Collection of Discourses, Part 12

Collection of Discourses · Part 12

p. 306A FVNERALL ORATION OF D. FRANCES JVNIVS, Profeſſor of Divinity in the famous Schoole of Neuſtade; vponupon the death of D. ZACHARY VRSINE, a moſt worthy man and vigilant Doctor and Profeſsor of Divinity in the ſaide Schoole of Neuſtade.

WE hauehave lately loſt (noble and worthy auditors) the moſt faithfull ſervaunt of God Zacharie Vrſine, a reverende vvitneſſe of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, a right vertuous man, my ſweete fellow-profeſſor, and one moſt beneficiall to Gods church: of this man are we deprived, and this our orphan-ſchoole left deſtitute of her parent. The greatneſſe of which loſſe if I woulde amplifie, I ſhoulde but giuegive occaſion of more heavineſſe to p. 307your mindes, that are already in this caſe too tenderly affected, and faile exceedingly of that excellency of diſcourſe, which in ſo excellent a ſubiect may iuſtly be expected. For though faine I would, and could hartily wiſh that I might ſpeak much to this purpoſe, yet I neither thinke it fit, conſidering I ſhould but miniſter fuell to the fire of your affection; nor accompt my ſelfe able, as well for divers defects which I feele in my ſelfe of wit, learning, exerciſe, & continuance of converſing with that man of happy memorie, whereby I am much diſabled; as alſo becauſe if I were furniſhed with gifts of vtterance (which in my ſelfe I acknowledge to be very ſlender) yet nowe the waight of this vvorke, the ſcantneſſe of time, and vehemencie of my griefe hauehave debarred me all vſe and practiſe of them. Wherefore I would indeede hauehave perſwaded ſome others of our colledge to take ſome paines in this matter thereby to eaſe mine owne ſtudy and ſorrow; but they excuſed themſelues vvith the publique griefe and their owne moſt affectionate heavineſſe. And muſt wee then needes neglect the commendation of that ſacred ſoule, if in this publique calamitie of the Church and our ſchoole, wee giuegive our ſelues wholy to mourning and lamentation? But that perhaps wil ſeeme an vndutiful nicenes & tē dernes to ſuch as know not the vehemēcie of our griefe. Beſides (to vſe the words of S. Amb.) though it do but increaſe our griefe to wright of that which grieveth vsus, yet becauſe cōmonly we content our ſelues with p. 308the remembrance of him whoſe loſſe we lament, for th… in wrighting a whileſt that our mindes by meditation are wholy fixed on him, wee imagine him to liue in our diſcourſe; it is a thinge that muſt be done, except we will be thought to hauehave buried in ſilence the memorie of a pledg ſo well deſeruing, and to hauehave vouchſafed him no honor, or els to hauehave avoided all incitemēts to greife, wher as for the moſt part, to greiue is the especial comfort of ſuch as are greiued. Shall we then differ this commendation any longer? no truelie; but rather let vsus ſtirre vp your mindes to maintaine his memorie both now & to al poſteritie hereafter: for (as Nazianzen ſaith) good men ought to be especially remembred, and they whoſe memorie is godlie and p…offitable. But ſtay then: am I the boldeſt of this companie of profeſſors? not ſo. But perhappes I am the moſt officious and forward to ſhew my dutie? truelie neither am I ſo greed…e of the glorie of this actiō that I could finde in my heart to ſnatch it from others by prevention. How then? am I belyke the moſt vnwiſe of all others? truelie I do not arrogate to my ſelfe any great wiſedome, onelyonly I hope this my dutie ſhal be without off…ces & with thought hereof I am much comforted. But what mooued mee aboue others to take vponupon me the penninge and pronouncing of this oration? Becauſe of dutie one of vsus muſt needes hauehave done it; & that which was a dutie in all, greife excuſed in other, and might as well hauehave done in me, had not very neceſſitie not onelie required, but alſo euen exacted it at my handes. For firſt I owe as much to p. 309the memorie of that iuſt man my good fellow-profeſſor, as others doe, namelie an honorable remembrance of him. Moreouer I owe ſo much dutie and more to this our Schoole, which may iuſtly callenge my diligence, as well in this as in other cauſes. Laſtelie I ſhall hereby provide both for the publique good, and alſo for mine owne credit: for otherwiſe who would not be readie to obiect againſt me that ſayinge of Sophocles?

Alaſſe! how ſoone thankleſſe poſteritie

Leaues to retaine a dead freindes memorie?

But theſe learned and iudicial men herepreſēt, may in the common heauineſſe make this benefit, that they perſwade themſelues they may ſhift of the burden of this exerciſe without preiudice of their credit: as for me, the neceſſitie of my place enforceth either to prouide ſome other who will and may better diſcharg it then my ſelfe, or els to ſubmit my ſelfe to the hazard of your cenſures. The waight of my other affaires do ouermuch diſtract me, the conſcience of mine owne weaknes doth amaze mee, the worth and greatnes of the thinge it ſelfe deters me. All this notwithſtāding, the authoritie of this ſchoole preuaileth ouer mine affaires, good enſample and publique paterne of the church forceth my conſcience, and neceſſitie it ſelfe doth thruſt me forward ſetting aſide reſpect of the worthe and maieſtie of this ſubiect, to ſay ſome thinge therof in this aſſemblie. Truſting therfore to your courteſie and indifferencie (worſhipfull and worthie auditors) firſt I deſire & entreate p. 310you to heare favorably this my oration, no way matching (I confeſſe) that matchleſſe mans deſertes, or your expectation, or mine owne duty, but onelyonly fitting my poore mediocritie: then that you woulde vouchſafe lovingly to excuſe mee (plucking onelie ſome few fruites from that moſt rare and ſacred tree (if I neither flouriſh out this picture with thoſe curious colours, nor furniſh out this table with thoſe diuers and daine…i… diſhes which that rich ſtore houſe might afforde, but rather ſupplie what mine ignorance hath omitted, and pardon both for ſhortneſſe of time and vehemencie of griefe, whatſoever I ſhall happen to ſpeake vnadviſedly. For in that man I purpoſe not to ſpeake of that wee admired whilſt it vvas preſent, and now want being abſent (for I neither know nor can reckon al) nor of many ſuch things as I know, and hauehave much thought of (for even that alſo were almoſt infinite, and would ſeeme incredible to manie) but I intend in few words to lay downe a briefe of thoſe vertues and good giftes which heretofore wee hauehave all ſeene, and whoſe loſſe wee now lament, and to ſhaddowe out vntounto you the damage redounding to vsus all by the vntimely death of that man of fame, that by this fi…e wee may bee inflamed to ſtrong faith and ſerious repentaunce, and more and more frame our ſelues to imitation of this worthy witneſſe and valiant champion of CHRIST IESVS.

Zacharie Vrſine was borne at Preſ…aw of honeſt p. 311parentage by diſcent, in the yeare of our Lorde, 1536. Hee was naturallie for conſtitution of bodie ſtrong; but more ſtrong of minde and courage, eſpeciallie after there had beene ioyned to the goodneſſe of his nature, artes, and ſciences, and other moſt excellent and heavenlie giftes & qualities. But touching the giftes of his body we ſhal not neede to ſpeake much, conſidering that ſome of them are indifferentlie common to all men, others beſides men, are alſo incident vntounto beaſtes. For although in themſelues they be cō modious, and ſuch as every man may wel wiſh to further him in laudable attemptes, yet they make nothing to the true glorie and commendation of thoſe in whom they are found: wherefore I am reſolved to giuegive vntounto him his deſerued commendation, not as he was man, but a moſt abſolute Divine. But touching the vertues of his mind, which by conſent of al good men deſerue of themſelues to be deſired, and poſſeſſe the perpetual fruit of true glorie, what ſhal I ſaie? whence ſhoulde I beginne, or when ſhould I end, if I ſhould endevour to ſpeake all that might be ſaid of this moſt holie & choice veſſell, ordained to the glorie of his maker? I ſhould ſooner want time then matter in ſo iuſt a cauſe. Nowe then I ſee well what I hauehave to do. I muſt preſcribe vntounto my ſelfe certaine limites & bounds, beyōd which (would I never ſo faine) I may nor ſtray: that ſo, both I may promiſe to my ſelfe the things wherof I meane to ſpeake, & you before hād may cōceiue what you are like to hear.

p. 312Firſt thē I giuegive you to vnderſtand, that this our deare Vrſine was a man abſolutely furniſhed with manie and thoſe exceeding greate and ſingular giftes of wit and vnderſtanding. Alſo this I ſaie, that with theſe moſt ſingular, exquiſite, and incredible giftes of witte vvas ioyned a moſt ſtricte courſe of life, reſpecting the publique good of the Church. Laſtly, I tell you, that his godly death is vntounto vsus a moſt ſure argument both of his eleganeie of vvitte and ſtrictneſſe of life. VVithin theſe boundes I doe of purpoſe empale my ſelfe, that ſo you remembring this may the more eaſily recall to memory all the reſt, and with authoritie call me homewardes, if I offer to wander beyond theſe liſtes.

Concerning that wit whereof we ſpake, I am verily perſwaded that this worthy man was moſt aboundantly ſtored with many and thoſe verie heauenlie giftes thereof: which I deſire may bee ſpoken without offence, and taken without envy of any man. For vvaying vvith my ſelfe that ſtrength of wit which is naturall, I ſee not vvhat was wanting in him that might be founde in any man: but when I thinke of thoſe vertues whereby our wits & mindes are adorned and ſtrengthned to the ſtudies of humanitie and religion, then me thinke I remember how by the finger of God almoſt all were heaped vponupon this one man. And that this which I ſpeake is true, al men can witnes who but once conuerſing vvith him hauehave had experience of his ſingular vertues, vvitneſſe his p. 313familiar acquaintance, witneſſe his friends, witneſſe innumerable multitudes of thoſe vvhichwhich hauehave vſed his adviſe, witneſſe many greate and principall men, which hauehave preferred him before al men to bee the oracle of their counſels, & th… cenſurer of their wrightings: vvitneſſe innumerable peoples, nations, churches, and laſtlie bookes of his, by whoſe varietie of learning CHRISTS people hath alreadie a long time beene fedde and recreated, albeit they like modeſt children, obeying the modeſt will of their natural Father, diſſemble and conceale his name. VVhichWhich beeing ſo, vvhat neede I any farther blazon the worth of ſo incomparable a wit? For if I conſider with my ſelfe his naturall wiſedome ioyned vntounto this witte, beholde immediatelie there are preſented to my viewe vvhole troopes of conferences, Letters, Lectures, Sermons, wrightings, bookes, beeing as it vvere vvhole ſhoppes and ſtore-houſes of his wiſedome. If at any time I bethinke my ſelfe of his invention, vvhat could a man conceiue of ſharper edge? (as the Poēt ſaid) more forwarde and ſwift? more diligent & induſtrious, then was that force, wherwith it pleaſed almightie GOD to endue this veſſell of holineſſe? If I reſpect that magnanimity and quickneſſe of conceipt vvhereby all humaine things he conceaved & skorned, what mā on the earth did more eaſily, & in the twinckling of an eie, (as vvee vſe to ſaye) overpaſse all thoſe thinges, vvhichwhich to thoſe celeſtiall ſpirites p. 314ſeeme vile & baſe, then he did? If tenacite of memorie which is the continual companion of good wittes, I finde in this man a memorie immortally good. But after this fruitful and happie witte was once manured & husbanded by ingenuous artes and ſciences, then indeede began he to aduance the ſingularitie of his nature vntounto a perfection far exceedinge all others. For he trulie was ſo skilled in all artes and ſciences, that he might worthilie bee thought poſſeſſed with that famous circle of ſciences, ſo much commended by auncient philoſophers. He was as well ſeene as any man in the arte of pure, plaine, elegant, and true ſpeech. He had ſo diligently and artificially vſed each part of philoſophy, that you ſhould not take him to hauehave beene a ſcholler to philoſophie, but rather philoſophie to hauehave bin a ſcholler to him. He was moſt skilful in the Mathematiques, he knew exquiſitly al that pertained to Naturall philoſophie, and was ſo excellently cunning in Moral and politique affaires, that he might worthilie be accoumpted a ſingular miracle of the worlde.

Moreouer (to the intente that learninge this, wee may proceede yet farther) how manie and greate men did hee to his greate coſt viſite, that he might throughly informe himſelf in the knowledge of theſe thinges, and perfite himſelfe by diligent imitation. For hee viſited, hearde, & ſwallowed not onelie with eyes and eares, but allſo with inſatiable thirſt of mynde thoſe moſt cleere and eminent lightes of all Europe, which p. 315then ſhined in Wittemberge, Leipſich, Paris, and Zurich, gathered from them all the ſweete hony of learninge, whoſe combes are nowe extant, delicious and wholeſome to vsus for this ſchoole, to Germanie his deare countrie, and to the whole church of God, which is the common mother of vsus all, but bitter and pernicious to all wicked men and heretiques. What ſhould I heare ſpeake of exerciſe, wherein this greate ſervant of God and miniſter of the church did ſo greatlie delight, that with too ſevere and ſtrict meditation and exerciſe, wherevnto hee was wholie addicted, hee neglected all care of his bodilie health. And this hee did then eſpecially, when hee had ſatiſfied his minde with the knowledge of humaine artes, leaſt perhappes that might befall him which often befall vnſkilful fencers, whoe a longe time flouriſh & beate the aire without once touching the body, & after much paines takē to no purpoſe, whē they come indeed to the ſharp, are ſoone over come in fight: for it is indeed a great matter and ever cōmendable to excell all others in naturall gifts & ſtrēgth of witt, but greater, to grace that ſolid natural iuice of wit with the floriſhinge pleaſinge coloure of humaine arts, but greateſt, & that which exceedeth all the reſt is, when both iuyce & colour are ſteeped & purified in the ſacred foūtaines of this diuine & heauenlie doctrine: not that our minds might anie more be coloured as in times paſt with pure purple, but that every one in the ſpirite of his minde may bee renewed after the image of his creator. p. 316And if any man in our memorie, without doubt this valiant champion of Chriſt hath performed, laboured, and carefully perfited it. For firſt he perceaued, and verie wiſely, that thoſe daintie ornaments of humanitie ought to be hand-maides vntounto the word of God and holy ſcripture. Then this he laid downe for a ground, that he was not at his owne, but others diſpoſing. Alſo he vnderſtood that as many as addicte themſelues to the ſervice of God, obtaine of him ſaluatiō, but ſuch as withdraw themſelues from vnderunder his hand, doe fayle therof. But then (good Lord!) how feruēt a ſtudie did the meditation of theſe things breede in the ſanctified ſoule of this Chriſtian champion? what feare? what deſire? what zeale? Hēce ſprōg his faith in Chriſt, his hope, and (that which is the bond of all perfection) his charitie: all heauenlie vertues, which whē once they were rooted in him by God the father, they could neuer be rooted out, or corrupted by any temptation, violēt fraud, proſperitie, or adverſitie. What ſhall wee farther ſay, if all this was not enough, but that the innocent man muſt daily punniſh himſelfe? for he did ſeuerely chaſtize his bodie to bring it to ſubiectiō vntounto Chriſt. It is incredible how carefull and religious hee was not to be wiſer thē in ſobrietie was fit for him: he did ever captivate vntounto Chriſt that naturall wiſedome wherin he excelled; he neuer durſt determine anie thinge but out of the plaine and knowne worde of God, he would avouch nothinge but what he had receaved by moſt ſure p. 317faith of the holy Ghoſt; laſtely he was alwaies of this minde, that nothinge was to be altered from the common receaued cuſtomes and opinions, except the vnreſiſtable veritie of Gods worde did both commaund and force. But that he might with more certaintie compaſſe all theſe things, he was exactelie skilled in the tongues, a moſt neceſſarie inſtrument amongſt others for a true diuine: and theſe he had alwaies readie, and vſed them whereſoeuer was neede with paſſinge dexteritie and wiſedome. A man for iudgment moſt profūd, for prouidence wiſe, cunning to deviſe, quicke to invent, laborious to ſearch, ſharpe to diſcuſſe, readie to perceaue, in deliueringe a truth moſt faithfull, in refellinge a falſhoode moſt powerfull, farre from uanitie, diligent in all he vndertooke, armed at all points with the complete harneſſe of a true Diuine, a ſtronge repeller of falſhoode, & an invincible fortreſſe of defence for veritie. This man (worthy audience) by profeſſion a diuine, indeed a champion of Chriſt, hauehave we loſt, wee hauehave (I ſay) loſt by the will of God this earneſt maintainer of Gods truth, this victorious aduerſarie of Satan; this faithfull touchſtone aud rebuke of the fraudes and ſophiſmes which he vſeth to plot and deviſe, this valorous vanquiſher and deſtroyer of hereſies we hauehave ſeene taken from amonge vsus: and we all lament this moſt heavie plague and greivous wounde inflicted on vsus and the whole church of Chriſt. But whether do I wā der? Doe you not now perceaue (noble and excellēt p. 318auditors) that by degrees I am fallen to the ſecond point whereof I purpoſed to ſpeake? For hitherto I hauehave giuen you to vnderſtand that this our Doctor was a rare man for excellencie of wit, learninge, truſt, and skill in matters of religion, the learnedſt among divines, and moſt divine amonge the learned. Now it followeth neceſſarily that I ſpeake ſomwhat of that ſecond parte which I propoſed, that ſo to this theorie and knowledge I may ioyne his vertuous life and practize.

The manner hereof was this: he was an other iuſt Zacharie before God, and laboured with all his might to ioyne innocencie of life to thoſe excellent giftes of witt beſtowed on him by nature, arte, ane the heauenlie grace of God: I call you to witneſſe that hauehave conuerſed with the man openly and familiarlie. Whatſoeuer he had of nature, did hee not (after he had faithfully bettered it by liberall artes, and profited it by grace infuſed from heauen) imploy it wholie to the ſtudie and dutie of pietie, charitie, and humanitie? Some perchaunce will thinke it incredible, ſome enuiouſelie ſpoken; yet I muſt needes ſay it. I thinke this age hath bred verie few, whoſe ſtudious part and dutiful minde might be compared with this mans hearte and minde. Which I ſpeake not becauſe I woulde flatter him: for whie ſhould I flatter the dead? nor that I yeeld too much to our freindſhip and familiaritie, for it was a greife to me that I was almoſt alwaies abſent from ſo worthie a man; and now to be cutt of from all hope of acquaintance p. 319with him which I hauehave ſo much wiſhed, this is that which grieueth me moſt of all. I ſpeake the truth, & that which in cōſcience I thinke; I hauehave obſerued in this mā ſo much diligence of ſtudie, and ſo much gratiouſnes of curteſie & faire behavior, as can very hardly be matched, muſt leſſe bettered by any mā. And how might this be known? beeaus in pietie, charitie, and curteſie he ſatiſfied al other men, but never could ſatiſfie himſelfe. But who, I pray, is there that can witnes thus much? nay who is there that cannot witnes it, if he hauehave but heard the name of Vrſinus? heard it, ſay I? nay I call thē to witneſſe which know not ſo much as his name. There hauehave beene manie in our memorie, which hauehave moſt greedilie gathered the moſt ſweete & wholſome fruite of his labours, as from a tree vnknowne, & hauehave togeather with vsus thirſted after the water poured from his river and bowells by Chriſt. It were to long to confirme theſe thinges by examples, teſtimonies, and arguments: & perhappes to ſome of you vnprofitable, to others teadious. But out of manie I will make choice only of ſom feaw, & frō his plentifull panterie & ſtorhouſe, furniſh you out a frugal & thriftie bāquet. His firſt rudimēts of religion he had learned of a child; which is a great matter. In proces of time he encreaſed & furthered thē moſt aboūdātly: which is more. But the greatſt matter & moſt memorable of al the reſt, is that whē he was aged (if a man of years may be termed aged, at which years it pleaſed God to take away and extinuiſh that light, p. 320ſhining to the teſtimonie of that true light) but being, I ſay, aged, he as much confirmed that his ſtudie of godlineſſe and religion, as when he did moſt.

Laſtly, at all times (that I may, if it be poſſible, conclude al in a word) without meaſure or end he was ſo carried away with deſire of godlineſſe and reverence of his maker, and did ſo burie himſelfe therein, that from the principles of wiſdome proceeding every daie very much forvvard, he in the end attained that perfection, wherwith the moſt righteous God hath now crowned him. And though himſelfe procured & vſed no other ſufficient witneſſes of theſe his moſt holy endevours (which God very well knew and approued) beſides that great ſearcher of harts, God, & our Lord Ieſus Chriſt whom he ſerued in ſpirit: yet am I able to alleadge two moſt evident proofes thereof, namely his faithful praiers, & ſacred meditations. But then (will ſome man ſay) did this Vrſinus, whō you cōmend, vſe to cal witneſſes about him when he wēt to praier? did he offer himſelfe to the view & hearing of others as if he had beene on a theater and not in his cloſet? no truely. That moſt ſimple man, one far from al ſhew of this humaine vanitie & affectiō of vaine glory, thought it alwaies ſufficient to be ſeene in ſecret by his father▪ which ſeeth in ſecret, vvas verie warie in beeing ſeene of others, confirmed himſelfe by Chriſtiā praier, did not vaunt himſelfe by phariſaicall boaſting. Do I then gueſſe and ſpeake by coniecture? nor ſo, but p. 321avouch it vponupon certaine knowledge. For ſuch indeede was this man of God, moſt carefull of the truth, the church, the afflicted brethren, & al mē, wholie bent to faithful praier, whereby like another Ioſue converſing night & day in the light of heavenlie things, he did with feruent praier ſaue and defend the people of his charge, & with the ſword of Gods word chaſed and put to flight the enemies of the faith. But what ſhould I ſpeake of his meditations? We founde (ô deere Vrſine) that thou didſt truely obſerue, what Demoſthenes had before in word & deed approued, That eaſie things were harde to bee conceived by the negligent, and harde things eaſie to the diligent. So certaine was it that thou thoughteſt nothing vnworthy thy meditation. For what eaſie thing did eſcape him? What difficult thing was there wherevnto he did not attaine? Whatſoever the eternall ſpirit of God delivered in the bookes of the Prophets & Apoſtles, all that he beleeued faithfully, ſearched diligently, and attained by med…ating theron miraculouſly. For thoſe he accoumpted the worthieſt paines, which were beſtowed in thoſe divine ſtudies. As often as I thinke on the greate, laborious, and peremptorie deſire of meditation which was in this man, (and I cannot but thinke of it verie much and often) I ſtill call to minde that elegāt ſentēce of Ba…us the Great, ſeeing the truth is harde to finde, wee muſt euerie where ſeeke after it. For if the conceiuing, as of arts, ſo alſo of true … and religion, be made greate by that continuall p. 322encreaſe vvhichwhich by little and little is gathered together, there is not that thing ſo meane & ſimple, which they that enter into that kind of know ledge may or ought to deſpiſe. But what thinke you of this, that there was nothing delivered by thoſe great men & principall philoſophers which this my buſie fellow profeſſor did not by meditation attaine, were it neuer ſo crabbed, deepe, and obſcure? was he not well ſeene in the moral wrightings of Ariſtotle and other wrighters? was not natural philoſophie plaine, open, and eaſie vntounto him? did hee not abſolutelie conceiue the drift and nature of Ariſtotles Organon? the ſubtiltie of vvhichwhich worke ſome flie, as deſpairing of the vnderſtanding thereof, others with raſh iudgement cōdēne it, as the fatal and pernicious Scylla or Charybdis of youth: the ſubtiltie and commoditie of vvhichwhich vvorke Vrſine ſharpelie and ſpeedilie perceaued, and preſented it as it were in a table to be perceived and peruſed by others. What ſhould I heere ſpeake of the Mathematiques, vvhoſe foundations are commonlie grounded on ſerious meditatiō of mind, whoſe principles are cōtained in axioms or petitions as they cal thē? Their difficult preceptes were not vnknowne to Vrſinus, vvho by ſerious meditatiō, not fleeting & ſlender inſight, throughly pervſed thē all. Well then, let vsus now ſee what witneſſes we can produce for this matter. After I hauehave vſed his own teſtimony, I wil then thinke of others. Vrſine himſelf in the whole race of theſe his too ſhorte daies, is a moſt ſubſtantial witnes of his p. 323owne meditatiōs, & al thoſe vertues which before I hauehave recited. For what duties of piety, or Chriſtiā charity, or cōmō curteſie did he omit? his religious duty toward God, God himſelfe did ſee, acknowledg & ſeal, & hath now at the laſt rewarded. But becauſe the beſt vvay to knowe the tree is by the fruit, let me (with your patience) a litle turne your thoughts to the fruits of his godlineſſe & religion. Truly I thinke that in holy ſcripture they are the greateſt fruits of godlines, which cōcerne the advancemēt of Gods glory. And whē was this ſacred ſoule at al wāting herevnto? whē did it not endevor & labor vehemently to giuegive light everie day more thē other to the truth, & therwith to lightē others with whō it did cōverſe, that ſo it might diſpel the foggy clouds of error? But thoſe duties of piety are moſt neerely linked vntounto charity, which concerne both edifying of the church, & the ſalvatiō of our neighbors. Wherfore now I wil ſpeak iointly of both ſorts of duties, & demōſtrate how painful this couragious ſoldier of Chriſt did labour by his ſpeech, his wrightings, & his whole minde, that he might not in the leaſt maner trip or wāder frō his duty. As therfore the duties of piety & charity ar between thēſelues agreeable, & vnited: ſo alſo they liued, encreaſed, & altogither ſhōe forth of this mā when he lived. For if we reſpect the exerciſes hee vndertooke in regarde of theſe duties, good Lord, how great was his faith? his diligence? his faſting? his watching? for not onelie the fruits enſuing heereon can witneſſe thus much vntounto vsus, p. 324but alſo that macerating and pullinge downe his bodie, that taminge of his fleſh, that outwarde man worne and ſpent with sore paſſed labours, ſo that hee died an vntimelie death. I woulde to God (my deare Vrſine) thou haſt not ſo weekned thy ſelfe with vnmeaſurable …, that thou mighteſt longer tyme hauehave … vsus, … ſchoole, & Gods church For thou diddeſt ſo far reſpect god, that thou diddeſt no way reſpect thy ſelfe. Alaſſe, alaſſe, deere Vrſine the light of Germanie, the pillar of the church, the father of this our ſchoole, and the immortall glorie of this coū tie Palatine, I woulde thou couldeſt hauehave been perſwaded, to hauehave taken thy-ſelfe a little from thy-ſelfe, and reſpited thy-ſelfe a little from thy continuall cares, that ſo wee, this ſchoole, & the whole church might a little longer hauehave enioyed thee? when I in times paſt admoniſhed thee ſomwhat to this purpoſe thou madeſt mee aunſwer, that bodilie exerciſe did little profit: where vntounto I replied that it was profitable, and that by entercourſe it was to bee ioyned with the exercise of the mynde, and that it was elegantly proved by Chryſoſtom to the people of Antioch: all this I tryed with him, but to no purpoſe. But what meane I? the Lordes will hath been done, it is better to bee ſilent, then to reply. Who then is there which can ſhew, that the duty of this worthy and laborious man was ever wanting either in ſpeech or wrightinge, as long as hee was any way able to ſhew it? for mine owne part I p. 325know not whether the remembrance of his invincible paines, which hee vnceſſantly vſed in perfourmance of theſe duties, did more greiue me, or the conceipt of that fruite, whith without care of him ſelfe hee dealte vntounto all poſteritie doth delight mee: although tyme may were awaie greife, but this fruit ſhall continue beyonde all tyme. Yf I reſpect private conference, thy mynde was an wholeſome and well ſured treaſure: if thy publique ſpeeches, it was the oracle of God, at leaſt for that meaſure that may be found in mortalitie: if both togeather, that thy divine diſpoſinge and diſpenſinge of the myſteries of God, doth not the brighteneſſe therof dazel and blinde the eyes of my mynde and vnderſtandinge? Thou man of God, thou well furniſhed Divine with all the holie complete armoure of divinitie, thou excellent amongeſt all divines, when diddeſt thou at anie time ceaſe from preaching and profeſſing of the truth? when diddeſt thou cōceale thoſe myſteries which were ſtored vp in thy armoury, that is, in thy mind? whē wert thou at any time idle? it is ſtrāge that I wil tel you, yet very certainly true, there neuer came in my preſēce idle word out of his mouth: all things did ſtreāe frō him ſo exquiſit, levelled, weighed, & premeditated. What ſhould I ſpeake of his publique diſcourſes? his excellēt ſermōs firſt preached by him at Heidelberg were in admiration with all men; the variety & multiplicity of learning, which he vſed in his lectures did refine, adorne, better & p. 326make fruitfull the wits of many, vvhichwhich now in all parts of the Chriſtian vvorld plant, ſovv, & water the garden and fielde of God, which build vp the houſe of the liuing God, and laſtlie which by their labours of imitatiō do repreſent this their faithfull maiſter, as it vvere reviued by them & recalled frō death. Nay his ordinary table which he vſed in the houſe of wiſdome, vvas ſo ſpread vvith varietie of flowers & ſweet fruits of that more ſacred ſort of philoſophie, ſo ſtored with proviſion new & old, that it might wel ſeeme, not a table of vulgar philoſophie, but a ſāctuarie of celeſtial wiſdōe. There the voice of ſcripture reſounded, which is the only meſſenger and interpreter of vviſdome, there vvere her foſter-children, honeſty and modeſtie, and (to vſe the words of Euſtathius in Macrobius) with ſobriety, godlines. There was variety of hiſtorie, natural and morall; there ſate by all the ſciences, and one after an other interpoſing did by entercourſe breath louely & liuely freſhnes into the whole aſſembly. If any mā wil reckon theſe among his diſcourſes, he may for me; but I knovve theſe were ful & iuſt lectures, adorned with notes of al ſciences, & beautified with admirable graces. And theſe ar the great vertues of his diſcourſes. But who wil not marvel that al theſe vertues ſhoulde dailie be poliſhed & adorned by wrighting, that moſt excellēt & ready maker & maſter of eloquēt diſcourſe? For this mirror of mē tooke pleaſure to feed the fluencie not only of his tōgue, but alſo of his wit by wrighting: which is a thing that Tullie cōmādeth & cōmēdeth to as many as deſire to excel p. 327in ſpeakīg & teaching. Therfore al his lectures, cōmētaties, obſervatiōs, & notes were wrightē: ſo that frō his own writings he had cōtinuall helpes, both for his owne memory, & alſo for others directiō. But amōgſt all theſe writings I maruell at nothing more, thē that he could ſteale ſo much vacāt time frō thē, as to anſwere to many & thoſe verie weighty queſtions. He opened the vnderſtāding of things, & freely gaue coūſaile to ſuch as requeſted his adviſe, & thē was he moſt dutiful, whē he was ſuppoſed to think of nothing leſſe thē dutie. This the learned & vnlearned, the poore & rich, neighbors & ſtrāgers, friends & enemies cā verie wel witnes: none of al which cā iuſtly complaine, that he was either not regarded of him, or not ſatisfied by him. He endevored ſo curteouſly, gētlie & faithfully to doe good to all, that he might win al, & ioine thē to his L. Chriſt. But ſome mā wil ſay theſe are priuate matters: where are thoſe publike proofes of his piety & charity? theſe thinges are ſo opēly witneſſed & proued, that they are indeede cleerer thē the cleere ſun-ſhine at noone-day. For thoſe elegāt wrightings heretofore we hauehave ſeene at Heidelberg, came moſt out of this ſtore houſe: & thoſe which here, I ſay here 5. yeares ſince vvere ſpred amōgſt vsus, were al wrightē by the ſame hād; and that hand which here hee guided by his skill, God hath now poſſeſſed there with vndoubted reſt. Tell mee (thou vpſtarte Eutyches) what didſt thou ever feele more heavy then this hand, except the hand of God, which doth vex, perſecute, p. 328excruciate, torment, & purſue them? What Belleraphon did more ſtrongly beate downe thy Chimaera? what Hercules thy Hydra? Who did ever more couragiouſlie confound that thy Cerberian monſter of Vbiquitie? But that I may not long dwell on a matter vulgar and trivial, thou Sarmatian Arius ſhalt not eſcape the hand of this heroike chā pion, though iſſuing from vsus. This ſame is he that hath provided, filed, poliſhed, ſharpned and fitted vntounto vsus armour, prepared for the deſtructiō of thy impious opiniō: of whoſe force I hauehave thought good to fore-warne thee, that thou maieſt now at length begin to looke backe to God & reverētly feare the eternal ſon of the eternal God which is, was, and ſhal be one together with the father for ever and ever: which if thou wilt not doe, vnderſtand then that there is denounced from this mā eviction of thy blaſphemie, and from God, thy downefall, ruine, and deſtruction. What truſt thē, vvhat diligence ſhall we thinke was in this ſweet and ſacred ſoule, who ſuffred no hower, no moment of the day to paſſe without ſome profit? The proofes of pietie & charitie conſiſt eſpeciallie in theſe 2. cauſes; firſt in maintaining true doctrine, ſecondlie in aſſailing and ſuppreſſing that which is falſe. Who thē is there that can addict himſelfe more religiouſlie, learnedlie, fitlie, preſſelie, vehementlie, faithfullie, diligentlie & ſtoutlie to true and ſound doctrine then he hath done? To ſpeak ſomwhat of his curteſie, what greater favor could he do, then that whereof before I ſpake, vvhichwhich p. 329was his diligence in vnfolding queſtions, and giving adviſe? Which in this man was ever ſo elaborate, that he cleered all doubts moſt evidently, diſcouered all ſophiſmes moſt ſubtilly, readilie, & with paſſing dexterity and agility, not with the words of humane wiſedome, but by the power of the holy ſpirit. Why thē ſhould any heere obiect, that he was a man of churliſh and ſurly diſpoſition? In deed as they which are paineful in their ſtudies are ſomewhat ſurly to ſuch idle and ſlouthful children as delight more in childiſh ſportes then manly ſtudies: ſo they that are moſt diligent are ſomewhat way warde to men of vanity. For to my ſelfe and other good men that knew him, no man was more curteous and affable. And if at any time he made it a religiō to ſtir from any matter which he buſily intended, I likewiſe made it as great a religion to cal him away frō it: becauſe I would preſuppoſe, that either he was very buſie or not very wel. In my occaſions of buſines (ſaith Tullie) I am very doubtful, when having begunne any thing I am called to ſome other matter: neither can I ſo eaſilie conioine things interrupted, as finiſh them once purpoſed. Touching health there is none ſo fooliſh but (if he doe not beleeue me) may learne as much by nature & experience. Wherefore he is but a drone, that will be troubleſome to a buſie bee; and he too vnciuil, fooliſh, & importune, vvhichwhich takes ſuch harmeful diligence for a duty. Of this ſort there are many ſo fooliſh, and iniurious to good men, that they ſcarce accōpt p. 330them men, vnleſſe they will every waie be as fooliſh as themſelues. What ſhall I here ſhew that, I often ſee verie greate men complaine of this matter, that they are ſodainlie called awaie frō thoſe ſtudies that are ſacred, weightie, and required of their place, and compelled againſt their willes to ſpend moſt of their time in trifles, & idle diſcourſes, and ſo almoſt to nothing, to their owne great greife, and the publique damage of the church. How often, and how grieuouſly doe Nazianzen, Auſtin, and Ambroſe confeſſe that they hauehave takē theſe withdrawings and callings awaie from their ſtudies? They truely deale more wiſely, ſo they be not over ſtricte, which imitate that ſame Baſilius the Greate, and Chryſoſtom, For they ſo cloſely betooke themſelues to their function, that they preuented all ſuch withdrawings, as are wont, eyther raſhly or without reſpect of dutie to be impoſed vponupon learned men. They ſaw well that if you admit theſe importune ſaluters at the firſt, they will afterward challenge it as a right to be trobleſome to good men, & by their example provoke other men to the ſame importunitie: but that you ſhoulde provide for beſt, if at the firſt you tooke ſome care, & prevented theſe vncourteous curteſies In this ſort therfore did this good ſoule do ſeruice to God, and the church, or elſe tender his owne health. Thou rather art churliſh (ô thou importune mā whoſoeuer thou art!) which vncurteouſly deſireſt that, which Vrſinus of curteſie might & of duty ought to deny. It is folly not to excuſe p. 331him that is buſied in affaires of the church; but not pardon him that tendereth the health of his owne bodie is in humanitie: & both contrarie to the lawe of charity. Although (to come to the laſt part of my ſpeech) this our deere brother was not ſo hindered, but that whē he was vnable to lift his handes, his tongue ſtambering, & his iawes almoſt cloſed vp, almoſt panting & gaſpinge for breath did yet attend to theſe ſtudies & duties. For whē his ſtrength failed, & the iuice & bold in his body was decaied, how often did hee thinke of this our Schoole? How often did he cōplaine that he was idle amidſt that painfull buiſineſſe of his infirmitie & ſickneſſe? How reaſonablie did he perſiſt in thoſe wrightings he had vndertaken, vntill that ſoule which coulde bee conquered & tamed by no afflictiōs, begā to fleete & flie out of his brokē, cōquered, & tamed corps? ô bleſſed is that faithfull and wiſe ſeruant, whom his Lord when hee commeth ſhal finde ſo doing? happie is that man, whoſe God is the Lord?

And that this man of famous memorie, our beloued freind, is now in that hill of Sion, in the citie of the liuing God, in the heauenlie Hieruſalem, amongſt myriads of Angels, in the companie & church of thoſe firſt▪ begottē which are gathered into a heuēly armie, with the iudge of al fleſh, with God & the ſpirit of the iuſt that are now perfited, with the mediator of the New teſtamēt Ieſus Chriſt, & the ſprinkling of the bloud of our ſaluatiō, both thoſe argumēts which before I vſed, p. 332namely thoſe heauēly gifts of wir, faith, hope, ſtudy of pietie, charitie, humanitie, and all other duties and curteſies do evidently confirme, as alſo that moſt happy ende which hee made doth certainly demonſtrate. For, not to ſpeake of this, that his ſoule long ſince lived vntounto God, & was dead vntounto this wretched and miſerable world, (for ſo I ſpeake holilie with Chriſtes Apoſtle of an holy thing) when mention was made vntounto him of faith, hope, charity, reſurrection, life, glory, and eternall happineſſe, Lord how did he aſſent, applaude, & ſweetelie ſmile at it! how did he caſt vp his eies to our Redeemer! to whom as he had long before cō mended himſelfe, ſo alſo he did at length ſurrender his ſoule moſt peaceably, & ſo was wafted out of the deepe ſea of this world, into a moſt pleaſāt harbour of ſalvation and reſt, euen the boſome & embracings of our heauenlie father. Who is there heere (I beſeech you) amongſt vsus, that wil not religiouſlie crie out for ioy, and wiſh together with me! O let my ſoule die the death of the iuſt, and let my ende be like vntounto his. For he truely ſaw, he ſaw by liuelie faith heauen open vntounto him, & Chriſt the Prince and perfiter of our faith ſitting at the right hand of maieſtie in the heauens, incomparable glory provided for him, the whole companie of that heauenly church welcomming him, laſtly all making to ſaluation, ſince he did ſo quietly yeeld vp his ſoule vuto God the Creator and Father of ſpirits, that ſo hee might liue with him eternallie. This then is that ſoule (noble and worthy auditors) p. 333this is that ſanctified ſoule and acceptable to God, which to our great loſſe is of late daies takē from vsus: although (as ſometimes Cyprian and Ambroſe ſaide) wee hauehave not loſt it, but ſent it before, purpoſing our ſelues in good time to follow. We hauehave not loſt but repaied him, as Epictetus warneth vsus. For he which gaue him hath required & receiued him backe againe. Why then do we mourne for him whom we hauehave not loſt? We lament that ſo ſweet and fit an inſtrument of Gods glorie is receiued backe from vsus: we lament this foreſhewing of euil hanging ouer vsus, and now ready to befall vsus: we lament the preſent ouer-flowing of wickednes, iniuſtice, and al perfidious dealing, which commonly preuaileth ſo much the more, as it perceiueth theſe meanes of protection and ſaluation to be taken from vsus. For hauehave we not reaſon to lament the loſſe of that inſtrumēt, of whom it is ſin to conceale any thing that may worthily be ſpoken in commendation? I know right well (noble auditors) that many here preſent are able to ſpeak more to this purpoſe then I either hauehave done or can do. For that dailie familiarity which you had with our Vrſine, hath enriched you with ſtore of matter, and variety of learning with eloquence. But ſeeing of duty & deſerte I hauehave yeelded you the firſt place in this matter, and you hauehave vouchſafed me the ſecond; you wil alſo (I hope) willingly pardon me, for ſubſtituting in my roome a Diuine to ſpeake of a Diuine, and attribute vntounto this man that which himſelfe ſpake ſometimes of Athanaſius p. 334the ſtoute mainetainer of the truth, and Antagoniſt of errors. He was the Lords faithful laborer, a man of God, the reconciler of men, the trompet of truth, the pillar of the church, Gods true champion, conſtant in the faith of Chriſt, moſt fit for defence againſt poiſenous hereſies: who though he were peaceable & moderate in all things, yet could hee neuer patiently endure, that for quietneſſe ſake God ſhould be betraied but was a vehement warrier and an invincible Herioicke spirit in this caſe: cōmending ſome, moderately chaſtiſing others; correcting ſome mens coldneſſe, bridling others heate: providing for ſome that they fall not, labouring that others which were fallen might be raiſed againe; ſimple of maners, divers in diſcharge of many duties; wiſe of talke, wiſer in vnderſtanding; wherefore he ſo liued, was ſo inſtructed, and ſo inſtructed others, that as his life & manners might be a liſt & limit to vpright diſchardge of the like dutie: ſo alſo his opinions may bee examples as it were authenticke lawes of faith and religion. All this I may wel ſpeake in commendation of this our Divine, which the ſame Divine ſpake ſometimes in cōmendatiō of Athanaſius. And would God hauehave taken from vsus and the church ſuch an inſtrumēt, except he had bin angry for our ſins? did not God condemne the wickednes of the world, when hee tooke Enoch vntounto himſelfe? vvas not all Iſrael on fire after Eliſaeus was dead? was not Iuda miſerably perſecuted & put to the worſt after the death of Ioſias? hauehave not we read that Coūt Stilico ſaid deſtruction attended on Italie when ſo worthy a man as Ambroſe was dead? was not Africke, Germanie, and p. 335lād ſorely vexed, after they had loſt Auſtē, Luther, & Bucer? And I am of opinion that God doth but reveale vntounto vsus ſome great & preſent anger of his, and fore-ſhew ſome ſeuere iudgemēt againſt this vngratefull generation, by the death of other famous men, & of this choice inſtrument by name. But what if God not by worde onelyonly but alſo indeed hauehave oftē ſtirred vp our vnrepētant harts to a profitable meditatiō & terrour of theſe thinges? Wee truely hauehave read, ſeene, & obſerued howe great and manifold ſignes and tokens God vſeth to ſhew both in heauen and earth, before hee taketh away thoſe ſacred lights from amongſt mankind: How vehementlie he doth as it were clothe heauen and earth with mourning and lamentation, how fearfully he threatneth to ſet all on fire. All which he doth to no other end but by many teſtimonies of his anger to call vsus to repentance, and may giuegive vsus to vnderſtand that hee chooſeth rather to diſburden his anger vponupon al things then to ſtrike mankinde: and in the end when hee is ſo neere, that for often offending his patience hee is readie to directe the arrowes of his anger againſt our verie heades; that then hee may ſhewe that thoſe good men in whome hee taketh moſt delight, are deliuered from danger of this generall fire and fearfull diluge of diſtruction. Wherefore (noble audience) this is the thinge for which wee mourne and ſorrow, this is that wherwith we are moued and ſo neerelye touched: and p. 336and truely we ſhew our ſelues iron & flintie harted, if we ſhould nor be broken with theſe heauy and feuere tokens and fore-runners of Gods puniſhments, and ſubmitte our ſelues by obedience vnderunder the hand of the almightie. I ſee alſo an other thinge to be much bewailed and lamented. But what is that? Whie this, that if iudgment doe not immediatly enſue on theſe threats, the world growes inſolent vponupon the death of ſuch men, invaideth the truth by open and ſecret practizes, raizeth vp hereſies, hardeneth it ſelfe in all miſchiefe, and encourageth it ſelfe to ſee thoſe men takē awaie whith are aduerſaries to his opinions, and ſpoileth and waſteth the church, beinge laſt deſtitute of her vigilant and faithfull paſtors, doctors, and guardians. Theſe fearfull dangers, theſe ſore diſcommodities, theſe ſhamfull miſcheiues, do beare, racke, and kill, the hearts of all good men: the feare of theſe thinges (that I may ſay ſomewhat concerning my ſelfe) doth not ſo much enforce me to bewaile the loſſe of this my ſweete deere and meere fellow-profeſſor, that powerfull teacher and bleſſed ſoule, as the leauinge of vsus all deſtitut of ſuch a one, & the preſaging of of thoſe evils, which I beſeech God of his mercy to turne awaie from vsus.

And thus (worthie and learned auditors) you hauehave ſeene ſhadowed by my pencil the life of our deere VRSINE, whoſe memorie ſhall be bleſſed for ever. I know we muſt not long either lament him, or pittie his memorie. Yf by my words p. 337I hauehave againe renued anie mās heauineſſe, let him togeather with me call to minde how much good we reaped by him in his life time. What good ſoeuer we receaued of him, we did not therfore receaue it that we ſhould envie his good. Let vsus rather everie of vsus looke to this, that as he was good to all, ſo we alſo may in ſuch ſorte follow ſpiritual good things, that by them we alſo may become good. He gaue himſelfe painfully to good ſtudies, let vsus alſo do the like. He frankelie dealte vntounto all men that rich treaſure, which he had by his ſtudie ſtored, and God by his heauenlie grace had infuſed; let vsus alſo followinge his example beſtowe vſe & fruitiō of thoſe good gifts which by Gods grace are grounded in us, on our fellow-ſeruants: let vsus further pietie, charitie, courteſie, quietnes, and the common good; and let vsus in the ſight of God, and in this ſchoole, as in a moſt choiſe theater bring vp ſtudious youth both for life and learninge to the ſame ende, and ſtrengthen both our ſelues and others in the faith of Chriſt. And thou beloued youth, thou ſvveete aſſemblie, which couldeſt hauehave wiſhed that thine inſtructor to hauehave liued longer for thine ovvne ſake, for our ſake, for this ſchoole, for the church, & the whole world; bemoane no longer his abſence, vvhome thou reioyceſt to hauehave hade preſent with thee ſometimes by example of life, & whome yet thou makeſt vſe of in thoſe his ever-memorable wrightings. Endeuour rather to ſtirre vp more Vrſines about thee. He hath one heir of his bodie, vvho, p. 338wee hope will alſo bee heir of his vertues. But the way is open to you all to bee partakers of his inheritance. Goe to, now you are well growen, enter then, & ſet foote in poſſeſſion of this inheritance. You want neither wit, nor helpes of ſtudie, not yet the waie; one thinge onelyonly remaineth, that yee wante not will, and bee not wanting to your ſelues. Applie then diligently your will and your ſelues to theſe ſtudies; applie your ſelues verie faithfully & painfully to all duties of pietie, charitie and humanitie; toile and laboure herein, & be vntounto vsus another VRSINE eueryevery man in his place. And though every one of you cannot bring to the building of this tabernacle the golde, ſilver, and iewels of VRSINE, yet deſpaire not preſently; iron, braſſe, woode, Goates haire, and ſtones are alſo acceptable vntounto God. You that cannot bee Captaines, or in the firſt rancke; bee not therefore diſcouraged: there is alſo need of ſome to bee in the ſecond, third, fourth, tenth, and twentieth rancke: and Chriſt witneſſeth, that even ſuch alſo hauehave an order and place in his Fathers houſe. It ſhall be no diſgrace to bee euen a doore-keeper in the houſe of the liuinge God. For of this euen David, (a man after Gods owne hearte) was not aſhamed; neither be you nowe aſhamed, neither ſhall it euer repent you, to deſcend into theſe liſtes, to enter into theſe ſtudies, to attend theſe duties, or to follow theſe examples. They ſhall (ſaith Fabius) carrie themſelues farre higher, which endevour to come to the top, p. 339then ſuch as before deſpairing of comming ſo high as they would, do ſtraight ſet vp their reſt about the bottome. But what of that? neither I my ſelfe which now ſpeake to you am any thing neere this noble patterne, (I ſpeake only of my ſelfe, as for the giftes of my fellow profeſſors, I admire, and in duty reverence them) neither can you attaine therevnto by your owne induſtry. But alaſſe that VRSINE, that man of remembrance of God (for ſo his name doth ſignifie in Hebrew) is taken from vsus: now there remaineth to vsus only the remembrance of ſo excellent a mā. What then ſhal we do? That Iah, that ſtrong God, who remembring his ſervant Zacharie, advanced him to ſo high a top of faith godlineſſe, and learning, Chriſt that prophet and our only king, is very preſent with vsus, both by his external maieſtie, & alſo by cōmunicating vntounto vsus the holy Ghoſt. Let vsus repaire to this teacher, adviſe with this maſter, and follow this guide: let vsus in confidence of his grace and aſſiſtance conſtantly goe through with thoſe ſtudies and duties wherevnto wee are c…lled. Let not the impiety of heretiques boaſt it ſelfe, nor the adverſaries heart ſwell and waxe inſolent or prowde, becauſe the rodde of him that chaſtiſed them is broken: for there ſhall ſooner come a viper out of the roote of the ſerpent, & the fruit therof ſhal ſoner become a flying dragon (as Eſaie in times paſt did prophecie) then we ſhall bee forſaken of our God, & expoſed to the p. 340raging violence of the furious, or fooliſh dreames of the mad ſorte of men, vvherewith (alaſſe?) the church often times is to much afflicted.

Omnipotent eternall God, mercifull father of onr Lord Ieſus Chriſt, vvhoſe good vvill and pleaſure it hath ben to informe youth vvith the wholſome doctrine both of that thy ſervant, and alſo of others vvhom thou haſt appointed to gouerne this ſchoole, and to ſeale everie of our mindes with the ſpirite of thy promiſe and truth: now frō our hearts wee acknowledge that by takinge frō amongſt vsus this thy ſeruant thou art not alittle offended with vsus, and that worthily. Wee confeſſe it (ô God!) and accuſe & condemne our ſelues and our ſinnes, for which it pleaſed thee both the laſt yeare to ſend thy ſword of peſtilence amōgſt vsus, and alſo this laſt followinge to extinguiſh that bright-ſhininge light, which thou haſt placed in the eminēt candle-ſticke of this famous ſchoole. Wee beſeech thee (ô GOD and father of mercies) not to ſuffer thy wrath to proceede any farther againſt this poore floocke, neither call vsus & our ſinnes to accoumpt, leaſt thy wrath kindle more againſt vsus, and ſo we periſh from this waie. But rather (becauſe here thou haſt placed thy ſtandard, and haſt giuen thy worde and promiſe that they ſhal be bleſſed which retire themſelues vntounto thee; gouerne vsus (ô Lorde) by thy ſpirite, that we may kiſſe thy beloued ſonne, and looke for all ſaluation from him. Deſtroy the plottes & purpoſes of Satan, preſerue thy people, giuegive vntounto p. 341this church, this ſchoole, and this whole countrie good & faithfull paſtors, Doctors, & miniſters: Defend thoſe whom thou haſt giuen, and bleſſe them aboudantly with all manner of bleſſinges, keepe the commons & ſtudents in iuſt dutie, holines, charitie, & peaceableneſſe; Laſtly we humblie beſeech thee as beinge our omnipotent and gratious Father, to finiſh & perfit in vsus al things, which ſhall anie way perteine to the glory of thy holy name, the cōmon edifying of this people, & our owne ſoules health, in Chriſt Ieſus our Lord, who liueth and rayneth with thee in the vnitie of the ſpirit, one God eternall, for ever and ever. Amen,

He ſlept ſweetlie in Chriſt at Ne…ſtade the ſixt day of March, as ſix of the clocke in the evening, in the yeare of our Lord, 1583. after hee had leued 48. years, 6 moneths, 22 howers, & was buried the 8. of March, in the quiet of the Church.

FINIS.

Faultes eſcaped.

Pag. liu.

`93. 15. never neither 95 marg. evill offence, evil of offence. 98. 1 owne immutable, owne nature immutable. 98. marg. in reſpect of, in reſpect of their cauſes wheron they depend. 105. 17. ſtaine, reſtraine. 110. 2. that by, but by. 113. 27, anie, of any. 126. 3. my hart, my haire. 16. 12. myſtery, miſery. 132 1. A PREFACE, A PART. 201. 8. Tunigeus, Tubingenſ. 204. 21. When, When he ſaith. 205. 4. ſonne of Chriſt, perſon of Chriſt. 206. 19. that God, what God. 219. 24. immutable immutably. 222. 14. this divine, his divine. 233. 13. from, from God. 242. 3. him which, him to be finne for vsus which. 254. 4. mixed not mixed 265. 7 which by inſtinct, which is wrought by &c. 268. 1 or not the, or not to the. 274. 21. not eate therfore, not eate thereof. 293. 24. viſible, inviſible.

End of the text · Zacharias Ursinus, Collection of Discourses (1600)