Schaff - History of the Christian Church Vol. 8 - Media Sabda Org

enough for immersion. f138 The Lord’s Supper was administered by the
Baptists in the simplest manner, after a plain supper (in imitation of the
original institution and the Agape), by the recital of the words of
institution, and the distribution of bread and wine. They reduced it to a
mere commemoration.
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The two ideas of a pure church of believers and of the baptism of believers
were the fundamental articles of the Anabaptist creed. On other points
there was a great variety and confusion of opinions. Some believed in the
sleep of the soul between death and resurrection, a millennial reign of
Christ, and final restoration; some entertained communistic and socialistic
opinions which led to the catastrophe of Münster (1534). Wild excesses of
immorality occurred here and there. f139
But it is unjust to charge the extravagant dreams and practices of
individuals upon the whole body. The Swiss Anabaptists had no connection
with the Peasants’ War, which barely touched the border of Switzerland,
and were upon the whole, like the Moravian Anabaptists, distinguished for
simple piety and strict morality. Bullinger, who was opposed to them, gives
the Zurich Radicals the credit that they denounced luxury, intemperance in
eating and drinking, and all vices, and led a serious, spiritual life. Kessler of
St. Gall, likewise an opponent, reports their cheerful martyrdom, and
exclaims, “Alas! what shall I say of the people? They move my sincere
pity; for many of them are zealous for God, but without knowledge.” And
Salat, a Roman Catholic contemporary, writes that with “cheerful, smiling
faces, they desired and asked death, and went into it singing German
psalms and other prayers.” f140
The Anabaptists produced some of the earliest Protestant hymns in the
German language, which deserve the attention of the historian. Some of
them passed into orthodox collections in ignorance of the real authors.
Blaurock, Manz, Hut, Hätzer, Koch, Wagner, Langmantel, Sattler,
Schiemer, Glait, Steinmetz, Büchel, and many others contributed to this
interesting branch of the great body of Christian song. The Anabaptist
psalms and hymns resemble those of Schwenkfeld and his followers. They
dwell on the inner life of the Christian, the mysteries of regeneration,
sanctification, and personal union with Christ. They breathe throughout a
spirit of piety, devotion, and cheerful resignation under suffering, and
readiness for martyrdom. They are hymns of the cross, to comfort and