The Marrow of Ecclesiastical History, Martin Bucer
MARTIN BVCER
The Life of Martin Bucer, who dyed Anno Christi 1551.
MArtin Bucer was born at Selestade in Alsatia, His birth.Anno Christi 1491. being of an excellent wit, he entred very young into the Monastery of the Dominicans there, and afterwards by consent of the Prior,His education. he went to Heidleberg for the encrease of Learning; and having gone through other Arts, he studied Divinity, together with the Greek and Hebrew Tongues: whilst he was there he met with and read Erasmus and Luthers Works, whereupon he began to dis-rellish Popery; and Frederick Prince Elector Palatine being much pleased with his Eloquence, and singular Humanity, as also with his clear and strong Voice, and freedom in reproving the vices of men, by the instigation of Sir Francis Sickengen chose him to be his Minister,He is made Preacher at Heidleberg. so that he Preached often in Heidleberg and elsewhere.
During his abode in that place Luther came thither,His Conversion. whom he heard disputing against Free Will, which kindled in his Breast the first sparks of the Divine Truth, which by his conversing with Luther were further encreased.His zeal. Afterwards going with his Prince into the Low-countries, he Preached freely against the Superstitions and sins of the times, and began to bethink himself of leaving his Order,Popish malice. whereupon the Monks lay in wait to take away his Life: but escaping thence, he went to Sir Francis Sickengen, who sheltered him from danger, (till the Controversies about Religion were determined) in his Castle at Naustall; An. Chr. 1521.and when Luther was sent for to the Diet at Worms, He goes with Luther to Worms.he went along with him, and after some converse, he embraced and defended his cause: Not long after War arising between Sickengen, His troubles.and Trevir, Bucer finding that he could not follow his studies in the midst of those tumults, craved leave to depart, and obtained it: but a Neighbor Pastor of Wissenburg intreated him to Preach in his charge, which he did till by the unhappy fall of Sickengen, they were both driven thence by the prevailing power, so that he fell into great danger.
About this time the seeds of the reformed Religion began to be sown in Strasborough by Matthew Zellius, He goes to Strasborough.and Gasper Hedio, Sigismund Count of Hohenl… favoring them: to whom therefore Bucer went, and was curteously entertained, and Anno Christi 1523. was appointed publick Preacher in the Church, and to read Divinity in the Schools. These Colleagues excelling in Wit, Eloquence and Zeal, did propa…te the Gospel of Christ notably in that City,Reformation in Strasborough. and the year after published in Print the reasons why they changed the Mass into the Lords Supper, &c. which Book they dedicated to Frederick the Elector Palatine. This Book was subscribed by Capito, Hedio, Zellius, Pollio, Niger, John Latomus, F…rn, Hag, and Bucer: Hereupon the Senate of Strasborough by a general Vote reformed their City, casting out Popery, and establishing the pure Gospel of Christ.
An. Chr 1529. when the Gospellers agreed not in all things amongst themselves, a conference was appointed at Marpurg, between Luther and Zuinglius, A disputation at Marpurg.whereupon Bucer with Hedio, went thither, and had much discourse with them, wherein they agreed upon all points of Divinity, except about the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, and so parted friendly, resolving ab omni contentione in posterum abstinendum utrin que esse: Deum que orandum ut Spiritu suo erudiat ducat que : that both sides should abstain from contention, &c.
The year following at Auspurg he disputed with the Papists,He disputes with the Papists. and had a large testimony for his Learning, and modesty, hearing his Adversaries patiently, rather seeking Truth then Victory, and answering them mildly, yet strongly: He took much pains to reconcile the difference between Luther and Zuinglius about the Lords Supper,A blessed peace-maker. fore-seeing the great mischief that that difference would bring upon the Church. An. Chr. 1531. the Citizens of Vlm sent for him to Reform their Churches,He reforms Vlm. where he with Oecolampadius performed the trust put in him with much prudence and faithfulness. He was so studious of peace, that some said he complyed too much with Luther in that Doctrine, against which he had formerly both Preached and Written. Whereupon in the MonethMonth of May Anno Chr… sti 1533. he went to Zurick, and there in an Assembly of the Ministers of the Church, he purged himself from the suspition of revolt,His Apology at Zurick. shewing that he did still retain the same Doctrine concerning the Supper of the Lord which he had formerly professed, and had defended in the Disputation at Bern against the Adversaries thereof, and that by the grace of God he would continue therein to his lives end: but yet that it seemed to him that Luther dissented from Zuinglius rather in words then in Doctrine and very deed: He requested also the Ministers of Zurick that they would not attempt, nor write any thing more bitterly against Luther, by reason of that Epistle which he had sent to the Magistrates of Franckford.
To this they of Zurick answered, that they admitted his excuse: yet withall shewed him out of that Epistle what Luther seemed to think of the Supper of the Lord, and what was to be expected of them hereafter, withall telling him that they were determined with Gods help to remain in that Doctrine which they had taught hitherto in the Church of Zurick, till they were otherwise convinced out of the holy Scriptures▪ and in the mean time they would do what might conduce to peace, so that the Truth was not wronged, and so they dismissed Bucer lovingly and honorably. Anno Christi 1537. He encouraged the Senate of Strasborough to erect a School, in which himself taught.His imployments. He was present at many Disputations and Conferences, wherein he carryed himself with singular prudence: He was one of the Disputants at Ratisbone against Eccius, and others of the Popish party: in which he grew acquainted with John Gropper, who, at his return, commended him so much to Herman Archbishop of Collen, that he sent for Bucer to assist him in the Reformation of his Churches,Hermannus sends for him. yet afterwards that Gropper became a deadly Enemy to Bucer, and the honest Archbishop was first Excommunicated by the Pope, and then thrust out of his Government by the Emperour.
Anno Christi 1548. the Emperour with the consent of the Princes chose some moderate men to write a form for amendment of the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church;The Interim made. the persons imployed therein were, Julius Pslug, Michael Helding, Iohn Agricola, Phil. Melancthon, and Iohn Brentius, these wrote a Book which was called the Interim. Hereupon the Elector of Brandenburg wrote to the Senate of Strasborough, entreating them to send Martin Bucer to him: For (saith he) the Emperour seeing how loth the Pope is to have a Council, hath thought of another way, so that good men hope there will be an amendment of things in the Church. Bucer comming to Auspurg, lodged with the Elector of Brandenburg, who shewed him the Book, and told him that it was written with as great moderation as could be, and therefore perswaded him to approve thereof:Bucer disowns it. but when Bucer had perused it, he refused to allow it, for that there were many Popish Doctrines contained therein: At this the Elector was very angry, and the Lord of Granvel was very earnest with him to subscribe it, but he would by no means be drawn thereto, and so he returned home with great danger of his life, going through the Country of Wittenberg, which was full of Spanish Souldiers.
Shortly after his return to Strasborough, the Interim was by the Emperour obtruded upon them:A persecution about the Interim. and the Protestant Divines were everywhere in great danger; Some being dragged unto Prison, and others driven into Exile: and it so fell out by Gods Providence that the fame of Bucers suffering with his Colleagues flew into England, where the Reformation of Religion was begun under Edward the sixth: whereupon Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of …anterbury by his Letters earnestly sollicited Bucer with P. Fagius to come into England; He is sent for into England.and when they saw no hope of recovering their liberty in Germany, they assented, and went over Anno Christi 1549. by the consent of the Senate of Strasborough, and at their arrival were kindely entertained, especially by the Archbishop, who shortly after provided them houses at Cambridge, His imployment there.that there they might be imployed in the interpretation of the Sacred Scriptures: Bucer had also a stipend of 240 Crowns per annum setled upon him, that with his Family he might live comfortably amongst strangers: He was also imployed in interpreting the New Testament, wherein he began with the Gospel of John: He had such a dexterity in reconciling seeming contradictions in Scriptures, as was a wonder to his Auditors. The English much admired, as his Learning, so his integrity of Life, simplicity of Apparrel, Modesty, and Sobriety in his food, his tolerance of Labors, and great Patience in several Diseases. Shortly after with the change of ayr he fell into a fit of sickness,His sickness. which was a pain in his Bowels, the Stone, a nausea…ing in his Stomach, Costiveness, and a violent Catarh, upon which diseases he lay sick for some moneths:His indefat… gableness. yet would he never be idle, for when he could not go to the Publick Schools▪ he read his Lectures in his own house: yet in January following he read again in the Schools, though he continued crasie: He had great Authority in Teaching, his Doctrine was excellent, his Life blameless, his Wisdom great, his Voice strong, agreeing with the matter he delivered: He used a modest freedom in noting mens manners; and as he abhorred idleness himself, so neither would he suffer others about him to be idle: Thus exercising himself indefatigably for thirty days together, he fell into a relapse; yet being a little recovered,His sickness. he Commenced Doctor in Divinity: but relapsing a second time, he imployed himself wholly in Heavenly Meditations, and prayed God to keep England from those sins which had brought upon Germany so much misery; and that that form of Discipline which he had written to King Edward the sixth might be here established. Mr. John Bradford going to Preach, told him that he would remember him in his Prayers, whereupon Bucer weeping, said, Cast me not off (O my God) in my old age, now when my strength faileth me: withall adding. He hath afflicted me sore, but he will never, never cast me off. And being admonished to arm himself against the temptations of Satan,His faith. he answered, I am wholly Christs; and the Devil hath nothing to do with me; and God forbid that I should not now have experience of the sweet consolations in Christ; and so with sweet and heavenly ejaculations he resigned up his spirit into the hands of God,His death. at Cambridge, February the 27. Anno 1551. of his age 61. and had about three thousand persons attending him to his grave: Walter Haddon and Dr. Parker Preached his Funeral Sermons.
Anno 1556.Popish malice. in Queen Maries days he was condemned of Heresie, his body digged up, and, together with his Books, burned.
Cardinal Contarene returning out of Germany from the Disputation at Ratisbone, being asked his judgement of the Germane Divines,The Cardinals testimony of him. answered, Habent Germani Martin. Bucerum qui eâ ubertate doctrinae Theologicae & Philosophicae, eâ ctiam in disputando subtilitate, & felicitate est insti…uctus, ut unus ille nostris omnibus Doctoribus possit opponi: They have amongst others Martin Bucer, endowed with that excellency of Learning both in Theologie and Philosophie, and besides of that subtilty and happiness in Disputation, that he only may be set against all our learned men.
Omnia hujus viri opera Latina,His works. & Germanica si in unum conjungerentur, justa magnitudinis Tomos 9 efficerent: ex quibus cognoscere licebit quanta in Bucero Eruditio, cura, vigilantia, peritia, quanta fuerit in agendo dexteritas, in reformandis, conciliandis que Ecclesiis authoritas, at que felicitas.