The Conditionalist Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 2

VIII. Polish Anabaptists—Eternal Life After Resurrection

The Reformation in Poland, as in Bohemia, was thwarted by the Counter Reformation. Poland had not shown special devotion to the Roman See, and during the Council of Constance had evidenced sympathy with the reforms of Huss. Waldensians, Bohemians, Socinians, and Anabaptists had thus found shelter within her borders. Polish students from Wittenberg introduced Reformation principles, and at the University of Cracow the Reformation made definite progress. But papal reaction and triumph followed. The Consensus of Sendomir in 1570 was based on the Reformation formulas. It was confirmed at Cracow in 1573 and at several other centers. ³⁷ CFF2 85.1

A Confession of Faith, printed at Cracow in 1574 by certain Anabaptists and others driven thence by both papal and Protestant persecution, contained the following significant statement: CFF2 85.2

“So that being engrafted [by baptism] into the body of Christ he may mortify the old Adam and be transformed into the celestial Adam, in the firm assurance of eternal life after the resurrection.” ³⁸ CFF2 85.3

That is explicit. CFF2 85.4

A Latin copy of the Racovian Catechism (published in Polish in 1605), sent to England with a declaration to James I, was publicly burned in 1614. An English version, by J. Biddle, published at Amsterdam in 1652 was likewise formally burned in 1654 by order of Oliver Cromwell. ³⁹ “Every copy of the Racovian Catechism (an exposition of the Socinian doctrine) that could be found was burned in the streets,” and the Index Expurgatorius for Catholic countries was freshly filled each year. ⁴⁰ CFF2 85.5