The Dead Yet Speaking, Biography 7
HVLRICVS ZVINGLIVS.
The life and Death of Huldericus Zuinglius.
In the yeer of our Lord God one thousand four hundred eighty and seven, Huldericus Zuinglius the Angel of the Church at Tigurum, was borne, and on the first of Ianuary in a little village which in the language of the Switzers, is called Wild-house: he was descended from pious, vertuous and Religious Parents; his Father also being a man advanced unto great dignity and authority, amongst the Switzers in regard of his approved and well deserving parts.
He by daily observation, (without doubt to his great comfort) seeing and perceiving more then an ordinary towardlinesse in his Sonne; and beholding a future worth to discover it selfe, even from his infancy and cradle: not onelyonly for the advancement of the glory of God, but also for the benefit and profit, of his native soyle and Countrey, (therein conferring a more charitable and friendly censure on him, then that School-master on Thenistocles) and causing others also to make triall of his ingenious disposition, who beheld his naturall parts with astonishment and admiration: he was very carefull to perfect nature by Art, & for that cause (his age condescending thereunto) he committed him unto the tuition of a certain School-master, living not far from the place of his birth to be instructed & trained up in the elements & grounds of the Latin tongue: with whom in short time, by reason of the vigilancy and watchfulnesse of the one, and the carefulnesse and industry of the other, he attained not without great applease to that discretion and judgement, that he esteemed those things which were read unto him, as a subject fitter and more convenient for duller braines, then for his quick and ready apprehension.
This proceeding therefore not answering his expectation, he removed thence and being not yet fully ten yeeres old, he was sent unto Basil a City in Germany situate upon the River of Rhine, where he obtained for his Tutor Gregorius Bi…zlius, eminent in those da…es for the excellent endowments of learning and piety wherewith he was invested; under whom this Huldericus attained unto that perfection both in civil behaviour and learning, that he seemed alwaies to exceed, out-strip, go beyond, and carry away the victory from those who were his contemporanean School-fellowes; and that nothing might seem to be wanting to the perfection of so hopefull a Plant, he reached unto the knowledge of the Scince of M…sicke, wherein he shewed himselfe so excellent, and so compleat an Artist, that his judgement compared with the tendernesse of his yeeres, enforced his spectators to the greater admiration: and his Master Bintzlius, well perceiving that his S…udies and learning were incongruous and too mean for so apt and so vertuous a disposition, sent him back againe unto his Father together with his judicious opinion concerning him, advising him to provide otherwise for him, and to search out for such a Master whose learning might be correspondent unto the promptnesse of his naturall disposition.
His Father being joyfull with this approbation of his Master, and also fearfull least these springing vertues should suffer an Eclipse by the interposition of that odious vice of Idlenesse, he forthwith sent him unto Berna, a famou… City in Switzerland, to be instructed and brought up by Henricus Lupulus, a man well learned, and excelling in Po…try: from whom, through the reading of Classi… Writers he became a good Orator & got some knowledg in the art of Logickes: having now spent at Berna almost two yeers, and longing after the knowledge of Phylosophy, whose ground and Basis was already laid, he removed unto Vienna, a famous City of Austria, situate on the river Danubius, where he not onelyonly attained to the knowledge of Phylosophy, but he also augmented and perfitted those things which in former time he had learned; and having spent here some few yeeres, he returned againe to Basil, where he first began to imploy that talent which God had bestowed on him; for here he began first to teach others that which he himselfe had learned; and having spent some time in the instructing of others, and in furnishing himselfe with the knowledge of the Liberall Arts, he wa… advanced unto the title of Master, which being obtained, h… forthwith addicted himselfe (being guided thereunto by the spirit of God) unto the study of Schoole. Divinity, wherein he remained silent for a while, being rather a spectator then an Actor, untill he was called by the Glareanes to the discharge of a Pastorall function & office amongst them, where with all alacrity and cheerfulness…, he finished that which had beene formerly begun by others.
And by this meanes having received holy Orders, he gave himselfe wholy to the study of Divinity, spent all his time in searching into the old and new T…stament, …hat so he might be able not onelyonly to speake, but also to judge of the Scriptures: as for the writings of the Ethnicks, he did not gre…tly esteeme and accompt, onelyonly he made use of V…lerius Maximus, who by reason of the variety of his examples, he perceived it would be beneficiall unto him.
But bec…use he well understood, that he could have no sound judgement concerning the Scriptures, nor concerning the writings of pious and learned men, unlesse that he were wel skild in the tongues; he forthwith betook himself to the study of the Greek tongue, wherin in short time he so well profited, that the Greek seemed more easier unto him then the Latin, and he better able to judge of a Greek then of a Latin Author; and for the better understanding of the tongue, he used help of the best Lexicons and translations, and with them translated Saint Pauls Epistles, committing them all to Memory, and other bookes of the New Testament. But when he had found it written in Saint Peter, that the Scripture was not of private interpretation: he lifted up his eyes to heaven, beseeching the holy Ghost, and earnestly wrestling with him by prayer, that he would be pleased so to illuminate his understanding that he might rightly and truely understand the sense and meaning of the holy Scriptures: so that he might neither decieve himselfe, nor lead away others with a false image of the spirit.
Having thus in some measure fitted himselfe for the beating down of sin, & advancing & furthering of the truth; he then first began to condemne the Helvetian Pensions, labouring to overthrow them, and to reduce and bring backe againe former sanctity and worship into the Countrey; and hence hatred and reproachfull speeches had and took their beginning against this good, pious and laborious man; who notwiths…anding this affront, at the first shewing of himselfe for the glory of God, and that in his owne Country, chearfully proceeded Preaching the Gospel, and endeavouring rather as yet to plant truth in the hearts of his Auditors, and to cause them fully to understand it rather then to open and to discover unto them the vices and wickednesses of the whore of Babilon.
Not long after, occasion being offered and D. Theobaldus Gerolzeggius, desiring or rather earnestly intreating the sam, he departed from Glarona, and went to Eremus; there intending to continue for a time, but indeed the chiefest cause of his reparing unto that place, was the happy opportunity of preaching Christ and his truth unto diverse remote and forreine Nations, being at that time gathered togethered unto that place, from all parts of the world.
In the meane time it fell out that the Church of Tigurum, was destitute of a Curate or Priest; many there were which greatly laboured to bring in Zuinglius, he being altogether ignorant of this matter comes to Tigurum; where being demanded, by a certaine Canon who accidentally met him; Whether he could preach the word of the Lord unto those of Tigurum: he presently answered, that he could; upon which answer he is called unto the Church of Tigurum, not without the great joy of many godly minded persons: and that which he promised, he began with happy successe to performe, (the Lord being with him and giving a blessing unto his labours) in the yeer of grace one thousand five hundred twenty and one: During the time of this happy proceeding of his at Tigurum, the Switzers had taken great notice of the name of Martin Luther, by reason many of his writings which in all places came unto their hands, these he exhorted them to read and to peruse, that so they might perceive the vnity of the spirit drawne out of those holy writings in them both, and so by that meanes, nothing doubting but that they would be the more willing to consent and to give place unto the truth.
This is also remarkable in the godly man, that notwithstanding his continued paines in the discharging of his Pastorall office, he omitted not his reading of the difficultest Greek Authors for the preserving of that knowledg wch he had formerly gotten, & not cea…ing here, he adventured on the Hebrew; wherein, by the helpe & assistance of some who were his associates he profited so much that he was able aptly to expound the two major Prophets, Isaiah and Ieremiah.
About the same time Franciscus Lamberius a Frier Minorite forsaking his Monastry came to Tigurum, who disputed publiquely, with Zuinglius, concerning the intercession of the Saints, and concerning the sacrifice of the Masse; but being easily confuted he recanted, confessed his error, and gave thankes unto Almighty God, that had prepared so excellent an instrument to open his eyes, and to shew unto him cleerly the knowledge of the truth.
This his deniall of the intercession of the Saints and sacrifice of the Masse, Stirred up Hugh Bishop of Constance, to make an opposition against him, insomuch that Zuinglius was inforced to declare publikly unto the world, that which he beleeved concerning those and other differences betwixt himselfe and the Church of Rome; by reason wherof his report and …ame was brought unto Adrian the sixt then Pope of Rome, who forthwith wrote unto him af…r this manner:
Beloved Sonne, gre…ting and Apostolicall Benediction.
We send our venerable brother Ennius Bishop of Verulan our Domistick Praelate and Apostolicall Nuntio, a man wise and trusty, unto that strenuous and warlike mo…ion which hath beene friendly and faithfull unto us, and to our Apostolicall Sea: that he may treat with them about serious affaires which concerne not onelyonly us and our Sea, but also the whole Christian Common-wealth; now although we have streightly commanded him that he shall relate those things in publicke before all in generall, yet neverthelesse seeing that speciall notice is given unto us of those excellent vertues wherewith thou art endewed, we cannot but entirely love and greatly rejoyce in thy zeale reposing a spiciall kind of Confidence in thee: wherefore we have commanded the same Bishop our Legate, that he deliver these our letters unto thee in particular, and withall to declare our great affection towards thee; finally, we exhort you to be zealous in the Lord and to repose all your confidence in him: and looke with what affection we tender your honour and preferment, we desire the same from you in respect of our, and the affaires of the sea Apostolicall: and for which you shall finde no small favour a… our hands.
Given at Rome; 23. Januvary 1523. and in the first yeer of our Popedome.
Letters were also written by the same Pope, unto Franciscus Zinggius to this intent, that he should not be wanting to use all meanes to draw and to allure this godly man to the prefession of the doctrine of the Church of Reme; which Francis…us being damanded by Mysconius, what reward the Pope had promised unto him, on condition that he could perswade Z…inglius to revoke his opinion, he seriously answered that Peters Chaire excepted, he had promised him all things else.
Whence it is evident that the Divell and his members laboured as much as in them lied to hinder the knowledge of the truth of Christ and to detaine men in blindnesse and ignorance.
And hence we may observe the constancy of this holy man, who could not be allured to forsake and fall from the truth of God and of his word, no no… …or all the preferments of the world, …steeming with Saint Paul, all things as dung in respect of Christ.
The Gospel now with the blessing of God being received and embraced of the Zigurins and gathering strength every day more and more, Zuingli…s began to enter into a serious consideration of changing the forme of things present into a better state and condition, reducing the Monks and Priests, unto three orders: some for labour, some for Marrage, some for learning; because the number of them seeme greater then might se…ve for the use of Religion.
Being busied about this Reformation, there crept in the Heiresie of the Catabaptists, who forbad the Baptizing of Infants, and did rebaptize themselves; with these Zuinglius dealt friendly at the first, disputing with them and convincing them of their errors: but they being obstinate in their opinions, he caused the Senate severely to punish them, some with imprisonment some with death.
But to returne againe, his alteration of the state at Tigurum concerning Priests and M…nks, and the decree against Pensioners being by his meanes sealed and confirmed, caused him to be every way surrounded with enemies, who waited daily, and hourely to take away his life: and also in the night season; insomuch that he durst not walke abroad without a strong guard to defend him from his enemies: who used openly in the streets all reproachfull speeches against him; and these wicked and ungratious villaines, when they saw that they could neither prevaile against the Gospel, nor against this good Preacher of the Gospel, then they bent all their forces against those who were obedient to the word of God, imagining nothing but mischiefe towards them, alwaies intending their destruction and ruine.
Hence it was concluded and resolved on to take up Armes for the de…ence of the truth of the doctrin of Christ, and they all enter into a new League, the old being notwithstanding no way violated but remaine firme, and that by the great labour and industry of Zuinglius: not that he intended any thing hurtfull unto his Countrey but to extirpate and to roote out their vices, and to plant in it firmely the doctrine of the Gospel, both for the glory of God, and also for the good of all Switzerland: for he de…ired nothing more, then that all Nations might confesse the Lord Jesus, and therefore he exhorted those that were his friends, and which stood up for the truth of Christ, to undergoe the hazard of their lives, in so good a cause with these expresse words following:
That whith heretofore I have written unto you, I exhort you unto it still, be…eeching you to remaine constant and immovable, and not to be afraid of your enimies; for that peace which some so greatly urge and presse, is open warre and not peace, and that warre which we are to undertake is peace, and not open warre: for we doe not thirst after any mans blood, neither do we desire to spill it by such tu…multuous actions; but this we maintaine and defend, that the nerves and sinewes of an Oligarchy, are to be cut off: and unlesse it be the truth of the Gospell and the Ministers thereof, will never have any safe and quiet residence and dwelling amongst us. Alas, it is not cruelty that we thinke of, but our actions are both fatherly and friendly, we desire to be a meanes to save those who are like to perish through ignorance, our greatest ambition is to preserve our liberty: therefore doe not so much estrange your selves from our determinations, you shall find them more peaceable and more just, then some have related unto you; you are apt to beleeve those which speake false of us, who notwithstanding hitherto have had good and sufficient triall of our truth and of their inconstancy, I will not say, lies. In this shew your selves to be men, that ye remaine Constant and immovable as we doe, for our faith towards God and men; In a word, let not feare dismay you, for through the goodnesse of God, we shall so behave our selves in this League, that it shall neither purchase shame nor griefe to your selves.
Thus did he cheerefully animate and encourage these his friends to fight for the glory of God, and to give sufficient testification of his zeale towards God: he was himselfe present in Person in two severall Battels fought betwixt them nea…e unto Capella, a Monastery situate in the fields of Tigurum: unto the first he came freely of his owne accord, that he might be present at their Consultations, and to see that there were no declining from truth and equity. This Battell was finished without the shedding of blood, concerning which he was often heard to say, that he had seene more malice and more wicked Counsell in it, then he knew all his life time either by experience or from reading.
Unto the second he wa… elected and chosen us chiefe Commander, and being unwilling at the first to undertake such a burden; the ground of that quarrell being something displeasing unto him, it being onelyonly Grameatus denegatio: yet at the last he resolved to goe, presaging as it were his owne death by the u…tring of these words, Seio, scio quid rei sit ut ego …ollar fiunt omnia. I know, I know, how the case stands now, all these preparations are for my ruine and destruction.
Wherefore being well horsed and compleatly Armed, he followed the Tigurunes in the reare, being ready to joyne battell; he went not forth as a Captaine or Commander of the Army, but as a good Citizen and faithfull Pastor, who would not forsake his friends in their greatest perill. In this Battell Zuinglius was slaine together with three hundred eighty and three of his confaederates; it happening on the eleventh day of Octobrr, in the yeer of our Lord 1531. after that he had Preached the Gospel of Christ at Tigurum the space of 12. yeeres, and at Glarona and Eremus the space of a 11. yeeres, himselfe being 44. yeeres of age.
They which were neere unto him when he fell, wounded even unto death heard him utter these words; What misfortune is this? Well, they can indeed kill the body, but they cannot kill the soule: being in this misery he was demanded by his enimies, whether he would yeeld unto Papisticall invocation of the Saints; being not able to speake, he refused it apparantly by the motion of his head, and by the lifting up of his eyes to heaven, he gave th…m to understand, that he would invoke and call on none but on the Lord above; wherefore in a raging and cruell manner tooke his life away from him, condemned his body to be cut in foure quarters, and to be burnt unto ashes in the fire.
Some of his faithfull friends greatly lamenting his death came full of sorrow unto the place where his body was burnt, and lightly moving the ashes, found his heart sound and untouched with the flames; some ascribing it unto the power of God, who by this miracle would declare unto the world both his innocency and also his zeale: others spending their judgements accordingly as they were affected toward the Person.
And this was the end of the godly Minister of Christ, whose great desire for the advancement of the truth of Christ, will clearly shew it selfe, by those painfull and learned labours of his which are extant in the Church, being comprehended and contained in foure Tomes.
Tome 1.
1. A worke of Articles. 2. An exhortation to the whol State of Switzerland. 3. A Supplication to the Bishop of Constance. 4. Of the certainty and purity of Gods Word. 5. An answer unto Valentine of the authority of the Fathers. 6. Institutions for Youth. 7. A good Shepheard. 8. Of Iustice Divine and Humaine. 9. Of Providence.
Tome 2.
1. Of Baptisme. 2. Of Originall Sinne. 3. Of true and false Religion. 4. An Epistle to the Princes of Germany. 5. Of the Lords Supper. 6. Of Christian Faith, written unto the French King.
Tome 3.
Commentaries on Genesis. 2. Exodus. 3. Isaiah. 4. Jeremiah. Psalter out of Hebrew into Latin.
Tome 4.
1. Annotations on the foure Evangelists. 2. History of our Saviours Passion.
Annotations on
3. The Romans. 4. Corinthians. 5. Philippians 6. Collossians. 7. Thessalonians. 8. Hebrewes. 9. James. 10. John Epist. 1.
They that are willing to engage, and prove
Themselves true Souldiers in the field of Love
Must follow Zuinglius, whose ample glory
Affords the World an everlasting Story.
Ye Prelats of these Times, stoope downe and sée
The Wisdome, Valour and the Constancie
Of this renowned Father; whose deserts
Ought to be printed in all noble Hearts:
He fell with Honour, and all those that fall,
Guarded with Truth, deserve a Funerall
Adorn'd with Angels, that all tongues may say,
Here lyes Relig'ons and the Churches stay.
Brave Zuinglius dy'd (though it be hard to doe)
A valiant Souldier, and a Martyr too.