concert with the learned Sturmius, prevail with the magistrates of Strasburg to prohibit the impression. Mr Boyle is so candid as to acknowledge, that Zanchius 'caused this book to be suppressed, not on account of its doctrine, which he left to the judgment of the church; but for the calumnies of the preface.' Zanchius was a zealous friend to religious liberty. He had too great a share of good sense and real religion, to pursue any measures, which simply tended either to restrain men from declaring their principles with safety, or to shackle the human mind in its enquiries after truth. But he ardently wished to see the contending parties of every denomination, carry on their debates with Christian meekness, modesty, and benevolence: And, where these amiable ingredients were wanting, he looked upon disputation as a malignant fever, endangering the health, peace, and safety of the church. When candour is lost, truth is rarely found.

Notwithstanding the precautions taken by the magistrates, Heshusius s incendiary piece stole through the press: And Zanchius's efforts, to stifle its publication, were looked upon, by the author's party, as an injury never to be forgiven. They left no methods unessaycd, to remove him from his professorship. Many compromising expedients were proposed, by the moderate of both parties. The chapter of St Thomas (of which Zanchius himself was a canon) met, to consider what course should be pursued. By them, it was referred to a select committee of thirteen. Zanchius offered to debate the agitated points, in a friendly and peaceable manner, with his opponents: Which offer not being accepted, he made several journies to other churches and universities in different parts of Germany; and requested their opinions: Which he brought with him in writing. Things, however, could not be settled, till the senate of Strasburg convened an assembly, from other districts, consisting partly of divines, and partly of persons learned in the laws. These referees, after hearing both sides, recurred to the old fruitless expedient, of agreeing on certain articles, to which they advised each party to subscribe. Zanchius, desirous of laying the unchristian heats, and, at the same time, no less determined to preserve integrity and a good conscience; subscribed in these cautious terms: Hanc doctrine formulam ut piam agnosco, ita etiam recipio: "I acknowledge this summary

of doctrine to be pious, and so I admit it." This condescension on Zanchius's part, was not followed by

those

those peaceful effects, which were expected. The peace was too loosely patched up, to be of any long duration, His adversaries began to worry him afresh; and, just as measures were bringing on the carpet, for a new and more lasting compromise, our divines received an invitation to the church of Chiavenna, situate on the borders of Italy, and in the territory of the Grisons.

Augustine Mainard, pastor of that place, was lately dead; and a messenger arrived, to let Zanchius know that he was chosen to succeed him. Having very slender prospect of peace at Strasburg, he obtained the consent of the senate to resign his canonry of St Thomas, and professorship of divinity. Whilst the above debates were depending, he had received separate invitations to Zurich, Geneva, Leyden, Heidelberg, Marpurg, and Lausanne : But, till he had seen the result of things at Strasburg, he did not judge any of these calls sufficiently providential to determine his removal.

He left Strasburgh in November, 1563, and entered on his pastoral charge at Chiavenna, the beginning of January following. But he had not long been there, before the town was visited by a dismal pestilence, which, within the space of seven months, carried off twelve hundred of the inhabitants. Zanchius, however, continued to exercise his ministry, as long as there was an assembly to preach to. At length, the far greater part of the towns-men being swept away, he retreated for a while, with his family, to an adjoining mountain. His own account is this (tom. vii. part 1. col. 36, 37.) "Mainard, my pious "predecessor, had often foretold the calamity, with which "the town of Chiavenna has been since visited. All the

inhabitants have been too well convinced, that that holy "man of GOD did not prophesy at random.--When "the plague actually began to make havock, I enforced "repentance and faith, while I had a place to preach in, "or any congregation to hear.- Many being dead, and "others having fled the town (like ship-wrecked mari"ners, who, to avoid instant destruction, make toward "what coast they can ;) but very few remained: And, "of these remaining few, some were almost terrified to "death, others were solely employed in taking care of the "sick, and others in guarding the walls. They concurred in advising me to consult my own safety, by withdrawing, for a time, till the indignation should be overpast. I betook myself, therefore, with all my family, to an high mountain, not a vast way from the

"town,

town, yet remote from human converse, and peculiarly "formed for contemplation and unmolested retirement. "Here we led a solitary life for three months and a "half. I devoted my time, chiefly to meditation and "writing; to prayer, and reading the scriptures. I never "was happier in my own soul, nor enjoyed a better share "of health." Afterwards, the plague beginning to abate, he quitted his retreat, and resumed the public exercise of his function.

After four years continuance at Chiavenna, Frederic III. elector palatine, prevailed with him to accept a divinity professorship, in the university of Heidelberg, upon the decease of the famous Zachary Ursin. In the beginning of the year 1568, Zanchius entered on his new situation; and, shortly after, opened the chair, with an admirable oration, De conservando in ecclesiá puto puro verbo Dei. In the same year, he received his doctor's degree: The elector palatine, and his son, prince Casimir, honouring the ceremony with their presence.

He had not been long settled in the palatinate, when the elector, (one of the most amiable and religious princes of that age) strongly solicited him to confirm and elucidate the doctrine of the Trinity, by writing a professed treatise on that most important subject: Desiring him, moreover, to be very particular and explicit, in canvassing the arguments made use of by the Socinians; who had then fixed their head-quarters in Poland and Transylvania, and were exhausting every artifice of sophistry and subterfuge, to degrade the Son and Spirit of GOD to the level of mere creatures. Zanchius accordingly employed his leisure hours in obeying this pious command. His masterly and elaborate treatise, De Dei naturá; and that De tribus Elohim uno eodemque Jehová; were written on this occasion: Treatises fraught with the most solid learning and argument; breathing, at the same time, the amiable spirit of genuine candour and transparent piety. Among a variety of interesting particulars, he does not omit to inform his Readers, that Lælius Socinus, and other favourers of the Servetian hypothesis, had spared neither pains nor art, to pervert his judgment, and win him over to their party: But that, finding him inflexible, they had broke off all intercourse with him; and from artful adulators, commenced his determined enemies. An event this, which he even looked upon as a blessing, and for which he conceived himself bound to render his best thanks to the supreme head of the church, Christ Jesus.-

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He retained his professorship at Heidelberg ten years when the elector Frederic being dead, he removed to Newstadt, the residence of prince John Casimir, count palatine. Here he chose to fix his station for the present, in preference to two invitations he had just received; one from the university of Leyden, then lately opened; the other from the Protestant church at Antwerp.-The conduct of Divine Providence, respecting Zanchius's frequent removals, is very observable. He was a lover of peace, and passionately fond of retirement. But he was too bright a luminary to be always continued in one place. The salt of the earth must be sprinkled here and there, in order to be extensively useful, and to season the church throughout. Hence GOD's faithful ministers, like the officers in a monarch's army, are quartered in various places; stationed and remanded hither and thither, as may most conduce to their Master's service.

The church of Newstadt enjoyed our Author upwards of seven years. Being, by that time, far advanced in life, and the infirmities of age coming on him very fast, he found himself obliged to cease from that constant series of Jabour and intenseness of application, which he had, so long, and so indefatigably, undergone. He was, at his own request, dismissed, from public service, at Newstadt, by the elector Casimir; receiving, at the same time, substantial marks of favour and respect from that religious and generous prince.

From Newstadt, he repaired, once more, to Heidelberg; chiefy with a view to see some of his old friends. This proved his last removal on earth: For, shortly after, his soul, now ripe for glory, dropt the body, and ascended to heaven, about six in the morning of November 19, 1590, in the seventy-fifth year of his age. His remains were interred at Heidelberg, in the college-chapel of St Peter; where a small monumental stone was set up to his me mory, with this inscription:

HIERONYMI bic sunt condita ossa ZANCHII,
Itali; exulantis, CHRISTI amore, à patriâ :
Qui Theologus quantus fuerit et Philosophus,
Testantur hoc, Libri editi ab Eo plurimi:
Testantur hoc, quos voce docuit in Scholis';
Quique audiêre Eum docentem ecclesias.
Nunc ergo, quamvis hinc migrárit Spiritu,

Claro tamen nobis remansit nomine.

Here ZANCHY rests, whom love of truth constrain'd
To quit his own, and seek a foreign land.
How good and great he was, how form'd to shine,
How fraught with science, human and divine;
Sufficient proof his num'rous writings give,
And those who heard him teach, and saw him live.
Earth still enjoys him, though his soul is fled:
His name is deathless, though his dust be dead.

He departed hence in the year 1590, and on the nineteenth day of November.

One cannot help lamenting, that no more is to be collected concerning this incomparable man, than a few outlines of his life; comprising little else but a dry detail of dates and removals.

Some very old and scarce prints, struck from engravings on wood, represent him as extremely corpulent, even to unwieldiness; And yet, from the astonishing extent, profoundness, and exquisite activity, of his learning, judgment, and genius, one might well nigh be induced to imagine, that he consisted entirely of soul, without any dead weight of body at all. By the favour of Dr. Gifford, of the British Museum, we can present our Readers with a fine print taken from an ancient, and, we believe, original painting. But, however, of his mind, his writings present us with the loveliest image. He seems to have been possessed, in a very superior degree, of those graces, virtues, and abilities, which ennoble and exalt human nature to the highest elevation it is capable of below. His clear insight into the truths of the gospel, is wonderful; especially, considering that the church of GOD was but just emerging from the long and dismal night of popish darkness, and himself, previous to his conversion, as deeply plunged in the shades as any. It is a blessing, which but few are favoured with, to step, almost at once, out of midnight into meridian day. He was thoroughly experienced in the divine life of the soul; and an happy subject of that internal kingdom of GOD, which lies in righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. This enabled him to sustain that violence of opposition, which he almost constantly met with. Few persons have, ordinarily, borne a larger share of the cross; and, perhaps, none were enabled to sustain it better. In him were happily centred all the meek benevolence of charity, and all the adamantine firmness of intrepidity: Qualities, alas! not constantly united in men of orthodoxy and learning.

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