It was however, chiefly his polemical literary activity that made Hunnius known among his contemporaries. He wrote against the Roman Church
Ministerii Lutherani divini adeoque legitimi demonstratio (Wittenberg, 1614) and
Capistrum Hunnio paratum, etc. (1617); against the
Socinians, whom he considered as
Photinians,
Examen errorum Photinianorum, 1620); and against the enthusiasts,
Christliche Betrachtung (1622),
Nedder Sächsisches Handtbaeck (Lübeek, 1633),
Ausführlicher Bericht von der neuen Propheten Religion, Lehr und Glauben, etc. (Lübeck, 1634; 2d ed. by J. H. Feustking, Wittenberg, 1708, under the title
Mataeologia fanatica). Against the unionistic tendencies of
John Durie he wrote
Ministerii ecclesiastici Lubecensis theologica Consideratio interpositionis, seu pacificatoriae transactionis, inter religionen Lutheranam ex una, et Reformatam ex altera parta profitentes, abs D. Johanne Duraeo, ecclesiaste Britanno, his temporibus tentatae (Lübeck,1677). Another writing during his activity at Lübeck is his
Diaskepsis theologica de fundamentali, dissensu doctrinae Evangelicae Lutheranae et Calvinianae seu Reformatae, (Wittenberg, 1626), which is important in so far as the distinction between
fundamental articles and non-fundamental articles of faith may be traced to it. (An English translation of “Diaskepsis theologica” was published in 2001.) But the greatest sensation was created by his
Consultatio oder wohlmeinendes Bedenken, ob und wie die evangelisch-lutherischen Kirchen die jetzt schwebenden Religionsstreitigkeiten entweder beilegen oder durch christliche und bequems Mittel fortstellen und endigen mögen (Lübeck, 1632). Here he proposed the institution of a perpetual theological senate for the purpose of investigating and settling all theological disputes. Among his didactic writings may be mentioned the
Epitome credendorum oder Inhalt der christlichen Lehre, etc. (Wittenberg, 1625). This work ran through nineteen editions, and was translated into Dutch, Swedish, Polish, and Latin. It is a book of popular instruction in Christianity, was reprinted in 1844 for the seminary of American missionaries at
Neuendettelsau (see.
Wilhelm Löhe), and a third edition appeared at Nördlingen, 1870. An epitome of it was made the basis of religious instruction in elementary schools. == References ==