Survey of the Spiritual Antichrist, Part 1 · Chapter 3
CHAP. III. Of Anabaptists, N. Stork. Th. Muncer, Jo. Becold, &c. and their Tenets.
ANno, 1522. Did arise in Saxonie, Nicholas Stork, who boasted of dreames and visions and rejected the Scripture, as being a carnall and literall rule; Antinomians call it carnall, literall and legall. From him and others arose Thomas Mun…erus, about Ann. 1524. who stiled himselfe in his letters, Thomas Muncer, the servant of God, with the sword of Gideon against the ungodly. This man being hungry for glory, hunted for Luthers name to his new designes, but not obtaining it, said Luther lopped, but rooted not out Antichrist: that Luthers carnall and literall Gospel was worse then the Pope, and therefore cryed downe bookes, and the letter of Scripture; and said, the Spirit was leader and rule to believers. As Mistris Hutchison of N. England being demanded pRise a…d reig…. p 36.a warrant for her private assemblies and teaching, said she walked by the rule of the new creature; which rule she said was the Spirit, but could not give Scripture for it; so the Antinomian Del in her very Grammer, saith, qDel. s…r. 26.he knoweth no laws in Gods Kingdome the Church, but three. 1. Th… law of a new creature, 2. the law of the Spirit of life that is in Christ. 3. The law of love, not one word of the Scripture here, its but a dead Letter; Antinomians, Familists, Nicholai…ans, Enthusiasts, Sweckfeldians, Libertines, goe no higher, that they may abase the Scriptures. Luther wrote to the Senate of Mulhuysen a famous Towne in Thuringia, to beware of the wolfe Muncer. Henry Pfeiffer a Monk,Henry Pfeiffer and Muncer their sedi…ious spirits and miserable end. did blow up Muncerus, he boasting of a vision from Heaven, gathered troops to the field. The Princes of Saxoni, Hess…n, and Brunswick, the Count of Manfield, and the Princes in Sweden, Thuringia Alsa…ia, Franconia, Bavaria, Au…tria, and Stiria, subdued and killed the Boures, or Husbandmen and Rusticks,Great tumults to the killing of above an hundred thousand through Germany and about by the Antinomian spirits impulsion which wa…t…th the light of Scripture. who were sick of love for Muncers Liberty, or rather licence due to them, as the false Prophets said, under the New Testament; on a hill neer Frankbusen, Muncer drew up and cryed, The Sword of the Lord, and of Gideon against New Testament taskmasters, hee meant Princes, and lawfull Magistrates, yet was Muncer taken in the Town Frankbusen, and Pfeiffer also, near Isewick, and Muncer having fained himself sick, and despairing, he and his Prophet were hanged, An. 1525. By these and other the like bloody inspirations, were above a hundred thousand killed.
In Helvetia, Felix Montzy, Balthaser Hubmeir, and Conradus Grebelius of Zurick, spreading by word and writ Anabaptisme of this kinde, at Zurick, An. 1525. were confounded in a publicke dispute by Huldicus, Zwinglius, Leo, Juda, and Casper Megander; Hubmeir, who professed and promised recantation, in the Pulpit, preached the contrary, Satan leading his tongue, as he said, Held that Adams flesh, not his spirit, consented to sin, and that he lost not true Liberty by his fall,Tenets of Hubmeir. against him and the Anabaptists pretending the Spirit for their rule, and rejecting the Scriptures, as Antinomians doe. The Senate of Zurick, An. 1530. past an Act discharging them to Preach, Ann. 1525. 1527. 1529. they were confuted, An. 1528. Lodivicus, Helser, Joannes Trajer, Joan. Seekler, and other Anabaptists, were in the matter of Oathes, Magistracy, Pedobaptisme, confuted by Hallerus, and by Kolvius at Bern, and forced to say, The Spirit taught them, otherwise then the Letter of the Scripture spake.
And also at Zosing in Argovia, An. 1532. Conradus, Grebelius with his labouring to seduce many, were confuted, and cast out of Sengall.
Tho. Schuker by the impulsion of a Spirit without Scripture beheaded his owne innocent brother.Thomas Schuker the Disciple of Melchior Rinkius, beheaded with a sword his brother Leonard, by the impulsion of the Spirit, at Sengal (but it was not the Holy Ghost, who leadeth us in Scripture truth) saying in that, The will of God was done, and it was finished, this made a Spirit without Scripture hatefull to many, having made much adoe with their Scriptures Spirit, at Str…asbrough, Wormes, Ausbourg, Vlmes, and being driven out of Helvetia, and High-Germany, they carried their plague to Mor…via, and adjoyned to themselves seditious men in Bohemia, Poland, Hungaria, Austria and Silesia.
Balthasar Hubmeier for tumults in Moravia, was burnt at Vienna.
Hence in West-phalia, Frizland, Holland, and especially at Munster, arose new Revelations; In comes An. 1533. John Becold, out of his own element, of a Tailor, amongst the Prophets, with the Prophet Baker,Becold called John of Leiden his rise, bloody, attempts, spirit wi…hout Scripture, an… Tragicall end. John Matthiz, and some of Munster. Ro…mannus, a faint and fained confuter of Anabaptists, turnes to them, and with him Herman Strepeda, Hen. Rullius, and Godfrey Stralen, strengthen them, they were confuted in a publick dispute and ordained to depart the City of Munster, and did depart, but they partly steal in again in the night, partly hide themselves, and make themselves masters of the city, one Warendrop a Godsmith, prophesies that John of Leiden must be King of the whole earth, and King of Jerusalem, that all Princes must obey him; John Matth…z an Enthusiast.Becold appoints Bernard Knippe…dolling, and Kippenbrugh Consulls, the Christian Magistrates are deposed.
John Matthiz, after a revelation from heaven, commands all books to be burnt, except the Bible, all Gold and Silver to be brought and laid downe at his feet, that all might be common. Truteling a Smith called them dirty Prophets, therefore Matthiz shot him dead,Becolds spirit & visio…s br…ng forth polygamy and ha…i…g … many wives. and Matthiz himselfe not long after was cut off by the enemy. Righteous is the Lord. Becold, after three dayes lying in a fancied transe, commands Polygamy, in obedience to his own Vision, marries three wives, then other three, til he came to fifteen.
Becold, according to the prophesie, of a Tailor is made a most Gorgeous King,Becold wou…d have d…ub…e the Apostles of Christ …nd more. and sent out twenty eight Apostles, to shew his Kingdome was above Christ, he would have this number twice twelve Apostles, and four Angels as Evangelists sent to the foure corners of the earth to Preach Tailor, Becold, King of Kings, all of them were killed (some say) one only returned to give an account of spreading the spirit of Anabaptisme Becold appointing a great Lords Supper, the King Tayler came in to see the Guest…s,Becolds bloody spirit. and findes a man and reading on his face the want of a wedding garment, others say he saw him to be a Iudas, killeth the innocent man presently.
After he had prophecied the Towne of Munster now beseiged should be supplied, and killed one of his wives, who said his prophecies came not to passe, he and Knipperdoling were deservedly, after Torturing, Killed, and hanged in an iron cage in the Cathedrall pin…cle.
The Tenents of Anabaptists, in which they side with Antinomians are these, more of this see in the writers citedA Bullinger adv. Anabaptist l. 1.2.3. Sleidan hist. Heresbachius historia Anabaptistica Lambert…us Hortensius of the same. Freder. Spanhemii Diatribe historica de Anabap. Ioan. Clopenburgius Gangrena Anabaptist. M. Robert Baylie. 2. Part of diswasive Anabaptisme the true fountaine of Independencie, &c. The Tenets of Anabaptists in which, they side with Antinomians.
The Reformation of Luther and others, was Legall, Literall, carnall, not Spirituall, So Del.
The Father, Son, and Spirit are not three distinct persons, and in essence and nature one God, so Familists, deny Christ to be God and make every Saint equall with Christ.
3 The Lord Iesus did not really and truely, but in imagination take our nature, Antinomians say a beleever is God incarnate Godded and Christed. Theol. Ger. c 22. Rise. reig. er 11.
4 The doctrine of Christ before his suffering is not so much to be observed, as after his death, for Peter resisted ill. Saltm. saith Shadowes flying away. pag. 7, 8, 9. Christ and Iohn Baptist preached legally and spake not fully of free grace.
5 Christ hath removed the Law and all its obleiging power, and now the pure Gospell and Command of faith is our onelyonly rule. so Antinom.
6 Christ reformed the ten commandes and brought in a more perfect rule, Antinomians say they have nothing to doe with Moses and the Law: The Law is now in the Spirit saith Saltmash free grace. 146. Del. ser. p. 19.26.
7 b.Seaven …eaded policie by M. Gortin.In the old Testament oaths were permitted, perjury only forbidden, all oathes are forbidden in the new, the Sabbath was kept then, not now, so our Antinomians and Familists of new E.
8 They deny that the soules of the Godly or wicked goe to heaven or Hell, till the day of Iudgement, and deny the resurrection of the same body, that was buried, or that flesh and bloud …shall rise againe, contrary to Scripture, Iob 19.26, 27, 28. Esay. 26.19. Ezek. 37▪ 11.12. Daniel 12.2.13. Phil. 3.19, 20. 1 Cor. 15. 53. Ioh. 20.27. So say Antinomians c.Towne ass…r. gr. p. 60. Becon Catech. p. 139. he speaketh of our resurection as of a thing past, p. 141.142.life eternall is in this life, the resurrection is past,Rise reign. p. 59. art. 2, 3, 4, 5. that the soule is mortall.
9 The visible Church consisteth of those that are perfect, and onelyonly of those; d.Towne ass. p. 77, 78. Hobson pract. divin. p. 87, 88. Thelo. German. Bright star Salt Free grace p. 140.so Antinomians.
10 None can with a good conscience exercise, the office of a Magistrate under the New Testament. Familists say its against Christian liberty.
11 Vniversities, Schooles, humane arts ought not to be. eSaltmar. s…ad▪ fleeing away. p. 8. free grace .179 180, 181. Famili…t Gortyn seven headed polici….Saltmarsh, they are legall and litterall.
12 That its unlawfull to goe to law, and that warres are unlawfull. See Del. serm. 6, 7, 8.
13 These Anabaptists called Libertines deny all Scripture as a dead Letter, all preaching, Sacraments, church assemblies, singing of Psalmes, praying, all ordinances, and say the Spirit, the inward anoynting, and the internall word that proceeds immediately out of the mouth of God, as Gideons sword is the onelyonly meanes of Gospell-reformation;1. clases of Anabaptists. Divers classes of Anabaptists, all which hold somthing common with the Antinomians, and Spirituallists. Beacon saith, all externall worship in the New Test. is indifferent. so Antinomians reject all Ordinances as legall and say the spirit is all, and some as Del. serm. Beacon. Catechism. tit. say the joyfull knowledge of God and man (and all things else that relate to either) is alone in the Spirit by Iesus Christ, he counts all ordinances and externall duties and worship triviall and indifferent. O therefore (preface) if distempered Christian Nations, (he excepteth not Papists, Arminians, Socinians &c.) were once wise to forbeare this clashing and dashing themselves in pieces, one against another, for matters externall, triviall, and circumstantiall in religion, and would content themselves with that which is alone saving &c. To the Antinomian Beacon, Idolatry, Angell-worship, preaching, praying, scriptures, duties of the Law, precepts of the Gospell, of nature, of grace, opinions &c. all controversies in Religion, these in which the distempered nations, now contravert, yea Church-government, sacraments, ministers are matters externall, triviall, and circumstantiall in religion, 2. …nke of Anabaptests.not things in which salvation consisteth,f.Bullinger ad. Anabap. l. c. 8. not to be contended for on either side.
14 The second rancke of Anabaptists called concionatores, preachers,3 Ranke. denyed all the Old Testament as abrogate. How little Antinomians esteeme Moses and the Prophets wee all know.gBulling. adv. Anabaptist. l. 1. c. 9.
15 The third rancke called Apostolici, said we must become young with children. Antinomians abandon sense, nature, reason, and say we must live by faith only. So hony-combe, Towne, Saltmarsh, Den.
16 hBullingerThe third ranke were Spiritualists, who abstained from cloathing, meat, feasts, musicke; to i.Saltmarsh 177, 178.Saltmarsh all externalls are legall and carnall.
17 The fourth ranke were the holy and sinlesse foreign and would not pray the Lords prayer, forgive us our sinnes, and contended for Saints in this life without spot or wrinkle. Crispe and other Antinomians say the beleevers are as cleane from sinne as k.honey comb. c. 3. p. 25.Christ himselfe, and cite the same place Ephes. 5.25, 26. for it. So Del the spirituall Church is led and taught by the anoynting, the carnall Church by councels▪ letter of the word.
18 These denyed originall sinne in infants, Antinomians deny it in all the elect, who are justified from eternity, or from Christs Death, or from the time of their beleeving.
19 The fifth ranke were Silentiaries, tacentes, they denyed necessity of preaching as Antinomians doe, because the anoynting is sufficient, they thought it indifferent to deny their Religion.
20 The sixt ranke prayed only, which Antinomians doe never▪ but praise onelyonly.
21 The seaventh were arreptitiously and Enthysiastically inspired, and fell in transes and saw visions of lyes, Antinomians hold revelations and rapts of the Spirit, without the word for their lRise reign p. 38 39.4…rule.
22 The eight rank were these in higher Germany, that are called lib…ri fratres, free brethren, they were abominable impure, and so uncleane that they were excommunicated by the rest,Antinomians & liberi fratres like other in that both teach freedome from laws, covenants, from paying of tithes, freedome from sin, &c. they said they were delivered by Christ from all lawes, covenants, vowes, paying of tithes or debts (as Saltmarsh saith, to doe any thing from these grounds is law-bondage; free grace. pag. 180) they owe no obedience unto Magistrates, they said marriage was free with any of neerest blood, that men could not be saved except they were Publicans, and Harlots, they held men might have many wives at once, that after rebaptization they cannot sinne, as Eaton the Antinomian saith, hony-comb c. 3▪ p. 25. that not they, but the flesh sinned, as Towne saith. asser. pag. 35.
23 The ninth ranke were called also liberi fratres, they said, baptizing of infants, Magistrates, oath…s were things indifferent, preaching, …earing, scriptures were needlesse, because we shall be all taught of God, Sacraments are but common signes that beleevers need not, it was free and indifferent to confesse Christ before men, if danger be, God delights not in our blood, nor requires he that we dye for his truth, we may dissemble our religion, deny Christ before men, so we keepe the truth in our hearts, I often prove Antinomians to run in this straine.
24 The tenth sort were called Huttites from Iohn Hut, these took on them to cut off all the Cananites, that is, all the ungodly with the sword, and gave away their goods, because they said the day of judgement was neare at hand: Ioh. Hut and the like false Prophets in their owne name could not learne wit from Cocheba… the Jew the son of a starre, who called himselfe the Starre of Iacob and Redeemer of Israel, but proved Benchozba the sonne of a lye; he and his were destroyed by Tynius Ruffus president of Palestina, he arose in time of Aelius Adrianus An. 118. or 120 Eusebius eccle. Hist. l. 4. c. 5. nor would learne wit from the folly of a Jew who rose Anno. 379 in the time of Theodosius the great, he called himselfe Moses, promised to lead the people to Canaan drye, through the sea, caused the Iewes leap into the sea, who drowned themselves and beat out their brains in the rocke, and counterfeit Moses, it may be the Devill, disapeared, and was seen no more, Tripart. Hist. l. 12. c. 9. Nicep. l. 14. c. 4.
25 The eleventh ranke were called Augustinians from one Augustine a Bohemian Enthysiast, they were ruled by scriptureles dreames.
26 Anabaptists deny that scripture can prove any thing by consequence; but it must be in so many syllables; logicke and consequencies say m.Saltmarsh shaddows …leeing p. 8.Antinomians are to be abandoned in divinity.
27 Melchior Hoffman a Skinner an. 1529 said Strasburg was new Ierusalem.
…elchior Hoff…an.2 He was to be called an Apostle from heaven
3 Leaned to Enthysiasmes.
28 Hoffman said he was Elias, and Cornel Polterman Enoch.
29 Menno Simonz the sonne of a secular priest borne in Frizland, Menno Simon…neere Harlingen about an. 1532 rejected Enthysiasmes, and yet slighted the scriptures, 2 rejected apostolick calling, 3 maintained the grosest Pelagianisme, that the saints live free from all sinne. as Eaton the Antinomian. honie-combe