The Marrow of Ecclesiastical History, Georg Spalatin
The Life of George Spalatinus, who dyed Anno Christi 1545.
GEorge Spalatine was born at Noricum, His birth and education.An. Chri. 1482. and being brought up in Learning profited so much, especially in the knowledge of the Humane Arts, that Frederick the Third, Elector of Saxony, took a great liking to him, and made him one of his Privy Counsel,His preferments. and preferred him to some other Offices under him: Yet did not he neglect the study of Divinity; but profited so much therein that he was ordained a Minister. He was also an excellent Historian, insomuch as his Prince imployed him in writing a Chronicle from the beginning of the World to his time: What favour he was in with his Prince, may appear by this, in that Pope Leo the tenth, endevouring to suppress Luthers Doctrine in the bud, wrote to the Duke of Saxony, and to our Spalatine, to promote his business with the Duke for the destroying of Luther.
When he first applyed himself to the study of Divinity, he wrote to Luther, intreating directions from him for the Method of his Studies: Luther advised him to read Hierom, Luther directs him in his studies.Augustine, and Ambrose, as they were published by Erasmus: He also advised him always to begin his Studies with Prayer: For (saith he) there is no Master that can instruct us in Divine matters but the Author of them. He further perswaded him to read over the whole Bible diligently, adjoining Augustine to it▪ And (said he) if you will have my advice, begin with that part which is De spiritu & litera, which our Carolostad (a man of incomparable diligence) hath expounded and published. Afterwards he named to him other parts of Augustine and of Ambrose.
After this the Elector of Saxony made him his Court Preacher,His imployments. and whithersoever he went took him along in his train with him, as he did when he went to the Diet at Worms, Anno Christi 1521. whence he wrote to Luther, that there was so much favour shewed to the Gospel but then appearing, that he perswaded himself that Luther should not be condemned before he was heard. Nine years after this he was at Auspurg when the confession of Faith which was written by Melancthon was presented unto the Emperour. And indeed in all the Controversies of Religion he always stood of Luthers side.
He had many thoughts of leaving his Ministry, His tentations.had not Luther earnestly opposed him: amongst other things writing thus to him,Luthers counsel therein. Those temptations which persue you to desert your Ministry, either overcome them, or slight them: Christ hath called you to that Office, yield to him, and obey him according to his will. What you are doing, you know not for the present, but you shall know hereafter. This is a Diabolical tentation, and you know not now, why you are afflicted with it: we which are spectators know it better: therefore you ought rather to trust us then your self, who in the Lord, before the Lord, yea the Lord by us doth exhort and comfort you: For we look after nothing else herein then the will of God and his glory. And indeed this is a certain sign that your Ministry is neither ingrateful to God, nor unprofitable to the Church, in that you are troubled with these tentations: For if it were unpleasing to God, you would rather long after it, as they do which run before they be sent: They speak when they have nothing commanded them of God: whereas Satan when he findes such as are truly sent by God and pleasing to him, he makes them aweary of their work: but those which are unpleasing to God, he fils them with a violent hunting after the work. You have no reason to give over your Ministry which is so earnestly desired and embraced, &c.
Upon these perswasions of Luther he continued in his Office unto the end of his life, which fell out Anno Christi 1545. and of his age 63.
He was a man that lived in great esteem with Princes and Nobles,His death. and most of the learned men of his time. Erasmus wrote often to him, acknowledging him not only his dear friend, but his Patron also: and Luther wrote six hundred Epistles to him.
He wrote the Chronicle before mentioned:His works. turned Erasmus his Book De Institutione Principis into Dutch with some others.