have been called Universal which he cals Nomen istud blasphemia That Name of blasphemy He used to say He is poor whose soul is void of grace not whose coffers are emptie of money Contented poverty is true riches And again God is never absent though the wicked have him not in their thoughts where he is not by favour he is by punishment and terrour He could never read those words Son remember in thy life time thou receivedst good things without horror and astonishment least having such dignities and honors as he had he should be excluded from his portion in Heaven It is said of him that he was the worst Romane Bishop of all those that were before him and the best of all those that followed him He wrote Expositions upon the greatest part of the Bible His Works are contained in 6 Tome The Life of Isidore who dyed Anno Christi 675. ISidorus Hispalensis by birth a Spaniard carefully educated by his Parents of a quick wit and able memory admired for his Learning and Eloquence was chosen Bishop of Sivil under Mauritius the Emperour wherein he was very painful and could accommodate his speech fitly both to the ignorant and learned He was full of mercy and good fruits He was had in great honor his fame spreading abroad far and wide both for his Life and learning He so macerated his body with Labors and enriched his Soul with Divine Learning and Contemplations that he seemed to live an Angels life upon Earth He dyed in the Reign of Heraclius the Emperour about the year 675. He used to say Knowledge and a good life are both profitable yet if both cannot be obtained a good life is to be sought rather then much knowledge And As the Viper is killed by the young ones in her belly so are we betrayed and killed by our own thoughts nourished in our bosomes which consume and poison the soul. And All things may be shunned but a mans own heart a man cannot run from himself a guiltie conscience will not forsake him wheresoever he goes And The Divels have a threefold prescience 1. By natural subtiltie 2. By experience 3. By supernatural revelation And He that begins to grow better let him beware least he grow proud least vain-glory give him a greater overthrow then his former vices BEDE The Life of Bede who dyed Anno Christi 735. VEnerable Bede an English Saxon was born Anno Christi 671. near to the Monastery of S. Peter and S. Paul in Wyrimunda His Parents dying when he was but seven years old he was bred up in that Monasterie under two Abbots Bennet and Ceolfride men famous in those times for Religion and Learning under whom he was trained up and from his childhood accustomed to Virtue and Piety He proved very learned in Philosophie Astronomie Musick and Poetrie In Greek Rhetorick Arithmetick and Historie but especially he was very studious of the Holy Scriptures Three things were familiar to him in his whole life To Pray Write and Preach He was made Deacon at nineteen years old and a Presbyter at thirty after which time he wholly devoted himself to the meditation of the Holy Scriptures He was so famous for Learning and Piety that he was sent for to Rome by Pope Sergius to help to settle the Churches peace He was very modest never hunting after preferments so devout in reading the Scriptures that he would often shed tears and after he ended reading conclude with Prayers He hated idleness and would oft say That there was so much work to do for a Divine in so little time that he ought not to lose any of it And for pleasures we must deal with them said he as we do with honey onely touch it with the tip of the finger not with the whole hand for fear of surfeit He finished his works Anno Christi 731. and dyed about 735. and of his Age 70. He used to say He is a sluggard that would reign with God and not labor for God in the promised rewad he takes delight but the commanded 〈◊〉 do affright him And Anger doth languish by 〈◊〉 but flames higher by expressing He wrote on all the Liberal Arts sundry excellent Treatises Though he lived in the uttermost corner of the World yet neglected he not the body of the Greek and Hebrew Tongues He had many excellent scholars whom by his counsel and example he drew to an inestimable love of the holy Scriptures endeavouring to make them as famous for their Religion and Piety as they were for their Learning He was of a very bountiful Disposition Venerable for his knowledge and Integrity of Life Full of Charity Devotion and Chastity He was of a comly Stature grave Pace clear Voice Eloquent Tongue amiable Countenance which seemed to be composed of gravity and mildness He was very affable to such as were good A terror to such as were proud and wicked yet milde and humble to his Fraternity What he learned out of Gods Word by study and meditation he communicated it to others without envy He had Scholars that flockt to him but of all parts of England desiring to be trained up in Learning and Manners under such a Master For his Conversation was a rule of Religion and honesty to all about him Anno Christi 731. and of his Age 59. he finished the Catalogue of his Writings which are many and that upon most Books in the Old and New Testament besides Epistles Histories of the Saints the History of his own Abbey the Ecclesiastical History of his own Nation in five Books a Martyrologie a Book of Hymns and many others which are all printed at Collen Anno Christi 1612. In his sickness he comforted himself with that of the Apostle Heb. 12. 6. Whom the Lord loveth he chastneth and scourgeth every for whom he receiveth When his Scholars were weeping about him he said in the words of S. Ambrose Non sic vixi ut pudeat me inter vos vivere sed nec mori timeo quiah onum Dominum habemus The time is come if my Creator pleaseth that being freed from the flesh I shall go to him who made me when I was not out of nothing I have lived long and the time of my dissolution is approaching And my soul desireth to see my Saviour Christ in his glory After his death one of his scholars was very desirous to have made an Epitaph Haec sunt in fossa Bede sancti or Presbyteri Ossa yet he could not make up the verse with those words But in the morning this was found on his Tomb Hâc sunt in fossa Bedae venerabilis ossa Here lies intombed in these stones Of Venerable Bead the Bones The Life of John Damascen who flourished Anno Christi 730. IOhn Damascen was born in Damascus of Religious Parents who carefully brought him up in Learning wherein
admonished them especially to take heed of Drunkennesse which was so common amongst the Germans and lastly that they should be very observant to the Senate which had so excellently maintained Religion He wrote also his fare well to the Magistrates exhorting them to continue their care of the Church and Schooles thanked them for their kindnesse to him and entreated them to chuse Ralph Gualter to be his successor The day of his death he continued in prayer repeating the one and fiftieth the sixteenth and the forty second Psalms and the Lords Prayer and so gave up his soul unto God An. Chr. 1575 and of his Age 71. He was one of the chiefest of the Helvetian Divines and after Zuinglius and Oecolampadius a strong assertor of their Confession of Faith Of a mild nature clear in his Ministry and one that hated crabbed and unprofitable questions which many delighted in to shew their wit affable in speech courteous of behaviour both towards his own and strangers An excellent Governour of the Church frugall and temâ—rate in his diet merry and pleasant with those that lived wâ—â—h him He was so industrious that he would never be idle He had one Wife by whom he had six sonnes and five daughters of whom he married one to Zuinglius another to Lavate and a third to Simler all Ministers in Zurick He wrote Commentaries upon all the New Testament His Workes are contained in tenne Tomes besides which hee wrote Contra Anabaptistas lib. 4. De annuis Reditibus De Hebdomadibus Danielis De Sacramentis The Life of Edward Deering who died A no Christi 1576. EDward Deering was borne of a very ancient Family in Kent and carefully brought up both in Religion and Learning From School he went to Cambridge and was admitted into Christs Colledge where he profited exceedingly and became a very famous Preacher as may appear by his most learned and holy Sermons and Tractates full of heavenly consolation He never affected nor sought after great titles or preferments and therefore rested content with his Fellowship in that Colledge and onely Commenced Batchelor of Divinity yet afterwards hee was made a Preacher in Saint Paul's Church in London and having worn out himself with his labours in the Work of the Lord hee fell sick and discerning his approaching death hee said in the presence of his friends that came to visit him The good Lord pardon my great negligence that whilst I had time I used not his precious gifts to the advancement of his glory as I might have done Yet I blesse God withall that I have not abused these gifts to ambition and vain studies When I am once dead my enemies shall be reconciled to me except they be such as either knew me not or have no sence of goodnesse in them for I have faithfully and with a good conscience served the Lord my God A Minister standing by said unto him It 's a great happinesse to you that you die in peace and thereby are freed from those troubles which many of your brethren are like to meet with To whom he answered If God hath decreed that I shall sup together with the Saints in Heaven why doe I not goe to them but if there be any doubt or hesitation resting upon my spirit the Lord will reveal the truth unto me When he had layen still a while a friend said unto him that hee hoped that his minde was employed in holy meditation whilst hee lay so silent To whom he answered Poor wretch and miserable man that I am the least of all Saints and the greatest of Sinners yet by the eye of Faith I beleeve in and look upon Christ my Saviour Yet a little while and we shall see our hope The end of the world is come upon us and we shall quickly receive the end of our hope which we have so much looked for Afflictions diseases sicknesse grief are nothing but part of that portion which God hath allotted to us in this world It s not enough to beginne for a little while except we persevere in the fear of the Lord all the daies of our lives for in a moment we shall be taken away Take heed therefore that you doe not make a pastime of nor dis-esteem the Word of God blessed are they that whilst they have tongues use them to Gods glory When he drew near to his end being set up in his bed some of his friends requested him to speake something to them that might bee for their edification and comfort Whereupon the Sun shining in his face hee tooke occasion from thence to say thus unto them There is but one Sunne in the world nor but one Righteousnesse one Communion of Saints If I were the most excellent of all creatures in the world If I were equall in righteousnesse to Abraham Isaac and Jacob yet had I reason to confâ—sse my selfe to bee a sinner and that I could expect no salvation but in the righteousnesse of Jesus Christ For we all stand in need of the grace of God And as for my death I blesse God I feel and finde so much inward joy and comfort in my soul that if I were put to my choice whether to dye or live I would a thousand times rather choose death then life if it may stand with the holy will of God And accordingly shortly after he slept in the Lord Anno Christi 1576. The Life of Flacius Illiricus who died A no Christi 1575. MAtthias Flacius Illiricus was borne in Albona in Sclavonia Anno Christi 1520 of an ancient and numerous Family His Father being learned himself and discerning a good ingeny in his Sonne began in his tender years to instill into him the first Rudiments of Learning But after his death his Masters so neglected him that he almost forgot all Yet when he began to have discretion he desired much to attaine to Learning and returned to his studies and to further him therein went to Venice and after some progress made at seventeen years old hee beganne to study Divinity but wanting means to maintaine him in the University he profered halfe his estate to be admitted into a Monastery either at Bononia or Padua but a friend called Baldus a godly man who afterwards suffered Martyrdom for the Truth disswaded him from that kinde of life and advised him rather to goe into Germany where were store of Learned men Hereupon having read over some of the Protestants bookes and liking Baldus his advice hee went into Germany which he had never before seen and first staying at Basil he studied under Simon Grynaeus who did not only entertain him being very poor but provided for him and instructed him in the Truth which was An. 1539. And about the end of the ear he went from thence to Tubing where also he studied a while under Matthias Garbicius then went to Wittenberg An. Chr. 1541 where he privately
Catalogum Consulum Romanorum alia opuscula Item de consolatione decumbentium De idea boni Pastoris De concionibus Funebribus M. CHEMNICIVS The Life of Martin Chemnisius who died A no Christi 1586. MArtin Chemnisius was born at Britza in Old March Anno Christi 1522 of honest but mean Parents so that his father being poor he met with many impediments to discourage and hinder him in Learning yet bearing a great love to it by his exceeding industry he overcame all difficulties and after some progresse at home he went to Magdeburg where he studied the Tongues and Arts. And from thence to Frankfurt upon Oder where he studied Philosophy under his Kinsman George Sabinâ— and after hee had spent some time there he went to Wittenberg where he prosecuted his former studies together with the Mathematicks under Melancthou and other Professors From thence he went to Sabinum in Borussia where he taught School and commenced Master of Arts and Anno Christi 1552 he was made the Princes Library-keeper and had a competent subsistence in the Court. At that time he wholly applied himself to the study of Divinity By reason of his knowledge and skill in the Mathematicks and Astronomy he was very dear to the Duke of Borussia and for the same cause John Marquesse of Brandenburg favoured him very much Yea by his modest and sincere carriage hee procured much favour from the Courtiers Anno Christi 1555 Chemnistus being desirous after three years stay in the Court to return to the Universities for the perfecting of his studies was rewarded by Prince Albert with ample Letters of commendation and so dismissed After which he went again to Wittenberg where he sojourned with Melancthon and was imployed by him publickly to read Common places From thence after a while he was sent to Brunople in Saxonie by the Senate and made Pastor which place he discharged with singular fidelity and approbation for the space of thirty years partly as Pastor and partly as Superintendent and commenced Doctor in Divinity at Rostoch serving the Church with great faithfulness and commendations both by preaching and reading Lectures Many Princes and Commonwealths made use of his advice and assistance in Ecclesiastical affairs He took great pains in asserting the Truth against the adversaries of it as his excellent Exameâ— of the Tridentine Council shews At last being worn out with study writing preaching c. he resigned up his spirit unto God Anno Christi 1586 and of his age 63. He is said by one to be Philosophus summus Theologus profundissimus neque veritatis bonarumque artium studio neque laude officit facile cuiquam secundus His Workes are these De origine Jesuitarum Theologiae Jesuitarum praecipua capita Explicatio Doctrinae de duabus in Christo naturis Fundamenta sanae Doctrinae Enchiridion de praecipuis caelestis Doctrinae capitibus De peccato Origin contra Manichaeos Examen decretorum Concilii Tridentini Concio de Baptismo Harmonia Evangelica The Life of Rodolphus Gualter who died Anno Christi 1586. ROdolphus Gualter was born in Zurick An. Christi 1519. When he first applyed his mind to the study of humane Arts and Tongue hee had such an happy wit that he was inferiour to none of his fellows in Poetry and Oratory and being afterwards admitted into the University he became famous first for his knowledge in the Arts and afterwards of Divinity He was chosen Pastor in that City where first he drew his vitall breath neither were which chose him deceived in their expectation for he proved an admirable instrument of Gods glory and their good discharging his place with fingular industry diligence and fidelity not onely by his frequent publick preaching but by his learned private writings as his Homilies upon much of the Old and New Testament do sufficiently declare And having governed and sed that Church for above forty years together he died in a good old age Anno Christi 1586 and of his Life seventie four Scripsit Homilias in Johannis Epistolas In canâ—cum Zachariae De Nativitate pueritia educatione Domini De servitnte peccati libertate fidelium De origine prastantia authoritate S. Scripturae In 12 Prophetas minores In Maâ—thaum Marcum Lucam Johannem Acta Apostol Epist. ad Romanes ad Corinthios ad Galatas In Esaiam With many other Works set down by Verheiden The Life of Ludovicus Lavater who died A no Christi 1586. LUdovicus Lavator was born in Zurick a famous City of the Helvetians and having drunk in the first Rudiments of Learning became famous by his diligence in the Schooles and his excellent wit insomuch as Bullinger gave his daughter in marriage to him And though a Prophet be not without honour but in his own country yet was he chosen a Pastor in that City and made a Lecturer in the Schooles and hee taught and illustrated both faithfully by his Ministry and Writings He published manys his Father-in-law Bullingers Works And having spent himelf in the Work of the Lord and service of his Church he quietly resigned up his spirit into the hands of his heavenly Father Anno Christi 1586. He wrote Commentaries upon Joshuah both books of the Chronicles Ruth Ester Job Proverbs and Ezekiel Besides his Historia de ortu progressu controversiae Sacramentariae Tractatus de spectris lemuribus fragoribus variisque praesagitionibus quae plerumque obitum hominum magnas clades praecedunt With divers others mentioned in particular by Verheiden GAS. OLEVIAN The Life of Gaspar Olevian who died A no Christi 1587. GAspar Olevian was born in Trevir Anno Christi 1536. His Fathers name was Gerhard a Baker in that City and Master of his Company but this Gasper was carefully brought up in learning by his Grandfather who set him to severall Schooles in that City and at thirteen years old hee was sent to Paris to study the Civill Law from thence also hee went to the Universities of Orleance and Biturg where hee heard the most famous Lawyers of those times He joyned himself also to the Congregation of Protestants which met privately together in both those Cities In Biturg he was admitted into the Order of Lawyers after the solemn manner of the University being made Doctor Anno Christi 1557. About which time there studyed in that Universitie under Nicholas Judex the young Prince Palatine sonne to Frederick the third afterwards Elector And Olevian being very intimate with Judex went one day after dinner to the River Lieg hard by the City together with him and the young Prince and when they came thither they found some young Noble Germans that were students there going into a boat who desired the Prince and his Tutor to goe over the River with them But Olevian perceiving that they had drunk too freely diswaded them from venturing themselves amongst
he gat so great esteem in Italy that he was profered a Pension of five hundred Duckats by the year to imploy himself in the version of some Arabick books into Latine He spent four years in travel and was famous every where for his learning At Paris and some other places he bought many Arabick books and so returned to Leiden Anno Christi 1612. About which time there was a purpose to have called him into England and to have allowed him an honourable stipend but the year after he was chosen Professor of the Oriental languages in Leiden and presently after he set up though with extraordinary charges a Press for those Languages whereby he published many antient Monuments both of his own and other mens Anno Christi 1616 he married a Wife by whom he left three children surviving him Anno Christi 1619 he was made Professoâ— of the Hebrew also and though he had so many and great employments yet he went through each of them with so great exactnesse as if he had nothing else to attend upon Anno Christi 1620 he was sent by the Prince of Orange and the States of Holland into France to procure Peter Moulin or Andrew Rivet to come to Leiden to be the Divinity Professor and though he prevailed not at that journey yet they sent him again the year after to Andr. Rivet and the French-Church to obtain of them their consents for his comming which businesse he transacted with so great prudence that he brought Andrew Rivet along with him to Leiden Erpenius his fame was so great that the King of Spain wrote to him making him exceeding great promises if he would come into Spain to interpret some antient writings which never man yet could doe The King of Morocco also did so exceedingly admire the purity of his Arabick stile in some of his Epistles that he shewed them to his Nobles and other learned men as some great Miracle He was also highly esteemed of by the Prince of Orange and the States of Holland who often made use of his labours in translating the letters which they received from Princes in Asia and Africa out of Arabick or other Languages But whilst he was thus busily imployed in publick and private it pleased God that he fell sick of the Plague whereof he dyed Anno Christi 1624 and of his age forty A. SCVLTETVS The Life of Abraham Scultetus who dyed A no Christi 1624. ABraham Scultetus was born at Grunberg in Silesia Anno Christi 1566. His Parents were of good rank who carefully brought him up at School where he profited exceedingly and Anno Christi 1582 he went to Uratislavia where he had for his fellow-Students Pitiscus Polanus and Pelargus men who after proved eminent in the Church of God Having studied there some time he went thence to Freistade to hear Melancthon Bucâ—lzer and some others But his active spirit could not long be contained within the bounds of his own country and therefore being assisted by the bounty of a Noble Knight he went to Wittenberg and from thence to Dessavia to acquaint himself with Peter Martyr and Caspar Pucer Anno Christi 1590 he went to Heidleberg where hee heard Dâ—niel Tossan and Francis Junius There also he read Lectures of Logick Oratory and Astronomy to divers young Noblemen and the year after Commenced Master of Arts. Then he betook himself to the study of Divinity thereby to fit himself for the Ministry which from his childhood he had devoted himself to And preaching before the Elector Palatine he so flowed with eloquence and sweetnesse of speech that the Prince and all his Courtiers were much delighted in him which caused the Elector to make him Visitor both of the Schools and Churches Yea many other Princes made use of his help in reforming their Churches in Juliers Brandenburg and Hannovia He was also sent to the Synod of Dort Anno Christi 1612 the Prince Elector Palatine tooke him into England with him where he was much esteemed and respected by King James and other learned men At his retuâ—n to Heidleberg he was made Professor in the University and Doctor in Divinity Anno Christi 1618 But about that time grievous Wars breaking forth the miseries whereof were dispersed afterwards over all Germany he was forced to leave Heidleberg and travelled into Bohemia yet there also he met with many afflictions and dangers so that having been long tossed up and down in several countries the Lord at last provided him a quiet station at Embden where he was chosen a Preacher of the Gospel But being thus worn out with travels sorrows and pains in the work of the Ministry hee quietly there slept in the Lord Anno Christi 1624 and of his age 58. What admirable endowments he had his works do sufficiently declare especially his Medulla Patrum which is so much esteemed by learned men The Life of John Piscator who died A no Christi 1625. JOhn Piscator was born at Strasborough Anno Christi 1546 at which time Germany was on fire with Civill Wars Yet that hindred not but he followed his studies very hard and profited exceedingly in learning When he came to the study of Logick with great felicity he joyned Ramus and Aristotle together And afterwards having made a good progresse in the study of Divinity he was called to Herborn to be the Professor there and his labours were so gratefull to young Students that many flocked thither out of Germany France Hungary Poland and other Northern Countries He wrote many things with great diligence and labour scarce affording any rest to himself He translated the whole Bible with great pains and faithfulnesse into the German Tongue besides his Logical and Theological Analysis of the greatest part of it He died at Herborn Anno Christi 1625 and of his age 80. R BOLTON The Life of Robert Bolton who died A no Christi 1631. RObert Bolton was born at Blackborn in Lancashire Anno Christi 1572. His Parents finding in him a great prompâ—nesse to learning though they had no great means yet they intended him for a Scholar the rather having an opportunity of a good Schoolmaster in the town where he profited exceedingly and at twenty years old he went to Lincoln Colledge in Oxford and was Master Randal's Pupil afterwards a famous Preacher there in a short time being wel grounded before and industrious he became an excellent Logician and Philosopher But about that time his father dying and his meanes failing hee took excessive paines and wanting bookes he borrowed of his Tutor and others read them over and abridged them and to perfect his knowledge in the Greek he wrote out all Homer with intollerable pains so that he could with as much facility dispute in the Schools in Greek as in Latine or English From thence he removed to
in peâ—secution He goes to Heidleberg A great plague He returnes to Heidleberg Bible translated He is made Professor in Leiden His death His Works His birth and education He goes to Paris He goes to Orleance He comes into England His several imploymentâ— His Death His parentage His birth A prediction His education He goes to Caâ—bridge He is Fellow of Peter-house The Pope is Antichrist He is Mr. of Pembrok-hall And Margaret Professor His prefermâ—nts His esteem with the Qu. His sicknesse His death His charity His birth and Parentage His Education He studies the Law His Poems Popish malice His tentations His conversion His marriage New tenâ—atâ—ons Gods mercy to him by sicknes Affliction sanctified He leaves all for Christ. A speciall providence His remove to Lausanna His prudence He turnes the Psalms inâ—o French metre His expâ—sitions He falls sick of the Plague Gods goodness His works Persecution in France Popish malice Friendship His remove to Geneva He is chosen Paâ—â—or â—earning advanced in troublesomâ— times He deals with the King of Navar. Persecution stopped A confâ—rence about Religion Who repaâ—r to it The French Ministers Beza's speech His conference Cardinal of Lorrains speech to Beza The first meeting Beza's Oration A Confession of faith presented to the King The second meeting The third meeting The several conferences Popish â—â—â—â—lty Beza's aâ—swer The fâ—â—rth meâ—ting A way of reconciliation propounded The Form of the Agreement The form rejected by the Pontificians The conference ends The Church increaseth Carnal policy The King of Navar falls to the Papists 〈…〉 The Protestants murdered Beza stayes in France A Synod A Plague The protetants beaten Beza comforts he Prince His return to Geneva His imployments He relates the miseries of the French Churches He confutes Hereticks and Lutherans Civil wars in France Geneva a refuge to the godly He is sent for into France Moderates in a Synod 1572. The Massacre at Paris He provides for the afflicted Charity His great imployments A Plague Friendship amongst the Pastors Anabaptists converted A Disputation No good comes of it His Wife dyes His second marriage His great labours Prayer in danger His weaknesse His diligence His last sermon He invites his Colleagues Friendship amongst brethren Popish lyes Confuted Death desired He visits the Kings His request for the Church at Lions His meditations He is visited by many Preparation for death Ephes. 2 10. His sicknesse His death His Character Thanksgiving for five things His small means His works His birth and education His brothers are Papists His excellent parts His humility His preferments Gods providence His death His birth and education He goes to Paris His Industry He studies Hebrew His humility His travels He is made Professor at Leiden His Death His birth and education He goes to Tubing He goes to Basil. He commenceth Doctor in Divinity Is made Professor His death His works His birth and education His preferments His great learnâ—ng His zeal Preparation for death His death His birth and Education He goes into England He studies Hebrew Greek He goes into Fâ—ance He is Professor in Oxford He is Professor in Leiden His marriage His death His Birth Parentage and Education Gods Providence He is ordained Deacon His remove to Tubing He doubts of the Ubiquity He is chosen Pastor of Raetela His marriage He denies the Ubiquity He is sent for to Basil. His remove to Basil. His friends He removes to Heidleberg The Lutherans removed His return to Basil. His greaâ—ains His imployments abroad He growâ— weak His patiencâ— His sicknesses Prayer Death desired His death His speech to Meier His sayings His diligence and Indusâ—â—y His Character His Works His birth and education His degrees His works His patience His sicknesse His Death His birth and education His conversion He goes to St. Andrews His tentations Gods mercy He goes into England Gods providence He serves Mr. H. Broughton His return to Edenborough He preaches privately His calling to the Ministry Power of the Word He is sickly Assaulted with â—eâ—â—ations His remove His painfulnes in the Ministry The success of his Ministry His zeal His works His tentations Joy unspeakable His outward troubles Power of the word The apostasie of his people He is made Bishop of Gaâ—loway His humâ—lity His desire of deâ—â—h Death why desired He grows sickly Preparation for death His sicknesse His death A sweet speech His works His birth and education He goes to Cambridge His proficiency He is ordained Minister He is Prebend â—f Ely His marriage His studiousness His piety His recreations His great â—eading His Works His Ministry He is made Pastor Preachers pattern His holy life His family wel governed His charity His justice He was a Peace maker His hospitality He breaks his 〈◊〉 His preparation for death He faints His death His birth parentage and education Hee is made a Prentice He returnes to school His Masâ—er is driven away Malice His poverty He goes into the Palatinate He enters into the Ministry He is driven from Heidleberg He returns home His return into the Palatinate His preferment there He commenceth Doctor in divinity Lutherans malice A great plague He is made Professor Gods mercy His fame His wife dies He is chosen to the Synod at Dort Gods providence Peace maker His works The Spaniards come into the Palatinate He goes to Anvilla Death desired His sicknesse His returne to Heidleberg His death His workes His birth and ducation He goes to Leiden His travels His great learning His returne to Leiden He is made Professor at Leiden His marriâ—ge Dr. Rivet brought to Leiden His great esteem His death His birth and education He goes to Friestade His travels He studies divinity His eloquence His employments He goes into England He is made Dr. and Professor His afflictions He is called to Embden His death His works His birth and education He is Professor at Herborn His works Bible translated His death His birth and education He goes to Oxford His poverty His Industry He is made a Fellow His Prophanesse His judgement of Mr. Perkins His tentation A special providence His conversion His 〈◊〉 His comfort He is ordained Minister Gods providence His marriage His great labours The success of his Ministry Preachers pattern His holy life His frequent prayers Christ preferred before health His humility His Charity His sicknesse Preparation for death His patience Death desired His submission to God His Thanksgiving His admonition to his children His joy unspeakable His speech to his friends His death His works His birth parentage and education He goes to Cambridge His excellent memory His marriage He is called to Banbury His character His eloquence Preachers paâ—teâ—n His great labours The method in Sermons His manner of Reading Conversion wrought by him Peace-maker His excellency in pâ—ayer His family duties His prudence His fasting His humility His charity He gained by his falls His sicknesse His exhortation to his friends His patience His death Note His works His
forbear them What excellent use may be made of these Lives will appear if we consider First the Divine and comfortable speeches which have proceeded from these holy men of God worthy to be written in letters of Gold and to be engraven not upon the Tables of stone but upon the fleshly Table of our hearts Secondly the industry diligence and faithfulness which they shewed in their general and particular callings worthy our best imitation Thirdly their behaviour and deportment in times of persecution and how ready the Lord was to support encourage and strengthen them therein which may help our faith and dependance upon God in the like times and upon the like occasions Fourthly their zeal patience and perseverance in the truth not loving their lives unto the death so they might fulfil their Ministry with joy which should teach us to be followers of them who through Faith and Patience do now inherit the promises What benefit this collection of mine may afford to the learned and to Ministers I leave it to their own prudence who can best judge of it Yet thus much I dare say that here they shall finde gathered into one book those things which before lay scattered in many Here they shall see in what Centuries Ages and places the famousest lights of the Church both Antient and Modern have flourished Here they shall have contracted into one little volume the substance of that which if it had been translated or transcribed according to the Originals would have filled many such books as this and yet as I suppose nothing of worth or weight omitted And if together with this they shall please to make use of my two Martyrologies and my Mirror or Looking-glass both for Saints and Sinners I presume they may be stored with examples almost for every subject which they shall preach upon and how grateful and useful to the Auditors such examples are I conceive none can be ignorant But to conclude I hope through Gods blessing these my weak and unworthy endeavors will prove seasonable and sutable to the times pleasant and profitable to the Readers and some way or other instrumental to Gods glory which is the serious and earnest desire of Thy unfeigned friend to serve thee SAMUEL CLARK From my study in Threed-needle-street Decemb 10. 1649. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thomas Dugard A. M. Rector Barfordiae 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Idem To his Reverend Friend Mr. Samuel Clark Samuel Clark ANAGRAM A Cull-markes Or Cull's a marke FAlse Lights to Error now our Souls betray Thou art a Cull-markes to direct our way From White of Truth we rove as in the dark Thy Book 's our Marks-man and Cull's out A Mark. We sail in troublous Seas midst rocks and shelves Thou set'st up Sea-marks least we lose our selves Mercurial Statues here rais'd out of clay Whose Faith Zeal Patience guide us heavens way Thy Life Name Works so well in one agree I wish me follower of these LIVES with thee Jo. Fuller Minister of Gods Word at Botolphs-Bishops-gate Others by the same STorie 's a Light of time for after Ages This Book 's a Lanthorn which this Light incage's No fatal Comet 's here with fear to dread us But Pole-stars all from Christ to Christ to lead us And should the witnesses not yet be slain Thou mak'st us see they may be rais'd again If Teachers be as Stars then sure thy Book Doth as an Heavenly Constellation look If they be seasoning salt this Book of thine May well be nam'd a Rich Salt Peter-Mine If Watchmen Witnesses he 's not misled Calls it a Mizpah and a Galeed A Sacred Sampler drawn to th' life in Storie Legend of Saints indeed a Directorie And whilst that some snuff out Lights of our Age Thou trim'st and set'st such here in equipage Spirits once rais'd imploy'd not vanish soon When these LIVES guide us then thy Book is done Joh. Fuller To my Reverend and learned friend upon his Book called The LIVES c. LIke Jacob's Rods thy LIVES thou laist in view His Rods were pill'd thy LIVES are pickt their hew Reader is thy Exemplar Look on Love Buy Read yea Live their LIVES and then t will prove That when you have enquir'd what bargain 's best A purchase made for LIVES is gainfullest Could but one Life be bought who would not trade Who buys thy Book buyes many Lives I 'le wade One step more in thy praise How th' Faces fit I judge not sure thy LIVES to th' Life are writ Guilielm Ienkyn Ecclesiae Christi apud Londinenses Pastor Vpon the Book of the LIVES of the FATHERS c. Made by the Reverend his dear Father Mr. Samuel Clark LO here the quintessence of more Then Croesus ever saw before Gold Silver Diamonds these are Compar'd to this not half so rare Contracted worth much in a little space 'T is Homer's Iliads in a Nut-shel case Rare Chymistrie how could you make So pure Elixar did you take These Worthies ashes so Divine As matter fit for your design Such Sacred Reliques whereso ' ere enshrin'd Make the Vrn pretious to a pious minde Of several Stars our Sophies say Vnited's made the Milkie-way The Ignes fatui cannot be Exalted to such dignitie No wandring Stars are here These fixed are A Constellation in heaven's highest Sphere Then sure this Book if read will please Who will not choose to be with these Deceased Heroes this bliss To th' Reader here imparted is Here 's many Saints one Book thus Schools do tell Ten thousand Angels in one point may dwell Sam. Clark A. M. Aul. Pembr Soc. To his Reverend and much honored Father Mr. Samuel Clark concerning his Book called The LIVES c. HOW LIVES They 're dead No death they did evade By their good Lives which them immortal made Death could not take their Lives away you finde He took their bodies left their Lives behinde Which here assembled shew themselves so well As though they strove each other to excell 'T is a choise Synod O! who would not be Present their Acts and Orders for to see Like Cyrus Court
this he called for a sum of money which as a faithful Steward he daily used to distribute amongst the Poor willing it all to be presently divided and reciting by name the Widdows Orphans and Poor he allotted to every one his portion Soon after in the midst of his Prayers dyed this blessed servant of God and famous Doctor of the Church in the 65. year of his Age Anno Christi 529. having been Bishop about 25 years He was very powerful in Prayer as may appear by this example Some time before his death the Moores invaded the Territories of Ruspa filling all places with Rapines Murthers Burnings and Devastations not sparing the Churches themselves but murthering such as fled to them for refuge But yet so long as Fulgentius lived the City of Ruspa remained in safety and when all the rest of the Province was under miserable Captivity that City alone enjoyed an happy Peace He wrote many excellent Treatises against Hereticks besides sundry Sermons and Epistles His moving and affectionate Eloquence was such as that the Bishop of Carthage hearing him Preach two days together in his Church could not refrain from tears Rejoycing that God had given to his Church in those afflicted and comfortless times such a worthy Instrument of his Glory He used to say Christ dyed for Men and Angels for Men that they might rise from sin and for Angels that they might not fall into sin And If they go to Hell that do not feed the hungry cloath the naked c. what will become of them that take away bread from the hungry cloaths from the naked c. If want of charity be tormented in Hell what will become of covetousnass His Mother having committed the charge of her house to him in his youth he so mannaged it that he gat this testimony that he was Matri praefidium domesticis solatium c. A safeguard to his Mother a comfort to the Family and to all with whom he conversed a rare example In the midst of his greatest sufferings he used to say Plura pro Christo toleranda We must suffer more then this for Christ. His Works are Printed at Lyons Anno Christi 1633. GREGORY Y E GREAT The Life of Gregory the Great who dyed Anno Christi 605. GRegory the Great was born in Rome his Father was a Senator by name Gordianus his Mothers name was Sylvia a woman Noble by birth but both of them more Noble for their Piety Our Gregory in his tender years was carefully educated by his Parents being instructed both in Religion and Literature and as he grew in years so he encreased in Learning which he retained with a firm Memory whereby he was enabled afterwards to make good use of it for the profit and benefit of the Church of God Having gone through the study of other Arts he spent two years in reading of Pythagoras but finding little satisfaction therein he at last with much diligence breathed after more Divine studies And after his Fathers death having more freedom in disposing of himself and his estate he gave all his riches towards the relief of the Poor and betook himself to a Monastical life first under Hillarion and afterwards under Maximianus who both of them were famous for their Piety and Learning He was very abstemious in his Dyet frequent in Fasting and Prayer and so studious of the Sacred Srriptures that he could scarse finde leasure to eat his food till necessity urged him thereunto And indeed his abstinence was so great that he much impaired his health thereby yet would he not give over his imployments spending all his time in Prayer Reading Writing or Dictating to others His humility was very exemplary for though he came of Noble Parents yet had he so little respect to his discent that with tears he would often say That all Earthly Glory was miserable if the owner of it did not seek after the Glory of God He was very exact in spending his time saying that he was to give an account of it unto God Neither was he less charitable to the souls of others For on a time when many Merchants were met to sell their commodities at Rome it happened that Gregory passed by them and saw many young boys with white bodies fair faces beautiful countenances and lovely hair set forth to sail whereupon going to the Merchant their owner he asked him from what Country he brought them The Merchant answered from Britain where the Inhabitants were generally so beautiful Then said Gregory Are they Christians or Heathens Heathens replyed the other whereupon Gregory deeply sighing said Alass for grief that such fair faces should be under the power of the Prince of Darkness and that such beautiful bodies should have their souls void of the Grace of God Then did he again ask the Merchant by what name that people were called He answered Angli Truly said he they may be called Angli quasi Angeli for they have Angles countenances and its fit they were made fellow-Citizens with the Angels Again he asked What was the name of the Province whence they came The Merchant answered Deiri well may they be of Deiri for its fit they should be pulled De ira Dei from under the wrath of God and called into the grace of Christ. Again he asked him what was the name of their King The Merchant answered Alle whereupon Gregory alluding to his name said Well is their King called Alle for its fit that Alleluja to their Creator should be sung in those parts And so going strait to Benedict who was Bishop of Rome at that time he earnestly requested him to send some Ministers into Britain for the Conversion of the Inhabitants thereof and when none could be found that would undertake that journey himself would have gone if the Bishop would have permitted it And indeed at the length by his importunity he prevailed for leave and set forwards on his journey but within three days the people of Rome so complained to Benedict of the loss of Gregory that he sent for him back which occasioned his return though with much sorrow that he was hindered in so good a work Not long after he was sent upon some Ecclesiastical affairs to the Emperour at Constantinople where though the splendor of the Court was troublesome to him yet intermitted he not his private studies and devotion and during his abode there at the request of a Bishop who was Embassador for the Visigoths he wrote a Comment upon the Book of Job Also whereas Eutychius Bishop of Constantinople had taught and writ that our bodies at the Resurrection should be impalpable more subtle then the air Gregory confuted that Error both by Reason and by the Example of Christs Body after his Resurrection whereupon ensued an hot Disputation betwixt them This the Emperour Tiberius hearing of sent for them both to him heard the
he profited exceedingly so that he attained to the knowledg of all the Liberal Sciences After which going to Jerusalem he studied the Scripture and Divinity where he was made a Presbyter Preached diligently and much propagated the Faith by his Sermons and Writings A great opposer of Hereticks he was He flourished under Leo and dyed in peace He was a very Eloquent man and second to none of that Age in Learning He wrote three Books of Parallels of the Sacred Scriptures four Books of the Orthodox Faith besides many other Works which are printed at Paris Anno Christi 1619. The Life of Theophylact who flourished Anno Christi 880. THeophylact born in Constantinople and afterwards Archbishop of the same was much imployed in visiting and reforming the Churches in Bulgarie and when he had proved himself a painful laborer in the dangerous persecutions there he yielded up his spirit to his Maker He used to say Be not troubled if this man lives in tranquillity and thou in tribulation God will have it so he puts thee into the combat thou must therefore sweat hard before thou com'st off with the victory whereas he that comes forward in the World goes back in Grace his estate is miserable that goes laughing to destruction as a Fool to the stocks for correction He wrote in Greek Commentaries upon the four Evangelists which are translated into Latine by Charles Morell and printed at Paris Anno Christi 1631. The Life of Anselm who flourished Anno Christi 1080. ANselm Archbishop of Canterbury was born at Aosta or Augusta Praetoriana at the foot of the Alps in Italy and therefore as an Italian he always favoured the cause of the Romane Bishop He was carefully brought up in Learning by his Mother Ermerburga till he was fourteen years old when she dying he gave himself awhile to vain pleasures and his Father being severe to him he resolved to travel in which he met with wants spent three years in Burgundie and France and then became Scholar to Lanfrancus Abbot of Beck where being held hard to his study he entred into a Monasterie and by his strict carriage there his fame spread abroad and the old Abbot dying he succeeded him and after the death of Lanfrank he was chosen Archbishop of Canterbury He received such honours and uncouragements from Pope Vrbane as never Bishop received greater from a Pope For at the Council of Barum in Apulia the Pope placed him at his right foot above al others which was ever since the place of the Archbishops of Canterbury in all General Councils Much contention was between William Rufus King of England and him which caused him to leave the Kingdom till Henry the First his time when he was reinvested again but lived not long after his return into England before he dyed which was Anno Christi 1109. and in the 9. year of the Reign of King Henry the First and of his Age 76. He was indeed the Popes Factor in England for denyal of Investures to the King and Marriages to the Ministers but otherwise he was found in the main points of our Religion and taught many things contrary to the corrupt Tenents of the Church of Rome He used to say That if he should see the shame of sin on the one hand and the pains of Hell on the other and must of necessitie chuse one he would rather be thrust into Hell withoute sin then go into Heaven with sin And again O durus casus c. Oh hard-hap Alas what did man lost what did he finde He lost the blessedness to which he was made and found death to which he was not made The Life of Nicephorus who flourished Anno Christi 1110. NIcephorus a man of profound Judgment and Learning both in Humanity and Divinity flourished under Andrenicus senior the Emperour Anno Christi 1110. He was a great light when the World was in great darkness and both by his Life and Doctrine illuminated many He wrote his Ecclesiastical History in eighteen Books in Greek and Dedicated them to the Emperour Andronicus and not long after exchanged this Life for Eternal glory He said God beholds and moderates our actions using the scourge of affliction for our castigation and conversion and after due correction shews his Fatherly affection to those that trust in hâ—m for Salvation And Christ asked Peter three times if he loved him not for his own information but that by his threefold profession he might help and heal his threefold negation of him BERNARD The Life of Bernard who dyed An. Christi 1153. BErnard was born in Burgundie in the Town of Fontane His Fathers name was Tecelinus of an ancient Family and a brave Souldier but that which most commended him was that he feared God and loved Justice and following the counsel of John the Baptist he did wrong to no man and was content with his wages His Mothers name was Aleth of the Castle called Mont-Barr a woman eminent for Piety Chastity and Charity bringing up her children in the fear of God She had seven children six sons and one daughter all which she nursed with her own breasts Bernard was her third son whom from his Infancy with Hannah she devoted to the Service of God and therefore brought him not up tenderly and delicately but inured him to course fare and hardship and as soon as he was of capacity instilled into him the knowledge of the Sacred Scriptures and instructed him in the Principles of Religion and finding him to be of an acute wit ready apprehension firm memory comly feature courteous and meek deportment and much addicted to Learning she set him to Schole betimes to Castillion under the care and tuition of able Scholemasters and the boy being piously addicted studious of a quick apprehension easily answered his Mothers desire and expectation profiting in Learning above his age and out-stripping all his school-fellows and shewed withall a great contempt of all Earthly things and indeed he was very simple in all worldly affairs He shunned company and affected retiredness was much in meditation obedient to his Parents grateful and curteous to all He was exceeding shamefac't and modest loved not to speak much Towards God very devout that he might keep himself pure in his childhood And amongst other Learning he was frequent in reading the holy Scriptures that from thence he might learn to know and serve God So that it cannot be imagined how much he profited in a short time Whilst he was yet a boy he was much troubled with a pain in his head and lying upon his bed there was brought to him a woman who had undertaken to cure him with certain verses and charms but as soon as he heard her begin to utter her verses wherewith she used to deceive the simple he cryed out with great indignation
and to send them up to the Archbishop of Canterbury to be further proceeded against by him As also to attach and seize upon all their Books and to send them to the said Archbishop and this to do as they would avoid the forfeiting of all the Liberties and Priviledges of the University c. John Wicklief was hereupon either banished or retired for a while to some secret place but ere long he returned to his Parsonage of Lutterworth in Leicestershire where after all these storms he at last dyed in Peace Anno Christi 1384. He wrote very many Books many of which were burned at Oxford Anno Christi 1410. Aeneas Sylvius writes that Subincus Archbishop of Prague burnt two hundred Volumes of his excellently written richly covered and adorned with Bosses of Gold One that had all his works wrote that they were as big as the works of St. Augustine Mr. Wicklief received his first knowledge of the Truth from one Fryar Rainard Lollard who brought the Doctrine of the Waldenses into England and from whom his Disciples were called Lollards Mr. Wicklief was an Eloquent man and so profound a Scholar that he drew the hearts of many Noble Personages to affect and favor him whereby he was sheltred from the rage of the Popish Clergy till Pope Gregory the 11. raised up a Persecution by the Monks Inquisitors against him All his Books were commanded to be burnt but he had before enlightned so great a number who kept his Books carefully maugre all the diligence of his Adversaries so that they could never wholly deprive the Church of them For the more they laboured by horrible threats and death it self to hinder the knowledge and reading of them the more were many kindled in their affections to read them with ardency He wrote above a hundred Volumes against Antichrist and the Church of Rome Multos praeterea in Philosophia multos quibus S. Scripturam interpretatus est edidit Quorum Catalogum videre est apud Balaeum in suis Centuriis Transtulit etiam Wiclevus in Anglicum sermonem Biblia adhibitis praefationibus argumentis cuique libro suis. Vertit Libros 12. Clementis Lanthoniensis Ecclesiae Praesbyteri De concordia Evangelistarum cum multis veterum Doctorum Tractatibus He was a great Enemy to the swarms of begging Fryars with whom it was harder to make war then with the Pope himself He denyed the Pope to be the Head of the Church and pronounced him to be Antichrist He confuted and condemned his Doctrine about Buls Indulgences Masses c. He affirmed the Scripture to be the Supreme Judge of Controversies condemned Transubstantiation c. He was a painful and faithful Preacher under King Edward the third who always favored and protected him against the rage of his Adversaries by his means the Pope lost in England his power of Ordaining Bishops the Tenth of Benefices and Peter-pence whereupon Polidore Virgil cals him an Infamous Heretick He was buryed at his Parsonage of Lutterworth in Leicester-shire His dead body being digged up 51 years after viz. 1428. by the command of Pope Martin the fifth and the Council of Sâ—ne was burned And thus he suffered their cruelty after death whose cruelty he had Preached against in his life He wrote above two hundred Volumes most of which were burned by the Archbishop of Prague JOHN HVS The Life of John Huss who dyed Anno Christi 1415. IOhn Huss was born at a little Town called Hussinets about 18. miles from Prague in Bohemia under the Hercynian Wood of mean but religious Parents who carefully trained him up in Religion and Learning and having profited much at Schole he went to the University of Prague and whilst he was a Student there he met with our Wickliefs Books from whence he first took light and courage to profess the Truth Anno Christi 1393. he Commenced Batchelor of Arts with good approbation of the whole University and An. 1396. the commenced Master of Arts about which time two godly Noble men of Prague built the Church of Bethlehem and Anno 140â— Mr. Huss was chosen Pastor thereof who fed his people with the bread of life and not with the Popes Decrees and other humane Inventions The year after he was chosen Dean of the University and Anno 1409. by the consent of the whole University he was chosen Rector of it He continued in the Exercise of his Ministry with admirable zeal and diligence and faithfulness about the space of 12. years Preaching and Instructing his People in the Principles of Divinity which he confirmed by the holy Scriptures and adorned by an exemplary and blameless life He vigorously opposed the Popes proceedings whereupon the Devil envying the peace and progress of the Gospel stirred up Pope Alexander the fifth against him who cited him to Rome to answer to such Articles as should be laid in against him whereupon Huss sent his Procters to Rome who appeared for him answered the charge and cleared his innocency yet did the Pope and his Cardinals condemn him for an Heretick and Excommunicate him which caused the Popish Clergy and some of the Barons of Bohemia to oppose Huss being thus excommunicated and King Winceslaus banished him but he was entertained in the Country and protected by the Lord of the Soil 〈◊〉 Hussinets where he preached in the Parish Church and some places adjacent confuting the Popish Doctrine of Merit of Works and against the Pride Idleness Cruelty and Avarice of the Roman Court and Clergy multitudes of persons resorting to his Ministry Sometimes also he repaired to his Church of Bethlehem and preached there But upon the Popes death the Cardinals being divided chose three Popes whereupon there was a Council called at Constance Anno Christi 1414. unto which Council the Emperour Sigismund commanded Huss to come giving him his safe Conduct for his coming and return And Master Huss relying upon the goodness of his Cause the clearness of his Conscience and the Emperours safe Conduct with a cheerful minde and undaunted spirit went to Constance and in his journey set up writings in every City the tenor whereof was this Mr. John Huss Batchelor of Divinity goeth now to the Council of Constance there to declare his Faith which he hath hitherto holden and even at this present doth hold and by Gods grace will hold and defend even to the death therefore even as he hath manifested through all the Kingdom of Bohemia by his Letters and Intimations willing before his departure thence to have satisfied and given an account of his Faith unto every man which should object or lay any thing against him in the general Convocation held in the Archbishop of Pragues Court So also he doth manifest and signifie that if there be any man in this Noble and Imperial City that can impute any Error or Heresie to him that he would prepare himself to
New Testament At the time of his burning one Doctor Cook a Parson in London admonished the people that they should no more pray for him then they would pray for a Dog whereupon John Frith smiling prayed God to forgive him This speech of the Doctor much moved the people to anger and this milde answer of the Martyr sunk deeply into their mindes The books that were written by this blessed Martyr were many and much sought after in King Henry the Eighth and in Queen Maries Reign to be burned and in the times of King Edward the Sixth and Queen Elizabeth for the instruction and comfort of the godly But it pleased God by a marvellous occasion to cause three or four of his most useful Treatises to be reprinted of late which was this On Midsummer Eve Anno Christi 1626 a Codfish being brought into the Market in Cambridge and there cut up for sale in the Maw of the Fish was found wrapt up in Canvas a Book in Decimo sexto containing three Treatises of Mr. Friths The Fish was caught about the Coast of Lin called Lin-deeps by one William Skinner when the Fish was cut open the garbish was thrown by which a woman looking upon espied the Canvas and taking it up found the Book wrapped up in it being much soiled and covered over with a kinde of slime and congealed matter This was beheld with great admiration and by Benjamin Prime the Batchelors Beadle who was present at the opening of the Fish was carryed to the Vicechancellor who took speciall notice of it examining the particulars before mentioned By Daniel Boys a Book-binder the leaves were carefully opened and cleansed The Treatises contained in it were A Preparation to the Cross. A Preparation to Death The Treasure of Knowledge A Mirrour or Glass to know thy self A brief instruction to teach one willingly to dye and not to fear death How useful the reviving of these Treatises by such a special Providence hath been may easily be discerned by such as have lived since those times The Life of Thomas Bilney who dyed Anno Christi 1531. THomas Bilney was born in England and brought up at the University of Cambridge where he profited exceedingly in all the Liberal Sciences was chosen Fellow of Trinity Hall and commenced Batchelor of both Laws but betaking himself to the study of Divinity he was wonderfully enflamed with the love of true Religion and godliness He was requested to Preach at a poor Cure belonging to the Hall he converted many of his fellows to the knowledge of the Gospel and amongst others Hugh Latimer who was Cross-keeper at Cambridge and used to carry it before the Procession Bilney afterwards forsaking the University went into many places Teaching and Preaching everywhere and sharply reproving the pomp pride and insolency of the Clergy whereupon Cardinal Wolsey caused him to be apprehended An. Chr. 1527. and to be examined before him and sundry Articles to be drawn up against him Amongst which these were some That in the Church of Willesdon he had exhorted the people to put away their gods of silver and gold and to leave offering to them for that it was known that such things as they had offered to them were many times spent upon Whores and Stews And that the Jews and Saracens would have been Christians long ago had it not been for the Idolatry of Christians and their offering to stocks and stones That Christ is our only Mediator and that therefore we should not seek to Saints That man is so imperfect in himself that he cannot merit by his own deeds That it was a great blasphemy to say that to be buryed in Saint Francis Cowl would take away four parts of penance seeing the blood of Christ taketh away the sins of the World That it was great folly to go on Pilgrimage That Miracles done at Walsingam Canterbury c. were done by the Devil through Gods permission to blinde the poor people That the Pope hath not the Keys that Peter had except he follow Peter in his life That for these 500 years there hath been no good Pope and that of all since Christs time we read but of fifty that were good Lastly that he had Prophesied that there would come others besides him that would Preach to the people the same Faith and manner of living that he did which said he is the very true Gospel of Christ and agreeable to the mindes of the holy Fathers c. For these and such like things the Cardinal being himself busied in the affairs of the Kingdom turned him over to Tonstal Bishop of London who after examination of witnesses against him urged him to recant but he stifly refused three several days still saying Fiat Justitia Judicium in nomine Domini And Haec est dies quam fecit Dominus exultemus laetemur in ea Then the Bishop after deliberation putting off his Cap said In nomine Patris Filii Spiritus Sancti Amen Exurgat Deus dissipentur inimici ejus and so making a Cross on his Forehead and Breast he said I by the consent and counsel of my Brethren here present do pronounce and declare thee Thomas Bilney to be convict of heresie and for the rest of the sentence we will take deliberation till to morrow At which time the Bishops being again assembled London asked him if he would yet return to the Unity of the Church and revoke his Error Mr. Bilney answered that he would not be a slander to the Gospel trusting that he was not separated from the Church and that if multitude of witnesses might be credited he could have thirty men of honest life of his part for one on the contrary brought in against him The Bishop told him it was too late they could admit no witness and therefore exhorted him to abjure This contest continued between the Bishops and him for divers days they still urging and he refusing to recant yet at last through humane frailty he told them that he was perswaded by Mr. Dancaster to abjure and so reading his Abjuration he subscribed it and for penance was enjoyned to abide in Prison till he was released by the Cardinal and that the next day he should go bare-headed before the Procession carrying a Fagot on his shoulder and so stand at Pauls Cross during all the Sermon In the time of his Imprisonment before this he wrote to Cuthbert Tonstall Bishop of London several Letters and in one of them he compares the Priests and Fryars that accused him to Jannes and Jambres to Elymas to Dâ—metrius to the Pythoniss to Baalam Cain Ishmael c. Adding further These are those Physitians upon whom the woman vexed twelve years with a Bloody Issue spent all that she had and found no help but was still worse and worse till at last she came to Christ and was healed by him Oh the mighty power of the
that he was made one of the Professors in the University of Ingolstade And Anno Christi 1516 by the order of his Prince he dealt effectually with Erasmus Roterodamus to draw him to Ingolstade And though he could not prevail yet he had this Testimony given him by Erasmus that he was vir candidus prudens facundus eruditus in summa omnibus omnium Gratiarum ac Musarum dotibus praeditus A candid wise eloquent and learned man c. Then Regius falling to the study of Divinity preferred that before all other Learning applying himself wholly to the searching out of the Divine Mysteries therein contained and a while after the controversie growing hot between Luther and Eccius Regius favouring Luthers Doctrine because he would not offend Eccius to whom he was many ways bound left Ingolstade and went to Auspurg and there at the importunity of the Magistrates and Citizens he undertook the Government of the Church and being offended at the gross Idolatry of the Papists he joyned with Luther and preached against the same and having written to Zuinglius to know his judgement about the Sacrament and Original Sin he received such satisfaction that he joined in opinion with him about the same At that time the Anabaptists crept into Auspurg and held private Conventicles to the disturbance of the Publick Peace for which the Magistrates imprisoned the chiefest of them Amongst which there was a woman of good quality cast into Prison who boasted that she could defend her opinion against Regius if she might but have liberty to confer with him hereupon she was called before the Senate where Regius also was appointed to meet with her There she produced divers Texts of Scripture to confirm her Errors But Regius did so clearly and fully open the genuine sense of them that every one which was not wilfully blinde might easily discern the truth But this wilful woman was so far from submitting to it that she impudently spake thus unto Regius Egregia enimvero Vrbane frater haec disputandi ratio inter me te Tu â—n molli culcitra ad later Consulum adsidens quasi ex Apollinis â—â—ipode proloqueris ego misera humi prostrata â—ex duris vinculis causam dicâ—re cogor â—o this Vrbanus answered Nec vero inâ—urin soâ—or ut quae seâ—el è servitute Diaboli per Christum in libertatem adserta tua spâ—â—te iterum cervicem turpi jugo submisisti istiâ— te ornamentis â—esanus ostentat genius aliâ— iâ— exemplum The Senate perceiving that they labored in vain whilst they sought to reclaim them by a Decree banished them the City Regius Preaching against Purgatory and Indulgences the malice and cruelty of the Papists prevailed at length to the driving him out of that City but after a while by the earnest prayer of the Citizens he was called back again to his former Charge where also he marryed a wife by whom he had thirteen children About the same time Eccius came thither and sought by all means to turn him from the Truth but in vain He sent also Fâ—ber and Cochlaeus with flatteries and large promises who prevailed as little as the other Anno Christi 1530. when the Dâ—et was held at Auspurg for quieting the controversies about Religion the Duke of Brunswick coming thither by importunity prevailed with Regius to go to Luneburg in his Country to take care of the Church there In which journey at Coburg he met with Luther and spent a whole day in familiar conference with him about matters of great moment of which himself writes That he never had a more comfortable day in his life As these words of his in a Letter to one of his friends in Auspurg do testifie wherein he writes thus Cum Saxoniam peterem Coburgi integrum diem solus cum Luthero viro Dei transegeram quo die nullus mihi in vita fuit jucundior Talis enim tantus est Theologus Lutherus ut nulla secula habuerint similem Semper mihi magnus fuit Lutherus at jam mihi Maximus est Vidi enim praesens audivi quae nullo calamo tradi possunt absentibus Ernestus Duke of Brunswick loved him dearly and esteemed him as his Father insomuch as when the City of Auspurg Anno Christi 1535. sent to the Duke desiring him to return Regius to them again he answered That be would as soon part with his Eyes as with him Also at his return from Auspurg when divers of his Nobles asked him what new and pretious ware after the example of other Princes he had brought home with him He answered that he had brought home incomparable treasure for the good of his whole Dukedom which he preferred before all his delights And presently after he made him Bishop and Over-seer of all the Churches in his Country with an ample salary for the same Afterwards going with his Prince to a meeting at Haganaw he had a humor fell into his right Leg which arising in a Pustle brake and caused an issue which the Physitians advised to keep still open but not long after he stopped the same whereupon many presaged his death whereof indeed this was a cause For when on the Sabbath day he had been at Church and received the Sacrament in the Evening rubbing his Forehead he complained of some obstructions and pain in his Head yet was he still cheerful and not troubled at it and so went to bed with his wife and slept till almost day when rising out of his bed he fell along in the floor and with the fall awaked his wife who leaping our of her bed cryed out and endeavoured to lift him into his bed again but all in vain till help came to her A while after seeing his wife and friends heavy and mourning he comâ—orted them and commended himself wholly unto God and so about two or three hours after quietly and comfortably resigned up his soul into the hands of his heavenly Father Anno Christi 1541. and May the 23. He often desired God that he might dye a sudden and easie death wherein God answered his desires He was of an excellent wit holy of life and painful in the work of the Lord. His son Ernest collected all his works together and digested them into several Tomes printed them at Norinberg Afterwards came forth another Book called Loci Theologici ex Patribus Scholasticis Neotericisque collecti per V. Regium The Life of Caralostadius who dyed Anno Christi 1541. ANdreas Bodenstein Caralostadius was born in France in a town called Caralostadium by which he received his name He was brought up at School there and for the improvement of his Learning he went â—o divers Countries and publick Schools such as those times afforded at last he went to Rome to study Divinity such as was then taught there and having spent some time in those
This Embassie of yours is just like to the Devils dealing with Christ when he promised him al the World if he would fal down and worship him but for my own part I am resolved not to depart from the Truth which God hath revealed unto me but before the return of the Ambassadour Duke George was dead whereupon this Henry notwithstanding all the opposition of the Papists made this Reformation in the Churches which work being finished Myconius visited all the Churches in Thuringia and with the help of Melancthon and some other he provided them Pastors and Schoolmasters and procured stipends to be setled upon them for their maintenance The rest of his life he spent in Preaching Praying and writing of Letters many great persons in Universities and the chief Churches holding correspondence with him amongst whom were Luther Melancthon Cruciger Menius Basilius Monerus John Langus Mechlerus John Marcellus Matthew Ratzenbergerus c. Anno Christi 1541. He fell into a Consumption whereof he wrote to Luther That he was sick not to death but to life which gloss upon the Text pleased Luther excellently well unto whom he wrote back I pray Christ our Lord our Salvation our Health c. that I may not live to see thee and some others of our Colleagues to dye and go to Heaven and to leave me hear amongst the Devils alone I pray God that I may first lay down this dry exhausted and unprofitable tabernacle farewel and God forbid that I should hear of thy death whil'st I live Sed te superstitem faciat mihi Deus hoc peto volo fiat voluntas mea Amen quia haec voluntas gloriam nominis Dei certè non meam voluptatem nec copiam quaerit A while after Myconius recovered according to this Prayer though his disease seemed to be desperate and out-lived it fix years even till after Luthers death whereupon Justus Jonas speaking of Luther saith of him Iste vir potuit quodvoluit That man could have of God what he pleased A little before Myconius his death he wrote an excellent Epistle to Joan. Frederick Elector of Saxony wherein he praiseth God for raising up three successively in that Family viz. Frederick John and John Frederick to undertake the patronage of Luther c. He was a man of singular piety of solid learning of a dextrous judgement of a burning zeal and of admirable candor and gravity He dyed of a relapse into his former disease Anno Christi 1546. and of his Age 55. His Works were these Expositio in Evan. Marci Enarrationes in Psalmum 101. Expositiones in Evan. secundum Matthaeum Lucam Johannem Commentaria in Jesaiam Jeremiam Jonam Narratio de vita morte Zuinglii Sermo de liberis recte educandis De crapula ebrietate De faenore usura c. Iohn Stigetias made this Epitaph upon him Quo duce Gotha tibi monstrata est Gratia Christi Haec pia Mâ—conii contegit ossa lapis Doctrina vitae tibi moribus ille reliquit Exemplum Hoc ingens Gotha tuere decus The Life of John Diazius who dyed Anno Christi 1546. IOhn Diazius was born in Spain and brought up at School afterwards he went to Parâ— to study the Arts where he continued thirteen years but it pleased God that whilst he read over the holy Scriptures and some of Luthers Books and other Protestant Divines he began to see and abominate the Errors of Popery and therefore to further himself in the knowledge and study of the Truth he went to Geneva where he spake with Calvin and was very dear unto him From thence he went to trasborough where Martia Buâ—er observing his Learning Piety and diligence in his study obtained of the Senate that he should be joined with him to go to the Disputation at Ratisbone and when he came thither he went to Peter Malvenda a Spaniard the Popes Agent in Germany who when he knew that he came in the company of Bucâ—r and the other Protestant Divines he was much astonished and admired how he was so much changed from that which he knew him to be at Paris and withall he fretted exceedingly that they had gotten a Spaniard amongst them presuming that they would triumph more in him then in many Germanes whereupon he left no means untryed to draw him back again to the Church of Rome sometimes making large profers and promises to him other-sometimes threatning severe punishments and mixing both with earnest entreaties He also advised him by no means to stay at Ratisbon till the Emperours coming for saith he that cannot be without great danger to you rather haste to his Court and beg your pardon Also at another conference Malvenda asked him wherefore he was to Ratisbone Diazius answered that he was sent thither by the Senate of Strasborough that he might join his Prayers with the Prayers of the Church and in the publick conference might endeavor reconcilement as much as he could in those Articles which were to be disputed of Then said Malvenda you are come hither in vain for nothing will be concluded at this conference but if you would do good you should rather go to the Council that the Pope hath begun at Trent But when by no means he could prevail to divert him from the Truth he sent for his brother Alphonsus Diazius one of the Popes Lawyers from Rome who hearing that his Brother was turned Protestant came speedily into Germany bringing a notorious cut-throat with him resolving either to divert or destroy him when he came to Ratisbone Diazius was departed to Neoburg about the printing of Bucers Book which Alphonsus hearing of followed him thither carrying with him Letters to Iohn Diazius from Malvenda wherein he wished him to obey his Brother Alphonsus who would give him good Counsel When Alphonsus came to Neoburg his Brother Iohn wondred to see him there asking him the cause of his so unlooked for presence after some other excuses at length he told him that he had undertook that long and dangerous journey to recall him into the bosome of the Church Hereupon they had much conference about matters of Religion and at length Alphonsus told him that he had five hundred Ducats per annum in Church revenues all which he would make over to him if he would go with him to Rome But when by no means he could prevail with him fetching a deep sigh he said Brother I perceive the constancy of your Faith â—nd your unmoveablness in adhering to the Doctrine of the Gospel to be so great that you have almost drawn me unto your opinion Yea upon further discourse he seemed to be in love with the Doctrine of the Gospel and thereupon perswaded Iohn to leave Germany which abounded with learned men and where there was less use of him and to go with him into Italy Rome
Consolation to his Brother Wolphgang in his Sicknesse Two Sermons against False Prophets Sermons containing an assertion of the true Doctrine in the Reformed Churches A Tractate about the Apostolical Rite of Ordination used in the Reformed Churches His opinion about the controverted Articles published by Selneccerus He was of such constancy of Life and Manners that it might truly be said of him which Dion said of the Emperor Marcus Antonniuus In omni vitâ sui similis nec ullâ unquam in re mutatus fuit Itaque verè fuit vir bonus nec fictum aut simulatum quicquam habuit The Life of Justus Jonas who died A no Christi 1555. JUstus Jonas was born at Northusa Anno Christi 1493 where his Father was a Senator who falling sick of the Plague having applyed an Onion to the Soar and taken it off he layd it by him presently after this little Jonas coming took the Onion and eat it up yet without any prejudice to himself God miraculously preserving him from that danger He was at first brought up at School in his own Country Afterwards being sent to a publick School he studied Law and made a good progress therein but upon better thoughts he studied Divinity and proceeded Doctor and embraced the Reformed Religion and was called an Christi 1521 to a Pastoral Charge in Wittenberg And when sundry Controversies arose especially about abrogating private Masse and the Prince Elector of Saxony feared lest the abolishing of it should cause great tumults Jonas with his Colleagues went to him and rendred such reasons for it that the Prince acquiesced therein He was present at most of the Disputations about Religion where he defended the Truth strenuously and endeavoured to promote Peace He was also made a Professor in that University where he publickly read Divinity Lectures and bore all Offices in the Schooles Anno Christi 1533 he created sundry Doctors of Divinity as Gasper Cruciger John Bugenhag Pomâ—ranus and John Aepinus Pastor of the Church of Haâ—borough At which Commencement John Frederick Elector of Saxony was present and was much delighted with the Eloquent Speeches made by Justus Jonas Anno Christi 1539 when Henry Duke of Saxony who had embraced the Reformed Religion and was admitted into the League of Smalcald succeeded his Brother George in the Government of Misnia and Thuringia he presently by the advice of Luther and his Colleagues Reformed his Churches Luther himself beginning that Reformation but the carrying on and perfecting that work was left to the care of Justus Jonas with Spalatine and Ampersdorf From thence he was called unto Hale in Saxony where he preached and promoted Religion exceedingly And whilst he was imployed there he was not only very useful to those Churches but was sent to from divers others for advice and counsel and being a man of a publick spirit he was never wanting to those that craved his help Luther sometimes resorted thither to him and took him along with him in his last journey to Isâ—eben anno Christi 1546 where he dyed After whose death he remained a while in the Duke of Saxony's Court and was a constant companion of Frederick's Sonnes in all their afflictions And lastly he was set over the Church in Eisfield and was made Superintendent of the Franconian Churches within the Principality of Coburg where he ended his daies in much peace and comfort Anno Christi 1555 and of his age 63. He was a man of an excellent Wit of great Industry of much Integrity of life joyned with Piety Whilst Luther lived he was his faithful friend and most dear to him Most of the famous men of that age were his great friends On a time Luther coming to his house drank to him out of a curious glass adding this Distich ex tempore Dat vitrum vitrâ—â— Jonae vitrum ipse Lutherus Ut vitro fragili similem se noscat uterque Being once under Temptations and in great Agony he shewed much despondencie but his servant partly by comforting him partly by chiding him cheared him up and at last through God's mercy the Spirit prevailed against the flesh He published a Defence of the mariage of Ministers against John Faber the patron of whoredoms An Oration about the study of Divinity Annotations upon the Acts About privat Masse and the Unction of Priests He turned some of Luthers works into Latin The Life of John Rogers who died A no Christi 1555. JOhn Rogers was born in England and brought up at the Universitie of Cambridg where he profited very much in good learning and from thence was chosen by the Merchant Adventurers to be their Chaplain at Antwerp to whom hee preached many years and there falling into acquaintance with Will Tindal and Miles Coverdal who were fled thither from persecution in England he by heir means profited much in the knowledg of Jesus Christ and joyned with them in that painful and profitable work of Translating the Bible into English and being much enlightened thereby in the saveing knowledge of Jesus Christ he cast off the heavy yoake of Popery perceiving it to be impure and filthy Idolatry 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 and discharged his office with diligence and faithfulness for many years But in King Edward's time hee was sent for home by Bishop Ridley and was made a Prebend of Pauls and the Deane and Chapter chose him to read a Divinity Lecture in that Church in which place hee preached faithfully till Queen Mart's dayes And in the beginning of her Reign in a Sermon at Paul's Cross he exhorted the people constantly to adhere to thaâ— Doctrine which they had been taught and to beware of pestilent Poperie Idolatrie and superstition for which he was called before the Lords of the Council where he made a stout wittie and godly answer yet withall carried himself so prudently that for that time he was dismissed But after the Queen's Proclamation against True Preaching came forth he was again called the Bishops thirsting for his blood and committed Prisoner to his own house whence he might have escaped and had many motives as his wife and ten children his friends in Germanie where he could not want preferment c. But being once called to answer in Christ's Cause he would not depart though to the hazard of his life From his owne house he was removed by Bonner to Newgate amongst thieves and murtherers for a great space At length he was againe carried before the Lords of the Councill where the Lord Chancellor Steven Gardener taunted reviled and checked him not suffering him to speak his mind and so remanded him to prison whereupon he wrote thus I was compelled to leave off what I would have most gladly spoken and
Raymund the Popes Legate he was made first Licentiat then D of Divinity and afterwards the Popes Legat took him with him towards Rome being affected with his learning but falling sick of a Fever by the way he returned to Basil. Whilst he thus continued a Frier hee was of great esteem amongst them because of his learning and integrity But it pleased God at last that by reading Luthers Bookes and conference with learned and godly men hee began to dis-rellish the Popish errors and so far to declare his dislike of them that he was much hated and persecuted for a Lutheran But about the same time the Senate of Basil chose him Lecturer in Divinity in that City together with Oecolampadius where he began to read first upon Genesis then on Proverbs and Ecclesiastes Anno Christi 1526. he was by the means of Zuinglius sent for to Zurick and being come was most courteously entertained by him There he laid downe his Monks Coul and married a wife by whom he had a Son which he named Samuel being then preaching upon the History of Samuel That wife dying he married again but had no children by his second wife He was present at the Disputation at Bern about Religion After Zuinglius his death there were chosen into his room Henry Bullinger for Pastor and Theodore Bibliander for Divinity-Reader who was an excellent Linguist and began to read upon Isaie to the great astonishment of his hearers for that he was not above 23 years old Pellican at the earnest request of learned men Printed all his Lectures and Annotations which were upon the whole Bible excepting â—nely the Revelations which portion of Scripture he not intending to write upon caused the Commentary of Sebastian Meyer upon it to be bound with his to make the work complete He translated many books out of Hebrew which were printed by Robert Stevens as also the Chaldee Bible he translated into Latine He wrote also an exposition in Dutch upon the â—eutateuch Joshua Judges Ruth Samuel Kings Isay and Jeremy to convice the Jews for which end also he translated the learned disputation of Ludovicus Vives with the Jewes into Dutch As also many books of Aristotle and Tully that so ingenious persons might learne Philosophy in their own language as the Grecians and Romans in former times were wont to doe He judged it also necessary to learne the Turkish language who were now growne their neer neighbours that by the helpe thereof he might be the better able to bring them to the Christian Faith Then with extraordinary labour hee made Indexes to divers books He also compared the Bible of Munster printed at Zurick and that other of Leo Judae and Bibliander with the Hebrew text word by word lest any thing should be omitted And thus having been Hebrew Professor at Zurick for the space of thirty years wherein he was most acceptable to all not onely in regard of his excellent learning and indefatigable pains but also in regard of his sweet and holy Conversation At last falling into the pain of the stone and other diseases he departed this life upon the day of Christs Resurrection Anno Christi 1556 and of his Age 78. Lavater saith that he heard this Conrade Pellican often say that when he first beganne to study the Tongues there was not one Greek Testament to be gotten in all Germany and that the first which hee saw was brought out of Italy and that though a man would have given a great sum of gold for a Coppy of it it could not be obtained How happy are we in these latter Ages that have them at so easie rates He was a candid sincere and upright man free from falshood and ostentation The Life of John Bugenhagius who died A no Christi 1558. JOhn Bugenhagius was born at Julin near to Stetin in Pomerania Anno Christi 1485. His parents were of the rank of Senators who bred him up carefully in learning till he had learned the Grammar and Musick Instructing him also in the principles of Religion and so sent him to the University of Grypswald where he profited in the study of the Arts and the Greek tongue Being twenty years old he taught School at Trepta and by his learning and diligence made the School famous and had many Scholars to whom also hee read daily some portion of Scripture and prayed with them and meeting with Erasmus his book against the Histrionical carriage of the Friars and the Idolatry of the times he gat so much light thereby that he was stirred up to instruct others therein and for that end in his Schoole he read Matthew The Epistles to Timothy and the Psalmes to which he added Catechising and also expounded the Creed and the ten Commandements unto which exercises many Gentlemen Citizens and Priests reforced From the School he was called to preach in the Church and was admitted into the Colledge of Presbyters Many resorted to his Sermons of all ranks and his same spread abroad Insomuch as Bogeslans the Prince of that Country employed him in writing an History of the same and furnished him with money books and records for the enabling him thereto Which History he compleated in two years with much judgement and integrity Anno Christi 1520 one of the Citizens of Trepta called Otho Slutovius having Luther's book of the Babylonish Captivity sent him gave it to Bugenhagius as he was at dinner with his Colleagues who looking over some leaves of it told them that many Hereticks had disquieted the peace of the Church since Christ's time yet there was never a more pestilent Heretick then the Author of that book shewing in divers particulars how hee dissented from the received Doctrine of the Church But after some few daies having read it with more diligence and attention hee made this publick Râ—cantation before them all What shall I say of Luther All the world hath been blinde and in â—immerian darknesse only this one man hath found out the Truth And further disputing of those questions with them he brought most of his Colleagues to be of his judgement therein Insomuch as the Abbaâ— two antient Pastors of the Church and some other of the Friers began zealously to discover the deceits of the Papacy and to preach against the superstitions and abuses of humane Traditions and to perswade their auditors wholly to trust to the merits of Christ. After this Bugenhagius read Luther's other works diligently whereby he learned the difference between the Law and the Gospel Justification by Faith c. and taught these things also to his hearers perceiving that the opinions of Augustine and Luther agreed together about all those matters But the Devill envying the successe of the Gospel alienated the minde of the Prince from them and stirred up the Bishop to persecute many of the Ministers Citizens and Students of Trepta for speaking
where he might do more good And accordingly from thence he went to Lipsich where he spent his time in writing upon the Psalmes and afterwards having it left to his choice whether to stay at Lipsich or to goe to Wittenberg being sent for thither he chose to stay where he was and was chosen professor of Divinity in that University Where he continued his Lectures till Anno Christi 1566. at which time he came to deliver his judgement about the Lords Supper Whereupon by the command of the Rector of the University the doors of the Colledge were shut against him and he not suffered to read any more yet they would have restored him to his place if he would have promised to meddle with that point no more But he refused to make any such promise and withall complained to the Elector of Saxonie of the wrong done unto him from whom he received a sharpe answer and therefore leaving Lipsich he went to Amberg in the upper Palatinate where after a short stay he received Letters from the Elector Palatine and the University inviting him to Heidleberg whether he presently went and was made Professor of Ethicks In which place he took very great paines both in reading his Lectures and Writing But his body having contracted some diseases by his former imprisonment An. Christi 1569. he fell very sick whereupon he said Sperare se finem vita suae adesse c. That he hoped that his life was at an end whereby he should be delivered from the fraud and miseries of this evill world and injoy the blessed presence of God and his Saints to all eternity and accordingly presently after he quietly departed in the Lord Anno Christi 1569. and of his age 44. Having taught the Churches both by voice and writing in many great changes above twenty three years attaining that which he had often desired viz. That he might not dye a lingring death He was an excellent Divine and Philosopher Eloquent and framed by nature to train up youth Scripsit Commentarios in varias Philosophiae partes Orationum Epistolarum libros Hypomâ—emata in utriusque Testamenti libros JO BRENTIVS The Life of Iohn Brentius who died A no Christi 1570. JOhn Brentius was borne at Wile in the Imperiall Snevia Anno Christi 1499. His Father was Major of that City twenty four years who carefully brought up his Son in learning and at eleven years old sent him to Heidleberg to School and at thirteen years old he was admitted into the Universitie and at 15 years old he Commenced Bachelor There also he studied Greek and Hebrew and was so studious that he usually rose at midnight to his book whereby he contracted such a habit that he could never after whilst he lived sleep longer then till midnight the rest of the night he spent in holy meditations and in his old age he had a candle by his bed-side and deceived the time by writing and meditation Partly by his diligence and partly by his acute wit and strong memory he profited so much both in the Arts and Tongues that at eighteen years old he was made Master of Arts. About this time Luthers books coming abroad Brentius by reading of them came to the knowledge of the Truth which he willingly imbraced And being desirous to propagate it to others he began to read upon Matthew first to som friends of his own colledges but his auditors increasing out of other Colledges he was fain to read in the publick Schools for which the Divines hated him because he grew so popular saying That neither was the place fit for Divinity Lectures nor he fit for such a work being not yet in orders wherefore to take away that objection he entred into orders and preached often for other men to the great delight of his hearers From thence he was called to be a Pastor at Hale in Sweveland where his gravity gesture phrase voice and doctrine did so please the Senat that though he was but twenty three years old yet they chose him to that place and he carried himself with such gravity holiness of life integrity of manners and diligence in his calling that none could contemn his youth And the Lord so blessed his labours there that many were converted to the Truth yea amongst the very Popish Priests some of them were converted others left their places for shame and went elsewhere He used much modesty and wisedome in his Sermons and when in the beginning of his preaching there the Popish Priests railed exceedingly upon him and his doctrine and the people exspected that he would answer them accordingly he contrariwise went on in teaching the fundamentall points of Religion and as he had occasion confuted their errors without bitterness from clear Scripture arguments whereby in time he so wrought upon them that he brought them to a sight of their errors and to a detestation of their Idolatry About this time Muncer and his companions rose up and stirred almost all the Boors in Germany to take Arms against the Magistrates and rich men abusing Scripture to justifie their proceedings Whereupon Brentius was in great danger for many cryed out that his opposing Popery and casting out the old Ceremonies was the cause of these Tumults Yet when as the boors in Hale were risen up and threatned to besiege the City of Hale and the Magistrates and Citizens were in such fear that they were ready to fly or to joyne with the Boors Brentius encouraged them and told them that if they would take Arms and defend their City God would assist them c. and so it came to passe for six hundred Citizens beat away four thousand of those Boors He also published a booke in confutation of their wicked opinions and shewed how dissonant they were to the Word of God Presently after rose up that unhappy contention between Luther and Zuinglius about Christs presence in the Sacrament which continued divers years to the great disturbance of the Church scandal of the Reformed Religion and hinderance of the success of the Gospel And when a conference was appointed for the composing of that difference Luther Brentius and some others met with Zuinglius and some of his friends but after much debate they departed without an agreement Anno 1530. was the Diet held at Auspurg unto which the Protestant Princes brought their Divines with them and amongst others Brentius at which time George Marquesse of Brandenburg told the Emperor That he would rather shed his blood and lose his life or lay downe his neck to the headsman then alter his Religion Here the Divines drew up that famous Confession of Faith which from the place is called the Augustane Confession Brentius at his return home married a wife Margaret Graetenna famous for her chastity modesty and piety by whom he had six children
which place he continued all his life and carried himself with much sedulity pioty and prudence in the same alwaies maintaining love and concord with his Colleagues And in his Sermons he preached over the Pentateuch and the Gospels of Matthew and Mark. And whereas one Peter a Soto a Spaniard wrote a Confession of the Roman Faith and made some Annotations upon the forementioned Confession of Wirtemburg labouring to bespatter and traduce it Brentius answered this out of the Scriptures and Fathers defending the Doctrine of the Protestants against the opinions of the Papists and the Decrees of the Councill of Trent which he confuted so that a blind man might perceive the Idolatries of the Romanists to be condemned by the Word of God Anno Christi 1557 he was sent by his Prince to the Conference at Worms which came to nothing because the Popish party would not suffer that the Scripture should be the Judg of their Controversies In his old age hee wrote upon the Psalmes And whereas there were many Monasteries in Wirtemburg out of which the Friars were driven he perswaded his Prince to turne them to Schooles for the training up of youth in learning which was accordingly done and once in two years Brentius visited those Schools and took notice how the Scholars profited in Learning and encouraged them to make a daily progresse therein He had almost finished his Comment upon the Psalms when as his old age worn out with studies and labours put a period unto the same and his end was hastned by grief for the immature death of his Prince for whom he professed that he would willingly have sacrificed all his estate his own life also Falling into a feaver whereby he perceived that his end approached he made his Will wherein he set down a Confession of his Faith And sending for the Ministers of Stutgard hee caused his sonne to read it to them and requested them to subscribe their hands as witnesses to it He also received the Sacrament and exhorted them to unity in Doctrine and love amongst themselves He was exceeding patient in all his sickness neither by word nor gesture shewing the least impatience alwaies saying That he longed for a better even an eternall life The night before his death he slept sweetly and when he awaked the Minister repeated the Apostles Creed and asked him whether he dyed in that Faith to whom he answered Yea which was his last word and so he quietly resigned up his spirit unto God Anno Christi 1570 and of his Age seventy one He was buried with much honour and had this Epitaph Voce stylo pietate fide candore probatus Johannes tali Brentius ore fuit With voice stile piety faith and candor grac'd In outward shape John Brentius was thus fac'd He was of a bigge stature of a sirm health in which hee continued to his old age had strong fides a clear and full voice had many excellent virtues went through many great dangers with an undaunted spirit His piety to his Parents was very singular and his love to God and his Church exemplary He wrote many things which are printed in nine Tomes Most of which are mentioned before in his life The Life of Peter Viretus who died A no Christi 1571. PEter Viretus was born at Orba in the Country of the Bernates brought up in learning at Paris where he beganne to be acquainted with Farel whom afterwards he helpt much in setling the Churches in those parts But principally the Church of Lausanna where he spent many years in the Ministry and writing books to his great praise And when Calvin was sent to the Conference at Worms An. Chr. 1541 and from thence to Ratisbone he obtained of the Senate of Lausanna that Virete should supply his place at Geneva till his return and when he came back he much importuned that Virete might still continue there affirming that it would much conduce to the good of the Church at Geneva to enjoy his labours but he would needs return to Lausanna to his former charge Afterwards at the earnest entreaty of the French-Churches he went to Lions where in the middest of the Civill Warrs and the Pestilence which followed he with his Colleagues governed the Church with much prudence till by the Jesuits means Anno 1563 there was a Proclamation sent abroad that none but such as were Native French should be Preachers in the Protestant Churches upon which occasion many forraign Ministers were driven out of France and amongst the rest Master Virete Then at the earnest request of the Queen of Navarre he went to Bern where hee continued untill his death which was Anno Christi 1571 and of his Age sixty He was much bewailed of all good men Whilst he lived he was of a very weak constitution and the rather by reason of poyson which a Priest had given to him at Geneva as also because of some wounds that he had received from a Priest that lay in wait for him in another place where he was left for dead He was very learned of a sweet disposition and so exceeding Eloquent that he drew many to be his hearers which were no friends to Religion and they were so chained to his lips that they never thought the time long wherein he preached but alwaies wished his Sermons longer At Lions which was a populous City he preached in an open place and turned some thousands to the Truth and Faith in Christ yea some that passed by with no purpose to hear his Sermon Yet did he so work upon them that they neglected their other businesse to hearken to him At that time France enjoyed those three excellent Preachers Calvin Farel and Virete Calvin was famous for his Learning Farell for his earnestnesse and Viret for his Eloquence Whereupon Baza made these verses Gallica mirata est Calvinum Ecclesia nuper Quo nemo docuit doctius Est quoque te nuper mirata Farelle tonantem Quo nemo tonuit fortius Et miratur adhuc fundentem mella Viretum Quo nemo fatur dulciùs Scilicet aut tribus his servabere testibus olim Aut interibis Gallia Scripta Viretus reliquit Commentarios in Acta Apost De origine novae veteris Idololatriae lib. 5. Qua Imagines Reliquiae verae aut falsa sint Quis verus Mediator De origine continuatione usu authoritate atque praestantia Ministerii Verbi Dei Sacrament orum c. De vero Verbi Dei Sacramentorum Ecclâ—siae Ministerio lib. 2. De Adulterinis Sacramentis De Theatrica Missae saltatione c. De usu salutationis Augelicae c. Epistola ad fideles agentes inter Papistas Epistolae consolatoriae De officio hominis necessitate inquirendi de voluntate Dei ex ejus verbo c. Physicae Papalis Dialogi 5. Christianarum Disputationum Dialogi 6. Instructio Christiana
to accuse Bullinger and Calvin whereupon Nicholas Radzivil Palatine of Vilna sent Martin Secovitius with his Letters to Bullinger about Blandrata's business to which Bullinger answered that when Blandrata came to Zurick he onely spake once with him yet at that time he easily discerned that he was corrupt in his judgement about the Son of God as also that he threatned to write against Calvin whereunto he answered That there were contentions already too many in the Church which if he increased God would be avenged on him for it Yet he departed cursing and threatning grievous things That such men should be taken heed of who laboured to revive Arianisme and other Heresies and cunningly to sow them abroad Calvin also wrote the History of Blandrata and sent it to the Polonian Church but his hypocrisie had so far prevailed with them that it did no good but afterward both in Poland and Transilvania he taught openly That Christ our Saviour was a meer man About the same time came forth Brentius his book about the personall union of two natures in Christ c. wherein he laboured to prove the substantiall presence of Christs body in the Supper And whereas Bullinger had published a Tractat upon those words In my Fathers house are many mansions Brentius published another Book wherein he manifested his dislike of Bullingers book saying That his conscience urged him to declare it This many marveiled at that he should quarrell with Bullinger being not provoked by him Bullinger least he should betray the truth answered him and Brentius again replyed charging the Tigurines with debasing the Majesty of Christ and denying the omnipotency of God Anno 1562. the Helvetians Ministers were again summoned to the Councill of Trent having the publick faith sent them but Bullinger againe wrote the reasons of their refusall Anno Christi 1563 Bullinger answered the book of Brentius de Christi Majestate About which time Ber. Ochin was banished by the Senat of Zurick for writing in defence of Polygamy contrary to his promise and oath and refusing to retract it Before his departure he desired Master Bull. to give him Letters testimoniall which he told him that he could not doe with a safe conscience yet was grieved for him and his children From thence Ochin went to Basil but finding no entertainment there he went into Poland where he publickly denyed the Deity of the Holy-Ghost but not staying long there he went into Moravia where he joyned himself to the Conventicles of the Anabaptists and shortly after dyed Anno Christi 1564. A great plague brake out in Zurick of which Bullinger fell so sick that all despaired of his life and himself also whereupon he sent for the Ministers of the Church and took his leave of them But it pleased God at the earnest prayers of the Church to restore him to health againe yet his wife and one of his daughters dyed of it And the year after the plague continuing two other of his daughters dyed also and himselfe began to be exceedingly tormented with the stone yet did not he intermit his labours but preached constantly and finished his Homilies upon Daniel Anno Christi 1566. when some turbulent spirits published that the Helvetian Churches were divided amongst themselves and held many unfound doctrines Bullinger published Confession of Faith which was consented to and subscribed by the Church of Geneva Berne Scaphusen Neocom St. Galli Mulhusen and Bipennium attested by the English Scottish and French Churches the Hungarian brethren also detesting and disclaiming the blasphemies of Blandrata and of Francis David published their assent to it Anno Christi 1567. Bullinger published his Homilies upon Isay and the year after he confuted Osius who denyed the deity of Christ and the Holy Ghost Anno Christi 1569 a great persecution arising in France many godly persons fled to Geneva and Helvetia who being in great want Bullinger took much paines to raise money by collections for them He was much troubled with the Sciatica and the Stone yet in the midst of those pains he wrote the Lives of the Popes and a confutation of the Popes Bull whereby he had excommunicated our Queen Elizabeth and absolved her subjects from the oath of Allegiance which was afterwards translated into English Anno Chr. 1570 there was a Synod of the French Churches held at Rochel to which because the Helvetians could not send Delegates they wrote Letters signifying their agreement with them in Doctrine and their good will to them Anno Christi 1571 by reason of the extreame hard winter there was a very great dearth in which Bullinger and the other Ministers obtained of the Senate that there should bee frequent Fasting and Prayer in publick and that provision should bee made for the Poor which was done accordingly Anno Christi 1572 was that bloody Massacre at Paris and in other places of France whereupon Bullinger the year after wrote his book of Persecution and God's judgements upon the Persecutors and to exhort the persecuted to patience and constancie That new Starre also in Cassiopeia appeared at that time Anno Christi 1574 Bullinger fell into a grievous disease which much tormented him from October to December at which time it pleased God to give him ease whereupon he exercised his publick Ministry again The year after he relapsed into his disease and though the pain was almost intolerable yet he never brake forth either in word or gesture into the least impatience but prayed the more fervently and when he had any ease he used to discourse pleasantly with his friends saying If the Lord will make any further use of me and my Ministry in his Church I will willingly obey him â—t if he please as I much desire to take me out of this miserble life I shall exceedingly rejoyce that he pleases to take meut of this wretched and corrupt age to goe to my Saviour Chri. Socraters was glad when his death approached because as he thought he should goe to Homer Hesiod and other Learned men whom he thought he should meet with in the other world How much more doe I joy who am sure that I shall see my Saviour Christ the Saints Patriarks Prophets Apostles and all the holy men which have lived from the beginning of the world These I say when I am sure to see them and to partake of their joyes why should I not willingly dye to enjoy their perpetual society and glory When he found some ease he sent for all the Ministers and Professors of the Universitie to him into his study to whom he gave thanks for their coming to him took his farewell of them with tears which he said proceeded not from his fear of death but as Paul's from his great love to them Hee made before them a Confession of his Faith forgave his enemies exhorted them to concord
History He had two Wives the first of which was Bullingers daughter who died without issue by the second who was Gualters daughter he had three sons and one daughter He was tall of stature fat fair and strong but that he was somewhat weakned by the Gout He had such an amiable face that his sweet manners might bee seen in his countenance as in a glass In his habit and diet he was neither too sumptuous nor too fordid best liking cleanlinesse and neatness Scripsit Praelectiones in Exodum De aeterno Dei Filio adversus Arianos Tritheitas Samosetaninos Adversus eosdem de S. Sancto Narrationem veterum controversiarum de una â—ersonâ— duabus naturis Christi c. cum multis aliis The particulars you may find in Verheiden The Life of Immanuel Tremelius who died A no Christi 1580. IMmanuel Tremelius was born in Ferrara having a Jew to his Father who so educated him that hee was very skilfull in the Hebrew Tongue Hee was converted by PeterMartyr and went with him to Lucca where he taught Hebrew From thence he went with him to Strasborough and from thence into England under King Edward the sixth after whose death he returned into Germany And in the School of Hornback under the Duke of Bâ—â—â—â—t he taught Hebrew From thence he was called to Heidleberg under Frederick the third Elector Palatine where he was Professor of the Hebrew tongue and translated the Syriack Testament into Latine There also he set upon the Translation of the Bible out of Hebrew associated to himself in that work Fr. Junius who after the death of Tremelius perused the whole work and by adding many things rather made it larger then better in some mens judgement In his old age he left Heidleberg and by the Duke of Bulloin was called to be Hebrew Professor in his new University of Sedan where he dyed Anno Christi 1580 and of his Age seventy He wrote a Chalde and Syriack Grammer hee published the New Testament in Latine and Syriack An exposition upon the Prophet Hosea Together with Junius he translated the Hebrew Bible adding short annotations And lastly Bucers Lectures upon the Epistle to the Ephesians The Life of Peter Boquine who died Anno Christi 1582. PEter Boquinus was borne in Aquitane and being in his youth brought up in learning he entred into a Monastery at Biturg where he was made the Prior and was very much beloved of all the Convent But it pleased God in the midst of all his riches and honours to discover the Truth to him and thereupon after the example of Luther Bucer Oecolampadius and Peter Martyr he resolved to leave all and to follow Christ whose example divers of the Friers also followed From thence he went toward Wittenberg being very desirous to be acquainted with Luther and Melancthon whose fame was very great and some of whose works he had met with and read and so travelling through Germany he came to Basil where he wintered by reason of the Plague very rife at that time in many Countries There he diligently heard the Lectures of Myconius Caralostadius and Sebastian Munster Anno Christi 1542 from thence he went to Lipsich where he stayed three weeks and so went to Wittenberg Coming hither he had some converse with Luther but more with Melancthon And whilst he was there Bucer sent to Melancthon to request him to send an able man to Strasborough to supply Calvins place who was now gone back to Geneva whereupon Melancthon requested Boquine to goe thither which he accordingly did and began to read upon the Epistle to the Galatians Shortly after Peter Martyr came thither also But Bucer being sent for by the Arch-bishop of Collen to assist him in the reformation of his Churches Boquine finding that the Ecclesiasticall and Scholasticall affaires went but slowly forward in his absence upon the request of his brother who was a Doctor of Divinity and not altogether estranged from the Reformed Religion he resolved to goe back into France and so taking Basil in his way he went to Geneva where he heard Calvin preach and had some speech with him and from thence to Biturg where he lived with his brother the Doctor mentioned before and when some hope began to appear that the Churches of France would be reformed at the instigation of his brother he began publickly to read Hebrew and to expound the Scriptures About that time Francis King of France being dead the Queen of Navar came into those parts about the marriage of her daughter to whom Boquine went and presented her with a book written with his own hand about the necessity and use of the holy Scriptures and her daughter with another concerning our spiritual husband Jesus Christ whereupon she took him into her Patronage and allowed him a yearly stipend out of her treasury appointing him to preach a publick Lecture in the great Church in Biturg Whereunto also the Arch-Bishop consented Shortly after the Queen of Navar dying there succeeded to her King Henries sister as in name and stock so also in Doctrine and Piety not unlike her Whereupon Boquine went and presented her with a book which he had written De homine perfecto which she took so gratefully that she confirmed his former stipend to him and he made use of that favour so long as he thought his labours were not unprofitable to the Church but when he saw that there was no hope of any further Reformation in France and that his enemies lay in wait for his life he gave it over of his own accord At that time he underwent the bitter hatred of some Friers and other enemies of the truth by whom his life was in great danger For he was summoned to appear before the Parliament of Paris and then before the Arch-Bishop of Biturg where his life was sought but God raised up some men to stand for him whereby he was delivered from the present danger Then did he resolve to fly into England but hearing of King Edwards death he altered his purpose and by the perswasion of a friend he resolved to returne to his people in Germany and so accordingly accompanied with two young men he went to Strasborough and when he had scarce been there a month it so fell out that the French Church in that place wanted a Pastor and chose him to that office yet for sundry reasons he refused to accept of it till by the perswasion of John Sturmius and some other friends he was content to preach to them till they could provide them another That place he discharged for about the space of four months conflicting with many difficulties and meeting with much trouble by reason of the improbity and perfidiousnesse of some At the end of which time the Senat with the consent of the Church appointed Peter Alexander to be their Pastor and so Boquine
was freed Anno Christi 1557. he went from thence to Heidleberg being sent for by Otho Henry Prince Elector Palatine who was about to reforme his Churches There hee was made the Publick Professor of Theologie and met with much opposition and manifold contentions in that alteration which yet he bore with much prudence Anno Christi 1564. there was a disputation appointed at Malbourn for composing the great controversie about the ubiquity of Christs body This was appointed by Frederick the third Elector Palatine and Christopher Duke of Wertemberg To this meeting the Elector sent Boquine Diller Olevian Dathen and Ursin but very little fruit appeared of their labours as the event shewed Boquin continued in Heidleberg about twenty years under Otho and Frederick the third But after that Princes death An. Christi 1576 by reason of the prevalency of the Hetorodox party he with other Professorr and Divines was driven thence and it pleased God that immediately hee was called to Lausanna where he performed the part of a faithfull Pastor so long as he lived Anno Christi 1582 on a Lords day he preached twice and in the evening heard another Sermon then supped chearfully and after supper refreshed himself by walking abroad then went to visit a sick friend and whll'st he was conforting of him he found his spirits to begin to sink in him and running to his servant he said unto him Pray adding further Lord receive my soul and so he quietly departed in the Lord Anno Christi 1582. The workes which he left behind him were these Defensio ad calumnias Doctoris cujusdam Avii in Evangelii professores Examen libri quem Heshusius inscripsit De praesentia corporis Christi in caena domini Theses de coena Domini Exegesis divinae communicationis Adsertio veteris ac veri Christianismi adversus novum fictum Jesuitismum Notatio praecipuarum causarum diuturnitatis controversiae de Coena Domini Adsertio ritus frangendi in manus sumendi panis Eucharistici E. GRINDALL The Life of Edmund Grindall who dyed A no Christi 1583. EDmund Grindal was borne in Cumberland Anno Christi 1519. and carefully brought up in learning first at school and then in the University of Cambridg where being admitted into Pembrook Hall he profited so exceedingly that he was chosen first Fellow and afterward Master of that house And Bishop Ridley taking notice of his piety and learning made him his Chaplain and commended him to that pious Prince King Edward the sixth who intended to prefer him but that he was prevented by an immature death In the bloody daies of Queen Mary Grindal amongst many others fled into Germany where he continued all her Reigne But comming back in the beginning of Queen Elisabeth she preferred him to that dignity which her brother King Edward intended him to making him Bishop of London wherein hee carried himself worthily for about eleven years Anno Christi 1570 hee was removed by the Queen to the Archbishoprick of York where he continued about six years and then for his piety and learning she made him Archbishop of Canterbury wherein he lived about seven years more and then falling sick at Croidon hee resigned up his spirit unto God that gave it Anno Christi 1583 and of his Age sixtie four Both in his life and at his death he did many excellent works of Charity At St. Beighs in Cumberland where he was born he erected a Free-schoole and endowed it with thirty pound per annum for ever To Pembroke Hall in Cambridge where he was educated he gave twenty two pounds a yeare in lands for the maintaining of a Greek Lecturer one Fellow and two Scholars to be chosen out of the aforesaid School of St. Beighs He gave also much mony to the said Colledge To Magdalen Colledge in Cambridge hee gave lands for the maintainance of one Fellow from the said School To Christs Colledge in Cambridge he gave forty five pounds To Queens Colledge in Oxford he gave twenty pound per annum in lands to maintain one Fellow and two Scholars out of the aforesaid Schoole And at his death he gave his Library which was a very great and good one to that Colledge besides a great sum of money To eight Alms-houses in Croidon he gave fifty pounds per annum and to Canterbury he gave an hundred pounds to set the poor on work The Life of Bernard Gilpin who died A no Christi 1583. BErnard Gilpin was born at Kentmire in the County of Westmoreland Anno Christi 1517 of an ancient and honourable Family When he was but a child a Friar pretending to be a zealous Preacher came on a Saturday night to his Fathers house and at Supper eat like a Glutton and drunke himself drunk yet the next morning in his Sermon sharply reproved the sinne of Drunkennesse whereupon young Gilpin sitting near his mother cryed out Oh Mother doe you hear how this fellow dares speak against Drunkenness and yet himself was drunken last night But his Mother stopped his mouth with her hand that he might speake no further it being a mortall sinne in those times to speak against these men His Parents perceiving his aptnesse were carefull to make him a Scholar and when hee had with great approbation passed his time in the Grammar-School they sent him to Oxford Anno Christi 1533 where he was admitted into Queens Colledge and profited wondrously in Humane Learning Hee was very conversant also in the writings of Erasmus which were in much esteem at that time And to the studie of Logick and Philosophie hee added that of Greek and Hebrew yea after some few years spent in these studies hee grew so famous that there was no place of preferment for a Scholar whereof the eminency of his virtues had not rendered him worthy Whereupon he was one of the first that was chosen a member of Christ-Church by Cardinall Wolsey At that time he was not fully instructed in the true Religion but held disputations against John Hooper afterwards Bishop of Worcester as also against Peter Martyr who was then Divinity Lecturer at Oxford upon the occasion of which dispute that he might defend his cause the better he examined the Scriptures ancient Fathers But by how much the more he studied to defend his Cause the lesse confidence hee began to have therein and so whilst he was searching zealously for Truth he beganne to discernâ— his own Errors Peter Martyr used to say That he cared not for his other adversaries but saith he I am troubled for Gilpin for he doth and speaketh all things with an upright heart and therefore he often prayed That God would be pleased at last to convert to the Truth the heart of Gilpin being so inclinable to honesty And the Lord answered his prayer for presently Gilpin resolved more earnestly to apply himself both by study and
bee the Divinity Professor in the University of Regiomontanum and after two years was chosen to be Bishop there Anno Christi 1587 he fell sick especially upon grief conceived for the afflicted condition of the Church in Poland and the death of his deare friend John Wedman an excellent Divine This disease encreasing and his strength decaying he prepared himselfe for death He made his owne Epitaph In Christo vixi morior vivoque Wigandus Do sordes morti caeâ—era Christe tibi In Christ I liv'd and dy'd through him I live again What 's â—ad to death I give my soul with Christ shall reigne And so in the midst of fervent prayers and assured hope of eternall life hee resigned up his spirit into the hands of God that gave it Anno Christi 1587 and of his Age sixty four Hee was a man of an excellent wit and learning and exemplary in his life Familiar gently answering to every ones question He was very courteous and grave Liberall to the poor insomuch as when he was Bishop and the poor begged of him either money or corn he would command his Steward to give them as much as they needed Hee used to Catechise his family and to require of them an account of the Sermons every Lords day He wrote many Works Explicationes in tria priora capita Geneseos Comment in Psalmos graduum poenitentiales c. Annotationes in Isaiam in Danielem in Prophetas minores in Mattheum Johannem in Epistolas ad Romanos Galatas Ephesios ad Timotheum 1 2 ad Coloss. Histor. Patefactionis divina cum multis aliis I. FOX The Life of John Fox who dyed A no Christi 1587. JOhn Fox was born at Boston in Lincolnshire Anno Christi 1517. His Father died when he was young and his Mother married again Yet his Father in Law and Mother seeing his towardliness and aptness to Learning brought him up at School and afterwards sent him to Brasen-Nose Colledge in Oxford where he was Chamber-fellow with Doctor Nowell and being of a sharp wit and very induâ—trious withall hee profited so much that in a short time hee gat the admiration of all and the love of many whereupon he was chosen Fellow of Magdalen Colledge Hee much affected Poetry and wrote some Latine Comedies of the Histories of the Bible in a copious and gracefull stile in his youth But afterwards betook himself more seriously to the study of Divinity and discovered himself to favour the Reformation then in hand when King Henry the eighth abolished the Popes Supremacie The first thing that caused him to question the popish Religion was the contradictions in it divers things in their own natures most repugnant being thrust upon men at one time both of them to be beleeved Hereupon he set himself to study the ancient and moderne History of the Church which he performed with such diligence that before he was thirty years old he had read over all that either the Greek or Latine Fathers had written of it As also the Schoolmens Disputation the Councils Acts and the Consistories Decrees and acquired no mean skil in the Hebrew tongue Besides his dayes study he bestowed all or a great part of the night in these labours and many times in the dead of the night he chose a solitary Grove near the Colledge to walk in for his Meditationss and in them he suffered many combats and wrestlings yea many heavy sighs with teares and prayers he poured out to Almighty God in them But hereupon grew suspition of him that hee beganne to dislike the Popish Religion and snares were layd for him and at last being examined he was by the Colledge convicted condemned for an Heretick and expelled the house His Father-in-law also took this occasion to manifest his dislikes against him that he might the better cheat him of his estate which of right belongad to 〈◊〉 from his own Father Being thus left destitute of all humane help and comfort God tooke care for him being sent for into Warwick shine by Sir Thomas Iâ—ucie to live in his house and teach his children Where also he married a Wife and continued till the feare of the Popish inquisitors drove him thence His case was now more hard again having a Wife to provide for and whither to goe hee knew not At last hee resolved to goe to her Father who was a Citizen of Coventrie and in the mean time by Letters to try whether his Father-in-law that married his mother would receive him or not Whose answer was That if he would alter his opinion being condemned for a capital offence he should be welcome otherwise it would be dangerous for him to entertain him long But his Mother under-hand wrote to him to come and so it pleased God that hee found better entertainment and security in both places then hee exspected for being sometimes with his Wives father and sometimes with his Father in law he deceiv'd their diligence who enquired after him and neither of his Fathers grew weary of his company Afterwards he went to London towards the end of King Henry the eights reign but having quickly spent there what his friends had bestowed on him and what he had acquired by his own diligence he beganne to bee in want again But behold Gods providence As he one day sate in Pauls Church spent with long fasting his countenance thinne and his eyes hollow after the gastfull manner of dying men every one shunning a spectacle of so much horrour there came one to him whom he had never seen before and thrust an untold sum of money into his hand bidding him be of good chear and to accept that small gift in good part from his Country-man which common courtesie had enforced him to offer and that he should goe and make much of himself for that within a few daies new hopes were at hand and a more certaine condition of livelihood Master Fox could never learn who this was but three daies after the Dutchesse of Richmond sent for him to live in her house and to be Tutor to the Earl of Surrey's children now under her care and the two young Lords profited so much under him that afterwards the elder Thomas seemed to deserve more then the Kingdom could give him and the younger Henry was able to measure his fortunes not by the opinion of others but by his own satiety And the young Lady Jane profited so much both in Greek and Latine that she might well stand in competition with the most Learned men of that age In that family he continued the remainder of King Henries reign and all King Edwards till the beginning of Queen Maries when a storme of persecution arising Master Fox was sheltered from it by the Duke his Scholar But when he saw all sorts of men troubled for Religions sake so that there was nothing but flight slaughter and
for theft was hanged by the heels with his head downward in a village hard by having not seen that kind of punishment he went to the place where he found him hanging between two Dogs that were alwaies snatching at him tearing and eating his flesh The poor wretch repeated in Hebrew some verses of the Psalms wherein hee cried to God for mercy whereupon Andreas went nearer to him and instructed him in the Principles of the Christian Religion about Christ the Messiah c. and exhorted him to believe in him and it pleased God so to blesse his exhortation to him that the Dogs gave over tearing of his flesh and the poor Jew desired him to procure that he might be taken down and baptised and hung by the neck for the quicker dispatch which was done accordingly The same year Charles Marquesse of Baden beganne a Reformation of the Churches within his dominions and to assist him therein he sent for divers Divines and amongst the rest for Dr Andreas by whose help he cast out the Popish Religion and Ceremonies and established the true Religion according to the Augustane Confession The like he did in Brugoia About the same time also Doctor Andreas was sent for by the Senate of the Imperiall City of Rottenburg because the Pastors in their jurisdiction used divers Ceremonies so that they feared least contentions should arise about the Substantials in Divinity whereupon by the advice of Andreas they were united in one Confession of Faith consonant to the Word of God and certain Ceremonies were agreed on which all the Ministers should unanimously use for the time to come Yea he was of such esteem that he was sent for by divers Princes to reform the Churches in their jurisdictions Hee was present at divers Synods and Disputations about Religion Hee travelled many thousands of miles being usually attended but with one servant yet it pleased God that in all his journyes he never met with any affront Anno Christi 1552 the Chancellors place in the University of Tubing was voyd by the death of Beurlin whereupon Prince Christopher consulting with the Heads of the University made Doctor Andreas Chancellor in his stead About which time he was sent into Thuringia to compose the difference between the Divines of Jenes Flacius Illiricus aud Strigelius about the power of Free-will Anno Christi 1580 came forth the book of Concord which was approved and subscribed by three Electors twenty one Princes twenty two Counts four Barons thirty five Imperiall Cities and eight thousand Ministers This was set on foot by the Elector of Saxony but carried on by the excessive labours of Doctor Andreas who carried it from one to another resolving all doubts and answering all objections till he had got all those subscriptions The year before his death hee used often to say that hee should not live long that hee was weary of this life and much desired to be dissolved and to be with Christ which was best of all Falling sick he sent for James Herbrand saying I exspect that after my death many adversaries will rise up to asperse me and therefore I sent for thee to hear the confession of my faith that so thou mayst testifie for me when I am dead and gone that I died in the true Faith The same Confession also he made afterwards before the Pastors and Deacons of Tubing The night before his death he slept partly upon his bed and partly in his chair When the clock struck fix in the morning he said My hour draws near He gave thanks to God for bestowing Christ for revealing his Will in his Word for giving him Faith and the like benefits and when he was ready to depart he said Lord into thy hands I commend my spirit and so he fell asleep in the Lord Anno Christi 1590 and of his age 61. In the discharge of his office he never spared any labour hee never shrunk under any trouble He wrote many Epistles to severall men upon several arguments A learned and rich man of Tubing after Doctor Andreas his death said that he had in his Library fifteen hundred bookes of his writing upon severall Arguments H. ZANCHY The Life of Hierom Zanchius who dyed A no Christi 1590. HIerom Zanchius was born at Atzanum in Italy Anno 1516. His Father was a Lawyer who brought him up at School and when Zanchy was but twelve years old his Father died of the Plague Anno Christi 1528 at which time Zanchy was at School where he was instructed in the Liberall Sciences When he came to the age of fifteen years being now deprived of both his parents observing that divers of his kindred were of the order of Canons Regular amongst whom he judged that there were divers learned men being exceeding desirous of Learning he entered into that Order where hee lived about twenty years and studied Arts and School-Divinity together with the Tongues He was very familiar with Celsus Martiningus joyning studies with him was a diligent hearer of Peter Martyrs publick Lectures at Luca upon the Epistle to the Romans and of his private Lectures upon the Psalmes which he read to his Canons This drew his mind to an earnest study of the Scriptures He read also the Fathers especially St. Augustine with the most learned Interpreters of the Word of God And thereupon he preached the Gospel for some years in the purest manner that the time and place would suffer And when Peter Martyr left Italy so that his godly Disciples could no longer live in safety there much lesse have liberty of Preaching about twenty of them in the space of one year left their station and followed their Master into Germany amongst whom Zaâ—chy was one Being thus as he used to say delivered out of the Babylonish captivity anno Christi 1550. He went first into Rhetia where he staied about eight moneths and from thence to Geneva and after nine moneths stay there he was sent for by Peter Martyr into England but when he came to Strasborough he staid there to supply Hedio's room newly dead who read Divinity in the Schooles which was in the yeare 1553. He lived and taught Divinity in that City about 11 yeares sometimes also reading Aristotle in the Schools yet not without opposition old James Sturmius the Father of that University being dead Yea his adversaries proceeded so far as to tell Zanchy that if hee would continue to read there he must subscribe the Augustaâ—e Confession to which hee yeelded for peace-sake with this proviso modò Orthodoxâ—e intelligatur declaring his judgement also about Christs presence in the Sacrament wherewith they were satisfied And thus he continued to the year 1563 being very acceptable to the good and a shunner of strife and a lover of concord At the end whereof the Divines and Professors there accused him for differing from them in some points about
with the stone and troubled with weaknesse of stomach yet did he not intermit his labours and care of the Church In the Synod of Taoduâ— where the King himself was present Rollock by the suffrages of all was chosen Moderator where the too severe Articles of Perth were qualified and when the King moved that the Synod should choose some Commissioners to take care of the Church in the intervall of National Assemblies it was readily assented to and Rollock was one of the first that was assigned that office Anno Christi 1598 his disease so encreased upon him that he was confined to his house but after a while his intimate friend William Scot perswaded him to go into the Country where was a thinner and more healthfull air which accordingly he did and seemed at first to be better but presently his disease returned with more violence so that he was forced to keep his bed whereupon he set his house in order and his wife after ten years barrennesse being with child he commended to the care of his friends Two Noblemen Patrick Galloway and David Lindsey coming to visit him he professed to them the hearty love which he had alwaies born to the King withall requesting them from him to go to him and to entreat him in his name to take care of Religion and to persevere in it to the end as hitherto he had done not suffering himself to be diverted from it either under the hope of enlarging his dominions or by any other subtill device of wicked men and that he would reverence esteem the Pastors of the Church as it was meet For saith he that Ministry of Christ though in the judgement of man it seem low and base yet at length it shall shine with great glory When the Pastors of Edenborough came to him he made an excellent exhortation to them and profession of his sincerity and integrity in his place that God had called him to When the night grew on his death also seemed to approach which he perceiving made such a divine and heavenly speech as astonished the hearers And when the Physitians were preparing Physick for him he said Tu Deus medeberis mihi thou Lord wilt heal me Then he prayed fervently that God would pardon his sins for Christs sake professing that all other things how great soever they seemed to others yet he accounted them all but dung and drosse in comparison of the excellency of Christs crosse Praying further that he might have an happy departure and enjoy Gods presence which he had often breathed after saying I have hitherto seen but darkly in the glasse of thy Word O Lord grant that I may enjoy the eternall fruition of thy countenance which I have so much desired and longed for Then did he make such an admirable speech about the Resurrection and Life Eternal as if so be he already been translated into heaven Then giving his hand to all that were present like old Jacob he blessed them all adding to his benediction exhortations according to every mans quality or office Yet that night after he slept better then was expected The day after when the City Magistrates came to see him he spake to them to be very careful of the University desiring to choose into his room Henry Charter a man every way fit for that employment He commended to their care also his wife professing that he had not laid up one penny of his stipend and therefore hee hoped they would provide for her To these requests the Magistrates assented promising faithfully to perform them Then did he intreat the Professors of Philosophy that they would be carefull and diligent in the performance of their duty and that they would be obedient to his successor after which he said I blesse God I have all my senses entire but my heart is in heaven And Lord Jesus why shouldst not thou have it it hath been my care all my life long to dedicate it to thee I pray thee take it that it may live with thee for ever When he had thus spoken he fell into a slumber out of which when he awaked he breathed earnestly to be dissolved and to be with Christ saying Come Lord Jesus put an end to this miserable life hast Lord and tarry not Christ hath redeemed me not unto a frail and momentary but unto eternall life Come Lord Jesus and give mee that life for which thou hast redeemed me Then some of the standers by bewaile their condition when he should be taken away to whom he said I have gone through all the degrees of this life and now am come to my end why should I goe back againe O Lord help me that I may go through this last degree with thy assistance Lead me to that glory which I have seen as through a glass O that I were with thee And when some told him that the next day was the Sabbath he said Thy Sabbath O Lord shall begin my eternall Sabbath My eternall Sabbath shall take its beginning from thy Sabbath The next morning feeling his approaching death he sent for Master Belcanqual to pray with him who in his prayer desired the Lord if he pleased to prolong his life for the good of his Church whereupon he said I am weary of this life all my desire is that I may enjoy that celestiall life that is hid with Christ in God And a while after he prayed again saying Hast Lord and doe not tarry I am a weary both of nights and daies Come Lord Jesus that I may come to thee Break these eye-strings and give me others I desire to be dissolved and to be with thee Hast Lord Iesus and defer no longer Go forth my weak life and let a better succeed O Lord Jesus thrust thy hand into my body and take my soul to thy self O my sweet Lord set this soul of mine free that it may enjoy her husband And when one of the standers by said Sir Let nothing trouble you for now your Lord makes hast he said O welcome message would to God my funerals might be to morrow And thus continued he in such heavenly prayers and speeches til he quietly resigned up his spirit unto God Anno Christi 1598 and of his age 43. Reliquit Commentarios in aliquot Psalmos selectos In Danielem In S. Johannem eum ejus harmonia in passionem victoriam Dominicam In Epist. ad Ephesios Coloss. Thess. Galat. Scripsit Analysin in Epist. ad Romanos ad Heb. tractaum de vocatione efficaci c. The Life of Nicolas Hemingius who died A no Christi 1600. NIcolas Hemingius was born at Loland in Denmark Anno Christi 1513 of obscure but honest parents but his Father dying when he was young his Uncle who was a Black-smith brought him up carefully in learning placing him in the School at Nystadia where he continued ten yeares Then in the School of
received such abunâ—dant satisfaction by converse with him that ever after they held corespondence with him Shortly after Lodwick the Elector Palatine dying Caâ—imire was made Guardian to his son during his minority whereupon he sent for Tossan to Heidleberg that by his advise and counsell he might reform the Churches But when he came thither his adversaries loured exceedingly upon him and raised many false reports but he remembred that of â—eneca vir bonus quod honestè se facturum put averit faciet etiam si periculosum sit ab honesto nullâ— re deteâ—rebitur ad turpia nulla spe invitabitur An honest man will do that which he judges right though it be dangerous He will not be deterred from that which is honest by any meanes hee will be allured to that which is dishonest by no means His adversaries in their Pulpits daily cryed out of strange Heresies that he and his party held But Prince Casimire first sent for them to argue the case before him and then appointed a Publick disputation wherein they could prove none of those things which they charged them with whereupon the Prince required them to abstain from such accusations for the time to come and to study peace But nothing would prevail to allay their spleene till they were removed into other Countries The care of choosing Pastors to the Churches Tutors to the young Prince Schoolmasters and Professors to the University was divolved upon Tossan all which he discharged with much fidelity Anno Christi 1586. James Grynaeus the chiefe Professor in Heidleberg was called home to Basil in whose roome Tossanus though very unwilling was substituted and therefore to satisfie the Statutes of the University he commenced Doctor in Divinity But as his cares and paines increased so his sorrow also partly by reason of an unhappy quarrel that fell out between the Students and Citizens of Heidleberg partly by the death of his dear wife with whom he had lived twenty two years in wedlock which fell out in the year 1587. and therefore Anno Christi 1588 he married again and disposed of his daughters also in marriage to godly and learned men Not long after Prince Casimire died which much renewed his griefe But Frederick the fourth beeing now come to his age was admitted into the number of the Electors and was very carefull of the good both of the Church and University Anno Christi 1594 Tossan was chosen Rector of the University of Heidleberg and the year after there brake out a greivous Pestilence in that Citie which drove away the students But Tossan remained Preaching comfortably to his people and expounding the Penitentiall Psalmes to those few students that yet remained Anno Christi 1601 hee being grown very old and infirme laid down his Professors place though the University much opposed and earnestly sollicited him to retaine it still but God purposed to give him a better rest after all his labors and sorrows For having in his Lectures expounded the book of Job to the end of the thirtie one Chapter he concluded with those words The words of Job are ended Presently after falling sicke hee comforted himself with these texts of Scripture I have fought the good fight of Faith c. Bee thou faithfull unto the death and I will give thee the crown of life Wee have a City not made with hands eternall in the heavens and many other such like Hee also made his will and set down therein a good confession of his Faith and so departed quietly in the Lord An. Christi 1602 and of his age sixty one He was a very holy man exemplary in his life had an excellent wit strong memorie Eloquent in speech was very charitable and chearfull in his conversation and kept correspondence with all the choisest Divines in those times He wrote many things which were afterwards digested into Tomes and some of his works were published after his death by his Sonne I. WHITGIFT The Life of William Perkins who died A no Christi 1602. WIlliam Perkins was born at Marston in Warwickshire Anno 1558 and brought up at School from which he went to Christ's Colledge in Cambridg where he profited so much in his Studies that having got the grounds of all the liberall Arts he was chosen Fellow of that Colledge in the 24th year of Queen Elisabeth He was very wild in his youth but the Lord in mercie was pleased to reclaim him that he might be an eminent instrument of good in his Church When he first entred into the Ministâ—â—e beeing moved with pittie towards their souls he prevailed with the jaylor to bring the Prisoners fettered as they were to the Shirchouse hard by the Prison where he Preached every Lord's daie to them and it pleased God so to prosper and succeed his labors amongst them that he was the happy instrument of converting many of them unto God Freeing them thereby from the Captivity of sin which was their worst bondage This his practice being once known many resorted to that place out of the neighbor-Parishes to hear him So that from thence he was chosen to Saint Andrews Parish in Cambridge where he Preached all his life after His Sermons were not so plain but the piously learned did admire them nor so learned but the plain did understand them Hee brought the Schools into the Pulpit and unshelling their controversies out of their hard School-tearms made thereof plain and wholsom meat for his people He was an excellent Chirurgion at the jointing of a broken Soul and at stating of a doubtfull conscience so that the afflicted in spirit came far and near to him and received much satisfaction and comfort by him In his Sermons he used to pronounce the word Damn with such an Emphasis as left a dolefull Echo in his auditors ears a good while after And when hee was Catechist in Christ's Colledge in expounding the Commandements he applied them so home to the conscience as was able to make his hearers hearts fall down and their haires almost to stand upright But in his old age he was more miâ—dâ— often professing that to Preach mercy was the proper office of the Ministers of the Gospel In his life he was so 〈◊〉 and spotlesse that Malice was afraid to bite at his credit into which she knew that her teeth could not enter He had a rare felicity in reading of books and as it were but turning them over would give an exact account of all that was considerable therein He perused books so speedily that one would think he read nothing and yet so acurately that one would think he read all Hee was of a cheerfull nature and pleasant disposition Somewhat reserved to strangers but when once acquainted very familiar Besides his frequent Preaching he wrote many excellent books both Treatises and Commentaries which for their worth were many of them translated into
Latine and sent beyond sea where to this day they are highly prized and much set by yea some of them are translated into French High-Dutch and Low-Dutch and his Reformed Catholick was translated into Spanish also yet no Spaniard ever since durst take up the Gantlet of Defiance cast down by this Champion He died in the forty fourth year of his age of a violent fit of the Stone Anno Christi 1602 being born the first and dying the last year of Queen Elizabeth He was of a ruddy complexion fat and corpulent Lame of his right hand yet this Ehud with a left-handed pen did stab the Romish cause as one saith Dextera quantumvis fuerat tibi manca docendi Pollebas mirâ dexteritate tamen Though nature thee of thy right hand bereft Right-well thou writest with thy hand that 's left He was buried with great solemnity at the sole charges of Christs Colledge the University and Town striving which should expresse more sorrow at his Funeral Doctor Montague Preached his Funeral Sermon upon that Text Moses my servant is dead Master Perkins his manner was to go with the Prisoners to the plaâ—â— of execution when they were condemned and what 〈◊〉 his labours were crowned with may appeare by this example A young lusty fellow going up the ladder discovered an extraordinary lumpishnesse and dejection of spirit and when he turned himselfe at the upper round to speak to the people he looked with a rueful and heavy countenance as if he had been half dead already whereupon Master Perkins laboured to chear up his spirits and finding him still in an Agony and distresse of minde he said unto him What man what is the matter with thee art thou afraid of death Ah no said the Prisoner shaking his head but of a worser thing Saist thou so said Master Perkins come down again man and thou shalt see what Gods grace will doe to strengthen thee Whereupon the prisoner coming down Master Perkins took him by the hand made him kneel down with himself at the ladder foot hand in hand when that blessed man of God made such an effectuall prayer in confession of sinnes and aggravating thereof in all circumstances with the horrible and eternal punishment due to the same by Gods justice as made the poor prisoner burst out into abundance of tears and Master Perkins finding that he had brought him low enough even to hell gates he proceeded to the second part of his prayer and therein to shew him the Lord Jesus the Saviour of all penitent and believing sinners stretching forth his blessed hand of mercy and power to save him in that distressed estate and to deliver him from all the powers of darkness which he did so sweetly press with such heavenly art and powerfull words of grace upon the soul of the poor prisoner as cheared him up again to look beyond death with the eyes of Faith to see how the black lines of all his sinnes were crossed and cancelled with the red lines of his crucified Saviours precious blood so graciously applying it to his wounded conscience as made him break out into new showres of tears for joy of the inward consolation which he found and gave such expression of it to the beholders as made them life up their hands and praise God to see such a blessed change in him who the prayer being ended rose from his knees chearfully and went up the Ladder again so comforted and tooke his death with such patience and alacrity as if he actually saw himself delivered from the hell which he feared before and heaven opened for the receiving of his soul to the great rejoycing of the beholders His works are printed in three volumes F. JVNIVS The Life of Francis Junius who died A no Christi 1602. FRancis Junius was born in France of a Noble Family An. Christi 1545. His Grandfather was William Lord of Boffardineria who for his valiant service in the wars of Navar was rewarded by King Lewis the twelfth with that honour His Father was Denis who in his youth studied Law in the most famous Universities of France His Mother was Jacoba Hugalda which bore nine children four sons and five daughters amongst which this our Francis was born in Biturg His Mother being sickly the child was very weak not likely to live one houâ— and therefore was hastily baptised And during his childhood this weakness continued which falling into his left legge caused a soare which was difficultly healed When hee was five yeares old his Father beganne to teach him to read as his leisure would permit At six yeares old he began to write and to discover his ingenuity being of a pleasant disposition very desirous of honour quickly angry and for his age of a grave judgement Hee did eat his meat eagerly was very shame-fac'd which continued with him all his life after Hee had the publick Schoolmasters for his instructers besides others that privately taught him at home At twelve years old he attended the publick Lectures and began to study the Civill Law and his Father much encouraged and assisted him therein Yet one thing much impeded him in his first studies For being put forth to School hee met with harsh and severe Masters which used to beat him in a most cruel and barbarous manner yet his love to learning made him conceal it from his friends When he had studied Law about two years he was sent to Lions to have gone with the French Ambassador to Constantinople but coming too late after the Ambassadors departure he staid and studied there turning over many bookes whereof in that place were great plenty But there he met with great temptations to evill a woman and a young mayd labouring upon every opportunity to draw him to lewdnesse This much troubled him having been brought up religiously by his parents whereupon he thought of returning home but his fathers authority who commanded his stay there altered those thoughts and so through Gods assistance he resisted that temptation But presently fell into another For as he was reading over Tully de Legibus there came a certain man to him using the words of the Epicure nihil cur are Deum nec alieni that God cares for nothing And he so pressed it with such subtile arguments that hee prevailed with him to suck in that damnable principle and so he gave up himself to vile pleasures for a year and somewhat more But the Lord suffered him not to continue longer therein For first in a tumult in Lions the Lord wonderfully delivered him from imminent death so that he was compelled to acknowledge a divine providence therein And his Father hearing the dangerous waies that his son was misled into sent for him home where he carefully and holily instructed him and caused him to read over the new Testament of wich himselfe writes thus novum Testamentum aperio exhibet se mihi
diligentissimus in Pontificios scriptor The Light of the University the Glory of Europe the Trumpeter of Gods glory an admirable example of holyness and a diligent writer against the Papists Indeed what he wrote against them is altogether unanswerable He was withall so humble that he would never accept of any great preferment in the Church only being much importuned he took the Deanry of Lincoln which he quickly grew weary of and therefore passed it away to another He was chosen President of Corpus Christi Coâ—ledge and made the Professor of Divinity which places he discharged with admirable learning and sedulity to the end of his life Gods great providence in watching over him doth excellently appear by this example Being at London An. Christi 1602 he desired to refresh himself by walking abroad into the open air and for that end went into Finsbury fields where many Archers were shooting with their long bows and it so fell out that one of their arrows met him and stroke him upon the very breast which in all probability would have pierced through his body but behold the admirable providence of God the arrow piercing the outside stopped against the quilted lining and so leaped back without doing him the least hurt But the ingratefull world being unworthy of such a star it pleased God that he fell sick and was taken away by an immature death Anno Christi 1607 and of his Age 58. When the Heads of the Houses in Oxford came to visit him in his last sickness which he had contracted meerly by his exceeding great pains in his study whereby hee brought his body to be a very Sceleton they earnestly perswaded him â—hat he would not perdere substantiam propter accidentia lose his life for learning He with a smile answered them with this verse of the Poet Nec propter vitam vivendi perdere causas JOS SCALIGER The Life of Joseph Scaliger who died A no Christi 1609. JOseph Scaliger the son of Julius Caesar Scaliger was born at Aginum Anno Christi 1540 and at nine years old was sent by his father to School at Burdeaux but after three years stay there the Plague breaking forth he returned to his Father again who set him every day to make an Oration whereby hee attained to such an exactness in the Latine tongue that not long after he composed that excellent Tragedy of Oedipus which caused his friends to admire such ripeness of wit in such tender years At nineteen years old his father being dead he went to Paris to learn the Greeke tongue where for two moneths space he applyed himselfe to the Lectures of that learned man Adrian Turneby but wanting other helps he lost most of that time which caused him to shut himself up in his study and there by extraordinary diligence joyned with his naturall aptness hee began to suck in the first rudiments of the Greek tongue and before he had well learned all the conjugations he gat him an Homer and in one and twenty dayes he learned it all over framed for himself a Greek Grammar and never used the help of any other He learned the other Greek Poets in four moneths more Having thus bestowed two years in the study of the Greek he grew very desirous to adde the knowledge of the Hebrew to it and though he knew not one letter of it yet he attained to the knowledge of it without any other help He wrote much in verse in both those languages but to avoid the repute of ambition would not suffer them to be printed Hee read over many Hebrew and Greek Authors and spent much time in interpreting them and clearing of them from errors Anno Christi 1563 he began to travel into divers countries and made little stay any where till he was called to the University of Leiden Anno Christi 1593 to be Professor there in which place he spent sixteen years making the place famous both by his Lectures and Writings and at last dyed of a Dropsie Anno Christi 1609 and of his age sixty nine The aforementioned Turneby who was an excellently learned man himself called this Scaliger Portentosi ingenii juvenem A young man of a stupendious wit The Life of Amandus Polanus who died A no Christi 1610. AMandus Polanus was born at Oppavia in Silesia of honest parents An. Chr. 1561. In his childhood he was brought up by the care of his parents in the Free-school belonging to that place where he learned the grounds of the Liberal Arts And from thence Anno Christi 1577 he was sent to Uratislavia where he spent six years and where his ingenuity and excellent wit quickly discovered themselves to the great satisfaction of his Masters and then for his farther instruction he went to Tubing and reaped much benefit by the Lectures of Theod. Snepsius But afterwards in a publick Disputation wherein Doctor Andreas was Moderator being invited to confer about Election he constantly adhered to that of the Apostle Rom. 9. 11. The children being not yet born neither having done any good or evil that the purpose of God according to Election might stand not of works but of him that calleth c. And afterwards being conferred with in private about it adhering to his former opinion many began to bee angry and to withdraw themselves from him Whereupon by the advice of a Doctor of Physick his special friend he left Tubing and went to Basil carrying Letters of commendation from that Doctor to James Grynaeus An. Chr. 1583 where being admitted into the University he wholly applyed himself to the study of Divinity And after a while he visited Geneva and Heidleberg and in Moravia and some other places he was Tutor to divers young Noblemen especially to one Zerotinius Anno Christi 1590 at the importunity of some Noblemen he commenced Doctor in Divinity at Basil and six years after he was made Professor for interpreting the Old Testament in that University which place he faithfully discharged for fourteen years space expounding Daniel Ezekiel and a good part of the Psalms besides his extraordinary Lectures which he read every Thursday and Saturday and his publick Disputations and other exercises Thus Polanus was an excellent ornament to the University of Basil adding a great lustre to it by his wit and writings Afterwards falling sick of a Feaver he wholly resigned up himself to the will of God comforted himself with divers pregnant texts of Scriptures and so departed quietly in the Lord Anno 1610 and of his age 49. There met in this man true piety and solid learning He had both a good wit and sound judgement Was well skilled both in the Tongues and Ecclesiastical Antiquities In his office he was very diligens He twice bore the chiefest office in the University of Basil and that to his own credit and the profit of the Schooles He kept correspondence with
before his death he professed to Doctor Meier that he dyed in the same Faith that he had taught others that he had earnestly besought God to provide his people of an able and faithful Pastor c. concluding O praeclarum illum diem cùm ad illud animarum concilium coelumque proficiscar cùm ex hac turba colluvione discedam O happy day when I may depart out of this troublesom and sinfull world and go to Heaven to those blessed soules before departed He used to say Pontifici Romano Erasmum plus nocuisse jocando quà m Lutherum stomachando Writing to Chytraeus he said Si non amplius in his terris te visurus sum ibi tamen conveniemus ubi Luthero cum Zuinglio optimè jam convenit If we never see one another again in this world yet wee shall meet in that place where Luther and Zuinglius agree very well together He used to be up at his study Winter and Summer before sun-rising and spent all the day in Prayer Writing Reading and visiting of the sick He was so famous that many Princes Noblemen and young Gentlemen came from forreign countries to see and hear him He was very dutifull to his parents liberal to a poor brother which he had Temperate in food and apparel all his life long Courteous and affable to every man respectfull to all degrees studious of love and concord amongst the good especially Scholars as his many Epistles shew Many desired to sojourn with him whose bodies he fed with food and minds with pleasant and profitable discourses and sage Apothegmes In bearing wrongs hee was very patient never seeking reveng Scripsit Epitomen Bibliorum Charact. Christianorum Enarrationes aliquot Psalmorum Prophetarum ut Haggai Jonae Habacuc Obadiae Malachiae Danielis 5 priorum cap. Explanationem Mat. Exeg Epistolae aâ— Romanos Col. Heb. Joh. Historiam Ecclesiasticam Chron. Historiae Evangelicae R. ABBAT The Life of Robert Abbat who died A no Christi 1618. RObert Abbat was born at Guilford in the Countie of Surrey Anno Christi 1560 of honest Parents who carefully educated him in learning and when he was fit they sent him to Oxford where he was admitted into Baliol Colledge in which place he followed his studies very hard took all his degrees till he commenced Doctor in Divinity and for his excellent learning and exemplary life he was chosen first Master of the Colledge and afterwards the Regius Professor in which place he succeeded Doctor Thomas Holland and for five years space performed his office so excellently that Anno Chr. 1615 he was by King James preferred to the Bishoprick of Salisbury Whilst he was there he made that learned and solid work De gratia perseverantia Sanctorum He was also very diligent and faithful in the execution of his office But partly by reason of the burthen and care of his place partly by his sedentary life being so hard a student he had a stone bred in his kidneys which put him to intollerable pain yet hee bore the same with invincible patience Till finding his end to approach he called his Family together and began to make before them a Confession of his Faith yet with some pauses by reason of his pains and faintness whereupon some of his friends told him that he need not put himself to that trouble having so fully declared the same in his learned and Orthodox writings This counsel he approved and therefore said to them That Faith which I haue published and defended in my writings is the truth of God and therein I die and so presently after he yeelded up his soul to God Anno Christo 1618 and of his age 58. The Life of William Cowper who died A no Christi 1619. WIlliam Cowper was born in Edenborough and at eight years old was sent by his Father to Dunbar-School where in four years he learn'd the whole course of Grammar and profited above his equals and at that time did God begin to reveal himself to him Many times when he was in the School he used to â—ift up his heart unto God begging of him knowledge and understanding and alwaies as he went to Church he sent up this ejaculation to heaven Lord bow nine ear that I may hear thy word At his entry into his thirteenth year his father sent for him home to Edenburgh and presently after he went to Saint Andrews where he continued to his sixteenth year in the study of Philosophy but made no great progress therein yet the seed of grace was stil working in him inclining him to a careful hearing and penning of Sermons and other Theological Lectures During his abode at Saint Andrews Sathan working upon corrupt nature sought oft to trap him in his snares but as himself testifies the Lord in mercy forgave the vanities and ignorances of his youth and preserved him from such falls as might have made him a 〈◊〉 to the Saints and a reproach to his enemies At the Age of sixteen years he returned to his parents at Edenburgh who propos'd to him sundry courses of life but his heart was stil enclined to the study of the holy Scriptures whereupon he resolved to goe into England and the Lord provided him a place at Hoddesdon eighteen miles from London just as he had spent all his money which he brought with him out of Scotland where he was entertained by one Mr. Gutherie a Scotchman to assist him in teaching of a School There he remained three quarters of a year and then having occasion to goe to London he was unexspectedly called to the service of Master Hugh Broughton with whom he continued a year and a half and daily exercised himself in the study of Divinity At nineteen years old he returned again to Edenburgh where he lived with his elder brother then one of the Ministers in that City who much furthered him in his former studies and at last he was required to give a proof of his gifts privately which he did in the New Church before Master Robert Pont and Master Robert Rollock and somâ— others by whom he was commanded to preach in publick also Being twenty years old he was sent by the Authority of the General Assembly which then was met at Edenburgh to be the Pastor at Bothkenner in Sterlingshire but when he came thither he found in the Church besides ruinous wals neither roof nor doors nor pulpit nor seats nor windows yet it pleased God to give such a blessing to his Ministry that within half a year the Parishioners of their own accord built and adorned the Church in as good a quality as any round about it There he continued seven or eight years yet subject to great bodily infirmities by reason of the wetnesse of the soil and the moistness of the air and in that time dâ—d God begin to acquaint him
1555. Gods judgements on the wicked He conforts the English in persecution And the persecuted French Gribaldus favours Servetus Gods judgment on him Calvin accused bâ—â—some Ministers They are punished for it 1556. He falls sick of an Ague He recovers Faction and Famine Westphalus confuted And Castalio Persecution in Paris Christians slandlered Lies confuâ—ed Calvins care for them Gentilis an Heretick He infects some Is confuted Transylvania infected He is punished with death Calvin falls sick He hâ—tes idleneâ—se 1559. A persecution in France The King of France â—â—â—in A School built at Genevâ— Sancarus his heresies Confuted The Bohemian Waldenses Q. Elizabeth in England A French Ch. erected in England K. Charls in France Geneva threatned Defended by Calvin Heshusius answered Ecebolius his errors Confuâ—ed Gods judgements on him 1562. Civil war in France A prodigy 1563. His sickness increaseth His indefatigable pains 1564. His laâ—t Sermon The causes of his sickness His great patience He wil not intermit his labours His speech to the Ministers He goes to the Senate He receives the Sacrament He makes his Will Mr. Calvins Will. His speech to the Senators His speech to the Ministers Hiâ— Letter to Mâ— Viret Viret comes to him His Death Pezâ—s verses on him His Character 〈…〉 〈◊〉 admirable 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Slandâ—â—s answered His coâ—â—entation His works His birth and education Flight â—n persecutioâ— He challengeth tâ—e Papists His Theses He is driven from Basil. His Labors He goes to Geneva Popish malice Popish rage His zeal and courage The High Priests charge Popish malice Gods mercy He is driven from Geneva A speciall providence He goes to Metis He goes to Neocome His Friendship His death Sathans malice The great effects of his Ministery His Character His Works His great Learning Sent Legate into Germany His Policy He is sent for â—o Rome He is sent back inâ—o Germany Popish subtilty He bestirs himselfe in Germany He gives an account to the Pope He is sent to the Emperour The Emperor deals with the Pope about a Council Another Legat in vain He is well beloved He is suspected for a Lutheran His wonderfull conversion He retires to his brother Bishop of Pola is converted Gods mercy Sathans malice They are accused to the Inquisitors Popish malice A lying Prophet He goes to Manâ—ua And to Trent And to Venice Spira is a warning to him He goes into Rhetia His Death His Works His Birth His Education He goes to Friburg And to Wittenberg He commenceth Mr. of Arts. He goes to Madgeburg And to Jenes His Marriage He disputes with Menius And with Flacius His imprisonment His sickness His release His Flight in times of danger He goes to Lipsich He is made Professor of Divinity He is stâ—ut out of the Schools His courage He goes to Amberg Aâ—d to Heidleberg His sicknesse His death His works His Birth His Education His studiousnesse His conversion His zeal He is made Minister Preachers patterne power of the word His prudence Anabaptists madnesse Saâ—ans policy Gods mercy Another contention Division dangerous Brandenburgs courage and zeal Augustane Confession His marriage He goes to Tubing His trouble at Hale Unruly souldiers His Policy Popish malice His â—â—ight Gods mercy The Interim His Courage His danger A mâ—racle of mercy His flight A good Pastor He goes to Wirtemberg God preserves him He goes to â—asil Aâ—d to Hornburg He is invited to severall places The Dukes courage Reformation 〈◊〉 courage He goes to Trent His second marriage He is chosen to Stutgard He defends hâ—s Confession of Faiâ—h He goes to Worms Monasteries turned to schooles His sickness He makes his Will His patience His Death His Character His Works His birth and education He goes to Lions He goes to Bern. His death Popish malice His Character His eloquence The great fruit of his Ministry His Birth and Education He goes to Oxford He is chosen Huâ—anity Lectâ—rer His studiousnes His esteem of Peter Martyr He is expâ—lâ— tâ—e Colledge â—rought into the 〈◊〉 Humane infirmity A speciall providence His Recanâ—ation Gods providence Flight in persecution He goes to Frankfurt His Repentance He goes to Strasborough From thence to Zurick Charity to the Exiles Popish malice Gods mercy A blessed Peace-maker A Prediction Qu. Mary dyes Qu. Elizabeth succeedâ— A disputation appointed His paines in Reforming the Church He is made Bishop He preachâ—s at Pauls Crosse. His challenge to the Papists Hiâ— Charity His greaâ— painâ— A good Bishop His Family government He had heart of memory His death foreseen by him His preparation for death Preachâ—rs pattern Gal. 5. 16. Hiâ— speech to his family in his sicknesse Death desired Ambrose His faith His Death Martyrs testimony of his Apology His birth and education He goes to Wittenberg His diligence and zeal His first imployments Inhumane cruelty He is called to Julia. And to Ceglâ—dine He goes to Temeswert His many sold afflictions He is called to Thurin And from thence to Becknese A speciall providence He is taken prisoner Gods mercy He is called to Tholna His second marriage He is ordained His industry and zeal He goes to Calmantsem He is taken prisoner He is taken prisoner Turkish injustice He is again imprisoned Barbarous cruelty He is beaten cruelly Breach of promise Charity to him His Keepers cruelty Gods providence He is favoured by the Courtiers He is solicited to turn Renegado His courage He encourageth the Christian captives Gods mercy What he wrote in prison Three of his children die The meanes of his deliverance His release A great danger Gods providence Foolish pride The Friar baffled Gods judgment on a persecutor His Charity Another danger Gods providence His Death His zeal against Hereticks His Works His Birth and Education 〈…〉 His Conversion His zeal Sathans malice He flies to Berwick His Humility He goes to Frankfort And to Geneva He is sent for into Scotland His zeal The Mass abhorred The effect of his Ministry The Papists rage against him His great pains He writes to the Queen She scoffs at it He is called back to Geneva He leaves Scotland He is condemned His appeal He is sent for into Scotland His return into Scotland The Ministers summonâ—d The peoples zeal They are proscribed Imâ—ges demolished The Queens malice The Protestants write to the Queen Their zeal The Earl of Glencarns courage and zeale Mr. Knox his speech to the Lordâ— The Queens subtilty Her perfidiousnesse The Bishoâ— opposed Kâ—ox 〈◊〉 A Preâ—iction His Courage 〈◊〉 destroyed The peoples zeal The Queens policy St Johnstons rescued Idols destroyed Noâ—e Popish uncâ—eannesse The Qu. flies They write to the Queen The French match to Edâ—nborough Mr. Willock Minister of Edenborough Civil Wars about Religion The Queens blasphemy Qu. Eliz. assists the Protestants The Queens pride cruelty A speciall providence The Qu. dies Peace concluded M. Knox setled at Edneb Earl of Murray slain His losse bewailed A Prophesie Gods judgment on a scoffer Preachers pattern M. Lawson chosen to succeed him His last Sarmon His sincerity His
in life and death When you be informed of their unwearyed industrie in services and their undaunted magnanimitie in sufferings for Christ their Lord then conceive that you hear themselves thus speaking unto you with a loud voice Why look you thus upon us Not unto us not unto us but unto the Name of God give glory And as our gracious God is advanced so may our selves be very much advantaged by a due consideration of those things which have been exemplary in the Lives and deaths of choise men Champions for Scripture truths and Patriots for the power of godliness For as Gods Laws are the good mans rules so good Examples are his motives and encouragements The holy Scriptures do hint the prevalency hereof for saving conversion And it is reported that Justin Martyr by observing the pious Lives and patient deaths of the Martyrs was brought to Christ. Men likewise may be fast riveted and more strongly rooted in the Truth received by reflecting upon the sound judgements and spotless Lives of them who have published and maintained it In which respect Pauls speech unto young Timothy is very remarkable But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of knowing of whom thou hast learned them Such are witnesses with a witness there are none such The common people are more apt to enquire what Ministers do then what they say And the eye is more operative and affecting then the ear Neither is this only true in regard of Gods Worthies who live with us but also in reference unto them who have lived long before us The Apostle writing to the Hebrews concerning Abels faith he tels them that by it though he be dead he yet speaketh Upon which phrase famous Master Perkins hath this note Abels faith is a never dying Preacher It is the pleasure of Almighty God that we should walk in the way of good men and keep the path of the righteous Walk so as you have us for an example The Apostle Paul draws their observation and imitation upon those who were really and eminently good And the Apostle James inculcates the same thing Take my Brethren the Prophets who have spoken in the Name of the Lord for an example In Examples there should be excellencie and conspicuitie As the stamps upon coyns which make them current It is most true that wise Solomon sends sluggish man unto School to learn of the Pismire And therefore grant that Christians should imitate Heathens in their virtues how much rather then ought we to make practical improvement of the Epitomized Lives of these many eminent servants of Christ who are presented to our view in this book These fair copies we should spread before our eyes and write after them till our writing our living be like them Frequent meditation upon the wise savorie speeches and holy gratious practices of these renowned Worthies will be a special means to mould us even us into the same similitude Peter Martyr perswading the improvement of good Examples tell 's a storie of a deformed man marryed unto an uncomely woman who being desirous of comely children bought many beautiful pictures and desired his wife daily to look upon them by means whereof their children were handsome and lovely And doubtless brave Christian qualifications might be begotten in our bosoms by filling our heads and hearts frequently with the commendable conversation of these holy men of God who have been burning and shining lights in the Churches of Christ in their respective Ages But whilst we are moving imitation we must not forget to give in some few cautions to prevent miscarrying 1. Do not so Idolize any man in respect of his place parts or graces as to make him your pattern in every particular The Apostle gives in a good Item to the Corinthians which concerns all Christians Be followers of me as I am of Christ. Christians are not bound as Master Latimer expresseth himself to be the Saints Apes laboring to be like them in every thing It 's Christs peculiar honor to be imitated in all morals absolutely This caveat is necessary in these Man-admiring times wherein many pin their faith and consciences upon some mens sleeves Here it might seasonably be remembred that the opinion and practice of the Apostle Peter did once lead many out of the right way When mens parts are high their graces shining or their power great we are in danger either to be dazzelled with their brightness or biassed by their greatness Therefore before you adventure to follow men weigh the chiefest of them in the ballance of the Sanctuary and try their most specious notions and actions by the touchstone of the Temple 2. Beware on the other hand lest you so pry into and peer upon the weaknesses of Gods Worthies as not to value and imitate those virtues which did break forth brightly in their conversations You must give good gold all its allowance and not throw it aside because it wants some grains and hath a crack The Snow-like Swan hath black legs and in many things we offend all And though some of these pretious servants of Jesus Christ who are justly commended in this book had their blemishes in judgement or in some actions yet how much did they in many particulars exceed the most famous Professors of our times 3. When you meet with that in their lives which was not onely truly but eminently good sit not down satisfied till you have attained their measure Be followers of me c. saith the Apostle for our conversation is in Heaven Follow the forwardest Christians with a desire to overtake them His speech savored more of wit then grace who counselled his friend not to come too nigh unto truth lest his teeth should be beaten out with its heels Dwell upon the Exemplarie Lives of these transcendent Saints till you be changed into the same image Their love to Christ his truth and people should enlarge your hearts Their zeal should enflame you Their magnanimity should encourage you Their humility should abase you Their patience should calm you Their labors should quicken your diligence Their temperance should moderate you in the use of all sensual contentments Their confidence should confirm your fiducial dependance upon Gospel-promises Their contempt of the World should call you off yet farther from all empty sublunaries Their high estimation of the holy Scriptures should heighten your reverent respect of them Their many assaults from Satan and sufferings from men in estate liberty credit and body should embolden and arm you in evil times Their experiences of support under grievances of supplies in necessaries of comfort in crosses of deliverance in streights of success in services and of triumphing perseverance notwithstanding all oppositions from within and from without should hold up your faint hopes unweariedly to wait for the full accomplishment of all the pretious promises of Covenant-grace in Jesus
Souls Where is he that went down from Jerusalem to Jericho which salved and cured him which was wounded by the Theives Seek me out O Lord that am faln from the higher Jerusalem which have broken the vow I made in Baptism which have prophaned my Cognisance in that I dealt injuriously with thy blessed Name Alâ—ss that ever I was Doctor and now occupie not the room of a Disciple Thou knowest O Lord that I fell against my will whereas I went about to enlighten others I darkened my self when I endeavoured to bring others from death to life I brought my self from life to death When I minded to present others before God presented my self before the Devil When I desired to be found a friend and favourer of godliness I was found a foe and furtherer of iniquity when I set my self against the Assemblies of the wicked and reproved their doings there found I shame and the most pestilent wound of the Devil Some promised me to be Baptized but after that I departed from them the Devil the same night transformed himself into an Angel of Light and said into me When thou art up in the morning go on and perswade them and bring them to God But the Devil going before me prepared the way by whetting their wits to devise mischief against me silly-wretch sowing in their mindes hypocrisie dissimulation and deceit But I O unhappy creature skipping out of my bed at the dawning of the day could not finish my wonted Devotion neither accomplish my usual Prayers desiring that all men might be saved and come to the knowledge of the Truth whilest in the mean time I wrapped my self in the snares of the Devil I gat me to those wicked men I required of them to perform the Covenant made the night before I silly soul not knowing their subtilty and we came to the Baptism O blinded heart how didst thou not remember O foolish minde how didst thou not bethink thy self O witless brain how didst thou not understand But it was the Devil that lulled thee asleep and in the end slew thy unhappy and wretched Soul He bound my power and might and so wounded me I answered but in a word and became reproachfully defamed I spake without malice yet felt I spite The Devil raised an assembly about me and prononnced against me that unjust sentence Origen hath sacrificed O thou Devil what hast thou done unto me How hast thou wounded me I bewailed sometimes the fall of Sampson but now have I faln worse my self I bewailed formerly the fall of Solomon but now have I faln far worse my self I have bewailed formerly the state of all sinners yet now am I plunged into sin my self Sampson had his hair cut off but the Crown of glory is faln off my head Sampson lost the carnal eyes of his body but my spiritual eyes are put out It was the williness of a woman that brought confusion upon him but it was my tongue that brought me into this sinful condition And as he afterwards wanted the comfort of his Earthly possessions so my tongue by this wickedness hath deprived me of those spiritual gifts which sometimes have flowen into me with heavenly riches And as he endured those things by leaving the Israelites and cleaving unto forreiners So I going about to save notorious sinners made my self Captive to Captives and a bondslave unto sin Alass my Church liveth yet I am a Widdower My Sons be alive yet I am barren Every creature rejoyceth and I alone am desolate and sorrowfull c. Bewail me O ye blessed people of God who am banished from God Bewail me who am deprived of all goodness Bewail me who am deprived of the Holy Ghost Bewail me who am thrust out of the Wedding Chamber of Christ. Bewail me who was once thought worthy the Kingdom of God but am now altogether unworthy Bewail me who am abhorred of the Angels and severed from the Saints of God Bewail me for that I am condemned to eternal punishments Bewail me for that I am here on earth and yet am tormented with the prick of conscience I do fear death for that I am wicked I do fear the dreadfull Day of Judgment for that I am damned for ever I do fear the punishment for that it is eternal I do fear the evil Angels that oversee the punishment because they are void of mercy I do fear out of measure all the torments and what I shall do I wot not being thus on every side beset with misery If there be any man that can I beseech him now to assist me with his earnest prayers and sorrowfull tears For now it behoveth me to shed infinite tears for my great sin who knoweth whether the Lord will have mercy upon me and whether he will pitty my fall Whether he will tender my person Whether he will be moved with my desolation Whether he will shew mercy unto me Whether he will have respect to my humiliation and incline his tender compassions towards me I will prostrate my self before the threshold and porch of his Church that I may intreat all people both small and great saying unto them Trample and tread me under foot who am the unsavory salt tread upon me who have no taste nor savour of God tread upon me which am fit for nothing Now let the elders mourn for that the staff whereon they leaned is broken Now let the young men mourn for that their Schoolmaster is fallen Now let the virgins mourn for that the advancer of virginity is defiled Now let the Ministers mourn for that their Patron and Defender is shamefully fallen Wo is me that I fell so lewdly Wo is me that I fell most dangerously and cannot rise again Assist me O holy Spirit and give me grace to repent Let the fountains of tears be opened and gush out into streams to see if that peradventure I may have the grace worthily throughly to repent and to wipe out of the Book of my conscience the accusations Printed therein against me But thou O Lord think not upon my polluted lips neither weigh thou the tongue that hath uttered lewd things but accept of my repentance affliction and bitter tears the dolour of my heart and heaviness of my soul and have mercy upon me and raise me up out of the mire of corruption for the puddle thereof hath even choaked me up Wo is me that was sometimes a pearl glistering in the golden garland of glory but now am thrown into the dust and trodden in the mire of contempt Wo is me that the salt of God now lieth on the dunghill But how great streams of lamentations shall cleanse and purifie my humble heart Now I will address my self and turn my talk unto God Why hast thou lifted me up and cast me down For as thou hast exalted me with the Divine word of thy Heavenly wisdom so me thinks I stick in the depth of sin which my self hath wrought I had not committed this
with above seven swift Notaries who wrote that which he dictated to them Whilest he continued at Alexandria there came a Souldier with Letters from the Governour of Arabia to Demerius the Bishop of that Sea and to the Lieutenant of Egypt desiring them with all speed to send Origen to him which might communicate to him some part of his Doctrine Hereupon he took his voyage into Arabia and instructed the Governour thereof and hearing that Beryllus Bishop of Bostra inâ— Arabia taught that our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ before his incarnation had no being and that he had no proper Divinity but only his Fathers Divinity dwelling in him about which Heresie many Bishops had dealt with him by conference and disputation and yet could not reclaim him Origen was sent for who conferred with him at first to finde the ground of his opinion after which perceiving him not to believe aright he rebuked him perswaded him with reasons convinced him by manifest proofs and so restored him to the truth He wrote 22. Tomes upon the Gospel of St. John 12. upon Genesis five upon the Lamentations of Ieremy Annotations upon the first five and twenty Psalms two Books of the Resurrection one of Principal Beginnings ten called Stromateis He wrote also Commentaries upon Isaiah in 30. Tomes upon Ezekiel in 25. Tomes upon the Canticks in ten Books c. Whilst Origen executed his Pastoral Office at Caesarea which was after he had left Alexandria many flocked to his Ministry not only men of that Countrey but also infinite Forreiners who forsaking their Native soil came to be his Disciples amongst whom were Theodorus and Athenodorus two brethren who after they had continued with him five years profited so much in the holy Scripture that they were ordained Bishops in Pontus And now Origen being above sixty years old and much worn and wasted by reason of his incessant studies and painfull exercises at length permitted that those things which he had publickly preached and disputed of should by his Notaries be copied out which before he would not suffer to be done About the same time also he wrote his Book against Celsus the Epicure intituled the word of truth Then 25. Tracts upon the Gospel of St. Matthew and 25 upon the Minor Prophets he wrote also above an hundred Epistles About this time there arose some Hereticks in Arabia who taught that the soul dyeth together with the body and that in the General Resurrection they should arise together and be restored to life again For which cause a Synod was congregated and Origen was sent for who so strenuously disputed against these Hereticks that he withdrew their seduced minds from this foul errour Decius succeeding Thilip in the Roman Empire raised a persecution against the Church wherein amongst others Origen suffered grievous things the spitefull Devil deadly pursuing him with his whole Troop striving against him with all the might and sleight that could be possibly invented so that for the Doctrine of Christ he sustained imprisonments torments of body scourging at Iron stakes stench of dark and loathsom dungeons and for many days his feet lay stretched four spaces asunder in the stocks all which he patiently endured together with the terrible threats of fire and all that the enemie could invent against him After all which he died under Gallus and Volusianus being 69. years old Anno Christi 220. It is to be wondred at what pious ejaculations comfortable prayers and zealous exhortations he made and gave to the Christians in the extremity of his sufferings retaining his valour and constancy to the giving up of his Ghost One saith of him Origeni nulla pars aetatis periit à studiis That Origens whole life was a continued study And another saith Origenis ingenium sufficiebat ad omnia perdiscenda that he had such pregnancy of wit that he could learn any thing that he had a wonderfull faculty in expressing himself ex tempore and that he was wondrous quick and able to explicate obscure places of Scripture Jerome stiles him Magistrum Ecclesiarum post Apostolos Another saith Quis ex Scriptoribus qui post Origenem vixeâ—â— non â—â—â—gniter ab eo est adjutus Who of all the writers that lived after Origen that was not singularly holpen by his Labours He used to say That Gods Providence hath ordained all things for some end and purpose He made not malice and though be can restrain it yet he will not For if malice were not vertue should not have a contrary and so could not shine so clear For the malice of Josephs Brethren was the means whereby God brought about many admirable works of his providence as the story sheweth Opera Origenis Tomis duobus Basiliae 1536. apud Frobenium sunt edita CIPRIAN The Life of Cyprian who dyed Anno Christi 259. CYprian was an African born in the ancient City of Carthage and being educated in the study of the Liberal Arts he profited so much therein that whilest he was young he was chosen Professor of Rhetorick Yet was he at first a Gentile and Idolator loose and profane in his practise and much addicted to the study of Magical Arts But it pleased God who had chosen him to be a vessel of mercy for his own glory to convert him by the means and Ministry of Cecilius a godly Presbyter of Carthage whose name he ever afterwards bore and through the occasion of hearing him preach upon the History of the Prophet Jonas Immediatly upon his conversion he distributed all his goods amongst the poor And the Carthagenians perceiving in him a very great zeal and ardour for the propagation of the Christian Religion they prevailed with him to be ordained a Presbyter in which office he so worthily demeaned himself that not long after he was made the Bishop of the Church of Carthage and therein gave an excellent example of Modesty Humility Charity Greatness of mind and Fidelity His modesty appeared in that in all great and weighty businesses he would never determin or act any thing of himself but by the common consent and advice of his Presbyters yea he many times called in the help and assistance of the whole Church His humility appeared in that he was never tenacious nor wilfull in his own judgement but what was wholsomly advised and counselled by his brethren and Collegues that he willingly assented to His charity was notably seen in that he did not only commend the care of the poor to his Presbyters but himself also according to his ability was alwayes forward in ministring to them The greatness of his mind appeared in this speech of his Si qui sunt c. If there be any saith he that think to adjoyn themselves to the Church not by their prayers but by their threats not by their humiliation and satisfaction when they have scandalized the Brethren but by their great words and
injuria praesentium malorum fiducia futurorum bonorum All injurie of evils present is to be neglected for the hope of good things to come Nihil prodest verbis proferre virtutem factis destruere To set out vertue in words and by deeds to destroy the same is nothing worth Cyprian in another Book mentioneth twelve absurdities in the life of man which are these Sapiens sine operibus A wise man without good works Senex sine Religione An old man without Religion Adolescens sine Obedientia A young man without Obedience Dives sine Elemosyna A rich man without Alms. Famina sine Pudicitia A woman without shamefastness Dominus sine Virtute A guide without Vertue Christianus contentiosus A contentious Christian. Pauper superbus A poor man that is proud Rex inîquns A King that is unjust Episcopus negligens A Bishop that is negligent Plebs sine Disciplina People without Discipline Populus sine Lege Subjects without Law His works are four Books containing 62 Epistles Besides Tractatus contra Demetrianum De Habitu Virginum De Simplicitate Praelatorum De Idolorum Vanitate Sermo de Ele emosyna De Zelo Livore De bono Patientiae De Mortalitate De Lapsis De Oratione Dominica Liber de Exhortatione Martyris The Life of Arnobius who flourished Anno Christi 330. ARnobius was a famous Professor of Rhetorick in a City of Africk called Sicca About the year 330. being converted to the Christian Religion he came to some Bishops earnestly desiring to be admitted into the Church and Baptized but they suspecting nè vir seculari eloquentiâ tumens c. lest a man swelling and puffed up with secular wisdom and who had always hitherto opposed Christian Religion should make a mock both of them and it therefore they rejected him whereupon he offered unto them those seven Excellent Volumes of his Disputations against his former Gentilism which they seeing with great joy received him He was Master to Lactantius He used to say that Persecution brings Death in one hand and Life in the other for while it kils the Body it crowns the Soul He flourished under Dioclesian between Anno Christi 300. 330. Learned Scultetus in his Medulla Patrum holds all the works that go under the name of this Arnobius to be spurious but only those seven Books which he wrote against the Gentiles wherein saith he Eruditè quidem tumido elatoque orationis genere contra gentes disputat The Life of Eusebius who dyed Anno Chri. 340. THe life of Eusebius was written by Acatius his Disciple and successor in the Bishoprick of Caesarea which being lost I can meet with no Author that gives us any account either of his Parents Masters or his first course of life But Eusebius is commended to the Christian World not for his Parents and Masters sake but for his excellent wit and great variety of Learning So that S. Basil saith of him Eusebius Palaestinus est fide dignus propter multiplicem experientiam Eusebius of Palestine is worthy to be credited for his great experience S. Hierom saith Eusebius in Divinis Scripturis studiosissimus Bibliothecae Divinae cum Pamphilo Martyre diligentissimus pervestigator Eusebius was a great student of the sacred Scriptures and together with Pamphilus the Martyr a most diligent seacher of the Divine Library Evagrius saith Eusebius vir sanè cùm in aliis rebus disertissimus tùm in scribendo tantum pollens ut possit lectores suorum librorum etsi non efficere perfectos Christianos ita tamen persuadendo impellere ut Christianam Religionem lubenter colant Eusebius truly was a man as in other things most Eloquent so in writing of such prevalency that though he could not make the Readers of his Books perfect Christians yet he could inforce them by his perswasions willingly to embrace the Christian Religion He was Bishop of Caesarea Palestina and for his great love to Pamphilus sir-named Pamphilus a most learned man of whom Constantine the Great used to say that he was worthy to be Bishop not of one only City but of the whole World and for his eloquence Hierom stiled him Romani eloquii Tubam the Trumpet of Roman Elocution About this time Eustathius Bishop of Antioch was deposed from his Bishoprick as some say for the Sabellian Heresie whereupon there was kindled in Antioch such a fierie flame of Sedition that in a manner the whole City was therewith turned upside down Amongst the common sort of people some cleaved to this side some to that The Garrison Souldiers also were so divided and set one against the other that if God and the Allegiance they owed to the good Emperour Constantine the Great had not been called to remembrance they had lamentably murthered one another But the Emperour by his Letters appeased the Tumult and Sedition that was raised amongst them the cause whereof was this One party of them chose Eusebius Pamphilus for their Bishop and would bring him in the other party would have their former Bishop Eustathius again But Eusebius refused to come to them whereupon the Emperour Constantine highly commended him for his wisdom and moderation Afterwards a Synod being gathered at Tyre to determine the controversies which were sprung up amongst the Bishops Constantine sent Eusebius thither to take cognizance of their differences where this memorable thing fell out Potamon one of the Bishops seeing Eusebius to rit as a Judge and Athanasius standing and pleading his cause before him being overcome with sorrow and weeping for those things which he saw the Professors of the Truth to suffer with a loud voice he inveighed against Eusebius saying Thou sittest there Eusebius and innocent Athanasius stands to be judged by thee Who can endure such things Tell me Eusebius Was thou not in Prison with me in the time of Persecution and I truly lost one of my Eyes for the Truth sake but thou hast nothing mutilated in thy Body neither didst thou give any testimony for thy Confession thou livest and hast had no member cut off How gatest thou out of Prison but because thou either madest a promise of submission to our Persecutors or else didst that which was abominable Eusebius hearing these things grew into great choller and dissolved the Assembly saying If you come hither and now speak such things against us surely your Accusers speak nothing but the truth For if you go about to exercise a Tyranny here much more will you do it in your own Country There is much contest amongst Divines both Ancient and Modern what Eusebius Faith was about the person of the Son of God Some charge him with Arianism for denying the Deity of Christ but Athanasius saith that he recanted it in the Nicaene Council Eustathius of Antioch accused him for innovating the Nicaene Creed when as himself professed that he rested satisfied therewith Hierom nameth him for an open defender of the Arian
Constantinople to give an account of the tumults and seditions that he had raised at Alexandria At this time there was one Alexander a godly and worthy man Bishop of Constantinople He in the dimication which arose about Arius shewed himself a very prudent and pious man For as soon as Arius came to Constantinople he presently raised divisions amongst the people there also so that great tumults ensued whilest one part of the people stood for the Faith confirmed by the Nicene Council another part of them said that the opinion of Arius was most consonant and agreeable to reason Hereupon Alexander fell into a great perplexity especially because Eusebius Bishop of Nicomedia often and grievously threatned him that he would depose him from his Bishoprick if he would not receive Arius and his companions into Communion with him But Alexander was not so solicitous about his own Deposition as he was careful for to maintain the Nicene Faith and the Doctrine established by that Council For esteeming himself bound to be a Patron of the Decrees of that Council he thought that it was his duty to the uttermost of his power to see that they might not be broken nor made invalid Being therefore ingaged in this contestation he laid aside humane arguments and betook himself to the help and assistance of God and thereupon shutting himself up in the Church he fell to Fasting and Prayer and night and day with tears he begged of God that if the opinion of Arius was true he might never see the day appointed for the trial but if his own Faith were the truth that then God would inflict some visible judgement upon Arius the Author of all those mischiefs In the mean time the Emperour desirous to finde out the opinion of Arius sent for him to his Pallace and asked him whether he did agree to the Decrees of the Council of Nice He without delay willingly and chearfully subscribed them whereas in the mean time he cunningly and fallaciously evaded those things which were determined about matters of Faith The Emperour wondering at it required him to swear to them which he also did but with the like fraud as he had before subscribed them For having writren privately his own opinion he put it into his bosom and then swore that he did truly and from his heart believe according as he had written The good Emperour giving credit to his Subscription and Oath commanded Alexander the Bishop of Constantinople to receive him into Communion This was on the Saturday and Arius expected the next day to be admitted into the Communion of the Church but God prevented it For Arius going out of the Pallace with Eusebius and a great number of his followers in great pomp and pride as having gotten the victory of his adversaries He no sooner came to the chief Market place in the City but his Conscience began to accuse and terrifie him for all his deceit and wickedness through the violence whereof his belly was loosened whereupon he asked whether the Jakes was not nere and being informed that they were hard by he turned aside into them and whilest he was casing Nature first his Fundament came forth then abundance of blood and at last he voided his Bowels with his Spleen and his Liver whereupon he immediately dyed Some of his company thinking him long went in to see the cause and found him dead in this miserable manner Hereupoâ— Eusebius and all his rout were stricken with a wonderful terror The fame of Arius his accursed death presently flew all over the City yea almost over all the World Every one as they went by pointed at the place where he made this wretched end and shunned the use of it Yet his Associates gave it out that his adversaries by the help of Magick had thus destroyed him And whereas many resorted to see the place of his death whereby it became very infamous at length a certain rich Citizen that was an Arian bought it and pulling down the Jakes built an house in the room of it that so the thing in process of time might be wholly forgotten Athanasius being throughly informed of these things writes thus of them Arius saith he the Prince and Author of his Sect and the companion of Eusebius was by the art and industry of the Eusebian Faction sent for to Constantinople by the Emperour of blessed memory who commanded him to write his Faith and this cunning Fox wrote it indeed but after the manner of the Devil in quoting Scripture he craftily suppressed and left out the impudent words of his impiety And when Constantine urged him that if he had no other opinion which he kept secret in his minde he should subscribe and swear to the truth withal telling him that if he forswore himself God would finde him out and plague him for it this miserable wretch swore that he held no other opinion nor thought otherwise then he had written Whereupon saith he going forth from the Emperour Gods hand presently fell upon him and like Judas dying he burst in sunder and his bowels came forth And though death be common to all men so that no man no not our Enemy is to be reproached after death yet the death of Arius being so strange and differing from the death of other men is not to be passed over in silence For when Eusebius and his followers threatned to bring Arius the very next morning into the Congregation and Alexander by Prayer had sought unto God to prevent it It pleased God who was now made the Judge that very day to bring him to such a fearful end Constantine being informed hereof wondred at it assuring himself that Arius had been guilty of perjury But shortly after it pleased God to take away that good Emperour After whose death Eusebius Bishop of Nâ—comedia and Theognis Bishop of Nice supposing that now they had gotten a fit time endeavoured by all means possible to take away the Nicene Creed out of the Church wherein was the clause of One Substance and in the room thereof to settle the detestable heresie of Arius But this they knew they could never effect if Athanasius returned from Exile to Alexandria wherefore they made use of a certain Arian Priest to carry the last Will and Testament of Constantine to Constantius his son together with the Legacies bequeathed him Constantius finding in the Will that which he greatly desired viz. that the Empire of the East was left to him made very much of the Priest granted him great liberty charged him to use his Pallace freely and boldly at his pleasure Hereupon this cunning seducer insinuated into acquaintance with the Empress and with her Eunuchs and Chamberlains and whereas one Eusebius was chief of the Eunuchs through the perswasions of this lewd Priest he became an Arian and infected the other Eunuchs of his Company Yea the Empress also by the enticements of this Priest and her Eunuchs fell into
other Ecclesiastical persons that so they may live at hearts ease Athanasius having received these Letters passed through Syria and came to Palestinee and arriving at Hierusalem he opened unto Maximus the â—ishop both the Decrees of the Council of Sardis and also the Emperour Constantinus his agreement and consent therein and procured a Synod of Bishops to be assembled there which being gathered together Maximus gave to Athanasius the Communion and assigned to him his Dignity and the Council signified by their Letters to the people of Alexandria and to the Bishops of Egypt and Lybia all their Decrees and Canons touching Athanasius and so dissolved Hereupon all the adversaries of Athanasius cryed out against Maximus because that aforetime he had subscribed to his Deposition but now repenting of his folly he became of his Faith and awarded to him both the Communion and his Dignity When Vrsacius and Valence who formerly had been earnest followers of Arius heard of these things they condemned their former doings and gat them to Rome there to exhibit their Recantation to Julius the Bishop subscribing also the Creed that contained the clause of One Substance writing also to Athanasius that thenceforth they would communicate with him Athanasius travelling through Palestine towards Alexandria preached in every City where he came exhorting them to eschew the Arians and to embrace such as confessed the Faith of One Substance and in divers of the Churches also he Ordained Ministers which gave occasion to his adversaries to accuse him again for presuming to make Ministers in other mens Provinces Not long after it pleased God that Constance the Emperour of the West dyed and Constantius made challenge unto all the Dominions of his Brethren and being proclaimed Emperour of the West he made an expedition against Magnentius and Bretanion two Tyrants that had usurped the Government there The Adversaries of Athanasius supposing that now they had gotten a fit opportunity invent and charge him with new hainous offences Informing the Emperour that he had perverted all Egypt and Lybia they urged against him his late Ordination of Ministers in other mens Diocess Athanasius in the mean time came to Alexandria convened divers Councils of the Bishops of Egypt where they agreed to the Decrees of the Council of Sardis and of that held at Jerusalem The Emperour upon this occasion who aforetime was addicted to the Arian Heresie wrested all things that he had lately decreed on the contrary part and first he banished Paulus the Bishop of Constantinople whom the guides that were to conduct him into exile very lewdly stifled at Cacusum in Cappadocia Marcellus was expulsed Lucius Bishop of Adrianople was clapt up into Prison and there choaked with stink But above all the Emperour was most incensed against Athanasius giving commandment that he should be executed whereever he could be taken He charged also that Theodulus and Olympius Bishops of Thrace should be put to death and Arians were placed in all these Bishops rooms But it pleased God that Athanasius was made privy to these bloody Decrees of the Emperour whereupon he fled from Alexandria and escaped the danger This the Arians rejoiced at and grievously traduced him for it which Athanasius hearing of Apologized for himself making relation of the horrible practises committed at Alexandria by Georgius the Arian There came saith he to Alexandria certain persons that sought us out to Execution the Souldiers unawares beset the Church and instead of devout serving of God took in hand their bloody sword Georgius also joined with them then were the Virgins haled and clapt up into Prison the Bishops were bound and led away by bands of Souldiers the Fatherless and Widows were dispossessed of their Houses whole Families were rifled the true Christians were violently trailed and lugged out of their Habitations their doors were nailed up The Clergy mens Brethren were in great danger for their Brethrens sake These things were very grievous but that which followed was far worse The Week after Whitsontide the people did Fast and met in the Church-yard to Pray because they abhorred the Communion of Georgius But when this passing lewd man heard of it he stirred up against them one Sebastian a Captain who also was a Manichee He immediately with a great Troop of Souldiers all in Armour and with naked Swords in their hands and Bows and Arrows prepared ran upon the people as they were Praying upon the Sabbath and finding there but a few for the hour being past the greater part was gone home he committed such hainous acts as very well became his person He set on fire a great company of faggots he made the Virgins stand nigh the burning flame to scorch them He endeavoured thereby to enforce them to confess the Arian Faith But when he perceived that they would not and that they despised the burning heat of the raging fire He stripped them stark naked buffetted them about the head and face so that for a long time after they were scarce known of their own friends He also took forty persons and plagued them with a new kinde of torment never heard of before He took Palm-twigs newly plucked off from the Trees and stripping them scourged them therewith and the twigs having on their pricking knobs so rent them that by reason of the stumps sticking in their flesh they were fain to repair to Chirurgeons to be dressed of their wounds Others of them not being able to endure such terrible pains dyed of their wounds And such Men and Virgins as remained alive he sent away by the Souldiers into exile The dead carkasses not yet fully cold were denyed to their friends being thrown here and there and lying unburyed for that liked them best the Souldiers insulting over then as though they had not been faulty in committing such horrible crimes This did they having their mindes besotted with the furious rage of frantick Heresie And when as the dear and familiar friends of the dead rejoyeed at the bold and constant Protestation of their Faith yet mourned because that their corpses were not covered with Earth the savage impiety and beastly cruelty of these Souldiers revealed it self with greater shame and infamy Moreover they banished forthwith sundry Bishops of Egypt and Lybia and some of the Presbyters and having bereaved them of their Native Soil they used them so mercilesly that some of them dyed by the way and others in Exile They put to death also above thirty Bishops They followed the steps of wicked Ahab imploying all their art and industry to root out the Truth from off the face of the Earth Constantius his Armies having overcome and slain the Tyrants he presently removed to Rome there to celebrate the Triumphs for his Victories and hoping that he might by one means or other draw the chief dissenting Bishops to an agreement in the Faith he summoned a Council to meet in Italy about which time Julius the Bishop of Rome dyed
them so that every one looked upon him as a Tyrant Yea he grew into such hatred of the multitude that on a time they rose up against him whilst he was in the Church and he hardly escaped being torn in peices by them which so affrighted him that he immediately fled to the Emperour Hereupon the friends of Athanasius recovered their Churches again but they kept them but a while for the Praefect of the Egyptian Souldiers drave them out and restored the Churches to the followers of Georgius The Emperour also sending his Secretary to Alexandria he grievously punished many of the people whipping and scourging them in a cruel manner and shortly after him came Georgius and for the aforementioned causes was far more terrible to them then formerly he had been which procured him their implacable hatred both for incensing the Emperour against them and for his Heretical opinions and cruel usage of them But not long after in a tumult raised by the Gentiles Georgius was pulled out of the Church by the Ears tyed to a Camel torn in peices and burned to ashes together with the Beast Constantius the Emperour also dyed and Julian the Apostate succeeded him about which time Athanasius returned to Alexandria and was lovingly and chearfully entertained by his people the Arians were banished and the Church was restored to the Government of Athanasius But the Arians took occasion from his former flight exceedingly to reproach and traduce him whereupon he made this Apology Behold saith Athanasius the lewd practises of wicked persons although they are privy to the hainous offences committed against me yet are they nothing ashamed of them but charge me with a foul spot in their opinion and blemish of infamy for escaping the hands of cut-throats and blood-suckers yea they beshrew themselves that they dispatched me not out of the way Moreover that they may stain my credit and estimation they fall to accuse me of faint-heartedness and a timorous disposition being forgetful that whilest they blaze these things to my dispraise they cause the shame to light upon their own pates For if it be a discredit to fly the hands of a Tyrant how much more for them to persecute a man to death He that flyeth seeks means to save his life But he that persecuteth goeth about to procure anothers death That we should fly in such cases the Scripture doth warrant us but in thirsting after the blood of our brother the command is broken and the author thereof is found the chief cause of the flight If they blame me for giving them the slipt they are worthy of far greater shame and reprehension themselves For let them cease from persecuting and threatning with death and then will I cease from running away But their spite and malice hath no end they do nought else but devise snares to bring men to destruction Yea though they know full well that the slight of the persecuted is a foul shame to the Persecutors For no man flieth from the gentle and meek but from the cruel and wicked man They that were far indebted to others gave Saul the slip and fled unto David Wherefore these men go about to dispatch such as convey themselves out of their way least the lewdness of their Bishops should be manifestly known Herein also they seem to be stark blinde For look how evident the slight is far more apparent wil their slaughter and banishment seem unto the World If they murther men death no doubt lifteth up her voice and soundeth out their cruelty If they banish them therein they set up monuments for the remembrance of their wicked doings Had they been in their right wits they might have perceived their own folly and seen themselves overthrown in their own devices If they reproachfully charge them with hiding themselves from such as seek their lives and accuse them for flying from the hands of their Persecutors what have they to say when they read that Jacob fled from the face of his brother Esau and that Moses for fear of Pharaoh conveyed himself to Madian what have these contentious quarrellers to say unto David who fled from Saul which sent some of his Guard to slay him who hid himself in a Cave counterfeited his person untill he had subtilly past Abimelech the Priest and avoided their laying of wait for him what answer can these rash bablers give when they see that the great Prophet Elias who so devoutly called upon the name of God and raised the dead was fain to flie from and hide himself from Ahab and run away because of the threats of Jezebel The sons of the Prophets also in those days being sought for hid themselves and through the help of good Obadiah were sustained in Caves Have they not read these ancient stories Are they ignorant also of what the Evangelists have written For the Disciples fearing the Jews fled and were scattered abroad in divers Countries Paul also being at Damascus and sought for by the Governor of that country was let down over the wall in a basket and so escaped the danger The Scripture therefore having shewed us these things what colour can they finde to cloak their impudent cavils If they charge them with timerousness and fear the fault recoils and lights upon their own distempered brains If they say it is contrary to the Will of God then are they found altogether ignorant of the Word of God For it s commanded in the Law that Sanctuaries and Cities of Refuge should be appointed for such as were pursued to death where they might live in safety Yea what saith Christ When they shall persecute you in one City fly into another And again saith Christ When you shall see the abomination of desolation mentioned by the Prophet Daniel standing in the Holy place then let them that be in Judaea flie into the Mountains He that is on the House top let him not come down to take ought out of the House and let not him that is in the Field return home for his rayment Holy men having learned these things framed their lives thereafter Yea the Word of God being made man sticked not to hide himself as we commonly do when he was sought for he fled to avoid the conspiracies of Herod and afterwards of the Pharisees which persecuted him For as by his patient suffering of hunger and thirst and such miseries he shewed himself to be true man so also by flying away from the face of his Adversaries And as in his childhood he fled into Egypt from Herod so when he heard that Archelaus reigned in his Fathers stead it pleased him to go aside into the parts of Nazareth Afterwards when he manifested himself to be God and healed the withered hand the Pharisees went out and took counsel how they might dispatch him but Jesus perceiving their conspiracy conveyed himself from amongst them Again when he restored Lazarus to life they took counsel how they might put him to death Jesus therefore
not suffer their Bishop to have any violence done to him Hereupon the people being assembled from all parts a great tumult was raised so that every one expected a Sedition to ensue the President sent presently to the Emperour to acquaint him with these proceedings and in the mean time suffered Athanasius to remain in the City Many days after when the Sedition was well appeased Athanasius privily stole out of the City and went and hid himself in a certain secret place The night after the President and Colonel of the Souldiers went to his house which joined to the Church and there sought every corner for him but not finding him they lost their labours For they thought that now the people were quieted and feared no such matter they might easily apprehend him and so execute the Emperours command But when Athanasius could not be found every one much wondered at it believing that God had discovered the danger to him and thereby preserved him from it Others say that Athanasius mistrusting the heady and rash motion of the common people fearing that if any mischief were wrought by them it would be laid to his charge retired privily and hid himself for the space of four months in his Fathers Monument But in the mean time the Emperour Valence considering how many friends Athanasius had which by reason of his absence might happily raise commotions to the great prejudice of the Empire and withall considering that Valentinian who was an earnest Defender of the Nicene Faith might take the banishment of Athanasius very hainously hereupon he wrote very loving Letters to the people of Alexandria signifying that his pleasure was that Athanasius should quietly according to their hearts desire enjoy his Bishoprick Yet in other places a great Persecution was raised against the Orthodox who were driven out of their Churches and Arians placed in their rooms only the Churches of Egypt enjoyed Peace all the life time of Athanasius whose death fell out not long after when having endured many skirmishes in the quarrel of the Church and having been Bishop 46 years in which time he had often been in great hazard of his life yet at the length through the goodness and mercy of God he dyed in peace in his own City of Alexandria leaving behinde him Peter a godly and zealous man to succeed him Anno Christi 375. It was said of him Non solùm Episcopi c. Not only Bishops but Emperours Kingdoms Nations and Armies opposed him whereupon he used to say Though an Army should encamp about me yet would I not fear In the time of Julian the Apostate who made much use of Conjurers the Magicians and Southsayers in Alexandria cryed out that they could do nothing in their Art except Athanasius were removed out of the City It was said of him Vnus Athanasius contra totum mundum One Athanasius stood firm against all the world Gregory Nazianzen stiles him Tubam ingentem Columnam Ecclesiae The great Trumpet and Pillar of the Church Theodoret stiles him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Bulwark of Truth His Works are commonly printed in two Tomes which Scultetus distinguisheth into Germana Dubia Supposita Germana sunt Oratio adversus Gentes Oratio de incarnatione verbi Expositio Fides Respons ad Liberium Epistola de fide ad Jovinianum Sermo de incarnatione Orationes quinque contra Arianos Tractat in illud dictum Omnia mihi sunt tradita à Patre Epistolae and Adelphinum fratrem and Maximum Philosophum de sententia Dionysii Refutatio hypocriseos Miletii Eusebii Pauli Samosetani Sermo de humana natura suscepta Epistolae ad Epictetum de Incarnatione Christi contra Apolinarium Oratio contra Apolinarium Oratio contra gregales Sabellii Epistolae duae ad Scrapionem de spiritu sancto Epistola de Incarnatione Verbi Dei. Apologiae ad Imperatorem Constantinum De fuga sua prima secunda Ad Africà nos Narratio de Concilio Nicaeno Epistola Catholica Epistolae ad Antiochenses ad Serapionem de morte Arii ad omnes solitariam vitam agentes De Synodis Arimini Seleuciae ad omnes ubique Orthodoxos Ad Joan. Antiochum Ad Palladium Ad Dracontium Ad Ruffianum De Sabbato Circumcisione De peccato in S. Sanctum Synopsis Scripturae sanctae Dubia sunt Orationes de Semente De Ascensione Christi Symbolum Athanasii Epistola ad Aremùn Fragmentum Epistolae festalis Vita S. Antonii De Virginitate sive de meditatione Omnia reliqua sunt supposititia The Life of Hilarie who flourished An. Chri. 355. HIlarie Bishop of Poictiers was nobly descended and of excellent gifts He was frequent in Preaching exemplary in Life a great opposer of the Arian Heresie whereupon the Bishops Valence and Vrsacius procured the Emperour to banish him into Phâ—ygia Afterwards the Emperour commanding many Bishops to assemble at Seleucia to give their opinions about the Arian Heresie Hilarie carried himself so well there that he was restored to Poictiers After which he travelled over Italy and France diligently instructing the Bishops of both those countries in the Canons of the Catholick Faith He was a very Eloquent man and wrote many things in the Latine tongue amongst which he wrote 12 Books of the Trinity expounded the Canon containing the clause Of One Substance proved it sufficiently and confuted the arguments of the Arians He was a very Heavenly man both in his Life and Doctrine and by his means especially the Faith confirmed in the Nicene Council was propagated and defended in these Western parts of the World all his life time He wrote also against the Emperour Constantius one Book Two Books to the Emperour against Auxentius the Arian Commentaries on Matthew Epistles to S. Augustine c. He dyed in peace under Valentinian and Valence CYRIL The Life of Cyril who dyed Anno Christi 365. Cyrillus Bishop of Jerusalem was at the first an Arian and therefore by that faction was made Bishop of Hierusalem but shortly after he was accused in a Council for certain hainous crimes by whom he was deposed from his Bishoprick and being often called by them to purge himself from those crimes he still absented himself for the space of 2 years thinking thereby to escape and the crime to be forgotten as soon as he was deposed he sent an appellation in writing to his Deposers appealing from them to the Judges of the Higher Court. Constantius the Emperour admitted his appellation so that Cyril was the first and the only man that brought in this president so prejudicial to the Ecclesiastical constitutions At length he came to Seleucia to have his cause heard where his Deposition was confirmed for his communicating with certain heretical Bishops and Herennius was substituted in his room Bishop of Hierusalem and after him Heraclius and after him Hilarius These continued the Government of that Church till the reign of Theodosius senior At which
time Cyril having reformed his former miscarriages was again placed in the Bishoprick of Hierusalem by that good Emperour and he proved an eminent instrument of Gods glory and his Churches good Insomuch as one saith of him that he was Magnae sanctimoniae vir a man of great Sanctity Learning and Wisdom he endured many heavy things for the testimony of Faith and a good Conscience being often forced to forsake his place by the rage of the Arians He was very charitable insomuch that in a great Famine many poor people resorting to him for relief he gave them all he had and that not sufficing he took the Vessels and Church Ornaments and sold them to relieve their wants When Julian the Emperour had given command to re-edifie the Temple at Jerusalem in his time one night there was such a terrible Earthquake that it parted the very stones of the foundation and so all the upper buildings fell down and when many Jews came together to behold what was done suddenly there came fire from Heaven that consumed all the tools and instruments of the workmen Epiphanius gives him this testimony He not only not feared to encounter Acrcius the Arian but did Christianly and faithfully oppose divers other Heretical Bishops Hierom also saith thus of him Cyril that valiant Souldier and Combatant for Jesus Christ that most constant maintainer of the Orthodox Faith for many years together strove for the propagation of Divine Truth suffered various and heavy Persecutions being exercised in such dangers from almost the beginning of Constantius his reign to the reign of Theodosius yet all this while in the midst of these manifold afflictions he kept his first resolution and dyed in the Faith at last Anno Christi 365. He used to say Some come to the Church to see fashions others to meet their friends yet it s better to come so then not at all in the mean time the Net is cast out and they which intended nothing less are drawn in to Christ who catches them not to destroy them but that being dead he may bring them to life eternal He wrote divers Treatises which are called his Catechisms upon the principal Heads of Divinity The Life of Ephrem Syrus who dyed Anno Christi 404. EPhrem Syrus was born in Nisiba and by the care of his Parents was educated in Learning in the study whereof he was exceeding industrious insomuch that without the help of an instructer he attained to excellent skill in the Syriack tongue He was also a great Philosopher and a very good Orator so that he far excelled most of the Greek writers Basil Bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia did wonderfully admire and commend him for his Learning He is said to have written three hundred thousand verses which were much esteemed in those times many endeavouring to imitate his Learing therein amongst whom were Abbas Zenobias Abraham Meras and Symeon all of them famous amongst the Syrians and amongst all such as diligently study that language But besides his exquisite Learning he also gat great honour and commendations for his many good works and exact course of life He was very grave and severe in his carriage and living a single life that he might prevent all calumnies and scandals he shunned the sight of a woman For the report goes that a certain woman dissolute in life and manners and of an impudent face either on purpose to tempt the man or else being hired thereto by some others on purpose met him in the City gate and earnestly stared in his face Ephrem taking notice of it sharply rebuked her and bade her look down upon the ground But the woman answered How can I do that who am not made out of the Earth but of thee It s more meet that thou shouldst look upon the ground from whence thou hadst thy original but that I should look upon thee from whom I was procreated Ephrem wondering at the woman went his ways and wrote a Book of these passages betwixt them which the learned in the Syrian tongue do much esteem It s also recorded of him that though by nature he was very cholerick and all his Youth could not bridle his anger yet after he entred into this strict course of life he was never seen to be angry with any man Having fasted divers days one of his Servants that was bringing him his supper let the Earthen Pitcher fall wherein it was and brake it and Ephrem seeing him overwhelmed with fear and shame said to him Be of good cheer let us go to our supper since it will not come to us and so sitting down by the fragments of the pot did eat his supper He was very humble full of self-denyal and a great enemy to vain-glory as will notably appear by this example Upon a time he was voted to an Episcopacy and they that had chosen and designed him thereto sought him out to bring him to the place where he was to be created Bishop which as soon as he understood he ran into the Market place and there by sundry signs made shew as if he was crack-brained so that they that came for him thinking him to be besides himself took further counsel what to do by which means he having gained time fled privily away and concealed himself till he had heard that they had chosen another Bishop to that place Another notable example of his charitable disposition will appear by this instance Upon a time there was a very great Famine in Edessa whereupon Ephrem coming out of his house and calling many rich men together he grievously accused and complained of them that the poor were almost starved whilest they in a covetous manner kept their riches by them which saith he will in the end turn to your own great loss and to the torment of your souls whereas you ought to prefer the wealth of your souls not only before all your riches but before your very bodies themselves They hearing this were much affected with his words and said thus unto him Truly we care not much for our riches but we know not whom to commit them to to be faithfully distributed amongst the Poor seeing that almost every man is infected with the desire of lucre and gain and they use to make merchandise and advantage to themselves upon such occasions Then said Ephrem to them What do you judge of me To whom they answered We judge you to be a very faithful good and upright dealing man as every man esteems you to be Well said he and for your sakes I will undertake this great and trouble some work and so receiving their money he caused three hundred beds to be provided and laid in the cloisters placing in them such as were sick by reason of the terrible Famine for whom he made convenient Provision and not only for them but also for strangers and for all such as were driven by
visit them but also administer to them Julian the Emperour having formerly known him at Athens sent and desired him to write to him which he refused to do because of his Apostasie Nay Valence the Emperour when he persecuted the Orthodox and had put eighty Presbyters into a Vessel thinking to have burnt them at Sea yet meeting Basil he spake him fair and sent also to him by many messengers to win him to that Heresie yet neither threats nor promises could once move him for when the messenger gave him good language and promised him great preferment he answered Alas Sir these speeches are fit to catch little children that look after such things but we that are taught and nourished by the Holy Scriptures are readier to suffer a thousand deaths then to suffer one syllable or tittle of the Scriptures to be altered And when Modestus the Praefect asked him Know ye not who we are that command it No body said Basil whilst you command such things Know ye not said the Praefect that we have honours to bestow upon you to which he answered They are but changeable like your selves Hereupon in a rage he threatned to confiscate his goods to torment him to banish or kill him to which he answered He need not fear confiscation that hath nothing to lose nor banishment to whom Heaven only is a Country nor torments when his body would be dasht with own blow nor death which is the only way to set him at liberty the Praefect told him that he was mad to whom he replyed Opto me in aeternum sic delirà re I wish that I may for ever be thus mad yet the Praefect gave him that night to resolve what to do but he was the same next morning whereupon the Praefect related all to the Emperour who went to Church with intentions to have disturbed him in his holy duties but seeing his reverend carriage he was so convinced that he made a large offering which Basil refused as coming from an Heretick At another time the Praefect sending for him commanded him to comply with the Emperour in his opinion or else threatned him with death whereupon Basil unfeignedly and freely spake his minde about the Emperours opinion withall highly commending the Faith Of One Substance and whereas saith he you threaten me with death would it would fall out so well on my side that I might lay down this carkase of mine in the quarrel of Christ and in the defence of his Truth who is my Head and Captain Then said the Praefect Be not so rash in thy answer second thoughts may prove better and therefore I give thee this day and night to consider further of it and to morrow I will expect thy answer desiring that thou mayst not wilfully cast away thy self Whereupon Basil replyed I have no need to take further Counsel about this matter Look what I am to day the same thou shalt finde me to morrow but I pray God that thou change not thy minde For since I am a creature my self I can never be perswaded to Worship one that is like me and to acknowledge him for God or to conform my self to thine and the Emperours Religion For though you be Illustrious Persons and command a great part of the World yet must not I submit to your wils being but men nor obey you with the neglect of my Faith in God which God assisting I will never betray though you confiscate my goods though you banish me or torment me to death Seeing none of these things will trouble me at all As for riches truly I have none besides my torn garments and a few Books and I so dwell here in this World as one that is always ready to leave it and as for my body it is so weak that one only blow will make it insensible both of grief and torments This resolute answer caused the Praefect to dismiss him Yet after this the Arians prevailed again for his banishment but when the writing was brought to Valence to be confirmed the pens would not write the least title being often tried and when the Emperour being mad with rage still endeavoured to confirm the Edict for his banishment he was struck in his right hand with a great trembling So that at last being terrisied with these judgements of God he tore the paper in pieces So having been Bishop at Caesarea and Cappadocia eight years and an half he departed this life with these words Into thine hands O Lord I commend my spirit He used to say To know thy self is very difficult for as the Eye can see all things but it self so some can discern all faults but their own And again Divine Love is a never failing treasure he that hath it is rich and he that wanteth it is poor When he had read the Bible over he faid It 's a physitians shop of Preservatives against poysonous Heresies a pattern of profitable Laws against rebellious spirits a treasury of most costly jewels against beggerly elements and a fountain of most pure water springing up to eternal life Erasmus saith that he rather deserved the name of Maximus then of Magnus Concerning whose Eloquence saith he I take it to be a great disgrace to him if I should compare him with any of those whom the Graecians most admired and endeavoured to imitate For which of all those great Orators did so excel in Eloquence wherein something was not either wanting or offensive Did Perycles Thunder and Lighten in his Orations yet it was without Art Lysias was frozen in his Attick subtlety Phalereus had much sweetness but wanted gravity Isocrates was but the shadow of an Orator Demosthenes whom Tully maketh the compleat example of an exquisite Orator yet wanted affections and urbanity in his Orations But S. Basil was an incomparable man in whom was wanting neither Nature nor Art nor Exercise He was not only an excellent Orator but a great Philosopher and exactly skilled in all kinde of Learning But as I said before it s a disgrace to compare such a Christian with any of the Heathens It s fitter therefore to compare him with Christians like himself and truly that Age produced many excellent men famous both for their Learning and Piety as Athanasius Gregory Nazianzen John Chrysostom and Gregory Nissen And each of these excelled in their several gifts Athanasius for excellent teaching Nazianzen for his florid and acute Orations Chrysostome though he answered his sir-name by reason of his golden mouth yet he hath many superfluous words and was immoderate in his digressions Nissen was content with his pious simplicity But I know not what the most critical Reader can desire more then he shall finde in Basil He shall finde in him a simple and natural form of speech flowing from his most holy breast drained of all humane passions whatsoever Art can do is to be found in him yet without the appearance of
sent his Spirits to kill Ambrose but they returned answer that God had hedged him in as he did Job Another came with a sword to his bedside to have killed him but he could not stir his hand till repenting he was by the prayer of Ambrose restored to the use of his hands again When Eugenius was Emperour Flavianus the Praefect desired leave of him to build the Altar of Victory at Millain which Ambrose hearing of departed from thence to Bononia but after a while Eugenius and Flavianus going to war against Theodosius he returned to Millain again But before they went they sent word that when they returned Conquerours they would make the great Church in Millain a Stable for Horses but God prevented them for Eugenius was slain by his own Souldiers and Theodosius got the victory This Ambrose was very abstinent full of watchings and prayer diligent in writing never dining but on the Sabbaths he was very couragious for the Truth and merciful to the Poor and Captives he would weep when he heard of the death of any godly Minister Falling sick he appointed Simplicianus a godly old man to succeed him and continuing instant in Prayer he departed this life the third year after Theodosius Anno Christi 397. He used to say When gold is offered to thee thou usest not to say I will come again to morrow and take it but art glad of present possession But Salvation being profered to our Souls few men haste to embrace it And again It is not so much to be enquired how much thou givest as with what heart It 's not liberality when thou takest by oppression from one and givest it to another And again A clear Conscience should not regard slanderous speeches nor think that they have more power to condemn him then his own Conscience hath to clear him And again Death is the burial of all vices for it is the progress and accomplishment of the full mortification of all our Earthly members wherein that filthy flux of sin is dryed up in an instant It is a voluntary sacrificing of the whole man Soul and Body to the Lord the greatest and highest service we can do him on Earth His works are printed in five Tomes The Life of Gregory Nissen who flourished Anno Christi 480. GRegory was sirnamed Nissenus from the City whereof he was Bishop He was born in Cappadocia in the fourth age after Christ. His Fathers name was Basil his Mothers Emmelia His Brothers names were Basil Bishop of Caesarea and Peter Bishop of Sebastia He had a Sister called Macrina From his childhood he was much affected with the study of Rhetorick wherein he grew as famous as any of the ancient Fathers He affected not that solitary life which his Brother Basil did but imployed himself in instructing others First he was a Professor in a School of Rhetorick Afterwards he became a Reader of Divinity in the Church Yet after a while returning to his Rhetorick School again he was reduced to his former work of reading Divinity by Gregory Nazianzen Suidas saith that he was Vir insignis omnique Doctrina exuberans A famous man abounding with all manner of Learning Neither was he less signal for his Piety and Holiness of Life as Nicephorus testifies For his great worth he was preferred to the Bishoprick of Nyssa a chief City in Cappadocia He was banished by the Arian Emperour Valence and from the seventh to the fifteenth year of his Reign he wandred up and down yet still went to such places where the necessity of the Church required his presence and where he might do most good In which godly imployment he was much encouraged by Gregory Nazianzen He lived under Constantius Julian Jovian Valentinian and Valence Gratian and Theodosius the Great and in his time together with Gregory Nazianzen was President in the Universal Council of Constontiple against the Macedonian Hereticks Anno Christi 492. When Hierom wrote his Catalogue of Illustrious men he was alive but the year of his death is not expressed by any Author He was admired for his Eloquence and one calleth him pervigilem Antistitem the faithful and vigilant Prelate He used to read the Scriptures with all diligence reverence and strictness having a special regard to the genuine sense of them He was a strong opposer of Eunomius his Heresie By the Oecumenical Council of Constantinople he was appointed as a man most fit to visit the Churches planted in Arabia After the decease of his brother Basil he finished his Commentaries which he had left imperfect upon the Six Days Works He also preached at Constantinople a Funeral Sermon upon the death of Miletius Bishop of Antioch He wrote an admirable book against Eunomius and another no less famous of the Creation of Man besides many Excellent Sermons which he made But the Treatise Of the Soul which he wrote to his sister Macrina deserves the praise of Learned men in all succeeding Ages Many things are fathered upon him but judicious Scultetus owneth only these Exegetica Scripta in Ecclesiasten In Cantica Canticorum In Psalmos De Occursu Domini De Deo Trinitate De Creatione De Providentia De Christo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 De Baptismo De cultus Dei in genere De cultu Dei in specie viz. De Peregrinatione ad loca sancta De Oratione De Pauperum Amore. De Beatitudinibus De Fornicatione fugienda De iis qui aegrè ferunt reprehensiones De iis qui temerè alios damnant De Vsurariis Funebres Orationes sive de morte piorum De Resurrectione mortuorum De Theologia Vniversa in Oratione Catechetica magna He compared the Vsurer to a man giving water to one in a Burning-Feaver which doth him no good but a great deal of mischief so the Vsurer though he seem for the present to relieve his brothers want yet afterwards he doth greatly torment him He gave this Character of an Vsurer He loves no labour but a sedentary life the Pen is his plough Parchment his Field Ink his Seed Time is the Rain to ripen his greedy Desires his Sickle is calling in of Forfeitures his House the Barn where he winnows the Fortunes of his Clients He follows his Debtors as Eagles and Vultures do Armies to Prey upon the dead Corps And again Men come to Vsurers as Birds to an heap of Corn they desire the Corn but are destroyed in the Nets And again There is no excuse for hard-heartedness for where can a rich man cast his eyes but he may behold objects of his charity c. He dyed under Valentinian and Valence The Life of Theodoret who flourished Anno Christi 420. THeodoret Bishop of Cyrus was born at Antioch of Noble and Religious Parents His Mother before she had him was much grieved in minde because she was barren and without hope of issue to inherit
their large possessions whereupon she with her husband resolved to bequeath all their Revenues to the maintenance of Poor Christians Yet at last God was pleased to answer her requests giving her a son which she named Theodoret The gift of God He proved of great acuteness and in a short time profited so in Piety and in Letters that he was made a Bishop whilest he was yet a young man and shortly after he set forth that excellent work which he called The History of the Lovers of God He was a great opposer of Hereticks and wrote much against them and reduced many round about him that were Marcionites even to the hazard of his life He was wondrous charitable visiting and refreshing the bowels of the poor He was a careful imitator of Chrysostom whom he always proposed as a worthy pattern for his stile in his writings and by this means he proved very fluent and eloquent which his learned Works do plainly declare His Commentaries upon the Scriptures are very excellent wherein he resolved many of the hardest questions in the Old Testament He shewed much learning in his Divine Treatise Of Gods Providence He very strongly opened and confuted the fond conceits of abundance of Hereticks as of Simon Magus Menander Basilides Carpocrates c. A Synod being appointed at Ephesus to stop the Heresie of Nestorius and Cyril coming first thither not knowing that the Bishops of Syria were coming also he of himself condemned Nestorius which afterward caused much contention especially between Theodoret and Cyril But Theodosius junior calling them together to Constantinople by his eare and wisdom healed this breach and Theodoret and Cyril were wondrous loving each to other ever after In that famous Council of Chalcedon wherein were above six hundred Bishops he was stiled by their unanimous consent Catholicus Orthodoxus Ecclesiae Pastor Doctor sincerus A Catholick and Orthodox Pastor of the Church and a sincere Teacher of the Truth Gennadius testifieth of his writings that they were strengthened with impregnable and undeniable Arguments by which with Reasons and Testimonies of Scripture he proves and confirms that Christ was truly incarnate of the Virgin Mary Bellarmine stiles him Viram plane doctissimum An absolute learned man He wrote an Ecclesiastical History which is of great use to the Church He dyed in the reign of Theodosius junior being not very old but rather spent with labors and studies then with age He used to say That the delights of the Soul are to know her Maker to consider his Works and to know her own Estate His Works were printed in two Tomes at Collen Anno Christi 1617. Which besides his Ecclesiastical History contain Expositions upon many portions both of the Old and New Testament JEROM The Life of Hierom who dyed Anno Christi 422. HIerom was born in a Town called Stridon in the confines of Dalmatia and Pannonia Anno Christi 331. His Fathers name was Eusebius a pious and godly man who before his Country was overrun and sacked by the barbarous Goths who about this time laid all waste before them was a man of a middle and competent estate and very careful of the education of this his Son His Mother also was a religious Woman and therefore from his infancy he was trained up like another Timothy in the knowledge of Christ and of the sacred Scriptures and as he grew in years so did he also in learning and when he was a boy he was by his Parents sent to Rome at that time the most famous place both for Piety and Religion in the West where he was brought up in the study of the Liberal Sciences For they seemed to foresee that they had begotten a son for the good of the World and therefore in his Education they did not indulge their private affections but sought to promote the publick good He quickly by reason of his ingenuity became very expert both in the Greek and Latine Tongues then he became a very good Grammarian and Rhetorician having an excellent wit and being of an indefatigable disposition And it was his hap to have excellent Schoolmasters Donatus for the Grammer and Victorinus for Rhetorick who were at that time famous men in Rome Afterwards being grown riper in years he fell to the study of Philosophy of all sorts as Aristotles Platos the Stoicks c. Yet he spent not too much time herein but proceeded to the study of History Cosmography and Antiquities because he perceived that even to that time amongst the Latines Theology was but an Infant whereupon many ahhorred reading of Divinity books and therefore he thought that if a man could attain to set forth the Dignity of Theology with excellency of speech it would come more into request besides he thought by this means to stop the mouths of the Ethnicks who reproached Christians as barren and barbarous persons He had for his fellow Students Pammachius of Noble Parentage a man of such I earning and Integrity that he was solicited to be Bishop of Rome Bonosus who also proved very famous Heliodorus whose vertue advanced him to a Bishoprick Having now sufficiently profited in the knowledge of Humane Arts he proceeded to more grave and weighty studies and after the example of other worthy men for the further polishing of his minde with Wisdom and Experience he travelled all over France procuring the acquaintance of and familiarity with the most worthy men of that Country Bonosus also was his companion in these travels He was very diligent in searching the Libraries in every place where he came and at Trevir he wrote out with his own hand a great Volume of Hilary de Synodis and having much profited himself not only in Learning but Religion also after a long time he returned to visit his Countries both where he was born and where he was new born 〈◊〉 Then did he begin to consider what course of 〈…〉 take himself to and in what place to fix his habitation 〈◊〉 that it would much conduce to his comfort if he 〈…〉 such a course with judgement as was most sutable to his 〈◊〉 He seriously considered that Rome was as yet over spread with Paganism and that it was not safe for a young man to be in a place of so much pleasure which himself sometimes called Babylon He also considered that his own Country was cerrupted with barbarous pleasures as himself somewhere notes in one of his Epistles Whereupon he consulted with some of his intimate friends resolving to depart to some place where he might with more privacy follow the study of Divinity and wholly dedicate himself to Christ. It was also a great trouble to his minde to consider how Christians and Pagans were intermixed together whence it necessarily came to pass that many who professed Christ were Christians rather in name then in truth He considered further that in marriage besides other incumbrances he should
of Hâ—erom who saw and yet connived at his secret devices and clancular detractations But when Ruffin began to charge the Truth with Heresie and to make Hierom a partner in his impious Opinions the Holy man could bear no longer but breaking the bands of friendship they wrote most bitterly one against another Hierom thinking that all forbearance towards a Heretick was impiety not a vertue Many were stirred up by Ruffinus means to write against Hierom and to charge him with many and foul aspersions both in his Life and Doctrine but he like to an old and well rooted Oke brake the windes that assaulted him on every side He remained in all these storms unbroken and unconquered and was so far from departing from that which was honest That the more his Enemies barked against him the more he was provoked to the study of Piety And against the violence and fraud of Hereticks he was somewhat holpen by Epiphanius and Theophilus Bishops of Alexandria At Rome he had Pammatius and Chromatius to take his part By reason of these troubles his Life was a continual Martyrdom He spent whole 30 years in the study of the sacred Scriptures and Divinity and to extream old age continued in Teaching and Writing He was of a very weak constitution and conflicted with many painful diseases before old Age came upon him which diseases he procured by the great austerity of life and his nightly studies But especially by his indefatigable labours in writing so many great Volumes for which cause it was that sometimes he was forced to make use of Notaries And at last having worn out himself with his great pains and continual labours he quietly slept in the Lord in the ninty first year of his Age Anno Christi 422. Honorius and Constantine being Emperours His holy Life and his Books stuffed with so much Learning and Eloquence procured him so much credit and authority that learned Greece which used to undervalue the Learning of all Nations but their own took care that his Commentaries should be translated into Greek He was so famous in his Life time that if any difficulty did occur in Expounding Scriptures all men had recourse to him as to the Oracle of the Christian World Frequent Letters and Messengers were sent to him out of Italy Spain France Germany and Africa He was consulted with by Bishops by Noble men by Matrons and by the chiefest of all sorts Many from all parts repaired to Bethlehem not so much for Religion sake as to see and confer with Hierom. Augustine held a strict bond of friendship with him and was willing to learn of him as of his Master Paulus Orosius the Historiographer learned many things by conference with him His Industry was admirable whence Erasmus saith of him Minima pars vitae dabatur somno minor cibo nulla otio Et Sacras literas ad verbum ediscebat His usual Prayer was Lord let me know my self that I may the better know thee the Saviour of the World He used this excellent saying If my Father stood weeping on his knees before me and my Mother hanging on my neck behinde and all my Brethren Sisters Children and Kinsfolk bowling on every side to retain me in a sinful life I would fling my Mother to the ground run over my Father despise all my Kinred and tread them under my feet that I might run to Christ. Erasmus saith of him Quis docet aptiùs quis delectat urbani ùs c. Who teacheth more distinctly who delights more modestly who moves more effectually who praises more candidly who perswades more gravely and who exhorts more ardently Trithemius saith Vir in secularibus valdè eruditus c. He was a man well seen in Secular Learning but in Divinity he was inferiour to none of the Doctors of the Church and famous for his skill in the Languages a rooter out of Hereticks and a defender of the Truth He used to say Dead flesh is to be cut off for fear of a Gangrene Arius at first was but a spark but being not suppressed betimes he proved the Incendiarie of the whole Church And again You must be a Dove and a Serpent one not to do hurt to others the other not to be hurt by others And again That woman is truly chaste that hath liberty and opportunity to sin and will not What ever he did he still thought that that voice was in his Ears Surgite mortui venite ad judicium Arise you dead and come to judgement And again All vertues are so linked together that he that hath one hath all and he that wants one wants all He translated the Bible out of the Originals into Latine His Works were printed in nine Tomes at Paris Anno Christi 1534. with Erasmus his Scholia upon them where he also shews which of them are genuine which doubtful and which spurious CHRYSOSTOM The Life of Chrysostom who flourished Anno Christi 400. IOhn Chrysostom was born in Antioch a City of Caelosyria his Father was called Secundus his Mother was Anthusa he descended of the Noble Race of Senators He was the Disciple of Libanius the Sophist and the Auditor of Androgathius the Philosopher His first purpose was to apply himself to the study and practice of the Law and to handle the publick affairs of the Common-wealth but when he perceived how lewd and unrighteous a trade of life they led which busied themselves therein he left that troublesome and dangerous course and betook himself to a quiet and more retired manner of life and so changing both his habit and behaviour he addicted himself wholly to the study of the Sacred Scriptures devising with himself how he might be most useful and profitable to the Church of Christ. He perswaded Theodorus and Maximus his fellow-Students who together with him had frequented the School of Libanius to forsake that trade of life which was wholly set on lucre and gain and to follow that which was contented with a little He also associated himself with Basil and was a partner in his studies After which he was made Reader in the Church of Antioch by Zeno Bishop of Hierusalem and a while after was made Deacon by Meletius and afterwards for three years space he lived a retired life severed from all the troublesome affairs of the World at the end whereof he was made a Presbyter by Evagrius then Bishop of Antioch He was a man of marvellous great temperance very austere in life and rather harsh then curteous in his deportment He had no great forecast made no account of the World and because of his plain and simple meaning was soon deceived He was very copious and free of speech with all such as had any conference with him In his Ministry he was very diligent and painful endeavoring all that possibly he could to reform the lives and manners of his Auditors and he had
Wood or Marble His Table rather for Discourse and Disputation then for rich Banqueting and it had Ingraven upon it Quisquis amat dictis absentem rodere famam Hanc mensam indictam noverit esse sibi He that doth love an absent friend to jeer May hence depart no room is for him heer Which rule some of his Fellow Bishops upon a time forgetting he sharply reprehended them for it and told them that he must either blot those Verses out of his Table or arise from dinner and go to his chamber He would never buy either House or Land but any thing that was given to the Church he would not refuse it yet he often refused Inheritances when dying persons would have given them to the Church not but that he thought theâ— might be profitable to the Poor but because he judged it fit and equal that their Children Parents or Kindred should rather inherit them often saying that it was fitter that Legacies should be left to the Church then Inheritances which are troublesome and sometimes chargeable yet those Legacies he would have freely given and not begged or extorted from men He was almost wholly taken up with heavenly affairs wherein he labored both day and night with Mary choosing the better part which could not be taken from him He was very careful of the Poor and in case of great want would â—ell the Ornaments of the Church for their relief And when the Church stock was spent he used to declare to the people that he had nothing left wherewith to relieve the Poor that thereby he might stir up their charity to contribute to so good a work All his Presbyters lived with him in the same House fed with him at the same Table and were maintained and clothed out of the common purse He always judged it fit that Ministers should be present at Marriages both to testifie the mutual consents and compromises and to bestow his Benediction upon the married persons He always kept Scholars in his house whom he fed and clothed He was so severe against Oaths that he abated of their allowance to those that swore He never admitted women into his house though of his own kindred no not his own Sister when she was a Widdow and had wholly devoted her self to the Service of God nor his Uncles daughter nor his Brothers daughter saying that though they might dwell in his house without suspition yet they could not be without Maids or other Women would come to visit them which could not be without offence and scandal and when any Women sent to him being desirous to see or speak with him he would always have some of his Ministers present and would never speak with them alone He praised one who when he was sick said I have not lived so that I am ashamed to live longer nor do I fear to dye having so good a Master to go to In his latter days he looked over all his Books Those which he wrote at his first Conversion whilst he was a Lay-man and those which he wrote when he was a Minister and lastly those which he wrote when he was a Bishop and whatsoever he found in them less agreeing with the Word of God and the Ecclesiastical Constitutions he corrected or retracted Of which he wrote two Volumes which he called his Retractations He complained also that some Ministers had gotten and divulged some of his Books before he had perfected them though afterwards he amended them Yet being prevented by death he left some of his Books unperfected And being desirous to profit all knowing that many were desirous to read much which yet for want of time they could not do out of the Old and New Testament he collected such Precepts as concerned the rule of a Christian Life and such things as were forbidden in the same which he composed into a Book adding a Preface to it that so every one which pleased might read it and thereby discern how obedient or disobedient he was unto God and this he called A Looking-Glass But shortly after brake out by the permission of God that hideous inundation of Goths and Vandals and other Northern people who were ensis Dei Gods sword to punish the pride of the Romane Empire These sailing out of Spain arrived in Africk over-running the whole Country of Mauritania and other African Provinces and Countries laying all waste before them and destroying all they could with barbarous cruelty and inhumanity filling all places with torments of all sorts murthers burnings and with innumerable and abominable depopulations sparing neither sex nor age no not the Ministers of Jesus Christ The Churches Ornaments they plundered the Churches themselves they demolished and like incarnate Devils made havock of all This holy man of God lived to see these grievous calamities and was not affected with them only as other men were but considering them more deeply and profoundly and in them foreseeing the great danger of souls he poured forth Prayers and tears day and night For he saw Cities subverted Villages destroyed the Inhabitants being either slain or driven away Churches destitute of Ministers holy Virgins defloured some of them dying under their torments some slain with the sword some led into captivity in danger of having their souls infected with Error and Heresie and their bodies enslaved under a cruel Enemy He saw the Psalms of Thanksgiving ceased in the Congregations the Temples burned and the solemn Assemblies to be given over The Sacraments either not to be sought after or none to dispense them to those that desired them And for those which fled into Mountains Woods Desarts Caves of the Earth or to any other places of refuge they were either hunted out and slain or perished with famine and drought The Bishops and Ministers of Churches which had by the goodness of â—od escaped their bloody hands being spoiled of all things went about begging their bread He scarce saw of all the innumerable Churches of Africk three remaining viz. Carthage Hippo and Circe which through Gods mercy yet remained in some safety though not long after his death Hippo being sorsaken of her Inhabitants was burned by the Enemy These things this good man much bewailed and that which much encreased his sorrow was that just now the Enemies were coming to besiege Hippo the Governor whereof was one Earl Boniface This siege lasted fourteen moneths wherein Augustine with his fellow Bishops that were fled thither for refuge and his Presbyters exercised themselves wholly in Prayers and Tears intreating the Father of Mercies to be merciful to them and to preserve his Church from the rage of the Adversaries And one day as they sate at dinner together Augustine said to them You know Brethren that from the beginning of this siege my daily Prayers have been that God would either free us from it or give his servants patience and courage to undergo what he imposeth or to take me out of
this present evil World and I believe that God will answer my desire And indeed accordingly in the third moneth of the siege he fell sick of a Feaver which proved his last sickness neither would God defraud his servant of the fruit of his Prayers And indeed he was very powerful in Prayers so that sometimes thereby he hath cast out Devils and restored sick men to their health His Feaver proved so violent that he dyed in the same third moneth of the siege In his sickness he breathed forth most pious ejaculations He made no Will having nothing to bestow but only Books upon several Libraries He dyed Aged 76. Anno Christi 430. having been a Minister 40 years It 's written of him that after his first Conversion to the Faith he was grievously vexed with inward conflicts against his corrupt affections complaining of his inward hereditary habitual inveterate vices and after long strugling with them by purposes vows strong resolutions watching fasting self-revenge and other good means finding still his own weakness and the encreasing violence of his corruptions as he was intentively musing and meditating what to do more he heard a voice saying In te stas non stas whereupon rightly apprehending that his own strength of wit carnal reason and other powers and helps of nature could not serve the turn for the effecting of that which was the proper and peculiar work of Grace he betook himself to his Saviour by humble faithful and fervent Prayer and at last found such assistance from the Holy Spirit of Grace as strengthned him to stand and make good his resolutions with more comfort then before His usual with was that Christ when he came might finde him aut Precantem aut Praedicantem either Praying or Preaching When the Donatists upbraided him unworthily with the impiety and impurity of his former Life Look said he how much they blame my former fault by so much the more I commend and praise my Physitian He used to say Holy Marriage is better then proud Virginity And again Prayer that is pure and holy pierceth Heaven and returns not empty It 's a shelter to the Soul a sacrifice to God and a scourge to the Divel And again There is nothing that more abateth sin then the frequent meditation of Death He cannot die ill that lived well aud seldom doth he die well that lived ill A Christian at home in his house must think himself a stranger and that his Country is above where he shall be no stranger And again If men want wealth it is not to be unjustly gotten if they have it they ought by good works to lay it up in Heaven He that hath tasted the sweetness of Divine love will not care for temporal sweetness The reasonable Soul made in the likeness of God may here finde much careful distraction but no full satisfaction for it being capable of God can be satisfied with nothing but God Not to be without affliction but to overcome affliction is blessedness Love is strong as death for as death kils the body so love of eternal life kils worldly desires and affections He called Ingratitude the Devils Sponge wherewith he wipes out all the favors of the Almighty He so admired and loved the seven Penitential Psalms that he caused them to be written in great letters and hung within the curtains of his Death-bed that so he might give up the Ghost in the contemplation and meditation of them His Prayer was Lord give first what thou requirest and then require of me what thou wilt And He that prays well cannot chuse but live well His Works are printed in nine Tomes at Basil by Froben The Life of Cyril of Alexandria who flourished Anno Christi 430. THeophilus Bishop of Alexandria falling into a Lethargy shortly after dyed whereupon a great contention arose about the Election of a new Bishop some standing for Timotheus the Archdeacon and others for Cyrillus Abudatius the Captain of the Garrison laboured all that he could to prefer Timothy but the other party prevailed and so Cyril was chosen and setled in the Bishoprick About this time Nestorius the Heretick vented his blasphemous opinions against the Deitie of our Saviour Christ whom Cyril answered and confuted Upon this the Emperour Theodosius minor summoned a Council at Ephesus in which Cyril was chosen President and where with much learning and judgement he confuted Nestorius and Pelagius So that the Council after serious examination and deliberation pronounced this sentence To omit the other abominable wickednesses of Nestorius because being sent for by us he hath refused to appear neither would he receive those godly and religious Bishops whom we sent to confer with him being therefore forced by necessity we proceeded to the examniation of his wicked opinions and finding partly by the Epistles and Books that he hath written and partly by his words which in this famous City he hath lately spoken which by sufficient witness have been proved before us that he holds and publisheth Heretical opinions contrary to the Word of God and the Canons of the holy Councils we therefore not without many tears are forced to pass this severe sentence against him and our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ whom he hath so grosly and grievously blasphemed doth by us Decree that Nestorious be deposed from his Rishoprick and excommunicated from the holy Assemblies of the Ministers of God Which sentence the Emperour Theodosius did also approve of and confirm and withall banished him to Oasis and God to shew the severity of his justice against blasphemers strake him with an incurable disease whereby his tongue rotted and breeding many Worms was devoured by them so that he ended his wretched life after a most miserable manner This Cyril was by birth a Grecian and as one testifies of him was Vir doctus sanctus a learned and holy man He was President in the Council at Ephesus where with much learning and judgement he confuted Nestorius and Pelagius He was admirably experienced in the holy Scriptures flourished under Theodosius junior he was so famous for piety eloquence and wit that the Grecian Bishops gat some of his Homilies by heart and recited them to their people After twenty two years labor in the Government of that Church he quietly yeelded up his spirit unto God Anno Christi 448. under Theodosius junior He used to say It 's the best way for a rich man to make the Bellies of the Poor his Barn to succour the fatherless and needy and thereby to lay up treasure in Heaven that he may be received into everlasting habitations And Where the Scripture wants a tongue of expression we need not lend an ear of attention we may safely knock at the Council door of Gods secrets but if we go further we may be more bold then welcome And again The Devil runs
with open mouth upon Gods children to devour them they manfully resist him he thinks to weaken their Faith and they by his assaults are made the stronger he fights against them but they get ground upon him and so what he intended for their destruction full sore against his will makes for their advantage He was called the Champion of the Catholick Faith His Works were printed in two Tomes at Paris Anno Christi 1605. The Life of Peter Chrysologus who flourished Anno Christi 440. PEtrus Chrysologus so called because of his golden Eloquence was born at Imola in France of honest Parents bred under Cornelius Bishop of that City whose care it was not only to instruct him in good Manners and Learning but to fit him for the Work of the Ministry that he might bring glory to God in the service of his Church And not long after he was made Archbishop of Ravenna He excelled in Learning Vertue and all prais-worthy qualities He was present at the Councils the one at Ravenna the other at Rome and sent Letters full of Learning to the Synod of Chalcedon against Eutiches the Heretick He was powerful in Eloquence especially in his Sermons to the people and very holy in Conversation by both which he won many to the Truth Always before he penned any thing he would with great ardency and humility set himself to Prayer to seek unto God for direction therein He lived long having been Bishop about 60 years flourished under Martian the Emperour and dyed Anno Christi 500. He used to say Let not thy care be to have thy hands full whilst the Poors are empty for the only way to have full Barns is to have charitable Hands And God had rather men should love him then fear him to be called Father then Master he wins by Mercy that he may not punish by Justice If thou wilt be like thy Father do likewise And Neither in the Flint alone nor in the Steel alone any fire is to be seen nor extracted but by conjunction and collision So nor by Faith alone nor by good Works alone is Salvation attained but by joining both together And As the Clouds darken Heaven so intemperate Banquetting the Minde as the violence of windes and waves sinks a Ship so drunkenness and gluttony our souls and bodies in the depth of hell And Virtues separated are annihilated Equity without goodness is severitie and Justice without Piety cruelty And some that lived commendably before they attained to dignity being set in the Candlestick of the Church turn their light into darkness It had been better for such lights still to have been hidden under a bushel c. He was a man of an Excellent Wit and by his Ministry and example won many to a love of the Truth He wrote 176. Homilies Lib. ad Eutychen Epistoles alias PROSPER The Life of Prosper who dyed Anno Christi 466. PRosper was born in Aquitane and preferred to be Bishop of Rhegium in France He was Scholar to S. Augustine famous for Learning and Piety learnedly confuted the Pelagian Heresie He was assiduous in reading especially of the Scripture He usually had the four Evangelists in his hands He distributed his goods freely to the Poor His special care was to take away all strife and contentions from amongst his people He was a Father to all ages and sexes that were in the City He much addicted himself to Watching Fasting Prayer and Meditation He continued Bishop there twenty years flourished under Martianus Upon his death-bed speaking to many of his people that wept sore he said The Life which I have enjoyed was but given me upon condition to render it up again not grutchingly but gladly For me to have stayed longer here might seem better for you but for me it is better to be dissolved c. And so Praying and lifting up his hands to God before them all he departed Anno Christi 466. He was excellently versed in the Sacred Scriptures and no less famous in Humane Learning He was a very good Poet and an Eloquent Orator of a profound Judgement subtile Wit a nervous Writer and holy Liver His Works are all printed in Octavo at Cullen Anno Christi 1609. He used to say Thou shalt neither hate the man for his vice nor love the vice for the mans sake And Thou boastest of thy wealth honour strength beauty c. consider what thou arâ— by sin and shalt be in the grave and thy plumes will fall for every proud man forgets himself And As the Soul is the life of the Body so the life of the Soul is God when the Soul departs the Body dies and when God departs the Soul dies And Those things which God would have searched into are not to be neglected but those which God would have hidden are not to be searched into by the later we become unlawfully curious and by the neglect of the former damnably ingrateful And The envious man hath so many tortures as the envied hath praisers It s the Justice of envy to kill and torment the envious And The Life to come is blessed Eternity and Eternal blessedness there is certain security secure quietness quiet joyfulness happy Eternity eternal Felicity The Life of Fulgentius who dyed An. Chri. 529. HVnerick the Arian King of the Vandals having subdued Carthage banished all the Senators thereof into Italy amongst whom was Gordian Grandfather to Fulgentius And after the decease of Gordian Claudius his son returned unto Carthage and though his house was given to an â—rian Priest he recovered a great part of his Inheritance by some favour which he found at the Kings hands and so departing to Lepte he there setled his habitation But shortly after dying he left his son Fulgentius to the care of his Mother Mariana who was very careful to train him up in Learning causing him to be instructed in the Greek Tongue before he learned Latine that thereby he might attain to the greater perfection in that Language and as his years encreased so did he highly profit in all sorts of Learning to the great joy of his Mother who exceedingly rejoyced to see his wisdom and towardness which also much refreshed her after the loss of her dear husband yea she was so well satisfied with his Prudence that she committed to his care the government of her whole house and he so well behaved himself therein that he pleased his friends silenced his il-willers and both by direction and correction procured an awful respect from the servants He was also very careful to preserve his Patrimony By this his deportment he gat so much credit and esteem that he was made the Kings Collector and required to be rigorous in exacting the rated payments But after a while it pleased God that this multiplicity and burden of worldly businesses began to be very heavy to
foreseen to be a likely consequent yet was contemned in respect of the Churches necessity and want which was that the Arian King enraged by this act banished about 60 Bishops into Sardinia amongst whom Fulgentius was one who joyfully ascended the Ship being heartily glad that he had a share in such a glorious confession Divers of his Clergy and Friends followed him and being arrived at Calaris in Sardinia he there lived with them at the same Table and by his Sermons converted many Not long after King Thrasamund amongst the crafty fetches and persecutory drifts whereby he endeavoured to allure the Catholicks to the Arian Heresie used this Policy He feigned a desire to become a Catholick and setting down divers captious and deceitful questions pretended that he could not finde any that could sufficiently answer those questions whereupon hearing the fame of Fulgentius he hastily sent for him who with an undaunted courage came to Carthage and not being presently called to the King endeavoured seriously to confirm the Catholicks in their Faith and with much curtesie and affability answered all questions rejecting no man whereby he reclaimed many from their Errors admonishing them to repent of and to bewail their fall others he exhorted not to hazard the damnation of their Souls for temporal advantages and whom he saw in danger of perdition with milde yet effectual words he stayed and encouraged to a noble and generous resolution animating them to suffer any dangers or torments rather then to deny the Truth and it pleased God so to bless his labors that some who before were staggering were now by his means imboldned plainly to reprove the weak-grounded impudence of the Arian party And thus the Omnipotent God turned the Enemies device to the advancement of his own glory Then did the King send for him and questioned with him and met with such solid and judicious answers that he was forced to acknowledge that he found him every way to answer the report which he had heard of his Wisdom and Learning and withall he proposed sundry difficult questions to which he required his answer in writing Fulgentius having drawn up his Answer communicated it to the most learned Catholicks and after their approbation to the people before it was delivered to the King Thrasamund having with great diligence perused it praised his Wisdom wondred at his Eloquence commended his Humility yet had his heart so hardened that he could not understand and submit to the Truth Fulgentius could not be suffered to stay long at Carthage for the Arians with their clamors incensed the King complaining that he had already gained from them some of their Ministers and that the people fell apace to him so that their whole Religion stood in great hazard by his means Then the King to quiet them sent him back into Sardinia Late in the night was he carryed aboard the Ship that his departure might be the better concealed from the people but it pleased God by contrary windes long to detain the Ship in the harbor so that for many days almost the whole City flocked to him to take their farewel and many communicated at his hands And when great lamentation was made for his departure he took one Juliates a very godly man apart and told him he should shortly again return and that the Church should enjoy peace which also came to pass When he was requested to pray for any that were sick or in misery he commonly used this Petition Thou O Lord knowest best what will make for our Souls health Grant of thy mercy a supply unto our necessities so far forth as shall not hinder our spiritual profit And when God graciously answed his Prayers in their behalf he used to say That God did it for their sakes not for his He commonly said that Miracles make not a man just or righteous but famous When he was come back to Sardinia he returned to his former strict course of life with his Associates who had all things in common and when he distributed more to one then to another by reason of sickness or weakness he used thus to say to them Who taketh of the common so much becometh debtor to all which debt he can only pay by humility It was very pleasing to him when any of the Brethren proposed any hard question and gladly he hearkened to the doubts of any though they were never so simple neither would he through weariness or tediousness cease to give them answers until they confessed them selves to be satisfied Though he was sometimes severe towards the obstinate yet he remained even when he seemed most displeased and angry nothing at all in minde troubled or disquieted Thrasamund the King being shortly after taken away by death Hilderick succeeded him who restored peace and liberty to the Catholicks recalling their Bishops from Exile and amongst the rest Fulgentius who was received with great devotion by the Africans no less in every City then if he had been their peculiar Bishop Everywhere they met him with tokens of joy with whom now rejoycing he rejoyced as before with them lamenting he had lamented Yea their love was so great to him that a showre of rain falling they held their garments over his head to keep him dry Then did he return to his proper seat where he would do nothing without the advice of his Clergy In the Council of Vincensa he was by the common suffrage of the Bishops chosen President Though Bishop Quodvultdeus claimed that preheminence as belonging to his Sea and though Fulgentius for the present would not oppose this choice yet at the next Sessions he procured that the Bishop Quodvultdeus was restored to his right A year before his death he retired with some Brethren into the Island of Circina and there lived a most strict life But the necessities of his people requiring and their importunity prevailing he returned to them and shortly after fell into grievous pangs of sickness wherein he continued sixty days often crying out O Lord give me patience and pardon Physitians perswading him to make use of a Bath he answered Can Baths make that man who hath accomplished the course of Nature that he shall not dye Why then do you go about to perswade me now at my last end to remit of that rigor which I have always used Lastly calling together the Brethren about him he thus spake to them Dear Brethren having been careful of your Souls health perhaps I have been austere and harsh towards you If any one be offended I beseech him to pardon me and if my severity have possibly passed measure and due moderation pray ye to God that he may impute it not to me They all kneeling down acknowledged him to have been always loving gentle and milde towards them Then did he pray for his people that God would provide for them a Pastor after his own heart After
cause on both sides read over diligently the Book writ by Eutychius and being convinced of the Error by that which he had heard from Gregory he adjudged the Book to be burned Shortly after Eutychius fell very sick and a little before his death retracted his Error and acknowledged the Resurrection of our flesh Gregory having dispatched the business about which he was sent to Constantinople returned to Rome about which time the River Tiber swelled to such an unmeasurable height that it ran over the Wals of the City and drowned a great part of it and break into many great houses overthrew divers ancient Monuments it overthrew also the Granaries belonging to the Church and carried away many thousand measures of Wheat Presently after which inundation of Tiber there came down the River an innumerable company of Serpents with one monstrous great one as big as a Beam which when they had swum into the Sea were there choaked and their carkasses being all cast upon the shore there rotted which caused such an Infection of the Ayr that presently a great Plague followed in Rome so that many thousands dyed of it Yea Arrows were visibly seen to be shot from Heaven and whosoever was stricken with them presently dyed amongst whom Pelagius Bishop of Rome was one and this judgement so raged in the City that many houses were emptyed of their Inhabitants After the death of Pelagius the Clergy Senate and People of Rome made choice of Gregory to be their Bishop though he opposed it all that possibly he could crying out that he was altogether unworthy of such honour fearing least the splendor of worldly glory which he had formerly layd aside should in such an Office creep upon and infect him But the importunity of the People being so great he seemed to consent to them but privately under-hand wrote to the Emperour Mauritius earnestly requesting him that he would not consent to the Election but that by his Authority he would free him from it But Germanus the Praefect of the City meeting with the messenger took his Letters from him and reading them detained them sending word to the Emperour of the unanimous consent of all in the Election of Gregory Whereupon the Emperour returning thanks to God for that they had made so good a choice confirmed the Election so that Gregory could no longer evade it In the mean time the Pestilence raging exceedingly Gregory called the people together and shewed them the justice of God in his Judgements who used not to punish till by sin he is provoked thereunto telling them that they might read the greatness of their sins in the greatness of the Plague and thereupon exhorted them to repentance by the Precepts of God and by the example of Ninâ—veh appointing them to lay all their worldly businesses aside and to meet together the next day to spend it in Fasting and Prayer which accordingly they did yet whilst they were together Gods hand was out against them so that fourscore of them fell down dead in the place But Gregory being not discouraged hereby continued his Sermon telling them that God would at length be found of them if they would forsake their wicked ways and turn unto him with all their hearts and with all their souls and accordingly not long after the Pestilence ceased Gregory observing that many customs were lately crept into the Church which were not warranted by the holy Apostles he first extirpated them out of the Church of Rome and then calling a Council of many Bishops he endeavoured to root them out of the whole Church Then removing from about him all secular persons he chose Presbyters and other Learned men in their stead whereby Learning was much advanced in his days He was very charitable and much given to hospitality insomuch as when very many Inhabitants from divers parts flying from the barbarous cruelty of the Longobards came to him he entertained and relieved them inviting dayly to his house many of those Exiles He made also large distributions unto others giving them Corn Wine Flesh Fish Cheese and many other refreshings in their several seasons Many times also he sent large relief to the sick lame and impotent persons not only in Rome but in many other Towns and Villages round about insomuch as all that he had seemed to be the common Granary of the Church In the fourth year of his Bishoprick having in some good measure setled the affairs of the Church he now began to think how he might advance the Conversion of the English which he had formerly been so sollicitous for had never since been forgotten by him For which end he sent Austin and some other Ministers from about him to Preach the Gospel unto them But they had not gone many days journey before they began to be a weary of undertaking so difficult and dangerous a task as to go to Preach to a fierce barbarous and unbelieving Nation whole Language they did not understand whereupon they stopped and sent Austin back to Gregory desiring that they might have leave to return that they might be freed from so laborious difficult and dangerous a work Gregory having received this message wrote thus back to them again Beloved Brethren seeing it had been better that you had never begun a good work then that you should recede from it it behoves you through the assistance of Almighty God to go forwards with it Neither let the labor of the journey nor the tongues of wicked men deterre you from it I have sent back Austin whom I would have you to obey knowing that he will counsel you nothing but what shall be for the good of your souls Almighty God give you his grace and grant that I may see of the fruit of your labors though I cannot join with you therein With this Exhortation Austin did so encourage his Companions that passing through France where they found kinde entertainment by the good Bishops in every place they at last arrived in Britain and came to Ethelburg the King of Kent where through Gods mercy they did not only obtain leave to Preach but had habitations and maintenance allowed them in Canterbury his chief City Whosoever desires to see the success of this business may read it in my English Martyrologie Pag. 11. c. Gregory dyed Anno Christi 605. having been Bishop of Rome 13 years 6 moneths and 10 days He lived under the Emperour Mauritius and dyed in the second year of Phocas Johannes Trithemius gives him this testimony Gregorius Vir in Divinis Scripturis eruditissimus in secularibus literis utique doctissimus Theologorum Princeps splendor Philosophorum Rhetorum lumen vita conversatione integer atque sanctissimus He was of an acute wit whereby he overthrew Eutiches Pelagius who dyed in his time of the Plague at Rome and divers other Hereticks He severely reproved the Bishop of Constantinople who would
to have her taken away from him saying That he had rather endure the hand of God then to be cured by the power of the Devil And God had respect to the zeal of the boy for presently after he was freed from his pain What money was given him whilst he was thus young he privately gave it away to the Poor When he was grown to be a young man his Mother having seen him to exceed her expectation falling sick quietly resigned up her spirit unto God And Bernard began now to grow famous for his strict course of life elegancy of feature sweet manners sharp wit and eloquent tongue so that many opportunities were put into his hand whereby he might have attained to great dignity in the World Hereupon the Devil who watcheth all opportunities to do mischief laid his snares for him seeking to draw him to uncleanness and presenting an object whilst Bernard for a time fixed his eyes too firmly upon her he began to feel the burnings of his youthly lusts to stir in him but quickly coming to himself he blushed for shame and purposing revenge he presently ran into a Pool the weather being cold up to the neck where he continued till he was almost starved thereby quenching that inward flame which before scorched him and withall studying how to avoid such snares and temptations for the time to come he resolved to enter into a Monastery of the Cistercians which was the strictest Order of Friers perswading himself that there he might live retired from the World and enjoy the freer Communion with God But this purpose of his coming to the Ears of his Brethren and Friends they laboured by all means to disswade him exhorting him rather to continue in his studies of Humane Learning which might bring him to preferment in the World This tentation had almost prevailed with him till the remembrance of his Mothers purpose and care to set him apart for the service of God came into his minde and then retiring into a private place he poured out his Prayers well watered with tears unto God seeking unto him for direction and counsel and from that day forward he was confirmed in his resolution and could by no means be removed from the same Yea his zeal was such that he rested not till he had perswaded four of his Brethren to leave the world and all their worldly preferments and to join with him in the same course of life And when they had taken their leave of their Father and were going towards the Monastery they saw their youngest Brother Nivard a boy playing amongst boys to whom Guido the elder Brother said Farewel Brother Nivard behold we leave to you all our Earthly possessions But he presently answered You will take Heaven and leave me the Earth this is no equal division And so going home to his Father after a while he resolved to leave all and to enter into the same course of life with his Brethren which he did accordingly These Brethren being thus entred into the Monastery lived under the government of one Steven who was their Abbot which was Anno Christi 1113. and in the 22 year of Bernards age When Bernard entred into this course of life he intended wholly to sequester himself from the World but God intended otherwise who had prepared him to be a Vessel of honour for his own glory This Bernard knew not and therefore lived privately in his Cell spending his time in Study Meditation and Prayer often saying to himself Bernard Bernard Remember for what end thou camest hither He allowed himself very little time for sleep often complaining that all that time was lost and indeed in so sparing a dyet as he used there was need of the less sleep for he never indulged himself in either neither eating nor sleeping to saciety Yea by his rigid abstinence he so weakned his stomach that he was scarce able to retain food when he had eaten it and that little which he did retain served rather to retard death then to prolong his life yet all this while be remitted nothing of his studies and labors Insomuch as he equalled the other Monks in digging of the ground felling of wood and carrying it home upon his shoulders and when his strength failed he busied himself about meaner services and whensoever he had any intermission he spent his time in Prayer and reading the Sacred Scriptures which afterwards in the midst of his bodily labors he meditated over again He read also the best Expositors yet took far more delight in the Fountain then in these streams whereby he became very mighty in the Scriptures which stood him in great use when afterwards he became a Preacher Shortly after Steven sent forth some of these Brethren to build the Monastery of Claraeval appointing Bernard to be their Abbot The place was in the Territory of the Lingones not far from the River Alba where they lived in penury hunger thirst cold watchings and prayer and Bernard understanding that the Ministry of the Word was much wanting in that Country burning with a zeal to save souls resolved to set upon that work and seeking one by whom he might be ordained Minister he pitched upon the Bishop of Catalonia to whom when he came and had conversed a while with him there grew a very strict bond of friendship betwixt them After his Ordination he was very frequent and fervent in Preaching the Word of God wheresoever he came whereby he grew very famous Yet Otho Bishop shop of Frising who was his contemporary blameth him for three things 1. For his jealousie which carryed him away with wrong conceits 2. For credulity or lightness of belief giving Ear to tale-bearers and lyars with too much facility which made him so earnest against the Gospellers who were better men then himslef 3. For prejudice especially against Learned men who by the help of Art soared alost like Eagles beyond the pitch of his capacity For though himslef had an excellent natural wit yet he was little studied in the Arts and Sciences and whosoever went not in the rode way of Learning submitting his reason to the Dictates and Pharses of the Roman Church him would Bernard suspectior an Heretick Anno Christi 1153. he fell sick and wrote this Letter to Arnold Abbot of Boneval who desired to know how he did in his sickness We received your love in love faith he and not in pleasure For what pleasure can there be where pain and bitterness challengeth all unto it self Only it s a little delightful to me to eat nothing Sleep hath departed from me that sorrow and pain may never depart from me by the benefit of my senses lulled asleep The want of a stomach is almost all that I suffer only it requireth often both day and night to be comforted With a very little liquor What soever it be But if at any time I admit of
a little more it s most grievous to me my feet and thighes be swoln as theirs Who are troubled with a Dropsie And in all these things that I may conceal nothing from my friend who desires to know the state of his friend the Spirit is Willing but the Flesh is weak Pray unto my Saviour who desireth not the death of a sinner not that he will defer but that he will guard my departure by his blessed Angels Take ye care that my heel which is naked of merits be strengthened and defended by your Prayers that he which lyeth in wait may not finde where to fasten his tooth and inslict a wound Farewel A little before his death all the Monks came and asked him whether he did not take pity on them and their Monastery To which he answered that he was in a great straight not knowing which to choose Life or Death but left all to the Will of God For faith he my Fatherly love moves me to pity you my children so as to desire to remain here but on the other side my desire to be with Christ draws me to long to depart hence His humility was such that he called himself an unprofitable servant a dry tree from whom no good had come either to himself or others He dyed Aug. 20. Anno Christi 1153. and in the 63 year of his age He accompanyed the Bishop of Hostin the Popes Legat to Tholouse purposely to root out those whom he called Hereticks but indeed were the true servants of Christ and being too facile and misinsormed himself he misreported their Opinions and Doctrines shewing himself the Grand Factor for two Popes viz. Innocent the second and Eugenius the third One Adm a Canon Regular made this Epitaph on him Clare sunt valles sed claris vallibus Abbas Clarior his clarum women in orbe deait Clarus avis clarus meritis clarus honore Clarnt ingenio â—t Religione magis Mors est clars cius clarus clarumg sepulchrum Clarior exutat spirtus ante Deum He had many opinions differing from the Church of Rome As that there were but two Sacraments Denyed Transubslantiation That the wicked receive not Christs Flesh. That we are justified by the imputation of Christs Righteousness That mans Righteousness justifieth not before God That we might be assured of our Salvation Denyed works of Supererogation I ree-will Would not have Traditions obstinately defended nor superstitiously observed Complained that Popes and Bishops were the greatest Perfecutors of Christ c. He used to say Ambtion is a gilded miserie a secret poyson a hidden plague the eagineer of diccit the mother of hypocrisie the parent of envy the original of vices the moth of holiness the blinder of hearts turning medicines into maladies and remedies into diseases Ever when he came to the Church-door he used to say thus to himself Stay here all my worldly thoughts and all vanity that I may entertain he wents meditations His Works are well known being bound up together in one Volume The life of Peter Lombard who flourished Anno Christi 1196. PEter Lombard was born at Navaria afterwards made Bishop of Paris was contemporary with Gratian and as Gratian gathered Canons and was Master of the Canons so this Peter collected sentences out of Ambrose Hilarie Augustine Cassiodore and Remigius and out of them with some addition of his own compiled his Books He wrote Commentaries on the Psalms and Pauls Epistles but the chiefest of his Works were four books of Sentences the first concerning the Trinity and Unity of God the second of the Creation of the World especially of Angles and Men and of the grace of God the third of the Incarnation of the word and of Vertues and Vices the fourth of the Sacraments of the Resurrection and Judgement for which he was called the Master of Sentences Some of his sayings were There can no good dwell in us that cannot will good nor can we perfect good that cannot desire good There are in us evill concupiscences and desires which are the Divels Weapons whereby when God forsakes us he over-throws us and gives our souls a deadly wound God condemns none before he sins nor crowns any before he overcomes Let none glory in the gifts of Preachers in that they edisie more by them for they are not Authors of Grace but Ministers The instruction of words is not so powerful as the exhortation of Works for if they that teach well neglect to do well they shall hardly profit their Audience The Life of Alexander Hales who dyed Anno Christi 1270. ALexander of Hales was born at Hales in Gloucester shire carefully educated of an excllent wit and very industrious He travelled into other Countries Read a long time in Paris he made there the Sum of Divinity divided into four parts A great School-Divine and was called Docter irresragabilis He was master to Bonaventure and Thomas Aquinas He writ a most copious and notable sum of Theology by the command of Pope Innocent the fourth He wrote Marginal Notes upon the Old and New Testament and Commented on most of the Bible His life was full of charity and labor He dyed Anno Christi 1245. His sayings A soul patient when wrongs we offered is like a man with a sword in one hand and salve in the other could wound but will bed What the Eye is to the Body Faith is to Soulâ— it 's good for direction if it be kept well and as Flies hurt the Eye so little sins and ill thoughts the Soul Covâ—tousness deserves the hate of all for six reasons 1. It 's a sin against Nature making the Soul Terrene which should be Celestial 2. For the many curses against it in the word Wo to them that join house to house c. 3. For the many evils it subjects us to it 's the root of all evil 4. It makes a man a Fool O Fool this night c. 5. It causes striseâ— From whence are strifes c. 6. It brings men into snares which drown in perdition Every lye is odious but that most which is against points of Faith as to say Christ was not born of the Virgin c. Faith must be defended not opposed An humble man is like a good tree the more full of fruits the branches are the lower they bend themselves The Life of Bonaventure who dyed Anno Christi 1274. BOnaventure born in Etruria in Italie of Noble and devout Parents was of a winning countenance very studious and a great follower of Alexender Hales He engraved in his study that saying of our Lord Learn of me for I am meek c. and to keep his minde from swelling he would sweep rooms wash vessels make beds c. He was very cheerful in ministring to the Poor and when he met with any persons that were troubled in minde he would not leave them
justly spoken and in consenting to the wicked condemnation of Huss and that he repented with his whole heart that ever he did it This so enraged them that they proceeded to condemn him whereupon he said I after my death will leave a remorse in your conscience and a nail in your hearts Et cito vos omnes at respondeatis mihi coram altissimo justissimo judice post centum annos I here cite you all to answer to me before the most High and just Judge within a hundred years When he was brought forth to Execution they prepared a great and long paper painted about with red Divels which when he beheld throwing away his hood he took the Miter and put it on his head saying Our Lord Jesus Christ when he suffered death for me â—ost â—wretched sinner did wear a crown of thorns upon his head and I for his sake will willingly wear this Cap. As he went to the place of Execution he sung some Hymns and coming to the place of Execution where John Huss was burned he kneeled down and prayed fervently He was bound to the Image of John Huss and so fire was set to him which he endured with admirable valor for standing at the stake bound and the Executioner kindling the fire behinde him he bade him kindle it before his face For said he If I had been afraid of is I had not come to this place having had so many opportunities offered to me to escape it The whole City of Constance admired his constancie and Christian magnanimity in fuffering death At the giving up the Ghost he said Hanc animam in flammis offero Christe tibi This soul of mine in slames of fire O Christ I offer thee An aliquid ab Hieronymo Pragensi scriptum sit posterisque relictum ignoro credibile verum est virum tam doctum ac eloquentem quaedam scripsisse Orationes quas in Academiis illu strioribus habuit tum Themata quae proposuit forte in lucem edita suppressa fuare extincta ab iis qui more suo lucem ferre nequeunt MARTIN LVTHER The Life of Martin Luther who flourished Anno Christi 1500. MArtin Luther was born at at Isleben in the Earldom of Mansfield Anino Christ 1483. of good parents His Fathers name was John Luther who first lived at Isleben and afterwards removed to Manfield where he had some metal Mines and was chosen a Magistrate and was grateful to all for the integrity of his life His Mothers name was Margaret Lindeman who was adorned with such Virtues as became an honest Matron but especially she was eminent for chastity the fear of God and often calling upon his name Assoon as this their son was capable of Learning they first trained him up in the knowledge and fear of God and in the Exercise of other virtues under their own wings Then their care was to educate him in humane Learning for which end they set him to school to George Aemilius and though at this time the darkness of Popery had much obscured the light of Truth yet it pleased God to preserve in the Schools the Catechisms containing the Principles of Religion the use of singing Psalms and some forms of Prayer At fourteen years of age he went to Magdeburg where he lived a poor Scholar one year From thence he was removed by his Parents to Isenach where was a famous School and where he first tasted the sweetness of Learning and so after a while went thence to the University of Erford Anno Christi 1501. There he profited so much in the knowledge of Logick and other Learning that the whole University admired his wit At twenty years old he was made Master of Arts and Professor of Physicks Ethicks and other parts of Philosophy Then he betook himself to the study of the Law but at the age of twenty one being affrighted at the violent death of a faithful companion of his whom he dearly loved he betook himself into the Augustine Monks Colledge in Erford writing to his parents the reason why he changed the course of his life In the Library of that Colledge he met with a copy of a Latine Bible which he had never seen before and with admiration observed that there were more portions of holy Scripture then were read in the Churches which made him wish that he had the like book And it pleased God that not long after he obtained his desire and fell close to the study thereof some sickness and fear also whening him on in those studies Afterwards falling into a violent disease which threatned death an old Priest came to him saying Sir be of good courage your disease is not mortal God will raise you up to afford comfort to many others which also came to pass and he was much cheared up by conference with that Priest who largely discoursed with him about Justification by Faith and explained the Articles of the Creed to him Then did Luther read over Augustines Works where he found the same Doctrine of Justification by Faith frequently confirmed He read over the School-men also especially Occam and in these studies he spent five years in that Collegde Anno Christi 1507. he was made Presbyter and John Staupicius endeavouring to promote the University of Wittenberg then lately begun knowing the wit and Learning of Luther removed him thither Anno Christi 1508. when he was but 26 years old where by his labors he did much good Three years after he was sent to Rome in the behalf of his Convent where he saw the Pope and the manner of the Roman Clergy concerning which he saith At Rome I heard them say Mass in such a manner as I detest them for at the Communion Table I heard Curtisans laugh and boast of their wickedness and others concerning the Bread and Wine of the Altar Saying Bread thou art and Bread thou shalt remain Wine thou art and Wine thou shalt remain Upon his return from Rome he was made Doctor in Divinity at the charge of Duke Frederick Elector of Saxonie who heard him Preach and admired the foundness of his Invention the strength of his Arguments and the excellency of the things which he delivered Soon after he began to explain the Epistle to the Romans and some Psalms where he shewed the difference between the Law and Gospel refuted Justification by Works c. And his demeanor agreed with his Doctrine his speech seemed to come from his heart not from his lips only Then he betook himself to the study of the Greek and Hebrew This year 1517. was by the account of Scultetus the 356. from the Reformation of Religion in France by the Waldenses the 146. from the first confutation of Popish Errors in England by John Wicklief The 116. from the first year of the Ministry of John
by keeping a Schoolmaster in his house to train them up in learning and godliness When he saw his daughter Magdalen ready to dye he read to her Isay 26. 19. Thy dead men shall live together with my dead body shall they arise c. Adding My daughter enter thou into thy chamber in peace I shall ere long be with thee For God will not permit me to see the punishment which hangs over the head of Germany whereupon he wept plentifully but when he followed the Corps he so restrained his affection that he shed not a tear He used to say that three things make a Divine Meditation Prayer Tentation and that three things were to be done by a Minister 1. To read the Bible over and over 2. To pray earnestly 3. Always to be a learner And that they were the best Preachers who spake as to babes in Christ in an ordinary strain popularly and most plainly He said That in the cause of God he was content totius mundi odium impetum sustinere to undergo the hatred and violence of the whole world He was very liberal to the poor A poor Student asking him some money he bade his wife give him some but she pleading penury he took up a silver cup and gave it him Also a friend sending him two hundred angels of gold he bestowed them all on poor Students and when the Elector gave him a new gown he said That he mas made too much of for saith he if here we receive a full recompence of our labors we shall hope for none in another life And again he said turning my self to God Valdè protestatus sum me nolle sic satiari ab eo I said flatly that God should not put me off with these low things And having a vein of metal offered him he refused it least he should incur the temptation of the Devil who is Lord of treasure under the Earth He never took any thing of Printers for his Copies On a time one brought him a stone that was found in the Mines in Mansfield which had upon it the Image of the Pope with his tripple Crown whereupon he said Hem oportet Papam revelari etiam per metalla metallicos The Pope must be revealed even by metals and metal-diggers His private life was very exemplary At dinner and supper-time he used often to dictate Sermons unto others Sometimes to correct sheets from the Press Sometimes with Musick to refresh his friends He was very temperate both in meat and drink Sometimes he used to fast four days together and other sometimes to eat only a little bread and an herring As much as he could he avoided Feasts that he might not spend time In his converse with his friends he was pleasant courteous and sociable mixed with gravity He sometimes used recreations and amongst the rest turning in a Lathe He would never be idle He was very loving to and tender of his children maintaining a Schoolmaster in his house to instruct them in Piety and Learning He was very passionate but soon appeased Melancthon seeing him once in a passion said Vince animos iramque tuam qui caetera vincis whereupon he smiling said we will no longer dispute of these matters and so he discoursed pleasantly of other things He foretold many things which afterwards came to pass He was very healthful but that sometimes he was troubled with the Headach especially towards his latter end whereupon he feared an Apoplexy and when his head was so out of order he used to say Feri Domine ferâ—â—lementer ego paratus sum quia verbo tuo à peccatis absolutus corpore sarguine tuo pastus He was troubled with frequent tentations whereupon he used to write Valemus omnes praeter Lutherum ipsum qui corpore sanus foris a toto mundo intus à Diabolo patitur omnibus Angelis ejus He was big of stature strong and had such a sharp sight that few could endure stedfastly to look upon him Upon a time one was sent under pretence of private conference to pistol him Luther entertained him friendly but withall stedfastly looking upon him the man was so terrified that he took care for nothing but how he might run away He had a gentle and clear voice He lived chastly and holily in Wedlock above twenty years and after his death left three sons and his Widdow who lived seven years after him who was much grieved that she was absent at his death whereby she could not perform her last duty of love to him as she desired Presently after his death the wars breaking forth she wandred up and down with her children as an Exile through many difficulties and dangers and besides the inconveniences of her widdowhood which were many she met with great ingratitude from many from whom she expected better considering how much her husband had deserved from the Church At length being returned to Wittenberg after a while the Plague brake forth wherefore removing with her children to Fergaw as she was passing in a Wagon the Horses affrighted at some thing ran away whereupon leaping out of the Wagon she bruised her self and falling into a Lake of water she caught a disease whereof she dyed three Months after Anno Christi 1552. One saith of him That Luther a poor Fryar should be able to stand against the Pope was a great miracle That he should prevail against the Pope was a greater and after all to die in peace having so many Enemies was the greatest of all Again it was no less miraculous that he should escape so many dangers for when a certain Jew was suborned to kill him by poyson Luther had warning of it before hand and the picture of the Jew sent him whereby he knew him and avoided the danger concerning which himself thus writes There is saith he here with us a certain Polonish Jew that is hired with two thousand Crowns to poyson me this is discovered to me by Letters from my friends He is a Doctor of Physick and one that dare undertake and is ready to perform any villany of incredible subtilty and dexterity One a time as Luther was walking in his Garden the Devil appeared to him in the shape of a black Boar but he slighted him after which he vanished Another time as he was sitting in a certain place on his stool there was a great stone over his head in the vault which being stayed up miraculously so long as he sate there so soon as he was up immediately it fell upon the place where he sate being able to have crushed him in peices if it had light upon him And again a young man about Wittenberg being kept bare and needy by his Father was tempted by the Devil to yeild himself body and soul to him upon condition to have his wish sastisfied with money and thereupon an Obligation was made by the young man written
whereof I am convinced and which I have published concerning the Lords Supper so that if I be asked what my judgement is about it I muâ—t needs declare my knowledge and conscience therein as I have formerly written though I were sure to lose twenty lives if I had so many And further you shall understand that I am furnished with Scriptures Fathers Schoolmen and others for the proving of it so that if I may be iâ— differently heard I am sure my Adversaries can neither justly condemn me noâ— mine assertion but that with me they must condemn Saint Augustine and most of the Ancient Writers yea the very Bishops of Rome of ancient time speak for me and defend my cause Yea marry quoth the Gentleman you say well if you might be indifferently heard but I much doubt thereof for that our Master Christ was not indifferently heard nor should I think if he were now present in the World especially in this your opinion the same being now so odious in the World and we so far from the true knowledge thereof Well said Mr. Frith I know assuredly that this Doctrine of the Sacrament is very hard meat to be digested both of the Clergy and Lâ—ity But this I will say to you that if you live but twenty years more whatsoever shall become of me you shall see this whole Realm of mine opinion though happily some particular persons shall not be fully perswaded therein And if this come not to pass then count me the vainest man that ever you heard speak with a tongue And whereas you say my death would be very grievous to my friends I grant that for a small time it would be so but if I should so moderate my cause that I should only be kept in Prison that would not only be a longer grief unto me but would breed no small disquietness to my friends both in body and minde therefore all things well considered my death in this cause shall be bâ—tter to me and all my relations then life in continual bondage and penury And Almighty God knoweth what he hath to do with his poor servant whose cause I now defend and not mine own from the which through Gods grace I never intend to start nor otherwise to give place so long as God will give me life When they were landed at Lambeth after they had refreshed themselves with Victuals they all three went on foot towards Croydon The Gentleman still with himself lamenting the perâ—l that Frith was in and therefore he devised with himself by what means he might deliver him out of the Bishops hands and having in minde contrived the way he walked with the Porter and privately imparted his thoughts to him and finding him forward to join with him therein he went again to Mr. Frith and told him that the business which he had undertaken to lead him as a sheep to the slaughter so grieved him that he was overwhelmed with cares and sorrows whereupon he was resolved what danger soever he incurred to find out a way to deliver him out of the Lyons mouth And yet said he yonder good fellow and I have contrived a means whereby you may easily escape from this immineâ—â— danger and we also be cleared from any vehement suspition for when we come to yonder 's Hill called Bristow-Causway where are Woods on each hand you shall turn into that on the left hand which leads into Kent and so by the help of your friends convay your self away and we will so order the matter that they shall never seek that way for you c. Mr. Frith having diligently hearkened to his speech said with a smiling countenance And is this the effect of your secret consultation all this while Surely surely you have lost more labor formerly and so you are like to do this also for if you should both leave me here and go to Croydon declaring to the Bishops that you had lost Frith I would surely follow after as fast as I could bring them news that I had found and brought Frith again Do you think that I am afraid to declare mine Opinion before the Bishops in so manifest a Truth You are a fond man quoth the Gentleman thus to talk do you think that your reasoning with the Bishops will do any good But I much marvel you were so willing to fly the Realm before you were taken and now so unwilling to save your self when you may Marry quoth Frith there is a great difference between escaping then and now For then I desired to escape because I was at liberty and not yet attached which liberty I would fain have enjoyed for the improvement of my Studies beyond-Sea where I was Reader of the Greek tongue but now being taken by the Higher Powers and that by Almighty Gods Permission and Providence I am faln into the Bishops hands only for Religions-sake and for such Doctrine as I am bound in conâ—cience under pain of damnation to maintain if I should now start aside and run away I should run from my God and from the Testimony of his Word whereby I should deserve a thousand Hels And therefore I most heartily thank you both for your good wills towards me beseeching you to bring me where I was appointed to be brought or else I will go thither all alone And so with a cheerful and merry countenance he went with them spending the time with pleasant and godly communication till they came to Croydon where for that â—ight he was well entertained in the Porters Lodge On the morrow he was called before the Bishops to be examined at which time he shewed himself exceeding ripe and ready to answer all Objections even beyond all mens expectations And his Allegations out of S. Augustine and other Ancient Fathers were such as some of them much doubted of S. Augustines authority in that case aâ—d when they had done Doctor Heath in private confessed to the Archbishop of Canterbury that no man could avoid his Allegations out of S. Augustine Yet after this without any regard to his Piety Learning or Merit he was turned over to Stokesley Bishop of London who would not hear what S. Augustine or any other said for his opinion But calling him into his Conâ—istory after he had witnessed there a good Confession he condemned him and so delivered him over to the Major and Sheriffs of London to be burned When he came into Smithfield where he was to suffer he shewed much constancy and courage and being tyed to the stake and the fire kindled he willingly embraced the same But the winde blowing away the flame made his death somewhat the longer yet through Gods grace he bore it with such patience even as though he felt no pain in that long torment and so at last quietly reâ—igned up his spirit unto God Anno Christi 1531. Whâ—lst Mr. Frith was beyond the Seas he much holp Mr. Tindal in the Translation of the
c. help me with your Prayers By the way as he went he gave much Alms and at the place of Execution he spake to the people confessing his Faith by rehearsing the Articles of the Creed and afterwards prayed privately with earnest elevation of his Eyes and Hands to Heaven Being tyed to the stake the Fryars desired him to declare his charity to them by assuring the people that they were not the causers of his death for said they they think that we have procured it and thereupon will withdraw their charitable alms from us whereupon he said I pray you good people be never the worse to these men for my sake for they were not the Authors of my death The fire being kindled the winde drove away the flame from him so that he was the longer a burning holding up his hands crying sometimes Jesus sometimes Credo and so at last yeelded up his spirit unto God Anno Christi 1531. WILLIAM TINDALL The Life of William Tindal who dyed Anno Christi 1536 WIlliam Tindal was born about the borders of Wales and brought up from a childe in the University of Oxford where he grew up and encreased in the knowledge of the Tongues and the Liberal Arts but especially in the Scriptures whereunto his minde was singularly addicted insomuch as being in Magdalen-Hall he read privately to some Fellows and Students some parts of Divinity instructing them in the knowledge and truth of the Scriptures His â—ife also was so blameless that he acquired much love and esteem thereby After he had profited exceedingly and taken his degrees there he remoued to Cambridge and being well ripened in the knowledge of Gods Word he went to live with one Mr. Welch in Glocestershire where he was Tutor to his children and many Abbots and Doctors resorting thither Mr. Tindal discoursing with them of Luther Erasmus c. shewed them plainly his judgement in Religion proving the same by the Word of God and confuting their Errors which caused them to bear a secret grudge in their hearts against him Not long after it happened that some of these great Doctors invited Master Welch and his Lady to a banquet where they had talk at will uttering their blinde Superstitions without gainsaying Then Master Welch and his Lady coming home and calling for Master Tindal began to reason with him about those matters whereof they had talked before with the Priests Mr. Tindal answering by the Scriptures maintained the Truth and confuted their Errors whereupon the â—ady Welch said There was such a Doctor as may expend 100 l. per annum and such an one as may spend 200 l. per annum and such another as may spend 300 l. per annum and is it reason think you that we should believe you before them Mr. Tindal gave her no answer at that time and talked but little afterwards of those matters because he saw it was in vain But fell upon translating a book called Enchiridion miliâ—s Christiani and having finished it he gave it to the Knight and his Lady who after they had well read and perused the same did not more so often invite the Doctorly Prelates to their house as before neither had they that chear and countenance when they came as formerly which they well perceiving supposed that it was by the means of Mr. Tindal whereupon they utterly withdrew themselves and came no more thither Then did the Country Priests cluster together storming and railing against Mr. Tindal in their Alehouse-meetings concerning whom himself writes thus I was saith he in that Country much molested by a company of unlearnnd Priests that had never seen more Latine then in their Portesses and Missals which yet many of them can â—carcely read and if they be but sorrily learned they get Albertus Magnus de secretis mulierum which they pore night and day upon making notes therein c. These men railed and raged against him affirming that he held heretical opinions and thereupon accused him to the Bishop and Chancellor whereupon the Chancellor appointed those Priests and Mr. Tindal also to appear before him and Mr. Tindal suspecting the matter as he went prayed heartily unto God to give him strength to stand fast to the Truth When he came the Chancellor threatned him grievously reviling and rating him as though he had been a Dog accusing him of many things whereof no proof could be brought and so dismissed him for the present Not long after Mr. Tindal happening into the company of one that was esteemed a learned Doctor in disputing with him he drave him to that issue that the Doctor burst out into these blasphemous words We had better be without Gods Laws then the Popes Mr. Tindal hearing this full of godly zeal replyed I defie the Pope and all his Laws and if God spare me life ere many years I will cause a boy that drives the Plough to know more of the Scripture then you do The rage of the Priests encreasing Mr. Tindal told Mr. Welch that he well perceived that he could stay there no longer with safety and that his stay might be prejudicial to his Family and therefore with his good leave he departed and went to London where he preached a while as he had done in the Country before And then hearing a great commendation of Cuthbert Tonstal Bishop of London he endeavored to get into his service but the Lord saw that it was not good for him and therefore he found little favor in the Bishops sight Remaining thus in London about the space of a year and being desirous for the good of his Country to translate the New Testament into English he found that there was no place for him to do it in England and therefore being assisted by Master Humphry Manmouth a godly Citizen and other good men he left the land and went into Germany where this good man being inflamed with a tender care of and zeal for his Country refused no travel nor pains if by any means possible he might reduce his Brethren and Countrymen of England to the same taste and understanding of Gods holy Word and Truth which the Lord had endued him withall Then conferring with Master John Frith he thought in his minde that no way would more conduce thereunto then if the Scriptures were translated into their vulgar language that so the people might fee the plain text before them for he well perceived that one great cause of Error was because the knowledge of the Scriptures was hidden from the peoples Eyes upon these considerations he there set upon this work Translating the New Testament Anno Christi 1527. and then setting upon the Old he finished the five Books of Moses with sundry most learned and godly Prologues prefixed before every one of them the like also he did upon the New Testament Besides divers other godly Treatises which he wrote there
Collen where he applyed himself to the study of the Arts and Tongues and afterwards betook himself to the study of Divinity and commenced Batchelor in Divinity Then returned he into his own Country and at Bern was chosen first a Canon and after that a publick Preacher For indeed he excelled all his Colleagues in Piety Learning and Eloquence About this time Hulderick Zuinglius began to Preach at Glorana and afterwards at Zurick the Gospel of Christ purely by whose Ministry it pleased God to enlighten our Haller who not consulting with flesh and blood presently adjoined himself to Zuinglius and endeavoured to propagate the Truth both publickly and privately Anno Christi 1526. the twelve Pages of the Helvetians appointed a Disputation at Baden about matters of Religion whither when Zuinglius could not go with safety Oecolampadius and Haller went thither where they had a great dispute with John Eccius the Pontificians Champion The year after the Bernates which is the most potent Canton of the Switzers desired a Copy of that Disputation and when they could not obtain it and the differences about Religion began to encrease by a publick writing set forth Decemb. the seventeenth they appointed another Disputation in their City to which they invited their neighbor Bishops intreating them also to bring their Divines along with them which if they refused they threatened to lay a fine upon their possessions which were within their Jurisdiction They also invited any other Divines out of other parts to come to the Disputation promising them safety upon the Publick Faith They also agreed upon Laws for the Disputation and published the Questions which were to be handled which were That the Church hath but one head viz. Christ and that she knows not the voice of any other That the Church can make no Laws besides the Word of God and therefore no man is bound by Traditions That Christ hath satisfied for the sins of the World and therefore they which seek out any other way of Salvation or expiating their sins deny Christ. That the body and blood of Christ are not received corporally in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper That the Mass wherein Christ is offered up to his Father for the quick and dead is blasphemy and an abomination before God That Christ alone is our Mediator and Advocate to his Father and that no other is to be sought out or invocated That after this Life there is no Purgatory That Images are not to be worshipped and therefore that all that are set up in Churches for that end ought to be taken away That Matrimony is not prohibited to any order of men January the seventh Anno Christi 1528. this Disputation was held and the issue of it was the most were satisfied in all these points so that presently after Popery was cast out of the City and all the large Territories of the Bernates by the unanimous consent of all though the Pontificians did all that possibly they could to hinder it and by their example some of their neighbors did the like and in particular the City of Geneva When thus our Haller had been a great instrument of Reformation in this Country and had set things in good order in the Church so that his fame began much to spread abroad it pleased God to take him away by an immature death Anno Christi 1536. and of his Age 44. to the great grief of all his friends The Life of Urbanus Regius who dyed Anno Christi 1541. VRbanus Regius was born in Argalonga in the Territories of Count Montfort of honest Parents who bred him up in Learning and when his childhood was over they sent him to Lindau where was a School famous both for the Masters and store of Scholars here he profited much in Grammer Learning so that from thence he was sent to Friburg where he was a diligent Auditor of sundry men excelling in all kinde of Learning Then was he entertained in the house of Zasius an Excellent Lawyer who loved him dearly for his diligence and industry Zasius also allowed him the use of his Library in which Regius did as it were hide himself diligently reading over all such Authors as were fit for his studies and therein especially observed such Notes as Zasius in his younger days had written in the Margins of them which Notes Regius in the night time used to write out so that when Zasius arose sometimes in the night because he could not sleep he still found Regius writing out those Annotations whereupon he used softly to pull him by the Ear saying Thou wilt get all my Art and Learning from me And when at any time he had found him asleep with his head leaning on the table he used to lay one or two great Law-books upon his shoulders and so leave him till he waked Zasius loved him as his son both for the sweetness of his nature and carriage as also for his diligence and industrie in his studies When thus at Friburg he had informed his judgement and stored his minde with Learning he went to Basil that by hearing the Professors of the Arts and Tongues he might enrich himself with more Polite Learning At this time of all the Universities of Germany Ingolstade was the most famous which was governed by John Eccius a most learned man in Philosophy whose fame coming to the Ears of Regius he left Basil and went to Ingolst ade In that place where there was a great confluence of Students besides the publick Lectures there were many which read privately amongst whom Regius also set to reading private Lectures having many that resorted to hear him At last divers Noblemen sent their sons to him to be educated desiring him to furnish their children with books and all other necessaries for which they would take care to pay him again quarterly but when he had run into debt for them they neglected to return their money which caused him to think of departing being tired out with the importunity of his Creditors and having an opportunity he listed himself a Souldier under a Captain that went against the Turks leaving his books and other furniture to be divided amongst the Creditors Being now amongst the Souldiers it happened that John Eccius who was Governor of the University coming forth to see the Souldiers espyed Regius amongst them and enquiring the cause of his so sudden a change he told him 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 whereupon he returned to his studies again and growing famous for his wit and learning Maximilian the Emperour passing through Ingolstade made him his Laureat-Poet and Orator After the departure of Maximilian he grew so grateful to Ernest Duke of Bavaria and Leonard Eccius a Noble man
Anno Christi 1516. Anno Christi 1520. through the favor of Sir Vlrick Hutten he was called to Ments by the Archbishop thereof to be the Preacher and Counsellor to the Prince at which time also Gasper Hedeo was made Preacher and chief Governor over the highest Church in Ments Capito did the more willingly embrace this call that he might plant the reformed Religion in Ments Concerning his commencing Doctor he thus writes in an Epistle to Hutten Juris Pontificii ut vocant Doctoratum suscepi propter authoritatem videlicet comparandam scopam subolescis Licet interim sint aliqui qui vitio vertunt Theologum esse unà simul Civilem quasi Theologus necesse habet omnem exuere humanitatem Anno Christi 1521. Tecelius the Merchant of Indulgences being dead by the order of the Archbishop of Ments Letters Patents for the renewing of them were set to sale at Hale in Saxony whereupon Luther wrote to the Archbishop and Melancthon to Capito his Counsellor to disswade them from such Merchandize Capito therefore secretly favouring the Gospel so far prevailed with his Master that he wrote mildly and humbly to Luther And Capito also wrote to him to advise him that in writing against the vices of Prelates he should not name them For saith he Exasperantur potius animi insectatione quà m curantur mens mindes by such bitterness are rather exasperated then cured Capito thus continuing with the Elector of Ments was very dear unto him for his rare Wisdom joined with Piety his happy Eloquence and mild Nature so that by him he was sent upon many Embassies And February the 7. Anno Christi 1523. he was by the Emperour Charles the Fifth endowed for himself and posterity with the Ensignes of Nobility under the Imperial Seal But not much esteeming these things when he saw that he could not accomplish his purpose at Ments to the wonder of the Archbishop and astonishment of the Courtiers he left it and followed Bucer to Strasborough where he was called to a Pastoral charge The fame of Capito and Bucer did so spred abroad that James Faber Stapulensis and Gerard Ruâ—us came privily out of France to them being sent by Margaret Queen of Navar and sister to Francis King of France where they discoursed largely with them of all the heads of Divinity So that France oweth the beginning of her embracing the reformed Religion as to other godly Ministers so especially to Capito and Bucer Capito was a very Prudent and Eloquent man a good Hâ—brician and studious of Peace Concerning the Sacrament he said Mittendas esse contentiones cogitandum de usu ipsius coenae fidem nostram pane vino Domini per memoriam carnis sanguinis illìus pascendam Anno 1525 he was called into his own Country where he instructed his Brethren in the Doctrine of the Gospel preached and administred the Lords Supper to his own Citizens and Baptized without the Popish Ceremonies and whereas in Helvetia many seemed to incline to the reformed Religion Capito often went amongst them confirming them in the Faith And in a Disputation at Bern in Helvetia Anno Christi 1528. Capito with many other Divines was present at it defending the Truth against the Adversaries so that he with the rest prevailed for the abolishing of the Mass and setting up a faithful Ministry in that place The rest of his time he spent in Preaching at Strasborough and giving wholsome counsel to the Churches Anno Christi 1541. when a Diet was appointed at Ratisbone especially for the cause of Religion Capito amongst other Divines was sent by the Protestants to it where he gave an excellent demonstration of his wit and judgement But when nothing could be effected returning home in a great and general infection he dyed of the Plague Anno Christi 1541. of his Age 63. He was a man of an excellent wit and judgement constant in Religion A great lover of the Schools and Learning wherefore he exhorted to the repairing of Schools and keeping up Scholastical Titles that the studious might be distinguished from the slothful the Seniors from the Juniors and that diligence might be spurred on by hope of honest glory When Erasmus halted between two opinions he continually called upon him to put off that Nicodemus-like temper His first wife was Agnes a learned woman after whose death he marryed the Widdow of Oecolampadius his intire friend He left to posterity these excellent works Institutionum Hebraicarum libriduo Enarrationes in Habacuc Hoseans Prophetas Vita Johannis Oecolampadii De formando puro Theologo Explicatio doctissima in Hexameron opus Dei LEO JVDAE The Life of Leo Iudae who dyed An. Chri. 1542. LEO Judae was born An. Chr. 1482. his fathers name was John Judae his mothers name was Elizabeth By the care of his Father he was brought up at School in Slestadia where having learned Grammer he went to Basil An. Chr. 1502. There he joined in study with Zuinglius was an hearer of Dr. Wittenbash by whom he was instructed in the knowledg of the Gospel There also he continued in his studies till he commenced Master of Arts Anno Christi 1512. after which he was made a Deacon and from thence he was called into Helvetia where he set himself to the study of the Oriental Tongues and to read the Fathers especially Hierom and Augustine as also he read diligently the Books of Luther Erasmus and Capito At length being called to a Pastoral charge at Zurick he opposed the Popish Doctrine and Ceremonies both in the Pulpit and Press so that his fame spread far and near there he continned eighteen years and spent much of it in expounding the Old Testament out of the Hebrew wherein being grown very skilful he set upon at the importunity of his Brethren of the Ministry the translation of the Old Testament out of the Hebrew wherein also he was much holpen by the industry of other learned men His care was to get the most exact Hebrew copy that he could which also he compared with others neither did he neglect to examine the Greek and Latine versions that by all he might the better finde out the genuine signification of the words and minde of the Holy Ghost But this work proving very great he was so wasted with labor and old age that he dyed before he finished it Anno Christi 1542. and of his Age 60. leaving undone Job the forty last Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes Canticles and the eight last Chapters of Ezekiel which he commended to Theodore Bibliander to finish who accordingly did it and he left all to Conradus Pellican to peruse and put to the Press which he carefully performed Four days before his death sending for the Pastors and Professors of Zurick he made before them a Confession of his Faith concerning God the Scriptures the Person and Offices of Christ concluding Huic
Gardiner said to him How happened it that notwithstanding the Queens Proclamation you dared to preach Saunders Seing the perilous time now at hand I did but according to my duty exhort my flock to persevere and stand stedfast in the Doctrine that they had learned I also remembred those words of the Apostle That its better to obey God then man and what I did I was moved thereto by my conscience Gardiner A goodly conscience surely This your conscience could make our Queen a Bastard would it not Saunders We declare no such matter But for that let them care whose writings are yet abroad to testify the same not without the great shame and reproach of the author This he said because Gardiner to curry favor with King Henry the eighth had published a book wherin he had openly declared Queene Mary to be a Bastard And so going forward he said We onely professe and teach the sincerity and purity of Gods Word which albeit it be now forbidden us to publish with our mouths yet I doubt not but it shall be sealed with our blood The Bishop being vexed at this free speech said Carry away this frensie foole to prison To whom he said I thanke God that at last he hath given me a place of rest where I may pray for your conversion Hee continued in prison one year and three months In a letter to his wife he thus writes I am merry and I trust I shall be merry maugre the teeth of all the Divels in hells Riches I have none to endow you with but that treasure of tasting how sweet Christ is to hungry consciences whereof I thanke my Christ I doe feel part that I bequeath unto you and to the rest of my beloved in Christ c. He was so zealous in the defence of the truth that he forbad his wife to sue for his delivery and when other of his friends had by suit almost obtained it he so discouraged them that they ceased from following their suit Being at last brought againe to examination and life being promised if he would recant he answered I love my life and liberty if I could enjoy them without the hurt of my own conscience but by God's grace I will abide the most extretremity that man can do against mee rather then do any thing against my conscience and when Gardiner threatned him with death he said Welcome be it whatsoever the will of the Lord be either life or death and I tell you truly I have learned to dye But I exhort you to beware of shedding innocent blood Truly it will cry aloud against you Being excommunicated degraded and condemned he was sent to Coventry to be burned When he came near the place of execution he went cheerfully to the stake kissing it and saying Welcome the Cross of Christ Welcome everlasting life The fire by his cruell enemies was made of green wood and other smothering matter which would not burne whereby he was put to grievous torments but the grace and plentifull consolation of Christ which never forsakes his servants gave him admirable strength and patience so that in all he stood quietly and at last sweetly slept in the Lord. During his imprisonment he wrote many excellent Letters and after his condemnation in a Letter to his wife and friends he thus writes Oh what worthy thanks can be given to our gracious God for his unmeasurable mercies plentifully 〈◊〉 upon us And I most unworthy wretch cannot but bewail my great ingratitude towards so gracious a God and loving Father I beseech you all as for my other many sins so especially for my sin of unthankfulness crave pardon for me is your earnest prayers To number Gods mercies in particular were to number the drops of water in the Sea the sands on the shâ—re or the stars in Heaven O my dear Wife and Friends rejoyce with me I say rejoyce with thanksgiving for this my present promotion in that I am made worthy to magnifie my God not onely in my life by my slow mouth and uncircumcised lips bearing witness to his truth but also by my blood to seal the same to the glory of my God and confirming of his true Church I profess to you that as yet the comfort of my sweet Christ doth drive from me the fear of death But if my dear Husband Christ doe for my tryall leave me a little to my selfe Alas I know in what case I shall then be but if he doe yet I know that he will not be long nor far absent from me though he stand behind the wall yet he will peep in at a crâ—vise He is a tender-hearted Joseph though he speak roughly to his brethren and threaten bondage to his best beloved Benjamin yet can be not containe himself from weeping upon us and with us with falling on our necks and sweetly kissing us Such such a brother is our Christ unto all his wherefore hasten to goe unto him as Jacob did with his sons and family leaving their Countrey and Acquaintance Yea this our Joseph hath obtained for us that Pharaoh the Infidel shall provide us Chariots whereby with ease we may be carried to him Our very adversaries do help us to our everlasting blisse by their speedy dispatch blessed be our God Fear not bugbears which lye in the way fear rather the everlasting fire c. My dear Wife and fellow Heirs of the everlasting Kingdom always remember the Lord Rejoyce in hope be patient in tribulation continue instant in prayer and pray for us appointed for the slaughter that we may be unto our heavenly Father a fat offering and an acceptable sacrifice c. Farowel all in Christ in hope to be joyned with you in everlasting joy Amen Amen Amen Pray Pray Doctor Pendleton and this Mr Saunders meeting together in the beginning of Queen Maries reign and speaking of the Persecution that was like to ensue about which Master Saunders shewed much weaknes and many fears Pendleton said to him What man there is much more cause for me to fear than for you forasmuch as I have a bigge and fat body yet will I see the utmost drop of this grease of mine molten away and the last gobbet of this flesh of mins consumed to ashes before I will forsake Iesus Christ and his Truth which I have professed Yet not long after upon trial poor feeble saint-hearted Saunders by the power and goodness of God sealed the Truth with his blood whereas proud Pendleton played the Apostate and turned Papist The Life of John Hooper who died Anno Christi 1555. JOhn Hooper was a Student and Graduate in the University of Oxford where having abundantly profited in the study of other Sciences he was stirred up with a fervent desire to the love and knowledge of the Scriptures in which study he joyned earnest prayers to his diligence for the better understanding of the same
saying Let him alone if he die it were a good riddance of him c. Concerning his base usage himself thus writes I paid alwaies saith he to the Warden of the Fleet as a Baron paid as well in Fees as for my board viz. 20 s. per week till I was wrongfully deprived of my Bishoprick and after that time I paide as the best Gentleman in the house yet he alwaies used me worse and more vilely then a very slave Thus I suffered inprisonment almost eighteen monthes my goods living friends and comforts taken from me â—he Queen owing me above 80 pound yet hath she cast me into prâ—soâ— alâ—owes me nothing neither are any suffered to come at me whereby I may be relieved I am under a wicked man and woman and see no remedy but in Gods help But I commit my just cause to him whose will be done whether it be by life or death When he was brought to examination before Winchester and the other Commissioners there was such a tumult whensoever he began to speak that he was forced to keep silence Yet did they proceed to Degrade and condemne him and so delivered him over to the secular Power As they were leading him from the Counter in Southwark to Newgate one of the Sheriffe said to him I wonder that you was so hasty and quick with my Lord Chancellor and used no more patience to him To which he answered Mr. Sheriffe I was nothing at all impatient though I was earnest in my Masters cause and it stands me in hand so to be for it goeth upon life and death not in this World onely but in the World to come Sixe daies he lay close prisoner in Newgate none being suffered to come to him during which time Bonner Harpsfield and diverse others came to him leaving no meanes untried to reduce him to their Antichristian Church sometimes making many great profers and promises to him of worldly riches and promotion other sometimes using grievous threatnings to affright him But they found him alwaies the same man steadfast and unmoveable February the 4 th at night his Keeper gave him some inkling that he should be sent to Gloucester to be burned which he rejoiced very much at lifting up his eyes and hands to Heaven and praising God for sending him amongst his people over whom he had been Pastor there to confirme with his blood the truth that before he had taught unto them not doubting but the Lord would give him strength to perform it to his glory And immediately he sent for his boots spurrs and cloke that he might be ready to ride when they should call for him The day following he was delivered to some of the Queens Guard who conveied him to Glocester and when he came neer the City much people met him who cryed and bewailed his condition exceedingly The night before his heath he did eatâ— his meat quietly and slept soundly After his first sleepe â—ee spent the rest of the night in praier The next day Sr Anthonie Kingston coming to him told him that life was swâ—ete and death bitter to which he answered The death to come is more bitter and the life to come more sweet I am come hiâ—her to end this life and suffer death because I will not gainesay the former Truth that I have here taught unto you Also a blinde boie coming to him after he had examined him in the Grounds of Religion he said Ah poor boy God hâ—th taken from thee thy outward sight but hath given thee anotâ—er sight much more pretious having endued thy soul with the eie of knowledge and faith God give thee grace continually to pray uâ—to him that thou lose not that sight for then shouldest thou â—e blind both in body and soul. Being delivered to the Sheriffe he said to him My request to you Master Sheriffe is onely that there may be a quick fire shortly to make an end of me and in the mean time I will be as obedient to you as you can desire if you think I doe amisse in any thing hold up your finger and I have done I might have had my life with much worldly gaine but I am willing to offer up my life for the Truth and trust to die a faithfull servant to God and a true subject to the Queen When he saw the Sheriff's men with so many weapons he said This is more then needs if you had willed me I would have gone alone to the stake and have troubled none of you all As hee went to the stake he was forbid to speak to the people Hee looked chearfully and with a more ruddy countenance then ordinary Being come to the place of Execution hee prayed about halfe an hour whereof this was a part Lord said he I am Hell but thou art Heaven I am swill and a sinke of sinne but thou art a gracious and mercifull Redeemer Have mercy therfore upon me most miserable wretched offender after thy great mercy and according to thine inestimable goodnesse Thou art ascended into Heaven receive me Hell to be partaker of thy joyes where thou sittest in equall glory with thy Father For will knowest thou Lord wherefore I am come hither to suffer and why the wicked doe persecute thy poor servant Not for my sins and transgressions committed against thee but because I will not allow their wicked doings to the contaminating of thy blood and to the deniall of the knowledge of thy truth wherewith it did please thee by thy holy spirit to instruct me with as much diligence as a poor wretch might being thereto called I have set forth thy glory Thou well seest O Lord my God what terrible torments and cruell paines are prepared for thy poor creature Even such Lord as without thy strength none is able to beare or patiently to passe But that which is impossible with man is possible with thee therefore strengthen me of thy goodnes that in the fire I break not the rules of patience Or else asswage the terror of the paines as shall seeme fittest to thy glory Having a box with a pardon set before him he cried If you love my soul away with it if you love my soul away with it Three Irons being prepared to fasten him to the stake he onely put on an Iron-hoop about his middle bidding them take away the rest saying I doubt not but God will give me strength to abide the extremity of the fire without binding When reedes were cast to him he embraced and kissed them putting them under his arme where he had bags of gun-powder also When fire was first put to him the fagots being green and the winde blowing away the flame he was but scorched more faggots being laied to him the fire was so supprest that his nether-parts were burn'd his upper being scarce touched He praied mildly as one that felt no paine O Jesus the Sonne of
give mee strength and his holy spirit that all my adversaries shal be asham'd of their doings Then said his friends Master Dr. we think it not best so to do you have sufficiently done your duty and borne witness to the truth both in your Sermons and in resisting this Popish Priest and therfore seeing our Savior Christ bids us when we are persecuted in one City to flee to another we think that by flying at this time you should doe best reserving your selfe for better times O said D. Tailor I am now old and have already lived too long to see these terrible and wicked dayes You may doe as your consciences serve you but I am resolved not to fly God shall hereafter raise up Teachers which shall with much more diligence and fruit teach then I have done for God will not forsake his Church though for a time he tryeth and correcteth us and that not without just cause His friends seeing his constancy and resolution with weeping eyes commended him to God and so preparing himself he went to London and presented himself to Steven Gardiner Lord Chancellor of England who railed upon him calling him Knave Traitor Heretick asking him if he knew him not c. To whom he answered Yea I know you and all your greatness yetâ— you are but a mortall man and if I should be affraid of your Lordly looks why fear you not God the Lord of us all How dare you for shame look any Christian in the face seeing you have forsaken the truth denyed our Saviour Christ and his word done contrary to your own oath and writing with what countenance can you appear before the judgement seat of Christ and answer for your oath first made to King Henry the eighth and afterwards to King Edward the sixth Gardiner Tush tush that was Herods oath unlawfull and therefore fit to be broken I did well in breaking it and thanke God that I am come home to our Mother the Church of Rome and so I would thou shouldest doe Tailor Should I forsake the Church of Christ which is founded upon the true foundation of the Prophets and Apostles to approve those lyes errors superstitions and idolatries that are approved of most blasphemously by you God forbid Remember that you wrote truly against the Pope and were sworne against him Gardin I tell thee that was Herods oath and our holy Father the Pope hath discharged me of it Tailor But you shall not be so discharged before Christ who doubtlesse will require it at your hands as a lawful oath made to your King from which no man can assoile you Gardiner I see that thou art an arrogant Knave and a very fool Tailor My Lord leave your railing which is unseemly in one that is in your place I am a Christian man and you know that he that call's his brother Fool is in danger of Hell fire Gardiner Yee are false and liers all the sort of you Tailor We are true men and know that God will destroy all them that speak lies and therefore we abide by the truth of Gods word which ye contrary to your own consciences deny and forsake Gardiner Thou art a married man Tailor Yea and I thanke God that I am and have had nine children and all in lawfuâ— matrimony and blessed be God that ordained matrimoâ—y and commanded that all that had not the gift of continency should marry and not live in whoredom and a dultery After some other discourse the Bishop called hi men commanding them to carry him to the Kings Bench requiring his Keeper to keep him strictly Then Doctoâ— Tailor kneeling down and holding up his hands said Good Lord I thanke thee and from the Tyranny of the Bishop of Rome and all his detestable errors and abominations good Lord deliver us So they carried him away to prison where he lay almost two years In Prison he spent his time in praier reading the Scriptures preaching to the prisoners and to other that resorted to him And it pleased God that he found in that prison holy Master Bradford whom he began to exhort to Faith strength and patience and to persevere constantly unto the end Master Bradford hearing this thanked God who had provided him so comfortable a prison-fellow and so they both together praised God and continued in praier reading and exhorting one another Insomuch as Doctor Tailor told his friends that God had provided graciously for him to send him to that prison where he found such an Angell of God to be in his company to comfort 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 die 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 flock of Christ. He also thus wrote to his friends God be praised since my condemnation I was never affraid to die Gods will be done If I shrinke from Gods truth I am sure of an other manner of death then had Judge Hales But God be praised even from the bottome of my heart I am unmovably setled upon the Rock nothing doubting but that my dear God will performe and finish the work that he hath begun in me and others To him be all honor both now and ever through Christ our onely Saviour Amen After his condemnation Bishop Bonner came to the prison to degrade him bringing all the Massing Garments with him which he commanded him to put on No quoth Doctor Tailor I will not Bonner Wilt thou not I shall make thee ere I go Tailor You shall not by the grace of God Bonner I charge thee on thy obedience to do it Tailor I will not Then the Bishop bad his owne man to put them on his back which when it was done setting his hands by his side he walked up and down and said How say you my Lord am I not a goodly fool If I were in Cheap-side would not all the boies laugh at these apishtoies The Bishop having dispoiled him of all would have given him a stroke on his breast with his Crosier But his Chaplain said My Lord strike him not for he will sure strike again Yea by Saint Peter will I quoth Doctor Tailor The cause is Christs and I were no good Christian if I would not fight in my masters quarrell Then the Bishop cursed him but durst not strike him To whom Doctor Tailor answered Though you curse yet God doth blesse me The next night his Wife Son and Servant came to him where before supper they kneeled down and praied saying the Letany He was sent down to Hadley to be burn'd and all the way as he went he was very merry as one that went to a banquet or Bridal In his
other side the Prison giving them godly exhortations and distributing some mony amongst them An intimate friend of his asked him if hee should procure his liberty what he would doe and whither he would goe To whom he answered that he cared not â—hether he were delivered out of prison or no but if he should that then he would marry and abide secretly in England and teach the people as the time would suffer him He was had in great reverence and admiration of all good men So that many which knew him not but by fame onely much lamented his death yea many Papists wished heartily that he might live Few daies passed wherein he shed not some teares before he went to bed Nor was there any prisoner with him but receiv'd some profit by him He had many opportunities of escaping but would not embrace them The night before he was carried to Newgate he dreamed that chaines were brought for him to the Counter and that the day following he should be carried to Newgate and that the next daie he should be burn'd in Smithfield which accordingly came to pass For that day in the afternoon the Keepers wife came running into his chamber saying O Mr. Bradford I bring you heavy news for to morrow you must be burned your chain is now a buying and presently you must go to Newgate With that Mr Bradford put off his cap lift up his eyes to heaven and said I thank God for it I have looked for this a long time it comes not now to me suddenly but as a thing waited for every day and hour the Lord make me worthy thereof He spent the rest of the evening in prayers well watered with tears whereby he ravished the mindes of the hearers The morning before he should be burn'd as he was putting on a clean shirt in which he was to suffer he made such a prayer of the Wedding Garment that some present were in such great admiration that their eyes were as throughly occupied in looking on him as their ears were attentive to hear his prayer At his departing out of his chamber he prayed earnestly and gave money to every servant and officer in the house exhorting them to fear and serve God continually labouring to eschew all manner of evill Then turning to the wall he prayed vehemently that his words might not be spoken to them in vain but that the Lord would work it effectually in them for his Christs sake The prisoners with weeping tears took their farewel of him Whilst he remained a prisoner he was oft examined before the Bishops and proffered life if he would recent to whom he answered Life with Gods displeasure is worse than death and death in his true favour is true life When he came into Smithfield where another young man was to suffer with him he fell flat on his face and prayed then caking a faggot in his hand he kissed it and the stake also then putting off his raiment hee stood by the stake and lifting up his hands and eyes to heaven said O England England repent of thy sinnes repent of thy sinnes Beware of Idolatry beware of false Antichrists take heed they doe not deceive thee and turning his head to the young man he said Be of good comfort brother for we shall have a merry supper with the Lord this night and then embracing the reeds he said Strait is the way and narrow is the gate that leadeth to eternall salvation and few there be that finde it and so he slept in the Loâ—d He was very charitable in so much as in a hard time he sold his Chaines Rings and Jewels to relieve those that were in want He was so humble from the sense of his corruptions that he subscribed some of his Letters out of â—rison thus The most miserable hard-hearted unthankfull sinner John Bradfoâ—d A very painted Hypâ—crite John Bradford Miserrimus peccator Joh. Bradford The sinfull John Bradford c. He suffered Martyrdome Anno Christi 1555. In his Examination before the Bishop of Winchester Hee often told him that he had sworn six times never to admit of the authority of the Bishop of Rome and therefore said he I dare not answer you if you examine me as a Delegate from him lest I should bâ—eake my oath To which Gardiner answered that he pretended stoutly to defend the Doctrine taught in King Edward's dayes yet said he thou darest not answer me Bradford That all men may know that I am not afraid saving mine oath ask me what you will and I will plainly answer by Gods grace although I see my life lieth thereon But oh Lord into thy hands I commend it come what will onely sanctifie thy name in me as in an instrument of thy grace Now ask me what you will Gardiner What say you to the blessed Sacrament Doe you not believe Christs reall presence there in his naturall body Bradf My Lord I do not believe that Christ is corporally present in the Sacrament but that he is present there to the faith of the due Receiver As for Transubstantiation I plainly and flatly beleive it not At another time one of the Earle of Darby's men came to him saying Ah Master Bradford consider your Mother Sister Friends Kinsfolk and Country what a great discomfort will it be to them to see you die as an Heretick To whom he answered I have learned to forsake Father Mother Brother Sister Friends and all that ever I have yea and my own self for else I cannot be Christs Disciple And in a Letter to his Mother and Brethren hee thus writes I am now in prison sure enough from starting and I thank God I am ready with my life and blood to seale those Truths which I have preached unto you if God shall account me worthy of that honour for its a spâ—ciall benefit of God to suffer for his Name and Gospel as now I doe I heartily thanke him for it and am sure that I shall be partaker of his glory If we suffer with him we shall also reign with him as St. Paul speaks Therefore be not faint-hearted but rather rejoice at least for my sake who am now in the highway to heaven for thorough many afflictions we must enter into that Kingdome Now will God make known who are his When the winde doth not blow we cannot discerne the Wheat from the Chaffe but when the blast comes the Wheat remains but the Chaffe flyes away and the Wheat is so far from being huRt by the winde that its more cleansed and known to be Wheat Gold when it s cast into the fire is made more precious so are Gods children by the crosse of afflictions Gods children are now chastised here that they may not be condemned with the world But sure great plagues from God hang over this Realm for it And no marvell if Gods hand lies so heavy upon us for lately as there
was never more knowledge so never lesse godly living It was counted a foolish thing to serve our God truly and fervent prayer was not passed upon Preaching was but a pastime the Communion was counted too common Fasting to subdue the flesh was far out of use Almes were almost nothiâ—g Maâ—ice Covetousness and Uncleanness were common every where with Swearing Drunkenness and Idlenesse and therefore all this evill is come upon us c. Yea I my selfe loved not his Truth as I should therefore God thus punisheth me nay in punishing blesseth mee And I thanke him more for this prison than for any parlour yea than for any pleasure that ever I had for in it I finde God my sweet good God alwaies And in another place Let us repent and be heartily sorry that wee have so carnally so hypocritically so covetously so vain-gloriously professed the Gospel Let the anger and plagues of God most iustly fallen upon us bee applied â—o our 〈◊〉 that from the bottome of our hearts every one of us may say It 's â— lord that have sinned against thee it 's my hypocrisie my vain-glory my covetousnesse uncleanness carnality security idlenesse unthankfulnesse self love c. that hath deserved the taking away our good King â—of thy Word and true Religion of thy good Ministers by exile imprisonment and death It 's my wickednesse that cause hâ—â—ccesse and encrase of authority and peace to thine enemies O be mercifull be mercifull unto us c. NICHOL RIDLEY The Life of Nicolas Ridley who died A no Christi 1555. NIcholas Ridley was borne in Northumberland of worshipfull parents and bred at School in Newcastle and from thence sent to Cambridge where he grew so famous for his learning that after diverse other offices whereunto he was called in the University hee was chosen Master of Pembroke-Hall and made Doctor in Divinity From thence he was called by Arch-Bishop Cranmer to be Vicar of Herne in East-Kent where he was a fruitfull and painful Preacher at which time it pleased God to reveal to him the true doctrine concerning the Lords Supper and amongst others to convert by his Ministry the Lady Phines who proved an eminent instrument of Gods glory After a while he was made a Prebend of the Cathedral Church of Canterbury but not liking his society there he travelled into France and at his returne was made Chaplaine to King Henry the Eighth and Bishop of Rochester and from thence in Edward the sixth dayes he was removed to be Bishop of London In which places hee took so great pains in preaching that he was dearly beloved of his flock to whom also he was singularly exemplary in his life so that his very enemies had nothing to say against him Every Sabbath and holiday he preached in one place or other except extraordinary occasions hindred him and to his Sermons multitudes of people resorted swarming about him like bees to gather the sweet flowers and wholsom juice of his fruitfull doctrine He was passingly well learned and of such reading that he deserved to be numbred amongst the greatest Schollars that these latter ages produced as appeared by his notable works pithie Sermons and sundry disputations in boâ— Universities which drew an acknowledgment of his learning from his very adversaries He was of a strong memory and of great reading of a deep wit very judicious anâ— very mercifull He was of person right comely and well proportioned in all points both in complexion and lineâ—ments of his body He was free from malice and soon forgat all injuries and offences done against him very kinde to his kindred yet withall telling them that if they did evill they should look for nothing from him buâ— should be as strangers to him He used all meanes to mortifie his flesh being much in prayer and contemplation was sober in discourse and sometimes merry at meals after which he used to play at Chess about an hour and then returned to his study till five a clock at night when coming down he had prayers in his family then went to Supper then plaid a game at Chess and so returned to his study till eleven a clock at night His manner was daily to read a Lecture to his Family at prayer-time giving to every one that could read a new Testament and hiring them with mony to learn Chapters by heart being marvellous carefull that his family might give an example of godliness and virtue to others He called Bishop Bonners mother his Mother and when he was at Fulham had her constantly at meals with him setting her at the upper-end of the Table who ever was present And as he was godly himself so nothing appeared in his family but vertue and godliness He was first converted by reading Bertrams Book of the Sacrament and much confirmed by conference with D. Cranmer Peter martyr In the beginning of Q. Marie's days he was imprisoned with the first first in the Tower and from thence he was sent to Oxford with Cranmer and Latimer and there kept in the common Goal till at length being severed from his brethren he was committed to the custodie of one Irish with whom he remained till the day of his death which was Octob. 16. an Christi 1555. Writing to Latimer in prison he saith I pray you good father let me have something more from you to comfort my stomach for except the Lord assist me in his service I shall pâ—ay but the part of a white-liver'd Knight but he can make a coward in his cause to fight like a man In a Leter to M. Bradford he saith As far as London is from Oxford yet thence we have received both meat mony and shirts not onely from our acquaintance but from some strangers also I know for whole sake they doe it c. And again Ever since I heard of our dear brother Rogers his stout confession and departing blessed be God for it I never felt any â—â—mpish heavines in my heart as sometimes I did before And again Sir Blessed be God notwithstanding our hard restraint and the evil reports raised of us we are mâ—rry in God and all our care is and shall be by Gods grace to please and serve him from whom wâ— expect after these temporary and moment any miseries to have eterâ—al â—oy and perpetual felicity with Abraham Isaac and Jacob c. As yet never a learned man scholer or other hath visited us since our coming to Bocardo which now may be called the Colledge of Quondâ—ms for we be no fewer then three and I dare say every one well contented with his portion which is our heavenly fathers good and gracious gift Farewell We shall by the grace of God one day meet and be merry together which day assuredly approacheth the Lord grant it may shortly come Writing to Master Grindal who was now in exile he thus gives him an account of his
Henry the 8. that he could not be appeased by any other means but by the sacrificing of Cranmer During his Sermon Cranmer was set on a stage before him which sad spectacle much affected many to see him who had lived in so great honour and favour to stand there in a ragged gown ill-favour'd clothes an old cap and exposed to the contempt of all men Cole in his Sermon shewed for what Doctor Cranmer was condemned encouraged him to take his death patiently and rejoiced in his conversion to Popery But that joy lasted not long The Sermon being ended Doctor Cranmer entreated the people to pray for him that God would pardon his sin especially his Recantation which most of all troubled his conscience which he said was contrary to the truth which he thought in his heart and written for feare of death and upon the hope of life And said he That hand of mine which hath written contrary to my heart shall first be punished At these words the Doctors beganne to rage and fume and caused him to be pulled down from the stage and his mouth to be stopped that he should not speak to the people The place appointed for his Martyrdome was the same where Doctor Ridley and Master Latimer had before suffered and when he was brought to it he kneeled down and prayed and so put off his cloaths When the fire was kindled and came neer him he stretched out his right hand which had subscribed holding it so stedfast and immoveable in the fire saving that once he wiped his face with it that all might see his hand burned before his body was touched when the fire came to his body he endured it patiently standing stedfast alwaies in one place moving no more then the stake which he was bound to So long as he could speak he repeated Lord Jesus receive my spirit and so in the flames he gave up the Ghost Anno Christi 1556. and of his Age 72. Doctor Cranmers Workes were these He corrected the English translation of the Bible in many places He wrote Catechismum Doctrinae Christianae Ordinationes Ecclesiae Reformatae De ministris Ordinandis De Eucharistia Jura Ecclesiastica Contra Gardineri concionem Contra Transubstantiationis errorem Quomodo Christus adsit in Caena De esu Câ—nae Dominicae De Oblatione Christi Homilia Christiana Common-places A confutation of unwritten verities Against the Popes primacy Against Purgatory About Justification Diverse Letters to learned men The Life of Conrade Pellican who died A no Christi 1555. COnrade Pellican was born of godly and honest parents at Rubeac a Towne of Suevia neer the Hyrcinian wood Anno Christi 1478 and being carefully educated by his parents anno Christi 1484 was by them set to school to Steven Kleger of Zurick who using him gently brought him in love with learning At thirteen years of age he went to Heidleberg And after sixteen months study there returned home and his parents being poor he became an Usher in the Grammer school Many times going to a neighbour Monastery to borrow some books the Fryers solicited him to become one of their Fraternity and when he was but 16. years old he assented to it his parents not opposing because they had not wherewithall to maintain him So that anno Christi 1493 he took upon him the habit of the Frier-Minors to the great joy of all that society who used him very kindly and brought him up in all the ceremonies belonging to their worship His Unkle Jodicus Gallus coming from Heidleberg to Rubeac was much troubled that his Nephew was become a Fryer and therefore perswaded him if he did not like that course of life to leave it whilst he was a novice but our Conrade thinking that it would be a great disgrace to him to fall from his purpose refused saying That he would serve God in that course of life wherein he thought he should please God and whereby he hoped to attain eternall life At the end of the year he fell sick of the Plague but being â—et blood it pleased God beyond all expectation to restore him to health Anno 1496. he went to Tubing where he studied the liberall Arts and was much admired in that University for his quick wit He studied also School-Divinity and Cosmography wherein he profited exceedingly And meeting with a converted Jew he borrowed of him an Hebrew book of the Prophets and by his extraordinary pains found out first the letters then the reading and signification of them and being a little assisted by â—â—â—nio the Judge of the impetiall Chamber at Wormes he grew very perfect in it and hearing that there was a certain Priest at Ulme which had bought some Hebrew books of a poor Jew he went to him and amongst them met with part of a Grammer about the Coniugations of Verbs and transmutation of the Letters which he wrote out and it proved a great help to him for he had spoken before with many Jews at Worms Frankefurt Ratisbone c. and none of them could ever resolve him in any one question of Grammer It fell out by Gods providence that the year the Book-seller of Tubing had bought an Hebrew Bible compleat of a very small print which therefore none cared for This Pellican hearing of intreated him to let him look into it for some few dayes The Bookseller was content telling him that for a Florence and a halfe he might buy it Pellican much rejoyced to hear this intreating his father Guardian to be his surety and so having obtained it he thought himselfe a richer man then ever was Croesus and presently wrote to his Unkle at Spires beseeching him to bestow two Florences upon him which he much needed for the buying of a certain book This his Unkle sent him wherupon he fel close to reading of the Bible and as he went along made a Concordance gathering the roots and setting downe all those words which were seldome found And thus he went over the whole Bible from the midst of July to the end of October Then carrying to Capnio a Specimen of his works he was amaâ—â—d at so much worke in so short a time Anno Christi 1501. being twenty three years old he was ordained a Presbyter and the same year the plague waxing hot at Rubeac his father and brother â—â—ed of it leaving none but this our Conrade and his sister Therefore to solace himself in his sorrows he wrote out the seven Penetentiall Psalmes in Hebrew Greek and Latine adding some prayers to be used upon that occasion Anno Christi 1502. he was made Divinity-Reader in the Convent at Basil. About the same time John Amerback began to print Saint Augustines workes wherein Pellican was very helpfull to him for which cause Amerbach and John Froben were ever after his great friends and would never suffer him to want any good book Then at the instance of Cardinal
length of your daies to whom we commend you but if we look at naturall causes your disease is dangerous for your weaknesse is great and encreaseth every moment I think the same quoth he and an sensible of my weaknesse A while after he made them search for some sheets of paper wherein he had begunne to write his Will purposing to declare his judgement about all the heads of Religion and to testifie it to posterity which was the chief use of Testaments amongst the antient Fathers but they could not be found whereupon he beganne to frame it a new sitting at a table but through weakness was not able to proceed therein Onely he wrote that he had twice formerly set down a Confession of his Faith and a thanksgiving to God and to our Lord Jesus Christ But saith he my papers are intercepted and therefore I will have my Confession to be my answers concerning the Bavarian Articles against Papists Anabapists Flacians c. His minde was sincere and sound to his last gasp his brain never more firm Then he conferred with his Son-in-law about the affairs of the University About six a clock Letters were brought him from his friends at Frankford Mart concerning the persecution of some godly men in France whereupon he said That his bodily disease was not comparable to the grief of his mind for his godly friends and for the miseries of the Church That night he had very litâ—le rest About two a clock in the morning he raised himself up in his bed saying that God had brought into his minde againe that speech of Paul If God be for us who can be against us After which he returned to his former complaints of the calamities of the Church Yet saith he my hopes are very great for the Doctrine of our Church is explained And so he proceeded to earnest prayers and groanings for the Church and then betook himself to some rest About eight in the morning in the presence of divers Pastors and Deacons he made three Prayers whereof this was one O almighty eternall ever-living and true God creator of heaven a dearth together with thy coâ—tâ—rnall Son our Lord Jesus Christ crucified for us and raised again together with thy holy Spirit c. Who hast faid thou de firest not the death of a sinner but that he may be converted and lâ—ve As also Call upon me in the day of trouble and I will deliver thee I confess unto thee that I am a most miserable sinneâ— that I have many sinnes and have been faulty many waies But I am sorry with all my heart that I have offended thee I pray thee for our Lord Jesus Christs sake who was crucified and rose again for us to have pitty upon me and to forgive all my sinnes and to justifiâ— me by and through Jesus Christ thy Sonne thine eternall Word and Image whom by thy unspeakable counsell and unmeasurable wisdome and goodnesse thou wouldst have to be for us a Sacrifice Mediator and Intercessoâ— Sanctifie me also by thy holy lively and true â—pirit that I may truly acknowledge thee firmly believe in thee truly obey thee give thanks unto thee rightly invocate thy name serve thee and see thee gracious to all eternity and the almighty true God creator of heaven and earth and men the eternall Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ thy Son thy eternall Word and Image and the Holy Ghost the comforter In thee O Lord have I trusted let me never be confounded Thou hast redeemed me O Lord God of Truth Keep O Lord and governe our Church and Common wealths and this School and give them wholsom peace and wholsom goverment Rule and defend our Princes nourish thy Church gather and preserve thy Church in these Countries and sanctifie it and conjoyne it with thy holy spirit that it may be one in thee in the knowledge and invocation of thy Son Jesus Christ by and for the sake of this thine eternal Son our Lord Jesus Christ c. After this he rested a while Then the Pastors and Deacons by turnes read unto him Psalme 24 25 26. Isa. 53. John 17. Rom. 5. and divers other Psalmes and Chapters After which he said I often thinke upon that saying of St. John The world received him not but to those â—hat received him to them he gave power to be made the Sons of God even them that belieeve in his name After this he seemed to pray secretly for a quarter of an hour yea for an hoar or two he seemed to doe little other then pray and being at length asked by his Son in Law whether he would have any thing he answered Nothing but heaven thereforâ— trouble me no more with speaking to me Then the Pastor prayed with him and the others â—ead again and so about haâ—f an hour after six he quietly and peaceably gave up the Ghâ—st having lived 63. yeares 63. dayes After hee had spent in Preaching and writing 42 years Anno Christi 1560. He was buried close by Luther they having been faithfull and intimate friends in their lives He took much pains in the Vniversitie of Wittenberg reading three or four Lectures every day unto which many resorted He was never idâ—e but spent all his time in reading writing disputing or giving counsell He neither sought after great titles nor richâ—â— He could not be perswaded to take the degree of a Doctor saying That such honour was a great burden He had many and great enemies who often thâ—eatned to banish him Germany of which himselfe writes â— go jam sum hic Dei beneficio quadraginta anâ—os nunquam potuidicere aut certus esse me per unam 〈◊〉 mansurum esse I have through Gods mercy been here theâ—e fourty years and yet I could never say or besure that I should remain here one week to an end A little before his death he said Cupio ex hac vita migrare propâ—er duas causas primum ut fruar desiderato conspectu filii Dei coelestis Ecclesiae deinde ut liberer ab immanibus implacabilibus Theologorum odiis Amongst all his writings and disputations he would never meddle with the controversie about the Sacrament leaving that to Luther and being loth publickly to manifest his dissent from him Yet it is certaine that as they went to the Colloquie of Ratisbon together anno 1541. he communicated his opinion to Luther confirmed by the Testimonies of the ancient Fathers both Greek and Latine and when Luther had made some Annotations upon those sentences which contradicted his opinion Melancthon said Mr. Dr. I could make the like Annotations but sure they are not strong enough After all his great labours in the Church and Vniversity he carried away the usuall reward of the world reproof accusations injuries and reproaches Anno Christi 1555. a tumult being raised amongst the students he went forth to perswade them to peace when one of them ran
enemies rose up against him and his Congregation for differing from them about Christ's presence in the Sacrament especially one Westphalus who wrote bitterly against them calling them Zuinglians and affirming that all those which had suffered about that point in Belgia England or France were the Divels Martyrs At last Lascus returned into his owne Country from which he had been absent twenty years There he found Gods harvest to be great and the labourers to be very â—ew His coming was very unwelcom to the Popish Clergy who sought by all means to destroy him or to get him banished and therefore they accused him to the King for an Heretick beseeching him not to suffer him to stay in the Kingdom To whom the King answered That though they pronounced him an Heretick yet the States of the Kingdom did not so esteem him and that he was ready to clear himselfe from those aspersions When they thus prevailed not they cast abroad reproaches and all manner of lies as if hee would stir up a civil war in the Kingdom But it pleased God when he had spent a little time in instructing his friends that he sickned and dyed An Chr. 1560. He was of an excellent wit and judgement and tooke much paines to have composed that difference in the Churches about Christ's presence in the Sacrament though it succeeded not The King of Poland had him in such esteeme that hee made use of his advice and help in many great and difficult businesses His Works are these Liber de Coena Domini Epistola continens summam controversiae de Coena Domini breviter explicatam Confessio de nostra cum Christo communione corporis sui in Coena exhibitione Epistola ad Bremensis Ecclesiae Ministros â—ontra Mennonem Catabaptistarum Principem De recta Ecclesiarum instituendarum ratione Epistolae tres Epistolae ad Sigismundum Regem Poloniae Purgatio Ministrorum in Ecclesus peregrinis Francofurti Forma ratio totius Ecclesiastici Ministerii Edvardi sexti in peregrinorum maxime Germanorum Ecclesia The Life of Augustine Marlorat who died A no Christi 1562. AUgustine Marlorat was born in Lorrain Anno 1506. His parents dying whilst he was young and his kindred gaping after his estate thrust him at eight years old into a Monastery of Augustine Friars by which means God so ordering it he was brought up in Learning and became a Preacheâ— and being addicted to the study of the Tongues and the Reformed Religion he would no longer live amongst those idle Drones and Slow-bellies but leaving them went to the University of Lausanna in the Country of Bern where he profited much in Learning and came to the knowledge of the Truth and from thence was chosen to be the Pastor at Vivia near to the Lake of Leman and from thence hee was called to Roan where was a populous Church which he instructed and taught so holily and with such prudence that his honesty protected him against the rage and malice of his adversaries Anno Christi 1561 he was present at the conferenc at Possy between the Cardinal of Lorrain and Theâ—dore Beza where he acquitted himself with much courage appearing on the Protestants side against the Papists The year following when the Civil Wars brake forth in France the City of Roan was besieged and after a hard siege was taken by storm at which time this August Marlorat the chief Minister of the City was taken also and carried before Monmorency the Constable of France who grievously chid him and cast him into a streight prison and the next morning the Constable and the Duke of Guise went to the prison and calling for Marlorat the Constable said to him You are he who hath seduced the people Marl. If I have seduced them it 's God that hath done it rather then I for I have preached nothing to them but Divine Truths Const. You are a seditious person and the cause of the ruin of this great City Marl. As for that imputation I referre my self to all that have heard me preach be they Papists or Protestants whether I ever medled with matters of the Politick State or no but contrariwise I have according to my ability laboured to instruct them out of the holy Scriptures To this the Constable with an oath replyed that he and his abettors plotted together to make the Prince of Condie King the Admirall Coligni Duke of Normandy and Andelot Duke of Britaine To this Marlorat answered professing his own innocency and the innocency of those noble personages But the Constable swearing a great oath said We shall see within a few daies whether thy God can deliver thee out of my hand or no and so departed in a great rage Not long after at the instance of Bigot Advocate for the King an Indictment was drawn up against him and some others whereupon they were condemned for high Treason for that he had been as they said the author of the great assemblies which were the cause of Rebellion and Civill Warres and therefore as a punishment to satisfie the Law for these things the Court adjudged and condemned the said Marlorat to be drawn upon a sled and to be hanged upon a gibbeâ— before our Ladies Church in Roan This done his head to bee stricken off from his body and set upon a pole upon the bridge of the same City his goods and inheritance to be confiscated to the Kings use and shortly after this sentence was executed viz. Anno Christi 1562 and of his age 56. Hee was excellently learned and of a most unblameable life and had the testimony even of the Papists themselves that heard him that in his Sermons he never uttered ought that tended to Sedition or Rebellion Yet his malitious adversaries were not content onely to see him drawn upon an hurdle but the Constable also loaded him with a thousand disgraces and outrages as also a sonne of his called Monbrun who shortly after was slaine in the battel of Dreux One Villebon also gave him a switch with a wand adding many reproachfull speeches thereto But this meek â—amb bare all those indignities with admirable patience and meekness When he was come to the place where he should suffer he made an excellent speech as the time then permitted him exhorting two that were to suffer with him to stand stedfast to the end which they also did When he was now dead yet the rage of his adversaries ceased not there but one of the souldiers with his sword struck at his legges Yet Gods judgments found out his adversaries very speedily For the Captain that apprehended Marlorat was slaine within three weeks by one of the basest souldiers in all his company Two of his Judges also died very strangely soon after viz. the President of the Parliament by a flux of blood which could be by no means stanched The other being a Counsellor voyding
forth of the City and bad him fly for his life But it pleased God that by a fall he brake his legg whereby being again apprehended he was sent prisoner to Rome This business succeeding answerable to their desires they intended presently to fal upon Martyr whereupon they laid wait for him in every place They put in an accusation against him at Rome and in all the Colledges of his Order they stirred up his old enemies against him telling them that now the time was come wherein they might recover their former liberty so they called lientiousness â—nd to be revenged on Pet. Martyr So that by these mens instigations they met at Genoa not as usually the Superiours of the Order but those especially that bore the greatest hate to Martyr or envied him most These men summon Martyr presently to appear as Genoa But he being informed of the snares that were laid for him which his enemies being blinded with malice could not conceal And also being admonished by his friends to take heed to himself there being many that sought his life resolved not to goe to this Assembly but rather to convey himselfe else-whither where he might be safe from the power and malice of his adversaries Hereupon first of all hee conveyed part of his Library to Christopher Brent a Godly Senator of Luca who should take care to send it to him into Germany the other part he gave to the Colledge and so setting all things in order in the Colledge he privily departed out of the City onely with three companions Paul Lacis of Verona who was afterwards Greek Professor at Strasborough Theodosius Trebell and Julius Terentian with whom he continued faithfull unto the death Departing from Luca purposing to visit his owne country he went to Pisa where to some Noble men he administred the Lords Supper and meeting there with some faithful messengers he wrote to Cardinal Pool and to some of his friends at Luca. In these Letters he shewed what great errors and abuses were in the Popish Religion and in the Monasticall life with whom he could no longer communicate with a safe conscience He also shewed the other causes of his departure viz. the hatred and snares laid for him by his enmies He signified also what pains and care he had taken for their instruction and what a grief it was to him that he could not more plainely and openly instruct them in the Christian faith The ring also which was the ensigne of his dignity he sent back shewing that he would not imploy any of the Colledge goods to his private use Coming to Florence he met there with a godly and learned man Bernardin Ochine who being cited to Rome was going thitherward but being warned of the danger by his friends he consulted with Martyr and upon deliberation both of them resolved to leave Italy and to go into Germany And accordingly first Ochine departed and went to Geneva and from thence to Ausburg and two dayes after Peter Martyr followed going first to Bononia then to Ferrara then to Verona where being courteously entertained by his old friends He went thence over the Alps into Helvetia In this journey when he came to Zurick he was very kindly entertained by Bullinger Pellicane and Gualter and by the other Ministers belonging to that City to whom he proffered his service if they needed it but having at this time no place void in the Schools they told him that they much desired his company and pains but for the present they had no imployment for him yet would they gratefully remember his kind profer to them He often used to say that as soon as he came to Zurick he fell in love with that City desiring of God that it might be a refuge to him in this his banishment which prayer was afterwards granted though in the interim God pleased to make use of his labours in other places and Nations for his own glory and the good of many From thence he went to Basil where after he had abode about a month he with Paul Lacis was called to Strasborough by the means of Martin Bucer In which place he was made Professor of Divinity and Lacis of the Greek Tongue There he continued five years in which time he interpreted most of the Bible and what his excellency in teaching was may be hence collected in that being joyned with Martin Bucer a great Divine and eminent for learning yet Martyr was not accounted inferiour to him He was very skilful in Hebrew Greek and Latiâ—e He had an admirable dexterity in interpreting Scripture was a very acute disputant and used always to express himselfe very clearly knowing that ambiguity of words is the cause of much contention He lived in most intire friendship with his Collegue Master Bucer At Strasborough being unmarried he lived with his friends that came with him out of Italy being contented with a very small stipend which yet afterwards was augmented For having forsaken his Country his honors and riches for the testimony of Christ he thought it unfit to be solicitous or to trouble any about the increase of his stipend the rather because he was of a frugall disposition so that his stipend did not onely suffice but he spared something out of that little towards the support of his friends But finding some inconvenience of living single by the advice of his friends he married an honest and noble Virgin Katherine Damo-martin who afterwards dyed in England without issue having lived with him eight years She was one that feared God was loving to her husband prudent in administring houshold affairs liberal to the pooâ— and in the whole course of her life pious modest and sober After her death by the command of Cardinal Poole her body was digged up and buried in a dunghill and when he could finde no other cause for it he pretended that it was because she was buried too near to St. Frideswide For though this Cardinall had formerly loved Martyr very well yet when he once forsooke Italy he did not onely give over loving him but shaking off his study of the true Religion which for a time â—e had seemed to like hee became a great hater of Martyr and a bitter prosecutor of the professors of the Truth which occasioned him to deale so with Martyrs Wife seeing that he could not burn her husband as he desired But in Queen Elizabeths daies her body was again taken up and with great solemnity buried in the chiefe place of the Church and to prevent the Popish malice for the time to come her bones were mingled with the boneâ— of St. Frideswide that they should not be distinguished asunder The occasion of Peter Martyrs going into England was this King Henry the eighth being dead and his son Edward the sixth succeeding by the advice of the Protector Edward Duke of Somerset and Doctor Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury he
which was not laid aside notwithstanding that judgement of God amongst them Good men assented to this which Master Calvin spake but some there were of the great men of the City which hindred the reformation hereof till at last they ruined themselves thereby And to all these evils this was added to compleat them that now though very unseasonable the controversie about the priviledges of the City sprang up neither could the faithfull Pastors be suffered to dispose of the Ecclesiasticall goods taken from the Pontificians as they ought to be About this business were many clamours many complaints and much pains taken by writing and conference but they proved all in vain whereupon Master Calvin did publickly profess that he could not endure so many sacriledges which he knew would at the length be severely punished by God yet withall he acknowledged the justice of God in that the goods which were formerly so unjustly gotten by the Masâ—-Priests God would not suffer them to be brought into the Churches Treasury Master Calvin yet met with two more things which did afflict him this year A wicked fellow was returned to Geneva his own Country who for a time had lived as an Hermite in France This man pretending to the reformed Religion Master Calvin who was very acute in prying into mens minds and manners taking notice of him admonished him first gently and afterwards more freely and at last reproved him for carrying himselfe more proudly in the Congregation then beseemed him The man not bearing this easily found out such as had been reproved for their wickedness by Master Calvin by whose favour and help he might be assisted so that a Pastor being to bee chosen in the room of one that was dead this man by the help of his companions sought the place and so far prevailed that the Senate commanded that in the Election regard should be had of him Master Calvin with his Colleagues opposed it shewing how far this his seeking to intrude himself was dissonant from the word of God and at length obtained of the Senate that they should proceed in their Election according to the Ecclesiasticall constitutions so merly agreed on At this same time also there were many in France who being falne at first through sear of persecution began at last to please themselves with this conceit that it was no sin to be present with their bodies at the Popish services so they kept the true Religion in their hearts This pernicious error was long since condemned by the Fathers Against these Master Calvin wrote and confuted that error and because these persons thought him too rigid he adjoyned to his own the opinions of these learned and godly Divines Philip Melancthon Bucer Peter Martyr and the Church of Zurick so that the name of these Nicodemites stark amongst all good men for so were they called who cloaked their errors with his example The next year being 1546. proved nothing milder then the former For frequent intelligence came of the preparations of the Emperor and the Popes frauds against the Protestants Wherefore Mr. Calvin judged it necessary to confirm the mindes of the Citizens against the terrour of these reports especially considering the impudency of many wicked men who were so farre from being curbed by all the bridles of Ecclesiasticall Discipline that on the contrary they raged the more and sought to break them all in sunder These men having gotten one Amedius Perrinus a vain bold and ambitious man for their Captaine for indeed he had long before procured to be chosen the Captaine General by the Suffrages of the people This man supposing as the truth was that neither he nor such like himselfe could stand whilst the Ecclesiasticall Laws were in force and especially whilst Mr. Calvin did so thunder against their lasciviousnesse beganne now to discover what he and his associates had been long contriving which being taken notice of and speedily prevented by the authority of the Senate hee indeed held his peace but the contrived wickednesse presently brake out more openly For shortly after one of the Senators in a publick assembly of the people blamed Calvin as one that taught false Doctrine subâ—â—ned as was supposed hereunto privately by two of the Colledge of Pastors both of them being Drunkards and therefore no whit lesse fearing the severity of the Laws then the others forementioned But Mr. Calvin made little account of this barking Yet this man that thus accused him was called before the Senate and his cause being heard was condemned for slander and those two drunken Ministers which had set him on were removed out of their places being forbidden going into Taverns Whereby we see that the wickedness of the wicked returns upon his own pate The troubles of this year being thus ended the next year which was 1547 proved far world indeed that Age saw not a more calamitous time then that was The Churches of Germany seeming utterly subverted the Protest in Princes taken and Cities yeelding up themselves after so grâ—at labour used and so great difficulties passed through in planting the Gospel amongst them with what great grief the godly soul of Mr. Calvin was afflicted for the desolations of the Churches is not easie to express especially if we consider that great affection which he bore to them though farre remote from him which indeed was no other then if he had bore them all upon his shoulders And indeed he was wonderfully grieved when he heard of those holy men his worthy friends Philip Melancthon Bucer Peter Martyr c. in so great danger that they seemed nearer death than life But yet that Mr. Calvin bore up with a valiant mind in this tempest appeares both by his writings and by his carriage for being much vexed at home by sundry wicked men yet would he not start at all from his fixed course To speak somewhat of his domestick troubles Mr. Calvin wholly imploying himself to shew that the life of Christianity did not so much consist in vain speculation as in practise he necessarily met with those enemies which did not onely oppose all piety and honesty but threatened warre to their own country The chief of these was that Perrinus before mentioned who with his companions had brought themselves into this condition that they must needs use extremity for which end they appealed from the Presbytery to the Senate The Presbytery on the contrary pleaded their Ecclesiastical Constitutions agreeable to the Word of God and setled by Authority and therefore they desired the Senate that their priviledges might not be infringed The Senate concluded that the Ecclesiastical Laws being established ought not to be violated But when this audacious fellow would not otherwise be ruled the Senate decreed that he should be deposed from his Oaptainship and live a private life Though all these things were transacted before the Senate yet was Mr. Calvin wonderfully afflicted by them
for once upon a publick hearing there was such a tumult raised that they were very neare imbruing their hands each in others blood which sedition Calvin with his Colleagues hearing of interposed themselves though it was with the perill of his life the faction of the wicked being most against him and stopped it Yet these men proceeding in their wickednesse hated him the more for it So that Mr. Calvin sharply reproved them for it in his Sermons and Gods judgements threatned by him proved not in vain For one of them writing an infamous Libel and affixing it to his pulpit wherein were contained many railings against the sacred Ministery and particularly against Mr. Calvin that he deserved to be thrown into the River of Rhodanus This man being apprehended and convicted of these and many other horrid blasphemies had hiâ— head cut off And after his death there was another Libell found written by his owne hand containing blaspemies against Moses and Christ himself with which impiety there was no doubt but that he had infected others At this very very time and in the middest of these troubles Mr. Calvin wrote his Antidote against the seven Sessions of the Councell of Trent He also sending Letters to the Church of Christ in Roan confirmed them against the fraud of a certain Fâ—anciscan Fryer who had spread the poysonsom Doctrines of the Libertines and Carpocratians amongst them The year following which was 1548 the evill of the aforenamed faction in eneva brake forth againe The Devill which is almost incredible abusing those persons to be instruments thereof who indeed were the greatest enemies to it viz. Farel and Viret These men comming to Geneva made o grave Oration in the Senate about composing their differences Mr. Calvin requiring nothing but that those men should mend their manners and Perrinus with his associates proâ—siâ—ng any thing so he might be restored to his former place For Perrinus being restored to his place he and his wicked companions grew so impudent that they cut their cloathes crosse on their breasts that they might know each other others of them called their dogs by the name of Calvin Others instead of Calvin called him Cain others out of an hatred to Mr. Calvin professed that they would not come to the Sacrament of the Lords Supper All which Mr. Calvin and his Colleagues did boldly and faithfully reprove and when they were called before the Senate the innocency of the good men easily carried away the victory So that the Amnestie or forgetfulnesse of wrongs was solemnly sworn to Decemb. 18 But it afterwards appeared that all this was done thorough dissimulation and that Perrin sought nothing thereby but to be chosen a Syndic that he and his might by that meanes have the more liberty to act all their wickednesse as the event declared Mr. Calvin in the midst of these broils was so farre from giving over his accustomed labours that as if nothing had molested him hee wrote learned Commentaries upon six of Pauls Epistles as also by weighty Arguments confuted the Interim which was published for the destruction of the German Churches shewing withall the right course for the restoring of those Churches He discovered also in a book the vanity and falshood of Judiciall Astrology which many beganne now to give too much heed to and being saluted by Letter from Brentius now in exile he wrote consolatory Letters to him in which friendship it had been happy if Brentius had continued Bucer also being a banished man in England at this time Calvin wrote to him to declare and open his mind more fully about the Sacrament of the Lords Supper and comforted him in a most friendly manner He also wrote Letters of advice to the Duke of Sommerset now Protector of England who afterwards suffered an unworthy death about such matters as if his counsell had been hearkened to it had been happy for England and perhaps the Church there had happily avoyded many of those storms which afterwards befell it In the midst of these contencions the Church of Geneva did wonderfully encrease which did exceedingly torment the Devill and his instruments and Mr. Calvin was very solicitous to entertain and provide for such as were banished for the name of Christ Which care of his it pleased God to bless the year following that the fury of those wicked men though it was not quite extinct yet for the present it was layd asleep And truly hee had need of such a truce being grievously afflicted with a domestick accident For at this time he lost his dear Wife a very choice woman yet did he bear this accident with such constancy that therein he gave an excellent example of fortitude to the whole Church The same year there arose a great contention in the Saxon Church about things indifferent Whereupon sending to Mr. Calvin for his judgement he freely declared his opinion to them He also admonished Melancthon of his duty whom some accused for too much softnes in this point but Master Calvin afterwards found it to be a false charge For at this time it was unknowne with what minde and spirit the whole troop of Flaccians were carried which afterwards raised such great troubles to the Church and were acted with such fury and impudence as if they had been hired by the Pope of Rome to carry on his cause But it pleased God to compensate this wound inflicted upon the Churches of Germany by a great blessing upon the Helvetians For Farel aud Calvin going to Zurick when many thought that Master Calvin did too much favour the Doctrine of Consubstantiation in a Synod of all the Helvetian and Rhetian Churches he shewed his agreement with them and indeed there was no great difficulty to bring good men and lovers of the truth into an harmonious concord This agreement of the Helvetian and Rhetians Churches was written which did more and more unite Bullinger and Calvin and the Church of Zurick with that of Geneva Master Calvin also about this time wrote two learned Epistles to Laelius Socinus the poyson of whose opinions did not appear till after his death for in his life time going through the Churches he had deceived Melancthon Calvin and Camerarius but afterwards it appeared that he had much favoured Servetus Castellio and Ochin and their mad opinions for his Commentary upon the first chapter of John coming forth shewed that he went beyond the impiety of all those Hereticks which had corrupted the most Divine portion of Scripture Anno Christi 1550 succeeding the Church of Christ enjoyed peace and then it was decreed in Geneva that the Ministers not onely in their Sermons which many neglected and others heard with small profit But from house to house at many seasons of the year should divide the City amongst them and require of every family an account of their Faith by which means its scarce credible
I pray you that yee be not pussed up with pride like pâ—ophane persons but rather give thanks to God with lowliness of mind But if adversitie shall happen unto you and death shall stand before you on every side yet trust in him that raiseth up the dead yea then especially think that ye are stirred up by God that ye may more and more trust in him alone And if ye desire that this your Commonwealth may be preserved in a firm estate see that you be not defiled with any filthiness For he is onely the highest God King of Kings and Lord of Lords he will honour those that honour him and cast down those that despise him Honour him therefore according to his own precepts and daily thinâ— of this that we are farre from doing that which is required of us I know the dispositions and conversations of every one of you and I know that you have need of exhortation There is none of those that excell most unto whom many things are not wanting therefore let every man look about him and let him ask of the Lord those things which he understands himself to stand in need of We see what vices reign in the greatest Councels in the world some are stark cold and neglect the publick taking care onely for their own private affairs Others are indulgent to their private affections Others use not the excellent gifts God hath bestowed upon them as they ought Others proudly boast of 〈◊〉 own parts and upon a certain confidence therein expect that every man should subscribe to their opinions I exhort old men that they envy not the younger whom they finde adorned with excellent gifts from God I admonish the younger that they carry themselves modestly without arrogance and let not one molest another Avoyd contentions and all that bitterness of spirit which diverts many from the right way in the government of the Commonwealth And ye shall the better avoyd these things if every man contain himself within his own spheare and all administer that part of the Commonwealth faithfully which is committed to him I pray you for Gods sake let there bee no place for favour or hatred in the judgement of civill causes Let none pervert right by subtill and cunning tricks Let no man hinder the Laws from prevailing Let no man depart from that which is just and equall If sinister affections shall beginne to arise let him resist them constantly looking upon hâ—m that hath placed him in his throne and begge of him his holy Spirit To conclude I begge of you again that you pardon mine infirmities which I acknowledge and confess before God Angels and your worshipfull selves Having thus spoken he prayed unto God to multiply his gifts and blessings upon them more and more and to governe them by his holy Spirit for the safety and good of the Commonwealth And giving his hand to every of them he dismissed them all who departed full of sorrow and heavinesse as from their Common Father with many tears April the eight and twentieth the Ministers of Geneva being come to him he spake thus unto them Brethren after my decease stand fast in this work of the Lord and be not discouâ—aged for the Lord will preserve this Church Commonwealth against the threatnings of the enemies I pray God keep you from dissentions Embrace one anoâ—her with mutuall charity Think again and again what you owe to this Church where in the Lord hath placed you and let nothing divert you from your duty Otherwise it will be easie for such as seek them to finde out â—â—â—sions but such shall finde that God cannot be deceived A soâ—n as I came to this City the Gospel indeed was preached but the affaires were very troublesome manâ— conceiting that Christianity was nothing else but to overthrow Images And there were not a few wicked persons from whom I suffered many most unworthy things But the Lord our God so confirmed and strengthened mee though by nature was not bold that I gave not place to any of their endeavours Afterwards when I returned hither from Strasborough I followed this vocation with an unwilling mind because it seemed to me that it would prove unfruitfull for I knew not what the Lord had determined and the matter was full of many and great difficulties But going on at last I found that God had much blessed my labours Stand fast therefore in this your vocation Retaine that order that is begun and doe your uttermost endeavours that the people may be kept in subjection to your wholsome Doctrine for some are wicked and stubborn Things as you see are through Gods mercy well setled and therefore ye shall be left without excuse before God if through your sâ—thfulness they be unsetled again I profess Brethren that I have lived with you conâ—oyned in true love and sincere charity and that I now so depart from you If you have found me any whit pettish in this my disease I crave pardon of you and give you very great thanks that yâ— have sustained the burthen imposed upon me during the time oâ— my sicknesse Having thus spoken he gave his hand to each of them who departed from him with much sorrow and weeping A while after Master Calvin understanding by Letters from Mr. Farel to Mr. Viret who was now an old man of eighty years old and sickly was yet determined to visit him and was now onward of his journey he wrote thus to him to stay him Farewell my best and sincerest brother and seeing God will have you to out live me in this world live mindful of our friendship which as it hath been profitable for the Church of God here so the fruit thereof tarrieth for us in heaven I would not have you weary your self for my sake I hardly draw my breath and I expect daily when it will wholly fail me It is enough that I live and die to Christ who is gaine to his both in life and death Again farewell May 11. Anno Christi 1564. Yet for all this Letter the good old man came to Geneva and having fully conferred with Mr. Calvin returned back to Neocom The rest of his dayes even till his departure Mr. Calvin spent almost in perpetuall prayer with his eyes fixed upon heaven and his voice full of sighes by reason of his short breath May the seven and twentieth being the day whereon hee departed he seemed to speak more strongly and with lesse difficulty but this was but a lightning before death In the evening about eight a clock on the sudden certain signes of present death appeared at which time Mr. Beza being newly departed from him some ran to acquaint him therewith whereupon he presently returned but found him to have yeelded up his spirit into the hands of God without the least strugling yea not so much ascending forth one groan having had his understanding memory and voice even to the last gasp being much more like to one that
Bartholdus and Hallerus Anno Christi 1524. he went to Basil where he profered a publick disputation with the Popish Divines of that place but the Masters of the Universitie would not suffer it saying That his Theses savoured of the new Doctrine till the Senate being informed hereof gave him free liberty of disputing and then Farellus set up his Theses publickly in the Colledge which were these Christus nobis perfectam vivendi regulam praescripsit Christi mandata sunt observanda in quibus iis qui continentiae donum non habent matrimonium praecipitur Alienum est evangelii luce Judaicum discrimen vestitus ciborum aliarum ceremoniaâ—um observare Periculosae sunt preces muâ—torum verborum contra Christi mandatum Christi mandata non sunt in consilia convertenda nâ—c contra Soli Deo Sacrificia offerenda quae Spiritus dictat c. When these Positions were divulged the Bishops Vicar the Rector and Governours of the University forbade all under them upon pain of excommunication either to dispute or to harken to them The Senate on the contrary thinking that this command derogated from their authority commanded their Parish Ministers and students of the University that they should be present and if they did otherwise they forbad them the use of their mills furnaces and Merchandize Hereupon a Disputation ensued in a great Assembly of the Clergy and Citizens But shortly after the Bishops Vicar and the Rector of the University and their Popish faction drove him by force from Basil their darknesse not enduring the light Neither was the servant greater then his Master From thence he went to Mont-Bellicard and to some other places where he preached the Gospel with so much fervour and zeal that it was evident unto all that he was called of God thereunto Anno Christi 1527. he went to a certain Towne called AElin where he preached the Gospel and was admonished by Occolampadius to mingle prudence with his zâ—al Anno 1528. he went to Aquileta amongst the Bernates where he preached Christ and undauntedly opposed Antichrist disputing also with divers at Bern whereupon ensued a wonderfull change in Ecclesiasticall affaires Anno Christi 1528. he with Vâ—ret went to Geneva where they planted the Church and propagated the Gospel and many of the Citizens imbraced it yet at first not so much out of love to the truth as out of hatred to Popish Tyranny Long he had not been there before the Bishops Officers drew him into the Bishops Count which two of the Studies much disliked the rather because Farell promised them that he would prove all his Doctrine out of the holy Scriptures So that they accompanied him into the Bishops Court that they might see all things to proceed in judgement lawfully but it fell out otherwise For the Judge of the Court would by no means endure a Disputation saying If that be suffered all our mystery will be destroyed and withall railing upon Farell he said Thou most wicked devill why camest thou to this City to trouble us I am not answered Farel as you call me but I preach Jesus Christ who was crucified for our sins and rose againe and he that beleeveth in his name shall bee saved This is the summe of my arrant I am a debtor unto all that are ready to hear and obey the Gospel desiring this onely that the obedience of Faith may flourish every where and I came into this City to see if there were any that would lend me he hearing and I wilrender an account of my faith and hope every where and will confirm my Doctrine with my blood if need be Then cryed out one of the Court in Latine He hath blasphemed what need we any more witnesses He is guilty of death Hurle him into Rhodanus Hurle him into the Rhodanus its better this one Lutheran should be put to death then that further troubles should be raised Farel answered Do not utter the words of Caiphas but of God Then one strake him on the mouth with his fist and hee was commanded to stand aside as if they would consult and in the interim he was shot at with a gunne by the Vicars serving-man but it hit him not God defending his servant And though one of the Syndics favoured him yet now the other shrunk from him so that the Bishops Councell prevailed that he should be driven out of the City And thus being accompanyed with some Citizens hee and his partner Anthony Salner were expelled the City but God turned it to the great good of others for they sowed the seed of the Word in the neighbouring Country by the side of the Lake Lemannus viz. at Orba and Granson Neither yet through Gods power and goodnesse was the work interrupted at Geneva For just at the same time came a young man of the Delphinate called Anthony Frumentius who entering into the City taught a publick School together with the Rudiments of Grammer he most happily layd the Foundation of Christian Religion in the hearts and mindes of his Scholars which were not a few Anno Christi 1541 Master Farel went to Metis and preached in the Church-yard of the Dominicans The Friers when they could not otherwise hinder him rang their Bells But he having a strong voice did so strain it that he went on audibly to the end of his Sermon The day after there came about three thousand persons together to hear the Word of God but some that favoured the Gospel intreated Mr. Farel so long to forbear as till he might preach without a tumult Then was he questioned by the Magistrates by what authority or by whose request he preached To which hee answered By the command of Christ and at the request of his Members Gravely discoursing both of his own authority and of the excellency of the Gospel telling the Magistrate what his duty was in reference thereunto But shortly after by the command of the Emperour the Citizens of Metis were forbidden to hear any man preach who was not licensed by the Bishop and some others Whereupon Mr. Farel went from thence to Neocome where he wholly employed himself in the service of the Church performing the office of a faithfull Pastor to extreame old age with admirable zeale and diligence When he heard of Calvin's sicknesse in the year 1564 hee could not satisfie himself though he was seventy years old but he must goe to Geneva to visit him He survived Calvin one year and odde moneths and died aged 76 years Anno Christi 1565. Anno Christi 1553 the Genevians though they owed themselves wholly to him yet were carried on with such fury that they would have condemned Farel to death and did such things against him that Calvin wished hee might might have expiated their anger with his blood This was that Farel who discouraged by no difficulties deterred with no threatnings reproaches or
Workes they be that God requires of us that hereby they might reduce the people to the pure worship of God But the Devill stirred up many adversaries against them â—workâ— specially the Friars who accused them to the Inquisitors amongst whom was Hannibal Grisonius and his companion Hierom Mutius who afterwards writ an invective against Vergerius traducing also Germany it self in a book which 〈◊〉 set out in hatred of Religion Grisonius upon this information went to Pola and Justinple rushing into the houses of the Citizens searching for forbidden bookes He preached also and sent forth the Popes Thunderbolt against such as would not accuse others that were suspected for Lutheranism by which means he enforced one friend to accuse another yea children to accuse their own parents In the chief Church of Justinople he sang Mass in a glorious Cope told the people that God had plagued them for divers years with severall calamities one yeare saith he in your Olive-trees and another yeare in your Corn and a third in your Vines and Cattle and your Bishops are the causes of all these mischiefs neither can you expect to be freed from these judgements except they be driven away Hereupon Vergerius went to Mantua to his old friend Cardinal Gonzaga to whom he was familiarly known But John Casus the Popes Ambassador to the Venetians hearing of it urged Gonzaga both by Letters and Messengers not to entertain such a man any longer Upon this Verg rius went to Trent where the Councill then was to clear himself but when the Pope knew it though he could willingly have imprisoned him yet least any suspition should have risen especially in Germany that the Councill was not free hee wrote to his Legate not to suffer him to bee heard in the Councill but to command him to goe somewhither else Then he went to Venice where Casus the Popes Legate meeting with him exhorted him by all means to go to Rome but Vergerius knowing wel his danger if he should so do refused Then did Casus a few daies after command him in the Popes name to goe no more to Justinople whereupon hee betooke himself to Padua where he was a spectator of the miserable condition of Francis Spira which so wrought upon him that he resolved to leave his Country and all his outward comforts and go into voluntary exile where he might freely professe Christ and accordingly hee went into Rhetia where he preached the Gospel sincerely till hee was called from thence to Tubing by Christopher Duke of Wirtemburg where he ended his daies Anno Christi 1565. His brother being dead before him not without the suspition of poyson He published many Workes which are particularly set down by Verheiden The Life of Strigelius who died A no Christi 1569. VIctorine Strigelius was born at Kaufbira an Imperiall City in Suâ—via not farre from the foot of the Alpes Anno Christi 1524. His Father was Doctor of Physick who died in his sonnes Infancy When this Strigelius was fit for it his friends finding him of a prompt and ready wit set him to School in his own Country where he quickly drunk in the first Rudiments of Learning and so Anâ— Christi 1538 he was sent to the University of Friburg in which place the Popish Religion was kept up but yet by the care of Erasmus the knowledge of the Arts and Tongues much flourished There he heard the Philosophical Lectures of John Zâ—nckius a famous Physiâ—ian And afterwards travelling into the Saxon Universities when he heard Melancthon ask a child What was God And What was meant by the Word in the first of John he wondered to hear such answers from a child as the Popish Doctors were ignorant of Upon this occasion in the eighteenth year of his age and in the year of Christ 1542 he went to Wittenberg where he was inflamed by God with an ardent desire to know the Doctrine of the Reformed Churches For which end he diligently attended on Luther's and Melancthon's Lectures and wholly framed himself to the imitation of Melancthon Anno Christi 1544. he Commenced Master of Arts and by the perswasion of Melancthon he taught a private School at Wittenberg where he did much good and gat himself great repute But when the Wars in Germany waxed hot he left Wittenberg and went to Magdeburg and from thence to Erphurd where he published some Orations being about two and twenty years old Anno Christi 1548 he went thence to Jenes and there he preached and the year after married a Wife Barbara the daughter of that excellent man Francis Burcard which lived with him but two years Anno Christi 1553 he married againe Blandina the daughter of Snepsius who lived with him till his death An. Christi 1556 was a meeting at Isenac about the Controversie raised by Major concerning the necessity of good Works where by the consent of the Divines Strigelius was appointed in a friendly manner to concerre with Menius about that Controversie to conclude it not out of Humane Writings but by the Word of God The end of which conference was that Menius did solemnly promise before Frederick Duke of Saxony and all the Ministers present that he would not recede from those Propositions which were then agreed upon out of Gods Word Anno Christi 1557 there fell out a new controversie betwixt Facius and him which brought on the disputation at Vinaria wherein these two Questions were handled Whether in Regeneration the qualities onely are changed without the substance or whether together with the qualities there be a creation of a new substance Strigelius held that there was onely a change of the qualities his adversary said there was a change in both The other question was about the manner of working De modo agendi Anno Christi 1559 he together with Aquila Pastor of Jenes was carried away to prison the markes whereof hee carried to his grave the reason of it was because they refused to consent to a book which they of Jenes had published against the Divines of Wittenberg In prison he fell very sick insomuch as the Prince suffered him to go to his own house but yet made him a prisoner there Then did Christopher Duke of Wirtemberg and Philip Lantgrave of Hesse mediate for his release and yet could not obtain it but at last the Emperour Maximilian interposing his authority procured it after he had been a prisoner above three years and so for a while hee returned to his former labours in the Schooles But perceiving that he could not be in safety in that place he resolved to depart which the University understanding wrote to him earnestly importuning his stay To whom he returned thankes for their love but told them withall That his life was in continuall danger by reason of false brethren and therefore he was resolved to goe
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 Gospel of his Son that I have taught nothing but the true and sincere word of God and that the end that I proposed in my Ministry was To instruct the ignorant to confirm the weak to comfort their consciences who were humbled under the sense of their sins and born down with the threatings of Gods judgements I am not ignorant that many have and doe blame my too great rigour and severity but God knoweth that in my heart I never hated those against whom I thundered Gods judgements I did onely hate their sins and laboured according to my power to gain them to Christ. That I did forbear none of what condition soever I did it out of the fear of my God who hath placed me in the function of his Ministry and I know will bring me to an account Now brethren for your selves I have no more to say but to warn you that you take heed of the Flock over which God hath placed you Over-seers which he hath redeemed by the blood of his onely begotten Son And you Mr. Lawson sight a good fight do the worke of the Lord with courage and with a willing mind and God from Heaven blesse you and the Church whereof you have the Charge Against it so long as it continues in the Doctrine of the Truth the gates of hell shall not prevail Having thus spoken and the Elders and Deacons being dismissed he called the two Preachers 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 himselfe away I pray you goe 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 wisdom of that man whom he counteth halfe a god which was young Leshington shall yeeld him help but he shall be shamefully pulled out of that nest and his carcass hung before the Sun meaning the Castle which he kept against the Kings Authority for his soul it is dear to me and if it were possible I would faine have him saved Accordingly they went to him conferred with him but could by no means divert him from his course but as Knox had foretold so the year after his Castle was taken and his body was publickly there hanged before the Sun Yet at his death he did express serious repentance The next day M. 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 Jesus Sweet Jesus into thy hands I commend my spirit Being asked 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 joys Oft after some deep meditation he used to say Oh serve the Lord in fear and death shall not be trouble some to you blessed is the death of those that have part in the death of Jesus The night before his death he slept some hours with great unquietnesse often sighing 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 assulted with Temptations from Sathan and he hath oft cast my sins 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 seeks to perswade me that all my labours in the Ministry and 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 thou hast not received And Not I but the grace of God in me with which he is gone away ashamed and shall no more return And now I am sure that my battel is at an end and that without pain of body or trouble of spirit I shall shortly change this mortall and miserable life with that happy and immortall life that shall never have an end After which one praying by his bed having made an end asked him if he heard the prayer Yea said he and would to God that all present had heard it with such an ear and heart as I have done Adding Lord Jesus receive my spirit With which words without any motion of hands or feet as one falling asleep rather then dying he ended his life Never was man more observant of the ture and just authority of Church-Rulers according to the word of God and the practise of the purest Primitive times He alwayes pressed due Obedience from the People to the faithfull Pastors and Elders of the Church He died Anno Christi 1572. and of his age 62. Men of all ranks were present at his Buriall The Earl of Murray when the Corps was put into the ground said Here lies the body of him who in his life time never feared the face of any man Script a reliquit ad Londinenses alios Ad Evangeliâ— professores Qualiter sit Orandum In Psalmum ad matrem Contra missam Papisticam Doctrinale Missaticum De fide Eucharistiae Ad Ecclesias afflictas Ad Scotiae Reginam Mariam Consilium in Angustiis Buccinae afflatum primum Appellationem a sententia Cleri Ad populares Scotiae In Genesin consciones et alia quaedam He was a man not lesse learned then endued with vertue a constant Preacher of the Truth and a valiant defendor of the same through his whole life His zeal learning and courage did notably appeare in this example Anno Christi 1550 he was called before Tonstal Bishop of Durham and his Doctors to give an account of his opinion about the Masse where preaching before them he did so sharply taxe their Idolatries and Blasphemies and by such solid arguments confute the same that his adversaries were silenced and had not wherewithall to reply against him P. RAMVS The Life of Peter Ramus who died A no Christi 1572. PEter Ramus was born in France Anno Christi 1515. His Grandfather was a Nobleman who having his estate plundered by Charls Duke of Burgundy Generall under the Emperor Charls the fifth was forced to leave his Country and to betake himselfe to the poor and painfull life of an husbandman And his father being left very poor by him was fain to live by making of Charcoal Ramus being from his childhood of an excellent wit of an industrious nature and much addicted to learning was compelled for his subsistence to live as a servant with one of his Unkles but finding that by
reason of his many imployments he had no time to follow his book there he thought it better to betake himselfe to the service of some learned man So going to Paris and being admitted into the Colledg of Navar he laboured hard all day for his Masters and spent a great part of the night in study so that in a short time he was made Master of Arts and Laureat Poet. And the Professors in that Colledge every one taking much delight in his diligence each strove to forward him in Learning and lent him such books as he needed Then he betook himselfe to instructing others and to exercise himselfe in private Lectures till thereby he had fitted himselfe for more publick imployments Which when he had done he was appointed publickly to read Logick and when he was twenty one years old he published his Logick with some Animadversions upon Aristotle This procured him much love every one admiring such ripe parts in so young a man and envy being the usuall Concomitant of vertue he had also many that envied and aspersed him especially the Sâ—rbone Doctors who accused him of Heresie in Philosophie for that he being but a Novice durst take upon him to correct Aristotle the Prince of Philosophers and by their authority they so far prevailed that Ramus was forbidden to read or write any more of Philosophy This being very grievous to him it pleased God to stir up the heart of the Governour of another Colledge to send for him to assist him in restoring of that Colledge which was now empty the Students being all fled by reason of the infection of the Plague And it came to pass that in a short time Ramus being so famous a man the Colledge was better stored with students then ever it had been before The Sâ—rbonists much raged at this and laboured to sow division between the Governour of the Colledge and him Yet Ramus carried himself with so much candor and ingenuity that they lived together with much concord At last that Governour dying Ramus succeeded him by the Cardinall of Lorrains means who was a great favourer of learning he was made the Regius Professor of Rhetorick and Philosophy Anno Christi 1551 and of his age 36. His fame spreading into all the Universities of Christendome there were may Princes that strove to get him out of France profering him large stipends if hee would come to them but he being now famous in France preferred his own Country before all others and therefore rejected all their offers In Paris he had so great esteem that though his enemies strongly opposed it yet he was made Dean of the whole University And so having obtained a more quiet kind of life hee betooke himselfe to the studie of the Mathematicks wherein he grew very exquisite But when the Civill Warrs brake forth in France for Religion and that none could safely enjoy themselves or any thing that they had whilst under pretence of Religion every one revenged his own private quarrels upon others Ramus to free himself from this tempest left Paris and went to Fountanblew where the Kings Library was yet neither there could he be in safety so that at last hee was compelled to betake himselfe to the Camp of the Prince of Conde But when he saw that France was no fit place for him for the present to reside in hee resolved to travell into Germany till God should restore peace to his Country again And accordingly he went to Strasborough Basil Lausanna Zurick Heidleberg Norenberg and Augsburg and was entertained in all these Universities with great applause and with much joy by all Learned men When the Civill War was ended in France he returned to Paris again Where he remained in his former imployment as the Kings Professor in Logick till that horrible Massacre happened on St. Bartholmews day wherein so many thousands perished by the cruel hands of bloody Papists At which time he was in the Colledge of Priests and the Colledge gates being fast shut he locked himselfe up in his owne house till those furious Papists brake open his doores and finding him ranne him thorow and being half dead threw him out of his window so that his bowels issued out on the stones and not being satisfied therewith they cut off his head dragged his body about the streets in the channels and some young Scholars were set on by their Popish Tutors to whip it in a most contemptuous manner and at last it was thrown into the River of Sein Anno Christi 1572 and of his Age 57. After which also they seized upon his Goods Library and Writings whereby many excellent Commentaries and other Works not fully compleat perished to the great loss of Learned men He wrote a Grammer Rhetorick Logick of Mathematicks and divers other excellent Works The Life of Matthew Parker who died Anno Christi 1574. MAtthew Parker was born in the City of Norwich Anno Christi 1502 and having spent some years at School went to Cambridge where he was admitted into Corpns Christi Bennet Colledge in which place he profited so much that he was chosen Fellow and grew so famous that Queen Anâ—â— Bullen Mother to Queen Elizabeth made him her Chaplain whereupon he Commenced Doctor in Divinity And after her death King Henry the eighth and after his death King Edward the sixth made him their Chaplains and preferred him to be Master of Bennet Colledge Besides other Ecclesiasticall dignities which they advanced him to But in Queen Maries daies he was dispoyled of all and was compelled to live a poor and private life But so soon as Queen Elizabeth came to the Crown shee made choice of this Dr. Parker for his admirable learning and piety to be the Archbishop of Canterbury Anno Christi 1559. For Decemb. 17 the Dean and Chapter of the Church of Canterbury having received their Congedelier from the Queen and proceeding in their election according to the ancient and laudible custome of the aforesaid Church chose Dr. Parker for their Archbishop whereof they made a returne to the Queens Majesty for her confirmation whereupon the Queen sent her Letters Patents to seven Bishops six whereof were lately returned from their voluntary exile for his consecration The Bishops were Anthony Bishop of Landaffe William Barlow Bishop of Bath and Wells John Scory Bishop of Hâ—reford Miles Coverdale late Bishop of Exetâ—r John Suffragan of Bedford John Suffragan of Thetford and John Bale Bishop of Osâ—ry in Ireland and accordingly he was consecrated by them and lived in that place with great commendation for above fifteene years His works of Charity were very eminent He gave to the Corporation of Norwich where he was born a Bason and Ewr double gilt weighing 173 ounces as also fifty shillings a yeare for ever to be distributed amongst the poore of that City And
six anniversarie Sermons in several places of Norfolk To Bennet Colledge he gave thirty Scholarships built them a Library and bestowed many excellent bookes and ancient Manuscripts upon it besides 300 ounces of silver and gilt-plate and the perpetual Patronage of St. Mary-Abchurch London Hee carefully collected and caused to be printed divers ancient Histories of England which probably had otherwise been lost He died in peace Anno Christi 1574 and of his Age 72. H. BVLLINGER The Life of Henry Bullinger who dyed Aâ—â— Christi 1575. HEnry Bullinger was born at Bremogart in Hâ—lvetia Anno Christi 1504 of an ancient and honourable family which had flourished in that town for about two hundred years Twice in his childhood he escaped death very narrowly First being sick of the Plague his funerall was prepared yet it pleased God that beyond expectation he recovered Secondly playing on a Pipe as hee was running hee fell down and struck the Pipe so far into his throat that hee was taken up for dead and for five daies could eat nothing yet the Lord againe restored him His Father being learned himself was a great lover of it and therefore very careful to breed up this his son in learning So that at five years old he â—et him to School in that place where he was born and this young boy quickly discovered an excellent wit but his Master being himself but a weak scholar he made not such a progresse in Learning as otherwise hee might have done Hereupon Anno Christi 1516 when he was twelve years old his Father sent him to Embric where under severall Schoolmasters he was instructed in Grammar and other Elements of Learning was kept under a strict government for his 〈◊〉 and was trained up in the knowledge and feare of God Thiâ— strict discipline was not grievous to Bullinger for having been formerly brought up by his Parents religiously and being endued with a virtuous disposition he did those things willingly which others were forced to by stripes Yea he was then of such an austere carâ—iage that of himself he beganne to entertaine thoughts of entering into a Monastery of the Carthusians which of all others was accounted the strictest Sect yet would he doe nothing rashly therein till he had first cousulted with his parents and procured their consents Having thus continued three years at Embric he went to Collen Anno Christi 1519 being but slenderly provided for by his Father so that according to the custome of those times he procured victuals by singing and begging from door to door not that his father wanted wherewith to supply his necessities or that he withheld it from him out of a covetous mind but he did it that he might enure his Son to patience and hardship and that he might make him more meercifull â—o those that were in want all his life after Aâ— Callen he studied Logick and â—ommenâ—ed Batchelor of Arts at sixteen years old Afterwards betaking himself to the study of Divinity there being at this time many Theological controversies he had recourse to his Tutors for direction what to study and Peter Lombard being at this time most in request they advised him to the study thereof but meeting with many quotations out of the ancient Fathers he thought fit to read the Authors themselves And the Monastery of the Frier Predicants having a good Library belonging to it he by some friends gat leave to make use of it where lighting upon Chrysostomes Homilies upon Matthew he read them over together with divers parts of Augustine Origen and Ambrose and in the meane time read privately at home Luther De captivitate Babylonica and De bonis operibus Yet could he not for the present deliver himself from the errors of the times though hee saw that Luther came nearer to the opinions of the Antients then Lombard did Hee observed also that whereas the Schoolmen quoted the Fathers the Fathers they quoted the Scriptures Hereupon he betook himself to the reading of the Scriptures especially of the New Testament with St. Hierom and some other Commentaries upon it By which at the last through Gods mercy he beganne to abhorre the Popish Errors laying aside his former thoughts of turning Carthusian diligently applyed himself to read over Melancthons Common-places wherewith hee was wonderfully delighted Anno Christi 1522 hee Commenced Master of Arts and so returning home lived a year in his fathers house wholly imploying himself in his studies and private exercises The year after he was called by Wolfgang Joner Abbat of Capella near Zurick to teach a Schoole where hee was to instruct some Friers and other young men both in Divine and Humane Learning There he read to them in Dutch by reason of many that resorted to his Lectures some peeces of Erasmus Melancthons Common-places and a great part of the New Testament and some other Authors and so hee spent six years partly in his private studies and partly in instructing others Anno Christi 1527 hee was sent by his Abbat to Zurick where for five moneths space he heard Zuinglius preaching and reading his Lectures in the Schools and by the help of Pellican he began to study Hebrew and to perfect his knowledge in the Greek There also he gained acquaintance with sundry Learned men and wrote many things some whereof were afterwards printed He also by his preaching at the Monastery of Capella so far prevailed with the Abbat and Friers that the Masse and other Superstitions were cast out and the Lords Supper truly administred and such Friers as were unfit for the Ministry betooke themselves to other trades Anno Christi 1528 He went with Zuinglius to the Disputation at Bern. Anno Christi 1529 he was called to his native place of Bremogart where God so prospered his Ministry that presently after his comming the Magistrates banished Popery and set out a severe Decree against Adultery and Drunkennesse and being chosen Pastor of that place he preached every Sabbath in the afternoon and the three daies following in the morning Besides every day at the time of Evening prayers hee expounded a part of the New Testament But the Divell raised up some Anabaptists which disturbed the peace of that Church With these Bullinger disputed publickly and thereby in a great measure restrained them He wrote also in the defence of Tythes which as those Anabaptists said should be abolished under the New Testament And when afterwards the number of Anabaptists did exceedingly increase in Germany he set forth 6 books against â—hem wherein he shewed the originall progress the various Sects and the chiefe opinions of the Anabaptists which also hee confuted Anno Christi 1529 there arose great commotions in Helvetia and the Bernates sent some souldiers to Bremogart and for the composing of the differences there was a meeting of the chiefest persons at Bremogart where Bullinger preached at
whose Sermons not only the Protestants but many of the Papists were present to hear what and how he taught And indeed both sides commended his study of Peace For he exhorted them to compose their differences not by arms nor mutuall slaughters but by the Disputations of their Divines But God would not suffer his wholsome counsell to take effect at that time For they came to a battell wherein the Popish party prevailed and thereupon Bullinger together with his Father Brother and Colleague Gervase were commanded to depart except they would undergoe the present hazard of their lives Whereupon beginning their journey in the night through Gods providence they escaped the snares which were layd for them by their adversaries and came safely to Zurick Anno Chrâ—â— 1531 and three daies after at the request of Leo Judae with his Colleagues Bullinger preached in the chiefe Church and was entertained by one Werner Steiner his ancient friend that was fled to Zurick for Religion Anno Christi 1532. The Church of Basill wanting a Pastor by the death of Oecolampadius desired Bullinger and at the same time also the Bernates sent for him thither But the Senate of Zurick would by no means part with him choosing him Pastor in the room of Zuinglius who was slaine in the late battell and who had desired before he went into the field with the Army that if any thing befell him otherwise then well Bullinger might succeed him in his office He being thus called to this work in a dangerous time did his endeavour to comfort and rais up the hearts of Gods people under those great afflictions And whereas the Popish adversaries boasted that their Religion was false because they of Zurick were beaten and Zuinglius slain He wrote That the Truth of Religion was not to be judged by the prosperity or adversitie of the Professors of it He took care also to have Synods twice a year to maintain concord and unity in Doctrine and Discipline as Zuinglius had begun before him And finding a great defect of Godly Ministers in the jurisdiction of the Tigurins he tooke care that so many should bee trained up in Religion and Learning as might supply that defect and where there was a want of maintainance he prevailed with the Senate of Zurick to make up a competency out of the Publick Treasury He caused the Publick Library of that City to be set in order by Pellican and by buying Zuinglius his books to be encreased And having gotten Bibliander for his Colleague he wholly applyed himself to his publick Ministry and to writing Commentaries at home Anno Christi 1532 Bucer endeavoured a union between Luther and his followers and the Divines of Zurick perswading them that their differences consisted rather in words then in reality At which time the Tigurins shewed themselves to bee desirous of peace so that it was joyned wiâ—h truth About this time Bullingers Father died being 64 years old who at his death exhorted his sonne to Constancy in Doctrine and Faith which saith he is the onely way to salvation Anno Christi 1534 Bullinger wrote a Confession of Faith in the name of the Tigurian Churches which was sent to Bucer and to the Synod of the Churches of Suevia then met at Constance and was approved by them About the same time he wrote a Tractate of the Covenant of God against some that denied all testimonies out of the Old Testament As also another wherein he asserted the twofold Nature in Christ against Claudius Allobrog Servetus his Emissary of whose poyson the Helvetian Churches were at that time in some danger And when there was a meeting at Basil for to unite Luther and the Helvetian Churches in their difference about the manner of Christs Presence in the Sacrament Bullinger was there and took much pains for the promoting of it The Magistrates also of Zurick by the perswasion of Bullinger erected a new Colledge Anno Christi 1538 which hee had a great care of all his life after Also by his perswasion the Senate of Zurick erected another School in a place where formerly there had been a Nunnery in which fifteen youths were trained up under a good Master having food raiment books and all other necessaries plentifully provided for them and Bullinger took great care to see their proficiency all his life after About this time Schwenfield a Noble man of Silesia taught That Christ's Humane nature being received into Heaven was so farre Deified that it remained a creature no longer and this error beginning to spread into Swevia Bullinger joining with some others confuted it with much modesty Anno Christi 1541 the Plague brake forth in Zurick of which Bullingers Son and Mother died Anno Christi 1542 Leo Judae's Version of the Bible being finished and printed the Printer sent one of them to Luther fair bound up but Luther wrote back to him that hee should send him no more of the Tigurine Ministers bookes for hee would have nothing to doe with them nor read any of their bookes For said he The Church of God can hold no communion with them and whereas they have taken much pains all is in vain for themselves are damned and they lead many miserable men to hell with them Adding that he would have no communion with their damnable and blasphemous Doctrine and that so long as he lived hee would with his prayers and books oppose them Anno Christi 1544 Luther set forth his Annotations on Genesis in which he inveighed bitterly against the Sacramentarians as he called them saying That Zuinglius Oecolampadius and their disciples were Hereticks and eternally damned Melancthon would fain have hindered it but could not whereupon he wrote to Bullinger telling him how much hee was grieved at this violent proceeding of Luther which he knew was so pleasing to their common adversaries the Papists When this book of Luthers came forth there was much dispute whether it should be answered Bucer was against it because Luther was grown old and had deserved well of the Church but others thought that it would bee a betraying of the Truth not to answer it Wherefore Bullinger was appointed to that work which he accordingly performed with much judgement Anno Christi 1546 Luther dyed and the German Warre beganne betwixt the Emperour and the Protestants at which time many accused the Tigurines by reason of Bullingers book as if they had insulted over Luther after his death and gloryed that he dyed of grief because he could not answer that book Hereupon Philip Lantgrave of Hesse acquainted Bullinger with these reports which when Bullinger had read advising with his Colleagues he returned this answer First giving him thanks for his zeale in endeavouring the peace of the Church and for acquainting him with these rumours Then he told him how much he was grieved for that some turbulent spirits sought by such reports
taught Greek and Hebrew for his maintenance and heard Luther and Melancthon He was much troubled there with temptations about Sinne Gods wrath and Predestination But by the good counsel of Pomerane and Luther and the publick praiers of the Church it pleased God that he overcame them Melancthon loved him much for his Wit and Learning and maintained him at his own charges And when Flacius was reasonable well grounded in the Greek he fel to the study of the Hebrew and commenced Mr. of Arts. He also married a wife and had a stipend allowed him by the Prince Elector Anno 1544. But when by reason of the Wars that University was dissipated he went to Brunswick being invited thither by Medler where he got much credit by his publlck teaching The Warres being ended he returned to Wittenberg Anno 1547. But when the Interim came forth and Melancthon thought that for peace-sake somthing should be yeelded to in things indifferent Flacius with the Divines of Lubec Lunenburg Hamborough and Madgeburg strongly opposed it as opening a gap to the return of Popery Hereupon shortly after he removed to Madgeburg where he strongly opposed Popery the Interim and whatsoever was contrarie to the Augustane Confession There also he assisted Gallus Wigand and Judex in writing the Madgeburgenses Centuries Confuted the opinion of Osiander about the Justification of a man before God and the fond conceits of Schwensield And when the Duke of Saxonie had erected an University at Jeans hee sent for him thither Anno Christi 1557. But after five years a great contention arising between Strigelius and him about Free will he left that place and went to Ratisbone and Anno Christi 1567 the Citizens of Antwerp having procured liberty for the free exercise of the Reformed Religion sent for Flacins amongst others thither but Religion being quickly expelled thence he went to Strasborough where he published his Glosse upon the New Testament And from thence to Franckfurt upon the Main where after a while falling out with the Ministers about the Essence of Originall Sin he fell into great disgrace and not long after died Anno Christi 1575 and of his Age 55. He was of an unquiet wit alwaies contending with some or other and brought much grief to Melancthon yet wrote some excellent Workes for the benefit of the Church and amongst others his Catalogus Testium Veritatis His Clavis sacrae Scripturae His Martyrologie with many others set down by Verheiden in his Praestantium Theologorum effigies The Life of Josias Simlerus who died A no Christi 1576. JOsias Simlerus was born at Capella in Helvetia An. Ch. 1530. His Fathers Name was Peter who was a godly learned and prudent man by whom he was carefully brought up in learning in the School of Capella and at fourteene yeares of age was sent to Zurick Anno Christi 1544 where he lived in Bullingers Family who was his Godfather almost two yeares and in which place he demeaned himself so piously modestly and diligently and made so eminent a progresse in Learning that he was exceedingly beloved of all From thence he went to the University of Basil Anno Christi 1546 where he studied the Arts and Tongues one year and from thence he went to Strasborough in which place there flourished at that time Sturmius Martyr Bucer Fagius Herlinus Sevenus Dasypodius Hedio Niger with some others Some of these he heard and spent two years in the further study of the Arts and Tongues And so at the end of three years he returned home to the great joy of his Father and Bullinger Neither did he now spend his time in pleasures and idlenesse but partly in learning partly in preaching in neighbouring villages and partly in teaching a School so that being not above twenty yeares old he was very serviceable both in the Church and Schoole And whereas Gesner was exceeding full of imployments hee many times supplyed his publick Lectures one while reading Astronomie another while Geometrie and other whiles Arithmetick Lectures for him Anno Christi 1552 he was appointed publickly to expound the New Testament in Zurick being but two and twenty years old and he beganne with Matthew and shewed such diligence and abilities that he was not only admired be his own Countrymen but by strangers especially the English who lived as exiles there at that time Four years after An. Chr. 1557 he was made Deacon and went on in his former worke with admiration so that he was highly prized by all and judged fit for better preferment Bibliander being grown very old Simler supplied his place and was Colleague to Peter Martyr who highly prised him and foretold that Simler would prove a great ornament to the Church and when he died expressed much joy that he should have so able a man to succeed him And accordingly after his death Simler was chosen into his place by the unanimous votes both of the Doctors and Senate of Zurick which was in the year 1563 and had for his Colleague John Wolffius a very learned and godly man Simler besides his publick labours instructed many in private and amongst them some Noblemen both in sacred and humane learning His Lectures publick and private ordinary and extraordinary were sufficient witnesses of his diligence industry piety learning eloquence judgement and memory He had such an acute wit and strong memory that he was able ex tempore to speak of any subject and to answer his friends questions out of any Author and to give an account of their writings to the great admiration of the hearers And though in reading of books he seemed to run over them very superficially yet when he had done he was able to give an exact account of any thing that was contained in them Being so troubled with the Gout that many times he was confined to his bed and had the use of none of his members but his Tongue onely yet in the midst of his pains he used to dictate to his Amanuensis such things as were presently printed to the great admiration of Learned men Besides the Gout he was much troubled with the stone so that the pains of these diseases together with his excessive labours in his Ministry hastned his immature death which he also foresaw yet without any consternation or fear but by his frequent and fervent prayers to God endeavoured to fit himselfe for it and accordingly Anno Christi 1576 he resigned up his spirit unto God being five and forty years old and was buried in Peter Martyrs Tomb. Hee was of a very loving and gentle nature free from passion very charitable spending all his Patrimony upon the Poore and Strangers And such as came thither to study he entertained them in his house and often feasted his friends with whom he would be very merry otherwise he was very sparing of speech He delighted much in
Letters to Zurick from Thomas Erastus signifying that there wanted a Divinity Professor at Heidleberg and that they desired supply from thence whereupon the aforenamed Divines knowing Ursines fitnesse presently sent him with their Letters of ample commendation both to the Elector Palatine and to the University Where he was made governour of the Colledge of Sapience and by his diligence faithfulnesse and ability got such credit that at twenty eight years of age they graced him with the title of a Doctor in Divinity and so hee supplyed the place of publick Professor to the year 1568 at which time Zanchy succeeded him He had for his Colleagues Peter Boquin and Immanuel Tremelius the latter Professor of the Old Testament and the former of the New Five years Ursin continued reading upon his Common places and certainâ—y if he had finished it it had been exceeding usefull to the Church And besides his ordinary Lectures both in the University and Colledge the godly Prince Otho Frederick seeing severall Ministers using severall Catechisms to the prejudice of the Church he employed Ursin in the writing a Catechism for the Palatinate which might be of general use and accordingly he did to the great satisfaction of all Anno 1563 there brake forth a grievous Pestilence that scattered both the Court and University yet Ursin remained at home and wrote his tractates of Mortality and Christian Consolations for the benefit of Gods people The same year presently after Ursins Catechism was printed Flacius Illiricus Heshusius and some others beganne to quarrel at some passages in it about the Ascension of Christ his Presence in the Sacrament c. As also to traduce the Reformation carried on in the Palatinate but at the command of the Palatine Ursin did excellently justifie his Catechism and defend the Truth to the great satisfaction of all that read it Anno Christi 1564 hee was sent by the Elector to Malbrun to dispute with Brentius and Smidlin about the Ubiquity of Christs body which he confuted with such clear and strong arguments as that many both Papists and Lutherans were converted thereby He was so dear to the Elector Palatine that when the Bernates Anno 1578 sent Aretius to Heidleberg to crave leave that Ursine might goe to Lausanna to be the Divinity Professor there he would by no means part with him but for his ease and encouragement to stay gave him leave to choose an assistant that so his body might not bee worne out with his daily and excessive labours Anno Christi 1572 he married a Wife by whom he had one sonne that was afterwards a Minister and inherited his Fathers virtues Anno Christi 1574 at the command of the Elector Frederick he made a Confession of Faith about God the Person of Christ and the Supper of the Lord which was to stop the mouths of some malitious wicked men who had scattered abroad that in Heidleberg they had sowed the seeds of Arianism from which error both the Elector and the Church under him were most free In these employments was Ursin busied and both Religion and Learning prospered exceedingly under him so that he sent forth many excellent men who proved admirable instruments of Gods glory and the Chuches good and this continued till the year 1577 at which time it pleased God to take away that excellent Prince Frederick whereupon ensued that unhappy change when none were suffered to stay in the Palatinate except they held the opinions of Luther in all things So that Ursin with his Colleague Kimedontius were forced to leave the University But hee could not live a private life long for hee was sent for by Prince John Cassimire sonne to Frederick who knew how usefull and profitable he would be both to himself and the Churches under him About the same time also the Senate of Berne sent imporâ—unately for him to succeed A etius or Basil â—arquard in their University Hee was also earnestly solicited by Musculus Gualter Lavater and Hortinus to accept of this call but Prince Cassimire would by no meanes part with him having erected a University at Newstad and chosen Ursin and Zanchy to be the Divinity Professors thereof Whilst hee was thus employed by his excessive studies and neglect of exercise he fell into a sicknesse which held him above a year together After which he returned to his labours again and besides his Divinity Lectures read Logick in the Schools desiring his Auditors to give him what doubts and objections they met with which upon study at his next Lecture hee returned answers to But his continual watchings care meditations and writings cast him into a Consumption and other diseases yet would he not be perswaded to intermit his imployments 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 Church The hour of death being come his friends standing by he quietly slept in the Lord Anno Christi 1583 and of his Age fifty one He was very pious and grave in his carriage and one that sought not after great things in this world refusing many gifts from Princes and himself was liberall according to his ability He was alwaies like himself very sparing of timeâ— as appeared by these verses set over his study door Amice quisquis huc venis Aut agito paucis aut abi Aut me laborantem adjuva He wrote Commentarium do mortalitate consolationibus Christianis Admonitionem Neustadianam Epigrammata ad Jo. Frisium After his death his Son and Doctor Pareus and Quirinus his Scholars published divers other of his Workes which are printed in three Tomes The Life of Abraham Bucholtzer who died A no Christi 1584. ABraham Bucholtzer was born at Schovavium of a very ancient and honourable Family Anno Christi 1529 and from his infancy was brought up by his Parents in Religion and Learning When he was first set forth to School he profited to admiration outstripping all his Schoolfellowes by his acute wit and industry And being well principled at School he went to the Universities first of Franckfurt then of Wittenberg Accounting it his great happinesse that he was born after the light of the Gospel brake forth and bred up under Melancthon upon whose Lectures he attended diligently and sucked in from him not onely the principles of Learning but of Religion also He was exceeding industrious in seeking Learning attent in hearing Lectures diligent and swift in writing what was spoken by Melancthon About that time there sprang up many errors and much contention was raised in the Church of God about things indifferent the necessity of Good Works Essentiall Righteousness c. But by the help of Melanethon he was able both to discover and confute them There also he studied Greek and Hebrew When hee was six and twenty years
gibbets and that Gardiner Bishop of Winchester was his enemy hee beganne to thinke of some speedy way for his departure thence which so soon as the Duke knew he disswaded him from it affirming that it was neither agreeable to honour nor modesty for him to suffer his Tutor so well deserving at his hands to bee taken from him He told him that in flying no kind of misery would be wanting Banishment Poverty Contempt c. and that though these were lesse evils then death yet was it not come to such extremity neither would hee suffer that it should saying That hee had yet wealth and favour and friends and the fortune of his House and if the mischance prevailed further that himselfe would partake of the danger and make the destruction common That he remembred with what instructions he had fortified his younger years neither had he with more attention hearkened thereto then he would with constancy put them in practise Yet when the Duke afterward perceived that he could no longer shelter him from the malice of Winchester he provided all things necessary for his departure sending to Ipswich to hire a Bark and whilst all things were making ready hee sent him to a Farm-house of one of his servants with his Wife the companion of his travels then great with child who yet would not be perswaded to stay behind him He had in this bark scarce weighed Anchor when suddenly a rough wind troubled the Sea with so great violence that the stoutest Mariners beganne to tremble then followed a dark night with such hail and raine that hindred the sea-mens work and tooke away all possibility of steering any longer by the Compass Yet the next day towards evening with much difficulty they arrived again in the same Haven from whence they set forth In the meane time a Pursivant with a warrant from the Bishop of Winchester had searched the Farm and pursued him to Ipswitch but finding the Bark already gone was returned towards London This Master Fox being informed of as soon as he came to shoare he presently took horse as if he would have left the towne but the same night returning he bargained with the Master of the Ship with the first winde to set sayle againe and the Pilot loosed in the nights silence as soon as the tide turned though the Sea was rough and the winds blustring and two daies after through the mercy of God landed him safely at Newport Haven after some few daies refreshing himself at Newport and those that were with him they went to Antwerp and from thence to Basil which was a common refuge to many English in those times most of which maintained themselves by over-seeing the Presse and correcting faults therein To these Master Fox joyned himself and having in his youth been accustomed to hardship he was able to suffer want sit up late and to fare hardly And during his abode there notwithstanding he was so full of imployment yet he began his History of the Acts and Monuments of the Church which afterward he compleated in his own country First hee wrote it in Latine and sent it to Basil to be printed where it was much esteemed and afterwards wrote it in English to gratifie the unlearned Not long after Queen Mary dyed about which time Master Fox preaching to comfort the English Exiles did with confidence tell them that now was the time come for their returne into England and that hee brought that news by command from God For which words the graver Divines did sharply reprove him for the present but afterwards excused him by the event when it appeared that Queen Mary died but the day before he so spake to them Master Fox understanding happy news in England that Queen Elizabeth reigned Religion was altered and so like to continue in the end of that year he returned into England with his wife and two children which were born there and instead of seeking preferment by his great friends and own deserts he lived retiredly in his study prosecuting his work begun at Basil of writing the Acts and Monuments The Papists foreseeing how much this worke would tend to their disparagement and disadvantage charged the Author with falshood and feigned some cavils against him to lessen his credit authority which he by heaping together testimonies for the confirmation of what hee had writ endeavoured to take away This elaborate work with infinite pains he finished in 11 years never using the help of any other man but wrote searched all the Records himself But by these excessive pains leaving no time free from study nor affording to himselfe seasonably what nature required hee was brought to that passe that his natural vigour being spent neither his friends nor kindred could by sight remember or know him Yea it caused in him withered leannesse of body yet would he by no means be perswaded to lessen his accustomed labours From this time he was much spoken of for a good Historian but shortly after his other excellent endowments began to appear He was very charitable and had an excellent ability in comforting afflicted consciences so that there resorted to him Noblemen Strangers Citizens and others also seeking salves to their wounded consciences He preached often abroad and went to visit such as could not come to him and what spare time he had he bestowed in prayer and study and for his vehement prayers mingled with groanes he made use of the nights silence for the greater secreâ—ie There was in him a deliberate and resolved contempt of all earthly things especially of pleasures and for this end hee declined the friendship of Illustrious and Noble persons The money which rich men sometimes offered him hee accepted but returned it back to the poor Many things did he foretell by occasion of comforting the afflicted or terrifying those that were stubborn The Lady Anne Henage lying sick of a violent Feaver and the Physitians deeming it mortall Master Fox was sent for to be present at her ending and after by prayer and instructions hee had prepared her for death he told her that she had done well in sitting her selfe for death but that yet she should not dye of that sicknesse A Knight her son in law being by told him in private that he had not done well to disquiet her minde with hopes of life when the Physitians had given her up for dead to whom he answered That he said no more then was commanded him for it seemed good to God that she should recover which also came to passe Also Mistris Honiwood who had lain sick of a Consumption almost twenty years through Melancholy to whom many excellent Physitians and grave Divines had resorted to cure her body comfort her mind but all in vain At last M. Fox being sent for when he came into her chamber found a most sad house all about her sitting
constant Preacher of the Truth but a strong Defender of it against errors confuting the Ubiquitarians and that so boldly that he chose rather to hazard banishment then to connive at errors His fame spread abroad exceedingly so that many sought for him especially John of Nassau and John Cassimire the Elector Palatine The first desired him to come and begin his University at Herborn where he should have had greater honour and a larger stipend The other desired him to Heidleberg to bee the Divinity Professor in that place His answer was that he was born rather for labours then honours and therefore chose to goe to Heidleberg being thirty three years old Anno Christi 1584 and was intertained lovingly by the Prince who made him Governour of the Colledge of Sapience and Professor of Divinity His coming was most grateful to the University where he took exceeding great pains and was eminent for piety humility gravity prudence patience and industry so that Anno Christi 1588 he was chosen into the number of the Ecclesiasticall Senators for the government of the Church He had great skill in the Tongues Greater in the Liberal Arts and Philosophy but greatest in the knowledge of Divinity and Ecclesiasticall History He was famous for eloquence faithfulness and diligence in his place and holiness and integrity in his life Anno Christi 1589 he fell sick for which and his change he had been carefully fitting himself beforehand and therefore bore it with much patience and with fervent prayer often repeated O Christ thou art my redeemer and I know that thou hast redeemed me I wholly depend upon thy providence and mercie from the very bottome of my heart I commend my spirit into thy hands and so he slept in the Lord Anno Christi 1589 and of his age 38. Hee published not many books but those which hee did were very polite and choice ones Ut sunt de verbo Dei ejus tractatione lib. 2. After his death his works were published in three Tomes Calvin preached his Funeral Sermon The Life of Laurence Humfreid who died A no Christi 1589. LAurence Humfreid was born in the County of Buckingham and Brought up first at School and then sent to Oxford where he was admitted into the Colledge of Mary Magdalen and followed his studies hard all the daies of King Edward the sixth But in the beginning of those bloody Marian dayes wherein so many were forced to forsake their native soyl he amongst the rest went beyond Sea into Germany where he continued till the beginning of Queen Elizabeths Reign whom God raised up to be a Nursing Mother to his Church At which time he came back and returned to Oxford where he was very famous both for his Learning and Preaching Then also he commenced Doctor in Divinity and by reason of his excellent parts was very instrumentall in the advancement of Gods glory And whereas that wicked Sect of the Jesuits was lately risen up he by his learned writings did both from Scripture and Antiquity discover their impostures and Popish deceits Afterwards he was made the Master of Magdalen Colledge and the Regius Professor which places hee discharged with singular commendations for many yeares together and at last quietly resigned up his spirit into the hands of God Anno Christi 1589. The Life of James Andreas who died A no Christi 1590. JAmes Andreas was born in Waibling in the Dukedome of Wittemberg Anno 1528. And when his Father had kept him three years at School being unable to maintaine him any longer he intended to have placed him with a Carpenter but being disswaded by Sebastian Mader the Consul he sent him to Stutgard to Erhard Snepfius who was Superintendent of the Wirtembergian Churches intreating him to grant him an exhibition out of the Churches stock for the breeding of him at School Snepfius examining the boy who was now ten years old found him of an excellent wit but withall perceived that hee had been neglected at School whereupon he agreed to allow him part of his maintenance and his Father to make up the rest and so placed him in the School at Stutgard under a choice Schoolmaster with whom in two years space he learned the Latine and Greek Grammar and Rhetorick and so An. Chr. 1541 he went to Tubing where he so profited that at the end of two years he was made Batchelor of Arts and two years after that Mr. of Arts. There also he studied Hebrew Divinity And An. Ch. 1546 and of his age 18 he was made Deacon and for trial preached in the chief Church of Stutgard in a great Auditory and did so well perform that work that his fame spread abroad and at last came to the ears of Ulrick Duke of Wirtemberg who sent for him to Preach before him in his Castle which hee did with much applause so that after Sermon the Duke said Whence soever this chicken came I know that he was hatched and bred up under Snepfius The same year at Tubing he married a Wife by whom hee had eighteen children nine sonne and nine daughters About that time brake forth that fatall Warre betwixt Charles the fifth and the Protestant Princes wherein the Emperour being conquerour hee seised upon the Dukedome of Wirtemberg by reason whereof the Church was in a sad condition yet Andreas with his Wife remained in Stutgard and by Gods speciall providence was preserved in the midst of Spanish Souldiers and yet preached constantly and faithfully all the while And so hee continued till Anno Christi 1548 at which time that accursed Interim came forth which brought so much mischief to the Church of God Andreas amongst other godly Ministers that opposed it was driven from his place Yet it pleased God that the year after he was chosen again to be Deacon at Tubing where by Catechising he did very much good Anno Christi 1550 Ulrick dying his son Christopher succeeded him in the government of Wirtemberg and affected Andreas exceedingly and would needs have him Commense Doctor which degree having performed all his exercises he took the twenty fifth year of his age and was chosen Pastor of the Church of Gompping and was made Superintendant of those parts About the same time he was sent for by Lodwick Count of Oeting to assist him in the reforming of the Churches within his jurisdiction when he took his leave of his own Prince Christopher he charged him and gave it him in writing That if Count Lodwick set upon that Reformation that under pretence of Religion he might robbe the Church and seise upon the Revenues of the Monasteries and turn them to his private use that he should presently leave him and come back again He assisted also in the reformation of the Churches in Helfenstein Anno Christi 1556. About that time hearing of a Jew that
read his Lectures he performed them to the abundant satisfaction of all his hearers nothing being found wanting which could be required in the best Divine and most accomplished Professor For hee shewed much reading a sharp judgement a pure and easie stile with sound and solid learning so that his fame spreading abroad abundance resorted to his Lectures and reaped much profit thereby The first that he began with in his Lectures was to expound the three first Chapters of Luke After which he went over the Epistle to the Galathians the first to Timothy and the Canticles Afterwards he betook himself to the Controversies between the Papists and us Anno Christi 1585. About that time there came into England a proud and vain-glorious Jesuit called Edmund Campian an English man who set forth ten Arguments whereby he boasted that he had utterly overthrown the Protestant Religion To these Whitaker answered so fully and learnedly that all the Jesuits brags vanished into smoak But shortly after there rose up Durie a Scottish Jesuit who undertook to answer Whitaker and to vindicate Campian And whereas Campian had set forth his Arguments with a great deal of ostentation and youthly confidence Durie on the other side prosecuted the cause with dog-like barking and railing and scurrility Whitaker gave him the preheminence in that but did so solidly answer all his Arguments and discover his fallacies that the truth in those points was never more fully cleared by any man Then rose up Nicolas Sanders an English Jesuit who wrote about the person of Antichrist boasting that by forty demonstrative Arguments he had proved that the Pope was not Antichrist These Arguments Whitaker examined answered learnedly and solidly truly retorting many of them upon himself Then Rainolds a Divine of Remes another English Apostate pretended a reply but subtilly and maliciously presented the English Divines differing amongst themselves that by their differences he might expose their Religion to the greater hatred and obloquy But VVhitaker perceived and plainly discovered his craftie fetches and lies yet withall declared that he judged his book so vain and foolish that he scarce thought him worthy of an answer About this time hee married a Wife a prudent pious chaste and charitable woman After whose death at the end of two years he married another a grave Matron the Widdow of Dudley Fenner by these he had eight children whom he educated religiously Upon this occasion the crabbed old man Stapleton who had neither learned to teach the truth nor to speak well nor to thinke chastly of others wrote a book against him objecting his marriage as a great reproach but surely this man had not read the words of Christ Mat. 9. 11. nor of Paul 1 Cor. 9. 5. 1 Tim. 3. 2. Nor what the Council of Nice decreed concerning the Marriage of Presbyters upon the motion of Paphnutius nor what Augustine and others of the Fathers had written about that point Or else he was of Hoâ—â—aeus the Jesuits mind one of the Popes Counsellors who declared openly that Priests sinned lesse by committing Adultery then by marrying wives VVhitaker never had his Catamites as many of the Popish Priests Jesuits Cardinals yea and some of the Popes themselves had But to leave him and return to our matter Doctor VVhitaker was shortly after chosen Master of Saint Johns Colledge in Cambridge which though at first some of the Fellows and Students out of self-ends disliked and opposed yet within a little space by his clemency equitie and goodnesse he so overcame their exulcerated mindes that he turned them into love and admiration of him Yea he alwaies governed the Colledge with much prudence and moderation not seeking his own profit but the publick good as appeared not onely by the testimony of those which lived with him but by his frugality wherein yet his gaines exceeded not his expences In choosing Scholars and Fellows he alwayes carryed himself unblameably and unpartially so as hee would never suffer any corruption to creep into the Election and if he found any who by bribes had sought to buy Suffrages he of all others though otherwise never so deserving should not be chosen Lellarmine about this time growing famous and being looked upon by his own party as an invinicible Champion him Whitaker undertakes and cuts off his head with his own weapons First in the controversie about the Scriptures published Anno Christi 1588. Then about the Church Councils Bishop of Rome the Minister Saints departed the Church Triumphant the Sacraments Baptism and the Lords Supper though hee had not leisure to print them all In all which controversies he dealt not with his adversarie with taunts reproaches and passion but as one that indeed sought out the truth Hereupon that superstitious old man Thomas Stapleton Professor of Lovane perceiving that Bellarmine held his peace undertook to answer Whitaker in that third question of his first part about the Scriptures which he performed in a volume large enough but as formerly in a scurrilous and railing language Therefore Whitaker lest the testy old man should seeme wise in his own eyes answered him in somewhat a tarter language then he used to doe The week before he dyed he performed an excellent work not only for the University of Cambridge but for the whole English Church for whose peace and unity he alwaies studied in truth by undertaking to compose some differences which sprang up about some â—â—ads of Religion for which end he went toward London in the midst of winter in the company of Doctor Tyndal Master of Queens Colledge but what with his journey and want of sleep being too intent upon his business he fel sick by the way which made him return to Cambridge again and finding his disease to encrease he sent for the Physitians who after debate resolved to let him blood which yet was neglected for two daies The third day when they went about it he was unfit by reason of a continual sweat that he was in yet that night he seemed to sleep quietly and the next morning a friend asking him how he did he answered O happy night I have not taken so sweet a sleep since my disease seised upon me But his friend finding him all in a cold sweat told him that signes of death appeared on him To whom he answered Life or death is welcome to me which God pleaseth for death shall be an advantage to me And after a while he sayd I desire not to live but onely so farre as I may doe God and his Church service And so shortly after he quietly departed in the Lord Anno Christi 1595 and of his age forty seven Having been Professor sixteen years Cardinal Bellarmine procured his picture out of England and hung it up in his study much admiring him for his singular learning and being asked by a Jesuit why he would suffer the picture of that
Naschovia where he remained three years From thence he removed to Nykopin where also he remained three years And from thence to a School in Zealand where likewise hee continued three years At last hee came to Roschildia where hearing there was one Benedict a famous learned man and a good Grecian that read at Lunden he went thither and was under him three yeares And Benedict perceiving his excellent wit his diligence and modesty was very helpfull to him Then had Hemingius an ardent desire to goe to Wâ—ttenbâ—rg which was made famous by Philips Melancthons Lectures and having gotten some little money in his purse he travelled thitherward but by the way sâ—me theeves met him and stripped him of all that he had yet when he came to Wittenbâ—rg he found the people very charitable to him especially Melancthon There he remained five years and by his writing for and attending upon richer students and teaching some privately he maintained himself When he returned home he had an ample testimony from Melancthon for his excellent wit and learning A while after his return he was intertained by Olaus Nicholas to teach his daughters And from thence he was chosen to be Pastor at Hafnia and accordingly ordained to it which place he discharged with much diligence and faithfulnesse And when many young students resorted to him he read privately to them And by his extraordinary paines gat so much credit that shortly after he was chosen Hebrew Professor in that University In which place he read Hebrew and Logick to the great benefit of many And about the same time he printed that excellent book De Methodo which he dedicated to Christian the third King of Denmark who bountifully rewarded him for the same Anno Christi 1578 he was made Doctor in Divinity and performed the office of a Divinity Professor with admirable diligence and paines for six and twenty years together as appeares by those many excellent bookes published by him in that time Anno Christi 1579 when hee was grown old and exhausted with his daily labours Frederick the second King of Denmark gave him a liberall Pension upon which he lied contentedly and comfortably all the remainder of his daies Yet neither then was he idle but imployed his time in writing and publishing books Some years before his death he grew blind and was troubled with several diseases desiring nothing more then that he might be dissolved and be with Christ. A little before his death he expounded the 103 Psalm with so much fervor efficacy and power of the Holy Ghost that all that heard him wondred at it and shortly after resigned up his spirit unto God Anno 1600 and of his age 87. Scripta ejus sunt varia exegetica didactica polemica The Life of James Heerbrand who died A no Christi 1600. JAmes Heerbrand was born at Noricum Anno Christi 1521 of an ancient Family His Father was one of Luther's Disciples and seeing the towardlinesse and promptnesse of his son was carefull to bring him up in Religion and Learning At seven years old he set him to School and yet had a watchfull eye over him to carry on the work of piety requiring him to repeat every Sermon that hee heard At twelve years old hiâ— Father bought him a fair Bible which he diligently read over and used all his life after His Father also perceiving that naturally he was much inclined to Musick he would not sufâ—er him to learn it lest it should be an impediment to him in his other studies And so when he had been sufficiently grounded in Grammar-learning he was sent to Ulm where the Colloquies of Erasmus were publickly reaâ— but Pope Paul suspecting that that book might do much hâ—â—t amongst youth because it discovered many errors and vices of the Papists forbade the use of it yet this caused it more to be read especially by Heerbrand who gat much good by it At Ulm also he studied the Arts and Tongues and a seventeen years old his Father sent him to Wittenberg to hear Luther and Melancthon in the year 1538 which yearâ— was famous for divers things For then the Kingdome of Denmark embraced the Gospel The Emperour and King of France met together to treat of peace The Bible was printed in English at Paris The University of Strasborouâ—h was erected The Sect of the Antinomians was detected The Marquess of Brandenburg imbraced the Augustanâ— Confession And the Sea by the Kingdom of Naples was wholly dry for eight miles together out of which place â—ire and ashes brake forth so abundantly that many places were miserably destroyed thereby In the University of Wittenberg Heerbrand studied the Arts with great diligence and was so sparing of his time that he would not intermit one hour from his studies insomuch that other students called him Suevicam Nâ—ctuam the Swevian Night-crow He heard Luther and Melancthons Lectures with â—uch diligence as also Bugenhag reading upon Deuteronomie Cruciger sen. upon Saint John George Major reading private Lectures upon Genesis Besides which hee attended the publick Sermons of these famous men which he wrote repeated meditated on and laboured to rivet in his memory An. Christi 1540 he commenced Master of Arts. He preached also abroad in the villages on the Sabbath dayes And thus having spent five yeares in his studies he returned home with an ample testimony from Melancthon and the University When he came home the Pastors of the Church appointed him to Preach which he performed with great approbation and commendation of all His Parents rejoycing much at his proficiency would needs have him employ his Talent in his own country and at Stutgard Snepfius being Superintendent examined him and finding his abilities said Dominus te mihi obtulit the Lord hath offered thee unto me Being but twenty two years old he was made Deacon at Tubing In which employment he continued six yeares and followed his studies in that University He also privately read Mathematick Lectures to many and sometimes preached in the Castle of Tubing before Prince Ulrick who loved him very well and told his Courtiers that he would prove a great Divine The year 1546 was fatall by the death of Luther and the war of the Emperour began against the Duke of Saxony and the Lantgrave of Hesse Anno Christi 1547 Heerbrand married a wife Margaret the daughter of Conrade Stamler Consul of Tubing by whom he had eight sons and three daughters An. Christi 1548 came forth that accursed Interim at which time Heerbrand amongst other Ministers that rejected it was banished from Tubing And being out of employment hee studyed Hebrew till Prince Ulrick being dead his son Christopher who succeeded him called back the Ministers and Heerbrand amongst them to their former places Hee also made him Pastor of Herrenberg Anno Christi 1550 he commenced Doctor in Divinity and the
Councill of Trent beginning about this time Heerbrand perceiving with what weapons he was to sight with the Popish Doctors applyed himself to the study of the Fathers and spent four years and a half therein gathering their opinions about all the points of Divinity which he digested into Common places that they might be the readier for his use Anno Christi 1559 he was sent for by Charles Marquess of Baden to reform Religion in his Dominions where also he prescribed a form for Ordination of Ministers He had scarce continued there two moneths when he was chosen to be the Divinity Professor at Tubing and expounded the Pentateuch in his Lectures and preached constantly Besides which publick imployments he wrote a large answer to Peter a Soto De Ecclesia Patribus Conciliis which was afterwards printed Anno Christi 1557 which was two years after he came to Tubing he was chosen Rector of the University a place as of great honour so of great pains After which he was chosen Chancellor of the University and the Pastor and Superintendent of the Church An. Christi 1569 his fame spreading abroad he was sent for by the Duke of Saxony to be the Professor at Jenes who profered to allow him the stipend of a thousand Florens per an but he refused it continuing at Tubing where he had much honour and respect And having been thus invited by three several Princes all which he refused and resolving to spend his daies at Tubing his Prince Christopher to encourage him gave him some land on which he built a neat house and having other family businesses he committed all to the care and diligence of his wife who was a constant help to him Anno Christi 1590 Heerbrand being now seventy years old had as much honour heaped upon him as the Dukedome of Wirtemberg could afford For he was made Counsellor to the Duke Superintendent of the Church Chancellor of the University and Overseer of the new Colledge all which places he discharged with admirable prudence diligence and fidelity His Wife having lived with him fifty years and a half died who was the staffe of his old age and therefore he was much afflicted with her loss and began to grow weaker and weaker which caused him Anno 1598 to resign his office and thereupon had a stipend allowed him by his Prince His next care was to prepare himself for death He was much troubled with the Gout which he bore with much patience often using that saying of the Apostle Godlinesse is profitable to all things having the promise of this life and that which is to come At last he fel into a Lethargy and so died Anno Christi 1600 and of his age 79. He was was exceeding studious all his life long having his books ink and paper at his beds head so that as soon as his first sleep was over he applyed himself to them for some houres And though he had great honours yet they never puft up his heart with pride but hee still carried himselfe very humbly He lived in the fear of God was very charitable and open handed to the poor and to exiles especially to poor students He was very careful to assist other Churches so that Princes Earls Barons and other Nobles out of Austria Styria Carinthia Carniola and Hungary were continually sending to him for advice in their difficult affairs His Father in law having bestowed a Farm upon him he was a neat husband upon it planting Orchards Vineyards and such other things as might make it most pleasant and profitable He was very carefull in the education of his children bringing them up in religion and learning and keeping them under a severe Discipline He was of a very healthfull constitution never being troubled with any sickness till towards his latter end Scripsit Compendium Theologiae Contra Gregorium de Valentia Concordiae librum in Latinum transtulit Besides divers Funerall Sermons Orations and Disputations The Life of David Chytraeus who died A no Christi 1600. DAvid Chytraeus was born in Ingelsing in Sweveland Anno Christi 1530 of godly and religious Parents who seeing his towardliness and ingenuous nature were carefull to educate him in Religion and learning the principles whereof he drunk in with such celerity that his father took much pleasure in him and became an earnest and frequent suiter unto God That his son might be sitted for and imployed in the work of the Ministerie and for this end when he was scarce seven years old he sent him to school to Gemminga and after two years stay there he removed him to Tubing where he was educated under excellent Schoolmasters and afterwards admitted into that University and whilst he was very young hee commenced Batchelor of Arts studied the Languages Arts and Divinitie under Snepfius In all which he profited so exceedingly that at fifteen years old hee commenced Master of Arts with the generall approbation of the Vniversity And presently after having a large allowance from a worthy Knight Sir Peter Mezingen hee travelled to Wittenberg where hee was entertained by Philip Melancthon into his Family so that hee did not onely gaine much profit by his publick Lectures but by private converse with him which happiness hee so esteemed that all his life after he acknowledged that next under God he was bound to Philip Melancthon for his proficiency in learning When he came first to Melancthon and delivered some letters of commendation to him in his behalf Melancthon finding in them that he was Mr of Arts looking upon him wondred at it saying Are you a Master of Arts Yea said Chytraeus it pleased the University of Tubing to grace me with that degree Can you said Melancthon understand Greek which he affirming he gave him Thucydides to read and bade him construe a peece of it which when Chytraeus had done Melancthon enquiring his age and admiring his forwardness said unto him Thou doest worthily deserve thy Degree and hereafter thou shalt be as a son unto me Whilst he was there he heard Luthers Lectures upon the tenne last Chapters of Genefis And as Plato when he was ready to die praised God for three things first that God had made him a man secondly that he was born in Greece thirdly that hee lived in the time of Socrates So did Chytraeus also acknowledge it as a singular mercy first that God had made him a man secondly a Christian thirdly that hee had his education under those excellent lights of the Church Luther and Melancthon Hee was very diligent in attending upon Melancthon studyed in his study heard all his discourses Publick and private about matters of the weightiest concernment followed him when he walked abroad and endeavoured wholly to fashion his life by his example And Melancthon looked upon him as his own son and used to call him suum Davidem his David Presently after Luthers death
Nowel was born in the County of Lancaster Anno Christi 1511 of an ancient and worshipfull Family and at thirteen years old was sent to Oxford and admitted a member of Brasennose Colledge where hee studied thirteen years and grew very famous both for Religion and Learning In Queen Maries daies he amongst many others left the Kingdom that he might enjoy his conscience and returning when Queen Elizabeth of blessed memory came to the Crown she made him Dean of Pauls where he was a frequent and faithfull Preacher By his writings he defended the truth against some English Popish Renegadoes For thirty years together he preached the first and last Sermons in Lent before the Queen wherein he dealt plainly and faithfully with her He was a great Benefactor to Brasen-nose Colledge where hee had his first education Hee was the enlarger of Pauls School made the threefold Catechism which was much used long after He was very charitable to the poor especially to poor Scholars A great comforter of afflicted consciences He lived till he was ninetie years old and yet neither the eies of his mind nor body waxed dim And dyed peaceably in the Lord Anno Christi 1601. D. TOSSANVS The Life of Daniel Tossanus who dyed A no Christi 1602. DAniel Tossanus was born at Mombelgart in Wirtemberg Anno Christi 1541. His Father was Minister in that town about six and thirty yeares who carefully brought up this his son in learning and 〈◊〉 fourteen years old sent him to the University of Basil where he continued two years and then he commenced Batchelor of Arts From thence Anno Christi 1557 he went to Tubing and was there mainâ—ainâ—d to his studyes for two yeares more by the bounty of 〈◊〉 Châ—istopher who did it for his Fathers sake who for many years had deserved so well of the Church of Mombelgart Our Daniel whilst he was at Tâ—bing applyed himself to the study of humane Arts and Philosophy in which he profited so eminently in a short space that at the end of two years he was made Master of Arts and then was sent for â—ack by his father to Mombelgaâ—t where hee preached for a while and then went to Paris to learne the French Tongue and to proceed in his other studies Anno Christi 1560 he went from Paris to Orleance where he read Hebrew publickly and after a while was made Deacon in that Church and two years after Minister An. Christi 1562 and of his age twenty one which place he undertook there rather than in his own country partly because of the great want of Pastors in the French Churches as also because he agreed with them in his judgement about the manner of Christs presence in the Sacrament At this time there was the most flourishing Church in all France in Orleance consisting of above seven thousand persons that had excellent Pastors over them Into the number of which our Daniel being admitted not long after hee resolved to marry and accordingly viz. 1565 hee married Mary Covet of Paris whose Father had been Advocate to the Queen Mother in the Parliament of Paris and whose Mother being a Widdow and having embraced the Reformed Religion transplanted her self with her two daughters to Orleance for the freer exercise of her Religion Whilst he was there the Civil Wars brake out between the Papists and Protestants and Francis Duke of Guise besieged the City of Orleance where Monsieur de Andelot brother to the Admiral of France commanded in chief Tossan continued there all the time of the siege and took extraordinary pains in instructing exhorting and encouraging both Citizens and souldiers and when the City was in great danger to be lost one Poltrot who had devoted his life for his Countries safety went out and slew the Duke of Guise under the walls whereupon the siege was raised and the Church there preserved almost miraculously from ruin Anno Christi 1567 there brake out a second Civill War at which time the Papists in Orleance conspired together to destroy all the Protestants so that they were every hour in danger of being butchered but it pleased God seasonably to send Monsieur Novie with a small party of souldiers who entring the City and joyning with the Protestants drave out some of the Papists and disarmed the rest But after that famous battel at Saint Denis wherein so many of both sides were slain and wounded Peace was againe concluded Yet did the Papists quickly break it and a great company of Souldiers entering into Orleance beganne to breath forth threatnings against the Church of Christ especially against the Ministers of it Hereupon Tossan was in great danger insomuch that when he went into the Church to preach he knew not whether he should returne alive and that which most troubled him was the fear that he had of his wife and two small children Besides he never went to the Congregation but some threw stones others shot bullets at him and their rage grew so great that they burned down the barn wherein the Church used to meet together and every day he heard of one or other of their members that were slain so that he was compelled severall times to change his lodging yet one day the souldiers caught him and pretended that they would carry him out of the City but indeed intended to have Murthered him whereupon his wife great with child ranne to the Governour and with much importunity prevailed with him that her husband might stay in the City And not long after brake out the third Civill War at which time the Popish souldiers that besieged Orleance were so enraged that they burned all the places where the Church used to meet and barbarously slew above eighty of the faithfull servants of Christ in them yet it pleased God miraculously to preserve the Ministers in that great danger and Tossan with his Colleagues by the help of some of the faithfull was conveighed privately away out of the City in the night but whilst hee sought to hid chim in a wood he fel into an ambush and was taken and carried prisoner into a Castle not far off from Orleance His wife which stayed behind in the City hearing this sad news left no means untried for his delivery and at last for a great summe of money shee procured his release whereupon he went to Agrimont and his wife putting her self into the habit of a Maid-servant went towards Agrimont after him where Renata the daughter of Lewis the twelfth of France and Dowager of Ferrara lived in a very strong Castle and was a great friend to the Protestants entertaining many that fled to her for succour But as his wife was going thitherward after him she was taken by some Souldiers and carried back to the Governour of Orleaence but it pleased God to stir up the Governours wife and daughters to intercede for her
quieted in her conscience and went away satisfied to the great astonishment of all her neighbors About this time the peace of the Church at Lâ—mburg was much disturbed by the Anabaptists and Papists Junius went often to the Anabaptists and reasoned with them peaceably and calmly whereupon they quickly decreased both in their number and credit But the Papists cast aspersions upon him to make him odious and amongst the rest that he was a Monster and had cloven feet They came also to Church to disturb him in his Sermons but notwithhanding all their endeavours his auditory stil increased And when they had challenged him to Disputations they allwaies pretended one excuse or other when the time came to evade the same But from secret plots they brake out into open violence where upon the Magistrates perswaded him to retire himself from the danger and in a dark rainy night they conveyed him â—â—t of the City and so he went to Heidleberg where he was courteously entertained by Prince Frederick the third and afterward chosen Pastor of the Church of Schaenavia which was near unto that City But the year after the pestilence greatly afflicting â—hat Church he was sent though against his will to the Camp of the Prince of Orange who was going into the Low-countries and when meeting with many inconveniencies in that employment he would have returned into Germany the Pr. of Orange would not consent but detained him to preach still to him yet at last he returned to Heidleberg and endeavoured to compose some differences that in his absence were sprung up in the Church of Schaenavìa The Prince Elector Palatine often perswaded him to goe back to the Prince of Orange and he as often excused it but at last he commanded him peremptorily to goe but it so fell out that as he was going over the bridge of Heidleberg he was grievously bitten in his right leg by a dog and so he obtained leave to stay He continued there to the year 1592 and assisted Tremelius in Translating the Bible out of Hebrew The Elector being dead hee was sent for by Prince Cassimire to Neostade and afterwards was sent for by the same Cassimire being Guardian to the young Prince to Heidleberg again Yet not long after with the consent of the Prince hee left Heidleberg to goe into his own country But when with his family he came to Leiden he was much importuned both by the Magistrates and the University to stay there and though he would fain have excused it yet at last they prevailed and made him the Professor of Divinity in that University which place he discharged with much diligence and commendation for ten yeares space At the end of which a great plague spreading all over Holland he fell sick of it and quietly resigned up his spirit unto God Anno Chr. 1602 and of his age 57. When Gomarus his Colleague came to visit him in his sickness and had spoken comfortably to him Junius told him that he quieted himself in God who would doe for him that which was most for his glory and his own good His Works are these Commentarius in Danielem In Psal. 101. In Apocalypsin In Jonam Prophetam With many others set down by Verheiden The Life of Luke Trelcatius who died A no Christi 1602. LUke Yrelcatius was born at Erinum Anno Christi 1542 and brought up by his Aunt who was Abbesse of a Nunnery His first Education was in the School at Doway where being of an acute wit he profited exceedingly in the knowledge of the humane arts From thence he went to Paris and whilst he studied there it pleased God that he fell into acquaintance with John Mercer the Hebrew Professor and with Peter Ramus by converse with whom hee was exceedingly affected with the love of the reformed Religion so that he forsooke his Aunt and was maintained by the bounty of some Merchants of Flanders From thence he went to Orleance and from thence to Sancerra in the 28th yeare of his age and being driven from thence by the tempest of Civill Wars he came into England and at London he taught a School by which he maintained himselfe eight yeares Then was hee called by some Merchants into Flanders to be their Pastor but enjoying little peace there he went to Bruxels where hee continued in the exercise of the Ministry six years and then meeting with opposition he went to Antwerp and that City being presently after besieged he was forced to stay there for eight moneths After which being sent for to divers places at length he was by the consent of his brethren in the Ministry fixt at Leiden where hee was made Pastor of the French Church which place he supplied faithfully for the space of seventeen years He had scarce been there two yeares when for his cellent parts and learning hee was chosen Divinity-Professor in that University also and at last having acquired much honour in both his offices hee dyed of the Plague Anno Christi 1602 and of his age 60. W. PERKINS The Life of John Whitgift who dyed A no Christi 1603. JOhn Whitgift came of the ancient Family of the Whitgifts of Whitgift in Yorkshire his Father was a Merchant of great Grimsby in Lincolnshire He was born Anno Christi 1530. His Uncle Robert Whitgift was Abbat of the Monastery of Wellow in the County of Lincoln who would often tell him when he was a boy that neither he nor his Religion could stand long for that he had often searched the Scriptures but could never find there that his Religion was of Divine institution and therefore according to Christs speech Every plant which his heavenly father had not planted must be rooted up which also came to pass shortly after when King Henry the eighth demolished the Abbeyes By this Uncle he was trained up in Learning in his childhood who finding him of a prompt and acute wit sent him to London to Saint Anthonyes School in Bennet Fink parish when he had made a good progresse in Learning there he went to Cambridge and studied a while in Queens Colledge but not liking that house he removed to Pembrok-hall where Nicolas Ridley was the Master and Master Bradford was his Tutor who informing Doctor Ridley of the ingenuity diligence and piety of this young Whitgift he procured for him a Scholarship Anno Christi 1555 he was chosen Fellow of Peter-House where Doctor Andrew Pearn was Master who favoured him exceedingly and sheltered him from danger all Queen Maries daies He took all his degrees of Batchelor of Arts Master of Arts Batchelor of Divinity and Doctor of Divinity with great approbation When he commenced Doctor hee disputed upon this question Papa est ille Antichristus the Pope is that Antichrist He was also a famous Preacher and when Doctor Hutton was preferred to the Archbishoprick
and hee had both one desire but not for the same end The Jesuits said he wish my end but for an evill end I wish for it also but that by death I may passe to eternall life purchased for me by the merits of Christ. Anno 1599 the King of France and the King of Navar lying in siege before the Castle of Saint Katharines in Savoy near to Geneva Beza went to visit them and was entertain'd with abundance of courtesie by them and being asked by the King of France if he had any request to make to him he answered That he had nothing but to commend his sacred Majesty to the blessing of the great God and to pray that his Majesty might govern his people in peace Only he requested that seeing the Church at Lions had not yet enjoyed the benefit of his Majesties Edict that he would be pleased to think of them which the King promised and upon their petition granted their desire About the time of his return he began to be much troubled with want of sleep but lying awake in the nights hee deceived the time with holy meditations And speaking to his friends of it he used that speech Psal. 16. v. 7 8. My reins also instruct me in the night season I have set the Lord alwaâ—es before me in whose favour is life And that of Psal. 63 My soul is filled as with marrow and fatnesse when I remember thee upon my bed and meditate on thee in the night watches Many came out of the Kings Camp to Geneva to see the City which was now so famous but especially to see Beza all whom he courteously entertained with holy and savoury discourses and so dismissed them well pleased Anno Christi 1602 Maurice the Lantgrave of Hesse came to Geneva to see him but disguised for which Beza was very sorry after that he had not known him Finding himself to draw near to his end he revised his Will and so easing his mind of all worldly thoughts he wholly betook himself to exspect the time of his departure which he much longed for He often used that saying of the Apostle We are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus to good works And that of St. Augustine Diu vixi diu peccavi fit nomen Domini benedictum I have lived long I have sinned long Blessed be the name of the Lord. And that also Domine quod coepisti perfice nè in portu naufragium accidat Lord perfect that which thou hast begun that I suffer not shipwrack in the haven and that of Bernard Domine sequemur te per te ad te te quia veritas per te quia via ad te quia vita Lord we follow thee by thee to thee Thee because thou art the truth By thee because thou art the way To thee because thou art the life Anno 1605 there came some noble and learned men from Borussia to see him with whose society he was much pleased But diseases encreasing upon him the Pastors of Geneva agreed amongst themselves that every day two of them should visit him by turns and sometimes all of them came together and prâ—ied most fervently with him Octob. 13 being the Sabbath-day he rose in the morning and prayed with his family and then desiring to goe to bed again he sate him down on the side of his bed and asked if all things were quiet in the City they answered him yea but perceiving that he was near to his end they ranne for a Minister who immediately coming whilst he was praying with him without the least pain or groaning he quietly yeelded up his spirit unto God Anno Christi 1605 and of his Age 86 and of his Ministry 46. James Lectius made this Epigram of him Vezelii genuêre piae tenuêre Gebennae Astratenent vixi non mihi sed populis Aliud Si qua fides famae proles mihi defuit omnis At varia vera prole beatus ego Me Populi Mystae Reges dixere parentem Multa virûm genui millia Christe tibi Quin Populi Mystae Reges nascentur ex me Christe tibi toto dum legar orbe frequens He was a thick set man and of a strong Constitution insomuch that he used to say that he never knew what it was to have his head ake He was of an excellent wit an accurate judgement a firm memory very eloquent affable and courteous so that he was called the Phoenix of his time In his Testament he gave thanks 1. That God at sixteen years old had called him to the knowledge of the Truth though for a while he walked not answerable to it till the Lord in mercy brought him home and carried him to Geneva where under that great Calvin he learned Christ more fully 2. That being infected with the Plague at Lausanna and aspersed with grievous calumnies the Lord had delivered him from them both 3. That coming back to Geneva he was there chosen Pastor when as he deserved not to have been one of the sheep 4. That not long after he was made Colleague to that excellent man John Calvin in reading Divinity 5. That being called into France in the first Civill War and tossed there up and down for twenty two moneths God had preserved him from six hundred dangers c. A Papist objecting to him his youthly Poems This man saith he vexeth himself because Christ hath vouchsafed to me his grace Though there was so great worth in this man and his labours were extraordinary yet he had but 1500 Florens per an for his stipend which amount but to seven or eight and fifty pounds sterling by the year besides 20 Coups of corn and his house His Works were these N. Testamenti nova versio cum Annotationibus Confessio Christianae fidei De Haereticis à civili Magistratu puniendis Summa totius Christianismi De Coena Domini De Hypostatica duarum in Christo naturarum unione De unitate essentiae Divina tribus subsistentibus personis Tractatio de Polygamia Divortio Epistolae Theologicae With many others set down particularly by Verheiden and mentioned in this narrative of his life D. RAINOLDS The Life of John Rainolds who dyed A no Christi 1607. JOhn Rainolds was born in Devonshire Anno Christi 1549 and brought up in Corpus Christi Colledge in Oxford and for his excellent learning was chosen a Fellow of that House and afterwards Commenced Doctor in Divinity Hee had divers brothers that were all Papists which procured him much sorrow especially his elder brother William Rainolds who wrote seditious and pestilent books against that renowned Queen Elizabeth and her flourishing Kingdome He was so eminent for piety and for his knowledge in the more mysterious parts of Divinity that one saith of him that he was Acad miae lumen Europae decus Divinae gloriae buccinator sanctitatis eximium exemplar
the chiefest Divines of those times who were his special friends as Beza Dan. Tossanus George Sohnius Will Stuckius Pareus Pitiscus c. He had two Wives the first was Mary the daughter of James Grynaeus who dyed in childbed the other was Salome Wasserâ—unia who died the same year with himself Scripsit Commentarium in Danielem contra Bellarminum Analysin Hosea cum Orationibus Historicis Dialecticis De morte Christi pro quibus eam subierit De quatuor Manarchiis â—pud Danielem Analysin Malachiae Partitiones Theologicas Syntagma Theologiae c. The Life of Thomas Holland who died A no Christi 1612. THomas Holland was born in Shropshire Anno Christi 1539 and brought up in Exceter Colledge in Oxford where he took his degrees with much applause Afterwards he Commenced Dr. in Divinity was chosen Master of the Colledge and for his excellent learning was preferred to be the Regius Professor or Doctor of the Chair wherein he succeeded Dr. Humphred and so deported himself in the same that he gat the approbation and admiration both of that of Oxford and of Forreign Univeâ—sities also He was like Apollos a man mighty in the Scriptures and as one saith of him Adeò cum Patribus familiaris ac si ipse Pater cum Scholasticis ac si Seraphicus Doctor i. e. He was so familiarly acquainted with the Fathers as if himself had been one of them and so vers'd in the Schoolmen as if hee were the Seraphick Doctor He was also a faithfull Preacher of the Truth and one that adorned it by his holy life and conversation a zealous defender of the true Religion and a great hater of superstition and Idolatry Insomuch that when he went any journey calling the Fellows of the Colledge together he used to say to them Commendo vos dilectioni Dei â—dio Papatûs superstitionis I commend you to the love of God and to the hatred of Popery and superstition He continued Doctor of the Chair twenty years and was every way as famous for his Religion and holyness of life as he was for his learning When in his old age he grow weak and sickly he spent all his time in fervent prayers and heavenly meditations and when his end approached he often sighed out Come O Come Lord Jesus thou morning star Come Lord Jesus I desire to be dissolved and to be with thee and so he quietly departed in the Lord Anno Christi 1612 and of his age 73. I. DRVSIVS The Life of John Drusius who died A no Christi 1616. JOhn Drusius was born at Aldenard Anno Christi 1550 and first brought up to School in the â—ity of Gaunt and from thence went to the University of Lovain But whilst hee was following his study hard there his Father was proscribed for Religion and thereby deprived of all his estate which caused him to fly into England taking this his son along with him When he came to London he met with Cevalerius lately come thither that was exceeding skilfull in the Hebrew His Lectures therefore he attended upon both in publick and private and when Cevalerius was sent to Cambridge to be the Professor there Drusius went along with him applying himself especially to the study of Greek Afterwards when Cevalerius was called back into France Drusius still accompanyed him and fell hard to the study of the Hebrew He also privately read the same to two young English Gentâ—emen After a while he returned to London again and when hee was purposed to goe back into France he hâ—ard of that bloody Massacre at Paris which made him alter his minde and having preferment profered to him either in Oxford or Cambridge he chose Oxford where for the space of four yeares he read Hebrew Chalde and Syriack with great commendation After which time he went back to Lovain but not long enjoying peace there he returned to London again where he continued till the peace was concluded at Gaunt and then went over into Flanders and from thence into Zeland where the States of Holland chose him to be the Professor in Hebrew Chalde and Syriack in the University of Leiden Anno Christi 1577. During his abode there he married a Wife and the States of Frisland having newly erected a University at Franequer they called him thither In which place he continued taking great paines for the space of thirty one yeares and at length resigned up his spirit unto God Anno Christi 1616 and of his age sixty and six The Life of John James Grynaeus who died A no Christi 1617. JOhn James Grynaeus was born at Berne in Helvetia Anno Christi 1540. His Father was first a Professor in Basil and afterwards removed to a Pastoral charge at Raetela who died of the Plague Anno Christi 1564. His mother was Adelheida Stuberina both of them godly persons His father took the care of his first learning educating him under his own wings and afterwards Anno Christi 1547 hee was sent to School to Basil under Thomas Plater an excellent Schoolmaster with whom he profited so much that Anno Christi 1551 upon examination he was admitted into the University under Boniface Amerbachius the very next year the Plague being hot in Basil he fell sick of the plague but it pleased God to restore him again and he followed his study hard He heard his own Father reading Greek and Latine Huld Coccius reading Logick and John Nisaeus reading Poetry and Rhetorick Anno Christi 1556 his Father was called to a Pastoral charge at Raetela but our James stayed still at Basil joyning the study of Divinity with that of Philosophy One of the Professors of Divinity at that time was Simon Sulcerus who being an Ubiquitarian misled our Grynaeus into the same error as himself confesseth adding that he continued in it for ten years and misled others likewise till at length through Gods mercy he was brought into the way of truth Anno Christi 1559 he began to preach and was ordained Deacon by Sulcerus who was the Superintendent of those Churches which office he supplyed till the year 1563 at which time by the advice of his father and friends he went to Tubing for the further improvement of his learning though himself had rather have gone to Wittenberg where Charlet Marquess of Baden having heard him preach and being taken with him had profered him an exhibition of an hundred Florens per annum When he came to Tubing he delivered his Letters of commendation to Doctor Andreas and so was admitted into that University where he heard Andreas Heerbrand Snepfius and Brentius for Divinity Samuel Hailand for Philosophy and others for the other Arts and it pleased God that he met with William Stuckius of Zurich whom he had formerly known and who now became a partner in his studies and remained his intimate friend ever after Anno
Christi 1564 when by the advice of their friends these two persons were minded to leave Tubing Doctor Andreas stayed them and put them upon a Disputation upon certain Theses about the Ubiquity Eucharist endeavouring to draw Grynaeus to his own opinion but in the disputation Grynaeus was so bâ—ffled by Stuckius that he was almost non-plust and was driven to doubt of that opinion Having in this disputation given reasonable satisfaction to the Divines of Tubing he was put upon reading Lectures upon Daniel and so a while after was made Doctor in Divinity Anno Christi 1565 his Father dyed of the Plague and he was chosen by Charles Marquess of Baden to succeed in the Pastoral charge at Raetela where besides his ordinary labours he read privately to the Deacons twice a week and God blessed his labours exceedingly Anno Christi 1569 he married a wife with whom he lived contentedly 40 years and had by her seven children About that time the form of Concord being much pressed he fel hard to the study of the Scriptures and of antient and modern Divines whereby it pleased God that light began to appear to him for hitherto he had been a Lutheran And modestly declaring his judgement about the Ubiquity of Christs body he began to be hated of many Yet during his abode there at the request of the Printers he corrected for the Press Eusebius Origen Irenaeus Erasmus his Adagies and other books Anno Christi 1575 he was sent for to Basil to be a Professor in interpreting the Old Testament and with the consent of the Marquess he removed thither with his family after he had been ten years Pastor at Raetela yet before his going the Marquess conditioned with him that he should be overseer of his Churches and that his brother should succeed him in his charge at Raetela and withall he assigned him a stipend of twenty Florences per annum When he was come to Basil he made an Oration of the difculty of the work whereunto he was called He began with the explication of Genesis but before he had gone through it at the request of his Auditors he left it and fel upon the Psalms and some of the minor Prophets He also voluntarily read some History Lectures He met with some reproaches from the Lutherans because he taught otherwise then they would have had him about the Lords Supper but the Lord saw it good thus to exercise him whose laboâ— is yet both in publick and private he blessed exceedingly and made him an happy instrument of closing up and healing some breaches that had been between the Churches of Zurick and Basil. He maintained friendship with Erastus Amerbach Plater Zuinger Urstisius and others He had many Noblemen Gentlemen Citizens Doctors and other learned young men that came out of other countries to sojourn with him Anno Christi 1583 Lodwick Prince Elector Palatine dying Prince Cassimire succeeded as Administrator in the minority of the young Prince whose care was to reform the Churches of the Palatinate and the University of Heidleberg and advising with Dan. Tossanus and other godly Divines about the same he was directed by them to chuse Grynaeus for one of the Professors And accordingly Anno Christi 1584 he sent to Basil for him whereupon with the consent of the Senat he removed to Heidleberg where for two years space he read Divinity and History taking care both of the Church School and University He met with many oppositions from the Lutheran Faction had many disputations with them whereof that was the most famous which was held in the presence of the Prince An. Christi 1584 and wherein Grynaeus was Moderator the issue whereof was this That those Divines and Scholars which would not be convinced and reformed but continued to make factions and divisions in the University were gently dismissed After which the Orthodox Doctrine of the person of Christ and the Sacraments was quietly preached in the Palatinate Anno Christi 1585 Sulcer being dead by the earnest desire of the godly he was called back to Basil to undertake the Government of that Church and thereupon Anno Christi 1586 he removed to Basil and was entertained with the great â—pplause of the whole Church and having preached twice â—e went back to Heidleberg to take his leave of the Prince Church and Academy After which he was courteously dismissed by the Prince who provided for the carriage of his houshold and gave him his Effigies in Gold as a remembrance of his love He continued in the faithfull discharge of his office a Basil all the remainder of his life promoting the honour and profit of the Church School and University by his care diligence and industry In the Church he was a faithful Pastor feeding his people with the bread of life comforting the afflicted visiting the sick and diligently removing whatsoever might hinder the progress of the Gospel For which end Anno Christi 1594 he visited all the Churches in his Diocess endeavouring to preserve and nourish love amongst brethren and reforming what was amiss In the Grammar School he with some others were careful to provide fit Schoolmasters examined the proficiency of the Scholars and helpt to maintain such as were poor In the University he went through the greatest honors and labours Anno Christi 1588 he was twice sent to Mulhusen first to settle an able Ministry and then to be present in a Synod The same year he went to Bern to a conference for composing the controversies in Religion At length he began to grow weak and sickly and his eye-sight waxed very dim and in the 72 year of his age he was almost quite blind yet his intellectuals and memory continued very good He lost also most of his friends with his brothers sisters wife and children all but one daughter and his son in law Polanus whom he much desired to follow He was oft tormented with the Collick yet bore all with admirable patience and in the midst of his pains he said Ut munc triste mori est sic dulec resurgere quondam Christus ut in vita sic quoque morte lucrum est Interris labor est requies sed suavis in urna In summo venient gaudia summa die As death's sweet so to rise is sweet much more Christ as in life so he 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 was eased of the Collick and Stone hee fell sick of a Feaver which almâ—st took away his senses but hee betook himself 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 carried his corps to the grave A little
with his terrors and with inward tentations so that his life was almost wasted with heaviness yet thereby he learned more and more to know Christ Jesus About that time there was a General Assembly of the Church at Perth unto which some that lived in the North of Scotland sent to desire that a Minister might be sent unto them whereupon the Assembly appointed Master Cowper for that place and accordingly wrote to him by Master Patrick Simpson who coming to Sterling delivered to him the Letters from the Assembly and those from the Town containing his calling to the work of the Ministry in that place And so shortly after the Town sent their Commissioners to transport him and his family thither In that place he continued doing the work of the Lord for ninteen years together where he was a comfort to the best and a wound to the worser sort Besides the Sabbath dayes he chose thrice a week to convene the people together in the Evenings viz. Wednesdayes Fridayes and Saturdayes for a preparation to the Sabbath upon which daies they had no preaching in the morning concerning which meetings himself writes That it would have done 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 himself he saith My witnsse is in heaven that the love of Jesus and his people made continual preaching my pleasure and I had no such joy as in doing his work And besides that he preached five times a week he penned also whatsoever hee preached many of which holy and godly Sermons are extant in print All the time of his abode there except some little intermissions and breathing times the Lord still exercised him with inward tentation and great variety of spiritual combats the end of all which through Gods mercy was Ioy unspeakable as himself testifies Yea once saith he in greatest extreamitie 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 twinkling of an eye the bright and lightsome countenance of God proclaming peace and confirming it with invincible reasons O what a change was there in a moment the silly soul that was even now at the brink of the pit looking for nothing but to be swallowed up was instantly raised up to heaven to have fellowship with God in Christ Jesus and from this day forward my soul was never troubled with such extremity of terrors This confirmation was given unto me on a Saturday in the morning there found I the power of Religion the certaintie of the word there was I touched with such a lively sense of a Divinitie and power of a Godhead in mercy reconciled with man and with me 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 marvel to see Satan stir up his wicked instruments to molest him since he professed himself a disquieter of him and his Kingdom Yet 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 down their pride that they were all of them at last brought to an acknowledgement of their evil wayes But at length as God turned the heart of Pharoah and his people from the Israelites when the time drew on for their remove so by little and little did the zeal and love of most of that people fall away so that his last conflict was not with the prophane but with Justitiaries and 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 then any of the former and they which should have been his greatest comfort were his greatest cross Presently hereupon God called him to the Government of the Churches in Galloway in the South-West parts of the kingdom being chosen by the Assembly and presented by the King thereunto This was done without his privity or ambitious us seeking after it yea he was so far from it that eighteen weeks passed betwixt the Kings Presentation and his Acceptation of â—t In that place he was very carefull to advance the Gospel and to adorn his Ministery Concerning the frame of his spirit thus he writes My soul is alway in my hand ready to be offered to my God Where or what kind of death God hath prepared for me I know not But sure I am there can no evil death befall him that lives in Christ nor sudden death to a Christian Pilgrim who with Job waits very hour for his change Yea saith he many a daie have I sought it with teaâ—es not out of impatience distrust or perturbation â—ut because I am weary of sin and fearful to fall into it This faithful servant of God who had alwaies been faithful and painful in his Ministery when sickness grew daily upon him was no way deficient in the duty of his ordinary preaching Taking great pains also to perfect his work upon the Revelations which he desired greatly to finish before his death He had also much grief by reason of some that disturb'd the peace of the Church which he alwaies sought to procure so that his infirmity encreasing he was compelled to keep home yet as his weakness permitted he applyed himself to revise his writings and to dispose of his worldly estate that he might be ready for his passage which every day he exspected some ten daies before his decease he manifested to his friends what great contentment he had in his approaching death Many repaired to him in his sickness whom he entertained 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 you to bed in which also after he had most devoutly commended himself unto Almighty God hee tooke som◠〈◊〉 rest After which time he spake not many words 〈…〉 failing though his memory and understanding 〈…〉 and so about seven a clock at night he rendred 〈…〉 most quiet and peaceable manner An 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 Pioners to loose thee Head feet milt and liver are
his substance encreased with his bounty Hee took much pains in composing the differences amongst his neighbours He was especially carefull to doe good to poor Ministers his fellow-labourers Some that lived near him tasted of his bounty oft to whom he sent Wheat or Malt in no scant proportion He was much given to Hospitality and Strangers out of other Nations hearing his fame resorted to him for his acquaintance About December Anno Christi 1621 having been at London as he was returning home his horse by the way stumbling threw him down in the fal brake his leg but being holpen up he rode to a town called Hodsdon where in an Inn hee sent for a Bonesetter by whom after his leg was set he was directed to keep his bed ten dayes which he willingly submitted to As he lay he imployed one of his sons who waited on him to write from his mouth some heavenly meditations upon the song of Hezekiah when he had been sick and recovered of his sicknesse Isaiah 38 especially upon the 9 10 13 and 15 verses Thus he continued to the tenth of December when early in the morning being awakened by the tolling of a passing bell which probably occasioned in him a strong apprehension of his own approaching death he fell into a discourse with his wife who lay in the chamber by him since that accident first befel him concerning death and our blessed hopes expected after death And amongst other things touching the mutual knowledge that the Saints have one of another in glory Which comfortable discourse being ended they began to sing an Hymn of his own composing giving thanks to God for their rest that night and praying for a blessing upon them and theirs in the day ensuing And then having repeated one verse of the 146 Psalm he presently brake out into these words Oh this a most sweet psalm and so went on but pausing at the end of every staff he delivered a short Paraphrase upon it and coming to these words ver 7 8. And loose the fetters strong and the lame to limbs restore he applyed both to himself calling the splints upon his legge his fetters and comforting himself with this that God would restore him from his lamenesse but having occasion for som ease to stir himself he suddenly fetched a deep groan and so fell into a trance His wife crying out and some coming in they used means and he began to rouse himself a little and to look about And uttered these his last words Let me alone I shall do well Lord Jesus and so gave up his soul to God Anno Christi 1621 and of his age 59 His Works are Synopsis Papismi A sixfold Commentarie upon Genesis Exodus Leviticus Samuel 1 2 Daniel Romans Ecclesia triumphans Thesaurus Ecclesiae A Comment upon the Epistle of Jude The Protestants Diet. D. PAREVS The Life of David Pareus who died A no Christi 1622. DAvid Pareus was born in Silesia Anno Christi 1548. His Parents were Citizens of good rank when he was about three years old he fel sick of the small pox whereof he was like to die and though it pleased God that he recovered yet he had thereby a blemish in one of his eyes which continued so long as he lived About that time his mother died When he grew up to riper yeares his Father perceiving a natural promptnesse in him to learning set him to School in his own City where one of his Masters was very rigid and severe in his carriage unto him and there he learned Grammar Musick and Arithmatick But when he was fourteene years old by the instigation of his step-mother his father placed him with an Apothecary at Uratislavia which course of life he could not well rellish and therefore after a moneths stay hee returned home againe which his step mother was much offended with yet his tender father resolved to keep him at school and when he disliked the severity of his former Master he sent him to Hirschberg to one Christopher Schillingus who was much affected with his ingenuity and towardlinesse The chief Magistrate also of that City took a great liking to him for some verses which he made at his sons Funeral so that he gave him his diet in his family When he had been there about two yeares the Pastor of that place who was a Lutherane fell out with his Schoolmaster for that in Catechising of his scholars he had taught them that Christs body being ascended into heaven was there to remain till his coming to judgement and that in the Sacrament wee feed upon it onely spiritually by faith c. And his spleene was so great that he would not be satisfied till he had driven him away from the City Pareus having to his great grief lost his Master returned home yet neither there was hee in quiet some talebearers suggesting to his father that his Schoolmaster had infected him with his errors and so far they prevailed that his father intended to disinherit him Hereupon Pareus resolved to go into the Palatinate which his father much disliked sought by all means to hinder yet at last through Gods mercy by importunity he got his fathers consent who sent him away with little money in his purse Thus forsaking his friends and fathers house he went to Hirschberg where hee met with his Master and some of his School-fellows and so they travelled together towards the Palatinate through Bohemia By the way his money failing he went to a Monastery to beg an Alms and the Abbat pittying him relieved him Going from thence to another Monastery he met with an ignorant Friar and asking an Alms of him in Latine he returned this answer Nos pauperifratres nos nihil habemus an piscimus an caro an panis an misoricordia habemus Yet at length it pleased God to bring them safely to Amberg in the upper Palatinate There his Schoolmaster stayed and sent Pareus with ten more of his Scholars to Heidleberg where they were admitted into the Colledge of Sapience There he was a diligent hearer of Ursin Boquin Tremelius Zanchy and the other Professors under whom he profited both in the Arts and Tongues to admiration Then he betook himself to the study of Divinity and having fitted himself for the work of the Ministry he was chosen by the Elector to preach in a village within his jurisdiction which he was then about to reform Not long after he was called back to Heidleberg and made a Publick-Lecturer where he continued till the death of Frederick the third and then by the Heterodox party he with the other Professors was driven from thence but most of them were entertained by Prince Casimire who erected a Universitie at Neostade appointing Ursin Zanchy Tossan Junius Piscaâ—or and others to be the Professors in it He appointed also a Synod therein to consider how to provide for the other
exiles Tossan was chosen Moderator and Pareus the Scribe of it In that Synod Pareus gat leave to goe visit his country and friends and so in three weeks space came safely to them where he was received with much joy and at the request of the Senate he preached the Sabbath following upon John 3. 16. And that with great applause and general approbation His Father also was so well pleased with him that presently after the Sermon he cancelled the writing whereby he had disinherited him The Senate also desired him to undertake a Pastoral charge in that place but he chose rather to return into the Palatinate again and coming to Neostad he was appointed to preach in a village hard by where he continued til Prince Casimire as Guardian to the young Prince Elector Palatine sent for him to be a Preacher in the great Church in Heidleberg and not long after he was made Master of the Colledge of Sapience in that University Anno Christi 1587 according to the Statutes of the Colledge he Commenced Master of Arts and a fterwards by the perswasion of his friends Doctor of Divinitie also Anno Christi 1594 at a Convention of States at Ratisbone the Divines of the Palatinate were accused by the Lutherans as holding opinions neither consonant to the Scriptures Augustane Confession nor to their own Catechiâ—m But Pareus at he appointment of the Palatine easily wiped off those aspersions and vindicated the innocencie of them Anno Christi 1596 there brake forth a great Plague in the University of Heidleberg whereof the learned James Kimedontius Pareus his intimate friend died and some other Professors also and the Students by reason of it were driven away yet Pareus stayd and it pleased God to preserve his Colledge free from the infection Not long after he was chosen Professor of the Old Testament in the room of Kimedontius and presently after Rector of the whole University Anno Christi 1596 he was extremely troubled with a Catarrh insomuch as he despaired of life yet it pleased God after a while to restore him Anno Christi 1602 upon the death of Daniel Tossan he was made Professor of the New Testament and grew so famous that many resorted out of Hungarie Borussia France England Scotland Ireland and Germany to see and hear him Anno Christi 1615 his Wife sicken'd and died which was a great grief to him An Chr. 1618 the Low-Countries being exceedingly indangered by the growth of Arminianism the States appointed a Synod at Dort for the curing of that disease and amongst other famous Divines Pareus was chosen by the Elector Palatine to goe to it but he being grown very old and infirm desired to be excused and so Paul Tossan was sent in his room February the second Anno Christi 1620 as Pareus was coming out of his study the steps being slippery with the frost his foot slipt and he fell down sixteen steps and yet it pleased God by a wonderful providence that â—he light upon his feet and received no hurt by the fall which made him think of that promise Psal. 91 He will give his Angels charge over thee c. By his Doctrine and Counsel he was admirably advantageous to the Church of God in many places He strongly asserted the truth of God against its adversaries He was a great studier and promoter of the Churches peace labouring that they which agree in the Fundamentals should not jar about matters of an inferiour nature He wrote many excellent Works whereof some were printed by himself others remained with his son Philip Pareus who hath since published them to the great benefit of the Church About that time the Spaniards came into the Palatinate with their Army which brought great miseries upon that poor Country which Pareus foresaw both by Prodigies and Dreams Then did his friends both in Heidleberg and other places perswade him to retire himself to some other place of safety to whom he yeelded that so he might not fall into the hands of those bloody Papists whom he had irritated by his writings against them At his departure hee cried out O Heidleberg O Heidleberg but it 's better to fall into the hands of God then of men whose tender mercies are cruelty He went to Anvilla where he spent his time in Prayer Study and Meditation waiting and longing for the time of his change There also he wrote his Corpus Doctrinae which when he had finished he said Lord now let thy servant depart in peace because he hath finished that which he desired Presently after he felt his strength much to decay and he fell into a Feaver and finding that the air in that place agreed not with him he went thence to Neapolis earnestly begging of God that if it were his holy will he might yet returne to Heidleberg and lay his bones there He made his Will also finding his former Catarrh to return upon him again yet through Gods mercy and by the help of Physicians he recovered whereupon he resolved to goe to Heidleberg and taking his Grand-son young Daniel Pareus with him whom he loved dearly he came safely to Heidleberg where hee was received with wonderfull acclamations of joy about which time Prince Frederick came thither also from his Exile and the Sabbath following they received the Sacrament of the Lords Supper together with much comfort But three dayes after his former disease returning he was sensible of his approaching death The Professors and Ministers resorted to him much bewailing their own loss amongst whom was Henry Alting to whom he freely opened his mind both concerning Gods house and his own and presently after quietly departed in the Lord Anno Christi 1622 and of his age 73. His Works are bound up together in three volumes The Life of Thomas Erpenius who died A no Christi 1624. THomas Erpenius was born at Gâ—rcome in the Low Countries Anno Christi 1584 of honest Parents In his childhood he was bred in the School of Leiden and admitted into that University at eighteen years old and in the twenty fifth year of his age he commenced Master of Arts. Then he fel to the studies of Divinity and of the Oriental Languages under Joseph Scaliger who observing his ingenuity and promptnesse often foretold what an eminent man he would prove in time to come From thence he travelled into England France Italy and Germany in which peregrinations he profited exceedingly both in learning and prudence At Paris he became intimately acquainted with Isaac Causabon and went with him to Samure where he fel hard to the study of Arabick and profited so exceedingly therein that Causabone had him in great admiration and estimation for the same From thence he went to Venice where by the help of some learned Jews and Tâ—rks he learned the Turkish Persian and Aethiopick languageâ— whereby
for him to stay here He answered If I shall find favour in the eyes of God he will bring me again and shew me both it and his habitation and if otherwise lo here I am let him do what seemeth good in his eyes 2 Sam. 15. 25 26. And being asked of another if he could be content to live if God would grant it him he said I grant that life is a great blessing of God neither will I neglect any means that may preserve it and do heartily desire to submit to Gods will but of the two I infinitely more desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ. To those that came to visit him in his sicknesse he gave very godly and wise exhortations He thanked God for his wonderful mercy in pulling him out of hell in sealing his Ministry by the Conversion of Souls which he wholy ascribed to his glory A week before his death he called for his Wife and desired her to bear his Dissolution with a Christian Fortitude and turning to his children he told them that they should not now expect that in regard of his weaknesse he should say any thing to them he had formerly told them enough and hoped they would remember it and hee verily beleeved that none of them durst think to meet him at the great Tribunal of Christ in an unregenerate state Some of his neighbours moved that as he had in his Ministry discovered to them the exceeding comforts that were in Christ so he would now tel them what he felt in his soul Alass sayd he doe you looke for that now from me that want breath and power to speake I have told you enough in my Ministry yet to satisfie you I am by the wonderful mercies of God as full of comfort as my heart can hold and feel nothing in my soul but Christ with whom I heartily desire to be Then seeing some weeping he said Oh what a deal ado there is before one can dye When the very pangs of Death were upon him some of his dear friends coming to take their leave of him he caused himself to be raised up and after a few gapings for breath he said to them I am now drawing on a pace to my Dissolution hold out Faith and Patience your work will quickly be at an end Then shaking them by the hand he desired them to make sure of heaven and to remember what hee had formerly taught them protesting that it was the Truth of God as he should answer it at the Tribunal of Christ before whom he should shortly appeare and a dear friend taking him by the hand aske him if hee felt not much pain Truly no said he the greatest I feel is your cold hand and then being laid down againe not long after he yeelded up his spirit unto God Anno Christi 1631 and of his age 60. He was one of a thousand for Piety and Courage which were so excellently mixed with wisdom that they who imagined mischief against his Ministry were never able by all their plottings to doe him any more hurt then only to shew their teeth He wrote a discourse of true happiness Directions for a comfortable walking with God Insâ—â—utions for comforting afflicted Consciences A threefold Treatise of the World Sacrament of the Lords Supper and Fasting De quatuor novissimis Laus Deo W. WHATELIE The Life of William Whately who died A no Christi 1639. WIlliam Whately was born at Banbury in Oxfordshire Anno Christi 1583 of godly and religious Parents His Father Master Thomas Whatelie was oft Major of that Town His Mother Mistris Joyce Whately carefully bred him up in the knowledge of the Scriptures from a child He was also trained up in learning in the best Schools in those parts and being of a quick apprehension a clear judgement and a most happy memory He profited so much both in Latine Greek and Hebrew that at fourteen yeares old he went to Christs Colledge in Cambridge There he was an hard Student and quickly became a good Logician and Philosopher a strong Disputant and an excellent Orator He studied also Poetrie and Mathematicks He was a constant hearer of Doctor Chaderton and Master Perkins And his Tutor calling his Pupills to an account what they had learned when any was at a stand he would say Whately what say you And he would repeat as readily as if he had preached the Sermon himself Being Batechelor of Arts his Father tooke him home yet there also he followed his study Afterwards he married a Wife the Daughter of Master George Hunt an eminent Preacher who perswaded him to enter into the Ministry and therefore going to Oxford he Commenced Master of Arts and presently after hee was called to be a Lecturer at Banbury which he performed with good approbation for foure yeares and then was called to the Pastoral charge there in which place he continued untill his death He was of a quick understanding of a clear and deep judgement of a most firme memory and of a lively spirit Hee was naturally Eloquent and had words at will He was of an able body and sound lungs and of a strong and audible voice And according to his matter in hand he was a Boaâ—erges a sonne of Thunder and yet upon occasion a Barnabas a sonne of sweet Consolation and which was the Crowne of all God gave him an heart sincerely to seek his glory and to aime at the saving of all their soules that heard him His speech and praching was not in the inticing words of mans wisdomâ— but in the Demonstration of the Spirit and Power He was an Apollos eloquent and mighty in the Scriptures He catechized and preached twice every Lords day and a weakly Lecture besides yet what he preached was before well studyed and premeditated He usually penned his Sermons at large and if he had but so much time as to read over what he had written and to gather it up into short heads he was able to deliver it well near in the same words His Sermons were plaine yet very Scriptural according to the Rules of Art and right reason Hee made use of his Grammar learning in Greek and Hebrew to examine his Text by Then of Rhetorick to discover what formes of speech in his Text were genuine and used in their proper signification and what was elegantly clothed in Tropes and Figures that hee might unfold them Then by a Logicall examining of the context he searched out the true scope of the Holy Ghost in the words His Doctrines which hee insisted on were naturall not forced These he first proved by Scriptures then by other arguments and reasons and in his Applications he either confirmed some profitable truth which might be questioned or convinced men of some error or reproved some vice or exhorted to some duty or resolved some doubt or case of Conscience or comforted such as
of death they both of them blessed him and gave him this testimony that he had never offended them in all his life Wallaeus laid their death exceedingly to heart so that for a years space no day passed wherein he did not with grief think on them nor night wherein he did not dream of them But it pleased God that in December the 27. he had a son born whom he called John this somewhat mitigated his sorrows Before this the Citizens of Middleborough had much importuned him to remove his habitation to their City but he would not consent to it till his Wife was brought to bed least he should seem to contemn his people at Koukerk who had shewed themselves so honest and loving to him But when she was up again he then removed and was entertained both by the People and Magistrates with great applause being received with more favour then ordinary which stirred up envy in some of the Ministers of Middleborough who thereupon would have had him confined to a little Church that was in the outmost part of the City but the Presbytery would not suffer it yea it returned to the glory of Wallaeus that these ancient Ministers feared least he should get their Auditories from them But after a while he moderated their passions by his modesty courtesie and readiness to do any Offices of love to them so that he lived very friendly with them In his Ministry he thought that he did not sufficiently discharge his duty by Preaching and Governing and therefore every Sabbath day at five a clock he Catechized wherein he explained all the common places in Divinity and whereby he made his people very ready in the knowledge of the Scriptures so that some of them were fitted for the work of the Ministry in the Indies He was diligent in visiting his Parishoners whereby he reformed many which were given to vitiousness giving them counsel how they might shun those sins which naturally they were addicted to He satisfied doubting Consciences and extricated them out of the snares of Satan He raised up and comforted those that were cast down at the apprehension of Gods wrath for their sins In these his visitations he ministred relief to Widows Orphans and such as were destitute of all humane help He encouraged such as were weak and sick to persevere in Faith and prepared them for death and such as were neer death he comforted them against the terrors thereof and wrought in them a desire to be with Christ yea he did not only visit such as owned him for their Minister but Sectaries also Papists and Anabaptists which he did with such sweetness that his company was never grievous to them and he carryed himself so justly that many times even they repaired to him for advice in cases of Conscience about Matrimony and always went well satisfied from him This much troubled a Popish Priest called Curio who knowing how powerful Wallâ—us was in reproving sin to deter his Disciples from conference with Wallaeus or hearing his Sermons told them that the Devil always sate upon his shoulders and as he was Preaching suggested to him what he should say But God turned his malice and lyes to good For many Papists either drawn by curiosity or by the fame of the man or upon the occasion of Baptisms into his Church when they heard nothing that was Diabolical to proceed out of his mouth they began to esteem their Curio a slanderer to doubt of the truth of his other sayings to perceive that they learned more and received more comfort by Wallaeus his Sermons then by his and so by degrees fell off to the Reformed Religion Wallaeus his Colleagues left to him yea appointed him as the most learned man amongst them to take care that their Religion received no detriment and to defend the same against all Adversaries wherein like another Hercules he subdued many Monsters There was one Abraham Beckman that of a long time had disturbed the Peace of the Church of Middleborough A man of a sharp wit and blameless life he reproved the Ministers for baptizing such children whose Parents were not members of the Church and he had drawn some hundreds of the Church membrs to his party To these Wallaeus opened the Doctrine of Truth more plainly by Conference and Disputations he overthrew the pertinacious convinced most of them by writing and so brought them to an acknowledgement of their Errors But Wallaeus thought it not sufficient to conquer them but he would also gain them to the Church which he effected by procuring that Beckman should be chosen one of the Presbytery whereby he was quieted and afterwards did good service to the Church Sectaries are never better quieted then whilst they pretend for God they may have riches or honours conferred upon them Shortly after there was one Gedeon Vanden Bogard a Noble man of Flanders who being inticed with great promises was resolved to turn over to the King of Spains party and therefore also must change his Religion for which end he gives out that the Popish Religion was truer then the Reformed and that in the point of Transubstantiation which he undertook to prove by the assistance of Father Gauda a Jesuite of Antwerp who was grown to that height of impudency and impiety that he published in Print that he would pawn his soul to God to expiate all the Errors that were in the Romane Church To whom therefore Wallaeus presently answers and shews that the Pontificians themselves could not otherwise understand the words of Institution in the Lords Supper but Figuratively and that the body of Christ â—ould not be in infinite places at the same time for that then it should cease to be a body which is always circumscribed within its own limits so that Gauda held his peace Presently after a certain stranger coming to Middleborough for Zeland brings forth no such Monsters Preached That Christ had excellently taught reverence to God and love to our Neighbors But that his Doctrine might have the more weâ—ght hâ—d affirmed himself to be the Son of God by a certain pious fraud saying that he was God when indeed he was not And not content to divulg these blasphemies in private he preached them in publick VVallaeus judged this man the more dangerous by how much he seemed to be very religious and that he would not speak without commending Christ whenas indeed he sought to destroy him wherefore setting upon him in a Publick Assembly he proved that in the Nativity Life and Death of Christ all things did concur which were foretold of the Messias in the Old Testament and therefore that he could not but be God which was required in the Messias That Christ whom he confessed to teach Piety must express it in his Life and therefore could not begin his Doctrine with a lye who must not do evill that good might come of it Neither was it worth the while
these two men the thing was granted so that Anno Christi 1628 the Interpreters of the Old Testament repaired to Leiden who were John Bogerman William Bâ—udartius and Gerson Bucer The year after they met together who were to Translate the New Testament and the Apochrypha and these were Anthony Wâ—llaeus Festus Hâ—mmius and James Rolâ—â—dus These men set upon the work with unwearyed labor And that which they aimed at was to make a new and accurate version out of the Originals and as much as the Geniuâ— of the Language would permit to translate it word for word and whereas in the Original any word might admit of a various Interpretation they endeavoured to finde out some Dutch word that might answer to it And where any thing seemed obscure they labored to explain it by Marginal Notes and where any thing was doubtful to resolve it whereby they often gave a reason of their version they added also Parallel Scriptures When the Translators of the New Testament had proceeded to the end of the Acts of the Apostles James Rowland dyed in whose room Jodicus Hoingius succeeded and when the Translators of the Old Testament had proceeded to the beginning of Ezekiel Bucer dyed in whose room Anthony Thysius was substituted Assoon as they had finished any Book and imparted it each to other they printed it and sent it to certain supervisors in every Province appointed thereunto to be by them again examined When the whole version was thus finished An. Chri. 1634. by the order of the States General all the Supervisors met together at Leiden who were Anthony Thysius John Polyander Abdias Witmarius Jodocus Larenus Arnoldus Teeckmannus Bernard Fullenius James Revius and Francis Gomarus Not long after also the Supervisors of the New Testament met there who were Sâ—bastian Dammannus John Arnoldi Lindanus William Nieuhusius Charles Demaet Lodowick Gerhardus Bernard Fullenius Gasper Sibelius and Henry Altingius These Supervisors being met together chose their Moderarators Assessors and Scribes and then at their daily meetings having first implored the presence and assistance of Almighty God they were demanded whether they had found any thing in the Translation that needed change and what the Translators and Supervisors agreed upon that was concluded And so this great work was compleated Anno Christi 1635. And this was very observable That the same year a great Plague raged in the Low-Countries and especially in Leiden wherein there dyed twenty thousand persons and yet through Gods mercy not one of the Translators or Supervisors was touched with it no nor was ever sick all that while All being thus finished the Supervisors returned to their several imployments but the Translators committed the work to the Press and themselves were the Overseers to see to the correcting of it At the same time printing it with and without Notes in Folio which was finished Anno Christi 1637. At which time they presented it to the States who liked it excellent well and presently gave order that no other Bible should be used either in Churches or Schools which was accordingly followed The Remonstrants appointed four of their greatest Scholars to examine this translation for fear of partiality but when they found how candidly and faithfully the Translators had dealt they also accepted of it and it is judged the most exquisite translation that is extant In the version of Luther there is not so much skill shewed in the Language In the French they do not so much tie themselves to the words as to the sence And the English seems to favour Episcopacy too much whereas no remarkable defect can be observed in this and indeed the Translators did by their excessive and defatigable pains so wear out themselves that all of them dyed within three years after After he had concluded this great and tiresome work he attended his Professorship thinking to ease his minde and repair his decayed strength But he scarce had rested two moneths when he fell upon his Cases of Conscience For he found that the Pontificians in their Books whilst they pretended to reprove sin did but teach it And the Reformed Divines in many things filled the minds of the Readers with too many scruples whereas that only ought to be condemned which the Scripture accounts a sin and that therein also some cautions were necessary for we ought not so much to reprove those that are bad as to seek their amendment But before he had well begun this work he was again made Magnifique Rector of the University which place as it was of the greatest dignity in the City of Leiden so of the greatest care In the midsts of these imployments he found his Memory to begin to decay and his strength to fail so that he was forced to write his Lectures more largely then he was wont to do which he carryed on till he came to the Head concerning the Holy Ghost at which time death prevented his further progress Thus much for his publick life Now for his private He was not splendid abroad and sordid at home but always equal like himself He studyed no delights and was far from all lasciviousness His only recreation was to adorn his Orchard He was free from covetousness seldom looking after his outward estate and at length wholly divolved that burthen upon his eldest son called John He affected not vain-glory his habit was not costly yet therein he was rather negligent then sordid He had always a large house which was rather commodious then sumptuous In converse he was no boaster either of his Learning Judgement or Wit He never either extolled himself or debased others no not his Adversaries He never inserted reproaches into his publick Writings He never chose any subject to write on for ostentation but only such as might be most profitable to the Church He never sought for nor took great titles It was always his glory rather to be then to seem He never affected ease He was always much grieved for the afflictions of the Church And endeavoured in all things to keep a good and a clear Conscience He would never to gratifie friends give any other counsel then such as beseemed him either to the Church or Magistrate Neither did he ever request any for his children or kindred of which they were not worthy or might any way tend to the detriment of others When as the Magistrates of Leiden had often proffered him the house wherein Arminius dwelt and wherein now his widdow and children remained he would never accept of it till as when they saw that they could stay in it no longer themselves came to him and requested him to take it thanking him that he had deferred it so long He never hunted after the favour of great men thereby to enrich himself He only desired their favour so far as might be fit for him and advantagious to the Church If any thing was spoken in his presence which
of London and Doctor Hackwell Tutor to the Prince of Wales yea and King James himself conferred familiarly with him February following An. Christi 1613. the Prince Elector being marryed sent Henry Alting with his Scholars before him into the Palatinate who in their journey travelled through Zeland Flanders Brabant Limburg Julâ—ers and Collen and so at last arrived at Heidleberg in April the new marryed couple being not long behinde them About four moneths after our Alting was called to be a Professor of Divinity to read Common places in the University of Heidleberg Into which he was admitted August the 16. which was the Princes birth day And because by the Statutes of the University none could be Moderator of the Disputations but a Doctor he was solemnly inaugurated into that degree November the 18. by Paraeus Dean of the University and Bartholomew Coppenius Doctor of Divinity And this was very remarkable that amongst all the tumults and pleasures of the Court his minde was never taken off from the study of Divinity But Gods Providence intended him to some further imployment then a Professors place For there was in Heidleberg an excellent Seminary of the Church endowed with large revenues called the Colledge of Wisdom The Prince therefore chose him Master thereof October the 15. An. Chri. 1616. together with two Colleagues to instruct and train up young Divines for the work of the Ministry and how much good he did therein they are able to relate who gratefully acknowledge what profit they reaped by his care and culture Whilst he was thus laboring in his double imployment Coppenius another Professor dyed whose place was divolved upon our Alting but by a rare and great example of modesty he chose rather to continue in his former imployments and by his favour and authority in the Princes Court prevailed that Abraham Scultetus should have that Professors place transferred upon him About this time a National Synod was called at Dort for the composing of the differences in the Belgick Churches by reason of the Arminians and when grave learned and godly men were chosen out of all the Reformed Churches to be present at it which was Anno Christi 1618 and 1619 our Altingius with two others was sent from Heidleberg to assist in that work where he approved himself to all that were present both for his excellent Learning in Divinity and his dexterity in explicating cases of greater difficulty Thus far we have heard the happier and more comfortable part of his life now follows the more sad and afflicted part of it For scarcely was the Synod ended wherein the Arminians were condemned and the Orthodox Truths established but Alting with his Colleagues returned to Heidleberg and at the same time the tumults in Bohemia began The Prince Elector is chosen King of Bohemia and Crowned Spinola breaks into the Palatinate the great battel was fought nere Prague the Bohemians are beaten which was An. Chri. 1620. And the year following the University of Heidleberg was dissipated the Students flying for fear and the Professors having liberty granted them to go whether they pleased Yet our Alting sending his family into a place of safety stays still in the Colledge of Wisdom keeping the Students in good order remaining unterrified in the midst of emminent dangers whilst he was serviceable to the Church satisfied his own Conscience and the earnest desire of the King who from the Hâ—gue had written to him desiring him not to depart from Heidleberg An 〈…〉 in the moneth of â—â—â—gust Heidleberg was besieged by 〈◊〉 and â—eptember the 6. was taken by storm at which time it suffered whatsoever Military licentâ—ousness could inflict by plunderings murthers and ravishing of Matrons and Virgins all being heightened by the hatred of Religion and the brutishness of the Croâ—â—s At this time our Alting was in his study who hearing of the surprize of the City bolted his door and betook himself to Prayer looking every moment when the bloudy Souldiers would break in to sacrifice him to God But the great Arbiter of life and death took care for his safety For Monsieur Behusius Rector of the School and his dear friend hiring two souldiers called him forth and conveyed him through a back dore into the Lord Chancellors house which Tilly had commanded to be preserved from plundering by reason of the Publick Monuments of the Commonwealth that were kept in that place This house was commanded to be guarded by a Lieutenant Colonel that was under the Count of Hohenzollem a man greedy of prey who least he should lose his share in the booty by his attendance upon that place sent forth his Souldiers as it were a hunting commanding them that if they met with any Citizens of note that under pretence of safe-guarding them they should bring them to him purposing by their ransom to enrich himself To this man Alting was brought who with his naked sword reeking with blood said to him This day with this hand I have slain ten men to whom Doctor Alting shall be added as the eleventh if I knew where to finde him But who art thou Truly such a countenance and such a speech in such a juncture of time might have affrighted the most constant minde But our Alting by a witty answer neither denying himself to be Alting nor unseasonably discovering himself answered as sometimes Athanasius in the like case I was saith he a Schoolmaster in the Colleâ—ge of Wisdom Hereupon the Leiutenant Colonel promised him safety who if he had known him to be Alting would surely have slain him Oh what a sad time had he that night which he passed without sleep hearing the continual shrikes and groans which filled the ayr of Women ravished Virgins defloured men some drawn to torments others immediately slain But when he saw that many fled to this house as to their only refuge fearing lest he should be discovered by some of them either through imprudence or malice he retired into a Cockloft where whilst he hid himself this Leiutenant Colonel was by the authority of Tilly presently commanded away not giving him so much time as to seek out his Schoolmaster that the house might be resigned to the Iesuites for whom it was appointed Yet under these new inhabitants our Alting should not have been one jot safer if God had not by a special providence provided for his safety For the kitchin of this house was reserved for Tillies own use and one of the Palatines Cooks was appointed over it who closely fed and maintained him and whilst the Iesuites were providing all things in a readiness in the Church for the Mass he hired three Bavarian Souldiers that kept guards in the streets to guard him to his own house When he came thither he found all things broken plundred and carryed away and in his study he found a Captain boasting that all things therein were his own yet saith
strugling he quietly slept in the Lord Aug. 25. Anno Christi 1644. His Works are mentioned before in his life The Life of Frederick Spanhemius who dyed Anno Christi 1649. FRederick Spanhemius was born in January Anno Chri. 1600. in Amberg the Metropolis of the upper Palatinate which year was famous for many things especially for that memorable battel of Newport wherein Prince Maurice overthrew the Spanish Forces His Father was Wigand Spanhemius an honorable and most pious man being Doctor of Divinity and a Counsellor to Frederick King of Bohemia in Ecclesiastical affairs For Church businesses in the Palatinate are not ordered by Presbyteries and Consistories as in other Reformed Churches but by certain Ecclesiastical and Civil persons chosen by the Prince to whom the whole care of Ecclesiastical matters is committed His Mother was Renata Tossana the daughter of that famous Divine Daniel Tossanus sometimes Minister in Orleance afterwards Pastor and Professor of Divinity in Heidleberg Our Frederick so soon as he began to speak shewed such towardliness and ingenuity that he gave hopes of excelling when he should come to riper years His parents therefore least so fruitful a field should lie untilled took care that he should be trained up in Religion and Learning first under their own wings till he was seven years old and then they procured him to be admitted into the Elector School in that City where as he grew in years he increased both in Learning and Piety so that when he was eleven years old falling into a Tertian Ague which held him long he made a vow unto God that if he pleased to restore him he would so soon as he was fit apply himself to the study of Divinity whereby he might be able to do him service in his Church all his life long An Chri. 1631. the Plague brake forth at Amberg which raging for seven or eight moneths together dissipated that School whereby his studies were hindred yet did his Father endeavor to make up that defect by his private instructing of him at home So that the year following his Father judging him fit for the University sent him to Heidleberg which at that time was the common Mart of Learning unto which Students resorted out of all parts when he came thither he first sojourned in the house of his Uncle Paul Tossan by whose converse and example he profited very much but after a while being examined by the Ecclesiastical Senate and judged fit he was admitted into the Colledge of Sapience where he spent four years and an half under those famous men Henry Alting and Conrade Decker to whom he approved himself both for his wit diligence and progress in Learning For indeed he spent no time idly imposing a task upon himself whereby he did not only equal but far exceed all his contemporaries First drinking down those more pleasant studies of the Arts then betaking himself to the study of Latine and Greek out of the most Classick Authors after which he proceeded to the Hebrew which he prosecuted with such fervor that in four moneths space he read over the whole Hebrew Bible He made also in that time three publick Orations First of the Life and praises of Saint Ambrose Secondly Of the authority of the Laws prescribed to him by Altingius and lastly of the four honorable Offices belonging to the Electoral family He also kept a publick Disputation De Mundo under Christopher Jugnitius After all which in January An. Chri. 1619. by the command of his Superiors he stood with five Competitors and underwent a private and publick examination in the Hebrew Greek and Latine Tongues as also in Logick Physicks Mathematicks and Ethickâ— and made Theams and Verses in all those three Languages and disputed concerning Judiciary Astroligie with one of his Competitors Examination being ended he was made Master of Arts and so returned with honor to his Parents with whom after he had staid a while he was by them sent to Geneva in regard of the eminency both of the Teachers and City For indeed that City was famous from the first Reformation in which Calvin and Beza flourished who derived the same excellent Genius wherewith themselves were adorned to their successors At his first coming thither he fell into acquaintance with Vedelius the Professor of Philosophy and Heidanus who afterwards made his Funeral Oration These men found in him such qualifications as drew their affections to him For they discerned him to be serious contemplative affable towards all and of elegant manners and abounding with profound speculations which as he did not ambitiously discover so neither did he conceal them where he might profitably make use of them The greatest part of his time he spent in his private studies and in learning the French Tongue with the elegancy whereof he was much taken so that in a few moneths he attained to good skill in it For the furtherance whereof they agreed amongst themselves at meals to give an account in French of what they had read that day An. Chri. 1620. he publickly disputed with Universal applause under Turretine concerning the five Articles controverted by the Arminians wherein he gave an Essay what might afterwards be expected from him in that kinde The year following things being in a deplorable condition in Bohemia and in the Palatinate he went to Gratianople that he might free his Parents from further charge in his maintenance and from thence to Ebrodune an Episcopal City in the upper Dauphaunie where he was Tutor to a Noble mans sons for three years during which time he conflicted with many diseases especially with a dizziness in his head for which by the advice of a Physitian he had a Fontinel made in his left arm which wholly freed him from that disease Whilst he was in this City he twice contested with the Pontificians First in the Jesuites Colledge with Father Hughes concerning Justification the authority of the Scriptures the Church c. And afterwards with a Franciscan Fryar in the presence of the Mayor of the City a Papist and many Popish Lawyers concerning the Sacrament of the Lords Supper In both which he found as he professed the special assistance of God so that though he was young and not much versed in those controversies yet he in the judgement of his very adversaries was not overcome At the end of the three years having with much difficulty obtained leave of the Noble man he returned to Geneva and after a while went from thence to Paris where he was most courteously entertained by Samuel Durant the Pastor of the Reformed Church his Kinsman with whom he lived till the death of Mr. Durant by whose advice he refused the Professor of Philosophies place at Lausanna to which he was invited by the Magistrates of Bern. During his abode at Paris he grew into familiar acquaintance with the learned Camero
and to rest most upon his advice He always as he ought much esteemed the singular good will of the Prince of Orange towards him as also of the Queen of Bohemia and other of the States to whom deservedly he was most dear as they testified by their extraordinary grief at his death He always upon every occasion professed how much he was beholding to the Curators and Magistrates of Leiden for their singular good will towards him whereby they often anticipated and exceeded his modesty in conferring favors upon him The most excellent Princess of Orange also after his death sent to his widdow and eldest son professing that the loss of him was no less a grief to her then if she had lost another husband or dear son so highly did she esteem of him Neither may any man wonder whence it came to pass that he had so many friends if withall he do but consider the multitude of Letters that he sent and received so that his study seemed to be a Compendium of all Europe But behold the mutability of all Earthly things The truth is his labors were so many and great that if his body had been of Oak or Iron he could not have held out long so that we may truly say that the imployment of his soul destroyed its own habitation which was worn out and dissolved with too much exercise For besides the publick labors which he underwent in the Church and University his private and domestical cares his conferences with his friends his frequent intercourse of Letters his various writings and giving counsel to others took up every moment in his life And though he was often admonished by his friends to favour himself and moderate his pains yet would he by no means be perswaded to it Hence it was observed that his strength began sensibly to decay and he was troubled with great obstructions so that himself began to complain of them yet would he not diminish his daily task And thus he continued all the Winter afflicted with weakness and pains at sundry seasons His last Sermon he Preached at Easter upon those memorable words of Saint Paul Phil. 3. 21. Who shall change our vile body that it may be like his glorious body c. Also after his last Lecture returning home he complained of the decay of his strength which was so great that with much difficulty he went on to the end of his Lecture as many of his Auditors observed From thenceforth his health decayed and his strength declined more and more and which was an ill sign his weakness was greater then his disease yet notwithstanding he was delegated in the midst of April by the Church to a Synod of the French Churches which met at Harlem whither he went though the labor was too great for his weak body And at his return he sensibly discerned that he was much worse so that though no signs of death appeared outwardly yet was his weakness such that being taken off his Legs he was confined to his bed Hereupon he foresaw the approach of death and wholly gave up himself to God whom he continually invoked by ardent prayers and sighs which had been his constant practice in the whole course of his life But yet April the 28. he thought himself better and that there were some hopes of his recovery whereupon in the afternoon he sate up at his study window where he had not continued long before he was seized upon by a violent Feaver with a great trembling and shaking of his whole body which at length ended in a burning so that he lay all night as if he had been in the midst of a fire whereupon seeing his end to approach in the presence of his Family he poured forth most ardent Prayers to God Profesting that he knew Christ to be his Redeemer in whom he believed and with whom he knew that he should shortly be and that he desired nothing so much as his happy dissolution his soul still breathing after Christ Only this by earnest prayers he begged of God that he would give him strength to undergo whatsoever he should please to lay upon him and that he would not suffer him to be tempted beyond what he was able to bear that he might have a quiet and comfortable departure out of this miserable and sinful world Presently the famous Physitian Dr. Stratenus was sent for from the Hague who was his special friend to whom was adjoined Dr. Wallaeus who performed all the Offices of good Physitians and did what Art could do But their business was not so much with the disease as with death which refused all remedies The Citizens of Leiden mourned exceedingly for his sickness the Queen of Bohemia and the Princess of Orange shewed most tender affections towards him His wife and family foreseeing their calamity in his loss were dissolved into tears But Heidanus coming to visit him he declared to him the inward peace of his soul his hope of future glory and his faith in Christ together with his earnest desire of leaving this miserable World He also freely forgave all that had wronged him desiring the like from others if he had any way justly offended them Professing that whatsoever he had done he did it out of his love to Truth and his care over the Church The night before his death Dr. Triglandius was sent for to him whom he always loved and honoured as his dear friend and Colleague who being come prayed with him and the next day Dr. Massisius Pastor of the French Church did tho like And thus he spent all that week in Prayers and holy Exercises On Wednesday night he caused his son to read to him the 8. cha of Ezekiel and part of the Epistle to the Romans after which he spake to his eldest son Frederick exhorting him to the study of Divinity requiring him not to be withdrawn from it by any means whatsoever he thought that he could never speak enough of the tender love care and diligence of his wife shewed towards him A little before his death recollecting his spirits in the presence of Samuel Riverius Pastor of Delph with a clear and fervent voice he prayed with such ardency of affections as caused all to wonder In his Prayers he gave immortal thanks to God for all his blessings bestowed so plentifully upon him in the whole course of his life and for that he had blessed him so much amongst strangers acknowledging himself to be lesse then all those blessings and that he had nothing to return to his Majesty for them but his grateful heart Above other things he especially blessed him for bringing him forth in a Reformed and Orthodox Church and for that he had not suffered him to be infected with the Popish Religion whose Doctrine he professed to be erroneous and contrary to the Gospel of Christ and the way of perdition He prayed heartily to God to continue these
retreat into the wilderness His carriage there His industry His study of the Scriptures His study of the Hebrew and other Eastern languages 〈…〉 His imployment He is envyed by some The subtilty of the Arians Their dissimulation His return into Syria His travels and studies Asphaltites His labors at Bethlehem His zeal against Heresie The increase of Arianism His great troubles His death His great esteem His saying Christian fortitude Love of Christ. The danger of Heresie Chastity Iudgement Vertue His works His parentage His studâ—es His Ordination His diligence in his Ministry He is chosen Bishop of Constantinople He reforms his Clergy He endeavours the peace of the Church The great success of his Ministry His 〈◊〉 He is hâ—â—ed for it The subtilty of the Arians Chysostom counter-plots them The danger of riches Ignorant Monks Epiphanius his weakness A Council called Origens books condemned Johns meekness Epiphanius reproved Two Predictions John condemned by the Council unjustly He is banished And recalled His sharp reproof A Council summoned He is condemned Banished Gods judgements on his 〈◊〉 His charity His death Why so called Lying abhorred Preachers pattern His Zeal His zeal against Heresie His magnanimity His Courage Love to the Ministry His sayings Meditations Danger of riches His love His faith His Tentaâ—ion His works His birth and parentage He is reclaimed by Ambrose Preachers pattern His zeal His humility He is made a Presbyter in Hippo. His diligence He disputes with a Donatist The success of it His zeal against Heresies He disputes in a Synod He is made Bishop of Hippo. The malice of the Schismaticks The Circumcellians They persecute the Orthodox especially Ministers The malice of Schismaticks A special providence The cruelty of Schismaticks The Donatists condemned for Hereticks A Council at Carthage A Council at Caesarea Manichees converted The craft of an Arian Hereticks Lyars Augustine conâ—utes an Arian His zeal aginst Pelagians The success of his Ministry His patience His great labors His humility A special Providence His humility His prudence His charity Oaths His Retractations His works The coming of the Goths into Africk Their horrible cruelties See more of it in my General Martyrology Augustine dies before the taking of Hippo. His faith The power of his prayers His death His poverty An excellent speech His sayings Prayer Death Christians are pilgrims Ingratitude His works He is chosen Bishop of Alexandria A Council Nestorius deposed and excommunicated Banished by the Emperour His fearful death His knowledg in the Scriptures His learning His death His sayings Charity Modesty Tentation His birth and education Preachers pattern Prayer His sayings Charity Mercy Faith and works Drunkeness and gluttony His works His birth and education Scriptures delighted in His charity A peace-maker His speech at death His death His character His works His sayings Pride His parentage His education His prudence in governing a family His Conversion His Speech His prudence He retires himself from the world His mothers impatiency at it Tentation resisted His abstinence His sickness and recovery He gives away his inheritance The Arians renew their persecution His remove to Sicca Heretical mallice Cruelty of Hereticks He is cruelly beaten Rejoyceth in sufferings for Christ. He seeks not revenge He sails into Sicily He goes to Rome Heaven more glorious His return into Africk He obscures himself His great industry He is ordained a Presbyter His humility He is made a Bishop His moderation He is banished He converts many Hereticks subtilty He comes to Carthage Doth good He is sent for to the King He is envyed and complained of Is sent back into Sardinia He prophesies His humility His meekness He is restored to his place His humility His sickness His deportment A good Pastor His charity His death Prayer prevâ—lent His works His sayings Covecousness His works His birth and education His charity He turns Monk His studiousness His humility Frugal of his time His charity to souls He desires to have England converted He is sent to Constantinople He writes upon Job Confutes heresies His return to Rome Gods judgements on Rome He is chosen Bishop of Rome His humility He is confirmed by the Emperour He appoints a Fast to remove the judgments He reforms the Church His charity He sends Austin and some others into England Encourages them by this Letter They arrive in England His death His character His sayings Spiritual poverty His works His birth and education His death His sayings Holiness Sinful thoughts Guilty conscience Danger of pride His birth and education He is made Deacon And Presbyter His humility Scriptures read with devotion Pleasures to be avoided His death His sayings Anger His virtue His character His works His birth and education His death His works His birth and imployments His death His sayings Submission to Gods will His Contentation His works His birth and education Given to pleasures His travels and want Enters into a Monastery Is made Archbishop of Canterbury His contention with our Kings His death His sayings Sin hateful Mans fall His learning His works His death His sayings Afflictions His birth and parentage His education His modesty He refuses cure by a charm His zeal His charity He is tempted to uncleanness How he cures 〈◊〉 He enters into a Monastery with his brethren Heaven better then the Earth His diligence His great labors His love to the Scriptures Is made Abbot of Claraval His zeal He is ordained a Presbyter What was blame worthy in him His sickness His Letter to the Abbot of Benâ—val His death His blinde zeal His opinions differing from the Church of Rome His sayings How to hear His works His birth His works His sayings Sin inherent His birth and education His sayings Patience Faith Covetousness Iyes Humility His birth His humility His charity Preachers pattern His Industry His employment His birth and breeding His character His studiousness Meditation His humility Preachers pattern A good conscience Time to be well imployed Death Repentance His works His birth and education His preferments in Oxford His zeal His prudence His adversaries His friends Popish lyes and slanders John of gaunt Favers Wicklies The Bishop banished And restored Wicklies hated by the Bishops Cited to appear before them Is encouraged by the Duke Appears before the Bishop The Bishops pride Great contention A Bill in Parliament against the Londoners The Citizens make a tumult Their rage Articles against Wicklief Condemned at Rome Persecuted The Bishops resolve to proceed against Wicklief A special providence His zeal and diligence Other providences Wicklief again persecuted His weakness He is again persecuted A great Earthquake The kings Letters against him The Kings Letter to Oxford Wicklief returns to Lutterworth His death His works Gods providence in preserving his books His works King Edwayd the third favored him His body condemned and burned His birth and education He goes to Prague Chosen Pastor of Bethlehem His faithfulness therein He is cited to Rome Is excommunicated He is banished Gods mercy A
schism at Rome He is cited to the Council His intimations as he went His kinde entertainment as he went Gods judgement on his adversary His courage Popish cruelty His writings in prison Popish cruelty The Nobles of Bohemia petition In his behalf The Councils incivility A prodigy His appeal to Christ. He is condemned His charity Popish cruelty A wicked Decree His works condemned His ornaments His patience Popish malice His books burnt His deportment at his death His prayer His martyrdom Inhumane cruelty A prophesie Gods judgement on his persecutors His petition to the King His request to the Bishop And to the Barons His works His birth His zeal His retreat to Iberling A safe Conduct denyed him His intimations set up at Constance His return towards Bohemia He is apprehended Carryed to Constance His answer to the Bishops He is accused His answer He is imprisoned He is encouraged Popish cruelty He fals sick His weakness He is brought before the Council He retracts his recantation Back-sliding repented of His condemnation His short answer His ornaments His deportment at death His martyrdom His courage His last words His works His birth His parentage His education Gods providence Schola Illustris He goes to Erford His great proficiency He is Master of Arts. Means of his conversion The ignorance of those times His study of the Scriptures A prediction His studiousness His ordination His remove to Wittenberg He goes to Rome Anno Christi 1511. Popish profaneness He is made Doctor of Divinity An. chr 1512. He studies the Languages Popish blasphemy He opposeth Indulgences His protestation Many defend Luthers Doctrine The Emperor is against him The Pope against him The Pope writes to the Duke of Saxony The Pope further persecutes him Luther cited to Rome The University pleads for him The Bohemians encourage Luther Luthers resolution His courage The cause why Luther was so hated Erasmus's testimony of him Luther cited to Ausburg Luther goes from Ausburg The University of Wittenberg stands for him The Duke of Saxony pleads for him Popes malice The Dukes answer Luther disputes at Lipsick Fryars and Bishops stir up the Pope against him Luther intends a retreat The Popes Bull against him The Bull answered The Bull excommunicated Luthers books burnt He burns the Bull. Luther sent for to Worms His friends disswade him His courage He goes to Worms His answer to Eccius His constancy The Emperour intends to proscribe him The Princes divided about it Lutherâ— courage He is proscribed And seâ—â—way His Patmos Witchcraft frustrated Reformation in his absence He translates the Bible His return to Wittenberg He is displeased with the reformation His faith The rising of the Anabaptists Luther unmasks them He deals more sharply with them Muncer and Pseiffer the Incendiaries The Anabaptists beaten Muncer and Pseiffer beheaded Luthers marriage Melancthon excuses it His sickness His Tentation How he recovered Melancthons fears Luther encourageth him An excellent speech His faith Luthers courage Erasmus censures him He defends his Book against King Henry the Eighth Wâ—y Luther was not punished His writings He will not be bâ—â—bed He publisheth his Catechisms The Confession of Auspurg Luther perswades to peace A Diet at Auspurg Peace endeavoured between Luther and Zuinglius Yet frustâ—ated Luthers preface to the Smalcaldian Articles His violence against the Sacramentaries His power in prayer He justifies his turn from Popery Power of prayer Luther falâ— sick His recovery A Council of the Popes What it was like 1538. Antinomians Their opinions He prays Melancthon well 1541. He comforts Myconius Power of prayer 1543. His judgment about Ceremonies His Exposition upon Genesis 1545. A Popish lye about Luthers death Luthers answer to it He is sent for into his own Country He is in danger of drowning He comes to Isleben His imployments His last sickness Luthers last Prayer His faiâ—h His 〈◊〉 His last will His last word His constancy He in part retracts consubstantiation His daughters death His sayings His charity His private life His recreations His care of his children His diseases His tentations His character His wifes afflictions Miracles Special providences One gives himself to the Devil 〈…〉 〈…〉 His works His speech about his works He would have none called Lutherans Melancthons testimony of him A prediction His character His stile Notâ— His birth and education His learning He commenced Master of Arts. His study of the Scrlptures Preachers pattern He is chosen to a place His zeal He opposeth Indulgences Popish impostures A Reformation in Zurick The Bishop opposeth it Zuinglius admonisheth the Bishop He would have Ministers marry Luthers Books come abroad He studies the Hebrew Lambertus converted His constâ—ncy Popery abolished The revenues of Monasteries turned to charitable uses He presseth a further reformation A Disputation A further Reformation An Abbess converted Note His marriage A controversie about the Mass. Luk. 8. Mat. 13. The Mass abolished He is instructed in a dream Eccius his rage Zuinglius defends himself A disputation fruitless Reformation at Bern. It s written in golden letters Quarels amongst the Switzers Peace made A Disputation Luthers violence The Disputation ends Some good effects of it Catabaptists Their wickedness They are punished Popish malice He is in danger New quarrels amongst the Switzers Wars begun They of Zurick beaten Zuinglius dislikes the war He is slain Popish cruelty He preached against Popery before Luther His character His works His birth His education He goes to Heidleberg Then to Bononia His study of Divinity He enters into the Ministry He studies Greek and Hebrew He is made a Preacher His friendship with Capito He is chosen to Basil. He is chosen to Auspurg Popish malice His call to Sir Fr. Sickengen He is Professor at Basil. Popish malice Reformation in Basil. Idols burnt Discipline erected Preachers pattern Vlm reformed 1529. A Disputation It s dissolved His imployments His sickness Hi industry He prepares for death His speech to his colleagues A prediction His perseverance His poverty His care for his children He foretels his death Joy unspeakable His death Popish lyes His character His works His birth His learning His Conversion His imprisonment His release Manifold afflictious He is set in the stocks His inlargement Popish malice His imprisonment Rastal converted by him Popish malice The King commands Frith to be tryed He is sent for to Croydon His conference with the Bishops men His courage and constancy A Prophesie His escape contrived He refuseth to fly and why His examination and learning His unjust condemnation His patience Gods mercy His death Popish malice His works A strange Providence His birth and education His zeal Mr. Latimer converted by him His zeal in preaching Popish malice His apprehension The Articles against him A Prophesie His condemnation His fall His penance His letter to Tonstal His first conversion His inward joy Without Faith nothing pleases God His desire to convert others The danger of Apostacy Great comfort after great troubles Prevalency of the truth
His conference with a Fryar The Fryars rage against him His constancy His comfort before death An excellent speech He puts his finger into the candle His faith An excellent speech His charity His martyrdom His patience His death His birth and education His zeal His remove into Glocestershire Blindeness of Papists Mr. Tindals wisdom The fruits of it Popish malice and ignorance He is accused He prayeth for strength He is railed at Popish blasphemy Mr. Tindals zeal He departs from Master Welch Gods providence He goes into Germany His zeal The Bible translated first into English His conference with Luther His excellent works The benefit come by them His prudence Satans malice against the truth His great afflictions Mr. Coverdal assists him A widows charity Popish lyes The Bible prohibited to be read Popish malice He is betraâ—â—d A Judas Cast into prison Means used for his release His martyrdom A jalor converted Gods judgment on a persecutor A Conjuâ—er prevented by Mr. Tindals presence His sincerity His works His birth and education His preferments His conversion A disputation Another disputation The questions A refâ—rmation His death His birth His education His studiousness His remove to Basil. And thâ—n to Ingolstade He is ill dealtxs with He turns souldier He is freed by â—â—cius He is made a Professor in Ingolstade Erasmus testimony of him He goes to Auspurg He joins with Zuinglius Anabaptists disturb the peace of the Church He disputes with a she-Anabaptist He is driven away by Papists His return His marriage His constancy His comfortable conference with Luther The Dukes love unfeigned to him He is made superintendent His sickness His death He desired a sudden death His works His birth His education He settles at Wittenberg A disputation He reforms Wittenberg His remove to Orlamund Luthers infirmities He is bannished by Luthers means His great afflictions He writes to Luther His return into Saxony His death His birth His education He studyes Physick And Divinity Love unfeigned He is chosen Pastor at Basil He is chosen to Ments He favours the Gospel His advice to Luther He goes to Strasborough He is sent to by the Queen of Navar. He affects peace A disputation at Bern. His death His character His birth His education His study of Divinity He is made Pastor at Zurick He translates the Bible His death The confession of his faith His works His birth and education His preferments Luther directs him in his studies His imployments His tentations Luthers counsel therein His death His works His birth His education He enters into a Monastery His bodily exercises His diligence in reading Indulgences brought into Germany Popish blasphemies Myconius well educated Popish covetousness The means of his Conversion The Gospels swift progress Love unfeigned He endeavors 〈◊〉 quiet the Anabaptists His marriagâ— His zeal in preaching He is sent into England King Henry the Eight his hypocrisie His return into Germany An heroical resolution Reformation in Misna and Thuringia Luthers prayer for Myconius A prophetical prayer His recovery Power of Prayer His character His death His works His birth His education His Conversion He goes to Geneva From thence to Strasborough So to Ratisbone He is tempted His conference with Malvenda Popish treachery He is tempted Devillish hypocrisie He is advised not to go with his brother He is basely murthered The murtherers apprehended Escape unpunished Gods judgement upon Alphonsus His birth His fathers plety His education He studies Hebrew He is called back to Wittenberg His delight in simples He assists in translating the Bible His learning His works The preachers pattern He studyes the Mathematicks His last sickness Prayer of Faith His carriage in sickness A wonder His death His character His works His birth and education He is ordained a Minister and Paster in Strasborough His conversion Articles against him His constancy Reformation in Strasborough His assistants His death His character His works His birth and education His works His birth His education He teaches School He studies the Tongues His poverty His diligence He is made Pastor at Isna He is an excellent Hebrician He sets up a Press His carriage in a Plague-time His remove to Strasborough His remove to Heidleberg Religion goes to ruine His constancy The Bible translated His death Popish malice His character His works His birth His education He is made Preacher at Heidleberg His Conversion His zeal Popish malice An. Chr. 1521. He goes with Luther to Worms His troubles He goes to Strasborough Reformation in Strasborough A disputation at Marpurg He disputes with the Papists A blessed peace-maker He reforms Vlm. His Apology at Zurick His imployments Hermannus sends for him The Interim made Bucer disowns it A persecution about the Interim He is sent for into England His imployment there His sickness His indefatâ—gableness His sickness His faith His death Popish malice The Cardinals testimony of him His works His birth and education His conversion He goes to Strasborough Reformation at Strasborough His marriage He is sent for to 〈◊〉 His danger and return His diligence His death His works His birth and education He is made a Schoolmaster Removes to Zurick From thence to Lucern His conversion Goes back to Zurick Thence to Basil He is made a Deacon And a Pastor He adheres to Luther His death His works His Birth His Education His first preferment He professeth the reformed religion He reforms his Country He is ordained His holy life His industry His prudence to improve his parts Synods His works His Constancy His Birth A miracle of mercy His Conversion His call to Wittenburg His employmentâ— in the Schoolâ—â— He reforms some Churches He is called to Hale His death His Character His Tâ—â—tation His works His birth and education He goes to Antwerp His conversion His mariage He goes to Wittenberg His returm to England His zeale and courage His courage and constancy His usage before the Councell His condemnation His speech upon iâ— Gardners cruelty He is warned to preâ—are for death He is degraded â—is constancy His Patience and Martyrdom 〈…〉 A speciall providence His prophesies His cheerfulnes charity His birth and Education He is bound an Apprentice He is released His return to Cambridg Frequent in prayer He commenceth Master of Arts. He is Ordained Minister The success of his Ministry He maâ—ieth a wife His remove to Liâ—hfield Then into Lecestershire Then to London Queen Maâ—ies coming in His zeal He is taken prisoner His faithfulnes Preacher's pattern A faithful Pastor His courage constancy Popish malice Bonner ignâ—â—ance His courage His conference with Gardiner Holy charity Comfort in affliction The best Legacy His zeal A good conscience better then life A brave speech His Martyrdâ—â—e Popish cruelty His admirable patience His Letter to his Wife Doctor Pendleton a turn-coat Proud presumption 〈◊〉 His Education His conversion He leaves the University His conference with Gardiner Flight in persecution He flies into Germany His marriage He returns to England Bullingers
speech to him His answer A Prophesie His painful preaching His constancie His character Note He is made a Bishop A painful Bishop His Family Government His Charity He is sent for to London A good Shepheard Stephen Gardâ—ner Popish malice His patience Popish cruelty Popish rage Tentations resisted Gods providence He is sent to Glocester The benefit of inward peace Benefit of a good conscience Constancie Note His request to the Sheriffe His meeknesse and constancy He goes cheerfully to the stake His praier at the stake He is tempted His confidence in God His cruel burning His praier in the fire His death His heavenly speeches Contention about ceremonies They agree in prison His admirable patience His imployment Scriptures well studied Preachers pattern His character His charity The Ma'ss brought into his Church His zeal Popish malice He is accused and sent for He is perswaded to fly Flight refused His courage A Prediction He goes to S. Gardiner His stout answer His conference with Gardiner His imprisonment His holy employments in prison He meeres with Mr. Bradford in prison His examinations His condemnation His courage Death not feared His conference with Bishop Bonner He is sent to Hadley Benefit of a good conscience His courage and constancy His comfort in affliction His death bewailed His charity Popish cruelty His Martyrdome His Birth and Education His fidelity He goes to Cambridge His preferment in the Vniversity Note He enters into the Ministry He defends Bourn from death He is ill requiâ—ed for it He Preacheth in Prison A soft heart His Character Studious Note His charity He was well eâ—â—â—med of all Flight refused A dream prophetical He rejoyceth at the news of his death His fervent prayeâ—s His departure out of Newgate Tentation resisted His behaviour at his death Note His Martyrdom His Charity His Humility His conference with Gardiner His godly Letters Sin the forerunner of persecution His birth and education His preferment in Cambridge His remove into Kent His preferments Preachers pattern His Character Note His recreation His Family government His conversion His imprisonment He is sent to Oxford Note Charity to Christ's prisoners Note In his Letter to Mr. Grindall His courage His condâ—mnation His cheerfulâ—ess â—efore his death A good conscience a continual feast His carriage at his Martyrdome His faith His prayer at the stake Note His cruel martyrdom His Death His Prophecy Q. Maries unmercifulnesse In a Letter He learned the Scripturer by heart His Birth and Education He went to Cambridge A zealous Papist Mr Bilny's prudent charity His conversion Sathans malice The fruit of grace His Charity His Letter to Dr. Redman Gods providence He goes into Wiltshire Popish maliâ—e He writes to the Archbish. He is made bishop of Worcester A good bishop Sathans malice His faithful boldness Whereof the King was very guilty He resignes his Bishoprick Note He is againe troubled and freed by the King His imprisonment in the Tower His painfulnes in his Ministry His studiousnes His prophesies Steph. Gardiner He is sent for Flighâ— refused His Courage He is tempted A prediction Comfâ—rt in affliction His imprisonment He is sent to Oxford His fervent prayers Prayer He encourageth Dr. Ridley A special providence His death In a Letter to King Hen. 8. His birth and education His Character His travels His return A Convocation Mr. Philpots zeal The Queen dissolves the Convocation He is cast into prison Danger of Apostacy Popish cruelty Joy after sorrow His conference with B. Bonner A prison a palace His conference with the bishops His prayer Popish ignorance His conference with Doctor Morgan Popish prophanesse Mr. Philpots zeal He is set in the stocks His condemnation He prepaâ—â—â— for death He is carried intoâ—mit field His martyrdom His wonderful joy in prison He defends Infant baptsim His Birth and Education His Marriage He is again chosen Fellow His prudence Gods providence D. Cranmers advice about the Kings divorce S. Gardiners pridâ— He writes his judgement He is sent to Rome An unmannerly dog The Popeâ— evasion All learned men for the divorce His industry Hâ—s prudence His second marriage His humility He is made Arch-Bishop His â—udiousness His character He opposed the 6 Articles His Charity Cranmer hated by the Papists His disputatiâ—nâ— with Gardiner Popish malice His conference with the King His prudent answer The Kings great favour to him He is betrayed by his own servant A design to have committed him to the Tower The King reveals it to him The King secures him He is basely abused The King is informed of it He appeales to the King The King checks his Counsellors He is reconciled to them The King provides for his 〈◊〉 Two Judasses ex ore 〈◊〉 c. Gods providence He is hâ—â—â—d by Queen Mary He is committed to the Tower He refuseth to fly He is removed to Oxford He appeals He is degraded A good conscience His poverty Popish subâ—iltie His tentations Humane infirmity The danger of Apostacy His death appointed Doctor Cole preacheth Vanity of worldly glory His Apostasie repented of He is pulled down rudely Holy revenge His patienco His death His birth and education He enters into a Monastery Recovers of the plague He goes to Tubing He studies the Hebrew He buyes an hebrew Bible His industry He ordained a Presbyter He is preferred at Basil. He goes towards Rome His conveâ—sion He is chosen Lecturer at Basill He is sent for to Zurick He marrieth a wife His second marriage Annotations on the Bible His works His death His Character His birth and education He goes to the University He teacheth School His conversion He is made a Presbyter He is imployed in writing a History A rash censure His recâ—ntation Divers converted by him He studies Luther Sathans malice He removes to Wittenberg A good Pastor His Humility He is sent for to Hamburg And to Lubeck And to Denmark He is sent into Brunswick He proceeds Doctor His constancy Hâ—â— peaceable dâ—â—position His constancy in prayer His death Preachers pattern His Works His birth and education He goes to Heidleberge He goes to Tubinge His imployments Mr. of Arts. He goes to Wittenberg His great learning His Lectures Luthers Testimony of him His great pains His disputation with Eccius He defends Luther His works He is sent for into England He refuseth to goe Gods mercy His great imployments Note A Prediction Power of prayer His humility A prophetical dream His wife dieth His patience His sicknesse A Prodigy His deportment in his sicknesse Note His Prayer His death His industry His humiliâ—y His great afflictions Why he desired death His opinion about the Lords Supper He is in great danger The Flacians hate him His Character His small means His contentedness therewith Three difficulties His birth and education He comes to Zurick His conversion Christ best of all Chosen Pastor at Embden Reformation in East Frisland He is sent for into England He goes into Denmark He is driven 〈◊〉 His afflictions He removes
to Frankford He vindicates himselfe Lutheran censoriousness Popish malice His death His Works His Birth and Education Gods providence He leaves his Monastery He goes to Lusanna His conversion He is called to Roan His zeal and courage His conference with Monmorency Blaspâ—emy He is condemned of Treason Popish rage and malice Gods judgements on persecutors His martyrdome Gods judgements on his enemieâ— His Works His birth and education His diligence He enters into a Monastery The causes of it His remove to Padua His imployment there He studies Greek He is called to the Ministry He studies the Scripturâ—s â—nd the Hebrew Removed to Spoleta His Prudence He is removed to Naples His conversion A Church in Naples Martyr teacheth He is suspended â—ppeales to 〈◊〉 Pope Is restored Hee falls sick He is made Visitor Generall Removed to Luca. He is much beloved He advanceth Religion and Learning The fruits of his labours His enemies Policy A godly Frier imprisoned And delivered Again apprehended and â—ent to Rome They proceed against Martyr He resolves to fly His flight His Letters to Luca. His retreat into Germany He comes to Zurick He goes to Basil He is chosen to Strasborough His excellent lâ—arning His â—râ—gality His first marriage His wives character Card. Pools malice Cardinal Pool's malice He is sent for into England He goes into England He is sent to Oxford Popish malice They combine against Martyr His friends 〈◊〉 â—wade him from going to the Schooles His answer Sm itâ—s challenge Martyr goes on His learning and courage admired He is again challenged His answer A tumult raised Quâ—â—ted by the Vice-Chancellor A Disputation agreed on The King sends his Delegates Smith flies The disputation A Rebellion Martyr goes to London The Rebellion suppressed Martyr made Dean of Christs-Church He is much esteemed In Queen Maries dayes Martyr is in danger He goes to London He goes beyond Sea He goes beyond Sea Gods mercy to him His return to Strasborough Satans malice His Prudence He is again persecuted Gods mercy to him His call to Zurick His friendship with Bullinger His high esteem Popish cruelty His second marriage His love to Zurick A faithfull Pastor He refuseth to goe into England His readiness to do good He goes into France His speech to the Q. Mother Popish subtilty A Disputation It breaks off His returne to Zurick His sicknesse Comfort at death His death His Works His birth and education His conversion He opposeth the Mass. He goes to Madgeburg And to Goslaria And to Naumberg He opposeth the Adiâ—phoâ—ists His death His Works His birth and education A special providence He is sent abroad Gods providence His studiousâ—es He affects Poetry Musick He studies Divinity He studies the Scriptures His conversion He converâ—â— maâ—y Gods providence Popish malice Tentaâ—ion resisted His Marriage His poverty Anabaptists life Gods providâ—nce He preacheth 〈◊〉 Dorlitzheim Châ—ist â—est of â—ll He teaches School Heb. 11. 6. Musculus his zeal Sataâ—s malice His humility Power of the Woâ—d He studies Hebrew He is sent for to Ausburg His humility He goes to Ausburg Anabaptists trâ—uâ—le the Church Their impudâ—nce Some of them imprisoned His holy policy He converts â—hem Reformation in Ausburg He studies Greek And Arabick His industry Preachers partâ—rn He goes to Donavert A Diet at Ausburg His zeal and courage Popish malice His courage and constancy His zeal Flight in persecutâ—on He goes to Zurick He preaches at Constance He is sent for into England He is chosen to Bern. His industry Hiâ— self denyall His amity with his Collegues His Charity His Character He prepares for death His last sicknesse His death His Works His Birth and Education His Fathers death He goes to Paris He returns into his country And back to Paris His travels through France His return into his Country He travels into Germany And his return Gods providence He goes into England His imployment there He goes into his own country Thence into Germany His entertainment at Marpurg His employment His marriage His great labours His care to Reform the Church His sicknesse He exhorts his wife and children His death His Character His works His birth His education He is designed to Divinity He is designed to the Law His conversion He goes to Orleance He studies the Scriptures His studiousness He goes to Biturg He studies the Greek He preacheth He goes to Paris His danger Is delivered by the Queen of Navar. He goes to Xantone Thence to Nerac Again to Paris to confer with Sevetus 1534. Eighâ— Martyrs He goes to Orlens His servants Knavery He goes to Basil Studies Nebrew Popish lies He goes to the Dutches of Ferrara He goes to Geneva Is sltayed there Chosen Divinity Professor 1536. His prudâ—nce to reform Geneva 1537. Anabaptists hinder the Reformation Peter Carolian Heretick A Synod at Bern. Gods judgment on Hereticks Calvins care to reform others A sedition at Geneva Another evill Calvin is banisâ—ed His holy speech God above the Levâ—â— Calvin goes to Zurick and so to Strasborough Is made Professor of Divinity Unleavened bread brought into Geneva 1539. Sathans subtilty Calvin care of Geneva Anabaptists reclaimed Calvin matries 1541. He goes to two Diets Gods judgements on his enemies He is sent for to Geneva Hardly obtained His returne to Geneva 1451. His self denyall He settles the Presbyterian Government His great labours A compleat Preacher He is much sought to The Presbyter Government kickt at It s vindicated by him 1542. He comforts the persecuted Famine and Pestilence Sathans malice Popish impudence He answers the Sorbonists 1543. He answers Pighius 1544. Castaliâ—'â— errors His punishment He confutes the Pope He confutes the â—nâ—baptists and Libertines He pacifies the Q. of Navar 1545. The plague dipeâ—sed by wicked persons They are punished Popish cruelty against the Waldenses Osianders errors Plague continued He thunders against sin He abhors Sacriledge A Hermiâ—es wickedness The Nicodemites 1546. Geneva in danger Perrins wickedness Calvin accused His enemies punished 1547. The German Church nâ—â— greaâ— danger His tender affections to them Pâ—â—ins wickednesse He is punished He writes against Trent 1548. Sa hans subtilty Calvin reproached An Amnesty He confutes the Interim And Astrologers He writes into England The Church increasâ—th in troubles 1549. His wife dies The Flaccians A sweet concord He writes to L. Socinus 1550. Peace in the Church Ministers pattern Holidayes â—bolished Wickedness discovered A Tumult Bolsec Confuted by Calvin Bolseâ— punished He fals back to Popery 1551. New stirs Calvin falsly accused Castâ—lio's erâ—â—â— The Herâ—ites wâ—ckedness His repentance Calvins charity to him 1553. Geneva indangered M. Servetus Servetus imprisoned He is burned Bertelerius his wickedness The Presbytery slandered An unjust Decree Calvins courage The good successe An unjust decree reversed Mr. Farell in danger Yet delivered King Edwards death A controversie about punishing Hereticks Socinus his Heresies 1554. Calvin consutes them Castilio's Heresies Confâ—ted by Beza Horrid impieties Calvin aspersed The English exiles provided for by him Joa Westphalus
very studious Snares laid for him He is expelled the Colledge Gods 〈◊〉 His marriage An harsh Father in Law His poverty A speciall providence He is sent for by the Dutchess of Richmond Persecution in Qu. Maries daies A notable resolution Stephen Gardiner Flight in persecuâ—ion A great storm God providence He arrives at Newport He goes to Basil. A prophesie His return into England His humility His Indfatigable pains His body weakned thereby His excellent endowâ—eâ—ts His feâ—vâ—ncy in prayer His Charity His Prophesies Mrs. Honywood A Prophesie A Miracle Another observable story His many friends Deaâ—h foreseen His Death His Charity Vain glory reproved He reproves his son His Birâ—h and Education He goes to Marpurg His industry He goes to Wittenberg He is Master of Arts. Why he left the study of the Law A speciall Providence His return to Marpurg He is made a Professor His marriage He is made Doctor Preachers pattern His humility He goes to Heidleberg His sicknesse Preparation for death His death His Works His birth and education Flight in persecuâ—ion His return to England He confutes the lesuits His death His birth and education His parents poverty Snepâ—ius provides for him He goes to Tubing He is made Deacon He preaches before the Duke His marriage Gods providence The accursed Interim He is Deacon at Tubing He commenceth Doctor He is made Superintendent Note Sacrilege abhorred A strange story of a Jew He helps forward Reformation Gods providence He is made Chancellour of the University His great pains about the Concord Death foretold and desired His â—icknesse The Confession of his Faith What he gives thanks for His death His Works His birth and education He becomes a Fryar His conversion He flies into Germany He stayes at Strasborough He meets with troubles New opposition Gods providence He goes to Clavenna A great Pestilence 1564. He goes to Heidleberg He is made Doctor Zeal against heresies Hereticks confuted rejected He goes to Neostade His death His Works His Birth and Education He goes to Paris His conversion He goes to Geneva And to Paris He is chosen a Pastor Christ preferred before all Popish cruelty Gods providence The Protestants slandered Vindicated by Sadeel He is imprisoned Delivered by the King of Navaâ— His return to Paris A Synod A persecution raiâ—ed Sadeels faithfulneâ—â—e The Church thrives by persecution His sicknesse His painfulnes A Synod Independents error confuted He is againe driven from Paris He is driven out of France His return into France He goes to the K. of Navar. Gods providence He goes to Geneva 〈◊〉 sent into Germany His sicknesse Death sore old Comfort in death His death His Character His works His birth aâ—d Parentage His education He goes to Cambridge His preferment in the University His gratitude He is made Father at the Commencement He studies Divinity His Inâ—ustry His Temperance He Recreatâ—ons His excellent parts He is chosen Professor His Lectures He confutes the Papists As Campian Dury Sanders Rainolds His marriage Stapleton reproaches him for his marriage He is chosen Master of St. Johns He confutes Bellarmine His fidelity therein Stapleton tails Whitaker answereth His sicknesse His death Bellarmine admired him His carriage in his sicknesse His Character His great charity His piety to his parents His humility His Works His birth and education He goes to Geneva His admirable Learning He is called to Leiden From thence to Gaunt And thence to Navar. His death His Works His Birth and Parentage His Education He goes to St. Andrews A Vniversity erected at Edenborough He is sent for to Edenborough He goes thither He doth much good Four Professors chosen His piety and diligence A lâ—rge increase of Ministers Conversion wrought by his Ministry Beza's testimony His humility His sicknesse He moderates in a Synod Preparation for death His message to the King His exhortation to the Ministers Christ preferred before all things Death desired His exhortation to the Ministers His poverty His heavenly speech His death His Works His birth and Parentage His education He studies Greek He is robbed Charity His Industry His return home He is Pastor of Hafnia He is Hebrew Professor And Doctor Death desired His Death His birth and Parentage His Education He goes to Ulm. 〈◊〉 to Witâ—enberg Mâ—rabilis 〈◊〉 A Predigy His studiousnes He is Master of Arts. His return home He is made Deacon His diligence His marriage He is banished His return He is Doctor Reformation His prefermenâ—s 〈◊〉 self-denial His wives death His sicknesse His patience His death His humility and charity His prudence A good father His works His birth and education He is sent to Tubing His great proficiency He goes to Wittenberg Plato praises God for three things He goes to Heidleberg His travels He goes to Rostoch He is desiâ—ed in divers places His travels He is Doctor He goes to Augsburgh His contentation 1569. He goes into Austria His travels He goes into Stiria His sicknesse His Industry Preparation for death His death His Character Injuries to be born His wishes â—is Works His Birth and Parentage His Education His flight in persecution He is made Dean of Pauls His Charity His Works His death His birth and education He goes to Basil. 〈…〉 Tibing He is Master of Arts. He goes to Paris Thence to Orleance A famous Church at Orleance His marriage Wars in France Duke of Guise slain Gods mercy Popish malice Popish malice He is in great danger A miracle of mercy He is taken prisoner His release Gods mercy The Kâ—â—gs malice He goes to Sancerra Gods mercy He goes to Mombelgart His new troubles He preaches in a Caâ—â—le Popish rage The Massacre at Paris A special providence Popish cruelty Gods mercy He goes to the Dutches of Ferrara He goes into the Palatinate His faithfulnesse He is dismised He is called to Neostade His painfulnesse He is much esteemed He is sent for to Heidâ—eberg His opposition He is made Professor Commenceth Doctor His manifold â—fflictions P. Casimire dyeth A great plague His constancy His weaknesse His faith His Death Hiâ— character His workâ— His birth and education His conversion He preaches to the prisoners He converts many of them He is chosen pastor Preachers pattern His Character Note The powerfulnesse of his ministry His 〈◊〉 in â—â—â—ding His painfulnes His death He was same of his right hand Iosh. 1. 2. A thief converted at his death Power of Prayer His Works His Birth and Parentage His weaknes in his childhood His Education His Masters harshnesse He goes to Lions His Tentations Gods mercys He is drawn to Atheism Gods mercy Iohn 1. He is reclaimed He goes to Geneva His travels His poverty A speciall providence He weakens his body by abstinence His Father murthered His Industry He is chosen to Antwerp The inquisition brought into the Ne herlands Popish malice Miracles of mercy to him An other danger He goes to Limburg Strange tentations A strange example Gods mercy Anabaptists disturb the Church Popish malice Flight
he so contented Modestus the Emperours Praefect that he drew that wicked man by the shining of his vertue to admire him By this when the Emperour Valence himself entred into his Church he first astonished him and afterwards by his discreet conference deterred him from his cruelty year reclaimed him from the faction of the Arians though afterwards those wicked men prevailed to bring him over to them again He had always a minde so prepared for Martyrdom that he desired it as a great favour In all his writings there is such a peculiar grace and excellency that he never tires his Reader but always dismisseth him with a thirst after more One saith of him that the true beauty of his soul did shine forth in his Eloquence Rhetorick being both his companion and servant Hierom was his scholar He was of such Authority in the Greek Churches that whosoever durst oppose his testimony was suspected for an Heretick He so loved solitude that when for his excellent Learning and Sanctity he should first have been made a Bishop he retired himself into obscurity but being discovered the people chose him for their Bishop At last growing old and unfit for his publick imployment he constituted another Bishop and returned to his former solitude He flourished under Theodosius He used to say That in a great multitude of people of several Ages and Conditions who are like an Harp with many strings it is hard to give every one such a touch in Preaching as may please all and off end none He wrote divers works both in prose and verse The Life of Epiphanius who flourished Anno Christi 370. EPiphanius Bishop of Salamine in Cyprus was born in Palestine in an obscure Town called Besanduces of poor and obscure parents his Father dying when he was young he was adopted and brought up by one Tryphon a Jew whereby he attained to an excellent knowledge in the Hebrew He was converted to the Christian Faith by one Lucianus famous for his Learning and Vertue Lucianus put him to Hâ—arion to learn under whom he profited exceedingly Whilest he was a boy certain Hereticks called the Gnosticks cunningly sought to invegle him and to draw him over to their opinions but it pleased God to preserve him from the temptation and to keep him in the Truth In his riper years he was famous in the Church for his Piety Holiness of Life and for the Sincerity of his Doctrine and Elegancy of his Stile as his Books witness which shew their Author to be a man of great reading skilful in the Tongues well acquainted with Controversies prudent in asserting the Truth and acute in confuting Errors whereupon Melancthon saith of him We have no fuller an History of those ancient affairs of the Church then the writings of Epiphanius do contain in which whilest he intends the Confutation of Heresies he inserts many Historical passages So that out of this Author may be collected almost a continued History of the ancient Church if any would with prudence join his Narrations together and I wish that some Prince would take care to see such a work done He was of a very liberal and charitable disposition insomuch as he spent all his estate in relieving the Poor Being afterwards chosen Bishop of Salamine in Cyprus he at first modestly refused that dignity but importunity prevaling with him he so lived that Vitam doctrinâ doctrinam vitâ comprobaret his Doctrine approved his Life and his Life desended his Doctrine He was semper Hereticorum acerrimus oppugnator always a sharp opposer of Hereticks He purged all Cyâ—rus defiled and slurried with divers Heresies and having gained an Edict from Theodosius the Emperour he cast all the Hereticks out of the Island About this time Theophilus Bishop of Alexandria having upon some false surmises conceived displeasure against John Chrysostom Bishop of Constantinople he sought cunningly to thrust him out of his Bishoprick whereupon he sent Letters to the Bishops throughout every City concealing his principal drift and only pretending that he misliked the Books of Origen Epiphanius also being at this time very old Theophilus wrought upon his weakness and prevailed with him to call a Council in Cyprus In which Council the Bishops Decreed that thenceforth none should read the works of Origen and by the instigation of Theophilus they wrote also to Chrysostom exhorting him to abstain from the perusing of those Books and requesting him to summon a Council at Constantinople and to ratifie that Decree with the uniform consent of all After this Epiphanius went to Constantinople and contrary to the Canons of the Church Ordained some Ministers there and administred the Sacrament Yet Chrysostom honoured him highly went with the rest of his Clergy to welcome him to the City invited him to lodge at his own house and to make use of his Church during his abode there But Epiphanius being prepossessed with prejudice answered that he would neither lodge in his house nor join with him in Prayer except he would condemn the Books of Origen and drive away Dioscorus with his associates from him who were favourers of Origen But Chrysostom answered that it would be great injustice to condemn men before their cause was heard especially considering that the time for administration of the Sacrament was now near and with this answer he left him Presently after the Enemies of Chrysostom came to Epiphanius and perswaded him publickly before all the people to condemn the Books of Origen and also Dioscorus and his followers and withall to tax the Bishop of the City for favouring these persons Epiphanius being of too facile a disposition went out the next day to perform these things which Chrysostom hearing of sent Serapion who met him not far from the Church and protested that if he did these things he would do that which was neither just nor equal nor convenient for himself For that hereby he might bring himself into danger if any tumult should be raised amongst the people Hereupon he desisted yet privately he called together some Bishops that stayed in the City and shewed them the Decrees which condemned the Books of Origen and drew some of them to assent to the same but the greatest part refused and Theotymnus Bishop of Scythia blamed him to his face for it and told him that it was altogether unlawful thus to calumniate and asperse a man that was dead long since especially being of so great worth and his writings approved of by their Predecessours c. At last he resolved to return into Cyprus and for a farewel to Chrysostom he said I hope that thou wilt not dye a Bishop To which Chrysostom replyed and I hope thou wilt never return into thy own Country Both which came to pass for a while after Chrysostom was cast out of his Bishoprick and Epiphanius dyed upon the Sea and when he found himself mortally sick he called his
friends and said to them Salvi estote filii c. God bless you my children for Epiphanius shall see your faces no more in this life and â—hortly after he dyed aged 115 years having been Bishop 55 years his loss was exceedingly lamented at Salamine He used to say That he never let his adversary sleep not that he disturbed him in his sleep but because he agreed with him presently and would not let the Sun go down upon his wrath His Works are printed together being most of them against the Heresies of his time the names are Opus contra Octuaginta Haereses Panarium Appellatum Compendium Fidei Christianae Anchoratus docens de Fide Christiana Anacephalaeosis sive summa totius operis Panarii appellatum Libellus de mensuris ponderibus Historia de Prophetarum vita interitu Epistola ad Johannem Episc Constantinopolitanum AMBROSE The Life of Ambrose who dyed An. Christi 397. A Mbrose Bishop of Millain his Father was a Praefect in France when Ambrose was an Infant a swarm of Bees as he lay in his Cradle setled on his Face and flew away without hurting of him whereupon his Father said Si vixerit infantulus iste aliquid magni erit if this childe live he will be some great man Afterwards he went to Rome and gained great knowledge in the Liberal Arts and was excellently accomplished with Eloquence and sweet behaviour whereupon he was made Governor of Insubria and so went to Millain where he was made Lieutenant and being made Lieutenant thereof about the same time this strange act happened When Auxentius whom the Arians had chosen to be Bishop of that Sea dyed all was there on an uprore about the Election of another Bishop and great strife there was whilst some would prefer this man and some others that man unto the Bishoprick The tumult being raised Ambrose the Lieutenant of the City who also was a Consul fearing greatly lest that Schism would breed mischief in the City came purposely into the Church to appease the Sedition And his presence prevailing very much with the people after he had given them many notable exhortations and thereby mitigated the rage of the heady and rash multitude All on a sudden with one voice and as it were with one mouth nominated Ambrose for their Bishop hoping hereby that all things would be reconciled and that all would embrace one Faith and Opinion The Bishops that were present thought verily that the uniform voice of the people was the voice of God himself wherefore without any further deliberation they took Ambrose who was but a Catechumenist and baptized him purposing also to enstal him in the Bishoprick Ambrose came willingly to Baptism yet denyed utterly to be a Bishop whereupon the Bishops made the Emperour Valentinian privy to their doings He wondering at the consent and agreement of the people judged that which was done to be the work of God himself he signified therefore to the Bishops that they should obey the Will of God and create Ambrose Bishop saying that God rather then men preferred him to this dignity Thus Ambrose being made Bishop the Citizens of Millain who aforetime were at discord amongst themselves thenceforth imbraced Peace and Unity Whereupon the good Emperour publickly returned thanks unto God in these words I give thee humble thanks O Omnipotent God and our Saviour Jesus Christ that whereas I had committed the Government of their Bodies to this man thou hast also committed their Souls to his care and thereby hast declared that my sentence was just in appointing him to such a place Not long after Ambrose spake very freely to the Emperour complaining of divers things which were ill administred by sundry of the Magistrates To whom that worthy Emperour answered I knew long ago that thou wast a free-spoken man for which cause I was so far from resisting thine Ordination to the Bishoprick as that I gave my free and full consent to it wherefore according to the rule of Gods Holy Word do thou prepare a medicine for our erring mindes This good Emperour a while after dying Justina his Wife being infected with the â—ilth of Arianism yet whilest her husband lived she could no kinde of way molest those that embraced the Faith of One Substance but after his decease removing to Millain together with her young son she raised such tumults against Ambrose the Bishop that in the end she prevailed for his banishment But the people who bore singular love and affection to Ambrose withstood her Act and hindred their force that went about to convey him into exile and it pleased God that just at the same time news came that Maximus a Britain had rebelled and that Gratian the Emperour was slain in France by Andâ—agathius the Captain of Maximus Which news so cooled the heat of Justina's spleen that she was content to let Ambrose alone Yet did she proceed to work upon the tender and flexible minde of her young son Valentinian junior and to instil into him the Principles of Arianism and the young man deceived by the enticements of his Mother too greedily drank in the poison thereof whereupon at length he began to communicate his minde to Ambrose supposing that if he could but draw him to his opinion he could easily overcome the rest But Ambrose began to minde him of the Piety and Sincerity of his Father exhorting him to defend the Truth which he had received from him as he would defend his Empire He also opened to him the difference between those two opinions shewing him how that of the Arians was directly contrary to the Doctrine of Christ and his holy Apostles and that of the Orthodox was most consonant thereunto But the young man as a young man that was blinded with the Error of his Mother was so far from hearkening to the good counsel of Ambrose that on the contrary being inflamed with wrath he compassed the Church where Ambrose was with a great number of armed Souldiers thinking thereby to terrifie him But when he saw that this valiant Champion and Souldier of Christ was no whit affrighted he grew into such a rage that he commanded him to come forth of the Temple To whom Ambrose answered That will I never willingly do neither will I betray the Sheepfold of my Sheep to the Wolves nor deliver up this Temple of God to the Authors of blasphemy but if thou pleasest to kill me here is my breast peirce it either with thy sword or spear as thou pleasest for I desire and am willing to embrace such a death This his resolute answer made the Emperour to withdraw About this time Theodosius the great reigning in the East there fell out a great Sedition in the City of Thessalonica which some of the Magistrates coming to quiet by the furious people they were not only greatly reproached but stoned to death The news hereof being carried to