CRELL, JoHN, one of the most distinguished Sociuiaus of the 17th century, born at Helineb sheun, in Franconia, 1590. In 1606 he entered the university of Altorf. After making great pro ficiency in philological studies, he turned his at tention to philosophy, especially to that of Aris totle, of which the influence is very apparent in his theological writings. At Altorf his intimacy with Professor Soner, a physician of eminence, a secret but active adherent of Socinus, led to his becoming an anti-trinitarian. The change in his sentiments was not suspected till he was called upon, as a ne cessary condition of taking office, to sign the Augs burg Confession, which, to his honour, he declined doing. To escape the consequences which would have probably ensued, he secretly left Altorf for Poland, where he met with a cordial reception from Count Sieninski, the wealthy and powerful patron of Socinianism, through whose influence he was appointed professor of Greek at Cracow in 1613. After three years he was made rector, and
filled.that office till 1621 ; he trien devoted himself to preaching, iu which he laboured for ten years with great assiduity, to his death in 1631. His superior talents and extensive acquirements, his un wearied diligence and great eloquence, justified the high esteem in which he was held. His writings consist of extensive commentaries on the books of the N. T., various polemical treatises, likewise ethi cal works on Aristotle and Christian morals. They are contained in the third and fourth volumes of the Bibliotheca Pratt-. Felon.; Fock's Socinianismits sack seltzer Stellung in der des Christlicken Geistes, etc., Kiel, 1847, p. 195.— J. E. R.