By: David L. Cummins (The following is excerpted from “This Day in Baptist History I”, pp. 6-7)
“The Anabaptists believed in a ‘free church’ composed of regenerate members who had experienced believer’s baptism. As Felix Manz expressed it, their ambition was to ‘bring together those who were willing to accept Christ, obey the Word, and follow in His footsteps, to unite with these by baptism, and to leave the rest in their present conviction.’
Felix Manz was born an illegitimate son of a Roman Catholic priest who served as Canon in Zurich. It is apparent that the young Manz was given the education of the privileged classes, for he was well trained in Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. As a young Greek scholar, he joined with others in studying the New Testament with the reformer Ulrich Zwingli and was converted under the reformer’s teaching. As the young student continued his study, he became dissatisfied with Zwingli’s position of reform, and others joined Manz as they met regularly at his home. It was from these studies in Felix Manz’s home that the first believer’s baptism among the Brethren was administered in 1525…many others soon followed in ‘believer’s baptism’.
The reformers looked upon these Anabaptists as a threat, and on October 8, 1525, several of the Anabaptists were arrested and imprisoned. Manz escaped that arrest but was soon apprehended and incarcerated…Manz was rearrested on several occasions and reminds us of the Apostle Paul with his constantly repeated imprisonments.
On January 5, 1587, Felix Manz was sentenced to death ‘because contrary to Christian order and custom he had become involved in Anabaptism…because he confessed to having said that he wanted to gather those who wanted to accept Christ and follow Him, and unite himself with them through baptism.’ The reformers had demanded the death penalty for rebaptizing in March of 1526, but Felix Manz would be the first victim.
‘Manz, according to the sentence, was taken bound from the Wellenberg prison past the fish market to the boat. All along the way he witnessed to the members of the dismal procession and to those standing on the banks of the Limmat River. His mother’s voice was heard…entreating him to remain true to Christ in the hour of temptation. Quietly the boat slipped out into the lake. As his arms and legs were being bound, he sang out with a loud voice, in manus tuas, Domine, commendo spiritum meum (‘into thy hands, O Lord, I commend by spirit’). A few moments later the cold waters of Lake Zurich closed over the head of Felix Manz.’
However, the cause of Christ did not die, and we thank God that we stand in such a strong spiritual heritage!
