Undoubtedly by no means all the Anabaptists of Germany indulged in social and political ex cesses. The fanaticism which characterized some of the early Anabaptists is sufficiently explained by the tendency of human nature to rush into extremes. The iron hold of the ecclesiastical hierarchy, which had cramped the Church for ages, being suddenly relaxed, men had yet to learn what were the genuine conditions whether of civil or religious liberty. But these consider ations were overlooked, and the reformed churches, with one consent, regarded the Ana baptists with horror and disdain. The corre spondence of the Reformers is full of allusions to the subject. Anabaptists are spoken of with reprobation, and a distinction is not sufficiently made between the sober Christians and the worst fanatics of the party. It is probable, at least, that their faults have been exaggerated even by the best writers. Menno Simons in augurated a new and prosperous era for the Anabaptists. He gathered together the scat tered remnants of the sect and founded numer ous congregations in Germany and the Nether lands. Later they became known as Menno nites, and are now known as Taufgesinnte in Germany, and as Doopsgezinden in Holland. These terms are very close to the English term Baptists, and avoids all association with the early Anabaptists. Menno explained his doc
trine in his work
of the True Chris tian Faith,) which is still authoritative among the sect. Especial emphasis is laid on a recep tion of the doctrines of Scripture with simple faith and conforming one's life to them, at the same time making no special prize of learning or the scientific explanation or elaboration of doctrines. Oaths, war revenge, infant baptism, divorce, except for adultery, are repudiated, as also undertaking the functions of magistrates, who are regarded as a necessary present evil, in no wise necessary to God's kingdom. Grace is universal and the Church is the community of the saints, whose purity is to be maintained by strict discipline. In Germany and Switzer land their worship is closely akin to that of the Lutherans. Bishops, elders and instructors receive no remuneration. Children receive their name at birth, adults joining the body are re baptized and baptism takes the place of wor ship. About the beginning of the last century all the congregations of Holland were merged into one body. Consult Lindsay,