A14216:462
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.
Reply. 1. The works of the law are good: Heathen men did the works of the law: therefore the works of heathen men were good. And by consequence, heathen men also or unregenerate, have liberty of doing good. We answer to the Major by a distinction: The works of the law are good; true, by themselves: but they are made ill by an accident, & so are these works of the law made ill by an accident, of the unregenerate: because they are not done by them for that end and after that sort which God commanded.
Replie. 1. The workes of the law are good: Heathen men did the workes of the lawe: therefore the workes of heathen men were good. And by consequence, heathen men also or vnregenerate, haue libertie of doing good. Wee answere to the Maior by a distinction: The works of the law are good; true, by themselues: but they are made ill by an accident, & so are these workes of the lawe made ill by an accident, of the vnregenerate: because they are not done by them for that ende and after that sort which God commanded.
1Reply 2. There remain also many true notions in the minds of the unregenerate, concerning god, and his will, & the right ordering of their life. Wherefore the will working according to these notions and the direction of true reason, doth not sin, but worketh well. Answer, first, Those legal notions whether they belong ⟨p. 165⟩to the first, or to the second table of the Decalogue, they are not perfect and sufficient: And therefore God cannot be rightly worshipped according to these remains or relics of spiritual light, except there come thereunto the knowledge of God and his divine will out of the word of God which is delivered unto the Church. Further, Men not brought up in the Church do patch many false things with these true imprinted notions of nature, and do heap sins upon errors. Thirdly, Such is the frowardness of the vvill and affections even against the judgement of rightly informed and ruled reason, that they obey not so much as those natural notions, much less those which are to be adjoined out of the word of god. Whence also are those complaints even of the heathen: I see the better and I like them, but I follow the worse; & that accusation of the Apostle,