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A93596	Englands vvarning by Germanies vvoe: or, An historicall narration, of the originall, progresse, tenets, names, and severall sects of the Anabaptists, in Germany, and the Low Countries: continued for about one hundred and twenty years, from anno 1521. (which was the time of their first rise,) until these dayes. VVherein is set forth their severall errors dangerous, and very destructive to the peace both of church and state: the way and manner of their spreading them: the many great commotions: (yea,to the effusion of much blood,) which they occasioned in those parts, by their opposition to, and resistance of the civill magistrates; and what course there was taken for the suppressing them. / By Frederick Spanhemius, Doctor, and Professor of Divinity, in the Vniversity of Leyden in Holland. Published according to order.	Spanheim, Friedrich, 1600-1649.	1646 (1646)	Wing S4798; Thomason E362_28; ESTC R201224	43,736	52

Church so in the New Testament Ecclesiasticall discipline ought to have place not civill punishments for that one kinde of government onely ought to be practised in each Joh. Pet. Vand. Meul in declar Much lesse is it lawfull to inflict capitall punishments either upon a guilty person repenting when he ought to be received into favour or upon one unrepentant least it tend to the losse of his soule Menn Sim. and Coll. Wis cum Mior Concerning publique Ecclesiasticall persons the Anabaptists erre 3. Errors concerning the officers of the Church 1. While they teach that Ministers of the word are not to be brought out of Schooles and Universities or brought up in the study of the Arts and Sciences Coll. Embd. confes Menn 2. While they will have the election and calling of Ministers of the word to be in the power of all and singular the Members of the Church without exception Coll. Embd. 3. While they take away the equality as well of the office as authority of Pastors and will have Bishops so distinguished from Pastors and Teachers that those have the care of divers Churches yea of an whole Province assigned unto them these only of one Congregation these have only power of teaching those both to teach and administer the Sacraments Coll. Embd. Menn Sins contra Mier 4. While they deny that the Ministers of the word ought to receive a yearly and set stipend but onely a contribution for necessary uses as occasion shall require Claes Caes confes Coll. Embd. 5. While they make the vertue of Gods word and the Sacraments to depend upon the worthinesse of the Ministers Colloq Emb. Concerning the private members of the Church in specall the Anabaptists erre 4. Errors concerning the private members of the Church 1. While they teach that it is unlawfull under the New Testament to go to law with others and to contend before the Magistrate Coll. Embd. Cl. Claes 2. That it is unlawfull to beare Armes under the same either defensive as in watching or offensive in warre and either to hire out or lend our assistance unto him Colloq Leeu and Embd. All these opinions which we have reckoned up are maintained by the Anabaptists some by all of them some by many some by certaine of them and all which we do not onely thinke to discent from the holy Scripture but to offend most grievously against the Majesty of God and his revealed will concerning our faith and conversation yea amongst which many are pernitious and doe altogether exclude from any hope of salvation all those that imbrace them and continue in the same unto the end Wherefore although the Anabaptists may seem seriously to observe those things which pertaine to the second table of the law or the offices of civill and outward charity and justice which we owe unto our neighbour yea and that beyond many which professe the purer Religion yet seeing they transgresse so hainously especially against the first table of the law wee hold that they do not onely erre beside or about the foundation but errors which overthrow even the very foundation of salvation it selfe and are heartily sorry that many which seeme to be good men and carefull to lead an honest and civill life should be so deceived by a certaine outward vizard of holines charity and modesty that they will walke in the way which leadeth unto destruction and renew many Heresies condemned in the Ancient Church which that we may not seem wrongfully to accuse them of we shall briefly demonstrate both That such as professe the doctrines abovementioned The foregoing errors do overthrow the foundation of salvation do overthrow the foundation of Salvation is manifest by this 1. Because they with-draw men that would be saved from the knowledge of themselves 2. Because they with-draw them from the knowledge of the Mediator through whom they should be saved 3. Because they with draw them from the knowledge of God who should save them and to whom they should be brought The first head is evident by this because they deprive a man of the true knowledge of his first Estate in which he was created 1. Because they deprive a man of the true knowledge of himselfe of his second Estate into which he cast himself headlong through sin and of his third unto which he was restored Of the knowledge of his first estate they deprive a man while they will not let him acknowledge the benefit which he received from his Creator either of vertue that is holines nor happinesse following the same that is immortality The knowledge of his second Estate they with-hold from him while they either deny or extenuate the corruption inherent in him from the beginning and take away the guilt adherent unto him and consequently oppose our partaking of the first sin Likewise they withhold from him the knowledge of his third estate dividing the benefit of his reparation between God and him yea ascribing the principall part thereof unto man and building his salvation upon Gods forcknowledge of his good co-operation began and continued unto the end yea putting mans obedience in place of the acceptation of the obedience of his Saviour VVherefore a man possessed with this Divinity can neither know how great is the benefit of nature which he at first received from God nor how great is the evill both morall and naturall which he drew upon himself neither how great or of what nature is the benefit of grace which was bestowed upon him from heaven insomuch as he can neither humble himselfe as he ought nor exalt the goodnes of God The second head appears out of this 2. They offend against the person and office of the Mediatour because they offend aswell against the person and office of the Mediator as the benefits obtained by him Against his person while they verily overthrow his divine nature converting the same into a nature subject to passion and death and his humane nature like unto ours while they deny that it had the same beginning and substance with ours His office moreover they corrupt while they deny those attributes to his Propheticall office which are due unto the same and ascribe those unto it which do not agree thereunto as appears by their Errors above related So do they corrupt Christs priestly office touching the act of satisfaction both intensively and extensively considered Intensively by that very thing denying the truth of his sufferings that they contend hee under-went the same in his divine nature Extensively by extending the same unto innumerable unprofitably and to no purpose Likewise do they corrupt Christs benefits both of Justification and Sanctification as doth appear by what hath been above-spoken The third head is evident by this because they turne the true God into an Idoll 3. They turn the true God into an Idol 1. Overthrowing his nature and in stead of one make three divine Essences distant in place one from another 2. Robbing him of his

ENGLANDS VVARNING BY GERMANIES WOE OR An Historicall Narration of the Originall Progresse Tenets Names and severall Sects of the Anabaptists in Germany and the Low Countries Continued for about one hundred and twenty years from Anno 1521. which was the time of their first Rise untill these Dayes VVherin is set forth their severall Errors dangerous and very destructive to the Peace both of Church and State The way and manner of their spreading them The many great Commotions yea to the effusion of much blood which they occasioned in those parts by their opposition to and resistance of the Civill Magistrates And what course was there taken for the suppressing them By FREDERICK SPANHEMIUS Doctor and Professour of Divinity in the Vniversity of Leyden in Holland Foelix quem faciunt aeliena pericula cautum Published according to Order LONDON Printed by John Dever Robert Ibbitson for John Bellamie at the three Golden Lions in Corn-hill neere the Royall Exchange 1646. Englands warning by Germanies Woe OR An Historicall Narration of the Originall Progresse Tenets Names and severall Sects of the Anabaptists in Germany and the low Countryes CHAP. I. Of the Originall or beginning of the Anabaptists PUrposing by the assistance of God The Proem for the confirmation and vindication of the truth to dispute against the Anabaptists for the more full illustration of the matter I have taken in hand I thought fit briefly to praemise these things 1 Of the Originall of these Sectaries 2 Of their Progresse 3 Of the divers Sects into which they are divided 4 Of the Names by which they are commonly called 5 Of their Heterodox opinions Concerning the first namely the Originall or beginning of this sort of men which are most commonly termed Anabaptists Their first birth is challenged by the yeare of our Lord 1521. when they began to appeare on the stage and to enter into these parts of the Christian world Those that are read to be the first which helped the world to be delivered of this Sect were Nicholas Storch Marcus Stubner and chiefly one Thomas Muntzer men borne in upper-Germany whose pretence was piety of a civill life in appearance but their mindes greedy after innovations ambitious of Honour and made and fitted for ungodly enterprises To their designes a while joyned himselfe Martinus Cellarius a Swede by Nation disciple of Capnion and one of Melanchtoms familiars but who afterwards both by his and Luthers admonition repented and together with his Sect cast of his Country name taking unto him from thence-forth the name of Borrhai under which name he was first placed in the profession of Philosophy and afterwards of Divinity in the famous University of Bazill where besides his writings in Logicke and Mathematicks by publishing Commentaries upon some Books of the old Testament he commended himselfe unto the Church of God untill at last being seized by the Pestilence he there finished his life in the Communion of the Orthodox Church the yeare of our Lord. 1564. Nicholas Storch and Marcus Stubner by divers practises indeavoured to draw the heedlesse people after them this latter by the fame of his learning and a certaine dexterity he had in expounding the holy Scripture the former as being altogether unlearned by his popular eloquence and report of inspirations revelations and secret conferences with God both by a great deale of jugling and divers frauds These notwithstanding proceeded more warily and gently but more violently and furiously Thomas Muntzer under whose conduct brake forth that lamentable sedition of the Country-men by which in the former age upper-Germany was so grievously shaken and with the same the fruites of that new Gospell where-with Storch and Stubner had possessed the mindes of the common people The residue of both whose lives and their ends are uncertaine Of Muntzers further enterprises comes now particularly to be spoken Some fanaticke spirits take occasion of making parties and rending the Church of God upon the words of Luther in his Booke of Christian liberty which is extant amongst his workes in the third Tome and was first published in the yeare of our Lord 1520. having read there that a Christian man is Lord of all things and subject to none which words written by Luther that eminent servant of God in the best part and largely expounded and by a contrary aphorisme namely that the same was servant of all and subject to all more fully declared were wrested to an ill sense by men impatient both of their owne and others quietnesse who upon that occasion first privately and afterward publiquely began to speake evill of the Government of Princes unto the people telling them of their exactions and boasting the liberty purchased to all under the Kingdome of Christ and making large complaints not onely of the Tyranny of the Pope of Rome but also of many faults still tolerated in the Church by the first reformers and so shaking the two pillars of publique order the dignity of the Magistrate and the reverence of the sacred Ministery and the authority of both Thereupon consulted about framing a new and more perfect Church and concerning its new policy and on this occasion thought of a new Baptisme to initiate the disciples thereof But least the reverence of the Baptisme formerly received should be any hinderance to their purpose Childrens Baptisme was exclaimed against as vaine yea unlawfull being conferred upon Infants which were uncapable thereof whereas this Sacrament ought to be administred to none but men growne and who had the use of their will and reason And that the zeale of this new Church which these Doctors desired to raise out of the rubbish might the more deeply enter into the mindes of the common people they tooke speciall care to make great shew of piety themselves and to presse the same upon others Hence the ordinary subject of publique Sermons and private Conventicles was That wee must detest sinne suddue the flesh stirre up the spirit exercise duties of charity beare the Crosse of Christ give our selves to fasting bee plaine in apparell moderate in dyet compose the dressing of our bodyes to neglect rather then ornament and be sparing of speech It cannot be said how much the enemy of mankinde by this slight transforming himselfe into an Angell of light and hiding the depths of Satan advanced his cause and how much this meere out-side of godlinesse and holinesse made the mindes of men not evill addicted unto these new Evangelists The mindes of men being thus prepared Thomas Muntzer first Pastor of Cygnea afterwards of Alstet a Towne seated in the limits of Thuringia and Saxony thinking he might now go on with his designes hardned himselfe in his audacious wickednesse yea resolved in his minde to adventure on any mischiefe whatsoever For when he observed the name of Luther to be famous every where for restoring the Churches liberty and all mens mindes to be inclined towards him he thought he must by some notable enterprize get himselfe a

name amongst all men likewise and to this end was so bold as to professe that he would restore the politicke or as sometimes he used to call it naturall liberty and deliver subjects from their yoke and Tyranny so did this contemner of Gods ordinance stile the Government of Princes and Magistrates But when he could not get Luther to joyne with him nor prove his fact to be lawfull unto him with whom he had often meetings thereabout at Wittenberg but on the contrary was rebuked by him and earnestly admonished not to disturbe the publique peace yea to submit to the order which God had ordained he began to rise up and thunder against Luther himselfe crying out that Luther was as much in fault as the Pope of Rome that it was true the worke of reformation was something furthered by him but left still infected with much leaven yea that Luther was worse then the Pope for that he had published onely a carnall Gospell Neither left he to exclaime against the Tyranny of the Civill Magistrate to the utmost nor to presse upon the common people that all things by nature were free and common and that the yoke of Princes was as much to be cast off as the Popes of Rome and seeing faire warning was not like to prevaile with them but they would have both the goods and lives of their subjects to be tribute to their lusts it was most just that every one seeke to recover that by force of Armes which God would have to be common to all The commons being stirred up by this Trumpet and inticed with the seeming sweetnesse of a certaine new liberty began every where to imbroyle themselves in dangerous mutinies Neere the River Acronius uproares are made in Alsatia Sweden Troops of factious persons gathered together liberty is every where pretended and all reverence and obedience due to Princes contemned yea altogether cast off CHAP. II. Of the progresse or increase of the Anabaptists WHen Sathan had by this meanes indeavoured not onely to make Schismes in the reviving Church and to cast dust in her face but likewise to render the reformation of the Temple of the Lord odious to the powers of the world as if thereby the just authourity of Princes over their subjects was abrogated and the new preaching of the Gospell led onely to faction and sedition it cannot be expressed into how much hatred the most holy worke of Reformation was brought with those men which were still addicted to their former superstition For these tumults were not onely imputed to their true Authours a few leaders of factious persons but likewise began to be layd to the charge of the Gospell it selfe and all the Teachers thereof And that so much the more because these new Patriarkes of the Anabaptists had afore-time beene familiar with those whose service the Lord had used in the Reformation of his house and for that they boasted Luther was of the same minde with them Hereunto adde that the multitude stirred up by them would seeme that they minded to sticke to the Gospell and cleave to the Scripture onely and would maintaine the liberty of their consciences by the sword But those worthies which had given sufficient proofe to the Church of their fidelity and integrity in repairing the Temple of God that they might wipe off the blot which was cast aswell upon themselves as the Gospell they thought fit by writing to defend both their owne and the cause of the Church of God which amongst the rest was stoutly performed by Luther Melanchton Zuinglius Bullinger Menius Regius and others who sharpely inveighed against sedition and seditious persons admonishing rebellious subjects out of the word of God of their duties towards the higher powers reproving those turbulent Preachers and exhorting all to quietnesse and due reverence towards Princes and left nothing undone which they thought might serve to abate the violence of those men which with inraged mindes runne headlong unto all ungodlinesse and mischiefe Chiefly Luther being more vehement against them contented not himselfe with exhortatory writings alone but likewise set forth sharpe Invectives against the unruly and by a speciall Booke published against those Countrey Robbers and Murtherers himselfe denounced warre against them exhorting Princes by force of Armes to restraine the course of these Robberies and compell them to be quiet which would not be perswaded to it These new Doctors Muntzer and his confederates being rather made fiercer then milder by these admonitions turmoyle still more and more crying out that Luther and those of his party savoured nothing but the flesh vaunting indeed that they have cut off some of the leaves of Antichrist but the tree and the rootes remained still untouched which must also be cut downe and which cut downe they would And seeing they could finde nothing in the written word of God to defend their errours and the tumults which they raised they flye to new devices to maintaine themselves and their madnesse by boasting of revelations inspirations and alwayes inculcate to the inconsiderate multitude inclined unto them that man must live by every word which proceedeth out of the mouth of God and therefore must not seeke to be wise onely out of books and writings but endeavour according to the prescript of the Apostle that they might all Prophecy Hereupon every Fish monger begins to boast of the Spirit feign revelations after the example of Storch and Muntzer to counterfeit inspirations the Pulpit is open to every Cobler or Tinker and what goodly dotage soever the method of deceit had dictated to any without and contrary to the written word was thrust upon men for the word of God scoffed at the publique Sermons of the reformed inveighed against the Lutherane faith as being void of good workes some of their doctrines and mysteries they would not reveale except to those who gave themselves to minister about their holy things others like the cuttell fish they cast their blacknesse about that they might not be thorowly discerned by strange arts lurked in Houses and Families gathering their conventicles in secret corners professe that they were sent chiefly to the needy and those of meane condition and by all kinde of craft and subtilty seek to possesse and bewitch the mindes of credulous men Having once opened a wide gate to errour by enthusiasmes all monstrous opinions whatsoever began to be obtruded upon simple people and those who were itching after novelties and turbulent wits are stirred up to introduce a new state of things both in Church and Common-wealth into the Christian world And that no regard either of conscience or fidelity sworne to Princes might be an hinderance to them they began to publish That Oaths in the time of the new Testament were unlawfull and therefore whether already taken or to be taken were altogether void and of none effect These foundations being once layd the common people are over all as it were set at liberty by factious Sermons conspirations

defensive and partly confutatory stand in the maintainance of their errors So that it concerns us to indeavour by all meanes to hinder the same and to provide by all diligent care for the regaining of those soules unto God who are either led away with this error or bred up in the same and for preserving those from contagion whom this pestilentiall starre hath not yet infected Now as the builders of ancient Babell by the confusion of their tongues published their owne wickednesse and deserved punishment so in like manner God would not onely that the Anabaptists should be stricken with a fingular blindnesse but likewise that their tongues should be divided and by his most just judgement permitted that these Sectaries should not onely dissent from one another The Anabaptists divide into severall factions and they excommunicate one the other and rend into divers parts but also that they should with spitefull hearts and pens like so many new Midianites fight one against another and with mutuall execrations teare out their owne bowels For not onely the Anabaptists of Moravia depart one from another but likewese those of the Low Countryes divided amongst themselves thunder one family against the others and for frivolous matters excommunicate one another CHAP. III. Of the divers Sects of the Anabaptists and of the names by which they are called TO search out the names governments and tenets of all the Sects into which this Kingdome is divided and wherein they dissent one from another would be of an over-tedious enquiry yea scarce possible to any except tainted yea nourished up in their Religion this indeed is confessed that many sorts of the Anabaptists were numbred of old and are at this day which drew their names either from the Doctors whose opinions they chiefly followed or from the kind of life which they professed or else from the places where they had their resort Concerning the first ranke As first Muntzerians some were called Muntzerians who inrolling their names under this seditious Doctor or rather Captaine intangled themselves with his ungodly doctrine and mischievous practises Others are called Huttites from Iohn Hutt 2. Huttites who according to their masters example called themselves the corporall Israel of God vaunted visions and inspirations but ruefull and tragicall cryed out that all the Canaanites must be cut off with the sword that the day of Judgment was at hand and the Angels Trumpet began to sound Hereupon many of them began to waste away their meanes as being an unprofitable burden for the world to come but who afterwards bidden to begin long hopes perceived themselves brought to extream poverty and found all too late that their owne vain credulity and their masters mad promises had cost them very deare Others were named Augustinians 3. Augustinians from one Augustine a Bohemian who besides many other opinions common to the rest affirmed that the soules of the faithfull enjoyed not the sight of God nor had heaven open unto them untill the day of Judgment Others were called Hosmannians from Melehior Hofman a wily fellow 4. Hosmannians and furnished with popular eloquence who began to be famous at Straesburgh and drew away a great company of disciples after him To this Patriark is usually ascribed the first planting of those Anabaptists who so multiplyed in Lower Germany For comming to Emden An. 1528. when he had there with much polishing and a smooth tongue which he was excellent at thrust off his counterfeited wares he got great confluence of such people as itched after novelties and mightily increased this new Sect and this our new Evangelist purchased so much authority that by his disciples he was judged to be Elias which shall be sent into the World before the day of Judgement Returning to Straesburgh upon the prophecy of an old man of Friezland and there publickly professing Anabaptisme he not a little troubled the Church in that City Whereupon a Synod being called in the Month of Iune An. 1532 hee was admitted to a publique disputation with the Ministers of the Word by whom the opinions and dreams of the frantick fellow were confuted When as yet he would not be at quiet and the Anabaptists bragged that Straesburgh was new Jerusalem in which a new Kingdome of Christ was to be erected and joyned Cornelius Polterman as an Enoch to that Eliah and began to make uproares Hofman taken by the magistrate and imprisoned Hofman is taken by the Magistrate and clapt into prison Out of which the Anabaptists boasted hee should come with 144000. sealed ones which should smite the earth with a curse and break thorow all the bars which were set upon him That their Elias and Enoch should be the two olive trees and the two candlestickes which no man could hurt and if any man should attempt it fire should come out of their mouthes and consume their enemies But when these sonnes of the prophets had in vaine expected the deliverance of their Elias at the time foretold by other of their prophets Hofman fearing least he should lose his credit or his disciples their confidence began to write out of the prison that they must be still for the space of two years after the example of Ezra and Haggai whose ondevours for restoring the Temple of God were in like manner stayed untill God raised up the spirit of Cyrus Continuing thus obstinately in his errours at last dying in the prison he deceived all the hopes of his followers The principall tenets of Hofman were Hofmans opinions that the word did not take flesh of the Virgin Mary whose flesh was infected with sinne and accursed That Christ had only one nature That the means of attaining salvation was in our own power and by our free will was either imbyaced or rojected That childrens baptisme was not of God but rather of the enemy of God and man To this ranke pertaine likewise the Gabrielites 5. and 6. Gabrielites Hutterians 7 The Mennonites and Hutterians Anabaptists of Moravia who tooke these names from their Teachers before mentioned So were other of the Anabaptists long since and are at this day termed Mennonites from Menno Simonz a famous apostle of the Anabaptists who borne in a Village of Friesland neere Harlingen came indeed out of Popery but into the errours of the Anabaptists over head and eares not only imbracing divers heresies concerning the humane nature of Christ Childrens baptisme the office of the Magistrate and other points of that nature but likewise by word conferences and writing sowed the same abroad every where and although in a solemne disputation with Martin Muronius An. 1554 he could not with all his sophistry either elude the force of the truth nor avoid the same notwithstanding he persisted in spreading and defending his errours till that in the yeare of our Lord 1559. between Lubecke and Hamburg or as others will have it at Old slo An. 1561. he ended his daies aged more then 60.

expresse words For the same reason Peter Ioannes Moyoerus will have the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or the same essence hissed out in his conference with Daniel Radeus 2. About the externall forme while because of their ignorance and unskilfulnes they will have us adhere to the common Translations of the Scripture in our mother tongues and not to compare them with the Originall and contend that the Orthodox Teachers ought not to have recourse thereunto So in the conference of Embden the Anabaptists urged that three persons should be proved them in expresse words out of Luthers Translation and because the Name Jehovah was not found there they would not be pressed therewith 3. While they thrust upon us for sound the interpretation of their owne Teachers especially of Nicholas Biscer which is many waies corrupt as by divers conferences had with them appeares The Second kind of Errours spreadeth it self very far abroad to wit which they erre about those doctrines of Faith and Ordinances 2. Errors against the doctrine of Faith and Ordinances taught in the Scripture which are drawne out of the Holy Scriptures which for better distinction sake we shall distribute into things to be beleeved and things to be done and these latter either in a publique estate or private life Things to be beleeved we shall pare 1. into those things which they will have beleeved concerning God 2. Those which they will have beleeved concerning the Mediator between God and man 3. Those which they will have beleeved concerning man himselfe and that either in the state of integrity misery restauration or his estate after this life Things to be done we divide also into those which they thinke ought to be done and observed of the whole Church in common or of every member in particular and those either publique as in the policy the civill Magistrate and in the Church those which dispence the Ordinances or private as are the rest of the faithfull This generall Anatomy containes under it almost innumerable heads for as one errour begets another and one absurdity being granted many more follow so hath the same hapned to the Sects of the Anabaptists A whole Sea of Errours have flowne into the Christian Church and by one a step made unto another since the Anabaptists would have place given to their Enthusiasmes and dreames like as the same hapned in the Church of Rome when they once had let out their streames of unwritten Traditions Although we would have observed that there is great difference between the Sects of the Anabaptists which either have been of old or are found at this day and some of them erre more grievously and dangerously others lesse Neither were of old all the same opinions maintained by them all nor are at this present but some of their Tenets are defended by them all some by many some by certaine of them onely wherefore we will not have all laid to the charge of every one of them but intend only to shew how farre the licentiousnesse of those franticke men which have given their names to this Sect hath proceeded since they have departed from the Church of God and made Schismes and Divisions About the first generall head namely the things which they will have believed concerning God 1. Errours about things to be beleeved concerning God 1. against the name of God the Anabaptists offend 1. concerning the names of God 2. concerning his nature 3. concerning the persons of the sacred Trinity 4. concerning the Essentiall properties of God 5. concerning Gods decrees About the names of God they erre 1. By contemning the name Jehovah which denotes the Divine Essence and which God will have proper to himselfe alone supposing that it is not in the Scripture because t is not to be found in many of their Translations Colloq Embd. Confess of the Anabaptists 2. While they teach that the persons of the Sacred Trinity are called by the name of God rather for the dominion which they have then for that they have the divine nature Iacob Outerm in Articles 3. While they contend that the name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. of the same Essence ought to be exploded as being both ambiguous and without the Scripture Idem in the same place and Confess of the Anabaptists Concerning the nature of God the Anabaptists offend 1. Negatively while they deny that the Father 2. Against the nature of God Sonne and Holy Ghost have one and the same Essence and affirmatively not only indefinitely teaching that there are divers but definitely making three Essences Jacob Outerm in Artic. Apology and Cornel. Cuyper in Apol. 2. While they distinguish the Essences of the persons by distance of place teaching that at Christs Baptisme the Essence of the Father was in Heaven and the Essence of the Sonne on Earth exclusively Jbidem 3. While they restraine the unity attributed to God to unity of Will Consent Doctrine Operation and Dominion like as two Kings are said to bee one which command the same things and as the Disciples of Christ and all the faithfull are said to be one Ioh. 17.21 Gal. 3.28 Iacob Out in Artic. Concerning the Persons the Anabaptists offend 1. While they hisse out the name Person 3. Against the Persons of the Godhead as fained and ambiguous Confess 2. While they maintaine that the Name of God is principally ascribed to the Father alone and that he is therefore called the only true God Iohn 17 3. Confess 3. While some of them leave it doubtfull whether the Sonne of God were begotten of the Father from Everlasting or that he is so called because he was foreknowne from Eternall and destinated unto us Yea Iacob Outerman plainly affirmeth that Christ was called God by the Prophets and is the Eternall Sonne of God no otherwise then because he was foreknowne for a Mediatour for us before the beginning of the World So Claes Claess in simpl prob teacheth that it is not clearely declared in Gods Word whether the Sonne of God before his Incarnation was another person then the Father 4. While the same man in the same place teacheth that we are not commanded to inquire whether from Eternal unto the Incarnation of Christ there were alwayes Three Persons indistinct as touching their Essence or not Nor ought we to enquire whether the Holy Ghost be distinct from the Father or no. Likewise they say that they divide not the Persons but confesse that the Father Sonne and Holy Ghost are indistinct nor is it taught in the Holy Scripture that there are Three distinct Persons Colloq Francothat and Embd. Concerning the essentiall properties of God they erre 1. 4. Against the essentiall properties of God While they deny the essentiall infinitenesse and omnipresence of God affirming that not the incomprehensible Essence of God doth fill heaven and earth but his divine power and gifts and that the former is falsly avouched Cuyper and Outerm in their Apologies Yea

made and seditious persons armed against their Princes and flourishing provinces wasted with miserable civill warre and stained with much bloud The chiefe Trumpet and kindler of these uproares was this Muntzer who having gotten himselfe authority amongst the heedlesse common people began openly to proclaime That he was raised up by the command of God for the punishment of wicked Princes and altering of Politicke Government For this cause being by Frederick Elector of Saxony driven out of that Country and wandering here and there through Germany and Helvetia he sowed the seeds of sedition every where and at length being returned to Mulhaysen a famous Towne in Thuringia he came to that height of presumption that by the helpe of factious persons and such as were addited unto him he put off the Magistrates and filled the Court with his Sectaries yea challenged to himselfe the cognizance of all both Ecclesiasticall and Civill matters spreading this Doctrine that judgements under the new Testament ought to be framed and administred onely out of the word of God And that the hearts of the common people might be the more fastly knit unto him who have commonly but small revenues he would not onely that all Monasteries should be prey and spoyle unto them but likewise commanded that all things should be in common according to the example of the Primitive Church and those of the richer sort he either by Arguments perswaded to ascent or by force and feare of worse compelled them thereunto When nothing in shew more favourable then this could come to the eares of the common people who had either beene burdened with taxes or sometime oppressed by the more hard government of their Superious or which were in want and penury and Muntzer by his seditious letters sent abroad every where by his Messengers published this doctrine and withall preached all manner of liberty grievous commotions followed in many provinces especially in Sweden Thuringia and Franconica where the clownish multitude arising in great numbers betake themselves to Armes contemne the commands and dignitie of the Magistrate pull downe all Castles and fortresses as the fetters put upon their liberty Muntzer yet sets the mindes of those men more on fire who were already more then enough enraged cals the Minets out of the Mines of Mansfield unto prey and tumult denounceth to all That he is the servant of God ordained by Heaven to cut off the ungodly and that God had committed unto him the sword of Gideon ordinarily using this subscription in his letters Thomas Muntzer the servant of God against the ungodly as also Thomas Muntzer with the sword of Gideon And yet is the minde of this mad-man The Anabaptists enter the field with an Army more and more inflamed by one Henry Pfeiffer who of a Monke become a brawler counterfeiting a vision from Heaven gathers forces of mutinous persons and brings forth his Troopes into the field The Princes of Saxony Brunswicke and Hessen The Princes of Germany make warre against them with the Count of Mansfield being by the Rebels constrained to Armes prepare likewise an Army and after many admonitions spent to no purpose they set upon these bands of husbandmen rather then Souldiers which were set downe on the hill neer the Towne of Frankenhaysen whom quaking before the fight began and in vaine exhorted by Muntzers trembling voice to courage and constancy they overthrow and put to flight storme the Towne of Frankenhaysen and Muntzer who had fled thither and fained a sicknesse as being pined away with long faintnesse being through the singular providence of God discovered by the servant of a Noble-man by certain letters hid in his cloakbagge neer the bed where he lay was plucked out of his hole Munster and Pfeiffer taken and hanged neer Mulhaysen and together with his consort Pfeiffer committed to safe custody where having by the Racke and Tortures compeld him to declare the names of his complices he almost desperate together with Pfeiffer who was taken neer Isenacke paid for his wickednesse and the death of so many thousands being cut off with the sword of vengeance by the hand of the hangman neer Mulhaysen in the yeare of our Lord 1525. Otherwhere also in Sweden Thuringia Alsatia Franconia Bavaria Austria and Stiria were the Princes Armes victorious the routed Troops of the Rusticks are scattered in every place the Cities possessed by these factious men are either taken by force or constrained to deliver up and by the punishment of a few many are restrayned all terrified this spreading evill stayed and the former peace and tranquillity again restored to those Provinces These frantick and seditious men being subdued by force in upper-Germany and the spring of rebellion with the losse of much bloud at last drawn dry this evill grew fresh again in Helvetia and those seeds of Anabaptisme which had been sowne by Muntzer traviling through these parts and received with open eares and mindes by some Ministers of the Word began both in publique and private assemblies to be preached unto the common people Of which Preachers the principal men were Foelix Mantzy Conradius Grebelius of Zurich wherof the first had strived in vaine to come to the profession of the Hebrew and the other of the Greeke tongue and Balthazer Hubmeier Pastor of the Towne of Waldshut who when he had not onely by word but also by publishing a booke of Anabaptisme troubled the consciences of a great many Huldricus Zuniglius that valiant Champion of the truth set forth a writing and confuted the turbulent fellow And at Zurich in a solemne disputation with the two former for three dayes together in the month of November publiquely in the Court after two others had with them in the month of January and March in the yeare of our Lord 1525. solidly confuted their Arguments or rather cavillations against Childrens Baptisme which they contended was first instituted by Pope Nicholas in full demonstration of the spirit and of power Anabaptisme being triumphed over in this disputation by the helpe of Zuriglius Leo Juda and Casper Megander and the truth laid open to the light the Senate of Zurich by a publique edict establisheth Childrens Baptism and command the Anabaptists teachers to be silent and quiet Notwithstanding as yet these troubles of the State would not cease but that in private meetings they had not onely perswaded Anabaptisme againe to many of the Citizens but also divers of them who had addicted themselves to these new Patriarks were rebaptized To this thing lend their assistance Gulielmus Raubli Panicellus Brotlcin George Blaurock John Denck and Andrew Stultzy but above all others Hubmeir who having at first taught the Gospell at Waldshut a Towne in the confines of Helvetia and afterwards turned to the Anabaptists and so having set the Citizens together by the eares for this diversity of opinions made the City again liable to the Armes of the house of Austria and the Idolatry of the Church of

Rome had fled to Zurich and there lurked privily amongst his disciples untill being apprehended by the Senate and commanded to answer to what should be laid to his charge he was by Zuniglius out of the word of God proved guilty of divers errors But he of his owne accord promising to make a publique recantation when he ascended the Pulpit againe preached his errors unto the people Being reprehended for this thing and confessing that it was inspired into him by Satan at last after many promises Hubmeier banished from Zurich and forswearing the Tenets of the Anabaptists he was banished the City But as men are apt to strive for what is forbidden them and desire the more that which is denyed them so could not all this restraine the rude multitude but that they secretly favoured the opinions of these fanaticke men which were with much art and eloquence commended unto them by the Teachers of the Anabaptists moving them besides the novelty of the doctrine a certaine vaine affection of pitty towards these new Evangelists who seemed rather miserable then evill and more prodigall of their quietnesse then faith reputing their stubbornnesse for true constancy Insomuch as the Senate of Zurich was at last corstrained to indeavour to prevent the same by a severe edict in the yeare of our Lord 1530. Capitall punishment decreed against the Teachers of the Anabaptists and fines layed upon those that receive them decreeing capitall punishment upon the Teachers of the Anabaptists and heavy fines upon any that should receive them The opinion of Hubmeier amongst others was that the spirit of Adam did not consent to sinne and therefore remained perfect after sinne committed neither did it loose its liberty but the flesh onely The field of Bazill likewise being sowne with these unhappy tares there also did the Anabaptists make stirres and uproares with whom O Ecolanpadius a grave Divine encountring in the City of Bazill in the yeares 1525 1527 1529. about the articles of Childrens Baptisme Rebaptising the Civill Magistrate and Oaths gave abundant satisfaction to the cause though not to the obstinate agents thereof so that by the authority of the most prudent Magistrate the zealous assertor of Gods glory used in suppressing those Sectaries both the peace and purity of the Church of Bazill was preserved The peace of the Common-Wealth of Berne also was not a little troubled by those men especially by Ludovicus Hetser Joannes Trayer and Joannes Seckler where the Anabaptists being admitted to a publique disputation Anno 1528. their errors were manifested and their ring-leaders confuted by Bertholdus Hallerus and Francis Kolbius Ministers of the word of God But when notwithstanding the Anabaptists muttered in corners that there was as yet no satisfaction given them that the truth might openly triumph over error a solemn disputation was againe appointed by the honourable Magistrate of Berne A disputation at Zosing with the Anabaptists nine daies together at Zosing in Argovia within the Territory of Berne in the month of July Anno Dom. 1532. which being accordingly performed between the Ministers of the Church of Berne and the Teachers of the Anabaptists and continued for nine dayes together and taking by publique notaries and published to the world was of great moment for the confirmation of many mens mindes in the truth and recalling others from their errors And when about the yeare 1579. the Anabaptists began againe to raise new stirs in the country of Bern by the vigilancy of the Magistrates and severe edicts the Sectaries were curbed and the growing evill repressed In Sengall likewise a Town of Helvetia confederated with the neighbouring villages no small adoe was made by Conradus Grebelius and his disciples and by all stratagems secret suggestions publique serrnons writings and all manner of allurements indeavored that this famous City might be made a Pella and receptacle to these kinde of men But through Gods speciall mercy by the writings of Zuniglius They are cast out of the City Sengall the zeale of Ioachimus Vadianus and the prudence of the Magistrate that was prevented and these troublesome fellows cast out of the City Not a little conduced to render the Anabaptists hatefull unto all good men in this City the horrible fact of Thomas Schucker disciple of Melchior Rinckius that Champion of the Anabaptists For hee on a time when a great throng of this kind of people were gathered together counterfeiting a rapture and revelation from heaven commanded his brother Leonard Shucker to kneel down on his knees and aske for a Sword Being demanded by his father mother The Schucker an Anabaptist cuts off his brothers head in a rapture and others that stood by what he meant by this posture answered that they should be of good cheare for he would doe nothing but what was revealed him from heaven The minds of all being attent to this new spectacle the mad prophet with his drawne sword cuts off his brothers head from his body at one blow and tumbles it to the earth striking exceeding terrour into all the beholders and drawing from his parents great grief of heart and many groanes He is executed for it Being apprehended by the Magistrate for this cruell murder he received the punishment due to his wickednesse neverthelesse shewing no signe at all of any remorse for his crime but professing on the Scaffold that this was the will of God revealed unto him from heaven This tragicall chance hapned in Sengall An. Dom. 1527. which not a little moved the mind of the Christian Magistrate and stirred him up against these furious prophets and their sonnes and caused him to publish Seven Edicts against the abode of the Anabaptists in their City or dominions The departure of those men gave indeed rest and quiet to the City of Sengall Seven Edicts against the Anabaptists abiding in those parts but bred new turmoyles in the neighbour Countrey of Abbas-Cellonsis those restlesse persons ever wandring here and there to make innovations and trouble the worke of reformation there began Satan being throwne out of this Theatre likewise would needs erect himselfe another in many of the most flourishing Cities of Germany and at Straesbourg by Hosman at Wormes by Cantius at Ausbourg by one Iames a Tauner at Vlms by Kleiber and at other places by others began to spread and sow abroad the doctrine of Azabaptisme whose attempts were withstood both by the Magistrates and other of Gods faithfull servants the turbulent men suppressed their pestilent doctrine in publique meetings confuted and by solemn Edicts restrained although alwayes under deceitfull ashes lurked the fire kindled by these raging Doctors which ever and anon brake out in divers places The Anabaptists being driven out of Helvetia and Vpper Germany many of them departed into Moravia and there joyned themselves to factious men of this sort who were itching after novelties Having by divers sleights gathered them many Congregations there and sent forth many of their messengers into