LOVE

THE FAMILY OF. A sect of enthusiasts, which arose in Holland, and being propagated acro the Channel, appeared in England about the year 1580. These sectaries pretended to a more than ordinary sanctity, which gained upon the affections of the common people. They affirmed, that none were of the number of the elect, but such as were admitted into their family, and that all the rest were reprobate, and consigned over to eternal damnation. They held, likewise, that it was lawful for them to swear to an untruth before a magistrate, for their own convenience, or before any person, who was not of their society. In order to propagate their opinions, they dispersed books, translated out of Dutch into English, entitled, The Gospel of the Kingdom . Documental Sentences. The Prophecy of the Spirit of Love. The Publishing of Peace upon Earth, . These Familists could by no means be prevailed upon to discover their author: neverthele it was afterwards found to be Henry Nicholas of Leyden, who blasphemously pretended that he partook of the Divinity of God , and God of his humanity. Queen Elizabeth i ued a proclamation against these impious sectaries, and ordered their books to be publicly burnt.