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.

The workes of the regenerate and vnregenerate differ seuen maner of waies.

IN this place is to bee obserued the difference betweene the workes of the regenerate, and vnregenerate. They differ seuen waies.* 1.1 For one and the same worke commaunded of God, is good in the regenerat, and sinne in the vnregenerat. 1. Because the re∣generate are reconciled to God: The vnregenerate are not. 2. The regenerat doe it to the glory of God: The vnregenerat no way do so. 3. In both of them that good worke is imperfect. but that of the godly is couered by the satisfaction and intercession of Christ: that of the vngodly not so. 4. The worke of the godly is ioined with a beginning obedience: that of the vngodly with sinne raigning. 5. The good worke which is in the wicked, is made euill. But the good which is in the godly, though it be contamina∣ted with sinne; yet because it is hidden by the satisfaction of Christ, it is not punished; neither is it obiected vnto him, that he doth defile the giftes of God with his sinnes, neither doth the Lord for that worke bereaue the regenerate man of e∣uerlasting life: all which hee doth in those who are not re∣generat. 6. The good worke in the wicked is onely adorned with temporall rewards; & that not as if it pleased god, but for to inuite by this meanes others to honesty. But the good worke in the godly is freely adorned not only with temporall but also with eternall benefites; & that also because it pleaseth him in our mediator,* 1.2 & not only thereby to inuite others to honestie; according to that of Christs: So let your light shine before mē, that they may see your good works & glorifie your father which is in heauen. Wherefore the good works of the godly are oftē∣times in the old testamēt shadowed by an acceptable incense, wherewith God is honored & pleased. And godlines, as the Apostle saith, hath the promise of this life & the life to come. 7. Good works in the vnregenerat make only to the mitigatiō of their punishments, that they may not suffer more grieuous pains, as other wicked persons doe: but the good workes of the godly doe not only serue for this, that they may suffer lighter and easier punishments, but also that they may be quite freed from all euill.

Thinges indifferent in themselues may bee also sinnes by an accident, that is,* 1.3 if they be done with offence or without faith. For whatsoeuer is done without faith is sinne. Vnto the pure all thinges indeede are pure; but it is euill for the man which ea∣teth with offence. Out of these and the like places is this di∣uision taken. For when the Apostle saith that all thinges are vncleane to the vncleane and wicked, he intimateth also that those thinges which of themselues are good, are notwith∣standing vncleane or sinnes vnto the wicked.

In all these diuisions it is affirmed, that also in the ••aintes of God is sinne. Wherefore we must hold the difference betweene the sinnes of the regenerat, and the vnregenerat. There are diuers sinnes truely in the Saintes: as 1. Originall sinne. 2. Many actuall sinnes, as of ignoraunce, omission, infirmi∣tie. 3. Some also fall into errors which fight with the foundation it selfe, or into sinnes against their conscience, for which they leese a good conscience, comfort, many giftes of the holy Ghost, and should be condemned except they did repent. But neuertheles very much doe the regenerate in sinning differ from the wicked. 1. Because the purpose of God is to keepe the godly for euer. 2. In the godly there is assured & certain repentance in the ende. 3. In the very sins themselues is the true beginning of faith, sometimes more, sometimes lesse, and the godly so resist and striue against sinne, that they fall not without re∣pentance into errors against their conscience, and repug∣nant to the foundation.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Why one and the same worke is good in the regenerate and sinne in the vn∣regenerate.
• * 1.2

  Math. 5.16.
• * 1.3

  How things in themselves in∣different by an accident be∣come sinne.