A64611:473
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.
The Explication.
This question of the Catechism is an objection against that doctrine, That God punisheth all and every sin with everlasting pains; and thus it is framed. Object. It is the property of him that is exceeding merciful, to remit somewhat of extreme justice; but God is exceeding merciful: Therefore he will remit somewhat of extreme justice, and will not punish sin with eternal pains. Answ. We answer to the Major on this wise: It is the point of him that is merciful to remit something, but without breach of justice, if he be exactly just. Now God is so exceeding merciful, that he is also exactly just: Therefore he will so exercise mercy, that not withstanding he will not impair his justice. And the justice of God exacteth, that all sins committed against his sovereign majesty should be punished with most exquisite, that is, everlasting pains both of body and soul, that there may be some proportion between the crime and the penalty. Repl. 1. Exceeding strict justice doth not stand with exceeding mercy; in God there is exceeding mercy: Therefore in God exceeding strict justice standeth not with it. Answ. The Major is denied. Repl. Thus it is proved, Exceeding mercy admitteth mitigating equity; but strict and exact justice, such as is in God, admitteth not this: Ergo, &c. Ans. Yes, the justice of God admitteth mitigating equity and favourableness, not by omitting, but by transferring the punishment on some other. Repl. 2. With him that followeth extreme or strict justice, mercy and equity hath no place; but God doth strictly execute his Law: Therefore with him mercy hath no place. Or thus, He who remitteth nought of extreme right, he is not merciful, but only just; but God remitteth nought of his right, because he punisheth all sin with sufficient punishment. Ans. 1. We deny the Minor: For God remitteth a great deal of his strict right, though he punish sins with eternal pains. For, as touching the reprobate, he useth much favourable dealing towards them, whiles he both now deferreth their punishments, & inviteth them by many benefits unto repentance, and in the eternity it self of their punishment will punish them more mildly then they deserved.