the Emperour had promulgated a book written concerning Religion called the Interim which he would have to be embraced and confirmed by the States and Cities of the Emprie which when he perceived that it was received by the Senate first he publikly opposed it in the Church and exhorted them to the constant profession of their former doctrine and secondly he told them that he must be compelled to depart from them in case they did refuse his motion but he perceiving no hopes of altering their opinions after that he had taken his supper he left the City being accompanied onely with one Citizen committing his wife and eight children which he left behind him unto the protection of the Almighty and being without the Ports he changâ—d his hablit least through the same he might be discovered by his enemies And having turned a Wagon he went toward Tiâ—urum where he remained a few dayes with Bullinger and from thence he departed and went unto Basil unto Iohanner Hervagius his wife followed immediatly after him not knowing where to find him unlesse at Basil wherefore when she came to Constance for her assuâ—aÌ„ce she sent letters by a trusty friend whom she desired to certifie her husband of her aboade at Constance the messenger finding Musculus at Basil delivered the letters and forthwith returned unto Constance where he found his wife and children upon the Lords day following he preached twice in the City taking for hiâ— text those words in Iohn the 6. ver 66. From that time many of the Disciples went back and walked no more with him Then said Iesus unto the twelve I will yet also goe away c. from which place of Scripture he shewed unto them how greatly those Cities did offend which did fall from the truth of Christ for the favour of mâ—n and withall he earnestly exhorted the people of Constance not to follow the examples of such but constantly to adhaere unto the truth taught by Christ in his Word and this was the last Sermon that was Preached in the peaceable state of the Commonwealth for the day following the Spanish Forces under the conduct of Alfonsus Vives beleagured the City during the Siedge by the perswasion of Ambrosius Blavrerus a reverend Pastor Musculuâ— with his wife and children were conveyed out of the City with safety and they escaped the fury of the enemies intending to goe for Tigurum but by reason of sicknesse which seized on his wife he was compelled to remain at Sangallum after her recovery he went unto Tigurum where he was joyfully received of the Inhabitants with whom he continued six months before he was called to performe his Ministeriall function in which vacancy he was called by Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury into England but in regard of his owne age as unfit for travell and in respect of the weaknesse of his wife and the many children which he had he modestly refused Not long after the Inhabitants of Berne were destitute of a Divinity Lecturer for their Schooles wherefore he was called by the Senate unto that profession which indeed was most welcome unto him partly for the excellency of that Church and Commonwealth and partly for the renewing of his acquaintance with his old friend Iohannes Hallerus He entred upon this Lecture in the year 1549. and constantly continued in it for the space of fourteen years to the exceeding benefit of the Church of Christ opening in that space unto his Auditours almost the whole Bible He naturally detested Contraversies and would write his minde without the injury or contempt of others so that his Workes were opposed by no man in publicke during his life onely those two Sermons excepted which he Preached before the Princes at Wormes which were opposed by Cochlaeus The great love which he carried towards the Inhabitants of Berne appeareth in this that he refused great honour and ample Revenues which were profered unto him during his Lectureship at Berne for he was thrice called into England seconded with large rewards also the Inhabitants of Auspurge having againe obtained their former liberty amongst other banished Ministers they first recalled Musculus He was againe desired by the Inhabitants of Strasburge invited by Otho Henricus and Fredericus Prince Elector Palatine and by the Land grave of Hassia many times but he modestly refused all these though honourable calings intending to performe his best service unto the end of his dayes unto that City who had shewed and vouchsafed him such kindnesse in his greatest extremity which indeed was truly performed Not long before his death he was sickly partly by reason of his years his body being spent with infinite cares and labours partly by reason of a vehement cold which did much afflict him whereby he gathered that he was to leave that house of clay and therefore setting all other things aside he entred into a heavenly meditation of death the sum of which he hath left unto the world being written by himselfe before his death Nil super est vitae frigus praecordia captat Sed in Christe mihi vita parennis ad es Quid crepidas anima ad sedes abitura quietis En tibi ductor adest Angelus ille tuus Lingua domum hanc miseram nunc in sua fata ruentem Quam tibi fida Dei dextera restituet Peccasti scio sed Christus ardentibus in se Peccata expurgaâ—sanguinâ— cuncta suo Horribilis mors est fateor sed proxima vita est Ad quam te Christi gratia câ—rta vocat Praesto est de Satana peccaâ—a est morte triumphâ—s Christus ad hunc igitur lâ—â—a alacrisque migra This life is done cold Death doth summon me A life eternall I expect from thée My Saviour Christ why dost thou fear my Dove He will conduct thée to his throne above Forsake this body this corrupted creature Thy God will change it to a better nature Dost thou abound with sin I do confesse That thou art guilty and dost oft transgresse But Christ his blood doth wash and cleanse all those That can themselves in him by Faith repose Doth Death appeare an object full of horror Both ugly ghastly and not wanting terror I do confesse it but that life againe Which followes death doth take away that paine Unto which life we called are by Christ Then do no longer O my soule resist But yéeld thou with all chéerfulnesse to dwell With him triumphing or'e Death Sin and Hell Afterwards the strength of his sicknesse did increase by the addition of an Ague wherby he was brought so weak that he was not able to sit up right in his bed wherefore he sâ—nt unto Master Iohannes Allerus and other Ministers unto whom he declared the Faith which he dyed in and withall committed the care of his Wife and Children unto thâ—m who told him that they would not bâ— deficient in any thing wherein they might shew themselves beneficiall and helpfull unto them As he was a man endewed with an
animate and encourage these his friends to fight for the glory of God and to give sufficient testification of his zeale towards God he was himselfe present in Person in two severall Battels fought betwixt them neaâ—e unto Capella a Monastery situate in the fields of Tigurum unto the first he came freely of his owne accord that he might be present at their Consultations and to see that there were no declining from truth and equity This Battell was finished without the shedding of blood concerning which he was often heard to say that he had seene more malice and more wicked Counsell in it then he knew all his life time either by experience or from reading Unto the second he waâ— elected and chosen us chiefe Commander and being unwilling at the first to undertake such a burden the ground of that quarrell being something displeasing unto him it being onely Grameatus denegatio yet at the last he resolved to goe presaging as it were his owne death by the uâ—tring of these words Seio scio quid rei sit ut ego â—ollar fiunt omnia I know I know how the case stands now all these preparations are for my ruine and destruction Wherefore being well horsed and compleatly Armed he followed the Tigurunes in the reare being ready to joyne battell he went not forth as a Captaine or Commander of the Army but as a good Citizen and faithfull Pastor who would not forsake his friends in their greatest perill In this Battell Zuinglius was slaine together with three hundred eighty and three of his confaederates it happening on the eleventh day of Octobrr in the yeer of our Lord 1531. after that he had Preached the Gospel of Christ at Tigurum the space of 12. yeeres and at Glarona and Eremus the space of a 11. yeeres himselfe being 44. yeeres of age They which were neere unto him when he fell wounded even unto death heard him utter these words What misfortune is this Well they can indeed kill the body but they cannot kill the soule being in this misery he was demanded by his enimies whether he would yeeld unto Papisticall invocation of the Saints being not able to speake he refused it apparantly by the motion of his head and by the lifting up of his eyes to heaven he gave thâ—m to understand that he would invoke and call on none but on the Lord above wherefore in a raging and cruell manner tooke his life away from him condemned his body to be cut in foure quarters and to be burnt unto ashes in the fire Some of his faithfull friends greatly lamenting his death came full of sorrow unto the place where his body was burnt and lightly moving the ashes found his heart sound and untouched with the flames some ascribing it unto the power of God who by this miracle would declare unto the world both his innocency and also his zeale others spending their judgements accordingly as they were affected toward the Person And this was the end of the godly Minister of Christ whose great desire for the advancement of the truth of Christ will clearly shew it selfe by those painfull and learned labours of his which are extant in the Church being comprehended and contained in foure Tomes Tome 1. 1. A worke of Articles 2. An exhortation to the whol State of Switzerland 3. A Supplication to the Bishop of Constance 4. Of the certainty and purity of Gods Word 5. An answer unto Valentine of the authority of the Fathers 6. Institutions for Youth 7. A good Shepheard 8. Of Iustice Divine and Humaine 9. Of Providence Tome 2. 1. Of Baptisme 2. Of Originall Sinne. 3. Of true and false Religion 4. An Epistle to the Princes of Germany 5. Of the Lords Supper 6. Of Christian Faith written unto the French King Tome 3. Commentaries on Genesis 2. Exodus 3. Isaiah 4. Jeremiah Psalter out of Hebrew into Latin Tome 4. 1. Annotations on the foure Evangelists 2. History of our Saviours Passion Annotations on 3. The Romans 4. Corinthians 5. Philippians 6. Collossians 7. Thessalonians 8. Hebrewes 9. James 10. John Epist. 1. They that are willing to engage and prove Themselves true Souldiers in the field of Love Must follow Zuinglius whose ample glory Affords the World an everlasting Story Ye Prelats of these Times stoope downe and sée The Wisdome Valour and the Constancie Of this renowned Father whose deserts Ought to be printed in all noble Hearts He fell with Honour and all those that fall Guarded with Truth deserve a Funerall Adorn'd with Angels that all tongues may say Here lyes Relig'ons and the Churches stay Brave Zuinglius dy'd though it be hard to doe A valiant Souldier and a Martyr too IOHN COLLET The Life and Death of John Colet IOhn Colet was borne in London of honest and wealthy Parents His Father was twice Lord Major of that famous City to whom his Mother a chaste and fruitfull Matron brought forth eleven Sonnes and as many daughters of which numerous off-spring Iohn Colet was the eldest and sole Survivor the rest dyed before their Father whereby he became Heir to a very considerable fortune and yet nature to him was no lesse indulgent then fortune being indowed with all the Simmetry almost imaginable in a tall and comely Person In his younger yeeres he gave himselfe to the study of Phylosophy and in the seaventh after his Matriculation in the Vniversity obtained his degree of Master in Arts an honor not so much given to his Standing as due to his knowledge in the Liberall Sciences in none whereof he was ignorant in some exquisitly learned All Tullies woâ—ks were as familiar unto him as his Epistles neither was he any stranger to Plato and Plotinus whom he not oâ—ely read but conferred and paralleld perusing the one as a Commâ—ntator upon the other As for the Mathematickes there is scarce any part thereof wherein he was not seene abovâ— his yeeres certainly above expectation Having thus fethered his nest at home he began to looke abroad and improve his stock in forreigne Countries In France he added his Humanity what he thought necessary to the study of Divinity which thereafter he effectually prosecuted in Italie amongst the Ancients he was most taken with Dionysius Areopagita Origen Saint Cyprian St. Ambrose and Saint Hierom with St. Augustine whether out of Singularity or judgement amongst all the Fathers he seemed most disguised And yet he did not so mancipate himselfe to Antiquity but that as occasion served he sometimes survayed Aquinas Scotus and other Schoolmen In a word he was seene in both Lawes and singularly well read in History both Civill and Ecclesiasticall And because he saw that England had her owne Dant's and Petrarchs as well as Italie who have performâ—d the same here that they there those and these he both read and diligently imitated accommodating thereby his stile to the Pulpit and Preaching of the Gospel After his returne from Italie he made choyse to live at Oxford where he publickly
none But said he I will till thee newes being demandâ—d what it was he answered Brevi ero apud Christum Dominum I shall in short time be with Christ my Lord. In the morning before he died he repeated the 51. Psalme of David at the end whereof he addedâ— Salva me Christi Iesu being never heard afterwards to utter any word those who were present betooke themselves unto their prayers wherein they continued untill he had surrendered his Spirit unto his Creator which was willingly and cheerefully performed by him on the first of Dâ—cember in the yeer of our Lord 1531. and in the 49. yeer of his age and was buried with great lamentation in the sâ—me City He died intestâ—te quia unde conderet pauper Christi servas non habebat He was of a meeke and quiet disposition in the undertaking of any businesse he was very circumspect and nothing indeed was more pleasing unto him then to spent his time in reading and commenting the workes which he left behind him are these which follow 1 Annotations on Genesis 2 On Iob. 3 Isaiah 4 Ieremiah 5. Ezekill 6 Daniel 7 Hosea 8 Amos. 9 Ionas 10. Micah Cap. 2. 11. On the three last Prophets 12. On the Plasmes 13 Matthew 14 Romans 15 Hebrewes 16 1 Epistle of Iohn 17 Of the genuine sense of these words Hoc en corpus meum 18â— An exhortation to the reading of Gods word 19 Of the dignity of the Eucarist 20 Of the joy of tâ—e resurrection 21 A speech to the Senaâ— of Basil. 22 A Catectisme 23 Annotations on Chrisostome 24 Enchyidion to the Greeke tongue 25â— Aâ—ainst Anabaptists 26 Annotations upon the Aâ—ts and Corinthians 27 Of Almsdeeds 28 Against Julian the Apostata 29 Of truâ— faith in Christ. 30 Of the praises of Cyprian 31 Of the life of the Mâ—ses 32 Against Vsury Reader behold the rare-adorned Face Of him whose very lookes import a grace He was a Man whose constancy to truth Ripen'd in age and blossom'd in his youth He was a rocke whose daring front disdain'd Papisticke Waves he still oppos'd and gain'd The upper hand though threatning danger lin'd Each word he spoke yet would he speake his minde T was not their proffer'd wealth could make him bold To sin in Want and then repent in Gold Religion was the Starre by which he steer'd His well run-course his heart was still endeer'd Two sollid Principlâ— he lov'd to court The truth Love was his Ship and heav'n his port The life and death of JOHN FRITH Who suffered Martyrdome 1533. IOhn Frith was borne at Weâ—trame in Kent in whom being a child nature had planted a marvelous love unto learning he had also a wonderful Promptnesse of wit a ready capacity to receive understand any thing neither was there any thing wanting in him equall unto that towardness of dispsiâ—ion whereby it came to passe that he was not onely a lover of learning but also became an exquifite learned man He first begun his sâ—udy at Cambridge where he profited much in all sorts of learning At last he fell into knowledge of and acquaintance with William Tindall through whose pious instructions that seed of the Gospel and sincere godlinesse was first instilled into his heart At that time Cardinall Wolsey prepared to build a sumptious Colledge in Oxford now called Christs colledge And sought out for such as did excell in knowledge and learning to be Fellowes in the same and amongst others Iohn Frith was appointed one Now these choice yong men there placed conferâ—ing together upon the abuses of Religion which at that time were crept into the Church were therefore accused of heresie and cast into prison where many of them through the filthy stink thereof dyed Afterwards Iohn Frith with the others remaining alive being dismissed out of prison went beyond the seas and too yeeres after returning he was taken for a Vagabond at Reading and set in the stocks where he remained untill he was almost pined with hunger at lenght he desired that the Schoolmaster of the towne might be brought unto him which was Leoward Coxe a learned man assoone as he came in the Latin tongue he bewailed his captivity unto him The Schoolmaster being overcome with his eloquence did not onely take pity and compassion upon him but also begin to love embrace him especially when he spake unto him in the Greeke tongue and rehersed by heart diverse Verses out of Homer whereupon the Scholemaster went with all speed unto the Magistrates and procured his enlargment Yet this his safety continued not long through the deadly hatred of Sir Thomas Moore at that time chancellor of England who persecuted him both by Sea and land promising great rewards to any man that could bring tidings of him Thus this good man being beset with troubles round about wandred up and downe from place to place untill at the length being betrayed by a seeming friend he was apprehended and sent unto the Tower of London where he had many disputes with Sir Thomas Moore and others touching the Sacrament of the body and blood of Christ. In which quarrell he withstood the violence of three most obstinate enemies with the Bishop of Rochester Moore and Rastall but he fighting with them all three at once did so refute and confound them that he converted Rastall to his part But when neither Scripture nor reason would prevaile against the firce and crulty of of these furious foes the twentieth day of Iune 1533. he was brought before the Bishops sitting in Pauls Church where they ministred certaine interrogatives unto him touching the Sacrament Purgatory to w ch he answered according to his former disputation and subscribed unto his answer these words with his owne hand I Frith thus doe thinke and as I thinke so have I said written taught and affirmed and in any Bookes published So that when as by no meanes he could be perswaded to recant he was condmned by the Bishop of London to be burned and so being delivered over unto the Mayor and Sheriffes of London the forth day of Iuly he was by them carryed into Smithfield to be burned when he was tyed to the stake he shewed much constancy and courage for when as the fire and faggots were put unto him he willingly embraced the same thereby declaring with what uprightnesse of minde he suffered those torments for Christs and the truths sake whereof that day he gave with his blood a perfect and firme testimony The winde drove away the flame from him unto his fellow Martyr Andrew Hewet who was burned with him which made his death the longer and his paines the greater But God assisted him with such strength and fortifyed his soule with such patience that he seemed rather to rejoyce for his fellow then to be carefull for himselfe as if he had felt no paine in that long torment There is one thing more very observable concerning this constant Martyr Iohn Frith that whereas the Bishop of Canterbury
Ridley Latimer and afterwards Cranmer men of incomparable piety whereby the propagation of the truth was hindred There hapned also other causes of discontent as the faction of some neighbouring Pastors bewitched with the instigation of that Carmelite Bolsecus who bitterly inveighed against him concerning Predestination whereupon he obtained leave of the Senate to go unto Berne to be censured by the Church concerning that point in which censures the adversaries being found guilty they were expelled banished the Country and he found favor was in great estimation amongst the best In the year 1556. Calvin preaching in Geneva he was taken so strongly with an Ague that he was forst to leave in the midst of his Sermon and to come downe from the Pulpit upon this accident newes was spread abroad concerning his death which in short space came unto Rome and it was so ioyfully entertained by the Pope that he forthwith caused publicke prayers and thanksgivings to be dedicated unto God in all the Church for the same but the prayers of the faithfull prevailed more for he was so far from dying that being as it were endewed with another life he went unto France fuet ad Maenum being thereunto called for the removing the dissentions out of the Churches of France whence returning although somewhat sickly yet he ceased not to execute his constant course in his Ministery and also he carefully and timely confuted the hereticall opinion of Valentinus Gentilis touching three Gods and three Eternals lest by continuation it should take such root that it would hardly be plucked up And these were his actions untill the year 1558. wherein in pleased God to afflict him with a quartan Ague which caused great sorrow and lamentation in Geneva yet it continued with him but for the space of eight weeks in which time it weakned and so enfeebled his body that he was never sound untill the day of his death During this sicknesse he was advised by the Physitians and some of his friends to forbeare his usuall exercises and to cherish his body with a little ease but he would not declaring unto them that he could not endure an idle life In the year following Henry King of France intended to levell Geneva with the ground and to put the Inhabitants thereof to the sword but before he could effect that bloody project he was taken captive by a higher power and the City still flourished even in the midst of her enemies and that nothing might be wanting unto her prosperous and flourishâ—ng state Calvin caused a Schoole to be erected and consecrated unto the great God which should alwayes be furnished with learned Ministers and publicke Professours of the Arts and Tongues and especially of Divinity that so the City might enrich it selfe with its owne treasure In the year 1560. the Waldenses sent unto Calvin for his judgement concerning some points wherein he gave them aboundant satisfaction and exhorted them to joyne themselves with the other Protestant Churches And at the same season many Protestants in France hearing of â—he peace and quietnesse which the Church in England enjoyed at the beginning of the reign of Queen Elizabeth many of them came into England and desired of Edmund Grindal 〈◊〉 Lord Bishop of London that they might have leave to sâ—â—d for a Preacher unto Geneva for the planting of the French Church in London who condiscended thereunto Galasâ—â—â— was sent Calvin having spent his dayes hitherto in extraordinary labours for his life may well be said to be a continued labour mixed with griefe as appeareth by the Works which he wrote being at Geneva The time was now at hand in which he must goe unto his eternall rest his diseases contracted by his indefatigable labours caused him to give over his Divine exercises for indeed how could he continue long when as his body was by nature weake and leane inclining to a consumption and because he slept very little spending almost all the year either in Preaching Teaching or Dictating for ten whole years he never Dined and after the set houre he would not receive his Supper He was subject unto the disease called the Migram for the curing of which he used nothing but fasting and that sometimes for the space of six and thirty houres After that his quartan Ague left him he was troubled with the Gout taking him in his left legge which to make it the more grievous was seconded with the Colick The Physitians applyed what remedies they could and he carefully followed their counsell He was armed against these afflictions with an admired patience no man ever hearing him uttering a word unworthy of himselfe in his greatest extremity but lifting up his eyes unto heaven he would chearfully utter the words of David How long O Lord. When he was exhorted by his friends to desist from reading or writing in the time of sicknesse he would reply What will you have the Lord finde me idle Not long before his death some of his fellow Pastors coming accordingly as they used to visit him they found him contrary to their expectation apparalled and fiâ—ting at his Table in that forme as he used to meditate resting his head on his hand he spake these words unto them I thanke you brethren for the care which you have over me but I hope that within these fifteen dayes the Lord will reveale how he intends to dispose of me and I thinke that I shall leave you and be received of him Growing weaker and weaker he was brought into the Senats Court by his command where after an humble manner he thanked the Senate for the curtesies formerly conferred on him and for the speciall care which they had of him in this his last sicknesse Not long after he received the Communion at the hands of Beza labouring the best that he could to joyne with the rest of the Congregation in singing of Psalmes unto God The day wherein he dyed he seemed to speake somewhat heartily but this was but the last strugling of nature for about eight of the clocke apparant signes of death were seen which being perceived of Beza he ran forth to acquaint his other Collegues with it but besure his returne he had quietly yeelded his soule into the hands of God leaving such a chearfull countenance unto the beholders that he seemed rather to be asleepe then dead Thus was that light taken away even at the seâ—ting of the Sun The day following there was great lamentation throughout the City the Church lamented for the death of her faithfull Pastor the Schoole sorrowed for the losse of so famous a Doctor and in generall all were filled with mourning because they were deprived of their onely comforter next unto God Many of the Citizens desired to behold him after that he was dead so great was their affection to him and some strangers also whom the fame of Calvin had drawne unto that place and amongst them the English Embassadour for France desired greatly to see him being
loved most tenderly from his Childehood rather like a Father then a Lord or Patron but since his death a Successour to him in some of his Places in the Church for the duty and reverence which he ever bare to him while he lived hath most gratefully and cordially in his everlasting honorable memory added to it a most excellent significant and speaking Epitaph which followeth LECTOR Si Christianus es siste Morae praetium erit Non nescire Te Qui vir hîc siâ—us sit Ejusdem tecum Caâ—holicae Ecclesiae Membrum Sub eadem faelicis Resurrectioniâ— Spe Eandem D. Iesu praestolans Epiphaniam Sacratissimus Antistes Lancelotus Andrewes Londini oriundus educatus Cantabrigiae Aulae Pembroch Alumnorum Sociorum Prefectorum Vnus nemini secundus Linguarum Artium Scientiarum Humanorum Divinorum omnium Infinitus Thesaurus Stupendum Oraculum Orthodoxae Christi Ecclesiae Dictis Scriptis Precibus Exemplo Incomparabile Propugnaculum Regine Elizabethae a Sacris D. Pauli London Residentiarius D. Petri Westmonast Decanus Episcopus Cicestrensis Eliensis Wintoniensis Regique Jacobo â—um ab Eleemosyniâ— Tum ab uâ—riusque Regni Consiliis Decanus denique sacelli Regii Idem ex Indetessa opera in Studiis Summa sapientia in rebus Assidua pietate in Deum Profusa largitate in egenos Rara amoenitate in suos Spectata probitate in omnes Aeternum admirandus Annorum pariter publicae famae satur Sed bonorum passim omnium cum luctu denaâ—us Coelebs hinc migravit ad Aureolam coelestem Anno Regis Caroli II 0. Aetaâ—is suae LXXI 0. Christi MDCXXVI 0. Tantum est Lector Quod te moerentes Posteri Nunc volebant Atque ut ex voto tuo valeas Dicto Sit Deo Gloria His Workes In the volumne of his Sermons there are seventeen Sermons of the Nativity Preached upon Christmas day Eight Sermons upon Repentance and Fasting Preached upon Ash-wednesday Six Sermons Preached in Lent Three Sermons of the Passion Preached upon Goodfriday Eighteen Sermons of the Resurrection Preached upon Easter-day Fifteene Sermons of the sending of the Holy Ghost Preached upon Whit-sunday Eight Sermons Preached upon the fifth of August Ten Sermons Preached upon the fift of November Eleven Sermons Preached upon severall occasions A Manuall of private Devotions and Meditations for every day in the weeke A Manuall of Directions for the Visitation of the Sick His Opera Posthuma Concio ad Clerum pro gradu Doctoris Ad Clerum in Synodo Provinciali Coram Rege habita V 0. August 1606. In discessu Palatini XIII 0. April 1613. Theologica Determinatio de Iurejurando De Vsuris De Decimis Respontiones ad 3 Epistolas Petri Molinei An answer to the 18. and 20. cc. of Cardinall Perons reply A Speech in the Star-Chamber against Master Thraske Another there concerning Vowes in the Countesse of Shrewsburies case Respontio ad Forti librum Ad Apologiam Cardinalis Bellarmini Reader be serious let thy thoughts reflect On this grave Father with a large respect Peruse his well-spent life and thou shalt finde He had a rare and heav'n enamel'd minde He was our Kingdomes Star and shin'd most bright In sad afflictions darke and cloudyst night Let his example teach us how to live In love and charity that we may give To those whose wants inforce them to implore Our ayde and charity makes no man poore Andrewes was fill'd with goodnesse all his dayes Were crown'd and guilded with resounding praise The world shall be his Herald to proclaime The ample glories of his spreading Fame FINIS FRANCISCVS IVNIVS The Life and Death of Franciscus Juniuâ— EMblemes of honour derived from Ancestors are but rotten rags where their ignoble posterity degenerate from their Progenitors But they are both glorious and precioâ—s where the children both answer and exceed the vertues of their extraction Such here our Iunius William his Grandfather serving under Lewiâ— the twelfth in the warres of Navarre was rewarded for his valour with an Augmentation of Nobility to his Family Dennis his Father was a great practiser of the Civill Law and got both credit and profit by his profession But what needs this superfluous luster to be borrowed from Parentage to him who was inriched with plenty of light in himselfe 2. In the famons City of Bourges in France our Franciâ— was born An. 1545. Likely almost to have proved a Benjamin to his Mother and just cause had she to valew this Pearle for which she paid so dear His baptisme was hastned to prevent his death all looking on him as a weakling which would post to the grave whereas he not onely out-lived most of his brethren but even made his Parents to survive in him His soul was condemn'd to a bad body his infancy being a continued sicknesse and the small pox being struck into him when a child by negligence of the servants suffering him to take cold occasioned a sore in his leg and ever after even to the day of his death he felt the Admonition of that maladie for when there was any indisposion in his body that the malignant humours mustered themselves together hiâ— leg was made the Randevous for their meeting 3. Being sent to school he was unhappy in tirannicall Masters For though he was of that capacity to hold as much and more then they would poure into him and of that industry that he refused no labour for learning yet they were most cruell unto him One especially who as of whipping of boyes had been rather his recreation then their punishment and he willing to make faults where he could not find them so punished the naturall weaknesse of Iunius for an offence that it was familiar with him seven times a day to be corrected truely scoring the number of the Liberall Sciences upon him wherein afterwards he grâ—w to be most eminent yet such was Iunius his love of learning and his soul was so eagerly set upon it that he was not at leisure to complaine of hard usage or to confesse it to his mother and sister who suspâ—cted it 4. But afterwards Iunius growne to be a stripling in that age wherein youth and man doe meet together was sent by his father to Lions to study a dissolute place and full of all Licentiousnesse Sudden alterations to extreames commonly prove dangerous Iunius hath now neither Master to fright him nor father to awe him nor friend to direct him And as waters long curbed with flood gates and debarred their naturall course runne with more fury and fiercenesse when the dams and sluces are suddenly taken away so what wonder if this our youth formerly kept in constant durance with cruel education now flye out and give as I may say separation to his corrupt nature for the â—ormer wrong he had sustained 5. Two dangerous Rocks he was drawn upon narrowly scaping the one but dangerously hitting against the other The first was the allurements of wanton Women who sought to inveagle him the City of Lions being
ABEL REDEVIVUS or The dead yet speaking By T. Fuller and other Eminent Divines Mors vltima linea rerum est Nunc levior cippus non imprimit ossat Laudat yosteritas nunc non é manibus illis Nunc non é tumulo fortunague favilla Nascuntur viola Pers Sam 37 Sould by Iohn Stafford at the George at Fleete bridge 1652 Ro Vaughan Sculp THE EPISTLE To the READER SVch honour saith the a Psalme 149 9. Psalmist have all his Saints His Saints emphatically Divine ProvideÌ„ce foreseeing that in after ages some would usurp the title of Sainâ—ship to whom it did not belong His Saints exclusiuely casting out Saints traitors as Becket and Garnet Saint hyâ—ocrites and many others who in the same sence as Auri sacra fames may be termed Sacri or Sancti Saints 2. But what honour have all his Saints Marke what went before as it is written buâ— by whom and where Though Chapters and Verses be of later date the holy Spirit might have cited the Book O no! He to quicken our Industry referres us to the Word at large However Search the Scriptures and therein we shall meet with many honours afforded to the Saints both whilst they were living and when they were dead on which alone we shall insist 3 This honour also is twofold either what God or what Man bestoweth upon them the latter onely is proper for our present purpose and brancheth it selfe into Honour done to their Bodyes or to their Memories 4 Of the former is their Decent Interment according to their quality Thus Iehojadah was promoted to a Sepulcre amongst the Kings of Iudah b 2 Cron. 24.16 Hezechiah whose signall holinesse was Paramount whilst he was living had his Tombe advanced the c 2 Cron. 32.33 highest of all other Kings However this Honour hath not been universall to all Saints many have missed thereof especially in time of Persecution as appears by the complaint of the Psalmist 5 Honour to their Memories is more certaine being sometimes paid them very abundantly even from those who formerly were so niggardly and covetous as not to afford them a good word in their life time Defunctus amabitur idem Many are made Converts by the godly ends of good men as the d Matth. 27.54 Centurian himself who attended and ordered the crucifying of Christ after his expiring brake forth into that testimony of him Verily this was the Sonne of God So such as rail at revile curse condemne persecute execute pious People speake other language of them when such men have passed the Purgation of Death and confesse them faithfull and sincere servants of God 6 The last Honour is Imiâ—ation of their vertuous examples The Papists bâ—ag that Stapleton their great controversiall Divine was borne on that very day whereon Sir Thomas More was put to death but Providence so ordereth it that out of the ashes of dead Saints many living oneâ— doe spring and sprout by following the pious precedents of such godly persons deceased This was a maine motive of publishing the ensuing Treatise to furnish our present Age with a Magazeen of religious Patterns for their Imitation 7 There is a Monument in Palestine which at e Adricomius de terra sancta Modinum was erected for the Maccabees consisting of seven Pedestals and on them as many Pyramids under the bottoms whereof their Bodies lye buried whilest their tops serve even at this day for Sea-markes to direct Marrâ—ners sailing in the Mediterranean towards the Haven of Ioppa in the Hâ—ly Land Not unlike whereunto for the use and service thereof is this following Discourse mâ—de partly to doe right to the memory of these Heroes deceased and partly to guide and conduct us to arrive at the samâ— hâ—ppinesse by steering our course according to the purity of their lives and constancy of their deaths 8 Here may we finde many excellent Preachers who first reformed themselves that their Doctrine might take the better effect in others For as one who would most mannerly intimâ—te to another any spot or foulenesse in his face doth wipe hiâ— owne face in the same place that so the other beholding him may collect where and how to amend any thing that is amisse So these worthy Ministers gave others to understand how to rectifie their faults by exemplary clensing and clearing their owne lives and Conversations 9 But Most remarkable are many Confessors here briefly described for their constancy in persecution It was as Hegesippus reports an observation of Antonius the Emperour that the Christians were most couragious and confident alwayes in Earthquakes whilst his owne heathen Souldiers were at such accidents most fearfull and dis-spirited The same holds true here in many worthy Saints in such concussions and commotions of Church and State wherein all was almost turned upside-downe they acquited themselves most fearless and valiant still preferring a good conscience a grace very worthy of our Imitation especially in this Age when the very Foundations are shaken and most at a losse how to behave themselves God grant when men are at their wits end they may be at the beginning of their faith valiantly to hold out in the Truth 10 But the valour of some Martyrs shewed most exalted Patience The Roman Gladiators set â—orth and designed to Death when despairing to come off alive tooke all their care honeste decumbere to fall down in a decent posture so contriving their Bodies into a modest Method that no uncomlinesse might therein be discovered So was it in these Martyrs and ought to be in us if called into their condition all their sollicituousnesse was taking leave of life to entertain Death with so sweet a deportment that they might â—etray no unworthinesse or meannesse in minde in their latter end 11 So much for the occasion and matter of this worke As for the Makers thereof they are many some done by Doctor Featly now at rest with God viz. The lives of Iewell Reynolds Abbot and diverse others Some by that reverend and learned Divine Master Gataker viz. The Lives of Peter Martyr Bale Whitgiâ—t Ridley Whitaker d That pa 523. and not that pag. 328. which was printed before a mor exact Copy was procured Parker and others Doctor Willeâ—s life by Doctor Smith his Son in Law Erasmus his life by the reverend Bishop of Kilmore The life of Bishop Andrewes by the judicious and industrious my worthy friend Master Isaackson and my meannesse wrote all the lives of Berengarius Hus Hierom of Prague Archbishop Cranmer Master Fox Perkins Iunius c. Save the most part of the Poetry was done by Master Quarles Father and Son sufficiently known for their abilities therein The rest the Stationer got transcribed out of Mr. Holland and other Authors What remaines but to condole the sad condition of our dayes comming short of the former Age and daily wayning thinnesse in Eminent Divines caused from our present distractions We read Ioshuah 3.16 that the waters of Iordan
indited rather from his Cowardise then Conscience Oâ—r Illyricus in His catalogue of the witnesses of the Truth affords him a principall place therein We leave him to stand or fall to his owne master according to that concluding Disticke which we find in an Aauthor Cum nihil ipse vides propria â—uin labe laboret Tu tua fac cures caetera mitte Deo Seeing nought thou seest but faults are in the best Looke Thou unto thy selfe leave God the rest 16 Remarkeable are his words wherewith he breathed out his last gaspe which Illyricus reporteth to this Effect now am I to goe and appeare before God either to be acquitted by him as I hope or condemned by him as I feare Which words as they savour not of that full assurance of Salvation which God vouchsafeth to many of his servants so they carry not with them any offensive Breath of Despaire And it is no contradiction in Christianity to rejoyce before God with trembling And in this Twilight we leave Berengarius to that mercifull God who knoweth whereof we are made and remembereth we are but dust Most worthily may this Divine Old Berengarius fairely shine Within this Skie of lustrious Starres Who 'gainst Romes errours fought Truths warres Confuting with high approbation Romes sigment Transubstantiation Which did that Hierarchie so vex And with such passion so perplex That they would never give him rest But did his Soule so much molest That at the last by fraud and force They made him with most sad remorse Two severall times his Cause recant Him of his Crown thus to supplant Thus O thus oft Sols raye most rare With duskie clouds ecclipsed are IOHâ—N WICKLIâ—â—â— The Life and Deth of John Wicklief AMongst many famous Writers in this Nation as Beda Alckvine Iohn Carnotenesis Nigellus Neckam Sevall Bacanthorpe Ockam Hampoole of Armach this Wicklief is not the least of worth he was famous both for Life and Learning he was brought up in the famous Vniversity of Oxford in Merton Collâ—dge he gave himselfe after he was Master of Arts to the study of Schoole Divinity wherein having an â—xcellent acute wit he became excellently well qualified and was admired of all for his singular Learning and sweâ—tnâ—sse of behavior in King Edward the thirds time who protested that his chiefe end and purpose was to call backe the Church from her Idolatry especially in the matter of the Sacrament He was much favoured by Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster and the Lord Henry Percy who defended and protected him from his raging adversaries and Bishops And when Pope Gregory the eleveeth sent his Bull to Oxford to require them to root out Wicklâ—ef's Tares as he called them the Proctors and Masters were in long debate whether they should receive it or reject it In the time of King Richard the second this Wicklief was brought before the Bishops at Lambeth and had many Articles put in against him but what by the meanes of some Courtiers and Citizens of London he was again released After this William Barton Vice-chancellor of Oxford wiâ—h some other Doctors set forth an Edict against him and his followers whereupon he published a confession of his Doctrine Anno Christi 1382. the Archbishop of Canterburie held a Convocation at London and condemned the Articles of Wicklief as Heretical and when the said Archbishop with many of his adherents were gathered together about this business just as they were readie to begin their debate there fell out a great and generall Earthquake which so affrighted manie of them that they desisted from their business yet all means were used for the suppressing of his opinions but through God's mercie they could never bee exstirpated to this daie He was a great enemie to the swarms of begging Friers with whom it was harder to make war then with the Pope himselfe He denied the Pope to be the Head of the Church and pronounc'd him to be Antichrist he confuted and condemned his Doctrine about Bulls Indulgences c. The Bishop of Rome lost by his Doctrine the power of making and ordaining Bishops in England and the Tenths of spirituall promotions also the gains of his Peter-pence Whereupon Polidore Virgil cals him an infamous Hereticke He affiâ—med the Scripture to be the supreme Judg of Controversies condemned Transubstantiation c. He was a painfull and faithfull preacher of the Gospell under that famous King Edward the thiâ—d who alwaies favored and protected him against the rage of his adversaries In the raign of Richard the second he was by the power of his adversaries banished yet in all his affliction he shewed an undanted spirit At last returning from Exile he died in the yeere of our Saviour Jesus Christ whom he had Preached 1387. and was buried the last day of December at his Parsonage of Lutterworth in Leicester-shire But in the yeer 1428. which was 41. yeeres from the time of his death his dead body was by the Decree of Pope Martin the fifth and Counsell of Sene dig'd up and burned with the Execreations of that fiery Pope thus he found the cruelty of them being dead whom he had being living taught to be so He writ as Pius Aenaeas testifies more then two hundred faire volumnes most of which were burned by Sùbinck Arch-bishop of Prague in Bohemia The Catalogue of his Works you may reade in the Centuries of Ioâ—n Bale somes of them I have here set downe 1 Of Christ and antichrist 2. Of Antichrist and his members 3. Of the truth of the Scriptures 4. Of the fountain of Eâ—rors 5. A booke of Conclusions 6. 7. Of Ecclesiasticall and Civill government 8 Of the Impostures of Hipocrites 9. Of Blasphemy 10. Lectures on Daniel 11. On the Apocalyps 12. Of the marriage of Priests 13. The Divels craft against Religion 14. His policy to overthrow faith 15. Of Apostacy 16. Two bookes of Metaphysickes one containing 12. Bookes 17. Glosses upon the Scripture 18. Of falling away from Christ. 19. Of truth and lying Besides these he writ many of Philosophy and translated the Bible into the English tongue making Prefaces and Arguments to every Booke he also translated the twelve Bookes of Clement the Parson of Lanthon containing the harmony of the Evangelists And thus went out this Lampe of England of whom one thus hath said With our old English writers rare John Wicklief justly might Compare For Learning Life and solid Witt And many Works he rarely Writt Contending stoutly 'gainst Romes Errours Nere daunted by their threats or terrours But to his death still fought faiths fight And thus went out this Lamp of Light But being dead Rome did so rave 'Gainst this Faiths Champion that from 's grave They digged-up his Bones with ire And burnt as Hereticks in fire Thus was Romes Folly Rage exprest To burn dead Bones of Soules at rest IOHANNES HVS The Life and Death of John Huss THE faire fruit of effects is vertually couched in the small seeds of their causes 1 Iohn Huss
heart But when the fire began to be kindled that furious Element was more mercifull unto him then were his Executioners For whereas fire hath a double property to burn and to stifle here it was pleaâ—ed to make use of the latter quality as the milder and meeker of the twaine Except we shall say it was rather the Pitie of the wind than the favour of the fire which drove the flame so full upon his face that it quickly choaked him and may be presumed senselesse though he moved a while after His heart which was found amongst his bowels fiâ—st beaten with staves and Clubbes was afterwards pricked upon a sharpe sticke and rosted at the fire apart untill it was consumed The least remnant of his ashes were gathered up and cast into the rever of Rhine so if possible for ever to extirpate his memory 18 One memorable passage must not be forgotten in the life time of Huss which is conceived almost to amount to a prophecy he had a dreame as he writes in his forty fifth Eâ—istle being a letter written to the Lord Iohn de Clumâ—e how he beheld in his Church at Bethlehem in Paris certaiâ—e men to race and pull out the images of Christ and the next day as it seemed unto hiâ— many other Painters made more and fairer images than formerly and the Painters with much people about them said in merriment and kind of derision Let the Bishops and Priests come now and put out these Pictures Hereat the people much rejoyced and Huss himselfe fell a laughing which caused him to awake 19 I know that generally dreames are nothing but Fancies descant on the former dayes worke And he that layeth too much pressure on such slender props may be layed in the dust How ever it was verified in the event that many worthy Christians the truest Images of Christ as Christ is the image of God were by Huss his preaching and suffering converted to the truth in defiance of all Anchristian opposition who endeavored to deleate and expunge all imâ—ressions of Truth in them This most illustrious Lamp of Gospel Light Which in Bâ—hemia first shon forth most bright By this renowned Martyres industrie Heavenly herâ—ick Huss yet furiously Affronted was by Papall enemies But in the midst of this their rage did rise Among themselves a mighty Schisme and rent Three Anti-Popes at Once by which event Renowned Huss did great advantage gain The Gospels Light to propagate maintain But at the last that Schisme being sew'd-up Againe they fill their wraths and rages Cup And gave it Huss to drink who valiantly Drank-up the same to deaths extremity And though they Painted-Devils placâ—d on his head Yet he their rage and scorn did nothing dread Thus faithlesse Rome breaking her promise given In firey-Chariot sent his Soul to Heaven HIERONYMVS PRAGENSIS The life and Death of Jerom of Prague TRavellours Bydalph Morrison sandye report that the place wherein the Body of Absolon was buried is still extant at Ieruselem and that it is a solenme custome of Pilgrimes passing by it to cast a stone on the place the like in expression of their detestation of his unnaturall Rebellion against his owne father But a well disposed man can hardly goe by the memory or mention of Hierom of Prague without doing his greatfull homage thereunto in bestowing upon him some passage in his praise and Commendation Amongst others therefore who have raised the Heape of this good mans Monuiment we will cast in the Contribution of our Stone also though but a rough and unpolished one to advance the heigth of this History 2 This Ierome of Prague was by his Countrey a Bohemian though we find not the Allowing him 45â— years old at his Deaâ—h he was borne 1372. principall date and place of his Birth nor the Condition of his parents We account it more modisty to confesse our ignorance hereof then to wrong the Reader by obtruding on this Beliefe our roving Conjectures for certaine Truths But Bohemia though she was happy to enjoy him was not so covetous to ingrosse him but that for his profit and her owne honour She lent him to other parts of Europe there to have his Education He travelled into France and at Paris proceeded Master of Arts and in the Vniversity of Collen and Hidlebury had the same degree confirmed unto him He was as exact in observeing as happy in remembering the most note worthy passages which his judicious Eye met with in forraine Parts 3 But there is a secret Loadstone in every mans native Soyle effectually attracting them home againe to their Country their Center This skilfull merchant for Learning having made a long voyage to the most principall Parts and Staple places of Literature and by that his adventure much inriched himselfe hath a mind to returne home to his Haven and safely arived at Prague in Bohemia He needed no other harbenger â—o send before to provide him welcome then the fame of his owne reputation being so well known in that place that the City passeth for his Sir-name and the commonly stiled Hierom of Prague For here he had if not his Birth his first breeding here he made so many pious Sermons here he held so many famous disputations In so much as it is questionable whether Ierom be more honoured w th the Addition of Prague or Prague more renowned with the name of Ierom. For sooner shall the river MVLTAW cease with her silver streames to water and divide that famous City then the memory of Ierom be forgotten 4 Hitherto Ierom was but a wilde stocke and ungrafted going on with the multitude in Erronious wayes having drunke as deepe as the rest of Romes bewitched Cupp till his conversion hapned on this Occasion The Bohemians which brought their lady Anne over into England to be married to our King Richard the second brought back the books of Iohn Wicklief home with them into their Countrey Ierom of Prague lighting on one of them by perusing it perceived the abominable Supersticions then used in the Church and began by degrees first in his judgement to dislike them afterwards in his Practice to disuse them and lastly in his Preaching to Confute them Thus Contemptible beginnings being blessed by divine Providence proversi parents of most considerable effects 5 But no sooner had Ierom publikely opposed the doctrine of Purgatory and prayers for the dead but all the orders of Fryers like a nest of Hornets with there venomous stings were busie about him We read of Elephants that though their whole Body be by reason of the hardnesse of their Skinne of proofe against the sword yet they have a tender and soft place under their Belly wherein they are easily wounded as appeares by the example of Eleazer in the 1. Maccabes 6.46 Maccabes who taking advantage thereof killed one of them in fight But O how tender are the Monkes Bellies those Lazy Lubbers could not abide to be taught in point of Ease and profit
most worthily succeed And as two Twins for their heroick Spirit The one the others honour may inherit For by John Huss Jerom was blestly ayded Where by the Romish rout he was invaded And Jerom hearing Huss was wrong'd by Rome To vindicate his quarrell did presume But in the tryall found his heeles tript up Fearfull by Romish rage to taste his Cup Yet at the last that tempting blast ore blown His doubled and redoubled Zeal was shown Stoutly recanting his forc'd recantation To th' Death he hated Romes abomination Which did their Romish furie so enflame That torturing him they Tygers fierce became His head like Huss with painted Divels arrayd His Soule to Heaven outragious flames convayd MARTINVS LVTHERVS The Life and Death of Martin Luther MArtin Luther was born at Isleben Ann. Dom. 1483. November 10. at 9. a clock at night on Saint Martins day and was calâ—'d Martin His parents brought him up in knowledge and feare of God according to the capacitie of his tender yeeres and taught him to read at home and accustomed him to vertuous demeanour The father of George Aemilius as Luther often hath related first put him to Schoole where though the trueth was much darkned by clouds of Popery yet God preserved still the heads of Catechisme the Elements of the Cistoian Grammer some Psalmes and formes of prayer At fourteene yeeres of age he with Iohn Reineck who proved a man of especiall vertue and authority in those parts were sent to Magdeburg thence by his Parents he was removed to Isenak where was a Schoole of great fame There he prefected his Grammer learning and being of a very quick wit and by nature fitted for eloquence he soone surpassed his School fellowes in copiousnesse of speech and matter and excelled in expression of his minde both in profe and verse He went to Erford Anno 1501. Where he fell upon the crabbed and thorny Logick of that age which he soone attained as one who by the sagacitie of his wit was better able to dive into causes and other places of Arguments then others Here out of a desire of better learning he read over Cicero Livy Virgil and other monuments of ancient latine Authors When at Erphord he was graced with the degree of Master of Aarts at twinty yeeres of age he read as Professor Aristotes Phisicks Ethicks and other parts of Philosophy Afterward his kindred seeing it fit that so worthy indowments of wit and eloquence should be cherishsd for the publque good by their advise he betooke himselfe to the study of the Law But not long after when he was 21. yeeres old of a sudden besides the purpose of his parents and kindered upon an affright from his faithfull mates violent death he betooke himselfe to the Augustine Monks Colledge in Erphord But before he entred the Monastry he entertained his fellow studients with a cheerefull banquet and thereupon sent them letters of valedictory and sending to his parents the Ring gown of his degree of Master of Arts unfolded to them the reason of the change of his course of life It much grieved his parents that so excillent parts should be spent in a life little differing from death But for a moneths space no man could be admitted to speake with him running over the Bookes thereof in order he met with a copie of the Lanine Bible which he never saw before there with admiration he observed that there were moe Evangelicall and Apostolicall Texts then what were read to the people in Churches In the Old Testamenâ— with great â—ttention he read the story of Samuel and Anna hiâ— mother and began to wish that he was the owner of the like book which not long after he obtained Hereupon he spent his time on the Propheticall and Apostolicall writings the fountaines of all heavenly doctrine seeking thence to enforme his minde with Gods will and to nourish in himselfe the feare of God and true faith in Christ from true and undoubted grounds Some sicknesse and feare whet him on to attempt these studyes more earnestly It is said that in this Colledge Luther in his younger years fell into a most violent disease in so much that there was no hope of life and that an ancient Preast came to him and with these words comforted him Sir Be of good courage for your disease is not mortall God will raise you up â—o be a man who shall afford comfort to many other He was often cheered up by conference with the ancient Priest to whom he revealed his feares and scruples of minde Then he began to read Augustinâ— Works where both in his Comment on the Psalmes and in the book Of the Spirit and letter he found many evident places which confirmed this doctrin concerning faith the comfort which was before kindled in his breast Yet did he not utterly cast of the reading of Gabriel and Camaracensis writers on the Sentences but was able to recite them by heart in a manner He spent much time in often reading Occam and esteemed him for acutenesse of wit before Thomas Acquinas and Scotâ—s also he studiously perused Gerson But chiefly he read often Austines Workes and kept them well in memory This earnest prosecution of his studyes he began at Erphord and spent there five years in the Colledge In the year 1507. he put on the priests hood The first Masse which he celebrated was May 2. Domini Cantate Then was he 24. years old In this course he continued 15. years to the year of our Lord 1527. At that time Iohn Staupicius who endeavoured to promote the University of Wittenberg lately begun desired that the study of Theology should there flourish and well knew the wit and learning of Luther and removed him to Wittenberg An. 1508. when he was 26. years old Here in regard of his daily exercises in the Schools his Sermons the eminency of his good parts did more and more shew themselves And among other learned men who attentively heard him Martinus Mellurstad commonly cal'd Lux mundi the light of the world often said of Luther that there was in him so Noble a straine of wit that he did verily presage that he would change the vulger course of Studyes which at that time was usuall in Schooles and prevailed At Wittenberg Luther first explained Aristotles Logick and Physicks yet intermitted not his study of Divinity Three years after that is Anno 1510. he was sent into Italy and to Rome in the behalfe of his Covent for the deciding of some controversies among the Monkes There he saw the Pope and the Popes palace and the manners of the Roman Clergy Concerning which he saith I was not long at Rome There I said and heard others say Masse but in that manner that so often as I call them to minde I detest them For at the tabe I heard among other matters some Curtisans laugh and boast and some concerning the bread and wine on the Altar to say Bread thou art and
for his oâ—â—aâ—â—ons When a friend sent him 200. angels of gold from the metal-mines he bestowed them all on poore Students When Iohn the Elector gave him a new gowneâ— he said that he was made to much of for if here we receive a full recompence of our labours we shall hope for none in another life When the same Elector offered him a vayne of Metals at Sneberge he refused it lest he should incurre the tentations of the Divell who is Lord of treasure under the Earth He took nothing of Printers for his copies as he writeth saying I have no plenty of money and thus yet I deale with the Printers I receive nothing from them â—or recompence of my many Copies sometimes I receive of them one copy This I thinke is due to me whereas other writers yea translaters for every eight leaves have an Angel Concerning money given him thus he writeth The hundreth Angels given me I roceived by Tanbenhem and Schart gave me fifty that I stand in feare that God will give me my reward here But I protested that I would not so be satisfied by him I will either presently repay it or spend it For what should I doe with so much money I gave one halfe of it to P. Prior and made him a joyfull man He was very lovingly affectioned towards his children and gave them liberall education He kept in his house a School-master to traine them up in good arts and a godly life When he saw Magdalen his eldest daughter ready to dye he read to her in Esay 26.19 Thy dead servants shall rise againe together with my dead body shall they arise Awake and sing ye that dwell in the dust For thy dew is at the dew of hearbs and the earth shall cast out the dead Come my people enter into thy chambers and shut thy doores about thee Hide thy selfe as it were for a littâ—e moment untill the indignation be over-past My daughter enter thou into thy chamber with peace I shall ere long be with thee For God will not permit me to see the punishments hanging over the head of Germany And upon tâ—is wept plentifully But in publick when he went a long with the Herse he bridled his affection and was not seen to shed one teare And as all men of excellent spirits have a zealous anger in due place So Luther by nature was vehement but yet placable As appeareth in this that when Melancthon much moved to passion once came unto him and all the rest were very mute Luther uttered this Verse Vince animos irà mque tuam qui caeterà vinciâ— Thine owne heart overcome thy fury tame Who all things else hast stoutly overcame And then smiling saidâ— we will not further dispute of this matter and turned his speech to other occasions He foresaw and foretold many things as the combustion which rose in Germany saying I am very much afraid that if the Princes give eare to Duke George his ill counsell there will arise some tumult which will destroy all the Princes and Magistrates in all Germany and ingage in it all the Clergy Of the death of Frederick Elector of Saxony thus he writeth If God in heaven hath resolved in wrath to deale with us that neither our prayres nor counsels of amendment can hinder it let us obtaine this that our Josias may sleep in peace though the world be left to goe into its Babylon Of the covetousnesse of Germany and the dearth there thus he speaketh We feare Famine and we shall suffer it and finde no remedy for it And when as without necessity we are solicitous to prevent Famine like wicked and incredulous Gentles and neglect the word of God and his work he will permit shortly a dismall day to come upon us which will bring with it whole Wâ—inloads of ceares which he shall neither have power or meanes to escape Diverse other things he also foretold He had his health competently well but that sometimes he was troubled with the headach especially in his elder yeares Whereupon he was afraid of some violent Apoplexie and when he felt a swimming in his head or noyse in his eares he used to say Lord Iesu smite me gently for I am absolved from my sins according to thy word and am fed unto life eternall by thy body and blood Thine Apostle John and our Elector were taken out of this world by this kinde of death He endured often tentations whereupon he said All here are in health except Luther who is â—ound in body and without suffers at no mans hand in the world onely the Divel and all his Angels vex him He was of an indefferent stature of strong body of so Lion-like a quicknesse of his eyes that some could not endure to looke directly upon him when he intentively beheld them They say that one of mild spirit who could not endure in private to talke with Luther was courteously used by Luther yet was so pierced with the quicknesse of his eyes that being amazed he knew no course better then to run from him His voyce was mild and not very cleare whereupon when on a time there was mention at table about Pauls voyce which was not very perfect and full Luther said I also have a low speech and pronuntiation To whom Melancthon answered But this small voyce is heard very farre and neere In the year 1544. the 17. of November he finished his explication of Genesis which was his last publicke reading in the University which he concluded with these words Thus end I my explication on Genesis God grant that others may more rightly and truely expound it then I have done I cannot proceed farther therein my strength faileth me pray for me that it would please God to grant me a quiet and comfortable departure out of this life In the year 1546. Luther accompanyed with Melancthon viâ—â—ted his owne Country and returned againe in safety Not long after the Councell of Trent being begun and having â—â—te once or twice Luther was called againe by the Eâ—rles of Mansfield to his owne Country for to compose a dissention among them concerning their bounds and heritages Luther was not wont to deale in matters of this nature having been versed in sacred studyes all his life time but because he was borne at Isleben a towne in the territories of Mansfield he was willing to doe his Country service in this kind Wherfore making his last Sermon at Wittenberg the 17. day of Ianuary he toâ—ke his journey on the twenty third day And at Hall in Saxony lodged at Iustas Ionas his house where he stayed three dayes because of the roâ—ghnâ—sse of the waters and preached the 26. of Ianuary upon Pauls Conversion On the 28. day being Thursday at Hall he passed over the river with Iustas Ionas and his owne three sons and being in danger of drowning said to D r. Ionas Thinke you not that it would rejoyce the Divell very much if I and you and my three sons should
Great afflictions by which he lost all his bookes and writings and so was compelled to begin all againe to his great hinderance and doubling of his labours yet afterwards he went in another ship to Hamborough where he met Master Coverdal who assisted him in the translation of â—ive the books of Moses the sweating sicknesse being in the towne all the while which was Anno Christi 1529. and during their imploiment in that work they were entertained by a religious Widow Charity Mistresse Margaret Van Emerson when his English Testament came abroad Satans and the Popes instruments raged exceedingly some saying that there were a thousand Heresies in it others that it was impossible to translate the Scriptuâ—es into Euglish Popish lies others that it was not lawful for the Lay-people to have it in their owne language c. and at last the Bishops and Priests procured of King Henry the eight a Proclamation prohibiting the buying or reading of it yet not satisfied herewith they suborned one Henry Philips to go over to Antwerp to betraie him who when he came thither inâ—inuated himselfe into Master Tindal's company and pretended great friednship to him and haveing learned where his abode was he went to Bruxels and there prevailed so far that he brought with him the Emperors Atturney to Antwerp and pretending to visit Master Tindal he betraied him to two Catchpoles which presently carried him to the Atturny who after examination sent him to prison in the Castle of Filford 18. miles off and seized upon all his writings and what else he had at his lodging the English Merchants at Antwerp who loved Tindal very well did what they could to procure his release also letters were sent by the Lord Cromwell and others out of England in his behalf but Philips so bestirred himselfe that all their endeavours came to nothing and Tindal was at last brough to his answere and after much reasoning although he deserved not death yet they codemned him to die being brough forth to the place of execution whilest he was tying to the stake hee cryed with a servent and loud voice Lord open the King of Englands eies And so he was first strangled by the hangman and then burn't Anno Christi 1536. The power of his Doctrine and the sencerity of his life was such that during his imprisonment which was about a yeare and an halfe hee converted his keeper and his daughter and some others of his houshold and Philips that betraied him long enjoyed not the price of innocent blood but by God's just judgment he was devoured by lice Master Foxe in his History of Martyers sayes he might be called Englands Apostle The Workes which he writ besides the translation of the Scriptures are these that follow 1. A Christians obedience 2. The unrighteous Mammon 3. The practice of the Papists 4. Commentaries on the seventh Chapter of Saint Matthew 5. A discourse of the last will and testament of Tracij 6. An answer to Sir Thomas Mores Dialogues 7. The Doctrine of the Lords Supper against More 8. Of the Sacrament of the Altar 9. Of the Saâ—cramentall signes 10. A foote-path leading to the Scriptures 11. Two letters to John Frith All these are extant together with the workes of two Martyâ—s Barnes and Frith in English in Folio and thus after much labour and persecution this worthy member of Christ yeelded to the flaâ—es expecting a joyfull reresurrection Zeale crown'd his heartâ— and made him to out vie Papisticke stocks of Hell-bred Tyranny He feard them not but boldly would dispute Against their swelling Errours and confute Their Principles with a most dexterous art His tongue was never Traytor to his heart Truth was the hand that pointed to the way Where full content and rich Salvations lay T' was not a loathsome prison â—ould devorse His ready lipps from the profound discourse Of true Religion nothing could prevent His iust endeavours Time he thought mispent If not imploy'd to good Readerâ— admire His body flam'd to make his soule a fire The life and Death of URBANUS REGIUS who died Anno Christi 1541. URbanus Regius was borne in Arga Longa â—n the territories of Count Montfort of honest parents who principl'd him in the rudiments of Learning from school sent him to Friburg where he lived with Zasius an excellent Lawyer who loved him dearly for his diligence and industry from thence he went to Basil to study other Arts and from thence to Ingolstad where after a while he read privately to divers Noble-men's-sons whose parents desired him to furnish their children with books and all other necessaries for which they would take care to pay him againe quarterly but when he had run into debt for them they neglected to returne their money which caused him to thinke of departing and having an opportunity he listed himselfe a souldier under a Captaine that went against the Turkes leaving his books and oher furniture to be divided amongst the Creditors being now amongst the souldiers it happened that Iohn Eccius who was Govâ—rnor of the University coming forth to see the souldiers he espied Regius amongst them and enquired the cause of his so sudden a change he told them how those Noble-men had served him whereupon Eccius got him released from his Captain and by his authority procured the Debts to be paid by the parents of those youths which had been with him wherupon he returned to his studies againe wherein he growing famous for his wit and learning Maximilian the Emperor passing through Ingolstade made him his Laureat-Poet and Orator afterwards he was made Professor in that University Then he fell hard to the study of Divinity and a while after the controversie growing hot between Luther and Eccius Rhegius favoring Luther's doctrine because he would not offend Eccius to whom he was many wayes bound he left Ingolstade and went to Augusta and there at the importunity of the Magistrates and Citizens he undertooke the Government of the Church and being offended at the grosse Idolatry of the Papists he joyned with Luther and Preached against the same and having written to Zuinglius to know his judgement about the Sâ—crament and Originall Sin he received such satisfaction that he joyned in opinion with him about the same At that time the Anabaptists crept into Augusta and held private conventicles to the disturbance of the publicke peace for which the Magistrates imprisoned the chiefest of them and afterwards for their obstinacy punished them Râ—egius Preaching against Purgatory and Indulgences the malice and cruelty of the Papists prevailed at length to â—he driving of him out of that City buâ—â—fâ—eâ— a while by the earnest prayer of the Citizens he was called back 〈◊〉 to his former Charge where also he married a wife by whom he had thirteen children Eccius also came thither and sought by all meanes to turne him from the truth but in vain he sent also Faber and Cochlaeus with flatteries and lage promises who prevailed as
strong heat Nor was his body but his minde as frée From the contagion of hels leprosie For all his study was how to obtaine That happy treasure whereby he might gaine Heaven aâ— the last and sure unto that place He 's long since gone who was his Conntries grace The Life and Death of John Rogers who died Anno Christi 1555. IOhn Rogers was borne in England and brought up at the University of Cambridge where he profited very much in good learning and from thence was chosen by the Merchant Aâ—venturers to be their Chaplaine at Antwerpe to whom he Preached many yeeres and there falling into acquaintance with William Tindall and Miles Coverdal who were fled from persecution in England he by their meanes profited much in the knowledge of Jesus Christ and joyned with them in that painefull and profitable worke of Translating the Bible into English there he married a wife and from thence he went to Wittenberg where he much profited in learning and grew so skilfull in the Dutch tongue that he was chosen Pastor to a Congregation there where he discharged his Office with diligence and faithfulnesse many yeeres but in King Edwards time he was sent for home by Bishop Ridley and was made a Prebend of Pauls in which place he Preached faithfully till Queen Maries days and in the beginning of her Reign in a Sermons at Pauls-Croâ—se he exhorted the people constantly to adhere to that Doctrine which they had been taught and to beware of pestilent Popery c. for which he was called before the Lords of the Councill where he made a stout witty and godly answer and was dismissed but after the Queens Proclamation against True-Preaching he was again called the Bishops thirsting for his blood and committed prisoner to his owne house whence he might have escaped and had many motives as his wife and ten children his friends in Germany where he could not want preferment c. But being once called to answer in Christs Cause he would not depart though to the hazard of his life from his own house he was removed by Bonner to Newgate amongst thieves and murtherers he was examined by the Lord Chancellor and the rest of the Councell and by them was re-committed to prison he was much pressed to recant but stoutly refusing was first excommunicated and degraded and then condemned after which he desired that his wife to whom he had been married eighteen yeeres and by whom he had ten children and she being a stranger might be admitted to come to him whilst he lived but Stephen Gardiner then Lord Chancellor would by no meanes suffer it February the fourth Anno Christi 1555. he was warned to prepare for death before he rose If it be so said he I need not tie my points and so he was presently had away to Bonner to be degraded of whom he earnestly requested to be admitted to speake with his wife but could not prevaile from thence he was carryed into Smithfield where scarce being permitted to speake to the people he briefly perswaded them to perseverance in that truth which he had taught them which also he was now ready to seale with his blood then was a pardon profered to him if he would recant but he utterly refused it his wife with nine small children and the tenth sucking at her brest came to him but this sorrowfull sight nothing moved him but in the flames he washed his hands and with wonderfull patience took his death all the people exceedingly rejoycing at his constancy praising God for it He was the Proto-martyr in Queene Maries dayes The Sabbath before his death he dranke to Master Hooper who lay in a chamber beneath him bidding the messenger to commend him to him and to tell him That there was never little fellow that would better stick to a man then he would to him supposing they should be both burned together although it happened otherwise Though this grave Father was enfor'd to flye His envious Countrey for security Yet his undâ—unted courage would not move That alwayes stood as Sentinell to love 'T was not a prison could affection swage He like a Bird sung swéetest in a cage When firâ—t the Bible with great paines and care He into English did translate so far That knowing men did admire the same And justly did extoll his lasting fame Who did contemne the fury of all those Who both to us and him were mortall foes The Life and Death of Laurence Saunders who died Anno Christi 1555. LAurence Saunders was borne of worshipfull Parents brought up in learning at Eaton Schoole and from thence chosen to Kings Colledge in Cambridge where he continued three yeers and profited in learning very much then by his Moâ—her who was very rich he was bound to a Merchant in London but not affecting that course of life his Master gave him his Indentures and he returned to his studies in Cambridge where also he studied Greeke and Hebrew but especially the holy Scriptures he was frequent and very fervent in Prayer and when assaulted by temptations he still found much support and comfort in prayer whereby he gained such experience that he became a great comforter of others he Commensed Master of Arts and stayed long after in the University In the beginning of King Edwards Raign he began to Preach being first Ordeined a Minister and that with such generall approbation that he was chosen to read a Divinity-Lecture at Fotheringay where by his Doctrine and life he drew many to God and stopped the mouths of the adversaries about which time he married a wife and from thence he was removed to the Minster of Leichfield where also he by his Life and Dâ—ctrine gat a good report even from his adversaries from thence he was removed to Church-Langton in Leicestershire and from thence to Alâ—allowes in Breadstreet London and after his admission there he went backe into the Country to resign his Benefice which fell out when Queen Mary raised stirs to get the Crown In his journey he preach'd at Northampton not medling with the State but boldly delivered his conscience against Popish Doctrine and errors which said he are like to spring up againe as a just plague for the little love which England hath borne to the true Word of God so plentifully offered to them And seeing the dreadfull day approaching inflâ—med with godly zeal he Preached diligently at both his Benifices not having opportunity to resign eâ—ther but into the hands of the Papists and notwithstanding the Proclamation to the contrary he taught diligently the Truth at his Country-place where he then was confirming thâ— people and arming them against false doctrine till by force he was resisted some counselled him to fly out oâ— the Kingdome which he refused and being hindred there from preaching he traveled towards London to visit his flock in that place coming near London Master Mordant one of the Qâ—eenes Counsell overtooke him asked him if he did not Preach such a
Stephen Gardiner Lord Chancellor of England who railed upon him asked him if he knew him not c. to whom he answered Yea I know you and all your greatnesse yet you are but a mortall man and if I should be affraid of your Lordly looks why feare you not God the Lord of us all c. But after other discourse he sent him to the Kings Bench commanding his Keeper to keep him strictly In Prison he spent his time in prayer reading the Scriptures Preaching to the prisoners and to others that resorted to him he was diverse times examined of his Faith and witnessed a good Confession before his adversaries for which at last he was condemned to dye when his sentence was read he told them that God the righteous Judge would require his blood at their hands and that the proudest of them all should repent their receiving againe of Antichrist and their tyranny against the flocke of Christ. He was sent down to Hadley to be burn'd and all the way as he went he was very merrie as one that went to a banquet or Bridall In his journey the Sheriff of Essex perswaded him much to return to the Popish Religion c. to whom at last he answered I well perceive now that I have been deceived my sâ—lfe and shall deceive many in Hadley of their expectation when the Sheriff desired him to explain his meaning hoping that he would recant he said I am a man of a very great carkasse which I had hoped should have been buried in Hadley Churchyard but I see I am deceived there are a great number of worms there which should have had jollie feeding upon this carryon but now both I and they shall be deceived of our expectation when he came within two miles of Hadley he desired to alight and being downe he leap't and fet a frisk or two saying God be praised I am now almost at home and have not past a mile or two and I am even at my fathers house at Hadley towns-end a poore man with five children met him crying O dear father and good shepheard God help and succour thee as thou hast many a time succouâ—'d me and my poore children The streets were full of people weeping and bewailing their losse to whom he said I have preached to you Gods Word and Truth and am come to seal it with my blood He gave all his money to the poore for whom he was wont thus to provide formerly once a fortnight at least he used to call upon Sir Henry Doil and other rich Clothiers to goe with him to the Alms houses to see what the poore lacked in meat dâ—ink apparell bedding and other necessaries withall â—xhorting comforting and rebuking as he saw occasion Comming to the plâ—ce of execution he was not suffered to speak to the people who much lamented his death yet he was very chearfull saying Thanks be to God I am even at home and when he had prayed and made himselfe ready he went to the stake and kissed it the fire being kindled he held up his hands called upon God saying Mercifull father of heaven for Iesus Christ my Saviours sake receive my soul into thy hands and so stood still without moving till one with an halberd strook out his brains Among the many Champions of the Lord Who with their blood to Truth did beare record And feared not in furious flames to fry That they Christs Gospels light might magnifie Was pious precious Doctor Tailor stout Who did the fight of Faith to th' death fight out A very learned painfull Pastor grave Who to his Flock full testimony gave Of his great wisdomeâ— charity and love And all Soul saving graces from above Who for opposing Romes impiety Being apprehended and condemnâ—d to dye He kist his Stake being bound to it in chaines Burning a Popish wretch beat out his braines And thus this blessed Martyr chéerfully Went to his heavenly home triumphantly IOHN BRADEFORD The Life and Death of John Bradford NExt to this last mad Septenary of unchristian liberty and unparalled distractions the Devill never seem'd to injoy more chaine in this Kiâ—gdome then in the time of Queene Mary wherein laying hold on the weaknesse and superâ—ticion of a silly woman bred up in Popery and by reason of the bar interpos'd betwixt her and the Crowne by her Royall Brother Edward the sixt wholly subjected to the violent and bloody counsels of that faction which finally prevailed in her restitution and establishment he kindled more Bonefires in the space of three or four yeerâ—s in England then the world had at any time beheld in so few yeeres and in one Kingdome since the last of the first â—en Persecutions I dare not upon Master Foxes bare report who was somtimes and perhaps of purpose by the adversaries themselves miserably abus'd in hiâ— informations acknowledge all for Martyrs whom I finde in his Catalogue But what will Stapleton or any other Papist get by that The Church of Englaâ—d as it was of late reformed the Reformation by Law established hath produced added as many genuine knowing valiant Champions to that Noble Army as wiâ—hin these thousand yeers any Church in Christendome which is glory enough without hooking in either Heretique or Schismatique or any other who suffered for nothing lesse then well doing And from a chiefe place amongst those holy men and witnesseâ— to the truth of the Gospell of Iesus Christ all Stapletons exceptions bitter rayling and intemperat scoffes can not ought not exclude this blessed Saint and servant of God Iohn Bradford as shall evidently appeare to as many as wiâ—hout prejudice shall peruse and pondor his insuing History which God willing we will drive throuh the whole Course of his life from his Birth to his Martyrdome But to take our rise from his Birth He was borne in Manchester the quality of his Parentâ— though their meanes be not recorded may be easily gathered by his Education which was the best that either that place or those times could â—fford for he arrived very early at the knowledge of the Latin Tongue and for Ariâ—hmaticke he had few equals in those parts both which bâ—ing adorn'd and helped forward by a faire and speedy hand he became fit for imployment abroad before any great notice was taken of him at home which moved Sir Iohn Harrington a noble Knight and in good esteem both with King Henry the eight and his Son Edward the sixt to assume him into the number of his fellowes and imploy him in his most private and and urgent affaires both at home and abroad For at Bulloigne he was Treasurer at warres and here he had the charge and oversight of all his Majesties buildings In both imployments he found the service of young Bradford who besides his honesty and diligence had a notable dexterity in casting up and Auditing accoumpts of such importance that where ever he imploy'd him he committed all to his trust and own'd whatsoever he did
rage was spent Ye did him good though with an ill intent Pricke up your eares and hâ—are this fatall tone Those fires which made him screek wil make you groâ— The Life and Death of Conrade Pellican who dyed Anno Christi 1556. COnrade Pellican was born at Rubeac in Swedeland Anno 1478. and brought up in learning by his Parents at thirteen yeeres of age he went to Heidleberg after sixteen moneths study there he returned home where he entered into a Monastery yet afterwards returned to Heidleberg and from thence to Tubinge where he studied the Liberall Arts and was much admired for his quick wit he studied also School-Divinity and Cosmography wherein he profited exceedingly he tooke very great pains in the study of Hebrew and at Basil was made Doctor in Divinity 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 Fryar he was of great esteeme amongst them because of his learning integrity but it pleased God at last that by reading Luthers bookes and conference with learned and godly men he began to dis-relish 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 togeâ—her with Oecolampadius where he began first with reading upon Genesis then on Proverbs and Ecclesiastes An. Christi 1526. he was by the meanes of Zuinglius sent for to Tygure 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 againe 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 and Theodor Bibliander who was an excellent Linguist and began to read upon Iâ—aie to the great astonishment of his hearers for that he was not above 23. yeers of age Pellican â— at the earnest request oâ— learned men Printed all his Lectures and Annotations which were upon the whole Bible excepting onely the Revelations which portion of Scripture he not intending to write upon caused the Commetaâ—y of Sebastian Meyter upon it to be bound with his to make the worke compleat He translated many bookes out of Hebrew which were printed by Robert Stevens and having been Hebrew Professor at Tygure for the space of thirty yeers wherein he was most acceptable to all not onâ—ly in regard of his excellent learning and indefatigable painâ— but also in regard of his sweet and holy Conversation At lasâ— falling into the pain of the stone other diseases he departed this life upon the day of Christs Resurrection 1556. of his Age 78. After our Pellican had wandred long In the worlds wide-wildernesse he grew so strong In grace and goodnesse that he soon became An ample Subject for the mouth of Fame He was admir'd by all that lov'd to be Serious proficients in Divinity He lives he lives although his body lyes Inshrin'd by earth True virtue never dyes The Life and Death of Bugenhagius who died Anno Christi 1558. IOhn Bugenhagius was born at Iulinum in Pomerania Anâ—â— christi 1485. His Parents were of the rank of Senators who bred him up carefully in Learning and 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 he made the School famous and had many Scholaâ—â— to whom also he red daily some portion of Scripture and pâ—â—yed with themâ— and meeting with Erasmus his booke againe the â—â—strâ—onicall carriage of the Fryarâ— 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 Pâ—alms to which he added Catechising and also expounded the Creed and thâ— ten Commandements unto which exercises many â—entlemen Citizens and Priests resorted from the Schoole 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 fame spred abroad insomuch as Bogeslauâ— the Prince of that Country employed him in writing an History of the same aud â—urnished him with mony books and records for the enabling of him thereto which History he compleated in two yeeres with much judgement and integrity Anno Christi 1520. one of the Citizens of Trepâ—a having Luthers booke of the Babylonish Captivitie sent him he gave it to Bugenhagius as he was at dinner with his Collegues who looking over some leaves of it told them that many Hereticks had disqâ—ieted the peace of the Church since Christs time yet there was never a more pestilent Hereticke then the Author of that book but after some few dayes having read it with more diligence and attention he made this publick Recantation before them all What shall I say of Luther All the world hath been blinde and in cimmeâ—ian darknesse onely this one man hath found out the Truth And further disputing of those questions with them he brought most of his Collegues to be of his judgement therein Hereupon Bugenhagius read Lutheâ—'s other Works diligently whereby he learned the difference between the Law and the Gospell Justification by Faith c. and taught these things also to his Hearers But the Divell envying the successe of the Gospell stirred up the Bishop to persecute the professours of it some of which he cast into Prison and caused others to flye away insomuch as Bugenhagius also being not safe and desirous to be acquainted and to confer with Luther went to Wittembourg Anno christi 1521. and of his 〈◊〉 36. and came thither a little before Luther's going to thâ— Diet at Worms In whose absence he opposed â—arolostadius who would have all Magistrates to rule by the Judicialâ— of Moses and Images to be cast out of Churches Upon Luther's return out of his Pathmos he was chosen Pastor of the Church of Wittembourg which he taught and governed with much felicity and in many changes of affairs for the space of thirty six years never leaving his station neitheâ— for War nor Pestilence and when he was profered Richeâ— and Preferment both in Denmark and Pomeron yet he would never leave his Charge though he lived but poorly in itâ— Anno christi 1522. he was sent for to Hamburg where hâ— prescribed to them a forme both of Doctrine Ceremonieâ— and Calling of Ministers where he erected a Schoole alsoâ— which afterwards grew very famous and Anno christi 1530 being sent for to Lubec he prescribed to them also an order both for Preaching and Discipline
Reformation in the Churches he was informed by Melancthon that Ecclesiasticall government did consist 1. In the soundnesse and puritie of Doctrine 2. In the lawfull use of the Sacraments 3. In a conservation of the Minister of the Gospell and in obedience towards the Pastors of the Churches 4. In the preservation of an honest and godly Discipline which was to be upheld by an Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction 5. In the upholding of Schooles 6. In supplying such persons as are imployed in weightie matters with sufficient necessaries Which points he caused to be dispersed amongst the Churches but they wrought little or no Reformation the yeer following Germanie was oppressed with civill Warres which when it was greatly lamented by Melancthon some out of malice misinterpreting his words accused him unto the Emperour as one who laboured to hinder his proceedings in the Reformation of Religion for which cause the Emperour intended his death but he was defended and delivered by the intreaty of Mauritius the Prince Elector who possessed the Emperour with a contrary opinion Not long after it happened that there were great preparations for the Councill of Trent and safe going and returning being concluded on Melancthon was sent with the Letters of the foresaid Mauritius and taking Norimberge in his way he was commanded to stay there untill he received an answer concerning that faith which was generally to be embraced of all the Churches During his aboad at Noremberge he heard the newes of the Expedition of Mauritius against the Emperor in regard of the Lantgrave of Hassia who was detained captive Wherefore Melancthon lefâ— Noremburge returned again to Wittemberge Many are of opinion that if he had been present at the said Councill and had been suffred to declare his mind freely amongst them he would have redified many of their judgements concerning matters of religion Being come unto Wittenberge he constantly went forward in his exercise of teaching and preaching the word of God untill he fell into an irrecoverable disease whereby his vitall spirits grew so feeble that he was made unfit for the performance of his pastorall office and weaknesse increasing every day more and more upon him he was constrained at the last to yeeld unto death and in the midst of many heavenly prayers he surrendred his soul unto him that gave it in the yeer of our Lord 1560. in the 63. yeere of hiâ— age and after that he had preached the space of 42. yeeres unto the inhabitants of Wettemberge Where he was buried with great sorrow and lamentation being laid side by side with Luther For his excellent gifts he was not onely reverenced by Protestant Divines then living but he also gained a singular approbation of such as were his professed enemies He was of a meane stature not exceeding the common sort of men his forehead smooth and high his haire thin his neck long his eyes beautifull and peircing he was broad breasted and in generall there was a proportionable agreement betwixt all the parts of his body in his youth he stammered something in his speech but reaching unâ—o a maturity of age he so corrected that infirmity that it gave no offence unto his Auditors the learned treatises which he left unto the Church whose reformation both in doctrine and discipline he greatly laboured for in his life are here inserted Tome 1. 1. Commentaries on Genesis 2. Explications on some Psalms 3. Vpon the Proverbs Annotations on 4. Matthew 5. Iohn 6. 1 Corinthians 7. An Apologie for Luther against the Paritians 8. Anabaptistists 9. Sentences of Fathers 10. Of the qualification of Princes 11. Of the tree of consanguinity Tome 2. 1. A Comment on Paul to the Romans 2. School-notes on the Colossians 3. Common places of Divinity Tome 3. 1. A confession of Faith 2. A Catechisme 3. A method of Preaching 4. Theologicall Disputations 5. Of Vowes 6. Of the doctrine of the reformed Church 7. An Epistle to John Earle of Widae Tome 4. 1. Philosophicall workes 2. Commentaries on Aristot. Ethicks 3. Politicks 4. An Epitome of Morall Phylosophy Tome 5. 1. A Latin Grammer 2. A Greeke gram 3. Logicke 4. Rhetoricke 5. Enarrations on Hesiods workes 6. Arithmaticke 7. Epigrams These were printed by Hervagius but there are divers others set forth by Christopher Pezelius As 1. An admonition to those that read the Alcaron 2. A defence for the marriage of Priests 3. Commentaries on Daniel 4. A discourse on the Nicene Creed 5. Luthers Life and Death 6. Schoolâ—-notes on Cicero his Epistles 7. Translations of Demosthenes and Plutarch 8. Greeke and Latine Epigrams 9. Two Tomes of Epistles 10. Carion his Cronologie â—nlarged Would thy ingenious Fancy soare and flye Beyond the pitch of moderne Poesye Or wouldest thou learne to charme the conquerd eare With Reth'riks oyly Magik wouldest thou heareâ— The Majesty of language wouldest thou pry Into the Bowels of Philosophy Morall or Naturall Or wouldest thou sound The holy depth and touch the unfathom'd ground Of deepe Theology Nay wouldest thou need The Sisteme of all excellence and feed Thy empty soule with learning's full perfection Goe search Melancthons Tomes by whose direction Thou shalt be led to Fame if his rare story Can make thee emulous of so great a glory The Life and Death of John a Lasco who died Anno Christi 1560. IOhn Lascus was born of a noble family in Poland and brought up in learning afterwards travelling to Tygure in Helvetia he was by Zuinglius perswaded to betake himselfe to the study of Divinity and when he might have been preferred to great honor in his owne Country such was his love to Christ and his Church and such his hatred to Popery that he chose with Moses to suffer affliction with the people of God rather then to live in worldly honor and peace amongst his friends coming into Frisland Anno Christi 1542. he was called to be a Pastor at Embden where he fed and ruled his flock with great diligence the yeere after he was sent for by Ann the widdow of Count Oldenburg to reform the Churches in East-Frisland and the next yeer after by Albert Duke of Prussia but when he agreed not with him in judgement about the Lords Supper the worke remained unperfected about that time the Emerour persecuted the Protestants he was sent for by King Edward the sixth upon Cranmers motion into England where he gathered Preached unto and governed the Dutch-Church which remain's to this day In the dayes of Queen Mary he obtained leave to return beyond-Sea and went with a good part of his Congregation into Denmarke but there he found but cold entertainment by reason of his differing from them about the Lords Supper the Churches of Saxonie also rejected them not suffering them to live amongst them upon the like reason at length that poore Congregation found entertainment in Frisland under the Lady Anne Oldenburg and setled at Embdem Anno Christi 1555. he went thence to Francford upon Main where with the consent of
meane time granted unto them liberty of Conscience which when it came to the eares of Paulus III. Pope of Rome he sharply reproved the Emperour saying That he esteemed of Hereticks as highly as of Catholicks and that he seemed to thrust in his sickle into another mans harvest The Emperour answered That he was perswaded that his act was just And Calvin perceiving the truth of the Gospell to be deeply wounded bâ— these Letters he sharply reprovâ—d the boldnesse of the Pope In this year also there was a Convocation at Spire whereupon Calvin tooke occasion of writing his Booke intituled De necessitate reformandae Ecclesiae And in the same year also he refuted the Anabaptists and Libertines and that with such invincible arguments that none reading and observing hiâ— Worke can unlesse wittingly and willingly be deceived and seduced by them But the Queen of Navarre was greatly offended with that Worke of his against the Libertines because he had particularly reproved Quintinus and Pocquetus two Ringleaders of that Sect and not of small account with her Majesty Calvin being informed of this he so wisely and discreetly behaved himselfe that he gained againe the favour of the Queen and withall caused that impious and blasphemous Sect to be banished out of France who afterwards seated themselves in Amsterlodam the prime town in Holland In the year 1545. by the conspiracy of some wicked and evilly disposed persons the thresholds and posts of the doores in Geneva were done over with an oyntment so strongly composed of poyson that whosoever touched it death imediately followed and from this also proceeded a raging Pestilence in the City whereby an infinite number of soules were swept away this accident procured great envie unto Calvin from all places yet at the last some of the authors of this inhumane act were discovered and suffered worthy punishment for the same In this year also he laboured to remove the false opinion of Osiander concerning the Lords Supper out of the Church and also the errours of the Nicodemites and many other grosse opinions which hindred the growth of the truth of Christ. In which proceedings he was abundantly blessed by the Lord who never permitted his enemies to have their pleasure of him by taking away his life which they intended and more especially he shelterd him from the fury of Amedenus Perinnus a Captaine of great authority in the City but deprived for that fact of his Office These continued dissentions and defamations in the Church at Geneva were motives which drew Farellus and Viretus unto the same place who in the year 1548. delivered before the Senate an eloquent and learned Oration concerning the suppression of Sedition and the taking away of differences out of the Church The motion was approved of all and Perinnus having hopes thereby to attaine againe unto his former preserment consented thereunto but he soone discovered his wicked intent for he was no sooner graced with his former dignitie but he and many others burst forth into reproachfull speeches against Calvin and after a disgracefull manner calling his Dog by the name of Calvin others stile him by the name of Cain and some by reason of that violent and fierce hatred which they conceived against him they would absent themselves from the Communion and so draw downe a double vengeance on themselves In the midst of these evils which were of force to have caused him to have forsaken the City he constantly performed his Ministeriall office and at vacant times he inlightned Pauls Epistles with learned Commentaries He also most learnedly laid open and discovered the falsity and vanity fo Judiciary Astrology He comforted Beratius living as a banished man at Basil and also Bucer in England And this is also remarkable that notwithstanding the daily increaâ—ing of these contentions the Church did wonderfully florish in Geneva and also it injoyed some peace and quietnesse In the year 1551. for then there sprung up a company of factious fellowes who denied the priviledges of the City unto such as were banished for the truth and fled to that place for succour And being perswaded by Calvin in a Sermon Preached for that purpose to grant the priviledges of the City unto them he was well beaten for his paines as soon as he came out of the Pulpit These stirred up also another Tumult in the Temple of St. Gervas because the Minister refused to Baptize a child by the name of Balthazar Calvin not forgetting his late kindnesse received was contented with patience to let it passe In this year the City was also much troubled with that blasphemous heresie of Servetus who by the means of Calvin was apprehended and convicted but remaining obstinate in his opinion he was buâ—nd alive in the same City The cause of Servetus being as yet in hand one of the factious company called Berâ—lerius an impudent and wicked fellow whom the Presbitery had foâ—bidden to come unto the Lords table by reason of his ill lead life and excomunicated came unto the Senate and desired his absolution which he perswaded himselfe was sufficient Calvin earnestly opposes this action of the Senate declaring unto him that he ought to be a defender and maintainer and not a violator of holy good lawes yet Berlterius prevailed with the Senate and he granted unto him his absolutory letters Perinnus by the imitation of Bertlerius thought to take Calvin in a trap and either to raise a tumult against him if he would not obey the Senate or if he consented then no disanull the authority of the Presbitery Calvin being fore-admonished of this intent in his Sermon before the Communion in the presence of both of them he uttered these words with great fervency But I imitating Chrisostome will rather suffer my selfe to be slain then that this hand shall reach the holy things of the Lord unto such as are apparently known to be the contemners and despisers of him which wrought such an impression in them that they durst not presume to come unto the Lords table nay it is probable that he was at that time fearfull of his life for he Preached as if they never afterwards should have heard him again In this troublesom state the Church of Geneva continued unto the yeere 1555. wherein a conspiracy was happily discovered by which meanes most of the factious persons were put to death and banished the City By which example of Divine vengeance others were delivered and kept in awe and that Common-wealtâ— freed from many inconveniences yet in the same yeer the errours of Servetus seemed to revive againe and to be nourished by Matthaeus Gibraldus an excellent Lawyer who came unto Geneva and would willingly have been familiar with Calvin which he most willingly would have had embraced so as he would have consented with him in the Article of the Trinity The same year also yeelded much sorrow unto Calvin in regard that persecution raged in many places and especially in England which tooke away Hooper
much lesse to lament him Towards Knox his later end his body became very infirm and his voyce so weak that People could not hear him in the ordinary place wherefore he chose another place wherein he preached upon the History of Christs passion with which he said it was his desire to close his Ministry finding his end neer he importuned the Council of the City to provide themselves a worthy man to succeed in his place Master Iames Lawson Professor in Aberdene was the man pitched upon and Commissioners were sent from the Church of Edinborough to request him to accept of the place Iohn Knox also subscribed that request adding Accelera mi frater alioqui â—erò venies Haste my Brother otherwise you will come too late this made Master Lawson to hasten his journey and when he was come he preached twice to the good liking of the people whereupon order was taken by the rulers of the Church for his admission at which time Iohn Knox would needs preach though very wâ—ak which also he performed with such fervency of spiriâ— that he was never before heard to preach with so greaâ— power or more content to the hearers In the end of his Sermon he called God to witnesse that he had walked in a good conscience with them not seeking to please men nor serving either his owne or other mens affections but in all sincerity and truth had preached the Gospell of Christ. He exhorted them in most grave and pithy words to stand fast in the Faith they had received and so having prayed zealously for Gods blessing upon them and the multiplying of Gods spirit upon their new Pastor he gave them his last farewel Being conveyed to his lodging that afternoon he was forced to betake himselfe to his bed and was visited by all sorts of persons in his sicknesse to whom he spake most comfortably amongst others the Earle of Morton came to see him to whom he said My Lord God hath given you many blessings Wisdome Honor Nobility Riches many good and great friends and he is now about to prâ—fer you to the Government of the Realm the Earl of Marr the late Regent being newly dead In his name I charge you use these blessings better then formerly you have don seeking first the glory of God the furtheance of his Gospell the maintenance of his Church and Ministry and then be carâ—full of the King to procure his good and the welfare of the Realm Iâ— you doe thus God will be with you and honor you if otherwisâ— â—e will dâ—prive you of all these benefits and your end shall be shame and ignonminie These speeches the Earl called to minde about nine years after at the time of his Execution saying That he had found Iohn Knox to be a Prophet A day or two before Knox his death he sent for Master David Lindsey Master Lawson and the Elders and Deacons of the Church â—o whom he said The time is approaching which I have long thirsted for wherein I shall be released from all my cares and be with my Saviour Christ for ever and now God is my witnesse whom I have served with my spirit in the Goâ—â—eâ—â— of his Son that I have taught nothing but the true sincâ—râ— Word of God and that the end that I proposed in my Mâ—nistry was To instruct the ignorant to confirm the weaâ— to comfort their consciences who were humbled under the sense of their sins and born down with the threatningâ— oâ— Gods judgments I am not ignorant that many have and doe blame my too great rigor and severity but God knoweth that in my heart I never hated those agaâ—nsâ— whom I thundered Gods judgments I did onely hate theiâ— sins and labored according to my power to gaine them to Christ That I did forbear none of what condition soever I did it out of the fear of my God who hatâ— placed me in the function of his Ministry and I know will bring me to an account Now bretheren for your selveâ— I have no more to say but to warn you that you â—ake heâ—d to the Flocke over which God hath placed you Over seers which 〈◊〉 hath redeemed by the blood of his onely begotten son and you Master Lawson fight a good fight doe the Worke of the Lord with courage and with a willing minde and God from heaven blesse you and the Church whereof you have the charge Against it so long as it continues in the Doctrâ—nâ— of the Truth the gates of hell shall not prevaâ—le having thus spoken and the Elders and Deacons being dismissed he called the two Preacher to him and said There is one thing that grieveth me exceedingly you have sometimes seen the Courage and Constancy of the Laird of Grang in the Cause of God and now that unhappy man is casting himself away I pray you go to him from me and tell him That unlesse he forsake that wicked course that he is in the Rock wherein he confideth shall not defend him nor the carnall wisdome of that man whom he counteth halfe a god which was young Leshingâ—on shall yeeld him help but he shall be shamefully pulled out of that nest and his carcasse hung before the Sun meaning the Câ—stle which he kept against the Kings Authority for his soul it is dear to me and if it were possible I would fain have him saved accordingly they went to him conferred with him but could by no meanes divert him from his course But as Knox had fore-told so the year after his Castle was taken and his body was publickly there hanged before the Sun yet at his death he did expresse serious repentance The nex day Knox gave order for the making of his Coffin continuing all the day as he did also through all his sicknesse in fervent prayer crying Come Lord Iesus sweet Jesâ—s into thy hands I commend my spirit being ask'd whether his pains were great he answered That he did not esteem that a pain which would be to him the end of all troubles and the beginning of eternall joyes Oft after some deep meditation he used to say Oh serve the Lord in fear and death shall not be troublesome to you Blessed is the death of those that have part in the death of Iesus The night before his death he slept some hours with great unquietnesse often fighing and groaning whereupon when he awakened the standers by asked him how he did and what it was that made him mourn so heavily to whom he answered In my life time I have been assaulted with Tempâ—aâ—ionâ— from Satan and he hath oft cast my sinâ— into my teeth to drive me to despair yet God gave me strength to overcome all his Temptations but now the subtill serpent takes another course and seek's to perswade me That all my labors in the Ministery the fidelity that I have shewed in that service hath merited heaven and immortality but blessed be God that brought to my minde these Scriptures What hast thou that
paines To sowe good seeds and after reape the gaâ—nes He was belov'd of all that lov'd the â—ame Of learning for he had a winged name His care his love his industry was such That in few yeaâ—s his heart attain'd to much But in conclusion Enviâ— that still crowds Into true Fame involv'd him in the clouds Of sudden ruine Pâ—â—istâ— thought it good To take a furfeit of his guiltlesse blood The Life and Death of Matthew Parker who dyed Anno Christi 1574. MAtthew Parker was born in the City of Norwich Annâ— Christi 1502. and having some years at Schoole hâ— went to Cambridge where he was admitted into Corpuâ— Christi Bennet Colledg in which place he profited so much that he was chosen Fellow and grew so famous thâ—t Queen Ann Bullen mother to Queen Elizabeth made him her Chaplain whereupon he Commensed Doctor in Divinity and after her death King Henry the eighth and after his death King Edward the sixth made him their Châ—plaines and preferred him to be Master of Bennet Colledge besides other Ecclesiasticall dignities which they advanced him to but in Queen Maries dayes he was despoiled of all and was compelled to live a poor and private life but so soon as Queen Elizabeth came to the Crown she made choyce of this Doctor Parker for his admirable learning and piety to be the Archbishop of Canterbury Anno Christi 1559. which place he supplyed with great commendation for above fifteen years His works of Charity were very eminent He gave to the Corporation of Norwich where he was born a Bason and Ewr double guilt weighing 173. ounces as also fifty shillings a year for ever to be destributed amongst the poor of that City and six anniversary Sermons in severall places of Norfolk to Bennet Colledge he gave thirty Scholarships built them a Library and bestowed many excellent books and ancient Manuscripts upon it besides three hundred ounces of silver and guilt-plate and the perpetuall Patronage of Saint Mary Ab-church-London He carefully collected and caused to be printed diverse ancient Histories of England which probably had otherwise been lost He dyed in peace An. Christi 1574. and of his Age 72. What Heav'n bestow'd upon him he was frée To give to others for his Charitie Was known to many whose impatient griefe Inforc'd them to implore his sure reliefe His worth was such that t' was disputed which Pray'd for him most either the poore or rich The poore they pray'd as they were bound to do Because he fild their soules and bodies too The rich destr'd his life because his store Sustain'd their soules and help'd maintain the poore Thus having spent his dayes in love he went In peace to Heav'ns high court of Parliament HENRICVS BVLLINGERVS The Life and Death of Henry Bullinger IN the year of our Lord 1504. Henricus Bullingerus was born at Bremogarta a Town in Switzerland he was descended from an ancient and a noble Family much esteemed and honoured in those parts Being an Infant he was twice in great danger of his life but preserved by the powerfull hand of God contrary to the expectation of his Parentâ— and friends first from the Pestilence wherewith those parts were at that time grievously punished and secondly from a wound which he received in his â—hrâ—at by reason of a fall whereby he was made unable to admit of any nourishment for the space of five dayes His Father being a man of great learning and bearing an extraordinary affection unto the Arts and their Professors he was very carefull to provide that the tender years of this his Son might be bathed in the Fountains of Learning and for that cause he being not fully five years old he was sent unto a Countrey School neer adjoyning where he continued seven years but by reason of the inability of his Master he profited not much yet he attained unto that perfection that he exceeded those which learned with him not without the approbation of his Master His Parents well perceiving the towardlinesse of the childe and finding that Schoolmaster not to be a sufficient Tutor for him they presently entred into a consideration of sending him unto some more eminent place where he might be instructed in the Arts for the better perfection of nature and therefore in the year 1516. he was sent unto Embrick a Town in the Dukedom of Clire then famous for the many learned Schollers wherewith it was adorned and here he was comitted unto the tuition of Casparus Glogoriensis and of Petrus Cochemensis Mosellanus and others being men beautified with excellent endowments and famous both for their Method of Teaching and severity of Discipline which latter was most acceptable unto this Bullinger and for that cause being yet a childe he had an intent to unite himself unto the Order of the Carthusians it being the stricâ—est and most severest In this place Bullinger concinued three years to the great perfection of his Studies and increasing of his knowledge in the Arts and Tongues During which time he received little maintenance from his Father He furnished himselfe with victuals sometimes by singing sometimes by begging from doore to doore Which action he performed not because his Father was poore and could not or covetous and would not confer a sufficient annuall pension on him but he did it because he desired to have some experience of the miserable and wretched condition of poore men that iu future times he might be the more willing and ready to relieve and succour them Afterwards he removed unto Colen where he studied Logick and notice being taken of his excellent qualities he proceeded Bachelor of Arts and because there was great controversies in the Churches then touching some points of Divinity he inclined unto the Study of Theologie and withall desired to know of those who were esteemed the best Schollars what Authors were fittest to be read to ground him in the knowledge thereof They all advise him to consult with Lombard his writings being of good account and authority in those times This counsell was embraced by Bullinger who not contenting himselfe with that Author he went unto Georgius Deinerus by whose procurement he obtained an admission into the publick Library at Colen where he studied the Homilies of Chrysostome on Matthew read over some chiefe parts of the Workes of Augustine Ambrose Origen the Workes of Luther he read privately in his own Chamber which indeed were the meanes of inlightning his understanding for by the reading of them he was induced to peruse and to search into the Scriptures and especially into the New Testament whereby he entred into a detestation of the Doctrine of the Church of Rome and into a constant and firme resolution of rejecting the austerâ— life of the Carthusian Monkes In this Academy he went forth Master of Arts and then he returned unto his Fathers house where he spent a whole year in his private studies and meditations at the end whereof he was called by Wolfangus Ionerus unto
to confesse my selfe to be a sinner and that I could expect 〈◊〉 salvation but in the righteousnesse of Jesus Christâ— For we all staâ—d in need of the Grace of God And as for my death I blesse God I feel and find so much inward joy and comfort to my soul that if I were put to my choyse whether to die or live I would a thousand times rather chuse death then life if it may stand with the holy wiâ—â— of God and accordingly shortly after the slept in the Lord Anno Christi 1576. What greater Simptomes can there be of grace Then to be penitent the greatest race A Christian can desire to run is this Fron earths base centre to eternall blisse This race our Deering run he spent his time Whilest here he liv'd in studying how to clime To Heav'ns high Court true vâ—â—tue was his prize And God the object where he fixt his eyes Faith Hope and Charity did sweetly rest Within the Councell Chamber of his brest And to conclude the graces did agree To make a happy soul and that was he The Life and Death of Flacius Jlliricus who dyed Anno Christi 1575. MAtthias Flacicus Illiricus was born in Albona in Sclavoâ—a Anno Christi 1520. his Father whil'st he lived broâ—ght him up in learning careâ—ully but after his dâ—ath his Masters so neglected him that he almost forgot all but when he began to have discretion he desired much to attaine to learning and for that end he went to Venice and after some progresse made at seventeen years old he began to â—tudy Divinity but wanting meanes to maintain him in the University he profered halfe his estate to be admitted into a Monastery either at Bononia or Padua but a friend diâ—swading him from that kinde of life advised him rather to goe into Germany where were store of learned men He went therefore to Basil where he studied under Grynaeus and from thence to Tubing where also he studied a while and then went to Wiâ—tenbâ—rg Anno Christi 1541. where he privately taught Greek and Hebrew for hiâ— maintenance and heard Luther and Melancthon He was much troubled there with temptations about sin God's wrath and Predestination but by the good councell of Pomeâ—â—ne and Luther and the publick prayers of the Church for him it pleased God that he overcame them Melancthon loved him much for his wit and learning there he was made Master of Arts married a wife and had a stipend allowed him by the Prince 〈◊〉 But when by reason of the Wars that University was dissipated he went to Bâ—â—nswiâ—ke got much credit by his publick teaching but the Wars being ended he return'd to Wittenberg Anno 1547. But when the Interâ—m came forth and Melancthon thought that for peace-sake som thing should be yeelded to in things indifferent Flacius with many other Divines strongly opposed it as opening a gap to the retnrne of Popery whereupon he removed from thence to Magdeburg where he strongly opposed whatsoever was contrary to the Augustine Confession there alsâ— he assisted in writing the Magdeburgenses Centuries And wheâ— the Duke of Saxony had erected an University at Ieans he sent for him thither Anno Christi 1556. but after five years a great contention arising between Strigelius and him about Free-will he left that place and went to Ratisbone â— anâ— Anno Christi 1567. the Citizens of Anâ—werp having proâ—â—â—â—â— liberty for the free exercise of the Reformed Religion sent for Flacius amongst others thither but Religion being quickly expelled thence he went to Argentine and from thence to Franckefurt 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 dyed Anno Christi 1575. and of his age 55. He was of an unquiet wit alwayes contending with some or other and brought much griefe to Melancthon yet wrote some excellent works for the benefit of the Church and amongst oothers his Catalogus Testium Veritatis He was a man as some reported fit To be the Master of unquiet wit He was contentious which brought discontent To rare Melancthon yet some time he spent In serious studyes leaving at his death Rare workes behind to give his fame a breath The Life and Death of Josias Simlerus who dyed Anno Christi 1576. IOsias Simlerus was born in Helvetia Anno Christi 1530. his father was a godly learned and prudent man by whom he was carefully brought up in learning and at fourteen years of age he was sent to Tygure where he lived in Bullingeâ—'s family who was his godfather almost two years from thence he went to the University of Basil where he studied the Arts and Tongues one year and from thence he went to Argentine where he made a further progresse in those studies and at the end of three yeares he returned to his fathers with whom he spent his time in study and teaching a School and sometimes also preaching Anno Christi 1552. he began publickly to expound the New Testamâ—nt beginning in Matthew in Tygure being twenty two yeares old which worke he performed with great judgement fidelity and diligence having not onely many of that City to be his hearers but many Exiles especially of the English also four years after he was made Deacon and went on in his former worke with admiration so that he was highly prized by all Bibliander being grown very old Simler supplyed his place and was Collegue to Peter Martyr who fore-told that Simler was like to prove a great ornament to the Church who also when he dyed expressed much joy that he should leav so able a man to succeed him Simler besides his publick labours instructed many also in private and amongst them some Noblemen both in sacred and humain learning he had such an acute wit and strong memory that he was able Extempore to speak of any subject and to answer his friends questions out of any author and to give an account of their wrintings to the great admiraâ—tion of the hearers and though in reading of bookes he seemed to run over them very superficially yet when he had don he was able to give an exact account of any thing that was in them and 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 mid'st 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 labors in his Ministry hastened his immature death which he also fore-saw yet without any consternation or feare but by his frequent and fervent prayers to God he endeavored to fit himselfe for it and accordingly Anno Christi 1576. he resigned up his spirit unto God being forty five years old and was buried in
that durst take it downe Master Gilpin requested the Sexton to take it downe who replyed That he durst not Then said Master Gilpin Bring me a staff I will take it down which accordingly he did and put it into his bosome and in his Sermon he took occation to reprove these inhumane challenges and reproved him in particular that had hug up the glove shewing them that he had taken it downe and that such practices were unbeseeming Christians and therefore he perswaded them to love and mutuall charity amongst themselves after Sermon he distributed mony amongst the poor and as his manner was visited the prisoners gave them mony and preached to them and brought many of them to repentance and for some that were condemned to die he procured pardon and saved their lives Not long after a Rebellion was raised in the North by the Earls of Northumberland and Cumberland which Master Gilpin having intelligence of resolved to retire himselfe and making a speech to the Master aud Scholars to demean themselves carefully and peaceably in his absence he went to Oxford till the Queens Army commanded by the Earl of Sussex had dissipated the Rebels but before that Army came the Rebels having seazed upon Durham some of them flew as far as Houghton and finding Master Gilpin's Barns full of corn young cattell fatted and many things provided for hospitality they made spoile of all the chiefest of which plunderers was a knave whom Master Gilpin had saved from the Gallows but when those Rebels were overthrown Master Gilpin returned home and begged the lives of many of the simpler sort whom he knew to be drawn into that Rebellion through ignorance After the death of Bishop Pilkington who was Master Gilpins faithfull friend there succeeded in the Bishoprick of Durham one Richard Barns who was offended with him upon some false suggestions which came thus about Master Gilpins custom was sometimes to goe to Oxford and once as he was upon his way he espied a young youth before him sometimes walking and sometimes runing Master Gilpin demanded of him what he was whence he came and whether he was going He answered That he came out of Wales and was bound for Oxford to be a Scholar Master Gilpin thereupon examined him and finding him a prompt Scholar for the Latin and that he had a smattering in the Greek asked him if he would goe with him and he would provide for him the youth was contented whereupon he took him with him to Oxford and afterwards to Houghton where he profited exceedingly boâ—h in Greek and Hebrew whom Master Gilpin at last sent to Cambridge and this was that famous Hugh Broughton who afterwards râ—quited evill for good by stirring up of the Bishop of Durham against Master Gilpin Now the Bishop sent to Master Gilpin to preach at a Visitation appointing time and place but it fell out just at that time when Master Gilpin was going his Northern journy into Riddesdale c. whereupon he sent his man to the Bishop desiring him to appoint som other to preach the Visitation-Sermon for that he might have many to doe that but none would goe amongst the Borderers if he did it not when his man had delivered his message to the Bishop the Bishop hâ—ld his peace which being related to M r. Gilpin he said Silence arguâ—'s consent and so went on in his journy But so soon as the Bishop heard of it he suspended him which Master Gilpin at his returne much wondred at Shortly after the Bishop sent to him to warn him to meet him and the rest of the Clergy at Chester whither Master Gilpin went and when the Bishop and Clergy were all met in the Church he said to Master Gilpin Sir I must have you preach to day Master Gilpin desired to be excused because he was unprovided and for that he was suspended But saith the Bishop I free you from that suspension Yet Master Gilpin replyed That he durst not go up into the Pulpit unprovided You are never unprovided saith the Bishop you have such an habit of preaching Master Gilpin still stifly refused sayingâ— That God was not so to â—e tempted c. Whereupon the Bishop commanded him to goe into the Pulpit forthwith Well Sir said Master Gilpin since it must be so your Lordships will be done so after a little pause went up and began his Sermon and though he saw some extraordinarily prepared to write his Sermon yet he proceeded in his application to reprove the enormities in that Diocesse And now saith he Reâ—erend Father my speech must be directed unto you God hath exalted you and will require an account of your Goveâ—nment a reformation of what 's amisse in the Church is required at your hands c. neither can you henceforth plead ignorance for bâ—hâ—ld I bring these things to your knowledge this day and therefore what evils you shall â—ither doe your sâ—lfe or suffer by your connivance â—ereafâ—er you make it your own câ— His friends hearing him thuÌ„der out these things much feared what would become of him and after Sermon some of â—hem told him with tears That now the Bishop had that advantage against him which he had long looked for c. to whom he answered Be not affraid the Lord God over-ruleth all aâ—d if God â—ay be glorified and his Truth propagated Gods will be done â—onâ—erning â—ee After they had dined together all men exspecting the issue of this businesse Master Gilpin went to take his leave of thâ— Bishop Nay said the Bishop I will bring you home and so went along with him to his house and walked there together in a Parlour the Bishop took him by the hand saying Father Gilpin I acknowledge you are fitter to be Bishop of Durham then my selfe to be Parson of your Church I aske forgivenessâ— for errors past forgive mâ— Father I know you have hatched 〈◊〉 some chickens that now seek to pick out your eyes but be sure so long as I am Bishop of Durham no man shall injure you Master Gilpin and his friends much rejoyced that God had so over-ruled thingsâ— that that which was purposed for his disgrace should turn to his greater credit His body being quite worn out with pains-taking at last he feeling before hand the approach of death commanded the poor to be called together unto whom he made a speech and took his leave of them He did the like also to others made many exhortations to the Scholars to hiâ— servants and to diverse others aud so at the last he fell asleep in the the Lord March the fourteenth An. Christi 1583. and of his Age 66. He was tall of stature slender and hawk-nosed his clothes not costly but frugal in things that belonged to his own body bountifull in things that tended to the good of others especially to the Poor and Scholars His dooreâ— were still open to the poor and strangers he boorded and kept in his owne house twenty four Scholars most of
them poor mens sons upon whom he bestowed meat drink apparell and learning Having a great Parish he entertained them at his table by course every Sabbath from Michaelmasse to Easter He bestowed upon his School and for stipends upon the Schoolmasters the full sum of five hundred pounds out of which School he supplyed the Church of England with great store of learned men He was carefull not onely to avoid all evill but the least appearance of it Being full of faith unfeigned and of good works he was at last put into his grave as an heap of wheat in due time put into the garner What pen can be susficient to set forth Th'exuberous praises of brave Gilpins worth Though at the first his heedlesse soul did stray And ramble in a foule erronious way Yet at the last he left those paths which bended Unto distruction and his follyes ended Then he began to exercise the truth And hate the former errours of his youth His soul was fil'd with piety and peace And as the truth so did his joyes encrease His fame soone spread abroad his worth was hurl'd Through every corner of th'inquiring world And to conclude in him all men might find A reall heart and a most noble minde The life and death of Zachary Ursin who dyed Anno Christi 1583. ZAchary Vrsin was born in Silesia Anno Christi 1534. of honest parents who were carefull of his education in his childhood and having profited exceedingly at School he was sent to the University of Wittenberge at sixteen yeers old where he heard Melancthon with great diligence two years at which time the Plague breaking forth there he retired with Melancthon to Tergaw and having an ample testimony from him he went thence into his owne Country all the winter but in the spring he returned to Wittenberg where he spent 5. years in the study of the Arts Tongus and Divinity he was very familiar with Melancthon and much esteemed of many learned men who flocked to that University out of all Countries with whom also afterwards he kept correnspondency he went An. Christi 1557. with Melancthon to the conference at Worms about religion and from thence he travelled to Marpurg Argentine Basil Lausanna and Geneva where he grew into familiar acquaintance with many learned men especially Calvin who gave him such books as he had Printed from thence he went into France to Lions and Paris where he perfected his skill in the Hebrew under the learned Mercerus in his return he went to Tigure where he acquainted himselfe with the learned men and so to Tubing Vlme Norimberg and so to his old Master Melancthon Anno Christi 1558. he was sent for by the Senate of Vratislave which was his native place to govern a School there where besides his Lectures in the Arts and Tongues he was imployed in the explication of Melancthons book of the Ordination of Miniâ—ters wherein he declared his judgment about the Sacrament and thereupon he was cried out agaainst for a Sacramentarian which caused him to give a publick account of his Faith about the Doctrine of the Sacraments in certain strong and accurate propositions Melancthon hearing of the opposition which he met with wrote to him to stand firmly to the truth and if he enjoyed not pâ—ace in that place to return to him againe and to reserve himselfe for better times whereupon he requested of the Senate that he might be dismissed and having obtained his desire he returned to Wiâ—tenberg where foreseeing Melancthons death and the greaâ— alterations in that University he left it and went to Tygure Anno 1560. being invited thither by Martyr Bullinger Simler Lavater Gualter Gesner and Frisius who much desired his company there he was a constant hearer of Martyr and profited much under him in the knowledge of Divinity Anno 1561. their came letters to Tigure from Thomas Erastus signifying that there wanted a Divinity Professor at Heidleberg and desiring supply from thence whereupon knowing Vrsines fitnesse they presently sent him with their letters of ample commendation both to the Elector Palatine and to the University where he discharged his place so well that at twenty eight years of age they graced him with the title of a Doctor in Divinity and he supplyed the place of a publick Professor to the year 1568. at which time Zanchy succeeded him their also he made his Catechise for the use of the Pallaâ—inate Anno Chriâ—ti 1563. there brake forth a grievous pestilence that scattered both the Court and University yet Vrsin remained at home and wrote his tractates of Mortallity and Christian consolations for the benefit of Gods people He was so dear to the Elector Palatine that when the Bernates sent Aretius to Heidleberg to crave leave that Vrsin might goe to Lusanna to be the Divinity Professor there he would by no means part with him but gave him leave to choose an assistant that so his body might not be worn out with his dayly labors Anno Ch. 1572. he married a wiâ—e by whom he had one son that inherited his fathers vertues But upon Prince Fredricks death their grew a great alteration in the Palatinate insomuch that none but Lutherans could be suffered to continue thâ—râ— so that Vrsin with his Collegue were forced to leave the University but he could not live private long for he was sent for by Prince Iohn Chassimire also the Senate of Berne sent importunatly for him to succeed Aretius there But Cassimire would by no meanes part with him having erected a University at Newstad and chosen Vrsin and Zanchy to be the Divinity Professors thereof But Vrsin by his excessive studies and neglect of exercise fell into a sicknesse which held him above a year together after which he returned to his labors againe and besides his Divinity Lectors he read Logik also in the Schools desiring his auditors to give him what doubts and objections they met with which upon study at his next Lecture he returned answers to But his great labors cast him into a consumption and other diseases yet would he not be perswaded to intermit them till at last he was confined to his bed yet therein also he was never idle but alwayes dictating something that might conduce to the publick good of the Chuch The houre of death being come his friends standing by he quietly slept in the Lord Anno Christi 1583. and of his age 51. He was very pious and grave in his carriage and one that sought not after great things in this world Let those whose hearts desire to be Professor of Divinity Trace Ursins steps so shall they find The comforts of a studious minde He had a greater care to nurse Distressed souls then fill his purse He would not tell a frutlesse story Unto his flock his oratory Serv'd not flatter but to bring Subjected souls unto their King Where now he rests with him that says Shephards of Flocks look to your wayes The Life and Death of Abraham Bucholtzer
and for three years exercised himselfe with much diligence in instructing youth but having an earnest desire to perfect his own studies he returned to Wittenberg again Luther being yet living there he commensed Master of Arts before he was two and twenty years old and applyed himself wholly to the study of Divinity but tht Wars waxing hot the Emperor placed a Garrison in the Castle and Towne of Wittenberg and the Students were driven away from thenceâ— at which time Wigand was called to Mansfield his owne Countrey to be an assistant to their ancient Pastor Martin Seligman where also he was ordained Minister by Prayer and imposition of hands by Iohn Spangâ—rberg the Superintendent there which place he discharged wiâ—h much â—â—delity and industry and read Logick and Phylosophie to the youth in the Schools there also he wrote a confutation of the Popish Catechisme and a confutation of George Mâ—jor who held That a man by Faith onely is justified but not saved c. He delighted exceedingly in a Garden and in observing the wisdome of God in the nature shape and various colours of Hearbs and Flowers for which end he gatt the greatest varietie of them that possibly he could into his Garden He was one of those that strongly opposed the Interim In the year 1553. he was chosen by them of Magdeburg to be their Superintendent but the Earl of Mansfield and thâ— People strongly opposed his remove from them yet at last by the meanes of the Prince of Anhalt they consented unto it At Magdeburg he tooke excessive paines in reading writing meditating and Preaching whereby he converted many Popish Priests in those parts to the Truth he also took great pains in writing the Magdeburgenses Centuries which he together with Matthew Iudex Flacius Illiricus Basil Faber Andrew Corvinus and Thomas Holthuterus finished to the great benefit of the Church Of which booke Sturmius gave his Testimony that it was necessary and profitable and had these four vertues in it viz. veritatem diligentiam ordinem perspicuitatem Truth diligence Order and perspicuity In the year 1560. the Elector of Saxonie having begun a University at Ienes sent earnestly to Wigand to come thither to be the Divinity Professor which for weighty reasons he assented unto and performed that office with much acceptance of all that heard him yet by the subtilty and malice of one Stosselius he was dismissed from that place and so returned to Magdebâ—rg againe but not staying there he was chosen to be the Superintendent at Wismare An. Cstristi 1562. where he imployed himselfe wholly in Preaâ—hing disputing expounding the Scripture and governing the Church Anno Christi 1563. he commenced Doctor of Divinity in the University of Rostoch he stayed at Wismare seven years at the end wherof Iohn William Duke of Saxony sent for him againe to Ienes but the Duke of Megapole would by no meanes part with him yet at last after severall embassies the Duke of Saxony prevailed that he should come for one year to Ienes His people parted with him very unwillingly with many sighs and tears and at the years end sent for him back againe but could by no means obtaine his return he was not onely made the Professor of Divinity at Ienes but the Superintendent also Anno Christi 1570. he went with his Prince to the Diet at Spire and at his returne to Ienes was received with great joy but after five years Duke Iohn William dying he was againe driven from thence and went to the Duke of Brunswick who entertained him kindly but presently after he was called into Borussia to be the Divinity Professor in the University of Regiomonâ—anum and after two years was chosen to be Bissiop there Anno Christi 1587. he fell sick especially upon griefe conceived for the afflicted condition of the Church in Poland and the death of his deare friend Iohn Wedman an excellent Divine this desease increasing and his strength decaying he prepared himselfe for death he made his own Epitaph In Christo vixi morior vivóque Wigandus Do sordes morti caetera Christe tibi In Christ I liv'd and dy'd through him I live again What 's bad to death I give my soul with Chist shal raign And so in the mid'st of fervent prayers and assured hope of eternall life he resigned up his spirit into the hands of God that gave it Anno Christi 1587. and of his Age 64. Rare-soul'd Wigandus bow'd his whole desires To warme his spirits by th'inlivning fires Of sacred fuell and he alwayes stood Engag'd to that which heav'ns blest mouth call'd good He was a man whose life and conversation Were well sufficient to adorne a Nation With good examples nothing could devorse His ready lips from the belov'd discourse Of heavenly matters till at last he cry'd My God receive my soul and so he dy'd MARTINVS CHEMNICIVS The Life and Death of Martin Chemnisius MArtin Chemnisius was born at Britâ—â—a in Old March Anno Christi 1522. 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 and after some progresse at home he went to Magdeburg where he studyed the Tongues and Arts and from thence to Frankefurt upon Oder and after he had studyed there a while he went to Wittenberg where he studyed the Mathematickâ— and from thence to Sabinum in Borussia where he taught School and commensed Master of Arts and Anno Christi 1552. he wholly betook himselfe to the study of Divinity By his modest and sincere carriage he procured much favor from the Prince and all his Courtiers after three years stay there he went back to Wittenberg and by Melancthon was imployed publickly to read Common places from thence he was sent for to Brunople â—n Saxny by the Senate and made Pastor which place he discharged with singular fidelity and approbation for the space of thirty years and commensed Doctor in Divinity at Rostoch many Princes and Common-wealths made use of his advice and assistance in Ecclesiasticall affairs He took great pains in asserting the truth against the adversaries of it as his excellent Examen of the Tridentine Councill 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 proâ—undissimus neque veritatis bonarumque artiâ—m studio neque laude officii facâ—le cuiquam secundus This Authour eminent Chemnisius grave Among these worthies a prime place may have Who by his most industrious pains ore came The many rubs which would have quentcht his fame And to such height of learning did arise As made great Princes him most highly prize Yea so transcendently his fame did shine That One him stil'd a most profound Divine A prime Philosopher one justly known For parts and pâ—ety second to none And thus he liv'd and dyed
after Prince Casâ—â—mire dyed which much turned his griefe but Frederick the fourth being now come to hiâ— age was admitted into the number of the Electors â—nd was very carefull of the good both of the Chuâ—â—â— University An. Christi 1594. Tossan was choosen Rector of the University of Heidleberg and the year after there brake out a grievous Pestilence in that City 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. he bâ—ing grown very old and infirm laid down his Professors place though the University much opposed it and earnestly sollicited him to retain it still bâ—â— God purposed to give him a better rest after all his labors and â—orrowes for having in his Lectures expounded the booke of Iob to the end of the 31. Chapter he concluded with those words The words of Iob are ended Presently after falling sick he 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 he also made his Wâ—ll and set down therein a good confession of his Faith and so departed quietly in the Lord Anno Christi 1602. and of his age sixty one He was a very holy man exemplary in his life had an excellent witâ— strong memory eloquent â—n speech was very charitable and cheaâ—full in his conversation and kept correspondence with all the choycest Dâ—â—vines in those times Germane Tossanus doth deserve likewise That we his honoured name should memorize Who notwithstand all th' afflictions great Which furious faithlesse Popish Foes did threat And prosecute him with from place to place And him and his dear wife with terrours chace In danger oft of death yet mightily The Lord preserv'd them from Romes cruelty He was a learned and laborious Preacher And alwayes 'gainst Romes errors a Truth teacherâ— Eloquent witty holy humble wise And now his soul blest Heaven â—eateâ—â—es The Life and Death of William Perkins IF the Mountainâ— of â—ilboahâ— 2 Samuâ—l 1. were condâ—mned and cursed by King David that nâ— dew nor râ—in should fall â—pon them because valiant Saul and piouâ— Ionathan were there unhappily slain then by rules of opposition such places deserve to be praised and blessed where godly men have had their happy Nativity Amongst which let Mâ—rston in Warwickeshire com in for his just share of commendation where Master William Perkiâ—s was born and brâ—d in his infancy 2. How he passed his childhood is â— mattâ—r befoâ—â— daâ—â—d in the Register of my Intilligence whereof I can receivâ— no instructions Onely I dare be bold to conclude that with Saint Paul 1. Cor. 13. 11. When he was a childe he spake 〈◊〉 a childe he understood as a childe he thought as a childe whose infancy as he with simplicity so we passe it over with silence 3. But no sooner 〈◊〉 he admitted 〈◊〉 Christs Colledge in Cambridge but quiâ—â—ly the wilde firâ— of his youth began to break out An age which one may termâ—â—he Midsommer Moone and dog-dayes of mans life It is not certaine whether his owne disposition or the bad company of others chiefly betrayed him to thesâ— extravagancies Sure it is he tooke such wild libâ—â—â—â—es to himselfe 〈◊〉 cost him many a sigh in his reduced â—geâ— Probably 〈…〉 Providence permitted him to ruâ— himselfe with the prodigall Son out of breath that so he might be the better enabled experimentally to reprâ—â—â— others of their vanity 〈◊〉 simpathizing with their sad condition and be th◠〈…〉 skil'd how to comfort and counsell them on their â—â—pentance Why should Godâ— arme which afterwards grâ—â—â—ously overtook Master Perkins be too short to reach others in the same condition 4. When firâ—◠〈…〉 mucâ—â—ddicted to the study of naturall Magicke digging so deepe in natures mine to know the hidden causes and sacred quallities of things that some conceive that he bordered on Hell it â—â—â—fe in his curiosity Beginning to be a practitioner in that black Art the blacknesse did not affright him but name of Art lured him to admit himselfe as â—â—â—dent thereof Howeveâ— herein we afford no certaine beliefe the rather because other mens ignorance might cast this aspersion upon him Who knowes not that many things as pretty as strangâ— may really be effected by a skilfull hand lawfull and laudable meanes which some out of a charitable errour will interpret a Miracle and others out of uncharitable ignorance will nickname Sorcery A very Load-stone in some Scholars hand before a silly Townsmans eye is enough to make the former a Conjurer 5. The happy houre was now come wherein the stragling sheep was brought home to the fold and his vanity and mildnesse corrected into temperance and gravity It is certainly known and beleeved that if Quick-silver could be fired which all confesse difficult and most conclude impossible it would amount to an infinite treasure so when the roving parts the giddy and unstable conceits of this young Scholar began to be setled his extravagant studyes to be confined and centered to Divinity in a very short time he arrived at an incredable improvement 6. He began first to preach to the prisoners in Cambridge Castle being then himselfe Fellow of Christ Colledge Here he truely preached Christs precepts Freely you have received freely give And with Saint Paul made the Gospell of Christ of no expence yea he followed Christs example to preach deliverance to the Captives whose bodies were in a prison and souls in a dungeon such generally their ignorant and desperate condition Here though free himselfe he begot sons to God in fetters Many an Onesimus in bonds was converted to Christ Mock not at this good mans meane imployment neither terme him with such as sit in the seate of the scornfull the Goale-birds Chaplaine But know nothing is base which in it selfe is lawfull and done in order to the glory of God yea better it is to be a true preacher in a prison then a flatterer in a Princes pallace 7. But so great a star could not move alwayes in so small a sphear His merits promoted him to a Cangregation of greater credit in the Town of Cambridge where he was most constant in preaching Wherein as no man did with more vehemency remove sin so none either with more passionate affection bemone the condition of obstinate siners or with sounder judgment give them directions for their future amendment Luther did observe that Thunder without rain doth more harme then good wherof he maks this application that Ministers who are alwaies threatning of legall terrors to offenders except also they seasonably drop the dew of direction giving them orders and instructions to better their estates are noâ— wise Master builders but pluck downe and build nothing up againe Whereas Master Perkins so cunningly interweaved terrours
spent the rest of the after-noone even till Bed-time except some friend tooke him off to Supper and then did he eat but sparingly Of the fruit of this his seed-time the world especially this Land hath reaped a plentifull harvest in his Sermons and writings Never went any beyond him in the first of these his Preaching wherein he had such a dexterty that some would say of him that he was quicke againe as soone as delivered and in this faculty he hath left a patterne unimitable So that he was truly stiled Stella perdicantium and an Angell in the Pulpit And his late Majesty tooke especiall care in causing that volume of his Sermons to be divulged though but a handfull of those which he Preached by enjoying whereof this kingdome hath an inestimable treasure And for his acutenesse and profundity in writing against the Adversary he so excelled all others of his time that neither Bellarmine champion to the the Romanists nor any other of them was ever able to answere what he wrote So that as his Sermons were unimitable his writins were unanswerable To draw to an end of deciphering his vertues and endowments It may truly be said of him that he had those gifts and graces both of Art and Nature so fixed in him as that this age cannot paralell him for his profundity and abisse of learning was accompanied with wit memory judgment Languages gravity and humility insomuch that if he had bin Contemporary with the Ancient Fathers of the Primitive Church he would have bin and that worthily reputed not inferior to the chiefest among them He generally hated all vices but three which he ever repuâ—ed sinnes were most especially odious unto him First Usury from which he was so farre himselfe that when his friends had need of such money as he could spare he lent it to them freely without expectance of ought backe but the Principall Secondly The second was Simony which was so detestable to him as that for refusing to admit diverse men to livings whom he suspected to be Simonically preferd he suffered much by suits of Law choosing rather to be compelled against his will to admit them by Law then voluntarily to doe that which his conscience made scruple of And for the livings and other preferments which fell in his owne gift he ever bestowed them freely as you have seene before upon deserving men without suit So that we may say of him as was said long since concerning Roberâ— Winchelsey Archbishop of Canterbury Beneficia Ecclesiastica nunquam misi doctis conâ—ulit Precibus ac gracia Noliâ—ium fretos ambientes semper repulit Thirdly The last was Sacriledge which he did so much abhorre that when the Bishopricke of Sarum and that of Ely before it was so much deplumed were offered to him upon termes savoring that way he utterly rejected thâ—m Concerning that of Salisbury give leave to adde a particuler passage of his which happened many yeeres after his said refusall of it which was this At a Parliament under King Iames when an Act was to passe concerning Sherburne Castle it was observed that onely Bishop Andrewes and another gave their Votes against the same That the other should so doe was not much merveiled at but that Bishop Andrewes should doe it when none but that other Lord did so was so remarkeable as that he was demanded by a greaâ— Person what his reason was for it To which he most worthily replyed that it could not be well wondred why he should now vote against that which if he would have yeelded unto many yeeres before in the dayes of Queene Elizabeth he might have had this Bishopricke of Sarum which reason of his when his late Majesty being then Prince and present at the passing of the Act heard He be shrewed him that when he denyed his consent he did not declare the reason of his denyall also Professing that had he bin made acquainted with the state of that Case as now he was he would with the King his Fathers good leave have labored against the passing of the said Act. To close up this point This reverend Prelate went yet a degree further in refusing when he was Bishop of Winchester diverse large and considerable summes to renew some Leases because he conceived that the renewing of them might be prejudiciall to Succession Now let us lay all these together His Zeale and Piety His Charity and Compassion His Fidelity and Integrity His Gratitude and Thankfulnesse His Munificence and Bounty Hospitality Humanity Affability and Modesty aâ—d to these His Indefatigability in study and the fruits of his labours in his Sermons and Writings together with hes profundity in all kinde of Learning his wit memory judgement gravity and humility His detestation of all vices and sinne but especially of three All which by couching them onely in this Compend we have seen in him as ex ungue Leonem or by Hercules foot his whole body and consider whether the Chuech of God in generall and this in particular did not suffer an irreparable losse by his death Having taken a short survey of his Life let us now see him Dying He was not often sicke and but once till his last sicknesse in thirty yeers before the time he dyed which was at Downham in the Isle of Ely the ayre of that place not agreeing with the constitution of his body But there he seemed to be prepared for his dissolution saying oftentimes in that sicknesse It must come once and why not here And at other times before and since he would say The dayes must come when whether we will or nill we shall say with the Preacher I have no pleasure in them Eccles. 12.1 Of his Death he seemed to presage himselfe a yeere before he dyed and therefore prepared his oyle that he might be admitted in due time into the Bride Chamber That of qualis vita c. was truly verified in him for as he lived so dyed he As his fidelity in his health was great so encreased the strength of his Faith in his sicknesse His Gratitude to men was now changed into his Thankfulnesse to God His Affability to incessant and devout Prayers and speech with his Creator Redeemer and Sanctifier His laborious Studies to his restlesse groanes sighes cryes and teares his hands labouring his eyes lifted up and his heart beating and panting to see the living God even to the last of his breath And him no dobut he sees face to face his workes preceding and following him and he now following the Lambe crowned with that immortality which is reserved for every one that lives such a life as he lived He departed this life September 25. 1626. in the seventy one yeer of his age and lyeth buried in the upper Isle of the Parish Church of Saiâ—t Saviours in Southworke His Executors have erected to him a very faire Monument of Marble and Alablaster And one that formerly had beene his Houshold Chaplaine whom this honorable and reverend Prelate
learneder and more famous and deare to his Countrey There is a Booke of famous Sermons extant in Print of this Prelates which is counted a worthy Peece and doth sufficiently declare his Piety and Schollarship to succeedâ—ng Ages He that will spake his praises well Must study first what 't is t' excell He daily labour'd to oppose The Churches most unsatiate Foes The truth he would be sure to vent Though he endur'd imprisonment Read but his Works and thâ—u shall finde His body was imprisn'd not his minde Gâ—RVAS BABINGTON The Life and Death of Gervas Babington THis Prelate as he was excellent for his parts so was he of a very faiâ— descent being born in the County of Nottingham of the ancient family of the Babingtons in the said County where he drew in the first rudiments of Literature till by his worthy Parentâ— he was sent to Cambridge and was admitted into that worthy Society of Trinity Colledg Doctor Whiâ—guâ—â—â— being then Master This Babington proved so famous in Scholâ—ership that having his degrees he was made Fellow of the same Colledge and giving himselfe to the study of Divinity he proved a worthy Preacher in that University After being Doctor in Divinity he was called by Henry that Noble Earl of Pembrooke to be his Chaplaine by whose favour he was first made Treasurer of the Church of Landaffe in Wales after he was elected Bishop of the same 1591. and when he had sitten four years in that See for his singular Piety and Learning he was by Queene Elizabeth translated to the Bishopricke of Exeter where he scarce stayed three years but he was made Bishop of Worcester and in the middest of all these preferments he was neither tainted with Idlenesse or pride or covetousnesse but wâ—s not onely diligent in preaching but in writing bookes for the understanding of Gods Word so that he was a true patterne of Piety to the people of Learning to the Ministery and of Wisedome to all Governours Whereupon he was made one of the Queenes Counsell for the Marches of Wales He was Bishop of Worcester abovt the space of 13. years He dyed of an Hecticke Feaver and so changed this fraile life for a better in the yeare of our Lord 1610. not without the great griefe of all and had all funerall Rites bestowed on him befitting so great and so grave a Governour and father of the Church and was buried in the Cathedrall Church of Worcester in the Moneth of May. His Workes extant are these that follow 1. Consolatory Annotations upon Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers and Deuteronomy 2. Vpon the ten Commandements the Lords Prayer and the Articles of the Creed 3. A comparison or collation betweene humane frailty and faith 4. Three worthey and learned Seâ—mons Renowned Babington spun out his dayes In truth and peace and had the ecchoing praise Of every tongue his worth was priz'd by all That lov'd religion nothing could recall His heart from goodnesse peace and love did rest Within the closset of his seâ—ious breast Therefore let every tongue proclame and cry The fame of Babington shall never dye IOHN WHITGIFT The Life and Death of John Whitgift IN the year of our Lord 1530. being the twenty and first of King Henry the eight a year very remarkable for the Parliament then held wherein that proud Prelate Cardinall Wolsey was attainted and the first opposition made by the maine body of the the Commons therein assembled against the tirannicall usurpation of the Popish Clergy was Iohn Whitgift born at great Grimesbie in Lincolnshire descended from an ancient and worshipfull Family of the Whitgifts in Yorkeshire An Unckle he had called Robert Whitgift Abbot of Wellow who though himselfe a professed Monk yet not greaty liked the profession and was by this his Nephew therefore heard sometime to say that they and their Religion could not long continue for that having read the Scripture over and over againâ—â— he could never finde therein that their Religion was founded by God and it is not unlikly that by the cariage of businesses in the State at that time being an understanding man he might shrewdly guesse at those things that shortly after sued Under this his Unckle was he educated together with some other young Gentlemens sonnes for some space of time and whether taking some hints from him or being by some other meanes wrought on through a secret hand of God already moulding and preparing him for future employments he began to grow though very young yet into a dislike of Popish superstitions and to afâ—ect the better way For being by his said Unckle who observed his towardlinesse for his further improvement in learning sent up to London entred there into Saint Antonies schoole and boarded with an Aunt of his wife to one Michael Shaller a Verger of Pauls Church he was after som time by her dismissed againe and thrust out of doores because he refused to frequent the morning Masse with her albeit by some of the Canons earnestly solicited so to doe Upon returne to his Parents according to his Unckles advice and direction finding that he had well profited in learning he was by them sent to the University of Cambridge and there placed in Qâ—eenes Colledge But not so well relishing tâ—e disposition of some in that house he removed from thence to Pembrooke Hall where he was pupill to that blessed Maâ—tyr of God Iohn Bradford Doctor Ridley afterward Bishop of London being then Hed of the house by whom also in regard of his forwardnesse both in learning and godlinesse he was made scholer of the house With his years his worth growing and notice taken of his good parts his preferments likewise accordingly came on For from thence he was chosen to be Fellow of Peter-house Dâ—ctor Pern being then Master thâ—re who very tenderly affected him and when out of tendernesse of conscience in Queen Maries time upon expectation of som Commisâ—ioners that were to come downe visit to the University and settle Popery there he had entertained some thoughts of going beyond the Seas the D r. perceiving it and withall his resolution in matter of religion both encouraged and caused him notwithstand to stay promising him withall to take such order for him that keeping himselfe quiet he should remaine free from molestation that which according to his promise given him he also faithfully fulfilled Having thus by the favour and connivancy of the Doctor God reserving him for further and higher employments rid out those stormy and tempestuous times upon the dispersions of those blacke clouds that had formerly overspread and eclipsed the good parts of many by the happy sunshine of that illustrious Princesse Queene Elizabeths ascent to the throne of this Realme contrary to that that is wont to befall at the naturall Suns rising this our bright Star among others and above many others began now to shine forth and discover its luster Notice whereof being taken as in the Univerâ—ity so at Court he received advancement unto
brest but entered not his body not so much by reason of the weake fence of his Gowne held up before him in folds as the strong buckler of faith which whosoever hath on him need not feare any torrour by night nor the arrow that flyeth by day Psalme 91.5 Howbeit though he then shunned the danger of this flightshaâ—t yet he escaped not other arrowâ—s mentioned by the Psalmist even bitter words these sharpe arrowes headed with malice and pointed with envie were daily shot at him not onely by forreigne enemies abroad as namely Weston and Spalatenses after his revolt dictione sarâ—ata studio vanissimus secta fanaticus but by ill willers at home whose loose life kept no good quarter with his strict government Who as he was a most exact observer of the Statutes himselfe so he was a most sever censurer of the contemners and wilfull breakers thereof and though he were of a tender and compassionate disposition yet like a wise Chirurgion when hâ— saw Plaisters and Poultesses would doe no good and the flesh begin to gangreine he cut off by expulsion two rotten members of that Society Cuncta prius tentanda sed immedicabile vulnus â—use recidendum est ne pars sincera traâ—atur The one of them was a Chaplaine of the House homo nullarum artium nullarum parâ—ium a worthlesse man who to his other impardonable crimes added a dull but most malicious Libâ—ll against the President himselfe and therefore deserved not onely to be banished the Colledge but exiled also out of all memory the other was a Batchellour of Art as I take it intra brennium probationes a man of other wise commendablâ— parts but of whom it might be truely said as it was of Galba ingenium Galbae male habitat This Delinquent who by often reiteration of the like offences had encurred the censure of expulsion which the President and seven Seniors were bound by oath to execute upon him craved leave of the President to make his farewell Oration His Theame was Medicum saeverum intemporanes aeger facit that is A waward Patient maketh a froward Physitian In that Speech of his he tooke occasion to justifie the President and Fellowes proceeding against him and depâ—ored his incorrigible enormities with teares but then it was too late nullis ille movetur Fleâ—ibus aut voces ullus tractabiles audit I confesse Senâ—ca his observation is true qui vult amari languida regâ—eâ— manu a Governour that will be loved and generally spoken well ofâ— must hold an easie reine but where mettle Colts or restie jades are to be broken he that holdeth noâ— a streight raine and maketh not use of a strong curâ—e may be cast out of the saddle as Doctor Reynolds his immediate Predecessour had like to have been whose pruning Knife though it were keen and sharpe yet was so discreetly used by him that the choyce Plantâ— in that Nursery never thrivâ—d better then in his time About this time Queen Elizabeth exchanged her mortall crown with â—n immortall and King Iames succeeded her and swayed the Scepter of this Kingdome who in the beginning of his reigne desirous to settle peace in the Church commanded many learned men to meet at Hampton Court to compose some differences about the externall Discipline of the Church In that Conference what part by royall command was put upon Doctor Reâ—nolds and how he acted it with profession and promise of all conformity appears by the Acts thereof set forth by Bishop Barloe After this Conference is pleased his Majesty to set some learned men on worke to translate the Bible into the English tongue among others Doctor Reynolds was thought upon to whom for his great skill in the originall Languages Doctor Smith afterward Bishop of Glosâ—er Doctor Harding President of Magdalens Doctor Kilbie Rector of Lincolne Colledge Doctor Bret and others imployed in that worke by his Majesty had recourse once a weeke and in his Lodgings perfected their Notes and though in the midst of this Worke the gout first tooke him and after a consumption of which he dyed yet in a great part of his sicknesse the meeting held at his Lodging and he lying on his Pallet assisted them and in a manner in the very translation of the booke of 〈◊〉 was translated to a better life All the time of his sicknesse saâ—â— when he conferred with the translators was spent in praâ—er and hearing partly Treatises of devotion and partly bookes of controversie read unto him This course held till Assention day when his sicknesse growing sore upon him he fell in a trance of which when he was recovered he spake comfortably to us all there present saying that He well hoped that he should have ascended that very day of oâ—r Lords ascention but now saith he I shall stay a little longer wâ—â—h you in which time I intreat you to read nothing to me but such chapters of holy Scripture as I shall appoint Among others designed by him when we read the first chapter of Saint Paul to the Philippians and staid a little upon those words God is 〈◊〉 record how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Iesus Chriâ—â—â— and this I pray that your love may abound yet more and more 〈◊〉 knowledge and in all judgement that you may approve things thâ—t are excellent that you may be sincere and without offence till the 〈◊〉 of Christ being filled with the fruits of righteousnesse which are 〈◊〉 Iesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God And proceeding afterwards in that chapter to the twentieth verse As 〈◊〉 wayes so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body whether it 〈◊〉 by life or by death for to me to live is Christ and to dye is gainâ—â— but if I live in the flesh this is the fruit of my labour yet what I shall choose I wot not for I am in a strait between two having a desire to depart and to be with Christ which is farre better neverthelesse to abide in the flesh is more needfull for you And as we were going further and reading the five and twentietâ— verse having this confidence I know that I shall abide and continâ—â— with you he bad us there stop and make an end intimatinâ— thereby that unto us which after a few dayes â—ell out to our great griefe that he was not to continue with us By this time the University being full of the newes of his end approaching the Noble men Sons then reâ—iding in the University and the Heads of divers Colledges together with the Kings Professor Doctor Holland came to visit him who Prayed with him and for him for whose love Doctor Reynolds thanked him the day before he dyed when the Vicechancellour Doctor Aery and Master Boâ—lton of Brazennose Master Wilkinson of Wadsdowne Master Lindle Vice-president of the Colledge and my selfe came to take our last leave of him at the motion of Master Boulton Doctor Aery acquainted Doctor Reynolds what scandalous reports the Papists
lesse as he grew great Five Kings and Queenes his dayes did see Enthron'd and septer'd The first three Did view his merit and enhaunc'd him The fourth destroy'd the fift advanc'd him To Lambeth Chayre where he the Church did guide In Peace and full of age and honor dyed The Life and Death of John Drusius who dyed Anno Christi 1616. IOhn Drusious was born at Aldenard Aâ—nn Christi 1550. was first brought up at School in the City of Gaunt and from thence went to the University of Lovain but whilst he was following his study hard there his father was prâ—scribed for Religion and thereby deprived of all his estate which caused him to flye into England taking this his son along with him when he came to London he met with Câ—valerius lately come thither that was exceeding skilfull in the Hebrew his Lectures he attended upon both in publick and private and when Cevalerius was sent to Cambrâ—ge to be the Professor there Drusius went along with him applying himselfe espcially to the study of Greek Afterwards when Cevalerius was called back into France Drusius still accompanied him fell hard to the study of the Hebrew he also privately read the same to two young English Gentlemâ—n After while he returned to London againe and when he was purposed to goe back into France he heard of that bloody Massacre at Paris which made him alter his mindâ— and having preferment prâ—fâ—â—ed to him â—ither in Oâ—ford or Cambridge he chose Oxford where for the space of four years he read Hebrew Chalde and Syriack with great commendation After which time he went back to Lâ—vain but not long enjoying peace there he returned to London againe where he continued till the peace was concluded at Gaunt and then went over into Flanders and from thence into Zealand where the States of Holland chose him to â—e the Professor in Hebrew Chalde and Syriack in the University of Leiden Anno Christi 1577. there he married a wife and the Statâ—s of Frisâ—and 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 years and at length resiged up his spirit unto God Anno Christi 1616. and of his age 66. John Drusius was a great Ebrician sound Most meritoriouâ—ly must here by Crown'd With Bayes to 's praise whom for 's ability In Hebrew Syriack Chalde worthily The States of Holland had Professour made Of him in Leiden where not long he stay'd Being call'd to Franquer Univerâ—â—ty By th'Friâ—â—and States where with great industry For thirty years he govern'd it with fame And then deceased with an honored Name The Lif and Death of John James Grynaeus who dyed Anno Christi 1617. JOhn Iames Grynaeus was born at Berne in Helvetâ—a Anno Christi 1540. his father was a Minister who dyed of the Plague Anno Christi 1547. he was brought up at School at Basil and An. 1551. was admitted into the University the next year he fell sick of the Plague but it pleased God to restore him againe and he followed his stâ—dy hard Anno Christi 1559. he began to Preach and was ordained Deacon Anno Christi 1563. he went to Tuâ—ing and the year after was made Doctor in Divinity and the next year after he was senâ— for to succeed his father in the Pastorall charg at Raetela where besides his ordinary â—abors he read privately to the Deacons twice a week and God blessed his labors exceedingly In the year 1569. he married a wife with whom he lived contentedly fourty years and had by her seven children Aboâ—t that time the form of Concord being much pressed he â—ell hard to the studies of the Scriptures and of ancient and modern Divines whereby it pleased God that the light began to appear to him for hitherto he was a Lutheran whereupon dâ—claring his judgement about the ubiquity of Christ's body he began to be hated of manyâ— Anno Christi 1575. he wâ—s sent for to Basil to be a Professor in interpreting the Old Testament there he expounded Genesis the Psalmes and the Prophets and God so blessed his labors that he healed the difference between the Tygurine and Basilian Churches he had many Noble and Gentlemen that came out of other countries to sojourn with him After the death of Lodweck Prince Elector Palatine Prince Cassimire sent for him to Heidleberge where he read Divinity and History almost two years at the end of which time he was called back to Basil Sculcer being dead to succeed him in the Pastorall office which place he discharged faithfully the remainder of his life at last after much pains spent in the Work of the Ministery in Readings in the University and overseeing of the Schools he began to grow weak and sickly and his eie-sight waxed very dim he lost also most of his friends with his wife and children all but one daughter and his son in Law Polanus he was much tormented with the Collick yet bore all with admirable patâ—ence and in the middest of his pains he said Vt nunc triste mori est sic dulce resurgere quondam Christus ut in vita sic quoque morte lucrum est In terris labor est requies sed suavis in urna In summo venient gaudia summa die As death's sad so to rise is sweet much more Christ as in life so be in death is store On earth are troubles sweet rest in the grave I' th last day we the lasting'st joyes shall have After that he fel sick of a Feaver which almost took away his senses but he betook himselfe wholly to Prayer and tasted the joyes of heaven in his soul continually wishing that he might be dissolved and be with Christ which desire God shortly after satisfied when he had lived seventy seven years Anno Christi 1617. the Ministers of Basil carred his corps to the grave A little 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 faithfull Pastor c. conculding O praeclarum illum diem cum ad illum animarum concilium coelumque proficiscar cum ex hac turba colluuione discedam O happy day when I may depart out of this troubleâ—some and sinfull World and goe to heaven to those Blessed souls before departed He used to say Pontifici Romaâ—o Erasmum plus no â—uisse â—â—â—andoâ— quam Lutherum stomachando writing to Câ—yâ—raeus he saidâ— Si non amplius in his terris te visurus sum ibi tamen convenieâ—â—â— ubi Lutheâ—o cumâ— Zuinglio optime jam convenit If we never see one another again in this Worldâ— yet we shal meet in that place where Luther Zuinglius agree very well together He used to be up at his study Winter and Summer before Sunâ—â—â—sing and spent all the day in Prayer Writing Reading and visiting the sick He
dayes they had no Preaching in the morning concerning which meetings himselfe writes That it would have don a Christians heart good to have seen those glorious and joyfull Assemblies to have heard the zealous cryings to God amongst that people with sighings and tears and melting hearts and mourning eyes and concerning himselfe he saith My witnesse is in heaven that the love of Iesus and his people made continuall Preaching my pleasure and I had no such joy as in doing his worke and besides that he preached five times a week he penned also whatsoever he preached many of which holy and godly Sermons are extant in print All â—he time of his aboad there except some little intermissions and breathing times the Lord still exercised him with inward tentations and great variety of spirituall combats the end of all which thâ—ough God's mercy was joy unspeakable as himselfe testifie's Yea once saith he in greatest extremity of horror and anguish of spirit when I had utterly given over and looked for nothing but confusion suddenly there did shine in the very twinkeling of an eye the bright and lightsome countenance of God proclaming peace and confirming it with inviâ—cible reasons O what a change was there in a moment the silly soul that was even now at the brinke of the pit looking for nothing but to be swallowed up was instantly raised up to heaven to have fellowship with God in Christ Iesus and from this day forward my soul was never troubled with such extremity of terrors this confirmation was given unto mee on a Saturday in the morning there found I the power of Religion the certainty of the Word there was I touched with such a lively sence of a Divinity and power of a God-head in mercy reconciled with man and with mee in Christ as I trust my soul shall never forget Glory glory glory be to the joyfull deliverer of my soul out of all adversities for ever In the middest of these wrestlings with God he wanted not combats with wicked men also but the greatnesse of his inward conflicts made him lightly regard all their outward contradictions and to esteem them but as the bitings of a Flea It was no marvell to see Satan stir up his wicked instruments to molest him since he professed himselfe a disquieter of him and his Kingdome and this much supported him that he never had a controversie with any of them but for their sins and the Lord assisting him the power of the Word did so hammer downe their pride that they were all of them at last brought to an acknowledgement of their evill wayes But at length as God turned the heart of Pharaoh and his people the Israelites when the time drew on fâ—r their remove so by little and litle did the zeal and love of most of that people fall away so that his last conflict was not with the prophane but with Justiciaries such as were unrebukeable in their lives These men were stuffed with such pride self-conceit disdain and intolerable contempt that thereby they were carried further from their duty thâ—n any of the former and which should have been his greatest comfort were his greatest crosse Presently hereupon God called him to the Government of the Churches in Galloway in the South-West parts of the Kingdome being chosen by the Assembly and presented by the King thereunto this was effected with out his privity or ambitious seeking after it yea he was so far from it that eightteen weeks passed betwixt the Kings Presentation and the Acceptation of it In that place he was very carefull to advance the Gospel to adorne his Ministery concerning the frame of his Spirit thus he writs My soul is alway in my hand ready to be offered to my God Where or what kinde of death God hath prepared for mee I know not But sure I am there can no evill death befall him that lives in Christ nor sudden death to a Christian Pilgrim who with Job waites every day for his change yea saith he many a day have I sought it with tears not out of impatience distrust or perâ—urbation but because I am weary of sin and fearfull to fall into it This faithfull servant of God who had alwayes beene faithfull and painfull in his Ministery when sicknesse grew daily upon him was no way deficient in the duty of his ordinary Preaching taking great pains also to perfect his worke upon the Revelations which he desired greatly to finish before his death he had also much griefe by reason of some that disturb'd the peace of the Church which he always sought to procure so that his infirmity encreasing he was compelled to keep home yet as his weaknesse permitted he applyed himselfe to revise his writings and to dispose of his worldly estate that he might be ready for his passage which every day he expected and some ten dayes before his decease he manifested to his friends what great contentment hâ— hâ—d in his approaching death Many repaired to him in his sicknesse whom he entâ—rtained with most holy and divine conferences expressing a great willingnesse to exchange this life for a better and at last feeling his strength and spirits to decay after he had conceived a most heavenly prayer in the company of those that were by he desired to goe to bed in which also after he had most devoutly commended himselfe unto the Almighty God he took some quiet rest After which he spake not many words his speech failing though his memory and understanding were perfect and so about seven a clock at night he rendered his soul unto God in a most quiet and peaceable manner Anno Christi 1619. Some of his private Meditations were these Now my soul be glad for at all parts of this prison the Lord hath set to his Piâ—ners to loose thee Head Feet Milt and Liver are fast failing yea the middle strength of the whole body the stomack is weakened long ago Arise make ready shake off thy fetters mount up from the body and go thy way I saw not my children when they were in the womb yet there the Lord fed them without my knowledge I shall not see them when I goe out of the body yet shall they not want a Father Death is somewhat driery and the streams of that Jordan between us and our Canaan run furiously but they stand still when the Ark comâ—s Let your Anchor be cast within the vail and fastened on the Rock Iesus Let the end of the threefold cord be buckled to the heart so shall yee go thorow Soli Deo Gloria Here also Cowper Scotlands Prelate grave A place of honour doth deserve to have Among these Honour'd Heroes whom the Lord Did many exc'llent Ornaments afford In piety and parts but specially Making him prosperous in the Ministry By 's constant and by 's consciencious Preaching And holy life which was a second teaching Famous for 's writings on the Revelation Piously thus persisting to 's tranatsâ—ion The Life