Gardiner said to him How happened it that notwithstanding the Queens Proclamation you dared to preach Saunders Seing the perilous time now at hand I did but according to my duty exhort my flock to persevere and stand stedfast in the Doctrine that they had learned I also remembred those words of the Apostle That its better to obey God then man and what I did I was moved thereto by my conscience Gardiner A goodly conscience surely This your conscience could make our Queen a Bastard would it not Saunders We declare no such matter But for that let them care whose writings are yet abroad to testify the same not without the great shame and reproach of the author This he said because Gardiner to curry favor with King Henry the eighth had published a book wherin he had openly declared Queene Mary to be a Bastard And so going forward he said We onely professe and teach the sincerity and purity of Gods Word which albeit it be now forbidden us to publish with our mouths yet I doubt not but it shall be sealed with our blood The Bishop being vexed at this free speech said Carry away this frensie foole to prison To whom he said I thanke God that at last he hath given me a place of rest where I may pray for your conversion Hee continued in prison one year and three months In a letter to his wife he thus writes I am merry and I trust I shall be merry maugre the teeth of all the Divels in hells Riches I have none to endow you with but that treasure of tasting how sweet Christ is to hungry consciences whereof I thanke my Christ I doe feel part that I bequeath unto you and to the rest of my beloved in Christ c. He was so zealous in the defence of the truth that he forbad his wife to sue for his delivery and when other of his friends had by suit almost obtained it he so discouraged them that they ceased from following their suit Being at last brought againe to examination and life being promised if he would recant he answered I love my life and liberty if I could enjoy them without the hurt of my own conscience but by God's grace I will abide the most extretremity that man can do against mee rather then do any thing against my conscience and when Gardiner threatned him with death he said Welcome be it whatsoever the will of the Lord be either life or death and I tell you truly I have learned to dye But I exhort you to beware of shedding innocent blood Truly it will cry aloud against you Being excommunicated degraded and condemned he was sent to Coventry to be burned When he came near the place of execution he went cheerfully to the stake kissing it and saying Welcome the Cross of Christ Welcome everlasting life The fire by his cruell enemies was made of green wood and other smothering matter which would not burne whereby he was put to grievous torments but the grace and plentifull consolation of Christ which never forsakes his servants gave him admirable strength and patience so that in all he stood quietly and at last sweetly slept in the Lord. During his imprisonment he wrote many excellent Letters and after his condemnation in a Letter to his wife and friends he thus writes Oh what worthy thanks can be given to our gracious God for his unmeasurable mercies plentifully 〈◊〉 upon us And I most unworthy wretch cannot but bewail my great ingratitude towards so gracious a God and loving Father I beseech you all as for my other many sins so especially for my sin of unthankfulness crave pardon for me is your earnest prayers To number Gods mercies in particular were to number the drops of water in the Sea the sands on the shâ—re or the stars in Heaven O my dear Wife and Friends rejoyce with me I say rejoyce with thanksgiving for this my present promotion in that I am made worthy to magnifie my God not onely in my life by my slow mouth and uncircumcised lips bearing witness to his truth but also by my blood to seal the same to the glory of my God and confirming of his true Church I profess to you that as yet the comfort of my sweet Christ doth drive from me the fear of death But if my dear Husband Christ doe for my tryall leave me a little to my selfe Alas I know in what case I shall then be but if he doe yet I know that he will not be long nor far absent from me though he stand behind the wall yet he will peep in at a crâ—vise He is a tender-hearted Joseph though he speak roughly to his brethren and threaten bondage to his best beloved Benjamin yet can be not containe himself from weeping upon us and with us with falling on our necks and sweetly kissing us Such such a brother is our Christ unto all his wherefore hasten to goe unto him as Jacob did with his sons and family leaving their Countrey and Acquaintance Yea this our Joseph hath obtained for us that Pharaoh the Infidel shall provide us Chariots whereby with ease we may be carried to him Our very adversaries do help us to our everlasting blisse by their speedy dispatch blessed be our God Fear not bugbears which lye in the way fear rather the everlasting fire c. My dear Wife and fellow Heirs of the everlasting Kingdom always remember the Lord Rejoyce in hope be patient in tribulation continue instant in prayer and pray for us appointed for the slaughter that we may be unto our heavenly Father a fat offering and an acceptable sacrifice c. Farowel all in Christ in hope to be joyned with you in everlasting joy Amen Amen Amen Pray Pray Doctor Pendleton and this Mr Saunders meeting together in the beginning of Queen Maries reign and speaking of the Persecution that was like to ensue about which Master Saunders shewed much weaknes and many fears Pendleton said to him What man there is much more cause for me to fear than for you forasmuch as I have a bigge and fat body yet will I see the utmost drop of this grease of mine molten away and the last gobbet of this flesh of mins consumed to ashes before I will forsake Iesus Christ and his Truth which I have professed Yet not long after upon trial poor feeble saint-hearted Saunders by the power and goodness of God sealed the Truth with his blood whereas proud Pendleton played the Apostate and turned Papist The Life of John Hooper who died Anno Christi 1555. JOhn Hooper was a Student and Graduate in the University of Oxford where having abundantly profited in the study of other Sciences he was stirred up with a fervent desire to the love and knowledge of the Scriptures in which study he joyned earnest prayers to his diligence for the better understanding of the same
impiety On the contrary Socrates out of Eusebius his writings endeavours to vindicate him from that charge Learned Scultetus thus reconciles them Aries saith he denyed two things The Eternity of the Son of God his Co-equality with the Father Eusebius doth every where profess the Eternity of Christ But his Co-equality he never seriously believed He used to say That Moses wrote the Old Law in dead Tables of stone but Christ did write the perfect Documents of the New Testament in living Souls He flourished under Constantinus Magnus and Constantius His Ecclesiastical History is well known besides which he wrote some other Books as Libri Praeparationis Evangelicae 15. Libri Demonstrationis Evangelicae decem and some others which are lost The Life of Lactantius who flourished An. Chri. 308. LUcius Caelius was an Italian by birth and from his Country Firmia was called Firmtanus d lacteo dicendi genere was called Lactantius He sometime lived at Rome where he was scholar to Arnobius under whom he profited exceedingly and became so famous for his Eloquence that he far surpassed his Master therein Wimphelingus contends to have him a German by birth and saith that there is till this day a famous family of the Firmiani in Germany who boast themselves to be the Progenie of Lactantius Having perfected his Studies at Rome he went into Bythinia where he taught Oratory under the raign of Dioclesian and Constantine and when he saw the Christian Religion to want some Eloquent Defenders of it he took pen in hand and besides divers others writings which are perished he wrote his seven Books of Institutions against the Gentiles a Book De Ira Dei of the Anger of God and another of Gods Workmanship Also an Epitome of the Divine Institutions Other things that are fathered upon him are spurious saith the Learned Scultetus About the nineteenth year of Dioclesian there was an horrible Persecution raised against the Church of Christ wherein the Christian Churches were demolished the Sacred Scriptures and other godly Books were burnt the Christians themselves were dragged to most inhumane tortures and torments yea where any were found that constantly adhered unto Christ they were cruelly martyred yet it pleased God to hide Lactantius in this great storm though he retained his Piety fearing no torments but resolved both in Life and Death to cleave close unto Christ. He Dedicated most of his Works to Constantin Magn. Hierom faith of him Lactantius quasi quidâ—m fluvius Tullianae Eloquentis Lactantius flowed with Eloquence yea as abounding as Tullie himself c. In his old Age for his rare Parts he was appointed Tutor to Constantine's Son He was so far from seeking after riches that he died very poor He used to say That godliness alwayes enriches the possessor He flourished under Dioclesian Anno Christi 308. ATHANATIVS The Life of Athanasius who dyed Anno Christi 375. AThanasius was born in Alexandria and by the care of his Parents was brought up in all sorts of Learning both Humane aud Divine Being a boy upon a solemn sestival day he was playing amongst other boys who would needs imitate the Church in her Sacred Offices and for that end they chose Athanasius for their Bishop who acted his part well examining other boys about the Principles of Religion to prepare them for Baptism It fell out that whilest they were at their sport came by Alexander the Bishop of Alexandria and observing the manner of their past-time he called them before him examining every boy what part he had acted thereby gathering their dispositions for future imployments Then did he cause them all to be carefully educated in good Learning but above all he took a love to and was exceeding careful of the education of Athanasius for his ingenuity diligence and towardliness and when he came to ripeness of years he made him Deacon and finding him a nimble and good Disputant he took him with him to the Council of Nice summoned by Constantine the Great against the Arians to aid and assist him in his Disputations which procured him much hatred and trouble from the Arians as afterwards we shall hear Alexander having by long familiarity with him gained experience of his Piety Parts and Zeal in defending the Truth against the Hereticks of those times when he lay upon his death bed was directed by God to choose Athanasius for his successor in his Bishopâ—ick which Athanasius having intelligence of hid himself that he could not be found Yet did Alexander call for him and when he came not being now near death he said O Athanasius thou thinkest that thou canst escape yet shalt thou not escape this Office After the death of Alexander he was searched out and made his Successor This so irritated the Arians who had now crept into favour with the old Emperor that they sought by all means to cast him out of Alexandria and for that end they accused him to the Emperour as the Author of much Sedition and of many tumults in the Church they charged him with keeping many out of the Church which desired to return into the Unity of it by which means Peace and Concord was prevented they procured many Bishops and Presbyters to attest the truth of these things to the Emperour professing themselves to be Orthodox and accusing Athanasius and the Bishops that adhered to him to be the Authors of the murthers bonds unjust stripes wounds and burnings in the Church Athanasius on the contrary wrote to the Emperour that those Arians were the Authors of unlawful Ordinations and of innovating the Decrees of the Council of Nice of corrupting the Faith of Seditions and of prosecuting the Orthodox with unjust contumelies and reproaches The good old Emperour in these various informations knew not whom to believe but the Arians being about him having his Ear at command they procured the Emperour to write to Athanasius to require him to prohibit none from entring into the Church and if he should do otherwise he threatned to drive him out of Alexandria and to place another Bishop in his room Hereupon Athanasius wrote back to the Emperour labouring to convince him that the Arians ought not to be admitted to communicate with the Catholick Church Eusebius one of the chiefest of these Arians perceiving that he could not this way prevail against Athanasius intended secretly to make him away but not finding how to effect it he spake with the Miletians other Hereticks promising that if they would accuse Athanasius to the Emperour he would so far prevail with him and some other great persons about him that their cause should be heard Hereupon they put in a charge against Athanasius that he had imposed a Tribute of Linnen Garments upon the Egyptians affirming that he had also gathered the same But it pleased God that by chance there were present Alippius and Macarius two Presbyters of Alexandria who easily refelled and wiped off
c. help me with your Prayers By the way as he went he gave much Alms and at the place of Execution he spake to the people confessing his Faith by rehearsing the Articles of the Creed and afterwards prayed privately with earnest elevation of his Eyes and Hands to Heaven Being tyed to the stake the Fryars desired him to declare his charity to them by assuring the people that they were not the causers of his death for said they they think that we have procured it and thereupon will withdraw their charitable alms from us whereupon he said I pray you good people be never the worse to these men for my sake for they were not the Authors of my death The fire being kindled the winde drove away the flame from him so that he was the longer a burning holding up his hands crying sometimes Jesus sometimes Credo and so at last yeelded up his spirit unto God Anno Christi 1531. WILLIAM TINDALL The Life of William Tindal who dyed Anno Christi 1536 WIlliam Tindal was born about the borders of Wales and brought up from a childe in the University of Oxford where he grew up and encreased in the knowledge of the Tongues and the Liberal Arts but especially in the Scriptures whereunto his minde was singularly addicted insomuch as being in Magdalen-Hall he read privately to some Fellows and Students some parts of Divinity instructing them in the knowledge and truth of the Scriptures His â—ife also was so blameless that he acquired much love and esteem thereby After he had profited exceedingly and taken his degrees there he remoued to Cambridge and being well ripened in the knowledge of Gods Word he went to live with one Mr. Welch in Glocestershire where he was Tutor to his children and many Abbots and Doctors resorting thither Mr. Tindal discoursing with them of Luther Erasmus c. shewed them plainly his judgement in Religion proving the same by the Word of God and confuting their Errors which caused them to bear a secret grudge in their hearts against him Not long after it happened that some of these great Doctors invited Master Welch and his Lady to a banquet where they had talk at will uttering their blinde Superstitions without gainsaying Then Master Welch and his Lady coming home and calling for Master Tindal began to reason with him about those matters whereof they had talked before with the Priests Mr. Tindal answering by the Scriptures maintained the Truth and confuted their Errors whereupon the â—ady Welch said There was such a Doctor as may expend 100 l. per annum and such an one as may spend 200 l. per annum and such another as may spend 300 l. per annum and is it reason think you that we should believe you before them Mr. Tindal gave her no answer at that time and talked but little afterwards of those matters because he saw it was in vain But fell upon translating a book called Enchiridion miliâ—s Christiani and having finished it he gave it to the Knight and his Lady who after they had well read and perused the same did not more so often invite the Doctorly Prelates to their house as before neither had they that chear and countenance when they came as formerly which they well perceiving supposed that it was by the means of Mr. Tindal whereupon they utterly withdrew themselves and came no more thither Then did the Country Priests cluster together storming and railing against Mr. Tindal in their Alehouse-meetings concerning whom himself writes thus I was saith he in that Country much molested by a company of unlearnnd Priests that had never seen more Latine then in their Portesses and Missals which yet many of them can â—carcely read and if they be but sorrily learned they get Albertus Magnus de secretis mulierum which they pore night and day upon making notes therein c. These men railed and raged against him affirming that he held heretical opinions and thereupon accused him to the Bishop and Chancellor whereupon the Chancellor appointed those Priests and Mr. Tindal also to appear before him and Mr. Tindal suspecting the matter as he went prayed heartily unto God to give him strength to stand fast to the Truth When he came the Chancellor threatned him grievously reviling and rating him as though he had been a Dog accusing him of many things whereof no proof could be brought and so dismissed him for the present Not long after Mr. Tindal happening into the company of one that was esteemed a learned Doctor in disputing with him he drave him to that issue that the Doctor burst out into these blasphemous words We had better be without Gods Laws then the Popes Mr. Tindal hearing this full of godly zeal replyed I defie the Pope and all his Laws and if God spare me life ere many years I will cause a boy that drives the Plough to know more of the Scripture then you do The rage of the Priests encreasing Mr. Tindal told Mr. Welch that he well perceived that he could stay there no longer with safety and that his stay might be prejudicial to his Family and therefore with his good leave he departed and went to London where he preached a while as he had done in the Country before And then hearing a great commendation of Cuthbert Tonstal Bishop of London he endeavored to get into his service but the Lord saw that it was not good for him and therefore he found little favor in the Bishops sight Remaining thus in London about the space of a year and being desirous for the good of his Country to translate the New Testament into English he found that there was no place for him to do it in England and therefore being assisted by Master Humphry Manmouth a godly Citizen and other good men he left the land and went into Germany where this good man being inflamed with a tender care of and zeal for his Country refused no travel nor pains if by any means possible he might reduce his Brethren and Countrymen of England to the same taste and understanding of Gods holy Word and Truth which the Lord had endued him withall Then conferring with Master John Frith he thought in his minde that no way would more conduce thereunto then if the Scriptures were translated into their vulgar language that so the people might fee the plain text before them for he well perceived that one great cause of Error was because the knowledge of the Scriptures was hidden from the peoples Eyes upon these considerations he there set upon this work Translating the New Testament Anno Christi 1527. and then setting upon the Old he finished the five Books of Moses with sundry most learned and godly Prologues prefixed before every one of them the like also he did upon the New Testament Besides divers other godly Treatises which he wrote there
the chiefest Divines of those times who were his special friends as Beza Dan. Tossanus George Sohnius Will Stuckius Pareus Pitiscus c. He had two Wives the first was Mary the daughter of James Grynaeus who dyed in childbed the other was Salome Wasserâ—unia who died the same year with himself Scripsit Commentarium in Danielem contra Bellarminum Analysin Hosea cum Orationibus Historicis Dialecticis De morte Christi pro quibus eam subierit De quatuor Manarchiis â—pud Danielem Analysin Malachiae Partitiones Theologicas Syntagma Theologiae c. The Life of Thomas Holland who died A no Christi 1612. THomas Holland was born in Shropshire Anno Christi 1539 and brought up in Exceter Colledge in Oxford where he took his degrees with much applause Afterwards he Commenced Dr. in Divinity was chosen Master of the Colledge and for his excellent learning was preferred to be the Regius Professor or Doctor of the Chair wherein he succeeded Dr. Humphred and so deported himself in the same that he gat the approbation and admiration both of that of Oxford and of Forreign Univeâ—sities also He was like Apollos a man mighty in the Scriptures and as one saith of him Adeò cum Patribus familiaris ac si ipse Pater cum Scholasticis ac si Seraphicus Doctor i. e. He was so familiarly acquainted with the Fathers as if himself had been one of them and so vers'd in the Schoolmen as if hee were the Seraphick Doctor He was also a faithfull Preacher of the Truth and one that adorned it by his holy life and conversation a zealous defender of the true Religion and a great hater of superstition and Idolatry Insomuch that when he went any journey calling the Fellows of the Colledge together he used to say to them Commendo vos dilectioni Dei â—dio Papatûs superstitionis I commend you to the love of God and to the hatred of Popery and superstition He continued Doctor of the Chair twenty years and was every way as famous for his Religion and holyness of life as he was for his learning When in his old age he grow weak and sickly he spent all his time in fervent prayers and heavenly meditations and when his end approached he often sighed out Come O Come Lord Jesus thou morning star Come Lord Jesus I desire to be dissolved and to be with thee and so he quietly departed in the Lord Anno Christi 1612 and of his age 73. I. DRVSIVS The Life of John Drusius who died A no Christi 1616. JOhn Drusius was born at Aldenard Anno Christi 1550 and first brought up to School in the â—ity of Gaunt and from thence went to the University of Lovain But whilst hee was following his study hard there his Father was proscribed for Religion and thereby deprived of all his estate which caused him to fly into England taking this his son along with him When he came to London he met with Cevalerius lately come thither that was exceeding skilfull in the Hebrew His Lectures therefore he attended upon both in publick and private and when Cevalerius was sent to Cambridge to be the Professor there Drusius went along with him applying himself especially to the study of Greek Afterwards when Cevalerius was called back into France Drusius still accompanyed him and fell hard to the study of the Hebrew He also privately read the same to two young English Gentâ—emen After a while he returned to London again and when hee was purposed to goe back into France he hâ—ard of that bloody Massacre at Paris which made him alter his minde and having preferment profered to him either in Oxford or Cambridge he chose Oxford where for the space of four yeares he read Hebrew Chalde and Syriack with great commendation After which time he went back to Lovain but not long enjoying peace there he returned to London again where he continued till the peace was concluded at Gaunt and then went over into Flanders and from thence into Zeland where the States of Holland chose him to be the Professor in Hebrew Chalde and Syriack in the University of Leiden Anno Christi 1577. During his abode there he married a Wife and the States of Frisland having newly erected a University at Franequer they called him thither In which place he continued taking great paines for the space of thirty one yeares and at length resigned up his spirit unto God Anno Christi 1616 and of his age sixty and six The Life of John James Grynaeus who died A no Christi 1617. JOhn James Grynaeus was born at Berne in Helvetia Anno Christi 1540. His Father was first a Professor in Basil and afterwards removed to a Pastoral charge at Raetela who died of the Plague Anno Christi 1564. His mother was Adelheida Stuberina both of them godly persons His father took the care of his first learning educating him under his own wings and afterwards Anno Christi 1547 hee was sent to School to Basil under Thomas Plater an excellent Schoolmaster with whom he profited so much that Anno Christi 1551 upon examination he was admitted into the University under Boniface Amerbachius the very next year the Plague being hot in Basil he fell sick of the plague but it pleased God to restore him again and he followed his study hard He heard his own Father reading Greek and Latine Huld Coccius reading Logick and John Nisaeus reading Poetry and Rhetorick Anno Christi 1556 his Father was called to a Pastoral charge at Raetela but our James stayed still at Basil joyning the study of Divinity with that of Philosophy One of the Professors of Divinity at that time was Simon Sulcerus who being an Ubiquitarian misled our Grynaeus into the same error as himself confesseth adding that he continued in it for ten years and misled others likewise till at length through Gods mercy he was brought into the way of truth Anno Christi 1559 he began to preach and was ordained Deacon by Sulcerus who was the Superintendent of those Churches which office he supplyed till the year 1563 at which time by the advice of his father and friends he went to Tubing for the further improvement of his learning though himself had rather have gone to Wittenberg where Charlet Marquess of Baden having heard him preach and being taken with him had profered him an exhibition of an hundred Florens per annum When he came to Tubing he delivered his Letters of commendation to Doctor Andreas and so was admitted into that University where he heard Andreas Heerbrand Snepfius and Brentius for Divinity Samuel Hailand for Philosophy and others for the other Arts and it pleased God that he met with William Stuckius of Zurich whom he had formerly known and who now became a partner in his studies and remained his intimate friend ever after Anno
THE MARROW OF Ecclesiastical History CONTAINED IN The LIVES of one hundred forty eight FATHERS SCHOOLMEN first REFORMERS and MODERN DIVINES which have flourished in the Church since Christ's time to this present Age Faithfully collected and orderly disposed according to the CENTURIES wherein they lived Together With the Lively Effigies of most of the eminentest of them cut in COPPER The second Edition enlarged in most of the Lives with the addition of nine Lives which were not in the Former By SAMUEL CLARK Pastor of Bennet Fink London Vt qui praeceptis non accendimur saltem exemplis incitemur atque in appetitu Rectitudinis nil sibi mens nostra difficile astimet quod perfectè peragi ab aliis videt Greg. Mag. l. 9. c 43. Wherefore seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us and let us run with patience the race which is set before us Heb. 12. 1. London Printed for T. V. and are to be sold by William Roybould at the Vnicorn in Pauls-Church-yard 1654. To the Christian Reader CHRISTIAN READER THe nature of man is more apt to be guided by Examples then by Precepts especially by the the examples of men eminently learned and of great repute for Pietie and Godliness Such men are as Looking-glasses to the places where they live by which most people dress themselves and when they fall into sin they fall like men in a croud many falling with them The bodies of men are not so subject to be infected by the illness of the ayr as the souls of men by the ill examples of godly learned Ministers When Peter at Antioch dissembled many of the Jews dissembled likewise with him and Barnâ—ibas was brought into their dissimulation also It is very remarkable that this example of Peter is said to be a constraining of the Gentiles to Judaize Why constrainest thou the Gentiles to do as the Jews Gal. 2 14. There is a compulsive power in the ill examples of godly men to constrain others to do the evil that they do and therefore let godly Ministers especially in these days take heed least by any wicked compliance they build men up in sin and bring destruction upon themselves as the two sons of old Ely did who by their wicked examples made the people of Israel to transgress and thereby brought ruine upon their old Father and themselves 1 Sam. 2. 24. And so on the contrary there is a heavenly power and efficacy in the good examples of men eminent in place and godliness to draw others to Pietie and Holiness As long as Joshua lived and the Elders that had seen all the great works of the Lord that he did for Israel the children of Israel served the Lord. The religious cariage of Theodosius the Emperour in his family made not only his family but his whole Court to be a nourcery of Religion Pezel Mel Hist. in vita Theodo 2. But this is most especially seen in the godly Lives of godly and learned Ministers Herod the King reverenced John Baptist observed him and when he heard him did many things and heard him gladly not so much for the love of his doctrine as because he was a just and holy man and as Jesus Christ saith of him a burning and shining light burning in holy zeal for God as well as shining in Orthodox Doctrine He is called by the Prophet The voyce of him that cryeth in the wilderness And as Nazianzen saith of him he cryed louder by the holiness of his life then the sincerity of his doctrine He was Tota vox All voyce his apparel his diet and his conversation did Preach holiness as well as his doctrine Mar. 6 20. John 5. 35. Isay 40. 3. And therefore is cannot but be a work very profitable to the Church of Christ for any man to write a History of the Lives of the eminently learned and godly Ministers of former times as a fair Copy for Posterity to write after and a Patten for them to imitate This Reverend religious and learned Author hath undertaken this work in this ensuing Treatise and effected it so well as that I thought it not sufficient to give a naked Imprimatur unto it without this additional commendation both of the Author and of his work The Apostle having in the eleventh Chapter to the Hebrews given us a littleâ—Book of Martyrs in the beginning of the twelfth Chapter he calls them A cloud of witnesses Such a cloud of witnesses is contained in this Book And as the childreu of Israel were directed in their journeys by the Pillar of a Cloud that went before them as long as they were in the Wilderness so let us make this cloud of Witnesses so far as it followeth Christ a Pillar of Cloud to guide us while we are in the Wilderness of this World till we come to enjoy that unexpressible happiness of which they are now made partakers So prayeth your servant in Christ Jesus EDMUND CALAMY TO THE Christian Reader Christian Reader THE right improvement of good Examples doth reach the highest ends of man viz. Gods honor and the souls welfare It was an honor unto King David to have so many men of valor under his command And doubtless the wisdom faith love Zeal courage and humility which Gods faithful servants in the several ages of the Church have expressed in their attendance upon him do publish the high praises of his blessed Majesty For if there appear so much worth in small drops what is there in the Seas of Divine Al-sufficiencie He that seeth the Sun-beams bright will see cause to admire the brightness of the Sun it self The luster left upon Moses his face by the reflection of the glory of Gods back parts was a full demonstration of the incomparable infinite glory of his face When we read of me raised above the World despising promises and scorning threatnings whereby they have been assaulted to desert the Truth of the Gospel and to make shipwrack of a good conscience how can we do less then glorifie God in them For can any power on this side Omnipotencie enable sinful men to deny themselves their dearest relations and the greatest earthly advantages for Jesus Christ How much of Deity shines in their Lives who could trample upon preferments laugh at imprisonment and banishment yea with smiles and joys embrace stakes and endure flames in love unto the Lord Jesus Oh what abundant occasion is administred of adoring the most High God in his rich perfections faithfulness and unchangeableness when we consider how even to admiration he hath furnished many of his Ambassadors with raised parts and graces to defend his cause and edifie his Church in the several corners of the World from generation to generation Histories hold forth the acknowledgements extorted from Heathens to the honor of the true God upon the notice taken of Christians gracious carriage both
troubled Augustine coming to Carthage where he was profered to dispute with him in the presence of many Noble men But this Heretick though he accepted the challenge would by no means suffer any thing to be written which passed betwixt them his pretence was least that which was written might be made use of against him to his prejudice because of the Law Hereupon Augustine consented privately to dispute with him without Notaries yet withall foretelling that after the Disputation every one would take liberty to make what reports they pleased of things never spoken because there was nothing set down in writing to refel them Augustine in the conference declared his Faith and Judgement requiring an account of the same from the other by Arguments and Authority of the Scriptures he confirmed his own and refelled the Errors of the other which so enraged him that he brake up the conference and when he was departed he falsly reported that he had overcome Augustine and scattered abroad many such lyes which coming to the Ears of Augustine he was compelled to write to Pascontius and therein to set down all the passages of the conference which if he should deny he was able to produce many witnesses for the proof thereof both worthy and Honorable men who were then present But he being thus twice written to by Augustine scarce returned a single answer wherein also he rather railed then asserted his Opinions Also when the Goths came into Africk there came along with them one Maximus an Arian Bishop who coming to Hippo at the earnest request of many godly and eminent men and in their presence Augustine entred into the Lists with him having Notaries to write down all that passed betwixt them His Adversary shewed more subtilty then solidity but the Truth prevailed yet this impudent Heretick when he was returned to Carthage amongst his own Sectaries lyingly boasted that he came away with the Victory whereupon Augustine was enforced to publish in writing a Narrative of the whole Disputation with all the Objections and Answers withall shewing wherein Maximus failed and to what Arguments he was able to give no Answer He took great pains also by the space of ten years against the Pelagians who were subtle Disputants publishing their Heresies by a very cunning way and endeavouring to propagate them not only in Publick but from house to house Against these Augustine wrote many Books and often disputed with them in the Congregation both to reduce them and preserve others from the infection of their Errors He was the Author also of calling many Councils in Africk against them who wrote to the Bishop of Rome that that Heresie was abominable and to be condemned by all that adhered to the Catholick Faith whereupon the godly Emperour Honorius taking cognizance of it condemned it by his Laws and appointed the holders of it to be reckoned amongst the Hereticks whereby many of them forsaking their Errors returned to the true Church again Thus was this holy man of God Augustine very solicitous about and careful of the safety of the whole Church and truly God gave him much comfort and occasion of rejoycing in the fruit of his labors even in this life First in Hippo and the Country thereabouts which was more immediately under his charge the Churches thereof enjoying much Unity and Peace Then in other more remote parts of Africk which either by his labors or by the labors of such of his Society as were called forth to be Bishops and Ministers in other places were very much established in the Truth many Manichees Donatists Pelagians and Pagans being converted from their Errors and rejoycing that they were now made Members of the true Church He was very patient towards all men he bore with the infirmities of the weak mourned for the sins of the wicked both of such as were within and without the Church rejoycing when any were gained to the Lord and weeping when any were lost So many things were dictated and published by him so many Disputations held in the Church so many things written against Hereticks and so many Books of Sacred Scripture expounded by him for the edification of the godly that a studious man all his life long can scarcely know and read over And knowing the duty imposed by Saint Paul 1 Cor. 6. 1 c. of endeavouring to decide Controversies he was very forward whensoever he was requested either by Christians or by men of any other Sect to compromise and decide their Controversies with much patience and prudence hearing both parties that so he might pass a righteous sentence and that he might the more fully take cognizance of the cause he used sometime to spend a whole day fasting to hear the same always taking advantage thereby to do what possible good he could to their souls like a good Steward Preaching the Word in season out of season Exhorting Instructing and Reproving with all long suffering and Doctrine endeavouring to instruct the Ignorant and to quicken those that were remiss in the way to Heaven Many Letters he wrote to such as sought to him for counsel and direction in their secular affairs But this he thought a trouble to him and hinderance from better imployments and therefore he always thought best of those who would either write or speak to him about Heavenly businesses He seldom was absent from the Councils which were often held in divers Provinces yet always seeking therein the things which were of God and not his own advantage His endeavour was that the Faith of the Holy Catholick Church might be preserved inviolate that such Ministers as were unjustly Excommunicate might be absolved that such as were wicked and obstinate might be cast out In the Ordination of Ministers he always judged that the consent of the godly should concur in it and that the custom of the Church should not be violated Upon a time Augustine forgetting the Argument which he first proposed to proâ—ecute fell upon a confutation of the Manichees and one Firmus a rich Merchant and a Manichee hearing him was so convinced that he came to him after and with tears on his knees confessed his Errors and promised Reformation Also one Felix a Manichee coming to Hippo to spread his Heresie in a Disputation with Augustine after the third time was so convinced that he recanted his Errors and was joined to the Church He was termed Hereticorum Malleus The hammer against Hereticks He won also many Pagans to embrace the Truth He took much pains in ending disferences His Apparel was neither sumptuous nor sordid his Diet usually was Broth and Roots He used to say Non ego immunditiam obsonii timeo sed immunditiam cupidâ—tatis Scio enim Noe omne genus carnis quod cibo esset usui mâ—nducare permissum Heliam Cibo carnis refectum c Though for his Guests and sick-folks he had better His Dishes for his meat were of Earth or
This Embassie of yours is just like to the Devils dealing with Christ when he promised him al the World if he would fal down and worship him but for my own part I am resolved not to depart from the Truth which God hath revealed unto me but before the return of the Ambassadour Duke George was dead whereupon this Henry notwithstanding all the opposition of the Papists made this Reformation in the Churches which work being finished Myconius visited all the Churches in Thuringia and with the help of Melancthon and some other he provided them Pastors and Schoolmasters and procured stipends to be setled upon them for their maintenance The rest of his life he spent in Preaching Praying and writing of Letters many great persons in Universities and the chief Churches holding correspondence with him amongst whom were Luther Melancthon Cruciger Menius Basilius Monerus John Langus Mechlerus John Marcellus Matthew Ratzenbergerus c. Anno Christi 1541. He fell into a Consumption whereof he wrote to Luther That he was sick not to death but to life which gloss upon the Text pleased Luther excellently well unto whom he wrote back I pray Christ our Lord our Salvation our Health c. that I may not live to see thee and some others of our Colleagues to dye and go to Heaven and to leave me hear amongst the Devils alone I pray God that I may first lay down this dry exhausted and unprofitable tabernacle farewel and God forbid that I should hear of thy death whil'st I live Sed te superstitem faciat mihi Deus hoc peto volo fiat voluntas mea Amen quia haec voluntas gloriam nominis Dei certè non meam voluptatem nec copiam quaerit A while after Myconius recovered according to this Prayer though his disease seemed to be desperate and out-lived it fix years even till after Luthers death whereupon Justus Jonas speaking of Luther saith of him Iste vir potuit quodvoluit That man could have of God what he pleased A little before Myconius his death he wrote an excellent Epistle to Joan. Frederick Elector of Saxony wherein he praiseth God for raising up three successively in that Family viz. Frederick John and John Frederick to undertake the patronage of Luther c. He was a man of singular piety of solid learning of a dextrous judgement of a burning zeal and of admirable candor and gravity He dyed of a relapse into his former disease Anno Christi 1546. and of his Age 55. His Works were these Expositio in Evan. Marci Enarrationes in Psalmum 101. Expositiones in Evan. secundum Matthaeum Lucam Johannem Commentaria in Jesaiam Jeremiam Jonam Narratio de vita morte Zuinglii Sermo de liberis recte educandis De crapula ebrietate De faenore usura c. Iohn Stigetias made this Epitaph upon him Quo duce Gotha tibi monstrata est Gratia Christi Haec pia Mâ—conii contegit ossa lapis Doctrina vitae tibi moribus ille reliquit Exemplum Hoc ingens Gotha tuere decus The Life of John Diazius who dyed Anno Christi 1546. IOhn Diazius was born in Spain and brought up at School afterwards he went to Parâ— to study the Arts where he continued thirteen years but it pleased God that whilst he read over the holy Scriptures and some of Luthers Books and other Protestant Divines he began to see and abominate the Errors of Popery and therefore to further himself in the knowledge and study of the Truth he went to Geneva where he spake with Calvin and was very dear unto him From thence he went to trasborough where Martia Buâ—er observing his Learning Piety and diligence in his study obtained of the Senate that he should be joined with him to go to the Disputation at Ratisbone and when he came thither he went to Peter Malvenda a Spaniard the Popes Agent in Germany who when he knew that he came in the company of Bucâ—r and the other Protestant Divines he was much astonished and admired how he was so much changed from that which he knew him to be at Paris and withall he fretted exceedingly that they had gotten a Spaniard amongst them presuming that they would triumph more in him then in many Germanes whereupon he left no means untryed to draw him back again to the Church of Rome sometimes making large profers and promises to him other-sometimes threatning severe punishments and mixing both with earnest entreaties He also advised him by no means to stay at Ratisbon till the Emperours coming for saith he that cannot be without great danger to you rather haste to his Court and beg your pardon Also at another conference Malvenda asked him wherefore he was to Ratisbone Diazius answered that he was sent thither by the Senate of Strasborough that he might join his Prayers with the Prayers of the Church and in the publick conference might endeavor reconcilement as much as he could in those Articles which were to be disputed of Then said Malvenda you are come hither in vain for nothing will be concluded at this conference but if you would do good you should rather go to the Council that the Pope hath begun at Trent But when by no means he could prevail to divert him from the Truth he sent for his brother Alphonsus Diazius one of the Popes Lawyers from Rome who hearing that his Brother was turned Protestant came speedily into Germany bringing a notorious cut-throat with him resolving either to divert or destroy him when he came to Ratisbone Diazius was departed to Neoburg about the printing of Bucers Book which Alphonsus hearing of followed him thither carrying with him Letters to Iohn Diazius from Malvenda wherein he wished him to obey his Brother Alphonsus who would give him good Counsel When Alphonsus came to Neoburg his Brother Iohn wondred to see him there asking him the cause of his so unlooked for presence after some other excuses at length he told him that he had undertook that long and dangerous journey to recall him into the bosome of the Church Hereupon they had much conference about matters of Religion and at length Alphonsus told him that he had five hundred Ducats per annum in Church revenues all which he would make over to him if he would go with him to Rome But when by no means he could prevail with him fetching a deep sigh he said Brother I perceive the constancy of your Faith â—nd your unmoveablness in adhering to the Doctrine of the Gospel to be so great that you have almost drawn me unto your opinion Yea upon further discourse he seemed to be in love with the Doctrine of the Gospel and thereupon perswaded Iohn to leave Germany which abounded with learned men and where there was less use of him and to go with him into Italy Rome
at him with his drawne sword and if God by a speciall providence had not prevented had slaine him The Flacians especially continually railed upon and threatned him whereupon he said Avide tranquillo animo expecto exilia sicut ad Principes scripsi dixerunt adversarii se perfecturos esse ut non sim habiturus vestigium ubi pedem collocare possem in Germania Utinam hoc cito perficiant ut filius Dei ad Judam dicit Erit mihi vel in caelo morienti vestigium vel si vivam in hoc corpore apud honestos Doctos viros vel in Germania vel alibi At stultitiam inimicorum miror qui sese Dominos Germaniae esse existimant me his minis terreri He was somewhat sickly being sometimes troubled with the Cholick and hypocondriacall winde He had a strong braine without which it had not been possible for him to have gone through so many and great businesses for so many years together In his diet he was content with a little He was modest in all his life In his apparel he had respect to his health He was liberall to all affable and courteous One George Sabine travelling to Italy and Rome for the improvement of his learning a certain Cardinall discoursing with him about Wittenberg asked him what stipend they allowed to Melancthon Sabine answered Three hundred Florences by the year Then said the Cardinal O ungratefull Germany who makest no more account of the many and great labours of so eminent a man On a time Prince Maurice Elector of Saxony asked Melancthon if he wanted any thing for the supplie of his necessities He told him No. Then did the Elector bid him Ask what he would to which he answered that he had his stipenâ—â— with which he was well content yet the Elector bid him again Ask to which he answered Since your Excellency will have me to ask something I crave leave to be dismissed from my place and imployments Whereupon the Elector intreated him to continue in them still wondring at his contentedness with so small means When he was first himselfe converted he thought it impossible for his hearers to withstand the evidence of the Truth in the Ministry of the Gospel But after he had been a Preacher a while he complained that Old Adam was too hard for young Melancthon He is called by one Phoenix Germaniae alter Elizaeus He used to say that there were three labours very difficult Regentis Docâ—ntis Parturientis of Magistrates Ministers and Women in Travel He made his own Epitaph Iste brevis tumulus miseri tenet ossa Philippi Qui qualis fuerit nescio talis erat Here lies iâ— terred in these stones Much afflicted Philips bones For alwayes such 〈◊〉 life was her I know not what in death heel hee Scripsit Melancthon volumina insinita variis in locis impressa Cuâ—us tamen lucubrationes editas usque ad annum 1541. Hervagius excudit Basiliae Tomis quinque anno Christi 1546. But afterwards there were many more of his works published the Catalogue whereof you may find in Verheiden JO ALASCO The Life of Iohn Lascus who died A no Christi 1558. JOhn Lascus was borne of a Noble family in Poland and brought up in learning Afterwards travelling to Zurick in Helvetiad he was by Zuinglius perswaded to betake himself to the study of Divinity and having thereby imbraced that Religion which hath its foundation upon the word of God he was very desirous to increase in holiness He had a very great love to Christ and his people A great hatred to Popery and Superstition and a great contempt of the world so that whereas he might have been preferred to great honour in his own Countrey such was his love to Christ and his Church and such his hatred to Popery that he chose with Moses to suffer affliction with the people of God rather then to live in worldly honour and peace amongst his friends Coming into Frisland Anno Christi 1542. he was called to be a Pastor at Embden where he fed and ruled his flock with great diligence The year after he was sent for by Anne the widow of Count Oldenburg to reform the Churches in East-Frisland and the next year after by Albert Duke of Prussia but when he agreed not with him in judgement about the Lords Supper the work remained unperfected He remained in Frisland about ten years at the end whereof the Emperor persecuting the Protestants he was sent for by King Edwaâ—d the sixth upon Crammer's motion into England where he gathered preached unto and governed the Dutch-Church which remains to this day In the dayes of Queen Mary Anno Christi 1553. he obtained leave to return beyond Sâ—a and went with a good part of his Congregation into Denmark to the Royal City of Coppenhagew But Noviomagus the Court Preacher and a Lutheran took occasion in a Sermon to impugne the error as he called it of the Sacramentaries Hereupon Lascus set forth a writing wherein he asserted the truth and confuted the error of Consubstantia iâ—n This occasioned a conference between Noviomagus and him where Lascus and his Church did not dissemble their opinion but asserted the truth which the K. of Denmark Christian being informed of made a decree that they should not stay in his Kingdom except they would follow the Doctrine of Luther and use the Ceremonies ordained by him Lascus and his Church refused this yet intreated that the 〈◊〉 might be dâ—ferred which the King would be no means permit but commanded them presently to depart his Kingdom By this means they were forced in a most cold winter season with their wives great with child their children to depart out of Denmark the Hanse-towns refused to receive them The Churches of Saxony also rejected them not suffering them to live amongst them upon like reason At length that poor Congregation found entertainment in Frisland under the Lady Ann Oldenburg and setled at Embden Anno Christi 1555 he went thence to Francford upon Main where with the consent of the Senate he gathered a Church of strangers especially out of Belgia From thence the year after he wrote a Letter to the King of Poland and his Council vindicating his Doctrine from some aspersions cast upon it by Westphalus Timan and Pomeran shewing that their Doctrine about Consubstantiation was contrary to the sense of the Scripture to the analogie of faith and to the generall judgement of the Churches of Christ and that it could not be retained without contumely to Christ He complained also that his Doctrine about the Sacrament was onely condemned by reason of prejudice That his adversaries dealt with him after the manner of the Papists who carry their business not by Scripture and arguments but by force accusing all for Hereticks which close not with them in all things About the same time many
Magdeburg He also made John Amandus Superintendent of those Churches and Michael Volmetius Master of their School Anno Christi 1541 he was sent by the Elector of Saxonie to govern the Church at Naumberg in the Palatinate where also the year after he was ordained Bishop by Luther three other Pastors also imposing their hands upon him who were Nicholas Medler Pastor of Naoburg George Spalatine Pastor of Aldenburg and â—olphgang Steinius Pastor of Leucopetra But six years after he was driven away from thence by the Emperour Charles the sift whence he fled to Magdeburg which at that time was the common place of refuge for the godly who fled from the indignation of Caesar. Anno Christi 1548 Amsdorf amongst others opposed himself in that sad controversie about things indifferent which continued for whole tenne yeares and when Anno Christi 1550 Madgeburg was besieged Amsdorf yet remained there and the year after George Major having published this proposition That good works were necessary to salvation Amsdorfius in heat of contention wrote That good works were hurtfull and dangerous to salvation In the midst of these digladiations amongst Divines Amsdorf came to his old age having now attained to eighty years at which time he quietly slept in the Lord Anno Christi 1563. Scripsit de sacra coena Epitomen Chronicorum Naucleri de Paparum perfidia in Romanos Imperatores Novi anni votum principibus viris oblatum Subscriptionem censurae sententiae Saxo. Ecclesiarum adversus G. Majoris doctrinam Item contra Tilemannum Heshufium W. MVSCVLVS The Life of Musculus who dyed A no Christi 1563. WOlfgangus Musculus was born at Dusa in Lorrain An. Christi 1497 of honest parents who seeing his aptness to Learning bred him at School When he was young he fell sick of the Plague but it pleased God to restore him He had an exceeding prompt wit and had such an ardent desire to his book that he was never a weary of reading and writing so that he rather needed a bridle than spurs never departing from School and his book till he was forced When he was grown up to some bignes his parents sent him abroad into other countries with slender provision that by singing at doors as the manner of those times was he might get his living and thereby learn patience temperance and humility and might follow his book the better Being thus sent from his parents he came to Rapersvil in Alsatia where a certain Widdow entertained him and in which place hee went to School but met with much hunger and want till as by his honest and modest deportment he became known to the noble Earl of Rapersvil from whom he received many favours From thence after a while he went to Slestade and gat into the School and being naturally much addicted to Poetry he spent his time in reading such Authors And thus he continued till he was fifteen years old about which time he returned to visit his parents and going into the Monastery of Lexheim by the way at the time of their Even-song hee joyned with them in singing and the Prior taking notice of him and liking his ingenious countenance and voice followed him out of the Church when all was ended and enquir'd of him what he was and whether he liked to live in a Monastery and withall proffered if he would accept of it to admit him into that Monastery to cloath him and provide other necessaries for him at his own cost He being very glad of this proffer went to his parents acquainted them with it and they looking upon it as a great mercy went presently with him to the Monastery where the Prior according to his promise entertained him as his own sonne and afterwards sent him to the Bishop for Orders There he lived till he was thirty yeares old and when others were drinking and playing he with a book in his hand would walk into a grove to study For though in his youth he was of a chearfull and merry disposition and much delighted in liberall exercises both of body and mind yet he disliked the illiberall contests of his fellows who spent their time in dice and drinking and such like practises But in the mean time he had a great want of books that Monastery having no Library belonging to it yet at last he found a great heap of parchments at the roof of the house amongst which he met with some of Tullies works and all Ovids These therefore he read over especially Ovid being so much addicted to Poetry that many times he made verses in his sleep and could make a verse upon every thing he met with and grew so perfect therein that with Ovid he could say Sponte sua carmen numeros veniebat in aptos Quicquid conabar dicere versus erat And together with his Poetry hee applyed himself to Musick which the Prior taking notice of caused him to be taught to play on the Organs At twenty years of age hee studied Divinity and excelling all the other Monks in learning and eloquence was presently chosen a publick Preacher and being often told by an old man in that house Si vis fieri bonus Concionator da operam ut sis bonus Biblicus If you will be a good Preacher study to be well acquainted with the Scripture hee betook himself night and day to reading and meditation upon the Bible He first preached in the Church of Lixhâ—im and in three other Churches belonging to that Monastery but his zeal and eloquence making him famous he was requested to preach in divers other places About the year 1518 Luthers books began to come abroad into the world and Musculus having some of them sent him read them with much seriousness and delight and God thereby revealing the Truth to him he became a zealous maintainer of it not onely in the Monastery by conference and disputation but in his publick Sermons also so that he was commonly called the Lutherane Monk and whereas Luthâ—r was charged by some with Heresie he stoutly defended him saying It may be Luther may erre in some things which is common to the nature of man yet he is not therefore to be accounted an Heretick according to thâ— saying of Saint Augustine Errare possum haereticus esse nolo I may erre but I will not be an Heretick And his labours proved not fruitlesse for through Gods blessing upon them he converted many of that fraternity who afterwards left their Abbey and became zealous professors of the Truth unto death And divers others also abroad were converted by him and amongst them a certaine Nobleman called Reinhard of Rotenburg who was Captaine of the Castle at Lutzelsteine and Protector of that Colledge a man of much account with the Palatine by whom he was protected from many dangers and snares that were laid for him especially by the Bishop and some old Monks that were
filled with ineffable joy so that he wondred why his wife should ask him whether he were not something better whereas indeed hee could never be better For said he I thought that I was in a most pleasant meddow in which as I walked up and down me thought that I was besprinkled with a heavenly dew and that not sparingly but plentifully powred down whereby both my body and soul were filled with ineffable joy To whom Piscator said That good Shepherd Iesus Christ led thee into fresh pastures Yea said Olevian To the springs of living waters Afterwards having repeated some sentences full of comfort out of Psalm 42. Isa. 9 and Matth. 11. and other places of Scripture hee often repeated I would not have my journey to God long deferred I desire to be dissolved and to be with my Christ. He commended to the Senate the care of the poor by his Deacon Iames Alstede giving directions what he would have done with his writings after his death And then he gave his hand farewel to his Colleagues and friends and when he was in the Agony of death Alstedius asking him whether he was sure of his salvation in Christ c. He answered Most sure and so he gave up the Ghost Anno Christi 1587 and of his age 51. His Works are these Concio de Abrahami fide obedientia De coena Domini Admonitio de Eucharistia Tabula de Ministerio Verbi Dei Sacramentis Expositio Symboli Apostolici Epitome Institutionum Calvini Notae in Epist. ad Galatas Notae in Evangelia Dialect lib. 2. Bezae in Epist. ad Rom. Gal. Phil. Col. notae ex Oleviani concionibus excerptae The Life of John Wigandus who died A no Christi 1587. JOhn Wigandus was born in Mansfield Anno Christi 1523 of honest parents of a middle rank who carefully brought him up in Learning which naturally he was much addicted unto having an excellent wit and firm memorie so that having profited much at School he went to the University of Wittenberg where he continued about three yeares which time hee spent in the study of the Arts and Tongues which night and day he imploied himselfe in In that place he had excellent and faithfull Masters who were Professors of all the Arts. And for Divinity he attended the Lectures of Luther heard his Disputations and Sermons as also Melancthons who was both an excellent Divine and Philosopher He contracted friendship with Cruciger heard the Sermons of J. Joâ—as attended the Greek Lectures of Dr Vitus He had for his private instructor Joh Marcellus a godly and learned man He frequented also the Lectures of Law and Physick Anno Christi 1541 by the advice of his Tutors and friends he went to Norinberg where hee was made Master of Saint Laurences School and for three yeares exercised himselfe with much diligence in instructing youth in which time he heard the excellent Sermons of Andreas Osiander Vitus Theodorus and Thomas Venatorius very learned and eloquent Divines But having an earnest desire to perfect his own studies he returned to Wittenberg again Luther being yet living There he commenced Master of Arts before hee was two and twenty years old and applyed himselfe wholly to the study of Divinity But the Wars waxing hot the Emperour placed a Garrison in the Castle and Town of Wittenberg and the students were driven away from thence At which time Wigand was called to Mansfield his own country to bee an assistant to their ancient Pastor Martin Seligman where also he was ordained Minister by Prayer and imposition of hands by John Spangenberg the Superintendent which was the first Ordination in that place after the banishing of Popery and their embracing the truth of the Gospel That Function hee discharged with much fidelity and industry and knowing the Schooles to bee the seminaries both of the Church and State he read Logick and Philosophy to the youth During which time at the request of the superintendent Spangenberg he wrote a confutation of the Popish Catechism of Ments written by Michael Sidonius which answer was afterwards printed in Latine and Dutch He wrote also a Confutation of George Major who held that a man by Faith only is justified but not saved c. He delighted exceedingly in a Garden and in observing the wisdome of God in the nature shape and various colours of hearbs and flowers for which end he gat the greatest variety of them that possibly he could into his Garden Hâ—e was one of those that strongly opposed the Interim Anno Christi 1553 hee was chosen by them of Madgeburg to be their Superintendent but the Earl of Mansfield and the people strongly opposed his remove from them yet at last by the means of the Prince of Anhalt they consented unto it At Magdeburg he tooke excessive pains in reading writing meditating and preaching whereby hee converted many Popish Priests in those parts to the Truth He also took great pains in writing the Magdeburgenses Centuries which he together with Mathew Judex Flacius Illiricns Basil Faber Andrew Corvinus and Thomas Holthuterus finished to the great benefit of the Church Of which booke Sturmius gave this Testimony that it was necessary and profitable and had these four virtues in it viz veritatem diligentiam ordinem perspicuitatem Truth Diligence Ordâ—r and Perspicuity Anno Christi 1560 the Elector of Saxonie having begunne a University at Jenes sent earnestly to Wigand to come thither to be the Divinity Professor which for weighty reasons hee assented unto and performed that office with much acceptance of all that heard him yet by the subtilty and malice of one Stosselius he was dismissed from that place and so returned to Madgeburg again But not staying there hee was chosen to bee the Superintendent at Wismare Anno Christi 1562 where hee imployed himself wholly in preaching disputing expounding Scripture and governing the Church Anno Christi 1563 hee commenced Doctor of Divinity in the University of Rostoch He stayed at Wismare seven yeares at the end whereof John William Duke of Saxony sent for him again to Jenes but the Duke of Megapole would by no meanes part with him yet at last after severall Embassies the Duke of Saxonie prevailed that he should come for one year to Jenes His people parted with him very unwillingly with many sighs and teares and at the yeares end sent for him back again but could by no means obtaine his returne He was not only made the Professor of Divinity at Jenes but the Superintendent also Anno Christi 1570 he went with his Prince to the Diet at Spire and at his return to Jenes was received with great joy But after five years Duke John William dying he was againe driven from thence and went to the Duke of Brunswick who entertained him kindly But presently after hee was called into Borussia to
of London and Doctor Hackwell Tutor to the Prince of Wales yea and King James himself conferred familiarly with him February following An. Christi 1613. the Prince Elector being marryed sent Henry Alting with his Scholars before him into the Palatinate who in their journey travelled through Zeland Flanders Brabant Limburg Julâ—ers and Collen and so at last arrived at Heidleberg in April the new marryed couple being not long behinde them About four moneths after our Alting was called to be a Professor of Divinity to read Common places in the University of Heidleberg Into which he was admitted August the 16. which was the Princes birth day And because by the Statutes of the University none could be Moderator of the Disputations but a Doctor he was solemnly inaugurated into that degree November the 18. by Paraeus Dean of the University and Bartholomew Coppenius Doctor of Divinity And this was very remarkable that amongst all the tumults and pleasures of the Court his minde was never taken off from the study of Divinity But Gods Providence intended him to some further imployment then a Professors place For there was in Heidleberg an excellent Seminary of the Church endowed with large revenues called the Colledge of Wisdom The Prince therefore chose him Master thereof October the 15. An. Chri. 1616. together with two Colleagues to instruct and train up young Divines for the work of the Ministry and how much good he did therein they are able to relate who gratefully acknowledge what profit they reaped by his care and culture Whilst he was thus laboring in his double imployment Coppenius another Professor dyed whose place was divolved upon our Alting but by a rare and great example of modesty he chose rather to continue in his former imployments and by his favour and authority in the Princes Court prevailed that Abraham Scultetus should have that Professors place transferred upon him About this time a National Synod was called at Dort for the composing of the differences in the Belgick Churches by reason of the Arminians and when grave learned and godly men were chosen out of all the Reformed Churches to be present at it which was Anno Christi 1618 and 1619 our Altingius with two others was sent from Heidleberg to assist in that work where he approved himself to all that were present both for his excellent Learning in Divinity and his dexterity in explicating cases of greater difficulty Thus far we have heard the happier and more comfortable part of his life now follows the more sad and afflicted part of it For scarcely was the Synod ended wherein the Arminians were condemned and the Orthodox Truths established but Alting with his Colleagues returned to Heidleberg and at the same time the tumults in Bohemia began The Prince Elector is chosen King of Bohemia and Crowned Spinola breaks into the Palatinate the great battel was fought nere Prague the Bohemians are beaten which was An. Chri. 1620. And the year following the University of Heidleberg was dissipated the Students flying for fear and the Professors having liberty granted them to go whether they pleased Yet our Alting sending his family into a place of safety stays still in the Colledge of Wisdom keeping the Students in good order remaining unterrified in the midst of emminent dangers whilst he was serviceable to the Church satisfied his own Conscience and the earnest desire of the King who from the Hâ—gue had written to him desiring him not to depart from Heidleberg An 〈…〉 in the moneth of â—â—â—gust Heidleberg was besieged by 〈◊〉 and â—eptember the 6. was taken by storm at which time it suffered whatsoever Military licentâ—ousness could inflict by plunderings murthers and ravishing of Matrons and Virgins all being heightened by the hatred of Religion and the brutishness of the Croâ—â—s At this time our Alting was in his study who hearing of the surprize of the City bolted his door and betook himself to Prayer looking every moment when the bloudy Souldiers would break in to sacrifice him to God But the great Arbiter of life and death took care for his safety For Monsieur Behusius Rector of the School and his dear friend hiring two souldiers called him forth and conveyed him through a back dore into the Lord Chancellors house which Tilly had commanded to be preserved from plundering by reason of the Publick Monuments of the Commonwealth that were kept in that place This house was commanded to be guarded by a Lieutenant Colonel that was under the Count of Hohenzollem a man greedy of prey who least he should lose his share in the booty by his attendance upon that place sent forth his Souldiers as it were a hunting commanding them that if they met with any Citizens of note that under pretence of safe-guarding them they should bring them to him purposing by their ransom to enrich himself To this man Alting was brought who with his naked sword reeking with blood said to him This day with this hand I have slain ten men to whom Doctor Alting shall be added as the eleventh if I knew where to finde him But who art thou Truly such a countenance and such a speech in such a juncture of time might have affrighted the most constant minde But our Alting by a witty answer neither denying himself to be Alting nor unseasonably discovering himself answered as sometimes Athanasius in the like case I was saith he a Schoolmaster in the Colleâ—ge of Wisdom Hereupon the Leiutenant Colonel promised him safety who if he had known him to be Alting would surely have slain him Oh what a sad time had he that night which he passed without sleep hearing the continual shrikes and groans which filled the ayr of Women ravished Virgins defloured men some drawn to torments others immediately slain But when he saw that many fled to this house as to their only refuge fearing lest he should be discovered by some of them either through imprudence or malice he retired into a Cockloft where whilst he hid himself this Leiutenant Colonel was by the authority of Tilly presently commanded away not giving him so much time as to seek out his Schoolmaster that the house might be resigned to the Iesuites for whom it was appointed Yet under these new inhabitants our Alting should not have been one jot safer if God had not by a special providence provided for his safety For the kitchin of this house was reserved for Tillies own use and one of the Palatines Cooks was appointed over it who closely fed and maintained him and whilst the Iesuites were providing all things in a readiness in the Church for the Mass he hired three Bavarian Souldiers that kept guards in the streets to guard him to his own house When he came thither he found all things broken plundred and carryed away and in his study he found a Captain boasting that all things therein were his own yet saith