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.

5 How the sacramentes of the olde and new Testament agree, and how they differ.

* 1.1THey differ first in rites, whereof chaunge & alteration was made at christs cōming, that thereby might be sig∣nified the ceasing of the old Testamēt, & the beginning or succeeding of the new Testament. 2. They differ in multitude and number. There were mo and more laborious, here fewer and more easie rites. 3. In signification. Those signified christ to come, these Christ that was come. The significatiō is di∣uerse, as the circumstance of time is diuerse, which the sa∣craments of the old and new Testament signifie. For the sacramentes of the old church, signified the time to come of christ which should come: our sacramentes signifie the time past of Christ already manifested in the flesh.* 1.2 4. Jn binding and obliging men. The old bound only Abrahams po∣sterity, ours bind the whole church of all nations & coun∣tries.* 1.3 5. Jn continuaunce. The ould were to endure but vntill the comming of the Messias: the new vntill the end of the world. 6. Jn clearenesse. Those are more obscure and dark, be∣cause they signifie things to be manifested: but these more clear and plaine, because they signifie thinges already ma∣nifested.* 1.4 They agree, 1 Jn the author. 2. Jn the thinges signifi∣ed, or in substaunce. For by the sacramentes of both testa∣mentes the same thinges are offered, signified, and promi∣sed vnto vs, euen remission of sinnes, and the gift of the ho∣ly ghost, and that by christ alone. This is prooued in the Epistle to the Hebrues. Jesus christ yesterday, and to daie, the same is also for euer. But these are not in respect of rites and ceremonies the same: therefore they are the same in res∣pect of the thing by them signified. 1. Corinth. 10.2. The Fa∣thers vnder the Lawe were baptised in the cloude and in the Sea, and did al eate the same spiritual meate. Coloss. 2.11. By christ ye are circumcised with circumcision made without handes, that is, In Baptisme we receiue the same benefites, which they did in circumcision without Christ therefore, who is the thing signified of all the sacramentes both of the ould and newe testament, no man was euer saued, or now is, or euer shall be saued. Whence it followeth, that the Fathers in the old testament had the same communion with christ, which also we haue, & that it was no lesse signified & confirmed then

vnto them by the word and sacraments, than it is now vn∣to vs in the new couenaunt. Wherefore it is not only ido∣latry, to seeke another communion of christ, than is in the word, but also to seek another communion of christ in the sa∣craments of the new Testament, than which was in the sa∣craments of the old testament.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Sacraments of the old and new Testament, differ.

  • 1 In rites.
  • 2 In number
  • 3. In significa∣tion.
• * 1.2

  4. In the persons whom they bound.
• * 1.3

  5. In continu∣ance.

  6. In clearnes.
• * 1.4

  They agree,

  • 1. In the Autor.
  • 2. In substance.