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,…

In the first of Isaiah is a whole Sermon against the wicked, which offered sacrifices unto God, and there God will not that they should sacrifice unto him: therefore now also he will not that such men be admitted to the Sacraments. Bring no more oblations (saith God) in vain. Object. God will that all should celebrate the Passover: Therefore here-hence he excluded not the wicked. Ans. God will that all celebrate his Passover; that is, all such as he will have accounted for members of his Church and people: not the obstinate, whom he commanded to be sequestered from his congregation. Again, Isaiah 66. he detesteth such as persist in their wickedness; and yet offer sacrifices unto him: He that killeth a bullocks, is as if he slew a man: he that sacrificeth a sheep, ¹as if he cut off a dogs neck: he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swines blood: he that remembereth incense, as if he blessed an Idol. ²In the sixth of Jeremiah he sharply reproveth those, who, being defiled with their abominations, yet durst appear in his Temple. Ezekiel the 20. he threateneth that he will not answer,³ when he is asked by them who go after other gods, and then present themselves in Gods Temple, when they are polluted. In the same Chapter he saith,⁴ that they profane his Sabbaths, and pollute his Sanctuary, who, when they have gone a whoring after Idols, appear in his Temple. Amos the fifth,⁵ he rejecteth the sacrifices and worship of transgressors: I hate and abhor your feast-days, and will not smell in your solemn assemblies. Haggai the second, he prohibiteth the unclean in soul once to touch holy things, where he speaketh of moral and ceremonial uncleanness.⁶ The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination to the Lord. In the New Testament John admitteth them only to baptism, who confessed their sins, and repented: Bring forth fruits worthy amendment of life. Leave thine offering before the Altar, and go thy way; ⁷first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift: Therefore whosoever reconcileth not first himself unto his brother, he is to be debarred the Sacraments. For Christ will that all submit themselves first unto God, according to all his commandments, before they approach to any Sacrament: For by the name of Altar, here are understood any Sacraments whatsoever. Amend your lives, ⁸and be baptised every one of you.

In the first of Esay is a whole Sermon against the wicked, which offered sacrifices unto God, and there God will not that they should sacrifice unto him: therefore now also he will not that such men be admitted to the Sacraments. Bring no more oblations (saith God) in vaine. Object. God will that all should celebrate the Passeover: Therefore here-hence hee excluded not the wicked. Ans. God will that all celebrate his Passeover; that is, all such as he will have accounted for members of his Church and people: not the obstinate, whom hee commanded to be sequestred from his congregation. Againe, Esay 66. he detesteth such as persist in their wickednesse; and yet offer sacrifices unto him: Hee that killeth a bullocks, is as if he slew a man: hee that sacrificeth a sheep, ¹as if he cut off a dogges necke: hee that offereth an oblation, as if hee offered swines bloud: hee that remembreth incense, as if hee blessed an Idoll. ²In the sixth of Jeremy he sharply reproveth those, who, being defiled with their abominations, yet durst appeare in his Temple. Ezekiel the 20. he threatneth that he will not answer,³ when he is asked by them who goe after other gods, and then present themselves in Gods Temple, when they are polluted. In the same Chapter he saith,⁴ that they profane his Sabbaths, and pollute his Sanctuary, who, when they have gone a whoring after Idols, appeare in his Temple. Amos the fifth,⁵ hee rejecteth the sacrifices and worship of transgressors: I hate and abhorre your feast-dayes, and will not smell in your solemne assemblies. Haggai the second, he prohibiteth the uncleane in soule once to touch holy things, where he speaketh of morall and ceremoniall uncleanenesse.⁶ The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination to the Lord. In the New Testament John admitteth them only to baptisem, who confessed their sins, and repented: Bring forth fruits worthy amendement of life. Leave thine offering before the Altar, and goe thy way; ⁷first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift: Therefore whosoever reconcileth not first himself unto his brother, hee is to be debarred the Sacraments. For Christ will that all submit themselves first unto God, according to all his commandements, before they approach to any Sacrament: For by the name of Altar, here are understood any Sacraments whatsoever. Amend your lives,

1. 1Isaiah 66.3.Esay 66.3.
2. 2Jerem. 6.20.
3. 3Ezck. 20.31.
4. 4verse 24.
5. 5Amos 5.21.
6. 6Prov. 15.8.
7. 7Mat. 3.6.
8. 8Acts 2.38. & 8.37. 1 Cor. 10.20, 21. & 11.27.

If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest be baptised: Therefore, if thou believest not, thou mayest not. The things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not unto God. Ye cannot be partakers of the Lords Table, and of the Table of Devils. Whosoever eateth unworthily, is guilty of the Lords body: But the wicked, eating without faith and repentance, eat unworthily: Therefore they are guilty. We ought not to partake in other mens sins: and we ought not to wink at any mans destruction: therefore we may not admit the wicked to the Sacrament, lest they eat unto themselves damnation.

If thou beleevest with all thine heart, thou mayest be baptised: Therefore, if thou beleevest not, thou mayest not. The things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to divels, and not unto God. Yee cannot be partakers of the Lords Table, and of the Table of Divels. Whosoever eateth unworthily, is guilty of the Lords body: But the wicked, eating without faith and repentance, eate unworthily: Therefore they are guilty. We ought not to partake in other mens sins: and we ought not to wink at any mans destruction: therefore wee may not admit the wicked to the Sacrament, lest they eat unto themselves damnation.

2. In respect of Christ and his Apostles special commandment: If thy brother trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between him and thee alone: ¹if he hear thee, thou hast won thy brother. But if he hear thee not, take yet with thee one or two, that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be confirmed. And if he will not vouchsafe to hear them, tell it unto the Church: and if he refuse to hear the Church also, ⟨p. 484⟩let him be unto thee as an Heathen man, and a Publican. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever ye loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven. But Christ will not that his Sacraments, which he instituted for the faithful alone, be made common with Pagans and Publicans. And lest this Mandate might be understood of some private and special judgement, it is expressly added: Whatsoever ye shall bind, &c. which words cannot be otherwise understood, but of the public power of the Keys. I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, ²have determined already, as though I were present, that he that hath done this thing, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that such one, I say, by the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, be delivered unto Satan, for the destruction of the flesh, ³that the spirit may be saved in the day of our Lord Jesus. And again: With such a one eat not. Put away therefore from your selves that wicked man. For what concord hath Christ with Belial? ⁴or what part hath the Believer with the Infidels? We command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye, withdraw your selves from every brother that walketh inordinately, and not after the instruction which ye received of us. If any man obey not our sayings, note him by a letter, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. ⁵If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not to house, neither bid him, God speed: for, he that biddeth him God speed, is partaker of his evil deeds.

4. Lest the Sacraments be profaned, and that given the wicked in the Supper, which is denied them in the Word.

5. That the purity of Gods doctrine and worship be preserved.

6. For the safety of the Church, which shall be punished, if she wittingly and willingly profane Christs Sacraments, or suffer them to be profaned.

7. For the safety of the sinners, that they, being often admonished and put to shame, may return to repentance.

7. For the safety of the sinners, that they, being often admonished and put to shame, may returne to repentance.

8. For avoiding of offence in the Church, that others, weaklings, be not corrupted by evil example.¹ Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

8. For avoiding of offence in the Church, that others, weaklings, be not corrupted by evill example.¹ Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

1. 14.1 Cor. 5.6.

9. For avoiding of offence among those that are without, lest they, who are not as yet members of the Church, come not to it.

10. That the name of God might not be blasphemed, and evil spoken of by others, and his Covenant despited and reproached.

10. That the name of God might not be blasphemed, and evill spoken of by others, and his Covenant despited and reproached.

11. That from the sinners themselves punishment may be averted, because the wicked, approaching unto the Lords Table, eat their own damnation. Wherefore, that this may not come to pass, the Church is bound to provide, that such approach not thither.

11. That from the sinners themselves punishment may be averted, because the wicked, approaching unto the Lords Table, eate their owne damnation. Wherefore, that this may not come to passe, the Church is bound to provide, that such approach not thither.

12. They who deny the faith and doctrine of Christ, are to be excluded from the Church, and from the use of the Sacraments: For the Faithful, or Christians are not to be confounded, or mingled with those, who are not members of the Church, or with those, who are professed ungodly persons, blasphemers, revolters to Arianism, Mahumetanisme, and the like. But they that deny, and refuse to repent, deny the faith and doctrine; They profess that they know God, but by works they deny him. And he that denieth the faith,¹ is worse than Infidels: Therefore they who persist in their wickedness, and deny to repent, are to be shut out of the Church; neither are they to be admitted to the use of the Sacraments.

12. They who deny the faith and doctrine of Christ, are to be excluded from the Church, and from the use of the Sacraments: For the Faithfull, or Christians are not to be confounded, or mingled with those, who are not members of the Church, or with those, who are professed ungodly persons, blasphemers, revolters to Arrianisme, Mahumetanisme, and the like. But they that deny, and refuse to repent, deny the faith and doctrine; They professe that they know God, but by workes they deny him. And he that denieth the faith,¹ is worse than Infidels: Therefore they who persist in their wickednes, and deny to repent, are to be shut out of the Church; neither are they to be admitted to the use of the Sacraments.

1. 1Tims 1.16.

13. And here hath place that saying of Christ, Give not that which is holy to dogs. Wherefore, neither to the Sacraments are dogs to be admitted, namely, those which persist in their wickedness, and make a mock of Gods Word. For if Christ speaketh this of his audible Word, to wit, the Word preached, which yet was instituted for the converted and unconverted, or such as were yet to be converted; much more shall this likewise be spoken of his visible Word, namely, of the Sacraments, which were ordained and instituted for the converted only.

13. And here hath place that saying of Christ, Give not that which is holy to dogges. Wherefore, neither to the Sacraments are dogges to be admitted, namely, those which persist in their wickednesse, and make a mocke of Gods Word. For if Christ speaketh this of his audible Word, to wit, the Word preached, which yet was instituted for the converted and unconverted, or such as were yet to be converted; much more shall this likewise be spoken of his visible Word, namely, of the Sacraments, which were ordained and instituted for the converted only.

14. Open Infidels, wicked ones, and blasphemers, ought not to be baptised: For they ⟨p. 485⟩ought not to be baptised, who believe not with their whole heart. Wherefore, Philip saith to the Eunuch, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest be baptised. ¹So John also baptised none but such as confessed their sins. Now if blasphemers and unbelievers are not to be baptised, it followeth that they are to be shut out of the Church, and not to be admitted to the receiving of the Sacraments. They who ought not to be baptised, neither ought they to be admitted unto the Supper: for there is one and the same reason in both.

14. Open Infidels, wicked ones, and blasphemers, ought not to be baptised: For they ⟨p. 485⟩ought not to be baptised, who beleeve not with their whole heart. Wherefore, Philip saith to the Eunuch, If thou beleevest with all thine heart, thou mayest be baptised. ¹So John also baptised none but such as confessed their sins. Now if blasphemers and unbeleevers are not to be baptised, it followeth that they are to be shut out of the Church, and not to be admitted to the receiving of the Sacraments. They who ought not to be baptised, neither ought they to be admitted unto the Supper: for there is one and the same reason in both.

1. 1Acts 8.37. Mat. 3.•.

15. They who are not as yet baptised are not to be admitted unto the Supper: but to them who forsake their Baptism, Baptism is no Baptism; according to that of the Apostle: If thou be a transgressor of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision; ¹that is, if thou persevere in thy transgression without repentance: Therefore they who forsake their Baptism, are not to be admitted unto the Supper. Obj. Then they who forsake their baptism, are also to be baptised after their receiving into the Church. Ans. Their receiving into the Church by baptism is firm, and in force to them that repent, without any iteration of the sign. But seeing baptism is an entrance into the Church, they who forsake it, are not in the Church; and therefore as long as they continue such, they are not to be admitted either into the Church, or unto the Supper.

15. They who are not as yet baptised are not to be admitted unto the Supper: but to them who forsake their Baptisme, Baptisme is no Baptisme; according to that of the Apostle: If thou be a transgressor of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision; ¹that is, if thou persevere in thy transgression without repentance: Therefore they who forsake their Baptisme, are not to be admitted unto the Supper. Obj. Then they who forsake their baptisme, are also to be baptised after their receiving into the Church. Ans. Their receiving into the Church by baptisme is firme, and in force to them that repent, without any iteration of the signe. But seeing baptisme is an entrance into the Church, they who forsake it, are not in the Church; and therefore as long as they continue such, they are not to be admitted either into the Church, or unto the Supper.

1. 1Rom. 1.25.