'My Lords, there are four weighty and undeniable reasons, for which Calvin ought to be condemned.'

First, Because no man ought to be prosecuted like a criminal for any doctrinal point, as I have showed in my petitions, and shall make it appear more at large by the ancient doctors of the church; and therefore he has made a very ill use of a criminal prosecution, and acted against the character of a minister of the gospel.'

Secondly, Because he is a false accuser, as you may see by these papers, and as it will plainly appear, by the reading of my book.'

'Thirdly, Because he designs to stifle the doctrine of Christ by frivolous and calumnious arguments, as you plainly see by my papers; for he has inserted in them great lies and wicked things.'

Fourthly, Because he follows, in a great measure, the doctrine of Simon Magus, contrary to all the doctors that ever lived in the church and therefore being a magician, he ought not only to be condemned, but also expelled from your city: and his estate ought to be adjudged to me as an equivalent for the loss of mine which he has occasioned. This is, my

Lords, what I desire of you, written the abovesaid day, &c.

MICHAEL SERVETUS pleading his own cause.'

The following is the last Petition of Servetus.

Magnificent Lords,

( 'Tis now three weeks since I desired to have a hearing, but could not obtain it. I beseech you, for Jesus Christ's sake, not to deny me what you would not deny a Turk, when I desire you to do me justice. I have several things to tell you, that are very important and necessary.'

'As for the orders you gave, that something should be done to keep me clean, they have not been performed; and I am more miserable than ever. Besides, I am very much troubled with cold, by reason of my cholic and rupture, which occasions some other miseries that I am ashamed to write. 'Tis a great piece of cruelty, that I should not be allowed to speak, in order to supply my wants. For God's sake my Lords, give some orders about it, either out of compassion or out of duty. October 10, 1553.

MICHAEL SERVETUS.'

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Thus did the poor sufferer petition, but his petitions were as fruitless as if howled out to the winds his cruel persecutors were not to be moved by his distresses, nor by any considerations of either justice or compassion; bigotry had steeled their hearts. Robbed of his property, consigned to a noisome dungeon, they resolved he should languish there, till they committed him to the flames.

SECTION VI.

The correspondence between Calvin, the magistrates of Geneva, and the reformed ministers, and magistrates, on the case of Servetus.

Sensible that the trial of Servetus was an affair of great consequence, and that it would be exposing themselves to censure if they put him to death without the countenance of other protestant churches, the magistrates of Geneva resolved to consult the magistrates of the protestant cantons of Switzerland, before they gave sentence against him. By obtaining their countenance they might think they should save themselves from the opprobrium of so highly popish a measure as that of burning a man for his opinions: but partnership in guilt lessens

not personal infamy. They sent to them the Doctor's book printed at Vienne, and also the writings of Calvin, and the prisoner's answers; and at the same time desired to have the opinion of their divines on the affair. This produced a correspondence, which is of the more importance, because it casts light on the principles and general temper of the reformers.

'The magistrates of Zurich answered, that they had consulted their ministers, and intreated the council of Geneva to oppose strenuously Servetus' heresy. Being fully persuaded (say they) that you will not suffer the wicked intention of your prisoner to have its effect, since it is altogether contrary to the christian religion, and occasions a great scandal.' Their letter is dated October 2.

The Zurich divines expressed themselves more fully. Calvin thought fit to transmit their letter entire to posterity, with an introduction, excusing himself for omitting the letters from the other churches. Calv. Theo. Tract. 860, 861. Gen. Edit. 1576.

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Calvin's introduction to the letter from the divines at Zurich.

When Servetus had satiated himself, in venting his spleen in the most opprobrious terms, our most excellent senate, in order to form the more certain judgment how to proceed against him, in a way as little obnoxious to reflection as possible, sent to have the advice of four of the Helvetic churches, that of Zurich, of Berne, of Basil, and of Schaffhausen, and consulted their pastors concerning the whole case. That Servetus might not have the least shadow of pretence to complain, that he was undone by the multitude of articles concerted against him; we chose to drop his last reproaches, rather than take that to ourselves, which we might lawfully have done. Besides, our readers will readily acknowledge that we have so far studied, brevity, as not only to keep ourselves free from false glosses, but that we have handled matters more sparingly than what the nature of them would in reality bear us out in ; and that we contained ourselves within the limits of a just exposition. For that the truth. might come before the judges with the utmost simplicity and clearness; we only briefly touch