A14216:2328
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.
Now if a man transgress publicly by offending of the whole Church, he must also publicly be corrected by the Church, according as his trespass is: if neither yet he will repent being admonished and chastised by the Church; whether it be he that committed a private trespass, or he that committed a public offence; at length excommunication must be inflicted by the church, as the extrem• and last remedy to correct men obstinate and impenitent: even as also Christ himself commandeth in these words next following the place before alleged. If he refuse to hear the church also, let him be unto thee as an heathen man, and a publican: In these words Christ expressly commandeth all, whosoever being after this sort admonished by the church will not repent, to be by the common consent of the church excommunicated, until they repent.
Nowe if a man transgresse publikely by offending of the whole Church, he must also publikely be corrected by the Church, accordong as his trespasse is: if neither yet he will repent being admonished and chastised by the Church; whether it be he that committed a priuate trespasse, or he that cōmitted a publicke offence; at length excommunication must bee inflicted by the church, as the extrem• and last remedie to correct men obstinate and impenitent: euen as also Christ himselfe commaundeth in these woordes next following the place before alleaged. Jf he refuse to heare the church also, let him be vnto thee as an heathen man, and a publicane: In these wordes Christ expressely commaundeth all, whosoeuer being after this sort admonished by the church wil not repent, to be by the common consent of the church excommunicated, vntill they repent.
It remaineth now that we see, what Excommunication is. Excommunication is the banishing of a grievous transgressor, or an open, ungodly and obstinate person, from the fellowship of the faithful, by the judgement of the Elders, by the consent of the church, and by the authority of christ, and by the holy Scripture: When the Church therefore pronounceth of any, that they are not godly, they must be excommunicated, and not admitted unto the sacrament. And whosoever are excommunicated, they again professing & showing in their actions amendment, are altogether in like sort received into the church as they were exiled from it, namely by the judgement of the Elders, by the consent of the Church, & the authority of Christ and the Scripture. Furthermore the chief and principal part in excommunication, is denunciation, whereby is denounced, that he which denieth faith and repentance is no member of the church, as long as he continueth such, how ever he make boast of the name of christians; because the Scripture doth not acknowledge him for a christian,