A14216:404
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.
For, that the scope of this disputation may be known, and the use thereof perceived:1 we must understand that the principal question in it is this, Whether as man averted himself from God, and corrupted himself, so of the other side he be able by his own strength to return to God, and to receive grace offered by God, and to amend himself: And further, whether the will of man be the first and principal cause why others are converted, others persist in their sins, and as well of the converted as not converted others are more, others less good or evil, and in a word do either good or evil, some after one manner, some after another. To this question the adversaries, Pelagians, and the like, make answer, That so much grace is both given of God, and left by nature to all men, that they are able to return unto God and obey him; neither ought we to seek any other cause before or above mans will, for which others receive or retain, others refuse or cast away divine succour and aide in avoiding sin, and do after this or that manner order and institute their counsels and actions.
For, that the scope of this disputation may be knowen, and the vse thereof perceiued:1 we must vnderstand that the principal question in it is this, Whether as man auerted himselfe from God, and corrupted himself, so of the other side he be able by his owne strength to returne to God, and to receiue grace offered by God, and to amend himselfe: And further, whether the will of man be the first and principal cause why others are conuerted, others persist in their sins, and as wel of the conuerted as not conuerted others are more, others lesse good or euil, and in a woord doe either good or euill, some after one maner, some after another. To this question the aduersaries, Pelagians, and the like, make answere, That so much grace is both giuen of God, and left by nature to al men, that they are able to returne vnto God and obey him; neither ought we to seeke any other cause before or aboue mans wil, for which others receiue or retaine, others refuse or cast awaie diuine succour and aide in auoiding sinne, and do after this or that manner order and institute their counsailes aad actions.
- 1The state of the main question about free will.