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LIFE OF MELANCTHON.

larged Greek Grammar and a Greek and Latin Lexicon. This was a powerful stimulus to his ardent mind, which, dissatisfied with the mere performance of his ordinary exercises, began to indulge itself in poetical composition. Although he possessed sufficient inclination, yet he could not command leisure at any subsequent period of his life to devote himself much to this fascinating art; but he wrote several epigrams, epitaphs, prologues, and, occasionally, poetical epistles to his friends; and some very excellent judges, to whom may be added even the fastidious Julius Cæsar Scaliger, have commended his verses. Probably the efforts of his premature age to which we have adverted, resembled the frequent productions of the same period, by He wrote also at the youths of ability at school. early age of thirteen, a humorous piece in the form of a comedy, which he dedicated to Capnio, to testify the sense he entertained of his truly parental kindness, and engaged his school-fellows to perform it in his presence. It was upon this occasion his patron and friend gave him the name of Melancthon, a Greek term of similar signification with the German word Schwartzerd, (or Black earth.) This method of substituting sonorous Greek appellations for their proper names, was at that period a very common practice amongst the learned. Thus Reuchlin from the German word Reuch, smoak, was changed by Hormolaus Barbarus into Capnio, a term of similar import.

that even at this early age he composed Rudiments
of the language which were afterwards published.
During his residence at Heidelberg, Melancthon,
who was so eminently formed for friendship, con-
tracted an intimacy with several persons of merit.
Among these were Wimphelingus, Sturmius, Gau-
therus, and Sorbillus. He was an inmate of the well
known Pallas, a man pre-eminently distinguished
for his wisdom, virtue and benevolence, and for
many years the brightest ornament of the acade-
my.

Heidelberg had not the honor of educating Melancthon more than three years. He was naturally of a feeble constitution, and the situation of the place did not appear to agree with him. This circumstance, together with the severe disappointment he suffered in being refused a higher degree in the university than he had hitherto obtained, solely as it was alleged, on account of his youth determined him to remove to Tubingen, a town on the Neckar, in the duchy of Wurtemberg. The university was daily increasing in reputation, and he entered it in the month of September, 1512. It had been founded by Prince Eberhard I. about five and thirty years before, who had been careful to procure the most celebrated men of the time for professors in every branch of literature and theology.

At Tubingen our aspiring youth attended all the different professors of classical and polite learning, devoting himself especially to mathematics, jurisprudence, logic, medicine, and theology. In medicine he studied Galen so thoroughly, that he could repeat the greatest part of his treatises; and although theology, as it was then taught, consisted in little else than scholastic subtleties, knotty questions, unintelligible jargon, and absurdities compounded of superstition and profaneness, he began to be much devoted to the more sober and rational part of it. Here he first became acquainted with Oecolampadius, who was his senior by several years: and as he mentions in one of his letters, they used to read Hesiod together. But, of all the professors, Henry Bebelius, distinguished for his skill in history, John Brassicanus, John Stofflerus, in the mathematical department, and Francis Stadianus, the public lecturer on Aristotle, appear to have attracted his highest esteem. He has mentioned the two latter

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writings. Stofflerus had for many years the sole care of calculating and arranging the calendar, a task which Melancthon affirms he executed with great labor and with equal skill. "Had it not been," says he, "for his indefatigable application, we should have known nothing of the distinction of times and the changes of the months-nor of the seasons for ploughing, sowing, planting, and other agricultural pursuits, nor of a variety of other useful and ingenious arts." He addresses him in the dedication or preface to his public oration on the Liberal Arts, in these terms: "I am indebted to your kindness not only for what I know, but for what I am desirous of knowing; and I am desirous of knowing whatever becomes me. How can I sufficiently testify my regard and admiration for one who, during the many years in which he has diligently investigated the abtruse parts of mathematical science, has been constantly stimulating the studious in general, and myself in particular, by every mark of kindness, to pursue an honorable renown." Francis Stadianus he describes in the strongest terms: "He was a man of learning, and lived in such a manner as to deserve the affection of all the learned and the good!"

Melancthon had not yet attained the age of seventeen when he was created Doctor in Philosophy, or Master of Arts. This took place on the 25th of January, in the year 1513, when he immedi

ately commenced a course of private tuition; but | not long afterwards he became a public lecturer at Tubingen. General admiration was soon excited by the profound knowledge and elegant taste he discovered in the Latin classics. A considerable portion of time was occupied every day in delivering public lectures, which were not exclusively devoted to the learned languages, but embraced an extraordinary variety of subjects, as rhetoric, logic, ethics, mathematics, and theology. At the same time he particularly directed the attention of his scholars to the classical compositions of Virgil, Terence, Cicero, Livy and the Greek writers. He may be justly regarded as the restorer of Terence, whose poetical compositions, through the ignorance of his transcribers and publishers, had hitherto appeared only in a prosaic dress. Melancthon, having reduced them to a proper arrangement, presented them to the public in their present form. In this labor he showed his discrimination and taste; for Cicero eulogizes Terence both for the purity of his diction and the beauty of his compositions, representing them as the rule and standard of the language.

This bright star in the literary hemisphere, the brighter for the profound darkness which surrounded it, could not fail of attracting the attention of the great men of the age. So early as the year 1515 the sagacious and learned Erasmus of Rotterdam, exclaimed in terms of rapturous admiration: "What hopes may we not conceive of Philip Melancthon, though as yet very young, and almost a boy, but equally to be admired for his proficiency in both languages! What quickness of invention! What purity of diction! What vastness of memory! What variety of reading! What a modesty and gracefulness of behavior! and what a princely mind!" A eulogium so remarkable, and bestowed by such a man, on a stripling of only eighteen, was surely no inconsiderable testimony to his wonderful merit.

Nor was this the only occasion on which this accomplished scholar expressed his admiration. His works abound with similar encomiums: it will be sufficient to select two or three. Writing to Oecolampadius he says, "Of Melancthon I have already the highest opinion, and cherish the most magnificent hopes: so much so, that I am persuaded Christ designs this youth to excel us all: he will totally eclipse Erasmus!" Mosellanus having interceded with him upon occasion of some injurious reports that had been circulated respecting the remarks of Melancthon upon his paraphrase on the New Testament, and implored him not to suffer himself to be unfavorably impressed by them, Erasmus replied, "Philip Melancthon is in no need of my patronage or defence." In a letter which Erasmus addressed to him, he concludes thus, "Farewell, most learned Melancthon, use all thine energies that the splendid hopes which Germany conceives of thy genius and thy piety may not only be equalled, but exceeded." On another occasion, in a letter to Julius Pflug, the celebrated counsellor of George, Duke of Saxony, he gives Melancthon this character: "He not only excels in learning and eloquence, but by a certain fatality is a general favorite. Honest and candid men are fond of him, and even his adversaries cannot hate him!" "Happy," exclaims Jortin, "is the person whom this description suits! It is not safe to attack him; the public will revenge his wrongs and take his part against you!" Seckendorf remarks, that were the various eulogies which literary men, and even religious opponents have pronounced upon Melancthon. to be collected together, they would fill a very considerable volume.

To a much earlier period, probably, may be re

ferred the oration mentioned in a very curious pas sage of one of Hugh Latimer's sermons, which evinces the astonishing celebrity of this youthful scholar and reformer. "Here I have occasion to tell you a story which happened at Cambridge. Master Bilney, or rather Saint Bilney that suffered death for God's word's sake, the same Bilney was the instrument whereby God called me to knowledge, for I may thank him, next to God, for that knowledge that I have in the word of God. For I was as obstinate a Papist as any was in England, insomuch that when I should be made Bachelor of Divinity, my whole oration went against Phillippe Melancthon and against his opinions. Bilney hearde mee at that time and perceived that I was zealous without knowledge: and hee came to mee afterward in my study, and desired mee for God's sake to heare his confession: I did so—and to say the very truth, by his confession I learned more than before in many yeares. So from that time forward I begunne to smell the word of God, and forsooke the schoole doctors and such fooleries."— Latimer's Sermons, page 124.

Latimer afterwards said, in a sermon preached before Edward VI., who expected him in England, "I hear say Melancthon, that great clerk, should come hither. I would wish him, and such as he is, two hundred pounds a year. The king should never want it in his coffers at the year's end."

Melancthon took upon himself the laborious task of revising the works published by Thomas Anshelmus, a noted printer at Tubingen. The greatest part of his time, not immediately devoted to his professional duties or his private studies, was bestowed in editing a ponderous folio work of Nauclerus, to which a preface was prefixed by Capnio. Originally, it was in fact, nothing but a confused heap of fables, mingled with historical facts; and Melancthon bestowed a labor upon it very disproportionate to its intrinsic merit, in arranging, correcting, purifying, and almost rewriting it. In this case we can only praise him for his industry.

During his residence at Tubingen, he had an opportunity of rendering essential service to his early friend and patron Capnio, who was involved in a disagreeable contention with certain ecclesiastics. It happened thus. The divines and monks of Cologne, instigated by a Jew of the name of Pfefferkorn, who had professed Christianity, obtained an edict from the emperor to authorize them to burn all the Jewish writings as heretical, excepting the Bible. The Jews instantly implored the emperor to suspend his order till these books had been examined by a competent committee of learned men. To this very reasonable petition he consented. Capnio, who had prosecuted the study of the Hebrew language under some learned Jews, both at Vienna and at Rome, and who had become conversant with the Cabalistic writings, was appointed by the Elector of Mentz to be an arbitrator in the controversy. Having given it as his opinion, that no other books should be destroyed but such as were found to be written expressly against Jesus Christ, the emperor approved the decision, and restored the books to the Jews. At this the monks and inquisitors of Cologne were violently exasperated and not only loaded him with invectives, but used every means to induce the court of Rome to persue him with the thunder of excommunication At this critical juncture, Melancthon was of essential use to his early patron, and frequent conferences took place between them, both at Tubingen and at Stutgard, the place where Capnio resided. Neither the advice nor the zealous efforts of a warm friend were wanting in his defence, which, co-operating with his high literary reputation, resulted in the honora

LIFE OF MELANCTHON.

"On writers with whose works he was conversant; a ble acquittal of Capnio. This celebrated charac- or could be collected from the different ancient ter died very poor at the age of sixty-seven. account of his virtue and merit," says Melancthon, practice which at least proves the diligent attention "his memory ought to be cherished. He served he began to pay to the sacred volume. This Bible his country with great diligence and judgment, and was his constant companion. He never failed to promoted assiduously the Hebrew language, so im- carry it with him wherever he went, and during His candor was remarkable, the public service at church constantly held it in portant to scholars. and he was devoid of envy and malevolence. For his hand, to direct and enliven his devotions. This no less malignant adversaries, who perceived he these reasons he was much esteemed by learned practice furnished an occasion to his bigotted and made use of a volume of a different size from the prayer-book, to represent him as engaged in reading even in the public church, what was very unsuitable both to the occasion and the place! No efforts were omitted to render him odious: but Envy and Persecution waged an unequal war, and were defeated.

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One of the earliest of Melancthon's productions, now extant, is an Oration on the Liberal Arts, delivered at Tubingen in the year 1517, at twenty years of age. It indicates the elegance of his mind and the variety of his reading. After a suitable introduction, he relates the classical story of the seven stringed lyre and the origin of the liberal arts. The oration proceeds with a detail of these arts and a brief recital of their origin and progress. It glows with animation as it approaches the close. "Let the example of those illustrious persons who Be animated by the surround me, inspire you. great and glorious expectations of your country, and apply the utmost vigor of your minds to what you know to be of pre-eminent importance, the attainment of sound learning and real virtue. Do not be seduced from this noble course by flattering pleasures or by evil examples. Let no dishonorable principle influence your minds: and that I call dishonorable which diverts you from the literary pursuits and from the sacred studies to which you are devoted."

The spirit manifested on this occasion by these religious barbarians perfectly harmonised with the language of one of the monkish fraternity, Conrad Heresbach, whose preposterous ignorance and bigotry have furnished a standing joke ever since the "A new language," says he, "has Reformation. been invented, which is called Greek; guard carefully against it, it is the mother of every species of heresy. I observe in the hands of a great many people, a book written in this language, which they call the New Testament; it is a book full of thorns and serpents. With respect to Hebrew, it is certain, my dear brethren, that all who learn it are instantly converted to Judaism."!!

After a residence of about six years, Melancthon Considering the very important part Melancthon removed from Tubingen to the University of Witwas destined to act in the Reformation, it would be temberg, the metropolis of the circle of Upper Saxopleasing, were it possible, to trace the formation of ny. In this situation, he was immediately introhis religious principles and modes of thinking with duced into a scene of great labor and extensive useas much exactness as we are able to detail his lite- fulness. This university was founded in the year The history of piety is even more in- 150 under the auspices of the Elector Frederic, rary career. teresting than the history of genius. To discrimi- who spared no pains to advance it to respectability nate with accuracy the different states of the mind, and distinction. The license of the Emperor Maxito ascertain the changes of feeling at successive milian, and the bull granted by the Pope, for its esperiods of early life, to witness at once the pro-tablishment, are still extant. The celebrity of Megressive establishment of moral character and the lancthon, seconded by the powerful recommendadevelopment of intellectual capacity, is, and ever tion of Capnio, induced the Elector to determine must be, highly instructive. Melancthon was en- upon giving him employment in the university. dowed with a soul formed of the finest materials, Several letters were interchanged on the subject, cast in the gentlest mould, and ever ready to listen and the result was, the formal appointment of Mewith attention to reason and argument; but in lancthon to the Greek Professorship. Upon this proportion as the original prejudices of education occasion, Capnio applied to him with prophetic achad entrenched themselves in a mind delicate, dis- curacy the remarkable language of Jehovah to cerning, and full of sensibility like his, the attempt Abraham: "Get thee out of thy country, and from to dispossess principles so dear to him, must have thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a been difficult and hazardous. It is long before one, land that I will show thee..... and I will bless so constituted, can renounce what has been held thee, and make thy name great, and thou shalt be a sacred; then, not without obvious and substantial blessing:" adding, "this accords with the presentireasons. Offence is easily taken at the first and ment of my mind; and thus I hope it will be with most distant appearances of what is deemed error, thee hereafter, my Philip, my care and my comand, under favoring circumstances, in an unen- fort!" He went to Wittemberg on the twenty-fifth lightened age, an extraordinary degree of supersti- day of August, in the year 1518, at the age of tion is the natural result. Melancthon expresses, twenty-one. His name is inserted in the documents The general sensation excited at Tubingen on on one occasion, the pungent sorrow which the re- of the university with marked distinction. collection of his former zeal in the idolatrous services of the Catholic church occasioned. It is easy this occasion may be imagined from the language to believe, therefore, that he must have endured of Simlerus. "The whole city lamented his demany secret conflicts, many heart-rending strug-parture. No one can conceive or estimate how gles, previously to his separation from that commu- much the academy lost of distinction and of emolunion. The only illustrative fact transmitted to us affords some good evidence that his convictions originated in the best manner, and that his early religious views were derived from the only pure source of instruction. Capnio having presented him with a small Bible which had been recently printed at Basil by the well known John Frobenius, or Froben, Melancthon accustomed himself to write down upon the margin such explanatory hints and such useful illustrations of particular passages, as either occurred to his own reflections

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ment when he departed." His journey was performed on horseback, by way of Nuremberg and Leipsic; and he availed himself of the opportunity of contracting a friendship with Picamerus, MoselUpon the fourth day after his arrival at Wittemlanus, Camicianus and other eminent characters. berg he commenced his public duties as a professor in the customary mode of delivering an oration, which attracted an unusual degree of applause. Luther is lavish in his commendations, and in a letter addressed to Spalatine, he says that it was in

conceivably learned and elegant, and excited such universal admiration, that every one forgot the comparative meanness of Melancthon's personal appearance. In consequence of his settlement at Wittemberg, immense numbers crowded to the university, and his audience sometimes amounted to fifteen, and even five and twenty hundred persons. He had the honor of being Luther's instructor in the Greek language.

The Papists and the coadjutors of Erasmus woula have been equally glad of Melancthon. His infiluence in the university of Wittemberg, and his literary fame, now diffused to the extremities of the empire, and swiftly circulating throughout the whole civilized world, would have invigorated the hostility of the one, or promoted the temporizing policy of the other. It would have proved a mighty bulwark of defence, which, in case of the preponderance of either party, would have been strength to the weak, and power even to the strong. Methe violent Catholics; and Erasmus, in the course of a long letter addressed to him, alludes to his having exhorted him to abandon the reformers, though he declares he had not very strenuously urged him to it, knowing it would be labor lost, but still he could have wished he had applied himself entirely to literature. His purpose, he says, was to promote the good of both parties and dissuade from tumults, and he wished a reformation might be made without strife or contention.

It is amusing enough to hear the terms in which M. Baillet mentions the intimacy which, from this moment, commenced between Melancthon and Lu-lancthon was scarcely less detested than Luther by ther. "Being called to Wittemberg," says he, "in the twenty-second year of his age, Melancthon fell into the hands of Luther, who abused his easy disposition, and availed himself of all those fine talents which ought to have been devoted to the service of the Catholic church!"

In truth, this was an event of the utmost importance, not only in reference to these eminent individuals themselves, but on account of the inuuence of their ardent friendship upon the Reformation in general. The profound learning and cultivated The removal of Melancthon, therefore, to Wittaste of the one, the vigorous zeal, independent spi-temberg, by which he was introduced to the immerit, and dauntless heroism of the other, alike con-diate and intimate friendship of Luther, ought to duced to dissipate the delusions of the age. Both be regarded as a most memorable event. Luther adopted the same general views; and each was unbosomed his feelings to this new and invaluable equally solicitous of removing that veil of Egyptian associate, consulting him on all occasions, and anxdarkness which overspread the face of the world:iously availing himself of his superiority in literary yet they were constitutionally different. The one acquirements. verged to the extreme of boldness, the other to that of caution; but, like Moses and Aaron among the ancient Israelites, their different talents were admirably suited to promote the general object. Truth would undoubtedly have suffered had the one been less energetic and daring, or the other less mode-arrangement. He will connect it with all its cirrate, and cultivated.

Whoever is accustomed to observe the movements and to admire the wisdom of a superintending Providence will mark this occurrence. He will not be disposed to attribute it to a happy casualty, but consider it as the result of a superior and wise

cumstances, and trace it to all its consequences. It would not be difficult to speculate on the ill Accustomed to comprehensive views of things, he effects likely to have resulted to the interests of true will not resemble the ignorant rustic that steps religion, if these eminent men, instead of being across the spring whence a Nile, an Euphrates, or a united in strict friendship, had cherished hostile Ganges originates, without any emotion, and withsentiments towards each other. This would pro- out the capacity to realize those images of grandeur bably have been the case, had Melancthon con- and sublimity that present themselves in a similar tinued a Papist, or had he promoted the views of situation to the enlightened philosopher; but he will those who appeared to "halt between two opinions." pause, ponder, compare, and look around him. The 1 Kings, 18, 21. The impetuous temper and reso- Almighty Ruler of the world proceeds in the large lute firmness of Luther could endure neither oppo- system of his operations in a similar manner, in sition nor neutrality. By the collision of two con- some respects, to every intelligent agent acting on tending parties a third was in reality produced, a smaller scale. Does the skilful architect prepare whose leading maxim was to avoid extremes, and his materials for the building which he is about who were ready to make every sacrifice to obtain a to construct, and fit in each particular stone or ordelusive peace or to secure personal convenience.nament to its place with discriminating care? And They would have abandoned what they even es- is there any improbability in the belief that when teemed sacred, in order to terminate this religious the Universal Agent is about to produce an extrawar; and, it is to be feared, would have willingly ordinary work, he prepares, by a process adapted to entered into negociations with the advocates of er- the purpose, whatever materials are proper for its ror and superstition, upon the principle of relin- execution? Moral operations require moral instruquishing the conquests which truth had already ac-ments, and in the whole machinery of circumstances quired, and which conscience demanded of them an intelligent and pious mind will see much to adnever to cede. At the head of this party, the mire. Amidst the rubbish of error which had ac- . learned, witty, vacillating, avaricious, and artful cumulated century after century till the ReformaErasmus is unquestionably to be placed. Unwilling tion, God determined to erect the temple of truth, to relinquish his connection with the Catholics, and and his providence cleared an ample space, chose a enlist himself under the banners of the Reformation, variety of workmen, and reared the admirable suhe was yet too penetrating to be ignorant of the perstructure. And as in the erection of a building abuses of Popery, or blind to its excessive absurdi- there must be different kinds of laborers, all co-opeties; and aware that the reformers had reason and rating together and all essential to complete the untruth on their side, he was solicitous, especially dertaking, so it was requisite, in rearing this while the victory was doubtful, of conciliating their great edifice, to prepare and employ persons esteem without unwarily pledging himself to act a very differently constituted, but all capable of useconspicuous part in what he termed the Lutheran ful co-operation. In this point of light it betragedy. In consequence of this indecision he dis- comes us to contemplate the preparatory course of satisfied both, and failed of acquiring the honors it Melancthon's education, the important station he was in the power of Popes to bestow, and the more filled, and the celebrity he obtained at Tubingen. valuable distinction which they could not give, but and particularly his removal thence to the scene of which the unbought affection of independent minds his future labors. He was selected by Providence and holy reformers would have conferred. for great purposes, and qualified by a suitable pro.

cess for the part he was destined to act. His lite- remote and proximate, of this mighty change would rary fame and his vast acquirements were not only be an interesting, though perhaps a very difficult of essential service, but were particularly needed at undertaking. It would be necessary to show not that precise period when they were ready for public only the effects produced by the various great use. Short-sighted indeed, or criminally blind must events that have occurred in the moral world upon he be, who does not perceive the same superintend- the general state and character of the particular ence here as in the guidance of Joseph to Egypt, or nations whence they originated, and where they David to the camp of Saul. If the Reformation particularly influenced, or upon human character claimed the steady efforts of true courage and inex-in general in the age in which they occurred; but tinguishable zeal, be it remembered also, that it no also the manner in which they resulted from the ess required a proportion of nice discernment and previous state of mankind and affected succeeding literary skill;-if a superstition which invested a times, as well as the intimate connection and recimortal with the prerogative of infallibility were to procal influence subsisting between them or resulting be attacked and levelled with the dust, the igno- from their operation. rance which, with its characteristic blindness, supported that superstition, was at the same time to be dethroned and demolished;-if old abuses were to be removed, and a new order of things to be introduced and sytematized, it was desirable to find not only vigor and zeal to clear away the rubbish of error, but elegance of taste to clothe unwelcome novelties with attractive beauty;-in a word, if existing circumstances called for a Martin Luther, they also demanded a Philip Melancthon!

tion

CHAPTER II.

A writer of very considerable merit, (Villers on the Reformation, page 7,) remarks, that "A man who, without knowing the nature of the course of a river, should arrive on its banks, seeing it here gliding through an extensive plain, there confined with narrow vallies, in another place foaming beneath the precipice of a cataract; this man would take the first turning where it might be concealed by a projection, for the origin of the river; ascending higher, a new turn, the cataract, will occasion the same allusion; at length he reaches its source, he takes the mountain from which it issues for the first cause of the river; but he will soon think that the sides of the mountains would be exhausted by so continual a torrent; he will see clouds collected, the rains, without which the dried mountain could not supply a spring. Then the clouds become the first cause; but it was the winds which brought these here, by passing over vast seas; but it was the sun who attracted the clouds from the sea; but whence arises this power of the sun? Behold him then soon entangled in the researches of speculative physics, by seeking a cause, an absolute foundation, from which he may finally deduce the explanation of so many phenomena.

General Observations-Revival and purification of the Peripatetic Philosophy by Melancthon-His early labors at Wittemberg, and his increasing influence throughout Germany-Extracts from his Orade Corrigendis Adolescentiæ Studiis." 1518. AFTER long years of depression, and almost of total extinction, philosophy, literature, and theology at length revived. It was impossible that any of these should prosper during a period in which the human mind was burdened by innumerable superstitions, gigantic in magnitude and ferocious in character. The mental faculties were unable to expand or even to stir beneath the oppressive weight; and century after century rolled on, scarcely presenting any thing worthy of the historian to re- "Thus the historian who inquires what was the cord or the moralist to admire. But the sixteenth cause which led to the reduction of the authority of century marked a new era in the calender of time, the popes, to the terrible thirty years' war, to the by affording some facilities to the circulation of humiliation of the house of Austria, the establishthought, and the comparatively free exercise of pub-ment of a powerful opposition in the heart of the lic opinion. In proportion as it became possible to express sentiments and to announce discoveries in science or religion, without instantly incurring the charge of heresy, and being inevitably consigned to perpetual imprisonment or death, knowledge increased and truth lifted up her drooping head. It is true, the imperfections which usually characterize first discoveries were in this instance apparent, but the clouds of prejudice and the mists of ignorance gradually melted away; objects which were blended together became distinctly perceived, and this But it will be necessary to waive these considera"morning light" of scientific and religious discove-tions, which, though attractive in themselves, do not ry "shone more and more unto the perfect day."Proverbs iv. 18.

To trace the almost infinitely diversified causes,

empire, the foundation of Holland as a free state, and so of other occurrences, will at first see the origin of all these events in the Reformation; and will attribute them absolutely to its influence. But urging his inquiries further, he discovers that this Reformation itself is evidently only a necessary result of other circumstances which precede it; an event of the sixteenth century, with which the fifteenth, to use the expression of Leibnitz, was pregnant; at most the cataract of the river."

strictly comport with the nature and design of this biographical memoir. It may, however, be remarked in general, that by means of the art of printing in the fifteenth century the Latin classics This consideration must be restricted to those were easily multiplied, and several learned men countries or places where a degree of successful re-published both the Greek and Roman writers with sistance had been opposed to papal domination, such scholia and notes. Among the laborers in this vast as Germany and Switzerland; for, as we shall after-field the name of Politiano stands pre-eminent. wards see, light was very far from being generally diffused; and even at that period Copernicus, an eminent astronomer, and native of Thorn, in Prussia, was confined to a prison by Pope Urban VIII. for daring to maintain the solar system, and the annual and diurnal motions of the earth. The celebrated Florentine, Galileo, also, was twice summoned before the Inquisition, and twice sent to grace the cells of a prison for heretically maintaining the truth of the Copernican system. Copernicus was born January 10, 1472, and expired in the seventieth year of his age, May 24, 1543. Galileo was born in 1564, and died at Arceti, near Florence, in January, 1642.

Besides the academy at Pisa, established by Lorenso de'Medici, another and still more important institution was formed at Florence, where the Greek language was taught by learned Greeks and Italians, under his auspices and by his liberality. Men of rank, and illustrious females also devoted themselves to study; of the former, Giovanni Pico, of Mirandula, who at the age of twenty-one, had the reputation of being acquainted with twenty-two different languages; and of the latter, Cassandra Fidelis were the most remarkable. But it must not be imagined that this taste was universally diffused; for though the fragrant flowers of poesy grew in a few places

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