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.

3 How the Gospel differeth from the Law.

ALthough in the doctrine both of the Lawe and of the Gospell is entreated of the nature of God, and of his wil and workes: yet is there very great difference between both.* 1.1 They differ, 1. In their reuealings, or in the maner of their reueiling. The Law is knowen by nature, that is, knowledge of the Law was graffed and ingendered in the mindes of men in the very creation, and therefore knowen to al, although there were no other reueiling of it. Rom. 2.15. They haue the effect of the Law written in their harts.* 1.2 The gos∣pel is not knowen by nature, but is peculiarly reuealed to the Church alone, by the Sonne our Mediatour. For no creature could haue seene or hoped for that mitigati∣on of the Law, and the way howe to recouer out of pu∣nishment, except the sonne had reueiled it. Matth. 11.27. No man knoweth the father but the Sonne, and hee to whome the Sonne wil reueile him. Matth. 16.17. Flesh and blood hath not re∣ueiled it vnto thee. Iohn 1.18. The sonne which is in the bosome of the father, he hath declared him. Secondly, they differ in the verie kind of doctrine, or in the subiectes or matters which they deliuer. For the Law teacheth what we ought to bee, to wit, per∣fectly conformed vnto God:* 1.3 but yet it dooth not make vs to be such. But the gospell sheweth the meanes, whereby wee maie bee such, euen by the imputation of anothers righte∣ousnesse, and the inchoation or beginning of newe o∣bedience, whereby we are conformed to God in Christ. The Lawe saith, Restore that thou owest: doe this and liue: The Gospell saieth,* 1.4 beleeue CHRIST, thy debt is payed: the grace of the holy Ghost is purchased, whereby hee that is regenerated may perfourme the Lawe. 3. They differ in the promises. The Lawe promiseth euerlasting

life, but with a condition of perfect righteousnesse or obedience to bee perfourmed of vs. Hee that dooth them shall liue in them. If thou wilt enter into life, keepe the commaundements &c. The gospel promiseth euerlasting life, with a condition also of per∣fect righteousnesse, but which is perfourmed by another, though yet imputed vnto vs by faith. The Law promiseth life to those who yeelde obedience, or are righteous in themselues. The gospell promiseth vnto sinners remission of sinnes and life euerlasting freely to be giuen for the satisfaction of Christ, apprehended of them by a true faith, that they be penitent or begin new obedience. The gospel therefore requireth of vs only a true faith, whereby we may embrace Christs perfect righteousnesse freely imputed to belee∣uers, yea Christ himselfe together with all his bene∣fits bestowed of mere grace vpon vs. Neither for these respects are the Law and the gospell at ods one with the other. For albeit the Lawe will, that thou keepe the com∣maundementes, if thou wilt enter into life: yet dooth it not shutte thee from euerlasting life, if another fulfill the Lawe for thee. For by setting downe the one way of satisfieng for sinnes, it doth not exclude the other, to wit, of satisfieng by another, which way the gospel declareth vnto vs. Now we cannot make satisfaction by another, that is, by Christ, except by faith wee cloth our selues with his perfect righteousnesse. The gospell therefore commaun∣deth vs to haue faith, and with-all to repent from our hearte: for faith cannot stande without true repen∣tance.

4 They differ in effectes. The Lawe is the ministerie of death,* 1.5 and killeth. Because by it selfe without the Gospell, it is on∣ly the letter, that is, the outwarde preaching, and bare knowledge of those thinges which we ought to doe. For it teacheth indeede our duety, and that righteousnesse, which God requireth at our handes: but it dooth not make vs able to perfourme that righteousnesse, neither dooth it shewe vs any hope to attaine thereunto by ano∣ther; but rather accuseth and condemneth our vnrigh∣teousnesse. Fleshe hardely bearing this, is angrie and rageth against GOD himselfe, and is in despaire.* 1.6 The gospell is the ministerie of life and of the spirit, that is, it hath the

forcible operation of the holy Ghost adioined, and doth quicken. For this is the instrument of the holy Ghost, which hee properly vseth, to kindle faith in vs, whereby wee, who before were dead, are againe quickned and receiue strength to perfourme the Lawe. For thorough faith in Christ our Mediatour, the Lawe ceaseth to bee vn∣to vs the ministery of Death, and is become spiritu∣all, that is, the instrument of the holie GHOST, whereby hee forcibly mooueth our heartes to serue God.

* 1.7It was said, in the definition of the Gospell, and in the third difference betweene the Law and the Gospell, that the Gospell requireth both faith and repentaunce or newe obe∣dience, and so is the preaching both of remission of sinnes and of repentaunce. Against this Flacius Sectaries keepe a sturre, and reason after this sort: There is no precept or com∣maundement belonging to the Gospell. The preaching of repen∣taunce is a precept or commaundement. Therefore the prea∣ching of repentaunce belongeth not to the Gospell, but to the Lawe. Aunswere. We deny the Maior, if it bee generally meant.* 1.8 For this precept is proper vnto the Gospell, That it commandeth vs to beleeue it, to embrace the benefit of Christ, and now being iustified to begin that righteousnes which the Lawe requireth of vs. Wherefore the Gospell is the preaching of repentaunce: because it willeth sinners, yeelding them hope to obtaine pardon tho∣rough and for CHRIST, to returne vnto GOD. It sheweth them the way howe to exercise true repen∣taunce, and beginneth it in their hearts by the force of the holy Ghost. These thinges are not doone by the Lawe, but by the Gospell onely. They reply. Yea but the Lawe also willeth vs to beleeue, and commaundeth conuersion. Therefore it is not proper to the Gospell: or else the Gospell is not diuerse from the Lawe. Aunswere. Both the Law and the Gospell commaundeth faith and conuer∣sion to God; but diuersly. The Lawe dooth it onelie in general, because it commaundeth vs to beleeue euery woord of God,* 1.9 that is, all the promises, commaundements, and threatninges of God, deliuered either in the Lawe, or in the Gospell, and that with a denouncing of punishment, ex∣cept

wee doe it. The Lawe saith, Beleeue euerie woorde of God: it willeth therefore, that we beleeue and obey this com∣maundement also, by which God in the Gospell com∣maundeth vs to returne vnto him, and to beleeue in Christ. But the Gospell in speciall, and expresly willeth vs to embrace by faith the grace promised vs in Christ, and to re∣turne vnto God: that is, it saith not in generall, Beleeue all the promises and denouncinges of God, &c. For this it lea∣ueth vnto the Law: but it saith plainely and expressely, Beleeue this promise, to wit, that thy sinnes are pardoned thee, and that thou art receaued of God into fauour, by and for Christ, and returne vnto GOD. Further, it exhorteth vs both inwardely and outwardely, by the woord and Sacramentes, that wee walke woorthie of him, that is, doe such woorkes, as are pleasing to GOD: but this it dooth onely in generall, and therefore sendeth vs backe vnto the Lawe, which in particular and distinctly declareth, what that righteousnes, or obedience, or workes are, which God requireth of vs.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The law kno∣wen by the light of nature.
• * 1.2

  The Gospel knowen by the light of grace onelie.
• * 1.3

  The law teach∣eth what wee ought to bee, but not how we may bee, as wee ought.
• * 1.4

  The Gospel tea∣cheth how wee may bee.
• * 1.5

  The law, the mi∣nistery of death.
• * 1.6

  The Gospell, the ministery of life.
• * 1.7

  The Gospel is the preaching of repentance.
• * 1.8

  The recalling of sinners vnto God is proper vnto the Gos∣pel.
• * 1.9

  Both the lawe and the Gospel require faith.