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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A96805	The abridgment of Christian divinitie so exactly and methodically compiled, that it leads us, as it were, by the hand to the reading of the Holy Scriptures. Ordering of common-places. Vnderstanding of controversies. Cleering of some cases of conscience. By John Wollebius. Doctor of Divinity, and ordinary professor in the University of Basil. Now at last faithfully translated into English, and in some obscure places cleared and enlarged, by Alexander Ross. To which is adjoined, after the alphabetical table, the anatomy of the whole body of divinity, delineated in IX. short tables, for the help of weak memories.; Christianae theologiae compendium. English.	Wolleb, Johannes, 1586-1629.; Vaughan, Robert, engraver.; Ross, Alexander, 1591-1654.	1650 (1650)	Wing W3254; Thomason E1264_1; ESTC R204089	204,921	375

Testimony doth monstrate but not demonstrate it shews the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that the thing is but the Holy Ghosts Testimony shews the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or the cause The swasive power is in the Church but the perswasive in the Spirit onely The Churches Testimony begets an opinion but the Testimony of Scripture begets Science and a firm Faith X. The Canonical Books of Scripture are partly of the Old partly of the New-Testament To the Old belong the five Books of Moses Josuah Judges Ruth these Books are single the Books of Samuel of the Kings of the Chronicles are double The Books of Hester Job Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes Canticles the four greater Prophets and the twelve lesser are single Now of the New-Testament are The four Evangelists The Acts of the Apostles The Epistles of Paul To the Romanes one To the Corinthians two To the Galathians Ephesians Philippians and Colossians single To the Thessalonians and Timothy double The Epistles of Peter two of John three of James and Jude single and the Revelation XI But for the Books of Tobiah Judith Wisdom Ecclesiasticus Esdra 3 4. of the Macchabees 1 2 3. of Baruch 1. The Prayer of Manasses The Epistle of Jeremiah The Additions to Daniel and Hester Although they may be read with profit yet they come short of that Authority which is in the Canonical Books for proving Articles of Faith and therefore they are called Apocrypha that is hid or obscure The reasons be these 1. Because they were not written by the Prophets but they have been written for the most part since Malachi the last of the Prophets 2. Because they are not written in the Stile or Phrase of the Prophets or in the Hebrew Tongue 3. Because they are never alledged in the New-Testament 4. Because in reading of them we finde many passages contrary and inconsistent with Canonical Scripture besides many fabulous and repugnant to Faith and Piety XII The Holy Scripture is sufficient to Salvation 2. Tim. 3.16.17 The whole Scripture is by Divine inspiration and is profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Correction for Instruction in Righteousness that the man of God may be perfect and throughly furnished to every good work XIII Therefore as the constitutions of the Church conducing to the right usage of outward Rites are in their own place to be regarded so no tradition is to be admitted as necessary to salvation except the Scriptures The Romanists do not only fight for Popish Traditions but also equall them nay prefer them to the holy Scripture but we are content to rest in that command of God which forbids to adde to or take away from his word Deut. 4.2 5.32 12.32 Rev. 22.18 XIV The search of holy Scripture is injoyned to all Christians Joh. 5.39 Search the Scriptures Colos 3.16 Let the word of God dwell plentifully among you Neither is that obscurity of holy Scripture which the Pontificians pretend any obstacle to this our assertion for though it be obscure in some places yet in other places it explains it self and delivereth the prime Articles of Religion with great perspicuity XV. Therefore the Translation of the Bible into vulgar Tongues is necessary XVI Yet no translation is authentical but that which agreeth with the Original fountains of the Hebrew and Greek XVII Although the Interpretation of Scripture is committed to the Church yet the onely Supream Judge of this Interpretation is the Holy Ghost speaking in it Esay 59.21 My Spirit which is in thee and my words which I have put in thy mouth shall not depart from thee 2 Pet. 1.20 21. So that you first know this that no prophesie in the Scripture is of any private motion for the prophesie came not of old time by the will of man but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost Therefore sacrilegiously do the Pontificians arrogate to the Church of Rome or to the Pope alone this right of supreme Judge XVIII The sense and meaning of each Scripture is but one yet in the Prophesies of the Old-Testament it is composed of a history and mysterie For example Hos 11.1 In these words When Israel was a child then I loved him and called my sonne out of Egypt The sense is compounded for literally and historically they are to be understood of the delivery of the Israelites out of Egypt but typically and mystically of Christs calling out of Egypt Mat. 2.15 XIX The meanes to find out the true sense of Scripture are Frequent prayers the knowledge of Tongues the looking into the Fountains the consideration of the scope and argument the distinction of proper terms from figurative the logical analysis or noting of the causes the circumstances the passages going before and coming after the comparing of obscure places with cleerer of like with like and of disagreeing places with each other lastly the analogie of faith XX. As God is the proper and prime object so is he also the principal and supreme end of Divinity XXI Whereas then the chief end and the chief good are one and the same thing it is manifest that Christian Divinity onely doth rightly teach us concerning the chief good XXII The subordinate end of Divinity is our salvation which consisteth in the union and fruition of God The parts of Divinity are two The first is of the knowledge of God the second of the worship of God The first containeth faith or the things to be believed the second works or the things to be performed THE FIRST BOOK OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD. CHAP. I. Of the Essence of GOD. GOD is a Spirit existent eternally in himself One in Essence Three in Persons Father Sonne and Holy Ghost God is known in himself and in his works In himself he is known absolutely in his Essence relatively in the Persons Gods essence is known * A. R. * The knowledge we have of God here is nominal not real 2. Confused not distinct 3. From his effects à posteriori 4. By way of negation we know what he is not rather then what he is 5. By way of eminencie we know that what perfection is in the creature is more eminently in him 6. By the motions of things we gather there must be a chief mover 7. From the degrees of entity truth and goodnesse in the creatures we collect that there must be one chief entity truth goodnesse c. 8. From the possibilities and contingencies that are in all things we inferre there must be one chief necessary entity by his Names and by his Properties The names of God are either taken from his essence as Jehovah Jah Eheje to which in the New-Testament the name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lord doth answer for the most part or from his power as El Elohim or from his Al-sufficiency as Shaddai or from his Excellencie as Helion The RULES or CANONS I. The name Jehovah is Gods chief and most proper Name For it is derived from the

CHRISTIAN DIVINITY IN TWO BOOKES by John Wollebius D D English'd and enlarg'd by Al Rosse The Chaine of Salvation Salvation is Ordained by God in Heaven Promised by the Word in Scripture Merited by Christ in Nans nature Sealed by Sacraments in the Church Received by Fayth in the Heart Confessed by the Mouth in Martirdome Testified by Workes in regeneratiō II III VII IX X EVANGELIVN Reu. 12. Are to be sould by John Saywell in Little Britaine MDCL Ro Vaughan sculp THE ABRIDGMENT OF CHRISTIAN DIVINITIE So exactly and Methodically compiled That it leads us as it were by the hand To the Reading of the Holy Scriptures Ordering of Common-Places Vnderstanding of Controversies Cleering of some Cases of Conscience By JOHN WOLLEBIUS Doctor of Divinity and Ordinary Professor in the University of Basil Now at last faithfully translated into English and in some obscure places cleared and enlarged By ALEXANDER ROSS To which is adjoined after the Alphabetical Table The ANATOMY of the whole Body of DIVINITY Delineated in IX short Tables for the help of weak Memories LONDON Printed by T. Mab and A. Coles for JOHN SAYWELL and are to be sold at his shop at the signe of the Grey-hound in Little Britain without Aldersgate 1650. To the Right Honourable THE LORD ROCKINGHAM My Lord I Have been long indebted both to your Lordship your noble Lady and your hopeful Son Mr. Watson for your favours and good will towards me I have therefore adventured not by way of requital but of acknowledgement to present this Theological Epitome to You which is the most exact and compendious of any that hath been yet done by Protestant Writers I may say of this Edition as Philosophers speak of Nature that It is neither deficient in necessaries nor abundant in superfluities What was in the Latine Copy dark I have cleared and what was contracted I have unfolded How needful Epitomes are in all Sciences chiefly in Divinity I need not write if either we consider the shortnesse of our time or the largenesse and multitude of Volumes which have been written of this Subject or the weaknesse of our memories or the fastidiousnesse that is begot in us by reading tedious and voluminous Discourses God who knows what is best for us hath epitomized all Practical Divinity into X. Precepts and our Saviour hath reduced those ten into two and all that we can pray for or against into six heads or Petitions The traveller that desires to be soon at his journeys end will seek out the most compendious way He is an unwise traveller that will clog himself with Silver if he can epitomize it into Gold sure a weak stomack will better retain the smal quantity of an extract then the large draught of a nauseating potion He that with judgement doth contract the vast body of Divinity into an Abridgement doth imitate God who having the first day diffused the light through the whole Hemisphere contracted it and as it were epitomized it the fourth day within the body of the Sun He that will condemn Epitomes condemns himself for man is the epitome of the world But I must avoid prolixity in commending this Epitome lest my practise thwart my words My Lord This Book is the Epitome of Divinity and this Epistle the Epitome of my true affection and many thanks I owe you and yours on whom I wish the influence of all happinesse which is the hearty desire of Your Lordships Humble Servant ALEXANDER ROSS THE Preface to the Reader THe blessed Apostle in his second Epistle to Timothy cap. 1. ver 13. writes thus Hold fast the form of good words which thou hast heard of me in faith and love An excellent admonition and worthy to be pressed upon all Christians but chiefly on those who have wholly devoted themselves to the study of Divinity For as it concerns every Christian to be skilled in the chief Catechistical Heads at least that by their help and guide they may with the greater profit hear and read Gods word so it becomes all Students in Divinity before all things to imprint in their memories the Anatomie of the Body of Theologie that in the Common Places in the Definitions and Divisions of heavenly doctrine they may be exact and perfect Now in this kind divers eminent men furnished with a far greater measure of Spiritual Vnction then my self have afforded such helps to young Students that he who goes about to adde any thing to these will seem to light a candle at noon tide or to garnish the firmament with more stars Yet notwithstanding whereas it is consistent with the conscience and callings of all Gods servants to advance what they can the publike benefit I being called to be chief Pastor in this place was enjoined by the Reverend Colledge of Divines to expound the Old Testament which by Gods help and their command I so undertook that besides my Lectures on the Text I proposed to my hearers a short form of wholsome and good words taken out of other mens lucubrations and reduced into this brief Epitome Now although I perceived that many did very well like my pains and purpose in this kind yet I professe the divulging of this Piece was least in my thoughts Therefore in that at last this Child of which I have been in labour these seven years is now born and brought out to light I earnestly intreat the friendly Reader to impute this not to any itching humour I have of writing but to the often sollicitations of my friends who have extorted it from me I beseech God that he will be pleased graciously to preserve the remaining companies of Teachers and Schollers and that for his mercies sake whereof we have daily fresh testimonies as in many things so in this that we are not all destroyed And as for those who are dispersed that he would graciously recollect and settle them even for his onely begotten Sons sake our Lord Jesus Christ Amen THE ORDER OF THE CHAPTERS OF THE FIRST BOOK Concerning the Knowledge of God Chapt. I. Of the Essence of GOD. Page 12 Chapt. II. Concerning the Persons of the Deity Page 18 Chapt. III. Concerning the Works of God and the Decrees of God in generall Page 26 Chapt. IV. Of Predestination Page 31 Chapt. V. Of the Creation Page 38 Chapt. VI. Of Gods actual Providence Page 46 Chapt. VII Of the Government of Angels Page 50 Chapt. VIII Of the Government of man in the state of Innocency Page 55 Chapt. IX Of the fall of our first Parents the beginning of mans misery Page 58 Chapt. X. Of Original Sinne and Free-will Page 62 Chapt. XI Of Actual Sinne. Page 67 Chapt. XII Of the miseries which follow sinne Page 69 Chapt. XIII Of the Moral Law Page 72 Chapt. XIV Of the Ceremonial and Judicial Law Page 78 Chapt. XV. Of the Gospel and how it agrees with and differs from the Law Page 87 Chapt. XVI Of the Person of christ God and man Page 90 Chapt. XVII Of the

visible and conspicuous to all both in respect of his brightnesse and majesty in which he shall appear as also of his humanity But so that his sight shall be terrible to the wicked joyful to the godly V. The instrumental cause ave the Angels whose service he shall use both in gathering together those that are to be judged and in separating the godly from the wicked Mat. 24.31 And he shall send his Angels with a great sound of the trumpet and they shall gather the elect from the four winds 25.32 And all nations shall be gathered before him and he shall separate the one from the other as the shepheard separates the sheep from the goats VI. The matter shall be all men who must appear before Christs tribunal Rom. 14.10 2 Cor. 5.10 VII But the godly shall be judged one way and the wicked another way For they shall be judged but not condemned these shaall be judged and condemned In this sense the Scripture denieth that the faithful shall be judged Ioh. 3.18 5.29 VIII Neither matters it that the wicked are said to be judged already for it is one thing to be judged in private another in publike and openly IX The form is expressed by the manner of Proceedings in the Courts of Justice to which belongs 1. The cognisance of the cause 2. The pronouncing of the sentence 3. The execution thereof X. The cognisace of the cause is expressed by the similitude of records or books in which their works are registred Rev. 20.11 And the books were opened c * A. R. By these books are meant partly Gods omniscience partly mens conscience God to whom all things are naked and open needs not books to help his memory as men do yet we read that he hath two books the one is called the Book of life the other of knowledge Of the former there are four kindes the first is of Predestination to life eternal and in this Book some are so written that they cannot be blotted out others are wrtten but in appearance and hope for when they live for a while in the fear of God they hope their names are recorded in heaven but when by their wickedness they fall from this hope then they may be said to be blotted out of this Book this is the Book of Life eternal 2. The Book of Life temporary which is nothing else but the condition and estate of this life out of this Book did Moses David and Paul wish themselves to be blotted 3. The Scripture is the Book of Life as containing those precepts and means by which we may obtain Life eternal The 4. Book of Life is our Conscience informing us of all the good and bad actions of our former life This book is opened sometimes in this life but shall be fully laid open to us in the last day The other Book we read of is of Knowledge which is threefold 1. The Book of Gods general knowledge whereby he takes notice of all men whether they be good or bad of this every man may say with David Psal 139.16 In thy book are all my members written 2. The book of Gods particular knowledge of this Psal 1. The Lord knoweth the ways of the righteous and 2 Tim. 2. The Lord knoweth who are his this is the knowledge of approbation in this Book they are not written to whom Christ will say in the last day Depart from me c. I know you not of this David speaketh Ps 69.28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living and not be written with the righteous The third book of knowledge is that wherein the actions of wicked men are recorded and which shall be laid open to them Dan. 7.10 The judgment was set and the books opened We may say then that God hath two books which like Ezekiels scroll are written within and without In the inside are the names of the Saints who persevere to the end On the outside are the names of the wicked who fall from grace who begin in the spirit but end in the flesh Of these books see Exod. 32.33 Psal 69.28 c. Phil. 4.3 Rev. 3.5 17.8 20.15 21.27 By these books are meant partly Gods omniscience and partly mens conscience XI The wicked shall be judged according to and for their works but the godly according to the works of their faith but not for their works Hence Rev. 20.12 Another book is said to be opened which is the book of life That we might know that our salvation depends not on our works but on Gods eternal grace whereby we are written in the book of life XII The infidelity and impiety of the wicked shall be so laid open before their eyes in their own conscience that they shall not be able to deny or gain-say any thing Psal 50.21 I will reprove thee and set these things in order before thine eyes Mat. 12.36 But I say unto you whatsoever idle word men shall speak they shall give an account thereof in the day of judgment XIII Although the Elect shall remember their sins yet they shall be so filled with the joy of the Spirit that the remembrance thereof shall not sad them XIV Both Reprobate and Elect shall hear the sentence of the Judge to the one it shall be full of horror to the other full of comfort Mat. 25.34 Come ye blessed of my Father possesse the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world and ver 41. Go ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels XV. The execution of the Judgement will presently follow upon the pronouncing of the sentence so that the wicked in the presence of the godly shall be carried away to hell but the godly being caught up to meet Christ they shall with him enter into Life eternal Mat. 25. v. ult 1 Thes 4.17 XVI The end of the last Judgement is a full and consummate execution of Gods counsel for manifesting his justice and grace XVII We must not rashly define where the place of the last Judgment shall be Some will have it to be in the valley of Iehosaphat which is between the hills Sion and Olivet and that Christ shall descend no lower then to that part of the ayre in which a cloud took him up which they gather out of the Prophesie of Ioel cap. 3.2 But that place speaks nothing of the last Judgment but of a temporary judgment to be inflicted on the enemies of the Church of Israel alluding to that great overthrow which was given in the valley of Iehosaphat which was in the sight of Ierusalem But if this be transferred anagogically to the last Judgment this will be the meaning As the enemies of Iehosaphat and of the Jews were slain in the sight of Ierusalem so likewise shall the Infidels be judged and thrown down to hell in the sight of spiritual Ierusalem that is the Church And in this sense the Apostles Mat. 19. the Martyrs Rev.

to know the end and media of Divinity and out of which all the precepts of Divinity are concluded But there is another principle of Divinity which is called principium essendi and that is God principle of Divinity then the written Word of God VI. It is an unquestionable Principle amongst Christians that the holy Scripture is both of a divine original and authority VII It is then a question ill beseeming a Christian to demand whether the Scripture or holy Bible be Gods word or not For as in the Schools there is no disputing with him who denies Principles so we account him unworthy to be heard who will deny this principle of Christian religion VIII Among Christians it is lawfull to ask By what testimony do we know that the Scriptures are by divine inspiration So we ask not for this end to seduce others or to cavil but onely to be instructed IX Now this testimony is twofold the one principal the other ministerial The principal testimony is that of the Holy Spirit outwardly in the Scripture it self inwardly in the minds and hearts of the faithful being illuminate by him speaking and perswading the divinity of the Scriptures But the ministerial testimony is the testimony of the Church Outwardly in the Scriptures themselvs the Holy Ghost when he speaks of the divine original and authority of the Word useth these phrases The word of the Lord. Thus saith the Lord. Jesus said All Scripture is by divine inspiration 2 Tim. 3.16 Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost But inwardly in the hearts of the faithful he perswades the divinity of Scriptures so far forth as he openeth the eyes and illuminates the mind of him that reads the Scriptures with prayer and humility that he makes him see the wonders of God and causeth him to acknowledge the voice of Gods Spirit sounding in the Word The Romanists urge the Churches authority alone which they have in such high esteem that they will have the whole authority of Scriptures to have its dependence from the Church and for this onely cause they will have it to be Gods word because the Church is the witnesse of it But this is not to make the Church a witnesse of the Scriptures divinity but to make her self capable of divinity But we will prove by these ensuing arguments that the testimony of Gods Spirit alone is it which firmly assures us of the Scriptures divinity 1. His testimony concerning the Scriptures is most firm by whose inspiration the Scripture was written For every one knows his own hand best and is best acquainted with his own stile But the Scripture was written by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost 2 Tim. 3.16 2 Pet. 1 20 21. Ergo c. 2. He that together with the Scripture is promised in a most neer conjunction to the faithful his testimony of the Scripture is most firm But the Holy Ghost is promised to the faithful in a most neer conjunction with the Scripture Esa 59.21 My Spirit which is in thee and my words which I have put in thy mouth shall not depart from thy mouth 3. Without whose illumination the wonders of the Scripture are not seen his testimony alone of the Scripture is most firm But without the illumination of the Holy Ghost no man sees the wonders of the Scripture Psal 119.18 Open my eyes that I may see the wonders of thy law Ergo c. 4. Whose office it is to lead us into all truth he it is that witnesseth this truth to wit that the Scripture is Gods word But it is the office of the Holy Ghost to lead us into all truth Joh. 16.13 Ergo c. Now as for the Churches testimony although it is to be received as from Gods minister yet it is false that the Scriptures authority depends on it For what can be more absurd then to make the words of the Master to receive their authority from the Servant or the Fathers letters to receive credit from the Foot-post or the Princes mandates from the Printer or that the Rule should have its dependence upon the thing ruled We know that the oracles of God are committed to the Church and that she is the pillar and ground of truth 1 Tim. 3.15 But as it is foolish to tell us that the candle receives its light from the candlestick that supports it so it is riliculous to ascribe the Scriptures authority to the Church The Churches testimony may be prevalent with those who as yet know not the Scriptures and have not received that sincere milk of the word nor by it are grown up 1 Pet. 2.2 But in those who have tasted the sweetnesse of divine oracles the testimony of Scriptures and of the Holy Ghost is most firm and effectual For as he who tasteth hony himself hath a more sure knowledge of its sweetnesse then he that believeth another speaking and witnessing of it even so he knoweth more assuredly the Scriptures to be Gods word who hath tasted its sweetnesse then he who gives credit to the Church witnessing this sweetnesse The Samaritans at first believed the woman when she spake of Christ but after they heard Christ himself they say to the woman Now we believe not because of thy saying for we have heard him our selves and know that this is indeed the Christ the Saviour of the world Joh. 4.42 Even so he that having begged the assistance of Gods Spirit reads the Scriptures again and again at length saith Now I believe no longer for the Churches testimony that the Scriptures are divine but because I have read them my self and in reading have stamped this Syllogism in my minde 1. That Scripture which every where brings in God himself speaking 2. Which is written by those men who being furnished with the gift of prophesying and miracles from God extraordinarily do with such faithfulness record all things that in rehearsing of sins and infirmities they neither spare themselvs nor friends 3. Which records not onely Truths and all things agreeing with right reason but Divine matters also and such as transcend all reason 4. After a Divine manner and in a wonderful harmony of circumstances in the same things rehearsed by different Writers 5. To the glory of God alone and our Salvation 6. With admirable efficacie both in moving the hearts and corroborating them against most exquisite tortures 7. In the miraculous preservation of it against Diabolical and Tyrannical fury That Scripture I say which thus delivereth these things is doubtless Divine both in its Original and in its Authority But such is the holy Scripture Therefore it is Divine both in its Original and in its Authority That I may then contract the matter in brief the Testimony of the Church is first in respect of the time but that of the holy Ghosts is first in regard of Nature and efficacy We believe the Church but not for the Church but we believe the Holy Ghost for himself The Churches