But she was not destined to remain in this school of suffering for a very long time; for, as we have already heard, the Lord removed her in March, 1547. This was the severest affliction that Melanchthon ever endured. From Zerbst he wrote to his friend Paul Eber in Wittenberg: "I send you a narrative of my daughter's death, which, whenever I read it, or even but think of it, so increases my parental sorrow, that I fear it will injure my health. I cannot banish the sight of my weeping daughter from my eyes, who, when she was asked what she would like to say to her parents, replied: "I think of several things, which fill me with anguish." Camerarius says, that she appeared as a corpse to her father in a dream, in the very night in which she died. Melanchthon wrote to him that his daughter had gently passed out of this life, giving striking evidences of her love towards God, her husband, and children. It soon appeared that the love which Melanchthon had borne towards his departed daughter was now transferred to her children. He therefore wrote to Sabinus: "I wish our friendship to be a lasting one, and am determined to cherish it faithfully. I shall look upon your children as my own, and they are indeed my own. I do not love them less than I loved their mother. Many know how fondly I loved my daughter; and this love has not been extinguished by her death, but continues to be nourished by sorrow and ardent desire. And as I know how much she loved her children, I believe that I must transfer her affections to myself." Great indeed was his joy when Sabinus, during his journey to Wittenberg in the autumn of 1547, left behind him three daughters and a son. These grand-children were the greatest recreation of the grand-parents. He would sometimes even speak of these children before his hearers. His youngest daughter Magdalen, born July 18th, 1533, was married to Doctor CASPAR PEUCER, when she was but 19 years of age. After Melanchthon's death, Peucer became the first professor of the University of Wittenberg, and physician in ordinary to the Elector of Saxony. Their union was richly blessed with children. He endured many persecutions afterwards, because he and some of his colleagues secretly approved of the doctrines of Calvin, on which account they were called _Cryptocalvinists_. He was compelled to languish in a prison for twelve years. During this time his wife died. One morning he dreamed that he was tolling the bell for a funeral. The rope broke in his hand, and awaking, he cried out: "The rope is broken, and we are free." In the very same moment the door of his cell was opened, and he was liberated. Grief took such possession of his heart, that he was frequently observed weeping during public worship in Zerbst, whither he had retired.