A14216:269
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.
If it be objected,1 That every unpardonable sin is a sin against the holy ghost, because Christ saith that the sin against the holy ghost is unpardonable: But final perseverance in whatsoever sin without repentance, is remitted to no man. And therefore it is a sin against the holy ghost: and by a consequent, all that perish sin against the holy ghost. The ambiguity of unpardonable sin maketh four terms in this Syllogism. For in the Major it signifieth that kind of sin, which is never remitted to any: because whosoever commit it, whether at the end, or before the end of their life, they persevere in it even to the end without repentance: But in the Minor it signifieth not a certain kind of sin but all their sins who repent not: which indeed are not remitted to them, because they persevere in them to the end without repentance, and they are unpardonable not before the end, but in the very end of their life: yet are they remitted to others who persevere not in them, but repent. For perseverance in sins is nothing else, than the sins themselves, which are continued unto the end, & therefore this is the meaning of the Minor: Sins, in which men persevere without repentance unto the end, are not pardoned them who persevere in them. But now all men do not persevere in them, as they persevere in the sin against the holy Ghost, even whosoever once fall into it. And christ in this speech showeth not, for what sins men are punished with everlasting death. For it is certain that it befalleth for all sins, of which men repent not: but he showeth, what sins are such, as whosoever do commit them, they do never repent. This he affirmeth of no kind of sin, but only of blasphemy against the holy Ghost.
If it be obiected,1 That euerie vnpardonable sinne is a sinne against the holie ghost, because Christ saith that the sinne against the holie ghost is vnpardonable: But final perseuerance in whatsoeuer sinne without repentance, is remitted to no man. And therefore it is a sinne against the holie ghost: and by a consequent, all that perish sinne against the holie ghost. The ambiguity of vnpardonable sinne maketh four termes in this Syllogisme. For in the Maior it signifieth that kind of sinne, which is neuer remitted to any: because whosoeuer commit it, whether at the end, or before the end of their life, they perseuere in it euen to the end without repentance: But in the Minor it signifieth not a certaine kind of sinne but al their sinnes who repent not: which indeede are not remitted to them, because they perseuere in them to the end without repentance, and they are vnpardonable not before the end, but in the very end of their life: yet are they remitted to others who perseuere not in them, but repent. For perseuerance in sinnes is nothing else, than the sinnes themselues, which are continued vnto the end, & therfore this is the meaning of the Minor: Sinnes, in which men perseuere without repentaunce vnto the end, are not pardoned them who perseuere in them. But now all men doe not perseuere in them, as they perseuere in the sin against the holy Ghost, euen whosoeuer once fal into it. And christ in this speech sheweth not, for what sins men are punished with euerlasting death. For it is certaine that it befalleth for all sins, of which men repent not: but he sheweth, what sins are such, as whosoeuer doe commit them, they do neuer repent. This he affirmeth of no kind of sin, but only of blasphemy against the holy Ghost.