The Marrow of Ecclesiastical History, Josias Simlerus – John Immanuel Tremellius
The Life of Josias Simlerus, who died Ano Christi 1576.
JOsias Simlerus was born at Capella in Helvetia, His birth and education.An. Ch. 1530. His Fathers Name was Peter, who was a godly, learned, and prudent man; by whom he was carefully brought up in learning in the School of Capella, and at fourteene yeares of age was sent to Zurick, Anno Christi 1544, where he lived in Bullingers Family (who was his Godfather) almost two yeares, and in which place he demeaned himself so piously, modestly, and diligently, and made so eminent a progresse in Learning, that he was exceedingly beloved of all. From thence he went to the University of Basil, He goes to Basil.Anno Christi 1546, where he studied the Arts and Tongues one year, and from thence he went to Strasborough, And Strasborough.in which place there flourished at that time Sturmius, Martyr, Bucer, Fagius, Herlinus, Sevenus, Dasypodius, Hedio, Niger, with some others: Some of these he heard, and spent two years in the further study of the Arts and Tongues. And so at the end of three years he returned home, to the great joy of his Father and Bullinger.
Neither did he now spend his time in pleasures, and idlenesse, but partly in learning, partly in preaching in neighbouring villages, and partly in teaching a School; so that being not above twenty yeares old, he was very serviceable both in the Church and Schoole. And whereas Gesner was exceeding full of imployments, hee many times supplyed his publick Lectures, one while reading Astronomie, another while Geometrie, and other whiles Arithmetick Lectures for him.He is ma…e Profe…or in Zu….
Anno Christi 1552 he was appointed publickly to expound the New Testament in Zurick, being but two and twenty years old; and he beganne with Matthew, and shewed such diligence and abilities, that he was not only admired be his own Countrymen, but by strangers, especially the English, who lived as exiles there at that time.
Four years after.He is made … An. Chr. 1557 he was made Deacon, and went on in his former worke with admiration, so that he was highly prized by all, and judged fit for better preferment. Bibliander being grown very old, Simler supplied his place,He is dear to Peter Martyr. and was Colleague to Peter Martyr, who highly prised him, and foretold that Simler would prove a great ornament to the Church; and when he died, expressed much joy that he should have so able a man to succeed him. And accordingly after his death, Simler was chosen into his place by the unanimous votes both of the Doctors and Senate of Zurick, which was in the year 1563, and had for his Colleague John Wolffius, a very learned, and godly man.
Simler, His Industry.besides his publick labours, instructed many in private, and amongst them some Noblemen, both in sacred, and humane learning. His Lectures publick, and private, ordinary, and extraordinary were sufficient witnesses of his diligence, industry, piety, learning, eloquence, judgement, and memory.His excellent memory. He had such an acute wit, and strong memory, that he was able ex tempore to speak of any subject, and to answer his friends questions out of any Author, and to give an account of their writings, to the great admiration of the hearers. And though in reading of books he seemed to run over them very superficially,His manner of reading. yet when he had done, he was able to give an exact account of any thing that was contained in them. Being so troubled with the Gout that many times he was confined to his bed, and had the use of none of his members but his Tongue onelyonly; yet in the midst of his pains,His excellent parts. he used to dictate to his Amanuensis such things as were presently printed, to the great admiration of Learned men.His diseases. Besides the Gout, he was much troubled with the stone, so that the pains of these diseases, together with his excessive labours in his Ministry, hastned his immature death; which he also foresaw, yet without any consternation, or fear, but by his frequent and fervent prayers to God, endeavoured to fit himselfe for it: and accordingly Anno Christi 1576 he resigned up his spirit unto God,His death. being five and forty years old,His Character. and was buried in Peter Martyrs Tomb. Hee was of a very loving, and gentle nature, free from passion; very charitable, spending all his Patrimony upon the Poore, and Strangers. And such as came thither to study, he entertained them in his house, and often feasted his friends, with whom he would be very merry; otherwise he was very sparing of speech. He delighted much in History. He had two Wives, the first of which was Bullingers daughter, who died without issue; by the second, who was Gualters daughter, he had three sons and one daughter.
He was tall of stature, fat, fair, and strong, but that he was somewhat weakned by the Gout. He had such an amiable face, that his sweet manners might bee seen in his countenance as in a glass. In his habit and diet he was neither too sumptuous, nor too fordid; best liking cleanlinesse, and neatness.
Scripsit Praelectiones in Exodum. De aeterno Dei Filio, adversus Arianos, Tritheitas, & Samosetaninos. Adversus eosdem de S. Sancto. Narrationem veterum controversiarum de una …erson…, & duabus naturis Christi, &c. cum multis aliis. The particulars you may find in Verheiden.
The Life of Immanuel Tremelius, who died Ano Christi 1580.
IMmanuel Tremelius was born in Ferrara, having a Jew to his Father,His Birth and education. who so educated him, that hee was very skilfull in the Hebrew Tongue: Hee was converted by PeterMartyr, and went with him to Lucca, where he taught Hebrew. From thence he went with him to Strasborough, His conversion.and from thence into England under King Edward the sixth, after whose death he returned into Germany: His frequents remo…es.And in the School of Hornback, under the Duke of B…t, he taught Hebrew. From thence he was called to Heidleberg under Frederick the third, Elector Palatine, where he was Professor of the Hebrew tongue, and translated the Syriack Testament into Latine: There also he set upon the Translation of the Bible out of Hebrew,Bible translated & associated to himself in that work Fr. Junius, who after the death of Tremelius, perused the whole work, and by adding many things, rather made it larger then better, in some mens judgement.
In his old age he left Heidleberg, and by the Duke of Bulloin was called to be Hebrew Professor in his new University of Sedan, where he dyed, Anno Christi 1580, and of his Age seventy.His death.
He wrote a Chalde and Syriack Grammer; hee published the New Testament in Latine and Syriack: An exposition upon the Prophet Hosea. Together with Junius he translated the Hebrew Bible, adding short annotations. And lastly Bucers Lectures upon the Epistle to the Ephesians.