then did he intermit his studies, but filled up his time with useful employments, to the utmost that his strength would bear. In the morning he had his little daughters called to him, and heard them repeat their prayers, intermingling with them his own sighs, tears, and supplications, for the church of Christ, for himself, and for his children. O Lord,' he prayed, pardon my sins, for the sake of Jesus Christ thy Son, who was crucified for us, and raised from the dead: sanctify me by thy Holy Spirit: preserve in these countries the remnant of thy church, and suffer not the light of thy gospel to be extinguished. Make these my orphans vessels of mercy! I call upon thee in faith, though it be weak and languid. O Lord Jesu Christ, Son of God, I believe thy promise, which thou hast sealed with thy death and resurrection. Assist me: raise and cheer my heart with faith!' He frequently, on these occasions, repeated words to this effect; and afterwards, having pressed upon his children some pious instructions, he dismissed them. He then applied himself to various studies, mathematical and philological, as well as theological. Among other things, during his illness, he completed a translation of Luther's commentary on the last words of David. He discoursed also largely with his friends on various interesting topics. At length, with a peaceful mind, and in the midst of his prayers, he slept in the Lord, November 16, 1548, and was honourably interred in the church at Wittemberg." 1 Such accounts are deeply interesting. It is most edifying thus to learn how to die, from men whose example has taught us how we ought to live. 1 Melch. Ad. i. 93–96. A. D. 1555. CHAP. Vitus 66 Melancthon, in his epistles, has some further notices of this excellent man. Cruciger," he says, "is daily sinking more and more: yet his mind is strong, and he still pursues his studies. Sometimes he gets abroad and gazes upon the heavens; and then he seems to return refreshed to hold communion with the Son of God, and to commend us and all our pursuits to the divine blessing in the most earnest prayers. And again, some time after his decease: "Our dear friend Cruciger used often before his death to repeat the words, Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief! and he added, I know that it is thy pleasure to be called upon in the exercise of this faith, though it is feeble; and I am assured that such prayer shall not be in vain.' The next year died Vitus Theodorus, or Theodorus. Theodore Veit, who has been noticed as one 1549. of Luther's companions at Coburg, 2 at the period Spangenberg. of the diet of Augsburg. He was a native of Nuremberg, and exercised his ministry in that city with great acceptance, for many years previous to his death. He was there much annoyed by the public insults of Osiander: but, by Melancthon's advice, he was "as a deaf man that heard them not ;" and thus they failed of their effect. 3 John Spangenberg, the pious superintendent of Mansfeld, who has before come under our notice, died in the year 1550, at the age of sixty-six. 5 1 Epist. iv. 749, 783, 877. 2 Vol. i. 177. 3 Melch. Ad. i. 96. Camer. Vit. Mel. § 74. From Dr. M'Crie's mention of him, (Ref. in Italy, 91,) as "sent from Venice to Wittemberg," by James Ziegler, who treated him as an "adopted brother," it might be concluded that he was a native of Italy. But such was not the case. 4 Vol. i. 473, 509. 5 Melch. Ad. 97. A. D. 1555. 1549. Bucer and Paul Fagius had removed from Strasburg into England, on the invitation of archbishop Cranmer, in consequence of the Bucer and dangers incurred by their opposition to the Interim; and they died there, the latter in November, 1550, the former in February, 1551. Their services in this country may hereafter engage our attention. Bucer was in his sixtyfirst year; Fagius only in his forty-fifth.1 1552. The death of Bucer was the next year fol- Hedio. lowed by that of Caspar Hedio, who had long been his fellow-labourer at Strasburg, 2 and of Herman Tast the reformer of Holstein. 3 Tast. Anhalt. Ja. Stur mius. The year 1553 removed prince George of George of Anhalt, John Epinus pastor and superintendent pinus. of Hamburg, and James Sturmius of Strasburg. Of the first a particular account was given in the preceding volume: the last, as a layman taking a leading part in public affairs, rendered great service to the cause of the reformation. He filled the office of senator, and repeatedly that of mayor, in his native city, and was deputed, it is said, as its representative in diets of the empire and on other embassies, not less than ninety times; on all which occasions he displayed such firmness, wisdom, and eloquence, that he gained the highest reputation and influence. He was one of those who first acquired the name of protestants, at Spires, in 1529: he acted a prominent part in the diet of Augsburg, in the year following: and in 1532 he came as ambassador into England, on important business. It was by his influence that the public school at Strasburg was founded, over which his brother Melch Ad. 99, 102. 3 Ib. 132. (708.) Gerd ii. 71, 185. 2 Milner, v. 96. (671.) 1538. CHAP. XI. Just. Jonas. Frecht and John Sturmius presided; and that stipends were appointed to encourage men of learning to settle in the city. He was deputed again to the emperor, on embassies for the preservation of peace and the protestant religion, at Ratisbon in 1541, Spires in 1544, and Worms in 1545: and it was chiefly under his guidance that his citizens made the firm and honourable stand which has been related, when the Interim was established, in 1548. To him also we may be said to owe the valuable history of Sleidan, as he prompted the author to undertake that work, and gave him access to many of the original documents necessary to its execution. He was held in high estimation by Melancthon, who consulted with him on all affairs of importance. He died October 30, 1553, at the age of sixtyfour years. 2 The next person whose death is to be noticed, is Justus Jonas, who had been the fellowlabourer of Luther from an early period. We have seen that he removed from Wittemberg to Halle in Saxony, in 1541, and thence, in consequence of the Smalkaldic war, (in which he attached himself to the sons of John Frederic,) into the dutchy of Coburg; 3 where he was made rector of Eisfeldt, and superintendent of the churches of the dutchy. He died there in 1555, aged sixty-three years. On his death-bed, this excellent man is said to have suffered great mental depression, but to have been roused from it by the consolations, not unmingled with reproofs, suggested by his own servant. * Martin Frecht, one of those ministers whom the emperor had led away in chains from Ulm, ' Vol.i. 191. Melch. Ad. iii. 42-44. Camer. Vit. Mel. § 97. for his opposition to the Interim,' and John Forster of Wittemberg, a skilful Hebraist, who had rendered valuable assistance to Luther in his expositions of scripture, died in 1556. The former, on recovering his liberty, had settled at Tübingen, under the duke of Würtemberg. 2 A. D. 1555. The distinguished chancellor of Saxony, Pontanus. Gregory Pontanus, 3 died at Jena, in 1557, having settled there under the sons of the late elector. gius. 1558. Bugenhagius Pomeranus, Justus Menius, and BugenhaErhard Schnepfius were all removed the year following. The first of these excellent men was for thirty-six years pastor at Wittemberg: and how useful his labours were in various other places, to which he was deputed for the purpose of organizing reformation, has abundantly appeared in the course of our history. He seems never to have quitted Wittemberg on account of the war, not even at the time of the seige; though he was deeply affected with the events which took place, particularly the captivity of the good elector. He supported his mind by constant devotion, and assured himself "that the ark of the church would be safe amid all storms." He mourned over the changes and the controversies which followed: but he himself altered nothing either in rites or in doctrines. The scenes of his latter days were, through the goodness of God, calm and peaceful. During the last year of his life, when he had grown too weak to preach, he daily frequented the house of God, and there commended both himself and the church to the divine mercy; taking part also in the consultations held for the good of the church. He often conversed delightfully with 1 Above, p. 31. 2 Melch. Ad. i. 145, 146. 3 Vol. i. 533. |