[The Whole Body of Christian Religion, by Hieron Zanchius; Translated out of Latin by D. Ralph Winterton]
Girolamo Zanchi (Hieronymus Zanchius), that eminent Italian divine and confessor of the Reformed faith, was born in Alzano Lombardo in 1516, of noble descent, but soon orphaned and raised in the Augustinian order. Early trained in Aristotle and the sacred tongues, he was drawn to the Reformation under the ministry of Peter Martyr Vermigli, whose lectures on Romans especially wrought upon his soul. Zanchi diligently studied the writings of Calvin, Melanchthon, Bucer, and Luther, yet chiefly revered Calvin as the prince of exegetes. When persecution scattered the Italian Reformers, Zanchi fled to Strasbourg, where he became professor of Old Testament, noted for his rigorous, legal method and profound learning. His Calvinistic doctrine of predestination and irenic spirit in the Eucharistic controversies soon drew him into conflict with the Lutheran establishment, resulting in the Strasbourg Consensus. Yet, finding the compromise unsatisfactory and conscience bound, he departed, serving as pastor to Italian exiles in Chiavenna. In 1568, Zanchi was called to Heidelberg to succeed Ursinus as professor of theology. There he produced numerous scholastic works—most notably his Confession of the Christian Religion and De Natura Legis—defending Reformed doctrine with uncommon acumen. When the Palatinate turned Lutheran, he, with other faithful brethren, repaired to Neustadt, continuing his labors till his death in 1590. Zanchi’s scholarship, piety, and steadfastness rendered him a chief ornament of the Reformed churches—a “burning and shining light,” whose legacy endures in his writings and the testimony of those who heard and read him.
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When the first man, which was of the earth, earthy, was fallen into such a miserable estate and condition by his own fault through disobedience; and not he only, but together with him all his posterity, which sinned in him, and were to be conceived in sin, & to be born the children of wrath: We believe, that God of his mere grace and mercy to Adam and Eve, and in them to all mankind, promised another man from heaven, of the true substance of man indeed, but to be conceived without the seed of man, and therefore to be born of a Virgin without sin: in whom as in another head of mankind, consisting of a divine and human nature, being the true and express image of God the Father, and filled with the Holy Ghost, that might be fulfilled which in the first head succeeded not through his own fault, that is, that he the second man in our name and for us, which were to be grafted into him by his Spirit, and by spiritual generation to be flesh of his flesh, and bone of his bones, might most perfectly obey God the Father, and by his obedience and death take away sin, appease the wrath of God, redeem us, justify us, sanctify us, rule us by his Spirit, set us at liberty, give us grace and strength to that which is good, and finally save us unto everlasting life and glorify us.
For Adam, not as a private person, but as the parent and root of all mankind, as he was endued at the first with righteousness, that he might propagate it unto all his posterity as in an inheritance; for which cause it is commonly called original righteousness: So by his disobedience, he hath transmitted unto all men great unrighteousness instead of righteousness, and eternal death instead of life eternal. Necessary therefore was it, that there should be another head, that is, Christ, from whom by reason of his obedience there might be derived on all his members true and heavenly righteousness, holiness, and life.
We believe, that therefore the promise was presently after the sin committed, made from the beginning of the world, and afterwards by the holy fathers was often repeated, expounded, and confirmed, by divers ways, signs, and seals. That not only we, which have been since the coming of the Messias; but also all others from the foundation of the world, as many as should believe this promise, and by true faith embrace Christ to come, might also be made partakers of redemption, justification, and salvation.
We believe, that from the beginning of the world, as many as believed on Christ promised and to come, they were grafted into him by faith; they were made partakers of his future obedience, passion, death, and redemption; they did eat his body which was afterwards to be delivered, and drink his blood which was afterwards to be poured out; and last of all, they were all Christians endued with the Spirit of Christ, and saved unto everlasting life, no less than we are.
And further we condemn and detest their opinion which hold that no man was saved before the coming of Christ; and that the Fathers which were before, received no promise of eternal salvation, but only of things temporal.