A14216:2233
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.
The second part of the former question is, Who ought to be admitted unto the Lords Supper.
The second part of the former question is, Who ought to bee admitted vnto the Lords Supper.
They are to be admitted of the Church, who in words & deeds profess true repentance: they also who express & show a profession of faith & repentance in the actions of their life, are to be admitted: but not they, whosoever simply do avouch that they believe all things. For he that saith he believeth and hath not works, is a liar, and denieth indeed that which he affirmeth in words, according to that of the Apostle: They profess that they know God, but by works they deny him, and are abominable, and disobedient, and to every good work reprobate. So saint James also showeth, That faith which is without works, is dead. The reasons, why they are to be admitted only, who both by their confession and life profess ⟨p. 770⟩faith and repentance, are these, 1. Because the church should profane Gods covenant if it should admit unbelievers and men impenitent. For he that doth a thing, and he that consenteth unto it, are both obnoxious to the same law. To profane the covenant of God, is, to commend and acknowledge them for the confederates or friends and fellows of God, who are Gods enemies, and so to make God such a one, as hath entered a covenant and is in league with hypocrites and wicked men. Now the covenant of God is two ways profaned, namely as well by communicating and imparting the signs of the covenant to them unto whom God promiseth nothing, as by receiving and using the signs without faith and repentance. For not only they profane the covenant, who being as yet impenitent; take the signs of the covenant unto them, but they also, who wittingly and willingly give the signs unto those, whom god hath shut from his covenant. They make therefore God a fellow & friend of the wicked, & the son of the devil the son of God, whosoever reach the signs unto the wicked. Object. He that giveth to him that abuseth it, sinneth. The church giveth the supper unto hypocrites which abuse it. Therefore the church sinneth. Ans. He that giveth the supper to one which abuseth it, sinneth, if he wittingly & willingly doth it: otherwise he sinneth not, but they who abuse the supper purchase damnation to them selves. But the godly are not made partakers of that profanation of the covenant profaned by the wicked, if they know not the wicked approaching unto the supper, neither do willingly admit the wicked. Reply.