Some dioceses, however, managed to elude the papal months entirely, by means of special papal edicts ren- dered for the purpose of securing other advantages (see I'robst, Turnarii ecclesiarum (Jermaniw, pi Ullheinier, A d concordata nationis Germ, intcf/ra documeniorum, fasc. iv [Frankf. and Leips. 1777], p. 3G0, 376; Gudenus. Co- dex diplomat, torn, iv. No. ccexxiv, p. 717 ; Le Bret, Mof/azin z. Gebrauche d. Staalen- v. Kirchenc/esch. pt, viii, p. 4, etc.).
This law is still in force, but has in later times under- gone various modifications. In Bavaria, tlie Concordat of 1817, art. x, states: "Kegia ^lajestas ad canonicatus in sex mensibus apostolicis sive papalibus nominabit." For Prussia, the bull De sfdute animariim, of 1821, regu- lates that " Future autem tempore . . . canonicatus in mensibus Januarii, Martii, Maii, Jtdii, Semtcmbris, ac Novembris . . . vacantcs conferentur, quemadmodum hactenus in capitulo Wratislaviensi hactcnus factum est" (see Laspcyre, Gesch. v. heti1i;/e Verthssinit/ d. Kaf/i. K. Preiissens [Halle, 1840], i, 339, 3(59, 370). In several oth- er countries the law has fallen into disuse, and the ap- pointments are made bv the dioceses. — Herzog, lieal- J-:„.yU„p.ix.:'.:>9. (.I.N.P.)
Men-Stealer {t'nrpaTroUKTTiic), one who kidnaps or decoys a free ])crson into slavery, an act condemned by the apostle among the highest crimes (1 Tim. i, 10). The seizing or stealing of a free-born Israelite, either to
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MENUCHITE
treat him as a slave or sell him as a slave to others, was by the law of Moses punished with death (Exod. xxi, 1(5; Deut. xxiv, 7), which the Jewish writers inform us was inflicted by strangling (see Wetstein, ad loc). The practice was likewise I'orbidden among the Greeks (see Smith's Diet, of Class. A iit. s. v. Andrapodismou Graphe), and was condemned by law among the Romans (see Adams's Roman Antiq. p. 24). See Slave.
Mensurius, bishop of Carthage, of whose personal history but little is known, figured very prominently during the Diocletian persecutions. He seems to have been identified with the liberal or Arian party, and to have entertained heretical opinions, to which he gave piiblicity in books published under the title of "Sa- cred Scriptures." He opposed the enthusiastic ven- eration of the confessors who were kept in prison At the synod held at Ceuta, A.D. 305, he was arraigned for these acts, but, as most of the African bishops were accused of the same crime, tlie matter was passed over. Later a new charge was brought against Mensurius, and he had to defend himself at Rome in 311. It seems that he there cleared himself, but on his return home he died. Under his successor in tlie bishopric the Donatist quar- rels opened. See Donatists.
Mental Reservation is a term for withholding or failing to disclose something that affects a statement, promise, oath, etc., and which, if disclosed, woidd mate- rially vary its import. As this is a false and deceitful way of acting, it can not be approved by true morality. The Jesuits, indeed, allowed and taught their pupils to delude people by all kinds of mental reservations and deceitful intentions. With many of them the end sanc- tified the means, and so they taught that even deceit by false promises and perjuries is allowable, if only good things were attained thereby in the end. They de- fended this manner of action by the shallow pretext that mentally something very different has been promised or sworn to from what the spoken words declared. See Casuistry; Moral Philosophv.
Mentone, Bernard de. See Bernard.
Mentzer, Balthasar (1), a German Lutheran di- vine, greatlj' noted for his decided opposition to the Reformed Church theologians, was born in Allendorf, Hesse, February 27, 1505. He studied at the Univer- sity of Marburg, where he excelled by the display of unusual talents and knowledge. After preaching for several years at Kirtorf, he was appointed in 159G pro- fessor of theology at his alma mater. While in this position he was involved in many controversies because of his prince's tendency towards the doctrines of the Reformed Church. Mentzer was especially radical in his opposition to their views on the doctrine of Ubiq- uity, on Iconockism, the Lord's Supjier, and the Deca- logue, and in 1605 was actually forced to quit Marburg, and, together with his colleagues, Winckelmann and Leuchter, removed to Giessen, to take a position in the new university founded by landgrave Lewis, and there became one of the most renowned teachers. He died Jan. 6, 1627, at Marburg, to which place the univer- sity had been removed in the mean time.
Mentzer was a pure Lutheran ; his Christian faith was a truly orthodox belief in the Christological dogma as fiu-nished in the idiomatic and ubiquistic doctrine. He published many works, most of which bore a polemic character. His Latin works were afterwards collected and publislied by his son : Opera theolorjica Laiina (Frankf. 1669, 2 vols. 8vo). His apologetic works against Romanism and the Reformed Church contain the Exege- sis Confessionis Augustance (Giessen, 1603). Similar to this is his Repetitio Chemnitiana. Challenged by the work of the Romanist John Pistorius (Wegweiser Jur alle verfilhrte C/iristen),'he wrote Anti- Pistorius sui dis- putatio de prcecipuis quibusdnm controversis capitibus (Marburg, 1600) : — Erungelischer Wegweiser (Marburg, 1603) ; and many others. He engaged in a contro- versy with John Crocius, professor at Marburg, against
whom he sent forth Ahstersio calumniarum J. Crocii, Apologetica, Anticrocia, Collatio Augustance Confes- sionis cum doctrina Calvini, Bezm et sociorum (1610). He had also a controversy with John Sadeel, of Paris and Geneva, jMatthias Martinius, at Herborn,Paul Stein, at Cassel, Schcinfeld, and Parens : Elenckeus erronim J. Sadeelis in libello de veritate humance natures Chrisfi (Giessen, 1615) : — Elenckeus errorum J. Sadeelis in libel- lo de sacramentali manducatione (Giessen, 1612) : — Anti- Martinius sive modesfa et solida responsio, etc. (Giessen, 1612) ; and many others. These polemics concern- ing the human nature of Christ, the sacramental use of the Lord's Supper, and the idiomatic use of im- panafio7i, give an idea of the logic of the Reformed criticism and the tenacity of the Lutheran defence. The humanity of Clirist, the "Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us," are the principal points of Ment- zer's theological grounds. He condemns his opponent's view as Arianistic : " Non igitur existimo, unquam ex- stitisse inter Christianos, qui Christo homini vel natursB ejus humanfe minus glorise et auctoritatis et potentiaj tribuendum censuerint, quam Martinium hunc Freienha- gensem" {Anti-Martinius, p. 167). In a communication to Martinius, Mentzer's assertion, " Ipsa divina prte- sentia juxta sacras literas est actio," provoked another controversy with his colleagues at Giessen, professors Winckelmann and Gisenius. This controversy was settled by the landgrave's personal interference only, who in 1607 imposed silence and peace on all parties. Mentzer's principal work is Ntcessaria etjustu defensio contra injustas criminatiunes L. Osiandri, M. Nicolai, Th. Tummii, in qua multi de persona et officio Christi erroris detegiintur et 7-efutantur (162'4). This was an- swered in 1625 in Thummi's Acta. In 1618 Mentzer was called to Wolfenbllttel to give his opinion on Ca- lixtus's Epitome theologice. He never went thither, but sent a criticism to his son-in-law, superintendent Wiede- burg, acknowledging the eminent talents of the author, but judging his epitome from his own narrow and ex- clusive stand-point. See Witten, Mem. Theol. i, 223 sq.; Stricdcr. //(.-•■xi.^c/ii < :i Ii IirtengescMchte,Yo\.\n\; Walch, Rdig. .s/n//ii/L;if,ii ii/iK r/ialb der Luth.-Kirche ; also, Stni/igLtilcii uusstrluill der Luther.- Kirche, iii, 505 ; Henke, Georg. Calixtus, i, 123, 282, 307, 321 ; ii, 23 ; Memo?: Theol. i, 223 sq. ; Gasz, Gesch. der protest. Theol. i, 277, 278; Walch, Biblioth. theologica, ii, 654; Dorner, Doctrine of the Person ,f Christ, ii, 243 et al. (J. H. W.)