A14216:480
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.
& therefore all truly might be converted as concerning the liberty & power of god, & the changeable nature of mans will, but not, both in respect of the averting of their nature from god, & of that in-bred corruption in all which may indeed betaken away by god, but cannot without his working, be laid aside or put off by us, & also in respect of the unchangeable ⟨p. 175⟩decree of god, whereby god hath determined to leave some in sin & destruction, into which he hath permitted them to fall: & therefore either not to lighten their minds with his knowledge, or not to renew their harts & wills with new inclinations or powers; nor effectually to move them to yield obedience to the known truth. Neither do the testimonies teach otherwise which the adversaries ale age. God willeth us to turn to him, that he may turn to us, that is, may turn away & mitigate our punishments, & bestow his benefits upon us; not as if our conversion were in our own power, but because he will effectuate & confirm these precepts & commandments in the harts of his chosen. He promiseth good things to those who will obey him, not as if it were in our power to will obedience, but because he will stir up by his promises that will in us. He chargeth the stubborn with their wickedness, not as if it were in their own power to put it off, but because he will by accusing their wilful stubbornness take away all excuse from them when he judgeth them.
& therfore al truly might be cōuerted as cōcerning the liberty & power of god, & the chāgeable nature of mans wil, but not, both in respect of the auerting of their nature frō god, & of that in-bred corruption in al which may indeed betakē away by god, but cānot without his working, be laid aside or put off by vs, & also in respect of the vnchangeable ⟨p. 175⟩decree of god, wherby god hath determined to leaue some in sin & destructiō, into which he hath permitted them to fal: & therefore either not to lighten their minds with his knowlege, or not to renu their harts & wils with new inclinations or powers; nor effectually to moue thē to yeeld obedience to the known truth. Neither do the testimonies teach otherwise which the aduersaries ale age. God willeth vs to turne to him, that he may turn to vs, that is, may turne away & mitigate our punishments, & bestowe his benefits vpon vs; not as if our cōuersion were in our own power, but because he wil effectuat & confirm these precepts & commandements in the harts of his chosen. Hee promiseth good things to those who wil obey him, not as if it were in our power to wil obedience, but because he wil stir vp by his promises that wil in vs. He chargeth the stubburn with their wickednesse, not as if it were in their owne power to put it off, but because he wil by accusing their wilful stubburnnes take away al excuse from them when he iudgeth them.