Family of Love

Family of Love, or FAMILISTS, or DAVIDISTS, a sect which appeared in Holland in the middle of the 16th century. It was founded by David Joris or George (1501-56), an Anabaptist of Delft, who left the Anabaptists about 1538, and founded the new communion, while apparently conforming to the Reformed Church (see ANABAPTISTS). In the reign of Edward VI., according to Fuller, Henry Nicholas, a disciple of Joris, came over to England, and commenced the perversion of silly people in a secret way. By 1572 they had apparently increased in numbers considerably, for in that year one John Rogers published a work against the Horrible Secte of Grosse and Wicked Heretiques naming themselves the Family of Love. In 1580 Queen Elizabeth issued a proclamation for the hunting out and punishing of this 'damnable sect.' The Family of Love, 'or Lust rather,' as old Fuller has it, tried in vain to insinuate themselves into the good graces of King James, and the society gradually disappeared in the 17th century. They disregarded dogma and church ceremonies, and insisted that religion consisted simply in love, which makes us one with God—a doctrine that led to extreme Antinomianism (q.v.).