A14216:305
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.
11. They, who make destiny a cloak for sin, 1. define destiny to be a linked order thorough all eternity, and a certain perpetual necessity of intents and works according to the counsels of God, or according to the evil planets. Now if you ask them who made the planets, they have not ought to answer, but God. Therefore these men lay their evil to Gods charge. But such a destiny did not all the founder Philosophers maintain, much less Christians. 2. S. Augustine, against two epistles of the Pelagians, unto Boniface, lib. 2. cap. 6. They, saith he, who hold destiny, maintain that not only actions & events, but also our wills themselves depend of the position of the planets, at the time of every ones conception or nativity which they call constellations. But the grace of God surpasseth not only all the stars, and all the heavens, but also all the Angels. Let us conclude these things with the word of the Lord by his Prophet Jeremiah, pronouncing to this sense, Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen, & be not afraid for the signs of heaven, though the heathen be afraid of such: for the customs of the people are vain. Wherefore that the Astrologers call the planet of Saturn unmerciful, sharp and cruel: and the planet of Venus favourable and gentle, it is the vanity of vanities. For the stars have no force of doing good or ill. And therefore the fault of sinners ought not to be imputed unto them.
11. They, who make destinie a cloake for sinne, 1. define destinie to bee a linked order thorough all aeternitie, and a certaine perpetuall necessitie of intents and workes according to the counsailes of God, or according to the euill planets. Now if you aske them who made the planets, they haue not ought to aunswere, but God. Therefore these men lay their euill to Gods charge. But such a destinie did not all the founder Philosophers maintain, much lesse Christiās. 2. S. Austine, against two epistles of the Pelagians, vnto Boniface, lib. 2. cap. 6. They, saith he, who hold destinie, maintain that not only actions & euents, but also our willes themselues depend of the position of the planets, at the time of euery ones conception or natiuitie which they call constellations. But the grace of God surpasseth not onely all the starres, and all the heauens, but also all the Angels. Let vs conclude these things with the word of the Lord by his Prophet Ieremy, pronouncing to this sense, Thus saith the Lorde, Learne not the way of the heathen, & bee not afraid for the signs of heauen, though the heathen be afraid of such: for the customes of the people are vaine. Wherefore that the Astrologers call the planet of Saturne vnmercifull, sharpe and cruell: and the planet of Venus fauourable and gentle, it is the vanity of vanities. For the starres haue no force of dooing good or ill. And therefore the fault of sinners ought not to be imputed vnto them.