Common Places, Letters · Letter 2 – Letter 5
To the College of Saint Thomas in Strasborough.
IT would (right reuerend Sirs & deare beloued brethren) hauehave bin much more to my liking, to ſend you rather ioyfull than diſcomfortable newes. But ſince it hath thus ſéemed good vntounto the prouidence of God, which is neuer to be accuſed, it behooueth that I alſo doe beare that which hath happened, with as good a minde as I can. Hitherto perhaps I might bee ſuſpected of negligence, that I hauehave not written vntounto you: but becauſe I knewe that this was diligently doone by Maiſter Bucer, I thought there was no néede of my letters, for that I am ſure, ye did ſometimes vnderſtande what we both did, and what expectation of things might be looked for. But nowe is he departed in peace to his and our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, euen the laſt day of Februarie, to the great ſorrowe of all godly men, and moſt of all to mée. Neither doe I doubt but that yée my reuerend aſſociates, wil take great griefe ſince the Church, the Schoole, and our College hath loſt ſo worthie a man. This man had now ouercome the greateſt difficulties and troubles which are woont to hinder beginnings, ſo that he was nowe accepted in a manner of all the godly and learned ſort of that Vniuerſitie wherin he profeſſed. Therefore God would that he ſhoulde now reape the fruite of his labours, and that his long tyred warfare ſhoulde be adorned with the honour of triumph. He is well prouided for: we are to bee accounted miſerable, or rather vnhappie, who are yet toſſed in ye ſtormes of calamities. Wherefore I deſire ye immortall God, who for his merciemercy ſake hath made him to reſt in peace, will alſo deliuer vsus from the ſcourges hanging ouer our heades. And no leſſe doe I wiſhe that our Chapter may bee prouided of a Deane and gouernour which may be compared in learning and godlineſſe with his predeceſſor. I bid ye all farewell in the Lorde. From Oxford in England the 8. of March, 1551.
To the Widowe of D. Martin Bucer.
I Conſider deare ſiſter in Chriſt, that vnfortunate is the ſtate of the children of Adam: for they cannot become happie, vnleſſe they leaue in moſt bitter teares and incredible ſorrowe thoſe whom in their life time they helde more deare than life it ſelfe. Your huſband Bucer, my ſingular friende, and moſt deare vntounto all them which giuegive their ſtudie and minde vntounto the Goſpell of Chriſt, might not by death goe vntounto his God whō he entirely loued aboue all things, without an vneſtimable ſorrow of you and mée, and of all godly perſons. Who will not ſay that death is cruell which diuideth betwéene friendes and brethren, and whereby moſt néere friendſhips, and moſt deare ſocieties are ſeuered? Nothing can be more néere ioyned than is the knot of man and wife: among true friendes all things are friendly and faithfully communicated one with another, and therefore whoſoeuer is a man woulde hauehave theſe friendſhips to be perpetuall and neuer broken. But cruell death the iuſt ſcourge of God, moſt iuſtly doeth let this our will, and wée that by ſinne hauehave diſſeuered our ſelues from God, are vnwillingly plucked awaie from them whom we moſt earneſtly loued. Verilie I was minded in ſo great a ſorrowe to comfort you ſomewhat by my letters, if comfort might any manner of way be expreſſed, by a ſorrowfull and moſt afflicted man: but ſince that might not be by reaſon of my excéeding great ſorrowe, onelie this one thing remaineth, that I ſhould together with you lament our common loſſe. Euen as, if I did oftentimes reioyce with them that reioyced when Bucer your huſband was aliue, nowe in like manner, Ro. 12. 15.as Paul commaundeth, I wil alſo wéepe with his wife that wéepeth. For whereas one member of the bodie doeth ſuffer, whyle another member doeth ſuffer therewithall, it is woont to become ſomewhat more eaſie and tollerable: not that it is by it ſelfe pleaſant or to be wiſhed for, that ſorrowe and affliction ſhould be more largely extended, ſéeing they bee euils in this reſpect the more grieuous in that they créepe by contagion, and doe declare the force of the calamitie by manie which are infected through them: but for this cauſe doeth the doubled ſorrowe of manie lighten a ſadde and heauie minde, becauſe there is perceiued a moſt ſwéete fellowſhip of charitie. Furthermore when the griefe is but newly begun, the voyces of them that bewaile, are ſooner admitted, than their counſels obeyed which perſwade that teares ought to bee meaſured and ended. This hauehave I of mine owne ſelfe learned of late: For the more that ſome exhorted mée not to diſquiet my ſelfe, the more was my ſorrow renewed, and mine eyes againſt my will more abundantly filled with teares. Neither are the Chriſtians forbidden to moorne for their friends, whoſe valiant courage tendeth not to that ende, that it ſhoulde make them as harde as yron or ſtone: but the faith which they hauehave learned out of the ſcriptures, teacheth them that death is the paine and puniſhment of ſinne, whereupon the féele thereof and of the wrath of God admoniſheth, and ſheweth that ſinne is more and more horrible, and to be deteſted. Iohn. 11. 31 & 35.In the Goſpell the two ſiſters of Lazarus wept, although that neither of them was ignorant, that he ſhould at the leaſtwiſe be raiſed vp in the laſt day of iudgement. Ibidem. 35.Alſo Chriſt wept, who neuertheles knew right wel that he woulde reſtore him backe vntounto the life which ſeuē dayes before he had for gone. Paul in like manner who knewe that to die is an aduantage, and that it is reckened for an abundant and great benefite, to be looſed from hence vntounto Chriſt, yet in the Epiſtle to the Philippians he giueth thanks vntounto God, Phil. 1. 21. Phil. 2. 27.who graunted vntounto Epaphroditus the recouery of his health, leaſt vntounto his afflictions through the heape whereof he was excéedingly preſſed, there might alſo come another affliction. Wherefore ſéeing God our good father doeth well interpret the moorning of his children for the loſſe of their friendes, I cannot forbeare, but I muſt grieuouſly lament that from the Church is taken away ſo good a paſtour, ſo faithfull a teacher of the ſchoole, ſo Godly an huſband to you, ſo incomparable a friende to mée, and a moſt diligent and excellent gouernour of your houſhold. I hauehave often in my time béene holpen and refreſhed of him. Whatſoeuer trouble I ſuffered, I was woont ſtraightwayes to declare it vntounto him. I can neuer forget how ready his ſound and faithfull counſels hauehave alwayes béene vntounto me. And now this doth ſpecially gréeue me, that I was not preſent at his death, and that I did not heare together with others his laſt words, which I doubt not but were full of Godlineſſe: and that I which ſo long time hauehave béene moſt familiar with him, might not be preſent at his buriall. I was fully minded after Eaſter to come vntounto you: & this had I alreadie written vntounto him. Hee wrote vntounto me againe that he well allowed of my purpoſe, and he declared by moſt earneſt words, how welcome I ſhould be vntounto him. His laſt letters were vntounto me a verie ſwannes ſong. Cygnea Cantio.He ſaide that he hoped well of his diſeaſe: therfore I miſerable man conceiued a vaine hope yt in ſhort ſpace he would recouer, and that I ſhould finde him whole and ſafe at Cambridge. O minde of mine vncertaine of things to come, and ſo light of beliefe! My Bucer hath withdrawen himſelfe into heauen without ſaluting or expecting of his Martyr. What ſhal I do therfore? Whither ſhall I turne my ſelfe? I cannot goe from hence into heauen vnleſſe I be called. To liue alone and pulled away from him I cannot. I beſéech thée (O Chriſt) that thou for thy goodneſſe ſake taking pitie of my ſorrowe, wilt not long ſuffer me wretch to bée ſeparated from him. Nowe I féele my ſelfe to liue a baniſhed man. Now I perceiue my ſelfe to be out of my countrie, & thoſe things which I counted no diſcommodities before while he liued, nowe when I am left alone, I finde a griefe and diſquietneſſe of them. Nowe is he once deade, that he might ceaſe to die dayly: now doth he liue ſafely: we are to be ſorrowed for, who doe ſtand in battaile and doe alwayes receiue wounds. Wherefore I bewaile our chance, not Bucers which is gone, becauſe that he, the earthen pot of his bodie being broken, is returned vntounto God which had ſent him into the world: and although he hath héere left vsus that be his moſt déere friendes, hee is receiued of other friends far more woorthie than we be. And now how in my mind I doe ſée you afflicted & ſadde, I dare not write vntounto you, for that by the rememberance thereof ſorrow would begin a freſh, and ſadneſſe would be renewed. But it may eaſily be vnderſtood by thoſe thinges which I ſhewe as touching mine owne ſelfe, what I may iudge of you being ſomtime his moſt déere wife, but now a deſolate widowe. Howbeit ſéeing I cannot otherwiſe do, I deſire you for Chriſt his ſake, whom I doubt not but you ſerue in ſpirite and truth, that euen as yée hauehave bin taught both in doctrine and life, by him whom wée now lament, we may fly vntounto the ſcriptures to the intent our ſorrowe may be ſo tempered, as it excéede not Chriſtian meaſure and the bounds of Godlineſſe. There ſhall wee finde a true medicine of the woundes & aſſured remedies of our ſorrowes. Chriſt ſaide vntounto the people, The maiden is not deade, Matt. 9. 24.but ſleepeth. And of Lazarus which was already departed: Our friend Lazarus ſleepeth. Iohn. 11. 11 1. Theſſ. 4. 13.Paul alſo calleth them ſléepers, for whom he will not hauehave vsus in ſuch ſort to ſorrow as doe the vngodly which hauehave caſt away all hope of eternall life. Alſo Iob a moſt valiant captaine of our warfare teacheth vsus yt we ſhould ſay with him, Iob. 1. 21.The Lord gaue and the Lord hath taken away, euen as it hath pleaſed the Lord ſo is it come to paſſe. If wee hauehave receiued good thinges at the hande of the Lorde, why can wee not alſo indure euill things? This Godlineſſe and fortitude doe the ſcriptures teach vsus, whereof ſince your huſbands breſt was a moſt large liberarie, I doubt not but that you ſo learned the ſame of him, as you hauehave no néede of my admoniſhment. Howbeit while I rehearſe theſe things, I teach you not, but I ſtirre you vp together with my ſelfe to renue in our memorie now when moſt néede is, thoſe things whereof through the miſt of ſorrowe and teares, we hauehave ſomtimes bin ſmally mindfull. They which be deſtitute of Chriſtian hope, doe bewaile their deade without any conſolation, forſomuch as they perceiue themſelues to be perpetually diuided from them: but wee for a moſt ſuertie knowe by the ſpirite of Chriſt, that they which be deade are not loſt, ſéeing we hauehave ſent them before vntounto God and into the euerlaſting tabernacles. We ſorrow indéede, that we be plucked away from ſo acceptable, ſo profitable and wiſe a companion, eſpecially in the iourney of this darke life: but we muſt alſo reioyce and giuegive thanks vntounto God, that we hauehave had him ſo long with vsus. He died moſt conſtant, and in the faith of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt: he ſawe not a multitude of euils which hang ouer our heads and ouer the Church becauſe of our ſinnes. I would to God that wee alſo might be looſed from hence before the floud of calamities ouerſlowe. Oh howe greatlie am I afraide of vsus wretches, who perpetually preach Chriſt and his Goſpel, when in the meane time wee liue a verie vngodlie life. Our Bucer is deade in peace: he is not fallen into the hands of Chriſtes Enimies, & the good things which he plentifullie ſowed in his life time, he nowe reapeth with ſingular pleaſure in the Kingdome of Heauen. Yet neuertheleſſe do not you thinke but that I doe oftentimes conſider with my ſelfe, that the ſeueritie of God may ſéeme vntounto you to be verie rigorous which ſo often exerciſeth you with manie funerals of yours, with exile, with great charges of houſehold, & with no ſmall diſeaſes of the bodie: but yet I beſéeche you let it in like maner come to your remembraunce that it is God which ſmyteth, wherefore he being an excellent father, will miniſter ſtrength to beare the ſtrokes, not that he is glad and reioyceth at our calamities, but that his infinite knowledge doth prouidentlie vnderſtand, how expedient it is otherwhile for vsus, to be turmoiled and preſſed with aduerſities. Iſraell is not taught but by manie ſtripes and ſorrowes, and Tribulation worketh patience; patience, Rom. 5. 3.tryall; tryall, hope; and hope confoundeth not. And therefore that we might not be terrified, the Scripture forewarneth vsus, that we comming vntounto bondage, ſhould prepare our heart not vntounto pleaſures and delights, but vntounto temptations. By theſe reaſons, ſhe is moued which is a true widowe to make earneſt prayers vntounto her God day and night. Howbeit not to paſſe the meaſure and bounds of an Epiſtle, this laſtly I deſire, yt you doe not thinke your ſelfe to be forſaken or deſolate, ſeeing you hauehave Chriſt dwelling in your heart by faith. Your huſband which betrothed himſelfe vntounto you, you hauehave loſt in the fleſh, but Chriſt vntounto whom you are maried in godlineſſe and ſincere religion, you ſhall neuer loſe by any violence of death. God who is the father and author of all conſolation comfort you. Your faith, hope and charitie comfort you. Finally let the ſpirit of Chriſt comfort you, who I doubt not but is very plentifully powred into your heart. And this ſpecially and aboue all other things prouide, that your heart may euermore dwel in the protection of the Lorde. My wife and Iulius are ſo greatlie diſquieted for this gréeuous miſhap, as if they doe not ſorrowe equally with you, yet doe they come verie neere thereunto: and they pray with their whole heart that the abundant helpe of God may ſpéedilie relieue you and all this godlie familie. And in no wiſe thinke that you are to make any leſſe account of me, than when your Bucer and mine liued. Wherefore I pray you alſo that if my helpe may any ways ſtand you in ſtead, you will vouchſafe to vſe the ſame, for you ſhall euermore finde it open and readie at your Godly deſires.
To Ralfe Gualther.
YF I ſhoulde giuegive thankes vntounto you for the excéeding great paines which you hauehave taken about the printing of my booke, neither ſhall I bee able to anſwere ſufficiently to your deſertes: nor yet can I declare what great account I make of the pleaſure which you ſhewe mée. Wherefore I rather deſire that ſome occaſion might bee offered vntounto mee, wherein I maie ſhewe not in wordes but in déede what account I make of this your good will towardes mée. Truelie it grieueth mee verie much that in the reſtoring of theſe trifles of mine, there ſhoulde bee ſo great paines taken: and I am greatly afraide leaſt the labour will excéede the matter. I hauehave oftentimes conſidered with my ſelfe, that through my negligence it hath happened, that as good or better thinges might hauehave bin compyled by you with a ſmall labour more, than you can put in order my vncorrected Copies. But ſuch is your good will, as you are content to take euerie thing patiently, becauſe you will not denie your trauell to your Friendes. Aſſure your ſelfe therefore that I ſhall bee a continuall debter vntounto you for this your fauour which I doubt I ſhall neuer bee able to requite. But GOD which is a moſt iuſt weigher of godly labours, will not ſuffer you to beſtowe your labour in vaine. Nowe ſée you in like manner, moſt deare beloued brother in Chriſt, if there be anie thing, wherein you will hauehave mee to deale for you, and you ſhall finde mee no leſſe forwards in your buſineſſe, than you hauehave ſhewed your ſelfe painfull and willing in mine. The young men which you commend vntounto mée in your letters, beſides that Chriſtian charitie mooueth mée to fauour them, your requeſt alſo ſhall cauſe mée that I will pleaſure them any waie that either they themſelues ſhall deſire of me, or that Iohn Vlmer ſhall deſire in their behalfe. That Hooper is deliuered of all his troubles, I thinke you nowe vnderſtand by others. I neuer failed him, and I alwayes hoped well of his cauſe. He is nowe in his Biſhoprick, he exerciſeth his function faithfully and earneſtly. God graunt him that he may plentifully reape the fruites which he moſt deſireth. Alſo Chriſtopher Froſchouer behaueth himſelfe well: for your ſake I will neuer forſake him ſo farre as in me lyeth: and I hope ſo well of him as I thinke hee will well aunſwere your expectation. I bid you and all yours fare well in the Lorde. From Oxford the 25. of Aprill, 1551.
To Ralph Gualther.
IF I ſhoulde not (my learned Friend) giuegive you thankes for the paines which you hauehave taken in the peruſing and correcting of my Booke when it was in Printing, both I ſhall be vngratefull and ſhall not deſerue hereafter to hauehave any benefite beſtowed vponupon mee by any other. Truely I ſée that you hauehave taken no ſmall toyle therein. For in copying out the Booke which I ſent vntounto you, there was no ſuch diligence vſed as had bin requiſite. But I will prouide hereafter that the matter may bee more diligently handled when I ſhall ſende any thing to you to be Printed. Wherefore I beſéech almightie GOD to requite the paines which you hauehave taken for mee. Your carefulneſſe hath brought to paſſe that the worke is come forth well ynough amended. But looke how much you hauehave furthered the impreſſion, ſo much leſſe hath fortune fauoured the carriage of the bookes. For to this day there could be conueyed hither but thirtie Coppies: wherefore many ſéeke them in vaine, ſince they are not to bee ſolde any where in this kingdome. Birkman who promiſed me xx. Coppies, hath not ſent one: which I will not thinke to bée doone of ill will, but rather that it hath happened through ſome miſchaunce. As touching our matters, I cannot certifie you of much more than this our carrier, I meane your Froſchouer is able to ſhewe, who vndoubtedly is an honeſt and godly young man, and all the while he taried here, liued moderately and religiouſlie, wherefore it appeareth that he was not raſhlie commended of you at the beginning. God increaſe his godlineſſe, and graunt you to procéede as ye doe in the inſtructing of your children and young men. Great newes is here ſpread out of Germanie, but yet ſo vncertaine and variable, as we cannot wel aſſure our ſelues what to beléeue. We are deſirous to knowe whether the Switchers which profeſſe the Goſpell hauehave determined to ſend any of the Miniſters of their Churches to the Councell of Trent. But to enquire much of theſe things, perhaps will not be thought conuenient, ſince Chriſtes cauſe is chiefely to bée commended to Chriſt himſelfe. Howbeit as the members of the bodie of Chriſt, which is the Church, are ioyned one with another by a moſt ſure bonde of the ſpirit, ſo is it requiſite, that they ſhoulde be carefull one of another. I bid you farewell in the Lorde. Salute in my name Maiſter Pellican, Maiſter Bibliander, together with the reſt of our fellowe Miniſters. Giuen out of the houſe of my Lorde of Canterburie the 6. of Marche, 1552.