Search -
A History of the Churches in England and Scotland
A History of the Churches in England and Scotland Author:James Murray Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. Excerpt from book: Section 3tants of the neighbouring country: he ordered every man to bring forth his gold, filver, and other valuable effefts, arid lay them at his feet. The wealth amaffed by thefe means he laid up... more » in a public trea- fury, and appointed deacons to difpenfe for the com- - mon ufe of all. Having brought the members of his commonwealth to a perfeft equality, he commanded all of them to eat at tables prepared in public, and prefcribed what dimes were to be ferved up on each day. His reformation being thus finimed, his next care was, how to defend the city; and he took meafures for that purpofe with a prudence which did not favour of enthufiafm. He collefted yaft magazines of every kind ; he repaired the fortifications, and obliged every peribn to work in his turn; he formed fuch as were able to bear arms into regular bodies, and added the rigour of difcipline to the violence of enthufiafm. He fent miffionaries to the anabaptifts in the low countries, inviting them to aflfemble at Munfter, which he dignified with the name of Mount Zion, that from thence they might fet out to reduce all the kingdoms of this world under their power and dominion. He himfelf attended to every thing that was neceffary for promoting and focuring his party, and animated his followers, by his own example, to undergo every hardfhip. He kept their enthufiafm from fubfiding, by conftant exhortations, revelations, and prophecies, whereby they were ftimulated to undertake any enterprize which he fhauld command them for the defence of their opinions. The The Bifhop of Munfter having affembled an army, advanced to befiege the town. On his approach Matthias fallied forth at the head of fome of his beft troops, attacked one part of his camp, forced it, and after making great flaughter, returned in triumph to the city loaded with fpoil. Flumed with t...« less