grievous sinnes For the Lord had prepared him for better things and opening his eyes gave him to understand that these were but so many snares laid to intangle him and to draw him into everlasting ruine and perdition wherefore he fully resolved to forsake them all and to adhere and sticke fast unto that Truth whose sweetnesse he had tasted in his youth which that he might the better performe he was fully determined to undergoe any labour and to remove any obstacle and for that cause he vowed a vow that he would never embrace nor countenance the errours of the Church of Rome And purposing a constancy in his intended course and that he might be the better fitted thereunto he resolved to free himselfe from that affection which useth to be predominate in his youth and for that cause he betroathed himselfe unto a vertuous woman acquainting onely two of his intimate friends with the same action and that for two causes First that he might give no occasion of offence unto others Secondly because that mony which he received for the discharging of his offices could not handsomely be avoyded which within short time after was by him performed for his propounded honour and preferment was sâ—ifly rejected not without the great admiration and sharpe reprehension of many of his friends who therefore stiled him after a â—cornfull manner Philosophum novum the new Philosopher These checks and reprehensions of his friends being seconded with the considerations of the great riches wherewith he was endewed and these two being strengthned with the temptation of of the Divell yeelded to many doubts and oppositions unto Beza notwithstanding his former resolutions sometimes intending to embrace God and his truth somtimes casting an eye of love on his present preferments being taken up with this various disposition it pleased the Lord to settle his inconstant minde by afflicting him with sicknesse which indeed was the cause of his spirituall welfare and health for he well perceiving that it was the powerfull hand of the Lord Almighty against which there was no contending after the suffering of many torments both inward and outward he fell into a detestation and loathing hatred of his owne backwardnesse and turning himselfe unto the Lord with teares he renewed that vow which he had formerly made concerning the embracing of the true worship of God promising unfainedly that he would never start from it but consecrate himselfe wholly unto him and unto the furtherance of his glory if it would please him to restore him to his former health during the time of this sicknesse he was often heard to utter those Words of David in his 142. Psalme v. 7. Educ de carcere animam meam ut celebrem nomen tuum Bring my soul out of prison O Lord that I may praise thy name indeed the Lord which cannot withstand the prayers of the faithfull condiscending unto him and he obtayned his desire of the Lord. And being recovered he forthwith forsooke Countrey Parents and friends to follow Christ he forsooke all his preferments preferring the glory of God and the hope of his Kingdome before all the transitory glory of the world which action of his is very remarkable if we consider but the circumstance of time which was presently upon his recovery being fearfull that his remaining there should be offensive unto God or that his familiarity with his friends might draw him into the like inconveniences who without doubt would labour with might and maine to reduce him to his former profession Wherefoâ—e taking the Woman unto whom he was betrothed with him they went unto Geneva in the year of Grace 1548. where openly in the Church after a solemne mâ—nner he was married unto her and there he remained for a season Where he intended to make profession of the Art of Printing but the Lord who knew well that he would be otherwise more advantagious unto his Church hindered this proceeding by calling him to Lausanna an Academy pertaining to the Lords of Berna where he publickly professed the Greek tongue which Beza himselfe acknowledged in his Confession of Christian Religion Dedicated by him unto his Master Walmatius At that time in Lausanna were famous for Learning and Piety Petrus Viretus Pastor of the Church Iohannes Ribbilus Professor of Divinity Iohannes Racmundus Merlinus Professor of the Hebrew tongue with many other excellently well gifted all of which seemed as it were to be ravished with the society of this worthy member of Christ. During his Lectureship at Lausanna a great company of godly minded persons thirsting after Christ and his truth resorted unto the same place Here Beza perceiving a good occasion offered unto him by God not onely for his owne saâ—isfaction concerning Teaching but also for the satisfaction of the desire of these people concerning their instruction in the word of truth He began publickly and in the French tongue to expound the Epistle of S. Paul to the Romans and both the Epistles of S. Peter opening unto them the great mysteries of godlinesse and informing their judgments with such Doctrines wherby the scales of ignorance being rubbed away the truth did manifestly appeare unto them whereby without doubt many were drawn neerer and neerer unto Christ. Amongst these his imployments in this place whensoever any leasure was given unto him he would spend that time with Master Calvin at Geneva from whom he received great benefit both for Gods glory and the edification of the Church and by his perswasion he was induced to finish that excellent and Divine Commentary on the Psalms first begun by Marotus which was also Printed and published by authority in France 1561. About this time there happened a persecution in Paris â— wherein many Christians suffered some death some imprisonment wherupon Farellus Beza and Calvin were chosen Embassadours unto the Protestant Princes of Germany â— to intreat them that they would be pleased to intercede for them unto Henry the second then King of France that they might be more kindly deabt withall But little or no peacâ— came unto the Church in respect of this act because of thâ— implacable hatred which great men attending the person of the King did bear unto the truth of Christ. Yet in this journey it was Bezaes good hap to have â— sight of that godly and learned Melanchton who as they exceeding joyfull of the presence of each other so they were also exceeding sorrowfull for the present afflicted and dâ—stressed state of the Church Beza having now remained ten years in Lausanna he left it and not without the good leave and love of the Senate of Berne and came to Geneva where teaching a publicke Schoole he expounded the Orations of Demosthenes together with some Bookes of Aristotle and had daily and familiar conference with Calvin touching things pertaining unto Doctrine and Ecclesiasticall Discipline where in short time he was appointed to succeed Claudius Pontanus a faithfull Minister in the Church of Geneva for the discharging of a
and the King was so enraged by reason of certain writings opposing the Masse which were scattered up and down the Câ—ty and fastned unto the door of his Bed chamber that aftâ—â— publick Prayers he commanded at the which he himselfâ— was present together with his three Sonnes being barâ—-headed and holding a burning Torch for expiations sake eight persons supposing to be guilty of that act to be burned alive and in the presence of the People he bound himsâ—lfe with a solemn Oath that he would not spare his own châ—â—dren â—f he should but know that they were infected with that most horrible and damned heresie Calvin beholding the miserable state and condition of things resolved to leave France revealing his intent unto an intimate friend of his with whom he was formerly acquainted during his residence with the Queen of Navarre Who out of his singular affection unto Calvin promised to accompany him in his journey wherefore they forthwith prepare for Basil committing their money unto the custody of one of their servants who being well horst and espying an opportunity answering his wicked intent leavs them to shift and to provide for themselves and doubtlesse they had been driven into great distresse had not the other servant furnished them with ten Crownes which he hâ—d about him by means whereof they came at length to Basil. Here he found Symones Grinaeus and Wolfangus Capito who received him with great joy where he continued and gave himself unto the study of the Hebrew tongu here he also set forth his Institutions a laborious learned worke and well worthy of the Author with a Preface most excellent unto the King of France which if he had read it had without doubt given a great wound unto the Popish religion bâ—t the sins of that King and of that Nation were so great and vengeance so near at hand that leave was not given unto them by the Lord to peruse the same Having set forth this book and in some sort performed his duty to his Country he left Basil and went into Italy to visit the daughter of the King of France a vertuous and a godly Princesse whom he there confirmed and strenthned in her religiouâ— course of life whereby she greatly affected him during the time of his life and also made a kind testiâ—â—â—tion of the same unto the world after his death Hence he returned againe into France with an intent to goe for Germany but in regard of the Wars passages were shut up that he could not travell and therefore he turned into Geâ—eva not thinking to mak any residence at all in that place but by the observation of future actions it is evident that he was guided thither by the hand of God into this City not long before his comming the Gospell of Christ was wonderfully brought and that by the labour and industry of two famous Divines viz. Gulielmus Farellus somtimeâ— Scholer unto Iacobus Stapulensis and Petrus Viretus whose labours were aboundently blessed by the Lord Calvin going for to visit these Genevan lights he was entertained by Farellus with a long discourse and thereby discovering the excellency of his parts desiring him to remaine at Geneva and to be an assâ—ant to him in that place for the advancing of the truth of Christ but when he saw that Calvin could not easily be drawn and perswaded thereunto and being a man of a bould spirit he said unto him after a vehement manner I pronounce unto thee in the name of the living and alpowerfull God that unlesse thou joyne with us in this worke of the Lord it will come to passe that he will curse thee as one that seeketh more his owne then the glory of Christ. Calvin being astonished with this terrible sentence and speech of Farellus he forthwith submitted himselfe unto the pleasure of the Presbytery and Magistrates by whose voyces and consent of the People he was not onely chosen to be a Preacher but was also designed to be their Divinity Lecturer and graced with the title of Doctor in the year 1536. which year also is remarkeable for that League concluded betwixt the Cities of Brene and â—eneva touching Divine Worship and also for the conversion of the Inhabitants of Lausanna unto Christ. The first thing which he attempted after his admission into this City was a more exact reformation in the Church for that cause drew a compendium of Christian Religion and forme of Doctrine unto which he laboured to have the Inhabitants to subscribe and to binde themselves by an Oath to abjure the supersticious Doctrine of Rome and to defend the same with their lives This motion was refused by many at the first yet not long after God so disposing even in the year 1537. the Senate and people of Geneva took their Oathes for the defence of the same The ground being thus laid there wanted not enemies and those bitter ones to oppose him in his proceedings for first the Anabaptists began to sow their erronious opinions in the hearts of many to the great detriment of the Church but these were so confuted by Calvin in publick disputation appointed by the Senate that scarcely any one of them appeared afterwards in the City The other disturber of the peace and happinesse of that Church was Petrus Caroli born at Sarbona who as she brought him forth an impudent Sophister so she cast him out againe as a more wicked haeretick being thence cast out he came to Geneva accompanied w th the spirit of the Divel when he saw himself to be sharply reproved of the Inhabitants he went unto their enâ—mies and from thence he returned unto Geneva againe intending to leave behind him some expressions of his worse then diabolicall opinions and for that cause he first began openly to accuse Farell Calvin and Viret of a misconceived opinion concerning the Trinity wherupon a Synad was called at Berne wherein that calumny of Petrus Caroli was condemned But that which strooke the greatest strok for the crushing of these hopefull beginnings was the intestine dissentions and seditions in the City who would not endure this new forme of Government these Farell and Calvin began first to correct with mild admonitions and when they saw that would not prevaile they used more severe and sharper reprehensions which many not brooking the City came to be divided and many renounced that Oath which they had formerly made in respect of w ch actions Calvin Farell with an undaunted courage openly protested that they could not lawfully administer the Sacrament of the Lords Supper unto them by reason of the disagreements amongst themselves and by reason of their alienation from all Ecclesiasticall discipline There also happened unto this another evill viz. a difference betwixt the Churches of Geneva and Berne about some ceremonies which because it could not presently be concluded on by the Synod at Lausanna but was referred unto another appointed at Tigurum the Commissioners unpatient of delay assembled the people together and
man Drusius Renicherus and others he most courteously entertained and very liberally relieved a diligent preacher as well after his preferments as before seldome failing any Lords day while he was Bishop of Worcester notwithstanding his important and incessant emploiments otherwise but that he preached in some of the Parish Churches thereabouts and no lesse freqâ—ently when he was Archbishop visiting the Church and Pulpit at Crâ—ydon during the time of his residence there in the Vacations from attendance at Court He departed this world on the last of February being Wednesday in the year of grace 1603. and of his age 73. having bin Bishop of Worcester six years and five moneths and Archbishop of Canterbury 20. years and five moneths and lyeth enterred on the South side of the Church of Croydon with a faire Monument in memory of him His laâ—â— words to his Majesty who in person visited him the day before he dyed when he could hardly be understood are reported to have been Pro Ecclesiâ Dei pro Ecclesiâ Dei for the Church of God for the Church of God thereby intimating his care thereof even to the last The principall Monuments of his Charity are an Hospitall builded Colledge-wise at Croydon for a Warden and twenty eight Brothers and Sisters and a Free-School neer â—nto it with a convenient House for the School-Master and a standing stipend of twenty pounds by the year His Workes in writing published are onely these 1. His Answer to the Admonition to the Parliament 2. His Defence of the Answer to the Admonition 3. A Sermon on John 6. ver 25 26 27. Preached before Queene Elizabeth on March the 24. 1574. You courtly Prelats you that feare To loose your honors look ye here Make him your president and then You shall have honor spite of men He bred not but compos'd debateâ— Nor mov'd he in the Orbe of State By whose example Churchmen stood Lesse for the stile of great then good If factions chanc'd or diffence fell He would perswade and not compell To him our Phenix-Queen did share Proud Lambeths patriarchall chayre Where he remain'd the Churches Nurse Ten years twice told without a Curse The Life and Death of Lucas Trelcatius who dyed Anno Christi 1602. LVke Trelcatius was born at Erinum Anno Christi 1542. and brought up by his Aunt who was Abbesse of â— Nunnery his first education was in the School at Dowaiâ— where being of an acute wit he profited exceedingly in the knowledge of the humane Arts from thence he went to Paris and whil'st he studyed there he fell into acquaintance with Iohn Mercer the Hebrew Professor and Peter Ramus and being exceedingly affected with the love of the reformed Religion he forsook his Aunt and was maintained by the bounty of some Merchants of Flanders From thence he went to Aurelia and from thence to Sancerra in the twenty eight year of his age and being driven from thence by the tempest of Civill Wars he came into England and at London he taught a School by which he maintained himself eight years Then was he called by some Merchantâ— into Flanders to be their Pastor but enjoying little peace there he went to Bruxels where he continued in the exercise of his Ministery six yearâ—s and then meeting with opposition he went to Anâ—werp and that City being presently after besieged he was forced to stay there eight moneths after which being sent for to diverse places at length he was by the consent of his bretheren in the Ministery fixt at Leiden where he was made Pastor of the French Church which place he supplyed faithfully for the space of seventeen years He had scarce been there two years when for his excellent parts and learning he was chosen Divinity-Professor in that University also and at last having acquired much honor in both his offices he dyed of the Plague Anno Christi 1602. and of his age 60. Where vertue lives there need not be A question of sufficiency Trelcatius was a man whose worth Few men are able to set forth They that desire to know him well Must first know what it is t' excell THEODORVS BEZA The Life and Death of Theodorus Beza IN the year of our Lord God 1519. and on the foure and twentieth day oâ— Iune this faithfull Minister of the Church of Christ Theodorus Beza came into the world being borne at Vezelia an ancient Town in the Kingdome of France he was descended from Petrus a Beza being Governour of the same Town and Maria Burdoletia both of them being beautified with a lineall proceeding from a Noble and renowned Family His name imposed on him by his Parents imports the gift of God by which act they declared themselves to be vertuous and religious and let the Lord evermore blesse his Church with such gifts with such painfull labourers for the gathering in of his great harvest to his endlesse glory and to the eternall peace of such as seek salvation through Jesus Christ. This Beza being yet an infant not fully two years old was taken by his Unckle Nicholas Beza being a Councellor pertaining to the Senate of Paris where he was carefully and tenderly brought up for the space of three years being in that time acquainted with the knowledge of the Letters Being now five years old he was committed through the carefulnesse of his said Unckle unto the tuition of Melchior Walmarius a German who at that time taught the Greek tongue at Aurelia under whom he continued for the space of seven years in which time he attained unto great perfection both in the Greeke and Latine tongues and also which is more commendable his tender yeares were seasoned with the true knowledge of Christian Piety being drawn from the pure fountain of the Word of God by the same man His Master upon some occasions leaving France and returning into Germany Beza not without the advice of his friends went unto Orleans fully intending and resolving with himselfe to apply his minde unto the study of the Civill Law wherein at the age of twenty years he was advanced to be Licentiate Not long after leaving Orleans he tooke his journâ—y unto Paris to visit those friends and acquaintance which he had there living by whom he was entertained with great joy and received with much gladnesse and friendly courtesie but more espcially by his other Uâ—ckle Abbâ—t Trigidimonâ—an who to testifie his affection how greatly he loved him designed and appointed him to be his next successor in the Goverment of that Abbey whose revenweâ— were yeerely valued at five thousand French Crownes annexing also unto this the profits of two other places amounting yearely unto seven hundred Crownes intending also to confer other preferments upon him Beza being as it were in an earthly Paradise and abounding with those things which might seeme necessary for the prosecution of vice wherewith indeed he was for a time detained but not captivated as who is he that liveth and sinneth not nay and falleth not sometimes into
Monasticall life upon which perswasion he intended to forsake the Monâ—stery and to betake himselfe againe unto his former profession and for a preparation thereunto being as yet in the Monastery he set forth a booke of confession wherein in many things he opposed the doctrine of the Church of Rome whereby he brought himselfe not onely into danger of his life but the Monks also were greatly afraid lest any inconvenience might happen unto them by reason of his actions and therefore they greatly laboured to free their Monastery of him during their plodding he sharpely reprehended them for their errors perswadâ—ng them to embrace and lay hold on the truth whereby they came to be more and more incensed against him and privately laboured with his friends to be more earnest with him in the leaving of the Monaâ—stery Having beâ—n resident in this place not fully two yeeres he departed and went unto Franciscus Sickingen a man nobly descended by whom he was entertained and iâ— the same houâ—e he laboured to put downe the Masse affiâ—ming it to be an Idolatrous worship but Franciscus being at that time greatly distressed with an unhappy warre he left him and went to Basel in the yeer of our Lord 1522. to publish such things as he had at vacant times collected Here he was againe advanced by the Senats unto a Pastorall office an annuall stipend designed unto him which he performed with great zeale and constancy to the glory of God and good of his Church here he bouldly discovered unto his Auditors those errors which by continuance had got firme footing in the Church he opened unto them the perfection and sufficientcy of the Merits of Christ he declared unto them the true nature of faith he revealed unto them the true doctrine of Charity insomuch that the authority of the Poâ—ish religion began to stagger in the mindes of many Whilst he was totally occupied about these things some there were who laboured to draw him againe to the Pseudo Catholicke religion but more especially Iohannas Cachlaeus who in the yeere 1524. wrote letterâ— unto him wherein he testified himselfe to be deeply afflicted with sorrow to heare that a man so excellently learned should lay aside his coule and adhaere unto such haereticall opinions and withall exhorted him to revoke his opinion and to returne againe into the Monastery promising him a dispensation from the Pope and the favour of the Prior which he had formerly enjoyed but these and such like things were slighted by Oecolampadius who bringing them unto the word of God found that they would not endure the triall In the performance of his Pastorall office an assistanâ— was appointed unt him by publicke authority and he began to settle a more excellent Reformation in the Church commanding the Sacrament of Baptisme to be administred in the mother tongue and the Sacrament of the Lords Supper to be received under both kinds he taught that the Masse was not a sacrifice for the living and the dead or for those who were tormented in their feigned Purgatory but that perfect satisfaction was obtained for all beleevers by the passion and Merits of Christ he disswaded them from sprinkling themselves with holy-water and from the consecration of Palmes and the like declaring unto them that they who did attribute vertue unto any such things did detract from the glory and power of God which doctrine of his tooke such deepe â—ooting in the hearts of his Auditors that it gave a period unto many superstitious actions amongst them The foundation of future reformation was no sooner laid but the old Dragon began to play his part and to discover his malicious â—nvy against such things as make for the glory of God either by hindâ—ing their proceedings or laying some foule aspersion on them for at that time broke forth that yet continued sacramentary dissention by meanes whereof that good worke begun in the Church was hindred Martin Luther at this time openly opposed and contradicting by writing the doctrine of Huldericus Zuinglius Pastor of the Church at Tigurum concerning the Euchiarist by reason whereof there was a great dissention betwixt the Churches of Helvetia and Saxony for the taking away of w ch Oecolampadius set forth a booke concerning the true understanding of these words Hoc est corpus meum and by many strong arguments he affirmed that a trope lay therein and yet his industry and labour therein tooke not away the contention betwixt the Churches This intended reformation was againe hindred by Eccius and his followers who taught 1 that the substantiall body and blood of Christ was in the Sacrament of the Altar 2 that they were truly offered up in the Masse both for the living and the dead 3 that the virgin Mary and the Saints were to be worshipped as intercessours 4 that the images of Iesus and the Saints were not to be abolished 5 that after this life there was a Purgatory These positions were vehemently opposed by Oecolampadius at the publicke dispuâ—ation held at Baden the event whereof was this some of the Helvetians subscribed unto Eccius some unto Oecolampadius and so there remained still a dissention amongst them which could by no meanes be taken away although attempted by many worthy instruments of Christ who have undergone many dangers for an effectuall performance of the same yet Oecolampadius wrought so with the Saints that liberty of conscience was granted unto the Citizens as touching religion In the yeer following there was a disputation held at Berne which continued for the space of twenty dayes wherein Oecolampadius labored so powerfully for a reformation that his acts there recorded give a sufficient testimony thereof unto the world In the yeer 1529. an assembly was appointed by the Lantgraw of Hassia at Marpurge touching a reformation in the Churches concerning which more in the life of Melancton After the painfull sustaining of so many labours at home and abroad he returned to Basil where he spent the residue of his life in Preaching reading writing setting forth of books visiting the sicke and having also a care of the adjacent Churches untill the yeer 1531. wherein it pleased God to visit him with sicknesse wherewith he was constrained to take his bed hourely exspecting death And forthwith sending for the Pastors of the same place he welcommed them with ashort pithy oration wherein he exhorted them to remaine constant and firme in the purity of the doctrine which they professed because it was conformable unto the word of God as for other things he willed them to be lesse carefull assuring them that the Al-sufficient God would care for them and that he would not be wanting unto his Church His Children standing before him he tooke them by their right hands and afterwards gently stroking their heads he advised them to love God who would be unto them in the place of a Father A little before his death one of his intimate friends comming unto him he asked him what newes he answered
eyes of the most renowned Doctor of the Chaiâ— Peter Martyr by whom he was presented Batchelour of Divinity and now nothing seemed to stand in his way from orderly ascending to higher degrees and preferment in the Church But the face of the skye is not more changeable then the condition of our estate in this world all the fair weather we spake of but now was overcast in a moment for by the untimely death of Edward the sixt and by the succeeding advancement of Queen Mary to the Crown a bitter storm of persecution fell upon the newly reformed Church of England and blew away many of our prime Doctors and other men of eminent worth and among them our Iewel who now banished from his native Soyl found yet great comfort in conversing first at Frankeford with Sir Francis Knowls and his eldest Son Robert Horn and Edward Sands and afterwards at Argentine with Iohn Poynet Edmund Grindall Iohn Cheek Anthony Cook Richard Morison Peter Carew Thomas Wroth and divers others These noble Confessors deserve rather the naming because in this their retiring they seemed as it were to fetch their fees to make the greater leap in England where after their return they were highly preferred Grindall to the Archbishop first of York then of Canterbury Sir Francis Knowls to be privy Councellour and Lord Treasurer Robert Lorne to the Bishoprick of Winton Sands of London Poynet of Worcester and the rest all of them to eminent places in the Church and Commonwealth to set off their future glory their present poverty and misery served as a foyl It was yet for the present lamentable to see these men of worth who had change of houses in their own Country hardly getting a shed to shelter them from wind weather in forreign parts they who opened the fountain of their bounty to other men in England were now constrained in Germany to fetch waters of Comfort drop by drop from others Conduits At the first the pious charity of the Londoners be it spoken to the honour of that City was as an unexhausted mine to them till by Stephen Gardner it was discovered and the rich vein stopt by the imprisonment of their chief Benefactors And now these servants of Christ of whom England at this time was not worthy were putt o many difficult plunges yet partly by the comfortable letters of Zuinglius Peter Martyr Calvin Melancthon Pelican Lavater Geznar and other privy Pastours of the reformed Churches beyond the Seas they were held up by the chin and partly by the charitable contributions of Christopher Prince of Wittenberg and the Senators of Zurick they were so kept above water as it were with bladders that none of them utterly sunk in their hope And for Iewell in particular though he were tossed from pillar to post and sometimes dashed upon one rock and sometimes upon another yet in the end he found safe harbour in Peter Martyrs house first in Argentine and after in Tigury where it is hard to say utrum Euripides ex Archelai an Archelai ex Euripides familiaritate fama magis incluruerit Whether Iewel gave more luster reputation to his Host or his Host to him certain it is Iewel assisted Peter Martyr in setting forth divers Books and by name his learned Comentaries upon the Iudges And very fortunate to the Church oâ— God was the conjunction of these two Stars of the first magnitude for from them had we the first light to find the tract of those who in the former Ages and purest time walked with a right foot to the Gospel and professed the Doctrine of the reformed Churches Although we must acknowledge our Churches very much indebted in this kind to Reynolds Whitaker Bilson Abbot CaÌ„mier Morney and Chemitius yet it cannot be denied that these later tinded their candles at these Torches for Peter Martyr had cleered the judgement of Antiquity in the point of the Sacrament and some other controversies between us and the Church of Rome and Iewel in all before Chemitius took Andradius to task or Bilson Allen or Reynolds Hart or Whitaker Stapleton or Abbot Bishop or Morney Perrane or Camier Bellarmine our Iâ—wel was the first who made a publick challenge to all the Papists in the world to produce but one cleer and evident testimony out of any Father or famous Writer who flourished within five hundred yeers after Christ for any one of the many Articles which the Romanists at this day maintain against us and upon good proof of any such one allegation to yeeld them the bucklers and reconcile himselfe to Rome and although Harding and some others undertooke him and entered into the lists with him about the controverted Articles yet they came off so poorely and Iewel on the contrary so amazâ—d and confounded them with a cloud of witnesses in every point in question that aâ— Bishop Godwine upon good ground affirmeth no one thing in our age gave the Papacy so deadly a wound as that challenge at Pauls Crosse so confidently made and bravely maintained But this challege was not now made in the time of Iewels banishment but after his returne into England at this time he and many other cleare lights of the Church were hid under a Bushell till the fire of persecution of England in which not onely many faithfull bretheren but diverse reverend Fathers as Latimer Cranmer Ridley and Hooper were burned to ashes for the testimony of the truth was laved out partly by the teares of compassionatâ— Confessors povring out their souls to God in publick and private but especially by the blood of so many Noble Martyres But as soone as God in justice looked upon the persecutours of the truth and called Queen Mary and thoâ—e who diped their hands in his Saint blood to his tribunall and set Queen Elizabeth upon her sisters throne that mirrour of Princes and parragon of her sex and phaenix of her age restoring at the same time preachers to the Gospell and Gospell to the preachers themselves in the first year of her Raigne commanded a survey to be taken of the whole Realme and finding in many parts palpable Egyptian darkenesse sent for all these concealed lights above mentioned and after they were fetcht from under the bushels which had covered them she set them in golden candlesticks in all the Counties within her Dominions and among them Iewell in the diocesse of Sarum Where he shined most brightly for eleaven years and after his extinction by death left a most sweet smell behind him the savour of a good name much more pretius then oyntment for his Apostolick doctrine and Saintlike life and prudent government and incorrupt integrity unspotted chastity and bountifull hospitality In his first visitation he began and in his last he perfected such a reformation not onely in the Cathedrall and Parochiall Churches but in all Courts of his jurisdiction that even those who before esteemed not so well of Iewell as Bishops yet now were brought to have a reverend opinion
unto the Senate who had hitherto constantly defended the doctrine of the Gospell As he tooke his leave thus of the Pastors by word of mouth so he tooke his leave of the Senate by writing commending the care of the Church and publick-schoole unto them withal desires that Rodolphus Guatterus might be his successor whom he adjudged the most fit for the discharging of a Pastorall office in that place having thus after a friendly manner taken his leave he prepared himselfe to meet the Lord and in the midst of his extremities sometimes repeating the sixteenth sometimes the forty two sometimes the fifty one Psalmes sometimeâ— the Lords prayers sometimes other prayersâ— at the last framing himselfe as it were to sleep he quietly yeelded his soule into the hands of God on the eighteenth of September in the year 1575. and in the 71. year of his age He was thâ— most excellent of all the Divines that Switzerland yeelded he was an undaunted defender of the truth of Christ he was of a weak disposition plainâ— in teaching a lover of truth but a detâ—ster of Sophisticall â—nd unprofitable arguments in his speech he was affable and courteous aswell towards those of his family as towards strangers he was sparing in his dyet loving unto all and studious as it plainly appeares by his works here following which he left behind him as testifications of his desire unto the generall good and benefit of the Church Tome 1. 1. A Catechisme for the Trigurine Schoolmasters 2. An Epitomie of Christian Religion in ten Books 3. Sermons on the â—eads of Christian Religion Tome 2. 1. A Confession and Exposition of the Orthodox Faith 2. A Declaration proving the Protestant Churches â—o be neither Hereticall nor Scismaticall 3. A Compendium of the Popish and Protestant tenets 4. The old Faith and Religion 5. Of Gods eternall Covenant 6. An Assertion of the two natures in Christ. 7. Institâ—tion of Christian Matrimony 8. Instructions for the sicke 9. Declarations of Gods benefits unto the Switzers 10. Exhortations to Repentance Tome 3. 1. A Treatise of the Sabbath and of Christian â—easts 2. Of the Office of Magistrates and of an Oath 3. Of Repentance 4. Of Conversion unto God 5. An Explanation of Daniels Prophesies 6. Of the office Prophetical 7. An Exhortation unto Ministers to leave off Controversies 8. Of the Originall of Maâ—omenatisme 9. Of the Persecutions of the Church Tome 4. 1. A Preface to thâ— Latin Bible 2. Sixtie six Homilies on Daniel 3. Epitomie of the times from the Creation to the Destâ—uction of Jerusâ—lem Tome 5. 1. Homiliâ—s on Isaiah 2. Sermons on Jeremiah 3. An Exposition on the Lamentation Tome 6. 1. Commentaries on Matthew 2. Marke 3. Luke 4. John 5. Acts of the Apostles 6. A Series of times and actions of the Apostles Tome 7. 1. Commentaries on the Epistles of Saint Paul 2. Sermons on the Revelation Tome 8. 1. A Demonstration of Christian perfection to Henry the second King of France 2. Of the authority of the Scripture 3. Of the Iâ—stitution of Bishops Never could worth lodge in a richer brest Those blessings he enjoy'd made others blest He was compos'd of sweetnesse and his heart Was alwayes cheerefull willing to impart The truth to them that studyed how to grieve For sin and would prove willing to believe He was laborious and he could expresse Hatred to nothig more then Idelnesse Grave Doctors of those times would then submit To his profound incomparable wit For his grave judgment was so highly pris'd That most would act what Bullengeâ— advis'd Is it not â—iting then that we should give Due praise to him whose worth will make him live The Life and Death of Edward Deering who dyed Anno 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 Chrisâ—'s College 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 of preferments and therefore rested content with his Fellowship in that Colledge and only Comensed Batchelor of Divinity yet afterwards he was made a Preacher in S t. Pauls Church in London and having worn out himselfe with his labours in the worke of the Lord he fell sick and discerning his approaching death he said in the presence of his friends that came to visit him The good Lord pardon my great negligence that whilest I had time I used nâ—t 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 is a great happinesse to you that you dye in peace and thereby are freed from those troubles which many of your brethren are like 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 spiâ—it the Lord will reveale the truth unto me When he had layen still a while a friend said unto him that he hoped that his minde was employed in holy meditation whil'st he lay so silentâ— to whom he answered Poore 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 â—ee â—ur hope The end of the world is come upon us and we shall quickely receive the end of our hope which we have so much looked for Afflâ—ctions deseases sicknesse griefe are nothing but part of that portion which God hath allotted to us in this world Iâ—'s not enough to begin for a little while execept we persevere in the fear of the Lord all thâ— dayer of our lives for in a moment we shall be taken away Takâ— heed therefore that you doe not make a pastime of nor dis-esteem the Word of God blessed are they that whil'st they have tongues use them to God's glory When he drew near to his end being set up in his bed some of his friends requested him to speak something to them that might be for their â—dification and comfort whereupon the Sun shining in his face he took occasion from thence to say thus unto them There is but one Sun in the world nor but one Righteousnesse one Communion of S ts â— If I were the most excellent of all creatures in the world if I weâ—â— equall in righteousnesse to Abraham Isaac and Jacob yet had I reason
serious meditation of the reformation of Religion in the Churches he desired to conforme the Citizens of Hassia unto the example of the Primitive Church he desired to remove many reliques of superstition out of the Church he desired to establish that Ecclesiasticall discipline which was ready to fall unto the great detriment of the Church In the midst of these heavenly cogitations it pleased the Lord to send his messenger for him which he well perceiving by the continuall increasing of his paines he desired to have the Communion administred unto him afterwards he told his wife what he would have done after his death after that he had instructed his children how they should carry themselves towards God and how towards their mother and how towardâ— men and his yongest son standing amongst them hâ— laid his hand on his head uttering these Words discemi fili mandata domini ipse enaâ—riet te Keepe the commandaments of the Lord my son and he will provide for thee then â—urning himselfe to those who were present he declareâ— unto them that he dyed in that faith which he had constantly professed so many yeares in that City which words being spoken he fell asleepe and was buried at Marpurge in the year our Lord 1564. and in the 53. year of his life All things which are to be required in a Teacher are to be found in this Gerardus first he was learned and his learning was also joyned with experience secondly he had an excellent faculty and method of teaching thirdly he was laborious in his function fourthly he was gravâ— fiftly of an unspotted life and conversationâ— he was modest patient and constant all which sufficiently declare that he was set apart by the Lord for the converting of many souls unto Christ. His Works which he left unto the world as a rich legacy are here set downe 1 A Commentary on the twentieth Psalme 2 On the twelft Psalme 3 A method for a Preacher 4 On the Romans 5 Of reading and meditating the Scriptures 6. Method of Theologie 7 Theologicall Topicks 8 Catechisme Other Works in two Tomes First 1 Of the study of the Scripture 2 Of the institution of Colledges 3 A triall of students 4 Of Catechising 5 Of justification by faith 6 Of Benificence to the poor 7 Of Feasts Tome 2. 1 Of the duty of hearers 2 Of Providence 3 Of Selfe-examination 4 Of the marriage of Ministers 5 Of the Sacraments 6 Notes upon Aristotles Ethicks 7 Physicks 8 Logicke 9 Rhetoricke 10 Arithmaticke 11 Gromaticke 12 Cosmographik 13 Optics 14 Astronomy Set forth after his death 1 Annotations of Isaiah 2 Commentaries on the Galathians 3 Ephesians 4 Philippians 5 Colossians 6 Thessalonians 7 Timothy 8 Titus 9 Philemon 10 Iude. 11 Hebrewes You that desire to lead a life Free from th'incumbrances of strife Draw neare and with a carefull â—row Let brave Gerarduâ— teach you how Reader observe and thou shalt finde By trauell he inrtch'd his minde His active heart was alwayes free To Propagate true piety He alwayes studied to displace Errours from the Churches face He gain'd no envy but from those That were Religions chiefest foâ—â— He would perswade intreat advise His Fellow-preachers to dispise Those fruits of Idlenesse which he defy'd Thus liv'd Gerarduâ— thus Gerardus dy'd ARETIVS BENEDICTVS The Life and Death of Aretius Benedictus AS the Lord hath never been wanting unto his Church both in these and in forraine parts in the stirring up of painfull and â—ealous Watch-men for the Propagating of his truth and for the enlightning of the understanding of those whom he had elected unto salvation in Jesus Christ so he hath not been deficient in procuring the affection of eminent persons towards the same Professors by whose meanes they have been defended and sheltered against the inviterate malice both of the Divell and his members Malicious enemies unto the Word of truth amonst whom the Senate of Berna may justly receive worthy Commendations for the constant love shewed unto the zealous professors of the truth it being indeed the maine pillar which doth support the welfare of a Common-wealth and which doth draw downe a blessing from heaven upon their intended designes In this â—amous City was Benedictus Aretius borne a faithfull zealous professors of the truth of Christ being beautified with excellent endowments both of learning and piety which did sufficiently testifie that he was set apart by the Lord for the winning of many unto Christ. He spent his youth in his owne Country amongst the Switzers wherein he was instructed and trained up in the knowledge of the Arts but ayming at a greater perfection labouring â—or a sounder judgement in the works writings of other learned and Orthodox men he left his Country for a season and went unto Marpurg where by reason of his eminent gifts and qualities he gained the love of many learned Schollers and was designed and oppointed to read the Logick Lecture in the same place which after he had performed for the space of some years to the great profit of his Auditors to the never dying fame of himselfe and to the generall applause of all the City having also attained in some measure to that perfection which he had formerly desired he returned again unto Berne where he was joyfully received and by a generall consent appointed to open the Scriptures and to instruct the inhabitants in the way of life in which exercise he observed such an edifying method both in his publick reading and Preaching that he drew great multitudes of people unto him who beholding his proceedings with great admiration with one consent praised the Lord for sending so learned and so painfull an instrument among them for the plantâ—ng of the truth in their hearts So excellent was his forme of teaching that many Divines came unto his Lectures not onely for the information of their judgements in matters of Controversies but also to learne his method of teaching which being obtained by some they proved excellent instruments in the Church for the converting of the lost sheepe of Israel and many would not in publicke make triall of their owne parts before they had continued for a season to be his Auditors His writings were greatly in request and desired greatly of all that either knew him or heard of him but especially his labours in Divinity one of his bookes called Eramen Theologicâ—m came to the Presse twelve times within the space of three years which doth declare the excellency and how usefull and beneficiall it was unto the Church in those times and in these dayes also it is a Worke fit to be perused of all such as doe intend the study of Divinity After that he had continued this constant course of teaching in the City of Berne for the space of many years to the great furtherance of the glory of God and benefit of his Church it pleased the Lord to take him unto himselfe and to Crowne him with a diâ—dem of everlasting glory