Johann Matthäus Meyfart

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Johann Matthäus Meyfart

Johann Matthäus Meyfart also: Johann Matthaeus Meyfahrt, Mayfart; (Born November 9, 1590 in Jena or near Waltershausen ; † January 26, 1642 in Erfurt ) was a German, Lutheran theologian , pedagogue, rhetorician, author of edification, hymn poet and active fighter against the persecution of witches .

Live and act

Born the son of a clergyman, Johann Matthäus Meyfart attended school in Gotha and moved to the University of Jena in autumn 1608 . After he had devoted himself to the study of the liberal arts there, he acquired the academic degree of a master’s degree in 1613 and turned to the study of theology, switching to the University of Wittenberg on August 2, 1614 , where he soon fell ill and in the winter of 1615 / 16 returned to his parents' house. After recovering from health, he took a position as a teaching assistant at the university in his hometown in 1616, was appointed grammar school professor at the academic grammar school in Coburg in 1617 and was rector of the institution in 1623 .

His sovereign Johann Casimir ensured that Meyfart was able to obtain a doctorate in theology in 1624 to underpin his educational institution . During this time he married Barbara, the daughter of the Coburg town clerk Hans Rösling. In his writings, Meyfart urged a reform of morals in church and school; he criticized the damage in academic teaching and in the pastor's office and argued against the practice of witch trials. Meyfart is known to this day as the poet of the hymn book song " Jerusalem, you high-rise city , would God, I was in you ..." (Evangelical hymn book No. 150, from the year 1626).

Scripture against witch trials

Meyfart distanced himself from Calvin and Luther's calls to burn the witches. He turned against the witch trials of his time and against the torture and execution of innocent people. In 1628 Meyfart witnessed a witch trial. About the same time Friedrich Spee Cautio criminalis and 30 years after the Thorough report of witchcraft and wizards of Anton Praetorius he wrote probably under the influence of this personal experience 1629-1632 his writing: Christian memory, An mighty rulers and conscientious preachers, like the abschewliche To eradicate the vice of witchcraft with seriousness, but in pursuit of the same, to act very modestly in the courts.

Johann Matthäus Meyfart writing 1635

Meyfart's writing appeared in German in 1635 under his full name. He immediately exposed himself to direct hostility. It is interesting that he addressed himself directly to the responsible authorities and advocated moderation in the witch trials. With insistent words he turned against the denunciations and especially against the torture: “Current trials are making a lot of turkeys (= witches)…. Is the human body such a bad creature / something like a sow stall / or sheep pen / or straw huts? That he can easily disturb you without hesitation / and advise you to do so? "Meyfart tried to put himself in the shoes of the people who were about to be executed:" I almost tremble in my limbs / when I secretly investigate my senses / like one poor man or woman / who is assured of innocence in their conscience / be at heart ”. From an evangelical point of view, he stood up for those who fell victim to the persecution of witches at that time: "My senses are no different than when God tells me poor servants: Save them if you want to kill".

Because of the censorship his book Christian Remembrance could not be published in Coburg , but it could be published in Erfurt in 1635 . However, until 1703 no publisher dared to print another edition.

Further life

In 1633 Meyfart was appointed professor at the Lutheran Theological Faculty of the University of Erfurt . From 1634 to 1636 he was rector of the university. In his last years he was again parish priest at the Erfurt Predigerkirche and head of all clergy in the Erfurt area. There he was responsible for training new pastors. He died of chronic illness on January 26, 1642 in Erfurt and was buried on January 30, 1642 in the Predigerkirche.

relationship

Meyfart's brother is the Protestant pastor and songwriter Heinrich Meyfart († 1635), who wrote the spiritual song Oh God, your poor Christianity now every half suffering from persecution .

Works (selection)

  • Christian memory ... like eradicating the vile vice of witchcraft with seriousness. Erfurt 1635.
  • Teutsche Rhetorica or Oratory. Ed. Erich Trunz, Tübingen 1977. (German reprints, Barock 25 series; Ndr. D. Edition Coburg 1634)
  • Tuba novissima, that is, of the last four things. Ed. Erich Trunz, Tübingen 1979. (German reprints, Barock 26 series; Ndr. D. Edition Coburg 1626)
  • Tuba poenitentiae prophetica, This is the third chapter of the prophet Jonae in five different sermons. Coburg 1626.
  • De disciplina ecclesiastica. 1633.
  • Christian memories of the out of the Evangelical High Schools in Germany ... rules and merciful customs escaped during these miserable times brought in barbarians. Schleusingen 1636.
  • Mellificium oratorium. 3 volumes Leipzig 1628, 1633, 1637.

Remembrance day

Literature (selection)

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Steffen Raßloff : theologian and university rector. Johann Matthäus Meyfart and Erfurt . In: Thüringer Allgemeine from November 23, 2013
  2. ↑ Johann Matthäus Meyfart in the Ecumenical Lexicon of Saints

Web links

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personal data
SURNAME Meyfart, Johann Matthäus
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German, Protestant theologian, hymn book poet and witch theorist
DATE OF BIRTH November 9, 1590
PLACE OF BIRTH Jena
DATE OF DEATH January 26, 1642
Place of death Erfurt