The Marrow of Ecclesiastical History, Johannes Oecolompadius
JOHN OECVLAMPADIVS
The Life of Oecolampadius, who dyed Anno Christi 1531.
OEcolampadius was born at Winsperg, His birth.Anno Christi 1482. of rich and religious Parents; especially his Mother, for Wisdom, Charity, and Sanctity, was very eminent in the place where she lived:His education. They brought up this their son in Religion and Learning: His Father intending to make him a Merchant, but his Mother by her earnest entreaties prevailed with him still to keep him at School, where he profited exceedingly.
At twelve years of age he was sent to the University of Heidleberg, He goes to Heidleberg.and so profited there, that at two years end he was made Batchelor of Art: In that place he continued till he was Master of Arts; and then, went by the will of his Father to Bononia to study the Law;Then to Bononia. But the ayr of Italy not argeeing with him, he quickly returned to Heidleberg, and betook himself to the study of Divinity, read the School-men, and profited much thereby.
He grew so famous both for Piety and Learning, that Philip Prince Elector Palatine chose him for a Tutor to his sons: But growing weary of a Court-life,His study of Divinity. he left that charge, and returned to the study of Divinity.
Not long after, his Parents having no other childe, gave all their Estate for the maintenance of a Minister in their own Town, and chose this their Son to be the first that should undertake that charge,He enters into the Ministry. which caused his return from Heidleberg to his own Country; but finding himself as yet not throughly furnished for such a work, he quickly left it, and went to Tubing, and from thence to Stutgard; where under John Capnio he studyed Greek, He studies Greek and Hebrew.and from thence he went to Heidleberg, where he began to study Hebrew: And being by this means better furnished, he returned into his own Country to his former Charge; and became a severe Preacher, and very grave in his carriage:He is made a Preacher. He associated himself but with a few, and those the best:His friendship with Capito. But especially he contracted a strict bond of love with Capito, which continued betwixt them so long as they lived.
From this place he was at last called to be a Preacher at Basil, He is chosen to Basil.and there also he commenced Doctor in Divinity, about which time Erasmus Roteradamus coming thither to print his Annotations on the New Testament, he chose Oecolampadius as his assistant in that work, and confessed that he was much holpen by him.
Shortly after he was called to Auspurg to be a Preacher there;He is chosen to Auspurg. but finding some timorousness in himself in so great a work, he thought that a retired life, wherein he might betake himself to Prayer and study, would be better for him for the present, and therefore he entred into a Monastery near to that City; in which also he thought to continue; but all his friends, especially Capito, disswaded him from it, which advice he at last hearkning unto, and taking occasion to declare his judgement in several things against the Popish Doctrine, he began to be much hated,Popish malice. and threatned with Prison and death; yet he (daily encreasing in courage) contemned their threats: But after awhile the danger growing greater (at the importunity of his friends) he departed, and not long after came to Basil to Print some Works, which in his retiredness he had made. During his abode there, having no other means of subsistence, he was maintained by Andrew Cratander the Printer, where also to finde himself imployment he translated Chrysostom upon Genesis, and preached Christ freely to some that resorted to him.
Anno Christi 1522. Sir Francis Sickengen sent for him; concerning which himself thus writeth: Because (saith he) Sir Francis Sickengen, His call to Sir Fr. Sickengen.that most famous Knight of Germany, and Captain of the Emperours Army hath sent for me to instruct his Family, yea rather to feed it with spiritual Sermons, being long since instructed; I thought it my duty to endeavor that the Law of God should be made familiar in it, whereby it might grow in the true and sincere study of Christianity: whereupon I dayly read the Gospel, and expounded it to those that were present, familiarly exhorting them to the study of Piety; and whereas they had been accustomed to hear Sermons only upon the Sabbaths, and to have Masses all the Week after, I so prevailed that Masses were laid aside, and some part of the Epistles and Gospels was read and expounded every day to them.
Shortly after the Senate of Basil chose him to be a Professor of Divinity in that City,He is Professor at Basil. (though the Popish party sought by all means to oppose it) where he read on the Prophet Isaiah; and after awhile he was called to a Pastoral charge in that City, to the great regret of the Papists, Anno Christi 1524.
In that City he caused Infants to be Baptized in the Dutch Tongue: He administred the Lords Supper in both kindes by the consent of the Magistrates. He confuted by the holy Scriptures the Sacrifice of the Mass, Purgatory, and other Popish Traditions of the like kinde, whereupon by little and little they vanished away:Popish malice. Upon this John …ochlaeus sent Letters to him from Stutgard, full of great promises, thereby endeavouring to withdraw him from the Truth, and the Mass Priests thundred against him and his companions, saying that they deserved the punishment of the worst Hereticks. But the Magistrates of Basil commanded all the Preachers within their Jurisdiction to Preach to the People the Word of God and not of men, and to abstain from railing and evill speeches, threatning severe punishments to those that offended against their Proclamation: so that not long after there was a general Reformation of Religion, not only in Basil, but in the parts adjacent: A Decree being made by the Senate,Reformation in Basil. that as well within the City of Basil as without, throughout all their Jurisdiction, the Mass with all Idols should be abandoned: and the Ash-wednesday following, all the Wooden Images were distributed amongst the Poor of the City to serve them for fire-wood; but when they could not agree upon the dividing of them, it was Decreed that all the said Images should be burnt together:Idols burnt. so that in nine great heaps all the stocks and Idols were the same day burnt to ashes before the great Church door.Discipline erected. Oecolampadius also (like a faithful Minister of Jesus Christ) was careful to restore Christs Discipline,Preachers pattern. and brought in the censure of Excommunication:Vlm reformed. And presently after being sent for to Vlm, together with Blaurerus and Bucer, he carryed on the work of Reformation there.
At Marpurg (by the invitation of the Lantgrave of Hess) there was a Disputation for three days between Luther, 1529. A Disputation.Jonas, and Melancthon on the one part, and Oecolampadius, Zuinglius, and others on the other, about the controversie concerning Christs presence in the Sacrament; but the Sweating sickness breaking out there, put an end to it, yet they agreed about all other Fundamentals in Religion,Its dissolved. and parted in a brotherly manner.
Oecolampadius returning to Basil, His imploymentsspent the remainder of his days in preaching, reading, writing, publishing of books, visiting the sick,His sickness. &c. Anno Christi 1531. and of his Age 49. he fell sick (about the same time that Zuinglius was so unhappily slain, the grief of whose death much aggravated his weakness) yet intermitted he not his labors,Hi industry. till an Ulcer breaking forth about his Os sacrum, he was forced to keep his bed: and though his friends, Physitians, and Chyrurgeons used all means for his cure, yet he told them that his disease was mortal. He spent his time in Divine meditations, and comforting his friends:He prepares for death. and sending for the Ministers of the Churches to him, he spake to this purpose: O my Brethren, the Lord is come, he is come, he is now calling me away, His speech to his colleagues.&c. I desired to speak with you to encourage you to continue faithful followers of Christ, to persevere in purity of Doctrine, in lives conformable to the Word of God; Christ will take care for the defence of his Church: therefore, Let your light so shine forth before men, that they may see your good Works, &c. continue in love unfeigned: walk as in Gods presence: A prediction.adorn your Doctrine with holiness of life: a cloud is arising, atempest is coming, and some will fall off: but it becomes you to stand f…st, and God will assist you, &c. For my self, I pass not the aspersions that are cast upon me. I bless God I shall with a clear conscience stand before the Tribunal of Christ: His perseverance.I have not seduced the Church of Christ (as some affirm) but leave you all witnesses that at my last gasp I am the same that formerly I was.
He had nothing to give, and therefore made no Will:His poverty. The fifteenth day of his sickness he called for his children, took them by the hand, strok't them on the head; and though the eldest was but three years old, yet he said unto them, Go to my three children, see that you love God: His care for his children.Then speaking to his wife and kindred, he desired them to take care that his children might be brought up in the fear of God, and then commanded them to be taken away.
The Ministers continued with him that night, and a certain friend coming to him, Oecolampadius asked him what news? his friend answered,He foretels his death. None: but (saith he) I'le tell you some news, I shall presently be with my Lord Christ: and some asking him whether the light offended him: he putting his hand to his heart,Joy unspeakable. said, Here … abundance of light: In the morning, he prayed earnestly with the words of David in the 51. Psalm, which he repeated from the beginning to the end: and presently after said,His death. O Christ, save me, and so he fell asleep in the Lord.
The Papists spread many lyes abroad of his death:Popish lyes. some said that in dispair he slew himself; others, that he was murthered, or poysoned, &c. He dyed Anno Christi 1521. and of his Age 51. Erasmus wrote to his friends concerning his Book about the Sacrament, Oecolampadium emisisse libellum tam accuratè scriptum, tot machinis argumentorum, tótque testimoniis instructum▪ ut posset vel electos in errorem pertrahere.
In the beginning of Reformation he was another Doctor in Helvetia; His character.of a milde and quiet wit: Somewhat slow in dispatching businesses, but very circumspect: He took pleasure in nothing so much as in reading and writing Commentaries; wherein he wrote upon Genesis, Psalms, Job, Isaiah, Jeremie, Ezekiel, Daniel, and most of the small Prophets, as also upon the Books of the New Testament: Before his Conversion he was superstitiously religious. So oft as he read the words of Institution of the Lords Supper, he thought that some spiritual sense was included in them, and yet still drave out those thoughts with this, Wilt thou be wiser then other men? You should believe as others believe: But it pleased God at last to inlighten him with his truth, which he submitted to. He was most studious of the peace and concord of the Church. He excelled in the knowledge of the Latine, Greek and Hebrew: and was very skilful in Ecclesiastical Antiquities. He was older then Martin Luther by one year.
Scripta ejus vel sunt Exegetica,His works. vel Didascalica, vel Apologetica, vel conversa è Graeco. Multa praeterea ab ejus amicis edita: multa ab Hedione, & aliis Germanicè conversa. Multa & a Gastione collecta, quae non sunt impressa. Haec omnia vir magnae doctrinae, pietatis, & laboris, in ipso quasi aetatis vigore hinc discedens nobis reliquit.