The Marrow of Ecclesiastical History, James Heerbrand
The Life of James Heerbrand, who died Ano Christi 1600.
JAmes Heerbrand was born at Noricum, His birth and Parentage.Anno Christi 1521, of an ancient Family. His Father was one of Luther's Disciples, and seeing the towardlinesse and promptnesse of his son, was carefull to bring him up in Religion and Learning. At seven years old he set him to School; and yet had a watchfull eye over him,His Education. to carry on the work of piety, requiring him to repeat every Sermon that hee heard. At twelve years old hi… Father bought him a fair Bible, which he diligently read over, and used all his life after. His Father also perceiving that naturally he was much inclined to Musick, he would not suf…er him to learn it, lest it should be an impediment to him in his other studies. And so when he had been sufficiently grounded in Grammar-learning, he was sent to Ulm, He goes to Ulm.where the Colloquies of Erasmus were publickly rea…; but Pope Paul, suspecting that that book might do much h…t amongst youth, because it discovered many errors and vices of the Papists, forbade the use of it; yet this caused it more to be read, especially by Heerbrand, who gat much good by it. At Ulm also he studied the Arts and Tongues, and a seventeen years old his Father sent him to Wittenberg, … to Wit…enberg.to hear Luther, and Melancthon, in the year 1538, which year… was famous for divers things: For then the Kingdome of Denmark embraced the Gospel;M…rabilis …. The Emperour and King of France met together to treat of peace: The Bible was printed in English at Paris: The University of Strasborou…h was erected: The Sect of the Antinomians was detected: The Marquess of Brandenburg imbraced the Augustan… Confession: And the Sea by the Kingdom of Naples was wholly dry for eight miles together,A Predigy. out of which place …ire, and ashes brake forth so abundantly, that many places were miserably destroyed thereby.
In the University of Wittenberg, Heerbrand studied the Arts with great diligence,His studiousnes and was so sparing of his time, that he would not intermit one hour from his studies; insomuch that other students called him Suevicam N…ctuam, the Swevian Night-crow. He heard Luther and Melancthons Lectures with …uch diligence, as also Bugenhag reading upon Deuteronomie, Cruciger sen. upon Saint John, George Major reading private Lectures upon Genesis: Besides which hee attended the publick Sermons of these famous men, which he wrote, repeated, meditated on, and laboured to rivet in his memory.
An. Christi 1540 he commenced Master of Arts.He is Master of Arts. He preached also abroad in the villages on the Sabbath dayes. And thus having spent five yeares in his studies, he returned home with an ample testimony from Melancthon, His return home.and the University.
When he came home, the Pastors of the Church appointed him to Preach, which he performed with great approbation, and commendation of all. His Parents rejoycing much at his proficiency, would needs have him employ his Talent in his own country; and at Stutgard, Snepfius (being Superintendent) examined him, and finding his abilities, said, Dominus te mihi obtulit, the Lord hath offered thee unto me. Being but twenty two years old he was made Deacon at Tubing. He is made Deacon.In which employment he continued six yeares, and followed his studies in that University. He also privately read Mathematick Lectures to many;His diligence. and sometimes preached in the Castle of Tubing, before Prince Ulrick; who loved him very well, and told his Courtiers that he would prove a great Divine.
The year 1546 was fatall by the death of Luther; and the war of the Emperour began against the Duke of Saxony, and the Lantgrave of Hesse.
Anno Christi 1547,His marriage. Heerbrand married a wife, Margaret, the daughter of Conrade Stamler, Consul of Tubing, by whom he had eight sons, and three daughters.
An. Christi 1548 came forth that accursed Interim, at which time Heerbrand, He is banished.amongst other Ministers that rejected it, was banished from Tubing: And being out of employment, hee studyed Hebrew, till Prince Ulrick being dead, his son Christopher, who succeeded him, called back the Ministers, and Heerbrand amongst them, to their former places. Hee also made him Pastor of Herrenberg. His return.Anno Christi 1550 he commenced Doctor in Divinity, and the Councill of Trent beginning about this time, Heerbrand perceiving with what weapons he was to sight with the Popish Doctors, applyed himself to the study of the Fathers,He is Doctor. and spent four years and a half therein, gathering their opinions about all the points of Divinity, which he digested into Common places, that they might be the readier for his use.
Anno Christi 1559 he was sent for by Charles, Reformation.Marquess of Baden, to reform Religion in his Dominions, where also he prescribed a form for Ordination of Ministers. He had scarce continued there two moneths, when he was chosen to be the Divinity Professor at Tubing, and expounded the Pentateuch in his Lectures, and preached constantly: Besides which publick imployments, he wrote a large answer to Peter a Soto, De Ecclesia, Patribus, & Conciliis, which was afterwards printed.
Anno Christi 1557,His prefermen…s. which was two years after he came to Tubing, he was chosen Rector of the University, a place, as of great honour, so of great pains: After which he was chosen Chancellor of the University, and the Pastor and Superintendent of the Church.
An. Christi 1569, his fame spreading abroad, he was sent for by the Duke of Saxony to be the Professor at Jenes, who profered to allow him the stipend of a thousand Florens per an. … self-denial.but he refused it, continuing at Tubing, where he had much honour and respect. And having been thus invited by three several Princes, all which he refused, and resolving to spend his daies at Tubing, his Prince Christopher, to encourage him, gave him some land, on which he built a neat house, and having other family businesses, he committed all to the care and diligence of his wife, who was a constant help to him.
Anno Christi 1590, Heerbrand being now seventy years old, had as much honour heaped upon him as the Dukedome of Wirtemberg could afford: For he was made Counsellor to the Duke, Superintendent of the Church, Chancellor of the University, and Overseer of the new Colledge; all which places he discharged with admirable prudence, diligence, and fidelity.
His Wife having lived with him fifty years and a half, died, who was the staffe of his old age,His wives death. and therefore he was much afflicted with her loss, and began to grow weaker and weaker; which caused him Anno 1598 to resign his office, and thereupon had a stipend allowed him by his Prince. His next care was to prepare himself for death He was much troubled with the Gout,His sicknesse. which he bore with much patience, often using that saying of the Apostle,His patience. Godlinesse is profitable to all things, having the promise of this life, and that which is to come. At last he fel into a Lethargy,His death. and so died Anno Christi 1600, and of his age 79.
He was was exceeding studious all his life long, having his books, ink, and paper at his beds head, so that as soon as his first sleep was over, he applyed himself to them for some houres.His humility and charity. And though he had great honours, yet they never puft up his heart with pride, but hee still carried himselfe very humbly: He lived in the fear of God, was very charitable, and open handed to the poor, and to exiles, especially to poor students. He was very careful to assist other Churches, so that Princes,His prudence. Earls, Barons, and other Nobles out of Austria, Styria, Carinthia, Carniola, and Hungary were continually sending to him for advice in their difficult affairs.
His Father in law having bestowed a Farm upon him, he was a neat husband upon it,A good father. planting Orchards, Vineyards, and such other things as might make it most pleasant and profitable. He was very carefull in the education of his children, bringing them up in religion and learning, and keeping them under a severe Discipline. He was of a very healthfull constitution, never being troubled with any sickness till towards his latter end.
Scripsit Compendium Theologiae.His works. Contra Gregorium de Valentia. Concordiae librum in Latinum transtulit. Besides divers Funerall Sermons, Orations, and Disputations.