Hostname: page-component-7479d7b7d-m9pkr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-12T16:25:04.999Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

John Bergius: Irenicism and the Beginning of Official Religious Toleration in Brandenburg-Prussia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 July 2009

Bodo Nischan
Bodo Nischan
Affiliation:
Mr.Nischan is associate professor of history in East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

Europe in the early seventeenth century was a continent divided along confessional lines. Nowhere was this more apparent than in the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation. Not only had the gulf between Protestants and Catholics widened there, in addition the animosity between Lutherans and Calvinists had grown to the point where members of the two Protestant churches often resented each other more than their common Catholic foe.

Type
Research Article
Information
Church History , Volume 51 , Issue 4 , December 1982 , pp. 389 - 404
Copyright
Copyright © American Society of Church History 1982

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Lecler, Joseph, Toleration and the Reformation, 2 vols. (New York, 1960);Google ScholarKamen, Henry, The Rise of Toleration (New York, 1967);Google ScholarHeer, Friedrich, Die dritte Kraft: Der europäische Humanismus zwischen den Fronten des konfessionellen Zeitalters (Frankfurt am Main, 1959);Google ScholarWinter, Eduard, Frühaufklärung: Der Kampf gegen den Konfessionalismus in Mittel-und Osteuropa (Berlin, 1966);Google ScholarRuth, Rouse and Neill, Stephen C., eds., A History of the Ecumenical Movement, 1517–1948 (Philadelphia, 1954);Google ScholarYates, Frances A., The Rosicrucian Enlightenment (London, 1972);CrossRefGoogle Scholar and Evans, R.J.W., Rudolf II and His World: A Study in Intellectual History, 1576–1612 (Oxford, 1973), p. 96.Google Scholar

2. See Haffner, Sebastian, Preussen ohne Legende (Hamburg, 1980), pp. 21, 83–84;Google Scholarvon Nostitz, Oswalt, “Plädoyer für die Preussen,” Neue Deutsche Hefte 166/27 (1980): 227–238;Google ScholarErdmann, Karl D., “Preussen—von der Bundesrepublik Deutschland her gesehen,” Geschichte in Wissenschaft und Unterricht 6 (1980): 335–353;Google Scholar and idem, “Preussens tiefe Spur,” Die Zeit, 7 March 1980, p. 20.

3. Brief biographical sketches of Bergius are found in Stosch, Bartholomäus, Zwo Leich-Predigten … Herrn Joh. Bergio Ch. Br. Hof Prediger (Königsberg, 1658);Google ScholarBeckmann, Johann C., Notitia Universitatis Francofurtanae (Frankfurt an der Oder, 1706), pp. 133–156;Google ScholarMüller, Johann C. and Küster, Georg G., Altes und Neues Berlin (Berlin, 1737), pp. 149–158;Google ScholarHering, Daniel H., Beiträge zur Geschichte der Evanglisch-Reformirten Kirche in den Preussisch-Brandenburgischen Ländern, 2 vols. (Breslau, 1784–1785), 1:16–51;Google Scholarvon Thadden, Rudolf, Die Brandenburgisch-Preussischen Hofprediger im 17. und 18. Jahrhundert (Berlin, 1959), pp. 175–178.Google Scholar See also s. v. “Bergius, Johannes” in Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie, Neue Deutsche Biographie, and Die Religion in Geschichle und Gegenwart, 3d ed.

4. See Frideborn, Paul, Historische Beschreibung der Stadt Alten Stettin in Pommern (Stettin, 1613), pt. 2;Google ScholarCramer, Daniel, Das Grosse Pomrische Kirchen-Chronicon, 4 vols. (Stettin, 1628), 4:35–36;Google ScholarMicraelius, Johannes, Vom Alten … Pommerlande, 4 pts. (Stettin, 1639), pt.3. 2, pp. 604–613.Google Scholar

5. See Schneppen, Heinz, Niederländische Universitäten und deutsches Geistesleben (Münster, 1960);Google ScholarSchöffler, Herbert, Deutsches Geistesleben zwischen Reformation und Aufklärung (Frankfurt am Main, 1974), pp. 49–53;CrossRefGoogle ScholarHintze, Otto, “Calvinism and Raison d'Etat in Early Seventeenth Century Brandenburg,” in The Historical Essays of Otto Hintze, ed. Felix, Gilbert (New York, 1975), pp. 94–105.Google Scholar

6. Hautz, Johann F., Geschichte der Universität Heidelberg, 2 vols. (Mannheim, 1864), 2:116–169;Google ScholarClasen, Claus P., The Palatinate in European History, 1559–1660 (Oxford, 1963);Google Scholar and Brinkmann, Günter, Die Irenik des David Pareus (Hildesheim, 1972).Google Scholar

7. Stosch, p. 36.

8. The educational curriculum at these schools is discussed in Costello, William T., The Scholastic Curriculum at Early Seventeenth Century Cambridge (Cambridge, Mass., 1958);CrossRefGoogle ScholarKearney, Hugh, Scholars and Gentlemen (Ithaca, N.Y., 1970).Google Scholar

9. On these French influences see Rimbault, Lucien, Pierre du Moulin (Paris, 1966);Google ScholarArmstrong, Brian G., Calvinism and the Amyraut Heresy (Madison, 1969);Google ScholarDie Religion in Geschichte und Gegenwart, s.v. “Du Moulin, Pierre” and “Saumur.”

10. See Schneppen, pp. 9–39; Oestreich, Gerhard, “Politischer Neustoizismus und Niederländische Bewegung in Europa und besonders in Brandenburg-Preussen,” Geist und Gestalt des frühmodernen Staates (Berlin, 1969), pp. 101–156;Google Scholaridem, “Justus Lipsius als Universalgelehrter zwischen Renaissance und Barock,” in Leiden University in the Seventeenth Century, ed. Th. H. Lunsingh Scheurleer et al (Leiden, 1975), pp. 176–201; Hans, Thieme, ed., Humanismus und Naturrecht in Berlin-Brandenburg-Preussen (Berlin, 1979), pp. 3–54.Google Scholar

11. Bergius, Johannes, Guter Bürger (Danzig, 1656).Google Scholar

12. “Decree of 24 February 1614,” Corpus Constitutionum Marchicarum, ed. Christian, Mylius, 11 vols. (Berlin and Halle, 1737) vol. 1, pt. 1, no. 12, pp. 353–356.Google Scholar

13. This confession is found in Hering, Daniel H., Historische Nachricht von dem ersten Anfang der Evangelisch-Reformirten Kirche in Brandenburg und Preussen (Halle, 1778), pp. 3–17;Google Scholar and Böckel, Ernst G.A., Die Bekenntnisschriften der evangelisch-reformirten Kirche (Leipzig, 1847), pp. 432–440.Google Scholar

14. Böckel, p. 440.

15. See Bergius, Johannes, Der weg Davids und aller Welt: Zu Christlichen Ehrengedechtniss… Johann Sigismundi (Frankfurt an der Oder, 1621).Google Scholar

16. John Sigismund's decree of 17 August 1616 is found in Cyprian, Ernst S., Abgetrnngener Unterricht von kirchlicher Vereinigung der Protestanten, 2 vols. (Frankfurt and Leipzig, 1726), 2:75–77.Google Scholar See also Hering, , Historische Nachricht, pp. 322–332;Google Scholar and Hausen, Carl, Geschichte der Universität und Stadt Frankfurt an der Oder (Frankfurt an der Oder, 1806), pp. 104–106.Google Scholar

17. Several recent studies have treated the war from this perspective. See especially Parker, Geoffrey, “The Dutch Revolt and the Polarization of International Politics,” Tijdschrift voor Geschiedenis 89 (1976): 429–443;Google Scholar and Polišensky, Josef V., War and Society in Europe, 1618–1648 (New York, 1978).CrossRefGoogle Scholar

18. Bergius, Johannes, “Sermon on Rom. 9:20f, Königsberg, 9 December 1632,” in 39 Predigten: Über unterschiedliche schwere Sprüche Pauli, ed. Conrad, Bergius (Frankfurt an der Oder, 1666), p. 772.Google Scholar

19. Bergius, Johannes, Dass die Wort Christi noch vesle stehen (Basel, 1624), p. 9.Google Scholar

20. Bergius, Johannes, “Sermon on Rom. 8:31,” in Vier Trost-Predzgten… Herrn Levin von dem Knesebeck (Berlin, [1640]).Google Scholar

21. Lutheran-Reformed relations at this time are discussed in Ritschl, Otto, Dogmengeschichte des Protestantismus, 4 vols. (Göttingen, 1908–1927), vol. 4;Google ScholarLeube, Hans, Kalvinismus und Lutherthum im Zeitalter der Orthodoxie (Leipzig, 1928);Google Scholar and Weber, Hans E., Reformation, Orthodoxie, und Rationalismus, 2 vols. (Gütersloh, 1937–1951), vol. 2, pt. 1.Google Scholar

22. Bergius, Johannes, Unterscheidt und Vergleichung der Evanglischen in Lehr und Ceremonien (Arnhem, 1638), p. 1.Google Scholar

23. Bergius, Johannes, Apostolische Regell: Wie man in Religionssachen recht richten solle (Elbing, 1641), p. 57.Google Scholar See also his funeral sermon for Anna, , wife, John Sigismund's Lutheran, published as Symbolum Oder Glaubens Spruch (Berlin, 1625).Google Scholar

24. Bergius, , Apostolische Regell, p. 18;Google Scholar and idem, “Sermon on Rom. 10:2, Exaudi Sunday,1641,” in 39 Predigten, no. 30.

25. Bergius, , Apostolische Regell, pp. 29–30.Google Scholar See also his sermon on 1 Cor. 3:11–15, in 39 Predigien, nos. 1 and 2.

26. Bergius, Apostolische Regell, foreword.

27. Bergius, , Doss die Wort Christi, pp. 10–29, 159–328.Google Scholar

28. The following is based mostly on the Apostolische Regell.

29. Sec “Decret en Faveur de nos Frères les Lutheriens,” in Tons les Synodes Nationaux des Eglises Réformées de France, ed. Jean, Aymon, 2 vols. (The Hague, 1710), 2:500–504.Google Scholar

30. Bergius, , Apostolische Regell, pp. 146–147Google Scholar, and idem, Der Weg Davids.

31. Bergius, Johannes, Antapocrisis Oder Gegenantwort (Frankfurt an der Oder, 1615).Google Scholar

32. Behm, Johannes, Christliche Landtags Predigt … den 21. Novemb: Anno 1616. zu Königsberg… gehalten (Königsberg, n.d.).Google Scholar

33. Hartknoch, Christoph, Preussische Kirchen-Historia (Frankfurt am Main, 1686), pp. 510–545Google Scholarpassim; Mylius, vol. 6, nos. 78, 79.

34. See, for instance, his sermons of 3 and 6 March 1622, published as Bergius, Johannes, Hypotyposis oder Fürbild der Heilsamen Lehre (Berlin, 1624).Google Scholar

35. On Bergius and the synod of Dort, see Hering, , Historische Nachricht, pp. 383–394;Google Scholar and Müller and Küster, pp. 150–152.

36. See Ritschl, 4:106–156; Leube, pp. 107–110; and Weber, 2:98–175. German Calvinists themselves had to overcome some problems in this area; see Moltmann, Jürgen, Christoph Pezel (1539–1604) und der Calvinismus in Bremen (Bremen, 1958), epecially pp. 89–105.Google Scholar

37. See Bergius, , Dass die Wort Christi, pp. 318–326;Google Scholaridem, Unterscheidt und Vergleichung, pp. 95–270; his sermons on Romans 9 in 39 Predigten, nos. 19–29; and especially idem, Der Wille Gottes von aller Menschen Seligkeit (Berlin, 1656).Google Scholar

38. Bergius to Füssel, 23 February 1619, in Limborch, Philipp van, Historia Vitae Simonis Episcopii (Amsterdam, 1701), pp. 210–211.Google Scholar

39. The memorandum, dated 13 April 1637, is summarized in Hering, , Beiträge, p. 18.Google Scholar

40. “Rescript of 16 May 1637,” in Mylius, vol. 1, Pt. 1, no. 13, pp. 355–358.Google Scholar

41. For the following see Nischan, Bodo, “Reformed Irenicism and the Leipzig Colloquy of 1631,” Central European History 9 (1976): 3–26.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

42. See Hertrampf, Hans-Dieter, “Hoë von Hoënegg—sächsischer Oberhofprediger 1613–1645,” Beiträge zur Kirchengeschichte Deutschlands 7 (1969): 129–148.Google Scholar

43. The protocol of the colloquy is found in Bergius, Johannes, Abermaliger Abdruck der Relation von der Privat-Conferentz … im Jahr 1631 (Berlin, 1644);Google Scholar and Böckel, pp. 441–456.

44. For Bergius's assessment of the colloquy, see his foreword to Abdruck, Abermaliger, and his Churfüstliche Leich-Predigi… Herren Georg Wilhelmen/Markgraffen zu Brandenburg (n.p., 1642), pp. 82–85.Google Scholar

45. For details see Nischan, Bodo, “Brandenburg's Reformed Räte and the Leipzig Manifesto of 1631,” Journal of Religious History 10 (1979): 365–380.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

46. They were the ones who first proposed and drafted the Leipzig Manifesto; see draft proposal in Rep. 21.127.p.I, pp. 27–30, Deutsches Zentralarchiv, Merseberg, German Democratic Republic.

47. See Bergius, Vier Trostpredigten… Knesebeck, foreword; and idem, Trost und Pflicht … Sigmundt von Götzen (Berlin, [1651]), pp. 56–57.

48. Hoënegg, Matthias Hoë von, Unvermeidentliche Rettung Churfürstl. Durchl. zu Sachsen gethaner Gewissens-Frag (Leipzig, 1635), p. 24.Google Scholar

49. Keller, Ludwig, “Der Grosse Kurfürst in seiner Stellung zu Religion und Kirche,” Hohenzollern Jahrbuch 7 (1903): 44.Google Scholar

50. On the Thorn Colloquy, see Landwehr, Hugo, Die Kirchenpolitik Friedrich Wilhelms (Berlin, 1894), pp. 153–158;Google ScholarJacobi, F., “Das liebreiche Religionsgespräch zu Thorn 1645,” Zeitschrift für Kirchengeschichte 15 (1895): 345–363, 485–556;Google Scholar and Lackner, Martin, Die Kirchenpolitik des Grossen Kurfürsten (Witten, 1973), pp. 159–164.Google Scholar

51. “Matthias Lubienski's Invitation, Warsaw, 12 November 1643,” Cod. Guelf. 32.1B Extrav.2° (279r), Herzog August Bibliothek, Wolfenbüttel, Federal Republic of Germany.

52. “D. Joh. Bergii auf Erfordern Friderici Wilhelmi Churfürsten zu Brandenburg an denselben gesteiltes Bedencken über … Einladung zum Thornischen Colloquio charitat, 1644,” Fortgesetzte Sammiung von Alten und Neuen Theologischen Sachen (Leipzig, 1743), pp. 374–396.Google Scholar

53. Bergius to George Calixt, Königsberg, 14 June 1645, Cod. Guelf. Extr. 84.9 (179r), Herzog August Bibliothek. Calixt's reply, dated 15 July 1645, is found in Jaeger, Johann W., Historia Ecclesiastica, 2 vols. (Hamburg, 1709–1717), vol.1, pt. 2, pp. 700–701.Google Scholar

54. For the acts of the colloquy, see Calov, Abraham, Historia syncretistica (Wittenberg, 1685), pp. 229–560.Google Scholar See also Hartknoch, pp. 934–957.

55. Hartknoch, pp. 947–948.

56. Calixt, Georg, Wiederlegung der unchristlichen und unbilligen Verleumbdungen (Helmstedt, 1651);Google ScholarSchüssler, Hermann, Georg Calixt (Wiesbaden, 1961), pp. 122–133.Google Scholar

57. Hartknoch, p. 949.

58. Bergius, to Burgsdorf, Conrad, 23 11 1645, in Landwehr, p. 157.Google Scholar

59. Vox oppressorum in Marchia Brandenburgica supplex (Saltzbach, 1675), p. 46.Google Scholar