The Dead Yet Speaking, Biography 96
ARETIVS BENEDICTVS.
The Life and Death of Aretius Benedictus.
AS the Lord hath never been wanting unto his Church both in these and in forraine parts, in the stirring up of painfull and …ealous Watch-men for the Propagating of his truth, and for the enlightning of the understanding of those whom he had elected unto salvation in Jesus Christ, so he hath not been deficient in procuring the affection of eminent persons towards the same Professors, by whose meanes, they have been defended and sheltered against the inviterate malice both of the Divell and his members. Malicious enemies unto the Word of truth, amonst whom the Senate of Berna may justly receive worthy Commendations, for the constant love shewed unto the zealous professors of the truth, it being indeed the maine pillar which doth support the welfare of a Commonwealth, and which doth draw downe a blessing from heaven upon their intended designes.
In this …amous City was Benedictus Aretius borne a faithfull & zealous professors of the truth of Christ: being beautified with excellent endowments, both of learning and piety, which did sufficiently testifie that he was set apart by the Lord for the winning of many unto Christ.
He spent his youth in his owne Country amongst the Switzers, wherein he was instructed and trained up in the knowledge of the Arts: but ayming at a greater perfection & labouring …or a sounder judgement in the works & writings of other learned and Orthodox men, he left his Country for a season and went unto Marpurg, where by reason of his eminent gifts and qualities he gained the love of many learned Schollers: and was designed and oppointed to read the Logick Lecture in the same place; which after he had performed for the space of some years, to the great profit of his Auditors, to the never dying fame of himselfe, and to the generall applause of all the City; having also attained in some measure to that perfection, which he had formerly desired, he returned again unto Berne where he was joyfully received and by a generall consent, appointed to open the Scriptures, and to instruct the inhabitants in the way of life; in which exercise he observed such an edifying method both in his publick reading and Preaching, that he drew great multitudes of people unto him, who beholding his proceedings with great admiration, with one consent praised the Lord for sending so learned and so painfull an instrument among them, for the plant…ng of the truth in their hearts.
So excellent was his forme of teaching that many Divines came unto his Lectures, not onelyonly for the information of their judgements in matters of Controversies, but also to learne his method of teaching; which being obtained by some, they proved excellent instruments in the Church for the converting of the lost sheepe of Israel; and many would not in publicke make triall of their owne parts, before they had continued for a season to be his Auditors. His writings were greatly in request, and desired greatly of all that either knew him or heard of him, but especially his labours in Divinity: one of his bookes called Eramen Theologic…m came to the Presse twelve times within the space of three years, which doth declare the excellency and how usefull and beneficiall it was unto the Church in those times, and in these dayes also it is a Worke fit to be perused of all such as doe intend the study of Divinity.
After that he had continued this constant course of teaching in the City of Berne, for the space of many years, to the great furtherance of the glory of God and benefit of his Church, it pleased the Lord to take him unto himselfe, and to Crowne him with a di…dem of everlasting glory with the rest of his holy Saints in the year of grace 1574. the twentieth two of April, his death was much lamented by the Citizens of Berne, who received some comfort by the beholding of those excellent and learned Treatises which he left behind him, as so many never dying testifications of his zeale, for the advancing of the Gospell of Christ.
1 A forme for Students. 2 Two tables of the Hebrew Grammar. 3 A triall for Divines. 4 The History of Valentine the Gentile. 5 A censure of the propositions of the Catabaptists. 6 Two Treatises of the sacred Scriptures. 7 Common places of Divinity. 8 Lectures on the Lords Supper. 9 Commentaries on the four Evangelists. 10 On the Acts of the Apostles. 11 An Iitroduction unto the reading of Saint Pauls Epistles. 12 Commentaries on all his Epistles. 13 On the Revelation. 14 Physicall Workes of Compositions and their degrees.
His name be-speakes him happy, and his worth
Swels high enough to set his prayses forth
In ample volumes; for his soul was lin'd
With true Divinity; his serious mind…
Was alwayes active, labring to invest
Distressed souls with true angel-like rest:
Let his examples teach us how to be
Content in truth, and love Divinity;
That so at last we may receive those gaiues
That daily waite upon celestiall straines.