The Marrow of Ecclesiastical History, Robert Rollock – Nicolas Hemingius
The Life of Robert Rollock, who died Anno Christi 1598.
RObert Rollock was born in Scotland of the ancient Family of the Levingstons, Anno Christi 1555,His Birth and Parentage. of parents of good quality and credit. His Father, David Rollock, being reasonable well learned himself, and therefore knowing the worth of learning,His Education. was very careful to bring up his son in the study of the Liberall Sciences, and for that end sent him to Sterline, and placed him under Thomas Bucanan, under whom he manifested an excellent wit, joyned with such modesty & sweetnesse of nature, that hee needed no severe discipline, and by which he drew Bucanans affections to him exceedingly, who could not but love him for his attractive qual… ties; which love continued with encrease to his lives end.
After at this School he was fully fitted, he went thence to the University of Saint Andrews, He goes to St. Andrews.where he spent four yeares in the study of the Arts: And those virtues which before did but sparkle, now shon bright; and he did ascend to such an height in those studies, as scarce any of his fellows attained to, but none excelled; so that at four years end, his excellent abilities being taken notice of, he was chosen a Professor of Philosophy; which office he performed with great commendation for four yeares space, adorning and illustrating it with his industry, and piety, none of his Colleagues equalizing him therein.
Anno Christi 1583 the Magistrates of Edenborough began to think of erecting a University in that City,A Vniversity erected at Edenborough. which they did at the instigation of that worthy man, Master James Luson, their chief Pastor; the reason was, because it was the Metropolis of the Kingdome, and they could not send their sonnes to Saint Andrews, or other Universities, without great trouble and charge; and besides they found that divers through poverty were not able to maintain their children abroad, whereby many excellent wits were imployed in Mechanick trades; upon which considerations when they had resolved to erect an Academy, they in the next place considered where they might find a fit man to beginne, carry on, and perfect so great a work; and because they could not otherwise do it, they resolved to send one or two to Saint Andrews, who by diligent enquiry should find out such a person: who accordingly going thither, found that by the generall vote of all, there was none thought so fit for this worke as Robert Rollock, which the Magistrates of Edenborough being informed of,He is sent for to Edenborough. presently sent for him, intreating that he would undertake a work which was like to prove so exceeding advantageous both to Church and State; using also other arguments, which so far prevailed, that he promised to come to them. And accordingly in the same year he went to Edenborough, where by the Magistrates he was entertained courteously,He goes thither. and in the beginning of winter hee set upon the work. And as soon as it was spread abroad that a University was begun at Edenborough, young Students flockt thither a pace from all parts of the Kingdom; whom he instructed in the Arts,He doth much good. and governed with severity mixed with clemencie, and so educated them in Religion, that God blessed his labours exceedingly amongst them: For indeed he laboured in this above all things, that his Scholars should have the marks of true holyness appearing in them. Neither did God frustrate his expectations; for by his exhortations, and Divinity Lectures, be so far prevailed even with the looser sort of youths, that he soon brought them into very good order.
After four years he examined them strictly, and finding their proficiency, made them Masters of Art. Then four Professors of Philosophy were by the Magistrates substituted under him to share in the pains,Four Professors chosen. which were chosen out of the ablest of those that had commenced Masters of Art. These insisting in the footsteps of the Doctrine and Discipline of Rollock, performed that trust which was committed to them with great faithfulnesse and industry. In the meane time Rollock underwent the whole charge and care of the University: For it was his office to look over the severall Classes, to observe every ones sedulity, and progresse in his studies: If any discords arose, to compose them by his wisdom, and to keep every one in the carefull discharge of his duty.
Every morning calling the Students together, he prayed fervently with them, and, one day in the week, expounded some portion of Scripture to them, from whence hee raised Doctrines, Exhortations, and Comminations, not painted with humane eloquence,His piety and diligence. but grave, and weighty, such as might most work upon the minds and hearts of young men: And this he did, not that he wanted eloquence, but because he despised such a kind of affected speech in holy things. By these kind of Lectures he did more restraine, and reforme the young men, then by his Discipline; and indeed it brought great profit both to Master and Scholars. Yet after every Lecture, he took notice which of them had committed any faults that week, whom hee would so reprove, and lay the wrath of God before their eyes, and withall affect them with shame, that he much reformed them thereby. Yea such as would neither have been reformed with words, or stripes from others, were so wrought upon by his applying the threatnings of Gods wrath, and opening the sweet promises of mercy to them, that usually they brake out into sighs and tears.
He took also extraordinary paines to fit such for the work of the Ministery as were grown up to it; so that the Church received very much benefit from thence,A l…rge increase of Ministers. having so many able Pastors sent forth into it. How much trouble, care, and pains he bestowed in these employments is not possibly to be conceived: For he spent the whole day, e…ept dinner time, either in the contemplation of the chiefest points of Religion, or in searching out the sence of hard places of Scripture, or in confuting the errors of the Romanists.
Besides this, he preached every Lords day in the Church, and that with such fervencie, and evident demonstration of the spirit,Conversion wrought by his Ministry. that he was the instrument of converting very many unto God. He wrote also many Commentaries upon the Scriptures, which being printed, and going abroad into other Countries, Beza meeting with that upon the Romans and Ephesians, wrote to a friend concerning them, that hee had gotten a treasure of incomparable value, and that he had not met with the like before,Beza's testimony. for brevity, elegancy, and judiciousnesse: Whereupon he thus concludes, I pray God to preserve the Author, and daily to encrease his gifts in him, especially in these times wherein the vineyard of the Lord hath so few labourers. Thus we see how famous Rollock was with all sorts of persons, for his learning, virtue, and piety; yea by his curtesie and candor he drew the love of all men. He was so humble,His humility. that, though he excelled them, yet he preferred all others before himself, and laboured after privacy from publick businesse, that he might the better apply himselfe to his studies. Yet, contrary to his mind, he was often called forth to publick businesses, which he alwaies dispatched with admirable prudence. In the two last years of his life he was so involved in publick affairs, that it much weakned his health. He was greatly tormented with the stone,His sicknesse. and troubled with weaknesse of stomach, yet did he not intermit his labours and care of the Church.
In the Synod of Taodu… (where the King himself was present) Rollock, by the suffrages of all, was chosen Moderator, where the too severe Articles of Perth were qualified;He moderates in a Synod. and when the King moved that the Synod should choose some Commissioners to take care of the Church in the intervall of National Assemblies, it was readily assented to, and Rollock was one of the first that was assigned that office.
Anno Christi 1598, his disease so encreased upon him that he was confined to his house; but after a while his intimate friend, William Scot, perswaded him to go into the Country, where was a thinner, and more healthfull air: which accordingly he did, and seemed at first to be better, but presently his disease returned with more violence, so that he was forced to keep his bed;Preparation for death. whereupon he set his house in order, and his wife (after ten years barrennesse, being with child) he commended to the care of his friends. Two Noblemen, Patrick Galloway, and David Lindsey, coming to visit him, he professed to them the hearty love which he had alwaies born to the King,His message to the King. withall requesting them from him to go to him, and to entreat him in his name to take care of Religion, and to persevere in it to the end, as hitherto he had done, not suffering himself to be diverted from it, either under the hope of enlarging his dominions, or by any other subtill device of wicked men; and that he would reverence & esteem the Pastors of the Church as it was meet: For (saith he) that Ministry of Christ, though in the judgement of man it seem low and base, yet at length it shall shine with great glory.
When the Pastors of Edenborough came to him,His exhortation to the Ministers. he made an excellent exhortation to them, and profession of his sincerity, and integrity in his place that God had called him to. When the night grew on, his death also seemed to approach, which he perceiving made such a divine and heavenly speech as astonished the hearers. And when the Physitians were preparing Physick for him, he said; Tu Deus medeberis mihi, thou Lord wilt heal me: Then he prayed fervently that God would pardon his sins for Christs sake; professing that all other things,Christ preferred before all things. how great soever they seemed to others, yet he accounted them all but dung and drosse in comparison of the excellency of Christs crosse: Praying further, that he might have an happy departure, and enjoy Gods presence, which he had often breathed after, saying, I have hitherto seen but darkly in the glasse of thy Word, O Lord, grant that I may enjoy Death desired.the eternall fruition of thy countenance, which I have so much desired, and longed for. Then did he make such an admirable speech about the Resurrection, and Life Eternal, as if so be he already been translated into heaven: Then giving his hand to all that were present, like old Jacob, he blessed them all, adding to his benediction exhortations according to every mans quality, or office: Yet that night after he slept better then was expected.
The day after when the City Magistrates came to see him, he spake to them to be very careful of the University,His exhortation to the Ministers. desiring to choose into his room Henry Charter, a man every way fit for that employment. He commended to their care also his wife,His poverty. professing that he had not laid up one penny of his stipend, and therefore hee hoped they would provide for her. To these requests the Magistrates assented, promising faithfully to perform them. Then did he intreat the Professors of Philosophy, that they would be carefull, and diligent in the performance of their duty, and that they would be obedient to his successor; after which he said, I blesse God, I have all my senses entire, His heavenly speech.but my heart is in heaven: And, Lord Jesus, why shouldst not thou have it? it hath been my care all my life long to dedicate it to thee, I pray thee take it that it may live with thee for ever. When he had thus spoken, he fell into a slumber, out of which when he awaked, he breathed earnestly to be dissolved, and to be with Christ, saying, Come Lord Jesus, put an end to this miserable life; hast Lord, and tarry not; Christ hath redeemed me, not unto a frail and momentary, but unto eternall life. Come Lord Jesus, and give mee that life for which thou hast redeemed me. Then some of the standers by bewaile their condition when he should be taken away: to whom he said, I have gone through all the degrees of this life, and now am come to my end, why should I goe back againe? O Lord help me that I may go through this last degree with thy assistance: Lead me to that glory which I have seen as through a glass: O that I were with thee! And when some told him that the next day was the Sabbath, he said, Thy Sabbath, O Lord, shall begin my eternall Sabbath: My eternall Sabbath shall take its beginning from thy Sabbath. The next morning feeling his approaching death, he sent for Master Belcanqual to pray with him, who in his prayer desired the Lord, if he pleased, to prolong his life for the good of his Church; whereupon he said, I am weary of this life, all my desire is that I may enjoy that celestiall life that is hid with Christ in God. And a while after he prayed again, saying, Hast Lord, and doe not tarry: I am a weary both of nights and daies: Come Lord Jesus, that I may come to thee: Break these eye-strings, and give me others: I desire to be dissolved, and to be with thee: Hast Lord Iesus, and defer no longer: Go forth my weak life, and let a better succeed: O Lord Jesus thrust thy hand into my body, and take my soul to thy self: O my sweet Lord, set this soul of mine free, that it may enjoy her husband. And when one of the standers by said, Sir, Let nothing trouble you; for now your Lord makes hast; he said, O welcome message, would to God my funerals might be to morrow. And thus continued he in such heavenly prayers and speeches,His death. til he quietly resigned up his spirit unto God, Anno Christi 1598, and of his age 43.
Reliquit Commentarios in aliquot Psalmos selectos.His Works. In Danielem, In S. Johannem, eum ejus harmonia in passionem, & victoriam Dominicam. In Epist. ad Ephesios, Coloss. Thess. Galat. Scripsit & Analysin in Epist. ad Romanos, & ad Heb. tractaum de vocatione efficaci, &c.
The Life of Nicolas Hemingius, who died Ano Christi 1600.
NIcolas Hemingius was born at Loland in Denmark, His birth and Parentage.Anno Christi 1513, of obscure, but honest parents; but his Father dying when he was young, his Uncle, who was a Blacksmith, brought him up carefully in learning, placing him in the School at Nystadia, His education.where he continued ten yeares: Then in the School of Naschovia, where he remained three years: From thence he removed to Nykopin, where also he remained three years: And from thence to a School in Zealand, where likewise hee continued three years.He studies Greek. At last hee came to Roschildia, where hearing there was one Benedict, a famous learned man, and a good Grecian, that read at Lunden, he went thither, and was under him three yeares. And Benedict, perceiving his excellent wit, his diligence, and modesty, was very helpfull to him. Then had Hemingius an ardent desire to goe to W…ttenb…rg, which was made famous by Philips Melancthons Lectures, and having gotten some little money in his purse, he travelled thitherward; but by the way s…me theeves met him,He is robbed. and stripped him of all that he had; yet when he came to Wittenb…rg, he found the people very charitable to him,Charity. especially Melancthon. There he remained five years, and by his writing for, and attending upon richer students,His Industry. and teaching some privately, he maintained himself. When he returned home, he had an ample testimony from Melancthon for his excellent wit and learning.His return home.
A while after his return he was intertained by Olaus Nicholas to teach his daughters. And from thence he was chosen to be Pastor at Hafnia, and accordingly ordained to it; which place he discharged with much diligence,He is Pastor of Hafnia. and faithfulnesse. And when many young students resorted to him, he read privately to them: And by his extraordinary paines gat so much credit, that shortly after he was chosen Hebrew Professor in that University. In which place he read Hebrew and Logick, to the great benefit of many. And about the same time he printed that excellent book De Methodo, which he dedicated to Christian the third, King of Denmark, who bountifully rewarded him for the same.
Anno Christi 1578 he was made Doctor in Divinity,He is Hebrew Professor. And Doctor. and performed the office of a Divinity Professor with admirable diligence and paines for six and twenty years together; as appeares by those many excellent bookes published by him in that time.
Anno Christi 1579, when hee was grown old, and exhausted with his daily labours, Frederick the second, King of Denmark, gave him a liberall Pension, upon which he lied contentedly and comfortably all the remainder of his daies: Yet neither then was he idle, but imployed his time in writing, and publishing books.
Some years before his death he grew blind, and was troubled with several diseases, desiring nothing more then that he might be dissolved,Death desired. and be with Christ. A little before his death he expounded the 103 Psalm, with so much fervor, efficacy, and power of the Holy Ghost, that all that heard him wondred at it,His Death. and shortly after resigned up his spirit unto God, Anno 1600, and of his age 87.
Scripta ejus sunt varia, exegetica, didactica, & polemica.