A14216:328
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.
Again they object:1 He that is the cause of those things which make sin, is the cause of sin. God is the cause of those things which make sin, that is, of the action, which is the matter, and of the privation of rightness in man, which is the form of sin. Wherefore he is the author of sin. To these the answer hath been made before. For the Minor is to be denied. Because the action, & privation of the divine light & direction do make sin, as they are contrary to the Law. And they are contrary to the law of God, and make sin, as they are committed by man, & are in him: but as they are guided by God & inflicted, they are not sin, but a trial of him that would sin, or a punishment of him that had sinned. Wherefore that is not of God, but of man and the Devil which maketh sin.
Againe they obiect:1 He that is the cause of those thinges which make sin, is the cause of sin. God is the cause of those things which make sin, that is, of the action, which is the matter, and of the priuation of rightnes in man, which is the form of sin. Wherefore he is the autor of sin. To these the aunswere hath beene made before. For the Minor is to be denied. Because the action, & priuation of the diuine light & direction do make sinne, as they are contrarie to the Law. And they are contrary to the law of God, and make sin, as they are committed by man, & are in him: but as they are guided by God & inflicted, they are not sin, but a trial of him that would sin, or a punishment of him that had sinned. Wherefore that is not of God, but of man and the Diuell which maketh sin.
- 1That is not of God but of man and the Devil which maketh sin.That is not of God but of man and the Diuel which maketh sinne.
1Last of all they urge: Seeing that God would the fa of Adam either as it was sin, or as a punishment, and could not will it as a punishment, because no sin had gone before which should be therewith punished; it seemeth to follow that God would that work as it was sin. But this consequence also is deceitful, because there is not a sufficient enumeration in the Major. For although the first sin was no punishment, yet God would that action, not as a sin and contrary to his will and nature, but as in punishing, and receiving again mankind into favour by his Son it was a way and occasion of exercising and manifesting his justice and mercy, and an example of the weakness of all creatures, yea of the most excellent, if they be not by the singular goodness of the Creator preserved; as it is declared,