The Marrow of Ecclesiastical History, Paulus Fagius
The Life of Paulus Fagius, who dyed An. Ch. 1550.
PAulus Fagius was born in the Palatinate, His birth.An. Chr. 1504. of mean parents: His Father was Peter Buchlin, who was Schoolmaster of Taberna Rhenana, the Town where this Paul was born.His education. His Mothers name was Margaret. His Father brought him up in his own School till he was eleven years old, and then sent him to Heidleberg, where he was educated under John Brentius and Martin Frechtus till he was about 18 years old, and then he went to Strasborough, He teaches School.where he taught School to supply his necessities for some years: and the study of the Tongues beginning about this time to be in request,He studies the Tongues. he applyed himself thereto, and became familiar with the most eminent therein, as Capito, Hedio, Bucer, Zellius, &c. who also were happy reformers of the Church of Christ at that time.
Anno Christi 1527. having attained some competent knowledge in the Languages, and other Learning; being compelled by poverty,His poverty. he removed to Isna, where also he taught School, and by his diligence, and virtuous carriage, approved himself to all: There also he married a wife, and growing more famous he was called to the Ministry, and to a Pastoral charge: But the studie of the Tongues flourishing most at Strasborough, whither many Exiles resorted for that end, he returned thither again, and read Hebrew to some with good success.His diligence. And yet in the mean time he so followed the study of Divintiy, and applyed himself to Preaching, that after two years space he returned with his Family to his friends more learned and better accommodated with outward things.
Anno Christi 1537.He is made Pastor at Isna. he was recalled to Isna to a Pastoral charge, which he discharged with good credit for about five years; spending his spare-time in the study of the Hebrew, wherein he profited to a miracle, so that it was believed that those later ages never produced a more learned man in the Hebrew then Fagius: He is an excellent Hebrician.He made use also of a learned Iew, called Elias Levita, whom he sent for to him from Venice: and amongst his other friends there was one Senator of Isna most dear unto him, called Peter Bufler, He sets up a Press.by whose assistance he set up a Press, and published some Books for the Publick good: and when he was faln into want, the said Bufler was very bountifull to him: But finding that place not so fit for his purpose, he thought of changing his seat again.
Whilst he was at Isna, Anno Christi 1541. a great Plague brake forth, which caused many (especially the richer sort) to leave the place: Yet before their departure, by his zealous and fervent Sermons and Exhortations,His carriage in a Plaguetime. he prevailed with some to stay, and with others to leave their alms behinde them for the relief of the indigent. He prevailed also with the Senate, upon the Publick purse to hire fit persons to take care of the sick: and Fagius himself all the time of the Infection went up and down night and day to comfort those that were visited, refusing none, no not the Poorest; so all acknowledged it no less then a miracle▪ that he was preserved in so contagious a time. About the same time the Plague raged much at Strasborough, and amongst others snatched away Wolfgang Capito, whose place continued void for a year after, viz. to the year 1542. whereupon the Commonwealth of Constance, which was associated with them of Strasborough in Religion, by their Prayers and messengers prevailed to get him to Strasborough, His remove to Strasborough.first for two years, and afterwards for two years more: Though before this Philip Prince of Hassia had designed him for a Professor in his University of Marpurg.
About the beginning of the German… war, Frederick the second Prince Elector Palatine, purposing to reform the Churches within his Dominion, made choice of Fagius (who was famous for his Eloquence and Doctrine) for that work;His remove to Heidleberg. whereupon he sent for him to Heidleberg to be a Preacher there.
During his abode at Heidleberg he published divers Books which were very useful for those that studyed the Hebrew Tongue: whereupon it seemed good to Bucer, Martyr, and H…dio, who were the ordinary Professors of Divinity in that University, that each other week he should read an extraordinary Divinity Lecture: and that when any of them were hindred by business or sickness, he should supply their rooms.
Anno Christi 1548. Caesar having prevailed in the war against the Protesta…,Religion goes to ruine. the progress of Religion was hindred in the Palatinate, and the Interim began to be pressed with great violence: and it was resolved that the godly Ministers should be banished, especially such as by reason of their great imployments stood as a brazen wall in the way of Antichrist: amongst whom Fagius was one,His constancy. who notwithstanding all the threats of the Papists, continued constant and unmoveable in the Truth. The sufferings of these godly Divines grew famous in forreign Nations, whereupon Bucer and Fagius were sent for by Cranmer into England, where they arrived Anno Christi 1549. and were honorably entertained by Doctor Cranmer, in his own house, where they were instrumental to the great encrease of Religion. Also by Cranmer they were set upon the Translation of the Bible, with brief notes: to which they added an enucleation of hard Texts, and a reconciliation of seeming contradictions in Scr…pture.The Bible translated. In this work Fagius undertook the Old Testament, and Bucer the New: But the work was hindred by the sickness of them both,His death. and the death of Fagius, who being taken with a Feaver about the end of the Dog-days, for change of Ayr was carryed to Cambridge, where the 13. of November, he ended his days joyfully, An. Chri. 1550. and of his Age 45. but not without the suspition of Poyson, and was there honorably buryed: Yet afterwards in Queen Maries time An. Chr. 1556.Popish malice. he was condemned of Heresie, his bones digged up and burned to ashes.
He was tall of stature,His character. of a swarthy complexion under a severe countenance, full of curtesie, and very Eloquent in his Ministry.
He translated out of Hebrew,His works. Thisbites Heliae▪ Apothegmata Patrum; Sententias morales Ben Syr…: Precationes Hebraicas: A little Tractate written by a Iew that turned Christian. Expositionem dictionum Hebraicarum in quatuor capita Geneseos, …ui ad…icitur Paraphrasis Chaldaica Onkel. Comment. R. David Kimbi in decem primos Psalmos, Targum. i. e. paraphrasis Onkeli Chaldaica in 5 libros Mosis, with divers others.