The Marrow of Ecclesiastical History, Abraham Bucholtzer – Ludovic Lavater
The Life of Abraham Bucholtzer, who died Ano Christi 1584.
ABraham Bucholtzer was born at Schovavium, His birth and education.of a very ancient and honourable Family, Anno Christi 1529, and from his infancy was brought up by his Parents in Religion and Learning. When he was first set forth to School, he profited to admiration, outstripping all his Schoolfellowes by his acute wit and industry. And being well principled at School,He goes to Wittenberg. he went to the Universities, first of Franckfurt, then of Wittenberg: Accounting it his great happinesse, that he was born after the light of the Gospel brake forth, and bred up under Melancthon, upon whose Lectures he attended diligently, and sucked in from him not onelyonly the principles of Learning, but of Religion also.
He was exceeding industrious in seeking Learning, attent in hearing Lectures, diligent and swift in writing what was spoken by Melancthon.
About that time there sprang up many errors, and much contention was raised in the Church of God about things indifferent, the necessity of Good Works, Essentiall Righteousness &c. But by the help of Melanethon he was able both to discover and confute them. There also he studied Greek and Hebrew.
When hee was six and twenty years of age (being nowHis travels. well grounded in the knowledge of the Arts and Tongues) hee went from thence into Silesia to visit his friends, and to see the chiefest Cities, and whilst hee was there, the Senate of Grunberg consulted about the erecting of a School in that City,He goes to Grunberg. and for the advancement of the same, they chose Bucholtzer to bee the Master thereof, and sent to him by Luke Cunon, who was their Pastor, desiring him to undertake that office.
Hereupon hee asked Melancthons advice, who much encouraged him to accept of the place, saying, Quantum solatium est pio paedagogo, assidentibus castis angelis, sedere in coetu incontaminato juniorum qui Deo placent, & docere tenera ingenia ut rectè agnoscant, & invocent Deum, ut deinde organa fiant utilia Ecclesiae, & suis animabus? Upon his advice therefore hee went thither Anno Christi 1556, and by his excellent abilities and diligence quickly made that place (which before was obscure) to become famous: Scholars resorting to him from all parts,He made excellent scholars. whom hee bred up both in Religion, and Learning, and fitted them so excellently for the Universitie, that Melancthon never questioned any that came from his School, saying, Hoc se persuasum sibi habere, rudes & impolitos esse non posse, qui à politissimi judicii homine Abrahamo Bucholtzero essent informati: That he was verily perswaded that they could not be rude, or unfitted for the University that came from under the tuition of Abraham Bucholtzer, who himself was a man of so polite a judgement.
Anno Christi 1557,His marriage. hee married a Wife, who proved a great comfort to him, and by whom hee had many children, whom hee tendered exceedingly, and educated them in the feare of GOD from their very infancy: Hee grew so famous all over Silesia, that many desired to have him for their Pastor:He is chosen Pastor of Sprottavia. And at last Sprottavia enjoyed him, where hee continued, doing much good, to Anno 1573; At which time Katharine, the Relict of Henrie Duke of Brunswick, sent for him to her Court, to whom hee went, partly by reason of his great engagements to that Family, but especially because hee enjoyed not his health in Sprottavia.
The yeare after this pious Lady dyed; and then hee was called to Eleutheropolis by Euphemia, the Wife of Sir Fabian Belloquert: Hee preached there in the great Church, to which the Citizens flocked exceedingly, insomuch as when that pious and illustrious Ernest, Prince of Anhalt sent for him, and profered him an honourable stipend, he refused to leave his place. Hee had an excellent sweetness and dexterity in Preaching, was of a sound judgement and holy life:Preachers pattern. His Sermons were so piercing, that he never preached, but hee wrought wonderfully upon the affections of his hearers. If any were cast downe under the sence of sinne, and wrath, hee exceedingly comforted them. If any were troubled with tentations and afflictions, he raised them up, &c. Hee had a lively voice, lively eye, lively hand, and such were all his gestures. His Ministrie was so gratefull, that his hearers were never wearie, or thought his Sermons too long. He was full of self-denyall, insomuch as that excellent Lady,His Contentation. Katherine of Brandenburg used to say, That whereas all the rest of her Courtlers and Family were alwaies craving something of her, Bucholtzer on the contrary never asked her for the worth of a farthing; yea that he refused gifts when they were prefered to him, preferring kindnesse before the gift, and the fruit of his Ministry before the reward of it. He was so humble, that when his friends blamed him for living in so obscure a place whilst he taught Schoole,His humility. hee told them that hee preferred it before a Kingdome. Hee could never endure to heare himselfe commended; and if his friends in their Letters had written any thing to his praise, hee could not read it with patience; sed terreri so laudationibus illis tanquam fulminibus dicebat, qui nihil in se magni videret, &c. His candor was such, that hee never spake or wrote any thing but from his heart.His excellent virtues. Hee never read, or heard any thing from others, but hee made a candid construction of it. His care in his publick Ministry was to avoid those questions that doe but gender unto strife, and to instruct his auditors how to live well, and die well. Some blamed him of cowardise, for that being endowed by God with such excellent abilities, yet would he never enter into the lists with the frantick adversaries of those times: but the true reason was, because hee alwaies affected peace, having no delight in wrangling, which caused him to say to a friend, Desis disputare, coepi supputare: quoniam illud dissipationem, hoc collectionem significat. He is an enemy to contentions.Besides, hee saw that the greatest Antagonists to the Churches peace, had not so much as one spark of Grace in them: And that there came no profit, but much hunt to the Church of Christ by those continual quarrels amongst Divines.
Hee spent his spare hours in reading Ecclesiasticall,He is a great histori…n. and Prophane Histories; and profited so much thereby, that one affirmed in writing, Universam antiquitatem in Bucholtzeri p…ctuscul… latuisse recenditam; that all Antiquity lay hid in his breast. He finding some great errors in Funcclus his Chronology, set himself to write one, which with indefatigable paines hee brought to perfection.His sicknesse. Whilst he thus publickly, and privately busied himself; he fell into a grievous disease, and just about the same time he lost his faithful, and beloved yoake-fellow, that was the Mother of nine children; but upon his recovery hee married another, with whom hee lived not long before the Lord put an end to all his labours, and sorrows,His death. Anno Christi 1584, and of his Age, fifty five.
He used often to meditate upon death, His great care to prepare for death.and writing to a friend in his old age, he had this expression, It hath alwaies formerly bee my care in what corner soever I have been, to bee ready when God called, to say with Abraham, Behold my Lord here I am: But now above all other things I should be most willing so to answer, if he would please to call me out of this miserable life into his glorious Kingdome; For truly I desire nothing so much, as the happy and blessed hour of death, &c.
He made his own Epitaph to be set upon his Tomb, which was this.
Hic pie Christe, tuo recubas quasita cruere,
In que tuo gremio parvula dermit ovis.
Reddidit hac animam balanti v…ce fidelem:
Huic Pastor dicas, intret …vile meum.
In his sicknesse he caused himself to be carried to Church,His last Sermon. where he preached his last Sermon, about the blessed departure of a faithfull man out of this life; which he performed with such excellent words, and soul-ravishing affections, that the Auditors said, Bucholtzer had wont to exceed our other Preachers, but now hee hath exceeded himself.
He wrote Chronologicam Isagogen.His Works. Indicem Chronologicum, quem Scultetus auxit. Catalogum Consulum Romanorum, & alia opuscula. Item de consolatione decumbentium. De idea boni Pastoris. De concionibus Funebribus.
M. CHEMNICIVS
The Life of Martin Chemnisius, who died Ano Christi 1586.
MArtin Chemnisius was born at Britza in Old March, His birth and Parentage.Anno Christi 1522, of honest, but mean Parents, so that his father being poor, he met with many impediments to discourage, and hinder him in Learning, yet bearing a great love to it, by his exceeding industry he overcame all difficulties,His industry. and after some progresse at home, he went to Magdeburg, where he studied the Tongues, and Arts. And from thence to Frankfurt upon Oder, where he studied Philosophy under his Kinsman George Sabin…, and after hee had spent some time there,He goes to Wit…enberg. he went to Wittenberg, where he prosecuted his former studies together with the Mathematicks, under Melancthou, and other Professors. From thence he went to Sabinum in Borussia, where he taught School, and commenced Master of Arts, and Anno Christi 1552 he was made the Princes Library-keeper, and had a competent subsistence in the Court. At that time he wholly applied himself to the study of Divinity. By reason of his knowledge and skill in the Mathematicks and Astronomy, he was very dear to the Duke of Borussia, and for the same cause John Marquesse of Brandenburg favoured him very much:He is much beloved. Yea by his modest and sincere carriage hee procured much favour from the Courtiers.
Anno Christi 1555, Chemnistus being desirous after three years stay in the Court to return to the Universities for the perfecting of his studies, was rewarded by Prince Albert with ample Letters of commendation, and so dismissed. After which he went again to Wittenberg, where he sojourned with Melancthon, and was imployed by him publickly to read Common places. From thence after a while he was sent to Brunople in Saxonie by the Senate,He is made Pastor in Brunople. and made Pastor; which place he discharged with singular fidelity and approbation for the space of thirty years, partly as Pastor, and partly as Superintendent, and commenced Doctor in Divinity at Rostoch, serving the Church with great faithfulness and commendations both by preaching and reading Lectures. Many Princes and Commonwealths made use of his advice and assistance in Ecclesiastical affairs. He took great pains in asserting the Truth against the adversaries of it;His zeal against he eticks as his excellent Exame… of the Tridentine Council shews. At last being worn out with study, writing, preaching, &c. he resigned up his spirit unto God Anno Christi 1586, and of his age 63.His death.
He is said by one to be Philosophus summus, Theologus profundissimus, ne que veritatis,His commendation. bonarum que artium studio, ne que laude officit facile cuiquam secundus.
His Workes are these. His Works.De origine Jesuitarum. Theologiae Jesuitarum praecipua capita. Explicatio Doctrinae de duabus in Christo naturis. Fundamenta sanae Doctrinae Enchiridion de praecipuis caelestis Doctrinae capitibus, De peccato Origin contra Manichaeos, Examen decretorum Concilii Tridentini. Concio de Baptismo. Harmonia Evangelica.
The Life of Rodolphus Gualter, who died Anno Christi 1586.
ROdolphus Gualter was born in Zurick An. His Bir…hChristi 1519. When he first applyed his mind to the study of humane Arts and Tongue, hee had such an happy wit, that he was inferiour to none of his fellows in Poetry and Oratory; His proficiency.and being afterwards admitted into the University; he became famous, first for his knowledge in the Arts, and afterwards of Divinity.He is Pastor in Zurick. He was chosen Pastor in that City where first he drew his vitall breath; neither were which chose him deceived in their expectation; for he proved an admirable instrument of Gods glory, and their good, discharging his place with fingular industry,His diligence. diligence, and fidelity, not onelyonly by his frequent publick preaching, but by his learned private writings, as his Homilies upon much of the Old, and New Testament do sufficiently declare. And having governed, and sed that Church for above forty years together,His Death. he died in a good old age, Anno Christi 1586, and of his Life seventie four.
Scripsit Homilias in Johannis Epistolas. In can…cum Zachariae. De Nativitate, pueritia, & educatione Domini. De servitnte peccati, & libertate fidelium. De origine, prastantia, & authoritate S. Scripturae. In 12 Prophetas minores. In Ma…thaum, Marcum, Lucam, Johannem, Acta Apostol. Epist. ad Romanes, ad Corinthios, ad Galatas. In Esaiam. With many other Works, set down by Verheiden.
The Life of Ludovicus Lavater, who died Ano Christi 1586.
LUdovicus Lavator was born in Zurick, His Bir…h and Education.a famous City of the Helvetians; and having drunk in the first Rudiments of Learning, became famous by his diligence in the Schooles, and his excellent wit, insomuch as Bullinger gave his daughter in marriage to him. And (though a Prophet be not without honour but in his own country,He is chosen Pastor in Zurick. yet) was he chosen a Pastor in that City, and made a Lecturer in the Schooles, and hee taught and illustrated both faithfully by his Ministry and Writings. He published manys his Father-in-law Bullingers Works: And having spent himelf in the Work of the Lord, and service of his Church,His death. he quietly resigned up his spirit into the hands of his heavenly Father, Anno Christi 1586.
He wrote Commentaries upon Joshuah,His Works. both books of the Chronicles, Ruth, Ester, Job, Proverbs, and Ezekiel: Besides his Historia de ortu, & progressu controversiae Sacramentariae, & Tractatus de spectris, lemuribus, fragoribus, variis que , praesagitionibus, quae plerum que obitum hominum, & magnas clades praecedunt. With divers others mentioned in particular by Verheiden.