A14216:2539
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.
this phrase, to die unto the law, doth not signify to be exempted from the obedience of the Law, but to be freed from condemnation, and from the provokement of sin, which the Law worketh in the unregenerate, whereas we being engrafted into Christ, enjoy in him both a full satisfaction for our sins, for which the Law condemned us, and the spirit of regeneration bending & inclining our hearts, not to an hatred of the Law, wherewith they first did burn, but to the study and desire of obedience and righteousness. Therefore he addeth, Rom. 7.4. That ye should be unto another, who is raised up from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. Again, we are delivered from the Law, being dead unto it, wherein we were holden, that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. In the other place, Gal. 2. this is the Apostles meaning, J through the Law, to wit, which accuseth sins, and terrifieth the consciences of men, am dead to the Law, that is, cease to seek for righteousness in the Law, and begin to seek for it in Christ. For this is it which he addeth, J am crucified with Christ, namely, by the participation of Christs merit, and the mortification of sin, that J might live to God, according to the will of God expressed in the Law. For he liveth to God, who obeyeth God, and honoureth him through his obedience. But this the doctrine of the Law, doth not work in nature now corrupted, except we pass from the Law to Christ by faith, that he may live in us, and we in him, that is, that he may be effectual in us through the working of his holy spirit; first, by suggesting ⟨p. 857⟩& speaking comfort in our hearts, of the remission of our sins, then, by making us like unto himself by regeneration, that the Law may no longer condemn us and cause wrath; but we may delight in the law of God, concerning the inner man; Rom. 7. So then are we delivered from the Law, and die to the Law, so Christ liveth in us, that we begin to delight in the Law, and to order our life according to the prescript thereof. For Christ doth not restore any other righteousness, or any other image of God in us by his spirit, than which was created by our nature, darkened and eclipsed by sin, and described in the law: