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was extremely well qualified, being thoroughly versed in antiquities, and in almost every branch of human learning.

He had a great correspondence and strict concord with most of the great and good men of his time. He was remarkable for the sincerity of his attachments: And (as one of his dearest friends observed, in writing of him) the devil hates nothing more than cordial friendship and mutual love. He was particularly intimate with Oecolampadius.

This great man calmly resigned his breath on the 17th of October, in the year 1552, and was succeeded by the famous Jerom Zanchius in his pastoral duties at Strasburgh.

Hedio's writings were both theological and philological: And he was a great editor of the writings of others, having translated, from the learned languages into German, the works of many of the fathers and other useful authors. Upon the whole, though we can furnish our readers with no longer account of him, we may safely say, considering the great usefulness ascribed to him in promoting the Reformation, that he is one of those, who will surely be had above, and ought to be had below, in perpetual remembrance.

Boissard (according to Mr Leigh) enumerates Hedio's works in his Icones.

GEORGE, PRINCE OF ANHALT, &c.

AND

BISHOP OF MERSBURG.

WE E are told by the apostle, that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called, 1 Cor. i. 26. And the truth of this observation is confirmed by the experience of past and present ages.

However,

However, blessed be God, it is not said-not any. A few of these, though but a few, in most generations, have been called to the enjoyment of a better treasure than that of earth; and have, with disciples of a lower order in the world, found the same mercy to be faithful, to be rich in good works, and to be wise unto salvation.

This excellent person was descended from the dukes of Saxony, and had in his family (what the world at large is glad to boast of) many great princes and honourable men. He was born on the 14th of August, in the year 1507. His immediate parent was prince Ernest of Anhalt, who gave him a very sober, as well as liberal education. His father seems to have been a religious man by his conduct towards his son; for he gave such persons the charge of his education, as were not only eminent for their knowledge of letters, but for religion and sacred learning. He studied at the university of Leipsig under George Forcheme, who had been the preceptor of Camerarius, Cruciger, and other eminent persons. Under this able tutor, the prince made a rapid progress in every branch of science, both human and divine.

His rank and probable destination in life made the study of the civil law highly expedient and necessary; and accordingly he was led to devote much attention to the attainment of it. But he abhorred the quibbles and sophistries practised by the professors of law, and discovered the utmost candour and ingenuousness of temper in his legal researches. Truth was his object in all things; and he used to say, with the wise prince of Israel, that lying lips do not become a prince above all men. Panormitan, the great civilian, was his favourite author in this branch of study.

He had made such attainments in every kind of knowledge, that, when he was scarce twenty-two years of age, he was chosen by Albert, elector of Mentz, to be one of his council; and, being very eloquent, was much employed and attended to by that prince in the discussion of stateaffairs.

About this time, the great business of the Reformation attracted the attention of all men; and Luther's writings, • concerning the difference between the law and the gos

pel-of true repentance-of grace-of faith-of true prayer of the use of the sacraments-of the distinction ⚫ between divine and human laws, and between the dispensation of the gospel and the civil power'---were dispersed and read every where. Prince George was no idle

spectator.

spectator. He sought truth like a philosopher, and loved it like a Christian. But distrusting his own judgment upon matters of such immense and important controversy, he began his investigations with prayer. Melchior Adam says, that he most constantly and ardently begged of God to incline his heart only to the truth, and frequently with tears used to repeat these pathetic words; Deal with thy servant according to thy mercy, and teach, O teach me thy righteousness. From this period, he sought for truth at the fountain of truth,-in the HOLY SCRIPTURES; and, for assistance in difficult passages, he read Augustine, Jerom, and Peter Lombard; using at the same time the learned conferences to his friend Forcheme. For this end, he also perfected himself in Greek and Hebrew, and is said to have been so great a master in the latter language, as to equal the most learned professors. Nor did he omit, in conversation with the ablest divines, not only to seek the truth for himself, but to induce and confirm it in others.

At length, not without the most mature consideration and hearty prayers, he openly embraced and professed the doctrines of the Reformation, and renounced all commerce with papists and popery. He lived upon the most affectionate terms with the princes his brothers, who concurred with him in planting the Reformation in the territories that belonged to them. He pulled down ignorant superstition, and set up seminaries of learning-the surest way, under God, of exterminating error and darkness from the earth. All this he accomplished without the least dispute or tumult; brought multitudes to the light of the gospel, and established many, through the divine grace, in the happy enjoyment of that light in their

souls.

Such a burning and shining lamp was this pious and learned prince, that, by the persuasion of Luther, who wrote a book about this time upon Christian episcopacy, he was induced to accept of an ecclesiastical function, and became bishop of Mersburg, in Saxony, in the year 1545; at which time Nicholas Amsdorf was made bishop of Neoburg. His letter of episcopal ordination was dated on the third of August, in the forementioned year, and his style runs thus; The most reverend and illustrious GEORGE, prince in Anhalt, count of Ascania, and lord in Bernburg, &c. bishop of Mersburg;' and he is therein exhorted to comfort himself by several texts of scripture, and to be assured, that though his sacred office was • attended with many and great dangers, to sustain which • all

• all human capacity is uttery unequal, yet God is truly present with, and dwells in his church, and the voice of the gospel is under the protection and defence of God.' His was an episcopate of danger and difficulty for the truth of God, which no worldly man would covet, and no good man could condemn.

He entered upon this holy office with humble prayer, and he discharged it with the utmost care and assiduity. His whole time was from thence forward wholly employed, in preaching, writing, reading, and settling the affairs of the church. Knowingly, he never hurt any man; but profited all to the utmost of his power, both in public and private. He was a great promoter of peace among princes, settled many of their disputes, and, being far above all low ambition and revenge himself, he endeavoured to remove it from others. He bare many and very great insults with true Christian magnanimity, and shewed that he lived with God in his heart, and for God in his intercourse with men. He used frequently to say to people of agitated tempers; Submit yourself to God, and pray to him; for the Lord is nigh unto them who are broken in heart, and will save those that are of an humbie spirit.

With

Most of his time, disengaged from the duties of his function, was passed with earned and pious men. these he conversed, according to their several faculties, whether of law, physic, or divinity. For this last profession, his great colleagues were, Luther, Justus Jonas, Bugenhagius, and Camerarius, with whom he conferred freely upon the most profound and interesting topics in theology.

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As his life, so his death, bespoke an heart full of resignation, faith, and love. He lingered under a painful disease for half a year, in which time he settled the affairs of his church, and gave himself up, in constant prayer, to such preparations, as became a Christian removing to his heavenly mansion. He frequently dwelt upon the divine promises, and particularly these; God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life; and, My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me and I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand; and, Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you. He sweetly discoursed with his brethren and friends upon the blessings of Christ, upon e

hope

hope of eternal life, upon the wonderful gathering in of God's church from the race of mankind, and other heavenly doctrines; all demonstrating where his heart and treasure was, and where his spirit would shortly be. He ceased to breathe in this world, at Dessau, on the seventeenth of October, in the year 1553, and in the 47th year of his age.

Melancthon wrote two elegies upon his death, and speaks of him in terms of the highest esteem and respect. He held two synods of his clergy twice in every year, and delivered to them a proper charge in Latin, according to the exigencies of the church.

He wrote many tracts and sermons, which were published, either at the time they were written, or soon after his death. They are said to have been composed in a plain and perspicuous style. The principal of them were as follow: A consolatory oration upon the promise of Christ in John x. 29.-A sermon preached upon the marriage of Augustus duke of Saxony, with Anne daughter of the king of Denmark. Our prince-bishop united their hands at Torgau on the 14th of October, 1548.-Four sermons upon the two species of bread and wine in the sacrament. A consolatory letter to his brother Wolfgang in his sickness.--Two sermons upon false prophets and the true use of Christian doctrine.-And several others, preached in the reformed churches, which were translated from the German into Latin.

JOHN

ROGERS,

THE PROTO-MARTYR UNDER Q. MARY.

THIS

HIS brave champion for the truth, who had the honour of being PROTO-MARTYR, or the first that was burned for the gospel, in the reign of queen Mary, was educated at the university of Cambridge; where he at

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