A14216:2302
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.
1 WHAT THE POWER OF THE KEYS GIVEN UNTO THE CHURCH IS.
1 WHAT THE POWER OF THE KEIES GIVEN VNTO THE CHVRCH IS.
THE power of the keys of the kingdom of heaven, which CHRIST gave unto his church, is the office or charge imposed on the church by Christ, of denouncing, by the preaching of the gospel and church-discipline, Gods will; and even of declaring the grace of God and remission of sins unto the penitent, that is, to them who live in true faith and repentance: but of denouncing unto the wicked the wrath of God, and exclusion or banishment from the kingdom of christ, and of casting such out of the church ⟨p. 793⟩as long as they shall show themselves in doctrine and life estranged from christ; and of receiving them again into the church when afterwards they shall repent. Hereby it appeareth, that the chief and principal parts of this power of the keys given unto the Saints are, the preaching of the gospel, or ministry of the word, and church-judgement, which is called also spiritual Discipline or jurisdiction. And verily, necessarily is Ecclesiastical Discipline joined and linked with the ministry of Gods word. Of the ministry of the word, there is no doubt but all the Prophets, Christ, and the Apostles have preached. Of the jurisdiction of the church likewise it is not to be doubted: in as much as Christ himself and the Apostle have both by precepts and practise confirmed and established it. Now in both is contained that power of shutting and opening, which the Lord noteth out by the name of the keys, saying, J will give thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven; the keys, that is, the office or power of shutting and opening the kingdom of God. It is a Metaphor or borrowed speech taken from the stewards of mens houses;1 because the steward of the house is said to have the key of it to open and to shut it.