A small plate of metal, in the floor, still marks Melanchthon's resting-place, while another on the wall presents his portrait, and eulogizes the great and ever to be remembered reformer and teacher, not only of Germany, but of entire evangelical Christendom.
The Wittenberg account closes with the following prayer, with which we, too, shall end our narrative:
"And we hereby earnestly and heartily beseech God, that he will be pleased to gather and preserve an everlasting Christian Church among us, and in these lands, and the entire human race, through his dear Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; and that he will also preserve us against factions and schisms, and grant us courage and strength to oppose them confidently and successfully. And as human strength and wisdom are too weak to accomplish this, we beseech the Eternal Son of God, that he would abundantly pour out his Holy Spirit by his word, in our hearts and those of all believers, so that we may obtain knowledge and wisdom, and be ruled and guided in all things, in order that his holy Divine name may be praised and glorified by us and the whole Christian Church, here in this world, and forever in the world to come. Amen."
[1] This learned scholar, known to the learned by the name of CAPNIO, was a native of Pforzheim, and successively a teacher of languages at Basle and at Orleans. He was the restorer of letters in Germany, and the author of several treatises on Philosophy.
[2] He wrote a humorous piece in the form of a comedy, which he dedicated to Reuchlin, to show the sense he entertained of his truly parental kindness, and engaged his schoolfellows to perform it in his presence. It was upon this occasion that he gave him the name of Melanchthon.
[3] His proficiency in the Greek was so remarkable, that even at this early age he composed RUDIMENTS of the language, which were afterwards published.
[4] Erasmus also wrote to Oecolampadius, "Of Melanchthon I have already the highest opinion, and cherish the most magnificent hopes: so much so, that I am persuaded Christ designs this youth to excel us all: _he will totally eclipse Erasmus!_" In a letter to Julius Pflug, he says: "He not only excels in learning and eloquence, but by a certain fatality is a _general favorite_. Honest and candid men are fond of him, _and even his adversaries cannot hate him_!"