Goslavius Adam , (Polon. Gostlawski,) of Bebeln, a Polish Knight, was a pupil of Nicholas Taurelli, and one of the most distinguished among the Socinians for his erudition. There were two brothers of the name of Goslavius, Adam and Andrew, who belonged to the higher rank of Polish Nobility, and distinguished themselves by their advocacy of the opinions of Socin. Lubieniecius speaks of the splendour of their family, both on the father's and mother's side ; and describes them as remarkable for their courtesy and moderation, and much beloved by those of their own rank, who were otherwise most hostile to the truth. But Adam acquired considerable reputation by his writings, and particularly those in defence of his religious opinions ; on which account the Crypto-Socinians at Altorf were accustomed to call him Diodes. Zeltner seems rightly to suspect, that the origin of this name is not to be sought among any of the eminent Physicians and Philosophers of Greece, whose distinguishing appellation it was ; but from the surname of Goslavius himself, which, put into a German form, would be Gottslow, equivalent to the Greek , the glory, or praise of God.

Of the particulars of the life of Adam Goslavius, Sandius has said nothing. Nor has Lauterbach made any mention of him, probably because he was not acquainted with any of his writings, which are very difficult to be met with. He was descended from the family of Szczepanowski. His mother, whose Christian name was Dorothea, belonged to the ancient and illustrious family of Philipowski. He married the widow of Cyril Taszycki ; and for a time held the estate at Luclavice, in right of his wife.

Being a person, whose name carried great weight with it, Adam Goslavius attached his signature to a letter, interceding for Ruarus with the Senate of Dantzic. He seems to have held no public office, except perhaps that of Secretary to the King ; for in the Synodical Acts, under the year 1608, mention is made of some one of the name of Adam, who is designated "Secretary," and this person Bock supposes to be Adam Goslavius.

In his Preface to the Reader, prefixed to his work against Bartholomew Keckermann, he says, "I am no Theologian, or Philosopher: I assume neither of these characters." Yet Zeltner says, that he was wonderfully given to philosophical speculations ; and calls him, "nominatissimus acerrimusque Socinismi defensor."

He spent the greater part of his life on his paternal estate, called Krassow, which was the joint property of the two brothers, and situated not far from the village of Luclavice, that famous seat of Socinianism, where Faust Socin, after being driven by persecution from Cracow, found an asylum under the hospitable roof of Abraham Blonski, and at which place he died.

From the Preface to his "Refutation of Keckermann," which was published by the advice of his friends and fellow believers, we learn that the literary pursuits of Goslavius were suspended for eight years ; and that it was customary, in Poland, for young men of noble birth like himself, to discontinue their studies when they left school. This custom he does not attempt to justify. He simply states the fact, as regards himself, and other young persons of the same rank in life ; that they very rarely continued their studies till they were twenty, and that, beyond this age, there was scarcely one studious man to be found among the Polish Nobility ; that a great part of their time was unprofitably spent ; and that all, without exception, were employed in civil or military affairs, or at Court. Having mentioned this, and applied the remark to himself, he hints, in no obscure terms, that, at the time of his publishing the work above alluded to, he had not attained his thirtieth year, thus leaving the reader to infer the disadvantageous circumstances, under which it was written.

In 1638, when seven Curators and Directors of the Socinian body were appointed at the Synod of Kissielin, Adam and Andrew Goslavius were among the number; a proof of the high estimation in which they were held, by those of the same faith. The exact time of the deaths of these two excellent men is not known. But that Adam was living after the year 1640, we learn from the Epistles of Ruarus ; and his influence, instead of declining, increased as he grew older. It is said, that John Crellius never undertook anything without consulting him.

In the Synodical Acts, A. D. 1648, mention is made of one Stanislaus Goslavius, who was at that time appointed to the office of Church Deacon ; but it is not known in what relation he stood to Adam and Andrew.

The principal work of Adam Goslavius is,

1. A Refutation of what Bartholomew Keckermann has advanced, in his "Theological System," against those who confess, that the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ alone is the God of Israel; and that there is no other Son of God beside, or before him, who was born of the Virgin Mary. Racow, 1607, 8vo. This work came to a second edition in 1613, 8vo. Racow. Both editions issued from the press of Sebastian Sternacki. Bock remarks, that few persons in his time had seen either edition ; particularly the former. This rare work, a copy of which is now lying before the writer, is dedicated to the Senate of Dantzic, where Keckermann lived. The Dedication is followed by a Preface to the Reader. The body of the work consists of Three Parts. The First Part, in which the author professes to refute the arguments, alleged from reason and Scripture in favour of the Trinity, is divided into Five Chapters. In the Second Part, which contains Ten Chapters, the author defends certain objections to the Doctrine of the Trinity, which had been attacked by Keckermann. In the Third Part, which also consists of Ten Chapters, he treats upon the word Person. Of this last Part James Martini, a Professor in the University of Wittenberg, undertook the refutation, in a work entitled, "De tribus Elohim."

2. Another work of Adam Goslavius, more rarely to be met with still than the former, is, A Disputation concerning the Word Person ; in which the writer defends, against the attacks of James Martini, what he had said in the Third Part of his former work. This was also printed by Sebastian Sternacki at Racow, 1620, 8vo.; and as a proof of its extreme rarity, it has been observed, that Lubieniecius was not aware of its ever having been printed, supposing that the manuscript had been lost, through the carelessness of a friend. A remark to this effect has been made, and repeated by Zeltner: but it arose from a misconception of the words of Lubieniecius, who alluded, not to the treatise under consideration, but to a still more elaborate work on the same subject. Vogt, who points out the error of Zeltner, expressly states, that he is himself in possession of a copy of the "Refutation of Keckermann," and the "Disputation on the "Word Person." (Catal. HistoricoCrit, Libr. Rarior. p. 313.) The following are the titles of other writings of Adam Goslavius.

3. An Answer to James Ostrowski's Defence of Peter Skarga's Sermon on the Trinity. Racow, 1608. Polon.

4. A Reply to Andrew Kesler's Examination of the Photinian Metaphysics. MS.

5. Philologica.

Le Roux Didier - Unitariens - © Since 2006 -  All rights reserved " No reproduction, even partial, other than those planned in the article L 122-5 of the code of the intellectual property, can be made by this site without the express authorization of the author ".