CHE51NITZ, MARTIN, the most eminent of the Protestant divines if the 16th century, after Luther and Melanethon, was the son of parents in an humble condition of life. Ile was born at Treunbrietzen the Mark of Brandenburg, on the 9th of November 1522. Ile received his education at Magdeburg and at Frankfurt-on-the-Oder, and in 1544 accepted the place of a schoolmaster at Wrietzen-on.the Dder : he devoted the small artistry which he derived from it, in the "'allowing year, to the prosecution of his studies at Wittenberg. By :he advice of 3telancthon he applied to mathematics and astronomy, sad in 1547 went to Konigsberg, where he obtained in 1548 the place if Rector in the Cathedral School. lie composed the calendar for 1549-50, and having been recommended for his astronomical knowledge to Duke Albert of Prussia, was appointed his librarian. From that time forward theology became his principal study. In the disputes of Oaiandor, on the doctrine of justification, he took part with Merlin against him; but this affair caused him so much vexation, that he requested and obtained the duke's permission in 1553 to return to Wittenberg to pursue his theological studies. Here he delivered lectures on 3felanethon's ' Loci Communes,' from which his own ' Loci Theologici,' published by Leyser (Frankfurt, 1591, folio), arose, and which form a commentary on the doctrines of Melancthon, which is superior to all other works of the kind of that age, and is still of permanent value. In 1554 he obtained the situation of pastor at Brunswick, and attacked the Jesuits by an exposition of their dangerous doctrines in his ' Theologies Jesuitarum prrecipus Capita' (Leipzig, 1562). On the publication of a defence of the order of the Jesuits and of the Council of Trent by the Portuguese Jesuit, Didacus de Pelee de Andrade, be took occasion to subject the resolutions of that council to a severe examination. Hence arose his ' Examen Concilii Tridentini ' (4 vols., Leipzig, 1565, 8vo : the best edition is that of Frankfurt, 1707, folio). The ' Examen' ie a work full of historical information, and as a solid refutation of the Roman Catholic doctrines it has not been surpassed by any subsequent publication. The sound
judgment, the clear and easy yet serious and impressive style, and the spirit and moderation manifested in his work, caused even the Roman Catholics to admire and commend him. With equal appro bation Chcmnitz defended Luther's doctrine of the Lord's Supper against the Calvinists in his 'Repctitio sans Doctrine, de vent Prmsentia Corporis et Sanguinis Domini in Coen Sacra' (Leipzig, 1561). Ho also took a decided part in fixing the doctrines of the Protestant church. In conjunction with MOrlin ho compiled at Konigsberg, iu 1566, the 'Corpus Doctrine) Prutenicer: which acquired great authority among the Protestants in Prussia. Having become superintendeut of the diocese of Brunswick in 1567, he drew up a creed for the churches of Lower Saxony, which was adopted in 1571 at the Convention of Wolfenbiittel; and from 1578 ho exerted himself, with Jacob Andrea, to induce the churches of Saxony and Suable to adopt the ' Formula Concortliar,' which was introduced in Upper and Lower Saxony, Suable, and Franconia, as a rule of faith. He devoted himself almost exclu sively to this work ; took with Andrea a leading part in all the meetings that were held on the subject ; and obtained the admiration of his contemporaries as well by the prudence and firmness of his couduct as by the depth and extent of his knowledge. Having resigned his office in 1585, he died at Brunswick on the 8th of April 1556. The Harmony of the Gospels,' which ho had begun, was completed by Leyser and Joh. Gerhard.
Chemoitz was so highly eeteemed by his contemporaries that, after his settling at Brunswick, ho received offers of important situations from Frederick, king of Denmark ; from the electors Louis of the Palatinate, Augustus of Saxony, and John George of Brandenburg, likewise from Duke Albert of Prussia and the Protestants in Austria; but he was aatiafied with his situation, and declined them.
(I3rockhaus, Die Kircher; Historic, 2 vols. it°, Jena, 1785.)