be drowned When he came to the Earles of Mansfield he was entertained by a hundred horsemen or more of the Court and was brought into Isleben very honourable but very sick and almost past recovery which thing he said did often befall him when he had any great businesse to undertake But using some meanes for cure of his infirmity he sate at supper with the company and so continued to doe from the 29. of Ianuary to the 17. of February and treated of the dfferences for whose determination he came thither In this time he preached sometimes and twice received the Lords Supper and publickely received two Students into the sacred order of the Ministery And at his lodging used much godly conference at Table with his friends and every day devoutly prayed The day before his death though he was somewhat weake yet he dined and supped with his company and at supper spak of divers matters and among other passages asked Whether in heaven we should know one another when the rest desired to heare his judgement thereof He said What befell Adam he never saw Eve but was at rest in a deep sleep when God formed her yet when he awaked and saw her he asketh not what she was nor whence she came but saith that she was flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone Now how knew he that He being full of the Holy Ghost and endued with the knowledge of God thus spake After the same manner we also shall be in the other life renewed by Christ and shall know our parents our wives and children and all about us much more perfectly then Adam knew Eve at her bringing to him After supper when he went aside to pray as was his custome the paine in his breast began to increase whereupon by the advise of some there present he tooke a little Vnicornes horne in wine and after that slept quietly an houre or two on a pallat neer the fire When he awaked he betooke himselfe to his chamber went to bed bidding his friends good nght admonished them who were present to pray God for the propagation of the Gospell because the Councell of Trent and the Pope would attempt wonderfull devises against it Having thus said after a little silence he fell a sleep But was awaked by the violence of his disease after midnight Then complained he againe of the narrownesse of his breast and perceiving that his life was at an end he thus implored Gods mercy and said O heavenly father my gratioâ—s God and Father of our Lord Iesus Christ thou God of Consolation I give the all hearty thanks that thou hast revealed to me thy Son Iesus Christ whom I beleeve whom I professe whom I love whom I glorifie whom the Pope of Rome and the rout of the wicked persecute aâ—d dishonour I beseech thee Lord Iesus Christ â—o receive my soul. O my gracious heavenly Father though I be taken out of this life though I must now lay downe this frailâ— body yet I certainely know that I shall live with with thee eternally and that I cannot be taken out of thy hands He added moreover God so loved the world that he gave his onely begotten Son that every one who beleeveth in him should not perish but have life everlasting And that in the 68. Psalme Our God is the God of salvation and our Lord is the Lord who can deliver from death And here taking a medicine and drinking it he further said Lord I render up my spirit into thy hands and come to thee And againe Lord into thy hands I commend my spirit thou O God of truth hast redeemed me Here as one falling asleep and without any bodily pain that could be discerned he departed this life And when Doctor Ionas and Caelius said O reverend father doe you dye in the constant confession ofâ— that doctrine of Christ which you have hitherto preached He answered so as he might be heard yea which was the last word he spake Thus he in his native Country not having seen it many years before dyed much lamented by many This â—ell on the eighteen day of Febru on the day in the Calender ascribed to Concord about three a clock in the morning in the great climactericall year of his age Soon after his body put into a coffin of Lead was carried in funerall manner to the Temple of Isleben where Iustas Ionas preached Then the Earles of Mansfield desired that his body should be interred within their territories But the Elector of Saxony required that he should be brought bark to Wittenberge In the returne thereof which way so â—vâ—r it went it was honourably attended and with much griefe accompanied out of each Princes Dominion and at lengh upon the twenty two of February in the afternone was brought to Wittenberg and was carried into the Temple neare adjoyning to the Castle with such a troope of Princes Earles Nobles their living as students and other people that the like was seldome or never seâ—n in that towne When the funerall rites were perforned Pomeranus preached to an assâ—mbly of many thousands And after that Melancthon with many teares and â—igheâ— made a funerall Oration When this was don the coffin with his body was put by the hands of divers learned men into the tombe near to the Pulpit in which he had made many learned Sermonâ— before divers Princes Electors and the Congregation of many faithfull Christians In a brazen plate his picture lively deciphered was there set up with Verses by it to this effect This Sepulchre great Luthers Corpes contanes This might suâ—â—ice yet read these following strains HEre in this Vrne doth Martin Luther resâ— And sweetly sleep in hope to rise most blest By whose rare pains firme faith and Christs free Grace Which formerly thick Fogs of Error base And Duskie Clouds â—j Wâ—rks desert hid quite Were well reduced to their ancient Light For when blind Superstition ruled All And did fair Trnth long time suppresse and thrall He by Gods Word and Spirits inspiration The Gospels Light re-spred for every Nation And well-instructed by Pauls sacred voyce Scorning Romes Cheats to teach pure Truth made choyce And as John Baptist in the Wildernesse Did Gods Lamp who heals Sin Preach and expresse So O Sweet Christ did Luther cleare thy booke When all the World was caught with Errors â—ooke And what the difference was betwixt the Law Whose tables Moses brake though God he saw Vpon Mount-Sinai and the Gospell sweet Which heales Sin conscious hearts which Gods wrath meet This difference lost to th' World he did restore That so Christs gifts of Grace might shine the more He stoutly did oppose Romes Cheats and Charmes And Papall rule which wrought Gods Saints great harmes Exhorting all Romes idols for to flye He many souls wan to true piety And mauger all Romes threats and snares most slie Finisht in Faith his Course most valiantly Dying in peace his Soule with Christ doth rest Crown'd with immortall Glory
rage was spent Ye did him good though with an ill intent Pricke up your eares and hâ—are this fatall tone Those fires which made him screek wil make you groâ— The Life and Death of Conrade Pellican who dyed Anno Christi 1556. COnrade Pellican was born at Rubeac in Swedeland Anno 1478. and brought up in learning by his Parents at thirteen yeeres of age he went to Heidleberg after sixteen moneths study there he returned home where he entered into a Monastery yet afterwards returned to Heidleberg and from thence to Tubinge where he studied the Liberall Arts and was much admired for his quick wit he studied also School-Divinity and Cosmography wherein he profited exceedingly he tooke very great pains in the study of Hebrew and at Basil was made Doctor in Divinity afterwards the Popes Legat took him with him towards Rome being affected with his learning but falling sick of a Fever by the way he returned to Basil. Whilst he thus continued a Fryar he was of great esteeme amongst them because of his learning integrity but it pleased God at last that by reading Luthers bookes and conference with learned and godly men he began to dis-relish the Popish Errors and so far to declare his dislike of them that he was much hated and persecuted for a Lutheran but about the same time the Senate of Basil chose him Lecturer in Divinity in that City togeâ—her with Oecolampadius where he began first with reading upon Genesis then on Proverbs and Ecclesiastes An. Christi 1526. he was by the meanes of Zuinglius sent for to Tygure and being come was most courteously entertained by him there he laid downe his Monks Coul and married a wife by whom he had a son which he named Samuel being then preaching upon the history of Samuel that wife dying he married againe but had no children by his second wife he was present at the Disputation at Bern about Religion after Zuinglius his death there were chosen into his room Henry Bullinger and Theodor Bibliander who was an excellent Linguist and began to read upon Iâ—aie to the great astonishment of his hearers for that he was not above 23. yeers of age Pellican â— at the earnest request oâ— learned men Printed all his Lectures and Annotations which were upon the whole Bible excepting onely the Revelations which portion of Scripture he not intending to write upon caused the Commetaâ—y of Sebastian Meyter upon it to be bound with his to make the worke compleat He translated many bookes out of Hebrew which were printed by Robert Stevens and having been Hebrew Professor at Tygure for the space of thirty yeers wherein he was most acceptable to all not onâ—ly in regard of his excellent learning and indefatigable painâ— but also in regard of his sweet and holy Conversation At lasâ— falling into the pain of the stone other diseases he departed this life upon the day of Christs Resurrection 1556. of his Age 78. After our Pellican had wandred long In the worlds wide-wildernesse he grew so strong In grace and goodnesse that he soon became An ample Subject for the mouth of Fame He was admir'd by all that lov'd to be Serious proficients in Divinity He lives he lives although his body lyes Inshrin'd by earth True virtue never dyes The Life and Death of Bugenhagius who died Anno Christi 1558. IOhn Bugenhagius was born at Iulinum in Pomerania Anâ—â— christi 1485. His Parents were of the rank of Senators who bred him up carefully in Learning and sent him to the University of Grypswald where he profited in the study of the Arts and the Greek tongue Being twenty years old he taught School at Trepta and by his learning and diligence he made the School famous and had many Scholaâ—â— to whom also he red daily some portion of Scripture and pâ—â—yed with themâ— and meeting with Erasmus his booke againe the â—â—strâ—onicall carriage of the Fryarâ— the Idolatry of the times he gat so much light thereby that he was stirred up to instruct others therein and for that end in his Schoole he read Matthew the Epistles to Timothy and the Pâ—alms to which he added Catechising and also expounded the Creed and thâ— ten Commandements unto which exercises many â—entlemen Citizens and Priests resorted from the Schoole he was called to preach in the Church and was admitted into the Colledge of Presbyters many resorted to his Sermons of all ranks and his fame spred abroad insomuch as Bogeslauâ— the Prince of that Country employed him in writing an History of the same aud â—urnished him with mony books and records for the enabling of him thereto which History he compleated in two yeeres with much judgement and integrity Anno Christi 1520. one of the Citizens of Trepâ—a having Luthers booke of the Babylonish Captivitie sent him he gave it to Bugenhagius as he was at dinner with his Collegues who looking over some leaves of it told them that many Hereticks had disqâ—ieted the peace of the Church since Christs time yet there was never a more pestilent Hereticke then the Author of that book but after some few dayes having read it with more diligence and attention he made this publick Recantation before them all What shall I say of Luther All the world hath been blinde and in cimmeâ—ian darknesse onely this one man hath found out the Truth And further disputing of those questions with them he brought most of his Collegues to be of his judgement therein Hereupon Bugenhagius read Lutheâ—'s other Works diligently whereby he learned the difference between the Law and the Gospell Justification by Faith c. and taught these things also to his Hearers But the Divell envying the successe of the Gospell stirred up the Bishop to persecute the professours of it some of which he cast into Prison and caused others to flye away insomuch as Bugenhagius also being not safe and desirous to be acquainted and to confer with Luther went to Wittembourg Anno christi 1521. and of his 〈◊〉 36. and came thither a little before Luther's going to thâ— Diet at Worms In whose absence he opposed â—arolostadius who would have all Magistrates to rule by the Judicialâ— of Moses and Images to be cast out of Churches Upon Luther's return out of his Pathmos he was chosen Pastor of the Church of Wittembourg which he taught and governed with much felicity and in many changes of affairs for the space of thirty six years never leaving his station neitheâ— for War nor Pestilence and when he was profered Richeâ— and Preferment both in Denmark and Pomeron yet he would never leave his Charge though he lived but poorly in itâ— Anno christi 1522. he was sent for to Hamburg where hâ— prescribed to them a forme both of Doctrine Ceremonieâ— and Calling of Ministers where he erected a Schoole alsoâ— which afterwards grew very famous and Anno christi 1530 being sent for to Lubec he prescribed to them also an order both for Preaching and Discipline
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
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
to confesse my selfe to be a sinner and that I could expect 〈◊〉 salvation but in the righteousnesse of Jesus Christâ— For we all staâ—d in need of the Grace of God And as for my death I blesse God I feel and find so much inward joy and comfort to my soul that if I were put to my choyse whether to die or live I would a thousand times rather chuse death then life if it may stand with the holy wiâ—â— of God and accordingly shortly after the slept in the Lord Anno Christi 1576. What greater Simptomes can there be of grace Then to be penitent the greatest race A Christian can desire to run is this Fron earths base centre to eternall blisse This race our Deering run he spent his time Whilest here he liv'd in studying how to clime To Heav'ns high Court true vâ—â—tue was his prize And God the object where he fixt his eyes Faith Hope and Charity did sweetly rest Within the Councell Chamber of his brest And to conclude the graces did agree To make a happy soul and that was he The Life and Death of Flacius Jlliricus who dyed Anno Christi 1575. MAtthias Flacicus Illiricus was born in Albona in Sclavoâ—a Anno Christi 1520. his Father whil'st he lived broâ—ght him up in learning careâ—ully but after his dâ—ath his Masters so neglected him that he almost forgot all but when he began to have discretion he desired much to attaine to learning and for that end he went to Venice and after some progresse made at seventeen years old he began to â—tudy Divinity but wanting meanes to maintain him in the University he profered halfe his estate to be admitted into a Monastery either at Bononia or Padua but a friend diâ—swading him from that kinde of life advised him rather to goe into Germany where were store of learned men He went therefore to Basil where he studied under Grynaeus and from thence to Tubing where also he studied a while and then went to Wiâ—tenbâ—rg Anno Christi 1541. where he privately taught Greek and Hebrew for hiâ— maintenance and heard Luther and Melancthon He was much troubled there with temptations about sin God's wrath and Predestination but by the good councell of Pomeâ—â—ne and Luther and the publick prayers of the Church for him it pleased God that he overcame them Melancthon loved him much for his wit and learning there he was made Master of Arts married a wife and had a stipend allowed him by the Prince 〈◊〉 But when by reason of the Wars that University was dissipated he went to Bâ—â—nswiâ—ke got much credit by his publick teaching but the Wars being ended he return'd to Wittenberg Anno 1547. But when the Interâ—m came forth and Melancthon thought that for peace-sake som thing should be yeelded to in things indifferent Flacius with many other Divines strongly opposed it as opening a gap to the retnrne of Popery whereupon he removed from thence to Magdeburg where he strongly opposed whatsoever was contrary to the Augustine Confession there alsâ— he assisted in writing the Magdeburgenses Centuries And wheâ— the Duke of Saxony had erected an University at Ieans he sent for him thither Anno Christi 1556. but after five years a great contention arising between Strigelius and him about Free-will he left that place and went to Ratisbone â— anâ— Anno Christi 1567. the Citizens of Anâ—werp having proâ—â—â—â—â— liberty for the free exercise of the Reformed Religion sent for Flacius amongst others thither but Religion being quickly expelled thence he went to Argentine and from thence to Franckefurt upon the Main where after a while falling out with the Ministers about the Essence of Originall Sin he fell into great disgrace and not long after dyed Anno Christi 1575. and of his age 55. He was of an unquiet wit alwayes contending with some or other and brought much griefe to Melancthon yet wrote some excellent works for the benefit of the Church and amongst oothers his Catalogus Testium Veritatis He was a man as some reported fit To be the Master of unquiet wit He was contentious which brought discontent To rare Melancthon yet some time he spent In serious studyes leaving at his death Rare workes behind to give his fame a breath The Life and Death of Josias Simlerus who dyed Anno Christi 1576. IOsias Simlerus was born in Helvetia Anno Christi 1530. his father was a godly learned and prudent man by whom he was carefully brought up in learning and at fourteen years of age he was sent to Tygure where he lived in Bullingeâ—'s family who was his godfather almost two years from thence he went to the University of Basil where he studied the Arts and Tongues one year and from thence he went to Argentine where he made a further progresse in those studies and at the end of three yeares he returned to his fathers with whom he spent his time in study and teaching a School and sometimes also preaching Anno Christi 1552. he began publickly to expound the New Testamâ—nt beginning in Matthew in Tygure being twenty two yeares old which worke he performed with great judgement fidelity and diligence having not onely many of that City to be his hearers but many Exiles especially of the English also four years after he was made Deacon and went on in his former worke with admiration so that he was highly prized by all Bibliander being grown very old Simler supplyed his place and was Collegue to Peter Martyr who fore-told that Simler was like to prove a great ornament to the Church who also when he dyed expressed much joy that he should leav so able a man to succeed him Simler besides his publick labours instructed many also in private and amongst them some Noblemen both in sacred and humain learning he had such an acute wit and strong memory that he was able Extempore to speak of any subject and to answer his friends questions out of any author and to give an account of their wrintings to the great admiraâ—tion of the hearers and though in reading of bookes he seemed to run over them very superficially yet when he had don he was able to give an exact account of any thing that was in them and being so troubled with the gout that many times he was confined to his bed and had the use of none of his members but his tongue onely yet in the mid'st of his pains he used to dictate to his amanuensis such things as were presently printed to the great admiration of learned men besides the gout he was much troubled with the stone so that the pains of these diseases together with his excessive labors in his Ministry hastened his immature death which he also fore-saw yet without any consternation or feare but by his frequent and fervent prayers to God he endeavored to fit himselfe for it and accordingly Anno Christi 1576. he resigned up his spirit unto God being forty five years old and was buried in