M E L A N C T II O N. 



Meianc- eclectic system, which was named from him the Philip- 

 thon,^ pj c me thod, was speedily introduced into all the Lu- 

 theran schools by abridgments from his own pen on 

 the various branches of philosophy. After the celebra- 

 ted disputation at Leipsic between Luther and Eckius, 

 at which Melancthon was present, he applied himself 

 more intensely to the study of the scriptures, and the 

 illustration of pure Christian doctrine. Having been 

 assailed by Eckius in an abusive letter, on account of the 

 opinions which he had expressed of the different dispu- 

 tants, he published a reply, drawn up with so much 

 elegance of language, acuteness of argument, and mild- 

 ness of spirit, that it proved extremely favourable to 

 the cause of his friend. In 1520 he married a young 

 woman of a reputable family in VVittemberg, and of a 

 character in every respect congenial with his own. 

 They soon became distinguished patterns of genuine 

 piety and Christian beneficence. His house was crowd- 

 ed by paupers, who were never sent away empty ; and 

 his time was beset by equally numerous applicants for 

 his advice, his recommendation, his literary aid, or 

 merely for the pleasure of seeing so celebrated a per- 

 son, to all of whom free access was granted. But, 

 however devoted by principle and feeling to literary 

 leisure and domestic retirement, Melancthon was fre- 

 quently called, by his sense of duty, to encounter that 

 publicity, and to share in those contests, which he 

 Avould otherwise gladly have shunned. During the 

 period of Luther's seclusion in the castle of Wurten- 

 berg, he found himself placed at the head of the reform- 

 ed cause, and was fully aware of the high responsibility 

 attached to such a situation. He discharged, at the 

 same time, many of those clerical duties which belong- 

 ed to the office of Luther ; and, notwithstanding all the 

 sensibilities (we may almost say the hypochondriasm) 

 of his nature, he often appeared in the front of the con- 

 test, which was now thickening on every side. In an- 

 swer to the condemnation of the reformers' principles, 

 published by the divines of the Sorbonne in 1521, he 

 wrote a small but satirical pamphlet, entitled, " Ad- 

 versus Furiosum Parisiensium Theologastrorum decre- 

 tum pro Luthero Apologia ;" and another in the same 

 year against Placentinus, or rather Emser, in which he 

 details the history of the Lutheran controversy, and re- 

 futes the calumnies of the anti-reformation party. He 

 was busy also in his university-labours, exciting the youth 

 under his care to the diligent study of Christian truth 

 in the writings of the apostle Paul ; and about the same 

 time he produced his celebrated work, entitled, Theo- 

 logical common places, which excited great attention, 

 and obtained an extensive circulation, not only in Ger- 

 many, but also in France and Italy. It was published 

 in Venice under the name of Philippo de Terra Nera, 

 (the Italian translation of the word Melancthon) ; and, 

 under this designation, was either approved, or at least 

 uncensured ; but, as soon as it was known to be the 

 production of Philip Melancthon, it was instantly sup- 

 pressed by order of the Inquisition. This work was 

 extolled by Luther as the best book next to the Holy 

 Scriptures, and recommended along with his own 

 translation of the Bible, as sufficient together for the 

 formation of a good divine. His pen was much em- 

 ployed in revising the translation of the New Testa- 

 ment by Luther ; and particularly in comparing that 

 of the Old Testament with the Septuagint version. 

 About the middle of the year 1522, Luther having se- 

 cretly got possession of a manuscript commentary by 

 Melancthon on -the Epistle of Paul to the Romans, 

 printed it without the author's knowledge ; and sent 



him a copy with a very characteristic apology prefixed, 

 of which a few senstences will not be thought unworthy 

 of being transcribed. " Martin Luther to Philip Me- 

 lancthon, grace and peace in Christ. ' Be angry and 

 sin not. Commune with your own heart upon your 

 bed, and be still.' I am the person who dares to pub- 

 lish your annotations, and send you your own work. 

 If you are not pleased with it, it may be all very well ; 

 it is sufficient that you please us. If I have done 

 wrong, you are to blame : Why did you not publish it 

 yourself? I threaten you farther, to steal and publish 

 your remarks upon Genesis, the Gospel of Matthew 

 and John, unless you supersede me by bringing them 

 forward." 



In the course of the dispute between Luther and 

 Erasmus, the latter made several artful attempts to draw 

 Melancthon from the cause of the reformers, by the pros- 

 pect of promotion from the popish party. The reply 

 of Luther's friend sufficiently shewed that his modera- 

 tion and mildness were very different from timidity or 

 indifference : " For my part I cannot, with a safe con- 

 science, condemn the sentiments of Luther, however I 

 may be charged with folly or superstition that does 

 not weigh with me. But I would oppote them stre- 

 nuously, if the scriptures were on the other side. Most 

 certainly I shall never change my sentiments from a 

 regard to human authority, or from the dread of dis- 

 grace." In the year 1525 he repaired to Nuremberg, 

 on the express solicitation of the senate, to assist in 

 planning the establishment of a public seminary in that 

 place, and afterwards delivered an oration at the open- 

 ing of the academy, but declined the offer of one of its 

 professorships. Amidst all his public and private en- 

 gagements, which he mentions in his letters as at once 

 oppressive to his mind and injurious to his health, he 

 found means to publish a variety of useful composi- 

 tions ; among which were introductions to several of 

 the sacred boeks, a Latin version of the Proverbs of So- 

 lomon, and an Epitome of the Doctrines believed and 

 taught in the Reformed Churches. 



He was employed by the Elector of Saxony to draw 

 up in the German language a memorial on the side 

 of the reformers, to be presented to the diet, which met 

 at Spires in 1526; and was regularly consulted by the 

 Landgrave of Hesse on the means of promoting the re- 

 formation in his dominions. His pen was employ- 

 ed also in preparing a directory for the churches in 

 Saxony, which was entitled Libellus Visitaiorius, in 

 which the Papists pretended to discover a difference in 

 sentiment from Luther, because it was expressed in a 

 strain of moderation ; while Agricola, a friend of the 

 author, and the founder of the Antinomian heresy, de- 

 claimed against its doctrine on the necessity of repent- 

 ance, and involved him in a painful dispute on the 

 subject. But he was soon called to take part in the 

 still more serious controversy among Protestant divines 

 on the subject of the sacrament ; and, while he adhered 

 at first to Luther's notion of consubstantiation, his opi- 

 nion became gradually more inclined to that of Zuin- 

 glius. It was a more important task even than this, to 

 which his whole faculties were required, when he was 

 called to extend the materials furnished by Luther, and 

 to draw up the Augsburg Confession of Faith; and 

 though, in the course of the discussions on the various 

 articles at the diet, in which he bore the principal part 

 on the side of the reformers, he was inclined to yield 

 more than Luther approved, in regard to the eccle- 

 siastical jurisdiction of the bishops, (of whose good in- 

 tentions he hoped too favourably ;) yet, in all doctrinal 



Melanc- 

 thon. 



