A14216:466
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.
13 Objection. What God doth wish and will to be done of us, that we are able to perform by our selves: but God doth wish and will our conversion, and our good works: Deutronom. 32.29. Luke. 19.42. Therefore we are able to perform them by our selves: And so consequently, we need not the operation and working of the holy Ghost.
13 Obiection. What God doth wishe and will to bee done of vs, that wee are able to performe by our selues: but God doth wishe and will our conuersion, and our good workes: Deutronom. 32.29. Luke. 19.42. Therefore wee are able to performe them by our selues: And so consequently, wee neede not the operation and working of the holy Ghost.
- 1How God is said to wish our conversion and good works; and yet they not thereby proved to be in our power.How God is said to wish our conuersion and good workes; and yet they not thereby proued to be in our power.
Answer. This reason is a fallacy deceiving by the ambiguity of the word Wish. For in the Major proposition it is taken, as it useth properly to signify: in the Minor, not so. God is said to wish, by a figure of speech, called Anthropopathy, making God to be affected after the order of men; and therefore the kind of affirmation is divers in the Major, and in the Minor. But God is said to wish, in two respects. First, In respect of his commanding and inviting. Secondly, In respect of his love towards his creatures, and in respect of the torment of them that perish, but not in respect of the execution of his justice. Reply. 1. He that inviteth others, & is delighted with their well doing, it followeth thereof, that their well doing is in their own power, & not in his who inviteth them. But God inviteth us, and is delighted with our well doing: Therefore it is in our selves to do well. Answer. We deny the Minor; because it is not enough, that God inviteth us: but our will also to do well must be adjoined, which we cannot have but from god only. God therefore doth wish our conversion, and doth invite all unto it, that is, he requireth obedience towards his law of all, he liketh it in all, and for the love which he beareth unto his creature he wisheth nothing more, than that all perform it, and all be saved: but yet a will to perform it, they only have, whom god doth regenerate by his spirit. Deutronom. 29.2. Ye have seen all that the Lord did before your eyes: yet the Lord hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear unto this day.