SOCINUS, LÆLIUS, the founder of the sect of the Socinians, was born of an illustrious house at Siena in Tuscany in 1525. Being designed by his father for the family profession of the law, he began very early to search for the foundation of that science in the word of God, and by that study discovered that the Romish religion taught many things contrary to revelation. Being desirous of penetrating farther into the true sense of the scriptures, he studied Greek, Hebrew, and Arabic. In 1548 he left Italy, to go and converse with the Protestants, and spent four years in travelling through France, England, the Netherlands, Germany, and Poland, and at length settled at Zürich. He by this means became acquainted with the most learned men of his time; but as he discovered to them his doubts, he was greatly suspected of heresy. Bullinger took a great interest in him; and Calvin, who had repeatedly broken off correspondence with him, could not forbear renewing it, and giving him a friendly warning regarding his doubts on the subject of the resurrection, baptism, the Trinity, &c. "And in truth," says Calvin (see his Letters, 1551, translated at Edinburgh, 1856), "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 fancies. 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." The fate of Servetus, the following year, completed the effect of this letter, and henceforward he maintained a dignified silence in his resort at Zürich. He, however, conducted himself with such propriety, that he lived among the capital enemies of his opinions without receiving the least injury. He met with some disciples, who heard his instructions with respect: these were Italians who had left their native country on account of religion, and wandered about in Germany and Poland. He communicated likewise his sentiments to his relations by his writings, which he caused to be conveyed to them at Siena. He died at Zürich in 1562, aged 37 years. Those who were of sentiments opposite to his, and were personally acquainted with him, confess that his outward behaviour was blameless. Ilgen, in his Vita Lælii Socini, attributes to him the work published on occasion of the death of Servetus, entitled Martini Bellii Farrago de Hæreticis, 1553. This book has likewise been ascribed to Castalio. L. Socinus also wrote Paraphrasis in Initium Evangelii S. Johannis, scripta in 1561.