Rise and Establishment of Protestantism at Geneva - James Aitken Wylie

the ministers were requested to appear. Calvin now
at length stood face to face with his adversary. The
Reformer's severe logic soon unmasked the real
opinions of the man, and forced him to admit the
frightful conclusions to which they led; but if he
put forth all his power in arguing with Servetus, it
was not to procure a conviction, but a recantation,
and save the unhappy man from the flames. "No
great danger hung over him," he declared, "if he
could possibly have been brought to his
senses."[14] "Would," he sorrowfully exclaimed at
a later period--"Would that we could have obtained
a recantation from Servetus, as we did from
Gentilis!"[15]
It must be acknowledged that Servetus on his
trial, both at Vienne and Geneva, showed neither
courage nor truthfulness. At the former place he
behaved badly indeed. He disowned his books,
denied his handwriting, uttered repeatedly
falsehoods on oath, and professed himself a son of
his "holy mother the Church." Swollen with
insolence and venting defiance while at liberty, he
proved a very craven before the Inquisition. How
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