The Marrow of Ecclesiastical History, Nikolaus von Amsdorf
The Life of Amsdorfius, who died Ano Christi 1563.
NIcolas Amsdorfius was born in Misnia, of noble parents, Anno Christi 1…83,His birth and education. and brought up in Learning. Anno Christi 1502 from Schoole he went to the University of Wittenberg about that time that Luther began to preach against Indulgences: And contrary to the custome of the Nobility of those times, he applied his minde to the study of Theology, and contemplation of heavenly things. In An. Christi 1504 he commenced Master of Arts, and afterwards Licentiate in Divinitie. He timely embraced the Truth that brake forth in those times,His conversion and not consulting with flesh…and blood, preached it to others. He accompanied Luther to Wormes, Anno Christi 1521, when he was called to give an account of his Faith before Caesar, and the States of the Empire. In the time of Luther's recesse into his Pathmos; he, with Melancthon, Justus Jonas, and John Dulcius, He opposeth the Mass.being sent to by the Elector of Saxony for their judgements about the Mass, declared that it was an horrible prophanation of the Lords Supper; whence ensued the abolishing of it out of all Churches in Wittenberg. Anno Christi 1523, he wrote in a book dedicacated to the Elector of Saxony, that the Pope was Antichrist.
Anno Christi 1524 Luther being sent for to Magdeburg, went thither, and having preached to them,He goes to Madgeburg. commended to them, and afterwards sent Amsdorfius to gather and instruct the Churches there, who faithfully laboured eighteen years in that place. During his abode there,And to Goslaria. the Senate of Goslaria sent for him to reform their Churches, and he at his coming setled the same form of Doctrine and Discipline amongst them as was used at Wittenberg, and Magdeburg. He also made John Amandus Superintendent of those Churches, and Michael Volmetius Master of their School. Anno Christi 1541 he was sent by the Elector of Saxonie to govern the Church at Naumberg in the Palatinate; where also the year after he was ordained Bishop by Luther, And to Naumberg.three other Pastors also imposing their hands upon him, who were, Nicholas Medler, Pastor of Naoburg, George Spalatine, Pastor of Aldenburg, and …olphgang Steinius, Pastor of Leucopetra. But six years after he was driven away from thence by the Emperour Charles the sift, whence he fled to Magdeburg, which at that time was the common place of refuge for the godly, who fled from the indignation of Caesar. Anno Christi 1548, Amsdorf, He opposeth the Adi…pho…ists.amongst others, opposed himself in that sad controversie about things indifferent, which continued for whole tenne yeares; and when Anno Christi 1550 Madgeburg was besieged, Amsdorf yet remained there; and the year after George Major having published this proposition; That good works were necessary to salvation; Amsdorfius in heat of contention wrote, That good works were hurtfull and dangerous to salvation. In the midst of these digladiations amongst Divines, Amsdorf came to his old age,His death. having now attained to eighty years, at which time he quietly slept in the Lord, Anno Christi 1563.
Scripsit de sacra coena.His Works. Epitomen Chronicorum Naucleri de Paparum perfidia in Romanos Imperatores. Novi anni votum, principibus viris oblatum. Subscriptionem censurae, & sententiae Saxo. Ecclesiarum, adversus G. Majoris doctrinam. Item contra Tilemannum Heshufium.