to keep private what he should tell them he imparted his Commission telling them how acceptable it would be to the Emperour if they would send to him Brentius but if they refused the Emperour would destroy their City c. It pleased God that whilest he was thus perswading the Magistrates there came in one later then his fellowes and the Commissary not minding it did not tender the Oath to him so when they were dismissed this man wrote to Brentius Fuge fuge Brenti cito citius citissime which note was brought him as he sate at supper having read it he told his Family that he must goe forth upon businesse but would return ere long As he was going out of the City he met the Commissary who asked him whither he went He answered To a sick friend in the Suburbs who had sent for him Well said the Commissary to morrow you must dine with me He replyed God willing and so they parted Being thus escaped he hid himselfe in a thick Wood and for some weeks together he lay in the Wood all day and every night came into a Villege to a friends house where he lodged he wrote also to the Magistrates of Hale that if they could and would protect him he was ready to come back and not to forsake his flock but if they could not he did not desire that they should indanger themselves for his sake They answered that they could not protect him and therefore left him free to goe whither he pleased Presently after Vlricus Prince of Wurtenburge invited him to him and ordered him to be so private that he himselfe might not know where he was that if he was asked he might safely deny his knowledge of him yet upon suspicion his Castle was searched but Brentius was in another place where in his retirement he wrote a Comment upon the ninety third Psalm afterwards he went to Basil as to a safer place where his wife dyed of a Consumption from thence he removed to the Castle of Horrenburge in the Hyrcinian Wood where he changed his name and gave out that he was the Keeper of the Castle and whilst he was there he frequented the Sermons in a neighbor towne where the Minister used to spin out his Sermons to a great length whereupon Brentius took occasion modestly to tell him of it to whom the Minister answered You Castle-keepers think all time too long at Church but no time too long that you spend in drinking Brentius smiling at it said no more Whilest he was there he perfected his Comment upon Isaiah and some other Works afterwards he had great profers made him by the Citizens of Magdeburge by Edward the sixth King of England and by the Duke of Broussia but he refused them all and thus continued in banishment for the space of two years Anno Christi 1550. Vlricus Duke of Wurtenburg dyed and his son Christopher succeeding he resolved to restore the Ministers which were driven away by the Interim to their Charges within his Dominions and to perfect the Worke of Reformation and for that end sent for Brentius and kept him in his Castle of Stutgard that he might have his advice and assistance in carrying on of that work neither was he discouraged by the admonitions of the Princes and Bishops nor by the threats of the Garrisons that were about him but caused Brentius to write a Confession of Faith and of the Doctrine of Christian Religion and â—bout the chiefe points in Controversie which he intended to send to the Councill of Trent about that time Brentius married againe one Catharine Isenmam a choise woman who was a great comfort to him all the rest of his life by whom also he had twelve children the year after the Pastor of Stutgard dying Brentius was chosen in his room in which place he continued all his life and carryed himselfe with much sedulity piety and prudence in the same Anno Christi 1557. he was sent by his Prince to the Conference at Worms which came to nothing because the Popish party would not suffer that the Scripture should be â—he Judge of their Controversies In his old age he wrot upon the Psalmes and whereas there were many Monasteries in Wurâ—enburge out of w ch the Fryars were driven he perswaded his Prince to turn them to Schools for the training up youth in learning which was accordingly don and once in two years Brentius visited those Schools and tooke notice how the Scholars profited in learning and encouraged them to make a daily progresse therein he had almost finished his Comment upon the Psalmes when as his old age worn out with studyes and labors put a period unto the same and his end was hastned by grief for the immature death of hiâ— Prince for whom he professed that he would willingly have sacrificed all his estate and his owne life also Falling inâ—o a Fevor whereby he perceived that his end approached he made his Will wherein he set downe a Confession of his Faith and sending for the Ministers of Stutgard he caused his Son to read it to them requested them to subscribe their hands as witnesses to it he also received the Sacrament and exhorted them to unity in Doctrine and love amongst themselves he was exceeding patient in all his sicknesse neither by word nor gesture shewing the least impatience alwayes saying That he longed for a better even an eternall life the night before his death he slept sweetly and when he awaked the Minister repeated the Apostles Creed and asked him whether he dyed in that Faith to whom he answered Yea which was his laâ—t word and so he quietly resigned up his spirit unto God Anno Christi 1570. and of his Age 71. He was buried with much honor â—nd had this Epitaph Voce stylo pietate fide candore probatus Johannes tali Brentius ore fuit With voice style piety faith candor grac'd In outward shape Iohn Brentius was thus fac'd Toss'd in the ship of fortune Bâ—entius sail'd From place to place his courage never fail'd But with resolved Constancy he bent His minde to suffer free from discontent The rage of Papists could not make him yeeld To their desires True vertue was his shield The strength of his afflictions added strength Unto his soul his suffrings had no length Except of dayes and them he knew to be Bâ—t servile Subjects to Mortality Thus like a patient sufferer he fled From earth to heaven and there repos'd his head The Life and Death of Peter Viretus who dyed Anno Christi 1571. PEtâ—r Viretus was born in the Country of the Bernates brought up in learning at Paris where he began to be acquainted with Farellus from thence he went to Lusanna where he was chosen Pastor and spent much of his time in teaching and writing there and when Calvin was sent to the Conference at Worms Anno Christi 1541. and from thence to Ratisbone he obtained of the Senate of Lusanna that Viretus should
I was in a most pleasant meddow in which as I walked up and downe me thought that I was besprinkled with a heavenly dew and that not sparingly but plentifully powred downe whereby both my body and soule were filled with ineffable joy To whom Piscator That good shepherd of Jesus Christ led thee into fresh pastures Yea said Olevian To the springs of living waters Afterwards having repeated some sentences full of comfort out of Psalme forty two Isaiah nine and Matthew eleven he often repeated I would not have my journy to God long deferred I desire to be dissolved and to be with my Christ he gave his hand and farewell to his Collegues and friends and when he was in the Agony of death Alstedius asked him whether he was sure of his salvation in Christ â— he answered Most sure and so he gave up the Ghost Anno Christi 1587. and of his Age fifty one Nor must Olevian also be omitted But have a place of Honor fairby fitted Unto his fame among these Heroes brave Who of his Parts in Arts much witnesse gave A sound Divine to Rome an enemy Preaching Christs truth with courage constancy And who at last as he had long desir'd Exchanging earth for heaven blestly expir'd IOHN FOXE The Life and Death of John Foâ— JOhn Fox was born aâ— Bosten in Lincolnsâ—ire Anno 1517. his Parents were neither so rich as by their wealth to be exposed to envy nor so meane as by want to be lyable to contempt more enriched they were with the love of their Neighbours and most of all in having this so towardly and hopefull a Son These perceiving that nature pointed out their Son by the rare parts bestowed upon him to be a Scholar and therefore following her directions carefully bred him in learning and sent him to Brazâ—nnose Colledge in Oxford Here he was Chamber-fellow wit Alexander Nowell afterwards Doctor and Dean of Pauls and friendship betwixt them took so deep an impression in their tender years advantaged with the simpathy of their natures that it increased with their Age to be indelible These communicated their studyes together and with harmlesse emulation and loving strife whilest each endeavoured to out-strip others both surpassed themselves Hence Fox was translated and chosen Fellow of Maudliâ— Colledge whereat such as were bred in that foundation counting themselves the proper Heires to all the prâ—ferment in the House were much offended til his patience anâ— humanity reconciled them unto him so that he becamâ— not onely affected but admired And as Naturalistsâ—â— obâ—serue that Plants are meliorated by removing not abatinâ— their old but acquiring new spirits unto them so thâ—â— Scholar by changing his Soyle to a new Colledge wâ—â— thereby marvelously improved in all manner of learnâ—ing Now King Henry had lately set up a mongrell Religiâ—â— in the Land like the Toes of Nabuchadnezars jmage partlâ— Iron partly Clay one moity thereof strong with undeniâ—able Truth the other dawbed with untempered morterâ— in the six Popish Articles still retained Our young Felloâ— in the Colledgeâ— sees and sighâ— at the supâ—rstiâ—ion anâ— retiring â—imselâ—e to a grove entertaines the time with Soâ—litarinesse onely the silent midnight was witnesse to hiâ— sobs and groanes He sees what but not whither to fâ—â—â—â— but at last resolves hereafter to absent himselfe from tâ—e Romish Church Hereupon being accused for a Separatist and unwilling to over purchase his safety at the price of â— lye he is conventâ—d and expelled the Colledge But because Theeves must be thanked for giving what they doe not take away his enemies challenged Commendation due to their courtisâ— because they took not Foxes life from him according to the Severity of the Laws then in force By this time his owne Father was dead and his Mother married againe Fox repairâ—s to his Father in law for succour but finds no entertainment For as when a hunted Deere châ—sed with the Hounds taketh sanctuary by flying to the rest of the herd they out of a Principle of self preservation drive him away for fear least the Hounds in persuit of him fall on them so his Father in law was loath to receive him and sorbad him the protection of his family least Persecutors in quest of his Son should bring him and his whole houshold into trouble Here it would be tedious for us but to tell and then how troublesome for him to endure in how many places this poore man lurked for fear of informers those Birds of prey which have as quick sight as sharp Talons sometimes at Sir Thomas Luceys in Warwickeshire sometimesâ— at Boston most commonly at London taken covert in that forrest of houses it being a strange truth that in such wherein are most eyes a man is least seene The Foxes saith our Saviour have holes litterally true of that cunning creature but ouâ— Fox being indeed a sheep in Innocence and Simplicity had not where to lay his head like Christ his Master But soone after hapned the death of King Henry and Edward the sixt succeeded him This put a period to his frights and flights and for five years this good man enjoyed peace and prosperity till the raigne of Queene Mary Under whom for a while he lived safe in the house of the Duke of Norfolke once his Pupill untill Gardner Bishop of Winchester that cruel Bloud-houÌ„d scenting him out designed his destruction For comming on a visit of respect to the Duke Fox casually passing by the Bishop demanded who that was my Physiâ—ian answered the Duke the Bishop replyed I like well his ingenuous countenance and when I have need will make use of him Thus Herod pretended he would worship Christ when he intended to kill him Winchester ment this Physitian should be his patient on whom he would practice with fire and faggot the usuall dosis Prescribed to all those who were accused to be infected with the Protestant Religion Now flyes our Fox beyond the Seas who escaping fire fell into as mercilesse an element of Water A terrible Tempest overtook him frighting the prophane Sea-men into their prayers and melting their hearts which might seeme made of those Rocks amongst which they sailed Hereby he was driven back againe to Yarmoâ—th but at last by Gods Providence got beyond the Seas and some months after arrived at Basil. Here he began that famouâ— worke of Acts and Monuments which he finished many years after And here making a Sermon to his fellow Exiles he plainly told them that now the Time was come for thâ—ir returne into England and that he brought them that newes by coâ—mandement from God These Words were differently censured by severall mâ—n some took them to be the evaporations of a melancholly Braine others as Words shot at random which if casually hitting the marke would afterwards be observed if otherwise would be buried in Oblivion amongst a heap of othâ—â— Expressions A third condemned them for a presumptiouâ— intrusion into Gods secrets prying into the Arke of future conâ—ingencies which
committed any faultâ— that week whom he would so reprove and lay the wrath of God before them that he much râ—formed them thereby He tooke extraordinary paines to fit such for the worke oâ— the Ministery as were growne up to it so that the Church received very much benefit from thence hâ—ving so many able Pastors sent forth into it Besides this he Preached every Lords day in the Church and that with such fervency and evident demonstration of the spirit that he was the instâ—ument of converting very many unto God He wrote also many Commentaries upon the Scriptures which being Printed and going abroadâ— into other Countries Beza meeting with that upon the Romans and Ephesians he wrote to a friend concerning them that he had gotten a treasure of incomparable value and that he had not met with the like before for breviâ—ie elegancy and judâ—ciousnesse He was so humble that he prefered all others before himselfe and laboured after privacie from publicke businesse that he might the better apply himselfe to his studies yet in the two last years of his life he was so involved in Publicke affaires that it much weakned his health He was greatly tormented with the stone yet did he not intermit his labours He was made Moderator in a Synod and chosen for one of the Commissioners of the Church in the intervalâ— of Synods In the year 1589. his disease so increased upon him that he was confined to his house and being removed into the Countrey ayre he seemed at first to be better but presently his disease returned with more violence so that he was forced to keepe his bed whereupon he set his House in order and his Wiâ—e after ten years barrennesse being with childe he commended her to the care of his friends two Noblemen coming to visit him he requested them from him to goe to the King and to intreat him in his name to take care of Religion and to persevere in it to the end as hitherto he had done and to reverence and esteeme the Pastors of the Church as it was meet And when the Pastors of Edenbrough came to him he made an excellent exhortatioâ— to them and profession of his sincerity and integrity in â—is place that God called him toâ— death approaching he 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 mee then he prayed fervently that God would pardon his sins for Christ's sake and that he might have an happy departure enjoy God's presence which he often breathed after saying I have hitherto seen but darkely in the glasse of his word O Lord grant that I may enjoy the eternall fruition of thy countenance which I have so much desired and longed for the day after diverse of the Magistrates of Edenburg coming to him he spake to them to be very carefull of the University desiring them to choose into his room Henry Charter a man every way fit for that imployment he commended to their care also his wife professing that he had not laid up one penny of his stipend and therefore hoped they would provide for her when he had their promise for those things he said I blesse God I have all sences intire but my heart is in heaven and Lord Iesus why shouldest 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 C 〈…〉 Lord Iesus put an end to this miserable life hast Lord and tarry not Come Lord Iesus and give me that life for which thou hast redeemed me 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 it's 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 a weary of this life all my desire is that I may enjoy the celestiall life that is hid with Christ in God and thus continued he in such heavenly prayers and speeches till the evening and quietly resigned up his spirit unto God Anno Christi 1598. and of his Age forty three Renowned Rollock a most learned Scot Deserves also as his most worthy lot A Crown of Bayes his learned browes to dresse Who did such parts and piety expresse Such gravity mixt with sweet Clemency Such love to truth and spotlesse verity As that the Scottish States minding to make At Edenburg an Academ did take Especiall notice of him and then sent Desiring him to take that Government Which he perform'd with such diligence That Scotland reapt great benefit from thence He on the sacred Scriptures Comments wrote Wherof two were of such renowned note That Beza of them gave his witnesse fair That they were rich and prizelesse Trâ—asures rare This precious Saint thus piouâ—ly did spend His dayes on earth had heavens Crown in th' end The Life and Death of Nicolas Hemingius who dyed Anno Christi 1600. NIcolas Hemingius was born at Loland in Denmarke Anno Christi 1513. of honest Parents but his Father dying when he was young his Grandfather brought him up carefully in learning placing him forth in diverse Schools and when he had laid a good foundation of learning there he had an ardent desire to goe to Wittenberg which was made famous by Philip Melancthon's Lectures and having gotten some little mony in his purse he traveled thitherward but by the way some thieves met him and stripped him of all that he had yet when he came to Wittenberg he found thâ— people very charitable to him especially Melancthon there he remained five yeares and by his writing for and attending upon richer students and teaching some privately he maintained himselfe When he returned home he had an ample testimony from Melancthon for his excellent wit and learning and was there intertained by Olaus Nicholas to teach his daughters and from thence he was chosâ—n to be Pastor at Hafnia and accordingly ordained to itâ— which place he discharged with much diligence and faithfulnesâ— and many young students resorting to him he read privatly to them and afterwards was chosen Hebrew Professor in that University In the year 1557. he was made Doctor in Divinity and performed his place with much sedulity twenty six yâ—â—res Anno Christi 1579. when he was growne old and exhausted with his daily labors Frederick the second King of Dâ—nmark gave him a liberall Pension upon which he lived holily and comfortably all the remainder of his dayes som years before his death he grew blind and was troubled with severall diseases desiring nothing more then that he might be dissolved and be with Christ A little before his death he expounded the 103. Psalme with so
To the better discharge of this part of the account he tooke order still before hand by continuall search and enquiry to know what hopefull young men were in the University his Chapleins and friends receiving a charge from him to certifie him what hopefull and towardly young wit they met with at any time and these till he could better provide for them were sure to taste of his bounty and goodnesse for their better encouragement Diverse eminent men in Learning that wanted preferment when any thing fell in his guift convenient for them though otherwise they had no dependance at all upon him nor interest in him he would send for before they knew why and entertaine them in his owne houseâ— and conferre the preferment upon them and also defray the very charges incident for a dispensation or a faculty yea of their very journey and all this that he might have his Diocesse in generall and his preferments in particular the better fitted So that that may fitly be applyed to him which was sometimes to Saint Chrysostome In administratione Epatus prebuit se fidelem constantem Vigilantem Ministerum Christi And if you looke upon him in those Temporales wherwith he was intrusted you shall find him no lesse faithfull and just As first diverse summes and many of them of good value were sent to him to be distributed among poore scholers and others at his discretion all which he disposed with great care and fidelity even according to the Donors minds and entents For his faithfulnesse in managing those places wherein he was entrusted for others joyntly with himselfe let Pembrooke Hâ—ll and Westminster Colledge speake for him for when he became Master of the first he found it in debt being of a very small endowment then espcially but by his faithful providence he left above eleven hundred pounds in the Treasury of that Colledge towards the bettering of the estate thereof And when he was made Deane of the other it is not unknowne to some yet living who will testfie that he left it for all orders aswell of the Church as of the Colledge and Schoole a place then truly exemplarily Collegiate in all respects both within and without free from debts and arrerages from encrochments evill Customes the Schoole-boyes in the foure yeeres he stayed there being much improved not by his care and oversight onely but by his owne personall and often labours also with them To these may be added that whereas by vertue of his Deanry of Westminster his Mastership aâ— Pembrooke Hall and his Bishopricke of Ely the elction of Scholers into the Schoole of Westminster and from thence to the two Universities as also of many Scholers and fellowes in Pembrook Hall some in Saint Peters Colledge and some in Iesus Colledge were in his power and disposall he was ever so faithâ—full and just that he waved all Letters from great Personages for unsufficient Scholers and cast aside all favor and affection and chose onely such as in his judgment were fittest And lastly which is not the least in this kind being many times desired to assist at the election of Scholers from the free Schooles of the Merchantaylors and from that at Saint Pauls of the Mercers and perceiving favour and affection and other by respects sometimes to oversway merit with those to whom the choyce belonged and that diverse good Scholers were omitted and others of lesse desert preferred he of his owne goodnesse diverse times tooke care for such as were so neglected and sent them to the University where he bestowed proâ—â—ment upon them To conclude this account of his take a view of his fidelity in that great place of trust the Almoâ—orship which was sufficiently evident especially to those who attended him neerly First in that he would never suffer one penny of that which accrewed to him by that place to be put or mingled with any of his own Rents or Revenewes and wherein he kept a more exact account then of his owne private Estate and secondly being so separated he was as faiâ—hfull in the disposing of it not onely in the generall trust of his Soveraigne in the daily charges incident to that place expended by the Sub-Almoner and other yeerly ordinary charges but when he perceived that he had a surplussage those charges defrayed he would not suffer it to lye by him but some of it he disposed to the reliefe of poore Housekeepers some in releasing of poore Prisoners and comforting them which lay in misery and iron and some in furnishing poore people with Gownes hose shooes and the like for all which many so bestowed by him had he reserved to his owne use his Patent being sine computo no man could have questioned him But he was a faithfull Steward in this as in the rest and expected that joyfull Euge Well done thou good and faithfull servant thou hast bin faithfull c. enter thou into the joy of thy Lord which no doubt but he possesseth The next is his Gratitude or thankfulnesse to all from whom he had received any benefit Of this vertue of his there are and were lately divers witnesses as Doctor Ward Son to his first Schoolemaster upon whom he bestowed the Living of Waltham in Hampshire and Master Mulcaster his other Schoolmaster whom he ever reverently respected during his life in all companies and placed him ever at the upper end of his Table and after his death caused his Picture having but few other in his House to be set over hiâ— Study door And not onely shewed he this outward thankfulnesse to him but supplyed his wants many times also privaâ—â—ly in a liberall and plentifull manner and at his owne death the Father being dead he bequeathed a Legacy to his Son of good valune who as is said before bestowed a full Scholarship on him in Pembrooke Hall Concerning the kinred of Doctor Watts after much enquiry he found onely one upon whom being a Scholar he bestowed prâ—ferments in Pembrooke Hall and he dying there hiâ— Lordship much grieved that he could heare of no more of that kinred to whom he might expresse his further thankfulnesse And yet he forgat not his Patron Doctor Watts at his end for by his Will he tooke order that out of the Scholarships of that Foundation the two Fellowships which he himselfe Founded as you shall see by and by in Pembrooke Hall should be supplyed if they should be found fit for them Lastly to Pembrooke Hall omitting the Legacies by him bequeathed to the Parishes of Saint Giles Saint Martin Ludgate where he had dwelt Saint Andrewes in Holborne Saint Saviours in Southwarke Allâ— Saints Barking where he was borne and others to that Colledge I say where he had beene a Schollar Fellow and Master he gave one thousand pounds to purchase Land for tâ—o Fellowships and for other uses in that Colledge expressed in his Will besides three hundred such Folio Books of his own to the encrease of that Colledg Library as
of Eteocles and Polynices wherein both conquered one the other yet neither enjoyed the victory nor kept his prisoner for Iohn Reinolds who before was a Papist by these bickerings became a zealous Protestant and William Reinolds who before had been a zealous Protestant became a Iesuited Papist and wrote most pestilent Bookes against the Church and State and as after the death of Eteocles and Polynices when their corps were burnt the flames are said to have parted so the contention of these Brethren expired not with their death for the writings which they have left behinde them enflamed with contrary fires of zeale hold the quarrell on foot to this day Of these Bella plusquam civilia among Brethren W. A. a learned Divine thus elegantly discourseth in English and Latine Verses Bella inter geminos plâ—squam civilia Fratres Traxerat ambiguas Religionis apex Ille reformandae fidei pro partibus instat Ille reformandam denegâ—â— esse fidem Propositus causae rationibus inter vtruomque Concurrere pares cecidere pures Quod fuit in vatis fratrem capiâ— alter uâ—rumque Quod fuit in fates perdit uterque fidem Captivi gemini sine captivanâ—â— fuerunt Et victor victi transfugor castra petit Quod genus hoc pugnae est ubi victus gaudet uterque Et simul alteruâ—eâ— se superasse dolet Englished by the Author Between two Brethren civill warre and worse The nice point of Religion long did nurse For reformation of the Faith he plyes That Faith should be reformed this denies The reasons of each cause a part propounded Both met alike both fell alike confounded As heart would wish each one his brother takes As fate would have each one his faith forsakes Without captiver both are captive led And to the vanguisht camp the victor fled What war is this when conquer'd both are glad And either to have conquered other sad Iohn Râ—inolds might truely have said to his brother aâ— Caecillius sometimes spake to Octavius in that most exquisit dialogue of Minutius Faelix Vtrique vicimâ—â— tui victor mei ego triumphator erâ—eres thou hast conquered me and I triumph over my foâ—mer errours but William Reinolds might one the contrary side have said we are both loosers for thou hast lâ—st me thy brother and I have lost my mother the Church of England and the true Religion As soone as our Iohn Reinolds according to thâ— manner of Massie bodies after some quavering was fix'd unmoveably upon the grounds of the Protestant Religion the Statutes of the Colledge called upon him to enter into holy Orders after which he wholly addicted himselfe to the study of the holy Scriptures and because an excellent textuary and very often exercised his sweete gift in preaching a tast whereof we have in his Lectures upon Obadiâ—â— published after his death by Master Hindâ— When the time drew neare that by the Founders Statutes he was upon necessity to take his degree in Divinity he was chosen out by the University to answer the Boctovers in the Actâ— Iuly the 13. 1579. and the same year November the third he answered for his degree in the Divinity Schooles the Theses maintained by him in the Act were these 1. The holy Scriptures teacheth the Church all things necessary to salvation 2. The Church militant upon earth is subject to error both in faith and manners 3 The Authority of the Scriptures is greater then that oâ— the Church The Theses propounded by him in the Divinity Sbhool 〈◊〉 thâ— third were these 1. The holy Catholike Church which we beleeve is the whole number of Gods elect 2. The Roman Church is neither the Catholike Church nor a sound member thereof 3. The reformed Churches in England Scotland France Germany and other Kingdomâ— and Common-wealths have lawfully severed themselveâ— from the Church of Rome The handling of these questions gave so good contentment to the whole University that his suppositions as they call them that is the Speeches he made in the explication and confirmation of these Positions were extorted from him to the Presse by the Printing whereof when he understood how he had netled all the Romanists who in diverse virilent pamphlets disparaged them and threatened by a speedy refutation to ecclipse the fame thereof he â—he better to arme himselfe against these Romish locusts with indifatigable paines in a short space read all the Greek and Latine Fathers and perused all auncient records of the Church that he could come by and grew so perfect in themâ— that as Livie conceiveth that if Alexander had turned his progresse Westward towards Italy as he did Eastwards towards the territories of the Persian Empire the Noble Commander of the Romans Paperius surnamend Curser or the raser would have matched him if not out stript him so if Reinolds his owne inclination or Authority had put upon him the taske of examining Caesar Baronius his Annals he would not onely every way have matched that so much admired Cardinall but in such sort have detected his Romish friends in postures and forgeries that any man whose eyes were not darkned with mist of prejudicate affection should have clearly seene that the doctrine of the reformed Churches hath as great a share in true antiquity as in auncient truth But Reinolds was drawn into the Lists with another one Iohn Heart who tooke the heart and boldnesse to challenge the learnedest of both Universities to try the Doctrine of our Church by the touchstone of Scripture and Faith c. To encoâ—nter him Master Reinolds is sent for by a greaâ— Councellour of Estate and many combats lingua calamo he had with this antagonist in all which Master Hearâ— gave ground and in the end quite quiâ—ted the fieldâ— as appeareth by a Letter wriâ—ten with his owne hand whâ—ch I have seene sent from the Tower of London In which Letter prefixt to the Conference he hath words to this effectâ— I acknowledge that the Narration of the conference set forth beâ—weene Master Reinolds and me is true and whereas he somewhere affirmeâ—h namely chap. 7. Sect. 7. that I should grant that it is not lawfull for the Pope to depose Princes it 〈◊〉 trâ—e I said as much and am still of this judgementâ— that howsoever the spirituall power be more excellent and noble then the temporall yet they both are from God and neitheâ— dependeth of the oâ—her Whence I inferre this undoubâ—ed conclusion That their opinion who make the Pope a temporoll Lord over Kings and Princes hath no ground at all nor so much as prâ—bability nor shew of reason This conference confirmed by the â—ubscription of both parties was shortly after printed by authority and it gave such satisfaction to all indifferent readers that thereby the fame of Master Reynolds was cryed up as well at the Court as the University and it pleased Queen Elizabeth after he had taken his degree of Doctor to appoint him to read an extraordinary Divinity Lecture in Oxford in which he grapled
dayes they had no Preaching in the morning concerning which meetings himselfe writes That it would have don a Christians heart good to have seen those glorious and joyfull Assemblies to have heard the zealous cryings to God amongst that people with sighings and tears and melting hearts and mourning eyes and concerning himselfe he saith My witnesse is in heaven that the love of Iesus and his people made continuall Preaching my pleasure and I had no such joy as in doing his worke and besides that he preached five times a week he penned also whatsoever he preached many of which holy and godly Sermons are extant in print All â—he time of his aboad there except some little intermissions and breathing times the Lord still exercised him with inward tentations and great variety of spirituall combats the end of all which thâ—ough God's mercy was joy unspeakable as himselfe testifie's Yea once saith he in greatest extremity of horror and anguish of spirit when I had utterly given over and looked for nothing but confusion suddenly there did shine in the very twinkeling of an eye the bright and lightsome countenance of God proclaming peace and confirming it with inviâ—cible reasons O what a change was there in a moment the silly soul that was even now at the brinke of the pit looking for nothing but to be swallowed up was instantly raised up to heaven to have fellowship with God in Christ Iesus and from this day forward my soul was never troubled with such extremity of terrors this confirmation was given unto mee on a Saturday in the morning there found I the power of Religion the certainty of the Word there was I touched with such a lively sence of a Divinity and power of a God-head in mercy reconciled with man and with mee in Christ as I trust my soul shall never forget Glory glory glory be to the joyfull deliverer of my soul out of all adversities for ever In the middest of these wrestlings with God he wanted not combats with wicked men also but the greatnesse of his inward conflicts made him lightly regard all their outward contradictions and to esteem them but as the bitings of a Flea It was no marvell to see Satan stir up his wicked instruments to molest him since he professed himselfe a disquieter of him and his Kingdome and this much supported him that he never had a controversie with any of them but for their sins and the Lord assisting him the power of the Word did so hammer downe their pride that they were all of them at last brought to an acknowledgement of their evill wayes But at length as God turned the heart of Pharaoh and his people the Israelites when the time drew on fâ—r their remove so by little and litle did the zeal and love of most of that people fall away so that his last conflict was not with the prophane but with Justiciaries such as were unrebukeable in their lives These men were stuffed with such pride self-conceit disdain and intolerable contempt that thereby they were carried further from their duty thâ—n any of the former and which should have been his greatest comfort were his greatest crosse Presently hereupon God called him to the Government of the Churches in Galloway in the South-West parts of the Kingdome being chosen by the Assembly and presented by the King thereunto this was effected with out his privity or ambitious seeking after it yea he was so far from it that eightteen weeks passed betwixt the Kings Presentation and the Acceptation of it In that place he was very carefull to advance the Gospel to adorne his Ministery concerning the frame of his Spirit thus he writs My soul is alway in my hand ready to be offered to my God Where or what kinde of death God hath prepared for mee I know not But sure I am there can no evill death befall him that lives in Christ nor sudden death to a Christian Pilgrim who with Job waites every day for his change yea saith he many a day have I sought it with tears not out of impatience distrust or perâ—urbation but because I am weary of sin and fearfull to fall into it This faithfull servant of God who had alwayes beene faithfull and painfull in his Ministery when sicknesse grew daily upon him was no way deficient in the duty of his ordinary Preaching taking great pains also to perfect his worke upon the Revelations which he desired greatly to finish before his death he had also much griefe by reason of some that disturb'd the peace of the Church which he always sought to procure so that his infirmity encreasing he was compelled to keep home yet as his weaknesse permitted he applyed himselfe to revise his writings and to dispose of his worldly estate that he might be ready for his passage which every day he expected and some ten dayes before his decease he manifested to his friends what great contentment hâ— hâ—d in his approaching death Many repaired to him in his sicknesse whom he entâ—rtained with most holy and divine conferences expressing a great willingnesse to exchange this life for a better and at last feeling his strength and spirits to decay after he had conceived a most heavenly prayer in the company of those that were by he desired to goe to bed in which also after he had most devoutly commended himselfe unto the Almighty God he took some quiet rest After which he spake not many words his speech failing though his memory and understanding were perfect and so about seven a clock at night he rendered his soul unto God in a most quiet and peaceable manner Anno Christi 1619. Some of his private Meditations were these Now my soul be glad for at all parts of this prison the Lord hath set to his Piâ—ners to loose thee Head Feet Milt and Liver are fast failing yea the middle strength of the whole body the stomack is weakened long ago Arise make ready shake off thy fetters mount up from the body and go thy way I saw not my children when they were in the womb yet there the Lord fed them without my knowledge I shall not see them when I goe out of the body yet shall they not want a Father Death is somewhat driery and the streams of that Jordan between us and our Canaan run furiously but they stand still when the Ark comâ—s Let your Anchor be cast within the vail and fastened on the Rock Iesus Let the end of the threefold cord be buckled to the heart so shall yee go thorow Soli Deo Gloria Here also Cowper Scotlands Prelate grave A place of honour doth deserve to have Among these Honour'd Heroes whom the Lord Did many exc'llent Ornaments afford In piety and parts but specially Making him prosperous in the Ministry By 's constant and by 's consciencious Preaching And holy life which was a second teaching Famous for 's writings on the Revelation Piously thus persisting to 's tranatsâ—ion The Life