Mayer, Johann, a German theologian, was bom Aug. 2, 1697, at Nuremberg ; studied at the high-schools of his native place until 1717, when he went to the Uni- versity of Altdorf to study theology. In 1720 he re- moved to the University of Halle, and there enjoyed the instruction of the celebrated German savants Wolf and Michaelis. He continued his studies until 1725, when he finally secured the position of catechist, first at an orphan asylum and later at a prison. In 1727 he ■was made vicar, and in 1728 morning preacher at St. Waldburg. The year following he became pastor at Schwinunbach and AVengen ; in 1732 dean of Spitalch, Nuremberg; in 1738 was transferred to the Church of St. Laurence ; in 1749 became senior of the chapter. He died Sept. 3, 1760. Mayer's productions are mostly of an ascetic character ; at the time of their publication the}' secured him much popularity, especially his Epis- iolische Betrachtunr/en (ks Tocles (Nuremb. 1741, 4to). He also published a number of his sermons. For fur- ther details of his works, see DiJring, Gelehrte Theologie Deiitschlands, vol. ii, s. v.
Mayer, Johann C, a Presbyterian minister, a German by birtli, was born in Korl), Wiirtemburg, May 4, 1835. He was educated at Basle, Switzerland, and attended the seminary at St. Christiana. He left his native land and settled in Texas, where he was licensed by the Lutheran Synod of Texas. On coming to New Orleans he organized a German Presbyterian Church, but died before he had been ordained pastor over it, Aug. 24, 1858. See Wilson, Presh. Hist. A Imanac, 1860, p. 76. (J. L. S.)
Mayer, Johann Friedrich, a (Jcrman Lutheran minister, was born at Leipsic in 1650. He studied in the university of his native city, an<l became succes- sively superintendent of Leissnig in 1(')73, of (Jrimma in 1679, professor of theology at Wittemherg in 1684, pas- tor of St, Joseph of Hamburg in 1686, professor of the gymnasium of that city in 1687, professor at the Uni- versity of Kiel in 1688, professor and archchancellor at the University of Greifswald, and^eneral superintendent of Pomerania and Riigen, in 1701. He died at Stettin in 1712. Mayer had taken a leading part in all the controversies of the time. Among his voluminous works we notice Bibliotheca Biblica, which treats of the most I
celebrated Jewish, Romish, Lutheran, and Calvinistic
expositions of Scripture (best edition, Nostock, 1713) :
Best Method of Studying Holy Hcripture: — History of Martin Luther^ s Gerriian Veision of the Bible : — An Ac- count of the Moderns who have wi-itten against the Holy Scriptures: — Ail Exposition of the first two Psalms: — Tractatus de Osculo Pedum Pontificis Romani: — Be Fide Baronii el Bellarmini ipsis Pontificiis amhigud. See Herzog, Reed- Ency Hop. ix, 209 ; Pierer, Unicersal-Lexi- kon, xi, 35 ; Hook, Biog. Diet, vii, 262. (J. N. P.)
Mayer, John, D.D., an English divine, flourished in the early part of the 17th century. But few memo- rials have been discovered to furnish any satisfactory ac- count of his personal history. It appears from his pref- aces that he labored under infirm health, which unfitted him for public services as a clergyman for many years. In 1634 he became minister of Reydon, in Suffolk. He published Theological Treatises and Commentaries on the English Catechism (Lend. 1621, 4to) : — A Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (rare ; G vols, fol., and 1 vol. 4to, 1631, '47, '52, '53). See Allibone, Diet. Brit. and A mer. A uthors, vol. ii, s. v. ; Darling, Cyclop). Bib- Hog, vol. ii, s. V.
Mayer, Le'wis, D.D., a noted American divine of that branch of the Christian Church denominated the German Reformed, was born at Lancaster, Pa., jMarcli 26, 1783. After having received a liberal education in his native place, he removed to Frederick, Md., where he devoted his attention for some time to a secular call- ing. He was fond of reading and study. Having be- come conscious of a call to the holy ministry, he pursued his theological studies with great zeal and success, un- der the direction of the Rev. Mr. Wagner, of Frederick, Md. He was licensed and ordained in 1807, and became pastor of a charge in Shepherdstown, Va., where he la- bored till 1821. In that year he was called as pastor to York, Pa. In 1825 he resigned his charge, having been called by the Synod of the German Reformed Church to assume the presidency of the theological seminary then established at Carlisle, Pa., and afterwards located at York, Pa. In this position he laboreil with great zeal tin 1835. His health giving way he retired to private life, and lived in York, Pa. He devoted his remaining strength to the preparation of a History of the German Reformed Church, only the first volume of which, how- ever, has been published. This volume is chiefly occu- pied with an account of the Reformation in Switzerland. His labors were brought down to 1770. Dr. Mayer pub- lished also a Treatise on the Sin against the Holy Ghost, and Lectin-es on Scriplu7-e Subjects. While professor of theology he also edited for some years the Magazine and the Messenger of the German Reformed Church. He died Aug. 25, 1849. See biographical sketch by the Rev. E. Heiner, prefaced to Dr. Mayer's History (Phila. 1850, 8vo, pp. 477).