The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-26


subsequently, capital punishment was
threatened, and In 1896 ten Anabaptists
nro recorded TO have been put 30 death.
Two wears later renewed efforts were
made TO root out the heresy, but these
seem to have been Intellectual, for Bishop
Iatimer. preaching before Edward VI. III
March, 1910, reported that In single town
there were 1--WE hundred heretics ot tho
Anabaptist persuasion.
Some orthodox Protestants in England
at the time held the theory that the Ana.
baptist missionaries were einissarles OF
the Pope, sent 10 discrcdit the Reform
d6ctrires in ger eral During Elizabeth's
reign English Arahaptism took definite
shape In the form Of a sect or party calling
itself the Family Of Love. Its originator
was ono Henry Nicolas.a native OF NJ or ster.
the great Continental seat Of lniiltart
Anabaptism A life Of him, published
some time during the third quarter OF ans
sixteenth century, was written ~ one
Tobias, who described himsef AZ Fellow
Elder in the household Of love. This
book and other contemporary tracts VIII
ten against tho sect Of the FaIntlists mol
cate that amorg their terets there was
scarcely one that cannot be paralleien
In one or other of the sections into which
tho German Arabaptists were divided.
Il should be noted, however, that Nicolas
himself and his followers deprecated ana
rey,udiated the denomination OF Arabep-
tist. In the first half of the seventeenth
century we hear Of other scots in Erglard.
such as the Family Of the Mount, the ft-
10 have been offshoots Of the Family OF
Love holding similar doctrines ard prac-
tis,rR d similar mode of life. The most
fIourishtpg period of the sect founded by
Nicolas Is n0S>easily determined from the
evidence but between 1870 and 1880 it
undoubtedly created considerable stir in
the eastern countries. More than two
generations later, notwithstanding perse-
Cu.ion, II was still conspicuous. On the
other hand, during the Commonwealth.
and subsequently, the followers of Nicolas
seem TO have fallen very much into the back
ground, and they never again resumed
their former Importance. That the sect
continued to exist, however. until almost
the erd OF the seventeenth century, ia
manifest from the fact that Strype. writing
in the early part of the eighteenth CEN
tury, SAYS that hs remembers "a gertle-
man, q great adnirer Of that sect, within
less than twenty years ago, who told me
that there was then but ore Of the Family
of Love alive, and he an old man.
Tire connection between the Family of
Love and AraEaptistS generally on the
one hand, and the various Puritanical
ard dissenting sects of the Commonwealth
and Of the time Of Charles II ca the other,
ia rather obscure. Mr., Bax, however,
firy]s several traces Of such connection.
For example. he notes ird'catiCrs Of the
Arahartist tradition In such bodies as tho
4Rarters," and what is rore important.
In the Quakers ard n John Bunyan, ns
also. OF course, in the earlier phases of the
modern orthodox Baptist denomination.
The resemblance ECtwcen nary OF the
tercts Of the Ouakers and those OF the
A. sDaptists is clear.
nf gt T.
ann lie, the contempt for "steeple-houses.
tie condemnation Of all outward forms
and ceremonies, and the doctrine of inspra-
ton bv the inner light. are all thoroughly
Anabaptist in origin. The parts OF Eng
land where the followers Of Nicolas and
sip,ilar sects had chiefly fourished became
the most fruitful seed grounds OF Quaker
primo 'ples BY their contemporaries the
Friends were uniformly regarded az
sect OF Anabaptists, as may be seen from
the theological literature Of the period.
AS regards John Bunyan, our author thinks
'hrt no one reading the Pilgrims PROGRESS
,iSle by sidn with Toh'ss's story OF the
Journey of Henry Nicolas and his friends
when thew set ont TO an unknown destina-
ton. ca n fail 10 be struck with The idea
that Bunvan had read Tobas's book. or
that, at any rate, the two writer's had lived
in a similar mental ntmcerhere. IN Brn-
vans second great work, -The Holy War
MI. BuX TtDuS ulStibN' CN NVh'V ,ie'' Wv wv.
merely knew Of but had carefully studied
the story Of the s'eoe of Munster Bunyan's
native place. Bedford is not far from the
principal sirongholds OF Anabaptism and
allied movements.
As regards the relation OF the Anabaptist
movement dealt with in this history to the
modern denomination OF Paptiats. there
If not much to be said. The English middle
classes became economically more pros
porous, and from the religious ard political
pe,rturbatiops Of the seventeenth century
set led down aHter the re""Iut'on 81 iasa,
into comparative tranquility. Religious
zeal sank into Formally, and the enthusiasm
For political and social renovation subsidized
Into love Of orde~ The Quakers them
selves became gradually wealthy and
cnascd to be aGpress'velv propagandist.
Thew became not sd for their probity in
business. thrift, reliability and other virtues
dear 10 he hearts Of the m'ddle class. SO
was It also with tho Raptists. They. too.
became frugal. sober and industrious
middle-class persons. Religious and 20
liticnl ent h,Isias,n died down. Inconven'ent
terets ard views Of life were either repud'-
ated or allow cd TO fall into the BACKGROUND
and become "pious opinions. About the
only point which the rodern Baptist pos
sesses in common with his ancestor. tho
Ansbapt;st % the sixteenth and seven
teertb centuries. ia his rejection Of infant
baptism and his practice OF adult baptism
as n sign Of admission TO membership OF
his Church. n W. u