A14216:2464
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 What are the parts of Conversion.
3 What are the parts of Conuersion.
THE parts of Conversion are in number two, 1as the Apostle showeth; The mortifying of the old man, and the quickening of the new man. So speak we better with the Apostle, than if we should follow them, who make Contrition and Faith, the parts of conversion. Now by contrition they understand also mortification: by faith they understand the joy which followeth the study of righteousness & new obedience; ⟨p. 828⟩which are indeed effects of saith, but not faith it self: and co••ition goeth before conversion, neither is conversion it self, nor any p•rt thereof, but only a preparing of men unto conversion: and that in the Liect only, not in others. And this is the reason why they begin the preaching of Repentance from the Law, & then come unto the gospel, & so come back again unto the Law. The Old man, which is mortified, is a mere sinner only, namely our corrupt nature. The New man, which is quickened, is he who beginneth to cease from sins, namely, as our nature is regenerated.2 Mortification containeth, 1 A knowledge of sin. 2 A grief for sin, and for the offending of God. 3 The flying and shunning of sin. By this appeareth, that conversion or mortification is very unproperly attributed unto the wicked, because in them is not any hatred or shunning of sin, neither any grief for sin, all which mortification doth comprehend. Furthermore, The knowledge of sin goeth before that grief which is unfeigned, & proceeding from the hart, which mortification containeth, because the affections of the hart follow knowledge. Wherefore knowledge, or acknowledgement shall be a part or at least a cause of the other two parts in both parts of conversion. The grief which is in the wicked, when they repent, is a grief for the evil either to come, or present, which is punishment. But the grief which is in the godly when they repent, is 1. A grief both for sin past and present, which is called Sorrow; and also for sin to come, which is called Fear. 2. An hatred of sin committed, both of present sin, and of sin to come. 3. An averting from sin committed, both present and future sin. 4. A flying of sin to come. The grief is in the heart. The flying is in the will; in that we will not here after commit sin. The averting is in the hart and will, and it is an averting unto somewhat, to wit, an averting from evil unto good.