A64611:962
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.
The fifth Sophism of the inutility or unprofitableness of means.
The fifth Sophisme of the inutility or unprofitablenesse of means.
1That which shall be unchangeably and necessarily by the will and providence of God, in vain to the furthering or hindering of that are means applied; as the use of the ministry, the magistrates, laws, exhortations, promises, threatenings, punishments, prayer, our study and endeavours: But all things are done by the decree of God unchangeably, neither can they which work by the providence of God work otherwise then they do: Therefore all those means are vain and fruitless. Answ. It is not necessary that the first and principal cause being put, the second and instrumental cause should be removed and taken away. In vain are second causes and means applied, if God had determined to execute his decrees without means, neither had commanded us to use them: But seeing God hath decreed, by those means, in some to work faith and conversion, some to bridle and keep under means, and some to leave excuselesse, and hath for that cause commanded us to use them; they are not in vain used and applied: yea, when there cometh no profit by these, yet they profit to this, that they leave the wicked without excuse. As therefore the Sun doth not in vain daily rise and set, neither are the fields in vain sowed and watered with the rain, neither bodies in vain with food refreshed; though God createth light and darkness, bringeth forth the corn out of the earth, and is the life and length of our days; so neither are men in vain taught, or do study to conform their life unto doctrine, though all available actions and events proceed only from God: for God from everlasting decreed, as the ends, so the means also, and prescribed them unto us, whereby it seemed good to him to bring us unto them. Wherefore, we using those means, do well,2 and obtain profitable and fruitful events: but if we neglect them, either by our fault we deprive our selves or others of those blessings offered by God; or if God, even in this contempt of his word have mercy on us or others, yet our conscience accuseth us of open and grievous sin. Wherefore we must use means, 1. That we may obey God therein, who both hath decreed ends, and ordained means to those ends, and prescribed them unto us; neither tempt him, by contemning these, to our own peril and danger. 2. That we may obtain those blessings decreed for us according to his promise, and that to our salvation. 3.