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182 heresy, and that those who deny the justice of the punish- ment, themselves deserve it. The book was signed by all the clergy of Geneva, as Calvin's compurgators. It was generally considered a failure; and a refutation appeared, which was so skilful as to produce a great sensation in the Protestant world. This famous tract, now of extreme rarity, did not, as has been said, "contain the pith of those arguments which have ultimately triumphed in almost every part of Europe;" nor did it preach an unconditional toleration. But it struck hard at Calvin by quoting a passage from the first edition of his Institutes, afterwards omitted, in which he spoke for toleration. " Some of those," says the author, "whom we quote have subsequently written In a different spirit. Nevertheless, we have cited the earlier opinion as the true one, as it was expressed under the pressure of persecution." The first edition, we are informed by Calvin himself, was written for the purpose of vindicating the Protestants who were put to death, and of putting a stop