Common Places, Letters · Letter 13 – Letter 17
To Maiſter Iohn Caluin. 15.
REuerend ſir I lately receiued this packet of letters, but I meant not that they ſhoulde bée deliuered vntounto you without letters from me. I hauehave my health after the vſuall manner: and I was glad to ſée the Maiſter of Saint Andrew your fellowe Miniſter, of whom I plainely vnderſtoode the affaires of Geneua which I verie much deſired, becauſe of the ſundrie rumours which were ſpread. Bleſſed bée God, the father of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, which forſaketh not them that be his. The Saxons are not at quiet. They hauehave ſet forth a verie vaine Bolimonge, for ſo they call it. They gather certaine ſentences out of the Fathers, and alſo out of Luther, Philip, Brentius, Pomeranus, and ſuch other. They adde thereunto Bucer, Illiricus, and Ioachim Weſtphale, to the intent they may ſhewe themſelues to agrée among themſelues. Alſo they hauehave inſerted certaine Epiſtles written ſometime againſt vsus. But they touche neither you nor mée, by name. They ſhamefullie rebuke Iohn a Laſco, not in déede that he maintaineth a priuate opinion, but onelie vnderunder the name of a Sacramentarie. And (forſooth) in this fragment they hauehave a ſpeciall Title, that the bodie of Chriſt is euerie where. This now they doe openly defende, and this article they handle in three or foure leaues, and vſe no other reaſon than that the ſonne of God tooke the nature of mā into one and the ſelfe ſame ſubſtaunce. At the laſt they hauehave added a place touching the duetie of a Magiſtrate, which I thinke they did for no other cauſe but to inflame Princes againſt vsus: yet do they ſo vnwiſelie and fondly ſpeake all things, as they hauehave more néede to be pitied than confuted. What will our Philip Melanchthon ſay? They cite him euerie where for a witneſſe. Howbeit your ſelfe ſhall the better iudge when you ſée the booke. Molinaeus is returned hither from the Mariage with the Princes. I heard of him that he iudgeth certaine things amiſſe touching Fréewil, and that he would publiſh the ſame. I called the man to me, I ſhewed him what great hurt he ſhould doe aſwel to the peace of the Church as vntounto the faith. He ſéemed to be perſwaded, and promiſed that he woulde not doe it: yea and he denied that it was euer in his minde to publiſh thoſe things which he wrote of this matter. Moreouer Doctour Baldwine when we were talking together of other matters, ſaide that you let him vnderſtand that Molinaeus complained of him, that he poſſeſſeth his place amongſt vsus. Truelie if he ſo ſay, I maruell verie much: for when he was here, he coulde not agrée with the Maiſters of the Schooles: wherefore he went to Tubinge, and there receaued a place, and almoſt a whole yeare profeſſed the lawes. Afterward he went to Mombelgard, & tooke the ſame ſtate againe. And while he was there he ſent me letters of commendation by Maiſter Baldwine which came hither: So that this place was then voide, wherefore in my iudgement there is no iuſt cauſe why he ſhould complaine. Furthermore, as I heard this day, there is a booke ſet foorth by Ioachim Weſtphale, as they ſay againſt you, or more trulie againſt the Sacramentaries: I hauehave not ſéene the booke. It is a woonder that theſe men neither can write well, nor yet will holde their peace. All theſe things of theirs they hauehave cauſed to be printed at Franckeforde, perhaps becauſe they maie trouble the Frenche and Engliſhe Church which be gathered there. Garnerius is departed from hence, and is gone to the Landgraue. Our Church beginneth againe to take breath, and if it be the Lordes pleaſure, it will one day be at ſome more reſt: but of a perfect quietneſſe I doe not eaſilie aſſure my ſelfe. Verily they which diſquieted Garnerius, doe ſtill remaine; they be, as they hauehave euer bin, of a troubleſome nature. Peter Alexander procéedeth with his worke begun, & teacheth well and effectually enough. Baldwine, as I ſuppoſe, will goe to Heidelburgh. I knowe nothing for certaine, for he dealeth cloſely, and he doth not openlie ſpeake that which he hath in his minde. If he depart, I would wiſhe that Holomanus were appointed in his place. But, (ſo far as I ſée) Molinaeus will ſticke héere; for he ſéeketh, as I can geſſe, to obtaine eyther this place or a place at Heidelburgh, Howbeit yet he ſhal not eaſilie ſuccéede him, ſince God hath not giuen him the gift of teaching: For no man in a manner vnderſtandeth him when he ſpeaketh. Truelie I am ſory for him: for hée is learned in his facultie, and he hath not laboured in vaine againſt the Pope. If he would apply his mind to wryting and defending of our cauſe, and had ſome place about a Prince, I thinke it were a good turne for him: but the man lacketh conſtancie: wherefore to ſay the truth I cannot certainly tell what he ſhoulde doe. I commende vntounto you as earneſtly as I can our Italian church, although I thinke there is no néede for mee ſo to doe. I lately receaued letters out of Saxonie from a certaine Paſtor, my olde Friende, who is not onelie learned but alſo godly, and iudgeth well as touching this controuerſie. He ſaieth, he hath manie brethren about him which iudge after the ſame ſort that he doeth, but that they are ouerpreſſed with multitude. The reſt, hée ſaieth, doe rage, ſo that in the Pulpits they hauehave almoſt no other voice, but that we bée Heretickes, falſe Prophets, Wolues, Suermerians, and Sacramentiooſers, and he addeth, that they doe chiefely rage againſt you. I thinke, that if they can, they will deuiſe ſome kinde of excommunication. I beſéeche GOD withſtande their indeuours. That ſame good man is in great hatred, becauſe he will not crie out vppon vsus, as others doe, and becauſe he hath receiued into his houſe certaine Engliſh men which are fled out of their Countrie, whom others hauehave reiected, and becauſe he ſometime communicated with ye Church of Phriſeland. Wherefore he doubteth that neither his owne Church, nor yet Saxonie will bée able long to holde him. But becauſe theſe Lutheran Papiſtes to ſtirre vp enuie againſt vsus, perſwade the multitude that all their Churches are condemned by vsus, and doe eaſilie perſwade euen what they will vntounto thoſe that bee ignorant, he thought it woulde bée profitable, if by the common conſent of our Churches, there were ſet forth a writing vntounto the children of the Church of Saxonie, whereby this ſlaunder might bée, tried out, and that verie abſolutelie there might bée giuen an account of our faith, which, although after a ſort it hath bin doone at other times, yet he iudgeth that the ſame would verie much profite at this time: eſpeciallie if there were a ſubſcribing by the Churches: for the aduerſaries bragge euerie where, that there is a great diſagréement among vsus touching this matter. Theſe things I thought not good to kéepe in ſilence, becauſe you may vſe your iudgementes about the ſame. The packet of letters I ſent before, becauſe I thought that Weſtphalus Booke was included therein: and I was minded to ſende theſe letters by the Maiſter of Saint Andrewe, but becauſe (as I heare) he departeth into the lowe Countries I did not thinke to differre it any longer. I beſéeche GOD kéepe you long ſafe among vsus. From Straſborough the 23. of September, 1555.
To Maiſter Iohn Caluin.
RIght woorthie ſir moſt néerely ioyned vntounto my heart in Chriſt, I am verie much delighted with your little booke which you ſent vntounto me. The ſame did I not reade ouer but rather deuoure in one night. For when the carier had deliuered it vntounto mee, he would be gone the next morning. Thus doe I iudge thereof: he that diligently readeth ouer the ſame, ſhall with one labour obtaine two thinges, and thoſe not ſmall. Firſt he ſhall throughly knowe and perceiue the controuerſie about the Euchariſt: which it pleaſed God of his goodneſſe in our age to make manifeſt againe to the Churches of Chriſt. For in ſuch ſort was it obſcured, and ſo folden vp in darkeneſſe, that there ſcarcely appeared anie ſmall ſteppe of the trueth thereof, becauſe in verie déede it was acknowledged of verie fewe. But I iudge the manifeſtation thereof to bée ſo great a good, as without it, God cannot bee ſincerely worſhipped in his Church. There be ſuch as for common quietneſſe ſake, woulde hauehave this cauſe to lie buried and in ſilence. But I for my part thinke, that vnleſſe this fountaine of manie euils be aboliſhed, there ſhall want a great part of Chriſtian doctrine in the Church of Chriſt. Wherefore the laſt wéeke, when N. was with vsus, I ſent a large Epiſtle to the Churches of Polonia, wherein with great indeuour, I did ſincerelie and plainely ſhewe the true ſenſe of the holie ſcriptures concerning the queſtion of the Sacrament. I beſéeche God that he will not ſuffer my letters to bée vnprofitable. The other commoditie of your booke is, that Weſtphale and his fellowes which cannot be ſatiſfied with courteous and milde ſpéeches, are by this kinde of inchauntment to bée driuen againe to their dennes, whence they fled, that after the manner of Serpents, they may féede and delight onelie themſelues with their owne venim: but dare not ſpread the ſame among others, and kill them any more. Will they complaine that you hauehave bin ſharpe and vehement in writing? Wée demaunde why Weſtphalus did of his owne accorde procure to himſelfe theſe miſtie cloudes, ſhowers, haile, thunder, and lightening? Will it grieue them that the conflict of this contention was ſo bloudie? Wée will againe replie vppon them: that the Centauri and Cyclops coulde not by any other meanes be vanquiſhed. Will ſome of them complaine of to much bitterneſſe, and as they hauehave ſaide at other times that wee deale by a ſcurrile or vile manner of ſpéeche? Wée will anſwere that wee hauehave incountered with Weſtphalus his profeſſed ſhameleſſe audacitie not by the ſcoffes of Hickſcorners, but by ſtrong argumentes and moſt firme reaſons. Briefely let other men looke howe they iudge: that which you hauehave written, verie much liketh mée, and I allowe wel thereof. Wherefore I giuegive you heartie thankes, aſwell for the wel ordering of the worke which you hauehave written, as for the litle booke which you ſent vntounto me. Fare you well my deare and welbeloued brother in Chriſt, who long kéepe you ſafe among vsus. Zanchus ſaluteth you. I pray you vouchſafe to ſalute the brethren in my name, and eſpeciallie the Marques. From Strasborough the 16. of Februarie, 1556.
To Maiſter Caluin.
FOr ſomuch as N. N. returneth from hence vntounto thoſe parts, I determined to write ſomewhat vntounto you, whereby you might both knowe that I am in good health and that I earneſtlie deſire, that you maie at the length be deliuered this winter time from the feuer wherein you hauehave béene long ſicke. Which if God, for his goodneſſe ſake will graunt, I ſhal be maruellous glad, and will giuegive him thankes for reſtoring of your health. Here was latelie the ſeruaunt of Alaſco, who ſheweth that in Polonia the Parliament is diſſolued, and that the affaires of Religion is put ouer vntill September next. But this moreouer hee ſignified vntounto me, which I was verie ſorie for and was diſquieted in my minde to heare, that Blandratas the Phiſition had inſinuated himſelfe into the friendſhippe of N. N. vnderunder pretence of giuing him Phiſicke for his olde diſeaſe. Which when I hearde, I feared leaſt hee woulde deceiue that old man. Not as though I thinke that the errors of the Phiſitian can by anie meanes be obtruded vntounto him, but for that hee, as he is accuſtomed, when hée will diſſemble a thing with learned men, and while he with goodlie ſmouth wordes will pretend as though he nothing diſagréeth with the right profeſſors, will caſt foorth all his venime againſt the vnſkilfuller and ruder ſort of men. For this, as I perceiue, is their manner of doing: they beginne with the weake ſort, but vntounto the learned and chiefe men they altogether diſſemble themſelues to be ſuch as they are. Therefore hauehave I directed letters vntounto N. N. wherein I hauehave painted out the man in his colours, I hauehave diſcloſed his nature and errors. And nowe I thought good to aduertiſe you of the matter, that if there be anie occaſion offered you of writing letters into Polonia, you omit not to write thoſe thinges which you iudge will profite the ſafetie of the Church. It is ſtedfaſtlie affirmed here that there is a peace made betwéene ye two Kings, but the conditions thereof are not yet knowen. I pray God they conſpire not againſt Chriſt and his Church, which notwithſtanding if they ſhall doe, wee will hope well of Gods helpe: for he is not deade nor yet euer will die: and he hath a thouſande deuiſes and infinite waies to deliuer them that be his. I commende not him vntounto you that carrieth theſe letters, ſince he is well enough knowen vntounto you. Hee hath liued here with me theſe thrée monethes paſt, and delighteth me verie much with his courteous manners, doctrine and erudition. He maruellouſlie deſireth to profit his countrie by furthering of Religion. A hard matter it is eſpecially at this time. What counſell I coulde I hauehave giuen him, which alſo I thinke he will in anie wiſe deſire of you, and I am ſure you wil giuegive him that counſell which ſhall be full of wiſedome and godlineſſe. Fare you wel right worthy man and reuerend brother in Chriſt. From Zuricke the 16. of Aprill. I pray you ſalute in my name all the fellowe Miniſters.
To Maiſter Iohn Caluin.
IT is long agoe, (Reuerend Sir) ſince I wrote vntounto you; truelie not becauſe I had forgotten you or that I am nowe of an other minde towarde you than I was woont to bée, but becauſe it happeneth yt whē the Cariers be here, I am not at leaſure: and when I hauehave leaſure, I lacke a Carier. But nowe that I hauehave aſwell the one as the other, I woulde not omit to write vntounto you. And hereof I deſire you, (which you of your ſelfe hauehave alreadie doone, and I doubt not but again wil do) namely to comfort mine or rather your countie Maximinian our moſt déere brother in Chriſt, in this viſitation of his. For as I vnderſtande that by the death of his moſt déere wife he hath receiued a verie great wounde, but yet of the Phiſitian: the which ought to bee no ſmall pleaſure vntounto Chriſtians. For our Sauiour Chriſt knoweth what will further our ſaluation, and that a great deale better than our ſelues can deuiſe. Here there is nothing elſe doone than was doone at the firſt. This is written for certaintie, that in the Parliament are declared the diſputers which ſhall méete together in ye next monethmonth of Auguſt at Wormes and ſhall diſpute together concerning (Religion, with the ſame fruite no doubt as wée maie gueſſe by that which is paſt) that hath béene doone thriſe before. But if you aſke who they be, they are theſe: Vicelius, Iulius Pflug and Aſotus are for the Pope. And for vsus are Philip, Brentius, and Marpachius. What will you ſay, is Saul among the Prophets? The matter is come to thrée men. There ſhoulde be néede of earneſt letters from you or rather our Pauo. In the meane time you, and Bullinger, (to paſſe ouer my ſelfe as one borne before his time) are accounted Samaritans, and which are not accounted worthie of the aire which we breath, much leſſe of Chriſtian méetinges: & yet neuertheleſſe whether they will or no, we belong to the twelue tribes of Iſrael, although we inhabite the Region beyonde Iordane, and are leſſe in number than they. They imagine & crie out that we hauehave builded an Altar for ye ſetting vp of a ſtraunge Religion. I woulde to God they did once vnderſtande that wee are a great deale more carefull of pure and ſincere religion than be they. King Philip is paſſed ouer into England, where hee expecteth bandes of ſouldiers which ſhoulde ſayle vntounto him out of Spaine, and he craueth both monie and ſouldiers of the Quéene. Gribald was here this other daie, neuertheleſſe hée taried but one night, he talked not with me, whome hee alreadie hearde to miſlike verie much of his opinions. But as I hearde, hée ſaide vntounto ſome, that Vergerius ſhould ſhortlie come, and that the affaires in the Parliament of Polonia were not altogether ill ended. Yet we doe not plainelie vnderſtande howe it was: whereof when I hauehave more certaine knowledge, I will ſtraightwaie certifie you. I am deſirous that your fellow miniſters and the reſt of the brethren, but eſpecially the Lorde Marques ſhould be ſaluted from me. Fare you well and louelove me as you doe: for euen I doe verie much honour you in the Lord. From Zuricke the 8. of Aprill. 1557.
To Maiſter Caluin.
WHat you did write vntounto mee a fewe dayes ſince of the confeſſion of Farellus and Beza, ſeemeth to be euen as you ſaie: to wit, that all things were doone ſimplie and ſincerelie of them. Wherefore for my part I thinke well of it, neither hauehave I perceiued anie offence in anie other thing whereby the conſent and eccleſiaſticall vnity ſhoulde be one iote diminiſhed in anie reſpect. And herewithall happened the edition of your booke wherein you admoniſhe the vntractable man Weſtphalus, and make aunſwere to the men of Magdenburgh, frō whom and from Weſtphalus it ſéemes that a certaine rage and inuincible obſtinacy hath now of late taken awaie their right iudgement. Therein doe you ſo ſyncerelie, clearely and plainelie ſhewe the controuerſie of the Sacrament, as indéede there can appeare no knot, much leſſe hauehave anie bin left in the riſh. And of ſmall iudgement doubtleſſe, I will not ſaie, of none at all, are they to be eſtéemed, which in that matter deſire either anie further light or teacher. Verilie I ſée that the booke doth maruelouſlie delight all men, and I allow of it in the beſt maner. Wherefore I giuegive you thanks for this writing: and that God hath ſo aboundantlie bleſſed your labours, I doe not nowe ſparinglie & ſhamefaſtlie, but fréelie and boldlie reioyce with the Church of Chriſt. It is ſaide that Melanchthon is come to Wormes. And this hath comforted me verie much: I hauehave read certaine fragmentes of his new interpretation of the Epiſtle to the Coloſſians, wherein hée writeth verie faithfullie of the humane nature of Chriſt, ſaying that the ſame is truely & properlie in heauen: and he alſo affirmeth with Auguſtine that he hath a place certaine according to the meaſure of his bodie, neither doth he require an allegorie in the word Heauen. Whereby the error of the Vbiquiſtes is manifeſtlie conuinced. If hee publiſhe thoſe writinges, me thinkes it ſhall be verie profitable to the Church: not that the doctrine of the Goſpell maie by the teſtimonie of anie mans writings of what ſort ſoeuer the men be, be made any thing truer than it is indéed, but becauſe that féeble wits are very much confirmed therein through the conſent and authoritie of godlie men. Alſo our Gwalter, (in my iudgement) hath ſet foorth a learned and profitable booke vppon the Actes of the Apoſtles. Furthermore there was a rumor ſpreade that Countie Martinengo was dead. Wherefore when I had taken great ſorrowe for him as was méete I ſhoulde, the letters which Bullinger receiued of you were a gret comfort vntounto me. For you wrote that he indéede was verie ſore ſicke, and that afterwarde he being recouered of his diſeaſe fell againe anewe into the ſame, but that he is nowe out of danger. I pray and beſéech God that he will long preſerue him amongeſt vsus. I hauehave not what elſe to write: but of this I aſſure you, that I earneſtlie pray vntounto God that you maie liue in ſafetie and bee profitablie occupied in ye Church as you are. Wherfore I in like manner deſire you on my behalfe, that you will not forget me in your prayers. Fare well my ſingular and welbeloued friende. From Zuricke the 29. of Auguſt 1557. I ſalute the Marques and the Countie. Alſo I wiſhe all health vntounto the fellowe miniſters.