Morlin, Joachim, a well-known German Luther- an theologian, and one of the most zealous defenders of the great German IJeformer and his views, was born at Wittenberg April 6, 1514. His father, Jodocus Morlin, professor of metaphysics at the \Vittenberg University, and afterwards pastor at Westhausen, in Franconia, gave Joachim a careful training intellectually and morally, and in 1527 he entered the newly-founded University of Marburg, but soon left for his native city, where, under Luther's and Melancthon's special guidance, he devoted himself to the study of theology. When not quite twenty-three years of age he was chosen dean of a church at Wittenberg, and in 1539 accepted a call to the church of Eisleben. At Luther's request he returned in the following year to Wittenberg; but, hardly arrived, left it again for Arnstadt, whence he had received a call as its first ecclesiastical superintend- ent. He was now but twenty-six years old, and by far too young and inexperienced to fill such an inlluential position. Zealous in his religion, and of rather coarse and contentious disposition, he soon came into serious diflicultics with some powerful church members, who persecuted him mercilessly. In 1543 he was deposed, without having been allowed the benefit of a trial. Though the citizens appealed for his retention, Miirlin had to leave Arnstadt, and removed to Gottingen, where he remained until 1549. About this time he, together with many other Lutheran theologians, openly declared against the Augsburg Interim, alleging that it re-estab- lished popery ; thereupon duke Erich was deposed and Morlin banished. A few months later he received a pastoral call to Kneiphof, one of the main quarters of Kiinigsberg, in Prussia, which he accepted. (Jnatly fa- vored by duke Albrecht, ^liirlin was at first universally esteemed and beloved. But he soon became involved in the Osiandrian controversy. See Osiandku; Jistiki- CATION. In his strict Lutheranism he opposed Osian- der's views on the nature of justification and its relation to sanctification. According to the manner of the times, Osiander's departure from the grand Lutheran doc- trine of Justijiculion (q. v.), and especially of views ap- proximating the Iloman Catholic doctrine, were there- fore made the subject of severe comment by Miirlin in a rather coarse and abusive way. Tlie dul;e of Prussia, anxious to restore peace between tlie contending parties, issued an edict to all Prussian clergymen and professors of theology, in which slanders and ilcnunciations of their respective opponents was threatened with severe bodily punishment. But the quarrel, in sjiite of the ducal edict, grew more and more bitter, and after Osiander's death Morlin attacked and jiersecuted his followers. Several of them, among them Johuun Funk, were beheaded be-
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cause they refused to recant. Uncharitable against all opponents, and of a naturally contentious and passionate disposition, Morlin grew so violent and abusive in his language that he called the ducal edict an inspiration of the devil, to which he refused to submit. In conse- quence he was dismissed (1553), and, notwithstanding his numerous and influential followers, had to leave Kij- nigsberg. He went to Dantzic, and lived there for some time, supported by voluntary contributions of his Ko- nigsberg friends, until he received a call to Brunswick as ecclesiastical superintendent and tirst city-preacher. Here, in connection with his friend, Martin Chemnitz, late librarian of duke Albrocht, JMiirlin devoted himself to a closer study of the Bible and the fathers, and took a prominent part in all the theological controversies of the time. When in 155G Albrecht Hardenberg attempt- ed to introduce into the republic of Bremen Calvin's doctrine respecting the Lord's Supper, Morlin, together with Chemnitz, opposed him most violently, and after his dismission caused the issue of that bigoted Bremen edict (Oct. 6, 15G1) "against the sacramental enthusiasts and Anabaptists" {Geyen die Sacraments-Schwdrmer u. Wiedertduffe?-). At this occasion he published his Ei-- hldrung aus Gottes Wort ii. kurzer Bericht d. Ilerren The- ologen, and Von der Condemnation streitiger Lehi' (Mag- deburg, 1563). These works are a not overlucid expo- sition of the strict Lutheran view on the Lord's Supper, and are far inferior to Chemnitz's work, Rejjetitio sance doctrina de vera prcesentia corporis et sanguinis Do- mini in ccctia sacra. In 1557 he went to Wittenberg, vainly endeavoring to put a stop to the Adiaphoristic controversies. He subsequently separated himself from Flacius, writing against him in his usual abusive and violent style. He was also present at the Worms Collo- quy, which, like most such disputations, led to no result whatever. After the death of Melancthon, he grew, if possible, still more zealous in his strict Lutheranism, ample proof of which is to be found in the numer- ous works which he published about this time. We mention here his IJistoria Prutenid : — Ti-eue Warming und Trosl an die Kirchen in Preussen : — Sendschreihm an denVogel: — Apologia avfdie vermeynte Widerlegnng dess Osiandi-ischen Sclmmrms. Things meanwhile had changed materially in Prussia. Osiander and his fol- lowers had been entirely suppressed, and duke Albrecht, yielding to the repeated appeals of the citizens, recalled Morlin in 15G6 to Kcinigsberg, nominating him bishop of Samland. Chemnitz, who always had been a great fa- vorite with the duke, accompanied Morlin to Konigsberg, and became associated with him in the preparation of the Corpus doctrince Pruteniciim, designed as the symbolical text-book of Prussia. July 7, 1567, the work was ap- proved by the duke, and on the following day Morlin left for Brunswick, choosing not to accept the proffered position (see Biblioth. Luhec. xii, 607 sq.). Owing to his contentious disposition, he came into a new difficul- ty with the city council of Brunswick, and was now glad to accept duke Albrecht's offer. As bishop of Sam- land, iNIorlin took a very prominent part in the Ma- joristic controversy, and published his Dispututio contra novum corruptilam, qua asseritu?; operum prcesentiam in actu justijicationis necessariam esse (Jense, 1567), and his Veranlwortung wider die Jalschen A uflagen der neuen drei Wittenbe7-ger in ihrer Grimdfeste Konigsberg. He died May 23, 1571, at Konigsberg, before the Majoristic controversy was concluded. Besides the works already named, Morlin wrote also Disjnilatio de communicatione idiomatum (1571) •.—Postilla :—Psalter-Predigten: — A new Catechism (Eisleben, 1565) -.— Vom Bervfe der Pre- diger, sammt zwei Brie/en Lutheri (ibid. 1565, 4to). Morlin was evidently a tenacious man, and born to be a polemic. His opponents charged him, and perhaps not unjustly, with assuming to be the guardian of the Church. He was evidently sincere and deeply in ear- nest, asserting that he became involved in these various controversies as a faithful son of the Church, doing only what every one was bound to do, namely, guarding its