Thursday, March 31, 2022

Zacharias Ursinus (1534-1583): God gives false faith to nominal members of the Visible Church

  

Temporary faith, as well as the faith of miracles, is given to those who are members of the visible church only, that is, the hypocrites. “Have we not in thy name done many wonderful works: cast out devils?” &c. (Matt. 7:22.) The faith of miracles, however, which was possessed by many in the primitive church, has now disappeared from the church, inasmuch as the doctrine of the gospel has been sufficiently confirmed by miracles, historical faith may be possessed even by those who are out of the church, and also by devils. (The Commentary of Zacharias Ursinus: On the Heidelberg Catechism—The Protestant Christian Doctrines, Dating to 1563 [trans. G. W. Williard; Pantianos Classics, 1888], 131)