In his commentary on the 1563 Heidelberg Catechism (which he himself wrote), Zacharias Ursinus, under the section “What Are the Comforts Which We May Oppose to Our Affliction?” wrote:
1. Remission of sin. This is the
first in order and lies at the bottom of all the rest: because if we have no
assurance of the forgiveness of sin and reconciliation with God, all the other comforts
are of no account; for we should then always be in doubt whether the promise of
grace belongs to us or not. But if thus comfort be well grounded and fixed, all
the others will naturally follow; for if God be our father, we may rest assured
that he will not only send any timing that will be ain jury to us, but he will
also defend us against all the evils of this life. “If God be for us, who can
be against us?” (Rom. 8:31.) The reason for all this is, that where the cause
is taken away this effect is also removed. Therefore where sin is taken away, punishments
and death are also done away with. (The Commentary of Zacharias Ursinus: On
the Heidelberg Catechism—The Protestant Christian Doctrines, Dating to 1563 [trans.
G. W. Williard; Pantianos Classics, 1888], 92)
