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
considering with himself what time was requisite for the learning of these Sciences and purposing to defer it no longer betook himself to the Sect of the Platonists for the great fame that ran of them Wherefore choosing to himself a singularly learned man of that Sect that was lately come into those parts he remained with him profiting not a little in contemplation of supernatural things and invisible forms Insomuch as he hoped ere long through the sharpness of his wit to attain to the comprehension and contemplation of God which is the end of Plato's Philosophy And thus he imployed his Youth But afterwards being grown to riper years he was converted to the knowledge and profession of Christianity by this means Beholding the Constancy Courage and Patience of the Christians in their torments and sufferings he was wonderfully moved therewith which made him thus to reason that it was impossible for that kinde of people to be subject to any vice or carnality which would certainly disable them to sustain such sharp adversity and much more the bitterness of death Hereupon naturally affecting Knowledge he began to love and embrace the Christian Religion This himself testifies in the end of his first Apologie telling us moreover that being afflicted in minde about finding out the truth he resolved for more privacy to retire himself unto a Grange neer the Sea-side where he might be free from the concourse of people whither as he went there met him a grave ancient Father of a comly visage and gentle behaviour who began to reason with him and after long disputation told him plainly that there was no knowledge of the truth amongst the Philosophers who neither knew God nor were directed by the Holy Ghost He also further reasoned with him of the immortality of the soul of the reward of the godly and of the punishment of the wicked So that Justin being convinced by his arguments voluntarily assented to him and demanded of him by what means he might attain to the knowledge of the true God The old man counselled him to read and search the Word of God and to adjoin Prayer thereto But what man quoth Justin shall I use for my instructor therein And who shall be able to help me if these Philosophers as you say lack the Truth and are void of the same To which the old Father answered There have been saith he before these Philosophers others more ancient then they who were just men and beloved of God and who spake by the Spirit of God fore-seeing and fore-Prophesying of those things which we now see are come to pass and therefore they are called Prophets These only have known the Truth and revealed it to men neither fearing nor respecting the persons of any They were seduced with no opinions of mans invention but only spake and taught those things which themselves both heard and saw being inspired with the Holy Spirit of God whose Writings and Books are extant out of which the Reader may receive great profit and knowledge of many things As of the first Creation of the World and of the end of the same with all other things that are necessary for us to know Neither in their teachings do they use any demonstrations the things taught being of themselves more certain then that they need any such demonstration the accomplishment of their Prophesies which we see fulfilled constraining us of necessity to believe the words and Doctrine which they have taught Their Doctrine also hath been confirmed by Wonders and Miracles which induce us to give credit to it They preached of God the Creator and Maker of all things They prophesied also before of Christ the Son of God sent to be the Redeemer of the World which the false Prophets seduced by false and wicked Spirits did not but only took upon them to work certain prodigious wonders for men to gaze at that thereby they might gain belief to their false and unclean opinions But remember before all things to make thy Prayers to Almighty God that he will open a gate of light to thee for otherwise the knowledge of these things cannot be attained to by every man but they are revealed only to such to whom God and his Christ give understanding The old Father having declared these and many other things to Justine departed from him exhorting him carefully to follow those things which he had spoken after which he saw him no more But Justine was presently wonderfully inflamed in his minde to know and study the Prophets in comparison of which all other Philosophy now seemed vain and unprofitable to him and so in time he became a Christian and was baptized After this â—e became an earnest defender of the Truth travelling up and down and disputing against all those which were enemies and opposers of it fearing neither peril of life nor danger of death so that he might maintain the Doctrine of Christ against the malitious blasphemers of the same and also increase the number of Christian Believers as may appear by his vehement disputations against the Heathen Philosophers and by the long disputation of his at Ephesus against Tripho and also by his confutations of Hereticks Yea and by his Apologies which with great zeal and courage he exhibited to the Emperour and Magistrates against the Persecutors of the Christians and in their just defence all which do sufficiently testifie the same The first Apologie which he wrote was to the Senate of Rome in which he wrote with great liberty telling them that of necessity he was compelled thus to utter his minde unto them For that in persecuting the Christians they neglected their duty and highly offended God of which they had need to be admonished This Apology he also sent to Antoninus Pius the Emperour Writing also to Vrbicius Leiutenant of the City he told him that he put men to torments and death for no offence committed but only for the confession of the name of Christ which proceedings saith he neither becometh the Emperour nor his Son nor the Senate In the same Apology he also defended and purged the Christians from those crimes which were falsely charged upon them by the Ethnicks In his second Apology writing to Antoninus the Emperour and his successors with like gravity and freedom of speech he declareth unto them how they had the name and repute of vertuous Philosophers maintainers of Justice lovers of Learning c. But whether they were so indeed their Acts declared As for himself he professeth that neither for flattery nor for favour he wrote unto them but that he was constrained to sue unto them for righteousness in their judgements and sentences For saith he it becomes Princes to follow uprightness and piety in their judgements not tyranny and violence He also in plain words chargeth as well the Emperour as the Senate with manifest wrong for that they did not grant to the Christians that which was not denyed to all other
Most High which I also miserable sinner have often tasted and felt whereas before I had spent all that I had upon these ignorant Physitians so that I had little strength left in me less money and least wit and understanding But at last I heard speak of Jesus even then when the New Testament was translated by Erasmus which when I understood to be eloquently done I bought it being allured thereto rather by the elegant Latine then the Word of God for at that time I knew not what it meant and looking into it by Gods special Providence I met with those words of the Apostle S. Paul This is a true saying and worthy of all acceptation that Jesus Christ came into the World to save sinners Whereof I am the chief O most sweet and comfortable sentence to my soul This one sentence through Gods instruction and inward working did so exhilarate my heart which before was wounded with the guilt of my sins and being almost in despair that immediately I found marvellous comfort and quietness in my soul so that my bruised bones did leap for joy After this the Scripture began to be more sweet unto me then the Hony and the Honycomb whereby I learned that all my Travels Fastings Watchings Redemption of Masses and Pardons without Faith in Christ were but as S. Augustine cals them an hasty and swift running out of the right way and as the Fig-leaves which could not cover Adams nakedness Neither could I ever obtain quietness and rest or be eased of the sharp stings and bitings of my sinâ— till I was taught of God that Lesson Joh. 3. 14 15. As Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness even so must the Son of man be lifted up that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have eternal life Assoon as according to the measure of grace given unto me by God I began to taste and rellish this heavenly Lesson which none can teach but God only I desired the Lord to encrease my Faith and at last desired nothing more then that I being so comforted by him might be enabled by his holy Spirit and Grace from above to teach the wicked his ways which are all Mercy and Truth that so sinners might be converted to him by me I did with my whole power teach that all men should first acknowledge their sins and condemn them and afterwards hunger and thirst for that righteousness which is by Faith in Christ c. For these things I have been cryed out of attached and am now cast into Prison though I exhorted all men not so to cleave to outward Ceremonies as to be satisfied therewith and so to loath and wax weary of Christ c. Yet at last through infirmity rather then by conviction he was drawn to abjure and submit himself Anno Christi 1529. After Mr. Bilneys Abjuration which we mentioned before he fell into such terrors of conscience that he was near the point of utter despair and returning to Cambridge he continued under such terrors that his friends were fain to be with him night and day endeavoring to comfort him but all in vain this continued a whole year he was in such anguish that nothing did him good neither eating nor drinking c. yea he thought that all the Word of God was against him and sounded his condemnation But Anno Christi 1531. he began through Gods mercy to feel some comfort being resolved to lay down his life for that Truth which before he had renounced whereupon taking his leave of his friends he went into Norfolk preaching first in private to confirm the Brethren afterwards in the fields confessing his fact and intreating all to beware by him and never to trust to their fleshly friends in the cause of Religion At Norwich he was apprehended and by the Bishop cast into prison whither Dr. Cole and Dr. Stoaks were sent to dispute with him but Bilneys Doctrine and good life so prevailed with Cole that he was somewhat reclaimed and brought to favor the Gospel Also whilst he was at Ipswich there came one Fryar Brusierd to reason with him about those things which he had taught at which time Mr. Bilney told him that the signs and lying wonders attributed by S. Paul to the Pope were those wonders which were dayly wrought in the Church not by the power of God but by the illusions of Satan whereby he labors to draw men to put their Faith in our Lady and other Saints and not in God alone as we are commanded in the holy Scriptures This free speech so incensed the Fryar that he spake thus to him But that I believe and know that God and all his Saints will take everlasting revenge upon thee I would surely with these nails of mine be thy death for this horrible and enormous injury against the pretious blood of Christ. For whereas God saith I desire not the death of a sinner but rather that he should convert and live thou blasphemest him as though he should lay privy snares for us to betray us which were it true we might say with Hugo de Sancta victoria If it be an Error it is of thee O God that we are deceived for these be confirmed with such signs and wonders which cannot be done but by thee alone But I see you rest the Scriptures to a reprobate sense so that I am scarce able to hold mine Eyes from tears hearing these words from you therefore farewel During his latter Imprisonment they used many means to have withdrawn him from his stedfastness which not prevailing he was condemned to death The day before his Execution some friends finding him eating heartily with much cheerfulness and a quiet minde said that they were glad to see him at that time so heartily to refresh himself O said he I imitate those who having a â—uinous house to dwel in yet bestow cost as long as they may to hold it up Discoursing further with them for their edification some put him in minde of the heat of the fire yet told him withal that the comforts of Gods Spirit should cool it to his everlasting refreshing whereupon he putting his finger into the flame of the candle as also he did at divers other times I feel said he by experience that fire is hot yet I am perswaded by Gods holy Word and by the experience of some spoken of in it that in the flame they felt no heat and in the fire no consumption and I believe that though the stubble of my body be wasted yet my soul shall be purged thereby and after short pain will be joy unspeakable alleaging that text Isai. 43. 1 2. The next morning the Officers fetching him to Execution a certain friend intreated him to be constant and to take his death patiently to whom he said I am sailing with the Marriner through a boisterous Sea but shortly shall be in the Haven
give mee strength and his holy spirit that all my adversaries shal be asham'd of their doings Then said his friends Master Dr. we think it not best so to do you have sufficiently done your duty and borne witness to the truth both in your Sermons and in resisting this Popish Priest and therfore seeing our Savior Christ bids us when we are persecuted in one City to flee to another we think that by flying at this time you should doe best reserving your selfe for better times O said D. Tailor I am now old and have already lived too long to see these terrible and wicked dayes You may doe as your consciences serve you but I am resolved not to fly God shall hereafter raise up Teachers which shall with much more diligence and fruit teach then I have done for God will not forsake his Church though for a time he tryeth and correcteth us and that not without just cause His friends seeing his constancy and resolution with weeping eyes commended him to God and so preparing himself he went to London and presented himself to Steven Gardiner Lord Chancellor of England who railed upon him calling him Knave Traitor Heretick asking him if he knew him not c. To whom he answered Yea I know you and all your greatness yetâ— you are but a mortall man and if I should be affraid of your Lordly looks why fear you not God the Lord of us all How dare you for shame look any Christian in the face seeing you have forsaken the truth denyed our Saviour Christ and his word done contrary to your own oath and writing with what countenance can you appear before the judgement seat of Christ and answer for your oath first made to King Henry the eighth and afterwards to King Edward the sixth Gardiner Tush tush that was Herods oath unlawfull and therefore fit to be broken I did well in breaking it and thanke God that I am come home to our Mother the Church of Rome and so I would thou shouldest doe Tailor Should I forsake the Church of Christ which is founded upon the true foundation of the Prophets and Apostles to approve those lyes errors superstitions and idolatries that are approved of most blasphemously by you God forbid Remember that you wrote truly against the Pope and were sworne against him Gardin I tell thee that was Herods oath and our holy Father the Pope hath discharged me of it Tailor But you shall not be so discharged before Christ who doubtlesse will require it at your hands as a lawful oath made to your King from which no man can assoile you Gardiner I see that thou art an arrogant Knave and a very fool Tailor My Lord leave your railing which is unseemly in one that is in your place I am a Christian man and you know that he that call's his brother Fool is in danger of Hell fire Gardiner Yee are false and liers all the sort of you Tailor We are true men and know that God will destroy all them that speak lies and therefore we abide by the truth of Gods word which ye contrary to your own consciences deny and forsake Gardiner Thou art a married man Tailor Yea and I thanke God that I am and have had nine children and all in lawfuâ— matrimony and blessed be God that ordained matrimoâ—y and commanded that all that had not the gift of continency should marry and not live in whoredom and a dultery After some other discourse the Bishop called hi men commanding them to carry him to the Kings Bench requiring his Keeper to keep him strictly Then Doctoâ— Tailor kneeling down and holding up his hands said Good Lord I thanke thee and from the Tyranny of the Bishop of Rome and all his detestable errors and abominations good Lord deliver us So they carried him away to prison where he lay almost two years In Prison he spent his time in praier reading the Scriptures preaching to the prisoners and to other that resorted to him And it pleased God that he found in that prison holy Master Bradford whom he began to exhort to Faith strength and patience and to persevere constantly unto the end Master Bradford hearing this thanked God who had provided him so comfortable a prison-fellow and so they both together praised God and continued in praier reading and exhorting one another Insomuch as Doctor Tailor told his friends that God had provided graciously for him to send him to that prison where he found such an Angell of God to be in his company to comfort him He was diverse times examined of his faith and witnessed a good Confession before his adversaries for which at last he was condemned to die When his sentence was read he told them that God the righteous Judge would require his blood at their hands and that the proudest of them all should repent their receiving againe of Antichrist and their Tyranny against the flock of Christ. He also thus wrote to his friends God be praised since my condemnation I was never affraid to die Gods will be done If I shrinke from Gods truth I am sure of an other manner of death then had Judge Hales But God be praised even from the bottome of my heart I am unmovably setled upon the Rock nothing doubting but that my dear God will performe and finish the work that he hath begun in me and others To him be all honor both now and ever through Christ our onely Saviour Amen After his condemnation Bishop Bonner came to the prison to degrade him bringing all the Massing Garments with him which he commanded him to put on No quoth Doctor Tailor I will not Bonner Wilt thou not I shall make thee ere I go Tailor You shall not by the grace of God Bonner I charge thee on thy obedience to do it Tailor I will not Then the Bishop bad his owne man to put them on his back which when it was done setting his hands by his side he walked up and down and said How say you my Lord am I not a goodly fool If I were in Cheap-side would not all the boies laugh at these apishtoies The Bishop having dispoiled him of all would have given him a stroke on his breast with his Crosier But his Chaplain said My Lord strike him not for he will sure strike again Yea by Saint Peter will I quoth Doctor Tailor The cause is Christs and I were no good Christian if I would not fight in my masters quarrell Then the Bishop cursed him but durst not strike him To whom Doctor Tailor answered Though you curse yet God doth blesse me The next night his Wife Son and Servant came to him where before supper they kneeled down and praied saying the Letany He was sent down to Hadley to be burn'd and all the way as he went he was very merry as one that went to a banquet or Bridal In his
of the everlasting fire at the Day of Judgment and of those endless torments which are reserved for the wicked But why make you all these delays appoint me to what death you please Whilest he spake these things he was replenished with joy and boldness and his countenance appeared so full of grace and gravity that it was evident that he was nothing troubled with the cruel threats of the Proconsul but on the contrary the Proconsul himself began to be amazed and sent for the Cryer commanding him in the midst of the Theater to cry three times Polycarp hath confessed himself to be a Christian Hereupon the multitude both of Jews and Gentiles inhabiting Smyrna cryed out in a great rage Iste Asiae Doctor c. This is that Doctor of Asia the Father of the Christians the Overthrower of our gods who hath taught many that our gods are not to be adored and thereupon they cryed to the Proconsul that a Lyon might be let loose to devour him But he told them that he might not do it for that the game of Beasts was now finished Then they cryed with one voice that Polycarp should be burned alive To which when the Proconsul had assented the multitude forthwith carryed logs and wood out of their Shops and Booths especially the Jews after their wonted manner were very forward herein The pile being prepared Polycarp put off his apparrel the faithful assisting and contending amongst themselves who should touch his body at his farewell Being thus made ready when they would have nailed him to the stake he said Nay suffer me even as I am for he that hath given me strength to come to this fire will also give me patience to persevere therein without your fastning of my body with nails Then they bound his hands behind him which done he prayed thus O Father of thy Wel. Beloved and blessed Son Jesus Christ through whom we have known thee O God of Angels Powers and of every living creature and of just men which live in thy presence I thank thee that thou hast graciously vouchsafed this day and this hour to allot me a portions amongst the number of Martyrs to drink of the Cup of Christ unto the Resurrection of everlasting life both of Body and Soul through the operation of the Holy Spirit amongst whom I shall this day be received into thy sight for an acceptable Sacrifice And as thou hast prepared and revealed this before hand so thou hast now accomplished and fulfilled the same O thou most true God which canst not lye wherefore for all these things I praise thee I bless thee I glorifie thee through the everlasting Bishop and Shepherd of our Souls Christ Jesus to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be all Honour and Glory world without end Amen Having ended his Prayer the tormentors kindled the fire The flame vehemently flashed about which was terrible to the beholders But the slame framing it self after the manner of a vault or sail of a Ship with the blustering blasts of wind touched not the holy Martyrs Body which sent forth a fragrant and sweet smell like unto Frankincense or such like pretious Perfume But the cruel Persecutors perceiving that the fire touched not his body called for a tormentor charging him to thrust him into the side with a spear which being done there issued our such abundance of blood as quenched the fire to the great astonishment of the beholders Then did the Jews stir up Nicetes the Father of Herod and his Brother Dalces to move the Proconsul that his body might not be delivered to the Christians least say they leaving Christ they fall to worship him This they said through their ignorance not knowing that we can never forsake Christ which dyed for our Salvation to worship any other For we worship Christ as the Son of God the Martyrs we love as the Disciples and followers of the Lord and that worthily for the invincible love which they bear to their King and Master c. Hereupon the Proconsul caused his body to satisfie the Jews to be laid upon a pile of wood and burned Irenaeus being young was acquainted with him and writeth of him that Anicetus being Bishop of Rome Polycarp went thither and questioned with him about the celebration of Easter He saith also that there is extant an Epistle of Polycarps unto the Philippians very profitable for such as are careful for their Salvation where they may know the true character of Faith and the right rule of Doctrine It is said of him that he was testis fidelis constansque veritatis A faithful and constant witness to the Truth Nay by his Wisdom Zeal and Piety he recalled many from Heresies and Errors He so detested Hereticks that when Marcion of his former acquaintance met him at Rome and wondering that he took no notice of him said Dost thou not know me Polycarp Yea said he I know thee wel thou art the eldest son to the Divel His manner was to stop his ears if at any time he heard the wicked speeches of Hereticks and to shun those very places where such speeches had been uttered He suffered Martyrdom in the seventh year of Verus Anno Christi 170. of his Age 86. In the midst of the flames he made this excellent Prayer O God the Father of thy Beloved Son Jesus Christ through whom we have received the knowledge of thee O God the Creator of all things upon thee I call thee I confess to be the true God Thee I glorifie O Lord receive me and make me a companion of the resurrection of thy Saints through the merits of our great High Priest thy Beloved Son Jesus Christ to whom with the Father and God the Holy Ghost be honour and glory for ever Amen He was a Bishop about 63 years Herom writing of him saith that he was in great esteem through all Asia for that he was Scholar to the Apostles and to them that did see and were conversant with Christ himself and therefore his authority was of great credit not only with his own Church but with all other Churches about him There is extant an Epistle of his to the Philippians but Scultetus judgeth it spurious The Life of Dionysius Areopagita who dyed Anno Christi 96. DIonysius Areopagita was born at Athens of eminent Parents he was very studious He travelled into Egypt to get skill in Astronomie At the age of 25 years at Heliopolis whilest he lived with Apollophanes the Philosopher he saw that general Eclipse of the Sun at our Saviours passion and as one amazed said Aut Deus naturae patitur aut mundi machina dissolvetur Either the God of Nature now suffers or the frame of the World shall be dissolved And to another Ignotus in carne patitur Deus c. God unknown in the flesh doth suffer for whose sake the Universe is covered with this thick darkness Saint Paul coming
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
Souls Where is he that went down from Jerusalem to Jericho which salved and cured him which was wounded by the Theives Seek me out O Lord that am faln from the higher Jerusalem which have broken the vow I made in Baptism which have prophaned my Cognisance in that I dealt injuriously with thy blessed Name Alâ—ss that ever I was Doctor and now occupie not the room of a Disciple Thou knowest O Lord that I fell against my will whereas I went about to enlighten others I darkened my self when I endeavoured to bring others from death to life I brought my self from life to death When I minded to present others before God presented my self before the Devil When I desired to be found a friend and favourer of godliness I was found a foe and furtherer of iniquity when I set my self against the Assemblies of the wicked and reproved their doings there found I shame and the most pestilent wound of the Devil Some promised me to be Baptized but after that I departed from them the Devil the same night transformed himself into an Angel of Light and said into me When thou art up in the morning go on and perswade them and bring them to God But the Devil going before me prepared the way by whetting their wits to devise mischief against me silly-wretch sowing in their mindes hypocrisie dissimulation and deceit But I O unhappy creature skipping out of my bed at the dawning of the day could not finish my wonted Devotion neither accomplish my usual Prayers desiring that all men might be saved and come to the knowledge of the Truth whilest in the mean time I wrapped my self in the snares of the Devil I gat me to those wicked men I required of them to perform the Covenant made the night before I silly soul not knowing their subtilty and we came to the Baptism O blinded heart how didst thou not remember O foolish minde how didst thou not bethink thy self O witless brain how didst thou not understand But it was the Devil that lulled thee asleep and in the end slew thy unhappy and wretched Soul He bound my power and might and so wounded me I answered but in a word and became reproachfully defamed I spake without malice yet felt I spite The Devil raised an assembly about me and prononnced against me that unjust sentence Origen hath sacrificed O thou Devil what hast thou done unto me How hast thou wounded me I bewailed sometimes the fall of Sampson but now have I faln worse my self I bewailed formerly the fall of Solomon but now have I faln far worse my self I have bewailed formerly the state of all sinners yet now am I plunged into sin my self Sampson had his hair cut off but the Crown of glory is faln off my head Sampson lost the carnal eyes of his body but my spiritual eyes are put out It was the williness of a woman that brought confusion upon him but it was my tongue that brought me into this sinful condition And as he afterwards wanted the comfort of his Earthly possessions so my tongue by this wickedness hath deprived me of those spiritual gifts which sometimes have flowen into me with heavenly riches And as he endured those things by leaving the Israelites and cleaving unto forreiners So I going about to save notorious sinners made my self Captive to Captives and a bondslave unto sin Alass my Church liveth yet I am a Widdower My Sons be alive yet I am barren Every creature rejoyceth and I alone am desolate and sorrowfull c. Bewail me O ye blessed people of God who am banished from God Bewail me who am deprived of all goodness Bewail me who am deprived of the Holy Ghost Bewail me who am thrust out of the Wedding Chamber of Christ. Bewail me who was once thought worthy the Kingdom of God but am now altogether unworthy Bewail me who am abhorred of the Angels and severed from the Saints of God Bewail me for that I am condemned to eternal punishments Bewail me for that I am here on earth and yet am tormented with the prick of conscience I do fear death for that I am wicked I do fear the dreadfull Day of Judgment for that I am damned for ever I do fear the punishment for that it is eternal I do fear the evil Angels that oversee the punishment because they are void of mercy I do fear out of measure all the torments and what I shall do I wot not being thus on every side beset with misery If there be any man that can I beseech him now to assist me with his earnest prayers and sorrowfull tears For now it behoveth me to shed infinite tears for my great sin who knoweth whether the Lord will have mercy upon me and whether he will pitty my fall Whether he will tender my person Whether he will be moved with my desolation Whether he will shew mercy unto me Whether he will have respect to my humiliation and incline his tender compassions towards me I will prostrate my self before the threshold and porch of his Church that I may intreat all people both small and great saying unto them Trample and tread me under foot who am the unsavory salt tread upon me who have no taste nor savour of God tread upon me which am fit for nothing Now let the elders mourn for that the staff whereon they leaned is broken Now let the young men mourn for that their Schoolmaster is fallen Now let the virgins mourn for that the advancer of virginity is defiled Now let the Ministers mourn for that their Patron and Defender is shamefully fallen Wo is me that I fell so lewdly Wo is me that I fell most dangerously and cannot rise again Assist me O holy Spirit and give me grace to repent Let the fountains of tears be opened and gush out into streams to see if that peradventure I may have the grace worthily throughly to repent and to wipe out of the Book of my conscience the accusations Printed therein against me But thou O Lord think not upon my polluted lips neither weigh thou the tongue that hath uttered lewd things but accept of my repentance affliction and bitter tears the dolour of my heart and heaviness of my soul and have mercy upon me and raise me up out of the mire of corruption for the puddle thereof hath even choaked me up Wo is me that was sometimes a pearl glistering in the golden garland of glory but now am thrown into the dust and trodden in the mire of contempt Wo is me that the salt of God now lieth on the dunghill But how great streams of lamentations shall cleanse and purifie my humble heart Now I will address my self and turn my talk unto God Why hast thou lifted me up and cast me down For as thou hast exalted me with the Divine word of thy Heavenly wisdom so me thinks I stick in the depth of sin which my self hath wrought I had not committed this
impiety unless thou hadst withdrawn thine hand from me But it is thy pleasure O Lord which art good to do all things graciously and I on the other side being a fool have foolishly fallen But why O Lord hast thou shut my mouth by thy holy Prophet David Haâ—e I been the first that sinned Or am I the first that fell Why hast thou thus forsaken me being desolate and rejected and banished me from amongst thy Saints and astonished me when I should preach thy Laws What man is he that is born of woman that sinneth not What man is he that was ever conversant here on earth and did no iniquity Thus I say because thou hast forsaken me David himself who hath shut up my mouth sinned too bad in thy sight yet upon his repentance thou receivedst him to mercy Peter that was a pillar after his fall wiped it away with salt tears not continuing long in the puddle of his infidelity But they in favour were thought worthy of mercy Wo is me that I fell most wickedly Wo is me that my adventure in this thing proved so unfortunate But now I humbly beseech thee O Lord call me back for that I tread a most perilous and destructive way Grant me that good Guid and Instructer the Holy Ghost that I be not made a pricking Hedge-hog and become an habitation of Devils but that I may tread under foot the devil that trod upon me overcoming his sleights may be again restored to the joys of thy salvation Remember not O Lord the iniquity of thine humble suiter Remember not O Lord mine iniquity who made answer with wicked language Now all ye which behold my wound tremble for fear and take heed that ye slumber not nor fall into the like crime but rather let us assemble together and rendour hearts and provoke streams of tears to gush out of our heads for when these run and flow upon the earth there will follow remission of sins the pains will be avoided and the torments shall not be felt I mourn and am sorry from the heart-root O ye my friends that ever I so fell I am fallen and am bruised so that there is no health in me Let the Angels lament over me because of this my dangerous fall Let the Assemblies of the Saints lament over me for that I am severed from their blessed societies Let the holy Church lament over me for that I am wofully declined Let all the people lament over me for that I have my deaths wound I see the clouds in the skie shadowing the light from me and the Sun hiding his bright beams You all do now see that the Prophet David hath shut my mouth I was constrained by the Bishops to speak some words of Exhortation and taking the Book of Psalms into my hands I prayed and opened the Book and I lighted upon this sentence which I am ashamed to repeat yet compelled to pronounce Unto the wicked saith God Why dost thou preach my Laws and takest my Covenant in thy mouth But bewail me and lament this my bitter sorrow bewail me that am in the like case with the reprobate Jews for that which was said unto them by the Prophet now soundeth alike in mine ears What shall I do that am thus beset with manifold mischiefs Alas O death why dost thou linger Herein thou doest spite and bear me malice O Satan what mischief hast thou wrought unto me How hast thou pierced my breast with thy poysonous dart Thinkst thou that my ruine will avail thee any thing at all Thinkst thou to procure to thy self any ease or rest whilst that I am grievously tormented Who is able to signifie unto thee whether my sins be not wiped and done away Whether I have not escaped the pains which I grievously feared Who is able to signifie unto thee whether I shall not again be coupled with and made a companion to the Saints O Lord I fall down before thy Mercy-seat have mercy upon me who mourn thus out of measure because I have greatly offended I shed many salt and bitter tears and every living creature hath lamented my miserable condition Why hast thou broken down my hedge and strong holds The wild Boar out of the Wood hath destroyed me and the wild beasts of the field have eaten me up Rid my soul O Lord from the roaring Lion The Assembly of the Saints doth make intercession for me who am an unprofitable servant Shew mercy O Lord to thy wandring sheep which is subject to the rending teeth of the ravenous wolf Save me O Lord out of his mouth suffer me not to become the sacrifice of sin But send down upon me thy holy Spirit that with his fiery countenance he may put to flight the crooked fiend of Hell that I may be brought home again by thy Wisdom that the Bill of Sin written against me may be blotted out that my lamentation may cease in the evening and that I may receive joy in the morning Let my sackcloth be rent asunder and gird me with joy and gladness Let me be received again into the joy of my God Let me be thought worthy of his Kingdom through the earnest Petitions of the Church which sorroweth over me and humbleth her self to Jesus Christ in my behalf To whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost be all glory and honour for ever and ever Amen Whilst Origen was a Catechist at Alexandria finding himself not sufficient neither able alone to search out the profound mysteries of the holy Scripture neither the interpretation and right sense thereof because of the multitude that frequented his School from morning till night in several companies one succeeding another so that he wanted leisure for his private studies he ordained Heraclas his familiar friend who was expert in the holy Scripture and a profound Philosopher to be his fellow-helper committing to him the instruction of the inferior sort which were lately come to the Faith reserving to himself the teaching of those that were farther better entred Having also a great desire to search out the deep mysteries of the holy Scriptures he studied the Hebrew Tongue and bought Copies that were used amongst the Jews He searched out also other translations besides the vulgar as that of Aquila of Symachus and of Theodosion These being compacted together in one Volume and the Pages divided into several Columns setting each copy against other and adding the Hebrew to them he published the fame and intituled it Hexapla When the rumour was now every where spread abroad of the same of Origen many learned men came to try the truth of his Doctrine and to have experience of his utterance in preaching yea many Hereticks and famous Philosophers resorted to him and were converted by him Origen was the first that wrote Commentaries upon the sacred Scriptures being earnestly sollicited thereto by Ambrose who for his encouragement made him large allowance for his necessary expences furnishing him
this present evil World and I believe that God will answer my desire And indeed accordingly in the third moneth of the siege he fell sick of a Feaver which proved his last sickness neither would God defraud his servant of the fruit of his Prayers And indeed he was very powerful in Prayers so that sometimes thereby he hath cast out Devils and restored sick men to their health His Feaver proved so violent that he dyed in the same third moneth of the siege In his sickness he breathed forth most pious ejaculations He made no Will having nothing to bestow but only Books upon several Libraries He dyed Aged 76. Anno Christi 430. having been a Minister 40 years It 's written of him that after his first Conversion to the Faith he was grievously vexed with inward conflicts against his corrupt affections complaining of his inward hereditary habitual inveterate vices and after long strugling with them by purposes vows strong resolutions watching fasting self-revenge and other good means finding still his own weakness and the encreasing violence of his corruptions as he was intentively musing and meditating what to do more he heard a voice saying In te stas non stas whereupon rightly apprehending that his own strength of wit carnal reason and other powers and helps of nature could not serve the turn for the effecting of that which was the proper and peculiar work of Grace he betook himself to his Saviour by humble faithful and fervent Prayer and at last found such assistance from the Holy Spirit of Grace as strengthned him to stand and make good his resolutions with more comfort then before His usual with was that Christ when he came might finde him aut Precantem aut Praedicantem either Praying or Preaching When the Donatists upbraided him unworthily with the impiety and impurity of his former Life Look said he how much they blame my former fault by so much the more I commend and praise my Physitian He used to say Holy Marriage is better then proud Virginity And again Prayer that is pure and holy pierceth Heaven and returns not empty It 's a shelter to the Soul a sacrifice to God and a scourge to the Divel And again There is nothing that more abateth sin then the frequent meditation of Death He cannot die ill that lived well aud seldom doth he die well that lived ill A Christian at home in his house must think himself a stranger and that his Country is above where he shall be no stranger And again If men want wealth it is not to be unjustly gotten if they have it they ought by good works to lay it up in Heaven He that hath tasted the sweetness of Divine love will not care for temporal sweetness The reasonable Soul made in the likeness of God may here finde much careful distraction but no full satisfaction for it being capable of God can be satisfied with nothing but God Not to be without affliction but to overcome affliction is blessedness Love is strong as death for as death kils the body so love of eternal life kils worldly desires and affections He called Ingratitude the Devils Sponge wherewith he wipes out all the favors of the Almighty He so admired and loved the seven Penitential Psalms that he caused them to be written in great letters and hung within the curtains of his Death-bed that so he might give up the Ghost in the contemplation and meditation of them His Prayer was Lord give first what thou requirest and then require of me what thou wilt And He that prays well cannot chuse but live well His Works are printed in nine Tomes at Basil by Froben The Life of Cyril of Alexandria who flourished Anno Christi 430. THeophilus Bishop of Alexandria falling into a Lethargy shortly after dyed whereupon a great contention arose about the Election of a new Bishop some standing for Timotheus the Archdeacon and others for Cyrillus Abudatius the Captain of the Garrison laboured all that he could to prefer Timothy but the other party prevailed and so Cyril was chosen and setled in the Bishoprick About this time Nestorius the Heretick vented his blasphemous opinions against the Deitie of our Saviour Christ whom Cyril answered and confuted Upon this the Emperour Theodosius minor summoned a Council at Ephesus in which Cyril was chosen President and where with much learning and judgement he confuted Nestorius and Pelagius So that the Council after serious examination and deliberation pronounced this sentence To omit the other abominable wickednesses of Nestorius because being sent for by us he hath refused to appear neither would he receive those godly and religious Bishops whom we sent to confer with him being therefore forced by necessity we proceeded to the examniation of his wicked opinions and finding partly by the Epistles and Books that he hath written and partly by his words which in this famous City he hath lately spoken which by sufficient witness have been proved before us that he holds and publisheth Heretical opinions contrary to the Word of God and the Canons of the holy Councils we therefore not without many tears are forced to pass this severe sentence against him and our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ whom he hath so grosly and grievously blasphemed doth by us Decree that Nestorious be deposed from his Rishoprick and excommunicated from the holy Assemblies of the Ministers of God Which sentence the Emperour Theodosius did also approve of and confirm and withall banished him to Oasis and God to shew the severity of his justice against blasphemers strake him with an incurable disease whereby his tongue rotted and breeding many Worms was devoured by them so that he ended his wretched life after a most miserable manner This Cyril was by birth a Grecian and as one testifies of him was Vir doctus sanctus a learned and holy man He was President in the Council at Ephesus where with much learning and judgement he confuted Nestorius and Pelagius He was admirably experienced in the holy Scriptures flourished under Theodosius junior he was so famous for piety eloquence and wit that the Grecian Bishops gat some of his Homilies by heart and recited them to their people After twenty two years labor in the Government of that Church he quietly yeelded up his spirit unto God Anno Christi 448. under Theodosius junior He used to say It 's the best way for a rich man to make the Bellies of the Poor his Barn to succour the fatherless and needy and thereby to lay up treasure in Heaven that he may be received into everlasting habitations And Where the Scripture wants a tongue of expression we need not lend an ear of attention we may safely knock at the Council door of Gods secrets but if we go further we may be more bold then welcome And again The Devil runs
knows that they be lye us God convert them that are to be converted that they may repent and overwhelm the rest with eternal woe But to return to the matter I could wish with all my heart that a free and Christian Council were assembled that provision might be made for many things that are amiss Not that we have need of a Council for our Churches are so enlightned taught and confirmed by the grace of God with the pure Word of God and true use of the Sacraments that we need not a Council neither can a Council shew us a truer or better way But there is need of one in many other regards In many Bishopricks divers Parishes are destitute of spiritual food yet the Bishops and Canons regard not the life of those poor men for whom yet Christ dyed so that they cannot hear the true Shepherd speaking to his Sheep I fear Christ for this will call a Council of Angels to destroy Germany as he destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah Besides these affairs of the Church many things need Reformation in the Civil State Great discords are amongst Princes usury and covetousness overflow like a deluge wantonness pride riot garishness in apparrel bellycheer dicing pomp malice stubornness of subjects oppression c. so over-flow that they cannot be amended by ten Councils and twenty Diets c. Our sins weigh us down and suffer not God to be gracious to us because instead of repenting we defend our abominations O Lord Iesus Christ do thou summon and hold a Council and redeem thy servants by thy glorious coming The Pope and Popâ—lings are pâ—st cure therefore help us poor and distressed men who groan unto thee and seek thee with our hearts according to the grace that thou hast given us by thy holy Spirit which liveth and reigneth with thee and the Father for ever Amen Luther least he should seem to have yeilded any thing to the temperament of Bucer which we spake of before wrote to Albert of Brandenburg Duke of Borussia exhorting him to shun the Sacramentaries and their Doctrine and not to suffer it to crâ—ep anywhere into his Dominions least he should thereby so burthen his conscience with so great wickedness that perhaps he should never be able to pacific it again They of Zurick took this very ill and they wrote also to the Duke of Borussia requesting him not to Decree any thing against the Professors of their Faith A while after Luther wrote an Epistle to the Aldermen of Francfurt wherein he called the Zinglians Archdevils and said they were to be driven out of Pulpits and cast out of the Country He used to be very fervent in Prayer Vitus Theodorus thus writeth of him No day passeth wherein Luther spendeth not three hours at least in Prayer Once it fell out saith he that I heard him Good God! what a spirit what a confidence was in his very expression with such a reverence he sueth for any thing as one begging of God and yet with such hope and assurance as if he spake with a loving father or friend c. When the Papists charged him for a lyer a promise-breaker and an Apostate Luther denying the former yielded himself to be an Apostate but a blessed and holy one who had not kept his promise made to the Devil saying That he was no otherwise a revolter then a Mamaluke turning Christian or a Magician renouncing his Covenant made with the Devil and betaking himself to Christ. When Philip Duke of Pomerania marryed Mary daughter to the Elector of Saxony Luther being present prayed for a blessing and taking Philip by the hand said The Lord God be with you and keep your posterity from failing But his wife continuing barren four years all his male-stock was like to be extinct yet at length by Gods blessing according to Luthers Prayer he had seven sons by her which wonderfully enlarged that Noble Family Luther falling sick of the Stone made his Will in which he bequeathed his detestation of Popery to his friends and to the Pastors of the Church He also beforehand made this verse Pestis eram vivus moriens ero mors tua Papa I living stopt Romes breath And dead will be Romes death Yet it pleased God in a short space to give him ease and to restore him to his former health which brought great joy to all his friends and especially to Melancthon who in an Epistle to him congratulated his recovery Anno Christi 1537. The Pope appointed a Council at Vincentia for reforming the Church of which Luther wrote a book and by a picture in the Frontispiece shewed the Argument of it wherein the Pope was pictured sitting in a high Throne with some Cardinals standing by with Fox-tails on the end of long poles as with brushes pretending to sweep the room but presently after the dust setled again as before About this time the new Sect of the Antinomians did start up The chief ring-leader was Joannes Agricola of Isleben a familiar friend of Luthers They held That repentance was not to be taught from the Decalogue they opposed such as taught that the Gospel was not to be preached to any but to such as were humbled by the Law and they taught that whatsoever a mans life was though impure c. yet he was justified so that he beleived the Gospel Luther confuted these Anno Christi 1540. there was a meeting appointed at Haganaw upon the Rhine where the Divines were to meet and in a friendly manner to debate their differences But as Melancthon was going thitherward he fell sick at Vinaria made his Will and prepared for death whereupon Luther and Cruciger by long journeys hastened to him and as soon as Luther saw how miserably he was wasted with his disease with sighes and tears he brake out into this speech Alass how pretious and profitable an instrument of the Church is miserably weakened and ready to perish and there withall falling upon his knees he prayed most earnestly for him and Melancthon confessed that if Luther had not come he had dyed Anno Christi 1541. Luther wrote a consolatory Letter to Frederick Myconius almost quite spent with a Consumption affirming that he could have no joy to live if he dyed and therefore wished that himself might first lay down his Earthly Tabernacle concluding that he was verily perswaded that his Prayers should be granted as indeed it came to pass for Myconius out-lived him fix years and would often say That Luther obtained this for him by his Prayers Luther afterwards wrote his minde concerning Ceremonies which he desired might be few and tending to edification and Excommunication which he wished might be brought into the Church as a profitable Discipline but could scarce hope to see it Anno Christi 1544. Novemb. 17. he finished his Explication of Genesis which was his last publick reading in the University which he thus concluded Thus
end I my Explication of Genesis God grant that others may more rightly expound it then I have done I cannot proceed further my strength faileth pray for me that I may have a quiet and comfortable departure out of this life This year in Italy was spread a most impudent lye about Luthers death which they called Horrendum inâ—ud tum miraculum quod in aeternum laudandus Dâ—us in foedamâ—te Mart. Lutheri corpore anima damnati exhibuit in gloriam Jesu Christi atque in emendationem consolationem piorum The substance of it was this That when he saw he must die he requested that his body should be set upon the Altar and worshipped with Divine Worship but when his body was laid in the grave suddainly so great a stir and terror arose as if the foundations of the Earth were shaken together whereupon all that were present trembling and astonished lift up their Eyes and saw the sacred Host appear in the Air whereupon they placed that upon the Altar But the night following a loud noise and ratling shriller then the former was heard about Luthers sepulchre which terrified all the City and almost killed them with astonishment in the morning when they opened the sepulchre they found neither bodie bones nor clothes but a sulphureous stink came out thereof which almost overcame the standers by c. This Lye coming printed into Germany Luther subscribed with his own hand I Martin Luther do profess and witness under my own hand that receiving this figment full of anger and fury concerning my death I read it with a joyful mind and cheerful countenance And but that I detest the blasphemy which ascribeth an impudent lye to the Divine Majesty for the other passages I cannot but laugh at Satans the Popes and their complices hatred against me God turn their hearts from their Diabolical malice but if he Decree not to hear my Prayer for their sin unto death then God grant that they may fill up the measure of their sins and solace themselves with their libels full fraught with such like lyes Anno Christi 1546. Luther taking Melancthon and some others along with him went into his own country and returned in safety to Wittenberg again And not long after he was sent for back by the Counts of Mansfield to compose a difference amongst them about the borders of their Countries and their inheritances Luther did not use to meddle with such businesses having all his life been accustomed only to deal in Ecclesiastical affairs yet because he was born in that Country he would not be wanting to promote the peace of it And therefore having preached his last Sermon at Wittenberg January the 17. upon the 23. day he began his journey and at Hall in Saxony he lodged at Justus Jonas his house and passing over the River with Jonas and his own three sons they were in danger of drowning whereupon he said to Justus Jonas Think you not that it would rejoyce the Devil very much if I and you and my three sons should be drowned He was honorably entertained by the Earl of Mansfield who sent an hundred Horse that conveyed him to Isleben being very weak whereupon he said that he never undertook any great business but he was attended with such sickness yet after the use of some Fomentations he was pretily well and attended the business about which he came from the 29. of Ianuary to the 17. of February During which time he preached some times in the Church and twice administred the Lords Supper and Ordained two to the work of the Ministry At his Table he used holy conference and was dayly very fervent in his Prayers The day before his death he dined and supped with his friends discoursing of divers matters and amongst the rest gave his opinion that in heaven we shall know one another because Adam knew Eve at first sight c. After supper his pain in his breast increasing he went aside and prayed then went to bed and slept but about midnight being awakened with the pain and perceiving that his life was at an end he said I pray God to preserve the Doctrine of his Gospel amongst us For the Pope and the Council of Trent have grievous things in hand After which he thus prayed O heavenly Father my gracious God and Father of our Lord Iesus Christ thou God of all consolation I give thee hearty thanks that thou hast revealed unto me thy Son Iesus Christ whom I believe whom I profess whom I love whom I glorifie whom the Pope and the rout of the wicked persecute and dishonour I beseech thee Lord Iesus Christ receive my soul O my heavenly Father though I be taken out of this life and must lay down this frail body yet I certainly know that I shall live with thee eternally and that I cannot be taken out of thy hands God so loved the world c. Lord I render up my spirit into thy hands and come to thee And again Lord into thy hands I commend my spirit thou O God of Truth hast redeemed me and so as one falling asleep and without any bodily pain that could be discerned he departed this life February 18. Anno 1546. and in the great Climaâ—terial year of his life This was the Will which he made concerning his Wife with childe and his young son O Lord God I thank thee that thou wouldst have me live a poor and indigent person upon Earth I have neither house nor Land nor possessions nor money to leave Thou Lord hast given me wife and children them Lord I give back to thee nourish instruct and keep them O thou the Father of Orphans and Iudge of the Widow as thou hast done to me so do to them When he was ready to dye Iustus Ionas and Caelius said to him O Reverend Father do you dye in the constant confession of that Doctrine of Christ which you have hitherto preached To which he answered Yea which was the last word that he spake He was ever constant in the known Truth from the confession whereof he could never be removed neither by promises nor threats In the dismal Wars which followed when Wittenberg was yeilded to the Emperour Charles and he came to see Luthers Tomb some of his Spaniards perswaded him that the body of Luther should be taken up and burned the Emperour said Suffer him to rest till the day of the Resurrection and Iudgement of all men When he was fitting himself for his journey to Isleben he confessed to Melancthon that he had gone too far in the Sacramentary Controversie hereupon Melancthon perswaded him to explicate his minde by publishing some Book but he answered hereby I shall bring a suspition upon all my Doctrine as faulty but when I am dead you may do as you see cause He was full of affections towards his children gave them liberal education
finding his defect in the knowledge of the Tongues he learnt Greek wrote out S. Pauls Epistles and gat them by heart and grew so perfect that he understood Greek better then Latine and reading in S. Peter that no Scripture is of private interpretation he betook himself by earnest Prayer to God for the Spirit of Truth to be his Teacher and least he should be misled by a false spirit he compared Scripture with Scripture and expounded obscure Texts by those which were more clear In his Ministry he set himself much against the sins of the times especially against Pensions which the Switzers used to receive of Princes to serve as Mercenaries in their Armies which procured him much hatred After a while he was chosen to a place called Our Lords Hermitage by Theobaldus Guolzeggius the Baron thereof to which place there was great resort of people from all Countries who came on Pilgrimage which much moved him to embrace that Cal that he might have opportunity to disperse the knowledg of the Truth into several parts About this time one of the chief Ministers dying at Zurick they much desired Zuinglius to succeed him and he coming accidentally to that place was chosen Pastor there An. Chr. 1519. and began to Preach unto them the History of Christ out of Matthew Presently after there came one Sampson a Franciscan Fryar and a Preacher of Indulgences who was sent by the Pope into Switzerland to get money Zuinglius strongly opposed himself against him shewing him to be an Impostor The Bishop also of Constance wrote to Zuinglius to keep this Sampson out of Zurick because he had not acquainted him with his authority Yet when this Impostor came to Zurick because he was kept out he went to Badena setting forth the Popes Buls to sale Often crying out Behold they flie behold they flie as if he had seen with his Eyes the Souls which he had delivered out of Purgatory flying into Heaven Zuinglius also caused the Pope to be admonished by his Commissary not to Excommunicate Luther for that he foresaw the Germanes would despise both him and his Excommunication which also came to pass Anno Christi 1520. the Senate of Zurick by the Council of Zuinglius commanded the Preachers of their Jurisdiction freely to teach whatsoever might be proved by the Authority of the Prophets and Apostles passing by the Inventions of men Hereupon the Bishop of Constance by publick Proclamation forbad those of Zurick to Innovate any thing willing them to remain in the Faith of the Church of Rome till a Council might be convened But Zuinglius defended them and his writings and the Magistrates of Zurick entreated the Bishop to come to a Synod where learned men might confer together and determine what the people ought to believe Yet the Bishop wrote again to them shewing them what complaints he had heard of Zuinglius which he could not but take notice of the City belonging to his Jurisdiction But Zuinglius going to the Bench of Aldermen defended his Doctrine and satisfied them Anno Christi 1522. the Bishop wrote again to the College of Canons at Zurick exhorting them to take heed to themselves for that Pope Leo and the Emperour by their Proclamations had condemned those Doctrines he put them in minde therefore to obey those Decrees and not to innovate any thing in Religion till those whom it concerned had by Common-Council set down somewhat Hereupon Zuinglius wrote back to the Bishop that he understood by whose setting on he did these things but he wished him not to follow their Counsel For saith he the Truth is invincible and will not be resisted And afterwards some others joyning with him they wrote to the Bishop entreating him to Decree nothing against the Doctrine of the Gospel and that he would no longer endure the filthy and infamous life of the Priests but that he would suffer them to marry Zuinglius wrote also to the Helvetians that they should not hinder the course of the Gospel that they would not trouble Ministers for marrying for that the command for their living without Wives was the Doctrine of Satan He exhorted them also whereas their manner was in their Pages or parishes when they admitted a Priest to command him to take a Concubine least he should attempt the chastity of other women that instead thereof they should command them to take lawful ways About this time Luthers Books coming abroad though himself abstained from reading of them yet he perswaded his people to buy and read them which he did that they might see the agreement that was in their Doctrine being both taught by the same spirit There also he studyed Hebrew and gat the Senate to erect a School for Latine Greek and Hebrew and associating to himself Leo Judae he gat such skill in the Hebrew that he began to explain Isaiah and Jeremiah Shortly after there came to Zurick Franciscus Lambertus and disputed with Zuinglius about the Intercession of the Saints and the sacrifice of the Mass but being non-plus'd he left his Error and gave praise to God Zuinglius began also to write about this time and Pope Adrian wrote to him with great promises to oblige him to the Papal-Sea but all in vain Shortly after he perswaded the Senate to restrain the exorbitant number of Priests and Fryars yet withall to allow them a competent subsistence for their life time which was done accordingly and their revenues were imployed for the maintenance of the Ministry for advancement of Learning and for the Poor He pressed also the taking away of Images the abolishing of the Mass and the restoring of the Lords Supper which the Senate assented to and performed not only in the City of Zurick but through all the places within their jurisdiction Anno Christi 1523. when the Senators of Zurick understood that the Doctrine of Zuinglius was traduced everywhere as being wicked and ungodly they commanded all the Ministers of their Jurisdiction to meet together on the 29. of January about the differences of Religion promising that every one should be fully heard they beseeched also the Bishop of Constance that he would either come himself or send thither some of his Divines At the day appointed many met together John Faber the Bishops Vicar being also present who pleaded hard that this place was unfit to handle such causes but that they were to be referred to a general Council But Zuinglius urged him that if he had any thing against his Doctrine which he had published in 47 Positions he should produce it and he should be answered either by word of mouth or writing which when Faber would not consent to the Magistrates dismissed the Assembly and proclaimed throughout their Jurisdiction that the Gospel should be purely taught out of the Books of the Old and New Testament the Traditions of men being laid
down the Cross shut Heaven Gates that now stood wide open that he would extinguish the light and splendor of the Sun and that ere long he would cause that so pretious ware should not be sold at so easie a rate and that whilst the World stood Germany should not have such liberality profered to them from Rome again and therefore he exhorted them seriously to have respect to their own and their deceased friends Salvation For saith he now is the acceptable time now is the day of Salvation and except ye buy these Indulgences no man can absolve you from your sins He also told the Citizens of Annaeberg that if they would freely part with their mony their metal Mines which were about the Town of S. Anne should abound with pure silver By these means this cunning Hucster procured such honor to his Indulgences that when he came to any Town the Popes Bull was carryed before him wrapped either in silk or cloth of gold and was met with a long and pompous Procession so that probably had God himself come in a visible shape he should not have been entertained with so much magnificence Myconius had been taught by his Father the Lords Prayer the Creed the Decalogue and to pray often and that the blood of Christ only could cleanse us from sin and that pardon of sin and eternal life could not be bought with mony c. which caused him to be much troubled whether he should believe his Father or the Priests but understanding that there was a clause in the Indulgences that they should be given freely to the Poor he went to Tecelius entreated him to give him one for that he was a poor sinner and one that needed a free remission of his sins and a participation of the merits of Christ Tecelius admired that he could speak Latine so well which few Priests could do in those days and therefore he advised with his Colleagues who perswaded him to give Myconius one but after much debate he returned him answer That the Pope wanted mony without which he could not part with an Indulgence Myconius urged the aforenamed clause in the Indulgences which were publickly posted up wherein the Pope had inserted these words ut pauperibus gratis darentur propter Deum whereupon Tecelius his Colleagues pressed again that he might have one given him pleading his learning ingenuity poverty c. and that it would be a dishonour both to God and the Pope to deny him one But still Tecelius refused whereupon some of them whispered Myconius in the Ear to give a little money which he refused to do and they fearing the event one of them profered to give him some to buy one with which he still refused saying that he would not have bought Indulgences and that if he pleased he could sell a Book to buy one but he desired one for Gods sake which if they denyed him he wished them to consider how they could answer it to God c. But prevailing nothing he went away rejoicing that there was yet a God in Heaven to pardon sinners freely c. according to that promise As live saith the Lord I desire not the death of a sinner c. Not long after he entred into Orders at Vinaria and read privately Luthers Books which the other Fryars took very hainously and threatned him for it From thence he was called to be a Preacher at Vinaria where at first he mixed some Popish Errors with the Truth but by the Illumination of Gods Spirit and by his reading Luther he at last began to Preach against Popery and to hold forth the Truth clearly in Thuringia which spied so swiftly in one months space and was so greedily imbraced not only through Saxony but through all Countries as if the Angels had been the carriers of it Anno Christi 15 8. when Luther was going to Auspurg he lodged in the Monastery where Myconius was at Vinaria at which time Myconius first saw him but was not suffered to speak with him Afterwards he was called to â—otha to teach and govern the Thuringian Churches where he lived with his Colleagues twenty years in much peace and concord of which himself faith Cucurriâ—aus certaâ—â—mâ—â— â—â—â—â—ravimus pugnavimus vicimus viximâ—s semper conâ—uâ—â—etâ—ssimè c. Anno. Christi 15â—5 In the tumult of the Anabaptistical Boors Myconius took much pains to pacifie their mindes and to keep them quiet Yea he so quieted with an Oration some that were pulling down some Noble-mens houses that they went away in peace That year also he marryed a wife called Marguet the daughter of an honest Citizen of Gotha by whom through Gods blessing he had a numerous posterity And though Myconius was by Gods Providence called to the Government of the Church in Gotha yet the most illustrious Elector of â—axoâ—y imployed him in many other businesses He also took him along with him thrice into the Low-countries as also into Cullen Julâ—ers and divers other places At Dusseldoâ—p he preached the Gospel sincerely and purely though to the hazard of his life and at Cullen he maintained a publick Disputation with the Fryars which was afterwards printed With the like constancy and faithfulness he preached the Doctrine of the Gospel in Brunswick in Cella of Saxony and in other parts of Westphalia Also in divers publick Conventions at Smalcald Francfurt and Noremberg his counsel being asked with much courage and zeal he handled the affairs of Religion seeking to promote the glory of God and profit and welfare of the Church An. Chr. 1528. Henry the Eighth King of England fell out with the Pope for not divorcing him from his wife Katharine of Spain sister to Charles the Fifth by reason of whose greatness the Pope durst not do it whereupon the King of England sent over to the Germane Princes especially to the Duke of Saxony to confederate against the Pope and to join with them in an agreement about Religion upon which occasion Myconius was sent over into England partly about matters of Religion but especially about a match between Henry the Eighth and Anne of Cleve but coming thither he discovered the Kings hypocrisie about Religion not only by the six Articles about that time established but also by his imprisoning of Latimer and cutting off the Lord Cromwels head and burning of Mr. Barnes c. and by his seizing upon all the Abbey-lands whereupon he left England and being come home Anno Christi 1538. he was called by Henry of Saxony to visit and reform the Churches of Misnia together with Luther Jonas Cruciger c. which fell out upon this occasion George Duke of Saxony lying on his death-bed sent to his Brother Henry all his own sons being dead before desiring him that succeeding him he should innovate nothing in Religion and withall promised him golden mountains by his Ambassadors if he would assent thereto to whom Henry answered
he was set to the study of the Law wherein he shewed such industry that he was quickly acquainted with the principles of it and being of a generous nature he loved the Truth and hated Evils often using that Proverbe of Solomon that Lying lips become not a Prince Amongst all Law-books he was most versed in Panormitan Having thus prepared his Wit by these Studies An. Chr. 1522 he was by Cardinal Albert Elector of Mentz and Bishop of Magdeburg chosen to be one of his Counsellors whereby he was versed in the weighty Affairs of State finding the use and benefit of his knowledge of the Law therein and being Eloquent by nature the Cardinal often made use of him to open his mind to others so that his judgement was encreased and confirmed by his industry and employments But the Controversies about Religion waxing hot at this time and Luther's books coming abroad he fell to reading of them especially De discrimine Legis Evangelii De vera paenitentia De gratia De fide De vera invocatione De usu Sacramentorum De discrimine legum divinarum humanarum De discrimine Ministerii Evangelici Politicae potestatis Yet withall suspecting his own injudiciousness he would often pray with teares to God to incline his heart to the Truth saying Deal with thy servant according to thy mercy and instruct me in thy right eousnesse He was frequent in reading the Scriptures Ecclesiastical Histories Augustine Hierom and Lombard having George Forcheme both for an helper and copartner with him in those studies He studied also Greek and Hebrew and was so perfect in the Hebrew that few excelled him He discoursed with Learned men about the Controversies and so at length having long weighed the Opinions of all he concluded that the Confession of the Reformed Churches did agree with the ancient Catholick Church of God instructed by the writingâ— of the Prophets and Apostles And though he knew what hatred and danger he exposed himself to yet he made a publique profession of the Truth giving over to joyn with the Papists in their Counsels and Idolatrous Services giving himself wholly to Prayer and reading the Scriptures and other good books assisting his Brethren with whom he lived in perfect Peace and Love exceedingly in their Governments And first of all by their joint consents he reformed the Churches in his own Country setting fit Pastors over them commanding them to teach the Word of Truth to their people He abolished the Popish Ceremonies erected Schooles allowed competent stipends to the Ministers so that all things were Reformed without any dissention or tumult and many were drawn to embrace the Truth others were confirmed therein by the judgements and examples of their pious Princes And then he was very profitable to his Country by the faithful administration of Justice to them an Christi 1545 he was called to the Government of the Churches in the Diocesse of Mersburg and for that end he sent for Phil. Melancthon and divers other godly Ministers who ordained him by the Imposition of hands and gave him a Testimonial thereof August the third 1545. Concerning which Melancthon thus writeth Nos convocati quia certe sciebamus hunc illustrissimum rincipem Georgium rectè intelligere constanter amplecti puram Evangelii Doctrinam quam Ecclesiae harum regionum â—navoce uno spiritâ— cum Catholica Ecclesia Dei profitentur eximiam ejus esse virtutem sanctitatem Testimonium nostrum de eo ritu Apostolico impositione manuum declaravimus c. He lived very continently in a single life without any defilement His Chamber was a Temple Academy and a Court for he used daily in the same to pray read write and deliberate about Government He never wronged any man willingly He did good both privately and publickly to many He was a great promoter of Peace among Princes He ended many Controversies He abhorred all seditious and turbulent counsels He was far from ambition No anger hatred or desire of revenge could ever draw him to goe against the Rules of Justice or to act any thing against the common good Many and great injuries he bore with a great minde and pardoned them for the publick peace sake And with the same moderation of minde he bore other griefs so that it might easily appeare that he was supported by Prayer to and resting himself upon God and as a learned man he knâ—w the difference between divine and humane consolations and often repeated this saying Subditus esto Deo ora eum c. Submit thy self to God and pray unto him for he is near to those that are of a contrite heart and will save the humble in spirit He employed his time so wel so that he left none for pleasures and used to say That nothing refreshed him more in his sorrows then conference with learned and godly men About all controversies in Law he used to conferre with the excellentest Lawyers who were wise and virtuous men About the nature of mans body the causes and remedies of diseases with the most skilful Physitians About the Doctrine of the Church and Ecclesiastical Affairs with Luther Justus Jonas John Bugenhag c. and many of their Disputations ful of Learning and Piety were heard to the profit of many He conferred with Joachim Camerarius about the Histories of all Ages the mutation of Empires their period and the causes thereof about the Motions of the Heavens and the effects of the Stars The last act of this Princes life shewed his Piety and Gods presence with him For falling sick of a most troublesome disease he was frequent in holy prayer for himself for all the Princes of that Family for his Country and for Germany He had some portions of holy Scripture daily read to him He made his Will wherein he set downe the Confession of his Faith and commended the defense of his Churches to his Brother He added something to the stipends of all the godly Ministers under his charge He often ruminated upon those Texts God so loved the world that he gave c. No man shal take my sheep out of my hand Come unto me all yee that are weary c. and so in holy meditations and prayer he resigned up his spirit unto God Anno Christi 1553 and of his Age 47. Amongst other parts of his Ecclesiastical Administrations every year he held two Synods wherein all the Pastors of his Diocesse met together where they had very profitable Sermons preached He was made Superintendent of those Churches of Mersburg by Augustus Duke of Saxony brother to Maurice Anno Christi 1544. His Works which he left behind him were these A Consolatory Sermon upon that speech of our Saviour None can take my sheep out of my hand A Nuptial Sermon preached at Toâ—gau at the Mariage of the Duke of Saxony to Anne the King of Denmarks Daughter Four Sermons about the Sacrament A
saying Let him alone if he die it were a good riddance of him c. Concerning his base usage himself thus writes I paid alwaies saith he to the Warden of the Fleet as a Baron paid as well in Fees as for my board viz. 20 s. per week till I was wrongfully deprived of my Bishoprick and after that time I paide as the best Gentleman in the house yet he alwaies used me worse and more vilely then a very slave Thus I suffered inprisonment almost eighteen monthes my goods living friends and comforts taken from me â—he Queen owing me above 80 pound yet hath she cast me into prâ—soâ— alâ—owes me nothing neither are any suffered to come at me whereby I may be relieved I am under a wicked man and woman and see no remedy but in Gods help But I commit my just cause to him whose will be done whether it be by life or death When he was brought to examination before Winchester and the other Commissioners there was such a tumult whensoever he began to speak that he was forced to keep silence Yet did they proceed to Degrade and condemne him and so delivered him over to the secular Power As they were leading him from the Counter in Southwark to Newgate one of the Sheriffe said to him I wonder that you was so hasty and quick with my Lord Chancellor and used no more patience to him To which he answered Mr. Sheriffe I was nothing at all impatient though I was earnest in my Masters cause and it stands me in hand so to be for it goeth upon life and death not in this World onely but in the World to come Sixe daies he lay close prisoner in Newgate none being suffered to come to him during which time Bonner Harpsfield and diverse others came to him leaving no meanes untried to reduce him to their Antichristian Church sometimes making many great profers and promises to him of worldly riches and promotion other sometimes using grievous threatnings to affright him But they found him alwaies the same man steadfast and unmoveable February the 4 th at night his Keeper gave him some inkling that he should be sent to Gloucester to be burned which he rejoiced very much at lifting up his eyes and hands to Heaven and praising God for sending him amongst his people over whom he had been Pastor there to confirme with his blood the truth that before he had taught unto them not doubting but the Lord would give him strength to perform it to his glory And immediately he sent for his boots spurrs and cloke that he might be ready to ride when they should call for him The day following he was delivered to some of the Queens Guard who conveied him to Glocester and when he came neer the City much people met him who cryed and bewailed his condition exceedingly The night before his heath he did eatâ— his meat quietly and slept soundly After his first sleepe â—ee spent the rest of the night in praier The next day Sr Anthonie Kingston coming to him told him that life was swâ—ete and death bitter to which he answered The death to come is more bitter and the life to come more sweet I am come hiâ—her to end this life and suffer death because I will not gainesay the former Truth that I have here taught unto you Also a blinde boie coming to him after he had examined him in the Grounds of Religion he said Ah poor boy God hâ—th taken from thee thy outward sight but hath given thee anotâ—er sight much more pretious having endued thy soul with the eie of knowledge and faith God give thee grace continually to pray uâ—to him that thou lose not that sight for then shouldest thou â—e blind both in body and soul. Being delivered to the Sheriffe he said to him My request to you Master Sheriffe is onely that there may be a quick fire shortly to make an end of me and in the mean time I will be as obedient to you as you can desire if you think I doe amisse in any thing hold up your finger and I have done I might have had my life with much worldly gaine but I am willing to offer up my life for the Truth and trust to die a faithfull servant to God and a true subject to the Queen When he saw the Sheriff's men with so many weapons he said This is more then needs if you had willed me I would have gone alone to the stake and have troubled none of you all As hee went to the stake he was forbid to speak to the people Hee looked chearfully and with a more ruddy countenance then ordinary Being come to the place of Execution hee prayed about halfe an hour whereof this was a part Lord said he I am Hell but thou art Heaven I am swill and a sinke of sinne but thou art a gracious and mercifull Redeemer Have mercy therfore upon me most miserable wretched offender after thy great mercy and according to thine inestimable goodnesse Thou art ascended into Heaven receive me Hell to be partaker of thy joyes where thou sittest in equall glory with thy Father For will knowest thou Lord wherefore I am come hither to suffer and why the wicked doe persecute thy poor servant Not for my sins and transgressions committed against thee but because I will not allow their wicked doings to the contaminating of thy blood and to the deniall of the knowledge of thy truth wherewith it did please thee by thy holy spirit to instruct me with as much diligence as a poor wretch might being thereto called I have set forth thy glory Thou well seest O Lord my God what terrible torments and cruell paines are prepared for thy poor creature Even such Lord as without thy strength none is able to beare or patiently to passe But that which is impossible with man is possible with thee therefore strengthen me of thy goodnes that in the fire I break not the rules of patience Or else asswage the terror of the paines as shall seeme fittest to thy glory Having a box with a pardon set before him he cried If you love my soul away with it if you love my soul away with it Three Irons being prepared to fasten him to the stake he onely put on an Iron-hoop about his middle bidding them take away the rest saying I doubt not but God will give me strength to abide the extremity of the fire without binding When reedes were cast to him he embraced and kissed them putting them under his arme where he had bags of gun-powder also When fire was first put to him the fagots being green and the winde blowing away the flame he was but scorched more faggots being laied to him the fire was so supprest that his nether-parts were burn'd his upper being scarce touched He praied mildly as one that felt no paine O Jesus the Sonne of
shortly after Mr. Philpot was cast into Prison where he lay a yeare and a half before he was examined Then he was sent for by Doctor Storie and after some captious questions proposed to him was committed prisoner to the Bishop of London's Cole-house unto which was adjoyned a little blinde-house with a great pair of Stocks both for hand and foot but thankes be to God saith he I have not played of those Organs yet There he found a godly Minister of Essex who desiring to speak with him did greatly lament his infirmity for through extremity of imprisonment he had yeelded to the Bishop of London and was set at liberty whereupon he felt such an hell in his conscience that he could scarce refrain from destroying himself and could have no peace till going to the Bishops Register and desiring to see his Recantation he tore it in peeces whereupon the Bishop sending for him buffeted him pluckt off a great part of his beard and sent him to this Cole-house where Mr. Philpot found him very joyfull under the Crosse. Philpot being afterwards sent for to the Bishop he asked him amongst other things why they were so merry in Prison singing and rejoycing as the Prophet saith Exultantes in rebus pessimis Rejoycing in your naughtinesse You do not well said the Bishop herein you should rather lament and be sorry To whom he answered My Lord the mirth which we make is but in singing certain Psalms as we are commanded by Saint Paul to rejoice in the Lord singing together in Hymns and Psalms for we are in a darke comfortlesse place and therefore we solace our selves with singing of Psalmes lest as Solomon saith Sorrowfulness eat up our heart Therefore I trust your Lordship will not be angry seeing the Apostle saith If any man be of an upright mind let him sing and we to declare that we are of an upright minde to God though we be in misery do solace ourselves with singing Then did he ask him what his judgement was about the Sacrament of the Altar To whom he answered My Lord Saint Ambrose saith that the Disputation about matters of Faith ought to be in the Congregation in the hearing of the people and that I am not bound to render an accouâ—t of 〈◊〉 to every man privately unlesse it be to edifie But now I cannot shew you my mind but I must runne upon the pikes and endanger my life Therefore as St. Ambrose said to Valentinian the Emperour so say I unto you Tolle Legem fiet certamen Take away the Law and I shall reason with you And yet if I come in open judgement where I am bound by the Law to answer I trust I shall answer according to my conscience as freely as any that hath come before you After other discourse saith he I was carried to my Lords Cole-house again where I with my six fellow-prisoners do rouse together in the straw as chearfully we thank God as others doe in their beds of down A few dayes after he was called before Bonner with the Bishops of Bath Worcester and Gloucester at which conference the bishop of Worcester said Before we begin to speak to him it 's best that he call to God for grace and to pray that God would open his heart that he may conceive the Truth Hereupon Mr. Philpot kneeling down said Almighty God who are the giver of all wisdome and understanding I beseech thee of thine infinite goodnesse and mercy in Jesus Christ to give me most vile sinner in thy sight the spirit of wisdome to speak and make answer in thy cause that it may be to the contentation of the hearers before whom I stand also to my better understanding if I be deceived in any thing Nay my Lord of Worcester quoth Bonner you did not well to exhort him to make any prayer For this is the thing they have a singular pride in that they can often make their vain prayers in which they glory much For in this point they are like to certain arrant Hereticks of which Pliny speaks that they daily sung antelucanos Hymnos Praises to God before the dawning of the day Then said Mr. Philpot My Lord God make me and all you here present such Hereticks as they were for they were godly Christians with whom the Tyrants of the world were offended for their Christian practises and well doing But all their conference proved to no purpose for the Bishops would not dispute and Mr. Philpot would not take their words without Scripture and Arguments so he was returned to his Cole-house again And in another conference with Doctor Morgan the Doctor asked him How he knew he had the Spirit of God and not they Phil. By the Faith of Christ which is in me Morgan Ah by Faith doe you so I ween it to be the spirit of the Buttery which your fellows had which have been burned before you who were drunk the night before they went to their death and I ween went drunken to it Phil. It appeareth by your speeches that you are better acquainted with the spirit of the buttery then with the spirit of God Wherefore I must now tell thee thou painted wall and hypocrite in the name of the living Lord whose truth I have told thee that God shall rain fire and brimstone upon such scorners of his Word and blasphemers of his people as thou art Morgan What you rage now Phil. Thy foolish blasphemics have compelled the spirit of God which is in me to speak that which I have said to thee thou enemy of all righteousnesse Morgan Why doe you judge me so Phil. By thy own wicked words I judge of thee thou blinde and blasphemous Doctor for as it is written By thy words thou shalt be justified and by thy words thou shalt be condemned I have spoken on Gods behalf and now I have done with thee Morg. Why then I tell thee Philpot thou art an Heretick and shalt be burned and afterwards goe to hell fire Phil. I tell thee thou hypocrite that I passe not a rush for thy fire and faggots neither I thank my Lord God doe stand in fear of the same But for the hell fire which thou threatnest me as my portion it 's prepared for thee unlesse thou speedily repent and for such hypocrites as thou art After sundry other examinations he was by the Bishop set in the stocks in a house alone of which he writes God bee praised that hee thought use worthy so suffer any thing for his names sake letter it is to sit in the stocks in this world then to sit in the stocks of a damnable conscience At last he was condemned for an Heretick whereupon he said I thank God I am an Heretick out of your cursed Church but I am no Heretick before God Being sent to Newgate he spake to the people as he went saying Ah good people blessed be God for
this day Having notice given on the over-night that the next day he should be burn'd he said I am ready God grant me strength and a joyfull resurrection and so he went to his chamber pouring out his spirit unto the Lord in pâ—ayer and giving him most hearty thanks for accounting him worthy to suffer for his Truth Going into Smithfield the way was very foul whereupon two Officers took him up to bear him to the stake then â—e said merrily Whâ—t will you make me Pope Comming into Smithfield he kneeled down saying I will pay my vows in thee O Smithfield He kissed the stake saying Shall I disdaine to suffer at this stake when my Lord and Saviour refused not to suffer a most vile death for me When the fire was kindled with much meekness and comfort he resigned up his spirit unto God Anno Christi 1555. In a Letter which he wrote to John Carelesse then prisoner in the Kings-bench he thus writes Indeed my dear Carelesse I am in this world in hell and in the shadow of death but he that for my deserts hath brought me down into hell shall shortly lift me up unto heaven where I shall look continually for your comming and others of my faithful brethren in the Kings-bench And though I tell you that I am in hell in the judgement of the world yet assuredly I feel in the same the consolation of heaven I praise God And this lothsome and horrible prison is as pleasant to me as the walks in the Garden of the Kings-bench And in a Letter that he wrote to his Sister he thus concludes My dissolution I look for daily but the Lord knoweth how unworthy I am of so high an honour as to die for the testimony of his Truth Pray that God would vouchsafe to make me worthy as he hath done of long imprisonment Pray and look for the coming of the Lord c. In another Letter he writes thus Commend me to Mr. Elsing and his wife and thank them for providing me some ease in prison and tell them that though my Lords Cole house be but very black yet it is more to be desired of the faithfull then the Queens Palace The world wondereth how we can be merry in such extream miseries but our God is omnipotent which turneth misery into felicity Beleeve me there is no such â—oy in the world as the people of Christ have under the Crosse I speak by exâ—rence therefore believe me and fear nothing that the world can doe unto you for when they imprison our bodies they set our souls at liberty with God when they cast us down they life us up yea when they kill us then doe they send us to everlasting life and what greater glory can there be then to be made confoâ—mable to our head Christ which is done by afflictions O good God what am I upon whom thou shoulde bestow so great a mercy This is the day which the Lord hath made let us rejoyce and be glad in the same this is the way though it be but narrow which is full of the peace of God and leadeth to eternall blisse Oh how my heart leapeth for joy that I am so near the apprehension thereof God forgive me my unthankfulness and unworthiness of so great glory I hâ—ve so much joy that though I be in a place of darknesse and mourning yet I cannot lament but both night and day am so joyfull as if I were under no crosse at all yea in all the daies of my life I was never so merry the name of the Lord be praised for ever and ever and the Lord pardon my unthâ—nkfulness Our enemies do fret fume and grash their teeth to see and hear that we under this grievous affliction can be so merry Pray instantly that this joy may never be taken from us for it passeth all the delights of this world This is the peace of God which passeth all understanding This peace the more his chosen be afflicted the more they feel and therefore cannot faint neither for fire nor water Whilst Mr. Philpot was prisoner in Newgate a dertaine friend of his that scrupled the Baptizing of Infants wrote to him for his judgement about it to whom he wrote a large and learned Answer proving by Scripture by Arguments by testimony of the Fathers and by the constant practise of the Primitive Church from the Apostles daies the lawfulnesse and necessity of the same which you may read in the Book of Martyrs vol. 3. pag. 606. c. THO. CRANMER The Life of Thomas Cranmer who died Anno Christi 1555. THomas Cranmer was a Gentleman by birth of a very ancient Family born at Arselacton in Nottinghamshirte brought up at School and from thence sent to Cambridge where profiting much in learning he was chosen fellow in Jesus Colledge After which he married a wife and thereby loosing his Fellow-ship he was chosen Divinity-Reader in Buckingham-Colledge but not long after his wife dying in child-bed the Master and Fellows chose him again Fellow into Jesus Colledge After which he commenced Doctor in Divinity From thence hee was chosen a Fellow in the Foundation of Cardinal Wolsey's Colledge in Oxford but fore-seeing the danger which after followed he refused that place Whilst he was in Cambridge the question arose about King Henries Divorce from his brothers widdow and the Plague breaking forth at Cambridge Doctor Cranmer retired to Waltham-Abbey At which time this fell out The King to recreate himselfe and to take private counsell with those in whom he most consided who were the Dukes of Norfolke and Suffolk and some others went on hunting to Waltham at which time he signified his minde to Steven Gardiner his Secretary and to Fox his Almoner willing them to search what was most expedient for him to doe to end well that controversie about his Marriage and as God would have it these two men lodged in the house of one Master Cressie at Waltham where also Doctor Cranmer was having left Cambridge upon the forementioned occasion â—nd being Tutor to Master Cressies two sons Gardiner and Fox thus meeting with him and knowing him to be famous for learning and piety invited him to their good cheer and asked his advice concerning the Kings cause Dr. Cranmer was at fiâ—st very loath to deliver his judgement but being much importunâ—d by them he at last â—aid I cannot say much on the sudden in so weighty a businesse without study and meditation but in my opinion seeing the King is in so great trouble of mind and conscience nothing can more encrease it then so great delaies and wandring in Romish suites inwhich whosoever are once entangled can source ever extricaâ—e themselves out of the snares I think it better therefore that layâ—ing aside all delayes and Court suites wherein the King hath been too long tossed with great affliction of mind the judgement of Divines hath in our
but an honest young man of the Citizens advised Perinus that Mr. Farell the common Father of the City might be no way wronged joyning also with himself another honest young man they gave notice to the well-affected Citizens that they should stand by Mr. Farell at the day of hearing which also they did so that his adversaries being astonished and deterred hereat of their own accord craved pardon and Mr. Farell was dismissed About this time a grievous calamity befell the Church of England by the immature death of that godly Prince King Edward the sixth which was a grievous wound to all the Reformed Churches Yet at this same time Mr. Calvin wrote his learn-Commentaries upon the Gospel of St. John Geneva as we heard before having inflicted deserved punishment upon Servetus not as upon a Sectary but as upon a monster for his horrible impieties and blasphemies by which for thirty years space he had infected the Christian world both by his teaching and writings It cannot be imagined how this stirred up the rage of Sathan such a flame arising from hence as set Poland first then Transsylvania and Hungary all on a fire which himself seemed to foretell by the spirit of Sathan when in the beginning of his book he set this sentence out of the Revelation There was a great battle in heaven Michael and his Angels fighting with the Dragon For his ashes being scarce cold a great controversie sprung up about the punishing of Hereticks Some holding that they ought to be restrained but not to be punished with death Others thinking that it could not be clearly stated out of Gods word what was Heresie thereupon said that it was lawfull to hold either part in all the Heads of Religion and that all men though holding a wrong opinion were to be left to the judgement of God This latter opinion some good men inclined to fearing that the contrary Tenet might kindle the cruelty of Tyrants against the godly The principall of these were Sebastian Castalio and Laelius Socinus therein pleading their own cause The former indeed more closely and the latter more openly as one that studyed to vindicate the clear authority of the Scripture in a certain Preface to the perverting of the holy Bible and in his Annotations upon the first Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians had endeavoured to draw men from the written Word of God as an imperfect Rule as if Paul had taught to some of his Disciples that were more perfect then the rest a certain more hidden Divinity then that which he had committed to writing Hereupon Mr. Calvin Anno Christi 1554 set forth a copious confutation of all the Doctrine of Servetus which was subscribed by all his Colleagues adding many reasons why and how farre a Magistrate might proceed in punishing such an one as was lawfully convicted of Heresie The adversaries on the contrary published a Rapsody collected partly out of the writings of the ancient Fathers which they perverted to their own ends and partly out of the writings of certain unknown Fanaticks and under the name of Martin Bellius which indeed was Castalio though afterwards he forswore it and falsifying also the name of the City in which they falsly pretended that it was published To this book swarming with many other Errors and Blasphemies Mr. Beza answered thereby to free Mr. Calvin from that labour who was now busie in writing his learned Commentaries upon Genesis and in diverting other dangers from the Church For the factious went on to innovate things in the City and though the Amnestie was again renewed before the Senate upon the second of February yet they daily grew worse and worse so that Master Calvin was much busied both in blaming and reproving them for their wickedness and in endeavouring to strengthen the godly against the poison of their impiety for they had proceeded to such a height of wickedness that they turned part of the sacred Scriptures into obscaene songs and used to beat strangers whom they met in the night and sometimes also to rob them They also privately used the books of Bolsecus Castalio and other corrupt men that they might renew the controversie about Predestination yea they proceeded to scatter abroad a false and scandalous libell wherein they grievously aspersed that worthy servant of Christ Master Calvin Castalio also sent another Latine Book to be privately Printed at Paris to which Master Beza answered and Master Calvin also confuted some of the fooleries of the same kind About this time the care of the English exiles lay heavy upon him some of which were come to Vesalia others to Embden and others to Franckford all sending to Master Calvin for advice and counsel Neither was he a little troubled for the andaciousness of some of the Pastors encouraged by the secret favour of others of the French-Church long since planted by him at Strasborough And in short how great pains he took this year for severall Churches may appear by the multitude of Epistles wrote by him by which he stirred up many Noble-men to imbrace the Gospel and strengthned many of the Brethren some of which were in extream danger and others already cast into bonds We spake before of the sweet Harmony that was between the Helvetian and Rhetian Churches about the Doctrine of the Sacrament This concord did exceedingly displease the spirit of error therefore he easily found out one that might easily reinkindle the fire which before was extinguished viz. Joachim Westphalus who was seconded by Heshusius then a Minister of the word but afterwards a Bishop of whom wee shall speak more afterwards Hereupon Master Calvin published an explication of that agreement which by how much it imbittered their spirits by so much the more it satisfied all good men that were lovers of the truth The year following viz. 1555. by the speciall mercy of God brought peace along with it to the Church of Geneva which was now quiet from its domestick stirs for the factious ruined themselves God discovering their horrible treason to the State by the means of one of the conspirators who in his drunken fit discovered it whereupon some of them were beheaded others of them were banished who though a while after they vexed the City yet perished shamefully in the end leaving an example of the just judgement of God upon such persons though it may be deferred for a time Thus the Commonwealth was freed from these Pests To which another mercy was added by the answer of the four Helvetian Cities to whom the question about the Discipline which we spake of before had been proposed who unanimously confirmed the Ecclesiasticall Polity as it had been before settled contrary to the expectation of the factious Yet something was not wanting whereby Mr. Calvin might be further exercised For he took great pains in constituting the Church in Polonia by the will of the King In comforting the afflicted
I pray you that yee be not pussed up with pride like pâ—ophane persons but rather give thanks to God with lowliness of mind But if adversitie shall happen unto you and death shall stand before you on every side yet trust in him that raiseth up the dead yea then especially think that ye are stirred up by God that ye may more and more trust in him alone And if ye desire that this your Commonwealth may be preserved in a firm estate see that you be not defiled with any filthiness For he is onely the highest God King of Kings and Lord of Lords he will honour those that honour him and cast down those that despise him Honour him therefore according to his own precepts and daily thinâ— of this that we are farre from doing that which is required of us I know the dispositions and conversations of every one of you and I know that you have need of exhortation There is none of those that excell most unto whom many things are not wanting therefore let every man look about him and let him ask of the Lord those things which he understands himself to stand in need of We see what vices reign in the greatest Councels in the world some are stark cold and neglect the publick taking care onely for their own private affairs Others are indulgent to their private affections Others use not the excellent gifts God hath bestowed upon them as they ought Others proudly boast of 〈◊〉 own parts and upon a certain confidence therein expect that every man should subscribe to their opinions I exhort old men that they envy not the younger whom they finde adorned with excellent gifts from God I admonish the younger that they carry themselves modestly without arrogance and let not one molest another Avoyd contentions and all that bitterness of spirit which diverts many from the right way in the government of the Commonwealth And ye shall the better avoyd these things if every man contain himself within his own spheare and all administer that part of the Commonwealth faithfully which is committed to him I pray you for Gods sake let there bee no place for favour or hatred in the judgement of civill causes Let none pervert right by subtill and cunning tricks Let no man hinder the Laws from prevailing Let no man depart from that which is just and equall If sinister affections shall beginne to arise let him resist them constantly looking upon hâ—m that hath placed him in his throne and begge of him his holy Spirit To conclude I begge of you again that you pardon mine infirmities which I acknowledge and confess before God Angels and your worshipfull selves Having thus spoken he prayed unto God to multiply his gifts and blessings upon them more and more and to governe them by his holy Spirit for the safety and good of the Commonwealth And giving his hand to every of them he dismissed them all who departed full of sorrow and heavinesse as from their Common Father with many tears April the eight and twentieth the Ministers of Geneva being come to him he spake thus unto them Brethren after my decease stand fast in this work of the Lord and be not discouâ—aged for the Lord will preserve this Church Commonwealth against the threatnings of the enemies I pray God keep you from dissentions Embrace one anoâ—her with mutuall charity Think again and again what you owe to this Church where in the Lord hath placed you and let nothing divert you from your duty Otherwise it will be easie for such as seek them to finde out â—â—â—sions but such shall finde that God cannot be deceived A soâ—n as I came to this City the Gospel indeed was preached but the affaires were very troublesome manâ— conceiting that Christianity was nothing else but to overthrow Images And there were not a few wicked persons from whom I suffered many most unworthy things But the Lord our God so confirmed and strengthened mee though by nature was not bold that I gave not place to any of their endeavours Afterwards when I returned hither from Strasborough I followed this vocation with an unwilling mind because it seemed to me that it would prove unfruitfull for I knew not what the Lord had determined and the matter was full of many and great difficulties But going on at last I found that God had much blessed my labours Stand fast therefore in this your vocation Retaine that order that is begun and doe your uttermost endeavours that the people may be kept in subjection to your wholsome Doctrine for some are wicked and stubborn Things as you see are through Gods mercy well setled and therefore ye shall be left without excuse before God if through your sâ—thfulness they be unsetled again I profess Brethren that I have lived with you conâ—oyned in true love and sincere charity and that I now so depart from you If you have found me any whit pettish in this my disease I crave pardon of you and give you very great thanks that yâ— have sustained the burthen imposed upon me during the time oâ— my sicknesse Having thus spoken he gave his hand to each of them who departed from him with much sorrow and weeping A while after Master Calvin understanding by Letters from Mr. Farel to Mr. Viret who was now an old man of eighty years old and sickly was yet determined to visit him and was now onward of his journey he wrote thus to him to stay him Farewell my best and sincerest brother and seeing God will have you to out live me in this world live mindful of our friendship which as it hath been profitable for the Church of God here so the fruit thereof tarrieth for us in heaven I would not have you weary your self for my sake I hardly draw my breath and I expect daily when it will wholly fail me It is enough that I live and die to Christ who is gaine to his both in life and death Again farewell May 11. Anno Christi 1564. Yet for all this Letter the good old man came to Geneva and having fully conferred with Mr. Calvin returned back to Neocom The rest of his dayes even till his departure Mr. Calvin spent almost in perpetuall prayer with his eyes fixed upon heaven and his voice full of sighes by reason of his short breath May the seven and twentieth being the day whereon hee departed he seemed to speak more strongly and with lesse difficulty but this was but a lightning before death In the evening about eight a clock on the sudden certain signes of present death appeared at which time Mr. Beza being newly departed from him some ran to acquaint him therewith whereupon he presently returned but found him to have yeelded up his spirit into the hands of God without the least strugling yea not so much ascending forth one groan having had his understanding memory and voice even to the last gasp being much more like to one that
admonished them especially to take heed of Drunkennesse which was so common amongst the Germans and lastly that they should be very observant to the Senate which had so excellently maintained Religion He wrote also his fare well to the Magistrates exhorting them to continue their care of the Church and Schooles thanked them for their kindnesse to him and entreated them to chuse Ralph Gualter to be his successor The day of his death he continued in prayer repeating the one and fiftieth the sixteenth and the forty second Psalms and the Lords Prayer and so gave up his soul unto God An. Chr. 1575 and of his Age 71. He was one of the chiefest of the Helvetian Divines and after Zuinglius and Oecolampadius a strong assertor of their Confession of Faith Of a mild nature clear in his Ministry and one that hated crabbed and unprofitable questions which many delighted in to shew their wit affable in speech courteous of behaviour both towards his own and strangers An excellent Governour of the Church frugall and temâ—rate in his diet merry and pleasant with those that lived wâ—â—h him He was so industrious that he would never be idle He had one Wife by whom he had six sonnes and five daughters of whom he married one to Zuinglius another to Lavate and a third to Simler all Ministers in Zurick He wrote Commentaries upon all the New Testament His Workes are contained in tenne Tomes besides which hee wrote Contra Anabaptistas lib. 4. De annuis Reditibus De Hebdomadibus Danielis De Sacramentis The Life of Edward Deering who died A no Christi 1576. EDward Deering was borne of a very ancient Family in Kent and carefully brought up both in Religion and Learning From School he went to Cambridge and was admitted into Christs Colledge where he profited exceedingly and became a very famous Preacher as may appear by his most learned and holy Sermons and Tractates full of heavenly consolation He never affected nor sought after great titles or preferments and therefore rested content with his Fellowship in that Colledge and onely Commenced Batchelor of Divinity yet afterwards hee was made a Preacher in Saint Paul's Church in London and having worn out himself with his labours in the Work of the Lord hee fell sick and discerning his approaching death hee said in the presence of his friends that came to visit him The good Lord pardon my great negligence that whilst I had time I used not his precious gifts to the advancement of his glory as I might have done Yet I blesse God withall that I have not abused these gifts to ambition and vain studies When I am once dead my enemies shall be reconciled to me except they be such as either knew me not or have no sence of goodnesse in them for I have faithfully and with a good conscience served the Lord my God A Minister standing by said unto him It 's a great happinesse to you that you die in peace and thereby are freed from those troubles which many of your brethren are like to meet with To whom he answered If God hath decreed that I shall sup together with the Saints in Heaven why doe I not goe to them but if there be any doubt or hesitation resting upon my spirit the Lord will reveal the truth unto me When he had layen still a while a friend said unto him that hee hoped that his minde was employed in holy meditation whilst hee lay so silent To whom he answered Poor wretch and miserable man that I am the least of all Saints and the greatest of Sinners yet by the eye of Faith I beleeve in and look upon Christ my Saviour Yet a little while and we shall see our hope The end of the world is come upon us and we shall quickly receive the end of our hope which we have so much looked for Afflictions diseases sicknesse grief are nothing but part of that portion which God hath allotted to us in this world It s not enough to beginne for a little while except we persevere in the fear of the Lord all the daies of our lives for in a moment we shall be taken away Take heed therefore that you doe not make a pastime of nor dis-esteem the Word of God blessed are they that whilst they have tongues use them to Gods glory When he drew near to his end being set up in his bed some of his friends requested him to speake something to them that might bee for their edification and comfort Whereupon the Sun shining in his face hee tooke occasion from thence to say thus unto them There is but one Sunne in the world nor but one Righteousnesse one Communion of Saints If I were the most excellent of all creatures in the world If I were equall in righteousnesse to Abraham Isaac and Jacob yet had I reason to confâ—sse my selfe to bee a sinner and that I could expect no salvation but in the righteousnesse of Jesus Christ For we all stand in need of the grace of God And as for my death I blesse God I feel and finde so much inward joy and comfort in my soul that if I were put to my choice whether to dye or live I would a thousand times rather choose death then life if it may stand with the holy will of God And accordingly shortly after he slept in the Lord Anno Christi 1576. The Life of Flacius Illiricus who died A no Christi 1575. MAtthias Flacius Illiricus was borne in Albona in Sclavonia Anno Christi 1520 of an ancient and numerous Family His Father being learned himself and discerning a good ingeny in his Sonne began in his tender years to instill into him the first Rudiments of Learning But after his death his Masters so neglected him that he almost forgot all Yet when he began to have discretion he desired much to attaine to Learning and returned to his studies and to further him therein went to Venice and after some progress made at seventeen years old hee beganne to study Divinity but wanting means to maintaine him in the University he profered halfe his estate to be admitted into a Monastery either at Bononia or Padua but a friend called Baldus a godly man who afterwards suffered Martyrdom for the Truth disswaded him from that kinde of life and advised him rather to goe into Germany where were store of Learned men Hereupon having read over some of the Protestants bookes and liking Baldus his advice hee went into Germany which he had never before seen and first staying at Basil he studied under Simon Grynaeus who did not only entertain him being very poor but provided for him and instructed him in the Truth which was An. 1539. And about the end of the ear he went from thence to Tubing where also he studied a while under Matthias Garbicius then went to Wittenberg An. Chr. 1541 where he privately
Naschovia where he remained three years From thence he removed to Nykopin where also he remained three years And from thence to a School in Zealand where likewise hee continued three years At last hee came to Roschildia where hearing there was one Benedict a famous learned man and a good Grecian that read at Lunden he went thither and was under him three yeares And Benedict perceiving his excellent wit his diligence and modesty was very helpfull to him Then had Hemingius an ardent desire to goe to Wâ—ttenbâ—rg which was made famous by Philips Melancthons Lectures and having gotten some little money in his purse he travelled thitherward but by the way sâ—me theeves met him and stripped him of all that he had yet when he came to Wittenbâ—rg he found the people very charitable to him especially Melancthon There he remained five years and by his writing for and attending upon richer students and teaching some privately he maintained himself When he returned home he had an ample testimony from Melancthon for his excellent wit and learning A while after his return he was intertained by Olaus Nicholas to teach his daughters And from thence he was chosen to be Pastor at Hafnia and accordingly ordained to it which place he discharged with much diligence and faithfulnesse And when many young students resorted to him he read privately to them And by his extraordinary paines gat so much credit that shortly after he was chosen Hebrew Professor in that University In which place he read Hebrew and Logick to the great benefit of many And about the same time he printed that excellent book De Methodo which he dedicated to Christian the third King of Denmark who bountifully rewarded him for the same Anno Christi 1578 he was made Doctor in Divinity and performed the office of a Divinity Professor with admirable diligence and paines for six and twenty years together as appeares by those many excellent bookes published by him in that time Anno Christi 1579 when hee was grown old and exhausted with his daily labours Frederick the second King of Denmark gave him a liberall Pension upon which he lied contentedly and comfortably all the remainder of his daies Yet neither then was he idle but imployed his time in writing and publishing books Some years before his death he grew blind and was troubled with several diseases desiring nothing more then that he might be dissolved and be with Christ. A little before his death he expounded the 103 Psalm with so much fervor efficacy and power of the Holy Ghost that all that heard him wondred at it and shortly after resigned up his spirit unto God Anno 1600 and of his age 87. Scripta ejus sunt varia exegetica didactica polemica The Life of James Heerbrand who died A no Christi 1600. JAmes Heerbrand was born at Noricum Anno Christi 1521 of an ancient Family His Father was one of Luther's Disciples and seeing the towardlinesse and promptnesse of his son was carefull to bring him up in Religion and Learning At seven years old he set him to School and yet had a watchfull eye over him to carry on the work of piety requiring him to repeat every Sermon that hee heard At twelve years old hiâ— Father bought him a fair Bible which he diligently read over and used all his life after His Father also perceiving that naturally he was much inclined to Musick he would not sufâ—er him to learn it lest it should be an impediment to him in his other studies And so when he had been sufficiently grounded in Grammar-learning he was sent to Ulm where the Colloquies of Erasmus were publickly reaâ— but Pope Paul suspecting that that book might do much hâ—â—t amongst youth because it discovered many errors and vices of the Papists forbade the use of it yet this caused it more to be read especially by Heerbrand who gat much good by it At Ulm also he studied the Arts and Tongues and a seventeen years old his Father sent him to Wittenberg to hear Luther and Melancthon in the year 1538 which yearâ— was famous for divers things For then the Kingdome of Denmark embraced the Gospel The Emperour and King of France met together to treat of peace The Bible was printed in English at Paris The University of Strasborouâ—h was erected The Sect of the Antinomians was detected The Marquess of Brandenburg imbraced the Augustanâ— Confession And the Sea by the Kingdom of Naples was wholly dry for eight miles together out of which place â—ire and ashes brake forth so abundantly that many places were miserably destroyed thereby In the University of Wittenberg Heerbrand studied the Arts with great diligence and was so sparing of his time that he would not intermit one hour from his studies insomuch that other students called him Suevicam Nâ—ctuam the Swevian Night-crow He heard Luther and Melancthons Lectures with â—uch diligence as also Bugenhag reading upon Deuteronomie Cruciger sen. upon Saint John George Major reading private Lectures upon Genesis Besides which hee attended the publick Sermons of these famous men which he wrote repeated meditated on and laboured to rivet in his memory An. Christi 1540 he commenced Master of Arts. He preached also abroad in the villages on the Sabbath dayes And thus having spent five yeares in his studies he returned home with an ample testimony from Melancthon and the University When he came home the Pastors of the Church appointed him to Preach which he performed with great approbation and commendation of all His Parents rejoycing much at his proficiency would needs have him employ his Talent in his own country and at Stutgard Snepfius being Superintendent examined him and finding his abilities said Dominus te mihi obtulit the Lord hath offered thee unto me Being but twenty two years old he was made Deacon at Tubing In which employment he continued six yeares and followed his studies in that University He also privately read Mathematick Lectures to many and sometimes preached in the Castle of Tubing before Prince Ulrick who loved him very well and told his Courtiers that he would prove a great Divine The year 1546 was fatall by the death of Luther and the war of the Emperour began against the Duke of Saxony and the Lantgrave of Hesse Anno Christi 1547 Heerbrand married a wife Margaret the daughter of Conrade Stamler Consul of Tubing by whom he had eight sons and three daughters An. Christi 1548 came forth that accursed Interim at which time Heerbrand amongst other Ministers that rejected it was banished from Tubing And being out of employment hee studyed Hebrew till Prince Ulrick being dead his son Christopher who succeeded him called back the Ministers and Heerbrand amongst them to their former places Hee also made him Pastor of Herrenberg Anno Christi 1550 he commenced Doctor in Divinity and the
with his terrors and with inward tentations so that his life was almost wasted with heaviness yet thereby he learned more and more to know Christ Jesus About that time there was a General Assembly of the Church at Perth unto which some that lived in the North of Scotland sent to desire that a Minister might be sent unto them whereupon the Assembly appointed Master Cowper for that place and accordingly wrote to him by Master Patrick Simpson who coming to Sterling delivered to him the Letters from the Assembly and those from the Town containing his calling to the work of the Ministry in that place And so shortly after the Town sent their Commissioners to transport him and his family thither In that place he continued doing the work of the Lord for ninteen years together where he was a comfort to the best and a wound to the worser sort Besides the Sabbath dayes he chose thrice a week to convene the people together in the Evenings viz. Wednesdayes Fridayes and Saturdayes for a preparation to the Sabbath upon which daies they had no preaching in the morning concerning which meetings himself writes That it would have done a Christians heart good to have seen those glorious and joyfull assemblies to have heard the zealous cryings to God amongst that people with sighings and tears and melting hearts and mourning eyes And concerning himself he saith My witnsse is in heaven that the love of Jesus and his people made continual preaching my pleasure and I had no such joy as in doing his work And besides that he preached five times a week he penned also whatsoever hee preached many of which holy and godly Sermons are extant in print All the time of his abode there except some little intermissions and breathing times the Lord still exercised him with inward tentation and great variety of spiritual combats the end of all which through Gods mercy was Ioy unspeakable as himself testifies Yea once saith he in greatest extreamitie of horror and anguish of spirit when I had utterly given over and looked for nothing but confusion suddenly there did shine in the very twinkling of an eye the bright and lightsome countenance of God proclaming peace and confirming it with invincible reasons O what a change was there in a moment the silly soul that was even now at the brink of the pit looking for nothing but to be swallowed up was instantly raised up to heaven to have fellowship with God in Christ Jesus and from this day forward my soul was never troubled with such extremity of terrors This confirmation was given unto me on a Saturday in the morning there found I the power of Religion the certaintie of the word there was I touched with such a lively sense of a Divinitie and power of a Godhead in mercy reconciled with man and with me in Christ as I trust my soul shall never forget Glory glory glory be to the joyfull deliverer of my soul out of all adversities for ever In the middest of these wrestlings with God he wanted not combats with wicked men also but the greatnesse of his inward conflicts made him lightly regard all their outward contradictions and to esteem them but as the bitings of a Flea It was no marvel to see Satan stir up his wicked instruments to molest him since he professed himself a disquieter of him and his Kingdom Yet this much supported him that he never had a controversie with any of them but for their sins And the Lord assisting him the power of the Word did so hammer down their pride that they were all of them at last brought to an acknowledgement of their evil wayes But at length as God turned the heart of Pharoah and his people from the Israelites when the time drew on for their remove so by little and little did the zeal and love of most of that people fall away so that his last conflict was not with the prophane but with Justitiaries and such as were unrebukeable in their lives These men were stuffed with such pride self-conceit disdain and intolerable contempt that thereby they were carried further from their duty then any of the former and they which should have been his greatest comfort were his greatest cross Presently hereupon God called him to the Government of the Churches in Galloway in the South-West parts of the kingdom being chosen by the Assembly and presented by the King thereunto This was done without his privity or ambitious us seeking after it yea he was so far from it that eighteen weeks passed betwixt the Kings Presentation and his Acceptation of â—t In that place he was very carefull to advance the Gospel and to adorn his Ministery Concerning the frame of his spirit thus he writes My soul is alway in my hand ready to be offered to my God Where or what kind of death God hath prepared for me I know not But sure I am there can no evil death befall him that lives in Christ nor sudden death to a Christian Pilgrim who with Job waits very hour for his change Yea saith he many a daie have I sought it with teaâ—es not out of impatience distrust or perturbation â—ut because I am weary of sin and fearful to fall into it This faithful servant of God who had alwaies been faithful and painful in his Ministery when sickness grew daily upon him was no way deficient in the duty of his ordinary preaching Taking great pains also to perfect his work upon the Revelations which he desired greatly to finish before his death He had also much grief by reason of some that disturb'd the peace of the Church which he alwaies sought to procure so that his infirmity encreasing he was compelled to keep home yet as his weakness permitted he applyed himself to revise his writings and to dispose of his worldly estate that he might be ready for his passage which every day he exspected some ten daies before his decease he manifested to his friends what great contentment he had in his approaching death Many repaired to him in his sickness whom he entertained with most holy and divine conferences expressing a great willingnesse to exchange this life for a better and at last feeling his strength and spirits to decay after he had conceived a most heavenly prayer in the company of those that were by he desired to you to bed in which also after he had most devoutly commended himself unto Almighty God hee tooke som◠〈◊〉 rest After which time he spake not many words 〈…〉 failing though his memory and understanding 〈…〉 and so about seven a clock at night he rendred 〈…〉 most quiet and peaceable manner An Christi 1619. Some of his private meditations were these Now my soul be glad for at all parts of this prison the Lord hath set to his Pioners to loose thee Head feet milt and liver are