A14216:420
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.
That God is the first cause of his actions,1 the Scripture doth declare. He hath done whatsoever he would. Who according to his will worketh in the army of heaven, and in the inhabitants of the earth. But that the wills and counsels of the creatures depend of God who is above them, these and the like speeches do prove. The Lord shall send his Angel before thee. Go and gather the Elders of Israel together. Him being delivered by the determinate counsel and fore-knowledge of God ye have slain. I know that through ignorance ye did it. and, But God hath fulfilled these things: and, Herod and Pontius Pilate gathered themselves together: to do whatsoever thine hand, and thy counsel had determined before, to be done. By these and the like places it is manifest, that all second causes, as they were created of God, so are they ruled of him as their first, supreme & sovereign cause. But the will of God dependeth on no one of the creatures, because then a second cause should be put before the first cause. And as God hath not any efficient, so neither hath he any moving or inclining cause without him. Moreover God so ruleth and guideth the will of his creature, that he doth not draw or enforce it, but bend and incline it, that is by objects represented to the mind he effectually moveth, affecteth, and allureth the will to will that which then the mind judgeth good, and refuse that which seemeth evil: so that the will it self also upon deliberation going before, & a voluntary assent following chooseth that, which God will & showeth to be chosen.
That God is the first cause of his actions,1 the Scripture doth declare. He hath done whatsoeuer he would. Who according to his wil worketh in the army of heauen, and in the inhabitants of the earth. But that the wils and counsailes of the creatures depend of God who is aboue them, these and the like speeches doe proue. The Lord shal send his Angell before thee. Go and gather the Elders of Israel together. Him being deliuered by the determinate counsel and fore-knowledge of God yee haue slaine. I know that through ignorance ye did it. and, But God hath fulfilled these things: and, Herode and Pontius Pilate gathered thēselues together: to do whatsoeuer thine hand, and thy counsel had determined before, to be done. By these and the like places it is manifest, that all second causes, as they were created of God, so are they ruled of him as their first, supreme & soueraign cause. But the wil of God dependeth on no one of the creatures, because then a second cause should be put before the first cause. And as God hath not any efficient, so neither hath he any mouing or inclining cause without him. Moreouer God so ruleth and guideth the wil of his creature, that he doth not draw or enforce it, but bend and encline it, that is by obiectes represented to the mind he effectually moueth, affecteth, and allureth the wil to wil that which then the mind iudgeth good, and refuse that which seemeth euil: so that the wil it selfe also vpon deliberatiō going before, & a voluntary assent folowing chooseth that, which God wil & sheweth to be chosen.