serious meditation of the reformation of Religion in the Churches he desired to conforme the Citizens of Hassia unto the example of the Primitive Church he desired to remove many reliques of superstition out of the Church he desired to establish that Ecclesiasticall discipline which was ready to fall unto the great detriment of the Church In the midst of these heavenly cogitations it pleased the Lord to send his messenger for him which he well perceiving by the continuall increasing of his paines he desired to have the Communion administred unto him afterwards he told his wife what he would have done after his death after that he had instructed his children how they should carry themselves towards God and how towards their mother and how towardâ— men and his yongest son standing amongst them hâ— laid his hand on his head uttering these Words discemi fili mandata domini ipse enaâ—riet te Keepe the commandaments of the Lord my son and he will provide for thee then â—urning himselfe to those who were present he declareâ— unto them that he dyed in that faith which he had constantly professed so many yeares in that City which words being spoken he fell asleepe and was buried at Marpurge in the year our Lord 1564. and in the 53. year of his life All things which are to be required in a Teacher are to be found in this Gerardus first he was learned and his learning was also joyned with experience secondly he had an excellent faculty and method of teaching thirdly he was laborious in his function fourthly he was gravâ— fiftly of an unspotted life and conversationâ— he was modest patient and constant all which sufficiently declare that he was set apart by the Lord for the converting of many souls unto Christ. His Works which he left unto the world as a rich legacy are here set downe 1 A Commentary on the twentieth Psalme 2 On the twelft Psalme 3 A method for a Preacher 4 On the Romans 5 Of reading and meditating the Scriptures 6. Method of Theologie 7 Theologicall Topicks 8 Catechisme Other Works in two Tomes First 1 Of the study of the Scripture 2 Of the institution of Colledges 3 A triall of students 4 Of Catechising 5 Of justification by faith 6 Of Benificence to the poor 7 Of Feasts Tome 2. 1 Of the duty of hearers 2 Of Providence 3 Of Selfe-examination 4 Of the marriage of Ministers 5 Of the Sacraments 6 Notes upon Aristotles Ethicks 7 Physicks 8 Logicke 9 Rhetoricke 10 Arithmaticke 11 Gromaticke 12 Cosmographik 13 Optics 14 Astronomy Set forth after his death 1 Annotations of Isaiah 2 Commentaries on the Galathians 3 Ephesians 4 Philippians 5 Colossians 6 Thessalonians 7 Timothy 8 Titus 9 Philemon 10 Iude. 11 Hebrewes You that desire to lead a life Free from th'incumbrances of strife Draw neare and with a carefull â—row Let brave Gerarduâ— teach you how Reader observe and thou shalt finde By trauell he inrtch'd his minde His active heart was alwayes free To Propagate true piety He alwayes studied to displace Errours from the Churches face He gain'd no envy but from those That were Religions chiefest foâ—â— He would perswade intreat advise His Fellow-preachers to dispise Those fruits of Idlenesse which he defy'd Thus liv'd Gerarduâ— thus Gerardus dy'd ARETIVS BENEDICTVS The Life and Death of Aretius Benedictus AS the Lord hath never been wanting unto his Church both in these and in forraine parts in the stirring up of painfull and â—ealous Watch-men for the Propagating of his truth and for the enlightning of the understanding of those whom he had elected unto salvation in Jesus Christ so he hath not been deficient in procuring the affection of eminent persons towards the same Professors by whose meanes they have been defended and sheltered against the inviterate malice both of the Divell and his members Malicious enemies unto the Word of truth amonst whom the Senate of Berna may justly receive worthy Commendations for the constant love shewed unto the zealous professors of the truth it being indeed the maine pillar which doth support the welfare of a Common-wealth and which doth draw downe a blessing from heaven upon their intended designes In this â—amous City was Benedictus Aretius borne a faithfull zealous professors of the truth of Christ being beautified with excellent endowments both of learning and piety which did sufficiently testifie that he was set apart by the Lord for the winning of many unto Christ. He spent his youth in his owne Country amongst the Switzers wherein he was instructed and trained up in the knowledge of the Arts but ayming at a greater perfection labouring â—or a sounder judgement in the works writings of other learned and Orthodox men he left his Country for a season and went unto Marpurg where by reason of his eminent gifts and qualities he gained the love of many learned Schollers and was designed and oppointed to read the Logick Lecture in the same place which after he had performed for the space of some years to the great profit of his Auditors to the never dying fame of himselfe and to the generall applause of all the City having also attained in some measure to that perfection which he had formerly desired he returned again unto Berne where he was joyfully received and by a generall consent appointed to open the Scriptures and to instruct the inhabitants in the way of life in which exercise he observed such an edifying method both in his publick reading and Preaching that he drew great multitudes of people unto him who beholding his proceedings with great admiration with one consent praised the Lord for sending so learned and so painfull an instrument among them for the plantâ—ng of the truth in their hearts So excellent was his forme of teaching that many Divines came unto his Lectures not onely for the information of their judgements in matters of Controversies but also to learne his method of teaching which being obtained by some they proved excellent instruments in the Church for the converting of the lost sheepe of Israel and many would not in publicke make triall of their owne parts before they had continued for a season to be his Auditors His writings were greatly in request and desired greatly of all that either knew him or heard of him but especially his labours in Divinity one of his bookes called Eramen Theologicâ—m came to the Presse twelve times within the space of three years which doth declare the excellency and how usefull and beneficiall it was unto the Church in those times and in these dayes also it is a Worke fit to be perused of all such as doe intend the study of Divinity After that he had continued this constant course of teaching in the City of Berne for the space of many years to the great furtherance of the glory of God and benefit of his Church it pleased the Lord to take him unto himselfe and to Crowne him with a diâ—dem of everlasting glory
rage was spent Ye did him good though with an ill intent Pricke up your eares and hâ—are this fatall tone Those fires which made him screek wil make you groâ— The Life and Death of Conrade Pellican who dyed Anno Christi 1556. COnrade Pellican was born at Rubeac in Swedeland Anno 1478. and brought up in learning by his Parents at thirteen yeeres of age he went to Heidleberg after sixteen moneths study there he returned home where he entered into a Monastery yet afterwards returned to Heidleberg and from thence to Tubinge where he studied the Liberall Arts and was much admired for his quick wit he studied also School-Divinity and Cosmography wherein he profited exceedingly he tooke very great pains in the study of Hebrew and at Basil was made Doctor in Divinity afterwards the Popes Legat took him with him towards Rome being affected with his learning but falling sick of a Fever by the way he returned to Basil. Whilst he thus continued a Fryar he was of great esteeme amongst them because of his learning integrity but it pleased God at last that by reading Luthers bookes and conference with learned and godly men he began to dis-relish the Popish Errors and so far to declare his dislike of them that he was much hated and persecuted for a Lutheran but about the same time the Senate of Basil chose him Lecturer in Divinity in that City togeâ—her with Oecolampadius where he began first with reading upon Genesis then on Proverbs and Ecclesiastes An. Christi 1526. he was by the meanes of Zuinglius sent for to Tygure and being come was most courteously entertained by him there he laid downe his Monks Coul and married a wife by whom he had a son which he named Samuel being then preaching upon the history of Samuel that wife dying he married againe but had no children by his second wife he was present at the Disputation at Bern about Religion after Zuinglius his death there were chosen into his room Henry Bullinger and Theodor Bibliander who was an excellent Linguist and began to read upon Iâ—aie to the great astonishment of his hearers for that he was not above 23. yeers of age Pellican â— at the earnest request oâ— learned men Printed all his Lectures and Annotations which were upon the whole Bible excepting onely the Revelations which portion of Scripture he not intending to write upon caused the Commetaâ—y of Sebastian Meyter upon it to be bound with his to make the worke compleat He translated many bookes out of Hebrew which were printed by Robert Stevens and having been Hebrew Professor at Tygure for the space of thirty yeers wherein he was most acceptable to all not onâ—ly in regard of his excellent learning and indefatigable painâ— but also in regard of his sweet and holy Conversation At lasâ— falling into the pain of the stone other diseases he departed this life upon the day of Christs Resurrection 1556. of his Age 78. After our Pellican had wandred long In the worlds wide-wildernesse he grew so strong In grace and goodnesse that he soon became An ample Subject for the mouth of Fame He was admir'd by all that lov'd to be Serious proficients in Divinity He lives he lives although his body lyes Inshrin'd by earth True virtue never dyes The Life and Death of Bugenhagius who died Anno Christi 1558. IOhn Bugenhagius was born at Iulinum in Pomerania Anâ—â— christi 1485. His Parents were of the rank of Senators who bred him up carefully in Learning and sent him to the University of Grypswald where he profited in the study of the Arts and the Greek tongue Being twenty years old he taught School at Trepta and by his learning and diligence he made the School famous and had many Scholaâ—â— to whom also he red daily some portion of Scripture and pâ—â—yed with themâ— and meeting with Erasmus his booke againe the â—â—strâ—onicall carriage of the Fryarâ— the Idolatry of the times he gat so much light thereby that he was stirred up to instruct others therein and for that end in his Schoole he read Matthew the Epistles to Timothy and the Pâ—alms to which he added Catechising and also expounded the Creed and thâ— ten Commandements unto which exercises many â—entlemen Citizens and Priests resorted from the Schoole he was called to preach in the Church and was admitted into the Colledge of Presbyters many resorted to his Sermons of all ranks and his fame spred abroad insomuch as Bogeslauâ— the Prince of that Country employed him in writing an History of the same aud â—urnished him with mony books and records for the enabling of him thereto which History he compleated in two yeeres with much judgement and integrity Anno Christi 1520. one of the Citizens of Trepâ—a having Luthers booke of the Babylonish Captivitie sent him he gave it to Bugenhagius as he was at dinner with his Collegues who looking over some leaves of it told them that many Hereticks had disqâ—ieted the peace of the Church since Christs time yet there was never a more pestilent Hereticke then the Author of that book but after some few dayes having read it with more diligence and attention he made this publick Recantation before them all What shall I say of Luther All the world hath been blinde and in cimmeâ—ian darknesse onely this one man hath found out the Truth And further disputing of those questions with them he brought most of his Collegues to be of his judgement therein Hereupon Bugenhagius read Lutheâ—'s other Works diligently whereby he learned the difference between the Law and the Gospell Justification by Faith c. and taught these things also to his Hearers But the Divell envying the successe of the Gospell stirred up the Bishop to persecute the professours of it some of which he cast into Prison and caused others to flye away insomuch as Bugenhagius also being not safe and desirous to be acquainted and to confer with Luther went to Wittembourg Anno christi 1521. and of his 〈◊〉 36. and came thither a little before Luther's going to thâ— Diet at Worms In whose absence he opposed â—arolostadius who would have all Magistrates to rule by the Judicialâ— of Moses and Images to be cast out of Churches Upon Luther's return out of his Pathmos he was chosen Pastor of the Church of Wittembourg which he taught and governed with much felicity and in many changes of affairs for the space of thirty six years never leaving his station neitheâ— for War nor Pestilence and when he was profered Richeâ— and Preferment both in Denmark and Pomeron yet he would never leave his Charge though he lived but poorly in itâ— Anno christi 1522. he was sent for to Hamburg where hâ— prescribed to them a forme both of Doctrine Ceremonieâ— and Calling of Ministers where he erected a Schoole alsoâ— which afterwards grew very famous and Anno christi 1530 being sent for to Lubec he prescribed to them also an order both for Preaching and Discipline
and his neighborâ— from making use of them as alwayes studyous of peace And last for that divine vertue of charity c Synâ—s ep 57 wherein alonâ— saith Synesius God and man communicates read but that Paragraph in that more large relation of his life first mentiâ—ned and you will acknowledge him d Aâ—i c. 2.0.7 Zealous of good workes Yet let me adde one thing there omitted Phylostratus reported of a miraculous stone in India which he calleth Pantarbe e Vit. Apoâ—â— â—aâ— l. 3. c. 14 having the vertue attractive of the Load stone and likewise giving light by the bright-shining of it This reverend Doctor as by his workes of charity he gave much light to others so by his arguments he was very powerful to draw them forward f 1 Tim. 6.17 18 19. â— whom God had enabled for such performances Read to this purpose his large g Synop. Pap. p. 2220. of the fift edition Catalogue of charitable works done since the times of the Gospell within the space of sixty years under the happy raign of King Edward the sixt Queen Elizabeth and part of King Iames and that onely within the City of London or by the Citizens thereof and within the two famous Universities Cambridge and Oxford confining himselfe to these Places onely for want of means to travel further in the search By which examples he hath not onely incited all h Tit. 3.8 Cyr. Hieros Caâ—ech 15. ibid Cat. 1. that beleeve God to study to goe before others in good workes as hereby discovering the life of their Faith and laying up to themselves treasures in heaven But withall invincibly confuting that calumny of the Romanists charging our doctrine of justification by Faith onely as a great adversary to good works For he hath made this challenge to all the Champions of that party to produce and proove if possibly they can the i Amounting in the totall to almost 1000000 1. like acts of piety and charity to have been done within the same compasse of yeares under Popery and within these places or within twice so many years immediately preceding the date whence his account commenceth And to â—his day I heare of none that undertakes to enter the lists with him upon this challenge I know there have been some even amongst us who either out of k Terem Adelph Tim. Sillagr ignorance envy or l Iuâ—i Mosop proud disdaine or because in some things they accord not with him in opinion have cast out flirting censures against this Catalogue which King Iames highly applauded and against all other of his labors Some such he met with in his owne life time who like the Indians preferre m Phiâ—â— vit Apoll. Tyan l. 2. c. 9. blach before white being their owne naturall hue whose cavilâ— he no morâ— regarded n Iul. Mis. then the croaking of so many Frogs o Hieroâ— ad â—ustic he knew he must offend some who while they take offence at him discover their owne consciences Many have carpt at his large book of Controversies before mentioned as if p Gregâ— Naz. contr Eâ—nom upon every sparkle he had raised a flame and mâ—de more difference betweene the Church of Rome and us then others have done and that these things were sufficiently if not too much exagitated before his time These and such like things I have sometimes heard but I must needs say onely from those of that sect or cut whom a Jesuite q Church â—â—nquera against Chillingwort chap. 6. cals Moderate Protestants such as least exoribitate from the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of Rome Or such squinting Protestants r Aug. de 〈◊〉 Orig. l. 2. c. 22 as willing to retaine their corrupt opinions and to decline the odious name of Hereticks dares to affirme s R. M. Gagg pag. 14. that there is no Controversie between the Romish party and us that eiâ—ther concerneth Faith or good Life but that the diffâ—rences are of an inferiour alloy of which a man may be ignorant without any danger of his soule at all And therefore in his defence against these I will say no more but praejudicium tollit judicium prejudice takes away right judgement and male rerum examinat omnis corruptas judex a corrupt Judge never well examineth the truth And for his handling things often handled by others Prosper t Epi. Pros. ad Aug. de reliâ— Pelâ—g â—er thinkes it both necessary and profitable so to doe least the matters be reputed of small moment which are not often argued As for those who have slighted his laborious Commentaries upon divers parts of Scripture pretending them to be but Scraps and Fragments gathered from the Fâ—asts of others I know not whether they discover more malice or more folly If with Socrates u Apud Pâ—at in Pâ—â—â—do he filled himselfe as a vessell at the Wels or springs of others and yet could say as Lipsius of his Politickes Omnia mea sunt nihil all is minâ— and nothing at all w Hier. adve Vigil If he gathered many Flowers together and put them as a Posie into our hands if he hath x Amb. Proeâ—â—â— in Luc. read many things to spare us thâ— reading of them iâ—â—e hath collected the judgements of most Writers ancient and moderne upon those Bookes and disposed them by a most exquisite method and fitted them for all necessary use â—s plainly appeareth to every unpartiall and judicious â—yeâ— Then have we just cause to praise God for his profiâ—able paines and to desire that some other would follow him in that way y Opâ— wherein no man hath gone beforâ— him It cannot be denyed but that aâ— Bâ—aâ—us Rhenacâ—â— truely observeth in z 〈…〉 Teriuâ— the most beautifull body som blemish may be found and we are men a Lips praef ad polit subject to errours and consâ—quently in the great and many labors of this learned man someting may be found that may require a râ—vâ—z ill some thing may admit the sponge Bâ—t when like unto Momus who could finde nothing else amisse in Venus but b Philo. ep ad 〈◊〉 onely that her shooe creakt men will pretend errours wherâ— there are none I must tell such in the words of Ieromâ— c Ad Domin when they come to write themselves and to set foot to foot thâ—y will tug and sweat and find great difference between pubâ—lick writing and private carping Or let thiâ— blessed Doctor speake to them though dead and say d Marâ—ial ad Lâ—lium Carpere vel noli nosâ—ra vel edeâ—ua Snarle not at mine or seâ— forth thinâ— And on the other side where something may be blame worthy pardon it e Theod. de Curaâ—d Greac affect in Prolo and doe not despise the Works because of this but reape profit by that which is well written and give God the glory who found folly in hiâ— Angelâ— â—nd â—s alone impeccable To come neare to
learneder and more famous and deare to his Countrey There is a Booke of famous Sermons extant in Print of this Prelates which is counted a worthy Peece and doth sufficiently declare his Piety and Schollarship to succeedâ—ng Ages He that will spake his praises well Must study first what 't is t' excell He daily labour'd to oppose The Churches most unsatiate Foes The truth he would be sure to vent Though he endur'd imprisonment Read but his Works and thâ—u shall finde His body was imprisn'd not his minde Gâ—RVAS BABINGTON The Life and Death of Gervas Babington THis Prelate as he was excellent for his parts so was he of a very faiâ— descent being born in the County of Nottingham of the ancient family of the Babingtons in the said County where he drew in the first rudiments of Literature till by his worthy Parentâ— he was sent to Cambridge and was admitted into that worthy Society of Trinity Colledg Doctor Whiâ—guâ—â—â— being then Master This Babington proved so famous in Scholâ—ership that having his degrees he was made Fellow of the same Colledge and giving himselfe to the study of Divinity he proved a worthy Preacher in that University After being Doctor in Divinity he was called by Henry that Noble Earl of Pembrooke to be his Chaplaine by whose favour he was first made Treasurer of the Church of Landaffe in Wales after he was elected Bishop of the same 1591. and when he had sitten four years in that See for his singular Piety and Learning he was by Queene Elizabeth translated to the Bishopricke of Exeter where he scarce stayed three years but he was made Bishop of Worcester and in the middest of all these preferments he was neither tainted with Idlenesse or pride or covetousnesse but wâ—s not onely diligent in preaching but in writing bookes for the understanding of Gods Word so that he was a true patterne of Piety to the people of Learning to the Ministery and of Wisedome to all Governours Whereupon he was made one of the Queenes Counsell for the Marches of Wales He was Bishop of Worcester abovt the space of 13. years He dyed of an Hecticke Feaver and so changed this fraile life for a better in the yeare of our Lord 1610. not without the great griefe of all and had all funerall Rites bestowed on him befitting so great and so grave a Governour and father of the Church and was buried in the Cathedrall Church of Worcester in the Moneth of May. His Workes extant are these that follow 1. Consolatory Annotations upon Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers and Deuteronomy 2. Vpon the ten Commandements the Lords Prayer and the Articles of the Creed 3. A comparison or collation betweene humane frailty and faith 4. Three worthey and learned Seâ—mons Renowned Babington spun out his dayes In truth and peace and had the ecchoing praise Of every tongue his worth was priz'd by all That lov'd religion nothing could recall His heart from goodnesse peace and love did rest Within the closset of his seâ—ious breast Therefore let every tongue proclame and cry The fame of Babington shall never dye IOHN WHITGIFT The Life and Death of John Whitgift IN the year of our Lord 1530. being the twenty and first of King Henry the eight a year very remarkable for the Parliament then held wherein that proud Prelate Cardinall Wolsey was attainted and the first opposition made by the maine body of the the Commons therein assembled against the tirannicall usurpation of the Popish Clergy was Iohn Whitgift born at great Grimesbie in Lincolnshire descended from an ancient and worshipfull Family of the Whitgifts in Yorkeshire An Unckle he had called Robert Whitgift Abbot of Wellow who though himselfe a professed Monk yet not greaty liked the profession and was by this his Nephew therefore heard sometime to say that they and their Religion could not long continue for that having read the Scripture over and over againâ—â— he could never finde therein that their Religion was founded by God and it is not unlikly that by the cariage of businesses in the State at that time being an understanding man he might shrewdly guesse at those things that shortly after sued Under this his Unckle was he educated together with some other young Gentlemens sonnes for some space of time and whether taking some hints from him or being by some other meanes wrought on through a secret hand of God already moulding and preparing him for future employments he began to grow though very young yet into a dislike of Popish superstitions and to afâ—ect the better way For being by his said Unckle who observed his towardlinesse for his further improvement in learning sent up to London entred there into Saint Antonies schoole and boarded with an Aunt of his wife to one Michael Shaller a Verger of Pauls Church he was after som time by her dismissed againe and thrust out of doores because he refused to frequent the morning Masse with her albeit by some of the Canons earnestly solicited so to doe Upon returne to his Parents according to his Unckles advice and direction finding that he had well profited in learning he was by them sent to the University of Cambridge and there placed in Qâ—eenes Colledge But not so well relishing tâ—e disposition of some in that house he removed from thence to Pembrooke Hall where he was pupill to that blessed Maâ—tyr of God Iohn Bradford Doctor Ridley afterward Bishop of London being then Hed of the house by whom also in regard of his forwardnesse both in learning and godlinesse he was made scholer of the house With his years his worth growing and notice taken of his good parts his preferments likewise accordingly came on For from thence he was chosen to be Fellow of Peter-house Dâ—ctor Pern being then Master thâ—re who very tenderly affected him and when out of tendernesse of conscience in Queen Maries time upon expectation of som Commisâ—ioners that were to come downe visit to the University and settle Popery there he had entertained some thoughts of going beyond the Seas the D r. perceiving it and withall his resolution in matter of religion both encouraged and caused him notwithstand to stay promising him withall to take such order for him that keeping himselfe quiet he should remaine free from molestation that which according to his promise given him he also faithfully fulfilled Having thus by the favour and connivancy of the Doctor God reserving him for further and higher employments rid out those stormy and tempestuous times upon the dispersions of those blacke clouds that had formerly overspread and eclipsed the good parts of many by the happy sunshine of that illustrious Princesse Queene Elizabeths ascent to the throne of this Realme contrary to that that is wont to befall at the naturall Suns rising this our bright Star among others and above many others began now to shine forth and discover its luster Notice whereof being taken as in the Univerâ—ity so at Court he received advancement unto