acquisition of useful knowledge: he would be fortifying himself with virtuous principles and pious resolutions, and pondering the path he should choose, surrounded as he was with difficulties and dangers. Conscious that he had no source to which he could look for support but God and his own exertions, it was prudent for him to resolve on engaging in some profession, that would be useful to mankind, and procure him a decent subsistence. From his theological works he could expect no temporal advantage, perhaps, he sustained much loss by their publication; for books cried down and proscribed as they were would not be likely to meet with a sale sufficient to defray the expense of printing them. From no party of christians had he any thing to expect but neglect, abuse and persecution. It is interesting to contemplate a young man, in such peculiar circumstances, making his way through all obstacles, until he attained considerable eminence in an honorable profession, and at the same time continuing his literary and theological labors for the good of mankind.

Having resolved on the medical profession, Servetus proceeded to the university of Paris, to enter upon the study of Physic.

The precise time of his going to Paris is not known;

but it could not be later than the year 1554; for we are informed that it was in that year Calvin opposed him in that city.

SECTION V.

An account of Servetus during his stay at Paris.

At Paris Servetus studied medicine under the famous professors Sylvinus and Fernel. He took his degree of Master of Arts, and was admitted Doctor of Medicine in that university.

At Paris he became acquainted with Calvin, who, as Servetus made no secret of his religious opinions, opposed his sentiments, and, it is said, a time was fixed for them to dispute with each other. This disputation Servetus declined. We are not told what were his reasons for declining it. They were much of an age, and it seems Servetus had no great opinion of the genius, any more than of the opinions of Calvin: yet it is not likely he would decline the contest either out of contempt of the abilities of his antagonist, or because he was afraid of his arguments: his freely corresponding with him afterwards showed that he did not despise him, and his general conduct and writings prove that he feared no opponent. He might decline the contest, at

that time, because it would have interrupted the studies and pursuits in which he was engaged; or becaue he had already received such a specimen of the spirit of the reformers that he supposed a controversy with them, instead of producing any good effect, would only irritate and do harm; or because he did not think he should meet with fair treatment in the disputation; or he might not think himself capable of doing his own cause justice in a verbal controversy; or he might not approve of such public disputations; or he might apprehend a snare was laid for him, and that his liberty, if not his life, would he endangered, if he did not decline the contest; or there might be other reasons which rendered it impossible for him to engage in it at that time. However it might be, after the zeal he had already manifested in supporting his opinions, it would be unreasonable to suppose he did not think himself capable of defending them.

After being admitted Doctor of Medicine, Servetus went and professed mathematics in the Lombard College. It is supposed it was about this time he was employed in preparing for the press a new edition of Ptolemy's Geography. He also practised physic at Paris, and published three or four detached pieces. One was an

apology for Dr. Champier at Lyons: another a professional piece, De Syrupis. He had a dispute with the physicians of Paris, which obliged him to publish an apology for himself. This dispute rose to a process before parliament, which was terminated by the suppression of the Doctor's apology, and an order of the house to the physicians to live on better terms with him, and to use him with humanity. This implies that their treatment of him had been reprehensible. It seems the misunderstanding with his brethren of the profession made his living at Paris disagreeable to him: accordingly we find, soon after the termination of the above process, he retired from that city.

During his stay at Paris, Servetus had been usefully and honorably employed. His studies and pursuits had been various; and his time must have been fully occupied. The medical art had been the leading object of his attention; and the academical honors he received are a testimony to the progress he made in the knowledge of it. But his genius was not to be confined to one branch of science. He professed mathematics, and read lectures on that subject. In the midst of his professional duties, he found leisure to prepare for the press a considerable

work on geography, and to give private instructions on that branch of knowledge. His powers must have been very active, his mind capacious, and his industry great, or he could not have pursued such a variety of studies and employments at the same time.

What occasioned the Doctor's dispute with his brethren of the profession we are not informed. It is possible they might envy his reputation; or he might detect some errors in their mode of practice; or his penetrative mind might make discoveries, and adopt a mode of practice, which they would treat as romantic and dangerous. A person so inquisitive upon every subject, with a judgment so discriminating, so little attached to established systems of any kind, and so ardent in the pursuit of improvement, as the Doctor, was not likely to be tied down by received dogmas and prescribed rules in his profession; but a departure from these would be deemed, by men of little minds, a kind of medical heresy. In every department of science, and in most of the affairs of life, men have been too much enslaved by old habits and opinions.