The Marrow of Ecclesiastical History, Johann Bugenhagen
The Life of John Bugenhagius, who died Ano Christi 1558.
JOhn Bugenhagius was born at Julin, near to Stetin in Pomerania, Anno Christi 1485.His birth and education. His parents were of the rank of Senators, who bred him up carefully in learning, till he had learned the Grammar and Musick: Instructing him also in the principles of Religion,He goes to the University. and so sent him to the University of Grypswald, where he profited in the study of the Arts, and the Greek tongue.He teacheth School. Being twenty years old, he taught School at Trepta, and by his learning and diligence made the School famous, and had many Scholars, to whom also hee read daily some portion of Scripture, and prayed with them: and meeting with Erasmus his book against the Histrionical carriage of the Friars,His conversion and the Idolatry of the times, he gat so much light thereby, that he was stirred up to instruct others therein, and for that end in his Schoole he read Matthew, The Epistles to Timothy, and the Psalmes, to which he added Catechising, and also expounded the Creed, and the ten Commandements; unto which exercises many Gentlemen, Citizens, and Priests reforced. From the School he was called to preach in the Church, and was admitted into the Colledge of Presbyters:He is made a Presbyter. Many resorted to his Sermons of all ranks, and his same spread abroad: Insomuch as Bogeslans, the Prince of that Country, employed him in writing an History of the same, and furnished him with money, books, and records for the enabling him thereto:He is imployed in writing a History. Which History he compleated in two years, with much judgement and integrity.
Anno Christi 1520 one of the Citizens of Trepta, called Otho Slutovius, having Luther's book of the Babylonish Captivity sent him, gave it to Bugenhagius, as he was at dinner with his Colleagues, who looking over some leaves of it, told them that many Hereticks had disquieted the peace of the Church since Christ's time, yet there was never a more pestilent Heretick then the Author of that book;A rash censure. shewing in divers particulars how hee dissented from the received Doctrine of the Church. But after some few daies, having read it with more diligence, and attention, hee made this publick R…cantation before them all: What shall I say of Luther?His rec…ntation All the world hath been blinde, and in …immerian darknesse, only this one man hath found out the Truth. And further disputing of those questions with them, he brought most of his Colleagues to be of his judgement therein: Insomuch as the Abba…, two antient Pastors of the Church,Divers converted by him. and some other of the Friers, began zealously to discover the deceits of the Papacy, and to preach against the superstitions, and abuses of humane Traditions, and to perswade their auditors wholly to trust to the merits of Christ. After this Bugenhagius read Luther's other works diligently, whereby he learned the difference between the Law and the Gospel,He studies Luther. Justification by Faith, &c. and taught these things also to his hearers, perceiving that the opinions of Augustine and Luther agreed together about all those matters.
But the Devill envying the successe of the Gospel, alienated the minde of the Prince from them, and stirred up the Bishop to persecute many of the Ministers,Sathans malice Citizens, and Students of Trepta, for speaking against the Masse-Priest, and privily removing the Images out of the Church, some of which he cast into prison, and caused others to fly away; insomuch as Bugenhagius also being not safe, and desi…ous to be acquainted, and to confer with Luther, the rather being invited thereto by Letters from Peter Suavenius, a man excellently learned, who signified to him, that his converse with Luther would be exceeding profitable to him, he left …repta, He removes to Wittenberg.and went to Wittenberg Anno Christi 1521, and of his Age 36: and came there a little before Luther's going to the Diet at Worms, with whom he had presently some converse, and began to make himself known by reading the Psalter privately in the Schooles.
In Luthers absence Bertho…mew Bernhard, Pastor of Kemberg married a Wife, whereupon much controversie arose, whether the Marriage of Ministers was forbidden onelyonly by the Popes Law, and how farre the Monks vows of Chastity did binde. Luther hereupon being sent to for his judgement, easily cut insunder the snares of those Laws, and of the impious vows, as Alexander did the Gordian knot with his sword. At this time Suavenius and Bugenhag sojou…ned with Melancthon, whereupon when those Propositions o… Luther were sent to him, Bugenhag. read them with much diligence, and afterwards having seriously thought of them, …e said, This businesse will cause a great mutation in the publick state of things. About the same … time also Carolastadius …ai…ed a controversie… about bringing in the Judicials of Moses into the Civill State, and removing Images out of the Churches. Against these Bugenhag with some others opposed themselves, declaring, that the overthrowing of Images was s…ditious, and that Christian Commonwealths ought not to be governed by the Jewish Judicials. Whereupon at Luthers returne out of his Pathmos, by the Suffrages both of the University and Senate, Bugenhag was chosen Pastor of the Church of Wittenberg, A good Pastor.which he taught and governed with much …elicity, and in many changes of Affaires, for the p…ce of thirty six years, never leaving his station, neither for war, nor pestilence; and when he was proffered riches, and preferment,His Humility. both in Denmark by the good King, and in Pomeren by the good Prince, yet he would never leave his charge, though he lived but poorly in it.
Anno Christi 1522 he was sent for to Hamburg, He is sent for to Hamburg.where hee prescribed to them a form both of Doctrine, Ceremonies, and Calling of Ministers, where he erected a School also in the Monastery of St. John, which afterwards grew very famous. And Anno Christi 1530 being sent for to Lubec, hee prescribed to them also an order both for Preaching,And to Lubeck and Discipline, and set up a School in the Monastery of St Kathe…ne. Anno Christi 1537 he was sent for by Christian King of Denmark, And to Denmark.and Duke of Holsatia, to reform Religion in his Dominions, and to erect Schooles; at which time he set forth a book about the Ordination of Ministers, formerly agreed upon by Luther and his Colleagues, to which he added some Prayers, and a Form or Directory for holy Administrations. And about fourteen daies after the Coronation of King Christian, Bugenhag instead of the seven Bishops of Denmark ordained seven Superintendents, who for the time to come should supply the office of the Bishops, and should take care of all Ecclesiastical affaires: These he ordained in the presence of the King and his Councill, in the chief Church of Hafnia. He also prescribed what Lectures should be read in the Hafnian Academy. He appointed Ministers in the Kingdomes of Denmark, and Norway, to the number of four and twenty thousand.
Anno Christi 1540▪ He is sent into Brunswick.Henry Duke of Brunswick being expelled his Country by the Elector of Saxony, and the confederate Princes, imployed Bugenhag, Anthony Corvinus, and Martin Gorlicius, adding some of the Nobility to them, to visit the Churches and Monasteries in that Dukedome, and to see them reformed. At which time they set forth a Form of Ordination for the Country.
The year following, the Senate of Hildesia sent for him to Reform… their Churches, where he, with Corvinus, and Henrie Winckle, wrote them a Form of Ordination▪ and placed Pastors and Ministers in their six Churches, the oversight of whom was committed to Iodicus Iferman; and the Church of the Canons was shut up.
Anno Christi 1533 he proceeded Doctor, at the instigation of John Friderik▪ Elector of Saxonie, He proceeds Doctor.himself with his Counsellors being present to hear the publick disputations of Luther, Cruciger, Bugenhag, and Aepine. The questions were, De Justitia. De Ecclesia. De discrimine Ministerii Evangelici, & Potestatis Politicae; and Bugenhag making an Oration about the last of these, the Prince was exceedingly well pleased with it.
Thus far we have the happier part of Bugenhags life; but shortly after followed many confusions, and warres both of the Princes and Divines; in which the Princes were taken prisoners, Wittenberg was besieged, and other miseries and mischiefs of war brought exceeding much grief to this good old man,His constancy. as the death of that godly King Josiah did to the Prophet Jeremiah, yet did he not give way to despondencie, so as either to fly or change his mind; but he kept up his spirits by fervent, and frequent prayer to God, which yeelded him great consolation▪ the rather considering that in so great tempests, the poor Ship of Christ's Church was not swallowed up and devoured: For Prince Maurice, who was made Elector of Saxony, changed nothing in Religion, as so…e feared, and others hoped that hee would; but sending f… Melancthon, Bugenhag, and Crucigir from Wittenberg to L… s…h, he desired them to take care of the Church and Univ…rsity, and so gratifying them bountifully, dismissed them.
The Controversies and Quarrels which sprung up in …e Church by Flacius Illericus, H… peaceable d…position.were the greatest grief to h…m: For it was well known, that he neither in the time of War, nor afterwards, altered any thing either in the Doctrine … Discipline of the Church, often urging that Text, Gi… to Caesar the things that are Caesars, and to God the things that are Gods. He was alwaies very averse to seditious Counsels, and most constant in retaining the true Doctrine of Christ, and though many aspersions were cast abroad of him, yet would he never omit the necessary labours belonging to his Office.His constancy in prayer. The last act of his life, through Gods goodness, was quiet, and peaceable; for when his strength was so wasted, that hee could no longer preach, yet he resorted daily to Church, where he poured forth fervent praiers both for himself, and the afflicted condition of the Church of God at that time. Afterwards fall…ng sick (though without much pain) he continued instant in prayer, and holy conference with his friends, and drawing near to his end, he often repeated, This is life eternall, His death.to know thee the onelyonly true God, and him whom thou hast sent, Jesus Christ: and so quietly d…parted in the Lord, Anno Christ 1558▪ and of his Age 73.
He was a faithfull P…stor, just, merciful… to the poor: severe, and stout in reproofs;Preachers pattern. an earnest defendor of the Truth against Errors; ardent in Prayer, &c. He joyned with Luther in the Translation of the Bible: which being finished, every year upon that day, he inv…ted his friends, and made a feast, which he called the Feast of the Translation of the Bible.
He was alwaies well content with his station and condition at Wittenberg, and would never remove though hee was earnestly pressed to have removed to places of more honour, power, and profit. He attended his charge with great fidelity, admirable assiduity, and extraordinary pains. In his Sermons he was very modest, and so devout, that sometimes, forgetting himself, he would spend some hours in preaching.
He wrote a Commentary upon the Psalmes; His Works.Annotations upon the Epistles to Gal. Ephes. Phil. Collos. Thess. 1 & 2. to Timothy 1. & 2. to Titus, Philemon, Hebr. Also Annotations upon Samuel, Jonah, and Denter▪ besides some. Epistles to sundry friends.