They were defamed and oppressed, calumniated and martyred because they bore witness to the truth of God and testified against the errors and vices of the so-called churches. History has never done them justice, and perhaps never will; because history has been too much written in the interest of their enemies, or from their standpoint. Tortured and tormented by those who should have been their defenders, crowns and miters alike pledged to their destruction, they could do nothing but suffer. And this they nobly did as Christ’s faithful witnesses. They were known by various names in different ages and in different lands, but retained the same general characteristics.
In the first and second centuries, Messalians, Montanists, Euchites, were terms which distinguished some of these sects.
In the third, fourth, and fifth centuries arose the Novatians. Increasing with exceeding rapidity, they quite overspread the Roman empire, in spite of the cruel and destructive persecutions which they suffered.
In the fourth century the Donatists appeared, as a new form of existing sects, or a new phase of the old faith. They multiplied rapidly, spread extensively, and long survived.
In the seventh century appeared the Paulicians, attracting much attention, and calling down upon themselves the wrath of the Romish Church. Still they increased greatly, notwithstanding their many persecutions.
That these Christian communities should have been faultless could not be supposed. But they were the best of the ages in which they lived, and maintained the purest forms of Gospel truth and practice. Without the advantage of organization and association, they differed somewhat among themselves.
But in general they all professed to take the New Testament as the rule of their faith and practice. They held to a spiritual church-membership, and received only professedly regenerated persons to the ordinances. Denying the orthodoxy of the Romish Church, they rebaptized persons received from that body, and hence were called Anabaptists. Infant baptism they rejected, according to Allix, Mosheim, Robinson, and other historians. Baptism they administered by immersion, as indeed did all Christians during those ages. Robinson calls them “Trinitarian Baptists.” It is said that the Empress Theodora, after having confiscated their property, caused to be cruelly put to death no less than one hundred thousand Paulicians, for no other fault or offense than their religious faith.
About the close of the tenth century appeared the Paterines; substantially the same people, no doubt as had previously existed under other names. They too rejected infant baptism, and protested against the corruptions of the Romish Church; in consequence of which they suffered long and severe persecution.
In the eleventh century, and the ages following, were the Waldenses, Albigenses, Vaudois, Cathari, and Poor Men of Lyons. These were new names, and names usually given by their enemies. They increased, even under their persecutions, to a wonderful extent, and attracted the notice, if not the sympathy, of all Europe.
It is not pretended that these ancient sects were known by the name as Baptists; but in general they held the more prominent and distinctive principles which have always characterized the Baptists; thus: 1. They declared and defended the rights of faith and conscience and the freedom of worship. 2. They denied the authority of popes and the right of kings and States to interfere with the people in matters of religion. 3. They rejected infant baptism. 4. They baptized by dipping. 5. They held the Bible to be the only rule and authority in concerns of religious faith and practice. 6. They admitted to the churches none except such as professed to be regenerated and godly persons.