A14216:975
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.
Furthermore, that god cannot either sin, or will, and allow of sin, or be changed, or diminished, or suffer any thing, or make things done undone, or will things flat repugnant and contradictory, or create another god or some nature equal to himself, or ⟨p. 321⟩be perceived by bodily senses, or do other things proper to a create or finite nature, or admit the same into himself this doth not diminish or weaken, but rather augment & strengthen his power. For that is the greatest and most perfect power, which can neither be destroyed, nor weakened, nor diminished: and that, none sustaining it, but only by it self. But contrariwise, to be able to be corrupted & impaired, is a token of imbecility and imperfection of exceeding & immense wisdom. 1That we may rightly and with profit and commodity know the power of God, it is necessary not to consider it, but as it is joined with his immense wisdom and goodness, which moderateth it. Further, of his divine wisdom first we learn, That God doth of himself in one act or view understand and behold perpetually and most perfectly, in marvellous manner, and that unknown to us, himself and the whole order of his mind declared in the nature of things and in his word, and what agreeth therewith and disagreeth, and all his works, and the works of all creatures, past, present, and to come, & all the causes and circumstances of all things. And moreover, That all Angels and men have no more knowledge of divine and humane matters; than God doth work & maintain in their minds. For among other things, the most beautiful and sightly order which is in the nature of things, the ends and uses of all things, the signification of future events, arts and sciences, the everting and overturning of those devises, which the Devil and wicked men have most craftily contrived against God and all the godly, do enforce all men to confess, that these things could not proceed but from a most wise artificer and author. Wherefore also the scripture it self willeth us to consider the wisdom of God, shining in these his works. Eccle. 3.11. God hath made every thing beautiful in his time. Isai. 44.7. Who is like me that shall call, & shall declare it, & set it in order before me, since I appointed the ancient people?