A14216:2553
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.
Paul, when he saith, That the righteousness of the law is fulfilled in us, which walk after the spirit: And of the giving of the Holy Ghost and of regeneration, which is wrought for and by Christ, S. Paul purposely entreateth. Rom. 6. & 7. Fourthly, Christ fulfilleth the law by teaching it, that is, by repurging and purifying it from errors and corruptions, and by restoring the true doctrine and understanding thereof; which he doth, Matth. 5.6. & 7. If then Christ both teacheth and restoreth the obedience of the law in us; he doth not abolish the law, as concerning obedience. The same doth Paul teach, Rom. 3.31. Do we then make the law of none effect through faith? God forbid: yea we establish the law. Now by faith, or by the righteousness and justice of faith the Law is established, not only in confessing or approving ⟨p. 864⟩the judgement and accusation of the Law against us, as, that we do not yield due obedience unto the Law, forasmuch as we seek for righteousness without our selves in Christ; & in satisfying, because through faith is applied unto us christs satisfaction, equivalent to eternal punishment, which the Law required of us not performing perfect obedience: by this faith then it is wrought, that without the Law indeed, that is, not by our own obedience, but yet not against the Law, that is, not without another's perfect satisfaction for us, we are justified before God: but the Law is also established by faith through the beginning of new obedience in this life, and the accomplishing of the same in the life to come. Acts. 15. Purifying their hearts by faith. Gal. 5.5. We through the spirit wait for the hope of righteousness through faith. These and the like asseverations, that the Decalogue is to be taught in the new Testament, and the commandments of christ and the Apostles agreeing with the Decalogue, do most evidently refute the impiety of Antinomies, Libertines, and such like, who contend that the law is not to be taught in the church of christ. The same also may be gathered out of the use of Gods Law, which use thereof seeing it must be continual in the church; it followeth that the Law it self also must be perpetual. Which that it may be the more manifest, let the chief objections opposed against it be considered.