over you for they watch for your souls Parents Eph. 6.1 Children obey your Parents in the Lord Husbands Eph. 5.22 Wives be subject to your own husbands as to the Lord Masters Eph. 6.5 Servants be obedient to them that are your Masters according to the flesh with fear and trembling in singlenesse of heart as unto Christ. The RULES I. We must obey not only godly Magistrates and Masters but also Tyrants 1 Pet. 2.13 Be subject to every Ordinance of man for the Lord and ver 18. Servants be subject with all fear to your Masters not only to those that are good and just but also to the froward for this is praise-worthy if any man for conscience towards God suffer trouble being unjustly afflicted Examples are in the Israelites obeying Pharaoh Exod. 3 c. In Daniel obeying Nebuchadnezzar Dan. 2. II But they are not to be obeyed in things contrary to Gods Word a good Conscience An example we have in the midwives Exod. 1. in Sauls Servants 1. Sam. 22.17 in Daniel Dan. 6. in the Apostles Act. 4.19 saying Whether it be right in the sight of God to obey you rather than God judge ye To obedience is contrary Disobedience rebellion impatience of correction and obedience in things unlawful We have examples of disobedience and rebellion in Miriam and Aaron Numb 12 in Corah Dathan and Abiram c. Numb 16 in the Israelites Numb 13. in Absolon 2 Sam. 16. in Seba 2 Sam. 20. and such like in the Israelites contemning the Prophets in Elias sons 1 Sa. 2 Lots wife Ge. 19. Ge hazi 2 Kin. 5. Of unlawful obedience an example is in Doâ—g 1 Sa. 22 Gratitude is whereby inferiours in acknowledging the good will and bounty of their superiours do testifie their thankful mind in will and deed where and when they can This is to be performed to the Magistrate by rendring Tribute Custom c. Rom. 13 7 and by praying for him 1 â—â—m 2.1 c. To Mâ—nâ—sters 1 Thes. 5.12 We beseech you brethren to know them who labour among you have the charge over you in the Lord and admonâ—sh you that you would have them in exceeding great love for their works sake To Parents Prov 23.25 thy Father and mother shall be glad and she that bare thee shall rejoyce Examples are in Ioseph David c. Which gratitude in special is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signiâ—ying thâ—t gratitude of the young Storks towards the old in feeding and bearing them To gratitude is opposite Ingratitude whereby Superiours are either not requited or ill requited Examples of which the Scripture is full So much of the Vertues or duties of Inferiors the Vertues of Superiors are benevolence justice and sedulity Benevolence is whereby Superiours carry a good affection to their inferiours which they declare when occasion serves An example of this Benevolence is proposed to Mâ—gistrates in Moses Exod. 32. to Ministers in Paul Ro 9 1. The same is commanded to Parents Eph. 6.4 and you Fathers provoke not your children to wrath and this good will of Parents is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 among the Gentiles which is from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to love a word used properly to express the affection and natural love of parents and Children the same is urged by Paul to Husbands Eph. 5.25 Husbands love your Wives as Christ loved the Church c. and to Masters Eph. 6.9 and ye Masters do the same thing to them forbearing threaâ—nings knowing that your Master also is in heaven c. To this is opposite the contempt of Inferiours want of love or astorgie and such like Of the contempt of inferiours God speaketh Deut. 17. v. 20. Let not his heart be lifted up above his brethren of Astorgie or want of affection Christ speaketh Matth. 7 9. What man among you is there that if his Son ask him bâ—ead will give him a stone The Justice of Superiours is whereby they endeavour that every inferiour have his due This is performed by the Magâ—strate in keeping both Tables of the Law and in promoting and defending the true Religion as we shewed in the former Book in the doctrine of the true Church they practise the same justice in making laws punishing offenders rewarding the keepers of it and in defending their Subjects against unjust force To this is opposite the neglect of justice and tyranny Of the neglect of Justice see Esa. 1.23 They judge not the fatherlâ—ss neither doth the cauâ—e of the Widow come unto them Of injustice and tyranny in the same place Thy Princes are rebellious and companions of thieves God reproveth this most severely Ezek. 34. in the Pastors of the people of Isâ—ael Parents also offend either by too much indulgence as Eli 1 Sâ— 2. or by too much rigour as Saul 1 Sam. 14. Sedulity which is also called diligence fidelity vigilancie is a vertue whereby Superiors willingly undergo the labours of their offices and endeavour by the gifts they have received from God to help their Inferiors Of this vertue the Apostle speaks Rom. 12.8 He that rules lâ—t him rule with diligence â—he saâ—e is urged by Paul to Mâ—nisters Elders Act 20.28 Take heed to your selves and to the whole Flock in which the Holy Ghost hath made you Overseers Parents shew this when they nurture their Children in the fear of God Ephes. 6.4 and when they lay up for them things temporal 2 Cor. 12.14 To this is opposite Sloth and business about impertinent things Against Sloth God câ—yes out Jer. 48.10 Cuâ—sed is he that doth the work of the Lord negligently of â—mpertinent businesse Peter speaks 1 Pet. 4 15. Let none of you suffer as a murtherer or a thief or an evil doeâ— or as a busie-body in other mens matters CHAP. X. Of Vertues and works belonging to the Sixth Commandment HItherto of the Vertues duty of Superiours to their â—nferiours on the contrary Now follows the duty of each man towards every man this is imployed either about the inward or outward good things of men Their inward good things are life and chastity Of life we are to handle in the sixth precept the summe wherof is that we preserve our own and our neighbours life Thou shalt not kill is a negatâ—ve precept out of which is gathered this affirmative Thou shalt pâ—eâ—erve tâ—ine own and thy neighbours lâ—fe The vertue then commanded here is the study of preserving our own and other mens lives The conservation of our own life consisteth in the lawful use of lawful means of which kind are meat and drink recreation physick avoiding of dangers and driving away of injuries The RULE Then is the repeling of an injury lawful when it is done â— In the continent or sober 2. In case of necessity 3. Without desire of revenge or hurt but so that we intend onely our own conservation defence from injuries To this conservation of our own life is opposite the neglect of it as also the destroying
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 Clearing of some Cases of Conscience By JOHN WOLLEBIUS Doctor of Divinity Ordinary Professor in the University of Basil. Faithfully translated into English and in some obscure places cleared and enlarged By ALEXANDER ROSS The Third Edition To which is adjoyned after the Alphabeticall Table The ANATOMY of the whole Body of DIVINITY Delineated in XIV short Tables for the help of weak memories LONDON Printed by T. Mabb for Ioseph Nevill and are to be sold at his Shop at the signe of the Plough in the New-Buildings in Paules Church-yard 1660. 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 acknowledgment 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 Latin Copy dark I have cleared and what was contracted I have unfolded How needful Epitomies 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 desiers 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 surely a weak Stomack wil better retain the smalâ— quantity of an extract than the large draught of a nauseating potion He that with judgment doth contract the vast body of Divinity into an Abridgment 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 Epitomies condemns himself for man is the epitomie of the World But I must avoid prolixity in commending this Epitomie lest my practise thwart my words My Lord This Book is the Epitomie of Divinity and this Epistle the Epitomie 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 of Iohn Wollebius D.D. to the Reader THE blessed Apostle in his second Epistle to Timothy cap. 1 vers 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 Christans but chiefly on these who have wholly devoted themselves to the study of Divinity For as it concernes every Christian to be skilled in the chief Chatechistical heads at least that by their help and guide they may with the greater profite heare 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 than 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-day or to garnish the Firmament with more Stares Yet notwithstanding whereas it is consistant 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 enjoyned 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 wholsom and good words taken out of other mens lucubrations and reduced into this brief Epitome Now although I perceived that many did very wel like my paines 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 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 IN SS THEOLOGIAE EPITOMEN A Reverendissimo Clarissimo Viro DD. JOAN WOLLEBIO Antistite Professore dâ—gnissimo bono Publico editam INstituit multos discentes atque docentes Calvinus laudem hanc ut ferat ille Liber Praeter Apostolicas post Christi tempora Chartas Huic peperere Libro secula nulla parem Polanus Methodo illustrat Syntagma celebre Mortuus ut vivens agmina nostra docet Quicquid uterque docet doctâ hie brevitate docebit WOLLEBIUS paucis dicere multae potis Tu qui Pastores Doctores atque Prophetas Largiris coetum pascere perge tuum JOHAN GROSSIUS Basil Pastor Eccles. Leonard Vpon the EPITOME OF CHRISTIAN DIVINITY Publâ—sht for the common benefit by the most reverend and famous Doctor JOHN WOLLEBIUS chief Chair-man and Professor of Divinity CAlvin great Key of th'Scriptures as 't is clear In 's Books instructed many far and near Whose learned Institutions next those known Grand Euangelick truths give place to none Next Calvin did Polanus so Comprize Divinity as 't will live when th' Author dies Both these Wollebius surpassed such Was his great skill in little to speak much Go on the Fathers Oracles thus t' unlock And be the Father of thine own poor Flock Aliud AVrea faelices dedis Compendia in auras Et verâ Mensas instruis Eusebiâ Orthodoxa tuo solidè comprensa libello Doctrina egregiis serviet ingeniis Iehova tibi vitam viresque aeternet usque Te jubeat longa dexteritate frui Sentiat
divine matters also and such as transcend all reason 4. After a divine manner and in a wonderfull harmony of circumstances in the same things rehearsed by different Writers 5. To the Glory of God alone and our salvation 6. With admirable efficacy both in moving the hearts and corroborating them against most exquisite tortures 7. In the miraculous preservation of it against Diabolicall 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 Originall and in its Authority That I may then contract the matter in brief the Testimony of the Church is first in respect of time but that of the Holy Ghosts is first in regard of Nature and efficacy VVe believe the Church but not for the Church but we believe the holy Ghost for himself The Churches Testimony doth monstrate but not demonstrate it shews the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that the thing is but the holy Ghost Testimony shews the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or the cause The â—wasive 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 â— 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 Ezra Nehemiah Esther 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 EEphesians Philippians and Colossians single To the Thessalonians and Timothy double to Titus Philemon and Hebrews single 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 Machabees 1 â— 3. of Baruch 1 The Prayer of Manasses The Epistle of Ieremiah The Additions to Daniel and Esther 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 Pâ—ety 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 furnâ—shed to every good work XIII Therefore as the constitutions of the Church conducing to the right usage of outward Rites are in their one place to be regarded so no tradition is to be admitted as necessary to salvation except the Scripture The Romanists do not onely fight for popish Traditions but also equal them nay prefer them to the holy Scriptures 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 and 5.32 and 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 â—nto 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 Iudge of this interpretation is the Holy Ghost speaking in it Esay 59.29 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 oâ—d time by the will of man but holy mâ—n 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 Pâ—pe 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 mystery For example Hos. 11. ver 1. In these words When Israel was a child then I loved him and called my son out of Egypt I be sense is compounded for literally historically they are to be understood of the delivery of the Israelites out of Egypt but â—ypically and mystically of Christs calling out of Egypt Matth. 2. â—5 XIX The means to finde out the true sense of Scripture are Frequent prayers the knowledg of tongues the looking into the Fountains the consâ—deration of the scope argumentâ— the distincâ—ion of proper tâ—rms from figurative the logical analysis or nothing 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 suprem end of Divinity XXI Whereas then the cheif end and the cheif good are one and the same thing it is manifest that Christian Divinity only doth rightly teach us concerning the chief good XXII The subordinate end of Divinity in 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 by his Names and by his Properties The names of God are either taken from his essence as Iehova Iah
to the earth sometimes to the visible heaven and to this purpose is that which Peter saith of righteousnesse which shall dwell there For it is certain that after this world justice shall dwell no where but in heaven To the first reason they answer that there is no consequence from the Flood to the last Judgment because the Flood brought not with it the end of the world so likewise in the other reason they deny the sequel from man to the world because the world will be no wayes available to man when he is advanced to life eternall for it was made onely for him whilest he was a traveler here Now although in controversies of this nature which overthrow not the articles of Faith it be lawful to suspend oâ—r assent yet without prejudice to other mens judgments the understanding reader may subscribe to the latter opinion for it is one thing to be restored and changed unto a better estate and another thing to wax old like a garment to vanish like smoak to be dissolved to melt to be burned to passe away to be no more as the foâ—mer testimonies affirm So much of the end of the World Life eternal is the highest degree of blessedness in which we shall be made partakers of Christs glory enjoying the sight of God and Heavenly joyes for ever and ever The RULES I. The general efficient cause of life eternal in the whole Trinity but particularly Christ our Lord who by his merit obtained life for us and by his efficacy applies it to us and bestows it upon us Hence he is called the everlasting Father Isa. 9.6 and metonymicaly Life it self Ioh. 14.6 II. Good works are not the meritorious cause of life eternal although life is promised to them as a free reward A reward is promised to good works not as a due debt but as a free gift not that by them we can merit life but that we may be provoked to do them III. That eternal happinesse consisteth in our freedom from all evill in the variety magnitude and eternity of joyes Rev. 21.4 And God will wipe all tears from their eyes and there shall be no more death nor sorrow nor crying nor shall there be any more pain for the first things are past IV. The variety of joys is considered in the glorification of man in the delights of Heavenly mansions in the blessed society of the Saints but chiefly in the union with God V. There shall be a glorification both of body and of soul. VI. In the body shall be 1 Clarity 2. Impassibility 3. Subtilty 4. Agility VII The soul shall be far more perfect than it was in the state of innocency for in it shall be understanding without error light without darkness wisdom without ignorance reoson without obscurity memory without oblivion the will also shall be without perversenesse joy without sorrow pleasure without pain In the state of innocency there was in Man a possibility not to sin in the state of glory there shall be no possibility to sin VIII The beauty of â—eavenly mansions was shaddowed by the type of Solomons Temple and Jerusalem â—sal 84 1 c Rev 21. and 22. IX The communion of Saints which be with joy is expressed by the similitude of a feast Matth 22 2 c. X. Neither shall we have communion only with the â—ngels but we shall be also like the Angels Maâ—th 22.30 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Luk. 20.36 XI There shall be such a communion with God that we shal see him without end love him without tediousnesse and praise him without wearisomnesse XII So great shall be that joy that neither our tongues can expresse it nor our mindes conceive it For in this life neither had the eye seen nor ear heard nor minde conceived that which can equall that glory 1. Cor. 2 9. XIII Neither shall any bounds be set to this hapinesse nor shall we ever fall from it but it shall continue for ever Psal. 16.11 Thou shall shâ—w me the path of life for in thy presence is fulnesse of joy and at thy right hand are pleasures for evermore XIV There shall be degrees of eternal happinesse This is gathered from Daniel cap. 22. v. 3 They that be wise shall shine as the brightnesse of the firmament and they that turn many to righteousness as the Stars for ever and ever Neither is this opinion overthrown by that place of Matth. 13. v. 43. whereas the just in general are said to shine as the Sun for though the glory of the Elect being considered in themselves is likened to the brightnesse of Sun and Stars yet in Daniel c. 12. this is promised to Doctors above other men neither can any other reason be given why there mention is made chiefly of them that instruct others that place 1 Co. 15.39 40 41 is alleadged but to little purpose for proof of this for the simile concerning the diversity of brightnesse in the Stars dâ—th not prove the degrees of future glory but the â—ifference only that is bâ—twixt a mortâ—l anâ— a glorified body as it appeaâ—s by what followes In the mean while we aâ—low not that manner of different glory which the Papists teach to wit diversity of merits For as the gift of Faith and Sanctâ—fication acâ—ording to Gods meer grace is unequally distributed to the Saints so he will according to his gracious pleasure impaâ—t glory but so that no man shal have cause to complain of any want of glory in himself or why he should envie it in another The SECOND BOOK Concerning the WORSHIP of GOD. CHAP. I. Of the Nature of good Works IN the former Book we have spoken of the Knowledge of God now we are to speak of his Worship The true worship of God consisteth in true holiness and righteousness or in the study of good works which good works are performed by the grace of the Holy Spirit out of true Faith according as the Law requires to the glory of God the certainty of our salvation and edification of our neighbour The RULE I. Good works are called Vertues But we take this word vertue in a larger sense than it is taken by Philosophers for here we call vertues holy affections holy thoughts and actions II The same Synecdochically are called by the name of Charity For so Christ saith that the whole Law consisteth in the precept of love towards God and our neighbour whereas love towards God belongs to the first Commandement but love to our neighbour to the second Table III The principal efficient cause of good works is the Holy Ghost in respect of beginning continuation and perfection For it belongs to the same power to begin in us a good work and to perfect it Phil. 1.6 as also to give both to will and to be able or to do cap. 2.31 IV Their instrumental cause is Faith the root of good works Rom. 14 â—3 what is not done of faith is sin V. The matter of good works are the affections and