The Life of Philip Melanchthon

by Karl Friedrich Ledderhose

HE DIES.

A cloud of the noblest champions and witnesses of God had already departed to that place where we rest after the battle, and where the confessor receives the reward of grace. Melanchthon had long before this desired to lay aside his arms, and to celebrate a Sabbath, in which he might sing the new song to him that sitteth upon the throne, with his friends Luther, Cruciger, Veit Dietrich, Sturm, Bucer, Bugenhagen, and all the company of the saints made perfect. He had also expressed this longing towards the eternal home in many of his letters. The most ancient account, that of the University, says in regard to this: "When he had now become worn out, and weary of this life, he prepared himself for death for several years; even as he wrote concerning himself, that he was tired of this life, and was therefore directing his thoughts to another world, and towards his beloved Lord Jesus Christ. That he had done as much as he could in this life, and would leave the rest with God. He comforted himself with the reflection that he had always meant well, and his conscience did not accuse him on this account. And with this clear conscience, he trusted to go "into the presence of his Lord Jesus, with God's help, no matter what an ungrateful world might say about it." Whenever his opponents attacked him at this time, he would say: "Let them write until they are satisfied, and do whatever they please, I shall not trouble them much longer. But I, with God's help, will continue to teach diligently, and present a simple exposition of truth to the young, as long as I live, and will pray God to grant me a joyful departure." To this mental weariness, bodily infirmities were added. He began to experience great difficulty in writing letters, which he had done with much ease formerly; and his eyes, too, grew weaker.

On the 30th of March, 1560, he departed for Leipzig, in order to examine the stipendiaries of the Elector. After he had finished his labors, he left Leipzig on the 4th of April. His journey affected him very unfavorably, for the air was inclement and cold, and they were riding against a cutting north wind. He said, even while in the carriage, "that he had not felt the coldness so much during the whole winter, as he did now." He was able to sleep very little during the night from the 7th to the 8th of April; towards morning he was affected with fever, accompanied by a cough and shortness of breath, and his eyes appeared so sunken, that his friends were terrified. But notwithstanding all this, he roused himself from his couch to attend to his duties, but found himself so much exhausted by his efforts, that he was repeatedly obliged to totter to his couch, to refresh himself. During this day, he yet wrote a short letter to Moller, and apologized for its brevity on account of the severe pain he was suffering. His son-in-law, Doctor Peucer, thought that the affection of the stone, with which his father-in-law had suffered severely before, was again making its appearance, and had a bath and warm poultices prepared for him.

After wishing him good night, the invalid said: "If it is the will of God that I shall die, I am heartily willing to die, and I only pray God to grant me a joyful dismission." He felt that death was approaching; and as he was fond of reading and interpreting the stars, he observed intimations of his death in the planets. He rose shortly before 8 o'clock, in order to deliver his usual lecture. His friends, Esrom (Rüdiger) and Sturm, in vain endeavored to dissuade him from doing so. He said, "I will lecture for a half hour, and then use a bath." But when he was about to set his foot upon a little stool which he used when he washed his hands, he became so weak that he was not able to lift up the other foot, so that he almost fell back. Upon this he said, "I shall go out like a lamp." He went to the lecture-room, accompanied by his two friends; but it was not yet 8 o'clock, and but few students were present. He then remarked: "What is the use of our being here?" On the way back to his house, he said to his companions: "If I could reach Königsberg, I might become better." When he reached the house, he felt somewhat better, and his friends did not venture to give notice that the lecture would be omitted. Esrom departed, in order to seal the letter in which he had communicated Melanchthon's illness to Camerarius.

At 9 o'clock, he again went out to deliver his lecture. It only lasted a quarter of an hour. He spoke of the ransom of Christ, which he offered as Mediator, not silver and gold, but his precious blood, by which he fulfilled the law, and satisfied justice. He spoke with his usual animation. Upon his return home, he took a bath. He took but very little food, and then slept soundly for three hours. At supper, he spoke distinctly, but feebly. On the following night the fever returned, and Peucer found that he had been mistaken as to his disease.

On the 9th and 10th of April, Melanchthon was lively and cheerful; and at a meeting of the faculty, spoke very earnestly against the parties among the students. In the afternoon, he corrected several funeral orations in honor of Duke Philip, of Pomerania, who died on the 24th of February, and said: "I am now only engaged upon funeral matters. This worthy Prince of Pomerania was also named Philip. Perhaps I shall be the next Philip, from the common herd, who shall follow this pious prince." On the same day he delivered a very animated lecture upon Christ's prayer (John xvii.), and also made preparations to read a meditation suitable to the festival of Good Friday, in the morning at 6 o'clock (April 12th). It was based upon the 53d chapter of the Prophet Isaiah. In this he remarks: "Our diligence and valor is also needed." He had indeed spent a bad night, but this did not deter him. When he was told that in the evening they had seen clouds resembling bound rods, he spoke very earnestly of the judgments of God. "The people," he said, "are becoming secure, and care for no warnings; and whenever this is the case, punishment is not far off. May God Almighty be gracious unto us, whom we heartily pray to remember mercy in the midst of his wrath." The following night he enjoyed good rest, and slept very quietly. He awoke whilst he was singing an old hymn, which, when a boy, he had frequently sung in Church: "With desire have I desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer." He wrote an Easter Meditation on the great Sabbath, the day before Easter, and carried it to the printing-office himself. He then went to church, confessed his sins, received absolution, and together with others, in true faith received the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ with thanksgiving and fervent prayer. In the afternoon at 2 o'clock, he went to look after his manuscript in the printing-office. This was his last walk in the street.

At 4 o'clock in the afternoon, his dear friend Camerarius, of Leipzig, who had been informed of his friend's precarious condition, through Peucer, entered the house, and found his friend Melanchthon upon the lowest step of the stairway that led to his study, resting his head upon his hand. He arose and welcomed him, and they continued to converse for some time. At 5 o'clock, he expressed a wish to go to bed, for a severe chill had come upon him. He did not eat anything. He could not sleep during the night after Easter; the heat of the fever was rapidly consuming his strength; but notwithstanding all this, he could not be persuaded to omit his customary annual Easter Meditation. He had already put on his coat to go out. But the good man was so feeble that he was barely able to stand. Some one had informed the students that the Master would not lecture, upon which they all departed. When his son Philip came in to inform his father that there were no auditors there, his father replied, in a tone of displeasure, "So you have told them to go away." But when his son apologized, he said, in a milder tone, "To whom shall I lecture, if there is no one present?" He then took off his coat. He proceeded to write several letters, while Camerarius remained with him, and the rest went to church. The excellent and pious prince Joachim, of Anhalt, who had heard of his illness, sent him a moor-hen, and several partridges. He partook of some of these, and also of some Hungarian plums. He also drank some Rhenish wine, and remarked that he liked it. He also conversed very pleasantly with his friends.

When he arose from the table, he went up into his room and rested for a while upon his couch. He had also commenced writing a letter to Prussia, which he now continued, without however finishing it. He was not able to write any more; he rested, and thought of his deceased friend, Dr. Pommer.[27] He said, "Doctor Pommer, that good, and now sainted man, died of nothing but old age;" and continued: "no one ought to wish to live so long that his age and feebleness would render him altogether useless to men."

On one of the following days, he prayed to God in a very fervent manner, in the hearing of many persons, that he would graciously remove him from this life, if he was not to serve the Church and Christian youth any longer." And God heard this prayer, which he repeated several times.

During the night he slept tolerably well. When he arose, therefore, he continued to write. However, his friends persuaded him not to lecture on this day, (Easter Monday.) Before going to table, he said: "If it is God's will, I am willing to die. I have a desire to depart, and to be with Christ." He then spoke of the original Greek word in the New Testament, which does not properly signify to depart, but "to journey or prepare for a journey." He also recollected a remark made by the worthy and pious Dr. Milichius: "It might be that a person would be very anxious to leave this life; but at the same time, no man could earnestly think of death, without shuddering." Melanchthon coincided with this, and said: "The great misery and troubles of life are not able to give a man joy in the hour of death. Something more is needful before a man can feel this." He retired to his bed, and rested for about three hours. When he had risen at one time, and Camerarius and Peucer were again placing him upon his couch, he began to sink under their hands. But they restored him by rubbing him. He spent a very restless night; his cough was quite troublesome, and he slept little. This was the fifth attack of the fever. He remarked that at Weimar, Doctor Sturtz had applied a cardiac of corals, which relieved him, and that he had thought of the word of the prophet in his sleep: "I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord." He requested them to apply corals in the present instance, and they did so.