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 REMISSION OF SINNES.

THE chiefe Questions.

• 1 What remission of sinnes is.
• 2 Who giueth it.
• 3 For What.
• 4 Whether it agreeth with Gods iustice.
• 5 Whether it be freely giuen.
• 6 To whom it is giuen.
• 7 How it is giuen.

1 WHAT REMISSION OF SINNES IS.

REmission of sinnes is the purpose of God not to punish the sins of the faithful, euen as if they had neuer sinned:* 1.1 which pur∣pose of not punishing their sinnes God dooth withall de∣clare vnto vs. Roman. 5.5. For the loue of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the holie Ghost which is giuen vnto vs. It may be also

defined thus: Remission of sinnes is the pardoning of deserued pu∣nishment, and the giuing or imputing of another•• righteousnes, to wit, the righ••eousnes of Christ. But more fullie it is defined on this wise: Remission of sinnes is the will of God, which to the faithfull and Elect imputeth not anie sinne, and therefore doth in like sort loue them, as if they had neuer sinned, and deliuereth them from al punishment of sin and giueth them eternal life freely for the in∣tercession and merit of Iesus Christ the sonne of God our Mediator. Now albeit God ••or the merit of his son remitteth our sins to vs, yet he afflicteth vs as yet in this life, not therby to pu∣nish vs, but fatherly to chastise vs. Neither yet because god doth not punish vs for our sins, must we therfore think that he is not displeased with them. For he is highly displeased & offended with the sins also of his Saints & chosen.

2 Who giueth remission of sinnes.

REmission of sinnes is giuen of God onelie, who (as the Pro∣phet Isaiah saith, cap 43. 25.) putteth away our iniquities: And this is done both of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. For we are baptized in the name of all three: Now Baptisme,* 1.2 as also it is saide of Iohns Baptisme, is wrought for remission of sinnes: and of the Sonne the Scripture affir∣meth plainly; That the sonne of man hath power to remit sinnes. Likewise it is saide of the holy Ghost, that hee was tempted: that he is offended and grieued. Wherefore he also hath po∣wer to remit sins. For none can remit sins, but hee against whom sinne is committed and who is offended by sinne. And Christ also in plaine woordes in the Euangelists spea∣keth of the sinne against the holy Ghost. Now the cause, that God onelie, that is, the father, the son, & the holy ghost, only remit sins, is this; because none but the partie offended can remit sins: but only god, the father, the son, & the holy ghost is offended by our sins. Therfore god only can remit them, and consequently no creature is able to graunt ought of this right of god. Whereupon also Dauid saith; Psal. 51.4. Against thee onelie haue I sinned, and done euil in thy sight.

* 1.3Obiection. But the Apostles also and the Church remit sins; because it is saide, Matth 18.18 Whatsoeuer yee binde on earth, shall bee bound in heauen, and whatsoeuer yee loose on earth, shall be loosed in heauen and Ioh. 20.23. Whose soeuer sins yee remit they are remitted vnto them; and whose soeuer sins ye retein, they

are reteined. Therefore not God onely remitteth sinnes. Answere. The Apostles remit sinnes in that they are the signifiers and declarers of Gods remission. Likewise also the Church remitteth sinnes, when according to the commandement of God shee denounceth remission of sinnes to the repen∣tant. Againe one neighbour remitteth sinnes and trespasses vnto another, as concerning the pardoning of the offence. But God onely freeth vs from the gilt of sinne, by his owne authoritie: God onely washeth vs clea••e from sinne. In a worde, God onely remitteth vnto vs all sinnes, that is, ori∣ginall, and actuall, whether they bee of omission, or of ig∣norance. Psal. 103.3. Which heal••th all thine infirmities. Rom. 8 1. There is no con••emnation to them that are in Christ Iesus.

3 For what remission of sins is granted.

REmission of sinnes is granted, not verily of any lenitie, which is repugnant to iustice, but of the free mercy of God,* 1.4 of meere grace, and Gods free loue, for the intercession & merit of Christ applied by faith. 1. Pet 3.18 Christ hath once suffered for sinnes, ••he iust for the vniust that he might bring vs to God. 1. Iohn. 1.7. The blood of Jesus Christ clenseth vs from all sinne. Colos. 1.19. Jt pleased the Father that in Christ should all fulnesse dwell. and by him to reconcile all thinges to himselfe, and to set at peace through the blood of his Crosse both the thinges in earth, & the thinges in heauen. Heb. 12.24. Yee are come to Iesus the Mediatour of the new Testament, and to the bl••ud of sprinke∣ling, that speaketh better thinges, than that of Abel. Eph 1.7. By Christ wee haue redemption through his bloud, euen forgiuenesse of sinnes▪ according to his rich grace. For entreatie can not bee made whithout satisfaction: because that were to desire, that God would yeeld s••me-what of his iustice.

4 Whether remission of sinnes agreeth with Gods iustice.

IT is true indeed, that it behoueth god, as a iust iudge,* 1.5 not to leaue sin vnpunished, and therefore not to remit it ex∣cept some satisfaction bee interposed. But neither doth God leaue it vnpunished; for he punisheth sinnes in Christ or in the sinners themselues most sufficientlie. God pro∣nounceth vs in such sort iust, as hee pronounceth vs not to be obnoxious to punishment, because of the most perfect satisfaction of christ; & this doth not contrarie or crosse the iustice and trueth of God. Obiect. The iustice of God re∣quireth,

that they be punished who sinne. Therefore such a remis∣sion of sinnes, as is granted without sufficient punishment of the party sinning, is vnpossible, or doth contrary & crosse the iustice of god. Ans. It is contrary to gods iustice, not to punish sin at al, that is, neither in him that sinneth, nor in any other who vndergoeth the punishment for him that sinneth. Reply. To punish one that is innocēt in place of him that hath offended, is re∣pugnant also to Gods iustice. Ans. True; if the innocent partie be such a one, who 1. wil not vndergo the punishment. 2. Is not of the same nature with the offender. 3. Is not able to suffer sufficient punishment. 4. Is not able to recouer out of it: for God will not haue him that is innocent to perish for an offender. 5. Js not able to restore and conuert the offender, that hee maie thence forwarde cease to offend, and further to giue him faith, which maie embrace and receiue this his benefite. But all these conditions are in Christ, as clearly appeareth by the testi∣monies following. Ephes. 5.2. Christ hath loued vs and hath gi∣uen himselfe for vs, to bee an offering and a sacrifice of a sweete smelling sauour to god. Iohn. 10.15. I laie downe my selfe for my sheep. Isai. 53.5. He was wounded for our transgression. 2. Cor. 5.15. Christ died for all, that they which liue should not henceforth liue vnto themselues, but vnto him which died for them, and rose againe. Iohn. 2.19. Destroie this temple, and in three daies J will raise it vp againe. Iohn. 10.17. I laie downe my life that J might take it againe. Ephe. 5.25. Christ loued the Church and gaue him∣selfe for it, that he might sanctifie it. Tit. 2.14. He gaue himselfe for vs, ••hat he might redeeme vs from all iniquitie, and purge vs to be a peculiar people vnto himselfe, zealous of good woorkes.

5. Whether remission of sinnes bee freelie giuen.

* 1.6ALbeit God remitteth not our sinnes vnto vs, except a most sufficient punishment be first paied for them: yet he remitteth them freely vnto vs for Christes sake, whom our debts cost inough. Obiect. If he pardoneth them for christs satisfaction; then doth he not remit them freelie. Ans. He remit∣teth them freely in respect of vs, that is, without any satis∣faction of ours, and pardoneth them for the satisfaction made by another. Replie. And he that after this sort pardoneth dooth not freelie pardon: for this is a rule, what a man doth by ano∣ther, that he seemeth to doe by himselfe. Wherefore we our selues paie it in paying it by Christ. Answ. God also giueth vs freely

this price and raunsome, that is, this satisfier and Media∣tour Christ, who is not bought of vs. Joh. 3.16. So God loued the world, that he gaue his onelie begotten sonne, that whosoeuer beleeueth in him ••hould not perish, but haue life euerlasting. It is all one, t•• h••••e remiss••on of sinnes, and to be iust. Replie. The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 th•• 〈…〉〈…〉 vs to auoide sinne, but to doe good also. Ther••fore 〈…〉〈…〉, that our sinne be forgiuen: but al∣so good w••••rkes 〈…〉〈…〉 and necessarie that wee may bee iust. Answ. T••e om••sion of good is also sinne. But this also is re∣mitted. He that can doe good, and doth it not, is a sinner and accu••sed. But God doth not hate vs, neither hath he a will to punish vs for those sinnes, for which Christ hath suf∣ficiently satisfied, in whom also we haue perfect remission of all our sinnes, so that by his onely merit we are reputed iust before God.

6 To whom remission of sinnes is giuen.

REmission of sinnes is giuen to all the elect, and to them alone,* 1.7 because it is giuen to them all and alone, who beleeue, and none beleeue, but the elect onely: for the reprobate neuer haue true faith and beliefe. Yet all the elect haue not alwaies remission of sinnes, but all beleeuers haue it alwaies; because they onely haue remission of sinnes, who beleeue that they haue it. But this the elect do not alwaies beleeue: but then first, when they are conuerted, and en∣dued with faith, yet in respect of the secret and fore-deter∣mined purpose of God, they haue alwaies remission of sinnes. Now, Infants haue remission of sinnes, because they haue faith and conuersion, in aptitude and inclinati∣on, though not actually.

7. How remission of sinnes is giuen.

REmission of sins is giuen by faith,* 1.8 by which being wrought and kindled in vs by the holy Ghost, wee receiue the same. Therefore the purpose and decree of God, of remit∣ting sinnes, is euerlasting; but the executing and perfor∣mance thereof is, when by faith we applie remission of sins vnto vs. So also God doth alwaies loue his elect, but that loue is not poured out in their hearts before their repen∣tance. For they haue that certain testimonie of consciēce by the gift of the holy Ghost, that they are loued of god & so haue their sins remitted, who truly conuert and repent.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Remission of sinne, is Gods will not impu∣ting vnto vs our sinne, and impu∣ting Christs righteousnesse.
• * 1.2

  Remission of sinnes is the worke of all three persons.
• * 1.3

  How the mini∣sters, and the Church are saide to remit sinnes.
• * 1.4

  Remission of sinne▪ granted for Christs inter∣cession and me∣rit.
• * 1.5

  Gods iustice sa∣tisfied for sinne by christ, though it bee remitted vnto vs.
• * 1.6

  Our sins ••∣ted freely in re∣spect of vs, thou••h they cost Ch••••st ••ul dee••ly.
• * 1.7

  Remission of sinne•• giuen vn∣to all the Elect, and to them onely.
• * 1.8

  Remission of sinnes giuen by faith, through the working of the Holy Ghost.