A. D. 1531. course with to have congratulated you, my dear friend, on the professorship which you have so honourably obtained. Both our old friendship, and the On interhope that now the name of Christ shall be more Christian illustriously displayed in your city, should have friends. exacted this of me. But you are aware what things deter many in these times from doing that which they wish to do; seeing the perfidy of the wicked assumes such licence, even in violation of the public faith. I approve not, however, of such pusillanimity in writing. We, who have so decidedly the better cause, ought to be superior to the world, and to overawe it whereas, if we are so servile as to shrink from writing to one another from the apprehension of danger-fearing where no fear is-how much more imperiously may we expect the enemies of the church to domineer, and restrain even the use of our tongues. When therefore shall we openly oppose ourselves to our adversaries? How shall we animate the weak by our examples? where shall be found the comfort of love? where the free confession of Christ? where the confusion of our enemies? where our own hopes? Far be it from us to hold back from correspondence, or from any other offices that become a Christian. Even therefore if the bearer of my letters were not so friendly or so faithful as I trust he is, I would yet write to express my joy and my anticipations. I pray God to be with you, and enable you to make the full improvement of your situation: for, though you still dwell among scorpions, and have a prince occupied Frecht had been called from Heidelberg, and became chief pastor of Ulm, where he continued till he was led away in chains by the emperor Charles V. in 1548.-Vol ii. 31, 136.-M. Åd. i. 145. Seckendorf, iii. 18. CHAP. What men the times required. 15. To the pastors of of Basle. 1 with other affairs, yet the hand of the Lord is not shortened, that it cannot endue you with such strength from above as shall render your ministry fruitful, and enable you, in the exercise of faithfulness, prudence, and zeal, to prevent another from destroying what you have wrought. He will give unto you not to rest till the enemy is subdued, and science falsely so called gives place to sound theology; and truth reigns in the church on the ruins of impiety and error.-Your predecessor Schybenhard was a good and learned man; but the situation required a more commanding spirit, one that despised the world, and counted all but loss for the advancement of the glory of Christ. I wish and hope that you may do more honour to the professor's chair, than it can do to you for your heart will be set upon the expulsion of Antichrist from the schools as well as the churches, and above all from the hearts of men. May Christ be with you! Let me hear from you from time to time."3-Here again we have the description of the men whom the exigencies of the church require; not only "learned" men, not only "good" men, but men "despising the world, and counting all things but loss for the advancement of the glory of Christ:" men therefore of a "superior spirit," formed to lead and not to follow the manners of the age; and suited to "overawe" the ungodly rather than to be overawed by them. 15. We have seen that in the year 1530 the canton Ecolampadius was commissioned to visit the churches of the canton of Basle, and to introduce such regulations as their state and the The diet of Augsburg was just at hand. 3 Epist. fo. 211. 2 "Matæologia." A. D. 1531. state of the clergy might seem to require.1 In the following letter, though it is without date, we may consider ourselves as possessing, I might say, even a splendid specimen of the manner in which he discharged the delicate but important duties thus devolved upon him. It is addressed to seventeen ministers, by name, "his beloved brethren preaching the gospel in the territory of Basle," but of whom not more than one had ever before occurred to our notice; a circumstance which may tend to shew us how numerous reformed, and in the main faithful ministers were now become. Admoni. "Grace and peace from God the Father, tions to through Christ, in the Holy Spirit. Since in this life, dearly beloved brethren, in which we live in exile from home, and know but in part, no one is so perfect that he may not be profited by brotherly exhortation and admonition, (for the wise hear and become wiser,) I assure myself that your charity will receive this friendly address with the same candour and kindness which dictate it. I have neither to lament over you nor to expostulate with you, as if I found you wanting in zeal or diligence in advancing the cause of the gospel: but, my deacon, Jerome Botanus,2 who lately visited you, and observed your life and conversation, having reported to me that all things are conducted among you in a becoming and Christian manner, I give thanks to our Saviour Jesus Christ who hath imbued you with such a spirit, that, while others feed themselves,3 and, looking to the favour of the world, take little care either for their own souls or for the souls committed to them, you choose rather to live in the house • Or Bothan, vol. ii. 571. Ezek. xxxiv. 1. 1 Above, p. 97. CHAP. XX. of God, despised by men, but guiding the sheep of Christ to the wholesome pastures of eternal life, than to be honoured in the courts of this world. And I not only give thanks at seeing you endued with this pious temper of mind, but with the most ardent desires of my inmost soul I pray the Author of this gift, the Father of our Redeemer the Lord Jesus Christ, that he will continue henceforward so to enlighten our hearts with faith, to confirm them with hope, to inflame them with love, and to adorn them with the garments of meekness, patience, peace, justice, innocence, and all virtues, that it may become evident from all our conduct, that we seek not our own glory but the glory of Jesus Christ; that we desire not the riches of this world, but heavenly treasures; and that nothing therefore lies nearer to our hearts than the salvation of souls. And I ask these things with a blessed confidence, not doubting that the Spirit of Christ does continually call these graces into existence and excrcise in your minds, and that he will happily perfect them.But, stimulated by the charity which he inspires, I also beg that we may be ever mindful of those things which Christ requires of us, proposing to such as yield them the highest rewards, but threatening to those who neglect them the severest punishments. His words, beloved brethren, ought evermore to sound in our ears, when we walk by the way and when we sit in the house: those words, for instance, which he hath directed against the servant that buries his talent; against the tree which bringeth not forth good fruit; against the husbandmen who render not the fruits in their season; against the scribes who, having the keys of the kingdom of heaven, neither enter A. D. 1531. their life in themselves, nor suffer others to enter in ; against the unwatchful servant; against false prophets; and against foolish pastors.1 Justly may his thunders terrify us; lest we become salt that hath lost its savour; a blind eye; clouds without water; raging waves of the sea; spots and stains in the church; dogs and deceitful workers; and incur the other reproaches with which they are branded who desert their proper office and duty.2--In the first place, and contherefore, let us be careful to order our lives versation: aright; let the eye of the mind be single and right so that we may have nothing more at heart than to live soberly, justly, innocently, and in a becoming manner, to the glory of God, our heavenly Father. For how shall we raise others out of the pollutions of this world, if we ourselves are sunk in them? Can the flock be expected to go where the shepherd does not lead the way? Will they regard his word more than his example? It would be surprising if they did, since the life of a teacher, not corresponding with his instructions, destroys their effect. Or how shall the building advance, if while we raise it with one hand we throw it down with the other? What crooked rod ever gave a straight shadow? Let us be unreproveable, as the apostle's word is. The world has its eyes upon us, and nothing is so frequently in its mouth as the inquiry, Where are their works which should induce us to believe --- 1 Ezek. xiii. 3. Let it be observed how this holy man of God, even while he cherishes the most blessed hopes and the most cheering confidence, lays bare his bosom, so to speak, to those parts of the divine word which address the fears, the holy jealous fears of himself and his brethren, "Lest that by any means when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway." |