A14216:2207
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.
3 Objection. That which quickeneth and nourisheth us, is received into us, the body and blood of christ do quicken us: therefore they are received into us. Answer. The Major is but mere particular, and therefore false in general for not whatsoever quickeneth and nourisheth us, must necessarily be received into us. That only must be received into us necessarily, which quickeneth & nourisheth naturally, that is, by a joint-touching of our body. This meat, which so nourisheth us after a natural manner, doth not nourish us, except thereby the substance of our body be increased. But we speak far otherwise of the nourishing of the soul, which is spiritual. Christs body doth not at all nourish us naturally: for it doth not being received into us quicken us, by working in us new corporal qualities, like as a medicine doth: but the body of christ nourisheth and quickeneth us after a manner divers from that natural nourishing; ⟨p. 759⟩and accordingly as this manner of nourishing and quickening requireth, so receive we christs body. The manner whereby christs body and blood nourisheth us, is, 1. The respect of his merit. For, for us christs body is given, and his blood shed for us, and for the body and blood of christ we have eternal life given unto us. After this manner then the body and blood of christ quickeneth us, as it is a merit deserving for us this blessing. 2. His body and blood quickeneth or nourisheth us, when we receive that merit of christs body and blood: that is, when we believe with a true faith that for it we shall have eternal life. This faith resteth and hangeth on christ hanging on the Cross, not corporally dwelling in us. 3. It nourisheth us, when the same spirit uniteth us by faith unto christ, and worketh the like in us, which it doth in christ. For except we be grafted into christ, we do not please God. For he will on that condition receive us, and pardon us our sins. So that by faith through the working of the holy Ghost, we be joined with christ, and engrafted into him. Seeing then this is the manner, whereby the body and blood of christ quicken and nourish us, there is no need of any descending of the body and blood of christ into our bodies.
3 Obiection. That which quickeneth and nourisheth vs, is receiued into vs, the bodie and bloud of christ doe quicken vs: therefore they are receiued into vs. Aunswere. The Maior is but meere particular, and therefore false in general for not whatsoeuer quickeneth and nourisheth vs, must necessarily be receiued into vs. That only must be receiued into vs necessarily, which quickneth & nourisheth naturally, that is, by a ioint-touching of our bodie. This meate, which so nourisheth vs after a naturall manner, dooth not nourishe vs, except thereby the substaunce of our bodie bee increased. But wee speake farre otherwise of the nourishing of the soule, which is spirituall. Christes bodie doth not at all nourish vs naturally: for it doth not being receiued into vs quicken vs, by working in vs new corporal qualities, like as a medicine dooth: but the bodie of christ nourisheth and quickeneth vs after a maner diuers from that natural nourishing;