The Dead Yet Speaking, Biography 69 – Biography 70
The Life and Death of George So…nius who dyed Anno Christi 1589.
GEorge Sohnius was born at Friburg in Wetteraw Ann… Christi 1551. of honest parents, and brought up a… School in learning, where he sucked in the first rudiment… with much eagernesse; and fom School went to the Un… versity of Marpurg, at fifteen years old: where he profited so exceedingly in Logick and Philosophy, that he was made Batchelor of Arts at the years end. Anno Christi 1569. he went to Wittenberg, where he studyed Philosophy, Law, and Divinity with incredible pains, so that at three year… end with the approbation of the whole University, he wa… made Master of Arts: he intended at first the study of Law… But it pleased God on a sudden so to divert his heart from it, and to incline him to the study of Divinity, that he could have no rest in himselfe till he had resolved upon it… Anno Christi 1571. he returned to Marpurg, and studyed H…brew, and the year after he read the Arts to many student… privately, and became Tutor to three Noblemen: at twenty three years old he was so famous, that by the consent of all the Divines in that University, he was chosen into the number and order of Professors of Divinity: the year after he married a wife, a choyce maid, by whom he had three sons, and two daughters: the same year also he was chosen the Professor of the Hebrew Tongue in that University: Anno Christi 1578. he was made Doctor in Divinity, and falling sick about that time, he made an excellent conf…ssion of his faith: But it pleas…d God that he recovered, and was not onelyonly a constant preacher of the truth, but a strong defender of it against errors, confuting the Vbiquitarians, and that so boldly, that he chose rather to hazard banishment then to connive at errors: His fame spread abroad …xceedingly, so that many sought for him, especially Iohn of N…ssaw and Iohn Cassimire the Elector Palatine, the first desired him to come and begin his University at Herborn, where he should have had greater honor, and a larger stipend: the other desired him to Heidleberg to be the Divinity Professor in that place. His answer was, That he was born rather for labours, then honours, and therefore chose to goe to Heidleberg, being thirty three years old, and was entertained lovingly of the Prince: and his coming was most gratefull to the University, where he tooke exceeding great paines: and was eminent for Piety, Humility, Gravity, Prudence, Patience and Industry: so that in the year 1588. he was chosen into the number of the Ecclesiasticall Senators, for the government of the Church. He was famous for Learning, Eloquence, Faithfulnesse and Diligence in his place, and Holinesse and Integrity in his life. In the year 1589. he fell sicke, for which and his change he had been carefully fitting himselfe beforehand; and therefore bore it with much patience, and with fervent Prayer; often repeated, O Christ, thou art my redeemer, and I know that thou hast redeemed mee: I wholly depend upon thy providence and mercy: from the very bottome of my heart I commend my spirit into thy hands, and so he slept in the Lord Anno Christi 1589. a…d of his Age 38.
Industrious, humble, prudent, patient, grave:
What other vertues that a man could have
Sohnius enjoyn'd with peacefulnesse: his hand
Was apt to write, his heart to understand:
He tooke delight to meditate upon
The love of God; his owne salvation:
He study'd how to dye: his wel-spent breath
Was but a rare preparative to death:
And having ended his laborious dayes,
He dy'd in peace, and now he lives in praise.
The Life and Death of Laurence Humfried, who dyed Anno Christi 1589.
LAurence Humfried was borne in the County of Bucking…am, and brought up at School, and then sent to Oxford; where he was admitted into the Colledge of Mary Magdalen, and followed his Studies hard all the dayes of King Edward the sixt. But in the beginning of those bloudy Marian dayes, wherein so many were forced to forsake their native soyle, he (amongst the rest) went beyond Se… into Germany, where he continued till the beginning of Queen Elizabeths reign, whom God raised up to be a nursing Mother to his Church; at which time he came backe, and returned to Oxford, where he was very famous both for his Learning and Preaching: then also he commensed Doctor in Divinity; and by reason of his excellent parts, h… was very instrumentall in the advancement of Gods glory. And whereas that wicked Sect of the Jesuits was lately risen up, he, by his learned writings, did both from Scripture and Antiquity, di…cover their impostures and Popish deceits. Afterwards he was made the Master of Magdal… Colledge, and the Regius Professor; which places he discharged with singular commendations for many years together; and at the last, quietly resigned up his spirit into the hands of God, in the year 1589.
Though persecuting Times pursu'd and chast
This pious Father, yet he still embrac'd
And hugg'd the Truth; his heart remained frée
From persecution and captivity.
Those weighty words which pleasantly persu'd
Out of his mouth… soon conquer'd and subdu'd
Inticing Iesuits; he made them know
Their errours by a fatall overthrow.
Thus having labour'd with a faithfell brest,
Heav'n thought it fit to crown his soul with rest.