LABADIE', JEAN DE, 1610-74; b. Bou•g-en-Guienne; educated in the Jesuits' college at Bordeaux, he entered their order and distinguished himself as a preacher. He exposed the abuses in the Roman church and urged reform; but finding no encouragement in his order, he left it and joined the Fathers of the Oratory in 1639, and soon after the Jansenists. In 1640, appointed canon of Amiens, he introduced reforms, holding meet ings for the reading of the Bible, and administering tire Lord's supper in both kinds to the people. Persecuted by the Jesuits, he became in 1650 a Protestant. and was for eight years pastor of the church at Montauban. In 1057 he was pastor in Orange, and in 1659 in Geneva. Here he exerted himself with great zeal to restore apostolic religion, and by his earnestness, sanctity, and austerity gained many followers. In 1666 he became pastor of a Walloon church in Middleburg, Holland; but still persecuted by his enemies, he left it, and went in 1669 to Amsterdam, where his followers soon formed a distinct sect called Labadists. It included many of rank and education, among whom were two ladies, the learned Anna Marie von Schurmann, and the authoress, Antoinette Bourignon.
Expelled from the country as a separatist he went in 1671) to Erfurt, where lie was pro tected by the princess Elizabeth who, through the influence of Anna Marie von Schur mann, became a disciple. Driven from this place in 167-4 he went to I3remen and then to A Rona, where he died. He left numerous works. The Labadists did not differ entirely from the Reformed church, but adhered to its doctrinal symbols. They were a sect of mystics who sought reform of life rather than of doctrine. They supported themselves by manual labor; and, after the example of the primitive church, held property in common; laid great stress on the internal light as indispensable for the understanding of the Bible; rejected infant baptism and the observance of holy days. They have been charged with immorality by some Roman Catholic writers, but without reason. TLey honored the institution of marriage. After Labadie's death his followers settled at Wiewe•t, but made few converts, and in the beginning of the 18th c. the sect became extinct. A few of them came to the United States and settled on the Hudson, but gained no permanence as a sect.