The summe of Christian religion: deliuered by Zacharias Vrsinus in his lectures vpon the Catechism autorised by the noble Prince Frederick, throughout his dominions: wherein are debated and resolued the questions of whatsoeuer points of moment, which haue beene or are controuersed in diuinitie. Translated into English by Henrie Parrie, out of the last & best Latin editions, together with some supplie of wa[n]ts out of his discourses of diuinitie, and with correction of sundrie faults & imperfections, which ar [sic] as yet remaining in the best corrected Latine.

OF THE FIRST QVESTION.

THE argument and summe of the whole sacred Scripture cannot be more rightly, nor more sim∣ply, nor with more perspicuous breuitie comprised, thē the holy Ghost hath comprised it in the ten commandements, & Creed, in which the Articles of our Faith are rehearsed: which will be manifest inough if we remē∣ber that the whole Scripture consisteth of twoo partes, the Law and the Gospell. The Catechisme of Heidelberg maketh mention of three, of which yet the first & the third appertaine vnto the Law. Others make fiue parts: The De∣calog or tenne commandements, the Law, the Creed, the Sacraments, and praier. But the Decalog is the summe of the Law: and therefore is it to be referred vnto the Law, which is the former part. The Creede conteineth the summe of the Gospel: and therefore must it be referred vnto the Gospell, which is the secōd part. The Sacraments are as appurtenāces adioined vnto the doctrine of the Gospel: therfore also they are referred vnto the second part. Praier is a part of the worship of God; and therefore to be referred vnto the Law. There are also who say, this doctrine of the Church is diui∣ded. 1. Into the doctrine as touching God, 2. into the doctrin concerning his wil, 3. into the doctrine concerning his [ 1] works. But these three parts are handled both in the Lawe, and in the Gospel. 1. For al the doctrine concerning God is either of the nature, or of the will, or of the workes of God.

Wherefore what the nature of God is, is taught in the Law and Gospel. His wil is seene either in his commandements, or in his threatnings, or in his promises. Now his works ei∣ther are his benefites, or the iudgementes of his will, which are to be beheld in the creation, after the fal, & in the resto∣ring of man. Besides these, the sinnes also of men and di∣uels are described. And of all these wee are taught, either in the Law, or in the Gospel, or in both. Wherefore the Law & the Gospel are the chiefe generall heads which compre∣hend al the doctrine of the Scripture.

2 Christ himselfe hath made this diuision, saying: So it is [ 2] written, and so it behooued Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day, and that in his name should be preached repen∣tance, and remission of sinnes. Now all this is conteined in the Law and the Gospell.

3 Because the Law and the Gospel doe comprehend the [ 3] same, which are comprehended in the writings of the Pro∣phets and Apostles, and in the doctrine of the Church, in which is comprehended, what God hath done vnto vs, and what of vs hee requireth. Therefore haue we well diuided the Doctrine of the Church into the Law and the Gospel.

4 We doe gather also the self-same argument of the holy [ 4] scripture by this, that the bookes of the Prophets and apo∣stles are called the old and new Testament. For it is wel known that here by the name of Testament is meant the couenant. If then the couenant which is between God and the faith∣full bee described in these bookes, it must needes bee that in them is declared what God promiseth and what hee doth vnto vs, to wit, his fauour, remission of sinnes, his holy spirit, righteousnes, and life euerlasting, and preseruation of his Church in this life, by and for his sonne our mediatour: as also what he requireth of vs, that is to say, faith, by the which we receaue his benefits: and a life framed according to his commandementes, by which wee declare our thank∣fulnes. And these are the thinges which are taught in the Law and Gospell.

5 Neither is the meaning of the holy Ghost otherwise, [ 5] when in a woorde he sayeth, that Christ is taught in the whole Scripture, and that hee alone is to be sought there. For Paul truely, as also the rest of the Apostles, did not

propose a maimed, but a whole doctrine vnto the churches, euen as himselfe witnesseth, Act. 20. That hee kept nothing backe, but shewed all the counsell of God concerning the Ephesians. And yet the selfe-same Apostle 1 Cor. 2. saith: That hee knew nothing but Iesus Christ, and him crucifyed. And Cap. 3. That the foundation of the doctrine of the Church is Christ alone: And that this foundation is common to the Prophets together with the Apostles. Wherefore the Doctrine concerning Christ, is the summe and scope of the Scripture, and the founda∣tion laid by the Prophets and Apostles, on which whosoe∣uer rely not, they are not stones of the Temple of God, that is, members of Christes Church.

Notes

• What the holy scripture teacheth.
• An argument from the di∣uision.
• Testimonies.
• From the de∣finition of the subiect, to wit, the couenant.
• From the Subiect cor∣relatiue of the couenāt.