RESTORATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF WITTENBERG.
His desire to return to Wittenberg was to be gratified sooner than he
expected. In the beginning of June, he was informed by his countryman,
the Imperial secretary OBERNBURG, that Duke Maurice had become Elector,
and intended to restore the University of Wittenberg; and by a letter
from Cruciger, the former instructors were called upon to return.
Already, on the 8th of June, Melanchthon signified his intention of
going to Wittenberg or Dessau, in order to consult with his friends in
regard to this matter. A portion of the dominions of the Elector had
been left to his sons, including Weimar, Jena, Eisenach, Gotha, and
other places; and it seems the father was anxious that a new institution
should be founded in Jena. This wish of the Elector, who was deeply
interested in the cause of the Gospel, was worthy of all commendation;
for the treachery of Duke Maurice did not permit the hope that
Wittenberg would again become a nursery of the pure doctrine. It must,
therefore, have been a very desirable object with the young dukes, to
secure the former teachers of Wittenberg, particularly Melanchthon, for
the new school. The elder Duke therefore requested Melanchthon not to
remove from those parts. He immediately replied from Nordhausen, June
9th, 1547: "Although the parents of your Grace, as well as your Grace,
and your brothers, and all your faithful subjects, are plunged at
present into the deepest sorrow which can come upon us in this world of
trouble, yet we ought not to forget that God seeth all these things, and
if we call upon him with all the heart, will lessen our misery, and show
mercy, although we must endure chastisement for a season. I thank your
Grace most humbly that you have been graciously pleased to invite me to
stay near you; and if I could serve your Electoral Grace in an humble
position as a teacher, I would rather serve your Grace in poverty, than
in riches in other quarters, although I have been invited to several
places. But I will not leave your dominions without the knowledge of
your Grace. I intend soon also to pay another visit to Wittenberg." At
the same time, he also received a letter from his friends at Wittenberg,
urging him to come thither. In a letter to a friend there, he says: "I
love the University as my home, for I have there lived in the greatest
intimacy with learned and honorable colleagues, and we have together
endeavored to spread abroad the doctrine of the most needful things,
with moderate zeal. The son of the imprisoned prince has merely
requested me not to leave his dominions, without previously informing
him of my intention to do so; and if I could find a little place, even
in an humble school in his dominions, I would be inclined to serve him.
For I am not thinking of a brilliant position, but of my grave." He now
for the first time learned that it was intended to establish an
institution of learning at Jena; and he therefore wrote to the dukes
that he would come to Weimar, "in order to hear further what your wishes
may be, and also to communicate my own simple and humble opinion." From
a number of letters written at this time, for instance, from one written
to Augustin Schurff, on the 13th of July, it is evident that he had no
other intention but to settle where he might live and labor together
with his old friends and colleagues. He said: "I will regard the place
of their residence as my native land." However, he went to Weimar, in
order to consult with the dukes and Chancellor Brueck. Here, it seems,
they intended to gain over Melanchthon for Jena, without, however,
appointing his friends. This did not please him. Without expressing his
sentiments fully, he proposed to retire to Zerbst, in order to consult
with Schurff, Eber, and some other friends. But in Merseburg, he, on the
18th of July, received letters from George of Anhalt, and Cruciger,
summoning him to Leipzig. Duke Maurice was there at the time, and wished
to see the Wittenberg Theologians, especially Melanchthon, who
immediately departed for Leipzig. Bugenhagen refers to this in the
following manner: "There Master Philip came to us, on account of which
we greatly rejoiced, and thanked God. My most gracious lord (Maurice),
entertained us splendidly in his own inn, paid all our expenses, and
honored us with various gifts, and presents of money; he also received
us in person, in a very gracious manner, and publicly declared before
us, and all the Superintendents, that he would never permit himself to
be led back to those Papal errors, which oppose the word of God, and the
blessed Gospel of Jesus Christ. Therefore we should continue to teach
the pure Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to condemn such abuses, together
with all other fanaticism and error. His Electoral Grace also enjoined
it upon us, that we should call the professors of the University of
Wittenberg together again, resume our lectures, and to call the
Consistory of the Church." Ratzeberger relates that the Elector
presented a velvet cap, filled with dollars, to Dr. Pommer and Master
Philip, and assured all of his favor.
The Elector Maurice had before this been exhorted to restore the
University, and he had now returned a gracious answer. Melanchthon
rejoiced that he was able to return to Wittenberg again. On the 25th of
June, he departed thither, accompanied by Bugenhagen, Cruciger, and
Eber; after having declined the invitation to remain as professor in
Leipzig. He wrote to Camerarius: "I do not know how long I shall remain
here." And to Weinlaub: "The deliberations in regard to the restoration
of the University are still very uncertain, for, as you may imagine,
many difficulties stand in the way." And to Aurifaber, August 4th: "You
are familiar with the old accounts, with what great difficulty cities
were restored after their destruction. How often was the rebuilding of
Jerusalem hindered, after the return of the Israelites from Chaldea! And
yet the temple was finally restored. Thus will our University perhaps be
restored again, although it be done slowly; I trust that it may be
accomplished by the help of God." The prince gave the best assurances
that he would secure a new income; and this was very necessary, for the
University owned very little real-estate. Melanchthon was actually
living at his own expense;[22] and, as he remarked in the last of the
letters above, the restoration was progressing very slowly. But
notwithstanding all this, he declined repeated offers from Koenigsberg,
Frankfort-on-the-Oder, &c., so firmly was he rooted in Wittenberg. He
wrote to Meienburg: "Verily, if this University is not restored, a state
of barbarism will fall upon the churches, which may God prevent!" On the
12th of August, he went with Eber to Dresden, in order to consult with
Chancellor Cummerstadt about the income of the University, without,
however, receiving any definite promises. His family were still in
Nordhausen, whither he went to pay them a visit in October. He was
accompanied by his son-in-law Sabinus, who, in compliance with
Melanchthon's wishes, had brought his daughters to the house of their
grand-parents, to be raised by them. At last, in the middle of October,
the University was restored, and the family could again remove to the
old home.
By thus remaining in Wittenberg, in the service of the perfidious Duke
Maurice, Melanchthon was much reproached by the friends of the
unfortunate prisoner, and his sons, who were establishing a University
in Jena. And it will remain a question, whether it would not have been
more honorable in him to have retired to Jena. However, we must hear the
reasons which induced him to pursue this course. He justified this step,
in various letters addressed to his friends. He wrote to the Pastor
AQUILA, in Saalfeld, August 29th: "As there seemed some prospect of the
restoration of our University, and my colleagues earnestly conjured me
to return, I was persuaded to do so by considering the name of the
University, my connection with my colleagues, and the desertion and
affliction of this Church, towards which many nations formerly directed
their eyes. It seemed a mark of the special mercy of God that our city
was not utterly destroyed, and I would regard it as a greater mercy
still, if our University should be re-established. Although I know that
many speak ill of me on account of this my return, I yet do not reply,
but merely pray that my grief may be forgiven me. Ennius says a
melancholy mind is always in error. In my great sadness I therefore
longed too earnestly for my old friends, with whom I labored so long in
one and the same excellent work. I also hoped too much in these insecure
times, when I believed in the possibility of the restoration of the
University, the certainty of which is not yet apparent. At all event, I
did not seek carnal pleasures or treasures. I live here like a stranger
at my own expense, in constant sorrow and prayer, and no day passes over
my head without tears." As many friends of the Gospel entertained the
suspicion that the truth would now be departed from in Wittenberg,
Melanchthon declared in a letter to Aquila: "When those, of whom you
write, say that the preachers of this place have deserted the truth,
they do great injury to this Church, which is already sufficiently
distressed. By God's grace, the voice of the Gospel now resounds as
unanimously in the city of Wittenberg as it did before the war. And
almost every week, ministers of the Gospel are publicly ordained, and
sent into the neighboring districts. It was but this week that six pious
and learned men were sent forth, all of whom declare, even as formerly,
that they will preach the pure Gospel to their hearers. And they are
likewise examined, as in former times. The facts of the case prove that
we have not changed our minds in regard to doctrine. We also offer up
public and private prayers for the imprisoned prince. We do not hear
any one speak ill of our prince, and the authorities of this city would
not permit anything of the kind. Therefore, I beseech you, do not
believe those who slander us, or the Church here; I hope that God
himself will confute them, and deliver us from their envenomed tongues.
I myself honor the imprisoned prince with devout reverence, and daily
commend him to God with tears and supplications, and pray God to deliver
and guide him. As this is true, I am amazed at the levity of the
slanderer who accuses me of the cruelty of preventing prayer for the
prince. But I will beseech God, that he would protect his Church
everywhere, and that he would also deliver us from such slanders in this
our great distress."
Melanchthon thus openly expresses himself in regard to his position at
that time, and we are warranted in believing that these were the honest
and sincere sentiments of his heart. But still more difficult relations
arose, in which his Christian character was to be tried in the severest
manner. The following chapters will show how he demeaned himself in
these.