SUNDAY READINGS.
The selection given in The Chautauquan as a Sunday Reading for October 5, 1884, was from Gotthold’s “Emblems.” The note on Gotthold was crowded out of the C. L. S. C. Notes. Many inquiries have been made concerning him; for this reason we insert the following:
“Christian Scriver, a Lutheran clergyman and writer of devotional works in the seventeenth century, the contemporary and friend of Spener, was born at Rendsburg, in Holstein, January 2, 1629. His childhood was spent under the care of a widowed mother in the trying period of the Thirty Years’ War; but a wealthy merchant—a brother of Scriver’s grandmother—finally made provision for his needs. After suitable preparatory studies, Scriver became a private tutor, and in 1647 entered the University of Rostock. In 1653 he was archdeacon at Stendal, and in 1667 pastor at Magdeburg, with which position he combined other offices, e. g., that of a scolarch, and finally of a senior in the government of the church. He refused to leave Magdeburg in answer to repeated calls to Halberstadt, to Berlin, and to the court of Stockholm, but in advanced age was induced to accept the post of court preacher at Que Dinburg. In 1692 he suffered an apoplectic stroke, and on April 5, 1693, died. He had been married four times, and had had fourteen children born to him, but he outlived all his wives and children except one son and one daughter.
“The name of Scriver has lived among the common people through the publication of his ‘Seelenschatz’ (Magd. and Leipsic, 1737, Schaffhausen, 1738, sq., five parts in two vols., folio), a manual of devotion which he dedicated to ‘the Triune God,’ and which deserves high commendation. Another work deserving of mention is Gotthold’s ‘Zufällige Andachten’ (first edition 1671, and often), a sort of Christian parables, 400 in number, which are based on objects in nature and ordinary occurrences in life. The ‘Siech. u. Siegesbette’ describes a sickness through which he passed, and the aids and comforts derived from God’s goodness in that time. Prittius has published a work of consolation entitled ‘Wittwentrost,’ from Scriver’s literary remains.”
For Scriver’s life see Prittius’s preface to the “Seelenschatz;” Christmann’s “Biographie” (Nuremburg, 1829): Hagenbach’s “Wesen u. Gesch. d. Reformat.,” vol. iv; “Evanganlisch Protestanitismus,” vol. ii, 177 sq.; Herzog’s “Real-Encyklop,” s. v.
[1.] “Renan,” rŭh-näⁿᵍ. (1823-⸺.) A French philosopher, who has published several treatises on comparative philology, and translations of scriptural books with critical introductions, and has written much for periodicals. He was sent at the head of a scientific commission to explore Tyre and Sidon, Lebanon and other localities, and made many interesting discoveries.
[2.] “Whitefield,” George. (1714-1770.) The founder of Calvinistic Methodism. He set the example of preaching in the open air, and at one time is said to have addressed 60,000 persons at Moorfields. He quarreled with Wesley on the subject of predestination, but afterward was reconciled to him, although he never agreed with him in doctrine. He made several visits to the United States.
[3.] “President Edwards,” Jonathan. (1745-1801.) Son of Jonathan Edwards, the divine. He was president of Union College, Schenectady, N. Y. His complete works were published in two volumes.
[4.] “Tholuck,” tōˈlook. (1799-1877.) A German divine. In 1826 he was called to the University of Halle, as professor of theology, where he spent the remaining years of his life.