Ludwig Crocius
Encyclopedia
Ludwig Crocius (29 March 1586–7 December 1653 or 1655) was a German Calvinist minister. He was a delegate at the Synod of Dort
and professor of theology and philosophy in Bremen
.
, and close to Martin Luther
and Philipp Melanchthon
.
Ludwig Crocius studied at Herborn Academy
, and then from 1603 theology at the University of Marburg where he graduated M.A. in 1604. On 5 September 1607 his father died, vacating his position as preacher and inspector of the county of Katzenelnbogen
in Langenschwalbach; Ludwig Crocius succeeded him, but in 1608 he asked leave from Moritz of Hesse-Kassel for further study.
Crocius went to the universities in Bremen, Marburg and Basel. On 4 April 1609 he graduated D.D.in Basel, and travelled on to Geneva, in order to study there further. From Geneva he returned to Bremen and the St. Martini church as first preacher and teacher of philosophy and theology professor at the Gymnasium Illustre, from 1610.
He turned down later offers of positions made by John Sigismund, Elector of Brandenburg
(1615) and the Landgrave Moritz of Hesse-Kassel (1618), and also a chance to become General superintendent for Silesia
. From 1630 to 1639 and from 1647 to his death he was a pro-rector at the High School Illustre. He corresponded with Samuel Hartlib
and John Dury
, and with Gerardus Vossius.
In 1651 Crocius suffered an attack of apoplexy
, but he remained until 14 May 1652 at his post of preacher in the Liebfrauenkirche church. He taught at the Gymnasium Illustre up to his death, which occurred in Bremen.
, as defined in the Consensus Bremensis of 1595 and corresponds to the local practices; Bremen for prudential reasons had signed up to the Augsburg Confession
.
Crocius and Martinius were in the small group of Dort delegates who rejected limited atonement
. Crocius made a public criticism of Johannes Bogermann who chaired the Synod, for his harshness towards the Remonstrants
; and gave other clear signs of sympathy with Arminian views. The Bremen representatives, nevertheless, subscribed to the Canons of Dort
. In practical terms they implied no restrictions or obligations for the church in Bremen, given that the conclusions of the Synod were given no confessional standing there. This was not without consequences, for Bremen's reputation among Calvinists.
After the Synod of Dort the arguments around predestination
resonated in Bremen. The preacher of the St. Ansgarii Church, Philipp Caesar, was an advocate of the strict doctrine. Caesar preached along these lines to the local council. In 1624 he resigned his post and left Bremen, but both the St. Ansgari and St. Stephani churches strove to gain Caesar as preachers; but the appointment was rejected by the senate. Heinrich Isselburg, the preacher of the Liebfrauenkirche church, died on 29 March 1628 and it seemed that Caesar could take the vacant position. To prevent that Ludwig Crocius was appointed to the place.
Caesar then in 1628 was able to preach in the St. Martini, since this position had became free; now by the appointment. In 1630, however, Caesar again left the city, and finally converted to Catholicism. The situation in Breman resolved with Crocius, Conrad Bergius (1592-1642) at St. Ansgarii, and Balthasar Willius (1606-1656), preacher at the Liebfrauenkirche as representatives of the moderate teachings of Melanchthon, and on the other hand the High School rector Johann Combach, Henricus Flockenius at St. Remberti, and Petrus Carpenter at St. Stephani as representatives of the strict doctrine.
The debates at Dort still cast a long shadow, and in 1640, when Crocius was attacked as an Arminian by Hendrik Alting who had also participated, John Davenant
and Joseph Hall intervened in the controversy to defend him.
. His Antisocinismus Contractus (1639) attacked Socinians on the centenary of the death of Fausto Sozzini. The work may have been intended for pedagogical use with students.
He translated Basilius, and in 1617 published an edition of Ficino's De Religione Christiana. He was a prolific writer, with an estimated 71 publications. Syntagma sacrae Theologiae (1636) was a major work. Others were:
He wrote on the De Germania of Tacitus
(1618) as a school work, and also the Idea viri boni hoc est octo et quadringenta Sixti sive Xisti sententiae quae vitae honestae et religiosae epitomen complectuntur (1618).
Synod of Dort
The Synod of Dort was a National Synod held in Dordrecht in 1618-1619, by the Dutch Reformed Church, to settle a divisive controversy initiated by the rise of Arminianism. The first meeting was on November 13, 1618, and the final meeting, the 154th, was on May 9, 1619...
and professor of theology and philosophy in Bremen
Bremen
The City Municipality of Bremen is a Hanseatic city in northwestern Germany. A commercial and industrial city with a major port on the river Weser, Bremen is part of the Bremen-Oldenburg metropolitan area . Bremen is the second most populous city in North Germany and tenth in Germany.Bremen is...
.
Background and career
Ludwig Crocius was born in Laasphe, the son of Paul Crocius (1551–1607), at one time tutor to the sons of the counts of Nassau-Dillenburg and Wittgenstein-Berleburg and from 1583 minister and Superintendent in Laasphe, and author of a book of Protestant martyrology Groß Matyrbuch und Kirchenhistorien (1606); Johann Crocius was his younger brother. His grandfather Matthias Crocius (1479-1557) had been a minister in ZwickauZwickau
Zwickau in Germany, former seat of the government of the south-western region of the Free State of Saxony, belongs to an industrial and economical core region. Nowadays it is the capital city of the district of Zwickau...
, and close to Martin Luther
Martin Luther
Martin Luther was a German priest, professor of theology and iconic figure of the Protestant Reformation. He strongly disputed the claim that freedom from God's punishment for sin could be purchased with money. He confronted indulgence salesman Johann Tetzel with his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517...
and Philipp Melanchthon
Philipp Melanchthon
Philipp Melanchthon , born Philipp Schwartzerdt, was a German reformer, collaborator with Martin Luther, the first systematic theologian of the Protestant Reformation, intellectual leader of the Lutheran Reformation, and an influential designer of educational systems...
.
Ludwig Crocius studied at Herborn Academy
Herborn Academy
The Herborn Academy was a German institution of higher learning very similar to a university in Herborn, which existed from 1584 to 1817...
, and then from 1603 theology at the University of Marburg where he graduated M.A. in 1604. On 5 September 1607 his father died, vacating his position as preacher and inspector of the county of Katzenelnbogen
Katzenelnbogen
Katzenelnbogen is the name of a castle and small city in the district of Rhein-Lahn-Kreis in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Katzenelnbogen is the seat of the Verbandsgemeinde Katzenelnbogen.-History:...
in Langenschwalbach; Ludwig Crocius succeeded him, but in 1608 he asked leave from Moritz of Hesse-Kassel for further study.
Crocius went to the universities in Bremen, Marburg and Basel. On 4 April 1609 he graduated D.D.in Basel, and travelled on to Geneva, in order to study there further. From Geneva he returned to Bremen and the St. Martini church as first preacher and teacher of philosophy and theology professor at the Gymnasium Illustre, from 1610.
He turned down later offers of positions made by John Sigismund, Elector of Brandenburg
John Sigismund, Elector of Brandenburg
John Sigismund was a Prince-elector of the Margraviate of Brandenburg from the House of Hohenzollern. He also served as a Duke of Prussia.-Elector of Brandenburg and Duke of Prussia:...
(1615) and the Landgrave Moritz of Hesse-Kassel (1618), and also a chance to become General superintendent for Silesia
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
. From 1630 to 1639 and from 1647 to his death he was a pro-rector at the High School Illustre. He corresponded with Samuel Hartlib
Samuel Hartlib
Samuel Hartlib was a German-British polymath. An active promoter and expert writer in many fields, he was interested in science, medicine, agriculture, politics, and education. He settled in England, where he married and died...
and John Dury
John Dury
John Dury was a Scottish Calvinist minister and a significant intellectual of the English Civil War period. He made efforts to re-unite the Calvinist and Lutheran wings of Protestantism, hoping to succeed when he moved to Kassel in 1661, but he did not accomplish this...
, and with Gerardus Vossius.
In 1651 Crocius suffered an attack of apoplexy
Apoplexy
Apoplexy is a medical term, which can be used to describe 'bleeding' in a stroke . Without further specification, it is rather outdated in use. Today it is used only for specific conditions, such as pituitary apoplexy and ovarian apoplexy. In common speech, it is used non-medically to mean a state...
, but he remained until 14 May 1652 at his post of preacher in the Liebfrauenkirche church. He taught at the Gymnasium Illustre up to his death, which occurred in Bremen.
Synod of Dort
Crocius travelled to the 1618 Synod of Dort with Mathias Martinius and Heinrich Isselburg. The senate of Bremen required of its three delegates that they would represent a mild theological line going back to Philipp MelanchthonPhilipp Melanchthon
Philipp Melanchthon , born Philipp Schwartzerdt, was a German reformer, collaborator with Martin Luther, the first systematic theologian of the Protestant Reformation, intellectual leader of the Lutheran Reformation, and an influential designer of educational systems...
, as defined in the Consensus Bremensis of 1595 and corresponds to the local practices; Bremen for prudential reasons had signed up to the Augsburg Confession
Augsburg Confession
The Augsburg Confession, also known as the "Augustana" from its Latin name, Confessio Augustana, is the primary confession of faith of the Lutheran Church and one of the most important documents of the Lutheran reformation...
.
Crocius and Martinius were in the small group of Dort delegates who rejected limited atonement
Limited atonement
Limited atonement is a doctrine in Christian theology which is particularly associated with the Reformed tradition and is one of the five points of Calvinism...
. Crocius made a public criticism of Johannes Bogermann who chaired the Synod, for his harshness towards the Remonstrants
Remonstrants
The Remonstrants are the Dutch Protestants who, after the death of Jacobus Arminius, maintained the views associated with his name. In 1610 they presented to the States of Holland and Friesland a remonstrance in five articles formulating their points of disagreement from Calvinism.-History:The five...
; and gave other clear signs of sympathy with Arminian views. The Bremen representatives, nevertheless, subscribed to the Canons of Dort
Canons of Dort
The Canons of Dort, or Canons of Dordrecht, formally titled The Decision of the Synod of Dort on the Five Main Points of Doctrine in Dispute in the Netherlands, is the judgment of the National Synod held in the Dutch city of Dordrecht in 1618–19...
. In practical terms they implied no restrictions or obligations for the church in Bremen, given that the conclusions of the Synod were given no confessional standing there. This was not without consequences, for Bremen's reputation among Calvinists.
Controversy
He was attacked by the Lutheran Balthasar Mentzer in his Anti-Crocius of (1621).After the Synod of Dort the arguments around predestination
Predestination
Predestination, in theology is the doctrine that all events have been willed by God. John Calvin interpreted biblical predestination to mean that God willed eternal damnation for some people and salvation for others...
resonated in Bremen. The preacher of the St. Ansgarii Church, Philipp Caesar, was an advocate of the strict doctrine. Caesar preached along these lines to the local council. In 1624 he resigned his post and left Bremen, but both the St. Ansgari and St. Stephani churches strove to gain Caesar as preachers; but the appointment was rejected by the senate. Heinrich Isselburg, the preacher of the Liebfrauenkirche church, died on 29 March 1628 and it seemed that Caesar could take the vacant position. To prevent that Ludwig Crocius was appointed to the place.
Caesar then in 1628 was able to preach in the St. Martini, since this position had became free; now by the appointment. In 1630, however, Caesar again left the city, and finally converted to Catholicism. The situation in Breman resolved with Crocius, Conrad Bergius (1592-1642) at St. Ansgarii, and Balthasar Willius (1606-1656), preacher at the Liebfrauenkirche as representatives of the moderate teachings of Melanchthon, and on the other hand the High School rector Johann Combach, Henricus Flockenius at St. Remberti, and Petrus Carpenter at St. Stephani as representatives of the strict doctrine.
The debates at Dort still cast a long shadow, and in 1640, when Crocius was attacked as an Arminian by Hendrik Alting who had also participated, John Davenant
John Davenant
John Davenant was an English academic and bishop of Salisbury from 1621.-Life:He was educated at Queens’ College, Cambridge, elected a fellow there in 1597, and was its President from 1614 to 1621...
and Joseph Hall intervened in the controversy to defend him.
Works
Crocius was classed with the eirenicist writers of his time. He had a reputation as tolerant and moderate, and was on friendly terms with Calixtus at HelmstedtHelmstedt
Helmstedt is a city located at the eastern edge of the German state of Lower Saxony. It is the capital of the District of Helmstedt. Helmstedt has 26,000 inhabitants . In former times the city was also called Helmstädt....
. His Antisocinismus Contractus (1639) attacked Socinians on the centenary of the death of Fausto Sozzini. The work may have been intended for pedagogical use with students.
He translated Basilius, and in 1617 published an edition of Ficino's De Religione Christiana. He was a prolific writer, with an estimated 71 publications. Syntagma sacrae Theologiae (1636) was a major work. Others were:
- Vier Tractaten van de Verstandicheit der Heyligen principelyk ghestelt teghens het boek P. Bertii van den Afval der Heyligen door Lud. Crocium (1615);
- Homo Calvinianus impie descriptus a Dr. Matth. Hoe Austriaco (1620), polemical;
- Examen falsae descriptionis Calvinistarum Hoeji IV disputatt. defensis (1621);
- Assertio Augustanae confessionis contra Mentzerum IV disputatt. (1621);
- Numerous shorter works against Robert BellarmineRobert BellarmineRobert Bellarmine was an Italian Jesuit and a Cardinal of the Catholic Church. He was one of the most important figures in the Counter-Reformation...
and the Jesuits.
He wrote on the De Germania of Tacitus
Tacitus
Publius Cornelius Tacitus was a senator and a historian of the Roman Empire. The surviving portions of his two major works—the Annals and the Histories—examine the reigns of the Roman Emperors Tiberius, Claudius, Nero and those who reigned in the Year of the Four Emperors...
(1618) as a school work, and also the Idea viri boni hoc est octo et quadringenta Sixti sive Xisti sententiae quae vitae honestae et religiosae epitomen complectuntur (1618).