[356] Lelio Socin, founder of the celebrated sect which bears his
name, was born at Sienna of a distinguished family: his father,
Mariano Socin, a professor in the University of Bologna, was one
of the most learned jurisconsults of his age. Of a bold and active
mind, which found pleasure in the most subtle speculations, and
which would not stop short of the interpretation of mysteries,
Lelio left his native country in 1548, and joined the Reformers of
Switzerland and Germany, whose friendship he won by the politeness
of his manners, the purity of his life, and his zeal for learning.
He resided by turns at Zurich and Wittemberg, and was not slow,
by correspondence or conversation, to express his doubts on the
common doctrines, which he skilfully advanced rather in the form
of questions than as opinions which he was prepared to maintain
and to teach. He was beloved by Bullinger, who did not suspect the
heterodoxy of his beliefs, and who wrote to Calvin regarding him, "I
restrain as far as I can this man's curiosity;" and Calvin himself,
after having repeatedly broken off correspondence with Socin, could
not forbear renewing it, and giving a friendly reply to the doubts
which he had expressed on the resurrection, baptism, the trinity,
&c. (Calv. _Opera_, tom. ix. pp. 51, 57, 197.) The letter, which
is published here for the first time, throws valuable light on the
relation of the Reformer to the founder of a sect to which even
Socin himself was yet a stranger, and whose doubts were afterwards
to be set up as dogmas by his disciples. Lelio Socin died in 1562,
before he had completed his thirty-seventh year.--M'Crie, _Hist. of
Ref. in Italy_, _passim_.
Refusal to reply to the curious questions proposed to him by
Socin.
[1551.]
You are deceived in so far as you entertain the impression
that Melanchthon does not agree with us on the doctrine of
predestination. I only said briefly that I had a letter written by
his own hand, in which he confessed that his opinion agreed with
mine. But I can believe all you say, as it is nothing new for him
to elude in this matter, the better to rid himself of troublesome
inquiries. Certainly no one can be more averse to paradox than I
am, and in subtleties I find no delight at all. Yet nothing shall
ever hinder me from openly avowing what I have learned from the
word of God; for nothing but what is useful is taught in the school
of this master. It is my only guide, and to acquiesce in its plain
doctrines shall be my constant rule of wisdom. Would that you also,
my dear Lelio, would learn to regulate your powers with the same
moderation! You have no reason to expect a reply from me so long as
you bring forward those monstrous questions. If you are gratified by
floating among those aërial speculations, permit me, I beseech you,
an humble disciple of Christ, to meditate on those things which tend
towards the building up of my faith. And indeed I shall hereafter
follow out my wishes in silence, that you may not be troubled by
me. And in truth, I am very greatly grieved that the fine talents
with which God has endowed you, should be occupied not only with
what is vain and fruitless, but that they should also be injured by
pernicious figments. What I warned you of long ago, I must again
seriously repeat, that unless you correct in time this itching after
investigation, it is to be feared you will bring upon yourself
severe suffering. I should be cruel towards you did I treat with
a show of indulgence what I believe to be a very dangerous error.
I should prefer, accordingly, offending you a little at present
by my severity, rather than allow you to indulge unchecked in the
fascinating allurements of curiosity. The time will come, I hope,
when you will rejoice in having been so violently admonished. Adieu,
brother very highly esteemed by me; and if this rebuke is harsher
than it ought to be, ascribe it to my love to you.[357]
[_Lat. copy._--_Library of Geneva._ Vol. 107, _a_.]
[357] This letter, without a date, appears to us to belong to the
last months of the year 1551. Lelio Socin was living at that time at
Wittemberg.--M'Crie, _Hist. of the Ref. in Italy_, p. 430.