A14216:315
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.
So also we answer to that Argument: The privation or want of righteousness and divine wisdom god inflicteth as a punishment upon men: but that privation is sin. Therefore god is the causer of sin. For this privation is not sin, as by the just judgement of God it is inflicted, but as it is of men themselves voluntarily brought upon them by their own misdeeds and demerits, and is admitted or received into the mind, will and hart: even as evil actions are not sins, as they are governed by god, but as they are done by men.
So also we answere to that Argument: The priuation or want of righteousnes and diuine wisedome god inflicteth as a punishment vpon men: but that priuation is sinne. Therefore god is the causer of sinne. For this priuation is not sinne, as by the iust iudgement of God it is inflicted, but as it is of men themselues voluntarily brought vpon them by their owne misdeedes and demerites, and is admitted or receiued into the minde, will and hart: euen as euill actions are not sinnes, as they are gouerned by god, but as they are done by men.
They say further: He that mindeth the end, mindeth also the means. God mindeth the ends of sin, 1that is punishment and the showing of his justice and wrath in punishment. Wherefore he mindeth sins also, by which those ends are come unto. But the Minor is to be denied, that punishment & the manifestation of the glory of god are the ends of sin. For the end is that which moveth the efficient cause to bring forth an effect: but punishment or the manifestation of the glory of god, do not move the sinner to sin. These cannot therefore ⟨p. 106⟩be said to be the ends of sin. But those are the proper ends of sin, which the Devils and men respect in sinning: that is the destruction of men, the fulfilling of evil desires, the oppression and reproach of God and his truth.
They say further: He that mindeth the end, mindeth also the meanes. God mindeth the ends of sinne,