received such abunâ—dant satisfaction by converse with him that ever after they held corespondence with him Shortly after Lodwick the Elector Palatine dying Caâ—imire was made Guardian to his son during his minority whereupon he sent for Tossan to Heidleberg that by his advise and counsell he might reform the Churches But when he came thither his adversaries loured exceedingly upon him and raised many false reports but he remembred that of â—eneca vir bonus quod honestè se facturum put averit faciet etiam si periculosum sit ab honesto nullâ— re deteâ—rebitur ad turpia nulla spe invitabitur An honest man will do that which he judges right though it be dangerous He will not be deterred from that which is honest by any meanes hee will be allured to that which is dishonest by no means His adversaries in their Pulpits daily cryed out of strange Heresies that he and his party held But Prince Casimire first sent for them to argue the case before him and then appointed a Publick disputation wherein they could prove none of those things which they charged them with whereupon the Prince required them to abstain from such accusations for the time to come and to study peace But nothing would prevail to allay their spleene till they were removed into other Countries The care of choosing Pastors to the Churches Tutors to the young Prince Schoolmasters and Professors to the University was divolved upon Tossan all which he discharged with much fidelity Anno Christi 1586. James Grynaeus the chiefe Professor in Heidleberg was called home to Basil in whose roome Tossanus though very unwilling was substituted and therefore to satisfie the Statutes of the University he commenced Doctor in Divinity But as his cares and paines increased so his sorrow also partly by reason of an unhappy quarrel that fell out between the Students and Citizens of Heidleberg partly by the death of his dear wife with whom he had lived twenty two years in wedlock which fell out in the year 1587. and therefore Anno Christi 1588 he married again and disposed of his daughters also in marriage to godly and learned men Not long after Prince Casimire died which much renewed his griefe But Frederick the fourth beeing now come to his age was admitted into the number of the Electors and was very carefull of the good both of the Church and University Anno Christi 1594 Tossan was chosen Rector of the University of Heidleberg and the year after there brake out a greivous Pestilence in that Citie which drove away the students But Tossan remained Preaching comfortably to his people and expounding the Penitentiall Psalmes to those few students that yet remained Anno Christi 1601 hee being grown very old and infirme laid down his Professors place though the University much opposed and earnestly sollicited him to retaine it still but God purposed to give him a better rest after all his labors and sorrows For having in his Lectures expounded the book of Job to the end of the thirtie one Chapter he concluded with those words The words of Job are ended Presently after falling sicke hee comforted himself with these texts of Scripture I have fought the good fight of Faith c. Bee thou faithfull unto the death and I will give thee the crown of life Wee have a City not made with hands eternall in the heavens and many other such like Hee also made his will and set down therein a good confession of his Faith and so departed quietly in the Lord An. Christi 1602 and of his age sixty one He was a very holy man exemplary in his life had an excellent wit strong memorie Eloquent in speech was very charitable and chearfull in his conversation and kept correspondence with all the choisest Divines in those times He wrote many things which were afterwards digested into Tomes and some of his works were published after his death by his Sonne I. WHITGIFT The Life of William Perkins who died A no Christi 1602. WIlliam Perkins was born at Marston in Warwickshire Anno 1558 and brought up at School from which he went to Christ's Colledge in Cambridg where he profited so much in his Studies that having got the grounds of all the liberall Arts he was chosen Fellow of that Colledge in the 24th year of Queen Elisabeth He was very wild in his youth but the Lord in mercie was pleased to reclaim him that he might be an eminent instrument of good in his Church When he first entred into the Ministâ—â—e beeing moved with pittie towards their souls he prevailed with the jaylor to bring the Prisoners fettered as they were to the Shirchouse hard by the Prison where he Preached every Lord's daie to them and it pleased God so to prosper and succeed his labors amongst them that he was the happy instrument of converting many of them unto God Freeing them thereby from the Captivity of sin which was their worst bondage This his practice being once known many resorted to that place out of the neighbor-Parishes to hear him So that from thence he was chosen to Saint Andrews Parish in Cambridge where he Preached all his life after His Sermons were not so plain but the piously learned did admire them nor so learned but the plain did understand them Hee brought the Schools into the Pulpit and unshelling their controversies out of their hard School-tearms made thereof plain and wholsom meat for his people He was an excellent Chirurgion at the jointing of a broken Soul and at stating of a doubtfull conscience so that the afflicted in spirit came far and near to him and received much satisfaction and comfort by him In his Sermons he used to pronounce the word Damn with such an Emphasis as left a dolefull Echo in his auditors ears a good while after And when hee was Catechist in Christ's Colledge in expounding the Commandements he applied them so home to the conscience as was able to make his hearers hearts fall down and their haires almost to stand upright But in his old age he was more miâ—dâ— often professing that to Preach mercy was the proper office of the Ministers of the Gospel In his life he was so 〈◊〉 and spotlesse that Malice was afraid to bite at his credit into which she knew that her teeth could not enter He had a rare felicity in reading of books and as it were but turning them over would give an exact account of all that was considerable therein He perused books so speedily that one would think he read nothing and yet so acurately that one would think he read all Hee was of a cheerfull nature and pleasant disposition Somewhat reserved to strangers but when once acquainted very familiar Besides his frequent Preaching he wrote many excellent books both Treatises and Commentaries which for their worth were many of them translated into
sent his Spirits to kill Ambrose but they returned answer that God had hedged him in as he did Job Another came with a sword to his bedside to have killed him but he could not stir his hand till repenting he was by the prayer of Ambrose restored to the use of his hands again When Eugenius was Emperour Flavianus the Praefect desired leave of him to build the Altar of Victory at Millain which Ambrose hearing of departed from thence to Bononia but after a while Eugenius and Flavianus going to war against Theodosius he returned to Millain again But before they went they sent word that when they returned Conquerours they would make the great Church in Millain a Stable for Horses but God prevented them for Eugenius was slain by his own Souldiers and Theodosius got the victory This Ambrose was very abstinent full of watchings and prayer diligent in writing never dining but on the Sabbaths he was very couragious for the Truth and merciful to the Poor and Captives he would weep when he heard of the death of any godly Minister Falling sick he appointed Simplicianus a godly old man to succeed him and continuing instant in Prayer he departed this life the third year after Theodosius Anno Christi 397. He used to say When gold is offered to thee thou usest not to say I will come again to morrow and take it but art glad of present possession But Salvation being profered to our Souls few men haste to embrace it And again It is not so much to be enquired how much thou givest as with what heart It 's not liberality when thou takest by oppression from one and givest it to another And again A clear Conscience should not regard slanderous speeches nor think that they have more power to condemn him then his own Conscience hath to clear him And again Death is the burial of all vices for it is the progress and accomplishment of the full mortification of all our Earthly members wherein that filthy flux of sin is dryed up in an instant It is a voluntary sacrificing of the whole man Soul and Body to the Lord the greatest and highest service we can do him on Earth His works are printed in five Tomes The Life of Gregory Nissen who flourished Anno Christi 480. GRegory was sirnamed Nissenus from the City whereof he was Bishop He was born in Cappadocia in the fourth age after Christ. His Fathers name was Basil his Mothers Emmelia His Brothers names were Basil Bishop of Caesarea and Peter Bishop of Sebastia He had a Sister called Macrina From his childhood he was much affected with the study of Rhetorick wherein he grew as famous as any of the ancient Fathers He affected not that solitary life which his Brother Basil did but imployed himself in instructing others First he was a Professor in a School of Rhetorick Afterwards he became a Reader of Divinity in the Church Yet after a while returning to his Rhetorick School again he was reduced to his former work of reading Divinity by Gregory Nazianzen Suidas saith that he was Vir insignis omnique Doctrina exuberans A famous man abounding with all manner of Learning Neither was he less signal for his Piety and Holiness of Life as Nicephorus testifies For his great worth he was preferred to the Bishoprick of Nyssa a chief City in Cappadocia He was banished by the Arian Emperour Valence and from the seventh to the fifteenth year of his Reign he wandred up and down yet still went to such places where the necessity of the Church required his presence and where he might do most good In which godly imployment he was much encouraged by Gregory Nazianzen He lived under Constantius Julian Jovian Valentinian and Valence Gratian and Theodosius the Great and in his time together with Gregory Nazianzen was President in the Universal Council of Constontiple against the Macedonian Hereticks Anno Christi 492. When Hierom wrote his Catalogue of Illustrious men he was alive but the year of his death is not expressed by any Author He was admired for his Eloquence and one calleth him pervigilem Antistitem the faithful and vigilant Prelate He used to read the Scriptures with all diligence reverence and strictness having a special regard to the genuine sense of them He was a strong opposer of Eunomius his Heresie By the Oecumenical Council of Constantinople he was appointed as a man most fit to visit the Churches planted in Arabia After the decease of his brother Basil he finished his Commentaries which he had left imperfect upon the Six Days Works He also preached at Constantinople a Funeral Sermon upon the death of Miletius Bishop of Antioch He wrote an admirable book against Eunomius and another no less famous of the Creation of Man besides many Excellent Sermons which he made But the Treatise Of the Soul which he wrote to his sister Macrina deserves the praise of Learned men in all succeeding Ages Many things are fathered upon him but judicious Scultetus owneth only these Exegetica Scripta in Ecclesiasten In Cantica Canticorum In Psalmos De Occursu Domini De Deo Trinitate De Creatione De Providentia De Christo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 De Baptismo De cultus Dei in genere De cultu Dei in specie viz. De Peregrinatione ad loca sancta De Oratione De Pauperum Amore. De Beatitudinibus De Fornicatione fugienda De iis qui aegrè ferunt reprehensiones De iis qui temerè alios damnant De Vsurariis Funebres Orationes sive de morte piorum De Resurrectione mortuorum De Theologia Vniversa in Oratione Catechetica magna He compared the Vsurer to a man giving water to one in a Burning-Feaver which doth him no good but a great deal of mischief so the Vsurer though he seem for the present to relieve his brothers want yet afterwards he doth greatly torment him He gave this Character of an Vsurer He loves no labour but a sedentary life the Pen is his plough Parchment his Field Ink his Seed Time is the Rain to ripen his greedy Desires his Sickle is calling in of Forfeitures his House the Barn where he winnows the Fortunes of his Clients He follows his Debtors as Eagles and Vultures do Armies to Prey upon the dead Corps And again Men come to Vsurers as Birds to an heap of Corn they desire the Corn but are destroyed in the Nets And again There is no excuse for hard-heartedness for where can a rich man cast his eyes but he may behold objects of his charity c. He dyed under Valentinian and Valence The Life of Theodoret who flourished Anno Christi 420. THeodoret Bishop of Cyrus was born at Antioch of Noble and Religious Parents His Mother before she had him was much grieved in minde because she was barren and without hope of issue to inherit
the chief Church of Ments he taught the Truth plainly and powerfully which when the tender and delicate Ears of many would not endure a persecution was raised up against him especially by the Popish Clergy which caused him to leave Ments and go to Strasborough An. Chr. 1523. where he was a great assistant to Capito and Bucer in reforming Religion by the command of the Senate though the Papists gnashed their teeth at it For the same year the Senate commanded their Preachers that they should teach the Gospel freely and Publickly and that they should instil into their hearers the Love of God and their Neighbors yet withall that they should abstain from reproaching the contrary opinions and from scandalous provoking the people against them Anno Christi 1523. Hedio marryed a wife and though the Papists raised a great persecution in that City against him yet he Preached boldly against Masses Indulgences Auricular Confession c. and wrote against them also And when the Senators of Strasborough the year after set forth in Print the reasons grounded upon Scripture why they made that alteration in Religion Hedio with his Colleagues subscribed it and withall they published certain Propositions wherein they strongly defended their Doctrine to be grounded upon the Word of God Anno Christi 1543. when Herman Archbishop of Collen began a Reformation he sent for Bucer and Hedio to assist him therein knowing them to be men of very quiet dispositions and very fit to instruct the people But awhile after when Caesar came to Bonna they were in great danger by reason of his Spanish Souldiers and at last by the command of Caesar they were dismissed from Ments and through many difficulties and dangers they returned to Strasborough What time he could spare from his Ministerial imployment he spent in writing Commentaries and Histories of which a great part afterwards were published in Print whereby he deserved excellently of the Church and so continued Preaching and Writing till the year 1552. at which time it pleased God to put an end to his labors on Earth and to translate him to his Heavenly Kingdom concerning whom one made this Epigram Argentina tuis Hedio pia dogmata templis Sincerâ docuit Religione Dei. Cumque tibi pietas sit priscaque gloria cordi Non poteris tanti non meminisse viri He published a Sermon about Tithes An Historical Synopsis wherein he enlarged Sabellicus to the year 1538. He corrected Chronicon Abbatis Vspergensis adding many remarkable matters from the year 1512 to 1537. He wrote Chronicon Germanicum Besides a great many Histories and other Books which he translated into Dutch As he maintained peace and friendship with his Colleagues so he held correspondence with most of the learned men of that Age. And amongst others Nicholas Gerbeline thus writes Mira mihi est cum Hedione familiaritas Hebraica Graeca studia communia ingeniorum rara quaedam aequalitas Deus faxit ne malus aliquis discordiam interserat Scis enim nihil iniquiùs ferre Daemonem quam sinceras amicitias The Life of Oswald Myconius who dyed Anno Christi 1552. OSwald Myconius was born at Lucern in Helvetia Anno Christi 1488. and was first trained up in his Country School after which he went to Basil and there betook himself to the study of the Arts and Tongues which he prosecuted with great diligence and was much delighted with the Works of Erasmus and of his Country-man Henry Glarianus with both of which he was well acquainted and was highly prized by them both for the excellency of his wit and for his singular learning This was about the year 1514. His Learning being taken notice of he was by the Magistrates of Basil made chief Master of Saint Theodores School and awhile after of Saint Peters School in both which he trained up many young men and made them very fine Scholars After some years he was called from Basil to Zurick to moderate a School there where he took great pains in training up youth for three years space at the end whereof he was called into his own Country of Lucern and set over the chief School there About which time the Doctrine of the Gospel began to shine out in all places and our Myconius did not only willingly and readily embrace it himself but was zealous to propagate it and for that end endevoured to instill it into the hearts of his Scholars which were very many insomuch as the Popish party taking notice of it turned him out of his School Anno Christi 1523. From thence therefore he went back to Zurick where he was kindely entertained and made chief Schoolmaster again where he continued till after Zuinglius was slain in the War at which time Learning and the esteem of Learned men began to decay in Zurick whereupon he returned to Basil and giving over the troublesome Office of a Schoolmaster he was made Deacon of the Church of S. Alban where he preached diligently till the death of John Oecolampadius and then he took up his Divinity Lecture and began to expound the Gospel of S. Mark which he performed so well that very many Auditors frequented his Lectures About this time the Magistrates of Basil consulted about surrogating one in the Pastoral Office of Oecolampadius and beyond his expectation Myconius was nominated and appointed thereto and so was made the chief Pastor in Basil having but a little while supplyed the Office of a Deacon In this his Pastoral Office he continued for about twenty years with great fidelity and diligence and both by his Lectures and Ministry was very grateful to his hearers and the rather because his courteous carriage was very pleasing his Learning more then ordinary and his Eloquence very popular When the great controversie about the manner of Christs presence in the Sacrament sprang up Myconius inclined to the opinion of Luther and often rendered his reasons for it to his friends in private But when for this some grudges were raised up against him in the University he voluntarily laid down his Divinity Lectures and wholly applyed himself to his Pastoral Office wherein he continued to the end of his life which fell out Anno Christi 1552. and of his age 64. He wrote a learned and pious Exposition upon the Gospel of S. Mark Sermons upon Psalm 101. He translated Oecolampadius his Catechism out of Dutch into Latine He published Commentaries upon Matthew Luke and Iohn as also upon the Prophets Isaiah Ieremiah and Ionas besides some other Theological and Philological Works GEORG PRINCE OF ANHALT The Life of George Prince of Anhalt who died A no Christi 1553. GEorge Prince of Anhalt was born Anno Christi 1507. Of a very ancient and honourable Family His Father was Prince Ernest. Then by the advice of that grave prudent man Adolphus Prince of Anhalt Bishop of Mersburg
Magdeburg He also made John Amandus Superintendent of those Churches and Michael Volmetius Master of their School Anno Christi 1541 he was sent by the Elector of Saxonie to govern the Church at Naumberg in the Palatinate where also the year after he was ordained Bishop by Luther three other Pastors also imposing their hands upon him who were Nicholas Medler Pastor of Naoburg George Spalatine Pastor of Aldenburg and â—olphgang Steinius Pastor of Leucopetra But six years after he was driven away from thence by the Emperour Charles the sift whence he fled to Magdeburg which at that time was the common place of refuge for the godly who fled from the indignation of Caesar. Anno Christi 1548 Amsdorf amongst others opposed himself in that sad controversie about things indifferent which continued for whole tenne yeares and when Anno Christi 1550 Madgeburg was besieged Amsdorf yet remained there and the year after George Major having published this proposition That good works were necessary to salvation Amsdorfius in heat of contention wrote That good works were hurtfull and dangerous to salvation In the midst of these digladiations amongst Divines Amsdorf came to his old age having now attained to eighty years at which time he quietly slept in the Lord Anno Christi 1563. Scripsit de sacra coena Epitomen Chronicorum Naucleri de Paparum perfidia in Romanos Imperatores Novi anni votum principibus viris oblatum Subscriptionem censurae sententiae Saxo. Ecclesiarum adversus G. Majoris doctrinam Item contra Tilemannum Heshufium W. MVSCVLVS The Life of Musculus who dyed A no Christi 1563. WOlfgangus Musculus was born at Dusa in Lorrain An. Christi 1497 of honest parents who seeing his aptness to Learning bred him at School When he was young he fell sick of the Plague but it pleased God to restore him He had an exceeding prompt wit and had such an ardent desire to his book that he was never a weary of reading and writing so that he rather needed a bridle than spurs never departing from School and his book till he was forced When he was grown up to some bignes his parents sent him abroad into other countries with slender provision that by singing at doors as the manner of those times was he might get his living and thereby learn patience temperance and humility and might follow his book the better Being thus sent from his parents he came to Rapersvil in Alsatia where a certain Widdow entertained him and in which place hee went to School but met with much hunger and want till as by his honest and modest deportment he became known to the noble Earl of Rapersvil from whom he received many favours From thence after a while he went to Slestade and gat into the School and being naturally much addicted to Poetry he spent his time in reading such Authors And thus he continued till he was fifteen years old about which time he returned to visit his parents and going into the Monastery of Lexheim by the way at the time of their Even-song hee joyned with them in singing and the Prior taking notice of him and liking his ingenious countenance and voice followed him out of the Church when all was ended and enquir'd of him what he was and whether he liked to live in a Monastery and withall proffered if he would accept of it to admit him into that Monastery to cloath him and provide other necessaries for him at his own cost He being very glad of this proffer went to his parents acquainted them with it and they looking upon it as a great mercy went presently with him to the Monastery where the Prior according to his promise entertained him as his own sonne and afterwards sent him to the Bishop for Orders There he lived till he was thirty yeares old and when others were drinking and playing he with a book in his hand would walk into a grove to study For though in his youth he was of a chearfull and merry disposition and much delighted in liberall exercises both of body and mind yet he disliked the illiberall contests of his fellows who spent their time in dice and drinking and such like practises But in the mean time he had a great want of books that Monastery having no Library belonging to it yet at last he found a great heap of parchments at the roof of the house amongst which he met with some of Tullies works and all Ovids These therefore he read over especially Ovid being so much addicted to Poetry that many times he made verses in his sleep and could make a verse upon every thing he met with and grew so perfect therein that with Ovid he could say Sponte sua carmen numeros veniebat in aptos Quicquid conabar dicere versus erat And together with his Poetry hee applyed himself to Musick which the Prior taking notice of caused him to be taught to play on the Organs At twenty years of age hee studied Divinity and excelling all the other Monks in learning and eloquence was presently chosen a publick Preacher and being often told by an old man in that house Si vis fieri bonus Concionator da operam ut sis bonus Biblicus If you will be a good Preacher study to be well acquainted with the Scripture hee betook himself night and day to reading and meditation upon the Bible He first preached in the Church of Lixhâ—im and in three other Churches belonging to that Monastery but his zeal and eloquence making him famous he was requested to preach in divers other places About the year 1518 Luthers books began to come abroad into the world and Musculus having some of them sent him read them with much seriousness and delight and God thereby revealing the Truth to him he became a zealous maintainer of it not onely in the Monastery by conference and disputation but in his publick Sermons also so that he was commonly called the Lutherane Monk and whereas Luthâ—r was charged by some with Heresie he stoutly defended him saying It may be Luther may erre in some things which is common to the nature of man yet he is not therefore to be accounted an Heretick according to thâ— saying of Saint Augustine Errare possum haereticus esse nolo I may erre but I will not be an Heretick And his labours proved not fruitlesse for through Gods blessing upon them he converted many of that fraternity who afterwards left their Abbey and became zealous professors of the Truth unto death And divers others also abroad were converted by him and amongst them a certaine Nobleman called Reinhard of Rotenburg who was Captaine of the Castle at Lutzelsteine and Protector of that Colledge a man of much account with the Palatine by whom he was protected from many dangers and snares that were laid for him especially by the Bishop and some old Monks that were
what profit came to the people thereby Another decree for the abolishing of Christmas-day and that no holy day should be observed but the Sabbath onely which did so offend some loose persons that they bruited abroad that Master Calvin had abolished the Sabbaths to bring the greater odium upon him This offence taken by some occasionâ—â— Calvin to write his book of Scandals dedicated to Laurenâ—â— Normendius his intimate friend Anno Christi 1551. great contentions brake out in the Church and this year was begun with the death of Bucer to the great grief of the whole Church and of Master Calvin especially who alwayes highly prised him About the same time dyed Joachim Vadian a Senator of Geneva a man endowed with singular learning and piety Whereupon the wickedness of the factious persons brake forth again which had slept a great while These men would by no means suffer the exiles which fled thither for Religion to injoy the priviledges of the City and not content therewith Mast. Calvin having been forth to Preach beyond the Rhodanus as he came home they entertained him with scorns and one Raimund his Colleague having occasion one evening to pass the bridge over the Rhodanus they had almost cast him into the River and lastly they raised a great tumult in the Church of Saint Gervase because a child being brought to be baptized the Minister refused to give him the name of Balthazar which name had beenf or some reason forbidden by their Law Neither could Master Calvin tel how to cure these evils but by his invincible patience About the same time another mischief invaded the Church of Geneva which was occasioned by one Jerome Bolsec a Frier Carmelite of Paris who had indeed laid aside his Coul but not his Monkish mind This man first fled to the Dutchess of Ferrara whom he deceived till being found out he was driven from thence Then pretending to be a Physician he came to Geneva but the learned Physicians there rejecting him that he might manifest himselfe a Divine he vented some false and absurd opinions about Predestination first in private and then in the publick Congregation Him therefore did Master Calvin confute first with a moderate reproof only then sending for him to him he laboured to instruct him better but he either puffed up with his Monkish pride or provoked by the seditious persons seeking by him to provoke Master Calvin took the boldness upon the sixteenth of October to preach upon this Text He that is of God heareth the words of God and they which hear them not are not of God whence he took occasion to preach up Freewill and that Predestination was out of works foreseen withall reproaching the true doctrine and shewing himself seditiously proud and he became the more bold because seeing Master Calvins seat empty he judged him to be absent But indeed Master Calvin coming late sate behind some others and when the Frier had done Master Calvin suddenly standing up though he had thought of no such thing before then truly if at any time he shewed what a man he was confuting the Frier with so many testimonies of Scripture with so many places out of Saint Augustine and lastly with so many weighty arguments that all were ashamed of what he had taught but only the impudent fellow himself Insomuch that one of the Magistrates of the City apprehended him and committed him to prison for a seditious person and after hearing and examining his cause the judgement of the Senat of the Helvetian Churches being also requested upon the 23th day of Decemb. he was publickly condemned for sedition and Pelagianisme and banished the City being rhreatned with severe punishment if he were afterwards found either in the City or territories belonging to it After this going into a neighbour Town he was the cause of many and great stirs there till he was twice expelled the Country of the Bernates From thence going into France he sought to get into the Ministry in the Reformed Churches which he found in a peaceable condition first in Paris then in Orleans pretending great penetency for his former miscarriages and of his own accord seeking reconciliation with the Church at Geneva But presently after when he saw the Churches under affliction he fell back to his Popery loading the reformed Churches with many reproaches At the same time the Colledge of Ministers at Geneva in a publick meeting asserted the true Doctrine of Predestination which Calvin put into writing So that all the Divel gat by these contentions was that that head of Christian Religion which before which was very obscure was now very clearly opened to the understanding of all that were not contentious The year following which was 1551. it further appeared what a flame this wicked Varlet had kindled though condemned by the common judgement of so many Chuâ—ches For the difficulty of the question having not been sufficiently explicated by the Ancients did stir up especially curious wits to make inquiry into the same By which means the factious persons supposing that they had gotten an excellent advantage against Master Calvin thought that by removing him they might subvert all things So that it cannot be imagined what stirs arose not onely in the City but also in other places as if the Divell had set all his engines on work to raise contentions For though there was a sweet agreement amongst the chief Pastors of the Churches yet there were not some wanting in the Country of the Bernates which accused Calvin as if he had made God the Author of sin Being forgetful how far he had professedly opposed that cursed Tenet when he had confuted the Libertines At Basil Castalio a good and simple man though he did all things closely yet it was discerned that he defended Pelagianisme and Melancâ—â—hon had so bâ—gun to write of these things that though he had formerly subscribed Calvins book against Pighius yet he seemed to brand the Genevians as if thâ—y held the Fate of the Stoicks The Pontificians also though they had been a thousand times confuted yet renewed their old slanders These things did much trouble Master Calvins mind and so much the rather because the efficacy of error was so great at this time that thâ— mouth of truth in some places seemed to be stopt by publick Authority Neither was this a controversie of a few years This same year that good Hermite whom we mentioned before appeared publickly to dispute with Calvin who had suffered a repulse when some years before he had sought tâ— creep into the ministry whereupon he turned Lawyer and the Patron of the factious persons Their cause came to be heard before the Senate with a great contention on both sides the first fighting with impudâ—ncy and the favour of the wicked but M Calvin defending his Doctrine only with the authority of truth And the truth prevailed M. Calvins writings being judged pious and
where he might do more good And accordingly from thence he went to Lipsich where he spent his time in writing upon the Psalmes and afterwards having it left to his choice whether to stay at Lipsich or to goe to Wittenberg being sent for thither he chose to stay where he was and was chosen professor of Divinity in that University Where he continued his Lectures till Anno Christi 1566. at which time he came to deliver his judgement about the Lords Supper Whereupon by the command of the Rector of the University the doors of the Colledge were shut against him and he not suffered to read any more yet they would have restored him to his place if he would have promised to meddle with that point no more But he refused to make any such promise and withall complained to the Elector of Saxonie of the wrong done unto him from whom he received a sharpe answer and therefore leaving Lipsich he went to Amberg in the upper Palatinate where after a short stay he received Letters from the Elector Palatine and the University inviting him to Heidleberg whether he presently went and was made Professor of Ethicks In which place he took very great paines both in reading his Lectures and Writing But his body having contracted some diseases by his former imprisonment An. Christi 1569. he fell very sick whereupon he said Sperare se finem vita suae adesse c. That he hoped that his life was at an end whereby he should be delivered from the fraud and miseries of this evill world and injoy the blessed presence of God and his Saints to all eternity and accordingly presently after he quietly departed in the Lord Anno Christi 1569. and of his age 44. Having taught the Churches both by voice and writing in many great changes above twenty three years attaining that which he had often desired viz. That he might not dye a lingring death He was an excellent Divine and Philosopher Eloquent and framed by nature to train up youth Scripsit Commentarios in varias Philosophiae partes Orationum Epistolarum libros Hypomâ—emata in utriusque Testamenti libros JO BRENTIVS The Life of Iohn Brentius who died A no Christi 1570. JOhn Brentius was borne at Wile in the Imperiall Snevia Anno Christi 1499. His Father was Major of that City twenty four years who carefully brought up his Son in learning and at eleven years old sent him to Heidleberg to School and at thirteen years old he was admitted into the Universitie and at 15 years old he Commenced Bachelor There also he studied Greek and Hebrew and was so studious that he usually rose at midnight to his book whereby he contracted such a habit that he could never after whilst he lived sleep longer then till midnight the rest of the night he spent in holy meditations and in his old age he had a candle by his bed-side and deceived the time by writing and meditation Partly by his diligence and partly by his acute wit and strong memory he profited so much both in the Arts and Tongues that at eighteen years old he was made Master of Arts. About this time Luthers books coming abroad Brentius by reading of them came to the knowledge of the Truth which he willingly imbraced And being desirous to propagate it to others he began to read upon Matthew first to som friends of his own colledges but his auditors increasing out of other Colledges he was fain to read in the publick Schools for which the Divines hated him because he grew so popular saying That neither was the place fit for Divinity Lectures nor he fit for such a work being not yet in orders wherefore to take away that objection he entred into orders and preached often for other men to the great delight of his hearers From thence he was called to be a Pastor at Hale in Sweveland where his gravity gesture phrase voice and doctrine did so please the Senat that though he was but twenty three years old yet they chose him to that place and he carried himself with such gravity holiness of life integrity of manners and diligence in his calling that none could contemn his youth And the Lord so blessed his labours there that many were converted to the Truth yea amongst the very Popish Priests some of them were converted others left their places for shame and went elsewhere He used much modesty and wisedome in his Sermons and when in the beginning of his preaching there the Popish Priests railed exceedingly upon him and his doctrine and the people exspected that he would answer them accordingly he contrariwise went on in teaching the fundamentall points of Religion and as he had occasion confuted their errors without bitterness from clear Scripture arguments whereby in time he so wrought upon them that he brought them to a sight of their errors and to a detestation of their Idolatry About this time Muncer and his companions rose up and stirred almost all the Boors in Germany to take Arms against the Magistrates and rich men abusing Scripture to justifie their proceedings Whereupon Brentius was in great danger for many cryed out that his opposing Popery and casting out the old Ceremonies was the cause of these Tumults Yet when as the boors in Hale were risen up and threatned to besiege the City of Hale and the Magistrates and Citizens were in such fear that they were ready to fly or to joyne with the Boors Brentius encouraged them and told them that if they would take Arms and defend their City God would assist them c. and so it came to passe for six hundred Citizens beat away four thousand of those Boors He also published a booke in confutation of their wicked opinions and shewed how dissonant they were to the Word of God Presently after rose up that unhappy contention between Luther and Zuinglius about Christs presence in the Sacrament which continued divers years to the great disturbance of the Church scandal of the Reformed Religion and hinderance of the success of the Gospel And when a conference was appointed for the composing of that difference Luther Brentius and some others met with Zuinglius and some of his friends but after much debate they departed without an agreement Anno 1530. was the Diet held at Auspurg unto which the Protestant Princes brought their Divines with them and amongst others Brentius at which time George Marquesse of Brandenburg told the Emperor That he would rather shed his blood and lose his life or lay downe his neck to the headsman then alter his Religion Here the Divines drew up that famous Confession of Faith which from the place is called the Augustane Confession Brentius at his return home married a wife Margaret Graetenna famous for her chastity modesty and piety by whom he had six children
presently disclaimed the choice who having never in his life sought after any place was now much more content with his present condition and would not so far offend his old Master as against his will to be chosen for his Colleague No injury did ever so disturb the mind of VVallaeus as to discompose it or make him unlike himself But in the mean time the people were very angry that their beloved Minister was thus disgraced by him who formerly by his publick testimony had attested the purity of his Doctrine But it so fell out about that time 〈◊〉 Lord of Plessiâ— called VVallaeus to Salmur who getting leave to depart went thither Anno Christi 1615 but stayed not long Upon this occasion they of 〈◊〉 being stirred up by Hugh Grotius would not suffer the City of 〈◊〉 to have an Illustrious School so that it was nipt in the bud and Meivartius returned to his Grammer School again Only the Magistrates of Middleborough requested Wallaeus that some times he would read Greek and Philosophical Lectures and would go on with his Common places that so they might still keep up the face of an Illustrious School which accordingly he did and yet neglected not his work in the Ministry Shortly after at the command and request of the Churches of Zeland and at the importunity of some of the chief Ministers of Holland he answered Vtenbogard wherein he shewed that the Authority which was granted by the Magistrates to the Belgick Church was agreeable to the sacred Scriptures and the custom of the Primitive Church By this Book Wallaeus everywhere gat the name of a very learned man and of one that deserved well of the Church because he had thereby freed the Church from that aspersion cast upon it by the Remonstrants that it was disobedient to Magistracy He deserved also thanks from many Polititians because he took away from some of their society that pretence whereby they oppressed the Churches Vtenbogard himself could not but acknowledge that the Book was learned and full of modesty yet he pretended that he would return a speedy answer for which cause he gate leave of the Deputies of the States to write again But though he easily obtained leave yet wrote he not only about thirty years after and seven years after the death of Wallaeus he would seem to return an answer though it contained nothing in it but glorious promises and empty performances Wallaeus was not content to have thus taken away the chiefest pillar to the dissention but endeavoured also to quiet the people and to moderate the Magistrates of Holland whereupon he set forth a treatise shewing the people how they should demean themselves when any difference sprang up amongst the Pastors about Religion The Magistrates he sought to reconcile to the Ministers by the means of Hugh Grotius a man very familiar with him because of his Learning who from an hope of succeeding Bâ—â—nevelt in his dignity was looked upon as his right hand From him he extorted this speech That he saw no better means to compose the difference then by a National Synod which if it was denyed God would punish them for it In the mean time the dissentions increased dayly in Holland and threatned the ruine of one if not of both parties Six of the Cities of Holland did openly oppose themselves against the Decrees concerning the Vocation of Pastors and of tolerating the Controversies of Religion on both sides The Ministers also refused to obey them yea the Remonstrants themselves especially those which were framed by Hugh Grotius at the instigation of Vtenbogard that set bounds to the Ministers from which in handling Controversies it was not lawful for them to deviate Yet the Magistrates would have them obeyed and such Pastors as refused were forbidden the exercise of their Ministry and such as were more pertinacious were cast out of their Cities and such Citizens as most favoured them were banished And though they were restored again by the Presidents of Justice who judged it to be not a correction but a faction yet the Magistrates would not suffer them to come into the Cities whereupon they were filled with animosities on both sides and at last the Magistrates not daring to trust their Citizens gathered souldiers But this dissention was no where more conspicuous nor hotter then at the Hague Vtenbogard who had sometimes stirred up his hearers to use all extremity would now seem moderate having gotten so much power in the Church which that he might hold he perswaded them to yeeld something to the Contra-Remonstrants But some sharp sights perceived that this was but a trick to deceive the Pastors and seduce the people whereupon Henry Rosaeus an eloquent and couragious man took heart to discover the fraud to the people shewing that poyson lay under this honey Upon this the Magistrates forbade him the use of his Ministry But the people who now saw the fraud would not hear Vtenbogard any longer but resorted to Sermons in the neighbor Village of Riâ—wick This the Magistrates sought to hinder On the contrary the people urged that either Rosaeus or some other Preacher of the Reformed Religion for which they had spent so much treasure and blood should be allowed them Against this Vtenbogard opposed himself and laying aside his pretence of moderation sought by all means to hinder the gratifying of the people in their request Prince Morice observing that not so much the Ministers as himself was aimed at and that by his connivence the power of Barnevelt and his adversaries was increased he began penly to favour the Contra-Remonstrants and requested the States of Holland that they might have a Church and Minister allowed them But the Nobles and the twelve Cities much opposed it yet still the Prince urged it and seeing the Contra-Remonstrants desired but reason he procured the English Church at the Hague to be allowed them which when it would not receive all the Auditors they took another Church brought in Henry Rosaeus and frequented his Sermons Barnevelt and his associates were much troubled at this as if violence was profered to their authority But seeing that the Contra-Remonstrants had no more granted them but what was equal they suffered that which they knew not how to prevent By this example the Contra-Remonstrants everywhere took courage and the people sided with them seeing the Prince to favour them who was so beloved and esteemed of them But the Contra-Remonstrants of the Hague thought it not enough to have a Church and Preacher but in so illustrious a place they must make it appear that their opinions and Doctrine was better then that of the Remonstrants But when Vtenbogard excelled Rosaeus in Learning and daily provoked him to Disputation some other must be sent for that might cool his boasting For which end none was judged fitter then our Wallaeus and therefore Anno Christi 1617. Deputies were sent from the
considering with himself what time was requisite for the learning of these Sciences and purposing to defer it no longer betook himself to the Sect of the Platonists for the great fame that ran of them Wherefore choosing to himself a singularly learned man of that Sect that was lately come into those parts he remained with him profiting not a little in contemplation of supernatural things and invisible forms Insomuch as he hoped ere long through the sharpness of his wit to attain to the comprehension and contemplation of God which is the end of Plato's Philosophy And thus he imployed his Youth But afterwards being grown to riper years he was converted to the knowledge and profession of Christianity by this means Beholding the Constancy Courage and Patience of the Christians in their torments and sufferings he was wonderfully moved therewith which made him thus to reason that it was impossible for that kinde of people to be subject to any vice or carnality which would certainly disable them to sustain such sharp adversity and much more the bitterness of death Hereupon naturally affecting Knowledge he began to love and embrace the Christian Religion This himself testifies in the end of his first Apologie telling us moreover that being afflicted in minde about finding out the truth he resolved for more privacy to retire himself unto a Grange neer the Sea-side where he might be free from the concourse of people whither as he went there met him a grave ancient Father of a comly visage and gentle behaviour who began to reason with him and after long disputation told him plainly that there was no knowledge of the truth amongst the Philosophers who neither knew God nor were directed by the Holy Ghost He also further reasoned with him of the immortality of the soul of the reward of the godly and of the punishment of the wicked So that Justin being convinced by his arguments voluntarily assented to him and demanded of him by what means he might attain to the knowledge of the true God The old man counselled him to read and search the Word of God and to adjoin Prayer thereto But what man quoth Justin shall I use for my instructor therein And who shall be able to help me if these Philosophers as you say lack the Truth and are void of the same To which the old Father answered There have been saith he before these Philosophers others more ancient then they who were just men and beloved of God and who spake by the Spirit of God fore-seeing and fore-Prophesying of those things which we now see are come to pass and therefore they are called Prophets These only have known the Truth and revealed it to men neither fearing nor respecting the persons of any They were seduced with no opinions of mans invention but only spake and taught those things which themselves both heard and saw being inspired with the Holy Spirit of God whose Writings and Books are extant out of which the Reader may receive great profit and knowledge of many things As of the first Creation of the World and of the end of the same with all other things that are necessary for us to know Neither in their teachings do they use any demonstrations the things taught being of themselves more certain then that they need any such demonstration the accomplishment of their Prophesies which we see fulfilled constraining us of necessity to believe the words and Doctrine which they have taught Their Doctrine also hath been confirmed by Wonders and Miracles which induce us to give credit to it They preached of God the Creator and Maker of all things They prophesied also before of Christ the Son of God sent to be the Redeemer of the World which the false Prophets seduced by false and wicked Spirits did not but only took upon them to work certain prodigious wonders for men to gaze at that thereby they might gain belief to their false and unclean opinions But remember before all things to make thy Prayers to Almighty God that he will open a gate of light to thee for otherwise the knowledge of these things cannot be attained to by every man but they are revealed only to such to whom God and his Christ give understanding The old Father having declared these and many other things to Justine departed from him exhorting him carefully to follow those things which he had spoken after which he saw him no more But Justine was presently wonderfully inflamed in his minde to know and study the Prophets in comparison of which all other Philosophy now seemed vain and unprofitable to him and so in time he became a Christian and was baptized After this â—e became an earnest defender of the Truth travelling up and down and disputing against all those which were enemies and opposers of it fearing neither peril of life nor danger of death so that he might maintain the Doctrine of Christ against the malitious blasphemers of the same and also increase the number of Christian Believers as may appear by his vehement disputations against the Heathen Philosophers and by the long disputation of his at Ephesus against Tripho and also by his confutations of Hereticks Yea and by his Apologies which with great zeal and courage he exhibited to the Emperour and Magistrates against the Persecutors of the Christians and in their just defence all which do sufficiently testifie the same The first Apologie which he wrote was to the Senate of Rome in which he wrote with great liberty telling them that of necessity he was compelled thus to utter his minde unto them For that in persecuting the Christians they neglected their duty and highly offended God of which they had need to be admonished This Apology he also sent to Antoninus Pius the Emperour Writing also to Vrbicius Leiutenant of the City he told him that he put men to torments and death for no offence committed but only for the confession of the name of Christ which proceedings saith he neither becometh the Emperour nor his Son nor the Senate In the same Apology he also defended and purged the Christians from those crimes which were falsely charged upon them by the Ethnicks In his second Apology writing to Antoninus the Emperour and his successors with like gravity and freedom of speech he declareth unto them how they had the name and repute of vertuous Philosophers maintainers of Justice lovers of Learning c. But whether they were so indeed their Acts declared As for himself he professeth that neither for flattery nor for favour he wrote unto them but that he was constrained to sue unto them for righteousness in their judgements and sentences For saith he it becomes Princes to follow uprightness and piety in their judgements not tyranny and violence He also in plain words chargeth as well the Emperour as the Senate with manifest wrong for that they did not grant to the Christians that which was not denyed to all other
Malefactors but judged them to death not convicted but out of an hatred to their name Other men saith he which are appeached in judgement are not condemned till they are first convicted But for us you take the name for a sufficient crime whereas indeed you ought to see justice done rather upon our accusers So that if a Christian that is accused deny his name him you release being not able to charge him with any other offence But if he stand to his name you condemn him Whereas it were your duty rather to examine their manner of life and so according to their demerits to see justice done upon them And in another place You examine not the Causes but hurried on with rash affections as with the spur of fury you slay and murther the innocent without any respect of justice And if any will say some of them have been taken in evil doings I answer that you use not to enquire after those things but condemn them before due examination of their offences for the cause above mentioned Hereby it appears that you degenerate from the goodness of your predecessors whose examples you follow not For your Father Adrian of famous memory caused to be proclaimed that Christians accused before the Judge should not be condemned unless they were found guilty of some notorious crime c. In the same Apologie he also proves by firm and strong arguments that Christians ought not at the sole will and command of the Emperor and Senate to offer Sacrifice to Idols for which if they be condemned they suffer open wrong He affirms moreover that the only true Religion is the Religion of Christians whose Doctrine and Conversation hath no fault And although by these and such like perswasions he could not prevail with the Emperour to love their Religion and to become a Christian yet thus much he obtained that the Emperour wrote to his Officers in Asia in the behalf of the Christians requiring and commanding them that those Christians only that were found guilty of other crimes should suffer and that none for the bare name of a Christian should be punished as hitherto they had been By this it is apparent with what zeal and â—aith Justine strove against the persecutors of his time who as he used to say could kill but could not hurt At last he went to Rome where he had many open disputations and publique conferences with some Philosophers especially with one Crescens who was of the Sect of the Câ—nikes from whom he alwayes bore away the Bell which tended to the shortning of his life as himself foresaw and foretold in these words I look for no other end then this that I be betrayed by some one of them called Philosophers or knocked on the head with a club by Crescens no Philosopher indeed but a proud boaster For it is not meet to call him a Philosopher which ignorantly reporteth that the Christians are impious and irreligious to the end that he may flatter and please such as are over-shadowed with the mist of error and ignorance For if he impugn the Doctrine of the Christians having never read nor known the same then is he full of malice and far worse then Idiots that sometimes fear to reason of unknown matters least they speak falsely Or if he hath read them yet he understands not the Mysterie and Majestical meaning thereof Or if in any thing he understands them yet is he afraid to confess the Truth least he should be taken for one of them and then he is far more wicked and malitious yea the bondslave of vain glory and brutish fear I desire that you may understand the Truth I have proposed certain Questions and Interrogatories to him whereby I have found that he knows nothing So that if you knew what I propounded and what answer he made thereto you would certainly give sentence that he is altogether ignorant in our Doctrine c. And according to this his prediction he was slain by the procurement of Crescens being beheaded An. Christi 139. Suffering Martyrdom with much cheerfulness under Verus the Emperor or as Epiphanius saith under Adrian Tatianus a learned man writeth thus of it Crescens saith he being in Rome passed all men in that filthy and unnatural sin of Sodomie defiling himself with mankinde inferiour also he was to no man in covetousness He taught that death was not to be feared yet himself was so extreamly fearful of it that he procured Justins death as it were for a great evill Because that he Preaching the Truth reprehended the Philosophers as gluttonous and deceitful persons He confuted Marcion the Heretick and the Valentinians He complain'd to the Emperor Antoninus Pius of the cruelty of the Proconsul in Asia against the Christians who forbad them to read any Books that spake of Christ. His usual saying was That which the Soul is in the Body that are Christians in the World for as the Soul is in but not of the Body so Christians are in but no part of the World Also It is best of all not to sin and next to that to amend upon the punishment Again That it is the greatest slavery in the World to be subject to ones own passions He was one that did not only suffer in his Saviours Cause but took great pains in defending it against all oppositions in his times He gat much repute for his constant zeal against Idolatry and Superstition and perswading the Gentiles to leave it as a vain and unprofitable service declaring unto them the excellency and benefit of the true Worship of God So that he was a blessed Instrument to bring many out of that miserable condition cheerfully to imbrace the Faith of Christ crucified His works are these A Dialogue with Triphon the Jew An Apology to the Senate of Rome Another to Antoninus Pius An Oration to the Gentiles with some Epistles One Ad Zenam Serenum Altera ad Diognetum Paraenetica Oratio ad Graecos IRENAEVS The Life of Irenaeus who dyed An. Chrsti 182. IRenaeus was born in Asia of Greek Parents as both his name and writings do declare In his younger years he was scholar to and a constant hearer of Polycarp Bishop of Smyrna In his riper years he went into France and was Ordained Minister by Photinus Bishop of Lyons and some other Presbyters At this time the Church of Christ was in great trouble both by reason of the Persecution raised by foraign Enemies but especially by reason of Errors and Sects which then sprung up in that time against which he diligently laboured and wrote much His Nature did well agree with his Name for he was a great lover of Peace and endeavoured to the uttermost to procure Unity when Controversies arose in the Church And therefore when the great controversie about keeping Easter day was renewed and Victor the Bishop of Rome would have excommunicated the Eastern Churches as
in Latin but Hierom reckons him amongst the Greek Fathers and even till this day some of his Works are extant in Greek which shews him to be a Grecian Varia scripsit sed soli qainque libri adversus Haereses eodie supersunt TERTVLLIAN The Life of Tertullian who dyed An. Christ. 202. TErtullian was born in Carthage his Father was a Centurion of the Proconsular Order He was carefully educated in all manner of learning wherein he profited so much that Lactantius saith of him he was in omni genere doctrine peritus skilled in all kinde of Learning Hierom saith that his Works contained cunctam seculi Doctrinam all sorts of Learning Vincentius Lyrinensis saith Inter Latinos omnes hic facile princeps judicandus that amongst the Latine Fathers he was of chiefest account His Works which he hath left to us shew that he was excellently versed in Physicks Mathematicks and History He was eminent for his study of and knowledge in the Civil Law Afterward falling to the study of Divinity he attained to such excellent skill therein that at Rome he was made a Presbyter where he remained to the middle of his age He flourished under the Emperor Severus Anno Christi 183. And burning in holy zeal he became a great opposite to the Hereticks of those times Marcion Valentinian Praxea Hermogenes c. He was very expert both in Greek and Latin and had great acuteness in disputing and writing eloquently as his Books do sufficiently declare So that Vincentius Lyrinensis saith that the force of his arguments was such that whom he could not perswade them he compelled to consent to him God raised him in the time of great Persecution to be as a pillar or stay to his poor afflicted Church For when the Christians were vexed with wrongs and falsly accused by the Gentiles Tertullian taking their cause in hand defended them against their Persecutors and their slanderous accusations shewing that they never intended aâ—â— stirs or rebellions either against the Empire or Emperors of Rome for so much as the manner of Christians was to pray for the prosperous estate of their Governors And whereas they were falsely accused to be enemies to mankinde how can that be saith he when as the proper office of Christians is to pray for all men to love their Enemies never requiting evil for evil whereas all others do profess only to love their friends and starcely them and as touching the horrible slander of murthering Infants how can that be true saith he in the Christians whose custom is to abstain from all blood and things strangled so that it is not lawful for them when they feed at their Tables to meddle with the blood of any Beast And as for filthy copulations no sort of men are more free then they who have ever been the greatest observers of chastily and if they could have chosen to live in perpetual Virginity all their lives long if they could not their manner is to contract Matrimony for the avoiding all Whoredom and Fornication Neither can it be proved that the Christians do Worship the Sun which false surmise saith he ariseth only from this Because they use to pray towards the East Much less was there any of them so mad as to Worship an Asses Head the occasion of which slander arose from the Jews worshipping the Jaw bone of an Ass from the story of Sampson which therefore was falsely and wrongfully charged upon the Christians Likewise against all other lyes and slanders raised by the Heathen against the Christians he clearly purgeth them and evidently proves that they were persecuted not for any deserts of theirs but only out of an hatred to their name and Profession He sheweth also that by those grievous persecutions the Religion or number of Christians was nothing impaired but increased rather The more saith he we are mown down by you the more we rise up The blood of the Christians proves the seed of the Church For what man saith he beholding the painful torments and the perfect patience of the Christians will not search and enquire into the cause and when he hath found it out will not consent and agree to both and when he agreeth to it who will not be willing and desirous to suffer for it So that this Profession can never be extirpated seeing the more it is cut down the more it encreaseth For every man seeing and wondering at the sufferings of the Saints is moved thereby the more to search into the cause and in searching he finds it and in finding he follows it And as Tertullian thus bestirred himself in defending the innocency of the Christians so he compiled many excellent and fruitful Works whereof some are extant others are not to be found By these excellent Apologies of his he perswaded the Emperor Severus to savour the Christians who prayed for his prosperity and imputed the slaughter of his Subjects at Byzartium as a just judgement upon them for the effusion of so much Christian blood Having written excellently against the Hereticks of his time in the end of his Book he made a Catalogue of all the Hereticks that then tore the Bowels of the Church Yea he continued these labours when the Persecution was at the hottest not hiding his head though the times were so dangerous Once in great triumph all the Emperour Severus his Souldiers for the greater pomp were to put on Crowns of Bayes but one Christian Souldier there was amongst them who wore it on his Arm and being demanded the reason he boldly answered Non decet Christianum in hac vita Coronari that a Christian ought not to wear his Crown in this life Upon which occasion Tertullian wrote his Book De Corona Militis Cyprian when he would read Tertullian used to say Da Magistrum give me my Master His manner was constantly to pray thrice a day at the third sixth and ninth hours Writing De quatuor novissimis of Death Judgment Heaven and Hell he saith Haec nos aliquando risimus cum de vobis fuimus fiunt non nascuntur Christiani I sometimes scoffed at these things when I was a Heathen I now perceive that we are not born but made Christians He was converted by reading the Scriptures and the labours of other learned and holy men In reading the Scriptures he found them full of Majesty and truth And saith he Quicquid agitur praenunciabatur Whatsoever is done was in them foretold and after his conversion he was taken up night day in the reading of them and did with great pains get much of them by heart and that so exactly that he knew each period He highly commended Severus for that knowing many Noble men and women to be Christians he did not only not punish them but greatly praised them and did publickly withstand such as were their enemies Yet notwithstanding the great Learning and famous Vertues of this worthy
shirt also whereupon more for shame to be seen naked then for fear to die he was constrained to remain at home Yet when he could do no more he wrote a Letter to his Father in Prison in which he exhorted him thus Vide â—ater ne quid meâ causâ secus facias See O Father that you do not change your resolution for my sake After the death of his Father and the confiscation of all his goods to the Emperor he with his poor Mother and six Brethren were brought to such extream poverty that he was forced to sustain himself and them by teaching a Grammar School till at length being weary of that Profession he wholly betook himself to the study of the Scriptures and Divinity He also studied the Languages and profited very much in the knowledge of Hebrew and other Tongues comparing the Hebrew Text with the Septuagint as also with other Translations of Aquila Symachus and Theoâ—osion and thus casting himself upon the Divine Providence for his subsistence it pleased God that he was entertained by a religious and rich Matron together with his Mother and Brethren This Gentlewoman had also in her house at the same time a certain man of Antioch a notable Heretick who so plausibly demeaned himself that she entertained him as her dear friend and son Origen being by this means necessitated to frequent his company shewed forth manifest proof of his cleaving to the right and true Faith For when as a great multitude not only of Hereticks but of the Orthodox also frequented the Lectures of this 〈◊〉 for so was his name being counted a wise and profound man yet Origen would never be perswaded to join with him in Prayer detesting his Heretical Doctrines During this time he applyed himself to the study of Rhetorick and other humane Learning wherein he profited exceedingly and so being wel accomplished with Learning and the Catechist-School at Alexandria being void at that time every one being forced away by the Thunderbolt of Persecution he set upon Preaching there being now about 18 years old Unto his Lectures many of the Gentiles resorted and were by Gods blessing upon his Ministry converted as one Plutarch who was afterwards crowned with Martyrdom and Heracles his Brother who afterward succeeded Demetrius in the Bishoprick of Alexandria and many others In this imployment he prospered exceedingly and purchased to himself a famous name amongst all the faithful in that he cheerfully imbraced and incouraged all the Martyrs not only of his acquaintance but even such as were unknown unto him He visited such as were in deep Dungeons and close Imprisonment encouraged them when they were to receive their last sentence and after their sentence pronounced yea he accompanyed them to the place of Execution putting himself often into great danger thereby He boldly imbraced and kissed them at their farewel so that once the Heathens in their furious rage had stoned him to death if the Divine power of God had not marvellously delivered him And the same Divine Power and Providence of God did at many other times protect and defend him even so oft as cannot be told being assaulted by the Adversaries for his prompt minde and invincible courage in publishing the Doctrine of Christ. Yea so extreamly was he hated by the Infidels that Souldiers were oft fain to be hired to watch about his house by the multitudes of those that repaired to him to be instructed in the Christian Faith and the Enemies rage was so vehemently bent against him for this cause that he could not pass safely in the streets of Alexandria he was also forced oft to change his lodging thereby to prevent the pursuers As he taught so he lived and as he lived so he taught and Gods Grace working exceedingly with and by him multitudes were converted to the Christian Faith by his Ministry Hereupon Demetrius the Bishop divolved the whole charge and care of the School upon him alone and he judging the reading of Humanity to be out of season wholly applyed himself to Divinity-Lectures and afterwards his necessities being urgent upon the advice of his friends he sold all his Authors of Humanity which he had diligently perused and now lay by him to one upon condition that he should allow him two pence a day for his maintenance wherewith he contented himself And to cut off all occasions of youthly concupiscence all the day long he spent in the forenamed exercises and a great part of the night he spent in meditating upon the Holy Scriptures taking his rest only for a few hours and that not in his bed but on the bare ground He used also Fasting often and expounding the saying of our Saviour literally would not wear two Coats neither Shooes but went barefoot not taking care for the time to come with a greedy or covetous desire He inâ—ired himself to cold and nakedness and abstinence from Wine even to the amazement of his familiar friends and to the offence of many who would willingly have relieved his necessities By these means he was in great danger through weakness of limbs and faintness of body to have destroyed and cast away himself Yet this his strict course of life won many not of the common people only but of the wise learned and rich to become zealous followers of his Doctrine many of which in those times of Persecution suffered for the same as you may see more at large in my General Martyrologie Having many Matrons and Virgins who upon sundry occasions resorted to him to prevent temptations to uncleanness mistaking those words of our Saviour Christ There are some that make themselves Eunuchs for the Kingdom of Heaven sake he gelded himself the rather to prevent such slanderous reports as might be raised of him to the scandal of the Gospel The Church of Achaia being at this time vexed with divers Heresies Origen was singled out and being furnished with Letters Testimonial from the Church was sent to confute them As he passed through Palestine he was by the Bishops ordained a Presbyter that thereby he might be armed with the more Authority against the Hereticks wherein he did not run before he was sent But his Life and Doctrine grew so renowned and eminent as stirred up envie in the hearts of some against him especially in Demetrius the Bishop who had formerly loved and preferred him So that now on the contrary he did all he could to darken and obscure his fame Hereupon he ript up Origens faults and by his Writings published them to the World upbraiding him especially with that rash and inconsiderate act of dismembring himself for which he judged him unfit for the Ministerial Office Thus in the height of Origens fame these things were divulged and his adversary was potent and thereupon he was forced to give way to the storm and to yield to the importunity of his enviers and so left Alexandria yet always
his hand wherewith he threatned to catch the people that stood about and as Cyprian marvelled hereat it was said unto him The young man whom thou seest sit on the right hand is sad and sorrowful because his Precepts are not observed But he on the left hand danceth and is merry for that occasion is hence given to him to get power from the ancient Father to afflict men This Vision was seen long before this tempest of Persecution happened wherein was declared that the sins of the Christians were the cause why Satan in this and in all other Persecutions did then and still doth get such power with his Net of destruction to rage against the blood of Christian men and all saith Cyprian because we neglect Praying and are not so vigilant therein as we should be wherefore the Lord because he loveth us corrects us corrects us to amend us amends us to save us c. And further speaking about this Vision he saith To the least of his servants both sinful and unworthy hath God of his tender goodness vouchsafed to reveal these things and tell him said God that he be quiet and of good comfort for Peace will come albeit there be a little stay for a while for that some remain yet to be proved and tryed He had also another Vision wherein he was admonished to use a spare dyet and to be sober in his drink least his minde given to heavenly meditations might be drawn away with worldly allurements or oppressed with too much surfeting upon meats and drinks and thereby should be less apt and able to Prayer and spiritual Exercises Furthermore whereas the Christians were charged by the Heathens as the causes of all publike calamities he tels them that it was long before prophesied of by Christ that towards the end of the World there should be Famine Wars and Pestilences which was rather to be imputed to their impious Idolatry and contempt of the ture God then to Christians which evils saith he are increased by the wickedness of men For Famens majorem facit rapacitas juà m siccitas Famine comes more by the Avarice of men then by the drought of the Ayr but the special cause thereof proceeds from the sheding of so much Christian blood And whereas the Christians were condemned for not worshipping their Idols he shewed that those Idols were no true Gods but Images of certain dead Kings which could neither save themselves from death nor such as worshiped and trusted in them In the beginning of this Persecution Cyprian went into voluntary banishment least as himself saith he should do more hurt then good to the Congregation And from the desolate places of his abode where yet he was often sought after he wrote to the Churches shewing thereby the beseeming vertue of a faithful Pastor in that he took no less care of his Flock in his absence then when he was present After the death of the Emperour Decius he returned to his place but not long after he was again banished by Paternus the Proconsul of Africa into the City of Thurben But when Paternus the Proconsul was dead he came back again and Galienus Maximus succeeding in the Office of Paternus found Cyprian in a Garden whereupon he caused him to be apprehended by his Sergeants and to be carried before the Idols to offer Sacrifice which when he would not do the Proconsul brake forth into these words saying Long hast thou lived in a sacrilegious minde and hast gathered together men of a wicked conspiracy and hast shewed thy self an enemy to the gods of the Romans and to their holy Laws neither could the sacred Emperours Valerianus and Galienus revoke thee to the Sect of their Ceremonies wherefore I condemn thee to have thy head cut-off To this he answered joyfully Do fully what belongs to your Office and thereupon putting off his Apparel he gave it to his Deacons wishing them to give his Executioner 25 peices of gold in testimony of his love to him and so kneeling down he covered his Eyes and willingly submitted his Neck to the stroke of the Sword suffering Martyrdom Anno Christi 259. He was undaunted in the time of Persecution so that neither his wives disswasions nor the Worlds frowns nor the malice of his Adversaries could affright him He never turned Widdow emptie from him He was the blinde mans Eyes the lame mans Legs the naked mans Garment He called Cecilius that converted him Novae vitae parentem the Father of his Christian life His carriage was such as it was hard to say whether he was more loved or feared He tels that the Church having enjoyed long Peace all men studied their private wealth so that Devotion Religion and good Discipline were quite neglected and all estates were fearfully corrupted Ergò sivit hoc flagellum Deus therefore saith he God suffered this scourge of Persecution to reform it In the time of a Pestilence he shewed much piety and charity comforting some administring to the wants of others and stirring up others to do the like He suffered under Valerianus and Galienus Some of his usual sayings were these Ne dormiat in Thesauris tuis quod pauperi prodesse potest Let not that sleep in thy Treasury that may be profitable to the Poor Duo nunquam veterasâ—unt in homine cor semper novas cogitationes machinando Lingua vanas cordis conceptiones proferendo Two things never wax old in man the heart ever imagining new cogitations the tongue ever uttering the vain conceptions of the heart Quod al quando de necessitate amittendum est sponte pro Divina remuneratione distribuendum est That which a man must necessarily sometime part with it 's wisdom for a man to distribute it so that God may everlastingly reward him Integritas ibi nulla esse potest ubi qui improbos damnent desunt soli qui damnentur occurruâ—t There can be no integrity whereas they which should condemn the wicked are ever wanting and they only which should be condemned are ever present Sâ—rioum purpuram indutae Christum induere non possunt Women that pride themselves in putting on silk and purple cannot lightly put on the Lord Jesus Christ. Faminae crines suos malo praesagio inficiunt capillos enim sib flammeos auspicati non metuunt They which colour their locks with yellow and red begin betimes to prognosticate of what eâ—lour their hair shall be in Hell Qui se pingunt in hoc seculo aliter quà m creavit Deus metuant ne cum venerit resurrectionis dies artifex creaturam suam non recognoscat They which love to paint themselves in this world otherwise then God created them may justly fear that at the Resurrection their Creator will not know them Qui Pauperi elemosynam dat Deo suavitatis odorem sacrificat He that gives an alms to the Poor offers a sweet smelling Sacrifice unto God Contemnenda est omnis
Constantinople to give an account of the tumults and seditions that he had raised at Alexandria At this time there was one Alexander a godly and worthy man Bishop of Constantinople He in the dimication which arose about Arius shewed himself a very prudent and pious man For as soon as Arius came to Constantinople he presently raised divisions amongst the people there also so that great tumults ensued whilest one part of the people stood for the Faith confirmed by the Nicene Council another part of them said that the opinion of Arius was most consonant and agreeable to reason Hereupon Alexander fell into a great perplexity especially because Eusebius Bishop of Nicomedia often and grievously threatned him that he would depose him from his Bishoprick if he would not receive Arius and his companions into Communion with him But Alexander was not so solicitous about his own Deposition as he was careful for to maintain the Nicene Faith and the Doctrine established by that Council For esteeming himself bound to be a Patron of the Decrees of that Council he thought that it was his duty to the uttermost of his power to see that they might not be broken nor made invalid Being therefore ingaged in this contestation he laid aside humane arguments and betook himself to the help and assistance of God and thereupon shutting himself up in the Church he fell to Fasting and Prayer and night and day with tears he begged of God that if the opinion of Arius was true he might never see the day appointed for the trial but if his own Faith were the truth that then God would inflict some visible judgement upon Arius the Author of all those mischiefs In the mean time the Emperour desirous to finde out the opinion of Arius sent for him to his Pallace and asked him whether he did agree to the Decrees of the Council of Nice He without delay willingly and chearfully subscribed them whereas in the mean time he cunningly and fallaciously evaded those things which were determined about matters of Faith The Emperour wondering at it required him to swear to them which he also did but with the like fraud as he had before subscribed them For having writren privately his own opinion he put it into his bosom and then swore that he did truly and from his heart believe according as he had written The good Emperour giving credit to his Subscription and Oath commanded Alexander the Bishop of Constantinople to receive him into Communion This was on the Saturday and Arius expected the next day to be admitted into the Communion of the Church but God prevented it For Arius going out of the Pallace with Eusebius and a great number of his followers in great pomp and pride as having gotten the victory of his adversaries He no sooner came to the chief Market place in the City but his Conscience began to accuse and terrifie him for all his deceit and wickedness through the violence whereof his belly was loosened whereupon he asked whether the Jakes was not nere and being informed that they were hard by he turned aside into them and whilest he was casing Nature first his Fundament came forth then abundance of blood and at last he voided his Bowels with his Spleen and his Liver whereupon he immediately dyed Some of his company thinking him long went in to see the cause and found him dead in this miserable manner Hereupoâ— Eusebius and all his rout were stricken with a wonderful terror The fame of Arius his accursed death presently flew all over the City yea almost over all the World Every one as they went by pointed at the place where he made this wretched end and shunned the use of it Yet his Associates gave it out that his adversaries by the help of Magick had thus destroyed him And whereas many resorted to see the place of his death whereby it became very infamous at length a certain rich Citizen that was an Arian bought it and pulling down the Jakes built an house in the room of it that so the thing in process of time might be wholly forgotten Athanasius being throughly informed of these things writes thus of them Arius saith he the Prince and Author of his Sect and the companion of Eusebius was by the art and industry of the Eusebian Faction sent for to Constantinople by the Emperour of blessed memory who commanded him to write his Faith and this cunning Fox wrote it indeed but after the manner of the Devil in quoting Scripture he craftily suppressed and left out the impudent words of his impiety And when Constantine urged him that if he had no other opinion which he kept secret in his minde he should subscribe and swear to the truth withal telling him that if he forswore himself God would finde him out and plague him for it this miserable wretch swore that he held no other opinion nor thought otherwise then he had written Whereupon saith he going forth from the Emperour Gods hand presently fell upon him and like Judas dying he burst in sunder and his bowels came forth And though death be common to all men so that no man no not our Enemy is to be reproached after death yet the death of Arius being so strange and differing from the death of other men is not to be passed over in silence For when Eusebius and his followers threatned to bring Arius the very next morning into the Congregation and Alexander by Prayer had sought unto God to prevent it It pleased God who was now made the Judge that very day to bring him to such a fearful end Constantine being informed hereof wondred at it assuring himself that Arius had been guilty of perjury But shortly after it pleased God to take away that good Emperour After whose death Eusebius Bishop of Nâ—comedia and Theognis Bishop of Nice supposing that now they had gotten a fit time endeavoured by all means possible to take away the Nicene Creed out of the Church wherein was the clause of One Substance and in the room thereof to settle the detestable heresie of Arius But this they knew they could never effect if Athanasius returned from Exile to Alexandria wherefore they made use of a certain Arian Priest to carry the last Will and Testament of Constantine to Constantius his son together with the Legacies bequeathed him Constantius finding in the Will that which he greatly desired viz. that the Empire of the East was left to him made very much of the Priest granted him great liberty charged him to use his Pallace freely and boldly at his pleasure Hereupon this cunning seducer insinuated into acquaintance with the Empress and with her Eunuchs and Chamberlains and whereas one Eusebius was chief of the Eunuchs through the perswasions of this lewd Priest he became an Arian and infected the other Eunuchs of his Company Yea the Empress also by the enticements of this Priest and her Eunuchs fell into
Art There thou mayst finde the knowledge of mundane Philosophy without the least ostentation of it there thou mayst discern his skill of the Liberal Sciences and amongst them of the Mathematicks and yet he makes them all handmaids to Piety In his discourses he doth exquisitely mingle Divine testimonies of Scripture that they are like to precious stones not sowed to but bred in purple clothes His Works are these In Opificium sex dierum Hom. 11. In Psalmos Hom. 17. Variorum argumentorum Hom. 28. De Virginitate De Paradiso Contra Apologeticum Eunomii Contra Sabellianos Arium De S. Sancto De Libero Arbitrio De Baptismate Exercitamenta per aliquot Sermones Praefatio de judicio Dei De Fidei Confessione Moralium Summae Questiones diffusè Explicatae Aliae compendio Explicatae Constitutiones Exercitatoriae Epistolae Explicationes in Psalmos Davidis All printed at Basil by Froben Anno Christi 1566. GREGORI NAZIANZEN The Life of Gregory Nazianzen who flourished Anno Christi 370. GRegory Nazianzen was first Bishop of Sasima then of Nazianzum in Cappadâ—cia and lastly of Constantinople he was a living Library of Philosophy and Divinity exceeding Eloquent a defender of the poor and oppressed and a comforter of the afflicted In his younger days he became acquainted with Basil and joined studies with him So that with him at Athens he heard those famous Rhetoricians Hymerius and Proaeresius At Antioch in Syria he frequented the School of Libanius and by these means he became an excellent Orator By reading the Commentaries of Origen he learned to expound and interpret the Sacred Scriprures In disputation he foiled and overthrew the most learned amongst the Arians and fearing least those Errors should infect the Churches of Cappadocia he gat him thither to oppose them where he was made Bishop of Nazianzum a mean City of Cappadocia whereof his Father had been Bishop before him What insight he had into mens dispositions by their Physiognomies may appear by that which he wrote concerning Julian the Apostate in his second Oration against the Gentiles where he thus writeth I foresaw saith he long ago in Julian that which is now come to pass when I knew him at Athens For he came thither when the Empress had procured License of the Emperour for his voyage and when his Brother Gallus had conspired the death of the Emperour Constantius There were two causes that moved him to repair to Athens The first was tolerable the second had small honesty in it The first was to see Greece and the Schools that flourished therein The second which was more secret and was known unto few was to consult with Southsayers and Sacrificers about his affairs in time to come because it was not permitted openly for the Authors of such impiety to practise such divellish inventions And I my self in conjecturing of him at that time although I am not of the number of Prophets yet was not much deceived For his wavering minde and frantick disposition made me Prophet good enough I saw not one sign in him that gave me any hope that ever he would become an honest man He had a running head his shoulders did never leave waging he had winking eyes that continually rouled in his head His countenance was staring He had a sliding and limping pace His visage was scornful He had a fleering face of his own the which his immoderate laughter and continual scorning did declare His manner was without all honesty to say and unsay His words came tumbling out with vehemency and stops the sentence broken in the midst His questions and objections were rash and foolish His answers were little better which oftentimes followed one after another and as there was little hold of them so were they proposed without order But what need I to run over all particulars I foresaw in him before he was created Emperour that which afterwards proved to be most true If there were any of my familiar friends present which heard me thus divining of him I am sure they would testifie this to be no otherwise then I do report it in whose hearing also at the foresight of these things I uttered these words O good God what a Monster the Empire of Rome doth nourish When I had uttered these words I desired of God that in this matter I might be found a lyer For that had been far better then that the whole World should have been visited with so many mischiefs or then that such a Monster should have been seen amongst men the like unto whom had never been remembred before For in his time happened many deluges and flouds over-flowing the Countries the which both young and old do at this time remember Besides great losses by fire terrible Earthquakes and gapings of the ground Men also of a strange shape were born into the World of mixt and compound natures being half Men half Beasts But he purchased to himself such an end as his frantick disposition justly deserved These things did Gregory report of Julian Not long after in the reign of Theodosius senior Gregory was translated from the City Nazianzum to govern a little Church within the wals of Constantinople unto which the Emperour afterwards annexed a goodly Temple called the Resurrection But Gregory being a famous man and excelling in vertue and godliness all that flourished in his time when he perceived that some murmured and objected to him that he was a stranger and foreigner although he rejoyced at the Emperours coming yet utterly refused to continue any longer at Constantinople He had such a dexterity of wit that which way soever he turned himself he could happily effect it In opening the Mysteries of the Sacred Scriptures he was an exellent Teacher diligent cautious plain and without offering violence to the Text. Nature seemed to have framed him for Panegyrick Orations yet did he so temper his speeches therein to the mindes and ears of the multitude that he was very plain to the ignorant and yet at the same time to be admired by the learned In his Disputations against Eunomius he shewed admirable acuteness yet never receded from perspicuity of speech and so contained himself within bounds of defence of the Catholick Truth that he never brake forth into reproaches extravagant from the cause Neither was he unlike himself in his work to Amphilocus about the Holy Ghost But what argument soever he handled wholsome and pleasing speeches were never wanting to him and those not acquired but natural According to his name in all his works there appears a certain Kingly Majesty mixed with admirable humanity He so inveighed against the evil manners of men that they could not but love him whilest he child them And look what his Doctrine was such was his life By this dexterity of his wit when Eusebius Bishop of Caesarea by his ambition stirred up Sedition of an aemulus he made him his very good friend By this
their large possessions whereupon she with her husband resolved to bequeath all their Revenues to the maintenance of Poor Christians Yet at last God was pleased to answer her requests giving her a son which she named Theodoret The gift of God He proved of great acuteness and in a short time profited so in Piety and in Letters that he was made a Bishop whilest he was yet a young man and shortly after he set forth that excellent work which he called The History of the Lovers of God He was a great opposer of Hereticks and wrote much against them and reduced many round about him that were Marcionites even to the hazard of his life He was wondrous charitable visiting and refreshing the bowels of the poor He was a careful imitator of Chrysostom whom he always proposed as a worthy pattern for his stile in his writings and by this means he proved very fluent and eloquent which his learned Works do plainly declare His Commentaries upon the Scriptures are very excellent wherein he resolved many of the hardest questions in the Old Testament He shewed much learning in his Divine Treatise Of Gods Providence He very strongly opened and confuted the fond conceits of abundance of Hereticks as of Simon Magus Menander Basilides Carpocrates c. A Synod being appointed at Ephesus to stop the Heresie of Nestorius and Cyril coming first thither not knowing that the Bishops of Syria were coming also he of himself condemned Nestorius which afterward caused much contention especially between Theodoret and Cyril But Theodosius junior calling them together to Constantinople by his eare and wisdom healed this breach and Theodoret and Cyril were wondrous loving each to other ever after In that famous Council of Chalcedon wherein were above six hundred Bishops he was stiled by their unanimous consent Catholicus Orthodoxus Ecclesiae Pastor Doctor sincerus A Catholick and Orthodox Pastor of the Church and a sincere Teacher of the Truth Gennadius testifieth of his writings that they were strengthened with impregnable and undeniable Arguments by which with Reasons and Testimonies of Scripture he proves and confirms that Christ was truly incarnate of the Virgin Mary Bellarmine stiles him Viram plane doctissimum An absolute learned man He wrote an Ecclesiastical History which is of great use to the Church He dyed in the reign of Theodosius junior being not very old but rather spent with labors and studies then with age He used to say That the delights of the Soul are to know her Maker to consider his Works and to know her own Estate His Works were printed in two Tomes at Collen Anno Christi 1617. Which besides his Ecclesiastical History contain Expositions upon many portions both of the Old and New Testament JEROM The Life of Hierom who dyed Anno Christi 422. HIerom was born in a Town called Stridon in the confines of Dalmatia and Pannonia Anno Christi 331. His Fathers name was Eusebius a pious and godly man who before his Country was overrun and sacked by the barbarous Goths who about this time laid all waste before them was a man of a middle and competent estate and very careful of the education of this his Son His Mother also was a religious Woman and therefore from his infancy he was trained up like another Timothy in the knowledge of Christ and of the sacred Scriptures and as he grew in years so did he also in learning and when he was a boy he was by his Parents sent to Rome at that time the most famous place both for Piety and Religion in the West where he was brought up in the study of the Liberal Sciences For they seemed to foresee that they had begotten a son for the good of the World and therefore in his Education they did not indulge their private affections but sought to promote the publick good He quickly by reason of his ingenuity became very expert both in the Greek and Latine Tongues then he became a very good Grammarian and Rhetorician having an excellent wit and being of an indefatigable disposition And it was his hap to have excellent Schoolmasters Donatus for the Grammer and Victorinus for Rhetorick who were at that time famous men in Rome Afterwards being grown riper in years he fell to the study of Philosophy of all sorts as Aristotles Platos the Stoicks c. Yet he spent not too much time herein but proceeded to the study of History Cosmography and Antiquities because he perceived that even to that time amongst the Latines Theology was but an Infant whereupon many ahhorred reading of Divinity books and therefore he thought that if a man could attain to set forth the Dignity of Theology with excellency of speech it would come more into request besides he thought by this means to stop the mouths of the Ethnicks who reproached Christians as barren and barbarous persons He had for his fellow Students Pammachius of Noble Parentage a man of such I earning and Integrity that he was solicited to be Bishop of Rome Bonosus who also proved very famous Heliodorus whose vertue advanced him to a Bishoprick Having now sufficiently profited in the knowledge of Humane Arts he proceeded to more grave and weighty studies and after the example of other worthy men for the further polishing of his minde with Wisdom and Experience he travelled all over France procuring the acquaintance of and familiarity with the most worthy men of that Country Bonosus also was his companion in these travels He was very diligent in searching the Libraries in every place where he came and at Trevir he wrote out with his own hand a great Volume of Hilary de Synodis and having much profited himself not only in Learning but Religion also after a long time he returned to visit his Countries both where he was born and where he was new born 〈◊〉 Then did he begin to consider what course of 〈…〉 take himself to and in what place to fix his habitation 〈◊〉 that it would much conduce to his comfort if he 〈…〉 such a course with judgement as was most sutable to his 〈◊〉 He seriously considered that Rome was as yet over spread with Paganism and that it was not safe for a young man to be in a place of so much pleasure which himself sometimes called Babylon He also considered that his own Country was cerrupted with barbarous pleasures as himself somewhere notes in one of his Epistles Whereupon he consulted with some of his intimate friends resolving to depart to some place where he might with more privacy follow the study of Divinity and wholly dedicate himself to Christ. It was also a great trouble to his minde to consider how Christians and Pagans were intermixed together whence it necessarily came to pass that many who professed Christ were Christians rather in name then in truth He considered further that in marriage besides other incumbrances he should
of Hâ—erom who saw and yet connived at his secret devices and clancular detractations But when Ruffin began to charge the Truth with Heresie and to make Hierom a partner in his impious Opinions the Holy man could bear no longer but breaking the bands of friendship they wrote most bitterly one against another Hierom thinking that all forbearance towards a Heretick was impiety not a vertue Many were stirred up by Ruffinus means to write against Hierom and to charge him with many and foul aspersions both in his Life and Doctrine but he like to an old and well rooted Oke brake the windes that assaulted him on every side He remained in all these storms unbroken and unconquered and was so far from departing from that which was honest That the more his Enemies barked against him the more he was provoked to the study of Piety And against the violence and fraud of Hereticks he was somewhat holpen by Epiphanius and Theophilus Bishops of Alexandria At Rome he had Pammatius and Chromatius to take his part By reason of these troubles his Life was a continual Martyrdom He spent whole 30 years in the study of the sacred Scriptures and Divinity and to extream old age continued in Teaching and Writing He was of a very weak constitution and conflicted with many painful diseases before old Age came upon him which diseases he procured by the great austerity of life and his nightly studies But especially by his indefatigable labours in writing so many great Volumes for which cause it was that sometimes he was forced to make use of Notaries And at last having worn out himself with his great pains and continual labours he quietly slept in the Lord in the ninty first year of his Age Anno Christi 422. Honorius and Constantine being Emperours His holy Life and his Books stuffed with so much Learning and Eloquence procured him so much credit and authority that learned Greece which used to undervalue the Learning of all Nations but their own took care that his Commentaries should be translated into Greek He was so famous in his Life time that if any difficulty did occur in Expounding Scriptures all men had recourse to him as to the Oracle of the Christian World Frequent Letters and Messengers were sent to him out of Italy Spain France Germany and Africa He was consulted with by Bishops by Noble men by Matrons and by the chiefest of all sorts Many from all parts repaired to Bethlehem not so much for Religion sake as to see and confer with Hierom. Augustine held a strict bond of friendship with him and was willing to learn of him as of his Master Paulus Orosius the Historiographer learned many things by conference with him His Industry was admirable whence Erasmus saith of him Minima pars vitae dabatur somno minor cibo nulla otio Et Sacras literas ad verbum ediscebat His usual Prayer was Lord let me know my self that I may the better know thee the Saviour of the World He used this excellent saying If my Father stood weeping on his knees before me and my Mother hanging on my neck behinde and all my Brethren Sisters Children and Kinsfolk bowling on every side to retain me in a sinful life I would fling my Mother to the ground run over my Father despise all my Kinred and tread them under my feet that I might run to Christ. Erasmus saith of him Quis docet aptiùs quis delectat urbani ùs c. Who teacheth more distinctly who delights more modestly who moves more effectually who praises more candidly who perswades more gravely and who exhorts more ardently Trithemius saith Vir in secularibus valdè eruditus c. He was a man well seen in Secular Learning but in Divinity he was inferiour to none of the Doctors of the Church and famous for his skill in the Languages a rooter out of Hereticks and a defender of the Truth He used to say Dead flesh is to be cut off for fear of a Gangrene Arius at first was but a spark but being not suppressed betimes he proved the Incendiarie of the whole Church And again You must be a Dove and a Serpent one not to do hurt to others the other not to be hurt by others And again That woman is truly chaste that hath liberty and opportunity to sin and will not What ever he did he still thought that that voice was in his Ears Surgite mortui venite ad judicium Arise you dead and come to judgement And again All vertues are so linked together that he that hath one hath all and he that wants one wants all He translated the Bible out of the Originals into Latine His Works were printed in nine Tomes at Paris Anno Christi 1534. with Erasmus his Scholia upon them where he also shews which of them are genuine which doubtful and which spurious CHRYSOSTOM The Life of Chrysostom who flourished Anno Christi 400. IOhn Chrysostom was born in Antioch a City of Caelosyria his Father was called Secundus his Mother was Anthusa he descended of the Noble Race of Senators He was the Disciple of Libanius the Sophist and the Auditor of Androgathius the Philosopher His first purpose was to apply himself to the study and practice of the Law and to handle the publick affairs of the Common-wealth but when he perceived how lewd and unrighteous a trade of life they led which busied themselves therein he left that troublesome and dangerous course and betook himself to a quiet and more retired manner of life and so changing both his habit and behaviour he addicted himself wholly to the study of the Sacred Scriptures devising with himself how he might be most useful and profitable to the Church of Christ. He perswaded Theodorus and Maximus his fellow-Students who together with him had frequented the School of Libanius to forsake that trade of life which was wholly set on lucre and gain and to follow that which was contented with a little He also associated himself with Basil and was a partner in his studies After which he was made Reader in the Church of Antioch by Zeno Bishop of Hierusalem and a while after was made Deacon by Meletius and afterwards for three years space he lived a retired life severed from all the troublesome affairs of the World at the end whereof he was made a Presbyter by Evagrius then Bishop of Antioch He was a man of marvellous great temperance very austere in life and rather harsh then curteous in his deportment He had no great forecast made no account of the World and because of his plain and simple meaning was soon deceived He was very copious and free of speech with all such as had any conference with him In his Ministry he was very diligent and painful endeavoring all that possibly he could to reform the lives and manners of his Auditors and he had
Wood or Marble His Table rather for Discourse and Disputation then for rich Banqueting and it had Ingraven upon it Quisquis amat dictis absentem rodere famam Hanc mensam indictam noverit esse sibi He that doth love an absent friend to jeer May hence depart no room is for him heer Which rule some of his Fellow Bishops upon a time forgetting he sharply reprehended them for it and told them that he must either blot those Verses out of his Table or arise from dinner and go to his chamber He would never buy either House or Land but any thing that was given to the Church he would not refuse it yet he often refused Inheritances when dying persons would have given them to the Church not but that he thought theâ— might be profitable to the Poor but because he judged it fit and equal that their Children Parents or Kindred should rather inherit them often saying that it was fitter that Legacies should be left to the Church then Inheritances which are troublesome and sometimes chargeable yet those Legacies he would have freely given and not begged or extorted from men He was almost wholly taken up with heavenly affairs wherein he labored both day and night with Mary choosing the better part which could not be taken from him He was very careful of the Poor and in case of great want would â—ell the Ornaments of the Church for their relief And when the Church stock was spent he used to declare to the people that he had nothing left wherewith to relieve the Poor that thereby he might stir up their charity to contribute to so good a work All his Presbyters lived with him in the same House fed with him at the same Table and were maintained and clothed out of the common purse He always judged it fit that Ministers should be present at Marriages both to testifie the mutual consents and compromises and to bestow his Benediction upon the married persons He always kept Scholars in his house whom he fed and clothed He was so severe against Oaths that he abated of their allowance to those that swore He never admitted women into his house though of his own kindred no not his own Sister when she was a Widdow and had wholly devoted her self to the Service of God nor his Uncles daughter nor his Brothers daughter saying that though they might dwell in his house without suspition yet they could not be without Maids or other Women would come to visit them which could not be without offence and scandal and when any Women sent to him being desirous to see or speak with him he would always have some of his Ministers present and would never speak with them alone He praised one who when he was sick said I have not lived so that I am ashamed to live longer nor do I fear to dye having so good a Master to go to In his latter days he looked over all his Books Those which he wrote at his first Conversion whilst he was a Lay-man and those which he wrote when he was a Minister and lastly those which he wrote when he was a Bishop and whatsoever he found in them less agreeing with the Word of God and the Ecclesiastical Constitutions he corrected or retracted Of which he wrote two Volumes which he called his Retractations He complained also that some Ministers had gotten and divulged some of his Books before he had perfected them though afterwards he amended them Yet being prevented by death he left some of his Books unperfected And being desirous to profit all knowing that many were desirous to read much which yet for want of time they could not do out of the Old and New Testament he collected such Precepts as concerned the rule of a Christian Life and such things as were forbidden in the same which he composed into a Book adding a Preface to it that so every one which pleased might read it and thereby discern how obedient or disobedient he was unto God and this he called A Looking-Glass But shortly after brake out by the permission of God that hideous inundation of Goths and Vandals and other Northern people who were ensis Dei Gods sword to punish the pride of the Romane Empire These sailing out of Spain arrived in Africk over-running the whole Country of Mauritania and other African Provinces and Countries laying all waste before them and destroying all they could with barbarous cruelty and inhumanity filling all places with torments of all sorts murthers burnings and with innumerable and abominable depopulations sparing neither sex nor age no not the Ministers of Jesus Christ The Churches Ornaments they plundered the Churches themselves they demolished and like incarnate Devils made havock of all This holy man of God lived to see these grievous calamities and was not affected with them only as other men were but considering them more deeply and profoundly and in them foreseeing the great danger of souls he poured forth Prayers and tears day and night For he saw Cities subverted Villages destroyed the Inhabitants being either slain or driven away Churches destitute of Ministers holy Virgins defloured some of them dying under their torments some slain with the sword some led into captivity in danger of having their souls infected with Error and Heresie and their bodies enslaved under a cruel Enemy He saw the Psalms of Thanksgiving ceased in the Congregations the Temples burned and the solemn Assemblies to be given over The Sacraments either not to be sought after or none to dispense them to those that desired them And for those which fled into Mountains Woods Desarts Caves of the Earth or to any other places of refuge they were either hunted out and slain or perished with famine and drought The Bishops and Ministers of Churches which had by the goodness of â—od escaped their bloody hands being spoiled of all things went about begging their bread He scarce saw of all the innumerable Churches of Africk three remaining viz. Carthage Hippo and Circe which through Gods mercy yet remained in some safety though not long after his death Hippo being sorsaken of her Inhabitants was burned by the Enemy These things this good man much bewailed and that which much encreased his sorrow was that just now the Enemies were coming to besiege Hippo the Governor whereof was one Earl Boniface This siege lasted fourteen moneths wherein Augustine with his fellow Bishops that were fled thither for refuge and his Presbyters exercised themselves wholly in Prayers and Tears intreating the Father of Mercies to be merciful to them and to preserve his Church from the rage of the Adversaries And one day as they sate at dinner together Augustine said to them You know Brethren that from the beginning of this siege my daily Prayers have been that God would either free us from it or give his servants patience and courage to undergo what he imposeth or to take me out of
cause on both sides read over diligently the Book writ by Eutychius and being convinced of the Error by that which he had heard from Gregory he adjudged the Book to be burned Shortly after Eutychius fell very sick and a little before his death retracted his Error and acknowledged the Resurrection of our flesh Gregory having dispatched the business about which he was sent to Constantinople returned to Rome about which time the River Tiber swelled to such an unmeasurable height that it ran over the Wals of the City and drowned a great part of it and break into many great houses overthrew divers ancient Monuments it overthrew also the Granaries belonging to the Church and carried away many thousand measures of Wheat Presently after which inundation of Tiber there came down the River an innumerable company of Serpents with one monstrous great one as big as a Beam which when they had swum into the Sea were there choaked and their carkasses being all cast upon the shore there rotted which caused such an Infection of the Ayr that presently a great Plague followed in Rome so that many thousands dyed of it Yea Arrows were visibly seen to be shot from Heaven and whosoever was stricken with them presently dyed amongst whom Pelagius Bishop of Rome was one and this judgement so raged in the City that many houses were emptyed of their Inhabitants After the death of Pelagius the Clergy Senate and People of Rome made choice of Gregory to be their Bishop though he opposed it all that possibly he could crying out that he was altogether unworthy of such honour fearing least the splendor of worldly glory which he had formerly layd aside should in such an Office creep upon and infect him But the importunity of the People being so great he seemed to consent to them but privately under-hand wrote to the Emperour Mauritius earnestly requesting him that he would not consent to the Election but that by his Authority he would free him from it But Germanus the Praefect of the City meeting with the messenger took his Letters from him and reading them detained them sending word to the Emperour of the unanimous consent of all in the Election of Gregory Whereupon the Emperour returning thanks to God for that they had made so good a choice confirmed the Election so that Gregory could no longer evade it In the mean time the Pestilence raging exceedingly Gregory called the people together and shewed them the justice of God in his Judgements who used not to punish till by sin he is provoked thereunto telling them that they might read the greatness of their sins in the greatness of the Plague and thereupon exhorted them to repentance by the Precepts of God and by the example of Ninâ—veh appointing them to lay all their worldly businesses aside and to meet together the next day to spend it in Fasting and Prayer which accordingly they did yet whilst they were together Gods hand was out against them so that fourscore of them fell down dead in the place But Gregory being not discouraged hereby continued his Sermon telling them that God would at length be found of them if they would forsake their wicked ways and turn unto him with all their hearts and with all their souls and accordingly not long after the Pestilence ceased Gregory observing that many customs were lately crept into the Church which were not warranted by the holy Apostles he first extirpated them out of the Church of Rome and then calling a Council of many Bishops he endeavoured to root them out of the whole Church Then removing from about him all secular persons he chose Presbyters and other Learned men in their stead whereby Learning was much advanced in his days He was very charitable and much given to hospitality insomuch as when very many Inhabitants from divers parts flying from the barbarous cruelty of the Longobards came to him he entertained and relieved them inviting dayly to his house many of those Exiles He made also large distributions unto others giving them Corn Wine Flesh Fish Cheese and many other refreshings in their several seasons Many times also he sent large relief to the sick lame and impotent persons not only in Rome but in many other Towns and Villages round about insomuch as all that he had seemed to be the common Granary of the Church In the fourth year of his Bishoprick having in some good measure setled the affairs of the Church he now began to think how he might advance the Conversion of the English which he had formerly been so sollicitous for had never since been forgotten by him For which end he sent Austin and some other Ministers from about him to Preach the Gospel unto them But they had not gone many days journey before they began to be a weary of undertaking so difficult and dangerous a task as to go to Preach to a fierce barbarous and unbelieving Nation whole Language they did not understand whereupon they stopped and sent Austin back to Gregory desiring that they might have leave to return that they might be freed from so laborious difficult and dangerous a work Gregory having received this message wrote thus back to them again Beloved Brethren seeing it had been better that you had never begun a good work then that you should recede from it it behoves you through the assistance of Almighty God to go forwards with it Neither let the labor of the journey nor the tongues of wicked men deterre you from it I have sent back Austin whom I would have you to obey knowing that he will counsel you nothing but what shall be for the good of your souls Almighty God give you his grace and grant that I may see of the fruit of your labors though I cannot join with you therein With this Exhortation Austin did so encourage his Companions that passing through France where they found kinde entertainment by the good Bishops in every place they at last arrived in Britain and came to Ethelburg the King of Kent where through Gods mercy they did not only obtain leave to Preach but had habitations and maintenance allowed them in Canterbury his chief City Whosoever desires to see the success of this business may read it in my English Martyrologie Pag. 11. c. Gregory dyed Anno Christi 605. having been Bishop of Rome 13 years 6 moneths and 10 days He lived under the Emperour Mauritius and dyed in the second year of Phocas Johannes Trithemius gives him this testimony Gregorius Vir in Divinis Scripturis eruditissimus in secularibus literis utique doctissimus Theologorum Princeps splendor Philosophorum Rhetorum lumen vita conversatione integer atque sanctissimus He was of an acute wit whereby he overthrew Eutiches Pelagius who dyed in his time of the Plague at Rome and divers other Hereticks He severely reproved the Bishop of Constantinople who would
he profited exceedingly so that he attained to the knowledg of all the Liberal Sciences After which going to Jerusalem he studied the Scripture and Divinity where he was made a Presbyter Preached diligently and much propagated the Faith by his Sermons and Writings A great opposer of Hereticks he was He flourished under Leo and dyed in peace He was a very Eloquent man and second to none of that Age in Learning He wrote three Books of Parallels of the Sacred Scriptures four Books of the Orthodox Faith besides many other Works which are printed at Paris Anno Christi 1619. The Life of Theophylact who flourished Anno Christi 880. THeophylact born in Constantinople and afterwards Archbishop of the same was much imployed in visiting and reforming the Churches in Bulgarie and when he had proved himself a painful laborer in the dangerous persecutions there he yielded up his spirit to his Maker He used to say Be not troubled if this man lives in tranquillity and thou in tribulation God will have it so he puts thee into the combat thou must therefore sweat hard before thou com'st off with the victory whereas he that comes forward in the World goes back in Grace his estate is miserable that goes laughing to destruction as a Fool to the stocks for correction He wrote in Greek Commentaries upon the four Evangelists which are translated into Latine by Charles Morell and printed at Paris Anno Christi 1631. The Life of Anselm who flourished Anno Christi 1080. ANselm Archbishop of Canterbury was born at Aosta or Augusta Praetoriana at the foot of the Alps in Italy and therefore as an Italian he always favoured the cause of the Romane Bishop He was carefully brought up in Learning by his Mother Ermerburga till he was fourteen years old when she dying he gave himself awhile to vain pleasures and his Father being severe to him he resolved to travel in which he met with wants spent three years in Burgundie and France and then became Scholar to Lanfrancus Abbot of Beck where being held hard to his study he entred into a Monasterie and by his strict carriage there his fame spread abroad and the old Abbot dying he succeeded him and after the death of Lanfrank he was chosen Archbishop of Canterbury He received such honours and uncouragements from Pope Vrbane as never Bishop received greater from a Pope For at the Council of Barum in Apulia the Pope placed him at his right foot above al others which was ever since the place of the Archbishops of Canterbury in all General Councils Much contention was between William Rufus King of England and him which caused him to leave the Kingdom till Henry the First his time when he was reinvested again but lived not long after his return into England before he dyed which was Anno Christi 1109. and in the 9. year of the Reign of King Henry the First and of his Age 76. He was indeed the Popes Factor in England for denyal of Investures to the King and Marriages to the Ministers but otherwise he was found in the main points of our Religion and taught many things contrary to the corrupt Tenents of the Church of Rome He used to say That if he should see the shame of sin on the one hand and the pains of Hell on the other and must of necessitie chuse one he would rather be thrust into Hell withoute sin then go into Heaven with sin And again O durus casus c. Oh hard-hap Alas what did man lost what did he finde He lost the blessedness to which he was made and found death to which he was not made The Life of Nicephorus who flourished Anno Christi 1110. NIcephorus a man of profound Judgment and Learning both in Humanity and Divinity flourished under Andrenicus senior the Emperour Anno Christi 1110. He was a great light when the World was in great darkness and both by his Life and Doctrine illuminated many He wrote his Ecclesiastical History in eighteen Books in Greek and Dedicated them to the Emperour Andronicus and not long after exchanged this Life for Eternal glory He said God beholds and moderates our actions using the scourge of affliction for our castigation and conversion and after due correction shews his Fatherly affection to those that trust in hâ—m for Salvation And Christ asked Peter three times if he loved him not for his own information but that by his threefold profession he might help and heal his threefold negation of him BERNARD The Life of Bernard who dyed An. Christi 1153. BErnard was born in Burgundie in the Town of Fontane His Fathers name was Tecelinus of an ancient Family and a brave Souldier but that which most commended him was that he feared God and loved Justice and following the counsel of John the Baptist he did wrong to no man and was content with his wages His Mothers name was Aleth of the Castle called Mont-Barr a woman eminent for Piety Chastity and Charity bringing up her children in the fear of God She had seven children six sons and one daughter all which she nursed with her own breasts Bernard was her third son whom from his Infancy with Hannah she devoted to the Service of God and therefore brought him not up tenderly and delicately but inured him to course fare and hardship and as soon as he was of capacity instilled into him the knowledge of the Sacred Scriptures and instructed him in the Principles of Religion and finding him to be of an acute wit ready apprehension firm memory comly feature courteous and meek deportment and much addicted to Learning she set him to Schole betimes to Castillion under the care and tuition of able Scholemasters and the boy being piously addicted studious of a quick apprehension easily answered his Mothers desire and expectation profiting in Learning above his age and out-stripping all his school-fellows and shewed withall a great contempt of all Earthly things and indeed he was very simple in all worldly affairs He shunned company and affected retiredness was much in meditation obedient to his Parents grateful and curteous to all He was exceeding shamefac't and modest loved not to speak much Towards God very devout that he might keep himself pure in his childhood And amongst other Learning he was frequent in reading the holy Scriptures that from thence he might learn to know and serve God So that it cannot be imagined how much he profited in a short time Whilst he was yet a boy he was much troubled with a pain in his head and lying upon his bed there was brought to him a woman who had undertaken to cure him with certain verses and charms but as soon as he heard her begin to utter her verses wherewith she used to deceive the simple he cryed out with great indignation
humbly desired the Barons to request the Archbishop that if he did suspect him for any Error or Heresie he should declare it openly for that he was ready to suffer correction for the same at the Archbishops hands and that if he had found no such thing in him that then he would give him a Testimonial thereof that being armed therewith he might the more freely go unto the Council Hereupon the Archbishop did openly confess before all the Assembly that he knew not the said John Huss was guilty of any such thing Johannis Hussi opera quae extant omnia impressa sunt Novimbâ—rgae in Officina Montani Neuberi Anno Christi 1558. JEROM OF PRAGVE The Life of Hierom of Prague who dyed An. Christi 1416. HIerom of Pague a Bohemian born a man famous for Courage Comliness Virtue Learning and Eloquence when he understood that the Publick Faith was violated his Country slandered and Huss burnt he travelled to Constance April the 4. Anno Christi 1415. But no sooner came he thither but he understood that watch was laid for him to apprehend him whereupon the next day he went to Iberling a City of the Empire and a mile from Constance From thence he sent to Sigismund King of Hungary and his Barons but especially to the Council most earnestly requesting that they would give him a safe Conduct freely to come and go and then he would come in open Audience to answer every man if any would appear to charge him with any crime but this was denyed him both by the King and Council whereupon the next day he wrote sundry intimations and sent them to Constance causing them to be set upon the gates of the Citie upon the doores of Churches Monasteries of the houses of the Cardinals and other Noble personages the tenor whereof was this Unto the Noble Emperour c. I Jerom of Prague Master of Arts of the University of Paris Cullen Heidleberg and Prague by these my Letters do notifie to the King and Council and to all others that because of many crafty slanderers back-biters and accusers I am ready of mine own free will to come unto Constance there to declare openly before all the Council the purity and sincerity of my Faith and mine Innocency but this I will not do in corners secretly before any private or particular person wherefore if there be any of my slanderers of what Nation soever that will charge me with Error or Heresie let them come forth openly before the Council and in their own names object against me and I wil be ready to answer them and if I shall be found guilty of any Error or Heresie I will not refuse openly to suffer such punishment as shall be meet for an Heretick wherefore I humbly desire a safe Conduct as afore But if seeing I offer such equal terms before any fault be proved against me I shall be arrested imprisoned or have any violence done to me that then it may be manifest unto all the World that this Council doth not proceed according to the rules of equity and justice the rather seeing that I am come hither freely and of my own accord c. But notwithstanding all this no safe Conduct would be granted him wherefore the Lords of Bohemia gave him their Letters Patents under their Seals to testifie the truth of the premises with the which Letters he returned again towards Bohemia but by the treachery and subtilty of his Enemies he was apprehended by the way in Hirsaw and by the Officers was carryed before the Duke who presently after carryed him bound to Constance and for a greater disgrace they put a bolt of Iron upon his wrists with a long Iron chain at it by which they led him through the City to the Cloister of the Fryer Minors where all the Priests Scribes and Pharisees were met together and when he came before them some of the Bishops said to him Hierom why didst thou fly and run away and not appear when thou wast cited To which he answered Because I could get no safe Conduct neither from you nor the King and perceiving that I had many bitter Enemies in the Council I would not be the Author of mine own peril But had I known of your Citation assuredly though I had been in Bohemia I would have appeared Then a great rable of Priests cryed out against him and Gerson the Chancellor of Paris and the Chancellor of Cullen and the Chancellor of Heidleberg charged him with Errors delivered in those Universities to which he answered that what he had delivered there he would justifie now yet if any could convince him of Error therein he would willingly be informed Hereupon some cryed out Let him be burned let him be burned Then was he delivered bound to the Officers to be put into Prison Assoon as he came thither one called to him at his window saying Mr. Hierom be constant and fear not to suffer death for the Truths sake of which when you were at liberty you did Preach much good To whom he answered Truly brother I do not fear death c. But the Prison-keeper coming to the man drove him away with strokes from the window Presently after the Bishop of Rigen sent for Hierom strongly bound with chains both by the hands and neck and sent him to a Tower where they tyed him fast to a great block and his feet in the stocks his hands being also made fast upon them the block being so high that he could by no means sit thereon but his head must hang downwards where also they allowed him nothing but bread and water But within eleven days hanging so by the heels he fell very sick yet thus they kept him in Prison a year wanting seven days and then sent for him requiring him to recant and to subscribe that John Huss was justly put to death which he did partly for fear of death and hoping thereby to escape their hands after which they sent him back to Prison and kept him guarded with Souldiers yet not so strictly chained as before Afterwards they sent to examine him again but he refused to answer in private except he might be brought before the Council and they supposing that he would openly confirm his former recantation sent for him thither May the 25. 1416. suborning false witnesses to accuse him but he so learnedly cleared himself and refelled his Adversaries that they were astonished at his Oration and with shame enough were put to silence He also concluded his Oration with this That all such Articles as Wicklief and Huss had written against the enormities pomp and disorder of the Prelates he would firmly hold and defend even unto the death and that all the sins that he had committed did not so much gnaw and trouble his conscience as did that most pestiferous act of his in recanting what he had
This Embassie of yours is just like to the Devils dealing with Christ when he promised him al the World if he would fal down and worship him but for my own part I am resolved not to depart from the Truth which God hath revealed unto me but before the return of the Ambassadour Duke George was dead whereupon this Henry notwithstanding all the opposition of the Papists made this Reformation in the Churches which work being finished Myconius visited all the Churches in Thuringia and with the help of Melancthon and some other he provided them Pastors and Schoolmasters and procured stipends to be setled upon them for their maintenance The rest of his life he spent in Preaching Praying and writing of Letters many great persons in Universities and the chief Churches holding correspondence with him amongst whom were Luther Melancthon Cruciger Menius Basilius Monerus John Langus Mechlerus John Marcellus Matthew Ratzenbergerus c. Anno Christi 1541. He fell into a Consumption whereof he wrote to Luther That he was sick not to death but to life which gloss upon the Text pleased Luther excellently well unto whom he wrote back I pray Christ our Lord our Salvation our Health c. that I may not live to see thee and some others of our Colleagues to dye and go to Heaven and to leave me hear amongst the Devils alone I pray God that I may first lay down this dry exhausted and unprofitable tabernacle farewel and God forbid that I should hear of thy death whil'st I live Sed te superstitem faciat mihi Deus hoc peto volo fiat voluntas mea Amen quia haec voluntas gloriam nominis Dei certè non meam voluptatem nec copiam quaerit A while after Myconius recovered according to this Prayer though his disease seemed to be desperate and out-lived it fix years even till after Luthers death whereupon Justus Jonas speaking of Luther saith of him Iste vir potuit quodvoluit That man could have of God what he pleased A little before Myconius his death he wrote an excellent Epistle to Joan. Frederick Elector of Saxony wherein he praiseth God for raising up three successively in that Family viz. Frederick John and John Frederick to undertake the patronage of Luther c. He was a man of singular piety of solid learning of a dextrous judgement of a burning zeal and of admirable candor and gravity He dyed of a relapse into his former disease Anno Christi 1546. and of his Age 55. His Works were these Expositio in Evan. Marci Enarrationes in Psalmum 101. Expositiones in Evan. secundum Matthaeum Lucam Johannem Commentaria in Jesaiam Jeremiam Jonam Narratio de vita morte Zuinglii Sermo de liberis recte educandis De crapula ebrietate De faenore usura c. Iohn Stigetias made this Epitaph upon him Quo duce Gotha tibi monstrata est Gratia Christi Haec pia Mâ—conii contegit ossa lapis Doctrina vitae tibi moribus ille reliquit Exemplum Hoc ingens Gotha tuere decus The Life of John Diazius who dyed Anno Christi 1546. IOhn Diazius was born in Spain and brought up at School afterwards he went to Parâ— to study the Arts where he continued thirteen years but it pleased God that whilst he read over the holy Scriptures and some of Luthers Books and other Protestant Divines he began to see and abominate the Errors of Popery and therefore to further himself in the knowledge and study of the Truth he went to Geneva where he spake with Calvin and was very dear unto him From thence he went to trasborough where Martia Buâ—er observing his Learning Piety and diligence in his study obtained of the Senate that he should be joined with him to go to the Disputation at Ratisbone and when he came thither he went to Peter Malvenda a Spaniard the Popes Agent in Germany who when he knew that he came in the company of Bucâ—r and the other Protestant Divines he was much astonished and admired how he was so much changed from that which he knew him to be at Paris and withall he fretted exceedingly that they had gotten a Spaniard amongst them presuming that they would triumph more in him then in many Germanes whereupon he left no means untryed to draw him back again to the Church of Rome sometimes making large profers and promises to him other-sometimes threatning severe punishments and mixing both with earnest entreaties He also advised him by no means to stay at Ratisbon till the Emperours coming for saith he that cannot be without great danger to you rather haste to his Court and beg your pardon Also at another conference Malvenda asked him wherefore he was to Ratisbone Diazius answered that he was sent thither by the Senate of Strasborough that he might join his Prayers with the Prayers of the Church and in the publick conference might endeavor reconcilement as much as he could in those Articles which were to be disputed of Then said Malvenda you are come hither in vain for nothing will be concluded at this conference but if you would do good you should rather go to the Council that the Pope hath begun at Trent But when by no means he could prevail to divert him from the Truth he sent for his brother Alphonsus Diazius one of the Popes Lawyers from Rome who hearing that his Brother was turned Protestant came speedily into Germany bringing a notorious cut-throat with him resolving either to divert or destroy him when he came to Ratisbone Diazius was departed to Neoburg about the printing of Bucers Book which Alphonsus hearing of followed him thither carrying with him Letters to Iohn Diazius from Malvenda wherein he wished him to obey his Brother Alphonsus who would give him good Counsel When Alphonsus came to Neoburg his Brother Iohn wondred to see him there asking him the cause of his so unlooked for presence after some other excuses at length he told him that he had undertook that long and dangerous journey to recall him into the bosome of the Church Hereupon they had much conference about matters of Religion and at length Alphonsus told him that he had five hundred Ducats per annum in Church revenues all which he would make over to him if he would go with him to Rome But when by no means he could prevail with him fetching a deep sigh he said Brother I perceive the constancy of your Faith â—nd your unmoveablness in adhering to the Doctrine of the Gospel to be so great that you have almost drawn me unto your opinion Yea upon further discourse he seemed to be in love with the Doctrine of the Gospel and thereupon perswaded Iohn to leave Germany which abounded with learned men and where there was less use of him and to go with him into Italy Rome
and Naples there to spread his Doctrine privately whereby also he might have the better opportunity of spreading it in Spain but said he we will first go to Trent where are many excellently learned men and from thence into Italy I beseech you therefore Brother go with me and I will furnish you with all things necessary for your journey John Diazius being glad of this presently wrote to Bucer and others at Ratisbone for their advice what he should do They counselled him by no means to stir or go with his brother Then Alphonsus being frustrate of his hope intreated him at least to bear him company to Auspurg But in the interim Bucer coming to Neoburg would not suffer him to stir a foot neither would leave him till his brother Alphonsus was gone Alphonsus hereupon three days after came to take his leave of his brother where he had much conference with him exhorting him to charity and constancy in the profession of the true Religion and at last would needs thrust fourteen Crowns into his brothers hand willing him therewith to buy new cloths and so they parted not without tears Next morning the wagon being ready to depart wherein Alphonsus and his cut-throte were to pass to Auspurg the two brothers again took their leaves with tears and so Alphonsus set forward and came to Auspurg but privately the next day he and his cut-throte returned to Neoburg and by the way they bought an hatchet of a Carpenter and so stayed all night at a Village near Neoburg and the next morning very early went thither disguised that they might not be known and leaving one to hold their horses under an hedge they entered into the City so soon as the gates were open and going strait to the Ministers house where Iohn lodged the Executioner knocked at the door and when a youth came he asked him for Iohn Drazius the youth answered that he was in bed Go said this villain and tell him that I have brought him Letters from his brother Iohn hearing this being in bed with Senarcleus his intimate friend presently leaped up cast a cloke a bout him and so went into a stove which was over against his chamber door then calling for the messenger he went in to him leaving Alphonsus at the stair-foot and presented the Letters to him the effect whereof was the assoon as he came to Auspurg he understood that he was in great danger and therefore out of his brotherly love to him to advised him to beware of Malvenda such as he who being Enemies to Christ went about to shed his blood c. Iohn being busie in reading these Letters the Executioner that stood at his back plucked forth his hatchet and stroke it into the temple of this holy man in the right side of his head even to the helve which in a moment so deprived him of sense that he made no noise and least the fall of his body should make a noise this villain caught it in his arms and laid it own and so went down the stairs softly to his Master Alphonsus and both of them immediately repaired to their horses and fled They of Neoburg hearing of this horrible fact sent out certain Horsemen to pursue the murtherers who coming to Auspurg and hearing that hey were passed the City being out of hope to overtake them returned only one more zealous then the rest would not return but pursued them still and in the City of Oenopont caused them to be apprehended and cast into Prison And Otto the Palatine being informed of all these passages sent to the Magistrates requiring Judgement against them The Magistrates at first seemed very forward But in conclusion through the practice of the Papists and crafty Lawyers suborned by them judgement was deferred from day to day till the Emperours Letters came in post haste to stop their further proceedings pretending to reserve the cause to his own hearing And thus this terrible murther of Cain and his fellow was slipped over by man yea this unnatural act was highly commended by the Papists But the Lord would not suffer such an unnatural villany to go unpunished for not longer after he was so dogged and haunted by the Furies of his own Conscience that being at Trent when the Council was held there he hanged himself about the neck of his own Mule fix years after the murther was committed viz. An. Christi 1551 GASPER CRVCIGER The Life of Cruciger who dyed An. Chri. 1548. GAsper Cruciger was born at Lipsich in Misnia An. 1504. His Fathers name was George a man who was endowed with many virtues but especially to be commended for that in those perillous times he did not onely embrace the Celestial Truth himself but brought up this his son in the knowledge and study of it to the great benefit of the Church His Mother also was eminent for piety This Gasper was melancholy by nature and of a retired disposition much in meditation and of few words Being principled in the Latine he learned Greek and profited much therein and so went to the University of Wittenberg that having studied Divinity there he might be the more useful to the Church He studied also the Hebrew tongue and grew very exquisite therein From thence he was called to govern the School at Magdeburg where he taught with much profit and applause to Anno Christi 1527. In somuch as many of riper years yea some Clerks came to be his hearers So that his School growing too little for his Auditory he was removed into a larger But after a while he was called back to Wittenberg where he preached and expounded the Scriptures with so much dexterity the he was graced with the degree of a Doctor In that University he studyed and practised Physick also and was so much delighted therewith and he endeavoured to know the nature of Herbs and Plats and what Diseases they were good for whereupon he planted two Gardens with his own hands which with singular industry he furnished with variety of Simples and made many excellent Medicines which did much good By reason of his Learning and candid nature he was very dear to Luther and was very helpful to him in his Translation of the Bible He wrote so swiftly that he was chosen Scribe at the Disputation at Worms Anno Christi 1540. and yet withall suggested to Melancthon many things for answer to Eccius his subtilties insomuch that Glanvel who supplyed the Emperours room said of him That the Lutherans has a Scribe that was more learned then all the Pontificians Hee took by characters a great part of Luthers Lectures and Sermons which afterwards he wrote out a large and faithfully printed them after Luthers death He published also some Commentaries of his own upon the Psalms and the Gospel of Saint Iohn which are of excellent use to the learned He was a fine and smooth Orator and always abhorred
David have mercie upon me and receive my soul and wipeing his eies with his hands he said For God's love let me have more fire A third fire being kindled it burn'd more violently yet was he alive a great while in it the last words which he uttered being Lord Jesus have mercy on me Lord Jesus receive my spirit And so he slept in the Lord. In one of his letters he wrote Imprisonment is painfull but libertie upon evill conditions is worse The Prison stink's yet not so much as sweet houses where the fear of God is wanting I must be alone and solitarie it 's better so to be and have God with me then to be in company with the wicked Losse of goods is great but losse of grace and God's favor is greater I cannot tell how to answer before great and learned men Yet it is better to do that then stand naked before God's Tribunal I shall die by the hands of cruâ—ll men he is blessed that loseth his life and fiâ—de's life eteâ—nal There is neither felâ— city nor adversity of this World that is great if it be weighed with the joyes and pâ—ines of the world to come And in the conclusion of the Letter he writes thus I am a precious Jewell now and daintily kept never so daintily before For neither mine owne man nor any of the servants of the house may come to me but my Keeper onely who is a simple rude fellow But I am not troubled thereat In the time of King Edward when he was made Bishop much controversie was betweene him and Doctor Cranmer and Doctor Ridley about the Cappe Rochet c. But when in Queene Maries daies they were all in Prison for the cause of Religion Doctor Ridley wrote thus to him My dear brother forasmuch as I understand by your works which I have but superficially seene that we throughly agree in those things which are the grounds and substantial points of our Religion against which the World so furiously rageth in these daies however formerly in certain by matters and circumstances of Religion your wisdome and my simplicity hath a little jarred each of us following the abundance of his owne sence and judgement Now I say be you assured that even with my whole heart God is my witness in the bowels of Christ I love you in the truth and for the truths sake which abideth in us and shall by the grace of God abide for ever He was above three-quarters of an hour in the fire before he dyed yet even as a Lambe he patiently abode the extremity thereof neither moving forwards backwards or to any side But having his nether parts burned and his bowels faln out he dyed as quietly as a Child in his bed an Christi 1555. The life of Rowland Tailor who died A no. Christi 1555. ROwland Taylor was Doctor of both Laws and Rector of Hadley in Suffolk where Master Thomas Bilney had formerly been a Preacher of the Word and in which place there were few either men or women that were not well learned in the holy Scriptures many having read over the whole Bible and could say a great part of Paul's Epistles by heart Here this D. Taylor preached constantly on Sabbaths Holy-days and at other times when he could get the people together So soon as he was called to this place he left the family of Doct. Cranmer A. B. of Canterbury with whom he had formerly lived like a good shepherd constantly abode with his flock and gave himself wholly to the study of the Sacred Scriptures most faithfully endeavouring to fulfill the precept of Christ to Peter Lovest thou me feed my sheep His life also and conversation was very exemplary and full of holiness He was meek and humble yet would stoutly rebuke sinne in the greatest He was very mild void of all rancor and malice ready to do good to all mer forgiving his enemies and far from doing the least wrong To the poor blinde lame sick bed-rid or that had many children he was a father causing the Parishioners to make good provision for them besides what of his own bounty he gave them He brought up his own children in the fear of God good learning And thus he continued as a good Sheepherd amongst his flock feeding governing and leading them through the wilderness of this wicked world all the days of holy King Edward the sixth But in the beginning of Queen Marie's Reigne two Popish persons suborned a Priest to come and say Mass in his Church Hee being at his study and hearing the Bell to toll went to Church and finding this Priest guarded with drawn swords in his Popish Robes ready to begin the Mass he said unto him Thou Divel who made thee so bold to enter into this Church to profane and defile it with this abominable Idolatry I command thee thou Popish-Wolfe in the name of God to avoid hence and not to presume thus to poyson Christ's flock Then said one Foster the ringleader in this business to Doctor Tailor Thou Traitor what dost thou here to let and disturbe the Queens proceedings Doctor Tailor answered I am no Traitor but the Shepherd which God and my Lord Christ hath appointed to feed this his flock and therefore I have good authority to be here Then said Foster Wilt thou Traiterous Heretick make a commotion and resist violently the Queens proceedings Doctor Tailor answered I make no commotion it s you Papists that make commotions and tumults I resist onely with Gods word against your Popish Idolatries which are contrary to the same and tend to the dishonour of the Queen and the utter subversion of this Realme Then did Foster with his armed men carry Doctor Tailor out of the Church and so the Priest went on with his Mass. Doctor Tailors wife who had followed her Husband to the Church when she saw their violent proceedings kneeled down and holding up her hands with a loud voice said I beseech God the righteous Judge to avenge this injury which this Popish Idolater doth this day to the blood of Christ Then did they thrust her out of the Church also and presently after Foster wrote a complaint against Doct. Tailor to Steven Gardiner who sent his Letters Missive for Doctor Tailor whereupon his friends earnestly entreated him to fly telling him that he could neither expect justice nor favor but imprisonment and cruel death To whom he answered I know my cause to be so good and righteous and the truth so strong upon my side that I will by Gods grace appear before them and to their beards resist their false doings for I beleeve that I shal never be able to doe God so good service as now and that I shal never have so glorious a calling nor so great mercy of God profferd me as I have now wherefore pray for mee and I doubt not but God will
give mee strength and his holy spirit that all my adversaries shal be asham'd of their doings Then said his friends Master Dr. we think it not best so to do you have sufficiently done your duty and borne witness to the truth both in your Sermons and in resisting this Popish Priest and therfore seeing our Savior Christ bids us when we are persecuted in one City to flee to another we think that by flying at this time you should doe best reserving your selfe for better times O said D. Tailor I am now old and have already lived too long to see these terrible and wicked dayes You may doe as your consciences serve you but I am resolved not to fly God shall hereafter raise up Teachers which shall with much more diligence and fruit teach then I have done for God will not forsake his Church though for a time he tryeth and correcteth us and that not without just cause His friends seeing his constancy and resolution with weeping eyes commended him to God and so preparing himself he went to London and presented himself to Steven Gardiner Lord Chancellor of England who railed upon him calling him Knave Traitor Heretick asking him if he knew him not c. To whom he answered Yea I know you and all your greatness yetâ— you are but a mortall man and if I should be affraid of your Lordly looks why fear you not God the Lord of us all How dare you for shame look any Christian in the face seeing you have forsaken the truth denyed our Saviour Christ and his word done contrary to your own oath and writing with what countenance can you appear before the judgement seat of Christ and answer for your oath first made to King Henry the eighth and afterwards to King Edward the sixth Gardiner Tush tush that was Herods oath unlawfull and therefore fit to be broken I did well in breaking it and thanke God that I am come home to our Mother the Church of Rome and so I would thou shouldest doe Tailor Should I forsake the Church of Christ which is founded upon the true foundation of the Prophets and Apostles to approve those lyes errors superstitions and idolatries that are approved of most blasphemously by you God forbid Remember that you wrote truly against the Pope and were sworne against him Gardin I tell thee that was Herods oath and our holy Father the Pope hath discharged me of it Tailor But you shall not be so discharged before Christ who doubtlesse will require it at your hands as a lawful oath made to your King from which no man can assoile you Gardiner I see that thou art an arrogant Knave and a very fool Tailor My Lord leave your railing which is unseemly in one that is in your place I am a Christian man and you know that he that call's his brother Fool is in danger of Hell fire Gardiner Yee are false and liers all the sort of you Tailor We are true men and know that God will destroy all them that speak lies and therefore we abide by the truth of Gods word which ye contrary to your own consciences deny and forsake Gardiner Thou art a married man Tailor Yea and I thanke God that I am and have had nine children and all in lawfuâ— matrimony and blessed be God that ordained matrimoâ—y and commanded that all that had not the gift of continency should marry and not live in whoredom and a dultery After some other discourse the Bishop called hi men commanding them to carry him to the Kings Bench requiring his Keeper to keep him strictly Then Doctoâ— Tailor kneeling down and holding up his hands said Good Lord I thanke thee and from the Tyranny of the Bishop of Rome and all his detestable errors and abominations good Lord deliver us So they carried him away to prison where he lay almost two years In Prison he spent his time in praier reading the Scriptures preaching to the prisoners and to other that resorted to him And it pleased God that he found in that prison holy Master Bradford whom he began to exhort to Faith strength and patience and to persevere constantly unto the end Master Bradford hearing this thanked God who had provided him so comfortable a prison-fellow and so they both together praised God and continued in praier reading and exhorting one another Insomuch as Doctor Tailor told his friends that God had provided graciously for him to send him to that prison where he found such an Angell of God to be in his company to comfort him He was diverse times examined of his faith and witnessed a good Confession before his adversaries for which at last he was condemned to die When his sentence was read he told them that God the righteous Judge would require his blood at their hands and that the proudest of them all should repent their receiving againe of Antichrist and their Tyranny against the flock of Christ. He also thus wrote to his friends God be praised since my condemnation I was never affraid to die Gods will be done If I shrinke from Gods truth I am sure of an other manner of death then had Judge Hales But God be praised even from the bottome of my heart I am unmovably setled upon the Rock nothing doubting but that my dear God will performe and finish the work that he hath begun in me and others To him be all honor both now and ever through Christ our onely Saviour Amen After his condemnation Bishop Bonner came to the prison to degrade him bringing all the Massing Garments with him which he commanded him to put on No quoth Doctor Tailor I will not Bonner Wilt thou not I shall make thee ere I go Tailor You shall not by the grace of God Bonner I charge thee on thy obedience to do it Tailor I will not Then the Bishop bad his owne man to put them on his back which when it was done setting his hands by his side he walked up and down and said How say you my Lord am I not a goodly fool If I were in Cheap-side would not all the boies laugh at these apishtoies The Bishop having dispoiled him of all would have given him a stroke on his breast with his Crosier But his Chaplain said My Lord strike him not for he will sure strike again Yea by Saint Peter will I quoth Doctor Tailor The cause is Christs and I were no good Christian if I would not fight in my masters quarrell Then the Bishop cursed him but durst not strike him To whom Doctor Tailor answered Though you curse yet God doth blesse me The next night his Wife Son and Servant came to him where before supper they kneeled down and praied saying the Letany He was sent down to Hadley to be burn'd and all the way as he went he was very merry as one that went to a banquet or Bridal In his
this day Having notice given on the over-night that the next day he should be burn'd he said I am ready God grant me strength and a joyfull resurrection and so he went to his chamber pouring out his spirit unto the Lord in pâ—ayer and giving him most hearty thanks for accounting him worthy to suffer for his Truth Going into Smithfield the way was very foul whereupon two Officers took him up to bear him to the stake then â—e said merrily Whâ—t will you make me Pope Comming into Smithfield he kneeled down saying I will pay my vows in thee O Smithfield He kissed the stake saying Shall I disdaine to suffer at this stake when my Lord and Saviour refused not to suffer a most vile death for me When the fire was kindled with much meekness and comfort he resigned up his spirit unto God Anno Christi 1555. In a Letter which he wrote to John Carelesse then prisoner in the Kings-bench he thus writes Indeed my dear Carelesse I am in this world in hell and in the shadow of death but he that for my deserts hath brought me down into hell shall shortly lift me up unto heaven where I shall look continually for your comming and others of my faithful brethren in the Kings-bench And though I tell you that I am in hell in the judgement of the world yet assuredly I feel in the same the consolation of heaven I praise God And this lothsome and horrible prison is as pleasant to me as the walks in the Garden of the Kings-bench And in a Letter that he wrote to his Sister he thus concludes My dissolution I look for daily but the Lord knoweth how unworthy I am of so high an honour as to die for the testimony of his Truth Pray that God would vouchsafe to make me worthy as he hath done of long imprisonment Pray and look for the coming of the Lord c. In another Letter he writes thus Commend me to Mr. Elsing and his wife and thank them for providing me some ease in prison and tell them that though my Lords Cole house be but very black yet it is more to be desired of the faithfull then the Queens Palace The world wondereth how we can be merry in such extream miseries but our God is omnipotent which turneth misery into felicity Beleeve me there is no such â—oy in the world as the people of Christ have under the Crosse I speak by exâ—rence therefore believe me and fear nothing that the world can doe unto you for when they imprison our bodies they set our souls at liberty with God when they cast us down they life us up yea when they kill us then doe they send us to everlasting life and what greater glory can there be then to be made confoâ—mable to our head Christ which is done by afflictions O good God what am I upon whom thou shoulde bestow so great a mercy This is the day which the Lord hath made let us rejoyce and be glad in the same this is the way though it be but narrow which is full of the peace of God and leadeth to eternall blisse Oh how my heart leapeth for joy that I am so near the apprehension thereof God forgive me my unthankfulness and unworthiness of so great glory I hâ—ve so much joy that though I be in a place of darknesse and mourning yet I cannot lament but both night and day am so joyfull as if I were under no crosse at all yea in all the daies of my life I was never so merry the name of the Lord be praised for ever and ever and the Lord pardon my unthâ—nkfulness Our enemies do fret fume and grash their teeth to see and hear that we under this grievous affliction can be so merry Pray instantly that this joy may never be taken from us for it passeth all the delights of this world This is the peace of God which passeth all understanding This peace the more his chosen be afflicted the more they feel and therefore cannot faint neither for fire nor water Whilst Mr. Philpot was prisoner in Newgate a dertaine friend of his that scrupled the Baptizing of Infants wrote to him for his judgement about it to whom he wrote a large and learned Answer proving by Scripture by Arguments by testimony of the Fathers and by the constant practise of the Primitive Church from the Apostles daies the lawfulnesse and necessity of the same which you may read in the Book of Martyrs vol. 3. pag. 606. c. THO. CRANMER The Life of Thomas Cranmer who died Anno Christi 1555. THomas Cranmer was a Gentleman by birth of a very ancient Family born at Arselacton in Nottinghamshirte brought up at School and from thence sent to Cambridge where profiting much in learning he was chosen fellow in Jesus Colledge After which he married a wife and thereby loosing his Fellow-ship he was chosen Divinity-Reader in Buckingham-Colledge but not long after his wife dying in child-bed the Master and Fellows chose him again Fellow into Jesus Colledge After which he commenced Doctor in Divinity From thence hee was chosen a Fellow in the Foundation of Cardinal Wolsey's Colledge in Oxford but fore-seeing the danger which after followed he refused that place Whilst he was in Cambridge the question arose about King Henries Divorce from his brothers widdow and the Plague breaking forth at Cambridge Doctor Cranmer retired to Waltham-Abbey At which time this fell out The King to recreate himselfe and to take private counsell with those in whom he most consided who were the Dukes of Norfolke and Suffolk and some others went on hunting to Waltham at which time he signified his minde to Steven Gardiner his Secretary and to Fox his Almoner willing them to search what was most expedient for him to doe to end well that controversie about his Marriage and as God would have it these two men lodged in the house of one Master Cressie at Waltham where also Doctor Cranmer was having left Cambridge upon the forementioned occasion â—nd being Tutor to Master Cressies two sons Gardiner and Fox thus meeting with him and knowing him to be famous for learning and piety invited him to their good cheer and asked his advice concerning the Kings cause Dr. Cranmer was at fiâ—st very loath to deliver his judgement but being much importunâ—d by them he at last â—aid I cannot say much on the sudden in so weighty a businesse without study and meditation but in my opinion seeing the King is in so great trouble of mind and conscience nothing can more encrease it then so great delaies and wandring in Romish suites inwhich whosoever are once entangled can source ever extricaâ—e themselves out of the snares I think it better therefore that layâ—ing aside all delayes and Court suites wherein the King hath been too long tossed with great affliction of mind the judgement of Divines hath in our
Henry the 8. that he could not be appeased by any other means but by the sacrificing of Cranmer During his Sermon Cranmer was set on a stage before him which sad spectacle much affected many to see him who had lived in so great honour and favour to stand there in a ragged gown ill-favour'd clothes an old cap and exposed to the contempt of all men Cole in his Sermon shewed for what Doctor Cranmer was condemned encouraged him to take his death patiently and rejoiced in his conversion to Popery But that joy lasted not long The Sermon being ended Doctor Cranmer entreated the people to pray for him that God would pardon his sin especially his Recantation which most of all troubled his conscience which he said was contrary to the truth which he thought in his heart and written for feare of death and upon the hope of life And said he That hand of mine which hath written contrary to my heart shall first be punished At these words the Doctors beganne to rage and fume and caused him to be pulled down from the stage and his mouth to be stopped that he should not speak to the people The place appointed for his Martyrdome was the same where Doctor Ridley and Master Latimer had before suffered and when he was brought to it he kneeled down and prayed and so put off his cloaths When the fire was kindled and came neer him he stretched out his right hand which had subscribed holding it so stedfast and immoveable in the fire saving that once he wiped his face with it that all might see his hand burned before his body was touched when the fire came to his body he endured it patiently standing stedfast alwaies in one place moving no more then the stake which he was bound to So long as he could speak he repeated Lord Jesus receive my spirit and so in the flames he gave up the Ghost Anno Christi 1556. and of his Age 72. Doctor Cranmers Workes were these He corrected the English translation of the Bible in many places He wrote Catechismum Doctrinae Christianae Ordinationes Ecclesiae Reformatae De ministris Ordinandis De Eucharistia Jura Ecclesiastica Contra Gardineri concionem Contra Transubstantiationis errorem Quomodo Christus adsit in Caena De esu Câ—nae Dominicae De Oblatione Christi Homilia Christiana Common-places A confutation of unwritten verities Against the Popes primacy Against Purgatory About Justification Diverse Letters to learned men The Life of Conrade Pellican who died A no Christi 1555. COnrade Pellican was born of godly and honest parents at Rubeac a Towne of Suevia neer the Hyrcinian wood Anno Christi 1478 and being carefully educated by his parents anno Christi 1484 was by them set to school to Steven Kleger of Zurick who using him gently brought him in love with learning At thirteen years of age he went to Heidleberg And after sixteen months study there returned home and his parents being poor he became an Usher in the Grammer school Many times going to a neighbour Monastery to borrow some books the Fryers solicited him to become one of their Fraternity and when he was but 16. years old he assented to it his parents not opposing because they had not wherewithall to maintain him So that anno Christi 1493 he took upon him the habit of the Frier-Minors to the great joy of all that society who used him very kindly and brought him up in all the ceremonies belonging to their worship His Unkle Jodicus Gallus coming from Heidleberg to Rubeac was much troubled that his Nephew was become a Fryer and therefore perswaded him if he did not like that course of life to leave it whilst he was a novice but our Conrade thinking that it would be a great disgrace to him to fall from his purpose refused saying That he would serve God in that course of life wherein he thought he should please God and whereby he hoped to attain eternall life At the end of the year he fell sick of the Plague but being â—et blood it pleased God beyond all expectation to restore him to health Anno 1496. he went to Tubing where he studied the liberall Arts and was much admired in that University for his quick wit He studied also School-Divinity and Cosmography wherein he profited exceedingly And meeting with a converted Jew he borrowed of him an Hebrew book of the Prophets and by his extraordinary pains found out first the letters then the reading and signification of them and being a little assisted by â—â—â—nio the Judge of the impetiall Chamber at Wormes he grew very perfect in it and hearing that there was a certain Priest at Ulme which had bought some Hebrew books of a poor Jew he went to him and amongst them met with part of a Grammer about the Coniugations of Verbs and transmutation of the Letters which he wrote out and it proved a great help to him for he had spoken before with many Jews at Worms Frankefurt Ratisbone c. and none of them could ever resolve him in any one question of Grammer It fell out by Gods providence that the year the Book-seller of Tubing had bought an Hebrew Bible compleat of a very small print which therefore none cared for This Pellican hearing of intreated him to let him look into it for some few dayes The Bookseller was content telling him that for a Florence and a halfe he might buy it Pellican much rejoyced to hear this intreating his father Guardian to be his surety and so having obtained it he thought himselfe a richer man then ever was Croesus and presently wrote to his Unkle at Spires beseeching him to bestow two Florences upon him which he much needed for the buying of a certain book This his Unkle sent him wherupon he fel close to reading of the Bible and as he went along made a Concordance gathering the roots and setting downe all those words which were seldome found And thus he went over the whole Bible from the midst of July to the end of October Then carrying to Capnio a Specimen of his works he was amaâ—â—d at so much worke in so short a time Anno Christi 1501. being twenty three years old he was ordained a Presbyter and the same year the plague waxing hot at Rubeac his father and brother â—â—ed of it leaving none but this our Conrade and his sister Therefore to solace himself in his sorrows he wrote out the seven Penetentiall Psalmes in Hebrew Greek and Latine adding some prayers to be used upon that occasion Anno Christi 1502. he was made Divinity-Reader in the Convent at Basil. About the same time John Amerback began to print Saint Augustines workes wherein Pellican was very helpfull to him for which cause Amerbach and John Froben were ever after his great friends and would never suffer him to want any good book Then at the instance of Cardinal
and refresh himselfe with his friends where falling off a ladder he hurt his back-bone which put him to great pain but through Gods mercy he recovered and the year after he went to the Convention at Smalcald where by reason of Luthers sickness almost the whole burthen lay upon him of managing the business about religion A while after he went to Hagenaw to meet the Protestant Divines there and fore-seeing that he should fall into a mortall Disease he made his will and left it with Cruciger saying Viximus in Synodis jam mâ—riemur in illis Imploi'd in Synods living oft was I Now in a Synod I am like to die Accordingly in his journey he fell very sick yet through God's mercy and the care and skill of the Physician he recovered againe his health being much furthered by the earnest praiers of Luther and Cruciger In his disputation with Eccius Eccius brought a very subtil Argument which he being not able suddenly to answer said Cras tibi respondebo I 'le answer you to morrow to whom Eccius replyed That is little for your credit if you cannot answer it presently Whereupon he said Sir I seek not mine owne glory in this businesse but the Truth To morrow God willing you shall hear further When the Wars for Religion brake out in Germany he foresaw in a dream the Captivity of the Elector of Saxonie and the Lantgrave of Hesse fifteen daies before they were taken And when Melancthon did justly bewaile those sad times he was accused to the Emperor as an enemy to his affairs whereupon the Emperor sent to Maurice the Elector to send him to him which he refused to do He was sent also to the Council of Trent but whilst he stayed at Noâ—inberg for the Publick Faith the Warre brake out betwixt Maurice of Saxonie and the Emperour about the Lantgrave of Hesse whereupon he returned to Wittenberg again and shortly after the Plague breaking out there the University was removed to Tergaw but he said He feared not that Plague but a far worse Plague which threatned the ruine of the common-wealth Whilst he was with the Palatine at Heidleberg he had news brought him of the death of his wife who had lived piously and lovingly with him in wedlock 37 years at the hearing whereof he expressed himself thus Farewell Kate I shall follow thee ere long He had many contentions with the Popish party both by disputations and writing The last Lecture that he read was upon that Text in Isa. Lord who hath beliâ—ved our report He was very carefull before hand to prepare himself for death having this Distich in his mouth Sic ego quotidiè de lecto surgo precando lit mens ad mortem sit duce laeta Deo March the 27. before his death he was sent for by the Elector of Saxony to Lipsich for the examination of those which were maintained by the Elector there for the study of Divinity which examination he had held many years There he continued in that employment til April 4 at which time he returned to Wittenberg April the 8 th his sicknes seised upon him whereof he died It was a Feaver which caused him that he could scarce sleep that night Hereupon Doctor Peucer his son-in-law intended to send for Camerarius between whom and Melancthon there had been a very strong bond of friendship for the space of 40 years Seven daies before he died many persons worthy of credit betwixt nine and ten a clock at night saw in the clouds over the Town of Wittenberg five Rods bound together after which two vanishing the other three appeared severed in divers places the branches of the Rods turning towards the North the handles towards the South of which Prodigy when Philip was informed he said Herein Gods fatherly punishments are not Swords but Rods which parents use to correct their children withall And I fear a dearth The night following he slept pretty well and waking about three a clock in the morning he sang sweetly and rose out of his bed April 13. to make an end of his writing which he was to propose on Easter day he followed his study hard that morning which was the last thing that he wrote for his publick Reading On Easter Eve he carried it to the Printing-house after which he went to Church and in the afternoon went againe to the Printing-house to see how the work went forward which was his last going abroad About four a clock that evening he sate upon the staires which went up into his study leaning upon his elbow At which time Joachim Camerarius came from Lipsich to visit him and entering into his house found him in that posture They saluted each other wich great familiarity and about five a clock that evening his Feaver seised on him so that that night he had a very grievous fit yet in the morning hee had a little sleep being April 14. Easter day After which he rose out of his bed and though he was scarce able to goe yet he would have read his Lecture publickly which his friends disswaded him from considering his great weaknesse April the 15 before dinner he professed his desire to depart hence saying I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ. April the 16 Camerarius was minded to return home but as they sate at breakfast together on a sudden such a weaknesse came upon Melancthon that he desired to goe to bed so that Camerarius layed aside his purpose of departure April the 17 Camerarius took his leave of him commending him to God whereupon Philip said Jesus Christ the Son of God that sitteth at the right hand of his Father and giveth gifts unto men preserve you and yours and us all This night he was very sick and in his prayers cryed out O Lord make amend April the 18 his water was very troublesome and he was much pained with the stone About eight a clock that morning the Pastors of the Church visited him to whom he said By the goodnesse of God I have no domesticall grief to disquiet me although my Nephewes and Neeces stand here before me whom I love very dearly Yet this is my comfort they have godly parents who take care of them as I have done so long as I was able But publick matters affect me especially the troubles of the Church in this evil and sophisticall age But through Gods goodnesse our Doctrine is sufficiently explained and confirmed Then speaking to the eldest daughter of his Son-in-law Doctor Peucer he said I have loved thee my daughter see that thou honour thy parents be dutifull to them and fear God and he will never forsake thee I beseech him to defend thee and keep thee About nine a clock he spake to his Son-in-law who was his Physitian saying What think you of my disease have you any hope speak plaine The Physitian answered God is your life and the
sicknesse that year out of which through Gods mercy and the care of his Physicians he somewhat recovered yet himself discerned that his end approached and therefore he daily prepared himself for it laying aside all worldly cares and businesses that he might the better meditate upon his approaching death as may appear by these verses which he made a little before his death Nil superest vitae frigus praecordia captat Sed tu Christo mihi vita perennis ades Quid trepidas anima ad sedes abitura quietis En tibi ductor adest angelus ille tuus Peccasti scio sed Christus credentibus in se Peccata expurgat sanguine cuncta suo Horribilis mors est fateor sed proxima vita est Ad quam te Christi gratia certa vocat Praesto est de Satana peccato morte triumphans Christus adhuc igitur lata alacrisque migâ—a August the twenty second being the Lordsday in the morning Musculus feeling no distemper went to Church to hear the Sermon and about the midst of it he was seised with a violent Feaver yet continuing to the end of the Sermon he went home and sat down to dinner supping a little broth but waxing worse he was led to a bed in his study from which he never rose afterwards So soon as he was laid he grew extreame hot and burning whereupon by the advice of his Physician he was let blood he had also some Physick given him which yet staied not with him Musculus perceiving his end to draw near caused his sons to be sent for whom he saluted and blessed after which he never seemed to mind either wife or children John Haller one of the Ministers asking him of the state of his soul and how he would dispose of his outward estate hee answered I thank God I have nothing that troubles my conscience And as concerning my Doctrine as I taught so I thought doe think and will think to the end As for my Wife and Family I commend them to your and your Colleagues care desiring you to be Fathers and protectors to them Haller in his own and his brethrens name promising to satisfie his desire he thanked them and never after made mention of any wordly thing And so shortly after he quietly resigned up his spirit unto God in the presence of the Ministers and Professors of the University who were come to visit him The day after he was honourably buried Anno Christi 1563 and of his age 66. This Epitaph was set upon the wall near to his grave MUSCULUS hic situs est doctrina clarus ingens Nomen in orbe manet Spiritus astra tenet His Works are these Comment in Genesim in Psalm Mat. Joh. ad Romanos Corinthios ad Phil. Col. Thess. Tim. Loci communes Explicatio Decalogi Contra Missam Anti-Chochlaeus De Concilio Tridentinâ— Quatenus ferenda sit injuria Contra impurum Catechismum De Juramento De Bello Germanico Besides many of the Greek Fathers and other bookes which he turned out of Greek into Latine The Life of Hyperius who died A no Christi 1564. ANdreas Gerardus Hyperius was born at Ipres in Flanders An Christi 1511. His Father was a Counsellor famous in that City His Mother was Katherine Coets of a noble Family These set their son to School be-tiâ—es and being reasonable well grounded in Grammer at eleven years old they placed him with James Pap a good Poet to be trained up by him When he was thirteen years old he â—raveâ—â—â—d through the Islands of Flanders Then was under the tâ—ition of John Lacteus where he learned the French Tongue His Fathers desire was that he should not only be brought up in learning but also in good manners and vertue But whereas by reason of the Wars between Charls the fifth and the King of France he could not send him to Paris he kept him at home to write amongst his Clerks An. Chri. 1525 his Father fell sick and dyed charging his wife that as soon as ever the Wars were ended she should send his sonne Andreâ— to be brought up in learning at Paris And Anno Christi 1528 peace being made between the Emperour and King Hyperius was accordingly sent to Paris and commended to the tuition of Anthony Helhuctus who was a Senator of the Parliament at this time and of John de Campis a Licentiat in Divinity The former was to supply him with necessaries and the latter to forward him in his studies Hyperius sojourned long in the house of de Campâ—â— and heard also the Logick Lecture in the Colledge of Calviac In that Colledge one of the Lecturers was Joachim Ringleberg a very learned man with whom Hyperius had contracted a very strict bond of friendship And by his help besides Logick he learned Rhetorick and Physick At the end of three years he returned into his own country to visit his friends and to see whether any of his Patrimony remained and finding that there was yet enough to maintain him Anno Christi 1532. he returned to Paris purposing now to betake himself to the study of Divinity and accordingly he frequented the Divinity-Schooles Sometimes also he heard the Physick Lectures which naturally he was much affected with He frequented likewise the Lectures of the Professors of the Tongues as Cleonard Sturmius and Latomus Then he had an earnest desire to travell thorough France both to learn the language more perfectly and the better to acquaint himself with their manners Whereupon every year in January February and March when the Lectures ceased taking some of his fellow Students along with him he went into sundry Provinces and visited the most famous Universities So that at the times forementioned in three yeares space he had travelled through the greatest part of France and Italy Anno Christi 1535 he returned into his own country and presently went to Lovane where having remained a while he travelled through the Low-countries as Gelderland Friesland Holland Zealand c. And Anno 1537 and of his age 26 he travelled into upper Germany to visit the Universities and acquaint himself with the famous men therein For which end he went to Colen Marpurg Erford Lipsich and Wittenberg and so returning into his country he was earnestly importuned by his friends to take some cure upon him that having now spent his patrimony hee might live the more quietly amongst his friends and unknown to him they had procured from the Pope a patent whereby he was enabled to receive large revenues out of certaine Monasteries only they wanted a confirmation from the Emperors Chancellor the Archbishop of Palermo But it fell out by Gods Providence that the Archb. denied his consent being informed by Hyperius his competitors that Hyperius had been in upper Germany which then was accounted a great crime Hereupon Hyperius not willing to be a burden to his friends by the advice of
for once upon a publick hearing there was such a tumult raised that they were very neare imbruing their hands each in others blood which sedition Calvin with his Colleagues hearing of interposed themselves though it was with the perill of his life the faction of the wicked being most against him and stopped it Yet these men proceeding in their wickednesse hated him the more for it So that Mr. Calvin sharply reproved them for it in his Sermons and Gods judgements threatned by him proved not in vain For one of them writing an infamous Libel and affixing it to his pulpit wherein were contained many railings against the sacred Ministery and particularly against Mr. Calvin that he deserved to be thrown into the River of Rhodanus This man being apprehended and convicted of these and many other horrid blasphemies had hiâ— head cut off And after his death there was another Libell found written by his owne hand containing blaspemies against Moses and Christ himself with which impiety there was no doubt but that he had infected others At this very very time and in the middest of these troubles Mr. Calvin wrote his Antidote against the seven Sessions of the Councell of Trent He also sending Letters to the Church of Christ in Roan confirmed them against the fraud of a certain Fâ—anciscan Fryer who had spread the poysonsom Doctrines of the Libertines and Carpocratians amongst them The year following which was 1548 the evill of the aforenamed faction in eneva brake forth againe The Devill which is almost incredible abusing those persons to be instruments thereof who indeed were the greatest enemies to it viz. Farel and Viret These men comming to Geneva made o grave Oration in the Senate about composing their differences Mr. Calvin requiring nothing but that those men should mend their manners and Perrinus with his associates proâ—siâ—ng any thing so he might be restored to his former place For Perrinus being restored to his place he and his wicked companions grew so impudent that they cut their cloathes crosse on their breasts that they might know each other others of them called their dogs by the name of Calvin Others instead of Calvin called him Cain others out of an hatred to Mr. Calvin professed that they would not come to the Sacrament of the Lords Supper All which Mr. Calvin and his Colleagues did boldly and faithfully reprove and when they were called before the Senate the innocency of the good men easily carried away the victory So that the Amnestie or forgetfulnesse of wrongs was solemnly sworn to Decemb. 18 But it afterwards appeared that all this was done thorough dissimulation and that Perrin sought nothing thereby but to be chosen a Syndic that he and his might by that meanes have the more liberty to act all their wickednesse as the event declared Mr. Calvin in the midst of these broils was so farre from giving over his accustomed labours that as if nothing had molested him hee wrote learned Commentaries upon six of Pauls Epistles as also by weighty Arguments confuted the Interim which was published for the destruction of the German Churches shewing withall the right course for the restoring of those Churches He discovered also in a book the vanity and falshood of Judiciall Astrology which many beganne now to give too much heed to and being saluted by Letter from Brentius now in exile he wrote consolatory Letters to him in which friendship it had been happy if Brentius had continued Bucer also being a banished man in England at this time Calvin wrote to him to declare and open his mind more fully about the Sacrament of the Lords Supper and comforted him in a most friendly manner He also wrote Letters of advice to the Duke of Sommerset now Protector of England who afterwards suffered an unworthy death about such matters as if his counsell had been hearkened to it had been happy for England and perhaps the Church there had happily avoyded many of those storms which afterwards befell it In the midst of these contencions the Church of Geneva did wonderfully encrease which did exceedingly torment the Devill and his instruments and Mr. Calvin was very solicitous to entertain and provide for such as were banished for the name of Christ Which care of his it pleased God to bless the year following that the fury of those wicked men though it was not quite extinct yet for the present it was layd asleep And truly hee had need of such a truce being grievously afflicted with a domestick accident For at this time he lost his dear Wife a very choice woman yet did he bear this accident with such constancy that therein he gave an excellent example of fortitude to the whole Church The same year there arose a great contention in the Saxon Church about things indifferent Whereupon sending to Mr. Calvin for his judgement he freely declared his opinion to them He also admonished Melancthon of his duty whom some accused for too much softnes in this point but Master Calvin afterwards found it to be a false charge For at this time it was unknowne with what minde and spirit the whole troop of Flaccians were carried which afterwards raised such great troubles to the Church and were acted with such fury and impudence as if they had been hired by the Pope of Rome to carry on his cause But it pleased God to compensate this wound inflicted upon the Churches of Germany by a great blessing upon the Helvetians For Farel aud Calvin going to Zurick when many thought that Master Calvin did too much favour the Doctrine of Consubstantiation in a Synod of all the Helvetian and Rhetian Churches he shewed his agreement with them and indeed there was no great difficulty to bring good men and lovers of the truth into an harmonious concord This agreement of the Helvetian and Rhetians Churches was written which did more and more unite Bullinger and Calvin and the Church of Zurick with that of Geneva Master Calvin also about this time wrote two learned Epistles to Laelius Socinus the poyson of whose opinions did not appear till after his death for in his life time going through the Churches he had deceived Melancthon Calvin and Camerarius but afterwards it appeared that he had much favoured Servetus Castellio and Ochin and their mad opinions for his Commentary upon the first chapter of John coming forth shewed that he went beyond the impiety of all those Hereticks which had corrupted the most Divine portion of Scripture Anno Christi 1550 succeeding the Church of Christ enjoyed peace and then it was decreed in Geneva that the Ministers not onely in their Sermons which many neglected and others heard with small profit But from house to house at many seasons of the year should divide the City amongst them and require of every family an account of their Faith by which means its scarce credible
and zeal of mine if it be worthy so to be called hath been so remisse and languishing that I confesse innumerable things have been wanting to me to the well performing of my duty and unlesse the immeasurable bounty of God had been present my studies had been vaine and vanishing away Moreover I acknowledge that unlesse the same bounty had been present unto me the goods of the minde which God hath given me would have made me guilty of the greater sinne and slothfulnesse before his judgement seat For which causes I witnesse and profess that I hope for no other help for salvation but this onely that seeing God is a Father of mercy hee shewed himself a Father unto me who acknowledge my self a miserable sinner As for other things After my departure out of this life I would have my body committed to the earth in that order and manâ—er which is usuall in this Church and City till the blessed day of Resurrection cometh As touching that slender Patrimony which God hath given me concerning which I have determined thus to dispose Let Anthony Calvin my most dear Brother be mine heire but only for honour sake let him take before hand and have to himself the silver Charger which was given me by Varannius for a gift wherewith I desire him to be contented For whatsoever things remaine in mine â—â—heritance I request and commit them to his faith that he returne them to his children when he shall dye I bequeath tenne gâ—â—den Scutes to the School of boyes from the same my brother and heire Also so much to poore strangers So much to Joane the daughter of Charles Costan and of my Kinswoman But to Samuel and John the sonnes of my said Brother I desire to have given to them forty golden Scutes by mine heir when he dieth To Anne Susâ—â— and Dorothy his daughters thirty Scutes of gold But to David their brother because of his lightnesse and miscarriages but five and twenty Scutes of gold This is the summe of the whole Patrimony and goods which God hath given me so neare as I can estimate it setting a price upon my Library my moveables and all my houshold goods with all other my faculties If there bee found any thing above I would have it to be distributed to all those children the sons and daughters of my brother Neither doe I exclude that David if hee prove a good husband If there shall be any surplusage above that summe I beleeve there will be no great matter especially when my debts are paid the care whereof I have committed to my said brother upon whose love and fideâ—ity I relye For which cause I will and appoint him to be the Executor of my Testament and together with him the worshipfull man Laurence Normendie giving them power to take an Inventory of my goods without any more accurate diligence of the Court I also permit them to sell my moveables that out of the money made thereof they may execute my Will above written Dated this 25. of April Anno Christi 1554. When this Will was made and confirmed Mr. Calvin sent to the four Syndiâ—s and all the Aldermen desiring to speak with them all yet once more in the Court before his death whither he hoped to be carried the next day The Senators answered that they would rather come to him dâ—siring him to have a regard to his 〈◊〉 And the day after when they came all to him from 〈◊〉 Court after mutuall salutations and pardon craved for their comming to him whereas he rather would have come to them and pâ—ofessing that he had long desired to speak with them though he had deferred it till now even till he found the approaching of his departure out of this world he said Honoured Masters I give you great thanks that ye have honoured me thus far having not deserved it from you and for that you have so often borne with mine infirmities which to me hath alwaies been an argument of your singular good will towards me And albeit in performance of mine office it could not be but that I must undergoe many bickerings and divers assaults because every good man must be exercised therewith yet I know and acknowledge that none of these things have falne out through your default and I earnestly beseech you that if I have not alwaies done that which behoved me you rather would have regard of my will then of my ability For I can truly testifie that I have been heartily studious of the welfare of your Commonwealth and howsoever I have not fully performed mine office yet surely I have studied the publick good according to mine ability and except I should acknowledge that the Lord hath used my service sometimes not unprofitably I could not avoyd the crime of dissembling But this I requst of you again and again that I may be excused by you for that the things are so little that I have publickly and privately performed in comparison of those things which it behoved me to have done Certainly of mine own accord I acknowledge that I am much indebted to you for this cause also that yee have patiently born with my too much vehemencie sometimes which sinne also I trust God that he hath forgiven me But as touching the Doctrin that you have heard from me I take God to witness that I have not rashly and uncertainly but purely and sincerely taught the Word of God intrusted unto me whose wrath I should otherwise have felt now hanging over me as I am certainly assured that my labours in teaching it hath not been displeasing to him And I testifie this the more willingly both before God and you because I doubt not but that the devill according to his custom wil raise wicked light and giddy-headed people to corrupt the sincere Doctrine which you have heard from me Then considering the unmeasurable benefits which God had conferred on that City hee said I am a very good witnesse out of how many great dangers the hand of the great and best God hath delivered you Morâ—over you see in what estate you now are therefore whether your affairs be prosperous or adverse let that be alwaies conversant before your eyes that God is he alone that establisheth Kingdomes and Cities and therefore will be woâ—shipâ—ed by mortall men Remember what that great David doth testifie that when he enjoyed a deep peace he fell soulest and should never have risen again if God of his singular goodnesse had not reached out his hand to him What then shall become of such punies if he fell being so strong and powerfull a man Yee had need of great humility of mind that yee may walk circumspectly and with great reverence before God and trust upon him onely being sure that it will alwaies be as ye have often found that by his aid you may stand sure although your safety and welfare may be hung as it wereâ— upon a very slender thread Wherefore if prosperity befall you take heed
admonished them especially to take heed of Drunkennesse which was so common amongst the Germans and lastly that they should be very observant to the Senate which had so excellently maintained Religion He wrote also his fare well to the Magistrates exhorting them to continue their care of the Church and Schooles thanked them for their kindnesse to him and entreated them to chuse Ralph Gualter to be his successor The day of his death he continued in prayer repeating the one and fiftieth the sixteenth and the forty second Psalms and the Lords Prayer and so gave up his soul unto God An. Chr. 1575 and of his Age 71. He was one of the chiefest of the Helvetian Divines and after Zuinglius and Oecolampadius a strong assertor of their Confession of Faith Of a mild nature clear in his Ministry and one that hated crabbed and unprofitable questions which many delighted in to shew their wit affable in speech courteous of behaviour both towards his own and strangers An excellent Governour of the Church frugall and temâ—rate in his diet merry and pleasant with those that lived wâ—â—h him He was so industrious that he would never be idle He had one Wife by whom he had six sonnes and five daughters of whom he married one to Zuinglius another to Lavate and a third to Simler all Ministers in Zurick He wrote Commentaries upon all the New Testament His Workes are contained in tenne Tomes besides which hee wrote Contra Anabaptistas lib. 4. De annuis Reditibus De Hebdomadibus Danielis De Sacramentis The Life of Edward Deering who died A no Christi 1576. EDward Deering was borne of a very ancient Family in Kent and carefully brought up both in Religion and Learning From School he went to Cambridge and was admitted into Christs Colledge where he profited exceedingly and became a very famous Preacher as may appear by his most learned and holy Sermons and Tractates full of heavenly consolation He never affected nor sought after great titles or preferments and therefore rested content with his Fellowship in that Colledge and onely Commenced Batchelor of Divinity yet afterwards hee was made a Preacher in Saint Paul's Church in London and having worn out himself with his labours in the Work of the Lord hee fell sick and discerning his approaching death hee said in the presence of his friends that came to visit him The good Lord pardon my great negligence that whilst I had time I used not his precious gifts to the advancement of his glory as I might have done Yet I blesse God withall that I have not abused these gifts to ambition and vain studies When I am once dead my enemies shall be reconciled to me except they be such as either knew me not or have no sence of goodnesse in them for I have faithfully and with a good conscience served the Lord my God A Minister standing by said unto him It 's a great happinesse to you that you die in peace and thereby are freed from those troubles which many of your brethren are like to meet with To whom he answered If God hath decreed that I shall sup together with the Saints in Heaven why doe I not goe to them but if there be any doubt or hesitation resting upon my spirit the Lord will reveal the truth unto me When he had layen still a while a friend said unto him that hee hoped that his minde was employed in holy meditation whilst hee lay so silent To whom he answered Poor wretch and miserable man that I am the least of all Saints and the greatest of Sinners yet by the eye of Faith I beleeve in and look upon Christ my Saviour Yet a little while and we shall see our hope The end of the world is come upon us and we shall quickly receive the end of our hope which we have so much looked for Afflictions diseases sicknesse grief are nothing but part of that portion which God hath allotted to us in this world It s not enough to beginne for a little while except we persevere in the fear of the Lord all the daies of our lives for in a moment we shall be taken away Take heed therefore that you doe not make a pastime of nor dis-esteem the Word of God blessed are they that whilst they have tongues use them to Gods glory When he drew near to his end being set up in his bed some of his friends requested him to speake something to them that might bee for their edification and comfort Whereupon the Sun shining in his face hee tooke occasion from thence to say thus unto them There is but one Sunne in the world nor but one Righteousnesse one Communion of Saints If I were the most excellent of all creatures in the world If I were equall in righteousnesse to Abraham Isaac and Jacob yet had I reason to confâ—sse my selfe to bee a sinner and that I could expect no salvation but in the righteousnesse of Jesus Christ For we all stand in need of the grace of God And as for my death I blesse God I feel and finde so much inward joy and comfort in my soul that if I were put to my choice whether to dye or live I would a thousand times rather choose death then life if it may stand with the holy will of God And accordingly shortly after he slept in the Lord Anno Christi 1576. The Life of Flacius Illiricus who died A no Christi 1575. MAtthias Flacius Illiricus was borne in Albona in Sclavonia Anno Christi 1520 of an ancient and numerous Family His Father being learned himself and discerning a good ingeny in his Sonne began in his tender years to instill into him the first Rudiments of Learning But after his death his Masters so neglected him that he almost forgot all Yet when he began to have discretion he desired much to attaine to Learning and returned to his studies and to further him therein went to Venice and after some progress made at seventeen years old hee beganne to study Divinity but wanting means to maintaine him in the University he profered halfe his estate to be admitted into a Monastery either at Bononia or Padua but a friend called Baldus a godly man who afterwards suffered Martyrdom for the Truth disswaded him from that kinde of life and advised him rather to goe into Germany where were store of Learned men Hereupon having read over some of the Protestants bookes and liking Baldus his advice hee went into Germany which he had never before seen and first staying at Basil he studied under Simon Grynaeus who did not only entertain him being very poor but provided for him and instructed him in the Truth which was An. 1539. And about the end of the ear he went from thence to Tubing where also he studied a while under Matthias Garbicius then went to Wittenberg An. Chr. 1541 where he privately
Letters to Zurick from Thomas Erastus signifying that there wanted a Divinity Professor at Heidleberg and that they desired supply from thence whereupon the aforenamed Divines knowing Ursines fitnesse presently sent him with their Letters of ample commendation both to the Elector Palatine and to the University Where he was made governour of the Colledge of Sapience and by his diligence faithfulnesse and ability got such credit that at twenty eight years of age they graced him with the title of a Doctor in Divinity and so hee supplyed the place of publick Professor to the year 1568 at which time Zanchy succeeded him He had for his Colleagues Peter Boquin and Immanuel Tremelius the latter Professor of the Old Testament and the former of the New Five years Ursin continued reading upon his Common places and certainâ—y if he had finished it it had been exceeding usefull to the Church And besides his ordinary Lectures both in the University and Colledge the godly Prince Otho Frederick seeing severall Ministers using severall Catechisms to the prejudice of the Church he employed Ursin in the writing a Catechism for the Palatinate which might be of general use and accordingly he did to the great satisfaction of all Anno 1563 there brake forth a grievous Pestilence that scattered both the Court and University yet Ursin remained at home and wrote his tractates of Mortality and Christian Consolations for the benefit of Gods people The same year presently after Ursins Catechism was printed Flacius Illiricus Heshusius and some others beganne to quarrel at some passages in it about the Ascension of Christ his Presence in the Sacrament c. As also to traduce the Reformation carried on in the Palatinate but at the command of the Palatine Ursin did excellently justifie his Catechism and defend the Truth to the great satisfaction of all that read it Anno Christi 1564 hee was sent by the Elector to Malbrun to dispute with Brentius and Smidlin about the Ubiquity of Christs body which he confuted with such clear and strong arguments as that many both Papists and Lutherans were converted thereby He was so dear to the Elector Palatine that when the Bernates Anno 1578 sent Aretius to Heidleberg to crave leave that Ursine might goe to Lausanna to be the Divinity Professor there he would by no means part with him but for his ease and encouragement to stay gave him leave to choose an assistant that so his body might not bee worne out with his daily and excessive labours Anno Christi 1572 he married a Wife by whom he had one sonne that was afterwards a Minister and inherited his Fathers virtues Anno Christi 1574 at the command of the Elector Frederick he made a Confession of Faith about God the Person of Christ and the Supper of the Lord which was to stop the mouths of some malitious wicked men who had scattered abroad that in Heidleberg they had sowed the seeds of Arianism from which error both the Elector and the Church under him were most free In these employments was Ursin busied and both Religion and Learning prospered exceedingly under him so that he sent forth many excellent men who proved admirable instruments of Gods glory and the Chuches good and this continued till the year 1577 at which time it pleased God to take away that excellent Prince Frederick whereupon ensued that unhappy change when none were suffered to stay in the Palatinate except they held the opinions of Luther in all things So that Ursin with his Colleague Kimedontius were forced to leave the University But hee could not live a private life long for hee was sent for by Prince John Cassimire sonne to Frederick who knew how usefull and profitable he would be both to himself and the Churches under him About the same time also the Senate of Berne sent imporâ—unately for him to succeed A etius or Basil â—arquard in their University Hee was also earnestly solicited by Musculus Gualter Lavater and Hortinus to accept of this call but Prince Cassimire would by no meanes part with him having erected a University at Newstad and chosen Ursin and Zanchy to be the Divinity Professors thereof Whilst hee was thus employed by his excessive studies and neglect of exercise he fell into a sicknesse which held him above a year together After which he returned to his labours again and besides his Divinity Lectures read Logick in the Schools desiring his Auditors to give him what doubts and objections they met with which upon study at his next Lecture hee returned answers to But his continual watchings care meditations and writings cast him into a Consumption and other diseases yet would he not be perswaded to intermit his imployments till at last he was confined to his bed Yet therein also he was never idle but alwayes dictating something that might conduce to the publick good of the Church The hour of death being come his friends standing by he quietly slept in the Lord Anno Christi 1583 and of his Age fifty one He was very pious and grave in his carriage and one that sought not after great things in this world refusing many gifts from Princes and himself was liberall according to his ability He was alwaies like himself very sparing of timeâ— as appeared by these verses set over his study door Amice quisquis huc venis Aut agito paucis aut abi Aut me laborantem adjuva He wrote Commentarium do mortalitate consolationibus Christianis Admonitionem Neustadianam Epigrammata ad Jo. Frisium After his death his Son and Doctor Pareus and Quirinus his Scholars published divers other of his Workes which are printed in three Tomes The Life of Abraham Bucholtzer who died A no Christi 1584. ABraham Bucholtzer was born at Schovavium of a very ancient and honourable Family Anno Christi 1529 and from his infancy was brought up by his Parents in Religion and Learning When he was first set forth to School he profited to admiration outstripping all his Schoolfellowes by his acute wit and industry And being well principled at School he went to the Universities first of Franckfurt then of Wittenberg Accounting it his great happinesse that he was born after the light of the Gospel brake forth and bred up under Melancthon upon whose Lectures he attended diligently and sucked in from him not onely the principles of Learning but of Religion also He was exceeding industrious in seeking Learning attent in hearing Lectures diligent and swift in writing what was spoken by Melancthon About that time there sprang up many errors and much contention was raised in the Church of God about things indifferent the necessity of Good Works Essentiall Righteousness c. But by the help of Melanethon he was able both to discover and confute them There also he studied Greek and Hebrew When hee was six and twenty years
for theft was hanged by the heels with his head downward in a village hard by having not seen that kind of punishment he went to the place where he found him hanging between two Dogs that were alwaies snatching at him tearing and eating his flesh The poor wretch repeated in Hebrew some verses of the Psalms wherein hee cried to God for mercy whereupon Andreas went nearer to him and instructed him in the Principles of the Christian Religion about Christ the Messiah c. and exhorted him to believe in him and it pleased God so to blesse his exhortation to him that the Dogs gave over tearing of his flesh and the poor Jew desired him to procure that he might be taken down and baptised and hung by the neck for the quicker dispatch which was done accordingly The same year Charles Marquesse of Baden beganne a Reformation of the Churches within his dominions and to assist him therein he sent for divers Divines and amongst the rest for Dr Andreas by whose help he cast out the Popish Religion and Ceremonies and established the true Religion according to the Augustane Confession The like he did in Brugoia About the same time also Doctor Andreas was sent for by the Senate of the Imperiall City of Rottenburg because the Pastors in their jurisdiction used divers Ceremonies so that they feared least contentions should arise about the Substantials in Divinity whereupon by the advice of Andreas they were united in one Confession of Faith consonant to the Word of God and certain Ceremonies were agreed on which all the Ministers should unanimously use for the time to come Yea he was of such esteem that he was sent for by divers Princes to reform the Churches in their jurisdictions Hee was present at divers Synods and Disputations about Religion Hee travelled many thousands of miles being usually attended but with one servant yet it pleased God that in all his journyes he never met with any affront Anno Christi 1552 the Chancellors place in the University of Tubing was voyd by the death of Beurlin whereupon Prince Christopher consulting with the Heads of the University made Doctor Andreas Chancellor in his stead About which time he was sent into Thuringia to compose the difference between the Divines of Jenes Flacius Illiricus aud Strigelius about the power of Free-will Anno Christi 1580 came forth the book of Concord which was approved and subscribed by three Electors twenty one Princes twenty two Counts four Barons thirty five Imperiall Cities and eight thousand Ministers This was set on foot by the Elector of Saxony but carried on by the excessive labours of Doctor Andreas who carried it from one to another resolving all doubts and answering all objections till he had got all those subscriptions The year before his death hee used often to say that hee should not live long that hee was weary of this life and much desired to be dissolved and to be with Christ which was best of all Falling sick he sent for James Herbrand saying I exspect that after my death many adversaries will rise up to asperse me and therefore I sent for thee to hear the confession of my faith that so thou mayst testifie for me when I am dead and gone that I died in the true Faith The same Confession also he made afterwards before the Pastors and Deacons of Tubing The night before his death he slept partly upon his bed and partly in his chair When the clock struck fix in the morning he said My hour draws near He gave thanks to God for bestowing Christ for revealing his Will in his Word for giving him Faith and the like benefits and when he was ready to depart he said Lord into thy hands I commend my spirit and so he fell asleep in the Lord Anno Christi 1590 and of his age 61. In the discharge of his office he never spared any labour hee never shrunk under any trouble He wrote many Epistles to severall men upon several arguments A learned and rich man of Tubing after Doctor Andreas his death said that he had in his Library fifteen hundred bookes of his writing upon severall Arguments H. ZANCHY The Life of Hierom Zanchius who dyed A no Christi 1590. HIerom Zanchius was born at Atzanum in Italy Anno 1516. His Father was a Lawyer who brought him up at School and when Zanchy was but twelve years old his Father died of the Plague Anno Christi 1528 at which time Zanchy was at School where he was instructed in the Liberall Sciences When he came to the age of fifteen years being now deprived of both his parents observing that divers of his kindred were of the order of Canons Regular amongst whom he judged that there were divers learned men being exceeding desirous of Learning he entered into that Order where hee lived about twenty years and studied Arts and School-Divinity together with the Tongues He was very familiar with Celsus Martiningus joyning studies with him was a diligent hearer of Peter Martyrs publick Lectures at Luca upon the Epistle to the Romans and of his private Lectures upon the Psalmes which he read to his Canons This drew his mind to an earnest study of the Scriptures He read also the Fathers especially St. Augustine with the most learned Interpreters of the Word of God And thereupon he preached the Gospel for some years in the purest manner that the time and place would suffer And when Peter Martyr left Italy so that his godly Disciples could no longer live in safety there much lesse have liberty of Preaching about twenty of them in the space of one year left their station and followed their Master into Germany amongst whom Zaâ—chy was one Being thus as he used to say delivered out of the Babylonish captivity anno Christi 1550. He went first into Rhetia where he staied about eight moneths and from thence to Geneva and after nine moneths stay there he was sent for by Peter Martyr into England but when he came to Strasborough he staid there to supply Hedio's room newly dead who read Divinity in the Schooles which was in the yeare 1553. He lived and taught Divinity in that City about 11 yeares sometimes also reading Aristotle in the Schools yet not without opposition old James Sturmius the Father of that University being dead Yea his adversaries proceeded so far as to tell Zanchy that if hee would continue to read there he must subscribe the Augustaâ—e Confession to which hee yeelded for peace-sake with this proviso modò Orthodoxâ—e intelligatur declaring his judgement also about Christs presence in the Sacrament wherewith they were satisfied And thus he continued to the year 1563 being very acceptable to the good and a shunner of strife and a lover of concord At the end whereof the Divines and Professors there accused him for differing from them in some points about
Heretick to hang there he answered Quòd quamvis Haereticus Adversarius esset esset tamen doctus Adversarius that though hee was an Heretick and his Adversary yet he was a learned Adversary In the whole course of his disease which was a Fever hee demeaned himself quietly and mildly acknowledging God to be the author of his disease to whose will hee willingly submitted himself without the least sign of impatiency saying with Job Lord my God though thou kill me yet I am sure that with these eyes I shall see thee for in thee do I hope In his habit countenance and in the whole course of his life heâ— shewed forth piety and holynesse and in his private family where he most discovered himself he was the same man Hee was most patient in injuries which he quickly forgat was easily reconciled to those which deserved worst of him Hee was very charitable and liberal to the poor according to his estate which yet he alwaies carried privately that others might not take notice of it but especially he was most bountiful to such poor as were modest godly and industrious and yet more especially to such poor Students as were ingenious painful These he would often secretly furnish with mony and prefer them to places as far as by the Statutes of the Colledge he could In passing judgement upon other mens lives and actions he was alwaies very modest and moderate Those whom he saw doe well he would encourage and commend For those that brake out into inordinate practises he would grieve and mourn In his converse with his friends he was very courteous apert and pleasant Faithfull in keeping secrets prudent and grave in serious matters Alwaies most prompt and ready to assist his friends in every condition either with counsel comfort or money His piety towards his parents was singular towards whom he was very dutyfull and whom he supported being faln into decay through ill husbandry And that which added a lustre to his learning virtue and graces was that they were accompanied with Moses-like meekness and almost incredible humility For although hee was endued with a most sharp wit happy memory variety of reading excellent eloquence as ever was in any Divine and lastly with a most learned and polite judgement so that he was the Oracle of the University and miracle of the world yet did he not hold any singular or private opinion but what was agreeable to the sound Doctrine of the Word of God and the peace of the Church yea he was so humble that he despised not his inferiours but carried himself as a child that is weaned from his Mothers breasts Besides what works are mentioned before in his life and are printed he left divers others as Conciones ad Clerum Breves determinationes questionum Theologicarum Determinationes aliae pleniores Libollus contra Thomam Stapletonum de originali peccato L. DANAEVS The Life of Lambert Danaeus who died A no Christi 1596. LAmbaert Daneus was born at Orleance in France Anno Chr. 1530. He was of an acute wit and wonderfully addicted to learning so that by his diligence and extraordinary pains he attained to a great measure of knowledge and skill in all the Liberall sciences which he adorned by adding to the knowledge of them the study of the sacred Scriptures In his younger years he studied the civill Law four yeares at Orleance under that worthy and godly man Annas Burgius who being afterwards for his worth made one of the Parliament of Paris in the year 1559 for his constant defence and confession of the Truth was first strangled and then burnt Danaeus being stirred up by this rare example of his Masters piety changing his former purpose betook himself to the study of Divinity and embracing the Reformed Religion hee thereupon went to Geneva An. Christi 1560 where he wholly applyed himself to attain the knowledge of the Truth and by his extraordinary diligence reading over almost infinite Authors and by his wonderfull memory he easily attained to be esteemed one of the greatest Divines that lived in that age Hee was so versed in the Fathers and School-Divines that none excelled him and few attained to the like exactnesse therein whence one saith of him Marum est homuncionis unius ingenium tot tam diversas scientias haurire retinere potuisse At Geneva he was admitted into the number of Doctors and Pastors and by his learned labours was exceeding usefull both to the Church and University Eruditus enim animus semper aliquid ex se promit quod tum alios doceat delecteâ—ve tum seipsum laudibus illustret He alwaies employed himself in writing something whereby he might approve himself a godly Divine and excellent Scholar to all Learned men From Geneva hee was called to the University of Leiden where hee was received with much joy and was exceedingly admired for his learning acutenesse of wit promptnesse and strength of memory in alledging and reciting the sentences of the Fathers Schoolmen Canonisks and prophane writers From thence after a years â—â—ay he was called to Gaunt Anno Christi 1582 where hee taught not many yeares For when he perceived the City to bee so divided and full of tumults foreseeing the storm that was coming upon it hee left it and being sent for went into Navar where by his teaching and writing he made the University of Orthesia near to Spain famous And at last having by his extraordinary paines profited the Church and the Commonwealth of Learning and by his admirable fruitfull wit published very many bookes hee there laid down his earthly tabernacle Anno Christi 1596 and of his age sixty six His Works are these Elenchi Haereticorum Ethices Christianae lib. tres Tractat. de Amicitia Christiana De ludo Aleae Physices Christianae partes duae De venificis Methodus sacrae Scripturae utiliter tractandae Comment in Epist. ad Timotheum priorem In Mat. In Mar. Orationis Dominicae explicatio Tractatus de Antichristo In Pet. Lombardi lib. 1. Sententiarum Responsio ad novas Genebrardi calumnias Examen libri de duabus in Christo naturis Chemnitii Vera Orthodoxa Orthodoxae Patrum sententiae defensio c. Antosiander Ad insidiosum Osiandri scriptum c. De tribus gravissimis quaestionibus c. Ad Steph. Gerlacium Elenchus Sophismatum ejusdem Ad Selnecceri librum Loci communes Responsio ad Bellarmini disputationes Tabulae in Salomonis Proverb Eccles. Geographiae Poeticae Aphorismi Politici Politices Christianae lib. 7. Vetustissimarum primi mundi antiquitatum lib. 4. tum ex sacris tum aliis authoribus c. The Life of Robert Rollock who died Anno Christi 1598. RObert Rollock was born in Scotland of the ancient Family of the Levingstons Anno Christi 1555 of parents of good quality and credit His Father David Rollock being reasonable well learned
c. by all whom he was kindly entertained and so dearly beloved that each seemed to live in the other At his first coming to that University that he might the better arme himselfe against those manifold perturbations which all men especially the godly are molested withall he often and seriously meditated upon the History of Abraham And as often as he had any leisure he went to Geneva to converse with Calvin by whom he was much quickned to improve his parts for Gods glory and the Churches good And upon this he undertook that truly golden work begun by Marot but finished by him of turning the Psalms into French Metre which hee finished Anno Christi 1561 and which were often printed in sundry parts of France About this time many godly men and women flocked out of France to Lausanna which occasion Beza taking as sent from God expounded to them the Epistle to the Romans and afterwards the two Epistles to Peter which were the foundation of that excellent work which afterwards he compleated of turning the New Testament into Latine with Annotations upon the same About that time the Plague waxing hot in Lausanna Beza fell sick of it but Christ who intended him as an instrument of his glory in his Churches good restored him to health again Shortly after which he wrote a book de Haereticis à Magistratu puniendis occasioned by the aspersions raised by Laelius Socinus against Calvin and the Magistrates of Geneva for burning Servetus for his Heresie and Blasphemy He also wrote an explication of Christianity out of the Doctrine of eternall Predestination He also answered Joachim Westphalus about the Sacrament of the Lords Supper and afterwards published two learned Dialogues upon the same argument He answered Sebastian Castalio who sought to overthrow Eternall Election Anno Christi 1557 when the Sorbonists in Paris had raised that persecution against the Church of Christ wherein four hundred of them being met together in the night to hear the Word and receive the Lords Supper seven of them were afterwards burnt in the fire and the rest cast into chains and prisons The best means thought on to procure their release was by obtaining the Protestant German Princes to become Intercessors for them to Henry the 2d of France And thereupon Beza with some others were sent to the German Princes to engage them herein which also he obtained from them though it proved to little purpose in regard of the implacable malice of the French Courtiers against the servants of Christ. In that journey hee grew acquainted with Melancthon and they took much delight in the society of each other Having spent ten years at Lausanna as the Greek Professor with the good leave of the Senate of Bern he went to Geneva Anno Christi 1559 and lived with Calvin from whose side he seldom parted and was his great assistant both in matters of Doctrine and Disciplineâ— and that in the mean time he might not be wanting to the Schools he publickly interpreted Demosthenes Orations and part of Aristotle to the young Students And not long after upon the death of Claudius Pontanus he was chosen Pastor into his room He was also chosen the first Rector of the School in Geneva at which time he made an excellent and eloquent Oration in commendation of Learning in the presence of many grave and learned men both to encourage youths to the love of it and the Senators of Geneva to make a further progresse in the advancement of it For whereas the City of Geneva did at this time conflict with innumerable difficulties both at home and abroad which did almost swallow it up yet by the perswasion of thaâ— great Calvin it took so much courage that in that verâ— juncture of time the Senate founded and endowed thaâ— publick School which was a great ornament to the City and out of which issued abundance of godly and learned men to the great benefit of the Churches of God Shortly after at the request of certain Noblemen of France Beza was invited to visit Anthony King of Navar who at this time was at Nerac in Aquitane to conferre with him about some weighty matters but especially if it were possible through Gods mercy to confirm his mind in the true Religion For it was hoped that if that King who was the principall man of the Royall blood and like to govern the affairs of State in the minority of King Francis the second could be confirmed in the truth it would much conduce to the peace of the Churches and to the preservation of the lives of many who were cruelly burned by the Papists in sunday parts of the Kingdome Neither did this design want effect For Anno Christi 1561 the King of France dying at Orleance the King of Navar joyning with the Prince of Conde the Admirall Coligni d' Andelot and other Noblemen caused the Popish party to give over the butcheries and executions which they had formerly done upon many of Christs faithfull servants Charles the ninth coming to the Crown there were various actings about Religion whilst the Pontificians would advance their own and root out the Refoâ—med and on the contrary they of the Reformed Religion contended with all their might to promote their own and therefore lest these severall parties should cause commotions there were Edicts published in the Kings name requiring all upon severe penalty to abstain from arms and to keep the peace till certain select persons of each party at a certain time and place nominated should meet together to consider of the fittest way and means to preserve the publick peace many not onely of the common people but of the Nobility inclining to the Reformed Religion Hereupon the King of Navar sent Letters and Messengers to the Senate of Geneva requesting that Beza might be sent to that great meeting where such weighty matters should be transacted The Prince of Conde also requested the same Beza upon this set forward and came to Paris August the twentieth And the Queen Mother wrote also to the same purpose to the Senate of Zurick to send Peter Martyr to her which accordingly they did and Martyr came to Paris The chief of the Pontificians also repaired to this meeting though they had declared that such as had been long agoe condemned for Heresie ought not to be conferred withall There came also many Ministers of the Reformed Churches in France as Nich. Gallasius August Marlorat Jo. Raimund Merlin Francis Sampaulius Francis Morellus Jo. Malotius Jo. Spinaeus Claudius Bossierus Nich. Folius Mat. Virellus John Tornaeus and N. Barbastus For they had the publick Faith given them for their safe coming stay and return at their pleasures August the three and twentieth they met together at Saint Germans where the Protestants dâ—bating who shou'd speake for them they unanimously chose Beza as a man every way fitted for that employment and
with his terrors and with inward tentations so that his life was almost wasted with heaviness yet thereby he learned more and more to know Christ Jesus About that time there was a General Assembly of the Church at Perth unto which some that lived in the North of Scotland sent to desire that a Minister might be sent unto them whereupon the Assembly appointed Master Cowper for that place and accordingly wrote to him by Master Patrick Simpson who coming to Sterling delivered to him the Letters from the Assembly and those from the Town containing his calling to the work of the Ministry in that place And so shortly after the Town sent their Commissioners to transport him and his family thither In that place he continued doing the work of the Lord for ninteen years together where he was a comfort to the best and a wound to the worser sort Besides the Sabbath dayes he chose thrice a week to convene the people together in the Evenings viz. Wednesdayes Fridayes and Saturdayes for a preparation to the Sabbath upon which daies they had no preaching in the morning concerning which meetings himself writes That it would have done a Christians heart good to have seen those glorious and joyfull assemblies to have heard the zealous cryings to God amongst that people with sighings and tears and melting hearts and mourning eyes And concerning himself he saith My witnsse is in heaven that the love of Jesus and his people made continual preaching my pleasure and I had no such joy as in doing his work And besides that he preached five times a week he penned also whatsoever hee preached many of which holy and godly Sermons are extant in print All the time of his abode there except some little intermissions and breathing times the Lord still exercised him with inward tentation and great variety of spiritual combats the end of all which through Gods mercy was Ioy unspeakable as himself testifies Yea once saith he in greatest extreamitie of horror and anguish of spirit when I had utterly given over and looked for nothing but confusion suddenly there did shine in the very twinkling of an eye the bright and lightsome countenance of God proclaming peace and confirming it with invincible reasons O what a change was there in a moment the silly soul that was even now at the brink of the pit looking for nothing but to be swallowed up was instantly raised up to heaven to have fellowship with God in Christ Jesus and from this day forward my soul was never troubled with such extremity of terrors This confirmation was given unto me on a Saturday in the morning there found I the power of Religion the certaintie of the word there was I touched with such a lively sense of a Divinitie and power of a Godhead in mercy reconciled with man and with me in Christ as I trust my soul shall never forget Glory glory glory be to the joyfull deliverer of my soul out of all adversities for ever In the middest of these wrestlings with God he wanted not combats with wicked men also but the greatnesse of his inward conflicts made him lightly regard all their outward contradictions and to esteem them but as the bitings of a Flea It was no marvel to see Satan stir up his wicked instruments to molest him since he professed himself a disquieter of him and his Kingdom Yet this much supported him that he never had a controversie with any of them but for their sins And the Lord assisting him the power of the Word did so hammer down their pride that they were all of them at last brought to an acknowledgement of their evil wayes But at length as God turned the heart of Pharoah and his people from the Israelites when the time drew on for their remove so by little and little did the zeal and love of most of that people fall away so that his last conflict was not with the prophane but with Justitiaries and such as were unrebukeable in their lives These men were stuffed with such pride self-conceit disdain and intolerable contempt that thereby they were carried further from their duty then any of the former and they which should have been his greatest comfort were his greatest cross Presently hereupon God called him to the Government of the Churches in Galloway in the South-West parts of the kingdom being chosen by the Assembly and presented by the King thereunto This was done without his privity or ambitious us seeking after it yea he was so far from it that eighteen weeks passed betwixt the Kings Presentation and his Acceptation of â—t In that place he was very carefull to advance the Gospel and to adorn his Ministery Concerning the frame of his spirit thus he writes My soul is alway in my hand ready to be offered to my God Where or what kind of death God hath prepared for me I know not But sure I am there can no evil death befall him that lives in Christ nor sudden death to a Christian Pilgrim who with Job waits very hour for his change Yea saith he many a daie have I sought it with teaâ—es not out of impatience distrust or perturbation â—ut because I am weary of sin and fearful to fall into it This faithful servant of God who had alwaies been faithful and painful in his Ministery when sickness grew daily upon him was no way deficient in the duty of his ordinary preaching Taking great pains also to perfect his work upon the Revelations which he desired greatly to finish before his death He had also much grief by reason of some that disturb'd the peace of the Church which he alwaies sought to procure so that his infirmity encreasing he was compelled to keep home yet as his weakness permitted he applyed himself to revise his writings and to dispose of his worldly estate that he might be ready for his passage which every day he exspected some ten daies before his decease he manifested to his friends what great contentment he had in his approaching death Many repaired to him in his sickness whom he entertained with most holy and divine conferences expressing a great willingnesse to exchange this life for a better and at last feeling his strength and spirits to decay after he had conceived a most heavenly prayer in the company of those that were by he desired to you to bed in which also after he had most devoutly commended himself unto Almighty God hee tooke som◠〈◊〉 rest After which time he spake not many words 〈…〉 failing though his memory and understanding 〈…〉 and so about seven a clock at night he rendred 〈…〉 most quiet and peaceable manner An Christi 1619. Some of his private meditations were these Now my soul be glad for at all parts of this prison the Lord hath set to his Pioners to loose thee Head feet milt and liver are
he gat so great esteem in Italy that he was profered a Pension of five hundred Duckats by the year to imploy himself in the version of some Arabick books into Latine He spent four years in travel and was famous every where for his learning At Paris and some other places he bought many Arabick books and so returned to Leiden Anno Christi 1612. About which time there was a purpose to have called him into England and to have allowed him an honourable stipend but the year after he was chosen Professor of the Oriental languages in Leiden and presently after he set up though with extraordinary charges a Press for those Languages whereby he published many antient Monuments both of his own and other mens Anno Christi 1616 he married a Wife by whom he left three children surviving him Anno Christi 1619 he was made Professoâ— of the Hebrew also and though he had so many and great employments yet he went through each of them with so great exactnesse as if he had nothing else to attend upon Anno Christi 1620 he was sent by the Prince of Orange and the States of Holland into France to procure Peter Moulin or Andrew Rivet to come to Leiden to be the Divinity Professor and though he prevailed not at that journey yet they sent him again the year after to Andr. Rivet and the French-Church to obtain of them their consents for his comming which businesse he transacted with so great prudence that he brought Andrew Rivet along with him to Leiden Erpenius his fame was so great that the King of Spain wrote to him making him exceeding great promises if he would come into Spain to interpret some antient writings which never man yet could doe The King of Morocco also did so exceedingly admire the purity of his Arabick stile in some of his Epistles that he shewed them to his Nobles and other learned men as some great Miracle He was also highly esteemed of by the Prince of Orange and the States of Holland who often made use of his labours in translating the letters which they received from Princes in Asia and Africa out of Arabick or other Languages But whilst he was thus busily imployed in publick and private it pleased God that he fell sick of the Plague whereof he dyed Anno Christi 1624 and of his age forty A. SCVLTETVS The Life of Abraham Scultetus who dyed A no Christi 1624. ABraham Scultetus was born at Grunberg in Silesia Anno Christi 1566. His Parents were of good rank who carefully brought him up at School where he profited exceedingly and Anno Christi 1582 he went to Uratislavia where he had for his fellow-Students Pitiscus Polanus and Pelargus men who after proved eminent in the Church of God Having studied there some time he went thence to Freistade to hear Melancthon Bucâ—lzer and some others But his active spirit could not long be contained within the bounds of his own country and therefore being assisted by the bounty of a Noble Knight he went to Wittenberg and from thence to Dessavia to acquaint himself with Peter Martyr and Caspar Pucer Anno Christi 1590 he went to Heidleberg where hee heard Dâ—niel Tossan and Francis Junius There also he read Lectures of Logick Oratory and Astronomy to divers young Noblemen and the year after Commenced Master of Arts. Then he betook himself to the study of Divinity thereby to fit himself for the Ministry which from his childhood he had devoted himself to And preaching before the Elector Palatine he so flowed with eloquence and sweetnesse of speech that the Prince and all his Courtiers were much delighted in him which caused the Elector to make him Visitor both of the Schools and Churches Yea many other Princes made use of his help in reforming their Churches in Juliers Brandenburg and Hannovia He was also sent to the Synod of Dort Anno Christi 1612 the Prince Elector Palatine tooke him into England with him where he was much esteemed and respected by King James and other learned men At his retuâ—n to Heidleberg he was made Professor in the University and Doctor in Divinity Anno Christi 1618 But about that time grievous Wars breaking forth the miseries whereof were dispersed afterwards over all Germany he was forced to leave Heidleberg and travelled into Bohemia yet there also he met with many afflictions and dangers so that having been long tossed up and down in several countries the Lord at last provided him a quiet station at Embden where he was chosen a Preacher of the Gospel But being thus worn out with travels sorrows and pains in the work of the Ministry hee quietly there slept in the Lord Anno Christi 1624 and of his age 58. What admirable endowments he had his works do sufficiently declare especially his Medulla Patrum which is so much esteemed by learned men The Life of John Piscator who died A no Christi 1625. JOhn Piscator was born at Strasborough Anno Christi 1546 at which time Germany was on fire with Civill Wars Yet that hindred not but he followed his studies very hard and profited exceedingly in learning When he came to the study of Logick with great felicity he joyned Ramus and Aristotle together And afterwards having made a good progresse in the study of Divinity he was called to Herborn to be the Professor there and his labours were so gratefull to young Students that many flocked thither out of Germany France Hungary Poland and other Northern Countries He wrote many things with great diligence and labour scarce affording any rest to himself He translated the whole Bible with great pains and faithfulnesse into the German Tongue besides his Logical and Theological Analysis of the greatest part of it He died at Herborn Anno Christi 1625 and of his age 80. R BOLTON The Life of Robert Bolton who died A no Christi 1631. RObert Bolton was born at Blackborn in Lancashire Anno Christi 1572. His Parents finding in him a great prompâ—nesse to learning though they had no great means yet they intended him for a Scholar the rather having an opportunity of a good Schoolmaster in the town where he profited exceedingly and at twenty years old he went to Lincoln Colledge in Oxford and was Master Randal's Pupil afterwards a famous Preacher there in a short time being wel grounded before and industrious he became an excellent Logician and Philosopher But about that time his father dying and his meanes failing hee took excessive paines and wanting bookes he borrowed of his Tutor and others read them over and abridged them and to perfect his knowledge in the Greek he wrote out all Homer with intollerable pains so that he could with as much facility dispute in the Schools in Greek as in Latine or English From thence he removed to
by sending to forreign Kings and Princes by provoking them of Vtrich who began to quail profering them help to prevent the putting down of their Magistrate and disbanding their Souldiers Whereupon the States of the united Provinces required the Prince of Orange to imprison the heads of the contrary faction viz. Barnevelt Rombert Hagerbetius Hugh Grotius Giles Ledenbergius and to disband the rest of the souldiery that was collected in Holland To purge the Cities of disaffected Magistrates and to substitute better in their rooms All which were effected without any tumult or effusion of blood so displeasing were those Mastrates to the Citizens after which all the other Magistrates consented to the Synod appointed at Dort In this Synod the flower of all the Reformed Churches met together and amongst them our Wallaeus who had a place assigned him amongst the Low-country Professors and was appointed one of the Directors of the Synod but that the Pastors had in private agreed amongst themselves to chuse only such as were Professors It was the unhappiness of the Remonstrants that they had Simon Episcopius for their President who was a hot imprudent and cholerick man by whose advice it was that the Remonstrants would not submit to the Laws of the Synod wherefore the work of the Synod was to finde out the state of the Controversie by the writings of the Remonstrants and accurately to propound it in the Fundamentals themselves To examine them by the Word of God and to see of what weight they were In the government of the whole Synod John Bogerman excelled being Prolocutor in it and indeed a more fit man could not have been chosen Festus Hommius was imployed in proposing the state of the Controversie who often conferred with Wallaeus about it But in weighing the controversies strengthening or enervating Arguments and in vindicating them from exceptions Wallaeus excelled whereupon when any difficulty arose as the Explication of the Epistle to the Romanes c. it was committed to Wallaeus If any thing was to be accurately and prudently defined it was committed to Waellaeus And he was chosen for one of those that drew up the Canons of the Synod and set down reasons why the Doctrine of the Remonstrants was rejected And it was judged that the wisdom of Wallaeus prevailed much to procure the unanimous consent of the Synod thereunto Wherefore of the Politicians and strangers who had no cause of envy he was much esteemed yea he so demeaned himself that Giles Bursius his aemulus acknowledged that Wallaeus excelled all in the Synod who made this acknowledgement to the Wallacrian Classis from whom he was delegated God so blessed the labors of all in this Synod that the Remonstrants themselves had no cause to complain Controversies were so decided difficulties so expedited that all godly and learned men were abundantly satisfied and from thence forwards the roots of Remonstrancy were so cut off that presently it began to wither And all things were managed with that modesty all things dispatched with that unanimous consent that never was the like from the Primitive times All Controversies being now determined and the Cause of the Remonstrants judged the chief Patrons of the Remonstrants were condemned of Treason by the Delegates of the States of the United Provinces 1. The persons condemned were Barnevelt Hogerbetius Grotius and Ledenburgius This last by killing himself prevented the punishment And James Schot Consul of Middleborough one of those Delegates was sent by the States to Dort to fetch Wallaeus to the Hague who accordingly brought him thither May the 12. privily that so the people might have no suspition of the punishment intended to the Remonstrants By the way he told Wallaeus that the States sent for him to prepare the Prisoners for death they judging that by his prudence and perswasions he might best of all other men effect it VVallaeus when he saw that he could not avoid the employment yet desired that he might not be the first messenger of death to them that he might be spared from dealing at all with Grotius in regard of his former friendship contracted with him and that he might not be present at their death which he could not bear without much trouble of minde Being come to the Hague in the Evening â—chot went to the Deputies and Judges to acquaint them that VVallaeus was come and to tell them what request he had made to him Whereupon the Advocates Fiscal were sent to Barnevelt to tell him that the next day he was to be judged and put to death and Schot in the mean time went to VVallaeus to tell him that his requests were granted that Hogerbetius and Gâ—otius though they were condemned should not be executed but kept in perpetual Prison That the Advocates Fiscal were sent to Barnevelt to acquaint him that the next day he was to dye and that therefore the Delegates and Judges requested him to make haste to him and so about six a clock VVallaeus was conducted to the Prison to Barnevelt When he came into his chamber he found him full of perplexity writing to his wife and children to acquaint them with the message of his death and at first he was unwilling to have any speech with Wallaeus but after a while he became more calm yet complained of the hard measure that he met with from the States whom he had served for forty three years He would feign have taken some rest that night but could not The next morning when he had heard his sentence read he was had to the place of Execution at which time he told the people that he dyed not a Traitor but a Patriot At the place of Execution he asked his man whether no man came Belike expecting a Pardon but when his servant told him that there was none kneeling down his head was cut off The day following Wallaeus returned to Dort and attended upon the affairs of the Synod till the end of May at which time he had some money given him and with the rest was invited to a Publick Feast and afterwards with some principal men he was privately feasted by the States Delegates and so was dismissed honorably These things being dispatched the States of Holland least the commotions now suppressed should break forth again thought fit in the first place to take care of the University of Leiden which was the Seminary both of their Church and State And for that end they resolved to add to John Poliander the Divinity Professor Andrew Rivet Anthony Wallaeus and Anthony Thysius To Rivet they sent Thomas Erpenius the Arabick Professor To Thysius Adrian Pavius Synâ—ic of Amsterdam And to Wallaeus Rochus Honartius Senator of the Supream Court and Peter Deiman chief Consul of Leiden who came to him to Middleborough in the midst of July to acquaint him with his Election and to urge him to accept of it They also presented him with the Letters of
these two men the thing was granted so that Anno Christi 1628 the Interpreters of the Old Testament repaired to Leiden who were John Bogerman William Bâ—udartius and Gerson Bucer The year after they met together who were to Translate the New Testament and the Apochrypha and these were Anthony Wâ—llaeus Festus Hâ—mmius and James Rolâ—â—dus These men set upon the work with unwearyed labor And that which they aimed at was to make a new and accurate version out of the Originals and as much as the Geniuâ— of the Language would permit to translate it word for word and whereas in the Original any word might admit of a various Interpretation they endeavoured to finde out some Dutch word that might answer to it And where any thing seemed obscure they labored to explain it by Marginal Notes and where any thing was doubtful to resolve it whereby they often gave a reason of their version they added also Parallel Scriptures When the Translators of the New Testament had proceeded to the end of the Acts of the Apostles James Rowland dyed in whose room Jodicus Hoingius succeeded and when the Translators of the Old Testament had proceeded to the beginning of Ezekiel Bucer dyed in whose room Anthony Thysius was substituted Assoon as they had finished any Book and imparted it each to other they printed it and sent it to certain supervisors in every Province appointed thereunto to be by them again examined When the whole version was thus finished An. Chri. 1634. by the order of the States General all the Supervisors met together at Leiden who were Anthony Thysius John Polyander Abdias Witmarius Jodocus Larenus Arnoldus Teeckmannus Bernard Fullenius James Revius and Francis Gomarus Not long after also the Supervisors of the New Testament met there who were Sâ—bastian Dammannus John Arnoldi Lindanus William Nieuhusius Charles Demaet Lodowick Gerhardus Bernard Fullenius Gasper Sibelius and Henry Altingius These Supervisors being met together chose their Moderarators Assessors and Scribes and then at their daily meetings having first implored the presence and assistance of Almighty God they were demanded whether they had found any thing in the Translation that needed change and what the Translators and Supervisors agreed upon that was concluded And so this great work was compleated Anno Christi 1635. And this was very observable That the same year a great Plague raged in the Low-Countries and especially in Leiden wherein there dyed twenty thousand persons and yet through Gods mercy not one of the Translators or Supervisors was touched with it no nor was ever sick all that while All being thus finished the Supervisors returned to their several imployments but the Translators committed the work to the Press and themselves were the Overseers to see to the correcting of it At the same time printing it with and without Notes in Folio which was finished Anno Christi 1637. At which time they presented it to the States who liked it excellent well and presently gave order that no other Bible should be used either in Churches or Schools which was accordingly followed The Remonstrants appointed four of their greatest Scholars to examine this translation for fear of partiality but when they found how candidly and faithfully the Translators had dealt they also accepted of it and it is judged the most exquisite translation that is extant In the version of Luther there is not so much skill shewed in the Language In the French they do not so much tie themselves to the words as to the sence And the English seems to favour Episcopacy too much whereas no remarkable defect can be observed in this and indeed the Translators did by their excessive and defatigable pains so wear out themselves that all of them dyed within three years after After he had concluded this great and tiresome work he attended his Professorship thinking to ease his minde and repair his decayed strength But he scarce had rested two moneths when he fell upon his Cases of Conscience For he found that the Pontificians in their Books whilst they pretended to reprove sin did but teach it And the Reformed Divines in many things filled the minds of the Readers with too many scruples whereas that only ought to be condemned which the Scripture accounts a sin and that therein also some cautions were necessary for we ought not so much to reprove those that are bad as to seek their amendment But before he had well begun this work he was again made Magnifique Rector of the University which place as it was of the greatest dignity in the City of Leiden so of the greatest care In the midsts of these imployments he found his Memory to begin to decay and his strength to fail so that he was forced to write his Lectures more largely then he was wont to do which he carryed on till he came to the Head concerning the Holy Ghost at which time death prevented his further progress Thus much for his publick life Now for his private He was not splendid abroad and sordid at home but always equal like himself He studyed no delights and was far from all lasciviousness His only recreation was to adorn his Orchard He was free from covetousness seldom looking after his outward estate and at length wholly divolved that burthen upon his eldest son called John He affected not vain-glory his habit was not costly yet therein he was rather negligent then sordid He had always a large house which was rather commodious then sumptuous In converse he was no boaster either of his Learning Judgement or Wit He never either extolled himself or debased others no not his Adversaries He never inserted reproaches into his publick Writings He never chose any subject to write on for ostentation but only such as might be most profitable to the Church He never sought for nor took great titles It was always his glory rather to be then to seem He never affected ease He was always much grieved for the afflictions of the Church And endeavoured in all things to keep a good and a clear Conscience He would never to gratifie friends give any other counsel then such as beseemed him either to the Church or Magistrate Neither did he ever request any for his children or kindred of which they were not worthy or might any way tend to the detriment of others When as the Magistrates of Leiden had often proffered him the house wherein Arminius dwelt and wherein now his widdow and children remained he would never accept of it till as when they saw that they could stay in it no longer themselves came to him and requested him to take it thanking him that he had deferred it so long He never hunted after the favour of great men thereby to enrich himself He only desired their favour so far as might be fit for him and advantagious to the Church If any thing was spoken in his presence which
conversion His Baptism His zeal and courage His Apology for the Christians to the Senate His Apologie to the Emperour Injustice used to the Christians He prevails for favour to the Christians He goes to Rome A prediction His Martyrdom His zeal against Heresies His sayings His zeal His works His birth and education Ordained Minister His zeal against Heresies He was studious of peace He is made Bishop of â—yâ—ons in France Satans malice His zeal against Heresies He is sent to Rome His writings The prophaneness of Hereâ—icks The immutability of Cerdon Miracles continued in the Church His courage and painfulness A great Persecution His martyrdom His sayings His works His birth and education His excellent learning He is Ordained a Presbyter His zeal against Heresies He defends the Christians Persecution increaseth Religion His learned works This was counted an unparalleld crime in Mr. Thomas Edwards A Souldiers humility His frequency in prayer The manner of his conversion His study of the Scriptures The danger of envy His death His sayings His works His Learning and Ordination His zeal against heresies His writings His sayings His works His birrth His parentage and education The reasons of his names His early desire of Martyrdom He encourages his Father His studies God provides for him His hatred of Heresie His early Preaching He inconrageth the Martyrs Gods Providence over him The Gentiles hated him extreamly The fruit of his Ministry His Chastity He gelded himself He is ordained a Presbyter He is envyed by his great friend He is forced to leave Alexandria He instructs the Emperours Mother He reclaimed Ambrose His Persecutions He is ensnared He is Excommunicated A special Providence Psal. 50. 16. His torments of Conscience His Lamentation He means the living Saints His studiousness His converts many He wrote the first Commentaries on the Scriptures He goeth into Arabia His works He reclaims Hereticks He is persecuted His death His sayings His works His birth and education His Conversion His charity He is made Bishop His modesty His humility His charity His magnanimity His Fidelity His Courage His Charity to Exiles His studiousness His Chastity â—in the fore â—unner of Persecution The sins of Professors A Vision Another Vision He vindicates the Christians from scandals He goes into exile A faithful Pastor He is again banished His apprehension His martyrdom His courage His charity His charity His sayings His works Persecution His works His commendations Constantines esteem of Eusebius A sedition in Antioch A Synod Eusebius reproved His birth and education His works A great persecution Gods Pâ—ovidence His Câ—â—tentatiâ—n His birth and education He goes to the Council of Nice His zeal against Heresies He is made Bishop of Alexandria He is persecuted by the Arians He is accused to the Emperour He is cleared by Constantine He is again accused The falsehood and subtilty of Hereticks His prudence He is again cleared by the Emperour The Church prospers under him He is again accused and cited to a Council of Arians His charge Forgeries against him His answer Gods providence He goes from the Council He is unjustly deposed And complained of to the Emperour Dissenters in the Council Athanasius banished by the Emperour Seditions raised by Arius Alexander prays against Arius Arius his equl vocation and prejury Gods just judgement upon Arius His wretched death Heretical lyes Athanasius his judgement of Ariâ—â—'s death Constantines death Heretical subtlety The danger of suffering hereticks amongst great persons The danger of heresie Athanasius returns to Alexandria Constantines Letâ—er to the people of Alexandria The Arians raise tumults against Athanasius The cruelty of Hereticks A special providence 〈◊〉 flies to 〈◊〉 His return to Alexandria Hereticks falsâ—hood 〈◊〉 flyeth Constance defendeth him Constantius his letter to Athanasius His second letter to Athanasius His third letter to Athanasius Julius his Letter in the behalf of Athanasius Athanasius goeth into the East His prudence Constantius his Letter to the Alexandrians in the behalf of Athanasius His Letter to the Governor of Alexandria Athanasius is restored by a Council He is again accused by the Aâ—ians Bishop Paulus murthered Others persecuted Athanasius flyeth His Apology for it Their wicked practises of the Arians Their cruetly against the Orthodox A Council summoned in â—word â— Athanasius condemned by a Conventicle His prudence He is sent for to the Emperour He is again banished A special providence The cruelty of the Arians Georgius slain by the Gentiles Athanasius 〈…〉 His return to Alexandria He is banished by Julian Gods providence over him Athanasius in Alexandria He is again complained of to Jovianus He returns to Alexandria See the Life of Jovian in my second Part. Athanasius flyeth again He is again restored The cruelty of the Arian Hereticks His death His works His works He is deposed His appeal His reformation His patience His charity Gods judgement on the Jews Testimonies of him His death His sayings The benefit of hearing His works His birth and education His excellent learning His Chastity His patience His humility His charity His care for the poor in a Famine His death An enemy to Hereticks His chastity His humility His charity His savings The bought of perseverance His works His birth His education His zeal against Heresie A good Pastor A special providence His zeal His courage and constancy His zeal His courage An excellent speech His zeal Death desired for Christs cause His courage and constancy A Miracle His death His sayings Love Scriptures Erasmus his Testinonie of Basil. His works His Character His education His zeal against Heresie He is made Bishop of Nazianzum His judgment on Julian A description of Julian His excellent parts His modesty His excellent gifts His desire of Martyrdom Eloquence His saying Preaching His birth and education His Conversion Hereticks seek to ensnare him His commendations Made Bishop of Salamine Preachers pattern His zeal against Heresies Epiphanius abused by Theophilus Origens books condemned Epiphanius his weakness His contests with Chrysostom Two Pâ—edictions His death His sayings Hatred cured His works His birth A Prodigy His education A special providence Ambrose baptized He is made Bishop His fidelity and courage Justina's malice The people resist her The Emperour enraged against Ambrose His courage and constancy A passionate act of Theodosius Ambrose his speech to Theodosius He excommunicates Theodosius Theodosius his humility He seeks for absolution The Emperours mâ—dness How to prevent sinful anger Theodosius absolved Special providences Profaness punished His charity His death Repentance not to be delayed True charity Conscience Death His works His parentage His learning He is made Bishop He is banished His zeal to do good Scriptures His works His sayings Usury His parentage His birth His learning His zeal against Heresie His charity His works Theodisius his wisdom His death His saying His works His birth and parentage His education He goes to Rome His studies His travels 〈…〉 choose Hierom goes into Syria His sickness His troubles by the Arians His
His conference with a Fryar The Fryars rage against him His constancy His comfort before death An excellent speech He puts his finger into the candle His faith An excellent speech His charity His martyrdom His patience His death His birth and education His zeal His remove into Glocestershire Blindeness of Papists Mr. Tindals wisdom The fruits of it Popish malice and ignorance He is accused He prayeth for strength He is railed at Popish blasphemy Mr. Tindals zeal He departs from Master Welch Gods providence He goes into Germany His zeal The Bible translated first into English His conference with Luther His excellent works The benefit come by them His prudence Satans malice against the truth His great afflictions Mr. Coverdal assists him A widows charity Popish lyes The Bible prohibited to be read Popish malice He is betraâ—â—d A Judas Cast into prison Means used for his release His martyrdom A jalor converted Gods judgment on a persecutor A Conjuâ—er prevented by Mr. Tindals presence His sincerity His works His birth and education His preferments His conversion A disputation Another disputation The questions A refâ—rmation His death His birth His education His studiousness His remove to Basil. And thâ—n to Ingolstade He is ill dealtxs with He turns souldier He is freed by â—â—cius He is made a Professor in Ingolstade Erasmus testimony of him He goes to Auspurg He joins with Zuinglius Anabaptists disturb the peace of the Church He disputes with a she-Anabaptist He is driven away by Papists His return His marriage His constancy His comfortable conference with Luther The Dukes love unfeigned to him He is made superintendent His sickness His death He desired a sudden death His works His birth His education He settles at Wittenberg A disputation He reforms Wittenberg His remove to Orlamund Luthers infirmities He is bannished by Luthers means His great afflictions He writes to Luther His return into Saxony His death His birth His education He studyes Physick And Divinity Love unfeigned He is chosen Pastor at Basil He is chosen to Ments He favours the Gospel His advice to Luther He goes to Strasborough He is sent to by the Queen of Navar. He affects peace A disputation at Bern. His death His character His birth His education His study of Divinity He is made Pastor at Zurick He translates the Bible His death The confession of his faith His works His birth and education His preferments Luther directs him in his studies His imployments His tentations Luthers counsel therein His death His works His birth His education He enters into a Monastery His bodily exercises His diligence in reading Indulgences brought into Germany Popish blasphemies Myconius well educated Popish covetousness The means of his Conversion The Gospels swift progress Love unfeigned He endeavors 〈◊〉 quiet the Anabaptists His marriagâ— His zeal in preaching He is sent into England King Henry the Eight his hypocrisie His return into Germany An heroical resolution Reformation in Misna and Thuringia Luthers prayer for Myconius A prophetical prayer His recovery Power of Prayer His character His death His works His birth His education His Conversion He goes to Geneva From thence to Strasborough So to Ratisbone He is tempted His conference with Malvenda Popish treachery He is tempted Devillish hypocrisie He is advised not to go with his brother He is basely murthered The murtherers apprehended Escape unpunished Gods judgement upon Alphonsus His birth His fathers plety His education He studies Hebrew He is called back to Wittenberg His delight in simples He assists in translating the Bible His learning His works The preachers pattern He studyes the Mathematicks His last sickness Prayer of Faith His carriage in sickness A wonder His death His character His works His birth and education He is ordained a Minister and Paster in Strasborough His conversion Articles against him His constancy Reformation in Strasborough His assistants His death His character His works His birth and education His works His birth His education He teaches School He studies the Tongues His poverty His diligence He is made Pastor at Isna He is an excellent Hebrician He sets up a Press His carriage in a Plague-time His remove to Strasborough His remove to Heidleberg Religion goes to ruine His constancy The Bible translated His death Popish malice His character His works His birth His education He is made Preacher at Heidleberg His Conversion His zeal Popish malice An. Chr. 1521. He goes with Luther to Worms His troubles He goes to Strasborough Reformation in Strasborough A disputation at Marpurg He disputes with the Papists A blessed peace-maker He reforms Vlm. His Apology at Zurick His imployments Hermannus sends for him The Interim made Bucer disowns it A persecution about the Interim He is sent for into England His imployment there His sickness His indefatâ—gableness His sickness His faith His death Popish malice The Cardinals testimony of him His works His birth and education His conversion He goes to Strasborough Reformation at Strasborough His marriage He is sent for to 〈◊〉 His danger and return His diligence His death His works His birth and education He is made a Schoolmaster Removes to Zurick From thence to Lucern His conversion Goes back to Zurick Thence to Basil He is made a Deacon And a Pastor He adheres to Luther His death His works His Birth His Education His first preferment He professeth the reformed religion He reforms his Country He is ordained His holy life His industry His prudence to improve his parts Synods His works His Constancy His Birth A miracle of mercy His Conversion His call to Wittenburg His employmentâ— in the Schoolâ—â— He reforms some Churches He is called to Hale His death His Character His Tâ—â—tation His works His birth and education He goes to Antwerp His conversion His mariage He goes to Wittenberg His returm to England His zeale and courage His courage and constancy His usage before the Councell His condemnation His speech upon iâ— Gardners cruelty He is warned to preâ—are for death He is degraded â—is constancy His Patience and Martyrdom 〈…〉 A speciall providence His prophesies His cheerfulnes charity His birth and Education He is bound an Apprentice He is released His return to Cambridg Frequent in prayer He commenceth Master of Arts. He is Ordained Minister The success of his Ministry He maâ—ieth a wife His remove to Liâ—hfield Then into Lecestershire Then to London Queen Maâ—ies coming in His zeal He is taken prisoner His faithfulnes Preacher's pattern A faithful Pastor His courage constancy Popish malice Bonner ignâ—â—ance His courage His conference with Gardiner Holy charity Comfort in affliction The best Legacy His zeal A good conscience better then life A brave speech His Martyrdâ—â—e Popish cruelty His admirable patience His Letter to his Wife Doctor Pendleton a turn-coat Proud presumption 〈◊〉 His Education His conversion He leaves the University His conference with Gardiner Flight in persecution He flies into Germany His marriage He returns to England Bullingers
1555. Gods judgements on the wicked He conforts the English in persecution And the persecuted French Gribaldus favours Servetus Gods judgment on him Calvin accused bâ—â—some Ministers They are punished for it 1556. He falls sick of an Ague He recovers Faction and Famine Westphalus confuted And Castalio Persecution in Paris Christians slandlered Lies confuâ—ed Calvins care for them Gentilis an Heretick He infects some Is confuted Transylvania infected He is punished with death Calvin falls sick He hâ—tes idleneâ—se 1559. A persecution in France The King of France â—â—â—in A School built at Genevâ— Sancarus his heresies Confuted The Bohemian Waldenses Q. Elizabeth in England A French Ch. erected in England K. Charls in France Geneva threatned Defended by Calvin Heshusius answered Ecebolius his errors Confuâ—ed Gods judgements on him 1562. Civil war in France A prodigy 1563. His sickness increaseth His indefatigable pains 1564. His laâ—t Sermon The causes of his sickness His great patience He wil not intermit his labours His speech to the Ministers He goes to the Senate He receives the Sacrament He makes his Will Mr. Calvins Will. His speech to the Senators His speech to the Ministers Hiâ— Letter to Mâ— Viret Viret comes to him His Death Pezâ—s verses on him His Character 〈…〉 〈◊〉 admirable 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Slandâ—â—s answered His coâ—â—entation His works His birth and education Flight â—n persecutioâ— He challengeth tâ—e Papists His Theses He is driven from Basil. His Labors He goes to Geneva Popish malice Popish rage His zeal and courage The High Priests charge Popish malice Gods mercy He is driven from Geneva A speciall providence He goes to Metis He goes to Neocome His Friendship His death Sathans malice The great effects of his Ministery His Character His Works His great Learning Sent Legate into Germany His Policy He is sent for â—o Rome He is sent back inâ—o Germany Popish subtilty He bestirs himselfe in Germany He gives an account to the Pope He is sent to the Emperour The Emperor deals with the Pope about a Council Another Legat in vain He is well beloved He is suspected for a Lutheran His wonderfull conversion He retires to his brother Bishop of Pola is converted Gods mercy Sathans malice They are accused to the Inquisitors Popish malice A lying Prophet He goes to Manâ—ua And to Trent And to Venice Spira is a warning to him He goes into Rhetia His Death His Works His Birth His Education He goes to Friburg And to Wittenberg He commenceth Mr. of Arts. He goes to Madgeburg And to Jenes His Marriage He disputes with Menius And with Flacius His imprisonment His sickness His release His Flight in times of danger He goes to Lipsich He is made Professor of Divinity He is stâ—ut out of the Schools His courage He goes to Amberg Aâ—d to Heidleberg His sicknesse His death His works His Birth His Education His studiousnesse His conversion His zeal He is made Minister Preachers patterne power of the word His prudence Anabaptists madnesse Saâ—ans policy Gods mercy Another contention Division dangerous Brandenburgs courage and zeal Augustane Confession His marriage He goes to Tubing His trouble at Hale Unruly souldiers His Policy Popish malice His â—â—ight Gods mercy The Interim His Courage His danger A mâ—racle of mercy His flight A good Pastor He goes to Wirtemberg God preserves him He goes to â—asil Aâ—d to Hornburg He is invited to severall places The Dukes courage Reformation 〈◊〉 courage He goes to Trent His second marriage He is chosen to Stutgard He defends hâ—s Confession of Faiâ—h He goes to Worms Monasteries turned to schooles His sickness He makes his Will His patience His Death His Character His Works His birth and education He goes to Lions He goes to Bern. His death Popish malice His Character His eloquence The great fruit of his Ministry His Birth and Education He goes to Oxford He is chosen Huâ—anity Lectâ—rer His studiousnes His esteem of Peter Martyr He is expâ—lâ— tâ—e Colledge â—rought into the 〈◊〉 Humane infirmity A speciall providence His Recanâ—ation Gods providence Flight in persecution He goes to Frankfurt His Repentance He goes to Strasborough From thence to Zurick Charity to the Exiles Popish malice Gods mercy A blessed Peace-maker A Prediction Qu. Mary dyes Qu. Elizabeth succeedâ— A disputation appointed His paines in Reforming the Church He is made Bishop He preachâ—s at Pauls Crosse. His challenge to the Papists Hiâ— Charity His greaâ— painâ— A good Bishop His Family government He had heart of memory His death foreseen by him His preparation for death Preachâ—rs pattern Gal. 5. 16. Hiâ— speech to his family in his sicknesse Death desired Ambrose His faith His Death Martyrs testimony of his Apology His birth and education He goes to Wittenberg His diligence and zeal His first imployments Inhumane cruelty He is called to Julia. And to Ceglâ—dine He goes to Temeswert His many sold afflictions He is called to Thurin And from thence to Becknese A speciall providence He is taken prisoner Gods mercy He is called to Tholna His second marriage He is ordained His industry and zeal He goes to Calmantsem He is taken prisoner He is taken prisoner Turkish injustice He is again imprisoned Barbarous cruelty He is beaten cruelly Breach of promise Charity to him His Keepers cruelty Gods providence He is favoured by the Courtiers He is solicited to turn Renegado His courage He encourageth the Christian captives Gods mercy What he wrote in prison Three of his children die The meanes of his deliverance His release A great danger Gods providence Foolish pride The Friar baffled Gods judgment on a persecutor His Charity Another danger Gods providence His Death His zeal against Hereticks His Works His Birth and Education 〈…〉 His Conversion His zeal Sathans malice He flies to Berwick His Humility He goes to Frankfort And to Geneva He is sent for into Scotland His zeal The Mass abhorred The effect of his Ministry The Papists rage against him His great pains He writes to the Queen She scoffs at it He is called back to Geneva He leaves Scotland He is condemned His appeal He is sent for into Scotland His return into Scotland The Ministers summonâ—d The peoples zeal They are proscribed Imâ—ges demolished The Queens malice The Protestants write to the Queen Their zeal The Earl of Glencarns courage and zeale Mr. Knox his speech to the Lordâ— The Queens subtilty Her perfidiousnesse The Bishoâ— opposed Kâ—ox 〈◊〉 A Preâ—iction His Courage 〈◊〉 destroyed The peoples zeal The Queens policy St Johnstons rescued Idols destroyed Noâ—e Popish uncâ—eannesse The Qu. flies They write to the Queen The French match to Edâ—nborough Mr. Willock Minister of Edenborough Civil Wars about Religion The Queens blasphemy Qu. Eliz. assists the Protestants The Queens pride cruelty A speciall providence The Qu. dies Peace concluded M. Knox setled at Edneb Earl of Murray slain His losse bewailed A Prophesie Gods judgment on a scoffer Preachers pattern M. Lawson chosen to succeed him His last Sarmon His sincerity His
last sicknes His speech to the Lord of Morton A Prophecy His speech to the Ministers and Elders Death desired His Message to the Laird of Crang A Prophesy His preparation for death His sayings His tentations His faith His death His care for Church-Discipline Murrays speech His works His character His courage His Parentage His pain His poverty He goes to Paris His industry His diligence His imployments He is envied He is forbidden Philosophy He is called to another Colledge He is preferred in the University He is sought for by other Princes Is â—ade Dean of the University Flight in persecution He goes to the camp of Conde He travels into Germany His returne to Paris Popish cruelty He is murthered And basely abused His Works His birth and education He is made Chaplain to the Queen And to two Kings And Master of Bennet Colledge â—is sufferings in Queen Maries time He is made Archbishop of Canterbury The Bishops that consecrateâ— him His Charity His 〈◊〉 His Birth and Parentage Gods speciall providence over him His education He is sent to Embric His disposition He goes to Collen He commendeth Batchelor of Arts. He studies the Schoolmen And Fathers And Luther His conversion â—e commenâ—eth Mr. of Arts His paines in reading Lectures He studies the Tongues Reformation in the Monastery Power of the Word Anabaptists Tithes defended He confutes the Anabaptists His endeavours for peace He is banished He comes to Zurick He is chosen Pastor Preachers pattern Synods preserve peace He writes a Confession of Faith He confuâ—es Hereticks A Colledge erected A School erected Schwenfield's Error Confuted by Bullinger A Plague Luthers violence Melancthon grieved for it Bullinger answereth Luther His defence of the Tigurines Why the Helvetians refused to assist the Protestants Mr. Hooper lives with him The Interim Bullingers curtesie Ingratitude Calvin concurs with the Helvetian Divines Hee withdraws them from being mercenaries He encourageth the Reformation in England He writes against the Council of Trent He disclaimes Bolsecus His holy zeal He favours the English exilâ—s His zeal Blandrata's Heresies The infection of heresie Brentius contest with Bullinger Helvetiansagaine summoned to Trent Ochines errors and heresies And death A plague Bullingers sicknesse Power of prayer Manisold afflictions A confession of Faith Persecution in France His Charity His pains A dearth Fasting and Prayers The Massacre in France 1573. A new Statre His sicknesse 1574 He patience Death desired His Faith Why he desired death He taketh his farewel of the Ministers And of the Magistrates His death His Character His birth and education His humility His sicknesse His â—â—eech in his 〈◊〉 An excellenâ— speech Comfort at death His Death His Birth and Parentage His education He goes to Venice He goes to Venice His Poverty His Tentation His Marriage The Interim opposed by him He goes to Magdeburg And from thence to Jeans And to Ratisbone And to Suasborough His Death His Works His birth and education He goes to Basil. And Strasborough He is maâ—e Profeâ—â—or in Zuâ—â—â— He is made 〈◊〉 He is dear to Peter Martyr His Industry His excellent memory His manner of reading His excellent parts His diseases His death His Character His Birth and education His conversion His frequents remoâ—es Bible translated His death His birth and education His Conversion Christ best of all He goes to Basil. He comes to Wittenburg He goes to Strasborough His returnâ— into France He is made the Q. of Navars Chaplain Popish malice Gods providence His return to Strasborough His troubles He goes to Heidleberg His patience He is driven from thence He is called to Lausanna His sudden death His Works His Birth and education His preferment in Cambridge Flight in persecution He is made Bish. of Lond. Arch bishop of York Arch-bishop of Canterbury His death His Charity His birth and Parentage His education He goes to Oxford His great proficiency Power of Prayer His conversion He preaches before the K. His piety Tender conscience He goes beyond sea His return into England His faithfulnes He is accused His great learning Made Parson of Houghton His charity to souls His journies into the North. His charity His enemies Flight in persecution refused Gods providence His conâ—inued charity His humility He refuseâ—h presermâ—â—t His hospitality His esteem in the North. Note A barbarous custom He converts theeves A Rebellion in the North. His house is plundered Inpratitude H. B. oughton Ingratitude The Bishop suspends him Requires him to preach on a sudden His modest answer He preaches boldly His zeal His pions resolution Gods mercy The Bishop askeâ—h him forgivenâ—e Preparâ—tion so death His death His Character His birth and parentage He goes to Wittenberg A plague His return to Wittenberg His travels He is sent for into his own country His enemies Melancthon encourages him He is dismissed His Resolution He goes to Zurick He goes to Heidleberg He commencerh Doctor His imployment there A plague His adversaries He defends the truth The Palatines great love to him His marriage He writes a Confession of Faith A change in the Palatinate He is sent for by P. Cassimite His imployment His sicknesse His industry Incessant labors His death His Character His Works His birth and education He goes to Wittenberg His travels He goes to Grunberg He made excellent scholars His marriage He is chosen Pastor of Sprottavia Preachers pattern His Contentation His humility His excellent virtues He is an enemy to contentions He is a great historiâ—n His sicknesse His death His great care to prepare for death His last Sermon His Works His birth and Parentage His industry He goes to Witâ—enberg He is much beloved He is made Pastor in Brunople His zeal against he eticks His death His commendation His Works His Birâ—h His proficiency He is Pastor in Zurick His diligence His Death His Birâ—h and Education He is chosen Pastor in Zurick His death His Works His birth and education He studies Law He is made Doctor A heavy judgement A vow Gods mercy Hestudies Divinity He goes to Zurick His return to Trevir He is called to teach a School His faithfulnes Sathans malice He preaches in an hospitall The peoples zeal The Arch-bishops malice The prisoners release He goes to Heidleberg His marriage He is chosen Pastor He is called to Berleburg And to Herborn His sicknesse Preparatâ—on for death A sweat dream Ioy unspeakable His death His Works His birth and education He goes to Wittenberg His diligence He goes to Noâ—enberg His return to Witâ—enberg He is called to Mansfield He is ordained Minister He answers a Papist His great pains He delights in a Garden His remove to Madgeburg Conversion of Priests The Authors of the Madgeburgenses His remove to Jenes His return to Magdeburg His remove to Wismare His commenceth Doctor Peoples love to their Pastor He is called into Borussia His sicknesse Preparatâ—on for death His death His Character His Works His Birth His Education He is choseâ— Fellow He studies the Church history He is