The Marrow of Ecclesiastical History, Anthony Sadeel
The Life of Anthony Sadeel, who died Ano Christi 1591.
ANthony Sadeel was born at Cabot upon the confines of Savoy and France, His Birth. and Education.not far from Geneva, Anno Christi 1534, and his Father dying whilst he was young, his Mother brought him up in learning, and sent him to Paris, where he was educated under Mathias Granian, from whom also he first received the seeds of true Religion.He goes to Paris. From thence after a while he removed to Tholous, where falling into the society of some godly students of the Law. it pleased God that by degrees he attained to the knowledge of the Truth, and began to abstain from the defilements of Popery; whereupon hee went to Geneva, His conversion He goes to Geneva.where he was further instructed in the truth, and was much holpen, and encouraged by Calvin and Beza. But after a while his Uncle dying, and leaving a large inheritance, some contention arose about it, whereupon Sadeel was sent for home, and went to Paris about that businesse.And to Paris. At which time a private Congregation was gathered by John Riparius (who shortly after suffered Martyrdom) into which number at his request Sadeel was admitted, in whom there shon forth a great ingenuity, with an incredible love to the holy Scriptures. And when afterwards that Church was encreased, they sent to Geneva for a Pastor, who sent them Collongius, a man famous for piety and wisdom; who when he was come, calling together the young men, he exhorted them to apply themselves to the study of Divinity, which afterwards turned to the great good of the French Churches, and amongst others Sadeel faithfully promised to apply himselfe thereto.
And Collongius beganne to frame and fashion the minds of those young men by private exercises: Amongst whom Sadeel most excelled, there appearing no light, or unbeseeming carriage in him: Yea in those his young years he gave signs of au excellent mind that was fit to undertake great things.He is chosen a Pastor. In so much as being scarce twenty yeares old, he was by approbation of the whole Church, chosen one of the Pastors. And though in regard of his great parentage, hee was not without hope of attaining to great riches and dignity;Christ preferred before all. whereas entering into this course of life, he exposed himself to labours, dangers, banishment, and grievous death in those bloody times, yet none of these hindered, but that he chearfully undertook the office he was chosen to, which was to be Pastor of the Church in Paris.
The year after fell out that horrid violence offered to this Church when they were met together to hear the Word,Popish cruelty. and receive the Sacrament, where above 150 of them were laid hold of,Gods providence. and cast into prison, but by a miracle of Gods mercy the Pastors escaped.
To make the prisoners more odious the Friars in all their Sermons gave out that the Protestants met together for no other end but to feast and junket,The Protestants slandered after which (putting out the candles) they fell to all promiscuous uncleannesses; and the Cardinall of Lorrain buzed such things into the King… head; and though the Judges upon enquiry found all these things false; yet the Church thought fit by an Epistle to the King and a book to the people, to vindicate and clear themselves, which work was committed to Sadeel, Vindicated by Sadeel.who performed it so excellently, that some good effects followed thereupon.
The year after Sadeel was delivered from a great danger, for at midnight many apparitors brake into his house s…arching every corner, and at last brake into his chamber▪ …eized on his books and his papers, crying out they were H…retical▪ and so laid hold upon him,He is imprisoned. and carried him to prison … it pleased God that Anthony of Burbon, King of Navar who knew him, and had often heard him) hearing of his …mprisonment, sent to the Officers to release him as being one of his train; and when they refused to do it, he went himself to the prison,Delivered by the King of Nava…. complaining of the wrong that was done him by imprisoning one that belonged to him, being neither a murtherer nor thief; and withall b…e Sadeel follow …, and so took him away with him: Wherupon the day after he publickly before the King gave thanks to God for his deliverance, expounding the 124 Psalm. Then it being judged the safest for him to absent himself for a while, hee went to visit the Churches in other parts of the Kingdome, and at Orleance he continued some moneths Preaching to many Citizens, and students in the night time, to their great advantage. A while after he returned to Paris, His return to Paris.and the number of Churches increasing in France, A Synod.there was a Synod held at Paris of Ministers and Elders (the first that ever was there) who assembled to draw up a Confession of their Faith, unto which Sadeel prefixed an Epistle, and which afterwards was presented to the King by the Admiral Col…gnie: But the King shortly after dying, the Queen Mother, and the Guises drew all the Government of the Kingdome into their hands, and raised a great persecution against the Church,A persecution rai…ed. drawing many of all ranks to prisons and punishments; yet Sadeel intermitted not his office,Sadeels faithfulne…e. but was wholly imployed in preaching to his flock, comforting the dejected, confirming the weak, &c. till the danger encreasing, it was thought fit that the care of the Church should be committed to one Macardus, a man lesse known, and that Sadeel should retire himself: And so hee went into severall parts of the Kingdom,The Church thrives by persecution. and thereby much propagated the true Faith. The yeare after, the persecution not being so violent at Paris, Sadeel could not refrain from going to his Flock which he loved so dearly.His sicknesse. Anno Christi 1561 he fell sick of a Quartan Ague, and by the advice of his Physitians and friends he was perswaded to goe into his own Country;His painfulnes. yet neither there did he live idle, but preached up and down to the spirituall advantage of many. From thence he was called to be the moderator in a Synod at Orleance, A Synod.where the opinion was discussed, and confuted, of some that held, That the Government of the Church should not be in the Eldership, but in the body of the Congregation; and Sadeel took so much paines in this point,Independents error confuted. that the first Author of that Schism was confuted, and converted, and publickly in writing confessed, and recanted his error. Being returned to Paris, the persecution began to grow so hot there again,He is againe driven from Paris. that he was perswaded to retire himself from the same, after which he never could return to his flock that so loved, and was beloved of him. After his departure he was present at, and moderated in many Synods of the French Churches;He is driven out of France. but withall hee was so hated of the wicked, that at last hee was driven from thence to Lausanna where hee preached for a time, and from thence he went to Geneva, where for divers years he was a Pastor.
But the Church in France having some peace,His return into France. he returned thither again, and at Lions and Burgundy edified the Churches exceedingly.
Afterwards he was sent for by Henry the fourth,He goes to the K. of Navar. King of Navarr, to whom he went very unwillingly, not liking a Court life; yet by the advice of his friends, he went to him, & for three years space in all his troubles was with him, comforting, and encouraging him very much; and at the battle of Courtrass, a little before it began, he stood in the head of the Army, and prayed earnestly for successe, which much encouraged all the Souldiers; and when they had gotten the Victory, he also gave publick, and solemn thanks unto God for the same. But by reason of sickness and weakness, being unable to follow that kind of life any longer▪ he was with much unwillingness dismissed by the King,Gods providence. & went through his enemies countries in much danger till hee came to his wife and children at Geneva. He goes to Geneva.Shortly after hee was sent by order from the King of Navar into Germany, Upon an Ambassie to the Protestant Princes,… sent into Germany. where not onelyonly the Universities, but the Princes also received him in a very honourable manner, especially Prince Cassimire, and the Lantgrave of Hesse.
Anno Christi 1589 he returned to Geneva, where in the middest of many troubles he continued in the worke of his Ministry to the end of his life: And when the City was besieged by the Spaniards, and others, he oft went out with the Citizens to the fights, so encouraging them, that, through Gods mercy, a few of them put thousands of the enemies to flight many times. At last hee fell sick of a Plurisie,His sicknesse. and though the Physitians apprehended no danger, yet hee foretold that it would be mortal;Death sore old. and retiring himself from the world, he wholly conversed with God. Praiers were made daily for him in the congregations, and Beza and the other Ministers visited him often, with prayers and tears begging his recovery.Comfort in death. His death. He enjoyed much inward peace and comfort in his sickness, and at last slept in the Lord Anno Christi 1591, and of his age 57. His losse was much bewailed by the whole City, his Preaching was not too curious, and yet not void of Art and Eloquence: So that his Ministry was alwaies most gratefull to the people. He was very holy and exemplary in his life, and had most of the learned men of those times for his special friends.
He was tall, and slender of his body, had a pale face, red haire,His Character. sharp sight, a countenance composed of gravity, and courtesie. He was very sickly, so that except he had been very careful of himselfe, he could not possibly have endured such labours and studyes as he was exercised in. In his Sermons his profitable matter was adorned with eloquence; his brevity caused not obscurity, nor his prolixity tediousness: His pronounciation and gestures were modest and comly. Hee used no bitterness of speech, nor expressions that favoured of anger. He was very powerfull in prayer. His writings were mixed with much learning; and though he was admired for his excellent parts, and put upon many, and great imployments, yet was he far from vain-glory. He disesteemed all earthly things, and breathed after nothing but Christ. His liberality was wel known in the Churches of Paris, Orleance, Lions, His works.and in many other places. Lastly, he was of a very innocent, and exemplay life. His Workes are published in four Tomes.