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.

1 What a Mediator is.

* 1.1A Mediatuor in generall signifieth him, who interposeth or putteth himselfe betweene parties which are at va∣riance, & reconcileth the one to the other. Now to recon∣cile is 1. To make intercession or intreatie for him, who offendeth, vnto him who is offended. 2. To make satisfaction for the iniurie offered. 3. To promise & to bring to passe that the partie who hath offended, offend no more. For except this be brought to passe and effectuated, the fruite and commodity of the inter∣cession is lost. 4. Lastly, to bring them to an attonement and agreement, who were before at enmitie. If one of these con∣ditions bee wanting, there cannot bee anie true reconcile∣ment.

* 1.2But in speciall, and as heere it is vsed and meant of Christ, a Mediatour is a pacifier or reconciler of God and men, as well by merit and desert, as also by efficacie and forcible operation: that is, it is a middle person betweene God who is offended and angrie with sinne, and mankind offending, and subiect to the anger of God; to reconcile men vnto God, restoring them into fauour, causing men to loue God, and God men; and that by making entreaty and satisfaction to Gods iustice for them, and applying forcibly & effectually vnto them his satisfaction or merit; regenerating them, that they may cease from sinning; and hearing their groans and petitions, when they call vpon him. For when Christ doth these things, he causeth god to loue vs, and vs to loue god, that is, he maketh a peace and agreement to be betweene God and vs.

* 1.3A middle person, and a Mediator are different, because that is the name of the person, this of the office. Both which Christ is betweene God the father and vs. Hee is a Mid∣dle person, because in him both natures, diuine and hu∣mane, are vnited personally. And a Mediatour, because he reconcileth vs to his father, albeit in some sort he is also in the same respect the Middle person, in which hee is Mediatour, because in him two extreames are ioyned, God and man.

It is demaunded whether Adam had neede of a Media∣tour before his fall? Aunswere is to bee made by distingui∣shing of the diuerse meaninges and significations of Me∣diatour

If a mediatour be meant to be such a one, through whose mediation or by whome God doth bestowe his be∣nefites, and communicate himselfe vnto vs, Adam verilie euen before his fall had neede of a Mediatour, because Christ euer was that person, by whom god the father cre∣ateth and quickneth all thinges. For in him was life, to wit all, both corporall and spirituall life, and the life was the light of men. But if the Mediatour bee vnderstoode to bee him who perfourmeth both these and all other partes of a Mediatours office: Adam did not stand in neede of a Mediatour before his fall. Wee must obserue notwith∣standing that in the Scriptures this Phrase of speech is not found, whereby CHRIST is saide to haue beene the Mediatour also before the fall of man.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A Mediatour in generall.
• * 1.2

  A mediatour in special.
• * 1.3

  How Christ is a midle person, & howe a media∣tour.