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For those visiting, we say with Mr. Ursinus, "Friend, entering here, be short, or go, or else assist me in my work."http://www.seeking4truth.com/
Now, for a few words of further introduction on Mr. Ursinus.
Altogether, as we have before seen, he was of a reserved, retiring nature; formed for meditation and self-communion ; averse from all noise and strife ; mystical as well as logical, and no less contemplative than intelligent and acute ; a true heir in this respect of Melancthon s spirit, as well as a true follower of his faith. For theological controversy, though doomed to live in it all his days, he had just as little taste as his illustrious preceptor himself; and when forced to take part in it, one might say of him that scarce the smell of its usual fire was allowed to pass on his garments ; so equal was he still, and calm and mild, in the conduct of his own cause, avoiding as far as possible all offensive personalities, and bending his whole force only on the actual merits of the question hi debate. On the other hand, however, no one could be more decided and firm in this calntway, when it was necessary to withstand error or maintain truth. In this respect he was superior to Melancthon, less yielding and more steadily true to the chart and compass of his own creed.
He was charged by some with being sour and morose. But this was nothing more, probably, than the construction, which his reserved and earnest character naturally carried with it for those who were not able to sympathise with such a spirit, or who saw him only as it were from a distance and not near at hand. It is characteristic of such a soft and quiet nature, to be at the same time ardent, and excitable on occasions even to passion ; and it is not unlikely, that in the case of Ursinus, this natural tendency may have been strengthened at times by the morbid habit of his body, disturbing and clouding the proper serenity of his mind. Francis Junius describes him as just the reverse of the charges now noticed, and as made up of self-forgetting condescension and kindness towards all who came in his way.
The same witness, than whom we could have no better, bears the most honorable testimony also to his habits of devotion and personal piety. Religion with him was not a theory merely, but a business of life. He walked with God, and showed himself thus a worthy follower of those who through faith and patience have entered into the rewards of his kingdom.
On the whole, we may say, it is a great honor for the German Reformed Church to be represented in the beginning by so excellent a man ; and it is not going too far perhaps to add, that the type of his character has entered powerfully into the true historical spirit of this communion, as distinguished from all other branches of the same faith.
Such is the prerogative of genius, and such its high and lofty commission in the world. It stamps its own image, for ages, on what it has power to create. J. W. N
NOTE. In the preparation of this article, use has been made of the following works:
ALTING S Historia de Ecdesiis Pdlatinis;
H. S. VAN ALPEN S Geschichte und Liter atur des Heidelberg schen KatecTiismus;
PLANCK S Geschichte der protestantischen Theologie;
BATLE S Dictionary art. Ursinus;
SEISEN S Geschichte der Reformation zu Heidelberg;
K. F. VIERORDT S Geschichte der Reformation im Grossherzogthum Baden;
EBRARD S Das Dogma vom Heil. Abendmahl und seine Geschichte.
Reference may also be made to the writer s own work on the History and Genius of the Heidelberg Catechism.
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