s man in the eyes of all who were opposed to "Bellianism "--as
the principle of toleration was nicknamed in honour of Martinus
Bellius--and that included almost all the world. But to the end of his
life, and in almost every one of his multitudinous {96} tracts he
continued to announce the principle of religious liberty, and to work
for a type of Christianity which depended for its conquering power
solely on its inherent truth and on its moral dynamic.

Calvin, who recognized the hand of Castellio in this powerful defence
of freedom of thought, called his opponent "a monster full of poison
and madness," and proceeded to demolish him in a Reply. In his _Contra
libellum Calvini_, which is an answer to this Reply, Castellio declares
that Calvin's act in burning Servetus was a bloody act, and that now
his book is a direct menace to honest, pious people. "I," he adds,
"who have a horror of blood, propose to examine the book. I do not
defend Servetus. I have never read his books. Calvin burned them
together with their author. I do not want to burn Calvin or to burn
his book. I am only going to _answer_ it." He notes that Calvin
complains of "novelties and innovations," a strange complaint, he
thinks, from a man who "has introduced more innovations in ten years
than the entire Church had introduced in six centuries!" All the
sects, he reminds the great Reformer, claim to be founded on the Word
of God. They all believe that their religion is true. Calvin says
that his is _the only true one_. Each of the others says that his is
the only true one. Calvin says that they are wrong. He makes himself
(by what right I do not know) the judge and sovereign arbiter. He
claims that he has on his side the sure evidence of the Word of God.
Then why does he write so many books to prove what is evident? The
truth is surely not evident to those who die denying that it is truth!
Calvin asks how doctrine is to be guarded if heretics are not to be
punished. "Doctrine," cries Castellio, "Christ's doctrine means loving
one's enemies, returning good for evil, having a pure heart and a
hunger and thirst for righteousness. _You_ may return to Moses if you
will, but for us others Christ has come."

Love, he constantly insists, is the supreme badge of any true
Christianity, and the traits of the beatitudes in a person's life are a
surer evidence that he belongs in {97} Christ's family, than is the
fact that he holds current opinions o