On this page

• Text (2)

  Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

  • 

    Untitled Article

  • 

    Untitled Article

• Transcript

  • Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

    Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.

    Untitled Article

    tavc been urged by the enemies of Servetus . It was no privilege : it was a right , which every one accused could claim- When a

    foreigner in . any country is arraigned at the bar of justice , he is entitled to a fair trial , a full defence , according to the laws of the land ; and may claim every mean

    in his favour , accorded to every native criminal , except he is especially excluded in the expressed words of the law . But , besides this , to the native inhabitants of Geneva was granted an unusual privilege : when they were condemned in conformity to the

    common process of law , when no reprieve could be obtained by the council of two hundred , then they might require the convocation of ail the heads of families ( chefs des families . ) Chapelle , Calvin ' s apologist ,

    insinuates , that Calvin opposed this appeal ; that the rights of the consistory , then by many disputed , might not be infringed , " which he apprehended , if this grand council of the republic intermeddled with affairs , which

    Calvin considered as purely ecclesiastic !" GorreuS orPerrin stood not alone in this arduous contest ; other members of the senate seconded him , but all in vain . Several of the ministers of Geneva abhorred sincerely this atrocious punishment , and preferred banishment or perpetual imprisonment—but equally in vain . Borrhaus Cellarius , a renowned divine , would never consent to the death of any heretic ; and , though Calvin favoured a capital punishment , he ,

    Untitled Article

    how T ever , declared , iC that he wished it less severe , and petitioned to have it altered / ' But the law to burn heretics was yet in full vigour at Geneva . It was not

    in the power of the judges , constitutionally , to alter it ; and Calvin opposed the motion , the only mean to prevent its execution , that thd question should be referred to the council of two hundred .

    Servetus was then condemned by a majority of his judges , the 26 Oct . This sentence has been published at large by La Roche and Mosheim , * upon which Venemaf observes ,

    3 . That only his erroneous opinions concerning the doctrine of the Trinity and poedo-baptism , with his calumnious expressions about these , doctrines , are mentioned , which are declared horrible , false , and heretical . >

    2 . That his doctrine was false and heretical z he an incorrigible heretic , who intended to spread his doctrine by his books * iC He was , therefore , " concludes this 4

    great man , c principally condemned as a professed heretic ^ and this his terrible punishment is to be considered as an hetericidej *

    This sentence was communicated and read to Servetus the same day , with intimation , that the next it should be put in execution * Was it a wonder , Sir , that Servetus was perplexed and perturbed , hearing such an unexpected and cruel condemnation ? But

    what deep rancour must have possessed Calvin ' s soul in those moments , m which dropped front his pen these bitter and unrelenting words : * Now he appeared

    ? Mem , de JLit&rat . voL ii . Fcbr . n , 200 . p . 75 , 76 , Mosheim , § 49 . p . 117 . f H . JE . torn , vii , p . 474 ,

    Untitled Article

    Sketch of tPie Life of Servetus . —Letter 6 * 385

    Untitled Article

    yo ; l . iu « ' 3 x >

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Aug. 2, 1810, page 385, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2407/page/9/