A treatise of the necessity of humane learning for a Gospel-preacher shewing the use of I. Languages, II. Rhetoric, III. Logic, IV. Natural philosophy, V. Moral philosophy, VI. History, VII. Chronology, VIII. Arithmetic, IX. Geometry, X. Astronomy, XI. Geography, and the benefits of learning in all ages : also this question is determined, whether grace be essential to a minister of the Gospel? / by Edward Reyner ...

SECT. IX. Of the Learning of the first Reformers.

Secondly, Now I shall shew briefly the Learning of the Modern Divines, which may be cast into two Ranks:

I. Those former, who were the happy

Reformers of Religion, or honored by God as Master-Builders to lay the Foun∣dation, and begin the Work of Reforma∣tion.

II. These later, who vigorously car∣ried on the Work of Reformation.

I. The Learning of those former Di∣vines, whom God raised up in pity to his poor Church, when the Apostacy of Po∣pery had so far overspread, and prevailed. They were many of them learned, men of great skill in Arts and Tongues; and o∣thers competently learned: and all, men of invincible courage, and indefatigable pains, excited and qualified by God to be the Restorers of the true Christian Reli∣gion from its bondage in Ignorance and Su∣perstition; and strong and stout Opposers of the Pope and Popery in the Points of Doctrine, Worship, and Practice. These lived in (or about) the fourteenth and fif∣teenth Centuries.

Berengarius lived in the dismal dark∣ness, and depth of Popery: * 1.1 he profited in the School above his Equals; and was well-skill'd in the Liberal Arts, an excel∣lent Logician; of great account for his Learning and Piety. He was expert in the Scriptures; and also in the Writings of the ancient Fathers. He was a Champion

for the Truth in the Point of Transubstan∣tiation; opposing the Corporal Presence of Christ in the Sacrament. He had almost drawn all Italy, France, and England to his Opinion. He was of a bold, undaunted spirit and courage. His Life and Conver∣sation was so unblameable, that therein (as one saith) he starved the Malice of all his Adversaries. * 1.2

Petrus Waldus, though he was not one of the Modern Divines, yet something is observable in his Story, which is useful to our purpose. * 1.3 He was a rich Citizen of Li∣ons in France, * 1.4 converted by seeing one fall down dead in the streets; upon which he betook himself to teach and admonish his House and Friends to repent, and to study the Scriptures himself: and he profited so well therein, that he translated divers parts thereof out of Latine into French. Friar Rainer, an Adversary to the Truth, and to the Waldenses, saith, That Waldus, being tolerably learned, taught those that resorted to him the Text of the New Te∣stament in their Mother's Tongue; and that the Waldenses (who were his Followers and Auditors) had above forty Schools, * 1.5 and divers Churches, all within one Dio∣cess: yea, they were (as others witness) of that ability, that they had divers Con∣ferences

and Disputations with the Roma∣nists, and had the better. * 1.6

As for the Doctrines and Tenets of the Waldenses, * 1.7 they preached against the Do∣ctrines and Practises of Rome; as the Pope's Power, Transubstantiation, the Adora∣tion of Images, and of the Cross, against Prayers for the dead, Purgatory, Invocati∣on of Saints, extreme Unction, Auricular Confession, with many more.

John Wickliff was brought up in Merton Colledge in Oxford, he was famous both for life and learning, he excell'd in the knowledge of the Arts and School-Divi∣nity; he was admired of all for his singu∣lar abilities, and sweetness of demeanor: he was Divinity-Reader in Oxford: he was a diligent faithful Preacher of the Go∣spel under King Edward the third, who always favored, and protected him against the rage of his Adversaries. He denied the Pope to be the Head of the Church, * 1.8 and pronounced him to be Antichrist: he confuted and condemned his Doctrines a∣bout Bulls and Indulgences, Masses, Tran∣substantiation, &c. He was a great Enemy to the swarms of begging Friars. He wrote above two hundred fair Volumes, most of which were burned by Subinck Arch-Bishop of Prague in Bohemia: he wrote

many Books of Philosophy, and some of Metaphysics. * 1.9 The University of Oxford crowned his person and doctrine with a fra∣grant Garland of Praises, whose doctrine was not onely favored by divers Nobles, but also by the third part of the Clergy of England. In all his sufferings he shewed an undaunted spirit.

John Huss was educated in Learning at Prague in Bohemia, he was a great Scholar, and a famous Preacher in that University: he was converted by reading of John Wick∣liff's Books, * 1.10 which Queen Ann's Cour∣tiers, who brought her (being Sister to Wen∣ceslaus King of Bohemia) over into Eng∣land to Richard the second King of Eng∣land, did here light on, and carried them into their own Countrey; which Huss had the happiness to read, approve, and disperse: which proved a means of the Conversion of Bohemia; for Wickliff's Books first discovered the Romish Super∣stitions unto them: he stoutly opposed the Pope's proceedings, and gave a blow to the man of sin under the fifth rib, which in Scripture is always observed to be mor∣tal. The Gentry and Nobility of Bohemia did highly favor him.

Jerom of Prague had his first breeding there, but he much enriched himself in

Learning by his travels abroad to the most principal parts, and Staple-places of learn∣ing. At Paris he commenced Mr. of Arts; and in the University of Colen, and Heidle∣berg, had the same degree confirmed un∣to him. He was a man of admirable learn∣ing, Eloquence, Memory, Courage, and Zeal. He was converted, as John Huss, by reading one of Wickliff's books, by which he perceived the abominable super∣stitions then used in the Church; and be∣gan by degrees, first in his judgment to dislike them, after in his practice to disuse them, and lastly in his preaching to con∣fute them. He earnestly contended for the Truth, against the enemies of it, and openly opposed the doctrine of Purgatory, and Prayers for the dead; and thundered against the ill lives of the Monks and Fri∣ers. He proclaimed and defended the in∣nocency of John Huss, and condemned his false accusers. After his great and grie∣vous sufferings, being brought before the Council, he so learnedly vindicated him∣self, and refell'd his enemies, that they were astonished at, and silenced by his O∣ration, which he concluded thus, That all such Articles as Wickliff and Huss had written against the enormities, pomp and disorder of the Prelates, he would firmly

hold and defend even to death.

Martin Luther born 1483. * 1.11 at 14. years of age went to Magdeburg, from thence his Parents removed him to Isenak, a fa∣mous School, there he perfected his Gram∣mar-learning. He went thence to the U∣niversity of Erford, Anno 1501. where he profited much in the knowledg of Logic, and other Learning, and read over Cicero, Livy, Virgil, and other Latine Authors. When he was twenty years old, he was made Mr. of Arts, and read as Professor Aristotle's Physics, Ethics, and other parts of Philosophy.

After his Conversion he began to read Augustine's works; * 1.12 he also read over the Schoolmen, especially Occam, whom he esteemed, for acuteness of wit, before Aqui∣nas and Scotus, and he studiously perused Gerson. In these Studies he spent five years in the Colledge at Erford.

When Luther was twenty six years old, John Staupicius (who endeavoured to promote the University of Wittenberg, then lately begun) removed Luther thi∣ther, where at first he explained Aristotle's Logic and Physics, yet intermitted not his study.

When he was 30. years old he was made Doctor in Divinity after the maner of the

Schools, at the charge of Duke Frederic Elector of Saxony. The Prince hearing him preach admired his excellent parts.

Then he betook himself to the study of the Greek and Hebrew. Afterwards Luther published his Propositions against Indul∣gences, and opposed the Pope's Suprema∣cy, Purgatory, and other Tenets of Po∣pery.

Luther also confuted Nicholas Stork, * 1.13 Thomas Muncer, and other fanatical Ring∣leaders, broaching new Doctrines, who pretended Revelations Angelical, and con∣ferences with God, and denied the Bap∣tism of Infants.

The Pope's Advocates promised Eras∣mus a Bishoprick of rich revenue, if he would write against Luther; but he answe∣red that Luther was a man too great for him to write against, and that he learned more from one short page of Luther's Wri∣tings, then from all Thomas Aquinas his Books.

Bucer called Luther the first Apostle of the reformed Doctrine; not simply, for Wickliff, Huss, and those forenamed, preached the same before; but Luther was the first, who in Bucer's age and me∣mory, publickly and successfully, set on foot a general Reformation of the Church

in these Western parts. John Huss bare a torch before Luther, and shewed him his way. See more of Luther in his life.

Huldericus Zuinglius was sent to School at Basil at 10. * 1.14 years of age, where he ex∣ceeded his School-fellows in learning. At Bern he learned Rhetoric, Poetry, Orato∣ry and Logic. At Vienna in Austria he studied Philosophy, and perfected his for∣mer parts. At Basil he taught others what himself had learn'd. He commenced Ma∣ster of Arts, and studied School-divinity and Greek, wherein he excell'd. He was chosen Pastor at Zuric, (anno Christi 1521.) where, beside his Ministerial la∣bors, he studied Hebrew, and was able to expound those two major Prophets, Isaiah and Jeremiah. He prevailed with the Se∣nate at Zuric to erect a School for La∣tine, Greek and Hebrew.

He was admired in Switzerland, and fa∣mous at Zuric, as Luther in Germany, and at Wittenberg. He was solid in all maner of learning, and a diligent searcher of the Scriptures, being expert in the Original Tongues. He was so great an opposer of the Pope's Pardons, Indulgences, and proceedings, that the Cardinals them∣selves (as is reported) sought by great gifts to allure him to their side. At Zuric he

disputed with Franciscus Lambertus, a Fri∣er, about the Intercession of the Saints, and the sacrifice of the Mass, and convinced him of his error, so that he confessed and forsook his error, and gave glory to God.

Then crept in the opinion of the Ana∣baptists, which he opposed with all his might.

His works are large witnesses of his gifts and graces, parts and pains.

Oecolumpadius, he was educated in Re∣ligion and Learning, first at a School in Germany, call'd Heelbronna, then at Hei∣delberg. Here he attained to that perfection in learning, that at the age of 14 years he was made Batchelor of Arts, with great approbation, and continued there till he was Master of Arts. Afterwards he fell close to the study of Divinity, and read the Schoolmen, (Aquinas, Gerson, and others) with indefatigable pains, and much profit. He studied Greek at Stutgard, and Hebrew at Heidelberg. Anno 1515. he was call'd to be Preacher and Pastor at Basil, and commenced Dr. in that University; about the same time that Erasmus came to Basil to print his Annotations on the New Te∣stament; for the perfecting whereof he u∣sed the assistance of Oecolampadius, a man (saith he) (a) 1.15 eminent not only for piety,

but for skill in three Languages; and con∣fessed he was much helped by him.

The Writers of his Life give this chara∣cter of him, that he was a worthy instru∣ment of advancing the truth of Christ; which he defended against Eckius and Fa∣ber, and others. He was very successful in appeasing Sects and contentions, that arose in the Church. His fame both for piety and learning spread so abroad, that Philip Prince Elector Palatine committed his youngest son unto his tuition. He was a diligent, faithful Preacher of the Gospel, and pro∣moter of Reformation in the Church; in∣to which he brought the right administra∣tion of the Sacraments, and the censure of Excommunication. He declared his judgement against the Mass, and other Popish doctrines; against sprinkling with holy water, and many superstitious actions; to which his doctrine (sinking into his au∣ditors hearts) put a period. He was fa∣mous in the City of Basil.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Century 14. Ussertus de Christ. Eccles. succes. cap. 7. pag. 196, 197.
• * 1.2

  Fuller.
• * 1.3

  Alsted. Chronol.
• * 1.4

  ☞
• * 1.5

  In Dioeceli Pa∣taviensi.
• * 1.6

  Vide Usserium cap. 6, 8.
• * 1.7

  Vide Usserium in cap. 6, ad cap. 10. & Protest. Evi∣dences.
• * 1.8

  Mr. Fuller. Mr. Clark.
• * 1.9

  Dr. Featly.
• * 1.10

  Mr. Fuller.
• * 1.11

  Century 15.
• * 1.12

  Mr. Fuller.
• * 1.13

  Mr. Fuller.
• * 1.14

  Born 1487.
• (a) 1.15

  In his Pre∣face to his An∣notat. on the New Testa∣ment.