A14216:476
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.
18 Objection. He that prepareth himself to receive grace by which he may do good works, he now doth works, pleasing to God: But men prepare themselves to receive grace. Therefore also before regeneration they do works pleasing to god. We deny the Major: which yet these places seem to prove. 1. Sam. 7. Prepare your hart unto the Lord. Act. 10. The prayers and alms of Cornelius before he was taught and baptized of Peter, come up into remembrance before god. But in these and the like places to prepare, or to have in readiness, or to confirm the hart, is not to do works before the conversion, by which god may be invited to bestow the grace of regeneration upon men: but it signifieth that a ready and firm will of obeying god and persisting in true godliness is showed of those which are already regenerated and converted. For the people of Israel had repented when Samuel said this unto them. For there goeth before in the same place, all the house of Israel lamented and followed the Lord: Likewise Cornelius before he was taught of Peter that Jesus was the Messiah, is said to have been then godly and serving god, and so calling and invocating on him, that his prayers pleased God and were heard.
18 Obiection. He that prepareth himselfe to receiue grace by which he maie doe good works, he now doth woorkes, pleasing to God: But men prepare themselues to receiue grace. Therefore also before regeneration they doe works pleasing to god. We deny the Maior: which yet these places seeme to proue. 1. Sam. 7. Prepare your hart vnto the Lord. Act. 10. The praiers and almes of Cornelius before he was taught and baptized of Peter, come vp into remembrance before god. But in these and the like places to prepare, or to haue in readines, or to confirme the hart, is not to doe works before the conuersion, by which god maie bee inuited to bestowe the grace of regeneration vpon men: but it signifieth that a readie and firme will of obeying god and persisting in true godlinesse is shewed of those which are already regenerated and conuerted. For the people of Israell had repented when Samuell said this vnto them. For there goeth before in the same place, al the house of Israel lamented and followed the Lord: Likewise Cornelius before he was taught of Peter that Iesus was the Messias, is said to haue beene then godly and seruing god, and so calling and inuocating on him, that his praiers pleased God and were heard.