A64611:122
The sum of Christian religion, delivered by Zacharias Ursinus first, by way of catechism,…The summe of Christian religion, delivered by Zacharias Ursinus first, by way of catechism,…
The sum of Christian religion, delivered by Zacharias Ursinus first, by way of catechism, and then afterwards more enlarged by a sound and judicious exposition, and application of the same : wherein also are debated and resolved the questions of whatsoever points of moment have been, or are controversed in divinity / first Englished by D. Henry Parry, and now again conferred with the best and last Latin edition of D. David Pareus, sometimes Professor of Divinity in Heidelberg ; whereunto is added a large and full alphabetical table of such matters as are therein contained ; together with all the Scriptures that are occasionally handled, by way either of controversy, exposition, or reconciliation, neither of which was done before, but now is performed for the readers delight and benefit ; to this work of Ursinus are now at last annexed the Theological miscellanies of D. David Pareus in which the orthodoxall tenets are briefly and solidly confirmed, and the contrary errors of the Papists, Ubiquitaries, Antitrinitaries, Eutychians, Socinians, and Arminians fully refuted ; and now translated into English out of the original Latin copy by A.R.The summe of Christian religion, delivered by Zacharias Ursinus first, by way of catechism, and then afterwards more enlarged by a sound and judicious exposition, and application of the same : wherein also are debated and resolved the questions of whatsoever points of moment have been, or are controversed in divinitie / first Englished by D. Henry Parry, and now again conferred with the best and last Latine edition of D. David Pareus, sometimes Professour of Divinity in Heidelberge ; whereunto is added a large and full alphabeticall table of such matters as are therein contained ; together with all the Scriptures that are occasionally handled, by way either of controversie, exposition, or reconciliation, neither of which was done before, but now is performed for the readers delight and benefit ; to this work of Ursinus are now at last annexed the Theologicall miscellanies of D. David Pareus in which the orthodoxall tenets are briefly and solidly confirmed, and the contrary errours of the Papists, Ubiquitaries, Antitrinitaries, Eutychians, Socinians, and Arminians fully refuted ; and now translated into English out of the originall Latine copie by A.R.
London: printed by James Young, 1645
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.
and of the contrary side, except the eyes of our minds be opened by the grace of his holy Spirit, heavenly doctrine seemeth always alike obscure unto us, whether it be expounded by the word of the Scripture, or of the Church) but for that it pleased God to appoint this ordinary way of instructing us, and himself hath commanded the maintenance and use of his Ministry in the Church, that it should be an instrument, which the holy Ghost might most freely use for our salvation. 2. Although interpretation of Scripture be necessary,1 yet this is so far from granting any license to the Ministers to bring new ordinances into the Church, that nothing doth more tie them to this doctrine alone, comprehended in the Scripture, then this very function of expounding the Scripture. For to interpret another mans words, is not to feign at our pleasure a meaning, either divers from them, or repugnant unto them: but to render the same meaning and sentence, either in moe words, or in more plain words, or, at least in such as may be more fit for their capacity, whom we teach; and withal, when there is need, to show, that this is the mind of the author, which we affirm to be. Now such an interpretation of Scripture is made by this means:2 1. That the phrase be considered, and the proper sense of the words found out. 2. That the order and coherence of the parts of the doctrine contained in the text of the Scripture be declared. 3. That the doctrine be applied to the use of the Church, which it hath in confirming true opinions, or refuting errors, in knowing of God and our selves, in exhorting, in comforting, and in directing of our life:3 as Paul commandeth, Study to divide the word of truth aright. And, A Bishop must hold fast the faithful word according to doctrine, that he also may be able to exhort with wholesome doctrine, and improve them that say against it. And wisely did Epiphanius advise,4 Not all words of Scripture have need to be allegorized, or construed according to a strange sense, but they must be understood as they are: and further, they require meditation and sense for the understanding of the drift and purpose of every argument. That is, All places of Scripture are not to be transformed into allegories: but we must seek out the proper sense of the words, by meditation and sense;