A14216:2333
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.
Likewise wheresoever the ministers are commanded to receive only such for members of the church, as profess faith & repentance. Reply. God indeed forbiddeth the ungodly to come unto the sacraments, but he willeth not that the church should forbid them. Ans. What god forbiddeth to be done in the church, that will he have to be avoided by the Discipline of the church: & that God hath willed the church to forbid & exclude professed ungodly persons, is manifestly proved by the fore alleged places.
Likewise wheresoeuer the ministers are commaunded to receiue only such for members of the church, as professe faith & repentāce. Reply. God indeed forbiddeth the vngodlie to come vnto the sacraments, but he willeth not that the church should forbid them. Ans. What god forbiddeth to be done in the church, that wil he haue to be auoided by the Discipline of the church: & that God hath willed the church to forbid & exclude professed vngodly persons, is manifestly prooued by the fore alleadged places.
2 Object. Men are not able to discern the worthy from the unworthy: they cannot know, who truly repent, & who persist in impiety: neither can they cast any man into hell fire. Therefore that judgement is not committed unto the church, whereby the godly may be distinguished from the ungodly. Answer. The church doth not judge of such as are hidden or secrete, but of those that are manifest, namely of those, who show them selves in outward life & profession; and this she doth when concerning such she subscribeth to the judgement of god, that is, when she judgeth of them according to the prescript of Gods word: as when out of the word of God she pronounceth the obstinate to be condemned, as long as they continue such; & when out of the word of God she absolveth them which show repentance. But to discern from others such as are close & hidden, as the church is not able, so neither doth she take it upon her.
2 Obiect. Men are not able to discerne the woorthie from the vnworthie: they cannot know, who truelie repent, & who persist in impietie: neither can they cast anie man into hell fire. Therefore that iudgement is not committed vnto the church, whereby the godlie maie be distinguished from the vngodlie. Aunswere. The church doth not iudge of such as are hidden or secrete, but of those that are manifest, namely of those, who shew them selues in outward life & profession; and this she doth when concerning such she subscribeth to the iudgement of god, that is, when shee iudgeth of them according to the prescript of Gods word: as when out of the woord of God shee pronounceth the obstinate to be condemned, as long as they continue such; & when out of the word of God she absolueth them which shew repentance. But to discerne from others such as are close & hidden, as the church is not able, so neither doth she take it vpon her.