A14216:2546
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.
5 How far the Law is abrogated.
THE whole Law is abrogated unto believers, 1. As touching justification: because judgement is not given according to the Law (for that judgement would condemn and cast us away) but according to the gospel. 2. As touching ⟨p. 860⟩constraint. We are under grace; and therefore are we stirred up by the spirit of Christ to yield voluntary obedience unto the Law. For seeing the whole Law is abrogated unto believers, then verily the Moral Law is also abrogated unto them, & in the same respect, namely, as touching justification, or condemnation, and as touching violent constraint. For now the Law doth not any more express and wrest obedience from us as a tyrant, or as a master enforcing & constraining a lewd servant unto obedience. The reason is, because Christ beginneth voluntary and free obedience in us by his spirit. Objection. The Law and the Prophets continue until John the Baptist came. If therefore then first the Moral Law was abrogated, as touching condemnation, when Christ was manifested in the flesh: it followeth, that those were under condemnation, who lived before the coming of Christ. Answer. The Law was abrogated, as touching condemnation, as well unto the believers in the old Testament, as to them, who are believers in the new. To them who lived in the old, as touching the power and efficacy of Christ: to these in the new as touching his fulfilling and exhibiting.
THE whole Law is abrogated vnto beleeuers, 1. As touching iustification: because iudgement is not giuen according to the Law (for that iudgement would condemne and cast vs away) but according to the gospel. 2. As touching ⟨p. 860⟩constraint. We are vnder grace; and therefore are we stirred vp by the spirite of Christ to yeelde voluntary obedience vnto the Law. For seeing the whole Law is abrogated vnto beleeuers, then verily the Moral Law is also abrogated vnto them, & in the same respect, namely, as touching iustification, or condemnation, and as touching violent constraint. For now the Law doth not any more expresse and wrest obedience frō vs as a tyrant, or as a master enforcing & constraining a lewd seruant vnto obedience. The reason is, because Christ beginneth voluntarie and free obedience in vs by his spirit. Obiection. The Law and the Prophetes continue vntil John the Baptist came. If therefore then first the Moral Law was abrogated, as touching condemnation, when Christ was manifested in the flesh: it followeth, that those were vnder condemnation, who liued before the comming of Christ. Answer. The Law was abrogated, as touching condemnation, as wel vnto the beleeuers in the old Testament, as to them, who are beleeuers in the new. To them who liued in the old, as touching the power and efficacy of Christ: to these in the new as touching his fulfilling and exhibiting.