But though there were many individuals, and even some small societies, who maintained the opinions, and deserved the appellation of baptists before the Refor mation, yet it was only about that period that the insulated members were collected into one body, were properly organized, and attracted the attention of Europe. As many of the nations, who had groaned for ages under the superstition and tyranny of the see of Rome, began then to break their fet ters, to assert their independence, and to rise to the dignity of men and Christians, the baptists imagined that the glorious period was come, when their opi uions would universally prevail, and the personal reign of Christ would commence upon the earth. Giddy and intoxicated with liberty, for which they had long sighed in secret, but to which they had never before been accustomed ; and animated and di rected by passion and imagination rather than by rea son and the word of God, they surrendered their un derstandings to all the wildness of enthusiasm, and hurried into, those scenes of indecency, of rapine, and of bloodshed, which in the year 1533 alarmed the states of Germany, desolated the city of Munster, and disgraced the character of the whole party. (See ANAnAPrtsrs.2 But though the odium of absur dity and wickedness has been indiscriminately thrown upon the whole party, yet it is as ungenerous as un just to affirm, that all the baptists approved, far less followed, the standard of Matthias or Boccold. No sooner, therefore, had the arm of power inflicted upon the leaders of the insurgents that punishment which their crimes merited, and struck with terror such. as might have been tempted to imitate their example, ' than the sect appeared to return to reason and to common sena.-. This happy change was principally effected by Menno Simon, a man who, from being a popish priest of the most infamous character, became a baptist teacher, equally distinguished for the mild ness and humanity of his disposition, as for the pu rity and rectitude of his conduct. By his prudent counsels and unwearied diligence, were their socie ties reduced to form, their discipline established, their doctrines defined, and a spirit of union and of mode ration infused into the whole mass. The obligations which they owed to their amiable and disinterested leader inspired them with the warmest gratitude, and the deference which they paid to him bestowed upon them the appellation of Mennonites, which they still bear. Their situation, however, was still far from being agreeable. Unacknowledged by any of the powers of Europe, and dreaded from the remem brance of their late fanaticism, they owed their secu rity to the generosity of the rulers, and not to the protection of the laws ; and the imprudence of a few of their own members, as well as the interest, the caprice, or the bigotry of the magistrate, might at once have overwhelmed them with all the evils of persecution. It was to William prince of Orange, a name illustrious in the annals of civil and religious li berty, that they were indebted for the first legal to leration which they enjoyed. His son Maurice imi tated his generous and enlightened example ; but the influence of their protection was not only confined within the boundaries of their dominions, but was even defeated, within that narrow circle, by the op position of many to whom the subordinate offices of their government was committed. We may add, that in England, in 1538, some of this sect were burnt in Smithfield, and even in the seventeenth century they were not exempted from the storm of persecution which was raised against the reformed churches. They are, however, now protected in Britain, by the act of toleration, 1689 ; and they enjoy equal secu rity in many other nations of Europe.
It must have already occurred to our readers, that the baptists are the same sect of Christians which we formerly described under the appellation of ANA BAPTISTS. It is but justice to acknowledge, that they reject the latter appellation with disdain and main tain, that as none of the adopted by churches are consonant to scripture, the baptism of these churches is in reality no baptism. Hence, in
their opinion, they do not re-baptize. Indeed, this seems to have been their great leading principle from the time of.Tertullian to the present day. Accord ing to them, something essential to baptism, either in the subjects, or in the administrators, or in the mode, was omitted, which rendered the rite altogether nu gatory ; and hence they asserted, that their baptism was the first that was administered to such as were proper subjects of it.
Though the Calvinistic and Arminian baptists are by far the most numerous at the present day, yet there are many baptists who adhere to the dogmata of Arius, Pelagius, and Socinus. Hence it is, that this sect may be said to he divided into a number of lesser sects, each distinguished by its own name, and by its particular opinions. To specify all these would be inconsistent with our plan. We may, however, be allowed to remark, that the following opinions, though not adopted by the whole body of baptists, have yet pretty generally prevailed. 1. That our Saviour's body was not derived from the substance of his mo ther, but was created in her womb by the Holy Spirit. 2. That during the Millenium, Christ will personally reign over his church on earth. 3. That private Christians have authority to preach the gos pel. 4. That the gospel supersedes all those civil institutions which men have established for the sup port and regulation of society. 5. That true Chris tians ought not to exercise the offices of magistracy.
6. That war, even in self-defence, is unlawful.
7. That no Christian should confirm his testimony by an oath. 8. That the Sabbath was not changed from the seventh to the first day of the week. 9. That a community of goods was established by the gospel. And, 10. That Christians, in imitation of their Lord, ought to wash the feet of their guests. But the opinions which are acknowledged by all the baptists, and which may be accounted characteristic of the sect, are, 1. That the church of Christ upon earth is an assembly of real saints, and must be kept pure from the wicked. 2. That no man is born a member of any particular church, but must volunta rily choose for himself. 3. That baptism ought only to be administered to adults, upon a public profession of faith and repentance, by immersion. 4. That ci vil rulers have no authority to enact laws, or to en force obedience in matters of religion. 5. That the ministers of religion have no power over the opinions or consciences of their hearers, but are to be ac counted mere teachers. And, 6. That the religious establishment and form of worship, in Christian churches, ought to be congregational or independent. See Tertulliani de Baptism°. Cypriani Epistoler. Optati Op. lib. ii. Baronii Annales An. 321. Al baspinaci Observat. in Optat. Labbei Concil. torn. ii. can. 8, 19. Binii Notre in Cone.,Nieen. Bossuet, Histoire des Variations des Eglises Protestantes. Hermanni Schyn, M. D. Historic Christiaziorum. Jo. Henrici Ottii. Annales. Anabapt. Mosheim'e Church Hist. Robertson's Charles V. Robinson's Hist. of Baptism. (N) BAR suit ORNA1N, formerly BAR LE Dtrc, is the chief town of the department of the Meuse, in France, The articles of the commerce of this town, are hemp, wood, and wine. The hemp is very abundant, and is employed in the fabrication of coarse linens. The wood consists of planks of oak, and deal boards. The Marne, into which the river ()main discharges itself, facilitates the intercourse between this town and Paris. Bar sur Ornain is celebrated for its con fectionaries of fruit, and its wines are reckoned equal to those of Champagne. All kinds of steel goods are manufactured in the suburbs. Population G961. East Long. 5° 11', North Lat. 48° 46' 5". (o)