the Warres in Germany breaking forth under Charles the fifth the Universitie of Wittenberg was dissipated by reason of the same whereupon Chytraeus went to Heidleberg where he studied Hebrew and from thence went to Tubing where hee applyed himselfe to the study of the Mathematicks But when Prince Maurice of Saxonie had restored the Universitie and called back Melancthon hee presently returned to Wittenberg where he buckled close to his former studyes fearing the like interruption againe And Anno Christi 1548 hee beganne privately to read to young Students by which means having gotten some money in his purse hee resolved to travell into Italie and other parts that so hee might see those famous places which hee had often read of and grow into acquaintance with the eminent men of those times For which end having gotten him a faithful companion Andrew Martin of Rostoch he travelled through most parts of Italy And being returned to Wittenberg Melancthon was requested to send two learned men to Rostoch for the advancement of that University whereupon he commended John Aurifaber and Chytraeus to them who accordingly went thither â—nd beganne their Lectures to the great satisfaction of the Auditors and in a short time Chytraeus grew so famous for his learning virtue diligence and excellent dexterity in teaching that first Christian King of Denmark and afterward the Senate of Auspurg sent for him to come to them He was desired also by the University of Strasborough to succeed Hedio lately dead Also Frederick the second Prince Elector Palatine sent earnestly for him to come to Heidleberg but his Prince John Albert would by no means part with him Two yeares after he travelled into Frisland Brabant Flanders and other of the Belgick Provinces Upon his returne the Elector Palatine Otho Henry sent again for him to come to Heidleberg and the King of Denmark profered to double his stipend if hee would come to him but his answer to them both was that his Prince had dealt so friendly with him that hee could by no meanes leave him Some yeares after the Nobilitie of Madgeburg sent to request his presence and assistance in Reforming Religion and ejecting Popery from amongst them but when he could not go himself he wrote his mind fully to them about the same About that time he commenced Doctor in Divinity at the charges of his Prince Anno Christi 1565 the Senate of Stralsund sent for him to be their Superintendent and the King of Sweden also desired him to come thither but nothing would prevail to get him from Rostoch The year after his Prince took him with him to the Diet at Auspurg where matters of Religion were to be debated At which time Ambassadors came to him again from Strasborough to request his remove thither and he gave them some hope of assenting if his Princes good will could be procured but he would by no means part with him and to express his love he profered to enlarge his stipend but Chytraeus refused the same Two yeares after hee was sent for into Austria to assist them in the Reformation which they intended whither he went and gave them such full satisfaction that they sent him back with an ample testimony of his abilities and integrity When he had finished his business in Austria he tooke a journey into Hungarie where he visited many of the chiefe Cities in that Kingdom Anno Christi 1571 his Prince made him the chief Visitor of all the Churches in his Dominions Hee assisted also in the work of Reformation at Berline Then the Marquesse of Brandenburg sent for him to be the Divinity Professor at Franckfurt upon Order but could not obtain him Two years after the States of Stiria sent for him to help them in Reforming their Churches whither he went for half a year and was exceeding useful to them in that work At this return he was sent for by the Elector of Saxonie and the University of Wittenberg to be a Professor there but they could not prevaile The yeare after the Duke of Brunswick being to erect an Vniversity at Juliers sent to him to assist in making Laws for the University in choosing of Professors c. Which he dispatched to his great content Shortly after hee went to divers meetings of Divines in severall places about procuring and setling the peace of the Churches of Christ. Whilst he was at Rostoch he went over in his Lectures the greatest part of the Old and New Testament and wrote divers other learned books When he grew into yeares he began to be diseased and sometimes was confined to his bed yet neither there would he be idle but upon the least intermission of his pain went on with his Exposition of the two and thirtieth Psalm which he had begun before And after that in Commenting upon the Epistle to the Romans But his disease increasing whereby he discerned the approaching of his end hee made a confession of his Faith received the Sacrament of the Lords Supper and not long after quietly slept in the Lord Anno Christi 1600 and of his age seventy Whilst he lay sick in his bed if any present had discoursed about a controversal point raising himself up he would call to them to speake out saying that hee should dye with the more comfort if he could learn any new thing before his departure He was a truly good man who directed all his employment not to his private gain and glory but to the glory of God and to the furtherance of the salvation of others souls He obtained of his Princes of Megapoll to bestow 3500 crowns of yearly revenues upon the University of Rostoch He was alwaies ready to assist with his counsell any that repaired to him He was very courteous and affable exceeding patient under great afflictions and perswaded others for peace-sake to put up many wrongs He often turned a deaf eare to calumnies and lies using to say Qui nescit ferre calumnias obtrectationes convitia injurias ille vivere nescit He knows not how to live that knows not how to bear wrongs c. He had these wishes often in his mouth Utinam ambitio avaritia ex animis hominum radicitùs tolleretur utinam publicae tranquilitatis causa magni viri remitterent invicem simultates utinam reges ac potentes rerum Domini majorem Eclesiae ac scholarum curam susciperent c. In difficult matters he was never rash to declare his judgement His private life was very exemplary by reason of his indefatigable studies his diligence in his office his piety modesty sobriety chastity liberality and other virtues He was of a melancholly temper and most desirous of learning Scripsit multa Theologica Philologica Historica quae hic recensere nimis longum foret Some of his Works are mentioned before The Life of Alexander Nowel who died A no Christi 1601. ALexander
in the evening he was had into the King of Navars chamber where were present the Queen Mother the Prince of Conde the Cardinals of Bourbon and Lorrain with many of the Nobility Beza briefly declared the cause of his coming though it was not unknown unto them and the Queen chearfully answered that she much desired that the publick peace might be principally promoted And the Cardinal of Lorrain exhorted him to study the wayes of peace and concord For saith he in your absence you have been the author of many stirs and tumults therefore it beseems you by your presence to endeavour to compose them which is that which we all desire To this Beza replyed that he was too mean and obscure a person to raise commotions in so large and potent a Kingdom That he was alwaies an enemy to tumults and that his studies and endevours should alwaies be bent to promote the Glory of God and the happinesse of his King and Country Then did the Queen ask him if he had ever published any thing in French Nothing said he besides the Psalmes and a short writing opposed to the Confession of the Duke of Summerset Upon this occasion Lorrain said that he had read in a book published in Beza's name That Christ was in the same manner to be sought in his Supper as he was before he was born of the blessed Virgin And that Christ was so in his Supper as he is in the dung To this Beza answered That this latter speech was blasphemy and that he thought that no Christian had ever spoken or written any such thing As for the former speech saith he if it be taken in a good sence its true for the Church hath alwaies been congregated by one Mediator Christ God-man therefore the Communion of the faithfull with Christ is not to be confined to the time of his Incarnation for the force and efficacy thereof was alwaies present to the eye of Faith For Abraham saw his day and rejoyced The Fathers did eat of the same spirituall and drank of the same spirituall Rock viz. Christ and that he was the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world To which the Cardinal assented Then was there another question started about the sence of those words This is my body Whereunto Beza answered learnedly and briefly layâ—ng down the Reformed opinion and against Transubstantiation Whereunto the Cardinal answered that for his part he would not contend about Transubstantiation being of Beza's mind and withall told the Queen that Beza had given him great satisfaction in that point and that he hoped their conference would come to a good issue if things were handled peaceably and with right reason When the company was departed the Cardinall spake very lovingly to Beza saying Now that I have heard you speak I rejoice and invite you to the conference by the immortall God hoping that weighing the reasons on both sides some way may be found out for the setling of a firm peace Beza returned him hearty thanks intreating him to persevere in the study and endeavour of procuring publick concord Professing for his own part that according to the abilities God had given him he would promote it Septemb. the fourth they met together in the large Hall of the Monastery at Possy where were present the King the Queen Mother the Duke of Orleance the Kings brother Margaret the Kings Sister the King and Queen of Navar the Prince of Conde and the rest of the Nobility and States of France On the Popish party were the Cardinals Archbishops and Bishops to the number of fifty accompanyed with many Doctors of Sorbon and Canonists For the Reformed Churches were the Ministers before named After the King had in a few words opened the causes why he had called them together and Michael Hospitalius the great Chancellor of France had opened them more largly Beza in the name of all the Protestants made an excellent Oration which he pronounced with such a grace as drew the attention and caused admiration in all that were present In it he comprised the sum of the pure Religion which was professed in the Reformed Churches of France Only this is to be noted by the way that when Beza in his speech sayd That Christ was as far from the Sacrament as the highest heavens are from the earth the Popish Doctors made a great murmur which at last being over he went on to the end of his speech Then Turnovius â—ean of the Colledge being in a great passion against the Ministers whom he called new Professors made some objections and exhorted the King that hee would not suffer himself by any perswasions to be withdrawn from his old Religion and that he would suspend his assent til he had heard the answers which the Prelates would give to that which had been spoken for then he should be able to discern a difference between the truth and lies Then did Beza humbly present to the King a Confession of Faith in the name and with the consent of all the Reformed Churches which had been drawn up in the year 1555. But when the Ministers perceived that the minds of the Pontificians were exasperated they resolved that Beza should write his private Letters to the Queen wherein he should explaine things more fully then he was suffered to doe the day before which accordingly he did September the sixteenth the conference began again in the presence of the said great personages And the Cardinall of Lorrain made a tedious speech wherein he defended the Popish Religion perswading that nothing should be altered in the same And when he had done Beza humbly entreated the King that hee might have liberty to answer ex tempore For the Protestants feared that after this day they should be suffered to meet no more For there was a constant report that the Pontiâ—icians after that day would have no more to doe with the Protestants but would presently excommunicate them Besides there was some fear that the crafty Prelates would evade any further disputation by setting the French and Dutch Churches together by the ears about the matter of the Sacrament But he could obtain nothing that day the conference being adjorned to another and procrastinated by many delaies Yet at last upon an humble supplication to the King from the Protestants they obtained that the conference should goe on And accordingly September the twentie fourth it was again begun in the same Audience and Lorrain protested that this meeting was appointted that so the Protestants if they had a minde to it might freely answer to what had formerly been spoken by him Then did Beza discourse excellently and clearly about the Church and the Supper of the Lord which two heads were principally insisted on by Lorrain Then Espensaeus a Sorbonist being appointed by the Cardinall took up Beza begining about the Vocation of Ministers both ordinary and extraordinary and so proceeding to Traditions and the Lords
he gat so great esteem in Italy that he was profered a Pension of five hundred Duckats by the year to imploy himself in the version of some Arabick books into Latine He spent four years in travel and was famous every where for his learning At Paris and some other places he bought many Arabick books and so returned to Leiden Anno Christi 1612. About which time there was a purpose to have called him into England and to have allowed him an honourable stipend but the year after he was chosen Professor of the Oriental languages in Leiden and presently after he set up though with extraordinary charges a Press for those Languages whereby he published many antient Monuments both of his own and other mens Anno Christi 1616 he married a Wife by whom he left three children surviving him Anno Christi 1619 he was made Professoâ— of the Hebrew also and though he had so many and great employments yet he went through each of them with so great exactnesse as if he had nothing else to attend upon Anno Christi 1620 he was sent by the Prince of Orange and the States of Holland into France to procure Peter Moulin or Andrew Rivet to come to Leiden to be the Divinity Professor and though he prevailed not at that journey yet they sent him again the year after to Andr. Rivet and the French-Church to obtain of them their consents for his comming which businesse he transacted with so great prudence that he brought Andrew Rivet along with him to Leiden Erpenius his fame was so great that the King of Spain wrote to him making him exceeding great promises if he would come into Spain to interpret some antient writings which never man yet could doe The King of Morocco also did so exceedingly admire the purity of his Arabick stile in some of his Epistles that he shewed them to his Nobles and other learned men as some great Miracle He was also highly esteemed of by the Prince of Orange and the States of Holland who often made use of his labours in translating the letters which they received from Princes in Asia and Africa out of Arabick or other Languages But whilst he was thus busily imployed in publick and private it pleased God that he fell sick of the Plague whereof he dyed Anno Christi 1624 and of his age forty A. SCVLTETVS The Life of Abraham Scultetus who dyed A no Christi 1624. ABraham Scultetus was born at Grunberg in Silesia Anno Christi 1566. His Parents were of good rank who carefully brought him up at School where he profited exceedingly and Anno Christi 1582 he went to Uratislavia where he had for his fellow-Students Pitiscus Polanus and Pelargus men who after proved eminent in the Church of God Having studied there some time he went thence to Freistade to hear Melancthon Bucâ—lzer and some others But his active spirit could not long be contained within the bounds of his own country and therefore being assisted by the bounty of a Noble Knight he went to Wittenberg and from thence to Dessavia to acquaint himself with Peter Martyr and Caspar Pucer Anno Christi 1590 he went to Heidleberg where hee heard Dâ—niel Tossan and Francis Junius There also he read Lectures of Logick Oratory and Astronomy to divers young Noblemen and the year after Commenced Master of Arts. Then he betook himself to the study of Divinity thereby to fit himself for the Ministry which from his childhood he had devoted himself to And preaching before the Elector Palatine he so flowed with eloquence and sweetnesse of speech that the Prince and all his Courtiers were much delighted in him which caused the Elector to make him Visitor both of the Schools and Churches Yea many other Princes made use of his help in reforming their Churches in Juliers Brandenburg and Hannovia He was also sent to the Synod of Dort Anno Christi 1612 the Prince Elector Palatine tooke him into England with him where he was much esteemed and respected by King James and other learned men At his retuâ—n to Heidleberg he was made Professor in the University and Doctor in Divinity Anno Christi 1618 But about that time grievous Wars breaking forth the miseries whereof were dispersed afterwards over all Germany he was forced to leave Heidleberg and travelled into Bohemia yet there also he met with many afflictions and dangers so that having been long tossed up and down in several countries the Lord at last provided him a quiet station at Embden where he was chosen a Preacher of the Gospel But being thus worn out with travels sorrows and pains in the work of the Ministry hee quietly there slept in the Lord Anno Christi 1624 and of his age 58. What admirable endowments he had his works do sufficiently declare especially his Medulla Patrum which is so much esteemed by learned men The Life of John Piscator who died A no Christi 1625. JOhn Piscator was born at Strasborough Anno Christi 1546 at which time Germany was on fire with Civill Wars Yet that hindred not but he followed his studies very hard and profited exceedingly in learning When he came to the study of Logick with great felicity he joyned Ramus and Aristotle together And afterwards having made a good progresse in the study of Divinity he was called to Herborn to be the Professor there and his labours were so gratefull to young Students that many flocked thither out of Germany France Hungary Poland and other Northern Countries He wrote many things with great diligence and labour scarce affording any rest to himself He translated the whole Bible with great pains and faithfulnesse into the German Tongue besides his Logical and Theological Analysis of the greatest part of it He died at Herborn Anno Christi 1625 and of his age 80. R BOLTON The Life of Robert Bolton who died A no Christi 1631. RObert Bolton was born at Blackborn in Lancashire Anno Christi 1572. His Parents finding in him a great prompâ—nesse to learning though they had no great means yet they intended him for a Scholar the rather having an opportunity of a good Schoolmaster in the town where he profited exceedingly and at twenty years old he went to Lincoln Colledge in Oxford and was Master Randal's Pupil afterwards a famous Preacher there in a short time being wel grounded before and industrious he became an excellent Logician and Philosopher But about that time his father dying and his meanes failing hee took excessive paines and wanting bookes he borrowed of his Tutor and others read them over and abridged them and to perfect his knowledge in the Greek he wrote out all Homer with intollerable pains so that he could with as much facility dispute in the Schools in Greek as in Latine or English From thence he removed to
them he desired him to speak it whereupon Wallaeus exhorted them to sear God to reverence their Mother so God would bless and provide for them that every one should take care of all the rest but especially that every one should take care of himself then he bade his son Iohn to have a speciall care of his Mother and so kissing them took his leave of them all and then turning his face from them he again fell asleep out of which he never awaked only sometimes when his pains came upon him he stirred a little and so on the Sabbath about eleven a clock he quietly resigned up his spirit unto God that gave it An. Christi 1639. and of his age 66. How excellent a Divine he was his Common places testifie How Orthodox and solid a disputer he was his fourteen Disputations shew in the Synopsis purioris Theologiae How strong a defender of the Truth against Error will appear by his answer to Corvinus in defence of Du Mollines Anatomy of Arminianism As also his Censura confessionis Remonstrantium How careful he was of Order both Civil and Sacred is manifest by his tractate de Authoritate Magistratus in rebus Ecclesiasticis How a religious observer of the Sabbath his dissertation De Sabbatho declares How desirous he was to reform the Ethnick practical Philosophy appears by his Compendium Ethicae Aristotelicae ad normam veritatis Christianae revocatum His countenance was mixed with gravity His pronunciation was modest and masculine free from dissimulation not without elegancy neither by brevity did he procure obscurity nor by prolixity tediousness Sometimes he was more vehement when the zeal of Gods glory the love of the Truth or the heat of Disputation excited him Against the Adversaries of the Truth he contended not by reproaches or railings but by strong arguments drawn out of the sacred Scriptures As oft as he was called by the Prince of Orange or the States to compose Ecclesiastical differences he never spared his pains therein As oft as he was sent either by Magistrate or Presbyterie to the Camp or about any other difficult businesses no trouble nor danger made him decline the work His conversation both at home and abroad was holy and blameless He was Hospitable to his friends charitable to the poor pleasing to all Not given to wine but sober just temperate and free from covetousness His Works are named before and are bound up together in one Volume The Life of Henry Alting who dyed Anno Christi 1644. HEnry Alting was born at Embden in Frisland Anno Christi 1583. of a very antient and honorable Family His Father Menso Alting was Pastor of Embden his Mother was Mary Biscof a choice Matron In his childhood he was very sickly and weak so that he was four years old before he could go His Parents devoted him to the service of God and his Church from the very Womb and therefore Anno Chri. 1590. when he was seven years old they set him to School in their own City of Embden where he quickly discovered a prompt and ready wit so that in the space of seven years he went through all the forms in that School and being fitted for it at fourteen years old his Father sent him to the University of Groning where he studyed the first year under Buningius and three other years under Vbbo Emmiuâ— the first Rector of that University a man famous through the World for his Learning By his diligence under such Tutors he profited exceedingly writing an excellent Latine stile and being well grounded in the knowledge of the Arts. From thence his Father sent him into Germany for the advancement of his Learning and having saluted Marpurg he went to Herborn Anno Christi 1602. where that famous Divine Iohn Piscator was Professor under whom our Henry applyed himself to his studyes and by his great industry and excellency of his wit was so far approved of that he was imployed in reading Philosophical and Theological Lectures So that after three years abode there he began to think of entring into the Ministry for which end he resolved to go into Helvetia and France to receive Orders in some of those Churches But God for the present intended him to another imployment For upon the commendations of the Professors of Herborn Piscator Zepper and Martinius he was appointed by Count Iohn of Nassau to be Tutor to three young Counts viz. William of Nassau Conrade Lodowick of Solmes and Phil. Ernest of Isenburg who at this time were Students in the University of Sedan together with the young Prince Frederick son to Frederick the fourth Elector Palatine who afterwards was chosen King of Bohemia But before our Henry went to Sedan he went to Heidleberg to Iohn Albert Count of Solmes and from thence to Friedelsheim to the Prince Elector himself by whom he was courteously entertained and being furnished with Letters and necessaries for his journey he went to Sedan where he arrived in the beginning of September An. Christi 1605. and undertook his Office He had continued but awhile in that place before it was requisite for him to withdraw with his charge from that City for fear of a siege which was threatned by Henry the fourth King of France and therefore they all went to Heidleberg and our Henry in the Princes Court attended his former imployments having a fourth added to the former three Noblemen viz. Iohn Conrade the Rheingrave Yea the very same Summer Prince Frederick himself was committed to his tuition to be by him instructed in History and Geography And at last viz. 1608. he was wholly left to the instruction of our Henry and Zachary Collius who went back with him to Sedan the storm being now over where he so carefully attended his charge all day that he was fain to get time out of his sleep for the study of Divinity The University of Sedan had at this time famous Divines in it as Daniel Talenus and Iames Capellus with whom he entred into a strict bond of familiarity Anno Christi 1610. the Prince Elector dying he returned with the young Prince to Heidleberg where he attended his daily imployment Anno Christi 161â— the Prince Elector being to go into England to marry the Lady Elizabeth daughter to King Iames would needs have our Henry to go along in his train In which journey he escaped death very narrowly himself with Scultetus and some other of the Princes company being surprized with a storm upon the Lake of Harlem so that with great difficulty and half drowned they gat to the further shore This was October the seventh in the afternoon just at which time his Father dyed leaving this life for a better Alting having escaped this danger with a better voyage arrived safely in England where he was kindely entertained and became familiar with George Abbot Archbishop of Canterbury John King Bishop
worse sense and thereby much exasperated him beseeching him to give credit to this their Testimony They wrote also to Charles Miltitius a Germane who was Chamberlain to the Pope highly commending Luther and desiring him to procure of the Pope that indifferent Judges might be appointed to hear his cause in Germany presuming that he being a German would favour his Country-man who was oppressed with slanders and in danger of his life in an honest cause Prince Frederick also the Elector of Saxony treated with Cardinal Cajetan and so prevailed with him that Luther should be called to Auspurg there to plead his cause before the Cardinal About this time the Bohemians sent a Book to him written by John Huss encouraging him to constancy and patience confesting that what he taught was sound and right In a Letter to Spalatinus he thus writes In what matter soever I have not so roughly dealt with the Romanists let them not ascribe it to my modesty nor to their deserts but to my respect to my Prince and his Authority and to the common good of the Students of Wittenberg As for my self Contemptus à me est Romanus favor furor I contemn Romes favour and fury Let them censure and burn all my books I will do the like by theirs and will put an end to all my humble observance of them which doth but incense them more and more The Elector of Saxony telling Erasmus that he wondred at the Monks and Popes extreme hatred of Luther Erasmus answered Your Highness needs not wonder at it seeing he deals against the Monks Bellies and the Popes Crown And the same Erasmus being profered a great Bishoprick if he would write against Luther answered That Luther was too great a man for him to deal with and that he learned more from one short page of Luthers writings then from all Thomas Aquinas ' s great Books Erasmus also in a Letter to the Archbishop of Mentz saith That many things were in the Books of Luther condemned by Monks and Divines for Heresie which in the Books of Bernard and Augustine are reputed sound and godly About the same time Margaret Caesars Aunt who governed the Low-Countries when the Masters of Lovan complained to her that the writings of Luther overthrew the whole Christian Common-wealth she asked them what kinde of man that Luther was To whom they answered An unlearned Monk whereupon she replyed Therefore do you who are many learned men write against that one unlearned fellow For sure the World will sooner beleive many learned before one unlearned man Luther being cited as we said before to appear before Cardinal Cajetan at Auspurg went thither and having obtained a safe conduct from the Emperour Maximilian he appeared before the Cardinal where he justified his Doctrine and profered to maintain the same either by Disputation or Writing The Cardinal being much offended with him for his bold speech would not suffer him to come before him any more Hereupon Luther after five or six days stay when he heard no more from him appealeth to the Pope and so departeth home But the Cardinal wrote after him to the Duke of Saxony That as he tendered his own honor and safety he should expel Luther out of his Dominions This Letter the Duke sent to Luther who wrote back again that rather then he would any way indanger his Prince he would depart thence and go whitheresoever it should please the Lord to lead him But the whole University of Wittenberg seeing the cause of God in danger by this means to decline wrote to the Prince humbly beseeching him that of his Princely Honor he would not suffer Innocency to be thus oppressed by meer violence but that the Error might first be shewed and Luther be convicted of it before he be pronounced guilty Hereupon the Duke hearing Luther Sermons and reading his Books with more diligence began to favour his quarrel more then he did before and thereupon wrote back to the Cardinal to this purpose That whereas he had promised that Luther should come to Ausparg that being done he could do no more That the Legat had also promised him that he would dismiss Luther in a friendly manner But that it seemed a wonder to him that he would have forced Luther to a recantation before he had pleaded his cause That there were many not only in his Jurisdiction but in other places also that were learned and vertuous persons which did not condemn Luthers Doctrine but they which opposed him were men drawn thereto through filthy covetousness But if they would shew him his Error he would then do therein the Office of a Christian Prince as one that respected the glory of God and desired to provide for the peace of his Conscience and that whereas beyond his expectation he wrote that Luther should be prosecuted at Rome and therefore required that either he should be sent to Rome or banished his Dominions he answered that he could not agree thereto First because his Error is not yet shewed him Secondly because it would be an intolerable loss to the University of Wittenberg which he had lately founded wherein were many Students and Learned men which loved Luther exceedingly who had deserved so well of them That Luther is still willing to come to a Disputation in a place not suspected and to submit to the judgements of such as can bring any thing more right or to answer by writing That he thinketh it just that this be granted him and requesteth that it may be so done that so it may appear why he is counted an Heretick and what himself ought chiefly to follow assuring him that he will maintain no Error And as he is unwilling to depart from the observance of the Church of Rome so neither can he condemn Luther till his Errors and Crimes be detected After the death of Maximilian and the Coronation of Charles the fifth the Pope sent to the Duke of Saxony by some Cardinals requesting him that he would cause all Luthers Books to be burnt and that he would see Luther either to be executed in Saxony or else that he would secure him and send him to Rome To which the Duke answered That he was ready to shew his obedience to the Pope but yet he could not send Luther to him till his cause was heard before the Emperour and till he was convicted of Error and then if he recanted not he should finde no favour at his hands About this time many Adversaries being risen up against Luther there was a Disputation appointed a Lipsick to which Luther came accompanyed with Phil. Melancthon who was come to Wittenberg the year before On the adverse party came John Eckius a bold and confident Divine This Disputation lasted fourteen days which was after published in print by Luther and Petrus Mossellanus Presently after the Fryars grievously charged the Pope with neglect of his duty in
to heaven whereupon they asked him whether he would have a Priest to confess to which he denyed then they willed him to call upon S. Mary which he also refused ever looking up to Heaven whereupon one gave him his deaths wound and when his body was known the Enemies condemned him to be cut into four parts and burned This fell out Anno Christi 1531 and of his age 44. after he had been Pastor at Zurick twelve years Three days after his death some of friends coming to the place found his heart untouched by the fire He began to preach at Glarona Anno Christi 1516. against many of the Popish Errors and abuses before the name of Luther was so much as heard of in those parts Beza made this Epitaph on him Zuinglius arderet gemino cùm sanctus amore Nempe Dei imprimis deinde suae patriae Dicitur in solidum se devâ—v â—sse duobus Nempe Deo imprimis deinde suae patriae Quam bene persolvit simul istis votâ— duobus Pro Patra examinis pro Pietate câ—nis He had a wit fitted for great matters honest candid sound and vehement yet not cruel or bloody but heroical and cheerfull His Doctrine and judgment were sound His study of Piety and reforming Religion from Popish superstitions is seen in his Works In his Sermons he was very Methodical teaching the Truth with great Perspicuity He was very sharp in reproving Vices especially the Pentions of the Switzers oppression of the Poor and Prodigality He used to say that it was a wicked warfare and nothing more hateful to God then for the hire of forreign Princes to spill blood When he thundred most against sin least the Innocent should be affrighted he used to say Bone vir haec te non moveant nihil ad te quad dico ne cures igitur Honest man be not affrighted at these things I speak not to thee therefore care not for it He used to study standing and tyed himself to certain hours which he would not omit except necessity compelled him From his first rising till ten a clock he imployed himself in reading writing interpreting the Scripture and making his Sermons After dinner till two a clock he conferred with his friends or gave counsel to such as sought it and so to his study till supper after which having walked awhile he busied himself in writing Letters which many times held him till midnight Monumenta ingenii eruditionis reliquit multa quae in quatuor tomos digesta typisque excusa extant JOHN OECVLAMPADIVS The Life of Oecolampadius who dyed Anno Christi 1531. OEcolampadius was born at Winsperg Anno Christi 1482. of rich and religious Parents especially his Mother for Wisdom Charity and Sanctity was very eminent in the place where she lived They brought up this their son in Religion and Learning His Father intending to make him a Merchant but his Mother by her earnest entreaties prevailed with him still to keep him at School where he profited exceedingly At twelve years of age he was sent to the University of Heidleberg and so profited there that at two years end he was made Batchelor of Art In that place he continued till he was Master of Arts and then went by the will of his Father to Bononia to study the Law But the ayr of Italy not argeeing with him he quickly returned to Heidleberg and betook himself to the study of Divinity read the School-men and profited much thereby He grew so famous both for Piety and Learning that Philip Prince Elector Palatine chose him for a Tutor to his sons But growing weary of a Court-life he left that charge and returned to the study of Divinity Not long after his Parents having no other childe gave all their Estate for the maintenance of a Minister in their own Town and chose this their Son to be the first that should undertake that charge which caused his return from Heidleberg to his own Country but finding himself as yet not throughly furnished for such a work he quickly left it and went to Tubing and from thence to Stutgard where under John Capnio he studyed Greek and from thence he went to Heidleberg where he began to study Hebrew And being by this means better furnished he returned into his own Country to his former Charge and became a severe Preacher and very grave in his carriage He associated himself but with a few and those the best But especially he contracted a strict bond of love with Capito which continued betwixt them so long as they lived From this place he was at last called to be a Preacher at Basil and there also he commenced Doctor in Divinity about which time Erasmus Roteradamus coming thither to print his Annotations on the New Testament he chose Oecolampadius as his assistant in that work and confessed that he was much holpen by him Shortly after he was called to Auspurg to be a Preacher there but finding some timorousness in himself in so great a work he thought that a retired life wherein he might betake himself to Prayer and study would be better for him for the present and therefore he entred into a Monastery near to that City in which also he thought to continue but all his friends especially Capito disswaded him from it which advice he at last hearkning unto and taking occasion to declare his judgement in several things against the Popish Doctrine he began to be much hated and threatned with Prison and death yet he daily encreasing in courage contemned their threats But after awhile the danger growing greater at the importunity of his friends he departed and not long after came to Basil to Print some Works which in his retiredness he had made During his abode there having no other means of subsistence he was maintained by Andrew Cratander the Printer where also to finde himself imployment he translated Chrysostom upon Genesis and preached Christ freely to some that resorted to him Anno Christi 1522. Sir Francis Sickengen sent for him concerning which himself thus writeth Because saith he Sir Francis Sickengen that most famous Knight of Germany and Captain of the Emperours Army hath sent for me to instruct his Family yea rather to feed it with spiritual Sermons being long since instructed I thought it my duty to endeavor that the Law of God should be made familiar in it whereby it might grow in the true and sincere study of Christianity whereupon I dayly read the Gospel and expounded it to those that were present familiarly exhorting them to the study of Piety and whereas they had been accustomed to hear Sermons only upon the Sabbaths and to have Masses all the Week after I so prevailed that Masses were laid aside and some part of the Epistles and Gospels was read and expounded every day to them Shortly after the Senate of Basil chose him to be a
that he was made one of the Professors in the University of Ingolstade And Anno Christi 1516 by the order of his Prince he dealt effectually with Erasmus Roterodamus to draw him to Ingolstade And though he could not prevail yet he had this Testimony given him by Erasmus that he was vir candidus prudens facundus eruditus in summa omnibus omnium Gratiarum ac Musarum dotibus praeditus A candid wise eloquent and learned man c. Then Regius falling to the study of Divinity preferred that before all other Learning applying himself wholly to the searching out of the Divine Mysteries therein contained and a while after the controversie growing hot between Luther and Eccius Regius favouring Luthers Doctrine because he would not offend Eccius to whom he was many ways bound left Ingolstade and went to Auspurg and there at the importunity of the Magistrates and Citizens he undertook the Government of the Church and being offended at the gross Idolatry of the Papists he joyned with Luther and preached against the same and having written to Zuinglius to know his judgement about the Sacrament and Original Sin he received such satisfaction that he joined in opinion with him about the same At that time the Anabaptists crept into Auspurg and held private Conventicles to the disturbance of the Publick Peace for which the Magistrates imprisoned the chiefest of them Amongst which there was a woman of good quality cast into Prison who boasted that she could defend her opinion against Regius if she might but have liberty to confer with him hereupon she was called before the Senate where Regius also was appointed to meet with her There she produced divers Texts of Scripture to confirm her Errors But Regius did so clearly and fully open the genuine sense of them that every one which was not wilfully blinde might easily discern the truth But this wilful woman was so far from submitting to it that she impudently spake thus unto Regius Egregia enimvero Vrbane frater haec disputandi ratio inter me te Tu â—n molli culcitra ad later Consulum adsidens quasi ex Apollinis â—â—ipode proloqueris ego misera humi prostrata â—ex duris vinculis causam dicâ—re cogor â—o this Vrbanus answered Nec vero inâ—urin soâ—or ut quae seâ—el è servitute Diaboli per Christum in libertatem adserta tua spâ—â—te iterum cervicem turpi jugo submisisti istiâ— te ornamentis â—esanus ostentat genius aliâ— iâ— exemplum The Senate perceiving that they labored in vain whilst they sought to reclaim them by a Decree banished them the City Regius Preaching against Purgatory and Indulgences the malice and cruelty of the Papists prevailed at length to the driving him out of that City but after a while by the earnest prayer of the Citizens he was called back again to his former Charge where also he marryed a wife by whom he had thirteen children About the same time Eccius came thither and sought by all means to turn him from the Truth but in vain He sent also Fâ—ber and Cochlaeus with flatteries and large promises who prevailed as little as the other Anno Christi 1530. when the Dâ—et was held at Auspurg for quieting the controversies about Religion the Duke of Brunswick coming thither by importunity prevailed with Regius to go to Luneburg in his Country to take care of the Church there In which journey at Coburg he met with Luther and spent a whole day in familiar conference with him about matters of great moment of which himself writes That he never had a more comfortable day in his life As these words of his in a Letter to one of his friends in Auspurg do testifie wherein he writes thus Cum Saxoniam peterem Coburgi integrum diem solus cum Luthero viro Dei transegeram quo die nullus mihi in vita fuit jucundior Talis enim tantus est Theologus Lutherus ut nulla secula habuerint similem Semper mihi magnus fuit Lutherus at jam mihi Maximus est Vidi enim praesens audivi quae nullo calamo tradi possunt absentibus Ernestus Duke of Brunswick loved him dearly and esteemed him as his Father insomuch as when the City of Auspurg Anno Christi 1535. sent to the Duke desiring him to return Regius to them again he answered That be would as soon part with his Eyes as with him Also at his return from Auspurg when divers of his Nobles asked him what new and pretious ware after the example of other Princes he had brought home with him He answered that he had brought home incomparable treasure for the good of his whole Dukedom which he preferred before all his delights And presently after he made him Bishop and Over-seer of all the Churches in his Country with an ample salary for the same Afterwards going with his Prince to a meeting at Haganaw he had a humor fell into his right Leg which arising in a Pustle brake and caused an issue which the Physitians advised to keep still open but not long after he stopped the same whereupon many presaged his death whereof indeed this was a cause For when on the Sabbath day he had been at Church and received the Sacrament in the Evening rubbing his Forehead he complained of some obstructions and pain in his Head yet was he still cheerful and not troubled at it and so went to bed with his wife and slept till almost day when rising out of his bed he fell along in the floor and with the fall awaked his wife who leaping our of her bed cryed out and endeavoured to lift him into his bed again but all in vain till help came to her A while after seeing his wife and friends heavy and mourning he comâ—orted them and commended himself wholly unto God and so about two or three hours after quietly and comfortably resigned up his soul into the hands of his heavenly Father Anno Christi 1541. and May the 23. He often desired God that he might dye a sudden and easie death wherein God answered his desires He was of an excellent wit holy of life and painful in the work of the Lord. His son Ernest collected all his works together and digested them into several Tomes printed them at Norinberg Afterwards came forth another Book called Loci Theologici ex Patribus Scholasticis Neotericisque collecti per V. Regium The Life of Caralostadius who dyed Anno Christi 1541. ANdreas Bodenstein Caralostadius was born in France in a town called Caralostadium by which he received his name He was brought up at School there and for the improvement of his Learning he went â—o divers Countries and publick Schools such as those times afforded at last he went to Rome to study Divinity such as was then taught there and having spent some time in those
prevailed with him that he sold his Plate and was more open-handed to the Poor He wrote many things but not seeking his own honour would never suffer them to he printed yet afterwards some few were published As his Catechism in Dutch An Explication of certain heads in Divinity A defence of the Christian Religion An Oration wherein he defended the Marriage of Ministers As also of the Decalogue Lords Prayer and Belief The Life of Vitus Theodorus who dyed Anno Christi 1549. VItus Theodorus was born at Norinberg one of the most famous Cities in Germany and after he had been trained up in his Country School he went to Wittenberg where he continued many years applying himself hard to his studies and by his diligence and attending upon the Lectures both publick and private he made such a progress in Learning that he commenced Master of Arts with the good approbation of the University After which he betook himself to the study of Divinity and attained to an excellent measure of knowledge therein So that he was very dear to Luther both for the eminent gifts of his minde and for the holiness of his Life as also to Melancthon Both whose Lectures he daily attended upon and heard with much diligence and by his good will would never be from their sides He went with Luther An. Chr. 1530. to Coburg in the confines of Franconia during the Diet at Auspurg He was also often present at the Imperial Diets which met about Religion where he disputed wit the Adversaries about the Principal heads of the Controversies He was called to be a Pastor at Norinberg his own country where he preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ with great zeal and Eloquence to the great profit of his hearers and that for many years together in the Church of Sebald till it pleased God to put an end to his labors by translating him out of this vale of tears into his Everlasting Kingdom Anno Christi 1549. Scripsit Annotationes breves into tota Biblia Germanica utilem Ecclesiae operam navavit Lutheri Colligendis expoliendisque Commentariis in Prophetam Micheam in priora undecem Geneseos capita The Life of Paulus Fagius who dyed An. Ch. 1550. PAulus Fagius was born in the Palatinate An. Chr. 1504. of mean parents His Father was Peter Buchlin who was Schoolmaster of Taberna Rhenana the Town where this Paul was born His Mothers name was Margaret His Father brought him up in his own School till he was eleven years old and then sent him to Heidleberg where he was educated under John Brentius and Martin Frechtus till he was about 18 years old and then he went to Strasborough where he taught School to supply his necessities for some years and the study of the Tongues beginning about this time to be in request he applyed himself thereto and became familiar with the most eminent therein as Capito Hedio Bucer Zellius c. who also were happy reformers of the Church of Christ at that time Anno Christi 1527. having attained some competent knowledge in the Languages and other Learning being compelled by poverty he removed to Isna where also he taught School and by his diligence and virtuous carriage approved himself to all There also he married a wife and growing more famous he was called to the Ministry and to a Pastoral charge But the studie of the Tongues flourishing most at Strasborough whither many Exiles resorted for that end he returned thither again and read Hebrew to some with good success And yet in the mean time he so followed the study of Divintiy and applyed himself to Preaching that after two years space he returned with his Family to his friends more learned and better accommodated with outward things Anno Christi 1537. he was recalled to Isna to a Pastoral charge which he discharged with good credit for about five years spending his spare-time in the study of the Hebrew wherein he profited to a miracle so that it was believed that those later ages never produced a more learned man in the Hebrew then Fagius He made use also of a learned Iew called Elias Levita whom he sent for to him from Venice and amongst his other friends there was one Senator of Isna most dear unto him called Peter Bufler by whose assistance he set up a Press and published some Books for the Publick good and when he was faln into want the said Bufler was very bountifull to him But finding that place not so fit for his purpose he thought of changing his seat again Whilst he was at Isna Anno Christi 1541. a great Plague brake forth which caused many especially the richer sort to leave the place Yet before their departure by his zealous and fervent Sermons and Exhortations he prevailed with some to stay and with others to leave their alms behinde them for the relief of the indigent He prevailed also with the Senate upon the Publick purse to hire fit persons to take care of the sick and Fagius himself all the time of the Infection went up and down night and day to comfort those that were visited refusing none no not the Poorest so all acknowledged it no less then a miracle that he was preserved in so contagious a time About the same time the Plague raged much at Strasborough and amongst others snatched away Wolfgang Capito whose place continued void for a year after viz. to the year 1542. whereupon the Commonwealth of Constance which was associated with them of Strasborough in Religion by their Prayers and messengers prevailed to get him to Strasborough first for two years and afterwards for two years more Though before this Philip Prince of Hassia had designed him for a Professor in his University of Marpurg About the beginning of the Germanâ— war Frederick the second Prince Elector Palatine purposing to reform the Churches within his Dominion made choice of Fagius who was famous for his Eloquence and Doctrine for that work whereupon he sent for him to Heidleberg to be a Preacher there During his abode at Heidleberg he published divers Books which were very useful for those that studyed the Hebrew Tongue whereupon it seemed good to Bucer Martyr and Hâ—dio who were the ordinary Professors of Divinity in that University that each other week he should read an extraordinary Divinity Lecture and that when any of them were hindred by business or sickness he should supply their rooms Anno Christi 1548. Caesar having prevailed in the war against the Protestaâ—â— the progress of Religion was hindred in the Palatinate and the Interim began to be pressed with great violence and it was resolved that the godly Ministers should be banished especially such as by reason of their great imployments stood as a brazen wall in the way of Antichrist amongst whom Fagius was one who notwithstanding all the threats of the Papists continued constant and
unmoveable in the Truth The sufferings of these godly Divines grew famous in forreign Nations whereupon Bucer and Fagius were sent for by Cranmer into England where they arrived Anno Christi 1549. and were honorably entertained by Doctor Cranmer in his own house where they were instrumental to the great encrease of Religion Also by Cranmer they were set upon the Translation of the Bible with brief notes to which they added an enucleation of hard Texts and a reconciliation of seeming contradictions in Scrâ—pture In this work Fagius undertook the Old Testament and Bucer the New But the work was hindred by the sickness of them both and the death of Fagius who being taken with a Feaver about the end of the Dog-days for change of Ayr was carryed to Cambridge where the 13. of November he ended his days joyfully An. Chri. 1550. and of his Age 45. but not without the suspition of Poyson and was there honorably buryed Yet afterwards in Queen Maries time An. Chr. 1556. he was condemned of Heresie his bones digged up and burned to ashes He was tall of stature of a swarthy complexion under a severe countenance full of curtesie and very Eloquent in his Ministry He translated out of Hebrew Thisbites Heliae Apothegmata Patrum Sententias morales Ben Syrâ— Precationes Hebraicas A little Tractate written by a Iew that turned Christian. Expositionem dictionum Hebraicarum in quatuor capita Geneseos â—ui adâ—icitur Paraphrasis Chaldaica Onkel Comment R. David Kimbi in decem primos Psalmos Targum i. e. paraphrasis Onkeli Chaldaica in 5 libros Mosis with divers others MARTIN BVCER The Life of Martin Bucer who dyed Anno Christi 1551. MArtin Bucer was born at Selestade in Alsatia Anno Christi 1491. being of an excellent wit he entred very young into the Monastery of the Dominicans there and afterwards by consent of the Prior he went to Heidleberg for the encrease of Learning and having gone through other Arts he studied Divinity together with the Greek and Hebrew Tongues whilst he was there he met with and read Erasmus and Luthers Works whereupon he began to dis-rellish Popery and Frederick Prince Elector Palatine being much pleased with his Eloquence and singular Humanity as also with his clear and strong Voice and freedom in reproving the vices of men by the instigation of Sir Francis Sickengen chose him to be his Minister so that he Preached often in Heidleberg and elsewhere During his abode in that place Luther came thither whom he heard disputing against Free Will which kindled in his Breast the first sparks of the Divine Truth which by his conversing with Luther were further encreased Afterwards going with his Prince into the Low-countries he Preached freely against the Superstitions and sins of the times and began to bethink himself of leaving his Order whereupon the Monks lay in wait to take away his Life but escaping thence he went to Sir Francis Sickengen who sheltered him from danger till the Controversies about Religion were determined in his Castle at Naustall and when Luther was sent for to the Diet at Worms he went along with him and after some converse he embraced and defended his cause Not long after War arising between Sickengen and Trevir Bucer finding that he could not follow his studies in the midst of those tumults craved leave to depart and obtained it but a Neighbor Pastor of Wissenburg intreated him to Preach in his charge which he did till by the unhappy fall of Sickengen they were both driven thence by the prevailing power so that he fell into great danger About this time the seeds of the reformed Religion began to be sown in Strasborough by Matthew Zellius and Gasper Hedio Sigismund Count of Hohenlâ— favoring them to whom therefore Bucer went and was curteously entertained and Anno Christi 1523. was appointed publick Preacher in the Church and to read Divinity in the Schools These Colleagues excelling in Wit Eloquence and Zeal did propaâ—â—te the Gospel of Christ notably in that City and the year after published in Print the reasons why they changed the Mass into the Lords Supper c. which Book they dedicated to Frederick the Elector Palatine This Book was subscribed by Capito Hedio Zellius Pollio Niger John Latomus Fâ—rn Hag and Bucer Hereupon the Senate of Strasborough by a general Vote reformed their City casting out Popery and establishing the pure Gospel of Christ. An. Chr 1529. when the Gospellers agreed not in all things amongst themselves a conference was appointed at Marpurg between Luther and Zuinglius whereupon Bucer with Hedio went thither and had much discourse with them wherein they agreed upon all points of Divinity except about the Sacrament of the Lords Supper and so parted friendly resolving ab omni contentione in posterum abstinendum utrinque esse Deumque orandum ut Spiritu suo erudiat ducatque that both sides should abstain from contention c. The year following at Auspurg he disputed with the Papists and had a large testimony for his Learning and modesty hearing his Adversaries patiently rather seeking Truth then Victory and answering them mildly yet strongly He took much pains to reconcile the difference between Luther and Zuinglius about the Lords Supper fore-seeing the great mischief that that difference would bring upon the Church An. Chr. 1531. the Citizens of Vlm sent for him to Reform their Churches where he with Oecolampadius performed the trust put in him with much prudence and faithfulness He was so studious of peace that some said he complyed too much with Luther in that Doctrine against which he had formerly both Preached and Written Whereupon in the Moneth of May Anno Chrâ—sti 1533. he went to Zurick and there in an Assembly of the Ministers of the Church he purged himself from the suspition of revolt shewing that he did still retain the same Doctrine concerning the Supper of the Lord which he had formerly professed and had defended in the Disputation at Bern against the Adversaries thereof and that by the grace of God he would continue therein to his lives end but yet that it seemed to him that Luther dissented from Zuinglius rather in words then in Doctrine and very deed He requested also the Ministers of Zurick that they would not attempt nor write any thing more bitterly against Luther by reason of that Epistle which he had sent to the Magistrates of Franckford To this they of Zurick answered that they admitted his excuse yet withall shewed him out of that Epistle what Luther seemed to think of the Supper of the Lord and what was to be expected of them hereafter withall telling him that they were determined with Gods help to remain in that Doctrine which they had taught hitherto in the Church of Zurick till they were otherwise convinced out of the holy Scriptures and in
against the Masse-Priest and privily removing the Images out of the Church some of which he cast into prison and caused others to fly away insomuch as Bugenhagius also being not safe and desiâ—ous to be acquainted and to confer with Luther the rather being invited thereto by Letters from Peter Suavenius a man excellently learned who signified to him that his converse with Luther would be exceeding profitable to him he left â—repta and went to Wittenberg Anno Christi 1521 and of his Age 36 and came there a little before Luther's going to the Diet at Worms with whom he had presently some converse and began to make himself known by reading the Psalter privately in the Schooles In Luthers absence Berthoâ—mew Bernhard Pastor of Kemberg married a Wife whereupon much controversie arose whether the Marriage of Ministers was forbidden onely by the Popes Law and how farre the Monks vows of Chastity did binde Luther hereupon being sent to for his judgement easily cut insunder the snares of those Laws and of the impious vows as Alexander did the Gordian knot with his sword At this time Suavenius and Bugenhag sojouâ—ned with Melancthon whereupon when those Propositions oâ— Luther were sent to him Bugenhag read them with much diligence and afterwards having seriously thought of them â—e said This businesse will cause a great mutation in the publick state of things About the same â— time also Carolastadiusâ—aiâ—ed â—aiâ—ed a controversieâ— about bringing in the Judicials of Moses into the Civill State and removing Images out of the Churches Against these Bugenhag with some others opposed themselves declaring that the overthrowing of Images was sâ—ditious and that Christian Commonwealths ought not to be governed by the Jewish Judicials Whereupon at Luthers returne out of his Pathmos by the Suffrages both of the University and Senate Bugenhag was chosen Pastor of the Church of Wittenberg which he taught and governed with much â—elicity and in many changes of Affaires for the pâ—ce of thirty six years never leaving his station neither for war nor pestilence and when he was proffered riches and preferment both in Denmark by the good King and in Pomeren by the good Prince yet he would never leave his charge though he lived but poorly in it Anno Christi 1522 he was sent for to Hamburg where hee prescribed to them a form both of Doctrine Ceremonies and Calling of Ministers where he erected a School also in the Monastery of St. John which afterwards grew very famous And Anno Christi 1530 being sent for to Lubec hee prescribed to them also an order both for Preaching and Discipline and set up a School in the Monastery of St Katheâ—â—ne Anno Christi 1537 he was sent for by Christian King of Denmark and Duke of Holsatia to reform Religion in his Dominions and to erect Schooles at which time he set forth a book about the Ordination of Ministers formerly agreed upon by Luther and his Colleagues to which he added some Prayers and a Form or Directory for holy Administrations And about fourteen daies after the Coronation of King Christian Bugenhag instead of the seven Bishops of Denmark ordained seven Superintendents who for the time to come should supply the office of the Bishops and should take care of all Ecclesiastical affaires These he ordained in the presence of the King and his Councill in the chief Church of Hafnia He also prescribed what Lectures should be read in the Hafnian Academy He appointed Ministers in the Kingdomes of Denmark and Norway to the number of four and twenty thousand Anno Christi 1540 Henry Duke of Brunswick being expelled his Country by the Elector of Saxony and the confederate Princes imployed Bugenhag Anthony Corvinus and Martin Gorlicius adding some of the Nobility to them to visit the Churches and Monasteries in that Dukedome and to see them reformed At which time they set forth a Form of Ordination for the Country The year following the Senate of Hildesia sent for him to Reformâ— their Churches where he with Corvinus and Henrie Winckle wrote them a Form of Ordination and placed Pastors and Ministers in their six Churches the oversight of whom was committed to Iodicus Iferman and the Church of the Canons was shut up Anno Christi 1533 he proceeded Doctor at the instigation of John Friderik Elector of Saxonie himself with his Counsellors being present to hear the publick disputations of Luther Cruciger Bugenhag and Aepine The questions were De Justitia De Ecclesia De discrimine Ministerii Evangelici Potestatis Politicae and Bugenhag making an Oration about the last of these the Prince was exceedingly well pleased with it Thus far we have the happier part of Bugenhags life but shortly after followed many confusions and warres both of the Princes and Divines in which the Princes were taken prisoners Wittenberg was besieged and other miseries and mischiefs of war brought exceeding much grief to this good old man as the death of that godly King Josiah did to the Prophet Jeremiah yet did he not give way to despondencie so as either to fly or change his mind but he kept up his spirits by fervent and frequent prayer to God which yeelded him great consolation the rather considering that in so great tempests the poor Ship of Christ's Church was not swallowed up and devoured For Prince Maurice who was made Elector of Saxony changed nothing in Religion as soâ—e feared and others hoped that hee would but sending fâ—â— Melancthon Bugenhag and Crucigir from Wittenberg to Lâ—â—sâ—â—h he desired them to take care of the Church and Univâ—rsity and so gratifying them bountifully dismissed them The Controversies and Quarrels which sprung up in â—â—e Church by Flacius Illericus were the greatest grief to hâ—m For it was well known that he neither in the time of War nor afterwards altered any thing either in the Doctrine 〈◊〉 Discipline of the Church often urging that Text Giâ—â— to Caesar the things that are Caesars and to God the things that are Gods He was alwaies very averse to seditious Counsels and most constant in retaining the true Doctrine of Christ and though many aspersions were cast abroad of him yet would he never omit the necessary labours belonging to his Office The last act of his life through Gods goodness was quiet and peaceable for when his strength was so wasted that hee could no longer preach yet he resorted daily to Church where he poured forth fervent praiers both for himself and the afflicted condition of the Church of God at that time Afterwards fallâ—ng sick though without much pain he continued instant in prayer and holy conference with his friends and drawing near to his end he often repeated This is life eternall to know thee the onely true God and him whom thou hast sent Jesus Christ and so quietly dâ—parted in the Lord Anno Christ 1558 and of his Age 73. He was a faithfull Pâ—stor just mercifulâ—
was freed Anno Christi 1557. he went from thence to Heidleberg being sent for by Otho Henry Prince Elector Palatine who was about to reforme his Churches There hee was made the Publick Professor of Theologie and met with much opposition and manifold contentions in that alteration which yet he bore with much prudence Anno Christi 1564. there was a disputation appointed at Malbourn for composing the great controversie about the ubiquity of Christs body This was appointed by Frederick the third Elector Palatine and Christopher Duke of Wertemberg To this meeting the Elector sent Boquine Diller Olevian Dathen and Ursin but very little fruit appeared of their labours as the event shewed Boquin continued in Heidleberg about twenty years under Otho and Frederick the third But after that Princes death An. Christi 1576 by reason of the prevalency of the Hetorodox party he with other Professorr and Divines was driven thence and it pleased God that immediately hee was called to Lausanna where he performed the part of a faithfull Pastor so long as he lived Anno Christi 1582 on a Lords day he preached twice and in the evening heard another Sermon then supped chearfully and after supper refreshed himself by walking abroad then went to visit a sick friend and whll'st he was conforting of him he found his spirits to begin to sink in him and running to his servant he said unto him Pray adding further Lord receive my soul and so he quietly departed in the Lord Anno Christi 1582. The workes which he left behind him were these Defensio ad calumnias Doctoris cujusdam Avii in Evangelii professores Examen libri quem Heshusius inscripsit De praesentia corporis Christi in caena domini Theses de coena Domini Exegesis divinae communicationis Adsertio veteris ac veri Christianismi adversus novum fictum Jesuitismum Notatio praecipuarum causarum diuturnitatis controversiae de Coena Domini Adsertio ritus frangendi in manus sumendi panis Eucharistici E. GRINDALL The Life of Edmund Grindall who dyed A no Christi 1583. EDmund Grindal was borne in Cumberland Anno Christi 1519. and carefully brought up in learning first at school and then in the University of Cambridg where being admitted into Pembrook Hall he profited so exceedingly that he was chosen first Fellow and afterward Master of that house And Bishop Ridley taking notice of his piety and learning made him his Chaplain and commended him to that pious Prince King Edward the sixth who intended to prefer him but that he was prevented by an immature death In the bloody daies of Queen Mary Grindal amongst many others fled into Germany where he continued all her Reigne But comming back in the beginning of Queen Elisabeth she preferred him to that dignity which her brother King Edward intended him to making him Bishop of London wherein hee carried himself worthily for about eleven years Anno Christi 1570 hee was removed by the Queen to the Archbishoprick of York where he continued about six years and then for his piety and learning she made him Archbishop of Canterbury wherein he lived about seven years more and then falling sick at Croidon hee resigned up his spirit unto God that gave it Anno Christi 1583 and of his Age sixtie four Both in his life and at his death he did many excellent works of Charity At St. Beighs in Cumberland where he was born he erected a Free-schoole and endowed it with thirty pound per annum for ever To Pembroke Hall in Cambridge where he was educated he gave twenty two pounds a yeare in lands for the maintaining of a Greek Lecturer one Fellow and two Scholars to be chosen out of the aforesaid School of St. Beighs He gave also much mony to the said Colledge To Magdalen Colledge in Cambridge hee gave lands for the maintainance of one Fellow from the said School To Christs Colledge in Cambridge he gave forty five pounds To Queens Colledge in Oxford he gave twenty pound per annum in lands to maintain one Fellow and two Scholars out of the aforesaid Schoole And at his death he gave his Library which was a very great and good one to that Colledge besides a great sum of money To eight Alms-houses in Croidon he gave fifty pounds per annum and to Canterbury he gave an hundred pounds to set the poor on work The Life of Bernard Gilpin who died A no Christi 1583. BErnard Gilpin was born at Kentmire in the County of Westmoreland Anno Christi 1517 of an ancient and honourable Family When he was but a child a Friar pretending to be a zealous Preacher came on a Saturday night to his Fathers house and at Supper eat like a Glutton and drunke himself drunk yet the next morning in his Sermon sharply reproved the sinne of Drunkennesse whereupon young Gilpin sitting near his mother cryed out Oh Mother doe you hear how this fellow dares speak against Drunkenness and yet himself was drunken last night But his Mother stopped his mouth with her hand that he might speake no further it being a mortall sinne in those times to speak against these men His Parents perceiving his aptnesse were carefull to make him a Scholar and when hee had with great approbation passed his time in the Grammar-School they sent him to Oxford Anno Christi 1533 where he was admitted into Queens Colledge and profited wondrously in Humane Learning Hee was very conversant also in the writings of Erasmus which were in much esteem at that time And to the studie of Logick and Philosophie hee added that of Greek and Hebrew yea after some few years spent in these studies hee grew so famous that there was no place of preferment for a Scholar whereof the eminency of his virtues had not rendered him worthy Whereupon he was one of the first that was chosen a member of Christ-Church by Cardinall Wolsey At that time he was not fully instructed in the true Religion but held disputations against John Hooper afterwards Bishop of Worcester as also against Peter Martyr who was then Divinity Lecturer at Oxford upon the occasion of which dispute that he might defend his cause the better he examined the Scriptures ancient Fathers But by how much the more he studied to defend his Cause the lesse confidence hee began to have therein and so whilst he was searching zealously for Truth he beganne to discernâ— his own Errors Peter Martyr used to say That he cared not for his other adversaries but saith he I am troubled for Gilpin for he doth and speaketh all things with an upright heart and therefore he often prayed That God would be pleased at last to convert to the Truth the heart of Gilpin being so inclinable to honesty And the Lord answered his prayer for presently Gilpin resolved more earnestly to apply himself both by study and
Catalogum Consulum Romanorum alia opuscula Item de consolatione decumbentium De idea boni Pastoris De concionibus Funebribus M. CHEMNICIVS The Life of Martin Chemnisius who died A no Christi 1586. MArtin Chemnisius was born at Britza in Old March Anno Christi 1522 of honest but mean Parents so that his father being poor he met with many impediments to discourage and hinder him in Learning yet bearing a great love to it by his exceeding industry he overcame all difficulties and after some progresse at home he went to Magdeburg where he studied the Tongues and Arts. And from thence to Frankfurt upon Oder where he studied Philosophy under his Kinsman George Sabinâ— and after hee had spent some time there he went to Wittenberg where he prosecuted his former studies together with the Mathematicks under Melancthou and other Professors From thence he went to Sabinum in Borussia where he taught School and commenced Master of Arts and Anno Christi 1552 he was made the Princes Library-keeper and had a competent subsistence in the Court. At that time he wholly applied himself to the study of Divinity By reason of his knowledge and skill in the Mathematicks and Astronomy he was very dear to the Duke of Borussia and for the same cause John Marquesse of Brandenburg favoured him very much Yea by his modest and sincere carriage hee procured much favour from the Courtiers Anno Christi 1555 Chemnistus being desirous after three years stay in the Court to return to the Universities for the perfecting of his studies was rewarded by Prince Albert with ample Letters of commendation and so dismissed After which he went again to Wittenberg where he sojourned with Melancthon and was imployed by him publickly to read Common places From thence after a while he was sent to Brunople in Saxonie by the Senate and made Pastor which place he discharged with singular fidelity and approbation for the space of thirty years partly as Pastor and partly as Superintendent and commenced Doctor in Divinity at Rostoch serving the Church with great faithfulness and commendations both by preaching and reading Lectures Many Princes and Commonwealths made use of his advice and assistance in Ecclesiastical affairs He took great pains in asserting the Truth against the adversaries of it as his excellent Exameâ— of the Tridentine Council shews At last being worn out with study writing preaching c. he resigned up his spirit unto God Anno Christi 1586 and of his age 63. He is said by one to be Philosophus summus Theologus profundissimus neque veritatis bonarumque artium studio neque laude officit facile cuiquam secundus His Workes are these De origine Jesuitarum Theologiae Jesuitarum praecipua capita Explicatio Doctrinae de duabus in Christo naturis Fundamenta sanae Doctrinae Enchiridion de praecipuis caelestis Doctrinae capitibus De peccato Origin contra Manichaeos Examen decretorum Concilii Tridentini Concio de Baptismo Harmonia Evangelica The Life of Rodolphus Gualter who died Anno Christi 1586. ROdolphus Gualter was born in Zurick An. Christi 1519. When he first applyed his mind to the study of humane Arts and Tongue hee had such an happy wit that he was inferiour to none of his fellows in Poetry and Oratory and being afterwards admitted into the University he became famous first for his knowledge in the Arts and afterwards of Divinity He was chosen Pastor in that City where first he drew his vitall breath neither were which chose him deceived in their expectation for he proved an admirable instrument of Gods glory and their good discharging his place with fingular industry diligence and fidelity not onely by his frequent publick preaching but by his learned private writings as his Homilies upon much of the Old and New Testament do sufficiently declare And having governed and sed that Church for above forty years together he died in a good old age Anno Christi 1586 and of his Life seventie four Scripsit Homilias in Johannis Epistolas In canâ—cum Zachariae De Nativitate pueritia educatione Domini De servitnte peccati libertate fidelium De origine prastantia authoritate S. Scripturae In 12 Prophetas minores In Maâ—thaum Marcum Lucam Johannem Acta Apostol Epist. ad Romanes ad Corinthios ad Galatas In Esaiam With many other Works set down by Verheiden The Life of Ludovicus Lavater who died A no Christi 1586. LUdovicus Lavator was born in Zurick a famous City of the Helvetians and having drunk in the first Rudiments of Learning became famous by his diligence in the Schooles and his excellent wit insomuch as Bullinger gave his daughter in marriage to him And though a Prophet be not without honour but in his own country yet was he chosen a Pastor in that City and made a Lecturer in the Schooles and hee taught and illustrated both faithfully by his Ministry and Writings He published manys his Father-in-law Bullingers Works And having spent himelf in the Work of the Lord and service of his Church he quietly resigned up his spirit into the hands of his heavenly Father Anno Christi 1586. He wrote Commentaries upon Joshuah both books of the Chronicles Ruth Ester Job Proverbs and Ezekiel Besides his Historia de ortu progressu controversiae Sacramentariae Tractatus de spectris lemuribus fragoribus variisque praesagitionibus quae plerumque obitum hominum magnas clades praecedunt With divers others mentioned in particular by Verheiden GAS. OLEVIAN The Life of Gaspar Olevian who died A no Christi 1587. GAspar Olevian was born in Trevir Anno Christi 1536. His Fathers name was Gerhard a Baker in that City and Master of his Company but this Gasper was carefully brought up in learning by his Grandfather who set him to severall Schooles in that City and at thirteen years old hee was sent to Paris to study the Civill Law from thence also hee went to the Universities of Orleance and Biturg where hee heard the most famous Lawyers of those times He joyned himself also to the Congregation of Protestants which met privately together in both those Cities In Biturg he was admitted into the Order of Lawyers after the solemn manner of the University being made Doctor Anno Christi 1557. About which time there studyed in that Universitie under Nicholas Judex the young Prince Palatine sonne to Frederick the third afterwards Elector And Olevian being very intimate with Judex went one day after dinner to the River Lieg hard by the City together with him and the young Prince and when they came thither they found some young Noble Germans that were students there going into a boat who desired the Prince and his Tutor to goe over the River with them But Olevian perceiving that they had drunk too freely diswaded them from venturing themselves amongst
the Lords Supper the Ubiquity of Christs Body the use of Images in the Churches Predestination and the Perseverance of the Saints About these things they raised contentions which were partly occasioned by the book of Heshufius printed at this time at Strasborough About the Lords Supper and it came to this pass that they put Zanchy to his choice either to depart of himself or else they would remove him from his place And though many waies were tried for the composing of this difference yet could it not be effected But it pleased God that about this time there came a Messenger to signifie to him that the Pastor of the Church of Clavenna in the borders of Italy being dead he was chosen Pastor in his room wherefore obtaining a dismission from the Senate of Strasborough he went thither and after he had preached about two moneths the Pestilence brake forth in that Town so violently that in seven moneths space there dyed twelve hundred men yet he continued there so long as he had any Auditors but when most of the Citizens had removed their families into an high mountain not farre off he went thither also and spent above three moneths in Preaching Meditation and Prayer and when the Plague was stayed hee returned into the City again And thus he continued in that place almost four years to the great profit of many but not without afflictions to himself Anno Christi 1568 hee was sent for by Frederick the third Elector Palatine to Heidleberg to be Professor and was entertained with all love and respect where he succeeded Ursin and at his entrance made an excellent Oration about the preserving and adhering to the meer Word of God alone The same year he was made Doctor in Divinity About which time that excellent Prince Frederick who was a zealous promoter of the Doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles required him to explicate the Doctrine of one God and three Persons to confirme it and to confute the Doctrine of those which at that time denyed the Deity of Christ and the Holy Ghost in Poland and Transilvania and to answer their arguments whereupon he wrote those learned Tractates De Dei naturâ De tribus Elohim c. In which book the whole Orthodox Doctrine about that great Mystery is so unfolded and confirmed that all adversaries may for ever be ashamed which goe about to contradict the same Laelius Socinus and other of his complices that defended the Heresies of Servetus tried by divers waies and reasons to have drawn him to their opinion but when they found him wholly estranged from them and a zealous Defendor of the Truth against their Blasphemies they renounced all friendship with him and left him for which he gave hearty thanks unto God and our Lord Jesus Christ. He taught in that University tenne yeares till the death of Prince Frederick Then by Prince John Cassimire he was removed to his new University at Neostade where he spent above seven years in reading Divinity Though in the year 1578 he had been earnestly solicited to come to the University of Leiden then newly begunne as also the yeare after the Citizens of Antwerp called him to be their Pastor yet the Prince would by no means part with him knowing that hee could not bee missed in his University The Prince Elector Palatine Lodwick being dead and Prince Cassimire being for the time made Administrator of his estate the University was returned from Neostad to Heidleberg and Zanchy being now grown old had a liberal stipend setled upon him by Prince Cassimire whereupon going to Heidleberg to visit his friends he fell sick and quietly departed in the Lord Anno Christi 1590 and of his age seventie five He was excellently versed in the writings of the ancient Fathers and Philosophers he was of singular modesty and very studious to promote the peace of the Church His Workes are well known being usually bound up in three volumes His Commentaries are upon Hosea Ephes. Phil. Col. Thess. and John His other works are Miscellanea Theologica De tribus Elohim De natura Dei De operibus Dei De Incarnatione Filii Dei De sacra Scriptura Compendium praecipuorum capitum doctrinae Christianae De Religione Christiana c. The Life of Anthony Sadeel who died A no Christi 1591. ANthony Sadeel was born at Cabot upon the confines of Savoy and France not far from Geneva Anno Christi 1534 and his Father dying whilst he was young his Mother brought him up in learning and sent him to Paris where he was educated under Mathias Granian from whom also he first received the seeds of true Religion From thence after a while he removed to Tholous where falling into the society of some godly students of the Law it pleased God that by degrees he attained to the knowledge of the Truth and began to abstain from the defilements of Popery whereupon hee went to Geneva where he was further instructed in the truth and was much holpen and encouraged by Calvin and Beza But after a while his Uncle dying and leaving a large inheritance some contention arose about it whereupon Sadeel was sent for home and went to Paris about that businesse At which time a private Congregation was gathered by John Riparius who shortly after suffered Martyrdom into which number at his request Sadeel was admitted in whom there shon forth a great ingenuity with an incredible love to the holy Scriptures And when afterwards that Church was encreased they sent to Geneva for a Pastor who sent them Collongius a man famous for piety and wisdom who when he was come calling together the young men he exhorted them to apply themselves to the study of Divinity which afterwards turned to the great good of the French Churches and amongst others Sadeel faithfully promised to apply himselfe thereto And Collongius beganne to frame and fashion the minds of those young men by private exercises Amongst whom Sadeel most excelled there appearing no light or unbeseeming carriage in him Yea in those his young years he gave signs of au excellent mind that was fit to undertake great things In so much as being scarce twenty yeares old he was by approbation of the whole Church chosen one of the Pastors And though in regard of his great parentage hee was not without hope of attaining to great riches and dignity whereas entering into this course of life he exposed himself to labours dangers banishment and grievous death in those bloody times yet none of these hindered but that he chearfully undertook the office he was chosen to which was to be Pastor of the Church in Paris The year after fell out that horrid violence offered to this Church when they were met together to hear the Word and receive the Sacrament where above 150 of them were laid hold of and cast into prison but by a miracle of
Councill of Trent beginning about this time Heerbrand perceiving with what weapons he was to sight with the Popish Doctors applyed himself to the study of the Fathers and spent four years and a half therein gathering their opinions about all the points of Divinity which he digested into Common places that they might be the readier for his use Anno Christi 1559 he was sent for by Charles Marquess of Baden to reform Religion in his Dominions where also he prescribed a form for Ordination of Ministers He had scarce continued there two moneths when he was chosen to be the Divinity Professor at Tubing and expounded the Pentateuch in his Lectures and preached constantly Besides which publick imployments he wrote a large answer to Peter a Soto De Ecclesia Patribus Conciliis which was afterwards printed Anno Christi 1557 which was two years after he came to Tubing he was chosen Rector of the University a place as of great honour so of great pains After which he was chosen Chancellor of the University and the Pastor and Superintendent of the Church An. Christi 1569 his fame spreading abroad he was sent for by the Duke of Saxony to be the Professor at Jenes who profered to allow him the stipend of a thousand Florens per an but he refused it continuing at Tubing where he had much honour and respect And having been thus invited by three several Princes all which he refused and resolving to spend his daies at Tubing his Prince Christopher to encourage him gave him some land on which he built a neat house and having other family businesses he committed all to the care and diligence of his wife who was a constant help to him Anno Christi 1590 Heerbrand being now seventy years old had as much honour heaped upon him as the Dukedome of Wirtemberg could afford For he was made Counsellor to the Duke Superintendent of the Church Chancellor of the University and Overseer of the new Colledge all which places he discharged with admirable prudence diligence and fidelity His Wife having lived with him fifty years and a half died who was the staffe of his old age and therefore he was much afflicted with her loss and began to grow weaker and weaker which caused him Anno 1598 to resign his office and thereupon had a stipend allowed him by his Prince His next care was to prepare himself for death He was much troubled with the Gout which he bore with much patience often using that saying of the Apostle Godlinesse is profitable to all things having the promise of this life and that which is to come At last he fel into a Lethargy and so died Anno Christi 1600 and of his age 79. He was was exceeding studious all his life long having his books ink and paper at his beds head so that as soon as his first sleep was over he applyed himself to them for some houres And though he had great honours yet they never puft up his heart with pride but hee still carried himselfe very humbly He lived in the fear of God was very charitable and open handed to the poor and to exiles especially to poor students He was very careful to assist other Churches so that Princes Earls Barons and other Nobles out of Austria Styria Carinthia Carniola and Hungary were continually sending to him for advice in their difficult affairs His Father in law having bestowed a Farm upon him he was a neat husband upon it planting Orchards Vineyards and such other things as might make it most pleasant and profitable He was very carefull in the education of his children bringing them up in religion and learning and keeping them under a severe Discipline He was of a very healthfull constitution never being troubled with any sickness till towards his latter end Scripsit Compendium Theologiae Contra Gregorium de Valentia Concordiae librum in Latinum transtulit Besides divers Funerall Sermons Orations and Disputations The Life of David Chytraeus who died A no Christi 1600. DAvid Chytraeus was born in Ingelsing in Sweveland Anno Christi 1530 of godly and religious Parents who seeing his towardliness and ingenuous nature were carefull to educate him in Religion and learning the principles whereof he drunk in with such celerity that his father took much pleasure in him and became an earnest and frequent suiter unto God That his son might be sitted for and imployed in the work of the Ministerie and for this end when he was scarce seven years old he sent him to school to Gemminga and after two years stay there he removed him to Tubing where he was educated under excellent Schoolmasters and afterwards admitted into that University and whilst he was very young hee commenced Batchelor of Arts studied the Languages Arts and Divinitie under Snepfius In all which he profited so exceedingly that at fifteen years old hee commenced Master of Arts with the generall approbation of the Vniversity And presently after having a large allowance from a worthy Knight Sir Peter Mezingen hee travelled to Wittenberg where hee was entertained by Philip Melancthon into his Family so that hee did not onely gaine much profit by his publick Lectures but by private converse with him which happiness hee so esteemed that all his life after he acknowledged that next under God he was bound to Philip Melancthon for his proficiency in learning When he came first to Melancthon and delivered some letters of commendation to him in his behalf Melancthon finding in them that he was Mr of Arts looking upon him wondred at it saying Are you a Master of Arts Yea said Chytraeus it pleased the University of Tubing to grace me with that degree Can you said Melancthon understand Greek which he affirming he gave him Thucydides to read and bade him construe a peece of it which when Chytraeus had done Melancthon enquiring his age and admiring his forwardness said unto him Thou doest worthily deserve thy Degree and hereafter thou shalt be as a son unto me Whilst he was there he heard Luthers Lectures upon the tenne last Chapters of Genefis And as Plato when he was ready to die praised God for three things first that God had made him a man secondly that he was born in Greece thirdly that hee lived in the time of Socrates So did Chytraeus also acknowledge it as a singular mercy first that God had made him a man secondly a Christian thirdly that hee had his education under those excellent lights of the Church Luther and Melancthon Hee was very diligent in attending upon Melancthon studyed in his study heard all his discourses Publick and private about matters of the weightiest concernment followed him when he walked abroad and endeavoured wholly to fashion his life by his example And Melancthon looked upon him as his own son and used to call him suum Davidem his David Presently after Luthers death
by whose importunity she was set free and had leave to goe to Agrimont whither it pleased God to carry her in safety through a thousand dangers and where she found her husband And whilst she was there she was brought to bed of a daughter to which the Dutchesse was Godmother But the King of France hearing that his Aunt the Dutchesse had sheltered many of the Protestants sent to her to turn them all out of her Castle or else he would presently besiege it and slay them all Upon which message Tossan with his wife and three children went presently to Sancerra which was the nearest place of safetie There went also a long with him two or three hundred Waggons loaden with children and in their passage there lay many Troops of the enemies especially at a River over which they were to passe purposing to destroy them but it pleased God to stir up some Protestants thereabouts to horse and arm themselves and to proffer themselves as a guard to these Waggons who fought often with their enemies and by Gods special providence conducted them all in safety to Sancerra There Tossan continued a year and then with his wife and one or two of his children he went to Mombelgart to visit his Father and friends and because the wars being but lately ended in France the Church of Orleance could not suddenly gather themselves together he continued and preached in his Fathers place who was now grown old for a year But some Ministers of Stutgard accused him for preaching Calvinism and Zuinglinism and would have him to revoke and recant the same or else he must preach no more in publick They also summoned him to appear at Stutgard to give an account of his opinions and by conference with them to reform the same framing himself wholly to their mindes upon which onely condition they would let him live in his own country and preach therein Hereupon he wrote an Apology to the Senate at Stutgard shewing the reasons why at that time he could not goe thither and Anno Christi 1571 when it had pleased God after those terrible storms to restore peace to the Church at Orleance he was called back thither Yet the times were not so peaceable that he could preach there but he preached to his people in a Castle not far from it which belonged to Hierom Groslotius a most godly Noble man and there repaired to hear him out of the City a very great multitude of people whom the Popish party at their return home received with many scornes and reproaches threatning ere long to fire the Castle and all that were in it yet did the faithfull overcome all dangers with their constancy and Tossan living with that Nobleman performed his Pastoral office with all diligence and fidelity though at that time he was very sickly Anno Christi 1572 brake forth that abhominable Massacre at Paris wherein Charles the ninth falsifying his faith caused the Admirall of France with many Noblemen and Gentlemen Doctors Pastors Advocates and Professors to be so inhumanely butchered that a more horrid villany was never heard of in the world before it At which time amongst others this Hieronimus Groslotius was also murthered The newes of this Massacre comming to Orleance the Papists rejoyced and sung seeking to murther and destroy all the Protestants that were in and about that City Tossan at this time was in the Castle with the wife of Groslotius who heard 〈◊〉 the Massacre and the Murther of her husband at Paris and it pleased God so to order it that a certaine Popish Nobleman as he was travelling towards Paris was turned aside into this Castle to enquire after news just at the same time when this sad news was brought thither But he supposing that it was impossible that the Protestants which were so numerous there could be so easily suppressed and thinking rather that they stood upon their defence resolved to return home again and took with him this Lady with Tossan and his wife and children Thus it pleased God that he was delivered from certain destruction by the humanitie and industry of a Papist For the very next Morning the inhabitants of Orleance came to that Castle brake open the Gates slew some maids that were left to keep it plundered all and amongst the rest Tossans goods and Library raging extreamely that they had missed their prey which they most sought after This Noblemans House that carried them with him was near to Argimont But Tossan apprehending himself not safe there with his wife and children removed to another place where he was acquainted and presently after the Dutches of Ferrara sent for him and his Family his wife being again great with childe and hid them in a Turret in her Castle and sustained and sed them there And when the rage of the Papists was somewhat abated hee with his wife and children travelled through many dangers into Germany and shortly after was sent for by that pious Prince Frederick the third Elector Palatine to come to him to Heidleberg whither he went with his Family and where he found so much love and bounty from the Prince and his Courtiers and the Academicks that he almost forgot his former miseries All the while that he lived in Heidleberg he was Preacher to the Elector shewing such Faithfullnesse Diligence Candour and other Virtues as became a faithfull Minister of Jesus Christ whereby he was very deare to the Elector who often consulted with him about the waitiest matters of Religion And Anno Christi 1575 he sent him with some other of his faithfull Counsellors to Amberg to visit the Churches and to compose some controversies which were sprung up amongst them about matters of Religion which trust he performed with singular zeale and diligence But the world being unworthy of such a Prince it pleased God to take him away Anno Christi 1576 four years after Tossan came thither And his Son Lodwick a Lutherane succeeding him Tossan amongst some others was dismissed But Prince Cassimire Lodwicks Brother who knew the impostures of the Vbiquitarians better then his brother and who had undertaken to defend that faith whereof his Father had made a confession in his Will called him to Neostade and placed him over the Churches there And after Ursins death made him Professor in that University In which place he interpreted the holy Scripture He also undertook the caâ—e of the Church which was collected of the Exiles who wanted a Father and Preached to them in the French Tongue Anno Christi 1578. He waâ— Moderator in a Synod at Neostade And Prince Cassimire did alwaies esteem so highly of his advise and Counsell that he sent for him often neither would determine any thing in Ecclesiasticall affaires without his assent and when Prinâ—e and Ambassadors came to Neostade being moved with his same they would alwaies visit him and
quieted in her conscience and went away satisfied to the great astonishment of all her neighbors About this time the peace of the Church at Lâ—mburg was much disturbed by the Anabaptists and Papists Junius went often to the Anabaptists and reasoned with them peaceably and calmly whereupon they quickly decreased both in their number and credit But the Papists cast aspersions upon him to make him odious and amongst the rest that he was a Monster and had cloven feet They came also to Church to disturb him in his Sermons but notwithhanding all their endeavours his auditory stil increased And when they had challenged him to Disputations they allwaies pretended one excuse or other when the time came to evade the same But from secret plots they brake out into open violence where upon the Magistrates perswaded him to retire himself from the danger and in a dark rainy night they conveyed him â—â—t of the City and so he went to Heidleberg where he was courteously entertained by Prince Frederick the third and afterward chosen Pastor of the Church of Schaenavia which was near unto that City But the year after the pestilence greatly afflicting â—hat Church he was sent though against his will to the Camp of the Prince of Orange who was going into the Low-countries and when meeting with many inconveniencies in that employment he would have returned into Germany the Pr. of Orange would not consent but detained him to preach still to him yet at last he returned to Heidleberg and endeavoured to compose some differences that in his absence were sprung up in the Church of Schaenavìa The Prince Elector Palatine often perswaded him to goe back to the Prince of Orange and he as often excused it but at last he commanded him peremptorily to goe but it so fell out that as he was going over the bridge of Heidleberg he was grievously bitten in his right leg by a dog and so he obtained leave to stay He continued there to the year 1592 and assisted Tremelius in Translating the Bible out of Hebrew The Elector being dead hee was sent for by Prince Cassimire to Neostade and afterwards was sent for by the same Cassimire being Guardian to the young Prince to Heidleberg again Yet not long after with the consent of the Prince hee left Heidleberg to goe into his own country But when with his family he came to Leiden he was much importuned both by the Magistrates and the University to stay there and though he would fain have excused it yet at last they prevailed and made him the Professor of Divinity in that University which place he discharged with much diligence and commendation for ten yeares space At the end of which a great plague spreading all over Holland he fell sick of it and quietly resigned up his spirit unto God Anno Chr. 1602 and of his age 57. When Gomarus his Colleague came to visit him in his sickness and had spoken comfortably to him Junius told him that he quieted himself in God who would doe for him that which was most for his glory and his own good His Works are these Commentarius in Danielem In Psal. 101. In Apocalypsin In Jonam Prophetam With many others set down by Verheiden The Life of Luke Trelcatius who died A no Christi 1602. LUke Yrelcatius was born at Erinum Anno Christi 1542 and brought up by his Aunt who was Abbesse of a Nunnery His first Education was in the School at Doway where being of an acute wit he profited exceedingly in the knowledge of the humane arts From thence he went to Paris and whilst he studied there it pleased God that he fell into acquaintance with John Mercer the Hebrew Professor and with Peter Ramus by converse with whom hee was exceedingly affected with the love of the reformed Religion so that he forsooke his Aunt and was maintained by the bounty of some Merchants of Flanders From thence he went to Orleance and from thence to Sancerra in the 28th yeare of his age and being driven from thence by the tempest of Civill Wars he came into England and at London he taught a School by which he maintained himselfe eight yeares Then was hee called by some Merchants into Flanders to be their Pastor but enjoying little peace there he went to Bruxels where hee continued in the exercise of the Ministry six years and then meeting with opposition he went to Antwerp and that City being presently after besieged he was forced to stay there for eight moneths After which being sent for to divers places at length he was by the consent of his brethren in the Ministry fixt at Leiden where hee was made Pastor of the French Church which place he supplied faithfully for the space of seventeen years He had scarce been there two yeares when for his cellent parts and learning hee was chosen Divinity-Professor in that University also and at last having acquired much honour in both his offices hee dyed of the Plague Anno Christi 1602 and of his age 60. W. PERKINS The Life of John Whitgift who dyed A no Christi 1603. JOhn Whitgift came of the ancient Family of the Whitgifts of Whitgift in Yorkshire his Father was a Merchant of great Grimsby in Lincolnshire He was born Anno Christi 1530. His Uncle Robert Whitgift was Abbat of the Monastery of Wellow in the County of Lincoln who would often tell him when he was a boy that neither he nor his Religion could stand long for that he had often searched the Scriptures but could never find there that his Religion was of Divine institution and therefore according to Christs speech Every plant which his heavenly father had not planted must be rooted up which also came to pass shortly after when King Henry the eighth demolished the Abbeyes By this Uncle he was trained up in Learning in his childhood who finding him of a prompt and acute wit sent him to London to Saint Anthonyes School in Bennet Fink parish when he had made a good progresse in Learning there he went to Cambridge and studied a while in Queens Colledge but not liking that house he removed to Pembrok-hall where Nicolas Ridley was the Master and Master Bradford was his Tutor who informing Doctor Ridley of the ingenuity diligence and piety of this young Whitgift he procured for him a Scholarship Anno Christi 1555 he was chosen Fellow of Peter-House where Doctor Andrew Pearn was Master who favoured him exceedingly and sheltered him from danger all Queen Maries daies He took all his degrees of Batchelor of Arts Master of Arts Batchelor of Divinity and Doctor of Divinity with great approbation When he commenced Doctor hee disputed upon this question Papa est ille Antichristus the Pope is that Antichrist He was also a famous Preacher and when Doctor Hutton was preferred to the Archbishoprick
illud corpus quod pro nobis mortuum est ut simus ossa de ossibus ejus caro de carne ejus ut eo vivificemur eaquae ad salutem nostram necessaria sunt percipiamus Et quoniam fides innixa verbo Dei res perceptas facit praesentes per illam verum naturale corpus sanguinem Jesu Christi per virtutem Spiritus Sancti comedi bibi fatemur eoque respectu praesentiam corporis sanguinis Christi in S. Coenâ agnoscimus Both parties had agreed that not a word of this writing should be divulged till it was communicated to the great Personages at Possie but contrary thereto divers coppies were immediately dispersed through the Court and were received with much applause as if now both parties were agreed in the chiefest point of the controversie And the Queen sending for Beza thanked him and told him that what they had agreed on was very gratefull to her She also with joy shewed it to the Cardinall of Lorrain who when he had read it said That he never beleeved otherwise and that he hoped all the rest of the Great ones at Possie would readily embrace the same But it fell out far otherwise for when on the fourth of October it was exhibited to them they rejected and damned it reproaching Espensaeus for consenting to it and Lorraine for not opposing it And thereupon presently drew up another form which if Beza and his associates should defer to subscribe they declared that it was a great wickedness to treat with them any further and that as incorrigible they were to be excommunicated and punished by the King This was the issue of that great conference at Possie so famous all over Europe which yet answered not mens expectations And so every one returned to his own place Onely the Queen stayed Beza saying Since you are a Frenchman France desires your help to stop future troubles as much as may be But Beza tho he foresaw the seeds of those factions which shortly after brake out and his singular love to Geneva continually put him upon a desire of return where also he was earnestly desired and much longed for yet was hee necessitated to stay there whether he would or no. From that day forward there was a wonderfull encrease of the Gospellers in France and Sermons began to be preached publickly every where yea in some places they took away Churches from the Papists till by the Kings command and their Ministers intreaty they restored them again Beza in the mean time preached often sometimes in the Queen of Navars house sometimes in the Prince of Condies and other sometime in the suburbs of Paris And in January following there was an Edict procured that the Protestants might freely meet together for the service of God in the suburbs of all Cities This provoked the Guisian Faction who by all means sought the hinderance of it But the first thing they attempted was to draw the King of Navar to their party which Beza suspecting and finding him wavering endeavoured by all means to confirme and keep him in the true Religion to whom the King answered Quod Pelago se non ità commissurus esset quin quando liberet pedem referre possit That he would not launch so far into the sea but that when he pleased he might return safe to the shore again And accordingly he fell off from the Protestants and Beza went to him no more Another Disputation was appointed by the Queen Mother about Images the result of which was that the Popish Doctors condemned the making of the Images of the Trinity or of the Father or Holy Ghost and agreed that all Images should be removed out of the Churches but that of the Cross and that no Images should be worshiped But presently after the Civil War began to break forth which was occasioned by this means Whereas many Protestants were met together at Vassi to hear the Word preached the Duke of Guise with a paâ—ty of souldiers set upon them â—lew forty five of them and wounded many more Hereof Beza made complaint but without any redress whereupon both parties betake themselves to Arms and the Prince of Conde by his importunity prevailed with Beza to stay with him in those dangerous times Beza's earnest longings to be with his people at Geneva disswaded him but the importunate desires of so godly a Prince prevailed so that he stayed with him all those first Civil Wars At which time Orleance was the chiefest place of the Protestants refuge and for the better regulating of Ecclesiastical Discipline in those troublesome times a Synod was called in that City at which Beza was present Shortly after the pestilence waxed hot in Oreleance whereof many dyed and amongst the rest Conrade Badius a Pastor in Orleance who from his very childhood had been most dear to Beza yet did not Beza intermit his publick preaching nor private visiting of the sick A few moneths after fell out that memorable battel in Druiden fields where Beza was present and by his prayers and exhortations did much encourage the souldiers yet they lost the day and the Prince of Conde was taken prisoner whom Beza by his Letters much comforted and exhorted the rest not to give way to despondency but to persevere in the defence of the Cause and to commit the success of it unto God Not long after peace ensuing Beza got leave to goe back to Geneva from which he had been absent 22 moneths in which time he had gone through many troubles and dangers both of body and mind At his return to Geneva he fell upon his former employment in the Schools and Church Calvin undergoing the burthen one week and he the other and they continued in those mutual labours till Calvins death and then hee had Nicolas Collodonius for his Colleague and after him Lambertus Danaeus and after him Anthony Faius Presently after his return in the first sermon that he preached to the people hee â—illed the mindes of the hearers with incredible sorrow and grief by relating to them the miserable condition of the Churches of France whereof himself had been an eye-witness and which therefore he painted out to the life which he did for this end to stir up all to commiserate and heartily to pray for their brethren that suffered such great afflictions Shortly after he wrote an answer to Sebastian Castellio who had inveighed against his Translation of the New Testament into Latine He also published an answer to the railings of Francis Balduinus who followed the steps of Ecebolius both of them teaching that men might change their Religion as the state changed Then did he confute the errors of Brentius and James Andreas who held the Omnipresence of the Body of Christ After this he published an excellent Catechism Anno Christi 1567 the Civil Wars breaking out again in France he was
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
exiles Tossan was chosen Moderator and Pareus the Scribe of it In that Synod Pareus gat leave to goe visit his country and friends and so in three weeks space came safely to them where he was received with much joy and at the request of the Senate he preached the Sabbath following upon John 3. 16. And that with great applause and general approbation His Father also was so well pleased with him that presently after the Sermon he cancelled the writing whereby he had disinherited him The Senate also desired him to undertake a Pastoral charge in that place but he chose rather to return into the Palatinate again and coming to Neostad he was appointed to preach in a village hard by where he continued til Prince Casimire as Guardian to the young Prince Elector Palatine sent for him to be a Preacher in the great Church in Heidleberg and not long after he was made Master of the Colledge of Sapience in that University Anno Christi 1587 according to the Statutes of the Colledge he Commenced Master of Arts and a fterwards by the perswasion of his friends Doctor of Divinitie also Anno Christi 1594 at a Convention of States at Ratisbone the Divines of the Palatinate were accused by the Lutherans as holding opinions neither consonant to the Scriptures Augustane Confession nor to their own Catechiâ—m But Pareus at he appointment of the Palatine easily wiped off those aspersions and vindicated the innocencie of them Anno Christi 1596 there brake forth a great Plague in the University of Heidleberg whereof the learned James Kimedontius Pareus his intimate friend died and some other Professors also and the Students by reason of it were driven away yet Pareus stayd and it pleased God to preserve his Colledge free from the infection Not long after he was chosen Professor of the Old Testament in the room of Kimedontius and presently after Rector of the whole University Anno Christi 1596 he was extremely troubled with a Catarrh insomuch as he despaired of life yet it pleased God after a while to restore him Anno Christi 1602 upon the death of Daniel Tossan he was made Professor of the New Testament and grew so famous that many resorted out of Hungarie Borussia France England Scotland Ireland and Germany to see and hear him Anno Christi 1615 his Wife sicken'd and died which was a great grief to him An Chr. 1618 the Low-Countries being exceedingly indangered by the growth of Arminianism the States appointed a Synod at Dort for the curing of that disease and amongst other famous Divines Pareus was chosen by the Elector Palatine to goe to it but he being grown very old and infirm desired to be excused and so Paul Tossan was sent in his room February the second Anno Christi 1620 as Pareus was coming out of his study the steps being slippery with the frost his foot slipt and he fell down sixteen steps and yet it pleased God by a wonderful providence that â—he light upon his feet and received no hurt by the fall which made him think of that promise Psal. 91 He will give his Angels charge over thee c. By his Doctrine and Counsel he was admirably advantageous to the Church of God in many places He strongly asserted the truth of God against its adversaries He was a great studier and promoter of the Churches peace labouring that they which agree in the Fundamentals should not jar about matters of an inferiour nature He wrote many excellent Works whereof some were printed by himself others remained with his son Philip Pareus who hath since published them to the great benefit of the Church About that time the Spaniards came into the Palatinate with their Army which brought great miseries upon that poor Country which Pareus foresaw both by Prodigies and Dreams Then did his friends both in Heidleberg and other places perswade him to retire himself to some other place of safety to whom he yeelded that so he might not fall into the hands of those bloody Papists whom he had irritated by his writings against them At his departure hee cried out O Heidleberg O Heidleberg but it 's better to fall into the hands of God then of men whose tender mercies are cruelty He went to Anvilla where he spent his time in Prayer Study and Meditation waiting and longing for the time of his change There also he wrote his Corpus Doctrinae which when he had finished he said Lord now let thy servant depart in peace because he hath finished that which he desired Presently after he felt his strength much to decay and he fell into a Feaver and finding that the air in that place agreed not with him he went thence to Neapolis earnestly begging of God that if it were his holy will he might yet returne to Heidleberg and lay his bones there He made his Will also finding his former Catarrh to return upon him again yet through Gods mercy and by the help of Physicians he recovered whereupon he resolved to goe to Heidleberg and taking his Grand-son young Daniel Pareus with him whom he loved dearly he came safely to Heidleberg where hee was received with wonderfull acclamations of joy about which time Prince Frederick came thither also from his Exile and the Sabbath following they received the Sacrament of the Lords Supper together with much comfort But three dayes after his former disease returning he was sensible of his approaching death The Professors and Ministers resorted to him much bewailing their own loss amongst whom was Henry Alting to whom he freely opened his mind both concerning Gods house and his own and presently after quietly departed in the Lord Anno Christi 1622 and of his age 73. His Works are bound up together in three volumes The Life of Thomas Erpenius who died A no Christi 1624. THomas Erpenius was born at Gâ—rcome in the Low Countries Anno Christi 1584 of honest Parents In his childhood he was bred in the School of Leiden and admitted into that University at eighteen years old and in the twenty fifth year of his age he commenced Master of Arts. Then he fel to the studies of Divinity and of the Oriental Languages under Joseph Scaliger who observing his ingenuity and promptnesse often foretold what an eminent man he would prove in time to come From thence he travelled into England France Italy and Germany in which peregrinations he profited exceedingly both in learning and prudence At Paris he became intimately acquainted with Isaac Causabon and went with him to Samure where he fel hard to the study of Arabick and profited so exceedingly therein that Causabone had him in great admiration and estimation for the same From thence he went to Venice where by the help of some learned Jews and Tâ—rks he learned the Turkish Persian and Aethiopick languageâ— whereby
who was so far affected with his sweet disposition that though he differed from him in some points especially about Universal Redemption yet did he endeavour to carry him along with him to Montalban whither he was called to be the Divinity Professor but prevailed not He sometimes also visited Tilenus and Grotius and had acquaintance with them An. Chri. 1625. in April by the approbation of Mr. Durant he came over into England where he stayd four moneths in which short time he took a survey of the Kingdom learned the Language gat acquaintance with the most learned men and observed many things that were worthy notice as the funeral of King James the arrival of Queen Mary the Parliament the Convocation of the Clergy the Act at Oxford and many other things But the Plague being at that time hot in Oxford according to his former engagement to his Cosen Durant he left England and returned to Paris where he set upon the study of the Chaldee and Syriack Languages and read over the Chaldee Paraphrase of the Prophets and the Evangelists and most of the Epistles in Syriack These were his Halcyon days which were broken off by the death of Mr. Durant who left unto him his whole Library after which he retired himself into the Family of the Noble Arnold Counsellor and Secretary of State who entertained him at his own Table being much delighted with the variety of his Learning and Piety And thus far he lived a private life but in July An. Chr. 1625. he was called by his friends to Geneva and indeed he delighted in that City above all others wishing that there he might fix his station whereupon he hasted thither upon this Call and often spake of the good Providence of God to him therein For when he came to Lyons being to pass over the River Araris he would needs go over in a Boat but by the violence of the stream his Boat was split against an Arch of the Bridge whereby with much difficulty he escaped drowning and so through Gods mercy coming at length to Geneva An. Chri. 1626. he found the Professor of Philosophies place to be void by the death of Gasper Alexius and so by the unanimous vote of all he was preferred before all his Competitors to it whereby after all his travels and troubles he aimed at a safe and quiet harbor Hereupon the better to bind himself to continuance in that place the year after he resolved to marry and pitching his affections upon Carlot a Portu the daughter of the Noble Peter a Portu with the good liking of her friends he marryed her and ever after carryed a tender affection towards her and indeed she well deserved it in regard of her vertues and innocency of manners joyned with Dovelike simplicity free from fraud and guile For she wholly depended upon her husband and was willing to be governed in all things by his advice which is the chief commendations of a wife and so had all things common with him And herein our Spanheim admirably shewed his wisdom who as he was famous abroad so he took special care that no domestick jars should infelicitate his life his endeavour also was not only to preserve but to encrease his outward estate well remembring that speech of the Holy Apostle whereby he requires that a Bishop should govern his house well and keep his children in subjection with all honesty For saith he If a man cannot govern his own family how shall he take care of the Church of God By this wife he had many children whereof some dyed in their infancy but he left seven behinde him all of great towardness especially his two eldest sons who are like to inherit their Fathers vertues But it was not fit that his excellent parts should be shut up within the Schools nor his light put under a bushel which ought so to shine that the Church of God might be illuminated thereby whereupon the Reverend Presbyterie often advised him to apply his minde to the study of Divinity which also he willingly did and so to the great rejoycing of all he was ordained a Minister and indeed so excelled that he exceeded all mens hopes both for his Eloquence and Doctrine And it pleased God to call him forth to the constant exercise of it Anno Christi 1631. at which time Benedict Turretain one of the Professors and his dear friend dying he was by the general consent of all chosen to succeed him at which time he lay sick in bed and dreamed of no such matter This place he discharged for eleven years space with great applause For then he discovered what was afterwards to be expected from him both by his Lectures and Disputations so that that University was never in a better condition then when it was illustrated by the light of Spanhemius An. Chri. 1635. he was chosen Rector of the University at which time he made that excellent Oration which was published in the name of Geneva Reformed being just an hundred years after that City first embraced the Gospel Hereupon the Bernates consulted about drawing him to Lausanna to succeed in the place of James à Portu They of Groning edeavoured to get him to them and the Prince Elector Palatine sought also the same but the miseries which at this time fell upon the Palatinate put an end to those desires At last Leiden obtained him though with much difficulty the Magistrates and Church of Geneva much opposing it Yet the Curators of Leiden insisted with so much earnestness by their frequent Letters to which were added the request of the King of Bohemia of the illustrious States of Holland and West-â—risland and lastly of the States General that with much ado at length they extorted rather then obtained his dismission from Geneva But its worth observation what means they used to retain him with what grief and sorrow they parted with him what a confluence of people brought him forth of the City and with what sighs and tears they parted with him as if in losing him they had lost a principall member of their body Yet before he left Geneva he went to Basil to take the degree of Doctor For in Geneva they use no such degree and therefore whilst he was there he affected it not But being to go to Leiden where it was more necessary he that had been for so many years a Teacher of others now submitted to examination and so was created Doctor And this profit he gat thereby that he veiwed Helvetia and became acquainted with many excellent and learned men especially with Zâ—â—gerus and Buxtorsius whose names were now famous in the Christian World An. Chri. 1642. leaving Geneva he with his whole Family and goods arrived safely in the moneth of October in Leiden just upon that Festival day wherein they celebrated the memorial of their deliverance from the â—panish siege and
Collen where he applyed himself to the study of the Arts and Tongues and afterwards betook himself to the study of Divinity and commenced Batchelor in Divinity Then returned he into his own Country and at Bern was chosen first a Canon and after that a publick Preacher For indeed he excelled all his Colleagues in Piety Learning and Eloquence About this time Hulderick Zuinglius began to Preach at Glorana and afterwards at Zurick the Gospel of Christ purely by whose Ministry it pleased God to enlighten our Haller who not consulting with flesh and blood presently adjoined himself to Zuinglius and endeavoured to propagate the Truth both publickly and privately Anno Christi 1526. the twelve Pages of the Helvetians appointed a Disputation at Baden about matters of Religion whither when Zuinglius could not go with safety Oecolampadius and Haller went thither where they had a great dispute with John Eccius the Pontificians Champion The year after the Bernates which is the most potent Canton of the Switzers desired a Copy of that Disputation and when they could not obtain it and the differences about Religion began to encrease by a publick writing set forth Decemb. the seventeenth they appointed another Disputation in their City to which they invited their neighbor Bishops intreating them also to bring their Divines along with them which if they refused they threatened to lay a fine upon their possessions which were within their Jurisdiction They also invited any other Divines out of other parts to come to the Disputation promising them safety upon the Publick Faith They also agreed upon Laws for the Disputation and published the Questions which were to be handled which were That the Church hath but one head viz. Christ and that she knows not the voice of any other That the Church can make no Laws besides the Word of God and therefore no man is bound by Traditions That Christ hath satisfied for the sins of the World and therefore they which seek out any other way of Salvation or expiating their sins deny Christ. That the body and blood of Christ are not received corporally in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper That the Mass wherein Christ is offered up to his Father for the quick and dead is blasphemy and an abomination before God That Christ alone is our Mediator and Advocate to his Father and that no other is to be sought out or invocated That after this Life there is no Purgatory That Images are not to be worshipped and therefore that all that are set up in Churches for that end ought to be taken away That Matrimony is not prohibited to any order of men January the seventh Anno Christi 1528. this Disputation was held and the issue of it was the most were satisfied in all these points so that presently after Popery was cast out of the City and all the large Territories of the Bernates by the unanimous consent of all though the Pontificians did all that possibly they could to hinder it and by their example some of their neighbors did the like and in particular the City of Geneva When thus our Haller had been a great instrument of Reformation in this Country and had set things in good order in the Church so that his fame began much to spread abroad it pleased God to take him away by an immature death Anno Christi 1536. and of his Age 44. to the great grief of all his friends The Life of Urbanus Regius who dyed Anno Christi 1541. VRbanus Regius was born in Argalonga in the Territories of Count Montfort of honest Parents who bred him up in Learning and when his childhood was over they sent him to Lindau where was a School famous both for the Masters and store of Scholars here he profited much in Grammer Learning so that from thence he was sent to Friburg where he was a diligent Auditor of sundry men excelling in all kinde of Learning Then was he entertained in the house of Zasius an Excellent Lawyer who loved him dearly for his diligence and industry Zasius also allowed him the use of his Library in which Regius did as it were hide himself diligently reading over all such Authors as were fit for his studies and therein especially observed such Notes as Zasius in his younger days had written in the Margins of them which Notes Regius in the night time used to write out so that when Zasius arose sometimes in the night because he could not sleep he still found Regius writing out those Annotations whereupon he used softly to pull him by the Ear saying Thou wilt get all my Art and Learning from me And when at any time he had found him asleep with his head leaning on the table he used to lay one or two great Law-books upon his shoulders and so leave him till he waked Zasius loved him as his son both for the sweetness of his nature and carriage as also for his diligence and industrie in his studies When thus at Friburg he had informed his judgement and stored his minde with Learning he went to Basil that by hearing the Professors of the Arts and Tongues he might enrich himself with more Polite Learning At this time of all the Universities of Germany Ingolstade was the most famous which was governed by John Eccius a most learned man in Philosophy whose fame coming to the Ears of Regius he left Basil and went to Ingolst ade In that place where there was a great confluence of Students besides the publick Lectures there were many which read privately amongst whom Regius also set to reading private Lectures having many that resorted to hear him At last divers Noblemen sent their sons to him to be educated desiring him to furnish their children with books and all other necessaries for which they would take care to pay him again quarterly but when he had run into debt for them they neglected to return their money which caused him to think of departing being tired out with the importunity of his Creditors and having an opportunity he listed himself a Souldier under a Captain that went against the Turks leaving his books and other furniture to be divided amongst the Creditors Being now amongst the Souldiers it happened that John Eccius who was Governor of the University coming forth to see the Souldiers espyed Regius amongst them and enquiring the cause of his so sudden a change he told him how those Noble men had served him whereupon Eccius got him released from his Captain and by his Authority procured the Debts to be paid by the Parents of those Youths which had been with him whereupon he returned to his studies again and growing famous for his wit and learning Maximilian the Emperour passing through Ingolstade made him his Laureat-Poet and Orator After the departure of Maximilian he grew so grateful to Ernest Duke of Bavaria and Leonard Eccius a Noble man
received such abunâ—dant satisfaction by converse with him that ever after they held corespondence with him Shortly after Lodwick the Elector Palatine dying Caâ—imire was made Guardian to his son during his minority whereupon he sent for Tossan to Heidleberg that by his advise and counsell he might reform the Churches But when he came thither his adversaries loured exceedingly upon him and raised many false reports but he remembred that of â—eneca vir bonus quod honestè se facturum put averit faciet etiam si periculosum sit ab honesto nullâ— re deteâ—rebitur ad turpia nulla spe invitabitur An honest man will do that which he judges right though it be dangerous He will not be deterred from that which is honest by any meanes hee will be allured to that which is dishonest by no means His adversaries in their Pulpits daily cryed out of strange Heresies that he and his party held But Prince Casimire first sent for them to argue the case before him and then appointed a Publick disputation wherein they could prove none of those things which they charged them with whereupon the Prince required them to abstain from such accusations for the time to come and to study peace But nothing would prevail to allay their spleene till they were removed into other Countries The care of choosing Pastors to the Churches Tutors to the young Prince Schoolmasters and Professors to the University was divolved upon Tossan all which he discharged with much fidelity Anno Christi 1586. James Grynaeus the chiefe Professor in Heidleberg was called home to Basil in whose roome Tossanus though very unwilling was substituted and therefore to satisfie the Statutes of the University he commenced Doctor in Divinity But as his cares and paines increased so his sorrow also partly by reason of an unhappy quarrel that fell out between the Students and Citizens of Heidleberg partly by the death of his dear wife with whom he had lived twenty two years in wedlock which fell out in the year 1587. and therefore Anno Christi 1588 he married again and disposed of his daughters also in marriage to godly and learned men Not long after Prince Casimire died which much renewed his griefe But Frederick the fourth beeing now come to his age was admitted into the number of the Electors and was very carefull of the good both of the Church and University Anno Christi 1594 Tossan was chosen Rector of the University of Heidleberg and the year after there brake out a greivous Pestilence in that Citie which drove away the students But Tossan remained Preaching comfortably to his people and expounding the Penitentiall Psalmes to those few students that yet remained Anno Christi 1601 hee being grown very old and infirme laid down his Professors place though the University much opposed and earnestly sollicited him to retaine it still but God purposed to give him a better rest after all his labors and sorrows For having in his Lectures expounded the book of Job to the end of the thirtie one Chapter he concluded with those words The words of Job are ended Presently after falling sicke hee comforted himself with these texts of Scripture I have fought the good fight of Faith c. Bee thou faithfull unto the death and I will give thee the crown of life Wee have a City not made with hands eternall in the heavens and many other such like Hee also made his will and set down therein a good confession of his Faith and so departed quietly in the Lord An. Christi 1602 and of his age sixty one He was a very holy man exemplary in his life had an excellent wit strong memorie Eloquent in speech was very charitable and chearfull in his conversation and kept correspondence with all the choisest Divines in those times He wrote many things which were afterwards digested into Tomes and some of his works were published after his death by his Sonne I. WHITGIFT The Life of William Perkins who died A no Christi 1602. WIlliam Perkins was born at Marston in Warwickshire Anno 1558 and brought up at School from which he went to Christ's Colledge in Cambridg where he profited so much in his Studies that having got the grounds of all the liberall Arts he was chosen Fellow of that Colledge in the 24th year of Queen Elisabeth He was very wild in his youth but the Lord in mercie was pleased to reclaim him that he might be an eminent instrument of good in his Church When he first entred into the Ministâ—â—e beeing moved with pittie towards their souls he prevailed with the jaylor to bring the Prisoners fettered as they were to the Shirchouse hard by the Prison where he Preached every Lord's daie to them and it pleased God so to prosper and succeed his labors amongst them that he was the happy instrument of converting many of them unto God Freeing them thereby from the Captivity of sin which was their worst bondage This his practice being once known many resorted to that place out of the neighbor-Parishes to hear him So that from thence he was chosen to Saint Andrews Parish in Cambridge where he Preached all his life after His Sermons were not so plain but the piously learned did admire them nor so learned but the plain did understand them Hee brought the Schools into the Pulpit and unshelling their controversies out of their hard School-tearms made thereof plain and wholsom meat for his people He was an excellent Chirurgion at the jointing of a broken Soul and at stating of a doubtfull conscience so that the afflicted in spirit came far and near to him and received much satisfaction and comfort by him In his Sermons he used to pronounce the word Damn with such an Emphasis as left a dolefull Echo in his auditors ears a good while after And when hee was Catechist in Christ's Colledge in expounding the Commandements he applied them so home to the conscience as was able to make his hearers hearts fall down and their haires almost to stand upright But in his old age he was more miâ—dâ— often professing that to Preach mercy was the proper office of the Ministers of the Gospel In his life he was so 〈◊〉 and spotlesse that Malice was afraid to bite at his credit into which she knew that her teeth could not enter He had a rare felicity in reading of books and as it were but turning them over would give an exact account of all that was considerable therein He perused books so speedily that one would think he read nothing and yet so acurately that one would think he read all Hee was of a cheerfull nature and pleasant disposition Somewhat reserved to strangers but when once acquainted very familiar Besides his frequent Preaching he wrote many excellent books both Treatises and Commentaries which for their worth were many of them translated into