to Athens Act. 17. and espying an Altar there with this inscription Ignoto Deo took occasion from thence to Preach of the true God of the Resurrection and Judgement to come whereupon by the great Philosophers of that City he was accounted a wicked and sacrilegious person for which he was carryed by them to Mars his hill where the Court of the Areopagites sat which was the chiefest Judicatory in that City But before those Judges he preached with such Divine eloquence and forcible arguments that through Gods mercy he converted this Dionysius the chief President of the Judges with Damaris his wife who used Paul very courteously and were instructed by him in the knowledg of our Lord Jesus Christ. At which the whole City was much amazed for all men accounted Dionysius a very wise and judicious man But now he was not ashamed of a Master to become a Scholar so that within 3 years space he became an admirable instrument to propagate the Gospel of our Saviour Jesus Christ. Then was he by Paul ordained Pastor of the Church at Athens where for a good while he preached the Word of God with great wisdom zeal and diligence and as a wife Harvest-man brought in many Sheaves of Corn into Gods Barn Afterwards he went to Ephesus to visit S. John and S. Paul by whose perswasion leaving one Publius to look to his flock at Athens he went to Rome at which time Clemens governed that Church And having conversed a while with Clemens he intreated him to go into France to preach the Gospel there and to give knowledge of Salvation to that Nation This he willingly undertook and judging Paris to be the fittest place to reside in he so laboured amongst them that in a short space through Gods blessing he brought many Sheep into the fold of Christ and that not only of the meaner sort but many Rich Noble and Great Persons who overthrowing the Temples of their false gods erected new places for the service of the true God But this progress of the Gospel being envied by Satan the enemie of Christs Church he stirred up the Idolatrous Priests who suborned many to dispatch Dionysius but there was such a gracious lustre and radiancy in his countenance that when they beheld him some of their hearts failed them others were so affrighted that they fled away Shortly after Sisinius the Praefect gave command that Dionysius with his fellows should be apprehended and when he was brought before him he sharply reproved him for that he had preached against the Worship of their gods who by reason of his Sermons had lost their former honour and esteem He therefore required him to confess his error and to stop up that breach which he had made leaving off those novelties and unheard of Doctrines that by his recantation the people might see how vainly they had been seduced and so return to their antient Rites and Customs again To this Dionysius with great zeal wisdom and eloquence answered That they were no gods whom they worshipped but Idols and the works of mens hands and that it was through meer Ignorance Folly and Idolatry that they adored them Adding that there was but one true God according as he had preached At which words Sisinius was exceedingly incensed commanding him to be laid upon an hurdle and a gentle fire to be made under him to roast him Some others relate that he was thrown to hungry wild Beasts which yet would not tear him Then that he was put into an hot Oven which would not burn him Whereupon he was the second time brought before Sisinius who caused him publikely to be beaten with many and cruel blows by his Officers and when this prevailed not he standing up said Seeing thou hast contemned our gods derided the Emperors Edicts and by Magick hast wrought many Miracles to delude the people whereby thou hast seduced them from the obedience of the Emperor I will therefore that thou shalt be forthwith beheaded Dionysius nothing terrified herewith told him that he worshipped such gods as would perish like dung upon the Earth but as for my self said he Come life come death I will worship none but the God of Heaven and Earth This so enraged the Praefect that he commanded him presently to be executed whereupon he was haled out of the City to the top of an high Mountain and delivered to the Officers to be tormented which was accomplished with all the cruelty that could be Then lifting up his eyes and hands to heaven he said O Lord God Almighty thou only begotten Son and Holy Spirit O sacred Trinty which art without beginning and in whom is no division Receive the soul of thy servant in peace who is put to death for thâ— Cause and Gospel Which Prayer being ended he was beheaded with a sword which was made dull on purpose that his pain might be the greater He suffered Martyrdom in the reign of Hadrianus Anno Christi 96. and of his own Age 110. He used to say that he desired these two things of God first that be might know the truth himself Secondly that he might preach it as he ought unto others He wrote sundry Epistles as some affirm and some other works all which Scultetus for very good reasons rendred by him judgeth to be spurious JVSTIN MARTYR The Life of Justin Martyr who dyed Anno Christi 139. IVstin Martyr was born at Neapolis in the Country of Palestine His father was Priscus Bachius by whom in his youth he was set to schole where he profited so much that in time he became a famous Philosopher For being exceedingly inflamed with a desire of knowledge he would not be satisfied in his minde till he had gotten Instructors singularly seen in all kinds of Philosophy First he applyed himself to be a Scholar to a certain Stoick but finding that by his help he nothing profited in Divine knowledge after a time he left him and went to one of the Sect of the Peripateticks with whom after he had been a while he demanded of him a stipend for his teaching whereupon Justin accounting him no Philosopher left him and departed And being not yet satisfied in minde but desirous to hear of further learning he adjoined himself to one that professed the Pythagorean Sect a man of great â—ame and one that highly esteemed of himself whom after he had followed a time his Master asked him whether he had any skill in Musick Astronomy and Geometry without the knowledge whereof he said he could not be apt to receive the knowledge of virtue and felicity for that his minde must be drawn from the knowledge of sensible matters to the contemplation of things intelligible He spake much in commendation of these Sciences how profitable and necessary they were and because Justin declared himself to have no skill therein he turned him away which much grieved Justin who
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
menaces let all such know that the Church of the Lord will oppose them and that the Tents of Christ will prove immovable and not to be conquered by them His fidelity will notably appear by his Epistles wherein he excellently comforts the afflicted recalls such as were faln or commends the care of them to other Bishops of the Church vigorously opposeth the Hereticks and Schismaticks Neither was he only a Spectator of the Martyrdom of others but suffered himself to be proscribed yea chose death rather then to betray the truth of the Gospel or to approve of the least defection to the impious worship of the Gentiles By these means his fame increased so exceedingly that he was not so much the Bishop of Carthage as of all Africk yea of Spain the East West and Northern Churches Yea he was judged the Father of all Christians And to the further setting forth to the praise of Gods grace of his glorious vertues wherewith he was endued appearing as well in his own works as described by other worthy Writers he was courteous and gentle loving and full of patience and therewithal severe and impartial in his Office Furthermore he was most affable and kinde towards his Brethren and took much pains in helping and releiving the Martyrs Yea he wrote Letters to the Elders and Deacons of his Bishopwrick that with all study and endeavour they should gently entertain and do all the Offices of love that possibly they could to the Martyrs in his absence He was very prudent and circumspect Of a marvellous liberal disposition towards the Brethren that fled for refuge from other Countries and so often as he had cause of absence he committed the care of those poor men to his fellow Officers writing to them that of their own proper goods they should help their banished Brethren to that which was necessary for them He had also great skill in the fore-knowledge of future events He was of so communicative a disposition that he concealed nothing which he knew but with meekness and willingness uttered it to others He maintained Ecclesiastical Peace and Concord with those that differed from him in smaller matters Lastly he neither circumvented nor did prejudice to any man but did that which always seemed good in his judgement He much addicted himself to reading and would let no day pass wherein he read not some part of Tertullians Works and when he called for him he used to say Da Magistrum Give me my Master He chiefly studied to keep his body continent and clean from fleshly lusts saying That then his heart would be truly sit to attain to the full capacity and understanding of the Truth if once he could trample down Concupiscence A great Persecution being raised against the Church of Christ by Aemilianus President of Egypt Paternus and Galerius Maximus Proconsuls of Africk Cyprian sheweth the true causes thereof in his fourth Book Epist the fourth in these words We saith he must acknowledge and confess that this turbulent oppression and calamity which hath wasted for the most part all our Church and doth dayly more and more consume it ariseth chiefly from our own wickedness and sins whilst we walk not in the way of the Lord nor observe his Precepts left unto us for our instruction Our Lord Christ observed the will of his Father in all points but we observe not the will of the Lord having all our minde and study set upon lucre and possessions we are given to pride full of emulation and dissention void of simplicity and faithful dealing renouncing this World in word only but not in deed every man pleasing himself and displeasing all others and therefore are we thus scourged and that worthily for what stripes and scourges do we not deserve when as the Confessors themselves who formerly enaured the trial of their Faith and ought to be an example to the rest in well doing do now observe no Discipline And therefore for their sakes who proudly brag with swelling words of their former Confession and Sufferings these torments come even such as do not easily send us to the Crown except by the mercy of God some being taken away by a quick death do prevent the tediousnes of punishment These things do we suffer for our sins and deserts as by the Lords threatning we have been forewarned where he saith If they shall forsake my Law and will not walk in my Judgements If they shall prophane my Institutions and will not observe my Precepts I will visit their iniquities with the rod and their transgressions with scourges These rods and scourges we justly feel who neither please God with our good deeds nor repent of the evil wherefore saith he let us pray from the bottom of our hearts and with our whole minde and let us intreat his mercy who promiseth that his loving kindness shall not be wholly taken away Let us ask and we shall obtain and though we be delayed yet seeing we have grievously offended let us continue knocking for he hath promised that to them that knock it shall be opened therefore with our Prayers sighs and tears let us still knock and we shall be sure to speed c. And in another part of his Epistle he shews what vices were principally reigning amongst the Christians viz. grievous divisions and dissentions amongst the Brethren For when these words were spoken to them in a Vision Petite impetrabitis Pray and ye shall obtain afterwards when it was required of the Congregation to direct their Prayers unto God in the behalf of certain persons assigned to them by name they could not agree about the persons that were to be prayed for but disagreed in their Petitions which thing did greatly displease God that spake unto them Pray and ye shall obtain because they were not uniform in voice and heart neither was there one joint consent amongst the Brethren Upon which occasion Cyprian moveth them to Prayer with mutual agreement For saith he if it be promised in the Gospel that whatsoever two or three shall agree upon to ask upon Earth it shall be granted in Heaven what shall then be done when the whole Church agree together Or what if this Unanimity were amongst the whole Fraternity which Unanimity if it had been amongst the Brethren Non venissent fratribus haec mala si in unum fraternitas fuisset animata i. e. These evils had not befaln the Brethren if they had joined together in brotherly Unanimity Cyprian having thus described the causes of this Persecution sets down a Vision wherein was shewed unto him by the Lord before the Presecution came what should happen The Vision saith he was this There was a certain aged Father sitting at whose right hand sat a young man very sad and pensive as one that with indignation is sorrowful with his hand upon his breast and an heavie countenance On the other hand sat a person having a Net in
Theodosius he was so grievously incensed against the Citizens of Thessalonica that he sent an Army against them and slew seven thousand of them even the innocent amongst the guilty without ever examining the fact and proceeding judicially against the nocent And presently after he went into the West against the Tyrant Maximus whereof you may read the story in my second Part of the Marrow of Ecclesiastical History in the life of Theod. senior And having obtained a wonderful victory he went to Millain but as he was about to enter into the Church Ambrose met him at the door and said unto him It s very likely O Emperour that you know not the greatness of that murther that was committed by you neither after your anger was appeased did you by reason weigh the greatness of your crime For it may be the greatness of your Imperial Dignity would not suffer you to acknowledge your sin but your Power blindes your Reason For you ought to consider the weakness and frailty of our Humane Nature and to bend your Eyes upon our Mother Earth from which you had your Original and into which you must return neither ought you by reason of the splendor of your Purple garments to be ignorant of the weakness of that body which is shrowded in them Consider further that you rule over those who are partakers of the same Nature with you and therefore are your fellow-servants For God the Creator of the Universe is Lord and King of all men With what eyes then can you behold his Temple who is Lord of all With what feet can you tread in his Courts How dare you I pray you stretch forth before him those hands which are defiled with murther and unjust bloodshed and with the same receive the Holy Sacrament of Christs Body Or how dare you put his Holy Blood into your mouth which being inflamed with anger commanded unjustly the spilling of so much blood Depart therefore and do not increase your former sin by adding a new one to it but embrace that bond which the Lord of all doth from Heaven impose upon you which bond truly hath force to cure you of the disease of your Soul and of restoring you to health The godly Emperour willingly submitted to him for having been religiously trained up he knew full well what was the duty of Gods Ministers and what was proper for Kings to do in such cases and accordingly returned to his Palace full of sighs and tears And about eight moneths after the Feast of Christs Nativity being to be celebrated the Emperour sate still in his Palace giving himself to lamentations and pouring out abundance of tears which Ruffinus the Master of his Hall taking notice of being very dear unto the Emperour went to him and asked him the cause of his weeping Then the Emperour mourning more bitterly and pouring out more abundance of tears said Surely Ruffinus thou dost but mock me or knowest not with how great misery I am afflicted For I sigh and bewail my calamity whilst I consider in my minde how open the Church is to my servants yea to beggars who have free leave to pour out their Prayers before God But not only that place but even Heaven it self is shut up against me For that saying of our Saviour comes into my minde Whose sins you bind on Earth shall be bound in Heaven To this Ruffinus answered therefore if it please you I will run to the Bishop I will intreat beseech and perswade him to free you from this bond But I fear said the Emperour that he will not hearken to you For I know that Ambrose's sentence is so just and equal that he will not violate the Law of God for fear of the Imperial Power But when Ruffin was not yet satisfied promising that he would prevail with Ambrose the Emperour bade him run quickly and himself hoping that Ruffin might prevail immediately followed him But as soon as Ambrose saw Ruffin he said unto him Thou seemest unto me Ruffin to imitate the impudency of dogs For although by thy perswasion that cruel slaughter was committed yet thou hast so steeled thy Face that thou art not ashamed neither art thou grieved that by so great madness thou ragedst against the Image of God But when Ruffin had earnestly entreated him to be pacified and told him that the Emperour would presently be there Ambrose being kindled with an holy zeal said I profess Ruffin that I will forbid him entrance into the Church and if he will turn his Power into Tyranny I am willing to be slain by him Ruffin hearing these things presently sent a messenger to the Emperour intreating him to stay in his Palace The Emperour meeting with this message in the Market place said Yet I will go that I may undergo his just reproofs which are due to me And when he came to the Church door he entred not but went to the Bishop desiring him to absolve him from his Excommunication But Ambrose told him that his coming was Tyrannical and that he was enraged against God and trampled his Laws under his Feet To whom the Emperour answered I do not oppose those Laws with an obstinate minde neither do I desire wickedly to enter into the Church but I intreat thee to absolve me and to set before thine eyes the clemency of him who is Lord of all things neither shut thou those doors against me which he opens to all that truly repent of their sins To which Ambrose answered What repentance dost thou shew after so grievous a sin committed What medicines hast thou applyed for the healing of such great wounds It is thy part said the Emperour to prepare the medicine to apply it and when the wound is cured to remove it It 's my part to follow thy directions Then said Ambrose Because thou gavest way to thy anger and didst not temper it with reason but pronouncedst sentence with an inflamed minde I desire that thou make a Law that all sentences pronounced in anger shall be void and that in all causes which concern death or confiscation of goods thirty days intervene between the sentence and execution that so if there be just cause the sentence may be revoked and that at the end of the thirty days they which writ thy sentence shew it thee that so laying aside all anger thou mayst weigh the cause with judgement and so either establish it or make it void The Emperour judging this most prudent counsel willingly imbraced it and presently commanded a Law to be Enacted which he confirmed by his subscription which being done Ambrose absolved him and the Emperour presently entring the Church sell prostrate pronouncing that verse of the Psalm My soul cleaveth to the dust quicken me according to the Word and then with many tears and testimonies of sorrow he begged pardon and afterwards was made partaker of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper Upon a time a certain Witch
to have her taken away from him saying That he had rather endure the hand of God then to be cured by the power of the Devil And God had respect to the zeal of the boy for presently after he was freed from his pain What money was given him whilst he was thus young he privately gave it away to the Poor When he was grown to be a young man his Mother having seen him to exceed her expectation falling sick quietly resigned up her spirit unto God And Bernard began now to grow famous for his strict course of life elegancy of feature sweet manners sharp wit and eloquent tongue so that many opportunities were put into his hand whereby he might have attained to great dignity in the World Hereupon the Devil who watcheth all opportunities to do mischief laid his snares for him seeking to draw him to uncleanness and presenting an object whilst Bernard for a time fixed his eyes too firmly upon her he began to feel the burnings of his youthly lusts to stir in him but quickly coming to himself he blushed for shame and purposing revenge he presently ran into a Pool the weather being cold up to the neck where he continued till he was almost starved thereby quenching that inward flame which before scorched him and withall studying how to avoid such snares and temptations for the time to come he resolved to enter into a Monastery of the Cistercians which was the strictest Order of Friers perswading himself that there he might live retired from the World and enjoy the freer Communion with God But this purpose of his coming to the Ears of his Brethren and Friends they laboured by all means to disswade him exhorting him rather to continue in his studies of Humane Learning which might bring him to preferment in the World This tentation had almost prevailed with him till the remembrance of his Mothers purpose and care to set him apart for the service of God came into his minde and then retiring into a private place he poured out his Prayers well watered with tears unto God seeking unto him for direction and counsel and from that day forward he was confirmed in his resolution and could by no means be removed from the same Yea his zeal was such that he rested not till he had perswaded four of his Brethren to leave the world and all their worldly preferments and to join with him in the same course of life And when they had taken their leave of their Father and were going towards the Monastery they saw their youngest Brother Nivard a boy playing amongst boys to whom Guido the elder Brother said Farewel Brother Nivard behold we leave to you all our Earthly possessions But he presently answered You will take Heaven and leave me the Earth this is no equal division And so going home to his Father after a while he resolved to leave all and to enter into the same course of life with his Brethren which he did accordingly These Brethren being thus entred into the Monastery lived under the government of one Steven who was their Abbot which was Anno Christi 1113. and in the 22 year of Bernards age When Bernard entred into this course of life he intended wholly to sequester himself from the World but God intended otherwise who had prepared him to be a Vessel of honour for his own glory This Bernard knew not and therefore lived privately in his Cell spending his time in Study Meditation and Prayer often saying to himself Bernard Bernard Remember for what end thou camest hither He allowed himself very little time for sleep often complaining that all that time was lost and indeed in so sparing a dyet as he used there was need of the less sleep for he never indulged himself in either neither eating nor sleeping to saciety Yea by his rigid abstinence he so weakned his stomach that he was scarce able to retain food when he had eaten it and that little which he did retain served rather to retard death then to prolong his life yet all this while be remitted nothing of his studies and labors Insomuch as he equalled the other Monks in digging of the ground felling of wood and carrying it home upon his shoulders and when his strength failed he busied himself about meaner services and whensoever he had any intermission he spent his time in Prayer and reading the Sacred Scriptures which afterwards in the midst of his bodily labors he meditated over again He read also the best Expositors yet took far more delight in the Fountain then in these streams whereby he became very mighty in the Scriptures which stood him in great use when afterwards he became a Preacher Shortly after Steven sent forth some of these Brethren to build the Monastery of Claraeval appointing Bernard to be their Abbot The place was in the Territory of the Lingones not far from the River Alba where they lived in penury hunger thirst cold watchings and prayer and Bernard understanding that the Ministry of the Word was much wanting in that Country burning with a zeal to save souls resolved to set upon that work and seeking one by whom he might be ordained Minister he pitched upon the Bishop of Catalonia to whom when he came and had conversed a while with him there grew a very strict bond of friendship betwixt them After his Ordination he was very frequent and fervent in Preaching the Word of God wheresoever he came whereby he grew very famous Yet Otho Bishop shop of Frising who was his contemporary blameth him for three things 1. For his jealousie which carryed him away with wrong conceits 2. For credulity or lightness of belief giving Ear to tale-bearers and lyars with too much facility which made him so earnest against the Gospellers who were better men then himslef 3. For prejudice especially against Learned men who by the help of Art soared alost like Eagles beyond the pitch of his capacity For though himslef had an excellent natural wit yet he was little studied in the Arts and Sciences and whosoever went not in the rode way of Learning submitting his reason to the Dictates and Pharses of the Roman Church him would Bernard suspectior an Heretick Anno Christi 1153. he fell sick and wrote this Letter to Arnold Abbot of Boneval who desired to know how he did in his sickness We received your love in love faith he and not in pleasure For what pleasure can there be where pain and bitterness challengeth all unto it self Only it s a little delightful to me to eat nothing Sleep hath departed from me that sorrow and pain may never depart from me by the benefit of my senses lulled asleep The want of a stomach is almost all that I suffer only it requireth often both day and night to be comforted With a very little liquor What soever it be But if at any time I admit of
the vain phancies of phanatick persons cleaving to the Truth without deviation He shunned in his Sermons strange and uncouth expressions by which erroneous persons oft disturb the peace of the Church He always opposed the Anabaptistical Errors and was very careful to preserve the Truth from corruptions He often contemplated the footsteps of God in Nature saying with Paul That God was so near unto us that he might almost be felt with our hands He studyed the Mathematicks in his latter time and grew so skilful therein that few excelled him He was excellent also in the Opticks but with his excessive pains and incessant studies night and day he contracted to himself a mortal disease whereby he wasted away and yet his intellectuals decayed not he lay sick for above three months all which time he gave forth clear and notable demonstrations of his Faith Patience and Piety He called up his two young daughters and caused them to repete their Prayers before him and then himself prayd with great fervency for himself the Church and those his Orphans concluding Invoco te quanquam languidâ imbecillâ fide sed fide tamen credo promissioni tuae quam sanguine tuo resurrectione obsignasti c. I call upon thee with a weak yet with a true Faith I believe thy promises which thou hast sealed to me with thy Blood and Resurrection c. In his sickness he intermitted not his studies for during the same he turned into Latine Luthers books concerning the last words of David he read he Psalms and other Authors His ordinary discourse with his friends was about the Principles of Religion the admirable government of the Church Immortality and our sweet Communion in Heaven Upon the sixth of November there was a great Chasm or opening in the Heavens and in some places fire fell to the Earth and flew up into the ayr again This Cruciger saw as he lay in his bed in the night and thereupon much bewayled the great commotions and dissipations in the Church with he forelaw by this Prodigie He spent the few days which remained in Prayer and Repentance and so quietly ended his days Nov. 16. Anno Christi 1548. and of his Age 45. Considering the mutability of all Earthly things he used often to say Omnia praetereunt praeter amare Deum Besides Gods love nothing is sure And that for ever doth endure He was a man of an excellent wit whose daily and indefatigable labors were not only very useful to the University of Wittenberg but even to forraign Nations and Churches He had a plentiful knowledge of the Celestial Doctrine which by his ardent Piety and assistance of the Holy Ghost was daily encreased in him He was so exact and ready in the Hebrew tongue that he easily excelled all others that joined with him in the translation of the Bible In his Sermons and speeches he had a sound Judgement joyned with an Eloquent Tongue He shewed the greatness of his minde by his exact knowledge and skill in the Mathematicks wherein he was deservedly accounted inferiour to none And these gifts he adorned with many other excellent vertues with gravity constancy and moderation in every condition with bounty toward strangers and hearty love to his friends He published sundry Commentaries upon the Psalms Iohn and the first Epistle of Paul to Timothy Lectures upon two Articles of the Nicene Creed He turned many of Luthers Lectures and Sermons out of Dutch into Latine and others out of Latine into Dutch The Life of Matthias Zellius who dyed Anno Christi 1548. MAtthias Zellius was born in Alsatia in a Town called Keisersberg Anno Christi 1477. and was trained up in Learning by his Parents from his childhood and afterwards set to the Publick Schools From whence he went to the University where his proficiency was very exemplary And being well grounded in the Arts he commenced Master of Arts and then applyed himself to the study of Divinity Not long after he went to Strasborough where he was Ordained a Minister and Anno Christi 1522. he was made Pastor of S. Lawrence Church At which time Luthers Doctrine spreading abroad Zellius compared it with the Doctrine of his Adversaries the Papists and upon mature deliberation and examination imbraced that of Luther whereupon he began publickly to defend it perswading the Citizens of Strasborough to entertain it Assoon as the Bishop heard hereof he cited him to appear in his Court and caused twenty four Articles to be drawn up against him amongst which these were some That he taught Iustification by Faith That be defended Luther That he Preached against the Mass Held the Marriage of Priests lawful Denyed the Primacy of the Bishop of Rome and Humane Traditions Hereupon Zellius An. Chr. 1523. published a Book wherein he answered this charge justified his Doctrine and shewed reasons why he appeared not before the Bishop From this time forward he was much hated by the Popish Clergy and went through many dangers for asserting the Truth yet through Gods mercy he with some others so far prevailed that the Magistrates of Strasborough cast our Popery and embraced the Reformed Religion Anno Christi 1529. Zellius therefore was the first Preacher of the Truth in te Church of Strasborough To whom after a good while Symphorianus an ancient Pastor of S. Martins Church adjoined himself who formerly had been very loose in his carriage and therefore the people did the more admire this great change in him yea some of his former acquaintance led by his example did shake off Popery and embraced the Truth and truly these two were rather Popular Preachers then learned Yet Zellius was a man of singular piety And not long after Anthony Firnius Minister of S. Thomas Church joined himself to them and was the first Minister in that City that marryed a wife Yea after a while there came thither Martin Bucer Capito and D. Gaspar Hedio learned and eminent men who more strongly carryed on the work of Reformation in Strasborough viz. An. Chr. 1523. Zellius continued a faithful and painful Pastor in his Church till the year 1548. and of his Age 71. at which time it pleased God to translate him from Earth to Heaven after he had been a Preacher in Strasborough about 26 years He was a man famous not for Learning only but for other Christian vertues especially Modesty Temperance and Charity He had a good wit was of an Innocent and blameless Life Preached the Truth purely and was free from pride Not only a Theoretick but a Practical Divine What he taught he first practised himself and had a special care of the Poor Being on a time invited to supper by one of his Colleagues he found much Plate set upon his Cupboard at which he was so offended that he went away without his supper and afterwards in private so far
whose Sermons not only the Protestants but many of the Papists were present to hear what and how he taught And indeed both sides commended his study of Peace For he exhorted them to compose their differences not by arms nor mutuall slaughters but by the Disputations of their Divines But God would not suffer his wholsome counsell to take effect at that time For they came to a battell wherein the Popish party prevailed and thereupon Bullinger together with his Father Brother and Colleague Gervase were commanded to depart except they would undergoe the present hazard of their lives Whereupon beginning their journey in the night through Gods providence they escaped the snares which were layd for them by their adversaries and came safely to Zurick Anno Chrâ—â— 1531 and three daies after at the request of Leo Judae with his Colleagues Bullinger preached in the chiefe Church and was entertained by one Werner Steiner his ancient friend that was fled to Zurick for Religion Anno Christi 1532. The Church of Basill wanting a Pastor by the death of Oecolampadius desired Bullinger and at the same time also the Bernates sent for him thither But the Senate of Zurick would by no means part with him choosing him Pastor in the room of Zuinglius who was slaine in the late battell and who had desired before he went into the field with the Army that if any thing befell him otherwise then well Bullinger might succeed him in his office He being thus called to this work in a dangerous time did his endeavour to comfort and rais up the hearts of Gods people under those great afflictions And whereas the Popish adversaries boasted that their Religion was false because they of Zurick were beaten and Zuinglius slain He wrote That the Truth of Religion was not to be judged by the prosperity or adversitie of the Professors of it He took care also to have Synods twice a year to maintain concord and unity in Doctrine and Discipline as Zuinglius had begun before him And finding a great defect of Godly Ministers in the jurisdiction of the Tigurins he tooke care that so many should bee trained up in Religion and Learning as might supply that defect and where there was a want of maintainance he prevailed with the Senate of Zurick to make up a competency out of the Publick Treasury He caused the Publick Library of that City to be set in order by Pellican and by buying Zuinglius his books to be encreased And having gotten Bibliander for his Colleague he wholly applyed himself to his publick Ministry and to writing Commentaries at home Anno Christi 1532 Bucer endeavoured a union between Luther and his followers and the Divines of Zurick perswading them that their differences consisted rather in words then in reality At which time the Tigurins shewed themselves to bee desirous of peace so that it was joyned wiâ—h truth About this time Bullingers Father died being 64 years old who at his death exhorted his sonne to Constancy in Doctrine and Faith which saith he is the onely way to salvation Anno Christi 1534 Bullinger wrote a Confession of Faith in the name of the Tigurian Churches which was sent to Bucer and to the Synod of the Churches of Suevia then met at Constance and was approved by them About the same time he wrote a Tractate of the Covenant of God against some that denied all testimonies out of the Old Testament As also another wherein he asserted the twofold Nature in Christ against Claudius Allobrog Servetus his Emissary of whose poyson the Helvetian Churches were at that time in some danger And when there was a meeting at Basil for to unite Luther and the Helvetian Churches in their difference about the manner of Christs Presence in the Sacrament Bullinger was there and took much pains for the promoting of it The Magistrates also of Zurick by the perswasion of Bullinger erected a new Colledge Anno Christi 1538 which hee had a great care of all his life after Also by his perswasion the Senate of Zurick erected another School in a place where formerly there had been a Nunnery in which fifteen youths were trained up under a good Master having food raiment books and all other necessaries plentifully provided for them and Bullinger took great care to see their proficiency all his life after About this time Schwenfield a Noble man of Silesia taught That Christ's Humane nature being received into Heaven was so farre Deified that it remained a creature no longer and this error beginning to spread into Swevia Bullinger joining with some others confuted it with much modesty Anno Christi 1541 the Plague brake forth in Zurick of which Bullingers Son and Mother died Anno Christi 1542 Leo Judae's Version of the Bible being finished and printed the Printer sent one of them to Luther fair bound up but Luther wrote back to him that hee should send him no more of the Tigurine Ministers bookes for hee would have nothing to doe with them nor read any of their bookes For said he The Church of God can hold no communion with them and whereas they have taken much pains all is in vain for themselves are damned and they lead many miserable men to hell with them Adding that he would have no communion with their damnable and blasphemous Doctrine and that so long as he lived hee would with his prayers and books oppose them Anno Christi 1544 Luther set forth his Annotations on Genesis in which he inveighed bitterly against the Sacramentarians as he called them saying That Zuinglius Oecolampadius and their disciples were Hereticks and eternally damned Melancthon would fain have hindered it but could not whereupon he wrote to Bullinger telling him how much hee was grieved at this violent proceeding of Luther which he knew was so pleasing to their common adversaries the Papists When this book of Luthers came forth there was much dispute whether it should be answered Bucer was against it because Luther was grown old and had deserved well of the Church but others thought that it would bee a betraying of the Truth not to answer it Wherefore Bullinger was appointed to that work which he accordingly performed with much judgement Anno Christi 1546 Luther dyed and the German Warre beganne betwixt the Emperour and the Protestants at which time many accused the Tigurines by reason of Bullingers book as if they had insulted over Luther after his death and gloryed that he dyed of grief because he could not answer that book Hereupon Philip Lantgrave of Hesse acquainted Bullinger with these reports which when Bullinger had read advising with his Colleagues he returned this answer First giving him thanks for his zeale in endeavouring the peace of the Church and for acquainting him with these rumours Then he told him how much he was grieved for that some turbulent spirits sought by such reports
much affected with it and by writing admonishing and exhorting both at home and abroad endeavoured to assist with his counsell whom he could not by his presence Also Anno Christi 1568 that war waxing hot many out of sundry parts of France fled to Geneva as to a safe harbour amongst whom was Nicolas Beza Praefect of Vezelia brother to Beza by the Fathers side who living a while in Beza's house shortly after dyed of the Plague And not long after Beza's wife fell sick of it yet it pleased God to restore her to health again The same year in the midst of many troubles he wrote his books of Polygamie and Divorces against Bernard Ochin who a little before had published his Dialogues upon these subjects stuffed with errors He wrote also against Flacius Illiricus Anno Christi 1571 peace being setled he was sent for by the Queen of Navar the Admiral and the general vote of the Churches of France to Rochell to a Synod where he was made the Moderator and at which the Confession of Faith of the French-Churches was confirmed and subscribed by the Queen of Navar her sonne afterwards King Henry the 4th and the Prince of Conde And the year after he was sent for to Namures to another Synod where the book of the French Church-Discipline was established Anno Christi 1572 after that bloody Massacre at Paris many of the godly that escaped fled to Geneva amongst whom were the Pastors of fiftie Churches that were wholly dispersed These being stript of all and in great want Beza by his Letters into Germany and England procured such reliefe for them that for three years space in which they lived there they were plentifully and comfortably provided for In that Massacre God was pleased wonderfully to preserve Hen. of Burbon son to the great Lodwick Prince of Conde who thereupon retired into Germany for shelter and staying a while at Strasborough he sent for Beza and employed him to Prince Cassimire the Administrator of the Palatinate And afterwards as this Prince returned into France hee went by Geneva where he conferred with Beza about many weighty matters Beza went on indefatigably in his publick employments revised his Translation and Annotations upon the New Testament and enlarged them wrote against Pappus about the Hypostaticall Union against the railings of Holderus against the calumnies of Andreas Made his Harmony of the Law out the Books of Moses He wrote also of the Notes and Authority of the Catholick Church c. Shortly after the Plague breaking forth in Geneva Beza was much afflicted for the sad condition of the Common-wealth yet he cheared up himself much with the hearty and sincere love and societie which he had with all the Pastors thereof whose unity and unanimity was a great means under God to preserve the happiness of Geneva About the same time five Anabaptists Mechanicks began privately to sow the seed of their errors in Geneva whereupon Beza John Pinaldus Charles Perrot and Anthony Faius were chosen to confer with them and after confutation of their errors they recanted and reformed onely â—ne of them left the City and was heard of no more Anno Christi 1586 there was a Disputation appointed at Mombelgard between the German and Helvetian Divines about the difference betwixt them in some points unto which Beza was sent for and the whole Dispute was betwixt Dr. Andreas and him but in conclusion nothing was effected by it yet they parted lovingly without bitternesse This was after published by Beza The year after his wife dyed with whom hee had lived with much comfort forty years which was a great griefe to him yet afterwards by the advice of his friends he married another one Katharine Plania a godly Matron who was a great comfort to him all his life after About the same time he was called to a Synod held at Bern wherein divers controversies were debated and the errors of Alberius who said That we are justified at Gods Tribunal by inherent righteousness also of Huberus about Predestination and eternall Election were condemned Shortly after he wrote about the Sacraments against Hoffman Published in French his Sermons about the Passion of Christ also on the Canticles which he turned into Lyrick verse answered Genebrards calumnies and revised his translation of the New Testament Anno Christi 1589 France being full of bâ—oils Geneva also was molested by the same whereupon publick prayers were appointed twice a week extraordinary which burthen Beza willingly took upon himself whereupon the other Pastors freed him from his daily Sermonâ— which he used to preach before only he preached once on Sabbath mornings betwixt eight and nine a clock Not long after he began to be troubled with a dissiness in his head insomuch as being to preach on Whitsonday Anno Christi 1597 before the Sacrament as soon as he had made Confession of Sins after their usuall manner he was fain to give over and come out of the Pulpit whose place Faius presently supplyed The like happened to him the week following also whereupon he gave over publick preaching only now and then praying publickly yet would he not bee idle but went on teaching daily in the Schooles yet at last because of his dulness of hearing he abstained from the publick Disputations and Consistorial meetings And to satisfie some Noblemen Germans Bohemians and Polonians who would needs hear him read some Lectures he began a briefe Analysis upon the Epistle to the Romans but after he had done it twice he was fain to leave off Yet did he not wholly desist from preaching till the year 1600 when he preached his last Sermon in January being eighty one years old upon the third Petition of the Lords Prayer Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven He had often in his mouth that saying of Vespafian Imperatorem decet stantem mort Not long after being present at a Consistory he invited all his brethren to supper but they at first refused because there was to be a publick Fast that week and the Magistrates had forbidden all Feasting but he told them that he would get leave of the Magistrates and that he intended not a Feast but a frugal supper rather to feast their minds with their mutual love and society then their bodies with dainties Then they all assented and were entertained by him with all the expressions of brotherly love that could be Many Noblemen and others that came from other countries to study at Geneva would alwaies desire to sojourne with him that they might enjoy his societie That year there was a rumor spread abroad all over Europe by the Jesuits that Beza was dead and that he turned Papist before his death which lye the Pastors of Geneva and himself also by publick writings confuted And discoursing with his friends of it he said That the Jesuits