A14216:85
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.
For so reverent a regard ought we to have of the word of God, and such also is the force and efficacy of the holy spirit in confirming the harts of believers, that we believe God, yea without any creatures Testimony: even as Elijah forsook not god,1 no not when he thought that himself only was left alive of the true worshippers of God. If therefore either Austen, or whosoever else being not as yet converted unto religion, nor as yet having experience of the certainty of it, in ⟨p. 19⟩his hart,2 was moved rather by humane than divine Testimonies to embrace it: it cannot thereof be gathered that the certainty of the holy scripture dependeth on no other Testimonies, or that by no other we are assured of it: because that, that some are moved especially by humane voices to reverence it, cometh not thereof to pass, for that the Scripture is not maintained by any other authority: but it chanceth through the fault and weakness of them, who sticking upon humane records, do not feel as yet, or understand divine. An image and example of these degrees of faith is in the story of the Samaritan woman, John. 4. For many of the Samaritans are said to have believed in Christ, because of the speech of the woman who testified, that he had told her whatsoever she had done. But after that they had had Christ with them for two days, many more believed because of his own speech: and they said unto the woman: Now we believe not because of thy saying: for we have heard him our selves, 3and know that this is indeed the Christ the Saviour of the world. Al men come not by the same occasions, nor have not the same beginnings unto faith. Rom. 11. Paul saith, that salvation was come unto the Gentiles, and that he did magnify his ministry, that the Jews might be provoked to follow the Gentiles. In the first of Peter, cap. 3.4 wives are willed to be subject unto their husbands, that even they which obey not the word, may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives, while they behold their pure conversation which is with fear. Even then as the Samaritans were moved, first by the speech of the woman to believe in Christ, but after they had seen Christ and heard him, they were so confirmed, that they said they would now believe though the woman hold her peace: