A14216:530
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.
Here the Epicures object: He that is exceeding merciful, 1cannot behold the eternal torments of his creatures, much less inflict such on them. God is exceeding merciful; because his mercy doth far exceed our sins: Therefore he doth not suffer his creatures to remain in eternal torments. Answ. The Major is true, when exceeding & most exact justice, such as is in god, doth not exact, & require that exceeding sin have exceeding punishment. Reply. Exceeding strict justice doth not stand with exceeding mercy: because that admitteth no mitigating equability. In God is exceeding justice, therefore not exceeding mercy. Answ. Both the Major, and the proof thereof is false. Because God, punishing of his exceeding justice our sin with exceeding punishment, doth notwithstanding show exceeding equability and favourableness, whiles he translateth the punishment thereof from us, & layeth it upon his son. They frame also the same reply on this wise: With him, that followeth extreme or strict justice, mercy and equability hath no place. But god in punishing sins followeth strict justice. Therefore he is not merciful. To which we answer. 1. that the Major is false in respect of him, who for his wisdom knoweth means to mitigate punishments, or to exercise mercy, as that ⟨p. 196⟩notwithstanding his justice may remain inviolated, and himself be satisfied. So god doth execute extreme and exquisite justice in punishing our sins, showing nevertheless exceeding and marvellous equability and lenity, while he punisheth them in his Son, and not in us. And therefore one degree of mercy denied, doth not straight enforce the denial of others. God punisheth sin in the reprobate with eternal punishments: & yet is he merciful, while he is not delighted with the death of him that dieth: but doth by differing, and mitigating the punishment, and by bestowing benefits invite all men to repentance. When a Judge putteth a robber to death, he executeth extreme justice: yet may he be merciful withal, if he rejoice not at the destruction of the man, but had rather he were saved, if so the law permitted.
Here the Epicures obiect: He that is exceeding mercifull, 1cannot behold the eternal torments of his creatures, much lesse inflict such on them. God is exceeding merciful; because his mercie doth far exceed our sins: Therefore he doth not suffer his creatures to remain in eternal torments. Answ. The Maior is true, when exceeding & most exact iustice, such as is in god, doth not exact, & require that exceeding sinne haue exceeding punishment. Replie. Exceeding strict iustice doth not stand with exceeding mercie: because that admitteth no mitigating equabilitie. In God is exceeding iustice, therefore not exceeding mercie. Answ. Both the Maior, and the proofe thereof is false. Because God, punishing of his exceeding iustice our sin with exceeding punishment, doth notwithstanding shewe exceeding equability and fauorablenes, whiles he translateth the punishment thereof from vs, & laieth it vpon his sonne. They frame also the same reply on this wise: With him, that followeth extreme or strict iustice, mercie and equabilitie hath no place. But god in punishing sinnes foloweth strict iustice. Therfore he is not merciful. To which we answer. 1. that the Maior is false in respect of him, who for his wisedome knoweth means to mitigate punishmēts, or to exercise mercy, as that