Emperour and to John These he received very courteously and admitted them to the Prayers of the Church but not to the Sacrament till their cause was heard before the Emperour But a rumour being spread in Alexandria that he had admitted them to the Sacrament Theophilus was extreamly offended with him and sought to put him out of his Bishoprick Whilest he meditated these things he wrote to all the Bishops thereabouts that they should condemn the Books of Origen and considering that it would much advance his affairs if he could draw Epiphanius Bishop of Salamine in Cyprus a man famous for his Life and Learning to side with him he wrote very flattering Letters to him whereby he made him his friend Then did he perswade him to call a Synod in Cyprus to condemn the Works of Origen which the good man too easily affented to and calling a Council they condemned them Then did Epiphanius write to Constantinople to John to call a Council and to condemn them likewise there Theophilus in the mean time considering that he might safely do what such a famous man as Epiphanius had done he also summoned a Council of all the Egyptian Bishops where they also condemned the Books of Origen But John thought that this business did not deserve the calling of a Council and therefore neglected it shewing to his friends the Letters sent him by Theophilus and Epiphanius Hereupon the Clergy and the Rich and Great men who were angry with him for the reasons aforesaid perceiving that the purpose of Theophilus was to remove John from his Bishoprick they studyed how they might promote the same and so far prevailed with the Emperour that a very great Council was summoned to meet at Constantinople which Theophilus much rejoycing at presently commanded all the Bishops of Egypt to repair thither He wrote also to Epiphanius and to all the Eastern Bishops that they should hasten to Constantinople himself following them Epiphanius was the first that arrived and in a Town near to Constantinople he went into the Church where he made publike Prayers From thence going to the City John with all his Clergy met him with all the respect that might be but Epiphanius shewed by his carriage that the calumnies raised against John had made too deep an impression in him for when he was invited to the Bishops house he refued to go in and shunned to have any society with John Yea moreoverâ—calling privately together such Bishops as were at Constantinople he shewed what they had Decreed against the Books of Origen and prevailed with some to give their suffrage to the same though the greater part protracted the doing of it And Theotinusâ—ishop â—ishop of â—ythia blamed him to his face for it saying that it was altogether unlawful thus to condemn a man that was dead so many years before and that it was not without blasphemy thus to calumniate the judgement of our Ancestors and to reject those things which they had Decreed and withall plucking forth a certain Book of Origens he reads part of it and shews how useful and profitable it was for the Church saying further they that discommend these things shew their great folly and it s to be feared that in time they may condemn the Scripture it self about which these Books are written Notwithstanding these things John did much reverence Epiphanius intreating him to partake with him both in his House and Table yea and in the Church too But he returned answer that he would neither come into his House nor Communicate with him at Church except he would condemn the Books of Origen and drive away Dioscorus with the rest of the Monks his companions John thought this very unequal thus to drive them away before their cause was heard the rather because he had appointed a Sacrament in the Apostles Church Then did the Enemies of John suborn Epiphanius that he should come forth in publick and before all the people condemn the Books of Origen with Dioscorus and his companions for holding the same opinions and that withall he should tax the Bishop John for favouring of them The design of these men which thus set him on was to alienate the affections of the people from their Bishop Accordingly two days after Epiphanius went to the Church to accomplish these things at which time John hearing of his purpose sent Scrapion one of his Presbyters to meet him and to protest to him that he was going about that which was neither just nor safe for himself for that hereby he might bring himself into danger if any Tumult or Sedition should arise amongst the people where of he would be judged the Author This cooled his heat and made him desist from his purpose About this time a young son of the Emperours fell sick whereupon the Empress sent to Epiphanius requesting him to pray for him Epiphanius answered that the childe should live and do well if she would forsake Dioscorus and his Heretical Associates But said the Emperess I leave my childe in the hands of God Let him do with him as he pleaseth he gave him me and he may take him away again But for thy part if thou canst raise the dead why didst thou suffer thy Arch-Deacon Crispion to dye who was so dear unto thee Shortly after Epiphanius departed towards Cyprus and as he went down to the Haven to take Shipping he said to John I hope thou shalt never dye a Bishop And John answered him again I hope thou shalt never come alive into thy Country Both which came to pass Epiphanius dying by the way in the Ship and John being deposed and banished as afterwards we shall hear After the departure of Epiphanius Theophilus came to Constantinople but none of the City Clergy went to meet and entertain him because they knew that he was an Enemy to their Bishop yet some Mariners of Alexandria which were then at Constantinople met him singing songs in his praise and so he went to the Emperours Palace where a lodging was provided for him He also cunningly found out many which hated John and were ready to accuse him whereupon he went to Quercus a Suburb of Chalcedon where he gathered a Council and there again condemned the Books of Origen The Council also sent to Constantinople to summon John and some of his Presbyters to appear before them and to answer to such things as should be objected against them John answered that he refused not to come to his trial if first he might know his Accusers and the crime objected against him and be brought before a free Council But said he I am not such a fool as to appear before such Bishops as are my professed Enemies and to suffer them to be my Judges Most of the Bishops were much incensed at this answer only Demerâ—ius and some few that favoured John departed out of the Council Then did the rest cause John to be called four times and because he appeared not
presently disclaimed the choice who having never in his life sought after any place was now much more content with his present condition and would not so far offend his old Master as against his will to be chosen for his Colleague No injury did ever so disturb the mind of VVallaeus as to discompose it or make him unlike himself But in the mean time the people were very angry that their beloved Minister was thus disgraced by him who formerly by his publick testimony had attested the purity of his Doctrine But it so fell out about that time 〈◊〉 Lord of Plessiâ— called VVallaeus to Salmur who getting leave to depart went thither Anno Christi 1615 but stayed not long Upon this occasion they of 〈◊〉 being stirred up by Hugh Grotius would not suffer the City of 〈◊〉 to have an Illustrious School so that it was nipt in the bud and Meivartius returned to his Grammer School again Only the Magistrates of Middleborough requested Wallaeus that some times he would read Greek and Philosophical Lectures and would go on with his Common places that so they might still keep up the face of an Illustrious School which accordingly he did and yet neglected not his work in the Ministry Shortly after at the command and request of the Churches of Zeland and at the importunity of some of the chief Ministers of Holland he answered Vtenbogard wherein he shewed that the Authority which was granted by the Magistrates to the Belgick Church was agreeable to the sacred Scriptures and the custom of the Primitive Church By this Book Wallaeus everywhere gat the name of a very learned man and of one that deserved well of the Church because he had thereby freed the Church from that aspersion cast upon it by the Remonstrants that it was disobedient to Magistracy He deserved also thanks from many Polititians because he took away from some of their society that pretence whereby they oppressed the Churches Vtenbogard himself could not but acknowledge that the Book was learned and full of modesty yet he pretended that he would return a speedy answer for which cause he gate leave of the Deputies of the States to write again But though he easily obtained leave yet wrote he not only about thirty years after and seven years after the death of Wallaeus he would seem to return an answer though it contained nothing in it but glorious promises and empty performances Wallaeus was not content to have thus taken away the chiefest pillar to the dissention but endeavoured also to quiet the people and to moderate the Magistrates of Holland whereupon he set forth a treatise shewing the people how they should demean themselves when any difference sprang up amongst the Pastors about Religion The Magistrates he sought to reconcile to the Ministers by the means of Hugh Grotius a man very familiar with him because of his Learning who from an hope of succeeding Bâ—â—nevelt in his dignity was looked upon as his right hand From him he extorted this speech That he saw no better means to compose the difference then by a National Synod which if it was denyed God would punish them for it In the mean time the dissentions increased dayly in Holland and threatned the ruine of one if not of both parties Six of the Cities of Holland did openly oppose themselves against the Decrees concerning the Vocation of Pastors and of tolerating the Controversies of Religion on both sides The Ministers also refused to obey them yea the Remonstrants themselves especially those which were framed by Hugh Grotius at the instigation of Vtenbogard that set bounds to the Ministers from which in handling Controversies it was not lawful for them to deviate Yet the Magistrates would have them obeyed and such Pastors as refused were forbidden the exercise of their Ministry and such as were more pertinacious were cast out of their Cities and such Citizens as most favoured them were banished And though they were restored again by the Presidents of Justice who judged it to be not a correction but a faction yet the Magistrates would not suffer them to come into the Cities whereupon they were filled with animosities on both sides and at last the Magistrates not daring to trust their Citizens gathered souldiers But this dissention was no where more conspicuous nor hotter then at the Hague Vtenbogard who had sometimes stirred up his hearers to use all extremity would now seem moderate having gotten so much power in the Church which that he might hold he perswaded them to yeeld something to the Contra-Remonstrants But some sharp sights perceived that this was but a trick to deceive the Pastors and seduce the people whereupon Henry Rosaeus an eloquent and couragious man took heart to discover the fraud to the people shewing that poyson lay under this honey Upon this the Magistrates forbade him the use of his Ministry But the people who now saw the fraud would not hear Vtenbogard any longer but resorted to Sermons in the neighbor Village of Riâ—wick This the Magistrates sought to hinder On the contrary the people urged that either Rosaeus or some other Preacher of the Reformed Religion for which they had spent so much treasure and blood should be allowed them Against this Vtenbogard opposed himself and laying aside his pretence of moderation sought by all means to hinder the gratifying of the people in their request Prince Morice observing that not so much the Ministers as himself was aimed at and that by his connivence the power of Barnevelt and his adversaries was increased he began penly to favour the Contra-Remonstrants and requested the States of Holland that they might have a Church and Minister allowed them But the Nobles and the twelve Cities much opposed it yet still the Prince urged it and seeing the Contra-Remonstrants desired but reason he procured the English Church at the Hague to be allowed them which when it would not receive all the Auditors they took another Church brought in Henry Rosaeus and frequented his Sermons Barnevelt and his associates were much troubled at this as if violence was profered to their authority But seeing that the Contra-Remonstrants had no more granted them but what was equal they suffered that which they knew not how to prevent By this example the Contra-Remonstrants everywhere took courage and the people sided with them seeing the Prince to favour them who was so beloved and esteemed of them But the Contra-Remonstrants of the Hague thought it not enough to have a Church and Preacher but in so illustrious a place they must make it appear that their opinions and Doctrine was better then that of the Remonstrants But when Vtenbogard excelled Rosaeus in Learning and daily provoked him to Disputation some other must be sent for that might cool his boasting For which end none was judged fitter then our Wallaeus and therefore Anno Christi 1617. Deputies were sent from the
he so contented Modestus the Emperours Praefect that he drew that wicked man by the shining of his vertue to admire him By this when the Emperour Valence himself entred into his Church he first astonished him and afterwards by his discreet conference deterred him from his cruelty year reclaimed him from the faction of the Arians though afterwards those wicked men prevailed to bring him over to them again He had always a minde so prepared for Martyrdom that he desired it as a great favour In all his writings there is such a peculiar grace and excellency that he never tires his Reader but always dismisseth him with a thirst after more One saith of him that the true beauty of his soul did shine forth in his Eloquence Rhetorick being both his companion and servant Hierom was his scholar He was of such Authority in the Greek Churches that whosoever durst oppose his testimony was suspected for an Heretick He so loved solitude that when for his excellent Learning and Sanctity he should first have been made a Bishop he retired himself into obscurity but being discovered the people chose him for their Bishop At last growing old and unfit for his publick imployment he constituted another Bishop and returned to his former solitude He flourished under Theodosius He used to say That in a great multitude of people of several Ages and Conditions who are like an Harp with many strings it is hard to give every one such a touch in Preaching as may please all and off end none He wrote divers works both in prose and verse The Life of Epiphanius who flourished Anno Christi 370. EPiphanius Bishop of Salamine in Cyprus was born in Palestine in an obscure Town called Besanduces of poor and obscure parents his Father dying when he was young he was adopted and brought up by one Tryphon a Jew whereby he attained to an excellent knowledge in the Hebrew He was converted to the Christian Faith by one Lucianus famous for his Learning and Vertue Lucianus put him to Hâ—arion to learn under whom he profited exceedingly Whilest he was a boy certain Hereticks called the Gnosticks cunningly sought to invegle him and to draw him over to their opinions but it pleased God to preserve him from the temptation and to keep him in the Truth In his riper years he was famous in the Church for his Piety Holiness of Life and for the Sincerity of his Doctrine and Elegancy of his Stile as his Books witness which shew their Author to be a man of great reading skilful in the Tongues well acquainted with Controversies prudent in asserting the Truth and acute in confuting Errors whereupon Melancthon saith of him We have no fuller an History of those ancient affairs of the Church then the writings of Epiphanius do contain in which whilest he intends the Confutation of Heresies he inserts many Historical passages So that out of this Author may be collected almost a continued History of the ancient Church if any would with prudence join his Narrations together and I wish that some Prince would take care to see such a work done He was of a very liberal and charitable disposition insomuch as he spent all his estate in relieving the Poor Being afterwards chosen Bishop of Salamine in Cyprus he at first modestly refused that dignity but importunity prevaling with him he so lived that Vitam doctrinâ doctrinam vitâ comprobaret his Doctrine approved his Life and his Life desended his Doctrine He was semper Hereticorum acerrimus oppugnator always a sharp opposer of Hereticks He purged all Cyâ—rus defiled and slurried with divers Heresies and having gained an Edict from Theodosius the Emperour he cast all the Hereticks out of the Island About this time Theophilus Bishop of Alexandria having upon some false surmises conceived displeasure against John Chrysostom Bishop of Constantinople he sought cunningly to thrust him out of his Bishoprick whereupon he sent Letters to the Bishops throughout every City concealing his principal drift and only pretending that he misliked the Books of Origen Epiphanius also being at this time very old Theophilus wrought upon his weakness and prevailed with him to call a Council in Cyprus In which Council the Bishops Decreed that thenceforth none should read the works of Origen and by the instigation of Theophilus they wrote also to Chrysostom exhorting him to abstain from the perusing of those Books and requesting him to summon a Council at Constantinople and to ratifie that Decree with the uniform consent of all After this Epiphanius went to Constantinople and contrary to the Canons of the Church Ordained some Ministers there and administred the Sacrament Yet Chrysostom honoured him highly went with the rest of his Clergy to welcome him to the City invited him to lodge at his own house and to make use of his Church during his abode there But Epiphanius being prepossessed with prejudice answered that he would neither lodge in his house nor join with him in Prayer except he would condemn the Books of Origen and drive away Dioscorus with his associates from him who were favourers of Origen But Chrysostom answered that it would be great injustice to condemn men before their cause was heard especially considering that the time for administration of the Sacrament was now near and with this answer he left him Presently after the Enemies of Chrysostom came to Epiphanius and perswaded him publickly before all the people to condemn the Books of Origen and also Dioscorus and his followers and withall to tax the Bishop of the City for favouring these persons Epiphanius being of too facile a disposition went out the next day to perform these things which Chrysostom hearing of sent Serapion who met him not far from the Church and protested that if he did these things he would do that which was neither just nor equal nor convenient for himself For that hereby he might bring himself into danger if any tumult should be raised amongst the people Hereupon he desisted yet privately he called together some Bishops that stayed in the City and shewed them the Decrees which condemned the Books of Origen and drew some of them to assent to the same but the greatest part refused and Theotymnus Bishop of Scythia blamed him to his face for it and told him that it was altogether unlawful thus to calumniate and asperse a man that was dead long since especially being of so great worth and his writings approved of by their Predecessours c. At last he resolved to return into Cyprus and for a farewel to Chrysostom he said I hope that thou wilt not dye a Bishop To which Chrysostom replyed and I hope thou wilt never return into thy own Country Both which came to pass for a while after Chrysostom was cast out of his Bishoprick and Epiphanius dyed upon the Sea and when he found himself mortally sick he called his
Christ. 4. Confine not your desires designs endeavors to any degree of Spiritual goodness attained by the fairest Saint on this side Heaven For no example Christ's onely excepted did ever reach that rule according to which we are always obliged to order our hearts and lives A man may fully fall in with the forwardest follower of Jesus Christ and yet fall far short of conformity to Gods commandements That blessed Apostle who propounds himself a pattern for imitation having his conversation in Heaven yet he speaks thus of himself Not as though I was already perfect And that beloved Disciple John tels us that Every one who hath a well-grounded lively hope of heaven purgeth himself as Christ is pure If according to this counsel with these directions you shall improve the manifold pretious examples which are here presented unto your perusal then shall you have good cause to bless Almighty God for bringing this book unto your hands The godly and Reverend Author our antient friend and Fellow-Pupil with one of us under the tuition of Master Thoms Hooker in Emanuel Colledge who for his eminent abilities and glorious services both in this and in the other England deserves a place in the first rank of them who are here recorded hath in this collection imitated the Lord who hath a book of Remembrance wherein he Registers the gratious speeches and actions of his zealous servants in cvil times Hereby also he is instrumental in the accomplishment of Gods promise who hath said The righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance An instance whereof the Apostle gives in Abel the proto-Martyr who for his faith and righteousness is yet spoken off as some render the phrase though long since dead That which the Apostle affirms upon the reveiw of his Catalogue of believers recorded in the eleventh Chapter of his Epistle to the Hebrews I may apply to this Book We are compassed about with a clowd of witnesses for which way can we look or to what condition and concernment of life can we turn our selves wherein some Example propounded in this book will not aptly suit with our estates for guidance comfort encouragement And although the labor of our Author hath been in this collection very great yet he resolves if God give life and health to add a second part unto this now published wherein if any one will be pleased to furnish him with full and faithful relations of the godly life and death of any their Christian friends whether Ministers or others who have been eminent in their days their Names may hereby be perpetuated unto the service of posterity Here we might have given in a true though short Character of some pretious servants and messengers of Christ whose graces were admired whilst they lived and whose memâ—ry their surviving friends do much honor viz. Doctor Preston Sibs Tailor Stoughton c. Mr. Rogers Stock Culverwel Pemble c. As also Mr. Hildersham Dod Pierson Herring Ball Nicols Hind and Rathband who for their Christian graces and Ministerial abilities for their services and sufferings do deserve an honourable memorial in the Church of Christ The later of these though they lived and dyed Non-conformists yet they always kept a due distance from Brownistical separation and were zealously affected towards the Presbyterial Government of the Church as the works of some of them do sufficiently witness Through Gods grace their judgments were never tainted with the noisom Errors of these declining times neither were their lives stained with any such scandals for which too many who pretend to an higher pitch of purity and Saintship are justly reproached But now we will not discourse any further of them because we hope that the next part of this book which before we intimated may bring to light the excellencies of some of them at least which call for remembrance and imitation And now Christian Reader craving pardon for our tediosness whereby thou hast been thus long detained out of this pleasant Garden we desire that Gods direction and blessing may accompany thy passage through it that whilst thou seest thy self surrounded with sweet and fragrant flowers thou mayst adore the inexhaust fulness of Jesus Christ from whom all graces and consolations do continually flow And because an inward supernatural principle is necessary to the right improvement of such helps as the Bee by an innate quality which other creatures want maketh Honey out of Flowers we commend thee to the God of all Grace that by the abilities of his spirit thou mayst be abundantly benefited in spiritual respects by thy serious survaying of this useful book London Decemb. 7th 1649. Thine in the service of Jesus Christ SIMEON ASH JOHN WALL THE AVTHORS EPISTLE TO THE CHRISTIAN READER Christian Reader THE holy Apostle tels us that when Christ ascended on high he gave gifts unto men some Apostles some Prophets some Evangelists some Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ till we all come into the uaity of the Faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ The accomplishment hereof will in part appear by these Examples following wherein we shall see how the Lord Jesus Christ hath in all Ages raised up and sent Pastors after his own heart for the ends before mentioned and because that old subtile Serpent the Divel knows that the chiefest way to hinder the success of the Ministry is to breed in mens hearts an undervaluing and disesteem of the Ministers therefore we may take notice what titles Christ Jesus in the New Testament is pleased to honor them withall He calls them Angels 2 Rev. 1. 8 12 18 c. Stars 1 Rev. ult Ambassadors of Christ 2 Cor. 5. 20. Builders 1 Cor. 3. 10. Gods Stewards Tit. 1. 7. Lights of the World Matth. 5. 14. The Glory of Christ 2 Cor. 8. 23. Nurses 1 Thes. 2. 7. Spiritual Fathers 1 Cor. 4. 15. And such as stand in Christs stead 2 Cor. 5. 20. And such indeed have most of these Worthies been whose Lives are recorded in this Book Yet least any should run into the contrary extreme and judge of them above that which is meet the Scriptures tell us also that they are earthen vessels 2 Cor. 4. 7. and men subject to the like passions with others James 5. 17. Acts 14. 15. This you shall finde evidenced in the Narratives of some of these Lives who though they were men of God yet were they sons of Adam also and I could have given you in a Catalogue of the Naevi and blemishes of the Antient Fathers as well as of the Modern Divines that so we might be convinced that our faith ought not to stand in the wisdom of men but in the power of God But most men are too apt to espie motes upon a black coate and therefore I
in Latin but Hierom reckons him amongst the Greek Fathers and even till this day some of his Works are extant in Greek which shews him to be a Grecian Varia scripsit sed soli qainque libri adversus Haereses eodie supersunt TERTVLLIAN The Life of Tertullian who dyed An. Christ. 202. TErtullian was born in Carthage his Father was a Centurion of the Proconsular Order He was carefully educated in all manner of learning wherein he profited so much that Lactantius saith of him he was in omni genere doctrine peritus skilled in all kinde of Learning Hierom saith that his Works contained cunctam seculi Doctrinam all sorts of Learning Vincentius Lyrinensis saith Inter Latinos omnes hic facile princeps judicandus that amongst the Latine Fathers he was of chiefest account His Works which he hath left to us shew that he was excellently versed in Physicks Mathematicks and History He was eminent for his study of and knowledge in the Civil Law Afterward falling to the study of Divinity he attained to such excellent skill therein that at Rome he was made a Presbyter where he remained to the middle of his age He flourished under the Emperor Severus Anno Christi 183. And burning in holy zeal he became a great opposite to the Hereticks of those times Marcion Valentinian Praxea Hermogenes c. He was very expert both in Greek and Latin and had great acuteness in disputing and writing eloquently as his Books do sufficiently declare So that Vincentius Lyrinensis saith that the force of his arguments was such that whom he could not perswade them he compelled to consent to him God raised him in the time of great Persecution to be as a pillar or stay to his poor afflicted Church For when the Christians were vexed with wrongs and falsly accused by the Gentiles Tertullian taking their cause in hand defended them against their Persecutors and their slanderous accusations shewing that they never intended aâ—â— stirs or rebellions either against the Empire or Emperors of Rome for so much as the manner of Christians was to pray for the prosperous estate of their Governors And whereas they were falsely accused to be enemies to mankinde how can that be saith he when as the proper office of Christians is to pray for all men to love their Enemies never requiting evil for evil whereas all others do profess only to love their friends and starcely them and as touching the horrible slander of murthering Infants how can that be true saith he in the Christians whose custom is to abstain from all blood and things strangled so that it is not lawful for them when they feed at their Tables to meddle with the blood of any Beast And as for filthy copulations no sort of men are more free then they who have ever been the greatest observers of chastily and if they could have chosen to live in perpetual Virginity all their lives long if they could not their manner is to contract Matrimony for the avoiding all Whoredom and Fornication Neither can it be proved that the Christians do Worship the Sun which false surmise saith he ariseth only from this Because they use to pray towards the East Much less was there any of them so mad as to Worship an Asses Head the occasion of which slander arose from the Jews worshipping the Jaw bone of an Ass from the story of Sampson which therefore was falsely and wrongfully charged upon the Christians Likewise against all other lyes and slanders raised by the Heathen against the Christians he clearly purgeth them and evidently proves that they were persecuted not for any deserts of theirs but only out of an hatred to their name and Profession He sheweth also that by those grievous persecutions the Religion or number of Christians was nothing impaired but increased rather The more saith he we are mown down by you the more we rise up The blood of the Christians proves the seed of the Church For what man saith he beholding the painful torments and the perfect patience of the Christians will not search and enquire into the cause and when he hath found it out will not consent and agree to both and when he agreeth to it who will not be willing and desirous to suffer for it So that this Profession can never be extirpated seeing the more it is cut down the more it encreaseth For every man seeing and wondering at the sufferings of the Saints is moved thereby the more to search into the cause and in searching he finds it and in finding he follows it And as Tertullian thus bestirred himself in defending the innocency of the Christians so he compiled many excellent and fruitful Works whereof some are extant others are not to be found By these excellent Apologies of his he perswaded the Emperor Severus to savour the Christians who prayed for his prosperity and imputed the slaughter of his Subjects at Byzartium as a just judgement upon them for the effusion of so much Christian blood Having written excellently against the Hereticks of his time in the end of his Book he made a Catalogue of all the Hereticks that then tore the Bowels of the Church Yea he continued these labours when the Persecution was at the hottest not hiding his head though the times were so dangerous Once in great triumph all the Emperour Severus his Souldiers for the greater pomp were to put on Crowns of Bayes but one Christian Souldier there was amongst them who wore it on his Arm and being demanded the reason he boldly answered Non decet Christianum in hac vita Coronari that a Christian ought not to wear his Crown in this life Upon which occasion Tertullian wrote his Book De Corona Militis Cyprian when he would read Tertullian used to say Da Magistrum give me my Master His manner was constantly to pray thrice a day at the third sixth and ninth hours Writing De quatuor novissimis of Death Judgment Heaven and Hell he saith Haec nos aliquando risimus cum de vobis fuimus fiunt non nascuntur Christiani I sometimes scoffed at these things when I was a Heathen I now perceive that we are not born but made Christians He was converted by reading the Scriptures and the labours of other learned and holy men In reading the Scriptures he found them full of Majesty and truth And saith he Quicquid agitur praenunciabatur Whatsoever is done was in them foretold and after his conversion he was taken up night day in the reading of them and did with great pains get much of them by heart and that so exactly that he knew each period He highly commended Severus for that knowing many Noble men and women to be Christians he did not only not punish them but greatly praised them and did publickly withstand such as were their enemies Yet notwithstanding the great Learning and famous Vertues of this worthy
the Eastern Churches and seeking the glory of God and the good of the People regarded not the reproaches of evil tongues whilest his Minister did that which himself was less apt and fit to do By this means Augustine like a bright candle set in a candlestick gave light to all that were in the house The fame of this thing flying abroad was the occasion that many Presbyters being allowed by their Bsishops Preached the good Word of God to the People in the Bishops presence At this time the Manichaean Heresie had infected many both Citizens and Strangers in the City of Hippo being deceived by a certain Pestilent Heretick by name Fortunatus a Presbyter remaining in that City Hereupon many of those Citizens and Strangers both Catholicks and Donatists come to Augustine requesting him to confer and dispute with this Manichaean Presbyter whom they judged a learned man about his opinions who willingly imbraced the motion being ready to render a reason of the Faith and Hope that was in him to every one that should ask it as also not only to exhort with wholesome word of sound Doctrine but to convince the gainsayers But he enquired whether Fortunatus was willing to do the like Hereupon they hasted to Fortunatus exhorting perswading and earnestly intreating him to imbrace the motion But truly Fortunatus was very fearful to encounter with Augustine whom he had formerly known at Carthage infected with the same Error But being overcome by their importunity and ashamed to decline the encounter he promised to give Augustine a meeting and to dispute with him The time and place being appointed multitudes flocked to it publick Notaries were appointed to write down what passed the Disputation continued two days the event was that this Master of the Manichees was neither able to overthrow the Catholick Faith nor to defend his own Erroneous opinions and so wanting an Answer he which before was accounted a great and learned man was now judged of no value nor ability to defend his Errors which did so fill him with confusion and shame that presently after he forsook Hippo and never after returned again And so through the blessing of God upon Augustines labors many who before were infected with that Error were reclaimed and imbraced the true Catholick Faith Augustine continued to Preach the Word of Truth frequently both in the Church and from house to house confuting the Heresies of the times especially the Donatists Manichees and Pelagians The same also he did by his writings the Christians wonderfully admiring and rejoycing in it so that through Gods blessing the Catholick Church in Africk began to lift up her head which formerly had been wonderfully corrupted and dejected by reason of Hereticks especially through the Rebaptizings of the Donatists whereby they had infected and seduced many Augustines Books also and Tractates being dispersed filled with Learning and the Authority of the Holy Scriptures so prevailed through the Grace of God that not only the Catholicks but many Hereticks flocked to Hippo to hear him and every one that could write or get others to do it for them wrote forth his Notes for their future benefit so that the sweet smell of the Doctrine of Chirst was by this means dispersed all over Africk which the Churches beyond-Sea hearing of much rejoyced therein for as when one member suffers all the members suffer with it so when one member is honoured all the members rejoyce with it At the same time the African Bishops holding a Synod at Hippo by their command Augustine being yet but a Presbyter disputed before them of Faith and the Creed which he performed to the joy of them all especially of the good old Bishop Valerius who gave much thanks to God for his mercy vouchsafed to him therein and fearing least some other City which wanted a Bishop should choose Augustine and so get him away from him which indeed had come to pass unless Valerius hearing of it had caused Augustine to go to another place and there hide himself so that when they sought him he could not be found wherefore this good old man fearing the like again and finding himself much weakned by Age wrote privately to the Primate of Carthage alleadging the weakness of his body and the infirmities of his old Age and therefore desired that Augustine might be made his Coadjutor in the Bishoprick of Hippo which by his importunity he also obtained So that the Primate coming to visit the Church of Hippo and bringing some other Bishops with him Valerius before them all and before all the people which were assembled together declared publickly his desire which they all approved very well of and the People earnestly desired that it might be effected but Augustine refused the Bishoprick being contrary to the custom of the Church whilest his own Bishop lived But many perswaded him that it was not such an unusual thing producing many examples both of the forreign and African Churches for it so that he was forced to yeeld his consent and was ordained to the charge of the Bishoprick And when he was thus ordained a Bishop he Preached the Word of Life more frequently fervently and with greater authority then he did before and that not only in his own City and Country but in all places where he was requested whereby the Church of God exceedingly encreased Many also of the Donatists frequented his Sermons took Notes and carryed them to their Bishops which when they had read they used to contradict but they that carryed them either answered them themselves or else carryed their answers to Augustine who with much meekness and gentleness confirmed the Truth and reselled their Errors He also wrote many private Letters to the Bishops and many principal Laymen of the Donatists admonishing and exhorting them that they would either reform their Errors or come to a publick Disputation but they distrusting their own cause would never write back to him again but being enraged with anger used to exclaim against and both publickly and privately to rail upon Augustine as a deceiver of souls and that as a Wolf he ought to be slain in defence of the Flock and without all shame neither fearing God nor men they proclaimed that whosoever would murther him should without all doubt have all their sins remitted unto them These Donatists had in their Churches a perverse and violent kinde of men who went up and down under the pretence of chastity who were called Circumcelliones and there were very great numbers of these who were dispersed through all the Regions of Africk These being instructed by evill Teachers were so inflamed with Pride and grew to such audacious boldness that many times they neither spared their own nor other men requiring them to do things against all right and reason and if any one opposed them he was sure either to be soundly beaten or basely murthered by them they being usually armed with sundry weapons raging up
troubled Augustine coming to Carthage where he was profered to dispute with him in the presence of many Noble men But this Heretick though he accepted the challenge would by no means suffer any thing to be written which passed betwixt them his pretence was least that which was written might be made use of against him to his prejudice because of the Law Hereupon Augustine consented privately to dispute with him without Notaries yet withall foretelling that after the Disputation every one would take liberty to make what reports they pleased of things never spoken because there was nothing set down in writing to refel them Augustine in the conference declared his Faith and Judgement requiring an account of the same from the other by Arguments and Authority of the Scriptures he confirmed his own and refelled the Errors of the other which so enraged him that he brake up the conference and when he was departed he falsly reported that he had overcome Augustine and scattered abroad many such lyes which coming to the Ears of Augustine he was compelled to write to Pascontius and therein to set down all the passages of the conference which if he should deny he was able to produce many witnesses for the proof thereof both worthy and Honorable men who were then present But he being thus twice written to by Augustine scarce returned a single answer wherein also he rather railed then asserted his Opinions Also when the Goths came into Africk there came along with them one Maximus an Arian Bishop who coming to Hippo at the earnest request of many godly and eminent men and in their presence Augustine entred into the Lists with him having Notaries to write down all that passed betwixt them His Adversary shewed more subtilty then solidity but the Truth prevailed yet this impudent Heretick when he was returned to Carthage amongst his own Sectaries lyingly boasted that he came away with the Victory whereupon Augustine was enforced to publish in writing a Narrative of the whole Disputation with all the Objections and Answers withall shewing wherein Maximus failed and to what Arguments he was able to give no Answer He took great pains also by the space of ten years against the Pelagians who were subtle Disputants publishing their Heresies by a very cunning way and endeavouring to propagate them not only in Publick but from house to house Against these Augustine wrote many Books and often disputed with them in the Congregation both to reduce them and preserve others from the infection of their Errors He was the Author also of calling many Councils in Africk against them who wrote to the Bishop of Rome that that Heresie was abominable and to be condemned by all that adhered to the Catholick Faith whereupon the godly Emperour Honorius taking cognizance of it condemned it by his Laws and appointed the holders of it to be reckoned amongst the Hereticks whereby many of them forsaking their Errors returned to the true Church again Thus was this holy man of God Augustine very solicitous about and careful of the safety of the whole Church and truly God gave him much comfort and occasion of rejoycing in the fruit of his labors even in this life First in Hippo and the Country thereabouts which was more immediately under his charge the Churches thereof enjoying much Unity and Peace Then in other more remote parts of Africk which either by his labors or by the labors of such of his Society as were called forth to be Bishops and Ministers in other places were very much established in the Truth many Manichees Donatists Pelagians and Pagans being converted from their Errors and rejoycing that they were now made Members of the true Church He was very patient towards all men he bore with the infirmities of the weak mourned for the sins of the wicked both of such as were within and without the Church rejoycing when any were gained to the Lord and weeping when any were lost So many things were dictated and published by him so many Disputations held in the Church so many things written against Hereticks and so many Books of Sacred Scripture expounded by him for the edification of the godly that a studious man all his life long can scarcely know and read over And knowing the duty imposed by Saint Paul 1 Cor. 6. 1 c. of endeavouring to decide Controversies he was very forward whensoever he was requested either by Christians or by men of any other Sect to compromise and decide their Controversies with much patience and prudence hearing both parties that so he might pass a righteous sentence and that he might the more fully take cognizance of the cause he used sometime to spend a whole day fasting to hear the same always taking advantage thereby to do what possible good he could to their souls like a good Steward Preaching the Word in season out of season Exhorting Instructing and Reproving with all long suffering and Doctrine endeavouring to instruct the Ignorant and to quicken those that were remiss in the way to Heaven Many Letters he wrote to such as sought to him for counsel and direction in their secular affairs But this he thought a trouble to him and hinderance from better imployments and therefore he always thought best of those who would either write or speak to him about Heavenly businesses He seldom was absent from the Councils which were often held in divers Provinces yet always seeking therein the things which were of God and not his own advantage His endeavour was that the Faith of the Holy Catholick Church might be preserved inviolate that such Ministers as were unjustly Excommunicate might be absolved that such as were wicked and obstinate might be cast out In the Ordination of Ministers he always judged that the consent of the godly should concur in it and that the custom of the Church should not be violated Upon a time Augustine forgetting the Argument which he first proposed to proâ—ecute fell upon a confutation of the Manichees and one Firmus a rich Merchant and a Manichee hearing him was so convinced that he came to him after and with tears on his knees confessed his Errors and promised Reformation Also one Felix a Manichee coming to Hippo to spread his Heresie in a Disputation with Augustine after the third time was so convinced that he recanted his Errors and was joined to the Church He was termed Hereticorum Malleus The hammer against Hereticks He won also many Pagans to embrace the Truth He took much pains in ending disferences His Apparel was neither sumptuous nor sordid his Diet usually was Broth and Roots He used to say Non ego immunditiam obsonii timeo sed immunditiam cupidâ—tatis Scio enim Noe omne genus carnis quod cibo esset usui mâ—nducare permissum Heliam Cibo carnis refectum c Though for his Guests and sick-folks he had better His Dishes for his meat were of Earth or
he profited exceedingly so that he attained to the knowledg of all the Liberal Sciences After which going to Jerusalem he studied the Scripture and Divinity where he was made a Presbyter Preached diligently and much propagated the Faith by his Sermons and Writings A great opposer of Hereticks he was He flourished under Leo and dyed in peace He was a very Eloquent man and second to none of that Age in Learning He wrote three Books of Parallels of the Sacred Scriptures four Books of the Orthodox Faith besides many other Works which are printed at Paris Anno Christi 1619. The Life of Theophylact who flourished Anno Christi 880. THeophylact born in Constantinople and afterwards Archbishop of the same was much imployed in visiting and reforming the Churches in Bulgarie and when he had proved himself a painful laborer in the dangerous persecutions there he yielded up his spirit to his Maker He used to say Be not troubled if this man lives in tranquillity and thou in tribulation God will have it so he puts thee into the combat thou must therefore sweat hard before thou com'st off with the victory whereas he that comes forward in the World goes back in Grace his estate is miserable that goes laughing to destruction as a Fool to the stocks for correction He wrote in Greek Commentaries upon the four Evangelists which are translated into Latine by Charles Morell and printed at Paris Anno Christi 1631. The Life of Anselm who flourished Anno Christi 1080. ANselm Archbishop of Canterbury was born at Aosta or Augusta Praetoriana at the foot of the Alps in Italy and therefore as an Italian he always favoured the cause of the Romane Bishop He was carefully brought up in Learning by his Mother Ermerburga till he was fourteen years old when she dying he gave himself awhile to vain pleasures and his Father being severe to him he resolved to travel in which he met with wants spent three years in Burgundie and France and then became Scholar to Lanfrancus Abbot of Beck where being held hard to his study he entred into a Monasterie and by his strict carriage there his fame spread abroad and the old Abbot dying he succeeded him and after the death of Lanfrank he was chosen Archbishop of Canterbury He received such honours and uncouragements from Pope Vrbane as never Bishop received greater from a Pope For at the Council of Barum in Apulia the Pope placed him at his right foot above al others which was ever since the place of the Archbishops of Canterbury in all General Councils Much contention was between William Rufus King of England and him which caused him to leave the Kingdom till Henry the First his time when he was reinvested again but lived not long after his return into England before he dyed which was Anno Christi 1109. and in the 9. year of the Reign of King Henry the First and of his Age 76. He was indeed the Popes Factor in England for denyal of Investures to the King and Marriages to the Ministers but otherwise he was found in the main points of our Religion and taught many things contrary to the corrupt Tenents of the Church of Rome He used to say That if he should see the shame of sin on the one hand and the pains of Hell on the other and must of necessitie chuse one he would rather be thrust into Hell withoute sin then go into Heaven with sin And again O durus casus c. Oh hard-hap Alas what did man lost what did he finde He lost the blessedness to which he was made and found death to which he was not made The Life of Nicephorus who flourished Anno Christi 1110. NIcephorus a man of profound Judgment and Learning both in Humanity and Divinity flourished under Andrenicus senior the Emperour Anno Christi 1110. He was a great light when the World was in great darkness and both by his Life and Doctrine illuminated many He wrote his Ecclesiastical History in eighteen Books in Greek and Dedicated them to the Emperour Andronicus and not long after exchanged this Life for Eternal glory He said God beholds and moderates our actions using the scourge of affliction for our castigation and conversion and after due correction shews his Fatherly affection to those that trust in hâ—m for Salvation And Christ asked Peter three times if he loved him not for his own information but that by his threefold profession he might help and heal his threefold negation of him BERNARD The Life of Bernard who dyed An. Christi 1153. BErnard was born in Burgundie in the Town of Fontane His Fathers name was Tecelinus of an ancient Family and a brave Souldier but that which most commended him was that he feared God and loved Justice and following the counsel of John the Baptist he did wrong to no man and was content with his wages His Mothers name was Aleth of the Castle called Mont-Barr a woman eminent for Piety Chastity and Charity bringing up her children in the fear of God She had seven children six sons and one daughter all which she nursed with her own breasts Bernard was her third son whom from his Infancy with Hannah she devoted to the Service of God and therefore brought him not up tenderly and delicately but inured him to course fare and hardship and as soon as he was of capacity instilled into him the knowledge of the Sacred Scriptures and instructed him in the Principles of Religion and finding him to be of an acute wit ready apprehension firm memory comly feature courteous and meek deportment and much addicted to Learning she set him to Schole betimes to Castillion under the care and tuition of able Scholemasters and the boy being piously addicted studious of a quick apprehension easily answered his Mothers desire and expectation profiting in Learning above his age and out-stripping all his school-fellows and shewed withall a great contempt of all Earthly things and indeed he was very simple in all worldly affairs He shunned company and affected retiredness was much in meditation obedient to his Parents grateful and curteous to all He was exceeding shamefac't and modest loved not to speak much Towards God very devout that he might keep himself pure in his childhood And amongst other Learning he was frequent in reading the holy Scriptures that from thence he might learn to know and serve God So that it cannot be imagined how much he profited in a short time Whilst he was yet a boy he was much troubled with a pain in his head and lying upon his bed there was brought to him a woman who had undertaken to cure him with certain verses and charms but as soon as he heard her begin to utter her verses wherewith she used to deceive the simple he cryed out with great indignation
justly spoken and in consenting to the wicked condemnation of Huss and that he repented with his whole heart that ever he did it This so enraged them that they proceeded to condemn him whereupon he said I after my death will leave a remorse in your conscience and a nail in your hearts Et cito vos omnes at respondeatis mihi coram altissimo justissimo judice post centum annos I here cite you all to answer to me before the most High and just Judge within a hundred years When he was brought forth to Execution they prepared a great and long paper painted about with red Divels which when he beheld throwing away his hood he took the Miter and put it on his head saying Our Lord Jesus Christ when he suffered death for me â—ost â—wretched sinner did wear a crown of thorns upon his head and I for his sake will willingly wear this Cap. As he went to the place of Execution he sung some Hymns and coming to the place of Execution where John Huss was burned he kneeled down and prayed fervently He was bound to the Image of John Huss and so fire was set to him which he endured with admirable valor for standing at the stake bound and the Executioner kindling the fire behinde him he bade him kindle it before his face For said he If I had been afraid of is I had not come to this place having had so many opportunities offered to me to escape it The whole City of Constance admired his constancie and Christian magnanimity in fuffering death At the giving up the Ghost he said Hanc animam in flammis offero Christe tibi This soul of mine in slames of fire O Christ I offer thee An aliquid ab Hieronymo Pragensi scriptum sit posterisque relictum ignoro credibile verum est virum tam doctum ac eloquentem quaedam scripsisse Orationes quas in Academiis illu strioribus habuit tum Themata quae proposuit forte in lucem edita suppressa fuare extincta ab iis qui more suo lucem ferre nequeunt MARTIN LVTHER The Life of Martin Luther who flourished Anno Christi 1500. MArtin Luther was born at at Isleben in the Earldom of Mansfield Anino Christ 1483. of good parents His Fathers name was John Luther who first lived at Isleben and afterwards removed to Manfield where he had some metal Mines and was chosen a Magistrate and was grateful to all for the integrity of his life His Mothers name was Margaret Lindeman who was adorned with such Virtues as became an honest Matron but especially she was eminent for chastity the fear of God and often calling upon his name Assoon as this their son was capable of Learning they first trained him up in the knowledge and fear of God and in the Exercise of other virtues under their own wings Then their care was to educate him in humane Learning for which end they set him to school to George Aemilius and though at this time the darkness of Popery had much obscured the light of Truth yet it pleased God to preserve in the Schools the Catechisms containing the Principles of Religion the use of singing Psalms and some forms of Prayer At fourteen years of age he went to Magdeburg where he lived a poor Scholar one year From thence he was removed by his Parents to Isenach where was a famous School and where he first tasted the sweetness of Learning and so after a while went thence to the University of Erford Anno Christi 1501. There he profited so much in the knowledge of Logick and other Learning that the whole University admired his wit At twenty years old he was made Master of Arts and Professor of Physicks Ethicks and other parts of Philosophy Then he betook himself to the study of the Law but at the age of twenty one being affrighted at the violent death of a faithful companion of his whom he dearly loved he betook himself into the Augustine Monks Colledge in Erford writing to his parents the reason why he changed the course of his life In the Library of that Colledge he met with a copy of a Latine Bible which he had never seen before and with admiration observed that there were more portions of holy Scripture then were read in the Churches which made him wish that he had the like book And it pleased God that not long after he obtained his desire and fell close to the study thereof some sickness and fear also whening him on in those studies Afterwards falling into a violent disease which threatned death an old Priest came to him saying Sir be of good courage your disease is not mortal God will raise you up to afford comfort to many others which also came to pass and he was much cheared up by conference with that Priest who largely discoursed with him about Justification by Faith and explained the Articles of the Creed to him Then did Luther read over Augustines Works where he found the same Doctrine of Justification by Faith frequently confirmed He read over the School-men also especially Occam and in these studies he spent five years in that Collegde Anno Christi 1507. he was made Presbyter and John Staupicius endeavouring to promote the University of Wittenberg then lately begun knowing the wit and Learning of Luther removed him thither Anno Christi 1508. when he was but 26 years old where by his labors he did much good Three years after he was sent to Rome in the behalf of his Convent where he saw the Pope and the manner of the Roman Clergy concerning which he saith At Rome I heard them say Mass in such a manner as I detest them for at the Communion Table I heard Curtisans laugh and boast of their wickedness and others concerning the Bread and Wine of the Altar Saying Bread thou art and Bread thou shalt remain Wine thou art and Wine thou shalt remain Upon his return from Rome he was made Doctor in Divinity at the charge of Duke Frederick Elector of Saxonie who heard him Preach and admired the foundness of his Invention the strength of his Arguments and the excellency of the things which he delivered Soon after he began to explain the Epistle to the Romans and some Psalms where he shewed the difference between the Law and Gospel refuted Justification by Works c. And his demeanor agreed with his Doctrine his speech seemed to come from his heart not from his lips only Then he betook himself to the study of the Greek and Hebrew This year 1517. was by the account of Scultetus the 356. from the Reformation of Religion in France by the Waldenses the 146. from the first confutation of Popish Errors in England by John Wicklief The 116. from the first year of the Ministry of John
worse sense and thereby much exasperated him beseeching him to give credit to this their Testimony They wrote also to Charles Miltitius a Germane who was Chamberlain to the Pope highly commending Luther and desiring him to procure of the Pope that indifferent Judges might be appointed to hear his cause in Germany presuming that he being a German would favour his Country-man who was oppressed with slanders and in danger of his life in an honest cause Prince Frederick also the Elector of Saxony treated with Cardinal Cajetan and so prevailed with him that Luther should be called to Auspurg there to plead his cause before the Cardinal About this time the Bohemians sent a Book to him written by John Huss encouraging him to constancy and patience confesting that what he taught was sound and right In a Letter to Spalatinus he thus writes In what matter soever I have not so roughly dealt with the Romanists let them not ascribe it to my modesty nor to their deserts but to my respect to my Prince and his Authority and to the common good of the Students of Wittenberg As for my self Contemptus à me est Romanus favor furor I contemn Romes favour and fury Let them censure and burn all my books I will do the like by theirs and will put an end to all my humble observance of them which doth but incense them more and more The Elector of Saxony telling Erasmus that he wondred at the Monks and Popes extreme hatred of Luther Erasmus answered Your Highness needs not wonder at it seeing he deals against the Monks Bellies and the Popes Crown And the same Erasmus being profered a great Bishoprick if he would write against Luther answered That Luther was too great a man for him to deal with and that he learned more from one short page of Luthers writings then from all Thomas Aquinas ' s great Books Erasmus also in a Letter to the Archbishop of Mentz saith That many things were in the Books of Luther condemned by Monks and Divines for Heresie which in the Books of Bernard and Augustine are reputed sound and godly About the same time Margaret Caesars Aunt who governed the Low-Countries when the Masters of Lovan complained to her that the writings of Luther overthrew the whole Christian Common-wealth she asked them what kinde of man that Luther was To whom they answered An unlearned Monk whereupon she replyed Therefore do you who are many learned men write against that one unlearned fellow For sure the World will sooner beleive many learned before one unlearned man Luther being cited as we said before to appear before Cardinal Cajetan at Auspurg went thither and having obtained a safe conduct from the Emperour Maximilian he appeared before the Cardinal where he justified his Doctrine and profered to maintain the same either by Disputation or Writing The Cardinal being much offended with him for his bold speech would not suffer him to come before him any more Hereupon Luther after five or six days stay when he heard no more from him appealeth to the Pope and so departeth home But the Cardinal wrote after him to the Duke of Saxony That as he tendered his own honor and safety he should expel Luther out of his Dominions This Letter the Duke sent to Luther who wrote back again that rather then he would any way indanger his Prince he would depart thence and go whitheresoever it should please the Lord to lead him But the whole University of Wittenberg seeing the cause of God in danger by this means to decline wrote to the Prince humbly beseeching him that of his Princely Honor he would not suffer Innocency to be thus oppressed by meer violence but that the Error might first be shewed and Luther be convicted of it before he be pronounced guilty Hereupon the Duke hearing Luther Sermons and reading his Books with more diligence began to favour his quarrel more then he did before and thereupon wrote back to the Cardinal to this purpose That whereas he had promised that Luther should come to Ausparg that being done he could do no more That the Legat had also promised him that he would dismiss Luther in a friendly manner But that it seemed a wonder to him that he would have forced Luther to a recantation before he had pleaded his cause That there were many not only in his Jurisdiction but in other places also that were learned and vertuous persons which did not condemn Luthers Doctrine but they which opposed him were men drawn thereto through filthy covetousness But if they would shew him his Error he would then do therein the Office of a Christian Prince as one that respected the glory of God and desired to provide for the peace of his Conscience and that whereas beyond his expectation he wrote that Luther should be prosecuted at Rome and therefore required that either he should be sent to Rome or banished his Dominions he answered that he could not agree thereto First because his Error is not yet shewed him Secondly because it would be an intolerable loss to the University of Wittenberg which he had lately founded wherein were many Students and Learned men which loved Luther exceedingly who had deserved so well of them That Luther is still willing to come to a Disputation in a place not suspected and to submit to the judgements of such as can bring any thing more right or to answer by writing That he thinketh it just that this be granted him and requesteth that it may be so done that so it may appear why he is counted an Heretick and what himself ought chiefly to follow assuring him that he will maintain no Error And as he is unwilling to depart from the observance of the Church of Rome so neither can he condemn Luther till his Errors and Crimes be detected After the death of Maximilian and the Coronation of Charles the fifth the Pope sent to the Duke of Saxony by some Cardinals requesting him that he would cause all Luthers Books to be burnt and that he would see Luther either to be executed in Saxony or else that he would secure him and send him to Rome To which the Duke answered That he was ready to shew his obedience to the Pope but yet he could not send Luther to him till his cause was heard before the Emperour and till he was convicted of Error and then if he recanted not he should finde no favour at his hands About this time many Adversaries being risen up against Luther there was a Disputation appointed a Lipsick to which Luther came accompanyed with Phil. Melancthon who was come to Wittenberg the year before On the adverse party came John Eckius a bold and confident Divine This Disputation lasted fourteen days which was after published in print by Luther and Petrus Mossellanus Presently after the Fryars grievously charged the Pope with neglect of his duty in
that minding his pleasures so much whereunto he was wondrously addicted he in the mean time neglected the care of the Church in not timely suppressing the Doctrine of Luther The Bishops also of Germany having condemned the Doctrine of Luther wrote earnestly to the Pope against him whereupon the Pope calling together the Cardinals Bishops Divines and Canonists referred the business wholly to their pleasures who after much contention and wrangling amongst themselves at last concluded that a certain day should be appointed for Luthers appearing and that his Books should be burnt openly The Court of Saxony hearing these things was somewhat troubled which when Luther perceived he began to bethink himself of retiring into Bohemia which being taken notice of Sir Francis of Sickingen Sir Vlrick of Hutten and Silvester of Scavenberg a Noble Franconian offered him both entertainment and patronage intreating him not to go into Bohemia but to come into Franconia if the Romans curses did prevail promising him an hundred Noble Horse-men of Franconia for his guard Hereupon Luthers courage encreaseth and he giveth notice to the Cardinal of Saint George that if the Popes curses drave him out of Wittenberg they should get nothing by it seeing there were now not only in Bohemia but in the midst of Germany such as were able and willing to defend him against the Popes power And then saith he being safe guarded by these Protectors I shall more cruelly inveigh against the Romanists then if you let me alone in peace under my Prince Yet June 15. the Pope publisheth his Bull against Luther and all his partakers Forbidding upon pain of Excommunication the reading or keeping any of his Books commanding all men to apprehend him and bring him to Rome and interdicting all places where he should come This Bull in many places of Germany was opposed and torn in peices and Sir Vlrick Hutten published it with interlineary Glosses and marginal Notes to their great disgrace But before this came abroad Luther had published his Book De Captivitate Babylonica wherein he professed that he was daily made more learned wishing that his Books about Indulgences were burned and that instead thereof this Position were set forth Indulgences are the wickednesses of the flatterers of Rome And when the Popes Bull came forth Luther Excommunicated the Bull it self and the Authors of it He also published a defence of all the Articles condemned by the Pope appealing from the Pope to a Council After this the Cardinals according to the their Commission told the Duke that they could doe no less then burn Luthers Books which accordingly they did But Luther hearing of it being accompanyed with all the University he also openly burnt the Popes Decrees and his Bull lately sent out against him At which time he added these words Because thou hast troubled the holy one of the Lord eternal fire shall trouble thee A while after the Emperour Charles the fifth coming into Germany Prince Frederick of Saxony accompanyed him to Worms from whence he wrote to Luther that he had obtained of the Emperour to hear him openly at the Diet to which Luther answered that it was very welcome news to him that the Emperor would take to himself the hearing of his cause promising to do all which he could with a safe conscience and not wronging the cause of Christ. March the sixth the Emperour sent for him and withall sent him a safe Conduct requiring his repair thither within 21 days but many of his friends disswaded him from going to whom he answered That these discouragements were cast into his way by Satan who knew that by his profession of the truth in so illustrious a place his Kingdom would be shaken and therefore if he knew that there were as many Divels in worms as Tiles on the Houses yet would he go thither c. April the sixteenth Luther came to Worms whereupon some perswaded the Emperor to deal with him as the Council of Constance had dealt with John Huss But the Emperour said That the Publik Faith was not to be violated The next day Luther appeared before the Emperour and a frequent Assembly of the Princes at which time Eccius a Lawyer at the command of the Emperour made a speech in the end whereof he asked him whether he would recant and retract his works To which Luther after deliberation answered Of my Books saith he some tend to Faith and Piety to these my Adversaries give an ample testimony others are against the Pope and his Doctrine should I revoke these I should confirm his Tyranny others are against private men who defend his cause in these I confess I have been too vehement yet I cannot revoke them unless I will set open a gap to the impudency of many But Eccius told him that the Emperour was not satisfied with this answer but required his recantation To which Luther answered I beseech you give me leave to maintain the peace of my own conscience which if I should consent to you I cannot do For unless my Adversaries can convince me by sound Arguments taken out of the holy Scriptures I cannot satisfie my conscience For I can plainly prove that both Popes and Councils have often erred grievously and therefore it would be an ungodly thing for me to assent to them and to depart from the holy Scriptures which is plain and only cannot err And so he departed at that time But the next day the Emperour sent his Letter to the Assembly of the Princes wherein he wrote that his Ancestors had always professed the Christian Religion and had observed the Church of Rome which seeing Luther now opposed and flood stifly to his opinion it behoved him to proscribe him and his companions and to provide fit remedies to quench that flame Yet that he would keep the Publick Faith given him so that he might return safe to his own home The Princes were divided in their opinions but the major part held that he was not rashly to be condemned because the Emperour being a young man was instigated against him by the Pope and his Ministers A few days after the Bishop of Trevers appointed Luther to come unto him with whom also some other of the Princes were assembled at which time they used many Arguments to draw him to a recantation and concluded that they perceived that if he refused the Emperours purpose was to banish him out of the bounds of the Empire and therefore they exhorted him seriously to think upon the same Luther answered that he was very thankful to them that so great Princes would take so much pains for his sake who was so mean and unworthy a person yet he told them that he would rather lose his life then depart from the manifest Truth of the Word of God seeing its better to obey God then man c. Then was he commanded to withdraw and there came to him one
finding his defect in the knowledge of the Tongues he learnt Greek wrote out S. Pauls Epistles and gat them by heart and grew so perfect that he understood Greek better then Latine and reading in S. Peter that no Scripture is of private interpretation he betook himself by earnest Prayer to God for the Spirit of Truth to be his Teacher and least he should be misled by a false spirit he compared Scripture with Scripture and expounded obscure Texts by those which were more clear In his Ministry he set himself much against the sins of the times especially against Pensions which the Switzers used to receive of Princes to serve as Mercenaries in their Armies which procured him much hatred After a while he was chosen to a place called Our Lords Hermitage by Theobaldus Guolzeggius the Baron thereof to which place there was great resort of people from all Countries who came on Pilgrimage which much moved him to embrace that Cal that he might have opportunity to disperse the knowledg of the Truth into several parts About this time one of the chief Ministers dying at Zurick they much desired Zuinglius to succeed him and he coming accidentally to that place was chosen Pastor there An. Chr. 1519. and began to Preach unto them the History of Christ out of Matthew Presently after there came one Sampson a Franciscan Fryar and a Preacher of Indulgences who was sent by the Pope into Switzerland to get money Zuinglius strongly opposed himself against him shewing him to be an Impostor The Bishop also of Constance wrote to Zuinglius to keep this Sampson out of Zurick because he had not acquainted him with his authority Yet when this Impostor came to Zurick because he was kept out he went to Badena setting forth the Popes Buls to sale Often crying out Behold they flie behold they flie as if he had seen with his Eyes the Souls which he had delivered out of Purgatory flying into Heaven Zuinglius also caused the Pope to be admonished by his Commissary not to Excommunicate Luther for that he foresaw the Germanes would despise both him and his Excommunication which also came to pass Anno Christi 1520. the Senate of Zurick by the Council of Zuinglius commanded the Preachers of their Jurisdiction freely to teach whatsoever might be proved by the Authority of the Prophets and Apostles passing by the Inventions of men Hereupon the Bishop of Constance by publick Proclamation forbad those of Zurick to Innovate any thing willing them to remain in the Faith of the Church of Rome till a Council might be convened But Zuinglius defended them and his writings and the Magistrates of Zurick entreated the Bishop to come to a Synod where learned men might confer together and determine what the people ought to believe Yet the Bishop wrote again to them shewing them what complaints he had heard of Zuinglius which he could not but take notice of the City belonging to his Jurisdiction But Zuinglius going to the Bench of Aldermen defended his Doctrine and satisfied them Anno Christi 1522. the Bishop wrote again to the College of Canons at Zurick exhorting them to take heed to themselves for that Pope Leo and the Emperour by their Proclamations had condemned those Doctrines he put them in minde therefore to obey those Decrees and not to innovate any thing in Religion till those whom it concerned had by Common-Council set down somewhat Hereupon Zuinglius wrote back to the Bishop that he understood by whose setting on he did these things but he wished him not to follow their Counsel For saith he the Truth is invincible and will not be resisted And afterwards some others joyning with him they wrote to the Bishop entreating him to Decree nothing against the Doctrine of the Gospel and that he would no longer endure the filthy and infamous life of the Priests but that he would suffer them to marry Zuinglius wrote also to the Helvetians that they should not hinder the course of the Gospel that they would not trouble Ministers for marrying for that the command for their living without Wives was the Doctrine of Satan He exhorted them also whereas their manner was in their Pages or parishes when they admitted a Priest to command him to take a Concubine least he should attempt the chastity of other women that instead thereof they should command them to take lawful ways About this time Luthers Books coming abroad though himself abstained from reading of them yet he perswaded his people to buy and read them which he did that they might see the agreement that was in their Doctrine being both taught by the same spirit There also he studyed Hebrew and gat the Senate to erect a School for Latine Greek and Hebrew and associating to himself Leo Judae he gat such skill in the Hebrew that he began to explain Isaiah and Jeremiah Shortly after there came to Zurick Franciscus Lambertus and disputed with Zuinglius about the Intercession of the Saints and the sacrifice of the Mass but being non-plus'd he left his Error and gave praise to God Zuinglius began also to write about this time and Pope Adrian wrote to him with great promises to oblige him to the Papal-Sea but all in vain Shortly after he perswaded the Senate to restrain the exorbitant number of Priests and Fryars yet withall to allow them a competent subsistence for their life time which was done accordingly and their revenues were imployed for the maintenance of the Ministry for advancement of Learning and for the Poor He pressed also the taking away of Images the abolishing of the Mass and the restoring of the Lords Supper which the Senate assented to and performed not only in the City of Zurick but through all the places within their jurisdiction Anno Christi 1523. when the Senators of Zurick understood that the Doctrine of Zuinglius was traduced everywhere as being wicked and ungodly they commanded all the Ministers of their Jurisdiction to meet together on the 29. of January about the differences of Religion promising that every one should be fully heard they beseeched also the Bishop of Constance that he would either come himself or send thither some of his Divines At the day appointed many met together John Faber the Bishops Vicar being also present who pleaded hard that this place was unfit to handle such causes but that they were to be referred to a general Council But Zuinglius urged him that if he had any thing against his Doctrine which he had published in 47 Positions he should produce it and he should be answered either by word of mouth or writing which when Faber would not consent to the Magistrates dismissed the Assembly and proclaimed throughout their Jurisdiction that the Gospel should be purely taught out of the Books of the Old and New Testament the Traditions of men being laid
which being published and sent over into England became exceeding profitable to the whole English Nation At his first going over into Germany he went into Saxony and had much conference with Luther and other learned men in those quarters and then returning into the Netherlands made his greatest aboad at Antwerp He wrote also divers other Books under sundry titles amongst which is that most worthy monument of his called The Obedience of a Christian Man with divers other Treatises as the Wicked Mammon the Practice of Prelates with divers Expositions upon sundry portions of Scripture As also some answers to Sir Thomas Moore and other Adversaries of the Truth no less delectable then right fruitful to be read These Books being sent over and dispersed in England it cannot be imagined what a dore of Light they opened to the Eyes of all the Nation which for a long time had been shut up in darkness He wrote also one Book of the Declaration of the Sacrament and against the Mass but he kept it by him and did not print it considering how the people for the present were held under their gross Idolatry and therefore judging that it would be odious to them to hear these things at the first he waited a fitter time for the publication of it These godly Books but especially his translation of the New Testament coming abroad as they brought singular profit to the godly So the ungodly Clergy disdaining and envying that the people should be wiser then they and withall fearing least by the shining beams of the Truth their hypocrisie and works of darkness should be unmasked they began to make a great stir but especially the Devil envying the progress of the Gospel sought by all means to hinder the blessed travels of this worthy man For when he had finished his translation of Deuteronomy minding to print it at Hamborough he sailed thitherward But by the way upon the coast of Holland he suffered shipwrack by which he lost all his Books and Writings and so was compelled to begin all again to his great hinderance and doubling of his labors Thus having by that shipwrack lost all his mony copies and time yet through Gods mercy he was not discouraged but taking the opportunity of another Ship he went to Hamborough where he met with Mr. Coverdal who assisted him in the translation of the five Books of Moses the sweating sickness being in that Town all the while which was Anno Chri. 1529. And during their imployment in that work they were entertained by a religious widow Mistress Margaret Van Emerson When his English Testament came abroad Satans and the Popes instruments raged exceedingly some saying that there were a thousand Heresies in it others that it was impossible to Translate the Scriptures into English others that it was not lawful for the Laye people to have it in their own language c. and at last the Bishops and Priests procured of King Henry the Eight a Proclamation prohibiting the buying or reading of it Anno Christ 1527. Yet not satisfied herewith they suborned one Henry Philipâ— to go over to Antwerp to betray him who when he came thither insinuated himself into Mr. Tindalâ— company and pretended great friendship to him and having learned where his abode was he went to Bruxels and there prevailed so far that he brought with him the Emperours Atturney to Antwerp and pretending to visit Mr. Tindal he betrayed him to two Catchpoles which presently carryed him to the Atturney who after examination sent him to Prison in the Castle of Filford 18 miles of and withall they seized upon all his writings and what else he had at his lodging The English Merchants at Antwerp who loved Tindal very well did what they could to procure his release also Letters were sent by the Lord Cromwel and others out of England in his behalf but Philips so bestirred himself that all their endeavours came to nothing and Tindal was at last brought to his answer and after much reasoning although he deserved not death yet they condemned him to dye When he was brought forth to the place of Execution whilst he was tying to the stake he cryed with a fervent and loud voyce Lord open the King of Englands eyes And so he was first strangled by the Hangman and then burnt Anno Christi 1536. The power of his Doctrine and the sincerity of his Life was such that during his imprisonment which was about a year and an half he converted his Keeper and his daughter and some others of his houshold and Philips that betrayed him long enjoyed not the price of innocent blood but by Gods just judgement was devoured by lice The Emperors Atturney that prosecuted against him left this testimony of him that he was Vir doctus pius bonus a learned pious and godly man Whilst Mr. Tindal was Prisoner in the Castle there was much writing and great Disputations betwixt him and them of the University of Lovain which was but nine or ten miles from thence so that they had all enough of him not knowing how to answer the authorities and testimonies of Scriptures whereupon he grounded his Doctrine On a time the Company of English Merchants being a Supper together at Antwerp there was a Jugler amongst them who by his Magical Art could fetch all kinde of dainty dishes and wine from any place they pleased and set it on the Table incontinent before them with many other such like things This being much talked of abroad Mr. Tindal hearing of it desired of some of the Merchants that he might be present at supper to see the Jugler play his pranks Accordingly supper was appointed and Mr. Tindal with the Merchants went to it and the Jugler being requested to play his pranks and to shew his cunning he after his wonted boldness began to utter all that he could do but all was in vain So that at last after all his sweating toiling and labor when he saw that nothing would go forwards but that all his enchantments were void he openly confessed that there was some man present at supper which disturbed and hindred all his doings Concerning his Translation of the New Testament which was so vilifyed by his Adversaries he thus writes in an Epistle to John Frith I call God to record against the day we shall appear before our Lord Jesus to give up reckoning of our doings that I never altered one syllable of Gods Word against my conscience nor would do it for all that is in the Earth whether honour pleasure or profit c. Most of his Works are mentioned before in his Life The Life of Bertholdus Hallerus who dyed Anno Christi 1536. BErthold Haller was born in Helvetia Anno Christi 1502. and from his childhood was much addicted to Learning and therefore after he had been trained up at School he went to
that he was made one of the Professors in the University of Ingolstade And Anno Christi 1516 by the order of his Prince he dealt effectually with Erasmus Roterodamus to draw him to Ingolstade And though he could not prevail yet he had this Testimony given him by Erasmus that he was vir candidus prudens facundus eruditus in summa omnibus omnium Gratiarum ac Musarum dotibus praeditus A candid wise eloquent and learned man c. Then Regius falling to the study of Divinity preferred that before all other Learning applying himself wholly to the searching out of the Divine Mysteries therein contained and a while after the controversie growing hot between Luther and Eccius Regius favouring Luthers Doctrine because he would not offend Eccius to whom he was many ways bound left Ingolstade and went to Auspurg and there at the importunity of the Magistrates and Citizens he undertook the Government of the Church and being offended at the gross Idolatry of the Papists he joyned with Luther and preached against the same and having written to Zuinglius to know his judgement about the Sacrament and Original Sin he received such satisfaction that he joined in opinion with him about the same At that time the Anabaptists crept into Auspurg and held private Conventicles to the disturbance of the Publick Peace for which the Magistrates imprisoned the chiefest of them Amongst which there was a woman of good quality cast into Prison who boasted that she could defend her opinion against Regius if she might but have liberty to confer with him hereupon she was called before the Senate where Regius also was appointed to meet with her There she produced divers Texts of Scripture to confirm her Errors But Regius did so clearly and fully open the genuine sense of them that every one which was not wilfully blinde might easily discern the truth But this wilful woman was so far from submitting to it that she impudently spake thus unto Regius Egregia enimvero Vrbane frater haec disputandi ratio inter me te Tu â—n molli culcitra ad later Consulum adsidens quasi ex Apollinis â—â—ipode proloqueris ego misera humi prostrata â—ex duris vinculis causam dicâ—re cogor â—o this Vrbanus answered Nec vero inâ—urin soâ—or ut quae seâ—el è servitute Diaboli per Christum in libertatem adserta tua spâ—â—te iterum cervicem turpi jugo submisisti istiâ— te ornamentis â—esanus ostentat genius aliâ— iâ— exemplum The Senate perceiving that they labored in vain whilst they sought to reclaim them by a Decree banished them the City Regius Preaching against Purgatory and Indulgences the malice and cruelty of the Papists prevailed at length to the driving him out of that City but after a while by the earnest prayer of the Citizens he was called back again to his former Charge where also he marryed a wife by whom he had thirteen children About the same time Eccius came thither and sought by all means to turn him from the Truth but in vain He sent also Fâ—ber and Cochlaeus with flatteries and large promises who prevailed as little as the other Anno Christi 1530. when the Dâ—et was held at Auspurg for quieting the controversies about Religion the Duke of Brunswick coming thither by importunity prevailed with Regius to go to Luneburg in his Country to take care of the Church there In which journey at Coburg he met with Luther and spent a whole day in familiar conference with him about matters of great moment of which himself writes That he never had a more comfortable day in his life As these words of his in a Letter to one of his friends in Auspurg do testifie wherein he writes thus Cum Saxoniam peterem Coburgi integrum diem solus cum Luthero viro Dei transegeram quo die nullus mihi in vita fuit jucundior Talis enim tantus est Theologus Lutherus ut nulla secula habuerint similem Semper mihi magnus fuit Lutherus at jam mihi Maximus est Vidi enim praesens audivi quae nullo calamo tradi possunt absentibus Ernestus Duke of Brunswick loved him dearly and esteemed him as his Father insomuch as when the City of Auspurg Anno Christi 1535. sent to the Duke desiring him to return Regius to them again he answered That be would as soon part with his Eyes as with him Also at his return from Auspurg when divers of his Nobles asked him what new and pretious ware after the example of other Princes he had brought home with him He answered that he had brought home incomparable treasure for the good of his whole Dukedom which he preferred before all his delights And presently after he made him Bishop and Over-seer of all the Churches in his Country with an ample salary for the same Afterwards going with his Prince to a meeting at Haganaw he had a humor fell into his right Leg which arising in a Pustle brake and caused an issue which the Physitians advised to keep still open but not long after he stopped the same whereupon many presaged his death whereof indeed this was a cause For when on the Sabbath day he had been at Church and received the Sacrament in the Evening rubbing his Forehead he complained of some obstructions and pain in his Head yet was he still cheerful and not troubled at it and so went to bed with his wife and slept till almost day when rising out of his bed he fell along in the floor and with the fall awaked his wife who leaping our of her bed cryed out and endeavoured to lift him into his bed again but all in vain till help came to her A while after seeing his wife and friends heavy and mourning he comâ—orted them and commended himself wholly unto God and so about two or three hours after quietly and comfortably resigned up his soul into the hands of his heavenly Father Anno Christi 1541. and May the 23. He often desired God that he might dye a sudden and easie death wherein God answered his desires He was of an excellent wit holy of life and painful in the work of the Lord. His son Ernest collected all his works together and digested them into several Tomes printed them at Norinberg Afterwards came forth another Book called Loci Theologici ex Patribus Scholasticis Neotericisque collecti per V. Regium The Life of Caralostadius who dyed Anno Christi 1541. ANdreas Bodenstein Caralostadius was born in France in a town called Caralostadium by which he received his name He was brought up at School there and for the improvement of his Learning he went â—o divers Countries and publick Schools such as those times afforded at last he went to Rome to study Divinity such as was then taught there and having spent some time in those
owne and forraign Universities be searched out which may be strengthned with the law of God and as they shall by Gods word prove it lawfull or unlawfull so let the King proceed and have the cause then determined in his owne Country whereby he may live in lawfull matrimony with a cheerfull minde and quiet conscience which is much to be desired by all his faithfull subâ—ects When he had thus spoken with great gravity and wisedome Gardiner and Fox resenting that excellent counsell as given from God wished that the King had had such counsell given him before he ever sent to Rome The day after when they câ—â—me to the King he asked them what was done in his business whereupon Fox told him of their meeting and conference had with Doctor Cranmer but proud Gardiner seeking to invest himselfe in the praise which was due unto another would have made himself the Author of that counsell but the King neglecting his speech asked Fox if Cranmer were at Waltham still and being told that he was he presently ordered him to be sent for saying I judge his counsell right if I had knowne it two dayes agoe I had saved infinite charges and had lived with a more safe and quiet conscience When Doctor Cranmer came to him hee much excused himselfe as insufficient to be engaged in so great a matter yet besought him to commit the tryall of it to the best learned men in both Vniversities Which advice the King liked well yet required him to write his judgement upon it also and commanded the Earl of VViltshire to provide him retired lodgings books and whatever else was necessary for so great a work which task being finished and confirmed by Scriptures Councils and Fathers he presented it to the King who having read it asked him whether he would justifie it before the Pope D. Cran. professing his willingness the King hastened his dispatch to Rome and sent other learned men abroad to forraign Vniversities to dispute this question amongst the Divines there where it was concluded that no such matrimony was lawfull by the word of God When the Kings Ambassadors came to Rome the Pope proffering them his foot to kiss the Earl of VViltshire's Spaniel caught his great Toe in his mouth whereupon the Ambassadors scorned to kiss after the dog and the Pope pulled in his foot again There Cranmer and the rest proffered to defend that Jure Divino the brother ought not to marry the brothers wife but none appearing against them the Pope made Doctor Cranmer his Penitentiarie and so dismissed them From thence Doctor Cranmer travelled to the Emperors Court at Vienna proffering to dispute with his Divines upon the said question But Cornelius Agrippa in private conference receiving full satisfaction from him thereupon easily perswaded other learned men that were in the Emperors court not to contend with Cranmer who as he said was in the truth so that no man contradicting him Cranmer departed from the Emperor and having travelled all over Germany he brought home with him into England the opinions and sentences of the most learned men that lived in the Vniversities and Courts of Princes And in the mean season others sent from the King passing through all the Vniversities of Italy and France brought home likewise their determinations in that point confirmed with their publick and authentick seales agreeing with those that Cranmer had brought out of Germany In this journey to and fro he learned all the New Testament by heart August 23. Anno Christi 1533. William Warham Arch-Bi of Canteâ—bury died and the King resolved to place Doctor Cranmer in his room who was at this time in Germany about the Kings business and was loath to take upon him an office of such high dignity in the Church For he knew that there was an oath to be taken to the Pope of Rome before he could be installed in that place He feared also what issue the Kings divorce might have and was not ignorant of the Kings violent disposition He knâ—w that sudden and great changes were dangerous and that the Court to which he was not accustomed was full of deceipts and counterfeitings That he must in all things obey the Kings will and that if he tripped in any thing never so little there would be some who out of envy at his felicity would tumble him downe headlong when he began to fall He also having buried his first wife was now falne in love with a young maid that was neece to Osianders wife whom he determined to marry though he knew it was forbidden bâ— law for a Priest to marry oâ— for a man to be made a Priest who had married a second wife Weighing these things seriously with himselfe when he was sent for by the King to return home so soon as he could he stayed in Germany six whole months framing one excuse or other hoping that in the mean time some or other would get the Arch-Bishoprick â—ut such were the times then that every man feared the slipperiness of that place and therefore declined it At last Doctor Cranmer privately marrying his wife at Norimberg returned home and was made Arch-Bishop though against his will for he refused the dignity offered him because he was to be tyed to the Pope against all right and equity and therefore he gave the Popes Bull into the Kings hands saying that he wouâ—d never receive a Bishoprick of England but from him who was the head of England nor take an oath that was derogatory to the Kings authority And thus being made Arch Bishop he carried himselfe as formerly he had done rising every morning at five a clock to his study and never being idle all the day After dinner if he had no sâ—iters he spent an hour at Chess and so to his study again He was by nature very charitable and gentle so prone to forgive and forget wrongs that it grew into a Proverb Doe my Lord of Canterbury a shrewd turâ— and â—e will be your friend as long as you live Hee stoutly opposed the six bloody Articles and yet with such humility and modesty that the King could not be offended with him for it He was so free from passion that he never miscalled the meanest of his servants He was just in paying all men so that when he was cast into prison he owed no man a â—arthing He relieved many that were in want The whole weight of reforming Religion lay upon his hands so that for sixteen years together his house was never empty of learned men to assist in deciding Ecclesiasticall controversies His charity to the poor was very great for whom he provided lodgings being sick lame wounded c. and appointed an Almoner Physician and Chirurgion to attend them having daily hot broth and meant sent them from his own Kitchin He had many and great enemies of the Papists especially wily VVinchester and his
that taking heed of Blandatra and his followers they should so assert Christ to be our Mediator according to both his natures that in the mean time they should not multiply Deities But this labour of his was vaine towards them that were to perish About this time the Bohemian Waldenses sent two of their brethren to Master Calvin to desire his judgment about some matters of Religion whom he lovingly satisfied exhorting them also that they would enter into a neerer conjunction with other Reformed Churches At the same time also Q. Mary being dead and Queen Elizabeth succeeding many of the godly French relying upon her piety and humanity fled for refuge into England with the consent of tha reverend man Edmund Grindal Bishop of London they craved leave of her that one might be sent from Geneva to plant a French Church there whereupon Galacius was sent Towards the latter end of this yeare King Francis of France dyed suddenly and that in such a juncture of time when all things seemed so desperate that they could not be cured but by God himself and King Charls the ninth a child was searce entred into his Kindom when by a Herald Letters subscribed with his name were brought to Geneva wherein he complained that many were sent out from thence that infected his Kingdom desiring that they might be presently called back threatning that otherwise he would not let passe the revenging of that injury Mast. Calvin being hereupon sent for by the Senate answered in his owne and in his Colleagues names that at the request of the Churches of France they had exhorted certain men that were sound in the faith and of an holy life whom they judged fit for the work that they should not be wanting to lend their help to their Country in so holy a cause especially the Churches craving assistance from them for their further edification And that this they had done not to disturb the Kingdome but that the people might be taught the Gospel of peace and if they were accused for any thing further then this that they were ready to answer their accusers before the King So this business went no further The same year Master Calvin and Master Beza answered the impudent book of Tileman Hushusius Master Calvin also confuted those blasphemies which Gentilis had published at Lions against him and Athanasius He published also his Lectures upon Daniel which he dedicated to the French Churches and as he interpreted that Prophet so in his Praeface he was himselfe a Prophet so etelling the tempest that hung over them At which time also Francis Balduinus afterwards called Ecebolius because he had changed his religion three or four time being suborned by the Cardinall of Lorrain by evill means reconciled to the King of Navar dispersed a certain book up and down the Court written either by himself or as some rather thought by Cassander wherein he stiled himself a pious and moderate man which book was worse then the Emperors Interim for that under the specious pretence of restoring moderation he sought to bring in all the Popish corruptions Master Calvin being informed hereof published an answer to this book to which some other answers were shortly after added which made a full discovery of the wit and purpose of Balduinus which this railer could by no means digest whereupon he never gave over to brand Calvin and Beza with his impudent reproaches till the year after being growne odious both to God and men of both Religions whom he had so often deceived by his turning whilst he was following a suit of Law at Paris he wore away and ended his wretched life In the year 1562. God gave peace and liberty to the French Churches by a publick Edict of the Kings But not long after the King of Navar being suborned by Popish subtilty presently after the Duke of Guise had committted that abominable massacre at Vassy began that civil war which continued many years after to the miserable devastation of France and it cannot be spoken how much Master Calvin was affected and afflicted therewith which so far increased his disease that it was easie to divine that it would not be long before he was translated to a better life yet did he not desist from exhorting and comforting every one no nor from preaching and reading his ordinary Lectures And the same yeare he published that excellent confession of Faith which was sent to the States of the Empire met together at Franckeford in the name of the Prince of Conde and of all the Godly in France who besides the injuries which they sustained by an unjust war were unworthly traduced to the Germans as if they held many false and monstrous opinions One thing also is not to be pretermitted that on the nineteenth of Decem. Master Calvin lying in bed sick of the Gout being the Sabbath day and the North-wind having blowne two dayes strongly said to many that were present Truly I know not what is the matter but I thought this night I heard warlick drums beating very loud and I could not perswade my selfe but it was so Let us therefore goe to prayers for surely some great businesse is in hand And this very day there was a great Battail fought between the Guisians and the Protestants not far from Paris news whereof came unto Geneva within a few days after The year after which was 1563. Master Calvins disease did so far increase that it was almost incredible that so weak a body exhausted with so many labours and worne out with so many diseases should yet retaine so valiant and generous a mind So that even then he could not be perswaded to favour himself and if at any time he abstained from his publick labours which yet he never did but when by necessity he was enforced thereto yet he was busie at home either in giving counsell to those that sought it or in dictating to his Scribes the witnesses whereof are those two serious admonitions to the Polomans to take heed of those blasphemous persons which denyed the Sacred Trinity The answers which he returned to the brethrens Messengers who were now met in a Synod at Lions his Commentaries upon the foure books of Moses which himselfe turned out of Latin into French And lastly his commentary upon Joshua which he now began and finished a little before his death In the year 1564. Feb. the sixth Master Calvin being short-winded by reason of a stopping in his lungs preached his last Sermon and from thence forward he spake little onely now and then he would be carried to the Congregation the last time being March the last His diseases being contracted by the incredible labours both of his mind and body were very many For besides that naturally he was but of a weak body leane and inclinable to a Consumption he slept little spent a great part of the
Ulricus Prince of Wirtemberg intending to reform Religion in his Dominions thought it the best way first to Reform the Universitie of Tubing and considering where he might have a fit man for so great and difficult a work he at last resolved upon Brentius whom he sent for and who with much diligence prudence and fidelity accomplished that work Anno Christi 1547 the Emperor with his Army comming to Hale Brentius who was now returned thither hoped to prevaile with the Captain that no Souldiers should be quartered in his house but when hee came home hee found the souldiers beating at his door and ready to break it down and when they perceived that Brentius was Master of that house one of them set an Halbert to his breast threatning to kill him if the door was not presently opened Whereupon they were let in and he caused meat and drink to be prepared for them and in the mean time conveighed away all his papers and when he saw the fury and rage of the souldiers he conveighed himself and his family out at a back-door The next day came a Spanish Bishop with his train and putting forth the souldiers quartered in Brentius his house searched his study looked over his papers and letters and finding some letters to his friends wherein he justified the Protestant Princes in taking Armes against the Emperor he presently carried them to the Emperor whereby Brentius was in great danger and was fain to hide himself in a very high Tower and not being safe there he changed his apparrel left his wife and children and with one onely companion passed through the Spaniards safely and wandred up and down the fields all that night But when the Emperor was removed with his Army he returned to Hale again Anno Christi 1548 when Caesar had published his booke called the Interim the Protestant Princes and Magistrates required the judgements of their Divines upon it And the Magistrates of Hale desired Frentius to tell them his judgement who when he had considered it told them That it was a wicked book and altogether contrary to the Scriptures and that he would lose his life before he would assent to it This coming to Caesar's eares hee sent a Commissarie to Hale charging him to bring Brentius to him either alive or dead when the Commissarie came thither he insinuated himself into Brentius's acquaintance invited him to his table perswaded him to walke abroad with him having prepared horses to carry him away But that succeeding not he called the Senate together and having sworn them to keep private what he should tell them he imparted his Commission telling them how acceptable it would be to the Emperor if they would send Brentius to him but if they refused the Emperor would destroy their City c. It pleased God that whilst he was thus perswading the Magistrates there came in one of the Magistrates later then his fellows and the Commissarie not minding it did not tender the Oath to him So when they were dismissed this man wrote to Brentius Fuge fuge Brenti cito citius citissime which note was brought to him as he sate at supper Having read it he told his family that he must goe forth upon businesse but he would returne ere long As he was going out of the City he met the Commissary who asked him whither he went He answered To a sick friend in the subuâ—bs who had sent for him Wel said the Commissary to morrow you must dine with me Hee replyed God willing and so they parted Being thus escaped he hid himself in a thick Wood and for some weekes together he lay in the Wood all day and every night came into a Village to a friends house where he lodged He wrote also to the Magistrates of Hale that if they could and would protect him he was ready to come back and not to forsake his flock but if they could not he did not dâ—sire that they should endanger themselves for his sake They answered That they could not protect him and therefore left him free to goe whither he pleased Presently after Ulricus Prince of Wirtemberg invited him to him and ordered him to be so private that he himself might not know where hee was that if he was asked hee might safely deny his knowledge of him Yet upon suspition his Castle was searched but Brentius was in another place where in his retirement he wrote a Comment upon the ninety third Psalm Afterwards he went to Basil as to a safer place where his Wife died of a Consumption From thence he removed to the Castle of Horrenburg in the Hâ—rcinian Wood where he changed his name and gave out that he was the Keeper of the Castle and whilst hee was there hee frequented the Sermons in a neighbour Town where the Minister used to spin out his Sermons to a great length Whereupon Brentius took occasion modestly to tell him of it to whom the Minister answered You Castle-keepers think all time too long at Church but no time too long that you spend in drinking Brentius smiling at it said no more Whilst he was there he perfected his Comment upon Isaiah and some other Works Afterwards hee had great proffers made him by the Citizens of Madgeburg by Edw. the sixth K. of England and by the Duke of Borussia who proffered him large stipends and Kingly gifts but he refused them all and thus continued in banishment for the space of two years Anno Christi 1550 Ulricus Duke of Wirtemberg died and his sonne Christopher succeeding resolved to restore the Ministers which were driven away by the Interim to their Charges within his Dominions and to perfect the Work of Reformation And for that end sent for Brentius and kept him in his Castle of Stutgard that he might have his advice and assistance in carrying on that Work Neither was he discouraged by the admonition of the Princes and Bishops nor by the threats of the Garrisons that were about him He caused Brentius to write a Confession of Faith and of the Doctrine of Christian Religion and about the chief poinâ— in Controversie which he intended to send to the council of Trent and accordingly he did sent it by 2 Ambassadors and An. Ch. 1552 Brentius with 3 other Divines went after eithâ—â— publickly in the Council to defend that Confession or â—o refute such decrees as should be made against it But no answer could be extorted from those Fathers neither could these â—ivines be heard nor were once called into the Council whereupon after a while they returned home not without great danger About that time Brentius married again one Fâ—th Isenman a choice woman who was a great comfort to â—im all the rest of his life by whom also he had twelve children The year after the Pastor of Stutgard dying Brentius was chosen into his room In
whose Sermons not only the Protestants but many of the Papists were present to hear what and how he taught And indeed both sides commended his study of Peace For he exhorted them to compose their differences not by arms nor mutuall slaughters but by the Disputations of their Divines But God would not suffer his wholsome counsell to take effect at that time For they came to a battell wherein the Popish party prevailed and thereupon Bullinger together with his Father Brother and Colleague Gervase were commanded to depart except they would undergoe the present hazard of their lives Whereupon beginning their journey in the night through Gods providence they escaped the snares which were layd for them by their adversaries and came safely to Zurick Anno Chrâ—â— 1531 and three daies after at the request of Leo Judae with his Colleagues Bullinger preached in the chiefe Church and was entertained by one Werner Steiner his ancient friend that was fled to Zurick for Religion Anno Christi 1532. The Church of Basill wanting a Pastor by the death of Oecolampadius desired Bullinger and at the same time also the Bernates sent for him thither But the Senate of Zurick would by no means part with him choosing him Pastor in the room of Zuinglius who was slaine in the late battell and who had desired before he went into the field with the Army that if any thing befell him otherwise then well Bullinger might succeed him in his office He being thus called to this work in a dangerous time did his endeavour to comfort and rais up the hearts of Gods people under those great afflictions And whereas the Popish adversaries boasted that their Religion was false because they of Zurick were beaten and Zuinglius slain He wrote That the Truth of Religion was not to be judged by the prosperity or adversitie of the Professors of it He took care also to have Synods twice a year to maintain concord and unity in Doctrine and Discipline as Zuinglius had begun before him And finding a great defect of Godly Ministers in the jurisdiction of the Tigurins he tooke care that so many should bee trained up in Religion and Learning as might supply that defect and where there was a want of maintainance he prevailed with the Senate of Zurick to make up a competency out of the Publick Treasury He caused the Publick Library of that City to be set in order by Pellican and by buying Zuinglius his books to be encreased And having gotten Bibliander for his Colleague he wholly applyed himself to his publick Ministry and to writing Commentaries at home Anno Christi 1532 Bucer endeavoured a union between Luther and his followers and the Divines of Zurick perswading them that their differences consisted rather in words then in reality At which time the Tigurins shewed themselves to bee desirous of peace so that it was joyned wiâ—h truth About this time Bullingers Father died being 64 years old who at his death exhorted his sonne to Constancy in Doctrine and Faith which saith he is the onely way to salvation Anno Christi 1534 Bullinger wrote a Confession of Faith in the name of the Tigurian Churches which was sent to Bucer and to the Synod of the Churches of Suevia then met at Constance and was approved by them About the same time he wrote a Tractate of the Covenant of God against some that denied all testimonies out of the Old Testament As also another wherein he asserted the twofold Nature in Christ against Claudius Allobrog Servetus his Emissary of whose poyson the Helvetian Churches were at that time in some danger And when there was a meeting at Basil for to unite Luther and the Helvetian Churches in their difference about the manner of Christs Presence in the Sacrament Bullinger was there and took much pains for the promoting of it The Magistrates also of Zurick by the perswasion of Bullinger erected a new Colledge Anno Christi 1538 which hee had a great care of all his life after Also by his perswasion the Senate of Zurick erected another School in a place where formerly there had been a Nunnery in which fifteen youths were trained up under a good Master having food raiment books and all other necessaries plentifully provided for them and Bullinger took great care to see their proficiency all his life after About this time Schwenfield a Noble man of Silesia taught That Christ's Humane nature being received into Heaven was so farre Deified that it remained a creature no longer and this error beginning to spread into Swevia Bullinger joining with some others confuted it with much modesty Anno Christi 1541 the Plague brake forth in Zurick of which Bullingers Son and Mother died Anno Christi 1542 Leo Judae's Version of the Bible being finished and printed the Printer sent one of them to Luther fair bound up but Luther wrote back to him that hee should send him no more of the Tigurine Ministers bookes for hee would have nothing to doe with them nor read any of their bookes For said he The Church of God can hold no communion with them and whereas they have taken much pains all is in vain for themselves are damned and they lead many miserable men to hell with them Adding that he would have no communion with their damnable and blasphemous Doctrine and that so long as he lived hee would with his prayers and books oppose them Anno Christi 1544 Luther set forth his Annotations on Genesis in which he inveighed bitterly against the Sacramentarians as he called them saying That Zuinglius Oecolampadius and their disciples were Hereticks and eternally damned Melancthon would fain have hindered it but could not whereupon he wrote to Bullinger telling him how much hee was grieved at this violent proceeding of Luther which he knew was so pleasing to their common adversaries the Papists When this book of Luthers came forth there was much dispute whether it should be answered Bucer was against it because Luther was grown old and had deserved well of the Church but others thought that it would bee a betraying of the Truth not to answer it Wherefore Bullinger was appointed to that work which he accordingly performed with much judgement Anno Christi 1546 Luther dyed and the German Warre beganne betwixt the Emperour and the Protestants at which time many accused the Tigurines by reason of Bullingers book as if they had insulted over Luther after his death and gloryed that he dyed of grief because he could not answer that book Hereupon Philip Lantgrave of Hesse acquainted Bullinger with these reports which when Bullinger had read advising with his Colleagues he returned this answer First giving him thanks for his zeale in endeavouring the peace of the Church and for acquainting him with these rumours Then he told him how much he was grieved for that some turbulent spirits sought by such reports
to accuse Bullinger and Calvin whereupon Nicholas Radzivil Palatine of Vilna sent Martin Secovitius with his Letters to Bullinger about Blandrata's business to which Bullinger answered that when Blandrata came to Zurick he onely spake once with him yet at that time he easily discerned that he was corrupt in his judgement about the Son of God as also that he threatned to write against Calvin whereunto he answered That there were contentions already too many in the Church which if he increased God would be avenged on him for it Yet he departed cursing and threatning grievous things That such men should be taken heed of who laboured to revive Arianisme and other Heresies and cunningly to sow them abroad Calvin also wrote the History of Blandrata and sent it to the Polonian Church but his hypocrisie had so far prevailed with them that it did no good but afterward both in Poland and Transilvania he taught openly That Christ our Saviour was a meer man About the same time came forth Brentius his book about the personall union of two natures in Christ c. wherein he laboured to prove the substantiall presence of Christs body in the Supper And whereas Bullinger had published a Tractat upon those words In my Fathers house are many mansions Brentius published another Book wherein he manifested his dislike of Bullingers book saying That his conscience urged him to declare it This many marveiled at that he should quarrell with Bullinger being not provoked by him Bullinger least he should betray the truth answered him and Brentius again replyed charging the Tigurines with debasing the Majesty of Christ and denying the omnipotency of God Anno 1562. the Helvetians Ministers were again summoned to the Councill of Trent having the publick faith sent them but Bullinger againe wrote the reasons of their refusall Anno Christi 1563 Bullinger answered the book of Brentius de Christi Majestate About which time Ber. Ochin was banished by the Senat of Zurick for writing in defence of Polygamy contrary to his promise and oath and refusing to retract it Before his departure he desired Master Bull. to give him Letters testimoniall which he told him that he could not doe with a safe conscience yet was grieved for him and his children From thence Ochin went to Basil but finding no entertainment there he went into Poland where he publickly denyed the Deity of the Holy-Ghost but not staying long there he went into Moravia where he joyned himself to the Conventicles of the Anabaptists and shortly after dyed Anno Christi 1564. A great plague brake out in Zurick of which Bullinger fell so sick that all despaired of his life and himself also whereupon he sent for the Ministers of the Church and took his leave of them But it pleased God at the earnest prayers of the Church to restore him to health againe yet his wife and one of his daughters dyed of it And the year after the plague continuing two other of his daughters dyed also and himselfe began to be exceedingly tormented with the stone yet did not he intermit his labours but preached constantly and finished his Homilies upon Daniel Anno Christi 1566. when some turbulent spirits published that the Helvetian Churches were divided amongst themselves and held many unfound doctrines Bullinger published Confession of Faith which was consented to and subscribed by the Church of Geneva Berne Scaphusen Neocom St. Galli Mulhusen and Bipennium attested by the English Scottish and French Churches the Hungarian brethren also detesting and disclaiming the blasphemies of Blandrata and of Francis David published their assent to it Anno Christi 1567. Bullinger published his Homilies upon Isay and the year after he confuted Osius who denyed the deity of Christ and the Holy Ghost Anno Christi 1569 a great persecution arising in France many godly persons fled to Geneva and Helvetia who being in great want Bullinger took much paines to raise money by collections for them He was much troubled with the Sciatica and the Stone yet in the midst of those pains he wrote the Lives of the Popes and a confutation of the Popes Bull whereby he had excommunicated our Queen Elizabeth and absolved her subjects from the oath of Allegiance which was afterwards translated into English Anno Chr. 1570 there was a Synod of the French Churches held at Rochel to which because the Helvetians could not send Delegates they wrote Letters signifying their agreement with them in Doctrine and their good will to them Anno Christi 1571 by reason of the extreame hard winter there was a very great dearth in which Bullinger and the other Ministers obtained of the Senate that there should bee frequent Fasting and Prayer in publick and that provision should bee made for the Poor which was done accordingly Anno Christi 1572 was that bloody Massacre at Paris and in other places of France whereupon Bullinger the year after wrote his book of Persecution and God's judgements upon the Persecutors and to exhort the persecuted to patience and constancie That new Starre also in Cassiopeia appeared at that time Anno Christi 1574 Bullinger fell into a grievous disease which much tormented him from October to December at which time it pleased God to give him ease whereupon he exercised his publick Ministry again The year after he relapsed into his disease and though the pain was almost intolerable yet he never brake forth either in word or gesture into the least impatience but prayed the more fervently and when he had any ease he used to discourse pleasantly with his friends saying If the Lord will make any further use of me and my Ministry in his Church I will willingly obey him â—t if he please as I much desire to take me out of this miserble life I shall exceedingly rejoyce that he pleases to take meut of this wretched and corrupt age to goe to my Saviour Chri. Socraters was glad when his death approached because as he thought he should goe to Homer Hesiod and other Learned men whom he thought he should meet with in the other world How much more doe I joy who am sure that I shall see my Saviour Christ the Saints Patriarks Prophets Apostles and all the holy men which have lived from the beginning of the world These I say when I am sure to see them and to partake of their joyes why should I not willingly dye to enjoy their perpetual society and glory When he found some ease he sent for all the Ministers and Professors of the Universitie to him into his study to whom he gave thanks for their coming to him took his farewell of them with tears which he said proceeded not from his fear of death but as Paul's from his great love to them Hee made before them a Confession of his Faith forgave his enemies exhorted them to concord
taught Greek and Hebrew for his maintenance and heard Luther and Melancthon He was much troubled there with temptations about Sinne Gods wrath and Predestination But by the good counsel of Pomerane and Luther and the publick praiers of the Church it pleased God that he overcame them Melancthon loved him much for his Wit and Learning and maintained him at his own charges And when Flacius was reasonable well grounded in the Greek he fel to the study of the Hebrew and commenced Mr. of Arts. He also married a wife and had a stipend allowed him by the Prince Elector Anno 1544. But when by reason of the Wars that University was dissipated he went to Brunswick being invited thither by Medler where he got much credit by his publlck teaching The Warres being ended he returned to Wittenberg Anno 1547. But when the Interim came forth and Melancthon thought that for peace-sake somthing should be yeelded to in things indifferent Flacius with the Divines of Lubec Lunenburg Hamborough and Madgeburg strongly opposed it as opening a gap to the return of Popery Hereupon shortly after he removed to Madgeburg where he strongly opposed Popery the Interim and whatsoever was contrarie to the Augustane Confession There also he assisted Gallus Wigand and Judex in writing the Madgeburgenses Centuries Confuted the opinion of Osiander about the Justification of a man before God and the fond conceits of Schwensield And when the Duke of Saxonie had erected an University at Jeans hee sent for him thither Anno Christi 1557. But after five years a great contention arising between Strigelius and him about Free will he left that place and went to Ratisbone and Anno Christi 1567 the Citizens of Antwerp having procured liberty for the free exercise of the Reformed Religion sent for Flacins amongst others thither but Religion being quickly expelled thence he went to Strasborough where he published his Glosse upon the New Testament And from thence to Franckfurt upon the Main where after a while falling out with the Ministers about the Essence of Originall Sin he fell into great disgrace and not long after died Anno Christi 1575 and of his Age 55. He was of an unquiet wit alwaies contending with some or other and brought much grief to Melancthon yet wrote some excellent Workes for the benefit of the Church and amongst others his Catalogus Testium Veritatis His Clavis sacrae Scripturae His Martyrologie with many others set down by Verheiden in his Praestantium Theologorum effigies The Life of Josias Simlerus who died A no Christi 1576. JOsias Simlerus was born at Capella in Helvetia An. Ch. 1530. His Fathers Name was Peter who was a godly learned and prudent man by whom he was carefully brought up in learning in the School of Capella and at fourteene yeares of age was sent to Zurick Anno Christi 1544 where he lived in Bullingers Family who was his Godfather almost two yeares and in which place he demeaned himself so piously modestly and diligently and made so eminent a progresse in Learning that he was exceedingly beloved of all From thence he went to the University of Basil Anno Christi 1546 where he studied the Arts and Tongues one year and from thence he went to Strasborough in which place there flourished at that time Sturmius Martyr Bucer Fagius Herlinus Sevenus Dasypodius Hedio Niger with some others Some of these he heard and spent two years in the further study of the Arts and Tongues And so at the end of three years he returned home to the great joy of his Father and Bullinger Neither did he now spend his time in pleasures and idlenesse but partly in learning partly in preaching in neighbouring villages and partly in teaching a School so that being not above twenty yeares old he was very serviceable both in the Church and Schoole And whereas Gesner was exceeding full of imployments hee many times supplyed his publick Lectures one while reading Astronomie another while Geometrie and other whiles Arithmetick Lectures for him Anno Christi 1552 he was appointed publickly to expound the New Testament in Zurick being but two and twenty years old and he beganne with Matthew and shewed such diligence and abilities that he was not only admired be his own Countrymen but by strangers especially the English who lived as exiles there at that time Four years after An. Chr. 1557 he was made Deacon and went on in his former worke with admiration so that he was highly prized by all and judged fit for better preferment Bibliander being grown very old Simler supplied his place and was Colleague to Peter Martyr who highly prised him and foretold that Simler would prove a great ornament to the Church and when he died expressed much joy that he should have so able a man to succeed him And accordingly after his death Simler was chosen into his place by the unanimous votes both of the Doctors and Senate of Zurick which was in the year 1563 and had for his Colleague John Wolffius a very learned and godly man Simler besides his publick labours instructed many in private and amongst them some Noblemen both in sacred and humane learning His Lectures publick and private ordinary and extraordinary were sufficient witnesses of his diligence industry piety learning eloquence judgement and memory He had such an acute wit and strong memory that he was able ex tempore to speak of any subject and to answer his friends questions out of any Author and to give an account of their writings to the great admiration of the hearers And though in reading of books he seemed to run over them very superficially yet when he had done he was able to give an exact account of any thing that was contained in them Being so troubled with the Gout that many times he was confined to his bed and had the use of none of his members but his Tongue onely yet in the midst of his pains he used to dictate to his Amanuensis such things as were presently printed to the great admiration of Learned men Besides the Gout he was much troubled with the stone so that the pains of these diseases together with his excessive labours in his Ministry hastned his immature death which he also foresaw yet without any consternation or fear but by his frequent and fervent prayers to God endeavoured to fit himselfe for it and accordingly Anno Christi 1576 he resigned up his spirit unto God being five and forty years old and was buried in Peter Martyrs Tomb. Hee was of a very loving and gentle nature free from passion very charitable spending all his Patrimony upon the Poore and Strangers And such as came thither to study he entertained them in his house and often feasted his friends with whom he would be very merry otherwise he was very sparing of speech He delighted much in
History He had two Wives the first of which was Bullingers daughter who died without issue by the second who was Gualters daughter he had three sons and one daughter He was tall of stature fat fair and strong but that he was somewhat weakned by the Gout He had such an amiable face that his sweet manners might bee seen in his countenance as in a glass In his habit and diet he was neither too sumptuous nor too fordid best liking cleanlinesse and neatness Scripsit Praelectiones in Exodum De aeterno Dei Filio adversus Arianos Tritheitas Samosetaninos Adversus eosdem de S. Sancto Narrationem veterum controversiarum de una â—ersonâ— duabus naturis Christi c. cum multis aliis The particulars you may find in Verheiden The Life of Immanuel Tremelius who died A no Christi 1580. IMmanuel Tremelius was born in Ferrara having a Jew to his Father who so educated him that hee was very skilfull in the Hebrew Tongue Hee was converted by PeterMartyr and went with him to Lucca where he taught Hebrew From thence he went with him to Strasborough and from thence into England under King Edward the sixth after whose death he returned into Germany And in the School of Hornback under the Duke of Bâ—â—â—â—t he taught Hebrew From thence he was called to Heidleberg under Frederick the third Elector Palatine where he was Professor of the Hebrew tongue and translated the Syriack Testament into Latine There also he set upon the Translation of the Bible out of Hebrew associated to himself in that work Fr. Junius who after the death of Tremelius perused the whole work and by adding many things rather made it larger then better in some mens judgement In his old age he left Heidleberg and by the Duke of Bulloin was called to be Hebrew Professor in his new University of Sedan where he dyed Anno Christi 1580 and of his Age seventy He wrote a Chalde and Syriack Grammer hee published the New Testament in Latine and Syriack An exposition upon the Prophet Hosea Together with Junius he translated the Hebrew Bible adding short annotations And lastly Bucers Lectures upon the Epistle to the Ephesians The Life of Peter Boquine who died Anno Christi 1582. PEter Boquinus was borne in Aquitane and being in his youth brought up in learning he entred into a Monastery at Biturg where he was made the Prior and was very much beloved of all the Convent But it pleased God in the midst of all his riches and honours to discover the Truth to him and thereupon after the example of Luther Bucer Oecolampadius and Peter Martyr he resolved to leave all and to follow Christ whose example divers of the Friers also followed From thence he went toward Wittenberg being very desirous to be acquainted with Luther and Melancthon whose fame was very great and some of whose works he had met with and read and so travelling through Germany he came to Basil where he wintered by reason of the Plague very rife at that time in many Countries There he diligently heard the Lectures of Myconius Caralostadius and Sebastian Munster Anno Christi 1542 from thence he went to Lipsich where he stayed three weeks and so went to Wittenberg Coming hither he had some converse with Luther but more with Melancthon And whilst he was there Bucer sent to Melancthon to request him to send an able man to Strasborough to supply Calvins place who was now gone back to Geneva whereupon Melancthon requested Boquine to goe thither which he accordingly did and began to read upon the Epistle to the Galatians Shortly after Peter Martyr came thither also But Bucer being sent for by the Arch-bishop of Collen to assist him in the reformation of his Churches Boquine finding that the Ecclesiasticall and Scholasticall affaires went but slowly forward in his absence upon the request of his brother who was a Doctor of Divinity and not altogether estranged from the Reformed Religion he resolved to goe back into France and so taking Basil in his way he went to Geneva where he heard Calvin preach and had some speech with him and from thence to Biturg where he lived with his brother the Doctor mentioned before and when some hope began to appear that the Churches of France would be reformed at the instigation of his brother he began publickly to read Hebrew and to expound the Scriptures About that time Francis King of France being dead the Queen of Navar came into those parts about the marriage of her daughter to whom Boquine went and presented her with a book written with his own hand about the necessity and use of the holy Scriptures and her daughter with another concerning our spiritual husband Jesus Christ whereupon she took him into her Patronage and allowed him a yearly stipend out of her treasury appointing him to preach a publick Lecture in the great Church in Biturg Whereunto also the Arch-Bishop consented Shortly after the Queen of Navar dying there succeeded to her King Henries sister as in name and stock so also in Doctrine and Piety not unlike her Whereupon Boquine went and presented her with a book which he had written De homine perfecto which she took so gratefully that she confirmed his former stipend to him and he made use of that favour so long as he thought his labours were not unprofitable to the Church but when he saw that there was no hope of any further Reformation in France and that his enemies lay in wait for his life he gave it over of his own accord At that time he underwent the bitter hatred of some Friers and other enemies of the truth by whom his life was in great danger For he was summoned to appear before the Parliament of Paris and then before the Arch-Bishop of Biturg where his life was sought but God raised up some men to stand for him whereby he was delivered from the present danger Then did he resolve to fly into England but hearing of King Edwards death he altered his purpose and by the perswasion of a friend he resolved to returne to his people in Germany and so accordingly accompanied with two young men he went to Strasborough and when he had scarce been there a month it so fell out that the French Church in that place wanted a Pastor and chose him to that office yet for sundry reasons he refused to accept of it till by the perswasion of John Sturmius and some other friends he was content to preach to them till they could provide them another That place he discharged for about the space of four months conflicting with many difficulties and meeting with much trouble by reason of the improbity and perfidiousnesse of some At the end of which time the Senat with the consent of the Church appointed Peter Alexander to be their Pastor and so Boquine
the Lords Supper the Ubiquity of Christs Body the use of Images in the Churches Predestination and the Perseverance of the Saints About these things they raised contentions which were partly occasioned by the book of Heshufius printed at this time at Strasborough About the Lords Supper and it came to this pass that they put Zanchy to his choice either to depart of himself or else they would remove him from his place And though many waies were tried for the composing of this difference yet could it not be effected But it pleased God that about this time there came a Messenger to signifie to him that the Pastor of the Church of Clavenna in the borders of Italy being dead he was chosen Pastor in his room wherefore obtaining a dismission from the Senate of Strasborough he went thither and after he had preached about two moneths the Pestilence brake forth in that Town so violently that in seven moneths space there dyed twelve hundred men yet he continued there so long as he had any Auditors but when most of the Citizens had removed their families into an high mountain not farre off he went thither also and spent above three moneths in Preaching Meditation and Prayer and when the Plague was stayed hee returned into the City again And thus he continued in that place almost four years to the great profit of many but not without afflictions to himself Anno Christi 1568 hee was sent for by Frederick the third Elector Palatine to Heidleberg to be Professor and was entertained with all love and respect where he succeeded Ursin and at his entrance made an excellent Oration about the preserving and adhering to the meer Word of God alone The same year he was made Doctor in Divinity About which time that excellent Prince Frederick who was a zealous promoter of the Doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles required him to explicate the Doctrine of one God and three Persons to confirme it and to confute the Doctrine of those which at that time denyed the Deity of Christ and the Holy Ghost in Poland and Transilvania and to answer their arguments whereupon he wrote those learned Tractates De Dei naturâ De tribus Elohim c. In which book the whole Orthodox Doctrine about that great Mystery is so unfolded and confirmed that all adversaries may for ever be ashamed which goe about to contradict the same Laelius Socinus and other of his complices that defended the Heresies of Servetus tried by divers waies and reasons to have drawn him to their opinion but when they found him wholly estranged from them and a zealous Defendor of the Truth against their Blasphemies they renounced all friendship with him and left him for which he gave hearty thanks unto God and our Lord Jesus Christ. He taught in that University tenne yeares till the death of Prince Frederick Then by Prince John Cassimire he was removed to his new University at Neostade where he spent above seven years in reading Divinity Though in the year 1578 he had been earnestly solicited to come to the University of Leiden then newly begunne as also the yeare after the Citizens of Antwerp called him to be their Pastor yet the Prince would by no means part with him knowing that hee could not bee missed in his University The Prince Elector Palatine Lodwick being dead and Prince Cassimire being for the time made Administrator of his estate the University was returned from Neostad to Heidleberg and Zanchy being now grown old had a liberal stipend setled upon him by Prince Cassimire whereupon going to Heidleberg to visit his friends he fell sick and quietly departed in the Lord Anno Christi 1590 and of his age seventie five He was excellently versed in the writings of the ancient Fathers and Philosophers he was of singular modesty and very studious to promote the peace of the Church His Workes are well known being usually bound up in three volumes His Commentaries are upon Hosea Ephes. Phil. Col. Thess. and John His other works are Miscellanea Theologica De tribus Elohim De natura Dei De operibus Dei De Incarnatione Filii Dei De sacra Scriptura Compendium praecipuorum capitum doctrinae Christianae De Religione Christiana c. The Life of Anthony Sadeel who died A no Christi 1591. ANthony Sadeel was born at Cabot upon the confines of Savoy and France not far from Geneva Anno Christi 1534 and his Father dying whilst he was young his Mother brought him up in learning and sent him to Paris where he was educated under Mathias Granian from whom also he first received the seeds of true Religion From thence after a while he removed to Tholous where falling into the society of some godly students of the Law it pleased God that by degrees he attained to the knowledge of the Truth and began to abstain from the defilements of Popery whereupon hee went to Geneva where he was further instructed in the truth and was much holpen and encouraged by Calvin and Beza But after a while his Uncle dying and leaving a large inheritance some contention arose about it whereupon Sadeel was sent for home and went to Paris about that businesse At which time a private Congregation was gathered by John Riparius who shortly after suffered Martyrdom into which number at his request Sadeel was admitted in whom there shon forth a great ingenuity with an incredible love to the holy Scriptures And when afterwards that Church was encreased they sent to Geneva for a Pastor who sent them Collongius a man famous for piety and wisdom who when he was come calling together the young men he exhorted them to apply themselves to the study of Divinity which afterwards turned to the great good of the French Churches and amongst others Sadeel faithfully promised to apply himselfe thereto And Collongius beganne to frame and fashion the minds of those young men by private exercises Amongst whom Sadeel most excelled there appearing no light or unbeseeming carriage in him Yea in those his young years he gave signs of au excellent mind that was fit to undertake great things In so much as being scarce twenty yeares old he was by approbation of the whole Church chosen one of the Pastors And though in regard of his great parentage hee was not without hope of attaining to great riches and dignity whereas entering into this course of life he exposed himself to labours dangers banishment and grievous death in those bloody times yet none of these hindered but that he chearfully undertook the office he was chosen to which was to be Pastor of the Church in Paris The year after fell out that horrid violence offered to this Church when they were met together to hear the Word and receive the Sacrament where above 150 of them were laid hold of and cast into prison but by a miracle of
received such abunâ—dant satisfaction by converse with him that ever after they held corespondence with him Shortly after Lodwick the Elector Palatine dying Caâ—imire was made Guardian to his son during his minority whereupon he sent for Tossan to Heidleberg that by his advise and counsell he might reform the Churches But when he came thither his adversaries loured exceedingly upon him and raised many false reports but he remembred that of â—eneca vir bonus quod honestè se facturum put averit faciet etiam si periculosum sit ab honesto nullâ— re deteâ—rebitur ad turpia nulla spe invitabitur An honest man will do that which he judges right though it be dangerous He will not be deterred from that which is honest by any meanes hee will be allured to that which is dishonest by no means His adversaries in their Pulpits daily cryed out of strange Heresies that he and his party held But Prince Casimire first sent for them to argue the case before him and then appointed a Publick disputation wherein they could prove none of those things which they charged them with whereupon the Prince required them to abstain from such accusations for the time to come and to study peace But nothing would prevail to allay their spleene till they were removed into other Countries The care of choosing Pastors to the Churches Tutors to the young Prince Schoolmasters and Professors to the University was divolved upon Tossan all which he discharged with much fidelity Anno Christi 1586. James Grynaeus the chiefe Professor in Heidleberg was called home to Basil in whose roome Tossanus though very unwilling was substituted and therefore to satisfie the Statutes of the University he commenced Doctor in Divinity But as his cares and paines increased so his sorrow also partly by reason of an unhappy quarrel that fell out between the Students and Citizens of Heidleberg partly by the death of his dear wife with whom he had lived twenty two years in wedlock which fell out in the year 1587. and therefore Anno Christi 1588 he married again and disposed of his daughters also in marriage to godly and learned men Not long after Prince Casimire died which much renewed his griefe But Frederick the fourth beeing now come to his age was admitted into the number of the Electors and was very carefull of the good both of the Church and University Anno Christi 1594 Tossan was chosen Rector of the University of Heidleberg and the year after there brake out a greivous Pestilence in that Citie which drove away the students But Tossan remained Preaching comfortably to his people and expounding the Penitentiall Psalmes to those few students that yet remained Anno Christi 1601 hee being grown very old and infirme laid down his Professors place though the University much opposed and earnestly sollicited him to retaine it still but God purposed to give him a better rest after all his labors and sorrows For having in his Lectures expounded the book of Job to the end of the thirtie one Chapter he concluded with those words The words of Job are ended Presently after falling sicke hee comforted himself with these texts of Scripture I have fought the good fight of Faith c. Bee thou faithfull unto the death and I will give thee the crown of life Wee have a City not made with hands eternall in the heavens and many other such like Hee also made his will and set down therein a good confession of his Faith and so departed quietly in the Lord An. Christi 1602 and of his age sixty one He was a very holy man exemplary in his life had an excellent wit strong memorie Eloquent in speech was very charitable and chearfull in his conversation and kept correspondence with all the choisest Divines in those times He wrote many things which were afterwards digested into Tomes and some of his works were published after his death by his Sonne I. WHITGIFT The Life of William Perkins who died A no Christi 1602. WIlliam Perkins was born at Marston in Warwickshire Anno 1558 and brought up at School from which he went to Christ's Colledge in Cambridg where he profited so much in his Studies that having got the grounds of all the liberall Arts he was chosen Fellow of that Colledge in the 24th year of Queen Elisabeth He was very wild in his youth but the Lord in mercie was pleased to reclaim him that he might be an eminent instrument of good in his Church When he first entred into the Ministâ—â—e beeing moved with pittie towards their souls he prevailed with the jaylor to bring the Prisoners fettered as they were to the Shirchouse hard by the Prison where he Preached every Lord's daie to them and it pleased God so to prosper and succeed his labors amongst them that he was the happy instrument of converting many of them unto God Freeing them thereby from the Captivity of sin which was their worst bondage This his practice being once known many resorted to that place out of the neighbor-Parishes to hear him So that from thence he was chosen to Saint Andrews Parish in Cambridge where he Preached all his life after His Sermons were not so plain but the piously learned did admire them nor so learned but the plain did understand them Hee brought the Schools into the Pulpit and unshelling their controversies out of their hard School-tearms made thereof plain and wholsom meat for his people He was an excellent Chirurgion at the jointing of a broken Soul and at stating of a doubtfull conscience so that the afflicted in spirit came far and near to him and received much satisfaction and comfort by him In his Sermons he used to pronounce the word Damn with such an Emphasis as left a dolefull Echo in his auditors ears a good while after And when hee was Catechist in Christ's Colledge in expounding the Commandements he applied them so home to the conscience as was able to make his hearers hearts fall down and their haires almost to stand upright But in his old age he was more miâ—dâ— often professing that to Preach mercy was the proper office of the Ministers of the Gospel In his life he was so 〈◊〉 and spotlesse that Malice was afraid to bite at his credit into which she knew that her teeth could not enter He had a rare felicity in reading of books and as it were but turning them over would give an exact account of all that was considerable therein He perused books so speedily that one would think he read nothing and yet so acurately that one would think he read all Hee was of a cheerfull nature and pleasant disposition Somewhat reserved to strangers but when once acquainted very familiar Besides his frequent Preaching he wrote many excellent books both Treatises and Commentaries which for their worth were many of them translated into
Greek Tongue so that he made excellent Greek Verses which also were printed He laid solid foundations also of Philosophy so that his Masters caused him to keep publick Disputations about sundry controversies in Philosophy He was so studious that that time which other boys spent in play he refreshed himself by variety of studies His Masters now finding him fit resolved to send him to the University where he might better be instructed in the Arts then he could be in that School For which end he went to Leiden in April Anno Christi 1596. and sojourned in the house of Thomas Spranckhusius Minister of Leiden and presently began to consider how he might best imploy himself for the advancement of his studies whereas other boys used to spend the first year in looking about them And he resolved to go on in this method First to perfect his knowledge in the Tongues then of Philosophy and at last to proceed to the study of Divinity And that he might perfect his skill in the Greek he resolved to read over the Poets who best express the genius of the Language and amongst them he made choice of Homer because he useth every Dialect his speech flows pleasingly and he makes his Reader more wise and that he might better pierce into the profundity of that Language upon every occasion he consults with Joseph Scaliger a man of stupendious Learning to whom Wallaeus was always very dear and he was much delighted with his wit Afterwards from Greek he proceeded to the study of Hebrew wherein he was assisted by Francis Rapbelingius a very courteous man but he shortly after dying and Francis Iunius being chosen into his room our Wallaeus profited so much under him that he could understand the Books of the Old Testament without an Interpreter He proceeded not to the study of the Rabbins because he judged that they that bestow much time in the study of the Tongues are very seldom good Artists For mans minde cannot contain all things the knowledge of the Tongues will take up the whole man and therefore our Wallaeus whilst he studyed the Languages laid aside all other studies only sometimes for recreation-sake he would read over some old Latine Authors Historians Poets and Orators When he was well furnished with the Tongues he went to the study of Philosophy but finding that Leiden at that time was not well furnished with Philosophers he attended the Lectures of Raph Snel the Mathematick Professor under whom he learned Geometry Astronomy and the Opticks which proved very useful to his future studies In his study of Logick he made use of Keckerman to whom he added Zabarel Monlor and some others In Physicks he used Tolet Zabarel Picholhomini In Ethicks he was most taken with Accioalus yet he read Picholhomini Magirus Muret Quarsius Metaphysicks He read over also Thomas and Scotus after which he proceeded to Plato and Aristotle whom he read in their own Language wherein they are most perfect To these he added Plotinus Ficinus Simplicius Aphrodisaeus and Averrhoes And in these studies he could the better proceed without help because he had been well grounded in all the parts of Philosophy by his Master Murdison and indeed he made such a progress therein that he exceeded all his contemporaries so that in his Disputations he often gravelled the Moderators themselves For he was prompt and subtile in Invention clear in Explication and sharp in pressing home his Arguments The chiefest scope which he proposed to himself in the study of Philosophy was to further him in Divinity and therefore judging it necessary to have the advice and assistance of some able Divine with the good leave of Spranckhusius he removed to the table of Francis Gomarus hiring a chamber in the next house till he could get a lodging in Gomarus his house which fell out within some few moneths after At this time Francis Junius was made Professor of Divinity a Divine of profound Learning Grave and of a deep Judgment as also Luke Tralcatius the Father a solid Divine and Francis Gomarus a man of much Learning and servent Piety But Wallaeus preferred Iunius above all and therefore endevoured to follow his example Yet taking Gomarus his counsel he did not begin his study of Divinity by reading Common places least being led with other mens opinions and thereby prepossessed with prejudice he should be led aside from the Truth But he first read the several forms of Concord of the reformed Churches the Catechism of Heidleberg and the Belgick Confession of Faith and so wholly betook himself to the reading of the sacred Scriptures which he read with great attention and assiduity getting the chiefest heads of Doctrine by heart So that when he was old he could repeat without Book the Epistle to the Romans the second to the Corinthians to the Galathians Ephesians and Philippians But he read them all in the Originals so that in his Sermons he was very ready in the words of Scripture Yet finding that by reading the Scripture alone he could hardly comprehend in his minde the whole Body of Doctrine being now well versed in the Scriptures he betook himself to the Theological Institutions of Bucanus that so he might at once see into the whole compendium of Divinity yet did he not stay long upon a Compendium but proceeded to the study of Calvins Institutions and Peter Martyrs Common places yet was he best pleased with Martyr because he handled the whole Doctrine plainly discoursed largely of Controversies and answered them solidly Whilst he was thus busied Luke Tralcatius first and after him Francis Gomarus began privately to read Common places whom he resolved to hear because in private they handled all thing more familiarly and largely then in publick yet especially he attended the publick Lectures because they were more accurate and learned and if after the Lectures he doubted of any thing he repaired to them in private for further satisfaction When he had profited well in the study of Common places he proceeded to the reading of Commentaries upon the Sacred Scriptures and first be read over Piscators Analysis whereby he might get the whole context of each part of Scripture into his minde then for the sense of the Scripture he read Calvin whom he used to call A Divine Interpreter To whom in his reading of the New Testament he adjoyned Beza and in reading of the Old Testament Mercer and Arias Montanus whereby he might attain to the knowledge of the Governments and Rites amongst the Iews without the knowledge whereof it is impossible to attain to the sense of many texts of Scripture Wallaeus having now read much and heard long began to prepare himself for action and disputed publickly three times De vera Theologia De Mysterio Trinitatis Et de Christi mediatoris Officio By which Disputations he procured to himself much admiration For being excellently versed in Philosophy he answered to the terms appositly
Prince Maurice requesting the same of him Yet did VVallaeus desire that he might have time to consider of it telling them that he would seek unto God by Prayer and advise with his friends with the Church and Magistrate In the mean time the Delegates earnestly sollicited the Presbyterie and Magistrates to give their consents which at last with much ado they obtained because he was to go to Leiden where he might take care of theirs as well as of the Holland Youths His friends stuck somewhat at it because he had as good a stipend at Middleborough as he was to have at Leiâ—en and though at Leiden he might bring up his sons at the University yet being so far from his friends he could not place them forth as well to honest Callings as at Middleborough â—o satisfie these therefore he had also a Pastors place in Leiden profered him Wallaeus thought that he might not resist this call because he was not so much to form one Church by it as to prepare Pastors for many nor so much to govern one Church as to assist with his counsels all the Belgick Churches September the tenth he preached his farewel Sermon which filled his people with sighs and tears so that it seemed rather that children were to part with their Father then people with their Pastor During his abode at Middleborough he much wanted his health being troubled with Rheumes Collick Feavers and other Diseases Sometimes also having an intermitting Pulse the cause whereof was partly hereditary from his Mother and partly by reason of studying so soon after meals scarce affording any rest to his minde or food for the refreshing of his body yet a healthful and diligent wife much cheered him up He had seven children five daughters and two sons whereof two dyed very young the other he took much pleasure and delight in September the nineteenth he removed with all his family to Leiden where he was entertained honorâ—bly with a Publicâ— Feast by the Magistrate with much congratulation by thâ— University and very heartily by his old friends At Leâ—den he was presently graced with the Degree of a Doctor without any Examination which is used at other times October the 21. being to begin his Professorship he made an Oratios about the right regulating the study of Divinity which was received by a great Auditory with the great applause of all yet it presently displeased himself because he observed that many things are excellently conceived which cannot be brought into practise Presently after came Anthony Thysius and not long after him Andrew Rivet out of France to adorn the Profession of Divinity who as they were all men of great note so by their excellent parts they made that Faculty far more famous Each of them had his several gifts wherein he excelled Thysius in Memory and Wallaeus and Rivet in Judgement and Polyander in dexterity of performance In actions Thysius was fervent Wallaeus full of vigor Rivet was somewhat slower and Polyander very calm c. The first care of these men was to prevent all discord in matters of Divinity wherefore they testified their mutual agreement by subscribing the Catechism of Heidleberg and the Belgick Confession of Faith They resolved that none of them would pass his judgement about any Controversie in Divinity about the Government of the Church and in cases of Conscience apart but by mutual consulting each with other That no Theses should be publickly disputed of till all had seen and approved them That no book should be printed till all had examined and consented thereto The like care they took to train up young Students to the same unanimity in Religion for which end they agreed upon one rule and method by which all their studies should be directed And because these Controversies with the Remonstrants had occasioned the fuller clearing of many points in Divinity and had taught them to speak more cautiously in many things Therefore in their Publick Disputations they went over the whole Body of Divinity out of which they published their Book which they called Synopsis purioris Theologâ—â— Having thus setled the affairs of the University in good order they began to consider what enemies they had abroad against whom the Truth was to be defended And they found that they must answer John Arnoldi Corvinus who had written a great Volume against Peter Du Moulin They must answer the Remonstrants also who in a Book called Acta Synodalia Remonstrantium had inserted such things as might confirm their own opinions and invalidate the opinions of the Contra-Remonstrants And this task they all agreed Wallaeus should undertake who afterwards published an answer to both those Books whereby he gat very great credit not only amongst his own but amongst the French English and Scots and for a long time silenced the Remonstrants In the mean time these worthy men neglected not to make their Professors places very famous The Old Testament was expounded by Rivet and Thysius the New by Polyander But Wallaeus was imployed in reading Common places which was accounted the more grateful and more worthy imployment In these Common places he did not cull out here and there one head but went over the whole Body of Divinity handling each head fully but principally insisting upon those Controversies or difficulties wherewith the Church was most molested Yet stood he not upon answering all Arguments of the Adversaries but chose out those which had most weight in them by answering whereof the other fell of themselves But he was most copious and acurate in the Modern Controversies as De Deo against Vorstius De Sabbatho De Praedestinatione of the Authority of Magistrates in Ecclesiastical affairs and such like concluding all not so much by the strength of Humane Reason as by the clear Word of God whereupon the greatest confluence of Auditors attended upon Wallaeus And one of his Colleagues thinking that he had so many Auditors because he read Common places he also fell upon the same subject but when he saw that he labored in vain he gave it over again But seeing it was not enough for them thus to instruct their Auditors in the knowledge of Divinity except also they prepared the Candidates for the Ministry enabling them rightly to defend the Truth and to enervate the Adversaries Arguments This therefore they effected by Disputations wherein all were very diligent but especially Wallaeus and Pâ—lyander Wallaeus would not suffer those things to be propounded for Disputation wherein the Reformed might freely differ amongst themselves He would not suffer the Opponents to object vain things which were unprofitable He would not suffer them to oppose immodestly to the scandal of the hearers But he would have the Defendant clearly repeat the Opponents Argument and then not only to give a bare answer but to demonstrate the solidity of it Truly Wallaeus in his Lectures deserved great
these two men the thing was granted so that Anno Christi 1628 the Interpreters of the Old Testament repaired to Leiden who were John Bogerman William Bâ—udartius and Gerson Bucer The year after they met together who were to Translate the New Testament and the Apochrypha and these were Anthony Wâ—llaeus Festus Hâ—mmius and James Rolâ—â—dus These men set upon the work with unwearyed labor And that which they aimed at was to make a new and accurate version out of the Originals and as much as the Geniuâ— of the Language would permit to translate it word for word and whereas in the Original any word might admit of a various Interpretation they endeavoured to finde out some Dutch word that might answer to it And where any thing seemed obscure they labored to explain it by Marginal Notes and where any thing was doubtful to resolve it whereby they often gave a reason of their version they added also Parallel Scriptures When the Translators of the New Testament had proceeded to the end of the Acts of the Apostles James Rowland dyed in whose room Jodicus Hoingius succeeded and when the Translators of the Old Testament had proceeded to the beginning of Ezekiel Bucer dyed in whose room Anthony Thysius was substituted Assoon as they had finished any Book and imparted it each to other they printed it and sent it to certain supervisors in every Province appointed thereunto to be by them again examined When the whole version was thus finished An. Chri. 1634. by the order of the States General all the Supervisors met together at Leiden who were Anthony Thysius John Polyander Abdias Witmarius Jodocus Larenus Arnoldus Teeckmannus Bernard Fullenius James Revius and Francis Gomarus Not long after also the Supervisors of the New Testament met there who were Sâ—bastian Dammannus John Arnoldi Lindanus William Nieuhusius Charles Demaet Lodowick Gerhardus Bernard Fullenius Gasper Sibelius and Henry Altingius These Supervisors being met together chose their Moderarators Assessors and Scribes and then at their daily meetings having first implored the presence and assistance of Almighty God they were demanded whether they had found any thing in the Translation that needed change and what the Translators and Supervisors agreed upon that was concluded And so this great work was compleated Anno Christi 1635. And this was very observable That the same year a great Plague raged in the Low-Countries and especially in Leiden wherein there dyed twenty thousand persons and yet through Gods mercy not one of the Translators or Supervisors was touched with it no nor was ever sick all that while All being thus finished the Supervisors returned to their several imployments but the Translators committed the work to the Press and themselves were the Overseers to see to the correcting of it At the same time printing it with and without Notes in Folio which was finished Anno Christi 1637. At which time they presented it to the States who liked it excellent well and presently gave order that no other Bible should be used either in Churches or Schools which was accordingly followed The Remonstrants appointed four of their greatest Scholars to examine this translation for fear of partiality but when they found how candidly and faithfully the Translators had dealt they also accepted of it and it is judged the most exquisite translation that is extant In the version of Luther there is not so much skill shewed in the Language In the French they do not so much tie themselves to the words as to the sence And the English seems to favour Episcopacy too much whereas no remarkable defect can be observed in this and indeed the Translators did by their excessive and defatigable pains so wear out themselves that all of them dyed within three years after After he had concluded this great and tiresome work he attended his Professorship thinking to ease his minde and repair his decayed strength But he scarce had rested two moneths when he fell upon his Cases of Conscience For he found that the Pontificians in their Books whilst they pretended to reprove sin did but teach it And the Reformed Divines in many things filled the minds of the Readers with too many scruples whereas that only ought to be condemned which the Scripture accounts a sin and that therein also some cautions were necessary for we ought not so much to reprove those that are bad as to seek their amendment But before he had well begun this work he was again made Magnifique Rector of the University which place as it was of the greatest dignity in the City of Leiden so of the greatest care In the midsts of these imployments he found his Memory to begin to decay and his strength to fail so that he was forced to write his Lectures more largely then he was wont to do which he carryed on till he came to the Head concerning the Holy Ghost at which time death prevented his further progress Thus much for his publick life Now for his private He was not splendid abroad and sordid at home but always equal like himself He studyed no delights and was far from all lasciviousness His only recreation was to adorn his Orchard He was free from covetousness seldom looking after his outward estate and at length wholly divolved that burthen upon his eldest son called John He affected not vain-glory his habit was not costly yet therein he was rather negligent then sordid He had always a large house which was rather commodious then sumptuous In converse he was no boaster either of his Learning Judgement or Wit He never either extolled himself or debased others no not his Adversaries He never inserted reproaches into his publick Writings He never chose any subject to write on for ostentation but only such as might be most profitable to the Church He never sought for nor took great titles It was always his glory rather to be then to seem He never affected ease He was always much grieved for the afflictions of the Church And endeavoured in all things to keep a good and a clear Conscience He would never to gratifie friends give any other counsel then such as beseemed him either to the Church or Magistrate Neither did he ever request any for his children or kindred of which they were not worthy or might any way tend to the detriment of others When as the Magistrates of Leiden had often proffered him the house wherein Arminius dwelt and wherein now his widdow and children remained he would never accept of it till as when they saw that they could stay in it no longer themselves came to him and requested him to take it thanking him that he had deferred it so long He never hunted after the favour of great men thereby to enrich himself He only desired their favour so far as might be fit for him and advantagious to the Church If any thing was spoken in his presence which
schism at Rome He is cited to the Council His intimations as he went His kinde entertainment as he went Gods judgement on his adversary His courage Popish cruelty His writings in prison Popish cruelty The Nobles of Bohemia petition In his behalf The Councils incivility A prodigy His appeal to Christ. He is condemned His charity Popish cruelty A wicked Decree His works condemned His ornaments His patience Popish malice His books burnt His deportment at his death His prayer His martyrdom Inhumane cruelty A prophesie Gods judgement on his persecutors His petition to the King His request to the Bishop And to the Barons His works His birth His zeal His retreat to Iberling A safe Conduct denyed him His intimations set up at Constance His return towards Bohemia He is apprehended Carryed to Constance His answer to the Bishops He is accused His answer He is imprisoned He is encouraged Popish cruelty He fals sick His weakness He is brought before the Council He retracts his recantation Back-sliding repented of His condemnation His short answer His ornaments His deportment at death His martyrdom His courage His last words His works His birth His parentage His education Gods providence Schola Illustris He goes to Erford His great proficiency He is Master of Arts. Means of his conversion The ignorance of those times His study of the Scriptures A prediction His studiousness His ordination His remove to Wittenberg He goes to Rome Anno Christi 1511. Popish profaneness He is made Doctor of Divinity An. chr 1512. He studies the Languages Popish blasphemy He opposeth Indulgences His protestation Many defend Luthers Doctrine The Emperor is against him The Pope against him The Pope writes to the Duke of Saxony The Pope further persecutes him Luther cited to Rome The University pleads for him The Bohemians encourage Luther Luthers resolution His courage The cause why Luther was so hated Erasmus's testimony of him Luther cited to Ausburg Luther goes from Ausburg The University of Wittenberg stands for him The Duke of Saxony pleads for him Popes malice The Dukes answer Luther disputes at Lipsick Fryars and Bishops stir up the Pope against him Luther intends a retreat The Popes Bull against him The Bull answered The Bull excommunicated Luthers books burnt He burns the Bull. Luther sent for to Worms His friends disswade him His courage He goes to Worms His answer to Eccius His constancy The Emperour intends to proscribe him The Princes divided about it Lutherâ— courage He is proscribed And seâ—â—way His Patmos Witchcraft frustrated Reformation in his absence He translates the Bible His return to Wittenberg He is displeased with the reformation His faith The rising of the Anabaptists Luther unmasks them He deals more sharply with them Muncer and Pseiffer the Incendiaries The Anabaptists beaten Muncer and Pseiffer beheaded Luthers marriage Melancthon excuses it His sickness His Tentation How he recovered Melancthons fears Luther encourageth him An excellent speech His faith Luthers courage Erasmus censures him He defends his Book against King Henry the Eighth Wâ—y Luther was not punished His writings He will not be bâ—â—bed He publisheth his Catechisms The Confession of Auspurg Luther perswades to peace A Diet at Auspurg Peace endeavoured between Luther and Zuinglius Yet frustâ—ated Luthers preface to the Smalcaldian Articles His violence against the Sacramentaries His power in prayer He justifies his turn from Popery Power of prayer Luther falâ— sick His recovery A Council of the Popes What it was like 1538. Antinomians Their opinions He prays Melancthon well 1541. He comforts Myconius Power of prayer 1543. His judgment about Ceremonies His Exposition upon Genesis 1545. A Popish lye about Luthers death Luthers answer to it He is sent for into his own Country He is in danger of drowning He comes to Isleben His imployments His last sickness Luthers last Prayer His faiâ—h His 〈◊〉 His last will His last word His constancy He in part retracts consubstantiation His daughters death His sayings His charity His private life His recreations His care of his children His diseases His tentations His character His wifes afflictions Miracles Special providences One gives himself to the Devil 〈…〉 〈…〉 His works His speech about his works He would have none called Lutherans Melancthons testimony of him A prediction His character His stile Notâ— His birth and education His learning He commenced Master of Arts. His study of the Scrlptures Preachers pattern He is chosen to a place His zeal He opposeth Indulgences Popish impostures A Reformation in Zurick The Bishop opposeth it Zuinglius admonisheth the Bishop He would have Ministers marry Luthers Books come abroad He studies the Hebrew Lambertus converted His constâ—ncy Popery abolished The revenues of Monasteries turned to charitable uses He presseth a further reformation A Disputation A further Reformation An Abbess converted Note His marriage A controversie about the Mass. Luk. 8. Mat. 13. The Mass abolished He is instructed in a dream Eccius his rage Zuinglius defends himself A disputation fruitless Reformation at Bern. It s written in golden letters Quarels amongst the Switzers Peace made A Disputation Luthers violence The Disputation ends Some good effects of it Catabaptists Their wickedness They are punished Popish malice He is in danger New quarrels amongst the Switzers Wars begun They of Zurick beaten Zuinglius dislikes the war He is slain Popish cruelty He preached against Popery before Luther His character His works His birth His education He goes to Heidleberg Then to Bononia His study of Divinity He enters into the Ministry He studies Greek and Hebrew He is made a Preacher His friendship with Capito He is chosen to Basil. He is chosen to Auspurg Popish malice His call to Sir Fr. Sickengen He is Professor at Basil. Popish malice Reformation in Basil. Idols burnt Discipline erected Preachers pattern Vlm reformed 1529. A Disputation It s dissolved His imployments His sickness Hi industry He prepares for death His speech to his colleagues A prediction His perseverance His poverty His care for his children He foretels his death Joy unspeakable His death Popish lyes His character His works His birth His learning His Conversion His imprisonment His release Manifold afflictious He is set in the stocks His inlargement Popish malice His imprisonment Rastal converted by him Popish malice The King commands Frith to be tryed He is sent for to Croydon His conference with the Bishops men His courage and constancy A Prophesie His escape contrived He refuseth to fly and why His examination and learning His unjust condemnation His patience Gods mercy His death Popish malice His works A strange Providence His birth and education His zeal Mr. Latimer converted by him His zeal in preaching Popish malice His apprehension The Articles against him A Prophesie His condemnation His fall His penance His letter to Tonstal His first conversion His inward joy Without Faith nothing pleases God His desire to convert others The danger of Apostacy Great comfort after great troubles Prevalency of the truth