ANABAPTISTS, in church history, a sect whose origin it is difficult to trace, but which produced terri ble commotions in Switzerland, Holland, and Germany, about the time of the Reformation. The distinguishing doctrine of this sect, and from which it derived its name, is the invalidity of infant baptism, and the re-baptization of all who wish to be admitted into their community. There can be no doubt, that there were many who held these opinions before the time of the Reformation; and perhaps the modern Baptists arc justifiable in deducing their origin rather from the persecuted 'Waldenses, and other opponents of the church of Rome, than from the factious bigots who afterwards distinguished themselves so much by their atrocities and absurdities.
Munzer, the apostle of the Anabaptists, with his asso ciates, Stuhner, and Storck, began to preach the fanati cal doctrines of this sect, in Saxony, in the year Not meeting, however, with the &sir( d success, and judging argument to be a method not sufficiently expe ditious in effecting conversion, they at last had recourse to arms; they assembled, in the year 1523, a numerous army, composed chiefly of the peasints of Thu ringia, Franconia, and Saxony ; and the bead of 'his deluded rabble, declared wit aTainst all laws aid vernments, alleging that C rist w•ni how comP to take the reins of government into is ONvl 11:111dS, and to com mence his long expected reign over the nations. This rabble was soon dispersed; and Munzer, their leader, was ignominiously put to death.
The sect, however, was not destroyed by this discom fiture; the mania spread throughout all Germany, and the neighbouring countries, threatening the subvel sion of all mural principle, as well as of all constituted au thorities. The human mind appears to have Lieu, at that particular period, peculiarly liable to run into e', cry species of absurd.ty. The veneration for ancient preju dices had been dispelled ; the doctrines and maxims which had so long regulated the Christian world, had been demonstrated to be, for the most part, absurd and pernicious; and men had been taught to seek for truth and happiness by all intrepid exertion of their own fa culties, instead of trusting to the false and interested interpretations of others. We may easily conceive that
this new lignt would, for a time, prove highly injurious to unstable minds, and prepare them for receiving any doctrine, however absurd, that came to them recom mended by novelty. After all, however, it is perhaps not necessary to seek so deep for the cause of that suc cess which attended the preaching, or rather the ravings of the Anabaptists, as we have seen the same kind of epidemical madness burst forth in every state of socie ty, whilst we are as unacquainted with its cause, as we arc in general with the origin of a dysentery or a fever. Besides, the opinions publicly avowed by the Anabap tists, were of such a nature, as must at all times attract the attention ol an ignorant and licentious mob. I. Their leading doctrine was, that infant baptism was an invention or the devil. This was a harmless doctrine, in so far as the peace of society was concerned. 2. They maintained that the true church of Christ, of which they considered themselves as the constituent members, ought to be exempt from all sin. From this doctrine, we might expect to find the new sect distinguished fur purity and austerity of manners. The event, however, showed, that it led to the most abandoned licentious ness ; and that it did not tend to reform the conduct, but to subvert the great leading principles of morality ; for, holding the doctrine of a spotless church, and find ing at the same time. that the principles of their nature still led them to those actions which are generally ac counted sinful, to reconcile this doctrine and practice with each other, the Anabaptists were forced to main tain, that whatever their hearts desired, might be law fully indulged, and that all the restraints imposed by the laws on human conduct, were encroachments on Chris tian liberty. 3. They maintained, that all things ought to be in common among the faithful, and that all usury and taxes ought to be abolished; most agreeable doc trines to the indolent and the seditious. 4. Every Christian had a right to preach the gospel, and God still revealed his will to chosen persons by dreams and visions; doctrines which could not fail to please the fanatical and the ignorant. 5. There was no use what ever for civil magistrates in the kingdom of Christ.