A14216:23
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.
But in vain spend I words to brass and Iron: who, though the Lord hath held in his hand for a long time the full viol of his wrath, and is now weary with holding it any longer, and about to pour it out upon them for this their horrible transgression; yet stagger they not a whit at it, but run on like hum gry companions with an eye only to the flesh pots, and so sell both themselves & their people for a morsel of bread, & a mess of pottage to the devil. Shall I not visit for these things, saith the Lord? 1Or shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this? Yes doubtless, he, who is able to muster the clouds and winds, and to fight with heavenly powers against us, shall and will, if we leave not off to make such havoc of his children, be avenged on us; he shall raise up the standard, and make the trumpet blow, nether shall suffer the sight of the one to pass our eyes, nor the sound of the other to forsake our ears, until destruction come upon destruction, death upon death, plague upon famine, and sword upon both, to the utter overthrow both of our selves & Country perpetually. Nay rather, O God, if there be any place for mercy, (and why should we doubt of mercy with thee the God of mercy?) look not upon this dross and filth wherewith thy holy house hath bin polluted, ⟨image 8⟩but sweep them out; but look, O Lord, with thy tender eye of compassion upon thy silly people (for what have they done?) and stir them up daily for Pastors and Prophets wise and skilful men, whose lips may keep knowledge, and whose hands may break unto them the bread of life.
But in vain spend I words to brasse and Iron: who, though the Lord hath held in his hand for a long time the ful viol of his wrath, and is now wearie with holding it any longer, and about to poure it out vpon them for this their horrible transgression; yet staggar they not a whit at it, but run on like hū gry cōpanions with an eie only to the flesh pots, and so sel both themselues & their people for a morsel of bread, & a messe of pottage to the diuel. Shal I not visit for these things, saith the Lord? 1Or shal not my soule be auenged on such a nation as this? Yes doubtlesse, hee, who is able to muster the cloudes and winds, and to fight with heauenly powers against vs, shal and wil, if wee leaue not off to make such hauok of his children, be auenged on vs; he shal raise vp the standard, and make the trumpet blow, nether shal suffer the sight of the one to passe our eies, nor the soūd of the other to forsake our ears, vntil destruction come vpon destruction, death vpon death, plague vpon famine, and sword vpon both, to the vtter ouerthrow both of our selues & Country perpetually. Nay rather, O God, if there bee any place for mercy, (and why should wee doubt of mercy with thee the God of mercy?) looke not vpon this drosse and filth wherewith thy holy house hath bin polluted,