A14216:927
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.
6 From the punishments of the wicked, 1which they suffer besides the torments of conscience. For the events of all times constrain men to confess that their sins are punished with grievous punishments in this life; & contrariwise the lot & end of the good to be more pleasant. Wherefore there is a mind or understanding power, which discerneth honest things from dishonest, judge of mankind, punishing the wicked, & defē ding the good. And that this may not be ascribed to the ⟨p. 298⟩wisdom or severity of magistrates or other men, this first withstandeth & hindereth, for that it must needs be that this natural instinct, whereby men judge that offender▪ are justly punished, must proceed from some mind which is enemy to wickedness. Again, for that oftentimes by marvellous & inexpected and unlooked for means they are drawn to the justice and punishment of the Magistrates, whose sins before had been privy, or who seemed to have bin able by their own power or subtlety easily to escape their hands; and that especially, for that many, who through either the negligence or whiteliverdnes of Magistrates are not punished by them, yet run into calamities and have allotted unto them ruthful ends. And when transgressions & sins increase too much, & their impunity, whole nations and common-wealths with horrible and manifest examples of gods wrath perish: as the world in the deluge: Sodom by fire cast from heaven: Pharaoh in the red sea: the Jews, & many flourishing kingdoms by most lamentable overthrows. That these things cannot come to pass by chance, neither any other way than by the judgement and power of him who is Lord of mankind & nature, both Gods comminations and threatenings, and the conscience of every one, and the order of justice, whereby these follow and ensue upon impiety, and the very hugeness, weight and greatness of things doth convince. Wherefore it is said, Ps. 58. The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his footsteps in the blood of the ungodly. So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: doubtless there is a god that judgeth the earth. And Psa. 9.16. The Lord is known to execute judgement: now albeit the wicked flourish often for a while, & the godly are oppressed, yet nevertheless examples which are fewer in number, do not weaken the general rule, unto which most events agree.