Yearly-meeting. Those of the men who are approved ministers are also
members of this meeting, which is called the Meeting for Sufferings ; a
name arising from its original purpose, which is not yet become entirely
obsolete.

The Yearly-meeting has intrusted the Meeting for Sufferings with the
care of printing and distributing books, and with the management of its
stock ;(Z) and, considered as a standing committee of the Yearly-meeting,
it hath a general care of whatever may arise, during the intervals of that
meeting, affecting the society, and requiring immediate attention ; particu
larly of those circumstances which may occasion an application to gov
ernment.

There is not in any of the meetings which have been mentioned, any pres-
ident, as we believe that Divine Wisdom alone ought to preside ; nor hath
any member a right to claim pre-eminence over the rest. The office of
clerk, with a few exceptions, is undertaken voluntarily by some member ; as
is also the keeping of the records. Where these are very voluminous and
require a house for their deposite, (as is the case in London, where the
general records of the society in Great Britain are kept,) a clerk is hired
to have the care of them ; but except a few clerks of this kind, and per
sons who have the care of meeting-houses, none receive any stipend or
gratuity for their services in our religious society.

Thus have we given a view of the foundation and establishment of our
discipline ; by which it will be seen, that it is not (as hath been frequently
insinuated) merely the work of modern times ; but was the early care and
concern of our pious predecessors. We cannot better close this short
sketch of it, than by observing, that if the exercise of discipline should in
some instances appear to press hard upon those who, neglecting the mo-
nitions of divine counsel in their hearts, are also unwilling to be accounta
ble to their brethren ; yet, if that great, leading, and indispensable rule
enjoined by our Lord, be observed by those who undertake to be active
in it, " Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so
them,"(w) it will prevent the censure of the church from falling on any
thing but that which really obstructs the truth. Discipline will then pro-
mote, in an eminent degree, that love of our neighbour, which is the mark
?f discipleship, and without which a profession of love to God, and to hi?

(/) This is an occasional voluntary con- records, the passage of ministers who vish
tribution, expended in printing books, house- their brethren beyond sea, and some inci
rent for a clerk, y\d his wages for keeping dental charges. (m) Matt, vii., 17.



HISTORY OF THE MENNONITES OR ANABAPTISTS. 469

cause, is a vain pretence. " He," said the beloved disciple, " that loveth not
his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not
seen ? And this commandment have we from him, that he who loveth
God, love his brother also."(w)



CHAPTER V.

HISTORY OF THE MENNONITES OR ANABAPTISTS.

$ 1. The Adverse and the Prosperous Circumstances of the Mennonites. 2. Union es
tablished among them. <$> 3. Sects of the Anabaptists. 4. External Form of th
Mennonite Church. 5. The Uckewallists. $ 6. The Waterlanders. $ 7. The Ga-
lenists and Apostoolians.

1. THE Mennonites, after numberless trials and sufferings, at length
obtained in this century the much-desired peace and tranquillity ; but they
obtained it very slowly, and by degrees. For, although they were admitted
to the privileges of citizens among the Dutch in the preceding century,
yet they could not prevail on the English, the Swiss, and the Germany
either by prayers or arguments, to grant them the same privileges, nor to
revise the laws in force against them. The enormities of the old Anabap
tists were continually floating in the vision of the magistrates ; and it did
not seem to them possible, that men who hold that a Christian can never
take an oath without committing great sin, and who think that Christ al
lows no place in his kingdom for magistrates and civil punishments, could
fulfil the duties of good citizens. And hence, not a few examples may be
collected from this century, of Anabaptists who were put to death, or suf
fered other punishments. (1) At the present time, having given numerous
proofs of their probity, they live in peace, not only among the Dutch, but also
among the English, the Germans, and the Prussians ; and support them
selves and families by their honest industry, partly as labouring men and
artificers and partly by merchandise.

2. The more wise among them, readily perceiving that this external
peace would not be very firm and durable, unless their intestine contests
and their old altercations about unimportant matters were terminated, ap
plied themselves from time to time, with great care, to appease these dis
cords. Nor were their efforts without effect. A large part of the Flan,
drians, the Germans, and the Frieslanders, renounced their contests in
1630, at Amsterdam, and entered into a union ; each retaining howeve?

(ri) 1 Johniv., 20, 21. 289, &c., where may be seen letters of the

(1) The enactments of the Swiss against States-General of the United Provinces in-

the Mennonites in this century, are stated terceding with that canton in their behalf.

by Jo. Bapt. Ottius, Annales Anaba.pt, p. In the Palatinate they were grievously por-

837, &c., and in some other places : and secuted in 1694 ; when the letters of Wil-

those of the year 1693, by Jo. Henry Hot- Ham III. the king of Great Britain, hushed

linger, Schweizerische Kirchenhistoric, vol. the tempest. See Herm. Schyn, loc. cit.,

i., p. 1101. And that in this 18th century, p. 265, &c. Some instances of Anabaptists

they have not been treated more leniently beincrput to death in England, are mentioned

in the canton of Bern, appears from Herm. by Gilo. Burnet, Hist, of his own Times

Sckyn s If scoria Mennonitar., cap. *., p. vol. i.



no BOOK IV. CENT. XVII. SEC. II. PART II. CHAP. V.

some of its peculiar sentiments. Afterwards, in 1649, the Flandrians in
particular and the Germans, between whom there had formerly been much
disagreement, renewed this alliance, and strengthened it with new guaran-
. tees. (2) All these Anabaptists went over to the more moderate part of
the sect, und softened down and improved the old institutions of Merino
and his successors.

3. The whole sect of Anabaptists, therefore, forms at the present day
two large communities ; namely, the Refined, that is, the more strict, who
are also called the old Flemings or F/andrians ; and the Gross, that is,
the more mild and lax, who are also commonly called Waterlanders. The
reasons of these names have heretofore been given. Each of these com.
munities is subdivided into several minor parties. The Refined in partic-
liar, besides embracing the two considerable parties, of Groningenists,( 3)
(who are so called, because they hold their stated conventions at Groningen),
and the Dantzigers or Prussians, (so named, because they have adopted the
customs and church government of the Prussians), contains a great num.
ber of smaller and more obscure parties, which disagree on various subjects
and especially in regard to discipline, customs, and rules of life, and are
united in nothing but in the name and in the common opinions of the early
Anabaptists. All these Refined Anabaptists are true disciples of Menno
and they retain, though not all with equal strictness, his doc-
respecting the body of Christ, the washing strangers feet as Christ
enjoined, the excluding from the church and avoiding as pestilential not
only sinners, but also those who even slightly deviate from the ancient
simplicity and are stained with some appearance of sin. (4) At the pres
ent day, some of their congregations are altering by little and little, and
slowly approximating to more moderate sentiments and discipline.

4. All the Anabaptists, have first, Bishops or Elders, who uniformly
preside in the consistory [or church session], and have the sole power of
administering baptism and the Lord s Supper ; secondly, Teachers, who
preach to the congregation ; and lastly, Deacoris and Deaconesses. The
ministry [or church session], by which the church is governed, is campo-
sed of these three orders. The more weighty affairs are proposed and dis
cussed, in assemblies of the brethren. All ecclesiastical officers are cho
sen by the suffrages of the brethren ; and, except the deacons, are ordained
by prayers and the imposition of hands.

5. Among the minor parties of the more strict [or Refined] Anabap
tists, that which has obtained the greatest celebrity, bears the name ol
Ukewallists or Ockwallists, from Uke Wattes, a Fricslander, its founder-
This rustic and very illiterate man not only wished to have the whole an
cient and severe discipline of Menno retained entire and unaltered, but also
taught in the year 1637, in company with John Leus, that there is reason
to hope for the salvation of Judas and the others, who laid violent hands
on our Saviour. To give some plausibility and importance to this error,
he pretended that the period between the birth of our Saviour and the de
scent of the Holy Ghost, which divides as it were the Old Testament from

(2) Herman Schyn, Plenior deductio His- they think and teach, just as in the general
torise Mennonit., p. 41, 42. Anabaptist church. This is a note of the

(3) [The Groningenistf or old Flemings Dutch translator of this History. TV.]
have gradually laid aside their ancient strict- (4) See Simeon Fred. Rues, Nachrichteu
ness, both in regard to church discipline and von dem gegenwartigen Zustande der Men
Vhe practice of rebaptizing. A. present, noniten ; Jena, 1743, 8vo.



HISTORY OF THE MENNONITES OR j NABAPIISTS. 471

the New, was a time of darkness and ignorance, during which the Jews
were destitute of all light and divine assistance ; and hence he would infer,
that the sins and wickedness they committed during this period, were in a
great measure excusable, and could not merit severe punishment from the
justice of God. Neither the Mennonites, nor the magistrates of Gronin-
gen could endure this fiction ; the former excommunicated him, and the
latter banished him from the city. He removed therefore into the adja
cent province of East Friesland ; and collected a large number of disciples,
whose descendants still remain in the territory of Groningen, and in Fries-
land, Lithuania, and Prussia, and hold their meetings separate from the
other Mennonites. (5) Whether they still profess that sentiment which
brought so much trouble upon their master, does not appear ; for they
have very little intercourse with other people. But it is certain, that they
tread the most faithfully of all, in the steps of Menno their common pre
ceptor, and exhibit as it were a living picture of the first age of Mennon-
itisrn.(6) If any one joins them from other sects of Christians, they bap
tize him anew. Their dress is rustic, nay worse than rustic ; for they will
tolerate no appearance or shadow of elegance and ornament. Their beard
is long ; their hair uncombed ; their countenance very gloomy ; and their
houses and furniture, only such as absolute necessity demands. Whoever
deviates in the least from this austerity, is forthwith excommunicated ; and
is shunned by all, as a pest. Their bishops or overseers of the church,
who are different from their teachers, must be approved by all their con
gregations. Washing of feet, they regard as a divine rite. They can
the more easily keep up this discipline, as they carefully provide, that not a
breath of science or learning shall contaminate their pious ignorance.

6. The Gross or more moderate Anabaptists, consist of the Water-
landers, Flandrians, Frisians, and Germans, who entered into the union
already mentioned. They are generally called Waterlanders. They
have forsaken the more rigid and singular opinions of Menno, (whom,
however, most of them respect and venerate), and have approximated
to the customs and opinions of other Christians. They are divided into
two communities, the Frieslanders and the Waterlanders; neither of
which has any bishops, but only Elders and Deacons. Each congre
gation is independent, and has its own consistory, composed of the Elders
and Deacons. But the supreme power belongs to the people ; without

(5) [It is incorrect to represent the fol- these particular and absurd opinions." H.
lowers of Uc.keualles as constituting a par- Warma beknopt Ontwerp, in the Preface,
ticular sect, bearing the name of Uckewallists 24, Emden, 1744, 8vo. So the (Eckewal-
or CEckewallists. He was merely a preach- lists as they are called, or the Groriingen-
er among the old Flemings. He may have sians and old Flemings, are no longer par-
found some individual persons, that would ticular sects among the Baptists. See also
profess his doctrines; but there is no evi- note (3) above. This likewise is a note o
dencti before us, that his particular opinions the Dutch Translator of Mosheim. TV.]
were embraced by any congregation what- (6) Jo. Bapt. Ottius, Annales Anabap-
ever, and much less by the whole party of tist., p. 266. Herman Schyn, Plenior de-
the o.d Flemings, or by any considerable ductio Histor. Mennonit., p. 43. Joach.
part of it. Besides, his doctrines have been Christ. Jchring, Diss. de Ukonis AValles
unknown among them, now for many years, vita et fatis ; in the Biblioth. Bremensis
"I testify, (writes one of their teachers,) Theol. Philol, torn. viii.. p. 113, and the
that it is not known to me, that there is now Preface to the History of the Mennonites,
any church or congregation among the Men- (in Geiman,) p. 11, &c., and the Appendii
nonites, either here in East Friesland, or any to the same, p. 234, &c.
where else, that has received or professed



172 BOOK IV. CENT. XVII. SEC. II. PART II. CHAP. V.

whose consent, no business of great importance is transacted. Their
elders are learned men ; some of them doctors of physic, and others mas-
ters of arts. And they now support a professor at Amsterdam, who
teaches both theology and the sciences.

7. One of these communities of Waterlanders,(l) in the year 1G64,
became split into two parties ; which still continue, and which bear the
names of Galenists and Apostoolians, from the names of their [first] teach,
ers. Galenus Abrahams de Haan, a doctor of physic and a minister
among the Mennonites at Amsterdam, a man whom even his enemies
applaud for his eloquence and penetration, taught in accordance with the
views of the Arminians, that the Christian religion was not so much a
body of truths to be believed, as of precepts to be obeyed ; and he would
have admission to the church and to the title and privileges of brethren,
be open to all persons, who merely believed the books of the Old and New
Testaments to be divinely inspired, and lived pure and holy lives. He
adopted this principle, because he himself entertained different views from
the other Mennonites, respecting the divine nature of Jesus Christ, and the
redemption of the human race by his merits and death, and was inclined
to the side of the Socinians.(S) Besides others who appeared against him,
Samuel Apostool who was likewise a distinguished minister of the church
at Amsterdam, very strenuously defended not only the sentiments held by
most of the Mennonites in common with other Christians, respecting the
divinity of our Saviour, and the influences of his death, but also the well-
known peculiar sentiment of this sect respecting the visible church of
Christ on earth. (9) The consequence of this contest, was a schism,
which some prudent and influential men still labour in vain to re
move. The Galenists are equally ready, with the Arminians, to admit all
sorts of persons into their church, who call themselves Christians ; and they
are the only Anabaptists [in Holland], who refuse to be called Mennonites.
The Apostoolians admit none to membership, who do not profess to be.
iieve the doctrines contained in the public formula of their religion. (10)

(7) [This is either a mistake or a slip of of the Mennonites at Hoorn ; with an ex-
the pen in Dr. Mosheim. This schism did planatory Introduction and Appendix ; Ham-
not occur in the community of the Water- burg 1776, 4to, (in German). This is prop-
landers, but in that of the Flemings; and erly a translation of the Dutch original,
among them, only at Amsterdam. The which was published in 1773. It exhibits
church of the Flemings at Amsterdam, in many correct views in genuine Christianity,
which were the two preachers Galenus Abra- in both its theoretical and practical parts ;
hams de Haan and Samuel Apostool, be- and is free from the doctrine, which is pe-
came at this time divided. Some years af- culiar only to some of the Mennonites, re-
terwards, the Waterlander church in the specting the origin of Christ s human nature,
above-named city, united with the Galenists. Note of the Dutch translator. Tr.]

Such is the note of the Dutch translator of (9) See, respecting both [these men],

this work. 2V.] Herman SchyrSs Deductio plenior Historic

(8) [Galenus Abrahams was accused of Mennonit., cap. xv., p. 318, and cap. xviii.,
this, by his opposers. The Court of Hoi- p. 237.

land (the States-General) investigated the (10) Casper Commclin, Description of
subject, and acquitted this minister, on the the city of Amsterdam, (in Dutch), vol. i.,
14th of September, 1663. See Wagenacr, p. 500, &c. Stoupa, La Religion des Hoi-
Amsterdam, pt. :i., p. 195 and 237. Note landois, p. 20, &c. Henry Leu-is Ken-
of the Dutch translator. To the history of thcim s Hollandischer Schul-und Kirchen-
Ihe Orthodox or Non-Remonstrant Menno- staat, pt. i., ch. xix., p. 830. [As this
nites, belongs, The Faith of the true Men- chapter of Dr. Moshcim s history embraces
Donites or Baptists, gathered from their pub- only the Dutch Baptists, or Mennonites ; it
ic Confessions, by Cornelius Ris, minister seems proper to add here a brief narrative oi



HISTORY OF THE MENNONITES OR ANABAPTISTS. 473



the English Baptists. Most of the Analap-
tists mentioned in English history, prior to
the reign of James I., appear to have been
either Dutch and other foreign Anabaptists,
who endeavoured to establish themselves in
England, or small companies of converts
made by them in the country. Yet there
were probably many individuals among the
people, who questioned, or denied, the pro
priety of infant baptism ; and there are some
intimations of attempts by such persons, to
hold conventicles, in the latter part of the
reign of Elizabeth. But the first regular
congregation of English Baptists, appears to
have originated from certain English Puri
tans, who returned from Holland after the
death of their pastor, Rev. John Smith, who
died in 1610. See above, note (35), p. 219.
These were General or Arminian Baptists ;
and may be supposed to have derived many
of their opinions from the Mennonites. From
this time onward, churches of General Bap
tists were formed here and there, in differ
ent parts of England. But in general, they
made no great figure, and do not appear to
have had much connexion, or to have pro
fessed one, uniform faith. The Particular
or Calvinistic Baptists trace their origin to
a congregation of Independents, established
in London in the year 1616. This congre
gation having become very large, and some
of them differing from the others on the sub-
jpct of infant baptism, they agreed to divide.
Those who disbelieved in infant baptism
were regularly dismissed, in 1033, and form
ed into a new church, under Rev. John
Spilsbury. In 1638. several more members
were dismissed to Mr. Spilsbury s church.
And in 1639, a new Baptist church was
formed. Churches of Particular Baptists
now multiplied rapidly. In 1646, there
were forty-six in and about London. They
published a confession of their faith in 1643,
which was reprinted in 1644 and 1646 ; and
which was revised in 1689, by a convention
of elders and delegates from more than one
hundred churches in England and Wales.
Besides these, there were at that time, sev
eral churches of Calvinistic Baptists, who
held to open communion, especially in Bed
fordshire, where John Bunyan preached.
There were also some Seventh-Day Bap
tists. Baptist churches were also planted
k Ireland, in the times of the civil wars ;
and Roger Williams established a Baptist
church in Providence in 1639, which was
the commencement of this denomination in
America. When Cromwell had usurped
die government, he dismissed the principal
VOL. III.- -O oo



officers of the army, alleging, among other
reasons, that they were all Anabaptists. Yet
during his administration they had full toler
ation : indeed his tryers admitted a number
of their preachers to become parish ministers
of England. On the restoration of Charles
II. in 1660, the Baptists, with all other Non
conformists, were exposed to great troubles
and persecutions ; and at the revolution in
1688, they as well as the other dissenters,
obtained free toleration. Among the Eng
lish Baptists of this century, there were
some men of education ; but the greater part
of their preachers were not men of learning.
The Particular Baptists, at their general
convention in 1689, made arrangements for
the better education of young men for their
pulpits : and from their provisions originated
afterwards, the famous Baptist Academy at
Bristol. Before the erection of regular Bap
tist congregations, and indeed for some time
after, it was very common for Baptists and
others to belong to the same church, and to
worship and commune together. From their
first rise, the Baptists were assailed for hold
ing only to adult baptism, and that by im
mersion ; and they were not backward to de
fend themselves. The severest conflict of
the Particular Baptists, was with the Qua
kers, in the time of William Pcnn. One of
their writers made statements, for which the
Quakers accused him of falsehood ; which
caused violent animosities, and much mutual
crimination. The Particular Baptists had
also controversies among themselves. One
was, respecting their practice of con/ii rnation t
or imposing hands on those newly baptized.
Another related to the propriety of admitting
singing, as a part of their public worship.
The Particular Baptists scarcely differed at
all, from the Independents, except on t;,9
mode and subjects of baptism. The Gen
eral Baptists having no bond of union among
themselves, held a considerable diversity of
opinions ; and as they did not set forth full
and explicit accounts of their faith, it is im
possible to characterize them, otherwise
than by saying, they in general laid littla
stress on doctrines, and allowed very great
liberty of opinion. See Crosby s History
of the Baptists. Benedict s General History
of the Baptists, vol. i., ch. v. Toulmirfs
Supplements to NeaVs History of the Puri
tans, vol. ii., p. 169, &c. ; vol. iii., p. 543,
&c. ; vol. iv., p. 308, &c., 493, &c. ; vol. v.,
p. 115, &c., 239, &c. Bogue and Bennett
History of Dissenters, vol. i., p. 147, &c.
Tr.]



474 BOOK IV. CENT. XVII. - SEC. II. PART II. CHAP. VI.



CHAPTER VI.

HISTORY OF THE SOCINIANS AND ARIANS.

} 1. Flourishing State of the Socinians. 2. Socinians at Altorf. $ 3. Adversities (4
the Polish Socinians. 4, 5. Fate of the Exiles. 6. The Arians.

1. THE Socinian community, at the commencement of this century,
seemed in many respects to stand on a firm basis. For they not only en
joyed the fullest religious liberty in Transylvania and at Luzko [in Vol.
hinia], but they had in Poland, a distinguished school at Rakow, furnished
with r.eachers eminent for learning and talents, a printing establishment,
numerous congregations, and many patrons who were men of the highest
rank. Elated with this prosperity, they thought proper to make great
efforts to extend their church, or to obtain friends and patrons in other
countries. And it may be shown by numerous proofs, that emissaries of
the Polish Socinians, in the beginning of this century, were active in Hoi-
land, England, Germany, and Prussia, and that they endeavoured to make
proselytes among the great and the learned. For while most other sects
endeavour first to make friends among the common people, this sect, which
exalts reason alone, has the peculiarity that it does not much seek the fa
vour and friendship of women, the illiterate, and persons of inferior rank,
but labours to recommend itself especially to persons of high rank and emi
nent talents.

2. Though these missions were for the most part committed to men