tember 13, 1541, to the great satisfaction both of the
people and the magistrates; and the first thing he did, after his
arrival, was to establish a form of church discipline, and a
consistorial jurisdiction, invested with power of inflicting censures
and canonical punishments, as far as excommunication, inclusively.

_Agency of Calvin in the death of Michael Servetus._

It has long been the delight of both infidels and some professed
christians, when they wish to bring odium upon the opinions of Calvin,
to refer to his agency in the death of Michael Servetus. This action is
used on all occasions by those who have been unable to overthrow his
opinions, as a conclusive argument against his whole system. Calvin
burnt Servetus!--Calvin burnt Servetus! is good proof with a certain
class of reasoners, that the doctrine of the Trinity is not true--that
divine sovereignty is anti-scriptural,--and christianity a cheat. We
have no wish to palliate any act of Calvin's which is manifestly wrong.
All his proceedings, in relation to the unhappy affair of Servetus, we
think, cannot be defended. Still it should be remembered that the true
principles of religious toleration were very little understood in the
time of Calvin. All the other reformers then living, approved of
Calvin's conduct. Even the gentle and amiable Melancthon expressed
himself in relation to this affair, in the following manner. In a letter
addressed to Bullinger, he says, "I have read your statement respecting
the blasphemy of Servetus, and praise your piety and judgment; and am
persuaded that the Council of Geneva has done right in putting to death
this obstinate man, who would never have ceased his blasphemies. I am
astonished, that any one can be found to disapprove of this proceeding."
Farel expressly says, that "Servetus deserved a capital punishment."
Bucer did not hesitate to declare, that "Servetus deserved something
worse than death." The truth is, although Calvin had some hand in the
arrest and imprisonment of Servetus, he was unwilling that he should be
burnt at all. "I desire," says he, "that the severity of the punishment
should be remitted." "We endeavoured to commute the kind of death, but
in vain." "By wishing to mitigate the severity of the punishment," says
Farel to Calvin, "you discharge the office of a friend towards your
greatest enemy." "That Calvin was the instigator of the magistrates that
Servetus might be burned," says Turritine, "histori