The Marrow of Ecclesiastical History, George of Anhalt
GEORG PRINCE OF ANHALT
The Life of George Prince of Anhalt, who died Ano Christi 1553.
GEorge Prince of Anhalt was born Anno Christi 1507.His Birth. Of a very ancient and honourable Family. His Father was Prince Ernest. Then by the advice of that grave, prudent man, Adolphus, Prince of Anhalt, Bishop of Mersburg, His Education.he was set to the study of the Law, wherein he shewed such industry, that he was quickly acquainted with the principles of it, and being of a generous nature, he loved the Truth, and hated Evils; often using that Proverbe of Solomon, that, Lying lips become not a Prince. Amongst all Law-books, he was most versed in Panormitan.
Having thus prepared his Wit by these Studies, An. Chr. 1522,His first preferment. he was by Cardinal Albert, Elector of Mentz, and Bishop of Magdeburg, chosen to be one of his Counsellors, whereby he was versed in the weighty Affairs of State, finding the use and benefit of his knowledge of the Law therein; and being Eloquent by nature, the Cardinal often made use of him to open his mind to others; so that his judgement was encreased and confirmed by his industry and employments. But the Controversies about Religion waxing hot at this time, and Luther's books coming abroad, he fell to reading of them, especially De discrimine Legis, & Evangelii. De vera paenitentia. De gratia. De fide. De vera invocatione. De usu Sacramentorum. De discrimine legum divinarum, & humanarum. De discrimine Ministerii Evangelici, & Politicae potestatis. Yet withall suspecting his own injudiciousness, he would often pray with teares to God to incline his heart to the Truth, saying, Deal with thy servant according to thy mercy, and instruct me in thy right eousnesse. He was frequent in reading the Scriptures, Ecclesiastical Histories, Augustine, Hierom, and Lombard, having George Forcheme both for an helper, and copartner with him in those studies. He studied also Greek and Hebrew, and was so perfect in the Hebrew that few excelled him. He discoursed with Learned men about the Controversies; and so at length, having long weighed the Opinions of all, he concluded, that the Confession of the Reformed Churches did agree with the ancient Catholick Church of God, instructed by the writing… of the Prophets, and Apostles: And though he knew what hatred and danger he exposed himself to, yet he made a publique profession of the Truth; giving over to joyn with the Papists in their Counsels, and Idolatrous Services; giving himself wholly to Prayer,He professeth the reformed religion. and reading the Scriptures, and other good books: assisting his Brethren (with whom he lived in perfect Peace and Love) exceedingly in their Governments. And first of all, by their joint consents, he reformed the Churches in his own Country,He reforms his Country. setting fit Pastors over them, commanding them to teach the Word of Truth to their people. He abolished the Popish Ceremonies, erected Schooles, allowed competent stipends to the Ministers: so that all things were Reformed without any dissention or tumult; and many were drawn to embrace the Truth; others were confirmed therein by the judgements and examples of their pious Princes: And then he was very profitable to his Country by the faithful administration of Justice to them an Christi 1545 he was called to the Government of the Churches in the Diocesse of Mersburg, and for that end he sent for Phil. Melancthon, and divers other godly Ministers, who ordained him by the Imposition of hands,He is ordained and gave him a Testimonial thereof August the third 1545. Concerning which Melancthon thus writeth; Nos convocati, quia certe sciebamus hunc illustrissimum! rincipem Georgium rectè intelligere, & constanter amplecti puram Evangelii Doctrinam, quam Ecclesiae harum regionum …navoce, & uno spirit… cum Catholica Ecclesia Dei profitentur, & eximiam ejus esse virtutem, & sanctitatem: Testimonium nostrum de eo, ritu Apostolico, impositione manuum, declaravimus, &c.
He lived very continently in a single life,His holy life. without any defilement: His Chamber was a Temple, Academy, and a Court; for he used daily in the same to pray, read, write, and deliberate about Government. He never wronged any man willingly. He did good both privately and publickly to many. He was a great promoter of Peace among Princes. He ended many Controversies. He abhorred all seditious and turbulent counsels. He was far from ambition. No anger, hatred, or desire of revenge could ever draw him to goe against the Rules of Justice, or to act any thing against the common good. Many, and great injuries he bore with a great minde, and pardoned them for the publick peace sake: And with the same moderation of minde he bore other griefs, so that it might easily appeare that he was supported by Prayer to, and resting himself upon God; and as a learned man, he kn…w the difference between divine, and humane consolations, and often repeated this saying, Subditus esto Deo, & ora eum, &c. Submit thy self to God, and pray unto him; for he is near to those that are of a contrite heart, and will save the humble in spirit. He employed his time so wel,His industry. so that he left none for pleasures; and used to say, That nothing refreshed him more in his sorrows, then conference with learned and godly men. About all controversies in Law he used to conferre with the excellentest Lawyers who were wise and virtuous men:His prudence to improve his parts. About the nature of mans body, the causes and remedies of diseases, with the most skilful Physitians: About the Doctrine of the Church, and Ecclesiastical Affairs, with Luther, Justus Jonas, John Bugenhag, &c. and many of their Disputations, ful of Learning and Piety, were heard to the profit of many. He conferred with Joachim Camerarius about the Histories of all Ages, the mutation of Empires, their period, and the causes thereof; about the Motions of the Heavens, and the effects of the Stars.
The last act of this Princes life shewed his Piety, and Gods presence with him: For falling sick of a most troublesome disease, he was frequent in holy prayer for himself, for all the Princes of that Family, for his Country, and for Germany. He had some portions of holy Scripture daily read to him. He made his Will, wherein he set downe the Confession of his Faith, and commended the defense of his Churches to his Brother. He added something to the stipends of all the godly Ministers under his charge. He often ruminated upon those Texts, God so loved the world, that he gave &c. No man shal take my sheep out of my hand. Come unto me all yee that are weary, &c. and so in holy meditations and prayer he resigned up his spirit unto God Anno Christi 1553, and of his Age, 47.
Amongst other parts of his Ecclesiastical Administrations,Synods. every year he held two Synods, wherein all the Pastors of his Diocesse met together, where they had very profitable Sermons preached. He was made Superintendent of those Churches of Mersburg by Augustus Duke of Saxony, His works.brother to Maurice, Anno Christi 1544. His Works which he left behind him were these; A Consolatory Sermon upon that speech of our Saviour, None can take my sheep out of my hand. A Nuptial Sermon preached at To…gau at the Mariage of the Duke of Saxony to Anne the King of Denmarks Daughter. Four Sermons about the Sacrament. A Consolation to his Brother Wolphgang in his Sicknesse. Two Sermons against False Prophets. Sermons containing an assertion of the true Doctrine in the Reformed Churches. A Tractate about the Apostolical Rite of Ordination used in the Reformed Churches. His opinion about the controverted Articles published by Selneccerus. He was of such constancy of Life and Manners,His Constancy. that it might truly be said of him which Dion said of the Emperor Marcus Antonniuus, In omni vitâ sui similis, nec ullâ unquam in re mutatus fuit. Ita que verè fuit vir bonus, nec fictum, aut simulatum quicquam habuit.