A collection of certaine learned discourses, written by that famous man of memory Zachary Ursine; doctor and professor of divinitie in the noble and flourishing schools of Neustad. For explication of divers difficult points, laide downe by that author in his catechisme. Lately put in print in Latin by the last labour of D. David Parry: and now newlie translated into English, by I.H. for the benefit and behoofe of our Christian country-man

The Proeme.

WHereas God hath not only appointed in his church a ministerie of his word, and cōmāded & approved this vocatiō to the office of teaching, which is practised in the church; but also hath cōmēded this most high & dāgerous functiō of all others that are performed by men, to those which haue both the knowledge of heauenlie

doctrine, and also indifferent abilitie to deliuer the same, and by innocencie of life giue vnto the hearers examples, of that which they teach: and doth by the mouth of S. Paule pronounce them guiltie of others offence, which place or consent to them that place in this order men vnfit, that is, such as by life or evill doctrine giue offence to the church. 2 Tim. 5. Lay not thy handes rashly one a∣nie, & be not partaker of others offences: these things I say being so, it is without doubt necessary, that such as in churches or schooles shall vndertake parte of this labour of teaching, bee first heard by such as can iudg of the truth of doctrine, and willinglie submit themselues to the triall & cen∣sure of men. I therefore, although in cōfidence of mine owne worthinesse I may so little presume to present my selfe to this publique view of learn∣ed men and young students, that I bring neither learning, nor experience, nor iudgment, nor anie thing at all to plead in my behalfe for the patient presence and attention of the learned, besides great trembling, and earnest entreatie of Gods as∣sistance and your fauour: yet seeing they who haue ben some times cōuersant in scholes should not draw back from triall; and seeing it is a part of ingenuity & faithful dealing, not to conceale euē a mans owne weaknes: I haue thought it fit both for discharg of my duty & my further learning, not peremptorily to withstand their commaund, whose pleasure it is that I should come into this place.

But because the custome and purpose of these disputations is to determine vpon some principal pointes of Christianity, I haue determined at this time to repeate & discusse that argument of scrip∣ture, which is touching the office and person of one onlie mediatour betweene God and man, evē Christ Iesus our Lord: both because it compriseth a short grounde and summe of Christianity; as also because ever our forreine and hom-bread contentions do most concerne this point. I purpose therefore after my manner to recite as breifely and plainly as I can, the sence and meaning of some propositions, to∣geather which reasons and testimonies taken out of holy scripture.