abolished the Popish Religion and reformed the Church according to the Word of God for which end he thought best that a godly Ministry might proceed from the same to reform the Universities And Peter Martyr being at this time famous for his learning and skill in affairs was judged most fit for this employment whereupon the Archbishop by the command of the King sent for him over and An. Christi 1547 by the consent of the Senate of Strasborough he went into England Ber Ochine accompanying him who also was sent for by the said Archbishop At their arrival the Archbishop entertained them for a time in his house using them with all curtesie and humanity but after a while the King sent Martyr to Oxford to be Professor of Divinity where he first began to expound the first Epistle to the Corinthians because therein were many heads laid down which concerned the controversies of those times The Papists whereof as yet there were many at Oxford at first patiently bore Martyrs teaching and frequented his Lectures and indeed seemed to admire him for his Learning but some others of them especially the Heads of Houses laboured to restrain the Students from going to his Lectures but yet proceeded no further But when he came to declare his judgement about the Sacrament they could bear it no longer and therefore that they might not only procure him envy but bring him into danger they first beganne to load him with their usuall accusations amongst the vulgar that he taught contrary to the Doctrine of their Fore-fathers that he would extirpate their wholsome and decent ceremonies that he prophaned the Sacrament of the Altar and did as it were trample it under his feet Then without acquainting him with it they affixed papers upon all their Church doors in English declaring that tomorrow there should be a publick Disputation against the reall presence of Christ in the Sacrament By this means the day after they filled the Schooles they disposed their party in every place commanding them to make a noise to raise tumults and if need were to fight with any that should oppose them Many ran to this sight not onely of the Scholars but of the Townsmen some to see the event of this business others to assist their friends in case they should fall together by the ears Martyr in the mean time being wholly ignorant of all this was in his house preparing himself after his usual manner to read his Lecture till some of his friends observing the unusuall concourse of people went to him opened the whole businesse to him entreating him to keep home and not to expose himself to perill seeing that his adversaries were so prepared that they seemed rather with armes then with arguments to oppose him He answered that he could not neglect his Office that he was never the author of any tumults whereof themselves were witnesses neither would he now give his adversaries any occasion of raising a tumult for that he would onely read according to his usuall custome For saith he there are many amongst them that expect the Lecture to whom I may not be wanting And so going towards the Schooles accompanied with his most faithfull friends there met him Doctor Smiths boy which Smith was one of the principall sticklers in this Tragedy This boy gave him a Letter from his Master wherein he challenged him to a Disputation Then did Martyrs friends againe earnestly sollicite him to returne home telling him of the danger he was running into But he was still resolute and so going to the Schooles when his adversaries provoked him he endeavoured by a modest speech to quiet them saying that he refused not to dispute onely disliked the time for that he came to read his Lecture and so having somewhat quieted them he went on with his Lecture to the great admiration of all For they which before admired him for his singular learning and eloquence now much more admired him for his admirable constancy For that notwithstanding the murmures of the people and the rage of his adversaries he went on without the least change of his colour or hesitation in his voice or titubation of his tongue or trembling of his members or any thing else that might imply the least fear Having ended his Lecture his adversaries beganne againe with great clamour to provoke him to a disputation nor would they accept of his modest excuse when hee told them that he would dispute but at another time that hee was not now prepared for it they having concealed their questions from him without setting them up in publick as they used to doe To this they replyed that hee which had read his Lectures about the Lords Supper could not be unprovided to dispute upon the same subject To which he again answered that hee durst not undertake such a worke without acquainting the King with it especially seeing the thing tended to sedition He told them also that to a lawfull disputation was required that the questions should bee agreed on that Moderators should be appointed by whose judgement all things should be determined and lastly that they should have Notaries to write the arguments on both sides Whereas saith he none of these things bee ready and besides the night draws on that we shall want time to discusse so great a controversie His adversaries would not bee satisfied with these his most just reasons but all were like to fall together by the eares Whereupon the Vice-chancellor interposed his authority requiring Peter Martyr and Smith to meet at his house with their friends on both sides where they should agree upon the questions and the time and order of disputing and in the meane time he commanded the Beadles to dissolve the assembly and so taking Peter Martyr by the hand he led him forth and safely conducted him to his own house Martyr being delivered from this danger yet least he should seem to decline the disputation being accompanied with some of his friends at the hour appointed went to the Vice-chancellors house with Doctor Sidall and Curtop who at that time were zealous defenders of the Truth though afterwards in Queen Maries daies they deserted it Smith did the like bringing with him Doctor Cole and Oglethorp and three other Doctors of Divinity Long they contended about the Laws of the Disputation but at length the questions were agreed upon and time and place appointed for the Disputation and so they parted and in the meane time by their mutuall consents the King was made acquainted with it who against the day sent downe his Delegates to order the Disputation aright But Smith being conscious to the raising the former tumult before the day came fled first into Scotland and from thence to Lovane in Brabant Yet at the day appointed the Kings Delegates came the Bishop of Lincoln Doctor Cox Doctor Hide Mr. Richard Morrison and Doctor Nenyson In
c. Dialogi de confusione Mundi De communicatione fidelium Expositio Orationis Dominicae De natura varietate Vâ—torum atque Legum Divinarum Disputationes de statu defunctorum c. J. JVEL The Life of John Juel who dyed A no Christi 1571. JOhn Juel was born at Buden in Devonshire Anno Christi 1522. His Father was a Gentleman that carefully trained him up in piety and learning His singular promptnesse of wit and industry accompanied with ingenuity and modesty procured him much love from his Master At thirteen years old he was sent to Oxford and admitted into Merton Colledge under the tuition of Master â—arkhurst who was as carefull to season him with pure Religion as with other learning afterwards he removed to Corpus Christi Colledg where his proficiency in learning was so remarkable that he took his degree of Bachelor with much applause and shortly after was chosen before many his Seniors to read the Humanity Lecture which he performed with such accuratenesse diligence and excellency that many came from other Câ—lledges to hear him and amongst others Master Parkhurst his former Tutor who the Lecture being ended saluted him thus Olim Discipulus mihi chare Juelle fuisti Nunc ero Discipulus terenuente tuus Dear Juel thou a Scholar wast of mine Hereafter though unwilling I le be thine He was very studious and his onely recreations from hiâ— studies was reading to his Scholars disputing with others and ruminating what he had before read His life was such that the Dean of the Colledge though a Papist thus said I should love thee Juel if thou wert not a Zuinglian In thy Faith I hold thee an Heretick but surely in thy life thou art an Angelâ— thou art very good and honest but a Lutherâ—n In the end of King Henry the eighth's reigne he commenced Master of Arts but he flourished much more under Edward the sixth at which time Peter Martyr being the Divinity Professor in Oxford Juel observed his Art copied ouâ— his Sermons and Lectures and became most intimate with him He preached at Sunningwell and was famous for his Latine Sermons ad Clerum He ever loved Eloquence bâ—t not effeminatam sed virilem Prudentibus viris non placeâ—â— phalerata sed fortia But about the beginning of Queeâ— Maries reign the popish party of that Colledge prevailing they expelled him the house for his Religion After which he â—arried a while at Broadgates-Hall where the same of his learning drew many Scholars to him and the University chose him for her Orator There he stayed so long till the Inquisition caught him urging upon him subscription under pain of Proscription and horrible tortures Now was he brought into such straights that consulting with flesh and blood hee set his name to the paper whereby he approved some articles of Popery This much obscured the glory of his after sufferings and nothing promoted his safety for snares being laid for him he had certainly been caught had he not by Gods speciall providence gone that very night that he was sought for accidentally a wrong way to London and to by going out of the way he found the safest way But afterwards he repented of this publick Subscription by publick confession and contrition As he travelled on foot in a snowie winters night toward London he was found in the way by Master Latimers servant starved with cold and faint with wearinesse lying on the ground panting and labouring for life or for death rather by whose means he was preserved Yet when he came to London he found no safety looking every hour to be delivered up to that cruel butcher Bonner and to be slaughtered at his shambles whereupon he fled from his Native-Soyl and wandring beyond Sea was disappointed of all his friends and means to procure him so much as a nights lodging yet through Gods mercy he came safe to Franckefurt where presently after he made an excellent Sermon and in the end of it openly confessed his fall in these words It was my abject and cowardly minde and faint heart that made my weak hand commit this wickednesse which confession was mixed with hearty sighs and tears and concluded with earnest supplication First to Almighty God whom he had offended and then to his Church which he had scandalized and there was none in that Congregation but ever after imbraced him as a dear brother yea as an Angel of God From thence he was often invited by kinde Letters from Peter Martyr to Strasborough whether at last he went and where he found many Divines Knights and Gentlemen who were fled from England having left their estates honors kindred and dearest friends for the testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When he came to Strasborough Martyr invited him to his Common-Table and used his help in compiling of his Commentary upon Judges and afterwards when Martyr was sent for by the Senate of Zurick to succeed Pellican in the Hebrew Lecture and exposition of Scripture he took Juel with him being accompanied also with many other English Exiles who for a while were maintained by the charity of some Londoners till Steven Gardiner having notice of it by imprisoning and impoverishing their benefactors stopped the current of their bounty Yet in this extremity the Lord raised up Christopher Prince of Wirtemberg bountifully to relieve them The Senators of Zurick also at the request of Bullinger opened the treasury of their liberality to them Also Calvin Zuinglius Melancthon Pellican Lavater Gesner and all the greatest ornaments of Religion and learning in all reformed Churches were very kinde to the English Exiles Juel spent most of the time of his banishment in Peter Martyrs house bettering him and being bettered by him He took much paines also in composing the differences and contentions amongst his brethren arising from the difference of opinion concerning ceremonies and Church-discipline and those which groaned most under the burthen of affliction he perswaded them to patience in bearing their part of Christs Crosse shutting up all with that sweet close often repeated by him Haec non durabunt aetatem Bear a while these miseries will not endure an Age Which words proved a Prophesie for it pleased God in mercy to his Church shortly after to cut off that bloody Queen Mary who lived not out half her daies and to set up Queen Elizabeth to be a Nursing Mother to his Church In the beginning of whose Reign those Exiles returned home and Juel amongst the rest Presently after his return he with some others were appointed to dispute at Westminster with some of the Popish party but the Papists declining the Disputation it came to nothing Shortly after the Queen imployed him into the West to visit the Churches to root out Superstition and to plant true Religion where he took much pains in breaking the Bread
to Frankford He vindicates himselfe Lutheran censoriousness Popish malice His death His Works His Birth and Education Gods providence He leaves his Monastery He goes to Lusanna His conversion He is called to Roan His zeal and courage His conference with Monmorency Blaspâ—emy He is condemned of Treason Popish rage and malice Gods judgements on persecutors His martyrdome Gods judgements on his enemieâ— His Works His birth and education His diligence He enters into a Monastery The causes of it His remove to Padua His imployment there He studies Greek He is called to the Ministry He studies the Scripturâ—s â—nd the Hebrew Removed to Spoleta His Prudence He is removed to Naples His conversion A Church in Naples Martyr teacheth He is suspended â—ppeales to 〈◊〉 Pope Is restored Hee falls sick He is made Visitor Generall Removed to Luca. He is much beloved He advanceth Religion and Learning The fruits of his labours His enemies Policy A godly Frier imprisoned And delivered Again apprehended and â—ent to Rome They proceed against Martyr He resolves to fly His flight His Letters to Luca. His retreat into Germany He comes to Zurick He goes to Basil He is chosen to Strasborough His excellent lâ—arning His â—râ—gality His first marriage His wives character Card. Pools malice Cardinal Pool's malice He is sent for into England He goes into England He is sent to Oxford Popish malice They combine against Martyr His friends 〈◊〉 â—wade him from going to the Schooles His answer Sm itâ—s challenge Martyr goes on His learning and courage admired He is again challenged His answer A tumult raised Quâ—â—ted by the Vice-Chancellor A Disputation agreed on The King sends his Delegates Smith flies The disputation A Rebellion Martyr goes to London The Rebellion suppressed Martyr made Dean of Christs-Church He is much esteemed In Queen Maries dayes Martyr is in danger He goes to London He goes beyond Sea He goes beyond Sea Gods mercy to him His return to Strasborough Satans malice His Prudence He is again persecuted Gods mercy to him His call to Zurick His friendship with Bullinger His high esteem Popish cruelty His second marriage His love to Zurick A faithfull Pastor He refuseth to goe into England His readiness to do good He goes into France His speech to the Q. Mother Popish subtilty A Disputation It breaks off His returne to Zurick His sicknesse Comfort at death His death His Works His birth and education His conversion He opposeth the Mass. He goes to Madgeburg And to Goslaria And to Naumberg He opposeth the Adiâ—phoâ—ists His death His Works His birth and education A special providence He is sent abroad Gods providence His studiousâ—es He affects Poetry Musick He studies Divinity He studies the Scriptures His conversion He converâ—â— maâ—y Gods providence Popish malice Tentaâ—ion resisted His Marriage His poverty Anabaptists life Gods providâ—nce He preacheth 〈◊〉 Dorlitzheim Châ—ist â—est of â—ll He teaches School Heb. 11. 6. Musculus his zeal Sataâ—s malice His humility Power of the Woâ—d He studies Hebrew He is sent for to Ausburg His humility He goes to Ausburg Anabaptists trâ—uâ—le the Church Their impudâ—nce Some of them imprisoned His holy policy He converts â—hem Reformation in Ausburg He studies Greek And Arabick His industry Preachers partâ—rn He goes to Donavert A Diet at Ausburg His zeal and courage Popish malice His courage and constancy His zeal Flight in persecutâ—on He goes to Zurick He preaches at Constance He is sent for into England He is chosen to Bern. His industry Hiâ— self denyall His amity with his Collegues His Charity His Character He prepares for death His last sicknesse His death His Works His Birth and Education His Fathers death He goes to Paris He returns into his country And back to Paris His travels through France His return into his Country He travels into Germany And his return Gods providence He goes into England His imployment there He goes into his own country Thence into Germany His entertainment at Marpurg His employment His marriage His great labours His care to Reform the Church His sicknesse He exhorts his wife and children His death His Character His works His birth His education He is designed to Divinity He is designed to the Law His conversion He goes to Orleance He studies the Scriptures His studiousness He goes to Biturg He studies the Greek He preacheth He goes to Paris His danger Is delivered by the Queen of Navar. He goes to Xantone Thence to Nerac Again to Paris to confer with Sevetus 1534. Eighâ— Martyrs He goes to Orlens His servants Knavery He goes to Basil Studies Nebrew Popish lies He goes to the Dutches of Ferrara He goes to Geneva Is sltayed there Chosen Divinity Professor 1536. His prudâ—nce to reform Geneva 1537. Anabaptists hinder the Reformation Peter Carolian Heretick A Synod at Bern. Gods judgment on Hereticks Calvins care to reform others A sedition at Geneva Another evill Calvin is banisâ—ed His holy speech God above the Levâ—â— Calvin goes to Zurick and so to Strasborough Is made Professor of Divinity Unleavened bread brought into Geneva 1539. Sathans subtilty Calvin care of Geneva Anabaptists reclaimed Calvin matries 1541. He goes to two Diets Gods judgements on his enemies He is sent for to Geneva Hardly obtained His returne to Geneva 1451. His self denyall He settles the Presbyterian Government His great labours A compleat Preacher He is much sought to The Presbyter Government kickt at It s vindicated by him 1542. He comforts the persecuted Famine and Pestilence Sathans malice Popish impudence He answers the Sorbonists 1543. He answers Pighius 1544. Castaliâ—'â— errors His punishment He confutes the Pope He confutes the â—nâ—baptists and Libertines He pacifies the Q. of Navar 1545. The plague dipeâ—sed by wicked persons They are punished Popish cruelty against the Waldenses Osianders errors Plague continued He thunders against sin He abhors Sacriledge A Hermiâ—es wickedness The Nicodemites 1546. Geneva in danger Perrins wickedness Calvin accused His enemies punished 1547. The German Church nâ—â— greaâ— danger His tender affections to them Pâ—â—ins wickednesse He is punished He writes against Trent 1548. Sa hans subtilty Calvin reproached An Amnesty He confutes the Interim And Astrologers He writes into England The Church increasâ—th in troubles 1549. His wife dies The Flaccians A sweet concord He writes to L. Socinus 1550. Peace in the Church Ministers pattern Holidayes â—bolished Wickedness discovered A Tumult Bolsec Confuted by Calvin Bolseâ— punished He fals back to Popery 1551. New stirs Calvin falsly accused Castâ—lio's erâ—â—â— The Herâ—ites wâ—ckedness His repentance Calvins charity to him 1553. Geneva indangered M. Servetus Servetus imprisoned He is burned Bertelerius his wickedness The Presbytery slandered An unjust Decree Calvins courage The good successe An unjust decree reversed Mr. Farell in danger Yet delivered King Edwards death A controversie about punishing Hereticks Socinus his Heresies 1554. Calvin consutes them Castilio's Heresies Confâ—ted by Beza Horrid impieties Calvin aspersed The English exiles provided for by him Joa Westphalus
blessed Spirit of God makes the Soul like a Fountain whose water is pure wholesom and clear For Grace beautifies cleanseth and so saveth the whole man He wrote divers Epistles To St. John To the Ephesians To the Magnesians To the Trallians To the Romanes To the Philadelphians To Polycarp c. Concerning which the learned Scultetus saith Inter dubia incerta numero Epistolas Ignatii Polycarpi Nondum enim inter Orthodoxos convenit sintne Epistolae istae celeberrimorum Martyrum Ignatii Polycarpi an aliorum For which he gives his reasons POLYCARPVS The Life of Polycarp who dyed Anno Chr. 170 POlycarpus was Disciple to S John and Bishop of Smyrna he going with S. John to a Bath at Ephosus and espying Cerinthus the Heretick in it said Fugiamus ocyùs c. Let us depart speedily for fear least the Bath wherein the Lord's adversary is do fall upon us as one of the Fathers made haste out of the house of a wicked man which soon after fell to the ground The History of his Martyrdom is excellently set forth in an Epistle written by his own Church at Smyrna to the Brethren of Pontus out of which so much as concerns this matter I shall transcribe The Congregation which is at Smyrna to the Congregation which is at Philomilium and to all the Congregations throughout Pontus mercy to you peace and the love of God the Father and of our Lord Jesus Christ be multiplyed Amen We have written unto you Brethren of those men which have suffered Martyrdom and particularly of blessed Polycarp who by sheding his blood hath through Gods mercy put an end to this persecution the manner whereof we shall now relate to you This holy man hearing of the cruel persecution abroad was therewith nothing terrified but retained the inmovable tranquility of his minde and continued still in the City till at length he was perswaded through the importunity of his friends to betake himself to a certain Farm-place not far from the City where he remained with a few exercising himself night and day in prayer making humble supplications as his usual manner was for the peace and tranquility of all the Churches in the world Having been in prayer three days before his apprehension and now faln asleep he saw in a Vision by night the pillow under his head set on fire and suddenly consumed to ashes which when he awaked he interpreted to them that were present to fore-signifie that his life was neer an end and that his body should be Burned for the testimony of Christ. When the Searchers were now at hand and all the people cryed out Quaeratur Polycarpus Let us search out Polycarp at the earnest entreaty of his friends he removed to another Village unto which the Searchers coming caught two boys and scourged them till one of them confessed and led them to Polycarps lodging Yet might he easily have escaped but he would not saying the will of the Lord be fulfilled and so coming to them he communed with them very cheerfully so that it was wonderful to see those which a little before knew not the man now beholding and viewing his comey age and his grave and constant countenance lamented that they had so imployed themselves for the apprehension of so worthy a person But he on the contrary commanded that the table should be presently spred for them intreating them to eat and dine well requesting but one hours space to make his prayers unto God in which they assenting to he arose and went to prayer and being replenished with the grace of God he so poured out his soul that all that heard him praying were astonished at it yea many of his enemies were sorry that so holy honest and aged a man should be put to death The hour being now come wherein he was to set forwards they set him upon an Ass and brought him to the City of Smyrna upon a solemn Feast day and there met him Herod the Justice of Peace and his Father Nicetes who receiving him into their Chariot said unto him What harm is it to say Lord Caesar to sacrifice and so to be saved At first he answered nothing but when again they urged him he said I will not do according to your counsel They perceiving that he would not be perswaded gave him very rough language and at last tumbled him out of their Chariot whereby he brake his shins But he as though he had received no injury nor hurt at all went bolt upright cheerfully and apace towards the Theater And being come thither a voice came down from Heaven though by reason of the great tumult few heard it Be of good cheer O Polycarp and play the man The speaker no man saw but the voice was heard by many of us The multitude was in a rage and the Proconsul demanded of him whether he were that Polycarp yet withal beckoning to him to deny it said Have respect unto thine age tender thy self swear by the Fortune of Caesar Repent of what is past and say Remove the wicked But Polycarp looking about upon the multitude with a stedfast countenance and casting up his eyes towards Heaven said Remove O Lord these wicked Yet the Proconsul urged him again saying Swear and I will let thee go Blaspheme and defie Christ and thou shalt be safe To whom Polycarp answered Octoginta sex annos illijam inservivi c. Fourscore and six years have I served Christ neither hath he ever offended me in any thing and how then can I revile my King that hath thus kept me The Proconsul still urged and said Swear by the Fortune of Caesar Polycarp replyed If thou requirest of me this vain glory that I should protest the Fortune of Caesar pretending that thou knowest not what I am Know then that I am a Christian And if thou desirest to know the Doctrine of Christianity appoint a day and thou shalt hear it Perswade the people unto this said the Proconsul Truly said Polycarp I thought it my part to make this tender unto you Because we are commanded of God to give unto Governours and Powers whom he hath ordained the honour and obedience which is due unto them and not hurtful unto us but as for these people I deem them not competent judges and therefore will not purge my self before them Then said the Proconsul I have wild Beasts to devour thee unless thou repent Polycarp answered Bring them forth for we have determined with our selves not to repent nor to turn from the better to the worse It s more convenient for you to turn from evill to that which is good and just I will said the Proconsul tame thee with fire if thou set naught by the wild Beasts and wilt not repent To which Polycarp answered you threaten me with sire which shall last but an hour and is quickly quenched but thou art ignorant
other Ecclesiastical persons that so they may live at hearts ease Athanasius having received these Letters passed through Syria and came to Palestinee and arriving at Hierusalem he opened unto Maximus the â—ishop both the Decrees of the Council of Sardis and also the Emperour Constantinus his agreement and consent therein and procured a Synod of Bishops to be assembled there which being gathered together Maximus gave to Athanasius the Communion and assigned to him his Dignity and the Council signified by their Letters to the people of Alexandria and to the Bishops of Egypt and Lybia all their Decrees and Canons touching Athanasius and so dissolved Hereupon all the adversaries of Athanasius cryed out against Maximus because that aforetime he had subscribed to his Deposition but now repenting of his folly he became of his Faith and awarded to him both the Communion and his Dignity When Vrsacius and Valence who formerly had been earnest followers of Arius heard of these things they condemned their former doings and gat them to Rome there to exhibit their Recantation to Julius the Bishop subscribing also the Creed that contained the clause of One Substance writing also to Athanasius that thenceforth they would communicate with him Athanasius travelling through Palestine towards Alexandria preached in every City where he came exhorting them to eschew the Arians and to embrace such as confessed the Faith of One Substance and in divers of the Churches also he Ordained Ministers which gave occasion to his adversaries to accuse him again for presuming to make Ministers in other mens Provinces Not long after it pleased God that Constance the Emperour of the West dyed and Constantius made challenge unto all the Dominions of his Brethren and being proclaimed Emperour of the West he made an expedition against Magnentius and Bretanion two Tyrants that had usurped the Government there The Adversaries of Athanasius supposing that now they had gotten a fit opportunity invent and charge him with new hainous offences Informing the Emperour that he had perverted all Egypt and Lybia they urged against him his late Ordination of Ministers in other mens Diocess Athanasius in the mean time came to Alexandria convened divers Councils of the Bishops of Egypt where they agreed to the Decrees of the Council of Sardis and of that held at Jerusalem The Emperour upon this occasion who aforetime was addicted to the Arian Heresie wrested all things that he had lately decreed on the contrary part and first he banished Paulus the Bishop of Constantinople whom the guides that were to conduct him into exile very lewdly stifled at Cacusum in Cappadocia Marcellus was expulsed Lucius Bishop of Adrianople was clapt up into Prison and there choaked with stink But above all the Emperour was most incensed against Athanasius giving commandment that he should be executed whereever he could be taken He charged also that Theodulus and Olympius Bishops of Thrace should be put to death and Arians were placed in all these Bishops rooms But it pleased God that Athanasius was made privy to these bloody Decrees of the Emperour whereupon he fled from Alexandria and escaped the danger This the Arians rejoiced at and grievously traduced him for it which Athanasius hearing of Apologized for himself making relation of the horrible practises committed at Alexandria by Georgius the Arian There came saith he to Alexandria certain persons that sought us out to Execution the Souldiers unawares beset the Church and instead of devout serving of God took in hand their bloody sword Georgius also joined with them then were the Virgins haled and clapt up into Prison the Bishops were bound and led away by bands of Souldiers the Fatherless and Widows were dispossessed of their Houses whole Families were rifled the true Christians were violently trailed and lugged out of their Habitations their doors were nailed up The Clergy mens Brethren were in great danger for their Brethrens sake These things were very grievous but that which followed was far worse The Week after Whitsontide the people did Fast and met in the Church-yard to Pray because they abhorred the Communion of Georgius But when this passing lewd man heard of it he stirred up against them one Sebastian a Captain who also was a Manichee He immediately with a great Troop of Souldiers all in Armour and with naked Swords in their hands and Bows and Arrows prepared ran upon the people as they were Praying upon the Sabbath and finding there but a few for the hour being past the greater part was gone home he committed such hainous acts as very well became his person He set on fire a great company of faggots he made the Virgins stand nigh the burning flame to scorch them He endeavoured thereby to enforce them to confess the Arian Faith But when he perceived that they would not and that they despised the burning heat of the raging fire He stripped them stark naked buffetted them about the head and face so that for a long time after they were scarce known of their own friends He also took forty persons and plagued them with a new kinde of torment never heard of before He took Palm-twigs newly plucked off from the Trees and stripping them scourged them therewith and the twigs having on their pricking knobs so rent them that by reason of the stumps sticking in their flesh they were fain to repair to Chirurgeons to be dressed of their wounds Others of them not being able to endure such terrible pains dyed of their wounds And such Men and Virgins as remained alive he sent away by the Souldiers into exile The dead carkasses not yet fully cold were denyed to their friends being thrown here and there and lying unburyed for that liked them best the Souldiers insulting over then as though they had not been faulty in committing such horrible crimes This did they having their mindes besotted with the furious rage of frantick Heresie And when as the dear and familiar friends of the dead rejoyeed at the bold and constant Protestation of their Faith yet mourned because that their corpses were not covered with Earth the savage impiety and beastly cruelty of these Souldiers revealed it self with greater shame and infamy Moreover they banished forthwith sundry Bishops of Egypt and Lybia and some of the Presbyters and having bereaved them of their Native Soil they used them so mercilesly that some of them dyed by the way and others in Exile They put to death also above thirty Bishops They followed the steps of wicked Ahab imploying all their art and industry to root out the Truth from off the face of the Earth Constantius his Armies having overcome and slain the Tyrants he presently removed to Rome there to celebrate the Triumphs for his Victories and hoping that he might by one means or other draw the chief dissenting Bishops to an agreement in the Faith he summoned a Council to meet in Italy about which time Julius the Bishop of Rome dyed
having been Bishop 25 years and Liberius succeeded him Whereupon those Bishops which were against the Nicene Faith perswading themselves that they had gotten a fit time to disperse their calumnies against the Orthodox laboured by all means with the Emperour that all those Orthodox Bishops whom they had deposed might not be again restored to their Churches both because they maintained a Form of Faith contrary to theirs as also for that in the life time of Constance they had endeavoured to sow the seeds of contention betwixt the two Emperours And this odious suggestion they made because of Constance his Letters formerly mentioned in the behalf of Athanasius but their chiefest spleen was against Athanasius Whereupon about thirty of these Arian Bishops meeting together at Antioch they wrote to all other Bishops that Athanasius had returned to Alexandria against all the Laws of the Church Not by the decree of a Council but by the contention of some that were of his own opinion whereupon they commanded that none should communicate with him neither write to him but that they should hold Communion with Bishop Georgius whom they had Ordained But Athanasius little esteemed these their doings expecting to meet with far greater afflictions afterwards For Constanstantius being now the sole Emperour of Rome laboured by all means to draw the Western Bishops to agree with them that denyed Christ to be consubstantial with the Eather yet at first he attempted not this by force but sought rather to effect it by fraud and fair means endeavouring to perswade them to agree with the Fastern Bishops in that sentence which they had pronounced against Athanasius assuring himself that if by this means he could but remove Athanasius out of the way he could compose matters of Religion according to his own minde A Council therefore being called to meet at Millain few of the Eastern Bishops came to it some being hindred by sickness and others by the length of the journey But of the Western Bishops there appeared above 300. The Eastern Bishops which were there required that Athanasius might be condemned and deposed from his Bishoprick and of the Western Bishops some through fear others being circumvented by fraud and another part being ignorant of former proceedings assented to it Only Dionysius Bishop of Alba Eusebius Bishop of the Verselle Paulinus Bishop of Trevir and Rhodanus and Lucifer protested against such proceedings For say they if such things be suffered their evill will not rest here but the Decrees which are rightly and truly established concerning God and the Nicene Faith will be utterly subverted and we discern that all the care of the Emperour and of the Arians is to bring this to pass But because these men spake so freely in the Council they were all of them banished and the event shewed that they did not miss the mark For shortly after there was another Council gathered at Ariminum and another at Seleucia both which laboured to introduce new things against the Decrees of the Council of Nice In the mean time Athanasius perceiving that snares were laid for him in the Emperours Pallace and that he could not come thither without apparent danger he appointed five Bishops of Egypt amongst whom Serapion was one a man eminent for Piety and holiness of life and also very Eloquent to go to the Emperor who was yet in the West and with them he sent three of his own Presbyters to see if by any means they could reconcile the Emperor to him and vindicate him from the calumnies which his enemies had cast upon him as also to transact other businesses which much concerned the good both of him and his Church But as soon as they were gone from Alexandria he received Letters from the Emperour requiring his present coming to the Court This much troubled Athanasius and all his people much doubting what the issue might be for they knew that he could neither safely assent to the Emperour who defended a contrary Faith neither yet could he without apparent danger cross him therein Hereupon Athanasius resolved to abide at Alexandria and sent him back who had brought the Emperours Letters The Summer after came another messenger from the Emperour who with the assistance of the Governors of Egypt forced Athanasius to depart out of Alexandria and grievously molested the Clergy of his Church But when the Messenger saw the people to be extreamly offended with these proceedings and that they betook themselves to their weapons he went his ways without effecting what he came about Shortly after the Forces which were called the Latine Legions were commanded to assemble out of Egypt and Lybia and to go to Alexandria and the Captain of them being informed that Athanasius lay hid in one of the Churches he took a Company of Souldiers and Hilarius that brought the Emperours command and going to the Church they environed it and brake in at the windows searching every corner yet found not Athanasius For it had pleased God by a Divine Revelation to warn him of his dangers as in many other straits he had formerly done whereupon he had a little before conveyed himself out of the Church and thereby escaped The like also had happened once before when being grievously threatned by Constantius in the life time of Constance he had retired himself to a friend and there lay hid in a Cave that formerly used to be full of water In that place he continued long and a certain Maid used to minister to his necessities but the Arians making diligent enquiry after him had by their large promises corrupted this Maid to betray him But God discovering the danger to him a little before they came to apprehend him he had conveyed himself to another place The like also happened at another time for Athanasius being forced to fly from Alexandria he entred into a Pinnace and went up the River Nilus which his adversaries being informed of sent a Captain and Souldiers in another Ship to pursue which being revealed to him by God he required the Master of his Pinnace to turn again towards Alexandria and so having the stream with him he swibvftly passed by his pursuers and returning to Alexandria he hid himself in his friends houses and by reason of the multitude of people was easily concealed thereby escaping the danger For these and such like miraculous escapes his Adversaries the Arians and Gentiles accused him for dealing in the Magical Art Athanasius being thus as we said before escaped his Clergy and people enjoyed the liberty of his Churches for a short time viz. till the Governour of Egypt and the Captain of the Souldiers cast all that adhered to Athanasius out of the same and delivered those Churches to such as longed for the return of Georgius the Arian who shortly after came to Alexandria and carryed himself very sternly towards all but cruelly towards all the friends of Athanasius casting both men and women into bonds and cruelly scourging
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
the Chaldean Language is made therein He studyed also the Syriack because through their commerce with the Helrews their speech was nere of kin to it In these holy labours though he spent some years as also in his rigorous course of Life yet he professeth that he took much pleasure therein For that which at first seemed difficult and troublesome by degrees became easie and familiar to him and that which was best in its own nature became most pleasant also Yea he was so far from prizing and desiring the delights of Rome that living in a Wilderneâ—s he seemed to converse with Angels Sometimes his friends visited him and sometimes himself visited his neighbour Monks and by intercourse of Letters he enjoyed the society of his absent friends And though he could have desired all his life long to enjoy this pleasing retiredness yet it much conduced to Gods glory and the good of the Church that this Champion of Christ should at last appear in publick and that this excellent Light should no longer be hid under a Bushel and therefore though he seemed unwilling thereto yet Divine Providence so ordered it that at last he was drawn back to Rome and that by the means of Epiphanius Bishop of Salamine in Cyprus and Paulinus Bishop of Antiochia by whom he was formerly Ordained a Presbyter At Rome he became acquainted with some Noble Matrons and amongst the rest with Marcella all whom he inflamed with the desire of studying the Sacred Scriptures yea himself became an Interpreter thereof unto them especially to Marcella who so profited under him that afterwards when any controversie arose about the testimony of Scripture in such and such points they repaired to her to be a Judge therein By these means the fame of Hierom grew so great that every one judged him worthy to succeed Damasus in the Bishoprick of Rome But as there is never a shadow but when the light is present so the eminency of this holy man wanted not envy There were not some wanting who calumniated him for his first departure into Syria and in his absence wounded him with the darts of their viruâ—ent tongues Notwithstanding which he was very dear to and highly prized by Damasus the present Romane Bishop and living three years in strict friendship with him and Paula a Noble Matron he procured the greater envy to himself thereby which at length brake forth into open burning For certain of the Arian Faction were closely crept into Rome who the better to conceal themselves had taken upon them the name of Origenists These men that they might the better strengthen themselves screwed themselves into familiar acquaintance with sundry Noble Matrons amongst whom they secretly spred the poyson of their Doctrines and because Hierom was much taken with Origens wit and had highly commended him they sought to make him a partner of their Faction being so much the more dangerous by how much under a pretence of friendship they plotted his ruine so that he began to consult about leaving Rome of which himself in a certain place speaks thus I was accounted a scandalous person a turncoat and inconstant a lyar and one that deceived by Satans artifice They kissed my hands whilest like Vipers they detracted me behinde my back they seemed to grieve for me with their lips whilest in their hearts they rejoyced at my hurt One jeared at my gate another at my laughter another under my simplicity seemed to fear some mischief He had many reasons to induce him to leave Rome The remembrance of his former ease and freedom from the troubles and distractions of the City then the troublesome celebrity of the City the more troublesome delights together with the pride and luxury which attended the same For about this time the riches of the Church increasing Christian simplicity began to decrease Also the malice and envy of the Origenists against him grew daily more violent especially Ruffinus living in the City at this time who as he never was a sincere friend to him so now he was a secret yet pestilent adversary against him Upon these and such like reasons Hierom left Rome and went back to Syria concerning which journey himself thus writes When saith he I touched at Cyprus I was entertained lovingly by the venerable Bishop Epipâ—anius when I came to Antiochia I enjoyed the society of that excellent Confessor Paulinus and departing from him in the midst of Winter the weather being extream cold I came to Hierusalem where I veiwed all things and saw those places with mine Eyes which I had only read or heard of before From thence I went into Egypt where I saw Asps lurking in the Monks Cels Lastly I returned to Bethlehem I saw also the famous Lake neither did I indulge my self but by travelling up and down learned many things which before I knew not In this journey he grew acquainted with Gregory Nazianzen whom he cals his Master and prosesseth that he learned much out of the Scriptures by his assistance He also often heard Apollinarius at Antioch and had much familiar society with him by whose perswasion he went to Alexandria and there compleated his studies in Divinity by the help of Didymus Lastly by the help of Barhanina a Jew he perfected his studies of the Hebrew tongue Thus by long experience having got much Wisdom and by the society of many Learned and Excellent men having attained to a great measure of Learning he buckled himself to the handling of Divinity Undertaking the Office of a Divine setling himself at Bethlehem which place by his Vertues and Writings he made famous all over the World and in which place he lived a very quiet and comfortable life in the company of some godly learned and faithful friends spending his time in Singing Psalms Translating the Bible and Preaching to his Auditors Very many resorted to him out of all Countries all whom according to his ability he entertained lovingly and bountifully driving none from his house but such as were branded for Heresie He wrote much against the Heresies of those times so that there was no chief Heretick but looked upon Hierom as his great Adversary And indeed there were never any times more full of Sedition and Confusion then those wherein the Hereticks had so diffused their Errors that it was a peice of great Art to be Orthodox Especially the Arians by their writings weapons and countenance of the Emperours had not only disturbed the Peace of the East but almost of all the World And when that Heresie was in some measure â—ulled asleep it revived in the Origenists who were crept into Rome it self and there secretly and cunningly spread abroad the poyson of their Doctrines The Captain of whom was Ruffinus of Aquileia who in his childehood had been very intimate with Hierom But afterwards these great friends became great enemies though the first breach betwixt them was pieced up by the Prudence
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
should marry in these unhappy times as if he cared not for those mischiefs which are before our Eyes But I think this was the occasion of it you know well enough his course of life that he is none of those that shun meetings I think better to leave you to think the rest then that I should write it If any undecent thing be reported by the people of him it 's alye and a calumny I judge also that nature compelled him to become as husband If any thing seem unseasonable and unadvised it must not trouble us too much perhaps there is some hidden and divine matter in it into which it becometh not us curiously to search and because I see him sorrowful for the change of his condition I labor to comfort him all that I can Anno 1527. he fell sick of a congealing of blood about his heart but by the drinking of the water of Carduus Benedictus he recovered Presently after on a Sabbath day he endured a spiritual temptation which he called the buffeting of Satan It seemed to him that swelling surges of the Sea did sound aloud at his left Ear and that so violently that dye he must except they presently grew calm afterwards when the noise came within his head he fell down as one dead and was so cold in each part ut nec calor nec sanguis nec sensus nec vox superesset that he had remaining neither heat nor blood nor sense nor voice but when his face was sprinkled with cold water by Justus Jonas he came to himself and prayed most earnestly and made a confession of his Faith saying That he was unworthy to suffer Martyrdom which by his proceedings he might seem to run upon He often mentions this tentation in his Letters to his Friends and was confirmed in his Faith by receiving absolution from a Minister and the use of the Sacrament Melancthon knowing the rage of the Papists and Caesars threats to subvert the Gospel was much troubled at it and gave himself wholly up to grief sighs and tears whereupon Luther wrote to him In private conflicts I am weak and you are strong but in publick conflicts you are found weak and I stronger because I am assured that our cause is just and true If we fall Christ the Lâ—rd and Ruler of the World falleth with us and suppose he fall Mallem ruere cum Christo quà m regnare cum Caesare I had rather fall with Christ then stand with Caesar I extremely dislike your excessive cares with which you say that you are almost consumed That these reign so much in your heart it is not from the greatness of the danger but the greatness of your incredulity Si piam justam causam defendimus cur Dei promistis non confidimus praeter vitam hanc misellam Satanas mundus nobis eripere nihil potest At vivit in sempiternum regnat Christus in cujus tutela consistit veritas Is nobis aderit is etiam causam hanc quae non nostra sed ipsius est ad optatum producet finem If the cause be bad let us revoke it and flie back if it be good Why do we make God a lyer who hath made us so great promises Cast thy care upon the Lord c. Be of good comfort I have overcome the world If Christ be the conquerour of the world why should we fear it as if it would overcome us A man would fetch such sentences as these upon his knees from Rome or Hierusalem Nolite igitur timere estote fortes laeti nihil solliciti Dominus propè adest Be not afraid be couragious and cheerful solicitous for nothing The Lord is at hand to help us And in another place when our King Henry the Eighth had written bitterly against him Agant quicquid possunt Henrici Episcopi atque adeò Turca ipse Satan nos filii sumus regni c. Let the Henries the Bishops the Turk and the Divel himself do what they can we are the children of the Kingdom worshipping and waiting for that Saviour whom they and such as they spit upon and crucifie Concerning this his answer Erasmus thus writes If saith he Luther commending the Kings good intention had proceeded by strong Arguments without violating the Kingly Majesty in my judgement he had taken a better course for the defence of his cause For what made Luther in his Book to the King of England to use these words Come hither my Lord Henry and I will teach you Truly the Kings Book was written in Latine and that not unlearnedly But Luther thus excuseth himself If any man saith he be offended at my sharpness against the King let him know that in that Book I dealt with senseless Monsters who contemned my best and most modest writings and by my humility and modesty were more hardned in their Errors Besides I abstained from bitterness and lies with which the Kings Book was stuffed Neither is it any wonder if I contemn and bite an Earthly King when as he feared not at all in his writings to blaspheme the King of Heaven and to profane his truth with virulent lyes Anno Christi 1523. A Diet was held at Norinberg in the absence of Caesar wherein the Edict of Worms was made null Of this the Popes Legat complained to the Princes saying That Luther was not punished according to the Emperours Edict To which the Princes answered That the Court of Rome neglected Reformation That Germany was so far inlightned by the Sermons and Writings of Luther that if they should go about to put the Edict in Execution great tumults would arise and the people would be ready to think that they went about to oppress the Truth and to put out the light of the Gospel that so they might the better defend those manifest vices which could be no longer concealed The same year Luther published his Book Of the Dignity and Office of the Civil Magistrate He wrote also to the Waldenses about the Adoration of the Sacrament He published the Pentatâ—uch in the German tougue He wrote to the Senate of Prague his Book De Instituendis Ministris Ecclesiae and another about the avoiding the Doctrines of men Besides divers others What was judged of him for his constancy and resolution may appear by this Upon a time a motion was made in the Consistory at Rome that a great sum of mony should be profered to him to buy him off from opposing Popery but one wiser then the rest cryed out Hem Germana illa bestia non curat aurum sed auram That beast of Germany cares for no money but seeks vain-glory Anno Christi 1529. he set forth both his Catechisms the lesser in January the greater in October following The year after the Emperour summoned a Diet at Auspurg giving the Publick Faith for the security of all men that would come to the Diet to
by keeping a Schoolmaster in his house to train them up in learning and godliness When he saw his daughter Magdalen ready to dye he read to her Isay 26. 19. Thy dead men shall live together with my dead body shall they arise c. Adding My daughter enter thou into thy chamber in peace I shall ere long be with thee For God will not permit me to see the punishment which hangs over the head of Germany whereupon he wept plentifully but when he followed the Corps he so restrained his affection that he shed not a tear He used to say that three things make a Divine Meditation Prayer Tentation and that three things were to be done by a Minister 1. To read the Bible over and over 2. To pray earnestly 3. Always to be a learner And that they were the best Preachers who spake as to babes in Christ in an ordinary strain popularly and most plainly He said That in the cause of God he was content totius mundi odium impetum sustinere to undergo the hatred and violence of the whole world He was very liberal to the poor A poor Student asking him some money he bade his wife give him some but she pleading penury he took up a silver cup and gave it him Also a friend sending him two hundred angels of gold he bestowed them all on poor Students and when the Elector gave him a new gown he said That he mas made too much of for saith he if here we receive a full recompence of our labors we shall hope for none in another life And again he said turning my self to God Valdè protestatus sum me nolle sic satiari ab eo I said flatly that God should not put me off with these low things And having a vein of metal offered him he refused it least he should incur the temptation of the Devil who is Lord of treasure under the Earth He never took any thing of Printers for his Copies On a time one brought him a stone that was found in the Mines in Mansfield which had upon it the Image of the Pope with his tripple Crown whereupon he said Hem oportet Papam revelari etiam per metalla metallicos The Pope must be revealed even by metals and metal-diggers His private life was very exemplary At dinner and supper-time he used often to dictate Sermons unto others Sometimes to correct sheets from the Press Sometimes with Musick to refresh his friends He was very temperate both in meat and drink Sometimes he used to fast four days together and other sometimes to eat only a little bread and an herring As much as he could he avoided Feasts that he might not spend time In his converse with his friends he was pleasant courteous and sociable mixed with gravity He sometimes used recreations and amongst the rest turning in a Lathe He would never be idle He was very loving to and tender of his children maintaining a Schoolmaster in his house to instruct them in Piety and Learning He was very passionate but soon appeased Melancthon seeing him once in a passion said Vince animos iramque tuam qui caetera vincis whereupon he smiling said we will no longer dispute of these matters and so he discoursed pleasantly of other things He foretold many things which afterwards came to pass He was very healthful but that sometimes he was troubled with the Headach especially towards his latter end whereupon he feared an Apoplexy and when his head was so out of order he used to say Feri Domine ferâ—â—lementer ego paratus sum quia verbo tuo à peccatis absolutus corpore sarguine tuo pastus He was troubled with frequent tentations whereupon he used to write Valemus omnes praeter Lutherum ipsum qui corpore sanus foris a toto mundo intus à Diabolo patitur omnibus Angelis ejus He was big of stature strong and had such a sharp sight that few could endure stedfastly to look upon him Upon a time one was sent under pretence of private conference to pistol him Luther entertained him friendly but withall stedfastly looking upon him the man was so terrified that he took care for nothing but how he might run away He had a gentle and clear voice He lived chastly and holily in Wedlock above twenty years and after his death left three sons and his Widdow who lived seven years after him who was much grieved that she was absent at his death whereby she could not perform her last duty of love to him as she desired Presently after his death the wars breaking forth she wandred up and down with her children as an Exile through many difficulties and dangers and besides the inconveniences of her widdowhood which were many she met with great ingratitude from many from whom she expected better considering how much her husband had deserved from the Church At length being returned to Wittenberg after a while the Plague brake forth wherefore removing with her children to Fergaw as she was passing in a Wagon the Horses affrighted at some thing ran away whereupon leaping out of the Wagon she bruised her self and falling into a Lake of water she caught a disease whereof she dyed three Months after Anno Christi 1552. One saith of him That Luther a poor Fryar should be able to stand against the Pope was a great miracle That he should prevail against the Pope was a greater and after all to die in peace having so many Enemies was the greatest of all Again it was no less miraculous that he should escape so many dangers for when a certain Jew was suborned to kill him by poyson Luther had warning of it before hand and the picture of the Jew sent him whereby he knew him and avoided the danger concerning which himself thus writes There is saith he here with us a certain Polonish Jew that is hired with two thousand Crowns to poyson me this is discovered to me by Letters from my friends He is a Doctor of Physick and one that dare undertake and is ready to perform any villany of incredible subtilty and dexterity One a time as Luther was walking in his Garden the Devil appeared to him in the shape of a black Boar but he slighted him after which he vanished Another time as he was sitting in a certain place on his stool there was a great stone over his head in the vault which being stayed up miraculously so long as he sate there so soon as he was up immediately it fell upon the place where he sate being able to have crushed him in peices if it had light upon him And again a young man about Wittenberg being kept bare and needy by his Father was tempted by the Devil to yeild himself body and soul to him upon condition to have his wish sastisfied with money and thereupon an Obligation was made by the young man written
that he was made one of the Professors in the University of Ingolstade And Anno Christi 1516 by the order of his Prince he dealt effectually with Erasmus Roterodamus to draw him to Ingolstade And though he could not prevail yet he had this Testimony given him by Erasmus that he was vir candidus prudens facundus eruditus in summa omnibus omnium Gratiarum ac Musarum dotibus praeditus A candid wise eloquent and learned man c. Then Regius falling to the study of Divinity preferred that before all other Learning applying himself wholly to the searching out of the Divine Mysteries therein contained and a while after the controversie growing hot between Luther and Eccius Regius favouring Luthers Doctrine because he would not offend Eccius to whom he was many ways bound left Ingolstade and went to Auspurg and there at the importunity of the Magistrates and Citizens he undertook the Government of the Church and being offended at the gross Idolatry of the Papists he joyned with Luther and preached against the same and having written to Zuinglius to know his judgement about the Sacrament and Original Sin he received such satisfaction that he joined in opinion with him about the same At that time the Anabaptists crept into Auspurg and held private Conventicles to the disturbance of the Publick Peace for which the Magistrates imprisoned the chiefest of them Amongst which there was a woman of good quality cast into Prison who boasted that she could defend her opinion against Regius if she might but have liberty to confer with him hereupon she was called before the Senate where Regius also was appointed to meet with her There she produced divers Texts of Scripture to confirm her Errors But Regius did so clearly and fully open the genuine sense of them that every one which was not wilfully blinde might easily discern the truth But this wilful woman was so far from submitting to it that she impudently spake thus unto Regius Egregia enimvero Vrbane frater haec disputandi ratio inter me te Tu â—n molli culcitra ad later Consulum adsidens quasi ex Apollinis â—â—ipode proloqueris ego misera humi prostrata â—ex duris vinculis causam dicâ—re cogor â—o this Vrbanus answered Nec vero inâ—urin soâ—or ut quae seâ—el è servitute Diaboli per Christum in libertatem adserta tua spâ—â—te iterum cervicem turpi jugo submisisti istiâ— te ornamentis â—esanus ostentat genius aliâ— iâ— exemplum The Senate perceiving that they labored in vain whilst they sought to reclaim them by a Decree banished them the City Regius Preaching against Purgatory and Indulgences the malice and cruelty of the Papists prevailed at length to the driving him out of that City but after a while by the earnest prayer of the Citizens he was called back again to his former Charge where also he marryed a wife by whom he had thirteen children About the same time Eccius came thither and sought by all means to turn him from the Truth but in vain He sent also Fâ—ber and Cochlaeus with flatteries and large promises who prevailed as little as the other Anno Christi 1530. when the Dâ—et was held at Auspurg for quieting the controversies about Religion the Duke of Brunswick coming thither by importunity prevailed with Regius to go to Luneburg in his Country to take care of the Church there In which journey at Coburg he met with Luther and spent a whole day in familiar conference with him about matters of great moment of which himself writes That he never had a more comfortable day in his life As these words of his in a Letter to one of his friends in Auspurg do testifie wherein he writes thus Cum Saxoniam peterem Coburgi integrum diem solus cum Luthero viro Dei transegeram quo die nullus mihi in vita fuit jucundior Talis enim tantus est Theologus Lutherus ut nulla secula habuerint similem Semper mihi magnus fuit Lutherus at jam mihi Maximus est Vidi enim praesens audivi quae nullo calamo tradi possunt absentibus Ernestus Duke of Brunswick loved him dearly and esteemed him as his Father insomuch as when the City of Auspurg Anno Christi 1535. sent to the Duke desiring him to return Regius to them again he answered That be would as soon part with his Eyes as with him Also at his return from Auspurg when divers of his Nobles asked him what new and pretious ware after the example of other Princes he had brought home with him He answered that he had brought home incomparable treasure for the good of his whole Dukedom which he preferred before all his delights And presently after he made him Bishop and Over-seer of all the Churches in his Country with an ample salary for the same Afterwards going with his Prince to a meeting at Haganaw he had a humor fell into his right Leg which arising in a Pustle brake and caused an issue which the Physitians advised to keep still open but not long after he stopped the same whereupon many presaged his death whereof indeed this was a cause For when on the Sabbath day he had been at Church and received the Sacrament in the Evening rubbing his Forehead he complained of some obstructions and pain in his Head yet was he still cheerful and not troubled at it and so went to bed with his wife and slept till almost day when rising out of his bed he fell along in the floor and with the fall awaked his wife who leaping our of her bed cryed out and endeavoured to lift him into his bed again but all in vain till help came to her A while after seeing his wife and friends heavy and mourning he comâ—orted them and commended himself wholly unto God and so about two or three hours after quietly and comfortably resigned up his soul into the hands of his heavenly Father Anno Christi 1541. and May the 23. He often desired God that he might dye a sudden and easie death wherein God answered his desires He was of an excellent wit holy of life and painful in the work of the Lord. His son Ernest collected all his works together and digested them into several Tomes printed them at Norinberg Afterwards came forth another Book called Loci Theologici ex Patribus Scholasticis Neotericisque collecti per V. Regium The Life of Caralostadius who dyed Anno Christi 1541. ANdreas Bodenstein Caralostadius was born in France in a town called Caralostadium by which he received his name He was brought up at School there and for the improvement of his Learning he went â—o divers Countries and publick Schools such as those times afforded at last he went to Rome to study Divinity such as was then taught there and having spent some time in those
and Naples there to spread his Doctrine privately whereby also he might have the better opportunity of spreading it in Spain but said he we will first go to Trent where are many excellently learned men and from thence into Italy I beseech you therefore Brother go with me and I will furnish you with all things necessary for your journey John Diazius being glad of this presently wrote to Bucer and others at Ratisbone for their advice what he should do They counselled him by no means to stir or go with his brother Then Alphonsus being frustrate of his hope intreated him at least to bear him company to Auspurg But in the interim Bucer coming to Neoburg would not suffer him to stir a foot neither would leave him till his brother Alphonsus was gone Alphonsus hereupon three days after came to take his leave of his brother where he had much conference with him exhorting him to charity and constancy in the profession of the true Religion and at last would needs thrust fourteen Crowns into his brothers hand willing him therewith to buy new cloths and so they parted not without tears Next morning the wagon being ready to depart wherein Alphonsus and his cut-throte were to pass to Auspurg the two brothers again took their leaves with tears and so Alphonsus set forward and came to Auspurg but privately the next day he and his cut-throte returned to Neoburg and by the way they bought an hatchet of a Carpenter and so stayed all night at a Village near Neoburg and the next morning very early went thither disguised that they might not be known and leaving one to hold their horses under an hedge they entered into the City so soon as the gates were open and going strait to the Ministers house where Iohn lodged the Executioner knocked at the door and when a youth came he asked him for Iohn Drazius the youth answered that he was in bed Go said this villain and tell him that I have brought him Letters from his brother Iohn hearing this being in bed with Senarcleus his intimate friend presently leaped up cast a cloke a bout him and so went into a stove which was over against his chamber door then calling for the messenger he went in to him leaving Alphonsus at the stair-foot and presented the Letters to him the effect whereof was the assoon as he came to Auspurg he understood that he was in great danger and therefore out of his brotherly love to him to advised him to beware of Malvenda such as he who being Enemies to Christ went about to shed his blood c. Iohn being busie in reading these Letters the Executioner that stood at his back plucked forth his hatchet and stroke it into the temple of this holy man in the right side of his head even to the helve which in a moment so deprived him of sense that he made no noise and least the fall of his body should make a noise this villain caught it in his arms and laid it own and so went down the stairs softly to his Master Alphonsus and both of them immediately repaired to their horses and fled They of Neoburg hearing of this horrible fact sent out certain Horsemen to pursue the murtherers who coming to Auspurg and hearing that hey were passed the City being out of hope to overtake them returned only one more zealous then the rest would not return but pursued them still and in the City of Oenopont caused them to be apprehended and cast into Prison And Otto the Palatine being informed of all these passages sent to the Magistrates requiring Judgement against them The Magistrates at first seemed very forward But in conclusion through the practice of the Papists and crafty Lawyers suborned by them judgement was deferred from day to day till the Emperours Letters came in post haste to stop their further proceedings pretending to reserve the cause to his own hearing And thus this terrible murther of Cain and his fellow was slipped over by man yea this unnatural act was highly commended by the Papists But the Lord would not suffer such an unnatural villany to go unpunished for not longer after he was so dogged and haunted by the Furies of his own Conscience that being at Trent when the Council was held there he hanged himself about the neck of his own Mule fix years after the murther was committed viz. An. Christi 1551 GASPER CRVCIGER The Life of Cruciger who dyed An. Chri. 1548. GAsper Cruciger was born at Lipsich in Misnia An. 1504. His Fathers name was George a man who was endowed with many virtues but especially to be commended for that in those perillous times he did not onely embrace the Celestial Truth himself but brought up this his son in the knowledge and study of it to the great benefit of the Church His Mother also was eminent for piety This Gasper was melancholy by nature and of a retired disposition much in meditation and of few words Being principled in the Latine he learned Greek and profited much therein and so went to the University of Wittenberg that having studied Divinity there he might be the more useful to the Church He studied also the Hebrew tongue and grew very exquisite therein From thence he was called to govern the School at Magdeburg where he taught with much profit and applause to Anno Christi 1527. In somuch as many of riper years yea some Clerks came to be his hearers So that his School growing too little for his Auditory he was removed into a larger But after a while he was called back to Wittenberg where he preached and expounded the Scriptures with so much dexterity the he was graced with the degree of a Doctor In that University he studyed and practised Physick also and was so much delighted therewith and he endeavoured to know the nature of Herbs and Plats and what Diseases they were good for whereupon he planted two Gardens with his own hands which with singular industry he furnished with variety of Simples and made many excellent Medicines which did much good By reason of his Learning and candid nature he was very dear to Luther and was very helpful to him in his Translation of the Bible He wrote so swiftly that he was chosen Scribe at the Disputation at Worms Anno Christi 1540. and yet withall suggested to Melancthon many things for answer to Eccius his subtilties insomuch that Glanvel who supplyed the Emperours room said of him That the Lutherans has a Scribe that was more learned then all the Pontificians Hee took by characters a great part of Luthers Lectures and Sermons which afterwards he wrote out a large and faithfully printed them after Luthers death He published also some Commentaries of his own upon the Psalms and the Gospel of Saint Iohn which are of excellent use to the learned He was a fine and smooth Orator and always abhorred
Gardiner said to him How happened it that notwithstanding the Queens Proclamation you dared to preach Saunders Seing the perilous time now at hand I did but according to my duty exhort my flock to persevere and stand stedfast in the Doctrine that they had learned I also remembred those words of the Apostle That its better to obey God then man and what I did I was moved thereto by my conscience Gardiner A goodly conscience surely This your conscience could make our Queen a Bastard would it not Saunders We declare no such matter But for that let them care whose writings are yet abroad to testify the same not without the great shame and reproach of the author This he said because Gardiner to curry favor with King Henry the eighth had published a book wherin he had openly declared Queene Mary to be a Bastard And so going forward he said We onely professe and teach the sincerity and purity of Gods Word which albeit it be now forbidden us to publish with our mouths yet I doubt not but it shall be sealed with our blood The Bishop being vexed at this free speech said Carry away this frensie foole to prison To whom he said I thanke God that at last he hath given me a place of rest where I may pray for your conversion Hee continued in prison one year and three months In a letter to his wife he thus writes I am merry and I trust I shall be merry maugre the teeth of all the Divels in hells Riches I have none to endow you with but that treasure of tasting how sweet Christ is to hungry consciences whereof I thanke my Christ I doe feel part that I bequeath unto you and to the rest of my beloved in Christ c. He was so zealous in the defence of the truth that he forbad his wife to sue for his delivery and when other of his friends had by suit almost obtained it he so discouraged them that they ceased from following their suit Being at last brought againe to examination and life being promised if he would recant he answered I love my life and liberty if I could enjoy them without the hurt of my own conscience but by God's grace I will abide the most extretremity that man can do against mee rather then do any thing against my conscience and when Gardiner threatned him with death he said Welcome be it whatsoever the will of the Lord be either life or death and I tell you truly I have learned to dye But I exhort you to beware of shedding innocent blood Truly it will cry aloud against you Being excommunicated degraded and condemned he was sent to Coventry to be burned When he came near the place of execution he went cheerfully to the stake kissing it and saying Welcome the Cross of Christ Welcome everlasting life The fire by his cruell enemies was made of green wood and other smothering matter which would not burne whereby he was put to grievous torments but the grace and plentifull consolation of Christ which never forsakes his servants gave him admirable strength and patience so that in all he stood quietly and at last sweetly slept in the Lord. During his imprisonment he wrote many excellent Letters and after his condemnation in a Letter to his wife and friends he thus writes Oh what worthy thanks can be given to our gracious God for his unmeasurable mercies plentifully 〈◊〉 upon us And I most unworthy wretch cannot but bewail my great ingratitude towards so gracious a God and loving Father I beseech you all as for my other many sins so especially for my sin of unthankfulness crave pardon for me is your earnest prayers To number Gods mercies in particular were to number the drops of water in the Sea the sands on the shâ—re or the stars in Heaven O my dear Wife and Friends rejoyce with me I say rejoyce with thanksgiving for this my present promotion in that I am made worthy to magnifie my God not onely in my life by my slow mouth and uncircumcised lips bearing witness to his truth but also by my blood to seal the same to the glory of my God and confirming of his true Church I profess to you that as yet the comfort of my sweet Christ doth drive from me the fear of death But if my dear Husband Christ doe for my tryall leave me a little to my selfe Alas I know in what case I shall then be but if he doe yet I know that he will not be long nor far absent from me though he stand behind the wall yet he will peep in at a crâ—vise He is a tender-hearted Joseph though he speak roughly to his brethren and threaten bondage to his best beloved Benjamin yet can be not containe himself from weeping upon us and with us with falling on our necks and sweetly kissing us Such such a brother is our Christ unto all his wherefore hasten to goe unto him as Jacob did with his sons and family leaving their Countrey and Acquaintance Yea this our Joseph hath obtained for us that Pharaoh the Infidel shall provide us Chariots whereby with ease we may be carried to him Our very adversaries do help us to our everlasting blisse by their speedy dispatch blessed be our God Fear not bugbears which lye in the way fear rather the everlasting fire c. My dear Wife and fellow Heirs of the everlasting Kingdom always remember the Lord Rejoyce in hope be patient in tribulation continue instant in prayer and pray for us appointed for the slaughter that we may be unto our heavenly Father a fat offering and an acceptable sacrifice c. Farowel all in Christ in hope to be joyned with you in everlasting joy Amen Amen Amen Pray Pray Doctor Pendleton and this Mr Saunders meeting together in the beginning of Queen Maries reign and speaking of the Persecution that was like to ensue about which Master Saunders shewed much weaknes and many fears Pendleton said to him What man there is much more cause for me to fear than for you forasmuch as I have a bigge and fat body yet will I see the utmost drop of this grease of mine molten away and the last gobbet of this flesh of mins consumed to ashes before I will forsake Iesus Christ and his Truth which I have professed Yet not long after upon trial poor feeble saint-hearted Saunders by the power and goodness of God sealed the Truth with his blood whereas proud Pendleton played the Apostate and turned Papist The Life of John Hooper who died Anno Christi 1555. JOhn Hooper was a Student and Graduate in the University of Oxford where having abundantly profited in the study of other Sciences he was stirred up with a fervent desire to the love and knowledge of the Scriptures in which study he joyned earnest prayers to his diligence for the better understanding of the same
David have mercie upon me and receive my soul and wipeing his eies with his hands he said For God's love let me have more fire A third fire being kindled it burn'd more violently yet was he alive a great while in it the last words which he uttered being Lord Jesus have mercy on me Lord Jesus receive my spirit And so he slept in the Lord. In one of his letters he wrote Imprisonment is painfull but libertie upon evill conditions is worse The Prison stink's yet not so much as sweet houses where the fear of God is wanting I must be alone and solitarie it 's better so to be and have God with me then to be in company with the wicked Losse of goods is great but losse of grace and God's favor is greater I cannot tell how to answer before great and learned men Yet it is better to do that then stand naked before God's Tribunal I shall die by the hands of cruâ—ll men he is blessed that loseth his life and fiâ—de's life eteâ—nal There is neither felâ— city nor adversity of this World that is great if it be weighed with the joyes and pâ—ines of the world to come And in the conclusion of the Letter he writes thus I am a precious Jewell now and daintily kept never so daintily before For neither mine owne man nor any of the servants of the house may come to me but my Keeper onely who is a simple rude fellow But I am not troubled thereat In the time of King Edward when he was made Bishop much controversie was betweene him and Doctor Cranmer and Doctor Ridley about the Cappe Rochet c. But when in Queene Maries daies they were all in Prison for the cause of Religion Doctor Ridley wrote thus to him My dear brother forasmuch as I understand by your works which I have but superficially seene that we throughly agree in those things which are the grounds and substantial points of our Religion against which the World so furiously rageth in these daies however formerly in certain by matters and circumstances of Religion your wisdome and my simplicity hath a little jarred each of us following the abundance of his owne sence and judgement Now I say be you assured that even with my whole heart God is my witness in the bowels of Christ I love you in the truth and for the truths sake which abideth in us and shall by the grace of God abide for ever He was above three-quarters of an hour in the fire before he dyed yet even as a Lambe he patiently abode the extremity thereof neither moving forwards backwards or to any side But having his nether parts burned and his bowels faln out he dyed as quietly as a Child in his bed an Christi 1555. The life of Rowland Tailor who died A no. Christi 1555. ROwland Taylor was Doctor of both Laws and Rector of Hadley in Suffolk where Master Thomas Bilney had formerly been a Preacher of the Word and in which place there were few either men or women that were not well learned in the holy Scriptures many having read over the whole Bible and could say a great part of Paul's Epistles by heart Here this D. Taylor preached constantly on Sabbaths Holy-days and at other times when he could get the people together So soon as he was called to this place he left the family of Doct. Cranmer A. B. of Canterbury with whom he had formerly lived like a good shepherd constantly abode with his flock and gave himself wholly to the study of the Sacred Scriptures most faithfully endeavouring to fulfill the precept of Christ to Peter Lovest thou me feed my sheep His life also and conversation was very exemplary and full of holiness He was meek and humble yet would stoutly rebuke sinne in the greatest He was very mild void of all rancor and malice ready to do good to all mer forgiving his enemies and far from doing the least wrong To the poor blinde lame sick bed-rid or that had many children he was a father causing the Parishioners to make good provision for them besides what of his own bounty he gave them He brought up his own children in the fear of God good learning And thus he continued as a good Sheepherd amongst his flock feeding governing and leading them through the wilderness of this wicked world all the days of holy King Edward the sixth But in the beginning of Queen Marie's Reigne two Popish persons suborned a Priest to come and say Mass in his Church Hee being at his study and hearing the Bell to toll went to Church and finding this Priest guarded with drawn swords in his Popish Robes ready to begin the Mass he said unto him Thou Divel who made thee so bold to enter into this Church to profane and defile it with this abominable Idolatry I command thee thou Popish-Wolfe in the name of God to avoid hence and not to presume thus to poyson Christ's flock Then said one Foster the ringleader in this business to Doctor Tailor Thou Traitor what dost thou here to let and disturbe the Queens proceedings Doctor Tailor answered I am no Traitor but the Shepherd which God and my Lord Christ hath appointed to feed this his flock and therefore I have good authority to be here Then said Foster Wilt thou Traiterous Heretick make a commotion and resist violently the Queens proceedings Doctor Tailor answered I make no commotion it s you Papists that make commotions and tumults I resist onely with Gods word against your Popish Idolatries which are contrary to the same and tend to the dishonour of the Queen and the utter subversion of this Realme Then did Foster with his armed men carry Doctor Tailor out of the Church and so the Priest went on with his Mass. Doctor Tailors wife who had followed her Husband to the Church when she saw their violent proceedings kneeled down and holding up her hands with a loud voice said I beseech God the righteous Judge to avenge this injury which this Popish Idolater doth this day to the blood of Christ Then did they thrust her out of the Church also and presently after Foster wrote a complaint against Doct. Tailor to Steven Gardiner who sent his Letters Missive for Doctor Tailor whereupon his friends earnestly entreated him to fly telling him that he could neither expect justice nor favor but imprisonment and cruel death To whom he answered I know my cause to be so good and righteous and the truth so strong upon my side that I will by Gods grace appear before them and to their beards resist their false doings for I beleeve that I shal never be able to doe God so good service as now and that I shal never have so glorious a calling nor so great mercy of God profferd me as I have now wherefore pray for mee and I doubt not but God will
condition I was saith he about two months close Prisoâ—er in the Tower after that without my sâ—eking I had the liberty of the Tower granted me and so I continued about halfe a year till refusing to be present at Mass I was shut up close prisoner again The last Lent but one by reason of the rising in Kent the Tower was so full of prisoners that my Lord Arch Bish. of Canterbury Master Latimer Master Bradford and my selfe were all put into one Prison where we remained till almost Easter and then Doctor Cranmer Master Latimer and my selfe were sent down to Oxford and were suffered to have nothing with us but what we carried upon us Aâ—bout Whitsuntide following was our disputations at Oxford after which we had Pen Ink and all things taken from us yea and our own servants were removed from us and strangers set in their steads and all of us kept apart as we are unto this daâ— God be blessed we are all three in health and of good cheer and have looked long agoe to have been dispatched for within a 〈◊〉 or two after our disputations we wâ—re condemned for Hereticâ—s The Lords wil be fulfilled in us c When he was brought before the Popes Dâ—legate the Bishop of Lincoln in the Divinity School in Oxford whilst the Commission was reading he stood â—are till he heard the Cardinall named and the Popes holiness and then he put on his Cap and being aâ—monished by the Bishop to pull it off he answered I do not put it on in contempt to your Lordship c. but that by this my behaviour I may make it appear that I acknowledg in 〈◊〉 point the usurped Supremacy of Rome and therfore I utterlâ— contemne and despise all Authority coming from the Pope Then the Bishop commanding the Bedle to pull off his Cap he bowing his head suffered him quietly to do it After diverse examinations he was at last degraded condemned and delivered to the Bailisss to be kept till the nâ—xt day when he should be burned The night before he suffered he caused his beard to be shaven and his feet washed and bad his Hostess and the rest at the board to his wedding He asked his brother also whether his sister could finde in her heâ—r to bâ—e present at it Yea said hee I dare say with all her heart His Hostess Mistris Irish weeping he said O Mistris Irish I see now that you love me not for in that you weep it appears that you will not be at my marriage nor are therewith content I see you are not so much my friend as I thought but quiet your self though my break-fast be somewhat sharpe and painâ—ull yet I am sure my Supper shall be more pleasant and sweet His brother proffering to watch with him he refused it saying I intend to goe to bed and sleep as quietly as ever I did in my life In the morning he came forth in a fair black gowne faced with foins and tippet of velvet c. and looking behind him he spied Master Latimer coming after to whom he said O! bee you there Yea said Latimer have-after as fast as I can follow Coming to the stake he lift up his hands and eyes stedfastly to heaven and espying Master Latimer he ran with a cheerfull countenance to him embraced and kissed him and comforted him saying Be of good heart brother for God will either asswage the fury of the flame or give us strength to abide it So he went to the stake kneeled by it kissed it and prayed earnestly and being about to speak to the people some ran to him and stopped his mouth with their hands Afterwards being stripped he stood upon a stone by the stake saying O heavenly father I give thee hearty thanks for that thou hast called me to be a professor of thee even unto death I beseech thee Lord God have mercy upon this Realm of England and deliver it from all its enemies As a Smith was knocking in the staple which held the chain he said to him Good fellow knock it in hard for the flesh will have his course Then his brother brought a bag of gunpowder and would have tyed it about his neck Doctor Ridley asked what it was His Brother answered gunpowder then said he I take it as being sent of God therefore I will receive it as sent from him And when he saw the flame a coming up to him he cryed with a loud voice In manus tuas c. Into thy hands Lord I commend my spirit Lord receive my soul But the fire being kept down by the wood he desired them for Christs sake to let the fire come to him which his brother in law mis-understanding still heaped on faggots whereby his nether parts were burned before his upper parts were touched At last his upper parts fell down into the fire also and so he slept in the Lord. Bishop Ridley upon a time crossing the Thames there rose on a sudden such a Tempest that all in the boat were astonished looking for nothing but to be drowned Take heart said he for this boat carrieth a Bishop that must be burned and not drowned He suffered martyrdome Anno Christi 1555. He was a man so reverenced for his learning and knowledge in the sacred Scriptures that his very enemies were enforced to acknowledge that he was an excellent Clerk and if his life might have been redeemed with monie the Lord Dacres of the North being his Kinsman would have given 10000l for the same rather then that he should be burned But so unmercifull and cruel was Q. Mary that notwithstanding D. Ridleys gentleness towards her in King Edward the sixth days she would by no intreaties nor other means be perswaded to spare his life The tender mercies of the wicked are cruelty In a Letter which he wrote to his friends he hath this passage I warne you my friends that ye be not astonished at the manner of my dissolution for I assure you I think it the greatest honor that ever I was called to in all my life and therefore I thank the Lord God heartily for it that it hath pleased him of his great mercy to cal me to this high honor to suffer death willingly for his sake and in his cause wherefore all you that be my true lovers and friends rejoyce and rejoyce with me again and render with me hearty thanks to God our heavenly Father that for his sons sake my Saviour and Redeemer Christ he hath vouchsafed to call me being else without his gracious goodness in my selfe but a sinful and vile wretch to cal me I say to this high dignity of his true Prophets faithfull Apostles and of his holy and chosen Martyrs to dye and to spend this temporall life in the defence and maintenance of his eternall and everlasting truth Whist he was Mr. of Pembrook-hall he used to walk much in the Orchard
length of your daies to whom we commend you but if we look at naturall causes your disease is dangerous for your weaknesse is great and encreaseth every moment I think the same quoth he and an sensible of my weaknesse A while after he made them search for some sheets of paper wherein he had begunne to write his Will purposing to declare his judgement about all the heads of Religion and to testifie it to posterity which was the chief use of Testaments amongst the antient Fathers but they could not be found whereupon he beganne to frame it a new sitting at a table but through weakness was not able to proceed therein Onely he wrote that he had twice formerly set down a Confession of his Faith and a thanksgiving to God and to our Lord Jesus Christ But saith he my papers are intercepted and therefore I will have my Confession to be my answers concerning the Bavarian Articles against Papists Anabapists Flacians c. His minde was sincere and sound to his last gasp his brain never more firm Then he conferred with his Son-in-law about the affairs of the University About six a clock Letters were brought him from his friends at Frankford Mart concerning the persecution of some godly men in France whereupon he said That his bodily disease was not comparable to the grief of his mind for his godly friends and for the miseries of the Church That night he had very litâ—le rest About two a clock in the morning he raised himself up in his bed saying that God had brought into his minde againe that speech of Paul If God be for us who can be against us After which he returned to his former complaints of the calamities of the Church Yet saith he my hopes are very great for the Doctrine of our Church is explained And so he proceeded to earnest prayers and groanings for the Church and then betook himself to some rest About eight in the morning in the presence of divers Pastors and Deacons he made three Prayers whereof this was one O almighty eternall ever-living and true God creator of heaven a dearth together with thy coâ—tâ—rnall Son our Lord Jesus Christ crucified for us and raised again together with thy holy Spirit c. Who hast faid thou de firest not the death of a sinner but that he may be converted and lâ—ve As also Call upon me in the day of trouble and I will deliver thee I confess unto thee that I am a most miserable sinneâ— that I have many sinnes and have been faulty many waies But I am sorry with all my heart that I have offended thee I pray thee for our Lord Jesus Christs sake who was crucified and rose again for us to have pitty upon me and to forgive all my sinnes and to justifiâ— me by and through Jesus Christ thy Sonne thine eternall Word and Image whom by thy unspeakable counsell and unmeasurable wisdome and goodnesse thou wouldst have to be for us a Sacrifice Mediator and Intercessoâ— Sanctifie me also by thy holy lively and true â—pirit that I may truly acknowledge thee firmly believe in thee truly obey thee give thanks unto thee rightly invocate thy name serve thee and see thee gracious to all eternity and the almighty true God creator of heaven and earth and men the eternall Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ thy Son thy eternall Word and Image and the Holy Ghost the comforter In thee O Lord have I trusted let me never be confounded Thou hast redeemed me O Lord God of Truth Keep O Lord and governe our Church and Common wealths and this School and give them wholsom peace and wholsom goverment Rule and defend our Princes nourish thy Church gather and preserve thy Church in these Countries and sanctifie it and conjoyne it with thy holy spirit that it may be one in thee in the knowledge and invocation of thy Son Jesus Christ by and for the sake of this thine eternal Son our Lord Jesus Christ c. After this he rested a while Then the Pastors and Deacons by turnes read unto him Psalme 24 25 26. Isa. 53. John 17. Rom. 5. and divers other Psalmes and Chapters After which he said I often thinke upon that saying of St. John The world received him not but to those â—hat received him to them he gave power to be made the Sons of God even them that belieeve in his name After this he seemed to pray secretly for a quarter of an hour yea for an hoar or two he seemed to doe little other then pray and being at length asked by his Son in Law whether he would have any thing he answered Nothing but heaven thereforâ— trouble me no more with speaking to me Then the Pastor prayed with him and the others â—ead again and so about haâ—f an hour after six he quietly and peaceably gave up the Ghâ—st having lived 63. yeares 63. dayes After hee had spent in Preaching and writing 42 years Anno Christi 1560. He was buried close by Luther they having been faithfull and intimate friends in their lives He took much pains in the Vniversitie of Wittenberg reading three or four Lectures every day unto which many resorted He was never idâ—e but spent all his time in reading writing disputing or giving counsell He neither sought after great titles nor richâ—â— He could not be perswaded to take the degree of a Doctor saying That such honour was a great burden He had many and great enemies who often thâ—eatned to banish him Germany of which himselfe writes â— go jam sum hic Dei beneficio quadraginta anâ—os nunquam potuidicere aut certus esse me per unam 〈◊〉 mansurum esse I have through Gods mercy been here theâ—e fourty years and yet I could never say or besure that I should remain here one week to an end A little before his death he said Cupio ex hac vita migrare propâ—er duas causas primum ut fruar desiderato conspectu filii Dei coelestis Ecclesiae deinde ut liberer ab immanibus implacabilibus Theologorum odiis Amongst all his writings and disputations he would never meddle with the controversie about the Sacrament leaving that to Luther and being loth publickly to manifest his dissent from him Yet it is certaine that as they went to the Colloquie of Ratisbon together anno 1541. he communicated his opinion to Luther confirmed by the Testimonies of the ancient Fathers both Greek and Latine and when Luther had made some Annotations upon those sentences which contradicted his opinion Melancthon said Mr. Dr. I could make the like Annotations but sure they are not strong enough After all his great labours in the Church and Vniversity he carried away the usuall reward of the world reproof accusations injuries and reproaches Anno Christi 1555. a tumult being raised amongst the students he went forth to perswade them to peace when one of them ran
prudent diligence of Mr. Calvin was quickly extinguished which was this There was the Bishop of Carpentoratum called James Sadolet a man of great eloquence which yet he abused to the subversion of the Truth for which cause he was made a Cardinall This man seeing the flock deprived of such able and vigilant shepherds thought it a fit time to ensnare them for which end he wrote Letters under the pretence of his neighbourhood directed to his dear friends as he called them the Senate Councell and people of Geneva in which he omitted no arguments whereby he might perswade them to return into the bosome of the Romish Church And at this time there was no man in Geneva that would undertake to answer the same so that probably they would have done much mischief but that they were written in a forraign language But wheâ— Mr. Calvin at Strasborough had read them forgetting all the wrongs which had been done him he returned an answer so speedily truly and eloquently that the Cardinall despairing of accomplishing his end wholly gave over his design Neither indeed did Mr. Calvin deferre till this time the manifesting of his Pastorall bowels which he yet retained to the Genevians especially to those that suffered with him in the same cause as may appeare by those excellent Epistles which he wrote to them the same year wherin he was banished Wherein his principall scope was to exhort them to repentance to bear with the wicked to maintain peace with their Pastors and to bee frequent in calling upon God as also to stirre them up to expect light after those deadly mists of darknesse which he told them would follow as also the event ere long made to appear About the same time also hee published his Institutions much enlarged and his Commentarie upon the Romans dedicated to Simon Grynaeus his dear friend and that golden book of his concerning the Lords Supper which he made for the use of his French Church which Galasius afterwards turned in Latin In which he handled the Doctrine of the Sacrament so dextrously and learnedly that it served to determine the unhappy controversies about it to the satisfaction of all good and learned men Neither was his happinesse lesse in reclaiming many Anabaptists from their errors amongst whom were these two principall men Paul Volsius who afterwards was a Pastor in the Church of Strasborough the other was John Storder who afterwards dying of the Plagne Mr Calvin by the advice of Bucer married his Widdow called Idellita a very grave and honest Matron In these studies and labours did Mr. Calvin continue at Strasborough to the year 1541. In the which year the Emperour Charles the fifth assembled two Diets the one at Worms the other at Ratisbone for compounding the differences about Religion At both which by the desire of the Divines of Strasborough Mr. Calvin was present o the great advantage of the Churches especially of his own French Congregation and where he was most lovingly entertained and highly prised by Philip Melancthon and Gasper Cruciger so that Philip called him His Divine Hee also had much private conference with them about the Sacrament of the Lords Supper and they could not but very well appove of his opinion therein But now the time was come wherein the Lord purposed to shew mercy to his poor Church at Geneva For one of the Syndics who had promoted the Decree for their banishment did so misdemeane himself in his Office that being found guilty of sedition whilst he thought to escape out at a window being a fat man he fell down so bruised himself that within a few daies after he died Another of them had his head cut off for a Murther the other two having done the Commonwealth much disservice in an Ambassy wherein they were employed were faign to fly their Country and were condemned in their absence These evill instruments being thus removed the City of Geneva beganne to call for their Farell and Calvin but when by no means they could recover Farell from Neocom where he was now setled they used all their endeavours to procure Calvin and for that end they sent Ambassadors to Strasborough using also the intercession of those of Zurick to request that Mr. Calvin might be sent back to them The Senate of Strasborough were exceeding unwilling to hearken to it Calvin himself although he had not changed his mind towards the Genevians for the miscarriages of some wicked men yet abhorring to enter into new troubles but especially because he found the Lord blessing his Ministery at Strastborough did absolutely refuse to return Besides Bucer and the other Pastors did professe their great unwillingnesse to to part with him But the Genevians still pressing hard for him Bucer at last thought that their requests should be condescended to at least for a time which yet was not granted by Mr. Calvin himself til they had urged him with the judgment of God in case he refused and with the example of Johah But this falling out just at the time when Calvin with Bucer was going to visit the Diet at Ratisbone his return was delayed for a time and in the mean time the Genevians obtained of the Bernates that Peter Viret should go from Lausanna to Geneva and indeed this made Mr. Calvin farre more willing to return to Geneva when he saw that he was to have such a Colleague by whose labours and counsels he might be much furthered in reforming that Church So after some moneths Mr. Calvin went to Geneva Sept. 13 Anno Christi 1541 being singularly welcomed by the people and especially by the Senate who acknowledged the wonderfull mercy and goodnesse of God towards them in restoring him to them again And whereas the Senate of Strasborough had decreed that after a time he should returne to them againe they of Geneva would never give over till they had reversed that Decree which at last was yeelded to by them of Strasborough yet with this Proviso that that pension which they had setled upon him should still be continued to him but Mr. Calvin could never be perswaded to receive it caring for nothing lesse then for riches Mr. Calvin being thus restored to his Church and perceiving that the City needed such bridles he professed that he could not comfortably exercise his Ministry amongst them except together with the Doctrine of the Gospel they would embrace the Presbyterian Government for the well regulating of the Church Hereupon Elders were chosen a Model of the Presbyterial Government was drawn up consonant to the Word of God and gratefull to the Citizens which the Devill afterwards sought by all his artifices to destroy but all in vaine Hee wrote also a Catechism in French and Latine not much different from the former but much larger divided into Questions and Answers which indeed was an admirable peece and found such approbation and entertainment abroad that it was turned
his Creed as also the Testimonies of all the Ancients viz. of Ignatius Tertullian Iraeneus and Lactantius by a certaine unheard-of impudence yea did not onely reject all the Orthodox Writers which followed the Nicene Councel but reproached them as wicked men Other Blasphemies also followed this about the Hypostaticall Union He first vented these things in private as hee pretended for Disputation sake to some of the Italian Congregation whereupon an assembly being called on purpose Mr. Calvin before some choice Senators and all the Ministers and Elders having patiently heard them confuted them so fully out of the Word of God that all the Italians presently subscribed to the Orthodox Faith except onely six who afterwards being called one by one subscribed with their hands but not with their hearts as time made to appeare Gentilis therefore returning to his old course and going on to spread his former Blasphemies is apprehended dissembles not his opinion being heard as much and as long as he would At length seeming to be convinced by Mr. Calvin he feigned incredible repentance and gave in a Recantation signed under his own hand Hereupon he was dismissed first taking an oath that he would not goe forth of the gates of the City but presently contrary to the same he flyes into Savoy to Matthew Gribaldus and presently after two of his Disciples Alciat and Blandatra followed him who afterwards proved the infectors of Transylvania and the Countries adjacent But Gods judgement hanging over the head of Gentilis he staied with Gribaldus both of them casting off the other two as illiterate fellows and there he wrote a book against Athanasius and Calvin and so going to Lions he there printed it dedicating it to Gaiensis a Praefect who was altogether ignorant of the blasphâ— mies contained in it Whilst he was at Lions he was apprehended by the Papists but when he shewed them that hee had written a booke against Calvin he was dismissed as one that had deserved wel of their Church From thence he went into Transylvania to â—landatra Alciat and their companions but they having now sucked in the Heresies of Samosatenus and he not well agreeing with them therein Christ indeed drawing him forth to condigne punishment he returned into Savoy to his friend Gribaldus but Gods plague had now swept away that Pest and Mr. Calvin also was dead at Geneva Hereupon Gentilis either infatuated by God or thinking that there was none left at Geneva that could answer him went strait to Gaiensis who was justly offended with him who there fore presently apprehending him by the just judgement of God sent him to Berne there to be tried where being convicted both of Perjury many manifest impieties after many wayes were used to bring him to repentance but in vain he had his head cut off thereby suffering a just reward for all his impieties Towards the latter end of this year in October Mr. Calvin was taken with a Quartane Ague which Physicians say is deadly to old persons which though it held him but eight monâ—ths yet it so debilâ—tated his lean and overworne body with his inâ—â—ssant labâ—urs that he never throughly recovered his health again Yet all this time though his Physicians warned him and his friends disswaded him from his preaching and Lectures yet did he continually busie himself night and day in dictating and writing Letters every way often saying That nothing was more troublesome to him then an idle life At this time also he published the last Edition of his Institutions in French and Latine and his learned Commentary upon Isaâ—ah The yeare following viz. 1559 was famous for the League entered into between the two most potent Kings of Spain and France which was strengthned by aâ—linity betwixt them which was likely to prove fatall to Geneva but that the counsell of the Pontificians who abused the simplicity of King Henry of France hindered it For King Henry published most severe Decrees and cast some of his Senators into prison who had declared their judgements freely that he ought to proceed gently in matters of Religion till a Generall Councell could bee called having this in his eye principally to restore the Duke of Savoy to his Country that by his help hee might utterly destroy Geneva In the meane time Master Calvin though sickly laboured hard 〈◊〉 Genâ—va comforting and confirming the afflicted Churches and brethren as also by his frequent and servent prayers craving help of God And behold the wonderfull work of God â— whilst all things were ful of terror the King of France in the great Marriage solemnity which was made for the confirmation of the Peace in his running at Tilt received his deaths wound and that by the hand of the Captaine of his Guard by whom a little before he had apprehended and imprisoned the aforesaid Senators This death of the King was expiated as he thought by the Cardinall of Lorraine who upon the one and twentieth of December caused that learned Lawyer faithfull Counsellor and holy Martyr of Christ Annas Du Bourg to be unjustly and cruelly burned But by the singular blessing of God in the midst of these calamitous times the hearts of the Genevians were so raised up and confirmed that in the very same yeare and almost moment of time in which two such potent Kings had contriâ—ed their destruction by the encouragement of Mr. Calvin they laid the foundation and built a famous Schoole adorning it with eight Masters for boyes as also with Hebrew Greek Philosophy and Divinity Professors which being finished to the honour of God Omnipotent Mr. Calvin in a great assembly in the chiefest Church read and declared those things which conduced to the perpetuall establishment of so holy and profitable a foundation whereby he did as it were solemnly consecrate it The year after which was 1560. Master Calvin was by some loaden with much envy as if he had stirred up an Assembly against Francis the Second the heir of his Fathers Kingdom which Assembly was called The tumult of Amboise whereas indeed Master Calvin never understood what it was as also both by word of mouth and by his Letters to friends he disliked it This year one Sancarus of Mantua Italy being fatall to the Polonians began to teach that Christ was Mediator onely according to his humane nature accusing all of Arianisme that should say that he was Mediator also according to his Deity as if thereby they made the Son lesse then the Father This calumny and all his other Doctrine was notably confuted as by Philip Melancton and Peter Martyr so also Master Calvin at the request of the Polonians did briefly but strongly confute the same and foreseeing what shortly after came to pass that whilst some more unskilful persons would take upon them to confute Sancarus if they took not heed would fall into the error of them which held three Gods He eloquently admonished them
Ulricus Prince of Wirtemberg intending to reform Religion in his Dominions thought it the best way first to Reform the Universitie of Tubing and considering where he might have a fit man for so great and difficult a work he at last resolved upon Brentius whom he sent for and who with much diligence prudence and fidelity accomplished that work Anno Christi 1547 the Emperor with his Army comming to Hale Brentius who was now returned thither hoped to prevaile with the Captain that no Souldiers should be quartered in his house but when hee came home hee found the souldiers beating at his door and ready to break it down and when they perceived that Brentius was Master of that house one of them set an Halbert to his breast threatning to kill him if the door was not presently opened Whereupon they were let in and he caused meat and drink to be prepared for them and in the mean time conveighed away all his papers and when he saw the fury and rage of the souldiers he conveighed himself and his family out at a back-door The next day came a Spanish Bishop with his train and putting forth the souldiers quartered in Brentius his house searched his study looked over his papers and letters and finding some letters to his friends wherein he justified the Protestant Princes in taking Armes against the Emperor he presently carried them to the Emperor whereby Brentius was in great danger and was fain to hide himself in a very high Tower and not being safe there he changed his apparrel left his wife and children and with one onely companion passed through the Spaniards safely and wandred up and down the fields all that night But when the Emperor was removed with his Army he returned to Hale again Anno Christi 1548 when Caesar had published his booke called the Interim the Protestant Princes and Magistrates required the judgements of their Divines upon it And the Magistrates of Hale desired Frentius to tell them his judgement who when he had considered it told them That it was a wicked book and altogether contrary to the Scriptures and that he would lose his life before he would assent to it This coming to Caesar's eares hee sent a Commissarie to Hale charging him to bring Brentius to him either alive or dead when the Commissarie came thither he insinuated himself into Brentius's acquaintance invited him to his table perswaded him to walke abroad with him having prepared horses to carry him away But that succeeding not he called the Senate together and having sworn them to keep private what he should tell them he imparted his Commission telling them how acceptable it would be to the Emperor if they would send Brentius to him but if they refused the Emperor would destroy their City c. It pleased God that whilst he was thus perswading the Magistrates there came in one of the Magistrates later then his fellows and the Commissarie not minding it did not tender the Oath to him So when they were dismissed this man wrote to Brentius Fuge fuge Brenti cito citius citissime which note was brought to him as he sate at supper Having read it he told his family that he must goe forth upon businesse but he would returne ere long As he was going out of the City he met the Commissary who asked him whither he went He answered To a sick friend in the subuâ—bs who had sent for him Wel said the Commissary to morrow you must dine with me Hee replyed God willing and so they parted Being thus escaped he hid himself in a thick Wood and for some weekes together he lay in the Wood all day and every night came into a Village to a friends house where he lodged He wrote also to the Magistrates of Hale that if they could and would protect him he was ready to come back and not to forsake his flock but if they could not he did not dâ—sire that they should endanger themselves for his sake They answered That they could not protect him and therefore left him free to goe whither he pleased Presently after Ulricus Prince of Wirtemberg invited him to him and ordered him to be so private that he himself might not know where hee was that if he was asked hee might safely deny his knowledge of him Yet upon suspition his Castle was searched but Brentius was in another place where in his retirement he wrote a Comment upon the ninety third Psalm Afterwards he went to Basil as to a safer place where his Wife died of a Consumption From thence he removed to the Castle of Horrenburg in the Hâ—rcinian Wood where he changed his name and gave out that he was the Keeper of the Castle and whilst hee was there hee frequented the Sermons in a neighbour Town where the Minister used to spin out his Sermons to a great length Whereupon Brentius took occasion modestly to tell him of it to whom the Minister answered You Castle-keepers think all time too long at Church but no time too long that you spend in drinking Brentius smiling at it said no more Whilst he was there he perfected his Comment upon Isaiah and some other Works Afterwards hee had great proffers made him by the Citizens of Madgeburg by Edw. the sixth K. of England and by the Duke of Borussia who proffered him large stipends and Kingly gifts but he refused them all and thus continued in banishment for the space of two years Anno Christi 1550 Ulricus Duke of Wirtemberg died and his sonne Christopher succeeding resolved to restore the Ministers which were driven away by the Interim to their Charges within his Dominions and to perfect the Work of Reformation And for that end sent for Brentius and kept him in his Castle of Stutgard that he might have his advice and assistance in carrying on that Work Neither was he discouraged by the admonition of the Princes and Bishops nor by the threats of the Garrisons that were about him He caused Brentius to write a Confession of Faith and of the Doctrine of Christian Religion and about the chief poinâ— in Controversie which he intended to send to the council of Trent and accordingly he did sent it by 2 Ambassadors and An. Ch. 1552 Brentius with 3 other Divines went after eithâ—â— publickly in the Council to defend that Confession or â—o refute such decrees as should be made against it But no answer could be extorted from those Fathers neither could these â—ivines be heard nor were once called into the Council whereupon after a while they returned home not without great danger About that time Brentius married again one Fâ—th Isenman a choice woman who was a great comfort to â—im all the rest of his life by whom also he had twelve children The year after the Pastor of Stutgard dying Brentius was chosen into his room In
like Statues of mourning in humane likenesse But after he had prayed with her and therein endeavoured both to comfort her and those about her he told her that she should not onely recover of her disease but also live to an exceeding great age At which words earnestly beholding him she said You might as well have said that if I should throw this glass against the wall I might beleeve it would not break to pieces And having a Glasse in her hand she threw it forth the Glasse falling first on a chest and then on the ground yet neither brake nor crackt And the event fell out accordingly for the Gentlewoman being then sixty years of age lived in much felicitie till she was above ninetie years old and could reckon above three hundrd and sixtie of her children and childrens children Also one day going to see the Earl of Arundel sonne to the Duke of Norfolk at his house in the Straud when he was going away from him the Earl walked with him to the end of his Garden where he was to take boat but the River being very boysterous the Earl counselled him not to trust himself in so great atempest to whom Master Fox answered So my Lord let these water deal with me as I have in truth and sincerity delivered unto you all that I have spoken And therewithall entering into the boat before they could put off from the Bridge the wind ceased and the river ran with a smooth stream He had many great friends to whom he was very dear and of whose bounty he tasted liberally whereby he was enabled to be so bountiful to the poor He had much familiarity with many Learned and Godly men At length having in such actions and such behaviours spent his time being now full of years he foresaw his own end and would not suffer his sonnes to be present at his death though he entirely loved them but sending them from home ere their return he quietly resigned up his spirit to God An. Christi 1587 and of his age seventie He never denyed to give to any one tha asked for Jesus sake And one asking him whither he knew a certain poor man whom he used to relieve Yea said he I remember him well and I tell you I forget Lords and Ladies to remember such As he was going along London streets a woman of his acquaintance met him and as they discoursed together shee pulled out a Bible telling him she was going to hear a Sermon whereupon he said to her if you will be advised by me go home again But said she when shall I then go to Church To whom he answered When you tell no body of it One of his sonnes had a great mind to travel beyond Sea which his Father could by no means disswade him from after some years travell he returned back in an out-landish habit and coming to his Father the old man asked him who hee was To whom he answered Sir I am your sonne Samuel Whereupon hee replyed Oh my sonne who hath taught thee to make thy self so ridiculous by coming home in so strange and uncoth an habit The Life of George Sohnius who died A no Christi 1589. GEorge Sohnius was born at Friburg in the Wetteraw Anno Christi 1551 of honest Parents and of good esteem who brought him up from his childhood in the knowledge of the principles of Divinity and Grammar and afterwards set him to School in Fridberg where he continued till he was well grounded in School-Learning which he drank in with such eagernesse that he soon outstripped all his fellows and so Anno Christi 1567 he was sent to the University of Marpurg at fifteen years old where he profited so exceedingly in Logick and Philosophy that he was made Batchelor of Arts at the years end And being exceeding desirous to see other countries for the improving both of his learning and carriage Anno Christi 1569 he went to Wittenberg where he studied Philosophy Law and Divinity with incredible pains night and day so that at three years end with the approbation of the whole University he was made Master of Arts. He intended at first the study of Law But it pleased God on a sudden so to divert his heart from it and to encline him to the study of Divinitie that he could have no rest in himselfe till he had resolved upon it concerning which he thus writes to his Father What hath so soon altered my opinion I shall briefly declare unto you that you may know and approve the reason thereof and give thanks to God for his mercy to us When upon the one and twentieth of July I was hearing Tuberus his Lecture of the Law before halfe an hour was past as I was writing what hee spake I fell into very serious cogitations For on a sudden the excellency and Majesty of Divinity came into my mind which suddenly did so delight me and beganne to stirre up in my minde such love to it that I could not but resolve to give over the Law and wholly to apply my self to the study of Divinity And this thought did more and more sink deeply into my mind and was so urgent upon me that I could no longer hearken to the Law Lecture neither could I write out what I had begunne So that I knew not what doe Yea these thoughts did so follow me that I was not onely averse to read any more Law but I abhorred the thoughts of it And thus not knowing what to doe I betook my self with sighs and teares unto God intreating him to restore to me my former love to and delight in the Law But if not that I was ready to follow his call in any thing But so often as I returned to reading the Law my heart did beat my eyes abhorred the letters and neither was my minde or will any more delighted with that study Whereupon consulting with two of my godly and loving friends they judged that I was called by God to the study of Divinity and therefore giving thanks to God I wholly applyed my self thereto Anno Christi 1571 he returned to Marpurg and studied Hebrew and the year after he read the Arts to many Students privately and became Tutor to three Noblemen At twenty three years old he was so famous that by the consent of all the Divines of that University he was chosen into the number and order of Professors of Divinity The year after he married a Wife Christian daughter to Conrade Matthew one of the Professors a choice Maid by whom he had three sons and two daughters The same yeare also he was chosen the Professor of the Hebrew Tongue in that Universitie Anno Christi 1578 he was made Doctor in Divinity and falling sick not long after he made an excellent Confession of his Faith But it pleased God that he recovered and was not onely a
and to rest most upon his advice He always as he ought much esteemed the singular good will of the Prince of Orange towards him as also of the Queen of Bohemia and other of the States to whom deservedly he was most dear as they testified by their extraordinary grief at his death He always upon every occasion professed how much he was beholding to the Curators and Magistrates of Leiden for their singular good will towards him whereby they often anticipated and exceeded his modesty in conferring favors upon him The most excellent Princess of Orange also after his death sent to his widdow and eldest son professing that the loss of him was no less a grief to her then if she had lost another husband or dear son so highly did she esteem of him Neither may any man wonder whence it came to pass that he had so many friends if withall he do but consider the multitude of Letters that he sent and received so that his study seemed to be a Compendium of all Europe But behold the mutability of all Earthly things The truth is his labors were so many and great that if his body had been of Oak or Iron he could not have held out long so that we may truly say that the imployment of his soul destroyed its own habitation which was worn out and dissolved with too much exercise For besides the publick labors which he underwent in the Church and University his private and domestical cares his conferences with his friends his frequent intercourse of Letters his various writings and giving counsel to others took up every moment in his life And though he was often admonished by his friends to favour himself and moderate his pains yet would he by no means be perswaded to it Hence it was observed that his strength began sensibly to decay and he was troubled with great obstructions so that himself began to complain of them yet would he not diminish his daily task And thus he continued all the Winter afflicted with weakness and pains at sundry seasons His last Sermon he Preached at Easter upon those memorable words of Saint Paul Phil. 3. 21. Who shall change our vile body that it may be like his glorious body c. Also after his last Lecture returning home he complained of the decay of his strength which was so great that with much difficulty he went on to the end of his Lecture as many of his Auditors observed From thenceforth his health decayed and his strength declined more and more and which was an ill sign his weakness was greater then his disease yet notwithstanding he was delegated in the midst of April by the Church to a Synod of the French Churches which met at Harlem whither he went though the labor was too great for his weak body And at his return he sensibly discerned that he was much worse so that though no signs of death appeared outwardly yet was his weakness such that being taken off his Legs he was confined to his bed Hereupon he foresaw the approach of death and wholly gave up himself to God whom he continually invoked by ardent prayers and sighs which had been his constant practice in the whole course of his life But yet April the 28. he thought himself better and that there were some hopes of his recovery whereupon in the afternoon he sate up at his study window where he had not continued long before he was seized upon by a violent Feaver with a great trembling and shaking of his whole body which at length ended in a burning so that he lay all night as if he had been in the midst of a fire whereupon seeing his end to approach in the presence of his Family he poured forth most ardent Prayers to God Profesting that he knew Christ to be his Redeemer in whom he believed and with whom he knew that he should shortly be and that he desired nothing so much as his happy dissolution his soul still breathing after Christ Only this by earnest prayers he begged of God that he would give him strength to undergo whatsoever he should please to lay upon him and that he would not suffer him to be tempted beyond what he was able to bear that he might have a quiet and comfortable departure out of this miserable and sinful world Presently the famous Physitian Dr. Stratenus was sent for from the Hague who was his special friend to whom was adjoined Dr. Wallaeus who performed all the Offices of good Physitians and did what Art could do But their business was not so much with the disease as with death which refused all remedies The Citizens of Leiden mourned exceedingly for his sickness the Queen of Bohemia and the Princess of Orange shewed most tender affections towards him His wife and family foreseeing their calamity in his loss were dissolved into tears But Heidanus coming to visit him he declared to him the inward peace of his soul his hope of future glory and his faith in Christ together with his earnest desire of leaving this miserable World He also freely forgave all that had wronged him desiring the like from others if he had any way justly offended them Professing that whatsoever he had done he did it out of his love to Truth and his care over the Church The night before his death Dr. Triglandius was sent for to him whom he always loved and honoured as his dear friend and Colleague who being come prayed with him and the next day Dr. Massisius Pastor of the French Church did tho like And thus he spent all that week in Prayers and holy Exercises On Wednesday night he caused his son to read to him the 8. cha of Ezekiel and part of the Epistle to the Romans after which he spake to his eldest son Frederick exhorting him to the study of Divinity requiring him not to be withdrawn from it by any means whatsoever he thought that he could never speak enough of the tender love care and diligence of his wife shewed towards him A little before his death recollecting his spirits in the presence of Samuel Riverius Pastor of Delph with a clear and fervent voice he prayed with such ardency of affections as caused all to wonder In his Prayers he gave immortal thanks to God for all his blessings bestowed so plentifully upon him in the whole course of his life and for that he had blessed him so much amongst strangers acknowledging himself to be lesse then all those blessings and that he had nothing to return to his Majesty for them but his grateful heart Above other things he especially blessed him for bringing him forth in a Reformed and Orthodox Church and for that he had not suffered him to be infected with the Popish Religion whose Doctrine he professed to be erroneous and contrary to the Gospel of Christ and the way of perdition He prayed heartily to God to continue these
by sending to forreign Kings and Princes by provoking them of Vtrich who began to quail profering them help to prevent the putting down of their Magistrate and disbanding their Souldiers Whereupon the States of the united Provinces required the Prince of Orange to imprison the heads of the contrary faction viz. Barnevelt Rombert Hagerbetius Hugh Grotius Giles Ledenbergius and to disband the rest of the souldiery that was collected in Holland To purge the Cities of disaffected Magistrates and to substitute better in their rooms All which were effected without any tumult or effusion of blood so displeasing were those Mastrates to the Citizens after which all the other Magistrates consented to the Synod appointed at Dort In this Synod the flower of all the Reformed Churches met together and amongst them our Wallaeus who had a place assigned him amongst the Low-country Professors and was appointed one of the Directors of the Synod but that the Pastors had in private agreed amongst themselves to chuse only such as were Professors It was the unhappiness of the Remonstrants that they had Simon Episcopius for their President who was a hot imprudent and cholerick man by whose advice it was that the Remonstrants would not submit to the Laws of the Synod wherefore the work of the Synod was to finde out the state of the Controversie by the writings of the Remonstrants and accurately to propound it in the Fundamentals themselves To examine them by the Word of God and to see of what weight they were In the government of the whole Synod John Bogerman excelled being Prolocutor in it and indeed a more fit man could not have been chosen Festus Hommius was imployed in proposing the state of the Controversie who often conferred with Wallaeus about it But in weighing the controversies strengthening or enervating Arguments and in vindicating them from exceptions Wallaeus excelled whereupon when any difficulty arose as the Explication of the Epistle to the Romanes c. it was committed to Wallaeus If any thing was to be accurately and prudently defined it was committed to Waellaeus And he was chosen for one of those that drew up the Canons of the Synod and set down reasons why the Doctrine of the Remonstrants was rejected And it was judged that the wisdom of Wallaeus prevailed much to procure the unanimous consent of the Synod thereunto Wherefore of the Politicians and strangers who had no cause of envy he was much esteemed yea he so demeaned himself that Giles Bursius his aemulus acknowledged that Wallaeus excelled all in the Synod who made this acknowledgement to the Wallacrian Classis from whom he was delegated God so blessed the labors of all in this Synod that the Remonstrants themselves had no cause to complain Controversies were so decided difficulties so expedited that all godly and learned men were abundantly satisfied and from thence forwards the roots of Remonstrancy were so cut off that presently it began to wither And all things were managed with that modesty all things dispatched with that unanimous consent that never was the like from the Primitive times All Controversies being now determined and the Cause of the Remonstrants judged the chief Patrons of the Remonstrants were condemned of Treason by the Delegates of the States of the United Provinces 1. The persons condemned were Barnevelt Hogerbetius Grotius and Ledenburgius This last by killing himself prevented the punishment And James Schot Consul of Middleborough one of those Delegates was sent by the States to Dort to fetch Wallaeus to the Hague who accordingly brought him thither May the 12. privily that so the people might have no suspition of the punishment intended to the Remonstrants By the way he told Wallaeus that the States sent for him to prepare the Prisoners for death they judging that by his prudence and perswasions he might best of all other men effect it VVallaeus when he saw that he could not avoid the employment yet desired that he might not be the first messenger of death to them that he might be spared from dealing at all with Grotius in regard of his former friendship contracted with him and that he might not be present at their death which he could not bear without much trouble of minde Being come to the Hague in the Evening â—chot went to the Deputies and Judges to acquaint them that VVallaeus was come and to tell them what request he had made to him Whereupon the Advocates Fiscal were sent to Barnevelt to tell him that the next day he was to be judged and put to death and Schot in the mean time went to VVallaeus to tell him that his requests were granted that Hogerbetius and Gâ—otius though they were condemned should not be executed but kept in perpetual Prison That the Advocates Fiscal were sent to Barnevelt to acquaint him that the next day he was to dye and that therefore the Delegates and Judges requested him to make haste to him and so about six a clock VVallaeus was conducted to the Prison to Barnevelt When he came into his chamber he found him full of perplexity writing to his wife and children to acquaint them with the message of his death and at first he was unwilling to have any speech with Wallaeus but after a while he became more calm yet complained of the hard measure that he met with from the States whom he had served for forty three years He would feign have taken some rest that night but could not The next morning when he had heard his sentence read he was had to the place of Execution at which time he told the people that he dyed not a Traitor but a Patriot At the place of Execution he asked his man whether no man came Belike expecting a Pardon but when his servant told him that there was none kneeling down his head was cut off The day following Wallaeus returned to Dort and attended upon the affairs of the Synod till the end of May at which time he had some money given him and with the rest was invited to a Publick Feast and afterwards with some principal men he was privately feasted by the States Delegates and so was dismissed honorably These things being dispatched the States of Holland least the commotions now suppressed should break forth again thought fit in the first place to take care of the University of Leiden which was the Seminary both of their Church and State And for that end they resolved to add to John Poliander the Divinity Professor Andrew Rivet Anthony Wallaeus and Anthony Thysius To Rivet they sent Thomas Erpenius the Arabick Professor To Thysius Adrian Pavius Synâ—ic of Amsterdam And to Wallaeus Rochus Honartius Senator of the Supream Court and Peter Deiman chief Consul of Leiden who came to him to Middleborough in the midst of July to acquaint him with his Election and to urge him to accept of it They also presented him with the Letters of
Prince Maurice requesting the same of him Yet did VVallaeus desire that he might have time to consider of it telling them that he would seek unto God by Prayer and advise with his friends with the Church and Magistrate In the mean time the Delegates earnestly sollicited the Presbyterie and Magistrates to give their consents which at last with much ado they obtained because he was to go to Leiden where he might take care of theirs as well as of the Holland Youths His friends stuck somewhat at it because he had as good a stipend at Middleborough as he was to have at Leiâ—en and though at Leiden he might bring up his sons at the University yet being so far from his friends he could not place them forth as well to honest Callings as at Middleborough â—o satisfie these therefore he had also a Pastors place in Leiden profered him Wallaeus thought that he might not resist this call because he was not so much to form one Church by it as to prepare Pastors for many nor so much to govern one Church as to assist with his counsels all the Belgick Churches September the tenth he preached his farewel Sermon which filled his people with sighs and tears so that it seemed rather that children were to part with their Father then people with their Pastor During his abode at Middleborough he much wanted his health being troubled with Rheumes Collick Feavers and other Diseases Sometimes also having an intermitting Pulse the cause whereof was partly hereditary from his Mother and partly by reason of studying so soon after meals scarce affording any rest to his minde or food for the refreshing of his body yet a healthful and diligent wife much cheered him up He had seven children five daughters and two sons whereof two dyed very young the other he took much pleasure and delight in September the nineteenth he removed with all his family to Leiden where he was entertained honorâ—bly with a Publicâ— Feast by the Magistrate with much congratulation by thâ— University and very heartily by his old friends At Leâ—den he was presently graced with the Degree of a Doctor without any Examination which is used at other times October the 21. being to begin his Professorship he made an Oratios about the right regulating the study of Divinity which was received by a great Auditory with the great applause of all yet it presently displeased himself because he observed that many things are excellently conceived which cannot be brought into practise Presently after came Anthony Thysius and not long after him Andrew Rivet out of France to adorn the Profession of Divinity who as they were all men of great note so by their excellent parts they made that Faculty far more famous Each of them had his several gifts wherein he excelled Thysius in Memory and Wallaeus and Rivet in Judgement and Polyander in dexterity of performance In actions Thysius was fervent Wallaeus full of vigor Rivet was somewhat slower and Polyander very calm c. The first care of these men was to prevent all discord in matters of Divinity wherefore they testified their mutual agreement by subscribing the Catechism of Heidleberg and the Belgick Confession of Faith They resolved that none of them would pass his judgement about any Controversie in Divinity about the Government of the Church and in cases of Conscience apart but by mutual consulting each with other That no Theses should be publickly disputed of till all had seen and approved them That no book should be printed till all had examined and consented thereto The like care they took to train up young Students to the same unanimity in Religion for which end they agreed upon one rule and method by which all their studies should be directed And because these Controversies with the Remonstrants had occasioned the fuller clearing of many points in Divinity and had taught them to speak more cautiously in many things Therefore in their Publick Disputations they went over the whole Body of Divinity out of which they published their Book which they called Synopsis purioris Theologâ—â— Having thus setled the affairs of the University in good order they began to consider what enemies they had abroad against whom the Truth was to be defended And they found that they must answer John Arnoldi Corvinus who had written a great Volume against Peter Du Moulin They must answer the Remonstrants also who in a Book called Acta Synodalia Remonstrantium had inserted such things as might confirm their own opinions and invalidate the opinions of the Contra-Remonstrants And this task they all agreed Wallaeus should undertake who afterwards published an answer to both those Books whereby he gat very great credit not only amongst his own but amongst the French English and Scots and for a long time silenced the Remonstrants In the mean time these worthy men neglected not to make their Professors places very famous The Old Testament was expounded by Rivet and Thysius the New by Polyander But Wallaeus was imployed in reading Common places which was accounted the more grateful and more worthy imployment In these Common places he did not cull out here and there one head but went over the whole Body of Divinity handling each head fully but principally insisting upon those Controversies or difficulties wherewith the Church was most molested Yet stood he not upon answering all Arguments of the Adversaries but chose out those which had most weight in them by answering whereof the other fell of themselves But he was most copious and acurate in the Modern Controversies as De Deo against Vorstius De Sabbatho De Praedestinatione of the Authority of Magistrates in Ecclesiastical affairs and such like concluding all not so much by the strength of Humane Reason as by the clear Word of God whereupon the greatest confluence of Auditors attended upon Wallaeus And one of his Colleagues thinking that he had so many Auditors because he read Common places he also fell upon the same subject but when he saw that he labored in vain he gave it over again But seeing it was not enough for them thus to instruct their Auditors in the knowledge of Divinity except also they prepared the Candidates for the Ministry enabling them rightly to defend the Truth and to enervate the Adversaries Arguments This therefore they effected by Disputations wherein all were very diligent but especially Wallaeus and Pâ—lyander Wallaeus would not suffer those things to be propounded for Disputation wherein the Reformed might freely differ amongst themselves He would not suffer the Opponents to object vain things which were unprofitable He would not suffer them to oppose immodestly to the scandal of the hearers But he would have the Defendant clearly repeat the Opponents Argument and then not only to give a bare answer but to demonstrate the solidity of it Truly Wallaeus in his Lectures deserved great