A64611:683
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
Title page: Internet Archive scan of the Early English Books microfilm
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.
1And hence is apparent the impudency of Epicures and Academics, who deem all religion to be devices of subtle men, coined to this end and purpose, that the rest of the common people might, through fear of a superior power, be kept in good order. For first, if through deceivableness other men believe that God is, and dread him; Why then are these men themselves, who will seem by their sharp in-sight to espy the guile, most of all tormented with the conscience, and privy acknowledgement both of this their blasphemy, as also of other misdeeds? Moreover, the sole and bare asseveration and word of a few could not have been sufficient, neither to persuade all mankind, neither to maintain the persuasion once brought in, to all succeeding ages: neither doth that lighten the force of those arguments which are deducted from this notion, That there is a God; and from the conscience, in that they say, There are many found who neither believe there is a God, neither are moved with the conscience of their sins: for although they covet never so much to persuade themselves that there is no God, yet is their conscience always against them. And therefore it is most false that these men imagine, that any one of the wicked is free from the gnawing of his conscience: for how much the more every one despiseth God, and all religion, and endeavoureth to repress the pricks of conscience; so much the more is he tormented, and at every mentioning and signifying of God, he trembleth and shaketh with horror: and how much the slowlier, with so much the more severe dolour and pain is his security shaken from him. Whereupon we see those whose whole life was profane and secure for the most part, when they are oppressed with the terror of Gods judgement, to perish in despair.
1And hence is apparant the impudency of Epicures and Academicks, who deem all religion to be devices of subtill men, coyned to this end and purpose, that the rest of the common people might, through fear of a superiour power, be kept in good order. For first, if through deceivablenesse other men beleeve that God is, and dread him; Why then are these men themselves, who will seem by their sharp in-sight to espy the guile, most of all tormented with the conscience, and privie acknowledgement both of this their blasphemy, as also of other misdeeds? Moreover, the sole and bare asseveration and word of a few could not have been sufficient, neither to perswade all mankinde, neither to maintain the perswasion once brought in, to all succeeding ages: neither doth that lighten the force of those arguments which are deducted from this notion, That there is a God; and from the conscience, in that they say, There are many found who neither beleeve there is a God, neither are moved with the conscience of their sins: for although they covet never so much to perswade themseves that there is no God, yet is their conscience alwaies against them. And therefore it is most false that these men imagine, that any one of the wicked is free from the gnawing of his conscience: for how much the more every one despiseth God, and all religion, and endeavoureth to represse the pricks of conscience; so much the more is he tormented, and at every mentioning and signifying of God, he trembleth and shaketh with horrour: and how much the slowlier, with so much the more severe dolour and paine is his security shaken from him. Whereupon wee see those whose whole life was profane and secure for the most part, when they are oppressed with the terrour of Gods judgement, to perish in despaire.