A14216:478
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.
10 Objection.1 He that is holpen by another in conversion and in beginning good works, doth somewhat of them himself, before he is holpen. For he that hath help beginneth the action. God helpeth us, wherefore it is of our selves to begin good works. The Minor is proved. Marc. 9. I believe Lord; but help my unbelief. Rom. 8. The spirit helpeth our infirmity. Answer. Nothing can follow in conclusion of mere particular propositions. For the Major here is not universal, seeing not only he may help who beginneth a work, but he also in whom it is begun and accomplished by another. Now so doth god help us, that himself doth first breed and engender in us true knowledge of him, and an inclination to obey him, and the beginnings of good motions, & doth increase also and perfect the same begun by him. But he is therefore said to help us, because he doth so work in us, that we are not idle but work while he worketh: and yet we are able no more to persist, or to bring it to an end, without him, than to begin it. And therefore we being inclined, moved, and governed by him, will also our selves of our own accord, and are able to work well, and do work well, that is, because God worketh good things not only IN us, but also BY us as joint workers with him. Phil. 1.6. he that hath begun this good work in you vvil perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. & 2. 13. It is god who worketh in you both the will & the deed, even of his good pleasure. Reply. The beginning, & proceeding & accomplishment of conversion is the free work & gift of god. Therefore mans will when he is converted doth nothing, but is mere passive. There should be no use also (as hath bin said before) of laws, discipline, doctrine, exhortations and such like. Answer. We deny the consequence of this reason: because the reason proceedeth from the putting of the first cause, to the removing of the second or instrumental cause. Again it is a mere fallacy concluding that to be simply so, which is but in some respect so. For first, the will as also the whole man renewed, is both the subject and instrument cooperating and jointly working of his conversion, that is, is converted of god, and doth convert himself. For the action of god converting & inclining the ⟨p. 174⟩