The Marrow of Ecclesiastical History, David Chytraeus – Alexander Nowell
The Life of David Chytraeus, who died Ano Christi 1600.
DAvid Chytraeus was born in Ingelsing in Sweveland, Anno Christi 1530,His birth and education. of godly and religious Parents, who seeing his towardliness, and ingenuous nature, were carefull to educate him in Religion and learning; the principles whereof he drunk in with such celerity, that his father took much pleasure in him, and became an earnest and frequent suiter unto God, That his son might be sitted for, and imployed in the work of the Ministerie; and for this end, when he was scarce seven years old he sent him to school to Gemminga, and after two years stay there he removed him to Tubing, He is sent to Tubing.where he was educated under excellent Schoolmasters, and afterwards admitted into that University, and whilst he was very young hee commenced Batchelor of Arts,His great proficiency. studied the Languages, Arts, and Divinitie under Snepfius: In all which he profited so exceedingly that at fifteen years old hee commenced Master of Arts, with the generall approbation of the Vniversity: And presently after (having a large allowance from a worthy Knight, Sir Peter Mezingen) hee travelled to Wittenberg, where hee was entertained by Philip Melancthon into his Family;He goes to Wittenberg. so that hee did not onelyonly gaine much profit by his publick Lectures, but by private converse with him; which happiness hee so esteemed, that all his life after, he acknowledged, that next under God he was bound to Philip Melancthon for his proficiency in learning. When he came first to Melancthon, and delivered some letters of commendation to him in his behalf, Melancthon finding in them that he was Mr of Arts, looking upon him wondred at it, saying, Are you a Master of Arts? Yea, said Chytraeus, it pleased the University of Tubing to grace me with that degree: Can you, said Melancthon, understand Greek? which he affirming, he gave him Thucydides to read, and bade him construe a peece of it; which when Chytraeus had done, Melancthon enquiring his age, and admiring his forwardness, said unto him, Thou doest worthily deserve thy Degree, and hereafter thou shalt be as a son unto me. Whilst he was there, he heard Luthers Lectures upon the tenne last Chapters of Genefis: And as Plato, when he was ready to die praised God for three things,Plato praises God for three things. first that God had made him a man; secondly, that he was born in Greece; thirdly, that hee lived in the time of Socrates: So did Chytraeus also acknowledge it as a singular mercy; first, that God had made him a man; secondly, a Christian; thirdly, that hee had his education under those excellent lights of the Church, Luther and Melancthon.
Hee was very diligent in attending upon Melancthon, studyed in his study, heard all his discourses Publick, and private, about matters of the weightiest concernment; followed him when he walked abroad, and endeavoured wholly to fashion his life by his example: And Melancthon looked upon him as his own son, and used to call him suum Davidem, his David.
Presently after Luthers death, the Warres in Germany breaking forth under Charles the fifth, the Universitie of Wittenberg was dissipated by reason of the same; whereupon Chytraeus went to Heidleberg, He goes to Heidleberg.where he studied Hebrew, and from thence went to Tubing, where hee applyed himselfe to the study of the Mathematicks: But when Prince Maurice of Saxonie had restored the Universitie, and called back Melancthon, hee presently returned to Wittenberg, where he buckled close to his former studyes, fearing the like interruption againe: And Anno Christi 1548 hee beganne privately to read to young Students, by which means having gotten some money in his purse, hee resolved to travell into Italie, His travels.and other parts, that so hee might see those famous places, which hee had often read of, and grow into acquaintance with the eminent men of those times: For which end (having gotten him a faithful companion [Andrew Martin of Rostoch] he travelled through most parts of Italy: And being returned to Wittenberg, Melancthon was requested to send two learned men to Rostoch for the advancement of that University, whereupon he commended John Aurifaber, and Chytraeus to them, who accordingly went thither,He goes to Rostoch. …nd beganne their Lectures to the great satisfaction of the Auditors, and in a short time Chytraeus grew so famous for his learning, virtue, diligence, and excellent dexterity in teaching,He is desi…ed in divers places. that first Christian King of Denmark, and afterward the Senate of Auspurg sent for him to come to them. He was desired also by the University of Strasborough to succeed Hedio lately dead: Also Frederick the second, Prince Elector Palatine, sent earnestly for him to come to Heidleberg; but his Prince, John Albert, would by no means part with him.
Two yeares after he travelled into Frisland, Brabant, Flanders, His travels▪and other of the Belgick Provinces. Upon his returne the Elector Palatine, Otho Henry, sent again for him to come to Heidleberg; and the King of Denmark profered to double his stipend if hee would come to him; but his answer to them both was, that his Prince had dealt so friendly with him that hee could by no meanes leave him. Some yeares after the Nobilitie of Madgeburg sent to request his presence and assistance in Reforming Religion, and ejecting Popery from amongst them; but when he could not go himself, he wrote his mind fully to them about the same.
About that time he commenced Doctor in Divinity at the charges of his Prince.He is Doctor.
Anno Christi 1565 the Senate of Stralsund sent for him to be their Superintendent, and the King of Sweden also desired him to come thither, but nothing would prevail to get him from Rostoch.
The year after his Prince took him with him to the Diet at Auspurg, He goes to Augsburgh.where matters of Religion were to be debated. At which time Ambassadors came to him again from Strasborough to request his remove thither, and he gave them some hope of assenting,His contentation. if his Princes good will could be procured; but he would by no means part with him, and to express his love, he profered to enlarge his stipend, but Chytraeus refused the same.
Two yeares after hee was sent for into Austria to assist them in the Reformation which they intended;1569. He goes into Austria. whither he went, and gave them such full satisfaction, that they sent him back with an ample testimony of his abilities, and integrity.
When he had finished his business in Austria, His travels.he tooke a journey into Hungarie, where he visited many of the chiefe Cities in that Kingdom.
Anno Christi 1571 his Prince made him the chief Visitor of all the Churches in his Dominions. Hee assisted also in the work of Reformation at Berline. Then the Marquesse of Brandenburg sent for him to be the Divinity Professor at Franckfurt upon Order, He goes into Stiria.but could not obtain him. Two years after the States of Stiria sent for him to help them in Reforming their Churches, whither he went for half a year, and was exceeding useful to them in that work. At this return he was sent for by the Elector of Saxonie, and the University of Wittenberg to be a Professor there; but they could not prevaile.
The yeare after the Duke of Brunswick being to erect an Vniversity at Juliers, sent to him to assist in making Laws for the University, in choosing of Professors, &c. Which he dispatched to his great content.
Shortly after hee went to divers meetings of Divines in severall places, about procuring, and setling the peace of the Churches of Christ. Whilst he was at Rostoch he went over in his Lectures the greatest part of the Old, and New Testament; and wrote divers other learned books. When he grew into yeares he began to be diseased, and sometimes was confined to his bed;His sicknesse. yet neither there would he be idle, but upon the least intermission of his pain,His Industry. went on with his Exposition of the two and thirtieth Psalm, which he had begun before: And after that, in Commenting upon the Epistle to the Romans. But his disease increasing (whereby he discerned the approaching of his end) hee made a confession of his Faith,Preparation for death. received the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, and not long after quietly slept in the Lord, Anno Christi 1600, and of his age seventy.His death.
Whilst he lay sick in his bed, if any present had discoursed about a controversal point, raising himself up, he would call to them to speake out, saying that hee should dye with the more comfort, if he could learn any new thing before his departure.
He was a truly good man,His Character. who directed all his employment not to his private gain and glory, but to the glory of God, and to the furtherance of the salvation of others souls. He obtained of his Princes of Megapoll to bestow 3500 crowns of yearly revenues upon the University of Rostoch. He was alwaies ready to assist with his counsell any that repaired to him. He was very courteous and affable; exceeding patient under great afflictions, and perswaded others for peace-sake to put up many wrongs.Injuries to be born. He often turned a deaf eare to calumnies and lies, using to say, Qui nescit ferre calumnias, obtrectationes, convitia, injurias, ille vivere nescit. He knows not how to live that knows not how to bear wrongs, &c. He had these wishes often in his mouth, Utinam ambitio, & avaritia ex animis hominum radicitùs tolleretur! His wishes.utinam publicae tranquilitatis causa magni viri remitterent invicem simultates! utinam reges ac potentes rerum Domini majorem Eclesiae, ac scholarum curam susciperent, &c. In difficult matters he was never rash to declare his judgement. His private life was very exemplary by reason of his indefatigable studies, his diligence in his office, his piety, modesty, sobriety, chastity, liberality, and other virtues. He was of a melancholly temper, and most desirous of learning.
Scripsit multa Theologica,…is Works. Philologica, & Historica, quae hic recensere nimis longum foret. Some of his Works are mentioned before.
The Life of Alexander Nowel, who died Ano Christi 1601.
ALexander Nowel was born in the County of Lancaster, His Birth and Parentage.Anno Christi 1511, of an ancient, and worshipfull Family, and at thirteen years old was sent to Oxford, and admitted a member of Brasennose Colledge,His Education. where hee studied thirteen years, and grew very famous both for Religion and Learning.His flight in persecution. In Queen Maries daies, he, amongst many others, left the Kingdom, that he might enjoy his conscience, and returning when Queen Elizabeth, He is made Dean of Pauls.of blessed memory, came to the Crown, she made him Dean of Pauls, where he was a frequent and faithfull Preacher. By his writings he defended the truth against some English Popish Renegadoes. For thirty years together he preached the first and last Sermons in Lent before the Queen, wherein he dealt plainly, and faithfully with her.His Charity. He was a great Benefactor to Brasen-nose Colledge, where hee had his first education.His Works. Hee was the enlarger of Pauls School, made the threefold Catechism which was much used long after. He was very charitable to the poor, especially to poor Scholars: A great comforter of afflicted consciences. He lived till he was ninetie years old,His death. and yet neither the eies of his mind, nor body, waxed dim: And dyed peaceably in the Lord Anno Christi 1601.