because he had criticized the inspiration of the
Song of Solomon and the Genevan interpretation of the clause "he
descended into hell." The bitterness thus aroused developed into
life-long enmity. During all this time also the less strict party in the
city and in the council did not cease to harry the reformer.

But the most memorable of all the controversies in which Calvin was
engaged was that into which he was brought in 1553 with Michael Servetus
(q.v.). After many wanderings, and after having been condemned to death
for heresy at Vienne, whence he was fortunate enough to make his escape,
Servetus arrived in August 1553 at Geneva on his way to Naples. He was
recognized in church and soon after, at Calvin's instigation, arrested.
The charge of blasphemy was founded on certain statements in a book
published by him in 1553, entitled _Christianismi Restitutio_, in which
he animadverted on the Catholic doctrine of the Trinity, and advanced
sentiments strongly savouring of Pantheism. The story of his trial is
told elsewhere (see art. SERVETUS), but it must be noted here that the
struggle was something more than a doctrinal one. The cause of Servetus
was taken up by Calvin's Genevan foes headed by Philibert Berthelier,
and became a test of the relative strength of the rival forces and of
the permanence of Calvin's control. That Calvin was actuated by personal
spite and animosity against Servetus himself may be open to discussion;
we have his own express declaration that, after Servetus was convicted,
he used no urgency that he should be put to death, and at their last
interview he told Servetus that he never had avenged private injuries,
and assured him that if he would repent it would not be his fault if all
the pious did not give him their hands.[10] There is the fact also that
Calvin used his endeavour to have the sentence which had been pronounced
against Servetus mitigated, death by burning being regarded by him as an
"atrocity," for which he sought to substitute death by the sword.[11] It
can be justly charged against Calvin in this matter that he took the
initiative in bringing on the trial of Servetus, that as his accuser he
prosecuted the suit against him with undue severity, and that he
approved the sentence which condemned Servetus to death. When, however,
it is remembered that the unanimous decision of the Swiss churches and
of the Swiss state governments was that Servetus deserved to die; that
the general voic