might bee a marke to distinguish the Iewes from other Nations and Sects. 4. That it might bee a sacrament of initiating and receiuing them into the church. 5. That it might bee an accusation and a signification of vncleannes. For that rite did shewe, that all men were subiect to sinnes, and vnclean. 6. That it might bee a signe, which shoulde shewe and signifie that the meanes of their deliuerance through Christ which was to come, shoulde not come elsewhence than from the bloud of Abraham.