Breckling, Friedrich

Breckling, Friedrich a Lutheran theologian of, Denmark, was born in 1629 at Handewitt, in Sleswick. He studied at different universities, and succeeded his father in the pastorate of his native place. He wrote against the immoral life of the clergy, was suspended, and was to be imprisoned at Rendsburg, but he managed to flee to Hamburg. In 1660 he was elected pastor at Zwoll, in Upperyssel, but his difficulties with the clergy, whom he accused of a worldly life, and his chiliastic views caused his deposition in 1665. From that time he lived at Amsterdam, afterwards at the Hague, where he was aided by the princess Mary, wife of William III, afterwards by Spener and others. He died in 1711. He wrote a great many things, but, as Spener said, of little use to the Church. His life and writings are given by his nephew, John Moller, in his Cimbria Litterata. 3:72 sq. See also Adelung, Geschichte der menschlichen Narrheit (Leipsic, 1787), 4:16. sq.; Arnold, Kirchenund Ketzerhistorie, 3; Spener, Consilia Latina, 3:203, 431; Herzog, Real-Encyklop. s.v.; Lichtenberger, Encyclopadie des Sciences Religienses, s.v. (B.P.)