that behalfe sent over letters unto him wherein he perswaded him with Paulus Fagius to come into England assuring them both of kinde entertainment and a sufficient stipend if it would please them to continue amongst them These Letters comming to their hands because they saw little or no hopes of doing any good in Germanie they resolved to visit England and Bucer taking his leave of the Senate of Strasburge after he had supplyed a Pastorall office amongst them the space of twenty yeeres he with Fagius went for England in the yeer of grace 1549. where they arrived in good health and were most courteously entertained and a place provided for them in the University of Cambridge for the expounding of the holy Scriptures and a large Stipend allotted unto them for the maintenance of their Families the University conferring one priviledge on him which was not given unto any before him being this that according to his desire he was inaugurated into his Office without any publicke Ceremony He was much admiâ—ed of in the University for his learning for the integrity of his life and conversation for his plainenesse in his apparell for his temperatenâ—sse in his dyet for his constancy in his labours and for his patience in his sicknesse Within short time after they came hither they both fell into an irrecoverable sicknesse by reason of the change of the ayre and dyet Fagius was the first that yeelded his soul into the hands of God Bucer followed shortly after who before his death prayed unto almighty God that he would not suffer England to fall into those sinnes which had brought Germany unto great misery and withall desired that those things which he had written unto the King concerning the discipline of the Church might take firme footing in the Kingdome Master Iohn Bradford coming to him in the time of his sicknesse and telling him that he would remember him in his prayers being that day to Preach he uttered these words Ne abiicias me Domine in tompore senectutis meae cum defecerit virtus mea forsake me not O Lord in the time of my age and when my strength faileth me Being admonished in his sicknesse that he should arme himselfe against the assaults of the Divell he answered that he had nothing to doe with the Divell because he was wholly in Christ and God forbid God forbid but that I should have some experience of his heavenly comfort After Sermon Bradford came to him againe and after some words declared unto him the great feare which the Physitians had to prescribe any thing unto him by reason of the weaknesse of his body which he apprehending with his eyes fixed towards heaven he uttered these words ille ille regit moderatar omnia he he it is that ruleth and governeth all thiâ—gs and so in the midst of many godly prayers he quietly yeelded his soul unto the hands of God on the 27. of February in the yeere of our Lord 1551. being 61. yeeres of his age he was buried with great solemnity in Saint Maâ—ies in Cambridge to the griefe of many students before his buriall a Funerall Sermon was delivered by Gualterus Haddon at his buriall by Doctor Parker After the death of Edward the sixt his sister the Lady Mary comming to the crowne she restored the doctrine of the Church of Rome and in her dayes Cardinall Poole the Popes Legate being a man of great Authority laboured with might and maine for the rooting out of haeresie and haeretick for so he termed the Gospell and the professors thereof and for that cause he appointed five Inquisitors for the reformation of the University of Cambridge these obtained that the bones of both these faithfull Ministers of Christ should be digged up condemned of haerisie and delivered to the Magistrate to be burnt together with all the bookes of theirs which were extant in the kingdome but in the raine of Queene Elizabeth this sentence was not approved but rejected and they were reckoned amongst the number of Martyrs which had suffered for the truth of Christ. The labours which he left behind him as so many witnesses of his sufficiency and worth are these which follow 1 The Psalmes done out of Latine into Hebrew 2 Enarrations on the four Evangelists 3 Metaphrases one the Epistle of St. Paul 4 A reconciling of hard places of Scripture 5 Commentaries of the Romans and the Ephesians 6 A Commentarie on Sophonuâ— done out of Hebrew 7 A preface to the fourth Tome of Luthers postils 8 Of the true doctrine discipline and Ceremonies of Chuâ—ches 9 A Graâ—ulaâ—orie letter unto the Church of England 10 An answer to the two Epistles of Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester concerning the single life of Priests 11 Of the best way to have Counsels 12 A treatise of restoring Church good 13 An Epistle to the Vniversity aâ— Marpurge 14 To those of East Friezland 15 The confession of the foure Cities Strasburge Constance Menning and Lindare 16 An Apologie against Brentius that jmages are not to be had in Churches 17 Of the Baptisme of Infants 18 Of the Euchâ—rist 19 Of a Nationrall Synead 20 Of a Councell against Coceleius and Gropperus 21 Of the false and true administration 22 Of the Lords Supper 23 Of offering Masses 24 Of care for â—he dead 25 Of Purgatorie 26 Causes of the absence of Divines from the councell of Trent 27 Of the kingdome of Christ unto Edward the sixt King of England 28 Lectuers at Cambridge upon the Ephesians 29 Of the power and use of the ministery 30 An admonition to the Ministers at Switzerland 31 Psalâ—er translated into Dutch 32 An admoniâ—ion to the Ministers at Strasburge 33 Of the true office of a Pastor 34 Of the Iewes how for to be suffered amongst Christians 35 A Confutation of the new faith set forth at Loran 36 A defence of the Colenish reformation 37 A defence against Gropperus 38 An anâ—wer to a dialogue against Protestants 39 Of Church-goods and who are the right possessors of them 40 Against the Bul of Paulus the third and his Legates demands 41 A godly admonition to the Emperour Princes and other states of the Empire assembled at Wormes 42 Against the restoring of the Masse 43 Impediments of Reformation 44 Against the Sophistes of Colen 45 Of the conference at Reinsburge 46 An exposition of the 120. Psalme 47 A treatise of Afflictions 48 A refutation of Calumnies 49 A Sermon at Berne 50 Of the Ministers and Sacraments 51 Luthers commentaries on the two Epistles of Peter 52 Some writings of Sturmius 53 Retractations with Commentaries on the Gospell 54 A treaâ—ise that none ought to live to themselves That light of truth which shin'd in Bucers brest Inlightned others and restor'd much rest To many whose unquiet souls did lye Under the burthen of Idolatry He was laborious striving every houre To sucke some hony from each pleaâ—â—ng flowre He was belov'd of all that lov'd to pry Into the bosome of Divinity
both having beene used by the Popes Agent nor he by perswasion nor love could perswade him to returne to Popery he feigned himselfe friendly to take his leave of him and so deparâ—â—d â—ut shortly after he returned againe with this ruffianly murtherer and by the way they bought an Hatchet of a Carpinter and Alphonsus sending this man disguised with letters to his Brother he himselfe following after as Iohn Diazius was reading the letters this bloudy murtherer cleft his head with the Hatchet and taking Horse they both rode away Anno Christi 1546. and this inhumane Cain was highly commended by the Papists for it But the Lord would not suffer such an unnaturall villanie to goe unpunished for not long after he was so doggâ—d and haunted by the Furies of his own Conscience that being at Trent when the Council was held there he hanged himsâ—lf about the neck of his own Mule Diazius in his youthfull dayes had cloath'd His heart with Popery and after loath'd What he had done for when he was inspir'd By Heaven he searcht for truth and soon untyrâ—d Himselfe and having found the pathes of truth He hated what he acted in his youth Thus being turn'd from those wayes that lead To utter ruine Fame began to spread Her wings abroad and hover in the eare Of the distasted Pope who could not heare Goodnesse without impatience but strove To win him with reward of promis'd love But finding â—'was in vaine he chang'd his minde From Love to Murther and with spéed inclin'd Himselfe to mischiefe being voyd of grace Put out that light which shin'd so much in 's face The Life and Death of CRUCIGER Who died Anno Christi 1548. GAsper Cruciger was born at Lipsich in Misnia Anno 1504. of religious Parents who carefully brought him up in the knowledge of God and in learning He was melancholy by nature and of a retired disposition much in meditation and of few words being principled in the Latine he learned Greek and profited much therein and so went to the University of Wittenberg that having studyed Divinity there he might be more usefull to the Church he studyed also the Hebrew tongue and grew very exquisite therein from thence was called to govern the School at Magdeburg where he taught with much profit and applause till 1527. and then being called back to Wittenberg he preached and â—xpounded the Scriptures with so much dexterity that he was graced with the degree of a Doctor in that University he studyed and practised Physick also He was very helpfull to Luther in his Translation of the Bible He wrote so swiftly that he was chosen Scribe at the disputation at Worms and yet withall suggested to Melancthon many things for answer to Eccius his subtilties insomuch that Glanvell who supplyed the Enperors room said of him That the Lutherans had a Scribe that was more learned then all the Pontificians He alwayes opposed the Anabaptisticall errors and was very careful to preserve the Truch from corruptions he alwayes hated new and ambiguous expressions which often caused much troubles in the Church he often contemplated the foot-steps of God in Nature saying with Paul That God was so near unto us that he might be almost felt with our hands He studyed the Mathematicks in his later time and grew so skilfull therein that few excelled him he was excellent also in the Opticks but with excessive pains and incessant studyes night and day he contracted to himselfe a mortall disease whereby he wasted away and yet his intellectuals decayed not he lay sick for above three moneths all which time he gave forth cleer notable demonstrations of his Faith Patâ—ence and Piety he called up his two young daughters and caused them to repeate their prayers before him and then himselfe prayed with great fervency for himselfe the Church and those his Orphans concluding Invoco te quanquam languida imbecillâ— fide sed fide tamen credo promissioni tuae quam sanguine tuo resurrections obsignasti c. I call upon thee with a weak yet with a true Faith I beleele thy promises which thou hast sealed to mee with thy blood and resurrection c. In his sicknesse he intermitted not his studies for during the same he turned into Latine Luthers books concerning the last words of David he read the Psalms and other Autors 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 ayre againe this Cruciger saw as he lay in his bed in the night and thereupon much bewayled the great commotions and dissipations in the Church which he foresaw by this Prodigie He spent the few dayes which remained in prayer and repentance and so quietly ended his dayes November 16. Anno Christi 1548. and of his Age 45. Considering the mutabilitie of all earthly things he used often to say Omnia praetereunt praeter amare Deum Besides God's love nothing is sure And that for evâ—r doth endure Grave Cruciger was in his life A hater of corroding strife His soule was â—â—l'd with Heaven and he Was alwayes constant alwayes free In his devotions all his dayes He spent to give his maker praise Religions stocke did still encrease Within his heart and crown'd his peace He was a wonder to all Nations For Piety and disputations The Anabaptists felt the force Of his patheticall discourse Truth alwayes shined in his brest All men speake truth that speake him blest PAVLVS FAGIVS The Life and Death of Pauluâ— Fagius IN the yeer of our Lord God 1504. Paulus Fagius alias Buchlin was borne in a Town situate in the Palatinate not farre from Bretta which in the Germain language is called Rhein-taberne his Father was called by the name of Peter Buchlin being chiefe Schoole-master of that Towne his Mother by the name of Margaretta Iager daughter unto Henricus Iazger of Heidelberge who was much beloved of Fredericke the Prince Elector Palatine by reason of his excellent knowledge in the art of War He was first acquainted with the grounds of Leaenrng in the same Towne and that through the carefulnesse and paines of his Father which indeed seemed pleasing unto him because of the sharpenesse of wit and quicknesse of apprehension which he saw in the childe and therefore for the better perfection of his naturall parts when he had reached unto the age of eleven yeares he sent him unto Heidelberge and committed him unto the tuition of Iohannes Brentius and Martinus Frechtus two learned men by whose meanes he was furnished with an excellent insight in humaine Learning When he had continued with these learned men for the space of seven yeers and being now eighteene yeers of age and longing for a greater perfection of learning he left Heidelberge and went unto
and set up a Schoolâ— there also Anno christi 1537. he was sent for by Christiâ—â— King of Denmarke to reform Religion in his Dominionâ— at which time he set forth a Booke about the Ordination of Ministers There also instead of the seven Bishops of Denmarke he setled seven Superintendents to Ordain Ministers and to see to the Government of the Church whom he ordained in the presence of the King and the Senate in the chief Church of Hafnia He set up Lectures also in that University and Ordained Ministers for the Churches of Denmark and Norway of which there were foure and twenty thousand Anno christi 1542. he was employed by the elector of Saxonie to Reform the Churches in the Dukedome of Brunswick the year following the Senate of Hilvesia sent for him to Reform their Churches where he with Corvinus and Henry Winckle wrote them a Form of Ordination and Ordained six Pastors for their six Congregations Anno christi 1533. he proceeded Doctor at thâ— instigation of Ioh. Friderick Elector of Saxonie Afterwards in the Wars of Germanie for Religion Wâ—ttenberg was besieged and Bugenhagius being grown old he met with many troubles yet would he never flye but by daily prayer to God he much cheared up himself considering that in so great tempests the poor Ship of Christ's Church was not swallowed up and devoured The Controversies and Quarrels which sprung up in the Church were the greatest grief to him Being grown old and his strength so decayed that he could no longer Preach he yet resorted daily to Church where he poured forth fervent Prayers both for himself and the afflicted condition of the Church of God at that time Afterwards falling sick though without much pain he continued instant in prayer and holy conference with his friends And drawing near to his end he often repeated This is life eternall to know Thee the onely true God and him whom thou hast sent Iesus Christ and so quietly departed in the Lord Anno christi 1558. and of his Age 73. He was a faithfull Pastor mercifull to the poor severe and stout in reproof an earnest defendour of the Truth against Errors ardent in Prayer c. He joyned with Luther in the Translation of the Bible which being finished every year upon that day he invited his friends and made a Feast which he called The Feast of the Translation of the Bible When the Cimmerian darknesse had forsooke Brave Bugenhagius he rous'd up and tooke Truth by the hand and from a Foe he turn'd A friend to Luther though at first he spurn'd Against his writings yet at last his brest Repented what he rashly had exprest Then like a Starre he shin'd and was content To teach himselfeâ— and others to repent PHILIPPVS MELANTHON The Life and Death of Phillip Melancthon â— IN the year of grace 1497. Philippus Melancthon that vigilant Watchman for the generall good of the Church was borne at Bretta a Towne situate in the Lower Palatinate and onely famous for the birth of so excellent a man His Parents although they were not endewed with any store of earthly treasures yet they were rich in grace both of them being godly wise vertuous grave and honest his Father attaining to no greater advancement then to be chief Gentleman of Armes unto Philippus and Rupertus two German Princes In his youth he was committed unto the tuition of Iohannes Aungarus a man excellently qualified of whom he learned the Latin tongue and afterwards instructed in the knowledge of the Greek by Georgius Simlerus who afterwards became a publicke professor of the Civill Law concerning whom Melancthon used to speak with great reverence and respect both for his eminent gifts and also for that singular care which he had over him being a child and delivered unto him to be instructed in the knowledg of the â—ame tongues Being by these two furnished in some measure with the knowledge of those tongues and being not yet fully twelve yeers old a sufficient testimony of his future worth he was sent to the University of Heidelberge where he studied Poetry and proved also in short time an excellent Historian and he being but a child himselfe he taught the children of the Grave of Lionsten by which means notice being taken of the excellency of his parts he was graced in the same University by a generall consent with the title of Bachilor of Arts and which is also most remarkable in his youth here he frequented the Company of those which were observed to be the greatest and best learned men and especially he used the familiarity of Spangelus a Doctor of Divinity a man learned discreet and wise having continued here for the space of three yeers he went unto Tubinga in the yeer 1512. where he became an Auditor unto Brafficanus and Bebelius the lavrell Poets of those parts and also unto Iohannes Stoflerus an excellent Mathematician and professor of those Arts in that Academie and also Franciscus Stadianus then Logick Lecturer all of them being famous for their excellent endowments and for the bettering of his understanding in Divinity and increased of his knowledge therein he repaired unto Doctor Lempus esteemed the soundest and most judicius in that place concerning whom he used to say that he would paint that horrid Monster of Transubstantiation on a table and present it publickly unto his Auditors and that he could not but much admire and wonder at the insulsitie and blockishnesse of the man here he was also an Auditor unto his Master Simlerus professing the civill Law wherein he came unto sound knowledge as is made apparent by his writings and having attained unto a singular perfection in the Arts and Tongus he was in this University advanced unto the degree of Master of Arts or Doctor of Philosophy in the yeer 1513. and in the seventeenth yeer of his age after this dignity conferred on him he remained four yeers in the Academie where he commented on Virgil and Terâ—nce read the Rhetorick History Lecture with singular judgment with the great approbation and applause of his Auditors About this time there being great tumults raised in Saxonie concerning religion grounded on the doctrine taught by Luther he was called by the Duke of Saxonie God so disposing by his providence unto Wittenberge in the yeer 1518. and in the 22. yeer of his age and in the tenth yeer of Luthers residence in the same place to be a faithfull assistant unto him for the advancing of the Gospell and in this may that City justly glory that it hath been blessed with the labours of these two undaunted Champions whoâ—e actions can hardly be parraleld by any living either in the auncient or in these moderne times At his departure from Tubinga his Master Simlerus said that his going away was to be much lamented of the whole City and forthwith added Quotquot ibi essent docti homines non esse tam doctos ut intelligerent quanta esseâ— doctrina ejus qui
Capella he being Abbot there a Monastery situate in the fields of Tigurum and advanced by him to be Head-schoolmaster during his residence he was entirely beloved not onely of the Abbot but also of Simler Zuinglius Oâ—colampadius and of other excellent and reverend personages for those excellent parts wherewith he was endewed About this time he joyned with Zuinglius as touching a reformation in the Church the labouring to produce it at Tigurum and the other endeavouring to effect it at Capella which in short time took good effect for they cleared both places of Masses and Idoles and of many other things which appeared superstitious in the Church this he did during his residence at Capella and with so much the more happy success because he was appointed to read the publick Divinity Lecture in the same school In the year 1529. he was called unto Bremogart the place of his birth to Preach the Word of truth unto them here he began openly to condemne the errours of the Papists stoutly defending his Fathers doctrine who had formerly discovered and confuted their errors but some of the more eminent Citizens not well brooking his doctrine exercised their authority in expelling him the City placing in his office a godly and learned Theologue named Gervasius Scholasticus but his name being famous amongst the Switzers and many of them having a great desire to hear him he was called unto his owne Country to preach the Gospel of Christ wherein he was so powerfull that he caused them to rectifie many abuses in the Church and so well approved of that the Senate kindly intreated him to remaine there and to goe forward in his teaching he answered them that he was so strictly bound by promise unto the Senate of Tigurum and to the Abbot of Capella that he could doe nothing without their leave and consent Wherefore they presently dispatched an Embassador unto Cahella who wrought so effectually with the Senate that they willed Bullinger to remaine in his owne Country where he continued Preaching the Gospell together with Gervasius three years with the Unanimous consent of all the Citizens and the Gospell by the industry of these two learned and vigilant watchmen flourished in the same place which although it weare opposed by the Anabaptists who laboured to hinder the growth of the Church was preferred by God who stirred up this Bullinger to confute with invincible arguments in the presence of the whole Church their erronious opinions But as one misery seldome comes alone without the addition of another even so it happened at this present for the Church of Bremogart was not onely troubled with the erronious opinions of these Anabaptists but also vexed with intestine discords where in the Papists having the upper hand Bullinger with his father and brother and his faithfull colleague Gervasâ—ius were banished their Country in the yeare of our Lord 1531. whence departed they went unto Tigurum and were kindly entertained by Wernerus Striner who together with them greatly lamented the troublesome State of the Church In the same yeere the Church of Basil was destitute of a Pastor by reason of the death of Oecolampadius whereupon he was called by them unto the discharging of a Pastorall office amongst them but the Senate of Tigurum detained him and appointed him in the place of Zuinglius according to his owne desire for when he went forth with the Tigurines to Battell he desired of them if any misfortune came unto him that they would be pleased to Nominate Bullinger to be his successour And unto this office he was called in a time full of danger even to build up and to confirme and strengthen a Church greatly shaken and afflicted Which he performed with such patience and modesty that false Doctrine began againe to be discovered and the truth to be firmly planted in the hearts of many which he well perceiving ceased not to proceed and go forward praising almighty God for ordaining and esteeming him a worthy instrument for the advancing and propagating of his Truth and for that cause he wrote a Confession of his Faith sending it unto Constance to Bucer and other learned Divines there assembled for the establishing of an agreement amongst the Churches which worke of his was approved of by Bucer and by the whole Assembly esteeming it worthy to be embraced of the adjacent Churches In the year 1536. he was present at Basel with Bucer and others about the reconciling of different points which did great hurt unto the Church and especially about the reconciliation betwixt Luther and the Hevetian Churches where it being declared against him that he laboured for a defection unto Luther and all his opinions he cleared himselfe of that asperâ—ion but departed unsatisfied concerning his desire to his great griefe who notwithstanding so brideled his affection that in the midst of their contentions he abstained from all bitternesse of speech In the year 1538. some of our English Nobility came unto â—igurum to be instructed in the grounds of Religion and to have his judgement concerning the publicke rites and Ceremonies of the Church This happened about the time that Henry the eight had disburdened himself of the weight of the Pope the English being greatly inflamed to imbrace a pure worship of the Lord which had not yet been conversant amongst them these men were kindely entertained by Bullinger who also gave them full satisfaction concerning the things demanded before their departure they intreated him that he would write some short Treatise concerning Religion unto their Soveraigne whereby he might be egged forward in his resolution touching the reformation of the Church Unto which he willingly condiscended and wrote unto the King two learned Treatises exhorting him to set aside the inventions of men and to give himselfe wholly unto the Word of God and to have all things in his Dominion regulated and squared according unto the Canonicall Scripture In the year following he laboured to purge the Church of that grosse errour of Casparus Schroenckfeldius a Silesian concerning the Humane nature of Christ who taught that after his ascention into heaven and sitting at the right hand of his Father it was so Deified and made coequall unto the Word that it was no more a creature which errour received strength and was fostered by the approbation of great persons in Suevia but quickly overthrowne by the laborious Preaching and writing of Bullinger Within short time after there â—ell out a hot and irreconcileable contention betwixt Luther and the other Protestant Pastors insomuch that he openly stiled them damned Hereticks and enemies unto the Sacrament insomuch that Melancthon said unto Bullinger desino sperare ecclesiarum pacem I despaire of a setled peace amongst the Churches and again privato periculo quod nunc mihi impendet etsi non est Leve tamen tantum non movear quanâ—â—m Ecclesiarum distractionibus I am not so much grieved with that private danger which on all sides threatens my ruine as I am with
unto the Senate who had hitherto constantly defended the doctrine of the Gospell As he tooke his leave thus of the Pastors by word of mouth so he tooke his leave of the Senate by writing commending the care of the Church and publick-schoole unto them withal desires that Rodolphus Guatterus might be his successor whom he adjudged the most fit for the discharging of a Pastorall office in that place having thus after a friendly manner taken his leave he prepared himselfe to meet the Lord and in the midst of his extremities sometimes repeating the sixteenth sometimes the forty two sometimes the fifty one Psalmes sometimeâ— the Lords prayers sometimes other prayersâ— at the last framing himselfe as it were to sleep he quietly yeelded his soule into the hands of God on the eighteenth of September in the year 1575. and in the 71. year of his age He was thâ— most excellent of all the Divines that Switzerland yeelded he was an undaunted defender of the truth of Christ he was of a weak disposition plainâ— in teaching a lover of truth but a detâ—ster of Sophisticall â—nd unprofitable arguments in his speech he was affable and courteous aswell towards those of his family as towards strangers he was sparing in his dyet loving unto all and studious as it plainly appeares by his works here following which he left behind him as testifications of his desire unto the generall good and benefit of the Church Tome 1. 1. A Catechisme for the Trigurine Schoolmasters 2. An Epitomie of Christian Religion in ten Books 3. Sermons on the â—eads of Christian Religion Tome 2. 1. A Confession and Exposition of the Orthodox Faith 2. A Declaration proving the Protestant Churches â—o be neither Hereticall nor Scismaticall 3. A Compendium of the Popish and Protestant tenets 4. The old Faith and Religion 5. Of Gods eternall Covenant 6. An Assertion of the two natures in Christ. 7. Institâ—tion of Christian Matrimony 8. Instructions for the sicke 9. Declarations of Gods benefits unto the Switzers 10. Exhortations to Repentance Tome 3. 1. A Treatise of the Sabbath and of Christian â—easts 2. Of the Office of Magistrates and of an Oath 3. Of Repentance 4. Of Conversion unto God 5. An Explanation of Daniels Prophesies 6. Of the office Prophetical 7. An Exhortation unto Ministers to leave off Controversies 8. Of the Originall of Maâ—omenatisme 9. Of the Persecutions of the Church Tome 4. 1. A Preface to thâ— Latin Bible 2. Sixtie six Homilies on Daniel 3. Epitomie of the times from the Creation to the Destâ—uction of Jerusâ—lem Tome 5. 1. Homiliâ—s on Isaiah 2. Sermons on Jeremiah 3. An Exposition on the Lamentation Tome 6. 1. Commentaries on Matthew 2. Marke 3. Luke 4. John 5. Acts of the Apostles 6. A Series of times and actions of the Apostles Tome 7. 1. Commentaries on the Epistles of Saint Paul 2. Sermons on the Revelation Tome 8. 1. A Demonstration of Christian perfection to Henry the second King of France 2. Of the authority of the Scripture 3. Of the Iâ—stitution of Bishops Never could worth lodge in a richer brest Those blessings he enjoy'd made others blest He was compos'd of sweetnesse and his heart Was alwayes cheerefull willing to impart The truth to them that studyed how to grieve For sin and would prove willing to believe He was laborious and he could expresse Hatred to nothig more then Idelnesse Grave Doctors of those times would then submit To his profound incomparable wit For his grave judgment was so highly pris'd That most would act what Bullengeâ— advis'd Is it not â—iting then that we should give Due praise to him whose worth will make him live The Life and Death of Edward Deering who dyed Anno Christi 1576. EDward Deering was borne of a very ancient family in Kent and carefully brought up both in Religion and Learning From School he went to Cambridge and was admitted into Chrisâ—'s College where he profited exceedingly and became a very famous Preacher as may appear by his most learned and holy Sermons and Tractates full of heavenly consolation He never affected nor sought after great titles of preferments and therefore rested content with his Fellowship in that Colledge and only Comensed Batchelor of Divinity yet afterwards he was made a Preacher in S t. Pauls Church in London and having worn out himselfe with his labours in the worke of the Lord he fell sick and discerning his approaching death he said in the presence of his friends that came to visit him The good Lord pardon my great negligence that whilest I had time I used nâ—t his precious gifts to the advancement of his glory as I might have done Yet I blesse God withall that I have not abused these gifts to ambition and vain studies When I am once dead my enemies shall be reconciled to me except they be such as either knew me not or have no sence of goodnesse in them for I have faithfully and with a good conscience served the Lord my God A Minister standing by said unto him It is a great happinesse to you that you dye in peace and thereby are freed from those troubles which many of your brethren are like meet with To whom he answered If God hath decreed that I shall sup together with the Saints in heaven why doe I not goe to them but if there be any doubt or hesitation resting upon my spiâ—it the Lord will reveale the truth unto me When he had layen still a while a friend said unto him that he hoped that his minde was employed in holy meditation whil'st he lay so silentâ— to whom he answered Poore wretch and miserable man that I am the least of all Saints and the greatest of Sinners yet by the eye of Faith I beleeve in and look upon Christ my Saviour yet a little while and we shall â—ee â—ur hope The end of the world is come upon us and we shall quickely receive the end of our hope which we have so much looked for Afflâ—ctions deseases sicknesse griefe are nothing but part of that portion which God hath allotted to us in this world Iâ—'s not enough to begin for a little while execept we persevere in the fear of the Lord all thâ— dayer of our lives for in a moment we shall be taken away Takâ— heed therefore that you doe not make a pastime of nor dis-esteem the Word of God blessed are they that whil'st they have tongues use them to God's glory When he drew near to his end being set up in his bed some of his friends requested him to speak something to them that might be for their â—dification and comfort whereupon the Sun shining in his face he took occasion from thence to say thus unto them There is but one Sun in the world nor but one Righteousnesse one Communion of S ts â— If I were the most excellent of all creatures in the world if I weâ—â— equall in righteousnesse to Abraham Isaac and Jacob yet had I reason
serious meditation of the reformation of Religion in the Churches he desired to conforme the Citizens of Hassia unto the example of the Primitive Church he desired to remove many reliques of superstition out of the Church he desired to establish that Ecclesiasticall discipline which was ready to fall unto the great detriment of the Church In the midst of these heavenly cogitations it pleased the Lord to send his messenger for him which he well perceiving by the continuall increasing of his paines he desired to have the Communion administred unto him afterwards he told his wife what he would have done after his death after that he had instructed his children how they should carry themselves towards God and how towards their mother and how towardâ— men and his yongest son standing amongst them hâ— laid his hand on his head uttering these Words discemi fili mandata domini ipse enaâ—riet te Keepe the commandaments of the Lord my son and he will provide for thee then â—urning himselfe to those who were present he declareâ— unto them that he dyed in that faith which he had constantly professed so many yeares in that City which words being spoken he fell asleepe and was buried at Marpurge in the year our Lord 1564. and in the 53. year of his life All things which are to be required in a Teacher are to be found in this Gerardus first he was learned and his learning was also joyned with experience secondly he had an excellent faculty and method of teaching thirdly he was laborious in his function fourthly he was gravâ— fiftly of an unspotted life and conversationâ— he was modest patient and constant all which sufficiently declare that he was set apart by the Lord for the converting of many souls unto Christ. His Works which he left unto the world as a rich legacy are here set downe 1 A Commentary on the twentieth Psalme 2 On the twelft Psalme 3 A method for a Preacher 4 On the Romans 5 Of reading and meditating the Scriptures 6. Method of Theologie 7 Theologicall Topicks 8 Catechisme Other Works in two Tomes First 1 Of the study of the Scripture 2 Of the institution of Colledges 3 A triall of students 4 Of Catechising 5 Of justification by faith 6 Of Benificence to the poor 7 Of Feasts Tome 2. 1 Of the duty of hearers 2 Of Providence 3 Of Selfe-examination 4 Of the marriage of Ministers 5 Of the Sacraments 6 Notes upon Aristotles Ethicks 7 Physicks 8 Logicke 9 Rhetoricke 10 Arithmaticke 11 Gromaticke 12 Cosmographik 13 Optics 14 Astronomy Set forth after his death 1 Annotations of Isaiah 2 Commentaries on the Galathians 3 Ephesians 4 Philippians 5 Colossians 6 Thessalonians 7 Timothy 8 Titus 9 Philemon 10 Iude. 11 Hebrewes You that desire to lead a life Free from th'incumbrances of strife Draw neare and with a carefull â—row Let brave Gerarduâ— teach you how Reader observe and thou shalt finde By trauell he inrtch'd his minde His active heart was alwayes free To Propagate true piety He alwayes studied to displace Errours from the Churches face He gain'd no envy but from those That were Religions chiefest foâ—â— He would perswade intreat advise His Fellow-preachers to dispise Those fruits of Idlenesse which he defy'd Thus liv'd Gerarduâ— thus Gerardus dy'd ARETIVS BENEDICTVS The Life and Death of Aretius Benedictus AS the Lord hath never been wanting unto his Church both in these and in forraine parts in the stirring up of painfull and â—ealous Watch-men for the Propagating of his truth and for the enlightning of the understanding of those whom he had elected unto salvation in Jesus Christ so he hath not been deficient in procuring the affection of eminent persons towards the same Professors by whose meanes they have been defended and sheltered against the inviterate malice both of the Divell and his members Malicious enemies unto the Word of truth amonst whom the Senate of Berna may justly receive worthy Commendations for the constant love shewed unto the zealous professors of the truth it being indeed the maine pillar which doth support the welfare of a Common-wealth and which doth draw downe a blessing from heaven upon their intended designes In this â—amous City was Benedictus Aretius borne a faithfull zealous professors of the truth of Christ being beautified with excellent endowments both of learning and piety which did sufficiently testifie that he was set apart by the Lord for the winning of many unto Christ. He spent his youth in his owne Country amongst the Switzers wherein he was instructed and trained up in the knowledge of the Arts but ayming at a greater perfection labouring â—or a sounder judgement in the works writings of other learned and Orthodox men he left his Country for a season and went unto Marpurg where by reason of his eminent gifts and qualities he gained the love of many learned Schollers and was designed and oppointed to read the Logick Lecture in the same place which after he had performed for the space of some years to the great profit of his Auditors to the never dying fame of himselfe and to the generall applause of all the City having also attained in some measure to that perfection which he had formerly desired he returned again unto Berne where he was joyfully received and by a generall consent appointed to open the Scriptures and to instruct the inhabitants in the way of life in which exercise he observed such an edifying method both in his publick reading and Preaching that he drew great multitudes of people unto him who beholding his proceedings with great admiration with one consent praised the Lord for sending so learned and so painfull an instrument among them for the plantâ—ng of the truth in their hearts So excellent was his forme of teaching that many Divines came unto his Lectures not onely for the information of their judgements in matters of Controversies but also to learne his method of teaching which being obtained by some they proved excellent instruments in the Church for the converting of the lost sheepe of Israel and many would not in publicke make triall of their owne parts before they had continued for a season to be his Auditors His writings were greatly in request and desired greatly of all that either knew him or heard of him but especially his labours in Divinity one of his bookes called Eramen Theologicâ—m came to the Presse twelve times within the space of three years which doth declare the excellency and how usefull and beneficiall it was unto the Church in those times and in these dayes also it is a Worke fit to be perused of all such as doe intend the study of Divinity After that he had continued this constant course of teaching in the City of Berne for the space of many years to the great furtherance of the glory of God and benefit of his Church it pleased the Lord to take him unto himselfe and to Crowne him with a diâ—dem of everlasting glory
which came downe from above namely from the two Springs of Ior and Dan stood still and the rest failed and were cut off running into the the Sea of the Plaine otherwise called the DEAD SEA so that betwixt both the river of Iordan was dryed up into a faire passage over it I feare whilst the streame of a new supply from the two Fountaines of Learning and Religion in this Kingdome is much disturbed and partly obstructed in these tumultuous times and whilst the present Generation of eminent Divines maketh haste to their graves able Ministers will almost be drayned dry in the Kingdome The rather because as the arrow mortally wounded Ahab betwixt the joynts of his Armour so in the interstitium betwixt two Disciplines and give me leave to tearme Discipline the Armour of the Church Episcopacy put off and another Government not as yet close buckled on Prophanenesse and Licenciousnesse have given a great grievous wound to the Church of God for the speedy cure whereof joyn thy Prayers with his who is Thy servont in any Christian office THO. FULLER Walth Abbey THE TABLE A page Amsdorsius 246 Andreas 387. Andrewes 440. Abbat 538. B Berengarius 1. Bilney 121. Buâ—re 153. Bradford 179. Bugenhagius 280. Brentius 292. Bullenger 329. Boquine 347. Bucolizer 364. Babington 455. Beza 465. Bale 502. Benedictus 520. Bolton 586. C Colet 97. Caralostadius 113. Capito 135. Cruciger 144. Cranmer 223. Calvin 266. Câ—emnisius 307. Chytraeus 417. Cowper 558. D Diazeus 142. Deering 341. Danaeus 408. Drusius 533. E Erasmus 57. Erpenius 582. F Frith 118. Farellus 286. Fox 377. Fagius 146. G George Prince of Anhalt 164. Grindall 350. Gilpin 352. Gulterus 372. Gerardus 511. Grynaeus 535. H Husse â—2 Hooper 172. Hesperius 264. Humfried 386. Hemingius 413. Heerbrand 415. Holland 500. Hedio 163. I Ierom of Prague 21. Iustas Ionas 165. Iohn a Lasco 243. Iewell 301. Illiricus 343. Iunius 441. K Knox. 319. L Luther 31. Leo Iudae 136. Latimer 217. M Myconius 138. Melancthon 234. Marlorat 245. Musculus 248. N Nowell 422. O Oecolampadius 109. Olevian 373. P Peter Martyr 205. Philpot. 221. Pellican 229. Parker 328 and 523. Perkins 431. Polanus 499. Piscator 564. Pareus 577. R Rogers 167. Ridley 191. Ramâ—â— 325. Rollâ—â—k 410. Reynolds 477. S Saunders 169. Strigelius 290. Simlerus 344. Sohinus 384. Sadeel 397. Sands 452. Scaliger 498. Scultetus 584. T Tindall 126. Taylor 176. Tremelius 346. Tossanus 424. Trelcaâ—ius 464. V Vrbanius Regius 130. Vergerius 288. Viretus 299. Vrsin 361. W Wicklief 8. Wigandus 367. Whitaker 401. Whitgift 457. Willet 565. Whatley 592. Z Zuinglius 85 Zegedine 314. Zanchius 390. BERENGARIVS The Life and Death of Berengarius WE read Acts 27.20 when Saint Paul was tossed with the Tempest that neither Sunne nor Starres for many dayes appeared This may passe for the dolefull Embleme of the dismall darkenesse in the depth of Popery wherein Berengarius lived the subject of our ensuing discourse and before whom from the expiring of the Primative Age till his entrance into the Church little considerable light of knowledge shined amongst many Errours and much ignorance 2 We have not been idle in seeking but unsuccesfull in the finding the date of Berengarius birth and can likewise give no account of his Parentage and extraction Herein he was not unlike the River Nilus unknown and obscure for its Fountaine but famous and renowned for his Streames and his birth may seeme to be eclipsâ—d by the resplendant lustre of his life And Towres in France seated on the river Loyer was his native City wherein he was borne about tâ—e yeâ—r of our Lord 1020. as by proportion of Cronologie may probably be collected And it is observable that as the City of Towres gave the first being to Berengarius so â— Gate of that City called Saint Hues gate in at and neere which they used to meet gave the denomination to the Huâ—anites or modern French Protestants which in the point of Transubstantiation sâ—cceed to the opinion of Berengarius or rather to the truth of the doctrine it selfe 3 Here we must not omit that some have mâ—intained that this Berengarius came over with William the Conquerour into England and by his bounty received the Castle of a Camb. Brittan in Northhampton Barnewell in Northamptonshire for his possession But the mistake ariseth by confounding him with another Berengarius his namesake surnamed Le Mâ—igne or the Monke which also added countenance to their first error though indeed he was a Martiall man and no Ecclesiasticall person on whom the King conferred that Castle Thus though we should have â—eene right glad to have had this worthy Schollar our Countryâ—man though not by birth yet by habitation accounting it Englands honour that he was infeofted with faire demeynes therein yet because all is grounded upon an Errour no counterfeit credit nor false favours shall be assumed by us on others mistakes 4 Having profited in the Schoole above his equals under Fulbertus his Master the World began to take notice of his abilities and at last he was preferred to be Archdeacon of Aâ—giers a man of a bold spirit and daring resolution as God alwayes suits men for the worke they undertake We may observe in Bâ—ttels that they set those who are best arm'd â—o charge in the first ranke and order them to follow who are not so compleatly weaponed God in like manner in his wisdome appointed that sucâ— Confessours of the Truth who were to make the firsâ— Breach into the Armies of Antichrist should be accoutred Cappaâ—pae with undaunted courages such as this Berengarius and Luther were though men of meeker mindes and milder dispositions may afterwards be well used in the same service 5 For his life and conversation it was so blamelesse that therein he starved the malice of all his adversaries the long teeth of whose spight could finde nothing to feede upon He is reported not to have suffered any woman to come in his sight not because he was a hater of their sex but because he was to deale with dangerous adversaries he would warily cut off all occasions of suspition and in some cases we may say that over-much wariÌ„nesse is but even measure and caution if it be not too much will be too little 6 The maine matter wherein he dissented from the current of the Roman Church and is honoured for a Champion of the Truth was in the point of Transubstantiation an Errour which crept one of the last into the Church and was the first that was most vigorously opposed It took the rise from some extravagant expressions of Damascene and Theophilact who endeavouring to shew the reality of Christs presence in the Sacrament scattered such florishing language to that purpose flowers though they cannot feede may sometimes infect that though well intending yet ill interpreted gave occasion to their unskilfull Râ—â—ders who more minded the words then the matter from such Rhetoricall premises to conclude a Dogmaticall point
is a pregnant instance thereof whose inconsiderable yea contemptable beginning improved it selfe to give a blow under the fift rib in Scripture alwaies observed mortall to the man of sin 2 It would have given much satisfaction to the reader and more to our selves could we present him with exact Particulars of Huss his birth and extraction But alas we are so far from having a starre going before us to direct us to the place of his nativitie that we finde not the least candle-light to guide us to the notice thereof In or neere Prague we conceive him to be borne in which University he had his education 3. Now the learning of that age moved in a very narrow circle in Case and Controversiall Divinity The Schoolmen wanting the wings of the learned tongues therewith to mount into the meaning of the Scriptures in their originall onely employed themselves in running round in the beaten path of common questions whilst such amonst them as were of extraordinary parts impatient to be confined within yet unable to exceed the foresaid compasse let out their soules and made roome for the activitie of their mindes by digging deepe into curious inquiries where their best results are either unnecessarie or certaine or both Wherefore Iohn Huss declining such intricate labyrinthes betooke himselfe to finde out the right way to heaven describ'd in Gods word 4 It happened about this time that Richard the second of England married Anne sister to Wencelaus King of Bohemia and although he had no children by her yet the conversion of Bohemia may fitly be stiled the issue of this their mariage Indeed this Queene Anne taught our English women modestie in riding on Side-saddles in exchange whereof the English taught the Bohemians true religion first discovâ—ring the Romish superstitions unto them For her Courtiers here did light on the bookes of Iohn Wicklief and carried them into their owne Country where Huss had the happinesse to read approve and disperse the same See here the pedegree of the Reformation wherein Germany may be counted the Son Bohemia the Father and England the Grand-father 5. Huss hereupon began zealously to preach and propagate the truth which for the soundnesse thereof was welcome to many for the novelty to more But as the Jewes Acts 22.22 heard Saint Paul patiâ—ntly untill that passage That he was sent to the Gentiles which inraged them beyond all modesty and measure crying out away with such a fellow from the earth for it is not fit that he should live so even some Friers lent attentive eares to Huss his Sermons till their profit began to be concerned in his confuting the gainefull errours of Rome and their malice mustred all opposition against him First by order from his holinesse the Arch-bishop of Suinco was commanded to suppresse him but all in vaine his commands prevailing no more with Huss than the peoples prohibitions to Bartimeus commâ—nding him silence Marke 10.48 which onely made him cry out the more a great deale In so much that the Pope himselfe was faine to take the matter in hand 6 Here happined a most remarkable Accident very advantagious for the propagating of Husses doctrine A Scisme happened in the Church of Rome betwext three Popes at the same time so that Peters chaire was like to be broken betwixt so many sitting downe together This conduced much to the benefit of Huss who hereupon took advantage to decline so good a witt having an usefull Theame would loose nothing in handling it against the Chuch of Rome Pleading that having three it had no leagall head That this monstrous apparition of the Man of â—in presaged his life was â—hort that these three Anti-Popes made up one Antichrist In a word there was opened unto â—im a great doore of utterance made out of that cracke or cleft which now happened in this seasonable schisme at Rome 7 It was now high time a generall Councell should be called The Church was growne fowle with long want of scowring however the vicious Court of Rome declined it wonder not if theeves be unwilling to heare of an Assises expecting that there their faults would be discovered and censured All the world stood on the Tiptoes of Expectation what the Councell would produce Where for a while we leave them with the three Popes tugging one against the other where all Three at last were deposed and Pope Martin substituted in the roome of them 8 Huss during the beginning of this Counsell remained at Pargue constantly preaching in his Church of Bethlehem Where his adversaries chose out of his bookes and preaching severall Articles which they charged against him for Hereticall And it may seeme wonderfull how variously the number of them is rekoned up some times eight errours sometimes nine sometimes one and twenty sometimes five and fourty which numbers the doctors and Masters of the University of Prague collected and objected against him Yet none need justly admire at this difference as if Huss his opinions were like the stones on Salsbury plain falsely reported that no two can count them alike The variety ariseth first because some count onely his primitive Tenets which were breeders whilest others count all the yong Frye of Consequences derived from them Secondly some were more industrous to seeke capatious to expound malicious to deduce far distant Consequences Excellent at the inflaming of a Reckoning and to discover an infant or Embryo errours which others over looked Thirdly It is possible that in processe of time Huss might delate himselfe in additionall and supplementall opinions more than what he maintained at first His principall accusations were that he maintained the Sacrament was to be ministred to the peoplâ— under both Kings Secondly That Priests in a mortall sinne might not minister the Sacrament Thirdly That the Popes power above other Priests was onely invented for covetousnesse Fourthly That Priests once ordained are not to be forbidden preaching c. 9 For these Tenets Huss was excommunicated by Cardinall Delâ—hunna a sure prop of the Romish Church But all in vaine seeing the Gentry and Nobility of Bohemia did highly favour him Whereupon he was brought to the Counsell of Constance under the Safeguard of the whole Empire and a solemne Conduct of the Emperour Sigâ—smunâ—'s double written both in Latine and Almane that whether learned or unlearned might pretend ignorance thereof drawne in a most favourable Latitude for him and strongest legall forme given at Spire the eighteenth of October Anno Dom. 1414. Yea when the Pope waâ— informed by a Bohemian Gentleman what liberty Huss had granted him to remaine in Constance without any trouble vexation or interruption his Holinesse replied that if Huss had killed his brother no violence should be offered unto him during his abode in this City 10 But as the man possessed with a Divell Mark 5.3 None could binde him no not with chaines So strong was the uncleane Spirit of Cruelty in the Romish Court that no duplicates or double cords of safe Conducts
most worthily succeed And as two Twins for their heroick Spirit The one the others honour may inherit For by John Huss Jerom was blestly ayded Where by the Romish rout he was invaded And Jerom hearing Huss was wrong'd by Rome To vindicate his quarrell did presume But in the tryall found his heeles tript up Fearfull by Romish rage to taste his Cup Yet at the last that tempting blast ore blown His doubled and redoubled Zeal was shown Stoutly recanting his forc'd recantation To th' Death he hated Romes abomination Which did their Romish furie so enflame That torturing him they Tygers fierce became His head like Huss with painted Divels arrayd His Soule to Heaven outragious flames convayd MARTINVS LVTHERVS The Life and Death of Martin Luther MArtin Luther was born at Isleben Ann. Dom. 1483. November 10. at 9. a clock at night on Saint Martins day and was calâ—'d Martin His parents brought him up in knowledge and feare of God according to the capacitie of his tender yeeres and taught him to read at home and accustomed him to vertuous demeanour The father of George Aemilius as Luther often hath related first put him to Schoole where though the trueth was much darkned by clouds of Popery yet God preserved still the heads of Catechisme the Elements of the Cistoian Grammer some Psalmes and formes of prayer At fourteene yeeres of age he with Iohn Reineck who proved a man of especiall vertue and authority in those parts were sent to Magdeburg thence by his Parents he was removed to Isenak where was a Schoole of great fame There he prefected his Grammer learning and being of a very quick wit and by nature fitted for eloquence he soone surpassed his School fellowes in copiousnesse of speech and matter and excelled in expression of his minde both in profe and verse He went to Erford Anno 1501. Where he fell upon the crabbed and thorny Logick of that age which he soone attained as one who by the sagacitie of his wit was better able to dive into causes and other places of Arguments then others Here out of a desire of better learning he read over Cicero Livy Virgil and other monuments of ancient latine Authors When at Erphord he was graced with the degree of Master of Aarts at twinty yeeres of age he read as Professor Aristotes Phisicks Ethicks and other parts of Philosophy Afterward his kindred seeing it fit that so worthy indowments of wit and eloquence should be cherishsd for the publque good by their advise he betooke himselfe to the study of the Law But not long after when he was 21. yeeres old of a sudden besides the purpose of his parents and kindered upon an affright from his faithfull mates violent death he betooke himselfe to the Augustine Monks Colledge in Erphord But before he entred the Monastry he entertained his fellow studients with a cheerefull banquet and thereupon sent them letters of valedictory and sending to his parents the Ring gown of his degree of Master of Arts unfolded to them the reason of the change of his course of life It much grieved his parents that so excillent parts should be spent in a life little differing from death But for a moneths space no man could be admitted to speake with him running over the Bookes thereof in order he met with a copie of the Lanine Bible which he never saw before there with admiration he observed that there were moe Evangelicall and Apostolicall Texts then what were read to the people in Churches In the Old Testamenâ— with great â—ttention he read the story of Samuel and Anna hiâ— mother and began to wish that he was the owner of the like book which not long after he obtained Hereupon he spent his time on the Propheticall and Apostolicall writings the fountaines of all heavenly doctrine seeking thence to enforme his minde with Gods will and to nourish in himselfe the feare of God and true faith in Christ from true and undoubted grounds Some sicknesse and feare whet him on to attempt these studyes more earnestly It is said that in this Colledge Luther in his younger years fell into a most violent disease in so much that there was no hope of life and that an ancient Preast came to him and with these words comforted him Sir Be of good courage for your disease is not mortall God will raise you up â—o be a man who shall afford comfort to many other He was often cheered up by conference with the ancient Priest to whom he revealed his feares and scruples of minde Then he began to read Augustinâ— Works where both in his Comment on the Psalmes and in the book Of the Spirit and letter he found many evident places which confirmed this doctrin concerning faith the comfort which was before kindled in his breast Yet did he not utterly cast of the reading of Gabriel and Camaracensis writers on the Sentences but was able to recite them by heart in a manner He spent much time in often reading Occam and esteemed him for acutenesse of wit before Thomas Acquinas and Scotâ—s also he studiously perused Gerson But chiefly he read often Austines Workes and kept them well in memory This earnest prosecution of his studyes he began at Erphord and spent there five years in the Colledge In the year 1507. he put on the priests hood The first Masse which he celebrated was May 2. Domini Cantate Then was he 24. years old In this course he continued 15. years to the year of our Lord 1527. At that time Iohn Staupicius who endeavoured to promote the University of Wittenberg lately begun desired that the study of Theology should there flourish and well knew the wit and learning of Luther and removed him to Wittenberg An. 1508. when he was 26. years old Here in regard of his daily exercises in the Schools his Sermons the eminency of his good parts did more and more shew themselves And among other learned men who attentively heard him Martinus Mellurstad commonly cal'd Lux mundi the light of the world often said of Luther that there was in him so Noble a straine of wit that he did verily presage that he would change the vulger course of Studyes which at that time was usuall in Schooles and prevailed At Wittenberg Luther first explained Aristotles Logick and Physicks yet intermitted not his study of Divinity Three years after that is Anno 1510. he was sent into Italy and to Rome in the behalfe of his Covent for the deciding of some controversies among the Monkes There he saw the Pope and the Popes palace and the manners of the Roman Clergy Concerning which he saith I was not long at Rome There I said and heard others say Masse but in that manner that so often as I call them to minde I detest them For at the tabe I heard among other matters some Curtisans laugh and boast and some concerning the bread and wine on the Altar to say Bread thou art and
bread thou shalt remaine Wine thou art and wine thou shalt remaine He further addeth that the Priests celeberated the Masses so hastily and perfunctorily that he left of saying Masse before he betook himselfe to the Gospell And cryed out A way with it a way with it In talke with his familiar friends he would often rejoyce at this his journey to Rome and say that he would not for 1000. florens have been without it After his returne from Rome Staupicious so advising he was made Doctor in Divinity after the manner of the Schools and at the charge of Duke Fredrick Elector of Saxony For the Prince heard him Preach and admired the soundnesse of his invention the strength of his arguments and the excellence of the things which he dilivered Now was Luther thirty years old and had attained a maturity of Judgement Luther himselfe used to professe that he would have refused this honour and that Sâ—aupicius would have him permit himselfe to be gracâ—d with this degree saying pleasently That there were many businesses in Gods Church wherein he would use Luthers helpe Thiâ— speech then spoken in a complementall way at length proved true by the event Thus many presageâ— goe before great changes Soon after he began as the place required to explaine the Epistle to the Romans and some Psalmes which he so cleared that after a long and darke night there seemed a new day to arise in the judgement of all pious and prudent men Here he shewed the difference of the Law and Gospell and refuted an errour then most frequent both in the Schools and Sermons namâ—ly that men bâ— their workes can deserve remission of their sinnes and that menare just before God by observing the discipline commanded as the Pharisees taught Luther therefore recal'd mens mindes to the son of God and as Iohn Baptist shewed them the Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world And taught them that for Christâ— sake their sins are forgiven and that this benefit is received by faith He cleared also other points of Ecclesiasticall truth This beginning made him of great authority and that much the more because his demeanor was sutable to his doctrine so that his speech seemed to come from his heart not from his lippes onely For the saying is as true as old 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A mans pious carriage makes his speech perswasive Hence it was that men easily assented to him when afterward he changed some of their rites As yet he attempted not to doe it but was a rigid observer of good order and addâ—d something more strict then usuall With the sweetnesse of this doctrine all godly minded men were inamoured and much it affected the learned that Châ—ist the Prophets and Apostles were brought out of darkenesse and prison and that the diffâ—rence of â—he Law and the Gospell of Gods Word and Phylosophy of which they read nothing in Thomâ—s Scotus and their fellowes now was manifested Now also Luther betook himselfe to the study of the Greek and Hebrew tongues that upon his knowledge oâ— the phraise and propriety of the Originall he might more exactly judge of Doctrines grounded thereupon Luther being thus busied into Misnia and Saxonie Iohn Tecelius a Domanican Fryer brought Indulgences to be sold. This Tecelius arrived as other matters so especially that he had so large a commission from the Pope that though a man should have defloured the blessed Virgin for money he could pardon the sin And further he did not onely give Pardonâ— for sins past but for sins to come Luthers godly zeale being inflamed with these proceedings set forth certaine propositions concerning Indulgences These he publickly affixed at the Church next to the Castle of Wittenberge on All-Saintâ— Eve Anno 1517. When Luther perceived that the Positions were very well liked of and entertained as sound and Orthodox which he at first propounded to be discussed by Disputation till the Church defined what was to be thought concerning Indulgences he wrote to Ierom Bishop of Brandenburg under whose Jurisdiction he was and submitted what he had written to the Bishops judgement and intreated him thaâ— he would dash out with his pen or consume with the fire what he thought unsound The Bishop answered Luther and declared that his desire was that the setting forth of his arguments about those matters should a little while be deferred and that he wished that the common talke about Indulgences had never been Luther answered I am content so â—o doe and had rather obey then worke Miracles if I could well do them In the year 1518â— Luther though most men disswaded him yet to shew his observance of authority went for the most part on foot to the Colledge of Hidleberg In the Colledge of the Augustinians now cal'd the Colledge of Sapience he disputed about Justification by Faith Upon Luthers reâ—urne he wrote an Epiâ—â—le to Iudocus a Divine and Phylosopher of Isenac once his Tutour Where he hath this speech All the Doctors of Wittenberge in the doctrine concerning grace and good workes are of my Iudgement yea the whole Vniversity except one licentiat Doctor Sebastian even the Prince himself and our Ordinary Bishop and many of the Chieftains and all the Ingenious Citizens with joynt consent affirme that before they neither knew nor heard of the Gospell nor of Christ. The Pope by Thomas Cajetan Cardinall cited Luther to Rome Luther having notice hereof mainly endeavoured that the cause might be handled in Germany under competent Judges and at length he prevailed by the mediation of Wittenberge University to the Pope and by Charles Multitius a German the Popes Chamberlain and the mediation of the Elector of Saxony to Cajetan then the Popes Legate that at Auspurg before the Legate himselfe Luther might plead his owne cause About the beginning of October Luther came on foot to Auspurg and upon assurance of his safety was admitted to the Cardinals presence Who admonished him first To become a sound member of the Church and to recant the errours which he had divulged secondly to promise that he would not againe teach his former doctrines thirdly that he would abstain from other Doctrines which would disturb the Peace of the Church Here also it was objected to him that he denyed the Merit of Christ to be a treasure of Indulgences and that he taught that Faith was necessary for all which should come to the Sacrament Luther intreated some time to deliberate thereon and returned the next day and in the presence of some witnesses and a Scribe and four of the Empeours Counsellors professed that he gave the Church of Rome all due observance and if he had spoken any thing dissenting from the judgement of the Church he would reverse it but could revoke no errour being not yet convicted by Scripture of any and did appeale to the judgement of the Church But Luther not convinced as yet by Scripture persisted in the truth Yet at length fearing least the Cardinall should
truely blest For which rare Doctor let both high and low Blesse God that they so clear Christs truth doe know And pray the Lord that these his Gospels rayes May to the World shine-forth for datelesse dayes Philip Melancthon Dead is grave Luther worthy all due praise Who set forth Christ in Faiths illustrious rayes His Death the Church laments with sighs sincere Who was her Pastour nay her Patron deare Our Israels Chariots and Horsemen rare Is dead with me let All sad Sables weare Let them their griefe in groaning verses sing For such sad Knells such Orphans best may ring Theodore Beza Rome tam'd the World the Pope tam'd Rome so great Rome rul'd by power the Pope by deep Deceit But how morâ— large than theirs was Luthers Fame Who with One Pen both Pope and Rome doth tame Goe fictious Greece goe tell Alcides then His Club is nothing to great Luthers Pen. John Major By Luthers labours Leo the tenth is slaine Not Hercles Club but Luthers Pen's his bane Joachim a Beuft When Luther dy'd then with him dy'd most sure A Crown and credit of Religion pure His Soul soar'd up to heaven on Concords day Which tended Luther thither on his way Deare Christ since Discord followed with Coats rent Give to thy Spouse Elijahs ornament Upon his Tomb-stone the University of Wittenberg as to her beloved father engraved MARTINI LVTHERIS THEOLOGIAE D. CORPVS H. L. S. E. QVI ANNO CHRISTI M. Dâ—XLVI.XII CAL. MARTII EISLEBII IN PATRIAS M. O. C. V. AN. LXIII M.III.D.X Luthers writing were published at Wittenberg and Iene in severall Towns both in Latine and German tongue Part of them were expositions of Scriptures part doctrinall part polemicall Of these this was his own judgement Aâ—ove all I beseech the godly Reader and I beseech him for our Lord Iesus Christs sake that he would read my writings judiciously and with much piâ—ying my case In Wedlock he lived chastly and godly above twenty yeers and when he dyed left three sons and Catharin de Bora a widdow who lived after his death seven years To her it was a great griefe that her husband died in a place far from her so that she could not be with him and performe the last conjugall offices to him in his sicknesse In the time of the war which presently followed she wandred up and down with her orphants and in banishment was exposed to many difficulties and dangers And besides the miseries of widowhood which are full many the ingratitude of many did much afflict her for where she hoped for kindenesse in regard of her husbands worthy and noble deserts of Gods Church often she was put of with great indignity When afterward her house at Wittenberg in time of pestilence was infected she for her childrens safety as became a godly mother betook her selfe to Torg where was also an University But in the way when the horses affrighted ran out and seemed to indanger the waggon she amazed not so much for her owne as her childrens preservation lept out of the Waggon whereby poore wretch she grievously bruised her body in the fall and being cast into a poole of cold water caught thereby a disease of which she lay sick three months in banishment and pining away at length dyed quietly in the year 1552. Welfare those gentle Quilâ— whose ere they be Whose meritorioâ—s labours shall set free The Urne imprisoned Dust of that renown'd Thrice famous Luther Let his head be crown'd With sacred Immortality and rais'd Much rather to be wondred at then prais'd Let Bâ—bes unborn like fruitfull plants bring forth To after dayes new Monumeâ—ts of his worth And time out lasting Name that Babels Whore And all his bald-paâ—e panders may ev'n rore For very anguish and then gnaw and bite Their tongues for malice and their nailes for spite Whilst men made perfect in his well know story May all turne Patrâ—os and protect his Glory ERASMVS ROTERDAMVS The life and Death of Desiderius Erasmuâ— HIs Sirnamâ— implyes the place of his birth Roterdam is a City of Holland Holland the seat of the ancient Batavi but now illustrious by the production of one pen then by all her former harvests of pykes Seaven Citâ—es no coâ—temptible portion of witty and work-like Greece accouâ—ted the Nativitie of Homer so great an access to their other glories that they seriously contested about it Although Homer because Antiquity will have it so be greater then Erasmus yet litle Roterdam hath more to boast of in him then great Athens Smyrna Rhodes Colophon Chios Salamis or Argos in the other For it is certaine Erasmus was born at Roterdam but pitch upon what City of those seven you please it is six to one whether Homer was born there or not But what talke we of Roterdam Rhenamus sticks not to impute his Nativity to the fortune of Emperors and felicity of the whole German Empire within the limits whereof he was born upon the vigil or Eve of Simon and Iude under Frederick the third But in what yeer of our Lord or that Emporors raigne is not remembred this is certaine in the yeer of grace 1519. he was either 50. or 52. his mothers name was Margaret daughter to one Peter a physitian of Zavenberg his father Gerard. These accompanied together secretly but not without promise of marriage untill the young woman proved with childe Gerards father was named Helias his wife Catherine each of them lived till past 95. They had ten Sonnes without any daughters all married except Gerard who was the youngest save one All of them much resented this Clandestine combination and commixture betwixt Gerard and Margaret wherefore to prevent their marriage to gaine his portion to themselves and yet not loose a brother able in time to feast them at his owne cost they resolve out of ten to give Gerard as the Tieth unto God that is to dedicate him to the Church whereby perceiving himselfe excluded from marriage and not yet resolved to enter into holy Orders he fled to Rome By the way he wrot back to his friends the reason of his journey he intimated by the impresse of his seal which had one hand infolded in another In the meane time Margaret was brought to bed and the child the subject of this discourse cheerfully received and carefully nourished by his grandâ—mother Gerard after his arrivall at Rome maintained himselfe by his Pen for he wrote an exellent hand and Printing was not then found out or but in the infancy In processe of time the Copying out of learned bookes begate in him a love to learning it selfe so that besides his knowledge in the Tongues both Greek and Latin he became a considerable proficient in the Lawes which he might the more easily doe Rome then abounding with many learned and able Schollers and he himselfe having the happinesse to be an Hearer of Guarinus His father and brethren having certaine intilligence both of his being and well being at Rome fraudulently advertise
Vrswick sent him a brase of Geldings Polidore Virgil money â—o buy a third Cromwell the first out of his sacrilegious broak-age at twise 30. Angels Montjoy More Tonstal and Colet were his continuall supporters to say nothing of many others within this kingdome Cardinall Matthaeus offered him a yeerly pension of five hundred Ducats to live at Rome and sent him a Cup of beaten Gold he received another of the same mettle but greater and more curiously engraven with sundry poeticall fancies from Albert Archbishop and Cardinall of Mentz Cardinall Gampegius amongst other tokens sent him a Diamond Ring of no meane value Stanislaus Olmucensis a silver bole double gilt with four peeces of Gold the coyne of ancient Emperors the Bishop of Basil offered him for his society halfe his Bishoprick which alluding to the name he termed half his Kingdome Thurzo Bishop of Vratislavia went ten dayes journey out of his way to behold him and you must not imagine that when they parted he gave him nothing Another of the same name sent him foure Watches foure ingots of pure gold and a Muntiro lined with rich Sables Christopher Shcidlovitz Chancellour of Poland a Clocke Spoone and Forke all of pure gold Peter Bishop of Cracovia thirty Duckâ—ts Iohannes Paungarnerus a good quantity of gold uncoyned with a silver Bole of no meane capacitie Rinkius another Fuggerus a third all gifts as himselfe jested not unbefitting a Hollander Iacobus Piso two peeces of ancient Coyne the one Gold the other Silver resembling Gratian and Hercules Vigilius Zuichemus a gold Ring which explicated became an exact celestiall sphere And William Earle of Eysenburg a Dagger which by the inscription he wished in the heart of his enemies Besides these he held intercourse by Letters and was often supplyed by Erastus Duke of Bavaria Croyus Cardinall of Toledo and Alphonsus Fonseca Archbishop of the same Dominicus Cardinall Crimanus Iohn Cardinall of Bernard Cardinall of Trent Iohn Sylvagius Chancellour of Burgundie the Bishop of Paris and Baion Erardus Leodiensis Philippus Trajectensis Christopherus Augustanus Iacobus Sadoletus Ennius Verulanus Hugo Constantiensis Aloisius Marlianus Conradus Wircemburgensis and Antonius a Bergis Abbot of Saint Bertines This may seeme a large Nomenclature of Friends Patrons and Acquaintance and yet a farre larger might easily be gathered out of his owne Epistles and Prefaces This whatsoever it is I am sure without wrong to posterity could neither be omitted nor contracted seeing thereby we should either deprive him of the honor of so great friends or them of the glory of so great Munificence What a Toâ—quot of Archbishopricks Bishopriâ—ks Prebends and fat Parsonages might not this so Patroned a Clerke had he had but the conscience to digest them have accumulated under one red Hat â—ut he declined civill preferments as not so sutable to his Priesthood and had he accepted Ecclesiasticall he foresaw having already so much spent himselfe to inlighten others that he should either ruine his body by discharging or his more precious soule by neglecting them and therefore chose rather to cast himselfe upon the benevolence of his friends though with disparagement to himselfe then with scandall upon the Church which like a genuine Apostle he laboured to benefit whether graâ—is or ingratiis Learning waâ— never at a greater losse or lower ebbe either in France or Germanie then he found it within few yeeres after the publication of his Adages and Bookes de copia soloecisme in both began to be whooted at Presses to sweat under the Institutions of Theodorus the Grammarian and other Greeke Authors newly translated into Latine and all men who either were or desired to seeme whether learned or promoters of learning to blow the coale that was already kindled To this onely end and purpose Hâ—eronymus Buslidâ—us bequeathed the greatest part of a very great Estate and Erasmus so prevailed with his Executors that putting the money into one Purse they therewith founded endowed a Colledge in Lovaine wherin the three learned Tongues are exactly taught by as many exquisite Professours he himselfe inlivened it with Statutes In emulation of the Spaniard the French King shortly after erected just such another at Paris and because he would have it in nothing inferiour to that at Lovane sent a Commission under his great Seal to Erasmus to prescribe it Statutes and furnish it with Professors but he accepted not thereof perhaps hindered by sicknesse or some other imployment The Trojane Horse was never more pregnant with armed men then those two Colledges have beene ever â—ince with men learned in all those and many other languages His judgement was much questioned especially beyond the Alpes for prostituting in his Chiliades so vast and inâ—valuable a treasure of humain Learning to every purblinde eye and vulgar capacity in which winde Aldus Manutius suffered before him for his Commentaries upon Sophocles and Euripides as though it were an essentiall of learning to be acquired onely in Italie But of all Monopolies he abhorred that of Learning most accounting nothing too good to be communicated nor any thing below him that might bring others to the same height of knowledge wherunto he himselfe had already ascended we cannot have a better proofe of the one then his Adages or witnesse of the other then his Commentaries upon Cato de Moribâ—s France I confesse may with great reason glory in Budaeus No man hath hitherto better discovered whatsoever belongeth unto Money whether you respect the Greek or Roman standard His Commentaries of the Greek tongue and Annoâ—ations on the Pandects are two usefull and excellent Peeces But Erasmus was nothing his inferior in humanity when first he applyed himselfe to Theologie a study by Budaeus either not attempted or persecuted onely upon the bye The next who with best reason can be brought into this Competition is Ludovicus Vives who can hardly extend his Paralell as far as Budaeus and therefore all I will say of him is that he was borne in Spaine bred in Italie Erasmus brought with him more learning out of Germany then he found in both who but Erasmus durst ever have attempted to bring a generation of supercilious and yet ignorant Friers bred up in meer Sophistry and barbarisme to a true relish of Divinity as it is delivered to us by the Fathers most of whose Workes miserably corrupted he restored to their genuine and native splendor others undertook what he was not able to overtake provoked by his letters or aminated by his example So that directly or indirectly he was the true cause of the Restitution of all of them And yet this was but halfe his taske he found the Discipline of the Church in no better case then the Doctrine this turned into Sophistry that into Ceremonies which he labored to abridge not to abolish being as inseperable and proper unto Religion as shadowes are unto Substances Although we may truely account her farre past the Mâ—ridian in that Church where she can hardly be seene for the
Grunnium Ad Fratres Germaniae inferioris Spongia adversus aspergines Hutteni Pantalabus sine adversus fâ—bricitantem Adversus Mendacium obtrectationem Antibarbarorum liber 1. Ad quosdam Gracculos Epistola Responsio ad Petri curâ—ii defensionem De Termino De vita phrasi Operibus Originis Besides these you have in the University Library at Oxford not set forth by Frobenius De novo Evangelio novisque Evangelistis judicium Auris Batanaâ— Vita Coleti Duo Diplomata Papae Adriani â—um responsionibus Detestatio Belli Precatio ad Iesum cum aliis Ejaculationibus De Hollandis Translated out of Greeke Classis 5. Ex S. Chrysostomo Adversus Iudaeos Homiliae 5. De Lazaro Divite Hom. 4. De Visâ—one Hom. 5. De Philogone Martyre Hom. 1. De Orando Deum Libri 2. De Davide et Saul lib. 3. Quam Presbyter esset designatus Hom. 1 In psalm Cantate Domino Quam Sarionius et Aureliamus acti essent in exilium Hom. 1. De fide Annae Hom. 2. Commentariorum in Acta Apost Hom. 4 Commentariorum in 2. dam ad Cor. Hom. 7. In Epistolam ad Galatas In Epistol ad Philipp Hom. 2. Ex S. Athanasio De Spiritu Sancto Epistolae 2. Contra Eusebium de Nicaena Sinod Ep. 2 Apologetici Duo adversus eos qui Calumniabanter quod in Persequutio nefugisset Ex S. Athanasio De Passione Domini Hom. 1. De hoc quod Scriptum est in Evangelio Vicum q. Contra vos est De Virginitate De peccato in Spiritum De Spiritu Sancto Ex S. Basilio Principium Esaiae De Spiritu Sancto lib. 1. De laudibus Iejunii lib. 2. Fragmentum Originis in Evang. S. Matth. Euripidis Hecuba Iphigenia Theodori Gazae Grammatices lib. 2. Declamatio alia quaedam ex Libanio Ex Plutarcho De discrimine Adulatoris Amici Quo pacto capi possit utilitas ex inimico De Tuenda bona valetudine Principi maxime Philosophandum An graviores sint Animi morbi quam Corporis De Cupiditate divitiarum An recte dictum sit ab Epicuro 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 De cohibenda iracundia De Curiositate De vitiosa verecundia Galeni exhortatio ad bonas literaâ— Isocrates de Regno administrando ad Nicodem Regem Tyrannus Zenophonius Luciani Saturnalia Cronosolon sive leges Saturnaliciae Epistolae Saturnales De Luctu Icoromenippus Toxaris Pseudomantis Somnium sive Gallus Timon Abdicatus Tyrannicida De mercede conductus Dialogus Cnemonis Damippi Dialogus Zenophantae Callidemi Dialogus Menippi Mercurii Dialogus Menippi Amphilochi Triphonie Dial. Charontis Menippi Dial. Cratetis ac Diogenis Dial. Mirei ac Thersitae Dial. Diogenis ac Mausoli Dial. simyli ac Polystrati Dial. Veneris ac Cupidinis Dial. Doridis ac Galateae Dial. Martis ac Mercurii Dial. Mercurii ac Maiae Dial. Diogenis ac Alexandri Dial. Menippi Chironis Dial. Menippi Cerberi Hercules Gallicus Eunuchus De Sacrificiis De Astrologia Lapithae sive convivium Fathers and other Authors set forth Corrected and Commented upon by Erasmus Classis 6. Augustini opera omnia 10. Tomis Hieronymi opera omnia 9. Tomis Cypriani opera omnia Irenaei opera Arnobius Ciceronis Officia De Amiciâ—ia De Senectute Paradoxa Quintus Curtius Suetoniâ—s Aelius Spartiaâ—us Iulius Capitolinus Aelius Lampridius Vulcâ—tius Galliâ—â—â—â—s Trebellius Pollio Flavius Vopiscus In Nucem Oâ—idii Commentarii In Catonem de Moribus Commentarii Notae in Plautum Notae in Terentium Notae in Quintilianum Notae in utrumque Senecam Two Bookes of his Antibarbarus was lost in England many of his most elaboâ—â—te Declamations at Rome two Books de Eucharistia he finished but supprest He left imperfect at his death a just Commentary upon S. Pauls Epistle to the Romans with many other Treatises since crept into other Mens Workes And it is to be noted that the Index Expurgatorius hath made more bold with no Mans Bookes then with his so that the first Impression are infinitely the best This famous and renowned Writer Erasmus Author and Inditer Of many learned Workes of Worth Which in his life time he set forth Was for his Learning and rare Parts His Wit his Wisedome skill in Arts And Languages and Uertues rare Wherein he justly might compare With his Contemporaries best In such esteeme and high request With all the Princes Potentates And learned Clerkes of all the States In Christendome which knew or saw him That they contended who should draw him To live with them Him to enjoy And with them his rare Parts t' employ Sending him many Gifts most great His presence with them to entreat But crown'd at last with honours Bayes In Basil He did end his dayes As full of yéeres as fragrant fame Leaving behinde an honoured Name HVLRICVS ZVINGLIVS The life and Death of Huldericus Zuinglius In the yeer of our Lord God one thousand four hundred eighty and seven Huldericus Zuinglius the Angel of the Church at Tigurum was borne and on the first of Ianuary in a little village which in the language of the Switzers is called Wild-house he was descended from pious vertuous and Religious Parents his Father also being a man advanced unto great dignity and authority amongst the Switzers in regard of his approved and well deserving parts He by daily observation without doubt to his great comfort seeing and perceiving more then an ordinary towardlinesse in his Sonne and beholding a future worth to discover it selfe even from his infancy and cradle not onely for the advancement of the glory of God but also for the benefit and profit of his native soyle and Countrey therein conferring a more charitable and friendly censure on him then that School-master on Thenistocles and causing others also to make triall of his ingenious disposition who beheld his naturall parts with astonishment and admiration he was very carefull to perfect nature by Art for that cause his age condescending thereunto he committed him unto the tuition of a certain School-master living not far from the place of his birth to be instructed trained up in the elements grounds of the Latin tongue with whom in short time by reason of the vigilancy and watchfulnesse of the one and the carefulnesse and industry of the other he attained not without great applease to that discretion and judgement that he esteemed those things which were read unto him as a subject fitter and more convenient for duller braines then for his quick and ready apprehension This proceeding therefore not answering his expectation he removed thence and being not yet fully ten yeeres old he was sent unto Basil a City in Germany situate upon the River of Rhine where he obtained for his Tutor Gregorius Biâ—â—zlius eminent in those daâ—es for the excellent endowments of learning and piety wherewith he was invested under whom this Huldericus attained unto that perfection both in civil behaviour and learning that he seemed alwaies to exceed out-strip go beyond and carry away the
victory from those who were his contemporanean School-fellowes and that nothing might seem to be wanting to the perfection of so hopefull a Plant he reached unto the knowledge of the Scince of Mâ—sicke wherein he shewed himselfe so excellent and so compleat an Artist that his judgement compared with the tendernesse of his yeeres enforced his spectators to the greater admiration and his Master Bintzlius well perceiving that his Sâ—udies and learning were incongruous and too mean for so apt and so vertuous a disposition sent him back againe unto his Father together with his judicious opinion concerning him advising him to provide otherwise for him and to search out for such a Master whose learning might be correspondent unto the promptnesse of his naturall disposition His Father being joyfull with this approbation of his Master and also fearfull least these springing vertues should suffer an Eclipse by the interposition of that odious vice of Idlenesse he forthwith sent him unto Berna a famouâ— City in Switzerland to be instructed and brought up by Henricus Lupulus a man well learned and excelling in Poâ—try from whom through the reading of Classiâ— Writers he became a good Orator got some knowledg in the art of Logickes having now spent at Berna almost two yeers and longing after the knowledge of Phylosophy whose ground and Basis was already laid he removed unto Vienna a famous City of Austria situate on the river Danubius where he not onely attained to the knowledge of Phylosophy but he also augmented and perfitted those things which in former time he had learned and having spent here some few yeeres he returned againe to Basil where he first began to imploy that talent which God had bestowed on him for here he began first to teach others that which he himselfe had learned and having spent some time in the instructing of others and in furnishing himselfe with the knowledge of the Liberall Arts he waâ— advanced unto the title of Master which being obtained hâ— forthwith addicted himselfe being guided thereunto by the spirit of God unto the study of Schoole Divinity wherein he remained silent for a while being rather a spectator then an Actor untill he was called by the Glareanes to the discharge of a Pastorall function office amongst them where with all alacrity and cheerfulnessâ— he finished that which had beene formerly begun by others And by this meanes having received holy Orders he gave himselfe wholy to the study of Divinity spent all his time in searching into the old and new Tâ—stament â—hat so he might be able not onely to speake but also to judge of the Scriptures as for the writings of the Ethnicks he did not greâ—tly esteeme and accompt onely he made use of Vâ—lerius Maximus who by reason of the variety of his examples he perceived it would be beneficiall unto him But becâ—use he well understood that he could have no sound judgement concerning the Scriptures nor concerning the writings of pious and learned men unlesse that he were wel skild in the tongues he forthwith betook himself to the study of the Greek tongue wherin in short time he so well profited that the Greek seemed more easier unto him then the Latin and he better able to judge of a Greek then of a Latin Author and for the better understanding of the tongue he used help of the best Lexicons and translations and with them translated Saint Pauls Epistles committing them all to Memory and other bookes of the New Testament But when he had found it written in Saint Peter that the Scripture was not of private interpretation he lifted up his eyes to heaven beseeching the holy Ghost and earnestly wrestling with him by prayer that he would be pleased so to illuminate his understanding that he might rightly and truely understand the sense and meaning of the holy Scriptures so that he might neither decieve himselfe nor lead away others with a false image of the spirit Having thus in some measure fitted himselfe for the beating down of sin advancing furthering of the truth he then first began to condemne the Helvetian Pensions labouring to overthrow them and to reduce and bring backe againe former sanctity and worship into the Countrey and hence hatred and reproachfull speeches had and took their beginning against this good pious and laborious man who notwithsâ—anding this affront at the first shewing of himselfe for the glory of God and that in his owne Country chearfully proceeded Preaching the Gospel and endeavouring rather as yet to plant truth in the hearts of his Auditors and to cause them fully to understand it rather then to open and to discover unto them the vices and wickednesses of the whore of Babilon Not long after occasion being offered and D. Theobaldus Gerolzeggius desiring or rather earnestly intreating the sam he departed from Glarona and went to Eremus there intending to continue for a time but indeed the chiefest cause of his reparing unto that place was the happy opportunity of preaching Christ and his truth unto diverse remote and forreine Nations being at that time gathered togethered unto that place from all parts of the world In the meane time it fell out that the Church of Tigurum was destitute of a Curate or Priest many there were which greatly laboured to bring in Zuinglius he being altogether ignorant of this matter comes to Tigurum where being demanded by a certaine Canon who accidentally met him Whether he could preach the word of the Lord unto those of Tigurum he presently answered that he could upon which answer he is called unto the Church of Tigurum not without the great joy of many godly minded persons and that which he promised he began with happy successe to performe the Lord being with him and giving a blessing unto his labours in the yeer of grace one thousand five hundred twenty and one During the time of this happy proceeding of his at Tigurum the Switzers had taken great notice of the name of Martin Luther by reason many of his writings which in all places came unto their hands these he exhorted them to read and to peruse that so they might perceive the vnity of the spirit drawne out of those holy writings in them both and so by that meanes nothing doubting but that they would be the more willing to consent and to give place unto the truth This is also remarkable in the godly man that notwithstanding his continued paines in the discharging of his Pastorall office he omitted not his reading of the difficultest Greek Authors for the preserving of that knowledg w ch he had formerly gotten not ceaâ—ing here he adventured on the Hebrew wherein by the helpe assistance of some who were his associates he profited so much that he was able aptly to expound the two major Prophets Isaiah and Ieremiah About the same time Franciscus Lamberius a Frier Minorite forsaking his Monastry came to Tigurum who disputed publiquely with Zuinglius concerning the
but freely without stipend â—xpounded all Saint Pauls Epistles when he was not yet full thirty yeeres of age At Oxford Erasmus and he became first acquâ—inted who witnesseth â—o his no smal commendation that though at that time he was neither Graduat nor Candidat in Theologie that yet there was neither Doctor Abbot nor Master in the whole Vniversity who frequented not and which is more tooke notes of hiâ— Lectures Howsoever before he left the Vniversity they honored him with the degree of Doctor whereof he accepted rather to please the givers then himselfe From Oxford and these sacred imployments he was called to London by King Henry the seventh who bestowed upon him the Denary of St. Pauls of all the Denaries in England the highest in the ranke but not the deepest in the manger which Colet imbraced rather as aburdensome charge then honor And therfore as soone as he had regulated his Colledge of Canons and restored it to its antient Discipline he resolved which was not Customary in those times to Preach every Holy-day in the Cathedrall over and above his Sermons at Court and many other Churches in the City to one or other whereof the want of able Predicants invited him almost every Lords-day In his owne Church he expounded the Scriptures not by retale but whole-sale running over sometimes a whole Epistle sometimes a whole Gospell wheresoever he Preached he was exceedingly followed both by Courtiers and Citizens The Deans Table which in former times had been two much prostituted to excesse and luxury he reduced to temperance and moderated by his frugality For he restrained himselfe to one meale a day for many yeeres together both before and after his preferment which at one blow câ—t off all his Supper-guests late dinners not a few and the more because his entertainment though neat was neither costly nor excessive his sitting short and his whole discourse attemperd either to learning or piety for immediately after grace his boy red a Chapter out of which he himselfe for the most part chose the theme or subject of that meales discourse wherein not onely Schollers but idiots also his Conviu's had their share if he perceived their want of learning supplyed with a good mother wit and ready naturall judgement Casting one bone after another untill he dismissed them with no lesse satisfaction to their minds then refreshments to their bodies foâ— although he hated prodigality and scurrility he was no enemy to good Company who came more frequently because with lesse charge to his Evening Collations then set Dinners and with whom commonly he spunne out a good part of the night in ventilating one point of Divinity or other if none came or such onely as had no great feliâ—ity in these sacred Saturnals having dismissed them with some few complements his Boy red him a parcell of holy Scripture whereupon he usually ruminated till he went to bed In his travels he was cheerfull but his chiefe Companion was ever some chiefe Booke Solecisme he accounted the worst point of Slovenry affecting neatnesse in his household-stusse and cloathes Books meat and all things else magnificence in nothing much lesse prodigality Black he loved above all Colours preferring it farre before Purple which preserved his Doctorall robes the longer His upper garment was alwaies of broad-cloath and that too none of the finest which against hard frosts he fortified with deep Furres whatsoeuer accrued unto him by the Church he intirely committed to his steward to be spent in House-keeping His owne hereditary rents and profits which were great for he was heir to his Father and some of his brethren he himselfe pursed up and distributed to pious uses But perceiving the manifold distractions which accompanied the managing of so plentifull an estate he called in his Fathers debts and sold his whole Patrimony which in the totall amounted to a very great masse of money and wherewith he erected and indowed that stately and famous Free-schoole in Saint Pauls Church-yard whereunto he joyned a faire dwelling house Capable of two School-masters to whom he assigned liberall Stipends because they were to teach gratis The whole fabrick he divided into four parts whereof one is as it were for your Catechumany and beareth the inscription of Catechizationis the second for such as are under the Vsher divided from the third part by a vaile drawen â—pon great Curtaine-roddes and containeth onely such youths as are disciplined by the chiefe School-master the forth and last part confisteth of an Oratory or Chappell for Prayer and other religious exercises Above the Masters head if the Reformation have not pulled it downe and levelled him with his Crosse standeth the child Iesus curiously ingraven and as it were in the posture of one reading a Lecture with this Motto Ipsum audite whom the Children as they entered the Schoole were wont to salute with a sacred Hymne composed if I be rightly informed by Erasmus Every Form containeth sixteen and the Captaine or Dux of every Classe sitteth by himselfe in a Pue or Throne somewhat more eminent then the rest great respect had wont to be had both to the Ingine and Ingenuity of the Intrants how matters are now carried I know not This is certaine though the whole amounted to an infinit charge yet Colet would therein admit of no Copartners An hundred pounds left by a charitable Cittizen for advancement of the Structure he bestowed with the Bishops licence upon Books and sacred Vestments for the Quire And yet though he would permit no Lay-man to have a finger in the building he intrusted no Clergimen with the over-sight of its Revenewes As all men praised him for this Schoole so many wondred what he meant to build so magnificent a house for himselfe within a Curtilage of the Carthusians and so neer the honor of Richmond But to take both the best the worst together He was by nature high minded impatient of inivries much given to sleep and as he confessed but not sub Sigillo to his best friend no stranger to the temptations both of lust and Luxury a great admirer of witty jests and inclinable enough unto Covetousnesse Over all which imperfections through grace he became more then conqueror for his haughtinesse of minde and proud stomake he levelled even to humility by the common grounds of reason and Phylosophy being then best pleased when he was most freely admonished Covetousnesse he put to flight by a charitable profusion of his whole temporall Estate upon works of mercy piety Venery sleep and Luxury he nobly profligated by holy confercences fasting praying indefatigable study and often Preachâ—ng But yet so that at great feasts and in his entertainmentâ— of Ladiâ—s and Gentle-women where without too much rigidity he could not but give way to a more free and liberall discourse a man might easily perceive the recoylments of his owne naturall and exorbitant proclivities so impossible is it for flesh and bloud not sometimes to discouer themselves even in the
Monasticall life upon which perswasion he intended to forsake the Monâ—stery and to betake himselfe againe unto his former profession and for a preparation thereunto being as yet in the Monastery he set forth a booke of confession wherein in many things he opposed the doctrine of the Church of Rome whereby he brought himselfe not onely into danger of his life but the Monks also were greatly afraid lest any inconvenience might happen unto them by reason of his actions and therefore they greatly laboured to free their Monastery of him during their plodding he sharpely reprehended them for their errors perswadâ—ng them to embrace and lay hold on the truth whereby they came to be more and more incensed against him and privately laboured with his friends to be more earnest with him in the leaving of the Monaâ—stery Having beâ—n resident in this place not fully two yeeres he departed and went unto Franciscus Sickingen a man nobly descended by whom he was entertained and iâ— the same houâ—e he laboured to put downe the Masse affiâ—ming it to be an Idolatrous worship but Franciscus being at that time greatly distressed with an unhappy warre he left him and went to Basel in the yeer of our Lord 1522. to publish such things as he had at vacant times collected Here he was againe advanced by the Senats unto a Pastorall office an annuall stipend designed unto him which he performed with great zeale and constancy to the glory of God and good of his Church here he bouldly discovered unto his Auditors those errors which by continuance had got firme footing in the Church he opened unto them the perfection and sufficientcy of the Merits of Christ he declared unto them the true nature of faith he revealed unto them the true doctrine of Charity insomuch that the authority of the Poâ—ish religion began to stagger in the mindes of many Whilst he was totally occupied about these things some there were who laboured to draw him againe to the Pseudo Catholicke religion but more especially Iohannas Cachlaeus who in the yeere 1524. wrote letterâ— unto him wherein he testified himselfe to be deeply afflicted with sorrow to heare that a man so excellently learned should lay aside his coule and adhaere unto such haereticall opinions and withall exhorted him to revoke his opinion and to returne againe into the Monastery promising him a dispensation from the Pope and the favour of the Prior which he had formerly enjoyed but these and such like things were slighted by Oecolampadius who bringing them unto the word of God found that they would not endure the triall In the performance of his Pastorall office an assistanâ— was appointed unt him by publicke authority and he began to settle a more excellent Reformation in the Church commanding the Sacrament of Baptisme to be administred in the mother tongue and the Sacrament of the Lords Supper to be received under both kinds he taught that the Masse was not a sacrifice for the living and the dead or for those who were tormented in their feigned Purgatory but that perfect satisfaction was obtained for all beleevers by the passion and Merits of Christ he disswaded them from sprinkling themselves with holy-water and from the consecration of Palmes and the like declaring unto them that they who did attribute vertue unto any such things did detract from the glory and power of God which doctrine of his tooke such deepe â—ooting in the hearts of his Auditors that it gave a period unto many superstitious actions amongst them The foundation of future reformation was no sooner laid but the old Dragon began to play his part and to discover his malicious â—nvy against such things as make for the glory of God either by hindâ—ing their proceedings or laying some foule aspersion on them for at that time broke forth that yet continued sacramentary dissention by meanes whereof that good worke begun in the Church was hindred Martin Luther at this time openly opposed and contradicting by writing the doctrine of Huldericus Zuinglius Pastor of the Church at Tigurum concerning the Euchiarist by reason whereof there was a great dissention betwixt the Churches of Helvetia and Saxony for the taking away of w ch Oecolampadius set forth a booke concerning the true understanding of these words Hoc est corpus meum and by many strong arguments he affirmed that a trope lay therein and yet his industry and labour therein tooke not away the contention betwixt the Churches This intended reformation was againe hindred by Eccius and his followers who taught 1 that the substantiall body and blood of Christ was in the Sacrament of the Altar 2 that they were truly offered up in the Masse both for the living and the dead 3 that the virgin Mary and the Saints were to be worshipped as intercessours 4 that the images of Iesus and the Saints were not to be abolished 5 that after this life there was a Purgatory These positions were vehemently opposed by Oecolampadius at the publicke dispuâ—ation held at Baden the event whereof was this some of the Helvetians subscribed unto Eccius some unto Oecolampadius and so there remained still a dissention amongst them which could by no meanes be taken away although attempted by many worthy instruments of Christ who have undergone many dangers for an effectuall performance of the same yet Oecolampadius wrought so with the Saints that liberty of conscience was granted unto the Citizens as touching religion In the yeer following there was a disputation held at Berne which continued for the space of twenty dayes wherein Oecolampadius labored so powerfully for a reformation that his acts there recorded give a sufficient testimony thereof unto the world In the yeer 1529. an assembly was appointed by the Lantgraw of Hassia at Marpurge touching a reformation in the Churches concerning which more in the life of Melancton After the painfull sustaining of so many labours at home and abroad he returned to Basil where he spent the residue of his life in Preaching reading writing setting forth of books visiting the sicke and having also a care of the adjacent Churches untill the yeer 1531. wherein it pleased God to visit him with sicknesse wherewith he was constrained to take his bed hourely exspecting death And forthwith sending for the Pastors of the same place he welcommed them with ashort pithy oration wherein he exhorted them to remaine constant and firme in the purity of the doctrine which they professed because it was conformable unto the word of God as for other things he willed them to be lesse carefull assuring them that the Al-sufficient God would care for them and that he would not be wanting unto his Church His Children standing before him he tooke them by their right hands and afterwards gently stroking their heads he advised them to love God who would be unto them in the place of a Father A little before his death one of his intimate friends comming unto him he asked him what newes he answered
little as the others Anno Christi 1530. when the Diet was held at Augusta for quieting of the controversies about Religion the Duke of Brunswick coming thither by importunity prevailed with Regius to go to Luneburg in his Country to take care of the Church there in which journey at Gobuâ—g he met with Luther and spent a whole day in familiar confâ—rence with him about matters of great moment of which himselfe write's That he never had a more comfortable day in his life Erâ—nestus Duke of Brunswick loved him dearly and esteemed him as his father insomuch as when the City of Augusta sent to the Dâ—ke desiring him to returne Regius to them againe he answered that he would as soone part with his eyes as with him and presently after he made him Bishop and over-seer of all the Churches in his Country with an ample salary for the same afterwards going with his Prince to a meeting at Haganaw he fell sick by the way and within few dayes with much cheerfulnesse yeelded up his soule into the hands of God Anno Christi 1541 he often desired of God that he might dye a sudden and easie death wherein God answered his desires He was of an excellent wit holy of life and painfull in the worke of the Lord. Reader this serious Fathers well-spent dayes Were fill'd with love and love was fill'd with praise He was abjured by a Noble race Which made him onely debtor but not base Heav'n was his port to which he faild through tearsâ— Steer'd by his faith blowne by the winde of prayers Let his example teach us to invest Our hearts with wisdome and we shall be blest With him who now enjoyes the life of pleasure Whose comforts know no end whose joyes no measure He that shall choose true vertue for his guide May march on boldly and not feare a slide The Life and Death of CARALOSTADIUS Who died Anno Christi 1541. ANdreas Bodenstein Caralostadius was borne in France in a towne called Caralostadium by which he received hâ—s name he was brought up at Schoole there where afterwards he went to Rome and having spent sometime in the study of Divinity he went thence to Wittenberg where he commensed Doctor in Divinity and was a publicke Professor Anno Christi 1512. afterwards he became an earnest asâ—ertor of Lutheâ—'s doctrine and a defendor of it against Eccâ—us both by disputation and writing at the time of Luther's being in his Pathmos Caralostadius obtained of the Elector the abolishing of private Masse Auricular confession Images c. at Wittenberg which Luther being offended at returned presently thither and Peeached eagerly against that alteration whereupon Caralostadius wrote in justification of it which was the first beginning of greater differences betwixt them about the Sacrament whereupon he left Wittenberg 1524. and went to Orlamund being called to a Pastorall charge there but after a while he was called back to his place in Wittenberg yet before he went Luther being sent by the Elector of Iene and Orlamund in a Sermon where â—aralostadius was present he enveighed bitterly against the Anabaptists and said withall That the same spirit reignd in the Image-haters and Sacramentaries whereupon Caralostadius being much offended went to his lodging to confer with him about it afterwards Luâ—her coming to Orlamund went not to salute Caralostadius but in his Sermon quarrelled with their abolishing of Idols and shortly after he procured the Elector to banish Caralostadius whereof Caralostadius afterwards complained in a letter to his people in Wittenberg that unheard and unconvicted he was banished by Luther's procurement from thâ—nce he went to Basil where hâ— printed some bookâ— that he had written about the Lord's Supper for which the Magistrates being offended with the novelty of the Doctrine cast the Printers into prison and the Senate of Tigurine for bad thâ—ir people to read those books but Zuinglius in his Sermon exhorted them first to read aad then to passe judgement on them saying That Caralostadius knew the truth but had not well expressed it afterwards Caralostadiuâ— wandring up and downe in upper Germany when the sedition of the boorish Anabaptists brake out unto which they were stirred up by Muncer and for which many of them were brought to punishment Caralostadius also escaped very narrowly being let downe in a basket over the wallâ— of Rottenberg being in great streights he wrote to Luther and purged himselfe from having any hand in those uproars entreating him to print his book and undertake his defence which also Luther did desiring the Magistrates that he might be brought to his just triall before he waâ— condemned Caralostadius wrote againe to him a Letter wherein he said That for his opinion about the Sacrament he rather proposed it for disputation sake then that he positively affirmed any thing w ch many imputed to him for levity but Luther thereupon procured his return into Saxonie yet he finding little content there went to Tigurine and taught in that place till the death of Zuinglius and then he went to Basil where he taught ten yeers and An. 1541. he died there of the plague and was very honorably buried This grave Divine ceas'd not from taking paines More for the Churches good then his owne gaines Yet were his gaines as great as his desire He that obtaines true vertue need require No greater profit he that studies how To live here-after must not set his brow On Earths loe things the pleasure of the Earth Prov'd this grave Fathers sorrow not his mirth His thoughts were all divine he could not hide Within his Season'd breast the flames of pride He was an Image-hater and would not Let them be worshipp'd and his God forgot 'T was not a Prison could his heart apale He that has virtue needs no other baile The life and death of CAPITO Who died Anno Christi 1541. WOlfgangus Fabricius Capito was borne at Hagenaw in Alsatia his Father was of the Senatorian ranke who bred him in learning and sent him to Basil where he studied Physick and proceeded Doctor of it aftâ—r hiâ— Father's death he studied Divinity Anno Christi 1504 and under Zasias a great Lawyer he studied Law also and proceeded Doctor of â—t He was a great lovâ—r and admirer of godly Ministers at Heidleberg he grew into acquaintance with Oecolampadius and there was a neer tye of friendship betwixt them all their lives after with him also he studied Hebrew and became a Preacher first in Spire and thencâ— was câ—lled to Basil from thence he was sent for by the Elector Palatine who made him his Preacher and Counsellor and sent him of divers Embassies also by Charles the fifth he was made of the order of Knights from Mentz he followed Bucer to Argenâ—ine where he was called to a Pasâ—oral charge he was a very prudent and eloquent man a good Hebrician and studious of Peace concerning the Sacrament he said Mittendas esse contentiones cogitandum de usu ipsius coenae
Bucer wee Ascribe the second we bequeath to thee Whose knowledge in the holy dialect A fame eternall will to thee erect In that thou first didst bid the world godnight Thou seem'st inferior to that burning light But being first with heavens glory cround Thou dost appeare a Saint more worthy found In other things both fitly did agree Both faithfull preachers of his veritie Both painfull Sowers of the heavenly graine Both blest with good successe it sprung againe Wherefore God blest you both with honor high And cloath'd you both with immortality O happy soules though heaven keepe you there Your fame shall ever be intombed here Your worthy praises all the earth shall know Divulged by our Muses here below He was of a tall stature somewhat blacke-visaged his countenance appeared outwardly severe extorting reverence but he was inwardly of an affable and courteous disposition loving meeke and lowly he was an excellent Orator a great Student as appeares by his Workes here inserted 1 A worke called Thysby 2 Apothegmes of the Fathers 3 Morall Sentences ef Ben Syra alphabetically digested 4 The translation of Tobias the Hebrew 5 Hebrew Prayers 6 A literall exposition of the Hebrew sayings on the foure first chapters of Genesis with a Chalde Paraphrase 7 Of the truth of Faith 8 Commentaries on certaine Psalmes by Kirachi 9 An Hebrew Preface to Elias Levila his Chalde Lexicon 10 Thargum 11 An Introduction to the Hebrew tongue Reader behold here stands before thine eye The perfect â—mbleme of true gravity Turne from his face then read and thou shalt finde The rare endeavours of a serious minde He was a man whose ever-active heart Was alwayes digging in the Mines of Art And like a Bée he labour'd every houre To sucke some Hony from each spreading Flowre T was not the face of poverty could fright His soule from goodnesse Heaven was his delight And earth his scorne he study'd how to give A life to Language and make Uertue live It is not unfit that he whose Workes affords So many Languages should want for words MARTINVS BVCERVS The Life and Death of MARTIN BUCER IN the yeer of our Lord 1491. Martinus Bucerus was born at Selestadt a towne in Germanie famous for many learned Schollars which it hath afforded unto the World in these latter times amongst which this Bucer deserveth not the meanest approbation if we shall but consider those excellent vertues wherewith he was endewed or his learned and laborious acts for the propagation of the truth of Christ. In his youth he was trained up in the knowledge of the liberall Arts and Sciences in his owne Countrey wherein he profited beyond expectation to the great credit of his Maâ—â—er and to the unspeakable comfort of his friends About the yeer of our Lord 1506. and about the fifteenth yeer of his age through the advice and perswasion of his friends he adjoyned himselfe unto the order of the Dominicans where he manifested and gave them so singular a glympse of his industry and towardnesse that the most judicious and best eye-sighted Fryers conceived him to be set apart for the performance of more â—hen ordinary Acts. Being now a Dâ—minican he greatly desired to take a view oâ— Heidelberge which was granted unto him by the Pryor here he earnestly gave himselfe to the study of Rhetoricke and Phylosophie and not to these Arts onely but also to Divinity but when he found by experience that the knowledge of the Tongues was so necessary unto the study therof that without them it could not by any meanes possible be attained to any perfection he forthwith bent all his forces for the gaining of the knowledge of the Greeke and Hebrew tongues About that time came forth the Workes of Erasmus Roterodamus in the reading whereof Bucer greatly delighted and was by them first instructed God opening his eyes in the grounds of Evangelicall truth and happening also on some of Luthers Workes newly published and comparing the Doctrine therein delivered and taught with the holy Scripturâ—s he fell into a suspâ—tion of the truth of the doctrine of the Church of Rome Bucer having now attained unto some perfection of learning and notice being taken of those excellent qualities wherewith he was adorned upon the commendation and approbation of Franciscus Sickingen he was entertained by Fredericke Prince Elector Palatine to be his Chaplaine and forsaking that profession which he had formerly taken he professed himselfe to be a Protestant and Preached the word both privatly and publickly as occasions were offered and given unto him being much strengthened and animated thereunto by hearinâ— the disputation of Luther at Heidelberge concerning Free-will whereby he became better satisfied in the point of justification And thiâ— waâ— the first acquaintance which he had with that burning light of the Church by whom it pleased God to worke an alteration in his heart and an earnest intent to beat downe the sinnes of the times to dispell the foggie mists of darkenesse and ignorance that the glorious light of Christs Gospel might the better appear For the Prince Elector having urgent occasions to goe into Belgiuno and taking him with him as his associate he sharpely reproved in his Sermons and Exercises the supersticious impieties of those places wherein he proceeded with that eagernesse of spirit that the Monkes and Fryers there living were much offended at his Doctrine as a thing prejudiciall to their lazie manner of life Wherefore to prevent his proceeding they intended secretly to take away his life an old practise of that hellish brood but the providence of God would not suffer this light to be thus extinguished for he having notice of the snares which were laid for him secretly fled away and went unto Franciscus Sickingem of whom he was kindely and lovingly entertained promising him safety untill that the times were better quieted as touching Religion with whom he remained untill such such time as Luther was called unto Wormes unto whom he went and having spâ—nt many dayes in conference with him he departed from him not without he embracing of his Doctrine with an intent to make publicke profession of the same for the glory of God untill he had finished that time which was alotted unto him here in earth and resolving to take his journey for Wittemberge he was stayed by the intreaty of the faithfull Pasâ—ors of the Church at Wissenburge where he continued Preaching for the space of halfe a yeere not without the great benefit of the Church untill that he with Henricus Mothererus were with great sorrow compelled to depart that place through the means of the Vicar of Spire which at that time was a great enemy and an opposer of the truth of Christ. Now although the Word of God had no good successe in this place yet it pleased God that it florished in Strasburge by the pains of Matthias Lellius and Casper Hedio faithfull labourers in the Lords Vineyard hither came Bucer in the yeere of our Lord 1523. and
Sweet was his life and death his well spent dayes Began in goodnesse and expir'd with praise The Life and Death of CASPER HEDIO who died Anno Christi 1552. CAsper Hedio was born at Etling in the Marquisat of Baden of honest Parents and educated in learning at Friburge where also he Commensed Master of Arts and from thence went to Basil where he studied Divinity and Commensed Doctor whence he was called to Preach in the chiefe Church at Mentz but some not liking such plain Preaching and the Monkes raising a persecution against him he went thence to Argentine Anno Christi 1523. where he was a great assistent to Capito and Bucer in reforming of Religion by the command of the Senate there also he married a wife Anno Christi 1533. and though the Papists raised a great persecution in that City yet he Preached â—oldly against Masses Indulgences Auricular Confession c. and wrote against them also Anno Christi 1543. when Herman Archbishop of Collen began a Reformation he sent for Bucer and Hedio to assist him therein whence after he was driven by Caesar and his Spaniards escaping through many difficulties and danger he returned to Argentine what time he could spare from his Ministeriall employment he spent in writing Commentaries and Histories Anno Chrisâ—i 1552. he sickened and died T' was not the rage of Papist could remove The heart of Hedio from the reall love Of true Divinity he still enclin'd Himselfe to Preach with a resolved mind Let his example teach us to repose Our trust in God in spight of threating Foes The Life and Death of GEORGE PRINCE of Aâ—halt whâ— died Anno Christi 1553. GEorg Prince of Anhalt was born An. Chr. 1507. his Father was Prince Ernest who was carefull to bring him up in the fear of God and for that end he placed him with George Forcheme who was eminent for training up of youth under whom he profited exceedingly both in humane literature and in principâ—ls of Divinity then he was set to the study of the Law wherein he profited very much also having attained to the age of twenty two yeeres he was chosen by Albert Elector of Menâ—z to be one of his Councell wherein he carried himselfe with high commendations in managing the greatest State-affairs But the Controversies about Religions waxing hot at this time and Luthers books coming abroad he fell to reading of them and suspecting his owne injudiciousnesse he would often pray with tears to God to encline his heart to the Truth saying Deal with thy servant according to thy mercy and instruct mee in thy righteousnesse He was frequent in reading the Scriptures Ecclesiasticall Histories Augustine Hierom and Lombard he studied also Greek and Hebrew and discoursed with learned men about the Controversies and after all upon mature deliberation he embraced the Reformed Riligion and reformed the Churches with the counsell of his brethren within his owne jurisdiction Anno Christi 1545. he was called to the Government of the Churches within the Diocesse of Mersburge where he was carefull to have the Truth Preached to the people he lived with much continencie in a single life he took much pains both in writing and Preaching he was very charitable a great promoter of Peace amongst Princes very free from ambition hatred and revenge he used often to say Subdiâ—us esto Deo ora eum c. Submit thy selfe 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 well that he left none for pleasures and used to say That nothing refreshed him more in his sorrowes then conference with learned and godly men Falling sick of a most troublesome disease he was frequent in holy prayer for himselfe for all the Princes of that family for his country and for Germany he had some portions of holy Scriptures 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 shall take my sheep out of my hand Come unto mee all yee that are wearie c. and so in holy meditations and prayer hee resigned up his Spirit unto God Anno Christi 1543. and of his Age 47. A Prince by birth and of a Princely minde Full frought with vertues of each severall kinde Is here presented ornaments of grace Such as doe challenge not the second place But first by merit here you may behold One whose rare vertues no Pen can unfold In pious duties he did strive to be Transcendant who was by nature frée For to the Poore he reliefe did give During the time that he on earth did live Read but his life and then at large you le sée Monopoliz'd in him most vertues be The life and Death of Justus Jonas who dyed Anno Christi 1555. IVstus Ionas was born at Northusa Anno Christi 1493. where his Father was a Senator who falling sick of the Plague and having applyed an Onion to the Soare and taking it off and laid it by him this little Ionas coming tooke the Onion and eat it up yet without any prejudice to himself God miraculously preserving of him He was first brought up at Schoole afterwards he studied Law and made a good progresse therein But upon better thoughâ—s he studied Divinity and proceeded Doctor and embraced the Reformed Religion and was called Anno Christi 1521. to a Pastorall charge in Wittenberg he was present at most of the Disputations about Religion where he defended the truth strenuously and endevoured to promote peace he was also made a Professor in that Universitie He with Spalatine and Amsdorfius was imployed by the Elector of Saxonie to Reforme the Churches in Misnia and Thuringia From thence he was called unto Hale in Saxonie where he Preached and promoted Religion exceedingly Luther somtimes resorted thither to him and tooke him along with him in his last journey to Isleben where he dyed after whose death he remained a while in the Duke of Saxonies Court and was a constant companion of Iohn Frederickes sons in all their afflictions and lastly he was set over the Church in Eisfield where he ended his dayes in much peace and comfort Anno Christi 1555. and of his Age 63. Being once under temptations and in great agonie he shewed much despondencie but his servant partly by comforting of him and partly by chiding of him cheared him up and at last through Gods mercy the Spirit prevailed against the Flesh. Justius by name no poyson sure could kill God so protected him from what was ill The venome of the Plague did séeme to be No poyson unto him for he scap'd frée Although the Duyon he by chance did eat That poyson'd was by the Plagues
as immediatly done by himselfe And truly therein he more â—avored himselfe then Bradford who in the whole course of his imployment so acquitted himselfe as it is hard to determine whether therein he used greater diligence or integrity But having spent diverse yeeres in this honest and thrifty course of life wherein if he had persisted he was in a faire way both of wealth and worship he began to Elevate his thoughs above these temporary things and aspire to a service lesse profitable but much more honorable wherefore making up his accoumpts with his Master who neither would nor could diswade him from what he had once resolved he gave himselfe wholly to the study of Divinity and reading of the Scriptures But perceiving how usefull and necessary a Hand-maid Humanity is to Divinity and how short he came of those Tongus and Sciences without which it was improbable if not impossible for him to attaine any perfection in the noblest and most supereminent of all other Sciences at which he chiefely aimed leaving the Temple at London where he usually bestowed some few houres every day in hearing the Reader of the Common-Law he betooke himselfe to the University of Cambridge as neither able nor desirous to suppresse that which inwardly moved him to fit himselfe for an able workman in a more spirituall building After a yeere and some few moneths spent in the University he attained his degree of Master in Arts whereunto others are hardly admitted after long examination and seven yeeres painfull study But such was his Carriage diligence and profeciency that this favour though extraordinary and insolent was thought well bestowed upon him by the whole University And least any man may thinke it was rather out of Charity defer'd to his yeeres then abilities he was immediatly hereafter without any interposall of time chosen Fellow of Pembrooke Hall which first brought him to the eye and afterwards to the bosome of that learned and notable stickler in the reformation Martin Bucer by whom he was again encouraged and stir'd up to the worke of the Ministry not that he found him stagger in his Resolution or fall from his principles but because the greater measure of knowledge he attained the longer he defered the performance of his promise as ever thinking himselfe the more insufficient for so high and laborious a Calling Being one time amongst many moved by Bucer to defer the imployment of his Talent no longer and he pretending as formerly his present inability If thou canst not attaine unto Manchett said Bucer mayest thou not therefore feed this poore and Soul starved People with Barly loaves which proceeding from a man he so sincerely lov'd and upon whose jâ—dgment he so much relyed made him lay aside all his former tergiversations and in good earnest buckle himselfe to the worke But because no man can take upon him that function unlesse he be called as was Aaron though he doubted not of his inward vocation by God yet would he by no meanes thrust his shickle into that sacred harvest before he was called by the Church and seperated thereunto by Imposiâ—ion of Hands which with a Licence to Preach and a Prebeâ—d in Sâ—int Pauls he obtained from that renowned Bishop and glorio 〈◊〉 Martyr Doctor Ridley Bishop of London For three yeeres together he Preached faithfully and diligently in season and out of season being a sharpe and impartiall reprover of vice a vehement exhorter to vertue no man opposing Heresies with greater animosity or asserting the truth with more evidence and perspicuity whereby his fame spread it self almost over the whole kingdome And yet all this was but an Introduction to that which followed For King Edward the sixt of blessed Memory expiring with the last of these three yeeres and his sister Queen Mary contrary the his last will and Testament advanced to the Crown though not without some opposition which she easily overcame he was suddenly deprived both of his livelyhood and and liberty upon an occasion which deserved much rather reward then punishment And this it was In the first yeere of the Queenes Raigne and not long after her Coronation Master Bourne who was shortly thereafter by the favour of Secretary Bourne consecrated Bishop of Bath and Wels made a most invective and seditious Sermon at Pauls Crosse wherein he not onely cast dirt upon his late deceased King Edward the sixt but vented and maintained many Popish tents contrary to the orthodox Religion then established which drove the Common People into such a fury tumult that neither the reverence of the place the perswasion of the Bishop nor the authority and presence of the Lord Major could stop them from pulling him out of the Pulpit gladly he would have ended his Sermon for belike his greatest strength and confidence to lead his auditors hood winkt into their old Mumpsimus lay in his peroration but perceiving by a drawne dagger which amongst other implements was flung at him and missed him but very narrowly that the multitude were in good earnest and his life in jeoperdy he turned himselfe about and perceived Master Bradford standing at his backe within the Pulpit whom he earnestly intreated to supply his place and save his life by pacifying the People He no sooner appeared in the others room but the people joyfully ingeminated with a loud voice Bradford Bradford and by that time he had a little inlarged himselfe in the point of obedience the Tumult seemed more then halfe appeased But the Sermon ended and Bourne as he had reason not yet daring to commit himselfe to the so lately inraged multitude notwithstanding he was back'â— by the Lord Major and Sheriffs besought Master Bradford not to leave him untill he brought him into some place of security whereunto he willingly consented and when the multitude for the greater part were dispersed under the covert of his owne gowne he conveighed him into the next house which was the Scholemasters effecting that by the Word which the Major could not doe for him by the Sword many were â—ore grieved at his escape and some stuck not to Prophesie I know not by what Spirit that by saving this wiling Rashaketh from death he had given a deadly blow to his owne life Howsoever Bradford committed the issue to almighty God nothing repented his Charity which he was sure would finde reward with him what acceptance soever it found amongst wicked and unthankfull men yea so far was he from being afraid or sorry for what he had done that in his afternoones Sermon at Bow Church he sharply reprehended his Auditors for their forenoones tumultuous Carriage and sedition And yet such was the malice of the common adversary and iniquity of the times that about three dayes after for this very fact he was summoned to appeare before the Councell and by the Lords Committed to the Tower from whence within few weeks they removed him to the Kings Bench where through thâ— Keepers connivance he had often conference with Master Laurence
required that the Readers of Divinity should withall at certaine times read Lectures also of Philosophy it was agreed betweene him and Zanchie his fellow-professor that the one of them should read Morall Philosophy which fell to his lot and the other Naturall which Zanchie undertooke Howbeit here he was not long quiet for some factious ones began to complaine of him to the Magistrates as not concurring with the Augustine confession in the Doctrine of the Lords Supper wherein albeit he gave those in authority good satisfaction yet he perceived much heart-burning in other-some and that manifested oft times as well by scandalous libels scattred abroad as also by open opposition Whereupon supposing that he should not live quâ—etly there and do the good that he desired he began to entertaine thoughts of departure and as God in his holy providence pleased to dispose it a fit and faire occasion thereof offred it selfe to him For they at Zurick whereat first he desired to have setled wanting one to succeede Pellicane lately deceased in the Divinity Lecture invite Peter Martyr to come over to them and supply that place thither he came tho with much griefe and unwillingnesse dismissed by the Magistrates and other godly of Strasbourge his fellow-professors especially accompanied with our worthy Iewel after Bishop of Salisbury then exile in those parts who ever entirely affected and reverenced him as his Father At Zuricke with much gratulation was he most lovingly and respectively received by the Magistrates Ministers Bullinger especially and the maine body of the people and notwithstanding an Order before made to the contrary denying such admittance for some yeeres unto any enrolled instantly for a free Denison There he taught about seven yeers expounding the books of Samuel and a good part of the Kings and writing divers polemicall discoursâ—s against the adversaries of the truth Nor would he remove thence albeit he were with much importunity invited to other places where the meanes were larger as first to Geneva upon the decease of that every way noble Count Maximilian Celsus Pastor of the Italian Church there and after in Queen Elizabeths dayes when Religion was againe here setled Bishop Iewell labouring with him in it to returne into these parts but continued teaching there till he died howbeit being earnestly required by letters as well from the Queen mother of France the King of Navarre the Prince of Condee and other Peeres of that Realm as also from Beza and the rest of the Ministers of the reformed Churches in those parts he obtained leave of the Senate to goe over into France to the solemn Conference at Poysâ—i where how wisely and worthily he demeaned himselfe by the Acts of it may appeare Not long after his accesse to Zuricke desirous to continue the race and name of the Virmilii he tooke him a second wife a Virgin of good note and name commended to him from the Iâ—alian Church at Geneva where she lived an Exile for Religion by whom he had two children a son and a daughter who died both very young before him and left her great with a third that proved a daughter He departed this life quietly after some seven dayes sicknesse sitting in his chaire in the presence of his wife and Religious friends on the twelfth day of Novâ—m in the yeer of grace 1562. and of his owne age the sixty third He was of an able healthy big-boned and well limmed body of a countenance expressing an inward grave and setled disposition of extraordinary parts of learnng as well for humanity as for divinity excellent for disputation much admired wheresoever he came for his discreet and moderate though constant and incorrupt carriage never seen in heat of dispute to breake forth into chollour very painfull and industrious endevouring to doe all the good he could for Gods Church either in the places where he was resiant or elsewhere Nor may be omitted here the speech used of him to those of Zuricke by that learned man Iosias Simler that made the Funerall Oration at his Buriall and hath described his life at large that Another they might have in Martyrs roome but another Martyr they should not have But what he was and how laborious his Workes extant besides many other never published will soon shew which are these 1. A Catechisme or Exposition of the Creed in Italian 2. A Prayeâ—-booke composed out of the Psalmes 3. His Commentaries upon Genesis 4. His Commentaries upon the Booke of Iudges 5. His Commentaries upon the two Books of Samuel 6. His Commentaries upon the first Booke of Kings and eleven chapters of the second 7. His Commentaries upon the Epistle of Saint Paul to the Romans 8. His Commentaries upon the first Epistle to the Corinthians 9. His Disputations at Oxford about the Lords Supper 10. His Defence about the orthodox Doctrine of the Lords Supper against Stephâ—n Gâ—rdiner 11. An abridgement of the said Defence made by him afterward 12. His Confession exhibited to the Senate of Strasbourg concerning the supper of the Lord. 13. His judgement concerning the presence of Christs Body in the Sacrament delivered at the Conference of Poyssi 14. A Discourse concerning the Masse 15. A Dialogue concerning the place of Christs Body against the Ubiquitaries 16. His refutation of Richand Smiths two bookes concerning single life and Monkish Vows 17. In his commentaries on the first and second bookes of Aristatle Ethicks and part of the third 18. His Common-Places gathered out of his Commentaries by others and digested into Heads 19. Certain Treatises of Free-wil Gods Providence Predestination and the cause of Sin 20. Propositions some necessary some probable out of Genesis Exodus Leviticus and Judges together with Solutions of a Question or two concerning some Mosaicall Laws and Oathes 21. Divers Sermons and Orations of severall Subjecâ—s and made upon severall occasions 22. His letters to sundry Persons concerning much variety of usefull Discourse Behold this Star which séem'd at the first view Eccâ—ipst with Romish fogs but after grew So bright that his Refulgence did display Truths Banner beaming like the Sun of day His sunshine was not visible alone In true Religions reform'd Horizon But cast his foraign influence as far As th'Artick's distant from th'Antartick star Uext Romes iugenious Malice did compact To quench this flame but failed in the Acts. The seven-crown'd dragons star confronting traine Lasht at this Starâ— but lasht and lasht in vaine Thus he remains sustain'd by higher powers A Saint in heau'ns bright Orbe a Star in Onrs. HVGH LATYMER The Life and Death of Hugh Latimer HVgh Latimer born at Thirkesson in the County of Leicester being of a prompt and sharp wit was by his Parents brought up in learning and at the age of 14. he went to Cambridge where after he had profited in other studies he gave himself to the study of School-Divinity commensed Batchelor in Divinity and was a very zealous Papist made an Oration against Philip Melancâ—hon railed against Master Stafford
inde evocatus discedecet that amongst all the learned men in the City nonâ— could be found guilty of so much learning as to judge truely of that worth which was to be found in that man Presently after his comming unto Wittemberge he publikely began to read his Lctures where Luther being present he received an excellent approbation from him concerning his sufficiency so he proceeded in opening the Scriptures to the great benefit and instruction of his Auditors In the yeer 1519. he was present at the disputation betwxt Luther and Eccius at Leipsich where sometimes he uttered his opinion amongst them concerning the points in contraversie Eccius not well brooking his forwardnesse cryes out unto Luther Amove a te istam saccum distiâ—ctionum remove from thee that budget of distinctions and after a scornfull manner stiled him the Grammarian In the year 1520. he expounded the Epistle of S. Paul to the Romans at Wittemberge which worke of his was so well approved by Luther that he caused it to be Printed for the generall benefit of the Church and in his Preface to the same Booke he useth these words unto Melancthon Ego quod impii Thomistae suo Thomae mendaciter arrogant viz. neminem scripsissi melius in sanctum Paulum tibi vere tribuo What the Thomists unjustly ascribed unto their Thomas viz. that none set forth a sounder Comentary on Paul I attribute it justly unto thee And in the year following having intelligence that the Divines of Paâ—is had condemned the Bookes and Doctrine of Luther he opposed by writing their heady Decree affirming his Doctrin to be sound and Orthodox In the year 1527. he was appointed by the Duke of Saxonie to visit all the Churches within his Dukedome in the performance whereof he wanted neither painfull labour nor envious backbiting And finding in them many disorders and corruptions he prescribed unto them a forme written in the German tongue which he willed them to embrace and to make use of in their Churches This action of his caused great contention and strife in the Countrey which by the wisdome and vertue of the same Duke was speedily quieted and taken away In the year 1529. an assembly of Divines was appointed at Spire where the Duke of Saxonie was present with Phillip Melancthon who espying his Mother went unto her and being demanded by her What she should beleeve amongst so many different opinions and controversies he answered that Pergeret hoc credere quod credidisset nec pateretur se turbari conflectibus disputationum That she should beleeve what she had hitherto beleeved and withall willed her not to â—ay to heart nor to be disquieted with those Scholasticke combats The Church being about this time in a troublesome state and so continuing for a season it pleased the Pope to promise the calling of a generall Councill for the extirpating of these differences out of the Church and for the establishing of an Uniforme manner of Doctrine and Discipline but his intent was onely to make triall how Melancthon stood affected for when his Legates requested of him to promise them that he would subscribe to all the Decrees of the Synod then shortly to be called he denyed their unjust request and withall telling them In concillo accusationes defensiones sententias liberas esse ô portêre in epâ—um de evenâ—u pacisci antiquam cognitio sit suscripta That in a generall Councill all occasions defendings opinions and judgements ought to be free and that it was a tying voyd of sence and reason to yeeld a subscription unto those things which as yet he did neither know nor understand And so remaining unmoveable in this resolution there was no generall Councill called because it lay not in the power of the Emperour to command it and because the Pope was unwilling to exercise his authority in that kinde least the event should have proved fatall unto the Apostolicall See About this time Comets were seen in the ayre for the space of three whole yeeres concerning which Melancthon wrote many learned observations unto his friends In the yeer 1535. the fame of Melancthon came into the Kingdome of England and France wherefore he was sent for by Henry the eight and invited by the King of France to settle a Reformation in their Churches but he went unto neither of them in regard the Duke of Saxonie would not consent thereunto In the year 1539. there was an Assembly of the Protestant Princes at Francfort ad Menum concerning a Reformation and Melancthon was commanded to make his personall appearance but being fearfull least any should offer violence unto his person he there published a worke intituled De Defensione Legitima In the year 1541. an Assembly was appointed at Wormes where there happened a sharpe Disputation betwixt Melancthon and Eccius touching Originall sinne but by the Commandement of the Emperour it was forthwith dissolved and both of them appointed to meet at Reinspurge where it fell out that Eccius in his disputation propounded a Sophisticall argument at the which Melancthon pausing a little space for the better untwisting of it said unto Eccius that the next day he would give him an answer whereupon Eccius presently replyed that it would be imputed as a great disgrace unto him to require so long a time unto which he presently answered Mi Doctor non quaero meam gloriam hoc in negotio sed veritatem Sir I seeke not my owne praise in this businesse but the truth within short time the Emperour came to Reispurge appointed certaine learned Persons on both sides for continuation of the conference of whom in the life of Bucer c. this Conference gave no satisfaction neither unto Eccius nor unto the Bishops there present nor unto William Duke of Bavaria and therefore the whol businesse was referred unto the judgement of a generall Councill and peace was injoyned unto both parties by the strict command of the Emperour together with a hope declared as touching the Reformation of the Churches In which Conference Mlancthon objected that axiome against the Papists Christus adest non propter panem sed propâ—er hominem Christ is present in the Sacrament not by reason of the bread but by reason of the receiver Which when Luther heard he joyfully uttered these words Mâ—câ—e Philippe tu eripuisti Pontificiis quod ego non ausus fuissem all happinesse attend thee Philâ—ip for thou hast overthrown the Papists in that Point which I dared not to attempt And wiâ—h that sentence Eccius was so confuted that he had not a word to speake yet at the last in a great rage he told Melancthon that he would dispute with him ad ignem usque even unto the very flames but the night following he drinking somthing beyond measure in regard of the predominancy of his chollar he fell into an Ague wherewith in few dayes he dyed Againe in the yeer 1545. Fredericke the Prince Elector Palatine successour unto Lodowick greatly desiring a
the Senate he gathered a Church of strangers especially out of Belgia from thence he wrote a Letter to the King of Poland and his Council vindicating his Doctrin from some aspersions cast upon it by his adversaries many enemies also rose up against him and his Congregation for differing from them about Christ's presence in the Sacrament especially oâ—e Westphalus who wrote bitterly against them calling them Zuinglians and affirming that all those which had suffered about that point in Belgia England or Francâ— were the Divel's Martyrs At last Lascus returning into his own Country from which he had been absent twenty years there he found God's harvest to be great and the labourers to be very few His coming was very unwelcome to the Popish Clergy who sought by all meanes to destroy him or to get him banished and therefore they accused him to the King for an Hereticke beseeching him not to suffer him to stay in the Kingdome to whom the King answered That though they pronounced him an Hereticke yet the Sâ—ates of the Kingdome did not so esteeme him and that he was ready to clear himselfe from those aspersions When they thus prevailed not they cast abroad reproaches and all manner of lyes as if he would stir up a civill War in the Kingdome but it pleased God when he had spent a little time in instructing his friends that he sickned and dyed anno christi 1569. He was of an excellent wit and judgement and tooke much paines to have composed that difference in the Churches about Christ's presence in the Sacrament though it succeeded not The King of Poland had him in such esteem that he made use of his advice and help in many great and difficult businesses Wisdome and goodnesse both conjoyn'd To beautifâ—e Alascos mind He was laborious to fulfill And prosecute his makers will His heart was proud to undertake To doe or suffer for Gods sake Therefore no question but hée 's blest And rests in peace and endlesse rest AVGVSTINVS MARLORATVS The Life and Death of Augustine Marlorat AVgustine Marlorat was born in the Dukedome of Lorrain anno christi 1506. His Parents dyed whil'st he was young and his kindred gaping after his estate thrust him at eight years of age into a Monastery of Augustine Fryers by which meanes God so ordering of it he was brought up in learning and having studied the body of Divinity in France came to the University of Lasanna which is a famous Towne of the Lords and States of the Countrey of Bern scituated hard by the Lake of Lemon and is a place famous for Divinity where he profited much in learned and came to the knowledge of the Truth and from thence he was chosen to be Pastor at Vivia and from thence he was sent for to Rottomag where he behaved himselfe with much piety and wisdome Anno Christi 1561. he was present at the conference at Posiah between the Cardinall of Lorrain and Theodore Beza where he acquitted himselfe with much courage The year following when the Civil Wars brakâ— forth in France the City of Rotomag was besieged and after a hard siege was taken where Marlorat and foure other chiefe Citizens by the malice of Mont-Morenzie and Francis Duke of Guize were hanged though some of his adversaries would have saved him This was done the thirtieth of October anno chris 1562. and of his Age six and fifty whose Workes being ever living Monuments are preserved to the benefit of the Church of God and are here set down 1. A Catholicke and Ecclesiasticall Exposition of the new Testament 2. An Exposition upon Genesis 3. An Exposition on the Psalmes of David 4. An Exposition upon the Prophecie of Jsaiah 5. His Thesaurus or Treasure-house of the whole Canonicall Scripture digested into common places Also the hard Phrases Alphabetically Printed which usully are met withall in the Scriptures by the care and industry of William Feugerius of Rohan professor of Divinity to whom Marlorat left this Worke being not altogether perfected at the time of his Dissolution Renowned Marlorat did breath to give A breath to worth which worth shall make him live Uertue shall be his Heravl'd and his name Shall stand recorded in roules of fame The trumpet of his praise shall sound the bolder Because true vertue neede crave no upholder The Life and Death of Amsdorfius who died Anno Christi 1563. NIcolas Amsdorfius was born in Misnia of noble Parents Anno Christi 1483. and brought up in learning From School he went to the University of Wittenberge about that time that Luther began to preach against Indulgence in Anno Christi 1504. he Commensed Master of Arts and aftewards Licentiary in Divinity he embraced the Truth â—hat brake forth in those times and preached it to others he accompanied Luther to Worms in the time of Luthers recesse into his Pathmos he with Melancthon and Iustus Ionas being sent to by the Elector of Saxonie for their judgement about the Masse declared that it was an horrible profanation of the Lords Supper whence ensued the abolishing of it out of all Churches in Wittenberg he wrote also that the Pope was Antichrist Anno Christ 1524. Luther being sent for to Magdenburg he went thither and having preached to them he commended to them and afterwards sent Amsdorfius to gather and instruct the Churches there who faithfully laboured eighteen yeeres in that place Anno Christi 1541. he was sent by the Elector of Saxonie to govern the Church at Naumberg in the Palatinate where also the yeere after he was ordained Bishop by Luther three other Pastors also imposing of their hands upon him but six yeers after he was driven away from thence by the Emperor Charles the fifth whence he fled to Magdenberg and was there during the siege of it Anno Christi 1550. and the yeere after George Major having Published this propositioâ— That good Works were necessary to Salvation Amsdorfius in heat of contention wrote That good Works were hurtfull and dangerous to Salvation he died about the four score and eight yeer of his age Anno Christi 1563. Amsdorfius was the life of worth his dayes Were fil'd with trouble yet perpetuall praise Waited upon him for he did oppose The Errours of the Pope in spight of those That were his enemies he did maintaine The Pope was Antichrist the Masse prophane He fear'd them not but boldly did professe The truth and now is Crown'd with happinesse WOLFGANGVS MVSCVLVS The Life and Death of Wolfangus Musculus IN the yeer of our Lord God 1497. and on the sixt of the Ides of September a day much observed by our Ancestors for the birth of the Virgin Mary and also for the destruction of Ierusalem by Titus the son of Vespasian was Wolfangâ—â— Musculus that faithfull servant of Christ born at Dusa a little towne situate in Litharingia famous onely for the aboundance of Salt-pits wherewith it is richly stored His father was called Antonius Musculus who by his profession was
words in the audience of the congregation O thou wicked fâ—llow stay here a while and thou shalt hear me lay open thy wickednesse unto all this Congregation then ascending the Pulpit he repeated againe the same words of Saint Paul â— where he shewed unto them that by faith in that place wâ—â— meant a true and a saving faith in Jesus Christ and that those professors at Strasburge did rely on none but on this faith and therefore unjustly wronged by the Monks The Priests and Monkes hearing this they withdrew themselves out of the Chappell in comes the Pryor interrupts him and commands him to desiâ—t and to come down and withall asked him who gave him authority to Preach in that place He forthwith replyed Who gave thee authority to constitute a lying Monke here who doth unjustly and impudently reproach the Senate and people of Strasburge and know thou this that I am in duty bound to clear my Magistrates from unjust and false aspersionâ— The Pryor being repulsed with this answer was for a while quiet and he went forward in his Sermon But being not so contented sets on him againe and kindely intrâ—ats him that he would give over telling him that his proceeding would cause a seditious tumult He againe desireth him to be pacified and exhorteth the people to be quiet and so with a bould and couragious spirit he continued even unto the end of his Sermon The report of this comming to Strasburge it procured unto him great applauâ—e and a reverent esteeme amongst all good men Having spent a year in this Village he was called by the Ministers of Strasburge to take upon him the Office of a Deacon which Office hâ— was very unwilling to take upon him urging his own inability yet by thâ— perswasion of the Ministers he yeelded and performed it for the space of two years In which time this memorable act is recorded of him that being sent unto Dosna a Village neer Strasburge to Preach unto the Inhabitants who were obstinate Papists he wrought upon them so effectually at his first Sermon that of their owne accord they abrogated the Masse and cast the Priest with all his ornaments out of the Churchâ— after that he had taught here six weeks he was called again unto the City to performe the office of a Deacon during his residence in the City he became an Auditor unto the Lectures of Wolfangus Capito and Martin Bucer and also at vacant â—imes he gave himselfe to the study of the Hebrew tongue wherein he attained unto that perfection that with his own hand he writ an Hebrew Lexicon and understood the most obscured Commentaries of the Rabbins together with the Caldey Interpreters At the end of two years the Citizens of Auspâ—re sent unto Strasburge to desire Musculus a few years for their Churches they consented unto so pious a motion but Musculus was unwilling to goe pleading again his insufficiency neither had he gone notwithstanding the intreaty of the Ministers had not the Senate commanded him thereunto At his comming unto Auspurge he found the Church much troubled and afflicted not onely by reason of the evill attempts and indeavour of the Papists who never ceased to extinguish the light of the Gospell but also by reason of the Anabaptists who seduced and led away many whose bouldnesse also advanced it selfe unto that height that they would come publikly into the Protestant Churches and openly in their Pulpits they would divulge their errours whereby sedition and tumults were raised in the City for which many of the Anabaptisâ—s were committed by the Magistrate unto Prison Musculas deales first with the Anabaptists in their first conference they did obstinatly opposed him but afterwards considering his solid and weighty reasons and arguments which they could not withstand they acknowledged their errour and many of them made a publicke recantation forsooke their errors and became members of the Church Afterwards he had a sharpe conflict with the Papâ—sts whom also in the presence of the Senate and people of Auspurge he openly confuted with such powerfull arguments that the Senate expeled banished them al the City purged the Churches from all Idolatrous worship consecrated them onely unto the Evangelicall truth designing unto Musculus one of the principallest Churches in the City and having him in a reverent Estimation in this place besides his labours in the Ministery which were great he attained the knowledge of the Greeke tongue together with the Arabick He taught in this City eighteen yeeres to the great benefit of his Auditors in his Sermons he was vehement and powerfull wonderfully working upon the hearts of the people he was a sharp reprover of vice his method which he observed in teaching was exact and easie which drew the greater concourse of people unto him for their better instruction and information in the way of truth In the yeer 1536. there was a Sinod proclaimed at Isenacam a towne situate in the Dukdome of Saxonie for the reconciling of the Churches about the Sacrament whither Musculus was sent by the Senate of Ausburge but because Luther came not thither he with many other Divines went unto Wittenberge touching the conclusion viz. Bucer Melancthon In the yeer 1540. the Princes and Senates of the Empire were assembled at Wormes and Reinspurge to hear a disputation betwixt the Protestant Ministers and the Papists touching Religion where Musculus by the command of the Senate was present and delivered two Sermons before the Princes concerning the Popish Masse which for their excellency were afterwards Printed at Wittenberge The Assembly being desolved without any thing affected he returned againe to Auspurge where he continued in his Ministeriall function untill the yeer 1547. wherein Carolus the Emperor commanded an assembly of the Princeâ— and Senates of the Empire at Auspurge unto which both himselfe with his brother Ferdinand King of the Romans and also the Princes being accompanied with Cardinals and Bishops At the first entrence of the Emperour into the City Musculus was put void oâ— his Church it being given unto the Emperour yet he ceased not to performe his office and boldly to preach in other places of the City â—he Senate and people as yet constantly retaining the proâ—â—ssion of the Gospell He wanted not enemies at that time in the City who acquainted the Emperour the King the Cardinals and Bishops with his proceeding accusing him of sedition and heresie and the Senate perceiving the danger that he was in they commanded a Guard to accompany him unto the Church and home againe which his enemies perceiving and not daring to use any violence against his person in the streetâ— they wiâ—h one consent flockt unto his house using many reprochfull speeches laying on him many false aspersions and withal breaking his windowes with stones all which he suffered with an undaunted Spirit resolving to persevere in that truth which he taught even to the period of his dayâ— But it so fel out that in the yeer following
Ridley Latimer and afterwards Cranmer men of incomparable piety whereby the propagation of the truth was hindred There hapned also other causes of discontent as the faction of some neighbouring Pastors bewitched with the instigation of that Carmelite Bolsecus who bitterly inveighed against him concerning Predestination whereupon he obtained leave of the Senate to go unto Berne to be censured by the Church concerning that point in which censures the adversaries being found guilty they were expelled banished the Country and he found favor was in great estimation amongst the best In the year 1556. Calvin preaching in Geneva he was taken so strongly with an Ague that he was forst to leave in the midst of his Sermon and to come downe from the Pulpit upon this accident newes was spread abroad concerning his death which in short space came unto Rome and it was so ioyfully entertained by the Pope that he forthwith caused publicke prayers and thanksgivings to be dedicated unto God in all the Church for the same but the prayers of the faithfull prevailed more for he was so far from dying that being as it were endewed with another life he went unto France fuet ad Maenum being thereunto called for the removing the dissentions out of the Churches of France whence returning although somewhat sickly yet he ceased not to execute his constant course in his Ministery and also he carefully and timely confuted the hereticall opinion of Valentinus Gentilis touching three Gods and three Eternals lest by continuation it should take such root that it would hardly be plucked up And these were his actions untill the year 1558. wherein in pleased God to afflict him with a quartan Ague which caused great sorrow and lamentation in Geneva yet it continued with him but for the space of eight weeks in which time it weakned and so enfeebled his body that he was never sound untill the day of his death During this sicknesse he was advised by the Physitians and some of his friends to forbeare his usuall exercises and to cherish his body with a little ease but he would not declaring unto them that he could not endure an idle life In the year following Henry King of France intended to levell Geneva with the ground and to put the Inhabitants thereof to the sword but before he could effect that bloody project he was taken captive by a higher power and the City still flourished even in the midst of her enemies and that nothing might be wanting unto her prosperous and flourishâ—ng state Calvin caused a Schoole to be erected and consecrated unto the great God which should alwayes be furnished with learned Ministers and publicke Professours of the Arts and Tongues and especially of Divinity that so the City might enrich it selfe with its owne treasure In the year 1560. the Waldenses sent unto Calvin for his judgement concerning some points wherein he gave them aboundant satisfaction and exhorted them to joyne themselves with the other Protestant Churches And at the same season many Protestants in France hearing of â—he peace and quietnesse which the Church in England enjoyed at the beginning of the reign of Queen Elizabeth many of them came into England and desired of Edmund Grindal 〈◊〉 Lord Bishop of London that they might have leave to sâ—â—d for a Preacher unto Geneva for the planting of the French Church in London who condiscended thereunto Galasâ—â—â— was sent Calvin having spent his dayes hitherto in extraordinary labours for his life may well be said to be a continued labour mixed with griefe as appeareth by the Works which he wrote being at Geneva The time was now at hand in which he must goe unto his eternall rest his diseases contracted by his indefatigable labours caused him to give over his Divine exercises for indeed how could he continue long when as his body was by nature weake and leane inclining to a consumption and because he slept very little spending almost all the year either in Preaching Teaching or Dictating for ten whole years he never Dined and after the set houre he would not receive his Supper He was subject unto the disease called the Migram for the curing of which he used nothing but fasting and that sometimes for the space of six and thirty houres After that his quartan Ague left him he was troubled with the Gout taking him in his left legge which to make it the more grievous was seconded with the Colick The Physitians applyed what remedies they could and he carefully followed their counsell He was armed against these afflictions with an admired patience no man ever hearing him uttering a word unworthy of himselfe in his greatest extremity but lifting up his eyes unto heaven he would chearfully utter the words of David How long O Lord. When he was exhorted by his friends to desist from reading or writing in the time of sicknesse he would reply What will you have the Lord finde me idle Not long before his death some of his fellow Pastors coming accordingly as they used to visit him they found him contrary to their expectation apparalled and fiâ—ting at his Table in that forme as he used to meditate resting his head on his hand he spake these words unto them I thanke you brethren for the care which you have over me but I hope that within these fifteen dayes the Lord will reveale how he intends to dispose of me and I thinke that I shall leave you and be received of him Growing weaker and weaker he was brought into the Senats Court by his command where after an humble manner he thanked the Senate for the curtesies formerly conferred on him and for the speciall care which they had of him in this his last sicknesse Not long after he received the Communion at the hands of Beza labouring the best that he could to joyne with the rest of the Congregation in singing of Psalmes unto God The day wherein he dyed he seemed to speake somewhat heartily but this was but the last strugling of nature for about eight of the clocke apparant signes of death were seen which being perceived of Beza he ran forth to acquaint his other Collegues with it but besure his returne he had quietly yeelded his soule into the hands of God leaving such a chearfull countenance unto the beholders that he seemed rather to be asleepe then dead Thus was that light taken away even at the seâ—ting of the Sun The day following there was great lamentation throughout the City the Church lamented for the death of her faithfull Pastor the Schoole sorrowed for the losse of so famous a Doctor and in generall all were filled with mourning because they were deprived of their onely comforter next unto God Many of the Citizens desired to behold him after that he was dead so great was their affection to him and some strangers also whom the fame of Calvin had drawne unto that place and amongst them the English Embassadour for France desired greatly to see him being
to keep private what he should tell them he imparted his Commission telling them how acceptable it would be to the Emperour if they would send to him Brentius but if they refused the Emperour would destroy their City c. It pleased God that whilest he was thus perswading the Magistrates there came in one later then his fellowes and the Commissary not minding it did not tender the Oath to him so when they were dismissed this man wrote to Brentius Fuge fuge Brenti cito citius citissime which note was brought him as he sate at supper having read it he told his Family that he must goe forth upon businesse but would return ere long As he was going out of the City he met the Commissary who asked him whither he went He answered To a sick friend in the Suburbs who had sent for him Well said the Commissary to morrow you must dine with me He replyed God willing and so they parted Being thus escaped he hid himselfe in a thick Wood and for some weeks together he lay in the Wood all day and every night came into a Villege to a friends house where he lodged he wrote also to the Magistrates of Hale that if they could and would protect him he was ready to come back and not to forsake his flock but if they could not he did not desire that they should indanger themselves for his sake They answered that they could not protect him and therefore left him free to goe whither he pleased Presently after Vlricus Prince of Wurtenburge invited him to him and ordered him to be so private that he himselfe might not know where he was that if he was asked he might safely deny his knowledge of him yet upon suspicion his Castle was searched but Brentius was in another place where in his retirement he wrote a Comment upon the ninety third Psalm afterwards he went to Basil as to a safer place where his wife dyed of a Consumption from thence he removed to the Castle of Horrenburge in the Hyrcinian Wood where he changed his name and gave out that he was the Keeper of the Castle and whilst he was there he frequented the Sermons in a neighbor towne where the Minister used to spin out his Sermons to a great length whereupon Brentius took occasion modestly to tell him of it to whom the Minister answered You Castle-keepers think all time too long at Church but no time too long that you spend in drinking Brentius smiling at it said no more Whilest he was there he perfected his Comment upon Isaiah and some other Works afterwards he had great profers made him by the Citizens of Magdeburge by Edward the sixth King of England and by the Duke of Broussia but he refused them all and thus continued in banishment for the space of two years Anno Christi 1550. Vlricus Duke of Wurtenburg dyed and his son Christopher succeeding he resolved to restore the Ministers which were driven away by the Interim to their Charges within his Dominions and to perfect the Worke of Reformation and for that end sent for Brentius and kept him in his Castle of Stutgard that he might have his advice and assistance in carrying on of that work neither was he discouraged by the admonitions of the Princes and Bishops nor by the threats of the Garrisons that were about him but caused Brentius to write a Confession of Faith and of the Doctrine of Christian Religion and â—bout the chiefe points in Controversie which he intended to send to the Councill of Trent about that time Brentius married againe one Catharine Isenmam a choise woman who was a great comfort to him all the rest of his life by whom also he had twelve children the year after the Pastor of Stutgard dying Brentius was chosen in his room in which place he continued all his life and carryed himselfe with much sedulity piety and prudence in the same Anno Christi 1557. he was sent by his Prince to the Conference at Worms which came to nothing because the Popish party would not suffer that the Scripture should be â—he Judge of their Controversies In his old age he wrot upon the Psalmes and whereas there were many Monasteries in Wurâ—enburge out of w ch the Fryars were driven he perswaded his Prince to turn them to Schools for the training up youth in learning which was accordingly don and once in two years Brentius visited those Schools and tooke notice how the Scholars profited in learning and encouraged them to make a daily progresse therein he had almost finished his Comment upon the Psalmes when as his old age worn out with studyes and labors put a period unto the same and his end was hastned by grief for the immature death of hiâ— Prince for whom he professed that he would willingly have sacrificed all his estate and his owne life also Falling inâ—o a Fevor whereby he perceived that his end approached he made his Will wherein he set downe a Confession of his Faith and sending for the Ministers of Stutgard he caused his Son to read it to them requested them to subscribe their hands as witnesses to it he also received the Sacrament and exhorted them to unity in Doctrine and love amongst themselves he was exceeding patient in all his sicknesse neither by word nor gesture shewing the least impatience alwayes saying That he longed for a better even an eternall life the night before his death he slept sweetly and when he awaked the Minister repeated the Apostles Creed and asked him whether he dyed in that Faith to whom he answered Yea which was his laâ—t word and so he quietly resigned up his spirit unto God Anno Christi 1570. and of his Age 71. He was buried with much honor â—nd had this Epitaph Voce stylo pietate fide candore probatus Johannes tali Brentius ore fuit With voice style piety faith candor grac'd In outward shape Iohn Brentius was thus fac'd Toss'd in the ship of fortune Bâ—entius sail'd From place to place his courage never fail'd But with resolved Constancy he bent His minde to suffer free from discontent The rage of Papists could not make him yeeld To their desires True vertue was his shield The strength of his afflictions added strength Unto his soul his suffrings had no length Except of dayes and them he knew to be Bâ—t servile Subjects to Mortality Thus like a patient sufferer he fled From earth to heaven and there repos'd his head The Life and Death of Peter Viretus who dyed Anno Christi 1571. PEtâ—r Viretus was born in the Country of the Bernates brought up in learning at Paris where he began to be acquainted with Farellus from thence he went to Lusanna where he was chosen Pastor and spent much of his time in teaching and writing there and when Calvin was sent to the Conference at Worms Anno Christi 1541. and from thence to Ratisbone he obtained of the Senate of Lusanna that Viretus should
eyes of the most renowned Doctor of the Chaiâ— Peter Martyr by whom he was presented Batchelour of Divinity and now nothing seemed to stand in his way from orderly ascending to higher degrees and preferment in the Church But the face of the skye is not more changeable then the condition of our estate in this world all the fair weather we spake of but now was overcast in a moment for by the untimely death of Edward the sixt and by the succeeding advancement of Queen Mary to the Crown a bitter storm of persecution fell upon the newly reformed Church of England and blew away many of our prime Doctors and other men of eminent worth and among them our Iewel who now banished from his native Soyl found yet great comfort in conversing first at Frankeford with Sir Francis Knowls and his eldest Son Robert Horn and Edward Sands and afterwards at Argentine with Iohn Poynet Edmund Grindall Iohn Cheek Anthony Cook Richard Morison Peter Carew Thomas Wroth and divers others These noble Confessors deserve rather the naming because in this their retiring they seemed as it were to fetch their fees to make the greater leap in England where after their return they were highly preferred Grindall to the Archbishop first of York then of Canterbury Sir Francis Knowls to be privy Councellour and Lord Treasurer Robert Lorne to the Bishoprick of Winton Sands of London Poynet of Worcester and the rest all of them to eminent places in the Church and Commonwealth to set off their future glory their present poverty and misery served as a foyl It was yet for the present lamentable to see these men of worth who had change of houses in their own Country hardly getting a shed to shelter them from wind weather in forreign parts they who opened the fountain of their bounty to other men in England were now constrained in Germany to fetch waters of Comfort drop by drop from others Conduits At the first the pious charity of the Londoners be it spoken to the honour of that City was as an unexhausted mine to them till by Stephen Gardner it was discovered and the rich vein stopt by the imprisonment of their chief Benefactors And now these servants of Christ of whom England at this time was not worthy were putt o many difficult plunges yet partly by the comfortable letters of Zuinglius Peter Martyr Calvin Melancthon Pelican Lavater Geznar and other privy Pastours of the reformed Churches beyond the Seas they were held up by the chin and partly by the charitable contributions of Christopher Prince of Wittenberg and the Senators of Zurick they were so kept above water as it were with bladders that none of them utterly sunk in their hope And for Iewell in particular though he were tossed from pillar to post and sometimes dashed upon one rock and sometimes upon another yet in the end he found safe harbour in Peter Martyrs house first in Argentine and after in Tigury where it is hard to say utrum Euripides ex Archelai an Archelai ex Euripides familiaritate fama magis incluruerit Whether Iewel gave more luster reputation to his Host or his Host to him certain it is Iewel assisted Peter Martyr in setting forth divers Books and by name his learned Comentaries upon the Iudges And very fortunate to the Church oâ— God was the conjunction of these two Stars of the first magnitude for from them had we the first light to find the tract of those who in the former Ages and purest time walked with a right foot to the Gospel and professed the Doctrine of the reformed Churches Although we must acknowledge our Churches very much indebted in this kind to Reynolds Whitaker Bilson Abbot CaÌ„mier Morney and Chemitius yet it cannot be denied that these later tinded their candles at these Torches for Peter Martyr had cleered the judgement of Antiquity in the point of the Sacrament and some other controversies between us and the Church of Rome and Iewel in all before Chemitius took Andradius to task or Bilson Allen or Reynolds Hart or Whitaker Stapleton or Abbot Bishop or Morney Perrane or Camier Bellarmine our Iâ—wel was the first who made a publick challenge to all the Papists in the world to produce but one cleer and evident testimony out of any Father or famous Writer who flourished within five hundred yeers after Christ for any one of the many Articles which the Romanists at this day maintain against us and upon good proof of any such one allegation to yeeld them the bucklers and reconcile himselfe to Rome and although Harding and some others undertooke him and entered into the lists with him about the controverted Articles yet they came off so poorely and Iewel on the contrary so amazâ—d and confounded them with a cloud of witnesses in every point in question that aâ— Bishop Godwine upon good ground affirmeth no one thing in our age gave the Papacy so deadly a wound as that challenge at Pauls Crosse so confidently made and bravely maintained But this challege was not now made in the time of Iewels banishment but after his returne into England at this time he and many other cleare lights of the Church were hid under a Bushell till the fire of persecution of England in which not onely many faithfull bretheren but diverse reverend Fathers as Latimer Cranmer Ridley and Hooper were burned to ashes for the testimony of the truth was laved out partly by the teares of compassionatâ— Confessors povring out their souls to God in publick and private but especially by the blood of so many Noble Martyres But as soone as God in justice looked upon the persecutours of the truth and called Queen Mary and thoâ—e who diped their hands in his Saint blood to his tribunall and set Queen Elizabeth upon her sisters throne that mirrour of Princes and parragon of her sex and phaenix of her age restoring at the same time preachers to the Gospell and Gospell to the preachers themselves in the first year of her Raigne commanded a survey to be taken of the whole Realme and finding in many parts palpable Egyptian darkenesse sent for all these concealed lights above mentioned and after they were fetcht from under the bushels which had covered them she set them in golden candlesticks in all the Counties within her Dominions and among them Iewell in the diocesse of Sarum Where he shined most brightly for eleaven years and after his extinction by death left a most sweet smell behind him the savour of a good name much more pretius then oyntment for his Apostolick doctrine and Saintlike life and prudent government and incorrupt integrity unspotted chastity and bountifull hospitality In his first visitation he began and in his last he perfected such a reformation not onely in the Cathedrall and Parochiall Churches but in all Courts of his jurisdiction that even those who before esteemed not so well of Iewell as Bishops yet now were brought to have a reverend opinion
Prisoners he wonderfully refreshed and comforted them by his godly exhortations and consolations drawn from the Scriptures whereby they were much confirmed in the Christian Faith and whereas before they were almost pined through want of food God so stirred up the heartâ— of some to bring reliefe to Zegedine that all the rest of the prisoners were provided for plentifully thereby Remaining thus in prison he was not idle but wrote there his Common-places and some other Works thus he remained in Prison above a year in which time three of his children dyed which added much to his aâ—fliction and though his people had used the intercession of all their great men there about for his liberty yet all prevailed not till it pleased God that a Noble Baron and his Lady passing by that way saw this worthy man of God in so miserable a plight that the Lady much pitied him and afterwards being in Child bed and ready to dye she requested her Lord who loved her dearly for her sake to improve all his interest in the Bashaw to procure Zegedines liberty which he with an oath promised to perform and accordingly engaged himselfe to the Turk that he should pay 1200. Florens for his ransome thereupon he was released and went about to diverse Cities to gather his ransome and God so enlarged mens hearts towards hâ—m that in a short time he carried 800. Florns to this Baron and so returned to his people at Calmanâ—sem The year after being 1564. as he was going by coach to Buda when the horses came near the great river Danubius being very hot and dry thy ran violently into the river but behold the admirable providence of God when they had swam some twenty paces in the river they turned back again and drew the coach and him safely to the shore The same year by the Imposition of Hands he ordained three excellent men Ministers About that time there came a bragging Fryar and challenged him to a Disputation which he willingly accepting of the great Church was appointed for the place and many of both sides resorted thither and the Fryar came with much confidence his servants carrying a great sacke of Bookes after him but in the Disputation Zegedine did so baffle him that all his friends shrunk away with shame and the Fryar with his great sack was left all alone so that himselfe was fain to take it on his own shoulders and goe his way About that time the Vaivod who had before betrayed him coming to the place where Zegedine was desired to speake with him and requested him to forgive him professing that he could rest neither night nor day he was so haunted with apparitions and the Furies of his own conscience which Zegedine easily affented unto In the year 1566. Zegedine being very hot invited a friend to goe with him to the River of Danubius to bathe himself but as they were swiming his friend looking about him saw not Zegedine and wondering what was become of him so suddenly at last he spyed his hoarie hairs appearing above water and swimming swiftly to him Zegedine was sunk whereupon he diving to the bottome of the river caught hold of him and drew him forth carrying him to a Mill that was not far off where he laid him to bed about midnight Zegedine coming to himself enquired how he came there and who drew him out of the River hiâ— friend told him the whole story and kept him carefully till he recovered In the year 1572. he fell into a mortall dsease which so much the more afflicted him becausâ— he could not sleepe whereupon he sent for a Chirurgion who gave him a bitter potion which caused him to fall a sleepe but after a little while he quietly breathed forth his last being sixty seven years of age How full of patience how divine Was this our learned Zegedine Though cast in prison and restrain'd From food yet he the truth maintain'd His heart resolved from his youth Rather to starve then starve the truth For Disputations few there were That could with Zegedine compare His rare example lets us know Patience o'recomes the greatest woe The Life and Death of John Knox who dyed Anno Christi 1572. JOhn Knox was born at Gifford in Lothain in Scotland Anno 1505. of honest Parentage brought up first at School then sent to the University of Saint Andrews to study under Master Io. Maior who was famouâ— for learning in those dayes and under whom in a short time he profited exceedingly in Philosophy and School Divinity and took hiâ— Degrees and afâ—erwards was admitted very young into Orders then he betook himself to the reading of the Fathers especially Augustine's Works and lastly to the earnest study of the holy Scriptures by w ch being through God's mercy informed of the Truth he willingly embraced it and freely professed it and imparted it to others But when there was a persecution raised up by the Bishops against the Professours of the Truth he fled into England where he preached the Gospel with much zeal fruit both at Berwick Newcastle and London He was much esteemed â—y King Edward the sixt who proffered him a Bishoprick which he rejected as having Aliquid commune cum Antichristo something in it common with Antichrist King Edward being dead the pâ—rsecution raised by Queen Mary made him leave England and goe to Frankefort where for a time he preached the Gospel to the English Congregation but meeting with opposition there both from Papists and false brethren he went to Geneva Anno Christi 1559. and of his age 54. the Nobility of Scotland with some others beginning the Reformation of Religion sent for him home and shortly after he was setled Minister at Edinbrough where he preached many excellent Sermons Anno Christi 1566. the Earl of Murray being slain on the Saturday Knox preaching at Edinbrough the next day amongst the papers given of those that desired the prayers of the Church he found one with these words Take up the man whom yee accounted another God At the end of his Sermon he bemoaned the losse that the Church and State had by the death of that vertuous man adding further There is one in this company that makes this horrible murder the subject of his mirth for which all good men should be sorry but I tell him he shall dye where there shall be none to lament him The man that had written those words was one Thomaâ— Metellan a young Gentleman of excellent parts but bearing small affection to the Earl of Murray he hearing this commination of Iohn Knox went home to his Sister and saâ—d That Iohn Knox was raving to speak of he knew not whom His Sister replyed with tears If you had taken my advice you had not written those words saying further Thaâ— none of Iohn Knox his threatnings fell to the ground without effect And so indeed this came to passe for shortly after this Gentleman going to travell dyed in Italy having none to assist
these distractionâ— of the Church but these contentions ceased and were taken away by the death of Luther yet there followed an happy consent and agreement betwixt Calvin and the Church of Geneva of the one â—ide and the Tigurines on the other concerning the Sacrament wherein Calvin seemed to adhaere unto the opinion of Luther in the judgement of the Tigurine Ministers Wherefore that he might free himselfe from this suspition taking Farellus with him he came unto Tigurum where a forme of agreement was written by Calvin and Bullinger and approved of by the Churches of Râ—etia and Helvetio and afterwards published for the generall good of the Church and by this means God so disposing the Churches were not onely united firmely amongst themselves but also many were confirmed and strengthned in the knowledge of the truth And this agreement set such an edge on the teeth of their Adversaries that they began more bitterly to inveigh against the truth of Christ and still labouring to propagate the truth he wrote severall Decades unto Edward the sixt King of England And because a free and unmolested Preaching of the Gospell was granted unto the English he sent frequent letters unto the Nobility Bishops and Pastors of the Church exhorting them unto a perseverance in the worke begun and that with all purity and constancy During which act of his a Legate came from the Pope with Authority to command the Helvetian Prelates to be present at the Councill of Trent Who was answered by Bullinger that Concilium Tridentinum institutum esse ad opprimendam veritatem that that Councill was ordained for the suppressing of the truth and withall he denied Helvetios Evangelicos Papae obedientiam ullam debire that they owed not any obedience unto the Pope at all whose yoak they had now cast off c. Not long after there was a dissention in the Church of Geneva concerning Gods Election the Author whereof was Hieronimus Bolsecus a Professor of Physick who openly opposed the doctrine of Calvin exhorting the people not to suffer themselves to be seduced and led away by him affirming Bullinger and many other learned Divines to be of the same opinion with himselfe wherefore it seemed good unto the Senate and unto the bretheren of the Church of Geneva to send unto Bullinger for his opinion concerning that point who in expresse words returned this answer that he which did teach that Gods eternall Election did depend on foreseen Faith did malitiously abuse the doctrine of the Church of Tigurum About this timâ— Edward the sixt dyed in England whose eldest sister coming to the Crown changed that forme of Religion established by her brother and subjected the whole Kingdome againe to the Pope of Rome sharply persecuting those who were knowne to make profession of the true faith wherefore many Noble and learned men were inforced to flye some into Germany many into Switzerland building themselves a Colledge at Tigurum being greatly assisted by Bullinger who then ratified that covenant of friendship which he had formerly promised in the dayes of Henry the eight In the yeere 1561. the Councell of Trent was begun againe by Pius the fourth then Pope but the States and Protestant Princes of Germany refused to be present and likewise the English together with the Helvetian Cities during the continuance of which Councell Bullinger laboured to extirpate the haeresies newly crept into thâ— Church viz. That of Brentius affirming of the Ubiquity of the humaine nature untill such time as a mercilesse pestilence invaded the City of Tigurum ceazing upon Bullinger himselfe insomuch that he dispaired of his life and therefore called the Ministers of Tigurum unto him and took his leave of them with a grave admonition but it pleased God to restore him again unto his former health and he became an instrument of much good after in the Church about this time or immediately after began that War which was called Sacrum and the Prince of Condey suspecting some treason intended against his Excellency sent an Embassador unto the Switzers in generall and unto Bullinger in particular to intreat some â—de and succours from them but the Embassadour of the King coming thither at the same time there was no answer given unto the Embassador of the Prince of Condey who after a private manner departed from Tigurum forthwith there arose cruell Warres in France great was the number of Pastors and godly persons who fled som to Geneva some to Berne and most of them being in extreame want and poverty Bullinger caused publick collections to be made for them in the Churches whereby they received unexpected reliefe and so he continued being carefull for the members of the Church that their doctrine might be pure and uncorrupted untill it pleased God to viâ—it him with his last sicknesse which indeed was the longest it continuing for the space of four whole monthes in which time he endured the sharpest paines with an admirable patience yeelding no signe or token of any indignation or displeasure the greater paines he suffered the ferventer were his prayers unto God whensoever he found some easâ— he would enter into some good discourse either with his family or with such strangers as came to visit him to whom he would often say si deo visum fuerit mea opera â—lterius in ecclesiae ministerio uti ipse vires sufficiae libens illi parebo sui 〈◊〉 voluerit quod opto hac vita c. It seemeth good unto Almighty God to account me worthy to exercise a Pastorall office in his Church yet longer let him give me strength and I will willingly obey him but if he will call me out of this life which is the thing that I desire I am also ready to obey his will for nothing can be more welcome unto me then to leave this wretched and sinfull world and to goe unto my Saviour Christ. His paines still increasing he caused the Pastors and Professors of the City to come unto him unto whom he delivered a large Oration where in the first place he kindly thanked them for that their love in comming unto him afterwards he opened unto them that faith in which and for which he was ready to lay downe his life in the thiâ—â— place he freely and from his heart forgave all his Enemâ—es then he exhorted them constantly to continue in that doctrine which they had together Professed with him and withall he wished them to take heed of the vulgar vice of the Germaine Nation because they who were subject unto that sin could by no meanes doe good in the Church of God such good things as proceed from them will be contemned of the people he exhorted them also unto a concord and unity amongst themselves to love one another and to defend one another because they should be sure enough to find many opposers and enemies who would desire nothing more then their ruine and in the last place he advised them to have a reverend respect
printed there which Gilpin performed faithfully He returned into England after three years in Queen Maries raign and beheld to his griefe the Church oppressed with blood and fire and being placed by Tunstal in the Rectory of Essingdon he began sharply to tax the viceâ— which then raigned in the Church and propounded the Doctrine of Salvation plainly and soundly which procured him many enemies especially of the Clergy who accused hin often to the bishop for an Heretick but Tunstal could not endure to shed blood and therefore he deâ—lt mildly with him At a certain time the Bishops Châ—plainâ— discoursed with him about Luther and the Sacrament of the Altar whom he answered so judiciously that the Bishop hearing their discourse said to his Chaplains Lâ—thâ—â— alone for he hath more lâ—arning then you all The Archdeaconâ—â— of Durham being annexed to the Parsonage of Essingdon Master Gilpin for a â—ime supplyed both places but after a whâ—â—â— he wrote to the Bishop that he might have his good wâ—ll to resign one of them which the Bishop was very angry 〈◊〉 saying I told thee thou wouldst die a begger Not long after â—he Bishop conferred upon him instead of them the Rectory of Houghton which was a great Parish and a very fine sâ—â—t He took great care to performe the dutyeâ— of the Miniâ—â—ry â—mongst his people and seeing the miserable condition of many places in those parts where â—he Tiâ—hes being Improprâ—ated the Souls of the people were stâ—rved he preached often abroâ—d also and once a year he took a journy into Noâ—thumberland Riddesdale and Tindal usually abouâ— Câ—â—istmas because of the opportunity of so many holy dâ—ieâ— where he gat himselfe muâ—h â—steem by his prâ—achiâ—g to thosâ— barbarouâ— people and distributing money to the poor sometimes hâ— was forced to lodge in the snow all night in that jouâ—ny at which times he made his man to trot his horseâ— up and downe whilst he bestirred himselfe that he might not perish by the could Once as he returned home a husbandman as he was ploughing had a horse in hiâ— team that fell down and dyed for which he made great moan whereupon Master Gilpin caused his man to alight and take off his saddle and bridle and so to carry them to the next town and gave his horse to this husbandman when by chance hâ— met with any naked poor people he would pull off some of his own clothes and give them In the towne of Houghton there was a street of poor people for whose reliese every thursday he caused a great pot of meat to be boylâ—d and distributed amongst them yeâ— his charity was such that he was commonly called The Father of the Poor Yet had he many enemies who often accused him to Bishop Tunstal but he abhorring to shed blood was still a sweet defence to him At last they accused him to Bonner who sent a messenger to apprehend him whereof he had notice before hand and therefore prepared himselfe for Martyrdome commanding his Steward to provide him a long garment to goe to the stake in but it pleased God that by the sudden death of Queen Mary he was freed from thiâ— danger In the beginning of Queen Elizabeth's raign Master Gilpin was excâ—eding studious to doe all the good that possibly he could whereupon he erected a Grammer-School allowing maintenance for a Master and Usher divers of the Scholars he also instructed himselfe so that in that School were bred many that were exceedingly profitable to the Church afterwards for there was great resort to it some of which he tabled in his owne house others in the towne yea upon many poor mens sons he bestowed both meat drinke apparell and â—eaching out of this School were sent daily many to the University to diverse of which he allowed maintenance whereby his name was renowned and the Earl of Bedford much esteemed him and procured of the Queen the Bishoprick of Carlile for him and sent him his Congedeslier but Master Gilpin returned it back with many thanks alleging his own insufficiency for the discharge of so great a place Not long after also he was much importuned to take upon him the Provost's place of Queens Colledge in Oxford but he refused it being wholly unwilling to remove from the place where God had set him He was much given to Hospitality insomuch as William Cecill Lord Burghley returning out of Scotland drawn with the same of Master Gilpin came to Houghton where he was entertained with all due respect and when he had well observed Master Gilpin and the diligence and abundance of all things with so compleat service in the entertainment of so great and unlooked for a Guest he said at his parting That he had heard much of Master Gilpin but what he had now seen and tryed was much more then the report and thereupon taking his his leave of Master Gilpin he râ—quested him if he had any occasion or suit at the Court that he would make use of him to meditate it for him He still continued his yearly visit of Riddesdale and Tindale where he was esteemed a Prophet and little lesse then adored by that barbarous people Being once amongst them one had stoln his horses whereupon Hue and Cry was sent abroad for Master Gilpin's horses the fellow that had stoln them hearing that they were Master Gilpin's fell a trembleing and presently carryed them back againe humbly craving pardon and the benediction of Father Gilpin protesting that he feared that he should be thurst into hell if he should doe him any wrong Also he being to preach at a towne called Rothbury there was a deadly fewd between the Inhabitants so that the men of both sides never met at Church without blood-shed and therefore when one party came the other used to stay away but Master Gilpin being in the Pulpit both partyes came to Church one party going into the Chancell and the other into the body of â—he Church armed with Swords and Javelins Master Gilpin though somewhat moved with this uncouth spectacle yet went on in his Sermon but when their weapons began to make a clashing sound and the one side drew near to the other Master Gilpin came downe from the Pulpit and stepping to the ringleaders of either faction he laboured to establish a peace and when he could not prevaile in that yet he got a promise from them to continue the peace whilst he was in the Church afterwards whilst he was in those quarters and so going up againe he spent the rest of the time in discharging that barbarous and bloody custom At another time Master Gilpin coming to a Church in those parts before the people assembled and walking up and downe he espied a glove hanging up in the Church end enquiring of the Sexton the meaning of it he told him that it was a glove of one of the Parish who hung it up as a challenge to his enemy with whom he would fight hand to hand or with any else
them poor mens sons upon whom he bestowed meat drink apparell and learning Having a great Parish he entertained them at his table by course every Sabbath from Michaelmasse to Easter He bestowed upon his School and for stipends upon the Schoolmasters the full sum of five hundred pounds out of which School he supplyed the Church of England with great store of learned men He was carefull not onely to avoid all evill but the least appearance of it Being full of faith unfeigned and of good works he was at last put into his grave as an heap of wheat in due time put into the garner What pen can be susficient to set forth Th'exuberous praises of brave Gilpins worth Though at the first his heedlesse soul did stray And ramble in a foule erronious way Yet at the last he left those paths which bended Unto distruction and his follyes ended Then he began to exercise the truth And hate the former errours of his youth His soul was fil'd with piety and peace And as the truth so did his joyes encrease His fame soone spread abroad his worth was hurl'd Through every corner of th'inquiring world And to conclude in him all men might find A reall heart and a most noble minde The life and death of Zachary Ursin who dyed Anno Christi 1583. ZAchary Vrsin was born in Silesia Anno Christi 1534. of honest parents who were carefull of his education in his childhood and having profited exceedingly at School he was sent to the University of Wittenberge at sixteen yeers old where he heard Melancthon with great diligence two years at which time the Plague breaking forth there he retired with Melancthon to Tergaw and having an ample testimony from him he went thence into his owne Country all the winter but in the spring he returned to Wittenberg where he spent 5. years in the study of the Arts Tongus and Divinity he was very familiar with Melancthon and much esteemed of many learned men who flocked to that University out of all Countries with whom also afterwards he kept correnspondency he went An. Christi 1557. with Melancthon to the conference at Worms about religion and from thence he travelled to Marpurg Argentine Basil Lausanna and Geneva where he grew into familiar acquaintance with many learned men especially Calvin who gave him such books as he had Printed from thence he went into France to Lions and Paris where he perfected his skill in the Hebrew under the learned Mercerus in his return he went to Tigure where he acquainted himselfe with the learned men and so to Tubing Vlme Norimberg and so to his old Master Melancthon Anno Christi 1558. he was sent for by the Senate of Vratislave which was his native place to govern a School there where besides his Lectures in the Arts and Tongues he was imployed in the explication of Melancthons book of the Ordination of Miniâ—ters wherein he declared his judgment about the Sacrament and thereupon he was cried out agaainst for a Sacramentarian which caused him to give a publick account of his Faith about the Doctrine of the Sacraments in certain strong and accurate propositions Melancthon hearing of the opposition which he met with wrote to him to stand firmly to the truth and if he enjoyed not pâ—ace in that place to return to him againe and to reserve himselfe for better times whereupon he requested of the Senate that he might be dismissed and having obtained his desire he returned to Wiâ—tenberg where foreseeing Melancthons death and the greaâ— alterations in that University he left it and went to Tygure Anno 1560. being invited thither by Martyr Bullinger Simler Lavater Gualter Gesner and Frisius who much desired his company there he was a constant hearer of Martyr and profited much under him in the knowledge of Divinity Anno 1561. their came letters to Tigure from Thomas Erastus signifying that there wanted a Divinity Professor at Heidleberg and desiring supply from thence whereupon knowing Vrsines fitnesse they presently sent him with their letters of ample commendation both to the Elector Palatine and to the University where he discharged his place so well that at twenty eight years of age they graced him with the title of a Doctor in Divinity and he supplyed the place of a publick Professor to the year 1568. at which time Zanchy succeeded him their also he made his Catechise for the use of the Pallaâ—inate Anno Chriâ—ti 1563. there brake forth a grievous pestilence that scattered both the Court and University yet Vrsin remained at home and wrote his tractates of Mortallity and Christian consolations for the benefit of Gods people He was so dear to the Elector Palatine that when the Bernates sent Aretius to Heidleberg to crave leave that Vrsin might goe to Lusanna to be the Divinity Professor there he would by no means part with him but gave him leave to choose an assistant that so his body might not be worn out with his dayly labors Anno Ch. 1572. he married a wiâ—e by whom he had one son that inherited his fathers vertues But upon Prince Fredricks death their grew a great alteration in the Palatinate insomuch that none but Lutherans could be suffered to continue thâ—râ— so that Vrsin with his Collegue were forced to leave the University but he could not live private long for he was sent for by Prince Iohn Chassimire also the Senate of Berne sent importunatly for him to succeed Aretius there But Cassimire would by no meanes part with him having erected a University at Newstad and chosen Vrsin and Zanchy to be the Divinity Professors thereof But Vrsin by his excessive studies and neglect of exercise fell into a sicknesse which held him above a year together after which he returned to his labors againe and besides his Divinity Lectors he read Logik also in the Schools desiring his auditors to give him what doubts and objections they met with which upon study at his next Lecture he returned answers to But his great labors cast him into a consumption and other diseases yet would he not be perswaded to intermit them till at last he was confined to his bed yet therein also he was never idle but alwayes dictating something that might conduce to the publick good of the Chuch The houre of death being come his friends standing by he quietly slept in the Lord Anno Christi 1583. and of his age 51. He was very pious and grave in his carriage and one that sought not after great things in this world Let those whose hearts desire to be Professor of Divinity Trace Ursins steps so shall they find The comforts of a studious minde He had a greater care to nurse Distressed souls then fill his purse He would not tell a frutlesse story Unto his flock his oratory Serv'd not flatter but to bring Subjected souls unto their King Where now he rests with him that says Shephards of Flocks look to your wayes The Life and Death of Abraham Bucholtzer
the same year he was graced with the title of Doctor in Divinity in the presence of the Prince Elector and of his son Casimirus who being most desirous of propagating the truth of Christ injoyned him after his returne from Rhetia to the Palatinate to lay open the true doctrine concerâ—ing God and concerning the three Persons in the Diety and to confute the opinion and to overthrow the arguments of such adversaries as at that time opposed the Diety of Christ and of the holy Ghost in Poland and in Transilvania whereupon he wrote his treatises ful of learning and piety de natura Dei detribus Elohmi filio spiritu Sancto uno eodemque Iehovah In this Academie he professed Divinity ten years even unto the death of â—rederich the third Prince Elector afterwards he went unto Neostadt where he was entertained Divinity Lecturer in a School newly erected where he continued seven years after the death of Frederick the third he was called unto the Academy at Leyden in Holland then newly consecrated in the year 1578. and also unto Antwarp in Brabant in the year 1580. but because that School could not want him he was willed by the Prince to remain there where he continued untill such time as the School was translated unto Heidleberge and then by reason of his old age he was discharged of his office by Casimirus then Elector Palatine whereupon he went towards Heidleberg to visit some friends which he had there whom when he had seene and comforted in those perillous times he changed this life for a better and more durable in the year 1590. and in the 75. year of his age and lyes buried in S t. Peters Chappel at Heidelberg He was well read in the auncient Fathers and in the writings of the Philosophers he was of singular modesty he alwayas earnestly desired peace amongst the Churches and in his old age was afflicted with blindnesse His works are here inserted 1 Divine Miscillanies with the explication of the Augustâ—n Confession 2 His judgement of the Controversies about the Lords Supper 3 Of the Trinity bookes thirteen in two parts in the fiâ—st the Orthodox mystery of this Doctrine is proved and confirmed by Scripture in the latter the adversaries are confuted 4 A Câ—mpendium of the chiefe points of Christian Doctrine 5 A Perfect tretise of the sacred Scriptures 6 Of the Incarnation of Christ. 7 Of the Divine Nature and his Attributes 8. Of the Workes of God in six dayes 9â— Of Mans Redemption 10 A Commentary upon Hosea 11. A Commentary on the Ephesians 12. Colossian .. 13 Thessalonians 14 Iohn 15 Observations of Physicke 16 His answer to an Arrian He sought and found the truth and would not hide That light from others that did still abide Within his breast his soul was alwayes free T' advance the works of reall piety Uertue and gravity were both combin'd Within the ceture of his breast and shin'd With equall luster all that heard his voyce Were fil'd with raptures and would much rejoyce At his discourse for what his tongue exprest Alwayes proceeded from a reall breast Let his examples teach us how to stand Firmely obedient to our Gods command That at the last we may rejoyce and sing Praises with Zanchy to heav'ns glorious King The Life and Death of Anthony Sadeel who dyed Anno Christi 1591. ANthony Sadeel was born upon the confines of Savoy and France not far from Geneva Anno Christi 1534. and his father dying whilst he was young his mother brought him up in learning and sent him to Paris and having studyed a while there he went to Tholous where falling into the society of some godly students of the Law it pleased God that he left Popery and went from thence to Geneva where he was much holpen by Calvin and Beza afterwards being sent for home and some controversie arising about his inheritance he went to Paris and there joyned himselfe with the private Congregation of the Protestants there the Pastor Collongius called the young students that were of that congregation together perswaded them to apply themselves to the study of Divinity which afterwards turned to the great good of the French Churches and amongst others Sadeel faithfully promised to apply him self therto having profited much in those studyes being scarce twenty years old he was by the approbation of the whole Church chosen one of the Pastors the year after fell out that horrid violence offered to the Church at Paris when they were met together to hear the word and receive the Sacrament where above one hundred and fifty of them were laid hold of and cast into Prison but by a miracle of Gods mercy the Pastors escaped the year after Sadeel was delivered from a great danger for at midnight many Apparitors brake into his house searched every corner and at last brake into his chamber seized on his books and papers crying out they were Hereticall and so laid hold upon him and carryed him to Prison But it pleased God that Antony of Burbon King of Navar who knew him and had often heard him hearing of his imprisonment sent to the officers to release him as being one of his train and when they refused to doe it he went himselfe to the Prison complaining of the wrong that was don him by imprisoning one that belonged to him being neither a murtherer nor thief and withall bad Sadeel follow him and so tooke him away with him whereupon the day after he publickly before the King gave thanks to God for his deliverance expounding the 124 Psalm then it being judged the safest for him to absent himselfe for a while he went to viâ—it the Churches in other parts of the Kingdome and at Aurelia he continued some moneths Preaching to many Citizens and students in the night time to their great advantage then he returned to Paris againe where a Synod of Ministers and Elders the first that was there were assembled to draw up a confession of their Faith which afterwards was presented to the King by the Admirall Coligny But the King shortly after dying the Queen mother and the Guises drew all the Government of the Kingdom into their hands and raised a great persecution against the Church drawing many of all ranks to Prisons and punishment yet Sadeel intermitted not his office but was wholly imployed in Preaching comforting confirming the weak c. till the danger encreasing it was thought fit that the care of the Church should be committed to one Macradus a man lesse known and that Sadeel should retire himselfe and so he went into severall parts of the Kingdome and therâ—by much propagated the true faith The year after the persecution not being so violent at Papis Sadeel could not refraine from going to his flocke which he loved so dearly In the year 1561. he fell sicke of a quartan Ague and by the advice of his Physitians and friends he was perswaded to goe into his owne Countrey yet neither there did he
much fervor efficacy and power of the holy Ghost that all that heard him wondred at it and shortly after resigned up his spirit â—nto God Anno 1600. and of his age 87. Hemingius doth deserve to be Recorded in each memory Who for his wit and worthy parts In Learning Tongues and exc'lent Arts Was by Melancthon much respected And for his learned gifts elected Hebrew Professour worthily In Hafnia Universitie Where six and twenty years he stai'd With great estéem and there was made A Doctor in Theologie And full of years and love did dye The Life and Death of James Heerbrand who dyed Anno Christi 1600. JAmes Heerbrand was borne at Noricum in the year 1521. of an ancient Family his Father was one of Luther's Discipleâ— and seeing the towardlinesse and promptnesse of his Son was carefull to bring him up in Religion and Learning at twelve years old his Father bought him a fair Bible which he diligently read over Afterwards he went to Vlm where he studied the Tongues and at seventeen years old his Father sent him to Wittenberg to hear Luâ—her and Melancthon in the year 1538. which year was famous for divers things for then the Kingdome of Denmark imbraced the Gospell the Emperour and King of France met together the Bible was Printed in English at Paris the University at Argentine was erected the sect of the Antinomians was detected thâ— Marquesse of Brandenburg imbraced the Augustine Confession and the Sea by the Kingdome of Naples was wholly day for eight miles together out of which place fire 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 timâ— that he would not intermit one houre from his Studies insomuch that other Students called him Suevicam Nocâ—â—am the Swevian night-crow He hâ—ard Lutheâ— and Melancthons Lâ—ctures with much diligence and in the yeâ—r 1540. he commâ—nced Master of Artsâ— He Preachâ—d also abroad in the Villages on the Sâ—bbath dayes Thus having spent five years there in his Studies he returned home with ample testimonies from Melancthon and the University When he came home the Pastors of the Church â—ppointed him to Preach which he performed with great approbation and commendation of all His Parents rejoycing much at his proficâ—ency would needs have him imploy his talent in his owne Countrey and at Stutgard Snepfius being Superintendent examined him â—nd finding his abilities he said Dominus te mihi obtulit the Lord hath offered thee unto me Being but twenty two years old he was made Deacon at Tubing three years after he married a wife by whom he had eight Sons and three Daughters shortly after that accursed Interim coming forth he amongst other Ministers that rejected it was banished from Tubing and being out of imployment he studied Hebrew till Prince Vlrick being dead his Son Christopher succeeding him called back the Ministers and Heerbrand amongst them to their former places He also made him Pastor of Herrenberg shortly after he commenced Doctor in Divinity and for four years and an halfe he studied the Fathers In the year 1556. he was sent for by Charles Marquesse of Baden to reform Religion in his Dominions where also he prescribed a form of Ordination of Ministers Presently after he was chosen to be the Divinity Professor at Tubing and after that the Pastor and Superintendent also In the year 1562. he was sent for by the Duke of Saxonie to be the Professor at Ienes who profered to allow him the stipend of one thousand Florens per annum but he refused it continuing at Tubing where he had much honour and respect his wife having lived with him fifty years and an half dyed who being thâ— staffe of his old age he waâ— much afflicted for her losse and began to grow weaker and weaker whereupon he refigned his Office and had a stipend allowed him by his Prince and so prepared himselfe for death He was much troubled with the Gout which he bore with much patience often using that saying of the Apostle Godlinesse is profitable to all things having the promise of this life and that which is to come He fell into a Lethargie and â—o dyed in the year 1600. and of his Age 79. James Heerband was a rare Divine most grave Deserves a Garland of Fames flowers to have Who in all Learning was so excellent And at his Studies constant diligent That his contemporary Tâ—ndents said He was a Sweviary night Crow And he made Such benefit his Studies up to rear When he did Luther and Melancthon hear As oft he did that he himselfe became A Preacher rare and of surpassing fame Commencing Doctor of Divinity Made Tubings Pastor with respect most high Superintendent also there elected And of the Germain Princes much respected At last his wife who fifty years at least Had liv'd with him did dye his strength decreast Together with her losse and sicknesse so Upon his féeble corps began to grow That néer the age of fourscore yéers in peace He chang'd earths wars for heav'ns eternall peace The Life and Death of David Chytraeus who dyed Anno Christi 1600. DAvid Chytreus was born in Ingelfing in Swevland in the year 1530. of godly and religious Parents who seeing his â—owardlinesse and ingenuous nature were carefull to educate him both in Religion and Learning the principles whereof he drunke in with such celerity that his Father â—ooke much pleasure in him and became an earnest and frequent suiter unto God That his Son might be fitted for and imployed in the worke of the Ministry and for this end when he was scarce seven years old he sent him to School to Gemmingen and after two years stay there he removed him to Tubing where he was educated under excellent Schoolmasters and afterwards admitted into that Universitie and whilest he was very young he commenced Bachelor of Art studied the Languages Arts and Divinity under Snepfius In all which time he profited so exceedingly that at fifteen years of age he commenced Master of Arts with the generall approbation of the University and presently after having a large allowance from a worthy Knight Sir Peter Menzingen he travelled to Wittenberg where he waâ— entertained by Philip Melancthon into his Family so that he did not onely gain much profit by his publick Lectures bâ—t by private convers with him also which happinesse he so esteemed that all his life after he acknowledged that next under God he was bound to Philip Melancthon for his proficiency in Learning When he came first to Melancthon and delivered some Letters of commendation in his behalf Melancthon finding in them that he was Master of Arts looking upon him he wondred at it saying Are you a Master of Arts yea said Chytraeus it pleased the University of Tubing to grace me with that degree Can you said Melancthon understand Geeke which he affirming he gâ—ve him Thucydides to read and construe
a piece of it which when Chytraeus had done Melancthon enquiring hiâ— age and admiring his forwardnesse said unto him Thou dost worthily deserve thy Degree and hereafter thou shalt be as a Sonnâ— unto me Whilst he was there he heard Luther's Lectures upon 〈◊〉 ten last Chapters of Genesis And as Plato when he was â—eady to dye praised God for three things first that God had made him a man secondly that he was bron in Greeceâ— thirdly that he lived in the time of Socrates So did Câ—â—traeus also acknowledge it as a singular mercy first thaâ— God had made him a man secondly a Christian thirdly that he had his education under those excellent lights of the Church Luther and Melancthon He was very diligent in attending upon Melancthon studied in his study heard all his discourses publicke and private about matters of the weightiest concernment followed him when he walked abroad and endeavoured wholly to fashion his life by hiâ— example And Melancthon looked upon him as his owne Son and used to call him suum Davidem his David Presently after Luther's death the Wars in Germany breaking forth by Charles the fifth the University of Wittenberg was dissipated by reason of the same whereupon Chytraeus went to Heidleberg where he studied Hebrew and then went to Tubing where he applyed himselfe to the study of the Mathematicks But when Prince Maurice of Saxonie had restored the University and called back Melancthon he preâ—ently returned to Wittenberg where he buckled close to his former studies fearing the like interruption again and in the year 1548. he began privately to read to young Students by which meanes having gotten some money in his purse he resolved to travell into Italie and other parts that so he might see those famous places which he had often read of and grow into acquaintance with the eminent men of those times For which he having gotten a faâ—thfull companion Andrew Martin of Rostoch he tavelled through most parts of Italie and being returned to Wittenbern Melancthon was requested to send two learned men to Rostoch for the advancement of that University whereupon he commended Iohn Aurifabar and Chytraeus to them who accordingly went thither and began their Lectures to the great satisfaction of the Auditors and in a short time Chytraeus grâ—w so famous that Christian King of Denmarke and the Senate of Auspurg sent for him to come to them he was desired also by the University of Argentine to succeed Hediâ— lately dead also Fredericke the second Prince Elector Palatine sent earnestly for him to come to Heidleberg but his Prince Iohn Albert would by no meanes part with him two years after he travelled into Frisland Brabant Flanders and other of the Belgick Provinces upon his returne the Elector Palatine sent againe for him to Heidleberg and the King of Denmarke profered to double his sâ—ipend if he would come to him but his answer to them both was That his Prince had dealt so friendly with him that he could by no meanes leave him Some years after the Nobility of Magdeburg sent to request his presence and assistance in reforming of Religion and ejecting of Popery from amongst them but when he could not goe himselfe he wrote his minde fully to them about the same About that time he commenced Doctor in Divinity at the charges of his Prince In the year 1565. the Senate of Stralsund sent for him to be their Superintendent and the King of Sweden also desired him to come thither but nothing would prevaile to get him from Rostoch The year after his Prince tooke him with him to the Diet at Auspurg where matters of Religion were to be debated At which time Ambassadours came to him againe from Argentine to request his remove thither and he gave them some hope of aâ—senting if his Princes good will could be procured but he would by no meaneâ— part with him and to expresse his love he profered to enlarge his stipend but Chytraeus refused the same Two yearâ— after he was sent for into Austria to assist them in the Reformation which they intended thither he went and gave them such full satisfaction that they sent him backe with an ample testimony of his abilities and integrity Then he made a journey into Hungarie where he visited many of the chiefe Cities in that Kingdome In the year 1571. his Prince made him the chiefe Visiâ—or of all the Churches in his Dominions He assisted also in the worke of Reformation at Berline the Marquesse of Brandenburg sent for him also to be the Divinity Professor at Frankefurt but could not obtain him Two years after the States of Stiria sent for him to helpe them in reforming thâ—ir Churches whither he went for halfe a year and was exceeding usefull to them therein At his returne he was sent for by the Elector of Saxonie and the University of Wittenberg to be a Professor there but they could not prevaile The year after the Duke of Brunswicke being to erect an University at Iuliers sent to him to assist in making Lawes for the University choyce of Professors c. Which he dispatched to his great content Shortly after also he went to divers meetings of Divines in severall placâ—s about procuring and setling the peace of the Churches of Christ. Whilst he was at Rostoch he went over in his Lectures the greatest part both of the Old and New Testament and wrote divers other learned Bookes also Growing into years he began to be diseased and sometimes was confined to his bed yet neither there would he be idle but upon the least intermission of his pain he went on with his Exposition of the two and thirtyeth Psalme which he had begun before And after that in Commenting upon the Epistle to the Romans but his disease increasing wherby he discerned the approaching â—f his end he made a Confession of his Faith received the Sacrament of the Lords Supper and not long after quietly slept in the Lord in the year 1600. and of his age seventy Whilst he lay sick in his bed if any present had discoursed about a controversall point raising himselfe up he would call to them to speak out for that he should dye with the more comfort if he could learn any new thing before his departure In fames large Catalogue of worthyes rare Chytraeus may impropriate ample share Of honour and renown who from a lad An even Connative disposition had To learning which his parents did promove And which in time he rarely did improve Commencing at but fifteen years of age Master of Acts and with Melancthon sage In his owne house was blestly educated And most profoundly by him doctrinated In whom Melancthon such profâ—ciency Found even unto admiration high That this his pregnant Pupill afterward He as his son did tenderly regard Chytraeus also in processe of time To such a highth of honour up did clime For 's excellency in all rare Literature As did from all that knew him love procure And favour
from the States of Germany And as he liv'd so honour'd he did dye ALEXANDER NOWELL The Life and Death of Alexander Nowel ALexander Nowel was born in the County of Lancaster Anno Christi 1511. of an ancient aud worshipfull family and at thirteen years old was sent to Oxford and admitted a member of Brasennose Colledge where he studyed thirteen yeares and grew very famous both for Religion and learning In Queen Maries dayes he amongst others left the Kingdome that he might enjoy his conscience and returning when Queen Elizabeth of blessed memory came to the Crown she made him Dean of Pauls where he was a frequent and faithfull Preacher By his writings he defended the truth against some English Popish Renâ—gado's for thirty years together he Preached the first and last Sermons in Lent before the Queen wherein he dealt plainly and faithfully with her He was a great benefactor to Brasennose Colledge where he had his first education He was the enlarger of Pauls School made the threefold Catechism which was much used long after He was very charitable to the poor especially to poor Scholars A great comforter of afflicted consciences he lived til he was ninety years old and yet neither the eyes of his minde nor body waxed dim And dyed peaceably in the Lord Anno Christi 1601. on the thirteenth of February and lyes buryed in the Famous Cathedrall Church of Saint Pauls in London with this Epitaph upon his Tombe Quam spcioÌ„sa vestigia Evangelizantium pacem With some verses also annâ—xed this being the lasâ— of them Sicoritur floret demoriturque Deo His Works set forth are as followeth 1 Against Thomas Dormam an English Papist in two books in quarto English 2 Another Booke against Dorman and Sanders of Transubstantiation in quarto English 3 His greater Catichisme in Latine in quâ—rto 4 Hiâ— lessâ— Catechisme in Latine in Octavo 5 The same in Latine Greeke and Hebrew As grave as godly Nowel Dean of Pauls Most justly for a Crown of honour cals Amongst other worthyes for his piety His learning wisedome and humanity A famous Preatcher in the halcyon-dayes Of Queen Elizabeth of endlesse praise To Pauls-School and to Braz'nnose Colledge he A Benefactor great was known to be For 's three-fold Catechisme worthily Much honour'd and for his great Charity Who at the age of Ninety years in peace And full of love and honour did decease The Life and Death of Daniel Tossanus who dyed Anno Christi 1602. DAniel Tossanus was born at Moumbelgard in Wertemburge Anno Christi 1541. his Parents carefully brought him up in learning and at fourteen years old sent him to the Universâ—ity of Basil and after two years study there he commenced Batchelor of Arts from thence he went to Tubing was there maintained to his studyes for two yearâ— more by Prince Christopher at the end whereof he commenced Master of Arts and then was sent for back by his father to Mounâ—pelier where he Preached for a while and then went to Paris to learn the French Tongue and proceed in his other studyes Anno Christi 1560. he went thence to Aurelia where he read Hebrew publickly there he was first made Deacon and two years after Minister which place he undertooke there rather then in his owne Country partly because of the great want of Pastors in the French Churches as also because he agreed with them in his judgement about the manner of Christs presence in the Sacrament he also marryed a wife Anno Christi 1565. Whilst he was there the civill Wars brake out between the Papists and Protestants and Francis Duke of Guise besieging the City of Aurelia where Mounseur de Andelot brother to the Admirall of France commanded in chieâ—e Tossan continued there all the time of the siege and took extraordinary pains in instructing exhorting and encowraging both Citizens and Souldiers and when the City was in great danger to be lost one Poltrot who had devoted his life for his Countries safety went out and flew the Duke of Guise under the Wall 's whereupon the siege was raised and the Church there preserved almost miraculously from ruine An. Christi 1567. there brake out a second civill War at which time the Papists in Aurelia conspired together to destroy all the Protestants so that they were every hour in danger of being butchered when it pleased God to send Mounser Novie with a small party of Souldiers who entring into the City and joyning wâ—th the Protestants drove out some of the Papists and disarmed the rest but after that famous battell at Saint Danis wherein so many of both â—ides were slain and wounded Peace was againe concluded though the Papists quickly brake it and a great company of Souldiers entring into Aurelia they began to breath forth threatenings against the Church of Christ especially against the Miâ—isters of it hereupon Tossan was in great danger iâ—somuch that when he went into the Church to Preach he knew not whether he should come out alive that which most troubled him was the fear that he had of his wife and two small children besides he never went to the Congregation but some threw stones others shot bullets at himâ— and their rage grew so great that they burned down the barn wherein the Church used to meet together and every day he heard of one or other of their Members that were slain so that he was compelled severall times to change hiâ— lodging yet one day the Souldiers caught him and pretended that they would carry him out of the City but intended to have Murthed him whereupon hiâ— wife great with childe ran to the Governor and with much importunity prevailed that her husband might stay in the City and the third civill War braking out the Popish Souldiers in Aurelia were so enraged that they burned all the places where the Church used to meet and barbarously slew above eighty of the faithfull servants of Christ in them yet it pleased God miraculously to preserve the Ministers in that great dangâ—r and Tossan by the help of some of the faithfull was conveyed privately away out of the Ciâ—y in the night but whilst he fought to hide himselfe in a wood he fell into an ambush and was taken and was carryed to Prisoner into â— Castle not far of from Aurelia which sad newes coming to his wife she left no meanes untryed for his delivery and aâ— last for a great sum of mony she procured his release whereupon he went to Argimâ—nt and hiâ— wife putting her self into the habit of a maâ—d-servant went towards Argimont after him where Renata the daughter of Lewis the twelfâ—h of France and Dowager of Ferrara lived in a very strong Castle and was a great â—â—iend to the Protestants entertaining many that fled to her for succour bâ—t as his wife was going thitherward after him she waâ— takeâ— by some Souldiers and carryed back to the Governour of Aurelia but it pleased God to stir up his owne wife â—nd daughters
were not there before Together with a guilt Cut and a Bason and Ewer in all points as weight fashion inscription c. so like to the Cup Bason and Ewer given about 300. yeers since to that Colledge by the religious Foundresse thereof as that not Ovum Ovo â—imilius and these he profest he caused to be made and given not for the continuance of his owne memory but for feare that those which she had given so long since might miscarry and so her remembrance might decay The fift is his Munificence and Bounty To prove which little need be said more then that which hath bin touched in his bountifull Charity But besides that the two famous Universities and they which then were poore Scholars in them will witnesse for him in this point he never coming neer either of them after he was Bishop but that he sent to be distributed among poore Scholars sometimes one hundred poâ—nds and ever fifty pounds at the least One thing I cannot passe over in silence That when King Iames was pleased to grace the University of Cambridge with his presence in 1617. this reverend Father being present also at the Philosophy Act he sent at his departure to foure of the Disputants forty peeces of Gold of two and twenty shillings a peece to be equally divided among them Buâ— what speake I of these Was ever Prince better entertained and in moâ—e magnificent but orderly manner then was hiâ— said Majesty at Farneham Castle one of the Houses belonging to the Bishopricke of Winchester where in the space oâ— three dayes he spent three thousand pounds to the extraordinary contentment of his Majesty and the admiration of all his Followers The next is his Hospitality from the first time of his preferment to meanes of any considerable value even to his dying day he was ever Hospitable and free in entertainment to all people of quality and worthy of respect especially to Schollars and â—trangers his Table being ever bountifully and neatly fâ—rnished with provisions and attendants answerable to whom he committed the care of providing and expending in a plentifull yet orderly way himselfe seldome knowing what meat he had till he came from his Study to Dinner at which he would shew himselfe so noble in his entertainment and so gravely facecious that his guests would often professe they never came to any mans Table where they received better satisfaction in all points and that his Lordship kept Christmas all the yeer in respect of the plenty they ever found there And yet by the way take this that he ever strictly observed in his provisions of dyet the time of Lent Embers and other Fasting dayes according to the Lawes of this Kingdome and the orders of the Church I shall not need to speake of the extraordinary great Hospitality he kept and the large expence he was at in entertainment of all sorts of people in Scotland at what time he attended King Iames thither the Nobility Clergy Gentry and others of both Nations there present will as they often already have speake of it for me to his exceeding great honour So that I know not whether I have fitly couched it under this Head of Hospitality or whether it had more properly belonged to that of his Munificence and Bounty The seventh is his Humanity and affability not onely to the last mentioned his Guests but to every one that did converse with him for which not onely divers famous Scholars and others of this Kingdome but others of Forraigne parts as they had just cause have admired him As not to mention Natives Master Causabow Master Cluâ—vecius Master Vossius Master Grotius Master Moulm Master Barclay and besides many otherâ— Master Erpenius to whom he tendered an Annuall Sâ—ipend to have read and taught here the Orientall tongues wherein long before his death he himselfe had bin well versed as may appeare by his Commencement Verses the experienced Professors whereof he much delighted in and did much for them as Master Bedwell to whom he gave the Vicarage of Tottenham in Midd. if living among others would testifie And the reason for this a late reverend Father of this Church hath given Omnes quid in se amant in aliis venerantur loving and honoring those gifts in others which he had in himselfe for among the other parts of his profound Learning he by his industry had attained to the knowledge of fifteâ—ne tongues if not more To these former may be added his Modesty which was ever such that although the whole Christian world tooke especiall notice of his profound and deep learning yet was he so farre from acknowledging it in himselfe that he would often complaine of his defects even to the extenuating yea vilifying of his owne worth and abilities professing many times that he was but inutilis servas nay inutile pondus insomuch that being preferd by King Iames to the Bishopricke of Chicâ—ester and pretending his owne imperfections and insufficiency to undergoe such a charge as also that he might have not onely his Clergy but all others to take notice thereof he caused to be engraven about the Seale of his Bishopricke those words of Saint Paul Et ad haec quis idoneus and who is sufficient for these things 2 Cor. 2.16 One note of his Modesty mixt with his last vertue of Humanity may be added that after his Chaplaines had Preached in his Chappell before him he would sometime privately request them that he might have a sight of their Notes with very good words and full of encouragement insomuch as they would professe of him that the would never desire a more candid Auditor So that what was said of Bede may as fitly be said of him A pietate modestia â—astitate nomen Venerabilis adeptus est His Indefatigability in Study cannot be paralleld if we consider him from his Childe hood to his old age Never any man tooke such paines or at least spent so much time in Study as this reverend Prelate for even in those dayes when it might have been supposed he would have taken some ease for his former paines then also from the houre he arose his private Devotions finished to the time he was called to Dinner which by his own order was not till twelve at noone at the soonest he kept close at his Booke and would not be interrupted by any that came to speake with him or upon any occasion publick Prayer excepted Insomuch that he would be so displeased with Scholars that attempted to speake with him in a morning that he would say He doubted they were no true Scholars that came to speake with him before noon After Dinner for two or three houres space he would willingly passe the time either in discourse with his guests or other friends or in dispatch of his own temporall affaires or of those who by reason of his Episcopall Jurisdiction attended him and being quit of these and the like occasions he would returne to his Study where he
a Common which is sufficiently stockt with such Cattell Say not that Iâ—nius his weake body was a preservation for his chastity for besides that the heart of a Stallion may be in the body of an Eunuch age in him now had out-grown the infirmities of his childe-hood But by Gods providence he was protected from this temptation and by Satans suggestions solicited to another who finding his corporall baits not to succeed did try by a more spirituall way to entice him 6. Here I stand still and demur with my selfe whether speech or silence be better Tell it not in Gath c. It is pity that so great sinnes of afterwards good men should be committed to memory But againe considering that his shipwrack may be a seamarke for others it must not be concealed He turned neither better nor worse then flat Atheist Certainly flyes as they are ingenuous to doe mischiefe on Grapes so they are judicious tasters to choose the ripest and sweetest for their palate And Satan is so subtile that he pitcheth on the most fruitfull yea rankest wits as best for his purposâ— and a dunce is no dish for the Divels tooth 7. Full twelve moneths did Iunius live in and lye under this dolefull and damnable condition when first it pleased God to save his life in a Tumult in the City of Lions that so signall a deliverance in the appehension of Iunius did point at a Deity and awakened his drowsie soule to the consideration of divine Providence Afterwards his Parents being by improbable and unsuspected intelligencerâ— informed of their Sons Atheisme sent for him home took order that he was better instructed and enjoyned him the constant reading of the New Testament Iunius lighting on the first chapter of the Gospell of Saint Iohn was by Gods spirit moving his heart so highly affected therewith that he fell on a sudden both into an acknowledgement and admiration of God in his Word I have heard that supersticious Exorcistes who most serve the Divel when they pretend most to command him use or rather abuse this chapter to conjure out evill spirits out of persons possessed What collusion or confederacy may passe betwixt Sathan and his playmates I neither doe nor desire to know This sure I am that that parcell of Scripture was so sanctified by God to Iunius that it dispossessed his soule and ejected thence that Atheisticall Fin formerly lodged therein And now Iunius begins to prefer Salomons Proverbs before Seneca his Sentences the Psalmes of David before the Odes of Horace Ieremies Lamentations before Ovid de Tristibus in a word he grew sensible of the majesty in the meanest of the rich matter in the plaine stile of the Scripture 8. Afterwards his Parents sent him to Geneva to the University furnishing him with sufficient money for the present and promising to send him supplies for the future when alas presently began the wofull Wars in France so that the French Lillies fairely flourishing before began now to be parched and scorched in Civill Combustions insomuch that the Parents of Iunius could not performe their promise Surely War is a cursed thing were it onely for this that it makes men unwillingly unnaturall unable to discharge those relative offices which otherwise they desire Iunius begins to want and resolves with himselfe Cleanthes like to worke evâ—ry other day with a Spade or Mattock about the Town Ditch so to provide himselfe maintainance Gods children making many hard but ever honest shifts 9. But a Countriman of his accidentally finding him out whose Mother when a Widdow had beene relieved by the Parents of Iunius tooke him home and freely bestowed both lodging and dyet upon him It is good spirituall husbandry to sow good workes if not our persons our posterity may reape them as now did Iunius But he good man was perplext for being as he conceived it a burden to his friend for there is no greater racke to an ingenuous nature then to receive kindnesses in despaire to requite them Iunius weighing in â—he ballance of his minde every morcell of meat and for foure moneths together pretending Study dyned onely on Ayre and supped with two Egges and a small draught of Wine fearing he should be too chargable thus he was a Lessâ—an before Lessius yea he exceeded him in his Abstinence till nature as I may say was over pressed with too little weight of victuals which brought him into a Consumption But afterwards receving mony from his Father he not only plentifully repaid his Host but by compitent food and corediall Phisicke repared the detriments and decayes in his body 10. The Father of Iunius who formerly was affraid that his Sonne would have to little Religion began now to suspect that he would have to much and make Divinity his profession whereas he intended him for the practice of the civil Law Like to many now adayes who begrutch their pregnant children to Gods service reserving strait Timber to be Beâ—mes in other buildings only condemnning crooked peeces for the Temple so that what is found unfit for City Camp or Court not to adde ship and shop is valued of worth enough for the Church 11. But here hapned a sad and sudden accident the Father of Iunius was most barbarously butchered by a companion of Hacks Iers Here let me beg and borrow of the courteous reader the help of his imagination to piece out the shortnesse of my expression in considering the great sorrow Iunius conceived hereat but no sooner was he come to shore out of the sea of sarrow but presently he dispatcht a letter to his Mother full of pitty and piety religion and affection He counselled her to submit to Divine providence seeing she was made a Bride the same minute wherin she was made a Widdow married to God himselfe the Husband of the Widdoâ— and Father of the fatherlesse he desired her to be carefull of the rest of the childeren but take no thought for him who was reâ—olved to hew out a way for his livelihood out of the Rockes of all difficulties 12. Leaving Geneva where he had lived a Schoole-master teaching Hebrew for a time he came into the Low countryes to be Minister to the French Church at Antwerp then began the civill Warres there wherin halfe of the seventeen Provinces opposed the King of Spaine whether willingly falling from him for lacke of Royalty or violently cast away by him through his owne cruelty the Chronicles of those parts are best able to informe Here Iunius had a finger yea a whole hand in writing some publicke Remonstrances in behalfe of the People which being knowne discovered by the sharpnesse of his owne Pen such was the activenesse quicknesse and vigor of his stile he was sought after and four hundred Florens promised to him more by half then his estate was ever worth which would bring him dead or a live to the Regent of that County yea a curious Limnner was employed to draw his picture to the life that thereby he
eminent places from either For in the University he was called first to the Professors place founded by the Lady Margeret Countesse of Richmond and in the same he demeaned himselfe with so great approbation and good liking of the whole University that not onely for his sake they augmented the Salary to that Professors place assigned but the chiefe Professors place becoming shortly after vacant they conferred thâ—â— upon him Wherein as his other readings were generally both with much company frequented and with great applause entertained so especially those his Lectures upon the Apocalips and upon the Epistle to the Hebrewes which being also put in writing by him at the request of some great ones are said to remaine yet under hope of seeing sometime further light During this time hâ— tooke the degree of Doctor in Divinity when being called to answer the Act at the Commencement in publicke he maintained this Position that The Pope iâ— that Antichâ—ist From Peterhouse upon the departure of Doctor Hutton he was chosen Master of Pembrooke Hall and the same of him being now arrived at Court he was sent for up to Preach before the Qâ—een who so well liked the method and manner of his Teaching that alluding to his name as her wonted manner was to doe in like case where she liked and found fit matter for such expressions she said he was a White gift indeed and in testimony of her good opinion and esteeme of him ere he was thorowly warme in the Hedship of Pembrookâ— Hall she removed him to the Mastership of Trinity Colledge adding not long after the Deanry also of Lincolne thereunto At his accesse to Trinity Colledge he found divisions in the House by occasion of some that misliked the solemn rites and government Ecclesiasticall then setled and exercised in the Church of whom Thomas Cartwright Professor for the Lady Margaret was a chiefe man with whom he also entred the lists in writing by occâ—sion of his Answer to a Worke entituled An Admonition to the Parliament But by his wise and discreet carriage the matter was so mannaged that all things were setled in peace and quietnesse again Ten years he continued Governor there being entrusted with the education of divers of great birth among whom were the Earles of Worcester and Cumberland the Lord Zouch the Lord Verulam and Sir Nicolas Bacon his elder brother as also divers were trained up under him that were after advanced to Episcopall dignitie among whom was Doctor Babington sometime Bishop of Worcester whose Works testifie his worth And within those ten years he was twice chosen Vice-chancellour of the University In which time he laboured with the assistance of the right honourable Sir William Cecill Lord Treasurer unto the Queen to have the Statutes of the University being in many things defective recollected reviewed suppyed and amended that which by his travaile and credit with her Majesty was accordingly effected From thence he was removed to the Bishoprick of Worcester having taken his leave of the University and the Colledge by two solemn Sermons both perswading to peace and unity the one preached in Saint Maries Church the other in the Colledge Chappell on 2 Cor. 13.11 The revenues of which Bishoprick finding much impaired and impeached by some sinister courses making use therein of his favour and authority with her Majesty though not without expence of some round sums of money to give satisfaction to some for the more quiet composition who had goâ— the same into their hands he recovered again what had been fraâ—dulently intercepted and wrongfully detained to the no small behoofe of his Successorâ— He had not sat there above a year but he was made Vice-president of the Marches of Wales under the right honorable Sir Henry Sidney being then at the same time both Lord Deputy of Ireland and Lord President also of those parts In which employment he carried himselfe as with paines unweariable so with exceeding great integrity reforming many abuses and corruptions that he observed to have crept in and to be exercised either by the Officers belonging unto that Court or by some other that were joyned in Commission with him and with no lesse moderation of Fines and Penalties that which gained him much love and respect in those parts Besides this while he sat at Worcester upon complaint made to the Queens Majesty of many discords and disorders in the two Cathedrall Churches of Lichfield and Hereford he was by speciall Commission from her Majesty appointed to Visite them which accordingly he did reforming them both and appointing them Statutes for the better and more peaceable government of either Having spent six years at Worcester to the great contentment and with the generall good affection of all sorts in those parts he was now advanced to the highest pitch of dignity that our Church affordeth being called to succeed that most reverend Father in God Grindall in the Archbishopricke of Canterbury For the benefit of which seat also being many wayes much wronged he travelled as much and with as good successe as for that of Worcester he had before done for which his successors in either remaine beholden to him unto this day In this height of honour together with his Soveraignes highest favour he continued during the whole remnant of Queen Elizabeths raigne and some small while after King Iames his entrance alwayes constantly maintaining the present Ecclesiasticall Government against those that oppugned it and yet carrying himselfe moderately as toward all in generall so toward those also that therein stood out and holding a good correspondency with those in foraine parts as Master Beza among the rest that followed another course of discipline that which appeareth by diverse letters that passed to and fro betweene them He had the honour to be chiefe mourner at the solemne exequies of that Heroicall Princesse Queen Elizabeth who used also in familiar manner to salute him by the name of her blacke husband and of setting the Royall Crown on the head of that most learned and illustrious Prince King Iâ—mes her successor and of Queene Anne his worthy consort About seven months after which office performed returning by barge from the Bishop of Londons house at Fulham with whom he had been to consult about Ecclesiasticall affaireâ— in an high wind and a sharp day he took cold on his head and yet striving to attend his Majesty at Court on the next day being the Lords day after his accustomed manner he was taken there with a dead palsie whereof he dyed some few dayes after He was a man of a middle stature black heired of a grave countenance and brown complexion small timbered but quick and of indifferent good strength and well shaped to the proportion of his bulk of a milde and moderate disposition of a free minde and a bountifull hand towards his houshold servants his poore neighbours but especially towards Schollers and strangers many whereof resorting hiâ—her out of France and Germany among whom that faâ—â—â—â—â—
man Drusius Renicherus and others he most courteously entertained and very liberally relieved a diligent preacher as well after his preferments as before seldome failing any Lords day while he was Bishop of Worcester notwithstanding his important and incessant emploiments otherwise but that he preached in some of the Parish Churches thereabouts and no lesse freqâ—ently when he was Archbishop visiting the Church and Pulpit at Crâ—ydon during the time of his residence there in the Vacations from attendance at Court He departed this world on the last of February being Wednesday in the year of grace 1603. and of his age 73. having bin Bishop of Worcester six years and five moneths and Archbishop of Canterbury 20. years and five moneths and lyeth enterred on the South side of the Church of Croydon with a faire Monument in memory of him His laâ—â— words to his Majesty who in person visited him the day before he dyed when he could hardly be understood are reported to have been Pro Ecclesiâ Dei pro Ecclesiâ Dei for the Church of God for the Church of God thereby intimating his care thereof even to the last The principall Monuments of his Charity are an Hospitall builded Colledge-wise at Croydon for a Warden and twenty eight Brothers and Sisters and a Free-School neer â—nto it with a convenient House for the School-Master and a standing stipend of twenty pounds by the year His Workes in writing published are onely these 1. His Answer to the Admonition to the Parliament 2. His Defence of the Answer to the Admonition 3. A Sermon on John 6. ver 25 26 27. Preached before Queene Elizabeth on March the 24. 1574. You courtly Prelats you that feare To loose your honors look ye here Make him your president and then You shall have honor spite of men He bred not but compos'd debateâ— Nor mov'd he in the Orbe of State By whose example Churchmen stood Lesse for the stile of great then good If factions chanc'd or diffence fell He would perswade and not compell To him our Phenix-Queen did share Proud Lambeths patriarchall chayre Where he remain'd the Churches Nurse Ten years twice told without a Curse The Life and Death of Lucas Trelcatius who dyed Anno Christi 1602. LVke Trelcatius was born at Erinum Anno Christi 1542. and brought up by his Aunt who was Abbesse of â— Nunnery his first education was in the School at Dowaiâ— where being of an acute wit he profited exceedingly in the knowledge of the humane Arts from thence he went to Paris and whil'st he studyed there he fell into acquaintance with Iohn Mercer the Hebrew Professor and Peter Ramus and being exceedingly affected with the love of the reformed Religion he forsook his Aunt and was maintained by the bounty of some Merchants of Flanders From thence he went to Aurelia and from thence to Sancerra in the twenty eight year of his age and being driven from thence by the tempest of Civill Wars he came into England and at London he taught a School by which he maintained himself eight years Then was he called by some Merchantâ— into Flanders to be their Pastor but enjoying little peace there he went to Bruxels where he continued in the exercise of his Ministery six yearâ—s and then meeting with opposition he went to Anâ—werp and that City being presently after besieged he was forced to stay there eight moneths after which being sent for to diverse places at length he was by the consent of his bretheren in the Ministery fixt at Leiden where he was made Pastor of the French Church which place he supplyed faithfully for the space of seventeen years He had scarce been there two years when for his excellent parts and learning he was chosen Divinity-Professor in that University also and at last having acquired much honor in both his offices he dyed of the Plague Anno Christi 1602. and of his age 60. Where vertue lives there need not be A question of sufficiency Trelcatius was a man whose worth Few men are able to set forth They that desire to know him well Must first know what it is t' excell THEODORVS BEZA The Life and Death of Theodorus Beza IN the year of our Lord God 1519. and on the foure and twentieth day oâ— Iune this faithfull Minister of the Church of Christ Theodorus Beza came into the world being borne at Vezelia an ancient Town in the Kingdome of France he was descended from Petrus a Beza being Governour of the same Town and Maria Burdoletia both of them being beautified with a lineall proceeding from a Noble and renowned Family His name imposed on him by his Parents imports the gift of God by which act they declared themselves to be vertuous and religious and let the Lord evermore blesse his Church with such gifts with such painfull labourers for the gathering in of his great harvest to his endlesse glory and to the eternall peace of such as seek salvation through Jesus Christ. This Beza being yet an infant not fully two years old was taken by his Unckle Nicholas Beza being a Councellor pertaining to the Senate of Paris where he was carefully and tenderly brought up for the space of three years being in that time acquainted with the knowledge of the Letters Being now five years old he was committed through the carefulnesse of his said Unckle unto the tuition of Melchior Walmarius a German who at that time taught the Greek tongue at Aurelia under whom he continued for the space of seven years in which time he attained unto great perfection both in the Greeke and Latine tongues and also which is more commendable his tender yeares were seasoned with the true knowledge of Christian Piety being drawn from the pure fountain of the Word of God by the same man His Master upon some occasions leaving France and returning into Germany Beza not without the advice of his friends went unto Orleans fully intending and resolving with himselfe to apply his minde unto the study of the Civill Law wherein at the age of twenty years he was advanced to be Licentiate Not long after leaving Orleans he tooke his journâ—y unto Paris to visit those friends and acquaintance which he had there living by whom he was entertained with great joy and received with much gladnesse and friendly courtesie but more espcially by his other Uâ—ckle Abbâ—t Trigidimonâ—an who to testifie his affection how greatly he loved him designed and appointed him to be his next successor in the Goverment of that Abbey whose revenweâ— were yeerely valued at five thousand French Crownes annexing also unto this the profits of two other places amounting yearely unto seven hundred Crownes intending also to confer other preferments upon him Beza being as it were in an earthly Paradise and abounding with those things which might seeme necessary for the prosecution of vice wherewith indeed he was for a time detained but not captivated as who is he that liveth and sinneth not nay and falleth not sometimes into
grievous sinnes For the Lord had prepared him for better things and opening his eyes gave him to understand that these were but so many snares laid to intangle him and to draw him into everlasting ruine and perdition wherefore he fully resolved to forsake them all and to adhere and sticke fast unto that Truth whose sweetnesse he had tasted in his youth which that he might the better performe he was fully determined to undergoe any labour and to remove any obstacle and for that cause he vowed a vow that he would never embrace nor countenance the errours of the Church of Rome And purposing a constancy in his intended course and that he might be the better fitted thereunto he resolved to free himselfe from that affection which useth to be predominate in his youth and for that cause he betroathed himselfe unto a vertuous woman acquainting onely two of his intimate friends with the same action and that for two causes First that he might give no occasion of offence unto others Secondly because that mony which he received for the discharging of his offices could not handsomely be avoyded which within short time after was by him performed for his propounded honour and preferment was sâ—ifly rejected not without the great admiration and sharpe reprehension of many of his friends who therefore stiled him after a â—cornfull manner Philosophum novum the new Philosopher These checks and reprehensions of his friends being seconded with the considerations of the great riches wherewith he was endewed and these two being strengthned with the temptation of of the Divell yeelded to many doubts and oppositions unto Beza notwithstanding his former resolutions sometimes intending to embrace God and his truth somtimes casting an eye of love on his present preferments being taken up with this various disposition it pleased the Lord to settle his inconstant minde by afflicting him with sicknesse which indeed was the cause of his spirituall welfare and health for he well perceiving that it was the powerfull hand of the Lord Almighty against which there was no contending after the suffering of many torments both inward and outward he fell into a detestation and loathing hatred of his owne backwardnesse and turning himselfe unto the Lord with teares he renewed that vow which he had formerly made concerning the embracing of the true worship of God promising unfainedly that he would never start from it but consecrate himselfe wholly unto him and unto the furtherance of his glory if it would please him to restore him to his former health during the time of this sicknesse he was often heard to utter those Words of David in his 142. Psalme v. 7. Educ de carcere animam meam ut celebrem nomen tuum Bring my soul out of prison O Lord that I may praise thy name indeed the Lord which cannot withstand the prayers of the faithfull condiscending unto him and he obtayned his desire of the Lord. And being recovered he forthwith forsooke Countrey Parents and friends to follow Christ he forsooke all his preferments preferring the glory of God and the hope of his Kingdome before all the transitory glory of the world which action of his is very remarkable if we consider but the circumstance of time which was presently upon his recovery being fearfull that his remaining there should be offensive unto God or that his familiarity with his friends might draw him into the like inconveniences who without doubt would labour with might and maine to reduce him to his former profession Wherefoâ—e taking the Woman unto whom he was betrothed with him they went unto Geneva in the year of Grace 1548. where openly in the Church after a solemne mâ—nner he was married unto her and there he remained for a season Where he intended to make profession of the Art of Printing but the Lord who knew well that he would be otherwise more advantagious unto his Church hindered this proceeding by calling him to Lausanna an Academy pertaining to the Lords of Berna where he publickly professed the Greek tongue which Beza himselfe acknowledged in his Confession of Christian Religion Dedicated by him unto his Master Walmatius At that time in Lausanna were famous for Learning and Piety Petrus Viretus Pastor of the Church Iohannes Ribbilus Professor of Divinity Iohannes Racmundus Merlinus Professor of the Hebrew tongue with many other excellently well gifted all of which seemed as it were to be ravished with the society of this worthy member of Christ. During his Lectureship at Lausanna a great company of godly minded persons thirsting after Christ and his truth resorted unto the same place Here Beza perceiving a good occasion offered unto him by God not onely for his owne saâ—isfaction concerning Teaching but also for the satisfaction of the desire of these people concerning their instruction in the word of truth He began publickly and in the French tongue to expound the Epistle of S. Paul to the Romans and both the Epistles of S. Peter opening unto them the great mysteries of godlinesse and informing their judgments with such Doctrines wherby the scales of ignorance being rubbed away the truth did manifestly appeare unto them whereby without doubt many were drawn neerer and neerer unto Christ. Amongst these his imployments in this place whensoever any leasure was given unto him he would spend that time with Master Calvin at Geneva from whom he received great benefit both for Gods glory and the edification of the Church and by his perswasion he was induced to finish that excellent and Divine Commentary on the Psalms first begun by Marotus which was also Printed and published by authority in France 1561. About this time there happened a persecution in Paris â— wherein many Christians suffered some death some imprisonment wherupon Farellus Beza and Calvin were chosen Embassadours unto the Protestant Princes of Germany â— to intreat them that they would be pleased to intercede for them unto Henry the second then King of France that they might be more kindly deabt withall But little or no peacâ— came unto the Church in respect of this act because of thâ— implacable hatred which great men attending the person of the King did bear unto the truth of Christ. Yet in this journey it was Bezaes good hap to have â— sight of that godly and learned Melanchton who as they exceeding joyfull of the presence of each other so they were also exceeding sorrowfull for the present afflicted and dâ—stressed state of the Church Beza having now remained ten years in Lausanna he left it and not without the good leave and love of the Senate of Berne and came to Geneva where teaching a publicke Schoole he expounded the Orations of Demosthenes together with some Bookes of Aristotle and had daily and familiar conference with Calvin touching things pertaining unto Doctrine and Ecclesiasticall Discipline where in short time he was appointed to succeed Claudius Pontanus a faithfull Minister in the Church of Geneva for the discharging of a
Ministeriall function and also to joyn with Calvin in the reading of the Divinity Lecture Where he was also againe advanced to be head Master of a Free-schoole which was set up by the perswasion of Calvin for the future benefit of the same City Notice being taken in France of his Confession of the Christian Faith which without question wrought deepe impression in the hearts of many he was intreated by Letters sent from some Peeres of France that he would be pleased to visit Anthony King of Navarre then residing in Aquitaine and to confer with him concerning matters of importance but especially concerning such things which might be of force to beget true knowledge in the groundâ— of Christian Religion for there was some hopes that if he could be brought thereunto that the Church of God would not be so cruelly inhumanely dealt withall within the Kingdome of France Which enterprize God giving a blessing thereunto wanted not its fortunate and happy successe though not in the dayes of Aâ—thony yet in the dayes of Charles the ninth for he not onely entring into a consideration of the truth of the Doctrinâ— of the Church of Rome but also into the truth of the Doctrine of the reformed Church and with many of his Nobles adhered unto the same and foâ—thwith sâ—nt both Embassadours and Letters to the Senate of Geneva to intreaâ— the presence of reverend Beza concerning the dâ—sciding of those Controversies which were at that time on foot betwixâ— the Papists and the Reformed Churches This request was with great joy condiscended unto by the Senate of Geneva who sent Beza with many prayers for the advancemâ—nt of Gods glory Peter Martyr was also called from Tigurum by the Mother Queen who with all speed came to Paris Great was the conflict which Beza had at that time in the â—resence of the King with Cardinall Lotharingus concerning the Reall Presence â— wherein he confuted the erronious opinion of the Cardinall affirming that the viâ—ible signes were touched with the hands eaten and drunken with the mouth but that the thing signified viz. thâ— Body and Blood of Christ was offered and received by Faith Which judgement of his the Cardinall approved of at the last as he himselfe testified unto the Queene and was also embraced by her selfe The conference being ended with happy successe to the glory of God and furtherance of his truth Martyr returned to Tigurum and Beza intended to goe unto Geneva but he was hindred by the Authority of the Queen who plainly told him that seeing he was a French man he might be the Author of much good unto his own Nation Beza being thus detained contrary to his expectation spent not the time unprofitably but betook himselfe unto the preaching of the Word sometimes in the Pallace of the King of Navarre sometimes in the house of the Prince Cordaeus and sometimes in the suburbes of the City of Paris for then it was by publick Proclamation decreed that the use of the reformed Religion should be tolerated in the suburbes without any Molestation but they enjoyed not that benefit long by reason of a conspiracy performed by Guisius and other wicked persons for the utter extinguishing of the truth who urging the King with the example of Balderinus that Religion was but a thing indifferent and that he might condemne and renounce the day after that which he approved and allowed the day before they received this answer from him That he would never put hiâ— fooâ— so far into the Sea but that he would be able to pluck it back againe when he listed and so he departed and forsooke the truth of Christ and never after sent for Beza to have any conference with him Whereupon a hot persecution entred into the bowels of France against the Protestants forty five of them being put to the sword in the same place where they were gathered together to heare the Word of God preacht whereupon Beza was sent to complaine unto the King of their inhumane cruelty but found no redresse whereupon preparation was made to defend themselves by force of Armes the Prince Condaeus desired Beza to remaine with him in so dangerous and necessary a season who althoughâ— it grieved him greatly to be absent from his flock at Geneva yet he consents unto the request of this religious Prince and remained with him preaching and exhorting Christians privately to a patient wayting of the Lords leasure The Protestants betook themselves unto Orleans to which place the enemies marching in the fields thereof was fought a terrible battle wherein Condaeus was taken prisoner and the Protestants lost the day who notwithstanding this sorrowfull accident were much comforted by those divine letters which were sent unto them by Beza and they still remaining firme in that doctrine which they had received Not long after a peace being concluded and the prisoners restored to their former liberty Beza obtained leave of the same Prince to returne unto Geneva after he had spent two and twenty monthes with great labour and manifest dangers of his life Comming to Geneva not without the great joy of the Inhabitants he went forward in his ordinary course of teaching both in the Church and Schoole continued with Master Calvin in reading the Divinity Lecture untill his death then he performed it onely himselfe appointing Calladonus Danaeus and Fayus to be the Humanity Lecturers in the same City And in this godly couse he laboriously continued untill the time that he was called unto Rupella by the generall intreaty and request of the French Churches and earnest desire of the Queen of Navarre and of other Peeres of France where the confession of the faith of the French Churches was repeated and confirmed and strenthned with the approbation of the Queen of Navarre and the Prince Condaeus and so he returned to Geneva againe and indefatigably continued his constant course of teaching and then he corrected his Annotations on the New Testament From thence he was cealld againe to Berna for the confutation of the error of Albâ—rius concerning justification who taught that our righteousnesse before God was a meere pasive quality inhaerent in our selves w ch opnion with other errorâ— of his hindring the growth of the truth of Christ were there condemned and the reading of his books forbidden by the Senate of Berne which being ended he returned unto Geneva againe and having notice of the great troubles to ensue not onely in France in generall but also in Geneva it selfe in particular he cauâ—ed publick prayers to be sent up unto God twice every weeke extraordinary for the turning away of his wrath and for the peace and flourishing state of the Church and so he continued preaching and praying for the advancement of the Gospell of Christ untill such time as age made him unfit for the performance of these duties Yet here by the way we may observe the great malice of the Romish Jesuites who before the payment of his debt to nature
of Eteocles and Polynices wherein both conquered one the other yet neither enjoyed the victory nor kept his prisoner for Iohn Reinolds who before was a Papist by these bickerings became a zealous Protestant and William Reinolds who before had been a zealous Protestant became a Iesuited Papist and wrote most pestilent Bookes against the Church and State and as after the death of Eteocles and Polynices when their corps were burnt the flames are said to have parted so the contention of these Brethren expired not with their death for the writings which they have left behinde them enflamed with contrary fires of zeale hold the quarrell on foot to this day Of these Bella plusquam civilia among Brethren W. A. a learned Divine thus elegantly discourseth in English and Latine Verses Bella inter geminos plâ—squam civilia Fratres Traxerat ambiguas Religionis apex Ille reformandae fidei pro partibus instat Ille reformandam denegâ—â— esse fidem Propositus causae rationibus inter vtruomque Concurrere pares cecidere pures Quod fuit in vatis fratrem capiâ— alter uâ—rumque Quod fuit in fates perdit uterque fidem Captivi gemini sine captivanâ—â— fuerunt Et victor victi transfugor castra petit Quod genus hoc pugnae est ubi victus gaudet uterque Et simul alteruâ—eâ— se superasse dolet Englished by the Author Between two Brethren civill warre and worse The nice point of Religion long did nurse For reformation of the Faith he plyes That Faith should be reformed this denies The reasons of each cause a part propounded Both met alike both fell alike confounded As heart would wish each one his brother takes As fate would have each one his faith forsakes Without captiver both are captive led And to the vanguisht camp the victor fled What war is this when conquer'd both are glad And either to have conquered other sad Iohn Râ—inolds might truely have said to his brother aâ— Caecillius sometimes spake to Octavius in that most exquisit dialogue of Minutius Faelix Vtrique vicimâ—â— tui victor mei ego triumphator erâ—eres thou hast conquered me and I triumph over my foâ—mer errours but William Reinolds might one the contrary side have said we are both loosers for thou hast lâ—st me thy brother and I have lost my mother the Church of England and the true Religion As soone as our Iohn Reinolds according to thâ— manner of Massie bodies after some quavering was fix'd unmoveably upon the grounds of the Protestant Religion the Statutes of the Colledge called upon him to enter into holy Orders after which he wholly addicted himselfe to the study of the holy Scriptures and because an excellent textuary and very often exercised his sweete gift in preaching a tast whereof we have in his Lectures upon Obadiâ—â— published after his death by Master Hindâ— When the time drew neare that by the Founders Statutes he was upon necessity to take his degree in Divinity he was chosen out by the University to answer the Boctovers in the Actâ— Iuly the 13. 1579. and the same year November the third he answered for his degree in the Divinity Schooles the Theses maintained by him in the Act were these 1. The holy Scriptures teacheth the Church all things necessary to salvation 2. The Church militant upon earth is subject to error both in faith and manners 3 The Authority of the Scriptures is greater then that oâ— the Church The Theses propounded by him in the Divinity Sbhool 〈◊〉 thâ— third were these 1. The holy Catholike Church which we beleeve is the whole number of Gods elect 2. The Roman Church is neither the Catholike Church nor a sound member thereof 3. The reformed Churches in England Scotland France Germany and other Kingdomâ— and Common-wealths have lawfully severed themselveâ— from the Church of Rome The handling of these questions gave so good contentment to the whole University that his suppositions as they call them that is the Speeches he made in the explication and confirmation of these Positions were extorted from him to the Presse by the Printing whereof when he understood how he had netled all the Romanists who in diverse virilent pamphlets disparaged them and threatened by a speedy refutation to ecclipse the fame thereof he â—he better to arme himselfe against these Romish locusts with indifatigable paines in a short space read all the Greek and Latine Fathers and perused all auncient records of the Church that he could come by and grew so perfect in themâ— that as Livie conceiveth that if Alexander had turned his progresse Westward towards Italy as he did Eastwards towards the territories of the Persian Empire the Noble Commander of the Romans Paperius surnamend Curser or the raser would have matched him if not out stript him so if Reinolds his owne inclination or Authority had put upon him the taske of examining Caesar Baronius his Annals he would not onely every way have matched that so much admired Cardinall but in such sort have detected his Romish friends in postures and forgeries that any man whose eyes were not darkned with mist of prejudicate affection should have clearly seene that the doctrine of the reformed Churches hath as great a share in true antiquity as in auncient truth But Reinolds was drawn into the Lists with another one Iohn Heart who tooke the heart and boldnesse to challenge the learnedest of both Universities to try the Doctrine of our Church by the touchstone of Scripture and Faith c. To encoâ—nter him Master Reinolds is sent for by a greaâ— Councellour of Estate and many combats lingua calamo he had with this antagonist in all which Master Hearâ— gave ground and in the end quite quiâ—ted the fieldâ— as appeareth by a Letter wriâ—ten with his owne hand whâ—ch I have seene sent from the Tower of London In which Letter prefixt to the Conference he hath words to this effectâ— I acknowledge that the Narration of the conference set forth beâ—weene Master Reinolds and me is true and whereas he somewhere affirmeâ—h namely chap. 7. Sect. 7. that I should grant that it is not lawfull for the Pope to depose Princes it 〈◊〉 trâ—e I said as much and am still of this judgementâ— that howsoever the spirituall power be more excellent and noble then the temporall yet they both are from God and neitheâ— dependeth of the oâ—her Whence I inferre this undoubâ—ed conclusion That their opinion who make the Pope a temporoll Lord over Kings and Princes hath no ground at all nor so much as prâ—bability nor shew of reason This conference confirmed by the â—ubscription of both parties was shortly after printed by authority and it gave such satisfaction to all indifferent readers that thereby the fame of Master Reynolds was cryed up as well at the Court as the University and it pleased Queen Elizabeth after he had taken his degree of Doctor to appoint him to read an extraordinary Divinity Lecture in Oxford in which he grapled
religious minds with a feare of the Skye falling about our ears and nature breathing out her last gaspe yet we flâ—ttered our selves in to a vaine beliefe that the Muses were eternall and though all other things fade like flowers yet that the Arts were immortall untill this great Atlas of learning with whom sacred studies seemed to totter if not lye on the ground taught us by his death the vanity of that our hope Whose happy passe agreeable to his godly life God forbid that any should deplore with Heathenish rikes lamentable Elegies since our ferventest zeale can now wish him no other addition to his happinesse then that of Virginius Rufus to have another Tacitus to make his Funerall Panegyricke As for me when I behold this solemn and sad Assembly not usually accustomed to such dejected lookes me thinkes I see those teares that fell from the royall eyes of great King Xerxes dropping at the view of his puissant Army which makes me deeply â—igh because in this deplored mirrour blubbered with teares I finde the reflection even of your mortality For which of you now can hope that either learning wisdome or vertue can prolong his life since the churlish Sisters refused to spare this mighty Hercules of the Orthodox Faith this great Champion of Christian Religion though they were solicâ—ted by the teares of our Mother the University and importuned by the prayers of our sorrowing Church Verily if the inâ—stimable treasures of thy minde and indefeizible riches of thy soule could have contributed any thing to the strength and vigour of the body thou shouldest still have lived worthy Reynolds not so much according to thine owne desire who wishedst for heaven as houres who wished longer for thee and so lived 1000. that thou shouldst never have dyed waxed old or drooped But to the great losse of Man-kinde and prejudice of Learning it fals out far otherwise even that in those who more enrich their minde with the treasures of wisdome and knowledge the soule sooner growes weary of her earthly habitation and aspireth to heavenâ— and their body also by reason their spirits are wholly spent in that noble yet laborious worke of study more speedily faileth and decayeth Which was the true cause that thou Reynolds after so many conquests and triumphs over the enemieâ— of our Faith yet the strength of thy body being impayred in the end didst yeeld to nature and breathedst out thy victorious soule and leftest nothing to us but sighes for our sad losse But what could not thy singular piety nor thy vertue nor thy sanctity nor thy so much admired learning preserve thee Or didst thou resolve to live no longer because there was nothing left which thy studies had not already attained unto Was not Ficinus worthy thy perusing who discourseth so learnedly not onely of the preservation of health but also of the prerogation of our life to eternity upon earth Well long enough peradvâ—nture thou hast lived for thy particulâ—r ends long enough to be so truely honoured that 't was not possible that ever thou shouldest out-live thy fame Yet not long enough for the Common-wealth which misseth in thee a perfect sampler of all vertues Not long enough for the University which hath lost in thee the light of a glorious taper of learning nor yet long enough for the good state our pure Religion which tossed in the swelling billowes of a troubled Sea is ready almost to suffer shipwracke for want of thee her skilfull Pylot Truth it is none can denie it that like a second Cocles but yet more couragious thou didst rout the troâ—pâ— of thy stoutâ—st enemies Truth that even wheÌ„ the enemy had cut off the bridge on which thou stoodst thou leaping downe to thiâ—â— eternall honour didst preserve the colourâ— and as â—ast didst beate the adversaries to a shamefull retreat But the leâ—guer is not yet broken up for though thou hast unmaâ—ked the Idolatry of the Church of Rome and exposed it to the detestation of God and man yea and thy sword was evâ—n at the throat of that Antichristian monster and through the sides of Iohn Heart thou struckst Popery it selfe to the very heart yet Sanders remained untouched save that he hath felt the revenging hand of God upon him and dyed miserably being starved on the Irish mountains Bellarmines forces are not quite discomfited or all Baronius his impostures sufficiently discovered to speake nothing of those monsterous heads of heresies which like Hydras continually grow up in the Church one under another In the midst of such troubles how couldest thou finde leasure to dye since the harvest is so great and the labourers so few so few indeed or none like thee since Superstition like to our Virginian Sea swels continually with newer billowes This oh this was the sad complaint of our lamenting Church fetch'd from the deepest sense of bitternesse and sorrow as if she her selfe had been ready to expire with thiâ— our Reynolds But what Timanthes hath the skill to pourtray the sadder if yet a sadder can be immagined and more dejected countenance of our Mother the University Here flow the teares so free That drowne our Niobe Alasse she thinkes still on nothing but Reynolds sees nothing but Reynolds and in the strength of her disturbed fancy heares talks with catches at Reynolds And truely though in this flourishing age our mother be blessed with such a great and numerous issue that she hath more reason to rejoyce that shee s become so fruitfull then bewaile so much her present losse and she might now if ever take up the language of the mother of â—rasidus my son was a good Souldier indeed and valiant but Sparta hath many left that are like him yet I cannot chuse but excuse her tears of piety and my selfe justly lament with her when I consider that she hath lost her Reynolds who let none repine at it did so much out-shine the rest of her sons in the clearest lustre of the best perfections both in languages Arts and Sciences that he seemed to flye above the pitch of humane wit and industry as if he had been borne of purpose to discover the height of the Muses utmost abilities Sirs I detract from no man in giving Reynolds his due I know that neither these grave Fathers assembled who here at home doe honour our Oxford with their authority letters and piety nor those our right reverend religious and learned Prelateâ— abroad who sitting at the helme of the Church are become admired Patterns to the whole Christian world of wisdome sanctity and learning will ever envy his 〈◊〉 encomiums If any man shall thinke lesse of Reynolds then of those great lights either of Church or University because he shined not so gloriously either at home or abroad in lustre of eminent fortunes and outward preferments let him remember the testimony which the great Bishop S t. Austine gave of Saint Ierome Though a Priest be inferiour to a Bishop yet Hierome the Priest
was so famous that many Princes Noblemen and young Gentlemen came from forreign Countries to see and hear him And this Grynaeus worthy was likewise That wee his Noble name should memorize Who was a rare Divine in Germany And made a Doctor in Divnity At Tubing and to Basil sent for thence To be Professour where with diligence And profitable pains and in that while The differance he did reconcile 'Twixt the Basilian Church and Tigurine At last his labour made his health decline And in his Pastorall Charge in Basil he Ended his dayes in sweet tranquility ROBERT ABBAT The Life and Death of Robert Abbot THis learned and humble man succeeded Doctor Holland in the Chaire at Oxford and herein exceeded him that although they were both of extraordinary sufficiency and vast if not immense reading yet as Augustus spake of Cassius ingeniâ—â— habet inâ—â—â—â—rato so it mâ—y be trâ—ly said of Abboâ— variam lectionem habuit in numerato he had the command of his learning and the sum of his readings upon any point which offered it selfe to his handling cast up to his hand the other had not so Whence it came to passe that the diligent hearers of the one received alwayes from him that which they expected the Auditors of the other seldome received what they expected or expected what they received from him yet alwayes went away well satisfied from his full table And I conceive the reason hereof may be this Abbot desired rather multum legere than multa Holland rather multa than multum the meditation of the one wrought upon his reading the reading of the other wrought upon his meditation and us it surcharged his memory so it over-ruled his invention also Let both have their due praises Et viridi cingantur tempora lavro For Abbot envy it selfe will afford him this testamoniall that if his tongue had been turned into the pen of a ready writer or all that hâ— wrote upon the History of Christs passion and the Prophet Esay and the Episâ—le to the Romans had seene the light he had come near unto if not over taken the three prime worthies of our Vniversity Iewel Bilson and Reynoldâ— for he gave to W m Bishop as great an overthrow as Iewell to Harding Bilson to Allen or Reynolds to Heart He was borne at Gilford in Surry of honest and industryouâ— Parents who lived fifty years together in wedlock and because they preserved that sacred bond so entire and kepâ— the marriage bed so undefiled God powred the dew of his blessing upon it and made them very happy in the fruit of their body especially in three of their children whereof the first was Bishop of Sarum the second Archbishop of Canterbury the third Lord Mayor of London In the Catalogue of all the Bishoâ—s of England onely Seffred sometimesâ— Bishop of Chichester was consecrated by his brother Archbishop of Canterbury Abbot had this happinesse and more for of two of his younger brethren one of them was advanced to the highest place in the Church and the other to the highest place in the City under his Majesty the youngest of them Maurice Abbot had the honour to be the first Knight who was dub'd by his Majesties royall sword the elder of them had yet a greater to annoynt his sacred Majesty and set the Crown upâ—n his royall head but I leave the two other to a better Herald to blazen their vertues Of this our Robert I will endeavour with my pensill to draw the lineaments whose silver pen I more highly esteeme then the silver Mace of the one or golden of the other He was not as Saint Ierome writeth of Hillarion a rose growing from a thorne but rather a province or double rose growing from a single for his Parents embraced the truth of the Gospell in King Edwards dayes and were persecuted for it in Queen Maries raigne by Dâ—ctor Story of infamous memory and notwithstanding all troubles and molestations continued constant in the profession of the truth till their death and all their children treading in their holy steps walked with a right foot to the Gospell and were zealous professors of the reformed Religion especially George and this our Robert whose zeale for the truth accompaned with indifatigable industry and choyce learning preferred him without any other friend or spokesman to all the dignities and promotions he held in the University and Church He was another Hortensius his eminent parts were seen and allowed yea and rewarded to upon the first glympse of them For upon an Oâ—ation made by him the seventeenth of November the day of Qâ—een Elizabeths inauguration he was chosen Schollar of Baliâ—l Colledge upon the first Sermon he Preached at Worster he was made Lecturer in that City and soon after Rector of All Saints there upon a Sermon Preached at Pauls Crosse Master Iohn Stannop one of his hearers having a benefice of great valew in his gift Bingham by name in Nottinghamshire tooke a resolution upon the next voydance of it to conferre it upon him and the Incombent not long after dying sent of his owne accord the Presentation to him upon a Sermon Preached before his Majesty King Iames in the month he waited at Court In the year 1612. newes being brought of Doctor Hollands death the King most gratiously nominated him his successour and lastly upon the â—ame of his incomparable Lectures read in the University de suprema potestate regia contra Bellarminum Suaâ—ezium and the perusall of his Antilogia adversus apolâ—giam Garnetti the See of Sarum falling voyd his Majesty sent his Congedelire for him to the Deane and Chapter Thus as he set forward one foot in the temple of vertue his other still advanced in the temple of honour A curious English Poet making use rather of licencea poetiâ—a than libertas grammatica deriveth Robertus our Divines Christan name from three Monesillibles ros ver â—hus though this etimoligy be affected and constrained yet I will make use of it to branch the History of his life into three parts and first I will consider him as he was ros in his Countries cure secondly as he was ver in his University preferment thirdly as he was thus in his episcopall See First I will speake of him as he was ros Ros signifieth dew which name very fitly agreed unto him whilst for twenty years he lived obscurely in the Country for as dew doth much good to the place where it fals and yet makes no noyse so his paines were very profitable in his private Cures yet was not his fame cryed up nor made any noise in the world secondly as dew dropping on mowen grasse refresheth it and maketh it spring anew so his labors in his Pastorall charge much refreshed the consciences of true converts which had felt the cythe of Gods judgements and made them spring up in hope and newnesse of life thirdly as dew distilling in silver drops mollifieth the parched ground so his heart melting into teares in many
University according to the second Ver. Now let us scent him as Franckincense sending â—orth a most fragrant smell in his Diocesse according to the last monosyllable Thus. Franckincense thought it be often used in private houses where the roomes are dankish yet it is most proper for the Church and of all Churches for the Cathedrals where is the greatest concourse of people and the service performed with most solemnity here therefore consecrated as it were in a golden censer he burnt most fragrantly in his meditations ejaculâ—tions Sermons and exhortations breathing out odorem vitae ad vitam through all the Bishoprick of Sarum Other Bishopricks were voyced upon him as of Lincoln and Coventrie and Litchfield but the businesse of the nullity made a nullity for a time in his Graces good intentions and our Bishops hopes in so much that King Iames of blessed memory when Doctor Abbot newly consecrated Bishop of Sarum came to doe his homage his Majesty spake pleasantly unto him after this manner Abbot I have had very much to do to make thee a Bishop but I know no reason for iâ— unlesse it were because thou writest against viz. William Bishop a Popish priest whose refutation of Master Perkins his reformed Catholicke this our Abbot had not long before solidly refuted After his câ—nsecration at Lambeth and his homage done at Court he tooke the University in his way to Sarum and there taking his leave of his Mother he was accompanyed with all his brethren the heads of Colledges and Hals and of other his Oxford friends of good ranke and quality till about the edge of his Diocesse they left him with teares in their eyes erumpentibus prae dolore the Clergy Gentry of Sarum met him with teares also in their eyes of another kind emanantibus prae gaudio as he came into the City he was entertained with eloquent speeches which he answered â—xtempore in the same language they were made unto him and with worthy presence which were thankefully accepted and the next Lords day following he offered his first fruits in the Tâ—mple taking for his text the Word of the Psalmest 26.8 Lord I have loved the habitation of thy house and the place where thine honour dwelleth After he had verified the Words of his Text in the person of David his Sermon ended he verified it in himselfe and made a Dâ—monstration that he loved that house of God not in â—ongue onely and in word but in deed and veriâ—y for viewing exactly that beautifull Fabrick and finding it very much in decay partly through the negligence of his Predecessors and partly through the Covetousnessâ— of the Deane and Prebends who filled their purses with that which should have stop'd the chiâ—ks in the Wals he sent a peremptory summons for all the Prebends and partly by a seasonable admonition partly by increpations and threatnings partly by reviving an old Statue de quinta parte Prebendaâ—um he drew from them 500. l. which was all spent in the reparation of that Church And aâ—ter the repairing of the materiall temple he wholly laboured in repairing of the spirituall temple both by doctrine and by discipline visiting his whole Diocesse in his owne person and Preaching every Lords day whilst he enjoyed his health either in the City or in the neighbour Townes the last text he handled was Iohn 14. ver 16. I will pray the father and he shall give you another comforter that he may abide with you for ever upon the first proposall whereof as many of his hearers presaged his departure from them so indeed proved it his last and Far-well Sermon for soone after he came out of the Pulpit he fell into grievous â—its of the stone which first stoped the passages of nature and within a few dayes shut up all the offices of his senses so was his hourâ—glasse contrary to all other the sooner run by being stopâ— with sand or gravell for by his perpetuall sedentary life such a stone was bred in his kidnies as no strength of nature or skill of Art could remove but there still remaining put his patience to the tâ—st and by extremity of paine and torment in a short space took away all sense of paine and life together whilest he lay thus as it were upon the racke in unsufferable torâ—ure of body his soul was at great rest and ease for the assurance of heavenly things caused him most chearfully to part wiâ—h earthly the quick sense he had of the powers of the life â—o come deaded the sense of his bodily paines Many yet living are much revived to recollect those his last admonitions and godly exhortations those I say who came to viâ—it him upon his death bed who were not a few and among others the Judges being then at Sarum in their Circuit To them he communicated out of his rich treasury of learning and devotion most Christian and grave advice and amongst many points he discoursed on before them he insisted very much upon the benefit of a good conscience rendring many thanks to his Creator for the great comfort he felt thereby now in his extremity and admonished all that heard him so to carry themselves in their most private and secret actions as well as in their publick that â—hey might obtain that at the last which would stand them in more stead then what all the World could afford besides wâ—â—h these his godly admonitions and exhortations and Episcopall benediction and prayers together with the paine of his diseasâ— being quite â—pent he lay as it were â—lumbering with now and theâ— a short ejaculation lifting up his eyes and his hands towards heavâ—n for the space of two or three houres and at the length March 2. 1617 between the houres of seven and eight gave up the ghost with these words come Lord Iesu come quickely finish in me the worke that thou hast begun in manus tuas domine commendo spiritum meum quia tu redemisti me deus veritatis salvum fac servum tuum qui in te solummodo sperat confidit fiat misericordia tua domine super me in te domine speravi non confundar in aeternum The Thursday following his Funerall was solemnized in the Cathedrall Church over against the Bishops seat where he was buried not so much in earth as in water I meane the teares of the Clergy and all the inhabitants of Sarum which they shed in great abundance for his losse as they had great reason For whereas there are three vertuâ—s which most endeere a good Bishop to his Diocesse diligence in his Pastorall charge Bountifull Hospitality and a lovely and lowly carriage even towards hiâ— inferiors in all these three Abbot excelled first for his humility all they that knew him either under haâ—ches or upon the deck or sâ—â—ting at the sterne of the Church found no difference in him he was the same man in his private Cures and in his doctorall Chayre and in his Episcopall seate As a
Testimony of Salomon may be fitly given They are apples of gold in Pictures of silver For the silver brightnesse of his eloquent style expresses and gives a luster unto those goulden pieces of his accurate invention and rich materials furnished out of Scriptures Fathers and Councels Now although as elegantly say's Lactantius the cause of trueth may be defended without eloquence as it hath been often yet it ought to be illustrated by the Nitour any clarity of a perspicuous style so that it may sinke deeper into the minde by its owne strength and the helpe of the Oratory Thirdly this our Champion hath fought against both hereticks and schismaticks noâ— onely with strong but also as Quintilian advises with glâ—stering weapons Nor doth this present Worke of his though born after his death either for a fluent style or weighty matter come short of the others In which this godly Prelate burning with zeale both to defend the doctrine of truth and unity in the Reformed Churches not with Raâ—sâ—hornes as it were but with a silver trumpet hath demolished those wals of Hiericho that were first raised by Pelâ—giuâ— and then battered down by the holy Fathers but againe of late times begun to be repaired by the Jesuites and last of all by the Arminians For he hath so fortified the Catholick truth with the strongest Testimonies of the sacred Scriptures and the holy Fathers and with such powerfull reason against the chieâ—est arguments of the Semi Pelagians lately forbished over with the file of Arminius or Thomson that we doubt not but this very booke alone will abundantly satisfie all Persons of modest ingenuity whatsoever He fights with Arminius as with a forraign and more remote adversary at a kinde of distance but with Tomson he closed and grapels as with a Domestick fostered in the bowels of our Church of England and he hath so coreruated that Pamphlet of his which cuts off the grace of justification that for ever hereafter who so shalâ— fall upon Thomsons Diatriba he may justly make use of the censure of Diogenes upon Zeno's Diatriba This Thomsons Diatriba is truely Catatriba that this his passe-time as he tremes it sporting himselfe with the Precisians being himself one of the concision is a wast mine Courteous Reader farewell in the Lord make much of the Work for the Authors sake and of the Authors memory for the Works sake Surry Oxford Sarum clame Their severall intrests in our Abbots Name Surry bore him Oxford bred him Sarum ripe for high promotion led him To honors Chayre To whom he gave More lasting honor then he could receiveâ— This like a momentary Blaze Lent a faire light but vanisht with his dayes But that like Titans brighter flame Continues coeternall with his Name Nor is' t the least addition to his glory That learned Featlyes pen hath writ his story The Lif and Death of William Cowper who dyed Anno Christi 1619. WIlliam Cowper was born in Edenburgh and at eight years old was sent by his father to Dunbar School where in four years he learn'd the wholâ— course of Grammer and profited above his equals and at that time did God begin to reveale himselfe to him many times in the Schoole he lifted up his heart unto God begging of him knowledge and understanding and alwayes as he went to Church he sent up his ejaculation â—o heaven Lâ—rd how mine ear that I may hear thy Word At his entry into his â—hirteenth year his Father sent for him home to Edenburgh and presently after he went to Saint Andrews where he continued to his sixteenth year in the study of Phylosophy but made no great progressâ— theâ—ein yet the seed of grace was still working in him inclining him to a carefull hearing and penning of Sermons and other Theologicall Lectures During his abode there Satan working in corrupt nature sought oft to trap him in his snares but as himself testifies the Lord in mercy forgave the vanities and ignorances of his youth and preserved him from such fals as might have made him a shame to the Saints and a reproach to his enemies At the age of sixteen years he returned to his Parents at Edenburgh who propos'd to him sundry courses of life but his heart was still enclined to the study of the holy Scriptures whereupon he resolved to goe into England and the Lord provided him a place at Hoddesdon 18. mils from London just as he had spent all his mony which he brought with him out of Scotland where he was entertained by one Master Gutâ—ry a Scotch-man to assist him in teaching of a School There he remained three quarters of a year and then having occasion to goe to London he was unexpectedly called to the service of Master Hugh Broughton with whom he continued a year and a halfe and daily exercised himselfe in the study of Divinity At nineteen years old he returned againe to Edenburgh where he lived with his elder brother then one of the Ministers in that City who much furthered him in his former studyes at last he was required to give a proofe of his gifts privately which he did in the New Church before Master Robert Pont and Master Robert Rollock and some others by whom he was commanded to Preach in publick also Being twenty years old he was sent by the authority of the general Assembly which met at Edenburgh to be the Pastor at Bothkenner in Sterlingshire when he came thither he found in the Church besides ruinous wals neither roof nor doors nor Pulpit nor seats nor windows yet it pleased God to give such a blessing to his ministery that within halfe a year the Parishioners of their owne accord built and adorned the Church in as good a quality as any round about it There he continued seven or eight years yet subject to great bodily infirmities by reason of the wetnesse of the soyl and the moystnesse of the ayre and in that time did God begin to acquaint him with his terrors and with inward tentations so that his life was almost wasted with heavinesse yet thereby he learned more and more to know Christ Jesus About that time there was a Generall Assembly of the Church at Perth unto which some that lived in the North of Scotland sent to desire that a Minister might be sent unto them whereupon the Assembly appointed Master Cowper for that place and accordingly wrote to him by Master Patrick Simpson who comming to Sterling delivered to him the letters from the Assembly and the Town containing his calling to the Ministry of that place and shortly after the Towne sent their Commissioners to transport himselfe and family thither In that place he continued doing the work of the Lord for nineteen years together where he was a comfort to the best and a wound to the worser sort Besides the Sabbath dayes he chose thrice a week to convene the people together in the Evenings viz. Wednesdayes Fridayes and Saturdayes for preparation to the Sabbath upon which
Tossan was sent in his room February the second Anno Christi 1620. as Pareus was coming out of his study the steps being slippery with the frost his foot slipt and he fell down sixteen steps and yet it pleased God by a wonderfull Providence that he light upon his feet and received no hurt by the fall which made him think of that promise Psalme 91. Hee will give his Angels charge over thee c. By his Doctrine and Councell he was admirably advantageous to the Church of God in many places He strongly asserted the truth of God against it's adversaries He was a great studyer and promoter of the Churches peace laboring that they which agree in the Fundamentals should not jar about matters of an inferior nature He wrote many â—xcellent Works whereof some were printed by himselfe others remained with his son Philip Pareus who hath since published them to the great benefit of the Church About that time the Spaniapds came into the Palatinate with their Army which brought great miseries upon that poor Country which Pareus fore-saw both by Prodigies and Dreames then did his friends both in Hiedleberge and other places pâ—rswaded him to retire himselfe to some other place of safety to whom he yeelded that so he might not fall into the hands of those bloody Papists whom he had irritated by his writings against them At his departure he cryed out O Hiedleberg O Hiedleberge but it 's better to fall into the hands of God then of man whose tender mercies are cruelty He went to Anvilla where he spent his time in Prayer Study and in Miditation waiting and longing for the time of his chang there also he wrote his Corpus Doctrinae which when he had finished he said Lord now let thy servant depart in peace because he hath finished that which he desired Presently after he felt his strength much to decay and he fell into a feaver and finding that the ayre in that place agreed not with him he went thence to Neapolis earnestly begging of God that if it were his holy will he might yet return to Hiedleberg and lay his bones there He made his will also finding his former Catarrh to return upon him againe yet it pleased God by the help of Phisitians to recover him whereupon he resolved to goe to Hiedleberge and taking his Grand-son young Daniel Pareus with him whom he loved deerly he came safely to Hiedleberge where he was received with wonderfull acclamations of joy about which time Prince Frederick came also thither from his Exile and the Sabbath following they received the Sacrament of the Lords-Supper together with much comfort But three dayes after his former disease returning he was sensible of his approaching death the Professors and Ministers resorted to him much bewailing their owne losse amongst whom was Henry Altingus to whom he freely opened his minde both concerning God house and his owne and presently after quietly departed in the Lord Anno Christi 1622. and of his age 73. Pareus also of high Germany A wreath of Bayes deserves most worthily A very learned godly grave Divine Whose precious labors made his fame to shine Chiefly those on the Romans And although At first he many straits did undergoe Both by his Father and his other friends Yet God who in deep straits assistance sends Made all for his best good t'operate And by them brought him to a blest estate For he became abroad at home renown'd And was with many honours justly crown'd Especially at Hiedleberge where hee From all earths feares was happily set free The Life and Death of Thomas Erpenius who dyed Anno Christi 1624. THomas Erpenius was borne at Gorcome in the Low-Countries Anno Christi 1584. of honest Parents In his childhood he was bred in the School at Leiden and admitted into that University at eighteen years old and in the twenty fifth year of his age he commenced Master of Arts then he fell to the study of Divinity and of the Orientall Languages under Ioseph Scaliger who observing his ingenuity and promptnesse often foretold what an eminent man he would prove in time to come From thence he travelled in England France Italy and Germany in which perâ—grinations he profited exceedingly both in learning and prudence At Paris he became intimately acquainted with Isaac Casaubone and went with him to Samure where he fell hard to the study of Arabick and profited so exceedingly therein that Casaubone had him in great admiration and estimation for the same From thence he went to Venice where by the help of some learned Jews and Turks he learned the Turkish Persian and Aethiopick Ianguages whereby he gat so great esteem in Italy that he was profered a Pension of five hundred Duckats by the year to imploy himself in the version of some Arabick books into Latine He spent four years in travell and was famous every where for his learning at Paris and some other places he bought many Arabick books so returned to Leiden An. Ch. 1612. About which time there was a purpose to have called him into England to have allowed him an honorable stipend but the year after he was chosen Professor of the Orientall languages in Leiden and presently after he set up though with extraordinary charges a Presse for those Languages whereby he published many ancient monuments both of his own other mensâ— 1616. he married a wife by whom he left three children surviving him An. Christi 1619. he was made Professor of the Hebrew also and though he had so many and great imployments yet he went through each of them with so great exactnesse as if he had nothing else to attend upon In the year 1620. he was sent by the Prince of Orang and the States of Holland into France to procure Peter Moulin or Andrew Rivet to come to Leiden to be the Divinity Professor and though he prevailed not at that journey yet they sent him againe the year after to Andrew Rivet and the french-French-Church to obtain of them their consents for his coming which businesse he transacted with so great prudence that he brought Andrew Rivet along with him to Leiden His fame was so great that the King of Spaine wrote to him making him exceeding great promises if he would come into Spain to interpret some ancient writings which never man yet could doe The King of Morocco also did so exceedingly admire the purity of his Arabick style in some of his Epistles that he shewed them to his Nobles and other learned men as some great Miracle He was also highly esteemed of by the Prince of Orang and the States of Holland who often made use of his labours in translating the letters which they received from Princes in Asia and Africa out of Arabick or other Languages But whilst he was thus busily imployed in Publick and private it pleased God that he fâ—ll sick of the Plague whâ—reof he dyed Anno Christi 1624. and of his age forty
him the ugly visage of his sins which lay so heavy upon him that he roared â—or anguish oâ— heart yea it so affrighâ—ed him that he rose sometimes out of his bed in the night for very anguish of spirit and â—o augment his spirituall misery he was assaulted with soul temptations Horribilia de Dâ—o â—erâ—ibilia de fide which Luther called câ—laphum Satanae this continued for many months but God at last gave a blessed issue and these grievous pangs in the New Birth produced two admirable effects in him an invincible courage in the cause of God and a singular deâ—terity 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 Norâ—hamptonshire falling void Serjeant Nicols the Patron preâ—â—rred him to it about the fortieth year of his age he marryed Misâ—ris Ann Bois of an ancient family in Kent and to her care committed the ordering of his outward estate and applyed himselfe wholly to his studyes and the work of the Ministry for twenty years together Prâ—ached twice every Lords-day and Catechized and in every Holy-day and Friday before the Sacrament he expounded a Chapter whereby he went over most of the Historicall books of the Old New Testament and therein preparing nothing for his People but what might have served a very learned Aâ—ditory In all his Preaching next after Gods glory he aymed at the Conversion of souls and God crowned his labors by making him an instrument to beget many sons and daughters unto righteouâ—nesse He had an excellent Art in relieving afflicted consciences so that he was sought to far and near yea diverse beyond Sea desired his resolution in diverse 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 powring the oyl of mercy into their bleeding wounds He had a singular skill in discovering Satans sleâ—ghts and in battering down his Kingdome In all his Sermons he used to discover the filthinesse of sin and to presse hard upon the Consciâ—nce 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 waâ— blamelesse that he could not justly be taxed by any of any scandalous sin He constantly prayed six times a day twice with his family twice with his wife and twice in secret He kept many dayes of private humiliation alwayes before the Sacrament and upon the occasions of the miseries of the Church at home abroad which he performed with much ardency of Spirit and being advised by Phisitians for his healths sake to break off â—he strong intention of his study he rejected their counsell accounting it greater riches to enjoy Christ by those servent intentions of his minde 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 universaly bountifull but especially he â—xceeded in those publick distresses of Germany France Bohemia c. He alwayes spent all the revenews of his living which was of good valew in the maintenance of his Family Hospitality and Charity He fell sick of a Quartane Ague in Septâ—mber An. Christi 1631. whereupon finding his disease to get strength and his vigor to grow weaker he revised his Will and then wholly retired himselfe from the world and solaced his soul with the Meditation of the joyes of heaven and having compiled a discourse De quaâ—uor Novissimis of Death Judgement 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 sharpe yet he bore it with admirable patience often breathing forth these speeches Oh when will this good hour com When shall I be dissolved when shall I be wiâ—h Christ Being told that it was better for the Church if God would for him to stay here He answered If I shall finde favor in the eyes of God hee will bring me againe and shew me both it and his habitation and if otherwise lo here I am let him doe what seemeth good in his eyes 2. Sam. 15.25 26. And being asked of another if he could be content to live if God would grant it him he said I grant that life is a great blessing of God neither will I neglest any meanes that may preserve it and doe heartily desire to submit to Gods will but of the two I infinitely more desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ. To those that came to visit him â—n his sicknesse he gave very godly and wise exhortations He thanked God for his wonderfull mercy in pulling him out of hell in â—ealing his Ministry by the Conversion of Souls which he wholly ascribed to his glory a week before his death he called for his wife and desired her to bear his Dissolution with a Chrisâ—ian Fortitude and turning to his chrildren he told them that they should not now expect that in regard of his weakenesse he should say any thing to them he had formerly told them enough and hoped they would remember it and he verily believed that none of them durst think to meet him at the great Tribunall in an unregenerate state Sâ—me of his neighbors moved that as he had in his Ministry discoursed to them the exceeding commforts that were in Christ so he would now tell them what he felt in his soul Alas said he doe you look for that now from mee that want breath and power to speak I have told you enough in mâ— Mâ—nistry yet to satisfie you I am by the wonderfull mercies of God as full of comfort as my heart can hold and feel nothing in my soul but Christ with whom I heartily desire to bee Then seeing some weeping he said Oh what a deal adoe there is before one can dye When the very panges of death were upon him some of his dear friends coming to take their leave of him he caused himselfe to be raised up and after a few gapings for breath he said to them I am now drawing on a pace to my Dissolution hold out Faith and Patience your worke will quickly be at an end then shaking them by the hand he desired them to make sure of heaven and to remember what he had formerly taught them protesting that it was the Truth of God as he should answer it at the Tribunall of Christ before whom he should shortly appear and a dear friend taking him by the hand ask't him if hee felt not much paine Truely no said he
length of her owne shadow But how great soever his desire was to see Church discipline purged and restored to its primitive simplicity and integrity he attempted nothing with our late Reformers by way of tumult or Schismatically And yet this very attempt though it never exceeded an unwearied and legall application to those in authority bred him as many Enemies as there were then waspes and hornets who had wanted food if they had wanted Corruption in that kinde to have fed upon of these some accused him of a Correspondency others of a confederacy with Martin Luther the first he never denyed the second they were never able to prove As for the suspicion of Arianismâ— whereof envy it selfe durst not accuse him whilst he lived I hold it a Calumnie scarce worth the answering All that can be said against him is onely this that he seemes to extenuate and it were to be wished he had imployed his wit better some Testimonies alledged by the Fathers against Arius as not so Convincing and ponderous as they imagined But in all the nine great volumes of his owne Workes there is not one Apex positively for him innumerable against him He was the first man I may not except Martin Luther who with sobriety brought us from Hales Holcot to St. Ciprian and Augustin from â—he Fathers to the Scriptures themselves if he had intended to promote Herisie his most compendious way had been to have lefâ— both in the same obscurity he found them But which I am often necessitated to remember by his Annotations he illustrated the one and by his piercing censures removed such ignoble and spurâ—ous Brats as after ageâ— out of intrest or ignorancâ— would needs have fastened upon the other Some not able themselves to judge betwext â—mitating and Apiâ—g are bold to censure his stile though by their owne confession pure Copius flexible and exâ—emporary as not every where Elevated to the true light of the Cicerâ—niâ—m pole He can run but goingly who ties himsâ—lfe to another mâ—â—s fooâ—steps Erasmus had his owne Gâ—nius as well as Cicero held a Bull as compleat a creature as a Baboon and that most comely which was most genuine and masculine not so much taken with the Cadency and Chymâ—ng of words as the sententious density of the matter And therefore rather chose with Saint Augustine to retaine some few words in common use though lesse Ciceronian then by changing them into more eloquent but lesse intelligible torturâ— his simple Readers upon the continuall racke of their Diâ—â—ionaries Many of his noblest Workes he elucubrâ—ted at Basil the rest at Friburge whether he was in a manner compelled to retreat by Bernard Cardinal of Trent doubtâ—ull what might befall him in the Reformation of Religion at Basil. I commend the Cardinals providence but in that Reformation there was no indignity offered to any Clergie mans person whether Regular or Secular they had all free liberty to dispose of their Persons and Personall estates as they pleased At his first Comming to Friburdge he dwelt in a house sometimes inhabited by Ferdinand Vnckle to Charles the fift and built for a retreats to his old age by Villingerus his Treasurer which proving as much to big for Erasmus at it was to little for Ferdinand he purchased one of his owne and sold it within seaven yeeres after at what teme he was recalled into the Low-Countries by Mary Queene of Hungary who succeeded her Aunt in the Government of those Provinces by the way he visited Basil where he published his Ecclesiastes and intended to finish severall other of his Workes yet imperfect before he past into Holland But he must passe no further being arrested by a more violent fit of the Gout then at any time formerly His convulsions were so thick and vehement that oftentimes he was forced to goe upon all foure he thought himselfe in a jumping condition when Crutches served his turne In the intervals of his disease he resumed and renewed the great volume of his owne Epistles perhaps intending to set them forth more fully as many of them fell into his hands he would say Et hic mortus est but upon just account when he found the number of his dead Correspondents exceed the living he burst forth into these words Nec ego diutius vivere Cupio si Christo Domino placeat Nor desire I if so it would please the Lord Iesus to live any longer About the beginning of Autumne from the Gout he dropt into an Hepaticall flux so that for a whole moneth togeâ—her he came seldome out of bed and but once over the threshold of his Chamber yet whilst his body lay tortured upon this double rack he wrote a Treatise De puritate Ecclesiae and made a hard shift to finish his Recognitions upon Origen These were the two last Songs of this dying Swan whose patience ever increased with his torments and in the end surmounted them He retained his speech to the last gasp and breathed out his Soule in these Ejaculations Mercy sweet Iesus Lord loose these hands How long Lord Iesus How long Iesus fountaine of mercy have mercy upon me and the like He changed this mortall life into an immortall the twelfe day of July about midnight in the yeer of grace 1536. and 71. or 73. yeeres of his age he foretold both the yeer and houre of his dissolution the first many months the other three dayes before multitudes of people flocked to see and touch his dead body The Consull and Senators of Basil accompanied it to the grave few of the chiefe Burgers were absent none of the University He lyeth buried in the Cathedrall Church in a Chappell Consecrated to the blessed Virgin and Monument of Parian marble frequently visited both by the Citizens and Srangers He was of a middle Stature well compacted body and of a sweet but tender Complexion which easily yeelded to every little alteration whether of aire or dyet His haire inclined to yellow his eyes were gray his countinance amiable and cheerfull but some what of the palest and his voice shrill though none of the strongest His apprehension was invincible his judgement exact and for Memory he knew not what it was to forget any thing except injuries Terence and Horace he could have intirely repeated without booke when he was but a Schoole-boy He was charitable to the poore in generall bountifull to poor Schollers and Travellers so farre from craft that he inclined rather to simplicity and so free from suspition that he often unbosomed himselfe to his friends though but seeming further then stood with his owne safety Such was his bashfulness that though he had a good face his picture was hardly extorted from him by extreame importunity in the point of friendship he was of an unremoveable Constancy easily placable being offended onely he had such an antipathy with lying that from his youth he would usually tremble at the very sight of a noted Lyer His habit neither garish nor sordid