CALIXTUS, G•or:c A German Lutheran theologian. Ile was horn at Aledelbye in Schleswig. and studied at. Flensburg and Helmstiidt. After traveling as an earnest stu dent, for four years in Germany, Holland, Eng land, and France. where he made theacquaintance of the most learned men of his time. he returned to Helnistiidt in 1613, and in the following year was appointed professor of theology. llis genius, the depth of his knowledge. and his large ex perience of the world and of men, which he had acquired in his travels, developed in him a spirit of great tolerance toward all who held their re ligions opinions honestly, whatever these might he. Although his dissertations on the lloty Scripture. transubstantiation. emumunion in one kind. ete., aeknolvledg•d by learned Catholics to be the most solid and admirable which have been composed by Protestants against the tinctive doctrines of Catholicism, he was, on account of some statements in his work entitled Dr Praripnis Religionis Christiana. Cupitibus, which secnied favorable to Catholic dogmas. and of others in Id; Epitome Thcoloyiw Moralis, De Toleran ia Reform a t ()nu m ap proached too near to the Reformed or Calvinis tic standpoint. declared guilty of abominable heresy by the adherents of the letter of the Concordienformel—i.e. the orthodox and dog matically ritrid Lutherans. Calixtus felt keen
ly that the polemical harshness of Lutheran ism was a serious obstaele in the way of a great Catholic Christianity, and that Protest antism must a.isunie another form before it mold hope to laseome this religion of Europe. Under this conviction, Calixtus endeavored to show that, the oldest and niost fundamental arti cles of the Christian faith—viz. the facts em bodied in the "Apostles' common to all Christian sects. In subsequent dissertations, having stated that the doctrine of the Trinity was less distinctly taught in the Old than in the New Testanient, and good works were acces sary to salvation. and finally, at the religion; conference of Thorn in 1645, whither he was sent as a mediator by the Elector of Brandenlm rg.ha v ing been on more intimate terms with the 'alvin istie than the Lutheran theologians, Calixtus was accused of apostasy. Fortunately. however. he had powerful friends, who stood firmly by him, and through their help he was enabled to retain his professorial chair till his death in Helm stiidt. on 19, 1656. For his biography. consult: E. L. W. Henke. Coli.rt unit wine Zeit C. Dowding. (Ionian The (dopy During the Thirty icars' Wan; and The Life and Correspondence of G. Calixtus (London, 1863).