A14216:513
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.
1The fourth degree of liberty is in man perfectly regenerated after his glorification, or after this life. In this liberty the will shall be only free to choose good, and not to choose evil: & this shall be the perfect liberty of our will, by which we shall not only not sin, but shall abhor nothing more than sin, & also shall not be able to sin any more. The reasons hereof are these. Because in the mind shall shine the perfect knowledge of god & his will, in the will & heart a most perfect & exceeding inclination to obey god, an exceeding love of god, & a joy resting in god, & an agreeableness or conformity with god. Wherefore no place shall be for ignorance, for error, or any doubting of God, yea or for the least stubbornness against God. Lastly, That conformity in the elect, of all their inward powers and faculties with God, and the effectual guiding of the holy Ghost shall be continued to all eternity. For the blessed Saints are never forsaken, but continually ruled by the holy Ghost in all their actions, in the celestial life. For which cause it cannot possibly be, that any motions or actions ⟨p. 191⟩of man there should once swerve from rightness. And therefore it is said, Math. 22. They are as the Angels of god in heaven. 2Neither by this means is the liberty of will taken away, or diminished, but is truly confirmed and perfected in the blessed Angels & men: for as much as both the understanding is free from all error, ignorance, and doubtfulness, and lightened with the perfect knowledge of god; and the heart and will free from all stubbornness, and without all soliciting or suggestion to withstand god, is carried with an exceeding love of god, and an alacrity to obey the known will of god. And hence it appeareth also how much more excellent our state shall be, than was Adams before his fall. Adam truly before his fall was perfectly conformed to god, but he could will both good & evil, and therefore had some infirmity joined with his excellent gifts; even a power to depart from god & leese his gifts: that is, he was changeably good. But we shall not be able but to will good only. And as the wicked are only carried to evil, because they are wicked: so shall we also only love & choose good, because we shall be good. It shall be then impossible for us to will any evil: