The Dead Yet Speaking, Biography 89
THEODORVS BEZA.
The Life and Death of Theodorus Beza.
IN the year of our Lord God 1519. and on the foure and twentieth day o… Iune, this faithfull Minister of the Church of Christ, Theodorus Beza came into the world, being borne at Vezelia an ancient Town in the Kingdome of France; he was descended from Petrus a Beza, being Governour of the same Town, and Maria Burdoletia, both of them being beautified with a lineall proceeding from a Noble and renowned Family.
His name imposed on him by his Parents imports the gift of God; by which act they declared themselves to be vertuous and religious; and let the Lord evermore blesse his Church with such gifts, with such painfull labourers, for the gathering in of his great harvest, to his endlesse glory and to the eternall peace of such as seek salvation through Jesus Christ.
This Beza being yet an infant, not fully two years old, was taken by his Unckle Nicholas Beza, being a Councellor pertaining to the Senate of Paris; where he was carefully and tenderly brought up for the space of three years, being in that time acquainted with the knowledge of the Letters.
Being now five years old, he was committed, through the carefulnesse of his said Unckle, unto the tuition of Melchior Walmarius a German, who at that time taught the Greek tongue at Aurelia, under whom he continued for the space of seven years; in which time he attained unto great perfection both in the Greeke and Latine tongues; and also, which is more commendable, his tender yeares were seasoned with the true knowledge of Christian Piety, being drawn from the pure fountain of the Word of God, by the same man.
His Master upon some occasions leaving France, and returning into Germany, Beza, not without the advice of his friends, went unto Orleans, fully intending and resolving with himselfe to apply his minde unto the study of the Civill Law; wherein, at the age of twenty years he was advanced to be Licentiate.
Not long after, leaving Orleans, he tooke his journ…y unto Paris, to visit those friends and acquaintance which he had there living, by whom he was entertained with great joy, and received with much gladnesse and friendly courtesie: but more espcially by his other U…ckle Abb…t Trigidimon…an, who to testifie his affection how greatly he loved him designed and appointed him to be his next successor in the Goverment of that Abbey, whose revenwe… were yeerely valued at five thousand French Crownes: annexing also unto this the profits of two other places, amounting yearely unto seven hundred Crownes, intending also to confer other preferments upon him.
Beza being as it were in an earthly Paradise, and abounding with those things which might seeme necessary for the prosecution of vice wherewith indeed he was for a time detained, but not captivated (as who is he that liveth and sinneth not, nay and falleth not sometimes into grievous sinnes.) For the Lord had prepared him for better things, and opening his eyes, gave him to understand, that these were but so many snares laid to intangle him, and to draw him into everlasting ruine and perdition: wherefore he fully resolved to forsake them all, and to adhere and sticke fast unto that Truth whose sweetnesse he had tasted in his youth; which that he might the better performe, he was fully determined to undergoe any labour, and to remove any obstacle, and for that cause he vowed a vow that he would never embrace nor countenance the errours of the Church of Rome.
And purposing a constancy in his intended course, and that he might be the better fitted thereunto, he resolved to free himselfe from that affection which useth to be predominate in his youth; and for that cause he betroathed himselfe unto a vertuous woman, acquainting onelyonly two of his intimate friends with the same action, and that for two causes.
First, that he might give no occasion of offence unto others. Secondly, because that mony which he received for the discharging of his offices could not handsomely be avoyded, which within short time after was by him performed, for his propounded honour and preferment, was s…ifly rejected not without the great admiration and sharpe reprehension of many of his friends, who therefore stiled him after a …cornfull manner, Philosophum novum, the new Philosopher.
These checks and reprehensions of his friends being seconded with the considerations of the great riches wherewith he was endewed, and these two being strengthned with the temptation of of the Divell; yeelded to many doubts and oppositions unto Beza, notwithstanding his former resolutions, sometimes intending to embrace God and his truth, somtimes casting an eye of love on his present preferments being taken up with this various disposition, it pleased the Lord to settle his inconstant minde by afflicting him with sicknesse, which indeed was the cause of his spirituall welfare and health, for he well perceiving that it was the powerfull hand of the Lord Almighty, against which there was no contending: after the suffering of many torments both inward and outward, he fell into a detestation and loathing hatred of his owne backwardnesse, and turning himselfe unto the Lord with teares, he renewed that vow which he had formerly made concerning the embracing of the true worship of God, promising unfainedly that he would never start from it, but consecrate himselfe wholly unto him, and unto the furtherance of his glory, if it would please him to restore him to his former health: during the time of this sicknesse he was often heard to utter those Words of David in his 142. Psalme v. 7. Educ de carcere animam meam ut celebrem nomen tuum. Bring my soul out of prison O Lord that I may praise thy name; & indeed the Lord which cannot withstand the prayers of the faithfull, condiscending unto him, and he obtayned his desire of the Lord.
And being recovered, he forthwith forsooke Countrey Parents and friends, to follow Christ; he forsooke all his preferments, preferring the glory of God and the hope of his Kingdome before all the transitory glory of the world: which action of his is very remarkable, if we consider but the circumstance of time, which was presently upon his recovery, being fearfull that his remaining there should be offensive unto God, or that his familiarity with his friends might draw him into the like inconveniences, who without doubt would labour with might and maine to reduce him to his former profession. Wherefo…e taking the Woman unto whom he was betrothed with him, they went unto Geneva in the year of Grace 1548. where openly in the Church, after a solemne m…nner, he was married unto her, and there he remained for a season. Where he intended to make profession of the Art of Printing; but the Lord who knew well that he would be otherwise more advantagious unto his Church, hindered this proceeding, by calling him to Lausanna, an Academy pertaining to the Lords of Berna, where he publickly professed the Greek tongue; which Beza himselfe acknowledged in his Confession of Christian Religion, Dedicated by him unto his Master Walmatius.
At that time in Lausanna were famous for Learning and Piety Petrus Viretus Pastor of the Church, Iohannes Ribbilus Professor of Divinity, Iohannes Racmundus Merlinus Professor of the Hebrew tongue, with many other excellently well gifted; all of which seemed as it were to be ravished with the society of this worthy member of Christ.
During his Lectureship at Lausanna, a great company of godly minded persons thirsting after Christ and his truth, resorted unto the same place. Here Beza perceiving a good occasion offered unto him by God, not onelyonly for his owne sa…isfaction concerning Teaching, but also for the satisfaction of the desire of these people, concerning their instruction in the word of truth. He began publickly and in the French tongue to expound the Epistle of S. Paul to the Romans, and both the Epistles of S. Peter; opening unto them the great mysteries of godlinesse, and informing their judgments with such Doctrines, wherby the scales of ignorance being rubbed away, the truth did manifestly appeare unto them, whereby (without doubt) many were drawn neerer and neerer unto Christ.
Amongst these his imployments in this place, whensoever any leasure was given unto him, he would spend that time with Master Calvin at Geneva, from whom he received great benefit both for Gods glory and the edification of the Church; and by his perswasion he was induced to finish that excellent and Divine Commentary on the Psalms, first begun by Marotus, which was also Printed and published by authority in France, 1561.
About this time there happened a persecution in Paris … wherein many Christians suffered, some death, some imprisonment: wherupon Farellus, Beza and Calvin were chosen Embassadours unto the Protestant Princes of Germany … to intreat them that they would be pleased to intercede for them unto Henry the second then King of France, that they might be more kindly deabt withall. But little or no peac… came unto the Church in respect of this act, because of th… implacable hatred which great men attending the person of the King, did bear unto the truth of Christ.
Yet in this journey it was Bezaes good hap to have … sight of that godly and learned Melanchton, who as they exceeding joyfull of the presence of each other, so they were also exceeding sorrowfull for the present afflicted and d… stressed state of the Church.
Beza having now remained ten years in Lausanna, he left it, and not without the good leave and love of the Senate of Berne, and came to Geneva, where teaching a publicke Schoole, he expounded the Orations of Demosthenes together with some Bookes of Aristotle, and had daily and familiar conference with Calvin, touching things pertaining unto Doctrine and Ecclesiasticall Discipline; where in short time he was appointed to succeed Claudius Pontanus (a faithfull Minister in the Church of Geneva) for the discharging of a Ministeriall function, and also to joyn with Calvin in the reading of the Divinity Lecture. Where he was also againe advanced to be head Master of a Free-schoole, which was set up by the perswasion of Calvin, for the future benefit of the same City.
Notice being taken in France of his Confession of the Christian Faith, which without question wrought deepe impression in the hearts of many; he was intreated by Letters sent from some Peeres of France, that he would be pleased to visit Anthony King of Navarre then residing in Aquitaine, and to confer with him concerning matters of importance, but especially concerning such things which might be of force to beget true knowledge in the ground… of Christian Religion; for there was some hopes that if he could be brought thereunto, that the Church of God would not be so cruelly & inhumanely dealt withall within the Kingdome of France. Which enterprize, God giving a blessing thereunto, wanted not its fortunate and happy successe, though not in the dayes of A…thony, yet in the dayes of Charles the ninth; for he not onelyonly entring into a consideration of the truth of the Doctrin… of the Church of Rome, but also into the truth of the Doctrine of the reformed Church, and with many of his Nobles adhered unto the same, and fo…thwith s…nt both Embassadours and Letters to the Senate of Geneva, to intrea… the presence of reverend Beza, concerning the d…sciding of those Controversies which were at that time on foot betwix… the Papists and the Reformed Churches. This request was with great joy condiscended unto by the Senate of Geneva, who sent Beza with many prayers for the advancem…nt of Gods glory; Peter Martyr was also called from Tigurum by the Mother Queen, who with all speed came to Paris.
Great was the conflict which Beza had at that time in the …resence of the King, with Cardinall Lotharingus, concerning the Reall Presence … wherein he confuted the erronious opinion of the Cardinall, affirming that the vi…ible signes were touched with the hands, eaten and drunken with the mouth; but that the thing signified (viz. th… Body and Blood of Christ) was offered and received by Faith. Which judgement of his the Cardinall approved of at the last, as he himselfe testified unto the Queene, and was also embraced by her selfe.
The conference being ended with happy successe to the glory of God, and furtherance of his truth, Martyr returned to Tigurum, and Beza intended to goe unto Geneva, but he was hindred by the Authority of the Queen who plainly told him, that seeing he was a French man, he might be the Author of much good unto his own Nation.
Beza being thus detained contrary to his expectation, spent not the time unprofitably but betook himselfe unto the preaching of the Word, sometimes in the Pallace of the King of Navarre, sometimes in the house of the Prince Cordaeus, and sometimes in the suburbes of the City of Paris: for then it was by publick Proclamation decreed, that the use of the reformed Religion should be tolerated in the suburbes without any Molestation; but they enjoyed not that benefit long, by reason of a conspiracy performed by Guisius, and other wicked persons for the utter extinguishing of the truth; who urging the King with the example of Balderinus, that Religion was but a thing indifferent, and that he might condemne and renounce the day after that which he approved and allowed the day before; they received this answer from him; That he would never put hi… foo… so far into the Sea but that he would be able to pluck it back againe when he listed; and so he departed and forsooke the truth of Christ, and never after sent for Beza to have any conference with him.
Whereupon a hot persecution entred into the bowels of France, against the Protestants, forty five of them being put to the sword, in the same place where they were gathered together to heare the Word of God preacht; whereupon Beza was sent to complaine unto the King of their inhumane cruelty, but found no redresse; whereupon preparation was made to defend themselves by force of Armes; the Prince Condaeus desired Beza to remaine with him in so dangerous and necessary a season, who although… it grieved him greatly to be absent from his flock at Geneva, yet he consents unto the request of this religious Prince, and remained with him, preaching and exhorting Christians privately, to a patient wayting of the Lords leasure.
The Protestants betook themselves unto Orleans, to which place the enemies marching, in the fields thereof was fought a terrible battle, wherein Condaeus was taken prisoner and the Protestants lost the day, who (notwithstanding this sorrowfull accident) were much comforted by those divine letters which were sent unto them by Beza, and they still remaining firme in that doctrine which they had received.
Not long after a peace being concluded, and the prisoners restored to their former liberty, Beza obtained leave of the same Prince to returne unto Geneva, after he had spent two and twenty monthes with great labour, and manifest dangers of his life.
Comming to Geneva, not without the great joy of the Inhabitants, he went forward in his ordinary course of teaching both in the Church and Schoole, continued with Master Calvin in reading the Divinity Lecture untill his death, then he performed it onelyonly himselfe, appointing Calladonus Danaeus and Fayus, to be the Humanity Lecturers in the same City.
And in this godly couse he laboriously continued, untill the time that he was called unto Rupella, by the generall intreaty and request of the French Churches, and earnest desire of the Queen of Navarre, and of other Peeres of France, where the confession of the faith of the French Churches was repeated and confirmed, and strenthned with the approbation of the Queen of Navarre, and the Prince Condaeus; and so he returned to Geneva againe, and indefatigably continued his constant course of teaching, and then he corrected his Annotations on the New Testament.
From thence he was cealld againe to Berna for the confutation of the error of Alb…rius concerning justification, who taught that our righteousnesse before God, was a meere pasive quality inhaerent in our selves; wch opnion with other error… of his hindring the growth of the truth of Christ, were there condemned, and the reading of his books forbidden by the Senate of Berne: which being ended he returned unto Geneva againe, and having notice of the great troubles to ensue; not onelyonly in France in generall, but also in Geneva it selfe in particular, he cau…ed publick prayers to be sent up unto God twice every weeke extraordinary for the turning away of his wrath, and for the peace and flourishing state of the Church: and so he continued preaching and praying for the advancement of the Gospell of Christ, untill such time as age made him unfit for the performance of these duties.
Yet here by the way we may observe the great malice of the Romish Jesuites, who before the payment of his debt to nature, scandalized him with a defection to the doctrine of the Church of Rome; not much unlike that which was of late cast on that reverend Bishop of London, but this impudent untruth was refuted by the Pastors of Geneva, who by their writings and subscriptions of their names, both in Latine and French, testified the contrary unto the world; many of them being present at his death, who on the thirteenth of October, in the year of our Lord 1605. being the Lords day, rising early and calling his family to prayers; which don… he walked up and downe some few paces, and receiving some small quantity of wine, repaired to his bed againe, demanding whether all things were quiet in the City, and when answer was made they were, he forthwith gave up his soul into the hands of Almighty God, with all alacrity and chearfulnesse, after that he had lived in this vale of misery eighty six years and three months and nineteen dayes, and after that he had painfully discharged a Pastorall office, the space of sixt and forty yeers.
He was of stature somwhat tall, but corpulent or bigge boned; in his age he had a long thick beard as white as snow, he had a grave Senators countenance, broad faced, but not fat, and in generall by his comely person sweet affability and gravity, he would have exhorted reverence from those that least loved him.
His great diligence and laborious travell for the advancing of Christs Kingdome, and for the suppressing and beating downe of sin, are made manifest by the learned Works which he hath left behind him as so many witnesses, to eternity, take them after this ordes.
1 Poems printed by Henry Stephan. 2 Psalmes printed with Buchanans. 3 School-notes on the Greeke Alphabet. 4 Abrahams sacrifice.
In Theologie.
1 New translation of the new Testament with Annotations. 2 Confession of Christian faith. 3 Of punishing haereticks. 4 The sum of Christianity. 5 The doctrin of the Sacrament. 6 The defence of the Church of Geneva. 7 An answer against Nestorius and Eutichus his sect. 8 Of the hypostaticall Vnion. 9 Theses of the Trinity of Persons and Vnity of Essence. 10 An answer to the repr…aches of Francis Baldwin. 11 A treatise of Polygamie. 12 Calvins life. 13 Psalmes of David and five bookes of the other Prophets with Latine Paraphases. 14 French Psalmes. 15 Comments o…t of Saint Pauls Epistles. 16 To the Romans. 17 Galathians. 18 Philippians. 19 Colossians. 20 Icones of many learned men especially Protestants. 21 Pictures and Embleemes. 22 Moral, Ceremoniall, Iudiciall law of Moses. 23 A Praeface to Osiander. 24 Of the Pestilence. 25 Solomons Song in Latine verse. 26 Homilies on Christs resurrection. 27 Of the P…onounciation of the French tongue. 28 An answer to Jodic Harth, of the Lords Supper. 29 Questions and answeres on the Sacrament.
Si qua fides famae, proles mihi difiet omnis,
At viria & vera prole biatus ego.
Me populi, me mistae & reges dixere parentu,
Multa virum genui, millia Christe tibi.
If fame may be beleeved, I am he
To whom an Infant can no relate be,
Yet blest with issue by a higher fate
And that both many and legitimate:
Not onelyonly people, with their priests together,
But also Kings vouchsafe to call me father.
Thousands of souls O Christ have been by me
Begotten through thy holy Word to thee.
Who knowes not learned Beza, what dull eare
Hath not large volumes of his hist'ry there?
Or what ill furnisht Gallery cannot show
His reverend Picture, marshall'd in the row
Of rare and moderne Worthies, to advance
The glory of his pen renowned France?
From whose more painfull and illustrious quill,
Such Quintessence of sweetnesse did distill;
Which like the dropping Hermony pearly dew,
Refresht faire Syons plants, and did renew
Their drooping spirits, wasted heretofore,
And blasted with the breath of Babils whore…
To whose blest name let every heart that did
Ere prize true vertue, turne a Pyramid.