The Marrow of Ecclesiastical History, Peter Viretus
The Life of Peter Viretus, who died Ano Christi 1571.
PEter Viretus was born at Orba in the Country of the Bernates, His birth and education.brought up in learning at Paris, where he beganne to be acquainted with Farel, whom afterwards he helpt much in setling the Churches in those parts; But principally the Church of Lausanna, where he spent many years in the Ministry, and writing books to his great praise. And when Calvin was sent to the Conference at Worms An. Chr. 1541, and from thence to Ratisbone, he obtained of the Senate of Lausanna, that Virete should supply his place at Geneva till his return: and when he came back he much importuned that Virete might still continue there, affirming that it would much conduce to the good of the Church at Geneva to enjoy his labours; but he would needs return to Lausanna to his former charge. Afterwards, at the earnest entreaty of the French-Churches he went to Lions, He goes to Lions.where, in the middest of the Civill Warrs, and the Pestilence which followed, he, with his Colleagues, governed the Church with much prudence; till, by the Jesuits means, Anno 1563, there was a Proclamation sent abroad, that none but such as were Native French, should be Preachers in the Protestant Churches, upon which occasion many forraign Ministers were driven out of France, and amongst the rest Master Virete. Then at the earnest request of the Queen of Navarre he went to Bern, He goes to Bern. His death.where hee continued untill his death, which was Anno Christi 1571, and of his Age sixty. He was much bewailed of all good men.
Whilst he lived he was of a very weak constitution,Popish malice. and the rather by reason of poyson which a Priest had given to him at Geneva; as also because of some wounds that he had received from a Priest that lay in wait for him in another place, where he was left for dead. He was very learned, of a sweet disposition,His Character. and so exceeding Eloquent, that he drew many to be his hearers,His eloquence. which were no friends to Religion; and they were so chained to his lips, that they never thought the time long wherein he preached, but alwaies wished his Sermons longer. At Lions, which was a populous City, he preached in an open place, and turned some thousands to the Truth, and Faith in Christ; yea some that passed by, with no purpose to hear his Sermon, Yet did he so work upon them, that they neglected their other businesse to hearken to him. At that time France enjoyed those three excellent Preachers,The great fruit of his Ministry. Calvin, Farel, and Virete: Calvin was famous for his Learning, Farell for his earnestnesse, and Viret for his Eloquence: Whereupon Baza made these verses:
Gallica mirata est Calvinum Ecclesia nuper:
Quo nemo docuit doctius.
Est quo que te nuper mirata, Farelle, tonantem:
Quo nemo tonuit fortius.
Et miratur adhuc fundentem mella Viretum:
Quo nemo fatur dulciùs.
Scilicet aut tribus his servabere testibus olim:
Aut interibis, Gallia.
Scripta Viretus reliquit. Commentarios in Acta Apost. De origine novae, & veteris Idololatriae, lib. 5. Qua Imagines, & Reliquiae verae, aut falsa sint. Quis verus Mediator. De origine, continuatione, usu, authoritate, at que praestantia Ministerii Verbi Dei, & Sacrament orum, &c. De vero Verbi Dei, Sacramentorum, & Eccl…siae Ministerio, lib. 2. De Adulterinis Sacramentis. De Theatrica Missae saltatione, &c. De usu salutationis Augelicae, &c. Epistola ad fideles agentes inter Papistas. Epistolae consolatoriae, De officio hominis, & necessitate inquirendi de voluntate Dei ex ejus verbo, &c. Physicae Papalis Dialogi 5. Christianarum Disputationum Dialogi 6. Instructio Christiana, &c. Dialogi de confusione Mundi. De communicatione fidelium. Expositio Orationis Dominicae. De natura & varietate V…torum, at que Legum Divinarum. Disputationes de statu defunctorum, &c.