A14216:971
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.
1Wherefore be it to us out of all controversy, that God is unchangeable. For first, this is amongest those especial differences, whereby the Creator will be discerned from all creatures, that he only can by no means be changed, whereas all other things both are diversly changed, & may at the only pleasure of God be changed infinitely, howsoever for a while, so long as it is his pleasure, they are and seem firm and immutable; according as it is said, Mat. 24. Heaven and earth shall pass, but my word shall not pass. Secondly, Hence we understand and are assured, that all things in the world are governed by the everlasting providence of god. For seeing no mutation happeneth to god, it must needs be that all his counsels were purposed from everlasting. And seeing god both foreseeth all things unchangeable, and his counsels concerning the event and end of things are certain and unchangeable: it must needs be also that the second causes and means or Antecedents, without which those events were not to follow, must be certain and unchangeable. And because in things created, especially in humane affairs, there is great uncertainty and mutability, neither is there any cause of unchangeableness but the will of god; God could not have appointed any thing certain or unchangeable concerning the event and end, except he had also made all the means, (by which the end is attained unto, and which as concerning their own nature are most uncertain and changeable) by his everlasting counsel and decree certain and unchangeable.
1Wherefore bee it to vs out of all controuersie, that God is vnchangeable. For first, this is amongest those especial differences, whereby the Creatour will be discerned from all creatures, that hee onelie can by no meanes bee changed, whereas all other things both are diuerslie changed, & may at the onlie pleasure of God be changed infinitelie, howsoeuer for a while, so long as it is his pleasure, they are and seeme firme and immutable; according as it is said, Mat. 24. Heauen and earth shall passe, but my word shall not passe. Secondly, Hence we vnderstand and are assured, that al things in the worlde are gouerned by the euerlasting prouidence of god. For seeing no mutation happeneth to god, it must needes be that all his counsailes were purposed from euerlasting. And seeing god both foreseeth all things vnchangeable, and his counsailes concerning the euent and end of thinges are certaine and vnchangeable: it must needes be also that the second causes and meanes or Antecedents, without which those euents were not to followe, must bee certaine and vnchangeable. And because in things created, especially in humane affaires, there is great vncertaintie and mutabilitie, neither is there any cause of vnchangeablenesse but the will of god; God could not haue appointed any thing certaine or vnchangeable concerning the euent and end, except hee had also made all the meanes, (by which the end is attained vnto, and which as concerning their owne nature are most vncertaine and chaungeable) by his euerlasting counsaile and decree certaine and vnchangeable.