The Decades: Fifth Decade

FIFTH DECADE.

Che Parker Socictyp,

BY THE

REV. THOMAS HARDING, A.M,

OF WORCESTER COLLEGE, OXFORD, AND VICAR OF BEXLEY, IN KENT,

CAMBRIDGE:

PRINTED AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS.

Universtty of Southern California Liprary

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BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICE

HENRY BULLINGER.

[To avoid multiplying references it is here generally stated, that the following abstraet of Bullinger's life has been compiled from a Diary of Bullinger's, in the Library of Zurich (Acta Eccles. Mscr. F. 106); from a memoir of Bullinger, in the 1st volume of Miscell. Tigur. part 2; from the biographies of Simler, Melchior Adam, and Pastor Hess; and from D'Aubigne's History of the Reformation, (Books vill. XI. xv. xvi.) where much use has been made of Bullinger's own * Chronick."]

Henry BurrmGEm, the fifth child of Henry Bullinger and Anna Widerkehr!, was born on the 18th of July, 1504, at Bremgarten, a small town, of which his father was parish- -priest and dean, about ten miles west of Zurich. In his childhood he was preserved several times from imminent perils: once from the plague, and risk of premature interment; again, when by a fall in the street a whistle which was in his hand was driven into his neck; and again, when the enticement of a beggar would have stolen him from his home and friends. | His earliest education was commenced in his fifth year in the school of his native place: but such was his fondness for learning, application, and forwardness, that in his twelfth year, June 11, 1516, his father sent him to a grammar-school at Emmerich on the Rhine, There he continued three years, and made rapid advances, especially in his Latin studies. Meanwhile his pecuniary resources were kept so straitened, that he was obliged to beg for a livelihood from one neighbour's door to another with singing. This severe discipline his father exercised, not out of necessity, nor from covetous- - ness, but (as he thought) to train his son to moderation in his own habits, and to sympathy with the sufferings of the poor?

1 They were not formally married until December 31, 1529, at the cathedral in Zurich.—Bullinger's Diary. Miscell. Tig. Tom.1. par. 2. p. 4.

2 Bullinger drily observes in his diary: “Intra hoc triennium secundo me vestivit parons; dedit prseterea aureos 33."

vii BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICE.

Nor was this hardship, connected as it was with the superstitious notions of his day, uncongenial with young Bullinger's own temperament: rather he has left it on record, that he already purposed with himself to become after a few years a Carthusian monk, because it was the most strict of all the orders. ——

From Emmerich Bullinger was removed to the university of Cologne; and entered July 8, 1519,' at the college BurseMontis. "There the works of the school-divines, and chiefly of Peter Lombard and Gratian, soon engrossed his attention; and, in the providence of God, were converted into instruments for detaching him from the religion of Rome. For in this course of reading meeting with frequent extracts from the fathers, he felt an earnest desire quickened within him to peruse their entire writings. Accordingly, he solicited and obtained admission to a well-stored library of the Dominicans ; and there studied with intense ardour several treatises of Chrysostom, Ambrose, Origen, and Augustine. Simultaneously the earlier tracts of Luther, especially his ** Babylonish Captivity” and treatise “On Christian Liberty," with the “ Loci Communes” of Melancthon, came into his hands. He Me for himself also a copy of the New Testament”, and devoted days and nights to the perusal of it, with the aid of the Commentaries of Jerome. The result of these pursuits was, that Bullinger’s mind and heart opened gradually to the knowledge and reception of the gospel in its purity’.

In this transition state, and having taken his bachelor’s

- degree in October 1520, and his master's in February 1522,4 Bullinger returned in April of the last-mentioned year to his father’s roof at Bremgarten. There he devoted himself to the study of the Bible with still greater eagerness; and joined to it the writings of Athanasius, Cyprian, and Lactantius, and 1 In this same year Bullinger’s father set himself to oppose Samson, the preacher of indulgences, at Bremgarten.—D’Aubigne, Hist. of Ref. Book vrm. chap. 7.

? Of the ignorance of scripture among the priests of this time Bullinger assirms in his preface to the Epistles :—inter trecentos non reperti sunt triginta qui ordinarie Biblia legerint.

3 — totus a papistica doctrina abhorrere incipio.—Bullinger's Diary.

4 — In recipiendis titulis una cum aliis insaniebam, ut tum erat moris.—Bullinger’s Diary.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICE. ix

several of Luther's treatises, especially “ On the Abrogation of the Mass,” and “On Vows.” These occupations powerfully promoted, under God, his improved views of christian truth§, But his profiting was not to be for himself only. The Cistercian abbot of Cappel, Wolfgang Joner, since his elevation in 1519, had laboured much to improve the moral and intellectual condition of his convent. Having heard therefore of Bullinger’s excellent character, studiousness, and abilities, he sent an invitation to him early in 1523, to become lecturer and teacher of the monks and other students in his monastery ; and as the offer was disconnected with any constraint of vows, profession, or observances, that could interfere with his enlightened conscience®, Bullinger consented to enter (17th January) upon the proposed duties. The engagement, however, was a further development of God’s gracious providence toward him’; and as it allowed him to discourse on the holy - scriptures, with the writings of the fathers and Erasmus and Melancthon, it was a signal means to himself and his hearers of advancement in sound christian doctrine®, notwithstanding Severe oppositions even to the risk of life, Six years were passed by Bullinger in this useful retirement; where also he ~ composed, principally for his own practice and improvement, more than fifty treatises, mostly on religious topics: of which the larger part remained in manuscript®; but some were either published afterwards, or incorporated in his later writings, or distributed among his friends’. During the same interval Bullinger formed an intimate 5 See Bp Cox’s testimony; Zurich Letters, A. p. 244.