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 in 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 he 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 makes use of Catholic writings (especially the Serta honoris of the Jesuit Petrus Michaelis, 1561); celebrated are 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 d. at Steinbach-Kaffenberg (1625–90), was the author of German religious hymns, some of which are still in use.