but freely without stipend â—xpounded all Saint Pauls Epistles when he was not yet full thirty yeeres of age At Oxford Erasmus and he became first acquâ—inted who witnesseth â—o his no smal commendation that though at that time he was neither Graduat nor Candidat in Theologie that yet there was neither Doctor Abbot nor Master in the whole Vniversity who frequented not and which is more tooke notes of hiâ— Lectures Howsoever before he left the Vniversity they honored him with the degree of Doctor whereof he accepted rather to please the givers then himselfe From Oxford and these sacred imployments he was called to London by King Henry the seventh who bestowed upon him the Denary of St. Pauls of all the Denaries in England the highest in the ranke but not the deepest in the manger which Colet imbraced rather as aburdensome charge then honor And therfore as soone as he had regulated his Colledge of Canons and restored it to its antient Discipline he resolved which was not Customary in those times to Preach every Holy-day in the Cathedrall over and above his Sermons at Court and many other Churches in the City to one or other whereof the want of able Predicants invited him almost every Lords-day In his owne Church he expounded the Scriptures not by retale but whole-sale running over sometimes a whole Epistle sometimes a whole Gospell wheresoever he Preached he was exceedingly followed both by Courtiers and Citizens The Deans Table which in former times had been two much prostituted to excesse and luxury he reduced to temperance and moderated by his frugality For he restrained himselfe to one meale a day for many yeeres together both before and after his preferment which at one blow câ—t off all his Supper-guests late dinners not a few and the more because his entertainment though neat was neither costly nor excessive his sitting short and his whole discourse attemperd either to learning or piety for immediately after grace his boy red a Chapter out of which he himselfe for the most part chose the theme or subject of that meales discourse wherein not onely Schollers but idiots also his Conviu's had their share if he perceived their want of learning supplyed with a good mother wit and ready naturall judgement Casting one bone after another untill he dismissed them with no lesse satisfaction to their minds then refreshments to their bodies foâ— although he hated prodigality and scurrility he was no enemy to good Company who came more frequently because with lesse charge to his Evening Collations then set Dinners and with whom commonly he spunne out a good part of the night in ventilating one point of Divinity or other if none came or such onely as had no great feliâ—ity in these sacred Saturnals having dismissed them with some few complements his Boy red him a parcell of holy Scripture whereupon he usually ruminated till he went to bed In his travels he was cheerfull but his chiefe Companion was ever some chiefe Booke Solecisme he accounted the worst point of Slovenry affecting neatnesse in his household-stusse and cloathes Books meat and all things else magnificence in nothing much lesse prodigality Black he loved above all Colours preferring it farre before Purple which preserved his Doctorall robes the longer His upper garment was alwaies of broad-cloath and that too none of the finest which against hard frosts he fortified with deep Furres whatsoeuer accrued unto him by the Church he intirely committed to his steward to be spent in House-keeping His owne hereditary rents and profits which were great for he was heir to his Father and some of his brethren he himselfe pursed up and distributed to pious uses But perceiving the manifold distractions which accompanied the managing of so plentifull an estate he called in his Fathers debts and sold his whole Patrimony which in the totall amounted to a very great masse of money and wherewith he erected and indowed that stately and famous Free-schoole in Saint Pauls Church-yard whereunto he joyned a faire dwelling house Capable of two School-masters to whom he assigned liberall Stipends because they were to teach gratis The whole fabrick he divided into four parts whereof one is as it were for your Catechumany and beareth the inscription of Catechizationis the second for such as are under the Vsher divided from the third part by a vaile drawen â—pon great Curtaine-roddes and containeth onely such youths as are disciplined by the chiefe School-master the forth and last part confisteth of an Oratory or Chappell for Prayer and other religious exercises Above the Masters head if the Reformation have not pulled it downe and levelled him with his Crosse standeth the child Iesus curiously ingraven and as it were in the posture of one reading a Lecture with this Motto Ipsum audite whom the Children as they entered the Schoole were wont to salute with a sacred Hymne composed if I be rightly informed by Erasmus Every Form containeth sixteen and the Captaine or Dux of every Classe sitteth by himselfe in a Pue or Throne somewhat more eminent then the rest great respect had wont to be had both to the Ingine and Ingenuity of the Intrants how matters are now carried I know not This is certaine though the whole amounted to an infinit charge yet Colet would therein admit of no Copartners An hundred pounds left by a charitable Cittizen for advancement of the Structure he bestowed with the Bishops licence upon Books and sacred Vestments for the Quire And yet though he would permit no Lay-man to have a finger in the building he intrusted no Clergimen with the over-sight of its Revenewes As all men praised him for this Schoole so many wondred what he meant to build so magnificent a house for himselfe within a Curtilage of the Carthusians and so neer the honor of Richmond But to take both the best the worst together He was by nature high minded impatient of inivries much given to sleep and as he confessed but not sub Sigillo to his best friend no stranger to the temptations both of lust and Luxury a great admirer of witty jests and inclinable enough unto Covetousnesse Over all which imperfections through grace he became more then conqueror for his haughtinesse of minde and proud stomake he levelled even to humility by the common grounds of reason and Phylosophy being then best pleased when he was most freely admonished Covetousnesse he put to flight by a charitable profusion of his whole temporall Estate upon works of mercy piety Venery sleep and Luxury he nobly profligated by holy confercences fasting praying indefatigable study and often Preachâ—ng But yet so that at great feasts and in his entertainmentâ— of Ladiâ—s and Gentle-women where without too much rigidity he could not but give way to a more free and liberall discourse a man might easily perceive the recoylments of his owne naturall and exorbitant proclivities so impossible is it for flesh and bloud not sometimes to discouer themselves even in the
the little light allowed them and by the swiftnesse of their wings to regaine the shortnesse of the time So this good man as if presaging that his life was likly to be very short dying at the forty fourth year of his age husbanded it with double diligence to Gods glory and by his industry gained in thicknesse what he wanted in length 16. When Ahab dyed the Epâ—â—affe as I may say was written on his grave That he built an Ivory House A great honour indeed to have a milke-white Pallace and a blacke soul within it But of gracious Iosiah it is said 2. Chron. 35. 26. Now the rest of the acts of Josiah and his goodnesse and his deeds first and last This indeed was worth remembring I can tell the Reader of no Ivory house no beautifull building no stately structures this Master Perkines erected but as for his goodnesse with Iosiah very much may be spoken thereof For he did not onely as Scripture praise is Serve his Generation that is discharge himselfe with credit in all reference to those persons to whom he stood related in that Age he lived in but also he hath provided in his Workes a Magazine of Learning and Religion for all Generations to come So that the Levites which as yet lurkes in the loynes of Abraham their great Grandfather infants as yet concealed in their causes have just reason alwayes to bâ— thankfull to God for the benefit they receive from thosâ— Monuments he hath left behinde him His Stature was indifferent complexion ruddy hayre bright body inclined to corpulency which proceeded not from any lazinesse but pulse and paines shall make one fat where God gives the blessing He was lame of his right hand like another Ehud Iud. 3.15 yet made the instrument to dispatch many Eglon errors in judgement and vice in conversation And nature commonly compensates corporall defects with a surplusage of the Soule As for such as make bodily markes in men the brands of disgrace â—pon them we will send them to halting but true heartâ—â— Iacob bleare-eyed but faithfull Leah stammering but meeke Moses lame but loyall Mephibosheth with other Saints in the Scripture so to have their erronious judgements rectified into a more charible opinion He was much afflicted with the Stone the attendant of a sedentary life whereby his patience was much exercised This brought him at last to his long home so called Eccles. 12.5 not because man is long going thither but long yea for ever staying there When he quietly surrendred his soul into the hands of his Creator dying rich onely in Grace the love of God and good men It was true of him what Saint Paul said 2 Cor. 6.10 being poore but making many rich Even in a litterall sence the Sellers of his Books gained but small profit came to the Author He was buried in a decent manner where all the spectators were Mourners veris spirantibus lachrymis Doctor Mouâ—tague afterwards Bishop of Wincher Preached his Funerall Sermon taking for his Text Moses my servant is dead Iosh. 1.2 and hath no other Monument then his owne vertues except any will say that the plaine Stones which cover his Grave are made Marble by the worth of the Corps beneath them A Wife and many Children he left behinde him she married successively two other Husbands but no more Mr. Perkinses If any charitable disposed Person hath been blessed by God with a Cup which overfloweth and if he desireth that some drops of the same should fall upon them who are the proper objects of bounty I doubt not but an easie inquiring he may quickly finde out some of this worthy mans Children as not so poore openly to request so not so proud but they would thankfully receive such expressions of his Charity Yea what Saint Paul said of the Iews may truely be applyed to the good mans memory We are debters unto c. So that what is bestowed in this kinde on his is not so much a guift as a paying an obligation He was borne the first and dyed the last year of the reign of Queen Elizabeth so that his life ran parallel with her reigne streaming in equall length and had both their fountains and fals together He dyed Anno Dom. 1602. 1 A foundation of Christian Religion 2 His Golden â—haine or description of Divinity 3 An Exposition of the Apostles Creed 4 An Exposition of the Lords Prayer 5 A Declaration of the state of Gracâ— and Condemnation 6 Cases of Conscience 7. A discourse of the Tongue done in Latine by Thomas Drax 8 Of the nature and practice of Repentance 9 Of the meanes to dye well in all states and â—imes 10 Of the combate of the flesh and spirit into Latine by Drax. 11 Of the course to live well 12 A Treatise of Conscience 13 The Reformed Catholicke 14 Of the â—rue meanes to know Christ crucified and the Graâ—ne of Mustard-seed into Latine by Thomas Draxe 15 Of true Wealth 16 Of the Idolatry of the last times 17 Of Gods free grace and of free will in Men. 18 Of mens callings 19 Of Predestination in Latine by the Author 20 His Bible harmony 21 A Dialogue of the worlds dissolution These that follow were set forth after the Authors death 1 Three bookes of the cases of Conscience translated into Latine by Thomas Draxe and Meyer 2 Commentaries on the five first Chapters on the Galathians 3 Of Christian Equity by Carshaw 4 Of Mans Imagination set forth by Thomas Peirson 5 Problemes against Coxe in Latine by himselfe set forth by Samuel Ward 6 The key of Prophesie set forth by Thomas Tuke 7 Commentaries upon the fifth sixth and seventh chapters of Matthew set forth by Thomas Peirson 8 Commentaries on the three first chapters of the Apocalyps by Robert Hill and Thomas Peirson 9 Of the tentation of Christ from the first verse to the 12. of the fourth chapter of Matthew 10 An exhortation to Repentance 11 Two excellent Treatises of Ministers calling set out by Master Crashaw 12 A Commentary on Judes Epistle by Thomas Pickering 13 Of poysoning a Treatise 14 Against Prognosticks An Answer to a Countrey fellow 15 Of the houshold Discipline in Latine by the Author now Englished Of all the Worthies in this learned role Our English Perkins may without controle Challenge a crowne of Bayes to deck his head And second unto none be numbered For 's learning wit and worthy parts divine Wherein his Fame resplendantly did shine Abroad and eke at home for 's Preaching rare And learned writings almost past compare Which were so high estéem'd that some of them Translated were as a most precious jem Into the Latine French Dutch Spanish tongue And rarely valued both of old and young And which was very rare Them all did write With his left hand his right being uselesse quite Borne in the first dying in the last year Of Quéen Eliza a Princesse without péer Place here Bishop Androwes his Life marked with this Signiture ***
Reformation in the Churches he was informed by Melancthon that Ecclesiasticall government did consist 1. In the soundnesse and puritie of Doctrine 2. In the lawfull use of the Sacraments 3. In a conservation of the Minister of the Gospell and in obedience towards the Pastors of the Churches 4. In the preservation of an honest and godly Discipline which was to be upheld by an Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction 5. In the upholding of Schooles 6. In supplying such persons as are imployed in weightie matters with sufficient necessaries Which points he caused to be dispersed amongst the Churches but they wrought little or no Reformation the yeer following Germanie was oppressed with civill Warres which when it was greatly lamented by Melancthon some out of malice misinterpreting his words accused him unto the Emperour as one who laboured to hinder his proceedings in the Reformation of Religion for which cause the Emperour intended his death but he was defended and delivered by the intreaty of Mauritius the Prince Elector who possessed the Emperour with a contrary opinion Not long after it happened that there were great preparations for the Councill of Trent and safe going and returning being concluded on Melancthon was sent with the Letters of the foresaid Mauritius and taking Norimberge in his way he was commanded to stay there untill he received an answer concerning that faith which was generally to be embraced of all the Churches During his aboad at Noremberge he heard the newes of the Expedition of Mauritius against the Emperor in regard of the Lantgrave of Hassia who was detained captive Wherefore Melancthon lefâ— Noremburge returned again to Wittemberge Many are of opinion that if he had been present at the said Councill and had been suffred to declare his mind freely amongst them he would have redified many of their judgements concerning matters of religion Being come unto Wittenberge he constantly went forward in his exercise of teaching and preaching the word of God untill he fell into an irrecoverable disease whereby his vitall spirits grew so feeble that he was made unfit for the performance of his pastorall office and weaknesse increasing every day more and more upon him he was constrained at the last to yeeld unto death and in the midst of many heavenly prayers he surrendred his soul unto him that gave it in the yeer of our Lord 1560. in the 63. yeere of hiâ— age and after that he had preached the space of 42. yeeres unto the inhabitants of Wettemberge Where he was buried with great sorrow and lamentation being laid side by side with Luther For his excellent gifts he was not onely reverenced by Protestant Divines then living but he also gained a singular approbation of such as were his professed enemies He was of a meane stature not exceeding the common sort of men his forehead smooth and high his haire thin his neck long his eyes beautifull and peircing he was broad breasted and in generall there was a proportionable agreement betwixt all the parts of his body in his youth he stammered something in his speech but reaching unâ—o a maturity of age he so corrected that infirmity that it gave no offence unto his Auditors the learned treatises which he left unto the Church whose reformation both in doctrine and discipline he greatly laboured for in his life are here inserted Tome 1. 1. Commentaries on Genesis 2. Explications on some Psalms 3. Vpon the Proverbs Annotations on 4. Matthew 5. Iohn 6. 1 Corinthians 7. An Apologie for Luther against the Paritians 8. Anabaptistists 9. Sentences of Fathers 10. Of the qualification of Princes 11. Of the tree of consanguinity Tome 2. 1. A Comment on Paul to the Romans 2. School-notes on the Colossians 3. Common places of Divinity Tome 3. 1. A confession of Faith 2. A Catechisme 3. A method of Preaching 4. Theologicall Disputations 5. Of Vowes 6. Of the doctrine of the reformed Church 7. An Epistle to John Earle of Widae Tome 4. 1. Philosophicall workes 2. Commentaries on Aristot. Ethicks 3. Politicks 4. An Epitome of Morall Phylosophy Tome 5. 1. A Latin Grammer 2. A Greeke gram 3. Logicke 4. Rhetoricke 5. Enarrations on Hesiods workes 6. Arithmaticke 7. Epigrams These were printed by Hervagius but there are divers others set forth by Christopher Pezelius As 1. An admonition to those that read the Alcaron 2. A defence for the marriage of Priests 3. Commentaries on Daniel 4. A discourse on the Nicene Creed 5. Luthers Life and Death 6. Schoolâ—-notes on Cicero his Epistles 7. Translations of Demosthenes and Plutarch 8. Greeke and Latine Epigrams 9. Two Tomes of Epistles 10. Carion his Cronologie â—nlarged Would thy ingenious Fancy soare and flye Beyond the pitch of moderne Poesye Or wouldest thou learne to charme the conquerd eare With Reth'riks oyly Magik wouldest thou heareâ— The Majesty of language wouldest thou pry Into the Bowels of Philosophy Morall or Naturall Or wouldest thou sound The holy depth and touch the unfathom'd ground Of deepe Theology Nay wouldest thou need The Sisteme of all excellence and feed Thy empty soule with learning's full perfection Goe search Melancthons Tomes by whose direction Thou shalt be led to Fame if his rare story Can make thee emulous of so great a glory The Life and Death of John a Lasco who died Anno Christi 1560. IOhn Lascus was born of a noble family in Poland and brought up in learning afterwards travelling to Tygure in Helvetia he was by Zuinglius perswaded to betake himselfe to the study of Divinity and when he might have been preferred to great honor in his owne Country such was his love to Christ and his Church and such his hatred to Popery that he chose with Moses to suffer affliction with the people of God rather then to live in worldly honor and peace amongst his friends coming into Frisland Anno Christi 1542. he was called to be a Pastor at Embden where he fed and ruled his flock with great diligence the yeere after he was sent for by Ann the widdow of Count Oldenburg to reform the Churches in East-Frisland and the next yeer after by Albert Duke of Prussia but when he agreed not with him in judgement about the Lords Supper the worke remained unperfected about that time the Emerour persecuted the Protestants he was sent for by King Edward the sixth upon Cranmers motion into England where he gathered Preached unto and governed the Dutch-Church which remain's to this day In the dayes of Queen Mary he obtained leave to return beyond-Sea and went with a good part of his Congregation into Denmarke but there he found but cold entertainment by reason of his differing from them about the Lords Supper the Churches of Saxonie also rejected them not suffering them to live amongst them upon the like reason at length that poore Congregation found entertainment in Frisland under the Lady Anne Oldenburg and setled at Embdem Anno Christi 1555. he went thence to Francford upon Main where with the consent of