A14216:992
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.
1There is made also mention of Chastity in the former description of God, because amongst his especial and most notable differences, whereby he may be discerned from Devils, he will have truth to be and chastity. For as God will be acknowledged to be true, and will have trueth loved of us, that it may certainly appear, that he is, and what he is, & that men may think and speak the truth of him, and through his knowledge be partakers of everlasting life; so the Devil attempteth to fill the world with lies; that he may both darken the glory of God, and by forging lies of God, destroy mankind. Whereupon the holy Ghost is called the spirit of trueth; But the Devil a liar and murderer from the beginning, & the father of lies. Joh. 8. And as God both by reason of the exceeding purity of his nature, as also because he will have the spousal love and conjunction of marriage to be the image of the unspeakable love and spiritual conjunction between him and the ⟨p. 329⟩Church, as we may see Ephes. 5. Ezech. 16. Hosea 2. and therefore will have it accounted sacred and holy amongest men; As God then in these respects is the lover and author of chastity, and doth most severely detest and punish all uncleanness, both internal & external, which is repugnant to this order, as the examples of the Sodomites, of the tribe of Benjamin, and others of all other ages and nations testify: So the Devil, both for his impurity, as also because whatsoever God would have held most holy and venerable that for the hatred he beareth to God he studieth most to deprave and most folly to deform; endeavoureth with obscenity and filthiness horribly to pollute all mankind, and to withdraw them from GOD. Therefore it is said, 1. Thess. 4.3. This is the will of god, even your sanctification, and that ye should abstain from fornication, that every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in holiness and honour.
1There is made also mention of Chastitie in the former description of God, because amongst his especiall and most notable differences, whereby he may be discerned from Diuels, he wil haue truth to be and chastitie. For as God will bee acknowledged to bee true, and will haue trueth loued of vs, that it maie certainelie appeare, that he is, and what hee is, & that men may think and speake the truth of him, and through his knowledge be partakers of euerlasting life; so the Diuell attēpteth to fil the worlde with lies; that he may both darken the glorie of God, and by forging lies of God, destroy mankinde. Whereupon the holy Ghost is called the spirite of trueth; But the Diuell a liar and murtherer from the beginning, & the father of lies.