The Marrow of Ecclesiastical History, Wolfgang Musculus
W. MVSCVLVS
The Life of Musculus, who dyed Ano Christi 1563.
WOlfgangus Musculus was born at Dusa in Lorrain, His birth and education.An. Christi 1497, of honest parents, who seeing his aptness to Learning, bred him at School. When he was young he fell sick of the Plague, but it pleased God to restore him. He had an exceeding prompt wit, and had such an ardent desire to his book, that he was never a weary of reading,A special providence. and writing, so that he rather needed a bridle, than spurs, never departing from School, and his book, till he was forced. When he was grown up to some bignes, his parents sent him abroad into other countries with slender provision,He is sent abroad. that by singing at doors (as the manner of those times was) he might get his living, and thereby learn patience, temperance, and humility, and might follow his book the better. Being thus sent from his parents, he came to Rapersvil in Alsatia, where a certain Widdow entertained him, and in which place hee went to School, but met with much hunger, and want, till as by his honest and modest deportment, he became known to the noble Earl of Rapersvil, from whom he received many favours.
From thence after a while he went to Slestade, and gat into the School; and being naturally much addicted to Poetry, he spent his time in reading such Authors: And thus he continued till he was fifteen years old, about which time he returned to visit his parents, and going into the Monastery of Lexheim by the way at the time of their Even-song, hee joyned with them in singing,Gods providence. and the Prior taking notice of him, and liking his ingenious countenance and voice, followed him out of the Church when all was ended, and enquir'd of him what he was? and whether he liked to live in a Monastery? and withall proffered (if he would accept of it) to admit him into that Monastery, to cloath him, and provide other necessaries for him at his own cost. He being very glad of this proffer, went to his parents, acquainted them with it, and they (looking upon it as a great mercy) went presently with him to the Monastery, where the Prior, according to his promise, entertained him as his own sonne, and afterwards sent him to the Bishop for Orders. There he lived till he was thirty yeares old, and when others were drinking, and playing, he, with a book in his hand, would walk into a grove to study:His studious…es For though in his youth he was of a chearfull, and merry disposition, and much▪ delighted in liberall exercises both of body and mind, yet he disliked the illiberall contests of his fellows, who spent their time in dice, and drinking, and such like practises. But in the mean time he had a great want of books, that Monastery having no Library belonging to it; yet at last he found a great heap of parchments, at the roof of the house, amongst which he met with some of Tullies works, and all Ovids: These therefore he read over, especially Ovid, being so much addicted to Poetry, that many times he made verses in his sleep; and could make a verse upon every thing he met with, and grew so perfect therein,He affects Poetry & Musick. that with Ovid he could say;
Sponte sua carmen numeros veniebat in aptos:
Quicquid conabar dicere, versus erat.
And together with his Poetry, hee applyed himself to Musick, which the Prior taking notice of, caused him to be taught to play on the Organs.He studies Divinity. At twenty years of age hee studied Divinity, and excelling all the other Monks in learning, and eloquence, was presently chosen a publick Preacher; and being often told by an old man in that house, Si vis fieri bonus Concionator, da operam ut sis bonus Biblicus: If you will be a good Preacher,He studies the Scriptures. study to be well acquainted with the Scripture: hee betook himself night and day to reading, and meditation upon the Bible. He first preached in the Church of Lixh…im, and in three other Churches belonging to that Monastery; but his zeal and eloquence making him famous, he was requested to preach in divers other places.
About the year 1518 Luthers books began to come abroad into the world, and Musculus having some of them sent him,His conversion read them with much seriousness, and delight; and God thereby revealing the Truth to him, he became a zealous maintainer of it, not onelyonly in the Monastery by conference, and disputation, but in his publick Sermons also, so that he was commonly called the Lutherane Monk; and whereas Luth…r was charged by some with Heresie, he stoutly defended him, saying: It may be Luther may erre in some things, which is common to the nature of man, yet he is not therefore to be accounted an Heretick: according to th… saying of Saint Augustine, Errare possum, haereticus esse nolo, I may erre, but I will not be an Heretick. And his labours proved not fruitlesse: for (through Gods blessing upon them) he converted many of that fraternity,He conver… ma…y. who afterwards left their Abbey, and became zealous professors of the Truth unto death. And divers others also abroad were converted by him, and amongst them a certaine Nobleman, called Reinhard of Rotenburg, who was Captaine of the Castle at Lutzelsteine, and Protector of that Colledge, a man of much account with the Palatine; Gods providence.by whom he was protected from many dangers and snares that were laid for him, especially by the Bishop, and some old Monks that were more obdurate in wickednesse, and therefore more opposite to the Truth. He was often in great perill of his life, and yet by special providences preserved:Popish malice. So that perceiving that in that place he could neither enjoy safety nor freedome in the service of God, as he desired, he resolved to leave the Monastery, and to goe elswhere: which resolutions he communicated to some of his friends. But in the mean time the Prior died, and he, by common consent of all, was chosen to succeed him. Musculus looked upon this as a designe of the Devill by these baits of honour, pleasure, and profit,Tenta…ion resisted. to withdraw him from his zealous purposes of propagating the Truth, and to tie him to that kind of life that he was resolved against: And thereupon he refused the choice, and put it upon another. He also married a wife, called Margaret Bart, His Marriage.an honest, and vertuous Virgin. At his departure, the new Prior gave him a supper, after which he bade him, and the rest of the Friers farewell, who were now but six, three also of which shortly after followed him. At this time he had but four Florences, to which the Prior added four more, and so about midnight (that he might the more safely escape his enemies) he departed, being accompanied with a Kinsman called Nicholas Wagner, directing his course to Strasborough, whether also he came Anno Christi 1527, and of his age thirty, and was entertained by the Minister, Theobald Niger, who also made him a Wedding-feast. But his money waxing short, and seeing little hopes to be called to the work of the Ministery, he placed his wife forth as a servant to Mr. Theobald Niger, and agreed with a Weaver to teach him his trade:His poverty. comsorting himself in the mean time with this Distich,
Est Deus in coelo, qui providus omnia oura…;
Credentes nusquam deseruisse potest.
A God there is, whose providence doth take,
Care for his Saints, whom he will not forsake.
But it fell out that this Weaver was an Anabaptist, and kept one of their Teachers in his house,Anabaptists life. who according to their usual custome, laboured not at all, but spent his time in eating, drinking, and sleeping: With him Musculus could not agree, but often objected that of the Apostle to him. He that will not labour, ought not to eat. This occasioned his Master to fall out with him, and having paid him his wages at two months end, he turn'd him out of doors, contrary to his former bargain: Musculus now not knowing how to supply his wants, it fell out that at that time the Senate at Strasborough were mending their fortifications about the City: Thither he went, and was hired to labour in that work amongst oth r…b…t the same nightgoing to set his wife, she told him that an Officer had been there to request him to come to the great Church,Gods provid…nce. where the Consul, and Bucer would speak with him. He not knowing the occasion, was much troubled at it, yet went to the place appointed, and when he came thither, the Consul commanded him to goe to the Village of Dorlitzheim, and there to preach every Sabbath, and to teach the people (who were prone to Sedition) peace and obedience. Musculus with joy taking this as a call from God, went every Sabbath thither, being but three miles off,He preacheth … Dorlitzheim. and preached to them; and all the w…ek lived with Bucer (who writing so bad a hand, that the Princers could not read it, yea many times himselfe could scarce read what he had written) imployed Musculus to transcribe his Comments on Lephany which were then in Printing.
After certain months preaching in that Village, and hi… wife growing near the time of her travel, … Magistrats sent him and his wife to live there,Ch…ist …est of …ll. where his bearers entertained him kindly, and provided necessaries for his family; on…ly himself was fain to lie upon the ground in a little straw whilst his wife lay in. Thus this man of God wa… willing to suffer poverty for Christ's cause, who amongst the Papists might have lived in much plenty. In that Town he preached a whole year without receiving anything for his pains; but afterward the Senate at Strasborough allowed him a stipend out of the publick treasury for the supply of his wants. There also he began to teach School; wherein he carried himselfe with so much industry,He teaches School. and affability, that he won much love.
Not far off there was a Monastery, in which one a year there was a Feast, and a Sermon, to which (at the request of his neighbours) Musculus went. The Fryer that preached chose this Text,Heb. 11. 6. Without Faith it's impossible to please God. In his Sermon he inveighed bitterly against the Lutherans, and in particular against them of Strasborough, as Apostates, &c. wherewith many of his hearers were much pleased. The Sermon being ended, and the Fryer coming downe out of the Pulpit,Musculus his zeal. Musculus called to him, saying, Thou wicked wretch, hear me a little, and I'le make thy wickedness appear to all the Congregation. And going up into the Pulpit he took the same Text, opened the words, and preached excellently of the nature and benefit of saving faith, and vindicated them of Strasborough from those aspersions which the Fryer had cast upon them: wherewith the people were much pleased, but the Fryers shrunk away. Then came the Steward of the Monastery running in,Sata…s malice. and interrupted him, saying, Sirrah, give over, who set you upto preach in this place? To whom he answered, Who gave you authority to set up a lying Fryer, to preach, and traduce the Senate, and people of Strasborough, whom I am bound to defend and vindicate from such false aspersions? and so he went on in his Sermon, but then the Steward began to entreat him to give over, least he caused a tumult; but he …ad him hold his peace, and entreated the people to be quiet, and so went on to the end of his Sermon without any distraction. The fame of this action begat him much credit amongst all good men at Strasborough, so that at the years end he was sent for to Strasborough, and made a Deacon, though he in modesty would have refused it, as judging himself unfit,His humility. and unworthy of it; And thus he continued two years longer in that place: And whereas in Dosna, a Village belonging to Strasborough, the people would by no means suffer the Mass to be abolished,Power of the Wo…d. hee, by one Sermon there so wrought upon them, that presently they cast it out of their Church, together with all the Popish trumpery.
At Strasborough, whil'st he was a Deacon, he was a constant hearer of Capito and Bucer, and finding his own defect for want of Hebrew,He studies Hebrew. fell to the study of it, wrote out a Lexicon with his own hand, and profited so much therein, that he did not onelyonly understand the Bible, but the Rabbins also.
Anno Christ 1531.He is sent for to Ausburg. the Citizens of Ausburg sent to Strasborough to request the Senate to send them Musculus to be their Pastor. This request he himself opposed with all his might,His humility. as judging himself unfit, & unable thereunto; had not Bucer, and the Senate, interposed their authority to require his acceptance. When he came thither he preached six years before the dregs of Popery where wholly purged out of that City;He goes to Ausburg. yea the state of it was very troublesome, not onelyonly by reason of the Popish partie, who with all their might opposed the Reformation; but also by reason of some Anabaptists, who like serpents had crept in to disturbe the growth of the Gospel,Anabaptists tr…u…le the Church. and the peace of the Church: Yea, they carried themselves very impudently, and tumultuously, coming into the Church at Sermon-time, stepping up into the Pulpit, and labouring to diffuse their errors, and to poyson the people therewith,Their impud…nce. insomuch as the Magistrates were forced for the publick peace sake to cast them into prison: Thither Musculus went daily to them,Some of them imprisoned. and though they called him a Viper, a false Prophet, a Wolfe in Sheep's cloathing, &c. yet he bore all with patience, and carried them food, and other necessaries,His holy policy. not speaking a word about their opinions till he had so far insinuated into their affections that they began to love him exceedingly. Then began he to confer familiarly with them, to hear them with patience, and with solid arguments to convince their errors, whereupon by degrees, he converted them all, and brought them to make publick recantations,He converts …hem. which by more rugged dealings they would never have yeelded to. He had also many conflicts with the Popish party, and wrought so far with the Senate, that Anno Christi 1834. they cast out the Mass, and Idolatry out of most of the Churches, onelyonly allowing to the Papists eight to say Mass, but not to preach in. And afterwards,Reformation in Ausburg. Anno Christi 1537. he so prevailed, that Popery was cast out of those Churches also, and the City wholly imbraced the reformed Religion. There he studied the Greek Tongue,He studies Greek. And Arabick. and profited so much therein, that he translated diverse parts of Chrysostome, Basil, Cyril, Athanasius, &c. At that time also by his owne indust…y he learned Arabick, not having so much as a Grammer to help him; onelyonly by observing the proper names (which are the same in all languages) he found out the Letters,His industry. and so attained to the reading, and understanding of that tongue. He taught at Ausburg eighteen years with much diligence,Preachers part…rn. and profit. His Sermons were very piercing like a two-edged sword, both in comforting the afflicted, and convincing the obstinate. Anno Christi 1536. there was a Synod appointed at Isenac in Thuringia, to which Luther, and many other Divines out of upper and lower Germany resorted, about composing the difference concerning the Lords Supper, to which Musculus was sent by the Senate of Strasborough; as also to a Diet at Wormes and Ratisbone, where he was Scribe at the Disputation between Melancthon, and Eccius, which afterwards he published. Anno Christi, 1544. the Inhabitants of Donavert embracing the Gospel,He goes to Donavert. sent to the Senate at Ausburg for one their Ministers to assist, and further them in their Reformation, who thereupon sent Musculus to them, and when he came thither, he preached every day for a quarter of a year together, and so returned to Ausburg.
Anno Christi 1547. Charls the fifth having ended the Smalcaldian war,A Diet at Ausburg. called a Diet at Auspurg, whither himself, his brother Ferdinand, the Electors, Cardinals and Bishops came: Then was Musculus put out of his Church; yet did he not cease to preach in another,His zeal and courage. during that Diet, with as much zeal and freedom of speech as formerly, which procured him much hatred from the Popish party, who set spies to intrap him. They also accused him to the Emperor as one that stirred up the people against the Clergie; by reason whereof he was in such danger,Popish malice. that the Senate was fain to appoint three men to guard him to, and from the Pulpit. Tumults were raised before his door, his windows broken, and himself rail'd upon;His courage and constancy. yet he bore all with a stout courage, and sent the Senate word, That if they would stick close to the cause of God, he would venture his life with them.
The year after the Senate embraced the Interim, His zeal.which he wrote, and preached boldly against; insomuch that he was hated, and lived in great danger; hereupon he resolved to leave the City, and acquainting the Consul with his purpose, one evening,Flight in persecut…on. with one only Citizen in his company, he left his wife, and eight children, and departed out of the City, and changing his apparel at a friend's house that he might pass unknown;He goes to Zurick. he went to Zurick, where he stayed a while with Bullinger, and from thence to Busil, his, wife and children following him within a few days; but they staying at Constance, he went thither to them, and the Sabbath following he preached to the Citizens of Constance upon that Text; Joh. 6. 66, 67, 68, 69.He preaches at Constance. From that time many of his Disciples went back, and walked no more with him, &c. Out of which words he shewed how grievously those Cities had sinned, which to please men, had basely deserted the Gospel of Christ. Then he exhorted them of Constance, not to follow such examples, but rather after the examples of the Apostles in this Text, constantly to adhere unto Christ, who onelyonly hath the words of eternall life. The very next day the Spaniards coming to besiege Constance, he with his family removed to Zurick: Thither Cranmer sent for him to come into England, He is sent for into England.but being grown aged, and his wife sickly, he excused his going thither. After six months stay there he was called to Berne to be the Divinity Professor in their Schools,He is chosen to Bern. whither he went, and where he discharged his place for fourt…en years together with much diligence and praise. He Printed many works, all which he wrote out with his own hands wherby his great labour,His industry. Hi… self denyall. and sedulity may easi…y be discerned. He so loved his present imployment, and place of habitation, that though he had many invitations to places of more eminency and profit, yet he wou…d never imbrace the same, but continued at Bern till his death.
He lived in much peace and concord with his fellow Ministers,His amity with his Collegues. and Professors, and was very loving to his wife and children; in domestical troubles most patient; very mercifull to the poor,His Charity. especially to exiles and strangers; of a sparing, and temperate dier, whereby he lived in health to his latter end. He used much walking, and holy meditation therein. He went very upright, had a fresh colour, sharp sight,His Character. admirable strong teeth; and lastly his hands and feet well performing their office. But the year before his death he beganne to be crasie; partly by reason of his great age, but especially being worne out with infinite cares, and labours; as also by reason of a great cough which of a long time had been troublesome to him. By these means he had many fits of sicknesse that year, out of which, through Gods mercy, and the care of his Physicians, he somewhat recovered, yet himself discerned that his end approached, and therefore he daily prepared himself for it, laying aside all worldly cares and businesses, that he might the better meditate upon his approaching death,He prepares for death. as may appear by these verses which he made a little before his death.
Nil superest vitae, frigus praecordia captat:
Sed tu Christo mihi vita perennis ades.
Quid trepidas anima? ad sedes abitura quietis,
En tibi ductor adest angelus ille tuus.
Peccasti? scio: sed Christus credentibus in se
Peccata expurgat sanguine cuncta suo.
Horribilis mors est? fateor: sed proxima vita est,
Ad quam te Christi gratia certa vocat.
Praesto est de Satana, peccato, & morte triumphans
Christus: adhuc igitur lata, alacris que mig…a.
August the twenty second,His last sicknesse. being the Lordsday in the morning, Musculus, feeling no distemper, went to Church to hear the Sermon, and about the midst of it, he was seised with a violent Feaver; yet continuing to the end of the Sermon, he went home, and sat down to dinner, supping a little broth, but waxing worse, he was led to a bed in his study, from which he never rose afterwards. So soon as he was laid, he grew extreame hot and burning, whereupon by the advice of his Physician, he was let blood: he had also some Physick given him, which yet staied not with him. Musculus, perceiving his end to draw near, caused his sons to be sent for, whom he saluted, and blessed, after which he never seemed to mind either wife or children. John Haller (one of the Ministers) asking him of the state of his soul, and how he would dispose of his outward estate? hee answered, I thank God, I have nothing that troubles my conscience. And as concerning my Doctrine, as I taught, so I thought, doe think, and will think to the end. As for my Wife and Family, I commend them to your, and your Colleagues care, desiring you to be Fathers and protectors to them. Haller in his own, and his brethrens name, promising to satisfie his desire, he thanked them, and never after made mention of any wordly thing: And so shortly after he quietly resigned up his spirit unto God in the presence of the Ministers, and Professors of the University,His death. who were come to visit him. The day after he was honourably buried, Anno Christi 1563, and of his age 66.
This Epitaph was set upon the wall, near to his grave.
MUSCULUS hic situs est, doctrina clarus, & ingens:
Nomen in orbe manet, Spiritus astra tenet.
His Works are these. Comment. in Genesim.His Works. in Psalm. Mat. Joh. ad Romanos, & Corinthios, ad Phil. Col. Thess. Tim. Loci communes. Explicatio Decalogi. Contra Missam. Anti-Chochlaeus. De Concilio Tridentin…. Quatenus ferenda sit injuria. Contra impurum Catechismum. De Juramento. De Bello Germanico. Besides many of the Greek Fathers, and other bookes, which he turned out of Greek into Latine.