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letters—men of untarnished reputation , were Arminians * were deeply involved in the theological disputes of that period ; when from their side no stone was left
unturned to retort the bitter invectives of their insolent oppressors . Is it , tb < 3 n , no matter of surprise , that the Arminians of that period did not publish these letters ? But it is equally strange from the other
side ^ if these letters had been spurious ^ that neither Andr . Rivet , who answered Grotius , nor Clu Drelincourt , Calvin ' ablest apologist , nor Jac , Trigland , who opposed himself to Vitenbogacrd , * should not have controverted the
factj but kept a deep silence about them . Morus ^ s denial , f without one solid argument , and Seanebier ' s artful explanation of these letters , joined to later
writings of Calvin , in which he expresses his mind in similar or more emphatical words , dissipate nearly every remaining doubt ; and 3 Sir , even if it could be
brought to a demonstration that these letters were spurious , it would not invalidate the truth ^ " that Calvin desired indeed and
promoted tire death of Servetus . ^ Permit me , Sir , to lessen the disagreeable impression of this assertion on your sensible heart , th ^ t I here show you one presumptive and strong motive , by which Calvin ' s zeal must have become more inflamed .
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Servetus wrote a letter , published by La Rochet from the original document , about six years before his death , to Abel Pepihj before a monk of the family of St . Francis , then one of the ministers in the reformed chivrch at
Geneva ; in-which , p mong other less crude expressions , he-says , u Your gospel , viz * that of the reformed , is without one God , without true faith , without good works . In the place of one God
you have a Vhree-headed Cerberus ; for true faith , you have a fatal dream ; and the good works you call idle shadows . The belief in Christ is with you a mere varnish , operating nothing . Man is with you a senseless block , and God a chiniaera of servile will . "
He declared further , that he foresaw his death for the cause of the gospel , and his attack upon the antichrist ; and complained , " that it had not been allowed him to correct some passages in his
writ"ings , which were in possession of Calvin .. Let us reflect . Sir , how many combustible materials > Servetus had brought together ; let us reflect on Calvin ' s education , temper , and zeal , for what he believed the truth ;—let us consider , that the persecution of an obstinate heretic was then deemed a meritorious work in a believer ;—that even Servetus did not shrink to defend that horrible doctrine ;|| a ad we shall not longer wonder
V * Hist . EccTes , p . 116 , j \ xj . f Alex . Moms Orat . in Def . of Calvin , p . 73 . % Mem . dc JLiterat , vqL ii . i 7 il , Dcc . n . xc . p . 359 " , 360 . II Bibl . Raieon . torn . i . part ii . pp . J 73—175- See hi « Remonstrance to the Senate ? f Geneva , in which he states , " that they ( obstinate heretics ) may be exiled * ' It is true , exiU differs materially from a capital punishment * but it ought to be considered , that mle was , according to Servetus , the highest punishment , which lawfully *© uld be inflicted by a Christian magistrate .
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Skttck of the Life of Servetus . — -Letter 4 + 281
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vox ., v . 2 o
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), June 2, 1810, page 281, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2405/page/9/
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