man through envy as it is conceived at the Roman Clergy he fell into the Error of Montanus so that though the glory of some of his writings was darkned by his Errors yet his Learning shewed in those very writings is admired by all Posterities insomuch as Cyprian that excellent Martyr would let no day pass without reading some part of him He dyed in Peace about the 63 year of his age Anno Christi 202. Some of his usual sayings were these If thou beest backward in thoughts of Repentance be forwards in thoughts of Hell the burning flames whereof only the tears of a penitent Eye can extinguish If the Devils without Christs leave had no power over the Gadarens Swine much less have they power over Gods own Sheep We should not try mens faith by their persons but their persons by their faith It s in vain to come to the God of Peace without peace or to pray for the remission of our own sins without for giving others We must not come to make an attonement with God at his Altar before we have made attonement with our Brother in our hearts His Works are contained in several Tomes Quaedam enim in usum Ecclesiae pro Ecclesia quaedam contra Ecclesiam scripta sunt Primi generis sunt De Patientia lib. 1. De carne Christi l. 1. De Resurrectione carnis l. 1. De Praescriptionibus adversus Haereticos l. 1. Adversus Judeos l. 1. Adversus Marcionem l. 5. Adversus Hermoginem l. 1. Adversus Praxeam l. 1. De Corona Militis l. 1. Ad Martyres l. 1. De Virginibus velandis l. 1. De Habitu Muliebri l. 1. De Cultu Faeminarum l. 1. Ad Uxorem l. 2. Ad Scapulam l. 1. De Pallio l. 1. De Testimonio Animae l. 1. De Anima l. 1. De Spectaculis l. 1. De Baptismo l. 1. Contra Gnosticos l. 1. De Idololatria l. 1. De Judaicis Cibis Epistola De Oratione Apologeticus Alterius Generis De Fuga in Persecutione De Exhortatione Castitatis De Monogamia De Pudicitia De Jejunio The Life of Clemens Alexandrinus who flourished Anno Christi 196. SCultetus saith that the Parentage Country Birth Breeding and manner of Conversion of Clemens are uncertain some would have him to be born at Athens But certain it is that he was the Disciple of Pontenus who moderated in the Catechistical School at Alexandria and after his death Clemens succeeded in that Office whence he was called Alexandrinus He most flourished about the year of Christ 196. He was endowed with all manner of Polite Learning was ordained Presbyter in Alexandria where by his servent zeal and piety he much propagated the Christian faith Photânus speaking of his writings saith thus of them Dictio est florida quaeque assurgit in Majestatem cum suavitate conjuncta in quibus etiam est eruditio multa decens That the language is flourishing and ariseth into a certain majesty joined with sweetness wherein is much Learning in a comly manner adorned and set forth He was an excellent Historian and a zealous Confuter of the Heresies of his times He wrote many Works most of which are perished with time to the great prejudice of the Church and grief of the Learned Only three remain ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ad Gentes Pedagogus Stromata In the first he exhorts the Gentiles and Heathens to embrace the Christian Faith In the second he informs those which were newly converted how to carry themselves In the third he directs grown Christians in the Doctrines which were fit for them in that estate He complains much of the decay of zeal and of the want of the power of godliness amongst Professors in his time He was Master to Origen who also succeeded him in his place in Alexandria He was excellently versed in the Holy Scriptures and very careful to preserve the Doctrines which he had received from his Predecessors in purity whereupon in his first Book entituled Stromatôn he thus writeth This present Tract of mine is not made for any Ostentation but these Monuments are laid up as helps against weakness of memory in my old age that it may be to me a plain Image and Portracture of that effectual and lively Doctrine which I was thought worthy to hear c. The time and manner of his death is uncertain He used to say That such as adorn themselves with gold and think themselves bettered thereby are worse then gold and not Lords of it as all that have it ought to be Out of the depth and bowels of the Earth hath God discovered and shewed gold unto men and they have made it the occasion of all mischief and wickedness Gold to many men is much dearer then their Faith and Honesty and the love of it makes many so covetous as if they were to live here for ever Avarice is not the vice of gold but of men which use it wickedly Scripsit non pauca Ex quibus ad nos pervenerunt tria opuscula ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ad Gentes Paedagogus Stromata ORIGEN The Life of Origen who dyed Anno Christi 220. ORigen was born Anno Christi 189. His Father Grand-Father and Great Grand-Father were Christians He was by his Father Leonides trained up from his Infancy in the Christian Religion and other good Literature but especially in the knowledge of the sacred Scriptures who demanded of him daily a certain task and caused him to rehearse the same and he though a childe rested not in the bare words of the Scripture but sought farther into the profound sence and meaning of them so that divers times he would gravel his Father in the questions which he propounded to him For this his Father checked him to his face admonishing him not to search beyond the capacity of his years nor beyond that the plain letter gave to understand Yet inwardly he rejoiced greatly yielding unto God hearty thanks who had made him the Father of such a son Yea he many times uncovered the Breast of his Son as he lay asleep and kissed it as the Temple wherein the Holy Ghost had taken up his residence He was called Origen Adamantius the first name was given him for his sublime and Divine speculations who by sweet and mellifluous Allegories carries his Readers affections from terrene to heavenly meditations and contemplations The second name he had from the nature of the Adamant whose lustre and hardness giveth it renown for such was this mans Noble and Generous minde that he was not daunted nor affrighted with any dangers or afllictions whatsoever When he was but seventeen years old his Father being carried to Prison he had such a fervent minde to suffer Martyrdom with him that he would have thrust himself into the Persecutors hands had it not been for his Mother who in the night time privily stole away his clothes and his very
of Hâerom who saw and yet connived at his secret devices and clancular detractations But when Ruffin began to charge the Truth with Heresie and to make Hierom a partner in his impious Opinions the Holy man could bear no longer but breaking the bands of friendship they wrote most bitterly one against another Hierom thinking that all forbearance towards a Heretick was impiety not a vertue Many were stirred up by Ruffinus means to write against Hierom and to charge him with many and foul aspersions both in his Life and Doctrine but he like to an old and well rooted Oke brake the windes that assaulted him on every side He remained in all these storms unbroken and unconquered and was so far from departing from that which was honest That the more his Enemies barked against him the more he was provoked to the study of Piety And against the violence and fraud of Hereticks he was somewhat holpen by Epiphanius and Theophilus Bishops of Alexandria At Rome he had Pammatius and Chromatius to take his part By reason of these troubles his Life was a continual Martyrdom He spent whole 30 years in the study of the sacred Scriptures and Divinity and to extream old age continued in Teaching and Writing He was of a very weak constitution and conflicted with many painful diseases before old Age came upon him which diseases he procured by the great austerity of life and his nightly studies But especially by his indefatigable labours in writing so many great Volumes for which cause it was that sometimes he was forced to make use of Notaries And at last having worn out himself with his great pains and continual labours he quietly slept in the Lord in the ninty first year of his Age Anno Christi 422. Honorius and Constantine being Emperours His holy Life and his Books stuffed with so much Learning and Eloquence procured him so much credit and authority that learned Greece which used to undervalue the Learning of all Nations but their own took care that his Commentaries should be translated into Greek He was so famous in his Life time that if any difficulty did occur in Expounding Scriptures all men had recourse to him as to the Oracle of the Christian World Frequent Letters and Messengers were sent to him out of Italy Spain France Germany and Africa He was consulted with by Bishops by Noble men by Matrons and by the chiefest of all sorts Many from all parts repaired to Bethlehem not so much for Religion sake as to see and confer with Hierom. Augustine held a strict bond of friendship with him and was willing to learn of him as of his Master Paulus Orosius the Historiographer learned many things by conference with him His Industry was admirable whence Erasmus saith of him Minima pars vitae dabatur somno minor cibo nulla otio Et Sacras literas ad verbum ediscebat His usual Prayer was Lord let me know my self that I may the better know thee the Saviour of the World He used this excellent saying If my Father stood weeping on his knees before me and my Mother hanging on my neck behinde and all my Brethren Sisters Children and Kinsfolk bowling on every side to retain me in a sinful life I would fling my Mother to the ground run over my Father despise all my Kinred and tread them under my feet that I might run to Christ. Erasmus saith of him Quis docet aptiùs quis delectat urbani ùs c. Who teacheth more distinctly who delights more modestly who moves more effectually who praises more candidly who perswades more gravely and who exhorts more ardently Trithemius saith Vir in secularibus valdè eruditus c. He was a man well seen in Secular Learning but in Divinity he was inferiour to none of the Doctors of the Church and famous for his skill in the Languages a rooter out of Hereticks and a defender of the Truth He used to say Dead flesh is to be cut off for fear of a Gangrene Arius at first was but a spark but being not suppressed betimes he proved the Incendiarie of the whole Church And again You must be a Dove and a Serpent one not to do hurt to others the other not to be hurt by others And again That woman is truly chaste that hath liberty and opportunity to sin and will not What ever he did he still thought that that voice was in his Ears Surgite mortui venite ad judicium Arise you dead and come to judgement And again All vertues are so linked together that he that hath one hath all and he that wants one wants all He translated the Bible out of the Originals into Latine His Works were printed in nine Tomes at Paris Anno Christi 1534. with Erasmus his Scholia upon them where he also shews which of them are genuine which doubtful and which spurious CHRYSOSTOM The Life of Chrysostom who flourished Anno Christi 400. IOhn Chrysostom was born in Antioch a City of Caelosyria his Father was called Secundus his Mother was Anthusa he descended of the Noble Race of Senators He was the Disciple of Libanius the Sophist and the Auditor of Androgathius the Philosopher His first purpose was to apply himself to the study and practice of the Law and to handle the publick affairs of the Common-wealth but when he perceived how lewd and unrighteous a trade of life they led which busied themselves therein he left that troublesome and dangerous course and betook himself to a quiet and more retired manner of life and so changing both his habit and behaviour he addicted himself wholly to the study of the Sacred Scriptures devising with himself how he might be most useful and profitable to the Church of Christ. He perswaded Theodorus and Maximus his fellow-Students who together with him had frequented the School of Libanius to forsake that trade of life which was wholly set on lucre and gain and to follow that which was contented with a little He also associated himself with Basil and was a partner in his studies After which he was made Reader in the Church of Antioch by Zeno Bishop of Hierusalem and a while after was made Deacon by Meletius and afterwards for three years space he lived a retired life severed from all the troublesome affairs of the World at the end whereof he was made a Presbyter by Evagrius then Bishop of Antioch He was a man of marvellous great temperance very austere in life and rather harsh then curteous in his deportment He had no great forecast made no account of the World and because of his plain and simple meaning was soon deceived He was very copious and free of speech with all such as had any conference with him In his Ministry he was very diligent and painful endeavoring all that possibly he could to reform the lives and manners of his Auditors and he had
justly spoken and in consenting to the wicked condemnation of Huss and that he repented with his whole heart that ever he did it This so enraged them that they proceeded to condemn him whereupon he said I after my death will leave a remorse in your conscience and a nail in your hearts Et cito vos omnes at respondeatis mihi coram altissimo justissimo judice post centum annos I here cite you all to answer to me before the most High and just Judge within a hundred years When he was brought forth to Execution they prepared a great and long paper painted about with red Divels which when he beheld throwing away his hood he took the Miter and put it on his head saying Our Lord Jesus Christ when he suffered death for me âost âwretched sinner did wear a crown of thorns upon his head and I for his sake will willingly wear this Cap. As he went to the place of Execution he sung some Hymns and coming to the place of Execution where John Huss was burned he kneeled down and prayed fervently He was bound to the Image of John Huss and so fire was set to him which he endured with admirable valor for standing at the stake bound and the Executioner kindling the fire behinde him he bade him kindle it before his face For said he If I had been afraid of is I had not come to this place having had so many opportunities offered to me to escape it The whole City of Constance admired his constancie and Christian magnanimity in fuffering death At the giving up the Ghost he said Hanc animam in flammis offero Christe tibi This soul of mine in slames of fire O Christ I offer thee An aliquid ab Hieronymo Pragensi scriptum sit posterisque relictum ignoro credibile verum est virum tam doctum ac eloquentem quaedam scripsisse Orationes quas in Academiis illu strioribus habuit tum Themata quae proposuit forte in lucem edita suppressa fuare extincta ab iis qui more suo lucem ferre nequeunt MARTIN LVTHER The Life of Martin Luther who flourished Anno Christi 1500. MArtin Luther was born at at Isleben in the Earldom of Mansfield Anino Christ 1483. of good parents His Fathers name was John Luther who first lived at Isleben and afterwards removed to Manfield where he had some metal Mines and was chosen a Magistrate and was grateful to all for the integrity of his life His Mothers name was Margaret Lindeman who was adorned with such Virtues as became an honest Matron but especially she was eminent for chastity the fear of God and often calling upon his name Assoon as this their son was capable of Learning they first trained him up in the knowledge and fear of God and in the Exercise of other virtues under their own wings Then their care was to educate him in humane Learning for which end they set him to school to George Aemilius and though at this time the darkness of Popery had much obscured the light of Truth yet it pleased God to preserve in the Schools the Catechisms containing the Principles of Religion the use of singing Psalms and some forms of Prayer At fourteen years of age he went to Magdeburg where he lived a poor Scholar one year From thence he was removed by his Parents to Isenach where was a famous School and where he first tasted the sweetness of Learning and so after a while went thence to the University of Erford Anno Christi 1501. There he profited so much in the knowledge of Logick and other Learning that the whole University admired his wit At twenty years old he was made Master of Arts and Professor of Physicks Ethicks and other parts of Philosophy Then he betook himself to the study of the Law but at the age of twenty one being affrighted at the violent death of a faithful companion of his whom he dearly loved he betook himself into the Augustine Monks Colledge in Erford writing to his parents the reason why he changed the course of his life In the Library of that Colledge he met with a copy of a Latine Bible which he had never seen before and with admiration observed that there were more portions of holy Scripture then were read in the Churches which made him wish that he had the like book And it pleased God that not long after he obtained his desire and fell close to the study thereof some sickness and fear also whening him on in those studies Afterwards falling into a violent disease which threatned death an old Priest came to him saying Sir be of good courage your disease is not mortal God will raise you up to afford comfort to many others which also came to pass and he was much cheared up by conference with that Priest who largely discoursed with him about Justification by Faith and explained the Articles of the Creed to him Then did Luther read over Augustines Works where he found the same Doctrine of Justification by Faith frequently confirmed He read over the School-men also especially Occam and in these studies he spent five years in that Collegde Anno Christi 1507. he was made Presbyter and John Staupicius endeavouring to promote the University of Wittenberg then lately begun knowing the wit and Learning of Luther removed him thither Anno Christi 1508. when he was but 26 years old where by his labors he did much good Three years after he was sent to Rome in the behalf of his Convent where he saw the Pope and the manner of the Roman Clergy concerning which he saith At Rome I heard them say Mass in such a manner as I detest them for at the Communion Table I heard Curtisans laugh and boast of their wickedness and others concerning the Bread and Wine of the Altar Saying Bread thou art and Bread thou shalt remain Wine thou art and Wine thou shalt remain Upon his return from Rome he was made Doctor in Divinity at the charge of Duke Frederick Elector of Saxonie who heard him Preach and admired the foundness of his Invention the strength of his Arguments and the excellency of the things which he delivered Soon after he began to explain the Epistle to the Romans and some Psalms where he shewed the difference between the Law and Gospel refuted Justification by Works c. And his demeanor agreed with his Doctrine his speech seemed to come from his heart not from his lips only Then he betook himself to the study of the Greek and Hebrew This year 1517. was by the account of Scultetus the 356. from the Reformation of Religion in France by the Waldenses the 146. from the first confutation of Popish Errors in England by John Wicklief The 116. from the first year of the Ministry of John
Magdeburg He also made John Amandus Superintendent of those Churches and Michael Volmetius Master of their School Anno Christi 1541 he was sent by the Elector of Saxonie to govern the Church at Naumberg in the Palatinate where also the year after he was ordained Bishop by Luther three other Pastors also imposing their hands upon him who were Nicholas Medler Pastor of Naoburg George Spalatine Pastor of Aldenburg and âolphgang Steinius Pastor of Leucopetra But six years after he was driven away from thence by the Emperour Charles the sift whence he fled to Magdeburg which at that time was the common place of refuge for the godly who fled from the indignation of Caesar. Anno Christi 1548 Amsdorf amongst others opposed himself in that sad controversie about things indifferent which continued for whole tenne yeares and when Anno Christi 1550 Madgeburg was besieged Amsdorf yet remained there and the year after George Major having published this proposition That good works were necessary to salvation Amsdorfius in heat of contention wrote That good works were hurtfull and dangerous to salvation In the midst of these digladiations amongst Divines Amsdorf came to his old age having now attained to eighty years at which time he quietly slept in the Lord Anno Christi 1563. Scripsit de sacra coena Epitomen Chronicorum Naucleri de Paparum perfidia in Romanos Imperatores Novi anni votum principibus viris oblatum Subscriptionem censurae sententiae Saxo. Ecclesiarum adversus G. Majoris doctrinam Item contra Tilemannum Heshufium W. MVSCVLVS The Life of Musculus who dyed A no Christi 1563. WOlfgangus Musculus was born at Dusa in Lorrain An. Christi 1497 of honest parents who seeing his aptness to Learning bred him at School When he was young he fell sick of the Plague but it pleased God to restore him He had an exceeding prompt wit and had such an ardent desire to his book that he was never a weary of reading and writing so that he rather needed a bridle than spurs never departing from School and his book till he was forced When he was grown up to some bignes his parents sent him abroad into other countries with slender provision that by singing at doors as the manner of those times was he might get his living and thereby learn patience temperance and humility and might follow his book the better Being thus sent from his parents he came to Rapersvil in Alsatia where a certain Widdow entertained him and in which place hee went to School but met with much hunger and want till as by his honest and modest deportment he became known to the noble Earl of Rapersvil from whom he received many favours From thence after a while he went to Slestade and gat into the School and being naturally much addicted to Poetry he spent his time in reading such Authors And thus he continued till he was fifteen years old about which time he returned to visit his parents and going into the Monastery of Lexheim by the way at the time of their Even-song hee joyned with them in singing and the Prior taking notice of him and liking his ingenious countenance and voice followed him out of the Church when all was ended and enquir'd of him what he was and whether he liked to live in a Monastery and withall proffered if he would accept of it to admit him into that Monastery to cloath him and provide other necessaries for him at his own cost He being very glad of this proffer went to his parents acquainted them with it and they looking upon it as a great mercy went presently with him to the Monastery where the Prior according to his promise entertained him as his own sonne and afterwards sent him to the Bishop for Orders There he lived till he was thirty yeares old and when others were drinking and playing he with a book in his hand would walk into a grove to study For though in his youth he was of a chearfull and merry disposition and much delighted in liberall exercises both of body and mind yet he disliked the illiberall contests of his fellows who spent their time in dice and drinking and such like practises But in the mean time he had a great want of books that Monastery having no Library belonging to it yet at last he found a great heap of parchments at the roof of the house amongst which he met with some of Tullies works and all Ovids These therefore he read over especially Ovid being so much addicted to Poetry that many times he made verses in his sleep and could make a verse upon every thing he met with and grew so perfect therein that with Ovid he could say Sponte sua carmen numeros veniebat in aptos Quicquid conabar dicere versus erat And together with his Poetry hee applyed himself to Musick which the Prior taking notice of caused him to be taught to play on the Organs At twenty years of age hee studied Divinity and excelling all the other Monks in learning and eloquence was presently chosen a publick Preacher and being often told by an old man in that house Si vis fieri bonus Concionator da operam ut sis bonus Biblicus If you will be a good Preacher study to be well acquainted with the Scripture hee betook himself night and day to reading and meditation upon the Bible He first preached in the Church of Lixhâim and in three other Churches belonging to that Monastery but his zeal and eloquence making him famous he was requested to preach in divers other places About the year 1518 Luthers books began to come abroad into the world and Musculus having some of them sent him read them with much seriousness and delight and God thereby revealing the Truth to him he became a zealous maintainer of it not onely in the Monastery by conference and disputation but in his publick Sermons also so that he was commonly called the Lutherane Monk and whereas Luthâr was charged by some with Heresie he stoutly defended him saying It may be Luther may erre in some things which is common to the nature of man yet he is not therefore to be accounted an Heretick according to thâ saying of Saint Augustine Errare possum haereticus esse nolo I may erre but I will not be an Heretick And his labours proved not fruitlesse for through Gods blessing upon them he converted many of that fraternity who afterwards left their Abbey and became zealous professors of the Truth unto death And divers others also abroad were converted by him and amongst them a certaine Nobleman called Reinhard of Rotenburg who was Captaine of the Castle at Lutzelsteine and Protector of that Colledge a man of much account with the Palatine by whom he was protected from many dangers and snares that were laid for him especially by the Bishop and some old Monks that were
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 ceremoniaâum observare Periculosae sunt preces muâtorum verborum contra Christi mandatum Christi mandata non sunt in consilia convertenda nâc 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 zâal 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 Vâret 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
Councill of Trent beginning about this time Heerbrand perceiving with what weapons he was to sight with the Popish Doctors applyed himself to the study of the Fathers and spent four years and a half therein gathering their opinions about all the points of Divinity which he digested into Common places that they might be the readier for his use Anno Christi 1559 he was sent for by Charles Marquess of Baden to reform Religion in his Dominions where also he prescribed a form for Ordination of Ministers He had scarce continued there two moneths when he was chosen to be the Divinity Professor at Tubing and expounded the Pentateuch in his Lectures and preached constantly Besides which publick imployments he wrote a large answer to Peter a Soto De Ecclesia Patribus Conciliis which was afterwards printed Anno Christi 1557 which was two years after he came to Tubing he was chosen Rector of the University a place as of great honour so of great pains After which he was chosen Chancellor of the University and the Pastor and Superintendent of the Church An. Christi 1569 his fame spreading abroad he was sent for by the Duke of Saxony to be the Professor at Jenes who profered to allow him the stipend of a thousand Florens per an but he refused it continuing at Tubing where he had much honour and respect And having been thus invited by three several Princes all which he refused and resolving to spend his daies at Tubing his Prince Christopher to encourage him gave him some land on which he built a neat house and having other family businesses he committed all to the care and diligence of his wife who was a constant help to him Anno Christi 1590 Heerbrand being now seventy years old had as much honour heaped upon him as the Dukedome of Wirtemberg could afford For he was made Counsellor to the Duke Superintendent of the Church Chancellor of the University and Overseer of the new Colledge all which places he discharged with admirable prudence diligence and fidelity His Wife having lived with him fifty years and a half died who was the staffe of his old age and therefore he was much afflicted with her loss and began to grow weaker and weaker which caused him Anno 1598 to resign his office and thereupon had a stipend allowed him by his Prince His next care was to prepare himself for death He was much troubled with the Gout which he bore with much patience often using that saying of the Apostle Godlinesse is profitable to all things having the promise of this life and that which is to come At last he fel into a Lethargy and so died Anno Christi 1600 and of his age 79. He was was exceeding studious all his life long having his books ink and paper at his beds head so that as soon as his first sleep was over he applyed himself to them for some houres And though he had great honours yet they never puft up his heart with pride but hee still carried himselfe very humbly He lived in the fear of God was very charitable and open handed to the poor and to exiles especially to poor students He was very careful to assist other Churches so that Princes Earls Barons and other Nobles out of Austria Styria Carinthia Carniola and Hungary were continually sending to him for advice in their difficult affairs His Father in law having bestowed a Farm upon him he was a neat husband upon it planting Orchards Vineyards and such other things as might make it most pleasant and profitable He was very carefull in the education of his children bringing them up in religion and learning and keeping them under a severe Discipline He was of a very healthfull constitution never being troubled with any sickness till towards his latter end Scripsit Compendium Theologiae Contra Gregorium de Valentia Concordiae librum in Latinum transtulit Besides divers Funerall Sermons Orations and Disputations The Life of David Chytraeus who died A no Christi 1600. DAvid Chytraeus was born in Ingelsing in Sweveland Anno Christi 1530 of godly and religious Parents who seeing his towardliness and ingenuous nature were carefull to educate him in Religion and learning the principles whereof he drunk in with such celerity that his father took much pleasure in him and became an earnest and frequent suiter unto God That his son might be sitted for and imployed in the work of the Ministerie and for this end when he was scarce seven years old he sent him to school to Gemminga and after two years stay there he removed him to Tubing where he was educated under excellent Schoolmasters and afterwards admitted into that University and whilst he was very young hee commenced Batchelor of Arts studied the Languages Arts and Divinitie under Snepfius In all which he profited so exceedingly that at fifteen years old hee commenced Master of Arts with the generall approbation of the Vniversity And presently after having a large allowance from a worthy Knight Sir Peter Mezingen hee travelled to Wittenberg where hee was entertained by Philip Melancthon into his Family so that hee did not onely gaine much profit by his publick Lectures but by private converse with him which happiness hee so esteemed that all his life after he acknowledged that next under God he was bound to Philip Melancthon for his proficiency in learning When he came first to Melancthon and delivered some letters of commendation to him in his behalf Melancthon finding in them that he was Mr of Arts looking upon him wondred at it saying Are you a Master of Arts Yea said Chytraeus it pleased the University of Tubing to grace me with that degree Can you said Melancthon understand Greek which he affirming he gave him Thucydides to read and bade him construe a peece of it which when Chytraeus had done Melancthon enquiring his age and admiring his forwardness said unto him Thou doest worthily deserve thy Degree and hereafter thou shalt be as a son unto me Whilst he was there he heard Luthers Lectures upon the tenne last Chapters of Genefis And as Plato when he was ready to die praised God for three things first that God had made him a man secondly that he was born in Greece thirdly that hee lived in the time of Socrates So did Chytraeus also acknowledge it as a singular mercy first that God had made him a man secondly a Christian thirdly that hee had his education under those excellent lights of the Church Luther and Melancthon Hee was very diligent in attending upon Melancthon studyed in his study heard all his discourses Publick and private about matters of the weightiest concernment followed him when he walked abroad and endeavoured wholly to fashion his life by his example And Melancthon looked upon him as his own son and used to call him suum Davidem his David Presently after Luthers death
the chiefest Divines of those times who were his special friends as Beza Dan. Tossanus George Sohnius Will Stuckius Pareus Pitiscus c. He had two Wives the first was Mary the daughter of James Grynaeus who dyed in childbed the other was Salome Wasserâunia who died the same year with himself Scripsit Commentarium in Danielem contra Bellarminum Analysin Hosea cum Orationibus Historicis Dialecticis De morte Christi pro quibus eam subierit De quatuor Manarchiis âpud Danielem Analysin Malachiae Partitiones Theologicas Syntagma Theologiae c. The Life of Thomas Holland who died A no Christi 1612. THomas Holland was born in Shropshire Anno Christi 1539 and brought up in Exceter Colledge in Oxford where he took his degrees with much applause Afterwards he Commenced Dr. in Divinity was chosen Master of the Colledge and for his excellent learning was preferred to be the Regius Professor or Doctor of the Chair wherein he succeeded Dr. Humphred and so deported himself in the same that he gat the approbation and admiration both of that of Oxford and of Forreign Univeâsities also He was like Apollos a man mighty in the Scriptures and as one saith of him Adeò cum Patribus familiaris ac si ipse Pater cum Scholasticis ac si Seraphicus Doctor i. e. He was so familiarly acquainted with the Fathers as if himself had been one of them and so vers'd in the Schoolmen as if hee were the Seraphick Doctor He was also a faithfull Preacher of the Truth and one that adorned it by his holy life and conversation a zealous defender of the true Religion and a great hater of superstition and Idolatry Insomuch that when he went any journey calling the Fellows of the Colledge together he used to say to them Commendo vos dilectioni Dei âdio Papatûs superstitionis I commend you to the love of God and to the hatred of Popery and superstition He continued Doctor of the Chair twenty years and was every way as famous for his Religion and holyness of life as he was for his learning When in his old age he grow weak and sickly he spent all his time in fervent prayers and heavenly meditations and when his end approached he often sighed out Come O Come Lord Jesus thou morning star Come Lord Jesus I desire to be dissolved and to be with thee and so he quietly departed in the Lord Anno Christi 1612 and of his age 73. I. DRVSIVS The Life of John Drusius who died A no Christi 1616. JOhn Drusius was born at Aldenard Anno Christi 1550 and first brought up to School in the âity of Gaunt and from thence went to the University of Lovain But whilst hee was following his study hard there his Father was proscribed for Religion and thereby deprived of all his estate which caused him to fly into England taking this his son along with him When he came to London he met with Cevalerius lately come thither that was exceeding skilfull in the Hebrew His Lectures therefore he attended upon both in publick and private and when Cevalerius was sent to Cambridge to be the Professor there Drusius went along with him applying himself especially to the study of Greek Afterwards when Cevalerius was called back into France Drusius still accompanyed him and fell hard to the study of the Hebrew He also privately read the same to two young English Gentâemen After a while he returned to London again and when hee was purposed to goe back into France he hâard of that bloody Massacre at Paris which made him alter his minde and having preferment profered to him either in Oxford or Cambridge he chose Oxford where for the space of four yeares he read Hebrew Chalde and Syriack with great commendation After which time he went back to Lovain but not long enjoying peace there he returned to London again where he continued till the peace was concluded at Gaunt and then went over into Flanders and from thence into Zeland where the States of Holland chose him to be the Professor in Hebrew Chalde and Syriack in the University of Leiden Anno Christi 1577. During his abode there he married a Wife and the States of Frisland having newly erected a University at Franequer they called him thither In which place he continued taking great paines for the space of thirty one yeares and at length resigned up his spirit unto God Anno Christi 1616 and of his age sixty and six The Life of John James Grynaeus who died A no Christi 1617. JOhn James Grynaeus was born at Berne in Helvetia Anno Christi 1540. His Father was first a Professor in Basil and afterwards removed to a Pastoral charge at Raetela who died of the Plague Anno Christi 1564. His mother was Adelheida Stuberina both of them godly persons His father took the care of his first learning educating him under his own wings and afterwards Anno Christi 1547 hee was sent to School to Basil under Thomas Plater an excellent Schoolmaster with whom he profited so much that Anno Christi 1551 upon examination he was admitted into the University under Boniface Amerbachius the very next year the Plague being hot in Basil he fell sick of the plague but it pleased God to restore him again and he followed his study hard He heard his own Father reading Greek and Latine Huld Coccius reading Logick and John Nisaeus reading Poetry and Rhetorick Anno Christi 1556 his Father was called to a Pastoral charge at Raetela but our James stayed still at Basil joyning the study of Divinity with that of Philosophy One of the Professors of Divinity at that time was Simon Sulcerus who being an Ubiquitarian misled our Grynaeus into the same error as himself confesseth adding that he continued in it for ten years and misled others likewise till at length through Gods mercy he was brought into the way of truth Anno Christi 1559 he began to preach and was ordained Deacon by Sulcerus who was the Superintendent of those Churches which office he supplyed till the year 1563 at which time by the advice of his father and friends he went to Tubing for the further improvement of his learning though himself had rather have gone to Wittenberg where Charlet Marquess of Baden having heard him preach and being taken with him had profered him an exhibition of an hundred Florens per annum When he came to Tubing he delivered his Letters of commendation to Doctor Andreas and so was admitted into that University where he heard Andreas Heerbrand Snepfius and Brentius for Divinity Samuel Hailand for Philosophy and others for the other Arts and it pleased God that he met with William Stuckius of Zurich whom he had formerly known and who now became a partner in his studies and remained his intimate friend ever after Anno
before his death he professed to Doctor Meier that he dyed in the same Faith that he had taught others that he had earnestly besought God to provide his people of an able and faithful Pastor c. concluding O praeclarum illum diem cùm ad illud animarum concilium coelumque proficiscar cùm ex hac turba colluvione discedam O happy day when I may depart out of this troublesom and sinfull world and go to Heaven to those blessed soules before departed He used to say Pontifici Romano Erasmum plus nocuisse jocando quà m Lutherum stomachando Writing to Chytraeus he said Si non amplius in his terris te visurus sum ibi tamen conveniemus ubi Luthero cum Zuinglio optimè jam convenit If we never see one another again in this world yet wee shall meet in that place where Luther and Zuinglius agree very well together He used to be up at his study Winter and Summer before sun-rising and spent all the day in Prayer Writing Reading and visiting of the sick He was so famous that many Princes Noblemen and young Gentlemen came from forreign countries to see and hear him He was very dutifull to his parents liberal to a poor brother which he had Temperate in food and apparel all his life long Courteous and affable to every man respectfull to all degrees studious of love and concord amongst the good especially Scholars as his many Epistles shew Many desired to sojourn with him whose bodies he fed with food and minds with pleasant and profitable discourses and sage Apothegmes In bearing wrongs hee was very patient never seeking reveng Scripsit Epitomen Bibliorum Charact. Christianorum Enarrationes aliquot Psalmorum Prophetarum ut Haggai Jonae Habacuc Obadiae Malachiae Danielis 5 priorum cap. Explanationem Mat. Exeg Epistolae aâ Romanos Col. Heb. Joh. Historiam Ecclesiasticam Chron. Historiae Evangelicae R. ABBAT The Life of Robert Abbat who died A no Christi 1618. RObert Abbat was born at Guilford in the Countie of Surrey Anno Christi 1560 of honest Parents who carefully educated him in learning and when he was fit they sent him to Oxford where he was admitted into Baliol Colledge in which place he followed his studies very hard took all his degrees till he commenced Doctor in Divinity and for his excellent learning and exemplary life he was chosen first Master of the Colledge and afterwards the Regius Professor in which place he succeeded Doctor Thomas Holland and for five years space performed his office so excellently that Anno Chr. 1615 he was by King James preferred to the Bishoprick of Salisbury Whilst he was there he made that learned and solid work De gratia perseverantia Sanctorum He was also very diligent and faithful in the execution of his office But partly by reason of the burthen and care of his place partly by his sedentary life being so hard a student he had a stone bred in his kidneys which put him to intollerable pain yet hee bore the same with invincible patience Till finding his end to approach he called his Family together and began to make before them a Confession of his Faith yet with some pauses by reason of his pains and faintness whereupon some of his friends told him that he need not put himself to that trouble having so fully declared the same in his learned and Orthodox writings This counsel he approved and therefore said to them That Faith which I haue published and defended in my writings is the truth of God and therein I die and so presently after he yeelded up his soul to God Anno Christo 1618 and of his age 58. The Life of William Cowper who died A no Christi 1619. WIlliam Cowper was born in Edenborough and at eight years old was sent by his Father to Dunbar-School where in four years he learn'd the whole course of Grammar and profited above his equals and at that time did God begin to reveal himself to him Many times when he was in the School he used to âift up his heart unto God begging of him knowledge and understanding and alwaies as he went to Church he sent up this ejaculation to heaven Lord bow nine ear that I may hear thy word At his entry into his thirteenth year his father sent for him home to Edenburgh and presently after he went to Saint Andrews where he continued to his sixteenth year in the study of Philosophy but made no great progress therein yet the seed of grace was stil working in him inclining him to a careful hearing and penning of Sermons and other Theological Lectures During his abode at Saint Andrews Sathan working upon corrupt nature sought oft to trap him in his snares but as himself testifies the Lord in mercy forgave the vanities and ignorances of his youth and preserved him from such falls as might have made him a ãâã to the Saints and a reproach to his enemies At the Age of sixteen years he returned to his parents at Edenburgh who propos'd to him sundry courses of life but his heart was stil enclined to the study of the holy Scriptures whereupon he resolved to goe into England and the Lord provided him a place at Hoddesdon eighteen miles from London just as he had spent all his money which he brought with him out of Scotland where he was entertained by one Mr. Gutherie a Scotchman to assist him in teaching of a School There he remained three quarters of a year and then having occasion to goe to London he was unexspectedly called to the service of Master Hugh Broughton with whom he continued a year and a half and daily exercised himself in the study of Divinity At nineteen years old he returned again to Edenburgh where he lived with his elder brother then one of the Ministers in that City who much furthered him in his former studies and at last he was required to give a proof of his gifts privately which he did in the New Church before Master Robert Pont and Master Robert Rollock and somâ others by whom he was commanded to preach in publick also Being twenty years old he was sent by the Authority of the General Assembly which then was met at Edenburgh to be the Pastor at Bothkenner in Sterlingshire but when he came thither he found in the Church besides ruinous wals neither roof nor doors nor pulpit nor seats nor windows yet it pleased God to give such a blessing to his Ministry that within half a year the Parishioners of their own accord built and adorned the Church in as good a quality as any round about it There he continued seven or eight years yet subject to great bodily infirmities by reason of the wetnesse of the soil and the moistness of the air and in that time dâd God begin to acquaint him
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 ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã 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
this he called for a sum of money which as a faithful Steward he daily used to distribute amongst the Poor willing it all to be presently divided and reciting by name the Widdows Orphans and Poor he allotted to every one his portion Soon after in the midst of his Prayers dyed this blessed servant of God and famous Doctor of the Church in the 65. year of his Age Anno Christi 529. having been Bishop about 25 years He was very powerful in Prayer as may appear by this example Some time before his death the Moores invaded the Territories of Ruspa filling all places with Rapines Murthers Burnings and Devastations not sparing the Churches themselves but murthering such as fled to them for refuge But yet so long as Fulgentius lived the City of Ruspa remained in safety and when all the rest of the Province was under miserable Captivity that City alone enjoyed an happy Peace He wrote many excellent Treatises against Hereticks besides sundry Sermons and Epistles His moving and affectionate Eloquence was such as that the Bishop of Carthage hearing him Preach two days together in his Church could not refrain from tears Rejoycing that God had given to his Church in those afflicted and comfortless times such a worthy Instrument of his Glory He used to say Christ dyed for Men and Angels for Men that they might rise from sin and for Angels that they might not fall into sin And If they go to Hell that do not feed the hungry cloath the naked c. what will become of them that take away bread from the hungry cloaths from the naked c. If want of charity be tormented in Hell what will become of covetousnass His Mother having committed the charge of her house to him in his youth he so mannaged it that he gat this testimony that he was Matri praefidium domesticis solatium c. A safeguard to his Mother a comfort to the Family and to all with whom he conversed a rare example In the midst of his greatest sufferings he used to say Plura pro Christo toleranda We must suffer more then this for Christ. His Works are Printed at Lyons Anno Christi 1633. GREGORY Y E GREAT The Life of Gregory the Great who dyed Anno Christi 605. GRegory the Great was born in Rome his Father was a Senator by name Gordianus his Mothers name was Sylvia a woman Noble by birth but both of them more Noble for their Piety Our Gregory in his tender years was carefully educated by his Parents being instructed both in Religion and Literature and as he grew in years so he encreased in Learning which he retained with a firm Memory whereby he was enabled afterwards to make good use of it for the profit and benefit of the Church of God Having gone through the study of other Arts he spent two years in reading of Pythagoras but finding little satisfaction therein he at last with much diligence breathed after more Divine studies And after his Fathers death having more freedom in disposing of himself and his estate he gave all his riches towards the relief of the Poor and betook himself to a Monastical life first under Hillarion and afterwards under Maximianus who both of them were famous for their Piety and Learning He was very abstemious in his Dyet frequent in Fasting and Prayer and so studious of the Sacred Srriptures that he could scarse finde leasure to eat his food till necessity urged him thereunto And indeed his abstinence was so great that he much impaired his health thereby yet would he not give over his imployments spending all his time in Prayer Reading Writing or Dictating to others His humility was very exemplary for though he came of Noble Parents yet had he so little respect to his discent that with tears he would often say That all Earthly Glory was miserable if the owner of it did not seek after the Glory of God He was very exact in spending his time saying that he was to give an account of it unto God Neither was he less charitable to the souls of others For on a time when many Merchants were met to sell their commodities at Rome it happened that Gregory passed by them and saw many young boys with white bodies fair faces beautiful countenances and lovely hair set forth to sail whereupon going to the Merchant their owner he asked him from what Country he brought them The Merchant answered from Britain where the Inhabitants were generally so beautiful Then said Gregory Are they Christians or Heathens Heathens replyed the other whereupon Gregory deeply sighing said Alass for grief that such fair faces should be under the power of the Prince of Darkness and that such beautiful bodies should have their souls void of the Grace of God Then did he again ask the Merchant by what name that people were called He answered Angli Truly said he they may be called Angli quasi Angeli for they have Angles countenances and its fit they were made fellow-Citizens with the Angels Again he asked What was the name of the Province whence they came The Merchant answered Deiri well may they be of Deiri for its fit they should be pulled De ira Dei from under the wrath of God and called into the grace of Christ. Again he asked him what was the name of their King The Merchant answered Alle whereupon Gregory alluding to his name said Well is their King called Alle for its fit that Alleluja to their Creator should be sung in those parts And so going strait to Benedict who was Bishop of Rome at that time he earnestly requested him to send some Ministers into Britain for the Conversion of the Inhabitants thereof and when none could be found that would undertake that journey himself would have gone if the Bishop would have permitted it And indeed at the length by his importunity he prevailed for leave and set forwards on his journey but within three days the people of Rome so complained to Benedict of the loss of Gregory that he sent for him back which occasioned his return though with much sorrow that he was hindered in so good a work Not long after he was sent upon some Ecclesiastical affairs to the Emperour at Constantinople where though the splendor of the Court was troublesome to him yet intermitted he not his private studies and devotion and during his abode there at the request of a Bishop who was Embassador for the Visigoths he wrote a Comment upon the Book of Job Also whereas Eutychius Bishop of Constantinople had taught and writ that our bodies at the Resurrection should be impalpable more subtle then the air Gregory confuted that Error both by Reason and by the Example of Christs Body after his Resurrection whereupon ensued an hot Disputation betwixt them This the Emperour Tiberius hearing of sent for them both to him heard the
to heaven whereupon they asked him whether he would have a Priest to confess to which he denyed then they willed him to call upon S. Mary which he also refused ever looking up to Heaven whereupon one gave him his deaths wound and when his body was known the Enemies condemned him to be cut into four parts and burned This fell out Anno Christi 1531 and of his age 44. after he had been Pastor at Zurick twelve years Three days after his death some of friends coming to the place found his heart untouched by the fire He began to preach at Glarona Anno Christi 1516. against many of the Popish Errors and abuses before the name of Luther was so much as heard of in those parts Beza made this Epitaph on him Zuinglius arderet gemino cùm sanctus amore Nempe Dei imprimis deinde suae patriae Dicitur in solidum se devâv âsse duobus Nempe Deo imprimis deinde suae patriae Quam bene persolvit simul istis votâ duobus Pro Patra examinis pro Pietate cânis He had a wit fitted for great matters honest candid sound and vehement yet not cruel or bloody but heroical and cheerfull His Doctrine and judgment were sound His study of Piety and reforming Religion from Popish superstitions is seen in his Works In his Sermons he was very Methodical teaching the Truth with great Perspicuity He was very sharp in reproving Vices especially the Pentions of the Switzers oppression of the Poor and Prodigality He used to say that it was a wicked warfare and nothing more hateful to God then for the hire of forreign Princes to spill blood When he thundred most against sin least the Innocent should be affrighted he used to say Bone vir haec te non moveant nihil ad te quad dico ne cures igitur Honest man be not affrighted at these things I speak not to thee therefore care not for it He used to study standing and tyed himself to certain hours which he would not omit except necessity compelled him From his first rising till ten a clock he imployed himself in reading writing interpreting the Scripture and making his Sermons After dinner till two a clock he conferred with his friends or gave counsel to such as sought it and so to his study till supper after which having walked awhile he busied himself in writing Letters which many times held him till midnight Monumenta ingenii eruditionis reliquit multa quae in quatuor tomos digesta typisque excusa extant JOHN OECVLAMPADIVS The Life of Oecolampadius who dyed Anno Christi 1531. OEcolampadius was born at Winsperg Anno Christi 1482. of rich and religious Parents especially his Mother for Wisdom Charity and Sanctity was very eminent in the place where she lived They brought up this their son in Religion and Learning His Father intending to make him a Merchant but his Mother by her earnest entreaties prevailed with him still to keep him at School where he profited exceedingly At twelve years of age he was sent to the University of Heidleberg and so profited there that at two years end he was made Batchelor of Art In that place he continued till he was Master of Arts and then went by the will of his Father to Bononia to study the Law But the ayr of Italy not argeeing with him he quickly returned to Heidleberg and betook himself to the study of Divinity read the School-men and profited much thereby He grew so famous both for Piety and Learning that Philip Prince Elector Palatine chose him for a Tutor to his sons But growing weary of a Court-life he left that charge and returned to the study of Divinity Not long after his Parents having no other childe gave all their Estate for the maintenance of a Minister in their own Town and chose this their Son to be the first that should undertake that charge which caused his return from Heidleberg to his own Country but finding himself as yet not throughly furnished for such a work he quickly left it and went to Tubing and from thence to Stutgard where under John Capnio he studyed Greek and from thence he went to Heidleberg where he began to study Hebrew And being by this means better furnished he returned into his own Country to his former Charge and became a severe Preacher and very grave in his carriage He associated himself but with a few and those the best But especially he contracted a strict bond of love with Capito which continued betwixt them so long as they lived From this place he was at last called to be a Preacher at Basil and there also he commenced Doctor in Divinity about which time Erasmus Roteradamus coming thither to print his Annotations on the New Testament he chose Oecolampadius as his assistant in that work and confessed that he was much holpen by him Shortly after he was called to Auspurg to be a Preacher there but finding some timorousness in himself in so great a work he thought that a retired life wherein he might betake himself to Prayer and study would be better for him for the present and therefore he entred into a Monastery near to that City in which also he thought to continue but all his friends especially Capito disswaded him from it which advice he at last hearkning unto and taking occasion to declare his judgement in several things against the Popish Doctrine he began to be much hated and threatned with Prison and death yet he daily encreasing in courage contemned their threats But after awhile the danger growing greater at the importunity of his friends he departed and not long after came to Basil to Print some Works which in his retiredness he had made During his abode there having no other means of subsistence he was maintained by Andrew Cratander the Printer where also to finde himself imployment he translated Chrysostom upon Genesis and preached Christ freely to some that resorted to him Anno Christi 1522. Sir Francis Sickengen sent for him concerning which himself thus writeth Because saith he Sir Francis Sickengen that most famous Knight of Germany and Captain of the Emperours Army hath sent for me to instruct his Family yea rather to feed it with spiritual Sermons being long since instructed I thought it my duty to endeavor that the Law of God should be made familiar in it whereby it might grow in the true and sincere study of Christianity whereupon I dayly read the Gospel and expounded it to those that were present familiarly exhorting them to the study of Piety and whereas they had been accustomed to hear Sermons only upon the Sabbaths and to have Masses all the Week after I so prevailed that Masses were laid aside and some part of the Epistles and Gospels was read and expounded every day to them Shortly after the Senate of Basil chose him to be a
Anno Christi 1516. Anno Christi 1520. through the favor of Sir Vlrick Hutten he was called to Ments by the Archbishop thereof to be the Preacher and Counsellor to the Prince at which time also Gasper Hedeo was made Preacher and chief Governor over the highest Church in Ments Capito did the more willingly embrace this call that he might plant the reformed Religion in Ments Concerning his commencing Doctor he thus writes in an Epistle to Hutten Juris Pontificii ut vocant Doctoratum suscepi propter authoritatem videlicet comparandam scopam subolescis Licet interim sint aliqui qui vitio vertunt Theologum esse unà simul Civilem quasi Theologus necesse habet omnem exuere humanitatem Anno Christi 1521. Tecelius the Merchant of Indulgences being dead by the order of the Archbishop of Ments Letters Patents for the renewing of them were set to sale at Hale in Saxony whereupon Luther wrote to the Archbishop and Melancthon to Capito his Counsellor to disswade them from such Merchandize Capito therefore secretly favouring the Gospel so far prevailed with his Master that he wrote mildly and humbly to Luther And Capito also wrote to him to advise him that in writing against the vices of Prelates he should not name them For saith he Exasperantur potius animi insectatione quà m curantur mens mindes by such bitterness are rather exasperated then cured Capito thus continuing with the Elector of Ments was very dear unto him for his rare Wisdom joined with Piety his happy Eloquence and mild Nature so that by him he was sent upon many Embassies And February the 7. Anno Christi 1523. he was by the Emperour Charles the Fifth endowed for himself and posterity with the Ensignes of Nobility under the Imperial Seal But not much esteeming these things when he saw that he could not accomplish his purpose at Ments to the wonder of the Archbishop and astonishment of the Courtiers he left it and followed Bucer to Strasborough where he was called to a Pastoral charge The fame of Capito and Bucer did so spred abroad that James Faber Stapulensis and Gerard Ruâus came privily out of France to them being sent by Margaret Queen of Navar and sister to Francis King of France where they discoursed largely with them of all the heads of Divinity So that France oweth the beginning of her embracing the reformed Religion as to other godly Ministers so especially to Capito and Bucer Capito was a very Prudent and Eloquent man a good Hâbrician and studious of Peace Concerning the Sacrament he said Mittendas esse contentiones cogitandum de usu ipsius coenae fidem nostram pane vino Domini per memoriam carnis sanguinis illìus pascendam Anno 1525 he was called into his own Country where he instructed his Brethren in the Doctrine of the Gospel preached and administred the Lords Supper to his own Citizens and Baptized without the Popish Ceremonies and whereas in Helvetia many seemed to incline to the reformed Religion Capito often went amongst them confirming them in the Faith And in a Disputation at Bern in Helvetia Anno Christi 1528. Capito with many other Divines was present at it defending the Truth against the Adversaries so that he with the rest prevailed for the abolishing of the Mass and setting up a faithful Ministry in that place The rest of his time he spent in Preaching at Strasborough and giving wholsome counsel to the Churches Anno Christi 1541. when a Diet was appointed at Ratisbone especially for the cause of Religion Capito amongst other Divines was sent by the Protestants to it where he gave an excellent demonstration of his wit and judgement But when nothing could be effected returning home in a great and general infection he dyed of the Plague Anno Christi 1541. of his Age 63. He was a man of an excellent wit and judgement constant in Religion A great lover of the Schools and Learning wherefore he exhorted to the repairing of Schools and keeping up Scholastical Titles that the studious might be distinguished from the slothful the Seniors from the Juniors and that diligence might be spurred on by hope of honest glory When Erasmus halted between two opinions he continually called upon him to put off that Nicodemus-like temper His first wife was Agnes a learned woman after whose death he marryed the Widdow of Oecolampadius his intire friend He left to posterity these excellent works Institutionum Hebraicarum libriduo Enarrationes in Habacuc Hoseans Prophetas Vita Johannis Oecolampadii De formando puro Theologo Explicatio doctissima in Hexameron opus Dei LEO JVDAE The Life of Leo Iudae who dyed An. Chri. 1542. LEO Judae was born An. Chr. 1482. his fathers name was John Judae his mothers name was Elizabeth By the care of his Father he was brought up at School in Slestadia where having learned Grammer he went to Basil An. Chr. 1502. There he joined in study with Zuinglius was an hearer of Dr. Wittenbash by whom he was instructed in the knowledg of the Gospel There also he continued in his studies till he commenced Master of Arts Anno Christi 1512. after which he was made a Deacon and from thence he was called into Helvetia where he set himself to the study of the Oriental Tongues and to read the Fathers especially Hierom and Augustine as also he read diligently the Books of Luther Erasmus and Capito At length being called to a Pastoral charge at Zurick he opposed the Popish Doctrine and Ceremonies both in the Pulpit and Press so that his fame spread far and near there he continned eighteen years and spent much of it in expounding the Old Testament out of the Hebrew wherein being grown very skilful he set upon at the importunity of his Brethren of the Ministry the translation of the Old Testament out of the Hebrew wherein also he was much holpen by the industry of other learned men His care was to get the most exact Hebrew copy that he could which also he compared with others neither did he neglect to examine the Greek and Latine versions that by all he might the better finde out the genuine signification of the words and minde of the Holy Ghost But this work proving very great he was so wasted with labor and old age that he dyed before he finished it Anno Christi 1542. and of his Age 60. leaving undone Job the forty last Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes Canticles and the eight last Chapters of Ezekiel which he commended to Theodore Bibliander to finish who accordingly did it and he left all to Conradus Pellican to peruse and put to the Press which he carefully performed Four days before his death sending for the Pastors and Professors of Zurick he made before them a Confession of his Faith concerning God the Scriptures the Person and Offices of Christ concluding Huic
Raymund the Popes Legate he was made first Licentiat then D of Divinity and afterwards the Popes Legat took him with him towards Rome being affected with his learning but falling sick of a Fever by the way he returned to Basil. Whilst he thus continued a Frier hee was of great esteem amongst them because of his learning and integrity But it pleased God at last that by reading Luthers Bookes and conference with learned and godly men hee began to dis-rellish the Popish errors and so far to declare his dislike of them that he was much hated and persecuted for a Lutheran But about the same time the Senate of Basil chose him Lecturer in Divinity in that City together with Oecolampadius where he began to read first upon Genesis then on Proverbs and Ecclesiastes Anno Christi 1526. he was by the means of Zuinglius sent for to Zurick and being come was most courteously entertained by him There he laid downe his Monks Coul and married a wife by whom he had a Son which he named Samuel being then preaching upon the History of Samuel That wife dying he married again but had no children by his second wife He was present at the Disputation at Bern about Religion After Zuinglius his death there were chosen into his room Henry Bullinger for Pastor and Theodore Bibliander for Divinity-Reader who was an excellent Linguist and began to read upon Isaie to the great astonishment of his hearers for that he was not above 23 years old Pellican at the earnest request of learned men Printed all his Lectures and Annotations which were upon the whole Bible excepting ânely the Revelations which portion of Scripture he not intending to write upon caused the Commentary of Sebastian Meyer upon it to be bound with his to make the work complete He translated many books out of Hebrew which were printed by Robert Stevens as also the Chaldee Bible he translated into Latine He wrote also an exposition in Dutch upon the âeutateuch Joshua Judges Ruth Samuel Kings Isay and Jeremy to convice the Jews for which end also he translated the learned disputation of Ludovicus Vives with the Jewes into Dutch As also many books of Aristotle and Tully that so ingenious persons might learne Philosophy in their own language as the Grecians and Romans in former times were wont to doe He judged it also necessary to learne the Turkish language who were now growne their neer neighbours that by the helpe thereof he might be the better able to bring them to the Christian Faith Then with extraordinary labour hee made Indexes to divers books He also compared the Bible of Munster printed at Zurick and that other of Leo Judae and Bibliander with the Hebrew text word by word lest any thing should be omitted And thus having been Hebrew Professor at Zurick for the space of thirty years wherein he was most acceptable to all not onely in regard of his excellent learning and indefatigable pains but also in regard of his sweet and holy Conversation At last falling into the pain of the stone and other diseases he departed this life upon the day of Christs Resurrection Anno Christi 1556 and of his Age 78. Lavater saith that he heard this Conrade Pellican often say that when he first beganne to study the Tongues there was not one Greek Testament to be gotten in all Germany and that the first which hee saw was brought out of Italy and that though a man would have given a great sum of gold for a Coppy of it it could not be obtained How happy are we in these latter Ages that have them at so easie rates He was a candid sincere and upright man free from falshood and ostentation The Life of John Bugenhagius who died A no Christi 1558. JOhn Bugenhagius was born at Julin near to Stetin in Pomerania Anno Christi 1485. His parents were of the rank of Senators who bred him up carefully in learning till he had learned the Grammar and Musick Instructing him also in the principles of Religion and so sent him to the University of Grypswald where he profited in the study of the Arts and the Greek tongue Being twenty years old he taught School at Trepta and by his learning and diligence made the School famous and had many Scholars to whom also hee read daily some portion of Scripture and prayed with them and meeting with Erasmus his book against the Histrionical carriage of the Friars and the Idolatry of the times he gat so much light thereby that he was stirred up to instruct others therein and for that end in his Schoole he read Matthew The Epistles to Timothy and the Psalmes to which he added Catechising and also expounded the Creed and the ten Commandements unto which exercises many Gentlemen Citizens and Priests reforced From the School he was called to preach in the Church and was admitted into the Colledge of Presbyters Many resorted to his Sermons of all ranks and his same spread abroad Insomuch as Bogeslans the Prince of that Country employed him in writing an History of the same and furnished him with money books and records for the enabling him thereto Which History he compleated in two years with much judgement and integrity Anno Christi 1520 one of the Citizens of Trepta called Otho Slutovius having Luther's book of the Babylonish Captivity sent him gave it to Bugenhagius as he was at dinner with his Colleagues who looking over some leaves of it told them that many Hereticks had disquieted the peace of the Church since Christ's time yet there was never a more pestilent Heretick then the Author of that book shewing in divers particulars how hee dissented from the received Doctrine of the Church But after some few daies having read it with more diligence and attention hee made this publick Râcantation before them all What shall I say of Luther All the world hath been blinde and in âimmerian darknesse only this one man hath found out the Truth And further disputing of those questions with them he brought most of his Colleagues to be of his judgement therein Insomuch as the Abbaâ two antient Pastors of the Church and some other of the Friers began zealously to discover the deceits of the Papacy and to preach against the superstitions and abuses of humane Traditions and to perswade their auditors wholly to trust to the merits of Christ. After this Bugenhagius read Luther's other works diligently whereby he learned the difference between the Law and the Gospel Justification by Faith c. and taught these things also to his hearers perceiving that the opinions of Augustine and Luther agreed together about all those matters But the Devill envying the successe of the Gospel alienated the minde of the Prince from them and stirred up the Bishop to persecute many of the Ministers Citizens and Students of Trepta for speaking
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 Leaâning 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 buâied 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 râst 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 âheir 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 liâtle and little be drawn to searching out of the Truth Shortly aâter 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 perâecuted 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
his Creed as also the Testimonies of all the Ancients viz. of Ignatius Tertullian Iraeneus and Lactantius by a certaine unheard-of impudence yea did not onely reject all the Orthodox Writers which followed the Nicene Councel but reproached them as wicked men Other Blasphemies also followed this about the Hypostaticall Union He first vented these things in private as hee pretended for Disputation sake to some of the Italian Congregation whereupon an assembly being called on purpose Mr. Calvin before some choice Senators and all the Ministers and Elders having patiently heard them confuted them so fully out of the Word of God that all the Italians presently subscribed to the Orthodox Faith except onely six who afterwards being called one by one subscribed with their hands but not with their hearts as time made to appeare Gentilis therefore returning to his old course and going on to spread his former Blasphemies is apprehended dissembles not his opinion being heard as much and as long as he would At length seeming to be convinced by Mr. Calvin he feigned incredible repentance and gave in a Recantation signed under his own hand Hereupon he was dismissed first taking an oath that he would not goe forth of the gates of the City but presently contrary to the same he flyes into Savoy to Matthew Gribaldus and presently after two of his Disciples Alciat and Blandatra followed him who afterwards proved the infectors of Transylvania and the Countries adjacent But Gods judgement hanging over the head of Gentilis he staied with Gribaldus both of them casting off the other two as illiterate fellows and there he wrote a book against Athanasius and Calvin and so going to Lions he there printed it dedicating it to Gaiensis a Praefect who was altogether ignorant of the blasphâ mies contained in it Whilst he was at Lions he was apprehended by the Papists but when he shewed them that hee had written a booke against Calvin he was dismissed as one that had deserved wel of their Church From thence he went into Transylvania to âlandatra Alciat and their companions but they having now sucked in the Heresies of Samosatenus and he not well agreeing with them therein Christ indeed drawing him forth to condigne punishment he returned into Savoy to his friend Gribaldus but Gods plague had now swept away that Pest and Mr. Calvin also was dead at Geneva Hereupon Gentilis either infatuated by God or thinking that there was none left at Geneva that could answer him went strait to Gaiensis who was justly offended with him who there fore presently apprehending him by the just judgement of God sent him to Berne there to be tried where being convicted both of Perjury many manifest impieties after many wayes were used to bring him to repentance but in vain he had his head cut off thereby suffering a just reward for all his impieties Towards the latter end of this year in October Mr. Calvin was taken with a Quartane Ague which Physicians say is deadly to old persons which though it held him but eight monâths yet it so debilâtated his lean and overworne body with his inââssant labâurs that he never throughly recovered his health again Yet all this time though his Physicians warned him and his friends disswaded him from his preaching and Lectures yet did he continually busie himself night and day in dictating and writing Letters every way often saying That nothing was more troublesome to him then an idle life At this time also he published the last Edition of his Institutions in French and Latine and his learned Commentary upon Isaâah The yeare following viz. 1559 was famous for the League entered into between the two most potent Kings of Spain and France which was strengthned by aâlinity betwixt them which was likely to prove fatall to Geneva but that the counsell of the Pontificians who abused the simplicity of King Henry of France hindered it For King Henry published most severe Decrees and cast some of his Senators into prison who had declared their judgements freely that he ought to proceed gently in matters of Religion till a Generall Councell could bee called having this in his eye principally to restore the Duke of Savoy to his Country that by his help hee might utterly destroy Geneva In the meane time Master Calvin though sickly laboured hard ãâã Genâva comforting and confirming the afflicted Churches and brethren as also by his frequent and servent prayers craving help of God And behold the wonderfull work of God â whilst all things were ful of terror the King of France in the great Marriage solemnity which was made for the confirmation of the Peace in his running at Tilt received his deaths wound and that by the hand of the Captaine of his Guard by whom a little before he had apprehended and imprisoned the aforesaid Senators This death of the King was expiated as he thought by the Cardinall of Lorraine who upon the one and twentieth of December caused that learned Lawyer faithfull Counsellor and holy Martyr of Christ Annas Du Bourg to be unjustly and cruelly burned But by the singular blessing of God in the midst of these calamitous times the hearts of the Genevians were so raised up and confirmed that in the very same yeare and almost moment of time in which two such potent Kings had contriâed their destruction by the encouragement of Mr. Calvin they laid the foundation and built a famous Schoole adorning it with eight Masters for boyes as also with Hebrew Greek Philosophy and Divinity Professors which being finished to the honour of God Omnipotent Mr. Calvin in a great assembly in the chiefest Church read and declared those things which conduced to the perpetuall establishment of so holy and profitable a foundation whereby he did as it were solemnly consecrate it The year after which was 1560. Master Calvin was by some loaden with much envy as if he had stirred up an Assembly against Francis the Second the heir of his Fathers Kingdom which Assembly was called The tumult of Amboise whereas indeed Master Calvin never understood what it was as also both by word of mouth and by his Letters to friends he disliked it This year one Sancarus of Mantua Italy being fatall to the Polonians began to teach that Christ was Mediator onely according to his humane nature accusing all of Arianisme that should say that he was Mediator also according to his Deity as if thereby they made the Son lesse then the Father This calumny and all his other Doctrine was notably confuted as by Philip Melancton and Peter Martyr so also Master Calvin at the request of the Polonians did briefly but strongly confute the same and foreseeing what shortly after came to pass that whilst some more unskilful persons would take upon them to confute Sancarus if they took not heed would fall into the error of them which held three Gods He eloquently admonished them
where he might do more good And accordingly from thence he went to Lipsich where he spent his time in writing upon the Psalmes and afterwards having it left to his choice whether to stay at Lipsich or to goe to Wittenberg being sent for thither he chose to stay where he was and was chosen professor of Divinity in that University Where he continued his Lectures till Anno Christi 1566. at which time he came to deliver his judgement about the Lords Supper Whereupon by the command of the Rector of the University the doors of the Colledge were shut against him and he not suffered to read any more yet they would have restored him to his place if he would have promised to meddle with that point no more But he refused to make any such promise and withall complained to the Elector of Saxonie of the wrong done unto him from whom he received a sharpe answer and therefore leaving Lipsich he went to Amberg in the upper Palatinate where after a short stay he received Letters from the Elector Palatine and the University inviting him to Heidleberg whether he presently went and was made Professor of Ethicks In which place he took very great paines both in reading his Lectures and Writing But his body having contracted some diseases by his former imprisonment An. Christi 1569. he fell very sick whereupon he said Sperare se finem vita suae adesse c. That he hoped that his life was at an end whereby he should be delivered from the fraud and miseries of this evill world and injoy the blessed presence of God and his Saints to all eternity and accordingly presently after he quietly departed in the Lord Anno Christi 1569. and of his age 44. Having taught the Churches both by voice and writing in many great changes above twenty three years attaining that which he had often desired viz. That he might not dye a lingring death He was an excellent Divine and Philosopher Eloquent and framed by nature to train up youth Scripsit Commentarios in varias Philosophiae partes Orationum Epistolarum libros Hypomâemata in utriusque Testamenti libros JO BRENTIVS The Life of Iohn Brentius who died A no Christi 1570. JOhn Brentius was borne at Wile in the Imperiall Snevia Anno Christi 1499. His Father was Major of that City twenty four years who carefully brought up his Son in learning and at eleven years old sent him to Heidleberg to School and at thirteen years old he was admitted into the Universitie and at 15 years old he Commenced Bachelor There also he studied Greek and Hebrew and was so studious that he usually rose at midnight to his book whereby he contracted such a habit that he could never after whilst he lived sleep longer then till midnight the rest of the night he spent in holy meditations and in his old age he had a candle by his bed-side and deceived the time by writing and meditation Partly by his diligence and partly by his acute wit and strong memory he profited so much both in the Arts and Tongues that at eighteen years old he was made Master of Arts. About this time Luthers books coming abroad Brentius by reading of them came to the knowledge of the Truth which he willingly imbraced And being desirous to propagate it to others he began to read upon Matthew first to som friends of his own colledges but his auditors increasing out of other Colledges he was fain to read in the publick Schools for which the Divines hated him because he grew so popular saying That neither was the place fit for Divinity Lectures nor he fit for such a work being not yet in orders wherefore to take away that objection he entred into orders and preached often for other men to the great delight of his hearers From thence he was called to be a Pastor at Hale in Sweveland where his gravity gesture phrase voice and doctrine did so please the Senat that though he was but twenty three years old yet they chose him to that place and he carried himself with such gravity holiness of life integrity of manners and diligence in his calling that none could contemn his youth And the Lord so blessed his labours there that many were converted to the Truth yea amongst the very Popish Priests some of them were converted others left their places for shame and went elsewhere He used much modesty and wisedome in his Sermons and when in the beginning of his preaching there the Popish Priests railed exceedingly upon him and his doctrine and the people exspected that he would answer them accordingly he contrariwise went on in teaching the fundamentall points of Religion and as he had occasion confuted their errors without bitterness from clear Scripture arguments whereby in time he so wrought upon them that he brought them to a sight of their errors and to a detestation of their Idolatry About this time Muncer and his companions rose up and stirred almost all the Boors in Germany to take Arms against the Magistrates and rich men abusing Scripture to justifie their proceedings Whereupon Brentius was in great danger for many cryed out that his opposing Popery and casting out the old Ceremonies was the cause of these Tumults Yet when as the boors in Hale were risen up and threatned to besiege the City of Hale and the Magistrates and Citizens were in such fear that they were ready to fly or to joyne with the Boors Brentius encouraged them and told them that if they would take Arms and defend their City God would assist them c. and so it came to passe for six hundred Citizens beat away four thousand of those Boors He also published a booke in confutation of their wicked opinions and shewed how dissonant they were to the Word of God Presently after rose up that unhappy contention between Luther and Zuinglius about Christs presence in the Sacrament which continued divers years to the great disturbance of the Church scandal of the Reformed Religion and hinderance of the success of the Gospel And when a conference was appointed for the composing of that difference Luther Brentius and some others met with Zuinglius and some of his friends but after much debate they departed without an agreement Anno 1530. was the Diet held at Auspurg unto which the Protestant Princes brought their Divines with them and amongst others Brentius at which time George Marquesse of Brandenburg told the Emperor That he would rather shed his blood and lose his life or lay downe his neck to the headsman then alter his Religion Here the Divines drew up that famous Confession of Faith which from the place is called the Augustane Confession Brentius at his return home married a wife Margaret Graetenna famous for her chastity modesty and piety by whom he had six children
which place he continued all his life and carried himself with much sedulity pioty and prudence in the same alwaies maintaining love and concord with his Colleagues And in his Sermons he preached over the Pentateuch and the Gospels of Matthew and Mark. And whereas one Peter a Soto a Spaniard wrote a Confession of the Roman Faith and made some Annotations upon the forementioned Confession of Wirtemburg labouring to bespatter and traduce it Brentius answered this out of the Scriptures and Fathers defending the Doctrine of the Protestants against the opinions of the Papists and the Decrees of the Councill of Trent which he confuted so that a blind man might perceive the Idolatries of the Romanists to be condemned by the Word of God Anno Christi 1557 he was sent by his Prince to the Conference at Worms which came to nothing because the Popish party would not suffer that the Scripture should be the Judg of their Controversies In his old age hee wrote upon the Psalmes And whereas there were many Monasteries in Wirtemburg out of which the Friars were driven he perswaded his Prince to turne them to Schooles for the training up of youth in learning which was accordingly done and once in two years Brentius visited those Schools and took notice how the Scholars profited in Learning and encouraged them to make a daily progresse therein He had almost finished his Comment upon the Psalms when as his old age worn out with studies and labours put a period unto the same and his end was hastned by grief for the immature death of his Prince for whom he professed that he would willingly have sacrificed all his estate his own life also Falling into a feaver whereby he perceived that his end approached he made his Will wherein he set down a Confession of his Faith And sending for the Ministers of Stutgard hee caused his sonne to read it to them and requested them to subscribe their hands as witnesses to it He also received the Sacrament and exhorted them to unity in Doctrine and love amongst themselves He was exceeding patient in all his sickness neither by word nor gesture shewing the least impatience alwaies saying That he longed for a better even an eternall life The night before his death he slept sweetly and when he awaked the Minister repeated the Apostles Creed and asked him whether he dyed in that Faith to whom he answered Yea which was his last word and so he quietly resigned up his spirit unto God Anno Christi 1570 and of his Age seventy one He was buried with much honour and had this Epitaph Voce stylo pietate fide candore probatus Johannes tali Brentius ore fuit With voice stile piety faith and candor grac'd In outward shape John Brentius was thus fac'd He was of a bigge stature of a sirm health in which hee continued to his old age had strong fides a clear and full voice had many excellent virtues went through many great dangers with an undaunted spirit His piety to his Parents was very singular and his love to God and his Church exemplary He wrote many things which are printed in nine Tomes Most of which are mentioned before in his life The Life of Peter Viretus who died A no Christi 1571. PEter Viretus was born at Orba in the Country of the Bernates brought up in learning at Paris where he beganne to be acquainted with Farel whom afterwards he helpt much in setling the Churches in those parts But principally the Church of Lausanna where he spent many years in the Ministry and writing books to his great praise And when Calvin was sent to the Conference at Worms An. Chr. 1541 and from thence to Ratisbone he obtained of the Senate of Lausanna that Virete should supply his place at Geneva till his return and when he came back he much importuned that Virete might still continue there affirming that it would much conduce to the good of the Church at Geneva to enjoy his labours but he would needs return to Lausanna to his former charge Afterwards at the earnest entreaty of the French-Churches he went to Lions where in the middest of the Civill Warrs and the Pestilence which followed he with his Colleagues governed the Church with much prudence till by the Jesuits means Anno 1563 there was a Proclamation sent abroad that none but such as were Native French should be Preachers in the Protestant Churches upon which occasion many forraign Ministers were driven out of France and amongst the rest Master Virete Then at the earnest request of the Queen of Navarre he went to Bern where hee continued untill his death which was Anno Christi 1571 and of his Age sixty He was much bewailed of all good men Whilst he lived he was of a very weak constitution and the rather by reason of poyson which a Priest had given to him at Geneva as also because of some wounds that he had received from a Priest that lay in wait for him in another place where he was left for dead He was very learned of a sweet disposition and so exceeding Eloquent that he drew many to be his hearers which were no friends to Religion and they were so chained to his lips that they never thought the time long wherein he preached but alwaies wished his Sermons longer At Lions which was a populous City he preached in an open place and turned some thousands to the Truth and Faith in Christ yea some that passed by with no purpose to hear his Sermon Yet did he so work upon them that they neglected their other businesse to hearken to him At that time France enjoyed those three excellent Preachers Calvin Farel and Virete Calvin was famous for his Learning Farell for his earnestnesse and Viret for his Eloquence Whereupon Baza made these verses Gallica mirata est Calvinum Ecclesia nuper Quo nemo docuit doctius Est quoque te nuper mirata Farelle tonantem Quo nemo tonuit fortius Et miratur adhuc fundentem mella Viretum Quo nemo fatur dulciùs Scilicet aut tribus his servabere testibus olim Aut interibis Gallia Scripta Viretus reliquit Commentarios in Acta Apost De origine novae veteris Idololatriae lib. 5. Qua Imagines Reliquiae verae aut falsa sint Quis verus Mediator De origine continuatione usu authoritate atque praestantia Ministerii Verbi Dei Sacrament orum c. De vero Verbi Dei Sacramentorum Ecclâsiae Ministerio lib. 2. De Adulterinis Sacramentis De Theatrica Missae saltatione c. De usu salutationis Augelicae c. Epistola ad fideles agentes inter Papistas Epistolae consolatoriae De officio hominis necessitate inquirendi de voluntate Dei ex ejus verbo c. Physicae Papalis Dialogi 5. Christianarum Disputationum Dialogi 6. Instructio Christiana
answered him stoutly That such arguments might prevail with children but could not with him Having leave at last through bribes to lie amongst the other captives in a more open and cleanly place he wonderfully refreshed and comforted them by his godly exhortations and consolations drawn from the Scriptures whereby they were much confirmed in the Christian Faith And whereas before they were almost pined through want of food God so stirred up the hearts of some to bring relief to Zegedine that all the rest of the prisoners were provided for plentifully thereby Remaining thus in prison he was not idle but wrote there his Common-places and some other Works and his Citizens having tried all means and used the intercession of all their friends for his release began now almost to despair of obtaining it And to adde to his affliction it pleased God in the time of his imprisonment which was above a year three of his children died which added much to his affliction But when all hopes failed let us see by what means through Gods mercy he obtained his liberty It pleased God that a noble Baron and his Lady passing by that way saw this worthy man of God in so miserable a plight that the Lady much pittyed him and afterwards being in Child-bed and ready to dye she requested her Lord who loved her dearly for her sake to improve all his interest in the Beg to procure Zegedines liberty which he with an oath promised to perform and accordingly engaged himself to the Turk that he should pay 1200 Florens for his ransom upon which he was released and went about to divers Cities to gather his ransom and God so enlarged mens hearts towards him that in a short time he carried 800 Florens to this Baron and so returned to his people at Calmantsem The year after being 1564 as he was going by coach to Buda when the horses came near the River Danubius being very hot and dry they ran violently into the river but behold the admirable providence of God when they had swam some twenty paces in the river they turned back again of their own accord and drew the coach and him safely to the shore The same year by Imposition of hands he ordained three excellent men Ministers Aboââ that time there came a bragging Friar and challenged him to a disputation which he willingly accepting of the great Church was appointed for the place and many of both sides resorted thither and the Friar came with much confidence hiâ servants carrying a great sack of bookâ ãâã But in the disputation Zegedine did so baffle him that ãâ¦ã shrunk away with shame aâd he Frier with his great ãâã was left all alone so that himself was faine to take it on his own shoulders and go his way About that time the Vayvod who had before betrayed him coming to the place where Zegedine was desired to speake with him and requested him to forgive him professing that he could rest neither night nor day he was so haunted with apparitions and the Furies of his own conscience which Zegedine easily assented unto An. Christi 1566 Zegedine being very hot invited a friend to go with him to the River of Danubius to bathe themselves but as they were swimming his friend looking about him saw not Zegedine and wondering what was become of him so suddenly at last spied his hoary hairs appearing above water and swimming swiftly to him Zegedine was sunk whereupon he diving to the bottom of the river caught hold of him and drew him forth carrying him to a Mill that was not far off where he laid him to bed About midnight Zegedine coming to himselfe enquired how he came there and who drew him out of the River his friend told him the whole story and kept him carefully till he recovered Anno Christi 1572 he fell into a lingring disease in which he loathed meat slept little was much troubled with rheume complained of Head-ach and could find no ease either sitting standing or lying yet he drank much milk and thought that if he could procure some sleep hee might easily recover his former health whereupon he sent for a Chirurgion who gave him a bitter potion which caused him to fall asleep but after a little while he quietly breathed forth his last being 67 years old Anno Christi 1572. He was a zealous assertor of the Truth against Arianism Mahometism and Papism with all which Heresies Hungary at that time was much infected His writings were these Adsertio de Trinitate contra quorundam deliramenta in quibusdam Hungariae partibus exorta Speculum Romanorum Pontificum Loci communes Theologicae Tabulae analyticae de fide Christiana J. KNOX The Life of John Knox who died A no Christi 1572. JOhn Knox was born at Gifford in Lothaine in Scotland Anno 1505. of honest parentage Brought up first at School then sent to the University of Saint Andrews to study under Mr. Jo. Mair who was famous for learning in those dayes and under whom in a short time he profited exceedingly in Philosophy and School-Divinity and tooke his Degrees and afterwards was admitted very young into Orders Then he betook himself to the reading of the Fathers especially Augustines and Hieroms Works and lastly to the earnest study of the holy Scriptures by which being through Gods mercy informed of the Truth he willingly embraced it and freely professed it and imparted it to others But the Bishops and Friers could by no means endure that light which discovered their darknesse and therefore presently raised up a persecution against him especially David Beton Archbishop and Cardinal who caused him to be apprehended and cast into prison purposing to have sacrificed him in the flames But it pleased God by a special providence that he was delivered and therefore presently fled to Berwick to the English where he preached the Truth of the Gospel with great fruit and defended it against the Popish party so that his fame spread abroad exceedingly Hee preached also at Newcastle London and in some other places So that K. Edw the sixth taking notice of him profered him a Bishoprick which he rejected as having Aliquid commune cum Antichristo Something in it common with Antichrist King Edward being dead the persecution raised by Queen Mary made him leave England and goe to Franckfort upon Maine where for a time he preached the Gospel to the English Congregation But meeting with opposition there both from Papists and false brethren he went to Geneva where also he preached to an English Congregation and was very intimate with Master Ralvin continuing there some years Anno Christi 1559 and of his Age 54 the Nobility of Scotland with some others beginning the reformation of Religion sent for him home and at his coming to Edenborough he was lodged in the house
admonished them especially to take heed of Drunkennesse which was so common amongst the Germans and lastly that they should be very observant to the Senate which had so excellently maintained Religion He wrote also his fare well to the Magistrates exhorting them to continue their care of the Church and Schooles thanked them for their kindnesse to him and entreated them to chuse Ralph Gualter to be his successor The day of his death he continued in prayer repeating the one and fiftieth the sixteenth and the forty second Psalms and the Lords Prayer and so gave up his soul unto God An. Chr. 1575 and of his Age 71. He was one of the chiefest of the Helvetian Divines and after Zuinglius and Oecolampadius a strong assertor of their Confession of Faith Of a mild nature clear in his Ministry and one that hated crabbed and unprofitable questions which many delighted in to shew their wit affable in speech courteous of behaviour both towards his own and strangers An excellent Governour of the Church frugall and temârate in his diet merry and pleasant with those that lived wââh him He was so industrious that he would never be idle He had one Wife by whom he had six sonnes and five daughters of whom he married one to Zuinglius another to Lavate and a third to Simler all Ministers in Zurick He wrote Commentaries upon all the New Testament His Workes are contained in tenne Tomes besides which hee wrote Contra Anabaptistas lib. 4. De annuis Reditibus De Hebdomadibus Danielis De Sacramentis The Life of Edward Deering who died A no Christi 1576. EDward Deering was borne of a very ancient Family in Kent and carefully brought up both in Religion and Learning From School he went to Cambridge and was admitted into Christs Colledge where he profited exceedingly and became a very famous Preacher as may appear by his most learned and holy Sermons and Tractates full of heavenly consolation He never affected nor sought after great titles or preferments and therefore rested content with his Fellowship in that Colledge and onely Commenced Batchelor of Divinity yet afterwards hee was made a Preacher in Saint Paul's Church in London and having worn out himself with his labours in the Work of the Lord hee fell sick and discerning his approaching death hee said in the presence of his friends that came to visit him The good Lord pardon my great negligence that whilst I had time I used not his precious gifts to the advancement of his glory as I might have done Yet I blesse God withall that I have not abused these gifts to ambition and vain studies When I am once dead my enemies shall be reconciled to me except they be such as either knew me not or have no sence of goodnesse in them for I have faithfully and with a good conscience served the Lord my God A Minister standing by said unto him It 's a great happinesse to you that you die in peace and thereby are freed from those troubles which many of your brethren are like to meet with To whom he answered If God hath decreed that I shall sup together with the Saints in Heaven why doe I not goe to them but if there be any doubt or hesitation resting upon my spirit the Lord will reveal the truth unto me When he had layen still a while a friend said unto him that hee hoped that his minde was employed in holy meditation whilst hee lay so silent To whom he answered Poor wretch and miserable man that I am the least of all Saints and the greatest of Sinners yet by the eye of Faith I beleeve in and look upon Christ my Saviour Yet a little while and we shall see our hope The end of the world is come upon us and we shall quickly receive the end of our hope which we have so much looked for Afflictions diseases sicknesse grief are nothing but part of that portion which God hath allotted to us in this world It s not enough to beginne for a little while except we persevere in the fear of the Lord all the daies of our lives for in a moment we shall be taken away Take heed therefore that you doe not make a pastime of nor dis-esteem the Word of God blessed are they that whilst they have tongues use them to Gods glory When he drew near to his end being set up in his bed some of his friends requested him to speake something to them that might bee for their edification and comfort Whereupon the Sun shining in his face hee tooke occasion from thence to say thus unto them There is but one Sunne in the world nor but one Righteousnesse one Communion of Saints If I were the most excellent of all creatures in the world If I were equall in righteousnesse to Abraham Isaac and Jacob yet had I reason to confâsse my selfe to bee a sinner and that I could expect no salvation but in the righteousnesse of Jesus Christ For we all stand in need of the grace of God And as for my death I blesse God I feel and finde so much inward joy and comfort in my soul that if I were put to my choice whether to dye or live I would a thousand times rather choose death then life if it may stand with the holy will of God And accordingly shortly after he slept in the Lord Anno Christi 1576. The Life of Flacius Illiricus who died A no Christi 1575. MAtthias Flacius Illiricus was borne in Albona in Sclavonia Anno Christi 1520 of an ancient and numerous Family His Father being learned himself and discerning a good ingeny in his Sonne began in his tender years to instill into him the first Rudiments of Learning But after his death his Masters so neglected him that he almost forgot all Yet when he began to have discretion he desired much to attaine to Learning and returned to his studies and to further him therein went to Venice and after some progress made at seventeen years old hee beganne to study Divinity but wanting means to maintaine him in the University he profered halfe his estate to be admitted into a Monastery either at Bononia or Padua but a friend called Baldus a godly man who afterwards suffered Martyrdom for the Truth disswaded him from that kinde of life and advised him rather to goe into Germany where were store of Learned men Hereupon having read over some of the Protestants bookes and liking Baldus his advice hee went into Germany which he had never before seen and first staying at Basil he studied under Simon Grynaeus who did not only entertain him being very poor but provided for him and instructed him in the Truth which was An. 1539. And about the end of the ear he went from thence to Tubing where also he studied a while under Matthias Garbicius then went to Wittenberg An. Chr. 1541 where he privately
taught Greek and Hebrew for his maintenance and heard Luther and Melancthon He was much troubled there with temptations about Sinne Gods wrath and Predestination But by the good counsel of Pomerane and Luther and the publick praiers of the Church it pleased God that he overcame them Melancthon loved him much for his Wit and Learning and maintained him at his own charges And when Flacius was reasonable well grounded in the Greek he fel to the study of the Hebrew and commenced Mr. of Arts. He also married a wife and had a stipend allowed him by the Prince Elector Anno 1544. But when by reason of the Wars that University was dissipated he went to Brunswick being invited thither by Medler where he got much credit by his publlck teaching The Warres being ended he returned to Wittenberg Anno 1547. But when the Interim came forth and Melancthon thought that for peace-sake somthing should be yeelded to in things indifferent Flacius with the Divines of Lubec Lunenburg Hamborough and Madgeburg strongly opposed it as opening a gap to the return of Popery Hereupon shortly after he removed to Madgeburg where he strongly opposed Popery the Interim and whatsoever was contrarie to the Augustane Confession There also he assisted Gallus Wigand and Judex in writing the Madgeburgenses Centuries Confuted the opinion of Osiander about the Justification of a man before God and the fond conceits of Schwensield And when the Duke of Saxonie had erected an University at Jeans hee sent for him thither Anno Christi 1557. But after five years a great contention arising between Strigelius and him about Free will he left that place and went to Ratisbone and Anno Christi 1567 the Citizens of Antwerp having procured liberty for the free exercise of the Reformed Religion sent for Flacins amongst others thither but Religion being quickly expelled thence he went to Strasborough where he published his Glosse upon the New Testament And from thence to Franckfurt upon the Main where after a while falling out with the Ministers about the Essence of Originall Sin he fell into great disgrace and not long after died Anno Christi 1575 and of his Age 55. He was of an unquiet wit alwaies contending with some or other and brought much grief to Melancthon yet wrote some excellent Workes for the benefit of the Church and amongst others his Catalogus Testium Veritatis His Clavis sacrae Scripturae His Martyrologie with many others set down by Verheiden in his Praestantium Theologorum effigies The Life of Josias Simlerus who died A no Christi 1576. JOsias Simlerus was born at Capella in Helvetia An. Ch. 1530. His Fathers Name was Peter who was a godly learned and prudent man by whom he was carefully brought up in learning in the School of Capella and at fourteene yeares of age was sent to Zurick Anno Christi 1544 where he lived in Bullingers Family who was his Godfather almost two yeares and in which place he demeaned himself so piously modestly and diligently and made so eminent a progresse in Learning that he was exceedingly beloved of all From thence he went to the University of Basil Anno Christi 1546 where he studied the Arts and Tongues one year and from thence he went to Strasborough in which place there flourished at that time Sturmius Martyr Bucer Fagius Herlinus Sevenus Dasypodius Hedio Niger with some others Some of these he heard and spent two years in the further study of the Arts and Tongues And so at the end of three years he returned home to the great joy of his Father and Bullinger Neither did he now spend his time in pleasures and idlenesse but partly in learning partly in preaching in neighbouring villages and partly in teaching a School so that being not above twenty yeares old he was very serviceable both in the Church and Schoole And whereas Gesner was exceeding full of imployments hee many times supplyed his publick Lectures one while reading Astronomie another while Geometrie and other whiles Arithmetick Lectures for him Anno Christi 1552 he was appointed publickly to expound the New Testament in Zurick being but two and twenty years old and he beganne with Matthew and shewed such diligence and abilities that he was not only admired be his own Countrymen but by strangers especially the English who lived as exiles there at that time Four years after An. Chr. 1557 he was made Deacon and went on in his former worke with admiration so that he was highly prized by all and judged fit for better preferment Bibliander being grown very old Simler supplied his place and was Colleague to Peter Martyr who highly prised him and foretold that Simler would prove a great ornament to the Church and when he died expressed much joy that he should have so able a man to succeed him And accordingly after his death Simler was chosen into his place by the unanimous votes both of the Doctors and Senate of Zurick which was in the year 1563 and had for his Colleague John Wolffius a very learned and godly man Simler besides his publick labours instructed many in private and amongst them some Noblemen both in sacred and humane learning His Lectures publick and private ordinary and extraordinary were sufficient witnesses of his diligence industry piety learning eloquence judgement and memory He had such an acute wit and strong memory that he was able ex tempore to speak of any subject and to answer his friends questions out of any Author and to give an account of their writings to the great admiration of the hearers And though in reading of books he seemed to run over them very superficially yet when he had done he was able to give an exact account of any thing that was contained in them Being so troubled with the Gout that many times he was confined to his bed and had the use of none of his members but his Tongue onely yet in the midst of his pains he used to dictate to his Amanuensis such things as were presently printed to the great admiration of Learned men Besides the Gout he was much troubled with the stone so that the pains of these diseases together with his excessive labours in his Ministry hastned his immature death which he also foresaw yet without any consternation or fear but by his frequent and fervent prayers to God endeavoured to fit himselfe for it and accordingly Anno Christi 1576 he resigned up his spirit unto God being five and forty years old and was buried in Peter Martyrs Tomb. Hee was of a very loving and gentle nature free from passion very charitable spending all his Patrimony upon the Poore and Strangers And such as came thither to study he entertained them in his house and often feasted his friends with whom he would be very merry otherwise he was very sparing of speech He delighted much in
History He had two Wives the first of which was Bullingers daughter who died without issue by the second who was Gualters daughter he had three sons and one daughter He was tall of stature fat fair and strong but that he was somewhat weakned by the Gout He had such an amiable face that his sweet manners might bee seen in his countenance as in a glass In his habit and diet he was neither too sumptuous nor too fordid best liking cleanlinesse and neatness Scripsit Praelectiones in Exodum De aeterno Dei Filio adversus Arianos Tritheitas Samosetaninos Adversus eosdem de S. Sancto Narrationem veterum controversiarum de una âersonâ duabus naturis Christi c. cum multis aliis The particulars you may find in Verheiden The Life of Immanuel Tremelius who died A no Christi 1580. IMmanuel Tremelius was born in Ferrara having a Jew to his Father who so educated him that hee was very skilfull in the Hebrew Tongue Hee was converted by PeterMartyr and went with him to Lucca where he taught Hebrew From thence he went with him to Strasborough and from thence into England under King Edward the sixth after whose death he returned into Germany And in the School of Hornback under the Duke of Bâââât he taught Hebrew From thence he was called to Heidleberg under Frederick the third Elector Palatine where he was Professor of the Hebrew tongue and translated the Syriack Testament into Latine There also he set upon the Translation of the Bible out of Hebrew associated to himself in that work Fr. Junius who after the death of Tremelius perused the whole work and by adding many things rather made it larger then better in some mens judgement In his old age he left Heidleberg and by the Duke of Bulloin was called to be Hebrew Professor in his new University of Sedan where he dyed Anno Christi 1580 and of his Age seventy He wrote a Chalde and Syriack Grammer hee published the New Testament in Latine and Syriack An exposition upon the Prophet Hosea Together with Junius he translated the Hebrew Bible adding short annotations And lastly Bucers Lectures upon the Epistle to the Ephesians The Life of Peter Boquine who died Anno Christi 1582. PEter Boquinus was borne in Aquitane and being in his youth brought up in learning he entred into a Monastery at Biturg where he was made the Prior and was very much beloved of all the Convent But it pleased God in the midst of all his riches and honours to discover the Truth to him and thereupon after the example of Luther Bucer Oecolampadius and Peter Martyr he resolved to leave all and to follow Christ whose example divers of the Friers also followed From thence he went toward Wittenberg being very desirous to be acquainted with Luther and Melancthon whose fame was very great and some of whose works he had met with and read and so travelling through Germany he came to Basil where he wintered by reason of the Plague very rife at that time in many Countries There he diligently heard the Lectures of Myconius Caralostadius and Sebastian Munster Anno Christi 1542 from thence he went to Lipsich where he stayed three weeks and so went to Wittenberg Coming hither he had some converse with Luther but more with Melancthon And whilst he was there Bucer sent to Melancthon to request him to send an able man to Strasborough to supply Calvins place who was now gone back to Geneva whereupon Melancthon requested Boquine to goe thither which he accordingly did and began to read upon the Epistle to the Galatians Shortly after Peter Martyr came thither also But Bucer being sent for by the Arch-bishop of Collen to assist him in the reformation of his Churches Boquine finding that the Ecclesiasticall and Scholasticall affaires went but slowly forward in his absence upon the request of his brother who was a Doctor of Divinity and not altogether estranged from the Reformed Religion he resolved to goe back into France and so taking Basil in his way he went to Geneva where he heard Calvin preach and had some speech with him and from thence to Biturg where he lived with his brother the Doctor mentioned before and when some hope began to appear that the Churches of France would be reformed at the instigation of his brother he began publickly to read Hebrew and to expound the Scriptures About that time Francis King of France being dead the Queen of Navar came into those parts about the marriage of her daughter to whom Boquine went and presented her with a book written with his own hand about the necessity and use of the holy Scriptures and her daughter with another concerning our spiritual husband Jesus Christ whereupon she took him into her Patronage and allowed him a yearly stipend out of her treasury appointing him to preach a publick Lecture in the great Church in Biturg Whereunto also the Arch-Bishop consented Shortly after the Queen of Navar dying there succeeded to her King Henries sister as in name and stock so also in Doctrine and Piety not unlike her Whereupon Boquine went and presented her with a book which he had written De homine perfecto which she took so gratefully that she confirmed his former stipend to him and he made use of that favour so long as he thought his labours were not unprofitable to the Church but when he saw that there was no hope of any further Reformation in France and that his enemies lay in wait for his life he gave it over of his own accord At that time he underwent the bitter hatred of some Friers and other enemies of the truth by whom his life was in great danger For he was summoned to appear before the Parliament of Paris and then before the Arch-Bishop of Biturg where his life was sought but God raised up some men to stand for him whereby he was delivered from the present danger Then did he resolve to fly into England but hearing of King Edwards death he altered his purpose and by the perswasion of a friend he resolved to returne to his people in Germany and so accordingly accompanied with two young men he went to Strasborough and when he had scarce been there a month it so fell out that the French Church in that place wanted a Pastor and chose him to that office yet for sundry reasons he refused to accept of it till by the perswasion of John Sturmius and some other friends he was content to preach to them till they could provide them another That place he discharged for about the space of four months conflicting with many difficulties and meeting with much trouble by reason of the improbity and perfidiousnesse of some At the end of which time the Senat with the consent of the Church appointed Peter Alexander to be their Pastor and so Boquine
was freed Anno Christi 1557. he went from thence to Heidleberg being sent for by Otho Henry Prince Elector Palatine who was about to reforme his Churches There hee was made the Publick Professor of Theologie and met with much opposition and manifold contentions in that alteration which yet he bore with much prudence Anno Christi 1564. there was a disputation appointed at Malbourn for composing the great controversie about the ubiquity of Christs body This was appointed by Frederick the third Elector Palatine and Christopher Duke of Wertemberg To this meeting the Elector sent Boquine Diller Olevian Dathen and Ursin but very little fruit appeared of their labours as the event shewed Boquin continued in Heidleberg about twenty years under Otho and Frederick the third But after that Princes death An. Christi 1576 by reason of the prevalency of the Hetorodox party he with other Professorr and Divines was driven thence and it pleased God that immediately hee was called to Lausanna where he performed the part of a faithfull Pastor so long as he lived Anno Christi 1582 on a Lords day he preached twice and in the evening heard another Sermon then supped chearfully and after supper refreshed himself by walking abroad then went to visit a sick friend and whll'st he was conforting of him he found his spirits to begin to sink in him and running to his servant he said unto him Pray adding further Lord receive my soul and so he quietly departed in the Lord Anno Christi 1582. The workes which he left behind him were these Defensio ad calumnias Doctoris cujusdam Avii in Evangelii professores Examen libri quem Heshusius inscripsit De praesentia corporis Christi in caena domini Theses de coena Domini Exegesis divinae communicationis Adsertio veteris ac veri Christianismi adversus novum fictum Jesuitismum Notatio praecipuarum causarum diuturnitatis controversiae de Coena Domini Adsertio ritus frangendi in manus sumendi panis Eucharistici E. GRINDALL The Life of Edmund Grindall who dyed A no Christi 1583. EDmund Grindal was borne in Cumberland Anno Christi 1519. and carefully brought up in learning first at school and then in the University of Cambridg where being admitted into Pembrook Hall he profited so exceedingly that he was chosen first Fellow and afterward Master of that house And Bishop Ridley taking notice of his piety and learning made him his Chaplain and commended him to that pious Prince King Edward the sixth who intended to prefer him but that he was prevented by an immature death In the bloody daies of Queen Mary Grindal amongst many others fled into Germany where he continued all her Reigne But comming back in the beginning of Queen Elisabeth she preferred him to that dignity which her brother King Edward intended him to making him Bishop of London wherein hee carried himself worthily for about eleven years Anno Christi 1570 hee was removed by the Queen to the Archbishoprick of York where he continued about six years and then for his piety and learning she made him Archbishop of Canterbury wherein he lived about seven years more and then falling sick at Croidon hee resigned up his spirit unto God that gave it Anno Christi 1583 and of his Age sixtie four Both in his life and at his death he did many excellent works of Charity At St. Beighs in Cumberland where he was born he erected a Free-schoole and endowed it with thirty pound per annum for ever To Pembroke Hall in Cambridge where he was educated he gave twenty two pounds a yeare in lands for the maintaining of a Greek Lecturer one Fellow and two Scholars to be chosen out of the aforesaid School of St. Beighs He gave also much mony to the said Colledge To Magdalen Colledge in Cambridge hee gave lands for the maintainance of one Fellow from the said School To Christs Colledge in Cambridge he gave forty five pounds To Queens Colledge in Oxford he gave twenty pound per annum in lands to maintain one Fellow and two Scholars out of the aforesaid Schoole And at his death he gave his Library which was a very great and good one to that Colledge besides a great sum of money To eight Alms-houses in Croidon he gave fifty pounds per annum and to Canterbury he gave an hundred pounds to set the poor on work The Life of Bernard Gilpin who died A no Christi 1583. BErnard Gilpin was born at Kentmire in the County of Westmoreland Anno Christi 1517 of an ancient and honourable Family When he was but a child a Friar pretending to be a zealous Preacher came on a Saturday night to his Fathers house and at Supper eat like a Glutton and drunke himself drunk yet the next morning in his Sermon sharply reproved the sinne of Drunkennesse whereupon young Gilpin sitting near his mother cryed out Oh Mother doe you hear how this fellow dares speak against Drunkenness and yet himself was drunken last night But his Mother stopped his mouth with her hand that he might speake no further it being a mortall sinne in those times to speak against these men His Parents perceiving his aptnesse were carefull to make him a Scholar and when hee had with great approbation passed his time in the Grammar-School they sent him to Oxford Anno Christi 1533 where he was admitted into Queens Colledge and profited wondrously in Humane Learning Hee was very conversant also in the writings of Erasmus which were in much esteem at that time And to the studie of Logick and Philosophie hee added that of Greek and Hebrew yea after some few years spent in these studies hee grew so famous that there was no place of preferment for a Scholar whereof the eminency of his virtues had not rendered him worthy Whereupon he was one of the first that was chosen a member of Christ-Church by Cardinall Wolsey At that time he was not fully instructed in the true Religion but held disputations against John Hooper afterwards Bishop of Worcester as also against Peter Martyr who was then Divinity Lecturer at Oxford upon the occasion of which dispute that he might defend his cause the better he examined the Scriptures ancient Fathers But by how much the more he studied to defend his Cause the lesse confidence hee began to have therein and so whilst he was searching zealously for Truth he beganne to discernâ his own Errors Peter Martyr used to say That he cared not for his other adversaries but saith he I am troubled for Gilpin for he doth and speaketh all things with an upright heart and therefore he often prayed That God would be pleased at last to convert to the Truth the heart of Gilpin being so inclinable to honesty And the Lord answered his prayer for presently Gilpin resolved more earnestly to apply himself both by study and
constant Preacher of the Truth but a strong Defender of it against errors confuting the Ubiquitarians and that so boldly that he chose rather to hazard banishment then to connive at errors His fame spread abroad exceedingly so that many sought for him especially John of Nassau and John Cassimire the Elector Palatine The first desired him to come and begin his University at Herborn where he should have had greater honour and a larger stipend The other desired him to Heidleberg to bee the Divinity Professor in that place His answer was that he was born rather for labours then honours and therefore chose to goe to Heidleberg being thirty three years old Anno Christi 1584 and was intertained lovingly by the Prince who made him Governour of the Colledge of Sapience and Professor of Divinity His coming was most grateful to the University where he took exceeding great pains and was eminent for piety humility gravity prudence patience and industry so that Anno Christi 1588 he was chosen into the number of the Ecclesiasticall Senators for the government of the Church He had great skill in the Tongues Greater in the Liberal Arts and Philosophy but greatest in the knowledge of Divinity and Ecclesiasticall History He was famous for eloquence faithfulness and diligence in his place and holiness and integrity in his life Anno Christi 1589 he fell sick for which and his change he had been carefully fitting himself beforehand and therefore bore it with much patience and with fervent prayer often repeated O Christ thou art my redeemer and I know that thou hast redeemed me I wholly depend upon thy providence and mercie from the very bottome of my heart I commend my spirit into thy hands and so he slept in the Lord Anno Christi 1589 and of his age 38. Hee published not many books but those which hee did were very polite and choice ones Ut sunt de verbo Dei ejus tractatione lib. 2. After his death his works were published in three Tomes Calvin preached his Funeral Sermon The Life of Laurence Humfreid who died A no Christi 1589. LAurence Humfreid was born in the County of Buckingham and Brought up first at School and then sent to Oxford where he was admitted into the Colledge of Mary Magdalen and followed his studies hard all the daies of King Edward the sixth But in the beginning of those bloody Marian dayes wherein so many were forced to forsake their native soyl he amongst the rest went beyond Sea into Germany where he continued till the beginning of Queen Elizabeths Reign whom God raised up to be a Nursing Mother to his Church At which time he came back and returned to Oxford where he was very famous both for his Learning and Preaching Then also he commenced Doctor in Divinity and by reason of his excellent parts was very instrumentall in the advancement of Gods glory And whereas that wicked Sect of the Jesuits was lately risen up he by his learned writings did both from Scripture and Antiquity discover their impostures and Popish deceits Afterwards he was made the Master of Magdalen Colledge and the Regius Professor which places hee discharged with singular commendations for many yeares together and at last quietly resigned up his spirit into the hands of God Anno Christi 1589. The Life of James Andreas who died A no Christi 1590. JAmes Andreas was born in Waibling in the Dukedome of Wittemberg Anno 1528. And when his Father had kept him three years at School being unable to maintaine him any longer he intended to have placed him with a Carpenter but being disswaded by Sebastian Mader the Consul he sent him to Stutgard to Erhard Snepfius who was Superintendent of the Wirtembergian Churches intreating him to grant him an exhibition out of the Churches stock for the breeding of him at School Snepfius examining the boy who was now ten years old found him of an excellent wit but withall perceived that hee had been neglected at School whereupon he agreed to allow him part of his maintenance and his Father to make up the rest and so placed him in the School at Stutgard under a choice Schoolmaster with whom in two years space he learned the Latine and Greek Grammar and Rhetorick and so An. Chr. 1541 he went to Tubing where he so profited that at the end of two years he was made Batchelor of Arts and two years after that Mr. of Arts. There also he studied Hebrew Divinity And An. Ch. 1546 and of his age 18 he was made Deacon and for trial preached in the chief Church of Stutgard in a great Auditory and did so well perform that work that his fame spread abroad and at last came to the ears of Ulrick Duke of Wirtemberg who sent for him to Preach before him in his Castle which hee did with much applause so that after Sermon the Duke said Whence soever this chicken came I know that he was hatched and bred up under Snepfius The same year at Tubing he married a Wife by whom hee had eighteen children nine sonne and nine daughters About that time brake forth that fatall Warre betwixt Charles the fifth and the Protestant Princes wherein the Emperour being conquerour hee seised upon the Dukedome of Wirtemberg by reason whereof the Church was in a sad condition yet Andreas with his Wife remained in Stutgard and by Gods speciall providence was preserved in the midst of Spanish Souldiers and yet preached constantly and faithfully all the while And so hee continued till Anno Christi 1548 at which time that accursed Interim came forth which brought so much mischief to the Church of God Andreas amongst other godly Ministers that opposed it was driven from his place Yet it pleased God that the year after he was chosen again to be Deacon at Tubing where by Catechising he did very much good Anno Christi 1550 Ulrick dying his son Christopher succeeded him in the government of Wirtemberg and affected Andreas exceedingly and would needs have him Commense Doctor which degree having performed all his exercises he took the twenty fifth year of his age and was chosen Pastor of the Church of Gompping and was made Superintendant of those parts About the same time he was sent for by Lodwick Count of Oeting to assist him in the reforming of the Churches within his jurisdiction when he took his leave of his own Prince Christopher he charged him and gave it him in writing That if Count Lodwick set upon that Reformation that under pretence of Religion he might robbe the Church and seise upon the Revenues of the Monasteries and turn them to his private use that he should presently leave him and come back again He assisted also in the reformation of the Churches in Helfenstein Anno Christi 1556. About that time hearing of a Jew that
read his Lectures he performed them to the abundant satisfaction of all his hearers nothing being found wanting which could be required in the best Divine and most accomplished Professor For hee shewed much reading a sharp judgement a pure and easie stile with sound and solid learning so that his fame spreading abroad abundance resorted to his Lectures and reaped much profit thereby The first that he began with in his Lectures was to expound the three first Chapters of Luke After which he went over the Epistle to the Galathians the first to Timothy and the Canticles Afterwards he betook himself to the Controversies between the Papists and us Anno Christi 1585. About that time there came into England a proud and vain-glorious Jesuit called Edmund Campian an English man who set forth ten Arguments whereby he boasted that he had utterly overthrown the Protestant Religion To these Whitaker answered so fully and learnedly that all the Jesuits brags vanished into smoak But shortly after there rose up Durie a Scottish Jesuit who undertook to answer Whitaker and to vindicate Campian And whereas Campian had set forth his Arguments with a great deal of ostentation and youthly confidence Durie on the other side prosecuted the cause with dog-like barking and railing and scurrility Whitaker gave him the preheminence in that but did so solidly answer all his Arguments and discover his fallacies that the truth in those points was never more fully cleared by any man Then rose up Nicolas Sanders an English Jesuit who wrote about the person of Antichrist boasting that by forty demonstrative Arguments he had proved that the Pope was not Antichrist These Arguments Whitaker examined answered learnedly and solidly truly retorting many of them upon himself Then Rainolds a Divine of Remes another English Apostate pretended a reply but subtilly and maliciously presented the English Divines differing amongst themselves that by their differences he might expose their Religion to the greater hatred and obloquy But VVhitaker perceived and plainly discovered his craftie fetches and lies yet withall declared that he judged his book so vain and foolish that he scarce thought him worthy of an answer About this time hee married a Wife a prudent pious chaste and charitable woman After whose death at the end of two years he married another a grave Matron the Widdow of Dudley Fenner by these he had eight children whom he educated religiously Upon this occasion the crabbed old man Stapleton who had neither learned to teach the truth nor to speak well nor to thinke chastly of others wrote a book against him objecting his marriage as a great reproach but surely this man had not read the words of Christ Mat. 9. 11. nor of Paul 1 Cor. 9. 5. 1 Tim. 3. 2. Nor what the Council of Nice decreed concerning the Marriage of Presbyters upon the motion of Paphnutius nor what Augustine and others of the Fathers had written about that point Or else he was of Hoââaeus the Jesuits mind one of the Popes Counsellors who declared openly that Priests sinned lesse by committing Adultery then by marrying wives VVhitaker never had his Catamites as many of the Popish Priests Jesuits Cardinals yea and some of the Popes themselves had But to leave him and return to our matter Doctor VVhitaker was shortly after chosen Master of Saint Johns Colledge in Cambridge which though at first some of the Fellows and Students out of self-ends disliked and opposed yet within a little space by his clemency equitie and goodnesse he so overcame their exulcerated mindes that he turned them into love and admiration of him Yea he alwaies governed the Colledge with much prudence and moderation not seeking his own profit but the publick good as appeared not onely by the testimony of those which lived with him but by his frugality wherein yet his gaines exceeded not his expences In choosing Scholars and Fellows he alwayes carryed himself unblameably and unpartially so as hee would never suffer any corruption to creep into the Election and if he found any who by bribes had sought to buy Suffrages he of all others though otherwise never so deserving should not be chosen Lellarmine about this time growing famous and being looked upon by his own party as an invinicible Champion him Whitaker undertakes and cuts off his head with his own weapons First in the controversie about the Scriptures published Anno Christi 1588. Then about the Church Councils Bishop of Rome the Minister Saints departed the Church Triumphant the Sacraments Baptism and the Lords Supper though hee had not leisure to print them all In all which controversies he dealt not with his adversarie with taunts reproaches and passion but as one that indeed sought out the truth Hereupon that superstitious old man Thomas Stapleton Professor of Lovane perceiving that Bellarmine held his peace undertook to answer Whitaker in that third question of his first part about the Scriptures which he performed in a volume large enough but as formerly in a scurrilous and railing language Therefore Whitaker lest the testy old man should seeme wise in his own eyes answered him in somewhat a tarter language then he used to doe The week before he dyed he performed an excellent work not only for the University of Cambridge but for the whole English Church for whose peace and unity he alwaies studied in truth by undertaking to compose some differences which sprang up about some ââads of Religion for which end he went toward London in the midst of winter in the company of Doctor Tyndal Master of Queens Colledge but what with his journey and want of sleep being too intent upon his business he fel sick by the way which made him return to Cambridge again and finding his disease to encrease he sent for the Physitians who after debate resolved to let him blood which yet was neglected for two daies The third day when they went about it he was unfit by reason of a continual sweat that he was in yet that night he seemed to sleep quietly and the next morning a friend asking him how he did he answered O happy night I have not taken so sweet a sleep since my disease seised upon me But his friend finding him all in a cold sweat told him that signes of death appeared on him To whom he answered Life or death is welcome to me which God pleaseth for death shall be an advantage to me And after a while he sayd I desire not to live but onely so farre as I may doe God and his Church service And so shortly after he quietly departed in the Lord Anno Christi 1595 and of his age forty seven Having been Professor sixteen years Cardinal Bellarmine procured his picture out of England and hung it up in his study much admiring him for his singular learning and being asked by a Jesuit why he would suffer the picture of that
adspectu primo augustissimum illud caput In principio erat verbum c. When I opened the New Testament I first light upon Johns first Chapter In the beginning was the word c. I read part of the Chapter and was suddenly convinced that the Divinity of the Argument and the Majesty and Authority of the writing did exceedingly excel all the Eloquebce of humane writings My body trembled my mind was astonished and I was so affected all that daie that I knew not where and what I was Thou wast mindfull of me O my God according to the multitude of thy mercies and calledst home thy lost sheep into thy foid And from that day forward he fervently bent himself to the study and practise of piety to the great joy and comfort of his father Who presently after sent him to Geneva giving him onely so much money as would bear his charges intending to sent more after him But the Civill wars presently beginning in France he was hindred of his purpose So that Junius when he came to Geneva had onely so much money left as would buy him fourbooks a Bible Calvins Institutions Beza's confessions and an Hebrew Grammer which for a year together he studied with much diligence At the end whereof he was sollicited by some of his chamberfellowes to travell with them into Helvetia which he assented to and went with them having but little mony remaining In this jorney he spent three weeks and at Bern saluted Musculus and Hallerus At Zurick Martyr Bullinger and Gualter and at Neocom Farrel so returned to Geneva again Not long after hee began to be pinched with want and thereupon resolved each other day to dig in the Town-ditch to supply his necessities withall But it so fell out by Gods providence that a young man a Tailor whose Mother had formerly lived over against Junius his Mothers house in France and had often been relieved by her profered him both mony and lodging in his house With him therefore he lived almost seven months yet with much inconvenience to his studies till a peace being made in France his Father sent Mony to him Whilst he lived with his hest to prevent his being burthensom to him for four moneths together he fasted from his dinners spending that time in walking meditation and prayer And at supper he never eat but two eggs But by this abstinence he so weakned and dried up his body that his strength was much decaied till by the advice of his friends changing his custome and mending his Commons he by degrees recovered it again His Father not willing that he should study Divinity sent for him home but he wrote to him desiring that for the improvement of his studies hee would be pleased to allow him a longer stay But before his letter came his Father was cruelly murthered which sad newes coming to him he wrote to his Mother not to be sollicitous for him for that he would maintain himself by his own labors And thereupon hee taught Latine Oreek and Hebrew to some youths and so followed his studies besides that he brought his bodie into a dangerous distemper It fell out also that about that time the Head-School master of Geneva dying the Minister of Nosoâom was sent for to supply his room and Junius was profered to Preach in his place which he refused excusing himselfe for that as yet hee had not so fitted himselfe by his studies for the work of the Ministry as he desired Shortly after there came a Messenger from Antwerp desiring that a Minister might be sent to the French Church that was gathered there and Junius being judged fit for that service he was sent thither which fell out to be just at that time when the Navie went from thence to fetch a Bride for Alexander Farnesius Prince of Parma by which meanes there was great expectation of good both in Flanders and Brabant But it proved far otherwise for the Navy shortly after returning brought together with the Bride the King of Spaines letters Patents for the setling of the Spaâsh Inquisition in the Belgick Provinces For the preventing of which yoke some of the Nobility met together at Bruxels sending for Junius to come to them who coming found but about twenty men together to whom he Preached and prayed that they might be delivered from that cruell yoke After which they entred into consultation how they might free âemselves frmo it which was Anno Christi 1565. This first meeting was in the house of two Noblemen brothers for which two yeares after they lost their heads and their house was pulled down to the ground Junius was afterwards sought for at his lodging in Antwerp but it pleased God that just at that time he was gone to Breda to visit the Church there by which meanes God delivered him from that danger Yet the enemies laid another snare for him pretending a disputation at a certain City in Flanders at which Junius was requested to be present but he was no sooner come thither and gone into his Inne but a Townsman came running to him to tell him that the Officers were coming to seize upon him Whereupon he was conducted out at a back door and led from one place to another by which meanes he escaped the unjust violence of his adversaries Afterwards at Gaunt he was in like danger yet the Lord wonderfully delivered him so that he got to Antwerp in safetie When hee came backe to Antwerp he was not suffered to continue in his Pastoral Office Whereupon by the advice of the Brethren he went to Limburg leaving his Clothes and Library behind him all which he there lost Yet neither was he there in safety but so many snares were laid for him that he escaped death very narrowly several times the Almighty Lord still protecting him There was near that place an old woman having manie children that for thirteen years together had conflicted with grievous despair crying out that shee and all her children were damned The Priests had often by their exorcisms sought her cure The neighbours had bound her in chaines and beaten her yet all in vain for she brake the chaines and run into the Woods hiding her self from the society of all men insomuch that she was thought to be possessed with the Divill Shee being brought to Junius he examined her in private of the cause of her distemper Shee told him that all her Neighbours said that she was damned because she had come so seldome to Mass whereas indeed she was hindred from it by the care of her many small children Junius hereupon informed her out of Gods word that she had not sinned at all therein for that it was according to Gods will that shee should take care of her children who preferr's mercy before sacrifice And also that the Mass was not the service of God c. By which meanes she was
with good men 't is so stor'd That wink and choose it will good choice afford Then since good LIVES are in this Book so rife I make no doubt to call 't a Book of Life Jo. Clark Fellow of Pemb. Hall Camb. A Table of the Names of those persons whose Lives are contained in this Book according to the several Centuries wherein they lived Cent. 1 and 2. Â pag. IGnatius 111 1 Polycarpus 170 5 Dionysius Areopagita 96 10 Justin Martyr 139 14 Irenaeus 182 21 Cent. 3. Â Â Tertullian 202 25 Clemens Alexand. flourished 196 29 Origen 220 31 Cyprian 259 46 Cent. 4. Â Â Arnobius 330 54 Eusebius 340 54 Lactantius 308 57 Athanasius 375 58 Hilary 355 92 Cyril 365 93 Cent. 5. Â Â Ephrem Syrus 404 95 Basil flourished 370 98 Gregory Nazianzen flourished 370 105 Epiphanius flourished 370 109 Ambrose 397 112 Gregory Nissen flourished 480 119 Theodoret flourished 420 121 Hierom 422 123 Chrysostom flourished 400 134 Augustine flourished 430 146 Cyril of Alexandria flourished 430 162 Peter Chrysologus flourished 440 163 Prosper 466 165 Cent. 6. Â Â Fulgentius 529 166 Cent. 7. Â Â Gregorius Magnus 605 178 Isidore 675 184 Beda 735 185 Damascen 730 187 Cent. 8. Â Â Theophylact flourished 880 188 Cent. 10. Â Â Anselm flourished 1080 188 Cent. 11. Â Â Nicephorus 1110 189 Bernard 1153 190 Peter Lombard flourished 1196 196 Cent. 12. Â Â Alexander of Hales 1270 196 Bonaventure 1274 197 Thomas Aquinas 1274 199 Cent. 13. Â Â Iohn Wickliff 1384 201 Cent. 14. Â Â Iohn Huss 1415 211 Hierom of Prague 1416 220 Cent. 15. Â Â Martin Luther flourished 1500 224 Cent. 16. Â Â Zuinglius 1531 257 Oecolampadius 1531 269 Iohn Frith 1531 274 Thomas Bilney 1531 281 William Tindal 1536 287 Bertholdus Hallerus 1536 293 Urbanus Regius 1541 295 Andrew Bodenstein Caralostad 1541 299 Walfgang Fabricius Capito 1541 302 Leo Iudae 1542 305 George Spalatinus 1545 307 Frederick Myconius 1546 309 John Diazius 1546 314 Gasper Cruciger 1548 318 Mathias Zellius 15â8 321 Vââus Theodorus 1549 323 Paulus Fagius 1550 324 Martin Bucer 1551 327 Gasper Hedio 1552 333 Oswald Myconius 1552 335 Georg P. of Anhalt 1553 481 Justus Jonas 1555 485 John Rogers 1555 487 Laurence Sanders 1555 491 John Hooper 1555 497 Rowland Tailor 1555 504 John Bradford 1555 511 Nicholas Ridley 1555 518 Hugh Latimer 1555 524 John Philpot 1555 529 Thomas Cranmer 1555 536 Conradus Pellican 1555 551 Iohn Bugenhagius 1558 555 Philip Melancthon 1560 561 Iohn a Lasco 1558 572 Augustine Marlorat 1562 575 Peter Martyr 1562 579 Amsdorsius 1563 597 Musculus 1563 599 Hyperius 1564 610 Iohn Calvin 1562 615 William Farellus 1555 671 Verge lus 1562 676 Strigelius 1569 681 Iohn Brentius 1570 684 Peter Viretus 1571 691 Iohn Iuel 1571 694 Zegedine 1572 702 Iohn Knox 1572 709 Peter Ramus 1572 726 Mathew Parker 1574 729 Henry Bullinger 1575 731 Edward Deering 1576 745 Flacius Illericus 1575 747 Iosias Simler 1576 749 Emanuel Tremelius 1580 751 Peter Boquine 1582 752 Edmund Grindal 1583 756 Bernard Gilpin 1583 758 Zacharie Ursin 1583 766 Abraham Bucholizer 1584 771 Martin Chemnisius 1586 776 Rodolphus Gualter 1586 778 Ludovicus Lavater 1586 779 Gaspar Olevian 1587 780 Iohn Wigandus 1587 785 Iohn Fox 1587 789 George Sohnius 1589 796 Laurence Humfreid 1589 799 Iames Andreas 1590 800 Hierom Zanchius 1590 804 Anthony Sadeel 1591 808 William Whitaker 1595 813 Lambert Danaeus 1596 821 Robert Rollock 1598 823 Nicholas Hemingius 1600 829 Iames Heerbrand 1600 831 David Chytraeus 1600 835 Cent. 17. Â Â Alexander Nowel 1601 839 Daniel Tossanus 1602 841 William Perkins 1602 850 Francis Iunius 1602 854 Luke Trelcatius 1602 860 Iohn Whitgift 1603 862 Theodore Beza 1605 865 Iohn Rainolds 1607 887 Ioseph Scaliger 1609 889 Amandus Polanus 1610 891 Thomas Holland 1612 892 Iohn Drusius 1616 894 Iohn Iames Grynaeus 1617 895 Robert Abbat 1618 901 William Cowper 1619 902 Andrew Willet 1621 908 David Pareus 1622 913 Thomas Erpenius 1624 918 Abraham Scultecus 1624 920 Iohn Piscator 1625 922 Robert Bolton 1631 923 William Whately 1639 929 Anthony Wallaeus 1639 935 Henry Altingius 1644 986 Friderick Spanhemius 1649 997 A Table of the persons whose Lives are contained in this Book set down Alphabetically A ABbat pag. 901 Alexander of Hales 196 Altingius 986 Ambrose 112 Ampsdorsius 597 Andraeas 800 Anselm 188 Aquinas 199 Arnobius 54 Athanasius 58 Augustinus 146 B Basil 98 Beda 185 Bernard pag. 190 Beza 865 Bilney 281 Bolton 923 Bonaventure 197 Boquinus 752 Bradford 511 Brentius 684 Bucer 327 Bucholtzer 771 Bugenhage 555 Bullinger 731 C Calvin 615 Capito 302 Caralostadius 299 Chemnisius 776 Chrysologus 163 Chrysostom 134 Chytraeus 835 Clemens Alexandrinus 29 Cowper 902 Cranmer 536 Cruciger 318 Cyprian 46 Cyril 93 Cyril of Alexandria 162 D Damascen 187 Danaeus 821 Deering 745 Dionysius Areopagita 10 Diazius 314 Drusius 894 E Ephrem Syrus 95 Epiphanius 109 Erpenius 918 Eusebius 54 F Fagius 324 Farellus 671 Flacius Illyricus 747 Fox 789 Frith 274 Fulgentius 166 G George Prince of Anhalt 481 Gilpin 758 Gregory Nazianzen 105 Gregory Nyssen 119 Gregorius Magnus 178 Grindal 756 Grinaeus 895 Gualter 778 H Hallerus 293 Hedio 333 Heerbrand 831 Hemingius 829 Hillary 92 Hierom 123 Hierom of Prague 220 Holland 892 Hooper 497 Humphred 799 Huss 211 Hyperius 610 I Ignatius 1 Jonas 485 Irenaeus 21 Isydore 184 Juell 694 Junius 854 Justin Martyr 14 K Knox 709 L Lactantius 57 Lascus 572 Latimer 524 Lavater 779 Leo Judae 305 Lombard 196 Luther 224 M Marlorat 575 P. Martyr 579 Melancthon 561 Musculus 599 F. Myconius 309 O. Myconius 335 N Nicephorus 189 Nowell 839 O Oecolampadius 269 Olerian 780 Origen 31 P Paraeus 913 Parker 729 Pelican 551 Perkins 850 Philpot 529 Piscator 922 Polanus 891 Polycarpus 5 Prosper 165 R Rainolds 887 Ramus 726 U. Regius 295 Ridley 518 Rogers 487 Rollock 823 S Sadeel 808 Sanders 491 Scaliger 889 Scultetus 920 Simler 749 Sohnius 796 Spalatinus 307 Spahemius 997 Strigelius 681 T Tailor 504 Tertullian 25 Theodoret 121 U. Theodorus 323 Theophylact 188 Tindal 287 Tossanus 841 Trelcatius 860 Tremelius 751 U Vergerius 676 Viretus 691 Ursin 766 W Wallaeus 929 Whately 935 Whitaker 813 Whitgift 862 Wickliff 201 Wigandus 785 Willet 908 Z Zanchy 804 Zegedine 702 Zellius 321 Zuinglius 257 IF to theââ two Parts of Lives the Reader shall please to add the two Martyrologies lately published by this Author he may finde a Compendium of the History of the Church from the beginning of the World especially from the Apostles times to our present Age together with the various dispensations of God towards the same In this first Part besides what was remarkable in the Lives and Deaths of these Worthies he may finde the Rise Reign and Ruine of most of the Hereticks and Heresies which have molested the Peace of the Church from Christs to our present times In
of the everlasting fire at the Day of Judgment and of those endless torments which are reserved for the wicked But why make you all these delays appoint me to what death you please Whilest he spake these things he was replenished with joy and boldness and his countenance appeared so full of grace and gravity that it was evident that he was nothing troubled with the cruel threats of the Proconsul but on the contrary the Proconsul himself began to be amazed and sent for the Cryer commanding him in the midst of the Theater to cry three times Polycarp hath confessed himself to be a Christian Hereupon the multitude both of Jews and Gentiles inhabiting Smyrna cryed out in a great rage Iste Asiae Doctor c. This is that Doctor of Asia the Father of the Christians the Overthrower of our gods who hath taught many that our gods are not to be adored and thereupon they cryed to the Proconsul that a Lyon might be let loose to devour him But he told them that he might not do it for that the game of Beasts was now finished Then they cryed with one voice that Polycarp should be burned alive To which when the Proconsul had assented the multitude forthwith carryed logs and wood out of their Shops and Booths especially the Jews after their wonted manner were very forward herein The pile being prepared Polycarp put off his apparrel the faithful assisting and contending amongst themselves who should touch his body at his farewell Being thus made ready when they would have nailed him to the stake he said Nay suffer me even as I am for he that hath given me strength to come to this fire will also give me patience to persevere therein without your fastning of my body with nails Then they bound his hands behind him which done he prayed thus O Father of thy Wel. Beloved and blessed Son Jesus Christ through whom we have known thee O God of Angels Powers and of every living creature and of just men which live in thy presence I thank thee that thou hast graciously vouchsafed this day and this hour to allot me a portions amongst the number of Martyrs to drink of the Cup of Christ unto the Resurrection of everlasting life both of Body and Soul through the operation of the Holy Spirit amongst whom I shall this day be received into thy sight for an acceptable Sacrifice And as thou hast prepared and revealed this before hand so thou hast now accomplished and fulfilled the same O thou most true God which canst not lye wherefore for all these things I praise thee I bless thee I glorifie thee through the everlasting Bishop and Shepherd of our Souls Christ Jesus to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be all Honour and Glory world without end Amen Having ended his Prayer the tormentors kindled the fire The flame vehemently flashed about which was terrible to the beholders But the slame framing it self after the manner of a vault or sail of a Ship with the blustering blasts of wind touched not the holy Martyrs Body which sent forth a fragrant and sweet smell like unto Frankincense or such like pretious Perfume But the cruel Persecutors perceiving that the fire touched not his body called for a tormentor charging him to thrust him into the side with a spear which being done there issued our such abundance of blood as quenched the fire to the great astonishment of the beholders Then did the Jews stir up Nicetes the Father of Herod and his Brother Dalces to move the Proconsul that his body might not be delivered to the Christians least say they leaving Christ they fall to worship him This they said through their ignorance not knowing that we can never forsake Christ which dyed for our Salvation to worship any other For we worship Christ as the Son of God the Martyrs we love as the Disciples and followers of the Lord and that worthily for the invincible love which they bear to their King and Master c. Hereupon the Proconsul caused his body to satisfie the Jews to be laid upon a pile of wood and burned Irenaeus being young was acquainted with him and writeth of him that Anicetus being Bishop of Rome Polycarp went thither and questioned with him about the celebration of Easter He saith also that there is extant an Epistle of Polycarps unto the Philippians very profitable for such as are careful for their Salvation where they may know the true character of Faith and the right rule of Doctrine It is said of him that he was testis fidelis constansque veritatis A faithful and constant witness to the Truth Nay by his Wisdom Zeal and Piety he recalled many from Heresies and Errors He so detested Hereticks that when Marcion of his former acquaintance met him at Rome and wondering that he took no notice of him said Dost thou not know me Polycarp Yea said he I know thee wel thou art the eldest son to the Divel His manner was to stop his ears if at any time he heard the wicked speeches of Hereticks and to shun those very places where such speeches had been uttered He suffered Martyrdom in the seventh year of Verus Anno Christi 170. of his Age 86. In the midst of the flames he made this excellent Prayer O God the Father of thy Beloved Son Jesus Christ through whom we have received the knowledge of thee O God the Creator of all things upon thee I call thee I confess to be the true God Thee I glorifie O Lord receive me and make me a companion of the resurrection of thy Saints through the merits of our great High Priest thy Beloved Son Jesus Christ to whom with the Father and God the Holy Ghost be honour and glory for ever Amen He was a Bishop about 63 years Herom writing of him saith that he was in great esteem through all Asia for that he was Scholar to the Apostles and to them that did see and were conversant with Christ himself and therefore his authority was of great credit not only with his own Church but with all other Churches about him There is extant an Epistle of his to the Philippians but Scultetus judgeth it spurious The Life of Dionysius Areopagita who dyed Anno Christi 96. DIonysius Areopagita was born at Athens of eminent Parents he was very studious He travelled into Egypt to get skill in Astronomie At the age of 25 years at Heliopolis whilest he lived with Apollophanes the Philosopher he saw that general Eclipse of the Sun at our Saviours passion and as one amazed said Aut Deus naturae patitur aut mundi machina dissolvetur Either the God of Nature now suffers or the frame of the World shall be dissolved And to another Ignotus in carne patitur Deus c. God unknown in the flesh doth suffer for whose sake the Universe is covered with this thick darkness Saint Paul coming
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 ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã 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 Phâygia 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
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 âhortly 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 âilth 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 Andâagathius 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
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 ârian 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 Ninâveh 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
have been called Universal which he cals Nomen istud blasphemia That Name of blasphemy He used to say He is poor whose soul is void of grace not whose coffers are emptie of money Contented poverty is true riches And again God is never absent though the wicked have him not in their thoughts where he is not by favour he is by punishment and terrour He could never read those words Son remember in thy life time thou receivedst good things without horror and astonishment least having such dignities and honors as he had he should be excluded from his portion in Heaven It is said of him that he was the worst Romane Bishop of all those that were before him and the best of all those that followed him He wrote Expositions upon the greatest part of the Bible His Works are contained in 6 Tome The Life of Isidore who dyed Anno Christi 675. ISidorus Hispalensis by birth a Spaniard carefully educated by his Parents of a quick wit and able memory admired for his Learning and Eloquence was chosen Bishop of Sivil under Mauritius the Emperour wherein he was very painful and could accommodate his speech fitly both to the ignorant and learned He was full of mercy and good fruits He was had in great honor his fame spreading abroad far and wide both for his Life and learning He so macerated his body with Labors and enriched his Soul with Divine Learning and Contemplations that he seemed to live an Angels life upon Earth He dyed in the Reign of Heraclius the Emperour about the year 675. He used to say Knowledge and a good life are both profitable yet if both cannot be obtained a good life is to be sought rather then much knowledge And As the Viper is killed by the young ones in her belly so are we betrayed and killed by our own thoughts nourished in our bosomes which consume and poison the soul. And All things may be shunned but a mans own heart a man cannot run from himself a guiltie conscience will not forsake him wheresoever he goes And The Divels have a threefold prescience 1. By natural subtiltie 2. By experience 3. By supernatural revelation And He that begins to grow better let him beware least he grow proud least vain-glory give him a greater overthrow then his former vices BEDE The Life of Bede who dyed Anno Christi 735. VEnerable Bede an English Saxon was born Anno Christi 671. near to the Monastery of S. Peter and S. Paul in Wyrimunda His Parents dying when he was but seven years old he was bred up in that Monasterie under two Abbots Bennet and Ceolfride men famous in those times for Religion and Learning under whom he was trained up and from his childhood accustomed to Virtue and Piety He proved very learned in Philosophie Astronomie Musick and Poetrie In Greek Rhetorick Arithmetick and Historie but especially he was very studious of the Holy Scriptures Three things were familiar to him in his whole life To Pray Write and Preach He was made Deacon at nineteen years old and a Presbyter at thirty after which time he wholly devoted himself to the meditation of the Holy Scriptures He was so famous for Learning and Piety that he was sent for to Rome by Pope Sergius to help to settle the Churches peace He was very modest never hunting after preferments so devout in reading the Scriptures that he would often shed tears and after he ended reading conclude with Prayers He hated idleness and would oft say That there was so much work to do for a Divine in so little time that he ought not to lose any of it And for pleasures we must deal with them said he as we do with honey onely touch it with the tip of the finger not with the whole hand for fear of surfeit He finished his works Anno Christi 731. and dyed about 735. and of his Age 70. He used to say He is a sluggard that would reign with God and not labor for God in the promised rewad he takes delight but the commanded ãâã do affright him And Anger doth languish by ãâã but flames higher by expressing He wrote on all the Liberal Arts sundry excellent Treatises Though he lived in the uttermost corner of the World yet neglected he not the body of the Greek and Hebrew Tongues He had many excellent scholars whom by his counsel and example he drew to an inestimable love of the holy Scriptures endeavouring to make them as famous for their Religion and Piety as they were for their Learning He was of a very bountiful Disposition Venerable for his knowledge and Integrity of Life Full of Charity Devotion and Chastity He was of a comly Stature grave Pace clear Voice Eloquent Tongue amiable Countenance which seemed to be composed of gravity and mildness He was very affable to such as were good A terror to such as were proud and wicked yet milde and humble to his Fraternity What he learned out of Gods Word by study and meditation he communicated it to others without envy He had Scholars that flockt to him but of all parts of England desiring to be trained up in Learning and Manners under such a Master For his Conversation was a rule of Religion and honesty to all about him Anno Christi 731. and of his Age 59. he finished the Catalogue of his Writings which are many and that upon most Books in the Old and New Testament besides Epistles Histories of the Saints the History of his own Abbey the Ecclesiastical History of his own Nation in five Books a Martyrologie a Book of Hymns and many others which are all printed at Collen Anno Christi 1612. In his sickness he comforted himself with that of the Apostle Heb. 12. 6. Whom the Lord loveth he chastneth and scourgeth every for whom he receiveth When his Scholars were weeping about him he said in the words of S. Ambrose Non sic vixi ut pudeat me inter vos vivere sed nec mori timeo quiah onum Dominum habemus The time is come if my Creator pleaseth that being freed from the flesh I shall go to him who made me when I was not out of nothing I have lived long and the time of my dissolution is approaching And my soul desireth to see my Saviour Christ in his glory After his death one of his scholars was very desirous to have made an Epitaph Haec sunt in fossa Bede sancti or Presbyteri Ossa yet he could not make up the verse with those words But in the morning this was found on his Tomb Hâc sunt in fossa Bedae venerabilis ossa Here lies intombed in these stones Of Venerable Bead the Bones The Life of John Damascen who flourished Anno Christi 730. IOhn Damascen was born in Damascus of Religious Parents who carefully brought him up in Learning wherein
he profited exceedingly so that he attained to the knowledg of all the Liberal Sciences After which going to Jerusalem he studied the Scripture and Divinity where he was made a Presbyter Preached diligently and much propagated the Faith by his Sermons and Writings A great opposer of Hereticks he was He flourished under Leo and dyed in peace He was a very Eloquent man and second to none of that Age in Learning He wrote three Books of Parallels of the Sacred Scriptures four Books of the Orthodox Faith besides many other Works which are printed at Paris Anno Christi 1619. The Life of Theophylact who flourished Anno Christi 880. THeophylact born in Constantinople and afterwards Archbishop of the same was much imployed in visiting and reforming the Churches in Bulgarie and when he had proved himself a painful laborer in the dangerous persecutions there he yielded up his spirit to his Maker He used to say Be not troubled if this man lives in tranquillity and thou in tribulation God will have it so he puts thee into the combat thou must therefore sweat hard before thou com'st off with the victory whereas he that comes forward in the World goes back in Grace his estate is miserable that goes laughing to destruction as a Fool to the stocks for correction He wrote in Greek Commentaries upon the four Evangelists which are translated into Latine by Charles Morell and printed at Paris Anno Christi 1631. The Life of Anselm who flourished Anno Christi 1080. ANselm Archbishop of Canterbury was born at Aosta or Augusta Praetoriana at the foot of the Alps in Italy and therefore as an Italian he always favoured the cause of the Romane Bishop He was carefully brought up in Learning by his Mother Ermerburga till he was fourteen years old when she dying he gave himself awhile to vain pleasures and his Father being severe to him he resolved to travel in which he met with wants spent three years in Burgundie and France and then became Scholar to Lanfrancus Abbot of Beck where being held hard to his study he entred into a Monasterie and by his strict carriage there his fame spread abroad and the old Abbot dying he succeeded him and after the death of Lanfrank he was chosen Archbishop of Canterbury He received such honours and uncouragements from Pope Vrbane as never Bishop received greater from a Pope For at the Council of Barum in Apulia the Pope placed him at his right foot above al others which was ever since the place of the Archbishops of Canterbury in all General Councils Much contention was between William Rufus King of England and him which caused him to leave the Kingdom till Henry the First his time when he was reinvested again but lived not long after his return into England before he dyed which was Anno Christi 1109. and in the 9. year of the Reign of King Henry the First and of his Age 76. He was indeed the Popes Factor in England for denyal of Investures to the King and Marriages to the Ministers but otherwise he was found in the main points of our Religion and taught many things contrary to the corrupt Tenents of the Church of Rome He used to say That if he should see the shame of sin on the one hand and the pains of Hell on the other and must of necessitie chuse one he would rather be thrust into Hell withoute sin then go into Heaven with sin And again O durus casus c. Oh hard-hap Alas what did man lost what did he finde He lost the blessedness to which he was made and found death to which he was not made The Life of Nicephorus who flourished Anno Christi 1110. NIcephorus a man of profound Judgment and Learning both in Humanity and Divinity flourished under Andrenicus senior the Emperour Anno Christi 1110. He was a great light when the World was in great darkness and both by his Life and Doctrine illuminated many He wrote his Ecclesiastical History in eighteen Books in Greek and Dedicated them to the Emperour Andronicus and not long after exchanged this Life for Eternal glory He said God beholds and moderates our actions using the scourge of affliction for our castigation and conversion and after due correction shews his Fatherly affection to those that trust in hâm for Salvation And Christ asked Peter three times if he loved him not for his own information but that by his threefold profession he might help and heal his threefold negation of him BERNARD The Life of Bernard who dyed An. Christi 1153. BErnard was born in Burgundie in the Town of Fontane His Fathers name was Tecelinus of an ancient Family and a brave Souldier but that which most commended him was that he feared God and loved Justice and following the counsel of John the Baptist he did wrong to no man and was content with his wages His Mothers name was Aleth of the Castle called Mont-Barr a woman eminent for Piety Chastity and Charity bringing up her children in the fear of God She had seven children six sons and one daughter all which she nursed with her own breasts Bernard was her third son whom from his Infancy with Hannah she devoted to the Service of God and therefore brought him not up tenderly and delicately but inured him to course fare and hardship and as soon as he was of capacity instilled into him the knowledge of the Sacred Scriptures and instructed him in the Principles of Religion and finding him to be of an acute wit ready apprehension firm memory comly feature courteous and meek deportment and much addicted to Learning she set him to Schole betimes to Castillion under the care and tuition of able Scholemasters and the boy being piously addicted studious of a quick apprehension easily answered his Mothers desire and expectation profiting in Learning above his age and out-stripping all his school-fellows and shewed withall a great contempt of all Earthly things and indeed he was very simple in all worldly affairs He shunned company and affected retiredness was much in meditation obedient to his Parents grateful and curteous to all He was exceeding shamefac't and modest loved not to speak much Towards God very devout that he might keep himself pure in his childhood And amongst other Learning he was frequent in reading the holy Scriptures that from thence he might learn to know and serve God So that it cannot be imagined how much he profited in a short time Whilst he was yet a boy he was much troubled with a pain in his head and lying upon his bed there was brought to him a woman who had undertaken to cure him with certain verses and charms but as soon as he heard her begin to utter her verses wherewith she used to deceive the simple he cryed out with great indignation
a little more it s most grievous to me my feet and thighes be swoln as theirs Who are troubled with a Dropsie And in all these things that I may conceal nothing from my friend who desires to know the state of his friend the Spirit is Willing but the Flesh is weak Pray unto my Saviour who desireth not the death of a sinner not that he will defer but that he will guard my departure by his blessed Angels Take ye care that my heel which is naked of merits be strengthened and defended by your Prayers that he which lyeth in wait may not finde where to fasten his tooth and inslict a wound Farewel A little before his death all the Monks came and asked him whether he did not take pity on them and their Monastery To which he answered that he was in a great straight not knowing which to choose Life or Death but left all to the Will of God For faith he my Fatherly love moves me to pity you my children so as to desire to remain here but on the other side my desire to be with Christ draws me to long to depart hence His humility was such that he called himself an unprofitable servant a dry tree from whom no good had come either to himself or others He dyed Aug. 20. Anno Christi 1153. and in the 63 year of his age He accompanyed the Bishop of Hostin the Popes Legat to Tholouse purposely to root out those whom he called Hereticks but indeed were the true servants of Christ and being too facile and misinsormed himself he misreported their Opinions and Doctrines shewing himself the Grand Factor for two Popes viz. Innocent the second and Eugenius the third One Adm a Canon Regular made this Epitaph on him Clare sunt valles sed claris vallibus Abbas Clarior his clarum women in orbe deait Clarus avis clarus meritis clarus honore Clarnt ingenio ât Religione magis Mors est clars cius clarus clarumg sepulchrum Clarior exutat spirtus ante Deum He had many opinions differing from the Church of Rome As that there were but two Sacraments Denyed Transubslantiation That the wicked receive not Christs Flesh. That we are justified by the imputation of Christs Righteousness That mans Righteousness justifieth not before God That we might be assured of our Salvation Denyed works of Supererogation I ree-will Would not have Traditions obstinately defended nor superstitiously observed Complained that Popes and Bishops were the greatest Perfecutors of Christ c. He used to say Ambtion is a gilded miserie a secret poyson a hidden plague the eagineer of diccit the mother of hypocrisie the parent of envy the original of vices the moth of holiness the blinder of hearts turning medicines into maladies and remedies into diseases Ever when he came to the Church-door he used to say thus to himself Stay here all my worldly thoughts and all vanity that I may entertain he wents meditations His Works are well known being bound up together in one Volume The life of Peter Lombard who flourished Anno Christi 1196. PEter Lombard was born at Navaria afterwards made Bishop of Paris was contemporary with Gratian and as Gratian gathered Canons and was Master of the Canons so this Peter collected sentences out of Ambrose Hilarie Augustine Cassiodore and Remigius and out of them with some addition of his own compiled his Books He wrote Commentaries on the Psalms and Pauls Epistles but the chiefest of his Works were four books of Sentences the first concerning the Trinity and Unity of God the second of the Creation of the World especially of Angles and Men and of the grace of God the third of the Incarnation of the word and of Vertues and Vices the fourth of the Sacraments of the Resurrection and Judgement for which he was called the Master of Sentences Some of his sayings were There can no good dwell in us that cannot will good nor can we perfect good that cannot desire good There are in us evill concupiscences and desires which are the Divels Weapons whereby when God forsakes us he over-throws us and gives our souls a deadly wound God condemns none before he sins nor crowns any before he overcomes Let none glory in the gifts of Preachers in that they edisie more by them for they are not Authors of Grace but Ministers The instruction of words is not so powerful as the exhortation of Works for if they that teach well neglect to do well they shall hardly profit their Audience The Life of Alexander Hales who dyed Anno Christi 1270. ALexander of Hales was born at Hales in Gloucester shire carefully educated of an excllent wit and very industrious He travelled into other Countries Read a long time in Paris he made there the Sum of Divinity divided into four parts A great School-Divine and was called Docter irresragabilis He was master to Bonaventure and Thomas Aquinas He writ a most copious and notable sum of Theology by the command of Pope Innocent the fourth He wrote Marginal Notes upon the Old and New Testament and Commented on most of the Bible His life was full of charity and labor He dyed Anno Christi 1245. His sayings A soul patient when wrongs we offered is like a man with a sword in one hand and salve in the other could wound but will bed What the Eye is to the Body Faith is to Soulâ it 's good for direction if it be kept well and as Flies hurt the Eye so little sins and ill thoughts the Soul Covâtousness deserves the hate of all for six reasons 1. It 's a sin against Nature making the Soul Terrene which should be Celestial 2. For the many curses against it in the word Wo to them that join house to house c. 3. For the many evils it subjects us to it 's the root of all evil 4. It makes a man a Fool O Fool this night c. 5. It causes striseâ From whence are strifes c. 6. It brings men into snares which drown in perdition Every lye is odious but that most which is against points of Faith as to say Christ was not born of the Virgin c. Faith must be defended not opposed An humble man is like a good tree the more full of fruits the branches are the lower they bend themselves The Life of Bonaventure who dyed Anno Christi 1274. BOnaventure born in Etruria in Italie of Noble and devout Parents was of a winning countenance very studious and a great follower of Alexender Hales He engraved in his study that saying of our Lord Learn of me for I am meek c. and to keep his minde from swelling he would sweep rooms wash vessels make beds c. He was very cheerful in ministring to the Poor and when he met with any persons that were troubled in minde he would not leave them
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 Letterâs 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 ãâã caused to be set up openly with this intent that ââight 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 ãâã 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
by keeping a Schoolmaster in his house to train them up in learning and godliness When he saw his daughter Magdalen ready to dye he read to her Isay 26. 19. Thy dead men shall live together with my dead body shall they arise c. Adding My daughter enter thou into thy chamber in peace I shall ere long be with thee For God will not permit me to see the punishment which hangs over the head of Germany whereupon he wept plentifully but when he followed the Corps he so restrained his affection that he shed not a tear He used to say that three things make a Divine Meditation Prayer Tentation and that three things were to be done by a Minister 1. To read the Bible over and over 2. To pray earnestly 3. Always to be a learner And that they were the best Preachers who spake as to babes in Christ in an ordinary strain popularly and most plainly He said That in the cause of God he was content totius mundi odium impetum sustinere to undergo the hatred and violence of the whole world He was very liberal to the poor A poor Student asking him some money he bade his wife give him some but she pleading penury he took up a silver cup and gave it him Also a friend sending him two hundred angels of gold he bestowed them all on poor Students and when the Elector gave him a new gown he said That he mas made too much of for saith he if here we receive a full recompence of our labors we shall hope for none in another life And again he said turning my self to God Valdè protestatus sum me nolle sic satiari ab eo I said flatly that God should not put me off with these low things And having a vein of metal offered him he refused it least he should incur the temptation of the Devil who is Lord of treasure under the Earth He never took any thing of Printers for his Copies On a time one brought him a stone that was found in the Mines in Mansfield which had upon it the Image of the Pope with his tripple Crown whereupon he said Hem oportet Papam revelari etiam per metalla metallicos The Pope must be revealed even by metals and metal-diggers His private life was very exemplary At dinner and supper-time he used often to dictate Sermons unto others Sometimes to correct sheets from the Press Sometimes with Musick to refresh his friends He was very temperate both in meat and drink Sometimes he used to fast four days together and other sometimes to eat only a little bread and an herring As much as he could he avoided Feasts that he might not spend time In his converse with his friends he was pleasant courteous and sociable mixed with gravity He sometimes used recreations and amongst the rest turning in a Lathe He would never be idle He was very loving to and tender of his children maintaining a Schoolmaster in his house to instruct them in Piety and Learning He was very passionate but soon appeased Melancthon seeing him once in a passion said Vince animos iramque tuam qui caetera vincis whereupon he smiling said we will no longer dispute of these matters and so he discoursed pleasantly of other things He foretold many things which afterwards came to pass He was very healthful but that sometimes he was troubled with the Headach especially towards his latter end whereupon he feared an Apoplexy and when his head was so out of order he used to say Feri Domine ferââlementer ego paratus sum quia verbo tuo à peccatis absolutus corpore sarguine tuo pastus He was troubled with frequent tentations whereupon he used to write Valemus omnes praeter Lutherum ipsum qui corpore sanus foris a toto mundo intus à Diabolo patitur omnibus Angelis ejus He was big of stature strong and had such a sharp sight that few could endure stedfastly to look upon him Upon a time one was sent under pretence of private conference to pistol him Luther entertained him friendly but withall stedfastly looking upon him the man was so terrified that he took care for nothing but how he might run away He had a gentle and clear voice He lived chastly and holily in Wedlock above twenty years and after his death left three sons and his Widdow who lived seven years after him who was much grieved that she was absent at his death whereby she could not perform her last duty of love to him as she desired Presently after his death the wars breaking forth she wandred up and down with her children as an Exile through many difficulties and dangers and besides the inconveniences of her widdowhood which were many she met with great ingratitude from many from whom she expected better considering how much her husband had deserved from the Church At length being returned to Wittenberg after a while the Plague brake forth wherefore removing with her children to Fergaw as she was passing in a Wagon the Horses affrighted at some thing ran away whereupon leaping out of the Wagon she bruised her self and falling into a Lake of water she caught a disease whereof she dyed three Months after Anno Christi 1552. One saith of him That Luther a poor Fryar should be able to stand against the Pope was a great miracle That he should prevail against the Pope was a greater and after all to die in peace having so many Enemies was the greatest of all Again it was no less miraculous that he should escape so many dangers for when a certain Jew was suborned to kill him by poyson Luther had warning of it before hand and the picture of the Jew sent him whereby he knew him and avoided the danger concerning which himself thus writes There is saith he here with us a certain Polonish Jew that is hired with two thousand Crowns to poyson me this is discovered to me by Letters from my friends He is a Doctor of Physick and one that dare undertake and is ready to perform any villany of incredible subtilty and dexterity One a time as Luther was walking in his Garden the Devil appeared to him in the shape of a black Boar but he slighted him after which he vanished Another time as he was sitting in a certain place on his stool there was a great stone over his head in the vault which being stayed up miraculously so long as he sate there so soon as he was up immediately it fell upon the place where he sate being able to have crushed him in peices if it had light upon him And again a young man about Wittenberg being kept bare and needy by his Father was tempted by the Devil to yeild himself body and soul to him upon condition to have his wish sastisfied with money and thereupon an Obligation was made by the young man written
Professor of Divinity in that City though the Popish party sought by all means to oppose it where he read on the Prophet Isaiah and after awhile he was called to a Pastoral charge in that City to the great regret of the Papists Anno Christi 1524. In that City he caused Infants to be Baptized in the Dutch Tongue He administred the Lords Supper in both kindes by the consent of the Magistrates He confuted by the holy Scriptures the Sacrifice of the Mass Purgatory and other Popish Traditions of the like kinde whereupon by little and little they vanished away Upon this John âochlaeus sent Letters to him from Stutgard full of great promises thereby endeavouring to withdraw him from the Truth and the Mass Priests thundred against him and his companions saying that they deserved the punishment of the worst Hereticks But the Magistrates of Basil commanded all the Preachers within their Jurisdiction to Preach to the People the Word of God and not of men and to abstain from railing and evill speeches threatning severe punishments to those that offended against their Proclamation so that not long after there was a general Reformation of Religion not only in Basil but in the parts adjacent A Decree being made by the Senate that as well within the City of Basil as without throughout all their Jurisdiction the Mass with all Idols should be abandoned and the Ash-wednesday following all the Wooden Images were distributed amongst the Poor of the City to serve them for fire-wood but when they could not agree upon the dividing of them it was Decreed that all the said Images should be burnt together so that in nine great heaps all the stocks and Idols were the same day burnt to ashes before the great Church door Oecolampadius also like a faithful Minister of Jesus Christ was careful to restore Christs Discipline and brought in the censure of Excommunication And presently after being sent for to Vlm together with Blaurerus and Bucer he carryed on the work of Reformation there At Marpurg by the invitation of the Lantgrave of Hess there was a Disputation for three days between Luther Jonas and Melancthon on the one part and Oecolampadius Zuinglius and others on the other about the controversie concerning Christs presence in the Sacrament but the Sweating sickness breaking out there put an end to it yet they agreed about all other Fundamentals in Religion and parted in a brotherly manner Oecolampadius returning to Basil spent the remainder of his days in preaching reading writing publishing of books visiting the sick c. Anno Christi 1531. and of his Age 49. he fell sick about the same time that Zuinglius was so unhappily slain the grief of whose death much aggravated his weakness yet intermitted he not his labors till an Ulcer breaking forth about his Os sacrum he was forced to keep his bed and though his friends Physitians and Chyrurgeons used all means for his cure yet he told them that his disease was mortal He spent his time in Divine meditations and comforting his friends and sending for the Ministers of the Churches to him he spake to this purpose O my Brethren the Lord is come he is come he is now calling me away c. I desired to speak with you to encourage you to continue faithful followers of Christ to persevere in purity of Doctrine in lives conformable to the Word of God Christ will take care for the defence of his Church therefore Let your light so shine forth before men that they may see your good Works c. continue in love unfeigned walk as in Gods presence adorn your Doctrine with holiness of life a cloud is arising atempest is coming and some will fall off but it becomes you to stand fâst and God will assist you c. For my self I pass not the aspersions that are cast upon me I bless God I shall with a clear conscience stand before the Tribunal of Christ I have not seduced the Church of Christ as some affirm but leave you all witnesses that at my last gasp I am the same that formerly I was He had nothing to give and therefore made no Will The fifteenth day of his sickness he called for his children took them by the hand strok't them on the head and though the eldest was but three years old yet he said unto them Go to my three children see that you love God Then speaking to his wife and kindred he desired them to take care that his children might be brought up in the fear of God and then commanded them to be taken away The Ministers continued with him that night and a certain friend coming to him Oecolampadius asked him what news his friend answered None but saith he I 'le tell you some news I shall presently be with my Lord Christ and some asking him whether the light offended him he putting his hand to his heart said Here ãâã abundance of light In the morning he prayed earnestly with the words of David in the 51. Psalm which he repeated from the beginning to the end and presently after said O Christ save me and so he fell asleep in the Lord. The Papists spread many lyes abroad of his death some said that in dispair he slew himself others that he was murthered or poysoned c. He dyed Anno Christi 1521. and of his Age 51. Erasmus wrote to his friends concerning his Book about the Sacrament Oecolampadium emisisse libellum tam accuratè scriptum tot machinis argumentorum tótque testimoniis instructum ut posset vel electos in errorem pertrahere In the beginning of Reformation he was another Doctor in Helvetia of a milde and quiet wit Somewhat slow in dispatching businesses but very circumspect He took pleasure in nothing so much as in reading and writing Commentaries wherein he wrote upon Genesis Psalms Job Isaiah Jeremie Ezekiel Daniel and most of the small Prophets as also upon the Books of the New Testament Before his Conversion he was superstitiously religious So oft as he read the words of Institution of the Lords Supper he thought that some spiritual sense was included in them and yet still drave out those thoughts with this Wilt thou be wiser then other men You should believe as others believe But it pleased God at last to inlighten him with his truth which he submitted to He was most studious of the peace and concord of the Church He excelled in the knowledge of the Latine Greek and Hebrew and was very skilful in Ecclesiastical Antiquities He was older then Martin Luther by one year Scripta ejus vel sunt Exegetica vel Didascalica vel Apologetica vel conversa è Graeco Multa praeterea ab ejus amicis edita multa ab Hedione aliis Germanicè conversa Multa a Gastione collecta quae non sunt impressa
studies he went into Germany and there setled himself at Wittenberg where he commenced Doctor in Divinity and was a publick Professor Anno Christi 1512. Afterwards he became an earnest assertor of Luthers doctrine and a defender of it against Eccius both by disputation and writing At the Disputation held at Lipsich Anno Christi 1519. of which you may read in Luthers life Caralâstadius and Eccius first began it There was a great dissimilitude between these two persons For Caralostadius shewed the modesty of a Divine in his voice countenance gesture and proceedings disputing not for glory and victory but to search out the Truth wherefore he affirmed nothing but what he soundly proved nor admitted any Quotations brought by the Adverse party till he had gathered the meaning of the Anthor by the words that went before and followed after By this his diligence he commended himself to the learned but the unlearned interpreted it to be duâness and fear But Eccius on the other hand appeared fierce by his outcryes his stern countenance his Theatrical gesture and his impetuous proceedings which outward gestures of the body shewed a minde little Theological he often boasted of himself so highly and impudently that he lost his reputation amongst wise men He most constantly affirmed those things which were false and as shamelesly denyed those things which were true their Disputation was about Freewill the fruit whereof as Luther writes was not the searching out of truth but temporis perditio the loss of time At his return to Wittenberg he published Trecentas septuaginta conclusiones Apologeticas defensionem adversus monomachiam D. Johannis Eccâi cum epitome de impii justificatione The year after he set forth his Theses against the Papacy Anno Christi 1521. at the time of Luthers being in his Pathmos Caralostadius obtained or the Elector the abolishing of private Mass Auricular confession Images c. at Wittenberg about which time he marryed a wife concerning which Luther writing to Amsdorfius saith thus Caralostadii nuptiae mirè placent novi puellam conforteâ cum Dominus in bonum exemplum inhibendae minuendae Papisticae libidinis Amen But Luther hearing of that Reformation in Wittenberg and being offended at it returned presently thither Anno Christi 1522. and preached eagerly against that alteration whereupon Caralostadius who in Luthers absence was the principal man in Wittenberg being netled with those sharp Sermons of Luther wrote in justification of it which was the first beginning of greater differences betwixt them about the Sacrament whereupon he left Wittenberg Anno Christi 1524. and went to Orlamund being called to a Pastoral charge there But after a while he was called back to his place in Wittenberg yet before he went Luther being sânt by the Elector to Jene and Orlamund in a Sermon where Caralostadius was present inveighed bitterly against the Anabaptists and said withall That the same spirit reigned in the Image haters and Sacramentaries whereupon Caralostadius being much offended went to his lodging to confer with him about it Afterwards Luther coming again to Orlamund went not to salute Caralostadius but in his Sermon quarrelled with their abolishing of Idols and shortly after he procured the Elector to banish Caralostadius whereof Caralostadius afterwards complained in a Letter to his people in Wittenberg that unheard and unconvicted he was banished by Luthers procurement From thence he went to Basil where he printed some Books that he had written about the Lords Supper for which the Magistrates being offended with the novelty of the Doctrine cast the Printers into Prison and the Senate of Zurick forbade their people to read those Books but Zuinglius in his Sermon exhorted them first to read and then to pass judgement on them saying That Caralostadius knew the truth but had not well expressed it Afterwards whilst Caralostadâus was wandring up and down in upper Germany the sedition of the boorish Anabaptists brake out unto which they were stirred up by Muncer for which many of them especially of their Ministers were brought to punishment and Caralostadius also escaped very narrowly being let down in a basket over the wals of Rottenburg Thus being in great straits he wrote to Luther and purged himself from having any hand in those uproars entreating him to print his Book and undertake his defence which also Luther did desiring the Magistrates that he might be brought to his just trial before he was condemned Caralostadius wrote again to him a Letter wherein he said That for his opinion about the Sacrament he rather proposed it for Disputation sake then that he positively affirmed any thing which many imputed to him for levity But Luther thereupon procured his return into Saxony yet he finding little content there went to Zurick Anno Christi 1530. and taught in that place till the death of Zuinglius and then he went to Basil where he taught ten years and Anno Christi 1541. he dyed there of the Plague and was very honorably buryed What esteem Luther had sometimes of him may appear by this superscription of a Letter which he wrote to him Eruditâssimo viro praestantissimo D. Andreae Boâenstein Caâalostadio syncerioris Theologiae asscrtorâ facile primario Archidiacono Wittenbergensi Praeceptori ac majori suo in Christo Jesu The Life of Capito who dyed An. Chri. 1541. WOlfgangus Fabricius Capito was born at Hagenaw in Alsatia Anno Christi 1478. His Father was of the Senatorian ranck who bred him in Learning and sent him to Basil where he studyed the Liberal Arts and Tongues and by his singular diligence profited very much therein Afterwards when he applyed himself to the study of Divinity his Father who abhorred the unholy life of those which professed holiness took him off from those studies and set him in a way of studying Physick wherein he made such a progress that Anno Christi 1498 he commenced Doctor of Physick But his Father being dead he returned to the study of Divinity being religiously inclined and profited much in it Then he went to Friburg where he studyed School Divinity but after a while growing weary thereof because he found in the Schoolmen much subtilty but little utility he was ordained a Presbyter And then fell to the study of the Law being for four years space a Hearer of Zâsius But above all things he admired and esteemed the Doctrine of the Gospel and was a great lover and admirer of godly Ministers At Heidleberg he grew into acquaintance with Oecolâmpadius and there was a near tye of friendship betwixt them all their lives after with him also he studyed Hebrew being therein assisted by Matthew Adrian a converted Jew From thence being sent for by the Senate he went to Basil where he was Preacher in the chief Church for some years and laid the foundation of a blessed Reformation in that City there also he commenced Doctor
Jesu Christo Domino liberatori meo c. To this my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ my Hope and my Salvation I wholly offer up my soul and body I cast my self wholly upon his mercy and grace c. after which he added an hearty thanksgiving unto God for all the blessings and benefits that he had received from him Prayed earnestly to him for the pardon of all his sins made an exhortation to his Brethren and with hearty affections commended to God the Senate and People of Zurick together with his wife and children entreating them to be an husband to the widdow and a Father to the Fatherless He left to posterity Annotationes in Genesin Exodum ex ore Zuinglii exceptas Item in Evangelistas quatuor Passionis Dominicae Historiam Ac in Epistolas Pauli ad Romanos Corinthios Philippenses Collossenses Thessalonicenses Sancti Iacobi Praeterea Opus conclusionum Zuinglii atque Catechismum majorem minorem conscripsit The Life of George Spalatinus who dyed Anno Christi 1545. GEorge Spalatine was born at Noricum An. Chri. 1482. and being brought up in Learning profited so much especially in the knowledge of the Humane Arts that Frederick the Third Elector of Saxony took a great liking to him and made him one of his Privy Counsel and preferred him to some other Offices under him Yet did not he neglect the study of Divinity but profited so much therein that he was ordained a Minister He was also an excellent Historian insomuch as his Prince imployed him in writing a Chronicle from the beginning of the World to his time What favour he was in with his Prince may appear by this in that Pope Leo the tenth endevouring to suppress Luthers Doctrine in the bud wrote to the Duke of Saxony and to our Spalatine to promote his business with the Duke for the destroying of Luther When he first applyed himself to the study of Divinity he wrote to Luther intreating directions from him for the Method of his Studies Luther advised him to read Hierom Augustine and Ambrose as they were published by Erasmus He also advised him always to begin his Studies with Prayer For saith he there is no Master that can instruct us in Divine matters but the Author of them He further perswaded him to read over the whole Bible diligently adjoining Augustine to it And said he if you will have my advice begin with that part which is De spiritu litera which our Carolostad a man of incomparable diligence hath expounded and published Afterwards he named to him other parts of Augustine and of Ambrose After this the Elector of Saxony made him his Court Preacher and whithersoever he went took him along in his train with him as he did when he went to the Diet at Worms Anno Christi 1521. whence he wrote to Luther that there was so much favour shewed to the Gospel but then appearing that he perswaded himself that Luther should not be condemned before he was heard Nine years after this he was at Auspurg when the confession of Faith which was written by Melancthon was presented unto the Emperour And indeed in all the Controversies of Religion he always stood of Luthers side He had many thoughts of leaving his Ministry had not Luther earnestly opposed him amongst other things writing thus to him Those temptations which persue you to desert your Ministry either overcome them or slight them Christ hath called you to that Office yield to him and obey him according to his will What you are doing you know not for the present but you shall know hereafter This is a Diabolical tentation and you know not now why you are afflicted with it we which are spectators know it better therefore you ought rather to trust us then your self who in the Lord before the Lord yea the Lord by us doth exhort and comfort you For we look after nothing else herein then the will of God and his glory And indeed this is a certain sign that your Ministry is neither ingrateful to God nor unprofitable to the Church in that you are troubled with these tentations For if it were unpleasing to God you would rather long after it as they do which run before they be sent They speak when they have nothing commanded them of God whereas Satan when he findes such as are truly sent by God and pleasing to him he makes them aweary of their work but those which are unpleasing to God he fils them with a violent hunting after the work You have no reason to give over your Ministry which is so earnestly desired and embraced c. Upon these perswasions of Luther he continued in his Office unto the end of his life which fell out Anno Christi 1545. and of his age 63. He was a man that lived in great esteem with Princes and Nobles and most of the learned men of his time Erasmus wrote often to him acknowledging him not only his dear friend but his Patron also and Luther wrote six hundred Epistles to him He wrote the Chronicle before mentioned turned Erasmus his Book De Institutione Principis into Dutch with some others The Life of Myconius who dyed Anno Christi 1546. FRidericus Myconius was born in Franconia of religious parents An. Chr. 1491. Decemb. 26. and bred up at School till he was 13 years old and then he was sent to Annaeberg where he studyed till he was 20. and then entred into a Monastery of the Franciscan Fryars there without the knowledg of his Parents and this he did not that he might live in ease fill his belly and follow his pleasures but that he might serve God pray for the pardon of his own and other mens sins and that he might live an holy and innocent life For so men judged in those days The first night after his entry he had a dream which proved Prophetical In that Monastery he almost killed himself with watchings fastings praying and performing other bodily exercises wherein they thought all holiness to consist And in the night time when other Monks were asleep he macerated and weakned himself with reading Peter Lombard Alexander Hales Bonaventure Gabriel Biel Augustine and other like Authors and being made Reader at Meal-times for seven years together every dinner and supper he read the Bible with Lyra's Notes upon it which he turned over so often that he had almost gotten it by heart but yet without understanding and judgement Only he retained in his Memory the Sacred Histories But despairing of attaining to Learning under such Masters he left his studies and fell to Mechanical Arts About which time Tecelius brought his Indulgences into Germany boasting of the virtue of them and exhorting all as they loved their own and their dead friends Salvation that they should buy them c. and withall threatning that if they came not speedily to buy he would lay
the vain phancies of phanatick persons cleaving to the Truth without deviation He shunned in his Sermons strange and uncouth expressions by which erroneous persons oft disturb the peace of the Church He always opposed the Anabaptistical Errors and was very careful to preserve the Truth from corruptions He often contemplated the footsteps of God in Nature saying with Paul That God was so near unto us that he might almost be felt with our hands He studyed the Mathematicks in his latter time and grew so skilful therein that few excelled him He was excellent also in the Opticks but with his excessive pains and incessant studies night and day he contracted to himself a mortal disease whereby he wasted away and yet his intellectuals decayed not he lay sick for above three months all which time he gave forth clear and notable demonstrations of his Faith Patience and Piety He called up his two young daughters and caused them to repete their Prayers before him and then himself prayd with great fervency for himself the Church and those his Orphans concluding Invoco te quanquam languidâ imbecillâ fide sed fide tamen credo promissioni tuae quam sanguine tuo resurrectione obsignasti c. I call upon thee with a weak yet with a true Faith I believe thy promises which thou hast sealed to me with thy Blood and Resurrection c. In his sickness he intermitted not his studies for during the same he turned into Latine Luthers books concerning the last words of David he read he Psalms and other Authors His ordinary discourse with his friends was about the Principles of Religion the admirable government of the Church Immortality and our sweet Communion in Heaven Upon the sixth of November there was a great Chasm or opening in the Heavens and in some places fire fell to the Earth and flew up into the ayr again This Cruciger saw as he lay in his bed in the night and thereupon much bewayled the great commotions and dissipations in the Church with he forelaw by this Prodigie He spent the few days which remained in Prayer and Repentance and so quietly ended his days Nov. 16. Anno Christi 1548. and of his Age 45. Considering the mutability of all Earthly things he used often to say Omnia praetereunt praeter amare Deum Besides Gods love nothing is sure And that for ever doth endure He was a man of an excellent wit whose daily and indefatigable labors were not only very useful to the University of Wittenberg but even to forraign Nations and Churches He had a plentiful knowledge of the Celestial Doctrine which by his ardent Piety and assistance of the Holy Ghost was daily encreased in him He was so exact and ready in the Hebrew tongue that he easily excelled all others that joined with him in the translation of the Bible In his Sermons and speeches he had a sound Judgement joyned with an Eloquent Tongue He shewed the greatness of his minde by his exact knowledge and skill in the Mathematicks wherein he was deservedly accounted inferiour to none And these gifts he adorned with many other excellent vertues with gravity constancy and moderation in every condition with bounty toward strangers and hearty love to his friends He published sundry Commentaries upon the Psalms Iohn and the first Epistle of Paul to Timothy Lectures upon two Articles of the Nicene Creed He turned many of Luthers Lectures and Sermons out of Dutch into Latine and others out of Latine into Dutch The Life of Matthias Zellius who dyed Anno Christi 1548. MAtthias Zellius was born in Alsatia in a Town called Keisersberg Anno Christi 1477. and was trained up in Learning by his Parents from his childhood and afterwards set to the Publick Schools From whence he went to the University where his proficiency was very exemplary And being well grounded in the Arts he commenced Master of Arts and then applyed himself to the study of Divinity Not long after he went to Strasborough where he was Ordained a Minister and Anno Christi 1522. he was made Pastor of S. Lawrence Church At which time Luthers Doctrine spreading abroad Zellius compared it with the Doctrine of his Adversaries the Papists and upon mature deliberation and examination imbraced that of Luther whereupon he began publickly to defend it perswading the Citizens of Strasborough to entertain it Assoon as the Bishop heard hereof he cited him to appear in his Court and caused twenty four Articles to be drawn up against him amongst which these were some That he taught Iustification by Faith That be defended Luther That he Preached against the Mass Held the Marriage of Priests lawful Denyed the Primacy of the Bishop of Rome and Humane Traditions Hereupon Zellius An. Chr. 1523. published a Book wherein he answered this charge justified his Doctrine and shewed reasons why he appeared not before the Bishop From this time forward he was much hated by the Popish Clergy and went through many dangers for asserting the Truth yet through Gods mercy he with some others so far prevailed that the Magistrates of Strasborough cast our Popery and embraced the Reformed Religion Anno Christi 1529. Zellius therefore was the first Preacher of the Truth in te Church of Strasborough To whom after a good while Symphorianus an ancient Pastor of S. Martins Church adjoined himself who formerly had been very loose in his carriage and therefore the people did the more admire this great change in him yea some of his former acquaintance led by his example did shake off Popery and embraced the Truth and truly these two were rather Popular Preachers then learned Yet Zellius was a man of singular piety And not long after Anthony Firnius Minister of S. Thomas Church joined himself to them and was the first Minister in that City that marryed a wife Yea after a while there came thither Martin Bucer Capito and D. Gaspar Hedio learned and eminent men who more strongly carryed on the work of Reformation in Strasborough viz. An. Chr. 1523. Zellius continued a faithful and painful Pastor in his Church till the year 1548. and of his Age 71. at which time it pleased God to translate him from Earth to Heaven after he had been a Preacher in Strasborough about 26 years He was a man famous not for Learning only but for other Christian vertues especially Modesty Temperance and Charity He had a good wit was of an Innocent and blameless Life Preached the Truth purely and was free from pride Not only a Theoretick but a Practical Divine What he taught he first practised himself and had a special care of the Poor Being on a time invited to supper by one of his Colleagues he found much Plate set upon his Cupboard at which he was so offended that he went away without his supper and afterwards in private so far
and refresh himselfe with his friends where falling off a ladder he hurt his back-bone which put him to great pain but through Gods mercy he recovered and the year after he went to the Convention at Smalcald where by reason of Luthers sickness almost the whole burthen lay upon him of managing the business about religion A while after he went to Hagenaw to meet the Protestant Divines there and fore-seeing that he should fall into a mortall Disease he made his will and left it with Cruciger saying Viximus in Synodis jam mâriemur in illis Imploi'd in Synods living oft was I Now in a Synod I am like to die Accordingly in his journey he fell very sick yet through God's mercy and the care and skill of the Physician he recovered againe his health being much furthered by the earnest praiers of Luther and Cruciger In his disputation with Eccius Eccius brought a very subtil Argument which he being not able suddenly to answer said Cras tibi respondebo I 'le answer you to morrow to whom Eccius replyed That is little for your credit if you cannot answer it presently Whereupon he said Sir I seek not mine owne glory in this businesse but the Truth To morrow God willing you shall hear further When the Wars for Religion brake out in Germany he foresaw in a dream the Captivity of the Elector of Saxonie and the Lantgrave of Hesse fifteen daies before they were taken And when Melancthon did justly bewaile those sad times he was accused to the Emperor as an enemy to his affairs whereupon the Emperor sent to Maurice the Elector to send him to him which he refused to do He was sent also to the Council of Trent but whilst he stayed at Noâinberg for the Publick Faith the Warre brake out betwixt Maurice of Saxonie and the Emperour about the Lantgrave of Hesse whereupon he returned to Wittenberg again and shortly after the Plague breaking out there the University was removed to Tergaw but he said He feared not that Plague but a far worse Plague which threatned the ruine of the common-wealth Whilst he was with the Palatine at Heidleberg he had news brought him of the death of his wife who had lived piously and lovingly with him in wedlock 37 years at the hearing whereof he expressed himself thus Farewell Kate I shall follow thee ere long He had many contentions with the Popish party both by disputations and writing The last Lecture that he read was upon that Text in Isa. Lord who hath beliâved our report He was very carefull before hand to prepare himself for death having this Distich in his mouth Sic ego quotidiè de lecto surgo precando lit mens ad mortem sit duce laeta Deo March the 27. before his death he was sent for by the Elector of Saxony to Lipsich for the examination of those which were maintained by the Elector there for the study of Divinity which examination he had held many years There he continued in that employment til April 4 at which time he returned to Wittenberg April the 8 th his sicknes seised upon him whereof he died It was a Feaver which caused him that he could scarce sleep that night Hereupon Doctor Peucer his son-in-law intended to send for Camerarius between whom and Melancthon there had been a very strong bond of friendship for the space of 40 years Seven daies before he died many persons worthy of credit betwixt nine and ten a clock at night saw in the clouds over the Town of Wittenberg five Rods bound together after which two vanishing the other three appeared severed in divers places the branches of the Rods turning towards the North the handles towards the South of which Prodigy when Philip was informed he said Herein Gods fatherly punishments are not Swords but Rods which parents use to correct their children withall And I fear a dearth The night following he slept pretty well and waking about three a clock in the morning he sang sweetly and rose out of his bed April 13. to make an end of his writing which he was to propose on Easter day he followed his study hard that morning which was the last thing that he wrote for his publick Reading On Easter Eve he carried it to the Printing-house after which he went to Church and in the afternoon went againe to the Printing-house to see how the work went forward which was his last going abroad About four a clock that evening he sate upon the staires which went up into his study leaning upon his elbow At which time Joachim Camerarius came from Lipsich to visit him and entering into his house found him in that posture They saluted each other wich great familiarity and about five a clock that evening his Feaver seised on him so that that night he had a very grievous fit yet in the morning hee had a little sleep being April 14. Easter day After which he rose out of his bed and though he was scarce able to goe yet he would have read his Lecture publickly which his friends disswaded him from considering his great weaknesse April the 15 before dinner he professed his desire to depart hence saying I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ. April the 16 Camerarius was minded to return home but as they sate at breakfast together on a sudden such a weaknesse came upon Melancthon that he desired to goe to bed so that Camerarius layed aside his purpose of departure April the 17 Camerarius took his leave of him commending him to God whereupon Philip said Jesus Christ the Son of God that sitteth at the right hand of his Father and giveth gifts unto men preserve you and yours and us all This night he was very sick and in his prayers cryed out O Lord make amend April the 18 his water was very troublesome and he was much pained with the stone About eight a clock that morning the Pastors of the Church visited him to whom he said By the goodnesse of God I have no domesticall grief to disquiet me although my Nephewes and Neeces stand here before me whom I love very dearly Yet this is my comfort they have godly parents who take care of them as I have done so long as I was able But publick matters affect me especially the troubles of the Church in this evil and sophisticall age But through Gods goodnesse our Doctrine is sufficiently explained and confirmed Then speaking to the eldest daughter of his Son-in-law Doctor Peucer he said I have loved thee my daughter see that thou honour thy parents be dutifull to them and fear God and he will never forsake thee I beseech him to defend thee and keep thee About nine a clock he spake to his Son-in-law who was his Physitian saying What think you of my disease have you any hope speak plaine The Physitian answered God is your life and the
length of your daies to whom we commend you but if we look at naturall causes your disease is dangerous for your weaknesse is great and encreaseth every moment I think the same quoth he and an sensible of my weaknesse A while after he made them search for some sheets of paper wherein he had begunne to write his Will purposing to declare his judgement about all the heads of Religion and to testifie it to posterity which was the chief use of Testaments amongst the antient Fathers but they could not be found whereupon he beganne to frame it a new sitting at a table but through weakness was not able to proceed therein Onely he wrote that he had twice formerly set down a Confession of his Faith and a thanksgiving to God and to our Lord Jesus Christ But saith he my papers are intercepted and therefore I will have my Confession to be my answers concerning the Bavarian Articles against Papists Anabapists Flacians c. His minde was sincere and sound to his last gasp his brain never more firm Then he conferred with his Son-in-law about the affairs of the University About six a clock Letters were brought him from his friends at Frankford Mart concerning the persecution of some godly men in France whereupon he said That his bodily disease was not comparable to the grief of his mind for his godly friends and for the miseries of the Church That night he had very litâle rest About two a clock in the morning he raised himself up in his bed saying that God had brought into his minde againe that speech of Paul If God be for us who can be against us After which he returned to his former complaints of the calamities of the Church Yet saith he my hopes are very great for the Doctrine of our Church is explained And so he proceeded to earnest prayers and groanings for the Church and then betook himself to some rest About eight in the morning in the presence of divers Pastors and Deacons he made three Prayers whereof this was one O almighty eternall ever-living and true God creator of heaven a dearth together with thy coâtârnall Son our Lord Jesus Christ crucified for us and raised again together with thy holy Spirit c. Who hast faid thou de firest not the death of a sinner but that he may be converted and lâve As also Call upon me in the day of trouble and I will deliver thee I confess unto thee that I am a most miserable sinneâ that I have many sinnes and have been faulty many waies But I am sorry with all my heart that I have offended thee I pray thee for our Lord Jesus Christs sake who was crucified and rose again for us to have pitty upon me and to forgive all my sinnes and to justifiâ me by and through Jesus Christ thy Sonne thine eternall Word and Image whom by thy unspeakable counsell and unmeasurable wisdome and goodnesse thou wouldst have to be for us a Sacrifice Mediator and Intercessoâ Sanctifie me also by thy holy lively and true âpirit that I may truly acknowledge thee firmly believe in thee truly obey thee give thanks unto thee rightly invocate thy name serve thee and see thee gracious to all eternity and the almighty true God creator of heaven and earth and men the eternall Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ thy Son thy eternall Word and Image and the Holy Ghost the comforter In thee O Lord have I trusted let me never be confounded Thou hast redeemed me O Lord God of Truth Keep O Lord and governe our Church and Common wealths and this School and give them wholsom peace and wholsom goverment Rule and defend our Princes nourish thy Church gather and preserve thy Church in these Countries and sanctifie it and conjoyne it with thy holy spirit that it may be one in thee in the knowledge and invocation of thy Son Jesus Christ by and for the sake of this thine eternal Son our Lord Jesus Christ c. After this he rested a while Then the Pastors and Deacons by turnes read unto him Psalme 24 25 26. Isa. 53. John 17. Rom. 5. and divers other Psalmes and Chapters After which he said I often thinke upon that saying of St. John The world received him not but to those âhat received him to them he gave power to be made the Sons of God even them that belieeve in his name After this he seemed to pray secretly for a quarter of an hour yea for an hoar or two he seemed to doe little other then pray and being at length asked by his Son in Law whether he would have any thing he answered Nothing but heaven thereforâ trouble me no more with speaking to me Then the Pastor prayed with him and the others âead again and so about haâf an hour after six he quietly and peaceably gave up the Ghâst having lived 63. yeares 63. dayes After hee had spent in Preaching and writing 42 years Anno Christi 1560. He was buried close by Luther they having been faithfull and intimate friends in their lives He took much pains in the Vniversitie of Wittenberg reading three or four Lectures every day unto which many resorted He was never idâe but spent all his time in reading writing disputing or giving counsell He neither sought after great titles nor richââ He could not be perswaded to take the degree of a Doctor saying That such honour was a great burden He had many and great enemies who often thâeatned to banish him Germany of which himselfe writes â go jam sum hic Dei beneficio quadraginta anâos nunquam potuidicere aut certus esse me per unam ãâã mansurum esse I have through Gods mercy been here theâe fourty years and yet I could never say or besure that I should remain here one week to an end A little before his death he said Cupio ex hac vita migrare propâer duas causas primum ut fruar desiderato conspectu filii Dei coelestis Ecclesiae deinde ut liberer ab immanibus implacabilibus Theologorum odiis Amongst all his writings and disputations he would never meddle with the controversie about the Sacrament leaving that to Luther and being loth publickly to manifest his dissent from him Yet it is certaine that as they went to the Colloquie of Ratisbon together anno 1541. he communicated his opinion to Luther confirmed by the Testimonies of the ancient Fathers both Greek and Latine and when Luther had made some Annotations upon those sentences which contradicted his opinion Melancthon said Mr. Dr. I could make the like Annotations but sure they are not strong enough After all his great labours in the Church and Vniversity he carried away the usuall reward of the world reproof accusations injuries and reproaches Anno Christi 1555. a tumult being raised amongst the students he went forth to perswade them to peace when one of them ran
him chose him to be their Pastor and sent to request his coming to them many also of his old English friends that lived as exiles there much pressed it Yea and Calvin also wrote to him desiring him to imbrace the Call Martyr being thus importunately pressed to remove thither and having many engagements to incline him that way yet referred the whole matter to be determined by the Senate and Ministers at Zurick and they understanding that there were other able and fit men to be placed over the Italian Congregation denying their consents to part with him he resolved to stay notwithstanding all solicitations to the contrary And afterwards when in Queen Elizabeths dayes he was much importuned to return into England and had large proffers made him from the Queen yet he would not leave his flock till his death And how ready he was to be serviceable to other Churches may appear by this example The year before his death the King of France had appointed a meeting of the Bishops and Nobility at Possy whereupon they of the reformed Religion in France thought that it was a very seasonable time to procure a conference about Religion which might much tend to the peace and liberty of the Church Upon this the Churches chose certaine Delegates which in that Parliament should move for the liberty of Religion And they chose also many learned men who should dispute with their adversaries about the same and because the singular learning and incomparable dexterity of Peter Martyr in disputing was sufficiently knowne they in the first place made choice of him for one and sent one Claudius Bradella with Theodore Beza to Zurick to try his willingness to accept of that imployment and when he had declared his readiness shortly after came Letters from the King the Queen Mother the King of Navar the Prince of Conde and the Admirall Coligni to the Senate of Zurick to desire them to send Martyr withall sending him a safe conduct whereupon he undertook the journey and when he came to Possy he made an Oration to the Queen exhorting her to seek not onely the quiet of France but of other Churches by promoting true Religion shewing also what a blessing she might expect from God thereby The Queen entertained him kindly and so did the King of Navar the Prince of Conde and the Admirall of France But the Cardinall of Lorrain sought to hinder the disputation all that possibly he could yet when he could not prevail five of each party were chosen out to dispute the business about the Lords Supper in private having onely two Notaries present and after severall days disputation something was drawn up as the result of all which with some explanations Beza Marlorat Martyr Spina and the Lord of Sole subscribed unto But when the same was presented to the Cardinal and Popish Bishops they complained of their Disputants as having consented to that which was Heresie and so by their authority they brake off the Disputation and departed Whereupon Martyr addressed himself to the Queen seeing that he was like to do no good there desiring license to depart which she consented to and he returned to Zurick with a large testimony of his worthy carriage and a guard from the Prince of Conde and the Admiral for his safety Thus having worn out himself with his indefatigable labours and having his spirits much exhausted with grief for the afflicted condition of the Churches of France he fell sick of a Feaver made his Will and to his Friends that visited him he spake chearfully and comfortably telling them that his body was weak but inwardly he enjoyed much peace and comfort He made before them an excellent Confession of his Faith concluding thus This is my faith and they that teach otherwise to the withdrawing men from God God will destroy them He gave them his hand and bid them farewel and commending his soul to God he slept in the Lord and was buried honourably Anno Christi 1562 and of his age 62. Opera haec ab ipso edita sunt Symboli expositio Comment in Cor. 1. Comment in lib. Judicum Epist. ad Rom. Defensio Doctrinae de Eucharistiae Sacramento contra S. Gardiner Disputatio de Eucharistiae Sacramento habita Oxon. Defensio ad duos libellos Rich. Smithaei Post obitum hi libri editi sunt Comment in Sam. 1. 2. Reg. 1. in 11 capita priora Reg. 2. Comment in 1 librum Mosis Precum ex Psalmis libellus Epitome defensionis adversus S. Gardinerum Confessio de coena Domini ad Senat. Argento Sententia de praesentia corporis Christi in Eucharistia proposita in Colloâ Possiaco Epistola de causa Eucharistiae Loci communes Conciones Quaestiones Responsa Epistolae Comment in Exod. In Prophetas aliquot minores In tres priores libros Ethicorum Aristotelis Beza made this Epigram of him Tuscia te pepulit Germania Anglia fovit Martyr quem extinctum nunc tegit Helvetia Dicere quae si vera volent re nomine dicent Hic fidus Christi credite Martyr erat Utque istae taceaut satis hoc tua scripta loquuntur Plus satis hoc Italis exprâbrat exilium The Life of Amsdorfius who died A no Christi 1563. NIcolas Amsdorfius was born in Misnia of noble parents Anno Christi 1â83 and brought up in Learning Anno Christi 1502 from Schoole he went to the University of Wittenberg about that time that Luther began to preach against Indulgences And contrary to the custome of the Nobility of those times he applied his minde to the study of Theology and contemplation of heavenly things In An. Christi 1504 he commenced Master of Arts and afterwards Licentiate in Divinitie He timely embraced the Truth that brake forth in those times and not consulting with fleshâand blood preached it to others He accompanied Luther to Wormes Anno Christi 1521 when he was called to give an account of his Faith before Caesar and the States of the Empire In the time of Luther's recesse into his Pathmos he with Melancthon Justus Jonas and John Dulcius being sent to by the Elector of Saxony for their judgements about the Mass declared that it was an horrible prophanation of the Lords Supper whence ensued the abolishing of it out of all Churches in Wittenberg Anno Christi 1523 he wrote in a book dedicacated to the Elector of Saxony that the Pope was Antichrist Anno Christi 1524 Luther being sent for to Magdeburg went thither and having preached to them commended to them and afterwards sent Amsdorfius to gather and instruct the Churches there who faithfully laboured eighteen years in that place During his abode there the Senate of Goslaria sent for him to reform their Churches and he at his coming setled the same form of Doctrine and Discipline amongst them as was used at Wittenberg and
Orthodox by his very adversaries But the repentance of this his adversary is not to be passed over in silence for a few years after when he lay upon his death-bed he professed that he could have no peace of conscience till M. Calvin had forgiven him which he not onely did speedily but comforted and confirmed him to his last hour Anno Christi 1553. The malice of the factious brake out so impetuously that not onely the Church but even the Common-wealth was brought into extream hazard thereby for they proceeded so far by their clamours and threats and by their number oppressing the liberty of good men that the ancient Edicts about constituting of Senators was by them dissolved and pretending that they were afraid of the forreign Exiles they took from them all their weapons and swords except when they travelled abroad so that nothing seemed remaining but when they had got all the power into their own hands that they should then effect what they had often aimed at The Divel also then ministred another occasion of troubles for the ancient enemy of the Sacred Trinity and of the true God Michael Servetus a very monster composed of many ancient and prodigious heresies having gone about a long time as a Physician and spread his blasphemies under the name of Michael Villanovanus at last published a great book at Vienna belonging to Geneva the Printer whereof was Arnollet of Lions the Corrector to the Press William Guerotius long agoe addicted to the factious Genevistes but a few moneths before being like to be punished for his whoredomes and other wickednesses was fled from Geneva to Lions This Servetus having published his Book stuffed with Blasphemies was at Vienna cast into prison for the same but making an escape he came by a secret providence to Geneva thinking to pass further but as God would have it being discovered and Master Calvin acquainting the Magistrates with it they cast him into prison Much means was used to bring him to a sight of his wickedness and to repentance for the same but when this desperate wretch encouraged by some of the chief of the factious persons would not be brought to a recantation of his abominable blasphemies by the common consent of all the Helvetian Churches he was condemned to death and upon the seven and twentieth of October without any signe of repentance was burned alive The same year Master Farell being very sick Master Calvin went to Neocome to visit him but his disease prevailing he left him for dead yet it pleased God wonderfully beyond expectation to raise him up again to the great joy of the Church Whilst the businesses of Servetus were in agitation there rose up one amongst the factious one Bertelerius a most impudent man who for many wickednesses was suspended from the Sacrament by the Presbytery whereupon he went to the Senate desiring by them to be absolved which being effected there was no doubt but the raines of Ecclesiasticall Discipline being let loose all things would grow into confusion therefore Master Calvin in the name of the Presbytery opposed it shewing that the Christian Magistrate ought to preserve not to destroy the Ecclesiasticall constitutions Yet the false clamours of the adversaââes prevailed who said that the Presbytery encroached upon the authority of the Magistrate so that in a meeting of the Common-Counsell it was decreed that the last appeal ought to be to the Senate who might absolve whom they thought fit After which the Senate not much minding the business suffered this Bertelerius surreptitiously to get letters of absolution from them confirmed by the Seal of the Common-wealth But Perinus and his companions hoped that one of these two things would follow viz. that either Calvin would not obey this mandat of the Senate and so he would be oppressed by the people in a tumult or else that he would obey it and then it would be easie for them to dissolve the Decrees of the Presbytery and so open a door to all licentiousness But M. Calvin though he had notice of this but two days before the Sacrament was to be administred in the moneth of September in the time of his Sermon lifting up his voice and stretching forth his hand spake much against the contemners and profaners of those sacred mysteries But I saith he following Chrysostome will rather suffer my selfe to be slaine then this hand of mine shall reach the holy Elements to those that have been judged contemners of God This speech which is wonderfull to observe did so far prevaile with them who otherwise were head-strong enough that Perinus sent privately to Bertlerius commanding him not to obtrude himself upon the Sacrament and so through Gods mercie the Sacrament was peaceably administred and received with a certain trembling as if God himselfe had been present in their sight In the afternoon Master Calvin preached upon that Text in the Acts wherein Paul took his leave of the Church of Ephesus wherein he professed that he was not the man that would himselfe oppose or teach others to oppose the Decree of the Magistrate exhorting the Congregation to persevere in that Doctrine wherein they had been taught as if he had taken his last farewell of Geneva And seeing saith he things are come to this pass give me leave brethren to use the words of the Apostle to you I commend you to God and the words of his grace which words as they wonderfully daunted the wicked so they prevailed much more with the godly party to put them in mind of their duty The day after Mr. Calvin with his Colleagues and the whole Presbytery intreated the Senate and the Common-Councell that they might be heard before the people whilst they should give in reasons for the abrogating of that fore named Law This was easily assented to their minds being wonderfully changed and it was decreed that that Law should be suspended and that the judgement of the foure Helvetian Cities should be desired therein and that nothing in the meane time should be acted that was prejudiciall to the Laws formerly established Thus this tempest was rather dispersed then wholly quieted which beyond hope being diverted from Mr. Calvin the factious sought to bring it upon the head of Mr. Farell For Mr. Farell as soon as he was recovered of his great sicknesse came to Geneva and there in a Sermon sharply reproved the factious partly relying upon the justnesse of the cause and partly upon his age and that ancient authority which he had amongst them But they complaining that he had done them much wrong when he was returned to Neocome appointed him a day to answer it before the Senate and withall sent to the Senate at Neocome that he might appear at the day appointed He came therefore again to Geneva yet not without danger whilst the factious cryed out that he deserved to be thrown into the River of Rhodanus
that taking heed of Blandatra and his followers they should so assert Christ to be our Mediator according to both his natures that in the mean time they should not multiply Deities But this labour of his was vaine towards them that were to perish About this time the Bohemian Waldenses sent two of their brethren to Master Calvin to desire his judgment about some matters of Religion whom he lovingly satisfied exhorting them also that they would enter into a neerer conjunction with other Reformed Churches At the same time also Q. Mary being dead and Queen Elizabeth succeeding many of the godly French relying upon her piety and humanity fled for refuge into England with the consent of tha reverend man Edmund Grindal Bishop of London they craved leave of her that one might be sent from Geneva to plant a French Church there whereupon Galacius was sent Towards the latter end of this yeare King Francis of France dyed suddenly and that in such a juncture of time when all things seemed so desperate that they could not be cured but by God himself and King Charls the ninth a child was searce entred into his Kindom when by a Herald Letters subscribed with his name were brought to Geneva wherein he complained that many were sent out from thence that infected his Kingdom desiring that they might be presently called back threatning that otherwise he would not let passe the revenging of that injury Mast. Calvin being hereupon sent for by the Senate answered in his owne and in his Colleagues names that at the request of the Churches of France they had exhorted certain men that were sound in the faith and of an holy life whom they judged fit for the work that they should not be wanting to lend their help to their Country in so holy a cause especially the Churches craving assistance from them for their further edification And that this they had done not to disturb the Kingdome but that the people might be taught the Gospel of peace and if they were accused for any thing further then this that they were ready to answer their accusers before the King So this business went no further The same year Master Calvin and Master Beza answered the impudent book of Tileman Hushusius Master Calvin also confuted those blasphemies which Gentilis had published at Lions against him and Athanasius He published also his Lectures upon Daniel which he dedicated to the French Churches and as he interpreted that Prophet so in his Praeface he was himselfe a Prophet so etelling the tempest that hung over them At which time also Francis Balduinus afterwards called Ecebolius because he had changed his religion three or four time being suborned by the Cardinall of Lorrain by evill means reconciled to the King of Navar dispersed a certain book up and down the Court written either by himself or as some rather thought by Cassander wherein he stiled himself a pious and moderate man which book was worse then the Emperors Interim for that under the specious pretence of restoring moderation he sought to bring in all the Popish corruptions Master Calvin being informed hereof published an answer to this book to which some other answers were shortly after added which made a full discovery of the wit and purpose of Balduinus which this railer could by no means digest whereupon he never gave over to brand Calvin and Beza with his impudent reproaches till the year after being growne odious both to God and men of both Religions whom he had so often deceived by his turning whilst he was following a suit of Law at Paris he wore away and ended his wretched life In the year 1562. God gave peace and liberty to the French Churches by a publick Edict of the Kings But not long after the King of Navar being suborned by Popish subtilty presently after the Duke of Guise had committted that abominable massacre at Vassy began that civil war which continued many years after to the miserable devastation of France and it cannot be spoken how much Master Calvin was affected and afflicted therewith which so far increased his disease that it was easie to divine that it would not be long before he was translated to a better life yet did he not desist from exhorting and comforting every one no nor from preaching and reading his ordinary Lectures And the same yeare he published that excellent confession of Faith which was sent to the States of the Empire met together at Franckeford in the name of the Prince of Conde and of all the Godly in France who besides the injuries which they sustained by an unjust war were unworthly traduced to the Germans as if they held many false and monstrous opinions One thing also is not to be pretermitted that on the nineteenth of Decem. Master Calvin lying in bed sick of the Gout being the Sabbath day and the North-wind having blowne two dayes strongly said to many that were present Truly I know not what is the matter but I thought this night I heard warlick drums beating very loud and I could not perswade my selfe but it was so Let us therefore goe to prayers for surely some great businesse is in hand And this very day there was a great Battail fought between the Guisians and the Protestants not far from Paris news whereof came unto Geneva within a few days after The year after which was 1563. Master Calvins disease did so far increase that it was almost incredible that so weak a body exhausted with so many labours and worne out with so many diseases should yet retaine so valiant and generous a mind So that even then he could not be perswaded to favour himself and if at any time he abstained from his publick labours which yet he never did but when by necessity he was enforced thereto yet he was busie at home either in giving counsell to those that sought it or in dictating to his Scribes the witnesses whereof are those two serious admonitions to the Polomans to take heed of those blasphemous persons which denyed the Sacred Trinity The answers which he returned to the brethrens Messengers who were now met in a Synod at Lions his Commentaries upon the foure books of Moses which himselfe turned out of Latin into French And lastly his commentary upon Joshua which he now began and finished a little before his death In the year 1564. Feb. the sixth Master Calvin being short-winded by reason of a stopping in his lungs preached his last Sermon and from thence forward he spake little onely now and then he would be carried to the Congregation the last time being March the last His diseases being contracted by the incredible labours both of his mind and body were very many For besides that naturally he was but of a weak body leane and inclinable to a Consumption he slept little spent a great part of the
Pulpit alluding to that of Vespasian Oportet Imperatorem stantem mori And thinking upon that of his Master Happy art thou my servant if when I come I find thee so doing His text whereon he preached at Lacock was Walk in the Spirit and presently after Sermon his disease growing more and more upon him hee was forced to take his bed In the beginning of his sicknesse he made his Will and gave most of his estate to his servants to scholars and to the poor of Sarum The Saturday following calling all his houshold about him he expounded the Lords Prayer Cantater âygnus funeris ipse sui Wherein hee said It hath alwaies been my desire that I might glorifie God and honour his name by sacrificing my life unto death for the defence of his Truth But seeing God hath not granted my desire yet I rejoice that my body is exhausted and worn away in the labours of my holy calling c. And now that my hour is at hand I earnestly desire you to pray for me and to help me with the ardencie of your affections when you perceive me through the infirmitie of the âesh to languish in my prayers Hitherto I have taught you but now the time is come wherein I may and desire to be taught and strengthened by every one of you Then hee desired them to sing the 71 Psalm himself also joyning as well as he could somtimes also interposing some words of particular application to himself in the end he said Lord now let thy servant depart in peace Break off all delaies Lord receive my spirit c. Then one standing by prayed with tears that if the Lord pleased he would restore him to his former health Juel over-hearing him seemed to be offended and said I have not lived so that I am ashamed to live longer neither do I fear to die because we have a mercifull Lord. A crown of righteousness is laid up for me Christ is my righteousnesse Father let thy will be done thy will I say and not mine which is imperfect and depraved This day quickly let me see the Lord Jesus c. And so after a few fervent inward prayers and sighs of longing desire the soul returned to him that gave it Anno Christi 1571 and of his Age 50. Concerning his Apology for the Church of England Peter Martyr thus wrote to him Tua Apologia frater charissimè non tantùm mihi omnibus modis numeris satisfecit verùm etiam Bulingero ejusque filiis generis nec non Gualthero Wolphio tam sapiens mirabilis eloquens visâ est ut ejus laudandae nullum modum faciant nec arbitrantuâ quicquam hoc tempore perfectius editum fuisse c. i. e. Thy Apology dear brother hath not onely fully satisfied mee but it seems also so wise admirable and eloquent to Bullinger and his sonnes as also to Gualter and Wolphius that they can never make an end of praising it and they believe that there hath not been so compleate a book published in this Age c. The Life of Zegedine who died A no Christi 1572. STeven Kis sirnamed Zegedine from the place where hee was born which was a Town in the lower Pannonia was born Anno Christi 1505 brought up in learning first in the School of Zegedine under the eye of his Parents then was sent to Lippain and after a while to Julia in all which places he made an excellent progresse in Learning and profited to admiration And his parents being dead he betooke himself to teaching a School and for his admirable dexterity therein he procured to himselfe great favour and authority amongst all sorts of persons About which time hearing the fame of Luther and Melancthon he had a great mind to goe to Wittenberg but wanting opportunity in sundry regards he went to the University at Cracovia where having studied a while he was made a Reader to others and grew very famous and having gotten some money there Anno Christi 1541 hee went to Wittenberg where hee studied Logick and Divinity three years being a diligent hearer of the Lectures of Luther and Melancthon all that while and so at the end of that terme returned into his own country where hee was received by the Hungarian youths with great applause in every place And being hired in the City of Thasniadine he not only instructed youth in the knowledge of the Arts but he preached Jesus Christ also to the people before unknown unto them This comming to the ears of the Kings Treasurer he sent for him fell upon him beat him and drove him out of the City There he lost two hundred books and was so barbarously kicked by this Tyrant with his Iron spurs that he was almost slain Thus wandring up and down as an exile Anno Christi 1545 hee was called to Julia where he was made Governour of an illustrious Schoole and hee began to live comfortably but on a sudden came news to him of the death of Luther which was a very great grief to him The year after hee was sent for to Cegledine where he was hired to preach publickly in the Church and with the leave of the Schoolmaster he read Melancthons Common places in the Schooles discovering many of the Popish errors to his hearers and God was pleased so to blesse his labours that many learned young men went out of those Schooles Having continued there about two yeares and an half Anno Christi 1548 hee married his first Wife called Ursula after which leaving Cegledine hee was earnestly sent for by the Governour of Temeswert to govern the School there which indeed was the most famous School in all those parts where he not onely performed the office wherewith he was intrusted but preached weekely to the people But that Governour dying there succeeded him one that was of a most rugged disposition being a souldier and a strong Papist who drove Zegedine from thence togegether with divers other Protestants Being again an exile he wandered up and down till hee was called to govern the School at Thurin where he was received with great honour Anno Christi 1551 and according to his former custome preached to the people who eagerly embraced the Truth and loved him exceedingly From thence Anno Christi 1553 he was called to Bekenese where he preached to the people and read Lectures in the Schools Whilst he was there some Italian souldiers were commanded by their Captain to kill Zegedine out of an hatred to his Religion but it pleased God that a Country man who heard the command running hastily to Zegedine said to him Sir what doe you here when there are some souldiers comming upon you to slay you therefore flie hence speedily if you will save your life and if you have any thing of worth commit it to my custodie who promise faithfully to keep it
to accuse Bullinger and Calvin whereupon Nicholas Radzivil Palatine of Vilna sent Martin Secovitius with his Letters to Bullinger about Blandrata's business to which Bullinger answered that when Blandrata came to Zurick he onely spake once with him yet at that time he easily discerned that he was corrupt in his judgement about the Son of God as also that he threatned to write against Calvin whereunto he answered That there were contentions already too many in the Church which if he increased God would be avenged on him for it Yet he departed cursing and threatning grievous things That such men should be taken heed of who laboured to revive Arianisme and other Heresies and cunningly to sow them abroad Calvin also wrote the History of Blandrata and sent it to the Polonian Church but his hypocrisie had so far prevailed with them that it did no good but afterward both in Poland and Transilvania he taught openly That Christ our Saviour was a meer man About the same time came forth Brentius his book about the personall union of two natures in Christ c. wherein he laboured to prove the substantiall presence of Christs body in the Supper And whereas Bullinger had published a Tractat upon those words In my Fathers house are many mansions Brentius published another Book wherein he manifested his dislike of Bullingers book saying That his conscience urged him to declare it This many marveiled at that he should quarrell with Bullinger being not provoked by him Bullinger least he should betray the truth answered him and Brentius again replyed charging the Tigurines with debasing the Majesty of Christ and denying the omnipotency of God Anno 1562. the Helvetians Ministers were again summoned to the Councill of Trent having the publick faith sent them but Bullinger againe wrote the reasons of their refusall Anno Christi 1563 Bullinger answered the book of Brentius de Christi Majestate About which time Ber. Ochin was banished by the Senat of Zurick for writing in defence of Polygamy contrary to his promise and oath and refusing to retract it Before his departure he desired Master Bull. to give him Letters testimoniall which he told him that he could not doe with a safe conscience yet was grieved for him and his children From thence Ochin went to Basil but finding no entertainment there he went into Poland where he publickly denyed the Deity of the Holy-Ghost but not staying long there he went into Moravia where he joyned himself to the Conventicles of the Anabaptists and shortly after dyed Anno Christi 1564. A great plague brake out in Zurick of which Bullinger fell so sick that all despaired of his life and himself also whereupon he sent for the Ministers of the Church and took his leave of them But it pleased God at the earnest prayers of the Church to restore him to health againe yet his wife and one of his daughters dyed of it And the year after the plague continuing two other of his daughters dyed also and himselfe began to be exceedingly tormented with the stone yet did not he intermit his labours but preached constantly and finished his Homilies upon Daniel Anno Christi 1566. when some turbulent spirits published that the Helvetian Churches were divided amongst themselves and held many unfound doctrines Bullinger published Confession of Faith which was consented to and subscribed by the Church of Geneva Berne Scaphusen Neocom St. Galli Mulhusen and Bipennium attested by the English Scottish and French Churches the Hungarian brethren also detesting and disclaiming the blasphemies of Blandrata and of Francis David published their assent to it Anno Christi 1567. Bullinger published his Homilies upon Isay and the year after he confuted Osius who denyed the deity of Christ and the Holy Ghost Anno Christi 1569 a great persecution arising in France many godly persons fled to Geneva and Helvetia who being in great want Bullinger took much paines to raise money by collections for them He was much troubled with the Sciatica and the Stone yet in the midst of those pains he wrote the Lives of the Popes and a confutation of the Popes Bull whereby he had excommunicated our Queen Elizabeth and absolved her subjects from the oath of Allegiance which was afterwards translated into English Anno Chr. 1570 there was a Synod of the French Churches held at Rochel to which because the Helvetians could not send Delegates they wrote Letters signifying their agreement with them in Doctrine and their good will to them Anno Christi 1571 by reason of the extreame hard winter there was a very great dearth in which Bullinger and the other Ministers obtained of the Senate that there should bee frequent Fasting and Prayer in publick and that provision should bee made for the Poor which was done accordingly Anno Christi 1572 was that bloody Massacre at Paris and in other places of France whereupon Bullinger the year after wrote his book of Persecution and God's judgements upon the Persecutors and to exhort the persecuted to patience and constancie That new Starre also in Cassiopeia appeared at that time Anno Christi 1574 Bullinger fell into a grievous disease which much tormented him from October to December at which time it pleased God to give him ease whereupon he exercised his publick Ministry again The year after he relapsed into his disease and though the pain was almost intolerable yet he never brake forth either in word or gesture into the least impatience but prayed the more fervently and when he had any ease he used to discourse pleasantly with his friends saying If the Lord will make any further use of me and my Ministry in his Church I will willingly obey him ât if he please as I much desire to take me out of this miserble life I shall exceedingly rejoyce that he pleases to take meut of this wretched and corrupt age to goe to my Saviour Chri. Socraters was glad when his death approached because as he thought he should goe to Homer Hesiod and other Learned men whom he thought he should meet with in the other world How much more doe I joy who am sure that I shall see my Saviour Christ the Saints Patriarks Prophets Apostles and all the holy men which have lived from the beginning of the world These I say when I am sure to see them and to partake of their joyes why should I not willingly dye to enjoy their perpetual society and glory When he found some ease he sent for all the Ministers and Professors of the Universitie to him into his study to whom he gave thanks for their coming to him took his farewell of them with tears which he said proceeded not from his fear of death but as Paul's from his great love to them Hee made before them a Confession of his Faith forgave his enemies exhorted them to concord
of age being now well grounded in the knowledge of the Arts and Tongues hee went from thence into Silesia to visit his friends and to see the chiefest Cities and whilst hee was there the Senate of Grunberg consulted about the erecting of a School in that City and for the advancement of the same they chose Bucholtzer to bee the Master thereof and sent to him by Luke Cunon who was their Pastor desiring him to undertake that office Hereupon hee asked Melancthons advice who much encouraged him to accept of the place saying Quantum solatium est pio paedagogo assidentibus castis angelis sedere in coetu incontaminato juniorum qui Deo placent docere tenera ingenia ut rectè agnoscant invocent Deum ut deinde organa fiant utilia Ecclesiae suis animabus Upon his advice therefore hee went thither Anno Christi 1556 and by his excellent abilities and diligence quickly made that place which before was obscure to become famous Scholars resorting to him from all parts whom hee bred up both in Religion and Learning and fitted them so excellently for the Universitie that Melancthon never questioned any that came from his School saying Hoc se persuasum sibi habere rudes impolitos esse non posse qui à politissimi judicii homine Abrahamo Bucholtzero essent informati That he was verily perswaded that they could not be rude or unfitted for the University that came from under the tuition of Abraham Bucholtzer who himself was a man of so polite a judgement Anno Christi 1557 hee married a Wife who proved a great comfort to him and by whom hee had many children whom hee tendered exceedingly and educated them in the feare of GOD from their very infancy Hee grew so famous all over Silesia that many desired to have him for their Pastor And at last Sprottavia enjoyed him where hee continued doing much good to Anno 1573 At which time Katharine the Relict of Henrie Duke of Brunswick sent for him to her Court to whom hee went partly by reason of his great engagements to that Family but especially because hee enjoyed not his health in Sprottavia The yeare after this pious Lady dyed and then hee was called to Eleutheropolis by Euphemia the Wife of Sir Fabian Belloquert Hee preached there in the great Church to which the Citizens flocked exceedingly insomuch as when that pious and illustrious Ernest Prince of Anhalt sent for him and profered him an honourable stipend he refused to leave his place Hee had an excellent sweetness and dexterity in Preaching was of a sound judgement and holy life His Sermons were so piercing that he never preached but hee wrought wonderfully upon the affections of his hearers If any were cast downe under the sence of sinne and wrath hee exceedingly comforted them If any were troubled with tentations and afflictions he raised them up c. Hee had a lively voice lively eye lively hand and such were all his gestures His Ministrie was so gratefull that his hearers were never wearie or thought his Sermons too long He was full of self-denyall insomuch as that excellent Lady Katherine of Brandenburg used to say That whereas all the rest of her Courtlers and Family were alwaies craving something of her Bucholtzer on the contrary never asked her for the worth of a farthing yea that he refused gifts when they were prefered to him preferring kindnesse before the gift and the fruit of his Ministry before the reward of it He was so humble that when his friends blamed him for living in so obscure a place whilst he taught Schoole hee told them that hee preferred it before a Kingdome Hee could never endure to heare himselfe commended and if his friends in their Letters had written any thing to his praise hee could not read it with patience sed terreri so laudationibus illis tanquam fulminibus dicebat qui nihil in se magni videret c. His candor was such that hee never spake or wrote any thing but from his heart Hee never read or heard any thing from others but hee made a candid construction of it His care in his publick Ministry was to avoid those questions that doe but gender unto strife and to instruct his auditors how to live well and die well Some blamed him of cowardise for that being endowed by God with such excellent abilities yet would he never enter into the lists with the frantick adversaries of those times but the true reason was because hee alwaies affected peace having no delight in wrangling which caused him to say to a friend Desis disputare coepi supputare quoniam illud dissipationem hoc collectionem significat Besides hee saw that the greatest Antagonists to the Churches peace had not so much as one spark of Grace in them And that there came no profit but much hunt to the Church of Christ by those continual quarrels amongst Divines Hee spent his spare hours in reading Ecclesiasticall and Prophane Histories and profited so much thereby that one affirmed in writing Universam antiquitatem in Bucholtzeri pâctusculâ latuisse recenditam that all Antiquity lay hid in his breast He finding some great errors in Funcclus his Chronology set himself to write one which with indefatigable paines hee brought to perfection Whilst he thus publickly and privately busied himself he fell into a grievous disease and just about the same time he lost his faithful and beloved yoake-fellow that was the Mother of nine children but upon his recovery hee married another with whom hee lived not long before the Lord put an end to all his labours and sorrows Anno Christi 1584 and of his Age fifty five He used often to meditate upon death and writing to a friend in his old age he had this expression It hath alwaies formerly bee my care in what corner soever I have been to bee ready when God called to say with Abraham Behold my Lord here I am But now above all other things I should be most willing so to answer if he would please to call me out of this miserable life into his glorious Kingdome For truly I desire nothing so much as the happy and blessed hour of death c. He made his own Epitaph to be set upon his Tomb which was this Hic pie Christe tuo recubas quasita cruere Inque tuo gremio parvula dermit ovis Reddidit hac animam balanti vâce fidelem Huic Pastor dicas intret âvile meum In his sicknesse he caused himself to be carried to Church where he preached his last Sermon about the blessed departure of a faithfull man out of this life which he performed with such excellent words and soul-ravishing affections that the Auditors said Bucholtzer had wont to exceed our other Preachers but now hee hath exceeded himself He wrote Chronologicam Isagogen Indicem Chronologicum quem Scultetus auxit
Catalogum Consulum Romanorum alia opuscula Item de consolatione decumbentium De idea boni Pastoris De concionibus Funebribus M. CHEMNICIVS The Life of Martin Chemnisius who died A no Christi 1586. MArtin Chemnisius was born at Britza in Old March Anno Christi 1522 of honest but mean Parents so that his father being poor he met with many impediments to discourage and hinder him in Learning yet bearing a great love to it by his exceeding industry he overcame all difficulties and after some progresse at home he went to Magdeburg where he studied the Tongues and Arts. And from thence to Frankfurt upon Oder where he studied Philosophy under his Kinsman George Sabinâ and after hee had spent some time there he went to Wittenberg where he prosecuted his former studies together with the Mathematicks under Melancthou and other Professors From thence he went to Sabinum in Borussia where he taught School and commenced Master of Arts and Anno Christi 1552 he was made the Princes Library-keeper and had a competent subsistence in the Court. At that time he wholly applied himself to the study of Divinity By reason of his knowledge and skill in the Mathematicks and Astronomy he was very dear to the Duke of Borussia and for the same cause John Marquesse of Brandenburg favoured him very much Yea by his modest and sincere carriage hee procured much favour from the Courtiers Anno Christi 1555 Chemnistus being desirous after three years stay in the Court to return to the Universities for the perfecting of his studies was rewarded by Prince Albert with ample Letters of commendation and so dismissed After which he went again to Wittenberg where he sojourned with Melancthon and was imployed by him publickly to read Common places From thence after a while he was sent to Brunople in Saxonie by the Senate and made Pastor which place he discharged with singular fidelity and approbation for the space of thirty years partly as Pastor and partly as Superintendent and commenced Doctor in Divinity at Rostoch serving the Church with great faithfulness and commendations both by preaching and reading Lectures Many Princes and Commonwealths made use of his advice and assistance in Ecclesiastical affairs He took great pains in asserting the Truth against the adversaries of it as his excellent Exameâ of the Tridentine Council shews At last being worn out with study writing preaching c. he resigned up his spirit unto God Anno Christi 1586 and of his age 63. He is said by one to be Philosophus summus Theologus profundissimus neque veritatis bonarumque artium studio neque laude officit facile cuiquam secundus His Workes are these De origine Jesuitarum Theologiae Jesuitarum praecipua capita Explicatio Doctrinae de duabus in Christo naturis Fundamenta sanae Doctrinae Enchiridion de praecipuis caelestis Doctrinae capitibus De peccato Origin contra Manichaeos Examen decretorum Concilii Tridentini Concio de Baptismo Harmonia Evangelica The Life of Rodolphus Gualter who died Anno Christi 1586. ROdolphus Gualter was born in Zurick An. Christi 1519. When he first applyed his mind to the study of humane Arts and Tongue hee had such an happy wit that he was inferiour to none of his fellows in Poetry and Oratory and being afterwards admitted into the University he became famous first for his knowledge in the Arts and afterwards of Divinity He was chosen Pastor in that City where first he drew his vitall breath neither were which chose him deceived in their expectation for he proved an admirable instrument of Gods glory and their good discharging his place with fingular industry diligence and fidelity not onely by his frequent publick preaching but by his learned private writings as his Homilies upon much of the Old and New Testament do sufficiently declare And having governed and sed that Church for above forty years together he died in a good old age Anno Christi 1586 and of his Life seventie four Scripsit Homilias in Johannis Epistolas In canâcum Zachariae De Nativitate pueritia educatione Domini De servitnte peccati libertate fidelium De origine prastantia authoritate S. Scripturae In 12 Prophetas minores In Maâthaum Marcum Lucam Johannem Acta Apostol Epist. ad Romanes ad Corinthios ad Galatas In Esaiam With many other Works set down by Verheiden The Life of Ludovicus Lavater who died A no Christi 1586. LUdovicus Lavator was born in Zurick a famous City of the Helvetians and having drunk in the first Rudiments of Learning became famous by his diligence in the Schooles and his excellent wit insomuch as Bullinger gave his daughter in marriage to him And though a Prophet be not without honour but in his own country yet was he chosen a Pastor in that City and made a Lecturer in the Schooles and hee taught and illustrated both faithfully by his Ministry and Writings He published manys his Father-in-law Bullingers Works And having spent himelf in the Work of the Lord and service of his Church he quietly resigned up his spirit into the hands of his heavenly Father Anno Christi 1586. He wrote Commentaries upon Joshuah both books of the Chronicles Ruth Ester Job Proverbs and Ezekiel Besides his Historia de ortu progressu controversiae Sacramentariae Tractatus de spectris lemuribus fragoribus variisque praesagitionibus quae plerumque obitum hominum magnas clades praecedunt With divers others mentioned in particular by Verheiden GAS. OLEVIAN The Life of Gaspar Olevian who died A no Christi 1587. GAspar Olevian was born in Trevir Anno Christi 1536. His Fathers name was Gerhard a Baker in that City and Master of his Company but this Gasper was carefully brought up in learning by his Grandfather who set him to severall Schooles in that City and at thirteen years old hee was sent to Paris to study the Civill Law from thence also hee went to the Universities of Orleance and Biturg where hee heard the most famous Lawyers of those times He joyned himself also to the Congregation of Protestants which met privately together in both those Cities In Biturg he was admitted into the Order of Lawyers after the solemn manner of the University being made Doctor Anno Christi 1557. About which time there studyed in that Universitie under Nicholas Judex the young Prince Palatine sonne to Frederick the third afterwards Elector And Olevian being very intimate with Judex went one day after dinner to the River Lieg hard by the City together with him and the young Prince and when they came thither they found some young Noble Germans that were students there going into a boat who desired the Prince and his Tutor to goe over the River with them But Olevian perceiving that they had drunk too freely diswaded them from venturing themselves amongst
for theft was hanged by the heels with his head downward in a village hard by having not seen that kind of punishment he went to the place where he found him hanging between two Dogs that were alwaies snatching at him tearing and eating his flesh The poor wretch repeated in Hebrew some verses of the Psalms wherein hee cried to God for mercy whereupon Andreas went nearer to him and instructed him in the Principles of the Christian Religion about Christ the Messiah c. and exhorted him to believe in him and it pleased God so to blesse his exhortation to him that the Dogs gave over tearing of his flesh and the poor Jew desired him to procure that he might be taken down and baptised and hung by the neck for the quicker dispatch which was done accordingly The same year Charles Marquesse of Baden beganne a Reformation of the Churches within his dominions and to assist him therein he sent for divers Divines and amongst the rest for Dr Andreas by whose help he cast out the Popish Religion and Ceremonies and established the true Religion according to the Augustane Confession The like he did in Brugoia About the same time also Doctor Andreas was sent for by the Senate of the Imperiall City of Rottenburg because the Pastors in their jurisdiction used divers Ceremonies so that they feared least contentions should arise about the Substantials in Divinity whereupon by the advice of Andreas they were united in one Confession of Faith consonant to the Word of God and certain Ceremonies were agreed on which all the Ministers should unanimously use for the time to come Yea he was of such esteem that he was sent for by divers Princes to reform the Churches in their jurisdictions Hee was present at divers Synods and Disputations about Religion Hee travelled many thousands of miles being usually attended but with one servant yet it pleased God that in all his journyes he never met with any affront Anno Christi 1552 the Chancellors place in the University of Tubing was voyd by the death of Beurlin whereupon Prince Christopher consulting with the Heads of the University made Doctor Andreas Chancellor in his stead About which time he was sent into Thuringia to compose the difference between the Divines of Jenes Flacius Illiricus aud Strigelius about the power of Free-will Anno Christi 1580 came forth the book of Concord which was approved and subscribed by three Electors twenty one Princes twenty two Counts four Barons thirty five Imperiall Cities and eight thousand Ministers This was set on foot by the Elector of Saxony but carried on by the excessive labours of Doctor Andreas who carried it from one to another resolving all doubts and answering all objections till he had got all those subscriptions The year before his death hee used often to say that hee should not live long that hee was weary of this life and much desired to be dissolved and to be with Christ which was best of all Falling sick he sent for James Herbrand saying I exspect that after my death many adversaries will rise up to asperse me and therefore I sent for thee to hear the confession of my faith that so thou mayst testifie for me when I am dead and gone that I died in the true Faith The same Confession also he made afterwards before the Pastors and Deacons of Tubing The night before his death he slept partly upon his bed and partly in his chair When the clock struck fix in the morning he said My hour draws near He gave thanks to God for bestowing Christ for revealing his Will in his Word for giving him Faith and the like benefits and when he was ready to depart he said Lord into thy hands I commend my spirit and so he fell asleep in the Lord Anno Christi 1590 and of his age 61. In the discharge of his office he never spared any labour hee never shrunk under any trouble He wrote many Epistles to severall men upon several arguments A learned and rich man of Tubing after Doctor Andreas his death said that he had in his Library fifteen hundred bookes of his writing upon severall Arguments H. ZANCHY The Life of Hierom Zanchius who dyed A no Christi 1590. HIerom Zanchius was born at Atzanum in Italy Anno 1516. His Father was a Lawyer who brought him up at School and when Zanchy was but twelve years old his Father died of the Plague Anno Christi 1528 at which time Zanchy was at School where he was instructed in the Liberall Sciences When he came to the age of fifteen years being now deprived of both his parents observing that divers of his kindred were of the order of Canons Regular amongst whom he judged that there were divers learned men being exceeding desirous of Learning he entered into that Order where hee lived about twenty years and studied Arts and School-Divinity together with the Tongues He was very familiar with Celsus Martiningus joyning studies with him was a diligent hearer of Peter Martyrs publick Lectures at Luca upon the Epistle to the Romans and of his private Lectures upon the Psalmes which he read to his Canons This drew his mind to an earnest study of the Scriptures He read also the Fathers especially St. Augustine with the most learned Interpreters of the Word of God And thereupon he preached the Gospel for some years in the purest manner that the time and place would suffer And when Peter Martyr left Italy so that his godly Disciples could no longer live in safety there much lesse have liberty of Preaching about twenty of them in the space of one year left their station and followed their Master into Germany amongst whom Zaâchy was one Being thus as he used to say delivered out of the Babylonish captivity anno Christi 1550. He went first into Rhetia where he staied about eight moneths and from thence to Geneva and after nine moneths stay there he was sent for by Peter Martyr into England but when he came to Strasborough he staid there to supply Hedio's room newly dead who read Divinity in the Schooles which was in the yeare 1553. He lived and taught Divinity in that City about 11 yeares sometimes also reading Aristotle in the Schools yet not without opposition old James Sturmius the Father of that University being dead Yea his adversaries proceeded so far as to tell Zanchy that if hee would continue to read there he must subscribe the Augustaâe Confession to which hee yeelded for peace-sake with this proviso modò Orthodoxâe intelligatur declaring his judgement also about Christs presence in the Sacrament wherewith they were satisfied And thus he continued to the year 1563 being very acceptable to the good and a shunner of strife and a lover of concord At the end whereof the Divines and Professors there accused him for differing from them in some points about
the Lords Supper the Ubiquity of Christs Body the use of Images in the Churches Predestination and the Perseverance of the Saints About these things they raised contentions which were partly occasioned by the book of Heshufius printed at this time at Strasborough About the Lords Supper and it came to this pass that they put Zanchy to his choice either to depart of himself or else they would remove him from his place And though many waies were tried for the composing of this difference yet could it not be effected But it pleased God that about this time there came a Messenger to signifie to him that the Pastor of the Church of Clavenna in the borders of Italy being dead he was chosen Pastor in his room wherefore obtaining a dismission from the Senate of Strasborough he went thither and after he had preached about two moneths the Pestilence brake forth in that Town so violently that in seven moneths space there dyed twelve hundred men yet he continued there so long as he had any Auditors but when most of the Citizens had removed their families into an high mountain not farre off he went thither also and spent above three moneths in Preaching Meditation and Prayer and when the Plague was stayed hee returned into the City again And thus he continued in that place almost four years to the great profit of many but not without afflictions to himself Anno Christi 1568 hee was sent for by Frederick the third Elector Palatine to Heidleberg to be Professor and was entertained with all love and respect where he succeeded Ursin and at his entrance made an excellent Oration about the preserving and adhering to the meer Word of God alone The same year he was made Doctor in Divinity About which time that excellent Prince Frederick who was a zealous promoter of the Doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles required him to explicate the Doctrine of one God and three Persons to confirme it and to confute the Doctrine of those which at that time denyed the Deity of Christ and the Holy Ghost in Poland and Transilvania and to answer their arguments whereupon he wrote those learned Tractates De Dei naturâ De tribus Elohim c. In which book the whole Orthodox Doctrine about that great Mystery is so unfolded and confirmed that all adversaries may for ever be ashamed which goe about to contradict the same Laelius Socinus and other of his complices that defended the Heresies of Servetus tried by divers waies and reasons to have drawn him to their opinion but when they found him wholly estranged from them and a zealous Defendor of the Truth against their Blasphemies they renounced all friendship with him and left him for which he gave hearty thanks unto God and our Lord Jesus Christ. He taught in that University tenne yeares till the death of Prince Frederick Then by Prince John Cassimire he was removed to his new University at Neostade where he spent above seven years in reading Divinity Though in the year 1578 he had been earnestly solicited to come to the University of Leiden then newly begunne as also the yeare after the Citizens of Antwerp called him to be their Pastor yet the Prince would by no means part with him knowing that hee could not bee missed in his University The Prince Elector Palatine Lodwick being dead and Prince Cassimire being for the time made Administrator of his estate the University was returned from Neostad to Heidleberg and Zanchy being now grown old had a liberal stipend setled upon him by Prince Cassimire whereupon going to Heidleberg to visit his friends he fell sick and quietly departed in the Lord Anno Christi 1590 and of his age seventie five He was excellently versed in the writings of the ancient Fathers and Philosophers he was of singular modesty and very studious to promote the peace of the Church His Workes are well known being usually bound up in three volumes His Commentaries are upon Hosea Ephes. Phil. Col. Thess. and John His other works are Miscellanea Theologica De tribus Elohim De natura Dei De operibus Dei De Incarnatione Filii Dei De sacra Scriptura Compendium praecipuorum capitum doctrinae Christianae De Religione Christiana c. The Life of Anthony Sadeel who died A no Christi 1591. ANthony Sadeel was born at Cabot upon the confines of Savoy and France not far from Geneva Anno Christi 1534 and his Father dying whilst he was young his Mother brought him up in learning and sent him to Paris where he was educated under Mathias Granian from whom also he first received the seeds of true Religion From thence after a while he removed to Tholous where falling into the society of some godly students of the Law it pleased God that by degrees he attained to the knowledge of the Truth and began to abstain from the defilements of Popery whereupon hee went to Geneva where he was further instructed in the truth and was much holpen and encouraged by Calvin and Beza But after a while his Uncle dying and leaving a large inheritance some contention arose about it whereupon Sadeel was sent for home and went to Paris about that businesse At which time a private Congregation was gathered by John Riparius who shortly after suffered Martyrdom into which number at his request Sadeel was admitted in whom there shon forth a great ingenuity with an incredible love to the holy Scriptures And when afterwards that Church was encreased they sent to Geneva for a Pastor who sent them Collongius a man famous for piety and wisdom who when he was come calling together the young men he exhorted them to apply themselves to the study of Divinity which afterwards turned to the great good of the French Churches and amongst others Sadeel faithfully promised to apply himselfe thereto And Collongius beganne to frame and fashion the minds of those young men by private exercises Amongst whom Sadeel most excelled there appearing no light or unbeseeming carriage in him Yea in those his young years he gave signs of au excellent mind that was fit to undertake great things In so much as being scarce twenty yeares old he was by approbation of the whole Church chosen one of the Pastors And though in regard of his great parentage hee was not without hope of attaining to great riches and dignity whereas entering into this course of life he exposed himself to labours dangers banishment and grievous death in those bloody times yet none of these hindered but that he chearfully undertook the office he was chosen to which was to be Pastor of the Church in Paris The year after fell out that horrid violence offered to this Church when they were met together to hear the Word and receive the Sacrament where above 150 of them were laid hold of and cast into prison but by a miracle of
with the stone and troubled with weaknesse of stomach yet did he not intermit his labours and care of the Church In the Synod of Taoduâ where the King himself was present Rollock by the suffrages of all was chosen Moderator where the too severe Articles of Perth were qualified and when the King moved that the Synod should choose some Commissioners to take care of the Church in the intervall of National Assemblies it was readily assented to and Rollock was one of the first that was assigned that office Anno Christi 1598 his disease so encreased upon him that he was confined to his house but after a while his intimate friend William Scot perswaded him to go into the Country where was a thinner and more healthfull air which accordingly he did and seemed at first to be better but presently his disease returned with more violence so that he was forced to keep his bed whereupon he set his house in order and his wife after ten years barrennesse being with child he commended to the care of his friends Two Noblemen Patrick Galloway and David Lindsey coming to visit him he professed to them the hearty love which he had alwaies born to the King withall requesting them from him to go to him and to entreat him in his name to take care of Religion and to persevere in it to the end as hitherto he had done not suffering himself to be diverted from it either under the hope of enlarging his dominions or by any other subtill device of wicked men and that he would reverence esteem the Pastors of the Church as it was meet For saith he that Ministry of Christ though in the judgement of man it seem low and base yet at length it shall shine with great glory When the Pastors of Edenborough came to him he made an excellent exhortation to them and profession of his sincerity and integrity in his place that God had called him to When the night grew on his death also seemed to approach which he perceiving made such a divine and heavenly speech as astonished the hearers And when the Physitians were preparing Physick for him he said Tu Deus medeberis mihi thou Lord wilt heal me Then he prayed fervently that God would pardon his sins for Christs sake professing that all other things how great soever they seemed to others yet he accounted them all but dung and drosse in comparison of the excellency of Christs crosse Praying further that he might have an happy departure and enjoy Gods presence which he had often breathed after saying I have hitherto seen but darkly in the glasse of thy Word O Lord grant that I may enjoy the eternall fruition of thy countenance which I have so much desired and longed for Then did he make such an admirable speech about the Resurrection and Life Eternal as if so be he already been translated into heaven Then giving his hand to all that were present like old Jacob he blessed them all adding to his benediction exhortations according to every mans quality or office Yet that night after he slept better then was expected The day after when the City Magistrates came to see him he spake to them to be very careful of the University desiring to choose into his room Henry Charter a man every way fit for that employment He commended to their care also his wife professing that he had not laid up one penny of his stipend and therefore hee hoped they would provide for her To these requests the Magistrates assented promising faithfully to perform them Then did he intreat the Professors of Philosophy that they would be carefull and diligent in the performance of their duty and that they would be obedient to his successor after which he said I blesse God I have all my senses entire but my heart is in heaven And Lord Jesus why shouldst not thou have it it hath been my care all my life long to dedicate it to thee I pray thee take it that it may live with thee for ever When he had thus spoken he fell into a slumber out of which when he awaked he breathed earnestly to be dissolved and to be with Christ saying Come Lord Jesus put an end to this miserable life hast Lord and tarry not Christ hath redeemed me not unto a frail and momentary but unto eternall life Come Lord Jesus and give mee that life for which thou hast redeemed me Then some of the standers by bewaile their condition when he should be taken away to whom he said I have gone through all the degrees of this life and now am come to my end why should I goe back againe O Lord help me that I may go through this last degree with thy assistance Lead me to that glory which I have seen as through a glass O that I were with thee And when some told him that the next day was the Sabbath he said Thy Sabbath O Lord shall begin my eternall Sabbath My eternall Sabbath shall take its beginning from thy Sabbath The next morning feeling his approaching death he sent for Master Belcanqual to pray with him who in his prayer desired the Lord if he pleased to prolong his life for the good of his Church whereupon he said I am weary of this life all my desire is that I may enjoy that celestiall life that is hid with Christ in God And a while after he prayed again saying Hast Lord and doe not tarry I am a weary both of nights and daies Come Lord Jesus that I may come to thee Break these eye-strings and give me others I desire to be dissolved and to be with thee Hast Lord Iesus and defer no longer Go forth my weak life and let a better succeed O Lord Jesus thrust thy hand into my body and take my soul to thy self O my sweet Lord set this soul of mine free that it may enjoy her husband And when one of the standers by said Sir Let nothing trouble you for now your Lord makes hast he said O welcome message would to God my funerals might be to morrow And thus continued he in such heavenly prayers and speeches til he quietly resigned up his spirit unto God Anno Christi 1598 and of his age 43. Reliquit Commentarios in aliquot Psalmos selectos In Danielem In S. Johannem eum ejus harmonia in passionem victoriam Dominicam In Epist. ad Ephesios Coloss. Thess. Galat. Scripsit Analysin in Epist. ad Romanos ad Heb. tractaum de vocatione efficaci c. The Life of Nicolas Hemingius who died A no Christi 1600. NIcolas Hemingius was born at Loland in Denmark Anno Christi 1513 of obscure but honest parents but his Father dying when he was young his Uncle who was a Black-smith brought him up carefully in learning placing him in the School at Nystadia where he continued ten yeares Then in the School of
the Warres in Germany breaking forth under Charles the fifth the Universitie of Wittenberg was dissipated by reason of the same whereupon Chytraeus went to Heidleberg where he studied Hebrew and from thence went to Tubing where hee applyed himselfe to the study of the Mathematicks But when Prince Maurice of Saxonie had restored the Universitie and called back Melancthon hee presently returned to Wittenberg where he buckled close to his former studyes fearing the like interruption againe And Anno Christi 1548 hee beganne privately to read to young Students by which means having gotten some money in his purse hee resolved to travell into Italie and other parts that so hee might see those famous places which hee had often read of and grow into acquaintance with the eminent men of those times For which end having gotten him a faithful companion Andrew Martin of Rostoch he travelled through most parts of Italy And being returned to Wittenberg Melancthon was requested to send two learned men to Rostoch for the advancement of that University whereupon he commended John Aurifaber and Chytraeus to them who accordingly went thither ând beganne their Lectures to the great satisfaction of the Auditors and in a short time Chytraeus grew so famous for his learning virtue diligence and excellent dexterity in teaching that first Christian King of Denmark and afterward the Senate of Auspurg sent for him to come to them He was desired also by the University of Strasborough to succeed Hedio lately dead Also Frederick the second Prince Elector Palatine sent earnestly for him to come to Heidleberg but his Prince John Albert would by no means part with him Two yeares after he travelled into Frisland Brabant Flanders and other of the Belgick Provinces Upon his returne the Elector Palatine Otho Henry sent again for him to come to Heidleberg and the King of Denmark profered to double his stipend if hee would come to him but his answer to them both was that his Prince had dealt so friendly with him that hee could by no meanes leave him Some yeares after the Nobilitie of Madgeburg sent to request his presence and assistance in Reforming Religion and ejecting Popery from amongst them but when he could not go himself he wrote his mind fully to them about the same About that time he commenced Doctor in Divinity at the charges of his Prince Anno Christi 1565 the Senate of Stralsund sent for him to be their Superintendent and the King of Sweden also desired him to come thither but nothing would prevail to get him from Rostoch The year after his Prince took him with him to the Diet at Auspurg where matters of Religion were to be debated At which time Ambassadors came to him again from Strasborough to request his remove thither and he gave them some hope of assenting if his Princes good will could be procured but he would by no means part with him and to express his love he profered to enlarge his stipend but Chytraeus refused the same Two yeares after hee was sent for into Austria to assist them in the Reformation which they intended whither he went and gave them such full satisfaction that they sent him back with an ample testimony of his abilities and integrity When he had finished his business in Austria he tooke a journey into Hungarie where he visited many of the chiefe Cities in that Kingdom Anno Christi 1571 his Prince made him the chief Visitor of all the Churches in his Dominions Hee assisted also in the work of Reformation at Berline Then the Marquesse of Brandenburg sent for him to be the Divinity Professor at Franckfurt upon Order but could not obtain him Two years after the States of Stiria sent for him to help them in Reforming their Churches whither he went for half a year and was exceeding useful to them in that work At this return he was sent for by the Elector of Saxonie and the University of Wittenberg to be a Professor there but they could not prevaile The yeare after the Duke of Brunswick being to erect an Vniversity at Juliers sent to him to assist in making Laws for the University in choosing of Professors c. Which he dispatched to his great content Shortly after hee went to divers meetings of Divines in severall places about procuring and setling the peace of the Churches of Christ. Whilst he was at Rostoch he went over in his Lectures the greatest part of the Old and New Testament and wrote divers other learned books When he grew into yeares he began to be diseased and sometimes was confined to his bed yet neither there would he be idle but upon the least intermission of his pain went on with his Exposition of the two and thirtieth Psalm which he had begun before And after that in Commenting upon the Epistle to the Romans But his disease increasing whereby he discerned the approaching of his end hee made a confession of his Faith received the Sacrament of the Lords Supper and not long after quietly slept in the Lord Anno Christi 1600 and of his age seventy Whilst he lay sick in his bed if any present had discoursed about a controversal point raising himself up he would call to them to speake out saying that hee should dye with the more comfort if he could learn any new thing before his departure He was a truly good man who directed all his employment not to his private gain and glory but to the glory of God and to the furtherance of the salvation of others souls He obtained of his Princes of Megapoll to bestow 3500 crowns of yearly revenues upon the University of Rostoch He was alwaies ready to assist with his counsell any that repaired to him He was very courteous and affable exceeding patient under great afflictions and perswaded others for peace-sake to put up many wrongs He often turned a deaf eare to calumnies and lies using to say Qui nescit ferre calumnias obtrectationes convitia injurias ille vivere nescit He knows not how to live that knows not how to bear wrongs c. He had these wishes often in his mouth Utinam ambitio avaritia ex animis hominum radicitùs tolleretur utinam publicae tranquilitatis causa magni viri remitterent invicem simultates utinam reges ac potentes rerum Domini majorem Eclesiae ac scholarum curam susciperent c. In difficult matters he was never rash to declare his judgement His private life was very exemplary by reason of his indefatigable studies his diligence in his office his piety modesty sobriety chastity liberality and other virtues He was of a melancholly temper and most desirous of learning Scripsit multa Theologica Philologica Historica quae hic recensere nimis longum foret Some of his Works are mentioned before The Life of Alexander Nowel who died A no Christi 1601. ALexander
received such abunâdant satisfaction by converse with him that ever after they held corespondence with him Shortly after Lodwick the Elector Palatine dying Caâimire was made Guardian to his son during his minority whereupon he sent for Tossan to Heidleberg that by his advise and counsell he might reform the Churches But when he came thither his adversaries loured exceedingly upon him and raised many false reports but he remembred that of âeneca vir bonus quod honestè se facturum put averit faciet etiam si periculosum sit ab honesto nullâ re deteârebitur ad turpia nulla spe invitabitur An honest man will do that which he judges right though it be dangerous He will not be deterred from that which is honest by any meanes hee will be allured to that which is dishonest by no means His adversaries in their Pulpits daily cryed out of strange Heresies that he and his party held But Prince Casimire first sent for them to argue the case before him and then appointed a Publick disputation wherein they could prove none of those things which they charged them with whereupon the Prince required them to abstain from such accusations for the time to come and to study peace But nothing would prevail to allay their spleene till they were removed into other Countries The care of choosing Pastors to the Churches Tutors to the young Prince Schoolmasters and Professors to the University was divolved upon Tossan all which he discharged with much fidelity Anno Christi 1586. James Grynaeus the chiefe Professor in Heidleberg was called home to Basil in whose roome Tossanus though very unwilling was substituted and therefore to satisfie the Statutes of the University he commenced Doctor in Divinity But as his cares and paines increased so his sorrow also partly by reason of an unhappy quarrel that fell out between the Students and Citizens of Heidleberg partly by the death of his dear wife with whom he had lived twenty two years in wedlock which fell out in the year 1587. and therefore Anno Christi 1588 he married again and disposed of his daughters also in marriage to godly and learned men Not long after Prince Casimire died which much renewed his griefe But Frederick the fourth beeing now come to his age was admitted into the number of the Electors and was very carefull of the good both of the Church and University Anno Christi 1594 Tossan was chosen Rector of the University of Heidleberg and the year after there brake out a greivous Pestilence in that Citie which drove away the students But Tossan remained Preaching comfortably to his people and expounding the Penitentiall Psalmes to those few students that yet remained Anno Christi 1601 hee being grown very old and infirme laid down his Professors place though the University much opposed and earnestly sollicited him to retaine it still but God purposed to give him a better rest after all his labors and sorrows For having in his Lectures expounded the book of Job to the end of the thirtie one Chapter he concluded with those words The words of Job are ended Presently after falling sicke hee comforted himself with these texts of Scripture I have fought the good fight of Faith c. Bee thou faithfull unto the death and I will give thee the crown of life Wee have a City not made with hands eternall in the heavens and many other such like Hee also made his will and set down therein a good confession of his Faith and so departed quietly in the Lord An. Christi 1602 and of his age sixty one He was a very holy man exemplary in his life had an excellent wit strong memorie Eloquent in speech was very charitable and chearfull in his conversation and kept correspondence with all the choisest Divines in those times He wrote many things which were afterwards digested into Tomes and some of his works were published after his death by his Sonne I. WHITGIFT The Life of William Perkins who died A no Christi 1602. WIlliam Perkins was born at Marston in Warwickshire Anno 1558 and brought up at School from which he went to Christ's Colledge in Cambridg where he profited so much in his Studies that having got the grounds of all the liberall Arts he was chosen Fellow of that Colledge in the 24th year of Queen Elisabeth He was very wild in his youth but the Lord in mercie was pleased to reclaim him that he might be an eminent instrument of good in his Church When he first entred into the Ministââe beeing moved with pittie towards their souls he prevailed with the jaylor to bring the Prisoners fettered as they were to the Shirchouse hard by the Prison where he Preached every Lord's daie to them and it pleased God so to prosper and succeed his labors amongst them that he was the happy instrument of converting many of them unto God Freeing them thereby from the Captivity of sin which was their worst bondage This his practice being once known many resorted to that place out of the neighbor-Parishes to hear him So that from thence he was chosen to Saint Andrews Parish in Cambridge where he Preached all his life after His Sermons were not so plain but the piously learned did admire them nor so learned but the plain did understand them Hee brought the Schools into the Pulpit and unshelling their controversies out of their hard School-tearms made thereof plain and wholsom meat for his people He was an excellent Chirurgion at the jointing of a broken Soul and at stating of a doubtfull conscience so that the afflicted in spirit came far and near to him and received much satisfaction and comfort by him In his Sermons he used to pronounce the word Damn with such an Emphasis as left a dolefull Echo in his auditors ears a good while after And when hee was Catechist in Christ's Colledge in expounding the Commandements he applied them so home to the conscience as was able to make his hearers hearts fall down and their haires almost to stand upright But in his old age he was more miâdâ often professing that to Preach mercy was the proper office of the Ministers of the Gospel In his life he was so ãâã and spotlesse that Malice was afraid to bite at his credit into which she knew that her teeth could not enter He had a rare felicity in reading of books and as it were but turning them over would give an exact account of all that was considerable therein He perused books so speedily that one would think he read nothing and yet so acurately that one would think he read all Hee was of a cheerfull nature and pleasant disposition Somewhat reserved to strangers but when once acquainted very familiar Besides his frequent Preaching he wrote many excellent books both Treatises and Commentaries which for their worth were many of them translated into
Latine and sent beyond sea where to this day they are highly prized and much set by yea some of them are translated into French High-Dutch and Low-Dutch and his Reformed Catholick was translated into Spanish also yet no Spaniard ever since durst take up the Gantlet of Defiance cast down by this Champion He died in the forty fourth year of his age of a violent fit of the Stone Anno Christi 1602 being born the first and dying the last year of Queen Elizabeth He was of a ruddy complexion fat and corpulent Lame of his right hand yet this Ehud with a left-handed pen did stab the Romish cause as one saith Dextera quantumvis fuerat tibi manca docendi Pollebas mirâ dexteritate tamen Though nature thee of thy right hand bereft Right-well thou writest with thy hand that 's left He was buried with great solemnity at the sole charges of Christs Colledge the University and Town striving which should expresse more sorrow at his Funeral Doctor Montague Preached his Funeral Sermon upon that Text Moses my servant is dead Master Perkins his manner was to go with the Prisoners to the plaââ of execution when they were condemned and what ãâã his labours were crowned with may appeare by this example A young lusty fellow going up the ladder discovered an extraordinary lumpishnesse and dejection of spirit and when he turned himselfe at the upper round to speak to the people he looked with a rueful and heavy countenance as if he had been half dead already whereupon Master Perkins laboured to chear up his spirits and finding him still in an Agony and distresse of minde he said unto him What man what is the matter with thee art thou afraid of death Ah no said the Prisoner shaking his head but of a worser thing Saist thou so said Master Perkins come down again man and thou shalt see what Gods grace will doe to strengthen thee Whereupon the prisoner coming down Master Perkins took him by the hand made him kneel down with himself at the ladder foot hand in hand when that blessed man of God made such an effectuall prayer in confession of sinnes and aggravating thereof in all circumstances with the horrible and eternal punishment due to the same by Gods justice as made the poor prisoner burst out into abundance of tears and Master Perkins finding that he had brought him low enough even to hell gates he proceeded to the second part of his prayer and therein to shew him the Lord Jesus the Saviour of all penitent and believing sinners stretching forth his blessed hand of mercy and power to save him in that distressed estate and to deliver him from all the powers of darkness which he did so sweetly press with such heavenly art and powerfull words of grace upon the soul of the poor prisoner as cheared him up again to look beyond death with the eyes of Faith to see how the black lines of all his sinnes were crossed and cancelled with the red lines of his crucified Saviours precious blood so graciously applying it to his wounded conscience as made him break out into new showres of tears for joy of the inward consolation which he found and gave such expression of it to the beholders as made them life up their hands and praise God to see such a blessed change in him who the prayer being ended rose from his knees chearfully and went up the Ladder again so comforted and tooke his death with such patience and alacrity as if he actually saw himself delivered from the hell which he feared before and heaven opened for the receiving of his soul to the great rejoycing of the beholders His works are printed in three volumes F. JVNIVS The Life of Francis Junius who died A no Christi 1602. FRancis Junius was born in France of a Noble Family An. Christi 1545. His Grandfather was William Lord of Boffardineria who for his valiant service in the wars of Navar was rewarded by King Lewis the twelfth with that honour His Father was Denis who in his youth studied Law in the most famous Universities of France His Mother was Jacoba Hugalda which bore nine children four sons and five daughters amongst which this our Francis was born in Biturg His Mother being sickly the child was very weak not likely to live one houâ and therefore was hastily baptised And during his childhood this weakness continued which falling into his left legge caused a soare which was difficultly healed When hee was five yeares old his Father beganne to teach him to read as his leisure would permit At six yeares old he began to write and to discover his ingenuity being of a pleasant disposition very desirous of honour quickly angry and for his age of a grave judgement Hee did eat his meat eagerly was very shame-fac'd which continued with him all his life after Hee had the publick Schoolmasters for his instructers besides others that privately taught him at home At twelve years old he attended the publick Lectures and began to study the Civill Law and his Father much encouraged and assisted him therein Yet one thing much impeded him in his first studies For being put forth to School hee met with harsh and severe Masters which used to beat him in a most cruel and barbarous manner yet his love to learning made him conceal it from his friends When he had studied Law about two years he was sent to Lions to have gone with the French Ambassador to Constantinople but coming too late after the Ambassadors departure he staid and studied there turning over many bookes whereof in that place were great plenty But there he met with great temptations to evill a woman and a young mayd labouring upon every opportunity to draw him to lewdnesse This much troubled him having been brought up religiously by his parents whereupon he thought of returning home but his fathers authority who commanded his stay there altered those thoughts and so through Gods assistance he resisted that temptation But presently fell into another For as he was reading over Tully de Legibus there came a certain man to him using the words of the Epicure nihil cur are Deum nec alieni that God cares for nothing And he so pressed it with such subtile arguments that hee prevailed with him to suck in that damnable principle and so he gave up himself to vile pleasures for a year and somewhat more But the Lord suffered him not to continue longer therein For first in a tumult in Lions the Lord wonderfully delivered him from imminent death so that he was compelled to acknowledge a divine providence therein And his Father hearing the dangerous waies that his son was misled into sent for him home where he carefully and holily instructed him and caused him to read over the new Testament of wich himselfe writes thus novum Testamentum aperio exhibet se mihi
quieted in her conscience and went away satisfied to the great astonishment of all her neighbors About this time the peace of the Church at Lâmburg was much disturbed by the Anabaptists and Papists Junius went often to the Anabaptists and reasoned with them peaceably and calmly whereupon they quickly decreased both in their number and credit But the Papists cast aspersions upon him to make him odious and amongst the rest that he was a Monster and had cloven feet They came also to Church to disturb him in his Sermons but notwithhanding all their endeavours his auditory stil increased And when they had challenged him to Disputations they allwaies pretended one excuse or other when the time came to evade the same But from secret plots they brake out into open violence where upon the Magistrates perswaded him to retire himself from the danger and in a dark rainy night they conveyed him âât of the City and so he went to Heidleberg where he was courteously entertained by Prince Frederick the third and afterward chosen Pastor of the Church of Schaenavia which was near unto that City But the year after the pestilence greatly afflicting âhat Church he was sent though against his will to the Camp of the Prince of Orange who was going into the Low-countries and when meeting with many inconveniencies in that employment he would have returned into Germany the Pr. of Orange would not consent but detained him to preach still to him yet at last he returned to Heidleberg and endeavoured to compose some differences that in his absence were sprung up in the Church of Schaenavìa The Prince Elector Palatine often perswaded him to goe back to the Prince of Orange and he as often excused it but at last he commanded him peremptorily to goe but it so fell out that as he was going over the bridge of Heidleberg he was grievously bitten in his right leg by a dog and so he obtained leave to stay He continued there to the year 1592 and assisted Tremelius in Translating the Bible out of Hebrew The Elector being dead hee was sent for by Prince Cassimire to Neostade and afterwards was sent for by the same Cassimire being Guardian to the young Prince to Heidleberg again Yet not long after with the consent of the Prince hee left Heidleberg to goe into his own country But when with his family he came to Leiden he was much importuned both by the Magistrates and the University to stay there and though he would fain have excused it yet at last they prevailed and made him the Professor of Divinity in that University which place he discharged with much diligence and commendation for ten yeares space At the end of which a great plague spreading all over Holland he fell sick of it and quietly resigned up his spirit unto God Anno Chr. 1602 and of his age 57. When Gomarus his Colleague came to visit him in his sickness and had spoken comfortably to him Junius told him that he quieted himself in God who would doe for him that which was most for his glory and his own good His Works are these Commentarius in Danielem In Psal. 101. In Apocalypsin In Jonam Prophetam With many others set down by Verheiden The Life of Luke Trelcatius who died A no Christi 1602. LUke Yrelcatius was born at Erinum Anno Christi 1542 and brought up by his Aunt who was Abbesse of a Nunnery His first Education was in the School at Doway where being of an acute wit he profited exceedingly in the knowledge of the humane arts From thence he went to Paris and whilst he studied there it pleased God that he fell into acquaintance with John Mercer the Hebrew Professor and with Peter Ramus by converse with whom hee was exceedingly affected with the love of the reformed Religion so that he forsooke his Aunt and was maintained by the bounty of some Merchants of Flanders From thence he went to Orleance and from thence to Sancerra in the 28th yeare of his age and being driven from thence by the tempest of Civill Wars he came into England and at London he taught a School by which he maintained himselfe eight yeares Then was hee called by some Merchants into Flanders to be their Pastor but enjoying little peace there he went to Bruxels where hee continued in the exercise of the Ministry six years and then meeting with opposition he went to Antwerp and that City being presently after besieged he was forced to stay there for eight moneths After which being sent for to divers places at length he was by the consent of his brethren in the Ministry fixt at Leiden where hee was made Pastor of the French Church which place he supplied faithfully for the space of seventeen years He had scarce been there two yeares when for his cellent parts and learning hee was chosen Divinity-Professor in that University also and at last having acquired much honour in both his offices hee dyed of the Plague Anno Christi 1602 and of his age 60. W. PERKINS The Life of John Whitgift who dyed A no Christi 1603. JOhn Whitgift came of the ancient Family of the Whitgifts of Whitgift in Yorkshire his Father was a Merchant of great Grimsby in Lincolnshire He was born Anno Christi 1530. His Uncle Robert Whitgift was Abbat of the Monastery of Wellow in the County of Lincoln who would often tell him when he was a boy that neither he nor his Religion could stand long for that he had often searched the Scriptures but could never find there that his Religion was of Divine institution and therefore according to Christs speech Every plant which his heavenly father had not planted must be rooted up which also came to pass shortly after when King Henry the eighth demolished the Abbeyes By this Uncle he was trained up in Learning in his childhood who finding him of a prompt and acute wit sent him to London to Saint Anthonyes School in Bennet Fink parish when he had made a good progresse in Learning there he went to Cambridge and studied a while in Queens Colledge but not liking that house he removed to Pembrok-hall where Nicolas Ridley was the Master and Master Bradford was his Tutor who informing Doctor Ridley of the ingenuity diligence and piety of this young Whitgift he procured for him a Scholarship Anno Christi 1555 he was chosen Fellow of Peter-House where Doctor Andrew Pearn was Master who favoured him exceedingly and sheltered him from danger all Queen Maries daies He took all his degrees of Batchelor of Arts Master of Arts Batchelor of Divinity and Doctor of Divinity with great approbation When he commenced Doctor hee disputed upon this question Papa est ille Antichristus the Pope is that Antichrist He was also a famous Preacher and when Doctor Hutton was preferred to the Archbishoprick
of York he was chosen Master of Pembrok-Hall in his room and Doctor Cox Bishop of Elie made him his Chaplain Afterwards he was chosen the Margaret-Professor which place he discharged with such high commendations that not long after he was made the Queens Professor and preaching before Queen Elizabeth she liked him so well that she made him her Chaplain and Master of Trinity-Colledge in Cambridge Anno Christi 1567. In which place he remained for ten years with the good approbation of all men The Queen also made him Dean of Lincoln He had many Noblemen which were his pupils and bred up also many learned men which afterwards proved famous lights in the Church Anno Christi 1577 the Queen made him Bishop of Worcester and after the death of Grândal Anno Christi 1583 she removed him to the Archbishoprick of Canterburie Shee had alwaies a very high esteem of him and used him so familiarly that she called him her black husband He was present with and a great comfort to her at her death And when King James came to the Crown he also much reverenced Archbishop Whitgift But he had laid the death of Queen Elizabeth So deeply to heart that within some few moneths hee fell sick which when King James heard of he went to him and laboured to chear him up but within a few daies after hee quietly departed in the Lord Anno Christi 1603 and of his age seventy three having been Archbishop about twenty years He did many and great works of Charity wheresoever he lived viz. at Lincoln Worcester Wales Kent and Surrey One act of Justice done by him is scarce to be parallel'd and may be read at large in the life of Mr. Hugh Clark at the end of my Generall Martyrologie Much Controversie there was between Mr. Tho. Cartwright and him about Ceremonies as appears by the books extant betwixt them T. BEZA The Life of Theodore Beza who died A no Christi 1605. THeodore Beza was born at Veselia Anno Christi 1519. His Father was Peter Beza Praefect of that Town his Mother was Mary Burdolet both of them nobly born As soon as he was weaned he was sent for by his Uncle Nicolas Beza to Paris who was a Counsellor in the Parliament and by him was tenderly and carefully educated and at five years old he placed him with Wolmarus a famous Schoolmaster at Orleance with whom he lived seven years and in that time learned Latine Greek and all the Liberal Arts so that there was no worthy author either in Greek or Latine which hee had not turned over Yea Wolmarus had also read Law to him But that which was principal he instructed him in the true Religion drawn out of the Fountain of Gods Word Afterwards when Wolmarus was returned into his native Country of Germany by the advice of his friends Beza was placed in Orleance to study the Civil Law but disliking their baibarous language he left those and betook himself to more Polite Studies He also affected Poetry very much and made all his Poems before he was twenty years old and imitating Catullus and Ovid therein he writ more wantonly then afterwards he approved of and indeed endeavoured to have suppressed his Poems but the Papists hating him for his Religion often printed them seeking thereby his disgrace all that possibly they could Anno Christi 1539 he went to Paris where he was entertain'd by his kindred and friends with all the expressions of love and respect that might be but above all hee was most welcome to another of his Uncles for the former was now dead who was Abbat of Frigidmont and who designed him for his Successor the profits of which place were worth above five thousand crowns perâin besides two Benefices belonging to the same worth seven hundred crowns more Beza by this Uncles means abounding with ease money and all things but good counsell began to find himself compassed about with infinite snares of Sathan For though he hated those vices which discovered open impiety and were disgracefull yet hee squandred away precious houres in pastimes and began to be puffed up with that applause which he gat by his forementioned Poems and by his hopes of the great preferments which his Uncle reserved for him Yet it pleased God that those seeds of piety that were sown in him in his childhood began to appear afresh so that discerning his danger and the Snares of Satan he made a vow to renounce the errors of Popery and lest hee should be overcome by fleshly lusts he privately married a wife having only two of his fast friends present at his marriage yet at the same time he faithfully promised that within a certain space of time breaking through all impediments he would have her to the true Church of God and there publickly confirm the Marriage and that in the mean time he would take none of the Popish Orders Both which he religiously performed afterwards And yet the world heaping more honours and profits upon him by the death of his elder brother and the Abbat his Uncle giving him all his goods hee was long in resolving what to do and slower in performing his Vow then he should have been But whilst he thus delayed the Lord struck him with a sore disease that he almost despaired of life and it continuing long upon him he was at last humbled by it and abhorred himself for his delayes and with many tears begged pardon of God for the same saying Lord bring my soul out of prison that I may praise thy name And the Lord heard and restored him And as soon as ever he had recovered his health according to his former engagements he took his wife and leaving friends honours riches and country hee went to Geneva Anno Christi 1548 where according to his former vow he publickly solemnized his marriage About the same time also there came to Geneva one John Crispin an antient and intimate friend of Beza's and so both of them consulted together what course of life to betake themselves to purposing to set upon the Art of Printing which their excellent learning and industry did much fit them for But God had appointed Beza to another imployment for before they could bring their purpose to maturity Beza would needs take a journey to Tubing where his old Master Wolmarus lived being now a Counsellor to the Prince of Wirtemberg and as soon as hee was returned to Geneva dreaming of no such matter he was called to be the Greek Professor in the University of Lausanna and by the Senate of Bern admitting that election was brought into that society Beza therefore looking upon it as a call from God embraced it and went to Lausanna In which place hee found many excellent men as Peter Viret the Pastor John Ribbit the Divinity Professor John Raimund Merlin the Hebrew Professor
and hee had both one desire but not for the same end The Jesuits said he wish my end but for an evill end I wish for it also but that by death I may passe to eternall life purchased for me by the merits of Christ. Anno 1599 the King of France and the King of Navar lying in siege before the Castle of Saint Katharines in Savoy near to Geneva Beza went to visit them and was entertain'd with abundance of courtesie by them and being asked by the King of France if he had any request to make to him he answered That he had nothing but to commend his sacred Majesty to the blessing of the great God and to pray that his Majesty might govern his people in peace Only he requested that seeing the Church at Lions had not yet enjoyed the benefit of his Majesties Edict that he would be pleased to think of them which the King promised and upon their petition granted their desire About the time of his return he began to be much troubled with want of sleep but lying awake in the nights hee deceived the time with holy meditations And speaking to his friends of it he used that speech Psal. 16. v. 7 8. My reins also instruct me in the night season I have set the Lord alwaâes before me in whose favour is life And that of Psal. 63 My soul is filled as with marrow and fatnesse when I remember thee upon my bed and meditate on thee in the night watches Many came out of the Kings Camp to Geneva to see the City which was now so famous but especially to see Beza all whom he courteously entertained with holy and savoury discourses and so dismissed them well pleased Anno Christi 1602 Maurice the Lantgrave of Hesse came to Geneva to see him but disguised for which Beza was very sorry after that he had not known him Finding himself to draw near to his end he revised his Will and so easing his mind of all worldly thoughts he wholly betook himself to exspect the time of his departure which he much longed for He often used that saying of the Apostle We are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus to good works And that of St. Augustine Diu vixi diu peccavi fit nomen Domini benedictum I have lived long I have sinned long Blessed be the name of the Lord. And that also Domine quod coepisti perfice nè in portu naufragium accidat Lord perfect that which thou hast begun that I suffer not shipwrack in the haven and that of Bernard Domine sequemur te per te ad te te quia veritas per te quia via ad te quia vita Lord we follow thee by thee to thee Thee because thou art the truth By thee because thou art the way To thee because thou art the life Anno 1605 there came some noble and learned men from Borussia to see him with whose society he was much pleased But diseases encreasing upon him the Pastors of Geneva agreed amongst themselves that every day two of them should visit him by turns and sometimes all of them came together and prâied most fervently with him Octob. 13 being the Sabbath-day he rose in the morning and prayed with his family and then desiring to goe to bed again he sate him down on the side of his bed and asked if all things were quiet in the City they answered him yea but perceiving that he was near to his end they ranne for a Minister who immediately coming whilst he was praying with him without the least pain or groaning he quietly yeelded up his spirit unto God Anno Christi 1605 and of his Age 86 and of his Ministry 46. James Lectius made this Epigram of him Vezelii genuêre piae tenuêre Gebennae Astratenent vixi non mihi sed populis Aliud Si qua fides famae proles mihi defuit omnis At varia vera prole beatus ego Me Populi Mystae Reges dixere parentem Multa virûm genui millia Christe tibi Quin Populi Mystae Reges nascentur ex me Christe tibi toto dum legar orbe frequens He was a thick set man and of a strong Constitution insomuch that he used to say that he never knew what it was to have his head ake He was of an excellent wit an accurate judgement a firm memory very eloquent affable and courteous so that he was called the Phoenix of his time In his Testament he gave thanks 1. That God at sixteen years old had called him to the knowledge of the Truth though for a while he walked not answerable to it till the Lord in mercy brought him home and carried him to Geneva where under that great Calvin he learned Christ more fully 2. That being infected with the Plague at Lausanna and aspersed with grievous calumnies the Lord had delivered him from them both 3. That coming back to Geneva he was there chosen Pastor when as he deserved not to have been one of the sheep 4. That not long after he was made Colleague to that excellent man John Calvin in reading Divinity 5. That being called into France in the first Civill War and tossed there up and down for twenty two moneths God had preserved him from six hundred dangers c. A Papist objecting to him his youthly Poems This man saith he vexeth himself because Christ hath vouchsafed to me his grace Though there was so great worth in this man and his labours were extraordinary yet he had but 1500 Florens per an for his stipend which amount but to seven or eight and fifty pounds sterling by the year besides 20 Coups of corn and his house His Works were these N. Testamenti nova versio cum Annotationibus Confessio Christianae fidei De Haereticis à civili Magistratu puniendis Summa totius Christianismi De Coena Domini De Hypostatica duarum in Christo naturarum unione De unitate essentiae Divina tribus subsistentibus personis Tractatio de Polygamia Divortio Epistolae Theologicae With many others set down particularly by Verheiden and mentioned in this narrative of his life D. RAINOLDS The Life of John Rainolds who dyed A no Christi 1607. JOhn Rainolds was born in Devonshire Anno Christi 1549 and brought up in Corpus Christi Colledge in Oxford and for his excellent learning was chosen a Fellow of that House and afterwards Commenced Doctor in Divinity Hee had divers brothers that were all Papists which procured him much sorrow especially his elder brother William Rainolds who wrote seditious and pestilent books against that renowned Queen Elizabeth and her flourishing Kingdome He was so eminent for piety and for his knowledge in the more mysterious parts of Divinity that one saith of him that he was Acad miae lumen Europae decus Divinae gloriae buccinator sanctitatis eximium exemplar
of death they both of them blessed him and gave him this testimony that he had never offended them in all his life Wallaeus laid their death exceedingly to heart so that for a years space no day passed wherein he did not with grief think on them nor night wherein he did not dream of them But it pleased God that in December the 27. he had a son born whom he called John this somewhat mitigated his sorrows Before this the Citizens of Middleborough had much importuned him to remove his habitation to their City but he would not consent to it till his Wife was brought to bed least he should seem to contemn his people at Koukerk who had shewed themselves so honest and loving to him But when she was up again he then removed and was entertained both by the People and Magistrates with great applause being received with more favour then ordinary which stirred up envy in some of the Ministers of Middleborough who thereupon would have had him confined to a little Church that was in the outmost part of the City but the Presbytery would not suffer it yea it returned to the glory of Wallaeus that these ancient Ministers feared least he should get their Auditories from them But after a while he moderated their passions by his modesty courtesie and readiness to do any Offices of love to them so that he lived very friendly with them In his Ministry he thought that he did not sufficiently discharge his duty by Preaching and Governing and therefore every Sabbath day at five a clock he Catechized wherein he explained all the common places in Divinity and whereby he made his people very ready in the knowledge of the Scriptures so that some of them were fitted for the work of the Ministry in the Indies He was diligent in visiting his Parishoners whereby he reformed many which were given to vitiousness giving them counsel how they might shun those sins which naturally they were addicted to He satisfied doubting Consciences and extricated them out of the snares of Satan He raised up and comforted those that were cast down at the apprehension of Gods wrath for their sins In these his visitations he ministred relief to Widows Orphans and such as were destitute of all humane help He encouraged such as were weak and sick to persevere in Faith and prepared them for death and such as were neer death he comforted them against the terrors thereof and wrought in them a desire to be with Christ yea he did not only visit such as owned him for their Minister but Sectaries also Papists and Anabaptists which he did with such sweetness that his company was never grievous to them and he carryed himself so justly that many times even they repaired to him for advice in cases of Conscience about Matrimony and always went well satisfied from him This much troubled a Popish Priest called Curio who knowing how powerful Wallâus was in reproving sin to deter his Disciples from conference with Wallaeus or hearing his Sermons told them that the Devil always sate upon his shoulders and as he was Preaching suggested to him what he should say But God turned his malice and lyes to good For many Papists either drawn by curiosity or by the fame of the man or upon the occasion of Baptisms into his Church when they heard nothing that was Diabolical to proceed out of his mouth they began to esteem their Curio a slanderer to doubt of the truth of his other sayings to perceive that they learned more and received more comfort by Wallaeus his Sermons then by his and so by degrees fell off to the Reformed Religion Wallaeus his Colleagues left to him yea appointed him as the most learned man amongst them to take care that their Religion received no detriment and to defend the same against all Adversaries wherein like another Hercules he subdued many Monsters There was one Abraham Beckman that of a long time had disturbed the Peace of the Church of Middleborough A man of a sharp wit and blameless life he reproved the Ministers for baptizing such children whose Parents were not members of the Church and he had drawn some hundreds of the Church membrs to his party To these Wallaeus opened the Doctrine of Truth more plainly by Conference and Disputations he overthrew the pertinacious convinced most of them by writing and so brought them to an acknowledgement of their Errors But Wallaeus thought it not sufficient to conquer them but he would also gain them to the Church which he effected by procuring that Beckman should be chosen one of the Presbytery whereby he was quieted and afterwards did good service to the Church Sectaries are never better quieted then whilst they pretend for God they may have riches or honours conferred upon them Shortly after there was one Gedeon Vanden Bogard a Noble man of Flanders who being inticed with great promises was resolved to turn over to the King of Spains party and therefore also must change his Religion for which end he gives out that the Popish Religion was truer then the Reformed and that in the point of Transubstantiation which he undertook to prove by the assistance of Father Gauda a Jesuite of Antwerp who was grown to that height of impudency and impiety that he published in Print that he would pawn his soul to God to expiate all the Errors that were in the Romane Church To whom therefore Wallaeus presently answers and shews that the Pontificians themselves could not otherwise understand the words of Institution in the Lords Supper but Figuratively and that the body of Christ âould not be in infinite places at the same time for that then it should cease to be a body which is always circumscribed within its own limits so that Gauda held his peace Presently after a certain stranger coming to Middleborough for Zeland brings forth no such Monsters Preached That Christ had excellently taught reverence to God and love to our Neighbors But that his Doctrine might have the more weâght hâd affirmed himself to be the Son of God by a certain pious fraud saying that he was God when indeed he was not And not content to divulg these blasphemies in private he preached them in publick VVallaeus judged this man the more dangerous by how much he seemed to be very religious and that he would not speak without commending Christ whenas indeed he sought to destroy him wherefore setting upon him in a Publick Assembly he proved that in the Nativity Life and Death of Christ all things did concur which were foretold of the Messias in the Old Testament and therefore that he could not but be God which was required in the Messias That Christ whom he confessed to teach Piety must express it in his Life and therefore could not begin his Doctrine with a lye who must not do evill that good might come of it Neither was it worth the while
for him to suffer Persecutions Stripes and the Cross to maintain a lye That the Apostles who continually accompanyed him would not have conspired in the same lye and for it have suffered banishment torments and death That God would not have suffered such things as he foretold to have come to pass about his Death Resurrection and the destruction of Hierusalem if he had endeavoured to obtrude a false God upon the people That he would not have granted him the power of working Miracles of healing the Sick restoring the Lame curing the Blinde and raising the Dead That his Religion in a few years by Fisher men without any humane strength should have been dispersed through the whole World which God would not have suffered if he had brought a strange God and Idolatry with him This Villain being overcome by these Arguments his followers left him and he hid his head in a corner But these were but small velitations in comparison of those continual bickerings which he had with the Remonstrants all his life long which that we may the better understand take it thus When Reformation began in the Low-countries all that opposed Popery were not of one minde and nothing so united them together as their hatred of Popery But least the unsound Protestants should mingle themselves with the sound the Orthodox party Anno Christi 1566. published a Confession of their Faith which afterwards was called the Belgâck Confession and to prevent infection from those which were Heterodox in a full Synod at Embden Anno Christi 1571. it was ordained that none should be admitted for a Minister till he had been examined and had subscribed this Confession and the Catechism of Heidleberg Which Decree was confirmed in all the ensuing Synods Anno Christi 1576. and 1586. and approved of by the States of Holland and accordingly practised Yet in the beginning considering the great want of Pastors this Examination could not be very strict by which means many crept into the Ministry who privately taught contrary things as Gasper Garlhasius at Leiden Herman Herbert at Gouda Gerard Blackhoven at Vtrich and Cornelius Wiggerus at Horn who differed in many things amongst themselves and all of them in the point of Predestination from the rest But whilst these opinions were confined within the bounds of their own Churches all things were reasonable quiet Only Theodor Cornhertius opposed himself against all the Reformed Churches who having been formerly of Councel to the States of Holland for fear of danger had deserted his place But it easily appeared that he was no great Divine and that choler which he durst not vent against the States he now discharged against the Churches whereupon he was restrained by the Publick Authority of the States Yet could not the contentions be so composed but they left doubts in some mens mindes whether all points held by the Reformed were equally certain and some were inclined to embrace Novelties especially about the Doctrine of Predestination And thus James Arminius found them when he was called to be Divinity Professor at Leiden Anno Christi 1603. This Arminius had formerly been a servant in a Publick Inn where many guests admired his prompt wit so that some took him from thence and set him to School where he was maintained out of the Publick Treasury of Amsterdam Hereupon in process of time the Magistrates of that City favouring their own nurcling called him to the work of the Ministry amongst them and he so shined by the excellency of his gifts that every one judged him worthy a Professors place For he was of a subtil Wit solid Learning and composed Carriage To this Election of his Gomarus opposed himself because he had written something that was unsound to Francis Junius yea and had publickly preached it at Amsterdam But when he denyed some things wherewith he was charged and extenuated others some thought that Gomarus opposed him out of envy least he should excel him which promoted the Election of Arminius and laid the foundation to future dissentions Arminius being thus setled thought to advance his credit by drawing a great Auditory to himself and this he thought to do by venting some new things in his Lectures which accordingly he did especially about Predestination yet in publick he did it sparingly and slenderly least he should offend the Churches remembring that by their Authority Coolhase and Wigger had been removed out of their places But in private he labored tooth and nail to instil them into his Auditors whereby he might gain Disciples and that he might the better secure himself against the Ministers by the means of Vtenbogard the Preacher at Hague he procured John of Oldenbarnevelt to be his Patron who was a man of great Authority being Syndic of all Holland to curry favour with whom he extolled the Authority of Magistrates in Ecclesiastical affairs Barnevelds design was to bring the Reformation in the Low-countries nearer to the Lutherans whereby they might hope to draw Auxiliaries out of Germany the better to resist the King of Spain or at least to make the better terms of agreement with him And whereas the States in the beginning of the wars had need of the multitude and these could not be better gained then by the help of the Ministers they therefore at first granted great Authority to the Pastors of the Church Now Barneâli seeking to undermine this Authority he nourished such dissentions as rose up in the Church and by the power of the Magistrates hindred their censures against the refractory He also rendred suspected the authority of the Prince of Orange and whereas it was only grievous to himself he would perswade the States that it was dangerous to them Wherefore knowing that he had offended the Ministers and therefore could expect no support from them he willingly undertook the Patronage of Arminius by whose followers he sought to ârop up himself Yet at first he carryed this very privately whilst his Faction was small and might have been easily quashed Whence also it was that Arminius long concealed his opinions till the year 1608. at which time Gomarus accused him to the States of Holland and discovered that he dissented from the Reformed Churches about Justification Predestination Grace Free-will and Perseverance of the Saints Yet Arminius was not so long concealed from Wallaeus who knowing all the sculking holes of Sectaeries by his path wherein he walked easily discovered whereunto he tended and therefore from the year 1606. he had labored to bring him into the right way again which also he did all the year following by his frequent Letters to him To which Arminius sometimes answered but at last would answer no longer The same things that Arminius taught did Corvinus teach about twenty years after and was silenced with the same Argument by Wallaeus Arminius being thus discovered began to fear that he should be ruined by the Ministers for Barnevelt durst not as yet
by sending to forreign Kings and Princes by provoking them of Vtrich who began to quail profering them help to prevent the putting down of their Magistrate and disbanding their Souldiers Whereupon the States of the united Provinces required the Prince of Orange to imprison the heads of the contrary faction viz. Barnevelt Rombert Hagerbetius Hugh Grotius Giles Ledenbergius and to disband the rest of the souldiery that was collected in Holland To purge the Cities of disaffected Magistrates and to substitute better in their rooms All which were effected without any tumult or effusion of blood so displeasing were those Mastrates to the Citizens after which all the other Magistrates consented to the Synod appointed at Dort In this Synod the flower of all the Reformed Churches met together and amongst them our Wallaeus who had a place assigned him amongst the Low-country Professors and was appointed one of the Directors of the Synod but that the Pastors had in private agreed amongst themselves to chuse only such as were Professors It was the unhappiness of the Remonstrants that they had Simon Episcopius for their President who was a hot imprudent and cholerick man by whose advice it was that the Remonstrants would not submit to the Laws of the Synod wherefore the work of the Synod was to finde out the state of the Controversie by the writings of the Remonstrants and accurately to propound it in the Fundamentals themselves To examine them by the Word of God and to see of what weight they were In the government of the whole Synod John Bogerman excelled being Prolocutor in it and indeed a more fit man could not have been chosen Festus Hommius was imployed in proposing the state of the Controversie who often conferred with Wallaeus about it But in weighing the controversies strengthening or enervating Arguments and in vindicating them from exceptions Wallaeus excelled whereupon when any difficulty arose as the Explication of the Epistle to the Romanes c. it was committed to Wallaeus If any thing was to be accurately and prudently defined it was committed to Waellaeus And he was chosen for one of those that drew up the Canons of the Synod and set down reasons why the Doctrine of the Remonstrants was rejected And it was judged that the wisdom of Wallaeus prevailed much to procure the unanimous consent of the Synod thereunto Wherefore of the Politicians and strangers who had no cause of envy he was much esteemed yea he so demeaned himself that Giles Bursius his aemulus acknowledged that Wallaeus excelled all in the Synod who made this acknowledgement to the Wallacrian Classis from whom he was delegated God so blessed the labors of all in this Synod that the Remonstrants themselves had no cause to complain Controversies were so decided difficulties so expedited that all godly and learned men were abundantly satisfied and from thence forwards the roots of Remonstrancy were so cut off that presently it began to wither And all things were managed with that modesty all things dispatched with that unanimous consent that never was the like from the Primitive times All Controversies being now determined and the Cause of the Remonstrants judged the chief Patrons of the Remonstrants were condemned of Treason by the Delegates of the States of the United Provinces 1. The persons condemned were Barnevelt Hogerbetius Grotius and Ledenburgius This last by killing himself prevented the punishment And James Schot Consul of Middleborough one of those Delegates was sent by the States to Dort to fetch Wallaeus to the Hague who accordingly brought him thither May the 12. privily that so the people might have no suspition of the punishment intended to the Remonstrants By the way he told Wallaeus that the States sent for him to prepare the Prisoners for death they judging that by his prudence and perswasions he might best of all other men effect it VVallaeus when he saw that he could not avoid the employment yet desired that he might not be the first messenger of death to them that he might be spared from dealing at all with Grotius in regard of his former friendship contracted with him and that he might not be present at their death which he could not bear without much trouble of minde Being come to the Hague in the Evening âchot went to the Deputies and Judges to acquaint them that VVallaeus was come and to tell them what request he had made to him Whereupon the Advocates Fiscal were sent to Barnevelt to tell him that the next day he was to be judged and put to death and Schot in the mean time went to VVallaeus to tell him that his requests were granted that Hogerbetius and Gâotius though they were condemned should not be executed but kept in perpetual Prison That the Advocates Fiscal were sent to Barnevelt to acquaint him that the next day he was to dye and that therefore the Delegates and Judges requested him to make haste to him and so about six a clock VVallaeus was conducted to the Prison to Barnevelt When he came into his chamber he found him full of perplexity writing to his wife and children to acquaint them with the message of his death and at first he was unwilling to have any speech with Wallaeus but after a while he became more calm yet complained of the hard measure that he met with from the States whom he had served for forty three years He would feign have taken some rest that night but could not The next morning when he had heard his sentence read he was had to the place of Execution at which time he told the people that he dyed not a Traitor but a Patriot At the place of Execution he asked his man whether no man came Belike expecting a Pardon but when his servant told him that there was none kneeling down his head was cut off The day following Wallaeus returned to Dort and attended upon the affairs of the Synod till the end of May at which time he had some money given him and with the rest was invited to a Publick Feast and afterwards with some principal men he was privately feasted by the States Delegates and so was dismissed honorably These things being dispatched the States of Holland least the commotions now suppressed should break forth again thought fit in the first place to take care of the University of Leiden which was the Seminary both of their Church and State And for that end they resolved to add to John Poliander the Divinity Professor Andrew Rivet Anthony Wallaeus and Anthony Thysius To Rivet they sent Thomas Erpenius the Arabick Professor To Thysius Adrian Pavius Synâic of Amsterdam And to Wallaeus Rochus Honartius Senator of the Supream Court and Peter Deiman chief Consul of Leiden who came to him to Middleborough in the midst of July to acquaint him with his Election and to urge him to accept of it They also presented him with the Letters of
the space of neer thirty years by whom he had seven children He was tall of stature and well set He had quick eyes and lively senses a loud and pleasing voice A sound constitution only by reason of his many occasions of grief somewhat inclining to Melancholy so as he was prone to such diseases wherein that humor did abound In his old age he was somewhat slow of gate not through unwealdiness of body but by reason of the speedy growth of old age upon him He was very pious and learned and adorned with all graces If he set himself to reprove vice he performed it with great gravity If he comforted his friends he did it with admirable dexterity If he admonished any of their duty he did it with much lenity His Ministry was full of Majesty his stile eloquent his matter clear and solid He was very sociable pleasant and loving in his converse with his friends By his practice converse experience and reading both of ancient and modern Ecclesiastical Histories he attained to a great measure of wisdom He was very zealous in defending the Orthodox Religion Very far from busying himself in other mens matters Could not endure strife and contentions Shunned those vain distinctions and fooleries of Sophisters whereby they rather darken then explicate the mysteries of Salvation He could not endure novelties in Divinity holding that of Tertullian Primum quodque verissimum That which is most ancient is most true His profession was without dissimulation his Divinity solid and substantial not that which is fetched out of the puddles of the Schoolmen though he was no stranger to them but out of the pure Fountain of the Sacred Scriptures He was a constant studier of the Peace of the Church yet always so as not to hazard the loss of truth which he ever preferred before the former He was of a constant minde always the same valiant in adversity moderate in prosperity having well learned ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã to sustain and abstain In reproofs he was affectionate without bitterness In admonishing and counselling prudent without passion In choosing his friends of a quick judgement and constant in retaining them When he was to deliver his judgement either in the Academical Senate or in the Ecclesiastick Presbyterie he so went before others with his prudent counsel as not to neglect to hear others judgements neither would he take it ill if they dissented from him If any question of great difficulty happened he would never rest till he had searched out and made plain the truth If any resorted to him in private to ask his advice in Sacred Civil Academical or Oeconomical affairs his answer was instead of an Oracle to them His prudence did futher discover it self by the government of his Family where he kept all in peace order and concord and concerning which this only was known that no body knâw what was done therein Anno Christi 1639. he buryed one of his daughters called Mary a beautiful and virtuous young maid which caused so great grief to him that he fell into a Quartane Ague which Physitians hold to be mortal in old men and though at last he was cured of it yet it lest ill reliques in his weakened boây which in the year 1641. brake forth into a far more grievous disease viz. a Lethârgy which threatned an Apoplexie and which the Physitians did foretel to be fatal Yet neither by this sharp affliction could his stedfast minde be cast down For after a while contrary to all mens expectations he began to recover strength though indeed he was never perfectly cured A third affliction which befel him was the death of his dear wife which fell out the year after upon October the 15 the same day upon which formerly he had been chosen Master of the College of Wisdom From that very time of the loss of his wife he was discerned to decay his solitude encreasing his melancholy which afterwards he could never get the mastery over Yea he often foretold that he should not long survive his wife and though the Easter after he went as far as ââmbden to visit his friends and recreate himself with their society yet thereby he did but increase his destempers For he was detained there for the space of twenty days by reason of a Catharr and Feaver after which he returned to Groning but much weakned and troubled with obstructions which Physick could not remove nor any Medicines cure Yet it pleased God that he had some lucid intervals at which times he would attend upon his Professorship and the affairs of the University and his friends August following those obstructions so far prevailed that they took away his stomach and thence ensued a sensible decay of his strength which afterwards was accompanied with great pains in his Back and Loins that caused often faintings In his sickness Doctor Maretius visiting him with a firm voice and friendly minde he congratulated him for that he was designed for his successor For saith he it much rejoyceth me that I shall leave to the Vniversity and Church one that is studious of peace Orthodox in judgement and averse from novelties and I require you that as you have ever maintained friendship with me so do the like with mine whom I shall leave behinde me The day before his death he sang the 130 Psalm with a sweet voice and fervent zeal to the Lord and spent the rest of his time in hearty Prayers and holy meditations In the Evening he blessed his children and then commanded his son Doctor James Alting to pray with him and in his Prayers to remember the Church and University The next day which was Sabbath day in the morning he found himself somewhat better yet presently after he fell into a swound After the Morning Exercise his old friends Doctor Camerarius and Doctor Strasbergerus Agents for the Crown of Sweden came to visit him by whose conference he was somewhat refreshed but no sooner were they gone when feeling that his disease had conquered Nature he told those about him that before Sunset he should depart to the Lord and so acting his faith upon the death and merits of Christ upon the promises of the Gospel and cheared up with the comforts of the Holy Ghost he expected death without fear and presently after with a constant voice he bade them all farewel as being ready to depart to Christ which he much longed for Then causing himself to be somewhat raised up they perceived that he was ready to depart wherefore hastily sending for the Reverend Pastor of the Church Wesselus Emmius his old friend he prayed with him and as long as he perceived that he understood him he cheered him up with the sweet promises of the Gospel valiantly to go through that last combate and so about three a clock in the afternoon in the presence of his friends and the Professors of the University without the least
who was so far affected with his sweet disposition that though he differed from him in some points especially about Universal Redemption yet did he endeavour to carry him along with him to Montalban whither he was called to be the Divinity Professor but prevailed not He sometimes also visited Tilenus and Grotius and had acquaintance with them An. Chri. 1625. in April by the approbation of Mr. Durant he came over into England where he stayd four moneths in which short time he took a survey of the Kingdom learned the Language gat acquaintance with the most learned men and observed many things that were worthy notice as the funeral of King James the arrival of Queen Mary the Parliament the Convocation of the Clergy the Act at Oxford and many other things But the Plague being at that time hot in Oxford according to his former engagement to his Cosen Durant he left England and returned to Paris where he set upon the study of the Chaldee and Syriack Languages and read over the Chaldee Paraphrase of the Prophets and the Evangelists and most of the Epistles in Syriack These were his Halcyon days which were broken off by the death of Mr. Durant who left unto him his whole Library after which he retired himself into the Family of the Noble Arnold Counsellor and Secretary of State who entertained him at his own Table being much delighted with the variety of his Learning and Piety And thus far he lived a private life but in July An. Chr. 1625. he was called by his friends to Geneva and indeed he delighted in that City above all others wishing that there he might fix his station whereupon he hasted thither upon this Call and often spake of the good Providence of God to him therein For when he came to Lyons being to pass over the River Araris he would needs go over in a Boat but by the violence of the stream his Boat was split against an Arch of the Bridge whereby with much difficulty he escaped drowning and so through Gods mercy coming at length to Geneva An. Chri. 1626. he found the Professor of Philosophies place to be void by the death of Gasper Alexius and so by the unanimous vote of all he was preferred before all his Competitors to it whereby after all his travels and troubles he aimed at a safe and quiet harbor Hereupon the better to bind himself to continuance in that place the year after he resolved to marry and pitching his affections upon Carlot a Portu the daughter of the Noble Peter a Portu with the good liking of her friends he marryed her and ever after carryed a tender affection towards her and indeed she well deserved it in regard of her vertues and innocency of manners joyned with Dovelike simplicity free from fraud and guile For she wholly depended upon her husband and was willing to be governed in all things by his advice which is the chief commendations of a wife and so had all things common with him And herein our Spanheim admirably shewed his wisdom who as he was famous abroad so he took special care that no domestick jars should infelicitate his life his endeavour also was not only to preserve but to encrease his outward estate well remembring that speech of the Holy Apostle whereby he requires that a Bishop should govern his house well and keep his children in subjection with all honesty For saith he If a man cannot govern his own family how shall he take care of the Church of God By this wife he had many children whereof some dyed in their infancy but he left seven behinde him all of great towardness especially his two eldest sons who are like to inherit their Fathers vertues But it was not fit that his excellent parts should be shut up within the Schools nor his light put under a bushel which ought so to shine that the Church of God might be illuminated thereby whereupon the Reverend Presbyterie often advised him to apply his minde to the study of Divinity which also he willingly did and so to the great rejoycing of all he was ordained a Minister and indeed so excelled that he exceeded all mens hopes both for his Eloquence and Doctrine And it pleased God to call him forth to the constant exercise of it Anno Christi 1631. at which time Benedict Turretain one of the Professors and his dear friend dying he was by the general consent of all chosen to succeed him at which time he lay sick in bed and dreamed of no such matter This place he discharged for eleven years space with great applause For then he discovered what was afterwards to be expected from him both by his Lectures and Disputations so that that University was never in a better condition then when it was illustrated by the light of Spanhemius An. Chri. 1635. he was chosen Rector of the University at which time he made that excellent Oration which was published in the name of Geneva Reformed being just an hundred years after that City first embraced the Gospel Hereupon the Bernates consulted about drawing him to Lausanna to succeed in the place of James à Portu They of Groning edeavoured to get him to them and the Prince Elector Palatine sought also the same but the miseries which at this time fell upon the Palatinate put an end to those desires At last Leiden obtained him though with much difficulty the Magistrates and Church of Geneva much opposing it Yet the Curators of Leiden insisted with so much earnestness by their frequent Letters to which were added the request of the King of Bohemia of the illustrious States of Holland and West-ârisland and lastly of the States General that with much ado at length they extorted rather then obtained his dismission from Geneva But its worth observation what means they used to retain him with what grief and sorrow they parted with him what a confluence of people brought him forth of the City and with what sighs and tears they parted with him as if in losing him they had lost a principall member of their body Yet before he left Geneva he went to Basil to take the degree of Doctor For in Geneva they use no such degree and therefore whilst he was there he affected it not But being to go to Leiden where it was more necessary he that had been for so many years a Teacher of others now submitted to examination and so was created Doctor And this profit he gat thereby that he veiwed Helvetia and became acquainted with many excellent and learned men especially with Zââgerus and Buxtorsius whose names were now famous in the Christian World An. Chri. 1642. leaving Geneva he with his whole Family and goods arrived safely in the moneth of October in Leiden just upon that Festival day wherein they celebrated the memorial of their deliverance from the âpanish siege and
This request he himself opposed with all his might as judging himself unfit unable thereunto had not Bucer and the Senate interposed their authority to require his acceptance When he came thither he preached six years before the dregs of Popery where wholly purged out of that City yea the state of it was very troublesome not onely by reason of the Popish partie who with all their might opposed the Reformation but also by reason of some Anabaptists who like serpents had crept in to disturbe the growth of the Gospel and the peace of the Church Yea they carried themselves very impudently and tumultuously coming into the Church at Sermon-time stepping up into the Pulpit and labouring to diffuse their errors and to poyson the people therewith insomuch as the Magistrates were forced for the publick peace sake to cast them into prison Thither Musculus went daily to them and though they called him a Viper a false Prophet a Wolfe in Sheep's cloathing c. yet he bore all with patience and carried them food and other necessaries not speaking a word about their opinions till he had so far insinuated into their affections that they began to love him exceedingly Then began he to confer familiarly with them to hear them with patience and with solid arguments to convince their errors whereupon by degrees he converted them all and brought them to make publick recantations which by more rugged dealings they would never have yeelded to He had also many conflicts with the Popish party and wrought so far with the Senate that Anno Christi 1834. they cast out the Mass and Idolatry out of most of the Churches onely allowing to the Papists eight to say Mass but not to preach in And afterwards Anno Christi 1537. he so prevailed that Popery was cast out of those Churches also and the City wholly imbraced the reformed Religion There he studied the Greek Tongue and profited so much therein that he translated diverse parts of Chrysostome Basil Cyril Athanasius c. At that time also by his owne industây he learned Arabick not having so much as a Grammer to help him onely by observing the proper names which are the same in all languages he found out the Letters and so attained to the reading and understanding of that tongue He taught at Ausburg eighteen years with much diligence and profit His Sermons were very piercing like a two-edged sword both in comforting the afflicted and convincing the obstinate Anno Christi 1536. there was a Synod appointed at Isenac in Thuringia to which Luther and many other Divines out of upper and lower Germany resorted about composing the difference concerning the Lords Supper to which Musculus was sent by the Senate of Strasborough as also to a Diet at Wormes and Ratisbone where he was Scribe at the Disputation between Melancthon and Eccius which afterwards he published Anno Christi 1544. the Inhabitants of Donavert embracing the Gospel sent to the Senate at Ausburg for one their Ministers to assist and further them in their Reformation who thereupon sent Musculus to them and when he came thither he preached every day for a quarter of a year together and so returned to Ausburg Anno Christi 1547. Charls the fifth having ended the Smalcaldian war called a Diet at Auspurg whither himself his brother Ferdinand the Electors Cardinals and Bishops came Then was Musculus put out of his Church yet did he not cease to preach in another during that Diet with as much zeal and freedom of speech as formerly which procured him much hatred from the Popish party who set spies to intrap him They also accused him to the Emperor as one that stirred up the people against the Clergie by reason whereof he was in such danger that the Senate was fain to appoint three men to guard him to and from the Pulpit Tumults were raised before his door his windows broken and himself rail'd upon yet he bore all with a stout courage and sent the Senate word That if they would stick close to the cause of God he would venture his life with them The year after the Senate embraced the Interim which he wrote and preached boldly against insomuch that he was hated and lived in great danger hereupon he resolved to leave the City and acquainting the Consul with his purpose one evening with one only Citizen in his company he left his wife and eight children and departed out of the City and changing his apparel at a friend's house that he might pass unknown he went to Zurick where he stayed a while with Bullinger and from thence to Busil his wife and children following him within a few days but they staying at Constance he went thither to them and the Sabbath following he preached to the Citizens of Constance upon that Text Joh. 6. 66 67 68 69. From that time many of his Disciples went back and walked no more with him c. Out of which words he shewed how grievously those Cities had sinned which to please men had basely deserted the Gospel of Christ. Then he exhorted them of Constance not to follow such examples but rather after the examples of the Apostles in this Text constantly to adhere unto Christ who onely hath the words of eternall life The very next day the Spaniards coming to besiege Constance he with his family removed to Zurick Thither Cranmer sent for him to come into England but being grown aged and his wife sickly he excused his going thither After six months stay there he was called to Berne to be the Divinity Professor in their Schools whither he went and where he discharged his place for fourtâen years together with much diligence and praise He Printed many works all which he wrote out with his own hands wherby his great labour and sedulity may easiây be discerned He so loved his present imployment and place of habitation that though he had many invitations to places of more eminency and profit yet he wouâd never imbrace the same but continued at Bern till his death He lived in much peace and concord with his fellow Ministers and Professors and was very loving to his wife and children in domestical troubles most patient very mercifull to the poor especially to exiles and strangers of a sparing and temperate dier whereby he lived in health to his latter end He used much walking and holy meditation therein He went very upright had a fresh colour sharp sight admirable strong teeth and lastly his hands and feet well performing their office But the year before his death he beganne to be crasie partly by reason of his great age but especially being worne out with infinite cares and labours as also by reason of a great cough which of a long time had been troublesome to him By these means he had many fits of
sicknesse that year out of which through Gods mercy and the care of his Physicians he somewhat recovered yet himself discerned that his end approached and therefore he daily prepared himself for it laying aside all worldly cares and businesses that he might the better meditate upon his approaching death as may appear by these verses which he made a little before his death Nil superest vitae frigus praecordia captat Sed tu Christo mihi vita perennis ades Quid trepidas anima ad sedes abitura quietis En tibi ductor adest angelus ille tuus Peccasti scio sed Christus credentibus in se Peccata expurgat sanguine cuncta suo Horribilis mors est fateor sed proxima vita est Ad quam te Christi gratia certa vocat Praesto est de Satana peccato morte triumphans Christus adhuc igitur lata alacrisque migâa August the twenty second being the Lordsday in the morning Musculus feeling no distemper went to Church to hear the Sermon and about the midst of it he was seised with a violent Feaver yet continuing to the end of the Sermon he went home and sat down to dinner supping a little broth but waxing worse he was led to a bed in his study from which he never rose afterwards So soon as he was laid he grew extreame hot and burning whereupon by the advice of his Physician he was let blood he had also some Physick given him which yet staied not with him Musculus perceiving his end to draw near caused his sons to be sent for whom he saluted and blessed after which he never seemed to mind either wife or children John Haller one of the Ministers asking him of the state of his soul and how he would dispose of his outward estate hee answered I thank God I have nothing that troubles my conscience And as concerning my Doctrine as I taught so I thought doe think and will think to the end As for my Wife and Family I commend them to your and your Colleagues care desiring you to be Fathers and protectors to them Haller in his own and his brethrens name promising to satisfie his desire he thanked them and never after made mention of any wordly thing And so shortly after he quietly resigned up his spirit unto God in the presence of the Ministers and Professors of the University who were come to visit him The day after he was honourably buried Anno Christi 1563 and of his age 66. This Epitaph was set upon the wall near to his grave MUSCULUS hic situs est doctrina clarus ingens Nomen in orbe manet Spiritus astra tenet His Works are these Comment in Genesim in Psalm Mat. Joh. ad Romanos Corinthios ad Phil. Col. Thess. Tim. Loci communes Explicatio Decalogi Contra Missam Anti-Chochlaeus De Concilio Tridentinâ Quatenus ferenda sit injuria Contra impurum Catechismum De Juramento De Bello Germanico Besides many of the Greek Fathers and other bookes which he turned out of Greek into Latine The Life of Hyperius who died A no Christi 1564. ANdreas Gerardus Hyperius was born at Ipres in Flanders An Christi 1511. His Father was a Counsellor famous in that City His Mother was Katherine Coets of a noble Family These set their son to School be-tiâes and being reasonable well grounded in Grammer at eleven years old they placed him with James Pap a good Poet to be trained up by him When he was thirteen years old he âraveâââd through the Islands of Flanders Then was under the tâition of John Lacteus where he learned the French Tongue His Fathers desire was that he should not only be brought up in learning but also in good manners and vertue But whereas by reason of the Wars between Charls the fifth and the King of France he could not send him to Paris he kept him at home to write amongst his Clerks An. Chri. 1525 his Father fell sick and dyed charging his wife that as soon as ever the Wars were ended she should send his sonne Andreâ to be brought up in learning at Paris And Anno Christi 1528 peace being made between the Emperour and King Hyperius was accordingly sent to Paris and commended to the tuition of Anthony Helhuctus who was a Senator of the Parliament at this time and of John de Campis a Licentiat in Divinity The former was to supply him with necessaries and the latter to forward him in his studies Hyperius sojourned long in the house of de Campââ and heard also the Logick Lecture in the Colledge of Calviac In that Colledge one of the Lecturers was Joachim Ringleberg a very learned man with whom Hyperius had contracted a very strict bond of friendship And by his help besides Logick he learned Rhetorick and Physick At the end of three years he returned into his own country to visit his friends and to see whether any of his Patrimony remained and finding that there was yet enough to maintain him Anno Christi 1532. he returned to Paris purposing now to betake himself to the study of Divinity and accordingly he frequented the Divinity-Schooles Sometimes also he heard the Physick Lectures which naturally he was much affected with He frequented likewise the Lectures of the Professors of the Tongues as Cleonard Sturmius and Latomus Then he had an earnest desire to travell thorough France both to learn the language more perfectly and the better to acquaint himself with their manners Whereupon every year in January February and March when the Lectures ceased taking some of his fellow Students along with him he went into sundry Provinces and visited the most famous Universities So that at the times forementioned in three yeares space he had travelled through the greatest part of France and Italy Anno Christi 1535 he returned into his own country and presently went to Lovane where having remained a while he travelled through the Low-countries as Gelderland Friesland Holland Zealand c. And Anno 1537 and of his age 26 he travelled into upper Germany to visit the Universities and acquaint himself with the famous men therein For which end he went to Colen Marpurg Erford Lipsich and Wittenberg and so returning into his country he was earnestly importuned by his friends to take some cure upon him that having now spent his patrimony hee might live the more quietly amongst his friends and unknown to him they had procured from the Pope a patent whereby he was enabled to receive large revenues out of certaine Monasteries only they wanted a confirmation from the Emperors Chancellor the Archbishop of Palermo But it fell out by Gods Providence that the Archb. denied his consent being informed by Hyperius his competitors that Hyperius had been in upper Germany which then was accounted a great crime Hereupon Hyperius not willing to be a burden to his friends by the advice of