bri II; 1532. 8vo.-Ejusd. Christianismi restitutio ; 1553. 8vo.-Socius, and other works, in the Bibliotheca Fratr. Polonor.-Geo. Calixti Diss. de mysterio Trinitatis; an ex solius Vet. Test. libris demonstrari queat; Helmst. 1646.-Will. Whiston's Primitive christianty revived; Lond. 1711, 12. V vol. 8vo.—Sam. Clarke, The scripture doctrine of the Trinity; Lond. 1712. in German, with a preface, by J. S. Semler; Francf. and Lips. 1776. 8vo.--(Dan. Waterland's Vindication of Christ's divinity; Cambr. 1719. 8vo.)-Hermanni Deusingii, Revelatio mysterii sacrosanctae Triados; Franeq. 1701. 4to.--Will. Sherlock, Vindication of the doctrine of the holy Trinity; Lond, 1690. 4tos-Jo. Wallis, Epistolae et Orationes sacrae de Trinitate ;-Liberii de S. Amore (le Clerc), Epistolae Theologicae; Irenop. 1679. 8vo.-Historia critica novae explicationis dogmatis de tribus in Deo personis, quam vir clariss. Paulus Maty excogitavit, &c. in J. L. Mosheim's Dissertt. ad hist. eccles. pertinent; vol. II. p. 399 &c.

SEC. 180. Views of the modern German divines.

Various theologians, who followed the principles of the Wolfian philosophy, attempted to demonstrate the doctrine of the Trinity, or at least to make it conceivable to reason; but they did not escape the charge of approximating to Sabellianism. From the time that Christ. Tob. Damm openly maintained the Socinian views, in opposition to the doctrine of the church, a great diversity in opinion showed itself. J. B. Basedow defended the Arian doctrine; but afterwards he went over to the Socinians. Some respectable theologians, as G. Schlegel and Loeffler, gave the preference to the modal conception of it. The new theories of Urlsperger and Bucerus, met with no approbation. Although the prize question by the King of England, respecting the divinity of Christ, led to no decision of the subject; yet the doctrine of the church, has not been without learned defenders, as Ge. Fr. Seiler, and J. F. Flatt. Amidst all the dissimilarity of opinion on this subject, the modern theologians seem to have become agreed, after the example of Toellner,

in ascribing to no one of the different theories, so high importance, as was formerly ascribed to them.

Notices. G. Schlegel's Renewed consideration of the doctrine of the Trinity; (in German,) Riga 1791-93. III vol.--Ejusd. Simplified exhibition of the doctrine of the Father, Jesus the Son of God, and the Holy Spirit; (in German,) Berlin and Stralsund 1795.--Christology, or Results of the latest exegetical explanations concerning the divinity of Christ; (in German,) by Fred. Euchar. Oertel; 1792.-(Contributions for answering the question, Whether faith in Christ as the supreme God, accords with scripture? in some remarks on Oertel's Christology; (by Roth; in German ;) 1793.)-Joh. Aug. Urlsperger's Concise system of his statement of the Trinity; (in German,) Augsb. 1777.-The mystery of the Trinity in its dangerous situation. A new idea of the Trinity; (in Germ.) by Christ. Fred. Bucerus; Lips. 1792.-J. `S. Semler's Preparation for the royal Brittish prize question, respecting the divinity of Christ; (in German.) Halle 1787. 8vo.--G. F. Seiler, On the divinity of Christ; (in German,) Lips. 1775. 8vo.-J. Fr. Flatt, Commentatio, in qua symbolica ecclesiae nostrae de deitate Christi sententia probatur et vindicatur; Gotting. 1788. 8vo.Besenbeck, On the trinity of God; an attempt to bring this doctrine back to its biblical simplicity and purity; (in German,) 1814. 8vo.-Is the doctrine of the Trinity a fundamental doctrine of the christian faith? (in German,) in J. G. Toellner's Short miscellaneous papers; vol. II. P. I.

SEC. 181. Doctrine of creation.

Besides the old question, whether the existence of the world from eternity, or its creation in time, was to be admitted; the account contained in the first chapters of the book of Genesis, called forth new investigations. According to Astruc's example, divines began to consider the book of Genesis, as a compilation from the productions of several writers of an earlier age; and also to indulge freer opinions respecting it. At first, attempts were made to defend the account, as being, at least in part, true his

tory; next, the allegorical, and at last the mythic interpretation, gained the ascendency. That from the Mosaic account, it is impossible to gather the age of this earth, and much more that of the created universe, was admitted almost universally. Yet John de Luc, finding this account to agree with the results of the deepest researches into nature, would infer that, it must have been communicated in a revelation from God.

Notices. Critique on the doctrine of creation in the received theology; (in German,) by W. C. L. Ziegler; in Henke's Magazine, Vol. II. P. I. and Vol. VI. P. II. (Astruc,) Conjectures sur les memoires originaux, dont il paroit, que Moise s'est servi pour composer le livre de Genèse : à Bruxelles 1753. 8vo.; and German; Francf. 1783. J. G Rosenmülleri, Antiquissima telluris historia; Ulm 1776; and in German, with enlargements; Nürnb. 1782. J. G; Herder's Most ancient records of the human race; (in German,) vol. I. 1790. Gabler's New essay on the Mosaic history of the creation; (in German,) 1795. The most ancient Theodicée, or Explanation of the three first chapters of Genesis ;_(in German,) by W. A. Teller ; Jena 1803. Joh. Esai, Silberschlag, Geogony; (in German,) Berlin 1780–83. III vol. 4to. J. de Luc, Lettres physiques et morales sur l'histoire de la terre et de l'homme; à la Haye 1779. II vol. Lettre aux auteurs Juifs d'un memoire addressè à M. Teller; par J. de Luc; Berlin 1799. Moses and David no geologists; (in German,) by Dav. Jul. Pott; Berl. 1799.

SEC. 182. Doctrine concerning Angels.

The Protestants rejected the long prevalent opinion, introduced by the pseudo-Dionysius, of a celestial hierarchy, and of a guardian angel assigned to every man; but especially, the worshipping of angels. The earlier theology often went into inquiries, whether the angels have bodies, when they were created, and how they became confirmed in goodness by the Deity. The modern theology, on the contrary, leaves the existence of angels problematical; and gives other interpretations to the biblical

narrations of the appearance of angels. The belief in evil angels, and in their powerful influences, was long common with Protestants and Catholics; till Balthasar Becker, though amidst great contradiction, denied the influence of evil spirits upon mankind, and Christian Thomasius disproved the reality of magic. Following in the steps of the Englishmen Arthur Ashly Sykes and Hugh Farmer, J. S. Semler was the first in Germany, who declared the demoniacs of the New Testament, to be persons laboring under natural disease. In the controversy that ensued, most of the divines inclined to the idea, that the whole doctrine concerning the devil, was merely an accommodation, derived from Judaism.

Notices. Critique on the doctrine of angels; (in German,) in Henke's Magazine, vol. III. P. II. vol. VI. P. I. Compare the New Magazine, vol. I. P. III. Balth. Becker, The world bewitched; (in Dutch,) Leuw. 1690. Amst. 1693. 4to. (in German,) by J. M. Schwager; Lips. 1781. III vol. 8vo. Hugh Farmer, Essay on the demoniacs ; (German, from the English,) Berlin 1776. J. S. Semler, Diss. de daemoniacis, quorum in evangeliis fit mentio ; Halle 1760. 4to. ed. 4. 1779. (G.Müller's Well grounded narrative of a woman possessed; (in German) Wittenb. 1759.) Account of John Joseph Gasner's league with the devil, and the movements, thence occasoned; (in German,) in Walch's Most recent history of religion; vol. VI. p. 369 &c.

SEC. 183. Of the person of Christ.

In regard to the doctrine concerning the person of Christ, the Catholics, Lutherans, and Reformed, all remained true to the ancient belief, as defined by the decrees of Councils; but the Socinians, in consequence of their ideas of the Trinity, wholly rejected it. The two Protestant churches fell into a warm contest, respecting the connexion of the two natures of Christ. In order to vindicate his views of the Lord's Supper, Luther threw out the idea, that the body of Christ, in consequence of its union with the divine nature, could be omnipresent

Whether he was led to this conclusion, by some assertions of a similar nature, made by John Charlier Gerson and James le Fevre d'Etaples, is uncertain. This hypothesis, which Luther himself seems afterwards to have given up, was eagerly laid hold of by some of his zealous followers, and by John Brentius was prescribed to the Würtemburg church. The communication of divine properties to the human nature of Christ, notwithstanding the opposition of the Reformed and of Melanchthon's school, was made an article of faith, by the Formula of Concord. And in later times, there has not ceased to be opposition to the doctrine, disagreement in the explanation of it, and contests about its application. In more recent times, contention on this subject has subsided; and the collective decisions of the church, concerning the person of Christ, have been treated rather historically, than dogmatically.

Notices. Planck, History of the Protestant theology; (in German,) A catalogue of the writings, in Pfaff': Historia Literar. T. II. p. 412 &c. 441–43.

SEC. 184. Doctrine concerning the first men.

On all the doctrines relating to the nature of man, sin, grace, redemption, and the divine decrees, the first reformers aimed to restore the pure tenets of Augustine; and to divest them of the adulterations and modifications, introduced by the Schoolmen. The Protestants therefore believed, that God created man after his own image, which consisted in original righteousness; but that this image was utterly lost, by the fall. The Socinians, on the contrary, placed the image of God, in dominion over the creatures; and maintained, the continuance of it after the apostasy. late, the high ideas heretofore prevailing, respecting the perfection of the first human beings, have been greatly lowered; and the Mosaic account of the creation, and of the transgression of the first men, has been re

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