A14216:77
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.
Furthermore they say, that the books authentic, 1or as they Objection. 2 term them, Canonical of both Testaments are discerned from the Apocryphal by the Churches judgement: and therefore that the authority of holy canon doth depend on the churches wisdom. But that this difference of the books is not determined by the churches judgement, but being imprinted into the books themselves by the Spirit of God is only acknowledged and approved by the Church: this is easily to be understood, if the causes of this difference be considered. For either in these which are called Apocryphal the force and majesty of the heavenly spirit doth less evidently appear in the weight and vehemency of words and matter, then in others, of which it is clear that they are the heavenly oracles therefore set down in writing by divine instinct, that they might be the rule of our faith: or it cannot be determined, neither out of these books themselves,2 nor out of others, which are canonical, that they were written either by the Prophets, or Apostles: because either they were not penned by those, whom God by certain testimonies hath warranted unto us to be endued with a prophetical spirit: or themselves do not show any certain authors of them: or by their form of speech or other reasons it may be gathered, that they were not left of them, whose names ⟨p. 16⟩they bear. Now as touching either this evidence of the spirit, or certainty of the authors, we build not our judgement on the testimony of the Church, but of the books themselves. And therefore not for the Churches judgement only do we judge some books to be canonical, and the foundation and rule of our faith, and do therefore accept of the doctrine of other some, because they agree with the canonical: but rather for the very causes of this difference which we find in the books them-selves.
Furthermore they say, that the bookes authentike, 1or as they Obiection. 2 terme them, Canonical of both Testamentes are discerned from the Apocryphall by the Churches iudgement: and therefore that the autority of holy canon doth depend on the churches wisedome. But that this difference of the bookes is not determined by the churches iudgement, but being imprinted into the books themselues by the Spirite of God is onely acknowledged and approoued by the Church: this is easily to be vnderstood, if the causes of this difference be considered. For either in these which are called Apocryphall the force and maiesty of the heauenly spirit doth lesse euidently appeare in the weight and vehemency of woordes and matter, then in others, of which it is clear that they are the heauenly oracles therefore set downe in writing by diuine instinct, that they might be the rule of our faith: or it cannot be determined, neither out of these books themselues,