The Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1852-1853, 1853-06-01
For the Democratic Sentinel
Calvin & Servetus.

1t is very easy matter for you friend
"E. to make assertions, and quite AS easy
to find proofto substantiate them, You as
serted that Calvin labored 10 have Servetus
convicted of heresy before the Roman Court,
before he came TO Geneva, " our proof is
that "Calvin, though Gailaume Tre, for
warded to the officers OF the Roman Catholic
inquisitiDn at Vienna letters watch Ser
vttus had sent him, to be used as ev-
idence to convict him Of heresy." But what
end could Calvins letters to the magistrates
of Vienna have answered? Servctus was
known to be the author of his famous book,
ResiituLio Christianism, since it bore his
name; neither was it necessary for Calvin to
inform them what that book contained; a
single perusal evinced it. IL wOull have
been absurd in Calvin to send them copy
Of the work, since it was printed in France
under their own eyes: So that it is difficult
to imagine The possibility of the conduct OF
Calvin in this office being what his enemies
respected It. And Further; the sentence
pronounced at Vienna against eervetds'
takes no notice Of any interposition on the
part of Calvin; it condemns Servetus for his
printed work, on the report of the Doctors
in Theology consulted on the occasion; on
the ground of the errors contained in that
work. and finally on the confessions of thai
unhappy man,
But what confidence can be placed in any
Of the authorities which you have produced
on this subject, since some have through
zeal or party interest, misrepresented, as
shall presently prove, may they not all be
guilty Of the same fault. | have already
noticed how thoroughly you have misrepre-
sented me in my first article, and in your
last how you have mistaken the language OF
Scott, in his remarks on ROM Ia: s. where
he manifestly comedies with the apostle,
and censures those who differ from the in.
spired penman.
will now give you an instance, to show
that. the Rev. John Wesley, the great foun,
der of Methodism, has been guilty Of mis-.
representation, aud consequently entire con-
fidence cannot be put in his statements
Mr.. Toplady published work on predes-
tinaton, which though it contained unguar-
ded expressions proved the doctrine SO clear.
", that Arminians felt it was dangerous tc
their system. 10 bring it into disrepute
Mr. John Wesley published pretended
abridgment Of it, which was in fact only a
gross caricature Of the work, (for the whole
treatise Of TopIady runs over 63 pages; bu
the abridgment is contained in six pages,
and he also pat Mr.. Toplady's name to tht
end oft, as if it was the genuine work
TO his garbled extracts, he added inter pola
tons Of his own, TO give them a ditferen
meaning, and thus closed the whole with thu
following sentiment: The sum of all this
one ia twenty suppose, of mankind are clec
tsd;nmeteen in twenty are reprobated. TIL,
elect shall be saved, do what they will; thu
Icprobate shall be damned, do what they
can"
This startling paragraph is foistered in a
the close of his abridgment; paragraph o
his own creation, and 10 it he affixes in broa,
letters the name of Augustus Toplady.-
But is this the language Of Toplady? Is j
even his sentiment? Such sentiment i,
not to be found within the lids Of that who'll
treatise. 1t is a sentiment which Cayinist
have in every age disclaimed with the ut
most horror, and indignation. And wha
let me ask could have been the aesiqn?-
Was it not to misrepresmt? Was it not t
impose on an ignorant and credulous com
munity, who were every where led on, ant
sntraneed by his powerful elequence? Nor
especially, Whep we consider, that he wa
at that time thrust out before the world a
the founder Of a ssct, based upon principle
directly in opposition to the work which h
,mangled. Is not the design apparent? Wa
it not to throw upon the world, garble
and distorted view OF the doctrine Of predes
tination, 10 disgust the ignorant aud unweary
and thus multiply the number of his fol
lowers?
u In your Doctriral Tracts published b
the General conference this sentiment is in
.trcdaced thus; Mr.. Toplady "a young, Dol
man. lately published pamphlet, an extrat
'of which was soon after printed, concludin
with these words
"The sum Of all this: one in twenty" Do
Evidently striving 10 convey the impressio
that this was the language and sentiment {
Mr. Toplady. What was the object of th
General conference in publishing this, If
was not to sanction this bare faced misreprc
ssntation of Mr. Wesley? & 'E' ,'
Nov let w look for moment at the mis-
representations ct this General conference