A14216:962
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.
1 Objection. Proverb. 16.1 He is said to have made all things for himself. Answer. Not for the aiding or increasing of himself, as if he needed any thing, but rather for to communicate and show himself unto his creatures he made them; because this is the nature of that which is good, not only to preserve it self, but also to communicate it self to others. 2. It is objected that he useth the creatures in accomplishing his works. But this he doth not as constrained thereto by any necessity or impotency, but of his most free will and goodness, to show that he is able both ways, both without them, & with them, to do whatsoever he will: that he is Lord of all things, both by right, and by his power, and can use all things at his pleasure: and that he also doth worthy his creatures this great and free honour, as to make them the instruments of his bountifulness, & fellows and disposers (as Saint Paul speaketh 1. Cor. 4.) of his divine works. 3. Furthermore, that we are willed to perform, exhibit, and offer, obedience, worship, honour, sacrifices, to God, and to give him that which is his: thereby is taught, not what good cometh more to god, but what good ought to be in us. For as disobedience and despite against god maketh not God but the creature more miserable, so obedience towards God, which is a conformity and agreement with Gods Law and mind, is the good and blessedness, not of God, but of the reasonable creature. And this is said to be given or taken from God, not that God needeth it, or is profited thereby, but because men ought, by order of justice, to perform and yield it unto God. As Psalm. 50.9. I will take no bullock out of thy house: nor he-goats out of thy folds. And Luke 17.10. When ye have done all those things which are commanded you, say, we are unprofitable servants. 2And if any man reply, That glory nevertheless tendeth to his happiness and perfection, unto whom it is given: we must know, that the glory of god signifieth sometimes the foundation of glory, to wit, the attributes or virtues which are in god himself, and his divine work, and the beholding and approbation of them in god. And in this sense can no man give him glory, nether can it