The Marrow of Ecclesiastical History, Zacharias Ursinus
The Life of Zacharie Ursin, who died Ano Christi 1583.
ZAcharie Vrsus was borne in Vratislavia, the Metropolis of Silesia, His birth and parentage.An. Christ. 1584. of honest parents. His Fathers name was Gasper, a Minister in Vratislavia, who set him to School in the same City, where he quickly shewed an excellent wit, by which he easily outwent all his schoolfellows, and so having perfected his Schol-learning by that he was 16. yeares old, having an ample, testimony from his Master [Andrew Winckle] he was sent to Wittenberg, An. Chr. 1552, where he heard Melancthon with great diligence two years,He goes to Wittenberg. At the end of which time the Plague breaking forth there; he retired with Melancthon to Tergaw; A plague.and after a while having an ample testimony from him. he went thence into his own Country for all that Winter; but in the spring hee returned to Wittenberg, where he spent five years more in the study of the Arts,His return to Wittenberg. Tongues, and Divinity. He was very familiar with Melancthon, and much esteemed by many Learned men, who flocked to that University out of all Countries, with whom also afterwards hee kept correspondencie.
Anno 1557, he went with Melancthon to the conference at Wormes about Religion;His travels. and from thence he travelled to Marpurg, Strasbor…ugh, Basil, Lansanna, and Geneva, where he grew into familiar acquaintance with many learned men, especially with Calvin, who gave him such bookes as he had printed. From Geneva he went into France to Lions, Orleance, and Paris, where he perfected his skill in the Hebrew under the learned Mercerus. In his return he went to Zurick, where hee acquainted himself with the learned men, and so to Tubing, Ulme, Nerinberg, and from thence to his old Master Melancthon.
Anno 1558 hee was sent for by the Senate of Uratislave (which was his native place) to govern the school in that City,He is sent for into his own country. where, besides his Lectures in the Arts and Tongues, he was employed in the explication of Melancthons book of the Ordination of Ministers; His enemies.upon which occasion he declared his judgement about the Sacrament, and thereupon he was cried out against for a Sacramentarian. This caused him to give a publick account of his Faith about the Doctrine of the Sacraments, in certain strong,Melancthon encourages him and accurate propositions Melancthon hearing of the opposition which hee met with, wrote to him to stand firmely to the truth, and if he enjoyed not peace in that place, to returne to him again; and to reserve himself for better times. And accordingly Ursin, who naturally abhorred brawles, and in his judgement could not endure Ecclesiasticall contentions,He is dismissed. chose rather to leave the place, and therefore requested of the Senate that he might be dismissed, and obtained his desire, upon condition that whensoever his country and the Church there had need of him, he should be willing to return home to them again. This fell out seven daies after the death of Melancthon, Anno Christi 1560.
Ursin had a reverend man to his Uncle, called Albert Roth, who asked him whither hee would goe? To whom he answered thus, His Resolution.Truly I doe not goe unwillingly out of my own country, seeing they will not admit of my confession of the Truth, which with a good conscience I could not omit. And if my worthy Master Melancthon were now living, I would goe to none but him: But since he is dead, I will goe to Zurick; which though it be not esteemed here, yet in other Churches it is very famous; for there are such godly, learned, and eminent men, that they cannot be obseured by our Preachers, and with them (through Gods mercy) I hope to live with much comfort.
And thus hee left his Country, to the great grief of the godly, whom he had instructed and confirmed in the Orthodox Truth. From Uratislavia hee went to Wittenberg, where he was received by the Professors with great joy, and who would have chosen him into their number;He goes to Zurick. but hee refused, and so went to Zurick, Anno 1560, being invited thither by Martyr, Bullinger, Simler, Lavater, Gualter, Gesner, and Frisius, who much desired his company, and wrote for him. With these worthy men he lived pleasantly and comfortably, addicting himselfe to the profit of the Church, and being a diligent attender upon Peter Martyrs Lectures, whereby hee much encreased his knowledge in Divinity.
Anno Christi 1561 there came Letters to Zurick from Thomas Erastus, signifying that there wanted a Divinity Professor at Heidleberg, and that they desired supply from thence: whereupon the aforenamed Divines knowing Ursines fitnesse, presently sent him with their Letters of ample commendation both to the Elector Palatine, and to the University: Where he was made governour of the Colledge of Sapience; He goes to Heidleberg.and by his diligence, faithfulnesse, and ability, got such credit, that at twenty eight years of age they graced him with the title of a Doctor in Divinity,He commencerh Doctor. and so hee supplyed the place of publick Professor to the year 1568, at which time Zanchy succeeded him.
He had for his Colleagues Peter Boquin, and Immanuel Tremelius; the latter Professor of the Old Testament, and the former of the New. Five years Ursin continued reading upon his Common places, His imployment thereand certain…y if he had finished it, it had been exceeding usefull to the Church. And besides his ordinary Lectures both in the University and Colledge, the godly Prince Otho Frederick, seeing severall Ministers using severall Catechisms to the prejudice of the Church, he employed Ursin in the writing a Catechism for the Palatinate; which might be of general use, and accordingly he did, to the great satisfaction of all.
Anno 1563,A plague. there brake forth a grievous Pestilence that scattered both the Court and University; yet Ursin remained at home, and wrote his tractates of Mortality, and Christian Consolations for the benefit of Gods people.
The same year presently after Ursins Catechism was printed,His adversaries Flacius Illiricus, Heshusius, and some others, beganne to quarrel at some passages in it about the Ascension of Christ, his Presence in the Sacrament, &c. As also to traduce the Reformation carried on in the Palatinate; but at the command of the Palatine, He defends the truth.Ursin did excellently justifie his Catechism, and defend the Truth to the great satisfaction of all that read it.
Anno Christi 1564 hee was sent by the Elector to Malbrun to dispute with Brentius and Smidlin about the Ubiquity of Christs body, which he confuted with such clear and strong arguments, as that many both Papists and Lutherans were converted thereby.
He was so dear to the Elector Palatine, The Palatines great love to him.that when the Bernates, Anno 1578, sent Aretius to Heidleberg, to crave leave that Ursine might goe to Lausanna to be the Divinity Professor there, he would by no means part with him, but for his ease and encouragement to stay, gave him leave to choose an assistant, that so his body might not bee worne out with his daily and excessive labours.
Anno Christi 1572 he married a Wife,His marriage. by whom he had one sonne, that was afterwards a Minister, and inherited his Fathers virtues.
Anno Christi 1574, at the command of the Elector Frederick, he made a Confession of Faith about God,He writes a Confession of Faith. the Person of Christ, and the Supper of the Lord, which was to stop the mouths of some malitious wicked men, who had scattered abroad, that in Heidleberg they had sowed the seeds of Arianism, from which error both the Elector, and the Church under him were most free.
In these employments was Ursin busied, and both Religion and Learning prospered exceedingly under him, so that he sent forth many excellent men, who proved admirable instruments of Gods glory, and the Chuches good; and this continued till the year 1577, at which time it pleased God to take away that excellent Prince Frederick, whereupon ensued that unhappy change,A change in the Palatinate. when none were suffered to stay in the Palatinate except they held the opinions of Luther in all things. So that Ursin with his Colleague Kimedontius were forced to leave the University. But hee could not live a private life long,He is sent for by P. Cassimite for hee was sent for by Prince John Cassimire, sonne to Frederick, who knew how usefull and profitable he would be both to himself, and the Churches under him. About the same time also the Senate of Berne sent impor…unately for him to succeed A etius, or Basil …arquard in their University. Hee was also earnestly solicited by Musculus, Gualter, Lavater, and Hortinus to accept of this call; but Prince Cassimire would by no meanes part with him, having erected a University at Newstad, His imployment.and chosen Ursin and Zanchy to be the Divinity Professors thereof. Whilst hee was thus employed, by his excessive studies, and neglect of exercise, he fell into a sicknesse which held him above a year together. After which he returned to his labours again, and besides his Divinity Lectures, read Logick in the Schools: desiring his Auditors to give him what doubts and objections they met with, which upon study at his next Lecture hee returned answers to: But his continual watchings, care, meditations, and writings,His sicknesse. cast him into a Consumption, and other diseases, yet would he not be perswaded to intermit his imployments,His industry. till at last he was confined to his bed: Yet therein also he was never idle, but alwayes dictating something,Incessant labors that might conduce to the publick good of the Church.
The hour of death being come, his friends standing by, he quietly slept in the Lord,His death. Anno Christi 1583, and of his Age fifty one.
He was very pious,His Character. and grave in his carriage, and one that sought not after great things in this world, refusing many gifts from Princes, and himself was liberall according to his ability. He was alwaies like himself, very sparing of time… as appeared by these verses set over his study door.
Amice, quisquis huc venis:
Aut agito paucis, aut abi:
Aut me laborantem adjuva.
He wrote Commentarium do mortalitate, His Works.& consolationibus Christianis. Admonitionem Neustadianam: Epigrammata ad Jo. Frisium After his death his Son, and Doctor Pareus, and Quirinus his Scholars, published divers other of his Workes, which are printed in three Tomes.