His degree involved the privilege of Privatvorlesungen. He could now give private lectures. He proceeded to make use of these powers immediately; or, as we should say now-a-days, he began to take pupils.

CHAPTER VI.

Theology and Home.

THE character of the times in which Calixtus lived was much too stirring to encourage an empty dilettanteism; and even if it had been otherwise, he was too conscientious to be reconciled to self-indulgence, even in matters intellectual, or to please himself with the vanities of mere book-learning.

No sooner, therefore, had he finished his preparatory studies, than he seems to have felt the necessity of a specific profession, as the only means of serving his age and country. For a while, as we have said, he had an eye to medicine; but the influence of a religious home and training, to say nothing of the questions then foremost in Germany, made it natural that theology should be his ultimate choice. The symptoms of this leaning very early appeared. He dedicated to his father in 1606, a "Disputation on Creation and the Angels;" and in a year only from that time his decision was taken, and he was devoting himself to theology with all his strength.

It was cast upon him, however, as a reproach (in later years) that he had never received a theological training; and there is just enough of truth in this abortive quibble to give interest to an inquiry into the course of his studies.

At the time when Calixtus became a student of theo

a See above, p. 33.

logy the theological Faculty at Helmstadt was weak: sustained only by men who disfavoured literature, and opposed themselves to the school which he had learned to love. It was no great wonder that he should shrink from these, and still prefer the guidance of his former friends. Accordingly we find that he remained with Martini, (he seems to have been a resident in his house at this date,) attending theological lectures but seldom. But Martini was himself no contemptible theologian. He could not but be interested in what had cost him suffering; and as he spent his later years in exegetical studies, so was he ready, in earlier days, to guide and encourage any such of his pupils as might wish (like Calixtus) to become students of theology. Martini's memory and learned stores were in themselves a most invaluable aid; whilst the historical method of philosophy which distinguished him was suggestive of a sounder theological system than the Protestant scholasticism of the day could furnish.

"I saw," says Calixtus himself on this point, "that my tutor Martini commended and valued the ancient philosophy before those modern opinions which have started up amongst us to-day or yesterday, and I found by experience that he was right in this. I thought, therefore, that it would be not less worth the trouble, after a thorough study of the ancient philosophy, to pass to a like study of the ancient theology, and to give myself up to be entirely penetrated by it."

This remark of Calixtus is the more important, because that the historical tendency it indicates was characteristic of himself and his studies, to the end. The system thus simply and early adopted was that which

See above, p. 30.

c Horneius, in Henke, i. 113.

chiefly severed him from amongst his fellows, and sustained him in his high and grand designs.

But to return. He pursued his Hebrew studies at this date yet further, and read also very diligently the great Church writers; tracing in them the history of controversy and of dogma, and laying the foundation of that marvellous learning which enabled him to surpass the theologians of Lutheranism, and to equal even the erudition of St. Maur and the Netherlands d

His progress was closely watched on all sides; for whilst his friends were hoping that his learning and taste would do much to raise theology from its present depression, there were others who, even as early as 1608, were disposed to regard him with suspicion and fear.

'By your last disputation," writes a friend in that year, "you have done yourself no great good in some quarters it would be well if people would try to become worthy, instead of acting in this unworthy way e."

The particular disputation in question we know not, but it is the Ramist party, doubtless, that the allusion points to. This party (we have seen) was just then most powerful; for a letter from Caselius of the same period, while lamenting the absence of Calixtus from Helmstadt, and his own inability to find him preferment, laments also that such “ were now most favoured who frightened the youth from the ways of truth and science; to the end that the light of ignorance might not be dimmed f!"

But where was Calixtus when he received these letters?

d Henke, i. 114.

e G. Calixtus' Briefwechsel: aus Wolfenbüttelschen Handschriften herausgegeben von Henke, (Halle, 1833,) p. 5.

f Briefwechsel, p. 2.

Five years had passed away, and the summer gloves had long since worn out. The hopeful boy had become a man of mark; learning (nay, teaching, as his friends could say) many things which even grey-beards could not master ;—when they who had been gladdened by what they heard from afar were made happy by what it now was to be given them to see.

The Pfarrhaus at Medelbye wears a look of mystery.. The very windows seem alive with some pleasant secret, and the door tries in vain to look unconscious in the face of the villagers' inquiring glances:-'Nothing is the matter why stare at me?' Nothing the matter! Is it nothing, that the Pastorin stands behind in the Vorplatz, smiling through her warm and tender tears as she pours proud kisses upon her travelled son? Is it nothing, that Herr Pastor is almost equally moved; trying his best to look calm and collected, as he waits his turn with the young Magister? Is it nothing, that earnest, manly greeting? nothing, the rejoicing of more humble friends, of long-tried servant, or ancient nurse? Is it nothing, that atmosphere of thronging memories and merry recognitions; of mutual inquiries and glad surprise? nothing, the interchange of those sighs we read of,

"Which perfect Joy, perplexed for utterance,
Stole from her sister Sorrow?"

Calixtus is at home again; simple and unpretending (we may be sure) in himself, but great amidst his neighbours and admiring friends.

And now that he is there, what more natural than

...

"Docentem. . . prima . . . juventa quæ plerique etiam docti senes vix attigissent."-Briefw., p. 2.