Baumgartus Valentine

Baumgartus Valentine, (Germ. Baumgart,) was born at Memel, in Prussia, A. D. 1610. He studied in the University of Kbnigsberg, where he graduated M. A., April 20th, 1634. About the year 1637, he contracted an intimacy with Martin Ruarus, and other Antitrinitarians; and Ruarus was the instrument of his conversion to the Unitarian faith, which he subsequently renounced, but did not ultimately abandon. Zeltner, alluding to his recantation, says, that examples of this kind are so rare, that, throughout the whole history of the seventeenth century, he knows of no instance of a public retractation of Socinianism, except those of John Vogel, John Peuschel, and Valentine Baumgartus. Vogel and Peuschel made theirs in the presence of the Council and Senate of the University of Altorf, January 25^th, 1617; and Zeltner has given both of them a place in his "Historia Crypto-Socinismi Altorfiana" (pp. 889—933). The Socinianism of Baumgartus having become known from an intercepted letter, addressed by him to a Unitarian friend, a report of the contents of this letter was made to George William, Elector of Brandenburg; and the writer was induced to make a public retractation in the University of Konigsberg, Aug. 25th, 1640. In this retractation Baumgartus puts forward the plea of poverty, from which, as he alleges, he had hopes of being relieved by joining the Socinians. But there is no doubt that the retractation was extorted from him; for in less than two months after it was made, and as soon as he could liberate himself from his academical thraldom, he left the University of Konigsberg, and went into Poland.

He was appointed Rector of the School at Kissielin in the month of May, 1641; and afterwards presided, in the same capacity, over the one at Luclavice, which was at that time in great repute, and numbered among its pupils youths from all parts of the kingdom of Poland. After this he became Pastor, and Rector of the School at Clausenburg, in Transylvania.

It is mentioned in the Manuscript Acts of the Synod of Daszow, A.D. 1647, that consolatory letters were addressed to Baumgartus and Schlichtingius; but the precise time and occasion of these letters are not specified. They must have been written, however, while Baumgartus was at Luclavice; for he did not go into Transylvania till 1648, when he received a grant of a hundred florins from the Synod of Daszow, to defray the expenses of his journey.

Sandius says, that his death took place about the year 1G70; but it is expressly stated, in the Acts so often cited, that he died in the year 1673, at the age of sixty-three. He left behind him

1. A Paper on the Incarnation of Jesus Christ; to which John Paulinus Felwinger published, by way of reply, "A Vindication of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. Altorf. 1667," 8vo.

2. A Comparison of Religions; which was also answered by Felwinger.

3. Antitritheia: or a Dissertation opposed to the commonly received Opinion concerning Three Elohim, that is, Gods; or Three Persons, of which each is the Supreme God; in which it is shewn, that the common Triadolatry, and the Opinion concerning Three Persons in One God, is vain and trifling, because it is, First, human in its Origin, Secondly, violent in its Progress, Thirdly, detrimental in its Effects, as well as opposed to sound Reason, and Fourthly, contrary to Scripture. Acts xxvii. 22. A. D. 1654. MS. 4to.

4. A Latin Catechism. MS.

5. On the Chief Good. MS.

6. A Retractation, which was published by the University of Konigsberg under the following title. "Errorum Photinianorum Oratio Detestatoria, ex Decreto Vener. Facultatis Theologicae, publice habita a M. Valentino Baumgart, 28 Augusti, 1640, in Auditorio magno Academic Regiomontanse." It was dedicated to the Members of the Theological Faculty, to whom the author expresses his gratitude for the instruction which he has received. Sandius and Zeltner appear never to have seen this Retractation; but Bock, in his "History of Prussian Socinianism," has given a long extract from the concluding part of it.

(Vidend. Sandii B. A. p. 144. Bock, Hist . Ant. T. I. pp. 44,45. Hist . Socinianismi Prussici, pp. 35, 36. 42—47. Zeltneri Hist. Crypto-Soc. Alt. l. c.)

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