2. Here follows a fecond Paffage out of Calvin's Life (a) written by Beza. Fuit autem horum om"nium (certaminum) ifte exitus, ut tandem perditus? "illé (Servetus) (cui etiam factioforum (b) unus "tum Prætoris Affeffor in aurem infufurraffe quid"dam credebatur, quo malum perditi hominis a"nimum obfirmaret) a vana illa fua confiden. "tia proditas, impietatis & infinitarum blafphe miarum ex omnium etiam Helveticarum Ecclefiarum fententia damnatus, XXVII. Octob. nul"To edito poenitentia figno infoelix vivus cremare29 tur

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3. I have found under this Paffage of Beza, in the Edition' mentioned by me in the Margin, a Note written by a Minifter (c) of Geneva in the XVIth Century, and expreffed in thefe Words. Accepi a certo homine non defuiffe tum ex præcipuis juris dicundi Præfectis, qui ut malum ani"mum in Calvinum per Hifpanum exererent, au"ctores effent reo, ut atrocia quæque in Calvinum "proferret, quod hoc ipfum apud certos gratio-" "fiorem redditurum effet: Illum autem abrep"tum a malo fpiritu blafphemias profudiffe in Do-" "mini Noftri veritatem atrociores:Unde fibi ipfe "tanto certius periculum certo Dei judicio confla verit

It plainly appears from these three Paffages, that Servetus was fer against Calvin by fome confiderable

(a) I make use of the Firft Edition, prefixed to Calvin's Letters. Geneva, 1575.

(b) By thofe Fallious Men, Beza means Calvin's Ene

mies.

(c) His Name was Perrot.

A

ble Men of Geneva: They made him believe they would fave his Life; but it appeared by the Event that it was not in their Power. I am apt to think that Servetus would have made a better Defenfe by Word of Mouth and in Writing, had he not been fupported by Calvin's Enemies.

The Magiftrates of Geneva, being fenfible that the Trial of that Phyfician was a thing of the higheft Confequence, did not think fit to give Sen-tence, without confulting the Magiftrates of the Pro-.. teftant Cantons of Switzerland. They fent to them.. Servetus's Book Printed at Vienne, and also the Writings of Calvin, and the Prifoner's Anfwers; and at the fame time defired to have the Opinion of. their Divines about that Affair.

The Magiftrates of Zurich answered that they had confulted their Minifters; and intreated the L Council of Geneva to oppofe ftrenuously Servetus's Herely. "Being (d) fully perfuaded, (ay they) that "you will not fuffer the wicked Intention of your "Prifoner to have its Effect,, fince it is altogether. "contrary to the Chriftian Religion, and occafions.

a great Scandal". Their Letter is dated October2. The Zurich-Divines expreffed themselves. more fully. We (e) are of Opinion (fay they)

66 that

(d) En confiance que ne laifferez venir en avant Ja mefchante & fauffe intention de votre dit Prifonnier, laquelle eft totalement contraire à la Religion Chreftienne, & donne de grands fcandales & affaults

(e) Multa ergo fide & diligentia contra hunc (Ser vetum) opus effe judicamus; præfertim cum Ecclefia noftræ apud Exteros male audiant, quafi hæretica fint, & hæreticis faveant. Obtulit vero in præfenti fan&ta Dei providentia occafionem repurgandi vos f

mul

that great Diligence ought to be used against him (Servetus); especially fince our Churches are "fufpected of Herefy, in Foreign Conntries, and

of favouring Hereticks. The Divine Providence "has therefore afforded us an Opportunity of clear *ing ourselves from fuch a Sufpicion, if you take "Care to prevent the further fpreading of that peftiferous Doctrine. We do not doubt, but that you will do it. May the Lord Jefus bestow ups on you Wisdom and Courage, and fhew you the Right Way of doing his Will, to the Glory of "his Name, and the Prefervation of the Church "and the Chriftian Faith ". This Letter bears the fame Date.

The Council of Schafhaufen answered the 6th of October, That they had referred the Examination of that Affair to their Minifters, whofe Opinion they might know by their Letter. Those Divines, having expreffed their Abhorrence for Servetus's Errors conclude with thefe Words. " Nor (f) do we "doubt, but that, through your great Prudence, you will oppofe his Defign, and hinder his Blafphemies from preying any longer upon the Mem

- 66 bers

mul ac nos a prava mali hujus fufpicione; fi videlicet vigilantes fueritis, diligenterque caveritis ne ve neni hujus contagio per hunc ferpat latius, Id quod facturos A. V. nil dubitamus. Dominus Jefus Chriftus conferat pietati veftræ fapientiam & fortitudinem, viam, rationem & modum juftum faciendi volunta tem ejus, ad gloriam nominis ipfius, & ad fidei finceræ Ecclefiæque fidelem confervationem.

(f) Neque dubitamus quin vos pro infigni prudentia veftra ipfius conatus repreffuri ficis, ne blafphe miæ ipfius tanquam cancer latius depafcantur Christi membra. Nam longis rationibus evertere ipfius deliramenta, quid aliud effet quam cum infaniente in fanire? This Letter is alle dated October 6.

"bers of Christ. For to pretend to answer his "Extravagancies by long Arguments, would be "acting madly with a Madman They add, That they fubfcribe to the Judgment of the Zurich

Divines.

As for what concerns the Magiftrates of Bafil, they answered in a few Words, That they had left that Affair to the Confideration of their Divines. Their Anfwer is dated October 12. The Minifters of Bafil, in a Letter bearing the fame Date, teftify their Abhorrence for Servetus's Herefy, and then add: Laftly (g), We exhort you to "ufe your utmost Endeavours to reclaim him, pro"vided the Scandal he has occafioned, may be re"moved. But if he continues to be incurable, "let him bé fo reftrained, (as it is your Duty, and "according to the Power you have received from "the Lord), that for the Time to come, he may do σε no Harm to the Church of Chrift, left the End fhould prove worse than the Beginning. To that "End the Lord himself will give you his Spirit, "and Strength, and: Wisdom, &c.

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1

}

The Magiftrates of Berne answered, That they had confulted their Divines, and defired the Magiftrates of Geneva to prevent the Progress of Errors.

"We

(b)

(g) Poftremo, quod Servetum attinet, hortamur ut quod facere vos oportet, omne ftudium in ipfo fanando adhibeatis, modo que excitavit offendicula, & ipfa fanari queant. Verum fi infanabilis in con cepta femel perverfitate perftet, fic pro officio veAro, poteftateque a Domino conceffa coerceatur, ne dare incommodum queat deinceps Ecclefia Chrifti, neve fiant noviffima primis deteriora. Qua in re fuppeditabit Dominus ipfe Spiritum, robur & fapientiam, &.

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"(b) defire you, (fay they), not doubting that you are inclined to it, to take Care that fuch Errors, or the like, be not fowed in the Church of Jefus "Chrift our only Saviour; by which Means you will preferve her from Trouble and Adverfity, and promote the Glory of God (i). The Minifters of Berne expreffed themselves in thefe Words: "We (k) pray God, that he would be pleased to give you the Spirit of Prudence, Wisdom, and Courage, that you may remove this Evil not only from your own Church, but alfo from all others, "and do nothing that is unworthy of Chriftian Maftrates". That Letter is only dated in the Year 1553 (1).

When Servetus was imprifoned, Calvin writ a Letter (the 20th of Auguft) to his Friend William Farel, Minister of the Church of Neufchatel, whereby he acquainted him with it. We (m) are

Vol. IV.

T

66

now

(b) Vous prions, comme ne doutons point a ce étre enclins, de toujours tenir main que les erreurs & fectes, comme les dites font, ou femblables, ne foient femées en l'Eglife de Jefus Chrift noftre feul Sauveur ; & par ce garderez de trouble & adverfité, & fa gloire avancerez & augmenterez.

(i) If am not mistaken, that Letter was dated Octob. 6.

(k) Óramus Dominum ut det vobis Spiritum prudentiæ, confilii & fortitudinis, ut & peftem hanc ab Ecclefiis cum veftra tum aliis avertatis, & fimul nihil admittatis, quod Magiftratui Chriftiano inconveniens cenferi poffit.

(1) The Four Letters of the Divines of Switzerland have been printed among those of Calvin, pag. 116. & feq. of the Geneva Edition. 1575.

(m) Jam novum negotium habemus cum Serveto.

Hac