The Dead Yet Speaking, Biography 54
HENRICVS BVLLINGERVS.
The Life and Death of Henry Bullinger.
IN the year of our Lord 1504. Henricus Bullingerus was born at Bremogarta, a Town in Switzerland: he was descended from an ancient and a noble Family, much esteemed and honoured in those parts. Being an Infant he was twice in great danger of his life, but preserved by the powerfull hand of God, contrary to the expectation of his Parent… and friends: first, from the Pestilence, wherewith those parts were at that time grievously punished: and secondly, from a wound which he received in his …hr…at, by reason of a fall; whereby he was made unable to admit of any nourishment for the space of five dayes.
His Father being a man of great learning, and bearing an extraordinary affection unto the Arts and their Professors, he was very carefull to provide that the tender years of this his Son might be bathed in the Fountains of Learning; and for that cause (he being not fully five years old, he was sent unto a Countrey School neer adjoyning, where he continued seven years; but by reason of the inability of his Master, he profited not much; yet he attained unto that perfection, that he exceeded those which learned with him, not without the approbation of his Master. His Parents well perceiving the towardlinesse of the childe, and finding that Schoolmaster not to be a sufficient Tutor for him; they presently entred into a consideration of sending him unto some more eminent place, where he might be instructed in the Arts, for the better perfection of nature; and therefore in the year 1516. he was sent unto Embrick, a Town in the Dukedom of Clire, then famous for the many learned Schollers wherewith it was adorned: and here he was comitted unto the tuition of Casparus Glogoriensis, and of Petrus Cochemensis, Mosellanus, and others, being men beautified with excellent endowments, and famous both for their Method of Teaching, and severity of Discipline; which latter was most acceptable unto this Bullinger; and for that cause, being yet a childe, he had an intent to unite himself unto the Order of the Carthusians, it being the stric…est and most severest. In this place Bullinger concinued three years, to the great perfection of his Studies, and increasing of his knowledge in the Arts and Tongues. During which time he received little maintenance from his Father. He furnished himselfe with victuals, sometimes by singing, sometimes by begging from doore to doore. Which action he performed not because his Father was poore and could not, or covetous and would not confer a sufficient annuall pension on him; but he did it, because he desired to have some experience of the miserable and wretched condition of poore men; that iu future times he might be the more willing and ready to relieve and succour them. Afterwards, he removed unto Colen, where he studied Logick, and notice being taken of his excellent qualities, he proceeded Bachelor of Arts; and because there was great controversies in the Churches then, touching some points of Divinity, he inclined unto the Study of Theologie, and withall desired to know of those who were esteemed the best Schollars, what Authors were fittest to be read, to ground him in the knowledge thereof. They all advise him to consult with Lombard, his writings being of good account and authority in those times. This counsell was embraced by Bullinger, who not contenting himselfe with that Author, he went unto Georgius Deinerus; by whose procurement he obtained an admission into the publick Library at Colen; where he studied the Homilies of Chrysostome on Matthew, read over some chiefe parts of the Workes of Augustine, Ambrose, Origen, the Workes of Luther he read privately in his own Chamber, which indeed were the meanes of inlightning his understanding; for by the reading of them he was induced to peruse and to search into the Scriptures, and especially into the New Testament; whereby he entred into a detestation of the Doctrine of the Church of Rome, and into a constant and firme resolution of rejecting the auster… life of the Carthusian Monkes.
In this Academy he went forth Master of Arts, and then he returned unto his Fathers house, where he spent a whole year in his private studies and meditations, at the end whereof he was called by Wolfangus Ionerus, unto Capella (he being Abbot there) a Monastery situate in the fields of Tigurum, and advanced by him to be Head-schoolmaster, during his residence he was entirely beloved, not onelyonly of the Abbot, but also of Simler Zuinglius O…colampadius, and of other excellent and reverend personages, for those excellent parts wherewith he was endewed.
About this time he joyned with Zuinglius as touching a reformation in the Church, the labouring to produce it at Tigurum, and the other endeavouring to effect it at Capella; which in short time took good effect, for they cleared both places of Masses, and Idoles, and of many other things, which appeared superstitious in the Church, this he did during his residence at Capella, and with so much the more happy success because he was appointed to read the publick Divinity Lecture in the same school.
In the year 1529. he was called unto Bremogart, the place of his birth, to Preach the Word of truth unto them: here he began openly to condemne the errours of the Papists, stoutly defending his Fathers doctrine, who had formerly discovered and confuted their errors, but some of the more eminent Citizens, not well brooking his doctrine, exercised their authority, in expelling him the City; placing in his office a godly and learned Theologue, named Gervasius Scholasticus, but his name being famous amongst the Switzers, and many of them having a great desire to hear him, he was called unto his owne Country to preach the Gospel of Christ, wherein he was so powerfull that he caused them to rectifie many abuses in the Church, and so well approved of, that the Senate kindly intreated him to remaine there, and to goe forward in his teaching? he answered them, that he was so strictly bound by promise unto the Senate of Tigurum, and to the Abbot of Capella, that he could doe nothing without their leave and consent: Wherefore they presently dispatched an Embassador unto Cahella, who wrought so effectually with the Senate, that they willed Bullinger to remaine in his owne Country, where he continued Preaching the Gospell together with Gervasius three years with the Unanimous consent of all the Citizens, and the Gospell by the industry of these two learned and vigilant watchmen flourished in the same place: which (although it weare opposed by the Anabaptists, who laboured to hinder the growth of the Church) was preferred by God, who stirred up this Bullinger to confute with invincible arguments in the presence of the whole Church, their erronious opinions.
But as one misery seldome comes alone, without the addition of another, even so it happened at this present, for the Church of Bremogart was not onelyonly troubled with the erronious opinions of these Anabaptists; but also vexed with intestine discords, where in the Papists having the upper hand, Bullinger with his father and brother, and his faithfull colleague Gervas…ius were banished their Country, in the yeare of our Lord 1531. whence departed they went unto Tigurum, and were kindly entertained by Wernerus Striner, who together with them greatly lamented the troublesome State of the Church. In the same yeere the Church of Basil was destitute of a Pastor, by reason of the death of Oecolampadius, whereupon he was called by them unto the discharging of a Pastorall office amongst them, but the Senate of Tigurum detained him, and appointed him in the place of Zuinglius, according to his owne desire, for when he went forth with the Tigurines to Battell, he desired of them if any misfortune came unto him, that they would be pleased to Nominate Bullinger to be his successour.
And unto this office he was called in a time full of danger, even to build up and to confirme and strengthen a Church, greatly shaken and afflicted. Which he performed with such patience and modesty, that false Doctrine began againe to be discovered, and the truth to be firmly planted in the hearts of many; which he well perceiving, ceased not to proceed and go forward, praising almighty God for ordaining and esteeming him a worthy instrument for the advancing and propagating of his Truth: and for that cause he wrote a Confession of his Faith, sending it unto Constance to Bucer, and other learned Divines there assembled for the establishing of an agreement amongst the Churches; which worke of his was approved of by Bucer and by the whole Assembly, esteeming it worthy to be embraced of the adjacent Churches.
In the year 1536. he was present at Basel with Bucer and others, about the reconciling of different points, which did great hurt unto the Church, and especially about the reconciliation betwixt Luther and the Hevetian Churches; where it being declared against him, that he laboured for a defection unto Luther, and all his opinions he cleared himselfe of that asper…ion, but departed unsatisfied concerning his desire, to his great griefe; who notwithstanding so brideled his affection, that in the midst of their contentions, he abstained from all bitternesse of speech.
In the year 1538. some of our English Nobility came unto …igurum, to be instructed in the grounds of Religion, and to have his judgement concerning the publicke rites and Ceremonies of the Church. This happened about the time that Henry the eight had disburdened himself of the weight of the Pope, the English being greatly inflamed to imbrace a pure worship of the Lord, which had not yet been conversant amongst them; these men were kindely entertained by Bullinger, who also gave them full satisfaction concerning the things demanded; before their departure, they intreated him that he would write some short Treatise concerning Religion unto their Soveraigne, whereby he might be egged forward in his resolution touching the reformation of the Church. Unto which he willingly condiscended, and wrote unto the King two learned Treatises, exhorting him to set aside the inventions of men, and to give himselfe wholly unto the Word of God; and to have all things in his Dominion regulated and squared according unto the Canonicall Scripture.
In the year following he laboured to purge the Church of that grosse errour of Casparus Schroenckfeldius a Silesian, concerning the Humane nature of Christ, who taught that after his ascention into heaven, and sitting at the right hand of his Father, it was so Deified and made coequall unto the Word, that it was no more a creature; which errour received strength and was fostered by the approbation of great persons in Suevia, but quickly overthrowne by the laborious Preaching and writing of Bullinger. Within short time after, there …ell out a hot and irreconcileable contention betwixt Luther and the other Protestant Pastors, insomuch that he openly stiled them damned Hereticks and enemies unto the Sacrament; insomuch that Melancthon said unto Bullinger, desino sperare ecclesiarum pacem; I despaire of a setled peace amongst the Churches; and again, privato periculo, quod nunc mihi impendet, etsi non est Leve, tamen tantum non movear quan…m Ecclesiarum distractionibus. I am not so much grieved with that private danger which on all sides threatens my ruine, as I am with these distraction… of the Church: but these contentions ceased and were taken away by the death of Luther: yet there followed an happy consent and agreement betwixt Calvin and the Church of Geneva of the one …ide, and the Tigurines on the other, concerning the Sacrament; wherein Calvin seemed to adhaere unto the opinion of Luther in the judgement of the Tigurine Ministers. Wherefore that he might free himselfe from this suspition, taking Farellus with him, he came unto Tigurum, where a forme of agreement was written by Calvin and Bullinger, and approved of by the Churches of R…etia and Helvetio, and afterwards published for the generall good of the Church; and by this means (God so disposing) the Churches were not onelyonly united firmely amongst themselves, but also many were confirmed and strengthned in the knowledge of the truth. And this agreement set such an edge on the teeth of their Adversaries, that they began more bitterly to inveigh against the truth of Christ; and still labouring to propagate the truth, he wrote severall Decades unto Edward the sixt King of England. And because a free and unmolested Preaching of the Gospell was granted unto the English, he sent frequent letters unto the Nobility, Bishops and Pastors of the Church, exhorting them unto a perseverance in the worke begun, and that with all purity and constancy. During which act of his, a Legate came from the Pope with Authority to command the Helvetian Prelates to be present at the Councill of Trent. Who was answered by Bullinger, that Concilium Tridentinum institutum esse ad opprimendam veritatem: that that Councill was ordained for the suppressing of the truth; and withall, he denied Helvetios Evangelicos Papae, obedientiam ullam debire: that they owed not any obedience unto the Pope at all, whose yoak they had now cast off, &c.
Not long after there was a dissention in the Church of Geneva, concerning Gods Election, the Author whereof was Hieronimus Bolsecus, a Professor of Physick: who openly opposed the doctrine of Calvin, exhorting the people not to suffer themselves to be seduced and led away by him; affirming Bullinger, and many other learned Divines to be of the same opinion with himselfe; wherefore it seemed good unto the Senate and unto the bretheren of the Church of Geneva, to send unto Bullinger for his opinion concerning that point, who in expresse words returned this answer, that he which did teach that Gods eternall Election did depend on foreseen Faith, did malitiously abuse the doctrine of the Church of Tigurum. About this tim… Edward the sixt dyed in England, whose eldest sister coming to the Crown, changed that forme of Religion established by her brother, and subjected the whole Kingdome againe to the Pope of Rome; sharply persecuting those who were knowne to make profession of the true faith: wherefore many Noble and learned men were inforced to flye, some into Germany, many into Switzerland, building themselves a Colledge at Tigurum; being greatly assisted by Bullinger, who then ratified that covenant of friendship, which he had formerly promised in the dayes of Henry the eight. In the yeere 1561. the Councell of Trent was begun againe by Pius the fourth then Pope, but the States and Protestant Princes of Germany refused to be present, and likewise the English together with the Helvetian Cities: during the continuance of which Councell Bullinger laboured to extirpate the haeresies newly crept into th… Church (viz.) That of Brentius, affirming of the Ubiquity of the humaine nature; untill such time as a mercilesse pestilence invaded the City of Tigurum, ceazing upon Bullinger himselfe, insomuch that he dispaired of his life, and therefore called the Ministers of Tigurum unto him, and took his leave of them with a grave admonition, but it pleased God to restore him again unto his former health, and he became an instrument of much good after in the Church; about this time or immediately after began that War which was called Sacrum, and the Prince of Condey suspecting some treason intended against his Excellency, sent an Embassador unto the Switzers in generall, and unto Bullinger in particular to intreat some …de and succours from them; but the Embassadour of the King coming thither, at the same time there was no answer given unto the Embassador of the Prince of Condey, who after a private manner departed from Tigurum, forthwith there arose cruell Warres in France: great was the number of Pastors and godly persons who fled, som to Geneva some to Berne, and most of them being in extreame want and poverty, Bullinger caused publick collections to be made for them in the Churches, whereby they received unexpected reliefe; and so he continued being carefull for the members of the Church, that their doctrine might be pure and uncorrupted, untill it pleased God to vi…it him with his last sicknesse, which indeed was the longest, it continuing for the space of four whole monthes, in which time he endured the sharpest paines with an admirable patience, yeelding no signe or token of any indignation or displeasure; the greater paines he suffered, the ferventer were his prayers unto God; whensoever he found some eas…, he would enter into some good discourse either with his family, or with such strangers as came to visit him, to whom he would often say, si deo visum fuerit, mea opera …lterius in ecclesiae ministerio uti, ipse vires sufficiae & libens illi parebo, sui … voluerit, quod opto, & hac vita, &c.
It seemeth good unto Almighty God to account me worthy to exercise a Pastorall office in his Church yet longer, let him give me strength and I will willingly obey him, but if he will call me out of this life, which is the thing that I desire, I am also ready to obey his will, for nothing can be more welcome unto me then to leave this wretched and sinfull world, and to goe unto my Saviour Christ.
His paines still increasing, he caused the Pastors and Professors of the City to come unto him, unto whom he delivered a large Oration: where in the first place he kindly thanked them for that their love in comming unto him, afterwards he opened unto them that faith in which and for which he was ready to lay downe his life, in the thi… place he freely, and from his heart forgave all his Enem…es, then he exhorted them constantly to continue in that doctrine which they had together Professed with him, and withall he wished them to take heed of the vulgar vice of the Germaine Nation, because they who were subject unto that sin could by no meanes doe good in the Church of God: such good things as proceed from them will be contemned of the people, he exhorted them also unto a concord and unity amongst themselves, to love one another and to defend one another, because they should be sure enough to find many opposers and enemies, who would desire nothing more then their ruine; and in the last place he advised them to have a reverend respect unto the Senate, who had hitherto constantly defended the doctrine of the Gospell.
As he tooke his leave thus of the Pastors by word of mouth, so he tooke his leave of the Senate by writing commending the care of the Church and publick-schoole unto them, & withal desires that Rodolphus Guatterus might be his successor, whom he adjudged the most fit for the discharging of a Pastorall office in that place; having thus after a friendly manner taken his leave, he prepared himselfe to meet the Lord; and in the midst of his extremities sometimes repeating the sixteenth, sometimes the forty two, sometimes the fifty one Psalmes, sometime… the Lords prayers, sometimes other prayers… at the last framing himselfe as it were to sleep, he quietly yeelded his soule into the hands of God, on the eighteenth of September, in the year 1575. and in the 71. year of his age.
He was th… most excellent of all the Divines that Switzerland yeelded; he was an undaunted defender of the truth of Christ; he was of a weak disposition, plain… in teaching, a lover of truth, but a det…ster of Sophisticall …nd unprofitable arguments in his speech, he was affable and courteous, aswell towards those of his family as towards strangers; he was sparing in his dyet, loving unto all, and studious, as it plainly appeares by his works here following which he left behind him, as testifications of his desire unto the generall good and benefit of the Church.
Tome 1.
1. A Catechisme for the Trigurine Schoolmasters. 2. An Epitomie of Christian Religion, in ten Books. 3. Sermons on the …eads of Christian Religion.
Tome 2.
1. A Confession and Exposition of the Orthodox Faith. 2. A Declaration proving the Protestant Churches …o be neither Hereticall nor Scismaticall. 3. A Compendium of the Popish and Protestant tenets. 4. The old Faith and Religion. 5. Of Gods eternall Covenant. 6. An Assertion of the two natures in Christ. 7. Instit…tion of Christian Matrimony. 8. Instructions for the sicke. 9. Declarations of Gods benefits unto the Switzers. 10. Exhortations to Repentance.
Tome 3.
1. A Treatise of the Sabbath, and of Christian …easts. 2. Of the Office of Magistrates, and of an Oath. 3. Of Repentance. 4. Of Conversion unto God. 5. An Explanation of Daniels Prophesies. 6. Of the office Prophetical. 7. An Exhortation unto Ministers to leave off Controversies. 8. Of the Originall of Ma…omenatisme. 9. Of the Persecutions of the Church.
Tome 4.
1. A Preface to th… Latin Bible. 2. Sixtie six Homilies on Daniel. 3. Epitomie of the times from the Creation to the Dest…uction of Jerus…lem.
Tome 5.
1. Homili…s on Isaiah. 2. Sermons on Jeremiah. 3. An Exposition on the Lamentation.
Tome 6.
1. Commentaries on Matthew. 2. Marke. 3. Luke. 4. John. 5. Acts of the Apostles. 6. A Series of times and actions of the Apostles.
Tome 7.
1. Commentaries on the Epistles of Saint Paul. 2. Sermons on the Revelation.
Tome 8.
1. A Demonstration of Christian perfection to Henry the second King of France. 2. Of the authority of the Scripture. 3. Of the I…stitution of Bishops.
Never could worth lodge in a richer brest;
Those blessings he enjoy'd, made others blest;
He was compos'd of sweetnesse, and his heart
Was alwayes cheerefull, willing to impart
The truth to them that studyed how to grieve
For sin, and would prove willing to believe.
He was laborious and he could expresse
Hatred to nothig, more then Idelnesse.
Grave Doctors of those times would then submit
To his profound, incomparable wit;
For his grave judgment was so highly pris'd
That most would act, what Bullenge… advis'd.
Is it not …iting then, that we should give
Due praise to him, whose worth will make him live.