Bischoff Melchior

Bischoff Melchior a Lutheran theologian of Germany, was born at Possneck, May-20, 1547. In 1570 he was deacon in his native city, but in 1574 he was deposed of his office because he would not subscribe to the articles of the Wittenberg theologians. He then acted for some time as pastor at Jekenheimn and Thundorf, alnd after the fall of the Philippists (q.v.), in 1585, he was again permitted to return to his native place. In 1590, duke Johann Casimir appointed him courtpreacher at Coburg, where he died, Dec. 19, 1614. Besides sermons and ascetic works, he wrote some hymns, which are still found in German hymn-books. See Freher, Theatrum Virorum Eruditorum Clarorum (Norib. 1688); Wezel, Hymnopoographia (Herrnstadt, 1719), vol. 1; id. Anal. Hymnol. I, 3, 7; Koch, Geschichte des deutschen Kirchenliedes, 1, 266 sq. (B. P.)