Schismaticks for disagreeing with him therein Irenaeus with other Brethren of the French Church being sorry to see contentions amongst Brethren for such a trifle met together in a Councel and by common consent wrote Letters unto Victor subscribed with their names intreating him to alter his purpose and not to proceed to Excommunicate his Brethren for that matter and although themselves agreed with him in observing the same time yet by many strong arguments and reasons they exhorted him not to deal so rigorously with those who followed the custom of their Country in observing another day He wrote also diverse other Letters abroad concerning the same contention declaring the Excommunication of Victor to be of none effect After the Martyrdom of Photinus he was made Bishop of Lyons where he continued about the space of 23 years By his frequent faithful and powerful Preaching and by his holiness of life he brought most of that City from Gentilism to the knowledge and service of the true God But the common Enemy of mankinde envying the progress of the Gospel and the salvation of so many Souls beside the publick Persecution stirred up a spirit of Error and falsehood in some Hereticks as Montanus Theodosius Alcibiades and Maximilla whereby he greatly disturbed the Peace of the Church Hereupon Irenaeus and his fellow-Laborers to shew their care of the Brethren sent abroad large Epistles of things done amongst them They sent also the Tenets of Montanus into Asia with their judgements upon them They wrote likewise Letters to Eleutherius then Bishop of Rome desiring him heartily to endeavour to keep the Church in unity and when they could finde no fitter a person for so weighty a business they made choice of Irenaeus for his holiness gravity and sincerity whom they knew to be willing to undergo all travel danger and labour for Christs cause and the Churches good Him therefore they sent to Rome writing by him in this manner Father Eleutherius we with you health in all things and always in God We have requested Irenaeus our Brother and fellow Laborer to deliver these Letters whom we pray you to accept of as a zealous follower of the will of Christ c. This Irenaeus wrote five Books against the Heresies of his times which are yet extant in the first of which dilating upon the infinite profundity of matter invented by Valentinus mixed with many Errors he discloseth openly the malice of the Heretick being cloâ—ked and concealed as it were a Serpent hid in his den For revealing their profane ceremonies and detestable mysteries he writeth thus Some saith he prepare their Wedding Chamber and accomplish the service to be said over them that are to be consecrated with charmed words And having thus done they call it a Spiritual Marriage conformable to the caelestial copulation Some bring them to the water and in Baptising say thus In the Name of the unknown Father of all things In the Truth Mother of all things and in him which descended upon Jesus Some others pronounce Hebrew words to the end that young Converts might be the more amazed And in his third Book he wrote that Valentinus came to Rome in the time of Hyginus ninth Bishop in succession after the Apostles And also Cerdon another Heretick who sometimes protested the true Faith and privily taught the contrary Afterward he confessed his error and yet again being reprehended for the corrupt Doctrin which he had taught he refrained the company of the Brethren He taught that God preached in the Law and Prophets was not the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. That Christ was known but the Father of Christ was unknown c. After him succeeded Marcion of Pontus a shameless blasphemer which encreased this Doctrine He tels us also in his second Book that the working of Miracles was frequent in his time Some of the Brethren saith he and sometimes the whole Church of some certain place by reason of some urgent cause by Fasting and Prayer have brought to pass that the spirits of the dead have returned into their bodies and so by the earnest Prayers of the Saints they have been restored again to life and have lived with us many years Some by the like means have expelled Devils so that they which were delivered from evill spirits have embraced the Faith and were received into the Church Others have the Spirit of Prophesie to fore-know things to come they see Divine Dreams and Prophetical Visions Others cure the sick and diseased and by laying on of their hands restore them to health For the gratious gifts of the Holy Ghost are innumerable which the Church dispersed through the whole World having received dispenseth daily in the Name of Jesus Christ crucified under Pontus Pilat to the benefit of the Gentiles c. Whilst he was Bishop of Lyons the state of the Church was very unquiet troublesome and full of danger because the Romane Emperour had not called in the Edicts of the fourth Persecution But in this dangerous time Irendus was valiant laboured exceedingly by Prayer Preaching Disputing Instructing and Reproving with patience and wisdom Seeking the lost strengthening the weak recalling the wandring binding up the broken-hearted and confirming those that were strong Whereupon Tertullian saith Tanta vitae integritate Doctrine sinceritate gregi is praesidet c. He governed the flock of Christ with such integrity of life and sincerity of Doctrine that he was loved exceedingly by his own and feared by others But in the latter end of Marcus Antoninus Verus God sent Peace to his Church so that the Christians lived securely held Councels and did Preach freely as also in the raign of Commodus who succeeded him But in the raign of Severus the next Emperor he being a bloody and cruel man was raised the fifth Persecution against the Church to the Martyrdom of many thousands but especially it raged at Lyons in so much as the blood of the slaughtered Christians ran down the streets and at last this blessed Saint with many other of his flock were carried between two hils where was a Cross on the one hand and an Idol of the other where they were put to their choice to go either to the Cross to suffer or to the Idol to live but they chose the Cross where they all constantly suffered Martyrdom about the year 182. Irenaeus being about the age of 60 years or as some say 90. He used to compare the Hereticks and Schismaticks of his time to Aesops Dog that lost the substance of Religion whilst they gaped too earnestly after the shadow Considering the vanity of all earthly things he said What profit is there in that honour which is so short-lived as that perchance it was not yesterday neither will be to morrow And such men as labor so much for it are but like froth which though it be uppermost yet is unprofitablest Erasmus thinks that he wrote
with above seven swift Notaries who wrote that which he dictated to them Whilest he continued at Alexandria there came a Souldier with Letters from the Governour of Arabia to Demerius the Bishop of that Sea and to the Lieutenant of Egypt desiring them with all speed to send Origen to him which might communicate to him some part of his Doctrine Hereupon he took his voyage into Arabia and instructed the Governour thereof and hearing that Beryllus Bishop of Bostra inâ— Arabia taught that our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ before his incarnation had no being and that he had no proper Divinity but only his Fathers Divinity dwelling in him about which Heresie many Bishops had dealt with him by conference and disputation and yet could not reclaim him Origen was sent for who conferred with him at first to finde the ground of his opinion after which perceiving him not to believe aright he rebuked him perswaded him with reasons convinced him by manifest proofs and so restored him to the truth He wrote 22. Tomes upon the Gospel of St. John 12. upon Genesis five upon the Lamentations of Ieremy Annotations upon the first five and twenty Psalms two Books of the Resurrection one of Principal Beginnings ten called Stromateis He wrote also Commentaries upon Isaiah in 30. Tomes upon Ezekiel in 25. Tomes upon the Canticks in ten Books c. Whilst Origen executed his Pastoral Office at Caesarea which was after he had left Alexandria many flocked to his Ministry not only men of that Countrey but also infinite Forreiners who forsaking their Native soil came to be his Disciples amongst whom were Theodorus and Athenodorus two brethren who after they had continued with him five years profited so much in the holy Scripture that they were ordained Bishops in Pontus And now Origen being above sixty years old and much worn and wasted by reason of his incessant studies and painfull exercises at length permitted that those things which he had publickly preached and disputed of should by his Notaries be copied out which before he would not suffer to be done About the same time also he wrote his Book against Celsus the Epicure intituled the word of truth Then 25. Tracts upon the Gospel of St. Matthew and 25 upon the Minor Prophets he wrote also above an hundred Epistles About this time there arose some Hereticks in Arabia who taught that the soul dyeth together with the body and that in the General Resurrection they should arise together and be restored to life again For which cause a Synod was congregated and Origen was sent for who so strenuously disputed against these Hereticks that he withdrew their seduced minds from this foul errour Decius succeeding Thilip in the Roman Empire raised a persecution against the Church wherein amongst others Origen suffered grievous things the spitefull Devil deadly pursuing him with his whole Troop striving against him with all the might and sleight that could be possibly invented so that for the Doctrine of Christ he sustained imprisonments torments of body scourging at Iron stakes stench of dark and loathsom dungeons and for many days his feet lay stretched four spaces asunder in the stocks all which he patiently endured together with the terrible threats of fire and all that the enemie could invent against him After all which he died under Gallus and Volusianus being 69. years old Anno Christi 220. It is to be wondred at what pious ejaculations comfortable prayers and zealous exhortations he made and gave to the Christians in the extremity of his sufferings retaining his valour and constancy to the giving up of his Ghost One saith of him Origeni nulla pars aetatis periit à studiis That Origens whole life was a continued study And another saith Origenis ingenium sufficiebat ad omnia perdiscenda that he had such pregnancy of wit that he could learn any thing that he had a wonderfull faculty in expressing himself ex tempore and that he was wondrous quick and able to explicate obscure places of Scripture Jerome stiles him Magistrum Ecclesiarum post Apostolos Another saith Quis ex Scriptoribus qui post Origenem vixeâ—â— non â—â—â—gniter ab eo est adjutus Who of all the writers that lived after Origen that was not singularly holpen by his Labours He used to say That Gods Providence hath ordained all things for some end and purpose He made not malice and though be can restrain it yet he will not For if malice were not vertue should not have a contrary and so could not shine so clear For the malice of Josephs Brethren was the means whereby God brought about many admirable works of his providence as the story sheweth Opera Origenis Tomis duobus Basiliae 1536. apud Frobenium sunt edita CIPRIAN The Life of Cyprian who dyed Anno Christi 259. CYprian was an African born in the ancient City of Carthage and being educated in the study of the Liberal Arts he profited so much therein that whilest he was young he was chosen Professor of Rhetorick Yet was he at first a Gentile and Idolator loose and profane in his practise and much addicted to the study of Magical Arts But it pleased God who had chosen him to be a vessel of mercy for his own glory to convert him by the means and Ministry of Cecilius a godly Presbyter of Carthage whose name he ever afterwards bore and through the occasion of hearing him preach upon the History of the Prophet Jonas Immediatly upon his conversion he distributed all his goods amongst the poor And the Carthagenians perceiving in him a very great zeal and ardour for the propagation of the Christian Religion they prevailed with him to be ordained a Presbyter in which office he so worthily demeaned himself that not long after he was made the Bishop of the Church of Carthage and therein gave an excellent example of Modesty Humility Charity Greatness of mind and Fidelity His modesty appeared in that in all great and weighty businesses he would never determin or act any thing of himself but by the common consent and advice of his Presbyters yea he many times called in the help and assistance of the whole Church His humility appeared in that he was never tenacious nor wilfull in his own judgement but what was wholsomly advised and counselled by his brethren and Collegues that he willingly assented to His charity was notably seen in that he did not only commend the care of the poor to his Presbyters but himself also according to his ability was alwayes forward in ministring to them The greatness of his mind appeared in this speech of his Si qui sunt c. If there be any saith he that think to adjoyn themselves to the Church not by their prayers but by their threats not by their humiliation and satisfaction when they have scandalized the Brethren but by their great words and
Constantinople to give an account of the tumults and seditions that he had raised at Alexandria At this time there was one Alexander a godly and worthy man Bishop of Constantinople He in the dimication which arose about Arius shewed himself a very prudent and pious man For as soon as Arius came to Constantinople he presently raised divisions amongst the people there also so that great tumults ensued whilest one part of the people stood for the Faith confirmed by the Nicene Council another part of them said that the opinion of Arius was most consonant and agreeable to reason Hereupon Alexander fell into a great perplexity especially because Eusebius Bishop of Nicomedia often and grievously threatned him that he would depose him from his Bishoprick if he would not receive Arius and his companions into Communion with him But Alexander was not so solicitous about his own Deposition as he was careful for to maintain the Nicene Faith and the Doctrine established by that Council For esteeming himself bound to be a Patron of the Decrees of that Council he thought that it was his duty to the uttermost of his power to see that they might not be broken nor made invalid Being therefore ingaged in this contestation he laid aside humane arguments and betook himself to the help and assistance of God and thereupon shutting himself up in the Church he fell to Fasting and Prayer and night and day with tears he begged of God that if the opinion of Arius was true he might never see the day appointed for the trial but if his own Faith were the truth that then God would inflict some visible judgement upon Arius the Author of all those mischiefs In the mean time the Emperour desirous to finde out the opinion of Arius sent for him to his Pallace and asked him whether he did agree to the Decrees of the Council of Nice He without delay willingly and chearfully subscribed them whereas in the mean time he cunningly and fallaciously evaded those things which were determined about matters of Faith The Emperour wondering at it required him to swear to them which he also did but with the like fraud as he had before subscribed them For having writren privately his own opinion he put it into his bosom and then swore that he did truly and from his heart believe according as he had written The good Emperour giving credit to his Subscription and Oath commanded Alexander the Bishop of Constantinople to receive him into Communion This was on the Saturday and Arius expected the next day to be admitted into the Communion of the Church but God prevented it For Arius going out of the Pallace with Eusebius and a great number of his followers in great pomp and pride as having gotten the victory of his adversaries He no sooner came to the chief Market place in the City but his Conscience began to accuse and terrifie him for all his deceit and wickedness through the violence whereof his belly was loosened whereupon he asked whether the Jakes was not nere and being informed that they were hard by he turned aside into them and whilest he was casing Nature first his Fundament came forth then abundance of blood and at last he voided his Bowels with his Spleen and his Liver whereupon he immediately dyed Some of his company thinking him long went in to see the cause and found him dead in this miserable manner Hereupoâ— Eusebius and all his rout were stricken with a wonderful terror The fame of Arius his accursed death presently flew all over the City yea almost over all the World Every one as they went by pointed at the place where he made this wretched end and shunned the use of it Yet his Associates gave it out that his adversaries by the help of Magick had thus destroyed him And whereas many resorted to see the place of his death whereby it became very infamous at length a certain rich Citizen that was an Arian bought it and pulling down the Jakes built an house in the room of it that so the thing in process of time might be wholly forgotten Athanasius being throughly informed of these things writes thus of them Arius saith he the Prince and Author of his Sect and the companion of Eusebius was by the art and industry of the Eusebian Faction sent for to Constantinople by the Emperour of blessed memory who commanded him to write his Faith and this cunning Fox wrote it indeed but after the manner of the Devil in quoting Scripture he craftily suppressed and left out the impudent words of his impiety And when Constantine urged him that if he had no other opinion which he kept secret in his minde he should subscribe and swear to the truth withal telling him that if he forswore himself God would finde him out and plague him for it this miserable wretch swore that he held no other opinion nor thought otherwise then he had written Whereupon saith he going forth from the Emperour Gods hand presently fell upon him and like Judas dying he burst in sunder and his bowels came forth And though death be common to all men so that no man no not our Enemy is to be reproached after death yet the death of Arius being so strange and differing from the death of other men is not to be passed over in silence For when Eusebius and his followers threatned to bring Arius the very next morning into the Congregation and Alexander by Prayer had sought unto God to prevent it It pleased God who was now made the Judge that very day to bring him to such a fearful end Constantine being informed hereof wondred at it assuring himself that Arius had been guilty of perjury But shortly after it pleased God to take away that good Emperour After whose death Eusebius Bishop of Nâ—comedia and Theognis Bishop of Nice supposing that now they had gotten a fit time endeavoured by all means possible to take away the Nicene Creed out of the Church wherein was the clause of One Substance and in the room thereof to settle the detestable heresie of Arius But this they knew they could never effect if Athanasius returned from Exile to Alexandria wherefore they made use of a certain Arian Priest to carry the last Will and Testament of Constantine to Constantius his son together with the Legacies bequeathed him Constantius finding in the Will that which he greatly desired viz. that the Empire of the East was left to him made very much of the Priest granted him great liberty charged him to use his Pallace freely and boldly at his pleasure Hereupon this cunning seducer insinuated into acquaintance with the Empress and with her Eunuchs and Chamberlains and whereas one Eusebius was chief of the Eunuchs through the perswasions of this lewd Priest he became an Arian and infected the other Eunuchs of his Company Yea the Empress also by the enticements of this Priest and her Eunuchs fell into
in life and death When you be informed of their unwearyed industrie in services and their undaunted magnanimitie in sufferings for Christ their Lord then conceive that you hear themselves thus speaking unto you with a loud voice Why look you thus upon us Not unto us not unto us but unto the Name of God give glory And as our gracious God is advanced so may our selves be very much advantaged by a due consideration of those things which have been exemplary in the Lives and deaths of choise men Champions for Scripture truths and Patriots for the power of godliness For as Gods Laws are the good mans rules so good Examples are his motives and encouragements The holy Scriptures do hint the prevalency hereof for saving conversion And it is reported that Justin Martyr by observing the pious Lives and patient deaths of the Martyrs was brought to Christ. Men likewise may be fast riveted and more strongly rooted in the Truth received by reflecting upon the sound judgements and spotless Lives of them who have published and maintained it In which respect Pauls speech unto young Timothy is very remarkable But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of knowing of whom thou hast learned them Such are witnesses with a witness there are none such The common people are more apt to enquire what Ministers do then what they say And the eye is more operative and affecting then the ear Neither is this only true in regard of Gods Worthies who live with us but also in reference unto them who have lived long before us The Apostle writing to the Hebrews concerning Abels faith he tels them that by it though he be dead he yet speaketh Upon which phrase famous Master Perkins hath this note Abels faith is a never dying Preacher It is the pleasure of Almighty God that we should walk in the way of good men and keep the path of the righteous Walk so as you have us for an example The Apostle Paul draws their observation and imitation upon those who were really and eminently good And the Apostle James inculcates the same thing Take my Brethren the Prophets who have spoken in the Name of the Lord for an example In Examples there should be excellencie and conspicuitie As the stamps upon coyns which make them current It is most true that wise Solomon sends sluggish man unto School to learn of the Pismire And therefore grant that Christians should imitate Heathens in their virtues how much rather then ought we to make practical improvement of the Epitomized Lives of these many eminent servants of Christ who are presented to our view in this book These fair copies we should spread before our eyes and write after them till our writing our living be like them Frequent meditation upon the wise savorie speeches and holy gratious practices of these renowned Worthies will be a special means to mould us even us into the same similitude Peter Martyr perswading the improvement of good Examples tell 's a storie of a deformed man marryed unto an uncomely woman who being desirous of comely children bought many beautiful pictures and desired his wife daily to look upon them by means whereof their children were handsome and lovely And doubtless brave Christian qualifications might be begotten in our bosoms by filling our heads and hearts frequently with the commendable conversation of these holy men of God who have been burning and shining lights in the Churches of Christ in their respective Ages But whilst we are moving imitation we must not forget to give in some few cautions to prevent miscarrying 1. Do not so Idolize any man in respect of his place parts or graces as to make him your pattern in every particular The Apostle gives in a good Item to the Corinthians which concerns all Christians Be followers of me as I am of Christ. Christians are not bound as Master Latimer expresseth himself to be the Saints Apes laboring to be like them in every thing It 's Christs peculiar honor to be imitated in all morals absolutely This caveat is necessary in these Man-admiring times wherein many pin their faith and consciences upon some mens sleeves Here it might seasonably be remembred that the opinion and practice of the Apostle Peter did once lead many out of the right way When mens parts are high their graces shining or their power great we are in danger either to be dazzelled with their brightness or biassed by their greatness Therefore before you adventure to follow men weigh the chiefest of them in the ballance of the Sanctuary and try their most specious notions and actions by the touchstone of the Temple 2. Beware on the other hand lest you so pry into and peer upon the weaknesses of Gods Worthies as not to value and imitate those virtues which did break forth brightly in their conversations You must give good gold all its allowance and not throw it aside because it wants some grains and hath a crack The Snow-like Swan hath black legs and in many things we offend all And though some of these pretious servants of Jesus Christ who are justly commended in this book had their blemishes in judgement or in some actions yet how much did they in many particulars exceed the most famous Professors of our times 3. When you meet with that in their lives which was not onely truly but eminently good sit not down satisfied till you have attained their measure Be followers of me c. saith the Apostle for our conversation is in Heaven Follow the forwardest Christians with a desire to overtake them His speech savored more of wit then grace who counselled his friend not to come too nigh unto truth lest his teeth should be beaten out with its heels Dwell upon the Exemplarie Lives of these transcendent Saints till you be changed into the same image Their love to Christ his truth and people should enlarge your hearts Their zeal should enflame you Their magnanimity should encourage you Their humility should abase you Their patience should calm you Their labors should quicken your diligence Their temperance should moderate you in the use of all sensual contentments Their confidence should confirm your fiducial dependance upon Gospel-promises Their contempt of the World should call you off yet farther from all empty sublunaries Their high estimation of the holy Scriptures should heighten your reverent respect of them Their many assaults from Satan and sufferings from men in estate liberty credit and body should embolden and arm you in evil times Their experiences of support under grievances of supplies in necessaries of comfort in crosses of deliverance in streights of success in services and of triumphing perseverance notwithstanding all oppositions from within and from without should hold up your faint hopes unweariedly to wait for the full accomplishment of all the pretious promises of Covenant-grace in Jesus
considering with himself what time was requisite for the learning of these Sciences and purposing to defer it no longer betook himself to the Sect of the Platonists for the great fame that ran of them Wherefore choosing to himself a singularly learned man of that Sect that was lately come into those parts he remained with him profiting not a little in contemplation of supernatural things and invisible forms Insomuch as he hoped ere long through the sharpness of his wit to attain to the comprehension and contemplation of God which is the end of Plato's Philosophy And thus he imployed his Youth But afterwards being grown to riper years he was converted to the knowledge and profession of Christianity by this means Beholding the Constancy Courage and Patience of the Christians in their torments and sufferings he was wonderfully moved therewith which made him thus to reason that it was impossible for that kinde of people to be subject to any vice or carnality which would certainly disable them to sustain such sharp adversity and much more the bitterness of death Hereupon naturally affecting Knowledge he began to love and embrace the Christian Religion This himself testifies in the end of his first Apologie telling us moreover that being afflicted in minde about finding out the truth he resolved for more privacy to retire himself unto a Grange neer the Sea-side where he might be free from the concourse of people whither as he went there met him a grave ancient Father of a comly visage and gentle behaviour who began to reason with him and after long disputation told him plainly that there was no knowledge of the truth amongst the Philosophers who neither knew God nor were directed by the Holy Ghost He also further reasoned with him of the immortality of the soul of the reward of the godly and of the punishment of the wicked So that Justin being convinced by his arguments voluntarily assented to him and demanded of him by what means he might attain to the knowledge of the true God The old man counselled him to read and search the Word of God and to adjoin Prayer thereto But what man quoth Justin shall I use for my instructor therein And who shall be able to help me if these Philosophers as you say lack the Truth and are void of the same To which the old Father answered There have been saith he before these Philosophers others more ancient then they who were just men and beloved of God and who spake by the Spirit of God fore-seeing and fore-Prophesying of those things which we now see are come to pass and therefore they are called Prophets These only have known the Truth and revealed it to men neither fearing nor respecting the persons of any They were seduced with no opinions of mans invention but only spake and taught those things which themselves both heard and saw being inspired with the Holy Spirit of God whose Writings and Books are extant out of which the Reader may receive great profit and knowledge of many things As of the first Creation of the World and of the end of the same with all other things that are necessary for us to know Neither in their teachings do they use any demonstrations the things taught being of themselves more certain then that they need any such demonstration the accomplishment of their Prophesies which we see fulfilled constraining us of necessity to believe the words and Doctrine which they have taught Their Doctrine also hath been confirmed by Wonders and Miracles which induce us to give credit to it They preached of God the Creator and Maker of all things They prophesied also before of Christ the Son of God sent to be the Redeemer of the World which the false Prophets seduced by false and wicked Spirits did not but only took upon them to work certain prodigious wonders for men to gaze at that thereby they might gain belief to their false and unclean opinions But remember before all things to make thy Prayers to Almighty God that he will open a gate of light to thee for otherwise the knowledge of these things cannot be attained to by every man but they are revealed only to such to whom God and his Christ give understanding The old Father having declared these and many other things to Justine departed from him exhorting him carefully to follow those things which he had spoken after which he saw him no more But Justine was presently wonderfully inflamed in his minde to know and study the Prophets in comparison of which all other Philosophy now seemed vain and unprofitable to him and so in time he became a Christian and was baptized After this â—e became an earnest defender of the Truth travelling up and down and disputing against all those which were enemies and opposers of it fearing neither peril of life nor danger of death so that he might maintain the Doctrine of Christ against the malitious blasphemers of the same and also increase the number of Christian Believers as may appear by his vehement disputations against the Heathen Philosophers and by the long disputation of his at Ephesus against Tripho and also by his confutations of Hereticks Yea and by his Apologies which with great zeal and courage he exhibited to the Emperour and Magistrates against the Persecutors of the Christians and in their just defence all which do sufficiently testifie the same The first Apologie which he wrote was to the Senate of Rome in which he wrote with great liberty telling them that of necessity he was compelled thus to utter his minde unto them For that in persecuting the Christians they neglected their duty and highly offended God of which they had need to be admonished This Apology he also sent to Antoninus Pius the Emperour Writing also to Vrbicius Leiutenant of the City he told him that he put men to torments and death for no offence committed but only for the confession of the name of Christ which proceedings saith he neither becometh the Emperour nor his Son nor the Senate In the same Apology he also defended and purged the Christians from those crimes which were falsely charged upon them by the Ethnicks In his second Apology writing to Antoninus the Emperour and his successors with like gravity and freedom of speech he declareth unto them how they had the name and repute of vertuous Philosophers maintainers of Justice lovers of Learning c. But whether they were so indeed their Acts declared As for himself he professeth that neither for flattery nor for favour he wrote unto them but that he was constrained to sue unto them for righteousness in their judgements and sentences For saith he it becomes Princes to follow uprightness and piety in their judgements not tyranny and violence He also in plain words chargeth as well the Emperour as the Senate with manifest wrong for that they did not grant to the Christians that which was not denyed to all other
the Eastern Churches and seeking the glory of God and the good of the People regarded not the reproaches of evil tongues whilest his Minister did that which himself was less apt and fit to do By this means Augustine like a bright candle set in a candlestick gave light to all that were in the house The fame of this thing flying abroad was the occasion that many Presbyters being allowed by their Bsishops Preached the good Word of God to the People in the Bishops presence At this time the Manichaean Heresie had infected many both Citizens and Strangers in the City of Hippo being deceived by a certain Pestilent Heretick by name Fortunatus a Presbyter remaining in that City Hereupon many of those Citizens and Strangers both Catholicks and Donatists come to Augustine requesting him to confer and dispute with this Manichaean Presbyter whom they judged a learned man about his opinions who willingly imbraced the motion being ready to render a reason of the Faith and Hope that was in him to every one that should ask it as also not only to exhort with wholesome word of sound Doctrine but to convince the gainsayers But he enquired whether Fortunatus was willing to do the like Hereupon they hasted to Fortunatus exhorting perswading and earnestly intreating him to imbrace the motion But truly Fortunatus was very fearful to encounter with Augustine whom he had formerly known at Carthage infected with the same Error But being overcome by their importunity and ashamed to decline the encounter he promised to give Augustine a meeting and to dispute with him The time and place being appointed multitudes flocked to it publick Notaries were appointed to write down what passed the Disputation continued two days the event was that this Master of the Manichees was neither able to overthrow the Catholick Faith nor to defend his own Erroneous opinions and so wanting an Answer he which before was accounted a great and learned man was now judged of no value nor ability to defend his Errors which did so fill him with confusion and shame that presently after he forsook Hippo and never after returned again And so through the blessing of God upon Augustines labors many who before were infected with that Error were reclaimed and imbraced the true Catholick Faith Augustine continued to Preach the Word of Truth frequently both in the Church and from house to house confuting the Heresies of the times especially the Donatists Manichees and Pelagians The same also he did by his writings the Christians wonderfully admiring and rejoycing in it so that through Gods blessing the Catholick Church in Africk began to lift up her head which formerly had been wonderfully corrupted and dejected by reason of Hereticks especially through the Rebaptizings of the Donatists whereby they had infected and seduced many Augustines Books also and Tractates being dispersed filled with Learning and the Authority of the Holy Scriptures so prevailed through the Grace of God that not only the Catholicks but many Hereticks flocked to Hippo to hear him and every one that could write or get others to do it for them wrote forth his Notes for their future benefit so that the sweet smell of the Doctrine of Chirst was by this means dispersed all over Africk which the Churches beyond-Sea hearing of much rejoyced therein for as when one member suffers all the members suffer with it so when one member is honoured all the members rejoyce with it At the same time the African Bishops holding a Synod at Hippo by their command Augustine being yet but a Presbyter disputed before them of Faith and the Creed which he performed to the joy of them all especially of the good old Bishop Valerius who gave much thanks to God for his mercy vouchsafed to him therein and fearing least some other City which wanted a Bishop should choose Augustine and so get him away from him which indeed had come to pass unless Valerius hearing of it had caused Augustine to go to another place and there hide himself so that when they sought him he could not be found wherefore this good old man fearing the like again and finding himself much weakned by Age wrote privately to the Primate of Carthage alleadging the weakness of his body and the infirmities of his old Age and therefore desired that Augustine might be made his Coadjutor in the Bishoprick of Hippo which by his importunity he also obtained So that the Primate coming to visit the Church of Hippo and bringing some other Bishops with him Valerius before them all and before all the people which were assembled together declared publickly his desire which they all approved very well of and the People earnestly desired that it might be effected but Augustine refused the Bishoprick being contrary to the custom of the Church whilest his own Bishop lived But many perswaded him that it was not such an unusual thing producing many examples both of the forreign and African Churches for it so that he was forced to yeeld his consent and was ordained to the charge of the Bishoprick And when he was thus ordained a Bishop he Preached the Word of Life more frequently fervently and with greater authority then he did before and that not only in his own City and Country but in all places where he was requested whereby the Church of God exceedingly encreased Many also of the Donatists frequented his Sermons took Notes and carryed them to their Bishops which when they had read they used to contradict but they that carryed them either answered them themselves or else carryed their answers to Augustine who with much meekness and gentleness confirmed the Truth and reselled their Errors He also wrote many private Letters to the Bishops and many principal Laymen of the Donatists admonishing and exhorting them that they would either reform their Errors or come to a publick Disputation but they distrusting their own cause would never write back to him again but being enraged with anger used to exclaim against and both publickly and privately to rail upon Augustine as a deceiver of souls and that as a Wolf he ought to be slain in defence of the Flock and without all shame neither fearing God nor men they proclaimed that whosoever would murther him should without all doubt have all their sins remitted unto them These Donatists had in their Churches a perverse and violent kinde of men who went up and down under the pretence of chastity who were called Circumcelliones and there were very great numbers of these who were dispersed through all the Regions of Africk These being instructed by evill Teachers were so inflamed with Pride and grew to such audacious boldness that many times they neither spared their own nor other men requiring them to do things against all right and reason and if any one opposed them he was sure either to be soundly beaten or basely murthered by them they being usually armed with sundry weapons raging up
and down through Villages and Countries having no fear to shed blood But whilst the Word of God was diligently Preached and Peace was endeavoured to be held with these haters of Peace they committed many acts of hostility And whilst the Truth was made known against their Erroneous opinions they which were Lovers of Truth shunned their society and endeavoured to preserve the unity of Truth in the bond of Peace Hence it came to pass that these men seeing their number to be deminished and envying the encrease of the Church being incensed with extream anger raised intolerable persecutions against the true members of Jesus Christ often setting upon the godly Ministers both by night and day and many times robbing them of all they had and not contented therewith they often murthered them and often threw Lime and Vinegar into their Eyes to blinde them for which cause these Rebaptizing Donatists grew hateful to their own Disciples So that through Gods mercy the Word of God prevailed the more in Hippo by the Ministry of Augustine and his Colleagues and the fame thereof spreading abroad many Cities sent to chuse their Bishops out of that Society which exceedingâ—y conduced towards the furtherance of the Peace of the Church He Preached and writ also very learnedly against the Donatists Pelagians and other Hereticks whereby the African Churches recovered their ancient splendor He went not so willingly to a Feast as to a conference to reduce any that erred He would not receive gifts to the Church from those which had poor kindred of their own Augustines Books also being dispersed and some of them translated into Greek and sent beyond-Sea into the Eastern Churches were means of very much good But these things so much the more enraged the Circumcellions insomuch as when Augustine went abroad to Preach to and visit his Churches which he frequently used to do they often lay in wait for him by the way to have murthered him and had certainly one time effected it but that the person who was his guide by a special Providence of God mistook his way and so led him by a By-way to the place whereby he escaped their hands as afterwards came to his knowledge for which he praised God as his only deliverer But these men in the mean time neither spared Ministers nor Lay-men One notable example we have of their wickedness which is not be passed over in silence One of Augustines Society being called to be Bishop at Calamen was very careful to propagate the Truth and to beat down Heresies but whilst he was going from Town to Town about this business he fell into the hands of the Rebaptizing Donatists who lay in wait for him these men took away the Beasts both from him and his company and all their necessaries beating the Bishop very cruelly Hereupon the Proconsul being made acquainted with it sent for Crispin the Bishop of the Donatists in that place and set a fine upon him according to the wholesom Laws made against Hereticks But Crispin denyed himself to be an Heretick whereupon a Disputation was appointed at Carthage between these two Bishops which was to be in the presence of Augustine and the Eyes of all Africk were fixed upon the event of it To be brief the Bishops met and after three days Disputation Crispin was overthrown and by the Proconsul was adjudged and condemned for an Heretick but he not standing to this sentence appealed to the Emperour who patiently heard all the cause and at last concluded that the Donatists were Hereticks that they ought not to be suffered in any Publick places and that the Laws against Hereticks should be put in Execution against them whereupon Crispin was fined in two pounds of Gold But the Catholick Bishops and especially Augustine so prevailed with the godly Emperour that the rigour of his sentence was taken from them which Piety and Charity of theirs much conduced to the encrease of the Church Not long after there was a Council held at Carthage by the appointment of the good Emperour Honorius who sent thither a Tribune and a Publick Notary to supply his own place This Council consisted of the Bishops both Catholicks and Donatists wherein the Donatists being heard to the full whatsoever they could say for the defence of their opinions were fully confuted by the Catholicks and condemned for their Errors and by the Emperours Judge were declared to be Hereticks Their Persecutions also against the Catholicks were declared even to the cutting off their members and taking away of their Lives to the great disturbance of the Peace of the Church But after this Council was dissolved many of their friends reported that they were not suffered to speak all they could for themselves and their cause because that the Judge appointed by the Emperour was too favourable to the Catholicks which yet appeared to be but a poor shift to excuse the weakness of their cause seeing that they knew him to be a Catholick before the Disputation began and yet never excepted against him Not long after there was another Council assembled at Caesarea a chief City in Mauritania for the setling of other affairs of the Church In this City was Emeritas the Bishop of the Donatists a chief defender of his Sect and one whom they most relyed upon Him therefore Augustine singled out and in the Publick Congregation challenged him desiring him now to produce what he had further to say for his Opinions seeing his friends gave out that formerly he could not be suffered to do it at Carthage but now he had full liberty and security being in his own City and environed with his friends Notwithstanding which neither by this Exhortation of Augustine neither by the instant request of his Parents and Friends could he be perswaded to it though they told him that they would all be of his Communion though they lost their Estates or underwent any other temporal punishment if he could overthrow the Catholick assertions yet nothing would prevail with him having indeed nothing to say more then he had spoken before which distrust of his cause through Gods mercy turned to the great advantage of the Church which was much encreased and confirmed hereby At another time at Carthage many Manichees being brought before him of those whom they called Elect men and Elect women Augustine who had formerly known that execrable Sect produced their damnable blasphemies out of their own Books and at length brought them to an acknowledgement of their blasphemies and those Elect women also confessed what filthy things had been according to their customs committed amongst them all which things exceedingly redounded to the benefit of the Church and to the securing of the flock against such thieves There was also a certain Noble man called Pascentius an Arian by whose authority the tribute was exacted with much rigour the Catholick Faith was much opposed and many godly Ministers were much molested and
foreseen to be a likely consequent yet was contemned in respect of the Churches necessity and want which was that the Arian King enraged by this act banished about 60 Bishops into Sardinia amongst whom Fulgentius was one who joyfully ascended the Ship being heartily glad that he had a share in such a glorious confession Divers of his Clergy and Friends followed him and being arrived at Calaris in Sardinia he there lived with them at the same Table and by his Sermons converted many Not long after King Thrasamund amongst the crafty fetches and persecutory drifts whereby he endeavoured to allure the Catholicks to the Arian Heresie used this Policy He feigned a desire to become a Catholick and setting down divers captious and deceitful questions pretended that he could not finde any that could sufficiently answer those questions whereupon hearing the fame of Fulgentius he hastily sent for him who with an undaunted courage came to Carthage and not being presently called to the King endeavoured seriously to confirm the Catholicks in their Faith and with much curtesie and affability answered all questions rejecting no man whereby he reclaimed many from their Errors admonishing them to repent of and to bewail their fall others he exhorted not to hazard the damnation of their Souls for temporal advantages and whom he saw in danger of perdition with milde yet effectual words he stayed and encouraged to a noble and generous resolution animating them to suffer any dangers or torments rather then to deny the Truth and it pleased God so to bless his labors that some who before were staggering were now by his means imboldned plainly to reprove the weak-grounded impudence of the Arian party And thus the Omnipotent God turned the Enemies device to the advancement of his own glory Then did the King send for him and questioned with him and met with such solid and judicious answers that he was forced to acknowledge that he found him every way to answer the report which he had heard of his Wisdom and Learning and withall he proposed sundry difficult questions to which he required his answer in writing Fulgentius having drawn up his Answer communicated it to the most learned Catholicks and after their approbation to the people before it was delivered to the King Thrasamund having with great diligence perused it praised his Wisdom wondred at his Eloquence commended his Humility yet had his heart so hardened that he could not understand and submit to the Truth Fulgentius could not be suffered to stay long at Carthage for the Arians with their clamors incensed the King complaining that he had already gained from them some of their Ministers and that the people fell apace to him so that their whole Religion stood in great hazard by his means Then the King to quiet them sent him back into Sardinia Late in the night was he carryed aboard the Ship that his departure might be the better concealed from the people but it pleased God by contrary windes long to detain the Ship in the harbor so that for many days almost the whole City flocked to him to take their farewel and many communicated at his hands And when great lamentation was made for his departure he took one Juliates a very godly man apart and told him he should shortly again return and that the Church should enjoy peace which also came to pass When he was requested to pray for any that were sick or in misery he commonly used this Petition Thou O Lord knowest best what will make for our Souls health Grant of thy mercy a supply unto our necessities so far forth as shall not hinder our spiritual profit And when God graciously answed his Prayers in their behalf he used to say That God did it for their sakes not for his He commonly said that Miracles make not a man just or righteous but famous When he was come back to Sardinia he returned to his former strict course of life with his Associates who had all things in common and when he distributed more to one then to another by reason of sickness or weakness he used thus to say to them Who taketh of the common so much becometh debtor to all which debt he can only pay by humility It was very pleasing to him when any of the Brethren proposed any hard question and gladly he hearkened to the doubts of any though they were never so simple neither would he through weariness or tediousness cease to give them answers until they confessed them selves to be satisfied Though he was sometimes severe towards the obstinate yet he remained even when he seemed most displeased and angry nothing at all in minde troubled or disquieted Thrasamund the King being shortly after taken away by death Hilderick succeeded him who restored peace and liberty to the Catholicks recalling their Bishops from Exile and amongst the rest Fulgentius who was received with great devotion by the Africans no less in every City then if he had been their peculiar Bishop Everywhere they met him with tokens of joy with whom now rejoycing he rejoyced as before with them lamenting he had lamented Yea their love was so great to him that a showre of rain falling they held their garments over his head to keep him dry Then did he return to his proper seat where he would do nothing without the advice of his Clergy In the Council of Vincensa he was by the common suffrage of the Bishops chosen President Though Bishop Quodvultdeus claimed that preheminence as belonging to his Sea and though Fulgentius for the present would not oppose this choice yet at the next Sessions he procured that the Bishop Quodvultdeus was restored to his right A year before his death he retired with some Brethren into the Island of Circina and there lived a most strict life But the necessities of his people requiring and their importunity prevailing he returned to them and shortly after fell into grievous pangs of sickness wherein he continued sixty days often crying out O Lord give me patience and pardon Physitians perswading him to make use of a Bath he answered Can Baths make that man who hath accomplished the course of Nature that he shall not dye Why then do you go about to perswade me now at my last end to remit of that rigor which I have always used Lastly calling together the Brethren about him he thus spake to them Dear Brethren having been careful of your Souls health perhaps I have been austere and harsh towards you If any one be offended I beseech him to pardon me and if my severity have possibly passed measure and due moderation pray ye to God that he may impute it not to me They all kneeling down acknowledged him to have been always loving gentle and milde towards them Then did he pray for his people that God would provide for them a Pastor after his own heart After
end I my Explication of Genesis God grant that others may more rightly expound it then I have done I cannot proceed further my strength faileth pray for me that I may have a quiet and comfortable departure out of this life This year in Italy was spread a most impudent lye about Luthers death which they called Horrendum inâ—ud tum miraculum quod in aeternum laudandus Dâ—us in foedamâ—te Mart. Lutheri corpore anima damnati exhibuit in gloriam Jesu Christi atque in emendationem consolationem piorum The substance of it was this That when he saw he must die he requested that his body should be set upon the Altar and worshipped with Divine Worship but when his body was laid in the grave suddainly so great a stir and terror arose as if the foundations of the Earth were shaken together whereupon all that were present trembling and astonished lift up their Eyes and saw the sacred Host appear in the Air whereupon they placed that upon the Altar But the night following a loud noise and ratling shriller then the former was heard about Luthers sepulchre which terrified all the City and almost killed them with astonishment in the morning when they opened the sepulchre they found neither bodie bones nor clothes but a sulphureous stink came out thereof which almost overcame the standers by c. This Lye coming printed into Germany Luther subscribed with his own hand I Martin Luther do profess and witness under my own hand that receiving this figment full of anger and fury concerning my death I read it with a joyful mind and cheerful countenance And but that I detest the blasphemy which ascribeth an impudent lye to the Divine Majesty for the other passages I cannot but laugh at Satans the Popes and their complices hatred against me God turn their hearts from their Diabolical malice but if he Decree not to hear my Prayer for their sin unto death then God grant that they may fill up the measure of their sins and solace themselves with their libels full fraught with such like lyes Anno Christi 1546. Luther taking Melancthon and some others along with him went into his own country and returned in safety to Wittenberg again And not long after he was sent for back by the Counts of Mansfield to compose a difference amongst them about the borders of their Countries and their inheritances Luther did not use to meddle with such businesses having all his life been accustomed only to deal in Ecclesiastical affairs yet because he was born in that Country he would not be wanting to promote the peace of it And therefore having preached his last Sermon at Wittenberg January the 17. upon the 23. day he began his journey and at Hall in Saxony he lodged at Justus Jonas his house and passing over the River with Jonas and his own three sons they were in danger of drowning whereupon he said to Justus Jonas Think you not that it would rejoyce the Devil very much if I and you and my three sons should be drowned He was honorably entertained by the Earl of Mansfield who sent an hundred Horse that conveyed him to Isleben being very weak whereupon he said that he never undertook any great business but he was attended with such sickness yet after the use of some Fomentations he was pretily well and attended the business about which he came from the 29. of Ianuary to the 17. of February During which time he preached some times in the Church and twice administred the Lords Supper and Ordained two to the work of the Ministry At his Table he used holy conference and was dayly very fervent in his Prayers The day before his death he dined and supped with his friends discoursing of divers matters and amongst the rest gave his opinion that in heaven we shall know one another because Adam knew Eve at first sight c. After supper his pain in his breast increasing he went aside and prayed then went to bed and slept but about midnight being awakened with the pain and perceiving that his life was at an end he said I pray God to preserve the Doctrine of his Gospel amongst us For the Pope and the Council of Trent have grievous things in hand After which he thus prayed O heavenly Father my gracious God and Father of our Lord Iesus Christ thou God of all consolation I give thee hearty thanks that thou hast revealed unto me thy Son Iesus Christ whom I believe whom I profess whom I love whom I glorifie whom the Pope and the rout of the wicked persecute and dishonour I beseech thee Lord Iesus Christ receive my soul O my heavenly Father though I be taken out of this life and must lay down this frail body yet I certainly know that I shall live with thee eternally and that I cannot be taken out of thy hands God so loved the world c. Lord I render up my spirit into thy hands and come to thee And again Lord into thy hands I commend my spirit thou O God of Truth hast redeemed me and so as one falling asleep and without any bodily pain that could be discerned he departed this life February 18. Anno 1546. and in the great Climaâ—terial year of his life This was the Will which he made concerning his Wife with childe and his young son O Lord God I thank thee that thou wouldst have me live a poor and indigent person upon Earth I have neither house nor Land nor possessions nor money to leave Thou Lord hast given me wife and children them Lord I give back to thee nourish instruct and keep them O thou the Father of Orphans and Iudge of the Widow as thou hast done to me so do to them When he was ready to dye Iustus Ionas and Caelius said to him O Reverend Father do you dye in the constant confession of that Doctrine of Christ which you have hitherto preached To which he answered Yea which was the last word that he spake He was ever constant in the known Truth from the confession whereof he could never be removed neither by promises nor threats In the dismal Wars which followed when Wittenberg was yeilded to the Emperour Charles and he came to see Luthers Tomb some of his Spaniards perswaded him that the body of Luther should be taken up and burned the Emperour said Suffer him to rest till the day of the Resurrection and Iudgement of all men When he was fitting himself for his journey to Isleben he confessed to Melancthon that he had gone too far in the Sacramentary Controversie hereupon Melancthon perswaded him to explicate his minde by publishing some Book but he answered hereby I shall bring a suspition upon all my Doctrine as faulty but when I am dead you may do as you see cause He was full of affections towards his children gave them liberal education
the day and year of their abolishing the Popish Religion upon a Pillar in Golden letters that an everlasting memorial might remain there to future Posterities The like Reformation was effected at Basil. Not long after Quarrels arose between the Popish and Protestant Cantons of the Switzers and Armies were raised on both sides They of Zurick publishing the causes why they took Arms As first that the Popish Switzers beat their men when they came to require their debts Then that the Vnderwalds hung the Arms of Bern Basil and Strasborough upon the Gallows Then that they had made a League with their ancient Enemy King Ferdinand to oppress their Religion Whereby they violate not only the Law of Nature but also their own Covenants But when the Armies drew neer by the mediation of their neighbors the differences were composed and Arms laid down for the present Anno Christi 1529. Philip Landgrave of Hess endeavoured to reconcile the differences between the Saxon and Helvetian Divines concerning the Eucharist For which end he called from Wittenberg Luther Justus Jonas and Melancthon From Helvetia Zuinglius and Oecolampadius From Norenberg Osiander from Hall John Brentius From Strasborough Bucer and Hedio At their coming all were courteously entertained by the Landgrave After dinner Oecolampadius and Bucer went to salute Luther who spake friendly to Oecolampadius but being saluted by Bucer he answered You are naught and a Knave The Disputation continued many days but in the beginning of it Luther told them that he would not depart an hairs bredth from his opinion and when they could not agree yet the Helvetians desired Luther that he would account of them as of Brethren which he would by no means assent unto then did Zuinglius Oecolampadius and Bucer Protest before the whole Assembly that Luther had not defended his Opinion by the Word of God that his Error had been clearly shewed him and that the Truth of their cause had been abundantly demonstrated both out of the Word of God and the most Ancient Fathers And so the Sweating Sickness breaking out the Disputation ended and they returned home Yet it pleased God that this fruit the Conference had that they agreed in thirteen other Articles and promised mutual love each to other and to join in Prayer to God to discover his Truth to them The Landgrave of Hess also was converted to the true Opinion hereby so that he was hardly drawn to subscribe the Augustine Confession protesting that he was not satisfied about the tenth Article Also Francis Lambert his Preacher who had formerly been much addicted to Luther being now overcome with the Truth of Gods Word changed his Opinion about the Sacrament signifying his Opinion to the whole Church by a Confession which he wrote and delivered it to the Ministers of Strasborough when he lay upon his death-bed who after published it About that time there arose up the Cata-baptists which denyed the Baptism of Infants and re-baptized themselves and fell also into many other abominable Errors and Heresies with these Zuinglius at first dealt very mildly and brotherly but when they began to asperse him with lyes to seduce his hearers and make a Schism in the Church he was forced to oppose them more strongly in his publick Ministry and by Disputations but though he had silenced them they raged the more against him whereupon the Senate imprisoned some proscribed others and for falsifying their Faith put some to death The first father of them was Balâ—hasar Hucmâ—rus an Apostate and one that for Zuinglius his kindeness loaded him with lyes and reproaches The Monks and Fryars being cast out of their houses and brought to pensions sought to ensnare him and for that end suborned sometime some to seize upon him and to carry him away others to kill him so that he could not stir abroad in safety in the night whereupon his friends guarded him when he was abroad at supper and the Senate were fain to appoint a guard about his house in the night time Anno Christi 1531. They of Zurick and Bern stopped Provision from being carryed to the five Popish Pages and withall set out this Declaration That being compelled by the wrongs of the five Cities they had barred them from Provision and because they refused the conditions of Peace which were propounded by the Intercessors violating the Covenants of the former years by which order was taken that no mans Religion should be prejudicial to him wherefore say they it is lawful for us to deny them food and if any contest should arise about it it ought to be imputed to them who desire nothing but dissentions But when by reason hereof those five Cities were pinched with want they levyed Troops and came forth with Banners displayed and sooner then was expected entred into the bounds of them of Zurick where was a Garrison of above one thousand men placed This Garrison discerning its own weakness sent messenger after messenger into the Town to hasten help to them but such was the speed of the Enemy that the succors came late yet when they came to the top of the Mountain they saw their Souldiers fighting and in present danger whereupon exhorting and encouraging one another they ran down the hill with all speed but the passage was so narrow that they could go but single so that wanting time to ranck themselves they were oppressed with multitude about three hundred and eighty of them were slain and the rest escaped by flight Zuinglius was in this battel for it is the custom of the Switzers that their chief Minister goeth out with them to battel And Zuinglius being wise couragious and valiant considered with himself that if he should stay at home and the battel prove ill he should be exposed to much envy as if he had encouraged others before danger approached and then proved faint-hearted himself The truth is he never approved this cutting off Provision from the five Pages and when he saw the Magistrates would needs do it he went to them and craved leave to depart from Zurick because his counsel was not obeyed but they being troubled at this motion sent certain choice men to him to request that he would not forsake their Church which at last he assented to though said he it be to the danger of my life About fourteen days before the fight in a Sermon he foretold his own death and a Comet appearing about that time he told a friend privately that the Comet was fatal to him and one other meaning as was supposed Oecolampadius Zuinglius in the battel was overthrown thrice and yet still gat up again the fourth time being wounded with a spear he fell on his knees and said Well they can kill the Body but they cannot kill the Soul As the souldiers were spoiling the slain Zuinglius was found alive lying upon his back his arms folded and his Eyes lift up
Professor of Divinity in that City though the Popish party sought by all means to oppose it where he read on the Prophet Isaiah and after awhile he was called to a Pastoral charge in that City to the great regret of the Papists Anno Christi 1524. In that City he caused Infants to be Baptized in the Dutch Tongue He administred the Lords Supper in both kindes by the consent of the Magistrates He confuted by the holy Scriptures the Sacrifice of the Mass Purgatory and other Popish Traditions of the like kinde whereupon by little and little they vanished away Upon this John â—ochlaeus sent Letters to him from Stutgard full of great promises thereby endeavouring to withdraw him from the Truth and the Mass Priests thundred against him and his companions saying that they deserved the punishment of the worst Hereticks But the Magistrates of Basil commanded all the Preachers within their Jurisdiction to Preach to the People the Word of God and not of men and to abstain from railing and evill speeches threatning severe punishments to those that offended against their Proclamation so that not long after there was a general Reformation of Religion not only in Basil but in the parts adjacent A Decree being made by the Senate that as well within the City of Basil as without throughout all their Jurisdiction the Mass with all Idols should be abandoned and the Ash-wednesday following all the Wooden Images were distributed amongst the Poor of the City to serve them for fire-wood but when they could not agree upon the dividing of them it was Decreed that all the said Images should be burnt together so that in nine great heaps all the stocks and Idols were the same day burnt to ashes before the great Church door Oecolampadius also like a faithful Minister of Jesus Christ was careful to restore Christs Discipline and brought in the censure of Excommunication And presently after being sent for to Vlm together with Blaurerus and Bucer he carryed on the work of Reformation there At Marpurg by the invitation of the Lantgrave of Hess there was a Disputation for three days between Luther Jonas and Melancthon on the one part and Oecolampadius Zuinglius and others on the other about the controversie concerning Christs presence in the Sacrament but the Sweating sickness breaking out there put an end to it yet they agreed about all other Fundamentals in Religion and parted in a brotherly manner Oecolampadius returning to Basil spent the remainder of his days in preaching reading writing publishing of books visiting the sick c. Anno Christi 1531. and of his Age 49. he fell sick about the same time that Zuinglius was so unhappily slain the grief of whose death much aggravated his weakness yet intermitted he not his labors till an Ulcer breaking forth about his Os sacrum he was forced to keep his bed and though his friends Physitians and Chyrurgeons used all means for his cure yet he told them that his disease was mortal He spent his time in Divine meditations and comforting his friends and sending for the Ministers of the Churches to him he spake to this purpose O my Brethren the Lord is come he is come he is now calling me away c. I desired to speak with you to encourage you to continue faithful followers of Christ to persevere in purity of Doctrine in lives conformable to the Word of God Christ will take care for the defence of his Church therefore Let your light so shine forth before men that they may see your good Works c. continue in love unfeigned walk as in Gods presence adorn your Doctrine with holiness of life a cloud is arising atempest is coming and some will fall off but it becomes you to stand fâ—st and God will assist you c. For my self I pass not the aspersions that are cast upon me I bless God I shall with a clear conscience stand before the Tribunal of Christ I have not seduced the Church of Christ as some affirm but leave you all witnesses that at my last gasp I am the same that formerly I was He had nothing to give and therefore made no Will The fifteenth day of his sickness he called for his children took them by the hand strok't them on the head and though the eldest was but three years old yet he said unto them Go to my three children see that you love God Then speaking to his wife and kindred he desired them to take care that his children might be brought up in the fear of God and then commanded them to be taken away The Ministers continued with him that night and a certain friend coming to him Oecolampadius asked him what news his friend answered None but saith he I 'le tell you some news I shall presently be with my Lord Christ and some asking him whether the light offended him he putting his hand to his heart said Here 〈◊〉 abundance of light In the morning he prayed earnestly with the words of David in the 51. Psalm which he repeated from the beginning to the end and presently after said O Christ save me and so he fell asleep in the Lord. The Papists spread many lyes abroad of his death some said that in dispair he slew himself others that he was murthered or poysoned c. He dyed Anno Christi 1521. and of his Age 51. Erasmus wrote to his friends concerning his Book about the Sacrament Oecolampadium emisisse libellum tam accuratè scriptum tot machinis argumentorum tótque testimoniis instructum ut posset vel electos in errorem pertrahere In the beginning of Reformation he was another Doctor in Helvetia of a milde and quiet wit Somewhat slow in dispatching businesses but very circumspect He took pleasure in nothing so much as in reading and writing Commentaries wherein he wrote upon Genesis Psalms Job Isaiah Jeremie Ezekiel Daniel and most of the small Prophets as also upon the Books of the New Testament Before his Conversion he was superstitiously religious So oft as he read the words of Institution of the Lords Supper he thought that some spiritual sense was included in them and yet still drave out those thoughts with this Wilt thou be wiser then other men You should believe as others believe But it pleased God at last to inlighten him with his truth which he submitted to He was most studious of the peace and concord of the Church He excelled in the knowledge of the Latine Greek and Hebrew and was very skilful in Ecclesiastical Antiquities He was older then Martin Luther by one year Scripta ejus vel sunt Exegetica vel Didascalica vel Apologetica vel conversa è Graeco Multa praeterea ab ejus amicis edita multa ab Hedione aliis Germanicè conversa Multa a Gastione collecta quae non sunt impressa
Most High which I also miserable sinner have often tasted and felt whereas before I had spent all that I had upon these ignorant Physitians so that I had little strength left in me less money and least wit and understanding But at last I heard speak of Jesus even then when the New Testament was translated by Erasmus which when I understood to be eloquently done I bought it being allured thereto rather by the elegant Latine then the Word of God for at that time I knew not what it meant and looking into it by Gods special Providence I met with those words of the Apostle S. Paul This is a true saying and worthy of all acceptation that Jesus Christ came into the World to save sinners Whereof I am the chief O most sweet and comfortable sentence to my soul This one sentence through Gods instruction and inward working did so exhilarate my heart which before was wounded with the guilt of my sins and being almost in despair that immediately I found marvellous comfort and quietness in my soul so that my bruised bones did leap for joy After this the Scripture began to be more sweet unto me then the Hony and the Honycomb whereby I learned that all my Travels Fastings Watchings Redemption of Masses and Pardons without Faith in Christ were but as S. Augustine cals them an hasty and swift running out of the right way and as the Fig-leaves which could not cover Adams nakedness Neither could I ever obtain quietness and rest or be eased of the sharp stings and bitings of my sinâ— till I was taught of God that Lesson Joh. 3. 14 15. As Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness even so must the Son of man be lifted up that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have eternal life Assoon as according to the measure of grace given unto me by God I began to taste and rellish this heavenly Lesson which none can teach but God only I desired the Lord to encrease my Faith and at last desired nothing more then that I being so comforted by him might be enabled by his holy Spirit and Grace from above to teach the wicked his ways which are all Mercy and Truth that so sinners might be converted to him by me I did with my whole power teach that all men should first acknowledge their sins and condemn them and afterwards hunger and thirst for that righteousness which is by Faith in Christ c. For these things I have been cryed out of attached and am now cast into Prison though I exhorted all men not so to cleave to outward Ceremonies as to be satisfied therewith and so to loath and wax weary of Christ c. Yet at last through infirmity rather then by conviction he was drawn to abjure and submit himself Anno Christi 1529. After Mr. Bilneys Abjuration which we mentioned before he fell into such terrors of conscience that he was near the point of utter despair and returning to Cambridge he continued under such terrors that his friends were fain to be with him night and day endeavoring to comfort him but all in vain this continued a whole year he was in such anguish that nothing did him good neither eating nor drinking c. yea he thought that all the Word of God was against him and sounded his condemnation But Anno Christi 1531. he began through Gods mercy to feel some comfort being resolved to lay down his life for that Truth which before he had renounced whereupon taking his leave of his friends he went into Norfolk preaching first in private to confirm the Brethren afterwards in the fields confessing his fact and intreating all to beware by him and never to trust to their fleshly friends in the cause of Religion At Norwich he was apprehended and by the Bishop cast into prison whither Dr. Cole and Dr. Stoaks were sent to dispute with him but Bilneys Doctrine and good life so prevailed with Cole that he was somewhat reclaimed and brought to favor the Gospel Also whilst he was at Ipswich there came one Fryar Brusierd to reason with him about those things which he had taught at which time Mr. Bilney told him that the signs and lying wonders attributed by S. Paul to the Pope were those wonders which were dayly wrought in the Church not by the power of God but by the illusions of Satan whereby he labors to draw men to put their Faith in our Lady and other Saints and not in God alone as we are commanded in the holy Scriptures This free speech so incensed the Fryar that he spake thus to him But that I believe and know that God and all his Saints will take everlasting revenge upon thee I would surely with these nails of mine be thy death for this horrible and enormous injury against the pretious blood of Christ. For whereas God saith I desire not the death of a sinner but rather that he should convert and live thou blasphemest him as though he should lay privy snares for us to betray us which were it true we might say with Hugo de Sancta victoria If it be an Error it is of thee O God that we are deceived for these be confirmed with such signs and wonders which cannot be done but by thee alone But I see you rest the Scriptures to a reprobate sense so that I am scarce able to hold mine Eyes from tears hearing these words from you therefore farewel During his latter Imprisonment they used many means to have withdrawn him from his stedfastness which not prevailing he was condemned to death The day before his Execution some friends finding him eating heartily with much cheerfulness and a quiet minde said that they were glad to see him at that time so heartily to refresh himself O said he I imitate those who having a â—uinous house to dwel in yet bestow cost as long as they may to hold it up Discoursing further with them for their edification some put him in minde of the heat of the fire yet told him withal that the comforts of Gods Spirit should cool it to his everlasting refreshing whereupon he putting his finger into the flame of the candle as also he did at divers other times I feel said he by experience that fire is hot yet I am perswaded by Gods holy Word and by the experience of some spoken of in it that in the flame they felt no heat and in the fire no consumption and I believe that though the stubble of my body be wasted yet my soul shall be purged thereby and after short pain will be joy unspeakable alleaging that text Isai. 43. 1 2. The next morning the Officers fetching him to Execution a certain friend intreated him to be constant and to take his death patiently to whom he said I am sailing with the Marriner through a boisterous Sea but shortly shall be in the Haven
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
he was set to the study of the Law wherein he shewed such industry that he was quickly acquainted with the principles of it and being of a generous nature he loved the Truth and hated Evils often using that Proverbe of Solomon that Lying lips become not a Prince Amongst all Law-books he was most versed in Panormitan Having thus prepared his Wit by these Studies An. Chr. 1522 he was by Cardinal Albert Elector of Mentz and Bishop of Magdeburg chosen to be one of his Counsellors whereby he was versed in the weighty Affairs of State finding the use and benefit of his knowledge of the Law therein and being Eloquent by nature the Cardinal often made use of him to open his mind to others so that his judgement was encreased and confirmed by his industry and employments But the Controversies about Religion waxing hot at this time and Luther's books coming abroad he fell to reading of them especially De discrimine Legis Evangelii De vera paenitentia De gratia De fide De vera invocatione De usu Sacramentorum De discrimine legum divinarum humanarum De discrimine Ministerii Evangelici Politicae potestatis Yet withall suspecting his own injudiciousness he would often pray with teares to God to incline his heart to the Truth saying Deal with thy servant according to thy mercy and instruct me in thy right eousnesse He was frequent in reading the Scriptures Ecclesiastical Histories Augustine Hierom and Lombard having George Forcheme both for an helper and copartner with him in those studies He studied also Greek and Hebrew and was so perfect in the Hebrew that few excelled him He discoursed with Learned men about the Controversies and so at length having long weighed the Opinions of all he concluded that the Confession of the Reformed Churches did agree with the ancient Catholick Church of God instructed by the writingâ— of the Prophets and Apostles And though he knew what hatred and danger he exposed himself to yet he made a publique profession of the Truth giving over to joyn with the Papists in their Counsels and Idolatrous Services giving himself wholly to Prayer and reading the Scriptures and other good books assisting his Brethren with whom he lived in perfect Peace and Love exceedingly in their Governments And first of all by their joint consents he reformed the Churches in his own Country setting fit Pastors over them commanding them to teach the Word of Truth to their people He abolished the Popish Ceremonies erected Schooles allowed competent stipends to the Ministers so that all things were Reformed without any dissention or tumult and many were drawn to embrace the Truth others were confirmed therein by the judgements and examples of their pious Princes And then he was very profitable to his Country by the faithful administration of Justice to them an Christi 1545 he was called to the Government of the Churches in the Diocesse of Mersburg and for that end he sent for Phil. Melancthon and divers other godly Ministers who ordained him by the Imposition of hands and gave him a Testimonial thereof August the third 1545. Concerning which Melancthon thus writeth Nos convocati quia certe sciebamus hunc illustrissimum rincipem Georgium rectè intelligere constanter amplecti puram Evangelii Doctrinam quam Ecclesiae harum regionum â—navoce uno spiritâ— cum Catholica Ecclesia Dei profitentur eximiam ejus esse virtutem sanctitatem Testimonium nostrum de eo ritu Apostolico impositione manuum declaravimus c. He lived very continently in a single life without any defilement His Chamber was a Temple Academy and a Court for he used daily in the same to pray read write and deliberate about Government He never wronged any man willingly He did good both privately and publickly to many He was a great promoter of Peace among Princes He ended many Controversies He abhorred all seditious and turbulent counsels He was far from ambition No anger hatred or desire of revenge could ever draw him to goe against the Rules of Justice or to act any thing against the common good Many and great injuries he bore with a great minde and pardoned them for the publick peace sake And with the same moderation of minde he bore other griefs so that it might easily appeare that he was supported by Prayer to and resting himself upon God and as a learned man he knâ—w the difference between divine and humane consolations and often repeated this saying Subditus esto Deo ora eum c. Submit thy self to God and pray unto him for he is near to those that are of a contrite heart and will save the humble in spirit He employed his time so wel so that he left none for pleasures and used to say That nothing refreshed him more in his sorrows then conference with learned and godly men About all controversies in Law he used to conferre with the excellentest Lawyers who were wise and virtuous men About the nature of mans body the causes and remedies of diseases with the most skilful Physitians About the Doctrine of the Church and Ecclesiastical Affairs with Luther Justus Jonas John Bugenhag c. and many of their Disputations ful of Learning and Piety were heard to the profit of many He conferred with Joachim Camerarius about the Histories of all Ages the mutation of Empires their period and the causes thereof about the Motions of the Heavens and the effects of the Stars The last act of this Princes life shewed his Piety and Gods presence with him For falling sick of a most troublesome disease he was frequent in holy prayer for himself for all the Princes of that Family for his Country and for Germany He had some portions of holy Scripture daily read to him He made his Will wherein he set downe the Confession of his Faith and commended the defense of his Churches to his Brother He added something to the stipends of all the godly Ministers under his charge He often ruminated upon those Texts God so loved the world that he gave c. No man shal take my sheep out of my hand Come unto me all yee that are weary c. and so in holy meditations and prayer he resigned up his spirit unto God Anno Christi 1553 and of his Age 47. Amongst other parts of his Ecclesiastical Administrations every year he held two Synods wherein all the Pastors of his Diocesse met together where they had very profitable Sermons preached He was made Superintendent of those Churches of Mersburg by Augustus Duke of Saxony brother to Maurice Anno Christi 1544. His Works which he left behind him were these A Consolatory Sermon upon that speech of our Saviour None can take my sheep out of my hand A Nuptial Sermon preached at Toâ—gau at the Mariage of the Duke of Saxony to Anne the King of Denmarks Daughter Four Sermons about the Sacrament A
journey the Sheriffe of Essex perswaded him much to returne to the Popish Religion c. to whom at last he answered I well perceive now that I have been deceived my self and shall deceive many in Hadley of their exspectation When the Sheriffe desired him to explain his meaning hoping that he would recant he said I am a man of a very great carkass which I had hoped should have been buried in Hadley Churchyard but I see I am deceived and there are a great number of wormes there which should have had â—olly feeding upon this carrion but now both I and they shall be deceived of our expectation When he came within two miles of Hadley he desired to alight and being down he leap't and fet a frisk or two saying God be praised I am now almost at home and have not past two stiles to go over and I am even at my father's house At Hadley Towns-end a poore man with his five children met him crying O dear father and good shepherd God helpe and succour thee as thou hast many a time succour'd me and my poor children The streetes were ful of people weeping and bewailing their losse saying Ah good God there goes our good Shepherd from us that hath so faithfullâ— taught so fatherly cared for us and so godly governed us 〈◊〉 mercifull od what shall we poor scattâ—red lambs doe What shâ—ll bâ—come of this most wicked World Good Lord strengthen hiâ— and comfort him To whom he said I have preached to â—u God's Word and Truth and am come now to seal it with â—y blood He gave all his money to the poor for whem he wâ—s wont thus to provide formerly Once a fortnight at least 〈◊〉 used to call upon Sir Henrie Doile and other rich Cloâ—lâ—ers to go with him to the Alms-houses to see what the poor lacked in meat drink apparel bedding and other neceâ—â—ries Withall exhorting comforting and rebuking as â—ee saw occasion Comming to the place of execution he was not suffered to speak to the people who much lamented his death yet he was very cheerfull saying Thanks be to God I am even at home and when he had praied and made himself ready he went to the stake and kissed it He would seigne have spoken to the people but one thrust in a tipstaffe into his mouth another stroke him on the head and an other threw a fagot at him which broke his face that the blood ranne down To whom Doctor Tailor said O friend I have harme enough what need that When he was saying the Miserere in English Sir John Shelton stroke him on the lips saying you knave I will make thee speak Latin The fire being kindled he held up his hands calling upon God and saying Merciful father of Heaven for Jesus Christ my Saviour's sake receive my soul into thy hands and so stood still without moving till one with an halberd strook out his brains Anno Christi 1555 JOHN BRADFORD The Life of John Bradford who died A no Christi 1555. JOhn Bradford was born at Manchester in Lancashire and by his parents brought up in learning And afterwards he served Sir John Harrington a man much employed under Hen. the 8th and Edward the 6th In which place he had opportunity of much advantaging himself For his Master found him so active and fit for his imployments that above all others he made most use of his faithfull service And thus he continued with him for certain years But God intending him for better employment having given up a just account to his Master with his good approbation he went to Cambridge where by his diligence in studie he profited so much in knowlege and so pleased all by his godly and blameless conversation that after one years abâ—de in the University he was made Master of Arts and chosen Fellow into Pembroke-Hall There Master Bucer falling into acquaintance with him highly priz'd and perswaded him to enter into the Ministrie which he modestly excused for want of learning To whom Bucer said If thou have not fine Manchet yet give the peoplâ— Barlie-bread or such as thou hast Being thus perswaded to enter into the Ministrie Bishop Ridley made him a Prebend in St Pauls where he continued preaching three yeares faithfully reproving sin 〈◊〉 yet sweetly preaching Christ crucified and pithily iâ—â—â—yning Errors and Heresies and perswading to a â—odliâ— life In the beginning of Queen Marie's reign Bourn Bishop of Bath made a leditious Sermon at Paul's-Crosse which â—o moved the people to indignation that they were ready to pull him out of the Pulpit and one throw a dagger at him Whereupon Bourn requested Master Brâ—dford who was behind him to stand in his place and to quiet the people which accordingâ—y he didâ— whom when the people saw they cried Bradford Bradford 〈◊〉 save thy life Bradford Bourn not yet thinking himselfe safe requested Master Bradford to conveie him into the School-master's house which accordingly he did going at his 〈◊〉 and shelâ—ering him from the people whereupon one said to him Ah Bradford Bradford Thou savest him that will help to burn thee In the afternoon Master Bradford preached at Bow-Church and sharply reproved the people for their seditious carriage Yet within three daies after he was sent for before the Council and charged with sedition for this act and by them was sent prisoner first to the Tower Then from thence they removed him to the Kings Bench in â—outhwark and after his condemnation he was sent to theâ—â—ounter in the Poultry In which places for the time that he remained prisoner he preached twice a day unlesse sicknesse hindred and often administred the Sacrament Preaching Reading and praier was his whole life He eat but one meal a day and that a spare one too and his continual study was upon his knees In the mid'st of dinner he used to meditate with his hat in his eyes from which flowed plenty of teares dropping on his trencher He was in such credit with his Keeper in Southwark that at an Evening he would give him leave upon his bare word to go into London to visit a sick friend and he was so mindfull of his promise that he used to returne to prison again rather preventing his hour then breaking his fidelity He was of person somewhat tall and slender spare of body of a faint sanguine colour with â—n awberne beard Hee â—lept not above four hours in â—he night and till slâ—ep came his book went not out of his â—and His recreation was honest companie and Christian discourse a litte after dinner and so to praier and his book again He counted that hour ill spent wherein he did not some good either with his pen studie or exhorting others c. He was no niggard of his purse but would liberally communicate what he had to his fellow-prisoners Once a week he visited the Thieves on the
kept in the Tower for the same purpose which afterwards proved so In the beginning of Queen Maries Reign he was sent for up by a Pursuivant whereof he had notice six houres before he came to his house yet instead of flying he prepared himself for his journey And when the Pursuivant came he said to him My friend you are welcome I goe as willingly to London to give an account of my Faith as ever I went to any place in the world and I doubt not but as God hath made me worthy formerly to preach his Word before two excellent Princes so he will enable me to bear witnesse to the Truth bâ—fore the third either to her eternal comfort or discomfort The Pursuivant having delivered his Letter told him that he was commanded not to stay for him and so immediately departed His Adversaries hopine that he would have fled but Latimer hasted after to London and as he rode through Smithfield he said that Smithfield had groaned for him a long time Coming before the Council after many mocks and scornes he was â—ent to the Tower where the Lord gave him such a valiant spirit that he did not onely bear the terriblenesse of imprisonment but derided and laughed to scorn the doings of his enemies This aged Father being kept in the cold winter without a fire bade the Lieutenant's man to tell his Master That if he did not look better to him perchance he would decâ—iâ—e him The Lieutenant thinking that he intendâ—d to make an escape charged him with his words to whom he answered You think I shall burn but except you let mee have a fire I shall deceive your expectation for I am here like to starve with cold Thus he continued a long time in the Tower with as much patience as a man in his case could possibly doe and at last from thence he was carried to Oxford with Cranmer and Ridley where tâ—ey spent their time in brotherly conference fervent prayer and fruitfull writing Yea many time he continued so long in fervent prayer that he was not able to get up without help Three things be more especially prayed for 1. That as God had appointed him to be a Preacher of his Word so that he would give him grace to stand to his Doctrine that hee might give his hearts-blood for the same 2. That God of his mercy would restore his Gospel to England once againe once againe which he often inculcated in his prayer and that with so much ardour as though he had seen God before him and spoken to him face to face 3. That the Lord would preserve Queen Elizabeth and make her a comfort to this comfortleâ—s Realm of England The lord most graciously answering all those his requests At last he was condemned and with Doctor Ridley was carried to be burned When he came to the stake he lift up his eyes with an amiable and comfortable countenance saying Fidelis est Deus c God is faithfull who will not suffer us to to be tempted above that which we are able c. When the fire was brought he said to Doctor Ridley Be of good comfort Brother and play the man we shall this day light such a candle by Gods grace in England as I trust shall never be put out When hee was stripped into his shroud he seemed a very comply person to all that were present And whereas in his cloaths he appeared a withered and crooked silly old man he now stood bolt-upright as comly a Father as one might likely behold As he was burning his blood ranne out of his heart in such abundance as if all the blood in his body had been gathered thither to the great astonishment of the beholders according to his former request That he might be so happy as to shed his hearts-blood for the Truth When the fire was first kindled he cried O father of heaven receive my soul And so receiving the flame and as it were embracing it having stroaked his face with his hands and bathed them a little in the fire he soon died with very little pain or none at all Anno Christi 1555. In a Letter to King Henry the eighth he thus concludes Wherefore gracious King remember your self have pitty upon your soul and think that the day is even at hand when you shall give an account for your Office and of the blood that hath been shed with your sword In the which day that your Grace mâ—â— stand stedfast and may have your Quietus est sealed with the blood of our Saviour Christ which will onely serve at that day is my daily prayer c. The Life of John Philpot who died A no Christi 1555. JOhn Philpot was a Knight's son and born in Hampshire brought up at Schoole and sent from thence to New-Colledge in Oxford where he studied the Liberal Arts and the Tongues and afterwards the Civil-Law for six or seven years space He was of a pregnant wit and singular courage fervent in spirit zealous in Religion of nature apert and far from flattery hypocrisie and dissimulation From Oxford he travelled into Italy where he was in some danger for his Religion In King Edward the sixth's dayes he returned into England again and had many conflicts with Bishop Gardiner He did much good in Hampshire being Archdeacon of Winchester all King Edward's dayes Anno Christi 1553 which was the first year of Queen Mary a Convocation was assembled wherein Doctor Weston was Prolocutor in the beginning whereof a disputation was begunne between the Papists and Protestants wherein Mr. Philpot was so earnest that Doctor VVeston commanded him to hold his peace whereto he replyed You perceive that I have stuffe enough for you whereby I am able to withstand your false positions and therefore you command me silence If you will not give place quoth the Prolocutor I will send you to prison This is not replyed Mr. Philpot according to your promise made at first in this house nor yet according to your brag made at Paul's Crosse when you said that men should be answered in this disputation to whatsoever they could say and now of a dozen arguments that I have you will not suffer me to prosecute one But I see that a sort of you here which hitherto have lurked in corners and dissembled with God and man are now gathered together to suppresse the sincere Truth of Gods V Vord and to set forth your false devices which by the sacred Scriptures you are not able to maintain But six daies after came a Mandate from the Queen to break up the disputation whereupon Doctor VVeston who all along had used many unseemly checks and taunts to the Protestants thus concluded It is not the Queens pleasure that we should spend any longer time here and ye are all well enough for you have the Word and we have the Sword And
length of your daies to whom we commend you but if we look at naturall causes your disease is dangerous for your weaknesse is great and encreaseth every moment I think the same quoth he and an sensible of my weaknesse A while after he made them search for some sheets of paper wherein he had begunne to write his Will purposing to declare his judgement about all the heads of Religion and to testifie it to posterity which was the chief use of Testaments amongst the antient Fathers but they could not be found whereupon he beganne to frame it a new sitting at a table but through weakness was not able to proceed therein Onely he wrote that he had twice formerly set down a Confession of his Faith and a thanksgiving to God and to our Lord Jesus Christ But saith he my papers are intercepted and therefore I will have my Confession to be my answers concerning the Bavarian Articles against Papists Anabapists Flacians c. His minde was sincere and sound to his last gasp his brain never more firm Then he conferred with his Son-in-law about the affairs of the University About six a clock Letters were brought him from his friends at Frankford Mart concerning the persecution of some godly men in France whereupon he said That his bodily disease was not comparable to the grief of his mind for his godly friends and for the miseries of the Church That night he had very litâ—le rest About two a clock in the morning he raised himself up in his bed saying that God had brought into his minde againe that speech of Paul If God be for us who can be against us After which he returned to his former complaints of the calamities of the Church Yet saith he my hopes are very great for the Doctrine of our Church is explained And so he proceeded to earnest prayers and groanings for the Church and then betook himself to some rest About eight in the morning in the presence of divers Pastors and Deacons he made three Prayers whereof this was one O almighty eternall ever-living and true God creator of heaven a dearth together with thy coâ—tâ—rnall Son our Lord Jesus Christ crucified for us and raised again together with thy holy Spirit c. Who hast faid thou de firest not the death of a sinner but that he may be converted and lâ—ve As also Call upon me in the day of trouble and I will deliver thee I confess unto thee that I am a most miserable sinneâ— that I have many sinnes and have been faulty many waies But I am sorry with all my heart that I have offended thee I pray thee for our Lord Jesus Christs sake who was crucified and rose again for us to have pitty upon me and to forgive all my sinnes and to justifiâ— me by and through Jesus Christ thy Sonne thine eternall Word and Image whom by thy unspeakable counsell and unmeasurable wisdome and goodnesse thou wouldst have to be for us a Sacrifice Mediator and Intercessoâ— Sanctifie me also by thy holy lively and true â—pirit that I may truly acknowledge thee firmly believe in thee truly obey thee give thanks unto thee rightly invocate thy name serve thee and see thee gracious to all eternity and the almighty true God creator of heaven and earth and men the eternall Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ thy Son thy eternall Word and Image and the Holy Ghost the comforter In thee O Lord have I trusted let me never be confounded Thou hast redeemed me O Lord God of Truth Keep O Lord and governe our Church and Common wealths and this School and give them wholsom peace and wholsom goverment Rule and defend our Princes nourish thy Church gather and preserve thy Church in these Countries and sanctifie it and conjoyne it with thy holy spirit that it may be one in thee in the knowledge and invocation of thy Son Jesus Christ by and for the sake of this thine eternal Son our Lord Jesus Christ c. After this he rested a while Then the Pastors and Deacons by turnes read unto him Psalme 24 25 26. Isa. 53. John 17. Rom. 5. and divers other Psalmes and Chapters After which he said I often thinke upon that saying of St. John The world received him not but to those â—hat received him to them he gave power to be made the Sons of God even them that belieeve in his name After this he seemed to pray secretly for a quarter of an hour yea for an hoar or two he seemed to doe little other then pray and being at length asked by his Son in Law whether he would have any thing he answered Nothing but heaven thereforâ— trouble me no more with speaking to me Then the Pastor prayed with him and the others â—ead again and so about haâ—f an hour after six he quietly and peaceably gave up the Ghâ—st having lived 63. yeares 63. dayes After hee had spent in Preaching and writing 42 years Anno Christi 1560. He was buried close by Luther they having been faithfull and intimate friends in their lives He took much pains in the Vniversitie of Wittenberg reading three or four Lectures every day unto which many resorted He was never idâ—e but spent all his time in reading writing disputing or giving counsell He neither sought after great titles nor richâ—â— He could not be perswaded to take the degree of a Doctor saying That such honour was a great burden He had many and great enemies who often thâ—eatned to banish him Germany of which himselfe writes â— go jam sum hic Dei beneficio quadraginta anâ—os nunquam potuidicere aut certus esse me per unam 〈◊〉 mansurum esse I have through Gods mercy been here theâ—e fourty years and yet I could never say or besure that I should remain here one week to an end A little before his death he said Cupio ex hac vita migrare propâ—er duas causas primum ut fruar desiderato conspectu filii Dei coelestis Ecclesiae deinde ut liberer ab immanibus implacabilibus Theologorum odiis Amongst all his writings and disputations he would never meddle with the controversie about the Sacrament leaving that to Luther and being loth publickly to manifest his dissent from him Yet it is certaine that as they went to the Colloquie of Ratisbon together anno 1541. he communicated his opinion to Luther confirmed by the Testimonies of the ancient Fathers both Greek and Latine and when Luther had made some Annotations upon those sentences which contradicted his opinion Melancthon said Mr. Dr. I could make the like Annotations but sure they are not strong enough After all his great labours in the Church and Vniversity he carried away the usuall reward of the world reproof accusations injuries and reproaches Anno Christi 1555. a tumult being raised amongst the students he went forth to perswade them to peace when one of them ran
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
but an honest young man of the Citizens advised Perinus that Mr. Farell the common Father of the City might be no way wronged joyning also with himself another honest young man they gave notice to the well-affected Citizens that they should stand by Mr. Farell at the day of hearing which also they did so that his adversaries being astonished and deterred hereat of their own accord craved pardon and Mr. Farell was dismissed About this time a grievous calamity befell the Church of England by the immature death of that godly Prince King Edward the sixth which was a grievous wound to all the Reformed Churches Yet at this same time Mr. Calvin wrote his learn-Commentaries upon the Gospel of St. John Geneva as we heard before having inflicted deserved punishment upon Servetus not as upon a Sectary but as upon a monster for his horrible impieties and blasphemies by which for thirty years space he had infected the Christian world both by his teaching and writings It cannot be imagined how this stirred up the rage of Sathan such a flame arising from hence as set Poland first then Transsylvania and Hungary all on a fire which himself seemed to foretell by the spirit of Sathan when in the beginning of his book he set this sentence out of the Revelation There was a great battle in heaven Michael and his Angels fighting with the Dragon For his ashes being scarce cold a great controversie sprung up about the punishing of Hereticks Some holding that they ought to be restrained but not to be punished with death Others thinking that it could not be clearly stated out of Gods word what was Heresie thereupon said that it was lawfull to hold either part in all the Heads of Religion and that all men though holding a wrong opinion were to be left to the judgement of God This latter opinion some good men inclined to fearing that the contrary Tenet might kindle the cruelty of Tyrants against the godly The principall of these were Sebastian Castalio and Laelius Socinus therein pleading their own cause The former indeed more closely and the latter more openly as one that studyed to vindicate the clear authority of the Scripture in a certain Preface to the perverting of the holy Bible and in his Annotations upon the first Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians had endeavoured to draw men from the written Word of God as an imperfect Rule as if Paul had taught to some of his Disciples that were more perfect then the rest a certain more hidden Divinity then that which he had committed to writing Hereupon Mr. Calvin Anno Christi 1554 set forth a copious confutation of all the Doctrine of Servetus which was subscribed by all his Colleagues adding many reasons why and how farre a Magistrate might proceed in punishing such an one as was lawfully convicted of Heresie The adversaries on the contrary published a Rapsody collected partly out of the writings of the ancient Fathers which they perverted to their own ends and partly out of the writings of certain unknown Fanaticks and under the name of Martin Bellius which indeed was Castalio though afterwards he forswore it and falsifying also the name of the City in which they falsly pretended that it was published To this book swarming with many other Errors and Blasphemies Mr. Beza answered thereby to free Mr. Calvin from that labour who was now busie in writing his learned Commentaries upon Genesis and in diverting other dangers from the Church For the factious went on to innovate things in the City and though the Amnestie was again renewed before the Senate upon the second of February yet they daily grew worse and worse so that Master Calvin was much busied both in blaming and reproving them for their wickedness and in endeavouring to strengthen the godly against the poison of their impiety for they had proceeded to such a height of wickedness that they turned part of the sacred Scriptures into obscaene songs and used to beat strangers whom they met in the night and sometimes also to rob them They also privately used the books of Bolsecus Castalio and other corrupt men that they might renew the controversie about Predestination yea they proceeded to scatter abroad a false and scandalous libell wherein they grievously aspersed that worthy servant of Christ Master Calvin Castalio also sent another Latine Book to be privately Printed at Paris to which Master Beza answered and Master Calvin also confuted some of the fooleries of the same kind About this time the care of the English exiles lay heavy upon him some of which were come to Vesalia others to Embden and others to Franckford all sending to Master Calvin for advice and counsel Neither was he a little troubled for the andaciousness of some of the Pastors encouraged by the secret favour of others of the French-Church long since planted by him at Strasborough And in short how great pains he took this year for severall Churches may appear by the multitude of Epistles wrote by him by which he stirred up many Noble-men to imbrace the Gospel and strengthned many of the Brethren some of which were in extream danger and others already cast into bonds We spake before of the sweet Harmony that was between the Helvetian and Rhetian Churches about the Doctrine of the Sacrament This concord did exceedingly displease the spirit of error therefore he easily found out one that might easily reinkindle the fire which before was extinguished viz. Joachim Westphalus who was seconded by Heshusius then a Minister of the word but afterwards a Bishop of whom wee shall speak more afterwards Hereupon Master Calvin published an explication of that agreement which by how much it imbittered their spirits by so much the more it satisfied all good men that were lovers of the truth The year following viz. 1555. by the speciall mercy of God brought peace along with it to the Church of Geneva which was now quiet from its domestick stirs for the factious ruined themselves God discovering their horrible treason to the State by the means of one of the conspirators who in his drunken fit discovered it whereupon some of them were beheaded others of them were banished who though a while after they vexed the City yet perished shamefully in the end leaving an example of the just judgement of God upon such persons though it may be deferred for a time Thus the Commonwealth was freed from these Pests To which another mercy was added by the answer of the four Helvetian Cities to whom the question about the Discipline which we spake of before had been proposed who unanimously confirmed the Ecclesiasticall Polity as it had been before settled contrary to the expectation of the factious Yet something was not wanting whereby Mr. Calvin might be further exercised For he took great pains in constituting the Church in Polonia by the will of the King In comforting the afflicted
Letter advised with Master Calvin and other Ministers who upon mature deliberation told him that he could not refuse this call unlesse he would shew himselfe rebellious against God and unmercifull to his Country Whereupon he returned answer that he would come to them so soon as he could settle the affairs of that dear flock that was committed to his charge Shortly after he began his journy and arrived in Scotland that very day whereon the Bishops ended their Provinciall Councill and hearing that the brethren were met at Dundee he went to them and earnestly requested that he and his brethren might joyne together to make a confession of their faith which being assented to he went to St. Johnstons to them where also he preached to the people But presently came a summons that the Preachers should appear before the Queen Regent at Striveling which being known abroad the Protestants repaired in a peaceable manner to St. Johnstons to accompany their Preachers to the Queen and least such a multitude should affright her the Laird of Dun a zealous godly and prudent man went before to Striveling to acquaint the Queen that the cause of their meeting was onely with their Preachers to give in a confession of their faith and to assist them in their just defence The Queen very craftily solicited him to stay the multitude and the preachers also promising to take some good order about their affairs Yet when the Preachers appeared not upon the day appointed she put them to the Horne prohibiting all men upon pain of Rebellion to assist comfort relieve or receive any of them which treacherous dealing of hers so inflamed the multitude that neither the exhortation of the Preachers nor the command of the Magistrates could restraine them but that they pulled down the Images and all other monuments of Idolatry in St. Johnstons This being told to the Queen she was so much enraged at it that she vowed to destroy man woman and child in that place then utterly to burn the Towne and to sow it with salt for a perpetuall desolation The Protestant Congregation hearing hereof presently wrote a Letter to the Queen and caused it to be laid on her Cushion where she sat at Mass wherein they declared that except she moderated her wrath and stayed her intended cruelty they should be compelled to take the Sword in their just defence against all that should pursue them for matters of Religion and for their Conscience sake which ought not to be subject to any mortal creature farther then Gods Word doth command c. They further requested that she would permit them to live in that peace and liberty which Christ had purchased for them by his blood that they might have his Word truly preached and the holy Sacraments rightly administred to them for that they had rather expose their bodies to a thousand deaths then to hazard their soules to perpetuall damnation by denying Christ and his manifest Truth c. They wrote also another Letter to the Nobility of Scotland which coming abroad the brethren in Cunningam and Kile met together at the Church of Craggy where Alexander Earl of Glencarne said to them Let every man doe as his conscience shall direct him I will by Gods grace see my bâ—ethren at St. Johnstons yea though never a man will goe along with me though I have but a pike on my shoulder for I had rather die with that company then live after them This speech so encouraged the rest that they all resolved to go forward In the meane time the Queen sent her French Forces and the Bishops and Priests their bands against Saint Johnstones whereupon the brethren repaired thither from all quarters for their relief which the Queen hearing of sent the Earle of Argile and the Prior of Saint Andrews to them to know the cause of that great meeting They answered that it was onely to resist the cruell Tyranny decreed against them and to protect the Town from ruin The Lords answered that they were farre otherwise informed Then Master Knox spake thus unto them The present troubles honourable Lords ought to move the hearts of all the true servants of God and of such as bear any true love to their country and country men deeply to consider what will be the end of this intended Tyranny The rage of Sathan seeks the destruction of all those in this Realm that professe the Name of Christ. Therefore I most humbly require you my Lords in my name to tell the Queen that we whom she in her blind rage doth thus persecute are faithfull servants to God and obedient subjects to the authority of the Realm whereas that Religion which she maintains by fire sword is not the religion of Jesus Christ but expresly contrary to the same a superstition devised by mans brain which I offer my self to prove against all men in Scotland which will maintain the contrary Gods word being admitted for Judge Tell her also from me that this her enterprise shall not prosperously succeed in the end and that herein she fights against God The Lords promised to deliver his message yet did the Queen straitway send her Herauld to them to command them presently to depart the Towne upon pain of Treason But when she perceived their number to increase and their resolutions fearing the event of a Battel she upon a parley and large promises prevailed with them to depart home But before their departure Master Knox preached a Sermon wherin he exhorted them to constancy adding I am perswaded that this promise shall be no longer kept then till the Queen and her Frenchmen can get the upper hand Which shortly after sell out accordingly for when she was entred St. Johnstons she contrary to promise garrisoned it saying That she was not bound to keep promise with Hereticks This was so distastefull to the Earl of Argile and the Prior of St. Andrews that they forsook the Queen and went toward St. Andrews sending to the Laird of Dun and some others to meet him there which accordingly they performed taking Master Knox along with them who in the way preached in Carrel one day in Anstruddor the second intending the third day to preach at St. â—ndrews The Bishop of St. â—ndrews hearing hereof presently raised a 100 spearmen and went thither on the Saturday whereas the Lords had none but their houshold servants about them and at the same time the Queen and her Frenchmen lay at Faikland 12 miles from St. Andrews The Bishop sent word to the Lords that if John Knox offered to preach the next day he should be saluted with a dozen of Calivers whereof the most part should light on his nose The Lords after long deliberation sent for M. Knox to hear his opinion herein 〈◊〉 withâ—ll advised him to forbear for his owne safety and not to 〈◊〉 that day in contempt of the Bishop To which 〈◊〉 Knox
whose Sermons not only the Protestants but many of the Papists were present to hear what and how he taught And indeed both sides commended his study of Peace For he exhorted them to compose their differences not by arms nor mutuall slaughters but by the Disputations of their Divines But God would not suffer his wholsome counsell to take effect at that time For they came to a battell wherein the Popish party prevailed and thereupon Bullinger together with his Father Brother and Colleague Gervase were commanded to depart except they would undergoe the present hazard of their lives Whereupon beginning their journey in the night through Gods providence they escaped the snares which were layd for them by their adversaries and came safely to Zurick Anno Chrâ—â— 1531 and three daies after at the request of Leo Judae with his Colleagues Bullinger preached in the chiefe Church and was entertained by one Werner Steiner his ancient friend that was fled to Zurick for Religion Anno Christi 1532. The Church of Basill wanting a Pastor by the death of Oecolampadius desired Bullinger and at the same time also the Bernates sent for him thither But the Senate of Zurick would by no means part with him choosing him Pastor in the room of Zuinglius who was slaine in the late battell and who had desired before he went into the field with the Army that if any thing befell him otherwise then well Bullinger might succeed him in his office He being thus called to this work in a dangerous time did his endeavour to comfort and rais up the hearts of Gods people under those great afflictions And whereas the Popish adversaries boasted that their Religion was false because they of Zurick were beaten and Zuinglius slain He wrote That the Truth of Religion was not to be judged by the prosperity or adversitie of the Professors of it He took care also to have Synods twice a year to maintain concord and unity in Doctrine and Discipline as Zuinglius had begun before him And finding a great defect of Godly Ministers in the jurisdiction of the Tigurins he tooke care that so many should bee trained up in Religion and Learning as might supply that defect and where there was a want of maintainance he prevailed with the Senate of Zurick to make up a competency out of the Publick Treasury He caused the Publick Library of that City to be set in order by Pellican and by buying Zuinglius his books to be encreased And having gotten Bibliander for his Colleague he wholly applyed himself to his publick Ministry and to writing Commentaries at home Anno Christi 1532 Bucer endeavoured a union between Luther and his followers and the Divines of Zurick perswading them that their differences consisted rather in words then in reality At which time the Tigurins shewed themselves to bee desirous of peace so that it was joyned wiâ—h truth About this time Bullingers Father died being 64 years old who at his death exhorted his sonne to Constancy in Doctrine and Faith which saith he is the onely way to salvation Anno Christi 1534 Bullinger wrote a Confession of Faith in the name of the Tigurian Churches which was sent to Bucer and to the Synod of the Churches of Suevia then met at Constance and was approved by them About the same time he wrote a Tractate of the Covenant of God against some that denied all testimonies out of the Old Testament As also another wherein he asserted the twofold Nature in Christ against Claudius Allobrog Servetus his Emissary of whose poyson the Helvetian Churches were at that time in some danger And when there was a meeting at Basil for to unite Luther and the Helvetian Churches in their difference about the manner of Christs Presence in the Sacrament Bullinger was there and took much pains for the promoting of it The Magistrates also of Zurick by the perswasion of Bullinger erected a new Colledge Anno Christi 1538 which hee had a great care of all his life after Also by his perswasion the Senate of Zurick erected another School in a place where formerly there had been a Nunnery in which fifteen youths were trained up under a good Master having food raiment books and all other necessaries plentifully provided for them and Bullinger took great care to see their proficiency all his life after About this time Schwenfield a Noble man of Silesia taught That Christ's Humane nature being received into Heaven was so farre Deified that it remained a creature no longer and this error beginning to spread into Swevia Bullinger joining with some others confuted it with much modesty Anno Christi 1541 the Plague brake forth in Zurick of which Bullingers Son and Mother died Anno Christi 1542 Leo Judae's Version of the Bible being finished and printed the Printer sent one of them to Luther fair bound up but Luther wrote back to him that hee should send him no more of the Tigurine Ministers bookes for hee would have nothing to doe with them nor read any of their bookes For said he The Church of God can hold no communion with them and whereas they have taken much pains all is in vain for themselves are damned and they lead many miserable men to hell with them Adding that he would have no communion with their damnable and blasphemous Doctrine and that so long as he lived hee would with his prayers and books oppose them Anno Christi 1544 Luther set forth his Annotations on Genesis in which he inveighed bitterly against the Sacramentarians as he called them saying That Zuinglius Oecolampadius and their disciples were Hereticks and eternally damned Melancthon would fain have hindered it but could not whereupon he wrote to Bullinger telling him how much hee was grieved at this violent proceeding of Luther which he knew was so pleasing to their common adversaries the Papists When this book of Luthers came forth there was much dispute whether it should be answered Bucer was against it because Luther was grown old and had deserved well of the Church but others thought that it would bee a betraying of the Truth not to answer it Wherefore Bullinger was appointed to that work which he accordingly performed with much judgement Anno Christi 1546 Luther dyed and the German Warre beganne betwixt the Emperour and the Protestants at which time many accused the Tigurines by reason of Bullingers book as if they had insulted over Luther after his death and gloryed that he dyed of grief because he could not answer that book Hereupon Philip Lantgrave of Hesse acquainted Bullinger with these reports which when Bullinger had read advising with his Colleagues he returned this answer First giving him thanks for his zeale in endeavouring the peace of the Church and for acquainting him with these rumours Then he told him how much he was grieved for that some turbulent spirits sought by such reports
to accuse Bullinger and Calvin whereupon Nicholas Radzivil Palatine of Vilna sent Martin Secovitius with his Letters to Bullinger about Blandrata's business to which Bullinger answered that when Blandrata came to Zurick he onely spake once with him yet at that time he easily discerned that he was corrupt in his judgement about the Son of God as also that he threatned to write against Calvin whereunto he answered That there were contentions already too many in the Church which if he increased God would be avenged on him for it Yet he departed cursing and threatning grievous things That such men should be taken heed of who laboured to revive Arianisme and other Heresies and cunningly to sow them abroad Calvin also wrote the History of Blandrata and sent it to the Polonian Church but his hypocrisie had so far prevailed with them that it did no good but afterward both in Poland and Transilvania he taught openly That Christ our Saviour was a meer man About the same time came forth Brentius his book about the personall union of two natures in Christ c. wherein he laboured to prove the substantiall presence of Christs body in the Supper And whereas Bullinger had published a Tractat upon those words In my Fathers house are many mansions Brentius published another Book wherein he manifested his dislike of Bullingers book saying That his conscience urged him to declare it This many marveiled at that he should quarrell with Bullinger being not provoked by him Bullinger least he should betray the truth answered him and Brentius again replyed charging the Tigurines with debasing the Majesty of Christ and denying the omnipotency of God Anno 1562. the Helvetians Ministers were again summoned to the Councill of Trent having the publick faith sent them but Bullinger againe wrote the reasons of their refusall Anno Christi 1563 Bullinger answered the book of Brentius de Christi Majestate About which time Ber. Ochin was banished by the Senat of Zurick for writing in defence of Polygamy contrary to his promise and oath and refusing to retract it Before his departure he desired Master Bull. to give him Letters testimoniall which he told him that he could not doe with a safe conscience yet was grieved for him and his children From thence Ochin went to Basil but finding no entertainment there he went into Poland where he publickly denyed the Deity of the Holy-Ghost but not staying long there he went into Moravia where he joyned himself to the Conventicles of the Anabaptists and shortly after dyed Anno Christi 1564. A great plague brake out in Zurick of which Bullinger fell so sick that all despaired of his life and himself also whereupon he sent for the Ministers of the Church and took his leave of them But it pleased God at the earnest prayers of the Church to restore him to health againe yet his wife and one of his daughters dyed of it And the year after the plague continuing two other of his daughters dyed also and himselfe began to be exceedingly tormented with the stone yet did not he intermit his labours but preached constantly and finished his Homilies upon Daniel Anno Christi 1566. when some turbulent spirits published that the Helvetian Churches were divided amongst themselves and held many unfound doctrines Bullinger published Confession of Faith which was consented to and subscribed by the Church of Geneva Berne Scaphusen Neocom St. Galli Mulhusen and Bipennium attested by the English Scottish and French Churches the Hungarian brethren also detesting and disclaiming the blasphemies of Blandrata and of Francis David published their assent to it Anno Christi 1567. Bullinger published his Homilies upon Isay and the year after he confuted Osius who denyed the deity of Christ and the Holy Ghost Anno Christi 1569 a great persecution arising in France many godly persons fled to Geneva and Helvetia who being in great want Bullinger took much paines to raise money by collections for them He was much troubled with the Sciatica and the Stone yet in the midst of those pains he wrote the Lives of the Popes and a confutation of the Popes Bull whereby he had excommunicated our Queen Elizabeth and absolved her subjects from the oath of Allegiance which was afterwards translated into English Anno Chr. 1570 there was a Synod of the French Churches held at Rochel to which because the Helvetians could not send Delegates they wrote Letters signifying their agreement with them in Doctrine and their good will to them Anno Christi 1571 by reason of the extreame hard winter there was a very great dearth in which Bullinger and the other Ministers obtained of the Senate that there should bee frequent Fasting and Prayer in publick and that provision should bee made for the Poor which was done accordingly Anno Christi 1572 was that bloody Massacre at Paris and in other places of France whereupon Bullinger the year after wrote his book of Persecution and God's judgements upon the Persecutors and to exhort the persecuted to patience and constancie That new Starre also in Cassiopeia appeared at that time Anno Christi 1574 Bullinger fell into a grievous disease which much tormented him from October to December at which time it pleased God to give him ease whereupon he exercised his publick Ministry again The year after he relapsed into his disease and though the pain was almost intolerable yet he never brake forth either in word or gesture into the least impatience but prayed the more fervently and when he had any ease he used to discourse pleasantly with his friends saying If the Lord will make any further use of me and my Ministry in his Church I will willingly obey him â—t if he please as I much desire to take me out of this miserble life I shall exceedingly rejoyce that he pleases to take meut of this wretched and corrupt age to goe to my Saviour Chri. Socraters was glad when his death approached because as he thought he should goe to Homer Hesiod and other Learned men whom he thought he should meet with in the other world How much more doe I joy who am sure that I shall see my Saviour Christ the Saints Patriarks Prophets Apostles and all the holy men which have lived from the beginning of the world These I say when I am sure to see them and to partake of their joyes why should I not willingly dye to enjoy their perpetual society and glory When he found some ease he sent for all the Ministers and Professors of the Universitie to him into his study to whom he gave thanks for their coming to him took his farewell of them with tears which he said proceeded not from his fear of death but as Paul's from his great love to them Hee made before them a Confession of his Faith forgave his enemies exhorted them to concord
for him to stay here He answered If I shall find favour in the eyes of God he will bring me again and shew me both it and his habitation and if otherwise lo here I am let him do what seemeth good in his eyes 2 Sam. 15. 25 26. And being asked of another if he could be content to live if God would grant it him he said I grant that life is a great blessing of God neither will I neglect any means that may preserve it and do heartily desire to submit to Gods will but of the two I infinitely more desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ. To those that came to visit him in his sicknesse he gave very godly and wise exhortations He thanked God for his wonderful mercy in pulling him out of hell in sealing his Ministry by the Conversion of Souls which he wholy ascribed to his glory A week before his death he called for his Wife and desired her to bear his Dissolution with a Christian Fortitude and turning to his children he told them that they should not now expect that in regard of his weaknesse he should say any thing to them he had formerly told them enough and hoped they would remember it and hee verily beleeved that none of them durst think to meet him at the great Tribunal of Christ in an unregenerate state Some of his neighbours moved that as he had in his Ministry discovered to them the exceeding comforts that were in Christ so he would now tel them what he felt in his soul Alass sayd he doe you looke for that now from me that want breath and power to speake I have told you enough in my Ministry yet to satisfie you I am by the wonderful mercies of God as full of comfort as my heart can hold and feel nothing in my soul but Christ with whom I heartily desire to be Then seeing some weeping he said Oh what a deal ado there is before one can dye When the very pangs of Death were upon him some of his dear friends coming to take their leave of him he caused himself to be raised up and after a few gapings for breath he said to them I am now drawing on a pace to my Dissolution hold out Faith and Patience your work will quickly be at an end Then shaking them by the hand he desired them to make sure of heaven and to remember what hee had formerly taught them protesting that it was the Truth of God as he should answer it at the Tribunal of Christ before whom he should shortly appeare and a dear friend taking him by the hand aske him if hee felt not much pain Truly no said he the greatest I feel is your cold hand and then being laid down againe not long after he yeelded up his spirit unto God Anno Christi 1631 and of his age 60. He was one of a thousand for Piety and Courage which were so excellently mixed with wisdom that they who imagined mischief against his Ministry were never able by all their plottings to doe him any more hurt then only to shew their teeth He wrote a discourse of true happiness Directions for a comfortable walking with God Insâ—â—utions for comforting afflicted Consciences A threefold Treatise of the World Sacrament of the Lords Supper and Fasting De quatuor novissimis Laus Deo W. WHATELIE The Life of William Whately who died A no Christi 1639. WIlliam Whately was born at Banbury in Oxfordshire Anno Christi 1583 of godly and religious Parents His Father Master Thomas Whatelie was oft Major of that Town His Mother Mistris Joyce Whately carefully bred him up in the knowledge of the Scriptures from a child He was also trained up in learning in the best Schools in those parts and being of a quick apprehension a clear judgement and a most happy memory He profited so much both in Latine Greek and Hebrew that at fourteen yeares old he went to Christs Colledge in Cambridge There he was an hard Student and quickly became a good Logician and Philosopher a strong Disputant and an excellent Orator He studied also Poetrie and Mathematicks He was a constant hearer of Doctor Chaderton and Master Perkins And his Tutor calling his Pupills to an account what they had learned when any was at a stand he would say Whately what say you And he would repeat as readily as if he had preached the Sermon himself Being Batechelor of Arts his Father tooke him home yet there also he followed his study Afterwards he married a Wife the Daughter of Master George Hunt an eminent Preacher who perswaded him to enter into the Ministry and therefore going to Oxford he Commenced Master of Arts and presently after hee was called to be a Lecturer at Banbury which he performed with good approbation for foure yeares and then was called to the Pastoral charge there in which place he continued untill his death He was of a quick understanding of a clear and deep judgement of a most firme memory and of a lively spirit Hee was naturally Eloquent and had words at will He was of an able body and sound lungs and of a strong and audible voice And according to his matter in hand he was a Boaâ—erges a sonne of Thunder and yet upon occasion a Barnabas a sonne of sweet Consolation and which was the Crowne of all God gave him an heart sincerely to seek his glory and to aime at the saving of all their soules that heard him His speech and praching was not in the inticing words of mans wisdomâ— but in the Demonstration of the Spirit and Power He was an Apollos eloquent and mighty in the Scriptures He catechized and preached twice every Lords day and a weakly Lecture besides yet what he preached was before well studyed and premeditated He usually penned his Sermons at large and if he had but so much time as to read over what he had written and to gather it up into short heads he was able to deliver it well near in the same words His Sermons were plaine yet very Scriptural according to the Rules of Art and right reason Hee made use of his Grammar learning in Greek and Hebrew to examine his Text by Then of Rhetorick to discover what formes of speech in his Text were genuine and used in their proper signification and what was elegantly clothed in Tropes and Figures that hee might unfold them Then by a Logicall examining of the context he searched out the true scope of the Holy Ghost in the words His Doctrines which hee insisted on were naturall not forced These he first proved by Scriptures then by other arguments and reasons and in his Applications he either confirmed some profitable truth which might be questioned or convinced men of some error or reproved some vice or exhorted to some duty or resolved some doubt or case of Conscience or comforted such as
needed consolation And if his reproof or exhortation needed pressing home upon the conscience he would enlarge himselfe by shewing motives to urge the duty or disswasives from the vice taking his Arguments from duty to God decency or shamefulnesse pleasure or paine gaine or losse Sometimes also hee would shew the effectuall meanes of attaining the grace or power to performe the duty exhorted to As also the Remedies against Vices And when hee fell upon any Common place or Head of Divinity hee used to prosecute it very judiciously and profitably So that by all this it appeares that hee made good use of his Learning yet without affectation He used to read Books most swiftly and yet not cursorily being able when he had done to give an account of the substance and most remarkable passages of what he had read Though he preached often yet what he preached was before-hand well studied and premeditated And it pleased God to put a Seal to his Ministry in the converting confirming and building up many thousands in the course of his Ministry Hee was a diligent visitor of the sick under his charge without respect of persons Hee was a great Peace-maker amongst any of his flock that were at variance Hee had an heavenly gift in prayer both for aptnesse and fulnesse of Confessions Petitions Supplications Intercessions and Praises together with fervencie of spirit to pour them out to God in the name of Christ. When he had read a Psalm or Chapter in his Family in his Prayer hee would discover the scope meaning and chiefe notes of observation and their use so that his Prayer was an excellent Commentary thereupon and this not onely in the plainer but â—n the harder Texts of Scripture also In his prayers also after Sermon he could collect into a short summe all that hee had delivered to his hearers and make it the matter of his prayer unto God that they might bee inwardly taught of God and become believers and doers of what was taught them His constant practice was besides Family-prayer twice a day and sometimes catechizing to pray also with his Wife and alone both morning and evening He set a part private daies of Humiliation for his Family upon special occasions and oft for their preparation to the Lords Supper at which times he would exceed himself in pouring out his soul to God with many tears He was much in daies of private fasting and humbling himself alone before God which impaired his health but made much for the health of his soul. He was very able and very ready to confer with and to resolve the doubts of such as came to him He bare such a tender love to that great people over which God had set him that though his means was small and he had many offers of great preferment in the Church yet hee would not leave them Hee was daily inquisitive after the affaires of Gods Church and sympathized with Gods people both in their weale and woe He was much grieved when he saw that difference in opinions bred strangenesse amongst Christians that agreed in the same Fundamentall Truths He was judiciously charitable to such as shewed the power of Godlinesse in their lives though they were not of his judgement in all things He was glad when any of the righteous smote him and would take it well not from his Superiours onely but from his Equals and far Inferiours and would really shew more testimonies of his love to such afterwards then ever he did before Hee abounded in workes of Mercy he was a truly liberal man one that studyed liberall things seeking out to finde objects of his mercie rather then staying till they were offered He did set apart and expend for many yeares together for good uses the tenth part of his yearly commings in both out of his Temporall and Ecclesiasticall meanes of maintenance He entertained some poor Widdows or neceâ—â—itous persons weekly at the least at his Table and his estate prospered the better after hee took this course and in his sicknesse he comforted himself with that promise Psal. 41. 1 2. Blessed is he that considereth the poor the Lorâ— will deliver him in the time of trouble the Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing c. The truth of grace in his heart was discovered by nothing more then by his slips and strong tentations For hereby hee was made more watchfull over himselfe more humble and more to loath his originall corruption and sinfull nature and so to cry out with the Apostle O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death Yea this made him more earnest in his prayers unto God and more pittifull unto others And hee was alwayes the first espier of his own faults when the world could not or did not take notice of them enjoying no rest in himselfe till he had sought and regained pardon and peace with God His last daies were his best dayes for then hee grew exceedingly in humility and in heavenly-mindednesse And a good while before his latter end God gave him victory over his greatest corruptions which for a long time kept him in continuall exercise About eight weeks before his death he was much troubled with a cough and shortnesse of breath which much weakned him yet hee preached divers times till his encreasing weaknesse disabled him In his sicknesse he gave heavenly and wholsom counsel to his people neighbours and friends that came to visit him exhorting them to labour to redeem the time to be much in reading hearing and meditating upon the word of God much in praier brotherly love and communion of Saints and that they would be careful to hold that fast that he had taught them out of the Word of Truth and that waiâ—st the means of salvation was to bee had they would neither spare paines nor cost to enjoy it His pains towards his end were very great yet hee bore them patiently He was much in ejaculations and lifting up his heart to God in behalf of the Church and State and for himself also wherein he was most frequent and earnest A little before his death a godly friend and Minister praying with him that if his time were not expired God would bee pleased to restore him for the good of his Church or if otherwise that he would put an end to his pains if hee saw good he lifting up his eyes stedfastly towards heaven and one of his hands in the close of that prayer gave up the Ghost shutting his eyes himself as if he were fallen into a sweet sleep Anno 1639 and of his Age 56. God took him away a little before the Civill Warres began and before the sad desolations that fell upon the Town of Banbury in particular He wrote Prototypes God Husbandry A Treatise of the New Birth The Redemption of time A Care cloth The Bride bush c.