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DAVID GEORGE, the miracle of the Anabaptists. At Basil he pretends to have been ba∣nished his Countrey for the Gospels sake; with his spe∣cious pretences he gaines the freedome of the City for him and his▪ His Character▪ His Riches. He with
his Sect enact three things. His Sonne in Law, doubt∣ing his new Religion, is by him questioned; and upon his answer excommunicated. His wifes death. He had formerly voted himself immortal; yet Aug. 2. 1556. he died &c. His death troubled his disciples. His do∣ctrine questioned by the Magistrates, eleven of the Se∣ctaries secured. XI. Articles extract•••• out of the writings of David George, Some of the imprisoned Sectaries acknowledged David George to have been the cause of the tumults in the lower parts of Germany, but disowned his doctrine.
Conditions whereupon the imprisoned are set at liberty.
The Senate vote the doctrine of D. G. impious, and declare him unworthy of Christian burial, and that his body and books should be burned, which was ac∣cordingly effected.
DAVID GEORGE,* 1.1 a man born at Delph in Holland, the miracle of the Ana∣baptistical Religion, having lived in the lower Provinces forty years, did in the year one thousand five hundred forty and four, with some of his kindred and companions, in the beginning of April, begin his journey for Basil, into the state and condition of which place, he had before very diligently enquired. Whereof having sufficiently informed him∣self, he pretended that he had been driven out of his Countrey for the Gospels sake,* 1.2 and that he had been hitherto tost both on the land and sea of the miseries of this world; and therefore he humbly in∣treated, that now at length he might be received into some place of Rest. Some being by the representation of his misfortunes and his teares, melted into compas∣sion towards him, he presum'd to intreat the Magistrate, that in tendernesse to Christ and his holy Gospel, he might be made capable of the priviledges of the City, which if it were granted, he bid them be confident of Gods most particular protection towards their City, and that for the preservation of it, he engaged for him and his, that they should be ready to lay down their lives. The Magistrate being moved with these just
remonstrances and desires received the viper as a Citi∣zen,* 1.3 gave him the right hand of welcom and fellowship, and made him and his free of the City. What should the Magistrate do? Behold, he hath to do with a man of a grave countenance, free in his behaviour, having a very long beard and that yellowish, sky-coloured and sparkling eyes,* 1.4 milde and affable in the midst of his gravity, nea•• in his apparel; Finally one that seemed to have in him all the ingredients of honesty, modesty and truth; to be short, one, if you examine his counte∣nance, carriage, discourse, and the cause he is embarqu'd in, all things without him are within the limits of me∣diocrity and modesty; if you look within him, he is no∣thing but deceit, fraud, and dissimulation; in a word, an ingenouous Anabaptist. Having already felt the pul∣ses of the Senate and divers of the Citizens, coming with his whole family to Basil, he and his are enter∣tained by a certain Citizen. Having nested a while in Basil, he purchased certain houses in the City, as also a Farm in the countrey and some other things thereto ap∣pertenant, married his children, and by his good offices procured to himself many friends. For, as long as he remained at Basil, he so much studied Religion, was so great an Alms-giver, and gave himself so much to other exercises of devotion, that suspicion it self had not what to say against him. By these cunning insinuations (this is beyond a young fox, and smells more of the Lybian wilde beast) many being surprised, came easily over to his party, so that he arrived to that esteem and reputation in matters of Religion, he pleased himself: This perswasion thus craftily gotten, was heightened by his great wealth (and his riches in jewels,* 1.5 whereof he brought some with him, some were daily brought from other places in the Low countries) & was yet further en∣creased, by his sumptuous and rich plate and houshold∣stuffe, which though they were gorgeous and majestical, yet were they not made to look beyond sobriety, clean, linesse and inediocrity. These people sojourning thus in common houses, desiring as yet to suppresse the per∣nic••ous in••ection of their sect,* 1.6 very religiously enacted three things: First, that no man should profane or speak idly of the name of David George. Secondly,
that no man should rashly or unadvisedly divulge any thing concerning his country, or manner of life; whence it was that some thought him to be a person of some quality; some, that he was some very rich Factor or Merchant, whence it came that he was so excessively rich; others had other imaginary opinions and con∣ceits of him, for as much as they themselves being stran∣gers, lived in a countrey where they could not be ascer∣tained of any thing: Thirdly, he was very cautious that none of the Basileans should be car••lesly admitted into his requaintance, society or correspondence, imitating therein the policy of the Ferrets and Weesels, which (as is reported) never assault any bird of supremacy, in the place where they frequent. And th••s did he by letters, writings and emissaries, plant and water the venemous seed of his sect through the lower Provi••ces, yet kept the wayes by which he wrought unsuspected and undis∣covered. For, although he had lived two years among them, there was not so much as one man infected, or had privately caught the itch of his Religion. What tran∣scendent Mysteries are these! This man, though he feared neither deceit nor treachery from strangers, yet the fire kindled out of the deceitful embers of his own hous∣hold. For,* 1.7 behold; one of his is own R••tinue doubting of the certainty of the new Religion, he caused him to be brought before him, and asked him whether he did not acknowledge him to be the true David sent from hea∣ven upon earth, and to be the Horn, Redeemer, and Builder up of the Tabernacle of Israel; to which the other answered roundly and peremptorily, that the re∣stauration of the kingdom of Israel and other things foretold by the Prophets were fulfilled in Christ, the true Messias, and that consequently there was no other to be expected. Which he hearing, not without great astonishment, did with much commotion of mind and bitter ••menaces thrust him, though his sonne in Law, out of dores, and [which is heavy to think on] excom∣municated him. These things being thus managed, Davids wife fell sick of a disease (which afterwards visi∣ted him and many more) th••e dispatch'd her into the other world.* 1.8 What a miracle is this! He that declared himself to be greater than Christ, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 himself im∣mortal
(upon the second of August,* 1.9 one thousand five hundred fifty and six) did die the death, and was honourably huried according to the ceremonies of the Parish Church, and his funerals were celebra∣ted in the sight of his sonnes and daughters; sonne•• in law and daughters in law, servant-men and maides, and a great conflux of Citizens. This sad calamity of his death extreamely troubled and tormented the mindes of his disciples,* 1.10 as a thing that very much thwarted their hopes of his promised immortality, although he had 〈◊〉〈◊〉 told that he would rise again in three yeares, and would bring all those things to passe which he had promised while he was alive. Upon the death of this 〈◊〉〈◊〉 great many with resolute mindes made it their businesse not only to bring his doctrine into su∣spicion, but into utter disesteem, unanimously re∣solving to embrace 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was good, sound, and consonant to Christian doctrine;* 1.11 and reject▪ the rest as hereticall. In the meane time, the report beat up and downe, both among the people, and the more learned, that this man of ingenuity, and authour of private doctrines, this very David George, was a contagion and a destructive pestilence, a de∣voted incendiary of a most dangerous Sect, that (though most falsely) he was born a King, and that he accounted himselfe the true Messias. The Magi∣strate being extreamly moved at these things, not de∣ferring his zeale any longer when the glory of God and his Son Iesus Christ was so much concerned,* 1.12 caused all those who were conceived to be infected with the pestilence of that Religion to be brought to the Palace, to whom he rubbed over what things had been transacted some years before; that is to say, ac∣quainted them, how that they had been banished their Countrey upon the account of the Gospel, and upon their humble addresses received into the protection, and made capable of the priviledges of the City, &c. But that it had appeared since, that they had fled for refuge to Basil, not for the propa∣gation of the Gospel, but for that of the leaven of the sacrilegious David, though by all outward appea∣rance,
they had hitherto been accounted favourers and professors of the true Religion. In the first place there∣fore the Senate being desirous to know the truth,* 1.13 re∣quired to have his true proper name; for, some have thought, (as some authours deliver) that his name was Iohn Br••••es. Secondly, whether he had privately or pub∣lickly dispersed his Religion, and what Tenets he held. To which some made answer unanimously, that they had left their countrey for the true Religions sake, nor did they acknowledge themselves any other than the professors and practisers of the lawfull Religi∣on. That for his name, he had not called himselfs by any other than his own proper name; and for his doctrine, they had acknowledged none either pri∣vately or publickly, save what he had privately some∣times suggested, which was not disconsonant to the publick. The Magistrate perceiving this obstinacy of mind caused eleven of them,* 1.14 the better to disco∣ver the reall truth, to be secured, and more narowly looked to. In the mean time, the Senate leaving no stone unmored in this businesse, appointed some to bring forth into publick view some bookes and writings of David, which should give no small light in the businesse,* 1.15 and these the Magistrate re∣commended to men of the greatest learning to be read over and examined with the greatest care possi∣ble, that so whatsoever they should meet with re∣p••gnant to the Truth, they should extract, and give him an account thereof. Those who had this charge put upon them, presented the Senate with this extract of Articles out of his writings.
1. THat all the Doctrine delivered by Moses, the Prophets,* 1.16 or by Jesus Christ himselfe and his Apostles, was not sufficient to salvation, but ••ress'd up and set forth for young men, and children, to keep them within decency and duty; but that the do∣ctrine of David George was perfect, entire, and most sufficient for the obtaining of salvation.
2. He affirmed that he was Christ and the Messias, the well beloved Sonne of the Father in whom he was well ••leased, not born of blood, nor of the flesh, nor of the lust
of man, but of the holy Ghost and the spirit of Christ who vanishing hencelong since according to the flesh, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 deposited hitherto in some place unknown to the Saints was now at length reinfused from heaven into David George.
3. He held that he only was to be worshipped, as wh•• should bring out the house of Israel, and the true (tha•• is, the professors of his doctrine) tribe of Levi, and th•• Tabernacle of the Lords not through miseries▪ sufferings, crosses, as the Messias of the Jewes did, but with 〈◊〉〈◊〉 meekness, love, and mercy in the spirit of Christ granted unto him from the Father which is in heaven.
4. He approved himself to be invested with the auth••∣rity of Saving, or condemning, binding and loosing, and that at the last day he should judge the twelve tribes of Israel.
5. He further maintained, that Jesus Christ was sent from the Father to take flesh upon him, for this reason at least, that by his doctrine and the use of his Sacra∣ments, men, being as it were no better then children, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 uncapable of receiving the true doctrine, might be kept within duty till the coming of David George, who should advance a Doctrine that should be most perfect and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 effectuall, should smooth out mankinde, and should con∣summate the knowledge of God and of his sonne, and what••ever hath been said of him.
6. But he further affirmed, That these things should not come to passe according to humane ceremonies, but after a spiritual dispensation, and after such a manner as ha•• not been heard of, which yet none should be able to di∣scern or comprehend, but such as were worthy disciples of David George.
7. To make good and prove all these things, he wrested and misinterpreted many places of the holy Scripture, as if Christ and the Apostles, whom he commends, had inti••••∣ted not themselves, nor any other Ecclesiasticall 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ save only the coming of David George.
8. And thence it was that he argued thus. If th•• Doctrine of Christ and his Apostles be most true and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 effectuall for the obtaining of salvation; the Church which they had by their doctrine built up and confirmed could not possibly have been broken to peeces, for (as Christ
himself testifieth) against the true Church, the gates of Hell shall not be able to prevaile: But that building of Christ and his Apostles is overturned and pulled down to the very foundation by Antichrist, as may be evidently seen in the Papacy, according to the Testimony of the same Christ; It therefore necessarily followes, that the Do∣ctrine of the Apostles is imperfect and interrupted: whence he concluded his own doctrine and faith to be the only solid and sufficient doctrine.
9. Moreover he maintained himself to be greater than John Baptist, yea than all the Saints that had gone before him, for that the least in the Kingdome of God (accord∣ing to the suffrage of Truth it self) is greater than John: But he said David George was one whose kingdome was heavenly and most perfect; whence he makes himself not only greater than John, but also sets himself above Christ, since that he was born of flesh, and that himself was born of the spirit according to a heavenly manner.
10. He further allowed with Christ, that all sinnes committed against God the Father, and against the Son may be forgiven, but those that are committed against the Holy Ghost, that is to say against David George, shall be forgiven neither in this world, nor in the world to come; by which means it is apparent that he conceiv'd himself greater and higher than Christ, admitting Christs own Testimony.
11. He declared Polygamy to be free and lawfull for all, even for those that are regenerated by the spirit of David George.
These heads [without any brains] did the Magistrate deliver to be carried to some that were in the prison,* 1.17 to fish out what confession they would make, who besides these, being provoked and challenged by a number of Questions, answered at last, That this (Da••us) I would say David George, was the same who had embroyled the lower parts of Germany with so many tumults & sediti∣on, but that as to that doctrine and the fore-recited Arti∣cles, they unanimously affirmed that they had never heard not read of any such thing. Neverthelesse they were to acknowledge the doctrine expressed in those Articles, to be pestiferous, execrable, and derived not from hea∣ven,
but from Hell, and that it was heretical, and to be banished with an eternal Anathema; and withall, as men miserably seduced, yet desiring for the time to come, to be reduced into the right way, they were, with good reason, to implore forgivenes▪ Among those that were in close prison, there was one formerly of Davids greatest confidents,* 1.18 who confessed, that indeed he had been infected with that Religion, but that since by the illumination of the grace of God, he discovered and de∣tested the errours springing from it, and avoyded them as he would do a cockatrice. But there were others who were civilly acquainted with this man, who denied that they had knowne any such thing by him, and cried out against the fore-mentioned Articles as impious and blasphemous. These passages, the Judges appointed by the Magistrate, gave him an account of, who perceiving that some that were in custody were not so extravagant, but that they had some remainders of discretion left, he sent to them some learned and able preachers of the word, who, having diligently weeded out the tares of their errors,* 1.19 should sow into their hearts the saving seed of true faith. Those who were sent, sifting them with all the humanity, mildnesse, meeknesse and charity possible, could scrue nothing out of them, more than what the Judges who had been employed before, had done. In the mean time a report was spread about the City,* 1.20 that it was no•• David George, nor any eminent person of any other name that had been buried, but that a meer swine, calfe, hee-goat (haply an Asse) had been carried out and buried, and that the dead carkasse embalmed with the strongest spices, was worshipped and adored with great devotion and religion. But this was but a report, and was not true. Those that were in custody abhorring that doctrine, as unheard of, and such as deserved to be anathematized, and desiring to renew their acquaintance with discretion and their sences, are delivered out of those habitations of Iron which they had kept possession of for two moneths, upon these conditions,* 1.21 That none should make any purchases either within or near the City, without the knowledge and consent of the Magistrate; That they shall not entertain any coming out of the lower Provinces,
though of their kindred; but at publick houses or Innes. That the printed books and writings that were tran∣••ated into the Dutch language, shall be brought into the Palace. That there should be nothing published that were disconsonant to Christian Doctrine. That children should be educated according to incorrupt manners. That they should not make such promiscuous marriages among themselves as they did. That they should take no Dutch into their families. That they should submit to amercements and pecuniary mulcts [if any were inflict∣ed on them] as Citizens ought to do. That upon a day assigned they should in the Parish Church, in the presence of the whole congregation, make a publick abjuration of the said Religion, and condemn and anathematize the whole sect of it. That they should hold no friend∣ship or correspondence with any that shall persist in that Religion. To these conditions did they promise to subscribe, with all the reverence and gratitude they could possibly expresse. These things being thus managed, the most renouned Senate, returning afresh to the businesse of the Arch Heretick, passed these votes.* 1.22 viz. That the doctrine of David George, upon nature examination thereof, was found impious and derogatory to the divine Majesty; That the printed books,* 1.23 and whatsoever may have seen the light, should have the second light of the fire; That he as the most infamous promoter of that execrable Sect, and a most horrid-blasphemer against God and Christ, should not be accounted worthy Christian Burial.* 1.24 That he should be taken up out of his grave by the common Hangman, and together with his books and all his writings, and his manuscripts should, according to the Ecclesiastical Canons,* 1.25 be burnt in a solemn place. According to the said judgement, the carkasse being digged up, was, with all his writings, whereof the greatest part was that (truly) miraculous book, together with his effi∣gies brought by the Hangman to the place of execution, where having opened the direful Coffin, he being found not much disfigured, nay so little▪ that he was knowne by diverse (he being covered with a watered garment, having about him a most white sheet, a very clean pillow under his head; his
yellowish Beard rendring him yet gracefull; 〈…〉〈…〉 short, having a silk cap•• on, under which was peece of red cloath,* 1.26 and adorned with 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Rosemary) was set up publickly to be seen, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the third year after his death, was with his writings consecrated to Vulcan, that is to say, burned.
David George the miracle of the Anabaptists. ANNO 1544.
At Basil he pretends to have been ba∣nished his Countrey for the Gospels sake.
With his speci∣ous pretences he gains the free∣dome of the City for him ••nd his.
His Character.
His riches▪
He, with his Sect, enact three things.
His sonne in Law doubting his new Religi∣on, is by him questioned, and upon his answer excommunica∣ted.
His wifes death▪
He had former∣ly voted himself immortal, yet Aug. 2. 1556. he died, &c.
His death trou∣bled his disci∣ples.
A good resolu∣tion.
A pattern for good Magi∣strates.
The Senates enquiry.
Eleven of the Sectaries secu∣red.
In such cases the learned to be consulted with.
Articles extra∣cted out of the writings of David George.
Some of the im∣prisoned Secta∣ries acknow∣ledged David George to have been the cause of the tu∣mults in the lower parts of Germany, but disowned his doctrine.
An ingenuous confession and resolution.
A pious act.
A lying report raised.
Conditions whereupon the imprisoned are set at liberty.
The votes of the renowned Senate.
The doctrine of D. G. decla∣red impious.
He is declared unworthy of Christian Bu∣riall.
And that his body and books should be burned▪
A fit punish∣ment for per∣verse Here∣ticks.