The Marrow of Ecclesiastical History, Wolfgang Capito – Leo Judae
The Life of Capito, who dyed An. Chri. 1541.
WOlfgangus Fabricius Capito was born at Hagenaw in Alsatia, His birth.Anno Christi 1478. His Father was of the Senatorian ranck,His education. who bred him in Learning, and sent him to Basil, where he studyed the Liberal Arts and Tongues, and by his singular diligence profited very much therein. Afterwards when he applyed himself to the study of Divinity, his Father, who abhorred the unholy life of those which professed holiness, took him off from those studies, and set him in a way of studying Physick,He studyes Physick. wherein he made such a progress, that Anno Christi 1498: he commenced Doctor of Physick: But his Father being dead, he returned to the study of Divinity being religiously inclined, and profited much in it: Then he went to Friburg, And Divinity.where he studyed School Divinity: but after a while growing weary thereof, because he found in the Schoolmen much subtilty, but little utility, he was ordained a Presbyter; And then fell to the study of the Law, being for four years space a Hearer of Z…sius: But above all things he admired and esteemed the Doctrine of the Gospel, and was a great lover and admirer of godly Ministers: At Heidleberg he grew into acquaintance with Oecol…mpadius, Love unfeigned.and there was a near tye of friendship betwixt them all their lives after; with him also he studyed Hebrew, being therein assisted by Matthew Adrian▪ a converted Jew. From thence being sent for by the Senate,He is chosen Pastor at Basil. he went to Basil, where he was Preacher in the chief Church for some years, and laid the foundation of a blessed Reformation in that City: there also he commenced Doctor Anno Christi 1516.
Anno Christi 1520. through the favor of Sir Vlrick Hutten he was called to Ments by the Archbishop thereof to be the Preacher and Counsellor to the Prince: at which time also Gasper Hedeo was made Preacher and chief Governor over the highest Church in Ments. He is chosen to Ments.Capito did the more willingly embrace this call, that he might plant the reformed Religion in Ments. Concerning his commencing Doctor, he thus writes in an Epistle to Hutten; Juris Pontificii, ut vocant, Doctoratum suscepi; propter authoritatem videlicet comparandam; scopam subolescis: Licet interim sint aliqui, qui vitio vertunt Theologum esse & unà simul Civilem; quasi Theologus necesse habet omnem exuere humanitatem.
Anno Christi 1521. Tecelius the Merchant of Indulgences being dead, by the order of the Archbishop of Ments, Letters Patents for the renewing of them were set to sale at Hale in Saxony, whereupon Luther wrote to the Archbishop, and Melancthon to Capito his Counsellor, to disswade them from such Merchandize.He favours the Gospel. Capito therefore secretly favouring the Gospel, so far prevailed with his Master, that he wrote mildly and humbly to Luther: His advice to Luther.And Capito also wrote to him, to advise him that in writing against the vices of Prelates, he should not name them. For, saith he, Exasperantur potius animi insectatione, quàm curantur: mens mindes by such bitterness are rather exasperated then cured.
Capito thus continuing with the Elector of Ments, was very dear unto him for his rare Wisdom joined with Piety, his happy Eloquence, and mild Nature, so that by him he was sent upon many Embassies: And February the 7. Anno Christi 1523. he was by the Emperour Charles the Fifth endowed for himself and posterity with the Ensignes of Nobility under the Imperial Seal. But not much esteeming these things, when he saw that he could not accomplish his purpose at Ments, to the wonder of the Archbishop and astonishment of the Courtiers, he left it,He goes to Strasborough. and followed Bucer to Strasborough, where he was called to a Pastoral charge. The fame of Capito and Bucer did so spred abroad, that James Faber Stapulensis, and Gerard Ru…us came privily out of France to them, being sent by Margaret Queen of Navar, He is sent to by the Queen of Navar.and sister to Francis King of France, where they discoursed largely with them of all the heads of Divinity: So that France oweth the beginning of her embracing the reformed Religion, as to other godly Ministers, so especially to Capito and Bucer.
Capito was a very Prudent and Eloquent man, a good H… brician, and studious of Peace▪ He affects peace.Concerning the Sacrament he said, Mittendas esse contentiones, & cogitandum de usu ipsius coenae: & fidem nostram pane, & vino Domini, per memoriam carnis, & sanguinis illìus, pascendam, Anno 1525 he was called into his own Country, where he instructed his Brethren in the Doctrine of the Gospel, preached and administred the Lords Supper to his own Citizens, and Baptized without the Popish Ceremonies; and whereas in Helvetia many seemed to incline to the reformed Religion, Capito often went amongst them, confirming them in the Faith.A disputation at Bern. And in a Disputation at Bern in Helvetia, Anno Christi 1528. Capito with many other Divines was present at it, defending the Truth against the Adversaries, so that he with the rest prevailed for the abolishing of the Mass, and setting up a faithful Ministry in that place.
The rest of his time he spent in Preaching at Strasborough, and giving wholsome counsel to the Churches.
Anno Christi 1541. when a Diet was appointed at Ratisbone, especially for the cause of Religion, Capito amongst other Divines, was sent by the Protestants to it, where he gave an excellent demonstration of his wit and judgement: But when nothing could be effected, returning home in a great and general infection he dyed of the Plague Anno Christi 1541.His death. of his Age 63.
He was a man of an excellent wit and judgement,His character. constant in Religion. A great lover of the Schools and Learning: wherefore he exhorted to the repairing of Schools, and keeping up Scholastical Titles, that the studious might be distinguished from the slothful; the Seniors from the Juniors: and that diligence might be spurred on by hope of honest glory. When Erasmus halted between two opinions, he continually called upon him to put off that Nicodemus-like temper. His first wife was Agnes, a learned woman, after whose death he marryed the Widdow of Oecolampadius his intire friend. He left to posterity these excellent works,
Institutionum Hebraicarum libriduo,
Enarrationes in Habacuc & Hoseans Prophetas.
Vita Johannis Oecolampadii.
De formando puro Theologo.
Explicatio doctissima in Hexameron opus Dei.
LEO JVDAE
The Life of Leo Iudae, who dyed An. Chri. 1542.
LEO Judae was born An. Chr. 1482.His birth. his fathers name was John Judae, his mothers name was Elizabeth: By the care of his Father he was brought up at School in Slestadia, His education.where having learned Grammer, he went to Basil, An. Chr. 1502. There he joined in study with Zuinglius, was an hearer of Dr. Wittenbash, by whom he was instructed in the knowledg of the Gospel: There also he continued in his studies till he commenced Master of Arts, Anno Christi 1512. after which he was made a Deacon, and from thence he was called into Helvetia; where he set himself to the study of the Oriental Tongues,His study of Divinity. and to read the Fathers, especially Hierom and Augustine; as also he read diligently the Books of Luther, Erasmus, and Capito▪ At length being called to a Pastoral charge at Zurick, He is made Pastor at Zurick.he opposed the Popish Doctrine and Ceremonies, both in the Pulpit and Press, so that his fame spread far and near: there he continned eighteen years, and spent much of it in expounding the Old Testament out of the Hebrew, wherein (being grown very skilful) he set upon (at the importunity of his Brethren of the Ministry) the translation of the Old Testament out of the Hebrew, He translates the Bible.wherein also he was much holpen by the industry of other learned men: His care was to get the most exact Hebrew copy that he could, which also he compared with others; neither did he neglect to examine the Greek and Latine versions, that by all he might the better finde out the genuine signification of the words and minde of the Holy Ghost. But this work proving very great, he was so wasted with labor and old age that he dyed before he finished it,His death. Anno Christi 1542. and of his Age 60. leaving undone Job, the forty last Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Canticles, and the eight last Chapters of Ezekiel, which he commended to Theodore Bibliander to finish, who accordingly did it: and he left all to Conradus Pellican to peruse and put to the Press, which he carefully performed.
Four days before his death, sending for the Pastors and Professors of Zurick, The confession of his faithhe made before them a Confession of his Faith, concerning God, the Scriptures, the Person and Offices of Christ, concluding, Huic Jesu Christo Domino, & liberatori meo, &c. To this my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, my Hope, and my Salvation, I wholly offer up my soul and body; I cast my self wholly upon his mercy and grace, &c. after which he added an hearty thanksgiving unto God for all the blessings and benefits that he had received from him: Prayed earnestly to him for the pardon of all his sins: made an exhortation to his Brethren: and with hearty affections commended to God, the Senate and People of Zurick, together with his wife and children, entreating them to be an husband to the widdow, and a Father to the Fatherless. He left to posterity,His works. Annotationes in Genesin, & Exodum, ex ore Zuinglii exceptas: Item in Evangelistas quatuor: Passionis Dominicae Historiam: Ac in Epistolas Pauli ad Romanos, Corinthios, Philippenses, Collossenses, Thessalonicenses, & Sancti Iacobi. Praeterea Opus conclusionum Zuinglii, at que Catechismum majorem & minorem conscripsit.