A14216:92
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 first those miracles which are vaunted of by the enemies of the church are such,1 as without changing the course and order of nature may be done by the sleights & jugglings of men or devils: & seem therefore to others to be miracles, because they perceive not the causes of them,2 and the means whereby they are wrought. Furthermore they have this as their chief end, that they may confirm idols, superstitions, manifest errors & mischiefs. But the miracles with which god hath set forth his church, are works either besides or contrary unto the course of nature and second causes, and therefore not wrought but by the power of God. The which that it might be the more manifest, god hath wrought many miracles for the confirming of his truth, whose very show the devil is never able to imitate or resemble: as are the raising of the dead, to stay or call back the course of the Sun, to make fruitless and barren ⟨p. 22⟩women fruitful. But especially the miracles of God are distinguished by their ends from the devilish and feigned. For they confirm nothing but which is agreeing with those things which afore time were revealed by God, and that in respect of the glory of the true God, of godliness, and holiness, and the salvation of men,
For first those miracles which are vaunted of by the enemies of the church are such,1 as without changing the course and order of nature may bee done by the sleightes & iuglings of men or diuels: & seeme therefore to others to be miracles, because they perceiue not the causes of them,2 and the meanes whereby they are wrought. Furthermore they haue this as their chiefe end, that they may confirme idols, superstitions, manifest errors & mischiefs. But the miracles with which god hath set foorth his church, are works either besides or contrarie vnto the course of nature and second causes, and therefore not wrought but by the power of God. The which that it might be the more manifest, god hath wrought many miracles for the confirming of his truth, whose verie shew the diuel is neuer able to imitate or resemble: as are the raising of the dead, to stay or call backe the course of the Sunne, to make fruitles and barrain