A14216:289
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 any man urge, That the works even of the regenerate also ⟨p. 96⟩are not perfect, 1neither yet for all that are they counted sins: and that therefore we must not so severely give sentence against others: the answer is at hand: that faith shineth on the works of the godly, but not on the works of the wicked. And therefore they please God, & their imperfection is covered through the satisfaction and intercession of Christ, which falleth not so out with the works of the wicked. And lastly in those is begun the true and inward obedience of the will and hart: but in these not so: and therefore these are hypocrisy, which is severely condemned by God himself.
If any man vrge, That the works euen of the regenerat also ⟨p. 96⟩are not perfect, 1neither yet for al that are they counted sins: and that therefore wee must not so seuerelie giue sentence against others: the answere is at hand: that faith shineth on the works of the godlie, but not on the works of the wicked. And therefore they please God, & their imperfection is couered through the satisfaction and intercession of Christ, which falleth not so out with the works of the wicked. And lastly in those is begunne the true and inward obedience of the wil and hart: but in these not so: and therefore these are hypocrisy, which is seuerely condemned by God himselfe.
- 1Why the works of the regenerate do please God.Why the works of the regenerate doe please God.
So also if they be said to be recompensed with reward, and therefore not to be sins: First we answer, that to be approved and rewarded in them which is good: but that evil which concurreth is not only condemned & punished, but the good also, which the wicked do, is deprived of the honour & name, and so of that eternal reward of those works which are indeed good & please God. Secondly we answer, that these are sometimes recompensed with temporal rewards, but never with eternal. Thirdly, that they are recompensed of God with these rewards, not as that he simply liketh of them, or so acknowledgeth them for good, that he doth not withal repute them for evil: but that he might invite by these rewards others aswell unbelievers as believers to keep and observe external discipline and honesty: Because he will that in mankind there be kept some order necessary for the preservation of the society of man, yea even amongst the wicked & hypocrites. Fourthly, those rewards are rather a diminishing and mitigation of their punishments than any rewards: because they make nought for their salvation to whom they befall. And God will according to the order of his justice, punish greater sins with greater punishments, and lesser with lesser, both in this life and in the life to come.