Moscorovius Jerome, (Polon. Moskorzowski,) of Moscorzow, was a Polish Knight, of a very ancient and illustrious family, who joined the Socinians about the year 1595, or perhaps a little earlier. Faust Socin, in the Dedicatory Epistle to his "Disputation with Erasmus Johannis," which is dated June 16th, 1595, and addressed to Jerome Moscorovius, says, "It was a happy day, when our Church could look upon you as its own: for as you, from that time, despising the allurements of the world, and relinquishing its vain cares, have consecrated yourself wholly to the service of God and of Christ, and entered the path which leads directly to eternal salvation, from which you might else very easily have wandered ; so our Church, enriched by the accession of such a man as yourself, may now with good reason expect, that other excellent men also, partly by your example, and partly by your care, may connect themselves with it." (Socin. Opp. T. II. p. 491.)

Jerome Moscorovius was the father-in-law of Sbigneus Sieninius, and the son-in-law of Andrew Dudithius, whose daughter, Regina, became his second wife, on the 2nd of October, 1593. He held almost the first rank among the Socinians of his own time, and was the generous patron of their cause ; for he not only extended over them the shield of his authority, but freely opened his purse to them, and hospitably entertained the Brethren who came from a distance. His wealth was as ample as his disposition was liberal, for he was the Lord of several manors ; and he laboured, by his pen and his tongue, gratuitously, and out of a pure love of the truth, to disseminate those views, which, in his mind, were identical with the truth.

Moscorovius was also distinguished as a friend, and a cultivator of science. Faust Socin, writing to Ostorod, Feb. 17th, 1602, who was at that time labouring under a serious illness, recommended him to consult Moscorovius, whom he describes as "a man excelling no less in his knowledge of the science and practice of Medicine, than in virtue and piety." (Opp. T. I. p. 450.) Moscorovius likewise took a great interest in the study of Chemistry. But after his conversion to Unitarianism, religion seems to have occupied the chief share of his attention.

He was sometimes called Eusebius, on account of his exemplary piety ; and Ruarus, after speaking of him as the founder of the Church at Czarcow, and saying, that he was not more distinguished by his rank and erudition, than by his piety, adds, that he himself never met him at Racow, with Statorius and Crellius, but he returned home a wiser, and a better man. He was in the habit of attending regularly at the Synods ; and took an active part in every scheme, which had for its object the welfare of the Unitarian body. He often attended the national Diet, as a delegate of the equestrian order ; and, on the death of Socin, whom he survived about twenty years, was perhaps the most influential individual among the Antitrinitarians of Poland. Sandius informs us, that he died on the 19th of July, 1625, (B. A. p. 105,) which, if we are to believe the continuator of Micraelius, (Hist. Eccles. p. 967,) is a misprint for 1629.

His opinions respecting the nature and person of Christ, and the honour due to him, coincided with those of Socin, and it seems probable that both took the same view of the doctrine of Satisfaction ; for Moscorovius left in manuscript a reply to Grotius's work on that subject. He was associated with Smalcius in several literary undertakings. Moscorovius and Smalcius addressed a joint letter to the Mennonites of Dantzic, dated April 21st, 1612, recommending a union with them ; and pointing out the method, by which the proposed union might be effected. Moscorovius also assisted Smalcius, and others, in translating the books of the New Testament into the Polish language ; and was joint editor with him of the Racovian Catechism. But of these labours further notice will be taken, in the subjoined account of his writings.

1. The Address of a faithful Subject to the King and Senators ; containing a short Reply to the Calumnies, levelled against those, who have devoted their Attention to the Doctrine of Christ and his Apostles, and who affirm that the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is the sole God of Israel, and the sole Creator of Heaven and Earth. 1595.

2. A Reply to a Writing, entitled, "A Praemonition," which John Petricius, Priest, published in the year 1600. Racow, 1602, 4to. Polon.

3. The Removal of the Reproach, which Peter Skarga, the Jesuit, endeavoured to bring upon the Church of Christ. Racow, 1607. Polon.

4. Removal of the second Reproach of Peter Skarga, the Jesuit. 1610, 4to. Polon. This work was dedicated to Sigismund III., King of Poland. Skarga did not live to reply to it; but it was noticed by Martin Smiglecius, in the Appendix to his " Nova Monstra Novi Arianismi," to which Moscorovius published, by way of reply.

5. A Refutation of the Appendix, which Martin Smiglecius, the Jesuit, subjoined to his Book, entitled, "Nova Monstra Novi Arianismi:" by Jerome a Moskorzow Moscorovius. Racow, Typ. Sebast. Stern. 1613, 4to. This Refutation was dedicated by the author, from his seat at Czarcow, to John Tiliczki, Bishop of Cracow, and Duke of Severia.

6. Dedication of F. Socin's " Disputation on the State of the first Man before the Fall," to Maurice, Landgrave of Hesse. 1610.

7. Reply to a Book of Gorscius, (or Gurski,) Popish Priest, entitled, "A Revelation of the Impudence of the Arians" ; written in 1611, and published in 1617. Polon.

8. A Paper addressed to the Mennonites of Dantzic. 1612. This, as before stated, was the joint production of Moscorovius and Smalcius.

9. A Letter to Martin Ruarus, written May 12th, 1613. (Vide Ruari Epp. Cent. ii. No. 34.)

10. Preface to F. Socin's " Explanations of various Passages of Scripture." 1614. 1618, 8vo.

11. Refutation of Martin Smiglecius, the Jesuit's Book concerning Baptism ; by Jerome a Moskorzow Moscorovius. Racow, 1617, 4to. The main object of this work is to refute Smiglecius's argument in favour of the Trinity, derived from the words of our Lord's baptismal commission to his disciples, Matt, xxviii. 19, 20. Smiglecius had published at Cracow, in 1615, 4to., and again at Cologne, 1616, 4to., " A Book concerning Baptism, against Jerome Moscorovius, the Arian," directed against No. 5. To this "Book" the "Refutation" of Moscorovius was the reply: but the death of Smiglecius, in 1618, put an end to the controversy.

12. Preface to John Stoienski's " Disputation at Lublin with John Maria, a Carmelite Monk, July 13th, 1616, on the Divinity of Christ, and the Remission of Sins." Racow, Typ. Stern. 1618, 4to. (See under John Stoinius, Art. 204, No. 2.)

13. A Reply to Hugo Grotius "On the Doctrine of Satisfaction." MS.

14. Preface to Socin's " Exposition of the Sermon on the Mount." Racow, Typ. Stern. 1618, 8vo.

15. Preface to Socinus's Work "Against Gabriel Eutropius." 1618.

16. Conference with Daniel Clementinus, Minister of the Reformed Church, on Jesus Christ the Son of God, held in 1618. Dan. Clementinus himself mentions this Conference ; and says, that Moscorovius defended the following singular opinions:—That there are two kingdoms, one of the Father, and the other of Christ ; that the faithful, meaning especially those who had embraced the doctrines of Socin, constituted the kingdom of Christ ; that the rest were subjects of the Father ; and that neither had any right over the subjects of the other, except that the Son, from the perfect authority granted to him in heaven, and on earth, had the power of punishing the subjects of the Father, in case they injured or maltreated his Ministers in any way.

17. On the Controversy between Moscorovius and Smiglecius, "On uncreated Matter," which Moscorovius defended, but to which Smiglecius opposed this aphorism,— That every uncreated existence is necessarily infinite and unlimited, having nothing by which it can be limited,— the reader may consult Bayle's "Pensees diverses," &c, Opp. T. III. f. 347.

18. Moscorovius, as stated above, assisted in translating the Books of the New Testament into the Polish Language ; and in composing

19. The Racovian Catechism. He also published

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 ".