Catalogum Consulum Romanorum alia opuscula Item de consolatione decumbentium De idea boni Pastoris De concionibus Funebribus M. CHEMNICIVS The Life of Martin Chemnisius who died A no Christi 1586. MArtin Chemnisius was born at Britza in Old March Anno Christi 1522 of honest but mean Parents so that his father being poor he met with many impediments to discourage and hinder him in Learning yet bearing a great love to it by his exceeding industry he overcame all difficulties and after some progresse at home he went to Magdeburg where he studied the Tongues and Arts. And from thence to Frankfurt upon Oder where he studied Philosophy under his Kinsman George Sabinâ and after hee had spent some time there he went to Wittenberg where he prosecuted his former studies together with the Mathematicks under Melancthou and other Professors From thence he went to Sabinum in Borussia where he taught School and commenced Master of Arts and Anno Christi 1552 he was made the Princes Library-keeper and had a competent subsistence in the Court. At that time he wholly applied himself to the study of Divinity By reason of his knowledge and skill in the Mathematicks and Astronomy he was very dear to the Duke of Borussia and for the same cause John Marquesse of Brandenburg favoured him very much Yea by his modest and sincere carriage hee procured much favour from the Courtiers Anno Christi 1555 Chemnistus being desirous after three years stay in the Court to return to the Universities for the perfecting of his studies was rewarded by Prince Albert with ample Letters of commendation and so dismissed After which he went again to Wittenberg where he sojourned with Melancthon and was imployed by him publickly to read Common places From thence after a while he was sent to Brunople in Saxonie by the Senate and made Pastor which place he discharged with singular fidelity and approbation for the space of thirty years partly as Pastor and partly as Superintendent and commenced Doctor in Divinity at Rostoch serving the Church with great faithfulness and commendations both by preaching and reading Lectures Many Princes and Commonwealths made use of his advice and assistance in Ecclesiastical affairs He took great pains in asserting the Truth against the adversaries of it as his excellent Exameâ of the Tridentine Council shews At last being worn out with study writing preaching c. he resigned up his spirit unto God Anno Christi 1586 and of his age 63. He is said by one to be Philosophus summus Theologus profundissimus neque veritatis bonarumque artium studio neque laude officit facile cuiquam secundus His Workes are these De origine Jesuitarum Theologiae Jesuitarum praecipua capita Explicatio Doctrinae de duabus in Christo naturis Fundamenta sanae Doctrinae Enchiridion de praecipuis caelestis Doctrinae capitibus De peccato Origin contra Manichaeos Examen decretorum Concilii Tridentini Concio de Baptismo Harmonia Evangelica The Life of Rodolphus Gualter who died Anno Christi 1586. ROdolphus Gualter was born in Zurick An. Christi 1519. When he first applyed his mind to the study of humane Arts and Tongue hee had such an happy wit that he was inferiour to none of his fellows in Poetry and Oratory and being afterwards admitted into the University he became famous first for his knowledge in the Arts and afterwards of Divinity He was chosen Pastor in that City where first he drew his vitall breath neither were which chose him deceived in their expectation for he proved an admirable instrument of Gods glory and their good discharging his place with fingular industry diligence and fidelity not onely by his frequent publick preaching but by his learned private writings as his Homilies upon much of the Old and New Testament do sufficiently declare And having governed and sed that Church for above forty years together he died in a good old age Anno Christi 1586 and of his Life seventie four Scripsit Homilias in Johannis Epistolas In canâcum Zachariae De Nativitate pueritia educatione Domini De servitnte peccati libertate fidelium De origine prastantia authoritate S. Scripturae In 12 Prophetas minores In Maâthaum Marcum Lucam Johannem Acta Apostol Epist. ad Romanes ad Corinthios ad Galatas In Esaiam With many other Works set down by Verheiden The Life of Ludovicus Lavater who died A no Christi 1586. LUdovicus Lavator was born in Zurick a famous City of the Helvetians and having drunk in the first Rudiments of Learning became famous by his diligence in the Schooles and his excellent wit insomuch as Bullinger gave his daughter in marriage to him And though a Prophet be not without honour but in his own country yet was he chosen a Pastor in that City and made a Lecturer in the Schooles and hee taught and illustrated both faithfully by his Ministry and Writings He published manys his Father-in-law Bullingers Works And having spent himelf in the Work of the Lord and service of his Church he quietly resigned up his spirit into the hands of his heavenly Father Anno Christi 1586. He wrote Commentaries upon Joshuah both books of the Chronicles Ruth Ester Job Proverbs and Ezekiel Besides his Historia de ortu progressu controversiae Sacramentariae Tractatus de spectris lemuribus fragoribus variisque praesagitionibus quae plerumque obitum hominum magnas clades praecedunt With divers others mentioned in particular by Verheiden GAS. OLEVIAN The Life of Gaspar Olevian who died A no Christi 1587. GAspar Olevian was born in Trevir Anno Christi 1536. His Fathers name was Gerhard a Baker in that City and Master of his Company but this Gasper was carefully brought up in learning by his Grandfather who set him to severall Schooles in that City and at thirteen years old hee was sent to Paris to study the Civill Law from thence also hee went to the Universities of Orleance and Biturg where hee heard the most famous Lawyers of those times He joyned himself also to the Congregation of Protestants which met privately together in both those Cities In Biturg he was admitted into the Order of Lawyers after the solemn manner of the University being made Doctor Anno Christi 1557. About which time there studyed in that Universitie under Nicholas Judex the young Prince Palatine sonne to Frederick the third afterwards Elector And Olevian being very intimate with Judex went one day after dinner to the River Lieg hard by the City together with him and the young Prince and when they came thither they found some young Noble Germans that were students there going into a boat who desired the Prince and his Tutor to goe over the River with them But Olevian perceiving that they had drunk too freely diswaded them from venturing themselves amongst
sent his Spirits to kill Ambrose but they returned answer that God had hedged him in as he did Job Another came with a sword to his bedside to have killed him but he could not stir his hand till repenting he was by the prayer of Ambrose restored to the use of his hands again When Eugenius was Emperour Flavianus the Praefect desired leave of him to build the Altar of Victory at Millain which Ambrose hearing of departed from thence to Bononia but after a while Eugenius and Flavianus going to war against Theodosius he returned to Millain again But before they went they sent word that when they returned Conquerours they would make the great Church in Millain a Stable for Horses but God prevented them for Eugenius was slain by his own Souldiers and Theodosius got the victory This Ambrose was very abstinent full of watchings and prayer diligent in writing never dining but on the Sabbaths he was very couragious for the Truth and merciful to the Poor and Captives he would weep when he heard of the death of any godly Minister Falling sick he appointed Simplicianus a godly old man to succeed him and continuing instant in Prayer he departed this life the third year after Theodosius Anno Christi 397. He used to say When gold is offered to thee thou usest not to say I will come again to morrow and take it but art glad of present possession But Salvation being profered to our Souls few men haste to embrace it And again It is not so much to be enquired how much thou givest as with what heart It 's not liberality when thou takest by oppression from one and givest it to another And again A clear Conscience should not regard slanderous speeches nor think that they have more power to condemn him then his own Conscience hath to clear him And again Death is the burial of all vices for it is the progress and accomplishment of the full mortification of all our Earthly members wherein that filthy flux of sin is dryed up in an instant It is a voluntary sacrificing of the whole man Soul and Body to the Lord the greatest and highest service we can do him on Earth His works are printed in five Tomes The Life of Gregory Nissen who flourished Anno Christi 480. GRegory was sirnamed Nissenus from the City whereof he was Bishop He was born in Cappadocia in the fourth age after Christ. His Fathers name was Basil his Mothers Emmelia His Brothers names were Basil Bishop of Caesarea and Peter Bishop of Sebastia He had a Sister called Macrina From his childhood he was much affected with the study of Rhetorick wherein he grew as famous as any of the ancient Fathers He affected not that solitary life which his Brother Basil did but imployed himself in instructing others First he was a Professor in a School of Rhetorick Afterwards he became a Reader of Divinity in the Church Yet after a while returning to his Rhetorick School again he was reduced to his former work of reading Divinity by Gregory Nazianzen Suidas saith that he was Vir insignis omnique Doctrina exuberans A famous man abounding with all manner of Learning Neither was he less signal for his Piety and Holiness of Life as Nicephorus testifies For his great worth he was preferred to the Bishoprick of Nyssa a chief City in Cappadocia He was banished by the Arian Emperour Valence and from the seventh to the fifteenth year of his Reign he wandred up and down yet still went to such places where the necessity of the Church required his presence and where he might do most good In which godly imployment he was much encouraged by Gregory Nazianzen He lived under Constantius Julian Jovian Valentinian and Valence Gratian and Theodosius the Great and in his time together with Gregory Nazianzen was President in the Universal Council of Constontiple against the Macedonian Hereticks Anno Christi 492. When Hierom wrote his Catalogue of Illustrious men he was alive but the year of his death is not expressed by any Author He was admired for his Eloquence and one calleth him pervigilem Antistitem the faithful and vigilant Prelate He used to read the Scriptures with all diligence reverence and strictness having a special regard to the genuine sense of them He was a strong opposer of Eunomius his Heresie By the Oecumenical Council of Constantinople he was appointed as a man most fit to visit the Churches planted in Arabia After the decease of his brother Basil he finished his Commentaries which he had left imperfect upon the Six Days Works He also preached at Constantinople a Funeral Sermon upon the death of Miletius Bishop of Antioch He wrote an admirable book against Eunomius and another no less famous of the Creation of Man besides many Excellent Sermons which he made But the Treatise Of the Soul which he wrote to his sister Macrina deserves the praise of Learned men in all succeeding Ages Many things are fathered upon him but judicious Scultetus owneth only these Exegetica Scripta in Ecclesiasten In Cantica Canticorum In Psalmos De Occursu Domini De Deo Trinitate De Creatione De Providentia De Christo ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã De Baptismo De cultus Dei in genere De cultu Dei in specie viz. De Peregrinatione ad loca sancta De Oratione De Pauperum Amore. De Beatitudinibus De Fornicatione fugienda De iis qui aegrè ferunt reprehensiones De iis qui temerè alios damnant De Vsurariis Funebres Orationes sive de morte piorum De Resurrectione mortuorum De Theologia Vniversa in Oratione Catechetica magna He compared the Vsurer to a man giving water to one in a Burning-Feaver which doth him no good but a great deal of mischief so the Vsurer though he seem for the present to relieve his brothers want yet afterwards he doth greatly torment him He gave this Character of an Vsurer He loves no labour but a sedentary life the Pen is his plough Parchment his Field Ink his Seed Time is the Rain to ripen his greedy Desires his Sickle is calling in of Forfeitures his House the Barn where he winnows the Fortunes of his Clients He follows his Debtors as Eagles and Vultures do Armies to Prey upon the dead Corps And again Men come to Vsurers as Birds to an heap of Corn they desire the Corn but are destroyed in the Nets And again There is no excuse for hard-heartedness for where can a rich man cast his eyes but he may behold objects of his charity c. He dyed under Valentinian and Valence The Life of Theodoret who flourished Anno Christi 420. THeodoret Bishop of Cyrus was born at Antioch of Noble and Religious Parents His Mother before she had him was much grieved in minde because she was barren and without hope of issue to inherit
he profited exceedingly so that he attained to the knowledg of all the Liberal Sciences After which going to Jerusalem he studied the Scripture and Divinity where he was made a Presbyter Preached diligently and much propagated the Faith by his Sermons and Writings A great opposer of Hereticks he was He flourished under Leo and dyed in peace He was a very Eloquent man and second to none of that Age in Learning He wrote three Books of Parallels of the Sacred Scriptures four Books of the Orthodox Faith besides many other Works which are printed at Paris Anno Christi 1619. The Life of Theophylact who flourished Anno Christi 880. THeophylact born in Constantinople and afterwards Archbishop of the same was much imployed in visiting and reforming the Churches in Bulgarie and when he had proved himself a painful laborer in the dangerous persecutions there he yielded up his spirit to his Maker He used to say Be not troubled if this man lives in tranquillity and thou in tribulation God will have it so he puts thee into the combat thou must therefore sweat hard before thou com'st off with the victory whereas he that comes forward in the World goes back in Grace his estate is miserable that goes laughing to destruction as a Fool to the stocks for correction He wrote in Greek Commentaries upon the four Evangelists which are translated into Latine by Charles Morell and printed at Paris Anno Christi 1631. The Life of Anselm who flourished Anno Christi 1080. ANselm Archbishop of Canterbury was born at Aosta or Augusta Praetoriana at the foot of the Alps in Italy and therefore as an Italian he always favoured the cause of the Romane Bishop He was carefully brought up in Learning by his Mother Ermerburga till he was fourteen years old when she dying he gave himself awhile to vain pleasures and his Father being severe to him he resolved to travel in which he met with wants spent three years in Burgundie and France and then became Scholar to Lanfrancus Abbot of Beck where being held hard to his study he entred into a Monasterie and by his strict carriage there his fame spread abroad and the old Abbot dying he succeeded him and after the death of Lanfrank he was chosen Archbishop of Canterbury He received such honours and uncouragements from Pope Vrbane as never Bishop received greater from a Pope For at the Council of Barum in Apulia the Pope placed him at his right foot above al others which was ever since the place of the Archbishops of Canterbury in all General Councils Much contention was between William Rufus King of England and him which caused him to leave the Kingdom till Henry the First his time when he was reinvested again but lived not long after his return into England before he dyed which was Anno Christi 1109. and in the 9. year of the Reign of King Henry the First and of his Age 76. He was indeed the Popes Factor in England for denyal of Investures to the King and Marriages to the Ministers but otherwise he was found in the main points of our Religion and taught many things contrary to the corrupt Tenents of the Church of Rome He used to say That if he should see the shame of sin on the one hand and the pains of Hell on the other and must of necessitie chuse one he would rather be thrust into Hell withoute sin then go into Heaven with sin And again O durus casus c. Oh hard-hap Alas what did man lost what did he finde He lost the blessedness to which he was made and found death to which he was not made The Life of Nicephorus who flourished Anno Christi 1110. NIcephorus a man of profound Judgment and Learning both in Humanity and Divinity flourished under Andrenicus senior the Emperour Anno Christi 1110. He was a great light when the World was in great darkness and both by his Life and Doctrine illuminated many He wrote his Ecclesiastical History in eighteen Books in Greek and Dedicated them to the Emperour Andronicus and not long after exchanged this Life for Eternal glory He said God beholds and moderates our actions using the scourge of affliction for our castigation and conversion and after due correction shews his Fatherly affection to those that trust in hâm for Salvation And Christ asked Peter three times if he loved him not for his own information but that by his threefold profession he might help and heal his threefold negation of him BERNARD The Life of Bernard who dyed An. Christi 1153. BErnard was born in Burgundie in the Town of Fontane His Fathers name was Tecelinus of an ancient Family and a brave Souldier but that which most commended him was that he feared God and loved Justice and following the counsel of John the Baptist he did wrong to no man and was content with his wages His Mothers name was Aleth of the Castle called Mont-Barr a woman eminent for Piety Chastity and Charity bringing up her children in the fear of God She had seven children six sons and one daughter all which she nursed with her own breasts Bernard was her third son whom from his Infancy with Hannah she devoted to the Service of God and therefore brought him not up tenderly and delicately but inured him to course fare and hardship and as soon as he was of capacity instilled into him the knowledge of the Sacred Scriptures and instructed him in the Principles of Religion and finding him to be of an acute wit ready apprehension firm memory comly feature courteous and meek deportment and much addicted to Learning she set him to Schole betimes to Castillion under the care and tuition of able Scholemasters and the boy being piously addicted studious of a quick apprehension easily answered his Mothers desire and expectation profiting in Learning above his age and out-stripping all his school-fellows and shewed withall a great contempt of all Earthly things and indeed he was very simple in all worldly affairs He shunned company and affected retiredness was much in meditation obedient to his Parents grateful and curteous to all He was exceeding shamefac't and modest loved not to speak much Towards God very devout that he might keep himself pure in his childhood And amongst other Learning he was frequent in reading the holy Scriptures that from thence he might learn to know and serve God So that it cannot be imagined how much he profited in a short time Whilst he was yet a boy he was much troubled with a pain in his head and lying upon his bed there was brought to him a woman who had undertaken to cure him with certain verses and charms but as soon as he heard her begin to utter her verses wherewith she used to deceive the simple he cryed out with great indignation
and to send them up to the Archbishop of Canterbury to be further proceeded against by him As also to attach and seize upon all their Books and to send them to the said Archbishop and this to do as they would avoid the forfeiting of all the Liberties and Priviledges of the University c. John Wicklief was hereupon either banished or retired for a while to some secret place but ere long he returned to his Parsonage of Lutterworth in Leicestershire where after all these storms he at last dyed in Peace Anno Christi 1384. He wrote very many Books many of which were burned at Oxford Anno Christi 1410. Aeneas Sylvius writes that Subincus Archbishop of Prague burnt two hundred Volumes of his excellently written richly covered and adorned with Bosses of Gold One that had all his works wrote that they were as big as the works of St. Augustine Mr. Wicklief received his first knowledge of the Truth from one Fryar Rainard Lollard who brought the Doctrine of the Waldenses into England and from whom his Disciples were called Lollards Mr. Wicklief was an Eloquent man and so profound a Scholar that he drew the hearts of many Noble Personages to affect and favor him whereby he was sheltred from the rage of the Popish Clergy till Pope Gregory the 11. raised up a Persecution by the Monks Inquisitors against him All his Books were commanded to be burnt but he had before enlightned so great a number who kept his Books carefully maugre all the diligence of his Adversaries so that they could never wholly deprive the Church of them For the more they laboured by horrible threats and death it self to hinder the knowledge and reading of them the more were many kindled in their affections to read them with ardency He wrote above a hundred Volumes against Antichrist and the Church of Rome Multos praeterea in Philosophia multos quibus S. Scripturam interpretatus est edidit Quorum Catalogum videre est apud Balaeum in suis Centuriis Transtulit etiam Wiclevus in Anglicum sermonem Biblia adhibitis praefationibus argumentis cuique libro suis. Vertit Libros 12. Clementis Lanthoniensis Ecclesiae Praesbyteri De concordia Evangelistarum cum multis veterum Doctorum Tractatibus He was a great Enemy to the swarms of begging Fryars with whom it was harder to make war then with the Pope himself He denyed the Pope to be the Head of the Church and pronounced him to be Antichrist He confuted and condemned his Doctrine about Buls Indulgences Masses c. He affirmed the Scripture to be the Supreme Judge of Controversies condemned Transubstantiation c. He was a painful and faithful Preacher under King Edward the third who always favored and protected him against the rage of his Adversaries by his means the Pope lost in England his power of Ordaining Bishops the Tenth of Benefices and Peter-pence whereupon Polidore Virgil cals him an Infamous Heretick He was buryed at his Parsonage of Lutterworth in Leicester-shire His dead body being digged up 51 years after viz. 1428. by the command of Pope Martin the fifth and the Council of Sâne was burned And thus he suffered their cruelty after death whose cruelty he had Preached against in his life He wrote above two hundred Volumes most of which were burned by the Archbishop of Prague JOHN HVS The Life of John Huss who dyed Anno Christi 1415. IOhn Huss was born at a little Town called Hussinets about 18. miles from Prague in Bohemia under the Hercynian Wood of mean but religious Parents who carefully trained him up in Religion and Learning and having profited much at Schole he went to the University of Prague and whilst he was a Student there he met with our Wickliefs Books from whence he first took light and courage to profess the Truth Anno Christi 1393. he Commenced Batchelor of Arts with good approbation of the whole University and An. 1396. the commenced Master of Arts about which time two godly Noble men of Prague built the Church of Bethlehem and Anno 140â Mr. Huss was chosen Pastor thereof who fed his people with the bread of life and not with the Popes Decrees and other humane Inventions The year after he was chosen Dean of the University and Anno 1409. by the consent of the whole University he was chosen Rector of it He continued in the Exercise of his Ministry with admirable zeal and diligence and faithfulness about the space of 12. years Preaching and Instructing his People in the Principles of Divinity which he confirmed by the holy Scriptures and adorned by an exemplary and blameless life He vigorously opposed the Popes proceedings whereupon the Devil envying the peace and progress of the Gospel stirred up Pope Alexander the fifth against him who cited him to Rome to answer to such Articles as should be laid in against him whereupon Huss sent his Procters to Rome who appeared for him answered the charge and cleared his innocency yet did the Pope and his Cardinals condemn him for an Heretick and Excommunicate him which caused the Popish Clergy and some of the Barons of Bohemia to oppose Huss being thus excommunicated and King Winceslaus banished him but he was entertained in the Country and protected by the Lord of the Soil ãâã Hussinets where he preached in the Parish Church and some places adjacent confuting the Popish Doctrine of Merit of Works and against the Pride Idleness Cruelty and Avarice of the Roman Court and Clergy multitudes of persons resorting to his Ministry Sometimes also he repaired to his Church of Bethlehem and preached there But upon the Popes death the Cardinals being divided chose three Popes whereupon there was a Council called at Constance Anno Christi 1414. unto which Council the Emperour Sigismund commanded Huss to come giving him his safe Conduct for his coming and return And Master Huss relying upon the goodness of his Cause the clearness of his Conscience and the Emperours safe Conduct with a cheerful minde and undaunted spirit went to Constance and in his journey set up writings in every City the tenor whereof was this Mr. John Huss Batchelor of Divinity goeth now to the Council of Constance there to declare his Faith which he hath hitherto holden and even at this present doth hold and by Gods grace will hold and defend even to the death therefore even as he hath manifested through all the Kingdom of Bohemia by his Letters and Intimations willing before his departure thence to have satisfied and given an account of his Faith unto every man which should object or lay any thing against him in the general Convocation held in the Archbishop of Pragues Court So also he doth manifest and signifie that if there be any man in this Noble and Imperial City that can impute any Error or Heresie to him that he would prepare himself to
whose Sermons not only the Protestants but many of the Papists were present to hear what and how he taught And indeed both sides commended his study of Peace For he exhorted them to compose their differences not by arms nor mutuall slaughters but by the Disputations of their Divines But God would not suffer his wholsome counsell to take effect at that time For they came to a battell wherein the Popish party prevailed and thereupon Bullinger together with his Father Brother and Colleague Gervase were commanded to depart except they would undergoe the present hazard of their lives Whereupon beginning their journey in the night through Gods providence they escaped the snares which were layd for them by their adversaries and came safely to Zurick Anno Chrââ 1531 and three daies after at the request of Leo Judae with his Colleagues Bullinger preached in the chiefe Church and was entertained by one Werner Steiner his ancient friend that was fled to Zurick for Religion Anno Christi 1532. The Church of Basill wanting a Pastor by the death of Oecolampadius desired Bullinger and at the same time also the Bernates sent for him thither But the Senate of Zurick would by no means part with him choosing him Pastor in the room of Zuinglius who was slaine in the late battell and who had desired before he went into the field with the Army that if any thing befell him otherwise then well Bullinger might succeed him in his office He being thus called to this work in a dangerous time did his endeavour to comfort and rais up the hearts of Gods people under those great afflictions And whereas the Popish adversaries boasted that their Religion was false because they of Zurick were beaten and Zuinglius slain He wrote That the Truth of Religion was not to be judged by the prosperity or adversitie of the Professors of it He took care also to have Synods twice a year to maintain concord and unity in Doctrine and Discipline as Zuinglius had begun before him And finding a great defect of Godly Ministers in the jurisdiction of the Tigurins he tooke care that so many should bee trained up in Religion and Learning as might supply that defect and where there was a want of maintainance he prevailed with the Senate of Zurick to make up a competency out of the Publick Treasury He caused the Publick Library of that City to be set in order by Pellican and by buying Zuinglius his books to be encreased And having gotten Bibliander for his Colleague he wholly applyed himself to his publick Ministry and to writing Commentaries at home Anno Christi 1532 Bucer endeavoured a union between Luther and his followers and the Divines of Zurick perswading them that their differences consisted rather in words then in reality At which time the Tigurins shewed themselves to bee desirous of peace so that it was joyned wiâh truth About this time Bullingers Father died being 64 years old who at his death exhorted his sonne to Constancy in Doctrine and Faith which saith he is the onely way to salvation Anno Christi 1534 Bullinger wrote a Confession of Faith in the name of the Tigurian Churches which was sent to Bucer and to the Synod of the Churches of Suevia then met at Constance and was approved by them About the same time he wrote a Tractate of the Covenant of God against some that denied all testimonies out of the Old Testament As also another wherein he asserted the twofold Nature in Christ against Claudius Allobrog Servetus his Emissary of whose poyson the Helvetian Churches were at that time in some danger And when there was a meeting at Basil for to unite Luther and the Helvetian Churches in their difference about the manner of Christs Presence in the Sacrament Bullinger was there and took much pains for the promoting of it The Magistrates also of Zurick by the perswasion of Bullinger erected a new Colledge Anno Christi 1538 which hee had a great care of all his life after Also by his perswasion the Senate of Zurick erected another School in a place where formerly there had been a Nunnery in which fifteen youths were trained up under a good Master having food raiment books and all other necessaries plentifully provided for them and Bullinger took great care to see their proficiency all his life after About this time Schwenfield a Noble man of Silesia taught That Christ's Humane nature being received into Heaven was so farre Deified that it remained a creature no longer and this error beginning to spread into Swevia Bullinger joining with some others confuted it with much modesty Anno Christi 1541 the Plague brake forth in Zurick of which Bullingers Son and Mother died Anno Christi 1542 Leo Judae's Version of the Bible being finished and printed the Printer sent one of them to Luther fair bound up but Luther wrote back to him that hee should send him no more of the Tigurine Ministers bookes for hee would have nothing to doe with them nor read any of their bookes For said he The Church of God can hold no communion with them and whereas they have taken much pains all is in vain for themselves are damned and they lead many miserable men to hell with them Adding that he would have no communion with their damnable and blasphemous Doctrine and that so long as he lived hee would with his prayers and books oppose them Anno Christi 1544 Luther set forth his Annotations on Genesis in which he inveighed bitterly against the Sacramentarians as he called them saying That Zuinglius Oecolampadius and their disciples were Hereticks and eternally damned Melancthon would fain have hindered it but could not whereupon he wrote to Bullinger telling him how much hee was grieved at this violent proceeding of Luther which he knew was so pleasing to their common adversaries the Papists When this book of Luthers came forth there was much dispute whether it should be answered Bucer was against it because Luther was grown old and had deserved well of the Church but others thought that it would bee a betraying of the Truth not to answer it Wherefore Bullinger was appointed to that work which he accordingly performed with much judgement Anno Christi 1546 Luther dyed and the German Warre beganne betwixt the Emperour and the Protestants at which time many accused the Tigurines by reason of Bullingers book as if they had insulted over Luther after his death and gloryed that he dyed of grief because he could not answer that book Hereupon Philip Lantgrave of Hesse acquainted Bullinger with these reports which when Bullinger had read advising with his Colleagues he returned this answer First giving him thanks for his zeale in endeavouring the peace of the Church and for acquainting him with these rumours Then he told him how much he was grieved for that some turbulent spirits sought by such reports
History He had two Wives the first of which was Bullingers daughter who died without issue by the second who was Gualters daughter he had three sons and one daughter He was tall of stature fat fair and strong but that he was somewhat weakned by the Gout He had such an amiable face that his sweet manners might bee seen in his countenance as in a glass In his habit and diet he was neither too sumptuous nor too fordid best liking cleanlinesse and neatness Scripsit Praelectiones in Exodum De aeterno Dei Filio adversus Arianos Tritheitas Samosetaninos Adversus eosdem de S. Sancto Narrationem veterum controversiarum de una âersonâ duabus naturis Christi c. cum multis aliis The particulars you may find in Verheiden The Life of Immanuel Tremelius who died A no Christi 1580. IMmanuel Tremelius was born in Ferrara having a Jew to his Father who so educated him that hee was very skilfull in the Hebrew Tongue Hee was converted by PeterMartyr and went with him to Lucca where he taught Hebrew From thence he went with him to Strasborough and from thence into England under King Edward the sixth after whose death he returned into Germany And in the School of Hornback under the Duke of Bâââât he taught Hebrew From thence he was called to Heidleberg under Frederick the third Elector Palatine where he was Professor of the Hebrew tongue and translated the Syriack Testament into Latine There also he set upon the Translation of the Bible out of Hebrew associated to himself in that work Fr. Junius who after the death of Tremelius perused the whole work and by adding many things rather made it larger then better in some mens judgement In his old age he left Heidleberg and by the Duke of Bulloin was called to be Hebrew Professor in his new University of Sedan where he dyed Anno Christi 1580 and of his Age seventy He wrote a Chalde and Syriack Grammer hee published the New Testament in Latine and Syriack An exposition upon the Prophet Hosea Together with Junius he translated the Hebrew Bible adding short annotations And lastly Bucers Lectures upon the Epistle to the Ephesians The Life of Peter Boquine who died Anno Christi 1582. PEter Boquinus was borne in Aquitane and being in his youth brought up in learning he entred into a Monastery at Biturg where he was made the Prior and was very much beloved of all the Convent But it pleased God in the midst of all his riches and honours to discover the Truth to him and thereupon after the example of Luther Bucer Oecolampadius and Peter Martyr he resolved to leave all and to follow Christ whose example divers of the Friers also followed From thence he went toward Wittenberg being very desirous to be acquainted with Luther and Melancthon whose fame was very great and some of whose works he had met with and read and so travelling through Germany he came to Basil where he wintered by reason of the Plague very rife at that time in many Countries There he diligently heard the Lectures of Myconius Caralostadius and Sebastian Munster Anno Christi 1542 from thence he went to Lipsich where he stayed three weeks and so went to Wittenberg Coming hither he had some converse with Luther but more with Melancthon And whilst he was there Bucer sent to Melancthon to request him to send an able man to Strasborough to supply Calvins place who was now gone back to Geneva whereupon Melancthon requested Boquine to goe thither which he accordingly did and began to read upon the Epistle to the Galatians Shortly after Peter Martyr came thither also But Bucer being sent for by the Arch-bishop of Collen to assist him in the reformation of his Churches Boquine finding that the Ecclesiasticall and Scholasticall affaires went but slowly forward in his absence upon the request of his brother who was a Doctor of Divinity and not altogether estranged from the Reformed Religion he resolved to goe back into France and so taking Basil in his way he went to Geneva where he heard Calvin preach and had some speech with him and from thence to Biturg where he lived with his brother the Doctor mentioned before and when some hope began to appear that the Churches of France would be reformed at the instigation of his brother he began publickly to read Hebrew and to expound the Scriptures About that time Francis King of France being dead the Queen of Navar came into those parts about the marriage of her daughter to whom Boquine went and presented her with a book written with his own hand about the necessity and use of the holy Scriptures and her daughter with another concerning our spiritual husband Jesus Christ whereupon she took him into her Patronage and allowed him a yearly stipend out of her treasury appointing him to preach a publick Lecture in the great Church in Biturg Whereunto also the Arch-Bishop consented Shortly after the Queen of Navar dying there succeeded to her King Henries sister as in name and stock so also in Doctrine and Piety not unlike her Whereupon Boquine went and presented her with a book which he had written De homine perfecto which she took so gratefully that she confirmed his former stipend to him and he made use of that favour so long as he thought his labours were not unprofitable to the Church but when he saw that there was no hope of any further Reformation in France and that his enemies lay in wait for his life he gave it over of his own accord At that time he underwent the bitter hatred of some Friers and other enemies of the truth by whom his life was in great danger For he was summoned to appear before the Parliament of Paris and then before the Arch-Bishop of Biturg where his life was sought but God raised up some men to stand for him whereby he was delivered from the present danger Then did he resolve to fly into England but hearing of King Edwards death he altered his purpose and by the perswasion of a friend he resolved to returne to his people in Germany and so accordingly accompanied with two young men he went to Strasborough and when he had scarce been there a month it so fell out that the French Church in that place wanted a Pastor and chose him to that office yet for sundry reasons he refused to accept of it till by the perswasion of John Sturmius and some other friends he was content to preach to them till they could provide them another That place he discharged for about the space of four months conflicting with many difficulties and meeting with much trouble by reason of the improbity and perfidiousnesse of some At the end of which time the Senat with the consent of the Church appointed Peter Alexander to be their Pastor and so Boquine
for theft was hanged by the heels with his head downward in a village hard by having not seen that kind of punishment he went to the place where he found him hanging between two Dogs that were alwaies snatching at him tearing and eating his flesh The poor wretch repeated in Hebrew some verses of the Psalms wherein hee cried to God for mercy whereupon Andreas went nearer to him and instructed him in the Principles of the Christian Religion about Christ the Messiah c. and exhorted him to believe in him and it pleased God so to blesse his exhortation to him that the Dogs gave over tearing of his flesh and the poor Jew desired him to procure that he might be taken down and baptised and hung by the neck for the quicker dispatch which was done accordingly The same year Charles Marquesse of Baden beganne a Reformation of the Churches within his dominions and to assist him therein he sent for divers Divines and amongst the rest for Dr Andreas by whose help he cast out the Popish Religion and Ceremonies and established the true Religion according to the Augustane Confession The like he did in Brugoia About the same time also Doctor Andreas was sent for by the Senate of the Imperiall City of Rottenburg because the Pastors in their jurisdiction used divers Ceremonies so that they feared least contentions should arise about the Substantials in Divinity whereupon by the advice of Andreas they were united in one Confession of Faith consonant to the Word of God and certain Ceremonies were agreed on which all the Ministers should unanimously use for the time to come Yea he was of such esteem that he was sent for by divers Princes to reform the Churches in their jurisdictions Hee was present at divers Synods and Disputations about Religion Hee travelled many thousands of miles being usually attended but with one servant yet it pleased God that in all his journyes he never met with any affront Anno Christi 1552 the Chancellors place in the University of Tubing was voyd by the death of Beurlin whereupon Prince Christopher consulting with the Heads of the University made Doctor Andreas Chancellor in his stead About which time he was sent into Thuringia to compose the difference between the Divines of Jenes Flacius Illiricus aud Strigelius about the power of Free-will Anno Christi 1580 came forth the book of Concord which was approved and subscribed by three Electors twenty one Princes twenty two Counts four Barons thirty five Imperiall Cities and eight thousand Ministers This was set on foot by the Elector of Saxony but carried on by the excessive labours of Doctor Andreas who carried it from one to another resolving all doubts and answering all objections till he had got all those subscriptions The year before his death hee used often to say that hee should not live long that hee was weary of this life and much desired to be dissolved and to be with Christ which was best of all Falling sick he sent for James Herbrand saying I exspect that after my death many adversaries will rise up to asperse me and therefore I sent for thee to hear the confession of my faith that so thou mayst testifie for me when I am dead and gone that I died in the true Faith The same Confession also he made afterwards before the Pastors and Deacons of Tubing The night before his death he slept partly upon his bed and partly in his chair When the clock struck fix in the morning he said My hour draws near He gave thanks to God for bestowing Christ for revealing his Will in his Word for giving him Faith and the like benefits and when he was ready to depart he said Lord into thy hands I commend my spirit and so he fell asleep in the Lord Anno Christi 1590 and of his age 61. In the discharge of his office he never spared any labour hee never shrunk under any trouble He wrote many Epistles to severall men upon several arguments A learned and rich man of Tubing after Doctor Andreas his death said that he had in his Library fifteen hundred bookes of his writing upon severall Arguments H. ZANCHY The Life of Hierom Zanchius who dyed A no Christi 1590. HIerom Zanchius was born at Atzanum in Italy Anno 1516. His Father was a Lawyer who brought him up at School and when Zanchy was but twelve years old his Father died of the Plague Anno Christi 1528 at which time Zanchy was at School where he was instructed in the Liberall Sciences When he came to the age of fifteen years being now deprived of both his parents observing that divers of his kindred were of the order of Canons Regular amongst whom he judged that there were divers learned men being exceeding desirous of Learning he entered into that Order where hee lived about twenty years and studied Arts and School-Divinity together with the Tongues He was very familiar with Celsus Martiningus joyning studies with him was a diligent hearer of Peter Martyrs publick Lectures at Luca upon the Epistle to the Romans and of his private Lectures upon the Psalmes which he read to his Canons This drew his mind to an earnest study of the Scriptures He read also the Fathers especially St. Augustine with the most learned Interpreters of the Word of God And thereupon he preached the Gospel for some years in the purest manner that the time and place would suffer And when Peter Martyr left Italy so that his godly Disciples could no longer live in safety there much lesse have liberty of Preaching about twenty of them in the space of one year left their station and followed their Master into Germany amongst whom Zaâchy was one Being thus as he used to say delivered out of the Babylonish captivity anno Christi 1550. He went first into Rhetia where he staied about eight moneths and from thence to Geneva and after nine moneths stay there he was sent for by Peter Martyr into England but when he came to Strasborough he staid there to supply Hedio's room newly dead who read Divinity in the Schooles which was in the yeare 1553. He lived and taught Divinity in that City about 11 yeares sometimes also reading Aristotle in the Schools yet not without opposition old James Sturmius the Father of that University being dead Yea his adversaries proceeded so far as to tell Zanchy that if hee would continue to read there he must subscribe the Augustaâe Confession to which hee yeelded for peace-sake with this proviso modò Orthodoxâe intelligatur declaring his judgement also about Christs presence in the Sacrament wherewith they were satisfied And thus he continued to the year 1563 being very acceptable to the good and a shunner of strife and a lover of concord At the end whereof the Divines and Professors there accused him for differing from them in some points about
retreat into the wilderness His carriage there His industry His study of the Scriptures His study of the Hebrew and other Eastern languages ãâ¦ã His imployment He is envyed by some The subtilty of the Arians Their dissimulation His return into Syria His travels and studies Asphaltites His labors at Bethlehem His zeal against Heresie The increase of Arianism His great troubles His death His great esteem His saying Christian fortitude Love of Christ. The danger of Heresie Chastity Iudgement Vertue His works His parentage His studâes His Ordination His diligence in his Ministry He is chosen Bishop of Constantinople He reforms his Clergy He endeavours the peace of the Church The great success of his Ministry His ãâã He is hââed for it The subtilty of the Arians Chysostom counter-plots them The danger of riches Ignorant Monks Epiphanius his weakness A Council called Origens books condemned Johns meekness Epiphanius reproved Two Predictions John condemned by the Council unjustly He is banished And recalled His sharp reproof A Council summoned He is condemned Banished Gods judgements on his ãâã His charity His death Why so called Lying abhorred Preachers pattern His Zeal His zeal against Heresie His magnanimity His Courage Love to the Ministry His sayings Meditations Danger of riches His love His faith His Tentaâion His works His birth and parentage He is reclaimed by Ambrose Preachers pattern His zeal His humility He is made a Presbyter in Hippo. His diligence He disputes with a Donatist The success of it His zeal against Heresies He disputes in a Synod He is made Bishop of Hippo. The malice of the Schismaticks The Circumcellians They persecute the Orthodox especially Ministers The malice of Schismaticks A special providence The cruelty of Schismaticks The Donatists condemned for Hereticks A Council at Carthage A Council at Caesarea Manichees converted The craft of an Arian Hereticks Lyars Augustine conâutes an Arian His zeal aginst Pelagians The success of his Ministry His patience His great labors His humility A special Providence His humility His prudence His charity Oaths His Retractations His works The coming of the Goths into Africk Their horrible cruelties See more of it in my General Martyrology Augustine dies before the taking of Hippo. His faith The power of his prayers His death His poverty An excellent speech His sayings Prayer Death Christians are pilgrims Ingratitude His works He is chosen Bishop of Alexandria A Council Nestorius deposed and excommunicated Banished by the Emperour His fearful death His knowledg in the Scriptures His learning His death His sayings Charity Modesty Tentation His birth and education Preachers pattern Prayer His sayings Charity Mercy Faith and works Drunkeness and gluttony His works His birth and education Scriptures delighted in His charity A peace-maker His speech at death His death His character His works His sayings Pride His parentage His education His prudence in governing a family His Conversion His Speech His prudence He retires himself from the world His mothers impatiency at it Tentation resisted His abstinence His sickness and recovery He gives away his inheritance The Arians renew their persecution His remove to Sicca Heretical mallice Cruelty of Hereticks He is cruelly beaten Rejoyceth in sufferings for Christ. He seeks not revenge He sails into Sicily He goes to Rome Heaven more glorious His return into Africk He obscures himself His great industry He is ordained a Presbyter His humility He is made a Bishop His moderation He is banished He converts many Hereticks subtilty He comes to Carthage Doth good He is sent for to the King He is envyed and complained of Is sent back into Sardinia He prophesies His humility His meekness He is restored to his place His humility His sickness His deportment A good Pastor His charity His death Prayer prevâlent His works His sayings Covecousness His works His birth and education His charity He turns Monk His studiousness His humility Frugal of his time His charity to souls He desires to have England converted He is sent to Constantinople He writes upon Job Confutes heresies His return to Rome Gods judgements on Rome He is chosen Bishop of Rome His humility He is confirmed by the Emperour He appoints a Fast to remove the judgments He reforms the Church His charity He sends Austin and some others into England Encourages them by this Letter They arrive in England His death His character His sayings Spiritual poverty His works His birth and education His death His sayings Holiness Sinful thoughts Guilty conscience Danger of pride His birth and education He is made Deacon And Presbyter His humility Scriptures read with devotion Pleasures to be avoided His death His sayings Anger His virtue His character His works His birth and education His death His works His birth and imployments His death His sayings Submission to Gods will His Contentation His works His birth and education Given to pleasures His travels and want Enters into a Monastery Is made Archbishop of Canterbury His contention with our Kings His death His sayings Sin hateful Mans fall His learning His works His death His sayings Afflictions His birth and parentage His education His modesty He refuses cure by a charm His zeal His charity He is tempted to uncleanness How he cures ãâã He enters into a Monastery with his brethren Heaven better then the Earth His diligence His great labors His love to the Scriptures Is made Abbot of Claraval His zeal He is ordained a Presbyter What was blame worthy in him His sickness His Letter to the Abbot of Benâval His death His blinde zeal His opinions differing from the Church of Rome His sayings How to hear His works His birth His works His sayings Sin inherent His birth and education His sayings Patience Faith Covetousness Iyes Humility His birth His humility His charity Preachers pattern His Industry His employment His birth and breeding His character His studiousness Meditation His humility Preachers pattern A good conscience Time to be well imployed Death Repentance His works His birth and education His preferments in Oxford His zeal His prudence His adversaries His friends Popish lyes and slanders John of gaunt Favers Wicklies The Bishop banished And restored Wicklies hated by the Bishops Cited to appear before them Is encouraged by the Duke Appears before the Bishop The Bishops pride Great contention A Bill in Parliament against the Londoners The Citizens make a tumult Their rage Articles against Wicklief Condemned at Rome Persecuted The Bishops resolve to proceed against Wicklief A special providence His zeal and diligence Other providences Wicklief again persecuted His weakness He is again persecuted A great Earthquake The kings Letters against him The Kings Letter to Oxford Wicklief returns to Lutterworth His death His works Gods providence in preserving his books His works King Edwayd the third favored him His body condemned and burned His birth and education He goes to Prague Chosen Pastor of Bethlehem His faithfulness therein He is cited to Rome Is excommunicated He is banished Gods mercy A
schism at Rome He is cited to the Council His intimations as he went His kinde entertainment as he went Gods judgement on his adversary His courage Popish cruelty His writings in prison Popish cruelty The Nobles of Bohemia petition In his behalf The Councils incivility A prodigy His appeal to Christ. He is condemned His charity Popish cruelty A wicked Decree His works condemned His ornaments His patience Popish malice His books burnt His deportment at his death His prayer His martyrdom Inhumane cruelty A prophesie Gods judgement on his persecutors His petition to the King His request to the Bishop And to the Barons His works His birth His zeal His retreat to Iberling A safe Conduct denyed him His intimations set up at Constance His return towards Bohemia He is apprehended Carryed to Constance His answer to the Bishops He is accused His answer He is imprisoned He is encouraged Popish cruelty He fals sick His weakness He is brought before the Council He retracts his recantation Back-sliding repented of His condemnation His short answer His ornaments His deportment at death His martyrdom His courage His last words His works His birth His parentage His education Gods providence Schola Illustris He goes to Erford His great proficiency He is Master of Arts. Means of his conversion The ignorance of those times His study of the Scriptures A prediction His studiousness His ordination His remove to Wittenberg He goes to Rome Anno Christi 1511. Popish profaneness He is made Doctor of Divinity An. chr 1512. He studies the Languages Popish blasphemy He opposeth Indulgences His protestation Many defend Luthers Doctrine The Emperor is against him The Pope against him The Pope writes to the Duke of Saxony The Pope further persecutes him Luther cited to Rome The University pleads for him The Bohemians encourage Luther Luthers resolution His courage The cause why Luther was so hated Erasmus's testimony of him Luther cited to Ausburg Luther goes from Ausburg The University of Wittenberg stands for him The Duke of Saxony pleads for him Popes malice The Dukes answer Luther disputes at Lipsick Fryars and Bishops stir up the Pope against him Luther intends a retreat The Popes Bull against him The Bull answered The Bull excommunicated Luthers books burnt He burns the Bull. Luther sent for to Worms His friends disswade him His courage He goes to Worms His answer to Eccius His constancy The Emperour intends to proscribe him The Princes divided about it Lutherâ courage He is proscribed And seââway His Patmos Witchcraft frustrated Reformation in his absence He translates the Bible His return to Wittenberg He is displeased with the reformation His faith The rising of the Anabaptists Luther unmasks them He deals more sharply with them Muncer and Pseiffer the Incendiaries The Anabaptists beaten Muncer and Pseiffer beheaded Luthers marriage Melancthon excuses it His sickness His Tentation How he recovered Melancthons fears Luther encourageth him An excellent speech His faith Luthers courage Erasmus censures him He defends his Book against King Henry the Eighth Wây Luther was not punished His writings He will not be bââbed He publisheth his Catechisms The Confession of Auspurg Luther perswades to peace A Diet at Auspurg Peace endeavoured between Luther and Zuinglius Yet frustâated Luthers preface to the Smalcaldian Articles His violence against the Sacramentaries His power in prayer He justifies his turn from Popery Power of prayer Luther falâ sick His recovery A Council of the Popes What it was like 1538. Antinomians Their opinions He prays Melancthon well 1541. He comforts Myconius Power of prayer 1543. His judgment about Ceremonies His Exposition upon Genesis 1545. A Popish lye about Luthers death Luthers answer to it He is sent for into his own Country He is in danger of drowning He comes to Isleben His imployments His last sickness Luthers last Prayer His faiâh His ãâã His last will His last word His constancy He in part retracts consubstantiation His daughters death His sayings His charity His private life His recreations His care of his children His diseases His tentations His character His wifes afflictions Miracles Special providences One gives himself to the Devil ãâ¦ã ãâ¦ã His works His speech about his works He would have none called Lutherans Melancthons testimony of him A prediction His character His stile Notâ His birth and education His learning He commenced Master of Arts. His study of the Scrlptures Preachers pattern He is chosen to a place His zeal He opposeth Indulgences Popish impostures A Reformation in Zurick The Bishop opposeth it Zuinglius admonisheth the Bishop He would have Ministers marry Luthers Books come abroad He studies the Hebrew Lambertus converted His constâncy Popery abolished The revenues of Monasteries turned to charitable uses He presseth a further reformation A Disputation A further Reformation An Abbess converted Note His marriage A controversie about the Mass. Luk. 8. Mat. 13. The Mass abolished He is instructed in a dream Eccius his rage Zuinglius defends himself A disputation fruitless Reformation at Bern. It s written in golden letters Quarels amongst the Switzers Peace made A Disputation Luthers violence The Disputation ends Some good effects of it Catabaptists Their wickedness They are punished Popish malice He is in danger New quarrels amongst the Switzers Wars begun They of Zurick beaten Zuinglius dislikes the war He is slain Popish cruelty He preached against Popery before Luther His character His works His birth His education He goes to Heidleberg Then to Bononia His study of Divinity He enters into the Ministry He studies Greek and Hebrew He is made a Preacher His friendship with Capito He is chosen to Basil. He is chosen to Auspurg Popish malice His call to Sir Fr. Sickengen He is Professor at Basil. Popish malice Reformation in Basil. Idols burnt Discipline erected Preachers pattern Vlm reformed 1529. A Disputation It s dissolved His imployments His sickness Hi industry He prepares for death His speech to his colleagues A prediction His perseverance His poverty His care for his children He foretels his death Joy unspeakable His death Popish lyes His character His works His birth His learning His Conversion His imprisonment His release Manifold afflictious He is set in the stocks His inlargement Popish malice His imprisonment Rastal converted by him Popish malice The King commands Frith to be tryed He is sent for to Croydon His conference with the Bishops men His courage and constancy A Prophesie His escape contrived He refuseth to fly and why His examination and learning His unjust condemnation His patience Gods mercy His death Popish malice His works A strange Providence His birth and education His zeal Mr. Latimer converted by him His zeal in preaching Popish malice His apprehension The Articles against him A Prophesie His condemnation His fall His penance His letter to Tonstal His first conversion His inward joy Without Faith nothing pleases God His desire to convert others The danger of Apostacy Great comfort after great troubles Prevalency of the truth
His conference with a Fryar The Fryars rage against him His constancy His comfort before death An excellent speech He puts his finger into the candle His faith An excellent speech His charity His martyrdom His patience His death His birth and education His zeal His remove into Glocestershire Blindeness of Papists Mr. Tindals wisdom The fruits of it Popish malice and ignorance He is accused He prayeth for strength He is railed at Popish blasphemy Mr. Tindals zeal He departs from Master Welch Gods providence He goes into Germany His zeal The Bible translated first into English His conference with Luther His excellent works The benefit come by them His prudence Satans malice against the truth His great afflictions Mr. Coverdal assists him A widows charity Popish lyes The Bible prohibited to be read Popish malice He is betraââd A Judas Cast into prison Means used for his release His martyrdom A jalor converted Gods judgment on a persecutor A Conjuâer prevented by Mr. Tindals presence His sincerity His works His birth and education His preferments His conversion A disputation Another disputation The questions A refârmation His death His birth His education His studiousness His remove to Basil. And thân to Ingolstade He is ill dealtxs with He turns souldier He is freed by ââcius He is made a Professor in Ingolstade Erasmus testimony of him He goes to Auspurg He joins with Zuinglius Anabaptists disturb the peace of the Church He disputes with a she-Anabaptist He is driven away by Papists His return His marriage His constancy His comfortable conference with Luther The Dukes love unfeigned to him He is made superintendent His sickness His death He desired a sudden death His works His birth His education He settles at Wittenberg A disputation He reforms Wittenberg His remove to Orlamund Luthers infirmities He is bannished by Luthers means His great afflictions He writes to Luther His return into Saxony His death His birth His education He studyes Physick And Divinity Love unfeigned He is chosen Pastor at Basil He is chosen to Ments He favours the Gospel His advice to Luther He goes to Strasborough He is sent to by the Queen of Navar. He affects peace A disputation at Bern. His death His character His birth His education His study of Divinity He is made Pastor at Zurick He translates the Bible His death The confession of his faith His works His birth and education His preferments Luther directs him in his studies His imployments His tentations Luthers counsel therein His death His works His birth His education He enters into a Monastery His bodily exercises His diligence in reading Indulgences brought into Germany Popish blasphemies Myconius well educated Popish covetousness The means of his Conversion The Gospels swift progress Love unfeigned He endeavors ãâã quiet the Anabaptists His marriagâ His zeal in preaching He is sent into England King Henry the Eight his hypocrisie His return into Germany An heroical resolution Reformation in Misna and Thuringia Luthers prayer for Myconius A prophetical prayer His recovery Power of Prayer His character His death His works His birth His education His Conversion He goes to Geneva From thence to Strasborough So to Ratisbone He is tempted His conference with Malvenda Popish treachery He is tempted Devillish hypocrisie He is advised not to go with his brother He is basely murthered The murtherers apprehended Escape unpunished Gods judgement upon Alphonsus His birth His fathers plety His education He studies Hebrew He is called back to Wittenberg His delight in simples He assists in translating the Bible His learning His works The preachers pattern He studyes the Mathematicks His last sickness Prayer of Faith His carriage in sickness A wonder His death His character His works His birth and education He is ordained a Minister and Paster in Strasborough His conversion Articles against him His constancy Reformation in Strasborough His assistants His death His character His works His birth and education His works His birth His education He teaches School He studies the Tongues His poverty His diligence He is made Pastor at Isna He is an excellent Hebrician He sets up a Press His carriage in a Plague-time His remove to Strasborough His remove to Heidleberg Religion goes to ruine His constancy The Bible translated His death Popish malice His character His works His birth His education He is made Preacher at Heidleberg His Conversion His zeal Popish malice An. Chr. 1521. He goes with Luther to Worms His troubles He goes to Strasborough Reformation in Strasborough A disputation at Marpurg He disputes with the Papists A blessed peace-maker He reforms Vlm. His Apology at Zurick His imployments Hermannus sends for him The Interim made Bucer disowns it A persecution about the Interim He is sent for into England His imployment there His sickness His indefatâgableness His sickness His faith His death Popish malice The Cardinals testimony of him His works His birth and education His conversion He goes to Strasborough Reformation at Strasborough His marriage He is sent for to ãâã His danger and return His diligence His death His works His birth and education He is made a Schoolmaster Removes to Zurick From thence to Lucern His conversion Goes back to Zurick Thence to Basil He is made a Deacon And a Pastor He adheres to Luther His death His works His Birth His Education His first preferment He professeth the reformed religion He reforms his Country He is ordained His holy life His industry His prudence to improve his parts Synods His works His Constancy His Birth A miracle of mercy His Conversion His call to Wittenburg His employmentâ in the Schoolââ He reforms some Churches He is called to Hale His death His Character His Tââtation His works His birth and education He goes to Antwerp His conversion His mariage He goes to Wittenberg His returm to England His zeale and courage His courage and constancy His usage before the Councell His condemnation His speech upon iâ Gardners cruelty He is warned to preâare for death He is degraded âis constancy His Patience and Martyrdom ãâ¦ã A speciall providence His prophesies His cheerfulnes charity His birth and Education He is bound an Apprentice He is released His return to Cambridg Frequent in prayer He commenceth Master of Arts. He is Ordained Minister The success of his Ministry He maâieth a wife His remove to Liâhfield Then into Lecestershire Then to London Queen Maâies coming in His zeal He is taken prisoner His faithfulnes Preacher's pattern A faithful Pastor His courage constancy Popish malice Bonner ignââance His courage His conference with Gardiner Holy charity Comfort in affliction The best Legacy His zeal A good conscience better then life A brave speech His Martyrdââe Popish cruelty His admirable patience His Letter to his Wife Doctor Pendleton a turn-coat Proud presumption ãâã His Education His conversion He leaves the University His conference with Gardiner Flight in persecution He flies into Germany His marriage He returns to England Bullingers
speech to him His answer A Prophesie His painful preaching His constancie His character Note He is made a Bishop A painful Bishop His Family Government His Charity He is sent for to London A good Shepheard Stephen Gardâner Popish malice His patience Popish cruelty Popish rage Tentations resisted Gods providence He is sent to Glocester The benefit of inward peace Benefit of a good conscience Constancie Note His request to the Sheriffe His meeknesse and constancy He goes cheerfully to the stake His praier at the stake He is tempted His confidence in God His cruel burning His praier in the fire His death His heavenly speeches Contention about ceremonies They agree in prison His admirable patience His imployment Scriptures well studied Preachers pattern His character His charity The Ma'ss brought into his Church His zeal Popish malice He is accused and sent for He is perswaded to fly Flight refused His courage A Prediction He goes to S. Gardiner His stout answer His conference with Gardiner His imprisonment His holy employments in prison He meeres with Mr. Bradford in prison His examinations His condemnation His courage Death not feared His conference with Bishop Bonner He is sent to Hadley Benefit of a good conscience His courage and constancy His comfort in affliction His death bewailed His charity Popish cruelty His Martyrdome His Birth and Education His fidelity He goes to Cambridge His preferment in the Vniversity Note He enters into the Ministry He defends Bourn from death He is ill requiâed for it He Preacheth in Prison A soft heart His Character Studious Note His charity He was well eâââmed of all Flight refused A dream prophetical He rejoyceth at the news of his death His fervent prayeâs His departure out of Newgate Tentation resisted His behaviour at his death Note His Martyrdom His Charity His Humility His conference with Gardiner His godly Letters Sin the forerunner of persecution His birth and education His preferment in Cambridge His remove into Kent His preferments Preachers pattern His Character Note His recreation His Family government His conversion His imprisonment He is sent to Oxford Note Charity to Christ's prisoners Note In his Letter to Mr. Grindall His courage His condâmnation His cheerfulâess âefore his death A good conscience a continual feast His carriage at his Martyrdome His faith His prayer at the stake Note His cruel martyrdom His Death His Prophecy Q. Maries unmercifulnesse In a Letter He learned the Scripturer by heart His Birth and Education He went to Cambridge A zealous Papist Mr Bilny's prudent charity His conversion Sathans malice The fruit of grace His Charity His Letter to Dr. Redman Gods providence He goes into Wiltshire Popish maliâe He writes to the Archbish. He is made bishop of Worcester A good bishop Sathans malice His faithful boldness Whereof the King was very guilty He resignes his Bishoprick Note He is againe troubled and freed by the King His imprisonment in the Tower His painfulnes in his Ministry His studiousnes His prophesies Steph. Gardiner He is sent for Flighâ refused His Courage He is tempted A prediction Comfârt in affliction His imprisonment He is sent to Oxford His fervent prayers Prayer He encourageth Dr. Ridley A special providence His death In a Letter to King Hen. 8. His birth and education His Character His travels His return A Convocation Mr. Philpots zeal The Queen dissolves the Convocation He is cast into prison Danger of Apostacy Popish cruelty Joy after sorrow His conference with B. Bonner A prison a palace His conference with the bishops His prayer Popish ignorance His conference with Doctor Morgan Popish prophanesse Mr. Philpots zeal He is set in the stocks His condemnation He prepaâââ for death He is carried intoâmit field His martyrdom His wonderful joy in prison He defends Infant baptsim His Birth and Education His Marriage He is again chosen Fellow His prudence Gods providence D. Cranmers advice about the Kings divorce S. Gardiners pridâ He writes his judgement He is sent to Rome An unmannerly dog The Popeâ evasion All learned men for the divorce His industry Hâs prudence His second marriage His humility He is made Arch-Bishop His âudiousness His character He opposed the 6 Articles His Charity Cranmer hated by the Papists His disputatiânâ with Gardiner Popish malice His conference with the King His prudent answer The Kings great favour to him He is betrayed by his own servant A design to have committed him to the Tower The King reveals it to him The King secures him He is basely abused The King is informed of it He appeales to the King The King checks his Counsellors He is reconciled to them The King provides for his ãâã Two Judasses ex ore ãâã c. Gods providence He is hâââd by Queen Mary He is committed to the Tower He refuseth to fly He is removed to Oxford He appeals He is degraded A good conscience His poverty Popish subâiltie His tentations Humane infirmity The danger of Apostacy His death appointed Doctor Cole preacheth Vanity of worldly glory His Apostasie repented of He is pulled down rudely Holy revenge His patienco His death His birth and education He enters into a Monastery Recovers of the plague He goes to Tubing He studies the Hebrew He buyes an hebrew Bible His industry He ordained a Presbyter He is preferred at Basil. He goes towards Rome His conveâsion He is chosen Lecturer at Basill He is sent for to Zurick He marrieth a wife His second marriage Annotations on the Bible His works His death His Character His birth and education He goes to the University He teacheth School His conversion He is made a Presbyter He is imployed in writing a History A rash censure His recântation Divers converted by him He studies Luther Sathans malice He removes to Wittenberg A good Pastor His Humility He is sent for to Hamburg And to Lubeck And to Denmark He is sent into Brunswick He proceeds Doctor His constancy Hââ peaceable dââposition His constancy in prayer His death Preachers pattern His Works His birth and education He goes to Heidleberge He goes to Tubinge His imployments Mr. of Arts. He goes to Wittenberg His great learning His Lectures Luthers Testimony of him His great pains His disputation with Eccius He defends Luther His works He is sent for into England He refuseth to goe Gods mercy His great imployments Note A Prediction Power of prayer His humility A prophetical dream His wife dieth His patience His sicknesse A Prodigy His deportment in his sicknesse Note His Prayer His death His industry His humiliây His great afflictions Why he desired death His opinion about the Lords Supper He is in great danger The Flacians hate him His Character His small means His contentedness therewith Three difficulties His birth and education He comes to Zurick His conversion Christ best of all Chosen Pastor at Embden Reformation in East Frisland He is sent for into England He goes into Denmark He is driven ãâã His afflictions He removes
his hand wherewith he threatned to catch the people that stood about and as Cyprian marvelled hereat it was said unto him The young man whom thou seest sit on the right hand is sad and sorrowful because his Precepts are not observed But he on the left hand danceth and is merry for that occasion is hence given to him to get power from the ancient Father to afflict men This Vision was seen long before this tempest of Persecution happened wherein was declared that the sins of the Christians were the cause why Satan in this and in all other Persecutions did then and still doth get such power with his Net of destruction to rage against the blood of Christian men and all saith Cyprian because we neglect Praying and are not so vigilant therein as we should be wherefore the Lord because he loveth us corrects us corrects us to amend us amends us to save us c. And further speaking about this Vision he saith To the least of his servants both sinful and unworthy hath God of his tender goodness vouchsafed to reveal these things and tell him said God that he be quiet and of good comfort for Peace will come albeit there be a little stay for a while for that some remain yet to be proved and tryed He had also another Vision wherein he was admonished to use a spare dyet and to be sober in his drink least his minde given to heavenly meditations might be drawn away with worldly allurements or oppressed with too much surfeting upon meats and drinks and thereby should be less apt and able to Prayer and spiritual Exercises Furthermore whereas the Christians were charged by the Heathens as the causes of all publike calamities he tels them that it was long before prophesied of by Christ that towards the end of the World there should be Famine Wars and Pestilences which was rather to be imputed to their impious Idolatry and contempt of the ture God then to Christians which evils saith he are increased by the wickedness of men For Famens majorem facit rapacitas juà m siccitas Famine comes more by the Avarice of men then by the drought of the Ayr but the special cause thereof proceeds from the sheding of so much Christian blood And whereas the Christians were condemned for not worshipping their Idols he shewed that those Idols were no true Gods but Images of certain dead Kings which could neither save themselves from death nor such as worshiped and trusted in them In the beginning of this Persecution Cyprian went into voluntary banishment least as himself saith he should do more hurt then good to the Congregation And from the desolate places of his abode where yet he was often sought after he wrote to the Churches shewing thereby the beseeming vertue of a faithful Pastor in that he took no less care of his Flock in his absence then when he was present After the death of the Emperour Decius he returned to his place but not long after he was again banished by Paternus the Proconsul of Africa into the City of Thurben But when Paternus the Proconsul was dead he came back again and Galienus Maximus succeeding in the Office of Paternus found Cyprian in a Garden whereupon he caused him to be apprehended by his Sergeants and to be carried before the Idols to offer Sacrifice which when he would not do the Proconsul brake forth into these words saying Long hast thou lived in a sacrilegious minde and hast gathered together men of a wicked conspiracy and hast shewed thy self an enemy to the gods of the Romans and to their holy Laws neither could the sacred Emperours Valerianus and Galienus revoke thee to the Sect of their Ceremonies wherefore I condemn thee to have thy head cut-off To this he answered joyfully Do fully what belongs to your Office and thereupon putting off his Apparel he gave it to his Deacons wishing them to give his Executioner 25 peices of gold in testimony of his love to him and so kneeling down he covered his Eyes and willingly submitted his Neck to the stroke of the Sword suffering Martyrdom Anno Christi 259. He was undaunted in the time of Persecution so that neither his wives disswasions nor the Worlds frowns nor the malice of his Adversaries could affright him He never turned Widdow emptie from him He was the blinde mans Eyes the lame mans Legs the naked mans Garment He called Cecilius that converted him Novae vitae parentem the Father of his Christian life His carriage was such as it was hard to say whether he was more loved or feared He tels that the Church having enjoyed long Peace all men studied their private wealth so that Devotion Religion and good Discipline were quite neglected and all estates were fearfully corrupted Ergò sivit hoc flagellum Deus therefore saith he God suffered this scourge of Persecution to reform it In the time of a Pestilence he shewed much piety and charity comforting some administring to the wants of others and stirring up others to do the like He suffered under Valerianus and Galienus Some of his usual sayings were these Ne dormiat in Thesauris tuis quod pauperi prodesse potest Let not that sleep in thy Treasury that may be profitable to the Poor Duo nunquam veterasâunt in homine cor semper novas cogitationes machinando Lingua vanas cordis conceptiones proferendo Two things never wax old in man the heart ever imagining new cogitations the tongue ever uttering the vain conceptions of the heart Quod al quando de necessitate amittendum est sponte pro Divina remuneratione distribuendum est That which a man must necessarily sometime part with it 's wisdom for a man to distribute it so that God may everlastingly reward him Integritas ibi nulla esse potest ubi qui improbos damnent desunt soli qui damnentur occurruât There can be no integrity whereas they which should condemn the wicked are ever wanting and they only which should be condemned are ever present Sârioum purpuram indutae Christum induere non possunt Women that pride themselves in putting on silk and purple cannot lightly put on the Lord Jesus Christ. Faminae crines suos malo praesagio inficiunt capillos enim sib flammeos auspicati non metuunt They which colour their locks with yellow and red begin betimes to prognosticate of what eâlour their hair shall be in Hell Qui se pingunt in hoc seculo aliter quà m creavit Deus metuant ne cum venerit resurrectionis dies artifex creaturam suam non recognoscat They which love to paint themselves in this world otherwise then God created them may justly fear that at the Resurrection their Creator will not know them Qui Pauperi elemosynam dat Deo suavitatis odorem sacrificat He that gives an alms to the Poor offers a sweet smelling Sacrifice unto God Contemnenda est omnis
Constantinople to give an account of the tumults and seditions that he had raised at Alexandria At this time there was one Alexander a godly and worthy man Bishop of Constantinople He in the dimication which arose about Arius shewed himself a very prudent and pious man For as soon as Arius came to Constantinople he presently raised divisions amongst the people there also so that great tumults ensued whilest one part of the people stood for the Faith confirmed by the Nicene Council another part of them said that the opinion of Arius was most consonant and agreeable to reason Hereupon Alexander fell into a great perplexity especially because Eusebius Bishop of Nicomedia often and grievously threatned him that he would depose him from his Bishoprick if he would not receive Arius and his companions into Communion with him But Alexander was not so solicitous about his own Deposition as he was careful for to maintain the Nicene Faith and the Doctrine established by that Council For esteeming himself bound to be a Patron of the Decrees of that Council he thought that it was his duty to the uttermost of his power to see that they might not be broken nor made invalid Being therefore ingaged in this contestation he laid aside humane arguments and betook himself to the help and assistance of God and thereupon shutting himself up in the Church he fell to Fasting and Prayer and night and day with tears he begged of God that if the opinion of Arius was true he might never see the day appointed for the trial but if his own Faith were the truth that then God would inflict some visible judgement upon Arius the Author of all those mischiefs In the mean time the Emperour desirous to finde out the opinion of Arius sent for him to his Pallace and asked him whether he did agree to the Decrees of the Council of Nice He without delay willingly and chearfully subscribed them whereas in the mean time he cunningly and fallaciously evaded those things which were determined about matters of Faith The Emperour wondering at it required him to swear to them which he also did but with the like fraud as he had before subscribed them For having writren privately his own opinion he put it into his bosom and then swore that he did truly and from his heart believe according as he had written The good Emperour giving credit to his Subscription and Oath commanded Alexander the Bishop of Constantinople to receive him into Communion This was on the Saturday and Arius expected the next day to be admitted into the Communion of the Church but God prevented it For Arius going out of the Pallace with Eusebius and a great number of his followers in great pomp and pride as having gotten the victory of his adversaries He no sooner came to the chief Market place in the City but his Conscience began to accuse and terrifie him for all his deceit and wickedness through the violence whereof his belly was loosened whereupon he asked whether the Jakes was not nere and being informed that they were hard by he turned aside into them and whilest he was casing Nature first his Fundament came forth then abundance of blood and at last he voided his Bowels with his Spleen and his Liver whereupon he immediately dyed Some of his company thinking him long went in to see the cause and found him dead in this miserable manner Hereupoâ Eusebius and all his rout were stricken with a wonderful terror The fame of Arius his accursed death presently flew all over the City yea almost over all the World Every one as they went by pointed at the place where he made this wretched end and shunned the use of it Yet his Associates gave it out that his adversaries by the help of Magick had thus destroyed him And whereas many resorted to see the place of his death whereby it became very infamous at length a certain rich Citizen that was an Arian bought it and pulling down the Jakes built an house in the room of it that so the thing in process of time might be wholly forgotten Athanasius being throughly informed of these things writes thus of them Arius saith he the Prince and Author of his Sect and the companion of Eusebius was by the art and industry of the Eusebian Faction sent for to Constantinople by the Emperour of blessed memory who commanded him to write his Faith and this cunning Fox wrote it indeed but after the manner of the Devil in quoting Scripture he craftily suppressed and left out the impudent words of his impiety And when Constantine urged him that if he had no other opinion which he kept secret in his minde he should subscribe and swear to the truth withal telling him that if he forswore himself God would finde him out and plague him for it this miserable wretch swore that he held no other opinion nor thought otherwise then he had written Whereupon saith he going forth from the Emperour Gods hand presently fell upon him and like Judas dying he burst in sunder and his bowels came forth And though death be common to all men so that no man no not our Enemy is to be reproached after death yet the death of Arius being so strange and differing from the death of other men is not to be passed over in silence For when Eusebius and his followers threatned to bring Arius the very next morning into the Congregation and Alexander by Prayer had sought unto God to prevent it It pleased God who was now made the Judge that very day to bring him to such a fearful end Constantine being informed hereof wondred at it assuring himself that Arius had been guilty of perjury But shortly after it pleased God to take away that good Emperour After whose death Eusebius Bishop of Nâcomedia and Theognis Bishop of Nice supposing that now they had gotten a fit time endeavoured by all means possible to take away the Nicene Creed out of the Church wherein was the clause of One Substance and in the room thereof to settle the detestable heresie of Arius But this they knew they could never effect if Athanasius returned from Exile to Alexandria wherefore they made use of a certain Arian Priest to carry the last Will and Testament of Constantine to Constantius his son together with the Legacies bequeathed him Constantius finding in the Will that which he greatly desired viz. that the Empire of the East was left to him made very much of the Priest granted him great liberty charged him to use his Pallace freely and boldly at his pleasure Hereupon this cunning seducer insinuated into acquaintance with the Empress and with her Eunuchs and Chamberlains and whereas one Eusebius was chief of the Eunuchs through the perswasions of this lewd Priest he became an Arian and infected the other Eunuchs of his Company Yea the Empress also by the enticements of this Priest and her Eunuchs fell into
Theodosius he was so grievously incensed against the Citizens of Thessalonica that he sent an Army against them and slew seven thousand of them even the innocent amongst the guilty without ever examining the fact and proceeding judicially against the nocent And presently after he went into the West against the Tyrant Maximus whereof you may read the story in my second Part of the Marrow of Ecclesiastical History in the life of Theod. senior And having obtained a wonderful victory he went to Millain but as he was about to enter into the Church Ambrose met him at the door and said unto him It s very likely O Emperour that you know not the greatness of that murther that was committed by you neither after your anger was appeased did you by reason weigh the greatness of your crime For it may be the greatness of your Imperial Dignity would not suffer you to acknowledge your sin but your Power blindes your Reason For you ought to consider the weakness and frailty of our Humane Nature and to bend your Eyes upon our Mother Earth from which you had your Original and into which you must return neither ought you by reason of the splendor of your Purple garments to be ignorant of the weakness of that body which is shrowded in them Consider further that you rule over those who are partakers of the same Nature with you and therefore are your fellow-servants For God the Creator of the Universe is Lord and King of all men With what eyes then can you behold his Temple who is Lord of all With what feet can you tread in his Courts How dare you I pray you stretch forth before him those hands which are defiled with murther and unjust bloodshed and with the same receive the Holy Sacrament of Christs Body Or how dare you put his Holy Blood into your mouth which being inflamed with anger commanded unjustly the spilling of so much blood Depart therefore and do not increase your former sin by adding a new one to it but embrace that bond which the Lord of all doth from Heaven impose upon you which bond truly hath force to cure you of the disease of your Soul and of restoring you to health The godly Emperour willingly submitted to him for having been religiously trained up he knew full well what was the duty of Gods Ministers and what was proper for Kings to do in such cases and accordingly returned to his Palace full of sighs and tears And about eight moneths after the Feast of Christs Nativity being to be celebrated the Emperour sate still in his Palace giving himself to lamentations and pouring out abundance of tears which Ruffinus the Master of his Hall taking notice of being very dear unto the Emperour went to him and asked him the cause of his weeping Then the Emperour mourning more bitterly and pouring out more abundance of tears said Surely Ruffinus thou dost but mock me or knowest not with how great misery I am afflicted For I sigh and bewail my calamity whilst I consider in my minde how open the Church is to my servants yea to beggars who have free leave to pour out their Prayers before God But not only that place but even Heaven it self is shut up against me For that saying of our Saviour comes into my minde Whose sins you bind on Earth shall be bound in Heaven To this Ruffinus answered therefore if it please you I will run to the Bishop I will intreat beseech and perswade him to free you from this bond But I fear said the Emperour that he will not hearken to you For I know that Ambrose's sentence is so just and equal that he will not violate the Law of God for fear of the Imperial Power But when Ruffin was not yet satisfied promising that he would prevail with Ambrose the Emperour bade him run quickly and himself hoping that Ruffin might prevail immediately followed him But as soon as Ambrose saw Ruffin he said unto him Thou seemest unto me Ruffin to imitate the impudency of dogs For although by thy perswasion that cruel slaughter was committed yet thou hast so steeled thy Face that thou art not ashamed neither art thou grieved that by so great madness thou ragedst against the Image of God But when Ruffin had earnestly entreated him to be pacified and told him that the Emperour would presently be there Ambrose being kindled with an holy zeal said I profess Ruffin that I will forbid him entrance into the Church and if he will turn his Power into Tyranny I am willing to be slain by him Ruffin hearing these things presently sent a messenger to the Emperour intreating him to stay in his Palace The Emperour meeting with this message in the Market place said Yet I will go that I may undergo his just reproofs which are due to me And when he came to the Church door he entred not but went to the Bishop desiring him to absolve him from his Excommunication But Ambrose told him that his coming was Tyrannical and that he was enraged against God and trampled his Laws under his Feet To whom the Emperour answered I do not oppose those Laws with an obstinate minde neither do I desire wickedly to enter into the Church but I intreat thee to absolve me and to set before thine eyes the clemency of him who is Lord of all things neither shut thou those doors against me which he opens to all that truly repent of their sins To which Ambrose answered What repentance dost thou shew after so grievous a sin committed What medicines hast thou applyed for the healing of such great wounds It is thy part said the Emperour to prepare the medicine to apply it and when the wound is cured to remove it It 's my part to follow thy directions Then said Ambrose Because thou gavest way to thy anger and didst not temper it with reason but pronouncedst sentence with an inflamed minde I desire that thou make a Law that all sentences pronounced in anger shall be void and that in all causes which concern death or confiscation of goods thirty days intervene between the sentence and execution that so if there be just cause the sentence may be revoked and that at the end of the thirty days they which writ thy sentence shew it thee that so laying aside all anger thou mayst weigh the cause with judgement and so either establish it or make it void The Emperour judging this most prudent counsel willingly imbraced it and presently commanded a Law to be Enacted which he confirmed by his subscription which being done Ambrose absolved him and the Emperour presently entring the Church sell prostrate pronouncing that verse of the Psalm My soul cleaveth to the dust quicken me according to the Word and then with many tears and testimonies of sorrow he begged pardon and afterwards was made partaker of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper Upon a time a certain Witch
this present evil World and I believe that God will answer my desire And indeed accordingly in the third moneth of the siege he fell sick of a Feaver which proved his last sickness neither would God defraud his servant of the fruit of his Prayers And indeed he was very powerful in Prayers so that sometimes thereby he hath cast out Devils and restored sick men to their health His Feaver proved so violent that he dyed in the same third moneth of the siege In his sickness he breathed forth most pious ejaculations He made no Will having nothing to bestow but only Books upon several Libraries He dyed Aged 76. Anno Christi 430. having been a Minister 40 years It 's written of him that after his first Conversion to the Faith he was grievously vexed with inward conflicts against his corrupt affections complaining of his inward hereditary habitual inveterate vices and after long strugling with them by purposes vows strong resolutions watching fasting self-revenge and other good means finding still his own weakness and the encreasing violence of his corruptions as he was intentively musing and meditating what to do more he heard a voice saying In te stas non stas whereupon rightly apprehending that his own strength of wit carnal reason and other powers and helps of nature could not serve the turn for the effecting of that which was the proper and peculiar work of Grace he betook himself to his Saviour by humble faithful and fervent Prayer and at last found such assistance from the Holy Spirit of Grace as strengthned him to stand and make good his resolutions with more comfort then before His usual with was that Christ when he came might finde him aut Precantem aut Praedicantem either Praying or Preaching When the Donatists upbraided him unworthily with the impiety and impurity of his former Life Look said he how much they blame my former fault by so much the more I commend and praise my Physitian He used to say Holy Marriage is better then proud Virginity And again Prayer that is pure and holy pierceth Heaven and returns not empty It 's a shelter to the Soul a sacrifice to God and a scourge to the Divel And again There is nothing that more abateth sin then the frequent meditation of Death He cannot die ill that lived well aud seldom doth he die well that lived ill A Christian at home in his house must think himself a stranger and that his Country is above where he shall be no stranger And again If men want wealth it is not to be unjustly gotten if they have it they ought by good works to lay it up in Heaven He that hath tasted the sweetness of Divine love will not care for temporal sweetness The reasonable Soul made in the likeness of God may here finde much careful distraction but no full satisfaction for it being capable of God can be satisfied with nothing but God Not to be without affliction but to overcome affliction is blessedness Love is strong as death for as death kils the body so love of eternal life kils worldly desires and affections He called Ingratitude the Devils Sponge wherewith he wipes out all the favors of the Almighty He so admired and loved the seven Penitential Psalms that he caused them to be written in great letters and hung within the curtains of his Death-bed that so he might give up the Ghost in the contemplation and meditation of them His Prayer was Lord give first what thou requirest and then require of me what thou wilt And He that prays well cannot chuse but live well His Works are printed in nine Tomes at Basil by Froben The Life of Cyril of Alexandria who flourished Anno Christi 430. THeophilus Bishop of Alexandria falling into a Lethargy shortly after dyed whereupon a great contention arose about the Election of a new Bishop some standing for Timotheus the Archdeacon and others for Cyrillus Abudatius the Captain of the Garrison laboured all that he could to prefer Timothy but the other party prevailed and so Cyril was chosen and setled in the Bishoprick About this time Nestorius the Heretick vented his blasphemous opinions against the Deitie of our Saviour Christ whom Cyril answered and confuted Upon this the Emperour Theodosius minor summoned a Council at Ephesus in which Cyril was chosen President and where with much learning and judgement he confuted Nestorius and Pelagius So that the Council after serious examination and deliberation pronounced this sentence To omit the other abominable wickednesses of Nestorius because being sent for by us he hath refused to appear neither would he receive those godly and religious Bishops whom we sent to confer with him being therefore forced by necessity we proceeded to the examniation of his wicked opinions and finding partly by the Epistles and Books that he hath written and partly by his words which in this famous City he hath lately spoken which by sufficient witness have been proved before us that he holds and publisheth Heretical opinions contrary to the Word of God and the Canons of the holy Councils we therefore not without many tears are forced to pass this severe sentence against him and our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ whom he hath so grosly and grievously blasphemed doth by us Decree that Nestorious be deposed from his Rishoprick and excommunicated from the holy Assemblies of the Ministers of God Which sentence the Emperour Theodosius did also approve of and confirm and withall banished him to Oasis and God to shew the severity of his justice against blasphemers strake him with an incurable disease whereby his tongue rotted and breeding many Worms was devoured by them so that he ended his wretched life after a most miserable manner This Cyril was by birth a Grecian and as one testifies of him was Vir doctus sanctus a learned and holy man He was President in the Council at Ephesus where with much learning and judgement he confuted Nestorius and Pelagius He was admirably experienced in the holy Scriptures flourished under Theodosius junior he was so famous for piety eloquence and wit that the Grecian Bishops gat some of his Homilies by heart and recited them to their people After twenty two years labor in the Government of that Church he quietly yeelded up his spirit unto God Anno Christi 448. under Theodosius junior He used to say It 's the best way for a rich man to make the Bellies of the Poor his Barn to succour the fatherless and needy and thereby to lay up treasure in Heaven that he may be received into everlasting habitations And Where the Scripture wants a tongue of expression we need not lend an ear of attention we may safely knock at the Council door of Gods secrets but if we go further we may be more bold then welcome And again The Devil runs
have been called Universal which he cals Nomen istud blasphemia That Name of blasphemy He used to say He is poor whose soul is void of grace not whose coffers are emptie of money Contented poverty is true riches And again God is never absent though the wicked have him not in their thoughts where he is not by favour he is by punishment and terrour He could never read those words Son remember in thy life time thou receivedst good things without horror and astonishment least having such dignities and honors as he had he should be excluded from his portion in Heaven It is said of him that he was the worst Romane Bishop of all those that were before him and the best of all those that followed him He wrote Expositions upon the greatest part of the Bible His Works are contained in 6 Tome The Life of Isidore who dyed Anno Christi 675. ISidorus Hispalensis by birth a Spaniard carefully educated by his Parents of a quick wit and able memory admired for his Learning and Eloquence was chosen Bishop of Sivil under Mauritius the Emperour wherein he was very painful and could accommodate his speech fitly both to the ignorant and learned He was full of mercy and good fruits He was had in great honor his fame spreading abroad far and wide both for his Life and learning He so macerated his body with Labors and enriched his Soul with Divine Learning and Contemplations that he seemed to live an Angels life upon Earth He dyed in the Reign of Heraclius the Emperour about the year 675. He used to say Knowledge and a good life are both profitable yet if both cannot be obtained a good life is to be sought rather then much knowledge And As the Viper is killed by the young ones in her belly so are we betrayed and killed by our own thoughts nourished in our bosomes which consume and poison the soul. And All things may be shunned but a mans own heart a man cannot run from himself a guiltie conscience will not forsake him wheresoever he goes And The Divels have a threefold prescience 1. By natural subtiltie 2. By experience 3. By supernatural revelation And He that begins to grow better let him beware least he grow proud least vain-glory give him a greater overthrow then his former vices BEDE The Life of Bede who dyed Anno Christi 735. VEnerable Bede an English Saxon was born Anno Christi 671. near to the Monastery of S. Peter and S. Paul in Wyrimunda His Parents dying when he was but seven years old he was bred up in that Monasterie under two Abbots Bennet and Ceolfride men famous in those times for Religion and Learning under whom he was trained up and from his childhood accustomed to Virtue and Piety He proved very learned in Philosophie Astronomie Musick and Poetrie In Greek Rhetorick Arithmetick and Historie but especially he was very studious of the Holy Scriptures Three things were familiar to him in his whole life To Pray Write and Preach He was made Deacon at nineteen years old and a Presbyter at thirty after which time he wholly devoted himself to the meditation of the Holy Scriptures He was so famous for Learning and Piety that he was sent for to Rome by Pope Sergius to help to settle the Churches peace He was very modest never hunting after preferments so devout in reading the Scriptures that he would often shed tears and after he ended reading conclude with Prayers He hated idleness and would oft say That there was so much work to do for a Divine in so little time that he ought not to lose any of it And for pleasures we must deal with them said he as we do with honey onely touch it with the tip of the finger not with the whole hand for fear of surfeit He finished his works Anno Christi 731. and dyed about 735. and of his Age 70. He used to say He is a sluggard that would reign with God and not labor for God in the promised rewad he takes delight but the commanded ãâã do affright him And Anger doth languish by ãâã but flames higher by expressing He wrote on all the Liberal Arts sundry excellent Treatises Though he lived in the uttermost corner of the World yet neglected he not the body of the Greek and Hebrew Tongues He had many excellent scholars whom by his counsel and example he drew to an inestimable love of the holy Scriptures endeavouring to make them as famous for their Religion and Piety as they were for their Learning He was of a very bountiful Disposition Venerable for his knowledge and Integrity of Life Full of Charity Devotion and Chastity He was of a comly Stature grave Pace clear Voice Eloquent Tongue amiable Countenance which seemed to be composed of gravity and mildness He was very affable to such as were good A terror to such as were proud and wicked yet milde and humble to his Fraternity What he learned out of Gods Word by study and meditation he communicated it to others without envy He had Scholars that flockt to him but of all parts of England desiring to be trained up in Learning and Manners under such a Master For his Conversation was a rule of Religion and honesty to all about him Anno Christi 731. and of his Age 59. he finished the Catalogue of his Writings which are many and that upon most Books in the Old and New Testament besides Epistles Histories of the Saints the History of his own Abbey the Ecclesiastical History of his own Nation in five Books a Martyrologie a Book of Hymns and many others which are all printed at Collen Anno Christi 1612. In his sickness he comforted himself with that of the Apostle Heb. 12. 6. Whom the Lord loveth he chastneth and scourgeth every for whom he receiveth When his Scholars were weeping about him he said in the words of S. Ambrose Non sic vixi ut pudeat me inter vos vivere sed nec mori timeo quiah onum Dominum habemus The time is come if my Creator pleaseth that being freed from the flesh I shall go to him who made me when I was not out of nothing I have lived long and the time of my dissolution is approaching And my soul desireth to see my Saviour Christ in his glory After his death one of his scholars was very desirous to have made an Epitaph Haec sunt in fossa Bede sancti or Presbyteri Ossa yet he could not make up the verse with those words But in the morning this was found on his Tomb Hâc sunt in fossa Bedae venerabilis ossa Here lies intombed in these stones Of Venerable Bead the Bones The Life of John Damascen who flourished Anno Christi 730. IOhn Damascen was born in Damascus of Religious Parents who carefully brought him up in Learning wherein
justly spoken and in consenting to the wicked condemnation of Huss and that he repented with his whole heart that ever he did it This so enraged them that they proceeded to condemn him whereupon he said I after my death will leave a remorse in your conscience and a nail in your hearts Et cito vos omnes at respondeatis mihi coram altissimo justissimo judice post centum annos I here cite you all to answer to me before the most High and just Judge within a hundred years When he was brought forth to Execution they prepared a great and long paper painted about with red Divels which when he beheld throwing away his hood he took the Miter and put it on his head saying Our Lord Jesus Christ when he suffered death for me âost âwretched sinner did wear a crown of thorns upon his head and I for his sake will willingly wear this Cap. As he went to the place of Execution he sung some Hymns and coming to the place of Execution where John Huss was burned he kneeled down and prayed fervently He was bound to the Image of John Huss and so fire was set to him which he endured with admirable valor for standing at the stake bound and the Executioner kindling the fire behinde him he bade him kindle it before his face For said he If I had been afraid of is I had not come to this place having had so many opportunities offered to me to escape it The whole City of Constance admired his constancie and Christian magnanimity in fuffering death At the giving up the Ghost he said Hanc animam in flammis offero Christe tibi This soul of mine in slames of fire O Christ I offer thee An aliquid ab Hieronymo Pragensi scriptum sit posterisque relictum ignoro credibile verum est virum tam doctum ac eloquentem quaedam scripsisse Orationes quas in Academiis illu strioribus habuit tum Themata quae proposuit forte in lucem edita suppressa fuare extincta ab iis qui more suo lucem ferre nequeunt MARTIN LVTHER The Life of Martin Luther who flourished Anno Christi 1500. MArtin Luther was born at at Isleben in the Earldom of Mansfield Anino Christ 1483. of good parents His Fathers name was John Luther who first lived at Isleben and afterwards removed to Manfield where he had some metal Mines and was chosen a Magistrate and was grateful to all for the integrity of his life His Mothers name was Margaret Lindeman who was adorned with such Virtues as became an honest Matron but especially she was eminent for chastity the fear of God and often calling upon his name Assoon as this their son was capable of Learning they first trained him up in the knowledge and fear of God and in the Exercise of other virtues under their own wings Then their care was to educate him in humane Learning for which end they set him to school to George Aemilius and though at this time the darkness of Popery had much obscured the light of Truth yet it pleased God to preserve in the Schools the Catechisms containing the Principles of Religion the use of singing Psalms and some forms of Prayer At fourteen years of age he went to Magdeburg where he lived a poor Scholar one year From thence he was removed by his Parents to Isenach where was a famous School and where he first tasted the sweetness of Learning and so after a while went thence to the University of Erford Anno Christi 1501. There he profited so much in the knowledge of Logick and other Learning that the whole University admired his wit At twenty years old he was made Master of Arts and Professor of Physicks Ethicks and other parts of Philosophy Then he betook himself to the study of the Law but at the age of twenty one being affrighted at the violent death of a faithful companion of his whom he dearly loved he betook himself into the Augustine Monks Colledge in Erford writing to his parents the reason why he changed the course of his life In the Library of that Colledge he met with a copy of a Latine Bible which he had never seen before and with admiration observed that there were more portions of holy Scripture then were read in the Churches which made him wish that he had the like book And it pleased God that not long after he obtained his desire and fell close to the study thereof some sickness and fear also whening him on in those studies Afterwards falling into a violent disease which threatned death an old Priest came to him saying Sir be of good courage your disease is not mortal God will raise you up to afford comfort to many others which also came to pass and he was much cheared up by conference with that Priest who largely discoursed with him about Justification by Faith and explained the Articles of the Creed to him Then did Luther read over Augustines Works where he found the same Doctrine of Justification by Faith frequently confirmed He read over the School-men also especially Occam and in these studies he spent five years in that Collegde Anno Christi 1507. he was made Presbyter and John Staupicius endeavouring to promote the University of Wittenberg then lately begun knowing the wit and Learning of Luther removed him thither Anno Christi 1508. when he was but 26 years old where by his labors he did much good Three years after he was sent to Rome in the behalf of his Convent where he saw the Pope and the manner of the Roman Clergy concerning which he saith At Rome I heard them say Mass in such a manner as I detest them for at the Communion Table I heard Curtisans laugh and boast of their wickedness and others concerning the Bread and Wine of the Altar Saying Bread thou art and Bread thou shalt remain Wine thou art and Wine thou shalt remain Upon his return from Rome he was made Doctor in Divinity at the charge of Duke Frederick Elector of Saxonie who heard him Preach and admired the foundness of his Invention the strength of his Arguments and the excellency of the things which he delivered Soon after he began to explain the Epistle to the Romans and some Psalms where he shewed the difference between the Law and Gospel refuted Justification by Works c. And his demeanor agreed with his Doctrine his speech seemed to come from his heart not from his lips only Then he betook himself to the study of the Greek and Hebrew This year 1517. was by the account of Scultetus the 356. from the Reformation of Religion in France by the Waldenses the 146. from the first confutation of Popish Errors in England by John Wicklief The 116. from the first year of the Ministry of John
âaeus a Lawyer who perswaded him to submit his writings to the judgement of Caesar and the Princes To whom he answered that he would not decline the judgement of Caesar and the Orders of the Empire if they would be guided by the Word of God which saith he makes so plain for me that unless they convince me of an Error I cannot depart from mine opinion Shortly after the Emperor sent to him to depart home giving him 21 days for his return commanding him neither by writing nor word to declare any thing to the people by the way And after his departure the Emperour proscribed him After the publication whereof Prince Frederick appointed certain Noble men whom he most confided in to convey him to a secret place thereby to avoid the danger who accordingly conveyed him privately to Wartsburg which he called his Patmos where he continued ten moneths and wrote divers useful Treatises The Papists imployed Wizards to descrie him but they could not certainly design the place where he was In Luthers absence the University of Wittenberg sollicited Prince Frederick to abolish the Mass out of his Jurisdiction shewing him the impiety of the same and that it was invented but about 400 years before for the Popes profit to which the Prince gave them a very prudent and pious answer Anno Christi 1522. Luther wrote to Melancthon to provide him a lodging at Wittenberg For saith he the Translation of the Bible will urge me to return For having translated much of the Bible into Dutch in his Patmos it was necessary for him to confer with learned men and to have their help and assistance about the same In his absence Justus Jonas Caralostad Phil. Melancthon Ampsdorfius c. had removed private Mass Images auricular confession Prayer to Saints c. March the sixth Luther came back to Wittenberg and preached every day taxing the Reformers in one of his Sermons as if they had erred in abolishing the Mass Not saith he because it 's sinful to do it but because they have not done it in a right order c. And as touching the pulling down of Images he said If any worship Images they are to be abolished otherwise they are to be endured yet I wish they were all taken away because of the abuse of them which we cannot dissemble Caralostadius was much netled with these and other such like speeches who was the chief doer in these matters saying that Luther would have all men enslaved to his authority and would suffer no man to do or write any thing whereof himself was not the first Author Presently after Luther excused himself by Letters to Prince Frederick for returning to Wittenberg without his leave and concludes that he returned to Wittenberg under a stronger protection then the Elector could give him for saith he God alone can order and promote the Truth without any mans excessive care and helping hand Therefore in this cause he that most strongly trusts to Gods assistance he most surely defends himself and others Anno Christi 1522. He printed the New Testament translated by him in his Patmos into the Germane tongue and revised by Melancthon whereat our King Henry the Eighth and George Duke of Saxony were much troubled About this time Thomas Muncer an Anabaptist wrote a Fanatick Book against him and his Doctrine and the Boors seduced by him rose in Arms publishing their demands whereof these were some That they might choose their own Ministers That they might pay no Tithes but of corn only which also might be distributed partly to the Ministers partly to the Poor and other common uses That they should not be used as servants who were made free by the blood of Christ c. To these Proposals Luther wrote an answer That indeed Princes grievously offend by forbidding the sincere Preaching of the Gospel and for overburdening of their subjects But yet for these things the subjects may not take Arms against their Magistrates That there was no reason why they should place their hope in the multitude seeing God can easily destroy them That they abused the Name of God pretending it for their Sedition as if they desired to promote the sincere glory of God the Doctrine of the Gospel Justice and Equity whereas indeed they go about to take from the Magistrate the power that God hath given him and whom God hath commanded them to obey Afterwards he proceeded to examine their Demands shewing that the most of them were contrary to the Law of Nature and Equity telling them also how great their confusion would be should they be granted And for the rest which seemed to be grounded upon any Equity he referred them to be examined by the Lawyers Lastly he exhorted them lovingly and brotherly to lay down their Arms and to obey their Magistrates telling them that they might remove from those places where the Preaching of the Gospel is forbidden but they may not oppose themselves violently against their Magistrates But when this admonition prevailed nothing he wrote another Treatise wherein he exhorted all men to join together for the utter subversion of these Theevish incendiaries as for the quenching of a common fire Thomas Muncer a phanatical Preacher sowed the seeds of this Sedition and was holpen much by one Pseiffer These vented their dreams and told their followers that they should kill their Enemies as Mice in a Barn Hereupon some of the Princes assembled their Forces and pitying this wretched seduced multitude offered them peace if they would lay down their Arms and depart home But Muncer told his followers that the Princes were afraid and that by a Divine Revelation he could assure them of victory Hereupon they came to a battel wherein 5000 of them were slain and the rest fled to Francusium but the Princes pursuing them took the City put 300 more to death and Muncer being taken was brought before the Princes who chid him for his proceedings and then racked him to confess his complices Upon the wrack he cryed out grievously whereupon Prince George of Saxony said But think upon the slaughter of the poor wretches who being deceived by you perished yesterday Upon this Muncer laughed out right and said Why they would be deceived When he was to be beheaded he was so faint-hearted that he could not rehearse the Apostles Creed with him also was beheaded Pseiffer and some others and shortly after was finished that mournful war of the Clowns whereinin several places were slain above fifty thousand some say one hundred thousand Anno Christi 1525. Luther marryed Catherine a Boreâ who had formerly been a Nun. This Luthers freinds disliked very much that he should marry at so unseasonable a time when Germany weltred in the blood of the Clowns and Saxony mourned for the death of Frederick their Prince But Phil. Melancthon wrote thus to Camerarius Perhaps some will wonder that Luther
end I my Explication of Genesis God grant that others may more rightly expound it then I have done I cannot proceed further my strength faileth pray for me that I may have a quiet and comfortable departure out of this life This year in Italy was spread a most impudent lye about Luthers death which they called Horrendum inâud tum miraculum quod in aeternum laudandus Dâus in foedamâte Mart. Lutheri corpore anima damnati exhibuit in gloriam Jesu Christi atque in emendationem consolationem piorum The substance of it was this That when he saw he must die he requested that his body should be set upon the Altar and worshipped with Divine Worship but when his body was laid in the grave suddainly so great a stir and terror arose as if the foundations of the Earth were shaken together whereupon all that were present trembling and astonished lift up their Eyes and saw the sacred Host appear in the Air whereupon they placed that upon the Altar But the night following a loud noise and ratling shriller then the former was heard about Luthers sepulchre which terrified all the City and almost killed them with astonishment in the morning when they opened the sepulchre they found neither bodie bones nor clothes but a sulphureous stink came out thereof which almost overcame the standers by c. This Lye coming printed into Germany Luther subscribed with his own hand I Martin Luther do profess and witness under my own hand that receiving this figment full of anger and fury concerning my death I read it with a joyful mind and cheerful countenance And but that I detest the blasphemy which ascribeth an impudent lye to the Divine Majesty for the other passages I cannot but laugh at Satans the Popes and their complices hatred against me God turn their hearts from their Diabolical malice but if he Decree not to hear my Prayer for their sin unto death then God grant that they may fill up the measure of their sins and solace themselves with their libels full fraught with such like lyes Anno Christi 1546. Luther taking Melancthon and some others along with him went into his own country and returned in safety to Wittenberg again And not long after he was sent for back by the Counts of Mansfield to compose a difference amongst them about the borders of their Countries and their inheritances Luther did not use to meddle with such businesses having all his life been accustomed only to deal in Ecclesiastical affairs yet because he was born in that Country he would not be wanting to promote the peace of it And therefore having preached his last Sermon at Wittenberg January the 17. upon the 23. day he began his journey and at Hall in Saxony he lodged at Justus Jonas his house and passing over the River with Jonas and his own three sons they were in danger of drowning whereupon he said to Justus Jonas Think you not that it would rejoyce the Devil very much if I and you and my three sons should be drowned He was honorably entertained by the Earl of Mansfield who sent an hundred Horse that conveyed him to Isleben being very weak whereupon he said that he never undertook any great business but he was attended with such sickness yet after the use of some Fomentations he was pretily well and attended the business about which he came from the 29. of Ianuary to the 17. of February During which time he preached some times in the Church and twice administred the Lords Supper and Ordained two to the work of the Ministry At his Table he used holy conference and was dayly very fervent in his Prayers The day before his death he dined and supped with his friends discoursing of divers matters and amongst the rest gave his opinion that in heaven we shall know one another because Adam knew Eve at first sight c. After supper his pain in his breast increasing he went aside and prayed then went to bed and slept but about midnight being awakened with the pain and perceiving that his life was at an end he said I pray God to preserve the Doctrine of his Gospel amongst us For the Pope and the Council of Trent have grievous things in hand After which he thus prayed O heavenly Father my gracious God and Father of our Lord Iesus Christ thou God of all consolation I give thee hearty thanks that thou hast revealed unto me thy Son Iesus Christ whom I believe whom I profess whom I love whom I glorifie whom the Pope and the rout of the wicked persecute and dishonour I beseech thee Lord Iesus Christ receive my soul O my heavenly Father though I be taken out of this life and must lay down this frail body yet I certainly know that I shall live with thee eternally and that I cannot be taken out of thy hands God so loved the world c. Lord I render up my spirit into thy hands and come to thee And again Lord into thy hands I commend my spirit thou O God of Truth hast redeemed me and so as one falling asleep and without any bodily pain that could be discerned he departed this life February 18. Anno 1546. and in the great Climaâterial year of his life This was the Will which he made concerning his Wife with childe and his young son O Lord God I thank thee that thou wouldst have me live a poor and indigent person upon Earth I have neither house nor Land nor possessions nor money to leave Thou Lord hast given me wife and children them Lord I give back to thee nourish instruct and keep them O thou the Father of Orphans and Iudge of the Widow as thou hast done to me so do to them When he was ready to dye Iustus Ionas and Caelius said to him O Reverend Father do you dye in the constant confession of that Doctrine of Christ which you have hitherto preached To which he answered Yea which was the last word that he spake He was ever constant in the known Truth from the confession whereof he could never be removed neither by promises nor threats In the dismal Wars which followed when Wittenberg was yeilded to the Emperour Charles and he came to see Luthers Tomb some of his Spaniards perswaded him that the body of Luther should be taken up and burned the Emperour said Suffer him to rest till the day of the Resurrection and Iudgement of all men When he was fitting himself for his journey to Isleben he confessed to Melancthon that he had gone too far in the Sacramentary Controversie hereupon Melancthon perswaded him to explicate his minde by publishing some Book but he answered hereby I shall bring a suspition upon all my Doctrine as faulty but when I am dead you may do as you see cause He was full of affections towards his children gave them liberal education
aside and in February following Leo Judae was made Preacher in S. Peters Church in Zurick and he marryed a wife and the like did other Ministers Anno Christi 1524. the Magistrates of Zurick forbad Processions removed the Martyrs Tombs out of the chief Churches in the City Took down the Idols and Images and burned them publickly the like they did in all places as far as their Jurisdiction extended Also Katharine Cimmerin the Abbess delivered up her Nunnery into the hands of the Major marryed an husband and was by the Magistrates endowed with a large estate of yearly revenues Converting the Nunnery and the Revenues of it to the education of Youths under a good Master This year also Zuinglius marryed Ann Rembart the widdow of the Noble John Mouer Anno Christi 1525. the Mass was abolished at Zurick as Images had been the year before Concerning which Zuinglius thus telleth the story When saith he we dealt before the Bench of Senators consisting of two hundred about the abolishment of the Mass a certain Scribe or Notary stood up and spake thus O ye Fathers I am not of that rank to speak before you when any cause of the Common-wealth is handled but when matters of Salvation are treated of and the Faith it self is in danger it concerns every man to speak what he thinks I therefore profess that I am of opinion that the true flesh and blood of Christ is received in the Sacrament and I hope that you will by no means force me to the opinion of Zuinglius To this Zuinglius answered that no man at Zurick had been compelled to the Faith that he used no sophistical interpretation when he expounded this is my body For this signifies my body and so he went on to confirm his own opinion and to refell the others Then Henry Engelhard formerly a Popish Doctor but now a Disciple of Christ said I shall prove by Scripture that the bread cannot be the body of Christ for it s neither the natural nor glorified nor mystical Body of Christ therefore not his body c. After this conflict was ended the Aldermen appointed that after dinner four of them should confer with Zuinglius and his Brethren that so weighty a business might be gravely discussed for the better satisfying of some that still doubted When they were met together the business was variously debated and in the end resolved that it should again be referred to the hearing of the Bench of Aldermen And the next day when they were again met together Zuinglius and his Brethren still desired that the Mass might wholly be abolished Whereupon the Scribe stood up again and told Zuinglius that he had said indeed with these words This is my body Christ meant this signifies my body but had not sufficiently proved it by Testimonies of Scripture For saith he whereas you have instanced The Seed is the Word the Field is the World the Enemy is the Devil c. These make not to the purpose for there Christ spake Parabolically but this is no Parable when he saith This is my body To this Zuinglius answered that though he spake not Parabolicaly yet the spake Tropically Upon this the Aldermen Decreed that hereafter the Eucharist should be celebrated according to Christs Institution and that the Mass should be no more used amongst them At this the whole Church much rejoyced only a few of the ruder sort repined urging that the Protestant Ministers should produce some example out of the Scripture wherein the words ought to be in the like manner expounded Hereupon they began to revolve all things yet no example came into their mindes But a few nights after Zuinglius dreamed that he contended again with the Scribe till he was aweary and at last was so dumb that he could not speak whereupon he was exceedingly troubled but after awhile a Monitor came to him from above who said O thou sluggard why dost thou not answer him with that which is written in the 12. of Exodus This is the Passeover of the Lord Immediately he awakened and leaping out of his bed examined the Text and the next day disputed it before the whole Assembly which was entertained with such approbation that all were well satisfied and saith he the three next days we had the greatest Sacraments that ever I saw and the number of those that looked back to the Garlick and Flesh-pots of Egypt was far less then men thought they would have been Anno Christi 1526. The other Pages of the Helvetians had often sent to Zuricâ to cast off their new Religion and to return to the old The Senators answered that they would obey if they might be convinced of Error whereupon the Helvetians invite Eccius to dispute with Zuinglius and Eccius himself wrote a bitter Letter to the Ambassadors of Zurick met at Baden wherein he accused Zuinglius of Heresie requiring them to appoint a time and place whither he might come to prove it Zuinglius hearing of it wrote an Apology for himself to the Ambassadors saying that Eccius dealt both inhumanely and ungodly with him For saith he if I be an Heretick Eccius should have admonished me either by Letters or face to face to convince me of Heresie and not have traduced me to the Magistrates before I was heard He wrote also that he was ready to dispute with Eccius before his own Auditors not admitting any other Judge then the Word of God Eccius replyeth to this Epistle interweaning many slanders and desiring that the place for Disputation might be either Lucern or Baden Zuinglius answered that if Eccius refused to come to Zurick he had much more reason to refuse those places where he was already condemned of Heresie and where his death and destruction was sought after Then did the Senators of Zurick write to Eccius to come thither upoâ the Publick Faith but Eccius refused now accusing Oecolampâdus also At length the twelve Pages Decreed that they must needs dispute and after much contest the meeting was at Zuâick the Disputants were Eccius and Oecolampâdus but no good issue came of it So that the nine Pages concluded that Zuinglius the chief man of the new Religion must be excommunicated and all others that had not been reformed by this conference The year after they of Bern appointed a Disputation which the Popish Pages opposed but they proceeded in it and the issue was that the Disputation being ended by Publick consent they Decreed that Masses Altars Images and all Superstitions brought in contrary to the Word of God should be at once taken away out of their City and large Territories Monasteries and Nunneries they turned into Schools Then they renounced the League of the French King forbidding him to leavy any Mercenaries in their Dominions contenting themselves only with that payâ which he giveth to every Page for friendship as they of Zurick had also done Lastly they write
Professor of Divinity in that City though the Popish party sought by all means to oppose it where he read on the Prophet Isaiah and after awhile he was called to a Pastoral charge in that City to the great regret of the Papists Anno Christi 1524. In that City he caused Infants to be Baptized in the Dutch Tongue He administred the Lords Supper in both kindes by the consent of the Magistrates He confuted by the holy Scriptures the Sacrifice of the Mass Purgatory and other Popish Traditions of the like kinde whereupon by little and little they vanished away Upon this John âochlaeus sent Letters to him from Stutgard full of great promises thereby endeavouring to withdraw him from the Truth and the Mass Priests thundred against him and his companions saying that they deserved the punishment of the worst Hereticks But the Magistrates of Basil commanded all the Preachers within their Jurisdiction to Preach to the People the Word of God and not of men and to abstain from railing and evill speeches threatning severe punishments to those that offended against their Proclamation so that not long after there was a general Reformation of Religion not only in Basil but in the parts adjacent A Decree being made by the Senate that as well within the City of Basil as without throughout all their Jurisdiction the Mass with all Idols should be abandoned and the Ash-wednesday following all the Wooden Images were distributed amongst the Poor of the City to serve them for fire-wood but when they could not agree upon the dividing of them it was Decreed that all the said Images should be burnt together so that in nine great heaps all the stocks and Idols were the same day burnt to ashes before the great Church door Oecolampadius also like a faithful Minister of Jesus Christ was careful to restore Christs Discipline and brought in the censure of Excommunication And presently after being sent for to Vlm together with Blaurerus and Bucer he carryed on the work of Reformation there At Marpurg by the invitation of the Lantgrave of Hess there was a Disputation for three days between Luther Jonas and Melancthon on the one part and Oecolampadius Zuinglius and others on the other about the controversie concerning Christs presence in the Sacrament but the Sweating sickness breaking out there put an end to it yet they agreed about all other Fundamentals in Religion and parted in a brotherly manner Oecolampadius returning to Basil spent the remainder of his days in preaching reading writing publishing of books visiting the sick c. Anno Christi 1531. and of his Age 49. he fell sick about the same time that Zuinglius was so unhappily slain the grief of whose death much aggravated his weakness yet intermitted he not his labors till an Ulcer breaking forth about his Os sacrum he was forced to keep his bed and though his friends Physitians and Chyrurgeons used all means for his cure yet he told them that his disease was mortal He spent his time in Divine meditations and comforting his friends and sending for the Ministers of the Churches to him he spake to this purpose O my Brethren the Lord is come he is come he is now calling me away c. I desired to speak with you to encourage you to continue faithful followers of Christ to persevere in purity of Doctrine in lives conformable to the Word of God Christ will take care for the defence of his Church therefore Let your light so shine forth before men that they may see your good Works c. continue in love unfeigned walk as in Gods presence adorn your Doctrine with holiness of life a cloud is arising atempest is coming and some will fall off but it becomes you to stand fâst and God will assist you c. For my self I pass not the aspersions that are cast upon me I bless God I shall with a clear conscience stand before the Tribunal of Christ I have not seduced the Church of Christ as some affirm but leave you all witnesses that at my last gasp I am the same that formerly I was He had nothing to give and therefore made no Will The fifteenth day of his sickness he called for his children took them by the hand strok't them on the head and though the eldest was but three years old yet he said unto them Go to my three children see that you love God Then speaking to his wife and kindred he desired them to take care that his children might be brought up in the fear of God and then commanded them to be taken away The Ministers continued with him that night and a certain friend coming to him Oecolampadius asked him what news his friend answered None but saith he I 'le tell you some news I shall presently be with my Lord Christ and some asking him whether the light offended him he putting his hand to his heart said Here ãâã abundance of light In the morning he prayed earnestly with the words of David in the 51. Psalm which he repeated from the beginning to the end and presently after said O Christ save me and so he fell asleep in the Lord. The Papists spread many lyes abroad of his death some said that in dispair he slew himself others that he was murthered or poysoned c. He dyed Anno Christi 1521. and of his Age 51. Erasmus wrote to his friends concerning his Book about the Sacrament Oecolampadium emisisse libellum tam accuratè scriptum tot machinis argumentorum tótque testimoniis instructum ut posset vel electos in errorem pertrahere In the beginning of Reformation he was another Doctor in Helvetia of a milde and quiet wit Somewhat slow in dispatching businesses but very circumspect He took pleasure in nothing so much as in reading and writing Commentaries wherein he wrote upon Genesis Psalms Job Isaiah Jeremie Ezekiel Daniel and most of the small Prophets as also upon the Books of the New Testament Before his Conversion he was superstitiously religious So oft as he read the words of Institution of the Lords Supper he thought that some spiritual sense was included in them and yet still drave out those thoughts with this Wilt thou be wiser then other men You should believe as others believe But it pleased God at last to inlighten him with his truth which he submitted to He was most studious of the peace and concord of the Church He excelled in the knowledge of the Latine Greek and Hebrew and was very skilful in Ecclesiastical Antiquities He was older then Martin Luther by one year Scripta ejus vel sunt Exegetica vel Didascalica vel Apologetica vel conversa è Graeco Multa praeterea ab ejus amicis edita multa ab Hedione aliis Germanicè conversa Multa a Gastione collecta quae non sunt impressa
studies he went into Germany and there setled himself at Wittenberg where he commenced Doctor in Divinity and was a publick Professor Anno Christi 1512. Afterwards he became an earnest assertor of Luthers doctrine and a defender of it against Eccius both by disputation and writing At the Disputation held at Lipsich Anno Christi 1519. of which you may read in Luthers life Caralâstadius and Eccius first began it There was a great dissimilitude between these two persons For Caralostadius shewed the modesty of a Divine in his voice countenance gesture and proceedings disputing not for glory and victory but to search out the Truth wherefore he affirmed nothing but what he soundly proved nor admitted any Quotations brought by the Adverse party till he had gathered the meaning of the Anthor by the words that went before and followed after By this his diligence he commended himself to the learned but the unlearned interpreted it to be duâness and fear But Eccius on the other hand appeared fierce by his outcryes his stern countenance his Theatrical gesture and his impetuous proceedings which outward gestures of the body shewed a minde little Theological he often boasted of himself so highly and impudently that he lost his reputation amongst wise men He most constantly affirmed those things which were false and as shamelesly denyed those things which were true their Disputation was about Freewill the fruit whereof as Luther writes was not the searching out of truth but temporis perditio the loss of time At his return to Wittenberg he published Trecentas septuaginta conclusiones Apologeticas defensionem adversus monomachiam D. Johannis Eccâi cum epitome de impii justificatione The year after he set forth his Theses against the Papacy Anno Christi 1521. at the time of Luthers being in his Pathmos Caralostadius obtained or the Elector the abolishing of private Mass Auricular confession Images c. at Wittenberg about which time he marryed a wife concerning which Luther writing to Amsdorfius saith thus Caralostadii nuptiae mirè placent novi puellam conforteâ cum Dominus in bonum exemplum inhibendae minuendae Papisticae libidinis Amen But Luther hearing of that Reformation in Wittenberg and being offended at it returned presently thither Anno Christi 1522. and preached eagerly against that alteration whereupon Caralostadius who in Luthers absence was the principal man in Wittenberg being netled with those sharp Sermons of Luther wrote in justification of it which was the first beginning of greater differences betwixt them about the Sacrament whereupon he left Wittenberg Anno Christi 1524. and went to Orlamund being called to a Pastoral charge there But after a while he was called back to his place in Wittenberg yet before he went Luther being sânt by the Elector to Jene and Orlamund in a Sermon where Caralostadius was present inveighed bitterly against the Anabaptists and said withall That the same spirit reigned in the Image haters and Sacramentaries whereupon Caralostadius being much offended went to his lodging to confer with him about it Afterwards Luther coming again to Orlamund went not to salute Caralostadius but in his Sermon quarrelled with their abolishing of Idols and shortly after he procured the Elector to banish Caralostadius whereof Caralostadius afterwards complained in a Letter to his people in Wittenberg that unheard and unconvicted he was banished by Luthers procurement From thence he went to Basil where he printed some Books that he had written about the Lords Supper for which the Magistrates being offended with the novelty of the Doctrine cast the Printers into Prison and the Senate of Zurick forbade their people to read those Books but Zuinglius in his Sermon exhorted them first to read and then to pass judgement on them saying That Caralostadius knew the truth but had not well expressed it Afterwards whilst Caralostadâus was wandring up and down in upper Germany the sedition of the boorish Anabaptists brake out unto which they were stirred up by Muncer for which many of them especially of their Ministers were brought to punishment and Caralostadius also escaped very narrowly being let down in a basket over the wals of Rottenburg Thus being in great straits he wrote to Luther and purged himself from having any hand in those uproars entreating him to print his Book and undertake his defence which also Luther did desiring the Magistrates that he might be brought to his just trial before he was condemned Caralostadius wrote again to him a Letter wherein he said That for his opinion about the Sacrament he rather proposed it for Disputation sake then that he positively affirmed any thing which many imputed to him for levity But Luther thereupon procured his return into Saxony yet he finding little content there went to Zurick Anno Christi 1530. and taught in that place till the death of Zuinglius and then he went to Basil where he taught ten years and Anno Christi 1541. he dyed there of the Plague and was very honorably buryed What esteem Luther had sometimes of him may appear by this superscription of a Letter which he wrote to him Eruditâssimo viro praestantissimo D. Andreae Boâenstein Caâalostadio syncerioris Theologiae asscrtorâ facile primario Archidiacono Wittenbergensi Praeceptori ac majori suo in Christo Jesu The Life of Capito who dyed An. Chri. 1541. WOlfgangus Fabricius Capito was born at Hagenaw in Alsatia Anno Christi 1478. His Father was of the Senatorian ranck who bred him in Learning and sent him to Basil where he studyed the Liberal Arts and Tongues and by his singular diligence profited very much therein Afterwards when he applyed himself to the study of Divinity his Father who abhorred the unholy life of those which professed holiness took him off from those studies and set him in a way of studying Physick wherein he made such a progress that Anno Christi 1498 he commenced Doctor of Physick But his Father being dead he returned to the study of Divinity being religiously inclined and profited much in it Then he went to Friburg where he studyed School Divinity but after a while growing weary thereof because he found in the Schoolmen much subtilty but little utility he was ordained a Presbyter And then fell to the study of the Law being for four years space a Hearer of Zâsius But above all things he admired and esteemed the Doctrine of the Gospel and was a great lover and admirer of godly Ministers At Heidleberg he grew into acquaintance with Oecolâmpadius and there was a near tye of friendship betwixt them all their lives after with him also he studyed Hebrew being therein assisted by Matthew Adrian a converted Jew From thence being sent for by the Senate he went to Basil where he was Preacher in the chief Church for some years and laid the foundation of a blessed Reformation in that City there also he commenced Doctor
Anno Christi 1516. Anno Christi 1520. through the favor of Sir Vlrick Hutten he was called to Ments by the Archbishop thereof to be the Preacher and Counsellor to the Prince at which time also Gasper Hedeo was made Preacher and chief Governor over the highest Church in Ments Capito did the more willingly embrace this call that he might plant the reformed Religion in Ments Concerning his commencing Doctor he thus writes in an Epistle to Hutten Juris Pontificii ut vocant Doctoratum suscepi propter authoritatem videlicet comparandam scopam subolescis Licet interim sint aliqui qui vitio vertunt Theologum esse unà simul Civilem quasi Theologus necesse habet omnem exuere humanitatem Anno Christi 1521. Tecelius the Merchant of Indulgences being dead by the order of the Archbishop of Ments Letters Patents for the renewing of them were set to sale at Hale in Saxony whereupon Luther wrote to the Archbishop and Melancthon to Capito his Counsellor to disswade them from such Merchandize Capito therefore secretly favouring the Gospel so far prevailed with his Master that he wrote mildly and humbly to Luther And Capito also wrote to him to advise him that in writing against the vices of Prelates he should not name them For saith he Exasperantur potius animi insectatione quà m curantur mens mindes by such bitterness are rather exasperated then cured Capito thus continuing with the Elector of Ments was very dear unto him for his rare Wisdom joined with Piety his happy Eloquence and mild Nature so that by him he was sent upon many Embassies And February the 7. Anno Christi 1523. he was by the Emperour Charles the Fifth endowed for himself and posterity with the Ensignes of Nobility under the Imperial Seal But not much esteeming these things when he saw that he could not accomplish his purpose at Ments to the wonder of the Archbishop and astonishment of the Courtiers he left it and followed Bucer to Strasborough where he was called to a Pastoral charge The fame of Capito and Bucer did so spred abroad that James Faber Stapulensis and Gerard Ruâus came privily out of France to them being sent by Margaret Queen of Navar and sister to Francis King of France where they discoursed largely with them of all the heads of Divinity So that France oweth the beginning of her embracing the reformed Religion as to other godly Ministers so especially to Capito and Bucer Capito was a very Prudent and Eloquent man a good Hâbrician and studious of Peace Concerning the Sacrament he said Mittendas esse contentiones cogitandum de usu ipsius coenae fidem nostram pane vino Domini per memoriam carnis sanguinis illìus pascendam Anno 1525 he was called into his own Country where he instructed his Brethren in the Doctrine of the Gospel preached and administred the Lords Supper to his own Citizens and Baptized without the Popish Ceremonies and whereas in Helvetia many seemed to incline to the reformed Religion Capito often went amongst them confirming them in the Faith And in a Disputation at Bern in Helvetia Anno Christi 1528. Capito with many other Divines was present at it defending the Truth against the Adversaries so that he with the rest prevailed for the abolishing of the Mass and setting up a faithful Ministry in that place The rest of his time he spent in Preaching at Strasborough and giving wholsome counsel to the Churches Anno Christi 1541. when a Diet was appointed at Ratisbone especially for the cause of Religion Capito amongst other Divines was sent by the Protestants to it where he gave an excellent demonstration of his wit and judgement But when nothing could be effected returning home in a great and general infection he dyed of the Plague Anno Christi 1541. of his Age 63. He was a man of an excellent wit and judgement constant in Religion A great lover of the Schools and Learning wherefore he exhorted to the repairing of Schools and keeping up Scholastical Titles that the studious might be distinguished from the slothful the Seniors from the Juniors and that diligence might be spurred on by hope of honest glory When Erasmus halted between two opinions he continually called upon him to put off that Nicodemus-like temper His first wife was Agnes a learned woman after whose death he marryed the Widdow of Oecolampadius his intire friend He left to posterity these excellent works Institutionum Hebraicarum libriduo Enarrationes in Habacuc Hoseans Prophetas Vita Johannis Oecolampadii De formando puro Theologo Explicatio doctissima in Hexameron opus Dei LEO JVDAE The Life of Leo Iudae who dyed An. Chri. 1542. LEO Judae was born An. Chr. 1482. his fathers name was John Judae his mothers name was Elizabeth By the care of his Father he was brought up at School in Slestadia where having learned Grammer he went to Basil An. Chr. 1502. There he joined in study with Zuinglius was an hearer of Dr. Wittenbash by whom he was instructed in the knowledg of the Gospel There also he continued in his studies till he commenced Master of Arts Anno Christi 1512. after which he was made a Deacon and from thence he was called into Helvetia where he set himself to the study of the Oriental Tongues and to read the Fathers especially Hierom and Augustine as also he read diligently the Books of Luther Erasmus and Capito At length being called to a Pastoral charge at Zurick he opposed the Popish Doctrine and Ceremonies both in the Pulpit and Press so that his fame spread far and near there he continned eighteen years and spent much of it in expounding the Old Testament out of the Hebrew wherein being grown very skilful he set upon at the importunity of his Brethren of the Ministry the translation of the Old Testament out of the Hebrew wherein also he was much holpen by the industry of other learned men His care was to get the most exact Hebrew copy that he could which also he compared with others neither did he neglect to examine the Greek and Latine versions that by all he might the better finde out the genuine signification of the words and minde of the Holy Ghost But this work proving very great he was so wasted with labor and old age that he dyed before he finished it Anno Christi 1542. and of his Age 60. leaving undone Job the forty last Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes Canticles and the eight last Chapters of Ezekiel which he commended to Theodore Bibliander to finish who accordingly did it and he left all to Conradus Pellican to peruse and put to the Press which he carefully performed Four days before his death sending for the Pastors and Professors of Zurick he made before them a Confession of his Faith concerning God the Scriptures the Person and Offices of Christ concluding Huic
Jesu Christo Domino liberatori meo c. To this my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ my Hope and my Salvation I wholly offer up my soul and body I cast my self wholly upon his mercy and grace c. after which he added an hearty thanksgiving unto God for all the blessings and benefits that he had received from him Prayed earnestly to him for the pardon of all his sins made an exhortation to his Brethren and with hearty affections commended to God the Senate and People of Zurick together with his wife and children entreating them to be an husband to the widdow and a Father to the Fatherless He left to posterity Annotationes in Genesin Exodum ex ore Zuinglii exceptas Item in Evangelistas quatuor Passionis Dominicae Historiam Ac in Epistolas Pauli ad Romanos Corinthios Philippenses Collossenses Thessalonicenses Sancti Iacobi Praeterea Opus conclusionum Zuinglii atque Catechismum majorem minorem conscripsit The Life of George Spalatinus who dyed Anno Christi 1545. GEorge Spalatine was born at Noricum An. Chri. 1482. and being brought up in Learning profited so much especially in the knowledge of the Humane Arts that Frederick the Third Elector of Saxony took a great liking to him and made him one of his Privy Counsel and preferred him to some other Offices under him Yet did not he neglect the study of Divinity but profited so much therein that he was ordained a Minister He was also an excellent Historian insomuch as his Prince imployed him in writing a Chronicle from the beginning of the World to his time What favour he was in with his Prince may appear by this in that Pope Leo the tenth endevouring to suppress Luthers Doctrine in the bud wrote to the Duke of Saxony and to our Spalatine to promote his business with the Duke for the destroying of Luther When he first applyed himself to the study of Divinity he wrote to Luther intreating directions from him for the Method of his Studies Luther advised him to read Hierom Augustine and Ambrose as they were published by Erasmus He also advised him always to begin his Studies with Prayer For saith he there is no Master that can instruct us in Divine matters but the Author of them He further perswaded him to read over the whole Bible diligently adjoining Augustine to it And said he if you will have my advice begin with that part which is De spiritu litera which our Carolostad a man of incomparable diligence hath expounded and published Afterwards he named to him other parts of Augustine and of Ambrose After this the Elector of Saxony made him his Court Preacher and whithersoever he went took him along in his train with him as he did when he went to the Diet at Worms Anno Christi 1521. whence he wrote to Luther that there was so much favour shewed to the Gospel but then appearing that he perswaded himself that Luther should not be condemned before he was heard Nine years after this he was at Auspurg when the confession of Faith which was written by Melancthon was presented unto the Emperour And indeed in all the Controversies of Religion he always stood of Luthers side He had many thoughts of leaving his Ministry had not Luther earnestly opposed him amongst other things writing thus to him Those temptations which persue you to desert your Ministry either overcome them or slight them Christ hath called you to that Office yield to him and obey him according to his will What you are doing you know not for the present but you shall know hereafter This is a Diabolical tentation and you know not now why you are afflicted with it we which are spectators know it better therefore you ought rather to trust us then your self who in the Lord before the Lord yea the Lord by us doth exhort and comfort you For we look after nothing else herein then the will of God and his glory And indeed this is a certain sign that your Ministry is neither ingrateful to God nor unprofitable to the Church in that you are troubled with these tentations For if it were unpleasing to God you would rather long after it as they do which run before they be sent They speak when they have nothing commanded them of God whereas Satan when he findes such as are truly sent by God and pleasing to him he makes them aweary of their work but those which are unpleasing to God he fils them with a violent hunting after the work You have no reason to give over your Ministry which is so earnestly desired and embraced c. Upon these perswasions of Luther he continued in his Office unto the end of his life which fell out Anno Christi 1545. and of his age 63. He was a man that lived in great esteem with Princes and Nobles and most of the learned men of his time Erasmus wrote often to him acknowledging him not only his dear friend but his Patron also and Luther wrote six hundred Epistles to him He wrote the Chronicle before mentioned turned Erasmus his Book De Institutione Principis into Dutch with some others The Life of Myconius who dyed Anno Christi 1546. FRidericus Myconius was born in Franconia of religious parents An. Chr. 1491. Decemb. 26. and bred up at School till he was 13 years old and then he was sent to Annaeberg where he studyed till he was 20. and then entred into a Monastery of the Franciscan Fryars there without the knowledg of his Parents and this he did not that he might live in ease fill his belly and follow his pleasures but that he might serve God pray for the pardon of his own and other mens sins and that he might live an holy and innocent life For so men judged in those days The first night after his entry he had a dream which proved Prophetical In that Monastery he almost killed himself with watchings fastings praying and performing other bodily exercises wherein they thought all holiness to consist And in the night time when other Monks were asleep he macerated and weakned himself with reading Peter Lombard Alexander Hales Bonaventure Gabriel Biel Augustine and other like Authors and being made Reader at Meal-times for seven years together every dinner and supper he read the Bible with Lyra's Notes upon it which he turned over so often that he had almost gotten it by heart but yet without understanding and judgement Only he retained in his Memory the Sacred Histories But despairing of attaining to Learning under such Masters he left his studies and fell to Mechanical Arts About which time Tecelius brought his Indulgences into Germany boasting of the virtue of them and exhorting all as they loved their own and their dead friends Salvation that they should buy them c. and withall threatning that if they came not speedily to buy he would lay
This Embassie of yours is just like to the Devils dealing with Christ when he promised him al the World if he would fal down and worship him but for my own part I am resolved not to depart from the Truth which God hath revealed unto me but before the return of the Ambassadour Duke George was dead whereupon this Henry notwithstanding all the opposition of the Papists made this Reformation in the Churches which work being finished Myconius visited all the Churches in Thuringia and with the help of Melancthon and some other he provided them Pastors and Schoolmasters and procured stipends to be setled upon them for their maintenance The rest of his life he spent in Preaching Praying and writing of Letters many great persons in Universities and the chief Churches holding correspondence with him amongst whom were Luther Melancthon Cruciger Menius Basilius Monerus John Langus Mechlerus John Marcellus Matthew Ratzenbergerus c. Anno Christi 1541. He fell into a Consumption whereof he wrote to Luther That he was sick not to death but to life which gloss upon the Text pleased Luther excellently well unto whom he wrote back I pray Christ our Lord our Salvation our Health c. that I may not live to see thee and some others of our Colleagues to dye and go to Heaven and to leave me hear amongst the Devils alone I pray God that I may first lay down this dry exhausted and unprofitable tabernacle farewel and God forbid that I should hear of thy death whil'st I live Sed te superstitem faciat mihi Deus hoc peto volo fiat voluntas mea Amen quia haec voluntas gloriam nominis Dei certè non meam voluptatem nec copiam quaerit A while after Myconius recovered according to this Prayer though his disease seemed to be desperate and out-lived it fix years even till after Luthers death whereupon Justus Jonas speaking of Luther saith of him Iste vir potuit quodvoluit That man could have of God what he pleased A little before Myconius his death he wrote an excellent Epistle to Joan. Frederick Elector of Saxony wherein he praiseth God for raising up three successively in that Family viz. Frederick John and John Frederick to undertake the patronage of Luther c. He was a man of singular piety of solid learning of a dextrous judgement of a burning zeal and of admirable candor and gravity He dyed of a relapse into his former disease Anno Christi 1546. and of his Age 55. His Works were these Expositio in Evan. Marci Enarrationes in Psalmum 101. Expositiones in Evan. secundum Matthaeum Lucam Johannem Commentaria in Jesaiam Jeremiam Jonam Narratio de vita morte Zuinglii Sermo de liberis recte educandis De crapula ebrietate De faenore usura c. Iohn Stigetias made this Epitaph upon him Quo duce Gotha tibi monstrata est Gratia Christi Haec pia Mâconii contegit ossa lapis Doctrina vitae tibi moribus ille reliquit Exemplum Hoc ingens Gotha tuere decus The Life of John Diazius who dyed Anno Christi 1546. IOhn Diazius was born in Spain and brought up at School afterwards he went to Parâ to study the Arts where he continued thirteen years but it pleased God that whilst he read over the holy Scriptures and some of Luthers Books and other Protestant Divines he began to see and abominate the Errors of Popery and therefore to further himself in the knowledge and study of the Truth he went to Geneva where he spake with Calvin and was very dear unto him From thence he went to trasborough where Martia Buâer observing his Learning Piety and diligence in his study obtained of the Senate that he should be joined with him to go to the Disputation at Ratisbone and when he came thither he went to Peter Malvenda a Spaniard the Popes Agent in Germany who when he knew that he came in the company of Bucâr and the other Protestant Divines he was much astonished and admired how he was so much changed from that which he knew him to be at Paris and withall he fretted exceedingly that they had gotten a Spaniard amongst them presuming that they would triumph more in him then in many Germanes whereupon he left no means untryed to draw him back again to the Church of Rome sometimes making large profers and promises to him other-sometimes threatning severe punishments and mixing both with earnest entreaties He also advised him by no means to stay at Ratisbon till the Emperours coming for saith he that cannot be without great danger to you rather haste to his Court and beg your pardon Also at another conference Malvenda asked him wherefore he was to Ratisbone Diazius answered that he was sent thither by the Senate of Strasborough that he might join his Prayers with the Prayers of the Church and in the publick conference might endeavor reconcilement as much as he could in those Articles which were to be disputed of Then said Malvenda you are come hither in vain for nothing will be concluded at this conference but if you would do good you should rather go to the Council that the Pope hath begun at Trent But when by no means he could prevail to divert him from the Truth he sent for his brother Alphonsus Diazius one of the Popes Lawyers from Rome who hearing that his Brother was turned Protestant came speedily into Germany bringing a notorious cut-throat with him resolving either to divert or destroy him when he came to Ratisbone Diazius was departed to Neoburg about the printing of Bucers Book which Alphonsus hearing of followed him thither carrying with him Letters to Iohn Diazius from Malvenda wherein he wished him to obey his Brother Alphonsus who would give him good Counsel When Alphonsus came to Neoburg his Brother Iohn wondred to see him there asking him the cause of his so unlooked for presence after some other excuses at length he told him that he had undertook that long and dangerous journey to recall him into the bosome of the Church Hereupon they had much conference about matters of Religion and at length Alphonsus told him that he had five hundred Ducats per annum in Church revenues all which he would make over to him if he would go with him to Rome But when by no means he could prevail with him fetching a deep sigh he said Brother I perceive the constancy of your Faith ând your unmoveablness in adhering to the Doctrine of the Gospel to be so great that you have almost drawn me unto your opinion Yea upon further discourse he seemed to be in love with the Doctrine of the Gospel and thereupon perswaded Iohn to leave Germany which abounded with learned men and where there was less use of him and to go with him into Italy Rome
the vain phancies of phanatick persons cleaving to the Truth without deviation He shunned in his Sermons strange and uncouth expressions by which erroneous persons oft disturb the peace of the Church He always opposed the Anabaptistical Errors and was very careful to preserve the Truth from corruptions He often contemplated the footsteps of God in Nature saying with Paul That God was so near unto us that he might almost be felt with our hands He studyed the Mathematicks in his latter time and grew so skilful therein that few excelled him He was excellent also in the Opticks but with his excessive pains and incessant studies night and day he contracted to himself a mortal disease whereby he wasted away and yet his intellectuals decayed not he lay sick for above three months all which time he gave forth clear and notable demonstrations of his Faith Patience and Piety He called up his two young daughters and caused them to repete their Prayers before him and then himself prayd with great fervency for himself the Church and those his Orphans concluding Invoco te quanquam languidâ imbecillâ fide sed fide tamen credo promissioni tuae quam sanguine tuo resurrectione obsignasti c. I call upon thee with a weak yet with a true Faith I believe thy promises which thou hast sealed to me with thy Blood and Resurrection c. In his sickness he intermitted not his studies for during the same he turned into Latine Luthers books concerning the last words of David he read he Psalms and other Authors His ordinary discourse with his friends was about the Principles of Religion the admirable government of the Church Immortality and our sweet Communion in Heaven Upon the sixth of November there was a great Chasm or opening in the Heavens and in some places fire fell to the Earth and flew up into the ayr again This Cruciger saw as he lay in his bed in the night and thereupon much bewayled the great commotions and dissipations in the Church with he forelaw by this Prodigie He spent the few days which remained in Prayer and Repentance and so quietly ended his days Nov. 16. Anno Christi 1548. and of his Age 45. Considering the mutability of all Earthly things he used often to say Omnia praetereunt praeter amare Deum Besides Gods love nothing is sure And that for ever doth endure He was a man of an excellent wit whose daily and indefatigable labors were not only very useful to the University of Wittenberg but even to forraign Nations and Churches He had a plentiful knowledge of the Celestial Doctrine which by his ardent Piety and assistance of the Holy Ghost was daily encreased in him He was so exact and ready in the Hebrew tongue that he easily excelled all others that joined with him in the translation of the Bible In his Sermons and speeches he had a sound Judgement joyned with an Eloquent Tongue He shewed the greatness of his minde by his exact knowledge and skill in the Mathematicks wherein he was deservedly accounted inferiour to none And these gifts he adorned with many other excellent vertues with gravity constancy and moderation in every condition with bounty toward strangers and hearty love to his friends He published sundry Commentaries upon the Psalms Iohn and the first Epistle of Paul to Timothy Lectures upon two Articles of the Nicene Creed He turned many of Luthers Lectures and Sermons out of Dutch into Latine and others out of Latine into Dutch The Life of Matthias Zellius who dyed Anno Christi 1548. MAtthias Zellius was born in Alsatia in a Town called Keisersberg Anno Christi 1477. and was trained up in Learning by his Parents from his childhood and afterwards set to the Publick Schools From whence he went to the University where his proficiency was very exemplary And being well grounded in the Arts he commenced Master of Arts and then applyed himself to the study of Divinity Not long after he went to Strasborough where he was Ordained a Minister and Anno Christi 1522. he was made Pastor of S. Lawrence Church At which time Luthers Doctrine spreading abroad Zellius compared it with the Doctrine of his Adversaries the Papists and upon mature deliberation and examination imbraced that of Luther whereupon he began publickly to defend it perswading the Citizens of Strasborough to entertain it Assoon as the Bishop heard hereof he cited him to appear in his Court and caused twenty four Articles to be drawn up against him amongst which these were some That he taught Iustification by Faith That be defended Luther That he Preached against the Mass Held the Marriage of Priests lawful Denyed the Primacy of the Bishop of Rome and Humane Traditions Hereupon Zellius An. Chr. 1523. published a Book wherein he answered this charge justified his Doctrine and shewed reasons why he appeared not before the Bishop From this time forward he was much hated by the Popish Clergy and went through many dangers for asserting the Truth yet through Gods mercy he with some others so far prevailed that the Magistrates of Strasborough cast our Popery and embraced the Reformed Religion Anno Christi 1529. Zellius therefore was the first Preacher of the Truth in te Church of Strasborough To whom after a good while Symphorianus an ancient Pastor of S. Martins Church adjoined himself who formerly had been very loose in his carriage and therefore the people did the more admire this great change in him yea some of his former acquaintance led by his example did shake off Popery and embraced the Truth and truly these two were rather Popular Preachers then learned Yet Zellius was a man of singular piety And not long after Anthony Firnius Minister of S. Thomas Church joined himself to them and was the first Minister in that City that marryed a wife Yea after a while there came thither Martin Bucer Capito and D. Gaspar Hedio learned and eminent men who more strongly carryed on the work of Reformation in Strasborough viz. An. Chr. 1523. Zellius continued a faithful and painful Pastor in his Church till the year 1548. and of his Age 71. at which time it pleased God to translate him from Earth to Heaven after he had been a Preacher in Strasborough about 26 years He was a man famous not for Learning only but for other Christian vertues especially Modesty Temperance and Charity He had a good wit was of an Innocent and blameless Life Preached the Truth purely and was free from pride Not only a Theoretick but a Practical Divine What he taught he first practised himself and had a special care of the Poor Being on a time invited to supper by one of his Colleagues he found much Plate set upon his Cupboard at which he was so offended that he went away without his supper and afterwards in private so far
unmoveable in the Truth The sufferings of these godly Divines grew famous in forreign Nations whereupon Bucer and Fagius were sent for by Cranmer into England where they arrived Anno Christi 1549. and were honorably entertained by Doctor Cranmer in his own house where they were instrumental to the great encrease of Religion Also by Cranmer they were set upon the Translation of the Bible with brief notes to which they added an enucleation of hard Texts and a reconciliation of seeming contradictions in Scrâpture In this work Fagius undertook the Old Testament and Bucer the New But the work was hindred by the sickness of them both and the death of Fagius who being taken with a Feaver about the end of the Dog-days for change of Ayr was carryed to Cambridge where the 13. of November he ended his days joyfully An. Chri. 1550. and of his Age 45. but not without the suspition of Poyson and was there honorably buryed Yet afterwards in Queen Maries time An. Chr. 1556. he was condemned of Heresie his bones digged up and burned to ashes He was tall of stature of a swarthy complexion under a severe countenance full of curtesie and very Eloquent in his Ministry He translated out of Hebrew Thisbites Heliae Apothegmata Patrum Sententias morales Ben Syrâ Precationes Hebraicas A little Tractate written by a Iew that turned Christian. Expositionem dictionum Hebraicarum in quatuor capita Geneseos âui adâicitur Paraphrasis Chaldaica Onkel Comment R. David Kimbi in decem primos Psalmos Targum i. e. paraphrasis Onkeli Chaldaica in 5 libros Mosis with divers others MARTIN BVCER The Life of Martin Bucer who dyed Anno Christi 1551. MArtin Bucer was born at Selestade in Alsatia Anno Christi 1491. being of an excellent wit he entred very young into the Monastery of the Dominicans there and afterwards by consent of the Prior he went to Heidleberg for the encrease of Learning and having gone through other Arts he studied Divinity together with the Greek and Hebrew Tongues whilst he was there he met with and read Erasmus and Luthers Works whereupon he began to dis-rellish Popery and Frederick Prince Elector Palatine being much pleased with his Eloquence and singular Humanity as also with his clear and strong Voice and freedom in reproving the vices of men by the instigation of Sir Francis Sickengen chose him to be his Minister so that he Preached often in Heidleberg and elsewhere During his abode in that place Luther came thither whom he heard disputing against Free Will which kindled in his Breast the first sparks of the Divine Truth which by his conversing with Luther were further encreased Afterwards going with his Prince into the Low-countries he Preached freely against the Superstitions and sins of the times and began to bethink himself of leaving his Order whereupon the Monks lay in wait to take away his Life but escaping thence he went to Sir Francis Sickengen who sheltered him from danger till the Controversies about Religion were determined in his Castle at Naustall and when Luther was sent for to the Diet at Worms he went along with him and after some converse he embraced and defended his cause Not long after War arising between Sickengen and Trevir Bucer finding that he could not follow his studies in the midst of those tumults craved leave to depart and obtained it but a Neighbor Pastor of Wissenburg intreated him to Preach in his charge which he did till by the unhappy fall of Sickengen they were both driven thence by the prevailing power so that he fell into great danger About this time the seeds of the reformed Religion began to be sown in Strasborough by Matthew Zellius and Gasper Hedio Sigismund Count of Hohenlâ favoring them to whom therefore Bucer went and was curteously entertained and Anno Christi 1523. was appointed publick Preacher in the Church and to read Divinity in the Schools These Colleagues excelling in Wit Eloquence and Zeal did propaââte the Gospel of Christ notably in that City and the year after published in Print the reasons why they changed the Mass into the Lords Supper c. which Book they dedicated to Frederick the Elector Palatine This Book was subscribed by Capito Hedio Zellius Pollio Niger John Latomus Fârn Hag and Bucer Hereupon the Senate of Strasborough by a general Vote reformed their City casting out Popery and establishing the pure Gospel of Christ. An. Chr 1529. when the Gospellers agreed not in all things amongst themselves a conference was appointed at Marpurg between Luther and Zuinglius whereupon Bucer with Hedio went thither and had much discourse with them wherein they agreed upon all points of Divinity except about the Sacrament of the Lords Supper and so parted friendly resolving ab omni contentione in posterum abstinendum utrinque esse Deumque orandum ut Spiritu suo erudiat ducatque that both sides should abstain from contention c. The year following at Auspurg he disputed with the Papists and had a large testimony for his Learning and modesty hearing his Adversaries patiently rather seeking Truth then Victory and answering them mildly yet strongly He took much pains to reconcile the difference between Luther and Zuinglius about the Lords Supper fore-seeing the great mischief that that difference would bring upon the Church An. Chr. 1531. the Citizens of Vlm sent for him to Reform their Churches where he with Oecolampadius performed the trust put in him with much prudence and faithfulness He was so studious of peace that some said he complyed too much with Luther in that Doctrine against which he had formerly both Preached and Written Whereupon in the Moneth of May Anno Chrâsti 1533. he went to Zurick and there in an Assembly of the Ministers of the Church he purged himself from the suspition of revolt shewing that he did still retain the same Doctrine concerning the Supper of the Lord which he had formerly professed and had defended in the Disputation at Bern against the Adversaries thereof and that by the grace of God he would continue therein to his lives end but yet that it seemed to him that Luther dissented from Zuinglius rather in words then in Doctrine and very deed He requested also the Ministers of Zurick that they would not attempt nor write any thing more bitterly against Luther by reason of that Epistle which he had sent to the Magistrates of Franckford To this they of Zurick answered that they admitted his excuse yet withall shewed him out of that Epistle what Luther seemed to think of the Supper of the Lord and what was to be expected of them hereafter withall telling him that they were determined with Gods help to remain in that Doctrine which they had taught hitherto in the Church of Zurick till they were otherwise convinced out of the holy Scriptures and in
the chief Church of Ments he taught the Truth plainly and powerfully which when the tender and delicate Ears of many would not endure a persecution was raised up against him especially by the Popish Clergy which caused him to leave Ments and go to Strasborough An. Chr. 1523. where he was a great assistant to Capito and Bucer in reforming Religion by the command of the Senate though the Papists gnashed their teeth at it For the same year the Senate commanded their Preachers that they should teach the Gospel freely and Publickly and that they should instil into their hearers the Love of God and their Neighbors yet withall that they should abstain from reproaching the contrary opinions and from scandalous provoking the people against them Anno Christi 1523. Hedio marryed a wife and though the Papists raised a great persecution in that City against him yet he Preached boldly against Masses Indulgences Auricular Confession c. and wrote against them also And when the Senators of Strasborough the year after set forth in Print the reasons grounded upon Scripture why they made that alteration in Religion Hedio with his Colleagues subscribed it and withall they published certain Propositions wherein they strongly defended their Doctrine to be grounded upon the Word of God Anno Christi 1543. when Herman Archbishop of Collen began a Reformation he sent for Bucer and Hedio to assist him therein knowing them to be men of very quiet dispositions and very fit to instruct the people But awhile after when Caesar came to Bonna they were in great danger by reason of his Spanish Souldiers and at last by the command of Caesar they were dismissed from Ments and through many difficulties and dangers they returned to Strasborough What time he could spare from his Ministerial imployment he spent in writing Commentaries and Histories of which a great part afterwards were published in Print whereby he deserved excellently of the Church and so continued Preaching and Writing till the year 1552. at which time it pleased God to put an end to his labors on Earth and to translate him to his Heavenly Kingdom concerning whom one made this Epigram Argentina tuis Hedio pia dogmata templis Sincerâ docuit Religione Dei. Cumque tibi pietas sit priscaque gloria cordi Non poteris tanti non meminisse viri He published a Sermon about Tithes An Historical Synopsis wherein he enlarged Sabellicus to the year 1538. He corrected Chronicon Abbatis Vspergensis adding many remarkable matters from the year 1512 to 1537. He wrote Chronicon Germanicum Besides a great many Histories and other Books which he translated into Dutch As he maintained peace and friendship with his Colleagues so he held correspondence with most of the learned men of that Age. And amongst others Nicholas Gerbeline thus writes Mira mihi est cum Hedione familiaritas Hebraica Graeca studia communia ingeniorum rara quaedam aequalitas Deus faxit ne malus aliquis discordiam interserat Scis enim nihil iniquiùs ferre Daemonem quam sinceras amicitias The Life of Oswald Myconius who dyed Anno Christi 1552. OSwald Myconius was born at Lucern in Helvetia Anno Christi 1488. and was first trained up in his Country School after which he went to Basil and there betook himself to the study of the Arts and Tongues which he prosecuted with great diligence and was much delighted with the Works of Erasmus and of his Country-man Henry Glarianus with both of which he was well acquainted and was highly prized by them both for the excellency of his wit and for his singular learning This was about the year 1514. His Learning being taken notice of he was by the Magistrates of Basil made chief Master of Saint Theodores School and awhile after of Saint Peters School in both which he trained up many young men and made them very fine Scholars After some years he was called from Basil to Zurick to moderate a School there where he took great pains in training up youth for three years space at the end whereof he was called into his own Country of Lucern and set over the chief School there About which time the Doctrine of the Gospel began to shine out in all places and our Myconius did not only willingly and readily embrace it himself but was zealous to propagate it and for that end endevoured to instill it into the hearts of his Scholars which were very many insomuch as the Popish party taking notice of it turned him out of his School Anno Christi 1523. From thence therefore he went back to Zurick where he was kindely entertained and made chief Schoolmaster again where he continued till after Zuinglius was slain in the War at which time Learning and the esteem of Learned men began to decay in Zurick whereupon he returned to Basil and giving over the troublesome Office of a Schoolmaster he was made Deacon of the Church of S. Alban where he preached diligently till the death of John Oecolampadius and then he took up his Divinity Lecture and began to expound the Gospel of S. Mark which he performed so well that very many Auditors frequented his Lectures About this time the Magistrates of Basil consulted about surrogating one in the Pastoral Office of Oecolampadius and beyond his expectation Myconius was nominated and appointed thereto and so was made the chief Pastor in Basil having but a little while supplyed the Office of a Deacon In this his Pastoral Office he continued for about twenty years with great fidelity and diligence and both by his Lectures and Ministry was very grateful to his hearers and the rather because his courteous carriage was very pleasing his Learning more then ordinary and his Eloquence very popular When the great controversie about the manner of Christs presence in the Sacrament sprang up Myconius inclined to the opinion of Luther and often rendered his reasons for it to his friends in private But when for this some grudges were raised up against him in the University he voluntarily laid down his Divinity Lectures and wholly applyed himself to his Pastoral Office wherein he continued to the end of his life which fell out Anno Christi 1552. and of his age 64. He wrote a learned and pious Exposition upon the Gospel of S. Mark Sermons upon Psalm 101. He translated Oecolampadius his Catechism out of Dutch into Latine He published Commentaries upon Matthew Luke and Iohn as also upon the Prophets Isaiah Ieremiah and Ionas besides some other Theological and Philological Works GEORG PRINCE OF ANHALT The Life of George Prince of Anhalt who died A no Christi 1553. GEorge Prince of Anhalt was born Anno Christi 1507. Of a very ancient and honourable Family His Father was Prince Ernest. Then by the advice of that grave prudent man Adolphus Prince of Anhalt Bishop of Mersburg
David have mercie upon me and receive my soul and wipeing his eies with his hands he said For God's love let me have more fire A third fire being kindled it burn'd more violently yet was he alive a great while in it the last words which he uttered being Lord Jesus have mercy on me Lord Jesus receive my spirit And so he slept in the Lord. In one of his letters he wrote Imprisonment is painfull but libertie upon evill conditions is worse The Prison stink's yet not so much as sweet houses where the fear of God is wanting I must be alone and solitarie it 's better so to be and have God with me then to be in company with the wicked Losse of goods is great but losse of grace and God's favor is greater I cannot tell how to answer before great and learned men Yet it is better to do that then stand naked before God's Tribunal I shall die by the hands of cruâll men he is blessed that loseth his life and fiâde's life eteânal There is neither felâ city nor adversity of this World that is great if it be weighed with the joyes and pâines of the world to come And in the conclusion of the Letter he writes thus I am a precious Jewell now and daintily kept never so daintily before For neither mine owne man nor any of the servants of the house may come to me but my Keeper onely who is a simple rude fellow But I am not troubled thereat In the time of King Edward when he was made Bishop much controversie was betweene him and Doctor Cranmer and Doctor Ridley about the Cappe Rochet c. But when in Queene Maries daies they were all in Prison for the cause of Religion Doctor Ridley wrote thus to him My dear brother forasmuch as I understand by your works which I have but superficially seene that we throughly agree in those things which are the grounds and substantial points of our Religion against which the World so furiously rageth in these daies however formerly in certain by matters and circumstances of Religion your wisdome and my simplicity hath a little jarred each of us following the abundance of his owne sence and judgement Now I say be you assured that even with my whole heart God is my witness in the bowels of Christ I love you in the truth and for the truths sake which abideth in us and shall by the grace of God abide for ever He was above three-quarters of an hour in the fire before he dyed yet even as a Lambe he patiently abode the extremity thereof neither moving forwards backwards or to any side But having his nether parts burned and his bowels faln out he dyed as quietly as a Child in his bed an Christi 1555. The life of Rowland Tailor who died A no. Christi 1555. ROwland Taylor was Doctor of both Laws and Rector of Hadley in Suffolk where Master Thomas Bilney had formerly been a Preacher of the Word and in which place there were few either men or women that were not well learned in the holy Scriptures many having read over the whole Bible and could say a great part of Paul's Epistles by heart Here this D. Taylor preached constantly on Sabbaths Holy-days and at other times when he could get the people together So soon as he was called to this place he left the family of Doct. Cranmer A. B. of Canterbury with whom he had formerly lived like a good shepherd constantly abode with his flock and gave himself wholly to the study of the Sacred Scriptures most faithfully endeavouring to fulfill the precept of Christ to Peter Lovest thou me feed my sheep His life also and conversation was very exemplary and full of holiness He was meek and humble yet would stoutly rebuke sinne in the greatest He was very mild void of all rancor and malice ready to do good to all mer forgiving his enemies and far from doing the least wrong To the poor blinde lame sick bed-rid or that had many children he was a father causing the Parishioners to make good provision for them besides what of his own bounty he gave them He brought up his own children in the fear of God good learning And thus he continued as a good Sheepherd amongst his flock feeding governing and leading them through the wilderness of this wicked world all the days of holy King Edward the sixth But in the beginning of Queen Marie's Reigne two Popish persons suborned a Priest to come and say Mass in his Church Hee being at his study and hearing the Bell to toll went to Church and finding this Priest guarded with drawn swords in his Popish Robes ready to begin the Mass he said unto him Thou Divel who made thee so bold to enter into this Church to profane and defile it with this abominable Idolatry I command thee thou Popish-Wolfe in the name of God to avoid hence and not to presume thus to poyson Christ's flock Then said one Foster the ringleader in this business to Doctor Tailor Thou Traitor what dost thou here to let and disturbe the Queens proceedings Doctor Tailor answered I am no Traitor but the Shepherd which God and my Lord Christ hath appointed to feed this his flock and therefore I have good authority to be here Then said Foster Wilt thou Traiterous Heretick make a commotion and resist violently the Queens proceedings Doctor Tailor answered I make no commotion it s you Papists that make commotions and tumults I resist onely with Gods word against your Popish Idolatries which are contrary to the same and tend to the dishonour of the Queen and the utter subversion of this Realme Then did Foster with his armed men carry Doctor Tailor out of the Church and so the Priest went on with his Mass. Doctor Tailors wife who had followed her Husband to the Church when she saw their violent proceedings kneeled down and holding up her hands with a loud voice said I beseech God the righteous Judge to avenge this injury which this Popish Idolater doth this day to the blood of Christ Then did they thrust her out of the Church also and presently after Foster wrote a complaint against Doct. Tailor to Steven Gardiner who sent his Letters Missive for Doctor Tailor whereupon his friends earnestly entreated him to fly telling him that he could neither expect justice nor favor but imprisonment and cruel death To whom he answered I know my cause to be so good and righteous and the truth so strong upon my side that I will by Gods grace appear before them and to their beards resist their false doings for I beleeve that I shal never be able to doe God so good service as now and that I shal never have so glorious a calling nor so great mercy of God profferd me as I have now wherefore pray for mee and I doubt not but God will
was never more knowledge so never lesse godly living It was counted a foolish thing to serve our God truly and fervent prayer was not passed upon Preaching was but a pastime the Communion was counted too common Fasting to subdue the flesh was far out of use Almes were almost nothiâg Maâice Covetousness and Uncleanness were common every where with Swearing Drunkenness and Idlenesse and therefore all this evill is come upon us c. Yea I my selfe loved not his Truth as I should therefore God thus punisheth me nay in punishing blesseth mee And I thanke him more for this prison than for any parlour yea than for any pleasure that ever I had for in it I finde God my sweet good God alwaies And in another place Let us repent and be heartily sorry that wee have so carnally so hypocritically so covetously so vain-gloriously professed the Gospel Let the anger and plagues of God most iustly fallen upon us bee applied âo our ãâã that from the bottome of our hearts every one of us may say It 's â lord that have sinned against thee it 's my hypocrisie my vain-glory my covetousnesse uncleanness carnality security idlenesse unthankfulnesse self love c. that hath deserved the taking away our good King âof thy Word and true Religion of thy good Ministers by exile imprisonment and death It 's my wickednesse that cause hââccesse and encrase of authority and peace to thine enemies O be mercifull be mercifull unto us c. NICHOL RIDLEY The Life of Nicolas Ridley who died A no Christi 1555. NIcholas Ridley was borne in Northumberland of worshipfull parents and bred at School in Newcastle and from thence sent to Cambridge where he grew so famous for his learning that after diverse other offices whereunto he was called in the University hee was chosen Master of Pembroke-Hall and made Doctor in Divinity From thence he was called by Arch-Bishop Cranmer to be Vicar of Herne in East-Kent where he was a fruitfull and painful Preacher at which time it pleased God to reveal to him the true doctrine concerning the Lords Supper and amongst others to convert by his Ministry the Lady Phines who proved an eminent instrument of Gods glory After a while he was made a Prebend of the Cathedral Church of Canterbury but not liking his society there he travelled into France and at his returne was made Chaplaine to King Henry the Eighth and Bishop of Rochester and from thence in Edward the sixth dayes he was removed to be Bishop of London In which places hee took so great pains in preaching that he was dearly beloved of his flock to whom also he was singularly exemplary in his life so that his very enemies had nothing to say against him Every Sabbath and holiday he preached in one place or other except extraordinary occasions hindred him and to his Sermons multitudes of people resorted swarming about him like bees to gather the sweet flowers and wholsom juice of his fruitfull doctrine He was passingly well learned and of such reading that he deserved to be numbred amongst the greatest Schollars that these latter ages produced as appeared by his notable works pithie Sermons and sundry disputations in boâ Universities which drew an acknowledgment of his learning from his very adversaries He was of a strong memory and of great reading of a deep wit very judicious anâ very mercifull He was of person right comely and well proportioned in all points both in complexion and lineâments of his body He was free from malice and soon forgat all injuries and offences done against him very kinde to his kindred yet withall telling them that if they did evill they should look for nothing from him buâ should be as strangers to him He used all meanes to mortifie his flesh being much in prayer and contemplation was sober in discourse and sometimes merry at meals after which he used to play at Chess about an hour and then returned to his study till five a clock at night when coming down he had prayers in his family then went to Supper then plaid a game at Chess and so returned to his study till eleven a clock at night His manner was daily to read a Lecture to his Family at prayer-time giving to every one that could read a new Testament and hiring them with mony to learn Chapters by heart being marvellous carefull that his family might give an example of godliness and virtue to others He called Bishop Bonners mother his Mother and when he was at Fulham had her constantly at meals with him setting her at the upper-end of the Table who ever was present And as he was godly himself so nothing appeared in his family but vertue and godliness He was first converted by reading Bertrams Book of the Sacrament and much confirmed by conference with D. Cranmer Peter martyr In the beginning of Q. Marie's days he was imprisoned with the first first in the Tower and from thence he was sent to Oxford with Cranmer and Latimer and there kept in the common Goal till at length being severed from his brethren he was committed to the custodie of one Irish with whom he remained till the day of his death which was Octob. 16. an Christi 1555. Writing to Latimer in prison he saith I pray you good father let me have something more from you to comfort my stomach for except the Lord assist me in his service I shall pâay but the part of a white-liver'd Knight but he can make a coward in his cause to fight like a man In a Leter to M. Bradford he saith As far as London is from Oxford yet thence we have received both meat mony and shirts not onely from our acquaintance but from some strangers also I know for whole sake they doe it c. And again Ever since I heard of our dear brother Rogers his stout confession and departing blessed be God for it I never felt any ââmpish heavines in my heart as sometimes I did before And again Sir Blessed be God notwithstanding our hard restraint and the evil reports raised of us we are mârry in God and all our care is and shall be by Gods grace to please and serve him from whom wâ expect after these temporary and moment any miseries to have eterâal âoy and perpetual felicity with Abraham Isaac and Jacob c. As yet never a learned man scholer or other hath visited us since our coming to Bocardo which now may be called the Colledge of Quondâms for we be no fewer then three and I dare say every one well contented with his portion which is our heavenly fathers good and gracious gift Farewell We shall by the grace of God one day meet and be merry together which day assuredly approacheth the Lord grant it may shortly come Writing to Master Grindal who was now in exile he thus gives him an account of his
this day Having notice given on the over-night that the next day he should be burn'd he said I am ready God grant me strength and a joyfull resurrection and so he went to his chamber pouring out his spirit unto the Lord in pâayer and giving him most hearty thanks for accounting him worthy to suffer for his Truth Going into Smithfield the way was very foul whereupon two Officers took him up to bear him to the stake then âe said merrily Whât will you make me Pope Comming into Smithfield he kneeled down saying I will pay my vows in thee O Smithfield He kissed the stake saying Shall I disdaine to suffer at this stake when my Lord and Saviour refused not to suffer a most vile death for me When the fire was kindled with much meekness and comfort he resigned up his spirit unto God Anno Christi 1555. In a Letter which he wrote to John Carelesse then prisoner in the Kings-bench he thus writes Indeed my dear Carelesse I am in this world in hell and in the shadow of death but he that for my deserts hath brought me down into hell shall shortly lift me up unto heaven where I shall look continually for your comming and others of my faithful brethren in the Kings-bench And though I tell you that I am in hell in the judgement of the world yet assuredly I feel in the same the consolation of heaven I praise God And this lothsome and horrible prison is as pleasant to me as the walks in the Garden of the Kings-bench And in a Letter that he wrote to his Sister he thus concludes My dissolution I look for daily but the Lord knoweth how unworthy I am of so high an honour as to die for the testimony of his Truth Pray that God would vouchsafe to make me worthy as he hath done of long imprisonment Pray and look for the coming of the Lord c. In another Letter he writes thus Commend me to Mr. Elsing and his wife and thank them for providing me some ease in prison and tell them that though my Lords Cole house be but very black yet it is more to be desired of the faithfull then the Queens Palace The world wondereth how we can be merry in such extream miseries but our God is omnipotent which turneth misery into felicity Beleeve me there is no such âoy in the world as the people of Christ have under the Crosse I speak by exârence therefore believe me and fear nothing that the world can doe unto you for when they imprison our bodies they set our souls at liberty with God when they cast us down they life us up yea when they kill us then doe they send us to everlasting life and what greater glory can there be then to be made confoâmable to our head Christ which is done by afflictions O good God what am I upon whom thou shoulde bestow so great a mercy This is the day which the Lord hath made let us rejoyce and be glad in the same this is the way though it be but narrow which is full of the peace of God and leadeth to eternall blisse Oh how my heart leapeth for joy that I am so near the apprehension thereof God forgive me my unthankfulness and unworthiness of so great glory I hâve so much joy that though I be in a place of darknesse and mourning yet I cannot lament but both night and day am so joyfull as if I were under no crosse at all yea in all the daies of my life I was never so merry the name of the Lord be praised for ever and ever and the Lord pardon my unthânkfulness Our enemies do fret fume and grash their teeth to see and hear that we under this grievous affliction can be so merry Pray instantly that this joy may never be taken from us for it passeth all the delights of this world This is the peace of God which passeth all understanding This peace the more his chosen be afflicted the more they feel and therefore cannot faint neither for fire nor water Whilst Mr. Philpot was prisoner in Newgate a dertaine friend of his that scrupled the Baptizing of Infants wrote to him for his judgement about it to whom he wrote a large and learned Answer proving by Scripture by Arguments by testimony of the Fathers and by the constant practise of the Primitive Church from the Apostles daies the lawfulnesse and necessity of the same which you may read in the Book of Martyrs vol. 3. pag. 606. c. THO. CRANMER The Life of Thomas Cranmer who died Anno Christi 1555. THomas Cranmer was a Gentleman by birth of a very ancient Family born at Arselacton in Nottinghamshirte brought up at School and from thence sent to Cambridge where profiting much in learning he was chosen fellow in Jesus Colledge After which he married a wife and thereby loosing his Fellow-ship he was chosen Divinity-Reader in Buckingham-Colledge but not long after his wife dying in child-bed the Master and Fellows chose him again Fellow into Jesus Colledge After which he commenced Doctor in Divinity From thence hee was chosen a Fellow in the Foundation of Cardinal Wolsey's Colledge in Oxford but fore-seeing the danger which after followed he refused that place Whilst he was in Cambridge the question arose about King Henries Divorce from his brothers widdow and the Plague breaking forth at Cambridge Doctor Cranmer retired to Waltham-Abbey At which time this fell out The King to recreate himselfe and to take private counsell with those in whom he most consided who were the Dukes of Norfolke and Suffolk and some others went on hunting to Waltham at which time he signified his minde to Steven Gardiner his Secretary and to Fox his Almoner willing them to search what was most expedient for him to doe to end well that controversie about his Marriage and as God would have it these two men lodged in the house of one Master Cressie at Waltham where also Doctor Cranmer was having left Cambridge upon the forementioned occasion ând being Tutor to Master Cressies two sons Gardiner and Fox thus meeting with him and knowing him to be famous for learning and piety invited him to their good cheer and asked his advice concerning the Kings cause Dr. Cranmer was at fiâst very loath to deliver his judgement but being much importunâd by them he at last âaid I cannot say much on the sudden in so weighty a businesse without study and meditation but in my opinion seeing the King is in so great trouble of mind and conscience nothing can more encrease it then so great delaies and wandring in Romish suites inwhich whosoever are once entangled can source ever extricaâe themselves out of the snares I think it better therefore that layâing aside all delayes and Court suites wherein the King hath been too long tossed with great affliction of mind the judgement of Divines hath in our
Henry the 8. that he could not be appeased by any other means but by the sacrificing of Cranmer During his Sermon Cranmer was set on a stage before him which sad spectacle much affected many to see him who had lived in so great honour and favour to stand there in a ragged gown ill-favour'd clothes an old cap and exposed to the contempt of all men Cole in his Sermon shewed for what Doctor Cranmer was condemned encouraged him to take his death patiently and rejoiced in his conversion to Popery But that joy lasted not long The Sermon being ended Doctor Cranmer entreated the people to pray for him that God would pardon his sin especially his Recantation which most of all troubled his conscience which he said was contrary to the truth which he thought in his heart and written for feare of death and upon the hope of life And said he That hand of mine which hath written contrary to my heart shall first be punished At these words the Doctors beganne to rage and fume and caused him to be pulled down from the stage and his mouth to be stopped that he should not speak to the people The place appointed for his Martyrdome was the same where Doctor Ridley and Master Latimer had before suffered and when he was brought to it he kneeled down and prayed and so put off his cloaths When the fire was kindled and came neer him he stretched out his right hand which had subscribed holding it so stedfast and immoveable in the fire saving that once he wiped his face with it that all might see his hand burned before his body was touched when the fire came to his body he endured it patiently standing stedfast alwaies in one place moving no more then the stake which he was bound to So long as he could speak he repeated Lord Jesus receive my spirit and so in the flames he gave up the Ghost Anno Christi 1556. and of his Age 72. Doctor Cranmers Workes were these He corrected the English translation of the Bible in many places He wrote Catechismum Doctrinae Christianae Ordinationes Ecclesiae Reformatae De ministris Ordinandis De Eucharistia Jura Ecclesiastica Contra Gardineri concionem Contra Transubstantiationis errorem Quomodo Christus adsit in Caena De esu Cânae Dominicae De Oblatione Christi Homilia Christiana Common-places A confutation of unwritten verities Against the Popes primacy Against Purgatory About Justification Diverse Letters to learned men The Life of Conrade Pellican who died A no Christi 1555. COnrade Pellican was born of godly and honest parents at Rubeac a Towne of Suevia neer the Hyrcinian wood Anno Christi 1478 and being carefully educated by his parents anno Christi 1484 was by them set to school to Steven Kleger of Zurick who using him gently brought him in love with learning At thirteen years of age he went to Heidleberg And after sixteen months study there returned home and his parents being poor he became an Usher in the Grammer school Many times going to a neighbour Monastery to borrow some books the Fryers solicited him to become one of their Fraternity and when he was but 16. years old he assented to it his parents not opposing because they had not wherewithall to maintain him So that anno Christi 1493 he took upon him the habit of the Frier-Minors to the great joy of all that society who used him very kindly and brought him up in all the ceremonies belonging to their worship His Unkle Jodicus Gallus coming from Heidleberg to Rubeac was much troubled that his Nephew was become a Fryer and therefore perswaded him if he did not like that course of life to leave it whilst he was a novice but our Conrade thinking that it would be a great disgrace to him to fall from his purpose refused saying That he would serve God in that course of life wherein he thought he should please God and whereby he hoped to attain eternall life At the end of the year he fell sick of the Plague but being âet blood it pleased God beyond all expectation to restore him to health Anno 1496. he went to Tubing where he studied the liberall Arts and was much admired in that University for his quick wit He studied also School-Divinity and Cosmography wherein he profited exceedingly And meeting with a converted Jew he borrowed of him an Hebrew book of the Prophets and by his extraordinary pains found out first the letters then the reading and signification of them and being a little assisted by ââânio the Judge of the impetiall Chamber at Wormes he grew very perfect in it and hearing that there was a certain Priest at Ulme which had bought some Hebrew books of a poor Jew he went to him and amongst them met with part of a Grammer about the Coniugations of Verbs and transmutation of the Letters which he wrote out and it proved a great help to him for he had spoken before with many Jews at Worms Frankefurt Ratisbone c. and none of them could ever resolve him in any one question of Grammer It fell out by Gods providence that the year the Book-seller of Tubing had bought an Hebrew Bible compleat of a very small print which therefore none cared for This Pellican hearing of intreated him to let him look into it for some few dayes The Bookseller was content telling him that for a Florence and a halfe he might buy it Pellican much rejoyced to hear this intreating his father Guardian to be his surety and so having obtained it he thought himselfe a richer man then ever was Croesus and presently wrote to his Unkle at Spires beseeching him to bestow two Florences upon him which he much needed for the buying of a certain book This his Unkle sent him wherupon he fel close to reading of the Bible and as he went along made a Concordance gathering the roots and setting downe all those words which were seldome found And thus he went over the whole Bible from the midst of July to the end of October Then carrying to Capnio a Specimen of his works he was amaââd at so much worke in so short a time Anno Christi 1501. being twenty three years old he was ordained a Presbyter and the same year the plague waxing hot at Rubeac his father and brother ââed of it leaving none but this our Conrade and his sister Therefore to solace himself in his sorrows he wrote out the seven Penetentiall Psalmes in Hebrew Greek and Latine adding some prayers to be used upon that occasion Anno Christi 1502. he was made Divinity-Reader in the Convent at Basil. About the same time John Amerback began to print Saint Augustines workes wherein Pellican was very helpfull to him for which cause Amerbach and John Froben were ever after his great friends and would never suffer him to want any good book Then at the instance of Cardinal
and refresh himselfe with his friends where falling off a ladder he hurt his back-bone which put him to great pain but through Gods mercy he recovered and the year after he went to the Convention at Smalcald where by reason of Luthers sickness almost the whole burthen lay upon him of managing the business about religion A while after he went to Hagenaw to meet the Protestant Divines there and fore-seeing that he should fall into a mortall Disease he made his will and left it with Cruciger saying Viximus in Synodis jam mâriemur in illis Imploi'd in Synods living oft was I Now in a Synod I am like to die Accordingly in his journey he fell very sick yet through God's mercy and the care and skill of the Physician he recovered againe his health being much furthered by the earnest praiers of Luther and Cruciger In his disputation with Eccius Eccius brought a very subtil Argument which he being not able suddenly to answer said Cras tibi respondebo I 'le answer you to morrow to whom Eccius replyed That is little for your credit if you cannot answer it presently Whereupon he said Sir I seek not mine owne glory in this businesse but the Truth To morrow God willing you shall hear further When the Wars for Religion brake out in Germany he foresaw in a dream the Captivity of the Elector of Saxonie and the Lantgrave of Hesse fifteen daies before they were taken And when Melancthon did justly bewaile those sad times he was accused to the Emperor as an enemy to his affairs whereupon the Emperor sent to Maurice the Elector to send him to him which he refused to do He was sent also to the Council of Trent but whilst he stayed at Noâinberg for the Publick Faith the Warre brake out betwixt Maurice of Saxonie and the Emperour about the Lantgrave of Hesse whereupon he returned to Wittenberg again and shortly after the Plague breaking out there the University was removed to Tergaw but he said He feared not that Plague but a far worse Plague which threatned the ruine of the common-wealth Whilst he was with the Palatine at Heidleberg he had news brought him of the death of his wife who had lived piously and lovingly with him in wedlock 37 years at the hearing whereof he expressed himself thus Farewell Kate I shall follow thee ere long He had many contentions with the Popish party both by disputations and writing The last Lecture that he read was upon that Text in Isa. Lord who hath beliâved our report He was very carefull before hand to prepare himself for death having this Distich in his mouth Sic ego quotidiè de lecto surgo precando lit mens ad mortem sit duce laeta Deo March the 27. before his death he was sent for by the Elector of Saxony to Lipsich for the examination of those which were maintained by the Elector there for the study of Divinity which examination he had held many years There he continued in that employment til April 4 at which time he returned to Wittenberg April the 8 th his sicknes seised upon him whereof he died It was a Feaver which caused him that he could scarce sleep that night Hereupon Doctor Peucer his son-in-law intended to send for Camerarius between whom and Melancthon there had been a very strong bond of friendship for the space of 40 years Seven daies before he died many persons worthy of credit betwixt nine and ten a clock at night saw in the clouds over the Town of Wittenberg five Rods bound together after which two vanishing the other three appeared severed in divers places the branches of the Rods turning towards the North the handles towards the South of which Prodigy when Philip was informed he said Herein Gods fatherly punishments are not Swords but Rods which parents use to correct their children withall And I fear a dearth The night following he slept pretty well and waking about three a clock in the morning he sang sweetly and rose out of his bed April 13. to make an end of his writing which he was to propose on Easter day he followed his study hard that morning which was the last thing that he wrote for his publick Reading On Easter Eve he carried it to the Printing-house after which he went to Church and in the afternoon went againe to the Printing-house to see how the work went forward which was his last going abroad About four a clock that evening he sate upon the staires which went up into his study leaning upon his elbow At which time Joachim Camerarius came from Lipsich to visit him and entering into his house found him in that posture They saluted each other wich great familiarity and about five a clock that evening his Feaver seised on him so that that night he had a very grievous fit yet in the morning hee had a little sleep being April 14. Easter day After which he rose out of his bed and though he was scarce able to goe yet he would have read his Lecture publickly which his friends disswaded him from considering his great weaknesse April the 15 before dinner he professed his desire to depart hence saying I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ. April the 16 Camerarius was minded to return home but as they sate at breakfast together on a sudden such a weaknesse came upon Melancthon that he desired to goe to bed so that Camerarius layed aside his purpose of departure April the 17 Camerarius took his leave of him commending him to God whereupon Philip said Jesus Christ the Son of God that sitteth at the right hand of his Father and giveth gifts unto men preserve you and yours and us all This night he was very sick and in his prayers cryed out O Lord make amend April the 18 his water was very troublesome and he was much pained with the stone About eight a clock that morning the Pastors of the Church visited him to whom he said By the goodnesse of God I have no domesticall grief to disquiet me although my Nephewes and Neeces stand here before me whom I love very dearly Yet this is my comfort they have godly parents who take care of them as I have done so long as I was able But publick matters affect me especially the troubles of the Church in this evil and sophisticall age But through Gods goodnesse our Doctrine is sufficiently explained and confirmed Then speaking to the eldest daughter of his Son-in-law Doctor Peucer he said I have loved thee my daughter see that thou honour thy parents be dutifull to them and fear God and he will never forsake thee I beseech him to defend thee and keep thee About nine a clock he spake to his Son-in-law who was his Physitian saying What think you of my disease have you any hope speak plaine The Physitian answered God is your life and the
length of your daies to whom we commend you but if we look at naturall causes your disease is dangerous for your weaknesse is great and encreaseth every moment I think the same quoth he and an sensible of my weaknesse A while after he made them search for some sheets of paper wherein he had begunne to write his Will purposing to declare his judgement about all the heads of Religion and to testifie it to posterity which was the chief use of Testaments amongst the antient Fathers but they could not be found whereupon he beganne to frame it a new sitting at a table but through weakness was not able to proceed therein Onely he wrote that he had twice formerly set down a Confession of his Faith and a thanksgiving to God and to our Lord Jesus Christ But saith he my papers are intercepted and therefore I will have my Confession to be my answers concerning the Bavarian Articles against Papists Anabapists Flacians c. His minde was sincere and sound to his last gasp his brain never more firm Then he conferred with his Son-in-law about the affairs of the University About six a clock Letters were brought him from his friends at Frankford Mart concerning the persecution of some godly men in France whereupon he said That his bodily disease was not comparable to the grief of his mind for his godly friends and for the miseries of the Church That night he had very litâle rest About two a clock in the morning he raised himself up in his bed saying that God had brought into his minde againe that speech of Paul If God be for us who can be against us After which he returned to his former complaints of the calamities of the Church Yet saith he my hopes are very great for the Doctrine of our Church is explained And so he proceeded to earnest prayers and groanings for the Church and then betook himself to some rest About eight in the morning in the presence of divers Pastors and Deacons he made three Prayers whereof this was one O almighty eternall ever-living and true God creator of heaven a dearth together with thy coâtârnall Son our Lord Jesus Christ crucified for us and raised again together with thy holy Spirit c. Who hast faid thou de firest not the death of a sinner but that he may be converted and lâve As also Call upon me in the day of trouble and I will deliver thee I confess unto thee that I am a most miserable sinneâ that I have many sinnes and have been faulty many waies But I am sorry with all my heart that I have offended thee I pray thee for our Lord Jesus Christs sake who was crucified and rose again for us to have pitty upon me and to forgive all my sinnes and to justifiâ me by and through Jesus Christ thy Sonne thine eternall Word and Image whom by thy unspeakable counsell and unmeasurable wisdome and goodnesse thou wouldst have to be for us a Sacrifice Mediator and Intercessoâ Sanctifie me also by thy holy lively and true âpirit that I may truly acknowledge thee firmly believe in thee truly obey thee give thanks unto thee rightly invocate thy name serve thee and see thee gracious to all eternity and the almighty true God creator of heaven and earth and men the eternall Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ thy Son thy eternall Word and Image and the Holy Ghost the comforter In thee O Lord have I trusted let me never be confounded Thou hast redeemed me O Lord God of Truth Keep O Lord and governe our Church and Common wealths and this School and give them wholsom peace and wholsom goverment Rule and defend our Princes nourish thy Church gather and preserve thy Church in these Countries and sanctifie it and conjoyne it with thy holy spirit that it may be one in thee in the knowledge and invocation of thy Son Jesus Christ by and for the sake of this thine eternal Son our Lord Jesus Christ c. After this he rested a while Then the Pastors and Deacons by turnes read unto him Psalme 24 25 26. Isa. 53. John 17. Rom. 5. and divers other Psalmes and Chapters After which he said I often thinke upon that saying of St. John The world received him not but to those âhat received him to them he gave power to be made the Sons of God even them that belieeve in his name After this he seemed to pray secretly for a quarter of an hour yea for an hoar or two he seemed to doe little other then pray and being at length asked by his Son in Law whether he would have any thing he answered Nothing but heaven thereforâ trouble me no more with speaking to me Then the Pastor prayed with him and the others âead again and so about haâf an hour after six he quietly and peaceably gave up the Ghâst having lived 63. yeares 63. dayes After hee had spent in Preaching and writing 42 years Anno Christi 1560. He was buried close by Luther they having been faithfull and intimate friends in their lives He took much pains in the Vniversitie of Wittenberg reading three or four Lectures every day unto which many resorted He was never idâe but spent all his time in reading writing disputing or giving counsell He neither sought after great titles nor richââ He could not be perswaded to take the degree of a Doctor saying That such honour was a great burden He had many and great enemies who often thâeatned to banish him Germany of which himselfe writes â go jam sum hic Dei beneficio quadraginta anâos nunquam potuidicere aut certus esse me per unam ãâã mansurum esse I have through Gods mercy been here theâe fourty years and yet I could never say or besure that I should remain here one week to an end A little before his death he said Cupio ex hac vita migrare propâer duas causas primum ut fruar desiderato conspectu filii Dei coelestis Ecclesiae deinde ut liberer ab immanibus implacabilibus Theologorum odiis Amongst all his writings and disputations he would never meddle with the controversie about the Sacrament leaving that to Luther and being loth publickly to manifest his dissent from him Yet it is certaine that as they went to the Colloquie of Ratisbon together anno 1541. he communicated his opinion to Luther confirmed by the Testimonies of the ancient Fathers both Greek and Latine and when Luther had made some Annotations upon those sentences which contradicted his opinion Melancthon said Mr. Dr. I could make the like Annotations but sure they are not strong enough After all his great labours in the Church and Vniversity he carried away the usuall reward of the world reproof accusations injuries and reproaches Anno Christi 1555. a tumult being raised amongst the students he went forth to perswade them to peace when one of them ran
forth of the City and bad him fly for his life But it pleased God that by a fall he brake his legg whereby being again apprehended he was sent prisoner to Rome This business succeeding answerable to their desires they intended presently to fal upon Martyr whereupon they laid wait for him in every place They put in an accusation against him at Rome and in all the Colledges of his Order they stirred up his old enemies against him telling them that now the time was come wherein they might recover their former liberty so they called lientiousness ând to be revenged on Pet. Martyr So that by these mens instigations they met at Genoa not as usually the Superiours of the Order but those especially that bore the greatest hate to Martyr or envied him most These men summon Martyr presently to appear as Genoa But he being informed of the snares that were laid for him which his enemies being blinded with malice could not conceal And also being admonished by his friends to take heed to himself there being many that sought his life resolved not to goe to this Assembly but rather to convey himselfe else-whither where he might be safe from the power and malice of his adversaries Hereupon first of all hee conveyed part of his Library to Christopher Brent a Godly Senator of Luca who should take care to send it to him into Germany the other part he gave to the Colledge and so setting all things in order in the Colledge he privily departed out of the City onely with three companions Paul Lacis of Verona who was afterwards Greek Professor at Strasborough Theodosius Trebell and Julius Terentian with whom he continued faithfull unto the death Departing from Luca purposing to visit his owne country he went to Pisa where to some Noble men he administred the Lords Supper and meeting there with some faithful messengers he wrote to Cardinal Pool and to some of his friends at Luca. In these Letters he shewed what great errors and abuses were in the Popish Religion and in the Monasticall life with whom he could no longer communicate with a safe conscience He also shewed the other causes of his departure viz. the hatred and snares laid for him by his enmies He signified also what pains and care he had taken for their instruction and what a grief it was to him that he could not more plainely and openly instruct them in the Christian faith The ring also which was the ensigne of his dignity he sent back shewing that he would not imploy any of the Colledge goods to his private use Coming to Florence he met there with a godly and learned man Bernardin Ochine who being cited to Rome was going thitherward but being warned of the danger by his friends he consulted with Martyr and upon deliberation both of them resolved to leave Italy and to go into Germany And accordingly first Ochine departed and went to Geneva and from thence to Ausburg and two dayes after Peter Martyr followed going first to Bononia then to Ferrara then to Verona where being courteously entertained by his old friends He went thence over the Alps into Helvetia In this journey when he came to Zurick he was very kindly entertained by Bullinger Pellicane and Gualter and by the other Ministers belonging to that City to whom he proffered his service if they needed it but having at this time no place void in the Schools they told him that they much desired his company and pains but for the present they had no imployment for him yet would they gratefully remember his kind profer to them He often used to say that as soon as he came to Zurick he fell in love with that City desiring of God that it might be a refuge to him in this his banishment which prayer was afterwards granted though in the interim God pleased to make use of his labours in other places and Nations for his own glory and the good of many From thence he went to Basil where after he had abode about a month he with Paul Lacis was called to Strasborough by the means of Martin Bucer In which place he was made Professor of Divinity and Lacis of the Greek Tongue There he continued five years in which time he interpreted most of the Bible and what his excellency in teaching was may be hence collected in that being joyned with Martin Bucer a great Divine and eminent for learning yet Martyr was not accounted inferiour to him He was very skilful in Hebrew Greek and Latiâe He had an admirable dexterity in interpreting Scripture was a very acute disputant and used always to express himselfe very clearly knowing that ambiguity of words is the cause of much contention He lived in most intire friendship with his Collegue Master Bucer At Strasborough being unmarried he lived with his friends that came with him out of Italy being contented with a very small stipend which yet afterwards was augmented For having forsaken his Country his honors and riches for the testimony of Christ he thought it unfit to be solicitous or to trouble any about the increase of his stipend the rather because he was of a frugall disposition so that his stipend did not onely suffice but he spared something out of that little towards the support of his friends But finding some inconvenience of living single by the advice of his friends he married an honest and noble Virgin Katherine Damo-martin who afterwards dyed in England without issue having lived with him eight years She was one that feared God was loving to her husband prudent in administring houshold affairs liberal to the pooâ and in the whole course of her life pious modest and sober After her death by the command of Cardinal Poole her body was digged up and buried in a dunghill and when he could finde no other cause for it he pretended that it was because she was buried too near to St. Frideswide For though this Cardinall had formerly loved Martyr very well yet when he once forsooke Italy he did not onely give over loving him but shaking off his study of the true Religion which for a time âe had seemed to like hee became a great hater of Martyr and a bitter prosecutor of the professors of the Truth which occasioned him to deale so with Martyrs Wife seeing that he could not burn her husband as he desired But in Queen Elizabeths daies her body was again taken up and with great solemnity buried in the chiefe place of the Church and to prevent the Popish malice for the time to come her bones were mingled with the boneâ of St. Frideswide that they should not be distinguished asunder The occasion of Peter Martyrs going into England was this King Henry the eighth being dead and his son Edward the sixth succeeding by the advice of the Protector Edward Duke of Somerset and Doctor Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury he
Magdeburg He also made John Amandus Superintendent of those Churches and Michael Volmetius Master of their School Anno Christi 1541 he was sent by the Elector of Saxonie to govern the Church at Naumberg in the Palatinate where also the year after he was ordained Bishop by Luther three other Pastors also imposing their hands upon him who were Nicholas Medler Pastor of Naoburg George Spalatine Pastor of Aldenburg and âolphgang Steinius Pastor of Leucopetra But six years after he was driven away from thence by the Emperour Charles the sift whence he fled to Magdeburg which at that time was the common place of refuge for the godly who fled from the indignation of Caesar. Anno Christi 1548 Amsdorf amongst others opposed himself in that sad controversie about things indifferent which continued for whole tenne yeares and when Anno Christi 1550 Madgeburg was besieged Amsdorf yet remained there and the year after George Major having published this proposition That good works were necessary to salvation Amsdorfius in heat of contention wrote That good works were hurtfull and dangerous to salvation In the midst of these digladiations amongst Divines Amsdorf came to his old age having now attained to eighty years at which time he quietly slept in the Lord Anno Christi 1563. Scripsit de sacra coena Epitomen Chronicorum Naucleri de Paparum perfidia in Romanos Imperatores Novi anni votum principibus viris oblatum Subscriptionem censurae sententiae Saxo. Ecclesiarum adversus G. Majoris doctrinam Item contra Tilemannum Heshufium W. MVSCVLVS The Life of Musculus who dyed A no Christi 1563. WOlfgangus Musculus was born at Dusa in Lorrain An. Christi 1497 of honest parents who seeing his aptness to Learning bred him at School When he was young he fell sick of the Plague but it pleased God to restore him He had an exceeding prompt wit and had such an ardent desire to his book that he was never a weary of reading and writing so that he rather needed a bridle than spurs never departing from School and his book till he was forced When he was grown up to some bignes his parents sent him abroad into other countries with slender provision that by singing at doors as the manner of those times was he might get his living and thereby learn patience temperance and humility and might follow his book the better Being thus sent from his parents he came to Rapersvil in Alsatia where a certain Widdow entertained him and in which place hee went to School but met with much hunger and want till as by his honest and modest deportment he became known to the noble Earl of Rapersvil from whom he received many favours From thence after a while he went to Slestade and gat into the School and being naturally much addicted to Poetry he spent his time in reading such Authors And thus he continued till he was fifteen years old about which time he returned to visit his parents and going into the Monastery of Lexheim by the way at the time of their Even-song hee joyned with them in singing and the Prior taking notice of him and liking his ingenious countenance and voice followed him out of the Church when all was ended and enquir'd of him what he was and whether he liked to live in a Monastery and withall proffered if he would accept of it to admit him into that Monastery to cloath him and provide other necessaries for him at his own cost He being very glad of this proffer went to his parents acquainted them with it and they looking upon it as a great mercy went presently with him to the Monastery where the Prior according to his promise entertained him as his own sonne and afterwards sent him to the Bishop for Orders There he lived till he was thirty yeares old and when others were drinking and playing he with a book in his hand would walk into a grove to study For though in his youth he was of a chearfull and merry disposition and much delighted in liberall exercises both of body and mind yet he disliked the illiberall contests of his fellows who spent their time in dice and drinking and such like practises But in the mean time he had a great want of books that Monastery having no Library belonging to it yet at last he found a great heap of parchments at the roof of the house amongst which he met with some of Tullies works and all Ovids These therefore he read over especially Ovid being so much addicted to Poetry that many times he made verses in his sleep and could make a verse upon every thing he met with and grew so perfect therein that with Ovid he could say Sponte sua carmen numeros veniebat in aptos Quicquid conabar dicere versus erat And together with his Poetry hee applyed himself to Musick which the Prior taking notice of caused him to be taught to play on the Organs At twenty years of age hee studied Divinity and excelling all the other Monks in learning and eloquence was presently chosen a publick Preacher and being often told by an old man in that house Si vis fieri bonus Concionator da operam ut sis bonus Biblicus If you will be a good Preacher study to be well acquainted with the Scripture hee betook himself night and day to reading and meditation upon the Bible He first preached in the Church of Lixhâim and in three other Churches belonging to that Monastery but his zeal and eloquence making him famous he was requested to preach in divers other places About the year 1518 Luthers books began to come abroad into the world and Musculus having some of them sent him read them with much seriousness and delight and God thereby revealing the Truth to him he became a zealous maintainer of it not onely in the Monastery by conference and disputation but in his publick Sermons also so that he was commonly called the Lutherane Monk and whereas Luthâr was charged by some with Heresie he stoutly defended him saying It may be Luther may erre in some things which is common to the nature of man yet he is not therefore to be accounted an Heretick according to thâ saying of Saint Augustine Errare possum haereticus esse nolo I may erre but I will not be an Heretick And his labours proved not fruitlesse for through Gods blessing upon them he converted many of that fraternity who afterwards left their Abbey and became zealous professors of the Truth unto death And divers others also abroad were converted by him and amongst them a certaine Nobleman called Reinhard of Rotenburg who was Captaine of the Castle at Lutzelsteine and Protector of that Colledge a man of much account with the Palatine by whom he was protected from many dangers and snares that were laid for him especially by the Bishop and some old Monks that were
under whom by reason of his sharp wit he profited so much that from the Grammer he proceeded to the study of Logick and other arts His Father from the beginning designed him to the study of Divinity which he judged him to be very much inclined to being religiously addicted from his childhood and a severe reprover of his School-fellows faults And being thus resolved he procured a Benefice of the Bishop for him in the Cathedrall Church of Noviodune as also a Cure in a neighbour Village called Bishops-bridge where himself was borne though afterwards he removed to the City of Noviodune in which place our John before his Ordination preached divers Sermons to the people But this purpose of his both their minds changing was afterwards altred For his Father seing that the study of the Law was a certainer step to riches and honour altered his mind upon that account and his Son growing into acquaintance with a certain kinsman of his called Peter Robert Olevitane was by him instructed in the true reformed Religion whereupon he addicted himself to the study of the sacred Scriptures and beganne to abominate and withdraw himselfe from the superstitious services in the Popish Church Upon this occasion hee went to Orleans where Peter Stella the most famous Lawyer in France read his Lectures whose Auditor John Calvin was and in a short space wonderfully profited in that study So that many times occasionally supplying his Masters room he rather seemed a Doctor then a learner of the Law And when he was about to depart all the Professors in that University proffered freely to bestow the degree of a Doctor upon him as having so well deserved of the University But all this while he neglected not the study of the sacred Scriptures and Divinity insomuch as few in that City that were addicted to the reformed Religion but they came to him to be satisfied in their doubts and went away admiring his learning and zeal And some that were intimately acquainted with him at that time testified that his manner was constantly to continue his studies till midnight and in the morning so soon as he wakened to ruminate what he had read over night whereby he fixed it in his memory neither would he suffer himself to be disturbed during the time of his meditation And the better to fit him for his studies he alwaies supped very sparingly By which practise he attained to excellent Learning and a very good memory Yet withall hereby he contracted such weaknesse of stomack as brought upon him many diseases and at last an immature death About this time the University of Biturg grew famous for that they had procured out of Italy the eminentest Lawyer of his time Andrew Alciat whom our John also would needs be a hearer of Thither therefore he went and during his abode there he grew into familiar acquaintance with Melchior Wolmarus a German the publick Professor of Greek in that University a man famous for Religion and Leaâning Under him he studied the Greek tongue for which benefit he so much prized him that afterwards he dedicated to him his Comment upon the second Epistle to the Corinthians Whilst he was imployed in these studies he neglected not that of Divinity so that he preached divers Sermons in a neighbour Towne called Liveria But whilst hee was thus buâied news came to him of his Fathers death which called him back into his own country And having setled his affaires there hee went back to Paris being now about four and twenty years old at which time he wrote that excellent Commentary upon Seneca de Clementia being much affected with that Author whom he used to say agreed very well with his Genius After a few moneths stay at Paris he grew acquainted with all that professed the Reformed Religion and amongst the râst with Stephen Forgeus a famous Merchant who afterwards sealed the Truth with his blood From hence forward at the earnest request of all the godly that held their private meetings in Paris he layd aside all other studies and wholly applyed himself to that of Divinity wherein also he found the speciall assistance of God At this time Nicholas Cope was Rector of the University at Paris who being to make an Oration upon the Kalends of November at which time the Pontificians used to celebrate âheir All-Saints day at the instigation of John Calvin hee spake of Religion more purely and clearly then they used to doe This the Sorbonists could not bear and the Parliament of Paris was angry it insomuch as they cited him to appear before them which accordingly he was about to submit to but as he went some of his friends advised him to take heed of his adversaries whereupon he returned home and immediately after left France and went to Basil where his Father was a Professor of Physick The Officers sent by the Parliament searching for Cope went into Master Calvins house who by chance not being at home they ransacked his study and amongst his papers found many of his friends Letters which had like to have endangered the lives of many So bitterly were the enemies of the Church at that time enraged against the people of God especially one John Morinus whose abhominable cruelty is infamous till this day But it pleased God to divert that Storm by the prudent and pious diligence of the Queen of Navar the onely Sister of King Francis a woman of an admirable wit and exceeding tender of the welfare of the Professors of the Reformed Religion She also sent for Mr. Calvin into her Court used him very honourably and heard him gladly But Mr. Calvin finding Pais too hot for his abode went to Xantone where sojourning with a friend at his request he drew up short Christian admonitions which were dispersed amongst certaine Priests to be taught to their people that so their people might by liâtle and little be drawn to searching out of the Truth Shortly aâter he went to Nerac a City of Aquitane where he visited that good old man James Faber Stapulensis who being formerly a Professor of the Mathematicks and Philosophy in Paris was perâecuted for the Trutly by the Scybomsts but by the friendly help of the Queen of Navar was delivered and sent to this Town of her jurisdiction This good old man received young Mr. Calvin with very fatherly affections prophesying that in time to come he would prove a famous instrument for the building up of the French Church From thence Mr. Calvin went again to Paris being called thereto by the speciall providence of God For at this time that wicked Servetus was come thither dispersing his poyson against the sacred Trinity who hearing of Calvin pretended that he was desirous to confer with him and a time and place was appointed for their meeting whither Calvin went not without perill of his life who was faine to hide himselfe from the rage of
for once upon a publick hearing there was such a tumult raised that they were very neare imbruing their hands each in others blood which sedition Calvin with his Colleagues hearing of interposed themselves though it was with the perill of his life the faction of the wicked being most against him and stopped it Yet these men proceeding in their wickednesse hated him the more for it So that Mr. Calvin sharply reproved them for it in his Sermons and Gods judgements threatned by him proved not in vain For one of them writing an infamous Libel and affixing it to his pulpit wherein were contained many railings against the sacred Ministery and particularly against Mr. Calvin that he deserved to be thrown into the River of Rhodanus This man being apprehended and convicted of these and many other horrid blasphemies had hiâ head cut off And after his death there was another Libell found written by his owne hand containing blaspemies against Moses and Christ himself with which impiety there was no doubt but that he had infected others At this very very time and in the middest of these troubles Mr. Calvin wrote his Antidote against the seven Sessions of the Councell of Trent He also sending Letters to the Church of Christ in Roan confirmed them against the fraud of a certain Fâanciscan Fryer who had spread the poysonsom Doctrines of the Libertines and Carpocratians amongst them The year following which was 1548 the evill of the aforenamed faction in eneva brake forth againe The Devill which is almost incredible abusing those persons to be instruments thereof who indeed were the greatest enemies to it viz. Farel and Viret These men comming to Geneva made o grave Oration in the Senate about composing their differences Mr. Calvin requiring nothing but that those men should mend their manners and Perrinus with his associates proâsiâng any thing so he might be restored to his former place For Perrinus being restored to his place he and his wicked companions grew so impudent that they cut their cloathes crosse on their breasts that they might know each other others of them called their dogs by the name of Calvin Others instead of Calvin called him Cain others out of an hatred to Mr. Calvin professed that they would not come to the Sacrament of the Lords Supper All which Mr. Calvin and his Colleagues did boldly and faithfully reprove and when they were called before the Senate the innocency of the good men easily carried away the victory So that the Amnestie or forgetfulnesse of wrongs was solemnly sworn to Decemb. 18 But it afterwards appeared that all this was done thorough dissimulation and that Perrin sought nothing thereby but to be chosen a Syndic that he and his might by that meanes have the more liberty to act all their wickednesse as the event declared Mr. Calvin in the midst of these broils was so farre from giving over his accustomed labours that as if nothing had molested him hee wrote learned Commentaries upon six of Pauls Epistles as also by weighty Arguments confuted the Interim which was published for the destruction of the German Churches shewing withall the right course for the restoring of those Churches He discovered also in a book the vanity and falshood of Judiciall Astrology which many beganne now to give too much heed to and being saluted by Letter from Brentius now in exile he wrote consolatory Letters to him in which friendship it had been happy if Brentius had continued Bucer also being a banished man in England at this time Calvin wrote to him to declare and open his mind more fully about the Sacrament of the Lords Supper and comforted him in a most friendly manner He also wrote Letters of advice to the Duke of Sommerset now Protector of England who afterwards suffered an unworthy death about such matters as if his counsell had been hearkened to it had been happy for England and perhaps the Church there had happily avoyded many of those storms which afterwards befell it In the midst of these contencions the Church of Geneva did wonderfully encrease which did exceedingly torment the Devill and his instruments and Mr. Calvin was very solicitous to entertain and provide for such as were banished for the name of Christ Which care of his it pleased God to bless the year following that the fury of those wicked men though it was not quite extinct yet for the present it was layd asleep And truly hee had need of such a truce being grievously afflicted with a domestick accident For at this time he lost his dear Wife a very choice woman yet did he bear this accident with such constancy that therein he gave an excellent example of fortitude to the whole Church The same year there arose a great contention in the Saxon Church about things indifferent Whereupon sending to Mr. Calvin for his judgement he freely declared his opinion to them He also admonished Melancthon of his duty whom some accused for too much softnes in this point but Master Calvin afterwards found it to be a false charge For at this time it was unknowne with what minde and spirit the whole troop of Flaccians were carried which afterwards raised such great troubles to the Church and were acted with such fury and impudence as if they had been hired by the Pope of Rome to carry on his cause But it pleased God to compensate this wound inflicted upon the Churches of Germany by a great blessing upon the Helvetians For Farel aud Calvin going to Zurick when many thought that Master Calvin did too much favour the Doctrine of Consubstantiation in a Synod of all the Helvetian and Rhetian Churches he shewed his agreement with them and indeed there was no great difficulty to bring good men and lovers of the truth into an harmonious concord This agreement of the Helvetian and Rhetians Churches was written which did more and more unite Bullinger and Calvin and the Church of Zurick with that of Geneva Master Calvin also about this time wrote two learned Epistles to Laelius Socinus the poyson of whose opinions did not appear till after his death for in his life time going through the Churches he had deceived Melancthon Calvin and Camerarius but afterwards it appeared that he had much favoured Servetus Castellio and Ochin and their mad opinions for his Commentary upon the first chapter of John coming forth shewed that he went beyond the impiety of all those Hereticks which had corrupted the most Divine portion of Scripture Anno Christi 1550 succeeding the Church of Christ enjoyed peace and then it was decreed in Geneva that the Ministers not onely in their Sermons which many neglected and others heard with small profit But from house to house at many seasons of the year should divide the City amongst them and require of every family an account of their Faith by which means its scarce credible
but an honest young man of the Citizens advised Perinus that Mr. Farell the common Father of the City might be no way wronged joyning also with himself another honest young man they gave notice to the well-affected Citizens that they should stand by Mr. Farell at the day of hearing which also they did so that his adversaries being astonished and deterred hereat of their own accord craved pardon and Mr. Farell was dismissed About this time a grievous calamity befell the Church of England by the immature death of that godly Prince King Edward the sixth which was a grievous wound to all the Reformed Churches Yet at this same time Mr. Calvin wrote his learn-Commentaries upon the Gospel of St. John Geneva as we heard before having inflicted deserved punishment upon Servetus not as upon a Sectary but as upon a monster for his horrible impieties and blasphemies by which for thirty years space he had infected the Christian world both by his teaching and writings It cannot be imagined how this stirred up the rage of Sathan such a flame arising from hence as set Poland first then Transsylvania and Hungary all on a fire which himself seemed to foretell by the spirit of Sathan when in the beginning of his book he set this sentence out of the Revelation There was a great battle in heaven Michael and his Angels fighting with the Dragon For his ashes being scarce cold a great controversie sprung up about the punishing of Hereticks Some holding that they ought to be restrained but not to be punished with death Others thinking that it could not be clearly stated out of Gods word what was Heresie thereupon said that it was lawfull to hold either part in all the Heads of Religion and that all men though holding a wrong opinion were to be left to the judgement of God This latter opinion some good men inclined to fearing that the contrary Tenet might kindle the cruelty of Tyrants against the godly The principall of these were Sebastian Castalio and Laelius Socinus therein pleading their own cause The former indeed more closely and the latter more openly as one that studyed to vindicate the clear authority of the Scripture in a certain Preface to the perverting of the holy Bible and in his Annotations upon the first Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians had endeavoured to draw men from the written Word of God as an imperfect Rule as if Paul had taught to some of his Disciples that were more perfect then the rest a certain more hidden Divinity then that which he had committed to writing Hereupon Mr. Calvin Anno Christi 1554 set forth a copious confutation of all the Doctrine of Servetus which was subscribed by all his Colleagues adding many reasons why and how farre a Magistrate might proceed in punishing such an one as was lawfully convicted of Heresie The adversaries on the contrary published a Rapsody collected partly out of the writings of the ancient Fathers which they perverted to their own ends and partly out of the writings of certain unknown Fanaticks and under the name of Martin Bellius which indeed was Castalio though afterwards he forswore it and falsifying also the name of the City in which they falsly pretended that it was published To this book swarming with many other Errors and Blasphemies Mr. Beza answered thereby to free Mr. Calvin from that labour who was now busie in writing his learned Commentaries upon Genesis and in diverting other dangers from the Church For the factious went on to innovate things in the City and though the Amnestie was again renewed before the Senate upon the second of February yet they daily grew worse and worse so that Master Calvin was much busied both in blaming and reproving them for their wickedness and in endeavouring to strengthen the godly against the poison of their impiety for they had proceeded to such a height of wickedness that they turned part of the sacred Scriptures into obscaene songs and used to beat strangers whom they met in the night and sometimes also to rob them They also privately used the books of Bolsecus Castalio and other corrupt men that they might renew the controversie about Predestination yea they proceeded to scatter abroad a false and scandalous libell wherein they grievously aspersed that worthy servant of Christ Master Calvin Castalio also sent another Latine Book to be privately Printed at Paris to which Master Beza answered and Master Calvin also confuted some of the fooleries of the same kind About this time the care of the English exiles lay heavy upon him some of which were come to Vesalia others to Embden and others to Franckford all sending to Master Calvin for advice and counsel Neither was he a little troubled for the andaciousness of some of the Pastors encouraged by the secret favour of others of the French-Church long since planted by him at Strasborough And in short how great pains he took this year for severall Churches may appear by the multitude of Epistles wrote by him by which he stirred up many Noble-men to imbrace the Gospel and strengthned many of the Brethren some of which were in extream danger and others already cast into bonds We spake before of the sweet Harmony that was between the Helvetian and Rhetian Churches about the Doctrine of the Sacrament This concord did exceedingly displease the spirit of error therefore he easily found out one that might easily reinkindle the fire which before was extinguished viz. Joachim Westphalus who was seconded by Heshusius then a Minister of the word but afterwards a Bishop of whom wee shall speak more afterwards Hereupon Master Calvin published an explication of that agreement which by how much it imbittered their spirits by so much the more it satisfied all good men that were lovers of the truth The year following viz. 1555. by the speciall mercy of God brought peace along with it to the Church of Geneva which was now quiet from its domestick stirs for the factious ruined themselves God discovering their horrible treason to the State by the means of one of the conspirators who in his drunken fit discovered it whereupon some of them were beheaded others of them were banished who though a while after they vexed the City yet perished shamefully in the end leaving an example of the just judgement of God upon such persons though it may be deferred for a time Thus the Commonwealth was freed from these Pests To which another mercy was added by the answer of the four Helvetian Cities to whom the question about the Discipline which we spake of before had been proposed who unanimously confirmed the Ecclesiasticall Polity as it had been before settled contrary to the expectation of the factious Yet something was not wanting whereby Mr. Calvin might be further exercised For he took great pains in constituting the Church in Polonia by the will of the King In comforting the afflicted
his Creed as also the Testimonies of all the Ancients viz. of Ignatius Tertullian Iraeneus and Lactantius by a certaine unheard-of impudence yea did not onely reject all the Orthodox Writers which followed the Nicene Councel but reproached them as wicked men Other Blasphemies also followed this about the Hypostaticall Union He first vented these things in private as hee pretended for Disputation sake to some of the Italian Congregation whereupon an assembly being called on purpose Mr. Calvin before some choice Senators and all the Ministers and Elders having patiently heard them confuted them so fully out of the Word of God that all the Italians presently subscribed to the Orthodox Faith except onely six who afterwards being called one by one subscribed with their hands but not with their hearts as time made to appeare Gentilis therefore returning to his old course and going on to spread his former Blasphemies is apprehended dissembles not his opinion being heard as much and as long as he would At length seeming to be convinced by Mr. Calvin he feigned incredible repentance and gave in a Recantation signed under his own hand Hereupon he was dismissed first taking an oath that he would not goe forth of the gates of the City but presently contrary to the same he flyes into Savoy to Matthew Gribaldus and presently after two of his Disciples Alciat and Blandatra followed him who afterwards proved the infectors of Transylvania and the Countries adjacent But Gods judgement hanging over the head of Gentilis he staied with Gribaldus both of them casting off the other two as illiterate fellows and there he wrote a book against Athanasius and Calvin and so going to Lions he there printed it dedicating it to Gaiensis a Praefect who was altogether ignorant of the blasphâ mies contained in it Whilst he was at Lions he was apprehended by the Papists but when he shewed them that hee had written a booke against Calvin he was dismissed as one that had deserved wel of their Church From thence he went into Transylvania to âlandatra Alciat and their companions but they having now sucked in the Heresies of Samosatenus and he not well agreeing with them therein Christ indeed drawing him forth to condigne punishment he returned into Savoy to his friend Gribaldus but Gods plague had now swept away that Pest and Mr. Calvin also was dead at Geneva Hereupon Gentilis either infatuated by God or thinking that there was none left at Geneva that could answer him went strait to Gaiensis who was justly offended with him who there fore presently apprehending him by the just judgement of God sent him to Berne there to be tried where being convicted both of Perjury many manifest impieties after many wayes were used to bring him to repentance but in vain he had his head cut off thereby suffering a just reward for all his impieties Towards the latter end of this year in October Mr. Calvin was taken with a Quartane Ague which Physicians say is deadly to old persons which though it held him but eight monâths yet it so debilâtated his lean and overworne body with his inââssant labâurs that he never throughly recovered his health again Yet all this time though his Physicians warned him and his friends disswaded him from his preaching and Lectures yet did he continually busie himself night and day in dictating and writing Letters every way often saying That nothing was more troublesome to him then an idle life At this time also he published the last Edition of his Institutions in French and Latine and his learned Commentary upon Isaâah The yeare following viz. 1559 was famous for the League entered into between the two most potent Kings of Spain and France which was strengthned by aâlinity betwixt them which was likely to prove fatall to Geneva but that the counsell of the Pontificians who abused the simplicity of King Henry of France hindered it For King Henry published most severe Decrees and cast some of his Senators into prison who had declared their judgements freely that he ought to proceed gently in matters of Religion till a Generall Councell could bee called having this in his eye principally to restore the Duke of Savoy to his Country that by his help hee might utterly destroy Geneva In the meane time Master Calvin though sickly laboured hard ãâã Genâva comforting and confirming the afflicted Churches and brethren as also by his frequent and servent prayers craving help of God And behold the wonderfull work of God â whilst all things were ful of terror the King of France in the great Marriage solemnity which was made for the confirmation of the Peace in his running at Tilt received his deaths wound and that by the hand of the Captaine of his Guard by whom a little before he had apprehended and imprisoned the aforesaid Senators This death of the King was expiated as he thought by the Cardinall of Lorraine who upon the one and twentieth of December caused that learned Lawyer faithfull Counsellor and holy Martyr of Christ Annas Du Bourg to be unjustly and cruelly burned But by the singular blessing of God in the midst of these calamitous times the hearts of the Genevians were so raised up and confirmed that in the very same yeare and almost moment of time in which two such potent Kings had contriâed their destruction by the encouragement of Mr. Calvin they laid the foundation and built a famous Schoole adorning it with eight Masters for boyes as also with Hebrew Greek Philosophy and Divinity Professors which being finished to the honour of God Omnipotent Mr. Calvin in a great assembly in the chiefest Church read and declared those things which conduced to the perpetuall establishment of so holy and profitable a foundation whereby he did as it were solemnly consecrate it The year after which was 1560. Master Calvin was by some loaden with much envy as if he had stirred up an Assembly against Francis the Second the heir of his Fathers Kingdom which Assembly was called The tumult of Amboise whereas indeed Master Calvin never understood what it was as also both by word of mouth and by his Letters to friends he disliked it This year one Sancarus of Mantua Italy being fatall to the Polonians began to teach that Christ was Mediator onely according to his humane nature accusing all of Arianisme that should say that he was Mediator also according to his Deity as if thereby they made the Son lesse then the Father This calumny and all his other Doctrine was notably confuted as by Philip Melancton and Peter Martyr so also Master Calvin at the request of the Polonians did briefly but strongly confute the same and foreseeing what shortly after came to pass that whilst some more unskilful persons would take upon them to confute Sancarus if they took not heed would fall into the error of them which held three Gods He eloquently admonished them
Pulpit alluding to that of Vespasian Oportet Imperatorem stantem mori And thinking upon that of his Master Happy art thou my servant if when I come I find thee so doing His text whereon he preached at Lacock was Walk in the Spirit and presently after Sermon his disease growing more and more upon him hee was forced to take his bed In the beginning of his sicknesse he made his Will and gave most of his estate to his servants to scholars and to the poor of Sarum The Saturday following calling all his houshold about him he expounded the Lords Prayer Cantater âygnus funeris ipse sui Wherein hee said It hath alwaies been my desire that I might glorifie God and honour his name by sacrificing my life unto death for the defence of his Truth But seeing God hath not granted my desire yet I rejoice that my body is exhausted and worn away in the labours of my holy calling c. And now that my hour is at hand I earnestly desire you to pray for me and to help me with the ardencie of your affections when you perceive me through the infirmitie of the âesh to languish in my prayers Hitherto I have taught you but now the time is come wherein I may and desire to be taught and strengthened by every one of you Then hee desired them to sing the 71 Psalm himself also joyning as well as he could somtimes also interposing some words of particular application to himself in the end he said Lord now let thy servant depart in peace Break off all delaies Lord receive my spirit c. Then one standing by prayed with tears that if the Lord pleased he would restore him to his former health Juel over-hearing him seemed to be offended and said I have not lived so that I am ashamed to live longer neither do I fear to die because we have a mercifull Lord. A crown of righteousness is laid up for me Christ is my righteousnesse Father let thy will be done thy will I say and not mine which is imperfect and depraved This day quickly let me see the Lord Jesus c. And so after a few fervent inward prayers and sighs of longing desire the soul returned to him that gave it Anno Christi 1571 and of his Age 50. Concerning his Apology for the Church of England Peter Martyr thus wrote to him Tua Apologia frater charissimè non tantùm mihi omnibus modis numeris satisfecit verùm etiam Bulingero ejusque filiis generis nec non Gualthero Wolphio tam sapiens mirabilis eloquens visâ est ut ejus laudandae nullum modum faciant nec arbitrantuâ quicquam hoc tempore perfectius editum fuisse c. i. e. Thy Apology dear brother hath not onely fully satisfied mee but it seems also so wise admirable and eloquent to Bullinger and his sonnes as also to Gualter and Wolphius that they can never make an end of praising it and they believe that there hath not been so compleate a book published in this Age c. The Life of Zegedine who died A no Christi 1572. STeven Kis sirnamed Zegedine from the place where hee was born which was a Town in the lower Pannonia was born Anno Christi 1505 brought up in learning first in the School of Zegedine under the eye of his Parents then was sent to Lippain and after a while to Julia in all which places he made an excellent progresse in Learning and profited to admiration And his parents being dead he betooke himself to teaching a School and for his admirable dexterity therein he procured to himselfe great favour and authority amongst all sorts of persons About which time hearing the fame of Luther and Melancthon he had a great mind to goe to Wittenberg but wanting opportunity in sundry regards he went to the University at Cracovia where having studied a while he was made a Reader to others and grew very famous and having gotten some money there Anno Christi 1541 hee went to Wittenberg where hee studied Logick and Divinity three years being a diligent hearer of the Lectures of Luther and Melancthon all that while and so at the end of that terme returned into his own country where hee was received by the Hungarian youths with great applause in every place And being hired in the City of Thasniadine he not only instructed youth in the knowledge of the Arts but he preached Jesus Christ also to the people before unknown unto them This comming to the ears of the Kings Treasurer he sent for him fell upon him beat him and drove him out of the City There he lost two hundred books and was so barbarously kicked by this Tyrant with his Iron spurs that he was almost slain Thus wandring up and down as an exile Anno Christi 1545 hee was called to Julia where he was made Governour of an illustrious Schoole and hee began to live comfortably but on a sudden came news to him of the death of Luther which was a very great grief to him The year after hee was sent for to Cegledine where he was hired to preach publickly in the Church and with the leave of the Schoolmaster he read Melancthons Common places in the Schooles discovering many of the Popish errors to his hearers and God was pleased so to blesse his labours that many learned young men went out of those Schooles Having continued there about two yeares and an half Anno Christi 1548 hee married his first Wife called Ursula after which leaving Cegledine hee was earnestly sent for by the Governour of Temeswert to govern the School there which indeed was the most famous School in all those parts where he not onely performed the office wherewith he was intrusted but preached weekely to the people But that Governour dying there succeeded him one that was of a most rugged disposition being a souldier and a strong Papist who drove Zegedine from thence togegether with divers other Protestants Being again an exile he wandered up and down till hee was called to govern the School at Thurin where he was received with great honour Anno Christi 1551 and according to his former custome preached to the people who eagerly embraced the Truth and loved him exceedingly From thence Anno Christi 1553 he was called to Bekenese where he preached to the people and read Lectures in the Schools Whilst he was there some Italian souldiers were commanded by their Captain to kill Zegedine out of an hatred to his Religion but it pleased God that a Country man who heard the command running hastily to Zegedine said to him Sir what doe you here when there are some souldiers comming upon you to slay you therefore flie hence speedily if you will save your life and if you have any thing of worth commit it to my custodie who promise faithfully to keep it
Letter advised with Master Calvin and other Ministers who upon mature deliberation told him that he could not refuse this call unlesse he would shew himselfe rebellious against God and unmercifull to his Country Whereupon he returned answer that he would come to them so soon as he could settle the affairs of that dear flock that was committed to his charge Shortly after he began his journy and arrived in Scotland that very day whereon the Bishops ended their Provinciall Councill and hearing that the brethren were met at Dundee he went to them and earnestly requested that he and his brethren might joyne together to make a confession of their faith which being assented to he went to St. Johnstons to them where also he preached to the people But presently came a summons that the Preachers should appear before the Queen Regent at Striveling which being known abroad the Protestants repaired in a peaceable manner to St. Johnstons to accompany their Preachers to the Queen and least such a multitude should affright her the Laird of Dun a zealous godly and prudent man went before to Striveling to acquaint the Queen that the cause of their meeting was onely with their Preachers to give in a confession of their faith and to assist them in their just defence The Queen very craftily solicited him to stay the multitude and the preachers also promising to take some good order about their affairs Yet when the Preachers appeared not upon the day appointed she put them to the Horne prohibiting all men upon pain of Rebellion to assist comfort relieve or receive any of them which treacherous dealing of hers so inflamed the multitude that neither the exhortation of the Preachers nor the command of the Magistrates could restraine them but that they pulled down the Images and all other monuments of Idolatry in St. Johnstons This being told to the Queen she was so much enraged at it that she vowed to destroy man woman and child in that place then utterly to burn the Towne and to sow it with salt for a perpetuall desolation The Protestant Congregation hearing hereof presently wrote a Letter to the Queen and caused it to be laid on her Cushion where she sat at Mass wherein they declared that except she moderated her wrath and stayed her intended cruelty they should be compelled to take the Sword in their just defence against all that should pursue them for matters of Religion and for their Conscience sake which ought not to be subject to any mortal creature farther then Gods Word doth command c. They further requested that she would permit them to live in that peace and liberty which Christ had purchased for them by his blood that they might have his Word truly preached and the holy Sacraments rightly administred to them for that they had rather expose their bodies to a thousand deaths then to hazard their soules to perpetuall damnation by denying Christ and his manifest Truth c. They wrote also another Letter to the Nobility of Scotland which coming abroad the brethren in Cunningam and Kile met together at the Church of Craggy where Alexander Earl of Glencarne said to them Let every man doe as his conscience shall direct him I will by Gods grace see my bâethren at St. Johnstons yea though never a man will goe along with me though I have but a pike on my shoulder for I had rather die with that company then live after them This speech so encouraged the rest that they all resolved to go forward In the meane time the Queen sent her French Forces and the Bishops and Priests their bands against Saint Johnstones whereupon the brethren repaired thither from all quarters for their relief which the Queen hearing of sent the Earle of Argile and the Prior of Saint Andrews to them to know the cause of that great meeting They answered that it was onely to resist the cruell Tyranny decreed against them and to protect the Town from ruin The Lords answered that they were farre otherwise informed Then Master Knox spake thus unto them The present troubles honourable Lords ought to move the hearts of all the true servants of God and of such as bear any true love to their country and country men deeply to consider what will be the end of this intended Tyranny The rage of Sathan seeks the destruction of all those in this Realm that professe the Name of Christ. Therefore I most humbly require you my Lords in my name to tell the Queen that we whom she in her blind rage doth thus persecute are faithfull servants to God and obedient subjects to the authority of the Realm whereas that Religion which she maintains by fire sword is not the religion of Jesus Christ but expresly contrary to the same a superstition devised by mans brain which I offer my self to prove against all men in Scotland which will maintain the contrary Gods word being admitted for Judge Tell her also from me that this her enterprise shall not prosperously succeed in the end and that herein she fights against God The Lords promised to deliver his message yet did the Queen straitway send her Herauld to them to command them presently to depart the Towne upon pain of Treason But when she perceived their number to increase and their resolutions fearing the event of a Battel she upon a parley and large promises prevailed with them to depart home But before their departure Master Knox preached a Sermon wherin he exhorted them to constancy adding I am perswaded that this promise shall be no longer kept then till the Queen and her Frenchmen can get the upper hand Which shortly after sell out accordingly for when she was entred St. Johnstons she contrary to promise garrisoned it saying That she was not bound to keep promise with Hereticks This was so distastefull to the Earl of Argile and the Prior of St. Andrews that they forsook the Queen and went toward St. Andrews sending to the Laird of Dun and some others to meet him there which accordingly they performed taking Master Knox along with them who in the way preached in Carrel one day in Anstruddor the second intending the third day to preach at St. ândrews The Bishop of St. ândrews hearing hereof presently raised a 100 spearmen and went thither on the Saturday whereas the Lords had none but their houshold servants about them and at the same time the Queen and her Frenchmen lay at Faikland 12 miles from St. Andrews The Bishop sent word to the Lords that if John Knox offered to preach the next day he should be saluted with a dozen of Calivers whereof the most part should light on his nose The Lords after long deliberation sent for M. Knox to hear his opinion herein ãâã withâll advised him to forbear for his owne safety and not to ãâã that day in contempt of the Bishop To which ãâã Knox
to Queen Elizabeth for aid and till it came to retire themselves towards the Highlands for their safety In the mean time the Queen Regent with her French men went from place to place plundering spoyling and making havock of all without resistance which so puffed her up with pride that she boastingly said Where is now John Knox his God My God is now stronger then his yea even in Fife But her brags lasted not long For the Earle of Arrane and the Lord James went to Desert having not above five hundred Horse and a hundred Foot whereas the French were above four thousand besides such Scots as adhered to them and yet the Protestants skirmished daily with them sometimes from morning till night and ever went away with the better killing four for one which continued for one and twenty dayes together during all which time they never put off either clothes or boots And at the end of that time came into Edenborough Frith a Fleet of the English to assist the Protestants which filled their hearts with joy and the French with rage and madnesse Thither came also some Forces by land under the command of the Lord Grey And after an agreement made with the Scottish Lords some of the English and Scots attempted to take Leith by storm and in a cruell conflict some of them gat upon the walls but the scaling-ladders proving too short they were not seconded by their fellows and so after divers hours sight were forced to retire which the Queen Regent beholding from Edenborough Castle walls burst out into a great laughter saying Now wil I go to Masse and praise God for that which mine eyes have seen And when the French had stripped the slaine and layd their naked bodyes along their walls the Queen looking on them said Yonder are the fairest Tapestries that ever mine eyes beheld I would that the whole fields which are betwixt Leith and this place were all strewed with the same stuffe But this joy lasted not long for a fire kindling in Leith many houses and much of their provision was consumed thereby and the Queen Regent falling sick shortly after died whereupon the King of France sent Ambassadors to Queen Eliz. to conclude a peace which was effected and the English and French Armies were drawn out of Scotland to the great joy of that Nation insomuch that Thanksgivings for their great deliverance by the help of the English were inserted into their Liturgie And presently after some Commissioners of the Scottish Nobility were appointed to settle Ministers in their places by whom Master Knox was setled at Edenborough where he preached many excellent Sermons Anno Christi 1566 the Earl of Murray being slaine on the Saturday Knox preaching at Edenborough the next day amongst the papers given in of those that desired the prayers of the Church he found one with these words Take up the man whom ye accounted another God At the end of his Sermon he bemoaned the losse which the Church and State had by the death of that virtuous man adding further There is one in this companie that makes this horrible murther the subject of his mirth for which all good men should be sorry but I tell him hee shall dye where there shall be none to lament him The man that had written those words was one Thomas Metellan a young Gentleman of excellent parts but bearing small affection to the Earle of Murray He hearing this commination of John Knox went home to his Sister and said That John 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 That none of John Knox his threatnings fell to the ground without effect and so indeed this came to passe for shortly after this Gentleman going to travel died in Italy having none to assist much lesse to lament him Towards Master Knox his latter end his body became very infirm and his voice so weak that people could not hear him in the ordinary place wherefore he chose another place wherein he preached upon the history of Christs Passion with which he said It was his desire to close his Ministry Finding his end near he importuned the Council of the City to provide themselves a worthy man to succeed in his place Master Iames Lawson Professor in Aberdene was the man pitched upon and Commissioners were sent from the Church of Edenborough to request him to accept of the place Iohn Knox also subscribed that request adding Accelera mifrater alioqui sero venies Hast my brother otherwise you will come too late This made Master Lawson to hasten his journey and when he was come he preached twice to the good liking of the people whereupon order was taken by the Rulers of the Church for his admission at which time Iohn Knox would needs preach though very weâk which also he performed with such servency of spirit that he was never before heard to preach with such great power or more content to the hearers In the end of his Sermon he called God to witnesse That he had walked in a good conscience with them not seeking to please men nor serving either his own or other mens affections but in all sincerity and truth had preached the Gospel of Christ. He exhorted them in most grave and pithy words to stand fast in the faith they had received and so having prayed zealously for Gods blessing upon them and the multiplying of Gods spirit upon their new Pastor hee gave them his last farewell Being conveyed to his lodging that afternoone he was forced to betake himself to his bed and was visited by all sorts of persons in his sickness to whom he spake most comfortably Amongst others the Earl of Morton came to see him to whom hee said My Lord God hath given you many blessings Wisdom Honour Nobility Riches many good and great Friends and he is now about to prefer you to the government of of the Realm the Earl of Marr the late Regent being newly dead In his name I charge you use these blessings better then formerly you have done seeking first the glory of God the furtherance of his Gospel the maintenance of his Church and Ministry and then be carefull of the King to procure his good and the welfare of the Realm If you doe thus God will be with you and honour you If otherwise he will deprive you of all these benefits and your end shall be shame and ignominy These speeches the Earl called to mind about nine years after at the time of his execution saying That he had found John Knox to be a Prophet A day or two before Knox ' s death he sent for Master David Lindsey Mr. Lawson and the Elders and Deacons of the Church to whom he said The time is approaching which I have long thirsted for
admonished them especially to take heed of Drunkennesse which was so common amongst the Germans and lastly that they should be very observant to the Senate which had so excellently maintained Religion He wrote also his fare well to the Magistrates exhorting them to continue their care of the Church and Schooles thanked them for their kindnesse to him and entreated them to chuse Ralph Gualter to be his successor The day of his death he continued in prayer repeating the one and fiftieth the sixteenth and the forty second Psalms and the Lords Prayer and so gave up his soul unto God An. Chr. 1575 and of his Age 71. He was one of the chiefest of the Helvetian Divines and after Zuinglius and Oecolampadius a strong assertor of their Confession of Faith Of a mild nature clear in his Ministry and one that hated crabbed and unprofitable questions which many delighted in to shew their wit affable in speech courteous of behaviour both towards his own and strangers An excellent Governour of the Church frugall and temârate in his diet merry and pleasant with those that lived wââh him He was so industrious that he would never be idle He had one Wife by whom he had six sonnes and five daughters of whom he married one to Zuinglius another to Lavate and a third to Simler all Ministers in Zurick He wrote Commentaries upon all the New Testament His Workes are contained in tenne Tomes besides which hee wrote Contra Anabaptistas lib. 4. De annuis Reditibus De Hebdomadibus Danielis De Sacramentis The Life of Edward Deering who died A no Christi 1576. EDward Deering was borne of a very ancient Family in Kent and carefully brought up both in Religion and Learning From School he went to Cambridge and was admitted into Christs Colledge where he profited exceedingly and became a very famous Preacher as may appear by his most learned and holy Sermons and Tractates full of heavenly consolation He never affected nor sought after great titles or preferments and therefore rested content with his Fellowship in that Colledge and onely Commenced Batchelor of Divinity yet afterwards hee was made a Preacher in Saint Paul's Church in London and having worn out himself with his labours in the Work of the Lord hee fell sick and discerning his approaching death hee said in the presence of his friends that came to visit him The good Lord pardon my great negligence that whilst I had time I used not his precious gifts to the advancement of his glory as I might have done Yet I blesse God withall that I have not abused these gifts to ambition and vain studies When I am once dead my enemies shall be reconciled to me except they be such as either knew me not or have no sence of goodnesse in them for I have faithfully and with a good conscience served the Lord my God A Minister standing by said unto him It 's a great happinesse to you that you die in peace and thereby are freed from those troubles which many of your brethren are like to meet with To whom he answered If God hath decreed that I shall sup together with the Saints in Heaven why doe I not goe to them but if there be any doubt or hesitation resting upon my spirit the Lord will reveal the truth unto me When he had layen still a while a friend said unto him that hee hoped that his minde was employed in holy meditation whilst hee lay so silent To whom he answered Poor wretch and miserable man that I am the least of all Saints and the greatest of Sinners yet by the eye of Faith I beleeve in and look upon Christ my Saviour Yet a little while and we shall see our hope The end of the world is come upon us and we shall quickly receive the end of our hope which we have so much looked for Afflictions diseases sicknesse grief are nothing but part of that portion which God hath allotted to us in this world It s not enough to beginne for a little while except we persevere in the fear of the Lord all the daies of our lives for in a moment we shall be taken away Take heed therefore that you doe not make a pastime of nor dis-esteem the Word of God blessed are they that whilst they have tongues use them to Gods glory When he drew near to his end being set up in his bed some of his friends requested him to speake something to them that might bee for their edification and comfort Whereupon the Sun shining in his face hee tooke occasion from thence to say thus unto them There is but one Sunne in the world nor but one Righteousnesse one Communion of Saints If I were the most excellent of all creatures in the world If I were equall in righteousnesse to Abraham Isaac and Jacob yet had I reason to confâsse my selfe to bee a sinner and that I could expect no salvation but in the righteousnesse of Jesus Christ For we all stand in need of the grace of God And as for my death I blesse God I feel and finde so much inward joy and comfort in my soul that if I were put to my choice whether to dye or live I would a thousand times rather choose death then life if it may stand with the holy will of God And accordingly shortly after he slept in the Lord Anno Christi 1576. The Life of Flacius Illiricus who died A no Christi 1575. MAtthias Flacius Illiricus was borne in Albona in Sclavonia Anno Christi 1520 of an ancient and numerous Family His Father being learned himself and discerning a good ingeny in his Sonne began in his tender years to instill into him the first Rudiments of Learning But after his death his Masters so neglected him that he almost forgot all Yet when he began to have discretion he desired much to attaine to Learning and returned to his studies and to further him therein went to Venice and after some progress made at seventeen years old hee beganne to study Divinity but wanting means to maintaine him in the University he profered halfe his estate to be admitted into a Monastery either at Bononia or Padua but a friend called Baldus a godly man who afterwards suffered Martyrdom for the Truth disswaded him from that kinde of life and advised him rather to goe into Germany where were store of Learned men Hereupon having read over some of the Protestants bookes and liking Baldus his advice hee went into Germany which he had never before seen and first staying at Basil he studied under Simon Grynaeus who did not only entertain him being very poor but provided for him and instructed him in the Truth which was An. 1539. And about the end of the ear he went from thence to Tubing where also he studied a while under Matthias Garbicius then went to Wittenberg An. Chr. 1541 where he privately
taught Greek and Hebrew for his maintenance and heard Luther and Melancthon He was much troubled there with temptations about Sinne Gods wrath and Predestination But by the good counsel of Pomerane and Luther and the publick praiers of the Church it pleased God that he overcame them Melancthon loved him much for his Wit and Learning and maintained him at his own charges And when Flacius was reasonable well grounded in the Greek he fel to the study of the Hebrew and commenced Mr. of Arts. He also married a wife and had a stipend allowed him by the Prince Elector Anno 1544. But when by reason of the Wars that University was dissipated he went to Brunswick being invited thither by Medler where he got much credit by his publlck teaching The Warres being ended he returned to Wittenberg Anno 1547. But when the Interim came forth and Melancthon thought that for peace-sake somthing should be yeelded to in things indifferent Flacius with the Divines of Lubec Lunenburg Hamborough and Madgeburg strongly opposed it as opening a gap to the return of Popery Hereupon shortly after he removed to Madgeburg where he strongly opposed Popery the Interim and whatsoever was contrarie to the Augustane Confession There also he assisted Gallus Wigand and Judex in writing the Madgeburgenses Centuries Confuted the opinion of Osiander about the Justification of a man before God and the fond conceits of Schwensield And when the Duke of Saxonie had erected an University at Jeans hee sent for him thither Anno Christi 1557. But after five years a great contention arising between Strigelius and him about Free will he left that place and went to Ratisbone and Anno Christi 1567 the Citizens of Antwerp having procured liberty for the free exercise of the Reformed Religion sent for Flacins amongst others thither but Religion being quickly expelled thence he went to Strasborough where he published his Glosse upon the New Testament And from thence to Franckfurt upon the Main where after a while falling out with the Ministers about the Essence of Originall Sin he fell into great disgrace and not long after died Anno Christi 1575 and of his Age 55. He was of an unquiet wit alwaies contending with some or other and brought much grief to Melancthon yet wrote some excellent Workes for the benefit of the Church and amongst others his Catalogus Testium Veritatis His Clavis sacrae Scripturae His Martyrologie with many others set down by Verheiden in his Praestantium Theologorum effigies The Life of Josias Simlerus who died A no Christi 1576. JOsias Simlerus was born at Capella in Helvetia An. Ch. 1530. His Fathers Name was Peter who was a godly learned and prudent man by whom he was carefully brought up in learning in the School of Capella and at fourteene yeares of age was sent to Zurick Anno Christi 1544 where he lived in Bullingers Family who was his Godfather almost two yeares and in which place he demeaned himself so piously modestly and diligently and made so eminent a progresse in Learning that he was exceedingly beloved of all From thence he went to the University of Basil Anno Christi 1546 where he studied the Arts and Tongues one year and from thence he went to Strasborough in which place there flourished at that time Sturmius Martyr Bucer Fagius Herlinus Sevenus Dasypodius Hedio Niger with some others Some of these he heard and spent two years in the further study of the Arts and Tongues And so at the end of three years he returned home to the great joy of his Father and Bullinger Neither did he now spend his time in pleasures and idlenesse but partly in learning partly in preaching in neighbouring villages and partly in teaching a School so that being not above twenty yeares old he was very serviceable both in the Church and Schoole And whereas Gesner was exceeding full of imployments hee many times supplyed his publick Lectures one while reading Astronomie another while Geometrie and other whiles Arithmetick Lectures for him Anno Christi 1552 he was appointed publickly to expound the New Testament in Zurick being but two and twenty years old and he beganne with Matthew and shewed such diligence and abilities that he was not only admired be his own Countrymen but by strangers especially the English who lived as exiles there at that time Four years after An. Chr. 1557 he was made Deacon and went on in his former worke with admiration so that he was highly prized by all and judged fit for better preferment Bibliander being grown very old Simler supplied his place and was Colleague to Peter Martyr who highly prised him and foretold that Simler would prove a great ornament to the Church and when he died expressed much joy that he should have so able a man to succeed him And accordingly after his death Simler was chosen into his place by the unanimous votes both of the Doctors and Senate of Zurick which was in the year 1563 and had for his Colleague John Wolffius a very learned and godly man Simler besides his publick labours instructed many in private and amongst them some Noblemen both in sacred and humane learning His Lectures publick and private ordinary and extraordinary were sufficient witnesses of his diligence industry piety learning eloquence judgement and memory He had such an acute wit and strong memory that he was able ex tempore to speak of any subject and to answer his friends questions out of any Author and to give an account of their writings to the great admiration of the hearers And though in reading of books he seemed to run over them very superficially yet when he had done he was able to give an exact account of any thing that was contained in them Being so troubled with the Gout that many times he was confined to his bed and had the use of none of his members but his Tongue onely yet in the midst of his pains he used to dictate to his Amanuensis such things as were presently printed to the great admiration of Learned men Besides the Gout he was much troubled with the stone so that the pains of these diseases together with his excessive labours in his Ministry hastned his immature death which he also foresaw yet without any consternation or fear but by his frequent and fervent prayers to God endeavoured to fit himselfe for it and accordingly Anno Christi 1576 he resigned up his spirit unto God being five and forty years old and was buried in Peter Martyrs Tomb. Hee was of a very loving and gentle nature free from passion very charitable spending all his Patrimony upon the Poore and Strangers And such as came thither to study he entertained them in his house and often feasted his friends with whom he would be very merry otherwise he was very sparing of speech He delighted much in
Letters to Zurick from Thomas Erastus signifying that there wanted a Divinity Professor at Heidleberg and that they desired supply from thence whereupon the aforenamed Divines knowing Ursines fitnesse presently sent him with their Letters of ample commendation both to the Elector Palatine and to the University Where he was made governour of the Colledge of Sapience and by his diligence faithfulnesse and ability got such credit that at twenty eight years of age they graced him with the title of a Doctor in Divinity and so hee supplyed the place of publick Professor to the year 1568 at which time Zanchy succeeded him He had for his Colleagues Peter Boquin and Immanuel Tremelius the latter Professor of the Old Testament and the former of the New Five years Ursin continued reading upon his Common places and certainây if he had finished it it had been exceeding usefull to the Church And besides his ordinary Lectures both in the University and Colledge the godly Prince Otho Frederick seeing severall Ministers using severall Catechisms to the prejudice of the Church he employed Ursin in the writing a Catechism for the Palatinate which might be of general use and accordingly he did to the great satisfaction of all Anno 1563 there brake forth a grievous Pestilence that scattered both the Court and University yet Ursin remained at home and wrote his tractates of Mortality and Christian Consolations for the benefit of Gods people The same year presently after Ursins Catechism was printed Flacius Illiricus Heshusius and some others beganne to quarrel at some passages in it about the Ascension of Christ his Presence in the Sacrament c. As also to traduce the Reformation carried on in the Palatinate but at the command of the Palatine Ursin did excellently justifie his Catechism and defend the Truth to the great satisfaction of all that read it Anno Christi 1564 hee was sent by the Elector to Malbrun to dispute with Brentius and Smidlin about the Ubiquity of Christs body which he confuted with such clear and strong arguments as that many both Papists and Lutherans were converted thereby He was so dear to the Elector Palatine that when the Bernates Anno 1578 sent Aretius to Heidleberg to crave leave that Ursine might goe to Lausanna to be the Divinity Professor there he would by no means part with him but for his ease and encouragement to stay gave him leave to choose an assistant that so his body might not bee worne out with his daily and excessive labours Anno Christi 1572 he married a Wife by whom he had one sonne that was afterwards a Minister and inherited his Fathers virtues Anno Christi 1574 at the command of the Elector Frederick he made a Confession of Faith about God the Person of Christ and the Supper of the Lord which was to stop the mouths of some malitious wicked men who had scattered abroad that in Heidleberg they had sowed the seeds of Arianism from which error both the Elector and the Church under him were most free In these employments was Ursin busied and both Religion and Learning prospered exceedingly under him so that he sent forth many excellent men who proved admirable instruments of Gods glory and the Chuches good and this continued till the year 1577 at which time it pleased God to take away that excellent Prince Frederick whereupon ensued that unhappy change when none were suffered to stay in the Palatinate except they held the opinions of Luther in all things So that Ursin with his Colleague Kimedontius were forced to leave the University But hee could not live a private life long for hee was sent for by Prince John Cassimire sonne to Frederick who knew how usefull and profitable he would be both to himself and the Churches under him About the same time also the Senate of Berne sent imporâunately for him to succeed A etius or Basil âarquard in their University Hee was also earnestly solicited by Musculus Gualter Lavater and Hortinus to accept of this call but Prince Cassimire would by no meanes part with him having erected a University at Newstad and chosen Ursin and Zanchy to be the Divinity Professors thereof Whilst hee was thus employed by his excessive studies and neglect of exercise he fell into a sicknesse which held him above a year together After which he returned to his labours again and besides his Divinity Lectures read Logick in the Schools desiring his Auditors to give him what doubts and objections they met with which upon study at his next Lecture hee returned answers to But his continual watchings care meditations and writings cast him into a Consumption and other diseases yet would he not be perswaded to intermit his imployments till at last he was confined to his bed Yet therein also he was never idle but alwayes dictating something that might conduce to the publick good of the Church The hour of death being come his friends standing by he quietly slept in the Lord Anno Christi 1583 and of his Age fifty one He was very pious and grave in his carriage and one that sought not after great things in this world refusing many gifts from Princes and himself was liberall according to his ability He was alwaies like himself very sparing of timeâ as appeared by these verses set over his study door Amice quisquis huc venis Aut agito paucis aut abi Aut me laborantem adjuva He wrote Commentarium do mortalitate consolationibus Christianis Admonitionem Neustadianam Epigrammata ad Jo. Frisium After his death his Son and Doctor Pareus and Quirinus his Scholars published divers other of his Workes which are printed in three Tomes The Life of Abraham Bucholtzer who died A no Christi 1584. ABraham Bucholtzer was born at Schovavium of a very ancient and honourable Family Anno Christi 1529 and from his infancy was brought up by his Parents in Religion and Learning When he was first set forth to School he profited to admiration outstripping all his Schoolfellowes by his acute wit and industry And being well principled at School he went to the Universities first of Franckfurt then of Wittenberg Accounting it his great happinesse that he was born after the light of the Gospel brake forth and bred up under Melancthon upon whose Lectures he attended diligently and sucked in from him not onely the principles of Learning but of Religion also He was exceeding industrious in seeking Learning attent in hearing Lectures diligent and swift in writing what was spoken by Melancthon About that time there sprang up many errors and much contention was raised in the Church of God about things indifferent the necessity of Good Works Essentiall Righteousness c. But by the help of Melanethon he was able both to discover and confute them There also he studied Greek and Hebrew When hee was six and twenty years
of age being now well grounded in the knowledge of the Arts and Tongues hee went from thence into Silesia to visit his friends and to see the chiefest Cities and whilst hee was there the Senate of Grunberg consulted about the erecting of a School in that City and for the advancement of the same they chose Bucholtzer to bee the Master thereof and sent to him by Luke Cunon who was their Pastor desiring him to undertake that office Hereupon hee asked Melancthons advice who much encouraged him to accept of the place saying Quantum solatium est pio paedagogo assidentibus castis angelis sedere in coetu incontaminato juniorum qui Deo placent docere tenera ingenia ut rectè agnoscant invocent Deum ut deinde organa fiant utilia Ecclesiae suis animabus Upon his advice therefore hee went thither Anno Christi 1556 and by his excellent abilities and diligence quickly made that place which before was obscure to become famous Scholars resorting to him from all parts whom hee bred up both in Religion and Learning and fitted them so excellently for the Universitie that Melancthon never questioned any that came from his School saying Hoc se persuasum sibi habere rudes impolitos esse non posse qui à politissimi judicii homine Abrahamo Bucholtzero essent informati That he was verily perswaded that they could not be rude or unfitted for the University that came from under the tuition of Abraham Bucholtzer who himself was a man of so polite a judgement Anno Christi 1557 hee married a Wife who proved a great comfort to him and by whom hee had many children whom hee tendered exceedingly and educated them in the feare of GOD from their very infancy Hee grew so famous all over Silesia that many desired to have him for their Pastor And at last Sprottavia enjoyed him where hee continued doing much good to Anno 1573 At which time Katharine the Relict of Henrie Duke of Brunswick sent for him to her Court to whom hee went partly by reason of his great engagements to that Family but especially because hee enjoyed not his health in Sprottavia The yeare after this pious Lady dyed and then hee was called to Eleutheropolis by Euphemia the Wife of Sir Fabian Belloquert Hee preached there in the great Church to which the Citizens flocked exceedingly insomuch as when that pious and illustrious Ernest Prince of Anhalt sent for him and profered him an honourable stipend he refused to leave his place Hee had an excellent sweetness and dexterity in Preaching was of a sound judgement and holy life His Sermons were so piercing that he never preached but hee wrought wonderfully upon the affections of his hearers If any were cast downe under the sence of sinne and wrath hee exceedingly comforted them If any were troubled with tentations and afflictions he raised them up c. Hee had a lively voice lively eye lively hand and such were all his gestures His Ministrie was so gratefull that his hearers were never wearie or thought his Sermons too long He was full of self-denyall insomuch as that excellent Lady Katherine of Brandenburg used to say That whereas all the rest of her Courtlers and Family were alwaies craving something of her Bucholtzer on the contrary never asked her for the worth of a farthing yea that he refused gifts when they were prefered to him preferring kindnesse before the gift and the fruit of his Ministry before the reward of it He was so humble that when his friends blamed him for living in so obscure a place whilst he taught Schoole hee told them that hee preferred it before a Kingdome Hee could never endure to heare himselfe commended and if his friends in their Letters had written any thing to his praise hee could not read it with patience sed terreri so laudationibus illis tanquam fulminibus dicebat qui nihil in se magni videret c. His candor was such that hee never spake or wrote any thing but from his heart Hee never read or heard any thing from others but hee made a candid construction of it His care in his publick Ministry was to avoid those questions that doe but gender unto strife and to instruct his auditors how to live well and die well Some blamed him of cowardise for that being endowed by God with such excellent abilities yet would he never enter into the lists with the frantick adversaries of those times but the true reason was because hee alwaies affected peace having no delight in wrangling which caused him to say to a friend Desis disputare coepi supputare quoniam illud dissipationem hoc collectionem significat Besides hee saw that the greatest Antagonists to the Churches peace had not so much as one spark of Grace in them And that there came no profit but much hunt to the Church of Christ by those continual quarrels amongst Divines Hee spent his spare hours in reading Ecclesiasticall and Prophane Histories and profited so much thereby that one affirmed in writing Universam antiquitatem in Bucholtzeri pâctusculâ latuisse recenditam that all Antiquity lay hid in his breast He finding some great errors in Funcclus his Chronology set himself to write one which with indefatigable paines hee brought to perfection Whilst he thus publickly and privately busied himself he fell into a grievous disease and just about the same time he lost his faithful and beloved yoake-fellow that was the Mother of nine children but upon his recovery hee married another with whom hee lived not long before the Lord put an end to all his labours and sorrows Anno Christi 1584 and of his Age fifty five He used often to meditate upon death and writing to a friend in his old age he had this expression It hath alwaies formerly bee my care in what corner soever I have been to bee ready when God called to say with Abraham Behold my Lord here I am But now above all other things I should be most willing so to answer if he would please to call me out of this miserable life into his glorious Kingdome For truly I desire nothing so much as the happy and blessed hour of death c. He made his own Epitaph to be set upon his Tomb which was this Hic pie Christe tuo recubas quasita cruere Inque tuo gremio parvula dermit ovis Reddidit hac animam balanti vâce fidelem Huic Pastor dicas intret âvile meum In his sicknesse he caused himself to be carried to Church where he preached his last Sermon about the blessed departure of a faithfull man out of this life which he performed with such excellent words and soul-ravishing affections that the Auditors said Bucholtzer had wont to exceed our other Preachers but now hee hath exceeded himself He wrote Chronologicam Isagogen Indicem Chronologicum quem Scultetus auxit
them which counsell the Prince and his Tutor neglecting went into the boat and putting from the bank the drunken young men beganne so to thrust and justle one another that at last they overthrew the boat where they were all drowned But Judex being skilfull in swimming caught the young Prince hoping to save him but being unable to draw him with him they both sunk Olevian standing on the bank and seeing this sad spectacle leapt into the water to try if he could help them but at first he stuck in the mud and water up to the chin where he despaired of his owne life In that danger he prayed unto God and vowed that if God would deliver him he would preach the Gospel to his own Citizens if he should be called thereunto At which time it pleased God that a footman of one of the Noblemens coming to the River side and seeing Olevian caught him by the head thinking that it had been his own Master and drew him out whereupon Olevian being delivered by such a speciall providence together with the Law studied Divinity especially reading over the Sacred Scriptures with Calvins Commentaries upon them After a while returning to Trevir he was reteined to plead causes at Law but seeing the great deceit in that calling and the frequent perverting of Justice he gave it over and that he might performe his Vow wholly set himself to the study of Divinity and went to Geneva and after to Zurick where he sojourned with Bullinger and was much holpen by Martyr and Bullinger in his studies before whom also he used privately to preach for his exercise But before this as he was going to Geneva taking ship at Lausanna Mr. Farrel hapned to be with him in the ship who in discourse asked him Whether ever he had preached in his owne Country Olevian told him that he had not then did Master Farrell perswade him to doe it so soon as he could and he accordingly promised that he would Whilst he was busying himself in his studies at Geneva the Church of Metis wanting a Minister applyed themselves to the Presbytery of Geneva for a supply The Presbytery nominated two Olevian and Peter Colonius But Olevian excused himself partly because he had engaged himself by vow to the service of the Church in his owne Country and partly because he had faithfully promised Farrel to doe the same Master Calvin was satisfied with this answer exhorting him to performe what he had thus resolved on Therefore Anno Christi 1559. he returned to Trevir where he was exceeding kindly entertained by the Senators his kinsmen friends and by his brother Frederick a Doctor of Physick and the Consull and Senators presently requested him to undertake the worke of teaching a School in that City and for his encouragement allowed him a stipend Accordingly he applyed himselfe to explicating the precepts of Melancthons Logick illustrated by many Theologicall examples whereby he gott opportunity of opening the sound doctrine of the Gospel to his hearers which as soon as the Canons heard of they first suspended him from the office of teaching and afterwards shut up the School against him Then the Senate appointed him to preach in an Hospitall where after he had preached a while his adversaries suborned a Priest to step up into the pulpit before him but as soon as the people saw the Priest they called to him to come down for that they would not hear him Olevian desired them to hear him promising that so soon as he had done his Sermon he wou'd preach himself yet they would not endure it but made a great stir so that the poor Priest thought that he should have been pulled in pieces by them But Olevian comforted him and entreating the people to be quiet took the Priest by the hand and led him forth safely and going into the pulpit himselfe he asked the Auditory whether for fear of further danger they would have him to intermit that Sermon or whether he should go forward according to his former course the people lifting up their hands cryed to him Yea yea Wee desire thee for Gods sake to preach unto us For this cause the Arch-Bishop of Trevir imprisoned the two Consuls and eight more of the Senators for ten weeks space who desired Olevian to come to them to instruct and comfort them which accordingly he did Then were they commanded to appear in judgement where their charge consisted of many heads whereupon they requested fourteen days time to put in their answer but that was denyed and onely two daies assigned In which time they sent privily to Frederick Elector Palatine to Wolphgang Duke of Bipânt and to the Senate of Strasborough acquainting them with their case and entreating their seasonable assistance They therefore immediately sent post to forbid the further proceedings at Law and at last obtained that they were all set at liberty And the Ambassadors for the Palatine invited Olevian to goe along with them and accordingly took him to Heidleberg Anno Christâ 1560. As soon as hee came thither the Elector made him Master of the Colledg of Sapience which he underwent for about a year and a half About this time he married a Wife and commenced Doctor in Divinity and was made Professor of Divinity in that University Also at the importunity of the Counsellors of State he was chosen to the work of the Ministry first in Peters Church and afterwards in the Church of the Holy Ghost which places he carefully and holily discharged til the death of the Elector Frederick the third which was Anno Christi 1576. A few daies after whose death hee was called to Berleburg by Lodowick Count Witgenstein where he preached and instructed some Noble mens sonns in the principles of Divinity and in the Arts and Tongues Anno Christi 1584 he was called by John of Nassau to Herborn where he preached and taught a School three yeares which was erected by the perswasion and counsell of Olevian Anno Christi 1587 hee fell into a mortal sickness which notwithstanding all meanes of cure daily grew upon him and so weakned him that at last hee quietly resigned up his spirit unto God In his sicknesse he made his Will and by pious and holy meditations prepared himself for death Being visited by Lâdowick Witgenstein and John of Nassau he told them That by that sickness he had learned to know the greatnesse of sin and the greatness of Gods Majesty more then ever he did before And a while after when the Counts two sons John and George came to visit him he exhorted them carefully to preserve brotherly love to carry on and perfect the business about the School to be liberal and mercifull to the poor and obedient to their Father The next day John Piscator coming to visit him hee told him That the day before for four hours together he was
constant Preacher of the Truth but a strong Defender of it against errors confuting the Ubiquitarians and that so boldly that he chose rather to hazard banishment then to connive at errors His fame spread abroad exceedingly so that many sought for him especially John of Nassau and John Cassimire the Elector Palatine The first desired him to come and begin his University at Herborn where he should have had greater honour and a larger stipend The other desired him to Heidleberg to bee the Divinity Professor in that place His answer was that he was born rather for labours then honours and therefore chose to goe to Heidleberg being thirty three years old Anno Christi 1584 and was intertained lovingly by the Prince who made him Governour of the Colledge of Sapience and Professor of Divinity His coming was most grateful to the University where he took exceeding great pains and was eminent for piety humility gravity prudence patience and industry so that Anno Christi 1588 he was chosen into the number of the Ecclesiasticall Senators for the government of the Church He had great skill in the Tongues Greater in the Liberal Arts and Philosophy but greatest in the knowledge of Divinity and Ecclesiasticall History He was famous for eloquence faithfulness and diligence in his place and holiness and integrity in his life Anno Christi 1589 he fell sick for which and his change he had been carefully fitting himself beforehand and therefore bore it with much patience and with fervent prayer often repeated O Christ thou art my redeemer and I know that thou hast redeemed me I wholly depend upon thy providence and mercie from the very bottome of my heart I commend my spirit into thy hands and so he slept in the Lord Anno Christi 1589 and of his age 38. Hee published not many books but those which hee did were very polite and choice ones Ut sunt de verbo Dei ejus tractatione lib. 2. After his death his works were published in three Tomes Calvin preached his Funeral Sermon The Life of Laurence Humfreid who died A no Christi 1589. LAurence Humfreid was born in the County of Buckingham and Brought up first at School and then sent to Oxford where he was admitted into the Colledge of Mary Magdalen and followed his studies hard all the daies of King Edward the sixth But in the beginning of those bloody Marian dayes wherein so many were forced to forsake their native soyl he amongst the rest went beyond Sea into Germany where he continued till the beginning of Queen Elizabeths Reign whom God raised up to be a Nursing Mother to his Church At which time he came back and returned to Oxford where he was very famous both for his Learning and Preaching Then also he commenced Doctor in Divinity and by reason of his excellent parts was very instrumentall in the advancement of Gods glory And whereas that wicked Sect of the Jesuits was lately risen up he by his learned writings did both from Scripture and Antiquity discover their impostures and Popish deceits Afterwards he was made the Master of Magdalen Colledge and the Regius Professor which places hee discharged with singular commendations for many yeares together and at last quietly resigned up his spirit into the hands of God Anno Christi 1589. The Life of James Andreas who died A no Christi 1590. JAmes Andreas was born in Waibling in the Dukedome of Wittemberg Anno 1528. And when his Father had kept him three years at School being unable to maintaine him any longer he intended to have placed him with a Carpenter but being disswaded by Sebastian Mader the Consul he sent him to Stutgard to Erhard Snepfius who was Superintendent of the Wirtembergian Churches intreating him to grant him an exhibition out of the Churches stock for the breeding of him at School Snepfius examining the boy who was now ten years old found him of an excellent wit but withall perceived that hee had been neglected at School whereupon he agreed to allow him part of his maintenance and his Father to make up the rest and so placed him in the School at Stutgard under a choice Schoolmaster with whom in two years space he learned the Latine and Greek Grammar and Rhetorick and so An. Chr. 1541 he went to Tubing where he so profited that at the end of two years he was made Batchelor of Arts and two years after that Mr. of Arts. There also he studied Hebrew Divinity And An. Ch. 1546 and of his age 18 he was made Deacon and for trial preached in the chief Church of Stutgard in a great Auditory and did so well perform that work that his fame spread abroad and at last came to the ears of Ulrick Duke of Wirtemberg who sent for him to Preach before him in his Castle which hee did with much applause so that after Sermon the Duke said Whence soever this chicken came I know that he was hatched and bred up under Snepfius The same year at Tubing he married a Wife by whom hee had eighteen children nine sonne and nine daughters About that time brake forth that fatall Warre betwixt Charles the fifth and the Protestant Princes wherein the Emperour being conquerour hee seised upon the Dukedome of Wirtemberg by reason whereof the Church was in a sad condition yet Andreas with his Wife remained in Stutgard and by Gods speciall providence was preserved in the midst of Spanish Souldiers and yet preached constantly and faithfully all the while And so hee continued till Anno Christi 1548 at which time that accursed Interim came forth which brought so much mischief to the Church of God Andreas amongst other godly Ministers that opposed it was driven from his place Yet it pleased God that the year after he was chosen again to be Deacon at Tubing where by Catechising he did very much good Anno Christi 1550 Ulrick dying his son Christopher succeeded him in the government of Wirtemberg and affected Andreas exceedingly and would needs have him Commense Doctor which degree having performed all his exercises he took the twenty fifth year of his age and was chosen Pastor of the Church of Gompping and was made Superintendant of those parts About the same time he was sent for by Lodwick Count of Oeting to assist him in the reforming of the Churches within his jurisdiction when he took his leave of his own Prince Christopher he charged him and gave it him in writing That if Count Lodwick set upon that Reformation that under pretence of Religion he might robbe the Church and seise upon the Revenues of the Monasteries and turn them to his private use that he should presently leave him and come back again He assisted also in the reformation of the Churches in Helfenstein Anno Christi 1556. About that time hearing of a Jew that
Nowel was born in the County of Lancaster Anno Christi 1511 of an ancient and worshipfull Family and at thirteen years old was sent to Oxford and admitted a member of Brasennose Colledge where hee studied thirteen years and grew very famous both for Religion and Learning In Queen Maries daies he amongst many others left the Kingdom that he might enjoy his conscience and returning when Queen Elizabeth of blessed memory came to the Crown she made him Dean of Pauls where he was a frequent and faithfull Preacher By his writings he defended the truth against some English Popish Renegadoes For thirty years together he preached the first and last Sermons in Lent before the Queen wherein he dealt plainly and faithfully with her He was a great Benefactor to Brasen-nose Colledge where hee had his first education Hee was the enlarger of Pauls School made the threefold Catechism which was much used long after He was very charitable to the poor especially to poor Scholars A great comforter of afflicted consciences He lived till he was ninetie years old and yet neither the eies of his mind nor body waxed dim And dyed peaceably in the Lord Anno Christi 1601. D. TOSSANVS The Life of Daniel Tossanus who dyed A no Christi 1602. DAniel Tossanus was born at Mombelgart in Wirtemberg Anno Christi 1541. His Father was Minister in that town about six and thirty yeares who carefully brought up this his son in learning and ãâã fourteen years old sent him to the University of Basil where he continued two years and then he commenced Batchelor of Arts From thence Anno Christi 1557 he went to Tubing and was there mainâainâd to his studyes for two yeares more by the bounty of ãâã Châistopher who did it for his Fathers sake who for many years had deserved so well of the Church of Mombelgart Our Daniel whilst he was at Tâbing applyed himself to the study of humane Arts and Philosophy in which he profited so eminently in a short space that at the end of two years he was made Master of Arts and then was sent for âack by his father to Mombelgaât where hee preached for a while and then went to Paris to learne the French Tongue and to proceed in his other studies Anno Christi 1560 he went from Paris to Orleance where he read Hebrew publickly and after a while was made Deacon in that Church and two years after Minister An. Christi 1562 and of his age twenty one which place he undertook there rather than in his own country partly because of the great want of Pastors in the French Churches as also because he agreed with them in his judgement about the manner of Christs presence in the Sacrament At this time there was the most flourishing Church in all France in Orleance consisting of above seven thousand persons that had excellent Pastors over them Into the number of which our Daniel being admitted not long after hee resolved to marry and accordingly viz. 1565 hee married Mary Covet of Paris whose Father had been Advocate to the Queen Mother in the Parliament of Paris and whose Mother being a Widdow and having embraced the Reformed Religion transplanted her self with her two daughters to Orleance for the freer exercise of her Religion Whilst he was there the Civil Wars brake out between the Papists and Protestants and Francis Duke of Guise besieged the City of Orleance where Monsieur de Andelot brother to the Admiral of France commanded in chief Tossan continued there all the time of the siege and took extraordinary pains in instructing exhorting and encouraging both Citizens and souldiers and when the City was in great danger to be lost one Poltrot who had devoted his life for his Countries safety went out and slew the Duke of Guise under the walls whereupon the siege was raised and the Church there preserved almost miraculously from ruin Anno Christi 1567 there brake out a second Civill War at which time the Papists in Orleance conspired together to destroy all the Protestants so that they were every hour in danger of being butchered but it pleased God seasonably to send Monsieur Novie with a small party of souldiers who entring the City and joyning with the Protestants drave out some of the Papists and disarmed the rest But after that famous battel at Saint Denis wherein so many of both sides were slain and wounded Peace was againe concluded Yet did the Papists quickly break it and a great company of Souldiers entering into Orleance beganne to breath forth threatnings against the Church of Christ especially against the Ministers of it Hereupon Tossan was in great danger insomuch that when he went into the Church to preach he knew not whether he should returne alive and that which most troubled him was the fear that he had of his wife and two small children Besides he never went to the Congregation but some threw stones others shot bullets at him and their rage grew so great that they burned down the barn wherein the Church used to meet together and every day he heard of one or other of their members that were slain so that he was compelled severall times to change his lodging yet one day the souldiers caught him and pretended that they would carry him out of the City but indeed intended to have Murthered him whereupon his wife great with child ranne to the Governour and with much importunity prevailed with him that her husband might stay in the City And not long after brake out the third Civill War at which time the Popish souldiers that besieged Orleance were so enraged that they burned all the places where the Church used to meet and barbarously slew above eighty of the faithfull servants of Christ in them yet it pleased God miraculously to preserve the Ministers in that great danger and Tossan with his Colleagues by the help of some of the faithfull was conveighed privately away out of the City in the night but whilst hee sought to hid chim in a wood he fel into an ambush and was taken and carried prisoner into a Castle not far off from Orleance His wife which stayed behind in the City hearing this sad news left no means untried for his delivery and at last for a great summe of money shee procured his release whereupon he went to Agrimont and his wife putting her self into the habit of a Maid-servant went towards Agrimont after him where Renata the daughter of Lewis the twelfth of France and Dowager of Ferrara lived in a very strong Castle and was a great friend to the Protestants entertaining many that fled to her for succour But as his wife was going thitherward after him she was taken by some Souldiers and carried back to the Governour of Orleaence but it pleased God to stir up the Governours wife and daughters to intercede for her
received such abunâdant satisfaction by converse with him that ever after they held corespondence with him Shortly after Lodwick the Elector Palatine dying Caâimire was made Guardian to his son during his minority whereupon he sent for Tossan to Heidleberg that by his advise and counsell he might reform the Churches But when he came thither his adversaries loured exceedingly upon him and raised many false reports but he remembred that of âeneca vir bonus quod honestè se facturum put averit faciet etiam si periculosum sit ab honesto nullâ re deteârebitur ad turpia nulla spe invitabitur An honest man will do that which he judges right though it be dangerous He will not be deterred from that which is honest by any meanes hee will be allured to that which is dishonest by no means His adversaries in their Pulpits daily cryed out of strange Heresies that he and his party held But Prince Casimire first sent for them to argue the case before him and then appointed a Publick disputation wherein they could prove none of those things which they charged them with whereupon the Prince required them to abstain from such accusations for the time to come and to study peace But nothing would prevail to allay their spleene till they were removed into other Countries The care of choosing Pastors to the Churches Tutors to the young Prince Schoolmasters and Professors to the University was divolved upon Tossan all which he discharged with much fidelity Anno Christi 1586. James Grynaeus the chiefe Professor in Heidleberg was called home to Basil in whose roome Tossanus though very unwilling was substituted and therefore to satisfie the Statutes of the University he commenced Doctor in Divinity But as his cares and paines increased so his sorrow also partly by reason of an unhappy quarrel that fell out between the Students and Citizens of Heidleberg partly by the death of his dear wife with whom he had lived twenty two years in wedlock which fell out in the year 1587. and therefore Anno Christi 1588 he married again and disposed of his daughters also in marriage to godly and learned men Not long after Prince Casimire died which much renewed his griefe But Frederick the fourth beeing now come to his age was admitted into the number of the Electors and was very carefull of the good both of the Church and University Anno Christi 1594 Tossan was chosen Rector of the University of Heidleberg and the year after there brake out a greivous Pestilence in that Citie which drove away the students But Tossan remained Preaching comfortably to his people and expounding the Penitentiall Psalmes to those few students that yet remained Anno Christi 1601 hee being grown very old and infirme laid down his Professors place though the University much opposed and earnestly sollicited him to retaine it still but God purposed to give him a better rest after all his labors and sorrows For having in his Lectures expounded the book of Job to the end of the thirtie one Chapter he concluded with those words The words of Job are ended Presently after falling sicke hee comforted himself with these texts of Scripture I have fought the good fight of Faith c. Bee thou faithfull unto the death and I will give thee the crown of life Wee have a City not made with hands eternall in the heavens and many other such like Hee also made his will and set down therein a good confession of his Faith and so departed quietly in the Lord An. Christi 1602 and of his age sixty one He was a very holy man exemplary in his life had an excellent wit strong memorie Eloquent in speech was very charitable and chearfull in his conversation and kept correspondence with all the choisest Divines in those times He wrote many things which were afterwards digested into Tomes and some of his works were published after his death by his Sonne I. WHITGIFT The Life of William Perkins who died A no Christi 1602. WIlliam Perkins was born at Marston in Warwickshire Anno 1558 and brought up at School from which he went to Christ's Colledge in Cambridg where he profited so much in his Studies that having got the grounds of all the liberall Arts he was chosen Fellow of that Colledge in the 24th year of Queen Elisabeth He was very wild in his youth but the Lord in mercie was pleased to reclaim him that he might be an eminent instrument of good in his Church When he first entred into the Ministââe beeing moved with pittie towards their souls he prevailed with the jaylor to bring the Prisoners fettered as they were to the Shirchouse hard by the Prison where he Preached every Lord's daie to them and it pleased God so to prosper and succeed his labors amongst them that he was the happy instrument of converting many of them unto God Freeing them thereby from the Captivity of sin which was their worst bondage This his practice being once known many resorted to that place out of the neighbor-Parishes to hear him So that from thence he was chosen to Saint Andrews Parish in Cambridge where he Preached all his life after His Sermons were not so plain but the piously learned did admire them nor so learned but the plain did understand them Hee brought the Schools into the Pulpit and unshelling their controversies out of their hard School-tearms made thereof plain and wholsom meat for his people He was an excellent Chirurgion at the jointing of a broken Soul and at stating of a doubtfull conscience so that the afflicted in spirit came far and near to him and received much satisfaction and comfort by him In his Sermons he used to pronounce the word Damn with such an Emphasis as left a dolefull Echo in his auditors ears a good while after And when hee was Catechist in Christ's Colledge in expounding the Commandements he applied them so home to the conscience as was able to make his hearers hearts fall down and their haires almost to stand upright But in his old age he was more miâdâ often professing that to Preach mercy was the proper office of the Ministers of the Gospel In his life he was so ãâã and spotlesse that Malice was afraid to bite at his credit into which she knew that her teeth could not enter He had a rare felicity in reading of books and as it were but turning them over would give an exact account of all that was considerable therein He perused books so speedily that one would think he read nothing and yet so acurately that one would think he read all Hee was of a cheerfull nature and pleasant disposition Somewhat reserved to strangers but when once acquainted very familiar Besides his frequent Preaching he wrote many excellent books both Treatises and Commentaries which for their worth were many of them translated into
Latine and sent beyond sea where to this day they are highly prized and much set by yea some of them are translated into French High-Dutch and Low-Dutch and his Reformed Catholick was translated into Spanish also yet no Spaniard ever since durst take up the Gantlet of Defiance cast down by this Champion He died in the forty fourth year of his age of a violent fit of the Stone Anno Christi 1602 being born the first and dying the last year of Queen Elizabeth He was of a ruddy complexion fat and corpulent Lame of his right hand yet this Ehud with a left-handed pen did stab the Romish cause as one saith Dextera quantumvis fuerat tibi manca docendi Pollebas mirâ dexteritate tamen Though nature thee of thy right hand bereft Right-well thou writest with thy hand that 's left He was buried with great solemnity at the sole charges of Christs Colledge the University and Town striving which should expresse more sorrow at his Funeral Doctor Montague Preached his Funeral Sermon upon that Text Moses my servant is dead Master Perkins his manner was to go with the Prisoners to the plaââ of execution when they were condemned and what ãâã his labours were crowned with may appeare by this example A young lusty fellow going up the ladder discovered an extraordinary lumpishnesse and dejection of spirit and when he turned himselfe at the upper round to speak to the people he looked with a rueful and heavy countenance as if he had been half dead already whereupon Master Perkins laboured to chear up his spirits and finding him still in an Agony and distresse of minde he said unto him What man what is the matter with thee art thou afraid of death Ah no said the Prisoner shaking his head but of a worser thing Saist thou so said Master Perkins come down again man and thou shalt see what Gods grace will doe to strengthen thee Whereupon the prisoner coming down Master Perkins took him by the hand made him kneel down with himself at the ladder foot hand in hand when that blessed man of God made such an effectuall prayer in confession of sinnes and aggravating thereof in all circumstances with the horrible and eternal punishment due to the same by Gods justice as made the poor prisoner burst out into abundance of tears and Master Perkins finding that he had brought him low enough even to hell gates he proceeded to the second part of his prayer and therein to shew him the Lord Jesus the Saviour of all penitent and believing sinners stretching forth his blessed hand of mercy and power to save him in that distressed estate and to deliver him from all the powers of darkness which he did so sweetly press with such heavenly art and powerfull words of grace upon the soul of the poor prisoner as cheared him up again to look beyond death with the eyes of Faith to see how the black lines of all his sinnes were crossed and cancelled with the red lines of his crucified Saviours precious blood so graciously applying it to his wounded conscience as made him break out into new showres of tears for joy of the inward consolation which he found and gave such expression of it to the beholders as made them life up their hands and praise God to see such a blessed change in him who the prayer being ended rose from his knees chearfully and went up the Ladder again so comforted and tooke his death with such patience and alacrity as if he actually saw himself delivered from the hell which he feared before and heaven opened for the receiving of his soul to the great rejoycing of the beholders His works are printed in three volumes F. JVNIVS The Life of Francis Junius who died A no Christi 1602. FRancis Junius was born in France of a Noble Family An. Christi 1545. His Grandfather was William Lord of Boffardineria who for his valiant service in the wars of Navar was rewarded by King Lewis the twelfth with that honour His Father was Denis who in his youth studied Law in the most famous Universities of France His Mother was Jacoba Hugalda which bore nine children four sons and five daughters amongst which this our Francis was born in Biturg His Mother being sickly the child was very weak not likely to live one houâ and therefore was hastily baptised And during his childhood this weakness continued which falling into his left legge caused a soare which was difficultly healed When hee was five yeares old his Father beganne to teach him to read as his leisure would permit At six yeares old he began to write and to discover his ingenuity being of a pleasant disposition very desirous of honour quickly angry and for his age of a grave judgement Hee did eat his meat eagerly was very shame-fac'd which continued with him all his life after Hee had the publick Schoolmasters for his instructers besides others that privately taught him at home At twelve years old he attended the publick Lectures and began to study the Civill Law and his Father much encouraged and assisted him therein Yet one thing much impeded him in his first studies For being put forth to School hee met with harsh and severe Masters which used to beat him in a most cruel and barbarous manner yet his love to learning made him conceal it from his friends When he had studied Law about two years he was sent to Lions to have gone with the French Ambassador to Constantinople but coming too late after the Ambassadors departure he staid and studied there turning over many bookes whereof in that place were great plenty But there he met with great temptations to evill a woman and a young mayd labouring upon every opportunity to draw him to lewdnesse This much troubled him having been brought up religiously by his parents whereupon he thought of returning home but his fathers authority who commanded his stay there altered those thoughts and so through Gods assistance he resisted that temptation But presently fell into another For as he was reading over Tully de Legibus there came a certain man to him using the words of the Epicure nihil cur are Deum nec alieni that God cares for nothing And he so pressed it with such subtile arguments that hee prevailed with him to suck in that damnable principle and so he gave up himself to vile pleasures for a year and somewhat more But the Lord suffered him not to continue longer therein For first in a tumult in Lions the Lord wonderfully delivered him from imminent death so that he was compelled to acknowledge a divine providence therein And his Father hearing the dangerous waies that his son was misled into sent for him home where he carefully and holily instructed him and caused him to read over the new Testament of wich himselfe writes thus novum Testamentum aperio exhibet se mihi
with his terrors and with inward tentations so that his life was almost wasted with heaviness yet thereby he learned more and more to know Christ Jesus About that time there was a General Assembly of the Church at Perth unto which some that lived in the North of Scotland sent to desire that a Minister might be sent unto them whereupon the Assembly appointed Master Cowper for that place and accordingly wrote to him by Master Patrick Simpson who coming to Sterling delivered to him the Letters from the Assembly and those from the Town containing his calling to the work of the Ministry in that place And so shortly after the Town sent their Commissioners to transport him and his family thither In that place he continued doing the work of the Lord for ninteen years together where he was a comfort to the best and a wound to the worser sort Besides the Sabbath dayes he chose thrice a week to convene the people together in the Evenings viz. Wednesdayes Fridayes and Saturdayes for a preparation to the Sabbath upon which daies they had no preaching in the morning concerning which meetings himself writes That it would have done a Christians heart good to have seen those glorious and joyfull assemblies to have heard the zealous cryings to God amongst that people with sighings and tears and melting hearts and mourning eyes And concerning himself he saith My witnsse is in heaven that the love of Jesus and his people made continual preaching my pleasure and I had no such joy as in doing his work And besides that he preached five times a week he penned also whatsoever hee preached many of which holy and godly Sermons are extant in print All the time of his abode there except some little intermissions and breathing times the Lord still exercised him with inward tentation and great variety of spiritual combats the end of all which through Gods mercy was Ioy unspeakable as himself testifies Yea once saith he in greatest extreamitie of horror and anguish of spirit when I had utterly given over and looked for nothing but confusion suddenly there did shine in the very twinkling of an eye the bright and lightsome countenance of God proclaming peace and confirming it with invincible reasons O what a change was there in a moment the silly soul that was even now at the brink of the pit looking for nothing but to be swallowed up was instantly raised up to heaven to have fellowship with God in Christ Jesus and from this day forward my soul was never troubled with such extremity of terrors This confirmation was given unto me on a Saturday in the morning there found I the power of Religion the certaintie of the word there was I touched with such a lively sense of a Divinitie and power of a Godhead in mercy reconciled with man and with me in Christ as I trust my soul shall never forget Glory glory glory be to the joyfull deliverer of my soul out of all adversities for ever In the middest of these wrestlings with God he wanted not combats with wicked men also but the greatnesse of his inward conflicts made him lightly regard all their outward contradictions and to esteem them but as the bitings of a Flea It was no marvel to see Satan stir up his wicked instruments to molest him since he professed himself a disquieter of him and his Kingdom Yet this much supported him that he never had a controversie with any of them but for their sins And the Lord assisting him the power of the Word did so hammer down their pride that they were all of them at last brought to an acknowledgement of their evil wayes But at length as God turned the heart of Pharoah and his people from the Israelites when the time drew on for their remove so by little and little did the zeal and love of most of that people fall away so that his last conflict was not with the prophane but with Justitiaries and such as were unrebukeable in their lives These men were stuffed with such pride self-conceit disdain and intolerable contempt that thereby they were carried further from their duty then any of the former and they which should have been his greatest comfort were his greatest cross Presently hereupon God called him to the Government of the Churches in Galloway in the South-West parts of the kingdom being chosen by the Assembly and presented by the King thereunto This was done without his privity or ambitious us seeking after it yea he was so far from it that eighteen weeks passed betwixt the Kings Presentation and his Acceptation of ât In that place he was very carefull to advance the Gospel and to adorn his Ministery Concerning the frame of his spirit thus he writes My soul is alway in my hand ready to be offered to my God Where or what kind of death God hath prepared for me I know not But sure I am there can no evil death befall him that lives in Christ nor sudden death to a Christian Pilgrim who with Job waits very hour for his change Yea saith he many a daie have I sought it with teaâes not out of impatience distrust or perturbation âut because I am weary of sin and fearful to fall into it This faithful servant of God who had alwaies been faithful and painful in his Ministery when sickness grew daily upon him was no way deficient in the duty of his ordinary preaching Taking great pains also to perfect his work upon the Revelations which he desired greatly to finish before his death He had also much grief by reason of some that disturb'd the peace of the Church which he alwaies sought to procure so that his infirmity encreasing he was compelled to keep home yet as his weakness permitted he applyed himself to revise his writings and to dispose of his worldly estate that he might be ready for his passage which every day he exspected some ten daies before his decease he manifested to his friends what great contentment he had in his approaching death Many repaired to him in his sickness whom he entertained with most holy and divine conferences expressing a great willingnesse to exchange this life for a better and at last feeling his strength and spirits to decay after he had conceived a most heavenly prayer in the company of those that were by he desired to you to bed in which also after he had most devoutly commended himself unto Almighty God hee tooke somâ ãâã rest After which time he spake not many words ãâ¦ã failing though his memory and understanding ãâ¦ã and so about seven a clock at night he rendred ãâ¦ã most quiet and peaceable manner An Christi 1619. Some of his private meditations were these Now my soul be glad for at all parts of this prison the Lord hath set to his Pioners to loose thee Head feet milt and liver are
his substance encreased with his bounty Hee took much pains in composing the differences amongst his neighbours He was especially carefull to doe good to poor Ministers his fellow-labourers Some that lived near him tasted of his bounty oft to whom he sent Wheat or Malt in no scant proportion He was much given to Hospitality and Strangers out of other Nations hearing his fame resorted to him for his acquaintance About December Anno Christi 1621 having been at London as he was returning home his horse by the way stumbling threw him down in the fal brake his leg but being holpen up he rode to a town called Hodsdon where in an Inn hee sent for a Bonesetter by whom after his leg was set he was directed to keep his bed ten dayes which he willingly submitted to As he lay he imployed one of his sons who waited on him to write from his mouth some heavenly meditations upon the song of Hezekiah when he had been sick and recovered of his sicknesse Isaiah 38 especially upon the 9 10 13 and 15 verses Thus he continued to the tenth of December when early in the morning being awakened by the tolling of a passing bell which probably occasioned in him a strong apprehension of his own approaching death he fell into a discourse with his wife who lay in the chamber by him since that accident first befel him concerning death and our blessed hopes expected after death And amongst other things touching the mutual knowledge that the Saints have one of another in glory Which comfortable discourse being ended they began to sing an Hymn of his own composing giving thanks to God for their rest that night and praying for a blessing upon them and theirs in the day ensuing And then having repeated one verse of the 146 Psalm he presently brake out into these words Oh this a most sweet psalm and so went on but pausing at the end of every staff he delivered a short Paraphrase upon it and coming to these words ver 7 8. And loose the fetters strong and the lame to limbs restore he applyed both to himself calling the splints upon his legge his fetters and comforting himself with this that God would restore him from his lamenesse but having occasion for som ease to stir himself he suddenly fetched a deep groan and so fell into a trance His wife crying out and some coming in they used means and he began to rouse himself a little and to look about And uttered these his last words Let me alone I shall do well Lord Jesus and so gave up his soul to God Anno Christi 1621 and of his age 59 His Works are Synopsis Papismi A sixfold Commentarie upon Genesis Exodus Leviticus Samuel 1 2 Daniel Romans Ecclesia triumphans Thesaurus Ecclesiae A Comment upon the Epistle of Jude The Protestants Diet. D. PAREVS The Life of David Pareus who died A no Christi 1622. DAvid Pareus was born in Silesia Anno Christi 1548. His Parents were Citizens of good rank when he was about three years old he fel sick of the small pox whereof he was like to die and though it pleased God that he recovered yet he had thereby a blemish in one of his eyes which continued so long as he lived About that time his mother died When he grew up to riper yeares his Father perceiving a natural promptnesse in him to learning set him to School in his own City where one of his Masters was very rigid and severe in his carriage unto him and there he learned Grammar Musick and Arithmatick But when he was fourteene years old by the instigation of his step-mother his father placed him with an Apothecary at Uratislavia which course of life he could not well rellish and therefore after a moneths stay hee returned home againe which his step mother was much offended with yet his tender father resolved to keep him at school and when he disliked the severity of his former Master he sent him to Hirschberg to one Christopher Schillingus who was much affected with his ingenuity and towardlinesse The chief Magistrate also of that City took a great liking to him for some verses which he made at his sons Funeral so that he gave him his diet in his family When he had been there about two yeares the Pastor of that place who was a Lutherane fell out with his Schoolmaster for that in Catechising of his scholars he had taught them that Christs body being ascended into heaven was there to remain till his coming to judgement and that in the Sacrament wee feed upon it onely spiritually by faith c. And his spleene was so great that he would not be satisfied till he had driven him away from the City Pareus having to his great grief lost his Master returned home yet neither there was hee in quiet some talebearers suggesting to his father that his Schoolmaster had infected him with his errors and so far they prevailed that his father intended to disinherit him Hereupon Pareus resolved to go into the Palatinate which his father much disliked sought by all means to hinder yet at last through Gods mercy by importunity he got his fathers consent who sent him away with little money in his purse Thus forsaking his friends and fathers house he went to Hirschberg where hee met with his Master and some of his School-fellows and so they travelled together towards the Palatinate through Bohemia By the way his money failing he went to a Monastery to beg an Alms and the Abbat pittying him relieved him Going from thence to another Monastery he met with an ignorant Friar and asking an Alms of him in Latine he returned this answer Nos pauperifratres nos nihil habemus an piscimus an caro an panis an misoricordia habemus Yet at length it pleased God to bring them safely to Amberg in the upper Palatinate There his Schoolmaster stayed and sent Pareus with ten more of his Scholars to Heidleberg where they were admitted into the Colledge of Sapience There he was a diligent hearer of Ursin Boquin Tremelius Zanchy and the other Professors under whom he profited both in the Arts and Tongues to admiration Then he betook himself to the study of Divinity and having fitted himself for the work of the Ministry he was chosen by the Elector to preach in a village within his jurisdiction which he was then about to reform Not long after he was called back to Heidleberg and made a Publick-Lecturer where he continued till the death of Frederick the third and then by the Heterodox party he with the other Professors was driven from thence but most of them were entertained by Prince Casimire who erected a Universitie at Neostade appointing Ursin Zanchy Tossan Junius Piscaâor and others to be the Professors in it He appointed also a Synod therein to consider how to provide for the other
he gat so great esteem in Italy that he was profered a Pension of five hundred Duckats by the year to imploy himself in the version of some Arabick books into Latine He spent four years in travel and was famous every where for his learning At Paris and some other places he bought many Arabick books and so returned to Leiden Anno Christi 1612. About which time there was a purpose to have called him into England and to have allowed him an honourable stipend but the year after he was chosen Professor of the Oriental languages in Leiden and presently after he set up though with extraordinary charges a Press for those Languages whereby he published many antient Monuments both of his own and other mens Anno Christi 1616 he married a Wife by whom he left three children surviving him Anno Christi 1619 he was made Professoâ of the Hebrew also and though he had so many and great employments yet he went through each of them with so great exactnesse as if he had nothing else to attend upon Anno Christi 1620 he was sent by the Prince of Orange and the States of Holland into France to procure Peter Moulin or Andrew Rivet to come to Leiden to be the Divinity Professor and though he prevailed not at that journey yet they sent him again the year after to Andr. Rivet and the French-Church to obtain of them their consents for his comming which businesse he transacted with so great prudence that he brought Andrew Rivet along with him to Leiden Erpenius his fame was so great that the King of Spain wrote to him making him exceeding great promises if he would come into Spain to interpret some antient writings which never man yet could doe The King of Morocco also did so exceedingly admire the purity of his Arabick stile in some of his Epistles that he shewed them to his Nobles and other learned men as some great Miracle He was also highly esteemed of by the Prince of Orange and the States of Holland who often made use of his labours in translating the letters which they received from Princes in Asia and Africa out of Arabick or other Languages But whilst he was thus busily imployed in publick and private it pleased God that he fell sick of the Plague whereof he dyed Anno Christi 1624 and of his age forty A. SCVLTETVS The Life of Abraham Scultetus who dyed A no Christi 1624. ABraham Scultetus was born at Grunberg in Silesia Anno Christi 1566. His Parents were of good rank who carefully brought him up at School where he profited exceedingly and Anno Christi 1582 he went to Uratislavia where he had for his fellow-Students Pitiscus Polanus and Pelargus men who after proved eminent in the Church of God Having studied there some time he went thence to Freistade to hear Melancthon Bucâlzer and some others But his active spirit could not long be contained within the bounds of his own country and therefore being assisted by the bounty of a Noble Knight he went to Wittenberg and from thence to Dessavia to acquaint himself with Peter Martyr and Caspar Pucer Anno Christi 1590 he went to Heidleberg where hee heard Dâniel Tossan and Francis Junius There also he read Lectures of Logick Oratory and Astronomy to divers young Noblemen and the year after Commenced Master of Arts. Then he betook himself to the study of Divinity thereby to fit himself for the Ministry which from his childhood he had devoted himself to And preaching before the Elector Palatine he so flowed with eloquence and sweetnesse of speech that the Prince and all his Courtiers were much delighted in him which caused the Elector to make him Visitor both of the Schools and Churches Yea many other Princes made use of his help in reforming their Churches in Juliers Brandenburg and Hannovia He was also sent to the Synod of Dort Anno Christi 1612 the Prince Elector Palatine tooke him into England with him where he was much esteemed and respected by King James and other learned men At his retuân to Heidleberg he was made Professor in the University and Doctor in Divinity Anno Christi 1618 But about that time grievous Wars breaking forth the miseries whereof were dispersed afterwards over all Germany he was forced to leave Heidleberg and travelled into Bohemia yet there also he met with many afflictions and dangers so that having been long tossed up and down in several countries the Lord at last provided him a quiet station at Embden where he was chosen a Preacher of the Gospel But being thus worn out with travels sorrows and pains in the work of the Ministry hee quietly there slept in the Lord Anno Christi 1624 and of his age 58. What admirable endowments he had his works do sufficiently declare especially his Medulla Patrum which is so much esteemed by learned men The Life of John Piscator who died A no Christi 1625. JOhn Piscator was born at Strasborough Anno Christi 1546 at which time Germany was on fire with Civill Wars Yet that hindred not but he followed his studies very hard and profited exceedingly in learning When he came to the study of Logick with great felicity he joyned Ramus and Aristotle together And afterwards having made a good progresse in the study of Divinity he was called to Herborn to be the Professor there and his labours were so gratefull to young Students that many flocked thither out of Germany France Hungary Poland and other Northern Countries He wrote many things with great diligence and labour scarce affording any rest to himself He translated the whole Bible with great pains and faithfulnesse into the German Tongue besides his Logical and Theological Analysis of the greatest part of it He died at Herborn Anno Christi 1625 and of his age 80. R BOLTON The Life of Robert Bolton who died A no Christi 1631. RObert Bolton was born at Blackborn in Lancashire Anno Christi 1572. His Parents finding in him a great prompânesse to learning though they had no great means yet they intended him for a Scholar the rather having an opportunity of a good Schoolmaster in the town where he profited exceedingly and at twenty years old he went to Lincoln Colledge in Oxford and was Master Randal's Pupil afterwards a famous Preacher there in a short time being wel grounded before and industrious he became an excellent Logician and Philosopher But about that time his father dying and his meanes failing hee took excessive paines and wanting bookes he borrowed of his Tutor and others read them over and abridged them and to perfect his knowledge in the Greek he wrote out all Homer with intollerable pains so that he could with as much facility dispute in the Schools in Greek as in Latine or English From thence he removed to
needed consolation And if his reproof or exhortation needed pressing home upon the conscience he would enlarge himselfe by shewing motives to urge the duty or disswasives from the vice taking his Arguments from duty to God decency or shamefulnesse pleasure or paine gaine or losse Sometimes also hee would shew the effectuall meanes of attaining the grace or power to performe the duty exhorted to As also the Remedies against Vices And when hee fell upon any Common place or Head of Divinity hee used to prosecute it very judiciously and profitably So that by all this it appeares that hee made good use of his Learning yet without affectation He used to read Books most swiftly and yet not cursorily being able when he had done to give an account of the substance and most remarkable passages of what he had read Though he preached often yet what he preached was before-hand well studied and premeditated And it pleased God to put a Seal to his Ministry in the converting confirming and building up many thousands in the course of his Ministry Hee was a diligent visitor of the sick under his charge without respect of persons Hee was a great Peace-maker amongst any of his flock that were at variance Hee had an heavenly gift in prayer both for aptnesse and fulnesse of Confessions Petitions Supplications Intercessions and Praises together with fervencie of spirit to pour them out to God in the name of Christ. When he had read a Psalm or Chapter in his Family in his Prayer hee would discover the scope meaning and chiefe notes of observation and their use so that his Prayer was an excellent Commentary thereupon and this not onely in the plainer but ân the harder Texts of Scripture also In his prayers also after Sermon he could collect into a short summe all that hee had delivered to his hearers and make it the matter of his prayer unto God that they might bee inwardly taught of God and become believers and doers of what was taught them His constant practice was besides Family-prayer twice a day and sometimes catechizing to pray also with his Wife and alone both morning and evening He set a part private daies of Humiliation for his Family upon special occasions and oft for their preparation to the Lords Supper at which times he would exceed himself in pouring out his soul to God with many tears He was much in daies of private fasting and humbling himself alone before God which impaired his health but made much for the health of his soul. He was very able and very ready to confer with and to resolve the doubts of such as came to him He bare such a tender love to that great people over which God had set him that though his means was small and he had many offers of great preferment in the Church yet hee would not leave them Hee was daily inquisitive after the affaires of Gods Church and sympathized with Gods people both in their weale and woe He was much grieved when he saw that difference in opinions bred strangenesse amongst Christians that agreed in the same Fundamentall Truths He was judiciously charitable to such as shewed the power of Godlinesse in their lives though they were not of his judgement in all things He was glad when any of the righteous smote him and would take it well not from his Superiours onely but from his Equals and far Inferiours and would really shew more testimonies of his love to such afterwards then ever he did before Hee abounded in workes of Mercy he was a truly liberal man one that studyed liberall things seeking out to finde objects of his mercie rather then staying till they were offered He did set apart and expend for many yeares together for good uses the tenth part of his yearly commings in both out of his Temporall and Ecclesiasticall meanes of maintenance He entertained some poor Widdows or neceââitous persons weekly at the least at his Table and his estate prospered the better after hee took this course and in his sicknesse he comforted himself with that promise Psal. 41. 1 2. Blessed is he that considereth the poor the Lorâ will deliver him in the time of trouble the Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing c. The truth of grace in his heart was discovered by nothing more then by his slips and strong tentations For hereby hee was made more watchfull over himselfe more humble and more to loath his originall corruption and sinfull nature and so to cry out with the Apostle O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death Yea this made him more earnest in his prayers unto God and more pittifull unto others And hee was alwayes the first espier of his own faults when the world could not or did not take notice of them enjoying no rest in himselfe till he had sought and regained pardon and peace with God His last daies were his best dayes for then hee grew exceedingly in humility and in heavenly-mindednesse And a good while before his latter end God gave him victory over his greatest corruptions which for a long time kept him in continuall exercise About eight weeks before his death he was much troubled with a cough and shortnesse of breath which much weakned him yet hee preached divers times till his encreasing weaknesse disabled him In his sicknesse he gave heavenly and wholsom counsel to his people neighbours and friends that came to visit him exhorting them to labour to redeem the time to be much in reading hearing and meditating upon the word of God much in praier brotherly love and communion of Saints and that they would be careful to hold that fast that he had taught them out of the Word of Truth and that waiâst the means of salvation was to bee had they would neither spare paines nor cost to enjoy it His pains towards his end were very great yet hee bore them patiently He was much in ejaculations and lifting up his heart to God in behalf of the Church and State and for himself also wherein he was most frequent and earnest A little before his death a godly friend and Minister praying with him that if his time were not expired God would bee pleased to restore him for the good of his Church or if otherwise that he would put an end to his pains if hee saw good he lifting up his eyes stedfastly towards heaven and one of his hands in the close of that prayer gave up the Ghost shutting his eyes himself as if he were fallen into a sweet sleep Anno 1639 and of his Age 56. God took him away a little before the Civill Warres began and before the sad desolations that fell upon the Town of Banbury in particular He wrote Prototypes God Husbandry A Treatise of the New Birth The Redemption of time A Care cloth The Bride bush c.
Assoon as Walleuâ came to Leâââm the Magistrates chose him for one of the Curators of their School in which Office he continued all his life and by his advice the School was quite turned into another order whereby it became far more famous then before The States of Holland observing that in their Cities there were some Masters of Schools which either wanted ability or prudence in regulating their Schools for the best advantage of the boys they therefore made choice of Anthony Wallaeus Anthony ââsius Peter ãâã Daniel Heinsius Geââard Vâssius ãâ¦ã all of them Professors in Leiden to frame Laws whereby all the Schoolmasters in Holland should be regulated in teaching both the Tongues and Liberal Arts which accordingly were finished and printed Anno Chriââ 1625. The States of Zeland observing that their young Students began to fall into some loose courses made choice of Wallaeus for Overseer of all in Zelamd with a command that all their youth should be wholly guided in their studies by him where by there was a great Reformation not one of ãâã proving wicked in his life The ãâ¦ã also growing solicitous for the salvation of the poor âadius and observing that they could get no Ministers go thither but such as could get no places in the Low-Countries which many times were either insufficient or scandalous They resolved therefore to erect a Seminary from whence at their pleasures they might draw forth Pastors for those parts For which end they consulted with the Professors at Leiden and observing that Wallaeus was more zealous then the rest in promoting it they chose him to be Overseer of that Semânarie But he judging himself unable to undergo so many Offices refused it yet at the importunity of the Curators of the University of Leiden and by the perswasion of his Colleagues he was at last prevailed with and undertook it Whereupon the students for India were brought into his Family where they were dieted and directed in their studies and found so much content that they never complained either of their Diet or Government And besides their other studies he caused them every day to construe to him a Chapter out of the Hebrew Bible and another out of the Greek Testament whereby they became skilful in the Languages and familiarly acquainted with the sacred Scriptures Twice also in the week he caused them to read in and dispute of his Enchirdion of the Reformed Religion and directed them in the making of their Sermons and the forwardest of them he directed how they might infuse the Principles of the Reformed Christian Religion into the Heathens by reasons drawn from Nature how they should instruct them gather a Church and govern the same Out of this Seminary in a few years were sent forth twelve Ministers famous for Learning and Piety to whom India oweth almost all her knowledge which she hath in the Reformed Religion Then did the Magistrates of Leiden by their Consul importune Wallaeus to give them leave to choose him into their Ecclesiastical Consiâory but his wife and children disswaded him from it perceiving that he would sink under the burthen of so many imployments About this time there brake forth a great contention in Zeland between Telingius and Bursius Telingius was very careful to promote Piety whereupon he sharply reproved the sins of the times and observing much prophanation of the Sabbath by a Book which he published he endeavoured the Reformation of the same Upon this occasion Bursius his son wrote a complaint in verse wherein the Church bemoaned her self as if she had lost her liberty and therein he endeavoured to confute âelingius about the Institution of the Lords Day Gomarus also who was very intimate with Bursius supplyed him with Arguments Telingius his friends were much offended at this so that there was great danger least the Church should be divided into parties and factions Voetius also published a youthly writing wherein he sought more to jerk his Adversaries then to edifie the Church Hereupon Wallaeus resumed those things which he had formerly read over and drew them into a larger Treatise about the Sabbath which also he printed to the great joy of the Churches who as they highly prized his Learning so now had cause to admire his wisdom And this work of his was so approved of that by Silvius Pastor of Amsterdam it was turned into Dutch their Native Language And it pleased God by this means to put an end to the aforenamed contentions Only Gomarus thinking it dishonorable to be silent published a little Book De Investigatione Sabbathi which Rivet answered and when Gomarus replyed Rivet answered again And though Gomarus found few or no followers yet to prevent the worst Wallaeus in his Publick Lectures answered such things as seemed to be new in Gomarus At the first Reformation of Religion in the Low-Countries there was a certain Elder of the Church of Embdea a godly man that turned Luthers Translation of the Bible into Low-Dutch But being skilful neither in the Hebrew nor Greek nor well acquainted with the High-Dutch there were many Errors in it whereupon the Ministers of the Law-Countries so soon as they were setled in their Lâberties from under the Spanish yoak began to think upon Translating the Bible out of the Originals and the States to promote so good a work made choice of Philiâ ãâã of Saint Aldegunâ to go to Leiden and there wholly to employ himself in this work which he willingly undertook and prosecuted to the year 1602. at which time he dyed having begun many Books of the Old Testament but had only finished Job Psalms and Proverbs Hereupon Arnold Cornelius Pastor of Delph and Warner Helmichius Pastor of Amsterdam were appointed to finish what Marnixius had begun They accordingly prosecuted that work but being much hindered by their Pastoral Office they dyed before they could finish it And presently after the Controversies of the Remonstrants springing up caused that work to cease till the Synod at Dort At which time the Remonstrants being cited to appear before the Synod at a certain day they appeared not whereupon the Moderator considering what the Synod should fall upon till they appeared propounded the version of the Bible into the Belgick Tongue And so they unanimously agreed to carry on that work and set down rules which the Translators were to follow The Translators also were chosen and least by the death of any of them the work should be impeded they substituted some to succeed such as should die Anno Christi 1627. the Synod being before dissolved the Deputies of the Provincial Synods requested the States General that the version of the Bible might now be carryed on which they easily assented to and appointed Wallaeus and Testus Hommius to deal with the Magistrates and Churches that the Translators might during the continuance of that work ãâã be freed from their Pastoral employments By the authority and perswasions of
700. 721. 735. 773. 798. 9ââ0 926. 930. 950. 957. 996. Miracles p. 9. 12. 102. 252. 795. How long they continued p. 23. Moderation p. 173. Modesty p. 47. 108. 163. 191. 959. 981. Money despised p. 241. N Nichodemites confuted p. 635. O Oaths p. 158. Origens fall and lamentation p. 36 c. Origen the first that even Commented on the Scriptures p. 43. P Parents duty p. 3. Honoured p. 826. Pastors faithful p. 3. See Ministers Patience of the Saints in afflictions p. 2. 4. 94. 96. 156. 197. 216. 280. 286. 489 495 500. 504. 551. 565. 660. 690. 743. 754. 834. 839. 899. 902. 927. 933. Peace sought p. 22. 136. 165. 242. 329. 697. 734. 911. 917. 931. 960. 972. 983. 994. Perjury plagued by God p. 67. Persecutors welcomed p. 6. Persecutions great 24. 44. 57. 936. Persecution encreaseth Religion p. 27. 639. Persecution advantagious p. 54. Persecutors plagued by God p. 143. 213. 217. 299. 317. 577. 626. 649. 658. 708. 720. Perseverance p. 97. 273. Plato praises God for three things p. 836. Pleasures dangerous p. 186. Popish lyes and slanders p. 202. 248. 273. 620. 638. 652. 659. 809. 883. 951. Popish malice p. 203. 207. 222. 265. 271. 275. 276. 281. 288. 291. 326. 332. 423. 500. 505. 526. 541. 574. 577. 589. 602. 606. 672. 673. 687. 753. 843. 859. 869. Popish crueltie p. 213. 214. 216. 217. 222. 296. 489. 495. 509. 531. 584. 634. 728. Popish treachery p. 315. Popish prophaness p. 226. 532. 631. 712. Popish subtilty p. 549. 585. 874. Popish blasphemy p. 227. 258. 289. 309. Popish uncleanness p. 718. Poverty of godly men Ministers p. 160. 273. 324. 549. 571. 602. 670. 747. 791. 828. 856. 886. 914. 924. Prayer frequent p. 28. 164. 491. 528. 559. 926. 932. Prayer prevalent p. 160. 176. 181 245. 246. 247. 253. 313. 528. 564. 742. 759. 794. 853. 882. Prayers at death p. 9. 10. 13. 216. 249. 502. 522. 568. Preaching difficult p. 108. Predictions Prophesies p. 59. 111 140. 174. 217. 225. 255. 273. 278. 282. 499. 506. 523. 527. 528. 564. 697. 717. 721. 722. 793. 794. 862. Pride p. 166. 184. Prodigies p. 112. 180. 208. 215. 320. 566. 658. 831. Prophaness punished p. 118. Providences special and extraordinary p. 12. 32. 33. 36. 57. 64. 71. 83. 88. 100. 113. 118. 152. 156. 206. 207. 225. 253. 280. 289. 485. 490. 526. 529. 548. 570. 599. 611. 618. 673. 688. 703. 706. 707 720. 731. 781. 791. 797. 811. 843. 846. 856. 858. 867. 888. 925. 944. 979. 990. Prudence p. 61. 76. 82 122. 138. 157. 167. 168. 202. 288. 290. 484. 537. 539. 543. 581. 593. 621. 685. 834. 868. 932. 963. 970. 973. 984. 990. 992. 995. R Repentance p. 20. 200. 284. 856. Repentance not to be delayed p. 118. Riches dangerous p. 138. 145. S Sacriledge abhorred p. 635. 801. Sathans malice p. 526. 557. 593. 604. 625. 631. 674. 679. 710. 782 Schismatiâks what like p. 24. Malicious p. 151. 152. Scoffers punished by God P. 721. Scriptures studied p. 28. 165. 186. 193. 225. 258. 940. Self-denial p. 607. 628. 833. 972. Sin the fore-runner of Persecution p. 48. 49. 516. Sin hateful p. 189. 198. Speeches excellent p. 7. 12. 30. 101. 161. 166. 167. 239. 251. 285. 286. 489. 495. 503. 624. 745. 746. 828. 900. 907. A new Star p. 743. Studiousness p. 42. 48. 127. 177. 199. 226. 295. 513. 540. 600. 695. 832. Sufferings of the Saints p. 2. Rejoyced in p. 171. Synods p. 55. 149. 484. 622. 810. 826. 879. 880. the necessity of them p. 735. 965. T Temperance p. 815. Tentations p. 70. 145. 163. 239. 252. 308. 486. 522. 527. 550. 724. 747. 924. Tentations resisted 169. 314. 315. 501. 514. 602. 855. 858. 866. 867. 903. 904. Thieves converted p. 763. 801. 851. 852. Time to be well imployed p. 200 Treachery p. 544. 619. 716. V Vanity of all earthly things p. 24. 550. Visions p. 6. 50. Uncleanness prevented p. 192. Usury p. 120. W Witchcraft frustrated p. 236. Word of God how to be heard p. 195. Z Zeal blind p. 285. 524. Zeal true p. 2. 12. 17. 20. 32. 101. 119. 137. 144 147. 191. 193. 202. 207. 218. 258. 281. 287. 289. 311. 312. 328. 487. 492. 495. 505. 532. 576. 604. 606. 607. 673. 685. 702. 704. 710 714. 740. 765. 783. 904. 981. Zeal against Hereticks 5. 10. ãâã 21. 22. 26. 30. 33. 59. 97. 99 106. 109. 121. 131. 144. 149 155. 708. 777. 806. 893. 994. FINIS 2 Sam. 23. Exod. 34. 28. 30. 35. Gal. 1. 23. 24. Verè magnus est Deus Christianorum Acts 3. 12. Psaâ 115. 1. 1 Pet. 2 12. 3. 1. 1 Cor 7. 16. 2 Tim. 3. 14. Acâsi diceret satis corum testimoniis tam probatam esse fidem ut non sit haesitandum Calv. in Heb. 12. 1. Le quâe ut te videâm Sermo quidem vivâs efficax exemplar est Bern. Heb. 11. 4. Cujus adhuc vis magna velut continua solicitatio Rivet Exerc. 43. in Gen. Prov. 2. 20. Phil. 3. 17. 20. Admonet non esse omnes promiscuèlmitandos Cal. in loc Jam 5. 10. Prov. 6. 6. Etsi exempla bonitatis Dei ubique eluceant c. vide Rivet in Psal. 21. Loc. Commu part 1. cap. 6. 1. Cor. 11. 1. Gal. 2. 11 12 13. Non erâmeranda suffiaâia sed peâpendânda August 1. Iam. 3. 2. Phil. 3. 17. 20 Virtutes sanctorum sunt quasi testimonia quae nos confirment ut Illis vel ducibus vel sociis freti alacrius ad Deum pergamus Cal in Heb. 1 2. 1. 1. Ioh. 3. 3. S. Ash Mal. 3. 16. Psal. 112. 6. Heb. 11. 4. Heb. 12. 1. Most of whose lives are since published by the Author Ephes 4. 11 c. Rev. 12. 11. Heb. 6. 12. Now much enlarged Gen. 31. 47 49. His courage His zeal His sufferings His patience His invincible courage A faithful Pastor His humility His sayings He saw Christ in the flâsh Parents duty His works His zeal against Hereticks Gods judgement against Hereticks The History of his Martyrdom His courage His slight His vision foretelling his Martyrdom Hight refused He seasts his persecutors His tentations Cruely He is encouraged from Heaven His tentations His courage An excellent speech His invincible courage He fears not threatnings The Iews and Gentiles rage against him He ãâã to be nailed to the stake His Prayer The fire will not burn him He is slain The Iews malice His body burned His zeal against Heresies His prayer in the fire His works His Parentage and education His speech at Christs death Dâonysius converted He is made Pastor at Athens He goes to Rome And into France The success of his Ministry Satans mallice Gods mercy His apprehension His zeal and courage Miracles Persecutors cruelty A brave speech His Prayer at death His Martyrdom His saying His works His Parentage and education His study of Philosophy His conversion and the occasion of it He is instructed by an old man Hi.
conversion His Baptism His zeal and courage His Apology for the Christians to the Senate His Apologie to the Emperour Injustice used to the Christians He prevails for favour to the Christians He goes to Rome A prediction His Martyrdom His zeal against Heresies His sayings His zeal His works His birth and education Ordained Minister His zeal against Heresies He was studious of peace He is made Bishop of âyâons in France Satans malice His zeal against Heresies He is sent to Rome His writings The prophaneness of Hereâicks The immutability of Cerdon Miracles continued in the Church His courage and painfulness A great Persecution His martyrdom His sayings His works His birth and education His excellent learning He is Ordained a Presbyter His zeal against Heresies He defends the Christians Persecution increaseth Religion His learned works This was counted an unparalleld crime in Mr. Thomas Edwards A Souldiers humility His frequency in prayer The manner of his conversion His study of the Scriptures The danger of envy His death His sayings His works His Learning and Ordination His zeal against heresies His writings His sayings His works His birrth His parentage and education The reasons of his names His early desire of Martyrdom He encourages his Father His studies God provides for him His hatred of Heresie His early Preaching He inconrageth the Martyrs Gods Providence over him The Gentiles hated him extreamly The fruit of his Ministry His Chastity He gelded himself He is ordained a Presbyter He is envyed by his great friend He is forced to leave Alexandria He instructs the Emperours Mother He reclaimed Ambrose His Persecutions He is ensnared He is Excommunicated A special Providence Psal. 50. 16. His torments of Conscience His Lamentation He means the living Saints His studiousness His converts many He wrote the first Commentaries on the Scriptures He goeth into Arabia His works He reclaims Hereticks He is persecuted His death His sayings His works His birth and education His Conversion His charity He is made Bishop His modesty His humility His charity His magnanimity His Fidelity His Courage His Charity to Exiles His studiousness His Chastity âin the fore âunner of Persecution The sins of Professors A Vision Another Vision He vindicates the Christians from scandals He goes into exile A faithful Pastor He is again banished His apprehension His martyrdom His courage His charity His charity His sayings His works Persecution His works His commendations Constantines esteem of Eusebius A sedition in Antioch A Synod Eusebius reproved His birth and education His works A great persecution Gods Pâovidence His Cââtentatiân His birth and education He goes to the Council of Nice His zeal against Heresies He is made Bishop of Alexandria He is persecuted by the Arians He is accused to the Emperour He is cleared by Constantine He is again accused The falsehood and subtilty of Hereticks His prudence He is again cleared by the Emperour The Church prospers under him He is again accused and cited to a Council of Arians His charge Forgeries against him His answer Gods providence He goes from the Council He is unjustly deposed And complained of to the Emperour Dissenters in the Council Athanasius banished by the Emperour Seditions raised by Arius Alexander prays against Arius Arius his equl vocation and prejury Gods just judgement upon Arius His wretched death Heretical lyes Athanasius his judgement of Ariââ's death Constantines death Heretical subtlety The danger of suffering hereticks amongst great persons The danger of heresie Athanasius returns to Alexandria Constantines Letâer to the people of Alexandria The Arians raise tumults against Athanasius The cruelty of Hereticks A special providence ãâã flies to ãâã His return to Alexandria Hereticks falsâhood ãâã flyeth Constance defendeth him Constantius his letter to Athanasius His second letter to Athanasius His third letter to Athanasius Julius his Letter in the behalf of Athanasius Athanasius goeth into the East His prudence Constantius his Letter to the Alexandrians in the behalf of Athanasius His Letter to the Governor of Alexandria Athanasius is restored by a Council He is again accused by the Aâians Bishop Paulus murthered Others persecuted Athanasius flyeth His Apology for it Their wicked practises of the Arians Their cruetly against the Orthodox A Council summoned in âword â Athanasius condemned by a Conventicle His prudence He is sent for to the Emperour He is again banished A special providence The cruelty of the Arians Georgius slain by the Gentiles Athanasius ãâ¦ã His return to Alexandria He is banished by Julian Gods providence over him Athanasius in Alexandria He is again complained of to Jovianus He returns to Alexandria See the Life of Jovian in my second Part. Athanasius flyeth again He is again restored The cruelty of the Arian Hereticks His death His works His works He is deposed His appeal His reformation His patience His charity Gods judgement on the Jews Testimonies of him His death His sayings The benefit of hearing His works His birth and education His excellent learning His Chastity His patience His humility His charity His care for the poor in a Famine His death An enemy to Hereticks His chastity His humility His charity His savings The bought of perseverance His works His birth His education His zeal against Heresie A good Pastor A special providence His zeal His courage and constancy His zeal His courage An excellent speech His zeal Death desired for Christs cause His courage and constancy A Miracle His death His sayings Love Scriptures Erasmus his Testinonie of Basil. His works His Character His education His zeal against Heresie He is made Bishop of Nazianzum His judgment on Julian A description of Julian His excellent parts His modesty His excellent gifts His desire of Martyrdom Eloquence His saying Preaching His birth and education His Conversion Hereticks seek to ensnare him His commendations Made Bishop of Salamine Preachers pattern His zeal against Heresies Epiphanius abused by Theophilus Origens books condemned Epiphanius his weakness His contests with Chrysostom Two Pâedictions His death His sayings Hatred cured His works His birth A Prodigy His education A special providence Ambrose baptized He is made Bishop His fidelity and courage Justina's malice The people resist her The Emperour enraged against Ambrose His courage and constancy A passionate act of Theodosius Ambrose his speech to Theodosius He excommunicates Theodosius Theodosius his humility He seeks for absolution The Emperours mâdness How to prevent sinful anger Theodosius absolved Special providences Profaness punished His charity His death Repentance not to be delayed True charity Conscience Death His works His parentage His learning He is made Bishop He is banished His zeal to do good Scriptures His works His sayings Usury His parentage His birth His learning His zeal against Heresie His charity His works Theodisius his wisdom His death His saying His works His birth and parentage His education He goes to Rome His studies His travels ãâ¦ã choose Hierom goes into Syria His sickness His troubles by the Arians His
to Frankford He vindicates himselfe Lutheran censoriousness Popish malice His death His Works His Birth and Education Gods providence He leaves his Monastery He goes to Lusanna His conversion He is called to Roan His zeal and courage His conference with Monmorency Blaspâemy He is condemned of Treason Popish rage and malice Gods judgements on persecutors His martyrdome Gods judgements on his enemieâ His Works His birth and education His diligence He enters into a Monastery The causes of it His remove to Padua His imployment there He studies Greek He is called to the Ministry He studies the Scripturâs ând the Hebrew Removed to Spoleta His Prudence He is removed to Naples His conversion A Church in Naples Martyr teacheth He is suspended âppeales to ãâã Pope Is restored Hee falls sick He is made Visitor Generall Removed to Luca. He is much beloved He advanceth Religion and Learning The fruits of his labours His enemies Policy A godly Frier imprisoned And delivered Again apprehended and âent to Rome They proceed against Martyr He resolves to fly His flight His Letters to Luca. His retreat into Germany He comes to Zurick He goes to Basil He is chosen to Strasborough His excellent lâarning His ârâgality His first marriage His wives character Card. Pools malice Cardinal Pool's malice He is sent for into England He goes into England He is sent to Oxford Popish malice They combine against Martyr His friends ãâã âwade him from going to the Schooles His answer Sm itâs challenge Martyr goes on His learning and courage admired He is again challenged His answer A tumult raised Quââted by the Vice-Chancellor A Disputation agreed on The King sends his Delegates Smith flies The disputation A Rebellion Martyr goes to London The Rebellion suppressed Martyr made Dean of Christs-Church He is much esteemed In Queen Maries dayes Martyr is in danger He goes to London He goes beyond Sea He goes beyond Sea Gods mercy to him His return to Strasborough Satans malice His Prudence He is again persecuted Gods mercy to him His call to Zurick His friendship with Bullinger His high esteem Popish cruelty His second marriage His love to Zurick A faithfull Pastor He refuseth to goe into England His readiness to do good He goes into France His speech to the Q. Mother Popish subtilty A Disputation It breaks off His returne to Zurick His sicknesse Comfort at death His death His Works His birth and education His conversion He opposeth the Mass. He goes to Madgeburg And to Goslaria And to Naumberg He opposeth the Adiâphoâists His death His Works His birth and education A special providence He is sent abroad Gods providence His studiousâes He affects Poetry Musick He studies Divinity He studies the Scriptures His conversion He converââ maây Gods providence Popish malice Tentaâion resisted His Marriage His poverty Anabaptists life Gods providânce He preacheth ãâã Dorlitzheim Châist âest of âll He teaches School Heb. 11. 6. Musculus his zeal Sataâs malice His humility Power of the Woâd He studies Hebrew He is sent for to Ausburg His humility He goes to Ausburg Anabaptists trâuâle the Church Their impudânce Some of them imprisoned His holy policy He converts âhem Reformation in Ausburg He studies Greek And Arabick His industry Preachers partârn He goes to Donavert A Diet at Ausburg His zeal and courage Popish malice His courage and constancy His zeal Flight in persecutâon He goes to Zurick He preaches at Constance He is sent for into England He is chosen to Bern. His industry Hiâ self denyall His amity with his Collegues His Charity His Character He prepares for death His last sicknesse His death His Works His Birth and Education His Fathers death He goes to Paris He returns into his country And back to Paris His travels through France His return into his Country He travels into Germany And his return Gods providence He goes into England His imployment there He goes into his own country Thence into Germany His entertainment at Marpurg His employment His marriage His great labours His care to Reform the Church His sicknesse He exhorts his wife and children His death His Character His works His birth His education He is designed to Divinity He is designed to the Law His conversion He goes to Orleance He studies the Scriptures His studiousness He goes to Biturg He studies the Greek He preacheth He goes to Paris His danger Is delivered by the Queen of Navar. He goes to Xantone Thence to Nerac Again to Paris to confer with Sevetus 1534. Eighâ Martyrs He goes to Orlens His servants Knavery He goes to Basil Studies Nebrew Popish lies He goes to the Dutches of Ferrara He goes to Geneva Is sltayed there Chosen Divinity Professor 1536. His prudânce to reform Geneva 1537. Anabaptists hinder the Reformation Peter Carolian Heretick A Synod at Bern. Gods judgment on Hereticks Calvins care to reform others A sedition at Geneva Another evill Calvin is banisâed His holy speech God above the Levââ Calvin goes to Zurick and so to Strasborough Is made Professor of Divinity Unleavened bread brought into Geneva 1539. Sathans subtilty Calvin care of Geneva Anabaptists reclaimed Calvin matries 1541. He goes to two Diets Gods judgements on his enemies He is sent for to Geneva Hardly obtained His returne to Geneva 1451. His self denyall He settles the Presbyterian Government His great labours A compleat Preacher He is much sought to The Presbyter Government kickt at It s vindicated by him 1542. He comforts the persecuted Famine and Pestilence Sathans malice Popish impudence He answers the Sorbonists 1543. He answers Pighius 1544. Castaliâ'â errors His punishment He confutes the Pope He confutes the ânâbaptists and Libertines He pacifies the Q. of Navar 1545. The plague dipeâsed by wicked persons They are punished Popish cruelty against the Waldenses Osianders errors Plague continued He thunders against sin He abhors Sacriledge A Hermiâes wickedness The Nicodemites 1546. Geneva in danger Perrins wickedness Calvin accused His enemies punished 1547. The German Church nââ greaâ danger His tender affections to them Pââins wickednesse He is punished He writes against Trent 1548. Sa hans subtilty Calvin reproached An Amnesty He confutes the Interim And Astrologers He writes into England The Church increasâth in troubles 1549. His wife dies The Flaccians A sweet concord He writes to L. Socinus 1550. Peace in the Church Ministers pattern Holidayes âbolished Wickedness discovered A Tumult Bolsec Confuted by Calvin Bolseâ punished He fals back to Popery 1551. New stirs Calvin falsly accused Castâlio's erâââ The Herâites wâckedness His repentance Calvins charity to him 1553. Geneva indangered M. Servetus Servetus imprisoned He is burned Bertelerius his wickedness The Presbytery slandered An unjust Decree Calvins courage The good successe An unjust decree reversed Mr. Farell in danger Yet delivered King Edwards death A controversie about punishing Hereticks Socinus his Heresies 1554. Calvin consutes them Castilio's Heresies Confâted by Beza Horrid impieties Calvin aspersed The English exiles provided for by him Joa Westphalus
1555. Gods judgements on the wicked He conforts the English in persecution And the persecuted French Gribaldus favours Servetus Gods judgment on him Calvin accused bââsome Ministers They are punished for it 1556. He falls sick of an Ague He recovers Faction and Famine Westphalus confuted And Castalio Persecution in Paris Christians slandlered Lies confuâed Calvins care for them Gentilis an Heretick He infects some Is confuted Transylvania infected He is punished with death Calvin falls sick He hâtes idleneâse 1559. A persecution in France The King of France âââin A School built at Genevâ Sancarus his heresies Confuted The Bohemian Waldenses Q. Elizabeth in England A French Ch. erected in England K. Charls in France Geneva threatned Defended by Calvin Heshusius answered Ecebolius his errors Confuâed Gods judgements on him 1562. Civil war in France A prodigy 1563. His sickness increaseth His indefatigable pains 1564. His laât Sermon The causes of his sickness His great patience He wil not intermit his labours His speech to the Ministers He goes to the Senate He receives the Sacrament He makes his Will Mr. Calvins Will. His speech to the Senators His speech to the Ministers Hiâ Letter to Mâ Viret Viret comes to him His Death Pezâs verses on him His Character ãâ¦ã ãâã admirable ãâã ãâã Slandââs answered His coââentation His works His birth and education Flight ân persecutioâ He challengeth tâe Papists His Theses He is driven from Basil. His Labors He goes to Geneva Popish malice Popish rage His zeal and courage The High Priests charge Popish malice Gods mercy He is driven from Geneva A speciall providence He goes to Metis He goes to Neocome His Friendship His death Sathans malice The great effects of his Ministery His Character His Works His great Learning Sent Legate into Germany His Policy He is sent for âo Rome He is sent back inâo Germany Popish subtilty He bestirs himselfe in Germany He gives an account to the Pope He is sent to the Emperour The Emperor deals with the Pope about a Council Another Legat in vain He is well beloved He is suspected for a Lutheran His wonderfull conversion He retires to his brother Bishop of Pola is converted Gods mercy Sathans malice They are accused to the Inquisitors Popish malice A lying Prophet He goes to Manâua And to Trent And to Venice Spira is a warning to him He goes into Rhetia His Death His Works His Birth His Education He goes to Friburg And to Wittenberg He commenceth Mr. of Arts. He goes to Madgeburg And to Jenes His Marriage He disputes with Menius And with Flacius His imprisonment His sickness His release His Flight in times of danger He goes to Lipsich He is made Professor of Divinity He is stâut out of the Schools His courage He goes to Amberg Aâd to Heidleberg His sicknesse His death His works His Birth His Education His studiousnesse His conversion His zeal He is made Minister Preachers patterne power of the word His prudence Anabaptists madnesse Saâans policy Gods mercy Another contention Division dangerous Brandenburgs courage and zeal Augustane Confession His marriage He goes to Tubing His trouble at Hale Unruly souldiers His Policy Popish malice His ââight Gods mercy The Interim His Courage His danger A mâracle of mercy His flight A good Pastor He goes to Wirtemberg God preserves him He goes to âasil Aâd to Hornburg He is invited to severall places The Dukes courage Reformation ãâã courage He goes to Trent His second marriage He is chosen to Stutgard He defends hâs Confession of Faiâh He goes to Worms Monasteries turned to schooles His sickness He makes his Will His patience His Death His Character His Works His birth and education He goes to Lions He goes to Bern. His death Popish malice His Character His eloquence The great fruit of his Ministry His Birth and Education He goes to Oxford He is chosen Huâanity Lectârer His studiousnes His esteem of Peter Martyr He is expâlâ tâe Colledge ârought into the ãâã Humane infirmity A speciall providence His Recanâation Gods providence Flight in persecution He goes to Frankfurt His Repentance He goes to Strasborough From thence to Zurick Charity to the Exiles Popish malice Gods mercy A blessed Peace-maker A Prediction Qu. Mary dyes Qu. Elizabeth succeedâ A disputation appointed His paines in Reforming the Church He is made Bishop He preachâs at Pauls Crosse. His challenge to the Papists Hiâ Charity His greaâ painâ A good Bishop His Family government He had heart of memory His death foreseen by him His preparation for death Preachârs pattern Gal. 5. 16. Hiâ speech to his family in his sicknesse Death desired Ambrose His faith His Death Martyrs testimony of his Apology His birth and education He goes to Wittenberg His diligence and zeal His first imployments Inhumane cruelty He is called to Julia. And to Ceglâdine He goes to Temeswert His many sold afflictions He is called to Thurin And from thence to Becknese A speciall providence He is taken prisoner Gods mercy He is called to Tholna His second marriage He is ordained His industry and zeal He goes to Calmantsem He is taken prisoner He is taken prisoner Turkish injustice He is again imprisoned Barbarous cruelty He is beaten cruelly Breach of promise Charity to him His Keepers cruelty Gods providence He is favoured by the Courtiers He is solicited to turn Renegado His courage He encourageth the Christian captives Gods mercy What he wrote in prison Three of his children die The meanes of his deliverance His release A great danger Gods providence Foolish pride The Friar baffled Gods judgment on a persecutor His Charity Another danger Gods providence His Death His zeal against Hereticks His Works His Birth and Education ãâ¦ã His Conversion His zeal Sathans malice He flies to Berwick His Humility He goes to Frankfort And to Geneva He is sent for into Scotland His zeal The Mass abhorred The effect of his Ministry The Papists rage against him His great pains He writes to the Queen She scoffs at it He is called back to Geneva He leaves Scotland He is condemned His appeal He is sent for into Scotland His return into Scotland The Ministers summonâd The peoples zeal They are proscribed Imâges demolished The Queens malice The Protestants write to the Queen Their zeal The Earl of Glencarns courage and zeale Mr. Knox his speech to the Lordâ The Queens subtilty Her perfidiousnesse The Bishoâ opposed Kâox ãâã A Preâiction His Courage ãâã destroyed The peoples zeal The Queens policy St Johnstons rescued Idols destroyed Noâe Popish uncâeannesse The Qu. flies They write to the Queen The French match to Edânborough Mr. Willock Minister of Edenborough Civil Wars about Religion The Queens blasphemy Qu. Eliz. assists the Protestants The Queens pride cruelty A speciall providence The Qu. dies Peace concluded M. Knox setled at Edneb Earl of Murray slain His losse bewailed A Prophesie Gods judgment on a scoffer Preachers pattern M. Lawson chosen to succeed him His last Sarmon His sincerity His
last sicknes His speech to the Lord of Morton A Prophecy His speech to the Ministers and Elders Death desired His Message to the Laird of Crang A Prophesy His preparation for death His sayings His tentations His faith His death His care for Church-Discipline Murrays speech His works His character His courage His Parentage His pain His poverty He goes to Paris His industry His diligence His imployments He is envied He is forbidden Philosophy He is called to another Colledge He is preferred in the University He is sought for by other Princes Is âade Dean of the University Flight in persecution He goes to the camp of Conde He travels into Germany His returne to Paris Popish cruelty He is murthered And basely abused His Works His birth and education He is made Chaplain to the Queen And to two Kings And Master of Bennet Colledge âis sufferings in Queen Maries time He is made Archbishop of Canterbury The Bishops that consecrateâ him His Charity His ãâã His Birth and Parentage Gods speciall providence over him His education He is sent to Embric His disposition He goes to Collen He commendeth Batchelor of Arts. He studies the Schoolmen And Fathers And Luther His conversion âe commenâeth Mr. of Arts His paines in reading Lectures He studies the Tongues Reformation in the Monastery Power of the Word Anabaptists Tithes defended He confutes the Anabaptists His endeavours for peace He is banished He comes to Zurick He is chosen Pastor Preachers pattern Synods preserve peace He writes a Confession of Faith He confuâes Hereticks A Colledge erected A School erected Schwenfield's Error Confuted by Bullinger A Plague Luthers violence Melancthon grieved for it Bullinger answereth Luther His defence of the Tigurines Why the Helvetians refused to assist the Protestants Mr. Hooper lives with him The Interim Bullingers curtesie Ingratitude Calvin concurs with the Helvetian Divines Hee withdraws them from being mercenaries He encourageth the Reformation in England He writes against the Council of Trent He disclaimes Bolsecus His holy zeal He favours the English exilâs His zeal Blandrata's Heresies The infection of heresie Brentius contest with Bullinger Helvetiansagaine summoned to Trent Ochines errors and heresies And death A plague Bullingers sicknesse Power of prayer Manisold afflictions A confession of Faith Persecution in France His Charity His pains A dearth Fasting and Prayers The Massacre in France 1573. A new Statre His sicknesse 1574 He patience Death desired His Faith Why he desired death He taketh his farewel of the Ministers And of the Magistrates His death His Character His birth and education His humility His sicknesse His ââeech in his ãâã An excellenâ speech Comfort at death His Death His Birth and Parentage His education He goes to Venice He goes to Venice His Poverty His Tentation His Marriage The Interim opposed by him He goes to Magdeburg And from thence to Jeans And to Ratisbone And to Suasborough His Death His Works His birth and education He goes to Basil. And Strasborough He is maâe Profeââor in Zuâââ He is made ãâã He is dear to Peter Martyr His Industry His excellent memory His manner of reading His excellent parts His diseases His death His Character His Birth and education His conversion His frequents remoâes Bible translated His death His birth and education His Conversion Christ best of all He goes to Basil. He comes to Wittenburg He goes to Strasborough His returnâ into France He is made the Q. of Navars Chaplain Popish malice Gods providence His return to Strasborough His troubles He goes to Heidleberg His patience He is driven from thence He is called to Lausanna His sudden death His Works His Birth and education His preferment in Cambridge Flight in persecution He is made Bish. of Lond. Arch bishop of York Arch-bishop of Canterbury His death His Charity His birth and Parentage His education He goes to Oxford His great proficiency Power of Prayer His conversion He preaches before the K. His piety Tender conscience He goes beyond sea His return into England His faithfulnes He is accused His great learning Made Parson of Houghton His charity to souls His journies into the North. His charity His enemies Flight in persecution refused Gods providence His conâinued charity His humility He refuseâh presermâât His hospitality His esteem in the North. Note A barbarous custom He converts theeves A Rebellion in the North. His house is plundered Inpratitude H. B. oughton Ingratitude The Bishop suspends him Requires him to preach on a sudden His modest answer He preaches boldly His zeal His pions resolution Gods mercy The Bishop askeâh him forgivenâe Preparâtion so death His death His Character His birth and parentage He goes to Wittenberg A plague His return to Wittenberg His travels He is sent for into his own country His enemies Melancthon encourages him He is dismissed His Resolution He goes to Zurick He goes to Heidleberg He commencerh Doctor His imployment there A plague His adversaries He defends the truth The Palatines great love to him His marriage He writes a Confession of Faith A change in the Palatinate He is sent for by P. Cassimite His imployment His sicknesse His industry Incessant labors His death His Character His Works His birth and education He goes to Wittenberg His travels He goes to Grunberg He made excellent scholars His marriage He is chosen Pastor of Sprottavia Preachers pattern His Contentation His humility His excellent virtues He is an enemy to contentions He is a great historiân His sicknesse His death His great care to prepare for death His last Sermon His Works His birth and Parentage His industry He goes to Witâenberg He is much beloved He is made Pastor in Brunople His zeal against he eticks His death His commendation His Works His Birâh His proficiency He is Pastor in Zurick His diligence His Death His Birâh and Education He is chosen Pastor in Zurick His death His Works His birth and education He studies Law He is made Doctor A heavy judgement A vow Gods mercy Hestudies Divinity He goes to Zurick His return to Trevir He is called to teach a School His faithfulnes Sathans malice He preaches in an hospitall The peoples zeal The Arch-bishops malice The prisoners release He goes to Heidleberg His marriage He is chosen Pastor He is called to Berleburg And to Herborn His sicknesse Preparatâon for death A sweat dream Ioy unspeakable His death His Works His birth and education He goes to Wittenberg His diligence He goes to Noâenberg His return to Witâenberg He is called to Mansfield He is ordained Minister He answers a Papist His great pains He delights in a Garden His remove to Madgeburg Conversion of Priests The Authors of the Madgeburgenses His remove to Jenes His return to Magdeburg His remove to Wismare His commenceth Doctor Peoples love to their Pastor He is called into Borussia His sicknesse Preparatâon for death His death His Character His Works His Birth His Education He is choseâ Fellow He studies the Church history He is
very studious Snares laid for him He is expelled the Colledge Gods ãâã His marriage An harsh Father in Law His poverty A speciall providence He is sent for by the Dutchess of Richmond Persecution in Qu. Maries daies A notable resolution Stephen Gardiner Flight in persecuâion A great storm God providence He arrives at Newport He goes to Basil. A prophesie His return into England His humility His Indfatigable pains His body weakned thereby His excellent endowâeâts His feâvâncy in prayer His Charity His Prophesies Mrs. Honywood A Prophesie A Miracle Another observable story His many friends Deaâh foreseen His Death His Charity Vain glory reproved He reproves his son His Birâh and Education He goes to Marpurg His industry He goes to Wittenberg He is Master of Arts. Why he left the study of the Law A speciall Providence His return to Marpurg He is made a Professor His marriage He is made Doctor Preachers pattern His humility He goes to Heidleberg His sicknesse Preparation for death His death His Works His birth and education Flight in persecuâion His return to England He confutes the lesuits His death His birth and education His parents poverty Snepâius provides for him He goes to Tubing He is made Deacon He preaches before the Duke His marriage Gods providence The accursed Interim He is Deacon at Tubing He commenceth Doctor He is made Superintendent Note Sacrilege abhorred A strange story of a Jew He helps forward Reformation Gods providence He is made Chancellour of the University His great pains about the Concord Death foretold and desired His âicknesse The Confession of his Faith What he gives thanks for His death His Works His birth and education He becomes a Fryar His conversion He flies into Germany He stayes at Strasborough He meets with troubles New opposition Gods providence He goes to Clavenna A great Pestilence 1564. He goes to Heidleberg He is made Doctor Zeal against heresies Hereticks confuted rejected He goes to Neostade His death His Works His Birth and Education He goes to Paris His conversion He goes to Geneva And to Paris He is chosen a Pastor Christ preferred before all Popish cruelty Gods providence The Protestants slandered Vindicated by Sadeel He is imprisoned Delivered by the King of Navaâ His return to Paris A Synod A persecution raiâed Sadeels faithfulneââe The Church thrives by persecution His sicknesse His painfulnes A Synod Independents error confuted He is againe driven from Paris He is driven out of France His return into France He goes to the K. of Navar. Gods providence He goes to Geneva ãâã sent into Germany His sicknesse Death sore old Comfort in death His death His Character His works His birth aâd Parentage His education He goes to Cambridge His preferment in the University His gratitude He is made Father at the Commencement He studies Divinity His Inâustry His Temperance He Recreatâons His excellent parts He is chosen Professor His Lectures He confutes the Papists As Campian Dury Sanders Rainolds His marriage Stapleton reproaches him for his marriage He is chosen Master of St. Johns He confutes Bellarmine His fidelity therein Stapleton tails Whitaker answereth His sicknesse His death Bellarmine admired him His carriage in his sicknesse His Character His great charity His piety to his parents His humility His Works His birth and education He goes to Geneva His admirable Learning He is called to Leiden From thence to Gaunt And thence to Navar. His death His Works His Birth and Parentage His Education He goes to St. Andrews A Vniversity erected at Edenborough He is sent for to Edenborough He goes thither He doth much good Four Professors chosen His piety and diligence A lârge increase of Ministers Conversion wrought by his Ministry Beza's testimony His humility His sicknesse He moderates in a Synod Preparation for death His message to the King His exhortation to the Ministers Christ preferred before all things Death desired His exhortation to the Ministers His poverty His heavenly speech His death His Works His birth and Parentage His education He studies Greek He is robbed Charity His Industry His return home He is Pastor of Hafnia He is Hebrew Professor And Doctor Death desired His Death His birth and Parentage His Education He goes to Ulm. ãâã to Witâenberg Mârabilis ãâã A Predigy His studiousnes He is Master of Arts. His return home He is made Deacon His diligence His marriage He is banished His return He is Doctor Reformation His prefermenâs ãâã self-denial His wives death His sicknesse His patience His death His humility and charity His prudence A good father His works His birth and education He is sent to Tubing His great proficiency He goes to Wittenberg Plato praises God for three things He goes to Heidleberg His travels He goes to Rostoch He is desiâed in divers places His travels He is Doctor He goes to Augsburgh His contentation 1569. He goes into Austria His travels He goes into Stiria His sicknesse His Industry Preparation for death His death His Character Injuries to be born His wishes âis Works His Birth and Parentage His Education His flight in persecution He is made Dean of Pauls His Charity His Works His death His birth and education He goes to Basil. ãâ¦ã Tibing He is Master of Arts. He goes to Paris Thence to Orleance A famous Church at Orleance His marriage Wars in France Duke of Guise slain Gods mercy Popish malice Popish malice He is in great danger A miracle of mercy He is taken prisoner His release Gods mercy The Kââgs malice He goes to Sancerra Gods mercy He goes to Mombelgart His new troubles He preaches in a Caââle Popish rage The Massacre at Paris A special providence Popish cruelty Gods mercy He goes to the Dutches of Ferrara He goes into the Palatinate His faithfulnesse He is dismised He is called to Neostade His painfulnesse He is much esteemed He is sent for to Heidâeberg His opposition He is made Professor Commenceth Doctor His manifold âfflictions P. Casimire dyeth A great plague His constancy His weaknesse His faith His Death Hiâ character His workâ His birth and education His conversion He preaches to the prisoners He converts many of them He is chosen pastor Preachers pattern His Character Note The powerfulnesse of his ministry His ãâã in âââding His painfulnes His death He was same of his right hand Iosh. 1. 2. A thief converted at his death Power of Prayer His Works His Birth and Parentage His weaknes in his childhood His Education His Masters harshnesse He goes to Lions His Tentations Gods mercys He is drawn to Atheism Gods mercy Iohn 1. He is reclaimed He goes to Geneva His travels His poverty A speciall providence He weakens his body by abstinence His Father murthered His Industry He is chosen to Antwerp The inquisition brought into the Ne herlands Popish malice Miracles of mercy to him An other danger He goes to Limburg Strange tentations A strange example Gods mercy Anabaptists disturb the Church Popish malice Flight
in peâsecution He goes to Heidleberg A great plague He returnes to Heidleberg Bible translated He is made Professor in Leiden His death His Works His birth and education He goes to Paris He goes to Orleance He comes into England His several imploymentâ His Death His parentage His birth A prediction His education He goes to Caâbridge He is Fellow of Peter-house The Pope is Antichrist He is Mr. of Pembrok-hall And Margaret Professor His prefermânts His esteem with the Qu. His sicknesse His death His charity His birth and Parentage His Education He studies the Law His Poems Popish malice His tentations His conversion His marriage New tenâatâons Gods mercy to him by sicknes Affliction sanctified He leaves all for Christ. A speciall providence His remove to Lausanna His prudence He turnes the Psalms inâo French metre His expâsitions He falls sick of the Plague Gods goodness His works Persecution in France Popish malice Friendship His remove to Geneva He is chosen Paââor âearning advanced in troublesomâ times He deals with the King of Navar. Persecution stopped A confârence about Religion Who repaâr to it The French Ministers Beza's speech His conference Cardinal of Lorrains speech to Beza The first meeting Beza's Oration A Confession of faith presented to the King The second meeting The third meeting The several conferences Popish ââââlty Beza's aâswer The fâârth meâting A way of reconciliation propounded The Form of the Agreement The form rejected by the Pontificians The conference ends The Church increaseth Carnal policy The King of Navar falls to the Papists ãâ¦ã The Protestants murdered Beza stayes in France A Synod A Plague The protetants beaten Beza comforts he Prince His return to Geneva His imployments He relates the miseries of the French Churches He confutes Hereticks and Lutherans Civil wars in France Geneva a refuge to the godly He is sent for into France Moderates in a Synod 1572. The Massacre at Paris He provides for the afflicted Charity His great imployments A Plague Friendship amongst the Pastors Anabaptists converted A Disputation No good comes of it His Wife dyes His second marriage His great labours Prayer in danger His weaknesse His diligence His last sermon He invites his Colleagues Friendship amongst brethren Popish lyes Confuted Death desired He visits the Kings His request for the Church at Lions His meditations He is visited by many Preparation for death Ephes. 2 10. His sicknesse His death His Character Thanksgiving for five things His small means His works His birth and education His brothers are Papists His excellent parts His humility His preferments Gods providence His death His birth and education He goes to Paris His Industry He studies Hebrew His humility His travels He is made Professor at Leiden His Death His birth and education He goes to Tubing He goes to Basil. He commenceth Doctor in Divinity Is made Professor His death His works His birth and education His preferments His great learnâng His zeal Preparation for death His death His birth and Education He goes into England He studies Hebrew Greek He goes into Fâance He is Professor in Oxford He is Professor in Leiden His marriage His death His Birth Parentage and Education Gods Providence He is ordained Deacon His remove to Tubing He doubts of the Ubiquity He is chosen Pastor of Raetela His marriage He denies the Ubiquity He is sent for to Basil. His remove to Basil. His friends He removes to Heidleberg The Lutherans removed His return to Basil. His greaâains His imployments abroad He growâ weak His patiencâ His sicknesses Prayer Death desired His death His speech to Meier His sayings His diligence and Indusâây His Character His Works His birth and education His degrees His works His patience His sicknesse His Death His birth and education His conversion He goes to St. Andrews His tentations Gods mercy He goes into England Gods providence He serves Mr. H. Broughton His return to Edenborough He preaches privately His calling to the Ministry Power of the Word He is sickly Assaulted with âeââations His remove His painfulnes in the Ministry The success of his Ministry His zeal His works His tentations Joy unspeakable His outward troubles Power of the word The apostasie of his people He is made Bishop of Gaâloway His humâlity His desire of deââh Death why desired He grows sickly Preparation for death His sicknesse His death A sweet speech His works His birth and education He goes to Cambridge His proficiency He is ordained Minister He is Prebend âf Ely His marriage His studiousness His piety His recreations His great âeading His Works His Ministry He is made Pastor Preachers pattern His holy life His family wel governed His charity His justice He was a Peace maker His hospitality He breaks his ãâã His preparation for death He faints His death His birth parentage and education Hee is made a Prentice He returnes to school His Masâer is driven away Malice His poverty He goes into the Palatinate He enters into the Ministry He is driven from Heidleberg He returns home His return into the Palatinate His preferment there He commenceth Doctor in divinity Lutherans malice A great plague He is made Professor Gods mercy His fame His wife dies He is chosen to the Synod at Dort Gods providence Peace maker His works The Spaniards come into the Palatinate He goes to Anvilla Death desired His sicknesse His returne to Heidleberg His death His workes His birth and ducation He goes to Leiden His travels His great learning His returne to Leiden He is made Professor at Leiden His marriâge Dr. Rivet brought to Leiden His great esteem His death His birth and education He goes to Friestade His travels He studies divinity His eloquence His employments He goes into England He is made Dr. and Professor His afflictions He is called to Embden His death His works His birth and education He is Professor at Herborn His works Bible translated His death His birth and education He goes to Oxford His poverty His Industry He is made a Fellow His Prophanesse His judgement of Mr. Perkins His tentation A special providence His conversion His ãâã His comfort He is ordained Minister Gods providence His marriage His great labours The success of his Ministry Preachers pattern His holy life His frequent prayers Christ preferred before health His humility His Charity His sicknesse Preparation for death His patience Death desired His submission to God His Thanksgiving His admonition to his children His joy unspeakable His speech to his friends His death His works His birth parentage and education He goes to Cambridge His excellent memory His marriage He is called to Banbury His character His eloquence Preachers paâteân His great labours The method in Sermons His manner of Reading Conversion wrought by him Peace-maker His excellency in pâayer His family duties His prudence His fasting His humility His charity He gained by his falls His sicknesse His exhortation to his friends His patience His death Note His works His