cruel sentiments, and sophistical cavils in circulation against us, but to regard our just and wellfounded petition. In doing this, you will secure, no doubt, a great and a divine reward, as well as the highest degree of celebrity among all Christians. Jesus Christ himself will judge of the conduct of men to his church, and while human language exists, these transactions will be transmitted to all future ages. If our churches be indeed the churches of Christ, and we seek his glory, the cause will never want patrons and protectors, who will bestow due praises on the deserving, and merited contempt on the persecutor. Hungry, thirsty, naked, bound, Christ himself complains of the fury of the Romish hierarchy, and the iniquitous severities practised by many kings and princes: he entreats for the wounded members of his body, that his true church may be defended and the gospel honored :to acknowledge, to entertain, to minister to HIM, is the duty of a pious king, and a most grateful service to God." ones. New cares and labors awaited Melancthon upon his return from Frankfort, but they were pleasurable George, Duke of Saxony, sovereign of Misnia and Thuringia, the inveterate enemy of the Reformation, being dead, his brother Henry, who succeeded to his dominions, espoused it with the utmost zeal. Melancthon and Luther were immediately employed to regulate the affairs of the University at Leipsic, and to investigate the state of the churches. The Reformed cause now rapidly spread in every direction, and other princes, especially Joachim II. the Elector of Bradenburg and son-in-law to Sigismund, the King of Poland, embraced it. Raynald quotes some letters written by Cochlæus, in which he imputes the blame, as he calls it, of this change, to Melancthon and Vicelius; and Seckendorf has preserved a pleasing letter on the subject, composed by the former, addressed in the name of the Elector of Brandenburg to the Polish sovereign. The Protestants having solicited the Emperor to appoint a general conference between them and the Catholics, in conformity with the resolutions which had been adopted for this purpose at Frankfort, he directed them previously to deliberate on the concessions they were prepared to make to their adversaries. They met at Smalcald in the year 1540, and replied by the pen of Melancthon, that they should adhere to their Confession at Augsburg and the subsequent Apology. Amidst a multiplicity of other public engagements, he found time also to write a long and admirable vindication of the Reformers, addressed in the name of the Elector of Saxony and the confederate princes, to Charles V.; and another piece against Sebastian Frank, Caspar Schwenckfeld and others, who maintained fanatical opinions, and pretended to extraordinary revela tions. The Diet, which the Emperor had appointed to be held at Spires, was in consequence of the plague removed to Haguenaw. On his way thither Melancthon became dangerously ill, his disorder arising chiefly from the morbid melancholy incident to his constitution. The immediate cause of his present extreme dejection of mind is to be traced to the misconduct of the Landgrave of Hesse, who was forming an illicit connection, which Melancthon foresaw would prove detrimental to the Reformation by furnishing an occasion of reproach to its virulent adversaries. Varillas and Bossuet are by no means backward to avail themselves of the circumstance. Being in consequence of this indisposition detained at Vinaria, he experienced the kindest attentions from the Elector and his friends, who immediately sent for George Sturciad, a physician of Erfurt to whom he was peculiarly attached. Luther also hastened to his friend; and his cheering presence contributed not a little to aid the powers of medicine in producing his convalescence. As he had previ ously felt a deep persuasion that he should die, he had written his will and deposited it with Cruciger; and on his way, while crossing the Elbe, he suddenly uttered what happily proved an unfounded prediction: "Viximus in Synodis et jam moriemur in illis." In councils we have lived, in councils now shall die. The interesting account written by Solomon Glass and preserved amongst the original manuscripts of the German princes, shall be presented to the English reader. "When Luther arrived, he found Melancthon apparently dying. His eyes were din, his understanding almost gone, his tongue faltering, his learning imperfect, his countenance fallen, incapable of distinguishing any one, and indisposed to all nourishment. At such a sight. Luther was in the most terrible consternation, and turning to those who had accompanied him in his journey, exclaimed, 'Alas, that the devil should have thus unstrung so fine an instrument !'-Then in a supplicating posture, he devoutly prayed, We implore thee, O Lord our God, we cast all our burdens on thee and WILL CRY TILL THOU HEAREST us, pleading all the promises which can be found in the Holy Scripture respecting thy hearing prayer, so that THOU MUST INDEED HEAR US to preserve at all future periods, our entire confidence in thine own promises.' After this he seized hold of Melancthon's hand, and well knowing the extreme anxiety of his mind and the troubled state of his conscience, said, 'Be of good courage, Philip, YOU SHALL NOT DIE: although God has always a sufficient reason for removing us hence, he willeth not the death of a sinner but rather that he should be converted and live,'-it is his delight to impart life, not to inflict death. God has received into his favor the greatest sinners that ever existed in the world, namely, Adam and Eve, much more will he not cast thee off, my dear Philip, or permit thee to perish in grief and guilt. Do not therefore give way to this miserable dejection and destroy thyself, but trust in the Lord, who can remove it and impart new life.' While he thus spake, Melancthon began visibly to revive, as though his spirit came again, and was shortly restored to his usual health." After his recovery, Melancthon wrote thus to Camerarius, "I cannot express the pain I have suf fered during my illness, some returns of which I often feel. I witnessed at that period the deep sympathy of Luther, but he restrained his anxieties that he might not increase mine, endeavoring to raise me from my desponding state of mind, not only by admitting kind consolation but salutary reproof. If he had not come to me I should certainly have died." To Burcardus Mythobius he wrote, "In the summer I received two letters from you, the one at Smalcald, the other in Thuringia, at a time when I was confined by extreme illness occa sioned only by overwhelming anxiety of mind on account of some affairs relative to others, of which you also complain. I must have died, if Luther had not recalled me from the gates of death." The Elector of Saxony and the Landgrave of Hesse not being present at Haguenaw, no conclusive measures were adopted, but another Diet was appointed to meet at Worms in October. Thither the Emperor dispatched his Commissioner, Nicholas Granville, and the Pope his Nuncio, Campegius, Bishop of Filtri: Vergerius also appeared in the name of the king of France. It was long before the preliminary arrangements could be adjusted. On the twenty-eighth of November, Melancthon thus addressed his friend Jerome Baumgartner. But he totally disclaims it, and says that Eckius "The church of God does not often engage the serious attention of Kings, Pontiffs, and Princes; for their minds are devoted to ambitious projects, and other occupations. Truth is more generally esteemed and the church upheld by private persons and families; it was not one of the kings of Phonicia or Syria that cherished Elijah, but a poor widow, in whose house the true religion was maintained. Jonah is said to have been the son of a widow. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were not only private individuals, but exiles; and therefore I trust that God will still preserve his church amidst the present troubles. I exhort you to pursue your pious labors and cares with increased alacrity and renewed hope. The history of our convention may soon be told: nothing is done except deliberating about the plan of conducting the disputations. You" Macte Philippe, tu eripuisti Pontificiis quod ego remember the saying of Aristotle, "It would be a happy thing for the world if artists were to be made the sole judges of the arts-but we are favored | with canonists and nobility as arbitrators, who are quite unacquainted with our concerns, and these again have certain managers, as they are termed on the stage, or, as Eschines calls them, pettifoggers of the forum, who cajole the public." In a letter to Granville he intimates his opinion, "that good humored discussion might tend to remove sophisms and obscurities out of the way, and diminish the number of existing differences: at the same time he nobly avows his dislike of all inexplicitness and dissimulation which rather perplex than disentangle controversies; resolving for his part, whether in private or public conferences, TO SPEAK WHAT HE THINKS, FIRMLY BUT MODESTLY, AND TO CONCEDE WHAT HE DEEMS MAY BE CONCEDED, WITH UNAMBIGUOUS INGENUOUSNESS." The conference being at length opened in January, 1541, a debate between Eckius and Melancthon ensued. The latter characterizes his antagonist as an apt disputant, but "more solicitous of contending for the prize of ingenuity than for truth." At the close of the third day, Granville received an order from the Emperor to suspend the proceedings, and meet him in person at a Diet which he appointed at Ratisbon. It was opened early in the spring, and all the Princes of the Empire were either personally present, or sent deputies. Unfortunately in going, Melancthon was overturned in the vehicle in which he travelled, which accident, though it was not a fatal one, so essentially injured his right hand, that he never afterwards recovered the proper use of it. His wrist was dislocated by the fall. non ausus fuissem; i. e. Admirable Philip, thou has seized from the Popedom what I should not have dared to attempt!" Eckius himself was exceedingly confounded, and as persons commonly do in similar circumstances, he uttered a violent speech in default of argument, and went home in a fit of indignation, which together with an unusual quantity of wine at supper the same evening, operated so powerfully as to produce a fever. He never again returned to the conference. Granville ap pears to have been considerably affected by his opponent's statements, for a few days afterwards he said, "I have been thinking, Philip, for these several days past, very closely upon your arguments, and I really perceive this controversy to be a most difficult one, and well worthy of itself to occupy the attention of a Council." Melancthon had declared at the commencement of these discussions, "Se mori malle, quam conscientiam et veritatem lædere et certissime ex mærore moriturum, si id faceret: that he would rather die than injure truth and violate his conscience, and certainly if he could possibly act so he should die with grief;" a noble declaration, and finely illustrated by the following incident. Eckius, during the heat of disputation, made use of some puzzling sophism, at which Melancthon paused, to revolve the statement in his mind, and at length replied, "1 will give you an answer to-morrow.' Oh," said his antagonist, "there is no merit or honor in that, if you cannot answer me immediately." To which he replied in these memorable words, "Mi Doctor, non quæro meam gloriam hoc in negocio, sed veritatem: cras, volente Deo, me audies. My Doctor, I AM NOT SEEKING MY OWN GLORY IN THIS BUSINESS, BUT TRUTH: I say then, God willing, you shall have an answer to-morrow." The Catholics and Protestants having agreed to a proposal by the Emperor, that the controversies The same remarkable superiority of mind to all about religion should be settled by conference be- the incentives of ambition, was apparent in every tween select persons from both parties, his Imperial part of his conduct. As he did not pursue fame, Majesty, claiming the right of nomination, chose but truth, in his numerous conferences with the Julius Pflug, John Eckius, and John Gropper, on Catholics, so he did not aspire after rewards, but the the one side, and Philip Melancthon, Martin Bucer, promotion of the public good, in his academical and John Pistorius, on the other. They were com- labors. Indeed he was almost scrupulous to an manded to lay aside all passion, and respect only extreme. Luther, in a letter addressed to the Electhe glory of God. Granville, the Emperor's prime tor of Saxony on the third of July, mentions Meminister and commissioner at the conference, de- lancthon's hesitating to accept an increase of his livered a book to this Committee, which he said the salary to the amount of a hundred florins, and his Emperor desired them to peruse, but they were at wish to continue his Greek lectures, without any liberty to approve or amend it as they pleased. It con- remuneration, that the ordinary stipend might be tained twenty-two articles, and was supposed to be devoted to augment the revenue of the University. written by Gropper. This paper was artfully con- "But," says Luther, "he has sustained the greatstructed, but only led to long and fruitless discus- est share of academical labor for upwards of twenty sions. Both parties appear to have raised objections years past, and surely he has the greatest right to against it; and Melancthon remarks in writing to enjoy in quiet some of the profits. The junior masone of his friends, that Eckius declared in a letter to ters, who are his scholars, are capable of teaching the assembly of Princes, that he never had and never the Greek language. He has been a kind of genewould approve this book, because it Melancthonized ral servant to the whole institution, and well merits too much, for he suspected it to be either his dic- the bounty of your Highness. The whole Christian tation, or written with his advice and concurrence. | world is his debtor, and blessed be God, the Popish fraternity are more afraid of HIM and his SCHOLARS, than all the warm d besides put together." engaged in this the last three days. He is desirous of introducing pure doctrinal truth, and of extermiA long and molent altercation between the Elec- nating whatever rites are now publicly practised tor and the Popish party at Naumburg respecting in opposition to it; but the canons in general rethe election of a bishop, occupied a considerable sist this innovation, though there are some amongst part of the year 1512. The state of the district, them who aim to restrain the violence of their brerendered it a question of great importance. The thren. The Bishop has been fiercely threatened to majority of the ecclesiastical orders adhered to the be driven from his dignity; on which account the degrading superstitions of Popery; but the inha- Landgrave has written to the college, and openly bitants both of the towns and villages in the vicinity avowed his own determination, and that of the conof the electorate, were panting to enjoy the doc- federate Princes, to unite, if it be requisite, in his trines of the Reformation. The Catholic influence defence. All the cities excepting Cologne, includwas exerted to introduce Julius Pflug, one of the ing the major part of the nobility are desirous of a persons appointed in the select Committee at the better ecclesiastical constitution, which they see recent conferences of Ratisbon, a man estimable in plainly enough to be necessary. I do believe that himself, but a decided Papist; the Elector on the scarcely any part of Germany was in so barbarous other hand, tenacious of his right of nomination, and heathenish a state as this, which the prevailing and anxious to introduce a Reformer, after long idolatrous practices sufficiently evince; but I perand mature deliberations fixed upon Nicholas ceive the discourses of Bucer and Pistorius are Amsdorff, who was eventually installed. On this much regarded, and I think they preach the truth, occasion Luther and Melancthon, with many per- There are others also who teach the people sound sons of eminence attended. The account of the doctrine, and administer the sacraments as they Popish writer, Maimbourg, is sufficiently amusing. ought, in some of the neighboring towns and vi After intimating his displeasure at the pride and lages." In another letter, addressed to Camerarius, insolence of the abettors of Lutheranism, subse- he says, "You could not witness without tears the quently to the Council of Ratisbon, and mentioning wretched state of these churches, in which the peothe choice of Julius Pflug, he says, "the Duke of ple are daily crowding to the images, and this with Saxony openly declared the election invalid, because the ignorant multitude is the sum and substance of he did not conform to the Augsburg confession, and religion. The aged Prince rightly judges, that renominated Nicholas Amsdorff in his stead, one of form is necessary, and seeks to introduce it. I have the principal and most zealous of the Lutherans, only at present begun the formulary of doctrine and upon whom his master Luther, who played the Pope at ceremonies which is to be proposed to the churches. Willemburg, laid his hands, and made him a bishop!" A few assist the Prince; at Cologne he is oppos The Emperor felt also excessively exasperated ed, but in various places are to be found men of at these proceedings; but desired Pflug to exercise piety and correct sentiments." Again upon his repatience, for," says he, your cause shall be turn in August he writes, "After Bucer and myself mine;" and accordingly a few years afterwards, had finished our work for the regulation of the he employed the strong arm of imperial power, to churches, the aged Bishop, sending for his Dean eject Amsdorff, who fled to Magdeburg, instating and assistant, Stolbergius, a man of sense, and some Pflug in the diocese of Saxe-Naumburg. other leading persons, desired me to read through the whole book in their presence, to which he paid the greatest attention, remarking upon many parts of it, sometimes suggesting very proper alterations, sometimes after discussing a point submitting to our opin ion in preference to his own. This labor occupied four hours every morning in six successive days. I WODdered at the assiduity and diligence of the old man." It was a mortifying circumstance to the Papists that the wide-spreading light of the Reformation extended at length into COLOGNE, and that the Archbishop and Elector Hermannus, or Herman, Count de Wied, whom Maimbourg and other writers highly panegyrize, both for his personal accomplishments and ardent zeal for the Catholic religion, became anxious at this period to reform his diocese. When the Archbishop presented the Articles, It was not indeed a sudden or momentary feeling. which the deputation of Reformers had drawn up, At the time of the Protestant convention at Frank-to the chapter at Cologne; they requested time to fort, in the year 1539, the Archbishop sent Peter examine it, while the Protestant doctors were exMedmannus to confer with Melancthon, and to re-pelled the city. With the former request he readi quest a visit from him; but he could at that timely complied, but alleged in reference to the latter. only return a congratulatory letter, in which he says, that "though his Lordship's personal regard to him was most grateful to his feelings, yet he was still more rejoiced on account of the public cause, as the Archbishop appeared desirous of applying proper remedies to heal the wounds of the church, instead of adopting measures calculated only to inflame and exasperate them." Towards the close of 1541, Hermannus sent for Martin Bucer, and had several Conferences with him, in the following year, at Bone; the result of which was a resolution to COL:er with proper persons, and pursue effectual means for the reformation of his diocese. On the fifteenth of January, 1543, he despatched letters to the Elector of Saxony, requesting him to allow Melanethon to come; who replied, after a considerable lapse of time, that he had given him permission to be absent from the University six or seven weeks. The letters of Melancthon sufficiently explain the transactions at Bonne. To Luther he writes thus, on the nineteenth of May. "The Bishop wishes a formulary of doctrines and ceremonies to be drawn up, similar to that of the Nuremberg church, and to be given to him for his inspection. I have been he could not consent, unless they were convicted of from the comedies of Plautus, whose writings I dare say are more charming to this Carmelite than the Psalms of David." Bucer and Melancthon both published a reply to this unclerical publication; that of the latter is one of his very best writings. He first singles out the dissentient individuals, for whom he cherishes a sincere regard; and then with a cogency of argument and a pungency of satire, attacks the remaining part of the fraternity. He tells them that neither Eckius nor Pighius, madly as they wrote, ever equalled the atrocious language of these Colognians. He jokes upon the word secundarius in the title-page, and supposes they mean the low and degenerate part of the community. On the subject of the mass he remarks, that there is no more reason for adoring the bread in the sacrament of the supper, than the water in the ordinance of baptism. If Ambrose and Augustine were to rise from the dead, to say nothing of the apostles, and to witness the superstitious mockeries now practised, the long processions of wooden, silver, and marble images, the superintendents and expositor of sacred mysteries carrying about the bread, and the surrounding multitude prostrating themselves in adoration of it, they would be alarmed, and ready to ask into what heathen land they had got, and what new ceremonies were invented since their day, for they could not imagine themselves in Christian churches. But when they came to be informed that this was the manner in which the Lord's Supper was observed, they would burn with grief and indignation, and begin to exhort the people to return to the genuine use of the sacrament, and to the proper services of religion. There was formerly a custom of a similar nature prevalent in Persia, in which the sacred fire was carried about to be worshipped by the populace, and three hundred and sixty-five priests, answering in number to the days of the year, led the way, carrying particular ensigns." To this statement he adds a solemn exhortation and relates a circumstance, which he declares he received from the best authority, respecting a priest who went to Tubingen, where he carried about some relics consisting of bones, promising to every one that kissed them a security from the plague during the period of a whole year. When Prince Eberhard, who was possessed both of wisdom and influence, had him taken up for his ridiculous impudence, the priest alleged that he had certainly stated what was most true, because the people did not in fact kiss the relics, but only the glass case in which they were put! "Such," says Melancthon, “are the miserable shifts to which you resort to excuse your ecclesiastical abuses, and think to escape the censures of the pious: the people in the mean time being confirmed in error and superstition." He ridicules their pretended attempts at reform, representing them as willing to wipe the dust off the images in their temples, to new color the old worn out pictures upon the walls, and passing an oracular decree to double the size of the square altars, that they may have a more magnificent appearance. They enact laws against letting the beards grow, and concerning the va in repetition of unintelligible payers. These are the mighty things which they require to be restored, and which they complain of the Prince for hindering."* The Pope thinking it necessary to show the Protestants that he was not averse to every kind of Reformation, had appointed four Cardinals and five other eminent persons to draw up a plan for the reformation of the church; but it was extremely superficial and partial. It was published about the year 1539 at Antwerp, with the answer of Cochleæus to the objections of Sturmius, who, as well as Luther and Melancthon, Unhappily, in consequence of the firm resistance of the chancellor, canons and divines of Cologne, to the reforming plans of the good Archbishop, the Popish religion was still maintained in that Electorate. They did not hesitate to avow "that they would rather live under a Turkish government than under a magistrate who approved and defended such a reformation." But the city of Hildesheim abolished the Catholic superstitions, and embraced the Protestant faith. The University of Wittemberg received their illustrious Professor with the most marked respect, after he had finished the transactions at Cologne. Sensible of the lustre his still increasing celebrity shed upon their whole body, impressed with a deep sense of his public efforts in the cause of the Refor mation, his academical labors and his numerous private virtues, he was welcomed home by a sort of public entrance. The students and most of the professors in the different branches of literature, went out to meet him on the road, and to hail his return. But the cup of human life is never replenished with unmingled good; the sweet and the bitter are mixed in their due proportions by an all-wise providence. It seems upon a close inspection as if human happiness were more equally distributed by the unsparing hand of divine liberality than the envious and the petulant too frequently imagine. Great talents, or external splendors are sometimes connected with inward heart burnings and domestic anxieties; while poverty and rags are often the only patrimony of noble and wisely contented spirits. Sorrow, like death, visits alike the palace and the cottage. Melancthon became at this period involved in the utmost perplexity and grief by the improper behavior of one of his sons-in-law, and the removal of his daughter into Prussia, circumstances which have been mentioned in an early part of this work, in connection with a view of his domestic character. His mind always tending to despondency, was much agitated also by the loss of several of his friends, particularly Valerius Cordus, a person of elegant taste and extensive erudition. His death occurred at Rome, and was supposed to have originated in excessive fatigue, incurred by a laborious search, amongst the coid mountains and vallies of Italy, after herbs, roots, and plants for medical purposes, to which he was devoted. The sacrametal controversy was renewed with increased asperity, and so violent was Luther, and so conciliating was Melancthon, that, availing themselves of the favorable moment, their mutual enemies attempted to foment their dissension, but in vain; for though at one period a cloud seemed to be gathering over the brightness of their friendship, it soon entirely disappeared. In fact Luther seems to have kindled with unusual rage against the sacramentarians, and to have used a provoking intemperance of language, which, though his conscientious convictions and the barbarous usages of the age may be admitted as some extenuation, could not by any means be approved by his amiable friend. At the same time the Protestants in France were in a deplorable situation, and Francis and Charles V. were engaged in a furious war, which however terminated in September, 1544, by a treaty of peace at Crespy. The Elector Palatine Frederic, successor to Louis, being animated with zeal to reform the churches under his jurisdiction, obtained in the beginning of the year 1545, a plan for this purpose, drawn up by Melancthon, and presented with his signature, in conjunction with those of Luther, Bugenhagen or Pomeranus, Cruciger and Major. It had turned it into ridicule. In this plan the most intolerable grievances of which the Protestants complain ed are left totally unredressed. is a judicious compendium, in six divisions, stated in these words: "The true and salutary administration of the Christian church chiefly consists in these six particulars: "I. In pure doctrinal truth, which God has revealed, transmitted, and commanded to be taught in his church. "II. In the legitimate use of the sacraments. "III. In the maintenance of a gospel ministry, and the due obedience to pastors, according to the will of God, who has promised to afford his presence and protection to such a ministry. "IV. In the preservation of strict and holy discipline, by the proper exercise of ecclesiastical authority and jurisdiction. "V. In a proper regard for the establishment of schools, and the direction of necessary studies. "VI. To these, it is proper to add, the support of officers who may be wanted for necessary services in the church." Another very important duty in which Melancthon was engaged, was the episcopal ordination of the prince of Anhalt, which shed such a pleasing lustre on the present year. The reader will not deem it an uninteresting digression to introduce this circumstance in a connected but necessarily brief sketch of his life. remission of sins, the gift of the Holy Spirit and eternal life. We beseech hun not to permit the light of his gospel to be extinguished, but that he would raise up faithful men to advocate and uphold the pure and salutary doctrines of Christ, and now in this territory, gather to himself a people to cele brate his praises to eternity. As the most reverend and illustrious George, prince of Anhalt, count of Ascania, lord of Bernburg, &c. appointed to this gospel ministry over the church at Magdeburg, has been called in a regular and pious manner to the discharge of ecclesiastical functions in the bishopric of Mersburg, certain serious and learned persons who superintend the neighboring churches, and whose names are under-written, have been sent for to be present, conformably to the custom of the ancient primitive churches, that they might bere give their public testimony of ordination in addition to the general call to the office. We are, therefore, assembled for this purpose, because we well know that the illustrious prince George, understands and firmly embraces the pure doctrines of the gospel, which all the churches of God, in these parts, unite with one voice and one soul with the church universal in professing, and the glory of which is to promote holiness and virtue. We have attended to his ordination in the apostolic manner of laying on of hands; for Paul admonished Titus that PrestyGeorge, prince of Anhalt, and count of Ascania, ters should be every where ordained to teach and was descended from the dukes of Saxony, and was govern the churches. Be it known that this ordinaborn on the fourteenth of August, 1507. His father, tion to an ecclesiastical function derives its autho prince Ernest, of Anhalt, gave him a liberal educa- rity from apostolic practice, and as priests are aption at the university of Leipsic, under George For- pointed to teach and rule churches, to watch over chem, who was no less celebrated for correctness of doctrinal sentiments, and moral conduct, let the conduct than for capacity as a preceptor. Camera- words of the Son of God be in constant recollection, rius, Cruciger, and others, studied under this emi-'When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. nent tutor, who had the pleasure of finding in the prince of Anhalt, an apt and diligent scholar. He devoted a considerable degree of attention to the civil law, which his rank in life seemed particularly to require. At the age of twenty-two, his proficiency in every branch of knowledge, and his reputation for eloquence were such, that Albert, Elector of Mentz, chose him to be one of his council, and he became, in consequence, very much engaged in state affairs. At the rise of the Reformation, his ardent mind soon interested itself in the pursuit of truth; he perfected himself in the Greek and Hebrew languages, searched the holy Scriptures with diligent investigation, read the best commentators amongst the fathers, and cultivated an intercourse with some of the most learned men. Often with tears, he was known to pray, "Deal with thy servant according to thy mercy, and teach, O teach me thy righteousness!" At length he openly embraced the Reformation, planted seminaries of learning, and strenuously opposed the popish superstitions. Multitudes saw and rejoiced in the wide-spreading light, and he constantly co-operated with his brothers, in establishing the reformed religion in their respective territories. For the purpose of more extensive usefulness, he was induced, in the year 1545, to accept the bishopric of Mersburg, in Saxony, an office upon which he entered with fervent prayer, and afterwards discharged with extraordinary assiduity. His letter of episcopal ordination, written by Melancthon, is thus expressed: "We give thanks to God the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who of his infinite goodness has instituted a gospel ministry, for the recovery of the fallen race of mankind, and will maintain it through the successive ages of time till the resurrection of the dead; and who raises up learned and suitable persons, giving command to his church that such should be called to the office; and promises through their ministry to dispense the doctrine of the And as Christ sitteth at the right hand of the Father, to give efficacy to the public ministry, we pray that he would rule over this whole district and bless this ordination. 'Whoso loveth me and keepeth my words, him will my Father love; and we will come to him and make our abode with him.' Such is his promise, and we exhort the prince to be encouraged by the declaration; for though the government of a church is attended with many and great dangers, nor can human wisdom avail for such an undertaking, yet let him know that God is truly present and will constantly dwell wherever his gospel is preached; that he will defend and support it. With this conviction the labors of such a ministry may be undertaken and sustained. Mersburg, August 3, 1545." This eminent person discharged the duties of his sacred office with exemplary diligence. His whole time was devoted to preaching, reading, writing. devotional exercises and the affairs of the church. He never intentionally injured any one, but benefited many, both publicly and privately. He w a promoter of peace amongst the princes, settling many of their disputes, and restraining turbulence and faction, being himself superior to all motives of mean ambition. He sustained many and great injuries with the utmost magnanimity, lived a life of devotion with God, and resignation to his will, often admonishing others to cultivate similar feelings. After lingering under a painful disease. during which he settled the affairs of his church, engaged in the most ardent devotions, frequently conversed on the most interesting religious topics and daily read the sacred Scriptures, particularly the prophetic and apostolic writings, "on the seventeenth of October, 1553, his spirit was called away from this mortal state to the assembly of the heavenly church." The most celebrated German poets wrote elegies upon his death. Two epigrams of Melancthon are preserved, one of which shall be inserted. |