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    The classes which have been enumerated comprise the three great divisions of Reformers who retained , among other relics of Popery , the doctrine of the Trinity . It would have been easy to swell the extracts

    with passages from the works of other eminent persons of these schools , especially from those of Brentius , Museulus , Wolfgang Gapito , Bucer and Peter Martyr , who all concurred in the sentiments which have been

    quoted , so far at least as to admit that the civil magistrate might lawfully coerce and punish reputed heretics and blasphemers , who publicly professed and taught their opinions . But the limits of this essay will not allow of quotations from their writings , and they are unnecessary , in such a brief summary , to illustrate the subject .

    A compendium of the sentiments of the early Reformers respecting religious liberty would , however , be defective without including the opinions which were held and acted upon by some of the Antitrinitarians of the

    same period . The persecution of Francis David in Transylvania , requires that some notice should be taken of Blandrata and Faustus Socinus , who are connected with that disgraceful transaction , either as instigators or abettors . Of Blandrata it will be sufficient to state , that the

    whole of the proceedings against David had his approbation , and were , most probably , planned and conducted by him . That Socinus countenanced the prosecution , so far at least as related to the deposition and imprisonment of the venerable superintendant ,

    must be receiyed as matter of authentic history . * It is further . evident ^ that in doing this he acted in conformity with his principles , it being his declared opinion , that , in certain cases , men might lawfully be restrained by the civil power . Writing

    * For a detailed account of the proceedings relative to Francis David , the reader is referred to Dr . Thomas Rees ^ s Historical Introduction to his Translation of the Racovian Catechism , pp . xh . &c .

    The conduct of Socinus , ia this persecution , has been considered , and tlie charges preferred against him , have been stated and examined , by tlie writer of the present essay , rn the Nonconformist , No . V , Mon . Repos , XIII . 382 , &c

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    to Martift Vadovitz , 9 professor in tltfe Academy of Cracow , and alluding to some persecution he had ex perienced he thus expresses himself : _« g £ you will ask , Why do you affirm , that although you Were an Heresiarch , and an obstinate one , you ought not to

    have been treated with this great severity ? I answer , because when there is a freedom from sedition , and the pursuit of self-interest , then the Heresiarch does not labour under a fault of the will , but of the understanding . Therefore , a $ we restrain , and , if it be necessary , confine in

    chains , mad and frantic persons who would otherwise be injurious to others , and at the same time greatly pit } ' them 5 so an Heresiavch of this sort ought not to be treated with the utmost severity * but should meet with pity : and the duly thing to be regarded is , to hinder his endeavours to

    propagate his doctrine , and if it eannof be otherwise dohfc , by chains and a prison /* * The preceding statements af £ taken from the writings and conduct of

    persons of the first celebrity in their respective communions , and maybe regarded as the standard of opinion on the subject of religious liberty in the several countries in which they resided . It must ribt be concluded ,

    however , that these views were held universally among the friends and promoters of the Reformation . There is abundant evidence to prove that sentiments far more just and liberal were embraced and avowed in the

    same period , by persons of distinguished learning and character . This may fairly be inferred from the general feeling of disapprobation which the proceedings against Servetus excited throughout Europe , and the necessity under which Calvin and his associates found themselves of

    entering upon an elaborate defence of their conduct . But , in addition to this , itis to be observed , that several very able works appeared shortly after this atrocious murder , reprobating the whole transaction in' the strongest terms , and maintaining the most enlarged principles of religious freedom . In the number of these may be first * ToulmiiTs life of , Soctniifl , pf > - 1 < M , 105 . Scrcini Opera , I . 476 , b .

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    740 The Nonconformist No . X-V .

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Dec. 2, 1819, page 740, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1779/page/24/