with open mouth upon Gods children to devour them they manfully resist him he thinks to weaken their Faith and they by his assaults are made the stronger he fights against them but they get ground upon him and so what he intended for their destruction full sore against his will makes for their advantage He was called the Champion of the Catholick Faith His Works were printed in two Tomes at Paris Anno Christi 1605. The Life of Peter Chrysologus who flourished Anno Christi 440. PEtrus Chrysologus so called because of his golden Eloquence was born at Imola in France of honest Parents bred under Cornelius Bishop of that City whose care it was not only to instruct him in good Manners and Learning but to fit him for the Work of the Ministry that he might bring glory to God in the service of his Church And not long after he was made Archbishop of Ravenna He excelled in Learning Vertue and all prais-worthy qualities He was present at the Councils the one at Ravenna the other at Rome and sent Letters full of Learning to the Synod of Chalcedon against Eutiches the Heretick He was powerful in Eloquence especially in his Sermons to the people and very holy in Conversation by both which he won many to the Truth Always before he penned any thing he would with great ardency and humility set himself to Prayer to seek unto God for direction therein He lived long having been Bishop about 60 years flourished under Martian the Emperour and dyed Anno Christi 500. He used to say Let not thy care be to have thy hands full whilst the Poors are empty for the only way to have full Barns is to have charitable Hands And God had rather men should love him then fear him to be called Father then Master he wins by Mercy that he may not punish by Justice If thou wilt be like thy Father do likewise And Neither in the Flint alone nor in the Steel alone any fire is to be seen nor extracted but by conjunction and collision So nor by Faith alone nor by good Works alone is Salvation attained but by joining both together And As the Clouds darken Heaven so intemperate Banquetting the Minde as the violence of windes and waves sinks a Ship so drunkenness and gluttony our souls and bodies in the depth of hell And Virtues separated are annihilated Equity without goodness is severitie and Justice without Piety cruelty And some that lived commendably before they attained to dignity being set in the Candlestick of the Church turn their light into darkness It had been better for such lights still to have been hidden under a bushel c. He was a man of an Excellent Wit and by his Ministry and example won many to a love of the Truth He wrote 176. Homilies Lib. ad Eutychen Epistoles alias PROSPER The Life of Prosper who dyed Anno Christi 466. PRosper was born in Aquitane and preferred to be Bishop of Rhegium in France He was Scholar to S. Augustine famous for Learning and Piety learnedly confuted the Pelagian Heresie He was assiduous in reading especially of the Scripture He usually had the four Evangelists in his hands He distributed his goods freely to the Poor His special care was to take away all strife and contentions from amongst his people He was a Father to all ages and sexes that were in the City He much addicted himself to Watching Fasting Prayer and Meditation He continued Bishop there twenty years flourished under Martianus Upon his death-bed speaking to many of his people that wept sore he said The Life which I have enjoyed was but given me upon condition to render it up again not grutchingly but gladly For me to have stayed longer here might seem better for you but for me it is better to be dissolved c. And so Praying and lifting up his hands to God before them all he departed Anno Christi 466. He was excellently versed in the Sacred Scriptures and no less famous in Humane Learning He was a very good Poet and an Eloquent Orator of a profound Judgement subtile Wit a nervous Writer and holy Liver His Works are all printed in Octavo at Cullen Anno Christi 1609. He used to say Thou shalt neither hate the man for his vice nor love the vice for the mans sake And Thou boastest of thy wealth honour strength beauty c. consider what thou arâ— by sin and shalt be in the grave and thy plumes will fall for every proud man forgets himself And As the Soul is the life of the Body so the life of the Soul is God when the Soul departs the Body dies and when God departs the Soul dies And Those things which God would have searched into are not to be neglected but those which God would have hidden are not to be searched into by the later we become unlawfully curious and by the neglect of the former damnably ingrateful And The envious man hath so many tortures as the envied hath praisers It s the Justice of envy to kill and torment the envious And The Life to come is blessed Eternity and Eternal blessedness there is certain security secure quietness quiet joyfulness happy Eternity eternal Felicity The Life of Fulgentius who dyed An. Chri. 529. HVnerick the Arian King of the Vandals having subdued Carthage banished all the Senators thereof into Italy amongst whom was Gordian Grandfather to Fulgentius And after the decease of Gordian Claudius his son returned unto Carthage and though his house was given to an â—rian Priest he recovered a great part of his Inheritance by some favour which he found at the Kings hands and so departing to Lepte he there setled his habitation But shortly after dying he left his son Fulgentius to the care of his Mother Mariana who was very careful to train him up in Learning causing him to be instructed in the Greek Tongue before he learned Latine that thereby he might attain to the greater perfection in that Language and as his years encreased so did he highly profit in all sorts of Learning to the great joy of his Mother who exceedingly rejoyced to see his wisdom and towardness which also much refreshed her after the loss of her dear husband yea she was so well satisfied with his Prudence that she committed to his care the government of her whole house and he so well behaved himself therein that he pleased his friends silenced his il-willers and both by direction and correction procured an awful respect from the servants He was also very careful to preserve his Patrimony By this his deportment he gat so much credit and esteem that he was made the Kings Collector and required to be rigorous in exacting the rated payments But after a while it pleased God that this multiplicity and burden of worldly businesses began to be very heavy to
cause on both sides read over diligently the Book writ by Eutychius and being convinced of the Error by that which he had heard from Gregory he adjudged the Book to be burned Shortly after Eutychius fell very sick and a little before his death retracted his Error and acknowledged the Resurrection of our flesh Gregory having dispatched the business about which he was sent to Constantinople returned to Rome about which time the River Tiber swelled to such an unmeasurable height that it ran over the Wals of the City and drowned a great part of it and break into many great houses overthrew divers ancient Monuments it overthrew also the Granaries belonging to the Church and carried away many thousand measures of Wheat Presently after which inundation of Tiber there came down the River an innumerable company of Serpents with one monstrous great one as big as a Beam which when they had swum into the Sea were there choaked and their carkasses being all cast upon the shore there rotted which caused such an Infection of the Ayr that presently a great Plague followed in Rome so that many thousands dyed of it Yea Arrows were visibly seen to be shot from Heaven and whosoever was stricken with them presently dyed amongst whom Pelagius Bishop of Rome was one and this judgement so raged in the City that many houses were emptyed of their Inhabitants After the death of Pelagius the Clergy Senate and People of Rome made choice of Gregory to be their Bishop though he opposed it all that possibly he could crying out that he was altogether unworthy of such honour fearing least the splendor of worldly glory which he had formerly layd aside should in such an Office creep upon and infect him But the importunity of the People being so great he seemed to consent to them but privately under-hand wrote to the Emperour Mauritius earnestly requesting him that he would not consent to the Election but that by his Authority he would free him from it But Germanus the Praefect of the City meeting with the messenger took his Letters from him and reading them detained them sending word to the Emperour of the unanimous consent of all in the Election of Gregory Whereupon the Emperour returning thanks to God for that they had made so good a choice confirmed the Election so that Gregory could no longer evade it In the mean time the Pestilence raging exceedingly Gregory called the people together and shewed them the justice of God in his Judgements who used not to punish till by sin he is provoked thereunto telling them that they might read the greatness of their sins in the greatness of the Plague and thereupon exhorted them to repentance by the Precepts of God and by the example of Ninâ—veh appointing them to lay all their worldly businesses aside and to meet together the next day to spend it in Fasting and Prayer which accordingly they did yet whilst they were together Gods hand was out against them so that fourscore of them fell down dead in the place But Gregory being not discouraged hereby continued his Sermon telling them that God would at length be found of them if they would forsake their wicked ways and turn unto him with all their hearts and with all their souls and accordingly not long after the Pestilence ceased Gregory observing that many customs were lately crept into the Church which were not warranted by the holy Apostles he first extirpated them out of the Church of Rome and then calling a Council of many Bishops he endeavoured to root them out of the whole Church Then removing from about him all secular persons he chose Presbyters and other Learned men in their stead whereby Learning was much advanced in his days He was very charitable and much given to hospitality insomuch as when very many Inhabitants from divers parts flying from the barbarous cruelty of the Longobards came to him he entertained and relieved them inviting dayly to his house many of those Exiles He made also large distributions unto others giving them Corn Wine Flesh Fish Cheese and many other refreshings in their several seasons Many times also he sent large relief to the sick lame and impotent persons not only in Rome but in many other Towns and Villages round about insomuch as all that he had seemed to be the common Granary of the Church In the fourth year of his Bishoprick having in some good measure setled the affairs of the Church he now began to think how he might advance the Conversion of the English which he had formerly been so sollicitous for had never since been forgotten by him For which end he sent Austin and some other Ministers from about him to Preach the Gospel unto them But they had not gone many days journey before they began to be a weary of undertaking so difficult and dangerous a task as to go to Preach to a fierce barbarous and unbelieving Nation whole Language they did not understand whereupon they stopped and sent Austin back to Gregory desiring that they might have leave to return that they might be freed from so laborious difficult and dangerous a work Gregory having received this message wrote thus back to them again Beloved Brethren seeing it had been better that you had never begun a good work then that you should recede from it it behoves you through the assistance of Almighty God to go forwards with it Neither let the labor of the journey nor the tongues of wicked men deterre you from it I have sent back Austin whom I would have you to obey knowing that he will counsel you nothing but what shall be for the good of your souls Almighty God give you his grace and grant that I may see of the fruit of your labors though I cannot join with you therein With this Exhortation Austin did so encourage his Companions that passing through France where they found kinde entertainment by the good Bishops in every place they at last arrived in Britain and came to Ethelburg the King of Kent where through Gods mercy they did not only obtain leave to Preach but had habitations and maintenance allowed them in Canterbury his chief City Whosoever desires to see the success of this business may read it in my English Martyrologie Pag. 11. c. Gregory dyed Anno Christi 605. having been Bishop of Rome 13 years 6 moneths and 10 days He lived under the Emperour Mauritius and dyed in the second year of Phocas Johannes Trithemius gives him this testimony Gregorius Vir in Divinis Scripturis eruditissimus in secularibus literis utique doctissimus Theologorum Princeps splendor Philosophorum Rhetorum lumen vita conversatione integer atque sanctissimus He was of an acute wit whereby he overthrew Eutiches Pelagius who dyed in his time of the Plague at Rome and divers other Hereticks He severely reproved the Bishop of Constantinople who would
the Second Part he may see what eminent Emperours Kings and Princes God hath raised up in sundry Ages and Places for the defence of the Church and Gospel of Christ Jesus In the two Martyrologies he may finde the Torments and Triumphs the Conflicts and Conquests of the Worthies of Christ in all places where the Gospel hath come who have found that Scripture fulfilled upon themselves 2 Tim. 3. 12. All that will live godly in Christ Iesus shall suffer Persecution There is also now coming forth the second Impression of his Mirror or Looking-glass much enlarged containing almost all the Heads in Divinity together with the Texts of Scripture concerning them And under each first Scriptural Examples and then Examples out of the best approved Authors both Sacred and Profane READER I Pray thee correct these few faults with thy pen and for other mistakes of the Printer in Letters or Points they are easily discerned and amended Page 88. line 5. read valiant for violent p. 260. l. 7. r. wives for ways p. 262. l. 17. r. that by for with p. 481. l. ult r. lyes for evils p. 538. l. 13. r. years for days p. 612. l. 19. r. whence for which p. 693. l. 1. r. verbo for verbi p. 725. l. 12. r. conciones for consciones Mend the figures in the pages from 900 to 910. The Lives of the FATHERS AND OTHER Learned and famous DIVINES from Christ's Time to this present Age. IGNATIVS The Life of Ignatius who dyed Anno Christi 111. IGnatius saw Christ in the flesh being about 12 years old at his Crucifixion The occasion of his apprehension was this Trajan returning from the Parthian war commanded gratulatory sacrifices to be offered in every City and himself comming to Antioch Ignatius was required to be present at those Sacrifices but he before Trajans face did justly and sharply reprove their Idolatry for which cause he was delivered to ten Souldiers to be carried to Rome He was Pastor at the Church at Antioch next after the Apostle Peter As he passed through Asia strictly guarded with that troop of Souldiers he confirmed the Congregations through every City where he came Preaching the Word of God to them and giving them wholsome exhortations especially charging them to avoid the heresies lately sprung up and at that time overflowing the Church Requiring them stedfastly to cleave to the Traditions of the Apostles and to their Doctrine When he came to Smyâ—na where Polycarp was Bishop he wrote an Epistle to the Church at Ephesus making mention of Onesimus their Pastor and another he wrote to the Church of Magnesia on the River Meander wherein he forgetteth not Doema their Bishop Another he wrote to the Church at Trallis whose Pastor at that time he mentioneth to be Polybius to which Epistle he prefixed an exhortation to them not to refuse Martyrdom least thereby they should lose the hope that was laid up for them For which end he useth these expressions From Syria saith he even till I came to Rome I had a battel with Beasts as well by Sea as by Land night and day being bound amongst ten cruel Leopards so he called the 10 souldiers that guarded him which the more benefits they received at my hands became so much the worse to me But I being exercised and now well acquainted with their injuries am taught every day more and more to bear the Cross yet hereby am I not justified Would to God I were once come to the Beasts that are prepared for me which I wish also to fall upon me with all their violence whom also I will provoke that without delay they may devour me and not abstain from me as they have from some others whom for fear they have left untouched and if they be unwilling to it I will compel them to fall upon me Pardon me I pray I know well how much this will avail me Now do I begin to be a Disciple of my Master Christ I neither regard things visible nor invisible so I may gain Christ Ignis crux bestiarum conflictationes ossium destractiones c. i. e. Let Fire Cross breaking of my bones quartering of my members crushing my body and all the torments that man and the Divel can invent fall upon me so I may enjoy my Lord Jesus Christ c. Writing to Polycarp whom he knew to be a holy man he commends to him the Congregation at Antioch praying him to be careful of the business there and especially for the election of a godly Bishop in his room thereby proving himself to be a sincere and right Pastor taking such care of his flock not only whilest he lived but even after his death When his Martyrdom approached he said Frumentum Dei sum dentibus ferarum molar mundus Dei panis inveniar I am God's corn when the wilde beasts have ground me to powder with their teeth I shall be his white-bread He was so humble that he disdained not to learn of any He suffered Martyrdom the eleventh year of Trajan at Rome Anno Christi III. His usual saying was A mor meus crucifixus est My Love is crucified meaning either Christ the Object of his love or that his affections were crucified to the world as Gal. 6. 14. Nicephorus reports that when Ignatius was a child our Saviour would take him up in his arm and shew him to his Disciples It may be he was one of those little children that were brought to Christ that he should touch them or that little child whom Jesus took and set in the midst of his Disciples to learn them humility He saw Christ after his Resurrection as himself writes in one of his Epistles Ego vero post resurrectionem in carne eum vidi c. Truly I did see him after his Resurrection in the flesh and do beleive that it is he c. He used to say Nihil praestantius est pace bonae conscientiae that there is nothing better then the peace of a good conscience That good and wicked men are like true and counterfeit mony the ones seems to be good and is not the other both seems and is good That the Lyons teeth are but like a â—â—ll Which though it bruiseth yet wasteth not the good Wheat only prepares and fits it to be made pure Bread Let me saith he be broken by them so I may be made pure Manchet for Heaven Parents ought to afford these three things to their children Correction Admonition and Instruction both in humane Arts and Gods Word all which preserves them from idleness and folly gives them Wisdom and learns them subjection and obedience to their Superiours Other Graces are but parts of a Christians armour as the shield of Faith the sword of the Spirit c. But Patience is the Panoply or whole Armour of the man of God The enemy foils us without it but we foil him by it Grace slowing from the
the pestilent Heresie of Arius Yea a while after the Emperour himself began to favour that opinion and so by little and little it was spread everywhere first the Emperours Guard took it up then it busied the mindes of the multitude in the City the Emperours Chamberlains in the very Pallace began to contend with women about it And this woful Effect followed the countenancing of this Heresie that in every House and Family through the City they brawled and went together by the ears about it Yea this infection spread it self quickly through other Regions and Countries and the controversie much like a spark of fire kindled the mindes of the hearers with the fiery flame of discord and dissention For every one that desired to know why they made tumults by and by had occasion given him to reason and every one was not satisfied with questioning but contentiously would argue thereof By these means the peaceable and quiet state of the Church was turned upside down But in the interim it pleased God that this flame kept in the East whilest the Western Church injoyed peace and quietness For by no means would they suffer the Canons of the Nicene Council to be violated or made null After the heat of contention was blown abroad and burned more and more the Faction of Eusebius doubted not but it would turn to their great advantage for they hoped that it would come to pass that some Bishop would be chosen of Alexandria that would favour and advance their opinion But at the very same time Athanasius returned unto Alexandria carrying along with him Letters from Constantine the Younger who was one of the Emperours The tenour whereof was this Constantine Caesar to the People of the Catholick Church of Alexandria sendeth greeting I hope it is not unknown to your discreet wisdoms that Athanasius the Professor of sacred Divinity was for a time banished into France least that through the mischievous dealing of lewd men for blood suckers and cruel beasts sought to bereave him of his life he should privily be slain wherefore that he might be sheltred from the malice of those despiteful men he was taken out of their jaws and was commanded to live under my Dominion where I took care that he might be fully furnished with all things needful as if he had been in the City where formerly he lived And when as our Lord and Father of famous memory Constantine the Emperour had intended to restore him to his Bishoprick again he was prevented by death before he could accomplish his desires I thought it my part and duty therefore to execute the intent of so godly an Emperour With what estimation and reverence I have entertained the man he shall report with his own mouth at his return to you neither is there any marvel that I shewed him such courtesie For me thought that I saw in him the great longing ye had for him and I beheld also the Fatherly reverence and gravity of the man himself all which moved me not a little thereunto God of his goodness Wel-beloved Brethren have you in his tuition Athanasius upon the confidence of these Letters returned unto Alexandria whom the people received with most willing mindes But such in that City as were infected with the Leprosie of Arianism conspired against him so that many tumults and skirmishes were raised which gave occasion to the confederates of Eusebius to accuse Athanasius falsely to the Emperour that of his own private spirit without the consent of the Assembly of the Bishops he had setled himself in that Church This odious accusation so far incensed the Emperour Constantius that he sent one Gregory an Arian to be Bishop of Alexandria and with him Syrianus a Captain with 5000 Souldiers to drive out Athanasius and to settle Gregory in his room the Arians which were in the City joined themselves with them to help them It was then even-tide and the people were assembled in the Church to prepare themselves for the Sacrament which was the next day to be administred The Captain drew nigh set his Souldiers in battail array and beset the Church Athanasius understanding the danger devised how the people might take no harm for his sake whereupon he commanded his Deacon to read the Collects to the people and after that to sing a Psalm and as the Psalm was sweetly and harmoniously sung all the people went out at one of the Church doors and it pleased God that the Souldiers had no power to meddle with them and Athanasius in the midst of the Singers escaped also without any harm and Gregory took possession of the Church whilest Athanasius being thus through Gods mercy delivered went in all hast to Rome About this time Constantine the younger was slain by the souldiers and Constance the youngest of the three Emperours remained Emperour of the West Athanasius coming to Rome complained to the Bishop Julius of the great wrong which was done to him the like did divers others of the Eastern Bishops who were unjustly thrust out by the Arians Hereupon Julius wrote freely unto the Bishops of the East requiring them to restore those Bishops to their places again sharply rebuking such as had raâ—hly and unjustly procured their deposition The wronged Bishops trusting to Julius his Letter returned every man to his own Church conveying the Letters unto whom they were written who when the Letters came to their hands took it very hainously that Julius should interpose in that cause and thereupon summoned a Council at Antioch In the mean time Athanasius being come to Alexandria there was great stir and many tumults were raised by Gregory and the Arians against him they also forged and divulged this slander viz. That whereas Constantine the Great had given certain grain for Alms to relieve the Poor of the Church of Alexandria this say they Athanasius had sold and converts it to his own private lucre the Emperour takes this slanderous report for truth and threatneth him with death which Athanasius hearing of fled and hid himself in a secret and obscure place At length Julius Bishop of Rome being informed where he lay hid sent for him and when he was come to Rome he acquainted the Emperour Constance with all the injuries which were done to him This good Emperour being much affected with that sad relation wrote to his Brother in the East requesting him to send to him three men that would justifie the accusations against Athanasius Accordingly there were sent Narcissus the Cilician Theodore the Thracian â—aris the Calcedonian and Marcus the Syrian But when they came to Rome they would by no means reason with Athanasius only they exhibited to the Emperour a certain Form of Faith and so took their leave without reasoning of any other matter Not long after the Western Bishops assembled in a Council at Sardis where Athanasius was acquit from the crimes charged upon him and thereupon Constance
not suffer their Bishop to have any violence done to him Hereupon the people being assembled from all parts a great tumult was raised so that every one expected a Sedition to ensue the President sent presently to the Emperour to acquaint him with these proceedings and in the mean time suffered Athanasius to remain in the City Many days after when the Sedition was well appeased Athanasius privily stole out of the City and went and hid himself in a certain secret place The night after the President and Colonel of the Souldiers went to his house which joined to the Church and there sought every corner for him but not finding him they lost their labours For they thought that now the people were quieted and feared no such matter they might easily apprehend him and so execute the Emperours command But when Athanasius could not be found every one much wondered at it believing that God had discovered the danger to him and thereby preserved him from it Others say that Athanasius mistrusting the heady and rash motion of the common people fearing that if any mischief were wrought by them it would be laid to his charge retired privily and hid himself for the space of four months in his Fathers Monument But in the mean time the Emperour Valence considering how many friends Athanasius had which by reason of his absence might happily raise commotions to the great prejudice of the Empire and withall considering that Valentinian who was an earnest Defender of the Nicene Faith might take the banishment of Athanasius very hainously hereupon he wrote very loving Letters to the people of Alexandria signifying that his pleasure was that Athanasius should quietly according to their hearts desire enjoy his Bishoprick Yet in other places a great Persecution was raised against the Orthodox who were driven out of their Churches and Arians placed in their rooms only the Churches of Egypt enjoyed Peace all the life time of Athanasius whose death fell out not long after when having endured many skirmishes in the quarrel of the Church and having been Bishop 46 years in which time he had often been in great hazard of his life yet at the length through the goodness and mercy of God he dyed in peace in his own City of Alexandria leaving behinde him Peter a godly and zealous man to succeed him Anno Christi 375. It was said of him Non solùm Episcopi c. Not only Bishops but Emperours Kingdoms Nations and Armies opposed him whereupon he used to say Though an Army should encamp about me yet would I not fear In the time of Julian the Apostate who made much use of Conjurers the Magicians and Southsayers in Alexandria cryed out that they could do nothing in their Art except Athanasius were removed out of the City It was said of him Vnus Athanasius contra totum mundum One Athanasius stood firm against all the world Gregory Nazianzen stiles him Tubam ingentem Columnam Ecclesiae The great Trumpet and Pillar of the Church Theodoret stiles him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Bulwark of Truth His Works are commonly printed in two Tomes which Scultetus distinguisheth into Germana Dubia Supposita Germana sunt Oratio adversus Gentes Oratio de incarnatione verbi Expositio Fides Respons ad Liberium Epistola de fide ad Jovinianum Sermo de incarnatione Orationes quinque contra Arianos Tractat in illud dictum Omnia mihi sunt tradita à Patre Epistolae and Adelphinum fratrem and Maximum Philosophum de sententia Dionysii Refutatio hypocriseos Miletii Eusebii Pauli Samosetani Sermo de humana natura suscepta Epistolae ad Epictetum de Incarnatione Christi contra Apolinarium Oratio contra Apolinarium Oratio contra gregales Sabellii Epistolae duae ad Scrapionem de spiritu sancto Epistola de Incarnatione Verbi Dei. Apologiae ad Imperatorem Constantinum De fuga sua prima secunda Ad Africà nos Narratio de Concilio Nicaeno Epistola Catholica Epistolae ad Antiochenses ad Serapionem de morte Arii ad omnes solitariam vitam agentes De Synodis Arimini Seleuciae ad omnes ubique Orthodoxos Ad Joan. Antiochum Ad Palladium Ad Dracontium Ad Ruffianum De Sabbato Circumcisione De peccato in S. Sanctum Synopsis Scripturae sanctae Dubia sunt Orationes de Semente De Ascensione Christi Symbolum Athanasii Epistola ad Aremùn Fragmentum Epistolae festalis Vita S. Antonii De Virginitate sive de meditatione Omnia reliqua sunt supposititia The Life of Hilarie who flourished An. Chri. 355. HIlarie Bishop of Poictiers was nobly descended and of excellent gifts He was frequent in Preaching exemplary in Life a great opposer of the Arian Heresie whereupon the Bishops Valence and Vrsacius procured the Emperour to banish him into Phâ—ygia Afterwards the Emperour commanding many Bishops to assemble at Seleucia to give their opinions about the Arian Heresie Hilarie carried himself so well there that he was restored to Poictiers After which he travelled over Italy and France diligently instructing the Bishops of both those countries in the Canons of the Catholick Faith He was a very Eloquent man and wrote many things in the Latine tongue amongst which he wrote 12 Books of the Trinity expounded the Canon containing the clause Of One Substance proved it sufficiently and confuted the arguments of the Arians He was a very Heavenly man both in his Life and Doctrine and by his means especially the Faith confirmed in the Nicene Council was propagated and defended in these Western parts of the World all his life time He wrote also against the Emperour Constantius one Book Two Books to the Emperour against Auxentius the Arian Commentaries on Matthew Epistles to S. Augustine c. He dyed in peace under Valentinian and Valence CYRIL The Life of Cyril who dyed Anno Christi 365. Cyrillus Bishop of Jerusalem was at the first an Arian and therefore by that faction was made Bishop of Hierusalem but shortly after he was accused in a Council for certain hainous crimes by whom he was deposed from his Bishoprick and being often called by them to purge himself from those crimes he still absented himself for the space of 2 years thinking thereby to escape and the crime to be forgotten as soon as he was deposed he sent an appellation in writing to his Deposers appealing from them to the Judges of the Higher Court. Constantius the Emperour admitted his appellation so that Cyril was the first and the only man that brought in this president so prejudicial to the Ecclesiastical constitutions At length he came to Seleucia to have his cause heard where his Deposition was confirmed for his communicating with certain heretical Bishops and Herennius was substituted in his room Bishop of Hierusalem and after him Heraclius and after him Hilarius These continued the Government of that Church till the reign of Theodosius senior At which
Art There thou mayst finde the knowledge of mundane Philosophy without the least ostentation of it there thou mayst discern his skill of the Liberal Sciences and amongst them of the Mathematicks and yet he makes them all handmaids to Piety In his discourses he doth exquisitely mingle Divine testimonies of Scripture that they are like to precious stones not sowed to but bred in purple clothes His Works are these In Opificium sex dierum Hom. 11. In Psalmos Hom. 17. Variorum argumentorum Hom. 28. De Virginitate De Paradiso Contra Apologeticum Eunomii Contra Sabellianos Arium De S. Sancto De Libero Arbitrio De Baptismate Exercitamenta per aliquot Sermones Praefatio de judicio Dei De Fidei Confessione Moralium Summae Questiones diffusè Explicatae Aliae compendio Explicatae Constitutiones Exercitatoriae Epistolae Explicationes in Psalmos Davidis All printed at Basil by Froben Anno Christi 1566. GREGORI NAZIANZEN The Life of Gregory Nazianzen who flourished Anno Christi 370. GRegory Nazianzen was first Bishop of Sasima then of Nazianzum in Cappadâ—cia and lastly of Constantinople he was a living Library of Philosophy and Divinity exceeding Eloquent a defender of the poor and oppressed and a comforter of the afflicted In his younger days he became acquainted with Basil and joined studies with him So that with him at Athens he heard those famous Rhetoricians Hymerius and Proaeresius At Antioch in Syria he frequented the School of Libanius and by these means he became an excellent Orator By reading the Commentaries of Origen he learned to expound and interpret the Sacred Scriprures In disputation he foiled and overthrew the most learned amongst the Arians and fearing least those Errors should infect the Churches of Cappadocia he gat him thither to oppose them where he was made Bishop of Nazianzum a mean City of Cappadocia whereof his Father had been Bishop before him What insight he had into mens dispositions by their Physiognomies may appear by that which he wrote concerning Julian the Apostate in his second Oration against the Gentiles where he thus writeth I foresaw saith he long ago in Julian that which is now come to pass when I knew him at Athens For he came thither when the Empress had procured License of the Emperour for his voyage and when his Brother Gallus had conspired the death of the Emperour Constantius There were two causes that moved him to repair to Athens The first was tolerable the second had small honesty in it The first was to see Greece and the Schools that flourished therein The second which was more secret and was known unto few was to consult with Southsayers and Sacrificers about his affairs in time to come because it was not permitted openly for the Authors of such impiety to practise such divellish inventions And I my self in conjecturing of him at that time although I am not of the number of Prophets yet was not much deceived For his wavering minde and frantick disposition made me Prophet good enough I saw not one sign in him that gave me any hope that ever he would become an honest man He had a running head his shoulders did never leave waging he had winking eyes that continually rouled in his head His countenance was staring He had a sliding and limping pace His visage was scornful He had a fleering face of his own the which his immoderate laughter and continual scorning did declare His manner was without all honesty to say and unsay His words came tumbling out with vehemency and stops the sentence broken in the midst His questions and objections were rash and foolish His answers were little better which oftentimes followed one after another and as there was little hold of them so were they proposed without order But what need I to run over all particulars I foresaw in him before he was created Emperour that which afterwards proved to be most true If there were any of my familiar friends present which heard me thus divining of him I am sure they would testifie this to be no otherwise then I do report it in whose hearing also at the foresight of these things I uttered these words O good God what a Monster the Empire of Rome doth nourish When I had uttered these words I desired of God that in this matter I might be found a lyer For that had been far better then that the whole World should have been visited with so many mischiefs or then that such a Monster should have been seen amongst men the like unto whom had never been remembred before For in his time happened many deluges and flouds over-flowing the Countries the which both young and old do at this time remember Besides great losses by fire terrible Earthquakes and gapings of the ground Men also of a strange shape were born into the World of mixt and compound natures being half Men half Beasts But he purchased to himself such an end as his frantick disposition justly deserved These things did Gregory report of Julian Not long after in the reign of Theodosius senior Gregory was translated from the City Nazianzum to govern a little Church within the wals of Constantinople unto which the Emperour afterwards annexed a goodly Temple called the Resurrection But Gregory being a famous man and excelling in vertue and godliness all that flourished in his time when he perceived that some murmured and objected to him that he was a stranger and foreigner although he rejoyced at the Emperours coming yet utterly refused to continue any longer at Constantinople He had such a dexterity of wit that which way soever he turned himself he could happily effect it In opening the Mysteries of the Sacred Scriptures he was an exellent Teacher diligent cautious plain and without offering violence to the Text. Nature seemed to have framed him for Panegyrick Orations yet did he so temper his speeches therein to the mindes and ears of the multitude that he was very plain to the ignorant and yet at the same time to be admired by the learned In his Disputations against Eunomius he shewed admirable acuteness yet never receded from perspicuity of speech and so contained himself within bounds of defence of the Catholick Truth that he never brake forth into reproaches extravagant from the cause Neither was he unlike himself in his work to Amphilocus about the Holy Ghost But what argument soever he handled wholsome and pleasing speeches were never wanting to him and those not acquired but natural According to his name in all his works there appears a certain Kingly Majesty mixed with admirable humanity He so inveighed against the evil manners of men that they could not but love him whilest he child them And look what his Doctrine was such was his life By this dexterity of his wit when Eusebius Bishop of Caesarea by his ambition stirred up Sedition of an aemulus he made him his very good friend By this
Emperour and to John These he received very courteously and admitted them to the Prayers of the Church but not to the Sacrament till their cause was heard before the Emperour But a rumour being spread in Alexandria that he had admitted them to the Sacrament Theophilus was extreamly offended with him and sought to put him out of his Bishoprick Whilest he meditated these things he wrote to all the Bishops thereabouts that they should condemn the Books of Origen and considering that it would much advance his affairs if he could draw Epiphanius Bishop of Salamine in Cyprus a man famous for his Life and Learning to side with him he wrote very flattering Letters to him whereby he made him his friend Then did he perswade him to call a Synod in Cyprus to condemn the Works of Origen which the good man too easily affented to and calling a Council they condemned them Then did Epiphanius write to Constantinople to John to call a Council and to condemn them likewise there Theophilus in the mean time considering that he might safely do what such a famous man as Epiphanius had done he also summoned a Council of all the Egyptian Bishops where they also condemned the Books of Origen But John thought that this business did not deserve the calling of a Council and therefore neglected it shewing to his friends the Letters sent him by Theophilus and Epiphanius Hereupon the Clergy and the Rich and Great men who were angry with him for the reasons aforesaid perceiving that the purpose of Theophilus was to remove John from his Bishoprick they studyed how they might promote the same and so far prevailed with the Emperour that a very great Council was summoned to meet at Constantinople which Theophilus much rejoycing at presently commanded all the Bishops of Egypt to repair thither He wrote also to Epiphanius and to all the Eastern Bishops that they should hasten to Constantinople himself following them Epiphanius was the first that arrived and in a Town near to Constantinople he went into the Church where he made publike Prayers From thence going to the City John with all his Clergy met him with all the respect that might be but Epiphanius shewed by his carriage that the calumnies raised against John had made too deep an impression in him for when he was invited to the Bishops house he refued to go in and shunned to have any society with John Yea moreoverâ—calling privately together such Bishops as were at Constantinople he shewed what they had Decreed against the Books of Origen and prevailed with some to give their suffrage to the same though the greater part protracted the doing of it And Theotinusâ—ishop â—ishop of â—ythia blamed him to his face for it saying that it was altogether unlawful thus to condemn a man that was dead so many years before and that it was not without blasphemy thus to calumniate the judgement of our Ancestors and to reject those things which they had Decreed and withall plucking forth a certain Book of Origens he reads part of it and shews how useful and profitable it was for the Church saying further they that discommend these things shew their great folly and it s to be feared that in time they may condemn the Scripture it self about which these Books are written Notwithstanding these things John did much reverence Epiphanius intreating him to partake with him both in his House and Table yea and in the Church too But he returned answer that he would neither come into his House nor Communicate with him at Church except he would condemn the Books of Origen and drive away Dioscorus with the rest of the Monks his companions John thought this very unequal thus to drive them away before their cause was heard the rather because he had appointed a Sacrament in the Apostles Church Then did the Enemies of John suborn Epiphanius that he should come forth in publick and before all the people condemn the Books of Origen with Dioscorus and his companions for holding the same opinions and that withall he should tax the Bishop John for favouring of them The design of these men which thus set him on was to alienate the affections of the people from their Bishop Accordingly two days after Epiphanius went to the Church to accomplish these things at which time John hearing of his purpose sent Scrapion one of his Presbyters to meet him and to protest to him that he was going about that which was neither just nor safe for himself for that hereby he might bring himself into danger if any Tumult or Sedition should arise amongst the people where of he would be judged the Author This cooled his heat and made him desist from his purpose About this time a young son of the Emperours fell sick whereupon the Empress sent to Epiphanius requesting him to pray for him Epiphanius answered that the childe should live and do well if she would forsake Dioscorus and his Heretical Associates But said the Emperess I leave my childe in the hands of God Let him do with him as he pleaseth he gave him me and he may take him away again But for thy part if thou canst raise the dead why didst thou suffer thy Arch-Deacon Crispion to dye who was so dear unto thee Shortly after Epiphanius departed towards Cyprus and as he went down to the Haven to take Shipping he said to John I hope thou shalt never dye a Bishop And John answered him again I hope thou shalt never come alive into thy Country Both which came to pass Epiphanius dying by the way in the Ship and John being deposed and banished as afterwards we shall hear After the departure of Epiphanius Theophilus came to Constantinople but none of the City Clergy went to meet and entertain him because they knew that he was an Enemy to their Bishop yet some Mariners of Alexandria which were then at Constantinople met him singing songs in his praise and so he went to the Emperours Palace where a lodging was provided for him He also cunningly found out many which hated John and were ready to accuse him whereupon he went to Quercus a Suburb of Chalcedon where he gathered a Council and there again condemned the Books of Origen The Council also sent to Constantinople to summon John and some of his Presbyters to appear before them and to answer to such things as should be objected against them John answered that he refused not to come to his trial if first he might know his Accusers and the crime objected against him and be brought before a free Council But said he I am not such a fool as to appear before such Bishops as are my professed Enemies and to suffer them to be my Judges Most of the Bishops were much incensed at this answer only Demerâ—ius and some few that favoured John departed out of the Council Then did the rest cause John to be called four times and because he appeared not
the Eastern Churches and seeking the glory of God and the good of the People regarded not the reproaches of evil tongues whilest his Minister did that which himself was less apt and fit to do By this means Augustine like a bright candle set in a candlestick gave light to all that were in the house The fame of this thing flying abroad was the occasion that many Presbyters being allowed by their Bsishops Preached the good Word of God to the People in the Bishops presence At this time the Manichaean Heresie had infected many both Citizens and Strangers in the City of Hippo being deceived by a certain Pestilent Heretick by name Fortunatus a Presbyter remaining in that City Hereupon many of those Citizens and Strangers both Catholicks and Donatists come to Augustine requesting him to confer and dispute with this Manichaean Presbyter whom they judged a learned man about his opinions who willingly imbraced the motion being ready to render a reason of the Faith and Hope that was in him to every one that should ask it as also not only to exhort with wholesome word of sound Doctrine but to convince the gainsayers But he enquired whether Fortunatus was willing to do the like Hereupon they hasted to Fortunatus exhorting perswading and earnestly intreating him to imbrace the motion But truly Fortunatus was very fearful to encounter with Augustine whom he had formerly known at Carthage infected with the same Error But being overcome by their importunity and ashamed to decline the encounter he promised to give Augustine a meeting and to dispute with him The time and place being appointed multitudes flocked to it publick Notaries were appointed to write down what passed the Disputation continued two days the event was that this Master of the Manichees was neither able to overthrow the Catholick Faith nor to defend his own Erroneous opinions and so wanting an Answer he which before was accounted a great and learned man was now judged of no value nor ability to defend his Errors which did so fill him with confusion and shame that presently after he forsook Hippo and never after returned again And so through the blessing of God upon Augustines labors many who before were infected with that Error were reclaimed and imbraced the true Catholick Faith Augustine continued to Preach the Word of Truth frequently both in the Church and from house to house confuting the Heresies of the times especially the Donatists Manichees and Pelagians The same also he did by his writings the Christians wonderfully admiring and rejoycing in it so that through Gods blessing the Catholick Church in Africk began to lift up her head which formerly had been wonderfully corrupted and dejected by reason of Hereticks especially through the Rebaptizings of the Donatists whereby they had infected and seduced many Augustines Books also and Tractates being dispersed filled with Learning and the Authority of the Holy Scriptures so prevailed through the Grace of God that not only the Catholicks but many Hereticks flocked to Hippo to hear him and every one that could write or get others to do it for them wrote forth his Notes for their future benefit so that the sweet smell of the Doctrine of Chirst was by this means dispersed all over Africk which the Churches beyond-Sea hearing of much rejoyced therein for as when one member suffers all the members suffer with it so when one member is honoured all the members rejoyce with it At the same time the African Bishops holding a Synod at Hippo by their command Augustine being yet but a Presbyter disputed before them of Faith and the Creed which he performed to the joy of them all especially of the good old Bishop Valerius who gave much thanks to God for his mercy vouchsafed to him therein and fearing least some other City which wanted a Bishop should choose Augustine and so get him away from him which indeed had come to pass unless Valerius hearing of it had caused Augustine to go to another place and there hide himself so that when they sought him he could not be found wherefore this good old man fearing the like again and finding himself much weakned by Age wrote privately to the Primate of Carthage alleadging the weakness of his body and the infirmities of his old Age and therefore desired that Augustine might be made his Coadjutor in the Bishoprick of Hippo which by his importunity he also obtained So that the Primate coming to visit the Church of Hippo and bringing some other Bishops with him Valerius before them all and before all the people which were assembled together declared publickly his desire which they all approved very well of and the People earnestly desired that it might be effected but Augustine refused the Bishoprick being contrary to the custom of the Church whilest his own Bishop lived But many perswaded him that it was not such an unusual thing producing many examples both of the forreign and African Churches for it so that he was forced to yeeld his consent and was ordained to the charge of the Bishoprick And when he was thus ordained a Bishop he Preached the Word of Life more frequently fervently and with greater authority then he did before and that not only in his own City and Country but in all places where he was requested whereby the Church of God exceedingly encreased Many also of the Donatists frequented his Sermons took Notes and carryed them to their Bishops which when they had read they used to contradict but they that carryed them either answered them themselves or else carryed their answers to Augustine who with much meekness and gentleness confirmed the Truth and reselled their Errors He also wrote many private Letters to the Bishops and many principal Laymen of the Donatists admonishing and exhorting them that they would either reform their Errors or come to a publick Disputation but they distrusting their own cause would never write back to him again but being enraged with anger used to exclaim against and both publickly and privately to rail upon Augustine as a deceiver of souls and that as a Wolf he ought to be slain in defence of the Flock and without all shame neither fearing God nor men they proclaimed that whosoever would murther him should without all doubt have all their sins remitted unto them These Donatists had in their Churches a perverse and violent kinde of men who went up and down under the pretence of chastity who were called Circumcelliones and there were very great numbers of these who were dispersed through all the Regions of Africk These being instructed by evill Teachers were so inflamed with Pride and grew to such audacious boldness that many times they neither spared their own nor other men requiring them to do things against all right and reason and if any one opposed them he was sure either to be soundly beaten or basely murthered by them they being usually armed with sundry weapons raging up
ways to be beset by which these two Fathers used to go to instruct the people and it pleased God that as these two walked by the way they fell into these watchmens hands who presently loaded them with Irons and carried them to the Arian Priest Faelix when he saw that he was like to be apprehended threw away some money into a bush which he happened to have about him for the Brethrens sustenance The Arian Priest when they came before him used them very roughly demanding of them why they came out of their own Country to subvert his Christian hearers And as they were about to answer he would not hear them but first commanded them to be scourged whereupon Faelix requested that his Brother Fulgentius might be spared For saith he he cannot endure the extremity of the torment but in all likelihood will breath forth his innocent Soul under your hands But 〈…〉 let your wrath be wholly wreaked upon me who am most guilty of that which you charge us with Faelix therefore was mostcruelly beaten but not that Fulgentius should be spared who being of Noble Parentage was of a tender constitution and so the blows with the staves were the more grieveous to him whereupon he earnestly desired to be heard having somewhat to say and so the stripes and bastinadoes being intermitted he began with his Eloquent mouth to relate the cause of their travel into those parts causing his very Adversaries to wonder at his Eloquence and flowing Language So that the Priest had almost forgotten his cruelty and shame of the injury was ready to embrace his obdurate heart Yet least he should appear to be overcome with his words he cryed out Lay him on lustily and multiplying your blows ren◠this pratler What Thinks he by his words to seduce me also Hereupon he was again beaten most mercilesly then were both of them shaven deformedly their clothes pulled off and so they were sent packing all naked Forth then from the Arians house they departed no otherwise then as from a glorious combat and as crowned with Lawrels of Victory In their return they found the money which Faelix had hidden which was a great refreshing to them The fame of this detestable fact gave great offence to many and in particular to the Arian Bishop of the Diocess who had a good opinion of Fulgentius and much favoured him and would have punished the Priest if Fulgentius had desired it of him and indeed many urged him to seek revenge but he gave them this humble denyal saying It is not lawful for a Christian to meditate revenge our Lora Christ well knoweth how to repay the injuries inflicted on his servants If my case be avenged then lose I the reward of my patience especially seeing it might scandalize many little ones if I a Catholick should require judgement at an Arians hand A while after Fulgentius having heard and read much of the strict lives of the Monks in Egypt had a great minde to see the same and so leaving his Monastery he took shipping for Egypt but a storm meeting him by the way he was driven into the Haven of Syracuse the chief City of Sicily At this time Eusalius was Bishop there who very curteously entertained Fulgentiu and upon converse finding his sufficiency enquired the cause of his voyage and understanding by him the cause he much disswaded him from it and perswaded him to continue at Syracuse that winter which when he consented to he maintained him all that time and Fulgentius out of that little allowed him carefully ministred somewhat to the necessities of others Summer being come he failed to Rome where beholding the glory of the Romane Nobility the triumphant pomp of King Theodorick and the universal splendor and joy of the City he was so far from being taken with such worldly toys and delights that it raised up his desires after heavenly joys saying thus to some of his friends that accompanied him How beautiful may the Caelestial Hierusalem be when Terrestial Rome so glittereth If such honour be given to lovers of vanity what glory shall be imparted to the Saints who are lovers and followers of Truth Then did he return into Africa to the incredible joy of his Brethren but after a while finding the distractions which necessarily attended his abode there partly by reason of his care in Government and partly by reason of much resort of Noble men and others that dayly repaired to him his fame being now spread abroad he privily stole away and went to another Monastery far off amidst the shelly Rocks of the Sea destitute in a manner of all humane solace and necessaries where being with all courtesie received as much as he excelled others in Learning and Eloquence so far subjected he himself to all in humility and obedience Many Books he there copied out fair with his own hands and for his recreation made many necessary implements for the house of Palm-leaves But at last his old society gained knowledge of the place of his abode and presently sent to request his return Hereupon great contention arose between the two houses whilst one sought to retain the other to regain him The Controversie at last came before Bishop Faustus who Decreed his return to his first place and that he might be imployed for the publick good he ordained him a Presbyter At which time sundry Cities wanting Pastors for the King had forbidden the Ordination of any more Bishops many of them sought and sued to Fulgentius to undertake that charge and some proceeded to Elect him outright yet thought he himself secure by reason of the Kings prohibition till at last the persecuted Bishops who yet survived resolved rather to incur the displeasure of the King then to suffer the people any longer to want Bishops and thereupon meeting together they Decreed that Bishops should be ordained for all the vacant places and forthwith least the Arian King hearing of it should prevent them they sought out godly Presbyters whom they might appoint to this Office but then Fulgentius who was most of all sought for could no where be found for he had hid himself to avoid that imployment and so continued till all the solemnities were over passed and then returned hoping now to live in quiet But it pleased God otherwise to dispole of it For it so fell out that the City of Ruspa remained as yet unfurnished the Citizens whereof getting inkling that Fulgentius was discovered they came unto him laid hold upon him carryed him with them and not request but constrain him to be their Bishop Yet in this dignity he nothing forget his former integrity he still used mean and simple attire went many times barefoot wholly abstained from Flesh Wine and Oil and always kept about him some of his former associates But he with his fellow Bishops enjoyed not long their places for that fell out which was easily
under whom by reason of his sharp wit he profited so much that from the Grammer he proceeded to the study of Logick and other arts His Father from the beginning designed him to the study of Divinity which he judged him to be very much inclined to being religiously addicted from his childhood and a severe reprover of his School-fellows faults And being thus resolved he procured a Benefice of the Bishop for him in the Cathedrall Church of Noviodune as also a Cure in a neighbour Village called Bishops-bridge where himself was borne though afterwards he removed to the City of Noviodune in which place our John before his Ordination preached divers Sermons to the people But this purpose of his both their minds changing was afterwards altred For his Father seing that the study of the Law was a certainer step to riches and honour altered his mind upon that account and his Son growing into acquaintance with a certain kinsman of his called Peter Robert Olevitane was by him instructed in the true reformed Religion whereupon he addicted himself to the study of the sacred Scriptures and beganne to abominate and withdraw himselfe from the superstitious services in the Popish Church Upon this occasion hee went to Orleans where Peter Stella the most famous Lawyer in France read his Lectures whose Auditor John Calvin was and in a short space wonderfully profited in that study So that many times occasionally supplying his Masters room he rather seemed a Doctor then a learner of the Law And when he was about to depart all the Professors in that University proffered freely to bestow the degree of a Doctor upon him as having so well deserved of the University But all this while he neglected not the study of the sacred Scriptures and Divinity insomuch as few in that City that were addicted to the reformed Religion but they came to him to be satisfied in their doubts and went away admiring his learning and zeal And some that were intimately acquainted with him at that time testified that his manner was constantly to continue his studies till midnight and in the morning so soon as he wakened to ruminate what he had read over night whereby he fixed it in his memory neither would he suffer himself to be disturbed during the time of his meditation And the better to fit him for his studies he alwaies supped very sparingly By which practise he attained to excellent Learning and a very good memory Yet withall hereby he contracted such weaknesse of stomack as brought upon him many diseases and at last an immature death About this time the University of Biturg grew famous for that they had procured out of Italy the eminentest Lawyer of his time Andrew Alciat whom our John also would needs be a hearer of Thither therefore he went and during his abode there he grew into familiar acquaintance with Melchior Wolmarus a German the publick Professor of Greek in that University a man famous for Religion and Leaâ—ning Under him he studied the Greek tongue for which benefit he so much prized him that afterwards he dedicated to him his Comment upon the second Epistle to the Corinthians Whilst he was imployed in these studies he neglected not that of Divinity so that he preached divers Sermons in a neighbour Towne called Liveria But whilst hee was thus buâ—ied news came to him of his Fathers death which called him back into his own country And having setled his affaires there hee went back to Paris being now about four and twenty years old at which time he wrote that excellent Commentary upon Seneca de Clementia being much affected with that Author whom he used to say agreed very well with his Genius After a few moneths stay at Paris he grew acquainted with all that professed the Reformed Religion and amongst the râ—st with Stephen Forgeus a famous Merchant who afterwards sealed the Truth with his blood From hence forward at the earnest request of all the godly that held their private meetings in Paris he layd aside all other studies and wholly applyed himself to that of Divinity wherein also he found the speciall assistance of God At this time Nicholas Cope was Rector of the University at Paris who being to make an Oration upon the Kalends of November at which time the Pontificians used to celebrate â—heir All-Saints day at the instigation of John Calvin hee spake of Religion more purely and clearly then they used to doe This the Sorbonists could not bear and the Parliament of Paris was angry it insomuch as they cited him to appear before them which accordingly he was about to submit to but as he went some of his friends advised him to take heed of his adversaries whereupon he returned home and immediately after left France and went to Basil where his Father was a Professor of Physick The Officers sent by the Parliament searching for Cope went into Master Calvins house who by chance not being at home they ransacked his study and amongst his papers found many of his friends Letters which had like to have endangered the lives of many So bitterly were the enemies of the Church at that time enraged against the people of God especially one John Morinus whose abhominable cruelty is infamous till this day But it pleased God to divert that Storm by the prudent and pious diligence of the Queen of Navar the onely Sister of King Francis a woman of an admirable wit and exceeding tender of the welfare of the Professors of the Reformed Religion She also sent for Mr. Calvin into her Court used him very honourably and heard him gladly But Mr. Calvin finding Pais too hot for his abode went to Xantone where sojourning with a friend at his request he drew up short Christian admonitions which were dispersed amongst certaine Priests to be taught to their people that so their people might by liâ—tle and little be drawn to searching out of the Truth Shortly aâ—ter he went to Nerac a City of Aquitane where he visited that good old man James Faber Stapulensis who being formerly a Professor of the Mathematicks and Philosophy in Paris was perâ—ecuted for the Trutly by the Scybomsts but by the friendly help of the Queen of Navar was delivered and sent to this Town of her jurisdiction This good old man received young Mr. Calvin with very fatherly affections prophesying that in time to come he would prove a famous instrument for the building up of the French Church From thence Mr. Calvin went again to Paris being called thereto by the speciall providence of God For at this time that wicked Servetus was come thither dispersing his poyson against the sacred Trinity who hearing of Calvin pretended that he was desirous to confer with him and a time and place was appointed for their meeting whither Calvin went not without perill of his life who was faine to hide himselfe from the rage of
Schismaticks for disagreeing with him therein Irenaeus with other Brethren of the French Church being sorry to see contentions amongst Brethren for such a trifle met together in a Councel and by common consent wrote Letters unto Victor subscribed with their names intreating him to alter his purpose and not to proceed to Excommunicate his Brethren for that matter and although themselves agreed with him in observing the same time yet by many strong arguments and reasons they exhorted him not to deal so rigorously with those who followed the custom of their Country in observing another day He wrote also diverse other Letters abroad concerning the same contention declaring the Excommunication of Victor to be of none effect After the Martyrdom of Photinus he was made Bishop of Lyons where he continued about the space of 23 years By his frequent faithful and powerful Preaching and by his holiness of life he brought most of that City from Gentilism to the knowledge and service of the true God But the common Enemy of mankinde envying the progress of the Gospel and the salvation of so many Souls beside the publick Persecution stirred up a spirit of Error and falsehood in some Hereticks as Montanus Theodosius Alcibiades and Maximilla whereby he greatly disturbed the Peace of the Church Hereupon Irenaeus and his fellow-Laborers to shew their care of the Brethren sent abroad large Epistles of things done amongst them They sent also the Tenets of Montanus into Asia with their judgements upon them They wrote likewise Letters to Eleutherius then Bishop of Rome desiring him heartily to endeavour to keep the Church in unity and when they could finde no fitter a person for so weighty a business they made choice of Irenaeus for his holiness gravity and sincerity whom they knew to be willing to undergo all travel danger and labour for Christs cause and the Churches good Him therefore they sent to Rome writing by him in this manner Father Eleutherius we with you health in all things and always in God We have requested Irenaeus our Brother and fellow Laborer to deliver these Letters whom we pray you to accept of as a zealous follower of the will of Christ c. This Irenaeus wrote five Books against the Heresies of his times which are yet extant in the first of which dilating upon the infinite profundity of matter invented by Valentinus mixed with many Errors he discloseth openly the malice of the Heretick being cloâ—ked and concealed as it were a Serpent hid in his den For revealing their profane ceremonies and detestable mysteries he writeth thus Some saith he prepare their Wedding Chamber and accomplish the service to be said over them that are to be consecrated with charmed words And having thus done they call it a Spiritual Marriage conformable to the caelestial copulation Some bring them to the water and in Baptising say thus In the Name of the unknown Father of all things In the Truth Mother of all things and in him which descended upon Jesus Some others pronounce Hebrew words to the end that young Converts might be the more amazed And in his third Book he wrote that Valentinus came to Rome in the time of Hyginus ninth Bishop in succession after the Apostles And also Cerdon another Heretick who sometimes protested the true Faith and privily taught the contrary Afterward he confessed his error and yet again being reprehended for the corrupt Doctrin which he had taught he refrained the company of the Brethren He taught that God preached in the Law and Prophets was not the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. That Christ was known but the Father of Christ was unknown c. After him succeeded Marcion of Pontus a shameless blasphemer which encreased this Doctrine He tels us also in his second Book that the working of Miracles was frequent in his time Some of the Brethren saith he and sometimes the whole Church of some certain place by reason of some urgent cause by Fasting and Prayer have brought to pass that the spirits of the dead have returned into their bodies and so by the earnest Prayers of the Saints they have been restored again to life and have lived with us many years Some by the like means have expelled Devils so that they which were delivered from evill spirits have embraced the Faith and were received into the Church Others have the Spirit of Prophesie to fore-know things to come they see Divine Dreams and Prophetical Visions Others cure the sick and diseased and by laying on of their hands restore them to health For the gratious gifts of the Holy Ghost are innumerable which the Church dispersed through the whole World having received dispenseth daily in the Name of Jesus Christ crucified under Pontus Pilat to the benefit of the Gentiles c. Whilst he was Bishop of Lyons the state of the Church was very unquiet troublesome and full of danger because the Romane Emperour had not called in the Edicts of the fourth Persecution But in this dangerous time Irendus was valiant laboured exceedingly by Prayer Preaching Disputing Instructing and Reproving with patience and wisdom Seeking the lost strengthening the weak recalling the wandring binding up the broken-hearted and confirming those that were strong Whereupon Tertullian saith Tanta vitae integritate Doctrine sinceritate gregi is praesidet c. He governed the flock of Christ with such integrity of life and sincerity of Doctrine that he was loved exceedingly by his own and feared by others But in the latter end of Marcus Antoninus Verus God sent Peace to his Church so that the Christians lived securely held Councels and did Preach freely as also in the raign of Commodus who succeeded him But in the raign of Severus the next Emperor he being a bloody and cruel man was raised the fifth Persecution against the Church to the Martyrdom of many thousands but especially it raged at Lyons in so much as the blood of the slaughtered Christians ran down the streets and at last this blessed Saint with many other of his flock were carried between two hils where was a Cross on the one hand and an Idol of the other where they were put to their choice to go either to the Cross to suffer or to the Idol to live but they chose the Cross where they all constantly suffered Martyrdom about the year 182. Irenaeus being about the age of 60 years or as some say 90. He used to compare the Hereticks and Schismaticks of his time to Aesops Dog that lost the substance of Religion whilst they gaped too earnestly after the shadow Considering the vanity of all earthly things he said What profit is there in that honour which is so short-lived as that perchance it was not yesterday neither will be to morrow And such men as labor so much for it are but like froth which though it be uppermost yet is unprofitablest Erasmus thinks that he wrote
injuria praesentium malorum fiducia futurorum bonorum All injurie of evils present is to be neglected for the hope of good things to come Nihil prodest verbis proferre virtutem factis destruere To set out vertue in words and by deeds to destroy the same is nothing worth Cyprian in another Book mentioneth twelve absurdities in the life of man which are these Sapiens sine operibus A wise man without good works Senex sine Religione An old man without Religion Adolescens sine Obedientia A young man without Obedience Dives sine Elemosyna A rich man without Alms. Famina sine Pudicitia A woman without shamefastness Dominus sine Virtute A guide without Vertue Christianus contentiosus A contentious Christian. Pauper superbus A poor man that is proud Rex inîquns A King that is unjust Episcopus negligens A Bishop that is negligent Plebs sine Disciplina People without Discipline Populus sine Lege Subjects without Law His works are four Books containing 62 Epistles Besides Tractatus contra Demetrianum De Habitu Virginum De Simplicitate Praelatorum De Idolorum Vanitate Sermo de Ele emosyna De Zelo Livore De bono Patientiae De Mortalitate De Lapsis De Oratione Dominica Liber de Exhortatione Martyris The Life of Arnobius who flourished Anno Christi 330. ARnobius was a famous Professor of Rhetorick in a City of Africk called Sicca About the year 330. being converted to the Christian Religion he came to some Bishops earnestly desiring to be admitted into the Church and Baptized but they suspecting nè vir seculari eloquentiâ tumens c. lest a man swelling and puffed up with secular wisdom and who had always hitherto opposed Christian Religion should make a mock both of them and it therefore they rejected him whereupon he offered unto them those seven Excellent Volumes of his Disputations against his former Gentilism which they seeing with great joy received him He was Master to Lactantius He used to say that Persecution brings Death in one hand and Life in the other for while it kils the Body it crowns the Soul He flourished under Dioclesian between Anno Christi 300. 330. Learned Scultetus in his Medulla Patrum holds all the works that go under the name of this Arnobius to be spurious but only those seven Books which he wrote against the Gentiles wherein saith he Eruditè quidem tumido elatoque orationis genere contra gentes disputat The Life of Eusebius who dyed Anno Chri. 340. THe life of Eusebius was written by Acatius his Disciple and successor in the Bishoprick of Caesarea which being lost I can meet with no Author that gives us any account either of his Parents Masters or his first course of life But Eusebius is commended to the Christian World not for his Parents and Masters sake but for his excellent wit and great variety of Learning So that S. Basil saith of him Eusebius Palaestinus est fide dignus propter multiplicem experientiam Eusebius of Palestine is worthy to be credited for his great experience S. Hierom saith Eusebius in Divinis Scripturis studiosissimus Bibliothecae Divinae cum Pamphilo Martyre diligentissimus pervestigator Eusebius was a great student of the sacred Scriptures and together with Pamphilus the Martyr a most diligent seacher of the Divine Library Evagrius saith Eusebius vir sanè cùm in aliis rebus disertissimus tùm in scribendo tantum pollens ut possit lectores suorum librorum etsi non efficere perfectos Christianos ita tamen persuadendo impellere ut Christianam Religionem lubenter colant Eusebius truly was a man as in other things most Eloquent so in writing of such prevalency that though he could not make the Readers of his Books perfect Christians yet he could inforce them by his perswasions willingly to embrace the Christian Religion He was Bishop of Caesarea Palestina and for his great love to Pamphilus sir-named Pamphilus a most learned man of whom Constantine the Great used to say that he was worthy to be Bishop not of one only City but of the whole World and for his eloquence Hierom stiled him Romani eloquii Tubam the Trumpet of Roman Elocution About this time Eustathius Bishop of Antioch was deposed from his Bishoprick as some say for the Sabellian Heresie whereupon there was kindled in Antioch such a fierie flame of Sedition that in a manner the whole City was therewith turned upside down Amongst the common sort of people some cleaved to this side some to that The Garrison Souldiers also were so divided and set one against the other that if God and the Allegiance they owed to the good Emperour Constantine the Great had not been called to remembrance they had lamentably murthered one another But the Emperour by his Letters appeased the Tumult and Sedition that was raised amongst them the cause whereof was this One party of them chose Eusebius Pamphilus for their Bishop and would bring him in the other party would have their former Bishop Eustathius again But Eusebius refused to come to them whereupon the Emperour Constantine highly commended him for his wisdom and moderation Afterwards a Synod being gathered at Tyre to determine the controversies which were sprung up amongst the Bishops Constantine sent Eusebius thither to take cognizance of their differences where this memorable thing fell out Potamon one of the Bishops seeing Eusebius to rit as a Judge and Athanasius standing and pleading his cause before him being overcome with sorrow and weeping for those things which he saw the Professors of the Truth to suffer with a loud voice he inveighed against Eusebius saying Thou sittest there Eusebius and innocent Athanasius stands to be judged by thee Who can endure such things Tell me Eusebius Was thou not in Prison with me in the time of Persecution and I truly lost one of my Eyes for the Truth sake but thou hast nothing mutilated in thy Body neither didst thou give any testimony for thy Confession thou livest and hast had no member cut off How gatest thou out of Prison but because thou either madest a promise of submission to our Persecutors or else didst that which was abominable Eusebius hearing these things grew into great choller and dissolved the Assembly saying If you come hither and now speak such things against us surely your Accusers speak nothing but the truth For if you go about to exercise a Tyranny here much more will you do it in your own Country There is much contest amongst Divines both Ancient and Modern what Eusebius Faith was about the person of the Son of God Some charge him with Arianism for denying the Deity of Christ but Athanasius saith that he recanted it in the Nicaene Council Eustathius of Antioch accused him for innovating the Nicaene Creed when as himself professed that he rested satisfied therewith Hierom nameth him for an open defender of the Arian
this false charge yet they so far prevailed that Athanasius was sent for and then they charged him with sending a sum of Gold to one Philumenus to make away the Empeperour But Athanasius easily cleared himself from this aspersion also whereupon the Emperour suffered him to return home again in peace He wrote also by him to the people of Alexandria assuring them of the singular Modesty and sound Faith of Athanasius with whom he had had much comfortable conference and found him to be a truly Divine man and one that had been accused by his adversaries out of envy and not for any just cause that they had against him Yet for all this the Miletian Hereticks because they were frustrated in their former endeavours invented two other grievous accusations against Athanasius First that he had broken the Holy Chalice Secondly that one Arsenius being slain he had cut off his Arm and kept it to practice Magick withall This Arsenius was a Presbyter who having committed a great fault hid himself fearing least his Bishop Athanasius should call him to an account and punish him for it which the Miletians having intelligence of they diligently sought him out and having found him they spake him fair promised him much favour and security perswading him to retire himself to one Prines a friend of theirs and a Presbyter of a certain Monastery and prevailing with him they hid him there Then did they everywhere disperse rumors in the streets and at the meetings of the Magistrates that Athanasius had privily murthered Arsenius yea they suborned a certain Monk called John to charge Athanasius with this grievous crime Hereupon the rumor of this abominable fact being spred abroad came at last to the Ears of the Emperour Constantine Athanasius perceiving that though happily he might defend himself against so false an accusation yet that it would be a difficult thing for him to answer for himself before the Judges whose mindes were prepossessed with those false rumors therefore for the full clearing of himself before all he endeavoured that the truth might not be concealed yet withall he judged it almost impossible to defend and clear himself so long as Arsenius could not be found and thereupon he imployed one of his Deacons a most faithful man to search out Arsenius This Deacon going into Thebais by conferring with certain Monks learned where Arsenius was hid But when he came to Prines Arsenius could not be found for Prines having had intelligence before hand of the Deacons comming had sent him away into the lower Egypt Hereupon the Deacon seized upon Prines and together with him upon one Helias his intimate friend who was said to have conveyed away Arsenius and carried them along with him to Alexandria When they came thither they were carried before the Governour of the Egyptian Souldiers unto whom upon examination they confessed that Arsenius was alive that he had formerly been hid with them and that now he was hidden in Egypt This Confession of theirs Athanasius desired to be sent to the Emperour and obtained it whereupon the Emperour wrote back to him that he should go on diligently in his Office that he should be careful in instructing the people and promoting Piety amongst them and that he should not at all value the snares of the Miletians For saith he I know sufficiently that being stirred up by envy they have invented these false and forged accusations against you and thereby raised tumults in the Church I have therefore decreed that such wickedness shall not go unpunished but that Judgment shall be executed according to the Civil Laws and that except they be quiet they shall be severely punished as such as lay snares to entrap the innocent as disturbers of the Peace and right order of the Church and as destroyers of true Piety This his Epistle he commanded to be publikley read before all the Congregation whereby all the people might be informed of his minde Hereupon the Miletians being stricken with fear carried themselves peaceable being very fearfull of the Emperours displeasure And the whole Church of Egypt being quieted and governed by so worthy a Bishop flourished exceedingly and daily increased many of the Gentiles and of other Sectaries being converted to the true Faith Yet not long after his restless adversaries began again by cuning and subtile devises to disturb his peace to carry new complaints against him to the Emperour and to suborn such a multitude of accusers that the good Emperour by their importunity was forced to call a Council at Casarea Palestinae to which Athanasius was summoned to appear but when he heard that Eusebius Bishop of that City and Eusebius of Nicomedia and other Arian Bishops his adversaries ruled all the rost there he refused to appear fearing that he should have no equal dealings at their hands They again and again sent for him greatly urged his coming yet he deferred it about 30 Months space But afterwards when they still urged his appearing he went to Tyrus where many of the Oriental Bishops were met who commanded him to answer to the crimes objected against him For Callinicus a Bishop and Ischirion an Arian had accused him for breaking the holy Chalice for overthrowing the Seat and for that he had often imprisoned this Ischirion being a Presbyter As also for that he had falsely accused him to Hyginus the Praefect of Egypt for throwing stones against the Images of the Emperour whereupon he had been bound with chains Furthermore for that he had removed Callinicus the Bishop of Pelusium and had committed the government of the Church to one Mark a Presbyter of the same causing Callinicus to be kept by Souldiers to be beaten and brought before the Judgement Seat Some other of the Arian Bishops accused him also for causing them to be beaten In brief all of them objected against him that he had obtained his Bishoprick by the perjury of certain men whereas all the Bishops had protested that none ought to be ordained to the Office before he had cleared himself from such crimes as were objected against him for which causes they had refused to communicate with him and yet instead of clearing himself from the crimes wherewith he was charged he fought by force of Bonds and Imprisonment to compel men to join with him To these things they renewed also the charge against him about the matter of Arsenius and as commonly it fals out where snares are purposely laid to entrap a man on a sudden some that formerly seemed to be his friends stood up to be his accusers Letters also were produced and read that the people of Alexandria had made many out-cries against him and for his sake had refused to come to the publike Assemblies of the Church Athanasius being commanded to answer for himself often came into Judgement easily wiping off some of these charges and requiring some time for the clearing himself from the rest Yet he was
other Ecclesiastical persons that so they may live at hearts ease Athanasius having received these Letters passed through Syria and came to Palestinee and arriving at Hierusalem he opened unto Maximus the â—ishop both the Decrees of the Council of Sardis and also the Emperour Constantinus his agreement and consent therein and procured a Synod of Bishops to be assembled there which being gathered together Maximus gave to Athanasius the Communion and assigned to him his Dignity and the Council signified by their Letters to the people of Alexandria and to the Bishops of Egypt and Lybia all their Decrees and Canons touching Athanasius and so dissolved Hereupon all the adversaries of Athanasius cryed out against Maximus because that aforetime he had subscribed to his Deposition but now repenting of his folly he became of his Faith and awarded to him both the Communion and his Dignity When Vrsacius and Valence who formerly had been earnest followers of Arius heard of these things they condemned their former doings and gat them to Rome there to exhibit their Recantation to Julius the Bishop subscribing also the Creed that contained the clause of One Substance writing also to Athanasius that thenceforth they would communicate with him Athanasius travelling through Palestine towards Alexandria preached in every City where he came exhorting them to eschew the Arians and to embrace such as confessed the Faith of One Substance and in divers of the Churches also he Ordained Ministers which gave occasion to his adversaries to accuse him again for presuming to make Ministers in other mens Provinces Not long after it pleased God that Constance the Emperour of the West dyed and Constantius made challenge unto all the Dominions of his Brethren and being proclaimed Emperour of the West he made an expedition against Magnentius and Bretanion two Tyrants that had usurped the Government there The Adversaries of Athanasius supposing that now they had gotten a fit opportunity invent and charge him with new hainous offences Informing the Emperour that he had perverted all Egypt and Lybia they urged against him his late Ordination of Ministers in other mens Diocess Athanasius in the mean time came to Alexandria convened divers Councils of the Bishops of Egypt where they agreed to the Decrees of the Council of Sardis and of that held at Jerusalem The Emperour upon this occasion who aforetime was addicted to the Arian Heresie wrested all things that he had lately decreed on the contrary part and first he banished Paulus the Bishop of Constantinople whom the guides that were to conduct him into exile very lewdly stifled at Cacusum in Cappadocia Marcellus was expulsed Lucius Bishop of Adrianople was clapt up into Prison and there choaked with stink But above all the Emperour was most incensed against Athanasius giving commandment that he should be executed whereever he could be taken He charged also that Theodulus and Olympius Bishops of Thrace should be put to death and Arians were placed in all these Bishops rooms But it pleased God that Athanasius was made privy to these bloody Decrees of the Emperour whereupon he fled from Alexandria and escaped the danger This the Arians rejoiced at and grievously traduced him for it which Athanasius hearing of Apologized for himself making relation of the horrible practises committed at Alexandria by Georgius the Arian There came saith he to Alexandria certain persons that sought us out to Execution the Souldiers unawares beset the Church and instead of devout serving of God took in hand their bloody sword Georgius also joined with them then were the Virgins haled and clapt up into Prison the Bishops were bound and led away by bands of Souldiers the Fatherless and Widows were dispossessed of their Houses whole Families were rifled the true Christians were violently trailed and lugged out of their Habitations their doors were nailed up The Clergy mens Brethren were in great danger for their Brethrens sake These things were very grievous but that which followed was far worse The Week after Whitsontide the people did Fast and met in the Church-yard to Pray because they abhorred the Communion of Georgius But when this passing lewd man heard of it he stirred up against them one Sebastian a Captain who also was a Manichee He immediately with a great Troop of Souldiers all in Armour and with naked Swords in their hands and Bows and Arrows prepared ran upon the people as they were Praying upon the Sabbath and finding there but a few for the hour being past the greater part was gone home he committed such hainous acts as very well became his person He set on fire a great company of faggots he made the Virgins stand nigh the burning flame to scorch them He endeavoured thereby to enforce them to confess the Arian Faith But when he perceived that they would not and that they despised the burning heat of the raging fire He stripped them stark naked buffetted them about the head and face so that for a long time after they were scarce known of their own friends He also took forty persons and plagued them with a new kinde of torment never heard of before He took Palm-twigs newly plucked off from the Trees and stripping them scourged them therewith and the twigs having on their pricking knobs so rent them that by reason of the stumps sticking in their flesh they were fain to repair to Chirurgeons to be dressed of their wounds Others of them not being able to endure such terrible pains dyed of their wounds And such Men and Virgins as remained alive he sent away by the Souldiers into exile The dead carkasses not yet fully cold were denyed to their friends being thrown here and there and lying unburyed for that liked them best the Souldiers insulting over then as though they had not been faulty in committing such horrible crimes This did they having their mindes besotted with the furious rage of frantick Heresie And when as the dear and familiar friends of the dead rejoyeed at the bold and constant Protestation of their Faith yet mourned because that their corpses were not covered with Earth the savage impiety and beastly cruelty of these Souldiers revealed it self with greater shame and infamy Moreover they banished forthwith sundry Bishops of Egypt and Lybia and some of the Presbyters and having bereaved them of their Native Soil they used them so mercilesly that some of them dyed by the way and others in Exile They put to death also above thirty Bishops They followed the steps of wicked Ahab imploying all their art and industry to root out the Truth from off the face of the Earth Constantius his Armies having overcome and slain the Tyrants he presently removed to Rome there to celebrate the Triumphs for his Victories and hoping that he might by one means or other draw the chief dissenting Bishops to an agreement in the Faith he summoned a Council to meet in Italy about which time Julius the Bishop of Rome dyed
he so contented Modestus the Emperours Praefect that he drew that wicked man by the shining of his vertue to admire him By this when the Emperour Valence himself entred into his Church he first astonished him and afterwards by his discreet conference deterred him from his cruelty year reclaimed him from the faction of the Arians though afterwards those wicked men prevailed to bring him over to them again He had always a minde so prepared for Martyrdom that he desired it as a great favour In all his writings there is such a peculiar grace and excellency that he never tires his Reader but always dismisseth him with a thirst after more One saith of him that the true beauty of his soul did shine forth in his Eloquence Rhetorick being both his companion and servant Hierom was his scholar He was of such Authority in the Greek Churches that whosoever durst oppose his testimony was suspected for an Heretick He so loved solitude that when for his excellent Learning and Sanctity he should first have been made a Bishop he retired himself into obscurity but being discovered the people chose him for their Bishop At last growing old and unfit for his publick imployment he constituted another Bishop and returned to his former solitude He flourished under Theodosius He used to say That in a great multitude of people of several Ages and Conditions who are like an Harp with many strings it is hard to give every one such a touch in Preaching as may please all and off end none He wrote divers works both in prose and verse The Life of Epiphanius who flourished Anno Christi 370. EPiphanius Bishop of Salamine in Cyprus was born in Palestine in an obscure Town called Besanduces of poor and obscure parents his Father dying when he was young he was adopted and brought up by one Tryphon a Jew whereby he attained to an excellent knowledge in the Hebrew He was converted to the Christian Faith by one Lucianus famous for his Learning and Vertue Lucianus put him to Hâ—arion to learn under whom he profited exceedingly Whilest he was a boy certain Hereticks called the Gnosticks cunningly sought to invegle him and to draw him over to their opinions but it pleased God to preserve him from the temptation and to keep him in the Truth In his riper years he was famous in the Church for his Piety Holiness of Life and for the Sincerity of his Doctrine and Elegancy of his Stile as his Books witness which shew their Author to be a man of great reading skilful in the Tongues well acquainted with Controversies prudent in asserting the Truth and acute in confuting Errors whereupon Melancthon saith of him We have no fuller an History of those ancient affairs of the Church then the writings of Epiphanius do contain in which whilest he intends the Confutation of Heresies he inserts many Historical passages So that out of this Author may be collected almost a continued History of the ancient Church if any would with prudence join his Narrations together and I wish that some Prince would take care to see such a work done He was of a very liberal and charitable disposition insomuch as he spent all his estate in relieving the Poor Being afterwards chosen Bishop of Salamine in Cyprus he at first modestly refused that dignity but importunity prevaling with him he so lived that Vitam doctrinâ doctrinam vitâ comprobaret his Doctrine approved his Life and his Life desended his Doctrine He was semper Hereticorum acerrimus oppugnator always a sharp opposer of Hereticks He purged all Cyâ—rus defiled and slurried with divers Heresies and having gained an Edict from Theodosius the Emperour he cast all the Hereticks out of the Island About this time Theophilus Bishop of Alexandria having upon some false surmises conceived displeasure against John Chrysostom Bishop of Constantinople he sought cunningly to thrust him out of his Bishoprick whereupon he sent Letters to the Bishops throughout every City concealing his principal drift and only pretending that he misliked the Books of Origen Epiphanius also being at this time very old Theophilus wrought upon his weakness and prevailed with him to call a Council in Cyprus In which Council the Bishops Decreed that thenceforth none should read the works of Origen and by the instigation of Theophilus they wrote also to Chrysostom exhorting him to abstain from the perusing of those Books and requesting him to summon a Council at Constantinople and to ratifie that Decree with the uniform consent of all After this Epiphanius went to Constantinople and contrary to the Canons of the Church Ordained some Ministers there and administred the Sacrament Yet Chrysostom honoured him highly went with the rest of his Clergy to welcome him to the City invited him to lodge at his own house and to make use of his Church during his abode there But Epiphanius being prepossessed with prejudice answered that he would neither lodge in his house nor join with him in Prayer except he would condemn the Books of Origen and drive away Dioscorus with his associates from him who were favourers of Origen But Chrysostom answered that it would be great injustice to condemn men before their cause was heard especially considering that the time for administration of the Sacrament was now near and with this answer he left him Presently after the Enemies of Chrysostom came to Epiphanius and perswaded him publickly before all the people to condemn the Books of Origen and also Dioscorus and his followers and withall to tax the Bishop of the City for favouring these persons Epiphanius being of too facile a disposition went out the next day to perform these things which Chrysostom hearing of sent Serapion who met him not far from the Church and protested that if he did these things he would do that which was neither just nor equal nor convenient for himself For that hereby he might bring himself into danger if any tumult should be raised amongst the people Hereupon he desisted yet privately he called together some Bishops that stayed in the City and shewed them the Decrees which condemned the Books of Origen and drew some of them to assent to the same but the greatest part refused and Theotymnus Bishop of Scythia blamed him to his face for it and told him that it was altogether unlawful thus to calumniate and asperse a man that was dead long since especially being of so great worth and his writings approved of by their Predecessours c. At last he resolved to return into Cyprus and for a farewel to Chrysostom he said I hope that thou wilt not dye a Bishop To which Chrysostom replyed and I hope thou wilt never return into thy own Country Both which came to pass for a while after Chrysostom was cast out of his Bishoprick and Epiphanius dyed upon the Sea and when he found himself mortally sick he called his
friends and said to them Salvi estote filii c. God bless you my children for Epiphanius shall see your faces no more in this life and â—hortly after he dyed aged 115 years having been Bishop 55 years his loss was exceedingly lamented at Salamine He used to say That he never let his adversary sleep not that he disturbed him in his sleep but because he agreed with him presently and would not let the Sun go down upon his wrath His Works are printed together being most of them against the Heresies of his time the names are Opus contra Octuaginta Haereses Panarium Appellatum Compendium Fidei Christianae Anchoratus docens de Fide Christiana Anacephalaeosis sive summa totius operis Panarii appellatum Libellus de mensuris ponderibus Historia de Prophetarum vita interitu Epistola ad Johannem Episc Constantinopolitanum AMBROSE The Life of Ambrose who dyed An. Christi 397. A Mbrose Bishop of Millain his Father was a Praefect in France when Ambrose was an Infant a swarm of Bees as he lay in his Cradle setled on his Face and flew away without hurting of him whereupon his Father said Si vixerit infantulus iste aliquid magni erit if this childe live he will be some great man Afterwards he went to Rome and gained great knowledge in the Liberal Arts and was excellently accomplished with Eloquence and sweet behaviour whereupon he was made Governor of Insubria and so went to Millain where he was made Lieutenant and being made Lieutenant thereof about the same time this strange act happened When Auxentius whom the Arians had chosen to be Bishop of that Sea dyed all was there on an uprore about the Election of another Bishop and great strife there was whilst some would prefer this man and some others that man unto the Bishoprick The tumult being raised Ambrose the Lieutenant of the City who also was a Consul fearing greatly lest that Schism would breed mischief in the City came purposely into the Church to appease the Sedition And his presence prevailing very much with the people after he had given them many notable exhortations and thereby mitigated the rage of the heady and rash multitude All on a sudden with one voice and as it were with one mouth nominated Ambrose for their Bishop hoping hereby that all things would be reconciled and that all would embrace one Faith and Opinion The Bishops that were present thought verily that the uniform voice of the people was the voice of God himself wherefore without any further deliberation they took Ambrose who was but a Catechumenist and baptized him purposing also to enstal him in the Bishoprick Ambrose came willingly to Baptism yet denyed utterly to be a Bishop whereupon the Bishops made the Emperour Valentinian privy to their doings He wondering at the consent and agreement of the people judged that which was done to be the work of God himself he signified therefore to the Bishops that they should obey the Will of God and create Ambrose Bishop saying that God rather then men preferred him to this dignity Thus Ambrose being made Bishop the Citizens of Millain who aforetime were at discord amongst themselves thenceforth imbraced Peace and Unity Whereupon the good Emperour publickly returned thanks unto God in these words I give thee humble thanks O Omnipotent God and our Saviour Jesus Christ that whereas I had committed the Government of their Bodies to this man thou hast also committed their Souls to his care and thereby hast declared that my sentence was just in appointing him to such a place Not long after Ambrose spake very freely to the Emperour complaining of divers things which were ill administred by sundry of the Magistrates To whom that worthy Emperour answered I knew long ago that thou wast a free-spoken man for which cause I was so far from resisting thine Ordination to the Bishoprick as that I gave my free and full consent to it wherefore according to the rule of Gods Holy Word do thou prepare a medicine for our erring mindes This good Emperour a while after dying Justina his Wife being infected with the â—ilth of Arianism yet whilest her husband lived she could no kinde of way molest those that embraced the Faith of One Substance but after his decease removing to Millain together with her young son she raised such tumults against Ambrose the Bishop that in the end she prevailed for his banishment But the people who bore singular love and affection to Ambrose withstood her Act and hindred their force that went about to convey him into exile and it pleased God that just at the same time news came that Maximus a Britain had rebelled and that Gratian the Emperour was slain in France by Andâ—agathius the Captain of Maximus Which news so cooled the heat of Justina's spleen that she was content to let Ambrose alone Yet did she proceed to work upon the tender and flexible minde of her young son Valentinian junior and to instil into him the Principles of Arianism and the young man deceived by the enticements of his Mother too greedily drank in the poison thereof whereupon at length he began to communicate his minde to Ambrose supposing that if he could but draw him to his opinion he could easily overcome the rest But Ambrose began to minde him of the Piety and Sincerity of his Father exhorting him to defend the Truth which he had received from him as he would defend his Empire He also opened to him the difference between those two opinions shewing him how that of the Arians was directly contrary to the Doctrine of Christ and his holy Apostles and that of the Orthodox was most consonant thereunto But the young man as a young man that was blinded with the Error of his Mother was so far from hearkening to the good counsel of Ambrose that on the contrary being inflamed with wrath he compassed the Church where Ambrose was with a great number of armed Souldiers thinking thereby to terrifie him But when he saw that this valiant Champion and Souldier of Christ was no whit affrighted he grew into such a rage that he commanded him to come forth of the Temple To whom Ambrose answered That will I never willingly do neither will I betray the Sheepfold of my Sheep to the Wolves nor deliver up this Temple of God to the Authors of blasphemy but if thou pleasest to kill me here is my breast peirce it either with thy sword or spear as thou pleasest for I desire and am willing to embrace such a death This his resolute answer made the Emperour to withdraw About this time Theodosius the great reigning in the East there fell out a great Sedition in the City of Thessalonica which some of the Magistrates coming to quiet by the furious people they were not only greatly reproached but stoned to death The news hereof being carried to
sent his Spirits to kill Ambrose but they returned answer that God had hedged him in as he did Job Another came with a sword to his bedside to have killed him but he could not stir his hand till repenting he was by the prayer of Ambrose restored to the use of his hands again When Eugenius was Emperour Flavianus the Praefect desired leave of him to build the Altar of Victory at Millain which Ambrose hearing of departed from thence to Bononia but after a while Eugenius and Flavianus going to war against Theodosius he returned to Millain again But before they went they sent word that when they returned Conquerours they would make the great Church in Millain a Stable for Horses but God prevented them for Eugenius was slain by his own Souldiers and Theodosius got the victory This Ambrose was very abstinent full of watchings and prayer diligent in writing never dining but on the Sabbaths he was very couragious for the Truth and merciful to the Poor and Captives he would weep when he heard of the death of any godly Minister Falling sick he appointed Simplicianus a godly old man to succeed him and continuing instant in Prayer he departed this life the third year after Theodosius Anno Christi 397. He used to say When gold is offered to thee thou usest not to say I will come again to morrow and take it but art glad of present possession But Salvation being profered to our Souls few men haste to embrace it And again It is not so much to be enquired how much thou givest as with what heart It 's not liberality when thou takest by oppression from one and givest it to another And again A clear Conscience should not regard slanderous speeches nor think that they have more power to condemn him then his own Conscience hath to clear him And again Death is the burial of all vices for it is the progress and accomplishment of the full mortification of all our Earthly members wherein that filthy flux of sin is dryed up in an instant It is a voluntary sacrificing of the whole man Soul and Body to the Lord the greatest and highest service we can do him on Earth His works are printed in five Tomes The Life of Gregory Nissen who flourished Anno Christi 480. GRegory was sirnamed Nissenus from the City whereof he was Bishop He was born in Cappadocia in the fourth age after Christ. His Fathers name was Basil his Mothers Emmelia His Brothers names were Basil Bishop of Caesarea and Peter Bishop of Sebastia He had a Sister called Macrina From his childhood he was much affected with the study of Rhetorick wherein he grew as famous as any of the ancient Fathers He affected not that solitary life which his Brother Basil did but imployed himself in instructing others First he was a Professor in a School of Rhetorick Afterwards he became a Reader of Divinity in the Church Yet after a while returning to his Rhetorick School again he was reduced to his former work of reading Divinity by Gregory Nazianzen Suidas saith that he was Vir insignis omnique Doctrina exuberans A famous man abounding with all manner of Learning Neither was he less signal for his Piety and Holiness of Life as Nicephorus testifies For his great worth he was preferred to the Bishoprick of Nyssa a chief City in Cappadocia He was banished by the Arian Emperour Valence and from the seventh to the fifteenth year of his Reign he wandred up and down yet still went to such places where the necessity of the Church required his presence and where he might do most good In which godly imployment he was much encouraged by Gregory Nazianzen He lived under Constantius Julian Jovian Valentinian and Valence Gratian and Theodosius the Great and in his time together with Gregory Nazianzen was President in the Universal Council of Constontiple against the Macedonian Hereticks Anno Christi 492. When Hierom wrote his Catalogue of Illustrious men he was alive but the year of his death is not expressed by any Author He was admired for his Eloquence and one calleth him pervigilem Antistitem the faithful and vigilant Prelate He used to read the Scriptures with all diligence reverence and strictness having a special regard to the genuine sense of them He was a strong opposer of Eunomius his Heresie By the Oecumenical Council of Constantinople he was appointed as a man most fit to visit the Churches planted in Arabia After the decease of his brother Basil he finished his Commentaries which he had left imperfect upon the Six Days Works He also preached at Constantinople a Funeral Sermon upon the death of Miletius Bishop of Antioch He wrote an admirable book against Eunomius and another no less famous of the Creation of Man besides many Excellent Sermons which he made But the Treatise Of the Soul which he wrote to his sister Macrina deserves the praise of Learned men in all succeeding Ages Many things are fathered upon him but judicious Scultetus owneth only these Exegetica Scripta in Ecclesiasten In Cantica Canticorum In Psalmos De Occursu Domini De Deo Trinitate De Creatione De Providentia De Christo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 De Baptismo De cultus Dei in genere De cultu Dei in specie viz. De Peregrinatione ad loca sancta De Oratione De Pauperum Amore. De Beatitudinibus De Fornicatione fugienda De iis qui aegrè ferunt reprehensiones De iis qui temerè alios damnant De Vsurariis Funebres Orationes sive de morte piorum De Resurrectione mortuorum De Theologia Vniversa in Oratione Catechetica magna He compared the Vsurer to a man giving water to one in a Burning-Feaver which doth him no good but a great deal of mischief so the Vsurer though he seem for the present to relieve his brothers want yet afterwards he doth greatly torment him He gave this Character of an Vsurer He loves no labour but a sedentary life the Pen is his plough Parchment his Field Ink his Seed Time is the Rain to ripen his greedy Desires his Sickle is calling in of Forfeitures his House the Barn where he winnows the Fortunes of his Clients He follows his Debtors as Eagles and Vultures do Armies to Prey upon the dead Corps And again Men come to Vsurers as Birds to an heap of Corn they desire the Corn but are destroyed in the Nets And again There is no excuse for hard-heartedness for where can a rich man cast his eyes but he may behold objects of his charity c. He dyed under Valentinian and Valence The Life of Theodoret who flourished Anno Christi 420. THeodoret Bishop of Cyrus was born at Antioch of Noble and Religious Parents His Mother before she had him was much grieved in minde because she was barren and without hope of issue to inherit
the Chaldean Language is made therein He studyed also the Syriack because through their commerce with the Helrews their speech was nere of kin to it In these holy labours though he spent some years as also in his rigorous course of Life yet he professeth that he took much pleasure therein For that which at first seemed difficult and troublesome by degrees became easie and familiar to him and that which was best in its own nature became most pleasant also Yea he was so far from prizing and desiring the delights of Rome that living in a Wilderneâ—s he seemed to converse with Angels Sometimes his friends visited him and sometimes himself visited his neighbour Monks and by intercourse of Letters he enjoyed the society of his absent friends And though he could have desired all his life long to enjoy this pleasing retiredness yet it much conduced to Gods glory and the good of the Church that this Champion of Christ should at last appear in publick and that this excellent Light should no longer be hid under a Bushel and therefore though he seemed unwilling thereto yet Divine Providence so ordered it that at last he was drawn back to Rome and that by the means of Epiphanius Bishop of Salamine in Cyprus and Paulinus Bishop of Antiochia by whom he was formerly Ordained a Presbyter At Rome he became acquainted with some Noble Matrons and amongst the rest with Marcella all whom he inflamed with the desire of studying the Sacred Scriptures yea himself became an Interpreter thereof unto them especially to Marcella who so profited under him that afterwards when any controversie arose about the testimony of Scripture in such and such points they repaired to her to be a Judge therein By these means the fame of Hierom grew so great that every one judged him worthy to succeed Damasus in the Bishoprick of Rome But as there is never a shadow but when the light is present so the eminency of this holy man wanted not envy There were not some wanting who calumniated him for his first departure into Syria and in his absence wounded him with the darts of their viruâ—ent tongues Notwithstanding which he was very dear to and highly prized by Damasus the present Romane Bishop and living three years in strict friendship with him and Paula a Noble Matron he procured the greater envy to himself thereby which at length brake forth into open burning For certain of the Arian Faction were closely crept into Rome who the better to conceal themselves had taken upon them the name of Origenists These men that they might the better strengthen themselves screwed themselves into familiar acquaintance with sundry Noble Matrons amongst whom they secretly spred the poyson of their Doctrines and because Hierom was much taken with Origens wit and had highly commended him they sought to make him a partner of their Faction being so much the more dangerous by how much under a pretence of friendship they plotted his ruine so that he began to consult about leaving Rome of which himself in a certain place speaks thus I was accounted a scandalous person a turncoat and inconstant a lyar and one that deceived by Satans artifice They kissed my hands whilest like Vipers they detracted me behinde my back they seemed to grieve for me with their lips whilest in their hearts they rejoyced at my hurt One jeared at my gate another at my laughter another under my simplicity seemed to fear some mischief He had many reasons to induce him to leave Rome The remembrance of his former ease and freedom from the troubles and distractions of the City then the troublesome celebrity of the City the more troublesome delights together with the pride and luxury which attended the same For about this time the riches of the Church increasing Christian simplicity began to decrease Also the malice and envy of the Origenists against him grew daily more violent especially Ruffinus living in the City at this time who as he never was a sincere friend to him so now he was a secret yet pestilent adversary against him Upon these and such like reasons Hierom left Rome and went back to Syria concerning which journey himself thus writes When saith he I touched at Cyprus I was entertained lovingly by the venerable Bishop Epipâ—anius when I came to Antiochia I enjoyed the society of that excellent Confessor Paulinus and departing from him in the midst of Winter the weather being extream cold I came to Hierusalem where I veiwed all things and saw those places with mine Eyes which I had only read or heard of before From thence I went into Egypt where I saw Asps lurking in the Monks Cels Lastly I returned to Bethlehem I saw also the famous Lake neither did I indulge my self but by travelling up and down learned many things which before I knew not In this journey he grew acquainted with Gregory Nazianzen whom he cals his Master and prosesseth that he learned much out of the Scriptures by his assistance He also often heard Apollinarius at Antioch and had much familiar society with him by whose perswasion he went to Alexandria and there compleated his studies in Divinity by the help of Didymus Lastly by the help of Barhanina a Jew he perfected his studies of the Hebrew tongue Thus by long experience having got much Wisdom and by the society of many Learned and Excellent men having attained to a great measure of Learning he buckled himself to the handling of Divinity Undertaking the Office of a Divine setling himself at Bethlehem which place by his Vertues and Writings he made famous all over the World and in which place he lived a very quiet and comfortable life in the company of some godly learned and faithful friends spending his time in Singing Psalms Translating the Bible and Preaching to his Auditors Very many resorted to him out of all Countries all whom according to his ability he entertained lovingly and bountifully driving none from his house but such as were branded for Heresie He wrote much against the Heresies of those times so that there was no chief Heretick but looked upon Hierom as his great Adversary And indeed there were never any times more full of Sedition and Confusion then those wherein the Hereticks had so diffused their Errors that it was a peice of great Art to be Orthodox Especially the Arians by their writings weapons and countenance of the Emperours had not only disturbed the Peace of the East but almost of all the World And when that Heresie was in some measure â—ulled asleep it revived in the Origenists who were crept into Rome it self and there secretly and cunningly spread abroad the poyson of their Doctrines The Captain of whom was Ruffinus of Aquileia who in his childehood had been very intimate with Hierom But afterwards these great friends became great enemies though the first breach betwixt them was pieced up by the Prudence
to bring the glad tidings of the Gospel to them And whereas some of the Marcionites had infected the parts about Ancyra with their Errors he procured an Edict from the Emperour which he sent to the Bishop of Ancyra to expel them out of their places Also whereas one Gainas a great man in Scytia of an Insolent and Tyrannical spirit had importuned the Emperour for a Church for himself and his followers being Arians the Emperour acquainted Chrysostom with it telling him that he durst not say him nay He desired to speak with this Gainas before the Emperour where in his presence he so daunted the proud Tyrant with his stout and resolute speeches that he caused him to be ashamed of his request and to be content without it Yea he afterwards so prevailed with Gainas that when he had invaded some parts of the Empire he brought him not only to make peace with the Emperour Arcadius but also to set his Prisoners free He stoutly told Eudoxia the Empress that for her covetousness she would be called a second Jezabel she thereupon sent him a threatning message to which he answered Go tell her Nil◠nisi peccatum timeo I fear nothing but sin yet when she confederating with some others his Enemies had procured his banishment into Hieron as he went forth of the City he said None of these things trouble me but I said within my self If the Queen will let her banish me The Earth is the Lords and the fulness thereof if she will let her saw me a sunder Isaiah suffered the same if she will let her cast me into the Sea I will remember Ionah if she will let her cast me into a burning fiery Fornace or amongst wilde Beasts the three Children and Daniel were so dealt with if she will let her stone me or cut off my head I have S. Steven and the Baptist my blessed companions if she will let her take away all my substance Naked came I out of my mothers womb and naked shall I return thither again He was so beloved that on a time when he was like to be silenced the people cryed out Satius est ut Sol non luceat quà m ut non doceat Chrysostomus We had better want the shining of the Sun then the Preaching of Chrysostom He used to say As a great showr of rain extinguisheth the force of fire so meditation of Gods Word puts out the fire of lust in the soul And as a Boat over-laden sinks so much wealth drowns men in perdition And a bulwark of Adamant is not more impregnable then the Love of Brethrer And as a rock though windes and waves beat against it is unmovable so Faith grounded on the Rock Christ holds out in all temptations and spiritual combats And the Divels first assault is violent resist that and his second will be weaker and that being resisted he proves a coward His Works were printed very acurately in Greek by Sir Henry Savill at Eaton Colledge Anno Christi 1613. in eight Volumes AVGVSTINVS The Life of Augustine who dyed An. Christi 430. AVgustine was an African by birth of Thagasta of pious parents Patricius and Monica who by breeding their son in Learning much weakned their estate He attained to singular skill in the liberal Arts wherein he was much holpen by the bountiful contribution of Romanian a Noble Gentleman In his youth he was vitious in manners and erroneous in judgement tainted with the Error of the Manichees He first taught Grammer in his own City where he was born Then Rhetorick in the Regal City of Carthage Afterwards he went to Rome and from thence to Millain where he was Tutor to Valentinian the Fifth And by the Doctrine and Wisdom of Ambrose he was reduced from his Error and Baptized after which he wholly set his heart to seek the Lord regarding neither honour nor riches being then about thirty years old This much rejoyced Monica his Mother then a Widdow who was more glad that her son devoted himself to the Service of God then she would have been of having Grand-children by him He also gave over reading of Rhetorick leaving his Scholars to seek them a new Master After this he returned into Africa spent his time in Watchings Fastings and Prayer serveing God both day and night and at last was chosen Minister in Hippo where he Preached both by Life and Doctrine diligently But before this it fell out that a certain Great man at Hippo hearing the fame of Augustine both for his Life and Learning was very desirous to see and speak with him promising to himself that he should easily be perswaded to forsake the World with the allurements of it and all the lusts of the flesh if he could but once hear the Word of God taught by him which when Augustine was informed of by faithful witnesses being desirous to deliver a soul from the perils of this life and eternal death hereafter he hasted to Hippo where he visited and often preached to the man exhorting him to remember his promise and to perform his Vows to God yet he deferred the performance of it from day to day neither did Augustine at that time see his desires accomplished At this time one Valerius was Bishop of Hippo who the necessity of the Church requiring it was very solicitous to procure a Minister for that place whereupon when the Congregation was assembled he exhorted and perswaded them seeing they now had experience of the Life and Doctrine of Augustine to make choice of him Augustine not suspecting any such matter was present amongst them Hereupon the people laid hold of him and presented him to the Bishop all of them with one heart and mouth earnestly desirng that he might be their Minister At this Augustine wept very much which some of them misinterpreting laboured to comfort him saying that though he deserved a better place yet being called to the Ministry he was in the next degree to a Bishop whereas indeed the cause of his weeping was because he foresaw how many and great perils hung over his head by undertaking the Government of that Church Thus being made a Presbyter for that place he associated to himself some others which might live with him according to the example of the Primitive Church having all things in common Valerius the Bishop being a very godly man rejoyced exceedingly and gave thanks to God for answering his Prayers by such a special Providence sending him one so able by his Doctrine to edifie the Church of Christ and this he did the rather because himself being by Nation a Grecian was not so fit nor able to instruct that people as was Augustine and contrary to the use and custom of the African Churches he permitted yea urged Augustine often to Preach in his own presence for which some other Bishops reproached him But this Venerable and good man knowing that it was usual in
this present evil World and I believe that God will answer my desire And indeed accordingly in the third moneth of the siege he fell sick of a Feaver which proved his last sickness neither would God defraud his servant of the fruit of his Prayers And indeed he was very powerful in Prayers so that sometimes thereby he hath cast out Devils and restored sick men to their health His Feaver proved so violent that he dyed in the same third moneth of the siege In his sickness he breathed forth most pious ejaculations He made no Will having nothing to bestow but only Books upon several Libraries He dyed Aged 76. Anno Christi 430. having been a Minister 40 years It 's written of him that after his first Conversion to the Faith he was grievously vexed with inward conflicts against his corrupt affections complaining of his inward hereditary habitual inveterate vices and after long strugling with them by purposes vows strong resolutions watching fasting self-revenge and other good means finding still his own weakness and the encreasing violence of his corruptions as he was intentively musing and meditating what to do more he heard a voice saying In te stas non stas whereupon rightly apprehending that his own strength of wit carnal reason and other powers and helps of nature could not serve the turn for the effecting of that which was the proper and peculiar work of Grace he betook himself to his Saviour by humble faithful and fervent Prayer and at last found such assistance from the Holy Spirit of Grace as strengthned him to stand and make good his resolutions with more comfort then before His usual with was that Christ when he came might finde him aut Precantem aut Praedicantem either Praying or Preaching When the Donatists upbraided him unworthily with the impiety and impurity of his former Life Look said he how much they blame my former fault by so much the more I commend and praise my Physitian He used to say Holy Marriage is better then proud Virginity And again Prayer that is pure and holy pierceth Heaven and returns not empty It 's a shelter to the Soul a sacrifice to God and a scourge to the Divel And again There is nothing that more abateth sin then the frequent meditation of Death He cannot die ill that lived well aud seldom doth he die well that lived ill A Christian at home in his house must think himself a stranger and that his Country is above where he shall be no stranger And again If men want wealth it is not to be unjustly gotten if they have it they ought by good works to lay it up in Heaven He that hath tasted the sweetness of Divine love will not care for temporal sweetness The reasonable Soul made in the likeness of God may here finde much careful distraction but no full satisfaction for it being capable of God can be satisfied with nothing but God Not to be without affliction but to overcome affliction is blessedness Love is strong as death for as death kils the body so love of eternal life kils worldly desires and affections He called Ingratitude the Devils Sponge wherewith he wipes out all the favors of the Almighty He so admired and loved the seven Penitential Psalms that he caused them to be written in great letters and hung within the curtains of his Death-bed that so he might give up the Ghost in the contemplation and meditation of them His Prayer was Lord give first what thou requirest and then require of me what thou wilt And He that prays well cannot chuse but live well His Works are printed in nine Tomes at Basil by Froben The Life of Cyril of Alexandria who flourished Anno Christi 430. THeophilus Bishop of Alexandria falling into a Lethargy shortly after dyed whereupon a great contention arose about the Election of a new Bishop some standing for Timotheus the Archdeacon and others for Cyrillus Abudatius the Captain of the Garrison laboured all that he could to prefer Timothy but the other party prevailed and so Cyril was chosen and setled in the Bishoprick About this time Nestorius the Heretick vented his blasphemous opinions against the Deitie of our Saviour Christ whom Cyril answered and confuted Upon this the Emperour Theodosius minor summoned a Council at Ephesus in which Cyril was chosen President and where with much learning and judgement he confuted Nestorius and Pelagius So that the Council after serious examination and deliberation pronounced this sentence To omit the other abominable wickednesses of Nestorius because being sent for by us he hath refused to appear neither would he receive those godly and religious Bishops whom we sent to confer with him being therefore forced by necessity we proceeded to the examniation of his wicked opinions and finding partly by the Epistles and Books that he hath written and partly by his words which in this famous City he hath lately spoken which by sufficient witness have been proved before us that he holds and publisheth Heretical opinions contrary to the Word of God and the Canons of the holy Councils we therefore not without many tears are forced to pass this severe sentence against him and our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ whom he hath so grosly and grievously blasphemed doth by us Decree that Nestorious be deposed from his Rishoprick and excommunicated from the holy Assemblies of the Ministers of God Which sentence the Emperour Theodosius did also approve of and confirm and withall banished him to Oasis and God to shew the severity of his justice against blasphemers strake him with an incurable disease whereby his tongue rotted and breeding many Worms was devoured by them so that he ended his wretched life after a most miserable manner This Cyril was by birth a Grecian and as one testifies of him was Vir doctus sanctus a learned and holy man He was President in the Council at Ephesus where with much learning and judgement he confuted Nestorius and Pelagius He was admirably experienced in the holy Scriptures flourished under Theodosius junior he was so famous for piety eloquence and wit that the Grecian Bishops gat some of his Homilies by heart and recited them to their people After twenty two years labor in the Government of that Church he quietly yeelded up his spirit unto God Anno Christi 448. under Theodosius junior He used to say It 's the best way for a rich man to make the Bellies of the Poor his Barn to succour the fatherless and needy and thereby to lay up treasure in Heaven that he may be received into everlasting habitations And Where the Scripture wants a tongue of expression we need not lend an ear of attention we may safely knock at the Council door of Gods secrets but if we go further we may be more bold then welcome And again The Devil runs
foreseen to be a likely consequent yet was contemned in respect of the Churches necessity and want which was that the Arian King enraged by this act banished about 60 Bishops into Sardinia amongst whom Fulgentius was one who joyfully ascended the Ship being heartily glad that he had a share in such a glorious confession Divers of his Clergy and Friends followed him and being arrived at Calaris in Sardinia he there lived with them at the same Table and by his Sermons converted many Not long after King Thrasamund amongst the crafty fetches and persecutory drifts whereby he endeavoured to allure the Catholicks to the Arian Heresie used this Policy He feigned a desire to become a Catholick and setting down divers captious and deceitful questions pretended that he could not finde any that could sufficiently answer those questions whereupon hearing the fame of Fulgentius he hastily sent for him who with an undaunted courage came to Carthage and not being presently called to the King endeavoured seriously to confirm the Catholicks in their Faith and with much curtesie and affability answered all questions rejecting no man whereby he reclaimed many from their Errors admonishing them to repent of and to bewail their fall others he exhorted not to hazard the damnation of their Souls for temporal advantages and whom he saw in danger of perdition with milde yet effectual words he stayed and encouraged to a noble and generous resolution animating them to suffer any dangers or torments rather then to deny the Truth and it pleased God so to bless his labors that some who before were staggering were now by his means imboldned plainly to reprove the weak-grounded impudence of the Arian party And thus the Omnipotent God turned the Enemies device to the advancement of his own glory Then did the King send for him and questioned with him and met with such solid and judicious answers that he was forced to acknowledge that he found him every way to answer the report which he had heard of his Wisdom and Learning and withall he proposed sundry difficult questions to which he required his answer in writing Fulgentius having drawn up his Answer communicated it to the most learned Catholicks and after their approbation to the people before it was delivered to the King Thrasamund having with great diligence perused it praised his Wisdom wondred at his Eloquence commended his Humility yet had his heart so hardened that he could not understand and submit to the Truth Fulgentius could not be suffered to stay long at Carthage for the Arians with their clamors incensed the King complaining that he had already gained from them some of their Ministers and that the people fell apace to him so that their whole Religion stood in great hazard by his means Then the King to quiet them sent him back into Sardinia Late in the night was he carryed aboard the Ship that his departure might be the better concealed from the people but it pleased God by contrary windes long to detain the Ship in the harbor so that for many days almost the whole City flocked to him to take their farewel and many communicated at his hands And when great lamentation was made for his departure he took one Juliates a very godly man apart and told him he should shortly again return and that the Church should enjoy peace which also came to pass When he was requested to pray for any that were sick or in misery he commonly used this Petition Thou O Lord knowest best what will make for our Souls health Grant of thy mercy a supply unto our necessities so far forth as shall not hinder our spiritual profit And when God graciously answed his Prayers in their behalf he used to say That God did it for their sakes not for his He commonly said that Miracles make not a man just or righteous but famous When he was come back to Sardinia he returned to his former strict course of life with his Associates who had all things in common and when he distributed more to one then to another by reason of sickness or weakness he used thus to say to them Who taketh of the common so much becometh debtor to all which debt he can only pay by humility It was very pleasing to him when any of the Brethren proposed any hard question and gladly he hearkened to the doubts of any though they were never so simple neither would he through weariness or tediousness cease to give them answers until they confessed them selves to be satisfied Though he was sometimes severe towards the obstinate yet he remained even when he seemed most displeased and angry nothing at all in minde troubled or disquieted Thrasamund the King being shortly after taken away by death Hilderick succeeded him who restored peace and liberty to the Catholicks recalling their Bishops from Exile and amongst the rest Fulgentius who was received with great devotion by the Africans no less in every City then if he had been their peculiar Bishop Everywhere they met him with tokens of joy with whom now rejoycing he rejoyced as before with them lamenting he had lamented Yea their love was so great to him that a showre of rain falling they held their garments over his head to keep him dry Then did he return to his proper seat where he would do nothing without the advice of his Clergy In the Council of Vincensa he was by the common suffrage of the Bishops chosen President Though Bishop Quodvultdeus claimed that preheminence as belonging to his Sea and though Fulgentius for the present would not oppose this choice yet at the next Sessions he procured that the Bishop Quodvultdeus was restored to his right A year before his death he retired with some Brethren into the Island of Circina and there lived a most strict life But the necessities of his people requiring and their importunity prevailing he returned to them and shortly after fell into grievous pangs of sickness wherein he continued sixty days often crying out O Lord give me patience and pardon Physitians perswading him to make use of a Bath he answered Can Baths make that man who hath accomplished the course of Nature that he shall not dye Why then do you go about to perswade me now at my last end to remit of that rigor which I have always used Lastly calling together the Brethren about him he thus spake to them Dear Brethren having been careful of your Souls health perhaps I have been austere and harsh towards you If any one be offended I beseech him to pardon me and if my severity have possibly passed measure and due moderation pray ye to God that he may impute it not to me They all kneeling down acknowledged him to have been always loving gentle and milde towards them Then did he pray for his people that God would provide for them a Pastor after his own heart After
condemned them for Heretical and Erroneous by twenty three Cardinals and withall sent his Bull to Oxford rebuking them sharply for suffering Wickliefs Doctrine so long to take root amongst them and not wholly eradicating the same which Bull being exhibited by the Popes messenger to the Proctors and Masters of the University they deliberated long amongst themselves whether they should receive it with honor or reject it with contempt The Pope also at the same time sent Letters to the Archbishop Sudbury and Bishop Courtney of London commanding them to apprehend and imprison Wicklief and to admonish the King and Nobles of England that they should not give any Credit to John Wicklief or his Doctrine in any wise He wrote also at the same time to the King desiring him to assist the Bishops in the apprehension and imprisonment of John Wicklief These Letters so encouraged the Bishops that they resolved to proceed against him in their Provincial Council all fear or favor set apart and that no person neither high nor low should hinder them neither would they be induced to favor him neither by intreaty threatnings nor reward but that they would proceed roundly with him though it should be to the hazard of their lives But it pleased God by a small matter to confound and overthrow their devices notwithstanding all their proud brags and policies For the day of Examination being come there came in a Courtier amongst them called Lewis Clifford a m a of no great birth and commanded them that they should not proceed to any definitive sentence against John Wicklief wherewith the Bishops were so amazed and crest-faln that they became as mute ment not having one word to answer And thus it pleased God by his Providence thus once more to deliver Mr. Wicklief out of their cruel hands and one that writes this story saith further that whilst the Bishops were sitting in the Chappel at Lambeth upon John Wicklief not only the Citizens of London but saith he the vile abjects of the City were so bold as to intreat for him and to stop the Bishops in their proceedings And thus was Wicklief dismissed the Bishops charging him that he should Preach no more such Doctrine to the offence and hurt of the Lay people yet being departed he ceased not to proceed in his godly purpose going up and down bare-footed and in a Frize Gown endeavouring by his Ministry still to edifie and profit the Church as formerly he had done And Gods Providence so ordered it that about the same time Pope Gregory the 11th dyed whereupon ensued such a Schism in the Church of Rome between two Popes and others succeeding after them that it continued 39. years even to the Council of Constance About the same time also or shortly after there arose a cruel commotion of the Commons under Jack Straw where the rude multitude taking Simon Sudbury Archbishop of Canterbury beheaded him whom William Courtney Bishop of London succeeded who was very zealous and diligent against the Heresies of Wicklief as he called them Also in the year 1380. William Barton being Vicechancellour of Oxford called together eight Monastical Doctors and four others and having the consent of others of that Fraternity set forth an Edict under the Common Seal threatning all under a grievous penalty if they should be so hardy as to associate themselves with any of the fautors of Wicklief and to Wicklief himself he threatned the greater Excommunication and Imprisonment both to him and his favorers unless within three days after Canonical warning they repented and amended Wicklief understanding this resolved to forsake the Pope and all his Clergy and to appeal to the King but the Duke of Lancaster being now inveagled by the Bishops interposed forbidding him not to attempt any such thing but rather to submit to his Ordinary Wicklief finding himself hereby in this great strait was forced to make a Confession of his Doctrine and therein to qualifie his Assertions after such a sort that thereby he asswaged the rigor of his Enemies Anno 1382. Archbishop Courtney appointed a Convocation to be held at London principally against Wicklief wherein this memorable accident fell out When they were all gathered together at the Gray-Fryers in London just at the very instant when they were beginning their business against Wicklief there fell out a wonderful and terrible Earthquake through all England whereupon divers of the Suffragans being frighted with the terror of it thought good to leave off their further proceeding therein Yet did the Archbishop carry on his design declaring some of Wickliefs Doctrines to be Heretical others Erroneous and other Irreligious and Seditious and not Consonant to the Doctrine of the Church of Rome and not content herewith he so prevailed with the young King that he procured Letters Patents to be directed from the King to himself wherein are these words Forasmuch as the Archbishop of Canterbury hath made his supplication to us for the coertion and due castigation of all such as shall hence forth obstinately Preach and maintain any of those conclusions which in the late Convocation have been adjudged Heretical c. requesting that we would vouchsafe to put to the arm and helping hand of our Kingly power We therefore moved by the zeal of the Catholick Faith whereof we are and will be Defenders and being unwilling that any such Heresies should spring up within our Dominions Give and grant License and Authority by these presents unto the aforesaid Archbishop and his Suffragans to arrest and imprison either in their own Prisons or elsewhere all and every such person and persons as shall either privily or openly Preach or maintain the aforesaid conclusions c. Further charging and commanding all our Leigh-men Ministers and Subjects upon their Fidelity and Allegiance neither to favor counsel nor help such Preachers or maintainers of the aforesaid conclusions upon pain of forfeiting all that they have but to obey and humbly to attend upon the Archbishop and his Suffragans in the execution of these presents c. The like Letter the King wrote also to the Vice-chancellor of the University of Oxford requiring him to give notice that none should be so bold as to entertain Mr. John Wiclief or any of his followers into their houses or to Communicate with them which if any did that he should banish them the University and Town of Oxford till they should prove their Innocency before the Archbishop of Canterbury yea this young King pressed by the violent importunity of the Archbishop wrote another Letter to the Vicechancellor and Proctors of the University straightly charging and commanding them to make a general Inquisition through the whole University as well for Wicklief and his followers as for all others which were suspected to be maintainers receivers or defenders of those persons or their opinions any manner of way and all such to apprehend and expell the University
mercies sake In degrading him they pared off the Crown of his head and the skin with a pair of shears and to justifie their proceedings against him because the Emperour had given him his safe Conduct the Council made a Decree That Faith was not to be kept with Hereticks The Roman Agents persecuted him with such eagerness that his Works were condemned to be burnt with him When he was brought forth to be burned they put on his head a Tripple Crown of paper painted over with ugly Divels But when he saw it he said My Lord Jesus Christ for my sake did wear a Crown of Thorns why should not I then for his sake were this light Crown be it never so ignominious Truly I will do it and that willingly When it was set upon his head the Bishops said Now we commit thy soul unto the Divel But I said John Huss lifting up his Eyes towards Heaven do commit my spirit into thy hands O Lord Jesus Christ unto thee I commend my spirit which thou hast redeemed As he was going to Execution they burned his Books before his face at which he smiled and said unto the people Think not good people that I die for any Heresie or Error but only for the hatred and ill-will of my Adversaries When he came to the place of Execution he kneeled down and with his Eyes towards Heaven he prayed and repeated certain Psalms and with a merry and chearful countenance cryed often Into thy hands O Lord I commend my spirit As he listed up his head in Prayer the Crown of paper fell off but a Souldier taking it up said Let us put it on again that he may be burned with his Masters the Divels whom he hath served When he rose from his knees he said Lord Jesus Christ assist and help me that with a constant and patient minde by thy most gracious help I may bear and suffer this cruel and ignominious death whereunto I am condemned for the Preaching of thy most holy Gospel And as they tyed his neck with a chain to the stake smiling he said That he would willingly receive the same chain for Jesus Christ's sake who he knew was bound with a far worse chain When the fire was kindled he began to sing with a loud voice Jesus Christ the Son of the living God have mercy upon me and at the third time that he repeated it the winde drove the flame so into his face that it choaked him The heart that was found amongst his bowels being well beaten with staves and clubs was at last prick't upon a sharp stake and rosted at a fire till it was consumed His ashes were diligently gathered up and thrown into the River Rhene He suffered Martyrdom Anno Christi 1415. He told them at his death That out of the ashes of the Goose for so Huss in the Bohemian language signifies an hundred years after God would raise up a Swan in Germany whose singing would affright all those Vultures which was exactly fulfilled in Luther just an hundred years after Upon his death the Bohemians under Ziska rose in Arms and had admirable success against the Emperour and the Papists And this pompous act of theirs had a very tragical event the Bohemians maintaining war against the Emperour Sigismund for 17. years after wherein he spent abundance of treasure lost many brave Armies and gallant men and during these Wars a thousand Monasteries were overthrown many Castles demolished and Cities burnt all which was a just revenging hand upon him for his perfidiousness and cruelty Before his going to Constance Mr. Huss set up this Epistle upon the Gate of the Kings Palace Unto the Kings Majesty the Queen and to all such as are of his Council and to all other Nobles and Magistrates which are now in the Kings Court I John Huss do signifie and publish that being certainly informed that Letterâ—s are come from the Pope to the Kings Majesty the contents whereof are these That the King should extirpate all such Hereticks as are lately sprung up in his Kingdom and Dominions But I trust in God that this fame is blown abroad without any desert And it shall be our part to foresee and take heed that neither the Kings Majesty nor the Noble Kingdom of Bohemia shall suffer any trouble or reproach and slander for my sake Wherefore now of late I have sent my Letters to and fro which with great labor anâ— diligence I 〈◊〉 caused to be set up openly with this intent that â—â—ight thereby cause the Archbishop of Prague to be careful and diligent about the matter signifying openly that if there were any man in Bohemia which did know me to be a follower of any falle or 〈◊〉 Doctrine he should appear in the Archbishops Court and there declare what he thought And forasmuch as there would none be found or come forth which would accuse me the Archbishop commanded me and my Procters to depart in peace Wherefore I require and desire the Kings Majesty which is the Defender of the Truth also the Queen and their Counsellers and all other Nobles and Magistrates that they would give me a true Testimonial of this matter forasmuch as I have oftentimes willed and attempted this and no man bath either accused or molested me I do it moreover to be known to all Bohemia and all Nations that I will with the first be present at the Council of Constance in the presence of the Pope and of all others that will come to that famous place and that whosoever hath any suspition of me that I have either taught or defended any thing contrary unto the Faith of Christ let him come thither also and declare before the Pope and all the Doctors of Divinity what erroneous or false Doctrine I have at any time maintained or holden And if he shall convince me of any Error or prove that I have taught any thing contrary to the Christian Faith I will not refuse to suffer Whatsoever punishment shall be due to an Heretick But I hope and trust even from the bottom of my heart that God will not give the victory to unfaithful and unbelieving men which willingly kick and spurn against the Truth At the same time also Mr. Huss sent his Proctor to the Bishop of Nazareth who was Ordained by the Pope Inquisitor for Heresies in the City and Diocese of Prague requiring him that if he had found any Error in him he would declare it openly but the said Bishop in a publick Assembly answered that he had often talken with John Huss and that he never found any thing in him but such as becometh a godly and faithful man which also he attested by his Letters in writing Shortly after also all the Barons of Bohemia being assembled in the Abby of St. James the Archbishop of Prague being present also John Huss presented a supplication to them wherein he most
finding his defect in the knowledge of the Tongues he learnt Greek wrote out S. Pauls Epistles and gat them by heart and grew so perfect that he understood Greek better then Latine and reading in S. Peter that no Scripture is of private interpretation he betook himself by earnest Prayer to God for the Spirit of Truth to be his Teacher and least he should be misled by a false spirit he compared Scripture with Scripture and expounded obscure Texts by those which were more clear In his Ministry he set himself much against the sins of the times especially against Pensions which the Switzers used to receive of Princes to serve as Mercenaries in their Armies which procured him much hatred After a while he was chosen to a place called Our Lords Hermitage by Theobaldus Guolzeggius the Baron thereof to which place there was great resort of people from all Countries who came on Pilgrimage which much moved him to embrace that Cal that he might have opportunity to disperse the knowledg of the Truth into several parts About this time one of the chief Ministers dying at Zurick they much desired Zuinglius to succeed him and he coming accidentally to that place was chosen Pastor there An. Chr. 1519. and began to Preach unto them the History of Christ out of Matthew Presently after there came one Sampson a Franciscan Fryar and a Preacher of Indulgences who was sent by the Pope into Switzerland to get money Zuinglius strongly opposed himself against him shewing him to be an Impostor The Bishop also of Constance wrote to Zuinglius to keep this Sampson out of Zurick because he had not acquainted him with his authority Yet when this Impostor came to Zurick because he was kept out he went to Badena setting forth the Popes Buls to sale Often crying out Behold they flie behold they flie as if he had seen with his Eyes the Souls which he had delivered out of Purgatory flying into Heaven Zuinglius also caused the Pope to be admonished by his Commissary not to Excommunicate Luther for that he foresaw the Germanes would despise both him and his Excommunication which also came to pass Anno Christi 1520. the Senate of Zurick by the Council of Zuinglius commanded the Preachers of their Jurisdiction freely to teach whatsoever might be proved by the Authority of the Prophets and Apostles passing by the Inventions of men Hereupon the Bishop of Constance by publick Proclamation forbad those of Zurick to Innovate any thing willing them to remain in the Faith of the Church of Rome till a Council might be convened But Zuinglius defended them and his writings and the Magistrates of Zurick entreated the Bishop to come to a Synod where learned men might confer together and determine what the people ought to believe Yet the Bishop wrote again to them shewing them what complaints he had heard of Zuinglius which he could not but take notice of the City belonging to his Jurisdiction But Zuinglius going to the Bench of Aldermen defended his Doctrine and satisfied them Anno Christi 1522. the Bishop wrote again to the College of Canons at Zurick exhorting them to take heed to themselves for that Pope Leo and the Emperour by their Proclamations had condemned those Doctrines he put them in minde therefore to obey those Decrees and not to innovate any thing in Religion till those whom it concerned had by Common-Council set down somewhat Hereupon Zuinglius wrote back to the Bishop that he understood by whose setting on he did these things but he wished him not to follow their Counsel For saith he the Truth is invincible and will not be resisted And afterwards some others joyning with him they wrote to the Bishop entreating him to Decree nothing against the Doctrine of the Gospel and that he would no longer endure the filthy and infamous life of the Priests but that he would suffer them to marry Zuinglius wrote also to the Helvetians that they should not hinder the course of the Gospel that they would not trouble Ministers for marrying for that the command for their living without Wives was the Doctrine of Satan He exhorted them also whereas their manner was in their Pages or parishes when they admitted a Priest to command him to take a Concubine least he should attempt the chastity of other women that instead thereof they should command them to take lawful ways About this time Luthers Books coming abroad though himself abstained from reading of them yet he perswaded his people to buy and read them which he did that they might see the agreement that was in their Doctrine being both taught by the same spirit There also he studyed Hebrew and gat the Senate to erect a School for Latine Greek and Hebrew and associating to himself Leo Judae he gat such skill in the Hebrew that he began to explain Isaiah and Jeremiah Shortly after there came to Zurick Franciscus Lambertus and disputed with Zuinglius about the Intercession of the Saints and the sacrifice of the Mass but being non-plus'd he left his Error and gave praise to God Zuinglius began also to write about this time and Pope Adrian wrote to him with great promises to oblige him to the Papal-Sea but all in vain Shortly after he perswaded the Senate to restrain the exorbitant number of Priests and Fryars yet withall to allow them a competent subsistence for their life time which was done accordingly and their revenues were imployed for the maintenance of the Ministry for advancement of Learning and for the Poor He pressed also the taking away of Images the abolishing of the Mass and the restoring of the Lords Supper which the Senate assented to and performed not only in the City of Zurick but through all the places within their jurisdiction Anno Christi 1523. when the Senators of Zurick understood that the Doctrine of Zuinglius was traduced everywhere as being wicked and ungodly they commanded all the Ministers of their Jurisdiction to meet together on the 29. of January about the differences of Religion promising that every one should be fully heard they beseeched also the Bishop of Constance that he would either come himself or send thither some of his Divines At the day appointed many met together John Faber the Bishops Vicar being also present who pleaded hard that this place was unfit to handle such causes but that they were to be referred to a general Council But Zuinglius urged him that if he had any thing against his Doctrine which he had published in 47 Positions he should produce it and he should be answered either by word of mouth or writing which when Faber would not consent to the Magistrates dismissed the Assembly and proclaimed throughout their Jurisdiction that the Gospel should be purely taught out of the Books of the Old and New Testament the Traditions of men being laid
his Urine by his fundament with such an intollerable stink that none could come near him The aforenamed Villebon also that switcht him escaped no better For a while after the Marshall Vielle Ville coming to Roan about publick affairs invited Villebon to dinner and after dinner lamenting the miseries of that City he exhorted Villebon to endeavour the redress of many abuses being the Kings Leiutenant there which Villebon took so ill that hee said If any man dare to taxe me for not carrying my self as I ought in my place I would tel him to his face that hee lyed which words he repeated so often over that the Marshall being urged very much therewith strake with his sword at him with such violence that had he not received the blow with his hand his head had been cleft to his teeth so that for the present he escaped with the losse of his hand wherewith hee had so dishonourably smitten Aug. Marlorat at the place of execution Marlorat collected out of the best Writers of his time adding the names of the Authors and sometimes inserting his own opinions Commentaries upon all the New Testament As also upon Genesis Psalmes Canticles Isaiah He left also a Thesaurus of the Doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles i. e. Totius Canonicae Scripturae in locos communes dogmatum phrasium ordine alphabetico digestum P. MARTYR The Life of Peter Martyr who died Anno Christi 1562. PEter Martyr was born at Vermile in Florence Anno Christi 1500 of an antient and honourable Family His parents were very sollicitous and carefull for his Education and his Mother being well skilled in Latine trained him up in it from his childhood and read Terence his Comedies to him Afterwards they placed him forth under the choicest Schoolmasters and he being of a pregnant wit and ingeniout disposition gave great hopes in his minority of excelling in future times He was exceeding studious and painfull spending no time idle And finding that in the rich and flourishing City of Florence hee met with many tentations to Luxury and Riot at sixteen yeares old he entered into a Monastery of Regular Cannons of Saint Augustine in Fessula hard by Florence This action of his much displeased and grieved his Father well knowing that the seeming holyness of those Fryars was but meer hypocrisie And besides having no other son he much desired that this Peter by Marriage should have preserved and propagated his name and family But that which moved Peter Martyr to choose this course of life was that he might have leisure to serve God to follow his study and to benefit himself by the full and famous Library which was in that Monastery There he spent three yeares in the study of the Arts and holy Scriptures part whereof he learned by heart Then he went to Padua where entering into a Monastery of the same order he continued there almost eight years in which time he almost wholly employed himself in the study of Philosophy spending both night and day in meditating thereupon in Reading Writing and Disputations There hee heard also the daily Lectures of famous Philosophers which were Professors in that University as Branda Genua Confalionerius c. And finding that Aristotle was in many places not appositly translated into Latine hee resolved to study the Greek Tongue which accordingly he did with great pains wanting fit Masters to assist him therein spending whole nights in the Library of the Monastery with Benedict Cusanus the companion of all his studies By which diligence of his he attained to such readinesse that he was able without help to understand the Greek Orators Philosophers and Poets also who differed in their Dialect from the former During his abode there he also heard the constant Lectures of three Divines When he was 26 yeares old the fraternity of that Monastery called him to the office of Preaching whereby he might put in practice his former private studies be serviceable to them and make himself famous and upon triall his learning and abilities appeared to be such that he was honoured with the degree of a Doctor He beganne first to preach in the Church of Brixia and afterwards in the most famous Cities of Italy In Rome Bononia Firmum Pisa Venice Mantua Bergomum and Montferrat And all the time which hee could gaine from Preaching he spent in the study of Philosophy and Divinity He preached also privately and read Lectures in the Colledges at Padua Ravenna Bononia and Vercellis Hitherto he had mostly applyed himself to the study of the Schoolmen yet had spent some time in reading of the Fathers but now he began to spend most of his time in searching the Fountains the Old and New Testament and finding that to enable him thereto the knowledge of the Hebrew was very necessary whilst he was Vicar to the Prior in Bononia he gat him one Isaac a Jew for his Master and applyed himself to the study of that Language and though hee had little help from his Master yet by his singular diligence and industry hee attained good skill in the Hebrew And his name grew very famous in the chief Cities of Italy whereupon the Superiours of his Order approving his diligence resolved to advance him to some greater dignity and so by the consent of all he was made Abbat of Spoleta which Office when he had once undertaken he carried himself so excellenâ—ly therein that he was admired of all considering that hitherto he had been onely employed in his studies and yet now shewed such admirable wisdome and dexterity in managing the affairs of his Monastery His prudence appeared notably in these two examples There were in Spoleta two Nunneries and one Monastery of Augustinian Cannons Regular where Martyr resided These houses through the negligence of former Abbats were so corrupted with Luxury and uncleannesse that they were extreamely hated by all men Doctor Martyr seeing this by the authority of his Office reduced them quickly into order by teaching admonishing exhorting and sometimes by using severe castigation so that he procured great credit to himself and love to his Order The other example was this The Common-wealth of Spoleta as most others in Italy was divided into factions and feuds whereupon not onely quarrels but muâ—ther often ensued and though the former Abbats had endeavoured yet could they never reconcile these differences Our Martyr was not ignorant hereof and yet looking upon it as his duty resolved rather to hazard the loss of his life then to suffer Christians thus to intertear one another and it pleased God so farre to blesse his labours that all the time of his living in that City his authority prudence and eloquence so farre prevailed that there was neither fight nor murther no nor the least footsteps of Faction appearing amongst the people At Spoleta he continued three years at the end whereof by a publique convention of the Superiours of the
forth of the City and bad him fly for his life But it pleased God that by a fall he brake his legg whereby being again apprehended he was sent prisoner to Rome This business succeeding answerable to their desires they intended presently to fal upon Martyr whereupon they laid wait for him in every place They put in an accusation against him at Rome and in all the Colledges of his Order they stirred up his old enemies against him telling them that now the time was come wherein they might recover their former liberty so they called lientiousness â—nd to be revenged on Pet. Martyr So that by these mens instigations they met at Genoa not as usually the Superiours of the Order but those especially that bore the greatest hate to Martyr or envied him most These men summon Martyr presently to appear as Genoa But he being informed of the snares that were laid for him which his enemies being blinded with malice could not conceal And also being admonished by his friends to take heed to himself there being many that sought his life resolved not to goe to this Assembly but rather to convey himselfe else-whither where he might be safe from the power and malice of his adversaries Hereupon first of all hee conveyed part of his Library to Christopher Brent a Godly Senator of Luca who should take care to send it to him into Germany the other part he gave to the Colledge and so setting all things in order in the Colledge he privily departed out of the City onely with three companions Paul Lacis of Verona who was afterwards Greek Professor at Strasborough Theodosius Trebell and Julius Terentian with whom he continued faithfull unto the death Departing from Luca purposing to visit his owne country he went to Pisa where to some Noble men he administred the Lords Supper and meeting there with some faithful messengers he wrote to Cardinal Pool and to some of his friends at Luca. In these Letters he shewed what great errors and abuses were in the Popish Religion and in the Monasticall life with whom he could no longer communicate with a safe conscience He also shewed the other causes of his departure viz. the hatred and snares laid for him by his enmies He signified also what pains and care he had taken for their instruction and what a grief it was to him that he could not more plainely and openly instruct them in the Christian faith The ring also which was the ensigne of his dignity he sent back shewing that he would not imploy any of the Colledge goods to his private use Coming to Florence he met there with a godly and learned man Bernardin Ochine who being cited to Rome was going thitherward but being warned of the danger by his friends he consulted with Martyr and upon deliberation both of them resolved to leave Italy and to go into Germany And accordingly first Ochine departed and went to Geneva and from thence to Ausburg and two dayes after Peter Martyr followed going first to Bononia then to Ferrara then to Verona where being courteously entertained by his old friends He went thence over the Alps into Helvetia In this journey when he came to Zurick he was very kindly entertained by Bullinger Pellicane and Gualter and by the other Ministers belonging to that City to whom he proffered his service if they needed it but having at this time no place void in the Schools they told him that they much desired his company and pains but for the present they had no imployment for him yet would they gratefully remember his kind profer to them He often used to say that as soon as he came to Zurick he fell in love with that City desiring of God that it might be a refuge to him in this his banishment which prayer was afterwards granted though in the interim God pleased to make use of his labours in other places and Nations for his own glory and the good of many From thence he went to Basil where after he had abode about a month he with Paul Lacis was called to Strasborough by the means of Martin Bucer In which place he was made Professor of Divinity and Lacis of the Greek Tongue There he continued five years in which time he interpreted most of the Bible and what his excellency in teaching was may be hence collected in that being joyned with Martin Bucer a great Divine and eminent for learning yet Martyr was not accounted inferiour to him He was very skilful in Hebrew Greek and Latiâ—e He had an admirable dexterity in interpreting Scripture was a very acute disputant and used always to express himselfe very clearly knowing that ambiguity of words is the cause of much contention He lived in most intire friendship with his Collegue Master Bucer At Strasborough being unmarried he lived with his friends that came with him out of Italy being contented with a very small stipend which yet afterwards was augmented For having forsaken his Country his honors and riches for the testimony of Christ he thought it unfit to be solicitous or to trouble any about the increase of his stipend the rather because he was of a frugall disposition so that his stipend did not onely suffice but he spared something out of that little towards the support of his friends But finding some inconvenience of living single by the advice of his friends he married an honest and noble Virgin Katherine Damo-martin who afterwards dyed in England without issue having lived with him eight years She was one that feared God was loving to her husband prudent in administring houshold affairs liberal to the pooâ— and in the whole course of her life pious modest and sober After her death by the command of Cardinal Poole her body was digged up and buried in a dunghill and when he could finde no other cause for it he pretended that it was because she was buried too near to St. Frideswide For though this Cardinall had formerly loved Martyr very well yet when he once forsooke Italy he did not onely give over loving him but shaking off his study of the true Religion which for a time â—e had seemed to like hee became a great hater of Martyr and a bitter prosecutor of the professors of the Truth which occasioned him to deale so with Martyrs Wife seeing that he could not burn her husband as he desired But in Queen Elizabeths daies her body was again taken up and with great solemnity buried in the chiefe place of the Church and to prevent the Popish malice for the time to come her bones were mingled with the boneâ— of St. Frideswide that they should not be distinguished asunder The occasion of Peter Martyrs going into England was this King Henry the eighth being dead and his son Edward the sixth succeeding by the advice of the Protector Edward Duke of Somerset and Doctor Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury he
Bartholdus and Hallerus Anno Christi 1524. he went to Basil where he profered a publick disputation with the Popish Divines of that place but the Masters of the Universitie would not suffer it saying That his Theses savoured of the new Doctrine till the Senate being informed hereof gave him free liberty of disputing and then Farellus set up his Theses publickly in the Colledge which were these Christus nobis perfectam vivendi regulam praescripsit Christi mandata sunt observanda in quibus iis qui continentiae donum non habent matrimonium praecipitur Alienum est evangelii luce Judaicum discrimen vestitus ciborum aliarum ceremoniaâ—um observare Periculosae sunt preces muâ—torum verborum contra Christi mandatum Christi mandata non sunt in consilia convertenda nâ—c contra Soli Deo Sacrificia offerenda quae Spiritus dictat c. When these Positions were divulged the Bishops Vicar the Rector and Governours of the University forbade all under them upon pain of excommunication either to dispute or to harken to them The Senate on the contrary thinking that this command derogated from their authority commanded their Parish Ministers and students of the University that they should be present and if they did otherwise they forbad them the use of their mills furnaces and Merchandize Hereupon a Disputation ensued in a great Assembly of the Clergy and Citizens But shortly after the Bishops Vicar and the Rector of the University and their Popish faction drove him by force from Basil their darknesse not enduring the light Neither was the servant greater then his Master From thence he went to Mont-Bellicard and to some other places where he preached the Gospel with so much fervour and zeal that it was evident unto all that he was called of God thereunto Anno Christi 1527. he went to a certain Towne called AElin where he preached the Gospel and was admonished by Occolampadius to mingle prudence with his zâ—al Anno 1528. he went to Aquileta amongst the Bernates where he preached Christ and undauntedly opposed Antichrist disputing also with divers at Bern whereupon ensued a wonderfull change in Ecclesiasticall affaires Anno Christi 1528. he with Vâ—ret went to Geneva where they planted the Church and propagated the Gospel and many of the Citizens imbraced it yet at first not so much out of love to the truth as out of hatred to Popish Tyranny Long he had not been there before the Bishops Officers drew him into the Bishops Count which two of the Studies much disliked the rather because Farell promised them that he would prove all his Doctrine out of the holy Scriptures So that they accompanied him into the Bishops Court that they might see all things to proceed in judgement lawfully but it fell out otherwise For the Judge of the Court would by no means endure a Disputation saying If that be suffered all our mystery will be destroyed and withall railing upon Farell he said Thou most wicked devill why camest thou to this City to trouble us I am not answered Farel as you call me but I preach Jesus Christ who was crucified for our sins and rose againe and he that beleeveth in his name shall bee saved This is the summe of my arrant I am a debtor unto all that are ready to hear and obey the Gospel desiring this onely that the obedience of Faith may flourish every where and I came into this City to see if there were any that would lend me he hearing and I wilrender an account of my faith and hope every where and will confirm my Doctrine with my blood if need be Then cryed out one of the Court in Latine He hath blasphemed what need we any more witnesses He is guilty of death Hurle him into Rhodanus Hurle him into the Rhodanus its better this one Lutheran should be put to death then that further troubles should be raised Farel answered Do not utter the words of Caiphas but of God Then one strake him on the mouth with his fist and hee was commanded to stand aside as if they would consult and in the interim he was shot at with a gunne by the Vicars serving-man but it hit him not God defending his servant And though one of the Syndics favoured him yet now the other shrunk from him so that the Bishops Councell prevailed that he should be driven out of the City And thus being accompanyed with some Citizens hee and his partner Anthony Salner were expelled the City but God turned it to the great good of others for they sowed the seed of the Word in the neighbouring Country by the side of the Lake Lemannus viz. at Orba and Granson Neither yet through Gods power and goodnesse was the work interrupted at Geneva For just at the same time came a young man of the Delphinate called Anthony Frumentius who entering into the City taught a publick School together with the Rudiments of Grammer he most happily layd the Foundation of Christian Religion in the hearts and mindes of his Scholars which were not a few Anno Christi 1541 Master Farel went to Metis and preached in the Church-yard of the Dominicans The Friers when they could not otherwise hinder him rang their Bells But he having a strong voice did so strain it that he went on audibly to the end of his Sermon The day after there came about three thousand persons together to hear the Word of God but some that favoured the Gospel intreated Mr. Farel so long to forbear as till he might preach without a tumult Then was he questioned by the Magistrates by what authority or by whose request he preached To which hee answered By the command of Christ and at the request of his Members Gravely discoursing both of his own authority and of the excellency of the Gospel telling the Magistrate what his duty was in reference thereunto But shortly after by the command of the Emperour the Citizens of Metis were forbidden to hear any man preach who was not licensed by the Bishop and some others Whereupon Mr. Farel went from thence to Neocome where he wholly employed himself in the service of the Church performing the office of a faithfull Pastor to extreame old age with admirable zeale and diligence When he heard of Calvin's sicknesse in the year 1564 hee could not satisfie himself though he was seventy years old but he must goe to Geneva to visit him He survived Calvin one year and odde moneths and died aged 76 years Anno Christi 1565. Anno Christi 1553 the Genevians though they owed themselves wholly to him yet were carried on with such fury that they would have condemned Farel to death and did such things against him that Calvin wished hee might might have expiated their anger with his blood This was that Farel who discouraged by no difficulties deterred with no threatnings reproaches or