From Rise of Protestantism in France to Publication of the Institutes - James Aitken Wylie

confession that Protestantism rejected the doctrine
of the Trinity, and so was corrupt at the core. It
concerned the Reformers to show that
Protestantism was not a thing that tore up
Christianity by the roots under pretense of
removing the abuses that had grown up around it.
This consideration weighed with Calvin in
accepting, as he now did, Servetus' challenge. The
day, the hour, the place -- a house in the suburb of
St. Antoine -- were all agreed upon.
Calvin was punctual to the engagement; but
Servetus -- why, was never known -- did not
appear.[7] "We shall not forget," says Bungener,
"when the time comes, the position into which the
Spanish theologian had just thrutst the leaders of
the Reformation, and Calvin in particular. By
selecting him for his adversary on the question of
the Trinity, upon which no variance existed
between Romanism and the Reformation, he, in a
measure, constituted him the guardian of that
doctrine, and rendered him responsible for it before
all Christendom. It was this responsibility which
nineteen years afterwards kindled the pile of
287