Huss who opposed the Errors of Popery in Bohemia The 36. year from the condemnation of Dr. Wessalia who taught at Worms the same Doctrine before Luther was born that Luther did afterwards Anno Christi 1517. John Tecelius brought Indulgences into Germany to be sold averring that he had so large a Commission from the Pope that though a man had deflroured the blessed Virgin yet for money he could pardon his sin Luther's zeal being inflamed herewith it caused him to set forth some propositions against Indulgences which so enraged Tecelius that wheresoever he came he declamed against Luther and set forth contrary positions and not content therewith he burned openly Luthers propositions and the Sermon which he wrote about Indulgences This caused the Students at Wittenberg to burn his positions also The Propositions which Luther set up were 95 in number After which he made this Protestation I Martin Luther Doctor of the Order of the Eremites at Wittenberg would have it publickly testified that I have set forth certain Propositions against the Popes Indulgences as they call them But albeit neither the famous and worthy School of ours nor the Civil nor Ecclesiastical Power hath hitherto condemned me yet as I hear there are certain men of a violent and bold wit who dare to pronounce me an Heretick as if they well understood and throughly knew the whole matter But I beseech every one as I have often done before so now by the Christian Faith that they either shew me a better way if it be revealed by God to any of them or else let them submit their sentence to God and his Churches Judgment For neither am I so rash that I would have my Opinion alone to be preferred before all others neither am I so doltish that I would have the Word of God to be placed after Fables devised by Humane Reason Anno Christi 1518. Andrew Bodenstein from his Native place called Caralostadius with many other Divines of Wittenberg defended Luthers Doctrine by their writings Also the Elector of Saxony of his own accord without intreaty took upon him the Patronage of Luther neither would he suffer that he should be drawn to Rome Also about the same time Luther contrary to the advice of his friends went to the Chapter of the Angustine Fryars held at Heidleberg to defend his Doctrine and shew his obedience to their Summons He was honorably entertained by the Bishop of Wurstburg and at Heidleberg by Wolfgang the Count Palatine Amongst the Fryers there he disputed of 28 Paradoxes which he propounded out of St. Pauls Epistles concerning Justification by Faith without works Bucer being present and taking notes at this Disputation wrote thus of it to Beatus Rhenanus His sweetness in answering saith he was admirable his patience in hearing was incomparable you might have seen the acuteness of Saint Paul in resolving doubts so that he brought them all into admiration of him by reason of his short and pithy answers and those taken out of the Storehouse of Gods holy Scriptures In his return when he was at Erford he wrote to Jodocus a Divine of Isenach who had been his Master wherein he thus expresseth himself The whole Vniversity of Wittenberg is of my minde concerning the Doctrine of Faith and Works except one Licenciat and also the Duke of Saxony The Bishop of Brandenburg who is my Ordinary and many Prelates and the more Ingenuous Citizens say with one mouth that they never knew Christ and the Gospel before August following Maximilian the Emperor hearing of these Controversies between Luther others presently wrote to the Pope to provide timely remedies against those spreading evils as he called them promising that whatever he should Decree about the same he would see that it should take place through all the Provinces of the Empire Hereupon Pope Leo citeth Luther to Rome which he also signified to his Legat Cardinal Cajetan in these words Hearing that Luther defendeth certain ungodly opinions estranged from those of the Church of Rome which is the Mistris of Faith and Religion out of my Fatherly affection desiring to repress his rashness I have commanded the Bishop of Aeculan to cite him to Rome to answer those accusations that are laid against him This the said Bishop hath done yet Luther is so far from returning to soundness that being stubborn in his Heresie he hath set out writings much worse then the former to my great grief and perturbation c. Then he proceeds to require the Cardinal to see that Luther were brought to Auspurg and that he should implore the Emperour and Princes to set a guard upon him and carry him to Rome yet withall if he should repent and voluntarily confess his fault he bade the Cardinal pardon him otherwise to interdict him from holy services c. The Pope also wrote to the Duke of Saxony in which Letter after a few flatteries he tels him that he heareth many and grievous complaints against Luther an undone man who forgetting his Order and Profession doth many things very sawcily against the Church of God with great confidence braging that he is defended with the favor of his Prince and that he fears the authority of no man which thing he presumes to be false and scandalous to the Prince yet saith he I am willing to write to you to admonish you to be mindeful of the dignity and splendor of your Ancestors flying not only the fault but also suspition of it c. After which he tels him that it properly belonged to the Church of Rome to judge in these causes of Religion and therefore requires him at the request of his Legat to see that Luther be sent to Rome that there he might be either censured or pardoned according to his deserts The Pope wrote also to the Master of the Augustine Monks exhorting him by his Authority to endeavour to recal Luther from his undertakings and to sollicit him earnestly thereto both by Letters and learned men withall telling him that this must be done speedily whereby he might quench the flame that was but lately risen whereas by delays it was to be feared that the danger would grow greater and greater for the timely suppressing whereof he required him to use all his study care and diligence When Luther saw that he was called to Rome he earnestly sollicited that his cause might be heard in Germany before fit Judges appointed thereto and in a place least subject unto danger The University also of Wittenberg wrote to the Pope giving a notable testimony unto Luther both for his Life and Learning They said also that in regard of his sickliness and the danger of the way he could not go to Rome they beseeched the Pope that he would think no otherwise of him then of a good man that certain things indeed were propounded by him only for Disputation sake not to define them that his Adversaries interpreted him in the
justly spoken and in consenting to the wicked condemnation of Huss and that he repented with his whole heart that ever he did it This so enraged them that they proceeded to condemn him whereupon he said I after my death will leave a remorse in your conscience and a nail in your hearts Et cito vos omnes at respondeatis mihi coram altissimo justissimo judice post centum annos I here cite you all to answer to me before the most High and just Judge within a hundred years When he was brought forth to Execution they prepared a great and long paper painted about with red Divels which when he beheld throwing away his hood he took the Miter and put it on his head saying Our Lord Jesus Christ when he suffered death for me â—ost â—wretched sinner did wear a crown of thorns upon his head and I for his sake will willingly wear this Cap. As he went to the place of Execution he sung some Hymns and coming to the place of Execution where John Huss was burned he kneeled down and prayed fervently He was bound to the Image of John Huss and so fire was set to him which he endured with admirable valor for standing at the stake bound and the Executioner kindling the fire behinde him he bade him kindle it before his face For said he If I had been afraid of is I had not come to this place having had so many opportunities offered to me to escape it The whole City of Constance admired his constancie and Christian magnanimity in fuffering death At the giving up the Ghost he said Hanc animam in flammis offero Christe tibi This soul of mine in slames of fire O Christ I offer thee An aliquid ab Hieronymo Pragensi scriptum sit posterisque relictum ignoro credibile verum est virum tam doctum ac eloquentem quaedam scripsisse Orationes quas in Academiis illu strioribus habuit tum Themata quae proposuit forte in lucem edita suppressa fuare extincta ab iis qui more suo lucem ferre nequeunt MARTIN LVTHER The Life of Martin Luther who flourished Anno Christi 1500. MArtin Luther was born at at Isleben in the Earldom of Mansfield Anino Christ 1483. of good parents His Fathers name was John Luther who first lived at Isleben and afterwards removed to Manfield where he had some metal Mines and was chosen a Magistrate and was grateful to all for the integrity of his life His Mothers name was Margaret Lindeman who was adorned with such Virtues as became an honest Matron but especially she was eminent for chastity the fear of God and often calling upon his name Assoon as this their son was capable of Learning they first trained him up in the knowledge and fear of God and in the Exercise of other virtues under their own wings Then their care was to educate him in humane Learning for which end they set him to school to George Aemilius and though at this time the darkness of Popery had much obscured the light of Truth yet it pleased God to preserve in the Schools the Catechisms containing the Principles of Religion the use of singing Psalms and some forms of Prayer At fourteen years of age he went to Magdeburg where he lived a poor Scholar one year From thence he was removed by his Parents to Isenach where was a famous School and where he first tasted the sweetness of Learning and so after a while went thence to the University of Erford Anno Christi 1501. There he profited so much in the knowledge of Logick and other Learning that the whole University admired his wit At twenty years old he was made Master of Arts and Professor of Physicks Ethicks and other parts of Philosophy Then he betook himself to the study of the Law but at the age of twenty one being affrighted at the violent death of a faithful companion of his whom he dearly loved he betook himself into the Augustine Monks Colledge in Erford writing to his parents the reason why he changed the course of his life In the Library of that Colledge he met with a copy of a Latine Bible which he had never seen before and with admiration observed that there were more portions of holy Scripture then were read in the Churches which made him wish that he had the like book And it pleased God that not long after he obtained his desire and fell close to the study thereof some sickness and fear also whening him on in those studies Afterwards falling into a violent disease which threatned death an old Priest came to him saying Sir be of good courage your disease is not mortal God will raise you up to afford comfort to many others which also came to pass and he was much cheared up by conference with that Priest who largely discoursed with him about Justification by Faith and explained the Articles of the Creed to him Then did Luther read over Augustines Works where he found the same Doctrine of Justification by Faith frequently confirmed He read over the School-men also especially Occam and in these studies he spent five years in that Collegde Anno Christi 1507. he was made Presbyter and John Staupicius endeavouring to promote the University of Wittenberg then lately begun knowing the wit and Learning of Luther removed him thither Anno Christi 1508. when he was but 26 years old where by his labors he did much good Three years after he was sent to Rome in the behalf of his Convent where he saw the Pope and the manner of the Roman Clergy concerning which he saith At Rome I heard them say Mass in such a manner as I detest them for at the Communion Table I heard Curtisans laugh and boast of their wickedness and others concerning the Bread and Wine of the Altar Saying Bread thou art and Bread thou shalt remain Wine thou art and Wine thou shalt remain Upon his return from Rome he was made Doctor in Divinity at the charge of Duke Frederick Elector of Saxonie who heard him Preach and admired the foundness of his Invention the strength of his Arguments and the excellency of the things which he delivered Soon after he began to explain the Epistle to the Romans and some Psalms where he shewed the difference between the Law and Gospel refuted Justification by Works c. And his demeanor agreed with his Doctrine his speech seemed to come from his heart not from his lips only Then he betook himself to the study of the Greek and Hebrew This year 1517. was by the account of Scultetus the 356. from the Reformation of Religion in France by the Waldenses the 146. from the first confutation of Popish Errors in England by John Wicklief The 116. from the first year of the Ministry of John
with his own blood and delivered to the Devil But presently after the man began to decay in his health so that the thing being suspected he was brought to Luther who examined him about it but he through fear and shame long denyed to confess any thing yet at last through Gods mercy he revealed the whole matter to him whereâ—â—â—n Luther much pitying his lamentable condition called the whole Congregation together where he prayed with so much earnestness and affection that the Devil was at last compelled to throw in his Obligation at the window And as he was mighty in Prayer so in his Sermons God giving him such a grace that when he preached they which heard him thought every one his own temptations severally to be noted and touched whereupon some of his friends asking him the cause of it Mine own manifold temptations and experiences said he are the cause of it Wellerus also a Disciple of Luthers recordeth that he oft heard his Master thus report of himself That he had been often assaulted and vexed with all kinde of Temptations save only unto the sin of câ—vetousness Lutherus multa Latino vernaculo sermone scripsit quae diversis locis temporibus separatim primum edita postea collecta in plures Tomos distributa There is also lately printed in English his Colloquia mensalia of which one thus writes Praestitisset hos Sermones convivales in lucem nunquam emissos Fortè adversariis procurantibus illi editi Sin minus videant ii qui Lutheranorum nomine superbiunâ— quomodo modestiam judicium existimationem authoritatem Lutheri defendere queant Sunt enim in iis non dico multa sed plurima quae piae castigataeque aures non solùm in conviviis Theologorum sedetiam in lndis atque theatris Comicorum non ferrent c. Concerning his works he thus writes Above all things I request the pious Reader and beseech him for our Lord Christ Jesus sake that he read my Books with judgement yea with much pitty and let him remember that I was sometime a Fryar and a mad Papist and when I first undertook this cause so drunken and drowned in Popish Doctrines that I was ready if I could to have killed all men or to have assisted others in doing of it who withdrew their obedience from the Pope but in one syllable Such a Saul was I as there are many at this day neither was I so cold and frigid in defending the Pope as Eccius and some like him are who seem to me to defend the Papacy rather for their bellies sake then in good earnest Yea like Epicures they seem to me to deride the Pope whereas I was serious in his cause as one that trembled at the thoughts of the day of Judgement and from my very heart desired to be saved He would by no means endure that any should be called after his name For saith he the Doctrine which I teach is none of mine neither did I dye for any man neither would Paul 1 Cor. 3. 4 c. endure such terms Besides we are all Christians and profess the Doctrine of Christ And lastly because the Papists use to do so calling themselves Pontificians whom we ought not to imitate Melancthon gave this testimony of him Pomeran saith he is a Grammarâ—an and explains the force of the words I am a Logician shewing the context and arguments of things Justus Jonas is an Orator and speaks copiously and eloquently but Luther is all even a miracle amongst men whatsoever he saith whatsoveer he writes peirceth into the soul and leaveth wonderful stings in the hearts of men Many Epitaphs were made of him amongst which these were some Roma orbem domuit Romam sibi Papa subegit Viribus illasuis fraudibus istâ— sâ—is Quantò isto major Lutherus major illâ Istum illamque uno qui domâ—it calamo I nunc Alciden memorato Graecia mendax Lutheri ad calamum ferrea clava nihil Theod. Beza Lutherus decimum confecit strage Leonem De clava noli quaerere penna fuit Jo. Major He used often to say That through Gods goodness there should be no Wars in Germany in his life time but saith he let the survivors look to it after my death Concerning the Doctrine of the Gospel he used to say that three things would destroy Christian Religion First Forgetfulness of the blessings received by the Gospel Secondly Security which reigns everywhere Lastly Worldly wisdom which will seek to bring all things into order and to support the publick peace by wicked Counsels He was of a sharp and quick wit Of a great and invincible minde Constant in the known Truth from the Confession whereof he could not be withdrawn either by threats or promises Many false reports were raised of him by the Papists insomuch as King Ferdinands Ambassador went to see what a manner of man he was telling him that it was reported in his Kings Court that he never went abroad but armed and attended with his guard that he spent all his time with Whores at Dice and Taverns But saith he I am well accustomed to such lyes He had a very sharp and Satyrical stile so that Eralmus used to say Deus dedit hâ—ic postremae aetati propter morborum magnitudinem acrem medicum God hath given to this latter Age by reason of the greatness of its diseases a sharp Physitian And Charles the Emperour used to say Si sacrificuli frugi essent nullo indigerent Luthero If Priests were not so dissolute they would not need a Luther When this Emperour had taken Wittenberg some of his Spanish souldiers would have digged up Luthers body and burned it but he said to them Sinite ipsum quiescere usque ad diem resurrectionis judicii omnium Let him rest till the day of Resurrection and of the Judgement of all things HVLRI ZVINGLIVS The Life of Zuinglius who dyed Anno Christi 1531. HVldericus Zuinglius was born in Switzerland of godly Parents and by them brought up in Learning Being about ten years old was sent to School to Basil to George Bintzlius where he profited so much that in all Disputations he went away with the victory He excelled all in Musick From Basil he was sent to Bern to Henry Lupulus a most learned man and an excellent Poet under whom he learned Rhetorick and became a good Poet. After two years he went to Vienna in Austria where he studyed Philosophy and proâ—itted much therein After a while he was called back into his own Country and at Basil he taught others what himself had learned where also he commenced Master of Arts and fell to the study of School-Divinity and being called to a Pastoral charge he entred into the Ministry and studied Divinity very hard and to furnish himself with examples he gat Valerius Maximus by heart He especially addicted himself to the study of the Bible and
to the poor severe and stout in reproofs an earnest defendor of the Truth against Errors ardent in Prayer c. He joyned with Luther in the Translation of the Bible which being finished every year upon that day he invâ—ted his friends and made a feast which he called the Feast of the Translation of the Bible He was alwaies well content with his station and condition at Wittenberg and would never remove though hee was earnestly pressed to have removed to places of more honour power and profit He attended his charge with great fidelity admirable assiduity and extraordinary pains In his Sermons he was very modest and so devout that sometimes forgetting himself he would spend some hours in preaching He wrote a Commentary upon the Psalmes Annotations upon the Epistles to Gal. Ephes. Phil. Collos. Thess. 1 2. to Timothy 1. 2. to Titus Philemon Hebr. Also Annotations upon Samuel Jonah and Denter besides some Epistles to sundry friends P. MELANCTHON The Life of Philip Melancthon who dyed A no Christi 1560. PHilip Melancthon was born at Bretta in the lower Palatinate Anno Christi 1497. of honest parents of a middle rank by whom he was set to School to learne Grammer of John Hungarus a learned and honest man and to learne Greek of George Simler and afterwards they sent him to Heidleberg at twelve years of age where he had Logick and Physicks read to him and attaining ability to make a verse he fell to reading Poetry and History There also being very young be instructed the Sons of Count Leonstein and Commenced Bachelor of Arts Anno Christi 1511. and of his age fourteen with generall approbation After three years study there the air not agreeing with him and being denyed his degree of Master of Arts by reason of his youth removed to Tubinge anno 1512. He alwayes used to carry his Bible about with him reading often in it both at Church and elsewhere yet was he carried away with the common errors of the times of which himselfe saith I â—remble to think with what blind devotion I went to Images whilst I was a Papist He pivately at Tubinge taught the Law and read over very diligently all the books of Gallen and with Oecolampadius read over Hesiod He stayed in that University four years where he profited so much in the Arts Tongues and Philosophy that he read publick Lectures in the Schools out of Virgil Terence and Tully and was imployed in overseeing the Presse He studied the Mathematicks Law and Physick in all which he profited much There he commenced Master of Arts Anno Christi 1513. and of his age Seventeen Luther about that time beginning to oppose the Pope In August 1518. Philip Melancthon was sent for from Tubinge by Frederick Duke of Saxony to the University of Wittenberge to teach the Greek Tongue He consulted with â—apnio who advised him to imbrace the invitation whereupon August 25. he came to Wittenberg About which time Erasmus wrote thus of him Philip Melancthon is a most learned and exoe Neâ—t Greciâ—â—â— he is a youth and stripling if ye consider his age but one of us if ye look upon his variety of knowledge almost in all books He is very exquisite in the learning of both the Tongues I pray Christ this young man may live long amongst us he wil quite obscuâ—e Erasmus Four dayes after he came to Wittenberg he made a most earned and polite Oration in the University with so much grace as was admirable He came to Wittenberg when he was but 22 years old There he began to expound Pauls Epistle to Titus â—ut of Greek to the great admiration of his hearers which flockâ— exceedingly to his Lectures and â—uther also was exceedingly taken with the same as himself professeth in a Letter to Spalatmus saying Philippum Graecissimum eruditissimum humanissimum habe commendatissimum auditorium habet refertum auditoribus imprimis omnes Theologos summos cum mediis infimis studiosos facit Graecitatis When he first began to teach he found the precepts of arts either false or obscure or out of order and therefore taking the labour upon him he made learned Systemes almost of all Arts cutting off what was false illustrating what was obscure and rightly placing what was out of order so that anno 1519. he published his Rhetorick the year after his Logick and shortly after his Grammer with other Arts in order Anno 1519 he went with Luther to Lipswich where he disputed with Eccius and though Eccius contemned him for his youth and called him saccum distinctionum yet he got himselfe much credit and gave some experience of his abilities in controversies Anno Christi 1520. he expounded the Epistle to the Romans which Commentary Luther printed without the privity of Melancthon The year after when the Divines of Paris had condemned Luthers Doctrine and books he wrote an Apology for him against their furious Decree Anno Christi 1522. he printed his Common-places And his Commentaries on both the Epistles to the Corinthians Anno 1523. he published his Annotations upon Genesis with some other books The year after taking Joac Camerarius along with him he went to visit his friends and at his return at the request of the Lantgrave of Hesse he wrote an Epitome of the Ecclesiasticall Doctrine renewed and a Treatise of the difference between the righteousnes of the world and of Christ. He turned into Latine the Proverbs of Solomon and wrote prefaces to the Psalms and Lamentations An. 1525. In the wars of the Boorish Anabaptists he confuted their Articles whereby they sought to justifie their Rebellion and in the end of that yeare hee was sent for to Norimberg to direct the Senate in the erecting of a School Anno 1527. he was imployed in visiting the Churches in Saxonie Anno Christi 1529. the Elector of Saxonie took him with him to the Convention at Spire where by the consent of the Protestant Princes He drew up a confession of Faith with great pains and exactnesse which by them was presented to the Emperor Charls the Fifth Anno Christi 1534. Henry the eighth King of England sent to invite him into England with promise of Courteous entertainment and good preferment hoping by his meanes to draw the Protestant Princes of Germany into a league with him against the Pope But Melancthon refused to goe rendring the reason in a Letter that he wrote to Camerarius wherin is this passage Perhaps many things are reported amongst you concerning England that it lyeth open now for the Religion of the purer Doctrine but I have intelligence from a good hand that the King hath no great care of the affairs of the Church onely this good comes of his rejecting the Popes Authority that for the present no crueâ—ty is used towards those that are desirous of better Doctrine Anno Christi 1536. he went abroad to visit
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
prudent diligence of Mr. Calvin was quickly extinguished which was this There was the Bishop of Carpentoratum called James Sadolet a man of great eloquence which yet he abused to the subversion of the Truth for which cause he was made a Cardinall This man seeing the flock deprived of such able and vigilant shepherds thought it a fit time to ensnare them for which end he wrote Letters under the pretence of his neighbourhood directed to his dear friends as he called them the Senate Councell and people of Geneva in which he omitted no arguments whereby he might perswade them to return into the bosome of the Romish Church And at this time there was no man in Geneva that would undertake to answer the same so that probably they would have done much mischief but that they were written in a forraign language But wheâ— Mr. Calvin at Strasborough had read them forgetting all the wrongs which had been done him he returned an answer so speedily truly and eloquently that the Cardinall despairing of accomplishing his end wholly gave over his design Neither indeed did Mr. Calvin deferre till this time the manifesting of his Pastorall bowels which he yet retained to the Genevians especially to those that suffered with him in the same cause as may appeare by those excellent Epistles which he wrote to them the same year wherin he was banished Wherein his principall scope was to exhort them to repentance to bear with the wicked to maintain peace with their Pastors and to bee frequent in calling upon God as also to stirre them up to expect light after those deadly mists of darknesse which he told them would follow as also the event ere long made to appear About the same time also hee published his Institutions much enlarged and his Commentarie upon the Romans dedicated to Simon Grynaeus his dear friend and that golden book of his concerning the Lords Supper which he made for the use of his French Church which Galasius afterwards turned in Latin In which he handled the Doctrine of the Sacrament so dextrously and learnedly that it served to determine the unhappy controversies about it to the satisfaction of all good and learned men Neither was his happinesse lesse in reclaiming many Anabaptists from their errors amongst whom were these two principall men Paul Volsius who afterwards was a Pastor in the Church of Strasborough the other was John Storder who afterwards dying of the Plagne Mr Calvin by the advice of Bucer married his Widdow called Idellita a very grave and honest Matron In these studies and labours did Mr. Calvin continue at Strasborough to the year 1541. In the which year the Emperour Charles the fifth assembled two Diets the one at Worms the other at Ratisbone for compounding the differences about Religion At both which by the desire of the Divines of Strasborough Mr. Calvin was present o the great advantage of the Churches especially of his own French Congregation and where he was most lovingly entertained and highly prised by Philip Melancthon and Gasper Cruciger so that Philip called him His Divine Hee also had much private conference with them about the Sacrament of the Lords Supper and they could not but very well appove of his opinion therein But now the time was come wherein the Lord purposed to shew mercy to his poor Church at Geneva For one of the Syndics who had promoted the Decree for their banishment did so misdemeane himself in his Office that being found guilty of sedition whilst he thought to escape out at a window being a fat man he fell down so bruised himself that within a few daies after he died Another of them had his head cut off for a Murther the other two having done the Commonwealth much disservice in an Ambassy wherein they were employed were faign to fly their Country and were condemned in their absence These evill instruments being thus removed the City of Geneva beganne to call for their Farell and Calvin but when by no means they could recover Farell from Neocom where he was now setled they used all their endeavours to procure Calvin and for that end they sent Ambassadors to Strasborough using also the intercession of those of Zurick to request that Mr. Calvin might be sent back to them The Senate of Strasborough were exceeding unwilling to hearken to it Calvin himself although he had not changed his mind towards the Genevians for the miscarriages of some wicked men yet abhorring to enter into new troubles but especially because he found the Lord blessing his Ministery at Strastborough did absolutely refuse to return Besides Bucer and the other Pastors did professe their great unwillingnesse to to part with him But the Genevians still pressing hard for him Bucer at last thought that their requests should be condescended to at least for a time which yet was not granted by Mr. Calvin himself til they had urged him with the judgment of God in case he refused and with the example of Johah But this falling out just at the time when Calvin with Bucer was going to visit the Diet at Ratisbone his return was delayed for a time and in the mean time the Genevians obtained of the Bernates that Peter Viret should go from Lausanna to Geneva and indeed this made Mr. Calvin farre more willing to return to Geneva when he saw that he was to have such a Colleague by whose labours and counsels he might be much furthered in reforming that Church So after some moneths Mr. Calvin went to Geneva Sept. 13 Anno Christi 1541 being singularly welcomed by the people and especially by the Senate who acknowledged the wonderfull mercy and goodnesse of God towards them in restoring him to them again And whereas the Senate of Strasborough had decreed that after a time he should returne to them againe they of Geneva would never give over till they had reversed that Decree which at last was yeelded to by them of Strasborough yet with this Proviso that that pension which they had setled upon him should still be continued to him but Mr. Calvin could never be perswaded to receive it caring for nothing lesse then for riches Mr. Calvin being thus restored to his Church and perceiving that the City needed such bridles he professed that he could not comfortably exercise his Ministry amongst them except together with the Doctrine of the Gospel they would embrace the Presbyterian Government for the well regulating of the Church Hereupon Elders were chosen a Model of the Presbyterial Government was drawn up consonant to the Word of God and gratefull to the Citizens which the Devill afterwards sought by all his artifices to destroy but all in vaine Hee wrote also a Catechism in French and Latine not much different from the former but much larger divided into Questions and Answers which indeed was an admirable peece and found such approbation and entertainment abroad that it was turned