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 is the vse of the Law.

SAINT Paul teacheth two vses of the Law, in his Epi∣stle to the Galathians. 1. The knowledge of sinne. 2. That it is a Schoole-Master vnto Christ. In nature vncorrupted the v∣ses of the Law were, 1. Conformitie with God. 2. A good consci∣ence. In nature corrupted the vses or endes of the Lawe are, 1. Mainteinaunce of order and discipline as wel in the regene∣rate, as vnregenerate. 2. That we maie know that God is, and what he is. 3. The knowledge of sinne. 4. A preparing to despaire in the reprobate. 5. A meane, whereby repentance maie be kindled and en∣creased in Gods chosen. 6. A leuil or rule of liuing vnto the faith∣ful, and that whereunto we must tend and shoot, as vnto our mark. The Law then hath his vse both before and after conuer∣sion. It is profitable for the acknowledgement of sinne and repen∣taunce; because it is a rule vnto vs, whereunto we are to frame our life and thankefulnes. Likewise, it is a glasse vnto vs, wherein wee maie see our wantes, that so our renuing encreasing, our praieng al∣so maie encrease, whereby we desire more & more to be con∣formed vnto God and his Law.

The obiections, whereby the aduersaries endeuor to prooue that there is no vse of the lawe vnto christians, are these. 1 That which cannot be kept, ought not to bee taught, be∣cause it profiteth nothing. The Law cannot be kept; Therefore the Lawe ought not to be taught. Aunswere. The Maior is false. For the Law is to be taught, that we maie striue and ende∣uour to come as neere as we can vnto it. Obiection. 2. Hee that commaundeth vnpossible things, commaundeth vnprofitable thinges; God commaundeth the Lawe, which is vnpossible; There∣fore God commaundeth vnprofitable things. Aunswere. He com∣maundeth vnprofitable thinges, who commandeth vnpos∣sible thinges, that is, 1. Jf they be simply vnpossible. 2. Jf they be alwaies vnpossible. 3. If there be no other vses of this commaun∣ding, but that those things be done which are commaunded. Now we haue heard before which are the endes of the Lawe; for which ends of the law before declared, God wil haue both the Law to be commanded, and vs to be taught the same. Obiection. 3. What God wil not giue vs, and so what wee are not able to attaine vnto, that wee maie not desire. God wil not giue vs perfect fulfilling of the Law in this life. Therefore we ought not to desire perfectly to fulfil the Lawe. Aunswere. Wee ought not to

craue or desire that which God will not giue vs; that is, ex∣cept God wil vs to desire it. But God willeth vs to craue in this life, and to desire the perfect fulfilling of the Law, 1. Be∣cause he wil at length effectuate it in those that desire it: & there∣fore hee will giue it vs after this life, if wee desire the same here truly and from our heart. 2. That we may now goe forward in godlinesse, and that the studie of liuing according to the prescript of Gods law may bee daiely more and more kin∣dled and confirmed in vs. 3. That by this desire of fulfilling the Lawe, God maie exercise vs in repentance and obedience.