A14216:422
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.
1Objection. He that can not change his counsel and purpose, hath not free-will. But God cannot change his counsel and purpose, which he hath once appointed. Therefore his will is not free. First we deny the Major. For not he, which doth not change his purpose which he hath once appointed, hath not liberty of will, but he which could not purpose any other thing being let by some external cause. But the liberty of god consisteth not in the change of his will or purpose, but in this, that God will all things whatsoever he will, altogether with his will, and of himself, and could have had otherwise decreed, or not decreed all things, which he decreed from everlasting of the creation, preservation and government of things, according to these sayings, Matthew, 19. Luk. 18. With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. These and the like sayings show, that God hath so appointed from everlasting with himself the creation of things, and the gathering & saving of his church, not, as if he could not have not don this, or not have appointed it otherwise, but because so it ⟨p. 147⟩seemed good to him: neither must men seek any superior cause than his will of all his divine works which he exerciseth in his creatures; neither is there any other necessity to be found in them, than which dependeth of the most free appointment of god himself. For as to resolve of such a purpose as is to be changed, so also to change it either to better or to worse, is rather servitude or bondage, than freedom and liberty: For it proceedeth of ignorance or impotency. For they change their counsels and purposes, who either or in taking them, or are not able to perform the counsel which they have taken. But to resolve of such a purpose, as might alike either have been decreed or not decreed, and which after it is decreed, is neither changed nor to be changed at any time, this is perfect and divine liberty. Now God whatsoever he hath decreed, could either not have decreed it at all, or have decreed it otherwise. And that he changeth not that which he hath once decreed, the perfectness of his nature, even his infinite wisdom and goodness is cause thereof. For most wisely and rightly doth he decree all things, & constantly persisteth in that which is good & right.