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
Naschovia where he remained three years From thence he removed to Nykopin where also he remained three years And from thence to a School in Zealand where likewise hee continued three years At last hee came to Roschildia where hearing there was one Benedict a famous learned man and a good Grecian that read at Lunden he went thither and was under him three yeares And Benedict perceiving his excellent wit his diligence and modesty was very helpfull to him Then had Hemingius an ardent desire to goe to Wâ—ttenbâ—rg which was made famous by Philips Melancthons Lectures and having gotten some little money in his purse he travelled thitherward but by the way sâ—me theeves met him and stripped him of all that he had yet when he came to Wittenbâ—rg he found the people very charitable to him especially Melancthon There he remained five years and by his writing for and attending upon richer students and teaching some privately he maintained himself When he returned home he had an ample testimony from Melancthon for his excellent wit and learning A while after his return he was intertained by Olaus Nicholas to teach his daughters And from thence he was chosen to be Pastor at Hafnia and accordingly ordained to it which place he discharged with much diligence and faithfulnesse And when many young students resorted to him he read privately to them And by his extraordinary paines gat so much credit that shortly after he was chosen Hebrew Professor in that University In which place he read Hebrew and Logick to the great benefit of many And about the same time he printed that excellent book De Methodo which he dedicated to Christian the third King of Denmark who bountifully rewarded him for the same Anno Christi 1578 he was made Doctor in Divinity and performed the office of a Divinity Professor with admirable diligence and paines for six and twenty years together as appeares by those many excellent bookes published by him in that time Anno Christi 1579 when hee was grown old and exhausted with his daily labours Frederick the second King of Denmark gave him a liberall Pension upon which he lied contentedly and comfortably all the remainder of his daies Yet neither then was he idle but imployed his time in writing and publishing books Some years before his death he grew blind and was troubled with several diseases desiring nothing more then that he might be dissolved and be with Christ. A little before his death he expounded the 103 Psalm with so much fervor efficacy and power of the Holy Ghost that all that heard him wondred at it and shortly after resigned up his spirit unto God Anno 1600 and of his age 87. Scripta ejus sunt varia exegetica didactica polemica The Life of James Heerbrand who died A no Christi 1600. JAmes Heerbrand was born at Noricum Anno Christi 1521 of an ancient Family His Father was one of Luther's Disciples and seeing the towardlinesse and promptnesse of his son was carefull to bring him up in Religion and Learning At seven years old he set him to School and yet had a watchfull eye over him to carry on the work of piety requiring him to repeat every Sermon that hee heard At twelve years old hiâ— Father bought him a fair Bible which he diligently read over and used all his life after His Father also perceiving that naturally he was much inclined to Musick he would not sufâ—er him to learn it lest it should be an impediment to him in his other studies And so when he had been sufficiently grounded in Grammar-learning he was sent to Ulm where the Colloquies of Erasmus were publickly reaâ— but Pope Paul suspecting that that book might do much hâ—â—t amongst youth because it discovered many errors and vices of the Papists forbade the use of it yet this caused it more to be read especially by Heerbrand who gat much good by it At Ulm also he studied the Arts and Tongues and a seventeen years old his Father sent him to Wittenberg to hear Luther and Melancthon in the year 1538 which yearâ— was famous for divers things For then the Kingdome of Denmark embraced the Gospel The Emperour and King of France met together to treat of peace The Bible was printed in English at Paris The University of Strasborouâ—h was erected The Sect of the Antinomians was detected The Marquess of Brandenburg imbraced the Augustanâ— Confession And the Sea by the Kingdom of Naples was wholly dry for eight miles together out of which place â—ire and ashes brake forth so abundantly that many places were miserably destroyed thereby In the University of Wittenberg Heerbrand studied the Arts with great diligence and was so sparing of his time that he would not intermit one hour from his studies insomuch that other students called him Suevicam Nâ—ctuam the Swevian Night-crow He heard Luther and Melancthons Lectures with â—uch diligence as also Bugenhag reading upon Deuteronomie Cruciger sen. upon Saint John George Major reading private Lectures upon Genesis Besides which hee attended the publick Sermons of these famous men which he wrote repeated meditated on and laboured to rivet in his memory An. Christi 1540 he commenced Master of Arts. He preached also abroad in the villages on the Sabbath dayes And thus having spent five yeares in his studies he returned home with an ample testimony from Melancthon and the University When he came home the Pastors of the Church appointed him to Preach which he performed with great approbation and commendation of all His Parents rejoycing much at his proficiency would needs have him employ his Talent in his own country and at Stutgard Snepfius being Superintendent examined him and finding his abilities said Dominus te mihi obtulit the Lord hath offered thee unto me Being but twenty two years old he was made Deacon at Tubing In which employment he continued six yeares and followed his studies in that University He also privately read Mathematick Lectures to many and sometimes preached in the Castle of Tubing before Prince Ulrick who loved him very well and told his Courtiers that he would prove a great Divine The year 1546 was fatall by the death of Luther and the war of the Emperour began against the Duke of Saxony and the Lantgrave of Hesse Anno Christi 1547 Heerbrand married a wife Margaret the daughter of Conrade Stamler Consul of Tubing by whom he had eight sons and three daughters An. Christi 1548 came forth that accursed Interim at which time Heerbrand amongst other Ministers that rejected it was banished from Tubing And being out of employment hee studyed Hebrew till Prince Ulrick being dead his son Christopher who succeeded him called back the Ministers and Heerbrand amongst them to their former places Hee also made him Pastor of Herrenberg Anno Christi 1550 he commenced Doctor in Divinity and the
with above seven swift Notaries who wrote that which he dictated to them Whilest he continued at Alexandria there came a Souldier with Letters from the Governour of Arabia to Demerius the Bishop of that Sea and to the Lieutenant of Egypt desiring them with all speed to send Origen to him which might communicate to him some part of his Doctrine Hereupon he took his voyage into Arabia and instructed the Governour thereof and hearing that Beryllus Bishop of Bostra inâ— Arabia taught that our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ before his incarnation had no being and that he had no proper Divinity but only his Fathers Divinity dwelling in him about which Heresie many Bishops had dealt with him by conference and disputation and yet could not reclaim him Origen was sent for who conferred with him at first to finde the ground of his opinion after which perceiving him not to believe aright he rebuked him perswaded him with reasons convinced him by manifest proofs and so restored him to the truth He wrote 22. Tomes upon the Gospel of St. John 12. upon Genesis five upon the Lamentations of Ieremy Annotations upon the first five and twenty Psalms two Books of the Resurrection one of Principal Beginnings ten called Stromateis He wrote also Commentaries upon Isaiah in 30. Tomes upon Ezekiel in 25. Tomes upon the Canticks in ten Books c. Whilst Origen executed his Pastoral Office at Caesarea which was after he had left Alexandria many flocked to his Ministry not only men of that Countrey but also infinite Forreiners who forsaking their Native soil came to be his Disciples amongst whom were Theodorus and Athenodorus two brethren who after they had continued with him five years profited so much in the holy Scripture that they were ordained Bishops in Pontus And now Origen being above sixty years old and much worn and wasted by reason of his incessant studies and painfull exercises at length permitted that those things which he had publickly preached and disputed of should by his Notaries be copied out which before he would not suffer to be done About the same time also he wrote his Book against Celsus the Epicure intituled the word of truth Then 25. Tracts upon the Gospel of St. Matthew and 25 upon the Minor Prophets he wrote also above an hundred Epistles About this time there arose some Hereticks in Arabia who taught that the soul dyeth together with the body and that in the General Resurrection they should arise together and be restored to life again For which cause a Synod was congregated and Origen was sent for who so strenuously disputed against these Hereticks that he withdrew their seduced minds from this foul errour Decius succeeding Thilip in the Roman Empire raised a persecution against the Church wherein amongst others Origen suffered grievous things the spitefull Devil deadly pursuing him with his whole Troop striving against him with all the might and sleight that could be possibly invented so that for the Doctrine of Christ he sustained imprisonments torments of body scourging at Iron stakes stench of dark and loathsom dungeons and for many days his feet lay stretched four spaces asunder in the stocks all which he patiently endured together with the terrible threats of fire and all that the enemie could invent against him After all which he died under Gallus and Volusianus being 69. years old Anno Christi 220. It is to be wondred at what pious ejaculations comfortable prayers and zealous exhortations he made and gave to the Christians in the extremity of his sufferings retaining his valour and constancy to the giving up of his Ghost One saith of him Origeni nulla pars aetatis periit à studiis That Origens whole life was a continued study And another saith Origenis ingenium sufficiebat ad omnia perdiscenda that he had such pregnancy of wit that he could learn any thing that he had a wonderfull faculty in expressing himself ex tempore and that he was wondrous quick and able to explicate obscure places of Scripture Jerome stiles him Magistrum Ecclesiarum post Apostolos Another saith Quis ex Scriptoribus qui post Origenem vixeâ—â— non â—â—â—gniter ab eo est adjutus Who of all the writers that lived after Origen that was not singularly holpen by his Labours He used to say That Gods Providence hath ordained all things for some end and purpose He made not malice and though be can restrain it yet he will not For if malice were not vertue should not have a contrary and so could not shine so clear For the malice of Josephs Brethren was the means whereby God brought about many admirable works of his providence as the story sheweth Opera Origenis Tomis duobus Basiliae 1536. apud Frobenium sunt edita CIPRIAN The Life of Cyprian who dyed Anno Christi 259. CYprian was an African born in the ancient City of Carthage and being educated in the study of the Liberal Arts he profited so much therein that whilest he was young he was chosen Professor of Rhetorick Yet was he at first a Gentile and Idolator loose and profane in his practise and much addicted to the study of Magical Arts But it pleased God who had chosen him to be a vessel of mercy for his own glory to convert him by the means and Ministry of Cecilius a godly Presbyter of Carthage whose name he ever afterwards bore and through the occasion of hearing him preach upon the History of the Prophet Jonas Immediatly upon his conversion he distributed all his goods amongst the poor And the Carthagenians perceiving in him a very great zeal and ardour for the propagation of the Christian Religion they prevailed with him to be ordained a Presbyter in which office he so worthily demeaned himself that not long after he was made the Bishop of the Church of Carthage and therein gave an excellent example of Modesty Humility Charity Greatness of mind and Fidelity His modesty appeared in that in all great and weighty businesses he would never determin or act any thing of himself but by the common consent and advice of his Presbyters yea he many times called in the help and assistance of the whole Church His humility appeared in that he was never tenacious nor wilfull in his own judgement but what was wholsomly advised and counselled by his brethren and Collegues that he willingly assented to His charity was notably seen in that he did not only commend the care of the poor to his Presbyters but himself also according to his ability was alwayes forward in ministring to them The greatness of his mind appeared in this speech of his Si qui sunt c. If there be any saith he that think to adjoyn themselves to the Church not by their prayers but by their threats not by their humiliation and satisfaction when they have scandalized the Brethren but by their great words and
impiety On the contrary Socrates out of Eusebius his writings endeavours to vindicate him from that charge Learned Scultetus thus reconciles them Aries saith he denyed two things The Eternity of the Son of God his Co-equality with the Father Eusebius doth every where profess the Eternity of Christ But his Co-equality he never seriously believed He used to say That Moses wrote the Old Law in dead Tables of stone but Christ did write the perfect Documents of the New Testament in living Souls He flourished under Constantinus Magnus and Constantius His Ecclesiastical History is well known besides which he wrote some other Books as Libri Praeparationis Evangelicae 15. Libri Demonstrationis Evangelicae decem and some others which are lost The Life of Lactantius who flourished An. Chri. 308. LUcius Caelius was an Italian by birth and from his Country Firmia was called Firmtanus d lacteo dicendi genere was called Lactantius He sometime lived at Rome where he was scholar to Arnobius under whom he profited exceedingly and became so famous for his Eloquence that he far surpassed his Master therein Wimphelingus contends to have him a German by birth and saith that there is till this day a famous family of the Firmiani in Germany who boast themselves to be the Progenie of Lactantius Having perfected his Studies at Rome he went into Bythinia where he taught Oratory under the raign of Dioclesian and Constantine and when he saw the Christian Religion to want some Eloquent Defenders of it he took pen in hand and besides divers others writings which are perished he wrote his seven Books of Institutions against the Gentiles a Book De Ira Dei of the Anger of God and another of Gods Workmanship Also an Epitome of the Divine Institutions Other things that are fathered upon him are spurious saith the Learned Scultetus About the nineteenth year of Dioclesian there was an horrible Persecution raised against the Church of Christ wherein the Christian Churches were demolished the Sacred Scriptures and other godly Books were burnt the Christians themselves were dragged to most inhumane tortures and torments yea where any were found that constantly adhered unto Christ they were cruelly martyred yet it pleased God to hide Lactantius in this great storm though he retained his Piety fearing no torments but resolved both in Life and Death to cleave close unto Christ. He Dedicated most of his Works to Constantin Magn. Hierom faith of him Lactantius quasi quidâ—m fluvius Tullianae Eloquentis Lactantius flowed with Eloquence yea as abounding as Tullie himself c. In his old Age for his rare Parts he was appointed Tutor to Constantine's Son He was so far from seeking after riches that he died very poor He used to say That godliness alwayes enriches the possessor He flourished under Dioclesian Anno Christi 308. ATHANATIVS The Life of Athanasius who dyed Anno Christi 375. AThanasius was born in Alexandria and by the care of his Parents was brought up in all sorts of Learning both Humane aud Divine Being a boy upon a solemn sestival day he was playing amongst other boys who would needs imitate the Church in her Sacred Offices and for that end they chose Athanasius for their Bishop who acted his part well examining other boys about the Principles of Religion to prepare them for Baptism It fell out that whilest they were at their sport came by Alexander the Bishop of Alexandria and observing the manner of their past-time he called them before him examining every boy what part he had acted thereby gathering their dispositions for future imployments Then did he cause them all to be carefully educated in good Learning but above all he took a love to and was exceeding careful of the education of Athanasius for his ingenuity diligence and towardliness and when he came to ripeness of years he made him Deacon and finding him a nimble and good Disputant he took him with him to the Council of Nice summoned by Constantine the Great against the Arians to aid and assist him in his Disputations which procured him much hatred and trouble from the Arians as afterwards we shall hear Alexander having by long familiarity with him gained experience of his Piety Parts and Zeal in defending the Truth against the Hereticks of those times when he lay upon his death bed was directed by God to choose Athanasius for his successor in his Bishopâ—ick which Athanasius having intelligence of hid himself that he could not be found Yet did Alexander call for him and when he came not being now near death he said O Athanasius thou thinkest that thou canst escape yet shalt thou not escape this Office After the death of Alexander he was searched out and made his Successor This so irritated the Arians who had now crept into favour with the old Emperor that they sought by all means to cast him out of Alexandria and for that end they accused him to the Emperour as the Author of much Sedition and of many tumults in the Church they charged him with keeping many out of the Church which desired to return into the Unity of it by which means Peace and Concord was prevented they procured many Bishops and Presbyters to attest the truth of these things to the Emperour professing themselves to be Orthodox and accusing Athanasius and the Bishops that adhered to him to be the Authors of the murthers bonds unjust stripes wounds and burnings in the Church Athanasius on the contrary wrote to the Emperour that those Arians were the Authors of unlawful Ordinations and of innovating the Decrees of the Council of Nice of corrupting the Faith of Seditions and of prosecuting the Orthodox with unjust contumelies and reproaches The good old Emperour in these various informations knew not whom to believe but the Arians being about him having his Ear at command they procured the Emperour to write to Athanasius to require him to prohibit none from entring into the Church and if he should do otherwise he threatned to drive him out of Alexandria and to place another Bishop in his room Hereupon Athanasius wrote back to the Emperour labouring to convince him that the Arians ought not to be admitted to communicate with the Catholick Church Eusebius one of the chiefest of these Arians perceiving that he could not this way prevail against Athanasius intended secretly to make him away but not finding how to effect it he spake with the Miletians other Hereticks promising that if they would accuse Athanasius to the Emperour he would so far prevail with him and some other great persons about him that their cause should be heard Hereupon they put in a charge against Athanasius that he had imposed a Tribute of Linnen Garments upon the Egyptians affirming that he had also gathered the same But it pleased God that by chance there were present Alippius and Macarius two Presbyters of Alexandria who easily refelled and wiped off
time Cyril having reformed his former miscarriages was again placed in the Bishoprick of Hierusalem by that good Emperour and he proved an eminent instrument of Gods glory and his Churches good Insomuch as one saith of him that he was Magnae sanctimoniae vir a man of great Sanctity Learning and Wisdom he endured many heavy things for the testimony of Faith and a good Conscience being often forced to forsake his place by the rage of the Arians He was very charitable insomuch that in a great Famine many poor people resorting to him for relief he gave them all he had and that not sufficing he took the Vessels and Church Ornaments and sold them to relieve their wants When Julian the Emperour had given command to re-edifie the Temple at Jerusalem in his time one night there was such a terrible Earthquake that it parted the very stones of the foundation and so all the upper buildings fell down and when many Jews came together to behold what was done suddenly there came fire from Heaven that consumed all the tools and instruments of the workmen Epiphanius gives him this testimony He not only not feared to encounter Acrcius the Arian but did Christianly and faithfully oppose divers other Heretical Bishops Hierom also saith thus of him Cyril that valiant Souldier and Combatant for Jesus Christ that most constant maintainer of the Orthodox Faith for many years together strove for the propagation of Divine Truth suffered various and heavy Persecutions being exercised in such dangers from almost the beginning of Constantius his reign to the reign of Theodosius yet all this while in the midst of these manifold afflictions he kept his first resolution and dyed in the Faith at last Anno Christi 365. He used to say Some come to the Church to see fashions others to meet their friends yet it s better to come so then not at all in the mean time the Net is cast out and they which intended nothing less are drawn in to Christ who catches them not to destroy them but that being dead he may bring them to life eternal He wrote divers Treatises which are called his Catechisms upon the principal Heads of Divinity The Life of Ephrem Syrus who dyed Anno Christi 404. EPhrem Syrus was born in Nisiba and by the care of his Parents was educated in Learning in the study whereof he was exceeding industrious insomuch that without the help of an instructer he attained to excellent skill in the Syriack tongue He was also a great Philosopher and a very good Orator so that he far excelled most of the Greek writers Basil Bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia did wonderfully admire and commend him for his Learning He is said to have written three hundred thousand verses which were much esteemed in those times many endeavouring to imitate his Learing therein amongst whom were Abbas Zenobias Abraham Meras and Symeon all of them famous amongst the Syrians and amongst all such as diligently study that language But besides his exquisite Learning he also gat great honour and commendations for his many good works and exact course of life He was very grave and severe in his carriage and living a single life that he might prevent all calumnies and scandals he shunned the sight of a woman For the report goes that a certain woman dissolute in life and manners and of an impudent face either on purpose to tempt the man or else being hired thereto by some others on purpose met him in the City gate and earnestly stared in his face Ephrem taking notice of it sharply rebuked her and bade her look down upon the ground But the woman answered How can I do that who am not made out of the Earth but of thee It s more meet that thou shouldst look upon the ground from whence thou hadst thy original but that I should look upon thee from whom I was procreated Ephrem wondering at the woman went his ways and wrote a Book of these passages betwixt them which the learned in the Syrian tongue do much esteem It s also recorded of him that though by nature he was very cholerick and all his Youth could not bridle his anger yet after he entred into this strict course of life he was never seen to be angry with any man Having fasted divers days one of his Servants that was bringing him his supper let the Earthen Pitcher fall wherein it was and brake it and Ephrem seeing him overwhelmed with fear and shame said to him Be of good cheer let us go to our supper since it will not come to us and so sitting down by the fragments of the pot did eat his supper He was very humble full of self-denyal and a great enemy to vain-glory as will notably appear by this example Upon a time he was voted to an Episcopacy and they that had chosen and designed him thereto sought him out to bring him to the place where he was to be created Bishop which as soon as he understood he ran into the Market place and there by sundry signs made shew as if he was crack-brained so that they that came for him thinking him to be besides himself took further counsel what to do by which means he having gained time fled privily away and concealed himself till he had heard that they had chosen another Bishop to that place Another notable example of his charitable disposition will appear by this instance Upon a time there was a very great Famine in Edessa whereupon Ephrem coming out of his house and calling many rich men together he grievously accused and complained of them that the poor were almost starved whilest they in a covetous manner kept their riches by them which saith he will in the end turn to your own great loss and to the torment of your souls whereas you ought to prefer the wealth of your souls not only before all your riches but before your very bodies themselves They hearing this were much affected with his words and said thus unto him Truly we care not much for our riches but we know not whom to commit them to to be faithfully distributed amongst the Poor seeing that almost every man is infected with the desire of lucre and gain and they use to make merchandise and advantage to themselves upon such occasions Then said Ephrem to them What do you judge of me To whom they answered We judge you to be a very faithful good and upright dealing man as every man esteems you to be Well said he and for your sakes I will undertake this great and trouble some work and so receiving their money he caused three hundred beds to be provided and laid in the cloisters placing in them such as were sick by reason of the terrible Famine for whom he made convenient Provision and not only for them but also for strangers and for all such as were driven by
their large possessions whereupon she with her husband resolved to bequeath all their Revenues to the maintenance of Poor Christians Yet at last God was pleased to answer her requests giving her a son which she named Theodoret The gift of God He proved of great acuteness and in a short time profited so in Piety and in Letters that he was made a Bishop whilest he was yet a young man and shortly after he set forth that excellent work which he called The History of the Lovers of God He was a great opposer of Hereticks and wrote much against them and reduced many round about him that were Marcionites even to the hazard of his life He was wondrous charitable visiting and refreshing the bowels of the poor He was a careful imitator of Chrysostom whom he always proposed as a worthy pattern for his stile in his writings and by this means he proved very fluent and eloquent which his learned Works do plainly declare His Commentaries upon the Scriptures are very excellent wherein he resolved many of the hardest questions in the Old Testament He shewed much learning in his Divine Treatise Of Gods Providence He very strongly opened and confuted the fond conceits of abundance of Hereticks as of Simon Magus Menander Basilides Carpocrates c. A Synod being appointed at Ephesus to stop the Heresie of Nestorius and Cyril coming first thither not knowing that the Bishops of Syria were coming also he of himself condemned Nestorius which afterward caused much contention especially between Theodoret and Cyril But Theodosius junior calling them together to Constantinople by his eare and wisdom healed this breach and Theodoret and Cyril were wondrous loving each to other ever after In that famous Council of Chalcedon wherein were above six hundred Bishops he was stiled by their unanimous consent Catholicus Orthodoxus Ecclesiae Pastor Doctor sincerus A Catholick and Orthodox Pastor of the Church and a sincere Teacher of the Truth Gennadius testifieth of his writings that they were strengthened with impregnable and undeniable Arguments by which with Reasons and Testimonies of Scripture he proves and confirms that Christ was truly incarnate of the Virgin Mary Bellarmine stiles him Viram plane doctissimum An absolute learned man He wrote an Ecclesiastical History which is of great use to the Church He dyed in the reign of Theodosius junior being not very old but rather spent with labors and studies then with age He used to say That the delights of the Soul are to know her Maker to consider his Works and to know her own Estate His Works were printed in two Tomes at Collen Anno Christi 1617. Which besides his Ecclesiastical History contain Expositions upon many portions both of the Old and New Testament JEROM The Life of Hierom who dyed Anno Christi 422. HIerom was born in a Town called Stridon in the confines of Dalmatia and Pannonia Anno Christi 331. His Fathers name was Eusebius a pious and godly man who before his Country was overrun and sacked by the barbarous Goths who about this time laid all waste before them was a man of a middle and competent estate and very careful of the education of this his Son His Mother also was a religious Woman and therefore from his infancy he was trained up like another Timothy in the knowledge of Christ and of the sacred Scriptures and as he grew in years so did he also in learning and when he was a boy he was by his Parents sent to Rome at that time the most famous place both for Piety and Religion in the West where he was brought up in the study of the Liberal Sciences For they seemed to foresee that they had begotten a son for the good of the World and therefore in his Education they did not indulge their private affections but sought to promote the publick good He quickly by reason of his ingenuity became very expert both in the Greek and Latine Tongues then he became a very good Grammarian and Rhetorician having an excellent wit and being of an indefatigable disposition And it was his hap to have excellent Schoolmasters Donatus for the Grammer and Victorinus for Rhetorick who were at that time famous men in Rome Afterwards being grown riper in years he fell to the study of Philosophy of all sorts as Aristotles Platos the Stoicks c. Yet he spent not too much time herein but proceeded to the study of History Cosmography and Antiquities because he perceived that even to that time amongst the Latines Theology was but an Infant whereupon many ahhorred reading of Divinity books and therefore he thought that if a man could attain to set forth the Dignity of Theology with excellency of speech it would come more into request besides he thought by this means to stop the mouths of the Ethnicks who reproached Christians as barren and barbarous persons He had for his fellow Students Pammachius of Noble Parentage a man of such I earning and Integrity that he was solicited to be Bishop of Rome Bonosus who also proved very famous Heliodorus whose vertue advanced him to a Bishoprick Having now sufficiently profited in the knowledge of Humane Arts he proceeded to more grave and weighty studies and after the example of other worthy men for the further polishing of his minde with Wisdom and Experience he travelled all over France procuring the acquaintance of and familiarity with the most worthy men of that Country Bonosus also was his companion in these travels He was very diligent in searching the Libraries in every place where he came and at Trevir he wrote out with his own hand a great Volume of Hilary de Synodis and having much profited himself not only in Learning but Religion also after a long time he returned to visit his Countries both where he was born and where he was new born 〈◊〉 Then did he begin to consider what course of 〈…〉 take himself to and in what place to fix his habitation 〈◊〉 that it would much conduce to his comfort if he 〈…〉 such a course with judgement as was most sutable to his 〈◊〉 He seriously considered that Rome was as yet over spread with Paganism and that it was not safe for a young man to be in a place of so much pleasure which himself sometimes called Babylon He also considered that his own Country was cerrupted with barbarous pleasures as himself somewhere notes in one of his Epistles Whereupon he consulted with some of his intimate friends resolving to depart to some place where he might with more privacy follow the study of Divinity and wholly dedicate himself to Christ. It was also a great trouble to his minde to consider how Christians and Pagans were intermixed together whence it necessarily came to pass that many who professed Christ were Christians rather in name then in truth He considered further that in marriage besides other incumbrances he should
lose his freedom And that in the life of Ministers and Bishops there was a great deal of danger that will he nill he he must be intangled with riches honours and cares of the World and thereby be cast upon many temptations Besides the lives of many of them displeased him seeing the ancient Piety of the Ministry to begin to degenerate into Pride and Tyranny All these things seriously considered he began to be in love with a Monastick life which in those times did far differ from their lives in future Ages which was afterwards intangled with Ceremonies and Superstitions For in those times they had liberty to change their condition when they pleased to go whither they pleased they had a great deal of freedom to attend their studies betaking themselves to Fasting and Prayer they were not bound under any humane constitutions Their Apparel was mean yet not enjoyned but left to every ones free will not which was noted for prodigious novelty so that every one might point at them with the finger but which was most agreeable with Christian simplicity they were tyed by no Vows but such as every true Christian ought to be subject to Having resolved upon this course of life his next endeavour was to associate some companions to him therein But Pammachius who hitherto had been his chamber-fellow and fellow-student for his course of life was wholly of another disposition The greatest freedom was most pleasing to Hierom and a married life to Pammachius Bonosus having setled his affairs forsaking his Country Parents and Friends and only accompanyed with his Books was departed into a solitary Island and therein had out-run Hierom extricating himself from the snares of the World to enjoy more freedom in the service of Christ. Not long after Hierom having setled his affairs and provided things necessary for his journey especially a fair Library he sailed into Syria having Heliodorus for his companion who having remained a while with him in Syria disliking that course of life left him Yet did not Hierom at all break off his good esteem of him for the same Then did Hierom go to Hierusalem veiwing all the observable places about that once famous City But shortly after by reason of the change of Ayr and Country he fell into a grievous sickness at which time Evagrius entertained him into his house and shewed much kindeness to him Having recovered his health he was inflamed with an earnest desire of prosecuting his former resolution for the manner of his life and thereupon retiring himself into a Desart between the Syrians and Saracens he had no company besides wilde Beasts and Serpents and here and there a Monks Cell that had betaken himself to the same course of life as Hierom now did But before his fixing in this Wilderness he spent some time in Antiochia which yet he stayed not long in partly by reason of the celebrity of the place and partly because of a Schism that was in the Church Neither could he stay long in Chalcis because of the neighbourhood of some Arians which molested him and indeed this holy man was grievously vexed by their wicked practises who daily cited him before them to give an account of his Faith In brief he met with so many molestations that many times he repented his coming into Syria And thereupon at length he shut up himself far from the commerce of men in that forenamed Desart thinking it far better to live amongst Thieves and wilde Beasts then amongst such Christians And continuing there four years together he only conversed with Christ and his Books seriously busying himself according to his former purpose And having in his youth fallen into some loosness the first thing he did was with showres of tears to bewail his sins and to endeavour to make his peace with God Then by abstinence watchings and incredible austeritty of life to beat down his body and to bring it into subjection to his spirit that so he might be freed from all temptations to fleshly lusts and left his carnal affections should impede his heavenly life he prescribed and exacted of himself a daily task wherein he was imployed He distributed his time into two parts one for his studies the other for meditation and prayer wherein also he spent a good part of the night He allowed himself the least part for sleep less for his food and none for idleness when he was aweary of study he betook himself to Prayer or singing of a Psalm and then presently returned to his studies again He read over all his Library and then rubbed up his old studies He learned most of the Scripture by heart He meditated much upon the Prophets labouring to finde out the Mysteries of their Prophesies He extracted Christian wisdom out of the Evangelists and Apostolical Writings as out of most pure Fountains For it is the first step to Piety to acquaint our selves with the Truths of God Then he read over the Works of such as had Commented thereon with great Judgement not pretermitting the Works of Ethnicks and Hereticks For he knew how to gather Gold out of a Dunghil and Honey out of Weeds leaving the Poyson to Spiders then did he collect what he could out of the Egyptian Writers endeavouring to beautifie the House of God by the spoils of his Enemies And for the help of his Memory and to make him more prompt he digested all that he read into certain heads and common places â—ut especially he read over Origens Works whom he called Suum his own and some of whose Homilies whilest he was a young man he had turned into Latin His reading also he mixed with writing About this time he interpreted the Prophesie of Obadiah Allegorically because he knew not the History as himself afterwards confessed in his Preface to his second Interpretation of that Prophesie in which he makes amends for his former youthly precipitation In brief he pretermitted nothing that might make him an admirable Doctor of the Church and a most accomplished Divine that nothing might be wanting in his Learning nothing amiss in his Life which might any whit tend to the diminishing of the credit of his Doctrine Afterwards also finding by experience that many secrets could not be understood nor handled as they ought to be without learning those Languages wherein they were first written and taught by hard study and industry he overcame the difficulties which are in the Hebrew tongue Yea he did not only labour for the knowledge of it but to give the right sound and pronuntiation to some barbarous and strange Languages which he studied And for his perfecting in the Hebrew he did with great charges hire the most learned of the Jews to instruct him emptying his Purse to enrich his Soul with Learning He also learned the Chalde because the Books of Job Daniel and some other Portions of the Old Testament though they were written in Hebrew yet much use of
this he called for a sum of money which as a faithful Steward he daily used to distribute amongst the Poor willing it all to be presently divided and reciting by name the Widdows Orphans and Poor he allotted to every one his portion Soon after in the midst of his Prayers dyed this blessed servant of God and famous Doctor of the Church in the 65. year of his Age Anno Christi 529. having been Bishop about 25 years He was very powerful in Prayer as may appear by this example Some time before his death the Moores invaded the Territories of Ruspa filling all places with Rapines Murthers Burnings and Devastations not sparing the Churches themselves but murthering such as fled to them for refuge But yet so long as Fulgentius lived the City of Ruspa remained in safety and when all the rest of the Province was under miserable Captivity that City alone enjoyed an happy Peace He wrote many excellent Treatises against Hereticks besides sundry Sermons and Epistles His moving and affectionate Eloquence was such as that the Bishop of Carthage hearing him Preach two days together in his Church could not refrain from tears Rejoycing that God had given to his Church in those afflicted and comfortless times such a worthy Instrument of his Glory He used to say Christ dyed for Men and Angels for Men that they might rise from sin and for Angels that they might not fall into sin And If they go to Hell that do not feed the hungry cloath the naked c. what will become of them that take away bread from the hungry cloaths from the naked c. If want of charity be tormented in Hell what will become of covetousnass His Mother having committed the charge of her house to him in his youth he so mannaged it that he gat this testimony that he was Matri praefidium domesticis solatium c. A safeguard to his Mother a comfort to the Family and to all with whom he conversed a rare example In the midst of his greatest sufferings he used to say Plura pro Christo toleranda We must suffer more then this for Christ. His Works are Printed at Lyons Anno Christi 1633. GREGORY Y E GREAT The Life of Gregory the Great who dyed Anno Christi 605. GRegory the Great was born in Rome his Father was a Senator by name Gordianus his Mothers name was Sylvia a woman Noble by birth but both of them more Noble for their Piety Our Gregory in his tender years was carefully educated by his Parents being instructed both in Religion and Literature and as he grew in years so he encreased in Learning which he retained with a firm Memory whereby he was enabled afterwards to make good use of it for the profit and benefit of the Church of God Having gone through the study of other Arts he spent two years in reading of Pythagoras but finding little satisfaction therein he at last with much diligence breathed after more Divine studies And after his Fathers death having more freedom in disposing of himself and his estate he gave all his riches towards the relief of the Poor and betook himself to a Monastical life first under Hillarion and afterwards under Maximianus who both of them were famous for their Piety and Learning He was very abstemious in his Dyet frequent in Fasting and Prayer and so studious of the Sacred Srriptures that he could scarse finde leasure to eat his food till necessity urged him thereunto And indeed his abstinence was so great that he much impaired his health thereby yet would he not give over his imployments spending all his time in Prayer Reading Writing or Dictating to others His humility was very exemplary for though he came of Noble Parents yet had he so little respect to his discent that with tears he would often say That all Earthly Glory was miserable if the owner of it did not seek after the Glory of God He was very exact in spending his time saying that he was to give an account of it unto God Neither was he less charitable to the souls of others For on a time when many Merchants were met to sell their commodities at Rome it happened that Gregory passed by them and saw many young boys with white bodies fair faces beautiful countenances and lovely hair set forth to sail whereupon going to the Merchant their owner he asked him from what Country he brought them The Merchant answered from Britain where the Inhabitants were generally so beautiful Then said Gregory Are they Christians or Heathens Heathens replyed the other whereupon Gregory deeply sighing said Alass for grief that such fair faces should be under the power of the Prince of Darkness and that such beautiful bodies should have their souls void of the Grace of God Then did he again ask the Merchant by what name that people were called He answered Angli Truly said he they may be called Angli quasi Angeli for they have Angles countenances and its fit they were made fellow-Citizens with the Angels Again he asked What was the name of the Province whence they came The Merchant answered Deiri well may they be of Deiri for its fit they should be pulled De ira Dei from under the wrath of God and called into the grace of Christ. Again he asked him what was the name of their King The Merchant answered Alle whereupon Gregory alluding to his name said Well is their King called Alle for its fit that Alleluja to their Creator should be sung in those parts And so going strait to Benedict who was Bishop of Rome at that time he earnestly requested him to send some Ministers into Britain for the Conversion of the Inhabitants thereof and when none could be found that would undertake that journey himself would have gone if the Bishop would have permitted it And indeed at the length by his importunity he prevailed for leave and set forwards on his journey but within three days the people of Rome so complained to Benedict of the loss of Gregory that he sent for him back which occasioned his return though with much sorrow that he was hindered in so good a work Not long after he was sent upon some Ecclesiastical affairs to the Emperour at Constantinople where though the splendor of the Court was troublesome to him yet intermitted he not his private studies and devotion and during his abode there at the request of a Bishop who was Embassador for the Visigoths he wrote a Comment upon the Book of Job Also whereas Eutychius Bishop of Constantinople had taught and writ that our bodies at the Resurrection should be impalpable more subtle then the air Gregory confuted that Error both by Reason and by the Example of Christs Body after his Resurrection whereupon ensued an hot Disputation betwixt them This the Emperour Tiberius hearing of sent for them both to him heard the
Anno Christi 1516. Anno Christi 1520. through the favor of Sir Vlrick Hutten he was called to Ments by the Archbishop thereof to be the Preacher and Counsellor to the Prince at which time also Gasper Hedeo was made Preacher and chief Governor over the highest Church in Ments Capito did the more willingly embrace this call that he might plant the reformed Religion in Ments Concerning his commencing Doctor he thus writes in an Epistle to Hutten Juris Pontificii ut vocant Doctoratum suscepi propter authoritatem videlicet comparandam scopam subolescis Licet interim sint aliqui qui vitio vertunt Theologum esse unà simul Civilem quasi Theologus necesse habet omnem exuere humanitatem Anno Christi 1521. Tecelius the Merchant of Indulgences being dead by the order of the Archbishop of Ments Letters Patents for the renewing of them were set to sale at Hale in Saxony whereupon Luther wrote to the Archbishop and Melancthon to Capito his Counsellor to disswade them from such Merchandize Capito therefore secretly favouring the Gospel so far prevailed with his Master that he wrote mildly and humbly to Luther And Capito also wrote to him to advise him that in writing against the vices of Prelates he should not name them For saith he Exasperantur potius animi insectatione quà m curantur mens mindes by such bitterness are rather exasperated then cured Capito thus continuing with the Elector of Ments was very dear unto him for his rare Wisdom joined with Piety his happy Eloquence and mild Nature so that by him he was sent upon many Embassies And February the 7. Anno Christi 1523. he was by the Emperour Charles the Fifth endowed for himself and posterity with the Ensignes of Nobility under the Imperial Seal But not much esteeming these things when he saw that he could not accomplish his purpose at Ments to the wonder of the Archbishop and astonishment of the Courtiers he left it and followed Bucer to Strasborough where he was called to a Pastoral charge The fame of Capito and Bucer did so spred abroad that James Faber Stapulensis and Gerard Ruâ—us came privily out of France to them being sent by Margaret Queen of Navar and sister to Francis King of France where they discoursed largely with them of all the heads of Divinity So that France oweth the beginning of her embracing the reformed Religion as to other godly Ministers so especially to Capito and Bucer Capito was a very Prudent and Eloquent man a good Hâ—brician and studious of Peace Concerning the Sacrament he said Mittendas esse contentiones cogitandum de usu ipsius coenae fidem nostram pane vino Domini per memoriam carnis sanguinis illìus pascendam Anno 1525 he was called into his own Country where he instructed his Brethren in the Doctrine of the Gospel preached and administred the Lords Supper to his own Citizens and Baptized without the Popish Ceremonies and whereas in Helvetia many seemed to incline to the reformed Religion Capito often went amongst them confirming them in the Faith And in a Disputation at Bern in Helvetia Anno Christi 1528. Capito with many other Divines was present at it defending the Truth against the Adversaries so that he with the rest prevailed for the abolishing of the Mass and setting up a faithful Ministry in that place The rest of his time he spent in Preaching at Strasborough and giving wholsome counsel to the Churches Anno Christi 1541. when a Diet was appointed at Ratisbone especially for the cause of Religion Capito amongst other Divines was sent by the Protestants to it where he gave an excellent demonstration of his wit and judgement But when nothing could be effected returning home in a great and general infection he dyed of the Plague Anno Christi 1541. of his Age 63. He was a man of an excellent wit and judgement constant in Religion A great lover of the Schools and Learning wherefore he exhorted to the repairing of Schools and keeping up Scholastical Titles that the studious might be distinguished from the slothful the Seniors from the Juniors and that diligence might be spurred on by hope of honest glory When Erasmus halted between two opinions he continually called upon him to put off that Nicodemus-like temper His first wife was Agnes a learned woman after whose death he marryed the Widdow of Oecolampadius his intire friend He left to posterity these excellent works Institutionum Hebraicarum libriduo Enarrationes in Habacuc Hoseans Prophetas Vita Johannis Oecolampadii De formando puro Theologo Explicatio doctissima in Hexameron opus Dei LEO JVDAE The Life of Leo Iudae who dyed An. Chri. 1542. LEO Judae was born An. Chr. 1482. his fathers name was John Judae his mothers name was Elizabeth By the care of his Father he was brought up at School in Slestadia where having learned Grammer he went to Basil An. Chr. 1502. There he joined in study with Zuinglius was an hearer of Dr. Wittenbash by whom he was instructed in the knowledg of the Gospel There also he continued in his studies till he commenced Master of Arts Anno Christi 1512. after which he was made a Deacon and from thence he was called into Helvetia where he set himself to the study of the Oriental Tongues and to read the Fathers especially Hierom and Augustine as also he read diligently the Books of Luther Erasmus and Capito At length being called to a Pastoral charge at Zurick he opposed the Popish Doctrine and Ceremonies both in the Pulpit and Press so that his fame spread far and near there he continned eighteen years and spent much of it in expounding the Old Testament out of the Hebrew wherein being grown very skilful he set upon at the importunity of his Brethren of the Ministry the translation of the Old Testament out of the Hebrew wherein also he was much holpen by the industry of other learned men His care was to get the most exact Hebrew copy that he could which also he compared with others neither did he neglect to examine the Greek and Latine versions that by all he might the better finde out the genuine signification of the words and minde of the Holy Ghost But this work proving very great he was so wasted with labor and old age that he dyed before he finished it Anno Christi 1542. and of his Age 60. leaving undone Job the forty last Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes Canticles and the eight last Chapters of Ezekiel which he commended to Theodore Bibliander to finish who accordingly did it and he left all to Conradus Pellican to peruse and put to the Press which he carefully performed Four days before his death sending for the Pastors and Professors of Zurick he made before them a Confession of his Faith concerning God the Scriptures the Person and Offices of Christ concluding Huic
the vain phancies of phanatick persons cleaving to the Truth without deviation He shunned in his Sermons strange and uncouth expressions by which erroneous persons oft disturb the peace of the Church He always opposed the Anabaptistical Errors and was very careful to preserve the Truth from corruptions He often contemplated the footsteps of God in Nature saying with Paul That God was so near unto us that he might almost be felt with our hands He studyed the Mathematicks in his latter time and grew so skilful therein that few excelled him He was excellent also in the Opticks but with his excessive pains and incessant studies night and day he contracted to himself a mortal disease whereby he wasted away and yet his intellectuals decayed not he lay sick for above three months all which time he gave forth clear and notable demonstrations of his Faith Patience and Piety He called up his two young daughters and caused them to repete their Prayers before him and then himself prayd with great fervency for himself the Church and those his Orphans concluding Invoco te quanquam languidâ imbecillâ fide sed fide tamen credo promissioni tuae quam sanguine tuo resurrectione obsignasti c. I call upon thee with a weak yet with a true Faith I believe thy promises which thou hast sealed to me with thy Blood and Resurrection c. In his sickness he intermitted not his studies for during the same he turned into Latine Luthers books concerning the last words of David he read he Psalms and other Authors His ordinary discourse with his friends was about the Principles of Religion the admirable government of the Church Immortality and our sweet Communion in Heaven Upon the sixth of November there was a great Chasm or opening in the Heavens and in some places fire fell to the Earth and flew up into the ayr again This Cruciger saw as he lay in his bed in the night and thereupon much bewayled the great commotions and dissipations in the Church with he forelaw by this Prodigie He spent the few days which remained in Prayer and Repentance and so quietly ended his days Nov. 16. Anno Christi 1548. and of his Age 45. Considering the mutability of all Earthly things he used often to say Omnia praetereunt praeter amare Deum Besides Gods love nothing is sure And that for ever doth endure He was a man of an excellent wit whose daily and indefatigable labors were not only very useful to the University of Wittenberg but even to forraign Nations and Churches He had a plentiful knowledge of the Celestial Doctrine which by his ardent Piety and assistance of the Holy Ghost was daily encreased in him He was so exact and ready in the Hebrew tongue that he easily excelled all others that joined with him in the translation of the Bible In his Sermons and speeches he had a sound Judgement joyned with an Eloquent Tongue He shewed the greatness of his minde by his exact knowledge and skill in the Mathematicks wherein he was deservedly accounted inferiour to none And these gifts he adorned with many other excellent vertues with gravity constancy and moderation in every condition with bounty toward strangers and hearty love to his friends He published sundry Commentaries upon the Psalms Iohn and the first Epistle of Paul to Timothy Lectures upon two Articles of the Nicene Creed He turned many of Luthers Lectures and Sermons out of Dutch into Latine and others out of Latine into Dutch The Life of Matthias Zellius who dyed Anno Christi 1548. MAtthias Zellius was born in Alsatia in a Town called Keisersberg Anno Christi 1477. and was trained up in Learning by his Parents from his childhood and afterwards set to the Publick Schools From whence he went to the University where his proficiency was very exemplary And being well grounded in the Arts he commenced Master of Arts and then applyed himself to the study of Divinity Not long after he went to Strasborough where he was Ordained a Minister and Anno Christi 1522. he was made Pastor of S. Lawrence Church At which time Luthers Doctrine spreading abroad Zellius compared it with the Doctrine of his Adversaries the Papists and upon mature deliberation and examination imbraced that of Luther whereupon he began publickly to defend it perswading the Citizens of Strasborough to entertain it Assoon as the Bishop heard hereof he cited him to appear in his Court and caused twenty four Articles to be drawn up against him amongst which these were some That he taught Iustification by Faith That be defended Luther That he Preached against the Mass Held the Marriage of Priests lawful Denyed the Primacy of the Bishop of Rome and Humane Traditions Hereupon Zellius An. Chr. 1523. published a Book wherein he answered this charge justified his Doctrine and shewed reasons why he appeared not before the Bishop From this time forward he was much hated by the Popish Clergy and went through many dangers for asserting the Truth yet through Gods mercy he with some others so far prevailed that the Magistrates of Strasborough cast our Popery and embraced the Reformed Religion Anno Christi 1529. Zellius therefore was the first Preacher of the Truth in te Church of Strasborough To whom after a good while Symphorianus an ancient Pastor of S. Martins Church adjoined himself who formerly had been very loose in his carriage and therefore the people did the more admire this great change in him yea some of his former acquaintance led by his example did shake off Popery and embraced the Truth and truly these two were rather Popular Preachers then learned Yet Zellius was a man of singular piety And not long after Anthony Firnius Minister of S. Thomas Church joined himself to them and was the first Minister in that City that marryed a wife Yea after a while there came thither Martin Bucer Capito and D. Gaspar Hedio learned and eminent men who more strongly carryed on the work of Reformation in Strasborough viz. An. Chr. 1523. Zellius continued a faithful and painful Pastor in his Church till the year 1548. and of his Age 71. at which time it pleased God to translate him from Earth to Heaven after he had been a Preacher in Strasborough about 26 years He was a man famous not for Learning only but for other Christian vertues especially Modesty Temperance and Charity He had a good wit was of an Innocent and blameless Life Preached the Truth purely and was free from pride Not only a Theoretick but a Practical Divine What he taught he first practised himself and had a special care of the Poor Being on a time invited to supper by one of his Colleagues he found much Plate set upon his Cupboard at which he was so offended that he went away without his supper and afterwards in private so far
he was set to the study of the Law wherein he shewed such industry that he was quickly acquainted with the principles of it and being of a generous nature he loved the Truth and hated Evils often using that Proverbe of Solomon that Lying lips become not a Prince Amongst all law-Law-books he was most versed in Panormitan Having thus prepared his Wit by these Studies An. Chr. 1522 he was by Cardinal Albert Elector of Mentz and Bishop of Magdeburg chosen to be one of his Counsellors whereby he was versed in the weighty Affairs of State finding the use and benefit of his knowledge of the Law therein and being Eloquent by nature the Cardinal often made use of him to open his mind to others so that his judgement was encreased and confirmed by his industry and employments But the Controversies about Religion waxing hot at this time and Luther's books coming abroad he fell to reading of them especially De discrimine Legis Evangelii De vera paenitentia De gratia De fide De vera invocatione De usu Sacramentorum De discrimine legum divinarum humanarum De discrimine Ministerii Evangelici Politicae potestatis Yet withall suspecting his own injudiciousness he would often pray with teares to God to incline his heart to the Truth saying Deal with thy servant according to thy mercy and instruct me in thy right eousnesse He was frequent in reading the Scriptures Ecclesiastical Histories Augustine Hierom and Lombard having George Forcheme both for an helper and copartner with him in those studies He studied also Greek and Hebrew and was so perfect in the Hebrew that few excelled him He discoursed with Learned men about the Controversies and so at length having long weighed the Opinions of all he concluded that the Confession of the Reformed Churches did agree with the ancient Catholick Church of God instructed by the writingâ— of the Prophets and Apostles And though he knew what hatred and danger he exposed himself to yet he made a publique profession of the Truth giving over to joyn with the Papists in their Counsels and Idolatrous Services giving himself wholly to Prayer and reading the Scriptures and other good books assisting his Brethren with whom he lived in perfect Peace and Love exceedingly in their Governments And first of all by their joint consents he reformed the Churches in his own Country setting fit Pastors over them commanding them to teach the Word of Truth to their people He abolished the Popish Ceremonies erected Schooles allowed competent stipends to the Ministers so that all things were Reformed without any dissention or tumult and many were drawn to embrace the Truth others were confirmed therein by the judgements and examples of their pious Princes And then he was very profitable to his Country by the faithful administration of Justice to them an Christi 1545 he was called to the Government of the Churches in the Diocesse of Mersburg and for that end he sent for Phil. Melancthon and divers other godly Ministers who ordained him by the Imposition of hands and gave him a Testimonial thereof August the third 1545. Concerning which Melancthon thus writeth Nos convocati quia certe sciebamus hunc illustrissimum rincipem Georgium rectè intelligere constanter amplecti puram Evangelii Doctrinam quam Ecclesiae harum regionum â—navoce uno spiritâ— cum Catholica Ecclesia Dei profitentur eximiam ejus esse virtutem sanctitatem Testimonium nostrum de eo ritu Apostolico impositione manuum declaravimus c. He lived very continently in a single life without any defilement His Chamber was a Temple Academy and a Court for he used daily in the same to pray read write and deliberate about Government He never wronged any man willingly He did good both privately and publickly to many He was a great promoter of Peace among Princes He ended many Controversies He abhorred all seditious and turbulent counsels He was far from ambition No anger hatred or desire of revenge could ever draw him to goe against the Rules of Justice or to act any thing against the common good Many and great injuries he bore with a great minde and pardoned them for the publick peace sake And with the same moderation of minde he bore other griefs so that it might easily appeare that he was supported by Prayer to and resting himself upon God and as a learned man he knâ—w the difference between divine and humane consolations and often repeated this saying Subditus esto Deo ora eum c. Submit thy self to God and pray unto him for he is near to those that are of a contrite heart and will save the humble in spirit He employed his time so wel so that he left none for pleasures and used to say That nothing refreshed him more in his sorrows then conference with learned and godly men About all controversies in Law he used to conferre with the excellentest Lawyers who were wise and virtuous men About the nature of mans body the causes and remedies of diseases with the most skilful Physitians About the Doctrine of the Church and Ecclesiastical Affairs with Luther Justus Jonas John Bugenhag c. and many of their Disputations ful of Learning and Piety were heard to the profit of many He conferred with Joachim Camerarius about the Histories of all Ages the mutation of Empires their period and the causes thereof about the Motions of the Heavens and the effects of the Stars The last act of this Princes life shewed his Piety and Gods presence with him For falling sick of a most troublesome disease he was frequent in holy prayer for himself for all the Princes of that Family for his Country and for Germany He had some portions of holy Scripture daily read to him He made his Will wherein he set downe the Confession of his Faith and commended the defense of his Churches to his Brother He added something to the stipends of all the godly Ministers under his charge He often ruminated upon those Texts God so loved the world that he gave c. No man shal take my sheep out of my hand Come unto me all yee that are weary c. and so in holy meditations and prayer he resigned up his spirit unto God Anno Christi 1553 and of his Age 47. Amongst other parts of his Ecclesiastical Administrations every year he held two Synods wherein all the Pastors of his Diocesse met together where they had very profitable Sermons preached He was made Superintendent of those Churches of Mersburg by Augustus Duke of Saxony brother to Maurice Anno Christi 1544. His Works which he left behind him were these A Consolatory Sermon upon that speech of our Saviour None can take my sheep out of my hand A Nuptial Sermon preached at Toâ—gau at the Mariage of the Duke of Saxony to Anne the King of Denmarks Daughter Four Sermons about the Sacrament A
Henry the 8. that he could not be appeased by any other means but by the sacrificing of Cranmer During his Sermon Cranmer was set on a stage before him which sad spectacle much affected many to see him who had lived in so great honour and favour to stand there in a ragged gown ill-favour'd clothes an old cap and exposed to the contempt of all men Cole in his Sermon shewed for what Doctor Cranmer was condemned encouraged him to take his death patiently and rejoiced in his conversion to Popery But that joy lasted not long The Sermon being ended Doctor Cranmer entreated the people to pray for him that God would pardon his sin especially his Recantation which most of all troubled his conscience which he said was contrary to the truth which he thought in his heart and written for feare of death and upon the hope of life And said he That hand of mine which hath written contrary to my heart shall first be punished At these words the Doctors beganne to rage and fume and caused him to be pulled down from the stage and his mouth to be stopped that he should not speak to the people The place appointed for his Martyrdome was the same where Doctor Ridley and Master Latimer had before suffered and when he was brought to it he kneeled down and prayed and so put off his cloaths When the fire was kindled and came neer him he stretched out his right hand which had subscribed holding it so stedfast and immoveable in the fire saving that once he wiped his face with it that all might see his hand burned before his body was touched when the fire came to his body he endured it patiently standing stedfast alwaies in one place moving no more then the stake which he was bound to So long as he could speak he repeated Lord Jesus receive my spirit and so in the flames he gave up the Ghost Anno Christi 1556. and of his Age 72. Doctor Cranmers Workes were these He corrected the English translation of the Bible in many places He wrote Catechismum Doctrinae Christianae Ordinationes Ecclesiae Reformatae De ministris Ordinandis De Eucharistia Jura Ecclesiastica Contra Gardineri concionem Contra Transubstantiationis errorem Quomodo Christus adsit in Caena De esu Câ—nae Dominicae De Oblatione Christi Homilia Christiana Common-places A confutation of unwritten verities Against the Popes primacy Against Purgatory About Justification Diverse Letters to learned men The Life of Conrade Pellican who died A no Christi 1555. COnrade Pellican was born of godly and honest parents at Rubeac a Towne of Suevia neer the Hyrcinian wood Anno Christi 1478 and being carefully educated by his parents anno Christi 1484 was by them set to school to Steven Kleger of Zurick who using him gently brought him in love with learning At thirteen years of age he went to Heidleberg And after sixteen months study there returned home and his parents being poor he became an Usher in the Grammer school Many times going to a neighbour Monastery to borrow some books the Fryers solicited him to become one of their Fraternity and when he was but 16. years old he assented to it his parents not opposing because they had not wherewithall to maintain him So that anno Christi 1493 he took upon him the habit of the Frier-Minors to the great joy of all that society who used him very kindly and brought him up in all the ceremonies belonging to their worship His Unkle Jodicus Gallus coming from Heidleberg to Rubeac was much troubled that his Nephew was become a Fryer and therefore perswaded him if he did not like that course of life to leave it whilst he was a novice but our Conrade thinking that it would be a great disgrace to him to fall from his purpose refused saying That he would serve God in that course of life wherein he thought he should please God and whereby he hoped to attain eternall life At the end of the year he fell sick of the Plague but being â—et blood it pleased God beyond all expectation to restore him to health Anno 1496. he went to Tubing where he studied the liberall Arts and was much admired in that University for his quick wit He studied also School-Divinity and Cosmography wherein he profited exceedingly And meeting with a converted Jew he borrowed of him an Hebrew book of the Prophets and by his extraordinary pains found out first the letters then the reading and signification of them and being a little assisted by â—â—â—nio the Judge of the impetiall Chamber at Wormes he grew very perfect in it and hearing that there was a certain Priest at Ulme which had bought some Hebrew books of a poor Jew he went to him and amongst them met with part of a Grammer about the Coniugations of Verbs and transmutation of the Letters which he wrote out and it proved a great help to him for he had spoken before with many Jews at Worms Frankefurt Ratisbone c. and none of them could ever resolve him in any one question of Grammer It fell out by Gods providence that the year the Book-seller of Tubing had bought an Hebrew Bible compleat of a very small print which therefore none cared for This Pellican hearing of intreated him to let him look into it for some few dayes The Bookseller was content telling him that for a Florence and a halfe he might buy it Pellican much rejoyced to hear this intreating his father Guardian to be his surety and so having obtained it he thought himselfe a richer man then ever was Croesus and presently wrote to his Unkle at Spires beseeching him to bestow two Florences upon him which he much needed for the buying of a certain book This his Unkle sent him wherupon he fel close to reading of the Bible and as he went along made a Concordance gathering the roots and setting downe all those words which were seldome found And thus he went over the whole Bible from the midst of July to the end of October Then carrying to Capnio a Specimen of his works he was amaâ—â—d at so much worke in so short a time Anno Christi 1501. being twenty three years old he was ordained a Presbyter and the same year the plague waxing hot at Rubeac his father and brother â—â—ed of it leaving none but this our Conrade and his sister Therefore to solace himself in his sorrows he wrote out the seven Penetentiall Psalmes in Hebrew Greek and Latine adding some prayers to be used upon that occasion Anno Christi 1502. he was made Divinity-Reader in the Convent at Basil. About the same time John Amerback began to print Saint Augustines workes wherein Pellican was very helpfull to him for which cause Amerbach and John Froben were ever after his great friends and would never suffer him to want any good book Then at the instance of Cardinal
Raymund the Popes Legate he was made first Licentiat then D of Divinity and afterwards the Popes Legat took him with him towards Rome being affected with his learning but falling sick of a Fever by the way he returned to Basil. Whilst he thus continued a Frier hee was of great esteem amongst them because of his learning and integrity But it pleased God at last that by reading Luthers Bookes and conference with learned and godly men hee began to dis-rellish the Popish errors and so far to declare his dislike of them that he was much hated and persecuted for a Lutheran But about the same time the Senate of Basil chose him Lecturer in Divinity in that City together with Oecolampadius where he began to read first upon Genesis then on Proverbs and Ecclesiastes Anno Christi 1526. he was by the means of Zuinglius sent for to Zurick and being come was most courteously entertained by him There he laid downe his Monks Coul and married a wife by whom he had a Son which he named Samuel being then preaching upon the History of Samuel That wife dying he married again but had no children by his second wife He was present at the Disputation at Bern about Religion After Zuinglius his death there were chosen into his room Henry Bullinger for Pastor and Theodore Bibliander for Divinity-Reader who was an excellent Linguist and began to read upon Isaie to the great astonishment of his hearers for that he was not above 23 years old Pellican at the earnest request of learned men Printed all his Lectures and Annotations which were upon the whole Bible excepting â—nely the Revelations which portion of Scripture he not intending to write upon caused the Commentary of Sebastian Meyer upon it to be bound with his to make the work complete He translated many books out of Hebrew which were printed by Robert Stevens as also the Chaldee Bible he translated into Latine He wrote also an exposition in Dutch upon the â—eutateuch Joshua Judges Ruth Samuel Kings Isay and Jeremy to convice the Jews for which end also he translated the learned disputation of Ludovicus Vives with the Jewes into Dutch As also many books of Aristotle and Tully that so ingenious persons might learne Philosophy in their own language as the Grecians and Romans in former times were wont to doe He judged it also necessary to learne the Turkish language who were now growne their neer neighbours that by the helpe thereof he might be the better able to bring them to the Christian Faith Then with extraordinary labour hee made Indexes to divers books He also compared the Bible of Munster printed at Zurick and that other of Leo Judae and Bibliander with the Hebrew text word by word lest any thing should be omitted And thus having been Hebrew Professor at Zurick for the space of thirty years wherein he was most acceptable to all not onely in regard of his excellent learning and indefatigable pains but also in regard of his sweet and holy Conversation At last falling into the pain of the stone and other diseases he departed this life upon the day of Christs Resurrection Anno Christi 1556 and of his Age 78. Lavater saith that he heard this Conrade Pellican often say that when he first beganne to study the Tongues there was not one Greek Testament to be gotten in all Germany and that the first which hee saw was brought out of Italy and that though a man would have given a great sum of gold for a Coppy of it it could not be obtained How happy are we in these latter Ages that have them at so easie rates He was a candid sincere and upright man free from falshood and ostentation The Life of John Bugenhagius who died A no Christi 1558. JOhn Bugenhagius was born at Julin near to Stetin in Pomerania Anno Christi 1485. His parents were of the rank of Senators who bred him up carefully in learning till he had learned the Grammar and Musick Instructing him also in the principles of Religion and so sent him to the University of Grypswald where he profited in the study of the Arts and the Greek tongue Being twenty years old he taught School at Trepta and by his learning and diligence made the School famous and had many Scholars to whom also hee read daily some portion of Scripture and prayed with them and meeting with Erasmus his book against the Histrionical carriage of the Friars and the Idolatry of the times he gat so much light thereby that he was stirred up to instruct others therein and for that end in his Schoole he read Matthew The Epistles to Timothy and the Psalmes to which he added Catechising and also expounded the Creed and the ten Commandements unto which exercises many Gentlemen Citizens and Priests reforced From the School he was called to preach in the Church and was admitted into the Colledge of Presbyters Many resorted to his Sermons of all ranks and his same spread abroad Insomuch as Bogeslans the Prince of that Country employed him in writing an History of the same and furnished him with money books and records for the enabling him thereto Which History he compleated in two years with much judgement and integrity Anno Christi 1520 one of the Citizens of Trepta called Otho Slutovius having Luther's book of the Babylonish Captivity sent him gave it to Bugenhagius as he was at dinner with his Colleagues who looking over some leaves of it told them that many Hereticks had disquieted the peace of the Church since Christ's time yet there was never a more pestilent Heretick then the Author of that book shewing in divers particulars how hee dissented from the received Doctrine of the Church But after some few daies having read it with more diligence and attention hee made this publick Râ—cantation before them all What shall I say of Luther All the world hath been blinde and in â—immerian darknesse only this one man hath found out the Truth And further disputing of those questions with them he brought most of his Colleagues to be of his judgement therein Insomuch as the Abbaâ— two antient Pastors of the Church and some other of the Friers began zealously to discover the deceits of the Papacy and to preach against the superstitions and abuses of humane Traditions and to perswade their auditors wholly to trust to the merits of Christ. After this Bugenhagius read Luther's other works diligently whereby he learned the difference between the Law and the Gospel Justification by Faith c. and taught these things also to his hearers perceiving that the opinions of Augustine and Luther agreed together about all those matters But the Devill envying the successe of the Gospel alienated the minde of the Prince from them and stirred up the Bishop to persecute many of the Ministers Citizens and Students of Trepta for speaking
Magdeburg He also made John Amandus Superintendent of those Churches and Michael Volmetius Master of their School Anno Christi 1541 he was sent by the Elector of Saxonie to govern the Church at Naumberg in the Palatinate where also the year after he was ordained Bishop by Luther three other Pastors also imposing their hands upon him who were Nicholas Medler Pastor of Naoburg George Spalatine Pastor of Aldenburg and â—olphgang Steinius Pastor of Leucopetra But six years after he was driven away from thence by the Emperour Charles the sift whence he fled to Magdeburg which at that time was the common place of refuge for the godly who fled from the indignation of Caesar. Anno Christi 1548 Amsdorf amongst others opposed himself in that sad controversie about things indifferent which continued for whole tenne yeares and when Anno Christi 1550 Madgeburg was besieged Amsdorf yet remained there and the year after George Major having published this proposition That good works were necessary to salvation Amsdorfius in heat of contention wrote That good works were hurtfull and dangerous to salvation In the midst of these digladiations amongst Divines Amsdorf came to his old age having now attained to eighty years at which time he quietly slept in the Lord Anno Christi 1563. Scripsit de sacra coena Epitomen Chronicorum Naucleri de Paparum perfidia in Romanos Imperatores Novi anni votum principibus viris oblatum Subscriptionem censurae sententiae Saxo. Ecclesiarum adversus G. Majoris doctrinam Item contra Tilemannum Heshufium W. MVSCVLVS The Life of Musculus who dyed A no Christi 1563. WOlfgangus Musculus was born at Dusa in Lorrain An. Christi 1497 of honest parents who seeing his aptness to Learning bred him at School When he was young he fell sick of the Plague but it pleased God to restore him He had an exceeding prompt wit and had such an ardent desire to his book that he was never a weary of reading and writing so that he rather needed a bridle than spurs never departing from School and his book till he was forced When he was grown up to some bignes his parents sent him abroad into other countries with slender provision that by singing at doors as the manner of those times was he might get his living and thereby learn patience temperance and humility and might follow his book the better Being thus sent from his parents he came to Rapersvil in Alsatia where a certain Widdow entertained him and in which place hee went to School but met with much hunger and want till as by his honest and modest deportment he became known to the noble Earl of Rapersvil from whom he received many favours From thence after a while he went to Slestade and gat into the School and being naturally much addicted to Poetry he spent his time in reading such Authors And thus he continued till he was fifteen years old about which time he returned to visit his parents and going into the Monastery of Lexheim by the way at the time of their Even-song hee joyned with them in singing and the Prior taking notice of him and liking his ingenious countenance and voice followed him out of the Church when all was ended and enquir'd of him what he was and whether he liked to live in a Monastery and withall proffered if he would accept of it to admit him into that Monastery to cloath him and provide other necessaries for him at his own cost He being very glad of this proffer went to his parents acquainted them with it and they looking upon it as a great mercy went presently with him to the Monastery where the Prior according to his promise entertained him as his own sonne and afterwards sent him to the Bishop for Orders There he lived till he was thirty yeares old and when others were drinking and playing he with a book in his hand would walk into a grove to study For though in his youth he was of a chearfull and merry disposition and much delighted in liberall exercises both of body and mind yet he disliked the illiberall contests of his fellows who spent their time in dice and drinking and such like practises But in the mean time he had a great want of books that Monastery having no Library belonging to it yet at last he found a great heap of parchments at the roof of the house amongst which he met with some of Tullies works and all Ovids These therefore he read over especially Ovid being so much addicted to Poetry that many times he made verses in his sleep and could make a verse upon every thing he met with and grew so perfect therein that with Ovid he could say Sponte sua carmen numeros veniebat in aptos Quicquid conabar dicere versus erat And together with his Poetry hee applyed himself to Musick which the Prior taking notice of caused him to be taught to play on the Organs At twenty years of age hee studied Divinity and excelling all the other Monks in learning and eloquence was presently chosen a publick Preacher and being often told by an old man in that house Si vis fieri bonus Concionator da operam ut sis bonus Biblicus If you will be a good Preacher study to be well acquainted with the Scripture hee betook himself night and day to reading and meditation upon the Bible He first preached in the Church of Lixhâ—im and in three other Churches belonging to that Monastery but his zeal and eloquence making him famous he was requested to preach in divers other places About the year 1518 Luthers books began to come abroad into the world and Musculus having some of them sent him read them with much seriousness and delight and God thereby revealing the Truth to him he became a zealous maintainer of it not onely in the Monastery by conference and disputation but in his publick Sermons also so that he was commonly called the Lutherane Monk and whereas Luthâ—r was charged by some with Heresie he stoutly defended him saying It may be Luther may erre in some things which is common to the nature of man yet he is not therefore to be accounted an Heretick according to thâ— saying of Saint Augustine Errare possum haereticus esse nolo I may erre but I will not be an Heretick And his labours proved not fruitlesse for through Gods blessing upon them he converted many of that fraternity who afterwards left their Abbey and became zealous professors of the Truth unto death And divers others also abroad were converted by him and amongst them a certaine Nobleman called Reinhard of Rotenburg who was Captaine of the Castle at Lutzelsteine and Protector of that Colledge a man of much account with the Palatine by whom he was protected from many dangers and snares that were laid for him especially by the Bishop and some old Monks that were
reason of his many imployments he had no time to follow his book there he thought it better to betake himselfe to the service of some learned man So going to Paris and being admitted into the Colledg of Navar he laboured hard all day for his Masters and spent a great part of the night in study so that in a short time he was made Master of Arts and Laureat Poet. And the Professors in that Colledge every one taking much delight in his diligence each strove to forward him in Learning and lent him such books as he needed Then he betook himselfe to instructing others and to exercise himselfe in private Lectures till thereby he had fitted himselfe for more publick imployments Which when he had done he was appointed publickly to read Logick and when he was twenty one years old he published his Logick with some Animadversions upon Aristotle This procured him much love every one admiring such ripe parts in so young a man and envy being the usuall Concomitant of vertue he had also many that envied and aspersed him especially the Sâ—rbone Doctors who accused him of Heresie in Philosophie for that he being but a Novice durst take upon him to correct Aristotle the Prince of Philosophers and by their authority they so far prevailed that Ramus was forbidden to read or write any more of Philosophy This being very grievous to him it pleased God to stir up the heart of the Governour of another Colledge to send for him to assist him in restoring of that Colledge which was now empty the Students being all fled by reason of the infection of the Plague And it came to pass that in a short time Ramus being so famous a man the Colledge was better stored with students then ever it had been before The Sâ—rbonists much raged at this and laboured to sow division between the Governour of the Colledge and him Yet Ramus carried himself with so much candor and ingenuity that they lived together with much concord At last that Governour dying Ramus succeeded him by the Cardinall of Lorrains means who was a great favourer of learning he was made the Regius Professor of Rhetorick and Philosophy Anno Christi 1551 and of his age 36. His fame spreading into all the Universities of Christendome there were may Princes that strove to get him out of France profering him large stipends if hee would come to them but he being now famous in France preferred his own Country before all others and therefore rejected all their offers In Paris he had so great esteem that though his enemies strongly opposed it yet he was made Dean of the whole University And so having obtained a more quiet kind of life hee betooke himselfe to the studie of the Mathematicks wherein he grew very exquisite But when the Civill Warrs brake forth in France for Religion and that none could safely enjoy themselves or any thing that they had whilst under pretence of Religion every one revenged his own private quarrels upon others Ramus to free himself from this tempest left Paris and went to Fountanblew where the Kings Library was yet neither there could he be in safety so that at last hee was compelled to betake himselfe to the Camp of the Prince of Conde But when he saw that France was no fit place for him for the present to reside in hee resolved to travell into Germany till God should restore peace to his Country again And accordingly he went to Strasborough Basil Lausanna Zurick Heidleberg Norenberg and Augsburg and was entertained in all these Universities with great applause and with much joy by all Learned men When the Civill War was ended in France he returned to Paris again Where he remained in his former imployment as the Kings Professor in Logick till that horrible Massacre happened on St. Bartholmews day wherein so many thousands perished by the cruel hands of bloody Papists At which time he was in the Colledge of Priests and the Colledge gates being fast shut he locked himselfe up in his owne house till those furious Papists brake open his doores and finding him ranne him thorow and being half dead threw him out of his window so that his bowels issued out on the stones and not being satisfied therewith they cut off his head dragged his body about the streets in the channels and some young Scholars were set on by their Popish Tutors to whip it in a most contemptuous manner and at last it was thrown into the River of Sein Anno Christi 1572 and of his Age 57. After which also they seized upon his Goods Library and Writings whereby many excellent Commentaries and other Works not fully compleat perished to the great loss of Learned men He wrote a Grammer Rhetorick Logick of Mathematicks and divers other excellent Works The Life of Matthew Parker who died Anno Christi 1574. MAtthew Parker was born in the City of Norwich Anno Christi 1502 and having spent some years at School went to Cambridge where he was admitted into Corpns Christi Bennet Colledge in which place he profited so much that he was chosen Fellow and grew so famous that Queen Anâ—â— Bullen Mother to Queen Elizabeth made him her Chaplain whereupon he Commenced Doctor in Divinity And after her death King Henry the eighth and after his death King Edward the sixth made him their Chaplains and preferred him to be Master of Bennet Colledge Besides other Ecclesiasticall dignities which they advanced him to But in Queen Maries daies he was dispoyled of all and was compelled to live a poor and private life But so soon as Queen Elizabeth came to the Crown shee made choice of this Dr. Parker for his admirable learning and piety to be the Archbishop of Canterbury Anno Christi 1559. For Decemb. 17 the Dean and Chapter of the Church of Canterbury having received their Congedelier from the Queen and proceeding in their election according to the ancient and laudible custome of the aforesaid Church chose Dr. Parker for their Archbishop whereof they made a returne to the Queens Majesty for her confirmation whereupon the Queen sent her Letters Patents to seven Bishops six whereof were lately returned from their voluntary exile for his consecration The Bishops were Anthony Bishop of Landaffe William Barlow Bishop of Bath and Wells John Scory Bishop of Hâ—reford Miles Coverdale late Bishop of Exetâ—r John Suffragan of Bedford John Suffragan of Thetford and John Bale Bishop of Osâ—ry in Ireland and accordingly he was consecrated by them and lived in that place with great commendation for above fifteene years His works of Charity were very eminent He gave to the Corporation of Norwich where he was born a Bason and Ewr double gilt weighing 173 ounces as also fifty shillings a yeare for ever to be distributed amongst the poore of that City And
fast failing yea the middle strength of the whole body the stomach is weakned long ago Arise make ready shake off thy fetters mount up from the body and goe thy way I saw not my children when they were in the womb yet there the Lord fed them without my knowledge I shall not see them when I goe out of the body yet shall they not want a Father Death is somwhat drierie and the streams of that Jordan between us and our Canaan run furiously but they stand stil when the Ark comes Let your Anchor be cast within the vail and fastned on the Rock Jesus Let the end of the threefold cord be buckled to the heart so shall ye goe thorough His Works are bound up together in one volume Soli Deo Gloria A. WILLET The Life of Andrew Willet who dyed A no Christi 1621. ANdrew Willet was born in Ely in Cambridgshire Anno Christi 1562. His Father was a Minister who carefully brought him up in the School of that City where by his extraordinary paâ—ns and diligence he profited so much that at fourteen years old he went to Cambridge and was admitted into Peter-house yet not long after was transplanted to Christ's Collegde where Doctor Downham and Master William Perkins were of his own standing There he applyed himself so seriously to his studies that in short time he gained a good measure of knowledge in the learned tongues and Arts yea hee attained to such a measure of perfection therein that at twenty two years old he published his book De animae natura viribus wherein he did Philosophically Theologize in five subtil and abstrase questions About that time also he was made Minister and began sometimes to Preach being furnished with Piety Learning and Gravity beyond his years Insomuch as an accident befalling a Proctor of that Colledge hee suddenly undertook his place at the Commencement and so well and dexterously perfâ—rmed it that thereby he gained the applause yea the admiration of all his Auditors Having thus spent thirteen years in the University by the favour of Queen Elizabeth he was made a Prebend in Ely where also he married a Wife by whom he had eleven sons and seven daughters But his Wife being a carefull yoak-fellow his houshold affairs troubled him not so that he pursued his old course of study which was his delight and of which he never was weary His manne was to rise early in a morning and to get half way on his journey ere others could set out At the hour of Prayer he came down and took his Wife and Family with him to Church where he had publick Prayers to the great comfort of his Parishioners Prayers being ended he returned to his study till near dinner time when his manneâ— was to recreate himself either upon a little Organ which he had in his house singing to it or sporting with his young Children Sometimes also he would cleave wood for his health-sake At his meals he used pleasant discourse seasoned with some profitable application After dinner he used to sit and discourse a while or walk abroad and then to his study again so that without extraordinary avocations he spent eight houres a day in his study By which means he read over the Fathers Councels Ecclesiastick Histories a great part of the Civil and Canon Law Polemick Controversies between Rome and us and most Commentaries upon the holy Scriptures in his papers he had couched the whole substance of his reading So that he might say Exiguis Patres â—rctantur pellibus omnes Quos mea non totos Bibliotheca capit Lo here few leaves th' old fathers all infold Whom whole at once my study ne'r could hold He improved his Talent for the publick good so that every year he either published a new book or reprinted some old with a new Edition He is one of those concerning whom Doctor Hall saith Stupor mundi clerus Britannicus The English Clergie is the Worlds wonder In his younger time he preached the Lecture for three years together in the Cathedral Church of Ely And for one year in Saint Paul's at London in both with a most singular approbation of a frequent Auditory Sometimes he preached in Cambridge and therein discovered himself the man quem rus non infuscavit whom the Country had not stained When hee was once called to a Pastorall charge at Burley in Herfordshire he was alwaies constant in Preaching instructing his people in a plain familiar way applying himself to their capacity He would also sometimes sharpen his stile and cut them up roundly for their sin But when he spake words of Consolation he was wholly composed of Sweetnesse In denunciations of Judgements he would put on the bowels of compassion and the spirit of meeknesse sugaring every bitter pill that it might goe down more pleasantly His very presence was powerful and perswasive mildnesse mixed with gravity sitting in his countenance insomuch as one word from him was able to effect more then thousands from some others But especially his godly conversation exemplifying what he gave in charge out of Gods Word did most of all convince his peoples judgements and subdue their affections to obedience so that the Lord blessed his labours much to them His house was a little modell of a Church and house of God Here morning and evening sacrifices were offered to God daily His children after supper read some part of holy Scripture and he required of every one present that they should remember some sentence or other and afterwards he would repeat the same adding some exposition and sometimes something of application to them Yea he made himself an exact pattern and example to all his family His Charity will eminently appear if we consider quantum ex quantillo how much out of how little means he freely gave to the poor and needy He maintained two of his near Aâ—lies being faln into want many years at his own table and maintained for the most part a son of either of them at the University and though his many children might have restrained his bounty yet he was of Cyprian's mind The more children the more charitie He gave a dole of bread to the poor on the Coronation and Powder-treason daies At Christmass he gave Corn to some money to others and to the rest of his neighbours liberal and loving entertainment In the Harvest he would say to the poor as Boaz did to Ruth Go not to glean in another field c. And when at any time himself came into the field he would scatter of his heaps with a ful hand so that the poor would be ready to leap for joy at his coming When he set any on work he payd freely and speedily When the poor bought corn of him they were sure to gain both in price and measure and yet as Wels drawn spring more freely so
Brasen-nose Colledge because the Fellowships in that house belonged to Lancashire and Cheshire men yet for want of acquaintance he stayed long without a Fellowship which made him to languish through want but his deserts being known Dr. Bret and some others together with some small stipends he had for his Lectures in that house supported him till he gat a Fellowship about the thirtieth year of his age then also he Commenced Master of Arts and being chosen Lecturer he performed it with such exactness that he grew very famous His Disputations in the University were performed with such acuteness of wit and profound learning that he was chosen by the Vice-chancellor at King James his first coming to the University to be one of the Disputants before him and to read Natural Philosophy in the publick Schools He was also well studied in Metaphysicks Mathematicks and School Divinity yet all this while he had nothing in him for Religion he loved Stage-playes Cards Dice was a horrible swearer Sabbath-breaker and boon-companion he neither loved goodness nor good men Yet hearing the fame of Master Perkins he went to Cambridge at a CoÌ„mencement that he might hear him preach and having heard him said That he was a barren empty fellow and a passing mean Scholar but when God changed his heart he changed his tune and said That Master Perkins was as learned and godly a Divine as our Church hath in many yeares enjoyed in so young a man He had familiar acquaintance with one Master Anderton a good scholar his countriman and formerly his schoolfellow but a strong Papist yea a Priest This man knowing Mr. Bolton's good parts and outward wants took that advantage to perswade him to go over with him to the English Seminarie at Rome where he should be furnished with all necessaries and have gold enough This motion he accepted of and a day and place was appointed in Lancashire to take shipping from thence and be gone Thither Mr. Bolton repaired at the time prefixed but Anderton came not whereby escaping that snare he returned to Oxford where he fell into acquaintance with Mr. Peacock a learned and godly man whereby it pleased God to bring him to repentance but by such a way as the Lord seldom useth but upon such strong vessels as he intendeth for strong encounters and rare employments for the Lord ranne upon him as a Gian taking him by the neck and shaking him to pieces as he did â—ob beating him to the ground as he did Pâ—ul by laying before him the ugly visage of his suâ— which lay so heavy upon him that he roared for anguish of heart yea it so affrighted him that he rose somtimes out of his bed in the night for very anguish of spirit and to augment his spiritual misery hee was assaulted with foul temptations Horribili 〈◊〉 Deo teâ—ribilia de side which Luther called colaphum Satanae This continued for many moneths but God at last gave a bâ—essed issue and these grievous pangs in his New-Birth produced two admirable effects in him An invincible courage in the cause of God and a singular dexterity in comforting afflicted spirits Hereupon he resolved to enter into the Ministry and was accordingly ordained the thirty fifth year of his age and about two years after the Parsonage of Broughton in Northamptonshire falling vâ—yd Serjeant Nicols the Pâ—tron preferred him to it About the fortieth year of his age he married Mistris Anne Bois of an antient family in Kent and to her care committed the ordering of his outward estate and applied himself wholly to his studies and the work of the Ministry and for twenty years together preached twice every Lords day and catechised and on every Holyday and Friday before the Sacrament he expounded a Chapter whereby he went over most of the Historical books of the Old and New Testament and therein prepared nothing for his people but what might have seâ—ved a very learned Auditory In all his preaching next after Gods glorâ— he â—imed at the Conversion of souls and God crowned his labours by making him an instrument to beget many sons and daughters unto righteousnesse He had an excellent Art in relieving afflicted consciences so that he was sought to far and near yea divers that lived beyond sea desired his resolution in divers Cases of Conscience Though in his preaching he was a son of Thunder yet to those that mourned in spirit he was a sweet son of Consolation with a tender heart pouring the oyl of mercy into their bleeding wounds He had a singular skill in discovering Satans sleights and in battering down his Kingdom In all his Sermons he used to discover the filthinesse of sin and to presse hard upon the Conscience the duties of Sanctification yea he would spare none great or small in their sins yet in reproving sin he never personated any man to put him to shame His life was so blamelesse that he could not justly be taxed by any of any scandalous sin He prayed constantly six times a day twice with his family twice with his wife and twice in secret He kept many daies of private humiliation alwaies before the Sacrament and upon the occasions of the miseries of the Church at home and abroad which he performed with much ardency of spirit and being advised by Physicians for his healths sake to break off the strong intentions of his studies he rejected their counsel accounting it greater riches to enjoy Christ by those fervent intentions of his mind then to remit them for his healths sake He was of a comely presence his countenance was so mixed with gravity and austerity that it commanded respect from others He oft refused preferment that he might not be divorced from that Country where his Ministry found such entertainment and effect He was universally bountiful but especially he exceeded in those publick distresses of Germany France Bohemia c. He alwaies spent all the revenues of his living which was of good value in the maintainance of his Family Hospitality and Charity He fell sick of a Quartane Ague in September Anno Christi 1631 whereupon finding his disease to get strength and his vigor to grow weaker he revised his Will and then wholly retired himself from the world and solaced his soul with the Meditation of the joyes of heaven and having compiled a discourse De quatuor Novissimis of Death Judgment Hell and Heaven having preached over the three former he told his people that the next day he would preach of Heaven but the Saturday before he fell so sick that he never preached after Though his sicknesse was long and sharp yet he bore it with admirable patience often breathing forth these speeches Oh when will this good hour come when shall I be dissolved when shall I be with Christ Being told that it was better for the Church if God would
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
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
of London and Doctor Hackwell Tutor to the Prince of Wales yea and King James himself conferred familiarly with him February following An. Christi 1613. the Prince Elector being marryed sent Henry Alting with his Scholars before him into the Palatinate who in their journey travelled through Zeland Flanders Brabant Limburg Julâ—ers and Collen and so at last arrived at Heidleberg in April the new marryed couple being not long behinde them About four moneths after our Alting was called to be a Professor of Divinity to read Common places in the University of Heidleberg Into which he was admitted August the 16. which was the Princes birth day And because by the Statutes of the University none could be Moderator of the Disputations but a Doctor he was solemnly inaugurated into that degree November the 18. by Paraeus Dean of the University and Bartholomew Coppenius Doctor of Divinity And this was very remarkable that amongst all the tumults and pleasures of the Court his minde was never taken off from the study of Divinity But Gods Providence intended him to some further imployment then a Professors place For there was in Heidleberg an excellent Seminary of the Church endowed with large revenues called the Colledge of Wisdom The Prince therefore chose him Master thereof October the 15. An. Chri. 1616. together with two Colleagues to instruct and train up young Divines for the work of the Ministry and how much good he did therein they are able to relate who gratefully acknowledge what profit they reaped by his care and culture Whilst he was thus laboring in his double imployment Coppenius another Professor dyed whose place was divolved upon our Alting but by a rare and great example of modesty he chose rather to continue in his former imployments and by his favour and authority in the Princes Court prevailed that Abraham Scultetus should have that Professors place transferred upon him About this time a National Synod was called at Dort for the composing of the differences in the Belgick Churches by reason of the Arminians and when grave learned and godly men were chosen out of all the Reformed Churches to be present at it which was Anno Christi 1618 and 1619 our Altingius with two others was sent from Heidleberg to assist in that work where he approved himself to all that were present both for his excellent Learning in Divinity and his dexterity in explicating cases of greater difficulty Thus far we have heard the happier and more comfortable part of his life now follows the more sad and afflicted part of it For scarcely was the Synod ended wherein the Arminians were condemned and the Orthodox Truths established but Alting with his Colleagues returned to Heidleberg and at the same time the tumults in Bohemia began The Prince Elector is chosen King of Bohemia and Crowned Spinola breaks into the Palatinate the great battel was fought nere Prague the Bohemians are beaten which was An. Chri. 1620. And the year following the University of Heidleberg was dissipated the Students flying for fear and the Professors having liberty granted them to go whether they pleased Yet our Alting sending his family into a place of safety stays still in the Colledge of Wisdom keeping the Students in good order remaining unterrified in the midst of emminent dangers whilst he was serviceable to the Church satisfied his own Conscience and the earnest desire of the King who from the Hâ—gue had written to him desiring him not to depart from Heidleberg An 〈…〉 in the moneth of â—â—â—gust Heidleberg was besieged by 〈◊〉 and â—eptember the 6. was taken by storm at which time it suffered whatsoever Military licentâ—ousness could inflict by plunderings murthers and ravishing of Matrons and Virgins all being heightened by the hatred of Religion and the brutishness of the Croâ—â—s At this time our Alting was in his study who hearing of the surprize of the City bolted his door and betook himself to Prayer looking every moment when the bloudy Souldiers would break in to sacrifice him to God But the great Arbiter of life and death took care for his safety For Monsieur Behusius Rector of the School and his dear friend hiring two souldiers called him forth and conveyed him through a back dore into the Lord Chancellors house which Tilly had commanded to be preserved from plundering by reason of the Publick Monuments of the Commonwealth that were kept in that place This house was commanded to be guarded by a Lieutenant Colonel that was under the Count of Hohenzollem a man greedy of prey who least he should lose his share in the booty by his attendance upon that place sent forth his Souldiers as it were a hunting commanding them that if they met with any Citizens of note that under pretence of safe-guarding them they should bring them to him purposing by their ransom to enrich himself To this man Alting was brought who with his naked sword reeking with blood said to him This day with this hand I have slain ten men to whom Doctor Alting shall be added as the eleventh if I knew where to finde him But who art thou Truly such a countenance and such a speech in such a juncture of time might have affrighted the most constant minde But our Alting by a witty answer neither denying himself to be Alting nor unseasonably discovering himself answered as sometimes Athanasius in the like case I was saith he a Schoolmaster in the Colleâ—ge of Wisdom Hereupon the Leiutenant Colonel promised him safety who if he had known him to be Alting would surely have slain him Oh what a sad time had he that night which he passed without sleep hearing the continual shrikes and groans which filled the ayr of Women ravished Virgins defloured men some drawn to torments others immediately slain But when he saw that many fled to this house as to their only refuge fearing lest he should be discovered by some of them either through imprudence or malice he retired into a Cockloft where whilst he hid himself this Leiutenant Colonel was by the authority of Tilly presently commanded away not giving him so much time as to seek out his Schoolmaster that the house might be resigned to the Iesuites for whom it was appointed Yet under these new inhabitants our Alting should not have been one jot safer if God had not by a special providence provided for his safety For the kitchin of this house was reserved for Tillies own use and one of the Palatines Cooks was appointed over it who closely fed and maintained him and whilst the Iesuites were providing all things in a readiness in the Church for the Mass he hired three Bavarian Souldiers that kept guards in the streets to guard him to his own house When he came thither he found all things broken plundred and carryed away and in his study he found a Captain boasting that all things therein were his own yet saith
he to Alting I give thee leave to take any one book and to carry it away with thee This proffer our generous Alting refused saying Sir If all these things be yours I pray God that you may enjoy them longer then their last Master did This was with Iob to say The Lord hath given and the Lord hath taken away blessed be the name of the Lord. Fortiter ille facit qui miser esse potest Thuâ— returning to his former refuge not without very great danger three days after Tilly who had taken up Altings son in Laws house for his Quarters was prevailed with to grant him a safe conduct to go to Heilbron to bring back his family from thence Thus escaping out of Heidleberg he passed through a thousand dangers and deaths till it pleased God at last to bring him safely to Heilbron from whence after a short stay he went to Schomdorf where he found his family In which place he stayed till Frebruary following having obtained leave so to do of the Duke of Wirtemberg by the mediation of his Dutches whom otherwise the Lutheran Divines would not have endured and indeed they fretted exceedingly at it having no other reason for their spleen but only because he was a Professor of Heidleberg The year following being 1623. the King of Bohemia sent for him into the Low-countries and at last through Gods mercy after a long difficult dangerous and chargable journey both by Water and Land he arrived safely with his Family at Embden and after a short stay there went into Holland presenting himself to his King who presently made him Tutor to his Eldest son Frederick Neither would the King suffer him to imbrace a frequent call which he had to a Pastoraâ— charge in Embden Yet neither did he pass over that year without great danger For as he was passing in a sled upon the ice nere Purmerend the ice breaking he fell into the water and was very neer drowning But by Gods mercy being pulled out he fell into a dangerous disease of which though he recovered yet he felt a continual pain in his left shoulder all his life after A while after taking all his Family with him he removed to Leiden to oversee the Kings sons in their studies Anno Christi 1625. Sibrand Lubbertus dying at Franekâ—r he was called by the States of Frisland to supply that place and they sent again and again to the King to desire his consent thereto But the King not consenting he modestly excused it Anno Christi 1626. he was called to Groning to supply the place of Ravensâ—erg one of the Professors of Divinity lately dead And though the King would by no means at first hear of it yet at the importunity of the Senate and University he at last consented and furnishing him with necessaries dismissed him So that he removed to Groning and the Easter following began his work in the University Anno Christi 1627. yet once a year he used to visit the King who always highly prized him and used him very familiarly He supplyed that Professors place at Groning for the space of eighteen years with admirable fidelity diligence and industry as not only his hearers but his works testifie As his Body of Divinity His Explication of Vrsins Catechism and the Belgick Confession His Disputations and Lectures against the Manual of Becanus His Tractates concerning the Plague Predestination and the Term of Life His Vindication and Explication of the Canons of the Synod of Dort Besides some other of his Works not yet printed He was three times Rector of the Academy in Groning In the years 1628. 1636 and 1641. At all which times he brought some great profit or other to the University In his first Rectorship he procured an encrease of Fellowships For whereas there were but forty before he encreased them to sixty In his second Rectorship he procured a great augmentation to the University Library In his third he obtained that one of the Doctors was sent at the Publick charge to Leiden to buy the choicest Books out of Gomarus his Library He was seven years Pastor of the Church of Groning At the request of Count Benthemius he visited the County of Steinfurt purged it from Socinianism and setled peace in the Churches He together with some other learned men was imployed in perusing and correcting the new Version of the New Testament and the Apocrypha Books wherein he attended it with great diligence and danger at Leiden the Plague being very rife amongst them at the same time He always had a singular care of the Churches of Germany and especially of the Pallatinate improving his interest in procuring liberal contributions in all the Reformed Churches for their maintenance that they might not perish through want The Collections which were made in England were committed to his distribution with two others by the Elector Charles Lodowick The contribution of that Noble and Munisicent man Lodowick de Geer was put into his hand for the training up of young German Students in Divinity which might when God should restore peace furnish the Churches of the Palatinate again which trust he discharged with great diligence and fidelity He refused the Cals which he had to Vtrick and Leiden For though he condescended to the latter when it was brought him Anno Christi 1633. by the Syndic of Leiden yet it was upon condition that the Provincial States of Groning would give their consents But he was too dear to them to be dismissed though several requests were made to them by the States of Holland for the obtaining thereof He was once calleâ— back by the Administrator of the Palatinate Prince Lodowick Philip to be Professor of Heidleberg and to restore the Churches in the Palatinate and for that end he went through many dangers as far as Franckfurt but by reason of the overthrow at Norlingen a new tempest hung over the Palatinate which hindred his prosecution of that work How much he watched over the good of the University of Groning how careful he was for the choice of able Professors in case of vacancy and how prevalent he was therein by reason of his favour and authority with the States is known to all that were his Contemporaries there He was very careful for the training up of young Students to the work of the Ministry that they should not be sent forth raw and unprovided to so great and difficult imployments for which end he caused Ecclesiastes Bucani to be printed for their use He marryed a wife whilst he was at Heidleberg Anno Christi 1614. a little before he was called to his Professors place Not rashly as many do marrying and getting children before they have means to maintain them She was a very religious Matron Susanna Belieria the daughter of Charles Belierius then Consul of Heidleberg with whom he lived lovingly without domestick quarrels for