The Marrow of Ecclesiastical History, Girolamo Zanchi
H. ZANCHY
The Life of Hierom Zanchius, who dyed Ano Christi 1590.
HIerom Zanchius was born at Atzanum in Italy, Anno 1516.His birth and education. His Father was a Lawyer, who brought him up at School; and when Zanchy was but twelve years old his Father died of the Plague Anno Christi 1528; at which time Zanchy was at School, where he was instructed in the Liberall Sciences: When he came to the age of fifteen years, being now deprived of both his parents, observing that divers of his kindred were of the order of Canons Regular, amongst whom he judged that there were divers learned men, being exceeding desirous of Learning, he entered into that Order, where hee lived about twenty years,He becomes a Fryar. and studied Arts and School-Divinity, together with the Tongues. He was very familiar with Celsus Martiningus, joyning studies with him, was a diligent hearer of Peter Martyrs publick Lectures at Luca upon the Epistle to the Romans, and of his private Lectures upon the Psalmes, His conversionwhich he read to his Canons. This drew his mind to an earnest study of the Scriptures. He read also the Fathers, especially St. Augustine, with the most learned Interpreters of the Word of God: And thereupon he preached the Gospel for some years in the purest manner that the time and place would suffer. And when Peter Martyr left Italy, so that his godly Disciples could no longer live in safety there, much lesse have liberty of Preaching, about twenty of them in the space of one year left their station, and followed their Master into Germany, amongst whom Za…chy was one.He flies into Germany. Being thus (as he used to say) delivered out of the Babylonish captivity, anno Christi 1550. He went, first into Rhetia, where he staied about eight moneths, and from thence to Geneva, and after nine moneths stay there, he was sent for by Peter Martyr into England, but when he came to Strasborough, he staid there to supply Hedio's room newly dead,He stayes at Strasborough. who read Divinity in the Schooles, which was in the yeare 1553. He lived, and taught Divinity in that City about 11 yeares; sometimes also reading Aristotle in the Schools; yet not without opposition, old James Sturmius, the Father of that University being dead:He meets with troubles. Yea his adversaries proceeded so far as to tell Zanchy, that if hee would continue to read there, he must subscribe the Augusta…e Confession, to which hee yeelded for peace-sake, with this proviso, modò Orthodox…e intelligatur; declaring his judgement also about Christs presence in the Sacrament, wherewith they were satisfied. And thus he continued to the year 1563, being very acceptable to the good, and a shunner of strife, and a lover of concord. At the end whereof the Divines and Professors there,New opposition. accused him for differing from them in some points about the Lords Supper, the Ubiquity of Christs Body, the use of Images in the Churches, Predestination, and the Perseverance of the Saints: About these things they raised contentions, which were partly occasioned by the book of Heshufius, printed at this time at Strasborough, About the Lords Supper; and it came to this pass, that they put Zanchy to his choice either to depart of himself, or else they would remove him from his place. And though many waies were tried for the composing of this difference, yet could it not be effected. But it pleased God that about this time there came a Messenger to signifie to him that the Pastor of the Church of Clavenna, Gods providence.in the borders of Italy, being dead, he was chosen Pastor in his room;He goes to Clavenna. wherefore obtaining a dismission from the Senate of Strasborough, he went thither, and after he had preached about two moneths, the Pestilence brake forth in that Town so violently,A great Pestilence. 1564. that in seven moneths space there dyed twelve hundred men; yet he continued there so long as he had any Auditors; but when most of the Citizens had removed their families into an high mountain not farre off, he went thither also, and spent above three moneths in Preaching Meditation, and Prayer, and when the Plague was stayed, hee returned into the City again. And thus he continued in that place almost four years to the great profit of many, but not without afflictions to himself.
Anno Christi 1568 hee was sent for by Frederick the third, Elector Palatine, He goes to Heidleberg.to Heidleberg to be Professor, and was entertained with all love and respect, where he succeeded Ursin, and at his entrance made an excellent Oration about the preserving, and adhering to the meer Word of God alone.He is made Doctor. The same year he was made Doctor in Divinity. About which time that excellent Prince Frederick, who was a zealous promoter of the Doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles, required him to explicate the Doctrine of one God, and three Persons, to confirme it, and to confute the Doctrine of those which at that time denyed the Deity of Christ and the Holy Ghost in Poland and Transilvania, Zeal against heresies.and to answer their arguments; whereupon he wrote those learned Tractates, De Dei naturâ, De tribus Elohim, &c. In which book the whole Orthodox Doctrine about that great Mystery is so unfolded and confirmed,Hereticks confuted & rejected. that all adversaries may for ever be ashamed which goe about to contradict the same
Laelius Socinus, and other of his complices that defended the Heresies of Servetus, tried by divers waies, and reasons to have drawn him to their opinion: but when they found him wholly estranged from them, and a zealous Defendor of the Truth against their Blasphemies, they renounced all friendship with him, and left him; for which he gave hearty thanks unto God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. He taught in that University tenne yeares till the death of Prince Frederick. Then by Prince John Cassimire he was removed to his new University at Neostade, where he spent above seven years in reading Divinity.He goes to Neostade. Though in the year 1578 he had been earnestly solicited to come to the University of Leiden, then newly begunne; as also the yeare after the Citizens of Antwerp called him to be their Pastor, yet the Prince would by no means part with him, knowing that hee could not bee missed in his University.
The Prince Elector Palatine, Lodwick, being dead, and Prince Cassimire being for the time made Administrator of his estate, the University was returned from Neostad to Heidleberg, and Zanchy being now grown old, had a liberal stipend setled upon him by Prince Cassimire; whereupon going to Heidleberg to visit his friends,His death. he fell sick, and quietly departed in the Lord Anno Christi 1590, and of his age seventie five.
He was excellently versed in the writings of the ancient Fathers and Philosophers, he was of singular modesty, and very studious to promote the peace of the Church.
His Workes are well known,His Works. being usually bound up in three volumes. His Commentaries are upon Hosea, Ephes. Phil. Col. Thess. and John: His other works are Miscellanea Theologica. De tribus Elohim. De natura Dei. De operibus Dei. De Incarnatione Filii Dei. De sacra Scriptura▪ Compendium praecipuorum capitum doctrinae Christianae. De Religione Christiana, &c.