A14216:979
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.
The righteousness of God sometimes in Scripture signifieth that which is accounted righteousness before him, 1and whereby he maketh us righteous: & that elsewhere legal: which is holiness of life, or conformity with the law of God, which God worketh in us by his spirit, begun in this life, & to be perfected in the life to come; as Jam. 1.20. The wrath of man doth not accomplish the righteousness of God. Or sometimes Evangelical, which is the righteousness of Christ imputed to believers of the free mercy of God. As Roman. 3.21. But now is the righteousness of God made manifest without the Law, having witness of the Law and of the Prophets, to wit, the righteousness of God by the faith of Jesus Christ unto all, and upon all that believe. Sometimes is meant that righteousness, whereby himself is righteous: and then also in many places it signifieth the faithfulness or mercy and benignity of GOD, who according to his promises preserveth, defendeth, and delivereth the faithful, as Psalm 31.1. Deliver me in thy righteousness. But when it is properly spoken of the righteousness of GOD, whereby himself is righteous, as in this place: First, he is called just, in respect of his general justice and righteousness, which is the order or nature of this divine understanding and will, whereby GOD will, and approveth, doth himself, and worketh in others unchangeably and unspeakably such things, as he hath commanded in his Law: and neither will, nor approveth, nor worketh, nor causeth, nor furthereth any thing whatsoever disagreeth from this order, but horribly hateth and detesteth them, as it is said Psalm. 11.17. The righteous Lord loveth righteousness. Secondly, In respect of his particular justice and righteousness, which is the unchangeable will of God, whereby God giveth ⟨p. 324⟩to himself, and will have given him by others that glory, which is due unto the chief good: as he saith: I will not give my glory to another: & punisheth all sin with such punishment as is equal to the offence, that is, with eternal, as in them who perish; or with equivalent, as in his Son Christ, sustaining the punishment for all those who are saved by him, according as it is said, Thou shalt not depart thence, until thou host payed the utmost farthing: