, pastor and inspector of the churches of Perleberg, and historiographer
, pastor and inspector of the
churches of Perleberg, and historiographer to the king of
Prussia, was born at Annaburg in Misnia, in 1666. He was
a man of considerable eloquence and extensive reading, but
he disturbed the tranquillity of the church by his singular
opinions in theology, and especially by his “Ecclesiastical
History,
” in which he seemed to place all opinions, orthodox or heretic, on the same footing, but considered the
mystic divines as superior to all other writers, and as the
only depositaries of true wisdom. He wished to reduce
the whole of religion to certain internal feelings and motions, of which, perhaps, few but himself or his mystical
brethren could form an idea. As he advanced in years,
however, he is said to have perceived the errors into which
he had been led by the impetuosity of his passions, and
became at last a lover of truth, and a pattern of moderation. His principal works were this “Ecclesiastical History,
” which was printed at Leipsic in History of Mystic Theology,
” written in Latin. He died
in