lose his freedom And that in the life of Ministers and Bishops there was a great deal of danger that will he nill he he must be intangled with riches honours and cares of the World and thereby be cast upon many temptations Besides the lives of many of them displeased him seeing the ancient Piety of the Ministry to begin to degenerate into Pride and Tyranny All these things seriously considered he began to be in love with a Monastick life which in those times did far differ from their lives in future Ages which was afterwards intangled with Ceremonies and Superstitions For in those times they had liberty to change their condition when they pleased to go whither they pleased they had a great deal of freedom to attend their studies betaking themselves to Fasting and Prayer they were not bound under any humane constitutions Their Apparel was mean yet not enjoyned but left to every ones free will not which was noted for prodigious novelty so that every one might point at them with the finger but which was most agreeable with Christian simplicity they were tyed by no Vows but such as every true Christian ought to be subject to Having resolved upon this course of life his next endeavour was to associate some companions to him therein But Pammachius who hitherto had been his chamber-fellow and fellow-student for his course of life was wholly of another disposition The greatest freedom was most pleasing to Hierom and a married life to Pammachius Bonosus having setled his affairs forsaking his Country Parents and Friends and only accompanyed with his Books was departed into a solitary Island and therein had out-run Hierom extricating himself from the snares of the World to enjoy more freedom in the service of Christ. Not long after Hierom having setled his affairs and provided things necessary for his journey especially a fair Library he sailed into Syria having Heliodorus for his companion who having remained a while with him in Syria disliking that course of life left him Yet did not Hierom at all break off his good esteem of him for the same Then did Hierom go to Hierusalem veiwing all the observable places about that once famous City But shortly after by reason of the change of Ayr and Country he fell into a grievous sickness at which time Evagrius entertained him into his house and shewed much kindeness to him Having recovered his health he was inflamed with an earnest desire of prosecuting his former resolution for the manner of his life and thereupon retiring himself into a Desart between the Syrians and Saracens he had no company besides wilde Beasts and Serpents and here and there a Monks Cell that had betaken himself to the same course of life as Hierom now did But before his fixing in this Wilderness he spent some time in Antiochia which yet he stayed not long in partly by reason of the celebrity of the place and partly because of a Schism that was in the Church Neither could he stay long in Chalcis because of the neighbourhood of some Arians which molested him and indeed this holy man was grievously vexed by their wicked practises who daily cited him before them to give an account of his Faith In brief he met with so many molestations that many times he repented his coming into Syria And thereupon at length he shut up himself far from the commerce of men in that forenamed Desart thinking it far better to live amongst Thieves and wilde Beasts then amongst such Christians And continuing there four years together he only conversed with Christ and his Books seriously busying himself according to his former purpose And having in his youth fallen into some loosness the first thing he did was with showres of tears to bewail his sins and to endeavour to make his peace with God Then by abstinence watchings and incredible austeritty of life to beat down his body and to bring it into subjection to his spirit that so he might be freed from all temptations to fleshly lusts and left his carnal affections should impede his heavenly life he prescribed and exacted of himself a daily task wherein he was imployed He distributed his time into two parts one for his studies the other for meditation and prayer wherein also he spent a good part of the night He allowed himself the least part for sleep less for his food and none for idleness when he was aweary of study he betook himself to Prayer or singing of a Psalm and then presently returned to his studies again He read over all his Library and then rubbed up his old studies He learned most of the Scripture by heart He meditated much upon the Prophets labouring to finde out the Mysteries of their Prophesies He extracted Christian wisdom out of the Evangelists and Apostolical Writings as out of most pure Fountains For it is the first step to Piety to acquaint our selves with the Truths of God Then he read over the Works of such as had Commented thereon with great Judgement not pretermitting the Works of Ethnicks and Hereticks For he knew how to gather Gold out of a Dunghil and Honey out of Weeds leaving the Poyson to Spiders then did he collect what he could out of the Egyptian Writers endeavouring to beautifie the House of God by the spoils of his Enemies And for the help of his Memory and to make him more prompt he digested all that he read into certain heads and common places â—ut especially he read over Origens Works whom he called Suum his own and some of whose Homilies whilest he was a young man he had turned into Latin His reading also he mixed with writing About this time he interpreted the Prophesie of Obadiah Allegorically because he knew not the History as himself afterwards confessed in his Preface to his second Interpretation of that Prophesie in which he makes amends for his former youthly precipitation In brief he pretermitted nothing that might make him an admirable Doctor of the Church and a most accomplished Divine that nothing might be wanting in his Learning nothing amiss in his Life which might any whit tend to the diminishing of the credit of his Doctrine Afterwards also finding by experience that many secrets could not be understood nor handled as they ought to be without learning those Languages wherein they were first written and taught by hard study and industry he overcame the difficulties which are in the Hebrew tongue Yea he did not only labour for the knowledge of it but to give the right sound and pronuntiation to some barbarous and strange Languages which he studied And for his perfecting in the Hebrew he did with great charges hire the most learned of the Jews to instruct him emptying his Purse to enrich his Soul with Learning He also learned the Chalde because the Books of Job Daniel and some other Portions of the Old Testament though they were written in Hebrew yet much use of
parentage His birth His education A persecution in Flanders He goes to school His proficiency He goes to Leiden The method of his studies The Authors which he read He studies Divinity He learns the Scriptures by heart He studies the body of Divinity He studies Commentaries His publick Disputations His first sermon His travels into France He goes to Geneva He studies the Art of Memory The mountain of Jura above the clouds He goes up the mountain Their descent A special providence His further travels He goes to Basil. His exercises at Basil. His travels in Germany His travels in the Low-countries His return to Leiden He studies the Fathers He is called to the Ministry Refuseth it He returns home His deportment His industry His Ordination He is called to another charge Refuseth it He is chosen to Koukerk He is imployed in the Army His return He is chosen to Middleborough His marriage His parents dye A good child His first son He is envyed He wins his adversaries His faithfulness in his Ministry His charity A Popish lye He confutes his adversaries Note He confutes a Jesuite He confutes a Blasphemer His contests with the Remonstrants Their rise in the Low-countries Arminius his education He is chosen professor in Leiden Arminius his policy Barnevelt his patron Did not our late Parliament do so Hereticks subtilty Waellaeus labors to regain him Arminius dies through fear and grief His faction continues A Synod desired Preachers pattern Whence called Remonstrants King James opposeth Vorstius The Ministers oppressed Gomarus leaves Leiden An Illustrious School begun at Middleborough Wallaeus his Lectures Gomarus his ingratitude Wallaeus his modesty Hâ— is called to 〈◊〉 Returns â—o 〈◊〉 He answereth Bagaâ—d Bogards brag Wallaeus endeavors peace Remonstrants persecute the Orthodox Bagards subtilty Rosaeus opposeth him The people stand for the tâ—uth Prince Morice sides with the Ortâ—odox They get a Church in the Hague Wallaeus sent for to the Hague His Disputations It s broken off The truth prevailes His prudence made much use of His integrity His candor His return to Middleborough Heresie like a Gangrene He is sent for to Sedan He refuses to go thither Division dangerous A Synod called The Remonstrants imprisoned The Synod begins How the affairs of it were carryed on Wallaeus highly esteemed The Remonstrants condemned Wallaeus is sâ—nt to prepare them for death He comes to Barnevelt Barnevelt beheaded Wallaeus returns to Middleborough New Professors at Leiden Wallaeus sent for He inclines to go Peoples love to their Pastor His diseâ—ses His children He comes to 〈◊〉 He is made a Doctor His Oraâ—ion The other Professors come Thâ—ir several excellencies Their Prudence Their care to train up youth Their adversaries to be answered Wallaeus his part His imployment in the University His great Audâ—tory His care of Candidates His great pains He is a great Peace-maker His self denial Honors follow him His caâ—â— in giving testimonials He is much â—â—ught to for advice The Acts of the Synod of Port. The Remonstrants Acts. Wallaeus answers them The Remonstrants divâ—ded An attempt for peace Another attempt The 〈◊〉 Confession of Faith He publishes his Ethicks He reforms the Schooles And the schoâ—ars in Zâ—land A 〈…〉 Wallaeus promotes it Contention about the Sabbath Wallaeus puts an end to it The translation of the Bible The Bible begun The Synod carries it on The translators The supervisors The translation finished A special providence The Bible printed It s excellency Wallaeus his further Imployments His strength decayes His character His humillty His modesty His zeal His friends His meekness His love to his wife and children His children well disposed of He is troubled with the Stone His sickness His last Sermon He sâ—â—les peace in a Synod His prudent advice His farewel to his family His death His works His industry and fidelity His birth and parentage His education He goes to Groning His proficiency He goes to Herborn He is made Tutor to three Noble men He goes to Sedan Returns to Heidleberg Is made Tutor to Prince Frederick Returns to Sedan Returns to Heidleberg Goes for England Escapes danger His friends in England His return to Heidleberg Is made a Professor And Doctor in Divinity And Master of the Colledge of Wisdom His modesty The Synod of Dort He is sent thither His return to Heidleberg He stays in dangers Heidleberg taken by storm He prepares for death Yâ—t is preserved His prudence A special providence His house plundered He gets a safe conduct The Lutherans spleen He goes to Embden A special providence He goes to Leiden He goes to Groning His works His care of the University His imployments His care to provide for Exiles Charity His fidelity His Call to Leiden And into the Palatinate His care of the University His marriage His character His zeal He studâ—es the Churches peace His prudence His family government His sickness His wife dies Death foreseen His disease encreasâ—th A good Pastor His faith His death His works His birth His parentage His education His sickness His vow A great plague He goes to Heidleberg His industry His proficiency His disputations He is made Master of Arts. Goes to Geneva His disputations He goes to Ebrodune He disputes with Papists He goes to Paris He is dear to Camero He comes to England His return to Paris He is called to Geneva A special Providence He is chosen Professor His marriage A good Wife Family Government His children His Ordination He is made Professor of Divinity He is desired in several places Leyden obtains him He Commences Doctor He comes to Leyden His great Learning His study of the Scriptures His love to the truth The danger of Schism His excellent parts His prudence in civil affairs His prudence in chusing friends His many friends His high esteem of Salmatius His great friends His great correspondence His great labours His sickness His last Sermon and Lecture He goes to a Synod His preparation for death His ardent Prayer His Faith and Hope His commends his Wife What he gives thanks for His death His works
considering with himself what time was requisite for the learning of these Sciences and purposing to defer it no longer betook himself to the Sect of the Platonists for the great fame that ran of them Wherefore choosing to himself a singularly learned man of that Sect that was lately come into those parts he remained with him profiting not a little in contemplation of supernatural things and invisible forms Insomuch as he hoped ere long through the sharpness of his wit to attain to the comprehension and contemplation of God which is the end of Plato's Philosophy And thus he imployed his Youth But afterwards being grown to riper years he was converted to the knowledge and profession of Christianity by this means Beholding the Constancy Courage and Patience of the Christians in their torments and sufferings he was wonderfully moved therewith which made him thus to reason that it was impossible for that kinde of people to be subject to any vice or carnality which would certainly disable them to sustain such sharp adversity and much more the bitterness of death Hereupon naturally affecting Knowledge he began to love and embrace the Christian Religion This himself testifies in the end of his first Apologie telling us moreover that being afflicted in minde about finding out the truth he resolved for more privacy to retire himself unto a Grange neer the Sea-side where he might be free from the concourse of people whither as he went there met him a grave ancient Father of a comly visage and gentle behaviour who began to reason with him and after long disputation told him plainly that there was no knowledge of the truth amongst the Philosophers who neither knew God nor were directed by the Holy Ghost He also further reasoned with him of the immortality of the soul of the reward of the godly and of the punishment of the wicked So that Justin being convinced by his arguments voluntarily assented to him and demanded of him by what means he might attain to the knowledge of the true God The old man counselled him to read and search the Word of God and to adjoin Prayer thereto But what man quoth Justin shall I use for my instructor therein And who shall be able to help me if these Philosophers as you say lack the Truth and are void of the same To which the old Father answered There have been saith he before these Philosophers others more ancient then they who were just men and beloved of God and who spake by the Spirit of God fore-seeing and fore-Prophesying of those things which we now see are come to pass and therefore they are called Prophets These only have known the Truth and revealed it to men neither fearing nor respecting the persons of any They were seduced with no opinions of mans invention but only spake and taught those things which themselves both heard and saw being inspired with the Holy Spirit of God whose Writings and Books are extant out of which the Reader may receive great profit and knowledge of many things As of the first Creation of the World and of the end of the same with all other things that are necessary for us to know Neither in their teachings do they use any demonstrations the things taught being of themselves more certain then that they need any such demonstration the accomplishment of their Prophesies which we see fulfilled constraining us of necessity to believe the words and Doctrine which they have taught Their Doctrine also hath been confirmed by Wonders and Miracles which induce us to give credit to it They preached of God the Creator and Maker of all things They prophesied also before of Christ the Son of God sent to be the Redeemer of the World which the false Prophets seduced by false and wicked Spirits did not but only took upon them to work certain prodigious wonders for men to gaze at that thereby they might gain belief to their false and unclean opinions But remember before all things to make thy Prayers to Almighty God that he will open a gate of light to thee for otherwise the knowledge of these things cannot be attained to by every man but they are revealed only to such to whom God and his Christ give understanding The old Father having declared these and many other things to Justine departed from him exhorting him carefully to follow those things which he had spoken after which he saw him no more But Justine was presently wonderfully inflamed in his minde to know and study the Prophets in comparison of which all other Philosophy now seemed vain and unprofitable to him and so in time he became a Christian and was baptized After this â—e became an earnest defender of the Truth travelling up and down and disputing against all those which were enemies and opposers of it fearing neither peril of life nor danger of death so that he might maintain the Doctrine of Christ against the malitious blasphemers of the same and also increase the number of Christian Believers as may appear by his vehement disputations against the Heathen Philosophers and by the long disputation of his at Ephesus against Tripho and also by his confutations of Hereticks Yea and by his Apologies which with great zeal and courage he exhibited to the Emperour and Magistrates against the Persecutors of the Christians and in their just defence all which do sufficiently testifie the same The first Apologie which he wrote was to the Senate of Rome in which he wrote with great liberty telling them that of necessity he was compelled thus to utter his minde unto them For that in persecuting the Christians they neglected their duty and highly offended God of which they had need to be admonished This Apology he also sent to Antoninus Pius the Emperour Writing also to Vrbicius Leiutenant of the City he told him that he put men to torments and death for no offence committed but only for the confession of the name of Christ which proceedings saith he neither becometh the Emperour nor his Son nor the Senate In the same Apology he also defended and purged the Christians from those crimes which were falsely charged upon them by the Ethnicks In his second Apology writing to Antoninus the Emperour and his successors with like gravity and freedom of speech he declareth unto them how they had the name and repute of vertuous Philosophers maintainers of Justice lovers of Learning c. But whether they were so indeed their Acts declared As for himself he professeth that neither for flattery nor for favour he wrote unto them but that he was constrained to sue unto them for righteousness in their judgements and sentences For saith he it becomes Princes to follow uprightness and piety in their judgements not tyranny and violence He also in plain words chargeth as well the Emperour as the Senate with manifest wrong for that they did not grant to the Christians that which was not denyed to all other
injuria praesentium malorum fiducia futurorum bonorum All injurie of evils present is to be neglected for the hope of good things to come Nihil prodest verbis proferre virtutem factis destruere To set out vertue in words and by deeds to destroy the same is nothing worth Cyprian in another Book mentioneth twelve absurdities in the life of man which are these Sapiens sine operibus A wise man without good works Senex sine Religione An old man without Religion Adolescens sine Obedientia A young man without Obedience Dives sine Elemosyna A rich man without Alms. Famina sine Pudicitia A woman without shamefastness Dominus sine Virtute A guide without Vertue Christianus contentiosus A contentious Christian. Pauper superbus A poor man that is proud Rex inîquns A King that is unjust Episcopus negligens A Bishop that is negligent Plebs sine Disciplina People without Discipline Populus sine Lege Subjects without Law His works are four Books containing 62 Epistles Besides Tractatus contra Demetrianum De Habitu Virginum De Simplicitate Praelatorum De Idolorum Vanitate Sermo de Ele emosyna De Zelo Livore De bono Patientiae De Mortalitate De Lapsis De Oratione Dominica Liber de Exhortatione Martyris The Life of Arnobius who flourished Anno Christi 330. ARnobius was a famous Professor of Rhetorick in a City of Africk called Sicca About the year 330. being converted to the Christian Religion he came to some Bishops earnestly desiring to be admitted into the Church and Baptized but they suspecting nè vir seculari eloquentiâ tumens c. lest a man swelling and puffed up with secular wisdom and who had always hitherto opposed Christian Religion should make a mock both of them and it therefore they rejected him whereupon he offered unto them those seven Excellent Volumes of his Disputations against his former Gentilism which they seeing with great joy received him He was Master to Lactantius He used to say that Persecution brings Death in one hand and Life in the other for while it kils the Body it crowns the Soul He flourished under Dioclesian between Anno Christi 300. 330. Learned Scultetus in his Medulla Patrum holds all the works that go under the name of this Arnobius to be spurious but only those seven Books which he wrote against the Gentiles wherein saith he Eruditè quidem tumido elatoque orationis genere contra gentes disputat The Life of Eusebius who dyed Anno Chri. 340. THe life of Eusebius was written by Acatius his Disciple and successor in the Bishoprick of Caesarea which being lost I can meet with no Author that gives us any account either of his Parents Masters or his first course of life But Eusebius is commended to the Christian World not for his Parents and Masters sake but for his excellent wit and great variety of Learning So that S. Basil saith of him Eusebius Palaestinus est fide dignus propter multiplicem experientiam Eusebius of Palestine is worthy to be credited for his great experience S. Hierom saith Eusebius in Divinis Scripturis studiosissimus Bibliothecae Divinae cum Pamphilo Martyre diligentissimus pervestigator Eusebius was a great student of the sacred Scriptures and together with Pamphilus the Martyr a most diligent seacher of the Divine Library Evagrius saith Eusebius vir sanè cùm in aliis rebus disertissimus tùm in scribendo tantum pollens ut possit lectores suorum librorum etsi non efficere perfectos Christianos ita tamen persuadendo impellere ut Christianam Religionem lubenter colant Eusebius truly was a man as in other things most Eloquent so in writing of such prevalency that though he could not make the Readers of his Books perfect Christians yet he could inforce them by his perswasions willingly to embrace the Christian Religion He was Bishop of Caesarea Palestina and for his great love to Pamphilus sir-named Pamphilus a most learned man of whom Constantine the Great used to say that he was worthy to be Bishop not of one only City but of the whole World and for his eloquence Hierom stiled him Romani eloquii Tubam the Trumpet of Roman Elocution About this time Eustathius Bishop of Antioch was deposed from his Bishoprick as some say for the Sabellian Heresie whereupon there was kindled in Antioch such a fierie flame of Sedition that in a manner the whole City was therewith turned upside down Amongst the common sort of people some cleaved to this side some to that The Garrison Souldiers also were so divided and set one against the other that if God and the Allegiance they owed to the good Emperour Constantine the Great had not been called to remembrance they had lamentably murthered one another But the Emperour by his Letters appeased the Tumult and Sedition that was raised amongst them the cause whereof was this One party of them chose Eusebius Pamphilus for their Bishop and would bring him in the other party would have their former Bishop Eustathius again But Eusebius refused to come to them whereupon the Emperour Constantine highly commended him for his wisdom and moderation Afterwards a Synod being gathered at Tyre to determine the controversies which were sprung up amongst the Bishops Constantine sent Eusebius thither to take cognizance of their differences where this memorable thing fell out Potamon one of the Bishops seeing Eusebius to rit as a Judge and Athanasius standing and pleading his cause before him being overcome with sorrow and weeping for those things which he saw the Professors of the Truth to suffer with a loud voice he inveighed against Eusebius saying Thou sittest there Eusebius and innocent Athanasius stands to be judged by thee Who can endure such things Tell me Eusebius Was thou not in Prison with me in the time of Persecution and I truly lost one of my Eyes for the Truth sake but thou hast nothing mutilated in thy Body neither didst thou give any testimony for thy Confession thou livest and hast had no member cut off How gatest thou out of Prison but because thou either madest a promise of submission to our Persecutors or else didst that which was abominable Eusebius hearing these things grew into great choller and dissolved the Assembly saying If you come hither and now speak such things against us surely your Accusers speak nothing but the truth For if you go about to exercise a Tyranny here much more will you do it in your own Country There is much contest amongst Divines both Ancient and Modern what Eusebius Faith was about the person of the Son of God Some charge him with Arianism for denying the Deity of Christ but Athanasius saith that he recanted it in the Nicaene Council Eustathius of Antioch accused him for innovating the Nicaene Creed when as himself professed that he rested satisfied therewith Hierom nameth him for an open defender of the Arian
impiety On the contrary Socrates out of Eusebius his writings endeavours to vindicate him from that charge Learned Scultetus thus reconciles them Aries saith he denyed two things The Eternity of the Son of God his Co-equality with the Father Eusebius doth every where profess the Eternity of Christ But his Co-equality he never seriously believed He used to say That Moses wrote the Old Law in dead Tables of stone but Christ did write the perfect Documents of the New Testament in living Souls He flourished under Constantinus Magnus and Constantius His Ecclesiastical History is well known besides which he wrote some other Books as Libri Praeparationis Evangelicae 15. Libri Demonstrationis Evangelicae decem and some others which are lost The Life of Lactantius who flourished An. Chri. 308. LUcius Caelius was an Italian by birth and from his Country Firmia was called Firmtanus d lacteo dicendi genere was called Lactantius He sometime lived at Rome where he was scholar to Arnobius under whom he profited exceedingly and became so famous for his Eloquence that he far surpassed his Master therein Wimphelingus contends to have him a German by birth and saith that there is till this day a famous family of the Firmiani in Germany who boast themselves to be the Progenie of Lactantius Having perfected his Studies at Rome he went into Bythinia where he taught Oratory under the raign of Dioclesian and Constantine and when he saw the Christian Religion to want some Eloquent Defenders of it he took pen in hand and besides divers others writings which are perished he wrote his seven Books of Institutions against the Gentiles a Book De Ira Dei of the Anger of God and another of Gods Workmanship Also an Epitome of the Divine Institutions Other things that are fathered upon him are spurious saith the Learned Scultetus About the nineteenth year of Dioclesian there was an horrible Persecution raised against the Church of Christ wherein the Christian Churches were demolished the Sacred Scriptures and other godly Books were burnt the Christians themselves were dragged to most inhumane tortures and torments yea where any were found that constantly adhered unto Christ they were cruelly martyred yet it pleased God to hide Lactantius in this great storm though he retained his Piety fearing no torments but resolved both in Life and Death to cleave close unto Christ. He Dedicated most of his Works to Constantin Magn. Hierom faith of him Lactantius quasi quidâ—m fluvius Tullianae Eloquentis Lactantius flowed with Eloquence yea as abounding as Tullie himself c. In his old Age for his rare Parts he was appointed Tutor to Constantine's Son He was so far from seeking after riches that he died very poor He used to say That godliness alwayes enriches the possessor He flourished under Dioclesian Anno Christi 308. ATHANATIVS The Life of Athanasius who dyed Anno Christi 375. AThanasius was born in Alexandria and by the care of his Parents was brought up in all sorts of Learning both Humane aud Divine Being a boy upon a solemn sestival day he was playing amongst other boys who would needs imitate the Church in her Sacred Offices and for that end they chose Athanasius for their Bishop who acted his part well examining other boys about the Principles of Religion to prepare them for Baptism It fell out that whilest they were at their sport came by Alexander the Bishop of Alexandria and observing the manner of their past-time he called them before him examining every boy what part he had acted thereby gathering their dispositions for future imployments Then did he cause them all to be carefully educated in good Learning but above all he took a love to and was exceeding careful of the education of Athanasius for his ingenuity diligence and towardliness and when he came to ripeness of years he made him Deacon and finding him a nimble and good Disputant he took him with him to the Council of Nice summoned by Constantine the Great against the Arians to aid and assist him in his Disputations which procured him much hatred and trouble from the Arians as afterwards we shall hear Alexander having by long familiarity with him gained experience of his Piety Parts and Zeal in defending the Truth against the Hereticks of those times when he lay upon his death bed was directed by God to choose Athanasius for his successor in his Bishopâ—ick which Athanasius having intelligence of hid himself that he could not be found Yet did Alexander call for him and when he came not being now near death he said O Athanasius thou thinkest that thou canst escape yet shalt thou not escape this Office After the death of Alexander he was searched out and made his Successor This so irritated the Arians who had now crept into favour with the old Emperor that they sought by all means to cast him out of Alexandria and for that end they accused him to the Emperour as the Author of much Sedition and of many tumults in the Church they charged him with keeping many out of the Church which desired to return into the Unity of it by which means Peace and Concord was prevented they procured many Bishops and Presbyters to attest the truth of these things to the Emperour professing themselves to be Orthodox and accusing Athanasius and the Bishops that adhered to him to be the Authors of the murthers bonds unjust stripes wounds and burnings in the Church Athanasius on the contrary wrote to the Emperour that those Arians were the Authors of unlawful Ordinations and of innovating the Decrees of the Council of Nice of corrupting the Faith of Seditions and of prosecuting the Orthodox with unjust contumelies and reproaches The good old Emperour in these various informations knew not whom to believe but the Arians being about him having his Ear at command they procured the Emperour to write to Athanasius to require him to prohibit none from entring into the Church and if he should do otherwise he threatned to drive him out of Alexandria and to place another Bishop in his room Hereupon Athanasius wrote back to the Emperour labouring to convince him that the Arians ought not to be admitted to communicate with the Catholick Church Eusebius one of the chiefest of these Arians perceiving that he could not this way prevail against Athanasius intended secretly to make him away but not finding how to effect it he spake with the Miletians other Hereticks promising that if they would accuse Athanasius to the Emperour he would so far prevail with him and some other great persons about him that their cause should be heard Hereupon they put in a charge against Athanasius that he had imposed a Tribute of Linnen Garments upon the Egyptians affirming that he had also gathered the same But it pleased God that by chance there were present Alippius and Macarius two Presbyters of Alexandria who easily refelled and wiped off
wrote to his Brother to acquaint him therewith and to request him that Athanasius might be restored to his Bishoprick But when Constantius deferred from day to day to answer his desire Constance wrote to him the second time giving him in choise either to restore Athanasius and so account of him as his friend or else to hear the Proclamation of open War and so finde him his deadly foe The Emperour of the East hearing this was wondeful sad and pensive and calling together many of the Eastern Bishops layeth before them the choise his Brother had given him demandeth of them what was best in this case to be done they answered that it was far better to restore Athanasius then to make that an occasion of mortal and deadly Wars Hereupon the Emperour wrote this Letter unto him Constantius the Puissant and Noble Emperour unto Athanasius the Bishop sendeth greeting Our singular and wonted clemency will no longer suffer thy Fatherhood to be turmoiled and tossed with the surging waves of the Seas the Piety which we have always in great price will no longer permit thy Holiness now banished out of thy Native soil bereaved of thy substance barred of all prosperity to wander through crooked and cross ways through Desarts and dangerous Countreys Although we have lingred now a great while from sending our Letters whereby we might signifie unto thee the concealed secresie of our minde hoping that of thine own accord thou wouldst repair unto us and with humble sute crave remedy and redress of thine injuries Yet nevertheless fear peradventure hindering thee of thy purpose we sent presently our gracious Letters unto thy Grave Wisdom that with all celerity thou come unto us whereby thou shalt satisfie longing desires thou shalt have trial of our wonted clemency and be restored to thine own Sea and Nativeo sâ—l For to this end I have entreated my Lord and Brother Constance the Puissant and Noble Emperour that he would license thee to return unto us whereby thou mightest by the means of us both enjoy thy Country and have this token for trial of our singulâ—r clemency and good will towards thee But whilest Athanasius doubted and feared to go unto Constantius by reason of the false and slanderous reports that were raised of him and the implacable malice of his Enemies Constantius wrote this second Letter to him Constantius the Puissant and Noble Emperour unto Athanasius the Bishop sendeth greeting Although by our former Letters we have signified to thy Wisdom after the plainest manner that with secure minde and safe conduct thou shouldst come unto our Court because we were fully determined to restore thee to thy former dignities We have notwithstanding sent these Letters also to thy Holiness that thou hire a common Wagon and removing all timorous thoughts from thy distrustful minde thou speedily repair unto us to the end thou mayest the sooner enjoy thy long wished desires Presently after he wrote again this third Letter for his further satisfaction Constantius the Puissant and Noble Emperour unto Athanasius the Bishop sendeth greeting Being lately at Edessa where also were some of thy Presbyters then present it seemed good unto us to send one of them unto thee that thou shouldst hasten unto our Court and after thy coming into our presence without delay return unto Alexandria And forasmuch as it is now a great while ago since thou receivedst our Letters and hast deferred thy journey therefore now also we thought good to put thee in remembrance that without delay thou come unto us and so thou shalt possess the liberty of thy Country and thy long wished ease and quietness And that thou mightest fully perswade thy self of all the promises we have sent unto thee Achetas the Deacon by whom thou shalt undeâ— stand both what our purpose is and also how that thy hearts desire shall prevail Athanasius being at Aquilâ—ia when he received these Letters immediately posted to Rome and shewed them to Bishop Julius whereby the Church of Rome rejoyced much conceiving that Constantius the Eastern Emperour was of the same Faith and opinion with themselves whereupon Julius wrote this Letter to the People of Alexandria in the behalf of Athanasius Julius Bishop of Rome unto the Presbyters Deacons and Wel-beloved Brethren of Alexandria sendeth greeting in the Lord I do greatly rejoyce with you Wel-beloved Brethren that henceforth you may behold with your Eyes the fruit of your Faith For that is to be seen in my Brother and fellow Bishop Athanasius whom God hath restored unto you partly for 〈◊〉 sincere and godly life and partly also by the means of your Prayers Hereby it may be easily conjectured what pure and fervent Prayers you have always poured out unto God for when you called to minde the heavenly promises and the intire affection which you bare unto them all which you learned of my foresaid Brother you understood plainly and through the right Faith ingrafted into your mindes you were fully perswaded that Athanasius whom in your godly mindes you beheld as present should not be always severed from you wherefore I need not to use many words unto you for whatsoever I can say the same hath your Faith prevented and whatsoever you all heartily desired the same through the Grace of God is now fully come to pass And that I may repeat the same again I do greatly rejoyce with you that you have continued so firm and stedfast in the Faith that by no means you could be withdrawn from it Moreover I do no less rejoyce for my Brother Athanasius who notwithstanding the manifold calamities and sundry miseries which he endured yet remembred almost every hour your intire love and great longing for him And though for a season he seemed to be absent from you in body yet lived he always as present with you in the Spirit I think verily Wel-beloved Brethren that all the temptations and pains which he indured are not void of their commendations or profit For by this means both his Faith and yours have been made manifest to the whole World If he had not been tried with such great and lamentable temptations who would ever have thought or known that your minds had been so unmovably fixed upon so worthy a Bishop or that he was the man that excelled in such rare gifts by means whereof he is made partaker of the hope that is laid up for him in Heaven wherefore he hath attained to a notable testimony of his Faith not only in this life but of that which is to come For by his patient suffering of much adversity both by Sea and Land he bath trampled and trod under foot all the malitious treacheries of his Arian adversaries Oft-times by reason of their spite he stood in great hazard of his life yet made â—e no account of death but through the Grace of Almighty God and power of our Lord Jesus Christ he escaped their hands whereby he conceived good hope that in
the end he should quit him of his adversaries and be restored to the comfort of you all and bear away together with you the victorious garland of wel-doing in that he is already famous even to the ends of the World highly commended for his good life renowned for his free and constant perseverance in the defence of the Christian and Heavenly Faith and registred by the censure of you all to immortal memory for the singular love and affection he shewed towards you wherefore he is returned unto you bedecked with greater excellency and renown then before his departure If the purity of fine and pretious mettal as of gold and silver be exquisitely tried in the fire what can be spoken of so excellent a man in respect of his worthiness who after the quenching of so many flaming fires of Sedition after the recovering of so many dangerous perils and grievous downfals is now restored to you and found innocent not only by our determination but by the Decree and censure of the whole Council Entertain therefore Wel-beloved Brethren your Bishop Athanasius and also such as have been partakers of his afflictions with all reverence joy and gladness Rejoyce in that you have obtained your desires in that you have as it were fed and quenched the thirst of your Shepheard hungring and thirsting in his absence after your godly zeal For thereby during his abode iâ— Forreign and far Countrys you comforted him not a little and whilest he was tossed to and fro with the storms of Persecution and intangled with the snares of his malicious adversaries you mitigated his grief and sorrow by sending to him tokens of your faithful and fervent mindes towards him When that I think with my self and cast in my minde the conceived joy of you all at his return the flocking multitude full of Religion and godliness the solemn Feast of sage Persons assembled together what kinde of day the return of my Brother unto you is like to be I cannot but conceive with wonderful joy especially because the schism and discord which reigned heretofore will then be plucked up by the roots for that his honorable return according to your own hearts desires hath replenished you with incredible joy and gladness So that the joy for the greatness thereof hath reached unto us to whom it is given from above to have acquaintance and familiarity with so excellent a man It seemeth good that we end our Epistle with a Prayer God Almighty and his Son our Saviour Jesus Christ give you always of his Grace and grant you of his Mercy the reward of so noble a Faith which you have shewed towards your Bishop with so worthy a testimony that both you and yours may not only in this World but also in the Life to come enjoy far more excellent gifts which neither Eye hath seen nor Ear hath heard neither the Heart of man conceived the things which God hath prepared for them that love him through our Lord Jesus Christ to whom with Almighty God be glory for ever and ever Amen God have you in his tuition Wel-beloved Brethren Athanasius having received these Letters went into the East and though the Emperour Constantius at that time received him not unwillingly yet giving ear to the crafty sleights of the despiteful Arians he thus reasoned with him Although that art restored to thy Bishoprick by the Decree of the Council and our determination yet because there are in Alexandria certain people differing in opinion from thine and severing themselves from thy Communion my request is that thou permit them one Church by themselves Athanasius made answer to this request very wittily and said O Emperour it lieth in thee to do as pleaseth thee best to command and execute the Commandment I also will crave of thee another thing by way of recompence and my humble request is that thou grant it me And when the Emperour answered that with most willing minde he would condescend thereunto Athanasius immediately said My humble sute is that I may obtaint that which thou wouldst have at my hand viz. That thou wouldst grant one Church through every City for such as will not Communicate with the Arians The Arians perceiving that the request of Athanasius was not unreasonable made answer that they would defer the answer unto another time and consider better of it that they hindred not the Emperour but suffered him to do what pleased him best wherefore the Emperour restored Athanasius to his Bishoprick again writing Letters to the Bishops Clergy and People of Alexandria that they should receive him lovingly and willingly the tenor whereof was as followeth Constantius the Mighty Noble and Puissant Emperour unto the Bishops and Presbyters of the Catholick Church sendeth greeting It appeareth evidently that Athanasius the Reverend Bishop was not destitute of the grace and goodness of God but though by the judgement and censure of men he was dealt injuriously withall and unjustly condemned for a little while yet the Divine Providence of Almighty God the beholder of all things pronounced for him the just sentence of Innocency so that by the will of God and our Decree he recovered both his Native Soil and proper Church where the Holy Ghost hath assigned him Governor He is to receive at your hands such things as our clemency being led by right and reason shall think convenient for him so that all whatsoever hath been heretofore decreed against such as communicated with him be henceforth quite forgotten that all suspition raised of him be henceforth removed and that his Clergy reason so requiring may enjoy such liberty freedom and priviledge as they have done in times past Moreover of our Soverraign benignity towards him we have thought good to add this also That as many as are allotted to the Sacred Senate of the Clergy may understand of truth that we have granted safety and good leave to as many as cleave unto him be they Bishops or of what other degree soever of the Clergy Every ones firm and sure consent in this behalf shall be a sufficient sign or token of his faithful minde and purpose We have commanded that such as embrace his Communion addicting themselves to the sounder opinion and better sentence all alike now by our permission as heretofore by the Providence of God may enjoy the benefits bestowed upon them from above He wrote also to the Governor this Epistle Constantius the Puissant and Noble Emperour unto Nestorius sendeth greeting If any thing be found decreed and recorded to the prejudice hurt or damage of such as communicate with Athaniaius the Bishop our will is that the same be wholly abrogated and disanulled Our pleasure is moreover that his Clergy shall enjoy their like Franchises and liberty as in times past we will have this commandment put in ure that as Athanasius the Bishop is restored to his Sea so all the Clergy of his Communion may recover and possess the like liberty with
an excellent faculty in perswading wherein he excelled most men of that age He was very frequent and earnest in reproving sin not only in his publick Ministry but by going to the houses of such as were scandalous and dealing privately and plainly with them laying to heart the dishonour done unto God as if himself had been personally wronged by them By this means he became very grateful to the common people but most ungrateful to great and rich men who usually take most liberty in sinning Hereupon his fame spread all over the Roman Empire Such as knew him prized his great experience such as knew him not were drawn by the fame of his great Learning insomuch as the Bishoprick of Constantinople being void he of all others was thought most worthy to succeed therein and thereupon he was unanimously chosen both by the Clergy and Laity the Emperour himself approving well of their choice and sending some messengers to fetch him In the mean time also the Emperour convocated a Synod that by that means his Ordination to the Bishoprick might be better approved of Asterius the Praefect of the East having received the Emperours Letters sent to Antioch for John as if he meant to confer with him about something But as soon as he came taking him up in his Coach he carryed him to Pagra where he delivered him to the Emperours Messengers and this he did because he knew the tumultuous disposition of the Antiochians who would have raised some Sedition rather then have parted with him and would never but by force have suffered him to have gone from them When he came to Constantinople the Clergy were called together But Theophilus Bishop of Alexandria opposed his Ordination endeavouring to prefer to that place one of his own Presbyters called Isidore who had been his Instrument in an action very prejudicial to the Emperour But when Eutropius one of the Courtiers had told him that except he consented with the rest for the choice of John he should be questioned for that former fact he also gave his suffrage for him Thus John being setled in the Bishoprick of Constantinople his first study and care was to reform the lives of his Clergy and making a diligent Inquisition into their conversation their dyet and other carriages he reproved corrected yea and cast some of them out of the Church For John being of a cholerick and hasty Nature and now armed with Authority would not indulge their faults but laboured throughly to reform them And this he did not only to the Clergy of his own Church but being of a great spirit and inflamed with zeal he endeavoured the Reformation of all within his Jurisdiction And finding also a great Rent and Schism between the Eastern and Western Churches he did all that possibly he could for the healing and making up of the same and prevailed somewhattherein though he could not perfectly attain his desire His Gouernment and Ministry through Gods mercy proved very effectuall in Constantinople so that he converted many Pagans to Christianity and reduced many Hereticks from their Errors Many flocked dayly to him some for the profit and benefit which they got by his Doctrine others for the tempting of him all whom he held Captive and prevailed with them to agree with him in matters of Religion So great a confluence of people resorted to his Sermons with an insatiable desire after them that they were ready to stifle one another whilest every one crowded to come neerest to him About this time Chrysostom was informed that the Churches in Asia were generally governed by unworthy Bishops who either for affection or bribes preferred unfit persons to the Ministry whereupon he went to Ephesus and examining these things he deposed thirteen Bishops some in Lycia some in Phrygia and the rest in Asia placing more fit persons in their rooms At Ephesus finding the Bishop to be lately dead he placed Heraclides born in Cyprus and sometimes a Disciple of Evagrius But upon the removal of these Bishops they with their adherents raised many slanders against Chrysostom accusing him every where as a violator of their Country Laws and amongst others they stirred up Eutropius an Eunuch in the Emperours Court against him who was in great favour and was esteemed as the Father of the Emperour and made one of the Consuls of the City This Eutropius procured a Law to be Enacted that Malefactors taking Sanctuary in the Church should be drawn thence and punished according to their demerits Shortly after himself was accused for using the Emperours wife unworthily whereupon he fled to the Church and there lay under the Communion-Table Chrysostom being to Preach the next day took occasion to speak against the Pride and Insolency of Great men and to shew the vanities and uncertaintie of all worldly glory and Eutropius according to his own Law was fetched out of the Church and beheaded About the same time also the Arians who by the Emperour Theodosius were driven out of all the Churches within Constantinople held their Conventicles in the Suburbs where first they met together in the night-time and made certain songs and responsories in favour of their own Heresies and in disgrace of the Catholicks and at last they grew so bold that they went about the streets every morning especially on the first and last days of the Week singing them as they went John Chysostom suspecting least some of his people might be seduced by these means stirred them up to the like practice whereupon the Hereticks being enraged fell upon the Orthodox so that some of both sides were slain which so incensed the Emperour against them that he forbad all the Conventicles of the Arians by which means the people were more in love with John both for his Prudence and profitable Preaching Yet many of the Great Rich men and of the Clergy hated him because he was so free and impartial in his reproofs for as oft as any of his Clergy offended he punished them and such as abused their Riches to Pride Luxury and dishonest Pleasures he laboured by all means to reduce them to Virtue Some of the Clergy joyning with some Monks reproached him as a cholerick and implacable man and endeavoured to alienate the affections of the people from him by suggesting that he was unsociable never inviting any man to his Table nor going to any Feast when he was invited whereas the reason of it was because of his great temperance and by reason of his hard studies he was troubled with Rhumes and Head-ach which made him shun such meetings About this time there arose a great contention amongst the Monks in Egypt whilest some of the more ignorant and illiterate held God to have a body like unto man others denyed it Theophilus Bishop of Alexandria held with and favoured the former laying snares to entrap some of the latter who thereupon went to Constantinople to complain of him to the
foreseen to be a likely consequent yet was contemned in respect of the Churches necessity and want which was that the Arian King enraged by this act banished about 60 Bishops into Sardinia amongst whom Fulgentius was one who joyfully ascended the Ship being heartily glad that he had a share in such a glorious confession Divers of his Clergy and Friends followed him and being arrived at Calaris in Sardinia he there lived with them at the same Table and by his Sermons converted many Not long after King Thrasamund amongst the crafty fetches and persecutory drifts whereby he endeavoured to allure the Catholicks to the Arian Heresie used this Policy He feigned a desire to become a Catholick and setting down divers captious and deceitful questions pretended that he could not finde any that could sufficiently answer those questions whereupon hearing the fame of Fulgentius he hastily sent for him who with an undaunted courage came to Carthage and not being presently called to the King endeavoured seriously to confirm the Catholicks in their Faith and with much curtesie and affability answered all questions rejecting no man whereby he reclaimed many from their Errors admonishing them to repent of and to bewail their fall others he exhorted not to hazard the damnation of their Souls for temporal advantages and whom he saw in danger of perdition with milde yet effectual words he stayed and encouraged to a noble and generous resolution animating them to suffer any dangers or torments rather then to deny the Truth and it pleased God so to bless his labors that some who before were staggering were now by his means imboldned plainly to reprove the weak-grounded impudence of the Arian party And thus the Omnipotent God turned the Enemies device to the advancement of his own glory Then did the King send for him and questioned with him and met with such solid and judicious answers that he was forced to acknowledge that he found him every way to answer the report which he had heard of his Wisdom and Learning and withall he proposed sundry difficult questions to which he required his answer in writing Fulgentius having drawn up his Answer communicated it to the most learned Catholicks and after their approbation to the people before it was delivered to the King Thrasamund having with great diligence perused it praised his Wisdom wondred at his Eloquence commended his Humility yet had his heart so hardened that he could not understand and submit to the Truth Fulgentius could not be suffered to stay long at Carthage for the Arians with their clamors incensed the King complaining that he had already gained from them some of their Ministers and that the people fell apace to him so that their whole Religion stood in great hazard by his means Then the King to quiet them sent him back into Sardinia Late in the night was he carryed aboard the Ship that his departure might be the better concealed from the people but it pleased God by contrary windes long to detain the Ship in the harbor so that for many days almost the whole City flocked to him to take their farewel and many communicated at his hands And when great lamentation was made for his departure he took one Juliates a very godly man apart and told him he should shortly again return and that the Church should enjoy peace which also came to pass When he was requested to pray for any that were sick or in misery he commonly used this Petition Thou O Lord knowest best what will make for our Souls health Grant of thy mercy a supply unto our necessities so far forth as shall not hinder our spiritual profit And when God graciously answed his Prayers in their behalf he used to say That God did it for their sakes not for his He commonly said that Miracles make not a man just or righteous but famous When he was come back to Sardinia he returned to his former strict course of life with his Associates who had all things in common and when he distributed more to one then to another by reason of sickness or weakness he used thus to say to them Who taketh of the common so much becometh debtor to all which debt he can only pay by humility It was very pleasing to him when any of the Brethren proposed any hard question and gladly he hearkened to the doubts of any though they were never so simple neither would he through weariness or tediousness cease to give them answers until they confessed them selves to be satisfied Though he was sometimes severe towards the obstinate yet he remained even when he seemed most displeased and angry nothing at all in minde troubled or disquieted Thrasamund the King being shortly after taken away by death Hilderick succeeded him who restored peace and liberty to the Catholicks recalling their Bishops from Exile and amongst the rest Fulgentius who was received with great devotion by the Africans no less in every City then if he had been their peculiar Bishop Everywhere they met him with tokens of joy with whom now rejoycing he rejoyced as before with them lamenting he had lamented Yea their love was so great to him that a showre of rain falling they held their garments over his head to keep him dry Then did he return to his proper seat where he would do nothing without the advice of his Clergy In the Council of Vincensa he was by the common suffrage of the Bishops chosen President Though Bishop Quodvultdeus claimed that preheminence as belonging to his Sea and though Fulgentius for the present would not oppose this choice yet at the next Sessions he procured that the Bishop Quodvultdeus was restored to his right A year before his death he retired with some Brethren into the Island of Circina and there lived a most strict life But the necessities of his people requiring and their importunity prevailing he returned to them and shortly after fell into grievous pangs of sickness wherein he continued sixty days often crying out O Lord give me patience and pardon Physitians perswading him to make use of a Bath he answered Can Baths make that man who hath accomplished the course of Nature that he shall not dye Why then do you go about to perswade me now at my last end to remit of that rigor which I have always used Lastly calling together the Brethren about him he thus spake to them Dear Brethren having been careful of your Souls health perhaps I have been austere and harsh towards you If any one be offended I beseech him to pardon me and if my severity have possibly passed measure and due moderation pray ye to God that he may impute it not to me They all kneeling down acknowledged him to have been always loving gentle and milde towards them Then did he pray for his people that God would provide for them a Pastor after his own heart After
by keeping a Schoolmaster in his house to train them up in learning and godliness When he saw his daughter Magdalen ready to dye he read to her Isay 26. 19. Thy dead men shall live together with my dead body shall they arise c. Adding My daughter enter thou into thy chamber in peace I shall ere long be with thee For God will not permit me to see the punishment which hangs over the head of Germany whereupon he wept plentifully but when he followed the Corps he so restrained his affection that he shed not a tear He used to say that three things make a Divine Meditation Prayer Tentation and that three things were to be done by a Minister 1. To read the Bible over and over 2. To pray earnestly 3. Always to be a learner And that they were the best Preachers who spake as to babes in Christ in an ordinary strain popularly and most plainly He said That in the cause of God he was content totius mundi odium impetum sustinere to undergo the hatred and violence of the whole world He was very liberal to the poor A poor Student asking him some money he bade his wife give him some but she pleading penury he took up a silver cup and gave it him Also a friend sending him two hundred angels of gold he bestowed them all on poor Students and when the Elector gave him a new gown he said That he mas made too much of for saith he if here we receive a full recompence of our labors we shall hope for none in another life And again he said turning my self to God Valdè protestatus sum me nolle sic satiari ab eo I said flatly that God should not put me off with these low things And having a vein of metal offered him he refused it least he should incur the temptation of the Devil who is Lord of treasure under the Earth He never took any thing of Printers for his Copies On a time one brought him a stone that was found in the Mines in Mansfield which had upon it the Image of the Pope with his tripple Crown whereupon he said Hem oportet Papam revelari etiam per metalla metallicos The Pope must be revealed even by metals and metal-diggers His private life was very exemplary At dinner and supper-time he used often to dictate Sermons unto others Sometimes to correct sheets from the Press Sometimes with Musick to refresh his friends He was very temperate both in meat and drink Sometimes he used to fast four days together and other sometimes to eat only a little bread and an herring As much as he could he avoided Feasts that he might not spend time In his converse with his friends he was pleasant courteous and sociable mixed with gravity He sometimes used recreations and amongst the rest turning in a Lathe He would never be idle He was very loving to and tender of his children maintaining a Schoolmaster in his house to instruct them in Piety and Learning He was very passionate but soon appeased Melancthon seeing him once in a passion said Vince animos iramque tuam qui caetera vincis whereupon he smiling said we will no longer dispute of these matters and so he discoursed pleasantly of other things He foretold many things which afterwards came to pass He was very healthful but that sometimes he was troubled with the Headach especially towards his latter end whereupon he feared an Apoplexy and when his head was so out of order he used to say Feri Domine ferâ—â—lementer ego paratus sum quia verbo tuo à peccatis absolutus corpore sarguine tuo pastus He was troubled with frequent tentations whereupon he used to write Valemus omnes praeter Lutherum ipsum qui corpore sanus foris a toto mundo intus à Diabolo patitur omnibus Angelis ejus He was big of stature strong and had such a sharp sight that few could endure stedfastly to look upon him Upon a time one was sent under pretence of private conference to pistol him Luther entertained him friendly but withall stedfastly looking upon him the man was so terrified that he took care for nothing but how he might run away He had a gentle and clear voice He lived chastly and holily in Wedlock above twenty years and after his death left three sons and his Widdow who lived seven years after him who was much grieved that she was absent at his death whereby she could not perform her last duty of love to him as she desired Presently after his death the wars breaking forth she wandred up and down with her children as an Exile through many difficulties and dangers and besides the inconveniences of her widdowhood which were many she met with great ingratitude from many from whom she expected better considering how much her husband had deserved from the Church At length being returned to Wittenberg after a while the Plague brake forth wherefore removing with her children to Fergaw as she was passing in a Wagon the Horses affrighted at some thing ran away whereupon leaping out of the Wagon she bruised her self and falling into a Lake of water she caught a disease whereof she dyed three Months after Anno Christi 1552. One saith of him That Luther a poor Fryar should be able to stand against the Pope was a great miracle That he should prevail against the Pope was a greater and after all to die in peace having so many Enemies was the greatest of all Again it was no less miraculous that he should escape so many dangers for when a certain Jew was suborned to kill him by poyson Luther had warning of it before hand and the picture of the Jew sent him whereby he knew him and avoided the danger concerning which himself thus writes There is saith he here with us a certain Polonish Jew that is hired with two thousand Crowns to poyson me this is discovered to me by Letters from my friends He is a Doctor of Physick and one that dare undertake and is ready to perform any villany of incredible subtilty and dexterity One a time as Luther was walking in his Garden the Devil appeared to him in the shape of a black Boar but he slighted him after which he vanished Another time as he was sitting in a certain place on his stool there was a great stone over his head in the vault which being stayed up miraculously so long as he sate there so soon as he was up immediately it fell upon the place where he sate being able to have crushed him in peices if it had light upon him And again a young man about Wittenberg being kept bare and needy by his Father was tempted by the Devil to yeild himself body and soul to him upon condition to have his wish sastisfied with money and thereupon an Obligation was made by the young man written
the chief Church of Ments he taught the Truth plainly and powerfully which when the tender and delicate Ears of many would not endure a persecution was raised up against him especially by the Popish Clergy which caused him to leave Ments and go to Strasborough An. Chr. 1523. where he was a great assistant to Capito and Bucer in reforming Religion by the command of the Senate though the Papists gnashed their teeth at it For the same year the Senate commanded their Preachers that they should teach the Gospel freely and Publickly and that they should instil into their hearers the Love of God and their Neighbors yet withall that they should abstain from reproaching the contrary opinions and from scandalous provoking the people against them Anno Christi 1523. Hedio marryed a wife and though the Papists raised a great persecution in that City against him yet he Preached boldly against Masses Indulgences Auricular Confession c. and wrote against them also And when the Senators of Strasborough the year after set forth in Print the reasons grounded upon Scripture why they made that alteration in Religion Hedio with his Colleagues subscribed it and withall they published certain Propositions wherein they strongly defended their Doctrine to be grounded upon the Word of God Anno Christi 1543. when Herman Archbishop of Collen began a Reformation he sent for Bucer and Hedio to assist him therein knowing them to be men of very quiet dispositions and very fit to instruct the people But awhile after when Caesar came to Bonna they were in great danger by reason of his Spanish Souldiers and at last by the command of Caesar they were dismissed from Ments and through many difficulties and dangers they returned to Strasborough What time he could spare from his Ministerial imployment he spent in writing Commentaries and Histories of which a great part afterwards were published in Print whereby he deserved excellently of the Church and so continued Preaching and Writing till the year 1552. at which time it pleased God to put an end to his labors on Earth and to translate him to his Heavenly Kingdom concerning whom one made this Epigram Argentina tuis Hedio pia dogmata templis Sincerâ docuit Religione Dei. Cumque tibi pietas sit priscaque gloria cordi Non poteris tanti non meminisse viri He published a Sermon about Tithes An Historical Synopsis wherein he enlarged Sabellicus to the year 1538. He corrected Chronicon Abbatis Vspergensis adding many remarkable matters from the year 1512 to 1537. He wrote Chronicon Germanicum Besides a great many Histories and other Books which he translated into Dutch As he maintained peace and friendship with his Colleagues so he held correspondence with most of the learned men of that Age. And amongst others Nicholas Gerbeline thus writes Mira mihi est cum Hedione familiaritas Hebraica Graeca studia communia ingeniorum rara quaedam aequalitas Deus faxit ne malus aliquis discordiam interserat Scis enim nihil iniquiùs ferre Daemonem quam sinceras amicitias The Life of Oswald Myconius who dyed Anno Christi 1552. OSwald Myconius was born at Lucern in Helvetia Anno Christi 1488. and was first trained up in his Country School after which he went to Basil and there betook himself to the study of the Arts and Tongues which he prosecuted with great diligence and was much delighted with the Works of Erasmus and of his Country-man Henry Glarianus with both of which he was well acquainted and was highly prized by them both for the excellency of his wit and for his singular learning This was about the year 1514. His Learning being taken notice of he was by the Magistrates of Basil made chief Master of Saint Theodores School and awhile after of Saint Peters School in both which he trained up many young men and made them very fine Scholars After some years he was called from Basil to Zurick to moderate a School there where he took great pains in training up youth for three years space at the end whereof he was called into his own Country of Lucern and set over the chief School there About which time the Doctrine of the Gospel began to shine out in all places and our Myconius did not only willingly and readily embrace it himself but was zealous to propagate it and for that end endevoured to instill it into the hearts of his Scholars which were very many insomuch as the Popish party taking notice of it turned him out of his School Anno Christi 1523. From thence therefore he went back to Zurick where he was kindely entertained and made chief Schoolmaster again where he continued till after Zuinglius was slain in the War at which time Learning and the esteem of Learned men began to decay in Zurick whereupon he returned to Basil and giving over the troublesome Office of a Schoolmaster he was made Deacon of the Church of S. Alban where he preached diligently till the death of John Oecolampadius and then he took up his Divinity Lecture and began to expound the Gospel of S. Mark which he performed so well that very many Auditors frequented his Lectures About this time the Magistrates of Basil consulted about surrogating one in the Pastoral Office of Oecolampadius and beyond his expectation Myconius was nominated and appointed thereto and so was made the chief Pastor in Basil having but a little while supplyed the Office of a Deacon In this his Pastoral Office he continued for about twenty years with great fidelity and diligence and both by his Lectures and Ministry was very grateful to his hearers and the rather because his courteous carriage was very pleasing his Learning more then ordinary and his Eloquence very popular When the great controversie about the manner of Christs presence in the Sacrament sprang up Myconius inclined to the opinion of Luther and often rendered his reasons for it to his friends in private But when for this some grudges were raised up against him in the University he voluntarily laid down his Divinity Lectures and wholly applyed himself to his Pastoral Office wherein he continued to the end of his life which fell out Anno Christi 1552. and of his age 64. He wrote a learned and pious Exposition upon the Gospel of S. Mark Sermons upon Psalm 101. He translated Oecolampadius his Catechism out of Dutch into Latine He published Commentaries upon Matthew Luke and Iohn as also upon the Prophets Isaiah Ieremiah and Ionas besides some other Theological and Philological Works GEORG PRINCE OF ANHALT The Life of George Prince of Anhalt who died A no Christi 1553. GEorge Prince of Anhalt was born Anno Christi 1507. Of a very ancient and honourable Family His Father was Prince Ernest. Then by the advice of that grave prudent man Adolphus Prince of Anhalt Bishop of Mersburg
David have mercie upon me and receive my soul and wipeing his eies with his hands he said For God's love let me have more fire A third fire being kindled it burn'd more violently yet was he alive a great while in it the last words which he uttered being Lord Jesus have mercy on me Lord Jesus receive my spirit And so he slept in the Lord. In one of his letters he wrote Imprisonment is painfull but libertie upon evill conditions is worse The Prison stink's yet not so much as sweet houses where the fear of God is wanting I must be alone and solitarie it 's better so to be and have God with me then to be in company with the wicked Losse of goods is great but losse of grace and God's favor is greater I cannot tell how to answer before great and learned men Yet it is better to do that then stand naked before God's Tribunal I shall die by the hands of cruâ—ll men he is blessed that loseth his life and fiâ—de's life eteâ—nal There is neither felâ— city nor adversity of this World that is great if it be weighed with the joyes and pâ—ines of the world to come And in the conclusion of the Letter he writes thus I am a precious Jewell now and daintily kept never so daintily before For neither mine owne man nor any of the servants of the house may come to me but my Keeper onely who is a simple rude fellow But I am not troubled thereat In the time of King Edward when he was made Bishop much controversie was betweene him and Doctor Cranmer and Doctor Ridley about the Cappe Rochet c. But when in Queene Maries daies they were all in Prison for the cause of Religion Doctor Ridley wrote thus to him My dear brother forasmuch as I understand by your works which I have but superficially seene that we throughly agree in those things which are the grounds and substantial points of our Religion against which the World so furiously rageth in these daies however formerly in certain by matters and circumstances of Religion your wisdome and my simplicity hath a little jarred each of us following the abundance of his owne sence and judgement Now I say be you assured that even with my whole heart God is my witness in the bowels of Christ I love you in the truth and for the truths sake which abideth in us and shall by the grace of God abide for ever He was above three-quarters of an hour in the fire before he dyed yet even as a Lambe he patiently abode the extremity thereof neither moving forwards backwards or to any side But having his nether parts burned and his bowels faln out he dyed as quietly as a Child in his bed an Christi 1555. The life of Rowland Tailor who died A no. Christi 1555. ROwland Taylor was Doctor of both Laws and Rector of Hadley in Suffolk where Master Thomas Bilney had formerly been a Preacher of the Word and in which place there were few either men or women that were not well learned in the holy Scriptures many having read over the whole Bible and could say a great part of Paul's Epistles by heart Here this D. Taylor preached constantly on Sabbaths Holy-days and at other times when he could get the people together So soon as he was called to this place he left the family of Doct. Cranmer A. B. of Canterbury with whom he had formerly lived like a good shepherd constantly abode with his flock and gave himself wholly to the study of the Sacred Scriptures most faithfully endeavouring to fulfill the precept of Christ to Peter Lovest thou me feed my sheep His life also and conversation was very exemplary and full of holiness He was meek and humble yet would stoutly rebuke sinne in the greatest He was very mild void of all rancor and malice ready to do good to all mer forgiving his enemies and far from doing the least wrong To the poor blinde lame sick bed-rid or that had many children he was a father causing the Parishioners to make good provision for them besides what of his own bounty he gave them He brought up his own children in the fear of God good learning And thus he continued as a good Sheepherd amongst his flock feeding governing and leading them through the wilderness of this wicked world all the days of holy King Edward the sixth But in the beginning of Queen Marie's Reigne two Popish persons suborned a Priest to come and say Mass in his Church Hee being at his study and hearing the Bell to toll went to Church and finding this Priest guarded with drawn swords in his Popish Robes ready to begin the Mass he said unto him Thou Divel who made thee so bold to enter into this Church to profane and defile it with this abominable Idolatry I command thee thou Popish-Wolfe in the name of God to avoid hence and not to presume thus to poyson Christ's flock Then said one Foster the ringleader in this business to Doctor Tailor Thou Traitor what dost thou here to let and disturbe the Queens proceedings Doctor Tailor answered I am no Traitor but the Shepherd which God and my Lord Christ hath appointed to feed this his flock and therefore I have good authority to be here Then said Foster Wilt thou Traiterous Heretick make a commotion and resist violently the Queens proceedings Doctor Tailor answered I make no commotion it s you Papists that make commotions and tumults I resist onely with Gods word against your Popish Idolatries which are contrary to the same and tend to the dishonour of the Queen and the utter subversion of this Realme Then did Foster with his armed men carry Doctor Tailor out of the Church and so the Priest went on with his Mass. Doctor Tailors wife who had followed her Husband to the Church when she saw their violent proceedings kneeled down and holding up her hands with a loud voice said I beseech God the righteous Judge to avenge this injury which this Popish Idolater doth this day to the blood of Christ Then did they thrust her out of the Church also and presently after Foster wrote a complaint against Doct. Tailor to Steven Gardiner who sent his Letters Missive for Doctor Tailor whereupon his friends earnestly entreated him to fly telling him that he could neither expect justice nor favor but imprisonment and cruel death To whom he answered I know my cause to be so good and righteous and the truth so strong upon my side that I will by Gods grace appear before them and to their beards resist their false doings for I beleeve that I shal never be able to doe God so good service as now and that I shal never have so glorious a calling nor so great mercy of God profferd me as I have now wherefore pray for mee and I doubt not but God will
owne and forraign Universities be searched out which may be strengthned with the law of God and as they shall by Gods word prove it lawfull or unlawfull so let the King proceed and have the cause then determined in his owne Country whereby he may live in lawfull matrimony with a cheerfull minde and quiet conscience which is much to be desired by all his faithfull subâ—ects When he had thus spoken with great gravity and wisedome Gardiner and Fox resenting that excellent counsell as given from God wished that the King had had such counsell given him before he ever sent to Rome The day after when they câ—â—me to the King he asked them what was done in his business whereupon Fox told him of their meeting and conference had with Doctor Cranmer but proud Gardiner seeking to invest himselfe in the praise which was due unto another would have made himself the Author of that counsell but the King neglecting his speech asked Fox if Cranmer were at Waltham still and being told that he was he presently ordered him to be sent for saying I judge his counsell right if I had knowne it two dayes agoe I had saved infinite charges and had lived with a more safe and quiet conscience When Doctor Cranmer came to him hee much excused himselfe as insufficient to be engaged in so great a matter yet besought him to commit the tryall of it to the best learned men in both Vniversities Which advice the King liked well yet required him to write his judgement upon it also and commanded the Earl of VViltshire to provide him retired lodgings books and whatever else was necessary for so great a work which task being finished and confirmed by Scriptures Councils and Fathers he presented it to the King who having read it asked him whether he would justifie it before the Pope D. Cran. professing his willingness the King hastened his dispatch to Rome and sent other learned men abroad to forraign Vniversities to dispute this question amongst the Divines there where it was concluded that no such matrimony was lawfull by the word of God When the Kings Ambassadors came to Rome the Pope proffering them his foot to kiss the Earl of VViltshire's Spaniel caught his great Toe in his mouth whereupon the Ambassadors scorned to kiss after the dog and the Pope pulled in his foot again There Cranmer and the rest proffered to defend that Jure Divino the brother ought not to marry the brothers wife but none appearing against them the Pope made Doctor Cranmer his Penitentiarie and so dismissed them From thence Doctor Cranmer travelled to the Emperors Court at Vienna proffering to dispute with his Divines upon the said question But Cornelius Agrippa in private conference receiving full satisfaction from him thereupon easily perswaded other learned men that were in the Emperors court not to contend with Cranmer who as he said was in the truth so that no man contradicting him Cranmer departed from the Emperor and having travelled all over Germany he brought home with him into England the opinions and sentences of the most learned men that lived in the Vniversities and Courts of Princes And in the mean season others sent from the King passing through all the Vniversities of Italy and France brought home likewise their determinations in that point confirmed with their publick and authentick seales agreeing with those that Cranmer had brought out of Germany In this journey to and fro he learned all the New Testament by heart August 23. Anno Christi 1533. William Warham Arch-Bi of Canteâ—bury died and the King resolved to place Doctor Cranmer in his room who was at this time in Germany about the Kings business and was loath to take upon him an office of such high dignity in the Church For he knew that there was an oath to be taken to the Pope of Rome before he could be installed in that place He feared also what issue the Kings divorce might have and was not ignorant of the Kings violent disposition He knâ—w that sudden and great changes were dangerous and that the Court to which he was not accustomed was full of deceipts and counterfeitings That he must in all things obey the Kings will and that if he tripped in any thing never so little there would be some who out of envy at his felicity would tumble him downe headlong when he began to fall He also having buried his first wife was now falne in love with a young maid that was neece to Osianders wife whom he determined to marry though he knew it was forbidden bâ— law for a Priest to marry oâ— for a man to be made a Priest who had married a second wife Weighing these things seriously with himselfe when he was sent for by the King to return home so soon as he could he stayed in Germany six whole months framing one excuse or other hoping that in the mean time some or other would get the Arch-Bishoprick â—ut such were the times then that every man feared the slipperiness of that place and therefore declined it At last Doctor Cranmer privately marrying his wife at Norimberg returned home and was made Arch-Bishop though against his will for he refused the dignity offered him because he was to be tyed to the Pope against all right and equity and therefore he gave the Popes Bull into the Kings hands saying that he wouâ—d never receive a Bishoprick of England but from him who was the head of England nor take an oath that was derogatory to the Kings authority And thus being made Arch Bishop he carried himselfe as formerly he had done rising every morning at five a clock to his study and never being idle all the day After dinner if he had no sâ—iters he spent an hour at Chess and so to his study again He was by nature very charitable and gentle so prone to forgive and forget wrongs that it grew into a Proverb Doe my Lord of Canterbury a shrewd turâ— and â—e will be your friend as long as you live Hee stoutly opposed the six bloody Articles and yet with such humility and modesty that the King could not be offended with him for it He was so free from passion that he never miscalled the meanest of his servants He was just in paying all men so that when he was cast into prison he owed no man a â—arthing He relieved many that were in want The whole weight of reforming Religion lay upon his hands so that for sixteen years together his house was never empty of learned men to assist in deciding Ecclesiasticall controversies His charity to the poor was very great for whom he provided lodgings being sick lame wounded c. and appointed an Almoner Physician and Chirurgion to attend them having daily hot broth and meant sent them from his own Kitchin He had many and great enemies of the Papists especially wily VVinchester and his
at him with his drawne sword and if God by a speciall providence had not prevented had slaine him The Flacians especially continually railed upon and threatned him whereupon he said Avide tranquillo animo expecto exilia sicut ad Principes scripsi dixerunt adversarii se perfecturos esse ut non sim habiturus vestigium ubi pedem collocare possem in Germania Utinam hoc cito perficiant ut filius Dei ad Judam dicit Erit mihi vel in caelo morienti vestigium vel si vivam in hoc corpore apud honestos Doctos viros vel in Germania vel alibi At stultitiam inimicorum miror qui sese Dominos Germaniae esse existimant me his minis terreri He was somewhat sickly being sometimes troubled with the Cholick and hypocondriacall winde He had a strong braine without which it had not been possible for him to have gone through so many and great businesses for so many years together In his diet he was content with a little He was modest in all his life In his apparel he had respect to his health He was liberall to all affable and courteous One George Sabine travelling to Italy and Rome for the improvement of his learning a certain Cardinall discoursing with him about Wittenberg asked him what stipend they allowed to Melancthon Sabine answered Three hundred Florences by the year Then said the Cardinal O ungratefull Germany who makest no more account of the many and great labours of so eminent a man On a time Prince Maurice Elector of Saxony asked Melancthon if he wanted any thing for the supplie of his necessities He told him No. Then did the Elector bid him Ask what he would to which he answered that he had his stipenâ—â— with which he was well content yet the Elector bid him again Ask to which he answered Since your Excellency will have me to ask something I crave leave to be dismissed from my place and imployments Whereupon the Elector intreated him to continue in them still wondring at his contentedness with so small means When he was first himselfe converted he thought it impossible for his hearers to withstand the evidence of the Truth in the Ministry of the Gospel But after he had been a Preacher a while he complained that Old Adam was too hard for young Melancthon He is called by one Phoenix Germaniae alter Elizaeus He used to say that there were three labours very difficult Regentis Docâ—ntis Parturientis of Magistrates Ministers and Women in Travel He made his own Epitaph Iste brevis tumulus miseri tenet ossa Philippi Qui qualis fuerit nescio talis erat Here lies iâ— terred in these stones Much afflicted Philips bones For alwayes such 〈◊〉 life was her I know not what in death heel hee Scripsit Melancthon volumina insinita variis in locis impressa Cuâ—us tamen lucubrationes editas usque ad annum 1541. Hervagius excudit Basiliae Tomis quinque anno Christi 1546. But afterwards there were many more of his works published the Catalogue whereof you may find in Verheiden JO ALASCO The Life of Iohn Lascus who died A no Christi 1558. JOhn Lascus was borne of a Noble family in Poland and brought up in learning Afterwards travelling to Zurick in Helvetiad he was by Zuinglius perswaded to betake himself to the study of Divinity and having thereby imbraced that Religion which hath its foundation upon the word of God he was very desirous to increase in holiness He had a very great love to Christ and his people A great hatred to Popery and Superstition and a great contempt of the world so that whereas he might have been preferred to great honour in his own Countrey 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 honour 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 year after he was sent for by Anne the widow of Count Oldenburg to reform the Churches in East-Frisland and the next year after by Albert Duke of Prussia but when he agreed not with him in judgement about the Lords Supper the work remained unperfected He remained in Frisland about ten years at the end whereof the Emperor persecuting the Protestants he was sent for by King Edwaâ—d the sixth upon Crammer's motion into England where he gathered preached unto and governed the Dutch-Church which remains to this day In the dayes of Queen Mary Anno Christi 1553. he obtained leave to return beyond Sâ—a and went with a good part of his Congregation into Denmark to the Royal City of Coppenhagew But Noviomagus the Court Preacher and a Lutheran took occasion in a Sermon to impugne the error as he called it of the Sacramentaries Hereupon Lascus set forth a writing wherein he asserted the truth and confuted the error of Consubstantia iâ—n This occasioned a conference between Noviomagus and him where Lascus and his Church did not dissemble their opinion but asserted the truth which the K. of Denmark Christian being informed of made a decree that they should not stay in his Kingdom except they would follow the Doctrine of Luther and use the Ceremonies ordained by him Lascus and his Church refused this yet intreated that the 〈◊〉 might be dâ—ferred which the King would be no means permit but commanded them presently to depart his Kingdom By this means they were forced in a most cold winter season with their wives great with child their children to depart out of Denmark the Hanse-towns refused to receive them The Churches of Saxony also rejected them not suffering them to live amongst them upon like reason At length that poor Congregation found entertainment in Frisland under the Lady Ann Oldenburg and setled at Embden Anno Christi 1555 he went thence to Francford upon Main where with the consent of the Senate he gathered a Church of strangers especially out of Belgia From thence the year after he wrote a Letter to the King of Poland and his Council vindicating his Doctrine from some aspersions cast upon it by Westphalus Timan and Pomeran shewing that their Doctrine about Consubstantiation was contrary to the sense of the Scripture to the analogie of faith and to the generall judgement of the Churches of Christ and that it could not be retained without contumely to Christ He complained also that his Doctrine about the Sacrament was onely condemned by reason of prejudice That his adversaries dealt with him after the manner of the Papists who carry their business not by Scripture and arguments but by force accusing all for Hereticks which close not with them in all things About the same time many
more obdurate in wickednesse and therefore more opposite to the Truth He was often in great perill of his life and yet by special providences preserved So that perceiving that in that place he could neither enjoy safety nor freedome in the service of God as he desired he resolved to leave the Monastery and to goe elswhere which resolutions he communicated to some of his friends But in the mean time the Prior died and he by common consent of all was chosen to succeed him Musculus looked upon this as a designe of the Devill by these baits of honour pleasure and profit to withdraw him from his zealous purposes of propagating the Truth and to tie him to that kind of life that he was resolved against And thereupon he refused the choice and put it upon another He also married a wife called Margaret Bart an honest and vertuous Virgin At his departure the new Prior gave him a supper after which he bade him and the rest of the Friers farewell who were now but six three also of which shortly after followed him At this time he had but four Florences to which the Prior added four more and so about midnight that he might the more safely escape his enemies he departed being accompanied with a Kinsman called Nicholas Wagner directing his course to Strasborough whether also he came Anno Christi 1527 and of his age thirty and was entertained by the Minister Theobald Niger who also made him a Wedding-feast But his money waxing short and seeing little hopes to be called to the work of the Ministery he placed his wife forth as a servant to Mr. Theobald Niger and agreed with a Weaver to teach him his trade comsorting himself in the mean time with this Distich Est Deus in coelo qui providus omnia ouraâ— Credentes nusquam deseruisse potest A God there is whose providence doth take Care for his Saints whom he will not forsake But it fell out that this Weaver was an Anabaptist and kept one of their Teachers in his house who according to their usual custome laboured not at all but spent his time in eating drinking and sleeping With him Musculus could not agree but often objected that of the Apostle to him He that will not labour ought not to eat This occasioned his Master to fall out with him and having paid him his wages at two months end he turn'd him out of doors contrary to his former bargain Musculus now not knowing how to supply his wants it fell out that at that time the Senate at Strasborough were mending their fortifications about the City Thither he went and was hired to labour in that work amongst oth râ—bâ—t the same nightgoing to set his wife she told him that an Officer had been there to request him to come to the great Church where the Consul and Bucer would speak with him He not knowing the occasion was much troubled at it yet went to the place appointed and when he came thither the Consul commanded him to goe to the Village of Dorlitzheim and there to preach every Sabbath and to teach the people who were prone to Sedition peace and obedience Musculus with joy taking this as a call from God went every Sabbath thither being but three miles off and preached to them and all the wâ—ek lived with Bucer who writing so bad a hand that the Princers could not read it yea many times himselfe could scarce read what he had written imployed Musculus to transcribe his Comments on Lephany which were then in Printing After certain months preaching in that Village and hiâ— wife growing near the time of her travel 〈◊〉 Magistrats sent him and his wife to live there where his bearers entertained him kindly and provided necessaries for his family onâ—ly himself was fain to lie upon the ground in a little straw whilst his wife lay in Thus this man of God waâ— willing to suffer poverty for Christ's cause who amongst the Papists might have lived in much plenty In that Town he preached a whole year without receiving anything for his pains but afterward the Senate at Strasborough allowed him a stipend out of the publick treasury for the supply of his wants There also he began to teach School wherein he carried himselfe with so much industry and affability that he won much love Not far off there was a Monastery in which one a year there was a Feast and a Sermon to which at the request of his neighbours Musculus went The Fryer that preached chose this Text Without Faith it 's impossible to please God In his Sermon he inveighed bitterly against the Lutherans and in particular against them of Strasborough as Apostates c. wherewith many of his hearers were much pleased The Sermon being ended and the Fryer coming downe out of the Pulpit Musculus called to him saying Thou wicked wretch hear me a little and I 'le make thy wickedness appear to all the Congregation And going up into the Pulpit he took the same Text opened the words and preached excellently of the nature and benefit of saving faith and vindicated them of Strasborough from those aspersions which the Fryer had cast upon them wherewith the people were much pleased but the Fryers shrunk away Then came the Steward of the Monastery running in and interrupted him saying Sirrah give over who set you upto preach in this place To whom he answered Who gave you authority to set up a lying Fryer to preach and traduce the Senate and people of Strasborough whom I am bound to defend and vindicate from such false aspersions and so he went on in his Sermon but then the Steward began to entreat him to give over least he caused a tumult but he â—ad him hold his peace and entreated the people to be quiet and so went on to the end of his Sermon without any distraction The fame of this action begat him much credit amongst all good men at Strasborough so that at the years end he was sent for to Strasborough and made a Deacon though he in modesty would have refused it as judging himself unfit and unworthy of it And thus he continued two years longer in that place And whereas in Dosna a Village belonging to Strasborough the people would by no means suffer the Mass to be abolished hee by one Sermon there so wrought upon them that presently they cast it out of their Church together with all the Popish trumpery At Strasborough whil'st he was a Deacon he was a constant hearer of Capito and Bucer and finding his own defect for want of Hebrew fell to the study of it wrote out a Lexicon with his own hand and profited so much therein that he did not onely understand the Bible but the Rabbins also Anno Christ 1531. the Citizens of Ausburg sent to Strasborough to request the Senate to send them Musculus to be their Pastor
I pray you that yee be not pussed up with pride like pâ—ophane persons but rather give thanks to God with lowliness of mind But if adversitie shall happen unto you and death shall stand before you on every side yet trust in him that raiseth up the dead yea then especially think that ye are stirred up by God that ye may more and more trust in him alone And if ye desire that this your Commonwealth may be preserved in a firm estate see that you be not defiled with any filthiness For he is onely the highest God King of Kings and Lord of Lords he will honour those that honour him and cast down those that despise him Honour him therefore according to his own precepts and daily thinâ— of this that we are farre from doing that which is required of us I know the dispositions and conversations of every one of you and I know that you have need of exhortation There is none of those that excell most unto whom many things are not wanting therefore let every man look about him and let him ask of the Lord those things which he understands himself to stand in need of We see what vices reign in the greatest Councels in the world some are stark cold and neglect the publick taking care onely for their own private affairs Others are indulgent to their private affections Others use not the excellent gifts God hath bestowed upon them as they ought Others proudly boast of 〈◊〉 own parts and upon a certain confidence therein expect that every man should subscribe to their opinions I exhort old men that they envy not the younger whom they finde adorned with excellent gifts from God I admonish the younger that they carry themselves modestly without arrogance and let not one molest another Avoyd contentions and all that bitterness of spirit which diverts many from the right way in the government of the Commonwealth And ye shall the better avoyd these things if every man contain himself within his own spheare and all administer that part of the Commonwealth faithfully which is committed to him I pray you for Gods sake let there bee no place for favour or hatred in the judgement of civill causes Let none pervert right by subtill and cunning tricks Let no man hinder the Laws from prevailing Let no man depart from that which is just and equall If sinister affections shall beginne to arise let him resist them constantly looking upon hâ—m that hath placed him in his throne and begge of him his holy Spirit To conclude I begge of you again that you pardon mine infirmities which I acknowledge and confess before God Angels and your worshipfull selves Having thus spoken he prayed unto God to multiply his gifts and blessings upon them more and more and to governe them by his holy Spirit for the safety and good of the Commonwealth And giving his hand to every of them he dismissed them all who departed full of sorrow and heavinesse as from their Common Father with many tears April the eight and twentieth the Ministers of Geneva being come to him he spake thus unto them Brethren after my decease stand fast in this work of the Lord and be not discouâ—aged for the Lord will preserve this Church Commonwealth against the threatnings of the enemies I pray God keep you from dissentions Embrace one anoâ—her with mutuall charity Think again and again what you owe to this Church where in the Lord hath placed you and let nothing divert you from your duty Otherwise it will be easie for such as seek them to finde out â—â—â—sions but such shall finde that God cannot be deceived A soâ—n as I came to this City the Gospel indeed was preached but the affaires were very troublesome manâ— conceiting that Christianity was nothing else but to overthrow Images And there were not a few wicked persons from whom I suffered many most unworthy things But the Lord our God so confirmed and strengthened mee though by nature was not bold that I gave not place to any of their endeavours Afterwards when I returned hither from Strasborough I followed this vocation with an unwilling mind because it seemed to me that it would prove unfruitfull for I knew not what the Lord had determined and the matter was full of many and great difficulties But going on at last I found that God had much blessed my labours Stand fast therefore in this your vocation Retaine that order that is begun and doe your uttermost endeavours that the people may be kept in subjection to your wholsome Doctrine for some are wicked and stubborn Things as you see are through Gods mercy well setled and therefore ye shall be left without excuse before God if through your sâ—thfulness they be unsetled again I profess Brethren that I have lived with you conâ—oyned in true love and sincere charity and that I now so depart from you If you have found me any whit pettish in this my disease I crave pardon of you and give you very great thanks that yâ— have sustained the burthen imposed upon me during the time oâ— my sicknesse Having thus spoken he gave his hand to each of them who departed from him with much sorrow and weeping A while after Master Calvin understanding by Letters from Mr. Farel to Mr. Viret who was now an old man of eighty years old and sickly was yet determined to visit him and was now onward of his journey he wrote thus to him to stay him Farewell my best and sincerest brother and seeing God will have you to out live me in this world live mindful of our friendship which as it hath been profitable for the Church of God here so the fruit thereof tarrieth for us in heaven I would not have you weary your self for my sake I hardly draw my breath and I expect daily when it will wholly fail me It is enough that I live and die to Christ who is gaine to his both in life and death Again farewell May 11. Anno Christi 1564. Yet for all this Letter the good old man came to Geneva and having fully conferred with Mr. Calvin returned back to Neocom The rest of his dayes even till his departure Mr. Calvin spent almost in perpetuall prayer with his eyes fixed upon heaven and his voice full of sighes by reason of his short breath May the seven and twentieth being the day whereon hee departed he seemed to speak more strongly and with lesse difficulty but this was but a lightning before death In the evening about eight a clock on the sudden certain signes of present death appeared at which time Mr. Beza being newly departed from him some ran to acquaint him therewith whereupon he presently returned but found him to have yeelded up his spirit into the hands of God without the least strugling yea not so much ascending forth one groan having had his understanding memory and voice even to the last gasp being much more like to one that
for you Whilst he was speaking the noise of the souldiers was heard without whereupon Zegedine slipt into his chamber and taking a bag of mony gave it to the man out of his window intreating him to keep it safe Presently after the Souldiers rushing into his chamber plundered him of all he had together with his books and binding him carried him away with them to the Captain But behold the gracious providence of God Amongst those bloodie souldiers there was one that favoured him and conveighed him away so that swimming over a river he escaped returned home again when the souldiers were departed out of the country In his bedstraw hee had left another bagge of money which some women searching his chamber after his departure had found and now honestly restored to him againe But that man to whom he had given the bagge out of the window could never after bee heard of Shortly after his fame spreading abroad he was called to Tholna to govern the School wherefore taking onely one servant along with him hee went thither Anno Christi 1553 where he spent most of his time in teaching Schoole But afterwards at the importunity of the Minister he first began on Holydayes and after on Sabbath daies to preach to the people And his former Wife being dead he married another one Elizabeth a woman no less vertuous then beautifull And not long after he was chosen to Lascovia to be their Pastor and was Ordained Minister by the Imposition of Hands Anno Christi 1554 And being now about fifty years old he was made Doctor and Superintendent of all that Baronrie But hee had such an earnest desire to breed up youth in Religion and Learning that notwithstanding his other weighty imployments he read not only in the Schools but privately also in his own house to many many ignorant Priests round about resorting to his Lectures Neither did he intermit his pains no not in sicknesse if hee had but strength to speak that his voice might bee heard And thus he continned four years at Lascovia where he had three children born Anne Sarah and Isaac and was often made use of by a noble Lord called Mark Horvat Governour of a Castle hard by sometimes to preach and othersome times to decide the most intricate Controversies Anno Christi 1558 he was removed thence by the authority of some Governours of neighbouring Castles to Calmantsem though much against his will And Anno Christi 1561 the greatest misery and mischief that ever befell Zegedine in his life by Gods permission now came upon him the occasion whereof was this Preaching upon Circumcision day he spake much of the signification of names and amongst others of â—rsula that it signified a young Bear Whereupon a violent woman of that name Wife to Albert Turia made a grievous complaint to her husband that Zegedine had on purpose mentioned that name to disgrace her before all the congregation and that it deserved to be taken notice of In the mean time comes into those parts one Mamhuts Beg a Turish Captain that was governour of Quinque ecclesia whom the Citizens of Calmantsem entertained and gave presents to Whereupon he advised them to present his Captaine the Vayvod of Coppeswar with four or five els of cloth of Gold or Silver which was imposed upon them as a tribute to be paid to him but whilst they neglected to doe it the Vayvod being angry came upon them as they were at a Sermon and took many of them prisoners together with Zegedine and carried them away to Copesware The rest that escaped gathering the Tribute carried it presently to the Vayvod entreating his pardon and the restitution of the prisoners especially of Zegedine but hee told them that hee had now written to the Beg or Lord of Quinqueecclesia that he had taken some prisoners to whom therefore if they would have them restored to liberty they must goe and petition for their release This they did and things began to succeed according to their mind so that the captives were commanded to be restored But the Citizens of Calmantsem having been many wayes wronged by the Vayvod sought to the Beg to have him removed out of his place but the crafty Vayvod by greater bribes perswaded the Beg that all their accusations were false Whereupon the Beg said to them I will have some of your grave Citizens together with your Minister brought unto me by whom I may be informed of the truth of these things But when Zegedine came he picked a quarrell with him and cast him into prison Whereupon his people by rich presents endeavoured to procure his release and when they had almost obtained their request one whispered the Beg in his ear and told him that hee might have a thousand Florens for his ransome Upon this suggestion the covetous Turk still detained him and told them that he would not release him till they had paid him a thousand Florens And when the money came in slower then he expected the barbarous Tyrant chid Zegedins Keeper for using him too gently which as he said was the cause that his ransom was not yet paid Whereupon his Keeper bound and whipt him with thâ—ngs til he was bloody all over and almost kill'd him Afterwards the Beg promised that if they would procure the release of the Daughter of the Major of Tolne who was prisoner with the Hungarians and bring her unto him hee would release Zegedine Her therefore Zegedines people of Calmantsem redeemed for three hundred Florens and presented her to the Beg yet the Infidell falsified his promise and kept him still prisoner Then the Prince of Transiâ—vania sent Ambassadors and a rich present to the Beg requesting the release of Zegedine yet nothing could prevail Many passengers that went that way hearing of his miserable captivity came to visit him and gave him money but his cruel Keeper extorted most of it from him having a command from the Beg that he should bee kept with short commons But he found that of Saint Paul performed to him That all things shall work together for good to them that love God For being bound with heavy and great chains the barbarous Turk at the importunitie of some of the Citizens was the easier prevailed with to give him leave to goe to some of their houses faithfully promising to returne him to prison before night and so having these opportunities he preached to the Christians who earnestly flocked to heare him And it pleased God at last to encline the hearts of some of the Courtiers to favour Zegedine who were grieved to see him waste away with the filth and stink of the prison and thereupon advised the best way they could for his release During his imprisonment the Beg used all means both by threats and promises to draw him to abjure the Christian Religion and to turn Turk but hee alwaies
like Statues of mourning in humane likenesse But after he had prayed with her and therein endeavoured both to comfort her and those about her he told her that she should not onely recover of her disease but also live to an exceeding great age At which words earnestly beholding him she said You might as well have said that if I should throw this glass against the wall I might beleeve it would not break to pieces And having a Glasse in her hand she threw it forth the Glasse falling first on a chest and then on the ground yet neither brake nor crackt And the event fell out accordingly for the Gentlewoman being then sixty years of age lived in much felicitie till she was above ninetie years old and could reckon above three hundrd and sixtie of her children and childrens children Also one day going to see the Earl of Arundel sonne to the Duke of Norfolk at his house in the Straud when he was going away from him the Earl walked with him to the end of his Garden where he was to take boat but the River being very boysterous the Earl counselled him not to trust himself in so great atempest to whom Master Fox answered So my Lord let these water deal with me as I have in truth and sincerity delivered unto you all that I have spoken And therewithall entering into the boat before they could put off from the Bridge the wind ceased and the river ran with a smooth stream He had many great friends to whom he was very dear and of whose bounty he tasted liberally whereby he was enabled to be so bountiful to the poor He had much familiarity with many Learned and Godly men At length having in such actions and such behaviours spent his time being now full of years he foresaw his own end and would not suffer his sonnes to be present at his death though he entirely loved them but sending them from home ere their return he quietly resigned up his spirit to God An. Christi 1587 and of his age seventie He never denyed to give to any one tha asked for Jesus sake And one asking him whither he knew a certain poor man whom he used to relieve Yea said he I remember him well and I tell you I forget Lords and Ladies to remember such As he was going along London streets a woman of his acquaintance met him and as they discoursed together shee pulled out a Bible telling him she was going to hear a Sermon whereupon he said to her if you will be advised by me go home again But said she when shall I then go to Church To whom he answered When you tell no body of it One of his sonnes had a great mind to travel beyond Sea which his Father could by no means disswade him from after some years travell he returned back in an out-landish habit and coming to his Father the old man asked him who hee was To whom he answered Sir I am your sonne Samuel Whereupon hee replyed Oh my sonne who hath taught thee to make thy self so ridiculous by coming home in so strange and uncoth an habit The Life of George Sohnius who died A no Christi 1589. GEorge Sohnius was born at Friburg in the Wetteraw Anno Christi 1551 of honest Parents and of good esteem who brought him up from his childhood in the knowledge of the principles of Divinity and Grammar and afterwards set him to School in Fridberg where he continued till he was well grounded in School-Learning which he drank in with such eagernesse that he soon outstripped all his fellows and so Anno Christi 1567 he was sent to the University of Marpurg at fifteen years old where he profited so exceedingly in Logick and Philosophy that he was made Batchelor of Arts at the years end And being exceeding desirous to see other countries for the improving both of his learning and carriage Anno Christi 1569 he went to Wittenberg where he studied Philosophy Law and Divinity with incredible pains night and day so that at three years end with the approbation of the whole University he was made Master of Arts. He intended at first the study of Law But it pleased God on a sudden so to divert his heart from it and to encline him to the study of Divinitie that he could have no rest in himselfe till he had resolved upon it concerning which he thus writes to his Father What hath so soon altered my opinion I shall briefly declare unto you that you may know and approve the reason thereof and give thanks to God for his mercy to us When upon the one and twentieth of July I was hearing Tuberus his Lecture of the Law before halfe an hour was past as I was writing what hee spake I fell into very serious cogitations For on a sudden the excellency and Majesty of Divinity came into my mind which suddenly did so delight me and beganne to stirre up in my minde such love to it that I could not but resolve to give over the Law and wholly to apply my self to the study of Divinity And this thought did more and more sink deeply into my mind and was so urgent upon me that I could no longer hearken to the Law Lecture neither could I write out what I had begunne So that I knew not what doe Yea these thoughts did so follow me that I was not onely averse to read any more Law but I abhorred the thoughts of it And thus not knowing what to doe I betook my self with sighs and teares unto God intreating him to restore to me my former love to and delight in the Law But if not that I was ready to follow his call in any thing But so often as I returned to reading the Law my heart did beat my eyes abhorred the letters and neither was my minde or will any more delighted with that study Whereupon consulting with two of my godly and loving friends they judged that I was called by God to the study of Divinity and therefore giving thanks to God I wholly applyed my self thereto Anno Christi 1571 he returned to Marpurg and studied Hebrew and the year after he read the Arts to many Students privately and became Tutor to three Noblemen At twenty three years old he was so famous that by the consent of all the Divines of that University he was chosen into the number and order of Professors of Divinity The year after he married a Wife Christian daughter to Conrade Matthew one of the Professors a choice Maid by whom he had three sons and two daughters The same yeare also he was chosen the Professor of the Hebrew Tongue in that Universitie Anno Christi 1578 he was made Doctor in Divinity and falling sick not long after he made an excellent Confession of his Faith But it pleased God that he recovered and was not onely a
c. by all whom he was kindly entertained and so dearly beloved that each seemed to live in the other At his first coming to that University that he might the better arme himselfe against those manifold perturbations which all men especially the godly are molested withall he often and seriously meditated upon the History of Abraham And as often as he had any leisure he went to Geneva to converse with Calvin by whom he was much quickned to improve his parts for Gods glory and the Churches good And upon this he undertook that truly golden work begun by Marot but finished by him of turning the Psalms into French Metre which hee finished Anno Christi 1561 and which were often printed in sundry parts of France About this time many godly men and women flocked out of France to Lausanna which occasion Beza taking as sent from God expounded to them the Epistle to the Romans and afterwards the two Epistles to Peter which were the foundation of that excellent work which afterwards he compleated of turning the New Testament into Latine with Annotations upon the same About that time the Plague waxing hot in Lausanna Beza fell sick of it but Christ who intended him as an instrument of his glory in his Churches good restored him to health again Shortly after which he wrote a book de Haereticis à Magistratu puniendis occasioned by the aspersions raised by Laelius Socinus against Calvin and the Magistrates of Geneva for burning Servetus for his Heresie and Blasphemy He also wrote an explication of Christianity out of the Doctrine of eternall Predestination He also answered Joachim Westphalus about the Sacrament of the Lords Supper and afterwards published two learned Dialogues upon the same argument He answered Sebastian Castalio who sought to overthrow Eternall Election Anno Christi 1557 when the Sorbonists in Paris had raised that persecution against the Church of Christ wherein four hundred of them being met together in the night to hear the Word and receive the Lords Supper seven of them were afterwards burnt in the fire and the rest cast into chains and prisons The best means thought on to procure their release was by obtaining the Protestant German Princes to become Intercessors for them to Henry the 2d of France And thereupon Beza with some others were sent to the German Princes to engage them herein which also he obtained from them though it proved to little purpose in regard of the implacable malice of the French Courtiers against the servants of Christ. In that journey hee grew acquainted with Melancthon and they took much delight in the society of each other Having spent ten years at Lausanna as the Greek Professor with the good leave of the Senate of Bern he went to Geneva Anno Christi 1559 and lived with Calvin from whose side he seldom parted and was his great assistant both in matters of Doctrine and Disciplineâ— and that in the mean time he might not be wanting to the Schools he publickly interpreted Demosthenes Orations and part of Aristotle to the young Students And not long after upon the death of Claudius Pontanus he was chosen Pastor into his room He was also chosen the first Rector of the School in Geneva at which time he made an excellent and eloquent Oration in commendation of Learning in the presence of many grave and learned men both to encourage youths to the love of it and the Senators of Geneva to make a further progresse in the advancement of it For whereas the City of Geneva did at this time conflict with innumerable difficulties both at home and abroad which did almost swallow it up yet by the perswasion of thaâ— great Calvin it took so much courage that in that verâ— juncture of time the Senate founded and endowed thaâ— publick School which was a great ornament to the City and out of which issued abundance of godly and learned men to the great benefit of the Churches of God Shortly after at the request of certain Noblemen of France Beza was invited to visit Anthony King of Navar who at this time was at Nerac in Aquitane to conferre with him about some weighty matters but especially if it were possible through Gods mercy to confirm his mind in the true Religion For it was hoped that if that King who was the principall man of the Royall blood and like to govern the affairs of State in the minority of King Francis the second could be confirmed in the truth it would much conduce to the peace of the Churches and to the preservation of the lives of many who were cruelly burned by the Papists in sunday parts of the Kingdome Neither did this design want effect For Anno Christi 1561 the King of France dying at Orleance the King of Navar joyning with the Prince of Conde the Admirall Coligni d' Andelot and other Noblemen caused the Popish party to give over the butcheries and executions which they had formerly done upon many of Christs faithfull servants Charles the ninth coming to the Crown there were various actings about Religion whilst the Pontificians would advance their own and root out the Refoâ—med and on the contrary they of the Reformed Religion contended with all their might to promote their own and therefore lest these severall parties should cause commotions there were Edicts published in the Kings name requiring all upon severe penalty to abstain from arms and to keep the peace till certain select persons of each party at a certain time and place nominated should meet together to consider of the fittest way and means to preserve the publick peace many not onely of the common people but of the Nobility inclining to the Reformed Religion Hereupon the King of Navar sent Letters and Messengers to the Senate of Geneva requesting that Beza might be sent to that great meeting where such weighty matters should be transacted The Prince of Conde also requested the same Beza upon this set forward and came to Paris August the twentieth And the Queen Mother wrote also to the same purpose to the Senate of Zurick to send Peter Martyr to her which accordingly they did and Martyr came to Paris The chief of the Pontificians also repaired to this meeting though they had declared that such as had been long agoe condemned for Heresie ought not to be conferred withall There came also many Ministers of the Reformed Churches in France as Nich. Gallasius August Marlorat Jo. Raimund Merlin Francis Sampaulius Francis Morellus Jo. Malotius Jo. Spinaeus Claudius Bossierus Nich. Folius Mat. Virellus John Tornaeus and N. Barbastus For they had the publick Faith given them for their safe coming stay and return at their pleasures August the three and twentieth they met together at Saint Germans where the Protestants dâ—bating who shou'd speake for them they unanimously chose Beza as a man every way fitted for that employment and
much affected with it and by writing admonishing and exhorting both at home and abroad endeavoured to assist with his counsell whom he could not by his presence Also Anno Christi 1568 that war waxing hot many out of sundry parts of France fled to Geneva as to a safe harbour amongst whom was Nicolas Beza Praefect of Vezelia brother to Beza by the Fathers side who living a while in Beza's house shortly after dyed of the Plague And not long after Beza's wife fell sick of it yet it pleased God to restore her to health again The same year in the midst of many troubles he wrote his books of Polygamie and Divorces against Bernard Ochin who a little before had published his Dialogues upon these subjects stuffed with errors He wrote also against Flacius Illiricus Anno Christi 1571 peace being setled he was sent for by the Queen of Navar the Admiral and the general vote of the Churches of France to Rochell to a Synod where he was made the Moderator and at which the Confession of Faith of the French-Churches was confirmed and subscribed by the Queen of Navar her sonne afterwards King Henry the 4th and the Prince of Conde And the year after he was sent for to Namures to another Synod where the book of the French Church-Discipline was established Anno Christi 1572 after that bloody Massacre at Paris many of the godly that escaped fled to Geneva amongst whom were the Pastors of fiftie Churches that were wholly dispersed These being stript of all and in great want Beza by his Letters into Germany and England procured such reliefe for them that for three years space in which they lived there they were plentifully and comfortably provided for In that Massacre God was pleased wonderfully to preserve Hen. of Burbon son to the great Lodwick Prince of Conde who thereupon retired into Germany for shelter and staying a while at Strasborough he sent for Beza and employed him to Prince Cassimire the Administrator of the Palatinate And afterwards as this Prince returned into France hee went by Geneva where he conferred with Beza about many weighty matters Beza went on indefatigably in his publick employments revised his Translation and Annotations upon the New Testament and enlarged them wrote against Pappus about the Hypostaticall Union against the railings of Holderus against the calumnies of Andreas Made his Harmony of the Law out the Books of Moses He wrote also of the Notes and Authority of the Catholick Church c. Shortly after the Plague breaking forth in Geneva Beza was much afflicted for the sad condition of the Common-wealth yet he cheared up himself much with the hearty and sincere love and societie which he had with all the Pastors thereof whose unity and unanimity was a great means under God to preserve the happiness of Geneva About the same time five Anabaptists Mechanicks began privately to sow the seed of their errors in Geneva whereupon Beza John Pinaldus Charles Perrot and Anthony Faius were chosen to confer with them and after confutation of their errors they recanted and reformed onely â—ne of them left the City and was heard of no more Anno Christi 1586 there was a Disputation appointed at Mombelgard between the German and Helvetian Divines about the difference betwixt them in some points unto which Beza was sent for and the whole Dispute was betwixt Dr. Andreas and him but in conclusion nothing was effected by it yet they parted lovingly without bitternesse This was after published by Beza The year after his wife dyed with whom hee had lived with much comfort forty years which was a great griefe to him yet afterwards by the advice of his friends he married another one Katharine Plania a godly Matron who was a great comfort to him all his life after About the same time he was called to a Synod held at Bern wherein divers controversies were debated and the errors of Alberius who said That we are justified at Gods Tribunal by inherent righteousness also of Huberus about Predestination and eternall Election were condemned Shortly after he wrote about the Sacraments against Hoffman Published in French his Sermons about the Passion of Christ also on the Canticles which he turned into Lyrick verse answered Genebrards calumnies and revised his translation of the New Testament Anno Christi 1589 France being full of bâ—oils Geneva also was molested by the same whereupon publick prayers were appointed twice a week extraordinary which burthen Beza willingly took upon himself whereupon the other Pastors freed him from his daily Sermonâ— which he used to preach before only he preached once on Sabbath mornings betwixt eight and nine a clock Not long after he began to be troubled with a dissiness in his head insomuch as being to preach on Whitsonday Anno Christi 1597 before the Sacrament as soon as he had made Confession of Sins after their usuall manner he was fain to give over and come out of the Pulpit whose place Faius presently supplyed The like happened to him the week following also whereupon he gave over publick preaching only now and then praying publickly yet would he not bee idle but went on teaching daily in the Schooles yet at last because of his dulness of hearing he abstained from the publick Disputations and Consistorial meetings And to satisfie some Noblemen Germans Bohemians and Polonians who would needs hear him read some Lectures he began a briefe Analysis upon the Epistle to the Romans but after he had done it twice he was fain to leave off Yet did he not wholly desist from preaching till the year 1600 when he preached his last Sermon in January being eighty one years old upon the third Petition of the Lords Prayer Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven He had often in his mouth that saying of Vespafian Imperatorem decet stantem mort Not long after being present at a Consistory he invited all his brethren to supper but they at first refused because there was to be a publick Fast that week and the Magistrates had forbidden all Feasting but he told them that he would get leave of the Magistrates and that he intended not a Feast but a frugal supper rather to feast their minds with their mutual love and society then their bodies with dainties Then they all assented and were entertained by him with all the expressions of brotherly love that could be Many Noblemen and others that came from other countries to study at Geneva would alwaies desire to sojourne with him that they might enjoy his societie That year there was a rumor spread abroad all over Europe by the Jesuits that Beza was dead and that he turned Papist before his death which lye the Pastors of Geneva and himself also by publick writings confuted And discoursing with his friends of it he said That the Jesuits
Christi 1564 when by the advice of their friends these two persons were minded to leave Tubing Doctor Andreas stayed them and put them upon a Disputation upon certain Theses about the Ubiquity Eucharist endeavouring to draw Grynaeus to his own opinion but in the disputation Grynaeus was so bâ—ffled by Stuckius that he was almost non-plust and was driven to doubt of that opinion Having in this disputation given reasonable satisfaction to the Divines of Tubing he was put upon reading Lectures upon Daniel and so a while after was made Doctor in Divinity Anno Christi 1565 his Father dyed of the Plague and he was chosen by Charles Marquess of Baden to succeed in the Pastoral charge at Raetela where besides his ordinary labours he read privately to the Deacons twice a week and God blessed his labours exceedingly Anno Christi 1569 he married a wife with whom he lived contentedly 40 years and had by her seven children About that time the form of Concord being much pressed he fel hard to the study of the Scriptures and of antient and modern Divines whereby it pleased God that light began to appear to him for hitherto he had been a Lutheran And modestly declaring his judgement about the Ubiquity of Christs body he began to be hated of many Yet during his abode there at the request of the Printers he corrected for the Press Eusebius Origen Irenaeus Erasmus his Adagies and other books Anno Christi 1575 he was sent for to Basil to be a Professor in interpreting the Old Testament and with the consent of the Marquess he removed thither with his family after he had been ten years Pastor at Raetela yet before his going the Marquess conditioned with him that he should be overseer of his Churches and that his brother should succeed him in his charge at Raetela and withall he assigned him a stipend of twenty Florences per annum When he was come to Basil he made an Oration of the difculty of the work whereunto he was called He began with the explication of Genesis but before he had gone through it at the request of his Auditors he left it and fel upon the Psalms and some of the minor Prophets He also voluntarily read some History Lectures He met with some reproaches from the Lutherans because he taught otherwise then they would have had him about the Lords Supper but the Lord saw it good thus to exercise him whose laboâ— is yet both in publick and private he blessed exceedingly and made him an happy instrument of closing up and healing some breaches that had been between the Churches of Zurick and Basil. He maintained friendship with Erastus Amerbach Plater Zuinger Urstisius and others He had many Noblemen Gentlemen Citizens Doctors and other learned young men that came out of other countries to sojourn with him Anno Christi 1583 Lodwick Prince Elector Palatine dying Prince Cassimire succeeded as Administrator in the minority of the young Prince whose care was to reform the Churches of the Palatinate and the University of Heidleberg and advising with Dan. Tossanus and other godly Divines about the same he was directed by them to chuse Grynaeus for one of the Professors And accordingly Anno Christi 1584 he sent to Basil for him whereupon with the consent of the Senat he removed to Heidleberg where for two years space he read Divinity and History taking care both of the Church School and University He met with many oppositions from the Lutheran Faction had many disputations with them whereof that was the most famous which was held in the presence of the Prince An. Christi 1584 and wherein Grynaeus was Moderator the issue whereof was this That those Divines and Scholars which would not be convinced and reformed but continued to make factions and divisions in the University were gently dismissed After which the Orthodox Doctrine of the person of Christ and the Sacraments was quietly preached in the Palatinate Anno Christi 1585 Sulcer being dead by the earnest desire of the godly he was called back to Basil to undertake the Government of that Church and thereupon Anno Christi 1586 he removed to Basil and was entertained with the great â—pplause of the whole Church and having preached twice â—e went back to Heidleberg to take his leave of the Prince Church and Academy After which he was courteously dismissed by the Prince who provided for the carriage of his houshold and gave him his Effigies in Gold as a remembrance of his love He continued in the faithfull discharge of his office a Basil all the remainder of his life promoting the honour and profit of the Church School and University by his care diligence and industry In the Church he was a faithful Pastor feeding his people with the bread of life comforting the afflicted visiting the sick and diligently removing whatsoever might hinder the progress of the Gospel For which end Anno Christi 1594 he visited all the Churches in his Diocess endeavouring to preserve and nourish love amongst brethren and reforming what was amiss In the Grammar School he with some others were careful to provide fit Schoolmasters examined the proficiency of the Scholars and helpt to maintain such as were poor In the University he went through the greatest honors and labours Anno Christi 1588 he was twice sent to Mulhusen first to settle an able Ministry and then to be present in a Synod The same year he went to Bern to a conference for composing the controversies in Religion At length he began to grow weak and sickly and his eye-sight waxed very dim and in the 72 year of his age he was almost quite blind yet his intellectuals and memory continued very good He lost also most of his friends with his brothers sisters wife and children all but one daughter and his son in law Polanus whom he much desired to follow He was oft tormented with the Collick yet bore all with admirable patience and in the midst of his pains he said Ut munc triste mori est sic dulec resurgere quondam Christus ut in vita sic quoque morte lucrum est Interris labor est requies sed suavis in urna In summo venient gaudia summa die As death's sweet so to rise is sweet much more Christ as in life so he in death is store On earth are troubles sweet rest in the grave I' th last day we the lasting'st joyes shall have After that he was eased of the Collick and Stone hee fell sick of a Feaver which almâ—st took away his senses but hee betook himself wholly to Prayer and tasted the joyes of heaven in his soul continually wishing that he might be dissolved and be with Christ which desire God shortly after satisfied when he had lived seventy seven years Anno Christi 1617. The Ministers of Basil carried his corps to the grave A little
needed consolation And if his reproof or exhortation needed pressing home upon the conscience he would enlarge himselfe by shewing motives to urge the duty or disswasives from the vice taking his Arguments from duty to God decency or shamefulnesse pleasure or paine gaine or losse Sometimes also hee would shew the effectuall meanes of attaining the grace or power to performe the duty exhorted to As also the Remedies against Vices And when hee fell upon any Common place or Head of Divinity hee used to prosecute it very judiciously and profitably So that by all this it appeares that hee made good use of his Learning yet without affectation He used to read Books most swiftly and yet not cursorily being able when he had done to give an account of the substance and most remarkable passages of what he had read Though he preached often yet what he preached was before-hand well studied and premeditated And it pleased God to put a Seal to his Ministry in the converting confirming and building up many thousands in the course of his Ministry Hee was a diligent visitor of the sick under his charge without respect of persons Hee was a great Peace-maker amongst any of his flock that were at variance Hee had an heavenly gift in prayer both for aptnesse and fulnesse of Confessions Petitions Supplications Intercessions and Praises together with fervencie of spirit to pour them out to God in the name of Christ. When he had read a Psalm or Chapter in his Family in his Prayer hee would discover the scope meaning and chiefe notes of observation and their use so that his Prayer was an excellent Commentary thereupon and this not onely in the plainer but â—n the harder Texts of Scripture also In his prayers also after Sermon he could collect into a short summe all that hee had delivered to his hearers and make it the matter of his prayer unto God that they might bee inwardly taught of God and become believers and doers of what was taught them His constant practice was besides Family-prayer twice a day and sometimes catechizing to pray also with his Wife and alone both morning and evening He set a part private daies of Humiliation for his Family upon special occasions and oft for their preparation to the Lords Supper at which times he would exceed himself in pouring out his soul to God with many tears He was much in daies of private fasting and humbling himself alone before God which impaired his health but made much for the health of his soul. He was very able and very ready to confer with and to resolve the doubts of such as came to him He bare such a tender love to that great people over which God had set him that though his means was small and he had many offers of great preferment in the Church yet hee would not leave them Hee was daily inquisitive after the affaires of Gods Church and sympathized with Gods people both in their weale and woe He was much grieved when he saw that difference in opinions bred strangenesse amongst Christians that agreed in the same Fundamentall Truths He was judiciously charitable to such as shewed the power of Godlinesse in their lives though they were not of his judgement in all things He was glad when any of the righteous smote him and would take it well not from his Superiours onely but from his Equals and far Inferiours and would really shew more testimonies of his love to such afterwards then ever he did before Hee abounded in workes of Mercy he was a truly liberal man one that studyed liberall things seeking out to finde objects of his mercie rather then staying till they were offered He did set apart and expend for many yeares together for good uses the tenth part of his yearly commings in both out of his Temporall and Ecclesiasticall meanes of maintenance He entertained some poor Widdows or neceâ—â—itous persons weekly at the least at his Table and his estate prospered the better after hee took this course and in his sicknesse he comforted himself with that promise Psal. 41. 1 2. Blessed is he that considereth the poor the Lorâ— will deliver him in the time of trouble the Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing c. The truth of grace in his heart was discovered by nothing more then by his slips and strong tentations For hereby hee was made more watchfull over himselfe more humble and more to loath his originall corruption and sinfull nature and so to cry out with the Apostle O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death Yea this made him more earnest in his prayers unto God and more pittifull unto others And hee was alwayes the first espier of his own faults when the world could not or did not take notice of them enjoying no rest in himselfe till he had sought and regained pardon and peace with God His last daies were his best dayes for then hee grew exceedingly in humility and in heavenly-mindednesse And a good while before his latter end God gave him victory over his greatest corruptions which for a long time kept him in continuall exercise About eight weeks before his death he was much troubled with a cough and shortnesse of breath which much weakned him yet hee preached divers times till his encreasing weaknesse disabled him In his sicknesse he gave heavenly and wholsom counsel to his people neighbours and friends that came to visit him exhorting them to labour to redeem the time to be much in reading hearing and meditating upon the word of God much in praier brotherly love and communion of Saints and that they would be careful to hold that fast that he had taught them out of the Word of Truth and that waiâ—st the means of salvation was to bee had they would neither spare paines nor cost to enjoy it His pains towards his end were very great yet hee bore them patiently He was much in ejaculations and lifting up his heart to God in behalf of the Church and State and for himself also wherein he was most frequent and earnest A little before his death a godly friend and Minister praying with him that if his time were not expired God would bee pleased to restore him for the good of his Church or if otherwise that he would put an end to his pains if hee saw good he lifting up his eyes stedfastly towards heaven and one of his hands in the close of that prayer gave up the Ghost shutting his eyes himself as if he were fallen into a sweet sleep Anno 1639 and of his Age 56. God took him away a little before the Civill Warres began and before the sad desolations that fell upon the Town of Banbury in particular He wrote Prototypes God Husbandry A Treatise of the New Birth The Redemption of time A Care cloth The Bride bush c.
Church of Hague and the Prince of Orange with the consent of the Magistrates to fetch him from Middleborough for a time to be a Pastor of the Church at Hague As soon as he was come thither he began in his Sermons to set down the state of the controversie to weigh the Arguments of both sides to answer those of the Remonstrants and to vindicate those of the Contra-Remonstrants and so fully to instruct the people in these controversies Then did Vtenbogard give over his talk of disputing who well knew the Learning of Wallaeus But his followers who did not know Waellaeus so well sometimes set upon him And first of all La Haâ—e a Preacher of the Remonstrants as soon as the Sermon was ended before the Auditory was dissolved began to contend with him about the Perseverance of Saints But VVallaeus dealt so modestly with him equally considering his arguments solidly and clearly answering them and urging others with such acuteness and judgement that the man having nothing to answer shrunk away with shame The Remonstrants thinking to repair this disgrace challenged VVallaeus to a new Disputation wherein an Eloquent and nimble Lawyer was appointed to assist La Haye But this Disputation was to be in a private house where should be present only two Elders for witnesses VVallaeus refused it not And when they were met the Lawyer began very contentiously to propound the point of Predestination VVallaeus answered mildly but solidly whereby he tamed the fierceness of his adversary But when some hundreds of both parts pressed into the house to hear the Remonstrants fearing the like event of this Disputation as was of the former would proceed no further saying that such a conference should not be where so many were present VVallaeus not content with this often invited Vtenbogard to a conference especially by the Lady Alice Coligni the Widdow of VVilliam Prince of Orangâ— because Vtenbogard had by her formerly challenged Rosaeus to a publick dispute but Vtenbogard always by excuses evaded it By which means the Doctrine of the Contra-Remonstrants began to flourish again at the Hague The cause of the Contra-Remonstrants was especially defended by John Becius of Dort Henry Vander Leyden of Delph Festâ—us Hommius of Leiden Peter Plantius and James Triglandius of Amsterdam learned and wise men who were much esteemed by the people These men formerly in all weighty matters used still to consult with VVallaeus and now they were wholly guided by him The Magistrates of Amsterdam who were the chief of those that defended the Contra-Remonstrants continually by their Deputies consulted with VVallaeus and when they had any business of weight they earnestly importuned him to be present both in their Presbytery and City-Council to assist with his advice And the Prince of Orange of whom it was wittily said that when he sate on Horseback he had all his Counsellors with him yet had VVallaeus for his intimate Counsellor in all things which either concerned Religion or this Controversie So that no day passed wherein he did not require his counsel and sometime spent whole nights in deliberating with him that he might conclude upon such matters as he was to dispatch the next day For indeed he much esteemed VVallaeus because though he was very prudent yet would he never dissemble and all his counsels were free from craft For this candor he was respected by the Remonstrants themselves for they knew which ways his counsels tended that though he would have the Contra-Remonstrants setled yet he would not have the Remonstrants destroyed perswading himself that if the contentions were once composed and men could with a more calm minde weigh things indifferently many of them would return to the Truth He also maintained familiarity with Grotius and others of the Remonstrants as formerly he had done and would have taken them off from Barnevelt but that as they used to say a greater humane power hindred them By these means VVallaeus was a chief instrument of bringing the whole controversie to the decision of a National Synod and took care that due preparation should be made for the same which when he had effected he left the Hague Indeed the Prince of Orange endeavoured to hinder his departure and chose him for his Court-Preacher but VVallaeus wholly disliked that course of life as prejudicial to his studies and dangerous seeing he must either flatter or hazard the loss of great mens favour and incur their frowns Anno Christi 1618. he returned to Middleborough where he found the great love of the people to him whilst many came to meet him His Colleagues and the Magistrates visited him with many expressions of their great love The Controversies between the Remonstrants and Contra-Remonstrants was not now confined within the bounds of Holland but it spread into Vtrich Overisle Gelderland yea as far as Sedan where Daniel Tilenus an Eloquent man but no deep Scholar by degrees began to vent the Remonstrants Doctrines and drew in Aurâ—tus a Minister and a better man then himself though not so learned But Ramboursius the Cout-Preacher discovered him so that by the Duke of Bovillian he was forced to leave his Professors place and depart For the supply of which place and to build up what Tilenus had pulled down VVallaeus was again called to Sedan and all means were used to prevail for his remove The messenger was Francis Arsenius a man famous for such employments and VVallaeus his old friend then whom that Age had not a man of more Learning Judgement and Experience The conditions were very large and indeed better then the other Professors did obtain The Dukes invitation was serious frequent and friendly yet could not VVallaeus get away from his wife and friends and for those large conditions which were profered him the Middleburgians would have doubled his stipend rather then part with him Besides it seemed grievous to him who was now forty five years old to change his Country and Customs and leaving his old and intimate friends to go to strangers wherefore returning humble and hearty thanks to the Duke he told him that he thought he should never leave Middleborough In the mean time the States of the United Provinces observing that the factions in Holland tended to the dissolution of the League and to the indangering the ruine of all the Provinces seriously thought of a way of cure and by the advice of Reiner Pavias a Consul of Amsterdam a man of great Authority and by the instigation of Grave Moris they Decreed and called a National Synod and withall required the Prince of Orange to disband those Souldiers which the Magistrate of Vtriâ—h had raised and to put the Magistrate out of his Office and to substitute another in his room To these things Barnevelt openly opposed himself by the Nobility and twelve Cities of Holland and with all his endeavour sought to impede the Synod
retreat into the wilderness His carriage there His industry His study of the Scriptures His study of the Hebrew and other Eastern languages 〈…〉 His imployment He is envyed by some The subtilty of the Arians Their dissimulation His return into Syria His travels and studies Asphaltites His labors at Bethlehem His zeal against Heresie The increase of Arianism His great troubles His death His great esteem His saying Christian fortitude Love of Christ. The danger of Heresie Chastity Iudgement Vertue His works His parentage His studâ—es His Ordination His diligence in his Ministry He is chosen Bishop of Constantinople He reforms his Clergy He endeavours the peace of the Church The great success of his Ministry His 〈◊〉 He is hâ—â—ed for it The subtilty of the Arians Chysostom counter-plots them The danger of riches Ignorant Monks Epiphanius his weakness A Council called Origens books condemned Johns meekness Epiphanius reproved Two Predictions John condemned by the Council unjustly He is banished And recalled His sharp reproof A Council summoned He is condemned Banished Gods judgements on his 〈◊〉 His charity His death Why so called Lying abhorred Preachers pattern His Zeal His zeal against Heresie His magnanimity His Courage Love to the Ministry His sayings Meditations Danger of riches His love His faith His Tentaâ—ion His works His birth and parentage He is reclaimed by Ambrose Preachers pattern His zeal His humility He is made a Presbyter in Hippo. His diligence He disputes with a Donatist The success of it His zeal against Heresies He disputes in a Synod He is made Bishop of Hippo. The malice of the Schismaticks The Circumcellians They persecute the Orthodox especially Ministers The malice of Schismaticks A special providence The cruelty of Schismaticks The Donatists condemned for Hereticks A Council at Carthage A Council at Caesarea Manichees converted The craft of an Arian Hereticks Lyars Augustine conâ—utes an Arian His zeal aginst Pelagians The success of his Ministry His patience His great labors His humility A special Providence His humility His prudence His charity Oaths His Retractations His works The coming of the Goths into Africk Their horrible cruelties See more of it in my General Martyrology Augustine dies before the taking of Hippo. His faith The power of his prayers His death His poverty An excellent speech His sayings Prayer Death Christians are pilgrims Ingratitude His works He is chosen Bishop of Alexandria A Council Nestorius deposed and excommunicated Banished by the Emperour His fearful death His knowledg in the Scriptures His learning His death His sayings Charity Modesty Tentation His birth and education Preachers pattern Prayer His sayings Charity Mercy Faith and works Drunkeness and gluttony His works His birth and education Scriptures delighted in His charity A peace-maker His speech at death His death His character His works His sayings Pride His parentage His education His prudence in governing a family His Conversion His Speech His prudence He retires himself from the world His mothers impatiency at it Tentation resisted His abstinence His sickness and recovery He gives away his inheritance The Arians renew their persecution His remove to Sicca Heretical mallice Cruelty of Hereticks He is cruelly beaten Rejoyceth in sufferings for Christ. He seeks not revenge He sails into Sicily He goes to Rome Heaven more glorious His return into Africk He obscures himself His great industry He is ordained a Presbyter His humility He is made a Bishop His moderation He is banished He converts many Hereticks subtilty He comes to Carthage Doth good He is sent for to the King He is envyed and complained of Is sent back into Sardinia He prophesies His humility His meekness He is restored to his place His humility His sickness His deportment A good Pastor His charity His death Prayer prevâ—lent His works His sayings Covecousness His works His birth and education His charity He turns Monk His studiousness His humility Frugal of his time His charity to souls He desires to have England converted He is sent to Constantinople He writes upon Job Confutes heresies His return to Rome Gods judgements on Rome He is chosen Bishop of Rome His humility He is confirmed by the Emperour He appoints a Fast to remove the judgments He reforms the Church His charity He sends Austin and some others into England Encourages them by this Letter They arrive in England His death His character His sayings Spiritual poverty His works His birth and education His death His sayings Holiness Sinful thoughts Guilty conscience Danger of pride His birth and education He is made Deacon And Presbyter His humility Scriptures read with devotion Pleasures to be avoided His death His sayings Anger His virtue His character His works His birth and education His death His works His birth and imployments His death His sayings Submission to Gods will His Contentation His works His birth and education Given to pleasures His travels and want Enters into a Monastery Is made Archbishop of Canterbury His contention with our Kings His death His sayings Sin hateful Mans fall His learning His works His death His sayings Afflictions His birth and parentage His education His modesty He refuses cure by a charm His zeal His charity He is tempted to uncleanness How he cures 〈◊〉 He enters into a Monastery with his brethren Heaven better then the Earth His diligence His great labors His love to the Scriptures Is made Abbot of Claraval His zeal He is ordained a Presbyter What was blame worthy in him His sickness His Letter to the Abbot of Benâ—val His death His blinde zeal His opinions differing from the Church of Rome His sayings How to hear His works His birth His works His sayings Sin inherent His birth and education His sayings Patience Faith Covetousness Iyes Humility His birth His humility His charity Preachers pattern His Industry His employment His birth and breeding His character His studiousness Meditation His humility Preachers pattern A good conscience Time to be well imployed Death Repentance His works His birth and education His preferments in Oxford His zeal His prudence His adversaries His friends Popish lyes and slanders John of gaunt Favers Wicklies The Bishop banished And restored Wicklies hated by the Bishops Cited to appear before them Is encouraged by the Duke Appears before the Bishop The Bishops pride Great contention A Bill in Parliament against the Londoners The Citizens make a tumult Their rage Articles against Wicklief Condemned at Rome Persecuted The Bishops resolve to proceed against Wicklief A special providence His zeal and diligence Other providences Wicklief again persecuted His weakness He is again persecuted A great Earthquake The kings Letters against him The Kings Letter to Oxford Wicklief returns to Lutterworth His death His works Gods providence in preserving his books His works King Edwayd the third favored him His body condemned and burned His birth and education He goes to Prague Chosen Pastor of Bethlehem His faithfulness therein He is cited to Rome Is excommunicated He is banished Gods mercy A
His conference with a Fryar The Fryars rage against him His constancy His comfort before death An excellent speech He puts his finger into the candle His faith An excellent speech His charity His martyrdom His patience His death His birth and education His zeal His remove into Glocestershire Blindeness of Papists Mr. Tindals wisdom The fruits of it Popish malice and ignorance He is accused He prayeth for strength He is railed at Popish blasphemy Mr. Tindals zeal He departs from Master Welch Gods providence He goes into Germany His zeal The Bible translated first into English His conference with Luther His excellent works The benefit come by them His prudence Satans malice against the truth His great afflictions Mr. Coverdal assists him A widows charity Popish lyes The Bible prohibited to be read Popish malice He is betraâ—â—d A Judas Cast into prison Means used for his release His martyrdom A jalor converted Gods judgment on a persecutor A Conjuâ—er prevented by Mr. Tindals presence His sincerity His works His birth and education His preferments His conversion A disputation Another disputation The questions A refâ—rmation His death His birth His education His studiousness His remove to Basil. And thâ—n to Ingolstade He is ill dealtxs with He turns souldier He is freed by â—â—cius He is made a Professor in Ingolstade Erasmus testimony of him He goes to Auspurg He joins with Zuinglius Anabaptists disturb the peace of the Church He disputes with a she-Anabaptist He is driven away by Papists His return His marriage His constancy His comfortable conference with Luther The Dukes love unfeigned to him He is made superintendent His sickness His death He desired a sudden death His works His birth His education He settles at Wittenberg A disputation He reforms Wittenberg His remove to Orlamund Luthers infirmities He is bannished by Luthers means His great afflictions He writes to Luther His return into Saxony His death His birth His education He studyes Physick And Divinity Love unfeigned He is chosen Pastor at Basil He is chosen to Ments He favours the Gospel His advice to Luther He goes to Strasborough He is sent to by the Queen of Navar. He affects peace A disputation at Bern. His death His character His birth His education His study of Divinity He is made Pastor at Zurick He translates the Bible His death The confession of his faith His works His birth and education His preferments Luther directs him in his studies His imployments His tentations Luthers counsel therein His death His works His birth His education He enters into a Monastery His bodily exercises His diligence in reading Indulgences brought into Germany Popish blasphemies Myconius well educated Popish covetousness The means of his Conversion The Gospels swift progress Love unfeigned He endeavors 〈◊〉 quiet the Anabaptists His marriagâ— His zeal in preaching He is sent into England King Henry the Eight his hypocrisie His return into Germany An heroical resolution Reformation in Misna and Thuringia Luthers prayer for Myconius A prophetical prayer His recovery Power of Prayer His character His death His works His birth His education His Conversion He goes to Geneva From thence to Strasborough So to Ratisbone He is tempted His conference with Malvenda Popish treachery He is tempted Devillish hypocrisie He is advised not to go with his brother He is basely murthered The murtherers apprehended Escape unpunished Gods judgement upon Alphonsus His birth His fathers plety His education He studies Hebrew He is called back to Wittenberg His delight in simples He assists in translating the Bible His learning His works The preachers pattern He studyes the Mathematicks His last sickness Prayer of Faith His carriage in sickness A wonder His death His character His works His birth and education He is ordained a Minister and Paster in Strasborough His conversion Articles against him His constancy Reformation in Strasborough His assistants His death His character His works His birth and education His works His birth His education He teaches School He studies the Tongues His poverty His diligence He is made Pastor at Isna He is an excellent Hebrician He sets up a Press His carriage in a Plague-time His remove to Strasborough His remove to Heidleberg Religion goes to ruine His constancy The Bible translated His death Popish malice His character His works His birth His education He is made Preacher at Heidleberg His Conversion His zeal Popish malice An. Chr. 1521. He goes with Luther to Worms His troubles He goes to Strasborough Reformation in Strasborough A disputation at Marpurg He disputes with the Papists A blessed peace-maker He reforms Vlm. His Apology at Zurick His imployments Hermannus sends for him The Interim made Bucer disowns it A persecution about the Interim He is sent for into England His imployment there His sickness His indefatâ—gableness His sickness His faith His death Popish malice The Cardinals testimony of him His works His birth and education His conversion He goes to Strasborough Reformation at Strasborough His marriage He is sent for to 〈◊〉 His danger and return His diligence His death His works His birth and education He is made a Schoolmaster Removes to Zurick From thence to Lucern His conversion Goes back to Zurick Thence to Basil He is made a Deacon And a Pastor He adheres to Luther His death His works His Birth His Education His first preferment He professeth the reformed religion He reforms his Country He is ordained His holy life His industry His prudence to improve his parts Synods His works His Constancy His Birth A miracle of mercy His Conversion His call to Wittenburg His employmentâ— in the Schoolâ—â— He reforms some Churches He is called to Hale His death His Character His Tâ—â—tation His works His birth and education He goes to Antwerp His conversion His mariage He goes to Wittenberg His returm to England His zeale and courage His courage and constancy His usage before the Councell His condemnation His speech upon iâ— Gardners cruelty He is warned to preâ—are for death He is degraded â—is constancy His Patience and Martyrdom 〈…〉 A speciall providence His prophesies His cheerfulnes charity His birth and Education He is bound an Apprentice He is released His return to Cambridg Frequent in prayer He commenceth Master of Arts. He is Ordained Minister The success of his Ministry He maâ—ieth a wife His remove to Liâ—hfield Then into Lecestershire Then to London Queen Maâ—ies coming in His zeal He is taken prisoner His faithfulnes Preacher's pattern A faithful Pastor His courage constancy Popish malice Bonner ignâ—â—ance His courage His conference with Gardiner Holy charity Comfort in affliction The best Legacy His zeal A good conscience better then life A brave speech His Martyrdâ—â—e Popish cruelty His admirable patience His Letter to his Wife Doctor Pendleton a turn-coat Proud presumption 〈◊〉 His Education His conversion He leaves the University His conference with Gardiner Flight in persecution He flies into Germany His marriage He returns to England Bullingers
with open mouth upon Gods children to devour them they manfully resist him he thinks to weaken their Faith and they by his assaults are made the stronger he fights against them but they get ground upon him and so what he intended for their destruction full sore against his will makes for their advantage He was called the Champion of the Catholick Faith His Works were printed in two Tomes at Paris Anno Christi 1605. The Life of Peter Chrysologus who flourished Anno Christi 440. PEtrus Chrysologus so called because of his golden Eloquence was born at Imola in France of honest Parents bred under Cornelius Bishop of that City whose care it was not only to instruct him in good Manners and Learning but to fit him for the Work of the Ministry that he might bring glory to God in the service of his Church And not long after he was made Archbishop of Ravenna He excelled in Learning Vertue and all prais-worthy qualities He was present at the Councils the one at Ravenna the other at Rome and sent Letters full of Learning to the Synod of Chalcedon against Eutiches the Heretick He was powerful in Eloquence especially in his Sermons to the people and very holy in Conversation by both which he won many to the Truth Always before he penned any thing he would with great ardency and humility set himself to Prayer to seek unto God for direction therein He lived long having been Bishop about 60 years flourished under Martian the Emperour and dyed Anno Christi 500. He used to say Let not thy care be to have thy hands full whilst the Poors are empty for the only way to have full Barns is to have charitable Hands And God had rather men should love him then fear him to be called Father then Master he wins by Mercy that he may not punish by Justice If thou wilt be like thy Father do likewise And Neither in the Flint alone nor in the Steel alone any fire is to be seen nor extracted but by conjunction and collision So nor by Faith alone nor by good Works alone is Salvation attained but by joining both together And As the Clouds darken Heaven so intemperate Banquetting the Minde as the violence of windes and waves sinks a Ship so drunkenness and gluttony our souls and bodies in the depth of hell And Virtues separated are annihilated Equity without goodness is severitie and Justice without Piety cruelty And some that lived commendably before they attained to dignity being set in the Candlestick of the Church turn their light into darkness It had been better for such lights still to have been hidden under a bushel c. He was a man of an Excellent Wit and by his Ministry and example won many to a love of the Truth He wrote 176. Homilies Lib. ad Eutychen Epistoles alias PROSPER The Life of Prosper who dyed Anno Christi 466. PRosper was born in Aquitane and preferred to be Bishop of Rhegium in France He was Scholar to S. Augustine famous for Learning and Piety learnedly confuted the Pelagian Heresie He was assiduous in reading especially of the Scripture He usually had the four Evangelists in his hands He distributed his goods freely to the Poor His special care was to take away all strife and contentions from amongst his people He was a Father to all ages and sexes that were in the City He much addicted himself to Watching Fasting Prayer and Meditation He continued Bishop there twenty years flourished under Martianus Upon his death-bed speaking to many of his people that wept sore he said The Life which I have enjoyed was but given me upon condition to render it up again not grutchingly but gladly For me to have stayed longer here might seem better for you but for me it is better to be dissolved c. And so Praying and lifting up his hands to God before them all he departed Anno Christi 466. He was excellently versed in the Sacred Scriptures and no less famous in Humane Learning He was a very good Poet and an Eloquent Orator of a profound Judgement subtile Wit a nervous Writer and holy Liver His Works are all printed in Octavo at Cullen Anno Christi 1609. He used to say Thou shalt neither hate the man for his vice nor love the vice for the mans sake And Thou boastest of thy wealth honour strength beauty c. consider what thou arâ— by sin and shalt be in the grave and thy plumes will fall for every proud man forgets himself And As the Soul is the life of the Body so the life of the Soul is God when the Soul departs the Body dies and when God departs the Soul dies And Those things which God would have searched into are not to be neglected but those which God would have hidden are not to be searched into by the later we become unlawfully curious and by the neglect of the former damnably ingrateful And The envious man hath so many tortures as the envied hath praisers It s the Justice of envy to kill and torment the envious And The Life to come is blessed Eternity and Eternal blessedness there is certain security secure quietness quiet joyfulness happy Eternity eternal Felicity The Life of Fulgentius who dyed An. Chri. 529. HVnerick the Arian King of the Vandals having subdued Carthage banished all the Senators thereof into Italy amongst whom was Gordian Grandfather to Fulgentius And after the decease of Gordian Claudius his son returned unto Carthage and though his house was given to an â—rian Priest he recovered a great part of his Inheritance by some favour which he found at the Kings hands and so departing to Lepte he there setled his habitation But shortly after dying he left his son Fulgentius to the care of his Mother Mariana who was very careful to train him up in Learning causing him to be instructed in the Greek Tongue before he learned Latine that thereby he might attain to the greater perfection in that Language and as his years encreased so did he highly profit in all sorts of Learning to the great joy of his Mother who exceedingly rejoyced to see his wisdom and towardness which also much refreshed her after the loss of her dear husband yea she was so well satisfied with his Prudence that she committed to his care the government of her whole house and he so well behaved himself therein that he pleased his friends silenced his il-willers and both by direction and correction procured an awful respect from the servants He was also very careful to preserve his Patrimony By this his deportment he gat so much credit and esteem that he was made the Kings Collector and required to be rigorous in exacting the rated payments But after a while it pleased God that this multiplicity and burden of worldly businesses began to be very heavy to
his Soul and the vain flattering selicity of the World yeelding disgust by little and little the love of spiritual life seemed to take root in his heart and this begat in him a desire frequently to pray and to read and study the holy Scriptures Then did he often resort to such men as sequestred themselves from worldly businesses and betook themselves to Monasteries where he learned by experience the sweet conversation of Gods servants those places being not yet degenerated into such superstition and profaness as afterwards they were Amongst them he perceived that as they had no worldly solace so had they no weariness in their present condition as they had no temporal joyes so neither had they that vexation of spirit which other men were subject to by reason of their worldly businesses whereupon with himself he brake out into these words Why travel I in the World which can yeeld me no future nor durable reward inswerable to my pains Though it be better to weep well then joy ill yet if to joy be our desire how much excelleth their joy who have a good conscience before God who dread nothing but sin study to do nothing but to accomplish the Precepts of Christ Now therefore let me change my trade and as before I endeavoured amongst my Noble Friends to prove more Noble so now let my care and imployment be amongst the humble and poor servants of the Highest to become more poor and humble then they and like S. Matthew let me turn from a Publican to a Disciple Thus being resolved to renounce all terrene and worldly delights and to make himself a partaker of that kinde of life which upon mature deliberation and examination his judgement approved as most excellent yet withall wisely considering that sudden changes might breed some distemperature either in body or minde or both he began by degrees to accustom himself to Fasting to avoid the company and accustomed complements of his old acquaintance and familiar friends addicting himself to solitariness much reading and prayer Hereupon all that knew him were stricken with great wonder and amazement at this sudden and unexpected change imputing this strict demeanor in a man so delicately brought up to proceed from necessity and privy poverty But he having thus made some proof of such things wherein he conceived difficulties might occur and now finding by experience that nothing was hard to a willing minde as also lighting upon and reading that Divine Treatise of St. Augustine upon the 36 Psalm his love to and longing after that more retired course of life much encreased in him so that he resolved without any further delay to put his former purposes into practise and accordingly going to Faustus who was one of those Bishops whom the Arian Tyrant Hunerick had confined to a certain place not far from his own Country he beseeched him to admit him into his Monastery The prudent Bishop wel knowing the worldly conversation of the young man in times past gave no credit to his speech nor comfort to his request but willed him first to learn to live less delicately before he entred upon so strict a course of life But he humbly kissing the Bishops hand earnestly requested him that he would not reject him but graciously admit him for one of his Disciples and so by importunity declaring his sincere affections he procured admittance The fame of this thing spreading abroad some dispaired of his perseverance because of his former delicate life others considering the excellency of his wit were raised in expectation of some notable and worthy consequence Divers of his Familiars excited by his example betook themselves to the like course of life only his inconsiderate and worldly-minded mother grew exceedingly discontented at it as if her Fulgentius were already dead and so impatiently running to the Bishop the brawled with him crying out Restore the Son to his Mother the Master to his Servants and Houshold It becomes you to comfort such disconsolate Widdows not to destroy my forlorn house The Bishop mildly reprehended her but wisely concealed her son wherefore she filled the Ayr with her exclamations ever calling upon the name of Fulgentius This violent temptation did he meet with at his first entrance into this strict kinde of life but having his heart fixed in Heaven he gave no Ear to her exclamations so that his Mother verily thinking that he had not been there sorrowfully departed The Bishop having hereby had experience of the valour of his young Disciple judged that he that could thus overcome his natural affections no labour would be hard nor conquest difficult for the time to come Whilst he continued in this place he wholly abstained from Wine and Oil and was so rigorous in Fasting that it much debilitated his body and procured some diseases but his heart being wholly set upon the working forth of his Salvation with fear and trembling he committed himself to God saying The daintiest feeders avoid not sickness and after he had a while been habituated to this course he through Gods mercy recovered his health and pristine beauty His Inheritance though he had a younger Brother called Claudius he wholly left it to his Mother that at her decease she might leave it to Claudius if he deserved well of her by which means his Brother for the Living-sake was made more dutiful and submiss and his Mother by this gift received no small consolation to counterpoise the sorrow of his absence Shortly after the Arians renewing their persecution which for a space they had discontinued under a pretence of more moderation Bishop Faustus was constrained by frequent removes from one place to another to hide himself and Fulgentius had no better shift then to flee to another little Monastery governed by one Felix who having sufficiently heard of his Learning and Vertue would have resigned the government thereof to Fulgentius but he constantly refused it yet at the great importunity of the Brethren he was enforced to take part of the Government upon him So that these two holy men equal in their love to God and their neighbors equal in Vertue and like in Conditions mutually governed the place each fearful of offending the other each vigilantly attending the good of the Society But the Perfecution growing more hot they together with their Disciples were forced to remove into more remote and unknown parts of Africa and at last setled in the Territories of Sicca where they exceedingly profited the people and gained many Souls to Christ But the old Enemy of mankinde envying their godly labours stirred up an Arian Priest called Faeix who not far off had corrupted many with his Heretical opinions to molest and trouble them This fellow great in Power and Authority but greater in malice fearing lest by the means of Fulgentius whose Learning now grew famous many of his seduced Disciples should be reclaimed to the Truth he caused all the