AVENARIUS (Latinization of Habermann). — Two authors of this name:
I. JOHANN, Hebraist and ascetical writer, b. at Eger in 1516, d. at Zeitz in 1590.
Having embraced Protestantism between 1540-42, he preached the new doctrines in various places in Saxony; in 1573 he taught theology at Jena, in 1574 at Wittenberg, and from 1576 was “superintendent” at Naumburg and Zeitz. Besides a *Grammatica hebraea* (1570) and a *Lexicon hebraicum* (1568, 2nd ed. 1588), he composed various works of an ascetical character, in which he made use of Catholic writings (especially the *Serta honoris Dei* of the Jesuit Petrus Michaelis, 1561); notable is his *Vita Christi* (1580), with prayers, the *Trostbüchlein* (1570), and above all the *Gebetbüchlein* (Wittenberg 1567), a prayer book very popular among Protestants and in use almost down to our own day.
II. MATTHÄUS, Evangelical pastor, b. at Eisenach and Steinbach-Kaffenberg (1625-90), was the author of German religious hymns, some of which are still in use.