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    cumstance in the religious history of Italy in the sixteenth century which , whatever may be thought of it in other respects , cannot but strike any historian of reform in that country and in that age , as calling for some peculiar investigation into predisposing causes ; we mean the fact that almost all the most eminent among those Italians who were obliged to quit Italy on account of their religious opinions , as soon as they were in places where they thought it safe to make them known openly , appeared not to be followers of

    the German Reformers , but Anti-trinitarians . Dr . M'Crie in recording such names as Camillo Renato , Ochino , Gentili , Alciati , Blandrata , Socini , ( the three relations Lelio , Fausto and Camillo , ) Martire , Lupo , Fieri , Catwdio ^ Gribaldiy and many others , must have been struck at seeing them deserting the ranks of Luther and Calvin , opposing them at all risks with fairness and candour in a Socratic and not a dogmatic manner , and endeavouring to carry reform much further than either of the two famous reformers dared . He , however , has not thought it worth while to bestow any pains in investigating the causes of this phenomenon , and has often been satisfied with

    merely mentioning , and sometimes has forgotten altogether , several of these singular men . Perhaps , however , we are to understand Dr . M'Crie ' s book as intended only to chronicle the attempts to spread the peculiar system and tenets of the German Reformers , whose orthodoxy entitles them to his regard ; and though , even in so limited a point of view as this , a little more previous inquiry would be very useful , he would be to a certain extent right in treating ( as he is always disposed to do ) the men who pushed the principles of the reformers to some wider results , as " disturbers , " and as being t \ ot much less of enemies to the creed of his heroes than were the followers

    of the Church of Rome . It is quite true that the inquiring minds of the Italians very much " disturbed'' the plans of the Calvinists , and placed their practice in no very creditable opposition to their professions as the friends of scriptural investigation . For those who would wish to pursue the long and interesting but intricate history of the modes in which , at divers periods and through various channels , attempts were made and exhortations given in favour of ecclesiastical reform , or in the prosecution of free discussion in religious matters , the historian would have a much wider field of exertion and

    investigation . In such an inquiry the German reformation in its external influence and the attempts made to lead the Italian reformers in the same train , would form but one chapter , though doubtless an important one ; and we fear that much cause would be seen for doubt whether that event did not disturb the progress of movements proceeding towards a desirable end , though on a very different plan ; and did not , both from political and religious causes , prove highly disastrous to all prospect of improvement in that unhappy country . We know that many of the most enlightened Italians

    are accustomed to believe that it was from their own ancient and inquiring sects , that the spirit displayed by the Italian reformers of the sixteenth century arose ; that the reformation of Luther and Calvin was in the result favourable to the Popes in Italy , since it opened their eyes upon the state of religious opinions in that country , and brought them assistance on

    political grounds ; that while on the one hand the Popes took advantage of the reformation for increasing their power in religious matters in Italy , the reformers of all denominations , on the other , in reality assisted Rome to put dowri the ancient doctrines and speculative inquiries of the enlightened Italians ; that , in short , it is not to Luther and Calvin that the Italians are indebted for having revived " the light , " but that it is to their anxiety and

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    28 Bevlew *—M * Crie ' $ Italian Reformation .

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Jan. 2, 1828, page 28, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2556/page/28/