that taking heed of Blandatra and his followers they should so assert Christ to be our Mediator according to both his natures that in the mean time they should not multiply Deities But this labour of his was vaine towards them that were to perish About this time the Bohemian Waldenses sent two of their brethren to Master Calvin to desire his judgment about some matters of Religion whom he lovingly satisfied exhorting them also that they would enter into a neerer conjunction with other Reformed Churches At the same time also Q. Mary being dead and Queen Elizabeth succeeding many of the godly French relying upon her piety and humanity fled for refuge into England with the consent of tha reverend man Edmund Grindal Bishop of London they craved leave of her that one might be sent from Geneva to plant a French Church there whereupon Galacius was sent Towards the latter end of this yeare King Francis of France dyed suddenly and that in such a juncture of time when all things seemed so desperate that they could not be cured but by God himself and King Charls the ninth a child was searce entred into his Kindom when by a Herald Letters subscribed with his name were brought to Geneva wherein he complained that many were sent out from thence that infected his Kingdom desiring that they might be presently called back threatning that otherwise he would not let passe the revenging of that injury Mast. Calvin being hereupon sent for by the Senate answered in his owne and in his Colleagues names that at the request of the Churches of France they had exhorted certain men that were sound in the faith and of an holy life whom they judged fit for the work that they should not be wanting to lend their help to their Country in so holy a cause especially the Churches craving assistance from them for their further edification And that this they had done not to disturb the Kingdome but that the people might be taught the Gospel of peace and if they were accused for any thing further then this that they were ready to answer their accusers before the King So this business went no further The same year Master Calvin and Master Beza answered the impudent book of Tileman Hushusius Master Calvin also confuted those blasphemies which Gentilis had published at Lions against him and Athanasius He published also his Lectures upon Daniel which he dedicated to the French Churches and as he interpreted that Prophet so in his Praeface he was himselfe a Prophet so etelling the tempest that hung over them At which time also Francis Balduinus afterwards called Ecebolius because he had changed his religion three or four time being suborned by the Cardinall of Lorrain by evill means reconciled to the King of Navar dispersed a certain book up and down the Court written either by himself or as some rather thought by Cassander wherein he stiled himself a pious and moderate man which book was worse then the Emperors Interim for that under the specious pretence of restoring moderation he sought to bring in all the Popish corruptions Master Calvin being informed hereof published an answer to this book to which some other answers were shortly after added which made a full discovery of the wit and purpose of Balduinus which this railer could by no means digest whereupon he never gave over to brand Calvin and Beza with his impudent reproaches till the year after being growne odious both to God and men of both Religions whom he had so often deceived by his turning whilst he was following a suit of Law at Paris he wore away and ended his wretched life In the year 1562. God gave peace and liberty to the French Churches by a publick Edict of the Kings But not long after the King of Navar being suborned by Popish subtilty presently after the Duke of Guise had committted that abominable massacre at Vassy began that civil war which continued many years after to the miserable devastation of France and it cannot be spoken how much Master Calvin was affected and afflicted therewith which so far increased his disease that it was easie to divine that it would not be long before he was translated to a better life yet did he not desist from exhorting and comforting every one no nor from preaching and reading his ordinary Lectures And the same yeare he published that excellent confession of Faith which was sent to the States of the Empire met together at Franckeford in the name of the Prince of Conde and of all the Godly in France who besides the injuries which they sustained by an unjust war were unworthly traduced to the Germans as if they held many false and monstrous opinions One thing also is not to be pretermitted that on the nineteenth of Decem. Master Calvin lying in bed sick of the Gout being the Sabbath day and the North-wind having blowne two dayes strongly said to many that were present Truly I know not what is the matter but I thought this night I heard warlick drums beating very loud and I could not perswade my selfe but it was so Let us therefore goe to prayers for surely some great businesse is in hand And this very day there was a great Battail fought between the Guisians and the Protestants not far from Paris news whereof came unto Geneva within a few days after The year after which was 1563. Master Calvins disease did so far increase that it was almost incredible that so weak a body exhausted with so many labours and worne out with so many diseases should yet retaine so valiant and generous a mind So that even then he could not be perswaded to favour himself and if at any time he abstained from his publick labours which yet he never did but when by necessity he was enforced thereto yet he was busie at home either in giving counsell to those that sought it or in dictating to his Scribes the witnesses whereof are those two serious admonitions to the Polomans to take heed of those blasphemous persons which denyed the Sacred Trinity The answers which he returned to the brethrens Messengers who were now met in a Synod at Lions his Commentaries upon the foure books of Moses which himselfe turned out of Latin into French And lastly his commentary upon Joshua which he now began and finished a little before his death In the year 1564. Feb. the sixth Master Calvin being short-winded by reason of a stopping in his lungs preached his last Sermon and from thence forward he spake little onely now and then he would be carried to the Congregation the last time being March the last His diseases being contracted by the incredible labours both of his mind and body were very many For besides that naturally he was but of a weak body leane and inclinable to a Consumption he slept little spent a great part of the
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
THE MARROW OF Ecclesiastical History CONTAINED IN The LIVES of one hundred forty eight FATHERS SCHOOLMEN first REFORMERS and MODERN DIVINES which have flourished in the Church since Christ's time to this present Age Faithfully collected and orderly disposed according to the CENTURIES wherein they lived Together With the Lively Effigies of most of the eminentest of them cut in COPPER The second Edition enlarged in most of the Lives with the addition of nine Lives which were not in the Former By SAMUEL CLARK Pastor of Bennet Fink London Vt qui praeceptis non accendimur saltem exemplis incitemur atque in appetitu Rectitudinis nil sibi mens nostra difficile astimet quod perfectè peragi ab aliis videt Greg. Mag. l. 9. c 43. Wherefore seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us and let us run with patience the race which is set before us Heb. 12. 1. London Printed for T. V. and are to be sold by William Roybould at the Vnicorn in Pauls-Church-yard 1654. To the Christian Reader CHRISTIAN READER THe nature of man is more apt to be guided by Examples then by Precepts especially by the the examples of men eminently learned and of great repute for Pietie and Godliness Such men are as Looking-glasses to the places where they live by which most people dress themselves and when they fall into sin they fall like men in a croud many falling with them The bodies of men are not so subject to be infected by the illness of the ayr as the souls of men by the ill examples of godly learned Ministers When Peter at Antioch dissembled many of the Jews dissembled likewise with him and Barnâ—ibas was brought into their dissimulation also It is very remarkable that this example of Peter is said to be a constraining of the Gentiles to Judaize Why constrainest thou the Gentiles to do as the Jews Gal. 2 14. There is a compulsive power in the ill examples of godly men to constrain others to do the evil that they do and therefore let godly Ministers especially in these days take heed least by any wicked compliance they build men up in sin and bring destruction upon themselves as the two sons of old Ely did who by their wicked examples made the people of Israel to transgress and thereby brought ruine upon their old Father and themselves 1 Sam. 2. 24. And so on the contrary there is a heavenly power and efficacy in the good examples of men eminent in place and godliness to draw others to Pietie and Holiness As long as Joshua lived and the Elders that had seen all the great works of the Lord that he did for Israel the children of Israel served the Lord. The religious cariage of Theodosius the Emperour in his family made not only his family but his whole Court to be a nourcery of Religion Pezel Mel Hist. in vita Theodo 2. But this is most especially seen in the godly Lives of godly and learned Ministers Herod the King reverenced John Baptist observed him and when he heard him did many things and heard him gladly not so much for the love of his doctrine as because he was a just and holy man and as Jesus Christ saith of him a burning and shining light burning in holy zeal for God as well as shining in Orthodox Doctrine He is called by the Prophet The voyce of him that cryeth in the wilderness And as Nazianzen saith of him he cryed louder by the holiness of his life then the sincerity of his doctrine He was Tota vox All voyce his apparel his diet and his conversation did Preach holiness as well as his doctrine Mar. 6 20. John 5. 35. Isay 40. 3. And therefore is cannot but be a work very profitable to the Church of Christ for any man to write a History of the Lives of the eminently learned and godly Ministers of former times as a fair Copy for Posterity to write after and a Patten for them to imitate This Reverend religious and learned Author hath undertaken this work in this ensuing Treatise and effected it so well as that I thought it not sufficient to give a naked Imprimatur unto it without this additional commendation both of the Author and of his work The Apostle having in the eleventh Chapter to the Hebrews given us a littleâ—Book of Martyrs in the beginning of the twelfth Chapter he calls them A cloud of witnesses Such a cloud of witnesses is contained in this Book And as the childreu of Israel were directed in their journeys by the Pillar of a Cloud that went before them as long as they were in the Wilderness so let us make this cloud of Witnesses so far as it followeth Christ a Pillar of Cloud to guide us while we are in the Wilderness of this World till we come to enjoy that unexpressible happiness of which they are now made partakers So prayeth your servant in Christ Jesus EDMUND CALAMY TO THE Christian Reader Christian Reader THE right improvement of good Examples doth reach the highest ends of man viz. Gods honor and the souls welfare It was an honor unto King David to have so many men of valor under his command And doubtless the wisdom faith love Zeal courage and humility which Gods faithful servants in the several ages of the Church have expressed in their attendance upon him do publish the high praises of his blessed Majesty For if there appear so much worth in small drops what is there in the Seas of Divine Al-sufficiencie He that seeth the Sun-beams bright will see cause to admire the brightness of the Sun it self The luster left upon Moses his face by the reflection of the glory of Gods back parts was a full demonstration of the incomparable infinite glory of his face When we read of me raised above the World despising promises and scorning threatnings whereby they have been assaulted to desert the Truth of the Gospel and to make shipwrack of a good conscience how can we do less then glorifie God in them For can any power on this side Omnipotencie enable sinful men to deny themselves their dearest relations and the greatest earthly advantages for Jesus Christ How much of Deity shines in their Lives who could trample upon preferments laugh at imprisonment and banishment yea with smiles and joys embrace stakes and endure flames in love unto the Lord Jesus Oh what abundant occasion is administred of adoring the most High God in his rich perfections faithfulness and unchangeableness when we consider how even to admiration he hath furnished many of his Ambassadors with raised parts and graces to defend his cause and edifie his Church in the several corners of the World from generation to generation Histories hold forth the acknowledgements extorted from Heathens to the honor of the true God upon the notice taken of Christians gracious carriage both
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
in Latin but Hierom reckons him amongst the Greek Fathers and even till this day some of his Works are extant in Greek which shews him to be a Grecian Varia scripsit sed soli qainque libri adversus Haereses eodie supersunt TERTVLLIAN The Life of Tertullian who dyed An. Christ. 202. TErtullian was born in Carthage his Father was a Centurion of the Proconsular Order He was carefully educated in all manner of learning wherein he profited so much that Lactantius saith of him he was in omni genere doctrine peritus skilled in all kinde of Learning Hierom saith that his Works contained cunctam seculi Doctrinam all sorts of Learning Vincentius Lyrinensis saith Inter Latinos omnes hic facile princeps judicandus that amongst the Latine Fathers he was of chiefest account His Works which he hath left to us shew that he was excellently versed in Physicks Mathematicks and History He was eminent for his study of and knowledge in the Civil Law Afterward falling to the study of Divinity he attained to such excellent skill therein that at Rome he was made a Presbyter where he remained to the middle of his age He flourished under the Emperor Severus Anno Christi 183. And burning in holy zeal he became a great opposite to the Hereticks of those times Marcion Valentinian Praxea Hermogenes c. He was very expert both in Greek and Latin and had great acuteness in disputing and writing eloquently as his Books do sufficiently declare So that Vincentius Lyrinensis saith that the force of his arguments was such that whom he could not perswade them he compelled to consent to him God raised him in the time of great Persecution to be as a pillar or stay to his poor afflicted Church For when the Christians were vexed with wrongs and falsly accused by the Gentiles Tertullian taking their cause in hand defended them against their Persecutors and their slanderous accusations shewing that they never intended aâ—â— stirs or rebellions either against the Empire or Emperors of Rome for so much as the manner of Christians was to pray for the prosperous estate of their Governors And whereas they were falsely accused to be enemies to mankinde how can that be saith he when as the proper office of Christians is to pray for all men to love their Enemies never requiting evil for evil whereas all others do profess only to love their friends and starcely them and as touching the horrible slander of murthering Infants how can that be true saith he in the Christians whose custom is to abstain from all blood and things strangled so that it is not lawful for them when they feed at their Tables to meddle with the blood of any Beast And as for filthy copulations no sort of men are more free then they who have ever been the greatest observers of chastily and if they could have chosen to live in perpetual Virginity all their lives long if they could not their manner is to contract Matrimony for the avoiding all Whoredom and Fornication Neither can it be proved that the Christians do Worship the Sun which false surmise saith he ariseth only from this Because they use to pray towards the East Much less was there any of them so mad as to Worship an Asses Head the occasion of which slander arose from the Jews worshipping the Jaw bone of an Ass from the story of Sampson which therefore was falsely and wrongfully charged upon the Christians Likewise against all other lyes and slanders raised by the Heathen against the Christians he clearly purgeth them and evidently proves that they were persecuted not for any deserts of theirs but only out of an hatred to their name and Profession He sheweth also that by those grievous persecutions the Religion or number of Christians was nothing impaired but increased rather The more saith he we are mown down by you the more we rise up The blood of the Christians proves the seed of the Church For what man saith he beholding the painful torments and the perfect patience of the Christians will not search and enquire into the cause and when he hath found it out will not consent and agree to both and when he agreeth to it who will not be willing and desirous to suffer for it So that this Profession can never be extirpated seeing the more it is cut down the more it encreaseth For every man seeing and wondering at the sufferings of the Saints is moved thereby the more to search into the cause and in searching he finds it and in finding he follows it And as Tertullian thus bestirred himself in defending the innocency of the Christians so he compiled many excellent and fruitful Works whereof some are extant others are not to be found By these excellent Apologies of his he perswaded the Emperor Severus to savour the Christians who prayed for his prosperity and imputed the slaughter of his Subjects at Byzartium as a just judgement upon them for the effusion of so much Christian blood Having written excellently against the Hereticks of his time in the end of his Book he made a Catalogue of all the Hereticks that then tore the Bowels of the Church Yea he continued these labours when the Persecution was at the hottest not hiding his head though the times were so dangerous Once in great triumph all the Emperour Severus his Souldiers for the greater pomp were to put on Crowns of Bayes but one Christian Souldier there was amongst them who wore it on his Arm and being demanded the reason he boldly answered Non decet Christianum in hac vita Coronari that a Christian ought not to wear his Crown in this life Upon which occasion Tertullian wrote his Book De Corona Militis Cyprian when he would read Tertullian used to say Da Magistrum give me my Master His manner was constantly to pray thrice a day at the third sixth and ninth hours Writing De quatuor novissimis of Death Judgment Heaven and Hell he saith Haec nos aliquando risimus cum de vobis fuimus fiunt non nascuntur Christiani I sometimes scoffed at these things when I was a Heathen I now perceive that we are not born but made Christians He was converted by reading the Scriptures and the labours of other learned and holy men In reading the Scriptures he found them full of Majesty and truth And saith he Quicquid agitur praenunciabatur Whatsoever is done was in them foretold and after his conversion he was taken up night day in the reading of them and did with great pains get much of them by heart and that so exactly that he knew each period He highly commended Severus for that knowing many Noble men and women to be Christians he did not only not punish them but greatly praised them and did publickly withstand such as were their enemies Yet notwithstanding the great Learning and famous Vertues of this worthy
menaces let all such know that the Church of the Lord will oppose them and that the Tents of Christ will prove immovable and not to be conquered by them His fidelity will notably appear by his Epistles wherein he excellently comforts the afflicted recalls such as were faln or commends the care of them to other Bishops of the Church vigorously opposeth the Hereticks and Schismaticks Neither was he only a Spectator of the Martyrdom of others but suffered himself to be proscribed yea chose death rather then to betray the truth of the Gospel or to approve of the least defection to the impious worship of the Gentiles By these means his fame increased so exceedingly that he was not so much the Bishop of Carthage as of all Africk yea of Spain the East West and Northern Churches Yea he was judged the Father of all Christians And to the further setting forth to the praise of Gods grace of his glorious vertues wherewith he was endued appearing as well in his own works as described by other worthy Writers he was courteous and gentle loving and full of patience and therewithal severe and impartial in his Office Furthermore he was most affable and kinde towards his Brethren and took much pains in helping and releiving the Martyrs Yea he wrote Letters to the Elders and Deacons of his Bishopwrick that with all study and endeavour they should gently entertain and do all the Offices of love that possibly they could to the Martyrs in his absence He was very prudent and circumspect Of a marvellous liberal disposition towards the Brethren that fled for refuge from other Countries and so often as he had cause of absence he committed the care of those poor men to his fellow Officers writing to them that of their own proper goods they should help their banished Brethren to that which was necessary for them He had also great skill in the fore-knowledge of future events He was of so communicative a disposition that he concealed nothing which he knew but with meekness and willingness uttered it to others He maintained Ecclesiastical Peace and Concord with those that differed from him in smaller matters Lastly he neither circumvented nor did prejudice to any man but did that which always seemed good in his judgement He much addicted himself to reading and would let no day pass wherein he read not some part of Tertullians Works and when he called for him he used to say Da Magistrum Give me my Master He chiefly studied to keep his body continent and clean from fleshly lusts saying That then his heart would be truly sit to attain to the full capacity and understanding of the Truth if once he could trample down Concupiscence A great Persecution being raised against the Church of Christ by Aemilianus President of Egypt Paternus and Galerius Maximus Proconsuls of Africk Cyprian sheweth the true causes thereof in his fourth Book Epist the fourth in these words We saith he must acknowledge and confess that this turbulent oppression and calamity which hath wasted for the most part all our Church and doth dayly more and more consume it ariseth chiefly from our own wickedness and sins whilst we walk not in the way of the Lord nor observe his Precepts left unto us for our instruction Our Lord Christ observed the will of his Father in all points but we observe not the will of the Lord having all our minde and study set upon lucre and possessions we are given to pride full of emulation and dissention void of simplicity and faithful dealing renouncing this World in word only but not in deed every man pleasing himself and displeasing all others and therefore are we thus scourged and that worthily for what stripes and scourges do we not deserve when as the Confessors themselves who formerly enaured the trial of their Faith and ought to be an example to the rest in well doing do now observe no Discipline And therefore for their sakes who proudly brag with swelling words of their former Confession and Sufferings these torments come even such as do not easily send us to the Crown except by the mercy of God some being taken away by a quick death do prevent the tediousnes of punishment These things do we suffer for our sins and deserts as by the Lords threatning we have been forewarned where he saith If they shall forsake my Law and will not walk in my Judgements If they shall prophane my Institutions and will not observe my Precepts I will visit their iniquities with the rod and their transgressions with scourges These rods and scourges we justly feel who neither please God with our good deeds nor repent of the evil wherefore saith he let us pray from the bottom of our hearts and with our whole minde and let us intreat his mercy who promiseth that his loving kindness shall not be wholly taken away Let us ask and we shall obtain and though we be delayed yet seeing we have grievously offended let us continue knocking for he hath promised that to them that knock it shall be opened therefore with our Prayers sighs and tears let us still knock and we shall be sure to speed c. And in another part of his Epistle he shews what vices were principally reigning amongst the Christians viz. grievous divisions and dissentions amongst the Brethren For when these words were spoken to them in a Vision Petite impetrabitis Pray and ye shall obtain afterwards when it was required of the Congregation to direct their Prayers unto God in the behalf of certain persons assigned to them by name they could not agree about the persons that were to be prayed for but disagreed in their Petitions which thing did greatly displease God that spake unto them Pray and ye shall obtain because they were not uniform in voice and heart neither was there one joint consent amongst the Brethren Upon which occasion Cyprian moveth them to Prayer with mutual agreement For saith he if it be promised in the Gospel that whatsoever two or three shall agree upon to ask upon Earth it shall be granted in Heaven what shall then be done when the whole Church agree together Or what if this Unanimity were amongst the whole Fraternity which Unanimity if it had been amongst the Brethren Non venissent fratribus haec mala si in unum fraternitas fuisset animata i. e. These evils had not befaln the Brethren if they had joined together in brotherly Unanimity Cyprian having thus described the causes of this Persecution sets down a Vision wherein was shewed unto him by the Lord before the Presecution came what should happen The Vision saith he was this There was a certain aged Father sitting at whose right hand sat a young man very sad and pensive as one that with indignation is sorrowful with his hand upon his breast and an heavie countenance On the other hand sat a person having a Net in
this false charge yet they so far prevailed that Athanasius was sent for and then they charged him with sending a sum of Gold to one Philumenus to make away the Empeperour But Athanasius easily cleared himself from this aspersion also whereupon the Emperour suffered him to return home again in peace He wrote also by him to the people of Alexandria assuring them of the singular Modesty and sound Faith of Athanasius with whom he had had much comfortable conference and found him to be a truly Divine man and one that had been accused by his adversaries out of envy and not for any just cause that they had against him Yet for all this the Miletian Hereticks because they were frustrated in their former endeavours invented two other grievous accusations against Athanasius First that he had broken the Holy Chalice Secondly that one Arsenius being slain he had cut off his Arm and kept it to practice Magick withall This Arsenius was a Presbyter who having committed a great fault hid himself fearing least his Bishop Athanasius should call him to an account and punish him for it which the Miletians having intelligence of they diligently sought him out and having found him they spake him fair promised him much favour and security perswading him to retire himself to one Prines a friend of theirs and a Presbyter of a certain Monastery and prevailing with him they hid him there Then did they everywhere disperse rumors in the streets and at the meetings of the Magistrates that Athanasius had privily murthered Arsenius yea they suborned a certain Monk called John to charge Athanasius with this grievous crime Hereupon the rumor of this abominable fact being spred abroad came at last to the Ears of the Emperour Constantine Athanasius perceiving that though happily he might defend himself against so false an accusation yet that it would be a difficult thing for him to answer for himself before the Judges whose mindes were prepossessed with those false rumors therefore for the full clearing of himself before all he endeavoured that the truth might not be concealed yet withall he judged it almost impossible to defend and clear himself so long as Arsenius could not be found and thereupon he imployed one of his Deacons a most faithful man to search out Arsenius This Deacon going into Thebais by conferring with certain Monks learned where Arsenius was hid But when he came to Prines Arsenius could not be found for Prines having had intelligence before hand of the Deacons comming had sent him away into the lower Egypt Hereupon the Deacon seized upon Prines and together with him upon one Helias his intimate friend who was said to have conveyed away Arsenius and carried them along with him to Alexandria When they came thither they were carried before the Governour of the Egyptian Souldiers unto whom upon examination they confessed that Arsenius was alive that he had formerly been hid with them and that now he was hidden in Egypt This Confession of theirs Athanasius desired to be sent to the Emperour and obtained it whereupon the Emperour wrote back to him that he should go on diligently in his Office that he should be careful in instructing the people and promoting Piety amongst them and that he should not at all value the snares of the Miletians For saith he I know sufficiently that being stirred up by envy they have invented these false and forged accusations against you and thereby raised tumults in the Church I have therefore decreed that such wickedness shall not go unpunished but that Judgment shall be executed according to the Civil Laws and that except they be quiet they shall be severely punished as such as lay snares to entrap the innocent as disturbers of the Peace and right order of the Church and as destroyers of true Piety This his Epistle he commanded to be publikley read before all the Congregation whereby all the people might be informed of his minde Hereupon the Miletians being stricken with fear carried themselves peaceable being very fearfull of the Emperours displeasure And the whole Church of Egypt being quieted and governed by so worthy a Bishop flourished exceedingly and daily increased many of the Gentiles and of other Sectaries being converted to the true Faith Yet not long after his restless adversaries began again by cuning and subtile devises to disturb his peace to carry new complaints against him to the Emperour and to suborn such a multitude of accusers that the good Emperour by their importunity was forced to call a Council at Casarea Palestinae to which Athanasius was summoned to appear but when he heard that Eusebius Bishop of that City and Eusebius of Nicomedia and other Arian Bishops his adversaries ruled all the rost there he refused to appear fearing that he should have no equal dealings at their hands They again and again sent for him greatly urged his coming yet he deferred it about 30 Months space But afterwards when they still urged his appearing he went to Tyrus where many of the Oriental Bishops were met who commanded him to answer to the crimes objected against him For Callinicus a Bishop and Ischirion an Arian had accused him for breaking the holy Chalice for overthrowing the Seat and for that he had often imprisoned this Ischirion being a Presbyter As also for that he had falsely accused him to Hyginus the Praefect of Egypt for throwing stones against the Images of the Emperour whereupon he had been bound with chains Furthermore for that he had removed Callinicus the Bishop of Pelusium and had committed the government of the Church to one Mark a Presbyter of the same causing Callinicus to be kept by Souldiers to be beaten and brought before the Judgement Seat Some other of the Arian Bishops accused him also for causing them to be beaten In brief all of them objected against him that he had obtained his Bishoprick by the perjury of certain men whereas all the Bishops had protested that none ought to be ordained to the Office before he had cleared himself from such crimes as were objected against him for which causes they had refused to communicate with him and yet instead of clearing himself from the crimes wherewith he was charged he fought by force of Bonds and Imprisonment to compel men to join with him To these things they renewed also the charge against him about the matter of Arsenius and as commonly it fals out where snares are purposely laid to entrap a man on a sudden some that formerly seemed to be his friends stood up to be his accusers Letters also were produced and read that the people of Alexandria had made many out-cries against him and for his sake had refused to come to the publike Assemblies of the Church Athanasius being commanded to answer for himself often came into Judgement easily wiping off some of these charges and requiring some time for the clearing himself from the rest Yet he was
the pestilent Heresie of Arius Yea a while after the Emperour himself began to favour that opinion and so by little and little it was spread everywhere first the Emperours Guard took it up then it busied the mindes of the multitude in the City the Emperours Chamberlains in the very Pallace began to contend with women about it And this woful Effect followed the countenancing of this Heresie that in every House and Family through the City they brawled and went together by the ears about it Yea this infection spread it self quickly through other Regions and Countries and the controversie much like a spark of fire kindled the mindes of the hearers with the fiery flame of discord and dissention For every one that desired to know why they made tumults by and by had occasion given him to reason and every one was not satisfied with questioning but contentiously would argue thereof By these means the peaceable and quiet state of the Church was turned upside down But in the interim it pleased God that this flame kept in the East whilest the Western Church injoyed peace and quietness For by no means would they suffer the Canons of the Nicene Council to be violated or made null After the heat of contention was blown abroad and burned more and more the Faction of Eusebius doubted not but it would turn to their great advantage for they hoped that it would come to pass that some Bishop would be chosen of Alexandria that would favour and advance their opinion But at the very same time Athanasius returned unto Alexandria carrying along with him Letters from Constantine the Younger who was one of the Emperours The tenour whereof was this Constantine Caesar to the People of the Catholick Church of Alexandria sendeth greeting I hope it is not unknown to your discreet wisdoms that Athanasius the Professor of sacred Divinity was for a time banished into France least that through the mischievous dealing of lewd men for blood suckers and cruel beasts sought to bereave him of his life he should privily be slain wherefore that he might be sheltred from the malice of those despiteful men he was taken out of their jaws and was commanded to live under my Dominion where I took care that he might be fully furnished with all things needful as if he had been in the City where formerly he lived And when as our Lord and Father of famous memory Constantine the Emperour had intended to restore him to his Bishoprick again he was prevented by death before he could accomplish his desires I thought it my part and duty therefore to execute the intent of so godly an Emperour With what estimation and reverence I have entertained the man he shall report with his own mouth at his return to you neither is there any marvel that I shewed him such courtesie For me thought that I saw in him the great longing ye had for him and I beheld also the Fatherly reverence and gravity of the man himself all which moved me not a little thereunto God of his goodness Wel-beloved Brethren have you in his tuition Athanasius upon the confidence of these Letters returned unto Alexandria whom the people received with most willing mindes But such in that City as were infected with the Leprosie of Arianism conspired against him so that many tumults and skirmishes were raised which gave occasion to the confederates of Eusebius to accuse Athanasius falsely to the Emperour that of his own private spirit without the consent of the Assembly of the Bishops he had setled himself in that Church This odious accusation so far incensed the Emperour Constantius that he sent one Gregory an Arian to be Bishop of Alexandria and with him Syrianus a Captain with 5000 Souldiers to drive out Athanasius and to settle Gregory in his room the Arians which were in the City joined themselves with them to help them It was then even-tide and the people were assembled in the Church to prepare themselves for the Sacrament which was the next day to be administred The Captain drew nigh set his Souldiers in battail array and beset the Church Athanasius understanding the danger devised how the people might take no harm for his sake whereupon he commanded his Deacon to read the Collects to the people and after that to sing a Psalm and as the Psalm was sweetly and harmoniously sung all the people went out at one of the Church doors and it pleased God that the Souldiers had no power to meddle with them and Athanasius in the midst of the Singers escaped also without any harm and Gregory took possession of the Church whilest Athanasius being thus through Gods mercy delivered went in all hast to Rome About this time Constantine the younger was slain by the souldiers and Constance the youngest of the three Emperours remained Emperour of the West Athanasius coming to Rome complained to the Bishop Julius of the great wrong which was done to him the like did divers others of the Eastern Bishops who were unjustly thrust out by the Arians Hereupon Julius wrote freely unto the Bishops of the East requiring them to restore those Bishops to their places again sharply rebuking such as had raâ—hly and unjustly procured their deposition The wronged Bishops trusting to Julius his Letter returned every man to his own Church conveying the Letters unto whom they were written who when the Letters came to their hands took it very hainously that Julius should interpose in that cause and thereupon summoned a Council at Antioch In the mean time Athanasius being come to Alexandria there was great stir and many tumults were raised by Gregory and the Arians against him they also forged and divulged this slander viz. That whereas Constantine the Great had given certain grain for Alms to relieve the Poor of the Church of Alexandria this say they Athanasius had sold and converts it to his own private lucre the Emperour takes this slanderous report for truth and threatneth him with death which Athanasius hearing of fled and hid himself in a secret and obscure place At length Julius Bishop of Rome being informed where he lay hid sent for him and when he was come to Rome he acquainted the Emperour Constance with all the injuries which were done to him This good Emperour being much affected with that sad relation wrote to his Brother in the East requesting him to send to him three men that would justifie the accusations against Athanasius Accordingly there were sent Narcissus the Cilician Theodore the Thracian â—aris the Calcedonian and Marcus the Syrian But when they came to Rome they would by no means reason with Athanasius only they exhibited to the Emperour a certain Form of Faith and so took their leave without reasoning of any other matter Not long after the Western Bishops assembled in a Council at Sardis where Athanasius was acquit from the crimes charged upon him and thereupon Constance
them so that every one looked upon him as a Tyrant Yea he grew into such hatred of the multitude that on a time they rose up against him whilst he was in the Church and he hardly escaped being torn in peices by them which so affrighted him that he immediately fled to the Emperour Hereupon the friends of Athanasius recovered their Churches again but they kept them but a while for the Praefect of the Egyptian Souldiers drave them out and restored the Churches to the followers of Georgius The Emperour also sending his Secretary to Alexandria he grievously punished many of the people whipping and scourging them in a cruel manner and shortly after him came Georgius and for the aforementioned causes was far more terrible to them then formerly he had been which procured him their implacable hatred both for incensing the Emperour against them and for his Heretical opinions and cruel usage of them But not long after in a tumult raised by the Gentiles Georgius was pulled out of the Church by the Ears tyed to a Camel torn in peices and burned to ashes together with the Beast Constantius the Emperour also dyed and Julian the Apostate succeeded him about which time Athanasius returned to Alexandria and was lovingly and chearfully entertained by his people the Arians were banished and the Church was restored to the Government of Athanasius But the Arians took occasion from his former flight exceedingly to reproach and traduce him whereupon he made this Apology Behold saith Athanasius the lewd practises of wicked persons although they are privy to the hainous offences committed against me yet are they nothing ashamed of them but charge me with a foul spot in their opinion and blemish of infamy for escaping the hands of cut-throats and blood-suckers yea they beshrew themselves that they dispatched me not out of the way Moreover that they may stain my credit and estimation they fall to accuse me of faint-heartedness and a timorous disposition being forgetful that whilest they blaze these things to my dispraise they cause the shame to light upon their own pates For if it be a discredit to fly the hands of a Tyrant how much more for them to persecute a man to death He that flyeth seeks means to save his life But he that persecuteth goeth about to procure anothers death That we should fly in such cases the Scripture doth warrant us but in thirsting after the blood of our brother the command is broken and the author thereof is found the chief cause of the flight If they blame me for giving them the slipt they are worthy of far greater shame and reprehension themselves For let them cease from persecuting and threatning with death and then will I cease from running away But their spite and malice hath no end they do nought else but devise snares to bring men to destruction Yea though they know full well that the slight of the persecuted is a foul shame to the Persecutors For no man flieth from the gentle and meek but from the cruel and wicked man They that were far indebted to others gave Saul the slip and fled unto David Wherefore these men go about to dispatch such as convey themselves out of their way least the lewdness of their Bishops should be manifestly known Herein also they seem to be stark blinde For look how evident the slight is far more apparent wil their slaughter and banishment seem unto the World If they murther men death no doubt lifteth up her voice and soundeth out their cruelty If they banish them therein they set up monuments for the remembrance of their wicked doings Had they been in their right wits they might have perceived their own folly and seen themselves overthrown in their own devices If they reproachfully charge them with hiding themselves from such as seek their lives and accuse them for flying from the hands of their Persecutors what have they to say when they read that Jacob fled from the face of his brother Esau and that Moses for fear of Pharaoh conveyed himself to Madian what have these contentious quarrellers to say unto David who fled from Saul which sent some of his Guard to slay him who hid himself in a Cave counterfeited his person untill he had subtilly past Abimelech the Priest and avoided their laying of wait for him what answer can these rash bablers give when they see that the great Prophet Elias who so devoutly called upon the name of God and raised the dead was fain to flie from and hide himself from Ahab and run away because of the threats of Jezebel The sons of the Prophets also in those days being sought for hid themselves and through the help of good Obadiah were sustained in Caves Have they not read these ancient stories Are they ignorant also of what the Evangelists have written For the Disciples fearing the Jews fled and were scattered abroad in divers Countries Paul also being at Damascus and sought for by the Governor of that country was let down over the wall in a basket and so escaped the danger The Scripture therefore having shewed us these things what colour can they finde to cloak their impudent cavils If they charge them with timerousness and fear the fault recoils and lights upon their own distempered brains If they say it is contrary to the Will of God then are they found altogether ignorant of the Word of God For it s commanded in the Law that Sanctuaries and Cities of Refuge should be appointed for such as were pursued to death where they might live in safety Yea what saith Christ When they shall persecute you in one City fly into another And again saith Christ When you shall see the abomination of desolation mentioned by the Prophet Daniel standing in the Holy place then let them that be in Judaea flie into the Mountains He that is on the House top let him not come down to take ought out of the House and let not him that is in the Field return home for his rayment Holy men having learned these things framed their lives thereafter Yea the Word of God being made man sticked not to hide himself as we commonly do when he was sought for he fled to avoid the conspiracies of Herod and afterwards of the Pharisees which persecuted him For as by his patient suffering of hunger and thirst and such miseries he shewed himself to be true man so also by flying away from the face of his Adversaries And as in his childhood he fled into Egypt from Herod so when he heard that Archelaus reigned in his Fathers stead it pleased him to go aside into the parts of Nazareth Afterwards when he manifested himself to be God and healed the withered hand the Pharisees went out and took counsel how they might dispatch him but Jesus perceiving their conspiracy conveyed himself from amongst them Again when he restored Lazarus to life they took counsel how they might put him to death Jesus therefore
Art There thou mayst finde the knowledge of mundane Philosophy without the least ostentation of it there thou mayst discern his skill of the Liberal Sciences and amongst them of the Mathematicks and yet he makes them all handmaids to Piety In his discourses he doth exquisitely mingle Divine testimonies of Scripture that they are like to precious stones not sowed to but bred in purple clothes His Works are these In Opificium sex dierum Hom. 11. In Psalmos Hom. 17. Variorum argumentorum Hom. 28. De Virginitate De Paradiso Contra Apologeticum Eunomii Contra Sabellianos Arium De S. Sancto De Libero Arbitrio De Baptismate Exercitamenta per aliquot Sermones Praefatio de judicio Dei De Fidei Confessione Moralium Summae Questiones diffusè Explicatae Aliae compendio Explicatae Constitutiones Exercitatoriae Epistolae Explicationes in Psalmos Davidis All printed at Basil by Froben Anno Christi 1566. GREGORI NAZIANZEN The Life of Gregory Nazianzen who flourished Anno Christi 370. GRegory Nazianzen was first Bishop of Sasima then of Nazianzum in Cappadâ—cia and lastly of Constantinople he was a living Library of Philosophy and Divinity exceeding Eloquent a defender of the poor and oppressed and a comforter of the afflicted In his younger days he became acquainted with Basil and joined studies with him So that with him at Athens he heard those famous Rhetoricians Hymerius and Proaeresius At Antioch in Syria he frequented the School of Libanius and by these means he became an excellent Orator By reading the Commentaries of Origen he learned to expound and interpret the Sacred Scriprures In disputation he foiled and overthrew the most learned amongst the Arians and fearing least those Errors should infect the Churches of Cappadocia he gat him thither to oppose them where he was made Bishop of Nazianzum a mean City of Cappadocia whereof his Father had been Bishop before him What insight he had into mens dispositions by their Physiognomies may appear by that which he wrote concerning Julian the Apostate in his second Oration against the Gentiles where he thus writeth I foresaw saith he long ago in Julian that which is now come to pass when I knew him at Athens For he came thither when the Empress had procured License of the Emperour for his voyage and when his Brother Gallus had conspired the death of the Emperour Constantius There were two causes that moved him to repair to Athens The first was tolerable the second had small honesty in it The first was to see Greece and the Schools that flourished therein The second which was more secret and was known unto few was to consult with Southsayers and Sacrificers about his affairs in time to come because it was not permitted openly for the Authors of such impiety to practise such divellish inventions And I my self in conjecturing of him at that time although I am not of the number of Prophets yet was not much deceived For his wavering minde and frantick disposition made me Prophet good enough I saw not one sign in him that gave me any hope that ever he would become an honest man He had a running head his shoulders did never leave waging he had winking eyes that continually rouled in his head His countenance was staring He had a sliding and limping pace His visage was scornful He had a fleering face of his own the which his immoderate laughter and continual scorning did declare His manner was without all honesty to say and unsay His words came tumbling out with vehemency and stops the sentence broken in the midst His questions and objections were rash and foolish His answers were little better which oftentimes followed one after another and as there was little hold of them so were they proposed without order But what need I to run over all particulars I foresaw in him before he was created Emperour that which afterwards proved to be most true If there were any of my familiar friends present which heard me thus divining of him I am sure they would testifie this to be no otherwise then I do report it in whose hearing also at the foresight of these things I uttered these words O good God what a Monster the Empire of Rome doth nourish When I had uttered these words I desired of God that in this matter I might be found a lyer For that had been far better then that the whole World should have been visited with so many mischiefs or then that such a Monster should have been seen amongst men the like unto whom had never been remembred before For in his time happened many deluges and flouds over-flowing the Countries the which both young and old do at this time remember Besides great losses by fire terrible Earthquakes and gapings of the ground Men also of a strange shape were born into the World of mixt and compound natures being half Men half Beasts But he purchased to himself such an end as his frantick disposition justly deserved These things did Gregory report of Julian Not long after in the reign of Theodosius senior Gregory was translated from the City Nazianzum to govern a little Church within the wals of Constantinople unto which the Emperour afterwards annexed a goodly Temple called the Resurrection But Gregory being a famous man and excelling in vertue and godliness all that flourished in his time when he perceived that some murmured and objected to him that he was a stranger and foreigner although he rejoyced at the Emperours coming yet utterly refused to continue any longer at Constantinople He had such a dexterity of wit that which way soever he turned himself he could happily effect it In opening the Mysteries of the Sacred Scriptures he was an exellent Teacher diligent cautious plain and without offering violence to the Text. Nature seemed to have framed him for Panegyrick Orations yet did he so temper his speeches therein to the mindes and ears of the multitude that he was very plain to the ignorant and yet at the same time to be admired by the learned In his Disputations against Eunomius he shewed admirable acuteness yet never receded from perspicuity of speech and so contained himself within bounds of defence of the Catholick Truth that he never brake forth into reproaches extravagant from the cause Neither was he unlike himself in his work to Amphilocus about the Holy Ghost But what argument soever he handled wholsome and pleasing speeches were never wanting to him and those not acquired but natural According to his name in all his works there appears a certain Kingly Majesty mixed with admirable humanity He so inveighed against the evil manners of men that they could not but love him whilest he child them And look what his Doctrine was such was his life By this dexterity of his wit when Eusebius Bishop of Caesarea by his ambition stirred up Sedition of an aemulus he made him his very good friend By this
friends and said to them Salvi estote filii c. God bless you my children for Epiphanius shall see your faces no more in this life and â—hortly after he dyed aged 115 years having been Bishop 55 years his loss was exceedingly lamented at Salamine He used to say That he never let his adversary sleep not that he disturbed him in his sleep but because he agreed with him presently and would not let the Sun go down upon his wrath His Works are printed together being most of them against the Heresies of his time the names are Opus contra Octuaginta Haereses Panarium Appellatum Compendium Fidei Christianae Anchoratus docens de Fide Christiana Anacephalaeosis sive summa totius operis Panarii appellatum Libellus de mensuris ponderibus Historia de Prophetarum vita interitu Epistola ad Johannem Episc Constantinopolitanum AMBROSE The Life of Ambrose who dyed An. Christi 397. A Mbrose Bishop of Millain his Father was a Praefect in France when Ambrose was an Infant a swarm of Bees as he lay in his Cradle setled on his Face and flew away without hurting of him whereupon his Father said Si vixerit infantulus iste aliquid magni erit if this childe live he will be some great man Afterwards he went to Rome and gained great knowledge in the Liberal Arts and was excellently accomplished with Eloquence and sweet behaviour whereupon he was made Governor of Insubria and so went to Millain where he was made Lieutenant and being made Lieutenant thereof about the same time this strange act happened When Auxentius whom the Arians had chosen to be Bishop of that Sea dyed all was there on an uprore about the Election of another Bishop and great strife there was whilst some would prefer this man and some others that man unto the Bishoprick The tumult being raised Ambrose the Lieutenant of the City who also was a Consul fearing greatly lest that Schism would breed mischief in the City came purposely into the Church to appease the Sedition And his presence prevailing very much with the people after he had given them many notable exhortations and thereby mitigated the rage of the heady and rash multitude All on a sudden with one voice and as it were with one mouth nominated Ambrose for their Bishop hoping hereby that all things would be reconciled and that all would embrace one Faith and Opinion The Bishops that were present thought verily that the uniform voice of the people was the voice of God himself wherefore without any further deliberation they took Ambrose who was but a Catechumenist and baptized him purposing also to enstal him in the Bishoprick Ambrose came willingly to Baptism yet denyed utterly to be a Bishop whereupon the Bishops made the Emperour Valentinian privy to their doings He wondering at the consent and agreement of the people judged that which was done to be the work of God himself he signified therefore to the Bishops that they should obey the Will of God and create Ambrose Bishop saying that God rather then men preferred him to this dignity Thus Ambrose being made Bishop the Citizens of Millain who aforetime were at discord amongst themselves thenceforth imbraced Peace and Unity Whereupon the good Emperour publickly returned thanks unto God in these words I give thee humble thanks O Omnipotent God and our Saviour Jesus Christ that whereas I had committed the Government of their Bodies to this man thou hast also committed their Souls to his care and thereby hast declared that my sentence was just in appointing him to such a place Not long after Ambrose spake very freely to the Emperour complaining of divers things which were ill administred by sundry of the Magistrates To whom that worthy Emperour answered I knew long ago that thou wast a free-spoken man for which cause I was so far from resisting thine Ordination to the Bishoprick as that I gave my free and full consent to it wherefore according to the rule of Gods Holy Word do thou prepare a medicine for our erring mindes This good Emperour a while after dying Justina his Wife being infected with the â—ilth of Arianism yet whilest her husband lived she could no kinde of way molest those that embraced the Faith of One Substance but after his decease removing to Millain together with her young son she raised such tumults against Ambrose the Bishop that in the end she prevailed for his banishment But the people who bore singular love and affection to Ambrose withstood her Act and hindred their force that went about to convey him into exile and it pleased God that just at the same time news came that Maximus a Britain had rebelled and that Gratian the Emperour was slain in France by Andâ—agathius the Captain of Maximus Which news so cooled the heat of Justina's spleen that she was content to let Ambrose alone Yet did she proceed to work upon the tender and flexible minde of her young son Valentinian junior and to instil into him the Principles of Arianism and the young man deceived by the enticements of his Mother too greedily drank in the poison thereof whereupon at length he began to communicate his minde to Ambrose supposing that if he could but draw him to his opinion he could easily overcome the rest But Ambrose began to minde him of the Piety and Sincerity of his Father exhorting him to defend the Truth which he had received from him as he would defend his Empire He also opened to him the difference between those two opinions shewing him how that of the Arians was directly contrary to the Doctrine of Christ and his holy Apostles and that of the Orthodox was most consonant thereunto But the young man as a young man that was blinded with the Error of his Mother was so far from hearkening to the good counsel of Ambrose that on the contrary being inflamed with wrath he compassed the Church where Ambrose was with a great number of armed Souldiers thinking thereby to terrifie him But when he saw that this valiant Champion and Souldier of Christ was no whit affrighted he grew into such a rage that he commanded him to come forth of the Temple To whom Ambrose answered That will I never willingly do neither will I betray the Sheepfold of my Sheep to the Wolves nor deliver up this Temple of God to the Authors of blasphemy but if thou pleasest to kill me here is my breast peirce it either with thy sword or spear as thou pleasest for I desire and am willing to embrace such a death This his resolute answer made the Emperour to withdraw About this time Theodosius the great reigning in the East there fell out a great Sedition in the City of Thessalonica which some of the Magistrates coming to quiet by the furious people they were not only greatly reproached but stoned to death The news hereof being carried to
Emperour and to John These he received very courteously and admitted them to the Prayers of the Church but not to the Sacrament till their cause was heard before the Emperour But a rumour being spread in Alexandria that he had admitted them to the Sacrament Theophilus was extreamly offended with him and sought to put him out of his Bishoprick Whilest he meditated these things he wrote to all the Bishops thereabouts that they should condemn the Books of Origen and considering that it would much advance his affairs if he could draw Epiphanius Bishop of Salamine in Cyprus a man famous for his Life and Learning to side with him he wrote very flattering Letters to him whereby he made him his friend Then did he perswade him to call a Synod in Cyprus to condemn the Works of Origen which the good man too easily affented to and calling a Council they condemned them Then did Epiphanius write to Constantinople to John to call a Council and to condemn them likewise there Theophilus in the mean time considering that he might safely do what such a famous man as Epiphanius had done he also summoned a Council of all the Egyptian Bishops where they also condemned the Books of Origen But John thought that this business did not deserve the calling of a Council and therefore neglected it shewing to his friends the Letters sent him by Theophilus and Epiphanius Hereupon the Clergy and the Rich and Great men who were angry with him for the reasons aforesaid perceiving that the purpose of Theophilus was to remove John from his Bishoprick they studyed how they might promote the same and so far prevailed with the Emperour that a very great Council was summoned to meet at Constantinople which Theophilus much rejoycing at presently commanded all the Bishops of Egypt to repair thither He wrote also to Epiphanius and to all the Eastern Bishops that they should hasten to Constantinople himself following them Epiphanius was the first that arrived and in a Town near to Constantinople he went into the Church where he made publike Prayers From thence going to the City John with all his Clergy met him with all the respect that might be but Epiphanius shewed by his carriage that the calumnies raised against John had made too deep an impression in him for when he was invited to the Bishops house he refued to go in and shunned to have any society with John Yea moreoverâ—calling privately together such Bishops as were at Constantinople he shewed what they had Decreed against the Books of Origen and prevailed with some to give their suffrage to the same though the greater part protracted the doing of it And Theotinusâ—ishop â—ishop of â—ythia blamed him to his face for it saying that it was altogether unlawful thus to condemn a man that was dead so many years before and that it was not without blasphemy thus to calumniate the judgement of our Ancestors and to reject those things which they had Decreed and withall plucking forth a certain Book of Origens he reads part of it and shews how useful and profitable it was for the Church saying further they that discommend these things shew their great folly and it s to be feared that in time they may condemn the Scripture it self about which these Books are written Notwithstanding these things John did much reverence Epiphanius intreating him to partake with him both in his House and Table yea and in the Church too But he returned answer that he would neither come into his House nor Communicate with him at Church except he would condemn the Books of Origen and drive away Dioscorus with the rest of the Monks his companions John thought this very unequal thus to drive them away before their cause was heard the rather because he had appointed a Sacrament in the Apostles Church Then did the Enemies of John suborn Epiphanius that he should come forth in publick and before all the people condemn the Books of Origen with Dioscorus and his companions for holding the same opinions and that withall he should tax the Bishop John for favouring of them The design of these men which thus set him on was to alienate the affections of the people from their Bishop Accordingly two days after Epiphanius went to the Church to accomplish these things at which time John hearing of his purpose sent Scrapion one of his Presbyters to meet him and to protest to him that he was going about that which was neither just nor safe for himself for that hereby he might bring himself into danger if any Tumult or Sedition should arise amongst the people where of he would be judged the Author This cooled his heat and made him desist from his purpose About this time a young son of the Emperours fell sick whereupon the Empress sent to Epiphanius requesting him to pray for him Epiphanius answered that the childe should live and do well if she would forsake Dioscorus and his Heretical Associates But said the Emperess I leave my childe in the hands of God Let him do with him as he pleaseth he gave him me and he may take him away again But for thy part if thou canst raise the dead why didst thou suffer thy Arch-Deacon Crispion to dye who was so dear unto thee Shortly after Epiphanius departed towards Cyprus and as he went down to the Haven to take Shipping he said to John I hope thou shalt never dye a Bishop And John answered him again I hope thou shalt never come alive into thy Country Both which came to pass Epiphanius dying by the way in the Ship and John being deposed and banished as afterwards we shall hear After the departure of Epiphanius Theophilus came to Constantinople but none of the City Clergy went to meet and entertain him because they knew that he was an Enemy to their Bishop yet some Mariners of Alexandria which were then at Constantinople met him singing songs in his praise and so he went to the Emperours Palace where a lodging was provided for him He also cunningly found out many which hated John and were ready to accuse him whereupon he went to Quercus a Suburb of Chalcedon where he gathered a Council and there again condemned the Books of Origen The Council also sent to Constantinople to summon John and some of his Presbyters to appear before them and to answer to such things as should be objected against them John answered that he refused not to come to his trial if first he might know his Accusers and the crime objected against him and be brought before a free Council But said he I am not such a fool as to appear before such Bishops as are my professed Enemies and to suffer them to be my Judges Most of the Bishops were much incensed at this answer only Demerâ—ius and some few that favoured John departed out of the Council Then did the rest cause John to be called four times and because he appeared not
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
Huss who opposed the Errors of Popery in Bohemia The 36. year from the condemnation of Dr. Wessalia who taught at Worms the same Doctrine before Luther was born that Luther did afterwards Anno Christi 1517. John Tecelius brought Indulgences into Germany to be sold averring that he had so large a Commission from the Pope that though a man had deflroured the blessed Virgin yet for money he could pardon his sin Luther's zeal being inflamed herewith it caused him to set forth some propositions against Indulgences which so enraged Tecelius that wheresoever he came he declamed against Luther and set forth contrary positions and not content therewith he burned openly Luthers propositions and the Sermon which he wrote about Indulgences This caused the Students at Wittenberg to burn his positions also The Propositions which Luther set up were 95 in number After which he made this Protestation I Martin Luther Doctor of the Order of the Eremites at Wittenberg would have it publickly testified that I have set forth certain Propositions against the Popes Indulgences as they call them But albeit neither the famous and worthy School of ours nor the Civil nor Ecclesiastical Power hath hitherto condemned me yet as I hear there are certain men of a violent and bold wit who dare to pronounce me an Heretick as if they well understood and throughly knew the whole matter But I beseech every one as I have often done before so now by the Christian Faith that they either shew me a better way if it be revealed by God to any of them or else let them submit their sentence to God and his Churches Judgment For neither am I so rash that I would have my Opinion alone to be preferred before all others neither am I so doltish that I would have the Word of God to be placed after Fables devised by Humane Reason Anno Christi 1518. Andrew Bodenstein from his Native place called Caralostadius with many other Divines of Wittenberg defended Luthers Doctrine by their writings Also the Elector of Saxony of his own accord without intreaty took upon him the Patronage of Luther neither would he suffer that he should be drawn to Rome Also about the same time Luther contrary to the advice of his friends went to the Chapter of the Angustine Fryars held at Heidleberg to defend his Doctrine and shew his obedience to their Summons He was honorably entertained by the Bishop of Wurstburg and at Heidleberg by Wolfgang the Count Palatine Amongst the Fryers there he disputed of 28 Paradoxes which he propounded out of St. Pauls Epistles concerning Justification by Faith without works Bucer being present and taking notes at this Disputation wrote thus of it to Beatus Rhenanus His sweetness in answering saith he was admirable his patience in hearing was incomparable you might have seen the acuteness of Saint Paul in resolving doubts so that he brought them all into admiration of him by reason of his short and pithy answers and those taken out of the Storehouse of Gods holy Scriptures In his return when he was at Erford he wrote to Jodocus a Divine of Isenach who had been his Master wherein he thus expresseth himself The whole Vniversity of Wittenberg is of my minde concerning the Doctrine of Faith and Works except one Licenciat and also the Duke of Saxony The Bishop of Brandenburg who is my Ordinary and many Prelates and the more Ingenuous Citizens say with one mouth that they never knew Christ and the Gospel before August following Maximilian the Emperor hearing of these Controversies between Luther others presently wrote to the Pope to provide timely remedies against those spreading evils as he called them promising that whatever he should Decree about the same he would see that it should take place through all the Provinces of the Empire Hereupon Pope Leo citeth Luther to Rome which he also signified to his Legat Cardinal Cajetan in these words Hearing that Luther defendeth certain ungodly opinions estranged from those of the Church of Rome which is the Mistris of Faith and Religion out of my Fatherly affection desiring to repress his rashness I have commanded the Bishop of Aeculan to cite him to Rome to answer those accusations that are laid against him This the said Bishop hath done yet Luther is so far from returning to soundness that being stubborn in his Heresie he hath set out writings much worse then the former to my great grief and perturbation c. Then he proceeds to require the Cardinal to see that Luther were brought to Auspurg and that he should implore the Emperour and Princes to set a guard upon him and carry him to Rome yet withall if he should repent and voluntarily confess his fault he bade the Cardinal pardon him otherwise to interdict him from holy services c. The Pope also wrote to the Duke of Saxony in which Letter after a few flatteries he tels him that he heareth many and grievous complaints against Luther an undone man who forgetting his Order and Profession doth many things very sawcily against the Church of God with great confidence braging that he is defended with the favor of his Prince and that he fears the authority of no man which thing he presumes to be false and scandalous to the Prince yet saith he I am willing to write to you to admonish you to be mindeful of the dignity and splendor of your Ancestors flying not only the fault but also suspition of it c. After which he tels him that it properly belonged to the Church of Rome to judge in these causes of Religion and therefore requires him at the request of his Legat to see that Luther be sent to Rome that there he might be either censured or pardoned according to his deserts The Pope wrote also to the Master of the Augustine Monks exhorting him by his Authority to endeavour to recal Luther from his undertakings and to sollicit him earnestly thereto both by Letters and learned men withall telling him that this must be done speedily whereby he might quench the flame that was but lately risen whereas by delays it was to be feared that the danger would grow greater and greater for the timely suppressing whereof he required him to use all his study care and diligence When Luther saw that he was called to Rome he earnestly sollicited that his cause might be heard in Germany before fit Judges appointed thereto and in a place least subject unto danger The University also of Wittenberg wrote to the Pope giving a notable testimony unto Luther both for his Life and Learning They said also that in regard of his sickliness and the danger of the way he could not go to Rome they beseeched the Pope that he would think no otherwise of him then of a good man that certain things indeed were propounded by him only for Disputation sake not to define them that his Adversaries interpreted him in the
set forth the Form of their Belief Hereupon the Prince Elector of Saxony to be the better prepared against this Diet appointed Luther Justus Jonas Pomeran and Melancthon to set down the form of Doctrine which the Saxon Churches and those which accorded with them did profess Luther comprehended the sum of his Doctrine in seventeen Articles which being revised by Phil. Melancthon and put into a better form was afterwards called the Confession of Auspurg And whereas it was given out that the Emperour when he came into Germany would tread the Gospellers under his feet the Protestant Princes met and consulted together whether it were better to go to the Diet or to meet the Emperour in Arms before he should pass the Alps. Luther who was always a Counsellor of Peace disswaded them from taking Arms under the pretence of Religion perswading them rather by Faith and Prayer to beg and look for help from God whose cause saith he himself will defend Upon this advice the Princes went to Auspurg yet left Luther not far of in Coburg Castle to be nere at hand but out danger that his advice might be had in time of need And when the Diet was met the Elector of Saxony sent to him to know whether the cause of Religion should be referred to the Judgement of the Emperour This Luther would by no means have done For saith he this honor is to be given to the Word of God only to be Judge of holy controversies Anno Christi 1535. the Landgrave of Hess sent for Bucer and Melancthon to Casells to reconcile them together about the business of the Sacrament where after much conference Melancthon mitigated the rigor of his opinion about Christs presence and at his return to Wittenberg he carryed with him Bucers Declaration concerning that point which when Luther had considered of he began to hearken to an agreement with Zuinglius writing most friendly to the Divines of Strasborough and to others that there might be a meeting appointed wherein after deliberation the desired concord might be confirmed And accordingly Anno Christi 1536. Bucer and divers other Divines of Germany came to Wittenberg where a form of concord was drawn up by Bucer and subscribed by both parties But Bucer therein striving to please both parties pleased neither For the Helvetian Divines rejected it and Luther understanding of Bucers various Exposition of it was very wroth with him and would no more reckon him amongst his friends And so all hope of concord was taken away An. Chr. 1537. The Protestants being met at Smalcald drew up and set forth the sum of their Religion and practice in a book called Articuli Smalcaldici unto which Luther prefixed this preface Whereas Pope Paul the third summoned a Council the last year which was to meet at Mantua and a little after adjourned it again without nominating time or place so that it is not certain whether he will or can call it And we also hoped that we should have been called to it or else it was to be feared that we should be condemned not called It was injoyned to me that I should gather and write the Articles of our Doctrine that if perhaps the matter went on it might be known what and how far we would and could yeild to the Papists and in what points we would constantly persevere I have therefore written these Articles and delivered them to our party who have perused and received them with one consent that they might be publickly presented and explain the Confession of our Faith in the Council if any one shall at length be assembled and held by the Pope and Popelings without lyes and deceit in a true lawful and Christian manner But seeing the Court of Rome doth so fear a Christian and free Council and most fouly flyeth the light so that all hopes of seeing such a Council is utterly taken away even from the Papists themselves to the great offence of many of them taking ill the negligence of the Pope herein yea they easily from hence gather that the Pope had rather see the destruction of all Christianity and the damnation of all souls then to suffer a Reformation of himself and Courtiers and the restraint of his Tyranny I thought fit therefore to publish these Articles that if I be taken out of this life before a Council be called which I trust and hope shall so come to pass seeing these wicked flyers of the light labor so much to drive of and hinder a Council That they I say which live after me should have my Confession and Testimony and may adjoin and publish it with the Confession which I have formerly set forth wherein I have hitherto persevered and will by Gods grace persevere unto the end What shall I say How shall I begin my complaint For being yet alive I Preach and read to others publickly and dayly and yet not only my virulent Adversaries but my false Brethren that say that they agree with us in opinion dare bring and alleadge my own Doctrine and Writings against me whilest I am alive and see it and hear it albeit they know that I teach otherwise and they go about to adorn their own poyson with my labors so to deceive and seduce the simple with my name Good God what then will be done after my decease I should answer to all things whilst I am alive But how I pray you can I alone stop all the months of the Devil especially of them who being so full of poyson will neither hear nor heed what I write but wholly imploy themselves wickedly to pervert and deprave my words even in the least letters Let the Devil and Gods wrath answer them as they deserve I oftentimes remember good Gerson who oft doubted whether any thing that is good might be brought to light by writing If writing be omitted many souls are neglected which might have been delivered and if it be done presently the Devil is at hand with plaguy tongues full of slanders which corrupt all things and fill them with poyson that the profit of the writings may be hindred thereby Yet what commodity they receive by this their malice is manifest for whereas by loading us with lyes they seek to draw away the simple from us God so ordereth it by his Providence for the promoting of his own work that their company decreaseth and ours increaseth daily for God hath confounded and still will confound them and their lyes Lately there came a Doctor out of France to Wittenberg who told us openly that his King was made to believe that we had no true Church amongst us no Magistrates no mariages but that we all live promiscuously together like brute beasts With what face will these false Informers look upon us before the Tribunal Seat of Christ in his last Judgement who have so oft told their King such false and prodigious lyes Christ who is the Lord and Judge of us all
Anno Christi 1516. Anno Christi 1520. through the favor of Sir Vlrick Hutten he was called to Ments by the Archbishop thereof to be the Preacher and Counsellor to the Prince at which time also Gasper Hedeo was made Preacher and chief Governor over the highest Church in Ments Capito did the more willingly embrace this call that he might plant the reformed Religion in Ments Concerning his commencing Doctor he thus writes in an Epistle to Hutten Juris Pontificii ut vocant Doctoratum suscepi propter authoritatem videlicet comparandam scopam subolescis Licet interim sint aliqui qui vitio vertunt Theologum esse unà simul Civilem quasi Theologus necesse habet omnem exuere humanitatem Anno Christi 1521. Tecelius the Merchant of Indulgences being dead by the order of the Archbishop of Ments Letters Patents for the renewing of them were set to sale at Hale in Saxony whereupon Luther wrote to the Archbishop and Melancthon to Capito his Counsellor to disswade them from such Merchandize Capito therefore secretly favouring the Gospel so far prevailed with his Master that he wrote mildly and humbly to Luther And Capito also wrote to him to advise him that in writing against the vices of Prelates he should not name them For saith he Exasperantur potius animi insectatione quà m curantur mens mindes by such bitterness are rather exasperated then cured Capito thus continuing with the Elector of Ments was very dear unto him for his rare Wisdom joined with Piety his happy Eloquence and mild Nature so that by him he was sent upon many Embassies And February the 7. Anno Christi 1523. he was by the Emperour Charles the Fifth endowed for himself and posterity with the Ensignes of Nobility under the Imperial Seal But not much esteeming these things when he saw that he could not accomplish his purpose at Ments to the wonder of the Archbishop and astonishment of the Courtiers he left it and followed Bucer to Strasborough where he was called to a Pastoral charge The fame of Capito and Bucer did so spred abroad that James Faber Stapulensis and Gerard Ruâ—us came privily out of France to them being sent by Margaret Queen of Navar and sister to Francis King of France where they discoursed largely with them of all the heads of Divinity So that France oweth the beginning of her embracing the reformed Religion as to other godly Ministers so especially to Capito and Bucer Capito was a very Prudent and Eloquent man a good Hâ—brician and studious of Peace Concerning the Sacrament he said Mittendas esse contentiones cogitandum de usu ipsius coenae fidem nostram pane vino Domini per memoriam carnis sanguinis illìus pascendam Anno 1525 he was called into his own Country where he instructed his Brethren in the Doctrine of the Gospel preached and administred the Lords Supper to his own Citizens and Baptized without the Popish Ceremonies and whereas in Helvetia many seemed to incline to the reformed Religion Capito often went amongst them confirming them in the Faith And in a Disputation at Bern in Helvetia Anno Christi 1528. Capito with many other Divines was present at it defending the Truth against the Adversaries so that he with the rest prevailed for the abolishing of the Mass and setting up a faithful Ministry in that place The rest of his time he spent in Preaching at Strasborough and giving wholsome counsel to the Churches Anno Christi 1541. when a Diet was appointed at Ratisbone especially for the cause of Religion Capito amongst other Divines was sent by the Protestants to it where he gave an excellent demonstration of his wit and judgement But when nothing could be effected returning home in a great and general infection he dyed of the Plague Anno Christi 1541. of his Age 63. He was a man of an excellent wit and judgement constant in Religion A great lover of the Schools and Learning wherefore he exhorted to the repairing of Schools and keeping up Scholastical Titles that the studious might be distinguished from the slothful the Seniors from the Juniors and that diligence might be spurred on by hope of honest glory When Erasmus halted between two opinions he continually called upon him to put off that Nicodemus-like temper His first wife was Agnes a learned woman after whose death he marryed the Widdow of Oecolampadius his intire friend He left to posterity these excellent works Institutionum Hebraicarum libriduo Enarrationes in Habacuc Hoseans Prophetas Vita Johannis Oecolampadii De formando puro Theologo Explicatio doctissima in Hexameron opus Dei LEO JVDAE The Life of Leo Iudae who dyed An. Chri. 1542. LEO Judae was born An. Chr. 1482. his fathers name was John Judae his mothers name was Elizabeth By the care of his Father he was brought up at School in Slestadia where having learned Grammer he went to Basil An. Chr. 1502. There he joined in study with Zuinglius was an hearer of Dr. Wittenbash by whom he was instructed in the knowledg of the Gospel There also he continued in his studies till he commenced Master of Arts Anno Christi 1512. after which he was made a Deacon and from thence he was called into Helvetia where he set himself to the study of the Oriental Tongues and to read the Fathers especially Hierom and Augustine as also he read diligently the Books of Luther Erasmus and Capito At length being called to a Pastoral charge at Zurick he opposed the Popish Doctrine and Ceremonies both in the Pulpit and Press so that his fame spread far and near there he continned eighteen years and spent much of it in expounding the Old Testament out of the Hebrew wherein being grown very skilful he set upon at the importunity of his Brethren of the Ministry the translation of the Old Testament out of the Hebrew wherein also he was much holpen by the industry of other learned men His care was to get the most exact Hebrew copy that he could which also he compared with others neither did he neglect to examine the Greek and Latine versions that by all he might the better finde out the genuine signification of the words and minde of the Holy Ghost But this work proving very great he was so wasted with labor and old age that he dyed before he finished it Anno Christi 1542. and of his Age 60. leaving undone Job the forty last Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes Canticles and the eight last Chapters of Ezekiel which he commended to Theodore Bibliander to finish who accordingly did it and he left all to Conradus Pellican to peruse and put to the Press which he carefully performed Four days before his death sending for the Pastors and Professors of Zurick he made before them a Confession of his Faith concerning God the Scriptures the Person and Offices of Christ concluding Huic
give mee strength and his holy spirit that all my adversaries shal be asham'd of their doings Then said his friends Master Dr. we think it not best so to do you have sufficiently done your duty and borne witness to the truth both in your Sermons and in resisting this Popish Priest and therfore seeing our Savior Christ bids us when we are persecuted in one City to flee to another we think that by flying at this time you should doe best reserving your selfe for better times O said D. Tailor I am now old and have already lived too long to see these terrible and wicked dayes You may doe as your consciences serve you but I am resolved not to fly God shall hereafter raise up Teachers which shall with much more diligence and fruit teach then I have done for God will not forsake his Church though for a time he tryeth and correcteth us and that not without just cause His friends seeing his constancy and resolution with weeping eyes commended him to God and so preparing himself he went to London and presented himself to Steven Gardiner Lord Chancellor of England who railed upon him calling him Knave Traitor Heretick asking him if he knew him not c. To whom he answered Yea I know you and all your greatness yetâ— you are but a mortall man and if I should be affraid of your Lordly looks why fear you not God the Lord of us all How dare you for shame look any Christian in the face seeing you have forsaken the truth denyed our Saviour Christ and his word done contrary to your own oath and writing with what countenance can you appear before the judgement seat of Christ and answer for your oath first made to King Henry the eighth and afterwards to King Edward the sixth Gardiner Tush tush that was Herods oath unlawfull and therefore fit to be broken I did well in breaking it and thanke God that I am come home to our Mother the Church of Rome and so I would thou shouldest doe Tailor Should I forsake the Church of Christ which is founded upon the true foundation of the Prophets and Apostles to approve those lyes errors superstitions and idolatries that are approved of most blasphemously by you God forbid Remember that you wrote truly against the Pope and were sworne against him Gardin I tell thee that was Herods oath and our holy Father the Pope hath discharged me of it Tailor But you shall not be so discharged before Christ who doubtlesse will require it at your hands as a lawful oath made to your King from which no man can assoile you Gardiner I see that thou art an arrogant Knave and a very fool Tailor My Lord leave your railing which is unseemly in one that is in your place I am a Christian man and you know that he that call's his brother Fool is in danger of Hell fire Gardiner Yee are false and liers all the sort of you Tailor We are true men and know that God will destroy all them that speak lies and therefore we abide by the truth of Gods word which ye contrary to your own consciences deny and forsake Gardiner Thou art a married man Tailor Yea and I thanke God that I am and have had nine children and all in lawfuâ— matrimony and blessed be God that ordained matrimoâ—y and commanded that all that had not the gift of continency should marry and not live in whoredom and a dultery After some other discourse the Bishop called hi men commanding them to carry him to the Kings Bench requiring his Keeper to keep him strictly Then Doctoâ— Tailor kneeling down and holding up his hands said Good Lord I thanke thee and from the Tyranny of the Bishop of Rome and all his detestable errors and abominations good Lord deliver us So they carried him away to prison where he lay almost two years In Prison he spent his time in praier reading the Scriptures preaching to the prisoners and to other that resorted to him And it pleased God that he found in that prison holy Master Bradford whom he began to exhort to Faith strength and patience and to persevere constantly unto the end Master Bradford hearing this thanked God who had provided him so comfortable a prison-fellow and so they both together praised God and continued in praier reading and exhorting one another Insomuch as Doctor Tailor told his friends that God had provided graciously for him to send him to that prison where he found such an Angell of God to be in his company to comfort him He was diverse times examined of his faith and witnessed a good Confession before his adversaries for which at last he was condemned to die When his sentence was read he told them that God the righteous Judge would require his blood at their hands and that the proudest of them all should repent their receiving againe of Antichrist and their Tyranny against the flock of Christ. He also thus wrote to his friends God be praised since my condemnation I was never affraid to die Gods will be done If I shrinke from Gods truth I am sure of an other manner of death then had Judge Hales But God be praised even from the bottome of my heart I am unmovably setled upon the Rock nothing doubting but that my dear God will performe and finish the work that he hath begun in me and others To him be all honor both now and ever through Christ our onely Saviour Amen After his condemnation Bishop Bonner came to the prison to degrade him bringing all the Massing Garments with him which he commanded him to put on No quoth Doctor Tailor I will not Bonner Wilt thou not I shall make thee ere I go Tailor You shall not by the grace of God Bonner I charge thee on thy obedience to do it Tailor I will not Then the Bishop bad his owne man to put them on his back which when it was done setting his hands by his side he walked up and down and said How say you my Lord am I not a goodly fool If I were in Cheap-side would not all the boies laugh at these apishtoies The Bishop having dispoiled him of all would have given him a stroke on his breast with his Crosier But his Chaplain said My Lord strike him not for he will sure strike again Yea by Saint Peter will I quoth Doctor Tailor The cause is Christs and I were no good Christian if I would not fight in my masters quarrell Then the Bishop cursed him but durst not strike him To whom Doctor Tailor answered Though you curse yet God doth blesse me The next night his Wife Son and Servant came to him where before supper they kneeled down and praied saying the Letany He was sent down to Hadley to be burn'd and all the way as he went he was very merry as one that went to a banquet or Bridal In his
for once upon a publick hearing there was such a tumult raised that they were very neare imbruing their hands each in others blood which sedition Calvin with his Colleagues hearing of interposed themselves though it was with the perill of his life the faction of the wicked being most against him and stopped it Yet these men proceeding in their wickednesse hated him the more for it So that Mr. Calvin sharply reproved them for it in his Sermons and Gods judgements threatned by him proved not in vain For one of them writing an infamous Libel and affixing it to his pulpit wherein were contained many railings against the sacred Ministery and particularly against Mr. Calvin that he deserved to be thrown into the River of Rhodanus This man being apprehended and convicted of these and many other horrid blasphemies had hiâ— head cut off And after his death there was another Libell found written by his owne hand containing blaspemies against Moses and Christ himself with which impiety there was no doubt but that he had infected others At this very very time and in the middest of these troubles Mr. Calvin wrote his Antidote against the seven Sessions of the Councell of Trent He also sending Letters to the Church of Christ in Roan confirmed them against the fraud of a certain Fâ—anciscan Fryer who had spread the poysonsom Doctrines of the Libertines and Carpocratians amongst them The year following which was 1548 the evill of the aforenamed faction in eneva brake forth againe The Devill which is almost incredible abusing those persons to be instruments thereof who indeed were the greatest enemies to it viz. Farel and Viret These men comming to Geneva made o grave Oration in the Senate about composing their differences Mr. Calvin requiring nothing but that those men should mend their manners and Perrinus with his associates proâ—siâ—ng any thing so he might be restored to his former place For Perrinus being restored to his place he and his wicked companions grew so impudent that they cut their cloathes crosse on their breasts that they might know each other others of them called their dogs by the name of Calvin Others instead of Calvin called him Cain others out of an hatred to Mr. Calvin professed that they would not come to the Sacrament of the Lords Supper All which Mr. Calvin and his Colleagues did boldly and faithfully reprove and when they were called before the Senate the innocency of the good men easily carried away the victory So that the Amnestie or forgetfulnesse of wrongs was solemnly sworn to Decemb. 18 But it afterwards appeared that all this was done thorough dissimulation and that Perrin sought nothing thereby but to be chosen a Syndic that he and his might by that meanes have the more liberty to act all their wickednesse as the event declared Mr. Calvin in the midst of these broils was so farre from giving over his accustomed labours that as if nothing had molested him hee wrote learned Commentaries upon six of Pauls Epistles as also by weighty Arguments confuted the Interim which was published for the destruction of the German Churches shewing withall the right course for the restoring of those Churches He discovered also in a book the vanity and falshood of Judiciall Astrology which many beganne now to give too much heed to and being saluted by Letter from Brentius now in exile he wrote consolatory Letters to him in which friendship it had been happy if Brentius had continued Bucer also being a banished man in England at this time Calvin wrote to him to declare and open his mind more fully about the Sacrament of the Lords Supper and comforted him in a most friendly manner He also wrote Letters of advice to the Duke of Sommerset now Protector of England who afterwards suffered an unworthy death about such matters as if his counsell had been hearkened to it had been happy for England and perhaps the Church there had happily avoyded many of those storms which afterwards befell it In the midst of these contencions the Church of Geneva did wonderfully encrease which did exceedingly torment the Devill and his instruments and Mr. Calvin was very solicitous to entertain and provide for such as were banished for the name of Christ Which care of his it pleased God to bless the year following that the fury of those wicked men though it was not quite extinct yet for the present it was layd asleep And truly hee had need of such a truce being grievously afflicted with a domestick accident For at this time he lost his dear Wife a very choice woman yet did he bear this accident with such constancy that therein he gave an excellent example of fortitude to the whole Church The same year there arose a great contention in the Saxon Church about things indifferent Whereupon sending to Mr. Calvin for his judgement he freely declared his opinion to them He also admonished Melancthon of his duty whom some accused for too much softnes in this point but Master Calvin afterwards found it to be a false charge For at this time it was unknowne with what minde and spirit the whole troop of Flaccians were carried which afterwards raised such great troubles to the Church and were acted with such fury and impudence as if they had been hired by the Pope of Rome to carry on his cause But it pleased God to compensate this wound inflicted upon the Churches of Germany by a great blessing upon the Helvetians For Farel aud Calvin going to Zurick when many thought that Master Calvin did too much favour the Doctrine of Consubstantiation in a Synod of all the Helvetian and Rhetian Churches he shewed his agreement with them and indeed there was no great difficulty to bring good men and lovers of the truth into an harmonious concord This agreement of the Helvetian and Rhetians Churches was written which did more and more unite Bullinger and Calvin and the Church of Zurick with that of Geneva Master Calvin also about this time wrote two learned Epistles to Laelius Socinus the poyson of whose opinions did not appear till after his death for in his life time going through the Churches he had deceived Melancthon Calvin and Camerarius but afterwards it appeared that he had much favoured Servetus Castellio and Ochin and their mad opinions for his Commentary upon the first chapter of John coming forth shewed that he went beyond the impiety of all those Hereticks which had corrupted the most Divine portion of Scripture Anno Christi 1550 succeeding the Church of Christ enjoyed peace and then it was decreed in Geneva that the Ministers not onely in their Sermons which many neglected and others heard with small profit But from house to house at many seasons of the year should divide the City amongst them and require of every family an account of their Faith by which means its scarce credible
what profit came to the people thereby Another decree for the abolishing of Christmas-day and that no holy day should be observed but the Sabbath onely which did so offend some loose persons that they bruited abroad that Master Calvin had abolished the Sabbaths to bring the greater odium upon him This offence taken by some occasionâ—â— Calvin to write his book of Scandals dedicated to Laurenâ—â— Normendius his intimate friend Anno Christi 1551. great contentions brake out in the Church and this year was begun with the death of Bucer to the great grief of the whole Church and of Master Calvin especially who alwayes highly prised him About the same time dyed Joachim Vadian a Senator of Geneva a man endowed with singular learning and piety Whereupon the wickedness of the factious persons brake forth again which had slept a great while These men would by no means suffer the exiles which fled thither for Religion to injoy the priviledges of the City and not content therewith Mast. Calvin having been forth to Preach beyond the Rhodanus as he came home they entertained him with scorns and one Raimund his Colleague having occasion one evening to pass the bridge over the Rhodanus they had almost cast him into the River and lastly they raised a great tumult in the Church of Saint Gervase because a child being brought to be baptized the Minister refused to give him the name of Balthazar which name had beenf or some reason forbidden by their Law Neither could Master Calvin tel how to cure these evils but by his invincible patience About the same time another mischief invaded the Church of Geneva which was occasioned by one Jerome Bolsec a Frier Carmelite of Paris who had indeed laid aside his Coul but not his Monkish mind This man first fled to the Dutchess of Ferrara whom he deceived till being found out he was driven from thence Then pretending to be a Physician he came to Geneva but the learned Physicians there rejecting him that he might manifest himselfe a Divine he vented some false and absurd opinions about Predestination first in private and then in the publick Congregation Him therefore did Master Calvin confute first with a moderate reproof only then sending for him to him he laboured to instruct him better but he either puffed up with his Monkish pride or provoked by the seditious persons seeking by him to provoke Master Calvin took the boldness upon the sixteenth of October to preach upon this Text He that is of God heareth the words of God and they which hear them not are not of God whence he took occasion to preach up Freewill and that Predestination was out of works foreseen withall reproaching the true doctrine and shewing himself seditiously proud and he became the more bold because seeing Master Calvins seat empty he judged him to be absent But indeed Master Calvin coming late sate behind some others and when the Frier had done Master Calvin suddenly standing up though he had thought of no such thing before then truly if at any time he shewed what a man he was confuting the Frier with so many testimonies of Scripture with so many places out of Saint Augustine and lastly with so many weighty arguments that all were ashamed of what he had taught but only the impudent fellow himself Insomuch that one of the Magistrates of the City apprehended him and committed him to prison for a seditious person and after hearing and examining his cause the judgement of the Senat of the Helvetian Churches being also requested upon the 23th day of Decemb. he was publickly condemned for sedition and Pelagianisme and banished the City being rhreatned with severe punishment if he were afterwards found either in the City or territories belonging to it After this going into a neighbour Town he was the cause of many and great stirs there till he was twice expelled the Country of the Bernates From thence going into France he sought to get into the Ministry in the Reformed Churches which he found in a peaceable condition first in Paris then in Orleans pretending great penetency for his former miscarriages and of his own accord seeking reconciliation with the Church at Geneva But presently after when he saw the Churches under affliction he fell back to his Popery loading the reformed Churches with many reproaches At the same time the Colledge of Ministers at Geneva in a publick meeting asserted the true Doctrine of Predestination which Calvin put into writing So that all the Divel gat by these contentions was that that head of Christian Religion which before which was very obscure was now very clearly opened to the understanding of all that were not contentious The year following which was 1551. it further appeared what a flame this wicked Varlet had kindled though condemned by the common judgement of so many Chuâ—ches For the difficulty of the question having not been sufficiently explicated by the Ancients did stir up especially curious wits to make inquiry into the same By which means the factious persons supposing that they had gotten an excellent advantage against Master Calvin thought that by removing him they might subvert all things So that it cannot be imagined what stirs arose not onely in the City but also in other places as if the Divell had set all his engines on work to raise contentions For though there was a sweet agreement amongst the chief Pastors of the Churches yet there were not some wanting in the Country of the Bernates which accused Calvin as if he had made God the Author of sin Being forgetful how far he had professedly opposed that cursed Tenet when he had confuted the Libertines At Basil Castalio a good and simple man though he did all things closely yet it was discerned that he defended Pelagianisme and Melancâ—â—hon had so bâ—gun to write of these things that though he had formerly subscribed Calvins book against Pighius yet he seemed to brand the Genevians as if thâ—y held the Fate of the Stoicks The Pontificians also though they had been a thousand times confuted yet renewed their old slanders These things did much trouble Master Calvins mind and so much the rather because the efficacy of error was so great at this time that thâ— mouth of truth in some places seemed to be stopt by publick Authority Neither was this a controversie of a few years This same year that good Hermite whom we mentioned before appeared publickly to dispute with Calvin who had suffered a repulse when some years before he had sought tâ— creep into the ministry whereupon he turned Lawyer and the Patron of the factious persons Their cause came to be heard before the Senate with a great contention on both sides the first fighting with impudâ—ncy and the favour of the wicked but M Calvin defending his Doctrine only with the authority of truth And the truth prevailed M. Calvins writings being judged pious and
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
was freed Anno Christi 1557. he went from thence to Heidleberg being sent for by Otho Henry Prince Elector Palatine who was about to reforme his Churches There hee was made the Publick Professor of Theologie and met with much opposition and manifold contentions in that alteration which yet he bore with much prudence Anno Christi 1564. there was a disputation appointed at Malbourn for composing the great controversie about the ubiquity of Christs body This was appointed by Frederick the third Elector Palatine and Christopher Duke of Wertemberg To this meeting the Elector sent Boquine Diller Olevian Dathen and Ursin but very little fruit appeared of their labours as the event shewed Boquin continued in Heidleberg about twenty years under Otho and Frederick the third But after that Princes death An. Christi 1576 by reason of the prevalency of the Hetorodox party he with other Professorr and Divines was driven thence and it pleased God that immediately hee was called to Lausanna where he performed the part of a faithfull Pastor so long as he lived Anno Christi 1582 on a Lords day he preached twice and in the evening heard another Sermon then supped chearfully and after supper refreshed himself by walking abroad then went to visit a sick friend and whll'st he was conforting of him he found his spirits to begin to sink in him and running to his servant he said unto him Pray adding further Lord receive my soul and so he quietly departed in the Lord Anno Christi 1582. The workes which he left behind him were these Defensio ad calumnias Doctoris cujusdam Avii in Evangelii professores Examen libri quem Heshusius inscripsit De praesentia corporis Christi in caena domini Theses de coena Domini Exegesis divinae communicationis Adsertio veteris ac veri Christianismi adversus novum fictum Jesuitismum Notatio praecipuarum causarum diuturnitatis controversiae de Coena Domini Adsertio ritus frangendi in manus sumendi panis Eucharistici E. GRINDALL The Life of Edmund Grindall who dyed A no Christi 1583. EDmund Grindal was borne in Cumberland Anno Christi 1519. and carefully brought up in learning first at school and then in the University of Cambridg where being admitted into Pembrook Hall he profited so exceedingly that he was chosen first Fellow and afterward Master of that house And Bishop Ridley taking notice of his piety and learning made him his Chaplain and commended him to that pious Prince King Edward the sixth who intended to prefer him but that he was prevented by an immature death In the bloody daies of Queen Mary Grindal amongst many others fled into Germany where he continued all her Reigne But comming back in the beginning of Queen Elisabeth she preferred him to that dignity which her brother King Edward intended him to making him Bishop of London wherein hee carried himself worthily for about eleven years Anno Christi 1570 hee was removed by the Queen to the Archbishoprick of York where he continued about six years and then for his piety and learning she made him Archbishop of Canterbury wherein he lived about seven years more and then falling sick at Croidon hee resigned up his spirit unto God that gave it Anno Christi 1583 and of his Age sixtie four Both in his life and at his death he did many excellent works of Charity At St. Beighs in Cumberland where he was born he erected a Free-schoole and endowed it with thirty pound per annum for ever To Pembroke Hall in Cambridge where he was educated he gave twenty two pounds a yeare in lands for the maintaining of a Greek Lecturer one Fellow and two Scholars to be chosen out of the aforesaid School of St. Beighs He gave also much mony to the said Colledge To Magdalen Colledge in Cambridge hee gave lands for the maintainance of one Fellow from the said School To Christs Colledge in Cambridge he gave forty five pounds To Queens Colledge in Oxford he gave twenty pound per annum in lands to maintain one Fellow and two Scholars out of the aforesaid Schoole And at his death he gave his Library which was a very great and good one to that Colledge besides a great sum of money To eight Alms-houses in Croidon he gave fifty pounds per annum and to Canterbury he gave an hundred pounds to set the poor on work The Life of Bernard Gilpin who died A no Christi 1583. BErnard Gilpin was born at Kentmire in the County of Westmoreland Anno Christi 1517 of an ancient and honourable Family When he was but a child a Friar pretending to be a zealous Preacher came on a Saturday night to his Fathers house and at Supper eat like a Glutton and drunke himself drunk yet the next morning in his Sermon sharply reproved the sinne of Drunkennesse whereupon young Gilpin sitting near his mother cryed out Oh Mother doe you hear how this fellow dares speak against Drunkenness and yet himself was drunken last night But his Mother stopped his mouth with her hand that he might speake no further it being a mortall sinne in those times to speak against these men His Parents perceiving his aptnesse were carefull to make him a Scholar and when hee had with great approbation passed his time in the Grammar-School they sent him to Oxford Anno Christi 1533 where he was admitted into Queens Colledge and profited wondrously in Humane Learning Hee was very conversant also in the writings of Erasmus which were in much esteem at that time And to the studie of Logick and Philosophie hee added that of Greek and Hebrew yea after some few years spent in these studies hee grew so famous that there was no place of preferment for a Scholar whereof the eminency of his virtues had not rendered him worthy Whereupon he was one of the first that was chosen a member of christ-Christ-Church by Cardinall Wolsey At that time he was not fully instructed in the true Religion but held disputations against John Hooper afterwards Bishop of Worcester as also against Peter Martyr who was then Divinity Lecturer at Oxford upon the occasion of which dispute that he might defend his cause the better he examined the Scriptures ancient Fathers But by how much the more he studied to defend his Cause the lesse confidence hee began to have therein and so whilst he was searching zealously for Truth he beganne to discernâ— his own Errors Peter Martyr used to say That he cared not for his other adversaries but saith he I am troubled for Gilpin for he doth and speaketh all things with an upright heart and therefore he often prayed That God would be pleased at last to convert to the Truth the heart of Gilpin being so inclinable to honesty And the Lord answered his prayer for presently Gilpin resolved more earnestly to apply himself both by study and
in the evening he was had into the King of Navars chamber where were present the Queen Mother the Prince of Conde the Cardinals of Bourbon and Lorrain with many of the Nobility Beza briefly declared the cause of his coming though it was not unknown unto them and the Queen chearfully answered that she much desired that the publick peace might be principally promoted And the Cardinal of Lorrain exhorted him to study the wayes of peace and concord For saith he in your absence you have been the author of many stirs and tumults therefore it beseems you by your presence to endeavour to compose them which is that which we all desire To this Beza replyed that he was too mean and obscure a person to raise commotions in so large and potent a Kingdom That he was alwaies an enemy to tumults and that his studies and endevours should alwaies be bent to promote the Glory of God and the happinesse of his King and Country Then did the Queen ask him if he had ever published any thing in French Nothing said he besides the Psalmes and a short writing opposed to the Confession of the Duke of Summerset Upon this occasion Lorrain said that he had read in a book published in Beza's name That Christ was in the same manner to be sought in his Supper as he was before he was born of the blessed Virgin And that Christ was so in his Supper as he is in the dung To this Beza answered That this latter speech was blasphemy and that he thought that no Christian had ever spoken or written any such thing As for the former speech saith he if it be taken in a good sence its true for the Church hath alwaies been congregated by one Mediator Christ God-man therefore the Communion of the faithfull with Christ is not to be confined to the time of his Incarnation for the force and efficacy thereof was alwaies present to the eye of Faith For Abraham saw his day and rejoyced The Fathers did eat of the same spirituall and drank of the same spirituall Rock viz. Christ and that he was the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world To which the Cardinal assented Then was there another question started about the sence of those words This is my body Whereunto Beza answered learnedly and briefly layâ—ng down the Reformed opinion and against Transubstantiation Whereunto the Cardinal answered that for his part he would not contend about Transubstantiation being of Beza's mind and withall told the Queen that Beza had given him great satisfaction in that point and that he hoped their conference would come to a good issue if things were handled peaceably and with right reason When the company was departed the Cardinall spake very lovingly to Beza saying Now that I have heard you speak I rejoice and invite you to the conference by the immortall God hoping that weighing the reasons on both sides some way may be found out for the setling of a firm peace Beza returned him hearty thanks intreating him to persevere in the study and endeavour of procuring publick concord Professing for his own part that according to the abilities God had given him he would promote it Septemb. the fourth they met together in the large Hall of the Monastery at Possy where were present the King the Queen Mother the Duke of Orleance the Kings brother Margaret the Kings Sister the King and Queen of Navar the Prince of Conde and the rest of the Nobility and States of France On the Popish party were the Cardinals Archbishops and Bishops to the number of fifty accompanyed with many Doctors of Sorbon and Canonists For the Reformed Churches were the Ministers before named After the King had in a few words opened the causes why he had called them together and Michael Hospitalius the great Chancellor of France had opened them more largly Beza in the name of all the Protestants made an excellent Oration which he pronounced with such a grace as drew the attention and caused admiration in all that were present In it he comprised the sum of the pure Religion which was professed in the Reformed Churches of France Only this is to be noted by the way that when Beza in his speech sayd That Christ was as far from the Sacrament as the highest heavens are from the earth the Popish Doctors made a great murmur which at last being over he went on to the end of his speech Then Turnovius â—ean of the Colledge being in a great passion against the Ministers whom he called new Professors made some objections and exhorted the King that hee would not suffer himself by any perswasions to be withdrawn from his old Religion and that he would suspend his assent til he had heard the answers which the Prelates would give to that which had been spoken for then he should be able to discern a difference between the truth and lies Then did Beza humbly present to the King a Confession of Faith in the name and with the consent of all the Reformed Churches which had been drawn up in the year 1555. But when the Ministers perceived that the minds of the Pontificians were exasperated they resolved that Beza should write his private Letters to the Queen wherein he should explaine things more fully then he was suffered to doe the day before which accordingly he did September the sixteenth the conference began again in the presence of the said great personages And the Cardinall of Lorrain made a tedious speech wherein he defended the Popish Religion perswading that nothing should be altered in the same And when he had done Beza humbly entreated the King that hee might have liberty to answer ex tempore For the Protestants feared that after this day they should be suffered to meet no more For there was a constant report that the Pontiâ—icians after that day would have no more to doe with the Protestants but would presently excommunicate them Besides there was some fear that the crafty Prelates would evade any further disputation by setting the French and Dutch Churches together by the ears about the matter of the Sacrament But he could obtain nothing that day the conference being adjorned to another and procrastinated by many delaies Yet at last upon an humble supplication to the King from the Protestants they obtained that the conference should goe on And accordingly September the twentie fourth it was again begun in the same Audience and Lorrain protested that this meeting was appointted that so the Protestants if they had a minde to it might freely answer to what had formerly been spoken by him Then did Beza discourse excellently and clearly about the Church and the Supper of the Lord which two heads were principally insisted on by Lorrain Then Espensaeus a Sorbonist being appointed by the Cardinall took up Beza begining about the Vocation of Ministers both ordinary and extraordinary and so proceeding to Traditions and the Lords
presently disclaimed the choice who having never in his life sought after any place was now much more content with his present condition and would not so far offend his old Master as against his will to be chosen for his Colleague No injury did ever so disturb the mind of VVallaeus as to discompose it or make him unlike himself But in the mean time the people were very angry that their beloved Minister was thus disgraced by him who formerly by his publick testimony had attested the purity of his Doctrine But it so fell out about that time 〈◊〉 Lord of Plessiâ— called VVallaeus to Salmur who getting leave to depart went thither Anno Christi 1615 but stayed not long Upon this occasion they of 〈◊〉 being stirred up by Hugh Grotius would not suffer the City of 〈◊〉 to have an Illustrious School so that it was nipt in the bud and Meivartius returned to his Grammer School again Only the Magistrates of Middleborough requested Wallaeus that some times he would read Greek and Philosophical Lectures and would go on with his Common places that so they might still keep up the face of an Illustrious School which accordingly he did and yet neglected not his work in the Ministry Shortly after at the command and request of the Churches of Zeland and at the importunity of some of the chief Ministers of Holland he answered Vtenbogard wherein he shewed that the Authority which was granted by the Magistrates to the Belgick Church was agreeable to the sacred Scriptures and the custom of the Primitive Church By this Book Wallaeus everywhere gat the name of a very learned man and of one that deserved well of the Church because he had thereby freed the Church from that aspersion cast upon it by the Remonstrants that it was disobedient to Magistracy He deserved also thanks from many Polititians because he took away from some of their society that pretence whereby they oppressed the Churches Vtenbogard himself could not but acknowledge that the Book was learned and full of modesty yet he pretended that he would return a speedy answer for which cause he gate leave of the Deputies of the States to write again But though he easily obtained leave yet wrote he not only about thirty years after and seven years after the death of Wallaeus he would seem to return an answer though it contained nothing in it but glorious promises and empty performances Wallaeus was not content to have thus taken away the chiefest pillar to the dissention but endeavoured also to quiet the people and to moderate the Magistrates of Holland whereupon he set forth a treatise shewing the people how they should demean themselves when any difference sprang up amongst the Pastors about Religion The Magistrates he sought to reconcile to the Ministers by the means of Hugh Grotius a man very familiar with him because of his Learning who from an hope of succeeding Bâ—â—nevelt in his dignity was looked upon as his right hand From him he extorted this speech That he saw no better means to compose the difference then by a National Synod which if it was denyed God would punish them for it In the mean time the dissentions increased dayly in Holland and threatned the ruine of one if not of both parties Six of the Cities of Holland did openly oppose themselves against the Decrees concerning the Vocation of Pastors and of tolerating the Controversies of Religion on both sides The Ministers also refused to obey them yea the Remonstrants themselves especially those which were framed by Hugh Grotius at the instigation of Vtenbogard that set bounds to the Ministers from which in handling Controversies it was not lawful for them to deviate Yet the Magistrates would have them obeyed and such Pastors as refused were forbidden the exercise of their Ministry and such as were more pertinacious were cast out of their Cities and such Citizens as most favoured them were banished And though they were restored again by the Presidents of Justice who judged it to be not a correction but a faction yet the Magistrates would not suffer them to come into the Cities whereupon they were filled with animosities on both sides and at last the Magistrates not daring to trust their Citizens gathered souldiers But this dissention was no where more conspicuous nor hotter then at the Hague Vtenbogard who had sometimes stirred up his hearers to use all extremity would now seem moderate having gotten so much power in the Church which that he might hold he perswaded them to yeeld something to the Contra-Remonstrants But some sharp sights perceived that this was but a trick to deceive the Pastors and seduce the people whereupon Henry Rosaeus an eloquent and couragious man took heart to discover the fraud to the people shewing that poyson lay under this honey Upon this the Magistrates forbade him the use of his Ministry But the people who now saw the fraud would not hear Vtenbogard any longer but resorted to Sermons in the neighbor Village of Riâ—wick This the Magistrates sought to hinder On the contrary the people urged that either Rosaeus or some other Preacher of the Reformed Religion for which they had spent so much treasure and blood should be allowed them Against this Vtenbogard opposed himself and laying aside his pretence of moderation sought by all means to hinder the gratifying of the people in their request Prince Morice observing that not so much the Ministers as himself was aimed at and that by his connivence the power of Barnevelt and his adversaries was increased he began penly to favour the Contra-Remonstrants and requested the States of Holland that they might have a Church and Minister allowed them But the Nobles and the twelve Cities much opposed it yet still the Prince urged it and seeing the Contra-Remonstrants desired but reason he procured the English Church at the Hague to be allowed them which when it would not receive all the Auditors they took another Church brought in Henry Rosaeus and frequented his Sermons Barnevelt and his associates were much troubled at this as if violence was profered to their authority But seeing that the Contra-Remonstrants had no more granted them but what was equal they suffered that which they knew not how to prevent By this example the Contra-Remonstrants everywhere took courage and the people sided with them seeing the Prince to favour them who was so beloved and esteemed of them But the Contra-Remonstrants of the Hague thought it not enough to have a Church and Preacher but in so illustrious a place they must make it appear that their opinions and Doctrine was better then that of the Remonstrants But when Vtenbogard excelled Rosaeus in Learning and daily provoked him to Disputation some other must be sent for that might cool his boasting For which end none was judged fitter then our Wallaeus and therefore Anno Christi 1617. Deputies were sent from the
praise but in Disputations he deserved a Triumph Because these Candidates in Divinity could not be sufficiently exercised in publick he did twice a week in private explain to them his Enchiridion of the Reformed Religion he examined it and appointed them to dispute upon it yea he set up divers private Lectures wherein he confuted the Anabaptists Socinians and Papists He caused these Candidates also often to Preach in private wherein he directed them to the most profitable subjects and taught them how they should prosecute the same Neither would he ever take any thing for these his private imployments This course of training up young Students he continued for twenty years even till his death so that innumerable Pastors were sent forth by him into the Church amongst which many were admirable Lights which were a great comfort and rejoycing to him In the Government of the University he neither made nor nourished parties but when any differences arose he always sought to compose them as he did betwixt Polyander and Thysius between Cunaeus and Burgersditius amongst whom some emulation was sprung up Wallaeus himself had no Enemy but only Daniel Heinsius who was also a Gantois and seemed somewhat to emulate him Yet would not Wallaeus do any thing that might offend Heinsius neither would he mingle himself in the contention between Salmatius and Heinsius about precedency Wallaeus his next care was that all the Honors of the University so far as might be should be equally divided amongst his Colleagues that so they might live together the more sweetly and might labor together in their several imployments with the better concord So that when he should have been chosen Rector of the University he sought it for his Colleague but honour followed him whilst he fled from it so that he was often Deputy of the University and thrice Rector He would never give to Candidates his testimony for their lives and proficiency in their Studies of Divinity except they deserved it Judging it better to offend them and their friends then to deceive the Church by advancing unworthy persons to the Ministry which faithfulness of his was taken notice of so that many were rejected till they could get the testimony of Wallaeus He with his Colleagues would never prefer any to the title of Doctors except they were conspicuous for their Piety and eminent for Learning He had more Books brought to him to License then he could possibly read over for which cause he sent many of them to the Classes of Pastors to be read over by them reserving to himself only such as handled Controversies of greater moment These Professors would meddle with no cases of Conscience but such as concerned Matrimony as for all others that came to them they sent them to their own Pastors whereby they much eased themselves and took off people from undervaluing their own Ministers And in cases of Matrimony they always determined them with such sound judgement that so long as Wallaeus lived there was never any Church or Magistrate that had cause to alter what they had determined He was dayly sought to for advice in cases of Conscience In Controversies of Religion and about Church Government by Churches Classes Synods Cities States and Princes to all whom he freely imparted his counsel The States General and the States of Holland would never suffer any Divinity Book to be Dedicated to them till Wallaeus had perused and set his â—merimatur to it They would never suffer any Petitions about Controversies in Religion or about reforming the peoples lives to be presented to them till he had approved of them Frederick King of Bohemia would give no answer to the great â—urk who proffered him assistance against the Emperour till he had consulted with Wallaeus The Prince of Orange in giving Laws to Cities conquered by him would always consult with these men He called Polyander and Wallaeus to compose a difference between the Magistrates and Ministers of Roterdam that had tired three Synods and fifteen Classes Wallaeus with his Colleagues were appointed to publish the Acts of the Synod of Dort because it was very necessary for all the Reformed Churches yea for all the World to know in what way and order the cause of the Remonstrants had been examined and what seemed good to any and what was concluded by all the Fathers in that assembly and herein they were much holpen by Festus Hommius who was the Scribe of the Synod Presently after the Publication of these Synodal Acts the Remonstrants set forth another wherein in some particulars they sought to invalidate those Acts but their cheif design was to confirm their own opinion by Arguments the confuting whereof was committed to VVallaeus who presently answered their Acts and Corvinus though he pretended a Reply yet quickly gave over and was silent But presently a quarrel sprang up between the Remonstrants themselves For Vtenbogard Corvinus and the greatest part of the Remonstrants adhered to Arminius and would depart no further from the Orthodox Episcopius and his followers joined with the Socinians Error is fruitful and is ever declining from bad to worse Shortly after this some rose up that endeavoured a Union between the Contra-Remonstrants and the Remonstrants On the Contra-Remonstrants side were Cornelius Dunganus of Vtrich Godschalcus Arlius of Arnheim and James Testardus Pastor of Blesa On the Remonstrants side was only Anthony Hornhovius who yet lurked amongst the Orthodox Pastors But it was impossible to unite those that held such contrary opinions There was more hope of an attempt made between Wallaeus and Vtenbogardus which was to consider how the Remonstrants might be admitted into the Reformed Churches and how far forth they might be tolerated therein And it was concluded that such of them might be admitted as members as were free from the Socinian Errors and would acknowledge that all spiritual and saving gifts were of the free Grace of God through Christ if they would promise that in other things they would not disturb the Peace of the Church The greatest difficulty was about their Pastors who would not be quiet except they might exercise their Ministry and enjoy their stipends neither would they be tyed to silence in Controversies But the Remonstrants setting forth a Confession of their Faith brake all in sunder For thereby it appeared that they differed from the Reformed not only in five Articles but in many other things Whilst Wallaeus was at Middleborough he had read Ethicks in the Schools and had begun to make a Compendium of it for the use of his Scholars but finished it not by reason of his remove to Leiden wherefore now the Curators of the School prevailed with him to compleat that Work and to publish it for the use of that School And it found such acceptance abroad that it was often printed and by Theod. Schrevelâ—us Master of the School of 〈◊〉 it was turned into Jambick verse
Assoon as Walleuâ— came to Leâ—â—â—m the Magistrates chose him for one of the Curators of their School in which Office he continued all his life and by his advice the School was quite turned into another order whereby it became far more famous then before The States of Holland observing that in their Cities there were some Masters of Schools which either wanted ability or prudence in regulating their Schools for the best advantage of the boys they therefore made choice of Anthony Wallaeus Anthony â—â—sius Peter 〈◊〉 Daniel Heinsius Geâ—â—ard Vâ—ssius 〈…〉 all of them Professors in Leiden to frame Laws whereby all the Schoolmasters in Holland should be regulated in teaching both the Tongues and Liberal Arts which accordingly were finished and printed Anno Chriâ—â— 1625. The States of Zeland observing that their young Students began to fall into some loose courses made choice of Wallaeus for Overseer of all in Zelamd with a command that all their youth should be wholly guided in their studies by him where by there was a great Reformation not one of 〈◊〉 proving wicked in his life The 〈…〉 also growing solicitous for the salvation of the poor â—adius and observing that they could get no Ministers go thither but such as could get no places in the Low-Countries which many times were either insufficient or scandalous They resolved therefore to erect a Seminary from whence at their pleasures they might draw forth Pastors for those parts For which end they consulted with the Professors at Leiden and observing that Wallaeus was more zealous then the rest in promoting it they chose him to be Overseer of that Semâ—narie But he judging himself unable to undergo so many Offices refused it yet at the importunity of the Curators of the University of Leiden and by the perswasion of his Colleagues he was at last prevailed with and undertook it Whereupon the students for India were brought into his Family where they were dieted and directed in their studies and found so much content that they never complained either of their Diet or Government And besides their other studies he caused them every day to construe to him a Chapter out of the Hebrew Bible and another out of the Greek Testament whereby they became skilful in the Languages and familiarly acquainted with the sacred Scriptures Twice also in the week he caused them to read in and dispute of his Enchirdion of the Reformed Religion and directed them in the making of their Sermons and the forwardest of them he directed how they might infuse the Principles of the Reformed Christian Religion into the Heathens by reasons drawn from Nature how they should instruct them gather a Church and govern the same Out of this Seminary in a few years were sent forth twelve Ministers famous for Learning and Piety to whom India oweth almost all her knowledge which she hath in the Reformed Religion Then did the Magistrates of Leiden by their Consul importune Wallaeus to give them leave to choose him into their Ecclesiastical Consiâ—ory but his wife and children disswaded him from it perceiving that he would sink under the burthen of so many imployments About this time there brake forth a great contention in Zeland between Telingius and Bursius Telingius was very careful to promote Piety whereupon he sharply reproved the sins of the times and observing much prophanation of the Sabbath by a Book which he published he endeavoured the Reformation of the same Upon this occasion Bursius his son wrote a complaint in verse wherein the Church bemoaned her self as if she had lost her liberty and therein he endeavoured to confute â—elingius about the Institution of the Lords Day Gomarus also who was very intimate with Bursius supplyed him with Arguments Telingius his friends were much offended at this so that there was great danger least the Church should be divided into parties and factions Voetius also published a youthly writing wherein he sought more to jerk his Adversaries then to edifie the Church Hereupon Wallaeus resumed those things which he had formerly read over and drew them into a larger Treatise about the Sabbath which also he printed to the great joy of the Churches who as they highly prized his Learning so now had cause to admire his wisdom And this work of his was so approved of that by Silvius Pastor of Amsterdam it was turned into Dutch their Native Language And it pleased God by this means to put an end to the aforenamed contentions Only Gomarus thinking it dishonorable to be silent published a little Book De Investigatione Sabbathi which Rivet answered and when Gomarus replyed Rivet answered again And though Gomarus found few or no followers yet to prevent the worst Wallaeus in his Publick Lectures answered such things as seemed to be new in Gomarus At the first Reformation of Religion in the Low-Countries there was a certain Elder of the Church of Embdea a godly man that turned Luthers Translation of the Bible into Low-Dutch But being skilful neither in the Hebrew nor Greek nor well acquainted with the High-Dutch there were many Errors in it whereupon the Ministers of the Law-Countries so soon as they were setled in their Lâ—berties from under the Spanish yoak began to think upon Translating the Bible out of the Originals and the States to promote so good a work made choice of Phili◠〈◊〉 of Saint Aldegunâ— to go to Leiden and there wholly to employ himself in this work which he willingly undertook and prosecuted to the year 1602. at which time he dyed having begun many Books of the Old Testament but had only finished Job Psalms and Proverbs Hereupon Arnold Cornelius Pastor of Delph and Warner Helmichius Pastor of Amsterdam were appointed to finish what Marnixius had begun They accordingly prosecuted that work but being much hindered by their Pastoral Office they dyed before they could finish it And presently after the Controversies of the Remonstrants springing up caused that work to cease till the Synod at Dort At which time the Remonstrants being cited to appear before the Synod at a certain day they appeared not whereupon the Moderator considering what the Synod should fall upon till they appeared propounded the version of the Bible into the Belgick Tongue And so they unanimously agreed to carry on that work and set down rules which the Translators were to follow The Translators also were chosen and least by the death of any of them the work should be impeded they substituted some to succeed such as should die Anno Christi 1627. the Synod being before dissolved the Deputies of the Provincial Synods requested the States General that the version of the Bible might now be carryed on which they easily assented to and appointed Wallaeus and Testus Hommius to deal with the Magistrates and Churches that the Translators might during the continuance of that work 〈◊〉 be freed from their Pastoral employments By the authority and perswasions of