A14216:479
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.
Secondly the holy ghost regenerating & converting us, worketh in us both new qualities, in receiving whereof we are mere passive & work not our selves (For we cannot make to ourselves a fleshy hart of a stony,1 & God worketh in us even to will) & also new actions, in working which we are both passive and active. For we being regenerated by gods spirit are not stocks but joint workers with him, because we are made of unwilling & unfit to good, willing & fit, & able to do good. Thirdly the holy ghost worketh this regeneration not without precepts, doctrine, & other means, but by them: because it so pleased him. Wherefore they cannot be neglected without showing an impious & wicked contempt of god himself. But here especially our adversaries will reply again, that indeed we cannot be converted to god, except his grace prevent us, & move us to conversion: but this grace prevē ting those who are to be converted, is so far given to all, as it is in them selves, or in their own power to use it or refuse it, that is, to be turned from, or to persist in sin. And then at length, they who have used rightly that first & universal grace preventing all men, that is, have by their liberty applied themselves to choose that good, unto the choosing whereof they are solicited, but yet not effectually moved of god. Unto these is given also the subsequent, & joint-working grace, so that what they could not have performed without this, this now coming between, they may do, that is, may truly turn unto god & persevere. This they prove by sentences of scripture which seem to hang the grace of god upon the condition of mans vvil. Zac. 1. Turn to me, & I will turn to you, Isa. 1.19. If ye consent, ye shall eat the good things of the earth. Jer. 7. I called you & ye answered not. But it is certainly manifest out of the Scripture, that neither any man can be converted, except the holy ghost be given him, neither is he given to all men of god, but to those only whom he of his free mercy vouchsafeth this benefit, so that the cause is not to be sought in men, but in god alone, why these rather than they, believe gods voice & are turned unto him:
Secondly the holy ghost regenerating & cōuerting vs, woorketh in vs both new qualities, in receiuing wherof we are mere passiue & work not our selues (For we cānot make to ourselues a fleshy hart of a stony,