A14216:381
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.
How the Image of God is in Christ, and how in us.
How the Image of God is in Christ, and how in vs.
1Now if it be objected, that this honour is proper unto Christ to be the image of god, Coloss. 1. and Hebr. 1. it is well known that Christ is after an other sort the image of god, than other men. For he is in respect of his Divinity the image not of himself, neither of the holy Ghost, but of his eternal father, coeternal, and consubstantial, and coequal with his Father, in essence, essential properties, and works, and is that person, by which the Father doth immediately reveal himself in creating and preserving all things, but chiefly in saving the elect. Secondly, In respect of his humane nature, he is the image of God, & that of the whole Trinity, because the three persons together bestowed on Christs humanity these gifts, properties, & majesty, which are the image of God. Now albeit this image of God is created & finite, not immense: yet doth he by many degrees, and in number of gifts, as in wisdom, righteousness, power, glory, far excel all Angels, & men: & after a peculiar manner resembleth the fathers nature and will unto us, in doctrine, virtues, & actions, because as the human nature which he took unto him, so all the properties & actions thereof, are proper unto the Substantial & coeternal word of the eternal father. John. 14. Philip, he that hath seen me, hath seen my father. Believest thou not that I am in the father, & the father in me? The words that I speak unto you, I speak not of my self; but the father that dwelleth in me, he doth the works. Angels & holy men are termed the image of god as well in respect of the son & the holy ghost, as of the eternal father: as it is said, Let us make man in our image according to our likeness: & that not for the likeness or identity of essence, or some equality: but for the agreeing of some properties, not in degree or essence, but in kind & imitation which are essential & infinite in god, but in the creatures finite & accidental, that is, qualities & motions framed in them by god to represent in some sort his nature.