Common Places, Letters · Introduction
To all the faithfull of the Church of Luca, Sainctes by calling, grace and peace from God the Father and from our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt.
Peter Martyrs ſeparating himſelfe from Papiſtrie.IF I ſhould vſe long ſilence in this flying awaie, no doubt but it woulde be vnprofitable & vngratefull vntounto you, and it woulde ill become me ſo to do. Wherefore hauing the ſpirite of God as I hope I hauehave, I minded to talke with you by theſe letters ſince I cannot ſpeake with you face to face. I taried at Baſill vntill the 16. Calendes of Nouember. Although I were welcome and receiued of all men, yet I founde no fit ſtate of life for my ſtudies, becauſe the Citie had no néede of teachers. Therefore ſince I was not able to beare out pouertie and ſcarſeneſſe without ſome honeſt labour, and that my minde gaue me not to take anie other trade in hande than mine owne, namelie the expounding of the worde of God, I remained in a doubt expecting what the Lorde would hauehave to be doone with me and my faithfull companiōs. Sometimes we were ſorie with our ſelues, yt when we were come to Tygure we went not forwarde to Geneua, Bernard Ochinus.whither Bernard Ochinus iourneied the daie before our comming. Howbeit conſidering the thing diligentlie, the euent of the matter ſufficientlie ſheweth that all thinges happened according to the prouidence of God, who prouided that our preſence was fitter for Strasborough than méete for Geneua. For Bucer, Bucer.who nowe hath the chéefe place in the Church of Strasborough, being certified that we liued at Baſill without anie certaine calling, called vsus hither by letters. We being glad of this tidinges, becauſe wee deſired alſo for other cauſes to ſée him, wee giuing thankes to almightie God for ſuch an occaſion offered vntounto vsus, we iourneied from Baſill to Strasborough. And ſo ſoone as wee were come hither, we were moſt louinglie receiued by Bucer into his houſe. Seuentéene daies I remained with him. The true deſcription of a godlie Byſhop.In which time I ſpied woonderfull examples of godlineſſe aſwel in his doctrine as in his life. His houſe ſéemed to be as a houſe of hoſpitalitie: ſuch vſuall intertainment giueth hee towardes ſtraungers, which are conſtrained to trauel for the goſpell and for Chriſtes cauſe. Hee ſo well gouerneth his houſehold, as in ſo manie daies ſpace I perceiued not ſo much as a ſmall occaſion of offence, but founde on euerie ſide matter of edifying. At his table, there is no appearance either of exceſſe or nigardneſſe, but of godlie moderation. In meates hee maketh no difference of daies, but eateth anie ſorte of meate as it is laid before him without ſuperſtition, giuing often times thankes vntounto GOD through Ieſus Chriſt for ſo manie and ſo great benefites. Before and after meate, ſomewhat is recited out of ye holie ſcriptures which might miniſter matter for godlie and holie cōmunications. I may bouldly affirme that I euer went from that table better learned: For I alwaies heard ſomething which I neuer ſo throughlie weighed before or had not béene ſo wel ſatiſfyed therin. As touching other actions of his, I alwaies found him occupied, and that in no priuate buſineſſe, but in thoſe thinges wherein he might helpe his neighbors: that is to wit, in daielie ſermons, in well gouerning of eccleſiaſticall matters, that Curates might gouerne the ſoules committed vntounto them, that they ſhould confirme them by holie examples: in viſitation of ſchooles of learning, that al the labour which is there beſtowed maie be referred to the furthering of the Goſpell and commodity of the Church: In exhortations whereby he continuallie ſtirreth vp and enflameth the Magiſtrate vntounto Chriſtian godlineſſe. There is in a manner no daie paſſeth ouer but he viſiteth the court. And becauſe he is all the whole daie occupied in theſe kinde of buſineſſe, hée hath appointed the night for his priuate ſtudies and prayers. To ſaie the trueth as the thing is, I neuer awaked out of ſléepe in the night, but I founde him awake. Then by ſtudies he prepared himſelfe to thoſe thinges which in the daie time hee was to ſpeake, then obtained hee by prayers ſtrength vntounto his actions in the daie time. Beholde welbeloued brethren, in our age Biſhoppes vponupon the earth, or rather in the Church of Chriſt which be truelie holie. This is the office of a paſtor, this is that biſhoplike dignitie deſcribed by Paul in the Epiſtles vntounto Timothie and Titus. 1. Tim. 3. 1. Titus. 1. 6.It delighteth me much to read this kinde of deſcription in thoſe Epiſtles, but it pleaſeth me a great deale more to ſée with ye eyes the patterns thēſelues. Perhaps thoſe of yours which onelie hauehave the bare name of Biſhoppes will obiect, that the dignitie and biſhoplike maieſtie cannot by this meanes be preſerued. If a Biſhoppe ſhoulde preach and teach euerie day, he muſt euerie daie teach and viſite the ſchooles. If care ſhould be taken of the néedie ſtraungers and waifarers: if pouertie ſhoulde bee ſuffered with an indifferent mind, without the greatneſſe of reuenewes, where ſhall be the dignitie? Where ſhall be the glorie? Where ſhall be the maieſtie of a Biſhop? We anſwere that honour, riches and glory is in no eſtimation among the paſtours of ſoules and Apoſtolicall Biſhoppes. Contrariwiſe we grant that vntounto Biſhoppes which bee not of the Church but of the worlde, vntounto parents not of ſoules but of children, vntounto paſtors not of men but of dogges, horſes and haukes, theſe thinges are moſt of all regarded, theſe are among the delightes, vntounto theſe muſt be imployed all indeuour, vntounto theſe muſt be bended all the ſtrength. But leaſt our Epiſtle ſhould waxe too great, ſetting aſide theſe vnméete Biſhoppes, let vsus returne vntounto that whereof we beganne to ſpeake. Bucer obtained for me of the Senate an honeſt ſtipende, Peter Martyr appointed to teache the ſcriptures.whereby I maie verie well maintaine my liuing: and therewithal committed vntounto me the charge of interpreting euerie daie ſome place out of the holie Scriptures. Now preſentlie I interpret the leſſer Prophetes, as they vſe to call them, béeing nowe readie to make an ende of Amos. And becauſe the moſt part in this ſchoole hauehave knowledge in the Hebrewe, I expounde the Hebrewe text in Latine. Capito.Capito, a man famous in learning and godlineſſe occupied before the place appointed vntounto me, who being deade a yeare nowe paſt, none hath béene as yet appointed in his ſteede. Nowe hath God the moſt mercifull father brought me hither, that I might in ſome part eaſe Bucer of his infinite labours, who before my comming was to teach euerie daie in the ſchoole. Since the time yt I hauehave béen placed in the roome of Capito, he maie nowe leaue off the affaires of ye ſchoole, to order other buſineſſe that is of no leſſe importance. He preacheth euerie daie, with great profite of the whole ſchoole and of me my ſelfe that heare him read. Wherefore by the benefite of Gods merciemercy, my affaires are in verie good ſtate. Moreouer I cannot expreſſe in wordes howe welcome and welbeloued I am of all, and howe well I content the whole ſchoole. Bleſſed be God the father of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, who of his infinite clemencie hath béene mercifull vntounto me. I woulde that that Church there might bee adorned with ſuch gouernment. Vndoubtedlie you ſhoulde receaue a farre greater profite by dailie ſermons and publike readinges of the holie ſcriptures, than by ſo manie maſſes, vnderſtoode for the moſt part neither of the ſacrificing prieſts which ſay them, neither yet of thoſe that heare them. The worde of God neuer falleth without ſome fruite. So as it would profit all men of eueryevery condition, kinred, age and ſexe: and ſo might as well your Church as alſo your Citie, be made better and more excellent. Vnleſſe I be deceiued, you will aunſwere after this manner: This indéede would be farre better, and farre more profitable, but we hauehave néed of Paſtors for want of whome we are much troubled. But & be that thoſe few which remaine with vsus would imitate your flying away wherein you forſake vsus, wee ſhoulde be left vtterlie deſtitute, neither ſhould there be anie either to comfort or inſtruct vsus out of the Goſpel. Be not therefore diſmaied (my moſt déerelie beloued brethren) neither doe you diſpaire. For although I hauehave béene taken away from you, yet will not God our moſt mercifull Father forſake you, but will euermore raiſe vp ſome man that ſhal teach you the truth. I hauehave prayed and againe do pray for that which I iudge profitable for you: but I am no God, that I can giuegive you this before the time appointed. The moſt merciful God for his infinite wiſedome ſake ſhal in place and time moſt conuenient eſtabliſhe your Church which ſéemeth nowe to be diſmaied and ouerthrowen, which certeinlie appeareth not to be altogether deſtitute of the ſtrength of the ſpirite: For in baniſhment and perſecutions wherewith it is dailie vexed, it bringeth foorth no leſſe fruite of faith than doe theſe Churches, which by the benefite of God inioy peace and quietneſſe. Beſides, although yee ſhoulde be altogether deſtitute of miniſters of the worde to whom the charge of preaching the Goſpell is committed: (which inconueniences God forbid) yet ſhal neuer the ſpirit of God be wanting, who ſhall be in your heartes in the ſtéede of Preachers. Moreouer there are among you which by the grace of God are ſo greatly illumined with the light of the trueth as they can alſo giuegive light vntounto others, and giuegive a teſtimonie vntounto the truth: and beſides thoſe whome the Lord hath now indued with this grace, hee ſhall alwaies ſtirre vp others. Wherefore I gather by all theſe things yt my departure hath bin no cauſe of dammage vntounto you. I acknowledge that it cannot be, but that ye take it gréeuouſlie to bee depriued of that ſpiritual comfort, which God ſometime gaue you by my ſermons, lectures and conferences which I had with you. Howbeit when as God recompenſeth this loſſe with a greater ſtrength of the ſpirite, it is manifeſt yt there is no damage brought vntounto your ſaluation. Beſides that, theſe ſermons, lectures and conferences coulde not indure anie longer, vnleſſe I woulde either hauehave darkened the trueth, or hauehave profeſſed thinges which are plainelie falſe. The one of which namelie obſcuring of the trueth, it gréeueth mée that I did it at anie time: but to teach falſelie, that ſhoulde not in anie wiſe hauehave béene doone. There hath béene alreadie rumor ſpreade abroade at Rome amongeſt thoſe which were conuerſaunt in theſe matters, that it is chéefelie to be attributed vntounto mee that your citie did continue in errour. Yea and this was caſt in my téeth at Luca, that I maie by my ſermons and authoritie remedie all theſe things. Yea and thoſe Monkes alſo of mine murmured euerie daie that our Monaſterie was for my ſake woorſe reported of than the Monaſterie of the Auguſtinians, & that I might ridde awaie this blemiſhe by thrée words in the pulpit. The verie which bruite was nowe come to the chéefe gouernour and to the principals of ye order. Wherfore I foreſaw that it wold by ſome meanes come to paſſe, that I ſhoulde be forbidden the office of Preaching either by the Pope or by your Citie, or elſe by our ſocietie, and that bodilie puniſhmentes beſides ſhoulde be laid vppon me nothing at al to your commoditie. For wherein I hauehave béene a helpe vntounto you by my ſilence, eſpeciallie when in ſo manie ſermons and lectures I expounded vntounto men if they were not deafe, thoſe principal points of heauenlie doctrine which are neceſſarie vntounto ſaluation, yea in a manner all thoſe thinges which I my ſelfe vnderſtoode. Yée will obiect, Flying from perſecution defended.You ſhoulde hauehave continued and expected while the imminent oppreſſions had come vppon you, and thoſe to hauehave ſuffered with a pacient minde, which at the length wold greatlie hauehave furthered the building of the Church: for by your example you ſhoulde hauehave animated others vntounto conſtancie. Of all other thinges it is leaſt of all to be allowed, that you fled awaie when no neceſſitie vrged. Herein ſtandeth the whole ſumme of the controuerſie, to vnderſtande when neceſſitie ſhall vrge. Such manner of neceſſitie and opportunitie God reueileth vntounto them which wholie commit themſelues in aduerſities vntounto his protection. But that the ſame moment of time wherein I departed was fit for that purpoſe, I ſo perſwaded my ſelfe, as I doubt not but that this perſwaſion is the inſpiration of God. And although that I did not abide the bitter troubles before my departure, yet coulde I not vtterlie auoide all. What troubles I ſuffered at Naples and there where you are, I knowe well enough. Let you your ſelues be iudge what diſquietneſſe, and how manie aduerſities I indured al the laſt yere: which although they were not moſt gréeuous calamities, yet were they meſſengers and tokens of them. Wherfore it ſéemes to me that I hauehave ſuffered ſo manie, as I hauehave not preached the Goſpell without afflictions: afterward I neglected not a fit occaſion of ſafetie offered. While I am in this place I ſerue by the benefite of God vntounto ſome vſe. If God ſhall giuegive anie quietneſſe to your ſtate, perhappes I will lead my life againe with you: neither will I ſhunne anie danger whereunto God ſhall call me for the ſaluation of ſoules. Moreouer ye be not ignorant of the troubles wherewith my conſcience was vexed, becauſe of that ſtate of life which I followed. I ſhould euerie day hauehave wincked at an innumerable ſort of ſuperſtitions, I ſhould not onelie my ſelfe hauehave executed ſuperſtitious rites, but ſhould alſo without all reaſon hauehave required them of others: manie thinges ſhould I hauehave doone otherwiſe than I iudged or taught. Your Paſtor I was, what I was able to bring to paſſe by Lectures and Sermons, that I did: when I could not gouerne the Church, as Chriſtian trueth requireth, I thought it better in giuing ouer ſo difficult a charge, to withdrawe my ſelfe into ſome place, from whence I might at the leaſt wiſe exhort you by letters, than to remaine in that place where I ſhould hauehave bin depriued of al conuerſation with you, and not to hauehave bin lawfull to deale with you either in preſence or by letters. I am not priuie that anie man hath bin brought in perill through my flying away. In ſuch a place am I by ye benefite of GOD, as I may interpret the holie ſcriptures, comfort you by letters, and exhort you to retaine the pureneſſe of the Goſpell. And, to ſay the trueth, this departing of mine (which I ſpeake for ſetting foorth the glorie of God) being diligentlie conſidered, is not without a mortification of mine owne ſelfe; nor without neglect of promotion and honours wherewith in the ſight of men I was largelie indued: nor without leſſe commodities, whereof I had plentie on euerie ſide: nor yet without reſignation of authoritie, wherein I could doe much among all men. And all theſe thinges I might hauehave augmented manie wayes, if I would hauehave departed from the trueth and Goſpel of God. Wherefore ſince I am deliuered from ſo great a danger, being not ignorant of theſe kinde of troubles, ſince I was certified from Rome, from the ſocietie, from the Monaſterie, and from your Citie, of the perſecution euen at hand, ſince I did harme vntounto none, but by Lectures and Sermons did manifeſt the trueth, all dignities, riches, and commodities ſet aſide, being rid out of the bondes of ſuperſtitions, and deliuered from ſo many hypocriſies: if I deliuered my life from imminent oppreſſion, there is no cauſſe why anie man ſhould take occaſion of offence. And dooth not the Lord graunt that we ſhould auoide perſecutions? To ſpeake fréelie as the thing is, I acknowledge herein no fault. I would I could aſwell alow all the reſt of my actions. But if it be anie ſinne, it muſt rather be attributed vntounto reaſon than to will. Of theſe thinges déere brethren, I hauehave written ſomewhat more at large, but yet (as I iudge) not without profit. For an interpretour of the word of God muſt yéeld account vntounto the people both of ſayinges and doinges which are of great importance, and may otherwiſe be taken of other men, leaſt he deſtroy more by his actions than he hath edified by his Sermons. Hereafter I will write more often vntounto you: neither will I write anie thing elſe than Chriſtian doctrine and ſpirituall conſolations. Firſt I thought good to certifie you in what place of the world I am, and wherein I am occupied, and therewithall to yéeld a reaſon of my departure. I make mention of you in all my prayers. Wherefore I earneſtlie beſéech you, that you will ſhew the like part vntounto me, commending me in your prayers to the merciemercy of God. Grace and peace through the ſpirit of Chriſt be dailie multiplied in you all, Amen. Giuen at Straſborough the viij. calends of Ianuarie, 1543.