Philip Melanchthon by George Wilson

This short work on the life of Philip Melanchthon was the last written by George Wilson [1840-1897], who sadly died before the book was published. It contains a number of excellent prints which I am making available at different resolutions. My thanks to Book Aid for making available a copy of this book for scanning. This title is in the public domain.

George Wilson [d.1897], Philip Melanchthon 1497-1560. London: Religious Tract Society, 1897. Hbk. pp.159. [Click to visit the download page]

Contents

• Editor’s Preface

1. Memories of Childhood
2. Heidelberg
3. Tübingen
4. Early Years in Wittenberg
5. In Wittenberg – Luther’s Death
6. Later Years in Wittenberg
7. Philip Melanchthon at Home
8. The Sunset
9. Melanchthon’s Library

• Index

Chapter 1: Memories of Childhood

When some pensive hour in later life, the thoughts of Philip Melanchthon would turn from his Wittenberg study to the days when he was a child, they led him, in imaginative memory, to a little town near the valley of the Rhine. A pleasant little town, reposing independently on its hilly slopes, and surrounded by vineyards and cultivated fields. The burghers are moving about the streets or standing at their doors in the sun ; there are children here and there ; and never long out of sight two or three comfortable ecclesiastics. The town has a serviceable wall round it, which more than once has been honourably defended. Within it and among the houses are open spaces and gardens; and, through the gates looking towards the country, there are glimpses of wooded hills. In all respects a place where honest labour seems ever alternating with rest ; while, in visions of · memory, a warm sunshine seems to fold it in the stillness of a dream….