Carl Theophilus Odhner
Published: 2013-09
Total Pages: 24
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1910 edition. Excerpt: ... tock & Strong's Theological Cyclopedia, vol. ix, p. 590). How far from the truth is this estimate of Servetus will be seen in our account of his doctrine of faith and charity. We think his appreciation of "practical ethics" will compare favorably with Luther's advice to Melanchthon: "Remain thou a sinner, and sin bravely but confide and rejoice still more bravely in Christ. As long as we are here we must sin. This life is not the habitation of righteousness. It is enough that we, by the treasure of grace, acknowledge the. Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world. From this the sin shall not tear us loose, even if we a thousand and a thousand times a day, commit fornication and murder." (Luther's Epistles. Vol. I. Jena, 1556, p. 345.) 4. THE LIFE AND WORK OF SERVETUS. The chief purpose of the present treatise is to bring out a systematic view of the theological doctrines of Servetus, and we must therefore confine our account of his life to a few general outlines. Michael Servetus was a Spaniard, born of a good family at Villanueva, Aragon, in the year 1509 (or 1511). Of his childhood nothing is known, but he is said to have entered the university of Saragossa at the age of fourteen years. Being an intellectual prodigy he rapidly acquired such a knowledge of Latin, Greek, Hebrew and Arabic that on account of his linguistic proficiency he was at the age of seventeen appointed secretary to Quintana, the father-confessor of Emperor Charles V. In this capacity he was present at the imperial coronation at Bologna, in 1529, where he became acquainted with the papal court in all its splendor and corruption. Soon afterwards he accompanied Quintana to the great Diet at Augsburg where the Keformers presented their famous " Confession, ..".