A08486:174
A famous and godly history containing the lives a[nd] acts of three renowned reformers of the Christia[n] Church, Martin Luther, John Ecolampadius, and Huldericke Zuinglius. The declaration of Martin Luther's faith before the Emperor Charles the fifth, and the illustre estates of the empire of Germany, with an oration of his death, all set forth in Latin by Philip Melanchthon, Wolfgangus Faber, Capito. Simon Grineus, [and] Oswald Miconus, newly Englished by Henry Bennet Callesian.A famous and godly history contaynyng the lyues a[nd] actes of three renowmed reformers of the Christia[n] Church, Martine Luther, Iohn Ecolampadius, and Huldericke Zuinglius. The declaracion of Martin Luthers faythe before the Emperoure Charles the fyft, and the illustre estates of the empyre of Germanye, with an oration of hys death, all set forth in Latin by Philip Melancthon, Wolfgangus Faber, Capito. Simon Grineus, [and] Oswald Miconus, newly Englished by Henry Bennet Callesian.
London: printed by John Awdely, 1561London: printed by Iohn Awdely, 1561
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
He added this interpretation, that the very heavenly spirits which we commonly call Angels, beholding the Son, are instructed & r••oy•e in this marvellous conjunction of two natures, & for that they war under the Lord for the defence of the Church, they be also governed by his hand.
He added thys interpretacion, that the very heauenly spirites which we commonly cal Angels, beholding the sonne, are instructed & r••oy•e in this merueylous con•unction of twoo natures, & for that they war vnder the Lord for the defence of the Churche, they be also gouerned by hys hand.
He presently beholdeth these so excellent things, and as before he ascended and descended among the Ministers of the Gospel, by the conduction of Jesus Christ, so now he seeth the Angels sent by him, & hath equal fruition with them of the contemplation & consideration, of the divine wisdom and marvellous works of God. We remember well what incredible pleasure he conceived in reciting the policies of the Prophets, their counsels, dangers and deliverances, and how learnedly he conferred all times of the Church, that he well declared with what burning desire he longed to be in the society of these excellent personages. He embraceth these now & rejoiceth to have mutual conference in lively voice. These salute their loving companion ⟨image 55⟩newly repaired to them, and jointly yield thanks to God, that he assembleth and conserveth his Church.
He presently beholdeth these so excellent thynges, and as before he ascended and descended among the Ministers of the Gospell, by the conduction of Iesus Christe, so nowe he seeth the Aungels sent by hym, & hath equal fruicion wyth them of the contemplacion & consideracion, of the diuine wysdome and marueylous workes of God. We remember wel what incredible pleasure he conceiued in recityng the policies of the Prophetes, theyr counsels, daungers and deliueraunces, and how learnedlye he conferred al tymes of the Church, that he wel declared wyth what burnyng desyre he longed to be in the societye of these excellent personages. He embraceth these now & reioyceth to haue mutual conference in lyuelye voyce. These salute their louyng companiō ⟨image 55⟩newly repayred to them, and ioyntly yeld thankes to God, that he assembleth and conserueth hys Church.
Let us not doubt, but that Luther is in happy & blessed estate. & let us lament the loss & •acke of so virtuous & heavily a father, & as duty bindeth us to obey the wit of God, who hath reft us such a rare •ewel: so let us understand Gods pleasure is, we should consecrate to etern•••, y• memory of his virtues and benefits. Let us •hen in this apply ou• diligence, let us imitate as we be able, his virtues which is expedient for us to know, that is, the fear of God, faith, fervency in prayer, cleanness in ministry, chastity, diligence to eschew counsels tending to sedition, and desire to learn. And as it behoveth us, to remember the other faithful governors of the Church, whose histories we read, as Jeremiah John Baptist, & S. Paul. So let us consider oftentimes the doctrine and order of this reverend father, & herewith let us add prayer, and action of thanks, as it becometh us now to do in this assembly.
Let vs not doubt, but that Luther is in happy & blessed estate. & let vs lament the losse & •acke of so vertuous & heauely a father, & as duty byndeth vs to obey the wyt of God, who hath reft vs such a rare •ewel: so let vs vnderstand Gods pleasure is, we should cōsecrate to etern•••, y• memory of his vertues and benefites. Let vs •hen in thys apply ou• diligence, let vs imitate as we be able, his vertues which is expediet for vs to know, that is, the feare of God, fayth, feruecy in praier, cleannes in ministerye, chastity, diligence to eschew counsels tendyng to sedicion, and desyre to learne. And as it behoueth vs, to remēber the other faythful gouernours of the Churche, whose histories we reade, as Ieremy Iohn Baptist, & S. Paule. So let vs consider oftentymes the doctrine and order of thys reuerend father, & herewyth let vs adde prayer, and action of thankes, as it becōmeth vs now to do in thys assembly.
WE render thanks unto thee, O1 most puissant God, eternal father of our Lord Jesus Christ, founder of thy Church, together with thy Son coeternal our Lord Jesus Christ, & the holy ghost, wise, good, merciful, righteous judge, mighty & having power over allthings, for that thou gatherest unto thy Son an inheritance, & conservest the ministry of the Gospel, & now by Luther hast restored the same. And we pray thee with fervent affection that thou wilt conserve and govern henceforth the church, & seal in us thy true doctrine as Isaiah prayeth for his Disciples, & that thou wilt illumine our understā ding by thy holy ghost, that in truth we may call upon thee, and live holily.
WE render thankes vnto the, O1 most puissant God, eternal father of our Lord Iesus Christ, founder of thy Church, together with thy sonne coeternall our Lorde Iesus Christ, & the holye ghost, wyse, good, mercyful, ryghteous iudge, mighty & hauing power ouer althings, for that thou ga•her•st vnto thy sonne an enheritaunce, & conse•uest the ministery of the Gospel, & now by Luther hast restored the same. And we pray thee with feruent affection that thou wilt conserue and gouerne henceforth the church, & seale in vs thy true doctrine as Esay prayeth for his Disciples, & that thou wylt illumine our vnderstā ding by thy holy ghost, yt in truth we may cal vpon thee, and lyue holyly.
Furthermore, because the decease of excellent governors is often a presage or foreshowing of great inconveniences to come to such as shall succeed I and all those that profess ministry require you to consider the dangers whereunto the whole world is subject The Turks invade of one side, & on the other domestical enemies, threaten intestine wars. There •urke also every where licentious & insolent heads, ⟨image 56⟩who after they shall cease to fear Luther's censure & severe correction, will not stick audaciously to corrupt this doctrine of us faithfully taught.
Furthermore, because the decease of excellent gouernours is oftē a presage or foreshewing of great inconue niēces to come to such as shal succede I and al those that professe ministery require you to consider the daungers wherunto the whole world is subiect The Turkes inuade of one side, & on the other domestical enemies, threatē intestine wars. Ther •urke also eueri where licencious & insolent heades, ⟨image 56⟩who after they shal cease to feare Luthers censure & seuere correction, wil not stycke audaciously to corrupt this doctrine of vs faythfully taught.
Finally, that God may withdraw such inconveniences, let us apply our diligence to live well, & to study, & let us retain this sentence always impressed in our minds that as long as we shall conserve, hear, learn & love the pure doctrine of y• Gospel, we shall be the house & church of God as the Son of God saith: If any love me, he will observe my word, and my father will1 love him, & we will come to him and make our abode with him. Let us be allured with this singular promise, to learn the heavenly doctrine, & let us be throughly persuaded, that man kind & civil governments are conserved because of the church. Let us ponder this in our mind, & be encouraged with y• immortality y• is coming, to the which God hath called us, who truly hath not in vain manifested himself unto us by so many testimonies, nor with out good respect sent his Son, but tenderly loveth & careth for such as make account of his inestimable benefits. I have said.
Finally, that God may withdraw such inconueniences, let vs apply our diligence to lyue wel, & to study, & let vs retein this setēce alwaies impressed in our mindes that as long as we shal conserue, heare, learn & loue the pure doctrine of y• Gospel, we shal be the house & church of God as the sōne of God sayth: If any loue me, he wyll obserue my word, and my father wyl1 loue him, & we wyll come to hym and make our abode with hym. Let vs be allured with thys singular promyse, to learne the heauenly doctrine, & let vs be throughly perswaded, that mā kinde & ciuil gouernments are cōserued because of ye church. Let vs pōder this in our minde, & be encouraged wt y• imortality y• is cōming, to ye whych God hath called vs, who truely hath not in vayne manifested himself vnto vs by so many testimonies, nor with out good respect sent hys sonne, but tenderly loueth & careth for suche as make accompt of his inestimable benefites. I haue sayd.
¶ A famous & godly history containing the lives and acts of John Ecolampadius and Huldericke Zuinglius, excellent Divines, set forth by Wolfangus Faber Capito, Simon Grineus, and Oswaldus Miconius, and Englished by Henry Bennet Callisian. (:)
¶ A famous & godly history contaynyng the liues and actes of Iohn Ecolampadius and Huldericke Zuinglius, excellent Diuines, set foorth by Wolfangus Faber Capito, Simon Grineus, and Oswaldus Miconius, and Englyshed by Henry Bennet Callisian. (:)
¶ Anno. 1561. The last of November. (⸫)
¶ Anno. 1561. The last of Nouember. (⸫)
THAT virtue and felicity have their beginning of laborious and dangerous attempts, Demetrius the Pagan Philosopher abundantly declares. For if blessed estate is accident to none, but to such as fast and endure adversity, & those that live in pleasure & perpetual rest, are esteemed inglorious Epicures, whom God neglects & judgeth unworthy to conten•e with calamity. How famous & excellent were the ancient Greeks and victorious Romans (right honourable, & my singular good Lord) whose virtuous deeds & notable exploits, not without great perils & honourable ⟨image 58⟩death achieved, mystify to all posterity their incredible desire, as well to enlarge the ••myts of their […] and illustrate with victories their flourishing public weals, as also their intolerable pains & prudent considerations to attain to felicity by the ragged hills, & sharp thorny ways, which lead to virtue. Hercules, worthily Prince of all Grecia: what labours sustained he? What ugly Monsters did he overcome and with what magnanimity did he penetrate the grisly den of Pl•toes ghastly kingdom? By what other counsel did Homer (•udged of y• learned divine) set before our eyes wandering Ulysses as an absolute Image of wisdom, tossed with many irksome travails: but to signify this to be the ready way to clime to the palace of all felicity, and commendable virtue. Such were Epaminondas, Alcibiades, Phociō, Alexander the great, Cam•llus, Scipio, Paulus, Aemilius, Pompeius, Augustus, Brutus, Cato & Cicero, no •es ornaments of their Country then express patterns of virtue. These worthy personages as they shined in glory ⟨image 58⟩and live in the learned monuments of virtuous writers: So y• infamous and in glorious Princes, as Heliogabalus, Sardanapalus, Nero, Caligula, & Commodus have not only eclipsed the bright sun of their honours by lascivious living, & coward dread, but obscurely lurk in the deep •onge on of loathsome oblivion. It is then apparent that nothing in this world can establish our seat in security, but only virtue, the which with incredible travail is procured. If these excellent Orators and Poets have celebrated the memory of these princes, that only endeavoured to gratify their Country & common weal:
What shall we worth lye write in the commendation of John Ecolampadius and Huldericke Zuinglius, who with their monuments of divine sapience, have confirmed our minds in y• fear of God, fed us with Evangelical food, and preached to us y• doctrine of salvation, I may justly say they were not only equivalent, but also excelled y• other. The one a man of such innocency of life, so sincere in preaching & professing the Gospel, so ready to oppose ⟨image 59⟩him self to all worldly danger, as no age can obliterate his memory. The other so magnanimous in thaduaunc• meant of Christs glory, and his blessed Gospel, so willingly bent to dye in quarrel of y• right, merits more praise then to be set fourth with foil of my rude pen. Their lives are no less mirrors for us virtuously to live, then their blessed departures comfortable preparatives, teaching us to dye godly. Thus desirous to gratify your honour, with some token of my goodwill I have englished this history, the which for many your virtues & goodly ornaments, I dedicate unto your good Lordship. Which virtues & heavenly gifts, your honour hath not of lats acquired, but naturally are engrafted in your person. There is none at this present that •avoreth of any learning but hath red the commendation of your most noble Grandfather William, Lord Mountjoy. Who besides nobility of race, was adorned with such piety & good literature, as he excelled many noble men in England. For albeit this victorious Realm▪ flourished at those days with many learned instructors, ⟨image 59⟩yet the excellency of his courage, could not be contented, unless he were taught of the famous & incomparable Clark Erasmus of Rotterdam, by whose industry he was so advanced in letters of humanity, that not only in his native Country, but in many foreign regions, his glory and fame eternally shineth. Such is the mutual love of learned men, to consecrate one another in their lucubrations to immortality. And to pass in silence many other his virtues, I will approach nigher. Your honourable father Charles lord Mountjoy, following the lively steps of his father, was instructed of the notable learned man Andrew Hyperius a German.
Who not only in time of peace was diligently incumbent t• good studies, & furthered good learning, but in the late famous war, & a••iege of Boulogne showed his magnanimity, & invincible courage, where death envying his glory, claimed her just debt of him not without the lamentable grief and in credible sorrow of a great many. Your honour degenerateth nothing from their laudable steppes, entertaining with ⟨image 60⟩like zealous affection Heliseus Bomelius a German, who readeth unto your honour the liberal sciences, & whom Phillip Melanchthon hath in familiar letters praised highly for erudition & godliness. Albeit his learned works published give due testimony thereof. I pretermit many other your worthy virtues, which justly to set forth, I leave to such as with greater vessels can more aptly wade in this sea. Only I will end with your piety which is so great, y• you cannot bear with any •ice, that may offend God in your honourable house, your unstayed hand to relieve their wants, whom you think worthy to receive your rewards, & your zeal towards true religion, which many to your singular praise pronounce: In sort y• when the Patrons of Christian religion are celebrated with just encomys among men, your honour is not▪ unremembered. Thus humbly desiring your good lordship to bear with the rudeness of my tram slacion, I commit the same & the most virtuous Lady your honourable wife, to the tuition of the holy Ghost.
Who not onely in tyme of peace was diligently incūbent t• good studies, & furdered good learnyng, but in the late famous warre, & a••iege of Boloigne shewed his magnanimity, & inuincible courage, wher death enuying his glori, claimed her iust debt of him not without the lamentable griefe and in credible sorow of a great mani. Your honor degenerateth nothing frō their lawdable steppes, entertayning with ⟨image 60⟩lyke zealous affection Heliseus Bomelius a Germain, who readeth vnto your honour the liberal sciences, & whom Phillip Melancthon hath in familiar letters praysed highly for erudicion & godlynes. Albeit hys learned workes published geue due testimony therof. I pretermit many other your worthy vertues, which iustly to set forth, I leaue to such as wt greater vessels cā more aptly wade in this sea. Ouely I wil end with your piety which is so great, y you cānot bear wt any ice, that mai offend God in your honorable house, your vnstayed hand to relieue their wantes, whom you thynke woorthye to receaue your rewardes, & your zeale towardes true religion, which many to your syngular prayse pronounce: In sort y when the Patrons of Christian religion ar celebrated with iust encomys among men, your honor is not vnremēbred. Thus hūbly desiring your good lordship to beare wt the rudenes of my trā slacion, I commit the same & the most vertuous Lady your honorable wife, to the tuicion of the holy Ghost.
¶ At London the last of November 1561. your honours most humble. H. B
¶ At London the last of Nouember 1561. your honors most humble. H. B
I Wish thee favourable Reader, to increase in y• knowledge & understanding of our Lord Jesus Christ reigning in glory. Our friend Simon Grineus, as well flourishing in eloquence and ornate style, as learned in sacred knowledge and sense of y• scrip tures, hath by his letters faithfully signified unto us the true decease of the very organ of Christ, my well-beloved brother John Ecolampadius. The which information two Counsellors of Basil, men of singular gravity and good fame have with their advertisement verified to be true, who expressed in such manner unto us the words and gesture of the deceased, ⟨image 61⟩that me seemed I beheld and heard the lively words he pronounced at the point of death. These Counsellors, were ever present with the Ministers so long as occasion spared them from public affairs, and specially when he was ready to give place to nature▪ They informed he intermitted no time, while he was sick to commend1 the sincere doctrine of faith, peace, mutual love, and diligent care of the Churches to his brethren, whereof all his life studious, then he was y• more earnestly moved, yea inflamed when his sickness was most impatient and dolorous. Pondering also with himself, what occasion of contention and discord the enemy would minister to y• selected Christian flock, destitute of the governance & assistance of their true Pastor. And fully I resolve his prayers availed much for that after his departure, his Successor in most sharpest time of severity & persecution, governed the stern rightly, & was not displaced, in sort that the poor Christians sequestring them selves for a time, & dispersed abroad in the end assembled, & in like order as in few ⟨image 61⟩years before established their Church and abode. Our part is to render hearty thanks to the ramous and learned man Simon Grineus, who with compendious clegancy, and singular erudition, hath described the decease of this godly man, by whose example we have perfect president to learn how to behave our selves at the latter hour. The rest of Ecolampadius life is no less mirror, which Grineus hath required me fully to set forth. Aprounce (I confess) far passing my power, especially in this miserable and crooked age, & also skill, if any were at all with tract of years, loathsome sickness, and daily exercise impaired and decayed.
THAT vertue and felicitye haue theyr begynnyng of laborious and daungerous attempts, Demetrius the Pagan Philosopher abundantly declares. For if blessed estate is accident to none, but to such as fast and endure aduersity, & those that lyue in pleasure & perpetual rest, are estemed inglorious Epicures, whō God neglectes & iudgeth vnworthy to cōten•e wyth calamity. How famous & excellent were the auncient Greekes and victorious Romaines (ryght honorable, & my syngular good Lord) whose vertuous dedes & notable exploictes, not without great perils & honorable ⟨image 58⟩death atchieued, •ystify to al posterity their incredible desyre, as well to enlarge the ••myts of theyr 〈…〉 and illustrate with victories their florishing publicke weales, as also their intollerable paynes & prudent consideracions to attaine to felicity by the ragged hyls, & sharpe thorny wayes, whych lead to vertue. Hercules, worthely Prince of all Grecia: what labors susteyned he? What ougly Monsters dyd he ouercome and with what magnanimitye dyd he penetrate the gresly denne of Pl•toes ghastly kingdome? By what other counsayle dyd Homexe (•udged of y• learned diuine) set before our eyes wandring Vlisses as an absolute Image of wysdom, tossed with many •rksome trauayls: but to signify thys to be the ready way to clyme to the palaice of al felicity, and commendable vertue. Such wer Epaminundas, Alcibiades, Phociō, Alexander the great, Cam•llus, Scipio, Paulus, Aemilius, Pompeius, Augustus, Brutus, Cato & Cicero, no •es ornamentes of their Country then expresse paternes of vertue. These worthi personages as thei shined in glory ⟨image 58⟩and lyue in the learned monumentes of vertuous writers: So y• infamous and in glorious Princes, as Heliogabalus, Sardanapalus, Nero, Caligula, & Cōmodus haue not onely eclipsed the bryght sunne of theyr honors by lasciuious liuing, & coward dread, but obscurely lurke in the depe •onge on of lothsome obliuion. It is then apparēt that nothyng in this world can establish our seate in securiti, but onely vertue, the whych with incredyble trauayl is procured. If these excellet Orators and Poetes haue celebrated the memory of these princes, that onely endeuored to gratefy theyr Coūtry & common weale:
What shal we worthe lye write in the commendacion of Iohn Ecolampadius and Huldericke Zuinglius, who wyth theyr monumentes of diuine sapience, haue confirmed our myndes in y• feare of God, fed vs wyth Euange•ical foode, and preached to vs y• doctrine of saluaciō, I may iustly say they were not onely equiualent, but also excelled y• other. The one a man of such innocencye of lyfe, so sincere in preachyng & professyng the Gospell, so readye to oppose ⟨image 59⟩hym self to al worldly daunger, as no age can obliterate his memorye. The other so magnanimous in thaduaūc• mēt of Christes glory, and his blessed Gospell, so willinglye bent to dye in quarel of y• right, merites more praise then to be set fourth with foyle of my rude pen. Their liues are no lesse mirrours for vs vertuouslye to lyue, then theyr blessed departures comfortable preparatiues, teaching vs to dye godly. Thus desirous to gratefy your honour, wyth some token of my goodwyl I haue englished this history, the which for mani your vertues & goodli ornamēts, I dedicate vnto your good Lordship. Which vertues & heauenly giftes, your honour hath not of lats acquired, but naturally are engraffed in your person. Ther is none at thys present that •auoreth of any learning but hath red the cōmendacion of your most noble Graundfather Wylliam, Lord Montioy. Who besides nobility of race, was adorned with such piety & good litterature, as he excelled many noble men in England. For albeit thys victorious Realme▪ flourished at those daies with many learned instructors, ⟨image 59⟩yet the excellency of his courage, could not be contented, vnles he wer taught of the famous & incomparable Clark Erasmus of Roterdam, by whose industry he was so aduaunced in letters of humanitye, that not onely in hys natiue Country, but in many foraine regions, hys glory and fame eternally shineth. Suche is the mutual loue of learned men, to consecrate one another in their lucubrations to immortalitye. And to passe in silence many other his vertues, I wil approch nigher. Your honorable father Charles lord Montioy, folowing the lyuely steps of his father, was instructed of the notable learned man Andrew Hyperius a Germain.
I Wyshe thee fauourable Reader, to encrease in y• knowledge & vnderstandyng of our Lord Iesus Christ raignyng in glory. Our friende Simon Grineus, as well floorishyng in eloquence and ornate style, as learned in sacred knowledge and sence of y• scrip tures, hath by hys letters faythfullye signified vnto vs the true decease of the very organe of Christ, my welbeloued brother Iohn Ecolampadius. The whych information two Counsellers of Basile, mē of syngular grauity and good fame haue wyth theyr aduertisment verified to be true, who expressed in suche maner vnto vs the woordes and gesture of the deceased, ⟨image 61⟩that me semed I beheld and heard the lyuely woordes he pronounced at the point of death. These Counsellers, were euer present with the Ministers so long as occasion spared them from publike affaires, and specially when he was ready to geue place to nature▪ They enfourmed he intermitted no time, whyle he was sycke to cōmende1 the sincere doctrine of fayth, peace, mutual loue, and diligent care of the Churches to hys brethren, wherof al hys life studious, then he was y• more earnestly moued, yea enflamed when hys sycknes was most impacient and do•orous. Pondering also with hymself, what occasion of contencion and diseord the enemy wold minister to y• selected Christian flocke, destitute of the goueruaunce & assistence of theyr true Pastor. And fullye I resolue hys prayers auayled muche for that after hys departure, his Successor in moste sharpest time of seuerity & persecutiō, gouerned the sterne ryghtlye, & was not displaced, in sorte that the poore Christiās sequestring them selues for a tyme, & dispersed abroad in the end assembled, & in lyke order as in fewe ⟨image 61⟩yeres before established their Church and abode. Our part is to render harty thanks to the ramous and learned man Simon Grineus, who with compendious clegancy, and syngular erudicion, hath deseriued the decease of thys godlye man, by whose example we haue perfecte president to learne howe to behaue our selues at the latter houre. The rest of Ecolampadius lyfe is no lesse myrrour, whych Grineus hath required me fullye to setfoorth. Aprou•nce (I confesse) farre passyng my power, especially in thys miserable and croked age, & also skyl, if any wer at al wyth tract of yeares, lothsome sycknes, and daylye exercise empayred and decayed.
