The Marrow of Ecclesiastical History, Matthias Flacius
The Life of Flacius Illiricus, who died Ano Christi 1575.
MAtthias Flacius Illiricus was borne in Albona in Sclavonia, His Birth and Parentage.Anno Christi 1520, of an ancient and numerous Family. His Father being learned himself, and discerning a good ingeny in his Sonne,His education. began in his tender years to instill into him the first Rudiments of Learning. But after his death, his Masters so neglected him, that he almost forgot all. Yet when he began to have discretion, he desired much to attaine to Learning, and returned to his studies, and to further him therein, went to Venice, He goes to Venice.and after some progress made, at seventeen years old hee beganne to study Divinity: but wanting means to maintaine him in the University, he profered halfe his estate to be admitted into a Monastery, either at Bononia, or Padua; but a friend, called Baldus, a godly man, who afterwards suffered Martyrdom for the Truth, disswaded him from that kinde of life, and advised him rather to goe into Germany, where were store of Learned men. Hereupon,He goes to Venice. having read over some of the Protestants bookes, and liking Baldus his advice, hee went into Germany, which he had never before seen; and first staying at Basil, he studied under Simon Grynaeus, who did not only entertain him, being very poor, but provided for him, and instructed him in the Truth, which was An. 1539. And about the end of the ear he went from thence to Tubing, where also he studied a while under Matthias Garbicius, His Poverty.& then went to Wittenberg, An. Chr. 1541, where he privately taught Greek and Hebrew for his maintenance, and heard Luther and Melancthon. He was much troubled there with temptations about Sinne, His Tentation.Gods wrath, and Predestination: But by the good counsel of Pomerane and Luther, and the publick praiers of the Church, it pleased God that he overcame them.
Melancthon loved him much for his Wit and Learning, and maintained him at his own charges: And when Flacius was reasonable well grounded in the Greek, he fel to the study of the Hebrew, His Marriage.and commenced Mr. of Arts. He also married a wife, and had a stipend allowed him by the Prince Elector, Anno 1544. But when by reason of the Wars, that University was dissipated, he went to Brunswick, being invited thither by Medler, where he got much credit by his publlck teaching. The Warres being ended, he returned to Wittenberg, Anno 1547. But when the Interim came forth, and Melancthon thought that for peace-sake somthing should be yeelded to in things indifferent,The Interim opposed by him. Flacius, with the Divines of Lubec, Lunenburg, Hamborough, and Madgeburg strongly opposed it, as opening a gap to the return of Popery. Hereupon shortly after he removed to Madgeburg, where he strongly opposed Popery,He goes to Magdeburg. the Interim, and whatsoever was contrarie to the Augustane Confession. There also he assisted Gallus, Wigand, and Judex, in writing the Madgeburgenses Centuries; Confuted the opinion of Osiander about the Justification of a man before God, and the fond conceits of Schwensield. And when the Duke of Saxonie had erected an University at Jeans, And from thence to Jeans. And to Ratisbone.hee sent for him thither, Anno Christi 1557. But after five years a great contention arising between Strigelius and him about Free will, he left that place and went to Ratisbone; and Anno Christi 1567 the Citizens of Antwerp, having procured liberty for the free exercise of the Reformed Religion, sent for Flacins amongst others thither; but Religion being quickly expelled thence,And to Suasborough. he went to Strasborough, where he published his Glosse upon the New Testament. And from thence to Franckfurt upon the Main, where after a while falling out with the Ministers about the Essence of Originall Sin, he fell into great disgrace, and not long after died, Anno Christi 1575,His Death. and of his Age 55.
He was of an unquiet wit, alwaies contending with some or other, and brought much grief to Melancthon; yet wrote some excellent Workes for the benefit of the Church; and amongst others,His Works. his Catalogus Testium Veritatis: His Clavis sacrae Scripturae: His Martyrologie, with many others set down by Verheiden in his Praestantium Theologorum effigies.