The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1822-05-29

CLasersed by reqnestJ
Prom the Christian spectator.
CALVIN AND SERVETUS.

InOSt luulsptDoaUiSt ShuSt w WV
or tho preservation OF theological popularity.
The part Of his hfe, on which his eDemies
have most greediiy fallen, and which his
friend, have been the most ready to pass ov.
er as insxcusable, is that, in which he Is sup
posed TO have been accessafy TO the burning
of Servetus. In this unhappy transaction, he
is usually represented as the hrineihaI tnSfrH'
n,enf. "Iostigated by bloody, prosecuting
spirit, he not only sentenced his antagonist to
death, but actually lighted the fires which
consumed him."
Ii is not my design in this short paper to
attempt q Iabored vindication OF Calvin. The
following propositions, which embrsce most
Of the leading facts relating to the execution
of Seryotus, shall endeayor 10 establish by
authentic proofs.
4. IL was at tho instance OF Calvin that
Serveius was impeachod and Imprisoned.
This the Reloi mer was uniformly Tree TO
confess. "I do not at all dissemblc,' says
he, I" that by my Influence and advice, he was,
~ the civil power, committed 10 prison. For
having received the freedom Of the city,
svas bound to impeach him, II guilty. OF any
crime" And again 81 do noI dissembie,
that il wac by my means ihat.he was seized
IN this city, aud required to defend his cause.
For according to lbe laws oi the city, ho
could nor jusfiy 6e treated olbef7vise."f
Q. The design OF Calvin in the detention
oil Seryctus Was u effect, 1t possible, his re-
formation. Speaking Oh this subject, on one
Of the pages above quoted, he says what
INV design was, became evident from the pro-
gress OF the action. When my colleagues
and myself were summoned, u was by no
means our fault, that he did not confer psacably
and freely with Us concerning his dogmalisms
Had he been IN any manner cufable, ne would
have been in no dagger OF any weighticr pun
ishment. He might have saved his lie, by
mere moderation
g. Setvetus was convicted not merely of
hsresy, but also OF 6iashhemy. This point is
susce ptible of abundant proof. Melanctbon,
ia one Of his letters TO CALVIN says, " have
read your book, in which you have cleeIly re-
futed the horrid 6iasnhemies OF Ssrve,us."
Alter tho Senate Of Geneva had pronouuc.
cd the allegations against Servetus proved,
il was formally submitted TO the determine
tion Of the Swiss churches, !" whether they a.
mounted 10 herssy and 6Asnhemy."
Tueretio, writing many years alter, ro.
spoctinx the execution of Serve.us, says,
"Nehher the laws nor the magistrates would
elbow him TO DO treated more mildly, en ac-
count Of his hotrid 6ioshhenies."f
We have far,het evidence Oh tho subject,
in tho bIasnhemous Expressions which he act
usily used. he declared "the Godbesd to
be in the devils - and " shat several Gods
were in esSS" lie sAirmed that "ihe three
pcrsons In the r'.oity sre the cons OF Beel
zebub." The uiuno God he denominstcd ID
Ga triple mastor--.a three headed Ce,serus---
phantom Of devils--an illusion OF Sa.sn."
q Calvin had no part in the coDde mnation
Of Setvetus. He was not Of the tribunal
which CONDEMNED him. Servetus was tried
and Condemned by the Senate OF Gcocva--a
civil ADD not an ecclesiastical court--a body
of which Calvin never was member. IL a.
ny proof OF this is necessary, we may give
the following extract OF letter from Melanc-
shon to Bui,nger. "I judgo that the Gene
vese Senate did perfectly eight, to pu, an ond
10 this obstinate man, who could never cease
bissphe ming"
IL may be said, however, that the influence
Of Calvin carried every thing in the Senate /;
Ind that the sentence they passed WAS US re-
oily his, as though the whole issue had been
directly at his disposal.--But this objection
Ia in palpablc contradiction TO facts. The
magistrates Of Geneva were annually elected ;
and it is we'll koown, that majority OF the
Senator'S for the year I553-the year in
which Servetus was tried and executed, were
in tho interest Of q faction, which was uni
formy opposed to Calvin. 1t was in This We
ry year, that the Senate voted TO restore ono
TO the communion Of the church, whom Cal.
,in and bis Consistory had excommunica-
NdS
s Calvin was uncoiling that fbe sentence,
which the Senate had passed on Serve,us,
shouid be ereeufed. Wiring on this subject
st d fferent times he says, Those things
which were done by the Senate arc by many
asctibed TO me. From the time that the ar.
ticles were proved against him, never utter
cd word concerning his punishment. To
this fact all good men will bear mo witness"
-" The seperify Of the hanishnens I desire
10 be remiffed." "He will be led 20 punish.