The Marrow of Ecclesiastical History, John Brentius
JO: BRENTIVS
The Life of Iohn Brentius, who died Ano Christi 1570.
JOhn Brentius was borne at Wile in the Imperiall Snevia, Anno Christi, His Birth.1499. His Father was Major of that City twenty four years,His Education who carefully brought up his Son in learning: and at eleven years old sent him to Heidleberg to School,His studiousnesse. and at thirteen years old he was admitted into the Universitie: and at 15 years old he Commenced Bachelor. There also he studied Greek and Hebrew, and was so studious, that he usually rose at midnight to his book, whereby he contracted such a habit, that he could never after whilst he lived sleep longer then till midnight; the rest of the night he spent in holy meditations, and in his old age he had a candle by his bed-side, and deceived the time by writing, and meditation. Partly by his diligence, and partly by his acute wit, and strong memory he profited so much both in the Arts and Tongues, that at eighteen years old he was made Master of Arts.
About this time Luthers books coming abroad,His conversion Brentius by reading of them, came to the knowledge of the Truth, which he willingly imbraced: And being desirous to propagate it to others, he began to read upon Matthew, first to som friends of his own colledges,His zeal. but his auditors increasing out of other Colledges, he was fain to read in the publick Schools; for which the Divines hated him, because he grew so popular, saying, That neither was the place fit for Divinity Lectures, nor he fit for such a work, being not yet in orders: wherefore to take away that objection, he entred into orders, and preached often for other men to the great delight of his hearers.
From thence he was called to be a Pastor at Hale in Sweveland, He is made Minister.where his gravity, gesture, phrase, voice, and doctrine did so please the Senat,Preachers patterne. that though he was but twenty three years old, yet they chose him to that place; and he carried himself with such gravity, holiness of life, integrity of manners, and diligence in his calling, that none could contemn his youth: And the Lord so blessed his labours there, that many were converted to the Truth,power of the word. yea, amongst the very Popish Priests, some of them were converted, others left their places for shame, and went elsewhere. He used much modesty, and wisedome in his Sermons, and when (in the beginning of his preaching there) the Popish Priests railed exceedingly upon him,His prudence. and his doctrine, and the people exspected that he would answer them accordingly; he contrariwise, went on in teaching the fundamentall points of Religion, and as he had occasion, confuted their errors without bitterness from clear Scripture arguments, whereby in time he so wrought upon them, that he brought them to a sight of their errors, and to a detestation of their Idolatry.
About this time Muncer, Anabaptists madnesse.and his companions rose up, and stirred almost all the Boors in Germany to take Arms against the Magistrates and rich men, abusing Scripture to justifie their proceedings; Whereupon Brentius was in great danger, for many cryed out that his opposing Popery,Sa…ans policy. and casting out the old Ceremonies was the cause of these Tumults; Yet when as the boors in Hale were risen up, and threatned to besiege the City of Hale, and the Magistrates and Citizens were in such fear that they were ready to fly, or to joyne with the Boors; Brentius encouraged them, and told them that if they would take Arms, and defend their City, God would assist them, &c. and so it came to passe; for six hundred Citizens beat away four thousand of those Boors.Gods mercy. He also published a booke in confutation of their wicked opinions, and shewed how dissonant they were to the Word of God.
Presently after rose up that unhappy contention between Luther and Zuinglius about Christs presence in the Sacrament,Another contention. which continued divers years, to the great disturbance of the Church, scandal of the Reformed Religion, and hinderance of the success of the Gospel: And when a conference was appointed for the composing of that difference, Luther, Brentius Division dangerous.and some others met with Zuinglius, and some of his friends, but after much debate they departed, without an agreement.
Anno 1530. was the Diet held at Auspurg, unto which the Protestant Princes brought their Divines with them, and amongst others Brentius; Brandenburgs courage and zeal.at which time George Marquesse of Brandenburg told the Emperor, That he would rather shed his blood, and lose his life, or lay downe his neck to the headsman, then alter his Religion. Here the Divines drew up that famous Confession of Faith, which from the place is called the Augustane Confession. Augustane Confession.Brentius at his return home married a wife, Margaret Graetenna, famous for her chastity, modesty, and piety,His marriage. by whom he had six children.
Ulricus Prince of Wirtemberg, intending to reform Religion in his Dominions, thought it the best way first to Reform the Universitie of Tubing, and considering where he might have a fit man for so great and difficult a work,He goes to Tubing. he at last resolved upon Brentius, whom he sent for, and who, with much diligence, prudence, and fidelity, accomplished that work.
Anno Christi 1547, the Emperor with his Army comming to Hale, His trouble at Hale.Brentius (who was now returned thither) hoped to prevaile with the Captain that no Souldiers should be quartered in his house; but when hee came home, hee found the souldiers beating at his door, and ready to break it down; and when they perceived that Brentius was Master of that house,Unruly souldiers. one of them set an Halbert to his breast, threatning to kill him if the door was not presently opened: Whereupon they were let in, and he caused meat and drink to be prepared for them, and in the mean time conveighed away all his papers;His Policy. and when he saw the fury and rage of the souldiers, he conveighed himself and his family out at a back-door. The next day came a Spanish Bishop with his train, and putting forth the souldiers, quartered in Brentius his house, searched his study, looked over his papers, and letters,Popish malice. and finding some letters to his friends, wherein he justified the Protestant Princes in taking Armes against the Emperor, he presently carried them to the Emperor, whereby Brentius was in great danger, and was fain to hide himself in a very high Tower, and not being safe there,His …ight. he changed his apparrel, left his wife and children, and with one onelyonly companion passed through the Spaniards safely,Gods mercy. and wandred up and down the fields all that night. But when the Emperor was removed with his Army, he returned to Hale again.
Anno Christi 1548, when Caesar had published his booke called the Interim, The Interim.the Protestant Princes and Magistrates required the judgements of their Divines upon it: And the Magistrates of Hale desired Frentius to tell them his judgement; who when he had considered it, told them, That it was a wicked book, His Courage.and altogether contrary to the Scriptures, and that he would lose his life before he would assent to it. This coming to Caesar's eares, hee sent a Commissarie to Hale, charging him to bring Brentius to him, either alive, or dead: when the Commissarie came thither,His danger. he insinuated himself into Brentius's acquaintance, invited him to his table, perswaded him to walke abroad with him, having prepared horses to carry him away: But that succeeding not, he called the Senate together, and having sworn them to keep private what he should tell them, he imparted his Commission, telling them how acceptable it would be to the Emperor, if they would send Brentius to him, but if they refused, the Emperor would destroy their City, &c. It pleased God that whilst he was thus perswading the Magistrates, there came in one of the Magistrates later then his fellows, and the Commissarie not minding it,A m…racle of mercy. did not tender the Oath to him. So when they were dismissed, this man wrote to Brentius, Fuge, fuge, Brenti, cito, citius, citissime; which note was brought to him as he sate at supper. Having read it, he told his family that he must goe forth upon businesse, but he would returne ere long.His flight. As he was going out of the City, he met the Commissary, who asked him whither he went? He answered? To a sick friend in the subu…bs who had sent for him: Wel (said the Commissary) to morrow you must dine with me. Hee replyed, God willing; and so they parted. Being thus escaped, he hid himself in a thick Wood, and for some weekes together he lay in the Wood all day, and every night came into a Village to a friends house where he lodged. He wrote also to the Magistrates of Hale, A good Pastor.that if they could, and would protect him, he was ready to come back, and not to forsake his flock; but if they could not, he did not d…sire that they should endanger themselves for his sake. They answered, That they could not protect him, and therefore left him free to goe whither he pleased.
Presently after Ulricus Prince of Wirtemberg invited him to him,He goes to Wirtemberg. and ordered him to be so private, that he himself might not know where hee was, that if he was asked, hee might safely deny his knowledge of him:God preserves him. Yet upon suspition, his Castle was searched, but Brentius was in another place, where in his retirement he wrote a Comment upon the ninety third Psalm. He goes to …asil.Afterwards he went to Basil, as to a safer place, where his Wife died of a Consumption. From thence he removed to the Castle of Horrenburg in the H…rcinian Wood,A…d to Hornburg. where he changed his name, and gave out that he was the Keeper of the Castle; and whilst hee was there, hee frequented the Sermons in a neighbour Town, where the Minister used to spin out his Sermons to a great length: Whereupon Brentius took occasion modestly to tell him of it; to whom the Minister answered, You Castle-keepers think all time too long at Church, but no time too long that you spend in drinking. Brentius smiling at it, said no more. Whilst he was there, he perfected his Comment upon Isaiah, and some other Works.He is invited to severall places. Afterwards hee had great proffers made him by the Citizens of Madgeburg, by Edw. the sixth K. of England; and by the Duke of Borussia, who proffered him large stipends and Kingly gifts, but he refused them all; and thus continued in banishment for the space of two years.
Anno Christi 1550, Ulricus Duke of Wirtemberg died, and his sonne Christopher succeeding,The Dukes courage. resolved to restore the Ministers which were driven away by the Interim to their Charges within his Dominions,Reformation. and to perfect the Work of Reformation: And for that end, sent for Brentius, and kept him in his Castle of Stutgard, that he might have his advice and assistance, in carrying on that Work. Neither was he discouraged by the admonition of the Princes,… courage. and Bishops, nor by the threats of the Garrisons that were about him. He caused Brentius to write a Confession of Faith, and of the Doctrine of Christian Religion, and about the chief poin… in Controversie,He goes to Trent. which he intended to send to the council of Trent, and accordingly he did sent it by 2 Ambassadors, and An. Ch. 1552, Brentius, with 3 other Divines went after, eith… publickly in the Council to defend that Confession, or …o refute such decrees as should be made against it: But no answer could be extorted from those Fathers, neither could these …ivines be heard, nor were once called into the Council; whereupon after a while they returned home, not without great danger.His second marriage. About that time Brentius married again, one F…th. Isenman, a choice woman, who was a great comfort to …im all the rest of his life; by whom also he had twelve children. The year after the Pastor of Stutgard dying,He is chosen to Stutgard. Brentius was chosen into his room. In which place he continued all his life, and carried himself with much sedulity, pioty and prudence in the same, alwaies maintaining love and concord with his Colleagues. And in his Sermons he preached over the Pentateuch, and the Gospels of Matthew and Mark. And whereas one Peter a Soto, a Spaniard, wrote a Confession of the Roman Faith,He defends h…s Confession of Fai…h. and made some Annotations upon the forementioned Confession of Wirtemburg, labouring to bespatter, and traduce it, Brentius answered this out of the Scriptures and Fathers, defending the Doctrine of the Protestants against the opinions of the Papists, and the Decrees of the Councill of Trent, which he confuted, so that a blind man might perceive the Idolatries of the Romanists to be condemned by the Word of God.
Anno Christi 1557 he was sent by his Prince to the Conference at Worms, He goes to Worms.which came to nothing, because the Popish party would not suffer that the Scripture should be the Judg of their Controversies. In his old age hee wrote upon the Psalmes: And whereas there were many Monasteries in Wirtemburg, out of which the Friars were driven,Monasteries turned to schooles. he perswaded his Prince to turne them to Schooles for the training up of youth in learning, which was accordingly done; and once in two years Brentius visited those Schools, and took notice how the Scholars profited in Learning, and encouraged them to make a daily progresse therein. He had almost finished his Comment upon the Psalms, His sickness.when as his old age, worn out with studies and labours, put a period unto the same, and his end was hastned by grief for the immature death of his Prince, for whom he professed that he would willingly have sacrificed all his estate, & his own life also. Falling into a feaver, whereby he perceived that his end approached,He makes his Will. he made his Will, wherein he set down a Confession of his Faith: And sending for the Ministers of Stutgard▪ hee caused his sonne to read it to them, and requested them to subscribe their hands as witnesses to it. He also received the Sacrament, and exhorted them to unity in Doctrine,His patience. and love amongst themselves. He was exceeding patient in all his sickness, neither by word, nor gesture shewing the least impatience; alwaies saying, That he longed for a better, even an eternall life. The night before his death, he slept sweetly, and when he awaked, the Minister repeated the Apostles Creed, and asked him whether he dyed in that Faith: to whom he answered, Yea; which was his last word, and so he quietly resigned up his spirit unto God,His Death. Anno Christi 1570, and of his Age seventy one. He was buried with much honour, and had this Epitaph.
Voce, stylo, pietate, fide, candore probatus
Johannes tali Brentius ore fuit.
With voice, stile, piety, faith, and candor grac'd,
In outward shape, John Brentius was thus fac'd.
He was of a bigge stature,His Character. of a sirm health, in which hee continued to his old age, had strong fides, a clear, and full voice; had many excellent virtues, went through many great dangers, with an undaunted spirit. His piety to his Parents was very singular, and his love to God and his Church exemplary.
He wrote many things,His Works. which are printed in nine Tomes: Most of which are mentioned before in his life.