that Heretic did not ceafe from that time to make imprecations against him.

But the Account of that bitter revenge, which Calvin took upon Servetus, for his hatred and imprecations, must be defered to another Paper.

The OLD WHIG, &c.

N° 153. Thursday, February 9, 1737-8.

I

To the Author of the OLD WHIG.

SIR,

N my account of Servetus, I have intimated that Calvin and he first quarrelled in an epiftolary correfpondence.

Servetus fent a MS. to Calvin to have his judgment about it, fix years before he was apprehended at Geneva. And, though that piece was never printed, it was produced against him at his trial. Such unfair methods do Perfecutors and Inquifitors commonly take!

Calvin was fo incenfed against Servetus, that he could not forbear reviling him in his Commen

*

Commentaries on the Bible 1; for he calls him a profligate fellow, full of pride, the proudeft Knave of the Spanish Nation, a Dog, and an obfcene Dog. Moft of thefe Things he wrote, before Servetus came to Geneva. It is faid, that there is at Paris an original letter of Calvin's to Farrel, wrote 1546, which was never printed; and that he there intimates, Servetus had wrote fuch intolerable things, that, if he came to Geneva (as he, in his letters, had proposed to do) he would use his Power with the magiftrates, that he should not efcape without losing his life.

Servetus (notwithstanding the bad treatment he had met with) continued in his own opinions, and boldly refolved to publish a a third book against the Trinity, and against fome other doctrines. That book, for which he was burnt at Geneva, came out at Vienne in Dauphine, the begining of the year 1553, with the title of Chriftianifmi Reftitutio, &c. Or the Revival of Christianity, &c. That is the famous book, in which he, the first of all the Phyficians, mentioned the circulation of the blood. He printed one thoufand copies,

tions.

but

See Calvin on John i. 1. 1563, and in other EdiIn his notes on Gen. i. 3. Calvin charges Servetus with blafphemy, and fais, This obscene dog barks fo and fo.

See Varilla's Hiftoire de l' Herefie, ad Ann. 1553, p. 350, &c. Paris. 4to. & Soberiana, p. 48, 49. of the Dutch Edition, 1694.

* See Dr. Wotton concerning Antient and Modern Learning. . 229. Anno 1697.

but most of them were burned, either at Vienne, with the Author's effigie, or at Francfort; which is the reason why that book is fo very scarce1.

Servetus was neither an Arian, nor a Photinian. For he afferted "not only the præ"existence of Chrift; but also that Chrift is "not a Creature, nor a Being of a finite cr power; but true God; and that he ought "to be worshiped as fuch." However, he is reckoned to have expreffed himself so confufedly, that it is not easy to have a clear notion of his doctrine. He calls it a Mystery, unknown to the World; but at the fame time owns, that fuch, as acknowlege Chrift to be the Meffiab and the Son of God, only as he is a Man, may attain to falvation. He expreffes himself, on all occafions, with great indignation against the Church of Rome, and takes it to be the Beast, mentioned in the Revelation. I forbear to quote particular paffages, because I would not be tedious; but there is fuch an acrimony in them, as would have incited the Roman Catholics to put him to death, if he had not denied the Trinity.

Though the Chriftianifmi. Reftitutio was printed, very privately, and without Servetus's name, Calvin was informed that Servetus was the author of it, and had a copy fent him. Whereupon he defired one William Trie

There was a Copy of that Book 1613, in the Library of the Landgrave of Heffe Caffel,

N

Trie to write a letter to Lions, in March 1553,
wherein Servetus was reprefented as a very
pernicious man.
That letter was accompa-
nied with the Title page, the Index, and the
firft leaves of the book. Servetus complained
of it, upon his trial, at Geneva; and faid,
"That Calvin had fent thofe fheets to Lions,
"to have him arrefted and profecuted as an
"Heretic."

About a fortnight after, Calvin fent, by the fame man, above twenty Latin letters, which he had received from Servetus, that he might be the better convicted of his Herefy. Thefe letters were mentioned in the fentence pronounced against him, at Vienne. Calvin fucceded in his defign, Servctus was apprehended at Vienne, in the begining of June, by virtue of William Trie's letters, and imprifoned; but used very well in his confinement, which was of but very fhort continuance. For two days after, upon a friday, about nine a clock in the morning, Servetus afked the jaylor for the key of the houfe of office, and made his escape through it. The magiftrates, being informed that he had run away, met June 17, and condemned him to be burned alive, with a flow fire, if he could be apprehended. And, in the mean time, to be burned in effigie, with his books. Accordingly, on the fame day, his effigie, being laid in a dung-cart, by the hands of the common hangman, was carried to the place

of

of execution, faftened to a gibbet, and burned, with five bales of his books, by the faid executioner.

I thought to have proceded to what happened to him at Geneva, where he fuffered in perfon, and not in effigie. But I find I cannot give you a particular relation of his remarkable trial, if I should comprize it within the compaffe of this paper.

I would, therefore, conclude with fuch reflections as these. "When Servetus was "thus treated, it was a common thing to "burn the Proteftants in France. That very year, many of them fuffered death, that the Popish Religion might be defended against "the progreffe of the Reformed.

"Tantum Relligio potuit fuadere malorum?

"Can religion induce men to be guilty of fo "much mischief?

"An hiftorical commentary on these "words would be a very curious work, and "an admirable antidote against Perfecution. Cruelty is the diftinguishing character of the Church of Rome! Surely Proteftants, who "have fo often and fo feverely felt the dread"ful effects of that violent fpirit, and bitter " zeal for Religion; - Thofe, who have "themfelves come out of that great tribula"tion, fhould think themfelves, in a more

pecu