The Dead Yet Speaking, Biography 36
The Life and Death of Bugenhagius, who died Anno Christi 1558.
IOhn Bugenhagius was born at Iulinum in Pomerania, An… christi 1485. His Parents were of the rank of Senators, who bred him up carefully in Learning, and sent him to the University of Grypswald, where he profited in the study of the Arts, and the Greek tongue. Being twenty years old he taught School at Trepta, and by his learning and diligence, he made the School famous, and had many Schola… to whom also he red daily some portion of Scripture, and p…yed with them… and meeting with Erasmus his booke againe the …str…onicall carriage of the Fryar…, & the Idolatry of the times, he gat so much light thereby, that he was stirred up to instruct others therein, and for that end in his Schoole he read Matthew, the Epistles to Timothy, and the P…alms, to which he added Catechising, and also expounded the Creed, and th… ten Commandements; unto which exercises many …entlemen, Citizens, and Priests resorted: from the Schoole he was called to preach in the Church, and was admitted into the Colledge of Presbyters: many resorted to his Sermons of all ranks, and his fame spred abroad: insomuch as Bogeslau…, the Prince of that Country, employed him in writing an History of the same, aud …urnished him with mony, books, and records for the enabling of him thereto: which History he compleated in two yeeres, with much judgement, and integrity.
Anno Christi 1520. one of the Citizens of Trep…a, having Luthers booke of the Babylonish Captivitie sent him, he gave it to Bugenhagius, as he was at dinner with his Collegues, who looking over some leaves of it, told them that many Hereticks had disq…ieted the peace of the Church since Christs time, yet there was never a more pestilent Hereticke then the Author of that book: but after some few dayes, having read it with more diligence and attention, he made this publick Recantation before them all; What shall I say of Luther, All the world hath been blinde and in cimme…ian darknesse, onelyonly this one man hath found out the Truth. And further disputing of those questions with them, he brought most of his Collegues to be of his judgement therein: Hereupon Bugenhagius read Luthe…'s other Works diligently, whereby he learned the difference between the Law and the Gospell, Justification by Faith, &c. and taught these things also to his Hearers. But the Divell envying the successe of the Gospell, stirred up the Bishop to persecute the professours of it, some of which he cast into Prison, and caused others to flye away; insomuch, as Bugenhagius also being not safe, and desirous to be acquainted, and to confer with Luther, went to Wittembourg Anno christi 1521. and of his … 36. and came thither a little before Luther's going to th… Diet at Worms: In whose absence he opposed …arolostadius, who would have all Magistrates to rule by the Judicial… of Moses, and Images to be cast out of Churches. Upon Luther's return out of his Pathmos, he was chosen Pastor of the Church of Wittembourg; which he taught and governed with much felicity, and in many changes of affairs, for the space of thirty six years, never leaving his station, neithe… for War nor Pestilence; and when he was profered Riche… and Preferment both in Denmark and Pomeron, yet he would never leave his Charge, though he lived but poorly in it… Anno christi 1522. he was sent for to Hamburg, where h… prescribed to them a forme both of Doctrine, Ceremonie… and Calling of Ministers; where he erected a Schoole also… which afterwards grew very famous: and Anno christi 1530 being sent for to Lubec, he prescribed to them also an order both for Preaching and Discipline, and set up a School… there also. Anno christi 1537. he was sent for by Christi… King of Denmarke, to reform Religion in his Dominion…; at which time, he set forth a Booke about the Ordination of Ministers: There also, instead of the seven Bishops of Denmarke, he setled seven Superintendents to Ordain Ministers, and to see to the Government of the Church, whom he ordained in the presence of the King and the Senate, in the chief Church of Hafnia. He set up Lectures also in that University, and Ordained Ministers for the Churches of Denmark and Norway, of which there were foure and twenty thousand. Anno christi 1542. he was employed by the elector of Saxonie, to Reform the Churches in the Dukedome of Brunswick: the year following, the Senate of Hilvesia sent for him to Reform their Churches; where he, with Corvinus and Henry Winckle, wrote them a Form of Ordination, and Ordained six Pastors for their six Congregations. Anno christi 1533. he proceeded Doctor, at th… instigation of Ioh. Friderick, Elector of Saxonie. Afterwards, in the Wars of Germanie for Religion, W…ttenberg was besieged, and Bugenhagius being grown old he met with many troubles, yet would he never flye, but by daily prayer to God he much cheared up himself, considering that in so great tempests, the poor Ship of Christ's Church was not swallowed up and devoured.
The Controversies and Quarrels which sprung up in the Church, were the greatest grief to him. Being grown old, and his strength so decayed that he could no longer Preach he yet resorted daily to Church, where he poured forth fervent Prayers both for himself and the afflicted condition of the Church of God at that time. Afterwards, falling sick (though without much pain) he continued instant in prayer, and holy conference with his friends. And drawing near to his end, he often repeated, This is life eternall, to know Thee the onelyonly true God; and him whom thou hast sent Iesus Christ: and so quietly departed in the Lord Anno christi 1558. and of his Age 73.
He was a faithfull Pastor; mercifull to the poor; severe and stout in reproof: an earnest defendour of the Truth against Errors: ardent in Prayer, &c. He joyned with Luther in the Translation of the Bible: which being finished, every year upon that day, he invited his friends, and made a Feast, which he called, The Feast of the Translation of the Bible.
When the Cimmerian darknesse had forsooke
Brave Bugenhagius, he rous'd up, and tooke
Truth by the hand, and from a Foe he turn'd
A friend to Luther, though at first he spurn'd
Against his writings, yet at last his brest
Repented what he rashly had exprest.
Then like a Starre he shin'd and was content
To teach himselfe… and others to repent.