A14216:492
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.
1 Objection. The works of Christ and the holy spirit, say they, cannot be impure, and not please God. The good works of the regenerate, Christ worketh in them by his spirit: wherefore it is necessary and must needs be that they are pure and perfect, and please God even as they are considered in themselves. For God cannot condemn his own works, although he examine them according to the rigour of his judgement. We answer to the Major: The works of God are pure and worthy no reprehension,1 as they are the works of God, and such as God worketh: but not as they are depraved by the creatures: neither are they always pure, which are not the works of God only, but the creatures also. For these, as they are of God, are void of all fault: but as they are done by the creatures, they are good also and without reprehension, if the creature, by which God worketh them, be perfectly conformable to the will of GOD; but impure and unperfect, and according to the sentence of the Law subject to damnation, if the creature, by which God worketh them, be corrupt & vicious, that is, depraved by the not knowing of God, and by averting from God.
1 Obiection. The woorks of Christ and the holie spirit, saie they, cannot be impure, and not please God. The good workes of the regenerate, Christ worketh in them by his spirit: vvherefore it is necessarie and must needes be that they are pure and perfect, and please God euen as they are considered in themselues. For God cannot condemne his owne woorkes, although he examine them according to the rigor of his iudgement. We answere to the Maior: The workes of God are pure and woorthy no reprehension,1 as they are the woorkes of God, and such as God woorketh: but not as they are depraued by the creatures: neither are they alwaies pure, which are not the workes of God only, but the creatures also. For these, as they are of God, are voide of all fault: but as they are doone by the creatures, they are good also and without reprehension, if the creature, by which God worketh them, be perfectly conformable to the will of GOD; but impure and vnperfect, and according to the sentence of the Lawe subiect to damnation, if the creature, by which God woorketh thē, be corrupt & vitious, that is, depraued by the not knowing of God, and by auerting from God.