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.

2 What are the ends of Sacraments.

THE chiefe and principall ende of sacramentes is contei∣ned in their definition, namely,* 1.1 to be signes of the co∣uenaunt, that is, that God maie testifie that hee dooth in a lawfull and right vse of them bestowe the thing promised, and so maie confirme our faith, instruct vs by his Sacra∣mentes, and by them exhort vs to receiue and embrace the blessinges purchased by Christ, and further seale by those sacraments these benefits & blessings of christ vnto vs; (& this, 1. Because sacraments are signes. 2. Because they are pleadges hauing a promise:) and lastlie that by these signes and pleadges of Gods fauour towardes vs, the holie Ghost maie effectuallie mooue our hearts, no lesse, than by the word.

The second end, is the distinguishing of the church from

Paynims and al other sectes whatsoeuer.* 1.2 For God wil haue his Church to be beheld in the woorld, and to bee knowen by these sacred signs, as Souldiours are knowen by their mili∣tary tokens, & sheep by those marks which their shepheard seareth in thē. He willeth the Iews to be circūcised, & Christians to be baptized, he interdicteth aliantes & strangers, and exclu∣deth them from eating of the Paschal Lamb. God wil haue his kingdome discerned from the Synagogue of Satan, for these two causes. 1. For his owne glories sake. 2. For our com∣fort and saluation. For as he will not haue himselfe shuffled and mingled with Idols: So neither will he haue his people shuffled and mingled with the kingdome of the Diuel.

* 1.3The third ende, is the profession and testification of our thankefulnes and duetie towardes God, which is that bond, whereby we are obliged vnto Christ to be his people, as he is our God, to shewe true repentaunce, to beleeue in him, and to receiue of him his benefites offered vnto vs.

* 1.4The fourth is, the propagation and maintenance of the do∣ctrine: because God wil not haue the vse of his Sacraments to be without the word and explication thereof.

* 1.5The fift is, an occasion thereby giuen to the yonger sort to en∣quire what these things meane, and so an occasion also of explica∣ting and preaching the benefits of Christ vnto them. As also the Lord saith vnto his people. Exod. 13.14. When thy sonne shal aske thee to morrow saying, what is this? Thou shalt then saie vn∣to him; With a mightie hand the Lord brought vs out of Aegypt, out of the house of bondage.

* 1.6The sixt and last end is, that they may be the bonds of mu∣tual dilection and loue; because they who are entred into an association or confederacie with Christ the head of the Church, ought not to bee at difference among themselues. 1. Cor. 12.13. By one spirite are we all baptized into one bodie. In like manner the Sacramentes are the bonds of publique meetinges and congregations in the Church, 1. Cor. 11.33. When ye come together to eate, tarrie one for another. 1. Cor. 10.17. For wee that are manie, are one bread and one bodie, because we are all partakers of one bread. Eph. 4.5. One God, one Faith, &c. But we can not settle among vs this communion, nei∣ther maintaine and continue it being once setled, neither profitablie annunciate and shewe forth the death of the

Lord, as long as we dissent & iarre among our selues con∣tentiously about the institution of the Sacramentes. The Sacraments are pledges of that communion which Chri∣stians haue first with christ, and then between themselues.

Notes

• * 1.1

  1 Sacramentes are ordeined to bee seals of gods couenant.
• * 1.2

  2 To distinguish the Church from others.
• * 1.3

  3 To professe & testifie our thankefulnesse.
• * 1.4

  4 To propagate and maintaine the doctrine.
• * 1.5

  5 To giue an oc∣casion to the yonger to en∣quire and learne the thinges by them signified.
• * 1.6

  6 To bee the bondes of mu∣tuall Charitie.