A14216:837
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
Part 2 › OF FAITH. › Section 2: 2 What are the kinds of faith.
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 faith of Miracles is an especial gift of working miracles, that is, it is a certain persuasion, springing from an especial revelation and promise of god, whereby a man firmly resolveth, that some extraordinary or miraculous work, and contrary to nature, shall come to pass by gods power, which he hath foretold or would have to be done in the name of God and Jesus Christ. This kind of faith is proved out of the Apostle. 1. Corinth. 13.2. If I had all faith, so that I could remove mountains &c. For although this speech be understood of all the kinds of faith, excepting justifying faith, yet is it especially referred to the faith of Miracles: as Christ also saith,2 Mat. 17.20. If ye have faith as much as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove &c. That this faith is diverse from the other kinds, neither to be drawn simply out of the word of god, but by an especial revelation of god coming thereto, without which miracles cannot be wrought, we prove by these reasons. 1. By that saying of Christ, If ye have faith as much as a grain of mustard seed: But many holy men, who both knew the history of Gods word, and rejoiced therein, and applied it unto themselves, had faith: yet did they not remove mountains. Therefore this is a divers kind of faith, from that which they had. 2 Many endeavoured to cast out Devils without any revelation from above, as the Sons of Sceva. Act. 19.14. With whom it fell out ill; the spirit of the possessed man invading, disarming and wounding them. 3 Simon Magus Acts. 8.13. is said to have believed, and yet could he not work miracles: and therefore he would have bought and gotten this power with money. 4 The Devil knoweth the story of the Scripture, neither yet doth he work miracles: because none besides the Creator is able to change the nature of things. 5 Judas did work miracles, and yet, Joh. 6.70. he is said of the Lord to be a Devil, that is, not to have a justifying faith. He had therefore some other faith, to ⟨p. 275⟩