New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-03-25

al
doubts AZ to the soundness of the Protestant
tbcoIocy In the twenty second year Of his age, he
nublished n work ON the" Errors Of the Trinity
Having taken up his temporary residence at Basel,
he endeayored to draw Calvin into correspondence.
lint was treated ky him with indifference and
NEGLECT His letters are filed with invectives
against the prevalent conceptions OF Christian
doetriBe and at length became abusive of Calvin
personally Returning to Paris, where he had pre-
vously studied, he devoted himself to natural
science and medicine, for which he had a remark
able aptitude. He OWNED the circulation of the
blood almost anticipating the discovery of Harvey.
After repeatedly changing his name and place OF
abode. be finally settled in VieDne, where he was
kindly treated BY the archbishop, and long
lived in the successful practice of his
profession During this time, period of
more than twenty years, he confomed ont
wardly to the Catholic Church, attended mass,
and was not suspected OF heresy. lie now pub
bshed new work, not less at variance with the
prev aent theological ideas than the FIRST of which
the manuscript had previously been sent to Calvin.
For this he was denounced TO the archbishop of
LYONS. his arrest was ordered and an ecclesiastical
eourt constituted for his trial A French refugee in
Geneva had taken active part IN the process, and
prevailed upon Calvin to furnish the letters which be
These furnished decisive proofs of his heresy and,
seeing that conviction inevitable he made his
escape from prison. Calvin had already announced
that if he came TO Geneva, as far rs his authority
was of any avail he should not go away alive In a
few months however he actually appeared in that
CITY. and took lodgings jim inn near one Of the
gates. As soon as Calvin was informed of his pres
ence he procured his arrest. The accusation was
made by a secretary Of Calvin, who with the other
preachers was confronted with the prisoner be-
fore the Senate His defeuse was couched IN
offensive language. His judges were implacable
he was condemned to death. and adherng to his
opinions with heroic cOnstancy, was burned at the
stake in 1863 Professor Fisher relieves Calvin from
the charge of arranging the mode OF his DEATH lie
was in favor of punishment in mitigated form,
and would probably have substituted the sword for
the faCot lie also expected that Seryetus would
recant and thus escape with his life. On the other
hand il cannot he denied that he furnished the
documentary evidence which would have decided
his fate. He caused the arrest of Servetus at Ge
neva and urged his punishment By death. The ex-
ecuton Of one who assaed the doctrines of Christian
ity was in his Judgment right. He was in favor oi
contumacious heretics being put TO death by the
civil authority This was in accordance with the
spirit of ,the age. The execution of Seryetus WAS
generally approved by the Christian world. Ii was
dine TO no personal vindctyeness on the part Of Cal
win. argues Professor Fisher; he was faithful 10
what he believed to be truth aud duty; but he had
no comprehension Of the true principles of religious
liberty which were the fruit of later stage of civil
ization.
We have no space 10 follow the author in his lucid
aud suggestive remarks the character and iniin-
ence of the Reformation and on the place OF Prot
estantsm in the development of modern society
His work forms series Of disqulSltionS, profound
comprehensive and sagaeiOus on the progress
of speculative and political opinion, rainier
than dramatic narrative Of events Every
where it bears the marks of faithful and ac-
cuTate research. No important source of evil
dence has been neglected, and the results oil
the latest inquiries have been treasured up in the
rich storehonse OF facts. The volume is no less re-
markable for It's impartiality than Its erudion IL
betrays no lurking desire to make out ease III favor
of any private convictions or sympathies. The
tone of its discussions is elevated, generous
philosophical. Its ripe aud thorough scholarship
is SO far in advance of the cnrrent standards,
that it may fail of adequate recognition by the mass
of superficial readers. But every intelligent student
of modern history will gratefully appreciate the
learning. the acuteness and the candor, which are
brought by the anthor 10 the elucdatOn of The sub
iect In a work of such wide compass, errors of
detail NAV doubtless be detected, but they cannot
ytiate its general eXactness aud fidelity An IN
stance of this kind is ascribng the translation OF
Rankes History of the Popea TO Miss Anstin, IN
stead of Mrs Sarah Austin the wife of the learned
English jurist John Austin. The date OF the earliest
collective edition of Cayins works is given as l55d
eight years before ms death instead of 1917, when
il was first published AT Geneva. We might also
demur at the orthography of Melanchthons name,
which is uniformly curtailed Of its fair proportions
Ivy the omission of an essential letter. But these
are comparatively trivial bemishes IN production
which may be welcomed with just pride a. an honor
10 American letters for It's Sodiy completeness,
and admirable spirit.