A14216:2243
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 The first and principal end and use of the Lords supper is, that Christ might therein testify unto us, that he died for us, and doth feed us with his blood and body unto everlasting life, that so by this testification he might cherish and increase in us our faith, and so consequently this spiritual food and nourishment. The second end is thanks-giving, for these benefits of Christ, and our public and solemn profession of them, and our duty towards christ. The third is, the distinguishing of the church from other sects. The fourth: That it might be a bond of mutual love and dilection. The fifth; That it might be a bond of our assemblies and meetings.
3 The first and principal end and vse of the Lords supper is, that Christ might therein testifie vnto vs, that hee died for vs, and dooth feede vs with his bloude and body vnto euerlasting life, that so by this testification hee might cherish and encrease in vs our faith, and so consequently this spirituall foode and nourishment. The second end is thankes-giuing, for these benefites of Christ, and our publique and solemne profession of them, and our duty towards christ. The third is, the distinguishing of the church from other sectes. The fourth: That it might be a bond of mutual loue and dilection. The fift; That it might be a bond of our assemblies and meetinges.
4 That first end and use, which is the confirmation of our faith in Christ, the supper of the Lord hereof hath, because Christ himself giveth this bread and drink by the hands of his ministers to be a memorial of him; that is, to admonish and put us in remembrance by this sign as by his visible word, that he died for us, and is the food of eternal life unto us, while he maketh us his members: both because he hath annexed a promise to this rite, that he will feed those, who eat this bread in remembrance of him, with his own body and blood, when he saith, This my body: and also because the holy ghost doth by this visible testimony move our minds ⟨p. 773⟩and harts more firmly to believe the promise of the gospel.