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.

4 What manner of Deliuery this is.

THe deliuerie and setting of man at libertie is necessarilie compleat, that is, in al ponites perfect,* 1.1 euen from both

euils, both of crime, and of paine. First, because God is not a deliuerer in part onely, but saueth and loueth perfectly those whom hee saueth. 1. Iohn 1.7. The bloode of Iesus Christ cleanseth vs from all sinne, to witte, as touching both the formall partes thereof, the guilt, and the corruption of sinne.

Secondly, because he doth perfectly punish the wicked, that his iustice may bee exactly satisfied by their punishment: Therefore doth hee perfectly deliuer the godly from punishment; because he is more inclining & propense to mercy than to anger. Thirdly, because we were fully & perfectly lost in Adam. But Christs benefit is not imperfecter, or of lesse force than the sin of Adam, which it would be, if he did not perfectly deliuer: because al haue lost al their righteousnesse, saluation, and blessednes in Adam. Therefore righteousnes and felicity is restored by Christ.

Each of these deliueries, both from the euill of crime, and from the euil of paine or punishment, is necessarily perfect. Be∣cause the image of God, glory and blessednes, which is re∣stored vnto vs by Christ our redeemer, is more glorious, & greater than that,* 1.2 which we lost in Adam. Our deliuery from euerlasting death or damnation is most perfect, euen in this life, both as touching the parts thereof, and also in degree. Because Christs satisfaction for our sinnes, which is imputed vnto vs, is a most perfect conformity and correspondence with the law of God: Now from other calamities we shal be ful∣ly deliuered in the life to come, when as the remnants of sin in vs shalbe vtterly abolished. In the meane season, they are mitigated vnto the godly, euen in this life, & turned into fatherly chastisements.

* 1.3Our deliuery from crime or sinne by regeneration, is perfect, not at once in a moment, but successiuely by degrees. For in this life it is perfect, as concerning the partes thereof, but as by a be∣ginning onelie, that is, all the partes of obedience are be∣gunne in the redeemed, or beleeuers: so that, as long as we liue here, it is daily augmented by new accessions and encreasings. But after the departure of the soule out of the body this deliuerie is perfecter: because then man doeth wholy cease from sinne. After the resurrection and glorification it shall bee most perfect, both as touching the partes thereof, and

in degree. For then shall God bee all in all, that is, hee shal immediatly blesse vs with exceeding happinesse, so that nothing shall remaine in vs repugnaunt to God: but whatsoeuer shal be in vs, that shal be of god. But now there is somewhat in vs, which is not of GOD, euen sinne it selfe.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Our deliuerie most perfect.
• * 1.2

  Our deliuerie from eternall death perfect in this life, from other calamities in the life to come.
• * 1.3

  Our deliuerie from sinne in part here by re∣generation, but perfect in the life to come.