The Marrow of Ecclesiastical History, Victorinus Strigel
The Life of Strigelius, who died Ano Christi 1569.
VIctorine Strigelius was born at Kaufbira, His Birth.an Imperiall City in Su…via, not farre from the foot of the Alpes, Anno Christi 1524. His Father was Doctor of Physick, who died in his sonnes Infancy. When this Strigelius was fit for it,His Education. his friends finding him of a prompt and ready wit, set him to School in his own Country, where he quickly drunk in the first Rudiments of Learning, and so An… Christi 1538, he was sent to the University of Friburg, in which place the Popish Religion was kept up;He goes to Friburg. but yet by the care of Erasmus, the knowledge of the Arts and Tongues much flourished. There he heard the Philosophical Lectures of John Z…nckius, a famous Physi…ian: And afterwards travelling into the Saxon Universities, when he heard Melancthon ask a child What was God? And, What was meant by the Word in the first of John? he wondered to hear such answers from a child, as the Popish Doctors were ignorant of. Upon this occasion in the eighteenth year of his age, and in the year of Christ 1542, he went to Wittenberg, And to Wittenberg.where he was inflamed by God with an ardent desire to know the Doctrine of the Reformed Churches: For which end he diligently attended on Luther's and Melancthon's Lectures, and wholly framed himself to the imitation of Melancthon. Anno Christi 1544. he Commenced Master of Arts,He commenceth Mr. of Arts. and by the perswasion of Melancthon he taught a private School at Wittenberg where he did much good, and gat himself great repute: But when the Wars in Germany waxed hot, he left Wittenberg, and went to Magdeburg, and from thence to Erphurd, He goes to Madgeburg.where he published some Orations, being about two and twenty years old. Anno Christi 1548 he went thence to Jenes, And to Jenes.and there he preached, and the year after married a Wife, Barbara, the daughter of that excellent man Francis Burcard; His Marriage.which lived with him but two years. Anno Christi 1553 he married againe, Blandina, the daughter of Snepsius, who lived with him till his death.
An. Christi 1556 was a meeting at Isenac about the Controversie raised by Major, concerning the necessity of good Works; where by the consent of the Divines, Strigelius was appointed in a friendly manner to concerre with Menius about that Controversie, & to conclude it not out of Humane Writings, but by the Word of God.He disputes with Menius. The end of which conference was, that Menius did solemnly promise before Frederick Duke of Saxony, and all the Ministers present, that he would not recede from those Propositions which were then agreed upon out of Gods Word.
Anno Christi 1557,And with Flacius. there fell out a new controversie betwixt Facius and him, which brought on the disputation at Vinaria, wherein these two Questions were handled; Whether in Regeneration the qualities onelyonly are changed without the substance, or whether together with the qualities there be a creation of a new substance? Strigelius held, that there was onelyonly a change of the qualities; his adversary said there was a change in both. The other question was about the manner of working; De modo agendi.
Anno Christi 1559,His imprisonment. he, together with Aquila, Pastor of Jenes, was carried away to prison, the markes whereof hee carried to his grave; the reason of it was, because they refused to consent to a book which they of Jenes had published against the Divines of Wittenberg. In prison he fell very sick, insomuch as the Prince suffered him to go to his own house,His sickness. but yet made him a prisoner there. Then did Christopher, Duke of Wirtemberg, and Philip, Lantgrave of Hesse, mediate for his release, and yet could not obtain it; but at last the Emperour Maximilian (interposing his authority) procured it,His release. after he had been a prisoner above three years; and so for a while hee returned to his former labours in the Schooles. But perceiving that he could not be in safety in that place,His Flight in times of danger he resolved to depart, which the University understanding, wrote to him, earnestly importuning his stay: To whom he returned thankes for their love, but told them withall, That his life was in continuall danger by reason of false brethren, and therefore he was resolved to goe where he might do more good. He goes to Lipsich.And accordingly from thence he went to Lipsich, where he spent his time in writing upon the Psalmes; and afterwards having it left to his choice whether to stay at Lipsich, or to goe to Wittenberg (being sent for thither) he chose to stay where he was, and was chosen professor of Divinity in that University:He is made Professor of Divinity. Where he continued his Lectures till Anno Christi 1566. at which time he came to deliver his judgement about the Lords Supper. Whereupon by the command of the Rector of the University, the doors of the Colledge were shut against him,He is st…ut out of the Schools. and he not suffered to read any more: yet they would have restored him to his place, if he would have promised to meddle with that point no more: But he refused to make any such promise, and withall complained to the Elector of Saxonie of the wrong done unto him;His courage. from whom he received a sharpe answer, and therefore leaving Lipsich, he went to Amberg in the upper Palatinate, where,He goes to Amberg. after a short stay, he received Letters from the Elector Palatine,A…d to Heidleberg. and the University; inviting him to Heidleberg, whether he presently went, and was made Professor of Ethicks. In which place he took very great paines, both in reading his Lectures; and Writing: But his body having contracted some diseases by his former imprisonment, An. Christi 1569. he fell very sick, whereupon he said, Sperare se finem vita suae adesse, &c. That he hoped that his life was at an end,His sicknesse. whereby he should be delivered from the fraud and miseries of this evill world, and injoy the blessed presence of God, and his Saints to all eternity; and accordingly presently after he quietly departed in the Lord, Anno Christi, 1569. and of his age 44.His death. Having taught the Churches both by voice and writing, in many great changes, above twenty three years, attaining that which he had often desired, viz. That he might not dye a lingring death.
He was an excellent Divine, and Philosopher, Eloquent, and framed by nature to train up youth.
Scripsit Commentarios in varias Philosophiae partes. Orationum & Epistolarum libros.His works. Hypom…emata in utriusque Testamenti libros.