them poor mens sons upon whom he bestowed meat drink apparell and learning Having a great Parish he entertained them at his table by course every Sabbath from Michaelmasse to Easter He bestowed upon his School and for stipends upon the Schoolmasters the full sum of five hundred pounds out of which School he supplyed the Church of England with great store of learned men He was carefull not onely to avoid all evill but the least appearance of it Being full of faith unfeigned and of good works he was at last put into his grave as an heap of wheat in due time put into the garner What pen can be susficient to set forth Th'exuberous praises of brave Gilpins worth Though at the first his heedlesse soul did stray And ramble in a foule erronious way Yet at the last he left those paths which bended Unto distruction and his follyes ended Then he began to exercise the truth And hate the former errours of his youth His soul was fil'd with piety and peace And as the truth so did his joyes encrease His fame soone spread abroad his worth was hurl'd Through every corner of th'inquiring world And to conclude in him all men might find A reall heart and a most noble minde The life and death of Zachary Ursin who dyed Anno Christi 1583. ZAchary Vrsin was born in Silesia Anno Christi 1534. of honest parents who were carefull of his education in his childhood and having profited exceedingly at School he was sent to the University of Wittenberge at sixteen yeers old where he heard Melancthon with great diligence two years at which time the Plague breaking forth there he retired with Melancthon to Tergaw and having an ample testimony from him he went thence into his owne Country all the winter but in the spring he returned to Wittenberg where he spent 5. years in the study of the Arts Tongus and Divinity he was very familiar with Melancthon and much esteemed of many learned men who flocked to that University out of all Countries with whom also afterwards he kept correnspondency he went An. Christi 1557. with Melancthon to the conference at Worms about religion and from thence he travelled to Marpurg Argentine Basil Lausanna and Geneva where he grew into familiar acquaintance with many learned men especially Calvin who gave him such books as he had Printed from thence he went into France to Lions and Paris where he perfected his skill in the Hebrew under the learned Mercerus in his return he went to Tigure where he acquainted himselfe with the learned men and so to Tubing Vlme Norimberg and so to his old Master Melancthon Anno Christi 1558. he was sent for by the Senate of Vratislave which was his native place to govern a School there where besides his Lectures in the Arts and Tongues he was imployed in the explication of Melancthons book of the Ordination of Miniâ—ters wherein he declared his judgment about the Sacrament and thereupon he was cried out agaainst for a Sacramentarian which caused him to give a publick account of his Faith about the Doctrine of the Sacraments in certain strong and accurate propositions Melancthon hearing of the opposition which he met with wrote to him to stand firmly to the truth and if he enjoyed not pâ—ace in that place to return to him againe and to reserve himselfe for better times whereupon he requested of the Senate that he might be dismissed and having obtained his desire he returned to Wiâ—tenberg where foreseeing Melancthons death and the greaâ— alterations in that University he left it and went to Tygure Anno 1560. being invited thither by Martyr Bullinger Simler Lavater Gualter Gesner and Frisius who much desired his company there he was a constant hearer of Martyr and profited much under him in the knowledge of Divinity Anno 1561. their came letters to Tigure from Thomas Erastus signifying that there wanted a Divinity Professor at Heidleberg and desiring supply from thence whereupon knowing Vrsines fitnesse they presently sent him with their letters of ample commendation both to the Elector Palatine and to the University where he discharged his place so well that at twenty eight years of age they graced him with the title of a Doctor in Divinity and he supplyed the place of a publick Professor to the year 1568. at which time Zanchy succeeded him their also he made his Catechise for the use of the Pallaâ—inate Anno Chriâ—ti 1563. there brake forth a grievous pestilence that scattered both the Court and University yet Vrsin remained at home and wrote his tractates of Mortallity and Christian consolations for the benefit of Gods people He was so dear to the Elector Palatine that when the Bernates sent Aretius to Heidleberg to crave leave that Vrsin might goe to Lusanna to be the Divinity Professor there he would by no means part with him but gave him leave to choose an assistant that so his body might not be worn out with his dayly labors Anno Ch. 1572. he married a wiâ—e by whom he had one son that inherited his fathers vertues But upon Prince Fredricks death their grew a great alteration in the Palatinate insomuch that none but Lutherans could be suffered to continue thâ—râ— so that Vrsin with his Collegue were forced to leave the University but he could not live private long for he was sent for by Prince Iohn Chassimire also the Senate of Berne sent importunatly for him to succeed Aretius there But Cassimire would by no meanes part with him having erected a University at Newstad and chosen Vrsin and Zanchy to be the Divinity Professors thereof But Vrsin by his excessive studies and neglect of exercise fell into a sicknesse which held him above a year together after which he returned to his labors againe and besides his Divinity Lectors he read Logik also in the Schools desiring his auditors to give him what doubts and objections they met with which upon study at his next Lecture he returned answers to But his great labors cast him into a consumption and other diseases yet would he not be perswaded to intermit them till at last he was confined to his bed yet therein also he was never idle but alwayes dictating something that might conduce to the publick good of the Chuch The houre of death being come his friends standing by he quietly slept in the Lord Anno Christi 1583. and of his age 51. He was very pious and grave in his carriage and one that sought not after great things in this world Let those whose hearts desire to be Professor of Divinity Trace Ursins steps so shall they find The comforts of a studious minde He had a greater care to nurse Distressed souls then fill his purse He would not tell a frutlesse story Unto his flock his oratory Serv'd not flatter but to bring Subjected souls unto their King Where now he rests with him that says Shephards of Flocks look to your wayes The Life and Death of Abraham Bucholtzer
for his oâ—â—aâ—â—ons When a friend sent him 200. angels of gold from the metal-mines he bestowed them all on poore Students When Iohn the Elector gave him a new gowneâ— he said that he was made to much of for if here we receive a full recompence of our labours we shall hope for none in another life When the same Elector offered him a vayne of Metals at Sneberge he refused it lest he should incurre the tentations of the Divell who is Lord of treasure under the Earth He took nothing of Printers for his copies as he writeth saying I have no plenty of money and thus yet I deale with the Printers I receive nothing from them â—or recompence of my many Copies sometimes I receive of them one copy This I thinke is due to me whereas other writers yea translaters for every eight leaves have an Angel Concerning money given him thus he writeth The hundreth Angels given me I roceived by Tanbenhem and Schart gave me fifty that I stand in feare that God will give me my reward here But I protested that I would not so be satisfied by him I will either presently repay it or spend it For what should I doe with so much money I gave one halfe of it to P. Prior and made him a joyfull man He was very lovingly affectioned towards his children and gave them liberall education He kept in his house a School-master to traine them up in good arts and a godly life When he saw Magdalen his eldest daughter ready to dye he read to her in Esay 26.19 Thy dead servants shall rise againe together with my dead body shall they arise Awake and sing ye that dwell in the dust For thy dew is at the dew of hearbs and the earth shall cast out the dead Come my people enter into thy chambers and shut thy doores about thee Hide thy selfe as it were for a littâ—e moment untill the indignation be over-past My daughter enter thou into thy chamber with peace I shall ere long be with thee For God will not permit me to see the punishments hanging over the head of Germany And upon tâ—is wept plentifully But in publick when he went a long with the Herse he bridled his affection and was not seen to shed one teare And as all men of excellent spirits have a zealous anger in due place So Luther by nature was vehement but yet placable As appeareth in this that when Melancthon much moved to passion once came unto him and all the rest were very mute Luther uttered this Verse Vince animos irà mque tuam qui caeterà vinciâ— Thine owne heart overcome thy fury tame Who all things else hast stoutly overcame And then smiling saidâ— we will not further dispute of this matter and turned his speech to other occasions He foresaw and foretold many things as the combustion which rose in Germany saying I am very much afraid that if the Princes give eare to Duke George his ill counsell there will arise some tumult which will destroy all the Princes and Magistrates in all Germany and ingage in it all the Clergy Of the death of Frederick Elector of Saxony thus he writeth If God in heaven hath resolved in wrath to deale with us that neither our prayres nor counsels of amendment can hinder it let us obtaine this that our Josias may sleep in peace though the world be left to goe into its Babylon Of the covetousnesse of Germany and the dearth there thus he speaketh We feare Famine and we shall suffer it and finde no remedy for it And when as without necessity we are solicitous to prevent Famine like wicked and incredulous Gentles and neglect the word of God and his work he will permit shortly a dismall day to come upon us which will bring with it whole Wâ—inloads of ceares which he shall neither have power or meanes to escape Diverse other things he also foretold He had his health competently well but that sometimes he was troubled with the headach especially in his elder yeares Whereupon he was afraid of some violent Apoplexie and when he felt a swimming in his head or noyse in his eares he used to say Lord Iesu smite me gently for I am absolved from my sins according to thy word and am fed unto life eternall by thy body and blood Thine Apostle John and our Elector were taken out of this world by this kinde of death He endured often tentations whereupon he said All here are in health except Luther who is â—ound in body and without suffers at no mans hand in the world onely the Divel and all his Angels vex him He was of an indefferent stature of strong body of so Lion-like a quicknesse of his eyes that some could not endure to looke directly upon him when he intentively beheld them They say that one of mild spirit who could not endure in private to talke with Luther was courteously used by Luther yet was so pierced with the quicknesse of his eyes that being amazed he knew no course better then to run from him His voyce was mild and not very cleare whereupon when on a time there was mention at table about Pauls voyce which was not very perfect and full Luther said I also have a low speech and pronuntiation To whom Melancthon answered But this small voyce is heard very farre and neere In the year 1544. the 17. of November he finished his explication of Genesis which was his last publicke reading in the University which he concluded with these words Thus end I my explication on Genesis God grant that others may more rightly and truely expound it then I have done I cannot proceed farther therein my strength faileth me pray for me that it would please God to grant me a quiet and comfortable departure out of this life In the year 1546. Luther accompanyed with Melancthon viâ—â—ted his owne Country and returned againe in safety Not long after the Councell of Trent being begun and having â—â—te once or twice Luther was called againe by the Eâ—rles of Mansfield to his owne Country for to compose a dissention among them concerning their bounds and heritages Luther was not wont to deale in matters of this nature having been versed in sacred studyes all his life time but because he was borne at Isleben a towne in the territories of Mansfield he was willing to doe his Country service in this kind Wherfore making his last Sermon at Wittenberg the 17. day of Ianuary he toâ—ke his journey on the twenty third day And at Hall in Saxony lodged at Iustas Ionas his house where he stayed three dayes because of the roâ—ghnâ—sse of the waters and preached the 26. of Ianuary upon Pauls Conversion On the 28. day being Thursday at Hall he passed over the river with Iustas Ionas and his owne three sons and being in danger of drowning said to D r. Ionas Thinke you not that it would rejoyce the Divell very much if I and you and my three sons should
be drowned When he came to the Earles of Mansfield he was entertained by a hundred horsemen or more of the Court and was brought into Isleben very honourable but very sick and almost past recovery which thing he said did often befall him when he had any great businesse to undertake But using some meanes for cure of his infirmity he sate at supper with the company and so continued to doe from the 29. of Ianuary to the 17. of February and treated of the dfferences for whose determination he came thither In this time he preached sometimes and twice received the Lords Supper and publickely received two Students into the sacred order of the Ministery And at his lodging used much godly conference at Table with his friends and every day devoutly prayed The day before his death though he was somewhat weake yet he dined and supped with his company and at supper spak of divers matters and among other passages asked Whether in heaven we should know one another when the rest desired to heare his judgement thereof He said What befell Adam he never saw Eve but was at rest in a deep sleep when God formed her yet when he awaked and saw her he asketh not what she was nor whence she came but saith that she was flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone Now how knew he that He being full of the Holy Ghost and endued with the knowledge of God thus spake After the same manner we also shall be in the other life renewed by Christ and shall know our parents our wives and children and all about us much more perfectly then Adam knew Eve at her bringing to him After supper when he went aside to pray as was his custome the paine in his breast began to increase whereupon by the advise of some there present he tooke a little Vnicornes horne in wine and after that slept quietly an houre or two on a pallat neer the fire When he awaked he betooke himselfe to his chamber went to bed bidding his friends good nght admonished them who were present to pray God for the propagation of the Gospell because the Councell of Trent and the Pope would attempt wonderfull devises against it Having thus said after a little silence he fell a sleep But was awaked by the violence of his disease after midnight Then complained he againe of the narrownesse of his breast and perceiving that his life was at an end he thus implored Gods mercy and said O heavenly father my gratioâ—s God and Father of our Lord Iesus Christ thou God of Consolation I give the all hearty thanks that thou hast revealed to me thy Son Iesus Christ whom I beleeve whom I professe whom I love whom I glorifie whom the Pope of Rome and the rout of the wicked persecute aâ—d dishonour I beseech thee Lord Iesus Christ â—o receive my soul. O my gracious heavenly Father though I be taken out of this life though I must now lay downe this frailâ— body yet I certainely know that I shall live with with thee eternally and that I cannot be taken out of thy hands He added moreover God so loved the world that he gave his onely begotten Son that every one who beleeveth in him should not perish but have life everlasting And that in the 68. Psalme Our God is the God of salvation and our Lord is the Lord who can deliver from death And here taking a medicine and drinking it he further said Lord I render up my spirit into thy hands and come to thee And againe Lord into thy hands I commend my spirit thou O God of truth hast redeemed me Here as one falling asleep and without any bodily pain that could be discerned he departed this life And when Doctor Ionas and Caelius said O reverend father doe you dye in the constant confession ofâ— that doctrine of Christ which you have hitherto preached He answered so as he might be heard yea which was the last word he spake Thus he in his native Country not having seen it many years before dyed much lamented by many This â—ell on the eighteen day of Febru on the day in the Calender ascribed to Concord about three a clock in the morning in the great climactericall year of his age Soon after his body put into a coffin of Lead was carried in funerall manner to the Temple of Isleben where Iustas Ionas preached Then the Earles of Mansfield desired that his body should be interred within their territories But the Elector of Saxony required that he should be brought bark to Wittenberge In the returne thereof which way so â—vâ—r it went it was honourably attended and with much griefe accompanied out of each Princes Dominion and at lengh upon the twenty two of February in the afternone was brought to Wittenberg and was carried into the Temple neare adjoyning to the Castle with such a troope of Princes Earles Nobles their living as students and other people that the like was seldome or never seâ—n in that towne When the funerall rites were perforned Pomeranus preached to an assâ—mbly of many thousands And after that Melancthon with many teares and â—igheâ— made a funerall Oration When this was don the coffin with his body was put by the hands of divers learned men into the tombe near to the Pulpit in which he had made many learned Sermonâ— before divers Princes Electors and the Congregation of many faithfull Christians In a brazen plate his picture lively deciphered was there set up with Verses by it to this effect This Sepulchre great Luthers Corpes contanes This might suâ—â—ice yet read these following strains HEre in this Vrne doth Martin Luther resâ— And sweetly sleep in hope to rise most blest By whose rare pains firme faith and Christs free Grace Which formerly thick Fogs of Error base And Duskie Clouds â—j Wâ—rks desert hid quite Were well reduced to their ancient Light For when blind Superstition ruled All And did fair Trnth long time suppresse and thrall He by Gods Word and Spirits inspiration The Gospels Light re-spred for every Nation And well-instructed by Pauls sacred voyce Scorning Romes Cheats to teach pure Truth made choyce And as John Baptist in the Wildernesse Did Gods Lamp who heals Sin Preach and expresse So O Sweet Christ did Luther cleare thy booke When all the World was caught with Errors â—ooke And what the difference was betwixt the Law Whose tables Moses brake though God he saw Vpon Mount-Sinai and the Gospell sweet Which heales Sin conscious hearts which Gods wrath meet This difference lost to th' World he did restore That so Christs gifts of Grace might shine the more He stoutly did oppose Romes Cheats and Charmes And Papall rule which wrought Gods Saints great harmes Exhorting all Romes idols for to flye He many souls wan to true piety And mauger all Romes threats and snares most slie Finisht in Faith his Course most valiantly Dying in peace his Soule with Christ doth rest Crown'd with immortall Glory
truely blest For which rare Doctor let both high and low Blesse God that they so clear Christs truth doe know And pray the Lord that these his Gospels rayes May to the World shine-forth for datelesse dayes Philip Melancthon Dead is grave Luther worthy all due praise Who set forth Christ in Faiths illustrious rayes His Death the Church laments with sighs sincere Who was her Pastour nay her Patron deare Our Israels Chariots and Horsemen rare Is dead with me let All sad Sables weare Let them their griefe in groaning verses sing For such sad Knells such Orphans best may ring Theodore Beza Rome tam'd the World the Pope tam'd Rome so great Rome rul'd by power the Pope by deep Deceit But how morâ— large than theirs was Luthers Fame Who with One Pen both Pope and Rome doth tame Goe fictious Greece goe tell Alcides then His Club is nothing to great Luthers Pen. John Major By Luthers labours Leo the tenth is slaine Not Hercles Club but Luthers Pen's his bane Joachim a Beuft When Luther dy'd then with him dy'd most sure A Crown and credit of Religion pure His Soul soar'd up to heaven on Concords day Which tended Luther thither on his way Deare Christ since Discord followed with Coats rent Give to thy Spouse Elijahs ornament Upon his Tomb-stone the University of Wittenberg as to her beloved father engraved MARTINI LVTHERIS THEOLOGIAE D. CORPVS H. L. S. E. QVI ANNO CHRISTI M. Dâ—XLVI.XII CAL. MARTII EISLEBII IN PATRIAS M. O. C. V. AN. LXIII M.III.D.X Luthers writing were published at Wittenberg and Iene in severall Towns both in Latine and German tongue Part of them were expositions of Scriptures part doctrinall part polemicall Of these this was his own judgement Aâ—ove all I beseech the godly Reader and I beseech him for our Lord Iesus Christs sake that he would read my writings judiciously and with much piâ—ying my case In Wedlock he lived chastly and godly above twenty yeers and when he dyed left three sons and Catharin de Bora a widdow who lived after his death seven years To her it was a great griefe that her husband died in a place far from her so that she could not be with him and performe the last conjugall offices to him in his sicknesse In the time of the war which presently followed she wandred up and down with her orphants and in banishment was exposed to many difficulties and dangers And besides the miseries of widowhood which are full many the ingratitude of many did much afflict her for where she hoped for kindenesse in regard of her husbands worthy and noble deserts of Gods Church often she was put of with great indignity When afterward her house at Wittenberg in time of pestilence was infected she for her childrens safety as became a godly mother betook her selfe to Torg where was also an University But in the way when the horses affrighted ran out and seemed to indanger the waggon she amazed not so much for her owne as her childrens preservation lept out of the Waggon whereby poore wretch she grievously bruised her body in the fall and being cast into a poole of cold water caught thereby a disease of which she lay sick three months in banishment and pining away at length dyed quietly in the year 1552. Welfare those gentle Quilâ— whose ere they be Whose meritorioâ—s labours shall set free The Urne imprisoned Dust of that renown'd Thrice famous Luther Let his head be crown'd With sacred Immortality and rais'd Much rather to be wondred at then prais'd Let Bâ—bes unborn like fruitfull plants bring forth To after dayes new Monumeâ—ts of his worth And time out lasting Name that Babels Whore And all his bald-paâ—e panders may ev'n rore For very anguish and then gnaw and bite Their tongues for malice and their nailes for spite Whilst men made perfect in his well know story May all turne Patrâ—os and protect his Glory ERASMVS ROTERDAMVS The life and Death of Desiderius Erasmuâ— HIs Sirnamâ— implyes the place of his birth Roterdam is a City of Holland Holland the seat of the ancient Batavi but now illustrious by the production of one pen then by all her former harvests of pykes Seaven Citâ—es no coâ—temptible portion of witty and work-like Greece accouâ—ted the Nativitie of Homer so great an access to their other glories that they seriously contested about it Although Homer because Antiquity will have it so be greater then Erasmus yet litle Roterdam hath more to boast of in him then great Athens Smyrna Rhodes Colophon Chios Salamis or Argos in the other For it is certaine Erasmus was born at Roterdam but pitch upon what City of those seven you please it is six to one whether Homer was born there or not But what talke we of Roterdam Rhenamus sticks not to impute his Nativity to the fortune of Emperors and felicity of the whole German Empire within the limits whereof he was born upon the vigil or Eve of Simon and Iude under Frederick the third But in what yeer of our Lord or that Emporors raigne is not remembred this is certaine in the yeer of grace 1519. he was either 50. or 52. his mothers name was Margaret daughter to one Peter a physitian of Zavenberg his father Gerard. These accompanied together secretly but not without promise of marriage untill the young woman proved with childe Gerards father was named Helias his wife Catherine each of them lived till past 95. They had ten Sonnes without any daughters all married except Gerard who was the youngest save one All of them much resented this Clandestine combination and commixture betwixt Gerard and Margaret wherefore to prevent their marriage to gaine his portion to themselves and yet not loose a brother able in time to feast them at his owne cost they resolve out of ten to give Gerard as the Tieth unto God that is to dedicate him to the Church whereby perceiving himselfe excluded from marriage and not yet resolved to enter into holy Orders he fled to Rome By the way he wrot back to his friends the reason of his journey he intimated by the impresse of his seal which had one hand infolded in another In the meane time Margaret was brought to bed and the child the subject of this discourse cheerfully received and carefully nourished by his grandâ—mother Gerard after his arrivall at Rome maintained himselfe by his Pen for he wrote an exellent hand and Printing was not then found out or but in the infancy In processe of time the Copying out of learned bookes begate in him a love to learning it selfe so that besides his knowledge in the Tongues both Greek and Latin he became a considerable proficient in the Lawes which he might the more easily doe Rome then abounding with many learned and able Schollers and he himselfe having the happinesse to be an Hearer of Guarinus His father and brethren having certaine intilligence both of his being and well being at Rome fraudulently advertise
where he was prisoner he had nothing but a pad of straw for a bâ—d and a rotten covering till good people sent him a bed to lye on of one side his chamber was the sinke and filth of the house on the other the town-ditch enough to have choaked him After he had laien thus a while falling sick the doors bars hasps and chaines being all made fast he both mourned called and cryed for helpe yet the Warden hearing would suffer none to go to him saying Let him alone if he dye it were â— good riddance of him c. At last being degraded and condemned he was sent to Glocester to be burned the night before his death he did eat his meat quietly and slept soundly after his first sleep he spent the rest of the night in prayer the next day Sir Anthonie Kingston coming to him told him that life was sweet and death bitter to which he answered The death to come is more bitter and the life to come more sweet I am come hither to end this life and suffer death because I will not gain-say the former Truth that I have here taught unto you also a blinde Boy coming to him after he had examined him in the grounds of Religion he said Ah poor Boy God hath taken from thee thy outward sight but hath given thee another sight much more precious having endued thy soule with the eye of knowledge and faith Being delivered to the Sheriff he said to him My request to you Master Sheriff is onely that there may be a quick fire shortly to make an end of me and in the mean time I will be as obedient to you as you can desire if you thinke I doe amisse in any thing hold up your finger and I have done I might have had my liâ—e with much worldly gaine but I am willing to offer up my life for the Truth and trust to dye a faithfull servant to God and a true subject to the Queen when he saw the Sheriffs men with so many weapons he said This is morâ— then needs if you had willed me I would have gone alone to the stake and have troubled none of you all as he went to the stake he was forbid to speake to the people he looked chearfully and with a more ruddy countenance then ordinary being comâ— thâ—thâ—r he prayed about half an â—our and having a box with a pardon set before him he cryed If you love my soul away with it if you love my soul away with it Three Irons being prepared to fasten him to the stake he onely put on an Iron-hoop about his middle bidding them take away the rest saying I doubt not but God will give me strength to abide the extremity of the fire without binding When reeds were cast to him he embraced and kissed them putting them under his arm where he had bags of gun-power also when fire was first pâ—t to him the faggots being green and the winde blowing away the flâ—me he was but scorched more faggots being laid to him the fiâ—e was so supprest that his nâ—ther-parts were burned his upper being scarce touched he prayed O Iesus the son of David have mercy upon mâ— and receive my soule and wiping his eyes with his hands he said For Gods love let me have more fire A third fire being kindled it burned more violently yet was he alive a great while in it the last words which he uttered being Lord Iesus receive my spirit In one of his Letters he wrote Imprisonment is painfull but liberty upon evill conditions is worse the Prison stinkes yet noâ— so much as sweet houses where the feare of God is wanting I must be alone and solitary it s better to be so and have God with me then to be in company with the wicked Losse of goods is great but losse of grace and Gods favour is greater I cannot tell how to answer before great and learned men yet it is better to doe that then stand naked before Gods tribunall I shall dye by the hands of cruell men he is blessed that looseth this life and findeth life eternall there is neither felicitie nor adversitie of this world that is great if it be weighed with the joyes and pains of the world to come Reader behold and then admire Hoâ—pers most rich Seraphicke fire His constancâ— waâ— great his heart Balsoâ—'d by heav'n out-vi'd all smart Rare was his life rare was his death Whilst time remains his fame shall want no breath The Life and Death of Rowland Tailor who dyed Anno Christi 1555. ROwland Tailor was Doctor in both the Laws and Rector of Hadley in Suffolke 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 often read over the whole Bible and could say a great part of Paul's Epistles by heart Here this Doctor Tailor Preached constantly on Sabbaths Holy-dayes and at other times when he could get the People together His life also and conversation was very exemplary and full of holinesse he was meek and humble yet would stoutly rebuke sin in the greatest to the poore 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 owne bounty he gave them he brought up his children in the fear of God and good learning In the begining of Queen Maries reign two Popish persons suborned a Priest to come and say Masse in his Church he being at his study and hearing the Bell to toul went to Church and finding this Priest guarded with drawn swords in his Popish robes ready to begin the Masse he said unto him Thou Divell who made thee so bold to enter into this Church to prophane and defile it with this abominable Idolatrie I command thee thou Popish Wolfe in the name of God to avoid hence and not to presume thus to poyson Christs flock but the â—tanders by forcing Doctor Tailor out of the Church the Priest went on with his Masse and shortly after the Bishop being informed hereof sent his letters Missive for Doctor Tailor whereupon his friends earnestly entreated him to flye telling him that he could neither expect justice nor favour but imprisonment and cruell death to whom he answered I know my Cause to be so good and righteous and the Truth so strong upoâ— my side that I will by Gods grace appeare before them and to their beards resist their false doings for I beleeve that I shall never be able to doe God so good service as now and that I shall never have so glorions a calling nor so great mercie of God profered me as I have now wherefore pray for me and I doubt not but God will give me strength and his holy spirit that all my adversaries shal be ashamed of their doings and so preparing himselfe he went to London and presented himselfe to
the Emperour had promulgated a book written concerning Religion called the Interim which he would have to be embraced and confirmed by the States and Cities of the Emprie which when he perceived that it was received by the Senate first he publikly opposed it in the Church and exhorted them to the constant profession of their former doctrine and secondly he told them that he must be compelled to depart from them in case they did refuse his motion but he perceiving no hopes of altering their opinions after that he had taken his supper he left the City being accompanied onely with one Citizen committing his wife and eight children which he left behind him unto the protection of the Almighty and being without the Ports he changâ—d his hablit least through the same he might be discovered by his enemies And having turned a Wagon he went toward Tiâ—urum where he remained a few dayes with Bullinger and from thence he departed and went unto Basil unto Iohanner Hervagius his wife followed immediatly after him not knowing where to find him unlesse at Basil wherefore when she came to Constance for her assuâ—aÌ„ce she sent letters by a trusty friend whom she desired to certifie her husband of her aboade at Constance the messenger finding Musculus at Basil delivered the letters and forthwith returned unto Constance where he found his wife and children upon the Lords day following he preached twice in the City taking for hiâ— text those words in Iohn the 6. ver 66. From that time many of the Disciples went back and walked no more with him Then said Iesus unto the twelve I will yet also goe away c. from which place of Scripture he shewed unto them how greatly those Cities did offend which did fall from the truth of Christ for the favour of mâ—n and withall he earnestly exhorted the people of Constance not to follow the examples of such but constantly to adhaere unto the truth taught by Christ in his Word and this was the last Sermon that was Preached in the peaceable state of the Commonwealth for the day following the Spanish Forces under the conduct of Alfonsus Vives beleagured the City during the Siedge by the perswasion of Ambrosius Blavrerus a reverend Pastor Musculuâ— with his wife and children were conveyed out of the City with safety and they escaped the fury of the enemies intending to goe for Tigurum but by reason of sicknesse which seized on his wife he was compelled to remain at Sangallum after her recovery he went unto Tigurum where he was joyfully received of the Inhabitants with whom he continued six months before he was called to performe his Ministeriall function in which vacancy he was called by Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury into England but in regard of his owne age as unfit for travell and in respect of the weaknesse of his wife and the many children which he had he modestly refused Not long after the Inhabitants of Berne were destitute of a Divinity Lecturer for their Schooles wherefore he was called by the Senate unto that profession which indeed was most welcome unto him partly for the excellency of that Church and Commonwealth and partly for the renewing of his acquaintance with his old friend Iohannes Hallerus He entred upon this Lecture in the year 1549. and constantly continued in it for the space of fourteen years to the exceeding benefit of the Church of Christ opening in that space unto his Auditours almost the whole Bible He naturally detested Contraversies and would write his minde without the injury or contempt of others so that his Workes were opposed by no man in publicke during his life onely those two Sermons excepted which he Preached before the Princes at Wormes which were opposed by Cochlaeus The great love which he carried towards the Inhabitants of Berne appeareth in this that he refused great honour and ample Revenues which were profered unto him during his Lectureship at Berne for he was thrice called into England seconded with large rewards also the Inhabitants of Auspurge having againe obtained their former liberty amongst other banished Ministers they first recalled Musculus He was againe desired by the Inhabitants of Strasburge invited by Otho Henricus and Fredericus Prince Elector Palatine and by the Land grave of Hassia many times but he modestly refused all these though honourable calings intending to performe his best service unto the end of his dayes unto that City who had shewed and vouchsafed him such kindnesse in his greatest extremity which indeed was truly performed Not long before his death he was sickly partly by reason of his years his body being spent with infinite cares and labours partly by reason of a vehement cold which did much afflict him whereby he gathered that he was to leave that house of clay and therefore setting all other things aside he entred into a heavenly meditation of death the sum of which he hath left unto the world being written by himselfe before his death Nil super est vitae frigus praecordia captat Sed in Christe mihi vita parennis ad es Quid crepidas anima ad sedes abitura quietis En tibi ductor adest Angelus ille tuus Lingua domum hanc miseram nunc in sua fata ruentem Quam tibi fida Dei dextera restituet Peccasti scio sed Christus ardentibus in se Peccata expurgaâ—sanguinâ— cuncta suo Horribilis mors est fateor sed proxima vita est Ad quam te Christi gratia câ—rta vocat Praesto est de Satana peccaâ—a est morte triumphâ—s Christus ad hunc igitur lâ—â—a alacrisque migra This life is done cold Death doth summon me A life eternall I expect from thée My Saviour Christ why dost thou fear my Dove He will conduct thée to his throne above Forsake this body this corrupted creature Thy God will change it to a better nature Dost thou abound with sin I do confesse That thou art guilty and dost oft transgresse But Christ his blood doth wash and cleanse all those That can themselves in him by Faith repose Doth Death appeare an object full of horror Both ugly ghastly and not wanting terror I do confesse it but that life againe Which followes death doth take away that paine Unto which life we called are by Christ Then do no longer O my soule resist But yéeld thou with all chéerfulnesse to dwell With him triumphing or'e Death Sin and Hell Afterwards the strength of his sicknesse did increase by the addition of an Ague wherby he was brought so weak that he was not able to sit up right in his bed wherefore he sâ—nt unto Master Iohannes Allerus and other Ministers unto whom he declared the Faith which he dyed in and withall committed the care of his Wife and Children unto thâ—m who told him that they would not bâ— deficient in any thing wherein they might shew themselves beneficiall and helpfull unto them As he was a man endewed with an
and the King was so enraged by reason of certain writings opposing the Masse which were scattered up and down the Câ—ty and fastned unto the door of his Bed chamber that aftâ—â— publick Prayers he commanded at the which he himselfâ— was present together with his three Sonnes being barâ—-headed and holding a burning Torch for expiations sake eight persons supposing to be guilty of that act to be burned alive and in the presence of the People he bound himsâ—lfe with a solemn Oath that he would not spare his own châ—â—dren â—f he should but know that they were infected with that most horrible and damned heresie Calvin beholding the miserable state and condition of things resolved to leave France revealing his intent unto an intimate friend of his with whom he was formerly acquainted during his residence with the Queen of Navarre Who out of his singular affection unto Calvin promised to accompany him in his journey wherefore they forthwith prepare for Basil committing their money unto the custody of one of their servants who being well horst and espying an opportunity answering his wicked intent leavs them to shift and to provide for themselves and doubtlesse they had been driven into great distresse had not the other servant furnished them with ten Crownes which he hâ—d about him by means whereof they came at length to Basil. Here he found Symones Grinaeus and Wolfangus Capito who received him with great joy where he continued and gave himself unto the study of the Hebrew tongu here he also set forth his Institutions a laborious learned worke and well worthy of the Author with a Preface most excellent unto the King of France which if he had read it had without doubt given a great wound unto the Popish religion bâ—t the sins of that King and of that Nation were so great and vengeance so near at hand that leave was not given unto them by the Lord to peruse the same Having set forth this book and in some sort performed his duty to his Country he left Basil and went into Italy to visit the daughter of the King of France a vertuous and a godly Princesse whom he there confirmed and strenthned in her religiouâ— course of life whereby she greatly affected him during the time of his life and also made a kind testiâ—â—â—tion of the same unto the world after his death Hence he returned againe into France with an intent to goe for Germany but in regard of the Wars passages were shut up that he could not travell and therefore he turned into Geâ—eva not thinking to mak any residence at all in that place but by the observation of future actions it is evident that he was guided thither by the hand of God into this City not long before his comming the Gospell of Christ was wonderfully brought and that by the labour and industry of two famous Divines viz. Gulielmus Farellus somtimeâ— Scholer unto Iacobus Stapulensis and Petrus Viretus whose labours were aboundently blessed by the Lord Calvin going for to visit these Genevan lights he was entertained by Farellus with a long discourse and thereby discovering the excellency of his parts desiring him to remaine at Geneva and to be an assâ—ant to him in that place for the advancing of the truth of Christ but when he saw that Calvin could not easily be drawn and perswaded thereunto and being a man of a bould spirit he said unto him after a vehement manner I pronounce unto thee in the name of the living and alpowerfull God that unlesse thou joyne with us in this worke of the Lord it will come to passe that he will curse thee as one that seeketh more his owne then the glory of Christ. Calvin being astonished with this terrible sentence and speech of Farellus he forthwith submitted himselfe unto the pleasure of the Presbytery and Magistrates by whose voyces and consent of the People he was not onely chosen to be a Preacher but was also designed to be their Divinity Lecturer and graced with the title of Doctor in the year 1536. which year also is remarkeable for that League concluded betwixt the Cities of Brene and â—eneva touching Divine Worship and also for the conversion of the Inhabitants of Lausanna unto Christ. The first thing which he attempted after his admission into this City was a more exact reformation in the Church for that cause drew a compendium of Christian Religion and forme of Doctrine unto which he laboured to have the Inhabitants to subscribe and to binde themselves by an Oath to abjure the supersticious Doctrine of Rome and to defend the same with their lives This motion was refused by many at the first yet not long after God so disposing even in the year 1537. the Senate and people of Geneva took their Oathes for the defence of the same The ground being thus laid there wanted not enemies and those bitter ones to oppose him in his proceedings for first the Anabaptists began to sow their erronious opinions in the hearts of many to the great detriment of the Church but these were so confuted by Calvin in publick disputation appointed by the Senate that scarcely any one of them appeared afterwards in the City The other disturber of the peace and happinesse of that Church was Petrus Caroli born at Sarbona who as she brought him forth an impudent Sophister so she cast him out againe as a more wicked haeretick being thence cast out he came to Geneva accompanied w th the spirit of the Divel when he saw himself to be sharply reproved of the Inhabitants he went unto their enâ—mies and from thence he returned unto Geneva againe intending to leave behind him some expressions of his worse then diabolicall opinions and for that cause he first began openly to accuse Farell Calvin and Viret of a misconceived opinion concerning the Trinity wherupon a Synad was called at Berne wherein that calumny of Petrus Caroli was condemned But that which strooke the greatest strok for the crushing of these hopefull beginnings was the intestine dissentions and seditions in the City who would not endure this new forme of Government these Farell and Calvin began first to correct with mild admonitions and when they saw that would not prevaile they used more severe and sharper reprehensions which many not brooking the City came to be divided and many renounced that Oath which they had formerly made in respect of w ch actions Calvin Farell with an undaunted courage openly protested that they could not lawfully administer the Sacrament of the Lords Supper unto them by reason of the disagreements amongst themselves and by reason of their alienation from all Ecclesiasticall discipline There also happened unto this another evill viz. a difference betwixt the Churches of Geneva and Berne about some ceremonies which because it could not presently be concluded on by the Synod at Lausanna but was referred unto another appointed at Tigurum the Commissioners unpatient of delay assembled the people together and
eyes of the most renowned Doctor of the Chaiâ— Peter Martyr by whom he was presented Batchelour of Divinity and now nothing seemed to stand in his way from orderly ascending to higher degrees and preferment in the Church But the face of the skye is not more changeable then the condition of our estate in this world all the fair weather we spake of but now was overcast in a moment for by the untimely death of Edward the sixt and by the succeeding advancement of Queen Mary to the Crown a bitter storm of persecution fell upon the newly reformed Church of England and blew away many of our prime Doctors and other men of eminent worth and among them our Iewel who now banished from his native Soyl found yet great comfort in conversing first at Frankeford with Sir Francis Knowls and his eldest Son Robert Horn and Edward Sands and afterwards at Argentine with Iohn Poynet Edmund Grindall Iohn Cheek Anthony Cook Richard Morison Peter Carew Thomas Wroth and divers others These noble Confessors deserve rather the naming because in this their retiring they seemed as it were to fetch their fees to make the greater leap in England where after their return they were highly preferred Grindall to the Archbishop first of York then of Canterbury Sir Francis Knowls to be privy Councellour and Lord Treasurer Robert Lorne to the Bishoprick of Winton Sands of London Poynet of Worcester and the rest all of them to eminent places in the Church and Commonwealth to set off their future glory their present poverty and misery served as a foyl It was yet for the present lamentable to see these men of worth who had change of houses in their own Country hardly getting a shed to shelter them from wind weather in forreign parts they who opened the fountain of their bounty to other men in England were now constrained in Germany to fetch waters of Comfort drop by drop from others Conduits At the first the pious charity of the Londoners be it spoken to the honour of that City was as an unexhausted mine to them till by Stephen Gardner it was discovered and the rich vein stopt by the imprisonment of their chief Benefactors And now these servants of Christ of whom England at this time was not worthy were putt o many difficult plunges yet partly by the comfortable letters of Zuinglius Peter Martyr Calvin Melancthon Pelican Lavater Geznar and other privy Pastours of the reformed Churches beyond the Seas they were held up by the chin and partly by the charitable contributions of Christopher Prince of Wittenberg and the Senators of Zurick they were so kept above water as it were with bladders that none of them utterly sunk in their hope And for Iewell in particular though he were tossed from pillar to post and sometimes dashed upon one rock and sometimes upon another yet in the end he found safe harbour in Peter Martyrs house first in Argentine and after in Tigury where it is hard to say utrum Euripides ex Archelai an Archelai ex Euripides familiaritate fama magis incluruerit Whether Iewel gave more luster reputation to his Host or his Host to him certain it is Iewel assisted Peter Martyr in setting forth divers Books and by name his learned Comentaries upon the Iudges And very fortunate to the Church oâ— God was the conjunction of these two Stars of the first magnitude for from them had we the first light to find the tract of those who in the former Ages and purest time walked with a right foot to the Gospel and professed the Doctrine of the reformed Churches Although we must acknowledge our Churches very much indebted in this kind to Reynolds Whitaker Bilson Abbot CaÌ„mier Morney and Chemitius yet it cannot be denied that these later tinded their candles at these Torches for Peter Martyr had cleered the judgement of Antiquity in the point of the Sacrament and some other controversies between us and the Church of Rome and Iewel in all before Chemitius took Andradius to task or Bilson Allen or Reynolds Hart or Whitaker Stapleton or Abbot Bishop or Morney Perrane or Camier Bellarmine our Iâ—wel was the first who made a publick challenge to all the Papists in the world to produce but one cleer and evident testimony out of any Father or famous Writer who flourished within five hundred yeers after Christ for any one of the many Articles which the Romanists at this day maintain against us and upon good proof of any such one allegation to yeeld them the bucklers and reconcile himselfe to Rome and although Harding and some others undertooke him and entered into the lists with him about the controverted Articles yet they came off so poorely and Iewel on the contrary so amazâ—d and confounded them with a cloud of witnesses in every point in question that aâ— Bishop Godwine upon good ground affirmeth no one thing in our age gave the Papacy so deadly a wound as that challenge at Pauls Crosse so confidently made and bravely maintained But this challege was not now made in the time of Iewels banishment but after his returne into England at this time he and many other cleare lights of the Church were hid under a Bushell till the fire of persecution of England in which not onely many faithfull bretheren but diverse reverend Fathers as Latimer Cranmer Ridley and Hooper were burned to ashes for the testimony of the truth was laved out partly by the teares of compassionatâ— Confessors povring out their souls to God in publick and private but especially by the blood of so many Noble Martyres But as soone as God in justice looked upon the persecutours of the truth and called Queen Mary and thoâ—e who diped their hands in his Saint blood to his tribunall and set Queen Elizabeth upon her sisters throne that mirrour of Princes and parragon of her sex and phaenix of her age restoring at the same time preachers to the Gospell and Gospell to the preachers themselves in the first year of her Raigne commanded a survey to be taken of the whole Realme and finding in many parts palpable Egyptian darkenesse sent for all these concealed lights above mentioned and after they were fetcht from under the bushels which had covered them she set them in golden candlesticks in all the Counties within her Dominions and among them Iewell in the diocesse of Sarum Where he shined most brightly for eleaven years and after his extinction by death left a most sweet smell behind him the savour of a good name much more pretius then oyntment for his Apostolick doctrine and Saintlike life and prudent government and incorrupt integrity unspotted chastity and bountifull hospitality In his first visitation he began and in his last he perfected such a reformation not onely in the Cathedrall and Parochiall Churches but in all Courts of his jurisdiction that even those who before esteemed not so well of Iewell as Bishops yet now were brought to have a reverend opinion
the little light allowed them and by the swiftnesse of their wings to regaine the shortnesse of the time So this good man as if presaging that his life was likly to be very short dying at the forty fourth year of his age husbanded it with double diligence to Gods glory and by his industry gained in thicknesse what he wanted in length 16. When Ahab dyed the Epâ—â—affe as I may say was written on his grave That he built an Ivory House A great honour indeed to have a milke-white Pallace and a blacke soul within it But of gracious Iosiah it is said 2. Chron. 35. 26. Now the rest of the acts of Josiah and his goodnesse and his deeds first and last This indeed was worth remembring I can tell the Reader of no Ivory house no beautifull building no stately structures this Master Perkines erected but as for his goodnesse with Iosiah very much may be spoken thereof For he did not onely as Scripture praise is Serve his Generation that is discharge himselfe with credit in all reference to those persons to whom he stood related in that Age he lived in but also he hath provided in his Workes a Magazine of Learning and Religion for all Generations to come So that the Levites which as yet lurkes in the loynes of Abraham their great Grandfather infants as yet concealed in their causes have just reason alwayes to bâ— thankfull to God for the benefit they receive from thosâ— Monuments he hath left behinde him His Stature was indifferent complexion ruddy hayre bright body inclined to corpulency which proceeded not from any lazinesse but pulse and paines shall make one fat where God gives the blessing He was lame of his right hand like another Ehud Iud. 3.15 yet made the instrument to dispatch many Eglon errors in judgement and vice in conversation And nature commonly compensates corporall defects with a surplusage of the Soule As for such as make bodily markes in men the brands of disgrace â—pon them we will send them to halting but true heartâ—â— Iacob bleare-eyed but faithfull Leah stammering but meeke Moses lame but loyall Mephibosheth with other Saints in the Scripture so to have their erronious judgements rectified into a more charible opinion He was much afflicted with the Stone the attendant of a sedentary life whereby his patience was much exercised This brought him at last to his long home so called Eccles. 12.5 not because man is long going thither but long yea for ever staying there When he quietly surrendred his soul into the hands of his Creator dying rich onely in Grace the love of God and good men It was true of him what Saint Paul said 2 Cor. 6.10 being poore but making many rich Even in a litterall sence the Sellers of his Books gained but small profit came to the Author He was buried in a decent manner where all the spectators were Mourners veris spirantibus lachrymis Doctor Mouâ—tague afterwards Bishop of Wincher Preached his Funerall Sermon taking for his Text Moses my servant is dead Iosh. 1.2 and hath no other Monument then his owne vertues except any will say that the plaine Stones which cover his Grave are made Marble by the worth of the Corps beneath them A Wife and many Children he left behinde him she married successively two other Husbands but no more Mr. Perkinses If any charitable disposed Person hath been blessed by God with a Cup which overfloweth and if he desireth that some drops of the same should fall upon them who are the proper objects of bounty I doubt not but an easie inquiring he may quickly finde out some of this worthy mans Children as not so poore openly to request so not so proud but they would thankfully receive such expressions of his Charity Yea what Saint Paul said of the Iews may truely be applyed to the good mans memory We are debters unto c. So that what is bestowed in this kinde on his is not so much a guift as a paying an obligation He was borne the first and dyed the last year of the reign of Queen Elizabeth so that his life ran parallel with her reigne streaming in equall length and had both their fountains and fals together He dyed Anno Dom. 1602. 1 A foundation of Christian Religion 2 His Golden â—haine or description of Divinity 3 An Exposition of the Apostles Creed 4 An Exposition of the Lords Prayer 5 A Declaration of the state of Gracâ— and Condemnation 6 Cases of Conscience 7. A discourse of the Tongue done in Latine by Thomas Drax 8 Of the nature and practice of Repentance 9 Of the meanes to dye well in all states and â—imes 10 Of the combate of the flesh and spirit into Latine by Drax. 11 Of the course to live well 12 A Treatise of Conscience 13 The Reformed Catholicke 14 Of the â—rue meanes to know Christ crucified and the Graâ—ne of Mustard-seed into Latine by Thomas Draxe 15 Of true Wealth 16 Of the Idolatry of the last times 17 Of Gods free grace and of free will in Men. 18 Of mens callings 19 Of Predestination in Latine by the Author 20 His Bible harmony 21 A Dialogue of the worlds dissolution These that follow were set forth after the Authors death 1 Three bookes of the cases of Conscience translated into Latine by Thomas Draxe and Meyer 2 Commentaries on the five first Chapters on the Galathians 3 Of Christian Equity by Carshaw 4 Of Mans Imagination set forth by Thomas Peirson 5 Problemes against Coxe in Latine by himselfe set forth by Samuel Ward 6 The key of Prophesie set forth by Thomas Tuke 7 Commentaries upon the fifth sixth and seventh chapters of Matthew set forth by Thomas Peirson 8 Commentaries on the three first chapters of the Apocalyps by Robert Hill and Thomas Peirson 9 Of the tentation of Christ from the first verse to the 12. of the fourth chapter of Matthew 10 An exhortation to Repentance 11 Two excellent Treatises of Ministers calling set out by Master Crashaw 12 A Commentary on Judes Epistle by Thomas Pickering 13 Of poysoning a Treatise 14 Against Prognosticks An Answer to a Countrey fellow 15 Of the houshold Discipline in Latine by the Author now Englished Of all the Worthies in this learned role Our English Perkins may without controle Challenge a crowne of Bayes to deck his head And second unto none be numbered For 's learning wit and worthy parts divine Wherein his Fame resplendantly did shine Abroad and eke at home for 's Preaching rare And learned writings almost past compare Which were so high estéem'd that some of them Translated were as a most precious jem Into the Latine French Dutch Spanish tongue And rarely valued both of old and young And which was very rare Them all did write With his left hand his right being uselesse quite Borne in the first dying in the last year Of Quéen Eliza a Princesse without péer Place here Bishop Androwes his Life marked with this Signiture ***
loved most tenderly from his Childehood rather like a Father then a Lord or Patron but since his death a Successour to him in some of his Places in the Church for the duty and reverence which he ever bare to him while he lived hath most gratefully and cordially in his everlasting honorable memory added to it a most excellent significant and speaking Epitaph which followeth LECTOR Si Christianus es siste Morae praetium erit Non nescire Te Qui vir hîc siâ—us sit Ejusdem tecum Caâ—holicae Ecclesiae Membrum Sub eadem faelicis Resurrectioniâ— Spe Eandem D. Iesu praestolans Epiphaniam Sacratissimus Antistes Lancelotus Andrewes Londini oriundus educatus Cantabrigiae Aulae Pembroch Alumnorum Sociorum Prefectorum Vnus nemini secundus Linguarum Artium Scientiarum Humanorum Divinorum omnium Infinitus Thesaurus Stupendum Oraculum Orthodoxae Christi Ecclesiae Dictis Scriptis Precibus Exemplo Incomparabile Propugnaculum Regine Elizabethae a Sacris D. Pauli London Residentiarius D. Petri Westmonast Decanus Episcopus Cicestrensis Eliensis Wintoniensis Regique Jacobo â—um ab Eleemosyniâ— Tum ab uâ—riusque Regni Consiliis Decanus denique sacelli Regii Idem ex Indetessa opera in Studiis Summa sapientia in rebus Assidua pietate in Deum Profusa largitate in egenos Rara amoenitate in suos Spectata probitate in omnes Aeternum admirandus Annorum pariter publicae famae satur Sed bonorum passim omnium cum luctu denaâ—us Coelebs hinc migravit ad Aureolam coelestem Anno Regis Caroli II 0. Aetaâ—is suae LXXI 0. Christi MDCXXVI 0. Tantum est Lector Quod te moerentes Posteri Nunc volebant Atque ut ex voto tuo valeas Dicto Sit Deo Gloria His Workes In the volumne of his Sermons there are seventeen Sermons of the Nativity Preached upon Christmas day Eight Sermons upon Repentance and Fasting Preached upon Ash-wednesday Six Sermons Preached in Lent Three Sermons of the Passion Preached upon Goodfriday Eighteen Sermons of the Resurrection Preached upon Easter-day Fifteene Sermons of the sending of the Holy Ghost Preached upon Whit-sunday Eight Sermons Preached upon the fifth of August Ten Sermons Preached upon the fift of November Eleven Sermons Preached upon severall occasions A Manuall of private Devotions and Meditations for every day in the weeke A Manuall of Directions for the Visitation of the Sick His Opera Posthuma Concio ad Clerum pro gradu Doctoris Ad Clerum in Synodo Provinciali Coram Rege habita V 0. August 1606. In discessu Palatini XIII 0. April 1613. Theologica Determinatio de Iurejurando De Vsuris De Decimis Respontiones ad 3 Epistolas Petri Molinei An answer to the 18. and 20. cc. of Cardinall Perons reply A Speech in the Star-Chamber against Master Thraske Another there concerning Vowes in the Countesse of Shrewsburies case Respontio ad Forti librum Ad Apologiam Cardinalis Bellarmini Reader be serious let thy thoughts reflect On this grave Father with a large respect Peruse his well-spent life and thou shalt finde He had a rare and heav'n enamel'd minde He was our Kingdomes Star and shin'd most bright In sad afflictions darke and cloudyst night Let his example teach us how to live In love and charity that we may give To those whose wants inforce them to implore Our ayde and charity makes no man poore Andrewes was fill'd with goodnesse all his dayes Were crown'd and guilded with resounding praise The world shall be his Herald to proclaime The ample glories of his spreading Fame FINIS FRANCISCVS IVNIVS The Life and Death of Franciscus Juniuâ— EMblemes of honour derived from Ancestors are but rotten rags where their ignoble posterity degenerate from their Progenitors But they are both glorious and precioâ—s where the children both answer and exceed the vertues of their extraction Such here our Iunius William his Grandfather serving under Lewiâ— the twelfth in the warres of Navarre was rewarded for his valour with an Augmentation of Nobility to his Family Dennis his Father was a great practiser of the Civill Law and got both credit and profit by his profession But what needs this superfluous luster to be borrowed from Parentage to him who was inriched with plenty of light in himselfe 2. In the famons City of Bourges in France our Franciâ— was born An. 1545. Likely almost to have proved a Benjamin to his Mother and just cause had she to valew this Pearle for which she paid so dear His baptisme was hastned to prevent his death all looking on him as a weakling which would post to the grave whereas he not onely out-lived most of his brethren but even made his Parents to survive in him His soul was condemn'd to a bad body his infancy being a continued sicknesse and the small pox being struck into him when a child by negligence of the servants suffering him to take cold occasioned a sore in his leg and ever after even to the day of his death he felt the Admonition of that maladie for when there was any indisposion in his body that the malignant humours mustered themselves together hiâ— leg was made the Randevous for their meeting 3. Being sent to school he was unhappy in tirannicall Masters For though he was of that capacity to hold as much and more then they would poure into him and of that industry that he refused no labour for learning yet they were most cruell unto him One especially who as of whipping of boyes had been rather his recreation then their punishment and he willing to make faults where he could not find them so punished the naturall weaknesse of Iunius for an offence that it was familiar with him seven times a day to be corrected truely scoring the number of the Liberall Sciences upon him wherein afterwards he grâ—w to be most eminent yet such was Iunius his love of learning and his soul was so eagerly set upon it that he was not at leisure to complaine of hard usage or to confesse it to his mother and sister who suspâ—cted it 4. But afterwards Iunius growne to be a stripling in that age wherein youth and man doe meet together was sent by his father to Lions to study a dissolute place and full of all Licentiousnesse Sudden alterations to extreames commonly prove dangerous Iunius hath now neither Master to fright him nor father to awe him nor friend to direct him And as waters long curbed with flood gates and debarred their naturall course runne with more fury and fiercenesse when the dams and sluces are suddenly taken away so what wonder if this our youth formerly kept in constant durance with cruel education now flye out and give as I may say separation to his corrupt nature for the â—ormer wrong he had sustained 5. Two dangerous Rocks he was drawn upon narrowly scaping the one but dangerously hitting against the other The first was the allurements of wanton Women who sought to inveagle him the City of Lions being
scandalized him with a defection to the doctrine of the Church of Rome not much unlike that which was of late cast on that reverend Bishop of London but this impudent untruth was refuted by the Pastors of Geneva who by their writings and subscriptions of their names both in Latine and French testified the contrary unto the world many of them being present at his death who on the thirteenth of October in the year of our Lord 1605. being the Lords day rising early and calling his family to prayers which donâ— he walked up and downe some few paces and receiving some small quantity of wine repaired to his bed againe demanding whether all things were quiet in the City and when answer was made they were he forthwith gave up his soul into the hands of Almighty God with all alacrity and chearfulnesse after that he had lived in this vale of misery eighty six years and three months and nineteen dayes and after that he had painfully discharged a Pastorall office the space of sixt and forty yeers He was of stature somwhat tall but corpulent or bigge boned in his age he had a long thick beard as white as snow he had a grave Senators countenance broad faced but not fat and in generall by his comely person sweet affability and gravity he would have exhorted reverence from those that least loved him His great diligence and laborious travell for the advancing of Christs Kingdome and for the suppressing and beating downe of sin are made manifest by the learned Works which he hath left behind him as so many witnesses to eternity take them after this ordes 1 Poems printed by Henry Stephan 2 Psalmes printed with Buchanans 3 School-notes on the Greeke Alphabet 4 Abrahams sacrifice In Theologie 1 New translation of the new Testament with Annotations 2 Confession of Christian faith 3 Of punishing haereticks 4 The sum of Christianity 5 The doctrin of the Sacrament 6 The defence of the Church of Geneva 7 An answer against Nestorius and Eutichus his sect 8 Of the hypostaticall Vnion 9 Theses of the Trinity of Persons and Vnity of Essence 10 An answer to the reprâ—aches of Francis Baldwin 11 A treatise of Polygamie 12 Calvins life 13 Psalmes of David and five bookes of the other Prophets with Latine Paraphases 14 French Psalmes 15 Comments oâ—t of Saint Pauls Epistles 16 To the Romans 17 Galathians 18 Philippians 19 Colossians 20 Icones of many learned men especially Protestants 21 Pictures and Embleemes 22 Moral Ceremoniall Iudiciall law of Moses 23 A Praeface to Osiander 24 Of the Pestilence 25 Solomons Song in Latine verse 26 Homilies on Christs resurrection 27 Of the Pâ—onounciation of the French tongue 28 An answer to Jodic Harth of the Lords Supper 29 Questions and answeres on the Sacrament Si qua fides famae proles mihi difiet omnis At viria vera prole biatus ego Me populi me mistae reges dixere parentu Multa virum genui millia Christe tibi If fame may be beleeved I am he To whom an Infant can no relate be Yet blest with issue by a higher fate And that both many and legitimate Not onely people with their priests together But also Kings vouchsafe to call me father Thousands of souls O Christ have been by me Begotten through thy holy Word to thee Who knowes not learned Beza what dull eare Hath not large volumes of his hist'ry there Or what ill furnisht Gallery cannot show His reverend Picture marshall'd in the row Of rare and moderne Worthies to advance The glory of his pen renowned France From whose more painfull and illustrious quill Such Quintessence of sweetnesse did distill Which like the dropping Hermony pearly dew Refresht faire Syons plants and did renew Their drooping spirits wasted heretofore And blasted with the breath of Babils whoreâ— To whose blest name let every heart that did Ere prize true vertue turne a Pyramid IOHN RENOLDS The Life and Death of John Reinolds THis singular man of infinite reading this treasury of all learning both divine and humane summus ille vir immensae lectionis doctrinae omne genus eruditionis gazophilatium Doctor Iohn Reinolds was borne in the same County of Devoâ— and bred up in the same Colledge of Corpus Christi in Oxford with Iewell his auncient and R. Looker his contemporary And what Tully spake of Pompey his Noble exploits in War that they could not be matched by the valiant Acts of all the Roman Commanders in one year nor in all years by the processe of one Commander so it may truely be said of these three that they cannot be parrallelled by the students of all Counties brought up in one Colledge nor the students of all Colledges born in one County the two former mainely opposed the enemies of the doctrine the third of the discipline of the Church of England with like happy successe and they were all three in severall kinds very eminent if not equall and as Iewels fame first grew from the rhetoricke Lecture which he read with singular applause and Hookers from the Logicke so Reynolds grom the Greeke in the same house The Author that he read was Aristotle whose three incomparable bookes of Rhetoricke he illustrated with so exquisite a commentary so richly fraught with all polite littrature that as well in the commentary as in the text a man may finde that aureum flumen rerum verborium that golden ensturrent the Prince of Oratours telleth us of It was his manner every Tearm to begin his Lectures with an exhortatory Oration to his auditors of these his elegant paraeneticks two were published in print by himselfe the other were since his death put forth by Henry Iackeson Fellow of the same Colledge of these later an intilligent reader will give a like censure to that of the Oratour sunt tantuam phidiae Minerva sed tumen ex eadem efficina they are not like the other two his malter his pieces yet any man may perceive they were drawne with the same pensill Whilest he continued this Lecture it was his hap as it had been of Politian and Erasmus before him to tread upon a nest of Hornets a sort of wrangling Sophisters bred of the excrements of the Dunsticall Commenters upon Aristotle fed advocates to plead for all his Phylosophicall errours and sworne enemies to all polite learning these he so strongly confuted in his Lectures and faceciously derided in his Orations that any ingenuous man that peruseth them be he a Crassus Agelastus will be in like manner affected as Erasmus was when he read the Booke intituled Epistolae obscurorum virorum at which he fell into such a laughter that he much hurt his spleen and endangered his health All this while this our Iohn Reinolds was well affected to the Romish Religion and his Brother William Reinolds earnest for Reformation which difference in judgement proved a fireball of contention between them and engaged them in a strange Duell much like to that
is a better man then Austine the Bishop And howsoever others admired in Reynolds his knowledge lowlinesse of minde and incredible abstinence in all which he so excelled that he even exceeded wonder yet for my part I doe and ever shall admire at one thing in him chieflâ— even that he could so sleight and neglect all wayes of preferment of whom although I will not say as Illyricus and Wigandus spake of Luther That he was the Germane Prophet yet since neither Luther nor Calvin nor Beza nor Whitaker can challenge any honour which Reynolds hath not merited I cannot but exceedingly congratulate our Countrey where he was borne our Mother the University where he was educated and that most pregnant House of excellent wits wherein he sucked the first rudiments of exquisite Literature who that I may compare him with those of the same Colledge for vertue piety learning in the judgement of many is extolled above their Iewell Wotton Vines Hooker yea and above their Pole Let yet Westone that lewd and shamelesse Rabshake belch out what reproaches he pleaseth against him and charge him not onely with stupid dulnesse but also that he counterfeited sicknesse and pretended onely to a disease to preserve his credit Belike then all we University men were leaden witted who admired so dull a man we were besides our selves who beleeved that he was sicke whom to our great griefe we here see dead Notwithstanding this Weston himselfe so like his Unckle in his ill conditions and ignominious flight when he challenged all the Heads of the University and branded them for impure onely for that some of them had entred into the state of Matrimony could not finde any one Act of Doctor Reynolds in all his life to blemish him with all Let this runnagate Weston passe who was wandered too farre to looke into his life what report was given him by those that were neer Truely every one loved his person his demeanure his integrity If any object against him overmuch strictnesse and a resolution not to be diverted from just proceedings by any motives though never so powerfull If thiâ— or any thing else of this nature might be disliked in him I dare confidently affirme as Seneca doth of Cato that a man may with much more ease prove the fact which he chargeth Reynolds with to be faire then Reynolds to be any way foule But blessed Saint he'â— already in the caelestiall Quire As for us who now honour the remaines of this most excellent and learned man we shall never confidently pronounce Oxford bleâ—â—ed till she can boast of another Reynolds For though we may have men of singular eloquence infinite reading rare wits grave judgements studious courteous and very famous for their Workes to be left behinde them yet a Reynolds in all respects we shall never have But why doe I name this man of a thousand as if we still had him when we see the grave openeth her mouth wide to devoure these small reliques of him bâ—fore us which we now last see salute and musâ— take our farewell of â—or ever This minute is the last we can Behold thiâ— rare accomplisht man For my part I must stand dumbe when I should commend his remaines to their honorable interment for Nor tongue nor pen nor Poets bayes Can set forth hiâ— deserved praise I will therefore borrow part of an Epitaph from Sophocles Come friends and lend your helpe let 's now inter Truths noble champion and Romes conquerer And never let the best the chiefest dare To wrong his ashes by a proud compare Behold in lesse then halfe a span The lovely modell of that Man Whose worth a world as big againe Were all too little to containe That famous Reynolds at the stroke Of whose learn'd Quill Romes sturdy Oke Trembled whom had not early death Prevented thus his very breath Had made such winde fals round about In Babels forrestâ— that no doubt In some few dayes her savage Beasts Had found no covert nor her Uulters nests He was Times wonder vertâ—es story Truths champion and the Churches glory The Life and Death of Joseph Scaliger who dyed Anno Christi 1609. JOseph Scaliger the son of Iulius Caesar Scaliger was borne aâ— Aginum Anno Christi 1540. and at nine years old was sent by his father to School at Burdeaux but after three yeares stay there the Plague breaking forth he returned to his father againe who set him every day to make an Oration whereby he attained to such an exactnesse in the Latine tongue that not long after he composed that excellent Tragedy of Oedipus which caused his friends to admire such ripenesse of wit in such tender years At nineteen years old his father being dead he went to Paris to learne the Greâ—k tongue whâ—re for two months space he applyed himselfe to the Lectures of that learned man Adrian Turneby buâ— wanting other helps he lost most of that time which caused him to shut himselfe up in his study and there by extraordinary diligence joyned with his naturall aptnesse he began to suck in the first rudiments of the Greek tongue and before he had well learned all the coâ—jugatioâ—â—â— he gat him an Homer and in twenty one dayâ—s learned it all over framed for himselfe a Greek Grammer and never usâ—d the help of any other he learned thâ— other Greek Pâ—â—ts in four months more Havâ—ng thus bestowed two yearâ—â—n the study of the Greeke he grew very desirous to adde the knowledge of the Hebrew to it and though he knew not one letter of it yet he fell to the study of it without any other help He wrote much in verse both those languages but to avoid the repute of ambition would not suffer them to be Printed He read over many Greek and Hebrew Authors and spent much time in interpreting and clearing of them from errors Anno Christi 1563. he began to travell into diverse Countries and made little stay any where till he was called to the University of Leiden Anno Christi 1593. to be Professor there in which place he spent sixteen yeares making the place famous both by his Lecâ—ures and Writings and at last dyed of a Dropsie Anno Christi 1609. and of his age sixty nine The aforâ—mentioned Turneby who was an excellently learned man himselfe called this Scâ—liger Portentosi ingenii juvenem a young man of a stupendious wit How can the worthy name and memory Of Scaliger in black oblivion dye Who by his pregnant wit and studious braines And indefatigable care and paines In Greek and Hebrew grew so excellent That being sent for he to Leidâ—n went Where he was made Professour and became A man of high renown and spreading fame And gracing much that University For fifteen years he there at last did dye The Life and Death of Amandus Polanus who dyed Anno Christi 1610. AMandus Polanus was borne in Silesia Anno Christi 1561. when his Parents had bred him up at School they sent him to Vratislavia
not his actions did The world was least his care he sought for heaven And what he had he held not earnd but given The dearest wealth he own'd the worlâ— near gave Nor owes her ought but houseâ—rent for a grave The Lif and Death of David Pareus who dyed Anno 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 fell sick of the small pox whereof he was like to dye 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 dyed when he grew up to riper years his Father perceiving a naturall promptnesse in him to learning set him to School in his owne City where one of his Mâ—sters was very rigid and severe in his carriage unto him and there he learned Grammer Musick and Arithmetick But when he was fourteen years old by the instigation of his step-mother his father placed him with an Apothecary at â—raâ—islavia which course of life he could not well relish and therefore after a months stay he returned home again which his step mother wâ—s much offended with yet his tender father resolved to keep him at School and â—hen 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 chiefe Magistrate also of that City took a great liking to him for som Verses which he made at his sons Funerall so that he gave him his dyet in his Family when he had been there about two years the Pastor of that place who was a Lutheran fell out with his Schoolmaster for that in Catechising of his Schollars he had taught them that Christs body being ascended into heaven was there to remaine till his coming to judgement and that in the Sacrament we feed upon it onely spiritually by faith c. And his spleen was so great that he would not be satisfied till he had driven him away from the City Pareus having to hiâ— great griefe lost his Master returned home yet neither there was he in quiet some tale-bearers 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 intended to goe into the Palatinate which his father much disliked and sought by all meanes to hinder yet at last through Gods mercy by importunity he gat his fathers consent who sent him away with little mony in his purse Thus forsaking his friends and fathers house he went to Hirschberge where he met with his Master and some of his School-fellowes and so they travelled together towards the Palatinate through Bohemia by the way his mony failing â—e went to a Monastery to beg an Alms and the Abbat pittying of him relieved him going from thence to another Monastery he met with an ignorant Fryar and asked an Alms of him in Latine he returned this answer Nos pauperi fratres nos nihil habemus an piscimus an caro an panis an misericordia habemus Thus at length it pleased God to bring him safely to Amberg in the upper Palatinate there his Schoolmaster stayed and sent Pareus with ten more of his Schollars to Heidelberg where they were admitted into the Colledge of Sapience there he was a diligent hearer of Vrsin Boquin Tremelius Zanchy and the other Professors under whom he profited both in the Arts and Tongues to admiration Then he betook himselfe to the study of Divinity and having fitted himselfe for the worke of the Ministery he was chosen by the Elector to Preach in a Village within his jurisdiction which he was then about to reforme 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 University an Newstade appointing Vrsin Zanchâ— Iunius Piscator and others to be the Professors in it he appointed also a Synod therein to coÌ„sider how to provide for the other exiles Tossan was chosen Moderator Pareus the Scribe of it in that Synod Pareus gat â—eave to goe visit his Country and friends and so in three weeks space came safely to them where he was received with much joy and at the request of the Senate he Preached the Sabbath following upon Iohn 3.16 And that with great applause and generall approbation his father also was so well pleased with him that presently after Sermon he cancelled the writing whereby he had diâ—inherited him the Senate also dâ—sired him to undertake a Pastorall charge in that place but he chose rather to return into the Palatinate againâ—â— coming to Newstad he was appointed to Preach in a Village hard by where he continued till Prince Casimire as Gâ—ardian to the young Prince Elector Palatine sent for him to be a Preacher in the great Church in Hiedleberge and not long after he was made Master of the Colledge of Sapience in that University Anno Christi 1587. according to the Statutes of the Colledge he Commenced Master of Arts and afterwards by the perswasion of his friends Doctor of Divinity also In the year 1594. at a Convention of States at Raâ—isbone the Divines of the Palatinate were accused by the Lutherans as holding opinions neither consonate to the Scriptures Augustines Confession nor to their owne Catechisme but Pareus at the appointment of the Palatine easily wiped of those aspersions and vindicating the innocency of them Anno Christi 1596. there brake forth a great Plague in the University of Heidleberg whereof the learned Iames Kimedontiâ—s Pareus his intimate friend dyed somâ— other Professors also and the Students by reason of it were driven away yet Pareus stayed it pleased God to preserve his Colledge free from the infection not long after he was chosen Professor of the Old Testament in the room of Kimedontius and presently after Rector of the whole University Aâ—no Christi 1596. he was extreamely troubled with a Catarrh insomuch as he dispaired of life yet it pleased God after a while to restore him Anno Christi 1602. upon the death of Daniel Tossan he was made Professor of the New Testament and grew so famous that many resorted out of Hungary Borusia France England Scotland Ireland and Germany to see and hear him In the year 1615. his wife sickened and dyed which was a great griefe to him Anno Christi 1618. the Low-Countries being exceedingly indangered by the growth of Arminianism the States appointed a Synod at Dort for the curing of that diâ—ease and amongst other famous Divines Pareus was chosen by the Elector Palatine to goe to it but he being grown very old and infirm desired to be excused and so Paul
him the ugly visage of his sins which lay so heavy upon him that he roared â—or anguish oâ— heart yea it so affrighâ—ed him that he rose sometimes out of his bed in the night for very anguish of spirit and â—o augment his spirituall misery he was assaulted with soul temptations Horribilia de Dâ—o â—erâ—ibilia de fide which Luther called câ—laphum Satanae this continued for many months but God at last gave a blessed issue and these grievous pangs in the New Birth produced two admirable effects in him an invincible courage in the cause of God and a singular deâ—terity in comforting afflicted spirits Hereupon he resolved to enter into the Ministry and was accordingly Ordained the thirty fifth year of his Age and about two years after the Parsonage of Broughton in Norâ—hamptonshire falling void Serjeant Nicols the Patron preâ—â—rred him to it about the fortieth year of his age he marryed Misâ—ris Ann Bois of an ancient family in Kent and to her care committed the ordering of his outward estate and applyed himselfe wholly to his studyes and the work of the Ministry for twenty years together Prâ—ached twice every Lords-day and Catechized and in every Holy-day and Friday before the Sacrament he expounded a Chapter whereby he went over most of the Historicall books of the Old New Testament and therein preparing nothing for his People but what might have served a very learned Aâ—ditory In all his Preaching next after Gods glory he aymed at the Conversion of souls and God crowned his labors by making him an instrument to beget many sons and daughters unto righteouâ—nesse He had an excellent Art in relieving afflicted consciences so that he was sought to far and near yea diverse beyond Sea desired his resolution in diverse cases of Conscience Though in his preaching he was a son of Thunder yet to those that mourned in spirit he was a sweet son of Consolation with a tender heart powring the oyl of mercy into their bleeding wounds He had a singular skill in discovering Satans sleâ—ghts and in battering down his Kingdome In all his Sermons he used to discover the filthinesse of sin and to presse hard upon the Consciâ—nce the duties of Sanctification yea he would spare none great or small in their sins yet in reproving sin he never personated any man to put him to shame His life waâ— blamelesse that he could not justly be taxed by any of any scandalous sin He constantly prayed six times a day twice with his family twice with his wife and twice in secret He kept many dayes of private humiliation alwayes before the Sacrament and upon the occasions of the miseries of the Church at home abroad which he performed with much ardency of Spirit and being advised by Phisitians for his healths sake to break off â—he strong intention of his study he rejected their counsell accounting it greater riches to enjoy Christ by those servent intentions of his minde then to remit them for his healths sake He was of a comely presence his countenance was so mixed with gravity and austerity that it commanded respect from others He oft refused preferment that he might not be divorced from that Country where his Ministry found such entertainment and effect He was universaly bountifull but especially he â—xceeded in those publick distresses of Germany France Bohemia c. He alwayes spent all the revenews of his living which was of good valew in the maintenance of his Family Hospitality and Charity He fell sick of a Quartane Ague in Septâ—mber An. Christi 1631. whereupon finding his disease to get strength and his vigor to grow weaker he revised his Will and then wholly retired himselfe from the world and solaced his soul with the Meditation of the joyes of heaven and having compiled a discourse De quaâ—uor Novissimis of Death Judgement Hell and Heaven having preached over the three former he told his people that the next day he would preach of heaven but the Saturday before he fell so sick that he never preached after though his sicknesse was long and sharpe yet he bore it with admirable patience often breathing forth these speeches Oh when will this good hour com When shall I be dissolved when shall I be wiâ—h Christ Being told that it was better for the Church if God would for him to stay here He answered If I shall finde favor in the eyes of God hee will bring me againe and shew me both it and his habitation and if otherwise lo here I am let him doe what seemeth good in his eyes 2. Sam. 15.25 26. And being asked of another if he could be content to live if God would grant it him he said I grant that life is a great blessing of God neither will I neglest any meanes that may preserve it and doe heartily desire to submit to Gods will but of the two I infinitely more desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ. To those that came to visit him â—n his sicknesse he gave very godly and wise exhortations He thanked God for his wonderfull mercy in pulling him out of hell in â—ealing his Ministry by the Conversion of Souls which he wholly ascribed to his glory a week before his death he called for his wife and desired her to bear his Dissolution with a Chrisâ—ian Fortitude and turning to his chrildren he told them that they should not now expect that in regard of his weakenesse he should say any thing to them he had formerly told them enough and hoped they would remember it and he verily believed that none of them durst think to meet him at the great Tribunall in an unregenerate state Sâ—me of his neighbors moved that as he had in his Ministry discoursed to them the exceeding commforts that were in Christ so he would now tell them what he felt in his soul Alas said he doe you look for that now from mee that want breath and power to speak I have told you enough in mâ— Mâ—nistry yet to satisfie you I am by the wonderfull mercies of God as full of comfort as my heart can hold and feel nothing in my soul but Christ with whom I heartily desire to bee Then seeing some weeping he said Oh what a deal adoe there is before one can dye When the very panges of death were upon him some of his dear friends coming to take their leave of him he caused himselfe to be raised up and after a few gapings for breath he said to them I am now drawing on a pace to my Dissolution hold out Faith and Patience your worke will quickly be at an end then shaking them by the hand he desired them to make sure of heaven and to remember what he had formerly taught them protesting that it was the Truth of God as he should answer it at the Tribunall of Christ before whom he should shortly appear and a dear friend taking him by the hand ask't him if hee felt not much paine Truely no said he