for his oâ—â—aâ—â—ons When a friend sent him 200. angels of gold from the metal-mines he bestowed them all on poore Students When Iohn the Elector gave him a new gowneâ— he said that he was made to much of for if here we receive a full recompence of our labours we shall hope for none in another life When the same Elector offered him a vayne of Metals at Sneberge he refused it lest he should incurre the tentations of the Divell who is Lord of treasure under the Earth He took nothing of Printers for his copies as he writeth saying I have no plenty of money and thus yet I deale with the Printers I receive nothing from them â—or recompence of my many Copies sometimes I receive of them one copy This I thinke is due to me whereas other writers yea translaters for every eight leaves have an Angel Concerning money given him thus he writeth The hundreth Angels given me I roceived by Tanbenhem and Schart gave me fifty that I stand in feare that God will give me my reward here But I protested that I would not so be satisfied by him I will either presently repay it or spend it For what should I doe with so much money I gave one halfe of it to P. Prior and made him a joyfull man He was very lovingly affectioned towards his children and gave them liberall education He kept in his house a School-master to traine them up in good arts and a godly life When he saw Magdalen his eldest daughter ready to dye he read to her in Esay 26.19 Thy dead servants shall rise againe together with my dead body shall they arise Awake and sing ye that dwell in the dust For thy dew is at the dew of hearbs and the earth shall cast out the dead Come my people enter into thy chambers and shut thy doores about thee Hide thy selfe as it were for a littâ—e moment untill the indignation be over-past My daughter enter thou into thy chamber with peace I shall ere long be with thee For God will not permit me to see the punishments hanging over the head of Germany And upon tâ—is wept plentifully But in publick when he went a long with the Herse he bridled his affection and was not seen to shed one teare And as all men of excellent spirits have a zealous anger in due place So Luther by nature was vehement but yet placable As appeareth in this that when Melancthon much moved to passion once came unto him and all the rest were very mute Luther uttered this Verse Vince animos irà mque tuam qui caeterà vinciâ— Thine owne heart overcome thy fury tame Who all things else hast stoutly overcame And then smiling saidâ— we will not further dispute of this matter and turned his speech to other occasions He foresaw and foretold many things as the combustion which rose in Germany saying I am very much afraid that if the Princes give eare to Duke George his ill counsell there will arise some tumult which will destroy all the Princes and Magistrates in all Germany and ingage in it all the Clergy Of the death of Frederick Elector of Saxony thus he writeth If God in heaven hath resolved in wrath to deale with us that neither our prayres nor counsels of amendment can hinder it let us obtaine this that our Josias may sleep in peace though the world be left to goe into its Babylon Of the covetousnesse of Germany and the dearth there thus he speaketh We feare Famine and we shall suffer it and finde no remedy for it And when as without necessity we are solicitous to prevent Famine like wicked and incredulous Gentles and neglect the word of God and his work he will permit shortly a dismall day to come upon us which will bring with it whole Wâ—inloads of ceares which he shall neither have power or meanes to escape Diverse other things he also foretold He had his health competently well but that sometimes he was troubled with the headach especially in his elder yeares Whereupon he was afraid of some violent Apoplexie and when he felt a swimming in his head or noyse in his eares he used to say Lord Iesu smite me gently for I am absolved from my sins according to thy word and am fed unto life eternall by thy body and blood Thine Apostle John and our Elector were taken out of this world by this kinde of death He endured often tentations whereupon he said All here are in health except Luther who is â—ound in body and without suffers at no mans hand in the world onely the Divel and all his Angels vex him He was of an indefferent stature of strong body of so Lion-like a quicknesse of his eyes that some could not endure to looke directly upon him when he intentively beheld them They say that one of mild spirit who could not endure in private to talke with Luther was courteously used by Luther yet was so pierced with the quicknesse of his eyes that being amazed he knew no course better then to run from him His voyce was mild and not very cleare whereupon when on a time there was mention at table about Pauls voyce which was not very perfect and full Luther said I also have a low speech and pronuntiation To whom Melancthon answered But this small voyce is heard very farre and neere In the year 1544. the 17. of November he finished his explication of Genesis which was his last publicke reading in the University which he concluded with these words Thus end I my explication on Genesis God grant that others may more rightly and truely expound it then I have done I cannot proceed farther therein my strength faileth me pray for me that it would please God to grant me a quiet and comfortable departure out of this life In the year 1546. Luther accompanyed with Melancthon viâ—â—ted his owne Country and returned againe in safety Not long after the Councell of Trent being begun and having â—â—te once or twice Luther was called againe by the Eâ—rles of Mansfield to his owne Country for to compose a dissention among them concerning their bounds and heritages Luther was not wont to deale in matters of this nature having been versed in sacred studyes all his life time but because he was borne at Isleben a towne in the territories of Mansfield he was willing to doe his Country service in this kind Wherfore making his last Sermon at Wittenberg the 17. day of Ianuary he toâ—ke his journey on the twenty third day And at Hall in Saxony lodged at Iustas Ionas his house where he stayed three dayes because of the roâ—ghnâ—sse of the waters and preached the 26. of Ianuary upon Pauls Conversion On the 28. day being Thursday at Hall he passed over the river with Iustas Ionas and his owne three sons and being in danger of drowning said to D r. Ionas Thinke you not that it would rejoyce the Divell very much if I and you and my three sons should
fidem nostram pane vino Domini per memoriam carnis sanguinis illius pascendam Anno 1525. being called into his owne Country he Preached and administred the Lord's Supper to his owne Citizens and Baptized without the Popish Ceremonies he was present and disputed at Berne against the Popish Masse c. He was with others chosen by the Protestants to goe the to Diet at Ratisbone for the setling of Religion and returning home in a great and generall infection he died to the Plague An. Christi 1541 of his Age 63. Industrious Capito at first inclind Himselfe to cure the body next the minde Being endow'd with most excellent parts He did as t' were monopolize the Artâ— He lov'd Religion and was alwayes free T' extoll the worth of practis'd piety He honor'd peace his heart was fil'd with hope That he might live to contradict the Pope And so he did he labour'd to prevent The Ceremonâ—es of their Sacrament And to conclude he labour'd to confute Their babling Masse He 's blest without dispute The Life and Death of LEO JUDAE who died Anno Christi 1542. LEo Iudae was born Anno Christi 1482. brought up at Schoole and from thence sent to Basil where he joyned in study with Zuinglius was an hearer of Doctor Wittenbash by whom he was instructed in the knowledge of the Gospel â—here also he was made a Deacon and from thence he was called into Helvetia where he â—et himselfe to the study of the Orientall Tongues and to read the Fathers especially Hierom and Augustine as also he read diligently the books of Luther Eraâ—mus and Capito at length being called to a Pastorall charge at Tigure he opposed the Popish doctrine and Ceremonies both in the Pulpit and Presse thâ—re he continued eighteen yeeres and spent much of it in expounding the Old Testament out of the Hebrew wherein being growne very skilfull he set upon at the importunity of his breathren 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 but this worke proving very great he was so wasted with labor and old age that he died before he finished it Anno Christi 1542. and of his Age 60. leaving undone Iob the forty last Psalmes Proverbs Ecâ—lesiastes 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 Presse which he carefully performed Four dayes before his death sending for the Pastors and Professors of Tigure he made before them a Confession of his Faith concerning GOD the Scriptures the Person and Office of CHRIST concluding Huic Iesu Christo Domino liberatori meo c. To this my Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ my hope and my salvation I wholly offer up my soule and body I cast my selfe wholly upon his mercy and grace c. Heaven was the object where he fixt his eyes Truth was his Marke Religion was his Prise His studious heart was active to contrive How to keepe other pining Souls alive With heavenly Food he never lov'd to feed In secret Corners and let others need He never usâ—d to sweepe away the Crums From his poore Flock and feed their souls with Hums Like our new-babling Pastors which infuse Illiterate Words patch'd up with flattring News He would not blind them with the intising charms Of Falseties or bid them take up Armes Except for heaven within whose Tent he sings Anthems of Pleasure to the King of Kings The Life and Death of MYCONIUS who died Anno Christi 1546. Fâ—â—idericus Myconius was borne in Franconia of religious parents and bred up at Schoole till he was thirteen yeeres old and then he was sent to Annaeberg where he studied till he was twenty and then entred into a Monastery there without the knowledge of his parents the first night after his entrie he had a dream which proved propheticall In that place he read the Schoole-men and Augustine's Workes He read also at meal-time the Bible with Lyra's notes on it which he did seven yeeres together with so much exactnesse that he had it almost by heart but dispairing of attaining to learning he left his studieâ— and fell to Mechanicall Arts About which time Tecâ—liuâ— brought his Indulgences into Germany boasting of thâ— virtue of them and exhorting all as they loved their owne and their dead friends salvation that they should buy them c. Myconius had been taught by his fâ—ther the Lord's Prayer the Creed the Decalogue and to pray often and that the blood of Christ onely could cleanse uâ— from sin and that pardon of sin eternall life could not be bought with money c. Which caused him to be much tâ—oubled whether he should beleive his father or the Priests but understanding that there was a clause in the Indulgences that they should be given freely to the poore he went to Tecelius entreated him to give him one for he waâ— a poor sinner and one that needed a free remissions of sins and a participation of the merits of Christ Tecelius admired that he could speake Latine so well which few Priests could doâ— in those dayes aud therefore he advised with hiâ— Colleagues who perswaded him to give Myconius one but after much debate he returned him answer That the Pope wanted money without which he could not part with an Indulgence Myconius urged the aforenamed clause in the Indulgences whereupon Tecelius his Colleagues pressed againe that he might have one given him pleading his learning and ingenuity poverty c. And that it would be a dishonor both to God and the Pope to denie him one but still Tecelius refused whereupon some of them wispred Myconius in the eare to give a little money which he refused to doe and they fearing the event one of them profered to give him some to buy one with which he still refused saying That if he pleased he could sell a book to buy one but he desired one for Gods sake which if they denyed him he wished them to consider how they could answer it to God c. but prevailing nothing he went away rejoycing that there was yet a God in heaven to pardon sinners freely c. according to that promise As I live saith the Lord I desire not the death of a sinner c. Not long after he entred into Orders and read privately Luther's books which the other Friars tooke very haynously and threatned him for it From thence he was called to be a Preacher at Vinaria where at first he mixed some Popish errors with the truth but by the illumination of Gods Spirit and by his reading Luther he at last began to preach against Popery and to hold forth the truth clearly which spread so swiftly not onely through Saxonie but through all countries as if the Angels had been carryers of it Afterwards he was called
to Gotha to teach and govern the Thuringian Churches where he lived with his Collegues twenty yeeres in much peace and concord of which himselfe saith Cucurrimus certavimus laboravimus pugnavimus vicimus viximus semper convinctissime c. In the tumult of the Boores he tooke much pains to pacifie their mindes and to keepe them quiet Yea he so quieted with an Oration some that were pulling downe some Noble mens houses that they went away in peace that yeere also he married a wife by whom through Gods blessing he had a numerous posterity He accompanied the Elector of Saxonie in many of his journyes into the Low-Countries and other places where he preached the Gospel sincerely though sometimes to the hazard of his life About this time Henry the eighth King of England fell out with the Pope for not divorcing of him from his wife Katharine of Spain sister to Charles the fifth by reason of whose greatnesse the Pope durst not doe it whereupon the King of England sent over to the Germane Princes especially to the Duke of Saxonie to confederate against the Pope and to joyn with them in an agreement about Religion upon which occasion Myconius was sent over into England partly about matters of Religion but especially about a match between Henry the eighth and Anne of Cleve but coming thither he discovered the Kings hypocrisie about Religion not onely by the six Articles about that time established but also by his imprisoning of Latimer and cutting off the Lord Cromwell'â— head and burning of Master Barnes c. and by his seizing upon all the Abby-lands whereupon he left England and being come home he was called by Henry of Saxonie to visit and reforme the Churches of Misnia together with Luther Ionas Cruciger c. Which fell out upon this occasion George Duke of Saxonie lying on his death-bed sent to his brother Henry all his owne sons being dead before desiring him that succeeding him he should innovate nothing in Religion and withall promised him golden mountains by his Ambassadors if he would assent thereto to whom Henry answered This Embassie of yours is just like the Divels dealing with Christ when he promised him all the world if he would fall downe and worship him but for my owne part I am resolved not to depart from the Truth which God hath revealed unto me but before the returne of the Ambassadour Duke George was dead whereupon this Henry nothwithstanding all the oppositions of the Papists made this Reformation in the Churches which worke being finished Myconius visited all the Churches in Thuringia and with the help of Melancthon and some otheâ— he provided them Pastors and Schoolmasters and procured stipends to be setled upon them for their maintenance Anno Christi 1541. he fell into a Consumption whereof he wrote to Luther That he was sicke not to death but to life which interpretation of the text pleased Luther excellently well unto whom he wrote back I pray Christ our Lord our salvation our health c. that I may live to see thee and some others of our Colleagues to die and goe to heaven and to leave me here amongst the Divels alone I pray God that I may first lay down thiâ— drie exhausted and unprofitable tabernacle farewell and God forbid that I should heare of thy death whiâ—st I live Sed te superstitem faciat mihi Deus hâ—c peto volo fiat voluntas mea Amen quia haec voluntas gloriam nominis Dei crete non meam voluptatem nec copiam quaerit A while after Myconius recovered according to this prayer though his disease seemed to be desperate out-lived it six yeers even till after Luthers death whereupon Iustus Ionas speaking of Luther saith of him Iste vir potuit quod voluit That man could have of God what he pleased A little before Myconius his death he wrote an excellent Epistle to Ioan. Fredericke Elector of Saxonie wherein he praiseth God for raising up three successively in that Family viz. Fredericke Iohn and Iohn Fredericke to undertake the patronage of Luâ—her c. He was a man of singular piety of solid learning of a dextrous judgement of a burning zeal and of an admirable candor and gravity He died of a relapse into his former disease Anno Christi 1546. and of his Age 55. Myconius was a man that lov'd to pry Into the bosome of Divinity His heart was alwayes flexively inclind To what was good he had a golden minde That would not bend to drosse but still aspire To heaven and faith gave wings to his desire He was belov'd of all that lov'd Gods name The trumpet of his voyce would still proclaime The word of God to those that would indure To have their wounds be brought unto a cure By whose examples we may learne to thrive In grace His present worth is still alive The life and Death of John Diazius Who dyed Anno Christi 1546. IOhn Diazius was borne in Spaine brought up at Schoole afterwards he went to Paris to study the Arts where he continued thirteen yeers but it pleased God that whilest he read over the holy Scriptures and some of Luthers bookes and other Protestant Divines he began to see and abominate the errours of Popery and therefore to further himselfe 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 Argentine where Martin Bucer observed his learning piety and diligence in his studie obtained of the Senate that he should be joyned with him to goe to the Disputation at Ratisbâ—ne and when he came thither he went to Peter Malvinda a Spaniard the Popes Agent in Germanie who when he knew that he camâ— in the company with Bucer and the other Protestant Divines he was much aâ—tonished 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 Germans whereupon he left no meanes untried to draw him backe againe to the Church of Rome sometimes making large proffers and promises to him other-sometimes threatning severe punishments and mixing both with earnest entreaties but when by no meanes he could prevaile 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 Germanie bringing a notorious cut-throat with him resolving either to divert or destroy him when he came to Ratisbone Diazius was departed to Neoberg about the Printing of Bucers Booke which Alphonsus hearing of followed him thither where after long debating of matters of Religion between the two Brothers Alphonsus seeing the heart of his Brother Iohn to be so constantly planted â—n thâ— sure rocke of Gods Truth that neither Preferments could allure him nor threats terrifie him
Bucer wee Ascribe the second we bequeath to thee Whose knowledge in the holy dialect A fame eternall will to thee erect In that thou first didst bid the world godnight Thou seem'st inferior to that burning light But being first with heavens glory cround Thou dost appeare a Saint more worthy found In other things both fitly did agree Both faithfull preachers of his veritie Both painfull Sowers of the heavenly graine Both blest with good successe it sprung againe Wherefore God blest you both with honor high And cloath'd you both with immortality O happy soules though heaven keepe you there Your fame shall ever be intombed here Your worthy praises all the earth shall know Divulged by our Muses here below He was of a tall stature somewhat blacke-visaged his countenance appeared outwardly severe extorting reverence but he was inwardly of an affable and courteous disposition loving meeke and lowly he was an excellent Orator a great Student as appeares by his Workes here inserted 1 A worke called Thysby 2 Apothegmes of the Fathers 3 Morall Sentences ef Ben Syra alphabetically digested 4 The translation of Tobias the Hebrew 5 Hebrew Prayers 6 A literall exposition of the Hebrew sayings on the foure first chapters of Genesis with a Chalde Paraphrase 7 Of the truth of Faith 8 Commentaries on certaine Psalmes by Kirachi 9 An Hebrew Preface to Elias Levila his Chalde Lexicon 10 Thargum 11 An Introduction to the Hebrew tongue Reader behold here stands before thine eye The perfect â—mbleme of true gravity Turne from his face then read and thou shalt finde The rare endeavours of a serious minde He was a man whose ever-active heart Was alwayes digging in the Mines of Art And like a Bée he labour'd every houre To sucke some Hony from each spreading Flowre T was not the face of poverty could fright His soule from goodnesse Heaven was his delight And earth his scorne he study'd how to give A life to Language and make Uertue live It is not unfit that he whose Workes affords So many Languages should want for words MARTINVS BVCERVS The Life and Death of MARTIN BUCER IN the yeer of our Lord 1491. Martinus Bucerus was born at Selestadt a towne in Germanie famous for many learned Schollars which it hath afforded unto the World in these latter times amongst which this Bucer deserveth not the meanest approbation if we shall but consider those excellent vertues wherewith he was endewed or his learned and laborious acts for the propagation of the truth of Christ. In his youth he was trained up in the knowledge of the liberall Arts and Sciences in his owne Countrey wherein he profited beyond expectation to the great credit of his Maâ—â—er and to the unspeakable comfort of his friends About the yeer of our Lord 1506. and about the fifteenth yeer of his age through the advice and perswasion of his friends he adjoyned himselfe unto the order of the Dominicans where he manifested and gave them so singular a glympse of his industry and towardnesse that the most judicious and best eye-sighted Fryers conceived him to be set apart for the performance of more â—hen ordinary Acts. Being now a Dâ—minican he greatly desired to take a view oâ— Heidelberge which was granted unto him by the Pryor here he earnestly gave himselfe to the study of Rhetoricke and Phylosophie and not to these Arts onely but also to Divinity but when he found by experience that the knowledge of the Tongues was so necessary unto the study therof that without them it could not by any meanes possible be attained to any perfection he forthwith bent all his forces for the gaining of the knowledge of the Greeke and Hebrew tongues About that time came forth the Workes of Erasmus Roterodamus in the reading whereof Bucer greatly delighted and was by them first instructed God opening his eyes in the grounds of Evangelicall truth and happening also on some of Luthers Workes newly published and comparing the Doctrine therein delivered and taught with the holy Scripturâ—s he fell into a suspâ—tion of the truth of the doctrine of the Church of Rome Bucer having now attained unto some perfection of learning and notice being taken of those excellent qualities wherewith he was adorned upon the commendation and approbation of Franciscus Sickingen he was entertained by Fredericke Prince Elector Palatine to be his Chaplaine and forsaking that profession which he had formerly taken he professed himselfe to be a Protestant and Preached the word both privatly and publickly as occasions were offered and given unto him being much strengthened and animated thereunto by hearinâ— the disputation of Luther at Heidelberge concerning Free-will whereby he became better satisfied in the point of justification And thiâ— waâ— the first acquaintance which he had with that burning light of the Church by whom it pleased God to worke an alteration in his heart and an earnest intent to beat downe the sinnes of the times to dispell the foggie mists of darkenesse and ignorance that the glorious light of Christs Gospel might the better appear For the Prince Elector having urgent occasions to goe into Belgiuno and taking him with him as his associate he sharpely reproved in his Sermons and Exercises the supersticious impieties of those places wherein he proceeded with that eagernesse of spirit that the Monkes and Fryers there living were much offended at his Doctrine as a thing prejudiciall to their lazie manner of life Wherefore to prevent his proceeding they intended secretly to take away his life an old practise of that hellish brood but the providence of God would not suffer this light to be thus extinguished for he having notice of the snares which were laid for him secretly fled away and went unto Franciscus Sickingem of whom he was kindely and lovingly entertained promising him safety untill that the times were better quieted as touching Religion with whom he remained untill such such time as Luther was called unto Wormes unto whom he went and having spâ—nt many dayes in conference with him he departed from him not without he embracing of his Doctrine with an intent to make publicke profession of the same for the glory of God untill he had finished that time which was alotted unto him here in earth and resolving to take his journey for Wittemberge he was stayed by the intreaty of the faithfull Pasâ—ors of the Church at Wissenburge where he continued Preaching for the space of halfe a yeere not without the great benefit of the Church untill that he with Henricus Mothererus were with great sorrow compelled to depart that place through the means of the Vicar of Spire which at that time was a great enemy and an opposer of the truth of Christ. Now although the Word of God had no good successe in this place yet it pleased God that it florished in Strasburge by the pains of Matthias Lellius and Casper Hedio faithfull labourers in the Lords Vineyard hither came Bucer in the yeere of our Lord 1523. and
time in Breadstreet he said Yea And will you said Mordant preach so again Yes said he to morrow you may hear me there where I will confirme by Gods Word all that I then Preached I would counsell you said the other to forbeâ—r Saunders said if you will forbid me by lawfull Authority I must then forbear Nay Mordant I will not forbid you and so they parted Mordant went presently to Bishop Bonner and informed him of Master Saunders his purpose to Preach the next day which accordingly he did and at his lodging being â—omewhat troubled in his thoughts a friend of his asked him hâ—w he did truly said he I am in prison tilâ— I be in prison In the afternoon he prepared himselfe to Preach again but Bonner sent an officer for him who carried him to the Bishop where was Mordant also the Bishop charged him with Treason Heresie and Sedition and required him to write his judgment about Transubstantiation which he did saying You seek my blood and you shall have it I pray God you may be so baptized in it that you may hereafter loath blood sucking and become a better man then Bonner sâ—nt him to Gardiner where he waited four hours before he was called in and after some discourse with him Gardiner sent him 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 He continued in prison one yeere and three months in a lettter to his wife he writes I aâ— merrie and I trust I shall be merrie maugre the teeth of all the Divels in hell Riches I have none to endow you with but that treasure of tasâ—ing â—ow sweet Christ is to hungrie consciences whereâ—f I thanke my Christ I doe feel part that I bequeath unto you and to the rest of my beloved in Christ c. Being at last brought again to examination and lifâ— bâ—ing promised if he would recant he answered I love my life and libertie if I could enjoy them without the hurt of my conscience but by Gods grace I will â—bide the most extremitie that man can doe against mee rather then doe any thing against my conscience Being condemned he was sent to Coventrie to be burned when he came near the place of execution he went chearfully â—o the stake kissing of it and saying Welcom the Crosse of Christ welcom everlasting life and the fire being kindled he sweetly slept in the Lord. Doctor Pendleton and this Master 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 weaknesse and many fears Pendleton said to him What man there is much more cause for mee to fear then for you forasmuch as I have a big and fat body yet will I see the utmost drop of this grease of mine molten away and the last gobbit of this flesh of mine consumâ—d to ashes before I will forsake Iesus Christ and his Truth which I have professed yet not long after upon triall poore feeble faint hearted Saunders by the power and goodnesse of God sealed the Truth with his blood whereas proud Pendleton played the Apostate and turned Papist He from inferior Parents did not spring But such as noble were in every thing Nor did his life but to their splendor adde Which make both them and all that knew him glad For he in knowledge did so high excell That â—asseth aut of man almost to tell Whether his knowledge or his vertues were The more resplendant yet a holy feare Did séem to equall both and which doth crown Him all triumphant he past Martyrdome With â—uch high courage and so rare a zeale That I want words his worth for to revealâ— The Life and Death of John Hooper who dyed Anno Christi 1555. JOhn Hooper was a Student and Graduate in the University of Oxford where having abundantly profited in the study of other Sciencâ—s 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 but the six Articles coming out at that time hâ— was so hated by some especially by Doctor Smith that he was compelled to leave the Univâ—rsity and went to live with Sir Thâ—mas Arrundel and danger approaching there also he left the Kingdome and went to Paris yet after a while he returned again and lived with one M r. Senâ—low but understanding that snares were again laid for him with much difficulty and danger he escaped the second time into France and from thence travelled into Germanie at Zurick Master Bullinger became his especiall friend where he studied Hebrew and hearing that King Edward the â—ixt was come to the Crowne he was desirous to returne into England and when he tooke his leave of Bullinger he with harty thanks for all kindnesses promised to write often to him of all his affaires but saith he the last news â—f all I shall not be able tâ— write for where I shall take most pains there shall you â—ear of me to be burned to ashes Returning to London he preached twice but at least once every day the people so flockt to him that the Churches could not contein them in this pains-taking he continued to his lives end neither did his labour breake him nor promotion change him nor dainty fare corrupt him he was of a strong body sound health pregnant wit and of invincible patience spare of dyet sparer of words and sparest of time a liberall hous-keeper and very grave in his carriage Being by King Edward made first Bishop of Glocester then of Worcester he carried himselfe so uprightly and inoffensively that his enemies had nothing to say against him He used to goe about from town to towne and from village to village to preach unto the people he governed his house so that in every corner of it there was some smell of vertue good example honest conversation and reading of the Scriptures In his Hall there was daily a table spread with good store of victuals and beset with poore folke of the City of Worcester by turns who were served by four at a Mesâ—e with whole and wholesome meat and when they were served being before examined by himselfe or his deputies of the Lords Prayer Creed and ten Commandements then he himself sate down to dinner and not before In the beginning â—f Qâ—een Maries dayes he was sent for by a Pursivant to London and though he had opportunity and was perswaded by his friends to flye yet he refused saying Once I did flye but now being called to this place and vocation I am resolved to stay and to live and dye with my sheepe By Winchester when he came to London he was railed upon and committed to prison afterwards also at his examination they called him Beast Hypocrite c. which he bore without answering againe in the Fleeâ—
as immediatly done by himselfe And truly therein he more â—avored himselfe then Bradford who in the whole course of his imployment so acquitted himselfe as it is hard to determine whether therein he used greater diligence or integrity But having spent diverse yeeres in this honest and thrifty course of life wherein if he had persisted he was in a faire way both of wealth and worship he began to Elevate his thoughs above these temporary things and aspire to a service lesse profitable but much more honorable wherefore making up his accoumpts with his Master who neither would nor could diswade him from what he had once resolved he gave himselfe wholly to the study of Divinity and reading of the Scriptures But perceiving how usefull and necessary a Hand-maid Humanity is to Divinity and how short he came of those Tongus and Sciences without which it was improbable if not impossible for him to attaine any perfection in the noblest and most supereminent of all other Sciences at which he chiefely aimed leaving the Temple at London where he usually bestowed some few houres every day in hearing the Reader of the Common-Law he betooke himselfe to the University of Cambridge as neither able nor desirous to suppresse that which inwardly moved him to fit himselfe for an able workman in a more spirituall building After a yeere and some few moneths spent in the University he attained his degree of Master in Arts whereunto others are hardly admitted after long examination and seven yeeres painfull study But such was his Carriage diligence and profeciency that this favour though extraordinary and insolent was thought well bestowed upon him by the whole University And least any man may thinke it was rather out of Charity defer'd to his yeeres then abilities he was immediatly hereafter without any interposall of time chosen Fellow of Pembrooke Hall which first brought him to the eye and afterwards to the bosome of that learned and notable stickler in the reformation Martin Bucer by whom he was again encouraged and stir'd up to the worke of the Ministry not that he found him stagger in his Resolution or fall from his principles but because the greater measure of knowledge he attained the longer he defered the performance of his promise as ever thinking himselfe the more insufficient for so high and laborious a Calling Being one time amongst many moved by Bucer to defer the imployment of his Talent no longer and he pretending as formerly his present inability If thou canst not attaine unto Manchett said Bucer mayest thou not therefore feed this poore and Soul starved People with Barly loaves which proceeding from a man he so sincerely lov'd and upon whose jâ—dgment he so much relyed made him lay aside all his former tergiversations and in good earnest buckle himselfe to the worke But because no man can take upon him that function unlesse he be called as was Aaron though he doubted not of his inward vocation by God yet would he by no meanes thrust his shickle into that sacred harvest before he was called by the Church and seperated thereunto by Imposiâ—ion of Hands which with a Licence to Preach and a Prebeâ—d in Sâ—int Pauls he obtained from that renowned Bishop and glorio 〈◊〉 Martyr Doctor Ridley Bishop of London For three yeeres together he Preached faithfully and diligently in season and out of season being a sharpe and impartiall reprover of vice a vehement exhorter to vertue no man opposing Heresies with greater animosity or asserting the truth with more evidence and perspicuity whereby his fame spread it self almost over the whole kingdome And yet all this was but an Introduction to that which followed For King Edward the sixt of blessed Memory expiring with the last of these three yeeres and his sister Queen Mary contrary the his last will and Testament advanced to the Crown though not without some opposition which she easily overcame he was suddenly deprived both of his livelyhood and and liberty upon an occasion which deserved much rather reward then punishment And this it was In the first yeere of the Queenes Raigne and not long after her Coronation Master Bourne who was shortly thereafter by the favour of Secretary Bourne consecrated Bishop of Bath and Wels made a most invective and seditious Sermon at Pauls Crosse wherein he not onely cast dirt upon his late deceased King Edward the sixt but vented and maintained many Popish tents contrary to the orthodox Religion then established which drove the Common People into such a fury tumult that neither the reverence of the place the perswasion of the Bishop nor the authority and presence of the Lord Major could stop them from pulling him out of the Pulpit gladly he would have ended his Sermon for belike his greatest strength and confidence to lead his auditors hood winkt into their old Mumpsimus lay in his peroration but perceiving by a drawne dagger which amongst other implements was flung at him and missed him but very narrowly that the multitude were in good earnest and his life in jeoperdy he turned himselfe about and perceived Master Bradford standing at his backe within the Pulpit whom he earnestly intreated to supply his place and save his life by pacifying the People He no sooner appeared in the others room but the people joyfully ingeminated with a loud voice Bradford Bradford and by that time he had a little inlarged himselfe in the point of obedience the Tumult seemed more then halfe appeased But the Sermon ended and Bourne as he had reason not yet daring to commit himselfe to the so lately inraged multitude notwithstanding he was back'â— by the Lord Major and Sheriffs besought Master Bradford not to leave him untill he brought him into some place of security whereunto he willingly consented and when the multitude for the greater part were dispersed under the covert of his owne gowne he conveighed him into the next house which was the Scholemasters effecting that by the Word which the Major could not doe for him by the Sword many were â—ore grieved at his escape and some stuck not to Prophesie I know not by what Spirit that by saving this wiling Rashaketh from death he had given a deadly blow to his owne life Howsoever Bradford committed the issue to almighty God nothing repented his Charity which he was sure would finde reward with him what acceptance soever it found amongst wicked and unthankfull men yea so far was he from being afraid or sorry for what he had done that in his afternoones Sermon at Bow Church he sharply reprehended his Auditors for their forenoones tumultuous Carriage and sedition And yet such was the malice of the common adversary and iniquity of the times that about three dayes after for this very fact he was summoned to appeare before the Councell and by the Lords Committed to the Tower from whence within few weeks they removed him to the Kings Bench where through thâ— Keepers connivance he had often conference with Master Laurence
transâ—ported and elevated in his raptures that he seemed already in possession of that Crowne which for the present through fire and faggots he but aspir'd to to the great admiration and comfort of as many of his friends as that day had the happinesse to visit him Having blest and distributed such things amongst the servants of the hous as he thought fit he made a most fervent pacheticall farwell-prayer in the company of his fellow prisoners w th such ravishment of Spirit and abundance of tears that the hardest hearted amongst them could not choose but Simpathize w th him In the midst of this prayers when he put on the shirt wherein he was to be burned he inlarged himselfe in a most sweet meditation of the Wedding Garment and after that about twelve a clock in the night came downe into the Court where the prisoners tooke their finall leave of him as he went from the Counter to Newgate though it was about midnight yet great multitudes of people were gathered together in the streets who much lamented and earnestly pray'd for him to whom he returned their curtesie in both kinds with interest About nine in the morning he was led forth to Smithfield with a very great Guard as he came downe the staires he espied an old friend whom he called unto him imbraced and after some private whisperings bestowed upon him his velvet night-cap handkershiefe and som other trifles And yet Roger Beswicke his brother in law had his head cruelly broken by Seriffe Woodrofe for but offering to speake to him for which and other his barbarous inhumanities committed against the Saints and faithfull witnesses of Iesus Christ at such times a heavy and visible judgment overtooke him within few yeeres thereafter for besides the Palsie which for eight yeers together disinabled him from riding walking or turning himselfe in his bed he fell into a most devouring and insatiable Bulimy As soone as he approached the stake he fell flat on the ground intending there to power forth hiâ— private prayers for he was not permitted to do it publickly unto almighty God But Woodrofe the Sheriffe commanded to him arise and dispatch for that the people increased and pressed upon him whereat eftsoone he got up and when he had imbraced the stake and kissed it he put off his Cloathes which he intreated might be given to his servant because he had nothing else to leave him being tyed to the stake he comforted the stripling that was burned with him and earnestly exhorted the people to repentance which so inraged the Sherieffe that which was not usuall he commanded his hands should be tyed His last audiable Words were those of our Saviours Strait is the way and narrow is the gate that leadeth to Salvation and few there be that finde it He indured the flame as a fresh gale of wind in a hot Summers day without any reluctancy confirming by his death the truth of that doctrine which he had so diligently and powerfully Preached during his life which ended Iuly the first 1556. in the prime though in what yeere of his age is not certainly knowne He was for his stature tall but slender of a faintish sanguine Complexion his heir and beard auburne his countenance was full of sweetnesse mix'd with reverence and austerity He spent the whole time of his inprisonment in reading Preaching and praying eating but once every day and that but sparingly scarcely ever rising from that meale wherein his tears did not largly bedew his trencher He slept not commonly above four hours a night from the time he went to bed till dead sleep lock'd up his senses his candle went not out nor his booke out of his hand Halfe an hour he sent usually after dinner in discourse which was all the recreation he used the rest of his time in his owne private devotions and studies His death was generally lamented by all who knew or bus heard of of him yea many Papists themselves being convicted with his innocency of his life or taken with the quicknesse and modisty of his answers but especially considering â—he implacable malice and cruelty of his enemies heartily wished his deliverance for all men observid how they had first committed him without law and then after a yeers imprisonment made one to take away his life He denyed indeed the Popes authority over the Church of England and so had his judges done but the yeere before And for Christs corporall presence in the Sacrament which was the Artickle wherupon they chiefly condemned him he never denyed it in the worthy Receiver as to the eye of Faith no man yet whether Papist or Protâ—stant could never discover it through the accidents of Bread and Wine by the eye of the body We are inform'd by Master Fox that he wrote many comfortable Treatises especially during his imprisonment oâ— which these onely have had the fortune to reach our times 1 Two Sermons the first of Repentance the second of the Lords Supper 2 Some leâ—ters to his fellow Marâ—yres 3 An answere to two letters desiring to know wheâ—her one might goe to Masâ— or not 4 The danger ensuing the hearing of Masse 5 Hiâ— examination before the officers 6 Godly Meditations made in Prison cald his short Prayers 7 Truths Complaints 8 Melancthon translated of Prayers See how undaunted Bradford hath display'd Truths golden Colours nothing could invade His heaven fild thoughts but heaven in whose just cause He liv'd though murther'd by Papistick lawes Relgion told him that his cause was good He need not feare to signe it with his blood And seal it with his heart Bradford agreed To signe whilst Heaven was witnesse to the deed Insulting Papists what can ye declare But this your foulnesse made our Bradford faire Your fire refin'd his heart and made it prove A perfect lover of the God of love NICOLAS RIDLY The Life and Death of Nicolas Ridly AN other Paul otherwise in diverse respects save that we finde not that he ever persecuted the flock or faith of Christ may this choise instrument of God Nicolas Ridley be not unfitly nor unworthily be stiled For he was for a long time a maintainer and practiser of Popish superstitions which his adversaries also twitâ—ng him with in the time of his troubles he denyed not but freely confeâ—sed yet withall profeâ—sing that he had since that time repented him thereof and God he trustâ—d had in mercy pardoned upon his repentance whaâ— in ignorance he then did But after it pleased God to reveale hiâ— truth to him more clearly he laboured as earnestly as any of his fellow labourers in the propagation of it being indowed with as eminent parts as any of them for that purpose and at length sealed it up as did some others of them also with his blood He was borne in Northumberland as some say or as others in the Bishopricke of Durham descended of a worshipfull Family bearing that name and trained up in the first rudiments of
Reformation in the Churches he was informed by Melancthon that Ecclesiasticall government did consist 1. In the soundnesse and puritie of Doctrine 2. In the lawfull use of the Sacraments 3. In a conservation of the Minister of the Gospell and in obedience towards the Pastors of the Churches 4. In the preservation of an honest and godly Discipline which was to be upheld by an Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction 5. In the upholding of Schooles 6. In supplying such persons as are imployed in weightie matters with sufficient necessaries Which points he caused to be dispersed amongst the Churches but they wrought little or no Reformation the yeer following Germanie was oppressed with civill Warres which when it was greatly lamented by Melancthon some out of malice misinterpreting his words accused him unto the Emperour as one who laboured to hinder his proceedings in the Reformation of Religion for which cause the Emperour intended his death but he was defended and delivered by the intreaty of Mauritius the Prince Elector who possessed the Emperour with a contrary opinion Not long after it happened that there were great preparations for the Councill of Trent and safe going and returning being concluded on Melancthon was sent with the Letters of the foresaid Mauritius and taking Norimberge in his way he was commanded to stay there untill he received an answer concerning that faith which was generally to be embraced of all the Churches During his aboad at Noremberge he heard the newes of the Expedition of Mauritius against the Emperor in regard of the Lantgrave of Hassia who was detained captive Wherefore Melancthon lefâ— Noremburge returned again to Wittemberge Many are of opinion that if he had been present at the said Councill and had been suffred to declare his mind freely amongst them he would have redified many of their judgements concerning matters of religion Being come unto Wittenberge he constantly went forward in his exercise of teaching and preaching the word of God untill he fell into an irrecoverable disease whereby his vitall spirits grew so feeble that he was made unfit for the performance of his pastorall office and weaknesse increasing every day more and more upon him he was constrained at the last to yeeld unto death and in the midst of many heavenly prayers he surrendred his soul unto him that gave it in the yeer of our Lord 1560. in the 63. yeere of hiâ— age and after that he had preached the space of 42. yeeres unto the inhabitants of Wettemberge Where he was buried with great sorrow and lamentation being laid side by side with Luther For his excellent gifts he was not onely reverenced by Protestant Divines then living but he also gained a singular approbation of such as were his professed enemies He was of a meane stature not exceeding the common sort of men his forehead smooth and high his haire thin his neck long his eyes beautifull and peircing he was broad breasted and in generall there was a proportionable agreement betwixt all the parts of his body in his youth he stammered something in his speech but reaching unâ—o a maturity of age he so corrected that infirmity that it gave no offence unto his Auditors the learned treatises which he left unto the Church whose reformation both in doctrine and discipline he greatly laboured for in his life are here inserted Tome 1. 1. Commentaries on Genesis 2. Explications on some Psalms 3. Vpon the Proverbs Annotations on 4. Matthew 5. Iohn 6. 1 Corinthians 7. An Apologie for Luther against the Paritians 8. Anabaptistists 9. Sentences of Fathers 10. Of the qualification of Princes 11. Of the tree of consanguinity Tome 2. 1. A Comment on Paul to the Romans 2. School-notes on the Colossians 3. Common places of Divinity Tome 3. 1. A confession of Faith 2. A Catechisme 3. A method of Preaching 4. Theologicall Disputations 5. Of Vowes 6. Of the doctrine of the reformed Church 7. An Epistle to John Earle of Widae Tome 4. 1. Philosophicall workes 2. Commentaries on Aristot. Ethicks 3. Politicks 4. An Epitome of Morall Phylosophy Tome 5. 1. A Latin Grammer 2. A Greeke gram 3. Logicke 4. Rhetoricke 5. Enarrations on Hesiods workes 6. Arithmaticke 7. Epigrams These were printed by Hervagius but there are divers others set forth by Christopher Pezelius As 1. An admonition to those that read the Alcaron 2. A defence for the marriage of Priests 3. Commentaries on Daniel 4. A discourse on the Nicene Creed 5. Luthers Life and Death 6. Schoolâ—-notes on Cicero his Epistles 7. Translations of Demosthenes and Plutarch 8. Greeke and Latine Epigrams 9. Two Tomes of Epistles 10. Carion his Cronologie â—nlarged Would thy ingenious Fancy soare and flye Beyond the pitch of moderne Poesye Or wouldest thou learne to charme the conquerd eare With Reth'riks oyly Magik wouldest thou heareâ— The Majesty of language wouldest thou pry Into the Bowels of Philosophy Morall or Naturall Or wouldest thou sound The holy depth and touch the unfathom'd ground Of deepe Theology Nay wouldest thou need The Sisteme of all excellence and feed Thy empty soule with learning's full perfection Goe search Melancthons Tomes by whose direction Thou shalt be led to Fame if his rare story Can make thee emulous of so great a glory The Life and Death of John a Lasco who died Anno Christi 1560. IOhn Lascus was born of a noble family in Poland and brought up in learning afterwards travelling to Tygure in Helvetia he was by Zuinglius perswaded to betake himselfe to the study of Divinity and when he might have been preferred to great honor in his owne Country such was his love to Christ and his Church and such his hatred to Popery that he chose with Moses to suffer affliction with the people of God rather then to live in worldly honor and peace amongst his friends coming into Frisland Anno Christi 1542. he was called to be a Pastor at Embden where he fed and ruled his flock with great diligence the yeere after he was sent for by Ann the widdow of Count Oldenburg to reform the Churches in East-Frisland and the next yeer after by Albert Duke of Prussia but when he agreed not with him in judgement about the Lords Supper the worke remained unperfected about that time the Emerour persecuted the Protestants he was sent for by King Edward the sixth upon Cranmers motion into England where he gathered Preached unto and governed the Dutch-Church which remain's to this day In the dayes of Queen Mary he obtained leave to return beyond-Sea and went with a good part of his Congregation into Denmarke but there he found but cold entertainment by reason of his differing from them about the Lords Supper the Churches of Saxonie also rejected them not suffering them to live amongst them upon the like reason at length that poore Congregation found entertainment in Frisland under the Lady Anne Oldenburg and setled at Embdem Anno Christi 1555. he went thence to Francford upon Main where with the consent of
the Senate he gathered a Church of strangers especially out of Belgia from thence he wrote a Letter to the King of Poland and his Council vindicating his Doctrin from some aspersions cast upon it by his adversaries many enemies also rose up against him and his Congregation for differing from them about Christ's presence in the Sacrament especially oâ—e Westphalus who wrote bitterly against them calling them Zuinglians and affirming that all those which had suffered about that point in Belgia England or Francâ— were the Divel's Martyrs At last Lascus returning into his own Country from which he had been absent twenty years there he found God's harvest to be great and the labourers to be very few His coming was very unwelcome to the Popish Clergy who sought by all meanes to destroy him or to get him banished and therefore they accused him to the King for an Hereticke beseeching him not to suffer him to stay in the Kingdome to whom the King answered That though they pronounced him an Hereticke yet the Sâ—ates of the Kingdome did not so esteeme 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 lyes as if he would stir up a civill War in the Kingdome but it pleased God when he had spent a little time in instructing his friends that he sickned and dyed anno christi 1569. 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 esteem that he made use of his advice and help in many great and difficult businesses Wisdome and goodnesse both conjoyn'd To beautifâ—e Alascos mind He was laborious to fulfill And prosecute his makers will His heart was proud to undertake To doe or suffer for Gods sake Therefore no question but hée 's blest And rests in peace and endlesse rest AVGVSTINVS MARLORATVS The Life and Death of Augustine Marlorat AVgustine Marlorat was born in the Dukedome of Lorrain anno christi 1506. His Parents dyed whil'st he was young and his kindred gaping after his estate thrust him at eight years of age into a Monastery of Augustine Fryers by which meanes God so ordering of it he was brought up in learning and having studied the body of Divinity in France came to the University of Lasanna which is a famous Towne of the Lords and States of the Countrey of Bern scituated hard by the Lake of Lemon and is a place famous for Divinity where he profited much in learned and came to the knowledge of the Truth and from thence he was chosen to be Pastor at Vivia and from thence he was sent for to Rottomag where he behaved himselfe with much piety and wisdome Anno Christi 1561. he was present at the conference at Posiah between the Cardinall of Lorrain and Theodore Beza where he acquitted himselfe with much courage The year following when the Civil Wars brakâ— forth in France the City of Rotomag was besieged and after a hard siege was taken where Marlorat and foure other chiefe Citizens by the malice of Mont-Morenzie and Francis Duke of Guize were hanged though some of his adversaries would have saved him This was done the thirtieth of October anno chris 1562. and of his Age six and fifty whose Workes being ever living Monuments are preserved to the benefit of the Church of God and are here set down 1. A Catholicke and Ecclesiasticall Exposition of the new Testament 2. An Exposition upon Genesis 3. An Exposition on the Psalmes of David 4. An Exposition upon the Prophecie of Jsaiah 5. His Thesaurus or Treasure-house of the whole Canonicall Scripture digested into common places Also the hard Phrases Alphabetically Printed which usully are met withall in the Scriptures by the care and industry of William Feugerius of Rohan professor of Divinity to whom Marlorat left this Worke being not altogether perfected at the time of his Dissolution Renowned Marlorat did breath to give A breath to worth which worth shall make him live Uertue shall be his Heravl'd and his name Shall stand recorded in roules of fame The trumpet of his praise shall sound the bolder Because true vertue neede crave no upholder The Life and Death of Amsdorfius who died Anno Christi 1563. NIcolas Amsdorfius was born in Misnia of noble Parents Anno Christi 1483. and brought up in learning From School he went to the University of Wittenberge about that time that Luther began to preach against Indulgence in Anno Christi 1504. he Commensed Master of Arts and aftewards Licentiary in Divinity he embraced the Truth â—hat brake forth in those times and preached it to others he accompanied Luther to Worms in the time of Luthers recesse into his Pathmos he with Melancthon and Iustus Ionas being sent to by the Elector of Saxonie for their judgement about the Masse declared that it was an horrible profanation of the Lords Supper whence ensued the abolishing of it out of all Churches in Wittenberg he wrote also that the Pope was Antichrist Anno Christ 1524. Luther being sent for to Magdenburg he went thither and having preached to them he commended to them and afterwards sent Amsdorfius to gather and instruct the Churches there who faithfully laboured eighteen yeeres in that place Anno Christi 1541. he was sent by the Elector of Saxonie to govern the Church at Naumberg in the Palatinate where also the yeere after he was ordained Bishop by Luther three other Pastors also imposing of their hands upon him but six yeers after he was driven away from thence by the Emperor Charles the fifth whence he fled to Magdenberg and was there during the siege of it Anno Christi 1550. and the yeere after George Major having Published this propositioâ— That good Works were necessary to Salvation Amsdorfius in heat of contention wrote That good Works were hurtfull and dangerous to Salvation he died about the four score and eight yeer of his age Anno Christi 1563. Amsdorfius was the life of worth his dayes Were fil'd with trouble yet perpetuall praise Waited upon him for he did oppose The Errours of the Pope in spight of those That were his enemies he did maintaine The Pope was Antichrist the Masse prophane He fear'd them not but boldly did professe The truth and now is Crown'd with happinesse WOLFGANGVS MVSCVLVS The Life and Death of Wolfangus Musculus IN the yeer of our Lord God 1497. and on the sixt of the Ides of September a day much observed by our Ancestors for the birth of the Virgin Mary and also for the destruction of Ierusalem by Titus the son of Vespasian was Wolfangâ—â— Musculus that faithfull servant of Christ born at Dusa a little towne situate in Litharingia famous onely for the aboundance of Salt-pits wherewith it is richly stored His father was called Antonius Musculus who by his profession was
Ridley Latimer and afterwards Cranmer men of incomparable piety whereby the propagation of the truth was hindred There hapned also other causes of discontent as the faction of some neighbouring Pastors bewitched with the instigation of that Carmelite Bolsecus who bitterly inveighed against him concerning Predestination whereupon he obtained leave of the Senate to go unto Berne to be censured by the Church concerning that point in which censures the adversaries being found guilty they were expelled banished the Country and he found favor was in great estimation amongst the best In the year 1556. Calvin preaching in Geneva he was taken so strongly with an Ague that he was forst to leave in the midst of his Sermon and to come downe from the Pulpit upon this accident newes was spread abroad concerning his death which in short space came unto Rome and it was so ioyfully entertained by the Pope that he forthwith caused publicke prayers and thanksgivings to be dedicated unto God in all the Church for the same but the prayers of the faithfull prevailed more for he was so far from dying that being as it were endewed with another life he went unto France fuet ad Maenum being thereunto called for the removing the dissentions out of the Churches of France whence returning although somewhat sickly yet he ceased not to execute his constant course in his Ministery and also he carefully and timely confuted the hereticall opinion of Valentinus Gentilis touching three Gods and three Eternals lest by continuation it should take such root that it would hardly be plucked up And these were his actions untill the year 1558. wherein in pleased God to afflict him with a quartan Ague which caused great sorrow and lamentation in Geneva yet it continued with him but for the space of eight weeks in which time it weakned and so enfeebled his body that he was never sound untill the day of his death During this sicknesse he was advised by the Physitians and some of his friends to forbeare his usuall exercises and to cherish his body with a little ease but he would not declaring unto them that he could not endure an idle life In the year following Henry King of France intended to levell Geneva with the ground and to put the Inhabitants thereof to the sword but before he could effect that bloody project he was taken captive by a higher power and the City still flourished even in the midst of her enemies and that nothing might be wanting unto her prosperous and flourishâ—ng state Calvin caused a Schoole to be erected and consecrated unto the great God which should alwayes be furnished with learned Ministers and publicke Professours of the Arts and Tongues and especially of Divinity that so the City might enrich it selfe with its owne treasure In the year 1560. the Waldenses sent unto Calvin for his judgement concerning some points wherein he gave them aboundant satisfaction and exhorted them to joyne themselves with the other Protestant Churches And at the same season many Protestants in France hearing of â—he peace and quietnesse which the Church in England enjoyed at the beginning of the reign of Queen Elizabeth many of them came into England and desired of Edmund Grindal 〈◊〉 Lord Bishop of London that they might have leave to sâ—â—d for a Preacher unto Geneva for the planting of the French Church in London who condiscended thereunto Galasâ—â—â— was sent Calvin having spent his dayes hitherto in extraordinary labours for his life may well be said to be a continued labour mixed with griefe as appeareth by the Works which he wrote being at Geneva The time was now at hand in which he must goe unto his eternall rest his diseases contracted by his indefatigable labours caused him to give over his Divine exercises for indeed how could he continue long when as his body was by nature weake and leane inclining to a consumption and because he slept very little spending almost all the year either in Preaching Teaching or Dictating for ten whole years he never Dined and after the set houre he would not receive his Supper He was subject unto the disease called the Migram for the curing of which he used nothing but fasting and that sometimes for the space of six and thirty houres After that his quartan Ague left him he was troubled with the Gout taking him in his left legge which to make it the more grievous was seconded with the Colick The Physitians applyed what remedies they could and he carefully followed their counsell He was armed against these afflictions with an admired patience no man ever hearing him uttering a word unworthy of himselfe in his greatest extremity but lifting up his eyes unto heaven he would chearfully utter the words of David How long O Lord. When he was exhorted by his friends to desist from reading or writing in the time of sicknesse he would reply What will you have the Lord finde me idle Not long before his death some of his fellow Pastors coming accordingly as they used to visit him they found him contrary to their expectation apparalled and fiâ—ting at his Table in that forme as he used to meditate resting his head on his hand he spake these words unto them I thanke you brethren for the care which you have over me but I hope that within these fifteen dayes the Lord will reveale how he intends to dispose of me and I thinke that I shall leave you and be received of him Growing weaker and weaker he was brought into the Senats Court by his command where after an humble manner he thanked the Senate for the curtesies formerly conferred on him and for the speciall care which they had of him in this his last sicknesse Not long after he received the Communion at the hands of Beza labouring the best that he could to joyne with the rest of the Congregation in singing of Psalmes unto God The day wherein he dyed he seemed to speake somewhat heartily but this was but the last strugling of nature for about eight of the clocke apparant signes of death were seen which being perceived of Beza he ran forth to acquaint his other Collegues with it but besure his returne he had quietly yeelded his soule into the hands of God leaving such a chearfull countenance unto the beholders that he seemed rather to be asleepe then dead Thus was that light taken away even at the seâ—ting of the Sun The day following there was great lamentation throughout the City the Church lamented for the death of her faithfull Pastor the Schoole sorrowed for the losse of so famous a Doctor and in generall all were filled with mourning because they were deprived of their onely comforter next unto God Many of the Citizens desired to behold him after that he was dead so great was their affection to him and some strangers also whom the fame of Calvin had drawne unto that place and amongst them the English Embassadour for France desired greatly to see him being
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
his Bed in which after he was laid the Gentleman of his Bed-chamber red to him till wearied nature shut up the offices of hiâ— senses long after his Porter had lockt up the Gates of his Pallace This watchfull and laborious kind of life without any recreation at all save what his necessary refection at hiâ— meals and a very few hours of rest in the night aforded him spent the oyl of this sweet Lamp the faster and thereby hastened his extinction and death in this world Which as he foresaw by the spirit so he foretold by letters to the Bishop of Noâ—wich Yet upon record in the works of Doctor Humfrey and as he forefaw it and foretold it so accordingly he prepared for it as a Traveller who hath little day and much way left spurreth on faster that he may reach home by day-light so he desirous to finish his course before the night of death approached mended his pace and dispatched all sorts of businesse with more celerity and as he was visiting his Diocesse more severely then ever before God visited him and as he preached at Lacock upon the words of the Apostle Walk in the Spirit Death arested him in the Pulpit from whence he was carried to his bed where he still continued preached to all that came to visit him either by heavenly instructâ—ons or pious ejaculations or divine meditations and paraphrases upon the pâ—ssages of Scripture which were read unto him even till at one and the self-same instant he committed both his hearers and his soul to God Valerius Maximus writeth of Sylla that it was hard to say whether he or his anger were first extinct for he threatned his enemies dying and dyed threatning but on the contrary it may be said of this servant of Christ Jesus it is hard to determine whether his naturall heat or his zeal first was extinguished whether his Prayers or his soul first arrived at Heaven for he dyed praying and prayed dying His last words worthy to be written with a pen of Diamond never to be rased out were theseâ— A Crown of righteousnesse is laid up for me Christ is my righteousnesse this is my body this day quickly let me come â—nto theâ— this day let me see the Lord Iesu. He was buried in the midst of the Quire where after he had been interred two yeers Dr. Humfrey laid upon him a faire marble stone with an inscription upon it containing a brief Chronicle of his life of which monument of that religious Professor it may be truly said as it was of that which Iulius Caesar raised to Pompey Caesar dum Pompeii statuas erexti suas confirmavit In making this monument to continue the memory of Iewel he eternized his own but Iewel left himself a second monument more famous then that the Library he built in Salisbury and yet a third more lasting then either of the former his Works here ensuing whereof these were Manuscripts 1. A Paraphrasticall Exposition of the Epistles and Gospels through the whole yeer 2. A continuate Exposition of the Creed Lords Prayer and ten Commandements 3. A Commentary upon the Epistle to the Galathians 4. A Commentary upon the Epistle of Saint Peter The Printed are these 1. Anno Dom. 1550. A latine Sermon preached at Saint Maries upon 1 Pet. 4.11 2. An. Dom. 1558. Divers Sermons preached before Queen Elizabeth at Pauls Crosse. 3. An. Dom. 1559. Epistola ad Scipionem patritium veneâ—um de causis cur Episcopi Angliae ad Concilium Tridentinum non convenerint 4. Anno 1560. A Challenge to all Papists at Pauls Crosse with an Answer to Doctor Cole in defence of a Sermon preached before the Queens Majesty and her most honourable Councell 5. Anno 1561. Apologia Ecclesiae Anglicanae 6. Anno 1562. An Exposition upon the first Epistle to the Thessalonians 7. Anno 1563. An Exposition upon the second Epistle to the Thessalonians 8. An. 1564. A Reply to Master Hardings Answer concerning the seven and twenty Articles contained in Master Jewel his Challenge viz. 1. Of private Masse 2. Communion under both kinds 3. Of Prayer in a strange tongue 4. Of the Supremacy 5. Of the reall presence 6. Of Polytopue or being in many places at once 7. Of the Elevation 8. Of adoration of the Host. 9. Of carrying the Sacrament under a Canopy 10. Of accidents without subject 11. Of dividing the Sacrament 12. Of a figure in the Sacrament 13. Of plurality of Masses 14. Of adoration of Images 15. Of reading the Scripture in the mother tongue 16. Of Consecration under silence 17. Of the Sacrifice of the Masse 18. Of receiving the Communion for others 19. Of the application of Christâ— death by the Masse 20. Of Opus Operatum 21. Of the Title of the Sacrament Lord and God 22. Of remaining under accidents 23. Of Mice eating the body of Christ. 24. Of Individium Vagum 25. Of the form and shews of Bread and Wine 26. Of hiding and covering the Sacrament 27. Of Ignorance whether it be the mother of Devotion 9. Anno 1565. A Rejoynder to Mr. Hardings Reply 10. An. 1566. A defence of the Apology of the Church of England 11. An. 1567. An answer to Mr. Hardings Preface 12. An. 1568. A Treatise of the Sacraments 13 An. 1569. The view of a seditious Bull sent into England 14. An. 1570. A Treatise oâ— the holy Scriptures If any desire to be more familiarly acquainted with Iewels and to be particularly informed of his method and course of study his witty and learned Discourses at Table his Poems and penned Speeches in the Colledge his Exercises for his Degrees his holding the golden Ballances of Minerva before Vrania being Moderator in Divinity Disputations in the presence of Queen Elizabeth at an Act at Oxford as also how he attained to that admirable faculty of memory whereby he waâ— able on the sudden to repeat Chapters of names read to him backward and forward broken sentences and exutick words Welsh Irish or any other Language after once or twice reading at the most let him read the story of his life at large in Doâ—tor Humfrey or at least the abridgement thereof which I drew in the year of our Lord 1611. being then Student in Corpus Christi Colledge at the command of Archbishop Bancroft which as soon as it was sent up was suddenly printed and prefixed to Iewels Works before I had time to revise it and note the Errata which I entreat thee for thine own sake as well as for mine thus now to correct Page 5. line 30. The wisdome of God so ordered this matter adde For Jewel his greater honour and the advantage of the truth P. 7. l. 10. for the blessed Spouse of Christ r. the blessed husband of the Spouse of Christ. P. 8. l. 21. for Valerius r. Vellerius p. 9. l. 16. for his Apologie fell in the yeer 1566. r. the defence of his Apologie And l. 23. for cene r. scene p. 12. l. 17. which is his Church adde on
Prisoners he wonderfully refreshed and comforted them by his godly exhortations and consolations drawn from the Scriptures whereby they were much confirmed in the Christian Faith and whereas before they were almost pined through want of food God so stirred up the heartâ— of some to bring reliefe to Zegedine that all the rest of the prisoners were provided for plentifully thereby Remaining thus in prison he was not idle but wrote there his Common-places and some other Works thus he remained in Prison above a year in which time three of his children dyed which added much to his aâ—fliction and though his people had used the intercession of all their great men there about for his liberty yet all prevailed not till it pleased God that a Noble Baron and his Lady passing by that way saw this worthy man of God in so miserable a plight that the Lady much pitied him and afterwards being in Child bed and ready to dye she requested her Lord who loved her dearly for her sake to improve all his interest in the Bashaw to procure Zegedines liberty which he with an oath promised to perform and accordingly engaged himselfe to the Turk that he should pay 1200. Florens for his ransome thereupon he was released and went about to diverse Cities to gather his ransome and God so enlarged mens hearts towards hâ—m that in a short time he carried 800. Florns to this Baron and so returned to his people at Calmanâ—sem The year after being 1564. as he was going by coach to Buda when the horses came near the great river Danubius being very hot and dry thy ran violently into the river but behold the admirable providence of God when they had swam some twenty paces in the river they turned back again and drew the coach and him safely to the shore The same year by the Imposition of Hands he ordained three excellent men Ministers About that time there came a bragging Fryar and challenged him to a Disputation which he willingly accepting of the great Church was appointed for the place and many of both sides resorted thither and the Fryar came with much confidence his servants carrying a great sacke of Bookes after him but in the Disputation Zegedine did so baffle him that all his friends shrunk away with shame and the Fryar with his great sack was left all alone so that himselfe was fain to take it on his own shoulders and goe his way About that time the Vaivod who had before betrayed him coming to the place where Zegedine was desired to speake with him and requested him to forgive him professing that he could rest neither night nor day he was so haunted with apparitions and the Furies of his own conscience which Zegedine easily affented unto In the year 1566. Zegedine being very hot invited a friend to goe with him to the River of Danubius to bathe himself but as they were swiming his friend looking about him saw not Zegedine and wondering what was become of him so suddenly at last he spyed his hoarie hairs appearing above water and swimming swiftly to him Zegedine was sunk whereupon he diving to the bottome of the river caught hold of him and drew him forth carrying him to a Mill that was not far off where he laid him to bed about midnight Zegedine coming to himself enquired how he came there and who drew him out of the River hiâ— friend told him the whole story and kept him carefully till he recovered In the year 1572. he fell into a mortall dsease which so much the more afflicted him becausâ— he could not sleepe whereupon he sent for a Chirurgion who gave him a bitter potion which caused him to fall a sleepe but after a little while he quietly breathed forth his last being sixty seven years of age How full of patience how divine Was this our learned Zegedine Though cast in prison and restrain'd From food yet he the truth maintain'd His heart resolved from his youth Rather to starve then starve the truth For Disputations few there were That could with Zegedine compare His rare example lets us know Patience o'recomes the greatest woe The Life and Death of John Knox who dyed Anno Christi 1572. JOhn Knox was born at Gifford in Lothain in Scotland Anno 1505. of honest Parentage brought up first at School then sent to the University of Saint Andrews to study under Master Io. Maior who was famouâ— for learning in those dayes and under whom in a short time he profited exceedingly in Philosophy and School Divinity and took hiâ— Degrees and afâ—erwards was admitted very young into Orders then he betook himself to the reading of the Fathers especially Augustine's Works and lastly to the earnest study of the holy Scriptures by w ch being through God's mercy informed of the Truth he willingly embraced it and freely professed it and imparted it to others But when there was a persecution raised up by the Bishops against the Professours of the Truth he fled into England where he preached the Gospel with much zeal fruit both at Berwick Newcastle and London He was much esteemed â—y King Edward the sixt who proffered him a Bishoprick which he rejected as having Aliquid commune cum Antichristo something in it common with Antichrist King Edward being dead the pâ—rsecution raised by Queen Mary made him leave England and goe to Frankefort where for a time he preached the Gospel to the English Congregation but meeting with opposition there both from Papists and false brethren he went to Geneva Anno Christi 1559. and of his age 54. the Nobility of Scotland with some others beginning the Reformation of Religion sent for him home and shortly after he was setled Minister at Edinbrough where he preached many excellent Sermons Anno Christi 1566. the Earl of Murray being slain on the Saturday Knox preaching at Edinbrough the next day amongst the papers given of those that desired the prayers of the Church he found one with these words Take up the man whom yee accounted another God At the end of his Sermon he bemoaned the losse that the Church and State had by the death of that vertuous man adding further There is one in this company that makes this horrible murder the subject of his mirth for which all good men should be sorry but I tell him he shall dye where there shall be none to lament him The man that had written those words was one Thomaâ— Metellan a young Gentleman of excellent parts but bearing small affection to the Earl of Murray he hearing this commination of Iohn Knox went home to his Sister and saâ—d That Iohn Knox was raving to speak of he knew not whom His Sister replyed with tears If you had taken my advice you had not written those words saying further Thaâ— none of Iohn Knox his threatnings fell to the ground without effect And so indeed this came to passe for shortly after this Gentleman going to travell dyed in Italy having none to assist
was made Batchelor of Arts at the years end Anno Christi 1569. he went to Wittenberg where he studyed Philosophy Law and Divinity with incredible pains so that at three yearâ— end with the approbation of the whole University he waâ— made Master of Arts he intended at first the study of Lawâ— But it pleased God on a sudden so to divert his heart from it and to incline him to the study of Divinity that he could have no rest in himselfe till he had resolved upon itâ— Anno Christi 1571. he returned to Marpurg and studyed Hâ—â—brew and the year after he read the Arts to many studentâ— privately and became Tutor to three Noblemen at twenty three years old he was so famous that by the consent of all the Divines in that University he was chosen into the number and order of Professors of Divinity the year after he married a wife a choyce maid by whom he had three sons and two daughters the same year also he was chosen the Professor of the Hebrew Tongue in that University Anno Christi 1578. he was made Doctor in Divinity and falling sick about that time he made an excellent confâ—ssion of his faith But it pleasâ—d God that he recovered and was not onely a constant preacher of the truth but a strong defender of it against errors confuting the Vbiquitarians and that so boldly that he chose rather to hazard banishment then to connive at errors His fame spread abroad â—xceedingly so that many sought for him especially Iohn of Nâ—ssaw and Iohn Cassimire the Elector Palatine the first desired him to come and begin his University at Herborn where he should have had greater honor and a larger stipend the other desired him to Heidleberg to be 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 and was entertained lovingly of the Prince and his coming was most gratefull to the University where he tooke exceeding great paines and was eminent for Piety Humility Gravity Prudence Patience and Industry so that in the year 1588. he was chosen into the number of the Ecclesiasticall Senators for the government of the Church He was famous for Learning Eloquence Faithfulnesse and Diligence in his place and Holinesse and Integrity in his life In the year 1589. he fell sicke for which and his change he had been carefully fitting himselfe 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 mee I wholly depend upon thy providence and mercy from the very bottome of my heart I commend my spirit into thy hands and so he slept in the Lord Anno Christi 1589. aâ—d of his Age 38. Industrious humble prudent patient grave What other vertues that a man could have Sohnius enjoyn'd with peacefulnesse his hand Was apt to write his heart to understand He tooke delight to meditate upon The love of God his owne salvation He study'd how to dye his wel-spent breath Was but a rare preparative to death And having ended his laborious dayes He dy'd in peace and now he lives in praise The Life and Death of Laurence Humfried who dyed Anno Christi 1589. LAurence Humfried was borne in the County of Buckingâ—am and brought up at School and then sent to Oxford where he was admitted into the Colledge of Mary Magdalen and followed his Studies hard all the dayes of King Edward the sixt But in the beginning of those bloudy Marian dayes wherein so many were forced to forsake their native soyle he amongst the rest went beyond Seâ— 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 backe and returned to Oxford where he was very famous both for his Learning and Preaching then also he commensed Doctor in Divinity and by reason of his excellent parts hâ— 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 diâ—cover their impostures and Popish deceits Afterwards he was made the Master of Magdalâ—â— Colledge and the Regius Professor which places he discharged with singular commendations for many years together and at the last quietly resigned up his spirit into the hands of God in the year 1589. Though persecuting Times pursu'd and chast This pious Father yet he still embrac'd And hugg'd the Truth his heart remained frée From persecution and captivity Those weighty words which pleasantly persu'd Out of his mouthâ— soon conquer'd and subdu'd Inticing Iesuits he made them know Their errours by a fatall overthrow Thus having labour'd with a faithfell brest Heav'n thought it fit to crown his soul with rest The Life and Death of James Andreas who dyed Anno Christi 1578. JAmes Andreas was born in Waibling in Wittenberg Anno 1538. When his father had kept him three years at School being unable to maintain him any longer he intended to have placed him with a Carpenter but being disswaded by some friends and having obtained an exhibition out of the Church-stock he sent him to Stutgard to a choyce Schoolmaster under whom in â—wo years space he learned Grammer and Rhetorick and so An. Christi 1541. he went to Tubing where he so profited that at the end of â—wo years he was made Batchelor of Arts and two years after that Master of Arts there also he studyed Hebrew and Divinity Anno Christi 1546. and of his age eighteen he was called to Stutgard where Preaching in a great Auditory he was chosen and made Deacon which place he executed so well that he presently grew famous insomuch as the Duke of Wittenberg sent for him to Preach before him in his Castle which he did with much applause at Tubing also that year he married a wife by whom he had eighteen children nine sons and nine daughters about that time brake forth that fatall war betwixt Charles the fifth and the Protestant Princes wherein the Emperor being conquerour he seized upon the Dukecome of Wittenberg by reason whereof the Church there was in a sad condition yet Andreas with his wife remained in Stutgard and by Gods speciall providence was preserved in the middest of the Spanish Souldiers and yet preached constantly and faithfully all the while and so he continued till An. Christi 1548. at which time that accursed Inâ—eirm came forth which brought so much mischiefâ— to the Church of God Andreas amongst other godly Ministers that oppsed it was driven from his place yet it pleased God that the year after he was chosen to be Deacon at Tubing where by Catechising he did very much good Anno Christi 1550. Vlriâ—ke dying his son Christopher succeeding him in the Governâ—ment of Wittenberg and affected Andreas exceedingly and would needs have
the same year he was graced with the title of Doctor in Divinity in the presence of the Prince Elector and of his son Casimirus who being most desirous of propagating the truth of Christ injoyned him after his returne from Rhetia to the Palatinate to lay open the true doctrine concerâ—ing God and concerning the three Persons in the Diety and to confute the opinion and to overthrow the arguments of such adversaries as at that time opposed the Diety of Christ and of the holy Ghost in Poland and in Transilvania whereupon he wrote his treatises ful of learning and piety de natura Dei detribus Elohmi filio spiritu Sancto uno eodemque Iehovah In this Academie he professed Divinity ten years even unto the death of â—rederich the third Prince Elector afterwards he went unto Neostadt where he was entertained Divinity Lecturer in a School newly erected where he continued seven years after the death of Frederick the third he was called unto the Academy at Leyden in Holland then newly consecrated in the year 1578. and also unto Antwarp in Brabant in the year 1580. but because that School could not want him he was willed by the Prince to remain there where he continued untill such time as the School was translated unto Heidleberge and then by reason of his old age he was discharged of his office by Casimirus then Elector Palatine whereupon he went towards Heidleberg to visit some friends which he had there whom when he had seene and comforted in those perillous times he changed this life for a better and more durable in the year 1590. and in the 75. year of his age and lyes buried in S t. Peters Chappel at Heidelberg He was well read in the auncient Fathers and in the writings of the Philosophers he was of singular modesty he alwayas earnestly desired peace amongst the Churches and in his old age was afflicted with blindnesse His works are here inserted 1 Divine Miscillanies with the explication of the Augustâ—n Confession 2 His judgement of the Controversies about the Lords Supper 3 Of the Trinity bookes thirteen in two parts in the fiâ—st the Orthodox mystery of this Doctrine is proved and confirmed by Scripture in the latter the adversaries are confuted 4 A Câ—mpendium of the chiefe points of Christian Doctrine 5 A Perfect tretise of the sacred Scriptures 6 Of the Incarnation of Christ. 7 Of the Divine Nature and his Attributes 8. Of the Workes of God in six dayes 9â— Of Mans Redemption 10 A Commentary upon Hosea 11. A Commentary on the Ephesians 12. Colossian .. 13 Thessalonians 14 Iohn 15 Observations of Physicke 16 His answer to an Arrian He sought and found the truth and would not hide That light from others that did still abide Within his breast his soul was alwayes free T' advance the works of reall piety Uertue and gravity were both combin'd Within the ceture of his breast and shin'd With equall luster all that heard his voyce Were fil'd with raptures and would much rejoyce At his discourse for what his tongue exprest Alwayes proceeded from a reall breast Let his examples teach us how to stand Firmely obedient to our Gods command That at the last we may rejoyce and sing Praises with Zanchy to heav'ns glorious King The Life and Death of Anthony Sadeel who dyed Anno Christi 1591. ANthony Sadeel was born upon the confines of Savoy and France not far from Geneva Anno Christi 1534. and his father dying whilst he was young his mother brought him up in learning and sent him to Paris and having studyed a while there he went to Tholous where falling into the society of some godly students of the Law it pleased God that he left Popery and went from thence to Geneva where he was much holpen by Calvin and Beza afterwards being sent for home and some controversie arising about his inheritance he went to Paris and there joyned himselfe with the private Congregation of the Protestants there the Pastor Collongius called the young students that were of that congregation together perswaded them to apply themselves to the study of Divinity which afterwards turned to the great good of the French Churches and amongst others Sadeel faithfully promised to apply him self therto having profited much in those studyes being scarce twenty years old he was by the approbation of the whole Church chosen one of the Pastors the year after fell out that horrid violence offered to the Church at Paris when they were met together to hear the word and receive the Sacrament where above one hundred and fifty of them were laid hold of and cast into Prison but by a miracle of Gods mercy the Pastors escaped the year after Sadeel was delivered from a great danger for at midnight many Apparitors brake into his house searched every corner and at last brake into his chamber seized on his books and papers crying out they were Hereticall and so laid hold upon him and carryed him to Prison But it pleased God that Antony of Burbon King of Navar who knew him and had often heard him hearing of his imprisonment sent to the officers to release him as being one of his train and when they refused to doe it he went himselfe to the Prison complaining of the wrong that was don him by imprisoning one that belonged to him being neither a murtherer nor thief and withall bad Sadeel follow him and so tooke him away with him whereupon the day after he publickly before the King gave thanks to God for his deliverance expounding the 124 Psalm then it being judged the safest for him to absent himselfe for a while he went to viâ—it the Churches in other parts of the Kingdome and at Aurelia he continued some moneths Preaching to many Citizens and students in the night time to their great advantage then he returned to Paris againe where a Synod of Ministers and Elders the first that was there were assembled to draw up a confession of their Faith which afterwards was presented to the King by the Admirall Coligny But the King shortly after dying the Queen mother and the Guises drew all the Government of the Kingdom into their hands and raised a great persecution against the Church drawing many of all ranks to Prisons and punishment yet Sadeel intermitted not his office but was wholly imployed in Preaching comforting confirming the weak c. till the danger encreasing it was thought fit that the care of the Church should be committed to one Macradus a man lesse known and that Sadeel should retire himselfe and so he went into severall parts of the Kingdome and therâ—by much propagated the true faith The year after the persecution not being so violent at Papis Sadeel could not refraine from going to his flocke which he loved so dearly In the year 1561. he fell sicke of a quartan Ague and by the advice of his Physitians and friends he was perswaded to goe into his owne Countrey yet neither there did he
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
after Prince Casâ—â—mire dyed which much turned his griefe but Frederick the fourth being now come to hiâ— age was admitted into the number of the Electors â—nd was very carefull of the good both of the Chuâ—â—â— University An. Christi 1594. Tossan was choosen Rector of the University of Heidleberg and the year after there brake out a grievous Pestilence in that City which drove away the students but Tossan remained Preaching comfortably to his people and expounding the Penitentiall Psalmes to those few students that yet remained Anno Christi 1601. he bâ—ing grown very old and infirm laid down his Professors place though the University much opposed it and earnestly sollicited him to retain it still bâ—â— God purposed to give him a better rest after all his labors and â—orrowes for having in his Lectures expounded the booke of Iob to the end of the 31. Chapter he concluded with those words The words of Iob are ended Presently after falling sick he comforted himself with these texts of Scripture I have fought the good fight of Faith c. Bee thou faithfull unto the death and I will give thee the Crown of life Wee have a City not made with hands eternall in the heavens and many other such like he also made his Wâ—ll and set down therein a good confession of his Faith and so departed quietly in the Lord Anno Christi 1602. and of his age sixty one He was a very holy man exemplary in his life had an excellent witâ— strong memory eloquent â—n speech was very charitable and cheaâ—full in his conversation and kept correspondence with all the choycest Dâ—â—vines in those times Germane Tossanus doth deserve likewise That we his honoured name should memorize Who notwithstand all th' afflictions great Which furious faithlesse Popish Foes did threat And prosecute him with from place to place And him and his dear wife with terrours chace In danger oft of death yet mightily The Lord preserv'd them from Romes cruelty He was a learned and laborious Preacher And alwayes 'gainst Romes errors a Truth teacherâ— Eloquent witty holy humble wise And now his soul blest Heaven â—eateâ—â—es The Life and Death of William Perkins IF the Mountainâ— of â—ilboahâ— 2 Samuâ—l 1. were condâ—mned and cursed by King David that nâ— dew nor râ—in should fall â—pon them because valiant Saul and piouâ— Ionathan were there unhappily slain then by rules of opposition such places deserve to be praised and blessed where godly men have had their happy Nativity Amongst which let Mâ—rston in Warwickeshire com in for his just share of commendation where Master William Perkiâ—s was born and brâ—d in his infancy 2. How he passed his childhood is â— mattâ—r befoâ—â— daâ—â—d in the Register of my Intilligence whereof I can receivâ— no instructions Onely I dare be bold to conclude that with Saint Paul 1. Cor. 13. 11. When he was a childe he spake 〈◊〉 a childe he understood as a childe he thought as a childe whose infancy as he with simplicity so we passe it over with silence 3. But no sooner 〈◊〉 he admitted 〈◊〉 Christs Colledge in Cambridge but quiâ—â—ly the wilde firâ— of his youth began to break out An age which one may termâ—â—he Midsommer Moone and dog-dayes of mans life It is not certaine whether his owne disposition or the bad company of others chiefly betrayed him to thesâ— extravagancies Sure it is he tooke such wild libâ—â—â—â—es to himselfe 〈◊〉 cost him many a sigh in his reduced â—geâ— Probably 〈…〉 Providence permitted him to ruâ— himselfe with the prodigall Son out of breath that so he might be the better enabled experimentally to reprâ—â—â— others of their vanity 〈◊〉 simpathizing with their sad condition and be th◠〈…〉 skil'd how to comfort and counsell them on their â—â—pentance Why should Godâ— arme which afterwards grâ—â—â—ously overtook Master Perkins be too short to reach others in the same condition 4. When firâ—◠〈…〉 mucâ—â—ddicted to the study of naturall Magicke digging so deepe in natures mine to know the hidden causes and sacred quallities of things that some conceive that he bordered on Hell it â—â—â—fe in his curiosity Beginning to be a practitioner in that black Art the blacknesse did not affright him but name of Art lured him to admit himselfe as â—â—â—dent thereof Howeveâ— herein we afford no certaine beliefe the rather because other mens ignorance might cast this aspersion upon him Who knowes not that many things as pretty as strangâ— may really be effected by a skilfull hand lawfull and laudable meanes which some out of a charitable errour will interpret a Miracle and others out of uncharitable ignorance will nickname Sorcery A very Load-stone in some Scholars hand before a silly Townsmans eye is enough to make the former a Conjurer 5. The happy houre was now come wherein the stragling sheep was brought home to the fold and his vanity and mildnesse corrected into temperance and gravity It is certainly known and beleeved that if Quick-silver could be fired which all confesse difficult and most conclude impossible it would amount to an infinite treasure so when the roving parts the giddy and unstable conceits of this young Scholar began to be setled his extravagant studyes to be confined and centered to Divinity in a very short time he arrived at an incredable improvement 6. He began first to preach to the prisoners in Cambridge Castle being then himselfe Fellow of Christ Colledge Here he truely preached Christs precepts Freely you have received freely give And with Saint Paul made the Gospell of Christ of no expence yea he followed Christs example to preach deliverance to the Captives whose bodies were in a prison and souls in a dungeon such generally their ignorant and desperate condition Here though free himselfe he begot sons to God in fetters Many an Onesimus in bonds was converted to Christ Mock not at this good mans meane imployment neither terme him with such as sit in the seate of the scornfull the Goale-birds Chaplaine But know nothing is base which in it selfe is lawfull and done in order to the glory of God yea better it is to be a true preacher in a prison then a flatterer in a Princes pallace 7. But so great a star could not move alwayes in so small a sphear His merits promoted him to a Cangregation of greater credit in the Town of Cambridge where he was most constant in preaching Wherein as no man did with more vehemency remove sin so none either with more passionate affection bemone the condition of obstinate siners or with sounder judgment give them directions for their future amendment Luther did observe that Thunder without rain doth more harme then good wherof he maks this application that Ministers who are alwaies threatning of legall terrors to offenders except also they seasonably drop the dew of direction giving them orders and instructions to better their estates are noâ— wise Master builders but pluck downe and build nothing up againe Whereas Master Perkins so cunningly interweaved terrours
had cast out concerning the nature of his disease and how they were confuted by Doctor Chennell his Physitian Master White his Apothecary and added withall that it was likely they might spreaâ— such a brute of him as they had of Beza that he recanted upon his death bed and therefore that it was earnestly desired by many of his deare friends in the University that he would give some testimony of his constancy in the truth before his departure at this he shookee his head and seemed much to be grieved because his speâ—ch was taken from him which the Vicechancellor perceiving with teares in his eyes besought him that he would give him leave to set downe a forme in writing to which if he liked it God might enable him to set his hand and thereby give satisfaction to all his friends which Doctor Reynolds expressed by sighes that he approved of the Vicechancellors advising with the rest of us there present wrote a few lines to this effect These are to testifie to all the world that I dye in the profession of that faith which I have taught all my life both in my Preaching and in my Writings with an assured hope of my salvation onely by the merits of Christ my saviour this forme being â—wise read unto him he seriously pondered every Word and after clapt his hand upon his nose whereby his servant Iohn Duhurst who attended him in his sicknesse told us that he desired a paire of spectacles which aâ—ter they were reached unto him and he had put them on he tooke the pen out of Doctor Aeries hand and subscribed his name not onely in legible but in very faire caracters at which we all admired the more because he had diverse times that morning assayed to write but could not through extreame weaknesse write one word or syllable in a legible hand whether the earnest intention of his minde at this time strengthned his hand or God extraordinarily assisted him I leave it to the judgement of all that are truely religious and take such things to heart The morrow after death seazing upon all parts of his body he expressed by signes that he would have the passing bell tole for him and as his friends runing in compassed his bâ—d all about and every one cast in his shot which was some choyce and comfortable text of holy Scripture he lifting up one of his hands which presently fell downe and stirâ—d no more and after his lifting up his eyes to heaven and fixing them there immovable without any trouble or signe of paine without so much as any sigh or groan he breathed out his soule into the hands of his redeemer the Thursday after Ascenâ—ion day betweene eleven and twelve of the clock the twenty one of May 1607. on Munday following he wâ—â— honorably interred the Vice-chancellor in close mourning the Noble mens sons heads of Celledges and Hals with all their companies in Academicall habits and the Mayor and Aldermen in their Scarlet gownes attending the Funerall the corps brought out of Corpus Christi Colledge was first carried to Saint Maries where a funerall Sermon was made by Doctor Aâ—rie then Vice-chancellour after the Sermon ended the body being removed to the Chancell M r. Isackâ— Wake then the University Oratour after Lord Embassador in Venice and France successively honoured the dead with â— short but elegant Panegyrick which followes after this 〈◊〉 body was carried back to the Colledge and their a secoâ—d Funerall Oration appointed to be made in the Chappâ—ll neare his grave but the Chappell being not capable of the fourth part of the Funerall troope a Desque was set up and covered with mourning in the quadrangle and there a briefe History of his life with the manner of his death sâ—t forth by Daniel Featley then fellow and deane of Arts in â—hat Colledge After his buriall a Monument and Statue in the Chappell was erected for him by Doctor Spencer his successour with an inscription in golden letterâ— as followeth Virtuti Sacrum JO. RAINOLâ—â— S. Theâ—l D. erudâ—tione Piâ—taâ—e Integritate incomparabili hujus Coll. Pes. qui obiâ—t Mai 21 0. Anno 1607 0. aetaâ— suae 5â— 0. JO. SPENâ—ER audâ—torâ— successor virtutum sanctitatis admirator b.m. amoris erâ—o posuit But these are darke and divine caracters in respect of those wherewith his fame is Printed in his Workes whereof some are come to light others may in good time His Printed Workes are these 1 Two Orations Printed in the year 1576. 2 His six Theses Printed in the year 1579. 3 His conference with Heart Prinâ—ed in English 1585. and afterwards translated into Latine by Henry Pary Bishop of Gloster and Printed by command of Archbishop Bancroft 1610. 4 De Romanae ecclesiae Idololatria Printed in the year 1596. 5. An Apologie of his Theses 1602. 6 Since his death certaine Epistles betweene him Doctor Gâ—gâ—r and Alberiâ—us Gentius concerning Stage playes 7 A Treatise of divorce amd marrying againe in case of adultery 8 A câ—nsure of the Apochrypha in two Tâ—mâ—s containâ—ng in them 250. of his Lectures in the Divinity Schooles 9 Cerâ—aine Epistles and Orations of his in Latine set forth by Henry Jackson 10 His Lectures upon Obediah in English with a Sermon of thanksgiving for the Queens Majesties deliverance from a dangerous treason set forth by Mr. Hinde His Works which remaine in Manuscript never yet printed areâ— 11 A commenâ—ary in Latine upon Aristotles three bookâ—s of Rheâ—oricke 12 The materials and first draught of six bookes de Idololatria Romanae ecclâ—siae 13 Sermons upon Aggi the Prophet Preached in Oxford 14 His learned answer to Sanders de scismate Anglicano in defence of our Reformation the regall supremacy and the booke of Ordination of Bishops Priests and Deacons 15 A defence of the English liturgie against Robert Browne the father of â—he separatists his scismaticall booke 16 A Treatise of the beginning and progesse of Popish errours and that for the first three hundred yeares after Christ Bishops ruled their owne diocesse without subjection to the Pope 17 A Treatise of Daniel Weekes against Hugh Braughton dedicated to Archbishop Whitgift A Funerall Oration delivered in St. MARIES Church in Oxon at the sad Interment of Doctor Iohn Reynols by Master Isacke Wake the University Orator May 25. 1607. Translated out of Latine HOw fraile and unconstant the condition of our life is and how fitly resembled to a dreame or a tale I could wish most honoured Doctors the rest of the sad troope all the children of our mother the University had it so pleased the highest wee might have learned by any other experiment rather then this sad spectacle doubtlesse we have seene but too many evidences of the decrepit age of the warld now drooping to ruine as the distemper of the Heavens the malignity of the Stars the boysterous gusts of the Windes the deluges of water from the Clouds the foming billoes of the Sea swelling with unheard of fury which sad presages terrifie
serious meditation of the reformation of Religion in the Churches he desired to conforme the Citizens of Hassia unto the example of the Primitive Church he desired to remove many reliques of superstition out of the Church he desired to establish that Ecclesiasticall discipline which was ready to fall unto the great detriment of the Church In the midst of these heavenly cogitations it pleased the Lord to send his messenger for him which he well perceiving by the continuall increasing of his paines he desired to have the Communion administred unto him afterwards he told his wife what he would have done after his death after that he had instructed his children how they should carry themselves towards God and how towards their mother and how towardâ— men and his yongest son standing amongst them hâ— laid his hand on his head uttering these Words discemi fili mandata domini ipse enaâ—riet te Keepe the commandaments of the Lord my son and he will provide for thee then â—urning himselfe to those who were present he declareâ— unto them that he dyed in that faith which he had constantly professed so many yeares in that City which words being spoken he fell asleepe and was buried at Marpurge in the year our Lord 1564. and in the 53. year of his life All things which are to be required in a Teacher are to be found in this Gerardus first he was learned and his learning was also joyned with experience secondly he had an excellent faculty and method of teaching thirdly he was laborious in his function fourthly he was gravâ— fiftly of an unspotted life and conversationâ— he was modest patient and constant all which sufficiently declare that he was set apart by the Lord for the converting of many souls unto Christ. His Works which he left unto the world as a rich legacy are here set downe 1 A Commentary on the twentieth Psalme 2 On the twelft Psalme 3 A method for a Preacher 4 On the Romans 5 Of reading and meditating the Scriptures 6. Method of Theologie 7 Theologicall Topicks 8 Catechisme Other Works in two Tomes First 1 Of the study of the Scripture 2 Of the institution of Colledges 3 A triall of students 4 Of Catechising 5 Of justification by faith 6 Of Benificence to the poor 7 Of Feasts Tome 2. 1 Of the duty of hearers 2 Of Providence 3 Of Selfe-examination 4 Of the marriage of Ministers 5 Of the Sacraments 6 Notes upon Aristotles Ethicks 7 Physicks 8 Logicke 9 Rhetoricke 10 Arithmaticke 11 Gromaticke 12 Cosmographik 13 Optics 14 Astronomy Set forth after his death 1 Annotations of Isaiah 2 Commentaries on the Galathians 3 Ephesians 4 Philippians 5 Colossians 6 Thessalonians 7 Timothy 8 Titus 9 Philemon 10 Iude. 11 Hebrewes You that desire to lead a life Free from th'incumbrances of strife Draw neare and with a carefull â—row Let brave Gerarduâ— teach you how Reader observe and thou shalt finde By trauell he inrtch'd his minde His active heart was alwayes free To Propagate true piety He alwayes studied to displace Errours from the Churches face He gain'd no envy but from those That were Religions chiefest foâ—â— He would perswade intreat advise His Fellow-preachers to dispise Those fruits of Idlenesse which he defy'd Thus liv'd Gerarduâ— thus Gerardus dy'd ARETIVS BENEDICTVS The Life and Death of Aretius Benedictus AS the Lord hath never been wanting unto his Church both in these and in forraine parts in the stirring up of painfull and â—ealous Watch-men for the Propagating of his truth and for the enlightning of the understanding of those whom he had elected unto salvation in Jesus Christ so he hath not been deficient in procuring the affection of eminent persons towards the same Professors by whose meanes they have been defended and sheltered against the inviterate malice both of the Divell and his members Malicious enemies unto the Word of truth amonst whom the Senate of Berna may justly receive worthy Commendations for the constant love shewed unto the zealous professors of the truth it being indeed the maine pillar which doth support the welfare of a Common-wealth and which doth draw downe a blessing from heaven upon their intended designes In this â—amous City was Benedictus Aretius borne a faithfull zealous professors of the truth of Christ being beautified with excellent endowments both of learning and piety which did sufficiently testifie that he was set apart by the Lord for the winning of many unto Christ. He spent his youth in his owne Country amongst the Switzers wherein he was instructed and trained up in the knowledge of the Arts but ayming at a greater perfection labouring â—or a sounder judgement in the works writings of other learned and Orthodox men he left his Country for a season and went unto Marpurg where by reason of his eminent gifts and qualities he gained the love of many learned Schollers and was designed and oppointed to read the Logick Lecture in the same place which after he had performed for the space of some years to the great profit of his Auditors to the never dying fame of himselfe and to the generall applause of all the City having also attained in some measure to that perfection which he had formerly desired he returned again unto Berne where he was joyfully received and by a generall consent appointed to open the Scriptures and to instruct the inhabitants in the way of life in which exercise he observed such an edifying method both in his publick reading and Preaching that he drew great multitudes of people unto him who beholding his proceedings with great admiration with one consent praised the Lord for sending so learned and so painfull an instrument among them for the plantâ—ng of the truth in their hearts So excellent was his forme of teaching that many Divines came unto his Lectures not onely for the information of their judgements in matters of Controversies but also to learne his method of teaching which being obtained by some they proved excellent instruments in the Church for the converting of the lost sheepe of Israel and many would not in publicke make triall of their owne parts before they had continued for a season to be his Auditors His writings were greatly in request and desired greatly of all that either knew him or heard of him but especially his labours in Divinity one of his bookes called Eramen Theologicâ—m came to the Presse twelve times within the space of three years which doth declare the excellency and how usefull and beneficiall it was unto the Church in those times and in these dayes also it is a Worke fit to be perused of all such as doe intend the study of Divinity After that he had continued this constant course of teaching in the City of Berne for the space of many years to the great furtherance of the glory of God and benefit of his Church it pleased the Lord to take him unto himselfe and to Crowne him with a diâ—dem of everlasting glory
his death It is â—â—ported by f Orat. de vit Obit D. â—â—â—r Marâ—â—â— Iosias Simleâ—uâ— how that after Dâ—ctor Peter Martyr that famouâ— writer had published many of his Labours he began at the last â—b initio Bibliorum at the beginning of the Bible and after he had expounded the bookâ— of Genesis and Exodus bonam parâ—â—m Levitici and a good part of Liviticus prevented by the stroke of death he ended all his labourâ— So â—his his exact parâ—â—â—ed Dâ—ctâ—r Andrew Willâ—â— besides many other Works had written his sixfold Commentaâ—ieâ— upon the same books of Genesis and Exoduâ— and had made a good progresse in the like way upon Leviticus since fiâ—isâ—ed by â—nother here also God determined his travailâ— And leâ— me not omit this one thing it my poore judgement very remarkeable how God in his divine providence and gracious favour to him answered him in a solemne Vow which you may find expressed in a latine Epistle of his in words to this effect in English g Epist. Dâ—d Prefix before the second part of his second Book of Heâ—â—p upâ—on Exod. It is most honourable for a Souldier to dye fighting and for a Bishop or Pastor praying and if my mercifull God shall vouchsafe to grant me my request my earnest desire is that writing and commenting upon some part of the Scripture I might finish my dayes And accordingly God gave him his hearts desire and denyed him not the request of his lips Blessed is that Servant whom his Lord when he commeth shall find so doing Matth. 24.46 He departed this life December the fourth 1621. in the fifty nine yeare of his age of whom considering his strength and healthfull constitution varying a little the words of Virgil I may say Had not God said no He might have lived ten years or twenty more It pleased God who hath appointed to every man 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his owne proper and peculiar kinde of death and without whose Providence i Tert. li. 1. ad uxorem not a leafe falling from the ground so to dispose of this godly mans death that as a Pilgrim here on earth he must dye in an Inne In a journey from London homewards he was forced to take up his Lodging in Hodsdon a town in Hertfordshire having not farre from thence by k Cic. de Fat a fall from his horse his right leg broken It is sweetly said of Gregory Nâ—ssen l Dâ—â—â—nt Hierosol Wheresoever thou art whether in thine owne house or in an Inne God will come to thee if thou makest thy soule a fit lodging for him And that saying of Augustine may stop the mouth of every rash unchristian Censurer m Aug. epist. 122. God regardeth not in his servants after what manner they depart this life but what manner of men they are when they depart Here in this place he continued as Gods prisoner confined to hiâ— bed for nine dayâ—s together spending the most part of them in meditating upon the Song of Ezekiel when he had been sicke recorded by the Prophet Esay chap. 38. which heavenly contemplations were written from hiâ— mouth by a Sonne of his then attending upon him And upon two Sabbaths following within that time observing the people of the houâ—e upon pretence of waiting upon him to stay from Church hâ— called them together and gave them some concionatory exhortations both forenoon and afternoone and this with such a spirit as if had been no wayes sensible of his paine which putteth me in minde of that saying of Tertullian n Tertull. ad Mart. The leg feeles nothing in the nerves when the minde is as it were rapt in heaven Upon the tenth day after his hurt received o Martia l. 6 Epigr. 152. having over night supped cheerfully and reposed himselfe to rest early in the morning upon occasion of the toling of a Bell for one then at the poynt of death he suddenly awoke and with him his wife who lay in the same chamber by him he then tooke occasion to discourse with her touching the joyes of heaven and touching the Saints mutuall acknowledgement of one another in that blessed estateâ— which discourse ended he with his wife sang an Hymne composed by himselfe wherewith they usually every morning praised God for their rest the night past and prayed his blessing for the day succeeding Their spirits being thus raised they continued their melody and sang the 146. Psalme he sometime stopped a little and glossing upon the words applyed divers things therein unto himselfe and to his present condition And on the sudden his p Gennad Conc. de morâ— hour being now come fetching a deep sigh or groan he sunke downe in his bed but helpe comming in upon meanes used he seemed to raise up himselfe a little and then said Let me alone I shall doe well Lord Iesus and with that word he gave up â—he ghost Soon after his body was carryed by coach to hiâ— Towne of Barley and was in his Chancell solemnly interred with decent Funerall rites and with many teares and there lyeth covered with a faire Graven stone of Marble But his more durable monuments are these The Workâ— of Andrew Willet Doctor of Divinity in Latin and English Printed and unprinted Printed books in Latine 1 De animae natura viribuâ— 2 Sâ—cra emblemata 3 De Universali vocatione Judaeorum 4 De conciliis 5 De Universali gratia 6 De Antichristo 7 Epithalamium 8 Funebres Conciones 9 Apologiae serenissimi Regis Jac defensio In English 14 Synopsis Papismi in five bookes 16 Hexapla upon Genesis in two books 18 Hexapla upon Exodus in two books 20 An Harmony upon the first and second bookes of Samuel 21 Hexapla upon Daniel 22 Hexapla upon the Epistle to the Romans 23 Vpon the twenty two Psalme 24 Vpon the sevenâ—eenth of Iohn 25 Vpon the Epistle of Iude. 26 Teâ—rastylon Papismi 27 A Catalogue of good workes 28 Limbomastix 29 Loedoremastiâ— 30 Epithalamium in English 31 Funerall Sermons in English 32 An English Catechisme 33 A Retection 34 An Antilâ—gy 35 Hexapla upon Leviâ—icus Not Printed In Latine 36 Defensio Aristotelis â— contra Tempellum 37 Catechismus Latinus 38 Gâ—mitus Columbae ceu Comment in Jnam 39 Sâ—cri paralleli 40 Haeptaphonon 41 Scala Coeli 42 Antithesis Pontificiae Evangelicae Doctrinae 43 Variae lectioneâ— in Penâ—aâ—euchion In English 44 An exposâ—â—on upon Genesis 45 Marginall Annotations upon the Petateuch 46 The Doctrine of the Christian Sabbath Abi tu fac similiter See here a true Nathaniel in whose bresâ— A carefull conscience kept her lasting feast Whose simple heart could never lodge a guile In a soft word nor malice in a smile He was a faithfull labourer whose pains Was pleasure and an others good his gaines The height of whose ambition was to growâ— More ripe in knowledge to make others know Whose Lamp was ever shining never hid And when his tongue preacht
Here may we not without much wrong deny To this Erpenius honoured memory Who was most famous in his generation A man of exc'llent parts to admiration And in the Orientall tongues so rare That few or none with him deserv'd compare For th'Arabick and Hebrew tongues likewise The Kings of France and Spain did him so prize Yea England Holland Germany Italy Proffer'd great summes t' enjoy his company And rare eudowments deep experience At forty years of age death took him hence The Life and Death of Abraham Scultetuâ— who dyed Anno Christi 1624. ABraham Scultetus was born at Grunberge 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 Vraâ—islavia where he for had his fellow-students Pitiscus Polanus Pelargus men who after proved eminent in the Church of God Having studyed there sometime he went thence to Freistade to hear Melancthon Bucolzer and some others But his active spirit could not long be continued within the bounds of his owne Couny and therefore being assisted by the bounty of a Noble Knight he went to Wittenberg and from thence to Dessavia to acquaint himselfe with Peter Martyr and Casper Pucer Anno Christi 1590. he went to Hiedleberg where he heard Daniel Tossan and Francis Iunius there also he read Lectures of Logick Oratory and Astronomy to diverse young Noblemen and the year after Commenced Master of Arts then he betook himselfe to the study of Divinity thereby to fit himselfe for the Ministery which from his childhood he had devoted himselfe to and Preaching before the Elector Palatinâ— he so flowed with elâ—quencâ— and 〈◊〉 that the Prince and all his Courtiers were 〈◊〉 delightâ—d in himâ— which caused the Elâ—â—toâ— to mâ—kâ— hiâ— visitor both of the Schoolâ—â—nd Churches Yea many other Princes made use of his help in reforming their Churches in Iuliâ—rs Brandenburg and Hanovia he was also sent to the Synod of Dort Anno Christi 1612. the Prince Elector Palatine took him into England with him where he was much esteemed respected by King Iames and other learned men at his returne to Hiedleberg 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 oveâ— all 〈…〉 Hiedleberg and travelled 〈…〉 met with many affliction◠〈…〉 long tossed up and down in 〈…〉 the Lord at last provided him a quiet 〈…〉 â—here he was choâ—sen a Preacher 〈…〉 orn out wiâ—h travels 〈…〉 Ministery he quietly 〈…〉 1624. and of his age 58. What admiâ—able endowments he had his Works do sufficiently declare especially his Medulla Patrum which is so much esteemâ—d by learned men Most worthy also is Scultetus grave The Palme and prize of praise and fame to have Wâ—â—â—â—r â—is 〈◊〉 wit â—nd worthâ— His learned labours rare in print put forth Chiefly Medulla Patrum that choyce piece Preferred far to Jasons golden fleece By all the learned Had in high request For 's eloquence and diligence exprest By our King Jamâ—s and other Princes great Who with most high applause obtain'd the seat In Hiedlebergâ— brâ—ve University Of the Professour there and worthily Made Doctor of Divinity At last Having much trouble with his comforts past At Embdâ—n God him gave a quiet Statioâ— And there by death crown'd him with heav'ns salvation Robert Bolton Batchelour in diuinity minister of Gods word att Broughton in Northamton shire The Life and Death of Robert Bolton RObert Bolton was born at Blackborn in Lancashire Anno Christi 1572. his Parents finding in him a great promptnesse 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 Randaâ—'s Pupil afterwards a famous Preacher there in a short time being well grounded before and industrious he beâ—ame an excellent Logician and Phylosopher at which time his father dying and his meanes failing he took excessive pains and wanting books 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 intolerable 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 Brasen-nose Colledge the Fellowships there belonged to Lancashire and Cheshire men yet for want of acquaintance he stayed long without a Fellowship which made him to languish through want but his deserts being known Doctor Bret and some others together with some small stipends he had for his Lectures in that House supported him till he gat a Fellowship about the thirtieth year of his Age then also he Commenced M r. of Arts and being chosen Lecturer he performed it with such exactness that he grew very famous his Disputations in the University were performed with such acutenesse of wit and profound learning that he was chosen by the Vice chancellor at King Iames his first coming to the University to be one of the Disputants before him and to read naturall Phyloâ—sophy in the Publick Sâ—hools he was also well studyed in Metaphysicks Mathamaticks and Schoolâ—Divinity yet all this while he had nothing in him for Religion he loved Stage-playes Cards Dice was a horrible swearer Sabbathâ—breaker and boon-companion he neither loved goodnesse nor good men He hearing the fame of Master Perkins went to Cambridge at a Commencement that he might hear him Preach and hâ—ving heard him said That he was a barren empty fellow and a passing meane Scholar but when God changed his heart he changed his tune and said That Master Perkins was aâ— learned and godly a Divine aâ— our Church hath in many years enjoyed in so young a man He had familiar acquaintance with one Master Anderton a good scholer his Country man and formerly his Schoolfellow but a strong Papist yea a Priest he knowing Master Boulton's good parts and oâ—tward wants took that advantage to perswadeâ— him to go over with him to the English Seminary at Rome where he should be furnished with all necessaries and have gold enough this motion he excepted of and a day and place was appointed in Lanâ—ashire to take shipping from thence and be gone Thither Master Bolton repaired at the time prefixed but Anderton came not whereby escaping that snare he returned to Oxford where he fell into acquaintance with Master Peacock a learned and godly man whereby it pleased God to bring him to repentance but by â—uch a way as the Lord seldome useth but upon such strong vessels as he intendeth for strong encounters and rare employments for the Lord ran upon him as a Giant taking him by the neck and shaking him to pâ—eces as he did Iob beating him to the ground as he did Paul by laying before