Fabricius, Johannes

Fabricius, Johannes a German theologian, was born at Altorf February 11, 1644. After a very diligent course of study in, theology and philosophy at the University of Altorf, he journeyed through Germany and Italy from 1670 to 1677. On his return he became professor of theology at Altorf, where he remained twenty years. In 1697 he became professor at Helmstadt, where he died, January 29, 1729. He bore a high reputation for scholarship, and for his minute acquaintance with the Romish controversy. His principal publications are, Dissertatio de Altaribus (Helmstadt, 1698, 4to): — Amaenitates theologicae varii et selecti argumenti (Helmst. 1699, 4to): — Historia Biblioth. Fabricianae (Wolfenbuttel, 1717-24, 6 volumes, 4to): — Consideratio variarum controversiarum cue Atheis, Gentilibus ... Pontificiis et Reformatis: (1704; also 1715, confined to the controversies

inter Evangelicos et Catholicos). He inherited the irenical tendencies of Calixtus (q.v.), and sought to show that the points of difference between Romanism and Protestantism are not so great as they are generally held to be; he even went so far as to believe that a Protestant might lawfully 'go over to the Romish Church. — Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Genesis 16:962; Mosheim, Ch. Hist. (N.Y. 1854), 3:490.