The Dead Yet Speaking, Biography 99
The Lif and Death of John James Grynaeus, who dyed Anno Christi 1617.
JOhn Iames Grynaeus was born at Berne in Helvet…a Anno Christi 1540. his father was a Minister, who dyed of the Plague Anno Christi 1547. he was brought up at School at Basil, and An. 1551. was admitted into the University: the next year he fell sick of the Plague, but it pleased God to restore him againe, and he followed his st…dy hard: Anno Christi 1559. he began to Preach, and was ordained Deacon: Anno Christi 1563. he went to Tu…ing, and the year after was made Doctor in Divinity: and the next year after he was sen… for to succeed his father in the Pastorall charg at Raetela, where besides his ordinary …abors, he read privately to the Deacons twice a week, and God blessed his labors exceedingly.
In the year 1569. he married a wife, with whom he lived contentedly fourty years, and had by her seven children: Abo…t that time the form of Concord being much pressed, he …ell hard to the studies of the Scriptures, and of ancient and modern Divines, whereby it pleased God that the light began to appear to him, for hitherto he was a Lutheran; whereupon d…claring his judgement about the ubiquity of Christ's body, he began to be hated of many… Anno Christi 1575. he w…s sent for to Basil, to be a Professor in interpreting the Old Testament: there he expounded Genesis, the Psalmes and the Prophets: and God so blessed his labors, that he healed the difference between the Tygurine, and Basilian Churches: he had many Noble, and Gentlemen that came out of other countries to sojourn with him. After the death of Lodweck, Prince Elector Palatine, Prince Cassimire sent for him to Heidleberge, where he read Divinity and History almost two years: at the end of which time he was called back to Basil (Sculcer being dead) to succeed him in the Pastorall office: which place he discharged faithfully the remainder of his life; at last, after much pains spent in the Work of the Ministery, in Readings in the University, and overseeing of the Schools, he began to grow weak and sickly, and his eie-sight waxed very dim: he lost also most of his friends, with his wife and children, all but one daughter, and his son in Law Polanus: he was much tormented with the Collick, yet bore all with admirable pat… ence: and in the middest of his pains, he said
Vt nunc triste mori est, sic dulce resurgere quondam,
Christus ut in vita, sic quoque morte lucrum est:
In terris labor est, requies sed suavis in urna,
In summo venient gaudia summa die:
As death's sad, so to rise is sweet much more,
Christ as in life, so be in death is store:
On earth are troubles, sweet rest in the grave:
I'th last day we the lasting'st joyes shall have.
After that he fel sick of a Feaver, which almost took away his senses, but he betook himselfe wholly to Prayer, and tasted the joyes of heaven in his soul, continually wishing that he might be dissolved and be with Christ: which desire God shortly after satisfied: when he had lived seventy seven years Anno Christi 1617. the Ministers of Basil carred his corps to the grave: A little before his death he professed to Doctor Meier that he dyed in the same Faith that he had taught others: that he had earnestly besought God to provide his people of an able and faithfull Pastor &c. conculding, O praeclarum illum diem, cum ad illum animarum concilium, coelumque proficiscar, & cum ex hac turba, & colluuione discedam: O happy day when I may depart out of this trouble…some and sinfull World, and goe to heaven to those Blessed souls before departed: He used to say, Pontifici Roma…o Erasmum plus no …uisse …ando… quam Lutherum stomachando: writing to C…y…raeus, he said… Si non amplius in his terris te visurus sum: ibi tamen convenie…, ubi Luthe…o cum… Zuinglio optime jam convenit: If we never see one another again in this World… yet we shal meet in that place where Luther & Zuinglius agree very well together: He used to be up at his study Winter and Summer before Sun…sing, and spent all the day in Prayer, Writing, Reading, and visiting the sick: He was so famous that many Princes, Noblemen, and young Gentlemen came from forreign Countries to see, and hear him.
And this Grynaeus worthy was, likewise,
That wee his Noble name should memorize:
Who was a rare Divine in Germany,
And made a Doctor in Divnity:
At Tubing and to Basil, sent for thence
To be Professour, where with diligence
And profitable pains, and in that while
The differance he did reconcile
'Twixt the Basilian Church and Tigurine;
At last his labour made his health decline:
And in his Pastorall Charge, in Basil he
Ended his dayes in sweet tranquility.