A14216:405
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.
1 Of the word, Liberty.
1There is one kind of liberty from bond and misery. And this signifieth a relation or respect, that is the power or right, or ordering either of person or thing, made either by ones will or by nature, to deal at his own arbiterment or motion according to honest Laws, or order agreeable to his nature, and to enjoy commodities convenient for him without inhibition or impediment, & not to sustain the defects & burdens or encumbrances which are not proper to his nature. So is God most free, because he is bound to no man. So the Romans and the Jews were free, that is, stood not charged with such governments & burdens, which a man might want without any swerving from justice. So are we made free by Christ from the anger of God, and everlasting death, & levitical ceremonies. So a City, field, house is free from servitude, danger, or any burden. So a bird is free in the air. Wherefore under liberty in this sense is comprehended, as a special under his general, civill liberty, which is a right or ability for a man to do and dispose of himself and his affairs at his own pleasure, according to honest and good laws. Wherefore this liberty is opposed to bondage and servitude. Of this there is no question in this place: because it is a greed upon, that we are all the servants of God; for we are all obliged by his Law, either to obey him, or to suffer punishment, if we do not obey: neither is it put in our will or pleasure, to obey, or not to obey; to suffer, or not to suffer punishment. For our will, will many things freely, the liberty of performing whereof notwithstanding we have not, ⟨p. 141⟩either some prohibition, or other impediment hindering us from it.
1THere is one kind of liberty from bond and misery. And this signifieth a relation or respect, that is the power or right, or ordering either of person or thing, made either by ones wil or by nature, to deale at his owne arbiterment or motion according to honest Lawes, or order agreeable to his nature, and to enioy commodities conuenient for him without inhibition or impediment, & not to sustaine the defects & burdens or encomberances which are not proper to his nature. So is God most free, because he is bound to no man. So the Romanes and the Iewes were free, that is, stoode not charged with such gouernementes & burdens, which a mā might want without any swaruing from iustice. So are we made free by Christ from the anger of God, and euerlasting death, & leuitical ceremonies. So a Citie, field, house is free from seruitude, danger, or any burden. So a birde is free in the aire. Wherefore vnder libertie in this sense is comprehended, as a special vnder his generall, ciuill libertie, which is a right or ability for a man to doe and dispose of himselfe and his affaires at his owne pleasure, according to honest and good lawes. Wherefore this libertie is opposed to bondage and seruitude. Of this there is no question in this place: because it is a greed vpon, that we are all the seruantes of God; for we are all obliged by his Lawe, either to obey him, or to suffer punishment, if we do not obey: neither is it put in our wil or pleasure, to obey, or not to obey; to suffer, or not to suffer punishment. For our will, will many things freely, the liberty of performing whereof notwithstanding wee haue not,