A14216:314
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.
1If humane reason do here object: That God is the author & causer of punishments? If therefore sins be the punishments of sins, it followeth that God is the cause of sins: We answer ⟨p. 105⟩that there is a fallacy of the accident in the Minor. For it cometh to pass by an accident, that is by the fault of those who sin, that when by the just judgement of God either themselves or others are punished by evil men, they in the mean season (God permitting, that is not showing them that he would have those things to be done by them for to punish them, which things yet he hateth, and which he will punish both in this life and the life to come) do fulfil their desires swerving from the law of God, & estranging themselves more and more from God by sinning, do purchase more grievous punishments unto themselves. Or if we will distinguish the Major, it is in effect the same. For punishments come from god as author and causer of them, as they are punishments: but inasmuch as they are sins, so they come, God neither willing them, nor approving them, nor causing, but only permitting. For to permit this kind of punishments, which sinners by sinning inflict ether upon themselves or others; is nothing else, than not to cause, that evil men should do this, which God would have done for punishment, to the same end, that they may obey this will of God.
1If humane reason doe here obiect: That God is the author & causer of punishmēts? If therefore sins be the punishments of sins, it followeth that God is the cause of sinnes: We answere ⟨p. 105⟩that there is a fallacie of the accident in the Minor. For it commeth to passe by an accident, that is by the fault of those who sinne, that when by the iust iudgement of God either themselues or others are punished by euil men, they in the meane season (God permitting, that is not shewing them that he would haue those things to be done by them for to punish them, which things yet he hateth, and which he will punish both in this life and the life to come) do fulfill their desires swaruing from the law of God, & estrainging themselues more and more from God by sinning, doe purchase more grieuous punishmentes vnto themselues. Or if we will distinguish the Maior, it is in effect the same. For punishments come from god as author and causer of them, as they are punishmentes: but in asmuch as they are sinnes, so they come, God neither willing them, nor approuing them, nor causing, but onely permitting. For to permit this kinde of punishments, which sinners by sinning inflict ether vpon themselues or others; is nothing else, than not to cause, that euill men shoulde doe this, which God woulde haue done for punishment, to the same ende, that they may obey this will of God.