Schaff - History of the Christian Church Vol. 8 - Media Sabda Org

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renewed those impious errors with which Satan formerly disturbed the
Church, and that he is a monster not to be borne. Those of Basel are
judicious. The Zürichers are the most vehement of all … They of
Schaffhausen agree. To an appropriate letter from the Bernese is added one
from the Senate in which they stimulate ours not a little. Caesar, the
comedian [so he sarcastically called Perrin], after feigning illness for three
days, at length went up to the assembly in order to free that wretch
[Servetus] from punishment. Nor was he ashamed to ask that the case be
referred to the Council of the Two Hundred. However, Servetus was
without dissent condemned. He will be led forth to punishment to-morrow.
We endeavored to alter the mode of his death, but in vain. Why we did not
succeed, I defer for narration until I see you.”
This letter reached Farel on his way to Geneva, where he arrived on the
same day, in time to hear the sentence of condemnation. He had come at
the request of Calvin, to perform the last pastoral duties to the prisoner,
which could not so well be done by any of the pastors of Geneva.
§ 155. EXECUTION OF SERVETUS. OCT. 27, 1553.
Farel, in a letter to Ambrosius Blaarer, December, 1553, preserved in
the library of St. Gall, and copied in the Thesaurus Hottingerianus of
the city library of Zürich, gives an account of the last moments and
execution of Servetus. See HENRY, vol. III. Beilage, pp. 72–75.
CALVIN, at the beginning of his “Defence,” Opera, VIII. 460, relates
his own last interview with Servetus in prison on the day of his death.
When Servetus, on the following morning, heard of the unexpected
sentence of death, he was horror-struck and behaved like a madman. He
uttered groans, and cried aloud in Spanish, “Mercy, mercy!”
The venerable old Farel visited him in the prison at seven in the morning,
and remained with him till the hour of his death. He tried to convince him
of his error. Servetus asked him to quote a single Scripture passage where
Christ was called “Son of God” before his incarnation. Farel could not
satisfy him. He brought about an interview with Calvin, of which the latter
gives us an account. Servetus, proud as he was, humbly asked his pardon.
Calvin protested that be had never pursued any personal quarrel against
him. “Sixteen years ago,” he said, “I spared no pains at Paris to gain you to
our Lord. You then shunned the light. I did not cease to exhort you by
letters, but all in vain. You have heaped upon me I know not how much