A14216:421
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.
3 It appertaineth as well to the understanding as unto the will, that God as he unchangeably knoweth all things,1 so also hath determined from everlasting, and will unchangeably all things which are done, as they are good, & permitteth them, as they are sins. Now as the creatures ⟨p. 146⟩notions and judgements of things, so also their wills are changeable, so that they will that, which before they would not, and will not that, which before they would. For seeing that all the counsels of God are most good, most just, and most wise, he never disliketh, correcteth, or changeth them, as often-times men do, when as they do perceive themselves to have determined any thing unadvisedly before. Neither doth God depend on their second causes, either motions, actions, or mutations, or doth advise according to them, as doth the creature: but himself being the first cause, all the actions of all creatures depend on him. For he doth not, as men, take advise concerning the end, by view of means or things antecedent leading thereunto, but according unto his decree concerning the end & consequent he doth decree & ordain the means & antecedents: that is, God worketh not thereafter as he seeth the second causes to work, but he causeth or permitteth the second causes so to work, as he himself hath decreed and purposed to work. Hither appertain those sayings, Num. 23. God is not as man, that he should lie. Mal. 3. I am the Lord, and change not.
3 It appertaineth as well to the vnderstanding as vnto the will, that God as he vnchangeably knoweth all things,1 so also hath determined from euerlasting, and will vnchangeablie al thinges which are done, as they are good, & permitteth them, as they are sins. Now as the creatures ⟨p. 146⟩notions and iudgements of thinges, so also their willes are chaungeable, so that they will that, which before they would not, and will not that, which before they woulde. For seeing that al the counsels of God are most good, most iust, and most wise, he neuer disliketh, correcteth, or changeth them, as often-times men doe, when as they doe perceiue themselues to haue determined anie thing vnaduisedly before. Neither doth God depend on their second causes, either motions, actions, or mutations, or doth aduise according to them, as doth the creature: but himselfe beeing the first cause, al the actions of al creatures depend on him. For he doth not, as men, take aduise concerning the end, by viewe of meanes or things antecedent leading thereunto, but according vnto his decree concerning the end & consequent he doth decree & ordaine the means & antecedents: that is, God woorketh not thereafter as hee seeth the second causes to woorke, but he causeth or permitteth the second causes so to worke, as he himselfe hath decreed and purposed to woorke. Hither appertaine those sayings,