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animosity between Calvin and Servetus , with its fatal , never-toomuch-lamented issue to the latter , seem utterly inexplicable , if we dive not deeper than the
mere narrative of the doleful ca tastrophe . It seems inexplicable in many re
spects , with regard to that great and excellent reformer , whose memory will be endeared to all , ( though averse to consider the burning of
Servetus with bishop Hall in him as meritorious , ) who value supereminent talents and religion ; who , with humble adoration , revere the means which Providence in its
"wisdom thought proper to employ to accomplish the illustrious work of the reformation : and , nevertheless , proofs , strong as charity could require , shall evince his condemnation in more than one
regard by any impartial inquirer . Calvin and Servetus were gifted by Providence with uncommon talents . Both made considerable progress in various branches of literature , far above the mass of literati of ' that highly-interesting
period . Calvin was pretty generally considered , and deserved to be distinguished as the prince of the learned ; and , after the death of Zuinglius , as the chief of the
reformed , by all who either approved openly or secretly the reformation ; while even they who in their hearts disapproved some of his speculative opinions , asServetusj Blandrata , Socinus , Gentilis , left nothing untried to ingratiate themselves with him ; and
the most eminent among the Roman Catholics , as Sadolet and
others , paid a voluntary tribute to his exalted merits .
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Calvin and Servetus had both a lively sense of their own im » portance ; were of a fierce , control-disdaining disposition . The one had all the haughtiness of his
proud countrymen ; the other , the quickly irascible temper of his native country , high- toned through the lofty notions of his democratic residence . Calvin would not listen , but imperiously command ; and would have been gratified to
see a Servetus , a Socinus , at his feet , to be imbued with wisdom from his lips . Servetus would not yield to any man , and deemed opposition to his dictates a crime . Both were animated with an
ardent zeal for truth : both had persuaded themselves , that they stood forward in , and avenged the cause of their God and Lord * What wonder ^ then , that Servetus was crushed by Calvin ? No more , than that Calvin might have
shared a similar fate , if their circumstances had been reversed , and Calvin ' s power lodged in the hands of Servetus . Though you ,
Sir * will not question the ardent zeal of John Calvin , that of Servetus might seem to you more problematical , which scruple I shall remove in the course of this
letter . May I only beg you , Sir , not to consider now if Servetus erred , not if his opinions were founded in truth or damnable heresies , neither if he was tinctured
by fanaticism ; but alone , if he acted with sincerity , and believed in his heart what he professed as the gospel doctrine . Who can doubt his confidence
in God , and glowing zeal for his glory , who considers with attention his prayer ? n O Christ
Je' ? Treatise on Moderation *
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278 Sketch of the Life of Servetus . —Letter 4 .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), June 2, 1810, page 278, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2405/page/6/
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