The Marrow of Ecclesiastical History, John Wigandus
The Life of John Wigandus, who died Ano Christi 1587.
JOhn Wigandus was born in Mansfield Anno Christi 1523,His birth and education. of honest parents of a middle rank, who carefully brought him up in Learning, which naturally he was much addicted unto; having an excellent wit, and firm memorie, so that having profited much at School, he went to the University of Wittenberg, He goes to Wittenberg.where he continued about three yeares; which time hee spent in the study of the Arts and Tongues, which night and day he imploied himselfe in. In that place he had excellent and faithfull Masters, who were Professors of all the Arts. And for Divinity he attended the Lectures of Luther, heard his Disputations and Sermons,His diligence. as also Melancthons, who was both an excellent Divine and Philosopher. He contracted friendship with Cruciger; heard the Sermons of J. Jo…as; attended the Greek Lectures of Dr Vitus. He had for his private instructor Joh Marcellus, a godly, and learned man. He frequented also the Lectures of Law and Physick.
Anno Christi 1541, by the advice of his Tutors and friends, he went to Norinberg, He goes to No…enberg.where hee was made Master of Saint Laurences School, and for three yeares exercised himselfe with much diligence in instructing youth, in which time he heard the excellent Sermons of Andreas Osiander, Vitus, Theodorus, and Thomas Venatorius, very learned, and eloquent Divines. But having an earnest desire to perfect his own studies, he returned to Wittenberg again, Luther being yet living. There he commenced Master of Arts before hee was two and twenty years old,His return to Wit…enberg. and applyed himselfe wholly to the study of Divinity: But the Wars waxing hot, the Emperour placed a Garrison in the Castle and Town of Wittenberg, and the students were driven away from thence. At which time Wigand was called to Mansfield (his own country) to bee an assistant to their ancient Pastor,He is called to Mansfield. Martin Seligman; where also he was ordained Minister by Prayer, and imposition of hands, by John Spangenberg the Superintendent; which was the first Ordination in that place after the banishing of Popery,He is ordained Minister. and their embracing the truth of the Gospel. That Function hee discharged with much fidelity and industry; and knowing the Schooles to bee the seminaries both of the Church and State, he read Logick and Philosophy to the youth. During which time, at the request of the superintendent Spangenberg, He answers a Papist.he wrote a confutation of the Popish Catechism of Ments, written by Michael Sidonius, which answer was afterwards printed in Latine and Dutch.
He wrote also a Confutation of George Major, His great painswho held that a man by Faith only is justified, but not saved, &c. He delighted exceedingly in a Garden, and in observing the wisdome of God in the nature, shape, and various colours of hearbs and flowers for which end he gat the greatest variety of them that possibly he could into his Garden.He delights in a Garden. H…e was one of those that strongly opposed the Interim.
Anno Christi 1553 hee was chosen by them of Madgeburg to be their Superintendent,His remove to Madgeburg. but the Earl of Mansfield and the people, strongly opposed his remove from them; yet at last by the means of the Prince of Anhalt, they consented unto it. At Magdeburg he tooke excessive pains in reading, writing, meditating and preaching,Conversion of Priests. whereby hee converted many Popish Priests in those parts to the Truth. He also took great pains in writing the Magdeburgenses Centuries, which he, together with Mathew Judex, The Authors of the Madgeburgenses.Flacius Illiricns, Basil Faber, Andrew Corvinus, and Thomas Holthuterus finished to the great benefit of the Church: Of which booke Sturmius gave this Testimony, that it was necessary, and profitable, and had these four virtues in it, viz veritatem, diligentiam, ordinem, perspicuitatem: Truth, Diligence, Ord…r, and Perspicuity.
Anno Christi 1560,His remove to Jenes. the Elector of Saxonie having begunne a University at Jenes, sent earnestly to Wigand to come thither to be the Divinity Professor, which for weighty reasons hee assented unto, and performed that office with much acceptance of all that heard him; yet by the subtilty and malice of one Stosselius he was dismissed from that place,His return to Magdeburg. and so returned to Madgeburg again: But not staying there, hee was chosen to bee the Superintendent at Wismare, His remove to Wismare.Anno Christi 1562, where hee imployed himself wholly in preaching, disputing, expounding Scripture, and governing the Church.
Anno Christi 1563 hee commenced Doctor of Divinity in the University of Rostoch. His commenceth Doctor.He stayed at Wismare seven yeares, at the end whereof, John William, Duke of Saxony, sent for him again to Jenes; but the Duke of Megapole would by no meanes part with him;Peoples love to their Pastor. yet at last, after severall Embassies, the Duke of Saxonie prevailed that he should come for one year to Jenes: His people parted with him very unwillingly, with many sighs and teares, and at the yeares end sent for him back again, but could by no means obtaine his returne. He was not only made the Professor of Divinity at Jenes, but the Superintendent also.
Anno Christi 1570 he went with his Prince to the Diet at Spire, and at his return to Jenes was received with great joy: But after five years Duke John William dying, he was againe driven from thence, and went to the Duke of Brunswick, who entertained him kindly:He is called into Borussia. But presently after hee was called into Borussia, to bee the Divinity Professor in the University of Regiomontanum, and after two years was chosen to be Bishop there.
Anno Christi 1587,His sicknesse. he fell sick, especially upon grief, conceived for the afflicted condition of the Church in Poland, and the death of his deare friend John Wedman, an excellent Divine.Preparat…on for death. This disease encreasing, and his strength decaying, he prepared himselfe for death. He made his owne Epitaph.
In Christo vixi, morior, vivo que Wigandus:
Do sordes morti: cae…era, Christe, tibi.
In Christ I liv'd, and dy'd, through him I live again: What's …ad to death I give: my soul with Christ shall reigne.
And so in the midst of fervent prayers, and assured hope of eternall life, hee resigned up his spirit into the hands of God that gave it;His death. Anno Christi 1587, and of his Age sixty four.
Hee was a man of an excellent wit and learning;His Character. and exemplary in his life. Familiar; gently answering to every ones question: He was very courteous, and grave; Liberall to the poor; insomuch as when he was Bishop, and the poor begged of him either money or corn, he would command his Steward to give them as much as they needed. Hee used to Catechise his family, and to require of them an account of the Sermons every Lords day.
He wrote many Works: His Works.Explicationes in tria priora capita Geneseos: Comment. in Psalmos graduum, & poenitentiales, &c. Annotationes in Isaiam, in Danielem, in Prophetas minores, in Mattheum, Johannem, in Epistolas ad Romanos, Galatas, Ephesios, ad Timotheum 1 & 2, ad Coloss. Histor. Patefactionis divina, cum multis aliis.