__________________________________________________________________

           Title: The Complete Works of Menno Simon Volume 2
      Creator(s): Simons, Menno (1496-1561)
     Print Basis: Pathway Publishers, 1983
          Rights: Public Domain
   CCEL Subjects: All; History
     __________________________________________________________________

  A

  REPLY TO A PUBLICATION

  OF

  GELLIUS FABER,

  MINISTER AT EMDEN,

  WHICH HE PUBLISHED IN THE YEAR 1562

  (IF I MISTAKE NOT), TO SLANDER THE PIOUS CHILDREN

  OF GOD, AND TO EMBITTER THEIR CROSS; TO ENSNARE AND DECEIVE

  THE THOUGHTLESS, AND TO COMFORT AND ENCOURAGE THEM

  IN THEIR UNRIGHTEOUSNESS AND CORRUPTION.

  BY

  MENNO SIMON.

  Duo opposita (inquit Philosophus) juxta se posita, magis eluseunt.

  (Two facts set opposite to each other, says the philosopher, become the more
  apparent.)

  SECON'D PART.

  ELKHART, INDIANA:

  PUBLISHED BY JOHN F. FUNK AND BROTHER.

  1871. May God, our heavenly Father, through his beloved Son, Jesus Christ, our
  Lord, graciously grant spiritual enlightenment and salutary understanding to
  all the pious and unprejudiced readers of this work, of whatever class, who
  sincerely seek the Lord and his saving truth, Amen.

   "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus
   Christ," 1 Cor. 8:11.

  Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1871, by

  JOHN F. FUNK & BROTHER,

  In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.
     __________________________________________________________________

  PREFACE.

   PAUL writes to Timothy, and says, "This know also, that in the last
   days perilous times shall come; for men shall be lovers of their own
   selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents,
   unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trace?breakers, false
   accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
   traitors, heady, high?minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of
   God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof; from
   such turn away," 2 Tim. 3:1?6.

   Further he says, "I charge thee therefore before God and the Lord Jesus
   Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his
   kingdom; preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove,
   rebuke, exhort, with all long suffering and doctrine, for the time will
   come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own
   lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and
   they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned
   unto fables," 2 Tim. 4:1?4.

   Again Daniel says, "There shall be a time of trouble, such as never was
   since there was a nation," Dan. 12:1.

   Beloved reader, if you will pay close attention to the seeking,
   teaching and conduct of the preachers of the present day, and to the
   deplorable condition of the common people, you will be convinced that
   the teachers of whom' Paul speaks are here, in great numbers and that
   the abominable time has arrived. O reader, take heed! It is such a time
   now, that if Sodom was flourishing as of old, it would compare as pious
   and righteous with the present, miserable world. Yet, through the just
   punishment and wrath of God, Sodom was turned into ashes and suffered
   the vengeance of eternal fire.

   "Behold," says the prophet, "this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom,
   Pride, fullness of bread, abundance of idleness, was in her, and in her
   daughters; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy;
   and they were haughty and committed abomination before me; therefore I
   took them away as I saw good," Ezek.16:49,50.

   But now the world lives as if they were merely born to ungodliness and
   sensuality; and as if God was a dreamer and his word a fable. Say,
   beloved, is it not so 8 My kind reader, is it not so a Where is he who
   sincerely fears God and seeks after the truth I Wherever we tern we see
   nothing but unrighteonsness, idolatry, deceit and despising of God. And
   all this is decked with the holy name, word, death and blood of Christ;
   besides, with human weakness and with false freedom, to avoid offence,
   O Lord! as if Christ were the Redeemer of all the impenitent and
   Mediator of all perverse sinners. No, my reader, no; this is not the
   case. Beware I Paul says, "If ye live after the flesh, ye shall die,"
   Rom. 8:13.

   Inasmuch, then, that the world is so corrupted, on every hand, that it
   has become a double Sodom, nay a confused Babel or benighted Egypt,
   under the pretense and name of christian churches; and since the great
   and merciful God has, in these latter days of unrighteousness, again
   revealed unto some the precious word of his divine grace in a pure,
   christian understanding, and placed it as a clear light amidst the
   darkness, wherewith he yet in everlasting love will assemble unto
   himself, before the dark day, an obedient and willing church through
   the revelation of his holy word and the enlightenment of his eternal
   Spirit; and since he has chosen them as his own peculiar people from
   the assembly of anti?ohrist, through true repentance and a virtuous
   walk (although in weakness), under the cross of Christ, together with a
   salutary use of the sacramental signs according to the ordinance of
   Christ and his apostles and through a free, unfeigned confession of
   faith in the precious blood of Christ; therefore all the gates of hell
   arise and rave, so that, alas, true christians can find but little rest
   upon earth, as may be seen.

   The rulers banish and persecute them; drag them into prisons and
   dungeons, torture and rob them, and in many places deprive them of
   their manhood, possessions and even life.

   This perverse and reckless people ever call us anabaptists; heap one
   shameful lie upon another; point at us with the finger of scorn, as if
   we so behaved that fire and sword were too merciful a punishment for
   our bodies, and eternal hell?fire too merciful a punishment for our
   souls.

   The preachers and the learned " are corrupt, and speak wickedly
   concerning oppression; they speak loftily," as the prophet says, Ps.
   73:8, although we testify by so many tribulations that we, in our poor
   weakness, sincerely desire to fear and follow the Lord, and that we
   seek and desire peace with all mankind; yet, we are infamously
   slandered; we are accused, everywhere, before lords and rulers of
   cities and countries, that we are ungodly sects and anabaptists; that
   we are seducing the populace; conspire to raise mutiny and rebellion;
   and are falsely accused of other criminal intentions; that they may
   thus obscure and obstruct the precious word of God, the word of true
   repentance; the joyous gospel of grace; the true and powerful faith in
   Christ Jesus; the pious, unblamable life, required by the Scriptures;
   and destroy the glorious kingdom of Christ, and his righteousness; lest
   their cause and unfaithfulness be made manifest to the world; as may be
   educed from their fruits; and that on the other hand, the corrupt
   kingdom of antichrist, the kingdom of this world, may be preserved
   uninterruptedly and maintained without shame unto the end, in
   falsehood, impenitance, open idolatry, a carnal, easy life and in
   unrighteousness, according to the desires of the old serpent.

   Behold thus works the "prince of the power of the air, the Spirit that
   now worketh in the children of disobedience," as Paul says, Eph. 2:2;
   as may, alas, be plainly seen in the case of Gellius Faber, if we well
   consider his writings, slanders, bitter, offensive words, his false
   accusations, his vain boasting and gross garbling, and judge them
   according to the Spirit and word of the Lord.

   Notwithstanding that it is well known to many thousands of honest and
   reasonable people (as I suppose) that we seek nothing else upon earth
   but that we may in our weakness, willingly walk in the footsteps of
   Christ, in obedience to his word; that we may again light the
   extinguished lamp of truth, may call many unto righteousness, and that
   we may save our souls by the assistance and grace of the Lord, on which
   ac, count we, poor ones everywhere, must endure so much tribulation,
   misery, anxiety, cross and persecution; nevertheless, the above
   mentioned Gellius, who in this case should be our assistant and
   fosterer (for he claims to be a servant of the holy word), still
   increases our anxiety and sore persecution, and the hatred and
   bitterness against us, by his unscriptural arguments and hostility to
   our foundation and doctrine, by his covert, malicious complaints to the
   magistracy, and by his infamous slanders which he publishes, through
   his writings, to the world, to the dishonor of God and his holy word;
   to the disgrace of all the pious; to the confirmation of his own
   condemnation, and to the deceiving of the simple. Therefore, no
   well?disposed person will think hard of me, that I, by an open reply,
   in accordance with the Spirit and word of my Lord, defend, .to the best
   of my ability, the honor of God, the salvation of my brethren, the
   foundation of my faith and the praise of Christ, my Lord, whose service
   I entered, unworthily, by his grace and calling, according to his
   divine will.

   I trust, too, with the gracious help of God, that I shall be able to do
   this so powerfully and clearly, with so many plain reasons and
   Scriptures, that not only the theologians but also all reasonable and
   impartial readers and hearers will, by the grace of God, clearly
   understand that he and the preachers of his class, support deceiving
   lies; and that we, through the grace of God, support the sure
   foundation of truth. I, herewith, humbly beseech and faithfully
   admonish all my readers, friends and enemies, that they will
   attentively read, assiduously examine and judge according to Scripture
   this my forced reply and defense, not with partiality, not drowsily and
   spitefully but with care and impartiality. This matter is of like
   importance to us all, namely, the praise of God, and of Christ, and the
   salvation of our poor souls. Let none imagine that he is not accepted.

   There is but one road and gate that leads to life, which is a strait
   road, Matt. 7:13, also, but one doctrine. If we wish to enter with
   Christ into the kingdom of his glory, we must all walk the strait way
   and enter in at the narrow gate and be obedient to his word; of this
   let every one be aware.

   Since, then, it is evident that Gellius, and the learned, base their
   doctrines, sacraments, &c., mainly upon human wisdom, garbled
   Scriptures, upon ideas and opinions; and that we base ours upon God's
   word; that he and his followers walk upon the broad road, and that our
   followers walk upon the strait road; that he is not persecuted, but
   does persecute by his writings; and, on the other hand, that we are
   persecuted and do not retaliate; therefore, all right?minded persons
   must admit that the truth and the true church is not with them, but
   with us; for it is an infallible?rule as proven by the word of God and
   the example of all the pious, that where the true church is, there also
   are and necessarily must be the saving doctrine, true sacraments,
   unfeigned love, a pious, godly life and the excommunion or separation
   of the impenitent and perverse, according to the word of God; as may be
   clearly educed, by the grace of God, from the following replication.

   I would, therefore, earnestly pray all the pious, for God's sake, that
   they would assist me by their ardent prayers to the Most High, that he
   will bestow upon me, a poor, weak man, together with my beloved
   brethren and faithful servants in the Lord, the gift of his grace and
   the power of his wisdom; so that we may silence all opponents, by
   virtue of true doctrine and an unblamable walk, and thus maintain to
   the end, the house of our God, in pure, godly zeal and christian love,
   to the honor and praise of his great name, to whom be praise and the
   eternal kingdom, Amen.

   blank page
     __________________________________________________________________

  REPLY TO A PUBLICATION

  GELLIUS FABER.

   Pure and clear is wisdom; strong and powerful is truth; simple and
   desirable is righteousness; happy is he who possesses them, for his
   heart rejoices in the Lord, his mouth speaks what is right, and his
   feet are upon the way of peace.

   IN THE first place, Gellius adduces the saying of Christ, as a warning
   to all his readers, where he speaks, "Beware of false prophets, who
   come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening
   wolves," Matt. v:1s.

   Answer. If the reader can rightly distinguish, according to the Spirit
   and word of God, between the nature of the sheep and the wolves, and
   understands what this sheep's clothing means, with which the ravening
   wolves are covered, then the saying would, undoubtedly, not be applied
   to us, but to our opponents; for in what kind of clothing he here
   appears, with which he keeps the simple in darkness and binds their
   souls to damnation, will be plainly and clearly shown, through the
   grace of God, to all the pious and godly readers, in the following
   reply, if they compare it with his writing.

   In the second place he adduces Paul and says, " Now I beseech you,
   brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the
   same thing and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be
   perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment," 1
   Cor. 1:10.

   Answer. If we well consider this saying, we will find that it
   admonishes all true christians not to live carnally nor to be
   sectarian; that the one shall not boast of this and another of that;
   but points us to the only and true Shepherd and Savior of our souls,
   Jesus Christ, who was crucified for us and in whose name we were
   baptized; all of which we, in our weakness, would gladly and earnestly
   do, by the grace and help of God, as our tribulation, misery,
   affliction, blood and death abundantly have testified in many different
   instances.

   But Gellius so construes it as to keep his readers from the unity of
   the Spirit, word, house and body of Christ, and to keep them, through
   his deceitful doctrine, unscriptural infant?baptism, &c., in the unity
   of the spirit, word, house and body of anti?christ, and undisturbedly
   upon the broad way.

   In the third place, Gelliushas addressed his writing to a nobleman, as
   is generally customary with the learned; thinking, perhaps, that by
   this means, their aim will be the easier attained, through the favor
   and assistance of such high officials; something which the pious
   testimonies, prophets and teachers of God's truth and word, especially
   of the New Testament never desired and much less sought.

   In the fourth place Gellius gives his two principal reasons why he has
   published his writing. The first is, he says, Because I see that these
   anabaptists are daily coming into this country, secretly, from the
   imperial dominion, where they do and can do the most damage, and not
   only sow here anew, their pernicious seed by hedgepreaching, but also
   by publications, writings and private letters, which we must stop and
   silence lest the unwary be deceived, and that we may yet redeem some of
   them who have not yet become slanderers, &o.

   Answer. These very offensive words, like anabaptists, secretly coming,
   hedge?preaching, pernicious seed, &c., alas, plainly show the
   disposition of the man who penned them. Yes, my readers, Gellius knows
   as well as I do, what Christ has commanded concerning baptism, and how
   the holy apostles practiced it. Again, that Paul rebaptized some who
   were baptized of John (although John's baptism was from Heaven) only,
   because they were not informed concerning the Holy Ghost; that the
   worthy martyr Cyprian and the African bishops, together with the
   council of Nice, did not acknowledge the baptism of heretics, as
   baptism, on account of their being outside of Christ's church, and
   without his Spirit and word.

   Notwithstanding all this, we must be called anabaptists; never minding
   that we, in our infancy were baptized, not only without the Spirit,
   faith, word or divine ordinance, but also without all reason and
   understanding, with an open, anti?Christian baptism, by such as he and
   the learned of his class themselves call anti?Christians, apostates,
   heretics and deceivers who neither rightly understand God nor his word;
   who practice open idolatry; who bend their knees before wood and stone;
   who put their trust in idle doctrines and commands of men; who
   unrestrainedly walk according to the lusts of the flesh, and who
   worship and honor a creature of God, namely, a piece of bread, as the
   only and eternal Son of God.

   Although we have before us as a pattern, Christ's plain word and the
   salutary doctrine and open practice of the apostles, besides, Paul and
   both the councils, as heard; yet, alas, there are no bounds to
   offensive words, such as anabaptists, &c., which Gellius uses against
   us.

   We may not retaliate, Rom. 12:19, else we might call them
   infant?baptists with more propriety than they call us anabaptists; for
   we have the whole Scriptures on our side, but they have not one word
   nor one example. But his saying that we do and can do most damage in
   the imperial dominion, shows, alas, his stupidity and blindness.

   All Scriptures teach us that idolaters and carnally?minded shall die,
   and he well knows that in these countries, their (the world's), worship
   is nothing loss than open idolatry and gross abomination and that their
   life, as a general thing, is nothing but a reckless, impenitent and
   carnal life, as is the case at Emden and everywhere. Yet he dares to
   write that there they do most damage. And this he does for no other
   reason than because they (the pious) storm the kingdom of hell with the
   Lord's Spirit, word and power; rebuke open idolatry; teach the true
   worship; rightly confess Christ; and because they point out the true
   way to this perverse, impenitent and carnal generation. If this is
   damaging, as Gellius calls it, then the Scriptures which speak so
   over?much of an unblamable, pious life, have badly deceived us; this
   you must admit. , what a wrong judgment.

   Behold, thus does the god of this world blind such rebellious and
   contentious spirits, who so recklessly contend against the word of God
   and who do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, Rom. 2:8, that
   they become so obdurate and perverse that they call the glorious gain
   in Christ, attained through his grace, Spirit and power, a loss; and
   call good, evil, and evil, good; woe unto such, Isaiah G:20.

   I would further say, that he also says, in other places that we are the
   only ones who obstruct them in their doctrine of impenitence and
   offensiveness, by our doctrine (which is not ours but the sound
   doctrine of Christ), and by our humble and unblamable walk which
   results from our doctrine through faith; and that we are thus the cause
   of their not being so highly esteemed as before and that they cannot
   continue in their ways, as they would like to do; therefore, perhaps,
   he complains that we do most damage there. But we say, It is because
   they serve the world under the semblance of the gospel, only from
   carnal motives; and flatter the rulers that they may aggrandize
   themselves with the property, church and cloister, which was intended
   (though wrongfully), as a sacrifice to the honor of God and that they
   may maintain the gospel of Christ by force of arms; because they
   flatter the people with the idea that Christ remitted our sins; that
   faith alone, avails; that they are poor, weak sinners who cannot keep
   the commandments of God, and other like idle consolations; so that
   everybody lives according to the lusts of his flesh, singing and
   crying, " The cord is loosed and we are free," and turn the grace of
   God into unrighteousness, as Jude says, 1:4; because they live in the
   old state of sinfulness, without any fear of God, as if they never in
   their lives heard one syllable of the word of the Lord, and as if God
   would not punish ungodliness and unrighteousness; therefore the just
   Lord who righteously judges all things, again takes from them the
   knowledge which they may have had, because of their ingratitude (for
   they, only teach and proclaim the gospel of his grace according to the
   lusts of the flesh) and give it to those who will bring forth fruit, as
   Christ spoke to the Pharisee, Matt. 21:43.

   Again, to the unreasonable and offensive word "secretly enter," I
   reply: Moses and Christ, the apostles and prophets, as also, natural
   reason unanimously teach us that we should receive, comfort, help,
   assist and serve the miserable, afflicted and needy stranger; and it is
   a fact well known to Gellius that these poor children whom he afflicts,
   have tied in unfeigned fear of their God to a foreign country for
   protection, with their weak women and little children, to escape the
   bloody tyrannical sword; not on account of crime or roguery, but on
   account of the testimony of God and their consciences; even as the
   pursued doves flee from the bird of prey; and that we, through the
   grace of God place ourselves under the protection of this or that
   merciful and kind?hearted ruler; and although they, for the sake of
   divine truth, are bereft of their native country, possessions and
   earthly comforts, yet they can, through God's grace, reasonably support
   themselves, as is promised in Scripture. If he were, in fact, what he
   boasts to be, namely, a preacher of the holy word, then his inmost soul
   would be moved to compassion towards these afflicted orphans and
   innocent hearts; he would be kind to them and assist them as much as is
   in his power; .he would intercede for them before the magistracy, since
   he may observe in them such a moving spirit and ardent zeal, that they
   stake their possessions and blood to the praise of their God, as may be
   openly witnessed. But, now, this misery and sore affliction namely, the
   flight from the gaping lion's mouth and from fire and sword, into more
   merciful countries, must be called by him "secretly entering." O, Lord!

   What kind of a preacher and christian he is; how he acts according to
   love; and how he walks according to the word of the Lord in this
   respect, all reasonable persons who are not more than half blind may
   judge from these, his writings together with his daily cries of the
   same kind. To the slanderous sentence " sowing pernicious seed," I
   reply: Every seed bringeth forth fruit after its own kind, Gen. 1:11.

   My dear reader take heed to what I write. God's word, on every hand,
   requires a pure heart, a new mind and a penitent, christian life, dead
   unto sin. John the Baptist says, "Bring forth therefore fruits meet for
   repentance," Jesus says, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at
   hand," Matt. 3:8; 4:17. Again, I am come to call sinners to repentance,
   Matt. 9:13, and many other Scriptures of the kind might be adduced.

   Inasmuch, then, that the Scriptures, on every hand, require of us true
   repentance, and that also the sacramental signs, as baptism and Holy
   Supper signify, represent and teach to all true christian believers a
   penitent, unblamable life; and since, according to the tenor of the
   Scriptures, no one can be a true christian without true repentance and
   that every kind of seed brings forth fruit after its own kind, as
   already said, namely, lies, children of lies, and truth, children of
   truth; and since it is a fact well known to many reasonable persons
   that God has, through us and our fellow?servants, in his great power
   and infinite grace, turned unto the true and living God, many a proud,
   avaricious, unchaste, cruel, lying, carnal and idolatrous heart and has
   so humbled, moved, renewed and changed them that they would rather die
   than act hypocritically, or willingly speak or countenance any
   falsehood against the well being of their neighbors, as is testified in
   our Netherlands by the precious blood of so many pious saints. And
   since the fruits of Gellius' seed, that is, his followers, remain so
   entirely impenitent in their lives and unchanged in their hearts that
   they live in pomp and splendor, go attired in silk and velvet and are
   decked with gold and silver; live in all manner of unrighteousness,
   avarice, carousing, hatred and envy; in short, live according to the
   lusts of the flesh, and would, for the sake of a penny, falsely swear
   by the Lord or by their soul, &c.; therefore we will let all reasonable
   and intelligent persons judge who of us bring forth bad fruits, Gellius
   and his followers, or we and our followers. Whoever sincerely seeks and
   loves the truth, read and ponder.

   O, dear Lord! thus thy holy and precious word, the word of thy grace,
   the word of thy love, by the power and grace of which we will live
   eternally with thee, is called by this man and by others also, deceit
   and pernicious seed; and their open lies, obvious error and
   unreasonable adulteration of Scripture, of which more will be said
   hereafter, is called the true doctrine of Christ and the holy word of
   God. If it be wilful slander and perverseness, then, alas, it is too
   bad. But if it be ignorant blindness or misconception, then, the
   gracious Father grant them eyes to see. This is my sincere wish, as the
   Lord knows.

   Again, he writes, " that we sow anew our pernicious seed, not only by
   hedge?preaching, but also by publications, letters &c. To this I reply
   with holy David: We believe, therefore we speak, and must suffer
   tribulation. For since God, the merciful Father, has given us, poor
   creatures, the Spirit of faith and bestowed upon us the Spirit of his
   love from on high, through his Son Jesus Christ, and has besprinkled
   our hearts with the heavenly dew of his love, has opened unto us the
   seven seals of the book of his knowledge; has disclosed unto us the
   mystery of his divine word and pleasure; has awakened us from the dead
   and given us life, a new heart, mind and disposition, and has nourished
   us with the bread of life, so that we, through his grace, have found
   the beautiful pearl, the precious treasure and eternal peace, which we
   could not possibly acquire through the deceiving doctrine, subtle
   sophistry and false consolations of the learned; therefore we would
   teach, proclaim and imprint on the hearts of all mankind, to the best
   of our ability, this manifest grace of his great love toward us, that
   they may enjoy with us the same joy and renewal of spirit, and know and
   taste with all saints how sweet, good and kind the Lord is to whom we
   have turned.

   We preach, therefore, as much as is in our power, both day and night,
   in houses and in the open air, in forests and in wildernesses, hither
   and thither, in this and in foreign lands, in prisons and in dungeons,
   in water and in fire, on the scaffold and on the wheel, before lords
   and princes, orally and by writings at the risk of possessions and
   blood, life and death; as we have done these many years; and are not
   ashamed of the gospel of the glory of Christ, Rom. l:18; for we are a
   living fruit, and strongly feel the moving power in our hearts, as may
   be seen in many instances by the commendable submissiveness and willing
   sacrifices of our faithful brethren and joint?heirs in Christ Jesus.

   We would save all mankind from the jaws of hell; deliver them from the
   chains of their sins, and by the gracious help of God, win them to
   Christ by the gospel of his peace; for this is the true nature of the
   love which is of God.

   He then accuses us of preaching at night, and says in another place "
   That we secretly enter into cities and towns, from fear of the cross;
   that we sit with closed doors to treat with the simple; not to convert
   them to true christianity but to convert them to anabaptism," &c. To
   which I reply in the first place: It is true that we sometimes have to
   serve the Lord and preach his word at night (in the dead of night), but
   I fear that Gellius and the learned are the principal cause of this:
   For they have so embittered and still embitter all lords, princes,
   rulers and magistrates against us by their fiendish, unmerited
   upbraiding, slandering and defaming that we cannot, alas, so much move
   them, with Scripture,? supplications, tears, misery, tribulation, loss
   of possessions, blood or life, that we can safely go about, verbally to
   defend the word of God, before these open enemies of the cross of
   Christ and of wholesome truth; but we must (understand, we teachers)
   everywhere conceal ourselves in shops and retired places to escape the
   persecutors and blood?thirsty, if we do not wish to be, at once, torn
   up and devoured by the terrible beasts which arise from the sea.

   Beloved readers, observe well what I write. Gellius accuses us of
   "preaching at night." It was in the year 1543; if my memory serves me
   right, that a decree was read throughout West Friesland, " That
   criminals and even manslayers were promised pardon, imperial grace,
   freedom of country (in those times banishing was in vogue), and besides
   one hundred earl?guilders, if they would betray me and deliver me into
   the hands of the executioner."

   About the year 1539, a husbandman, who was a very pious man, named
   Tjaert Reyndertz, was seized in my stead, because, out of pity and
   compassion, he concealed me in his house while I was hotly pursued; and
   was a few days thereafter, put on the wheel, after a free confession of
   faith, as a valiant soldier of Christ, after the example of his Lord;
   although his enemies, even, acknowledged that he was an unblamable,
   pious man.

   Also, in 1546, at a place where they boasted of the word, four houses
   were at once confiscated, because the owner had rented one of them for
   a short time, to my sick wife and little ones; although the neighbors
   were not aware of their presence.

   What decrees have been issued against some of us, and what rewards have
   been offered for our apprehension, in different dominions and cities;
   what imperial mandates and Roman condemnations have been resolved
   against us; and how we are treated on every hand, is well known to
   Gellius and to the preachers of his class. That they are the very cause
   and the authors of these things, I unreservedly write and testify
   without fear. Behold, thus they hate all those who rightly teach God's
   word.

   Notwithstanding this, Gellius and others are not ashamed to say, "That
   we, out of fear of the cross, secretly enter cities and towns, sit with
   closed doors," &c., as if we were stones, and blocks of wood, which
   neither do nor can fear any deathly evils; while he and his, well know
   that the chosen men of God, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and Aaron,
   besides the prophets and apostles, nay, even Christ himself, so feared
   to die that they sometimes took to Right.

   In the second place, I say, that so long as I, poor weak man, have
   served the"pious with my small talent, I have taught more, by far, in
   day?time than at night. The Lord, is my witness that I write the truth?
   Yet we must be upbraided by these perverse people as night and
   hedge?preachers, as if the word of God could not be taught any where
   but in their houses of abomination (who know not the Scriptures), and
   as if God was not a God of the night as well as of the day. O,
   perverseness.

   Say, reader, was not the night pure unto faithful Moses, and all Israel
   to eat the passover ? Exodus 12:3?8. Did Christ think it wrong to
   oxhort Nicodemus at night? John 3:2. Did he not partake, with his
   disciples, of the Holy Supper, at night, just before his suffering,
   Matt. 26:26; Luke 22:19; 1 Cor. 11:23. Did not the church assemble at
   night, when Peter was delivered from the hands of the tyrant by the aid
   of an angel, out of fear of Herod and the Jews? Acts 12:7. Did not holy
   Paul at night preach the word in an upper chamber at Troas, and break
   the Lord's bread with the disciples, just before his leaving? Acts
   20:7. Did not the saints of the primitive church sometimes meet at
   night to break the Lord's bread and drink the holy cup? for which they
   were suspicioned and had to hear and bear many hard names. Does not
   Hilarius write, that the apostles met in halls and retired places, and
   that they traveled through many countries and nations, by water and by
   land, against the prohibitions and decrees of the rulers.

   Behold, my readers, whether that which was allowable and free to Moses,
   Israel, Christ, the apostles and to the primitive churches, namely, the
   service and preaching of the word of God at night, is free to us or
   not, especially in these critical times of tyranny, we will let the
   intelligent reader judge according to Scripture, in the fear of his
   God.

   O Lord! thus they (the world) seek causes, encumbrances and complaints
   to offend thy poor children more and more and to burden them with the
   cross, that they may persecute and kill them, in semblance of justice;
   for they are an obstacle to their works and a smarting to their eyes.

   In the third place I say, that I have heretofore twice offered publicly
   to treat with them on Scripture, under safe conduct, before twenty or
   thirty witnesses or before a full meeting. But what kind of answer I
   received, their message, which I yet possess, testifies. Afterwards, in
   the memorable times of bishop Herman, Elector of Ceulen, at their own
   request, I offered this same thing again to the learned men of Bon, but
   my offer was rejected, on account of these kind gentlemen being
   dissuaded by John A'Lasco and A. g.; by their accusing me of three
   falsehoods, such as I never thought of and much less said or advised,
   and which I, for good reasons will not now touch upon, for all of which
   I have the testimony of a manuscript of a preacher, named Henricus. But
   what their intentions were, in regard to this matter, I will leave to
   him who knows all things. Also, the preachers of Wesel, in the land of
   Kleef, pretended that they would furnish me safe conduct and treat with
   me, &c.; but when I signified my willingness, in writing, I received an
   answer that they would let the executioner treat with me; and other
   tyrannical and unchristian words.

   I will yet speak of what I asked in my "Foundation;" in the " Preface
   to the Twenty?fifth Psalm," many years ago; also in my "Excuse," in the
   "Supplication to the Magistracy," and also in my "Message to the
   Learned and Preachers of the German Nations," who boast of the word,
   concerning a free Treatise on Scripture, published in the year 1552.
   And I am still willing and prepared, at all times, so long as breath
   remains in me, or my intellect does not fail me, and so long as I can
   sit on a wagon or lay in a ship, to appear before Gellius, or anybody
   else, verbally to defend the foundation of our faith and to testify to
   the truth of Jesus Christ, if I can do so in safety, in good, christian
   faith and in sincerity of heart, to the praise of our God, to the
   extension of his church, to the promulgation of his holy word and to
   the salvation of our neighbors. This is the main desire of my heart,
   that I may preach and promulgate his great, adorable name, teach his
   word, seek his gain and honor and exalt and defend his praise, to the
   best of my humble ability.

   Since it is manifest that the world is, unjustly, so embittered against
   us, that we are, alas, not suffered to be heard or seen; and that many
   an innocent, pious sheep, who is not a teacher, is sent hither and
   thither to be slaughtered by the sword, water or fire, without any
   mercy; and that we, miserable teachers, are not allowed to live in
   safety, any where under the broad canopy of heaven, not even in a
   pig?sty (so to speak), if known; but that we, through open mandates,
   are already judged before we are delivered, and condemned before we are
   seized; something which never, as far as we know, transpired since the
   apostolic times; therefore, I pray all my readers for God's sake, that
   they will, ?in the fear of God, thoughtfully consider what gross
   injustice Gellius and his followers have done us, by the use of such
   wrong and bitter words, as night?preaching, hedge preaching,
   conspiracy, secretly entering, &c., when we neither can nor dare do
   otherwise, as is well known. Besides, we have on our side Moses and
   Christ, the apostles and also the example of the primitive church; who
   served the Lord at night as well as in day time, as has been already
   heard; and we are also prepared, at all times, to render an account of
   our faith and to defend the truth; if we can do so in good, christian
   faith, without deceit and shedding of blood, as has been already said.

   I say farther: It is by far more praiseworthy to teach the genuine,
   saving truth, at night, in a secret corner, when we can not openly meet
   in day?time, than to proclaim, in day?time, deceiving lies and a
   powerless doctrine of impenitence, from the pulpit; as has, alas, been
   openly done these many years before the whole world; this must be
   acknowledged and admitted; for the disorderly state of affairs and the
   impenitent life of this generation testify to it.

   At his saying, that we should be stopped and silenced, lest we deceive
   the unwary (single) as he calls them, I reply: A better and surer way
   than the one we have by the grace of God, nobody can point out; of this
   we are convinced from the inmost of our soul. For we acknowledge and
   feel that we have the word of God. Nevertheless, we will always freely
   accept, and willingly follow the instruction of any pious person, who
   can, in the fear of God, convince us by the Spirit, word, example,
   commands, ordinances, prohibitions and usages of the Lord, and not by
   tyranny and violence, and point out any thing that would be more useful
   and better; to greater honor to God, or more to the edification of his
   church, than we have followed and confessed during several years of
   manifest truth, and to which we have unwaveringly testified in so
   exceedingly much anxiety, misery, tribulation and persecution. For all
   things in Christ's church that shall avail and stand before his throne
   must be judged by the Spirit, word, example, commands, ordinances,
   prohibitions and usages of the Lord. I trust that those who seek and
   sincerely fear the Lord, will agree with me in this respect.

   But with this writing of Gellius he will, surely, not convince us; for
   it is full of brawling, profanity, defamation, false accusations,
   tyranny, sophistry, wrong explanations and false doctrines (if I am
   wrong, rebuke me); so that it does not silence the pious, as was his
   intention, but makes them still more active; and it will be the cause
   of strengthening salutary doctrine and truth, and thus be the cause of
   his loss where he intended to make gain. For I trust, when both our
   writings are compared one with another, that, through the grace of God,
   a glorious, clear light will be thrown on the church of Christ; while
   it will expose to the plain and humble whom he intends, by it, to
   dissuade from our doctrine what his own nature, works, writings and
   fruits are, and, by comparing them to Christ's plain word, Spirit,
   example, ordinances and usages prove to them how earthly and
   carnal?minded he and his are; how he exercises his profession; what he
   seeks; what are the fruits of his doctrine; what sacraments he uses;
   what ban he practices, and what kind of church he holds to, &c.

   I would, therefore, faithfully admonish and pray him, not to undertake
   more than he can accomplish; and not to kick against the pricks, Acts
   9:5, for it will not avail him. But he should remember that many a
   learned man (not that I esteem learning, if at all opposed to Christ),
   in past times as well as at present, has industriously tried it, as he
   now does; but what has been accomplished by it, the fruits openly
   testify. For some of them have become such zealots against us that they
   have made themselves guilty of innocent blood; they have grossly
   offended and condemned to the judgment of the devil, so many pious and
   faithful hearts, who, through fear and love of their God, dared not
   walk with them on the broad road; have, besides, written and contended
   so much for the unity of their churches, that they have brought the
   poor, reckless people to such a disorderly and wild state, that they,
   generally speaking, lead such a fruitless, impenitent life that it
   seems as if never prophetic or apostolic doctrine had been taught, and
   as if never Christ nor the holy Spirit had appeared on earth.

   Had they, now, wisely, obediently and humbly comprehended, listened to
   and followed the word and ordinance of the Lord, the usage and example
   of the apostles; had they sincerely feared their God; had they not
   acted hypocritically with lords and princes, and the world in general;
   but taught the doctrine in true zeal without any respect of persons or
   favors; had they faithfully, unto death, rebuked the sins of all
   mankind, of high and low station alike, with doctrine and with life;
   had they unwaveringly served God and obediently proclaimed the gospel,
   in such a manner as to have assembled and built up unto the Lord a
   truly, penitent people, that is, a true church, according to the
   example of the apostles; had they not sought their own gain and ease;
   and had they also not abused and slandered the pious and godly, by
   their crying and writing; then the precious word, Christ's glorious
   gospel of grace never would have been profaned so lightmindedly; nor
   would this poor, unwary people have been degenerated into this wild and
   reckless state, as, alas, may now be witnessed in all parts of the
   world.

   Thus, I fear, it will be with Gellius; for of what use his preaching
   and church?service have been these many years, toward bringing about a
   pious, penitent life in the fear of God, I will let the world judge by
   his disciples, who are the fruit of his seed.

   O, that he would take heed, and not break God's holy and precious word;
   that he would not slander the pious and godly, who testify to it with
   their heart, mouth, life and death; that he would learn to know his own
   envious, impure and bitter heart; his deceiving, inconsistent and
   infamous doctrine, and his selfish, ambitious flesh; and would humble.
   himself under, the mighty hand of God, as the Scriptures teach us to
   do, for then he might yet be saved. But as it is, I fear that his
   brawling, slandering and condemning of all the pious; together with his
   seeking after improper gain, favor and honor of men and the desire of
   an easy, careless life, will so entirely close his heart and bewilder
   his senses, that he will not acknowledge or desire the glorious
   brightness of Christ, nor the wisdom which is of God. God grant that my
   apprehension be not realized, and that he may yet receive grace; this
   is my sincere wish toward him and all of our opponents, Amen.

   Gellius says further, that hehas published his writing for the purpose
   of redeeming some of our followers, who have not yet become slanderers;
   and he says also, that some have been redeemed through their faithful
   services, who now, with united hearts and spirits adore, praise and
   thank their Lord andGod, at the public meetings of the church of God
   and Christ (these are his words), because they have been delivered from
   death and damnation, and now feel a delight in Christ, and penitence
   and peace in their hearts.

   Answer. If we, in true, christian zeal and unfeigned love, rebuke or
   reprove their false doctrine, deceiving, unscriptural sacraments and
   their reckless, carnal life, with the Spirit, word and life of Christ,
   and point them to the glorious example of the prophets, of the
   apostles, of Christ and of all the true servants of God, he calls us
   slanderers. From this it may be observed that our work of love is ever
   interpreted to the contrary. For if we write or speak mournfully, it is
   called sighing and groaning, if we reprove sharply, it is called
   brawling and slandering. If we pipe, they dance not; if we mourn, they
   lament not, as Christ says, Matt. 11:17. It is wrongly spoken, whatever
   we say_ to the perverse. Although they commit abomination, yet they are
   not ashamed, neither do they blush, Jeremiah 8:12.

   If the reproof of open sin, in true, christian love, according to the
   word of God, is slander, as Gellius calls it, then all the saints of
   God, the apostles and prophets, as also Jesus Christ himself were
   slanderers; this is incontrovertible; for they called the false
   prophets and preachers, false teachers, deceivers, dumb dogs, blind
   guides, hypocrites, thieves, murderers, wolves, cunning devisers,
   enemies of the cross, servants of their bellies, children of damnation,
   dry clouds, dead trees, locusts, &c., before the whole world. But no.
   To openly reprove deceit, transgressions, blasphemy of God or his word
   and sin in general is not slandering, as Gellius, through perverseness
   of heart, pronounces it against the innocent; but it is the fruit of
   the faithful love of those who would oppose evil and do good unto all.
   I will leave it to the judgment. of all pious and reasonable persons,
   if he is not a profaner of the church, a brawler and a slanderer, and
   guilty of innocent blood, who calls the church of God a conspiracy; the
   regenerated children of God, apostatical anabaptists; the salutary
   doctrine of Christ, sectarianism and fanaticism; who slanders and
   condemns the baptism which Christ commanded, and the apostles taught
   and practiced, as being a heresy; and falsely maintains and practices
   on the poor, ignorant people, the baptism of anti?christ, with many
   high?sounding words and phrases? Who promises grace and peace to the
   proud, obdurate, avaricious, carnal and impenitent boaster, whom all
   Scriptures judge unto death; because he can, in appearance talk of the
   Scriptures, although without Spirit, power or change of heart; who,
   without just cause, maliciously slander, falsely suspicions, and
   unjustly condemns, the poor orphans and afflicted christians who
   sincerely seek and fear the Lord; and thus delivers them to the
   magistracy to be put in dungeons, and to the executioner to be killed.

   But as to his boasting, that some of our brethren have again associated
   with them, and thus others may be yet redeemed by his writing, &c. I
   answer, in the first place: Christ says, "Wide is the gate and broad is
   the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in
   thereat; because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way which
   leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it," Matt. 7:13, 14. My
   readers, observe that all who wish to leave the broad way and enter
   upon the narrow one, must' enter in at the strait gate, must forsake
   themselves, take up the cross and follow Christ Jesus; must become
   regenerated christians, dead unto sin; must crucify their flesh and
   subdue their lusts; must give up, through the power of faith all
   visible and perishable things, as gold, silver, home and goods, nay,
   wife and children; together with all they are and have, for the victory
   of Christ, if circumstances and the honor of Christ require it; they
   must be prepared to endure disgrace, hunger, misery, pillage,
   persecution, bonds and death, for the sake of the testimony of God and
   their consciences, and must adhere to the word of God, by watching and
   praying; for all those who are yet laden with the burden of
   unrighteousness and an evil conscience, as with avarice, ungodly
   desires, the works of the flesh, &c.; or who feel at all doubtful
   concerning the word and promises of the Lord cannot enter in at the
   narrow way and strait gate. Let every one be aware of this.

   In the second place I say, that the edification and faith of the true
   christians is tempted in many and various ways, as both Scriptures and
   experience clearly teach and testify. Now they are tempted by flesh and
   blood, which never is at rest, then by the lust of the world, and the
   lust of the eyes, which invitingly tempt the selfish flesh in which no
   good thing dwelleth, Rom. 7:18. Again, by the cross and tribulation,
   which often press heavily; and lastly, by the flattering preaching of
   peace and the easy doctrine of the preachers who lustily cry, Peace,
   peace, as the prophet says, Jer. 8:11, by means of which they console
   the timid in their faithlessness and disobedience to God, and make an
   easy way for those who would enjoy the world according to the lusts of
   the flesh. It is as Peter says, " While they promise them liberty, they
   themselves are the servants of corruption," 2 Peter 2:19. For this
   reason, some of the seed which is sown by the way side, is picked up by
   the fowls of the air; some is sown on stony places, where there is not
   much earth, and although it springs up in a short time; yet it can not
   stand the scorching sun of persecution, and some is choked by the
   thistles and thorns, and brings forth no ripe ears, Matt. 13:4?'7.

   Behold, the proper reason why some timid, light?minded, carnal, corrupt
   and selfish spirits have again associated themselves with them, is,
   Because the way was too narrow and the gate too strait for them, and
   they could not withstand the storming of the flesh. The smiles of the
   world were too inviting, and the tyranny too oppressive. The thousand
   wiles of Satan, by which all the pious alike are tempted, succeeded;
   because, alas, they preferred earthly to heavenly things, and therefore
   we could no longer live in unity of spirit and peace with them. For
   they would not be thus subjected, as the prophet laments, Jer. 2:17;
   but would follow their own inclinations in every respect, and walk,
   without the cross, on the broad way of the flesh, with the world. But
   by the writings and services of Gellius, they were, surely, not
   redeemed, as he boasts they were.

   Behold, these people of whom he so loudly boasts, were such (we regret
   to have to say it) as, with Demas, 2 Tim. 4: .10, loved the present
   world, and who so lived with us for some time that we, according to the
   divine word, dare no longer eat and drink with them. They are not
   regenerated as Gellius claims, but they are degenerated in their faith
   and act hypocritically, with earthly?minded hearts under the feint of
   prayer; they have not forsaken the broad way which leads to death but
   the narrow way which leads to life; they do not delight in Christ but
   have forsaken him; they have found rest for their flesh but not for
   their souls, through repentance, as Gellius pretends. For facts prove
   whose cause is right, theirs or ours; whose actions are hypocritical,
   and whose are not, while our actions sacrifice possessions, blood and
   even life for their cause; but what theirs do, is well known.

   This, then, is my conclusion as to his first reason given, why he
   published his writing; namely, As the angel of darkness can transform
   himself into an angel of light; as Paul says, 2 Cor. 11:14; can feign
   love and make great promises; can feign true confession of Christ and
   can use Scriptures masterly, so also, can his servants do, as may be
   seen by this. For Gellius says he published his writing that he might
   redeem some and save others from deceit; to silence the anabaptists, as
   he calls them; to root out the pernicious weeds; to serve the church of
   Christ; to keep the weak of the Netherlands in the right understanding
   of evangelical doctrine and the right use of the holy sacraments, &c.
   But if we rightly consider it, and judge it by the Spirit, word and
   example of Christ; by the usage of the holy apostles and primitive
   apostolic churches, we find it to be nothing but an institution of the
   flesh; an encouragement to the impenitent; an inducement to the broad
   way; a defence of the churches of anti?christ; a confusing and
   blind?folding of the simple; a covert instigation to persecution of the
   pious; a destroying of the church of Christ; a dextrous encumbering of
   the godly; an unreasonable, envious defamation of the saints; an
   adulteration of the holy word; yea, an open encouragement to
   unrighteousness, impenitence and carnal liberty.

   Behold, this is the effect, fruit and aim of his writing; although he
   adorns and covers it under the semblance of good intentions and love.
   If I should at any time yet meet with him, and not be able to verify
   these assertions, by their fruits and by virtue of the Scriptures, then
   I will be willing to recant them and bear my shame; for I trust that I,
   through the grace of God, know of what I write.

   An other reason, says Gellius, why he published his writing is, because
   a nobleman to whom he addressed it, offered to bear the expenses of
   printing it, &c.

   Answer. Zeal is a good thing and highly commendable, if in a good cause
   to the service and glory of God. But let every one well consider how,
   why and wherefore he is zealous; lest he make himself guilty of
   innocent blood, which is the most abominable sin next to sinning
   against the Holy Ghost.

   If his honor has done this in sincere zeal and with good intentions, as
   Paul did before his conversion, and meant it to be to the honor of God
   and to the salvation of his neighbors, then I hope that God will give
   him more light and make truth more manifest to him. But if he has done
   it for the sake of an idle name or fame, or for the sake of carnal
   profit and satisfaction, something which the learned can very adroitly
   portray to such high persons; or, if he contends against the people of
   God with a bitter zeal, which I trust is not the case, as does Gellius
   and the preachers, generally, then his action has become such a gross
   sin and great blindness that I fear he will never be brought to confess
   Christ.

   I would therefore cordially admonish his honor, and beseech him in
   christian love that he no more burden himself with the sin of others;
   for he and every?body else will have burden enough of his own, at the
   day of judgment. All misleading of the miserable souls; all unbelief
   and idolatry; all lightmindedness and liberty of the flesh; together
   with all uproar and tyranny which are apt to be the result of his
   writing will be required, in the day of Christ, at his hands as well as
   at the hands of the preachers, if not repented of, because he assists
   and supports them in their abomination with his advice and assistance,
   with money and material.

   Therefore, in my opinion, his honor would have better first considered
   the matter well and laid out these expenses to the support, assistance,
   consolation, nourishment and clothing of the needy, especially in these
   hard times; and not for the purpose of deceiving many unwary hearts and
   of putting more encumbrances and persecution on the pious.

   Again, that Gellius has published his writing under the permission of
   the said nobleman, has an appearance as if he was one of those who
   honor and esteem a person according to the measure of his usefulness.
   But for what reason he has done so; what his seeking and how his heart
   is, in this matter, I will leave to the Lord who knows all things.

   Experience sufficiently teaches of what disposition the rich are,
   namely, proudhearted, ambitious and covetous of honor. God's wisdom did
   not say without a cause, Verily, "I say unto you, It is easier for a
   camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter
   into the kingdom of God," Matt. 19:24. James also says, "Go to now, ye
   rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.
   Your riches are corrupted and your garments are moth?eaten; your gold
   and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against
   you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire," &c., James 5:1?3.
   Again, Paul says, " For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not
   many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are
   called," &c., 1 Cor. 1:26.

   Since, then, the mouth of the Lord, as also his faithful servants,
   James and Paul, have so plainly expressed the dangers of the rich and
   of those of high standing; since experience teaches how proud?hearted
   they are, as may be educed from their high titles, houses, shields,
   medals, clothes, servants, horses and dogs; and since Christ says, "
   Verily I say. unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little
   children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven," Matt. 18:3;
   therefore it would be more in accordance with evangelical
   righteousness, if Gellius, instead, would industriously teach such
   proud hearts and high persons, the humility of Christ, so that they may
   learn to forsake themselves; may learn to know themselves, of what they
   are born, what they are and what they will be; that they may die unto
   their excessive pomp, splendor, superfluity and ungodliness; may fear
   God in all sincerity, and walk in his ways; that they may faithfully
   serve their neighbors, with their abundance, in true humility of heart,
   and not continually enkindle the fire of pride, fleshly security and
   light?mindedness, by his flattery or by high?sounding and supplicating
   phrases; for the inborn ambitious nature of the flesh of Adam's
   children is, alas, already too apt to crave such things without being
   encouraged by flattery and smooth words.

   I would, therefore, faithfully admonish all to fear God, to strive
   after truth and to love their neighbors; for the time is coming, and is
   near at hand that we all shall hear, each one at his time, "Give an
   account of thy stewardship, for thou mayest be no longer steward," Luke
   16:2. I do not dedicate this my reply and defense to this or that one,
   as is the custom of the learned, but dedicate it, in christian
   humility, "To the pious Reader," and desire to subject it to the
   judgment of all the godly and pious.

   If any one under the broad canopy of heaven can teach me with plainer
   Scriptures or with more powerful truths, whether he be learned or
   unlearned, man or woman, I will gladly accept of such instruction and
   obey them. But, by the grace of God, we are convinced that we are on
   the sure and true way which Christ has prepared for us. Blessed are we
   if we walk in it and enter in at the strait gate. Let all of
   understanding minds, who, in true zeal and in the fear of God, seek the
   praise of their Lord, read and judge that which now follows.
     __________________________________________________________________

  OF THE MISSION OR CALLING OF THE PREACHERS.

   GELLIUS complains very much of a bitter and sneering epistle of the
   anabaptists, as he calls them, in which they are said to have. given
   five particular reasons, as I understand from his writing, why they
   cannot conscienciously accept the preachers as true and uablamable, and
   cannot use their sacraments as true and Scriptural ordinances, &c. Of
   which the vocation of their preachers is the first reason. Gellius
   assiduously tries to maintain that their calling is christian?like and
   according to Scripture and says that ours is sectarian and not
   according to scripture.

   Answer. How bitter and sneering the said epistle may have been, I do
   not know, for I have never seen it. But I presume it was not so bitter
   as Gellius complains that it was; that it was a reproof of his
   corruption, his deceiving and unscriptural sacraments; something which
   he ever, maliciously, calls brawling and sneering.

   Since I did not read the epistle myself, as said, therefore I will not
   undertake to defend every word of it; but will undertake a defence, by
   virtue of my ministry of the divine word, and because I have been
   disgracefully treated in regard to it, so far as concerns the five
   articles in which the preachers are reproved or accused, whose vocation
   Gellius maintains as evangalical and right. And I trust that, with the
   gracious assistance of God, I will be enabled to de fend these articles
   with such power and clearness of Scripture, that all impartial,
   reasonable readers, on comparing our writings, will, by the grace of
   God, behold, as in a mirror, that he and all the worldly preachers are
   not the called preachers and teachers of the church of Christ, to whom
   the Scriptures point; but that they are the open preachers and teachers
   of the world, or of the church of anti?christ against whom the
   Scriptures on every hand warn us, and in many places terrifies us
   against them. He that hath ears, let him hear what the word of the Lord
   teaches.

   Gellius points out a difference between the calling or sending of the
   prophets of Christ and the apostles and between the calling of the
   bishops, pastors and other servants of the church, and says, "° That
   the sending of the prophets of Christ and the apostles was done without
   any means of man, solely of God; but that the sending of the bishops
   and pastors is done of God by means of .man."

   Answer. We do not contradict this, but agree with him in this respect.
   But we contradict that the calling of which they boast is done in
   accordance with the apostolic doctrine and usage; and would say that we
   should well observe these five, following points or articles, according
   to the Scriptures; namely, Of whom they are called; what?they are that
   are called; to what purpose they are called; what fruit the called
   bring forth; ?and what the proper desire and seeking of the called is.

   In the first place, we must observe that the calling which was done in
   the primitive, apostolic church, by means of man, was not done of the
   world but of the true christians and obedient disciples of the Lord and
   his word. For Luke writes, Acts 14:23, "And when they had ordained them
   elders in every church,, and had prayed with fasting, they commended
   them to the Lord, on whom they believed." Paul also says to Titus, "
   For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldst set in order
   the things that are wanting and ordain elders in every city, as I have
   apointed thee," Tit. 1:5, &c. Read also 1 Tim. 3:12.

   Since the preachers, then; boast of a calling of God, by means of man,
   as said, therefore I would ask without all artifice, Who is the Paul or
   Barnabas, or Timothy or Titus that has called and ordained Gellius and
   his like preachers to the service? If they answer, the magistracy; then
   I would ask in the second place, If the magistracy, who assumes this
   matter, have the?spirit, calling, ministry, ordinance, and power of
   Paul, Barnabas, Titus and Timothy? If they answer in the affirmative,
   then I would like to see their grounds proven according to Scripture.
   If they say, because they are part of the church, as Gellius seems to
   have it, then I would ask in the third place, Whether they are actuated
   by the Spirit of God? Whether they have crucified the flesh with its
   lusts, and in their weakness, walk innocently and christianly according
   to Christ's example and teaching, with his followers? Whether they have
   become new creatures? Whether they are in Christ and Christ in them?
   &c. If they say, God knows, and not we, then I would ask in the fourth
   place, Are you such trees, then, that we cannot judge your fruits, and
   such lights that we cannot see its refulgence? My reader, ponder well
   on these questions.

   Scriptures plainly testify that there is no christian but who is in
   Christ and has his Spirit, Rom. 8:9. It is evident that the magistracy
   does not conform themselves to the example and Spirit of the Lord, as
   may; alas, be perceived on every hand by their fruits. For they live in
   every respect according to the lusts of the flesh; seek vain honor,
   treasure, pompous living, &c.; they are earthly, and not
   heavenly?minded; therefore we should consult the word of the Lord
   whether such people are competent to ordain preachers, pastors and
   servants for the church of Christ, while their fruits testify that they
   are yet without Christ's Spirit, kingdom, church and word themselves,
   as said.

   If they should say that they are not called of the magistracy, but of
   the church, then I would ask in the fifth place, Whether the church
   which has called them is flesh of Christ's flesh and bone of his bone?
   Eph.5:30, that is, a church which sincerely seeks and fears God; that
   walks in obedience to his word; loves and serves his neighbor; controls
   his ungodly lusts; strives after truth with all his heart; leads an
   unblamable, pious life, and who is prepared for the sake, of the will
   and word of the Lord, to sacrifice and abandon, money, goods, blood and
   life, nay, father, mother, life, husband, wife, children and every
   thing else, if the honor of God requires it? If they answer no, which
   is the true answer, then it is already proven that they are not the
   church and people of the Lord; for the church of Christ must be in
   unity of spirit with Christ, as has already been heard. If, then, they
   are not of Christ's church, how can they call preachers unto the church
   of Christ, as Paul, Barnabas, Timothy and Titus, and the primitive
   church have done? If on the contrary they answer Yes, then I say again,
   their open unrighteousness, slander, godlessness, avarice, pomp,
   drunkenness, superfluity, unchastity, hatred, envy; unmercifulness,
   violence, &c., testify before the whole world that the answer is not
   the true one.

   Inasmuch as it is manifest that both the magistracy and the subjects
   are directly contrary to the Spirit and word of Jesus Christ, to his
   walk and actions; and have not a syllable which in this respect agrees
   with, the spirit and actions of Paul, Barnabas, Timothy, Titus, or of
   the primitive church; therefore I am very much surprised that he can be
   so imprudent and inconsiderate, or so very bold as to boast, in these
   times of grace in which the truth has become so manifest, that he and
   the preachers of his character were called and ordained of God by the
   means of man, as were the elders of the primitive church, by Paul,
   Barnabas, Timothy and Titus.

   O, that God would grant that he would once consider and not compare the
   faithful men and dear servants of God, together with the zealous,
   regenerated communities and pious children of the primitive churches to
   this impenitent, reckless and bad world who wish to be considered the
   true church; and would no more blind the poor unwary hearts who little
   regard the holy word, with such a semblance and quotation of the
   Scriptures; for it would be of infinite value to his poor, miserable
   soul, at the time of his dissolution.

   I would now leave it to the reflection of all intelligent readers, how
   the calling, of which the preachers boast, can stand the test of the
   Scriptures, while those of whom they boast that called them, are found
   to be not only no regenerated, pious christians, but besides, open
   despisers and impenitent contenders against God and his word, as may,
   alas, be seen, on every hand, by their actions.

   In the second place we should observe of what disposition, doctrine and
   conduct the called servants of the word should be, according to the
   testimony of the Scriptures; namely, "Blameless, the husband of one
   wife; vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to
   teach; not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but
   patient, not a brawler, not covetous; one that ruleth well his own
   house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;" not a
   novice; he must be holy, just, temperate, &c. " Holding fast the
   faithful word as he hath been taught; that he may be able, by sound
   doctrine, both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers." "Moreover he
   must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into
   reproach and the snare of the devil," &c. "Even so must their wives be
   grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things," 1 Tim. 3; Tit.
   1.

   My reader, observe, this is not my word but the word of the Holy Ghost,
   which gives a true pattern of a true preacher, bishop, pastor, teacher
   and servant who will, in the church of Christ, bring forth fruit which
   will remain, John 15.

   The Holy Spirit points us to such teachers, to obey and follow them.
   Paul says, "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit
   yourselves; for they watch for your souls, as they that must give
   account; that they may do it with joy and not with grief," Heb. 13:17.
   In another place he says, "We beseech you, brethren, to know them which
   labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to
   esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake, and be at peace
   among yourselves," 1 Thess. 5:12, 13.

   Such teachers are compared in the Scriptures, to the oxen that tread
   out the corn, which shall not be muzzled. They are the elders worthy of
   double honor, and the faithful laborers, worthy of their hire, Deut.
   25:4; Matt. 10:10. But how Gellius and all the preachers of the German
   nations, whom he esteems as faithful servants, conform to this I will
   leave the impartial reader to judge according to the word of the Lord.

   Faithful reader, consider well that which I write. They boast that they
   are called in accordance with Scriptures, as you may hear; although it
   is obvious and palpable that they lead a life as the one portrayed by
   Peter and Jude. Many of them are so fallen in the fullness of Bacchus
   that they, alas, live night and day as swine in full rest; their tables
   are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean, as
   the prophet says, Isa. 28:8; they fearlessly walk after their own
   lusts, as Jude says; and they esteem as joy the temporal, lusty life,
   says Peter; they are spots and blemishes, sporting themselves with
   their own deceivings while they feast with you.

   Some of them, also, are open fornicators and adulterers. How their
   wives, as a general thing, conform themselves to Scriptures, may be
   educed from their fruits. Others are so avaricious that they have
   become open usurers. They are so intent upon perishable lucre, money
   and possessions that I dare truthfully say that they, through the easy
   doctrine of their gospel, have become lords upon earth; yet, most of
   them are loved of the world and highly esteemed by the ignorant. Their
   pomp, laziness, easeseeking, vanity, light?mindedness, pride, &c.,
   baffle all description to say nothing of their tyranny, lying,
   brawling, slandering, betraying and uproaring against all who seek and
   fear the Lord.

   Reader, it is as I write. O, how willingly would I be silent and close,
   if the honor of God and his word, and the love for your souls did not
   compel me to do so; but as it is I am forced to touch upon their
   abominable shame. Their abominations are so gross and terrible that my
   soul shrinks back at the thought of them, therefore, imagine how, if I
   shall treat and write of them. How their actions and behavior agree
   with the description of Paul, who teaches us that they shall be
   unblamable, have but one wife, not given to wine, not avaricious, nor
   covetous of filthy lucre; that they shall be temperate, modest and
   amiable; have a good report of those that are without; this I will
   leave to all pious hearts to judge in the fear of God, according to the
   Scriptures. Behold, my reader, since it is manifest that they are quite
   contrary to the word of the Lord, in their walk; therefore it is, in
   fact, nothing but vain hypocrisy, to call such unfruitful, offensive
   actions, evangelical edification and such a void mockery, a calling.

   But Gellius tries to clear himself of this, and lays the blame on those
   who, according to his writing, lead an unchristian life after the lusts
   of their flesh, against the ordinance of the apostles, saying, that
   they cannot weaken the cause of the pious, by their unrighteousness; I
   would, in the first place, say, Since he complains of them so much, in
   his book, and says, that they would better be pastors of swine than
   pastors of the sheep of Christ; and wishes that they would be
   ex?officiated, &c.; and since these constitute the majority of them, as
   may be openly seen; therefore Gellius should admit, that, according to
   the Scriptures, we should not follow such, nor partake of their
   sacraments, even, if they were the true sacraments; for he himself
   admits that they are useless people and wishes them ex?officiated.

   In the second place I say, Since Gellius acknowledges that they are
   unfit for their offices; and since he and they are of one church,
   calling and service, why does he suffer them to remain in their
   offices, and why does he not, by virtue of his calling, excommunicate
   them with the advice and consent of his church? Since they are a
   hindrance to the community and a reproach and disgrace to Gellius and
   his brotherpreachers, whom I would were themselves pious and
   unblamable.

   If he says that the magistracy are to blame, he then admits, that those
   magistrates are not true servants and members of Christ, who admit such
   offensive people, as adulterers, wine?bibbers, covetous, &c., as are
   met with on every hand, to be preachers, while they ruin the souls of
   the poor miserable people by their wicked offensive life, to say
   nothing of their doctrine; whom they might debar with a single word,
   without blood?shed. And what is more, Gellius himself is a faithless
   shepherd, and dumb watchman. And the magistracy, which is his elector
   and companion in church?service, have a contempt for God and slander
   his word.

   In the third place I would say, It would be well for Gellius to first
   learn to know from the Scriptures the nature of Christ and his church
   together with the true churchservants, pastors and preachers; to
   rightly judge all things by the Spirit, word and example of the Lord;
   and to thoroughly search himself, his brother preachers and his church
   before contending so maliciously against the pious and accuse them
   before the whole world, without cause. I would further say, Since (if I
   understand him aright) he admits that we should not hear the
   adulterers, wine?bibbers, strikers, &c., nor partake of their
   sacraments (something which was intended, probably, to make his cause
   have a good appearance); therefore we are forced to view in a
   Scriptural light, how he, according to Paul's doctrine, can stand as a
   pastor of the church and as a servant of Christ.

   Paul says, A bishop must be blameless; this applies also to a true
   preacher, pastor and teacher; and it is obvious that Gellius is not
   unblamable, but blamable in many respects; that he is a friend of the
   world, who seeks to please the world, contrary to the word of God and
   the example of Christ, the apostles and of the prophets, otherwise he
   would have suffered persecution, 2 Tim. 3:12, and not have exercised
   his service at ease, for so long a time, as is testified by the example
   of Christ, the apostles and by all the true witnesses.

   Again, that he is a hireling who has been hired as a servant at certain
   wages and a stipend, contrary to the example of Christ and the example
   of all the true messengers who have been sent by him. He is not only
   not persecuted for the sake of the testimony of Jesus but he himself
   persecutes the godly, pious hearts who have neither injured or harmed
   him nor any body else. He persecutes them wilfully by his instigation,
   advice and writings; contrary to the example of Christ and all the
   chosen, as may, alas, be seen by his writings here cited. Besides this,
   his doctrine is wrong and deceiving. He is an upbraider, condemner,
   defamer and backbiter of the innocent who sincerely fear God and are
   zealous for his word; yea, who would seal it with their blood,
   something which he does not. This assertion is, alas, made good by his
   writing in which he, without just cause, accuses and condemns the
   god?fearing, pious hearts before the whole world as being apostates,
   anabaptists, conspirers, contrabands, cowers of pernicious seed,
   excommuned sects, servants of the devil and tools; and thus makes them
   the objects of suspicion, although they sincerely seek the Lord and
   daily sacrifice possessions and blood for the sake of his holy word.

   Besides, he is a supporter and defender of the kingdom of anti?christ,
   a falsifier of the Scriptures, an abuser of the sacraments, a
   strengthener of the impenitent, a liar, &c., as will be plainly shown,
   by the grace of God, each in its' turn.

   In the third place it should be observed for what purpose the true
   preachers are called, namely, that they should teach the word of the
   Lord; rightly use his sacraments; lead and rule in the church of God;
   gather together with Christ and not scatter; console the afflicted;
   admonish those not ordained; seek what is lost; bind up what is
   braised; separate those that are incurable, without any respect of
   person, and should assiduously watch over the vineyard, house and city
   of God, as the Scriptures teach, Matt. 28:19; 12:30; Mark 16:15.

   Behold, my reader, these are the proper reasons why the Holy Ghost has
   ordained in the house of the Lord bishops, pastors and teachers,
   according to the precept of Paul Paying, "He gave some apostles, and
   some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers; for
   the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the
   edifying of the body of Christ; till we all come in the unity of the
   faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto
   the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ," Eph. 4:11?13.

   But for what purpose Gellius and all the preachers of the world are
   called, may be educed from their doctrine and work; namely, to preach
   to suit the magistrapy and the world. Again, to offer to the two golden
   calves of Dan and Bethel (understand what I mean); to keep the church
   of anti?christ, without penance and regeneration in unity and peace of
   the flesh, on the perverted and crooked road of darkness and death,
   under the name and semblance of the word, contrary to the Spirit,
   doctrine and example of Christ; to console the wilful, reckless world,
   who wish to be called the church of Christ, without regeneration and
   obedience, in their impenitent .and ungodly nature, with the death,
   blood, baptism and Supper of the Lord; to violently oppose Christ Jesus
   and his word and Spirit, so that the world may live on in their
   original state and unrighteousness unrebuked; that the preachers may
   continue in their improper gain and careless life; and that the
   ignorant people, both rich and poor may live on in the lusts of their
   flesh, pomp, splendor, drinking, carousing, in avariciousness and
   hoarding, in short, may continue in the broad and easy way of the
   flesh, unreproved.

   This is made too manifest to be denied, by deeds which speak for
   themselves; yet their cause is artfully adorned with the Scriptures;
   they talk much; boast loudly of the grace and favor of God; they use
   baptism and supper under the appearance of truth, as if they were the
   church of Jesus Christ; although, in fact, they are nothing but a
   selfish, refractory, impenitent, earthly and .sensual people, as is
   obvious by their fruits. If I do not write the truth, reprove me.

   Since, then, it is clearer than day?light that they are not called to
   uphold the church of Christ, which is of God and a divine nature, with
   salutary doctrines, Scriptural sacraments, an unblamable life; earnest
   reproving, without favor or respect of persons; with faithful
   admonition and separation, ii necessary; but are, under false pretenses
   of the name and church of Christ; they are servants of the world;
   receive their reward from it; honor and love it; speak of it, and
   please it, and whom it seeks and loves to hear, for they are of the
   world, as John says, 1 John 4:5.

   Therefore it is, in the third place, an incontrovertible evidence, that
   they, alas, are no called servants of the church of Christ; as they
   falsely etend, but are the servants and supporters of the kingdom of
   antichrist, as may be unmistakingly learned from their doctrine, walk
   and fruits if we closely examine them.

   In the fourth place we should observe what kind of fruits they bring
   forth, for Christ says, " I have chosen you and ordained you, that ye
   should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain,"
   John 15:16. We confess with holy Isaiah, as does also Gellius, that the
   doctrine of the holy gospel, if preached in the power of the Spirit,
   according to the Spirit of Christ, cannot fail to bring forth fruit. "
   For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth
   not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and
   bud," so, also, is the word that goeth forth out of the mouth of the
   Lord, Isaiah 55: lo.

   But Gellius and we should well consider that the sower should, by the
   power of true faith and the co?operation of the Holy Spirit, be changed
   into the Spirit and nature of Christ, and should then teach or present
   to the people the pure, unadulterated seed, which is the word, without
   all abuse, leaven and hypocrisy, for where there are such cowers, there
   it will bud and bring forth. The word of the prophet, which the mouth
   of the Lord has spoken is true and firm. But where there are not such
   sowers there they arise too early or start out too late; labor and
   pains will be in vain; for God works not unto repentance but through
   those who are of his Spirit.

   Inasmuch, then, that the word with true preaching does not remain
   fruitless as we have seen, and since we clearly see that the seed of
   the preachers of the world brings forth no fruit unto repentance, but
   alone hypocrisy, therefore it is an indisputable fact that they have
   not the word of the Lord in power; but that they are artful workers and
   not true preachers, or else the word of the prophet must be false,
   which says, "If they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people
   to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil
   way, and from the evil of their doings," Jer. 23:22.

   Since then, that preachers are known by their fruits, and that Gellius
   and his like preachers have preached their doctrine and sacraments so
   many years to the whole world (which they may continue to, do without
   fear, while they are not opposing the impenitent in their hypocrisy and
   uncontrolled life, but rather console and encourage them), and yet do
   not convert a miser nor usurer to liberality; do not bring forth their
   disciples further than that they profess in name and appearance; remain
   unchanged in their heart, hate and oppose true righteousness, walk upon
   the broad way, and earnestly strive after the world, flesh, money and
   possessions. The pompous remain pompous; the proud remain proud; and
   liars continue in their falsehood, as is manifest; therefore this their
   fruitless preaching, vain doctrine and church?service fully prove that
   their calling is not of God and his word, but of the son of the abyss,
   anti?christ and of the world, however much they adorn and boast of
   their cause. The word of God is and will remain true, Isaiah 55:11.

   Glellius then refers us to his fruits, and says, Is not the preaching
   of the truth and the light of the holy gospel, which we assiduously
   preach and promulgate both by teaching and writing a good fruit and
   glorious testimony that our calling is of God and not of the devil; by
   which the kingdom of the devil is destroyed and by which the papistical
   abominations, idolatry, masses, absolutions, vigils, &c., have become a
   deadly stench?

   Answer. If they did not mix the dross with the silver and water with
   wine, that ia, if they would preach the truth, without falsehood, and
   the light without darkness in the power of the Spirit, and would
   testify it before the whole world by a pious and unblamable life, then
   we would agree with them that it is a glorious light and a noble fruit.
   But while they practice wrong and pervert truth into lies, the true
   apostolic baptism into the baptism of heretics, the church of Christ
   into pernicious sectarianism and conspiracy, &c., and on the other hand
   pervert lies to truth, the anti?christian to christian baptism and the
   reckless, wild world to the Lord's church, &c., we say that their
   doctrine is deceiving, offensive and wrong, and is not the true
   doctrine, as Gellius boasts and pretends.

   Yea, my reader, they so preach the word of the Lord that
   unrighteousness and abuse yet remain in fall sway; they so teach the
   truth, that in many respects, false doctrine, lying and deceiving is
   not yet weakened nor destroyed; they so use and practice divine service
   that the high places are honored and idolatry is not avoided; they so
   preach the christian church, that the church of anti?christ remains in
   full power, as is openly manifested to the whole world both by their
   work and their tyranny.

   In short, it is manifest that they so preach and promulgate the gospel
   that no repentance follows but that every one, alas, remains as he is;
   yea, what is worse, that the people are not only not regenerated but
   are daily growing more wicked. Neither encomiums, reasoning nor artful
   demonstrations will avail here, for their fruit testifies that their
   doctrine is faithless and false, as said before, Jer. 23.

   The serpent spoke the truth when he said, "God doth know that in the
   day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened; and ye shall be as
   gods, knowing good and evil," Gen. 3:5. But that which he promised
   before was a lie, namely, " Ye shall not surely die." Adam and Eve were
   thereby deceived. Thus, also, do those who teach the serpent's word.
   They so teach the impenitent, carnal people, concerning the death of
   the Lord, by their unscriptural sacraments of impenitance, and so
   console them in their reckless, Adamic nature and life, by false
   promises (although they do some times speak the truth, as did the
   serpent, produce Scriptures, partly reprove sin and praise virtue) that
   there is no body to be found who truly feels sorry for his sins, who
   sincerely repents of his wickedness, saying, " What have I done," Jer.
   8:6. Behold, says the prophet, so they practice falsehood and
   strengthen the wicked that none repent of their wickedness.

   That some of them have thus weakened the papistical abominations, for
   this they and we give praises to the Lord. But what does it avail if
   they renounce the pope and they themselves step in his stead? It is
   true that many branches of the tree of anti?christ are hewn off, but
   the roots and body still remain. And although he destroyed some high
   places, yet they walk in the ways of Jeroboam and have not come to
   Jerusalem for the purpose of truly worshiping.

   Yea, kind reader, had the learned firmly trusted the living God,
   faithfully adhered tb his word, and had they not acted hypocritically
   with the world and had they themselves, in power and deeds faithfully
   practiced, without fear of the cross and the disfavor of the
   magistracy, what they have, in some of their writings, pointed out, O,
   what a noble and clear light would have shone on the world, which now,
   alas, has become such a pernicious darkness and destruction, and a
   broad way, through the fear of the cross, through hypocrisy,
   selfishness, desire of ease, ambition and favor of men.

   In the second place he says, Is the whole Bible, translated (into the
   German language) by the memorable D. Martinus, a despisable fruit? Are
   the songs or hymns composed by Luther and many others a contemptible
   fruit? Is, also, the constancy, which exists in these times of peril
   and danger of body and possessions, as it did in the beginning of the
   gospel, not a noble and genuine fruit of our calling? But such fruits
   are of no account in their sight or else they will not see them;
   although they are the surest and the best fruits, &c. The fruits of the
   outward life and dealings with men, although often mere hypocrisy, only
   avail in their sight.

   Answer. The deceased translators, authors and composers we will leave
   undisturbed, for they have already found their Lord and Judge; but we
   will turn to the living, with whom we have to speak. His saying, that
   writing, translating and composing are the surest and best fruits, is,
   in my opinion, a very senseless assertion, for such things can be done
   through learning and skill in languages, without regeneration and
   change of heart, as he himself well knows. Yea, as the Bible or the
   Scriptures are read by the greater part of the world, with impure,
   carnal hearts, so, also, they can, undoubtedly, be translated, through
   the knowledge and skill of languages, from one language into another,
   with a carnal, unregenerated and impious heart.

   And as hymns are generally sung in God's houses or temples, carelessly,
   and are light?mindedly sung, here and there, in the streets and in
   riotous taverns; so, also, can they be composed by alight?minded heart
   without spirit or regeneration? These are, therefore, not the surest
   and best fruits, as Gellius pretends to say, for they do not remain.
   But whatever some, in by?gone times may have written, in true zeal,
   which is Scripture or conformable to Scripture and useful to the
   regeneration of the pious, we should, reasonably, praise and esteem.

   However, the surest and best fruits arc?, to so preach the word of God
   in power, that many may be born of him and be led to sincerely fear and
   love him; to cordially serve their neighbors; to die unto flesh and
   blood; to believe on Jesus Christ with all the heart, and tremble at
   his word; that they may do nothing contrary to it; may truly worship
   God and conform their whole life or walk according to his Spirit, word
   and example, for such fruits remain.

   I would further say, He boasts of the danger and constancy (as he calls
   it) of some of their number; now, in these times of war, which he calls
   a time of trial, because, (if we understand him aright), they can no
   longer uphold and protect their cause by force of arms; and consider it
   a noble fruit, although they have, perhaps, not been tempted unto death
   as we daily are; and therefore he so indiscreetly condemns and profanes
   our cause, which the Lord knows we have maintained and will maintain in
   spite of sword or any other deadly weapon, something which cannot be
   truthfully refuted. We have patiently walked ac fording to the example
   of Christ; sacrificed our possessions and blood which might have been
   saved by a single, hypocritical word; and at all times, for our
   invincible constancy, we suffer with fire, water and sword; being
   defenceless, and without any resistance " we are killed all the day
   long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter," Rom. 8:36.

   But we give praise to God, that some of them have sacrificed their
   blood for the sake of the testimony which they had, and with James
   count them happy; yea, that they are joint?heirs in the sufferings of
   Jesus Christ; for their deeds have proven that they sought God and were
   faithful as far as they were enlightened. But what will that avail
   them, while they close their hearts to the light of truth; contend
   against the Spirit, word and will of God; preach lies, pervert and
   abuse the sacraments, and console and encourage the wild, wicked world
   in their impenitent, reckless life? Something which the faithful heroes
   have not done, for they were faithful in every thing which they
   acknowledged as the truth. If they had acknowledged more they would,
   doubtlessly, have died for the sake thereof as well as for that which
   they did, at the time, acknowledge.

   If our opponents are of the same spirit then they may boast. But their
   fruits openly testify that that they are, alas, very different.

   Again, he writes, that the fruits of an outward life, alone, avail in
   our sight, &c. Do not our sole oppression, trials, great tribulation,
   misery, possessions and blood; besides, our open and frank confession,
   openly testify that he makes this assertion without all truth. Yea,
   that he openly slanders and wrongs us? O malitiosam calumnian ac
   perversitatem, (O malicious calumny and perversity).

   My kind reader, observe that all Scriptures and the power of true faith
   constrain us zealously to teach an upright, pious, godly and penitent
   life; for Jesus Christ says, "Let your light so shine before men, that
   they may see your good works." Paul, also teaches, "That ye may approve
   things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence
   till the day of Christ." That we might walk worthy of the Lord and his
   gospel. Peter says, "Having your conversation honest among the
   Gentiles;" and John says, That we should walk even as Christ walked,
   Matt. 6:6; Phil. 1:10; Col. 1:10; 1 Pet. 2:12; 1 John 2:6.

   Since Scripture, on every hand, enjoin upon us a pious life, as has
   been heard; therefore it is reasonable and just, if we believe the word
   of God, that we zealously follow, in our weakness, that which the
   Spirit of the Lord has so clearly taught and enjoined in his holy word.

   But his assertion, that such fruits, only, avail in our sight comes,
   alas, from an impure heart. For, I presume, he well knows, that we
   plainly teach that we cannot be saved by outward works, however great
   and glorious they may appear or that we can thus entirely please God;
   for they are ever mixed with imperfection and weakness and, therefore,
   through the corruption of the flesh we cannot acquire the righteousness
   required in the commandments; therefore we point, alone, to Christ
   Jesus who is our only 40

   and eternal Righteousness, Reconciliation and Propitiator with the
   Father, and do not at all trust in our works. My reader, I write the
   truth in Christ Jesus, and lie not.

   O, that Gellius would quit his unguarded talk, and speak no more than
   that which is true, for a liar is a disgrace and shall not inherit the
   kingdom of God; and that he could ? once feel what a true, christian
   faith is, what it requires in its nature and what it produces in power;
   he would then know what it is that brings forth such a pious, penitent
   and unblamable life which he has in times gone by, so disgracefully
   slandered and upbraided as devilish fruits, hypocrisy and a new
   mockery; and, as appears, would yet upbraid, if it was not for the
   experience of many and the great quantity of innocent j blood which has
   been shed.

   Behold, dear reader, now you can see how they adorn and deck their
   abominable hypocrisy and fruitless, impenitent church?service with
   writing, translating, singing, &c., although generally alone without
   repentance and regeneration, as heard; and how they basely construe and
   explain the sincere, pious fruits of true faith which are taught and
   represented by all the Scriptures, ceremonies and sacraments; that they
   may daub the wall with untempered mortar and console the poor,
   miserable people in their disregard of the word of the Lord. But when
   the Lord's hurricane, flood and great hailstones shall come with a
   great noise, then they will break down the wall that they have daubed
   with untempered mortar and bring it to the ground so that the
   foundation thereof shall be discovered, &c., Ezekiel 13:13, 14.

   In the third place, Gellius writes that the office of a preacher
   consists of two parts, namely, in rooting out, destroying and opposing;
   also in sowing and building, &c., and boasts that their fruits,
   especially as regards the first part, cannot be denied in many kingdoms
   and principalities; and that the Lord Jesus Christ (as he says), has,
   through their services, planted sincere repentance and such true
   christian faith in many hearts, that the small community at Emden, in
   sure expectation of a reward in heaven. willingly supports several
   hundreds of poor people by their alms, &c.

   Answer. We admit that the first part of a preacher's office consists in
   rooting out, destroying and opposing, and the other of sowing and
   building up, and this is a proof for us that they are not the preachers
   to serve in such capacity. Although they have renounced, in different
   cities and countries, (for which we praise the Lord), some abuses and
   idolatries, which were so gross that .they might be plainly noticed,
   without Scriptures, to be abominations; yet, the root of all deceit
   remains untouched, namely, the false doctrine and unscriptural
   sacraments, with which they console the world and encourage them in
   their impenitence and natural state or Adamic heart which is the source
   of all unrighteousness, as may, alas, be seen on every hand by the
   fruits.

   If, then, they are the true preachers as they pretend to be, let them
   execute the first part, namely, To break in pieces with the hammer of
   the divine word the proud, obdurate hearts, the impure, avaricious
   hearts, the blood?guilty, tyrannical hearts, &c., of whom it is written
   that they are worthy of death; to humble them by the eternal judgment
   and punishment of Almighty God; to discover to them their ungodly and
   corrupt nature and flesh, by virtue of the commands; that they may
   learn to know themselves, see their shame and thus, with sorrowing and
   repenting hearts, in the fear of the coming wrath and eternal
   punishment of the just and great God, sincerely and tremblingly repent
   and die unto their sins, crucify their flesh, smother their lusts, and
   walk before their God with broken and humbled hearts. Behold this is
   the true and principal rooting out, destroying and opposing to which
   Scriptures say, the true preachers are called.

   Then let such moved and humbled hearts, such penitent and sighing
   sinners, who are, with Peter and Magdalene, heart broken, bitterly
   weep, and with David confess their guilt; then point them to the only
   and eternal seat of grace, Christ Jesus; teach them the eternal mercy,
   love, favor and grace of God, according to the Scriptures; console them
   with the gospel of peace; carefully anoint their wounds, caused by the
   sharp and smarting wine, with the oil of the joyful promises of Christ,
   that they may thus, through faith arise with Christ from the death of
   their abominable sins into the new life of all virtue; that they may,
   in true faith and in pure, unfeigned love, ever walk without all
   offence, according to the example of Christ and all the pious; and give
   thanks to the Lord for his manifest love. Behold, thus sow and build,
   all true preachers who are called of the Spirit of the Lord and are fit
   for his service.

   Dear reader, observe; Since Gellius and the preachers, then, are not
   such destroyers and builders, rooters and planters, as their deeds
   testify; but destroy that which is good and build up that which is bad;
   that they root out truth with their offensive doctrine and plant
   falsehood with their false sacraments and easy life; therefore our
   assertion is incontrovertible, that they are not the servants of Christ
   nor his true messengers.

   He writes, "that the Lord, through their service, has planted true
   repentance and such a true christian faith in many hearts, that the
   small congregation at Emden were comforted in expectation of a heavenly
   reward."

   Answer. If this were true indeed, as he writes, it should be attested
   by the fruits and manifested by the works. Paul says, "The kingdom of
   God is not in word, but in power," 1 Cor. 4:20. Let nobody falsely
   boast; we will bejudged of one before whom nothing is hidden. Nobody
   knows what true, christian faith and and true repentance are, but he
   who has truly received them and felt their power. If God, then, plants
   repentance in so many hearts, as Gellius pretends, why is he and his
   like preachers, yet so impenitent, so inimical and refractory to truth,
   and so offensive and blamable in wholesome doctrine? If those of whom
   he speaks are of the same mind with him, which we trust they are not,
   then he has not written the truth; this is too plain to be 'denied.

   Those hearts in which God has planted true repentance and an ardent,
   true, christian faith cannot, especially in these times of manifest
   truth, long be hidden, nor remain without the cross promised by the
   Holy Scriptures, if, even, their own preachers and relations are to
   persecute them. For if they would testify their faith by a frank
   confession, by a pious life and by works, which are the fruits of true
   and ardent faith, they would soon find that they have to bear the cross
   with Christ, their Lord. However much Gellius may garble it in his
   writings, the word of Christ is and remains the word of the cross; all
   who accept the word in power and in truth must be prepared for the
   cross; this, both Scriptures and experience abundantly teach us.

   This had necessarily to be said, lest we be consoled with a false
   boasting and idea, and lest the word of the Lord, spoken to the false
   prophets, be applied to us; saying, Ye promise life to those souls to
   whom you should not promise it, "By your lying to my people that hear
   your lies," Ezekiel 13:19.

   Notwithstanding, many are suffered in their churches who wantonly live
   in pomp, splendor, carousing, avarice and according to the lusts of the
   flesh, which service a true and faithful preacher, through which God
   works, does not allow, if the evangelical Scriptures and apostolic
   ordinances and doctrine shall avail and are true.

   But, as to the alms and support of the poor, I would say, that it is a
   good and praise?worthy work, and' cordially approve of it. Also, that
   many pious, gentile philosophers, as Aristotle, Plato, &c., have
   considered it as right and just. But we contradict that. sincere and
   true repentance, or the true seed and foundation of sincere love, which
   is a fruit of true faith, consists therein; for we may give in
   hypocrisy, as well as in love, as may be seen by the Scribes and
   Pharisees, by the open heathens and daily, yet, by the papists.

   Paul also agrees with this, saying, "And though I bestow all my goods
   to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not
   charity, it profiteth me nothing," 1 Cor. 13:3. Therefore, let every
   one take heed for what purpose and with what heart he bestows his alms.
   For the love which is of God and of a divine nature hates all boasting
   and hypocrisy, neither does it know them; of this I am convinced.

   If Gellius points to the support and service of the poor, which I deem
   praiseworthy, as a fruit of true repentance, then I would ask in the
   first place, Whether he finds a lack of alms with our church; although
   they are exiled to foreign countries and live in poverty and misery and
   are partly robbed of their possessions?

   In the second place I would say, that while he wants to boast of true
   repentance, he should first commence with the repentance of such faith
   as brings forth the love and fear of God, and not with the alms for the
   poor. For the Lord's own mouth speaks, That love is the keeping of his
   commandments; yea that it is the greatest commandment, Dent. 6:6.

   Yea, my reader, if he and his could fully comprehend sincere, true
   repentance and true christian faith, which he thinks has been planted
   in their hearts, O, how cordially would they fear their God, love and
   thank him for his fa rors and loving?kindness, and how willingly would
   they follow and obey his holy word I But how they do love and thank him
   for his loving?kindness and how they obey and follow his word, their
   actions and fruits, alas, too plainly testify.

   If they love God, and if a true, living faith and genuine repentance
   has been implanted in their hearts, as he boasts, why do they, then,
   yet walk after the manner of the Gentiles in pomp and splendor, in the
   lusts of their eyes, embellishment of their bodies and houses, in
   avariciousness, carousing, &c.? and why do they not heed the words of
   Paul? namely, "If ye live after the flesh, ye shall die," Rom. 8:13.

   If they love their neighbors, as the Scriptures command and true
   repentance brings forth, why are they, then, so usurious, avaricious
   and perfidious amongst themselves? Why do they litigate? Hatred, envy,
   lying, deceit, backbiting and defamation still prevail amongst his
   followers; besides they curse, swear, brawl, fight, war, destroy, rob
   and some of them are fornicators, perjurers, &.c.; to say nothing about
   their disgraceful upbraiding, profaning and defaming of all those who
   seek and fear the Lord. What sort of repentance and faith it is, of
   which he so loudly boasts, you may consider in the fear of God.

   O, my kind reader, it never fails that where true faith is, there,
   also, is the righteousness of faith; where there is unfeigned,
   christian love, there also is obedience to the holy word, and where
   there is true, sincere repentance there also is an unblamable life,
   according to the truth; this is incontrovertible.

   Is it not a false assertion to say that the giving of alms shows true
   repentance; sins we do not know whether it is done in sincerity of
   heart or in hypocrisy and vanity while he can plainly see that those
   who give alms generally are merely of the world and flesh, yea, without
   regeneration and repentance

   It would be well if he could take to hear what stands written: The alms
   (gifts) of the ungodly do not please the Most High; and sins are not
   remitted by much offering; he who offers of the possessions of the poor
   does, even as if he slaughtered the Son, in the sight of the Father.
   But to keep God's commandments, is a pleasing offer and to do according
   to the command, this is an offer which avails. "To depart from
   wickedness is a thing pleasing to the Lord; and to forsake
   unrighteousness is a propitiation.' Again, "To obey is better than
   sacrifice and to hearken, than the fat of rams," Eccl 35:3; 1 Sam.
   15:22.

   I would further say that it is my fixed opinion that the before
   mentioned alms, of which he boasts, are not the two mites or pennies of
   the widow's necessaries; but only a small crumb of their abundance,
   riches and wealth. This I frankly assert, and I have not the least
   doubt that if they would apply, to the support of the poor, their silk
   damask and the superabundance of clothes in which they go splendidly
   attired, the ornaments of their houses, the golden and silver rosaries,
   the useless, costly ornaments, gold rings, chains, silvered and gilt
   swords, besides, the booty of the persecuted which may be found in the
   houses of some, then the poor would not, in the least, suffer from
   want.

   O, my reader, yet by him, this must be called true repentance and a
   highly boastful work. If such boasting of outward works was heard from
   our side, how soon would we hear that we are work?saints, and that we
   want to be saved by our own merits.

   O, Lord! dear Lord!! thus the ignorant people are deceived and consoled
   in their impenitent, reckless life with their own works and merits. I
   think that such preachers may justly be called peace?preachers,
   bolsterers and false daubers of the Spirit of the Lord, since they
   praise such a carnal people as penitent and happy according to the
   prophetic word, while they are still quite earthly and carnally?minded;
   as their daily walk openly testifies before the whole world.

   My faithful reader, observe the word of the Lord, and take heed; for it
   is not always a true christian faith nor sincere repentance which the
   children of the world, who are prone to walk upon the broad way,
   sometimes teach and represent as true faith and sincere repentance. But
   this is true faith; which cordially accepts all the words of God, the
   threatening commands as well as the consoling gospel, and trusts in
   them as the sure and true word of God, &c. From such faith, which Paul
   calls a gift of God, springs the fear of God which drives out sin, and
   the true love which gladdens, enlivens and cheers the heart and leads
   it into the obedience of the word.

   Where there is such a faith which brings forth a new, convened and
   changed mind; which makes us dead unto sin and leads us into a new
   life; changes us from Adam to Christ; puts off the old man with all his
   works and puts on the new man with his works and thus conforms all his
   thoughts, words and works to the Spirit, word and ways of the Lord,
   behold, there is true repentance to which the holy prophets, John the
   baptist, Christ Jesus, together with all the apostles and pious
   servants have so earnestly pointed us and so faithfully admonished us.

   All those who would rightly preach this faith and this genuine
   repentance, and would thereby bring forth fruits, must themselves
   first, truly believe and sincerely repent; this is too obvious to be
   denied; and that Gellius and his like preachers do not yet, in power
   and truth, believe and sincerely repent, I will leave to be judged by
   their own writings and fruits, both here on earth and before the throne
   of God and Christ.

   Gellius further writes, and says, If it were true that many of our
   audience turn the preaching of the holy gospel to lasciviousness, as in
   Jude 4, and that our preaching avails but little, although many pious,
   peni. tent hearts incontrovertibly prove the contrary, then the old
   lamentation of the prophet Isaiah were but verified, that says, Who
   hath believed our report, &c. f He also points to the saying of Christ,
   namely, If they have kept

   my word they will also keep your word; with which he doubtlessly means
   to say, as the world has not kept my doctrine, therefore they will not
   keep your doctrine.

   He also, refers to the four kinds of seed and four kinds of earth,
   Matt. 13:8, 19, 23.

   Answer. God has never, from the beginning, preached repentance through
   the impenitent. The mouth and wisdom of God say, "Do men gather grapes
   of thorns, or figs of thistles," Matt. 7:16.

   Sine, it is clear that Gellius and his like preachers remain so earthly
   and carnallyminded, and are driven by such an unmerciful, tyrannical
   and slandering spirit, which is, properly, the inborn spirit, nature
   and fruit of the old serpent; how, then, can they rightly preach the
   penitent, pious life and the fruitful, merciful, amiable spirit, nature
   and disposition of Christ, which they not only not acknowledge, but
   upbraid as hypocrisy and which they sincerely hate in all the pious

   In the second place, I say, that the preaching of peace and the making
   of cushions of the learned, as they do, will bring forth but few truly
   repentant persons. For although the world is so wicked and wild that we
   should reasonably be terrified at their very great wickedness, yet they
   are so comforted and consoled by their preachers, with their infant
   baptism, supper, alms and with the merits, grace, death and blood of
   the Lord, that they presume themselves to be the Lord's chosen holy
   church and people.

   In the third place I would say, because he speaks doubtfully, saying,
   If it were true that many of his audience turn the preaching of the
   word to lasciviousness, and little fruit was brought forth by it,
   something which he however does not admit, &c., the reader should well
   mark how assiduously they defend the world and the church of
   anti?christ, saying, If it were true, &c. Yet the whole German nation
   has degenerated to such a wild and reckless freedom, by the preaching
   of their free gospel that if we reasonably admonish and reprove them
   for their open unchastity, carousing, pomp and splendor, cursing and
   swearing, lascivious and foul words, we must immediately hear that we
   are conspirators, vagabonds, fanatics, heaven?stormers, anabaptists and
   other indecent, disgraceful slanders.

   But in regard to the complaint of Isaiah and the saying of Christ, If
   they have kept my saying, &c., John 15:20, with which he wishes to
   cover and adorn his unscriptural practices and doctrine of impenitence,
   I would ask him: If Christ and the apostles have received those who
   lived after the lusts of their flesh, such as drunkards, railers,
   egtortioners, avaricious, fornicators, adulterers, &c., as their
   disciples, so long as they had not sincerely repented?

   If he answers in the affirmative, then he speaks contrary to all
   Scripture. For Paul says, That we shall not eat with such, if he does
   call himself a brother, 1 Cor. 6:11) and that they shall not inherit
   the kingdom of God, 1 Cor. 6:11. If he answers in the negative, then I
   would again ask, Why they receive them as disciples while they are not
   disciples of Christ, but are, according to his own words, of the world?

   If he answers that they do not receive them, then I would ask him why
   they baptize their children before they let them partake of the sapper
   3 And whether it would not be better if he would separate them,
   according to the Scriptures from the communion of those whom he esteems
   pious? If he answers that he does not know of such, which he can by no
   means, truthfully say, then I would, lastly ask, if he does not know a
   tree by its fruits; if he cannot see a light that shines in darkness,
   as all true christian lights are called in the Scriptures, nor a city
   which is built upon a high mountain? Matt. 6:14.

   Since Gellius and all the preachers, receive and suffer such impenitent
   persons, whom he himself calls of the world, as heard, in the communion
   of their churches, against the practice of Christ and of the apostles,
   therefore they must thereby acknowledge that Christ's church is of the
   world or .the world of Christ's church; that they, contrary to the
   apostolic doctrine, ordinance and example, dispense the sacraments also
   to the world, which according to the Scriptures properly belong to the
   penitent alone; who have placed themselves in the church of the Lord,
   in obedience to the word; that they, thereby, include the penitent (if
   such there be) in the communion of the impenitent; and that they are
   open flatterers and enemies of the cross of Christ, Phil. 3:18, who act
   hypocritically with the higher class and flatter the world, lest they
   lose their favors; and thus openly and faithlessly transgress the
   Lord's word and ordinance, for the sake of their bellies and reject it
   as powerless and discouraging.

   Again, as to his reference to the Lord's parable, I would say, That I
   would have him take a better view of it and not console himself
   herewith; for it has reference to the true preachers and disciples who
   have been put to the trial of the cross of Christ, in obedience to the
   word, and not to the crossfleeing preachers and the world, as may be
   learned not alone from the Scriptures but also from experience.

   For some reject the received and manifest truth, and the sown seed is
   devoured of the fowls of the air and does not bring forth fruit. Some
   are withered by the scorching sun of the cross, oppression and misery,
   which proves them wood, hay and stubble, 1 Cor. 3:12.

   Others are smothered by the cares of this world, and by deceitful
   riches and the lusts of the flesh, so that the received knowledge dies
   in them, and the lusts and love of this world prevail, which in our
   times, as well as in the times of the primitive church, is too often
   the case with those who, with Demas, alas, again grasp the love of the
   world.

   But the last receive it in a sincere, pious heart, and meekly bring
   forth fruit with patience; although they are much tempted by all kinds
   of trials, anxiety, oppression and deadly perils, yet they are, by the
   gracious help of God, so armed with a true faith, love, hope, and
   patience or long?suffering; are so confirmed in God, that neither the
   fire of tribulation can consume them (for they are gold, silver and
   precious stones), nor sword and pain can frighten or deter them from
   the ways of the Lord, Rom. 8:38.

   That the beforementioned parable has reference to such christians and
   not to the world and its preachers, is too clear to be controverted or
   denied. And Gellius and his like preachers of the world remain
   defenders of unrighteousness, comforters of the impenitent and servants
   of the kingdom of anti?christ, who not only pitifully deceive their own
   souls but also those of their church, and support and defend them in
   their gross abominations and impenitent carnal lives, by their
   perversion of Scriptures and useless consolations, to their eternal
   destruction.

   In the fifth place it should be observed, what the preachers' desire
   and seeking should be. The Scriptures teach that Moses and Jeremiah,
   Exod. 4:10, reluctantly accepted of the service when they, Jer. 1: G,
   were called and sent of God, as Jeremiah laments when the cross bore
   heavily upon him, Exod. 4:10; Jer. 1: G; Jer. 20:8.

   All that the prophets, apostles and faithful servants of God ever
   sought and desired was nothing else than that they might proclaim the
   name of their God and might point their neighbors to the way of peace.
   They did not seek money, gold, honor and an easy life, but they
   executed their office to which they were appointed, and which was,
   alas, not weighed by the heedless people, under many sore trials,
   miseries, anxieties, tribulations, beatings, poverty, oppression and
   tortures, and at the risk of life even, as sacred and profane
   histories, in many instances, teach. But why the preachers of the world
   have hitherto refused and yet refuse the service, and what they seek
   thereby, experience and the Holy Spirit plainly teach us, saying, that
   they promise death to the pious and life to the wicked, for the sake of
   A hand?ful of barley or a piece of bread; that they seek the fat and
   the wool, milk and flesh; that they eat but do not feed the Lord's
   sheep, Ezekiel 34:3; that they preach peace for their bellies' sake
   (that is, if well paid), and war if not well fed, &c.

   Facts testify openly that it is true that they do not seek the
   salvation of souls, but a careless, easy life; for we never saw in all
   our life that the preachers lived where there were no rents or liens.
   That, also, Gellius does not seek the salvation of his sheep, but the
   rents, he has testified when he left Norden, where he was called by the
   same calling, and moved to Emden where the annual income was greater;
   something which the paters, in times gone?by, esteemed as unjust in
   their concilions and decrees, and punished with excommunication.

   If he sought the salvation of their souls, and not the rents, as
   becomes a good and faithful shepherd, according to the example of Jesus
   Christ and of all faithful servants, why, then, did he make void his
   first call. ing, which was, according to his assertion, divine, and
   leave the first sheep who werE no less delivered through the death of
   the Lord, and bought with his precious blood, than the last, of which
   he now has the charge. O, hypocrisy and feigning!

   Again, Gellius says in regard to the sustenance of the preachers, That
   they have little care as to how the community, of whom the magistracy
   are a part, provides them the necessaries of life, while it is certain
   that i1 they serve the gospel, as he says, they shall also live of the
   gospel; and cites Matt. 10:10; Luke 10:7.

   Answer. If Gellius and the preachers were such servants as are referred
   to in these Scriptures, then it is plain, that the sustenance of the
   gospel was promised them. But if any?body goes into the service and
   uselessly destroys and ruins the Lord's goods, if faithless, seeks his
   own self in all things and does the things which are contrary to the
   will and honor of the Lord, should such a faithless servant receive the
   reward which is reasonably due to the faithful, assiduous laborer ~ I
   think you will answer in the negative; and that he should rather
   receive the displeasure and punishment of the Lord: For he speaks, "
   When the Lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto
   those husbandmen

   They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will
   let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the
   fruits in their seasons," Matt. 21:40, 41.

   We acknowledge that sustenance has been promised, by Scriptures, to the
   true and faithful servants. But, since Gellius and his like preachers
   are unfaithful servants who destroy the Lord's goods, steal his gain,
   scatter his sheep and do not gather them together; who, alas,
   fearlessly lead to hell his precious treasure, namely the poor
   miserable souls, in great numbers, as those truly regenerated can
   scripturally judge by the testimony of their open deeds; therefore
   their sustenance is not the sustenance of true preachers, but an
   unreasonable, shameful gain; an unbecoming livelihood and the reward of
   the deceived souls; this, ail of sound understanding ? must acknowledge
   and admit.

   O, my faithful reader, remember, so long as the world donates such
   splendid houses and large incomes to their preachers, the false
   prophets and deceivers will be numerous.

   They pretend to vindicate by Scripture all heresy, deceit, idolatry,
   pomp, hypocrisy, tyranny and drunkenness, together with their
   unreasonable and shameful service of the flesh and world, and make the
   ignorant and blind world believe that it is right.

   But I openly testify, I testify it unreservedly that the preachers of
   the world, to take them all in all, are Balaamites, who love the reward
   of unrighteousness, and serve for the sake of a handful of barley and a
   piece of bread, whereby they profane the name of God, Ezekiel 13:19.
   "Prophets which eat at Jezebel's table," 1 Kings 18:20, servants and
   defenders of Maaz, 1 Chron. 2:27, who are honored with great rewards of
   Antioch, that is, anti?christ; Ahabites, who, for the sake of an acre,
   stone the pious Naboth, 1 Kings 21, that is, who advise and instigate
   the world by their speeches, writings, backbiting, complaints and
   permission to, the killing of many an innocent, pious child of God.

   Again, they are priests of Jeroboam, who, contrary to the example of
   Christ Jesus and his holy apostles, hire themselves, for an annual
   stipend, to an unevangelical service of impenitence, which is
   practiced, in all respects, without power, spirit, repentance and
   regeneration, as may openly be seen; their service is vain labor and
   mockery, besides, an unbecoming speculation.

   O, how distinctly has the Holy Ghost portrayed them before our eyes, if
   we would but see, saying, "And through covetousness shall they, with
   feigned words, make merchandise of you." Again, "Having men's persons
   in admiration because of advantage," 2 Peter 2:3; Jude 18, and other
   like sayings; For that they have sought unreasonable gain and an easy
   life, from youth, and yet seek it, is so obvious, that it cannot, at
   all, be denied.

   Besides, their liens and properties have been obtained from
   anti?christ, through artful dealings, enchanting roguery and clerical
   robbery, and are yet, daily, thus obtained from those who walk upon the
   broad way without repentance, and who find, alas, no pleasure in the
   Lord's holy word.

   They act hypocritically and flatter the magistrates and those of
   high?standing; they console the impenitent and persecute the pious;
   they adulterate the plain word, sacraments and ordinances of Jesus
   Christ, by which the church should be gathered and maintained in Him;
   they preach to suit and please the world, that they may receive, under
   the semblance of the gospel, the bloodreward of the poor and miserable
   souls, for which they assiduously strive; that they may peaceably
   possess it and turn it to the advantage of easy times. Yet they console
   themselves with the idea that they serve the gospel and therefore
   should live of the gospel. Behold, thus they give a scriptural shape to
   all kinds of false doctrines and works, and thus they give a fine
   appearance to hypocrisy.

   My faithful reader, I warn you in sincere love, take heed. Again, I say
   unto you, The true and faithful servants of Jesus did not have such
   annual stipends, rents and property attached to the apostolic churches;
   but the greater part earned their livelihood by their own labor; yet
   served the church of Christ, and, in all love and humility, walked
   before them with true doctrines and an unblamable life. They have
   diligently watched over the Lord's house, city and vineyard; opposed
   all evil and deceiving spirits with the word of the Lord; admonished
   the disorderly, consoled the afflicted, reproved the transgressors,
   excommunicated the disobedient and refractory; served reasonably, left
   the world to the world, and have patiently borne its cross; and what
   necessaries they needed they received, not of the world, but at the
   hands of their pious disciples, in humility, without avariciousness or
   on desire of shameful gain. Scriptures allow this much, as said above,
   for they rightly pastured the Lord's sheep, they faithfully planted the
   vineyard, assiduously tilled the land, and stored the sheaves and
   fruits in the Lord's barn, as the example of the prophets and apostles
   points out and the Spirit and word of the Lord command, and enjoin upon
   all faithful servants.

   I will conclude my remarks in regard to the calling of the preachers,
   and would yet say, Since the Scriptures teach that the servants of the
   holy word are called either of the Lord himself, or by means of the
   pious, as has been heard; that they shall be unblamable; able rightly
   to rule the Lord's church, bring forth permanent fruits, destroy and
   build up; that they shall not seek unreasonable gain, but sincerely
   seek the honor and praise of God and the salvation of their neighbors,
   &c.; and since we plainly see and palpably feel that they, alas, are
   altogether called of such as we would wiph had the Spirit of Christ;
   moreover that they are blamable in all things, for they are of an
   unmerciful, tyrannical disposition, and of an earthly, carnal life;
   pervert the gospel, and do not teach it in power and true repentance;
   wrongly use the sacraments without power, spirit and repentance, and
   dispense it to those who are not disciples of Jesus Christ; they
   deceive the people; do not bring forth permanent fruits, plant that
   which is evil and root out that which is good; they do not seek the
   honor and praise of God but their own profit and gain, the favor of the
   world and an easy, careless life, I will let their doctrines,
   sacraments, fruits and life testify to this; therefore I say without
   any reservation that they are not the called preachers and servants of
   the church of Christ, whom we shall, according to the Scriptures, obey,
   accept and follow, as they pretend we should, but that they are
   preachers for the sake of gain and servants of anti?christ, against
   whom we are, on every hand, warned by the word of God; not to hear or
   follow them nor their doctrine but to flee from and avoid them as
   deceivers, false prophets, wicked men and faithless servants.

   Yea, my reader, what can they say about their calling, preaching and
   church?service

   It is, briefly stated, not possible, according to the sure promises and
   prophecies of Christ Jesus and the prophets, that a true and faithful
   preacher, witness or teacher, especially in these evil times and in
   this wicked and tyrannical world, can faithfully teach and proclaim,
   without respect of persons, the pure gospel of Jesus Christ, without
   being exiled, proscribed or killed; much less enjoy life at ease and
   liberty, as they do, without persecution, yea, receive annual stipends
   of the world and be highly honored and loved by them.

   Peruse all the Holy Scriptures and see if you can find that Christ
   Jesus, with his holy apostles, true witnesses and followers fared as
   they do and received as they do; whether persecution, cross,
   tribulation, anxiety, prison and death were not, generally, their lot
   and part. Besides experience, yet daily, teaches this abundantly.

   If, then, the preachers acted rightly, if they were walking according
   to the example of Christ and his apostles; if their teachings and
   dealings were right, as they pretend them to be, then all the Holy
   Scriptures must be wrong, the word of the cross be fulfilled and Christ
   and his prophecies must be false, this is incontrovertible. Therefore,
   all their boasting and artful citations concerning their calling,
   office, doctrine and church?service, together with their defense are,
   in fact, wrong, futile, hypocritical, unjust and without truth. " For
   all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's," Phil.
   2:21; their own ease and not the salvation of their neighbors; they are
   enemies of the cross; they serve their own bellies, Rom. 16. If they
   would rightly reprove all the ungodliness, idolatry, abuse, pride,
   pomp, splendor, hypocrisy and unfaithfulness of this world, without
   respect of persons with the same earnestness, assiduity, heart and
   mind, &c., as did Christ with his holy apostles and true witnesses, and
   in other respects would not act so freely; if they would hate all
   unrighteousness of the world as Christ Jesus and his apostles hated it,
   then they would not long remain at ease in their comfortable houses;
   they would not have such incomes and they would be little regarded by
   this reckless, wild world. Of this I am convinced.

   But they do differently; they make the garment to fit the man (as the
   saying is), and they so teach and act that the world may suffer them
   and love them and that they may be the friends of the world, so that
   they may be at ease, not be persecuted and enjoy good times; this is
   something which is generally well understood, and a sure proof that
   their sending or calling together with their doctrine and
   church?service is in every particular without the ordinance, Spirit and
   word of God, as said before.

   Herewith, Gellius' article on the calling has been replied to. I would
   earnestly beseech him and all the preachers to reflect in the fear of
   God for before the flaming eyes of the Lord, which search heaven and
   earth, nothing wrong will be hidden, however artfully it may be covered
   before man's. eyes, and however much it may be decked and adorned with
   smooth words.

   Next, Gellius denies our calling, and says, Before we can agree with
   the preachers or teachers who claim that they bring forth fruit, they
   must first be rightly called of a church of God, and not from a
   collection who have been deceived by false prophets; and then come
   boldly forward and preach; or they must show by facts (as he says) that
   Christ has done wrong, and that he should have rather preached
   seecretly to avoid the cross (as he says we do) than in public, &c.

   Answer. The sending or calling of Moses, of Christ, of Paul, of the
   apostles and prophets was also denied by the perverse. Moses had to
   hear that he had killed the Lord's people and that he had led them into
   the wilderness that they might perish through want and misery. Christ
   Jesus was called a wine?bibber, blasphemer and one possessed of the
   devil, Matt. 11:19. Paul was called a rebel and an apostate Jew, &c.
   Behold, thus in their times the sending of the faithful servants of the
   Lord, nay, the the Lord and Messiah himself was despised, although
   testified by many miracles. How much more, then, shall we be despised,
   who are such weak and insignificant instruments, and live in seven fold
   worse and more wicked times than those in which they lived.

   Inasmuch, then, as we are accused by our opponents, the learned, that
   we are not called of a church of God, but of false prophets, or of a
   false church, therefore I would briefly admonish the reader, to weigh
   well with the Scriptures who, how and what the church of God is; that
   it is not a collection of proud, avaricious, extortionate, vain
   persons, drunkards and impenitent, as the church of the world is, of
   whom the learned are called but a collection or congregation of saints,
   as the Holy Scriptures and the Nicene symbol clearly teach and
   represent, namely, of those who, through true faith, are regenerated of
   God unto Christ Jesus and are of a divine nature, who will gladly
   conform their lives according to the Spirit, word and example of the
   Lord, are actuated by his Spirit and are willing and prepared patiently
   to bear the cross of their Lord Jesus Christ.

   Behold dear reader, such were they whom the apostles and faithful
   servants won unto Christ Jesus, and added to his church with his Spirit
   and word, nor does Scripture acknowledge any others. From such and of
   such they have, with fasting and prayer, chosen and called unto the
   service of the Lord the pious and unblamable pastors and teachers; and
   not of the world, as has been heard.

   Since, then, the preachers of the world and their congregations, are
   not the church of Christ but are such preachers and churches as shown,
   by their spirit, words and deeds that they are of the world; and since
   the merciful, great Lord in these latter days of abominations,
   graciously gathers together, by his Spirit and word, many faithful
   hearts from the different unscriptural sects, both great and small, and
   from different nations and tongues, in one faith; and places them as an
   admonition to sincere repentance, with their doctrine, life, goods and
   blood, before the whole world, yea, as a light upon a candlestick;
   therefore these must be the Lord's church and people; or else the word
   of God, which is and remains true, must be wrong and false. And some
   from these and of these are chosen with fasting and prayer and ordained
   to the service of the Lord by the laying on of hands according to the
   example and doctrine of the apostolic churches; now, all of sound mind
   may judge and weigh, according to Scripture whether such a calling or
   choosing is not consistent with Scripture and according to the usage of
   the primitive churches; and whether it cannot stand before the Lord and
   his church as divine, holy and just.

   Further, it is a fact well known to me, that the preachers tell the
   simple, and which Gellius' writing, if carefully read, also insinuates
   that I should have received my faith, doctrine and calling of a
   deceiving, refractory and corrupted sect, by the secession of whom the
   Lord intends to purge his church. For this reason I am necessarily
   forced to explain my actions briefly, which I, under different
   circumstances, would, for the sake of modesty, remain silent; namely,
   how I first came to the knowledge of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ;
   and how I afterward, unworthily, became one of his servants; and I
   hereby beseech all my readers, for God's sake to consider well this my
   narration, and that they will not think hard of it, nor consider it as
   vain boasting that I here tell it; for the honor of my God and the love
   for his church urge me to do so. Let all judge me as they will He who
   has created me and has hitherto graciously delivered me from my
   enemies, knows me; he knows what I seek in this life and what my
   greatest desire is. [1]

   Again, that Gellius wants us to preach publicly, has been sufficiently
   replied to above, as I trust, in treating of night preaching. Yet I
   would propound these three questions.

   In the first place, Whether a person would not be guilty of blood, if
   he would persuade somebody by artful words or force him into a deep
   water or by such means get him to take poison, if he knew beforehand
   that death would be the consequence?

   In the second place, Since he boasts to be a called preacher and
   preaches in public, I would ask, Why he is not moved to love and
   compassion for his own country? Why he does not, amongst the papists,
   openly proclaim his faith, sacraments and doctrines, contrary to the
   emperor's decree, tyranny, persecution and ill?will as he would have us
   to do?

   Thirdly, since he will admit, as I suppose, and must admit, if he judge
   according to the Scriptures, that the avaricious, proud, haughty,
   drunkards, vain, extortioners, liars, unrighteous, &c., can not inherit
   the kingdom of God, and that they therefore are not christians; I would
   ask him, Why it is that he does not lay aside the fear of the cross (of
   which he blames us) and separate, without all respect of person, the
   impenitent of his church, from the communion of his sacraments,
   according to the doctrine and ordinance of the Holy Ghost, since it is
   God's express word and ordinance? He would have us preach publicly,
   notwithstanding that he well knows that we can no more do so without
   the loss of life, than to go on the water without sinking, or to take
   poison without dying. For he and the learned have brought about such a
   state of affairs, by their disgraceful slanders and preaching, that we
   are, alas, already judged before we are caught. Besides he advises the
   magistracy to stop our doings; and he well knows how he treated a
   certain person, about ten years ago, who would gladly proclaim to the
   people the testimony he had, in sincerity of heart, and that he refused
   me a discussion of Scripture twice, as has been heard. Yet he says, if
   we are true teachers we should preach in public; while he himself, for
   the sake of a livelihood and the fear of the cross does not preach his
   doctrine (whatever it amounts to) in his own place but has moved to
   another and more safe place, and there, although he can freely practice
   his doctrine and sacraments, he neglects separation, scriptural reproof
   and the ordinances of God from the fear of the cross. Now the
   reasonable reader may educe from all this what kind of a christian, not
   to mention preacher, he is; since he would have us, miserable ones, to
   do that which he himself dares not do nor touch, as you may see.

   If Gellius could take these three questions to heart and would consider
   them in a scriptural light and in the fear of God, he would be ashamed
   all his life that he so indiscreetly attacks us, against all love,
   reason, intelligence and the Scriptures and that he, under such a
   semblance, so tyrannically strives after, the ruin, blood and death of
   the pious.

   But in answer to this writing that the prophetic and apostolic doctrine
   and sacraments should not be taught and dispensed in secret, retired
   corners and shops, but in public, I would say, We admit that Christ
   Jesus, generally preached in public, however with such discretion that
   he sometimes avoided the raving, mad people, after they had resolved
   upon his death, until the time of his suffering had arrived (which time
   was known to him beforehand), and the prophecies were fulfilled, Luke
   21:32.

   Also, that although Jesus Christ sent his disciples to preach the
   gospel to all people, to Gentiles as well as Jews, he did not command
   them, nor would he, that they should serve and dispense his sacraments,
   namely, baptism and Supper to the enemies of his word, Matt. 28:19;
   Mark 16:15. Therefore it is obvious that he accuses us of this without
   any truth orfoundation of the Scriptures. He does not only accuse and
   reprove us but also Christ Jesus, God's eternal word and wisdom
   himself; for he has celebrated his Holy Supper, at night in a secret
   place, with a separate people; he also accuses and reproves Paul and
   the primitive, apostolic church, who oft held theirbrotherly meetings
   at night, in retired places, as has been sufficiently adduced above.
   Observe how openly he speaks against God's word.

   He writes further, that our calling is not testified by any thing,
   further than that we not only fill the hearts of many with a mad and
   irreconcilable hatred of all church ordinances and true servants of the
   church, however pious they be, but also inspire them with a
   contentious, envious spirit.

   Answer. If animosity and bitterness of heart had not so entirely
   blinded him, and if but a small spark of a true, christian spirit were
   in him, then he would soon acknowledge the precious fruits of true
   repentance. But as it is, he has become so blinded, that, alas, he
   calls the glorious fruits of the Holy Spirit, the fruits of the devil
   and new monkery; and the burdensome, pressing cross of so many pious
   saints, the cross of evil?doers or heretics. Which is in my opinion an
   abominable sin and gross slander.

   The Pharisees said, " This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by
   Beelzebub, the prince of devils," Matt. 12:24, although they strongly
   felt in their hearts that it was the finger and power of God. Christ
   said that it was blaspheming against the Holy Ghost, Luke 12:10. But
   what Gellius does against us I will leave to the Lord.

   God knows that I wish that I might deliver him and all the preachers
   from their sore damnation, even at the cost of my own life. Behold,
   thus I hate him and all those who seek my life; although we must hear
   so much evil spoken against us; and I trust that all who fear the word
   of the Lord, will be of one mind with me in this regard.
   Notwithstanding this, he writes that we fill many hearts with anger and
   irreconcilable hatred against them, &c. By no means. And this for no
   other reason than that we in sincere and faithful love, earnestly
   reprove the hypocritical deceivers, whom he calls the true and pious
   servants of the church, and the unscriptural infant baptism, together
   with all abuses, which he calls church ordinances not only by the
   Spirit and word of the Lord, but also by our possessions and blood, and
   because we point them to Christ Jesus and him crucified, to his Spirit,
   word, ordinances and to the doctrine and usage of his holy apostles.

   I truly believe that a spiteful, envious person has no part in God's
   city. And if we, who are daily killed for our love, are yet spiteful
   and envious, then much suffering is in vain. I trust that I write the
   truth when I say that I am more terrified at hatred and envy than at
   fire and sword. Yet we must hear that we are spiteful. Behold, thus
   good is ever turned to evil and our love to hatred. What sentence the
   Scriptures pronounce against such may be seen in Isaiah 5.

   He also accuses us That we are not unanimous but quarrel amongst
   ourselves in regard to many articles of christian religion; namely, in
   regard to obedience to the laws; to the justification of man; to the
   Godhead of Christ and his becoming man, and in regard to the powers of
   the magistracy, &o.

   Answer. I trust that I can write with a clear conscience that we, who
   are grains of one loaf, are also of one mind in Christ Jesus. But as in
   the times of the apostles, false teachers arose in the apostolic church
   who started and taught false doctrines and who were, after faithful
   admonition, separated from the communion of their church, if they did
   not repent, as may be learned from many Scriptures; so also it is in
   our times. Satan is ever at work. Paul says, "There must be also
   heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest
   among you," 1 Cor. 11:19. And if such be deaf unto truth, reject
   admonition and start perverse sects, then we may no longer receive them
   as brethren, as the Scriptures teach us. So long as we continue to do
   this in obedience to the holy word and in the true fear of God, we are
   convinced from the inmost of our hearts, that we will be clear of all
   sectarianism as also of blasphemy and perversity; although we must
   innocently hear such charges from the world.

   Since it is a fact well known to Gellius and his fellow?preachers that
   peace?breakers and sectarians are not allowed in our communion at all,
   but are unanimously separated from us, according to apostolic doctrine
   and usage, Rom. 16:1'7; Tit. 3:10, therefore it is very wrong in him to
   call so many pious persons contentious, and cause them to be of such
   bad report with the world, without truth; while they hate discord and
   strife and seek nothing but that they may humbly follow the crucified
   Jesus, in the peace of their hearts.

   If he should say that he accounts them as of us because they have
   received the same baptism with us, then I would say again that Peter,
   Simon, Paul and &c., were also one. Then all papists, Lutherans and
   Zuinglians besides all thieves, murderous wizards, buggerers
   fornicators and rogues are one; for they have received one baptism;
   this is incontrovertible.

   Again, in regard to his accusation that we dispute among ourselves in
   regard to obedience to the laws; the justification of man; the power of
   the magistracy &c. I would say, that I trust I can testify before the
   Lord and his church with a clear conscience, that I never but once to
   my knowledge, disputed, or as Gellius calls it quarreled with any one
   in regard to the justification of man, and this one has already ran to
   ruin. Nor have I ever discussed the questions of obedience to the laws
   or the power of the magistracy other than by way of brotherly
   instruction. What our confession and grounds are concerning the
   before?mentioned articles, may be clearly educed from our writings.

   O, dear Lord, that Gellius would once consider his own words when he
   writes that the calling of the pious should not be nullifled on account
   of the impious, and would have sufficient fear of God in him to feel
   concerned about the lies, violence and injustice which he unreasonably
   practices on us. For what else does he but wilfully defame the pious,
   perhaps against his own sentiments, that he may oppose the word, may
   uphold his cause by making ours false and suspicious, lest his
   pharisaical faithlessness be made manifest. Yea, he writes as if he
   would say, Judas was a traitor and thief, therefore all the other
   apostles are traitors and thieves. Again, Simon was a rogue, therefore
   all the members of the apostolic communities were rogues, &c. For he
   well knows that we do not, may not suffer heretics, peace?breakers &c.
   in the communion of the peaceful and pious, as already heard.

   O, that he would leave off slandering the peaceable and could rightly
   see into the angry quarreling, bitter hatred, division, rupture and
   brawlings of all those who uphold infant baptism; could see how
   dreadfully they are divided amongst themselves; that they are so
   inflamed by envious zeal one against another that they not only slander
   and adjudge each other to hell by calling each other fanatics,
   profaners of the sacraments and anti?christians, but that they also
   take up the sword against each other, as is the way of sectarians; that
   they utterly destroy countries and inhabitants, cities and towns,
   against the meek nature, doctrine and example of Christ Jesus and his
   apostles.

   Besides their learned men are so divided amongst themselves that we can
   scarcely find five or six in one country who agree in doctrine. One
   includes every thing in the providence and predestination of God, Quasi
   necessafumc (as an implied necessity). Another disputes it; the third
   includes Christ's flesh and blood in the bread and wine; the fourth
   understands it spiritually; the fifth baptizes the children on their
   own faith; the sixth on the strength of the covenant with Abraham and
   its promise; the seventh says that faith is no obstacle to persecution;
   the eighth denies it; the ninth believes in faith without fruits or
   work; the tenth says, that faith through love shall be active; the
   eleventh says, that the sacrments may be dispensed to the impenitent
   and perverse; the twelfth denies it; and other like differences exist
   among them.

   Notwithstanding they call the godly, pious hearts and peaceable
   children of God, who are zealous for God and his righteousness, as much
   as is in their power, and who do not countenance quarreling, a
   contentious sect and ungodly, deceiving conspirators, while they, on
   the contrary, are peaceable, teachers of one mind; besides they call
   the impenitent, wicked world the church and people of the Lord.

   Behold, so manifestly the Lord "will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
   and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent", 1
   Cor.1:18, yea, that to them Christ Jesus is Belial, and Belial Christ
   Jesus; light, darkness and darkness, light, 2 Cor. 8; that they, alas
   consider the doctrine, life, power, confession, and the sacrifice of
   possession and life of the chosen as nothing; but that they judge every
   thing perversely, unfavorably and with partiality, according to the
   flesh, and thus construe every thing to offensiveness; that they seek
   all kinds of excuses to offend the pious, to blaspheme truth and to
   uphold unrighteousness, that nobody be converted, repent and sincerely
   seek and follow the word of the Lord. O, Lord! grant that this may be
   made manifest unto them.

   He further writes: "Nor is it a desirable fruit, but a shameful
   disgrace that they, contrary to the example of Christ, and the apostles
   constitute themselves a church, desecrate the Lord's Sabbath, leave the
   open assembly and service, hate and upbraid the servants, and not only
   not examine the solicitous labors and prophecies of the servants but
   also boldly despise them, contrary to the command of the Holy (shoat
   and the doctrine of the command of the Sabbath."

   Answer. Observe, reader, how adroitly they can adorn lies, and how
   frightfully they can suppress and despise truth under cover of virtue.
   All the evangelical Scriptures teach us that the church of Christ was
   and is, in doctrine, life and worship, a people separated from the
   world. It also was in the times of the Old Testament, 2 Cor. 8:17; 1
   Peter 2:9, 10; Exod. 19:12.

   Since the church always was and shall be a separate people, as has been
   heard, and since it is as clear as the meridian sun, that for centuries
   no difference has been made between the church and . the world, but
   that they have been indiscriminately blended together in baptism,
   Supper, life and worship, which is so plainly contrary to all
   Scripture, therefore we feel ourselves constrained by the Spirit and
   word of God, and not of our own account, to gather together, to the
   praise of Jesus Christ and to the salvation 'of our neighbors, and not
   unto us, but unto the Lord a pious and penitent church or community
   from all untrue and deceiving sects of the whole world, not contrary to
   the doctrine and example of Christ Jesus and the apostles, as Gellius
   falsely accuses us, but according to the Spirit, doctrine and example
   of Jesus Christ, manifested unto us; yea, gather them patiently under
   the cross of misery, in spite of all the violence and gates of hell,
   and not by force of arms and persecution as is the custom of the world,
   but separate them from it, as the Scriptures teach, that they may be an
   admonition, example and reproach to the impenitent world as has already
   been heard.

   They keep and sanctify the Sabbath which is not the literal, but the
   spiritual Sabbath, which never ends with true christians, not by
   wearing fine clothes, not by carousing, vanity and idleness, as the
   reckless world do, but by the true fear of God, by a clear conscience
   and unblamable life, in love to God and their neighbors; for that is
   the true religion, Heb. 12:1, and in the fear of their God they do not
   attend the public Sabbath and holiday gatherings which are, alas, not
   consecrated to Christ, but to anti?christ in all manner of vanity and
   hypocrisy, in pomp and splendor; nor do they take part in their idle
   church?service which tends to nothing but deceiving that they may
   thereby attend the gathering of the saints and the true service,
   convince the erring, and thus make manifest, truth and the true
   doctrine, to the reformation and salvation of all mankind.

   They do not hate and envy the open deceivers and false preachers who so
   miserably deceive the poor people, as Gellius accuses us, but earnestly
   reprove them in love according to God's Spirit and word, that they may
   repent and be converted, as the Scriptures teach us.

   In short, they do not despise. the solicitous labors and the prophecies
   of the true and faithful servants of Christ, nor the precious gifts of
   the Holy Spirit, against the commands of the Holy Spirit and the
   doctrine of the command of the Sabbath, as he very wrongly complains we
   do, but they shun, at the risk of possessions and life, according to
   the advice, doctrine and admonition of the Holy Spirit, and the
   doctrine of the Sabbath, the false labors, and the powerless,
   impenitent and hired prophecies of the anti?christian servants, who do
   not serve Christ and the church, as they boast; but serve their bellies
   and the world; and they dare not hear and follow them because their
   doctrine and fruits show that they are those whom the Scriptures and
   divine truth forbid us to follow.

   Their priests, says the Lord, "teach for hire, and the prophets divine
   for money." They rely upon the Lord, and say, Is not the Lord amongst
   us? No evil can betide us; therefore " Zion shall be plowed like a
   field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps," Mic. 3:12; Jer. 26:18. It is
   also manifest that Gellius and his like preachers have done the same
   thing of which he accuses us, for they, long before we did, have
   separated themselves from the papists into a separate church, as is
   known to all mankind to be incontrovertible. But we are sorry to say
   that our separation from them was caused by themselves. For if we would
   have found them to be right we would have remained with them; but as it
   is, we have, alas, to leave them. at the cost of life and possessions,
   as may be seen.

   Behold, my kind reader, here you have before you, my brief reply to the
   main articles concerning the calling of preachers, which Gellius so
   respectfully brought forward to the defense of his cause and to the
   detriment of ours.

   I have no doubt but that you, by the grace of God, will find a clear
   difference, explanation and foundation, if you compare his writing with
   ours and judge according to the word of the Lord by the manifest fruits
   on both sides; and this is the summary of my writings, that nobody can
   be a truly called preacher and God?pleasing servant in the Lord's house
   and church, without having the Holy Spirit which worketh in all true
   christians; without regeneration which transforms the heart from
   earthly to heavenly things, through faith; nor without unfeigned love,
   which seeks nothing but the praise of God and the salvation of his
   neighbor, nor without . the salutary, precious word which cuts and
   cleaves without respect of person; nor without the pious, unblamable
   life which is of God.
     __________________________________________________________________

   [1] Here follows in the original works of Menno Simon his renunciation
   of the Church of Rome. See First part, Page 4.
     __________________________________________________________________

  CONCERNING BAPTISM.

   I deem it unnecessary to write much concerning the baptism of the
   believing, in this place; why we teach that it shall be received and
   practiced at the confession of faith; for we have explained this matter
   before, by so many plain Scriptures and reasons, to the intelligent
   reader, that he can plainly see and palpably feel the foundation and
   truth.

   Therefore I will refer to the main articles and arguments with which
   Gellius undertakes to defend his infant baptism as apostolic and
   christian, and will rebut them with the Scriptures; andItrust
   tobeenabled, by the grace of God, to do this with such clearness and
   power that all attentive, intelligent readers may fully perceive that
   he can stand before the holy ordinance, word and truth of the Lord,
   with his infant baptism, as little as he can with his calling.

   Before I enter upon the examination of the matter, I would, not without
   cause, first relate to the kind reader, that some years ago, I had a
   discussion with John A'Lasco, Gellius and Herman; and, as we had a
   lengthy reasoning concerning baptism, and they admitted that all the
   Scriptures which I adduced, relating to the matter, were spoken by the
   ancient or believing, we at last got on the subject of infant baptism,
   which, according to their opinion was also right, although not
   Scriptural. At last, after having had a lengthy discussion and after
   they had made many unscriptural assertions, I propounded two questions
   and prayed them for God's sake to answer them Scripturally. The first
   question was, Has a ceremony any promise, which is practiced without
   the command of God? They answered that it had not. Then I asked them,
   in the second place, Is not such a ceremony, which is practiced without
   the command of God, idolatry? They answered that it was.

   When I heard them answer these questions thus unreservedly, I said,
   Well, dear men, what will become of your infant baptism? They all three
   simultaneously answer: Yea, dear Menno, if you would ask of us for the
   command, then show us first where it is commanded that we should
   baptize the believing. When I heard this I was much alarmed, for I
   perceived that, in fact, they meant nothing but party and carnality. I
   pointed them to the sixteenth chapter of Mark, where the Lord speaks, "
   Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He
   that believeth, and is baptized shall be saved," Mark 16:15, 18.

   But this was no command to them. Then I referred them to Matthew 28:19,
   where the Lord says, " Go ye therefore, and teach all nations baptizing
   them (or as the Greek text has it: Make all nations disciples, and
   baptize them), in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
   Holy Ghost."

   This did not avail with them, for it reads, they said, "baptizing" and
   not "baptize them;" although, alas, they well knew that the surest
   translation is the Greek text. in the imperative mode, namely, baptize
   them; something which I had till then never noticed so particularly.

   Behold, they contended so wilfully against the plain word and Atrath of
   God, that they openly denied it to be a command; while they had many
   times read (also according to the Lutheran translation) that the Lord
   had commanded it in an express command, saying, "And baptize them." [2]
   When I perceived that they wanted to find an excuse by means of the use
   of the participle, I proposed the following, If I command my servant
   and say, Go and plow the ground, sowing it with wheat; as the Lord
   said, "Go and teach all nations, baptizing them," &c., have I not, I
   now ask, commanded my servant to plow the land and to sow it with
   wheat, although I use the participle sowing, the same as baptizing was
   used. They answered that this was using philosophy and not the
   Scriptures. Behold my reader, thus boldly they sought to deny the
   truth.

   Seeing that they, although convinced, obstinately persevered in
   falsehood and would not receive the powerful and plain truth, as did
   the Pharisees, I was much grieved and said, Men! men! I Since I find it
   to be a fact that you, in perversity of heart, reject God's truth, and
   delight in falsehood, I will be silent and ~ not speak another word
   with you concerning this matter; for, alas, it is all in vain! Reader,
   in the day of the appearance of Jesus Christ, before his impartial and
   eternal judgment, it will be found true as I here write.

   Behold, so dishonestly do they deal with God's precious and eternal
   truth, that they then pretended that there was no command to baptize
   the believing, and now they have an abundance of commands to baptize
   the unconscious children. O, God! thus they mock with the souls of men,
   and they know not how much to garble, bend and break the sure
   foundation of truth, that they may remain on the broad road, without
   the cross, that they may please the world and that they may lead a
   careless life according to the lusts of the flesh.

   Gellius first says in regard to this matter, That we blasphemously
   speak against the holy church, because we say that the children cannot
   believe, cannot repent and cannot obey the word of the Lord, while they
   (as he says) constitute a great part of the church, and that they are
   referred to in plain and clear words by the prophet Joel, in the
   preaching of repeptence, &c.

   Answer. His commencement is unscriptural and his end will be
   unscriptural. Observe, the word of God shall be our judge. Say,
   beloved, is it not a great blindness in him to undertake to include
   unconscious children in the preaching of repentance? and a little
   further on admits himself that they cannot, in their feeble
   understanding, understand the doctrine, which is a doctrine of
   penitence. If they cannot understand the doctrine how can they then
   believe; if they do not believe how can they then repent, and if they
   do not repent how can they be included in the preaching of repentance?
   If they, then, have neither doctrine, faith nor repentance, which he
   admits they have not, on account of their feeble understanding, and
   which is not necessary for them to have, while they are God's own and
   while sin has not become alive in them to bring forth fruit, therefore
   all of sound judgment must admit he reproves himself and acknowledges
   that he wrongfully accuses us, when he says, that we speak
   blasphemously against the holy church, because we say that the
   unconscious children cannot repent, believe nor obey; for he admits
   that they, in the feebleness of their understanding, cannot understand
   the doctrine, from which faith, repentence and obedience originate, as
   has been already said.

   In the second place he writes, That there is one church and one faith,
   both under the Old and New Testaments, from the time of Adam to the end
   of the world; and that from the time of Abraham, under the Old
   Testament, preaching and circumcision was commanded for the purpose of
   the gathering, edification, growth and extension of the church, and
   under the New Testament, preaching and baptism, without regard to the
   age of persons.

   Answer?. I understand it that all those who, from the time of Adam to
   the present time, and also hereafter, had, have and shall have the
   Spirit, mind and nature of Jesus Christ, and who did, do and shall walk
   as obedient children by virtue of such a spirit, in truth, were, are
   and shall be the Lord's church, kingdom and people. But we would have
   reasonably expected that Gellius would have added that each in his
   times had a peculiar doctrine, ordinance and usage. That from the time
   of Adam to Abraham no ceremony was practiced on the children because
   the Lord had not commanded it; and that circumcision was commanded from
   Abraham to the time of Christ. But now we have Christ, the promised
   prophet, Dent. 18:15; Acts 7:37, to .whom all the Scriptures pointed
   that we should obey and follow him. He is the eternal Word and Wisdom
   of God; all that abide in his doctrine, walk in the truth, for his word
   is truth, and his command is eternal life. What ordinance this wise
   counsellor has commanded us concerning the children, under the New
   Testament; what he has commanded us and what he has not, concerning
   them, all pious, faithful hearts may learn from his holy word.

   But what he says in regard to them, that in the New Testament no regard
   is made as to age, but that we should preach to all and baptize them,
   is in my opinion so directly contrary to Scripture, common sense and
   his own words, that he should reasonably be ashamed of the assertion.
   For how can we teach a little, unconscious child repentance according
   to the word of God? Christ commanded that we should preach the gospel
   to those who have understanding, and those who believe are to be
   baptized. Nor has he left in his gospel any other command, ordinance or
   example concerning this matter.

   Besides, he acknowledges that the children, on account of their feeble
   understanding, cannot understand the doctrine, as already heard. Yet he
   writes, in the face of this plain ordinance of the Almighty God, and
   his own confession, that in the New Testament, teaching and baptizing
   are commanded, without respect to age.

   Behold, thus grossly err all who reject the word of the Lord. Is this
   not violently rejecting Christ and accepting anti?christ, and is it not
   plainly wrong? I must admit that I have never read a word in the
   Scriptures with such misunderstanding.

   In the third place Gellius writes, That the church should give the seal
   of the covenant of grace to children according to the command of God
   because they are participants in the covenant or promise of God, and in
   the sanctity of the church and in eternal life; for the covenant is not
   altered and God is no less gracious to our children, who are born under
   the promise, than to the children of Israel who were born according to
   the flesh; for it is written, I will be thy God and thy children's
   after thee; and that therefore, in the gathering of the churches, under
   the Old and New Testaments the same command obtains, both as regards
   the preaching, and the use of the holy sacraments.

   Answer. Gellius does even as all the false prophets have done who
   miserably deceived the people, and pretended that the Lord of lords
   said so, although the Lord had not spoken it, as Scripture informs us,
   Jer. 23 17; Ezek. 13:7.

   Say, reader, is it not an intrepid deed and a condemnable boldness,
   that he dares publish to the whole world that God has commanded it;
   since eternal Wisdom has neither commanded it by word nor deed? Peruse
   the whole New Testament from beginning to end, and if a word can be
   found that the mouth of the Lord has commanded it, or that the apostles
   have anywhere taught or practiced it, then we will, by the grace of
   God, unanimously admit that he is right.

   Inasmuch, as it is clear that nothing has been mentioned concerning it
   in all the Holy Scriptures, as has been said, and that he, in the face
   of this, dares write that they do it according to the command of God,
   then the pious reader may imagine how abominably he sins against his
   God, especially since truth is manifest, and how lamentably he deceives
   the poor souls by open falsehood when he writes that God commanded it;
   since the Holy Spirit, I say, has not expressed it in a single word,
   nor manifested it unto the church of God by word or practice of the
   true witnesses of Christ.

   His assertion that the command is not altered, is so diametrically
   opposed to truth, that we may well wonder at it. The Scriptures clearly
   testify that God promised Abraham the multiplying of his seed, and the
   land of Canaan as an eternal inheritance, and commanded him that he
   should circumcise himself, his son Ishmael, &c.; also all male children
   of the age of eight days; for it was a covenant in the flesh, Gen. 17.

   And thus was commanded to Abraham, at the promise of the multiplication
   of his seed and the possession of the land of Canaan, the blood?sign of
   the circumcision of the foreskin, on the eighth day of their age, of
   all the male children and not the female children. But to us the
   blood?sign of circumcision is not commanded, but baptism in the water.
   Now, observe the first difference. Not on the eighth day, but when we,
   through the spirit, in faith, are born of God, and have become
   followers of Abraham. Observe the second distinction. Not alone the
   males, but both males and females, who through the preaching of the
   holy word, have died unto the old life and have arisen with Christ in
   newness of life; who are pricked in their hearts; who circumcise their
   hearts and minds; who put on Christ, and who have the testimony of a
   clear conscience, before God, Rom. 6; Acts 2:37; Col. 2; 11; Gal. 3:27;
   1 Pet, 3:21. Observe the third difference. Not to possess a literal
   kingdom and land, and to become a great people upon earth, as was
   promised to Abraham and his seed; but to bear all manner of anxiety,
   affliction, tribulation and misery upon earth, for the sake of the
   testimony of the word of God; to turn the heart away from all visible
   and perishable things; to die unto pomp, splendor, the world and flesh,
   and thus to walk in our weakness as Christ has walked in his
   perfection, &c.

   Behold, reader, how openly he adulterates the Scriptures, and how
   grossly he perverts the truth when he writes that the command is
   unchanged, and that the gathering of the churches under the Old and New
   Testaments are the same, and that no different commands are given, both
   as regards preaching and the use of the sacraments; for it is all
   changed and renewed as may be clearly educed from the foregoing
   references. I will leave to your reflections if such a thing may not be
   called perverting truth into falsehood.

   Again, from his saying that the church is no less gracious to our
   children than to the children of Israel, born in the flesh, I
   understand him to say, If God will not have our children baptized, that
   he is less gracious to them than he was to the children of the
   circumcision; by which he openly testifies that he couples the kingdom,
   grace and promise of God with that sign.

   If God is only gracious to such children as have received, or may
   receive that outward sign, then it must necessarily follow that God has
   been ungracious to, and displeased with all the children before the law
   of circumcision; besides to all children who died before the eighth
   day, and during the forty years they passed in the wilderness, together
   with all the maids and women, because they were not circumcised; then
   he must also be displeased with all the children under the New
   Testament, for they are not commanded to be baptized.

   O no, to children belongs the kingdom of God. Not by virtue of any
   sign, but alone by grace through Christ Jesus, Matt. 19:14. And as to
   his calling infant?baptism a sealing of the covenant of grace, I would
   reply, If he can show me a place in all the New Testament where the
   baptism of the believing is called a sealing of the covenant of grace,
   then I will admit that he is right. But I know to a certainty, that he
   cannot. do so. If the baptism of the believing, which is ordained of
   God himself, is not called such, how can infant baptism, then be called
   such, which is not ordained of God, but is merely self?chosen fiction
   invented of man?

   If he should allude to the circumcision, I would say that they are two
   distinct and different signs, and that the first has no relation
   whatever to the second; for these following reasons: Firstly, because
   all the signs, before and under the law, given to the patriarchs, as
   the coats of skins to Adam; the rain?bow to Noah; the circumcision to
   Abraham; the yearly offering of the high priests, &c., Gen. 3:21; 9:16;
   17:10, 11; Lev. 16, all, unitedly pointed to Christ who has now
   appeared, and in whom all the preceding signs are fulfilled; and we now
   have no sealing or assurance through outward signs and symbols, but
   through the true Sign of all signs, Christ Jesus, as he himself says,
   "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son
   of Man be lifted up, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish,
   but have eternal life; for God so loved the world that he gave his
   only?begotten son," John 3:14 ?16. Secondly, because we, now, are not a
   people according to the letter, as was Israel, but are a people
   according to the spirit; who, before they receive the sign, are turned
   to God through the preaching of repentance; who die unto the old sinful
   life; who receive the light of grace in their hearts; who accept the
   true Sign of peace, Christ Jesus, through faith; arise with him into a
   new life and are thus sealed in their hearts, through the promise of
   the Holy Ghost and the eternal covenant and the grace of God. For if we
   were not sealed in our hearts before the sign, then we could not truly
   repent before the sign; nor could we burden ourselves with disesteem,
   disgrace, anxiety, tribulation and misery which are connected with the
   cross.

   But by the sign, which we accept in obedience to the holy word, we
   testify that we, through Christ, the true Sign, given us by the Father,
   and made known to us through the word, have peace with God, and that we
   are assured of the spirit of his grace.

   Behold, my reader, here you may now observe that the signs of the New
   Testament do not seal or assure us, as the learned teach the poor
   people; but that our only, eternal surety, is Christ Jesus; that the
   sealing of our hearts is the Holy Spirit; and that the signs or
   sacraments are nothing more than that they are given to the penitent,
   sealed and assured christians, for the purpose of admonishing and
   reminding us that we should walk in continual repentance; that we
   should practice our faith, and that we should eternally give praise to
   the Lord for his inexpressibly great kindness and grace, through Jesus
   Christ.

   All who teach differently, and point you to water, bread and wine as a
   sealing or assurance, as Gellius does, points you away from the true
   Being, to the sins; from Christ to Moses again; give you a vain hope
   and a false surety and cause you to remain impenitent and without
   Christ all your lifetime; for you console yourself so much with the
   signs, that you remain without the signified truth, as may, alas, be
   plainly seen by the whole world.

   For however drunken, covetous, pompous vain and given to lies they may
   be, they still boast themselves christians. They are so consoled with
   this ungodly sealing of the idolatrous water (I say ungodly sealing
   because it is so directly contrary to the word of God) and with the
   bread and wine of the preachers, that they all walk upon the broad
   road, and remain without the word of God.

   Behold, this is the proper fruit and effect of the sealing of Gellius,
   which he so highly praises and so artfully teaches. But, as regards the
   saying: I will be your God and your seed's after you, from which they
   conclude that as the children of Abraham were circumcised with him on
   account of the promise; that also our children should be baptized on
   account of the same promise, I would reply, Firstly, God promised
   Abraham to be his God and his children's God. In this promise the
   females were included as well as the males; this must be admitted.
   Notwithstanding, Israel did not circumcise the females but only the
   males, although the females were included in the promise; and that
   because God had so ordained it. From which it may be safely educed that
   the male children of the seed of Abraham were not circumcised for the
   sake of the promise but for the sake of the ordinance which was
   commanded to Abraham and his seed. For if it had been done for the sake
   of the promise, and not for the sake of the ordinance, then the females
   should also have been circumcised, as joint participants and joint
   heirs of the same promise. This is incontrovertible.

   In the second place I would say, That if Israel had followed the
   doctrine of Gellius, and some other preachers, in respect to this
   matter, then they would also have circumcised the females,
   notwithstanding they were not commanded to do so; for they were joint
   heirs of the covenant of grace, as our children whom they want to have
   baptized, are joint heirs of the promise.

   If they should answer, that the ordinance referred to the males and not
   to the females, although the females were joint heirs of the covenant
   of grace, then I would reply that their cause is already lost. For as
   the command of circumcision at that time, had only reference to the
   males and not to the females, although the females were joint heirs of
   the promise, so also does now the ordinance of baptism have reference
   to the believing and penitent, and not to the unconscious children,
   although they are joint heirs of the promise, as heard.

   They further say, If infant baptism is not commanded neither is it
   prohibited. To this I reply: The circumcision of the females was
   neither ordained nor prohibited, even as infant baptism is neither
   ordained nor prohibited; yet they did not circumcise the females, and
   that because they were not commanded to do so. Therefore, all who blame
   us because we do not baptize oui children, who are joint heirs of the
   promise and are not prohibited from being baptized, also blame Israel
   because they did not circumcise their female children, who were joint
   heirs of the promise and were not prohibited from being circumcised.

   Thirdly, I would say, since I observe that Gellius only includes the
   children of believing, and not of unbelieving parents in the baptism,
   and since he well knows that the proud, avaricious, pompous, envious,
   bloodguilty, whoring and idolatrous are not believers, nor, according
   to Scripture, joint heirs of the promise, therefore I cannot stop
   wondering at his inattention, that he, against his own belief and
   doctrine, yet baptizes the children of such parents, whom he must
   acknowledge, as being without God and Christ, and therefore having no
   promise. If he says that he does not know the faith of others, then I
   would say again, that he then acknowledges, in the first place, that
   his infant baptism has an unstable foundation, if we, according to his
   own words, are to baptize them on account of the promise to the
   parents, while he does not know whether the parents believe or not;
   and, in the second place, that such parents are not fruitful trees nor
   shining lights.

   But what shall we say! If Gellius were to tell all his pompous,
   drunken, usurious, and unrighteous members, without respect to person,
   that they are without Christ and have no promise, and would not baptize
   their children, he would not long remain a preacher at Emden, nor enjoy
   his easy, careless life in peace.

   He further writes, That Paul testifies that baptism has taken the place
   of circumcision, has the same signification and is called the
   circumcision of Christ.

   Answer. In this instance Paul himself rebukes him, that he has mistaken
   his word; for he says, "Beware, lest any man spoil you through
   philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the
   rudiments of the world, and not after Christ, for in him dwelleth all
   the fullness of the God?head bodily; and ye are complete in him, which
   is the head of all principality and power; in whom also ye are
   circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off
   the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ. Buried
   with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the
   faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead; and
   you, being dead in your sins, and in the uncircumcision of your flesh,
   hath he quickened together with him,. having forgiven you all
   trespasses," Col. 2:8?13.

   My faithful reader, observe the word of the Lord; the doctrine of the
   New Testament, and his sacraments treat of none but those who have ears
   to hear and hearts to understand. For it is a service of the Spirit,
   and not of the letter, as Paul says, 2 Cor. 3:6.

   Inasmuch as the preachers ever point the poor, simple people to the
   elementary water, bread and wine, and teach that baptism is our seal
   which assures us that we are heirs of the covenant of grace; that God
   operates through his sacraments, &c., and, since we find, however, that
   neither the sealing, surety nor power are found in their hearts, as the
   fruits testify, but that they are led by the preachers to a false
   profession, vain hope and an unstable surety, under the semblance of
   the gospel; therefore I would faithfully admonish all my readers and
   hearers with these words adduced from Paul, not to be at all deceived
   by such high?sounding, smooth words of the philosophy and artful
   fictions of men, nor by the hypocrisy and worldly institutions of the
   learned, but to follow after the perfect Institutor, Christ Jesus, in
   whom is embodied the perfection of the God?head, truth, light, power,
   righteousness, &c., and who therefore does not point to uncertain,
   deceitful, dark and unrighteous ways, but in him all true christians
   are perfect and full of his grace, Spirit, love and power.

   He is the head of all principalities before whom every knee shall bow,
   and whom all tongues shall confess that he is the Lord, and that
   besides him there is no other, Isaiah 45:23; Phil. 2:10. Therefore his
   word shall avail, and his command shall stand, and not that which the
   world adds to his kingdom or church, in which all regenerated children,
   who are of his Spirit, are not now circumcised unto Christ, with hands,
   as wan the came with literal Israel, but the impure foreskins of their
   hearts are circumcised with the Lord's word, Spirit and power, that
   they may become in spirit a new, regenerated Israel and people of God,
   by dying unto their sinful flesh, and by smothering the old man through
   the circumcision of Christ, which purifies and changes their hearts
   through his word and Spirit. For the penitent are buried with him in
   baptism, die unto the old sinful life, and arise in the new life of
   righteousness and virtue, by means of faith, through which God operates
   by the preaching of his powerful word, and the inspiration of his Holy
   Spirit. The faithful God and Father who has resurrected his Son from
   the dead, has also bestowed his power upon us, poor sinners, and has
   graciously resurrected us, who were dead in so many gross sins and
   tresspasses, into a new life with him; has called us from darkness unto
   light, and has placed us with him in a celestial being, in Christ, Eph.
   2:1; 1 Pet. 3, &c.

   Behold, dear reader, this is the proper ground and meaning of the words
   of Paul, by which Gellius tries to show, that baptism has taken the
   place of circumcision and is called the circumcision of Christ.

   Judge now, if you fear God, whether you find a word in the writings of
   Paul, that has reference to unconscious infants. That this saying of
   Paul has reference to the believing and penitent, and not to
   unconscious children, all reasonable, to say nothing of spiritual
   persons, must acknowledge and admit. Notwithstanding, he writes that
   this saying implies that baptism has taken the place of circumcision
   and is called Christ's circumcision. He does, or will not observe that
   the circumcision of Jesus Christ to which Paul alludes, is done without
   hands, and that he daily serves with his hands the infant baptism which
   he calls the circumcision of Jesus. Behold, thus lamentably does he
   satisfy Paul, and thus violently break the word of God.

   If he seeks an evasion to adorn his cause, and say, that God works
   through his sacraments invisibly in the heart, which the sign
   represents, then the deceit will be more distinct. For how shall God
   operate through a sign which is an abomination before Him? I say an
   abomination, because he has not commanded it, and because neither
   doctrine, confession, faith nor repentance precede it, which these
   signs represent, in the New Testament. Then, also, the sign and the
   signification must be one and the same, which never was nor ever will
   be the case unless the letter becomes spirit. This is incontrovertible.
   Yea, my reader, how the baptized children are circumcised with the
   circumcision of Christ Jesus in the foreskin of their hearts, which is
   the circumcision of the New Testament, the deeds and the fruits of the
   world, alas, plainly show.

   In the fourth place he writes, As in the Scriptures, which testify that
   women are participants in the merits of Christ, and are disciples, a
   command is implied that the Holy Supper shall be dispensed to them, so,
   also, a command is implied in the Scriptures, which testify that
   children are of the church of Christ and of the Kingdom of God, that
   they should be baptized.

   Answer. The words of Gellius prove clearly that women are participants
   of the Lord's Supper; for he acknowledges that they are disciples. If
   they are disciples, as they are in fact, then it is manifest that they
   hear the word of God, be. lieve, repent, suffer themselves to be
   baptized, and that they are gifted of God in power with the
   representation of the Holy Supper, and that they are participants of
   his mystery no less than the men. Since they are believing and penitent
   disciples, as heard, therefore it is reasonable and right that they
   should partake of the sign, whereby this mystery of faith and of the
   holy gospel are represented to the believing, and admonished to the
   repenting. As we cannot deny but that the believing, repenting women
   understand and realize the representation of the Holy Supper?namely,
   the remembrance of the offering of the flesh and blood of Christ, the
   love of God and one's neighbors, &c., for which purpose it was
   instituted by the Lord, therefore they should have a place at the
   Lord's table, as believing, penitent disciples and guests. Now,
   Gellius, to make his infant baptism of effect, must prove and show to
   us by works, Scriptures and truth, that little, unconscious children
   realize the effect of holy baptism, namely, faith, repentance,
   obedience to the word, a clear and peaceable conscience, &c., for which
   purpose the sign of baptism was instituted of the Lord, as the
   believing, penitent women realize the signification of the. Holy
   Supper. But if he? cannot prove this, then it is sufficiently plain
   that this, his assertion and argument are not according to the
   Scriptures, but that it is deceitful, false, and contrary to God's
   word.

   He further says, If such a command to baptize children is not
   sufficient, as the one he has adduced from the Scriptures, then he
   wants us to point him out a prohibition (as he says), or sufficiently
   prove that God wills that we shall not baptize children.

   In the first place, I reply: Gellius herewith openly betrays that his
   reference to the command of infant baptism can, in his own opinion not
   stand, according to the Scriptures. For he turns from the doctrine of
   commands and wants us to point out a prohibition, never observing that
   if one wants to partake of anything (that is a ceremony), he must first
   adduce and point out the command of the institution.

   If he wants to make good the infant baptism which he teaches and
   practices, then he must prove that it is commanded, and not ask us to
   point out or show where it is prohibited.

   We practice baptism in a manner as the mouth of the Lord has commanded,
   for we know that it stands written, "What things soever I command you,
   observe to do it; thou shalt not add thereto nor diminish from it,"
   Deut. 12:32; Prov. 30:6. Yea, my reader, I would say to Gellius and the
   learned that if they ?can find an instance in all the Scriptures where
   the pious and faithful servants of God have changed a word of the
   commands, and ceremonies, and practiced them differently than God had
   commanded them, then we will further reflect upon the matter. But we
   know it to a certainty that it cannot be done.

   The Lord commanded Israel that they should circumcise their male
   children on the eighth day; t4ere was no command that they should not
   do it on the fifth, or on any other day. Yet they never circumcised a
   female; nor did they circumcise on any other day but the eighth. For
   the ordinance and command of the Lord was on the eighth play, to the
   male children, and not on the seventh or ninth; nor to the female
   children as has been heard.

   If they, now, had circumcised the females, or if they had circumcised
   the males before, or after the eighth day, although it was not
   expressly forbidden, they would have committed an abomination, as did
   Nadab and Abihu with the strange fire, and circumcised without God's
   word; by the grace of God, no man can Scripturally convince me to the
   contrary.

   It was also commanded Israel that they should eat the Passover in
   remembrance of their deliverance and departure out of Egypt, on the
   fourteenth day of the first month, in the evening; it had to be a male
   lamb, without blemish, of the first year, &c., Ex. 12: S. Israel did
   just according to the command, and never offered a female lamb, but in
   every instance a male, although the Lord had not expressly prohibited
   the offering of a female lamb, for if they had offered a female, they
   would have offered contrary to the command, which stipulated that it
   should be a male.

   In the second place, I would say that I would refer to the testimony of
   the Almighty and great God, who says, "This is my beloved Son in whom I
   am well pleased, hear ye him," Matt. 17:5. If Gellius, now, can point
   to a single word of divine truth and unadulterated testimony of the
   Holy Scriptures, that this Son of God, Christ Jesus, the Father's
   eternal Truth and Wisdom, has taught or commanded one word of infant
   baptism, or that his holy apostles and missionaries have taught or
   practiced it, then I will recall my doctrine, willingly submit to
   dungeons and bonds, confess my guilt, repent and stand before the whole
   world conquered and abashed; this I promise in sincerity of heart.

   But, if he cannot do so, as he never can, and still professes that
   infant baptism is apostolic and right, whereby he forsakes the
   ordinance of Christ and the apostles doctrine and usage; consoles the
   people in their impenitence?then it is manifest that he is a deceiver
   of the poor souls and an adulterer of the holy word, who would be wiser
   than the Son of God himself; for he says that it is a sealing of the
   covenant of grace, an embodiment into the church of Christ, &c. And the
   great Lord has not at all commanded that he should reprove the Holy
   Spirit which has not manifested unto us in the Scriptures this doctrine
   and usage; nor the apostles that they did not at all disclose unto the
   pious such an important matter, as he says, and that they have not
   given a word in all their writings, in testimony thereof, and thus
   manifested it unto their descendants.

   In the third place I would refer Gellius, and all his preachers, to
   Luther, who writes very clearly that we should renounce not only that
   which is contrary to the word of the Lord, but also that which is
   beside it, and advises every body, although, alas, he himself did not
   follow the advice, to follow certainties and not uncertainties; for the
   Scriptures admit of no addition nor diminishing, by which he has caused
   quite a rupture in popery. If the Scriptures admit of no additions, and
   we find nowhere a word in Scripture commanding infant baptism, as
   Luther himself admits, then I would leave it to the impartial judgment
   of all who have understanding, whether infant baptism is not
   prohibited.

   In the fifth place, Glellius writes, They say that the children have no
   ears to hear; and cannot distinguish between good and evil. But it does
   not follow from this, he says, that the sacrament of the embodiment
   into the church should not be practiced upon children; for the children
   of the ancient church had no such ears that they could hear, and they
   could as little distinguish between good and evil, as our children can.

   Answer. If Gellius will show us the command, ordinance or usage of the
   Lord, that we shall take them in by such sign, then we will consider
   the matter further. But he cannot do so.

   We say with holy Paul, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
   Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly
   places in Christ, according as he hath chosen us in him before the
   foundation of the world, that we should be holy, and without blame
   before him in love; having predestinated us unto the adoption of
   children by Jesus Christ to himself, as cording to the good pleasure of
   his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace," &c., Eph. 1:3??6.

   My faithful reader, understand well what these words of Paul paean.
   This paternal adoption unto membership; .this great favor, love and
   grace through Christ Jesus; this holy, unblamable life in love, of
   which Paul speaks, is taught by the gospel. All who rightly believe
   this, and who are, through faith, truly converted, changed, renewed and
   born of God, and have the Holy Spirit, are children of the covenant,
   are graciously accepted of God, and are blessed with all spiritual
   blessings in heavenly places in Christ; even before they have the sign
   of baptism.

   Behold, thus we are, by God's choice through faith in Christ Jesus, and
   through the inspiring power and renewing of the Holy Spirit, embodied
   into the body of Christ, which is the true church, and become flesh of
   his flesh and bone of his bone; and not through any outward sign.

   But this rule does not apply to unconscious children; for they have no
   ears to hear nor hearts to understand. They are, however, in grace,
   children of the kingdom, participants in the promise; not through any
   outward sign, I say, but in the adoption of Grace through the
   reconciliation, mediation and merits of the death and blood of Christ,
   as the Scriptures teach. The New Testament treats with those of
   understanding minds, and its sacraments belong to the penitent. Let
   this be to you a sure and eternal reference and doctrine.

   All those who give a different meaning to the signs of the New
   Testament, by their philosophy, and teach you that they should be
   dispensed before faith, deceive you, however much they may adorn it
   with choice words, such as, sealing, sign of grace, embodiment, &c.,
   for it is in fact, nothing but human wisdom, deceiving of souls and
   hypocrisy. If the children under the old covenant were incorporated by
   circumcision, and the children under the new covenant are incorporated
   through baptism, as he says they are, then we are forced to conclude
   that the children which died before the eighth day and those who were
   left in the wilderness, besides, all the females, were not in the
   Israelitic church, and consequently had no share in the grace, covenant
   nor promise.

   The same would also apply to our children which are hindered from
   baptism, through death. O abomination and blasphemy I If that is not
   attaching God's selection, grace, favor, love, kingdom, covenant and
   salvation, to the element, water, and to works, I will leave to the
   judgment of all the godly and pious.

   In the sixth place he writes, and says, We have ever received, in
   return for our assiduity and clear, convincing explanation of the
   Scriptures, yea, for our solicitous care, to again gain them, nothing
   but anathemas. For what else do we hear from them than that we are
   wolves, blood?hounds, deceivers, &c., who run their own course and
   bring forth no fruit?

   Answer. All those who rightly seek our salvation, who rightly teach the
   word of the Lord, and who walk before us with an unblamable life,
   understand, according to the doctrine, Spirit, and example of Christ
   Jesus, are not reproved by us, nor by the Scriptures; but we sincerely
   thank and love them and will by the grace of God, never despise their
   fraternal assiduity and paternal solicitude, but will, in sincere love
   and very thankfully, accept them, and as much as we, in our weakness,
   are able to do, follow them. But we are not to blame that Gellius and
   the preachers are called deceivers, false prophets, ravening wolves,
   men guilty of blood, &c., by the Scriptures, but they themselves, are
   the cause; because they so lamentably adulterate the Scriptures, reject
   Christ Jesus and his Spirit, word and walk; because they preach
   according to their own pleasure, seek improper gain; because they teach
   and walk to suit the world, destroy the poor sheep by their false
   doctrine and deceiving practices; and because they upbraid, blaspheme,
   belie, betray the pious, faithful hearts and thus deliver them to the
   sword of the magistracy and executioner, as may, alas, be too clearly
   witnessed at many different places.

   Yea, reader, if he cannot bear to be called by such hard names, of
   which he is guilty, according to the Scriptures, then he should
   reasonably consider how shamefully he accuses, in his writings and
   conversations, the poor, miserable souls who are quite innocent, as
   being ungodly heretics, apostles of the devil, deceived conspirators,
   hedgepreachers, sneaks, adulterators, &c., and how he, by his
   rebellious, fiendish, bloody doctrine, deprives the innocent of their
   property, welfare, honor, blood and life; and instigates the unmerciful
   cruel tyrants to robbery, imprisoning, banishing and murder. My
   faithful reader, reflect, and see if I do not write the truth.

   In the seventh place he writes, The example of the apostles shows that
   it is a command; for the Holy Spirit testifies that the apostles
   baptized whole families; no children are excepted, which, surely, would
   have been excepted if it were wrong to baptize them.

   To this I reply, in the first place, that Gellius hereby testifies that
   there is no command for infant baptism; for he here founds his doctrine
   and faith upon presumption and not upon. imperative words, according to
   which all things should be judged that are to be a pleasure in the
   sight of the Lord. In the second place I would say, that the Holy
   Spirit has testified in plain words, that the three families of which
   the Scriptures make mention in particular, to have been baptized, were
   all believing persons as may be plainly understood from reading Acts
   10:16.

   But as to the house of Lydia, it is plain that she at that time had no
   husband; for the house is called after her name, which is neither the
   custom of the world nor of the Scriptures, if the husband is alive.
   Since the New Testament, then, makes mention of but four households in
   particular, to have been baptized, and three of them were believing,
   and the fourth, as appears, had no husband; as has been heard, how much
   then should we rely on it, that there were little children in these
   households, both nature and the Scriptures teach us.

   He further writes, That it cannot be gainsayed that the children, all
   through the Scriptures, are always included in the household, for a
   household or family includes both young and old; therefore also
   children should be baptized because the Scriptures mention that whole
   households were baptized, which includes children.

   I reply: If Gellius proves to us, by the testimony of God's word, that
   the unconscious children have faith, then we would gladly include them
   in the believing, baptized households and allow them to be baptized.
   But as he cannot possibly do so, we would faithfully admonish him and
   all the preachers to take heed, how and what they say concerning this
   matter; for all they philosophize and teach about it, is mere deceit.
   Besides, I would yet ask, if we can also cause unbelief in small
   children by false doctrine, or, if we can teach them faith, through
   God's word? If he answer in the affirmative, then his answer is
   contrary to all the Scriptures, common sense, and contrary to his own
   words; for he admits, that they, through their feeble understanding,
   can not comprehend the word. But if he answer in the negative, then he
   admits, himself, that his including both old and young in one
   household, is contrary to Paul. For Paul says, that the vain talkers
   and deceivers subvert whole houses, Tit. 1:10, something which cannot
   be done to little children, on account of their not having sufficient
   understanding, as he himself admits. He also says that we too boldly
   exclude the children, which the Holy Spirit has not excepted, &c. To
   this I reply: The Holy Spirit has commanded and ordained that we should
   teach the understanding, and baptize the believing, and this ordinance
   we follow. Therefore, it is not boldness, but obedience to do as the
   mouth of the Lord has commanded us. But whether the preachers are not
   boldly opposing the Holy Spirit, who reject his doctrine, advice and
   ordinance as heretical and sectarian, and institute instead a doctrine
   and ordinance to suit their own taste, of which we find not a single
   word in the Scriptures, I will leave all the pious to judge according
   to the word of the Lord.

   As to his reference to Tertullius, Cyprian, Origenes and Augustinus, I
   would reply: If these writers can support their assertions by the word
   and ordinance of God, then we will admit that they are right. If they
   cannot do so, then it is a doctrine of men, and condemned by the
   Scriptures, Gal. 1:8. In the second place I say, Rhenanus annotates on
   Tertullius that it was customary with the ancients to baptize adults
   with the bapof regeneration.

   Cyprian left infant baptism optional.

   Erasmus writes that the ancients have disputed much concerning infant
   baptism, and never came to a conclusion.

   Zuinglius writes, Although we are aware that the ancients baptized
   children, yet it was not practiced so commonly as it is, in our times.
   They were openly instructed in faith; and when they verbally confessed
   their faith which was imprinted in their hearts, they were allowed to
   be baptized. This doctrine (he says) I wish to have again resuscitated,
   Lib. Art. 18.

   Bucer writes that the ancients generally baptized adults and not
   children.

   Oecolampadius writes, I, in my weakness, cannot yet find Scriptures
   which command infant baptism.

   Luther admits that they have no express command to baptize children.

   What Martin Cellarius and others write, concerning this matter, is too
   lengthy to be here reproduced.

   Since it is plain that few children were baptized of the ancients, as
   the above mentioned Rhenanus, Zuingli and Bucer show; that Cyprian left
   infant baptism optional, and the others acknowledge that there is no
   express command for it; how can Gellius, then truthfully write that
   they received infant baptism from the apostles; that it is an
   incorporation into the church, and a sealing of the covenant of grace?

   Yea, my reader, if infant baptism has the virtues which Gellius
   ascribes to it, then our ancestors grossly sinned to have baptized so
   few children; and also because they left optional that which (he says)
   the apostles practiced and taught to be an incorporation into the
   church, a sign of grace and a sealing of the covenant of grace.

   In the third place I answer, If we consider the confession and doctrine
   of the learned in regard to infant baptism, we find it to be such a
   Babel that we are forced to acknowledge that it is not of God. For some
   of the ancients (not the apostles) as appears, baptized some children,
   but not a considerable number. Some said they had received it from the
   apostles; others, again, denied it. Some have, and some still baptize
   them to wash off hereditary sin; others because they are children of
   the covenant. Some baptize them for the sake of the faith of the
   church; others, again, for the sake of the faith of their parents. Some
   on the strength of the faith of the patriarchs; others on the strength
   of their own faith; and again, others that better care Rhall be taken
   of their education. Behold, thus the defenders of infant baptism are
   divided among themselves.

   Inasmuch, then, as they do not teach one doctrine and are not of one
   mind in regard to infant baptism, therefore it is manifestly proven
   that they baptize them without the word of God. For if their cause had
   a foundation in Scripture; then they would baptize to the same purpose
   or end, according to the same ordinance, rule and doctrine. This is
   incontrovertible.

   In the eighth place he writes "that it is not prohibited at all, in
   Scripture, nor testified that infant baptism is wrong. And that the
   Lord Jesus Christ testifies that it is not his word and will, but the
   will of his Father who is in heaven."

   Answer. Peruse all the Scriptures?Moses and the prophets, Christ Jesus
   and the apostles, and diligently meditate upon them, and you will find
   different instances that God was not only displeased at unbidden
   ceremonies and worship, but that he has often severely punished such.
   O, dear Lord, what blind reasoning! If they can, with a clear
   conscience do so because it is not expressly forbidden that infants
   shall be baptized, then they may as well accept holy water, candles,
   palms, clocks, confession before a priest, masses, the building of
   convents, altars, the becoming of monks, pilgrimages and the praying
   ?for the departed souls, &c., as just and right; for there is not a
   word to be found in the Scriptures which expressly prohibits these
   works; or which says: You shall not do these things.

   If he should say that the circumstances of Scripture and its fruits
   testify that they are contrary to the word of God; then I would again
   say: Still clearer do the circumstances of the Scriptures and the
   fruits testify that infant baptism is contrary to God's word. For the
   mouth of the Lord has not commanded so at all. All those who practice
   it, misuse the name and ordinance of God, and act hypocritically, and
   those that receive it, console themselves, when they come to years of
   understanding, that they are baptized children, although their whole
   walk is manifestly, for the greater part, quite impenitent, ungodly,
   earthly and carnal.

   In the second place I answer: Christ Jesus has testified and said, "Go
   ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creaturo. Ho that
   believeth and is baptized, shall be saved," Mark 16:15, 16. Behold this
   is the express, eternal and unchangeable ordinance of the Lord, which
   he has commanded and left for his church to follow. Also have the
   apostles so taught and practiced it.

   If now the unconscious children have faith, that is, if they are
   penitent, Rom. 6; have circumcised the foreskin of their hearts by the
   circumcision of Christ, Col. 2:11; if they have a clear conscience
   before the Lord, if they have a new mind, which are all the result of
   faith, and which are represented by baptism?then baptism can not be
   refused them. . But while it is plain that they have not one of the
   beforementioned qualities, therefore we say that infant baptism is a
   self?chosen superstition, an abuse of the glorious and holy name of
   God, an adulteration of the ordinance of Christ, a vain, hypocritical
   consolation to the impenitent, a sacrament of the church of
   anti?christ, nay, an open deceit, blasphemy and idolatry.
   Notwithstanding all this, this thoughtless man writes that it is the
   word and will of the Father, and then uses the eternal Father and his
   beloved Son and Holy Spirit, together with the chosen, holy apostles,
   as a cover for his deceitful abomination and wicked blasphemy. O Lord!

   In the ninth place he writes: "That they have the promise, that God,
   the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, a true and living God, is powerful in
   his command and works; and will, through his power, sanctify the
   children of the church and bestow on them his Spirit."

   Answer. If he could prove that infant baptism was commanded by the word
   of God, by apostolic doctrine and usage, or by the example of Christ,
   as he pretends that it was, then we would gladly admit it to be a holy
   rite, and pleasing to God, and that it would be a blessed, admonishing,
   useful, fruitful and powerful thing, for God commands nothing in vain.
   But since it cannot be proven that it was commanded, and since baptism
   cannot apply to little children, because the signs of the New Testament
   are applied to the penitent, therefore we say again, that it is not a
   God?pleasing ceremony, but according to all Scripture, a wicked
   blasphemy and abomination, as has already been heard. And how
   powerfully God works through such abominations, may be plainly seen in
   the cases of Nadab, Abihu, Jeroboam, Uzza and others.

   The pious reader should also know that the children of the churches are
   not sanctified by means of ceremonies, words and water, but solely
   through the grace, favor, merits, blood and death of the Lord, and by
   no other work nor means, at all. But as to his writing that God bestows
   upon the baptized children his Spirit, we would say that we would have
   him consider more deeply and learn to know what the work of the Spirit
   is, before he teaches such doctrine.

   Is it not deeply to be regretted that such people dare take upon
   themselves the care of souls, while they have not yet learned what is
   the nature, fruit and power of the Holy Spirit? For wherever the Holy
   Spirit is, there also must be its fruits; this is incontrovertible. And
   what fruits we find in children when they begin to become of
   understanding minds, we may, alas, educe from their words, works and
   life.

   I would further say, that if the Spirit is bestowed upon children,
   through baptism, as he says, and since the Scriptures teach that the
   Holy Spirit is given to the believing, then it must follow therefrom,
   since the children do not believe, that the Holy Spirit is not given
   them through faith, but that it is given through the merits of the
   ceremony of baptism, which the preachers practice. And what is worse,
   such a spirit, which in every respect is without knowledge,
   intelligence, inspiration, power, fruit and work, as may be seen. O,
   great blindness and error!

   In the tenth place he writes: " The Lord Jesus Christ commanded that
   the children should be brought to him (which the anabaptists do not at
   all) and that he embraced them, laid his hands upon them and blessed
   them, that is, baptized them with the Holy Spirit; and all this, done
   by Christ, is not powerless."

   Answer.. Here I would ask Gellius, and all who practice infant baptism,
   Firstly, If all the believers brought their children to Christ when he
   was preaching? If they answer in the affirmative, then they ought to be
   ashamed; for they can not prove their assertion by the Scriptures. But
   if they answer in the negative, then they acknowledge that they in the
   first place, are wrong to teach and practice that children should be
   brought to him, that is (according to their understanding), to baptize
   them.

   In the second place I ask, whether in any part of Scripture bringing to
   Christ is called baptism 3 If they answer in the affirmative, then they
   can not produce proof. If they answer in the negative then they admit
   that they, in the second place, adulterate the word of God, by
   explaining and construing bringing to Christ to mean baptizing.

   In the third place I ask, whether Christ baptized the children, brought
   to him, with water 8 If they answer in the affirmative, then I would
   answer with John, that Christ, himself, did not baptize, John 3:5. But
   if they answer in the negative, then they acknowledge, in the third
   place, that it is a false doctrine to try to defend infant baptism on
   the strength of this bringing to him.

   In the fourth place I would ask, because he says that Christ baptized
   the children with the Holy Spirit. If, then, baptizing with the Spirit
   is the same thing as baptizing with water? If they answer in the
   affirmative, then Spirit must be letter, or letter, Spirit. But if they
   answer in the negative, then they, themselves, pronounce sentence
   against infant baptism; that Christ's action with the children does not
   teach nor imply it.

   In the fifth place I would ask, How we are to understand this bringing
   to him?in a carnal, or spiritual way? If they answer in a carnal way,
   then I would say, that it cannot now be the case, since Christ, in
   body, is taken from us and removed hence, where we cannot approach in
   the body, 1 Tim. 6:16. But if they answer, in a spiritual way, then I
   would again ask why Gellius so shamefully abuses the pious, whom he
   calls anabaptists, by writing that they do not at all bring their
   children to Christ (something which could not have been written in
   purity of heart), while many of them are so solicitously caring for the
   salvation of their children by teaching, admonishing and punishing
   them, and by having a constant solicitude for them, as God's word and
   the love of their children command and teach all christian parents to
   do.

   O, that God would grant that Gellius and his followers would more
   deeply consider this spiritual bringing to Christ, as I trust that many
   of ours do, by the grace of God; and that they would abandon this
   unscriptural infant baptism, of which they make so much ado. This, in
   my opinion, would be a very desirable thing. For, as a general thing,
   they abandon their children, from the cradle on, to the wiles of the
   devil, by educating them in ignorance, blindness, pomp, splendor,
   vanity and idolatry, as their fruits plainly show to all of
   understanding minds. Behold, my reader, from these questions and
   answers you may conclude whether Gellius and the learned can stand on
   the strength of the saying, " Suffer: the little children to come unto
   me," with their doctrine and practice of infant baptism, which they
   practice so indiscriminately, and about which they make so much ado?

   Observe, too, that Gellius, by his writing that we do not bring our
   children to Christ at all, not only judges and disgraces us but also
   Christ Jesus, because he has no commanded us such bringing to him; hE
   also judges the holy apostles who have no testified nor taught us a
   word in regard tc this matter neither by word nor practice it the whole
   Scriptures.

   In the eleventh place he writes: Since Luke testifie that John the
   baptist was sanctified in his mother' womb, and leaped in the presence
   of Christ (which, hi says, doubtlessly, was caused by a spiritual
   movement) and as also Jacob, &c, therefore it is manifest that fioi
   also works in the children of the church according tc their measure,
   through his Holy Spirit, and that infant baptism is a command and has
   the promise.

   Answer. If these particular miracles o: God, which were wrought in the
   case of John and of Jacob, are to be a common rule, then these
   following miracles were also common rules, namely, that Sarah and
   Elizabeth, two barren women, conceived in their old age, and that
   Balaam's ass spoke: Num. 22:28; and, therefore, all aged, barren women
   should conceive, and all asses speak. O no. That such miracles of God
   were no common rule things, maybe educed from the floating of iron at
   Helizeum; from the passage of the Israelites through the Red Sea, and
   from the standing still of the sun and moon, 2 Kings 6:6; Es. 14:21;
   Joshua 10:13.

   I would further say, if, according to the doctrine of Gellius, it
   follows from the case of John, that all the children of the church, or
   of the believing members, have the Holy Spirit, then the greater part
   of his fellowbelievers of the German nation (whom alone, he esteemed as
   faithful servants, and who, with him, are of the same calling, office
   and service) are greatly contemned in their doc, trine, faith and
   usage; for he writes that the children of the holy church have the Holy
   Spirit, and they believe and teach that they have the evil spirit, for,
   before they baptize them, they say, Depart thou evil spirit, and give
   room to the Holy Spirit.

   Behold, thus it is generally with all who teach and practice this
   shameful doctrine. And, although they are unanimous in the practice,
   yet they are so divided in opinion as to the grounds of this doctrine,
   that we are forced to say that it is nothing but a vain mask and
   infernal mockery. Notwithstanding he writes that infant baptism is
   commanded, and that it has the promise; while he well knows that he
   cannot advance one plain word from all the Holy Scriptures, to show
   that the wisdom of God has commanded it, or that the apostles have
   taught or practiced it; or, moreover, that its signification,
   penitence, regeneration, &c., can apply to children. To say nothing of
   the author mentioning that the primitive, incorrupt church did not
   practice it, as has been heard

   Is not this adulterating the word of God, breaking the Scriptures,
   perverting truth into lies, stealing the honor and praise of God,
   killing souls and defending the church of anti?christ ? I say again, as
   I did before, I have never read a word in the Scriptures with such
   misunderstanding.

   In the twelfth place he writes: "That, according to Matthew, baptism
   was not first instituted by Christ. For it was before commanded of John
   and practiced by the disciples of Jesus Christ; so that we are not
   obliged to follow one rule."

   Answer. Let every one take heed, and observe what the word of the Lord
   teaches. Gellius, alas, is not at all ashamed to deny the plain word of
   God, and writes: "That we are not obliged to follow one certain rule
   in. regard to baptism; that Christ did not command to baptize the
   believing persons alone; nor that his heavenly Father did, when he
   commanded John that he should baptize; and that it was not Christ's
   meaning that such and such persons should be baptized." Behold, thus
   the Lord's holy word is perverted.

   Inasmuch as Gellius so degrades his Lord's mouth, and so lamentably
   adulterates his word, therefere I will place the words of Christ,
   according to Matthew and Mark, before the reader, that he may see what
   rule and law he has made concerning baptism, and .what command he has
   given. Christ says, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
   Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them (understand,
   whom you make disciples, by your doctrine) in the name of the Father,
   and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all
   things whatsoever I have commanded you," Matt. 28. Again, " Go ye into
   all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that
   believeth (namely, the gospel) and is baptized, shall be saved; but he
   that believeth not shall be damned," Mark 16:1C, 16. Behold, this is
   the word and ordinance of the Lord, how and when we are to baptize. I
   think these words are too plain to admit of perversion by fine words
   and accuteness?preach the gospel and baptize those that believe.

   But that John taught and practiced baptism before Christ, is evidence
   for us and not against us, for he practiced upon those who confessed
   their sins, Matt. 3:6, and not upon unconscious children, as the
   disobedient, offensive preachers do.

   Since John did not baptize any but the penitent, before Christ; since
   Christ commanded it at the confession of faith, the apostles taught and
   practiced it so, and, also the primitive church, as heard, therefore,
   the reasonable reader may reflect, in the fear of God, how miserably
   and lamentably the poor souls are deceived by these degenerated men who
   so boldly adulterate the pointed, plain words of Christ concerning
   baptism, and his pleasing, salutary ordinance, and thus destroy it and
   found it upon an unstable foundation and wrong meaning.

   But his writing, "That the apostles were commanded to gather unto
   Christ a church, from all nations, and to teach them, not that which
   Moses, but that which Christ had taught," we admit. Yet through no
   other command nor ordinance than that they should preach the gospel,
   make disciples through the doctrine, baptize these disciples, and thus
   to gather unto the Lord a peculiar people, who should walk in Christ
   Jesus in righteousness, truth and obedience, as the regenerated
   children of God, and give eternal praises to his great and glorious
   name. And with such a people, who walk in his fear, love, word,
   ordinances and commands, he will be, always to the end of the world.
   But of infant baptism not a word is mentioned.

   In the thirteenth place, he writes, "That the apostles, some of whom
   were baptized of John, and those who came to him from the cities and
   from Jerusalem were indiscriminately baptized of John, and could not
   have had much knowledge of Christ, or a true, strong, sincere faith in
   him."

   Answer. If I understand him aright, he would conclude from this, that,
   as the baptized disciples were not, before baptism, thoroughly fitted
   in the doctrine, faith and repentance, but had to exercise themselves
   in continual penitence, and to die unto sin, as baptism represents,
   that also the children, although they have no faith before baptism,
   will, after baptism, when they become of understanding minds, study the
   doctrine, repent, die unto sin, and walk in newness of life.

   To which opinion (if this be his opinion) I would reply: The prophets
   prophesied of John, Isa. 40:3; Mal. 3:1. His birth was made known by an
   angel; Christ testified of him, that he was the second Elias, a shining
   light, not clothed in soft raiment and not like the waving reed; that
   he was the greatest of all children born of woman, &c. From which it
   may be safely educed that he was no light?minded nor reckless preacher,
   but that he earnestly and valiantly executed his office, according to
   the pleasure of God, and that he rightly practiced the commanded
   baptism according to the ordinance. And, although his disciples were
   not so thoroughly instructed in all things, yet he did not baptize any
   but those who confessed their sins, as said, Matt. 3, Acts 19.

   But, as to his explanation of. the words: "If thou believest with all
   thine heart," which Philip spoke to the Ethiopian, that they mean to
   believe without deceit and hypocrisy which he rightly asked of the
   Ethiopian; and of Luke, to leave an example to all servants of the
   church, how those of mature years should be baptized, he has rightly
   pointed out, since he also had arrived to years of maturity. We say,
   that this is right. We would also state what we desire of all
   baptizers, is: That they first examine well the faith and foundation of
   those who wish to be baptized, before they baptize them, that they, in
   their work and service, may not prove hypocrites.

   I think that this is a plain example that the servants of the church
   should not ask the confession of faith from others, but from those,
   themselves, who wish to be baptized, as also Otto Brunsu. says
   concerning this: He says not (he writes), If you do believe or answer
   for your child, it is then permitted to be baptized.

   Since Gellius refers us to the disciples and to those baptized of John,
   and, as appears, would thereby demonstrate that baptism does not
   require true faith, and that it makes no difference whether faith comes
   before or after; and, since we, also, are called anabaptists by him,
   therefore I in my weakness, would ask him, If the command of Christ and
   the example of the eunuch are not sufficient to show that faith should
   precede baptism, and that baptism requires true faith, and why Paul
   re?baptized the disciples of John, who had before been baptized with
   the baptism of John, while John's baptism was not of men, but from
   heaven? Matt. 21:25. He cannot, scripturally, answer it otherwise, than
   that it was done because they had never known that there was a Holy
   Ghost. Inasmuch, then, as these disciples were once baptized in their
   years of maturity, with divine baptism, and lacked nothing but that
   they did not have an understanding of the Holy Ghost, and were, on that
   account, re?baptized of Paul?therefore Gellius should consider whether
   or not true, christian baptism requires true faith, and whether he does
   not wrong us by contemptuously calling us anabaptists because we
   re?baptize those who were not baptized with a divine baptism, as were
   the disciples of John, but with as anti?christian baptism, without any
   knowledge, faith, command or word, as the reckless, ignorant world, in
   pact, can judge and see.

   If we, then, are anabaptists because we re?baptize those who received a
   baptism instituted of man and which was practiced upon those who had no
   knowledge whatever, how much, then, was Paul an anabaptist since he
   re?baptized those who were of understanding minds and baptized with a
   baptism which was from heaven and ordained of God.

   In the second place I would ask, since he calls us anabaptists, as has
   been heard, Why he still adheres to Cyprian, together with both the
   Concilions?the African and the Nicene? which unanimously resolved:
   "That heretics have no baptism, and that therefore those, who have been
   baptized of heretics, should be baptized with the true baptism." If he
   says that it is according to the Scriptures and right, then he admits
   that he was not baptized with the right baptism, and that we are right
   in re?baptizing those who have been baptized of such who are not alone
   by Scripture, but also by Luther, Zuingli and the learned, pronounced
   anti?christian servants and the root of all heresy, before the whole
   world, as we may on every hand see in their writings.

   But if he pronounce it offensive and sectarian, then he thereby
   testifies, in the first place, that the church, or at least a great
   part of it, was at that time offensive and sectarian.

   In the second place, That he couples God's Spirit, word, work,
   ordinance and command with the anti?christian and heretical service and
   works.

   In the third place, That he is an antichristian and heretic himself,
   since he was baptized with an anti?christian and heretical baptism, and
   that he yet defends it as the true baptism.

   O, my reader, that Gellius had but half an ?understanding of the word
   of God, and could but see a little of the truth, he would, all his
   life?time lament to God that he has so lamentably profaned the Lord's
   express command and ordinance, given through John, Christ and the
   apostles; that he has so inimically slandered the pious, and that he
   passes such a thoughtless and ungodly sentence, by his writings that he
   not only pronounces us, but also Cyprian, all the African bishops, the
   Nicene Fathers, besides also, holy Paul himself open anabaptists, nay,
   heretics.

   In the fourteenth place he writes, '° That it is with baptism as it was
   with circumcision. As God commenced circumcision with Abraham, upon
   preceding instruction,?and, for the purpose of the sealing of the
   promise, it was practiced upon Abraham's seed and children?so John, the
   baptist and the apostles commenced baptism with those of mature years,
   and it was gradually practiced upon the children, since it could not be
   otherwise on account of circumcision."

   Answer. That it is with baptism as it was with circumcision before,
   namely, in this respect; that it was commenced on previous
   instruction?is our ground and doctrine; for Christ Jesus has so
   ordained it and his holy apostles have so taught and practiced it. But
   that it should, by the command of Christ and by the teaching and
   practice of the apostles, gradually have been practiced upon the
   children, is mere conjecture and not Scripture.

   For if it were so, then the apostles did wrongly that they did not,
   according to the manner of circumcision, commanded of God, baptize both
   the believing and the children (something which they did not do), as
   Abraham circumcised himself and his house together with the males of
   eight days old after him, according to the command of God, and did not
   gradually institute circumcision, as Gellius maintains, and would make
   us believe, that the apostles should have done with baptism.

   But that he writes that this should have been done on account of
   circumcision is conjecture and not Scripture; for as the apostles and
   also John served on the believing ones of the Jews the sign of baptism,
   why not, then, on their children, if God had so ordained and commanded
   it, as Gellius pretends he did?

   No, no, the command of the Lord concerning circumcision expressly
   applied, first to Abraham and his household, and then directly to the
   males of eight days old, Gen. 17:14; but this is not so with regard to
   baptism, for it applies only to the believing and not to the
   unconscious children, Matt. 28; Mark 16. Therefore baptism was not
   gradually practiced upon the children, as Gellius pretends; but it was
   afterward instituted without the word, ordinance and command of God, by
   disobedient and selfconceited men, who, alas, have considered a wrought
   ceremony above the Lord's command and its representation, as is
   generally the case with the learned and worldlyminded.

   Again, as to his writing "that the promise is sealed by baptism, and
   that it is given not only to the aged, but also to the children "?the
   reader should observe that the promise of the grace of God, and of the
   eternal covenant, is not sealed, now any more, by the perishable blood
   of oxen and rams, nor by visible water and ceremonies, but solely by
   the precious blood of Christ on the cross. Blessed is he, who believes
   it, and cordially accepts it. This promise is made to the unbaptized
   children, no less than to the baptized believing, so long as they are
   clothed with childish innocence. and continue in simplicity. But when
   they come to maturity and accept the dispensed gospel of grace through
   faith, then the Scriptures teach us that we should baptize them, Matt.
   28:19; Mark 16:15. But if they reject grace, and lead an easy,
   impenitent life, neither Christ's blood nor death will avail them; much
   less will word and water avail them. For, "he that believeth not" (the
   Scripture means those of understanding minds) "is condemned already,"
   John 3:18.

   In the fifteenth place he writes, " They err abominably, because they
   conclude, from the Scriptures and esamplea which have reference to
   those of mature years, to a certainty, that it is an ordinance of God
   that the children should not be baptized, notwithstanding that there is
   not a tittle in the whole New Testament which forbids it. And therefore
   they are no less wrong than I should be if I would not feed my children
   that cannot labor, because Paul says, he that does not labor shall not
   eat, which is incontrovertibly spoken in regard to those of mature
   years, and not to children.

   Answer. In my opinion, Gellius wilfully intends to uphold the things
   contrary to Christ and truth, that he may execute the office of an
   anti?christian preacher, according to the pleasure of the world. For,
   when he should write that we act rightly according to the Scriptures,
   and that there is not a tittle in the New Testament that children
   should be baptized?he writes that we err abominably, and that there is
   not a tittle that forbids infant baptism, &c.

   Inasmuch as he so willfully and violently contends against the Lord and
   his truth, and since he in various ways seeks to give his cause a fine
   appearance by the use of many borrowed words, lies, conjectures and
   perversion of the Scriptures, and says that we err abominably, &c.,
   therefore I would briefly state: That if he can at any time prove to us
   by the unadulterated, divine Scriptures and truth, that John the
   Baptist practiced infant baptism any where; or that it was commanded of
   Christ and taught and practiced by the apostles;. or, that it was,
   through the ordinance of the Lord, gradually practiced upon children,
   as he writes it was; or, that bringing to him is called ed baptism and
   baptism bringing to him, in the Scriptures; or, that Christ and the
   apostles have baptized the children that were brought to them; or, that
   Christ baptized them with a spirit that was powerful in works (the
   Spirit of God is never idle); or, that small children have faith, or
   that they are penitent, that they bury their sins and are circumcised
   through faith and thereby arise with Christ in newness of life; or,
   that circumcision is called baptism, and baptism circumcision; or, that
   they have the answer of a good conscience; or, that baptism, anywhere
   in the Scriptures, is called a sign of the covenant of grace, a sealing
   of the promise, and an incorporation into the church, or that
   unconscious children speak with tongues as the believing members of the
   house of Cornelius did, of whom Peter says, " Can any man forbid water,
   that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost
   as well as we" Acts 10:47, or, that the true, primitive church
   practiced it by the apostolic doctrine, usage or command; or, that God
   is powerful through works which he has not ordained, then we will lay
   aside our pen, repent and confess before the whole world that our cause
   is mere deceit, and nothing but falsehood, in this respect.

   But if he cannot do so, as it is impossible for him to do, then I would
   faithfully admonish and fraternally beseech him to consider earnestly
   and thoroughly how shamefully he refiects on Elod, the Father, Son and
   Holy Spirit, John the Baptist and the apostles, in this matter of
   infant baptism; how lamentably he adulterates the plain Scriptures and
   deceives the poor souls; what gross falsehoods he teaches the poor
   people; how deceitfully he teaches the accursed abomination and passes
   it for a holy, glorious work; and also, how unjustly he accuses us of
   abominably erring, we, who clearly have on our side Christ's plain
   word, the apostolic doctrine and usage, the signification of baptism,
   and the usage of the true, primitive churches; while he cannot show by
   a single word of all the Scriptures, that his infant baptism has any
   foundation in the ordinance and command of God. My faithful reader,
   beware; fear Good; act justly; search the Scriptures; shun falsehood
   and follow the truth.

   Again, by undertaking to draw the saying of Paul, " That if any would
   not work, neither should he eat," into his argument, he contradicts
   himself, and is unworthy of a reply. For, as Paul thereby commands the
   idlers and busy?bodies to earn their own bread by honorable labor, lest
   they become an offense, and troublesome to others, and since such
   cannot apply to children, therefore such labor was not thereby
   commanded them. Neither does Paul say, he who does not work, &c., as
   Gellius writes; but he says, "If any would not work, neither should he
   eat." So, too, baptism is not commanded to be practiced on unconscious
   children, but it is commanded in the Scriptures to be practiced upon
   those who believe the word of the Lord, lead a penitent life and who
   have a sound understanding and comprehension of baptism, as has been
   said several times.

   In the sixteenth place he writes, "That in Christ Jesus no respect of
   persons or time is made. For the glory of the kingdom of Christ is not
   limited to any cities, times or persone; so, neither to any age nor
   gen. eration."

   Answer. Herewith, if I understand it, he would assert that, although,
   according to his assertion, baptism has taken the place of
   circumcision, and the males only were circumcised in Israel, that
   notwithstanding this, both males and females are to be baptised, now,
   be they believers' children, and born of believing parents or not. If
   that is his meaning and foundation, then he should know that as the
   grace, favor, love, covenant and promise of God under the New
   Testament, extended to both men and women, so, also did it extend to
   all under the Old Testament. For, if God had coupled his covenant of
   grace and all to signs, whether it be circumcision or baptism, and if
   those alone were in the church who had received the sign, then the
   Israelitic women and maids, and also the children of the primitive
   churches, were in a bad situation; since the first, according to the
   Scriptures, were not circumcised, and the latter, according to the
   ancient authors, were not baptized, as has been already said.

   No, reader, no. Abraham and all his seed, I mean both men and women,
   young and old, were the Lord's people and church. But the males only,
   were circumcised, and not the females, the male children of eight days
   old, and not the female children, according to the ordinance of God;
   yet, they all, both men and women, were members of the church under the
   covenant of God, and were children of the promise, although, I repeat
   it, the males only were circumcised, and not the females.

   So it is under the New Testament. The gospel is "preached, and all who
   believe it and are baptized, shall be saved; be they males or females.
   They are members of the church of Christ under God's covenant and
   grace; they are joint heirs of the kingdom of God, and children of
   eternal life; also the children, although they are not baptized, Mark
   16:16; Acts G:14; 1 Cor. 12:13; Rom. 8:14.

   For, as God would have his ceremonies under the Old Testament, such as
   circumcision, the passover, sin?offering, burnt?offering, B;c.,
   practiced just as he ordained and commanded them through Moses, in the
   same manner he will have his signs, under the New Testament, such as
   baptism and Supper, practiced in no other way than he has commanded and
   ordained through his Son.

   For he says, "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased; hear ye
   him." If, now, this Son had ordained infant baptism, then we should
   practice it, if we would be his disciples; but since he has not done
   so, we pronounce it, according to the Scriptures, accursed, as said,
   Gal. 1: S.

   I further say, If they, now, place the children of both believing and
   unbelieving parents, on the same foundation; which, according to my
   opinion world not be contrary to the Scriptures, then they must recall
   their doctrine whereby they, before, applied the grace and covenant of
   God, with many words, to the children of believing parents, and admit
   that their doctrine in regard to Abraham and his seed, whereby they
   make baptism take the place of circumcision, has no similarity to, nor
   connection with it, at all; for it was not commanded of Abraham to
   circumcise all the children round about him, who were not his seed, but
   only those which were of his seed, as may be learned from Genesis 17.

   In the seventeenth place he writes, would to God that they could once
   rightly understand the 5th chapter of Paul's letter to the Ephesians,
   wherein he describes the church, saying, Christ loved the church, and
   gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the
   washing of water in the word, or as Erasmus says, through the word.
   Then he goes on and says, This incontrovertibly includes the children
   along with their parents, that is, the believers and their seed, nay,
   the whole church. How should they, then, be excluded from the word,
   while it reads, He has cleansed the church with the washing of water by
   the word!

   Answer. I trust that we, through the grace and enlightenment of the
   Lord, in our weakness, do not misunderstand these words of Paul, but
   that we do rightly understand the meaning. We offer Gellius and all the
   learned, the use of all the Scriptures, besides all reason and
   experience, if they can show one tittle in the Holy Scriptures to prove
   that reason and experience teach, that we can teach little children the
   word of God, from which originates the true cleansing of the heart, or
   that the Scriptures of the New Testament any where apply the word and
   sacraments to them; if they can, then we will admit that they are
   cleansed by baptism through the word, or in the word. But, if they can
   not do so, then it is already proven that these words of Paul are not
   written in regard to little children.

   It is true, Christ has so loved his church, that he has given himself
   for her, and has sanctified her through the power and meritsof his
   innocent blood, and cleansed her by water, which is a sign of a new and
   penitent life, but not otherwise than in the word, or through the word,
   which, preached in the power of the Spirit, and accepted in true faith,
   is followed by the ordained baptism as commanded.

   Christ said, "Ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto
   you," John ls:3; not, my reader, that they were clean on account that
   it was outwardly spoken unto them, but because they believed that which
   was spoken unto them. For God does not cleanse the hearts through any
   literal water, word or ceremony, but through faith in the word;
   otherwise all who outwardly hear the word and receive the outward sign
   of the water, would be holy and clean; this is incontrovertible.

   In the eighteenth place, He advances an argument and syllogism.
   Whatever pertains to the church, also pertains to the members of the
   church. Baptism pertains to the whole church, both old and
   young?therefore baptism pertains to all the members of the church.

   Answer. In my opinion it were better for Gellius, since he boasts
   himself a preacher of the holy word, to leave his logic to the wise of
   the world, who, alas, seek their own praise and honor more than they do
   God's: and satisfy himself with the true doctrine, foundation and truth
   of Christ, and with the unpretentious, plain testimony of Matthew, the
   publican, and of Peter and John, the fishermen, &c., that he does not
   deceive the unlearned by such accute reasoning and lead them off the
   true way.

   As to his major proposition (as he calls it), I would say, that if
   Gellius had applied it to grace, reconciliation, promise, eternal life,
   &c., which were bestowed upon the whole church, young as well as old,
   for Christ's sake, and not upon the ordinance of the church, then he
   would have been right; but as it is, he will have to admit that it is
   wrong, and contrary to the word of God. For, as regards the ordinances
   of which he speaks, in which baptism is included, I would say, that all
   the members of the church are not of one and the same calling, service
   and work, and are not under one and the same ordinance; for the Lord
   has ordained apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and servants, in
   his church, and all are not, on that account, apostles, prophets,
   evangelists, pastors and servants. Thus it is with the ordinances of
   baptism and the Holy Supper, in his church; not that we should
   therefore serve them to the unconscious children, but only to the
   believing and penitent, according to the Scriptures.

   As to his minor proposition, I would say, our doctrine, belief,
   foundation and confession is, that our unconscious children, so long as
   they live in their innocence, are, through the merits, death and blood
   of Christ, in grace, and joint heirs of the promise, as has already
   been heard. The doctrine of the New Testament, which is a doctrine of
   the Spirit, does not include them with those who are ruled and governed
   by the word and sacraments of God, and who are properly called the
   church of Christ in Scripture.

   That the children should be counted into the church on account of the
   promise, we consent to, but we controvert that they should be included
   in the ordinances of the church; for this is contrary to all Scripture
   and common sense, as we will prove by Christ's own words. He also
   openly reproves Christ and the apostles, together with the Holy Spirit.
   For he writes, " Baptism pertains to both young and old;" while they
   have not left us a single example, nor one word in all the Scriptures
   whereby it is taught or commanded, as may be seen.

   Since both his major and minor propositions are not consistent with the
   word and command of God, as shown, how then, his conclusion, that
   baptism pertains to all the members of the church, can be consistent
   with the word and ordinance of God is sufficiently clear to the kind
   reader.

   I would further say, that if this, his syllogism, is right and true,
   namely, Whatever pertains to the church, must pertain to all the
   members of the church, &c., which, however, is not so, then it would
   also be true that as doctrine, faith, knowledge of Christ, true
   repentance, a regenerated, new life, the circumcision of the ueart, a
   clear conscience, baptism, Lord's Supper, the love of one's neighbor, a
   living hope, ardent thankfulness, &c., pertain to the church ?therefore
   they pertain to all the members, both young and old.

   If he denies this first proposition of mine, then he denies his own,
   for it is like his. If he denies, besides, the second, because
   children, on account of their weak understanding, as he admits, cannot
   understand the word, and that they, therefore, cannot repent nor be
   admitted to the Supper, &c., then he testifies that the children do not
   belong to the church which is governed by the Lord's word and
   sacraments; and that his syllogism, wherewith he includes all the
   members of the church, both young and old, in one and the same
   ordinance, is wrong and false, nay, contrary to God's word. This is my
   answer to the argument of Gellius and his fellows. How they can stand
   with this, according to the Scriptures, you may reflect upon in the
   fear of your God.

   In the nineteenth place, he makes a long discourse in regard to the
   child which was, according to Mark and Luke, called to Christ; and will
   thereby prove and teach that children believe, or if they do not
   believe, that they are accounted as believing, be they of whatever age
   they may. He further writes that a child of two, three or four years
   old may be corrupted by bad examples; and that we are too timorous
   because we dare not baptize those whom Christ accounts as believing (as
   he says).

   Answer. If Gellius and the learned had received but a little
   understanding of the nature, power and properties of true faith, they
   would be ashamed all their lifetime to have such a poor idea of that
   precious faith which is a power and gift of God. Moses says that the
   children have no knowledge of good and evil. The ? wise man says, that
   they have no understanding. Paul says, "Brethren, be not children in
   understanding," 1 Cor.14:20, and yet Gellius dares write that they
   believe; as if faith were but a dead thing that has no motive power or
   work.

   O no, true faith, which avails before God, is a living and saving power
   which is through the preaching of the holy word, bestowed of God upon
   the heart; that moves, changes and regenerates it to newness of mind;
   that smothers all ungodliness; that destroys all pride, ambition and
   selfishness; that in malice, makes us like children, &c. Behold, such
   is the faith which the Scriptures teach us, and not a vain, dead and
   unfruitful conjecture, as the world pretends it to be. And that such
   faith is not to be found in children of two, three or four years old,
   both the Scriptures and common sense teach US.

   O, dear Lord! what great blindness, that this thoughtless man does not
   observe that he and his like preachers, some of whom have grown already
   gray, who daily read the Scriptures after their manner, are yet so
   unbelieving that they dare, for the sake of a piece of bread,
   adulterate the plain word of God, lead the poor, miserable souls to
   hell, in great numbers, upbraid, slander and hate all the pious, and
   innocently heap upon them slanderous lies and disgraces, incite the
   magistracy to tyranny and blood, and that they delight in pomp,
   splendor, the lusts of the flesh, avarice, &c., which is such clear
   proof that they are not alone unbelieving, but that they are also quite
   earthly and carnally?minded; and yet they assert that a child of two or
   three years of age has faith. O, folly and error!

   The reason that Christ called unto himself the child, and placed it in
   the midst of his disciples, was because the disciples were casting
   about as to who would be the greatest. He set the child as an example
   to them, and said, "Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and
   become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of
   heaven." And that we must inherit the kingdom of God, as a child (in
   malice, understand), as Mark and Luke write. Paul says, "In malice be
   ye children." Christ says, "Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as
   this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven; and
   whoso shall receive one such little child in my name, receiveth me. But
   whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it
   were better for him that a mill?stone were hanged about his neck, and
   that he were drowned in the depth of the sea," Matt. 18:4?e. Behold,
   Christ himself explains to what children we should apply this.

   As to his writing that children are accounted believing, is merely a
   conjecture and opinion which cannot be substantiated by a single word
   of the Scriptures. Again, as to his assertion that a child, two, three
   or four years old may be offended, I would say, first, If we were to
   apply, ?as Gellius does, this saying, " Whoso shall offend one of these
   little ones which believe on me," &c., to young children (to which I,
   on my part, do not consent), then the whole world might well be
   astounded at these words, from the inmost of their souls. For how they
   educate their young children, and with what ungodly, offensive life
   they walk before them, their disgraceful ill?manners and roguery, alas,
   teach us, both in city and country. O, reader, that the world would
   take to heart the salvation of their children, and not, from the cradle
   on, lead them in the way to hell, by their doctrine and example; what a
   blessed thing it would be for their souls at the day of judgment!

   Second, If the preachers and magistrates would rightly understand this
   saying of Christ, and believed it just and true, then, in my opinion,
   the offensive, deceiving doctrine would soon be at an end, and the
   tyrannical sword be put into the sheath, by which, now, alas, hundreds
   of thousands of souls, are offended to everlasting destruction, and
   consigned to the kingdom of the devil. O, Lord! "Woe unto the world
   because of offences," says Christ, God's mouth and wisdom.

   To his writing that we are too timorous, because we dare not baptize
   children, I would say this, that the Scriptures teach us not to do that
   which we see proper, but that which is commanded us, Dent. 4:2; 12:32.

   Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, offered strange fire before the
   Lord, which he commanded them not, And there went out a fire from the
   Lord and devoured them, Lev. 10:1, 2.

   Jeroboam was chosen king of the ten revolted tribes of Israel,
   worshipped in a manner not commanded of God, and therefore he was told
   by the prophet that God would take away the remnant of his house, as a
   man taketh away dung, till it be all gone, 1 Kings 14:10.

   Uzziah was smitten for life because he burned incense upon the altar of
   incense, to which the Lord had not called him, 2 Chron. 26:18.

   Luther writes in his preface to Isaiah and says, " God will not be told
   how he is to be served. He will teach and lead us. His word should be
   our guide; for without his word it is all idolatry and vain falsehood,
   however fine and pleasing it may appear." Again, in the 3rd chapter of
   Daniel, II Worship without God's word is ever idolatry."

   I would further say, All those who seek God, and sincerely fear him,
   obey his ordinance and word.

   Israel never circumcised a female, nor offered a ewe for the passover;
   for God ordained that the males should be circumcised on the eighth
   day, and that rams should be offered, Gen. 17:11; Egod. 12: S, as heard
   before.

   Since we clearly learn from the Holy Scriptures that Moses and the
   prophets and besides, the Father, himself, unanimously point to Jesus,
   who is Wisdom and Truth, to obey him; and since we surely know, by the
   grace of God, that he is the true Prophet and perfect Teacher, whose
   word is truth, and whose command is eternal life, and since he has not
   commanded us a single word of infant baptism, nor his true witnesses,
   the holy apostles have taught it or left an example, and since we also
   find that the signification is not applicable to children, and besides,
   that the Scriptures do not admit of strange worship, self?chosen
   ceremonies, nor addition, nor subtraction, and that Goal has several
   times punished such self?chosen righteousness and worship, as heard;
   and further, that the primitive church did not practice infant baptism,
   as has been often heard, therefore we are so timorous, that we dare not
   baptize our little children; for these cases to which we have referred,
   together with the unfeigned love of salutary, divine truth, the sincere
   fear of our God, and the power of our faith, although in weakness,
   prevent us.

   O, reader, would God grant that our opponents could rightly understand
   what frightful abominations they commit on every hand with their infant
   baptism, and how they practice it to the dishonor of God and corruption
   of their neighbors, then, I trust, this matter would soon be reformed,
   and by the help of God, he changed to a scriptural usage.

   In the first place, they falsify God and the Holy Scriptures by their
   infant baptism; for they assert that it is God's ordinance, while there
   is not a single word or example to be found in all the Scriptures, that
   teaches infant baptism.

   In the second place, they thereby destroy the true church of Christ,
   and establish an anti?Christian one which bears the name and semblance
   of the christian church; although it hates and despises its doctrine,
   spirit, ordinances and usages, taught by the Scriptures.

   In the third place, they thereby console the world in their
   unrighteousness; for however ungodly, adulterous, perjurious, covetous,
   pompous, envious, blood?thirsty, greedy, drunken, carnal, idolatrous
   and hypocritical they be, yet they boast that they are baptized
   christians.

   In the fourth place, they hate and persecute all those, who, out of
   pure, godly zeal, avoid this deceitful abomination, reprove their
   damnable worship, and point them to Jesus and his word alone. Nay, they
   are called their apostate anabaptists, apostles of the devil, deceived
   heretics, offscourings and booty.

   In the fifth place, although they, and their authors, in the past, have
   condemned unto hell the institutions and commands of men, and have
   written one volume after another against it, yet they, alas, altogether
   adhere, to this abhorrible abomination, because they want to avoid the
   cross, and gain the favor of the world; they act hypocritically in all
   things, and do the things which are pleasing to the world; they heap
   one abominable error upon another; hang crosses upon the child's breast
   and forehead; they conjure and ask the parents if they believe, &c.,
   drive out devils, and commit other disgraceful acts; so that we are
   forced to say that all the infant baptizers are hypocrites of all
   hypocrites, and that infant baptism is an open incorporation into the
   church of anti?Christ, the beginning of all deceit, anal an accursed
   blasphemy and enchantment, which is not only contrary to the plain word
   and ordinance of the Lord, but also against all reason, nature and
   common sense. For who that has read the word of the Lord at all, does
   not know, that a cross made with the fingers cannot help or save a
   child g That the innocent creature, the unconscious child, which is
   cleansed by the blood of the Lord, is not possessed of the devil, and
   that one cannot insure the faith of others, since it is a gift of God?

   Say, kind reader, What worse mockery and hypocrisy could be imagined,
   than to ask of one in the name of another: Do you believe? Do you
   renounce Satan, &c. I and on an affirmative answer, to baptize an
   unconscious child that knows nothing of neither yes nor no, of God nor
   devil, of truth nor falsehood, of life nor death? O blasphemy and shame
   !

   O, Lord 1 O, dear Lord! I how long shall this gross deceit and vile
   abomination be practiced I I think it were high time that the world
   should take heed, and learn to know such open deceivers and their
   doctrine, baptism, supper, life and fruits, and that they would pay
   more attention to the ordinance, will, word, ways and works of the
   Lord.

   In the twentieth place, he accuses us of a false security, as he calls
   it, because we, or ours, say that we are assured in our hearts that
   they err, and that we are right, &c.

   Answer. The Lord speaks through Moses, "Whosoever will not hearken unto
   my words which he" (that is Christ) " shall speak in my name, I will
   require it of him," Dent. 18:19.

   The Father says, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased;
   hear ye him," Matt. 17: s.

   Christ says, "Teach 'them to observe all things whatsoever I have
   commanded?you," Matt. 28:29.

   Paul says, " Though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other
   gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be
   accursed," Gal. 1:8.

   John says, "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of
   Christ, has not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath
   both the Father and the Son," 2 John 1:9, and other like Bayings.

   Since all the Scriptures point us to the Spirit, gospel, command,
   ordinance, usage and example of Christ; and since we, in our worship,
   do not follow conjectures, our own desires, false explanations and
   doctrines of men, as we are accused of, Christ's plain word and
   command; the doctrine and usage of the holy apostles, and of the true,
   primitive church; and, as they (our opponents) are no more commanded to
   baptize children than Israel was to circumcise females, or that they
   should found churches, altars and places of worship on hills, or in
   dales, or that they should offer their children as burnt?offerings, or
   that the papists should baptize bells as they are accustomed to, and
   since they call and persecute the baptism ordained of Christ, as the
   baptism of heretics, and esteem and practice infant baptism, which was
   instituted through hypocrisy, as a christian baptism, and since they,
   besides, boast that they do right by not abandoning this practice;
   therefore I would gladly leave it to the judgment of all reasonable and
   impartial readers, who of us are the Sanherib, Holofernes, Pharisaical,
   and deceiving sects, mentioned as trusting in false security.

   He further writes, What else has deceived the anabaptists in the past,
   that they took. up the sword, than just such security. They imagined
   that they, as the people of (sod, were marked with the sign, Tau;
   should subdue the whole world, and bang us preachers, who they said
   knew better, to our own door?posts?

   Answer. Reader, observe, What else does he hereby say than, Beloved
   lords, will you yet be merciful unto such an offensive people and
   wicked heretics? Persecute, imprison, banish and destroy them. They are
   deserving of it. You may consider and .judge whether the Holy Spirit,
   in the Revelation does not call this the sting of scorpions, Rev. 9:10.
   Further on he says that our church was originated by me; something
   which, as will be hereafter shown, I do not admit. He knows very well
   that I never was found in the company of the rebellious; but that I
   reproved their doctrines and abominations with the word of the Lord, as
   much as I ever did those of the preachers. Notwithstanding, he accuses
   us of these ungodly practices and wicked deeds; that he may thereby
   make us, who are innocent, suspicioned of all the world, and deliver us
   unto the sword of the magistracy. I will leave it to the consideration
   of all the pious and good-fearing, if this is not seeking the blood of
   the innocent.

   O, that he would have sufficient discretion not to mix the innocent
   with the guilty. For what else does he seek than to change Simon Peter
   into Simon Magus, and John and James into Judas

   If I should say, I have known some infant baptists which were open
   perjurers and thieves, therefore Gellius and all the infant baptists
   are perjurers and thieves. Would not that be wrong? O, faithful reader,
   how justly has holy David portrayed such slanderers, saying, The wicked
   murder the innocent in secret places; his eyes are privily set against
   the poor. He lieth in wait secretly, as a lion in his den; he lieth in
   wait to catch the poor, &c., Ps. 10:8, 9. For, by such murderous cries,
   it is caused, that in different places, the pious and faithful hearts
   ?men and women, youths and virgins, the gray?headed, the lame and halt
   are pitilessly and mercilessly imprisoned and robbed, their children
   sent abroad in the world, homeless and penniless, as the most wicked
   upon earth. Some are thrown into boiling oil; others are hanged,
   racked, drowned, strangled, burned, beheaded or tortured by some other
   heathenish and tyrannical means. Behold, such are, alas, the
   consequences of the deceiving and false writings of such blood?thirsty
   preachers, in some countries.

   Would to God, that he and his preachers, together with all the papists
   and monks, who are guilty of innocent blood, may find mercy and grace
   before the eyes of the great and Almighty God, in the day when the
   fearful sound of the last trumpet shall sound, and that the innocent
   blood of which they are guilty, be not counted against them. This is my
   sincere wish and prayer. But if they continue in their present minds,
   and do not turn from ungodliness, then, says the Spirit of God, the
   fiery pool will be their reward and part, Rev. 19:21.

   Further, I would say, Just as we hate and reprove (understand this in a
   gospel like way) the bitter and inimical heart, and the bloody and
   fiendish crying and writing of Gellius and all the contentions?so,
   also, do we hate and reprove those that take up the sword, steal, rob,
   or in airy manner wrong any one on earth, be he friend or foe. In this
   we should pay no respect as to persons, be it father, brother, emperor,
   king, neighbor, friend, great or small, baptized or not baptized. All
   those who shed human blood against the word of God, who act contrary to
   love, who wrong, offend or afflict their neighbor, can not be our
   brethren, for they plainly show that they are not christians.

   We must ever hear that the rebellious and their aiders at Munster,
   have, in the past, alas, taken up the sword, contrary to God's word, as
   if we were one with them in that abomination; although we are quite
   innocent in the matter. But they do not see that they arm whole
   countries and corrupt them; that they destroy one principality after
   another, that they use all manner of violence, and thus cause
   affliction, misery and sorrow, every where. Yea, this is, alas, called
   doing right.

   Since it is manifest that not only France, Italy, Spain and Burgundy,
   `but also all the German nations, and the rest of the world who boast
   of the word are guilty of the same deeds, as regards fighting, warring,
   robbing and shedding blood; why do they, then, reprove the crimes of
   the rebellious, while they are so far from being innocent, yea, have
   done the same criminal deeds as those they reprove? Paul says,
   "Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art, that
   judgest; for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for
   thou that. judgest, doest the same things," Rom. 2:1.

   In the last place he writes, Our eyes have seen better than the eyes of
   the anabaptis'ta in regard to wilful sinning, because they have made
   many doubtful and caused some to recede, &c.

   Answer. If he aims this at us, then he should know that he has written
   more than he should have done. For I can say with a clear conscience,
   that I never was troubled concerning this matter by the brethren, and
   that the doctrine has not been broached among us in my time.

   I have ever taught that all sins which are repented of are pardoned in
   the blood of the Lord, be they what they may. David's adultery and
   shedding of innocent blood, is to me a sure testimony. Yet everybody
   should take heed that he sincerely fears God, acts rightly, and that he
   does not wilfully sin against his God, that he does not pervert
   falsehood into truth, nor truth into falsehood, as did the scribes. For
   who knows but that he who wilfully sins against his God, will never
   truly repent and receive grace? Christ says, "Whosoever committeth sin,
   is the servant of sin," John 8:34.

   I fear that if his imperial highness were to present to me many costly
   gifts, and I should ungratefully squander them, or trample upon them,
   or cast them from me, his imperial highness would, undoubtedly,
   severely punish me for such ingratitude, and would probably not again
   offer me such favors and costly presents.

   Therefore, take heed that you do not wilfully despise and adulterate
   your Lord's word, nor walk according to the pleasure of a carnal mind;
   lest the manifest grace at once be withheld from you, and you are led
   into perverse ways. Qui timst Dewm, recedit a malo, he that fears God,
   shuns evil.

   As Gellius exerts himself to adulterate, by his false doctrine, the
   word of the Lord, to render of no avail his precious blood, and to
   harden and console the impenitent, reckless world in their wild and
   wicked ways, under an appearance of the holy word; so he also exerts
   himself, in my opinion, to root out the salutary, pure truth from
   earth, and to deliver the pious and godly children into the hands of
   the executioner, by all manner of false defamations and criminal
   accusations. If I am wrong rebuke me.

   If the name, " grasping kite, 11 is not more applicable to him than a
   gathering hen, by which name he would like to be called, I will leave
   to himself and the Lord.

   But the Lord, who is the shield and surety of all the oppressed,
   defends them against the ungodly. He destroys the liars. He abhors the
   bloody and deceitful; "There is no faithfulness in their mouth; their
   inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they
   flatter with their tongue," Psalm 6:9.

   Therefore they shall not stand before the storm; their light shall be
   extinguished, and their glory shall vanish. For the Lord is strong, who
   shall judge them, and he will require the poor, deceived souls, and the
   innocent blood at their hands, and he will give them their reward.

   Behold, dear reader, from this you may see that the doctrine and
   confession of the preachers in regard to infant baptism, can not stand,
   according to the Scriptures; that it is not founded upon the Lord's
   command, nor upon the doctrine or practice of the holy apostles, as is
   the baptism of the believing, but merely upon logic, opinion,
   conjecture, falsehood, borrowed names and custom. If you be of
   reasonable mind, then let the infallible and true word of the Lord, and
   your impartial heart judge between us and the learned.

   I would hereby, for God's sake, beseech all readers not to think hard
   of it that I reprove falsehood, according to the Scriptures; defend
   truth with truth, point out the right way, seek the salvation of your
   souls, controvert the false prophets, expose their deceiving, secret
   snares and defend the Lord's praise. He who seeks the Lord in sincerity
   of heart, read and judge.
     __________________________________________________________________

   [2] German Translation
     __________________________________________________________________

  THE LORD'S SUPPER.

   WE will very briefly review and reply to the treatise of Gellius on the
   sacrament called the Lord's Supper, because we have published our
   foundation and belief of this matter, and referred to many Scriptures,
   in the past. Whosoever finds a delight in the truth, may read them and
   reflect on them in the fear of God. Yet we would, in our weakness,
   remind the pious reader, before we commence our reply to Gellius'
   publication, that it is written, " For we, being many, are one bread
   and one body; for we are all partakers of that one bread," 1 Cor.
   10:17. Since we learn from the Scriptures that the Holy Supper was
   instituted of the Lord as a sign and testimony, not to the world but to
   the church of Clod, that all of us who are one bread are members of one
   body, namely, of the body of Christ; and since we plainly see that both
   the dispensers and partakers of the worldly supper, are not true
   members of the Lord's body, because the dispensers are all hirelings,
   thieves of the honor of God, and murderers of our souls, who retain the
   thoughtless, reckless people in all manner of unrighteousness,
   blindness, and in an unbridled, carnal life, by their promises,
   philosophy and logic; who deceive all the world and hate, upbraid,
   belie, apprehend, banish and exterminate the pious, who renounce evil,
   follow the word of the Lord, and ever eat of his bread; and because the
   partakers, generally, are an impenitent, light?minded and vain people,
   nay, worldlings, part of whom not only little regard the Spirit, word
   and knowledge of the Lord, but trample it under foot, as may be
   seen?therefore we abstain from their supper; for the sincere fear in
   our hearts, caused by the word of God, prevents us from partaking of it
   with such dispensers and partakers, lest we also partake of their
   deceiving actions and abominable abuse, and, at the day of Christ,
   receive the same reward with them.

   He boasts a great deal of his admonition, yet all his admonition is
   nothing but vain boasting, without all power; for how can he and his
   like preachers rightly teach Christ, and admonish others, while they
   are yet filled from the top of their heads to the soles of their feet,
   with all manner of unrighteousness, blindness and disgrace?

   They would do well to reflect upon the words of Sirach, and rightly
   learn to know themselves, because many of them are as yet such useless
   people, that they are more fit to be herders of swine than to be
   shepherds of the sheep of Christ, as he writes. And because Gellius is
   not only an adulterer of the Scriptures and deceiver of souls, but also
   a very cruel, profane and defaming man, as may be very clearly educed
   from his writings.

   He writes that they admonish them in the first place, what should be
   the qualifications of the partakers, according to the doctrine of the
   law, and especially of the holy gospel.

   Answer. Wherever the law is preached rightly and taken to heart,
   through faith and manifested in Spirit and power, there we find a
   subdued mind, a penitent, humble heart, and a conscience which trembles
   be, fore the word and true fear of God, and which allays and disperses
   sin, as Sirach says.

   This is the real intention and object of the law: To reveal unto us the
   will of God, to discover unto us sin, to threaten us with the wrath and
   punishment of the Lord, to proclaim death and to point us to Christ,
   that we may, before the eyes of God, be humbled in heart, die unto sin,
   and seek and find the only and eternal medicine and remedy for our
   souls, Jesus Christ.

   In the same manner it is in regard to the gospel. Wherever it is
   preached in true zeal, according to the pleasure of God, and unblamably
   in the power of the Spirit, so that it penetrates the hearts of the
   hearers, there we find a converted, changed and new mind, which
   joyfully and gratefully gives praises to his God for his inexpressibly
   great love towards us, miserable sinners, in Christ Jesus, and thus
   enters into newness of life willingly and freely, by the power of a
   true faith and a new birth.

   If Gellius would knock at the innermost heart of his followers, and of
   himself, with the hammer of the law, and zealously enkindle in them the
   fire of the holy gospel, so that they would, in true repentance, change
   their unclean, obdurate hearts, and abandon their heathenish pomp and
   splendor in their houses, and clothes, their vain show of gold and
   silver, their extravagance, avariciousness, drinking and carousing, and
   would enter with Christ into newness of life, then I would admit that
   that which he has written here concerning the Lord's Supper, did well
   compare with their walk. But as it is, he consoles the poor with an
   empty purse, only, and acts in a manner entirely contrary to that in
   which he should. For the signs of the New Testament are in themselves
   quite powerless, vain and useless, if the signification, namely, the
   new, penitent life, is not there, as has been said above in treating of
   baptism.

   He further writes, that they, in the second and third place, admonish
   them (their hearers) that it is not enough to know and understand the
   doctrine, but that it should be, also, manifested in their walk, yea,
   at the risk of body and life, that they should be prepared for the
   cross and temptation, that they should patiently and obediently bear
   it, and follow their bridegroom, for the devil dislikes such confession
   and therefore hates and persecutes them.

   Answer. Caiaphas said unto the Pharisees and Scribes, " It is expedient
   for us that one man should die for the people, and that the whole
   nation perish not," John 11:50.

   His intentions sounded right, yet his cruel, blood?thirsty heart did
   not perceive that it was he, who, through bitter zeal, sought the life
   of the king of all glory.

   We do not controvert but that Gellius and his fellow preachers
   sometimes talk of a pious life, according to the Scriptures, and
   admonish their hearers of the cross; but how they love true
   righteousness, which true ?doctrine brings forth, and how they treat
   the confessors thereof, may, alas, be educed from their indiscreet and
   disgraceful writing and crying.

   Since he writes that he thus admonishes them, as heard, and that it is
   plainly manifest that he not only hates the true righteousness, power,
   fruit and obedience which true preaching brings forth, but also
   crucifies it, I fear, by his indiscreet and disgraceful writing,
   therefore, the godly, pious reader may consider if he is not like unto
   the Scribes and Pharisees, in this respect, who, although they
   understood the law, yet so hated righteousness, that they, by their
   connivance and advice, crucified him who was promised in the law, the
   Fulfiller, Christ Jesus.

   Dear reader, understand what I write. Outward preaching, hearing,
   baptism and Supper do not at all avail before God; but before him avail
   teaching and believing, faith and works, outwardly baptism and Supper,
   according to the letter, and inwardly according to the Spirit and
   truth. Behold, this is what God's word and ordinance teach us.

   So long as such impenitent, carnal people are the dispensers, and such
   vain, pompous, covetous, extortionate, carousing and drinking people
   the partakers, so long, I say, it is not the true Supper of the Lord,
   but it is a supper of the impenitent, an encouragement to the
   unrighteous, and an enchanting mockery, however much it may be adorned
   and decked, before men, with high?sounding words and praises; for
   outside of the church of Christ, which is a gathering of the penitent,
   there is neither baptism nor Holy Supper. Again understand that which I
   write, Neither water, bread nor wine avail in Christ without true
   repentance, if they were, even, served by the apostles themselves;
   before him avail, alone, a new creature, a converted, changed and
   broken heart, a sincere fear and love of God, unfeigned love of one's
   neighbors, a sober, humble, peaceable and converted life, according to
   the word and example of the Lord. Where there is such a new being, lo,
   there is true baptism, and the true Supper. But to be baptized
   outwardly and partake of the Supper, according to the letter, and not
   inwardly before God in Spirit and truth, I repeat, is nothing more nor
   less than a shadow, vain mockery of God's work, nay, hypocrisy and
   deceit.

   Is it not a lamentable blindness, that these poor, misled people attach
   so much value to the outward, visible sign, and do not observe that
   they are, with all their heart inimical to the invisible signification,
   for which the visible sign was commanded in the Scriptures i as if God
   had a special pleasure in the mere elements, water, bread and wine, and
   not in the proper signification, which is represented and admonished
   thereby.

   O no, reader, we can not please nor serve God with mere water, bread
   and wine; for by his hand, it was all created. But we can serve and
   please him with the signification of his baptism and Supper, namely,
   that we thereby testify our faith and obedience, that we will walk in
   continual and eternal penance, that we will remember his inexpressibly
   great love and blessings, that we are thereby admonished that he has
   offered for us his spotless, pure body, and that he has shed his
   precious blood for the reconciliation of our souls, in his ardent love
   for us; that we will ever walk with him in unity of the Spirit, and
   follow him; that we will love, assist, console, reprove, bear, admonish
   and serve each other as members of one body; and that we will prove
   ourselves unto death, as the newly born children of God in all
   righteousness, holiness and truth. Behold, dear reader, for this
   purpose the signs of the New Testament were instituted. If Gellius and
   his like preachers were to use the Holy Supper in such heart and
   spirit; if the signification, fruit, spirit and power, although in
   weakness, were found in them and their disciples, as it is represented
   and taught by the sign, then we would, by the grace of God, soon meet,
   and not dispute about the use of the sign. But so long as they walk on
   the broad road, practice and uphold infant baptism, defame the baptism
   of the believing, do not separate their disciples and church from the
   world, and teach an unblamable doctrine and life, so long we cannot
   unite with them in doctrine and sacraments, whether this is attended by
   prosperity or adversity, as God pleases. For we know to a certainty,
   that the Lord's invincible, strong truth is on our side; and the
   damnable, weak falsehood on theirs.

   My faithful reader, reflect upon what I write. Our separation from the
   doctrine and sacraments of the preachers is principally for two
   reasons. In the first place, because we can plainly see, from the
   Scriptures and by their actions, and are assured, that they are not
   pastors but deceivers. All the Scriptures teach us that we shall not
   hear, but shun such preachers. For if we are afraid of thieves,
   murderers and wolves, according to the flesh, how much more should we
   fear those who so miserably devour our poor souls, who retain us in
   darkness, deprive us of the light of Christ, and fearlessly lead us to
   the frightful, indissoluble darkness of everlasting and infernal
   torment, for the sake of a meal of bread. For God's sake, dear reader,
   do not think hard of me. Behold, before God it is true what I write.

   The second reason is, that we may, by such shunning, testify to you and
   all others, by open deeds, that you are outside of the Spirit, word,
   kingdom and church of Christ, that you walk upon the wrong way ?and
   that you are miserably deceived by your preachers?so that you may yet
   awaken in time, depart from evil, walk in truth and be eternally saved.

   If you are of reasonable minds, then consider well what we hereby seek,
   and think not that we are so thoroughly deprived of reason that we walk
   this narrow way, through contentiousness and partizanism. O, how gladly
   would we save our weak bodies, our wives and small children, our
   possessions and lives, and live peaceably with the world, if we were
   not constrained by the love of God, and the eternal salvation of your
   souls and our own. But, as it is, we should, for the two mentioned
   reasons, sacrifice all to robbery, and, if the case require, to death,
   in sincere, genuine love. For, as a general thing, truth is maintained
   dearly; and sincere, faithful love crowned with a crown of thorns. O,
   Lord!

   In the last place he writes, "From this, every pious christian may
   educe, how unreasonably these people, who accuse us of enmity,
   contention and discord, and who quarrel about the articles of faith
   among themselves, and thus sow enmity, contention and discord, as said,
   Yea, who never thoroughly searched our doctrine, and who have scarcely
   seen us partake of the Supper, notwithstanding, they reprove us of our
   Holy Supper, and leave the assembly of Christ's church."

   Answer. To. this I would reply in the first place: The unrighteousness
   which shuts us out from the kingdom, church, body and Supper of Christ,
   is not merely included in enmity, contention and discord, but also in
   all other kinds of works of the flesh, such as, pomp, splendor,
   avariciousness, drinking and carousing.

   Although enmity and discord are, by the use of their supper, partially
   appeased among some of them, as he writes, yet all the other abominable
   sins and unrighteousness remain untouched as may be very plainly and
   publicly seen by their fruits. The heathens, too, conclude peace among
   themselves, when they are at variance with each other, yet they are not
   the right grains of the Lord's bread, and the true members of his body.
   Let every one of sound mind reflect upon what I say.

   In the second place I say, He can not with truth substantiate his
   accusation against us, that enmity, contention and discord exist among
   us.

   But as he and his fellows berate our christian doctrine and faith, our
   sacraments and actions before the whole world, cause much trouble and
   affliction; and we, by the grace of God, do not treat them inimically,
   but patiently bear with them, teach, reprove and admonish them;
   maintain truth with truth; and in sincerity of heart, show and point
   out to them the right way, at the risk of blood and life, for which
   they so hate us, so also, some raise up among us, as was the case in
   the times of the apostles, who would rather follow their own opinion
   than the Scriptures; who again return to the broad road, seek honor and
   a name, and therefore make unscriptural pretensions. With such we
   entreat and reason, admonish and reprove them, as the. Scriptures teach
   us, and I trust we do this reasonably and in love. If they suffer
   themselves to be taught, change their ways and strive after peace, then
   we thank the Lord for his blessing. But in case they despise fraternal
   admonition, remain obdurate in their ways and cause contention and
   discord, then they cannot be our fellows and brethren, until they
   acknowledge their faults, and return to the Lord's people in peace, 1
   Tim. 6:5; 2 Tim. 2:17; Tit. 3:11. If this should be called causing
   contention, enmity and discord about the articles of faith, or whether
   it should be called purification of the house of the Lord, all the
   right?minded may judge, both by their common sense and the Scriptures.

   In the third place I say, the reason why we do not hear their doctrine,
   and do not see their partaking of the supper, as he complains, is,
   because we have for a long time witnessed by their fruits, that their
   doctrine is vain and powerless, and their sacraments are not according
   to the word. For of what spirit both their preachers and disciples are,
   may, firstly, be educed from the dishonest, infamous, biter, false,
   spiteful and incentive writings of the preachers, and, secondly, from
   the abominable show of clothes, the extravagance about their houses,
   and from the superfluous, carnal life of the best of their disciples.
   What does their fine appearance, their ornamental logic avail, while
   they, in fact, forsake the Scriptures and the signification, fruit and
   power of the holy sacraments, nay, hate and persecute it? If I do not
   write the truth, reprove me.

   In the fourth place I would say, Gellius accuses us that we forsake the
   church of Christ. But I say that we, according to the teaching of the
   word and ordinance of God, and to the example of the holy, apostles,
   forsake the world and their false prophets, and that we, through the
   Spirit and grace of God, rid the church of Christ from snares,
   faithfully, admonish her members, and in our weakness, establish and
   edify them, according to the command of the holy word, Isaiah 52:11; 2
   Cor. 6:17; Acts 2:40; Rev. 18:4. What shall this poor man say and boast
   of the church of Christ, while she is yet quite unknown to him? I
   voluntarily make this offer: If they allow me a discourse with them
   under safe conduct, either privately before witnesses, or publicly,
   before a full assembly, and if I cannot prove or maintain, by the power
   of the truth that the preachers, in general, are deceivers and not
   pastors, and that their pompous, avaricious, extortionate swearing and
   cursing disciples, are of the world and are not christians, then I will
   publicly acknowledge before all the world, that we not only have
   forsaken the church of Christ, but also lamentably destroy her and
   cause many a pious heart much misery, affliction and trouble, in vain.

   But, as we can substantiate these assertions by the power of the truth,
   why, then, must we yet hear so many evil words? It were, indeed, high
   time that the preachers would quit their deceiving, that they and their
   disciples, who, where and what they be, would awaken, that they would
   tremble at the wrath and punishment of God, would repent, conform
   themselves to the Spirit, word and example of the Lord, and establish a
   true christian church, in accordance to the command of the Scriptures,
   and that they disclaimed and abjured their borrowed names and false
   boastings, as evangelical teachers, faithful shepherds, soulsavers, and
   preachers of the holy word, which they, to the dishonor of God, merely
   claim in appearance.Behold, reader, I write to you the truth and lie
   not I seek nothing, before my God,, but that I may gain Gellius and all
   the preachers, wherever they may be, to Christ, by the Spirit and word
   of? God; or that I may be vanquished of them and stand abashed before
   all the world, as an open deceiver. If they, now, be of christian
   disposition, and preachers of the holy word who are desirous of unity,
   as they pretend to be, then let them agree to what I desire they
   should, namely, a free discussion of the grounds and doctrines of both
   sides; that thereby the pure, saving truth of Christ may be maintained,
   and the impure, damnable falsehood of anti?christ be destroyed.

   But in ease they refuse this, as they have before twice refused me, and
   continue their infamous defamation and upbraiding as they have ever.
   done before, and accuse us with all manner of accusations before the
   common people, that we forsake the church of Christ; that we are a
   misled, deceived people, and that we pervert good into evil; what else
   can we then do but leave them to the Lord and his judgment; and
   willingly submit to the cross, as we have done, possess our souls in
   patience, admonish those of unperverted heart, as much as possible,
   minutely consider what kind of preachers and pastors they have, what
   great injustice they do us, poor miserable ones; how scornfully they
   reject truth, and maintain falsehood, since we, in all humility and
   true love, invite them to this free, christian discussion of the
   Scriptures, to the praise of Almighty God, and his eternal truth, and
   to the beneficial refreshment of all the oppressed and afflicted souls.
   But they refuse us this, and besides, slander and defame us by their
   infamous publications without discretion, and without all foundation
   and truth, and thus, disgracefully accuse us . before the whole world,
   and cause many pious, innocent children to be deprived of their
   possessions, honor and lives, even, as may, alaP, be witnessed in many
   different localities of the Netherlands.
     __________________________________________________________________

  EXCOMMUNICATION, BAN OR SEPARATION.

   BEFORE I commence a reply to Gellius' excuse why they do not practice
   Excommunication, Ban or Separation in their church, I would briefly
   refer the kind reader to different passages of the Scriptures to show
   that the Excommunication, Ban or Separation was not always practiced in
   the same manner, nor according to the same ordinance, by the Lord's
   people. The ban of Moses was punishment with death, Dent. 13; Lev. 16;
   Numb. 31; Josh. 7. This ban was in force until the Roman dominion. At
   that time a change was made; for, under the Roman scepter, they were
   not allowed to put the law in force, in regard to capital punishment as
   before. But they separated those who disobeyed the law; that is, they
   ejected them from their synagogues and assemblies, shunned their daily
   intercourse, neither ate nor drank with them, as maybe learned from
   many of the Scriptures of the apostles, Luke 15:2; Matt. 18:17; 1 Cor.
   G:11; 2 Thess. 3:6?14.

   To this shunning, rule and usage, the doctrine and example of Christ
   Jesus, and the holy apostles unanimously point us; and these two
   following benefits are derived from them.

   In the first place, that we be not deceived by the erroneous doctrine
   of false spirits, and weakened by their carnal, vain life, 2 John 1:10.
   "Know ye not," says Paul, "that a little leaven leaveneth the whole
   lump 3 Purge out, therefore, the old leaven," &c., 1 Cor. 6:6, 7.

   Yea, my reader, wherever this excommunication, ban or separation is
   zealously and earnestly taught and maintained in the fear of God,
   without respect of persons, there, doubtlessly, the church of the Lord
   will be maintained unprofaned, in salutary, pure doctrine, and in an
   offensive life. But where this is neglected, we find nothing but vanity
   and worldliness, as may be plainly observed by all the churches and
   sects which are not of us:

   Reader, observe, so long as the literal Israel, in this respect,
   followed the Ordinance of the Lord, and punished those deserving of the
   ban, according to the word of the Lord, they remained upright and
   pious; but when they neglected it, inclined their ears to falsehood,
   and gave way to false prophets, they deviated from the way of life, and
   degenerated into all kinds of wickedness and idolatry, as the
   prophetical Scriptures, on every hand, complain and testify.

   It was also the case with the primitive church; for so long as the
   pastors and teachers strictly required a godly, pious life, served
   baptism and Supper to the penitent alone, and rightly practiced
   separation, according to the Scriptures, they remained the church and.
   community of Christ. But as soon as they commenced to seek an easy,
   careless life, and to shun the cross of Christ, they laid aside the
   rod, preached peace to the people; gradually abandoned the ban; and
   thus established an anti?christian church, a Babel or worldly church,
   as may, alas, be noticed, to look back over the last several centuries.
   Yea, my reader, if we had not until now strictly maintained this means
   ordained of God, then, we and ours, at this day, would have been a
   reproach and curse to the world, while, now, I trust, they, in their
   weakness, will be, by the grace of God, an example and a light to many
   men; although the world will not acknowledge it. In short, a church
   without ban or separation, is like a vineyard without an enclosure and
   trenches, or a city without walls; for the enemies have free ingress
   into it to sow and plant their pernicious tares unhindered.

   In the second place, that the wicked, by a reasonable admonition, and
   separation from the pious, may, at heart, become ashamed, humble
   themselves and sincerely repent before God and the church. Therefore;
   Paul delivered the Corinthian unto Satan for the destruction of the
   flesh, that the spirit might be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus, 1
   Cor. S: S. He also thus delivered Hymeneus and Alexander, that they
   might no longer blaspheme, 1 Tim. 1:20. At another place he writes, "If
   any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no
   company with him, that he may be ashamed; yet count him not as an
   enemy, but admonish him as a brother," 2 Thess. 3:14, 15.

   Behold, reader, here you have it briefly stated of whom, how, and to
   what purpose, the ban or separation is ordained in the house and church
   of the Lord. Judge, now, if you fear God, if it is not an especially
   noble and necessary institution of pure love, which is ordained of the
   God of love to a service of love, although the unenlightened and
   refractory judge and consider it as enmity. For its ultimate design and
   fruit is, that the church may remain sound in doctrine, and unblamable
   in life; and that the erring, either in doctrine or life, may be
   converted, and again return to the pasture and flock of the Lord. But
   how far, yea, how very far, are all the preachers and churches of the
   world from this God?pleasing ordinance and very necessary practice.

   His first excuse that separation is not practiced in their church is,
   That the papistical abomination has so abominably destroyed the
   ordinance of the churches and the right usage of the ban, by their
   abuse, that it cannot be immediately re?established.

   Answer. If we diligently search the writings of the historians and
   compare the actions of the church; to which they refer, with the
   Scriptures, then, I think, that we surely find that there was not among
   all the German nations, a true, apostolic, christian church which stood
   right in doctrine, sacraments, ordinances and life; but that they were
   all founded upon the papistic foundation and abominations, and remained
   so, these many years.

   Since, then, the church is not founded by the apostles upon the
   foundation of Christ, but is founded of the Pope, upon his own
   foundation, and is in every respect a papistical, and not a christian
   church, and since it is palpable that it has at this hour, neither
   teachers, communion, life nor sacraments conformable to the ordinance,
   doctrine and example of Christ, therefore he can not practice the ban
   until he separates himself, because he is an adulterer of the
   Scriptures and deceiver of souls, and then all the church, because they
   are generally impenitent in life and outside of the command, ordinance
   and word of Christ in doctrine, as may be plainly noticed. Cqgita quae
   dico, Qui male faoit, non videt Dewm, 3 John 11. Remember that it is
   spoken, "He that doeth evil hath not seen God."

   In the second place he writes, " We admit that in many churches
   negligence is found, which we cannot commend; which is caused in some
   places by the punishment of all open transgressions by the magistracy,
   so diligently that the pastors esteem it unnecessary to put the ban in
   force."

   Answer. In my opinion it is high time that the preachers would quit
   their trifling with the souls of men; that they would unreservedly
   acknowledge that they are not the church of the Lord, but a poor,
   erring and worldly flock; and then would earnestly commence to learn to
   know themselves and next, to preach rightly the word of sincere
   repentance, in the power of the Spirit. All those who would accept it
   in sincerity of heart and truly repent, should serve the sacraments of
   the Lord, according to the ordinance of God, and those who would
   stubbornly reject it, should, by virtue of the holy word, be
   excommunicated, without respect of persons; then they might gather a
   church unto Christ, and rightly practice the ordinance of the Lord,
   according to the Scriptures.

   But so long as they baptize unconscious children, esteem all those who
   are baptized as christians, dispense the bread to the impenitent, and
   admit all .the avaricious, extortionate, pompous, drinking and
   carousing, in the communion of their churches, the world will be their
   church, and their church the world. In such a state of affairs they may
   preach and admonish all their life?time about separation, and the true
   church ordinances, but never establish them, since it is evident that
   all their doctrines and sacraments are nothing but a vapor, vain and
   powerless, for they are not the rightly called preachers, their
   sacraments are not the true sacraments and their disciples are not the
   Lord's church and people.

   Say, beloved, how shall a house be built without workmen, timber, iron,
   stone and mortar? Qui sanicordis est, cogitet quae dico. He who is of
   sound mind, may ponder on what I say.

   I would further say, that if Gellius rightly understood Christ and his
   word, he would be ashamed all his life?time; and for these two reasons:

   Firstly, because he undertakes to excuse the neglect of the pastors, by
   saying that the magistracy punish open trasgressions, as if therefore
   it were not necessary. I think that hundreds of pastors can be found in
   Germany, who never in their life knew that the avaricious, drunken,
   adulterous, &c., should be excommunicated; nay, what is worse. that the
   greater part of them are themselves guilty of such infamous doings.

   In my opinion it is as clear as day?light that his covering up and
   decking this ignorance, nay, negligence and disgrace, with the excuse
   that the magistracy punish the transgressors is nothing less than to
   willfully defend falsehood and oppose truth.

   Secondly, because he complains that the magistracy do not grant
   authority or hearing to the pastors. Say, kind reader, where, in all
   the days of your life, did you read in the apostolic Scriptures, that
   Christ or the apostles requested the authority of the magistracy to
   punish those who would not hear their doctrine or obey their words I
   Yea, reader, I know to a certainty, that wherever the magistracy is to
   maintain the ban by the force of the sword, there are not the true
   knowledge, Spirit, word and church of Christ. If .this is not rightly
   called by the papists, Invocare brockiwm seculare, that is invoking the
   assistance of the world, I will leave to the judgment of the discreet
   reader.

   Also, observe here his hypocrisy and his pernicious flattery of those
   in high standing; for where do we find, alas, more ungodliness than
   among those in authority. Notwithstanding, he wants the ban to be
   maintained by them, as if they were the true and faithful members of
   the church of Christ and children of his community; and never observes
   that if the pastors would rightly judge, according to the holy word,
   the magistrates, next to the preachers themselves, would be the first
   who should be, according to the Scriptures, separated and excluded from
   the communion of the pious.

   Since he, in this instance, so openly wheedles the magistrates and
   those of high standing, and thus flatters them, against all the
   Scriptures, therefore I cannot neglect to admonish all magistrates and
   subordinates, and in faithful love to warn them, to consider how
   miserably they are deceived by the preachers. Beloved lords, observe.
   You all boast that you are christians and have the word of God, while
   it is manifest that so many of the lords and princes, daily shed human
   blood like water, by their ungodly warring and tumult; that they rob
   many innocent people of their homes and property, that they cause many
   afflicted orphans and helpless children to be made; and that many of
   them drink and carouse day and night; abuse the creatures of God above
   measure, namely, wine, beer, victuals, clothes, &c., all of whom are
   deserving of excommunication and can not stand the test of the
   Scriptures, as, I presume, many of the learned and preachers
   themselves, well know; yet they connive at such, desire their authority
   and assistance; they act hypocritically with them, they talk so as?to
   please them, do not separate and punish them, however wickedly they
   behave; dispense to them the bread and wine as if they were members of
   the body of the Lord and brethren of his church. By this they so
   comfort and encourage them in their wickedness, that they never stop to
   inquire into the fear and ways of the Lord; for it is all peace, peace,
   whatever they preach, as the prophet complains, Jer. 8:8; Ezek 13:22:
   Beloved lords, take heed; they lead you straightway to the abyss of
   hell; therefore, beware. I tell you the truth in Christ Jesus, they
   deceive you. Again, I say, beware, they deceive you.

   On the other hand, they hate and upbraid above measure, all those who
   seek the Lord sincerely, who strive after his holy word, in their
   infirmity, and who would gladly, in their weakness, lead a pious, godly
   life, in the fear of the Lord; because they point them to Christ; and
   in true, godly zeal, and brotherly love, reprove and admonish them, to
   their own good, of their false doctrine, false sacraments, hypocrisy
   and indifferent life, according to the teachings of the Scriptures.
   Nay, we are called apostles of the devil, apostates, anabaptists,
   conspirators and heretics, by them.

   Behold, thus they connive at and flatter those of high standing,
   although they, generally, are upon the broad way; and thus they
   shamefully upbraid the innocent who never harmed them, and who would
   gladly lead a pious life. Yet they boast that they are preachers of the
   gospel and teach the word of God.

   In the third place he writes: The disrespect to the servants of the
   church, has, everywhere, become so prevalent, through the doings of
   these devilish conspirators and heretics, that few churches submit
   themselves, in unity of spirit, to their pastors, which is necessary.

   Answer. That the disrespect to the preachers has become so prevalent,
   is caused by nothing else but their own, exceeding wickedness, deceit,
   avarice, blasphemy and shamelessness, as the prophet says, "Behold, I
   will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, &c." "Ye are
   departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye
   have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the Lord of hosts; Therefore
   have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people,
   according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the
   law," Mal. 2:3, 8, 9.

   Yea, dear reader, they have become so sinful, and have so trafficked
   with the souls of men, that the just and great God could no longer
   endure it; he therefore graciously inspired some pious hearts with the
   Spirit of his divine knowledge, in his great love, and has discovered
   unto them the decked, Babylonian woman, the preachers and their
   churches, with all their fornication, abominations and
   blood?guiltiness, and thus made manifest their inhuman disgrace. And
   these, on account of their warning, all, in unfeigned love, against the
   deadly, enchanting poison of her cup, by doctrine, life, example, blood
   and possessions, by which they seek nothing but the praise of God and
   the salvation of their neighbors, are called devilish conspirators and
   heretics. O, Lord 1 O 1 never heard of blasphemy! O disgrace of all
   disgrace!

   All, my reader, my faithful reader, if we could reason with them, how
   soon would it be shown who are the devilish conspirators and heretics!
   But what does it avail? The Scribes and Pharisees sat upon exalted
   seats, but Christ had not whereon to lay his head. Besides, he had to
   hear, that he was possessed of the devil, and wrought his miracles in
   the name of Beelzebub.

   Is it not a perverse, lamentable hypocrisy, that this man undertakes to
   blame us for their not practicing the ban, while it is known and
   manifest to the whole world, that the greater part of the preachers are
   such an indifferent, blind and carnal people, that they neither
   acknowledge God nor his word, and seek nothing else than that they may
   satiate their carnal appetites and continue in their careless easy
   life? What kind of christians their churches or disciples are, what
   knowledge they have, and how they fear God, may, alas, be educed from
   their words and works, in city and country.

   In the fourth place he writes, It is a fact well known to the whole
   community (he refers to the community at Emden) that we have for
   several years, assiduously labored to again establish the christian
   ordinance of the ban.

   Answer. The world acknowledges no ban, but when such a transgression
   has been committed, that the executioner bans them with the sword,
   noose or fire, for the sake of their evil?doing. Or, if one sincerely
   repents and returns to God, abolishes the wicked, sinful life, in true
   fear, and puts on the new life of true repentance, that they, along
   with the papists, often deprive such an one of honor, possessions and
   life, or exile him and thus drive him into the mouth of the gaping
   lions.

   But that they should, according, to the Scriptures, shun the misers,
   drunkards, fornicators, &c.; that they should neither eat nor drink
   with them, they do not know, since they are, as a general thing,
   unchanged at heart, earthly?minded and full of all manner of avarice,
   pomp, extravagance and carnal works.

   Therefore I say again, they will admonish all their life time,
   concerning the ban, but never establish it according to the word of
   God; for how can one avaricious person shun the other, one drunkard the
   other and one deceiver the other, according to the Scriptures, and
   separate him from the communion of the church, while they are
   altogether earthly?minded and without the communion, Spirit and word of
   the Lord, as has been heard.

   In the fifth place he writes,;"The example of the anabaptists frightens
   us, who so practice the ban with discord, hatred and irreconcilable
   anger one against the other, that it tends more to the destruction than
   to the edification and gathering of the church, among them."

   Answer. All that I read and see of him, is a benighted vision, wrong
   judgment, wheedling of those of high standing, upbraiding and
   slandering the pious, excusing perverseness and adulteration of the
   Scriptures.

   O, how little? does he, as appears, fear God; for here he undertakes to
   cover up his fleeing from the cross and his disobedience, by citing the
   example of others. Reader, remember that the word of God should teach
   and govern us; that some refractory persons take offense at us, we
   cannot prevent. We act as the word of God has commanded us.

   All those who once enter into the obedience of the word, and afterwards
   live or teach contrary to it, can not be permitted to continue with us
   as brethren and sisters, if they will not hear our admonitions. In this
   case, neither greatness nor littleness, riches nor poverty avail. With
   God there is no respect of persons; they must all bow to the Spirit,
   word and scepter of Jesus, or else they cannot remain our brethren.

   Since it is manifest that the Spirit of the Lord becomes extinct in
   such as seek the broad road, and are desirous of the freedom of the
   flesh, of money and possessions; and that they offend the pious by
   their light?mindedness or self?conceit, therefore, they should, though
   reluctantly, be separated from the intercourse of the godly, when there
   are no hopes left of their reformation. If they take offense at this,
   because they hate to bear this shame, which is visited upon them in
   love, for no other purpose than for their reformation, and therefore
   slander and upbraid us, as, also the preachers; do because we dare not
   hear their teaching, and partake of their sacraments, we cannot help
   this; nor can we prevent that some of them become Davidists [3] and
   Epicurians [4] (as Genius calls them), in spite of all our faithful
   admonitions, assiduity, labor and brotherly, service.

   The fact is, the seed did not fall on the right kind of soil, but by
   the wayside, on rocky ground and amongst thorns, Matt. 13:6.

   I repeat it. We have applied to them the faithful service of our
   brotherly love, from our inmost hearts; admonished and entreated them,
   and have patiently borne with some for one or two years, still waiting
   on, their reformation, and in truth have not hastily separated them, as
   he accuses us, without all foundation. Since we follow and practice the
   ordinance of the Lord, in this respect, if he feared the Lord, he
   should reasonably commend our action, because we do rightly, follow the
   commands of God, at the risk of possessions and life, and because we
   act according to the Scriptures, without all respect to persons; and he
   would acknowledge the truth, and confess that not our example frightens
   them, but the fear of the cross. For if they would justly act and treat
   with kings, dukes, lords and princes, and also with their drunkards,
   misers, vain?showers, &c., then it would be quite a different thing
   with them; this I dare unreservedly say, and could prove it by facts.

   In the sixth place he writes, '° If they think that they do much good
   by their banning, toward the edification of the church, then let them
   point out from the several hundreds which they have banned, not ten,
   but only five, whom they have banned in love, and reformed through
   their brotherly love, or whom they have brought to order and saved by
   their banning."

   Answer. He seeks all kinds of causes to blaspheme the word and work of
   God, that he may give some appearance of reality to his cross?fleeing
   and hypocrisy. Inasmuch, as he says that separation tends more to
   destruction than edification, therefore the reader should know that we
   daily find, by experience; that the following benefits are derived from
   separation, among us: Firstly, that we thereby obey God's word.
   Secondly, that we thereby rid the community from false doctrine,
   discord, and offensiveness, as has been said. Thirdly, that the
   disobedient are thereby, daily admonished to reflect, repent and
   return. Fourthly, that we thereby testify that we do not consent to,
   nor unite with the Munsterites, and other rebellious sects. Fifthly,
   that we thereby admonish all preachers and their churches, that they
   are without the ordinance and word of God, in this respect. Sixthly,
   that thereby the whole world may learn from us that the advice,
   doctrine, ordinance and command of God should be maintained and obeyed.

   Behold, dear reader, these are the fruits which true separation, daily
   brings forth, by the grace of (lod. But these, the preachers, ~ alas,
   do not regard. If it were true that few are reformed thereby, as he
   imputes, they must still admit that these beforementioned results are
   obtained thereby.

   Reader, take notice that however we may, act, it is of no avail with
   the perverse; for if we had disregarded this means and divine
   ordinance, as the preachers do, and had left every body to follow his
   own mind, from which the great Lord ever preserve us, how loudly would
   they cry that we were rebels and Arians [5] . But while?we separate
   them, according to the Scriptures, from the communion of the church, it
   is called a destructive means and a hasty ban. Behold, thus they seek,
   on every hand, to destroy truth and uphold falsehood.

   In the seventh place he writes, "It is better not to use the ban, than
   to abuse it, to the destruction of the church.

   Answer. If it were true as he asserts, then, still a good thing should
   not be abandoned for the sake of some. If the ban is a means of
   destroying and rupturing, the church of Christ, then ,Christ and the
   apostles have very much deceived us in this regard, to have taught us
   this ordinance, openly, both by word and example, as may be read in the
   Scriptures. But what does it avail? He might briefly state his point
   thus: We do not separate and ban, for we are, as a general thing, all
   led by an erroneous spirit, and members of the body of anti?christ.

   In the eighth place he writes, "None have proved a greater obstacle to
   us in re?establishing the ban, than the anabaptists, who have caused a
   disturbance in the edification] of the. churchtiof Christ, and in its
   right course; who have brought the servantg into disrepute, and have,
   under semblance of truth, drawn many, zealous.hearts from the church
   (on whom it was to be practiced) and led them into falsehood."

   Answer. If I had not learned to know Gellius from his other writings,
   this excuse of his, in regard to the ban, would more than clearly teach
   me what kind of a man he is. O, dear Lord? It is nothing but hypocrisy,
   falsehood and deceit, whatever he says I He writes that we obstruct the
   ban; yet, if he would confess the truth, he would be forced to admit,
   that we do not obstruct him, but his own unbelief, carnal?mind and his
   cross?fleeing flesh, as said before.

   He writes that we have disturbed the edification of the church, while
   it is manifest that we point out to all the churches of the world, by
   doctrine and life, by the periling of possessions and blood, the right
   way to a true worship and ordinance, and that they are those who, with
   all their strength, disturb the course of the edification of the church
   of Christ, by their light?minded doctrine, false sacraments, and vain
   life.

   He writes that we have brought the servants into disrepute, because we
   reprove them, in unfeigned love, and point them by doctrine and life to
   Christ's example, Spirit and word, while he acknowledges above, that
   some are more fit to be herders of swine than shepherds of the sheep of
   Christ.

   He writes that we have, in semblance of truth, drawn many zealous
   hearts from the church, and led them into many errors; while the facts
   show that we do not separate them from the church but from the world,
   and that we lead them, by the hand and help of God, into?eternal truth.

   I would further say, Their doctrine has been preached for over thirty
   years, in Germany, and there are whole kingdoms, principalities and
   cities where not a single anabaptist, as he calls them, is to be found.
   Who is it that obstructs the pastors there in re?establishing the ban?
   In all the time that they have preached and taught their doctrine, they
   have never yet banned an adulterer, drunkard, miser, &c., and excluded
   such an one from the communion of their churches; notwithstanding he
   writes that we obstruct and hinder them. O, dear Lord! thus are the
   pious everywhere evil spoken of, although they seek God sincerely, and
   would gladly see a christian church, true in doctrine, sacraments,
   ordinances and life.

   In the ninth place he writes, " For two reasons we could not so soon
   establish it (he means the ban) as the anabaptists did. Firstly,
   because our gatherings are open and consist of many hundreds, whom we
   cannot all know; while their gatherings are secret and consist of but
   few. Secondly, because we do not establish sects, as they do, which is
   a work of the flesh, and befriended of the devil; but we establish an
   eternal church unto Christ, which is beguiled and robbed by the devil."

   Answer. Above he has partly acknowledged that many of their hearers are
   of the world. Here he writes that their gatherings consist of many
   hundreds, and that they gather an abiding church; yet they never came
   to the point that they separate their disciples and church from the
   world, and conform to the divine ordinance. The reason is because they
   are of the world.

   But to his writing that their assembly is large and kept in public, and
   that ours is small, I would, with the word of the Lord, reply in this
   manner, "Wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to
   destruction, and many there be which go in thereat; because strait is
   the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life and few there
   be that find it," Matt. 7:18,14.

   Yea, my reader, if you attentively read the Scriptures you will find
   that the number of the chosen ones ever was small and the number of the
   unrighteous was always great. The pure and true gospel of Jesus Christ,
   the true knowledge of eternal truth, never was so appreciated by the
   world that the true believers can be counted by many thousands in any
   country or city. Christ Jesus and his eternal truth must ever abide
   with few, in retired places; but anti?christ and his falsehood can go
   abroad undisturbedly and in public, and count his followers by
   thousands.

   Again, by his writing that they cannot know all on account of their
   great numbers, he testifies that brotherly love is very scarce with
   them; for where is there a christian pastor who does not know his sheep
   I and where is the christian brother who does not know his neighbor I
   If the preachers do not know all, on account of their great numbers,
   still one brother should know the other; they should teach, admonish,
   comfort and reprove each other; they should seek each other's
   salvation; for this the word and unction of God teach us.

   Reader, observe. He pretends " that they cannot possibly know all;" and
   I, who am most of the time, keeping myself in retired places, could
   point them out in great numbers. Let him, once travel through city and
   country where they boast of the word, and let him take a close
   observation, and he will find out how they dare heap one falsehood upon
   another, and one ungodly act upon another; how they dare swear by the
   Lord's sacred flesh, blood, death, wounds and sacrament, and how they
   are decked with different, vain ornaments. Let him take a view of the
   taverns, fencing?schools, the houses of ill?repute, &c., of which there
   is no lack in Germany; let him examine the courts of kings and princes;
   and into the ways of the nobility, and I presume he will find thousands
   doubly deserving of separation. But an earthly mind and perverse heart
   has, alas, little regard for the ordinance and word of the Lord.

   Again, to his assertion that they do not establish sects, as he says we
   do, and that it is a carnal work, I would reply thus: I do sincerely
   wish that Gellius and all the Papists, Lutherans, Zuinglians,
   Davidists, &c., could appreciate this matter, for it is written of
   heresies and heretics, that they shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

   It is a small matter to us to be called heretics by the world; for the
   children of God, in the apostolic times, were also called the same.
   Notwithstanding, we, in our humility, would say this in regard to this
   matter, that we point to Christ Jesus, God's eternal Wisdom, Truth and
   Son; for he is the One on whom to rely, and we unreservedly refer to
   his doctrine, ordinance and usage. If any one under the whole canopy of
   heaven, can convince us with the infallible truth that we are wrong and
   act contrary to his word, then we will gladly hear it and obey the
   truth.

   But in case they cannot do so, they must confess that we are the
   apostolic christian church, and that they are the deceiving, carnal
   sects.

   But that sectarians are raised amonst us, and not amongst them, is also
   a strong proof that we are the church, and that they are not. For Paul
   says, " There must be also heresies among you, that they which are
   approved may be made manifest among you," 1 Cor. 11:19. John says, "
   They went out from us, but they were not of us," 1 John 2:19.

   Say, beloved, why should Satan beguile these with heresies, who are
   already heretics and his adherents I But those that turn to the Lord,
   such he beguiles and seeks to devour them, Gen. 3:15; 1 Pet. 5:8.

   In the tenth place he writes, If they only said that we do not teach
   the ban, it might insult us and many teachers and churches, and they
   might almost be disgraced thereby. But they say that we neither have,
   hold to, nor practice it.

   Answer. In my opinion it would be well for him not to ridicule these
   things, but to closely observe the word of the Lord. Before God, the
   literal teaching does not avail; but before him, avails action in power
   and truth. If they should say that this would cause a disturbance, then
   I would ask what kind of protectors and shepherds they are, if they
   neglect the will and word of God on account of the disturbance of the
   world. Let all the right minded judge this according to the Scriptures,
   Matt. 10.

   In the last place he writes, But, admit it to be true that this failure
   exists in all of our churches, although the contrary is true of many of
   them, for in the German church in London, England, one is banned,; and
   it is not altogether neglected herein Emden. Would the church on that
   account lose its name and henceforth, as they say, be no longer the
   church of Christ? Then, truly our body, to which the church is likened,
   would lose the name of body on account of some blemish or wound.

   Answer. I think this is posuimus mendac?ium spem nostrcam, to make lies
   our refuge. For he says, the contrary is true of many churches; yet he
   can point to only one, of the many kingdoms, principalities, cities and
   towns, who is banned, namely, at London, England. I have never, in all
   my life time heard of a more ridiculous assertion. How manifestly does
   the great Lord turn their wisdom to foolishness and their understanding
   to nothing, 1 Cor.1. Yet the blind, ignorant world does not see it.

   Reader, reflect, afid see if these are not the mockers of which Peter
   and Jude prophesy, 2 Pet. '3:3; Jude 8. The whole German nation or
   people, nay, all countries, are so replete with ungodliness,
   abominations and wickedness that we should stand dumb?founded. Yea,
   that the righteous, who fear the Lord, are as scarce as the grapes of a
   vintage which has been diligently gleaned, and in which few are left to
   pluck and use, as the prophet laments, ?Mich. 7:1; and out of so many
   hundreds of thousands, he points to one who was banned at London, that
   it may be said that they practice the ban, and thus that they thus may
   give a semblance to their disobedience.

   I think that they act so awkwardly, that the whole world must see that
   it is nothing but hypocrisy, falsehood and deceit. O, Lord, how long
   will this mockery be endured ! But to his writing that if the church
   should lose her name on account of an error, that then, also, our
   bodies would lose its name on account of a blemish or wound, I would
   reply: If this was the only error in their church, then there would yet
   be hopes of a reformation; but their failures and short?comings are so
   numerous, that they would better be compared to a dead body, than to a
   body that has but? one blemish or wound, as he pretends to say.

   I think that?in this instance the cunning of the fog which destroys
   .God's vineyard (which he, in his writing imputes to us) is plainly
   discernable here. For how cunningly they flee from one latibulo
   (hidingplace) to another, lest they be caught, may, alas, be clearly
   educed from this frivolous excuse of the ban.
     __________________________________________________________________

   [3] Davidists are the followers of David George, a eect of quiet
   mystics in the sixteenth century, who were accused of very erroneous
   sentiments.

   [4] Followers of Epicurus, an ancient Greek philosopher.?Webster's
   Royal Octavo Dict.

   [5] Arians, followers of Arius, a presbyter of the church of
   Alexandria, about 315, who maintained that the Son of God was totally
   and essentially distinct from the Father; that he was the first and
   noblest of those beings whom God had created?but inferior to the Father
   in nature and dignity. also, that the Holy Ghost was not God, but
   created by the power of the Son. ?Buck's Theol. Dic.
     __________________________________________________________________

  CONCERNING THE CHURCH, AND AN INSTRUCTIVE COMPARISON HOW

  WE MAY DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE CHURCH OF CHRIST,

  AND THE CHURCH OF ANTI?CHRIST.

   Gnus complains that we destroy and leave the church of God, and that we
   are devilish sects and conspirators; and, on the contrary boasts that
   they gather an abiding church. Therefore, in my opinion, it is
   necessary, in the first place, to compare the churches with the
   requirements of the Scriptures, that the pious reader may know the
   difference, and see which and what the Church of Christ is, and also
   what the church of anti?christ is; how long they both have existed; of
   whom they are; of whom they are brought forth; to what purpose they are
   begotten; of what disposition or nature they both are; what their
   fruits are; and by what signs they may be known, lest he be deceived by
   the preachers, and mistake the church of Christ for a heresy and
   conspiracy, and the church of anti?christ for the church of Christ.

   In the first place, it should be taken into consideration, that the
   community of God, or the church of Christ, is an assembly of the pious,
   and a community of the saints, as is represented by the Nicene symbol;
   who, from the beginning have firmly trusted and believed in the
   promised seed of the woman, which is the promised Prophet, Messiah,
   Shilo, King, Prince, Emmanuel and Christ; who accept his word in
   sincerity .of heart; follow his example, are led by his Spirit, and who
   trust in his promise in the Scriptures, Dent. 18:18; Gen. 49:10; Jer.
   23:5; 33:15; Isaiah 7:14.

   Such are now, generally called christians or the church of Christ,
   because they are born of Christ's word by means of faith, by his
   Spirit, and are flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone, as the
   children of Jacob, on account of their natural birth, were called the
   house of Israel, Rom. 9:7?9.

   On the contrary it should be observed that the church of anti?christ is
   a gathering of the ungodly, and a community of the impenitent, who
   reject the aforementioned seed, Christ, and his word, and oppose his
   will, and for that reason are called the anti?christian community or
   church, because they, through the spirit and artifices of anti?christ,
   although in semblance of the word, and in the name of Christ, teach,
   believe, act, and establish a strange worship, contrary to the Spirit,
   word, example and ordinance of Christ.

   In the second place, it should be observed that the church of the pious
   is from the beginning; yet, it had not always the same ordinance; nor
   was it always called by one name in the Scriptures. For, before their
   departure from Egypt, they had no particular, written law; yet they
   feared the great and powerful God, faithfully served Him, offered
   burnt?offerings, and walked in his ways, as may be seen in the case of
   Abel, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and others; they were, at that time,
   called God's children. Afterwards, Abraham was commanded to circumcise
   himself and his household, and all the males after him, on the eighth
   day after their birth, Gen. 17:10. About four hundred years after that,
   Moses gave the law; and from that time they were generally called the
   people of God, or the house of Jacob and Israel. At last Christ Jesus,
   the Messiah of all the world appeared, to which all the Scriptures
   point. All those who hear him, believe his word and follow him, are now
   called christians, or the church of Christ, as heard, Isaiah 58:2, 4;
   Jer. 23:5.

   Although at different times she was under different ordinances and
   ?usages, and, although the church is called by different names, as
   said, yet all, before, under and after the law, who, in sincere, true
   fear of God, walked, and continue to walk according to the word and
   will of God, and trust in Christ, are one community, church and body,
   and will ever remain so; for they are all saved by Christ, accepted of
   God, and gifted with the Spirit of his grace. It should also be
   observed that the church of the ungodly, which is the church of
   anti?christ, commenced first with the ungodly, who were inspired with
   the spirit of the devil, which is envious of all good things; and will
   be unto the end. For the anti?church has generally existed, from the
   beginning, side by side with the christian church, and is the most
   numerous; and till the deluge, it is spoken.of, in the Scriptures as
   the"' children of men," Gen. 6:2; John 8:44. But from the flood until
   the circumcision of Abraham they are called Gentiles. After the time of
   the circumcision they are called Gentiles or uncircumcised, Gen. 17:11;
   Rom. 15:9.

   They did not know the true and living God, but they worshipped and
   served the handiwork of men, wood, stone, silver and golden gods,
   besides, dragons, serpents, oxen, fire, the sun, moon, &c., until the
   apostles preached the gospel unto all the world, and gathered a church
   unto Christ, Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:16; Rom. 10:17; Col. 1:23, which
   church has been in the meantime so destroyed by anti?christ, that the
   greatest number have degenerated into open Gentiles and idolaters,
   although, in appearance they call themselves christians; for they bend
   their knees to rods and blocks, and require the assistance of the
   artificer. Others, and these are the best minded of them, seek
   consolation and their salvation in wrought ceremonies, water, bread,
   wine, and absolutions; so that we are forced to say that they are the
   church of the impenitent, and the church of anti?christ.

   In the third place, it should be observed that the christian church is
   of God, as Paul says, " For both he that sanctifieth, and they who are
   sanctified, are all of one," Heb. 2:11. For as Christ Jesus, who is the
   true Savior, is of God, nay, God's only begotten and firstborn Son, so
   also are all those who, in sincerity of heart, believe his word, and
   are actuated by his Spirit. John says, "But as many as received him, to
   them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe
   on his name; which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the
   flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God," John 1:12, 13.

   Again, " Every one that loveth, is born of God," 1 John 4:7. On the
   other hand it should be observed that the church of antichrist is of
   the evil one, as the Lord said unto the Pharisees, " Ye are of your
   father, the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a
   murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there
   is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own; for
   he is a liar, and the father of it," John 8:44. " He that committeth
   sin, is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning," 1 John
   3:8.

   Reader, observe. By these words the spirit of truth has already judged
   all liars, blood?shedders, avaricious, perjurers, adulterers,
   drunkards, pompous, idolators together with all the unrighteous that
   they are of the devil; that is, that they are the devil's community.
   Nevertheless they boast that they are the church of Christ, as also the
   Pharisees boasted that they were Abraham's seed and children, John
   8:39??44.

   In the fourth place it should be observed that the church of Christ is
   begotten of sincere, pious preachers and christians, who are actuated
   by the Spirit of Christ; arid who are, as Moses, Samuel, Isaiah,
   Jeremiah, Peter, Paul, John, &c., unblamable in doctrine and life; who,
   in pure and faithful love, seek the salvation of their neighbors, and
   who can, in sincerity, say with Paul, "Be ye followers of me, even as I
   also am of Christ," 1 Cor. 11:1; who preach the word in the power of
   the Spirit; who are shining lights before all men; and .who with all
   their strength strive with their received talent, and may make a great
   gain to the treasure of the Lord, Phil. 2:15; Matt. S; 16. For it was
   God's way and will from the beginning, to proclaim the doctrine of
   repentance through pious and unblamable servants, as has been
   sufficiently shown above under the head of the " Calling of the
   Preachers."

   On the other hand it should be observed that the church of anti?christ
   is brought forth by faithless preachers, who are actuated by the spirit
   of anti?christ; who with Korah, Dathan and Abiram seek the applause of
   the people, Num. 16:2, who with Balaam seek inordinate gain, Num.
   22:24; and who with the prophets of Jezebel seek choice victuals. Who,
   with Hananiah flatter the people, Jer. 28:11; who, with the false
   prophets preach Peace, Ezek. 13:16; who are earthly and carnally
   minded, and seek nothing but world, ease, honor, belly and gain, Phil.
   3:19; Rom. 16:17.

   O, reader, how the greatest and highest esteemed preachers of our day,
   whose names have become wide spread, seek the poor, naked and crucified
   Christ Jesus, and the souls of men with their gospel, may, alas, be
   educed from the accursed, ungodly pomp and splendor about their houses,
   and from the vain and curious ornaments, chains, rings, silk and satin,
   of their women and children. Notwithstanding their doctrine is called
   the evangelical theology, and they, the servants of the holy word.

   In the fifth place, it should be observed that the church of Christ is
   begotten by the Spirit and word of Christ. For as an honorable woman
   can bring forth no legitimate children but from the seed of her lawful
   husband, so, also, the bride of Christ, namely, the church, can bring
   forth _:Lio true Christians but from the legitimate seed of Christ,
   that is, from the unadulterated word, rightly preached through the Holy
   Spirit, and conceived in the heart of the hearers. Paul says, "In
   Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel," 1 Cor. 4:15;
   James says, " Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth," Jas.
   1:18; also read Rom. 10; 1 Pet. 1.

   On the other hand the church of antichrist is begotten of deceiving
   doctrine, through the spirit of error. Paul says, "Now the Spirit
   speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the
   faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
   speaking lies in hypocrisy," 1 Tim. 4:1. Yea, reader, what else has the
   church of Christ abolished, and the church of anti?Christ
   re?established, but the false doctrines of the learned, the many
   inconsistent concilions, decrees, statutes, doctrines and commands of
   men? What else blinds the German nation, to?day, and what else retains
   them in their ungodliness, but the lightminded doctrine of the
   preachers, the ungodly, infant baptism, the unscriptural, idolatrous
   supper, and the neglect of the Lord's ordinance (separation), as it was
   practiced by the apostles?

   The prophets on every hand complained that Israel inclined their ears
   to false preachers, Isaiah 30:9; Jer. 8:8;14:14.

   Christ Jesus, and his holy apostles faithfully warn in many Scriptures
   against false prophets; for they deceive you, says Christ; they serve
   their bellies and not the Lord Christ, says Paul; they promise others
   liberty and are themselves servants of corruption, says Peter. They
   turn the grace of God unto lasciviousness, Jude 4, and they are of
   anti?Christ, Matt. 7:16; 16:9; 2 Pet. 2:19. O reader, reflect
   diligently on what I write.

   In the sixth place it should be observed that the church of Chat is
   begotten for the purpose of hearing the Lord, to fear, love, serve,
   praise, honor and thank God sincerely, as Moses says, "And now, Israel,
   what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy
   God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord
   thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul; to keep the
   commandments of the Lord, and his statutes," Dent. 10:12.

   Again, "Ye shall walk after the Lord your God, and fear him, and keep
   his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and
   cleave unto him," Dent. 13:4. Peter says, " Ye are a chosen generation,
   a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should
   show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into
   his marvelous light," 1 Peter 2:9.

   Behold, the church of Christ is begotten that his great miracles, his
   Almighty Majesty, his inextinguishable love, and his adorable, high and
   holy name may be eternally glorified.

   But the church of anti?Christ despises, hates and reviles God, as the
   prophet says, They transgress my covenant, as Adam did, by which they
   despise me. Yea, all who reject the Lord's will, word, advice,
   admonition, chastening, grace and love, hate him and will not be ruled
   by him They do not his will, but their own; they say in their hearts

   Depart from us, we will know nothing of thy ways; who is this Most
   High, that we should serve him ff Behold, thus they boldly despise the
   Almighty, eternal God, who is the Creator, Messiah and Lord of all the
   world. May the dear Lord grant them eyes that they may see their great
   faults; and hearts to realize them; this is my sincere wish for them,
   Amen.

   In the seventh place it should be observed that the church of Christ in
   her weakness, is disposed and minded as Christ; for Paul says, "If any
   man be in Christ, he is a new creature," 2 Cor. 5:17; he s led by the
   Spirit; and acknowledges through this Spirit that he abides in God and
   God in him; he partakes of the divine nature. Yea, dear reader, the
   true church hates that which Christ hates, and loves that which he
   loves; for she is his Bride, flesh of his flesh, and " made to drink
   into one Spirit." Therefore she can not be otherwise minded than Christ
   is minded, for she is begotten of his word and abides in him and he in,
   over, and through her, 1 John 4:12; John ls:4?7.

   Compare this with the church of antichrist, and you will find that ' it
   is of ?like nature as her father of whom she is begotten, namely,
   proud, envious, murderous, false, disobedient, self?conceited, earthly
   and, carnally minded, selfish, avaricious, bold, proud, pompous,
   superfluous, impure, and altogether opposed to Christ. For all things
   that Christ prohibits, they do; and that which he commands, they
   despise; whatever he hates, they love, and whatever he loves, they
   hate; notwithstanding they boast that they gather an abiding church, as
   has been heard, 1 Cor. 8:6; 1 John 3

   24; 4:13. He that hath ears?let him hear, and judge whether or not I
   speak the truth.

   In the eighth place it should be observed that the church of Christ
   brings forth the fruits of Christ, as he says, "I am the vine, ye are
   the branches. He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth
   forth much fruit," John 15:6.

   Every tree bears after its own kind; all who are born of God, and
   partake of the divine nature, fear, love, serve and praise God with all
   their heart; walk unblamably; fraternally teach, admonish, reprove,
   uphold, and comfort their neighbor; daily die unto the flesh and its
   lusts; conform their, ways according to the word of the Lord and
   continually lament over their being such poor, weak and frail sinners,
   Matt. 7:17.

   They strive to become conformable unto the death of the Lord that they
   may arise from the. death of their sins, and that they may attain unto
   a perfect being in Christ. Not, my reader, that they have already
   attained or become perfect. By no means; but they strive, with Paul, to
   follow after, if that they may apprehend that for which also I am
   apprehended of Christ Jesus, Phil. 3:12.

   On the other hand look at the fruits of the church of anti?christ.
   Their preachers falsely teach; boldly deceive, and live an easy,
   superfluous life. The magistracy behave as if they were born for no
   purpose but to make war and tumults; to torture, murder, destroy cities
   and countries; to make vain show, drink, carouse, and to live in all
   manner of lasciviousness, yea, many act so that they, alas, would
   better be called Leones rugientes (roaring lions) and lwpi ves pertini
   (howling wolves) than human! (human beings) and reasonable persons to
   say nothing of christians.

   The common people drink, carouse, curse, swear, grasp, tear, lie, and
   cheat. In short, we find such behavior on every hand, as if God was a
   chimera, and his word a fable. Behold, such are the fruits of those who
   boldly boast that they are the church of Christ. Oh! would to God that
   they could see what Christ Jesus, after whom they call themselves, and
   his holy apostles, have taught them in plain words, and what example
   they left them, that they might yet be saved. For as it is they only
   play with the letter, cry and boast; but, alas, no spirit, work, power
   and fruits are apparent.
     __________________________________________________________________

  THE SIGNS BY WHICH BOTH CHURCHES MAY BE KNOWN.

   ALTHOUGH I think, kind reader, that the difference between both
   churches may be fully perceived in the foregoing comparison, yet I
   will, for the sake of greater clearness, briefly present the following
   signs by which the one church may be known from the other, that truth
   may be the more fully testified and manifested.

   The first sign by which to distinguish the church of Christ is the
   salutary and unadulterated?doctrine of his holy and divine word. God
   commanded Israel to abide by the doctrine of the law and not to deviate
   there from, neither to the right hand nor to the left, Dent. 5:32.
   Isaiah admonished them to conform themselves to the law and its
   testimony, or they would not receive light, Isaiah 8:20. Christ
   commanded his disciples, saying, " Go ye into all the world, and preach
   the gospel to every creature," and "teach them to observe all things
   whatsoever I have commanded you." The prophets testify on every hand
   that they spoke the word of God, Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, they
   say; again, the mouth of the Lord says; again, thus speaketh the Lord
   God who has led you out of the land of Egypt, and other like
   testimonies. Paul also says, "But though we, or an angel from heaven,
   preach any other gospel unto you, than that which we have preached unto
   you, let him be accursed," Gal. 1:8. In short, where the church of
   Christ is, there his word is preached purely and rightly; but where the
   church of anti?christ is, there the word of God is adulterated; there
   we are pointed to an earthly and unclean Christ and to means of
   salvation which are strange to the Scriptures; there we are taught a
   broad and easy way; there the great are flattered, truth perverted into
   falsehood; there easy things are taught, such as the poor, ignorant
   people will gladly hear. In short, there they are consoled in their
   unhappy state, that they may underrate it, and say, " Peace, peace,
   when there is no peace," Jer. 8:11. They promise life to the
   impenitent, while the Scriptures say, that they shall not inherit the
   kingdom of God, 1 Cor. 6:10; Gal. 5 21.

   The second sign is the right and Scriptural use of the sacraments of
   Christ, namely, the baptism of those who, by faith, are born of God,
   sincerely repent, who bury their sins in Christ's death, and arise with
   him in newness of life; who circumcise the foreskin, of their hearts
   with the circumcision of Christ, which is done without hands; who put
   on Christ, and have a clear conscience, Tit. 3:5; Rom. 5:4; Col. 3:11;
   1 Pet. 3:21. Again, the dispensing of the Lord's Holy Supper to the
   penitent, who are flesh of Christ's flesh, who seek grace,
   reconciliation and the remission of their sins in the merits of the
   death and blood of the Lord, who walk with their brethren in love,
   peace and unity, who are led by the Spirit of the Lord, into all truth
   and righteousness, and who prove, by their fruits, that they are the
   church and people of Christ.

   Where baptism is practiced without the command and word of Christ, as
   those do who not only baptize without faith, but also without reason
   and consciousness; where the power and representation of baptism,
   namely, dying unto sin, the new life, the circumcision of the heart,
   &c., are not only not upheld, but also quite hated by those of mature
   age; and where the bread and wine are dispensed to the avaricious,
   pompous and impenitent; where salvation is sought in mere elemefits,
   words and ceremonies, and where a life is led contrary to all love,
   there is the church of anti?christ; this all intelligent person' must
   admit. For it is manifest that they reject Christ, the Son of God, his
   word and ordinance, and place in its stead their own ordinance and
   works, and thus establish an abomination and idolatry.

   The third sign is obedience to the holy word, or the pious, christian
   life which is of God. The Lord says," Ye shall be holy, for I, the Lord
   your God, am holy," Lev. 19.:1. Christ says, "Ye are the light of the
   world." Paul says, "Be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without
   rebuke, in the midst of .a crooked and perverse nation, among whom, ye
   shine as lights in the world," Phil. 2:16. John says, "He that saith he
   abideth in him, ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked," 1
   John 2:8.

   But how holy, the church of anti?christ is, how her light shines, how
   unblamably and purely they. walk, and how their life conforms to
   Christ's life, may, alas, be educed from their words and works, on
   every hand.

   The fourth sign is the sincere and unfeigned love of one's neighbor,
   for Christ says, "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples,
   if ye have love one to another," John 13:35. Yea, reader, wherever
   sincere, brotherly love is found without hypocrisy with its fruits,
   there we find the church of Christ. John says; "Let us love one
   another; for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God,
   and knoweth God. He that loveth not, knoweth not God; for God is love,"
   1 John 4:7, 8.

   But whether the church of anti?christ is not there where brotherly love
   is rejected, where they hate, defame, strike and beat each other, where
   every one seeks his own interest, where they treat each other
   deceitfully and faithlessly, curse, swear and slander, where they
   defile their neighbors' maiden, daughters and wives, deprive each other
   of honor, possessions and life, commit all manner of recklessness,
   abominations and malice against each other, as may, alas, be seen on
   every hand, all intelligent persons may judge according to the
   Scriptures.

   The fifth sign is, that the name, will, word and ordinance of Christ,
   are unreservedly confessed, in spite of all the cruelty, tyranny,
   uproar, fire, sword and violence of the world, and that they are upheld
   unto the end. Christ says, "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before
   men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven,"
   Matt. 10:32. "Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me, and of my
   words, in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him also shall the
   Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father, with
   the holy angels," Mark 8:38. Paul, also, says, "For with the heart man
   believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made
   unto salvation," Rom. 10:10.

   But what kind of a church is found, where they are papistic, when with
   the papists; Lutheran, when with the Lutherans, &c., now build up, and
   anon demolish and act the hypocrite to suit the magistracy, every one
   may judge who is enlightened by the truth, and taught of the Holy
   Spirit.

   The sixth sign is the pressing cross of Christ, which is taken up for
   the sake of his testimony and word. Christ says unto his disciples, "
   Ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake," Matt. 24:9. "All
   that will live godly in Christ Jesus, shall suffer persecution," 2 Tim.
   3:12. Sirach says, "My .son if thou come to serve the Lord, prepare thy
   soul for temptation. Set thy heart aright, and constantly endure, and
   make not haste in time of trouble. Cleave unto him, and depart not
   away, that thou mayest be increased at thy last end. Whatsoever is
   brought upon thee, take cheerfully, and be patient when thou art
   changed to a low estate. For gold is tried in the fire, and acceptable
   men in the furnace of adversity," Eccl. 1:5. Also read, Matt. 5:10;
   10:23; 18:24; Mark 13:13; Luke 6:22; John 16:2; Acts 14:18; 2 Tim. 2;
   Heb. 11:37; 12:2.

   That this very cross is a sure sign of its being the church of Christ,
   has been testified not only in olden times by the Scriptures, but also
   by the example of Jesus Christ, of the holy apostles and prophets, by
   the primitive and unadulterated church; and also, by the present pious,
   faithful children, especially ?in these our Netherlands.

   On the other hand, the ungodly, heathenish, lying, hating, envying,
   upbraiding, blaspheming, and. the unmerciful apprehending, exiling,
   robbing and murdering, as may be witnessed in different localities, are
   plain signs of the church of antichrist. For John saw that the
   Babylonian "woman was drunken with the blood of the saints, and with
   the blood of the martyrs of Jesus," Rev. 17:6. He also saw that to the
   beast which arose from the sea, a mouth was given, speaking great
   things and blasphemy against God and his holy name, and his tabernacle
   or church, and them that dwell in heaven. And it was given unto him to
   make war with the saints, and to overcome them, Rev. 13:5, 6, 7. 'lea,
   dear reader, this is the proper way and work of the church of
   anti?Christ, To hate, persecute and put to the sword those whom she
   cannot enchant with the golden cup of her abominations.

   O Lord!, O, dear Lord! grant that the wrathful dragon devour not
   entirely thy poor, small number; grant that we, by thy grace, may, in
   patience, conquer by the sward of thy mouth; and may leave an abiding
   seed, which shall keep thy commandments, preserve thy testimony, and
   which shall eternally praise thy great and glorious name. Amen, dear
   Lord, Amen.

   Herewith I will ?abbreviate the doctrine of the churches, and conclude
   this subject with the following questions and answers, which, I trust,
   by the grace of God, will enlighten the diligent reader considerably.

   Quest. What is the church of Christ?

   Ans. A community of saints.

   Q. With whom did she originate ?

   A. With Adam and Eve.

   Q. Of whom is she?

   A. Of God, through Christ.

   Q. Of what kind of servants is she begotten?

   A. Of those who are unblamable, in doctrine and life.

   Q. Whereby do they beget her?.

   A. By the Spirit and word of God.

   Q. For what purpose do they beget her ?

   A. That she shall serve, thank and praise God.

   Q. Of what mind is she?

   A. Of Christ's mind, in weakness.

   Q. What kind of fruits does she bring forth?

   A. Fruits which are conformable to the word of God.

   Q. What is the church of anti?Christ?

   A. A community of the unrighteous.

   Q. With whom did she originate?

   A. With the first ungodly.

   Q. Of whom is she?

   A. Of the evil one, through anti?Christ.

   Q. Of what kind of servants is she begotten ?

   A. Of such as are blamable in doctrine and life.

   Q. Whereby do they beget her?

   A.. By the spirit and . doctrine of anti?

   christ.

   Q. For what purpose do they beget her l

   A. That she may despise, forsake and

   hate God.

   Q. Of what mind is she g

   A. Of an earthly, carnal, and devilish

   mind.

   Q; What fruits does she bring forth?

   A. Fruits contrary to the gospel.
     __________________________________________________________________

  THE TRUE SIGNS BY WHICH THE CHURCH OF

  CHRIST MAY BE KNOWN.

   I. By an unadulterated, pure doctrine, Dent. 4; 6; 5; 12; Isaiah 8:5;
   Matt. 28:20; Mark 16:15; John 8:02; Gal. 1.

   II. By a scriptural use of the sacramental signs, Matt. 28:19; Mark 16;
   Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12; 1 Cor. 12:13; Tit. 3:5; 1 Pet. 3; Matt. 26:25;
   Mark 14:22; Luke 22:19; 1 Oor. 11:22, 23.

   III. By obedience to the word, Matt. 7; Luke 11:28; John 7:18; 15:10;
   Jas. 1:22.

   IV. By unfeigned, brotherly love, John 13:34; Rom. 13:8; 1 Cor. 13:1; 1
   John 3:18; 4:7, 8.

   V. An unreserved confession of God and Christ, Matt. 10:32; Mark 8:29;
   Rom. 10:9; 1 Tim. 6:13.

   VI. By oppression and tribulation for the sake of the Lord's word,
   Matt. G:10; 10:39; 16:24; 24:9; Luke 6:28; John 15:20; 2 Tim. 2:9;
   3:12; 1 Pet. 1:6; 3:14; 4:13; 5:10; 1 John 3:13
     __________________________________________________________________

  THE TRUE SIGNS BY WHICH THE CHURCH OF ANTI?CHRIST MAY BE KNOWN.

   I. By a light?minded, easy and false doctrine, Matt. 7:16; 15:9; 16:4;
   Rom. 16:26; 1 Tim. 4:2; 2 Tim. 2:16, 17.

   II. By an unscriptural use of the sacramental signs, as infant baptism
   and dispensation of the supper to the impenitent, 1 Cor. 11:19, 20.

   III. By disobedience to the word, Prov. 1; Tit. 1:15, 16; Matt. 7:26;
   25:26.

   IV. By hatred of the brethren, 1 John 3:15.

   V. By hypocrisy and denial of the name of God and Christ, Matt. 10:33;
   Mark 8:38; Luke 9:26.

   VI. By tyranny and persecution against the godly, John 15:20; 16; Rev.
   12:13.

   Behold, dear reader, we have?here shown you the foundation of both
   churches; what they are, of whom they are, and by whom they are
   begotten; of what mind they are, what kind of fruits they bring forth;
   and by what signs they may be known.

   Whoever does not willfully err, to him a plain way is hereby pointed
   out. If you, then, would be a true member of the church of Christ, you
   must be born of the word of God; be of a christian mind; bring forth
   christian fruits; walk according to his word, ordinance and command;
   die unto the flesh and the world; lead an unblamable life in the4ear of
   God; serve and love your neighbors with all° your heart; confess the
   name and glory of Christ, and be prepared for all manner of
   tribulation; misery and persecution for the sake of the word of God and
   its testimony, John 3:3, 4; 15:4; 8:31; 1 Pet. 1:23; Phil. 2:15; Rom.
   8:14.

   But if you refuse this and remain unchanged in your natural state; lead
   an impenitent, easy life, lay aside the word and ordinance of the Lord,
   act the hypocrite with the world, and refuse the cross, then you cannot
   be a member of the church of Christ; or else the word of God must be
   false and fallible; for on every hand the Scriptures teach faith, love,
   the fear of God, repentance, obedience, dying unto the flesh,
   selfdenial, a new life, and the cross. Therefore, sincerely fear God,
   deny yourself, search the Scriptures, follow the truth, and take heed
   lest you be deceived and eternally lose your soul for the sake of
   temporal life and its enjoyments, Mark 1:15; 8:36; John 1:3; 13:14;
   Luke 13:24; 9:25; Rom. 6:8; Col. 3:9; Gal. 6:1; Matt. 16:25.

   Having given a scriptural explanation of the difference between the two
   churches, I will now turn to Gellius' argument by which he would prove
   their church to be the christian, and ours the heretical and
   conspirator's church. This, I trust to be enabled to show by the word
   of the Lord, so that the impartial reader must clearly see that he
   (Gellius) strives, with all his power, to suppress the salutary and
   plain word of God, together with his church; and to excuse and uphold
   as well as he can the deciving serpent and his church.

   In the first place he writes: " The saints at Corinth and of the church
   of Galatia,, whom Paul reproves on account, of their abominable sins,
   still continued to hear the ?word of God, and to receive the sacraments
   from their bishops and pastors."

   Answer. If Gellius and the preachers would conform their doctrine and
   life to the Scriptures; would rightly serve out their sacraments, would
   separate their church from the world, according to the Scriptures, then
   we might talk of listening to the preachers. But so long as the
   preachers remain deceivers, use their sacraments contrary to the word
   of God, and their disciples are of the world; so long as they practice
   neither ban? nor punishment as the Scriptures ?require, it is, in my,
   opinion, of no use to say much in regard to this, for it is manifest
   that they are without Christ and his word.

   Reader, understand this matter rightly. Paul did not bear with the
   ungodly state of affairs in the before mentioned churches, as the
   preachers of the present day, do; but he rebuked them, in severe terms,
   especially those of Corinth, and pointed the obedient to the
   separation, if they, at his coming again, had not reformed themselves,
   2 Cor. 12:13.

   Gellius should, reasonably, also do this and should not console the
   poor, reckless people with the idea that other people, in the past,
   have also sinned; for this is surely what Sirach calls, excusing with
   the example of other people; neither can it help his cause; for, in the
   first place, these churches were rightly built, but afterwards some of
   them were misled by false prophets and heretics, and led into byways.
   Some of them, as appears, have again given themselves to an easy,
   carnal life, as is generally the case with those who turn their backs
   upon the truth, delight in new doctrines, discord and disputation, as
   experience, alas, has sufficiently taught me for these last, several
   years, Jude 19; 2 Pet. 3:3.

   Paul calls the disturbers at Corinth, contentious and heretics; and
   those of Galatia lie calls deceivers; he desires and commands that they
   be separated from the church, lest the whole lump be leavened by this
   leaven, 1 Cor. 5:6; Gal. 5:9.

   Since the beforementioned churches, being rightly established, in the
   first place, and being afterwards made contentious by the heretics and
   carnal who arose among them, were reproved of Paul, because they
   suffered such contentious persons, with their open abominations, to
   remain in the church; how, then, can Gellius make good their cause by
   their example, while he and his preachers never were the true
   preachers, and their churches never were separated from the world, and
   therefore were not the church of Christ, as heard?

   In the second place, he writes: Zachariah, Elizabeth, Joseph, Mary,
   Simeon and Anna, together with other saints, heard the?word of God in
   the church of the Jews, among whom were the murderers of Christ; and,
   the, disciples of the prophets did not separate the murderers of the
   prophets from the church."

   Answer. These words of Gellius show that the Jewish synagogue, although
   many pious persons were among them, as Zachariah, Elizabeth, &c., was
   not the christian or apostolic church, and that they had not the
   ordinances of Christ and his holy apostles, nor used them; for it can
   never be shown that the apostolic church, so long as she remained the
   apostolic church, were persecutors and murderers of the pious, or that
   she suffered such, as was at that time the case with the Jewish
   synagogue. Therefore he answers and judges himself, for he does not
   claim that their church is the Jewish synagogue in which such
   abominations were found, but he claims that they are the christian
   church, which never thought of such things, much less practiced them.

   Again, we should not follow the beforementioned church in such
   abominable abuses and sins, but should be thereby admonished how we
   should, according to the doctrine of Paul, treat such, which ever arise
   among the pious; and that we should not, on account of such, mistrust
   the promises of the Lord, as if we were not the church of Christ; for
   we are thereby taught that in the church of Christ, which is ever
   beguiled by her opponents, offenses, blasphemies and heresies will
   arise; that, however, we should separate such whenever the case
   requires it, after proper admonition; whereby she openly testifies
   before God and man, that she is clear of such offenses and deceivings.
   This the worldly church does not do; they suffer and retain them as
   members, against the word and command of God, against the ordinance of
   the Holy Spirit, and against the example or usage of the holy apostles;
   notwithstanding they well know that the institution and command of the
   Lord does not admit it, yet they willfully do this. Therefore they can
   not be Christ's church and community so long as they continue to do so;
   or else the express word of God must be fallible and false. O, reader,
   reflect upon this matter.

   But from his writing that the disciples of the prophets did not
   separate them from the church, among whom were the murderers of the
   prophets, I understand him to say that their church still remains the
   church of Christ, notwithstanding numbers of wicked and ungodly persons
   are found among them, and suffered to remain among them, directly
   contrary to the evangelical Scriptures and the usage of the apostolic
   church. O, no, reader, beware, this cannot be. So long as the
   transgressors and willful despisers are unknown to the church, she is
   innocent; but when they are known and not excluded, after proper
   admonition, but suffered to remain in the communion of the church,
   then, in my opinion, she ceases to be the church of Christ. For she
   transgresses willfully, and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ;
   she despises the word and ordinance of God, because she will not bear
   the cross of Christ to the praise of God and to the service of their
   neighbors, and, because she does not want to lose the favor of men; and
   makes herself guilty of the t sins of others, therefore she, according
   to John, has not God in power and in truth, 2 John 1:1; 1 Tim. G:22;
   Dent. 17:2; Lev. 19:17; Matt. 18:15.

   In the third place he writes, *' That they are plainly the church of
   God and Christ who publicly assemble, keep the word, accept and preach
   it; who with open confession and in the holy, divine name, dispense and
   partake of the sacraments, and who banish the offensive criminals and
   obdurate sinners."

   Answer. If to meet publicly, although in all manner of vanity, pomp and
   splendor, to preach as the world likes it, to baptize infants, to break
   the bread with the impenitent, feignedly to pray, and exterminate
   thieves and murderers with the sword, constitutes the church of Christ,
   then, also, all the papists, together with the Arians, monks, &c., were
   Christ's church; for they all have done these things publicly. This is
   incontrovertible,, Oh no, no! But where they meet in the name of
   Christ, where the unadulterated word of God is preached, be it in
   secret or public, where the baptism and Holy Supper, are served in
   accordance with the ordinance of the Lord, where not merely the
   criminals, who are judged by, the law of the emperor, but also
   drunkards, whores and adulterers, avaricious and extortioners, are
   excluded?from the communion of, the pious, according to the doctrine
   and example of the apostles. Behold such. is the, visible church which,
   is attested by the Scriptures.

   In the fourth place he writes, "That they, invisible to the eyes of
   man, which cannot? search the heart, but only before the. eyes and,
   judgment of God, are the true church of Christ and of God, which are
   found in the visible church. that is; among the number of the elect
   since God, through the preaching of his holy gospel and through the use
   of his holy sacraments, powerfully works in them, and whereby many are
   again born unto life everlasting, who are only known to Him who knows
   his people, and who searches the hearts of men. These are the true
   bride of Christ."

   Answer. In part I admit this to be right, however with, this
   understanding; that the visible church, in? which the; invisible (as he
   calls them) should be included, must be salutary in doctrine,
   sacraments and ordinances, and unblamable in life before the world, so
   far as man, who is able to judge only that which is visible, can see.

   Since it is as clear as day that Gellius and his like preachers are
   blamable in every thing, because they adulterate the word of God, abuse
   the sacraments, flatter the world, upbraid the pious, do not separate
   their church from the world, and none of their disciples reprove such
   open transgressions and abuses, but every one is satisfied with his
   doctrines and sacraments, follows and maintains them; therefore they
   all act the hypocrite, walk upon the broad way, hate the cross of
   Christ and lay it upon others. Notwithstanding all this, that the
   invisible church should still be among them, I cannot admit; and for
   this reason; for I know to a certainty that it never fails, that where
   the true church of Christ is, there she will be made manifest among
   this wicked and perverse generation by words and work, for she can as
   little be hidden as a city upon a hill, or a candle upon a
   candle?stick, Matt:5; 14; Phil. 2;15.

   In the fifth place he writes,,". That the churches at Rome, Corinth,
   Ephesus, &o.; and also the strangers here and there in Ponto, Galatia,
   Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, are called, by Paul and Peter, saints
   and chosen. For the church,:he writes, is called after .the better part
   of its members, and is called the church of Glod or.of Christ, holy,
   pure, and unblamable."

   Answer. Think not, kind reader, that all those who lived at Rome,
   Corinth, Ephesus, Ponto, Galatia, Cappadocia and? Bithynia, are called
   the church of Christ, of Paul and Peter, as, all those who live in
   Meissen, Duringen and the German countries are called the church of
   Christ by the preachers. By no means. But they meant the small number,
   who, begotten by the word of the divine power, separated themselves
   from the world, and with open confession willingly placed themselves
   under Christ and his covenant. If I should write, the chosen children
   and saints of God at Antwerp, Ghent, Leeuwarden, add the strangers in
   the German countries, here and there, I would not mean aft those that
   live at those places mentioned. By no means. For they also live there,
   who persecute and trouble the chosen children of God; but I would refer
   to those who confess Christ Jesus, through true. faith and are obedient
   to his holy word.

   Behold, reader, if 'the preachers, in the same manner, would separate
   their church from the world, would preach the word of God in purity,
   would use the sacraments in accordance with the Scriptures, and would
   strive with their churches, after a pious and christian life, then he
   might truthfully boast that the chosen, which he calls the invisible
   church, are included in their church, as he pretends they are.

   In the sixth place he writes, "If they should say, your church is not
   believing, holy and unblamable, then I would refer them, first, to the
   Jewish church, from which we may learn that they, at the time of Elias,
   Jeremiah, Daniel and all the prophets, of John the Baptist, of Christ
   and 4he apostles, were not all holy; this the Scriptures of the
   prophets and of the apostles sufficiently teach us. But that they,
   notwithstanding both people and magistrates were for the most part
   wicked, were called the church of God and of Christ, and were thus
   called on account of some pious persons, to whom God sent his
   prophets."

   Answer. If the preachers would rightly discharge the duties of their
   office, as Elias, Jeremiah and the prophets did; and if some were found
   in their church who follow the word of the Lord, as in. the .time of
   the prophets, then this might help the case of Gellius. But they are
   not, such as Elias, Jeremiah and Daniel, nor the teachers who are led
   by the Spirit of Christ; but are such preachers and teachers as were
   reproved of Jeremiah, as may be seen in many of his Scriptures; such as
   were destroyed by Elias, and against whom we are faithfully warned of
   Christ and his apostles not to hear them, Jer. 8:14; 23:27; Matt. 7:18;
   John 10:3.

   I would further say, Israel was the literal people, and had the promise
   of the fathers, on account of their birth after the flesh. The law was
   given them that they should serve God, and walk according to his
   commandments; when they transgressed the law and did not observe that
   which God had commanded them, they yet remained the literal people; and
   God, ever mindful of the covenant made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,
   has awakened his faithful servants, the prophet, and often sent them to
   reprove them earnestly, out of the word of the Lord, to point them
   again to the law, and boldly threaten them with punishment for their
   sins, Gen. 15:17,18; Deut. 5:82. This is not the case with us at
   present; for we are not the literal race, brought forth from the loins
   of Abraham and Isaac, but are begotten of the word of God, through the
   Spirit. If we again forsake this birth which isof God, do not abide in
   the word of Christ, and again enter into the broad way, then we do not
   remain his church and community, 2 John 1:9. Behold, reader, it being
   manifest that Gellius and the preachers of his class, together with
   their churches, never were the spiritual people, because they, as
   appears, are not born of God in truth but are earthly and., carnally
   minded, live according to the lusts of the flesh, did not enter in at
   tile right gate, teach . an impure doctrine, and use strange
   sacraments, where by no abiding church can be gathered unto Christ, as
   has been heard; and, besides. they act altogether contrary to the
   Spirit, word and will of Christ, nay, hate and despise them; how then
   can they be likened ii the fall; unto Israel, who were the people and
   church, on account of the patriarchs while this people and church never
   were the church of Christ in Spirits as has been heard? Lastly I would
   say; All the Scriptures, both of the Old and New Testaments, on every
   hand, point us to Christ Jesus, that we shall hear him, Matt. 17:5;
   Mark 9:7; Deut.18

   15. Whosoever does not hear him, it will be required of him. Therefore
   take heed. As I have said before, although all the pious, from the
   beginning, were the community, church or body, yet at different periods
   they have had different doctrines, ordinances and worship.

   Moses gave the law and Israel had to obey it, until Christ appeared,
   who was promised. We are now directed to his Spirit,. word and
   ordinances. If it can be proven to us by his word, that his Spirit
   suffered drunkards, avaricious, pompous, adulterers, blasphemers,
   tyrants and murderers (understand, such as do not repent), in the
   communion of the apostolic churches; and also that his Spirit ordained
   open deceivers and worldly minded persons to be bishops and pastors,
   then I will admit that they are the church of Christ; but if they
   cannot do so, as it is impossible for them to do, then they must
   confess that their church, which is full of such people: aye full, is
   not the church of Christ, as they boast it to be; but that it is a
   disorderly, refractory and disobedient people, nay, that it is the
   church of antichrist, and of the world; and that their pretensions in
   this respect are nothing but open seduction, falsehood and deceit.
   Reader, observe, I testify this unto you in Christ; believe it if you
   will; I write the truth unto you.

   In the seventh place he writes, "In the second place I refer them to
   the church of the Corinthians, whom Paul, in the first place, reproves
   on account of their dissensions," saying, " I, brethren; could not
   speak unto you as unto spiritual but so unto, carnal," 1 Cor. 3:1.

   Answer. Heretofore I have said that this church was first rightly
   taught of Paul, and won unto Christ; but, being deceived by
   philosophers, who despised the doctrine of the cross, and by false
   apostles, they became divided; for which they were reproved and
   fraternally instructed of Paul, and admonished to separate the
   unfaithful and carnally minded; for the Scriptures command and instruct
   us to do this, namely, that such should first be admonished, and if
   they do not repent, that they should be unanimously separated from the
   communion of the church. Judge now, what Gel. lies can substantiate
   hereby; since he and his, never having been separated from the world,
   are not the church of Christ. Yea he, good fellow, does nothing more
   nor leak than that he hereby manifests his cross fleeing and open
   disobedience, and that he covers up and defends the abominable
   transgressions of his disciples, however gross they be, with the
   precedents of others,

   In the eighth place he writes, "In the third place I refer them to the
   parable of Christ, of John the bap, tist, and of Paul. Christ likens
   the church unto a field in which the tares grow with the wheat until
   the harvest. Again, she is likened unto a net in which both good and
   bad fish are caught. Again, unto the virgins, of whom five were wise
   and five were foolish. Moreover, unto a royal wedding, where the good
   and evil are gathered together, one of whom is found by the king, to be
   without a wedding garment."

   Answer. This first parable is explained by Christ himself, saying, "He
   that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; The field is the world"
   (understand it rightly, Christ says, It is the world, and not the
   church, as Gellius claims); "the good seed are the children of the
   kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; ? the enemy
   that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and
   the reapers are the angels," Matt. 13:37'?39.

   Reader, understand it rightly. Christ, the Son of man, sows his seed
   (God's word), through his Spirit, in the world; all who hear, believe
   and obey it, are called the children of the kingdom. In the same manner
   the opponent sows his tares (false doctrine,), in the world, and all
   that hear and follow him are called the children of evil. Now, both
   wheat and tares grow together in the same field, namely, in the world.
   The husbandman does not want the tares to be plucked out before their
   time, that is, he will not have them destroyed by rooting them up, but
   wants them left until the harvest, lest the wheat be destroyed with the
   tares., Matt:13:29,30.

   O, reader, if the preachers rightly understood this parable and feared
   God, they would not cry so loudly against us, who, alas, are every
   where called tares, heretics and conspirators, " Down with the
   heretics;" oven if we were heretics, from which God save us. Oh 1 what
   noble wheat they destroy 1 Brut what does it avail 9 Satan must rebel
   and murder; for it is his nature and work, as the Scriptures teach,
   Gen. 3:4; John 8.

   Some of the other parables, as of the net in which good and bad fishes
   are caught; of the wise and foolish virgins, and their lamps; of the
   wedding of the king's son and the guests, and of the threshing floor
   with wheat and chaff, although the Lord spoke them in allusion to the
   church, yet they were not spoken for the purpose that the church should
   knowingly ?and willfully accept and suffer open transgressors,
   drunkards, carousers, defilers of women, avaricious, robbers, gamblers,
   and usurers, in their communion; because, then, Christ and Paul would
   differ in doctrine; for Paul says that we should avoid and shun such.
   But they were spoken because many intermix with the christians, in
   semblance only, and place themselves under the word and sacraments,
   who, in fact, are no christians, but are hypocrites and enemies before
   their God; and these are likened unto the refuse fish; unto the foolish
   virgins who had no oil in their lamps; unto the guest without a wedding
   garment, and unto the chaff, which will be cast out by the angels, at
   the day of Christ. For they pretend that they fear God and seek Christ;
   they receive baptism and the Lord's Supper, and outwardly act in
   semblance, but, in fact, no faith, repentance, true fear and love of
   God; no Spirit, power, fruit nor work is found in them.

   But, as to the two kinds of laborers in the vineyard, Matt. 2:28, 29,
   and as to those called to the great supper, Luke 14:16, the reader
   should know, that they have a different meaning and cannot conform to
   his sentiments. Whosoever loves truth, may examine them, and judge by
   the Holy Scriptures what their proper meaning is. Again, as to his
   citation of the vessels to dishonor, I will let Paul's words explain
   them. He says, "If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall
   be a vessel unto honor, sanctified and meet for the Master's use, and
   prepared unto every good work," 2 Tim. 2:21.

   Behold, dear reader, hero you may observe how miserably he perverts the
   word of the Lord, that they may, apparently, be the church of Christ,
   although they knowingly and willfully admit open transgressors to the
   communion of their church, against the Scriptures. But the flaming eyes
   of the Lord, which search every thing, cannot be blinded by such
   sophistry.

   In the ninth place he writes, " ° The church, now being perplexed by
   such evils as these which she has to suffer unto the day of judgment,
   as some of these parables imply; nay, that it never was her lot to be
   entirely rid of evil ones and bypockites, however strictly she used the
   ban, therefore they are wrong, and grossly sin by condemning us, and
   saying that we are false teachers, and not the church of God, as was
   the church of the patriarchs, prophets and Moses; and by maliciously
   and wrongfully calling our church, which is founded by our faithful
   service upon the true foundation, according to the example of all the
   messengers of God, and which is daily increased and built up, upon the
   chosen cornerstone, an unbelieving, unholy and blamable church, against
   all the Scriptures, and thereby not only bringing our church into
   disrepute, but also all the churches of the German countries, nay of
   all the christian world, which have and must have a different doctrine
   from their church, which they call holy, pure, unblamable and spotless
   on account of their dreadful ban."

   Answer. If he should have said that the church is troubled with such
   evils, and that she must suffer them, in such a manner as to mean that
   the true church must suffer the enmity, rebellion, violence and tyranny
   of the wicked, and ungodly actions of the perverse, then he would have
   written the truth. But since his meaning is, that since the church ever
   has hypocrites among her number, that therefore the evil ones, that is,
   open despisers and transgressors should be tolerated; therefore he
   writes contrary to the word of God; for Paul says, "Therefore put away
   from among yourselves that wicked person," that is, separate from the
   communion of your church him who is wicked, 1 Cor. 5:13.

   Again, to his writing, "that we grossly sin by saying that they are not
   the church of God," and to his boasting " that they build their church
   upon the corner stone," I would say that his boasting is false; for
   their light?minded doctrine, false sacraments, reckless life and his
   indiscreet writing, alas, prove too plainly, that they do not build
   their church upon the true cornerstone; it being manifest that they, on
   every hand are at fault, adulterate the word of God, abuse the
   sacraments, practice no separation, and for the greater part, both
   teachers and hearers walk upon perverse ways; whether we therefore sin,
   because in faithful love we admonish them for their own good, and in
   humility show them that they, under such a state of affairs, are not,
   neither can be the church of God, the reader may judge. We know to a
   certainty that where there is no pure doctrine, no pure sacraments, no
   pious, christian life, no true, brotherly love, and no right minded
   confession, that there is no christian church; let' them boast ever so
   much.

   Again, in regard to his complaint, " That we not only call them, but
   all the churches of the German countries, nay, of the whole christian
   world, unbelieving, unholy and condemn them, the reader should know
   that we condemn no one; for he, Jesus Christ, to whom the Father has,
   given it, will do that. Yet we say, and teach it verbally and by
   writing, that all those who are not born of God and his word, are not
   actuated by the Spirit of Christ, are not changed into his nature and
   disposition, however high and fine an appearance and name they may
   assume. In this case, neither emperor, king, doctor, licentiate, pope
   nor Luther will avail. All who would be in the church of Christ, must
   be in Christ, must be of his mind, and walk as he walked, or else
   Christ Jesus, John, Paul and all the Scriptures must be false; this is
   too clear to be denied, John`5:?2z; 1 John 2:6; Rom. 8:14; Phil. 2:5.

   Since he accuses us that we condemn all the churches of the German
   countries, and of the whole christian world, as he boasts, therefore I
   would answer with a few plain words: If the German churches and the
   beforementioned world were born of God, were of Christ's mind, walked
   as he walked then the accusation of Gellius would be right, since we do
   not acknowledge them to be true churches. But as they prove by deeds
   that they are without Christ, walk and act against his word and will;
   as they are quite earthly and carnally minded, therefore, they are not
   judged of men, but of the word of the Lord, for Christ says, "The word
   that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day," John
   12:48.

   Further, by his writing that the said churches have. and must have a
   different doctrine, he judges himself that they are not the church of
   Christ. For Christ will, that his church should keep and follow his
   word, ordinances and commands, whether it be to the joy or to the pain
   of the flesh.

   Behold, dear reader, since it is doubly plain that the Scriptures
   teach, both by words and examples, that open transgressors should be
   excluded from the communion of the church; and since the preachers, who
   fear men more than God, and serve their bellies more than the praise of
   the Lord, neglect this on account of the cross, which might result from
   such action, therefore their public actions testify that they are not
   the bride and sheep of Christ; for they do not hear his voice, neither
   do they follow his doctrines and commands, 2 Thess. 3: (3; John 10:28.

   Again,. to his writing that we consider our church holy, pure and
   unblamable, on account of the cruel ban, this is my simple reply: We do
   not at all boast but of the grace of our God through Christ Jesus. Our
   frailty is great, our stumblings are many, and we feel with Paul, that
   nothing good dwells in our flesh. Notwithstanding all true members of
   the church of Christ strive after the unblamable, holy being, which is
   in him; they conform their walk to the word of the Lord; they follow
   his commands and ordinances;' and separate those who are separated key
   the Scriptures, which he, alas, calls a fearful ban. O, Lord.

   O God! Thus the precious word is esteemed as unworthy by this
   thoughtless man. For, by this abominable, unseasoned blasphemy, not
   only we, but also the Son of the Almighty and living God, together with
   the Spirit of eternal wisdom, by whom this ban was commanded, and also
   all the apostles and the primitive church, who so diligently taught and
   earnestly practiced it, are adjudged fools. If the ordinance is
   foolishness, then the Institutor, and all who teach and practice it,
   must be fools; this cannot well be denied.

   Observe, reader, if this may not be called hating the word and will of
   God, despising his commands, and speaking blasphemies against the Most
   High, you may reflect upon, and judge by the Scriptures. O, reader,
   awaken. Beware, and learn to know your preachers, and of what spirit
   they are the children.

   In the tenth place he writes, "Thus they are given to a wrong
   understanding, prejudge without knowledge, and leave the church from
   motives of spiritual pride and fancy of righteousness, more than from
   motives of sincere righteousness; they have no other reason to leave
   the church, than that they, according to the manner of the Pharisees,
   would justify themselves by despising others."

   Answer. I fear that it would weary the reader to reply to all his false
   accusations minutely. Yet I would say, in regard to this, If I could
   speak with Gellius before the public, I have no doubt but many, through
   the grace of God, would begin to see that it is not us? who have a
   wrong understanding, but them; that they prejudge us, indiscreetly;
   remain outside of the church of Christ, from motives of pride; and not
   only despise us, according to the manner of the Pharisees, but also
   often deprive us of possessions and life, as may be witnessed in
   different localities. But we must suffer, bear, and console ourselves
   with the saying, "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and
   persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely,
   for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward
   in heaven.; for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you,"
   Matt. 5:11, 12.

   In the eleventh place he writes, "They will probably say that if we
   would be the church of Christ, we must verify the saying of Christ;"
   "The gates of hell shall not prevail against it;" and ask where our
   church has existed, inviolated by the devil, anti?christ and heresies.
   He further writes, "Since the church, which is not limited to certain
   boundaries, but is scattered over the whole world, has this article of
   faith," '1 I believe in the holy, christian church, the communion of
   saints," "and that she will endure unto the end of the world, therefore
   we are forced to acknowledge, that God, true to his promise, saves his
   church, and has always saved her, although the old serpent, the devil,
   deceives her by the lusts of the flesh, the pomp of the world and by
   many sects; and, although she is combatted, persecuted and disturbed,
   by the potentates of the world, until she, inattentive to her cause,
   drowsy in her prayer, indifferent to the will of God, and ungrateful
   for the word of God, or, until found apostatical of Christ, so enrages
   God that he takes from her the light of his word, and lets her fall
   into weighty errors, and adhere to idolatry, adultery, whoredom, and
   other sins and disgraces and follow after them, so that the church in
   such case, almost destroyed and ruined, scarcely is worthy of the
   name."

   Answer. I would beseech the diligent reader earnestly to observe how
   the words of Gellius sound, which I have here cited at length. He
   admits that the church, deceived and enchanted by the devil, the lusts
   of the flesh, the pomp, sects and potentates of tile world, has become
   ?drowsy, inattentive, ungrateful, and an apostate of Christ, has
   enraged God, and fallen into all manner of wickedness and sins; yet he
   claims that she remains the church of Christ, as if the church was
   inherited by one generation from another, and did not consist in faith,
   Spirit and power. I would not know what poorer excuse he could find.
   Therefore observe that which I write, and let it be unto you a certain
   rule, namely, where the Spirit, word, sacraments and life of Christ are
   found, that there the Nicene article comes in, "I believe in the holy
   christian church, the communion of saints, &c. On the other hand, where
   the Spirit, word, sacraments and life of Christ are not to be found,
   but where the spirit, doctrine, sacraments and life of anti?christ are
   followed, there, also, is the church of anti?christ, and not the church
   of Christ, although we might say a thousand times, "I believe in the
   holy christian church." For without, or against the Spirit, word,
   sacraments and life of Christ, there can never be a christian church,
   however much we may pervert the truth. The word stands immutable.
   "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ,
   hath not God," 2 John, 9.

   In the twelfth place he writes, "Because God, in his grace, has made an
   eternal covenant with his church, and has promised her that the gates
   of hell, although they may rend and weaken her, shall not thoroughly
   prevail against her, therefore he will, at all times, preserve a shadow
   of the evangelical doctrine and of his sacraments, upon which the
   church shall be upheld; and he will also preserve some members upon the
   true foundation, who will grow up amidst the thistles, thorns, wolves,
   bears and lions, and deliver them as in a violent .hurricane, from the
   elements, as Noah was saved from the deluge."

   Answer. Where they conform themselves to the Spirit, word, sacraments,
   ordinances, commands, prohibitions, usage and example of Christ, there
   the holy christian church is found, as has been heard, and there is
   also the promise that the gates of hell will !, not prevail against
   her. For although she grows as a rose amongst thorns, as he expresses
   himself, keeps herself amongst wolves, bears and lions, and as a ship
   cast about by wind and waves, she must suffer much tribulation, yet she
   cannot be capsized, that is, she cannot be turned from Christ
   (understand this to be the true christian church); for she is built
   upon a rock, Matt. 7:24.

   That this is the truth, the Scriptures and their examples teach us on
   every hand; and we also have found it so by facts, within the last few
   years. For, however fiercely the lions, bears and wolves have roared,
   raved and torn, for the last few years, by their frightful mandates,
   apprehending, torturing and murdering; and, although the waves often
   roll up to the clouds, yet the manifested truth remains with the humble
   and pious children; and however sharply the thistles and thorns may
   sting, yet this noble and beautiful rose daily grows, and, praise be to
   God, increases in size and strength, whereby it is made manifest unto
   many reasonable persons, that God's promise to the church stands firm,
   and it is the miracle and power of the Most High; for neither death,
   nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things
   present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other
   creature shall be able to separate them from the love of God, which is
   in Christ Jesus our Lord, Rom. 8:38, 39.

   Yet this thoughtless man thinks that they are the true, christian
   church, and does not observe that the beforementioned thistles, thorns,
   wolves, bears and lions, by which the true church has been so much
   troubled, and still continues to be, are members of the very church
   which he claims were and yet are the true church of Christ. For they,
   during the last few centuries, have used one sacrament, and,
   unseparated, were greeted as the children of grace, and were admitted
   and accepted in the communion of these churches.

   He, besides, also consoles the poor people that the Lord has, at all
   times, preserved a shadow of the evangelical doctrine and of his
   sacraments upon which to support his church; as if God was well pleased
   with such a dead shadow of false preaching and of infant baptism; and,
   as if the church of Christ, the bride of God and of the Lamb, could be
   supported by adulterated doctrines and unscriptural sacraments. O, dear
   Lord' How long shall such errors yet endure Who cannot understand such
   palpable deceit! He must have an extremely obdurate and perverse heart,
   or he must be a very ignorant and blunt man, I think.

   In the thirteenth place he produces two arguments whereby he means to
   prove that their church is the gen eral church (as he calls it).
   wherewith God has so dealt. And in the first place writes," in which
   church antichrist was seated; for, according to the prophecies o1 Paul,
   he had placed himself therein and eaaltedhimseli above God; and asserts
   that it is the true church ?to which God has given the promise,
   although she was dreadfully stained and miserably torn up. In our
   church the anti?christ has been seated, and placed himself as a God,
   and has exalted himself above all that is of God and religion?therefore
   our church is the true church and temple of God, to which the promise
   of God. is given." "This argument he proves with these words: "The
   first proposition is true; for Paul calls the church in which the
   anti?christ would place himself, the temple of God; the other is also
   too clear to be denied, from the prophecies of Paul and the teachings
   of experience. For in the churches which baptize infants, he, and all
   the violent tyrants have exercised their power and violence, and
   trampled under foot all religion and worship. If both propositions now
   are true, then it follows, also, that the conclusion is true; and shows
   the anabaptists, in what a fearful condition they are, since they have
   let us and our church."

   Answer. By the side of this I will place my syllogism: Where true
   religion and worship, as required of the Scriptures, are trampled under
   foot, there is not the church of Christ. Anti?christ has, Gellius
   testifies, trampled under foot the true religion and worship required
   by the Scriptures, in the church of which Gellius speaks; therefore,
   the beforementioned church is not the church of Christ. All Scriptures
   teach that my first proposition is true; for Moses says, " Whosoever
   will not hearken unto my words which he" (meaning Christ) " shall speak
   in my name, I will require it of him," Dent 18:19. Christ says, "If ye
   continue" (mark, "continue"), "in my word, then are ye my disciples
   indeed," John 8:31. Again, Paul says, "If any man preach any other
   gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed," Gal.
   1:9. John, also, says, " Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in
   the doctrine of Christ, hath not God," 2 John 1:9.

   My second proposition, Gellius admits to be true; for he says, that
   anti?christ has trampled religion and worship under his feet, as heard.

   Since, then, that the first proposition can be substantiated by the
   Scriptures, and the second is acknowledged by Gellius to be right,
   therefore, my conclusion must also be right, namely, that the church to
   which he refers, is not the church of Christ. For she does not accept
   the word of Christ, but a strange gospel; and does not abide in the
   pure doctrine of his holy apostles; therefore they have not God in
   power, and are not the disciples of Christ; or else the cited sayings
   must be wrong and false.

   As regards the first proposition of Gellius, Paul testifies in plain
   words, that it is false, for he says, " That day shall not come, except
   there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the
   son of perdition," 2 Thess. 2:3. Here Paul teaches in tolerably plain
   words that the falling away of faith would first come as was also the
   case here, 2 Thess. 2:3.

   Since Paul openly testifies by the Spirit of God, that the falling away
   would come before the day of the Lord, and also shows through whom it
   would come, namely, through the man of sin (son of perdition); and
   since it is clearly visible that this son of perdition has placed
   himself in the temple of God, that is, in the hearts of man, or rather,
   in the stead of God in the beforementioned church, and has quite
   demolished and destroyed it, and through deceit has changed it, under
   the semblance of the name of Christ, from the doctrine and ordinances
   of God to his own doctrine and ordinances, therefore, I would leave the
   attentive reader to judge if this church, which is quite demolished and
   destroyed by him, can be called God's temple. If he judge that it
   cannot be so called, then he judges rightly; otherwise many passages of
   the Scriptures would be fallible and false; and, as a consequence, God
   and the devil, Christ and anti?christ must have been seated in one
   temple, and reigned in one church. But, if they deny this; then I would
   again say that Luther and the learned have done wrong in bringing about
   such a disturbance, tribulation and misery in the world by their
   doctrine and change, since they, according to Gellius, still remained
   the church of Christ, although the anti?christ had quite destroyed and
   demolished the true religion. Reader, reflect upon this, and judge
   whether I write the truth or not.

   In his second proposition he judges himself; for he writes, that
   anti?christ was seated in their church, which baptizes children; has
   placed himself therein as a God; trampled under foot the true religion
   and worship; he also acknowledges, above, under the head of the
   separation, that the papists are no christians; for he says, "that
   those who leave us would sooner become papists than christians again."
   Kind reader, observe closely what I write. Since it is manifest that
   the Roman anti?christ has, for a number of years, reigned in peace in
   their church; has given them to drink from his cup of abominations; has
   destroyed the true religion, and re?instated his abominations; and
   since he himself admits that the papists are no christians, therefore,
   it is certain and plain that their church was not, as he claims, the
   general christian church and temple of God, to which the promise of God
   was given. For it cannot be that they can be the disciples of
   anti?christ and then yet remain the christian church and temple.

   Now consider, if the pious, whom he calls anabaptists, are so much out
   of way, by renouncing all the anti?christian abominations, false,
   condemned sects and churches; anc4 if they place themselves in such a
   frightful position, as he sighingly complains, by humbly submitting
   themselves to the only, eternal Messiah, Christ Jesus, and by placing
   themselves as an example of all obedience and virtue, in their
   weakness, before all the world.

   His second argument is this: "In and with all churches which teach the
   doctrine and faith of Christ Jesus; are not altogether fallen away; do
   not altogether reject and profane Christ and his holy gospel and which
   do not altogether trample upon the use of the holy sacraments and
   neglect them, as under the reign of Mahomet, there still remains the
   name of the holy church. In and with our church, which has the infant
   baptism as an apostolic ordinance, the doctrine and faith of Jesus
   Christ, as taught by the apostles, never was altogether fallen away, as
   it was with the Turks; although abominably adulterated and weakened by
   anti?christ; therefore, the name of the church remains with our
   community and has true members in it."

   Answer. If his first proposition was consistent and right, then it
   would also be consistent and right to say, The doctrine and faith never
   were entirely fallen away with the Arians, Circumcellians, Munsterians
   and other sects; the gospel was not altogether rejected and profaned,
   and the sacraments altogether trampled upon by them, therefore, the
   name of the church remains with them, and true members of the church
   are found among them. We are, therefore, also wrongfully called "
   devilish heretics, conspirers, and apostate anabaptists," by him, for
   we so highly prize the gospel and the sacraments of our Lord Jesus
   Christ, that we daily sacrifice our possessions and blood for their
   sake, as may be seen.

   If he should say that the before mentioned sects did not act and teach
   in accordance with the Scriptures, and that they therefore were not in
   the communion of the christian church; then he judges himself still
   more markedly. For the papistic church to which he refers, did not do
   this; if they did rightly act and teach, then he very unjustly says
   that they are not christians, as has been heard that he did.

   Again, by his writing, " There still remains the name of the holy
   church," he openly testifies that his assertion is without all
   foundation in the Scriptures; for he does not refer to the
   unadulterated doctrine, to the salutary use of the holy sacraments, nor
   to the pious, unblamable life, which should ever be found in the church
   of Christ; as if the name could keep the church in God and could bind
   it to the promise, without the Spirit, word, sacraments, faith and
   obedience of Christ. No, no, reader, no. "I know," says the First and
   the Last, "the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not,
   but are the synagogue of Satan," Rev. 2:9. If the name alone
   constituted the true church, then all the raving tyrants, enemies of
   christian truth, all murderers, perjurers, whoremongers, avaricious,
   pompous and unrighteous, would be members of the church of Christ, for
   they call themselves after the name of Christ. This is
   incontrovertible.

   As to his second proposition, I would say in the first place, Since he
   says that their church has infant baptism, as an apostolic ordinance,
   that he thereby heaps open falsehood upon the holy apostles, the
   upright, pious testifiers of eternal truth; for he never can prove by a
   single word in the Scriptures, that they taught or practiced infant
   baptism, as has been sufficiently shown, above.

   In the second place I would say, That the church to which he refers,
   was not only adulterated and weakened, as he calls it, but has become
   so estranged from God, that she has worshipped, honored and served
   wood, stone, gold, and silver gods, and, besides bread and wine; as
   has, alas, been seen these, many years, in all the temples and houses
   of worship, throughout Europe; and, as may yet, daily, be seen in many
   kingdoms, cities and towns. Yet, Gellius asserts that their church ever
   was the church of Christ. I have never heard more inconsistent
   reasoning. Therefore, dear reader; beware, and do not listen to the
   smooth talk of the learned, for they deceive you. But hearken unto him
   who says, "I am the light of the world; he that followeth me shall not
   walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life," John 8:12, and
   then you will never be deceived.

   Reader, understand what I mean; we do not dispute about whether or, not
   there are some of the chosen one's of God, in the beforementioned
   churches; for this we, at all times, humbly leave to the .just and
   gracious judgment of God, hoping there may be many thousands who are
   unknown to us, as they were to holy Elias; but our dispute is, in
   regard to what kind of Spirit, doctrine, sacraments, ordinances and
   life, Christ has commanded us to gather unto him an abiding church, and
   how we should maintain it in his ways.

   Behold, reader, these are his most important arguments with which to
   maintain his assertion, " that their church is the true one," namely,
   because they sprang from the papists, and practice infant baptism. Just
   hear how strangely he writes. In my opinion, he pens all that comes in
   his mind, if it has but a little semblance, that it may tickle the ears
   of the thoughtless people, and console them in their impenitent, easy
   life. If these adduced assertions of his were true, then it could not
   be otherwise than that hitherto the church of Christ must have been the
   church of anti?christ, or that of anti?christ must have been the church
   of Christ; also, Christ and anti?christ must have both reigned in one
   church; infant baptism must have been called apostolic, without the
   Scriptures, and the mere name constitutes the church of Christ; this,
   by the grace of God, no one can successfully rebut; let him garble and
   twist the matter as adroitly as he pleases.
     __________________________________________________________________

  CONCERNING SOME ACCUSATIONS AGAINST US.

   In the first place Giellius accuses us, saying, "* They (he means us),
   falsely, adorn and deck themselves with the sanctity of the church.
   For, since the Holy Spirit, which sanctifies the church both by the
   remission of sin, and dying unto the old man with all his lusts, and
   also by the nullifying of the sins in the flesh, is given through
   faith, therefore I cannot see how they can receive the Holy Spirit,
   together with true sanctification, and be the true, holy church, while
   they so bitterly contend among themselves about the divinity of the
   Holy Spirit (which, besides other evidence, sufficiently proves his
   divinity by the work of sanctification), se well as about many other
   articles of faith."Answer. Zuinglius formerly taught that the will of
   God actuated a thief to steal, a murderer to kill, and that their
   punishment was also brought about by the will of God; which, in my
   opinion, is an abomination of abominations. Now, if I conclude that
   because Zuinglius taught so, all preachers teach it, it would be a
   wrong conclusion. Athanasius could not prevent Arius from teaching that
   the Holy Spirit was a creature of the creature of Christ.

   Reader, understand my meaning. I never have thought that God's Holy and
   eternal Spirit was not God, with God and in God; yet, he would accuse
   us, who are not guilty, of denying the sanctification, grace, fruit and
   power of the Holy Spirit, because some, who have been separated from
   us, have erred in this respect, and probably still err; although he
   plainly sees and palpably feels the sanctification and power of the
   Holy Spirit in us, namely, that it smothers the old man with his lusts,
   and destroys the sins of the flesh; something which he calls the
   sanctification of the Holy Spirit, as has been heard. Behold, thus he
   upbraids and accuses the guiltless. Whether this is not the Parisaic,
   envious and disgraceful spirit, which explains away the good intentions
   of Christ and his disciples, and thereby inflamed the thoughtless
   populace against them, I will leave to his own reflection.

   In the second place he accuses us, saying, "They have an obdurate
   faith; one half of which is founded upon the merits of Christ, and the
   other upon their own merits. For Obbe Philips, who has a great many
   followers (as he says) does plainly assert that the justification of
   man is not brought about by faith alone, but by faith, love and good
   works."

   Answer. I would humbly ask Gellius this question: Does it follow that
   because Obbe Philips formerly taught this doctrine, Menno and the
   others also teach it? If he answer in the affirmative, then I would say
   that he does us an injustice, as, alas, he often does. For our doctrine
   and publications abundantly testify that we and the church of God are
   not thus minded, but that we seek justification alone in the righteous
   and crucified Christ Jesus.

   But if he answer in the negative, then I wish he would have the
   kindness and virtue in him to make a difference and not mix the
   innocent with the guilty; and, I also wish that he would say no more
   than the truth; for he writes that the before mentioned " Obbe Philips
   has a considerable number of followers," and I make the assertion that
   he cannot find more than six or ten who believe as he does.

   In the third place he accuses us, saying, "How can they be a holy
   church who disagree among themselves about the head of the church; do
   not suffer him to be the true God, and thereby resuscitate the old
   Arian heresy."

   Answer. We may well sincerely thank the Most High, that he so manifests
   unto us his paternal grace and great mercy, that even our most adroit
   and acute opponents cannot accuse us but by. such puerile, and, for the
   greater part, false reasoning. If he would consult natural honor, not
   to mention love and truth, as much as he, alas, consults bitter and
   envious feeling, how loth would he be to think that which he now is not
   ashamed to publish in writing, indiscriminately saying that we
   resuscitate the old Arian heresy, while he and his like, well know that
   such have no part in the communion of our churches, so long as they do
   not renounce such errors, as heard.

   O dear Lord, how long will such bitter and envious accusations and
   false backbitings continue! Would to God that the magistrates would
   have a little fear of the Lord, and consider what. they are doing, and
   that they would hear and compare the different parties, so that they
   would once learn whom and for what purpose they persecute, and what
   kind of people and teachers they?are whom they daily maintain and
   encourage in their injustice and abominations, by their violence.

   In the fourth place he accuses us, saying, "If they are the true, holy
   church, the spiritual bride of Christ, pure, holy, and unblamable, then
   let them prove the unity of the Spirit, especially concerning the
   twelve articles of faith, which are the foundation of the church; then
   the one should not be Mennonite, the other Adam Pastorite, the third
   Obbeite, the fourth Dirkite, arc. For although they may ban one
   another. as much as they please, it still is evidently true that they
   are all anabaptists and enemies to infant baptism, and thus still
   continue to conspire and fanaticize against the churches of Christ."

   Answer. I trust that we, by the grace of God, are so wedded to our Lord
   and Bridegroom, Christ Jesus, that we are prepared to sacrifice our
   lives for the sake of hearing his holy voice. We do not boast of our
   holiness and piety, as Gellius accuses us, but of our great weakness. I
   also trust that we, who are grains of one loaf, agree in not only the
   twelve articles (as he counts them), but in all the articles of the
   Scriptures, as regeneration, repentance, baptism, Holy Supper,
   separation, &c., which we, .long with Isaiah, Peter and Paul, Isaiah
   28:18; 1 Peter 2:6; Eph. 2:20, accept as the only foundation of the
   churches, as preached by Christ's own, blessed mouth, and left and
   taught us in clear and plain words; and not only the twelve articles as
   he does.

   Neither are we so divided as he says; for Dirk (Dietrich Philip) and we
   are of the same mind, and I trust, through the grace of God, we will
   ever remain so. But that Obbe has become a Demas, and that Adam Pastor
   has separated from us, is not our fault. Such things, also, often
   happened in the apostolic times. God reclaim them at his will; they
   have taken their leave, and are, alas, no more counted among us, so
   long as they do not repent.

   His writing "that we still conspire and contend against the church of
   Christ," and other like bitter and resenting words, show that he is so
   actuated by the spirit of envy, that he cannot write or speak a
   discreet and reasonable word about us; but he must call us fanatics,
   conspirators, hedge preachers and sneaks; and he never observes how
   different of opinion, and how divided in doctrine the baptizers of
   infants are, who claim to be the true church; and into how many
   different sects they are divided. One party is papistic; the other
   Lutheran; the third Zuinglian; the fourth Calvinistic, &c.; and,
   although they violently quarrel among themselves, disgrace, condemn and
   ruin each other, as much as they please, yet it is still evidently true
   that they baptize their children, are unfriendly to the baptism of
   Christ, continue to conspire against the truth, and persecute it and
   the church of Christ. O, reader, that the world would once learn to
   know who are the fanatics and conspirators; then we might hope for the
   better, but as it is, it is hidden from their eyes.

   In the fifth place he accuses us, saying. "If they are the holy church,
   then, let them hearken unto the voice of Christ; which says that the
   word of the holy gospel and its sacraments should not be preached and
   dispensed in secret nooks and corners, but in public."

   Answer. If we are not the true church of Christ, but if Gellius and his
   like are that church, as he pretends, and would yet have us publicly
   proclaim our doctrine, why has he then twice refused a public
   discussion with me, under safe conduct, to which I have invited him,
   while he well knows that I have to endure so much for the sake of my
   doctrine and faith? It would be reasonable, if we err in some things,
   from which God preserve us, that he should go with me before the
   public, vanquish and convince me of our errors, for God knows that I am
   willing to be vanquished if I can be convinced by stronger Scriptures
   and more powerful truths; that he might thus receive the applause of
   his fellows (which he, in my opinion, very much strives after), and,
   besides save my soul and the souls of many others.

   If he is a true preacher, and a member of the true church of Christ,
   why does he, then, desire us to go before the public, while he well
   knows that I could not do so without the loss of blood and life? I
   freely offer my. self, if he can show one plain passage in the
   Scriptures, that the apostles and prophets have publicly taught at such
   places where they knew that the people had resolved upon their death,
   as, alas, they have every where resolved upon our death, and, by the
   grace of God, we will do the same.

   I know to a certainty that he can find no such examples nor Scriptures
   in the Bible. Yea, dear reader, if he would be straightforward in
   assigning the reason why he ever desires us to go and preach in public,
   he would confess that he seeks nothing by his hypocritical and artful
   pretension, other than to make our cause suspicious with the people,
   that his cause shall make a good appearance, and that he is very
   desirous and thirsty after the blood of the innocent, while he, I say,
   against all reason, love, and Scriptures, desires us publicly to
   proclaim our doctrine, well knowing that in all Germany, not a place
   can be found where this could be done without imprisonment, violence,
   or rebellion. If he, now, were in the truth, as he would like to be
   considered, namely, an upright, unblamable preacher, how loth would he
   be to think of such gross disgrace, which he now, alas, dares loudly
   proclaim both by speaking and writing. David says, " The Lord will
   abhor the bloody and deceitful man," Ps. 5: e.

   In the sixth place he accuses us, saying, `° As they want to be the
   true church of Christ, they would do well to look back to the origin of
   their church and see how it agrees with the origin and age of the true
   church. That their church is not of the origin and times of Adam,
   Abraham, or David, is proven by their wrong opinion and abominable
   error in regard to the incarnation of Christ, whereby they make him
   neither God nor man, and rob us of our Messiah, Also, above, under the
   head of the Calling, he writes, It is an abominable fruit that they
   have resuscitated, and again introduced into the world such a
   disgraceful error in regard to the incarnation of Christ. For if Christ
   was not of our flesh (of which he was not, .unless he received it from
   the woman), then the law was not fulfilled in our flesh; then the
   righteousness of God is not yet acquitted, which without the ransom
   would not leave us unpunished.

   Answer. The learned ever slander us and complain because, we, with the
   angel Gabriel, Luke 1:32; with John the Baptist, John 1:15?36; with
   Peter, Matt. 16:16; with Martha, John 11:2'7; with the apostles, Matt.
   14:33, and with the eternal Father himself, acknowledge Christ, both
   according to his divinity and humanity, as the true and only begotten
   Son of God; and we dare not teach and believe more nor otherwise than
   the word of the Lord teaches us of him. I would therefore beseech all
   readers and hearers to consider well the following brief answers and
   references. I trust that, by the grace of God, I will be able to
   explain the matter so clearly in a few words, that the reader will
   plainly see that they not only rob us of Christ, the doctrine,
   sacraments, Spirit, life, ordinances and usage of our Savior, but also
   rob him of his most holy origin, glory, honor and person; and, that
   they, by their deceiving comments and reasoning, render Christ a
   divided, impure and inconsistent Christ, both according to nature and
   the Scriptures. Whosoever has ears to hear let him hear, and whosoever
   has a mind to understand let him understand.
     __________________________________________________________________

  THE CONFESSION OF THE LEARNED CONCERNING CHRIST.

   The Confession of the Learned concerning Christ, is, That the eternal
   word, the second person in the Godhead (these are their words), the
   eternal Son of God, has taken unto himself the nature of our flesh.
   Yea, that the whole man, Christ, who was sacrificed, and who died for
   us, is the natural seed of the woman, of Abraham, and of David. The
   seed of the woman (they say) according to the ordinance of God, Gen. 3,
   with which seed, namely, Mary's flesh and blood, the beforementioned
   divine person, the eternal Word and eternal Son, has united himself;
   and thus became one person and Christ. Or that the whole person, Christ
   Jesus, with body and soul, is the natural fruit of the flesh and blood
   of Mary, in which the eternal Word dwelt. The man, Christ Jesus, died,
   but the Word remains whole and intact."

   Answer. It seems very strange to me that the learned never cease to
   upbraid us by their indiscreet words, and cause us more and more
   tribulation, by the bloodthirsty; we, who have plainly and
   incontrovertibly on our side, the firm and immutable foundation of the
   holy apostles and prophets, nay, also the blessed word and testimony of
   Christ; while they have neither common reason nor the Scriptures on
   their side, as may be seen. For, that all the following weighty and
   intolerable improprieties and abominable errors result from their
   confession, is as clear as day.

   First, A divided Christ; of which one half must have been heavenly and
   the other earthly; as some, even dare boldly assert that the person of
   Christ consisted of two principal parts, namely, God and man.

   Secondly, An impure and sinful Christ, for the defense says: C'hristum
   non alterius ullius carnis participem factwm esse, quana quae and
   peccato (ut tentaretwr) and morti simul obnoxia esset, &c., that is,
   Christ partook of no other flesh but of sin, that he might be tempted
   and subject to death. At another place the defense says, in regard to
   Christ: Si sanctus (inquit) quomodo sub peccatum in Patrisjudicio
   candemnaturl that is, If Christ is holy, why is he then judged in the
   judgment of the Father because of sins I this agrees perfectly with the
   writing of Gellius; that the righteousness of God would not leave us
   unpunished, without the ransom.

   Reader, observe, How could they speak more blasphemously of the most
   holy manhood of Christ, nay, of the Son of the Almighty and eternal
   God, than they thereby do? For if Christ was flesh of our sinful and
   death?guilty flesh, and if he was thus tempted of his own flesh, then
   the sin, of which he was tempted, must have dwelt in his flesh, and
   then he died for the sake of duty, and not for the sake of grace; this
   is too clear to be refuted. Nor could it be otherwise, if we assert
   that Christ's flesh was of Adam's sinful flesh.

   Again, If his holy, precious flesh was such a ransom as Gellius claims,
   how could the righteousness of God be fulfilled and acquitted thereby,
   according to the holy will of God? If this may not be rightly called,
   preaching an impure and sinful Christ, and robbing our most holy Savior
   and Messiah (something of which they accuse us), I will leave all
   right?minded and reasonable people to reflect upon in a scriptural
   light.

   Thirdly, Two persons in Christ, namely, the one the second person in
   the Godhead, and the other the man of Mary's flesh, in which human
   person the divine person dwelt. Which error is not alone controverted
   by us, but also by Luther, saying, "Beware, beware (I say) of the
   Alleosi; it is the devil's mask; for it will ultimately establish such
   a Christ as I would not be called after; namely, that Christ henceforth
   is no more, and that his suffering avails no more than the suffering of
   a common saint. For, if I should believe that alone human feeling
   suffered for me, then that Christ would be a poor Savior; he would
   stand in need of a Savior himself. In short, it is unspeakable what the
   devil seeks and intends by this Alleosi. We say, God is man and man is
   God; we cry against them that they divide the person of Christ, as if
   it were two persons."

   For, if the Alleosi shall stand, as Zuingli teaches it, Christ must be
   two persons, one divine, the other human. This he says, "Reader,
   observe, to what kind of Christ they teach and point us.

   Fourthly, Two sons in Christ; of which the first is the Son of God
   without a mother; the second, the son of Mary, without a father; in
   which son of Mary, the Son of God should have been embodied, and thus
   have been united, as they claim. Just behold what a monstrosity they
   produce I

   Fifthly, The person, Christ Jesus, then was neither the first nor only
   begotten Son, but the third son of God in order, who was not born, but
   created of God; and would be, as Pomer says, the accepted son of God,
   Quod & Bonosianorwm five Xonosolitarwm hceresis est. I say He would be
   the third in order. For the first is the Word; the second, the first
   Adam, Luke 3:38, and the third, the man of Mary's flesh, who should
   have been accepted as a son of God, as heard.

   Sixthly, Then we are not redeemed and delivered through God's first and
   only begotten Son, but through Mary's son, created of Adam's impure and
   sinful flesh, as also the defense and his followers dare assert, in the
   face of all the Scriptures, saying, that the nature imbodied in the
   loins of Adam, which committed the transgression also, according to the
   righteousness of God will requite and remit the same.

   Seventhly, If we are thus delivered through Adam's flesh, as they
   claim, then we should not only give thanks to the Father for his Word,
   but also to Adam's flesh, through which our deliverance is caused;
   this, all right?minded persons must admit.

   Eighthly, If the man Christ was a creature of Adam's flesh, and we were
   delivered through him, as the learned claim; and since God speaks
   through the prophet, That he will not give his glory to another, Isaiah
   48:11; and since it is manifest that we should honor our Redeemer,
   Christ, no less than we honor the Father, therefore it must follow that
   God either did not speak truly through his prophets, or else they were
   all idolaters because they gave divine homage to a creature of Adam's
   flesh; something which is so strictly forbidden in the Scriptures, and
   which often was severely punished of God. Behold, reader, such an
   inconsistent, impure and divided Christ he is to which the learned
   point and teach you by their sophistry and garbled Scriptures A christ
   composed of two persons and two sons; of which one person and son
   should have dwelt in the other; and of which one person and son should
   have suffered and the other not; and the one that suffered should have
   been the son of Mary and not of God. I think this may well be called
   forsaking the Lord who has bought them, and preaching a strange christ
   whom the Scriptures never knew.

   O, reader, dear reader, how lamentably the deceitfulness of the old
   serpent robs us, through the reasoning of the learned, of this noble,
   exalted and precious Messiah, and points us to an impure, sinful,
   earthly and created being; never minding that the Holy Spirit openly
   testifies that the Word of God was made flesh, John 1, and that this
   same incarnated Word is our Emmanuel, and our God, Matt. 1:26; the Lord
   who justifies us, Jer. 23; the first and only begotten, John 1; God's
   own Son, Rom. 8; descended from heaven, John 3:13; the living bread
   from heaven which was not his invisible godhead, as the learned say,
   but his visible flesh, as he himself testifies, John 6:51; come forth
   from God, John 16:30; the first and last, Rev. 1:11; who humbled
   himself and did not assume the form of a great emperor or king, but of
   an humble servant; came down to the level of man; assumed the form of
   man; obeyed his Father unto death, nay, unto the death of the cross;
   truly God and man, man and God. God at all times, of God and in God;
   God's eternal word, who, in due time, according to the promise made to
   the patriarchs, became a miserable, suffering and mortal man in Mary,
   the pure virgin, who was of the seed of Abraham, and married to a man
   of the house of David, named Joseph (upon which Joseph, the evangelists
   base their genealogy); not divided, as the learned teach, but an
   undivided, only Christ and Son of God; pure and spotless; planted in
   her of the seed and Word of his Father, by the Holy Spirit of God;
   conceived of her through faith; fed and nourished in her virgin body
   and in due time became man, as Isaac was brought forth of Sarah, and
   John of Elisabeth; born of her according to the promise; obedient to
   the law; a light to the world; a preacher of grace; an example of
   righteous?. ness; and at last, not on account of his own sins, for he
   knew not sin, but for our sins, he was innocently condemned to death,
   nailed to the cross, died, buried, arose, and ascended to his Father in
   heaven, where he dwelt before; and there he is our only and eternal
   Mediator, Advocate, Intercessor, Expiator and High Priest, with God,
   his Father, Mark 16; Acts 1; John 6; 16; and thus the Almighty and
   eternal God, our merciful, heavenly Father, alone receives the honor
   and praises, through this his Christ, our eternal Messiah, his first
   and only begotten Son and eternal word; and not through the impure and
   sinful flesh of Adam, as the learned teach.

   Observe, reader, which of these confessions is the most powerful and
   has the strongest foundation in the Scriptures; and in which of the two
   the greater love of God, and higher honor to Christ is perceptible.
   Whether God had taken a man of the seed. or flesh of Adam, as the
   learned teach, or whether he had given his eternal word, power, wisdom,
   nay, the heart of his own body, (to make a common expression), in
   death, for us, as all the Scriptures teach us that he did.

   O what an inestimable word is this, " God so loved the world that he
   gave his only begotten Son, &c., John 3:16. Again," In this was
   manifested tile love of God towards us, because that God sent his only
   begotten Son into the world," and again. "Herein is love, not that we
   loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the
   propitiation for our sins," 1 John 4:9,10. Mark, he has sent his Son
   and not a man of the seed of Adam who had no father. Paul says, "He
   spared not his own Son," Rom. 8:32, and other explicit sayings.

   !!!Amos add a translation of some one...

   Here, in the original works of Menno Simon, follows a brief argument,
   in reference to the incarnation of our Lord, which the publishers have
   deemed proper to omit, for the reason that they felt that the book
   would be more edifying to the general reader without it.]

   In the seventh place, he accuses us, saying, "That, secondly, their
   church has not existed since the time of Abraham; and that she ie,
   therefore, not the true church, is clearly visible from the fact that
   they, in disobedience to the will of God, refuse the seal of the
   eternal covenant to the children of the church, which has, since the
   time of Abraham, been practiced and maintained in the churches."

   Answer. Abraham was commanded of God that he should leave the land of
   his fathers, and of his kinsmen, and that he should leave his father's
   house, and remove to a land which the Lord would show him. Abraham
   believed in the Lord, and departed as the Lord had commanded him, Gen.
   12:4?6.

   Again, the Lord commanded him that he should offer Isaac, whom he
   loved, his only begotten of the free woman, as a burnt offering.
   Abraham believed in God; he was obedient, and prepared to do whatever
   God commanded, Gen. 22; Rom. 8:32.

   In the same manner he was commanded to circumcise himself, his son
   Ishmael (Isaac was not yet born) and every man child of his household,
   and all the males after him, at the eighth day after their birth.
   Abraham believed in God, and did as the Lord commanded him.

   Behold, thus Abraham believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for
   righteousness, Gen. 15:6; Rom.' 4:3. In the same manner God has spoken
   unto us in the New Testament, not only by angels and prophets, as he
   did unto Abraham and the patriarchs, but also by his Son, which Son has
   thus commanded, namely, That the gospel should be preached to all the
   world; to the Gentiles as well as to the Jews; and whosoever believes
   it should be baptized, Mark 16; even as it was commanded Abraham to
   circumcise all males, Gen. 17:10?13.

   This command we have received from the mouth of Christ, therefore we
   believe in it, even as Abraham believed in his time. We believe it, I
   say, and do accordingly; we teach those of understanding minds, and
   baptize those that believe, not in disobedience, as Gellius says, but
   in obedience to the clear, plain and express ordinance and command of
   Christ, God's own Son.

   Dear reader, observe. The Lord, Christ, thanked his Father, and said,
   "This is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God,
   and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent," John 17:3. At another place he
   says, " If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed."
   Mark, he says, "If ye continue," John 8:31. And, while the merciful and
   affectionate Father, through his great kindness, has discovered unto us
   the glorious knowledge, and the wonderful, deep mystery of his beloved
   Son, and, besides has given us such a fruit through his Spirit, that we
   dare not willfully and knowingly deviate one hair's breadth from his
   holy word, ordinance and command, as is testified and shown by our
   tribulation, misery and deprivation, to the whole world, yet, alas,
   according to the judgment of Gellius, and of the learned, we are not
   the believing church, nor the disciples of Christ, as may be seen by
   their writings.

   Behold, thus the righteous judgment of the Almighty and great God is
   passed upon the wise and learned of this world, that the clear and
   plain signs, by which the true disciples and church of Christ may, and
   must be known, are esteemed an abomination and error?that they who have
   received light from above, through grace, are not accounted christians,
   by them as has been related.

   In the eighth place he accuses us, and says," They must admit that
   their church has existed but sixteen or seventeen years, that is, since
   the time Menno Simon commenced preaching. For they do not want to be
   counted at all, of the Munsterites, Amsterdamites, and Oude
   Kloosterites, among whom Menno lost a brother, lest they be called
   seditious or the seed. of sedition."

   Answer. We point to Christ Jesus our only and eternal Prophet and
   Messiah, sent of the Father, who is the only true Cornerstone in Zion,
   the true Teacher, Law?giver, Commander, Intercessor and Head? of his
   church, together with all his angels, apostles and prophets, through
   whom he, in former times, spoke, and also his Spirit, word, ordinances,
   commands, prohibitions, usage and example?and if Gellius, or any other
   person under the canopy of heaven, be he learned or not, can convince
   us by divine truth that we teach or maintain any thing contrary to his
   word and ordinances, then I, for myself, sincerely desire to correct
   the wrong, and to follow that which is right. This he knows who has
   purchased me; for I want to be saved. But if they can not do this by
   the truth, but only in appearance of truth, and thus blaspheme it, as
   all the perverse do, and have to leave our testimony unbroken, then it
   is sufficiently proven that our hated, despised, and small church is
   the true, prophetic, apostolic, and christian church, which was began
   with the first righteous who walked according to the will of God; and
   not with me, as Gellius, alas, maliciously says.

   Secondly, I would say, since he has accused us, at different times, of
   the errors and sedition of the Munsterites, of which we are clear and
   ever have been, before God and man, therefore, I would beseech him to
   take a view of his own infant baptist church, of which he is a teacher
   and head, and see how abominably they have, for years, rebelled amongst
   each other; how they have afflicted countries and nations with their
   accursed, ungodly wars, and have given the blood of innumerable human
   beings, together with their poor souls, to the prince of hell, and have
   placed them as an offering upon his altar; of which, alas, the learned,
   by their seditious writings, together with the priests, monks, and
   preachers, were the principal cause, which is as clear as day to many
   reasonable persons.

   Thirdly, I would say, that in my opinion, he here so indiscreetly
   alludes to the error of my poor brother, for one of these two reasons:
   Either, that he thereby would make me suspicioned with the reader, that
   I, formerly, also was of the same feeling with my brother, or, that he
   would thereby injure my reputation. For my brother is no longer subject
   to the punishment of man which he once suffered in the flesh, but alone
   to the judgment of God. It seems that Gellius cannot master this envy
   and bitterness of his heart; for nobody can be corrected or taught
   righteousness by such a course.

   If he did so for the first reason, namely, to make me suspicioned, then
   all those who formerly heard me, when yet of the papal church, and all
   who have ever heard me until this hour, and also my published writings,
   will be my testimony, that he wrongfully suspicions me; for I never
   thought of such a thing, much less taught it.

   But, if he did so for the second reason, namely, to blemish my
   reputation, then he should know that I and mine, I trust, never harmed
   him nor his in the least; and also, that my poor brother, to whom he so
   cruelly alludes, did no greater wrong than that he erroneously, alas,
   defended his faith by force of arms, and retaliated the violence
   committed against him, as all the learned, preachers, priests, monks
   and all the world do. I presume that I have merited this cruel allusion
   by nothing less than by my faithful love, because I have, in sincerity
   of heart, pointed him and all the preachers to the divine truth of the
   word, and because I have admonished them to their own wellbeing. And
   how this allusion, which cannot have been made but in envy, agrees with
   honorableness, and with the fear of God, all reasonable readers may
   judge by the Scriptures and the common rules of decency. May the kind
   Lord grant that he may rightly learn the heart from which this
   unmerited allusion comes, that he may purge it and sincerely repent;
   this is my revenge and punishment which I invoke on him.

   In the ninth place he accuses us, and says, "That we cannot prove that
   infant baptism is an anti?christian abomination; nor show from the
   anti?ehristian ordinance who was the institutor thereof. It can also be
   proven, he says, that infant baptism was practiced ever since the
   apostolic times; long before the violence of anti?christ, which was yet
   unknown, or, at least, very weak, at the time of Augustine."

   Answer. We teach and practice such a baptism as was commanded by Jesus
   Christ, God's own Son; as was taught by his faithful witnesses, the
   apostles, in clear and explicit terms, and as was transmitted to us by
   their practice; which is the baptism of the believing, Matt. 28:19;
   Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 8:36; 10:48; 16:33; 19:6; Rom. 6:3; Col. 2:12; 1
   Cor. 12:13; Tit. 3:5; 1 Pet. 3:21. Whosoever, now, will teach and
   practice any other baptism, must show by the Scriptures where it is
   commanded. But if they can not do this, as is impossible to do, then it
   is already proven that it is not Christ's baptism, but that of
   anti?christ, however finely it may be ornamented with learned words;
   this is too clear to be denied.

   But, as to his assertion, that the violence of anti?christ was yet
   unknown at the time of Augustine, or that it was at least feeble, is
   too absurd to admit of an answer. Whoever will, may read history, and
   he will find in great clearness, that anti?christ was, at the time of
   Augustine, in full honor and that he reigned with his doctrine, in the
   hearts of men.

   In the tenth place he accuses us, said says," If they were the true
   messengers of God, who are to purge ani deliver the church of Christ
   from such abominable anti?christian errors, they should not be a
   separated sect; for the prophets, and all the faithful servants o: God,
   by whom God has often purged his church, did not separate themselves
   from the church and establish e church of their own, but they remained
   with the churcl and bestowed their faithful labor upon the church, a~
   the peril of their lives."

   Answer. Whatever Gellius does, it seems that he must slander. I say
   again, take Christ Jesus and all his prophets, apostles; Spirit, word,
   ordinance and life, and if he can thereby convince us, that in any
   article we are at fault and contrary to their teaching (his slandering
   amounts to nothing), of that we do not conform thereto, or, that, in
   our weakness, we do not agree therewith-- I will give up that we are a
   separated sect. But if he can not do so, as it is impossible for him,
   and yet calls us a separated sect, he shows thereby that he is no
   better judge of the church of Christ, than Tertullus was when before
   Felix, and the Jews at Rome, before Paul.

   I would further say, that if he can prove to us that the faithful
   prophets intermingled with the worshippers of the calf of Jeroboam;
   with the servants of Baal, and the abominations of Israel, which they
   so zealously reproved; and remained united with those who disobeyed the
   law; and, also, that the holy apostles admitted the Pharisees and
   Scribes, together with other refractory persons, in the communion of
   their churches?then we admit that he has a good cause to reprove us,
   and to write as he does. If they did not do so, (and they have not),
   but, on the contrary, reproved, by the power of the Spirit, the
   abominations that crept in from time to time, according to the pure
   word and ordinance of God, at the peril of their lives, then he must
   admit, that he accuses us without cause, since we do not otherwise than
   according to the example of the holy apostles and prophets, reprove all
   false doctrine, unrighteousness and abominations with the pure,
   apostolic teaching, Spirit, ordinance, and word of our Lord Jesus
   Christ (without which no true church of Christ can exist); avoid that
   which is wrong, and, faithfully, in love and purity, teach and
   promulgate the salutary, christian truth, verbally and by writing, to
   all the hungry hearts, at the peril of life and possessions.

   Lastly, I would say, Since he calls us a excluded sect, because we do
   not unit with them, why have he and his follower seceded from the
   Papistic and Luthera churches? If he answer: Because of their
   abominations. Then I would again say, that we do it for the same
   reason. For they forsake the Son of the true and living God and point
   us to an earthly creature of the unclean and sinful flesh of Adam as
   being our Savior; besides, they do not follow the command and ordinance
   of God in regard to baptism, Holy Supper, and separation. We will
   never, at any risk, desire to be of one church with those who seek
   their reconciliation and salvation in the sinful flesh of Adam, who
   reject God's testimony of his Son and his ordinance; but we desire to
   be of one church and body with those who give the praise to God through
   his word; with those who confess the whole Christ as the only, and
   first begotten Son of God, and who abide unchangeably in his holy
   ordinances, example, Spirit and word. Let those of understanding minds
   understand that which the word of the Lord teaches, John 10.

   In the eleventh place he accuses us, saying, " From this it follows
   that the calling of their doctrine is wrong, and that their whole
   church, service, and walk, cannot aid to salvation, but can only lead
   to the corruption and destruction of the true Churches; and therefore
   they do not suffer as innocent and harmless christians, but as
   busy?bodies in other men's matter (he refers to 1 Pet. 4), except that
   they want to suffer for such a cause of which they must be doubtful
   themselves, and for which no martyr ever suffered."

   Answer. As the Spirit of Christ, and of unfeigned love, accepts all
   good and godly actions as right and godly, so, also, the spirit of
   anti?christ, and of bitter envy explains every thing that is right and
   godly, as wrong and ungodly. For it is testified to with possessions
   and life that we dare not willfully and knowingly deviate one hair's
   breadth from the word and example of the Lord, but judge every thing
   according to the doctrines and usages of the apostles, so far as the
   Lord gives grace. We, in our weakness, would gladly conform our lives
   to the requirements of the Scriptures, and gladly seek the praise of
   God and the salvation of our neighbors, at the peril of possessions and
   life. Notwithstanding this, he dares write that the calling of our
   doctrine is wrong, that our walk and aG tions are not conducive to
   salvation; that we cause all manner of corruption and disorder, and
   that we do not suffer as christians, but as evil?doers, who are
   busybodies in other men's matters. Behold, thus all good offices of the
   godly, are ever explained to the reverse.

   O, reader, beloved reader, that the poor, ignorant world would
   sincerely accept this, our despised doctrine, which is not of us but of
   Christ, and that they would faithfully obey it; for then they might
   change their deadly swords into plow shares and their spears into
   pruning hooks; they would level their gates and walls, dismiss their
   executioners and hangmen, for all those who accept our doctrine, in its
   power, by the grace of God, will not desire to injure any one upon
   earth, not even their most bitter enemies, much less wrong or harm them
   by works and actions; for they are the children of the Most High, who
   sincerely loves all that is good, and, in their weakness, avoid that
   which is evil, nay, hate it and are inimical thereto. Yet we must hear
   that we suffer for the sake of wrongdoing, as has been heard.

   But in regard to his assertion "that we suffer for a cauae of which we
   must be doubtful ourselves, and for which no martyr ever suffered," he
   should know that if we at all doubted our faith, we would not so deeply
   impress the seal with our possessions, and blood, as we do; for a house
   built upon the sand cannot withstand such torrents of water and
   wind?storms as visit us daily, Matt. 7:25.

   Neither do we suffer on account of an uncertain cause as he says, but
   for the sake of the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; for the sake of his
   holy, precious word and ordinances; for the sake of the sincere
   confession of God and Christ; for the sake of obedience to the
   Scriptures, for the sake of which all have suffered, from the
   beginning, who have rightly suffered according to the will of God, as
   may be plainly and clearly educed from profane and sacred history.

   In the twelfth place he accuses us, saying, "That they are the church
   and Israel, is false, since they stain the true church of Christ by
   many errors which they daily produce and bring forward as from the
   abyss of hell; destroy the true sheep of Christ; unreasonably adorn
   themselves with the sanctity of the church; cause strife and dissension
   concerning the articles of faith; are carnal, sneak about and preach in
   secret, and do not agree with the elders of the churches, as said
   before."

   Answer. If the spirit of truth had been the writer in this case, the
   game would have, doubtlessly, been reversed, and this accusation laid
   on our opponents; for they still maintain and uphold some gross errors
   which were formerly brought forward by anti?christ from the abyss of
   hell (to use his own expression), both by doctrine and force; and
   thereby cause the godly much affliction and tribulation, cause many a
   pious child to be deprived of possessions and life, adulterate truth,
   preach falsehood, are carnally minded, and in fact deny that the man,
   Christ Jesus, is God's only and first begotten Son, while we, with our
   small, despised number shun and forsake all the anti?christian .
   abominations and errors, build up the church of Christ and again place
   it upon the true foundation, again publish and proclaim the clear and
   plain truth, to many, both verbally and by writing, at the peril of
   life and the displeasure of the world, confess the whole Christ, as the
   true, only and first begotten Son of God, as did the angel to Mary,
   John the Baptist, Peter, Martha, and the Father from high heavens
   himself, and rightly use his ordinances of baptism, Supper and
   separation, as all those did from the beginning who rightly, knew God,
   and acted according to his will.

   Behold, reader, these are the most important accusations charged
   against us by him; and that they, for the most part are artful
   fabrications, false explanations, false suspicions, false accusations
   and partial charges, whereby he obstructs the course of divine truth,
   maintains falsehood, insults the godly, and consoles the impenitent in
   their easy life, is fully proven in this our replication.

   In the last place he writes of us, saying, " Experience fully teaches
   that their teachers and prophets are not the teachers and prophets of
   God. And that they are not the people of God, I have, perhaps, already
   proven too powerfully. From which, then, it is clear that our
   magistracy are right not to let them proceed in their wicked course,
   but to stop them; and they might, in pastoral an paternal faithfulness
   or solicitude for the church of Christ, speak and act a little harder
   towards them, lest the church be quite destroyed. But then we would be
   their persecutors and blood?hounds."

   Answer. Jeremiah, Micah, Elias, Christ Jesus and Paul could not be
   called the true prophets and servants of God; nor can we. But the great
   Lord shall, in due time, make it manifest who are the faithful prophets
   and servants of God and who are not.

   Again, to his saying that we are not the people of God, we answer with
   holy Paul that it is a very small thing that we should be judged by the
   judgment of men; and especially of such men who are so diametrically
   opposed to the ordinance, will and word of God, as may be seen in the
   case of Gellius, by his writing. Yea, kind reader, if he and his like
   preachers acknowledged us to be the people of God, they would thereby
   testify that they are not; something which an ambitious, carnal person,
   who seeks reputation and fame, never will do.

   Again, in regard to his approval of the magistracy hindering our
   course, which he calls wicked, I would say that the longer and the more
   he writes, the more indiscreet and offensive he becomes, and the more
   he manifests his blindness. If he be a preacher called of the Spirit of
   God, then let him show a single word in all the New Testament, whereby
   he can prove that Christ or the apostles have ever called on the
   magistracy to defend and protect the true church against the attack of
   the wicked, as, alas, he calls us. No, no. Christ Jesus and his
   powerful word and Holy Spirit is the protector and defender of his
   church; and not the emperor, king, or any worldly potentate. The
   kingdom of the Spirit must be protected and defended by the sword of
   the Spirit, and not by the sword of the world. This is too clear to be
   controverted, according to the doctrine and example of Christ and his
   apostles.

   I would further say, If the magistracy rightly understood Christ and
   his kingdom, they would, in my opinion, rather choose death, than to
   meddle with their worldly power and sword in spiritual matters, which
   are not subject to the judgment of man, but to the judgment of the
   great and Almighty God alone. But they are taught by their pastors that
   they should proscribe, imprison, torture and slay those who are not
   obedient to their doctrine, as may, alas, be seen in many different
   cities and countries.

   In short kind reader, if the merciful Lord did not, in his great love,
   temper the hearts of some of the magistrates, but would let them
   proceed according to the fiendish instigation and blood?preaching of
   the learned, no pious person could endure. But some are yet found, who,
   notwithstanding the crying and writing of the learned, suffer and bear
   with the miserable, and, for a time, show them mercy, for which we will
   forever give praise to God, the Most High, and for which we feel very
   grateful and thankful to such kind and discreet regents.

   But, to his writing that in paternal and pastoral solicitude and
   faithfulness they might use harsher means against us" I would say this:
   If he had entered in at the right door with Christ, who is the Prince
   and Head of all true pastors, and if he could taste in his heart, of
   the friendly and amiable Spirit, nature and disposition of Christ, he
   would not at all think of such a resolution against the blood of
   others, much less advocate and invoke it. This I know to a certainty,
   for the Spirit of Christ is not thus natured, John lU:2; 1 Pet. 2:3.

   Reader, observe that he, in this instance, does not write plainly that
   the magistracy should put us to the ~ sword; this a does, because he
   does not want to be called a blood?hound or persecutor; nevertheless he
   makes it understood that if they should do so, he would call it a
   praisworthy thing. Whoever is not quite destitute of understanding,
   well understands what he hints at in this instance. O, a doctrine of
   blood!

   O, that he could comprehend the force of the word which the Lord says,
   "Ye are of your father, the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will
   do. He was a murderer from the beginning," John 8:44. For, since he
   encourages the blood?thirsty by such writing, and I have myself heard
   from his own mouth that it is right to persecute and kill one on
   account of his faith (understand, such faith as they think to be
   heretical), he, therefore, has thereby burdened the innocent blood on
   his soul. I say innocent blood, for neither he nor anybody else upon
   the face of the earth, can, by the grace God, convince us by the force
   of truth, that we act or do aught against Christ or his word; or that
   we deserve the punishment and sword of the magistracy.

   He should further know that this blood doctrine of his, is not only
   contrary to Jesus Christ, God's own Son, and that of his servant, Paul,
   but also contrary to the doctrine of Luther, see his book, " De
   sublimion muwndi potestate." Besides contrary to the doctrine of
   Hieronimus, Augustine, Theophilactus, Anselmus, Remigius and others,
   who unanimously agree that the heretics should not be killed, but
   admonished and convinced, and if they do not repent after admonition,
   that they should, according to the word of God, be separated from the
   communion of the church, and shunned.

   Besides, this stone thrown by him might light upon his own head. For
   what greater and more terrible heresy, deception and blasphemy can be
   imagined than to assert that the pure and holy flesh of Christ, is a
   ransom for sin, to adulterate so sadly his ordinance and the apostle's
   clear and plain doctrine of baptism; to neglect Exclusion as required
   by the word of God; to slander the pious, and to console and encourage
   the impenitent and carnal minded by garbling the Scriptures, as he has
   constantly done in his writings from beginning to end.

   If we were thus to resolve against those who are wrong in doctrine or
   faith, as he says we should, then we would have to commence with him,
   because he is a defender of such great errors, as may be plainly seen
   by comparing both our writings.

   May the merciful, dear Lord permit him and all our opponents to see the
   right foundation of truth; understanding hearts to understand it
   rightly, and a willing, free and new mind to believe and follow it with
   sincerity, Amen.
     __________________________________________________________________

  CONCLUSION.

   HERE, dear reader, you have my forced answer to the unseasoned,
   blasphemous writing of Gellius, which he has published and printed, A:
   D. 1652, against the unadulterated truth of God and his scattered
   church; whereby he so lamentably adulterates the salutary doctrine of
   Christ, and so miserably accuses the innocent, pious hearts, before the
   whole world, that I could not neglect to do so, by virtue of my office,
   to which I was unworthily ordained of God, through the pious. I had to
   controvert him with the word of the Lord, and publish it through the
   press, as he in the first place has done against us, to the praise of
   God and his truth, to the justification of the innocent, and to the
   instruction of the humble.

   Whoever seeks and strives after truth may find it; for it has been
   shown with great clearness; but whoever despises it, does not despise
   us, but Christ Jesus, who has taught it unto his church through his
   holy apostles, and who has bequeathed it to us by the testimony of the
   Scriptures through his Holy Spirit.I hereby offer myself to you and to
   the whole world, if these writings are not sufficient for you, to let
   me have safe conduct to an open and free discussion with Gellius and
   the learned; and if I cannot maintain my doctrine and faith by virtue
   of the Scriptures, and if I cannot prove their doctrine and faith as
   deceiving, then I will not refuse to acknowledge my fault before the
   whole world, to retract my doctrine and to consign myself and my
   writings to the fire. But if I can substantiate my doctrine, then I
   desire and ask nothing more than that they acknowledge their fault,
   discontinue to deceive the people, repent, teach the truth to the
   people and flee from falsehood. Herewith I commend you to God; he will
   guide your feet upon the way of peace, and lead you all in the
   unadulterated, pure knowledge of his eternal, saving truth, Amen. The
   grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all who sincerely seek and fear
   him, Amen.

   MENNO SIMON. blank page
     __________________________________________________________________
     __________________________________________________________________

  A

  VERY HUMBLE

  SUPPLICATION

  OF THE

  POOR, DESPISED CHRISTIANS,

  TO ALL THE PIOUS, KIND AND REASONABLE MAGISTRATES; CONCERNING

  THE ABOMINABLE CHARGES, UPBRAIDINGS, BACK?BITINGS AND

  CLAMOR OF THE LEARNED, WHEREBY THEY ARE, ON

  EVERY HAND, SLANDERED AND TROUBLED, AS

  MAY BE HEARD AND SEEN.

  BY

  MENNO SIMON.

  "If a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him," "He
  shall be

  unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself,"
  Levit.19:33,34.

  ELKHART, INDIANA:

  PUBLISHED BY JOHN F. FUNK AND BROTHER.

  1871. To all the pious, kind and reasonable magistrates, lords, princes,
  regents and commanders, we, poor, despised and scattered children wish eternal
  happiness, a happy reign, and every blessing of God our heavenly Father,
  through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, Amen.

   "Amend your ways and your doings;" "For if ye thoroughly amend your
   ways and your doings; if ye thoroughly execute judgment between a man
   and his neighbor; if ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and
   the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk
   after other gods to your hurt, then will I cause you to dwell in this
   place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, for ever and ever,"
   Jer. 7:3, 5?7.

   "Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the
   poor that are cast out, to thy house? when thou seest the naked; that
   thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
   Then shall thy light break forth as the morning," Isaiah 58:7, 8.
     __________________________________________________________________

  A VERY HUMBLE SUPPLICATION

  OF THE POOR, DESPISED CHRISTIANS.

   IT is well known to many persons, noble, honorable and kind lords, that
   many are more diligent and zealous to execute the law of Theodosius
   (although this law was formerly forced from the good emperor by the
   blood thirsty bishops), the mandate of Charles the fifth, and the
   decree of the Ro. man empire, passed against those whom they call
   anabaptists (issued in our times); than they are, to have the word of
   God obeyed; never minding that these laws and decrees were made, not on
   account of baptism itself, but on account of the ungodly errors and
   abominations which were committed by the doctrine and doings of the
   baptized; for, if the beforementioned law, mandate and decree were
   issued on account of baptism, and not on account of the crimes
   committed at different times by those that were baptized, then were
   also Christ Jesus, the apostles, Cyprian the Martyr, all the African
   bishops, the Nicene concilion, and beside, the great apostle, Paul,
   thereby adjudged as public criminals. This is incontrovertible.

   Since we are opposed to the Donatists, Circumcelliones, Munsterites,
   and to the errors, abuses and abominations of all uproarious sects,
   committed in our times (on account of which, formerly the law of
   Theodosius was passed, and in our times the imperial mandate and the
   condemnation of the empire, were issued); also were opposed to them
   from the beginning of our doctrine and faith; and, since we, before
   "God and his angels, seek nothing upon earth but that we may, humbly
   and obediently follow the express and clear word, Spirit, example,
   command, prohibition, usage and ordinance of the Lord, according to
   which we should judge every thing pertaining to the kingdom and church
   of Christ, if we would please God, as is testified and shown on every
   hand, by our tribulation, oppression, misery, anxiety and
   blood?therefore it is, before Clod and man, unchristian, nay,
   manifestly wrong and detestable, to impose the same penalty and
   punishment on us that is imposed on the Circumcelliones, on account of
   the baptism, alone, which we have maintained in conformity with the
   word of God, with the apostolic doctrine and usage, and against all
   human philosophy and inventions. To treat us, I say, the same as they
   did the Circumcelliones, who, according to history, committed such
   detestable, cruel tyrannies, and also the same as they treated the
   Munsterites, who, contrary to the word of God, to all the evangelical
   Scriptures, and, also, contrary to sound policy, established a new
   kingdom, rebellion, polygamy, and such like things; all of which we
   unflinchingly oppose and reprove, as may be seen by our open actions
   and doings.

   We would, therefore, in the first place, for the sake of Christ humbly
   beseech your Excellencies, and honorable Wisdom, to consider, in pity
   and paternal solicitude, how lamentably your miserable subjects, who
   are created, with you, of one God, and were purchased with the same
   treasure, and who will at last appear with you before the same
   judgment, are, without their faults, belied, derided and slandered of
   the whole world, and especially of the preachers; and how, in many
   places, they are pitilessly and unmercifully destroyed as the worst
   criminals upon earth, and are given as food to the fowls of the air;
   how they are (as our predecessor, Christ), with the criminals, put to
   the stake and on the wheel; and how many of us, with our wives and
   little children, are driven from our country and possessions, must roam
   in foreign countries, naked and destitute; and all this for no other
   reason, God knows, than that we do not agree with the inordinate way of
   living of this world, and . do not commune with the preachers who
   oppose the ?word of the Lord by their doctrine, sacraments and life;
   that we rightly use baptism and the Lord's Supper, shun all idolatry,
   self?righteousness and abuses, according to the Scriptures; and that we
   would gladly, in, our weakness, fear the Lord, and follow in
   righteousness.

   We beseech your Excellencies and Honors to consider, in the fear of
   God, what he requires of you, namely, That you shall rightly judge
   between man and man, without all respect of persons, and that you shall
   deliver the oppressed from the hands of the oppressor, The Lord says, "
   Execute judgment between a man and his neighbor;" " Oppress not the
   stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood."
   Consider this; that your despised servants and miserable subjects, who
   fled from the roaring lions, may, in peace and quiet, serve the Lord,
   and earn their bread according to the Scriptures, under your paternal
   care and merciful protection, Jer. 7:6, 7; 22:17; Isaiah 59.

   Secondly, we desire that your Excellencies and Honors would weigh, with
   the infallible word of God, with the living example of Christ, and with
   the pious, unblamable life of the saints, how a true christian should
   be disposed according to the Scriptures. If reading, singing, water,
   bread, wine, name and boasting, would constitute true christianity,
   then there would be a great number of christians. But no, beloved
   lords, no. The word of God knows no christians but those who are born
   anew in Christ of the living seed of God, through the pure doctrine of
   Jesus Christ, which, being preached in the power of the Spirit, is
   accepted in true faith, by the grace of God and through the operation
   of the Holy Spirit; who, by virtue of this birth, bury the old sinful
   life, and arise with Christ in newness of life; who, in their weakness,
   gladly obey the holy will, word, example, ordinances and commands of
   the Lord, and who sincerely die unto every thing contrary thereto; who
   diligently combat all licentious, vain thoughts, and besetting sins
   which flow from the inherited Adamic nature; and who daily sigh and
   mourn before the Lord, on account of their human weakness, errors and
   short comings, with an humble, broken heart; who are prepared to take
   upon themselves the cross of Christ, and to forsake father, mother,
   husband, wife, children, possessions and self, for the sake of the
   testimony of his holy word, when the honor and praise of God require
   it. In short, they are minded as Christ Jesus; are in Christ and Christ
   in them; they are led by his Spirit; and they abide immutably in the
   word of the Lord, through true faith, firm confidence, and a living
   hope, in all temptations and perils, Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12; Gal. 3:27; 2
   Tim. 3; Matt. 10:38; Luke 14:27; Phil. 2:3.

   Inasmuch as it is found in fact that our faithful brethren and sisters
   in Christ Jesus, the beloved companions in tribulation, and in the
   kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ,? Rev.1:9, so sincerely fear and
   love the Lord, their God, that they would rather give their reputation
   and money, goods, flesh and blood, and every thing of which human
   nature is desirous, as a prey to the blood?thirsty, than willfully and
   knowingly to speak a false word or to act hypocritically, contrary to
   the word of God; therefore we would beseech your Excellencies and
   Honors to consider whether they are such pernicious and dangerous
   people as, alas, they are called by many, and adjudged by all. Yea,
   dear lords, all their pleasure is in the word of the Lord. Their mouths
   flow with wisdom, their love smells like the precious ointment on the
   head of Aaron, their prayers are as the noble incense before the ark of
   God; their life enlightens as the golden candlesticks in the temple of
   the Lord, and they seek nothing on this earth, but, that they may serve
   the whole world unto righteousness, both with body and spirit, and that
   they may deliver many from the destruction of their souls, and win them
   unto Christ, through the grace, Spirit, power and word of the Lord;
   and, that they may thus, with the gracious help of God, improve the
   short time of their earthly existence, in Christ Jesus, to the praise
   of God, and to the service of their neighbors, and be eternally saved,
   Jer. 17:8; John 1:8; Ps. 133:2.

   If this is heresy and devilish deceit, as the preachers cry, then the
   Son of God, Christ Jesus, together with all the prophets, apostles and
   testimonies of God, were open heretics; and then all the Scriptures
   which teach nothing but reformation, and point us to Christ, are
   nothing but deceit; this can not be denied; for they, in their
   weakness, conform in all their doings, to the word, Spirit, life,
   command, prohibitions, ordinances and usages of the Lord, as their open
   actions testify before all the world, Ira. 1:17; Luke 9:36; Deut.
   18:16.

   Since, then, they and we walk in unity of spirit, and, before God, seek
   nothing in Christ Jesus, but that we, in our weakness, would gladly
   follow Christ, as has been said, and we also trust, by the grace of the
   Lord, that your excellencies will never perceive anything else in your
   poor servants (we write of those who are united with us in faith and
   life), therefore, we beseech your Excellencies and Honors, again, for
   Christ's sake, to discard all' prejudice against us miserable orphans,
   to believe us to be sincere in our profession, and never think that we
   have any other intentions, if we should become as numerous as the
   spears of grass upon the fields, or as the sands on the sea shore
   (something which will never be verified, since the way is narrow and
   the gate is strait); for Christ, whose name we bear, has taught so with
   his own mouth; his holy apostles have preached it unto all the world,
   and have testified it with the holy gospel, and have promulgated it at
   the peril of life, Matt. 7:13; Mark 16:15; Rom. 10:18.

   Thirdly, we desire that your Excellencies and Honors would earnestly
   consider how the Scriptures are being verified in regard to those who
   boast themselves christians; how mortally the sword of wrath cuts on
   every side, and how the hand of divine punishment is laid upon us;
   great and many are our sins; great and severe is the punishment of the
   Lord; the fire of wrath is enkindled; unless the Lord in his grace;
   quench it, it will devour both the green and dry trees, according to
   the word of the prophet. The prophecy of Christ concerning the latter
   days; also, of Daniel and of the apostles, are fast fulfilling. The
   flesh consuming sword of the Lord glitters every where, and his bloody
   darts are flying in every country; one kingdom has risen against
   another; one principality against another; one city against another,
   and one neighbor and friend against another. Some are put to the sword,
   some are imprisoned; cities and villages are leveled and destroyed; the
   poor, despised people who are, in part, innocent, are exhausted,
   profaned, taxed, burned and rained, without mercy; numbers are rendered
   adulterers and rogues; one pestilence and epidemic follows another; and
   one panic another. Storms, hurricanes, misery? and tribulation sweep
   over land and water. In short, the continual severe punishment show
   that the Lord is angry; notwithstanding the wicked world does not
   reform, but yet daily degenerates more and more, Deut. 32:23?3G; Eaek.
   21:1?F; Matt. 24:4.

   All of them, in general, boast themselves to be christians, and that
   they have God's word, although their seeking and doings are quite
   contrary to Christ and his word. For, if we turn to the magistrates,
   whom we should reasonably expect to know the ways and judgments of the
   Lord, as Jeremiah says, we find that they have broken the yoke and rent
   asunder the bands. If we turn to the preachers, we find there the envy
   of Cain to all those who fear the Lord, an insatiable love of money, a
   Balaamitic avarice, a light minded, easy doctrine, idolatrous
   sacraments, and a lustful, vain, careless life, as maybe openly seen.
   If we turn to the common people, there we find extortion, hoarding,
   drinking, carousing, lying, cheating, cursing and swearing; some commit
   adultery and fornication, others are marauders, pillagers, thieves and
   murderers, nay, they lead, alas, such a life that we may well, in
   anguish, sigh with Hosea, that "There is no truth, nor mercy, nor
   knowledge of God in the land; by swearing, and lying, and killing, and
   stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth
   blood," Hosea 4:1, 2; with Paul, " They are all gone out of the way;
   they are together become unprofitable," " and the way of peace have
   they not known," Rom. 3:12, 17, and, that their sins have reached unto
   heaven, Rev. 18:5. O, dear Lord, how long will this dreadfully ? great
   blindness, blasphemy, deceit, abomination, bloodthirstiness and
   recklessness continue I

   Noble lords, reform; do works meet for repentance, such as can stand
   before the Lord; humble yourselves with the king of Nineveh; take off
   the ungodly, tainted coat of sin; repent in sackcloth and ashes; cry
   out unto the Lord with a broken heart: rend your hearts and not your
   garments, as the prophet says; let the pious Josiah be your pattern,
   who turned himself unto the Lord, with all his heart, and soul and
   strength, as soon as the law of God was read to him, from the book
   which was again found, John 3:7; 2 Kings 22:11.

   Dear lords, seek, fear, and serve God with all your strength; do
   justice unto the widows, orphans, strangers, and all the forsaken;
   cleanse your hands of blood, rule your countries in wisdom and peace,
   and let all your thoughts, words and actions be conformed to the
   crucified Christ Jesus; follow his footsteps; for "Though your sins be
   as scarlet they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like
   crimson, they shall be as wool;" "As I live, saith the Lord God, I have
   no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from
   his way, and live," Isaiah 1:18; Ezek. 33:11; 18:32.

   Inasmuch as those who boast themselves the church, are so estranged
   from Christ, that they are no more than nominal Christians; and,
   inasmuch as the salt, which is the preachers, has wholly lost its
   savor, that it does more injury than good, for they flatter more than
   they reprove, if they can make some earthly gain thereby, and do not
   seek the praise of the Lord; by which they all, both preacher and
   hearer, are led upon the broad road which leads to destruction, and
   since there are, alas, none to stop them in their career, as the
   prophet complains, and, since we, God knows', would gladly see all men
   awaken, fear the Lord, sincerely repent and be saved, that thus the
   fallen city, which is the church, may again be built upon her old
   foundation, that is, upon the firm foundation of the apostles, and upon
   the pure doctrine of Christ Jesus, and that such repentance may !, be
   verified unto the world by a pious, penitent, christian life, according
   to the Scriptures; behold, therefore we are so hated of the learned,
   that by their slanderous crying and clamoring,?we are often robbed of
   our possessions, and our bodies given to the executioner. Some of us,
   through necessity, sire forced to seek refuge in foreign lands, on
   account of their persecution, as has been said. Therefore we, poor,
   miserable outcasts, pray your Honors and Excellencies the third time,
   earnestly to reflect upon this matter, for Christ's sake, and
   faithfully compare the doings of the preachers and the tenor of the
   following writing addressed to them, and the matters and things therein
   set forth, that our apology may be rightly understood, and the truth
   explained according to the word of the Lord?; and that the guilty may
   no longer be protected in their unrighteousness. Yea, beloved lords, if
   this was impartially done, in the fear of God, you would soon find, by
   the grace of God, in great clearness, with whom the truth or falsehood
   is; and that the doctrine, sacraments and life of the preachers are not
   in accordance with the Scriptures, but that they are deceitful and
   contrary to the word of God.

   O, beloved, noble lords, we beseech you not to despise our reasonable
   and christian prayer, but to consider it in love; for it concerns the
   praise of the Almighty God, his eternal word and truth, and the eternal
   salvation of all our souls, which are so much desired and so dearly
   purchased with his precious blood. O, consider the difference, to live
   eternally with Christ Jesus in the kingdom of heaven, or eternally to
   die with all the devils in the abyss of hell.

   Dear lords, we are in great anxiety and tribulation, and are terrified
   in two ways. For, if we follow the truth, which we ever intend to do in
   our weakness, by the grace of God, then we are made a prey to all the
   world. If we deviate, and again enter into the broad way, from which
   the merciful Father save us, then we fall into the hands of God and
   must bear his eternal punishment. The salvation of our souls is worth
   more than man can comprehend. The sweet?sounding, precious word will
   once be heard: " Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom
   prepared for you;" and also the fearful word which is threatened to all
   who are disobedient to Christ, which pierces body and soul, if well
   realized: "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared
   for the devil and his angels." Happy they, who are awake at that time,
   who have their lamps prepared, and saved their wedding garments. Yea,
   blessed are they who are called to the Lord's Supper

   Dear, noble lords, it is no flattery not vain display of words; but
   that which we write, we mean, as our sore persecutions testify.The
   merciful, great Lord, Jesus Christ, who is Lord of lords, and King of
   kings, grant that your Honors may acknowledge the truth, faithfully act
   in accordance therewith, and that you may rule the people, cities and
   countries entrusted to your reign, in peace and prosperity, to the
   praise of your God, and to the salvation of many souls. This is our
   sincere desire. Amen.

   "Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy." Be merciful,
   as your Father is merciful. "Verily, I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did
   it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me," Matt. 5:7;
   25:45. The humble and obedient subjects of your Excellencies and
   Honors, in all things, we can do according to the will of God by his
   grace.
     __________________________________________________________________

  A LETTER OF CONSOLATION, ADDRESSED TO AN AFFLICTED WIDOW.

   GRACE and peace be unto you, and kind greeting, sincerely beloved
   sister in the Lord, whom my soul loves. The merciful Lord having called
   you to widowhood, my paternal and faithful admonition to you is, as a
   father to his children, to bear with your lot as becomes holy women,
   and to serve the Lord, with the pious Hannah in the holy temple, that
   is, in his church, or a new and upright conscience, with fasting and
   prayer, night and day; treat, at all times, the needy saints, as the
   virtuous widow of Sarepta in Zidon, treated the faithful Elijah, at the
   time of the drouth and panic, when she received him in her house, and
   fed him with her handful of meal and a little oil; and the meal of the
   holy, divine word, from the measure of your conscience, and the joyous
   oil of the Holy Spirit shall not be withheld from you. And, if the new
   son of your spiritual birth, do sicken a little and lose his breath for
   a time, through the weakness to which a widow is naturally subject ?yet
   our true Elias, Jesus Christ, will again animate him through his grace,
   and again restore you to cheerfulness; for, as the Scriptures teach,
   you receive, love and serve him in his members.

   Beloved sister, understand me aright.I speak of the needy saints, and
   no further. Those who have enough of their own, do not need your aid
   and services. True Christians should not put each other to unnecessary
   expenses. Faithful sister, walk prudently; fear your God sincerely;
   crucify your flesh and its lusts; withstand the enemy and all his
   enchantments; bear every thing piously; do not imprudently cause
   anybody trouble; diligently attend to your occupation, household and
   children; carefully shun all unchastity, vain babbling, pomp and
   splendor; earnestly avoid being led by the temptations of the flesh,
   that you do not become like the widows who lost their first faith, and
   followed after the devil, as Paul says; from which may the merciful
   Father ever save you. Receive in love, this, my brief greeting, written
   to you in true, paternal affection, and reflect upon it diligently. The
   saints here, greet you. Greet all pious friends. Pray for me. The
   eternal, saving power and fruit of the precious blood of Christ, be
   with my chosen much beloved sister, in eternity, Amen.

   Your loving and well wishing brother,

   MENNO SIMON.

   May 18th. blank page
     __________________________________________________________________

  A BRIEF

  Complaint or Apology

  OF THE

  DESPISED CHRISTIANS

  AND

  EXILED STRANGERS,

  TO ALL THE THEOLOGIANS AND PREACHERS OF THE GERMAN NATIONS,

  CONCERNING THE BITTER FALSEHOODS, SLANDERS AND ABUSES WITH

  WHICH THEY, WITHOUT TRUTH, BURDEN THESE SUFFERING CHRIS

  TIANS AND EXILES, TOGETHER WITH A FRIENDLY REQUEST TO

  HAVE A FREE DISCUSSION OF THE SCRIPTURES, IN ACCORD

  ANCE WITH THE RULES OF CHRISTIAN LOVE.

  BY

  MENNO SIMON.

  "The servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to
  teach, patient," 2 Timothy 2:24.

  "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus
  Christ," 1 Corinthians?8:11.

  ELKHART, INDIANA:

  PUBLISHED BY JOHN F. FUNK AND BROTHER.

  1871. WE, poor and despised christians, Who have to endure and suffer so much,
  on account of the testimony of the word of the Lord, wish to all theologians
  and preachers of all countries who boast of the gospel, whoever and wherever
  they are, a new, penitent heart; a true, active faith in Christ Jesus; an
  unfeigned, ardent love; a salutary doctrine; a sound doctrine according to
  truth, and a pious, unblamable life, in the fear of the Lord, of God our
  heavenly Father, in the operation and power of his Holy Spirit, through Christ
  Jesus, his beloved Son, our Lord and eternal Savior, Amen.
     __________________________________________________________________

  A BRIEF COMPLAINT OR APOLOGY.

   IT is a fact well known to all, dear men and brethren, how very much
   the pure, divine truth is disregarded in our Netherlands, caused by the
   envious crying and clamor of the Papists and Monks; and that the
   innocent blood is shed like water; on account of which we, miserable
   children, are forced to flee from the sword of the tyrants, and to seek
   refuge in foreign lands, with our weak women and little ones, and to
   earn our bread in tribulation and misery, according to the prophecy of
   God's word. Many of you,, it appears, cry against us, perhaps with good
   intentions, through misunderstanding, and instigate the magistracy
   (part of whom should be reasonable and discreet) to persecution, by
   false accusations, and contrary to all reasonableness and christian
   love; and you warn every body against us, as being disposed like the
   Munsterites; that we would take countries and cities, if we had the
   power; that we are rebels, and use the sword; steal; are polygamists;
   have our women and possessions in common; will not obey the magistracy;
   that we murder our children bodily and spiritually; are anabaptists,
   and profaners of the sacraments, deceivers, and hypocrites; that we
   boast of being without sin; self?complacent; heaven ?stormers; who
   trust in being saved by our own good works and merits, that we are
   ungodly heretics and conspirators, new monks, rogues, miscreants and
   possessed of the devil. In short, we are alas, portrayed by you in such
   colors, that all who are not acquainted with our foundation and faith,
   must shut their months and noses at the sight of us, and must have a
   horror of us; although, before God and his angels, we seek nothing upon
   earth, but that we, in our weakness, may be cordially united in the
   Spirit, word and example of the Lord, through his grace, as all the
   Scriptures teach and imply.

   The Almighty, great Lord, who knows all hearts, knows that we are
   clear, before the Lord and his judgment, of all the beforementioned
   abominations and slanders, of which we are ever accused by you; also,
   that we are clear and innocent before all the world. Yea, if any one
   under the whole canopy of heaven, can prove, by the firm truth, that
   we, and our adherents, are guilty of one of these capital crimes, or
   that we were ever guilty thereof, then we will lay our hands upon our
   months and will be bound by life and possessions to the accuser, all
   our days; with this exception, however, that we do not wish to obey the
   magistracy, when they command things contrary to the word of God. Is it
   not a deplorable thing that we are slandered and accused of such
   inhuman disgraces, while we never even thought of doing them, and much
   less commit them

   O, dear men and brethren, if you knew what we seek, and how, by the
   grace of God, we are disposed towards you all, you would not have such
   hard feelings against us as you have had hitherto; or else you are
   abandoned to a state of ungodliness and perversity; something which, we
   trust, is not true of many of you.

   Since you are so lamentably mistaken in our intentions, heap one
   falsehood upon another, and since, alas, we are not allowed at any
   place, verbally to defend ourselves, therefore we are forced to present
   a defense in writing, and would humbly pray, and fraternally admonish
   you all to consider these four things

   First, that you would consider in sincerity of heart, that lies are of
   the devil, that the lying month killeth the soul, that a liar has no
   part in God's city, that the backbiters are deserving of death, that
   they shall not abide in the tabernacle of the Lord, and not dwell in
   his holy hill, Psalm 15:1.

   Secondly, that nearly all of your accusations against us are capital
   crimes. If we did not fear the Lord, but would strictly ask our rights,
   according to the law of the world; and retaliate, what would at last
   become of us; since you publicly accuse us of such accursed
   abominations, which no man ever can prove against us by the power of
   the truth.

   Thirdly, that this, your action, is directly opposed to all nature;
   reason, christian love and the word of God; for where was there ever a
   person of pious nature who did not pity the outcast and sympathize with
   the afflicted? All the Scriptures teach that we shall receive, serve,
   protect and console the afflicted and strangers, in love; and you see
   plainly how lamentably we poor, pitiable people are every where hated,
   despised, banished, oppressed, and in some places judged and murdered;
   yet your hearts are not so much moved as to accost us once with a
   friendly word, in our sore temptations and tribulations, and to examine
   our foundation, faith and actions, in a paternal spirit, according to
   the word of the Lord. But you still cause more enmity against us, that
   we may find no rest upon earth. You cry, write, falsify, upbraid,
   clamor, add tribulation to tribulation, drag us to dungeons and
   prisons, as if you never had read a syllable of the word of the Lord,
   with understanding minds, nor received a spark of his Holy Spirit. We
   will leave to your own judgment, if this can. be called acting in
   accordance with unfeigned, christian love, with the doctrine and usage
   of the apostles, and in accordance with the Spirit, word and example of
   the Lord.

   Say, beloved, where do the Holy Scriptures teach that we shall rule the
   consciences and faith of others, in the kingdom and church of Christ,
   by force of the sword, violence, and tyranny of the magistracy
   something which is left entirely to the judgment of God? In what
   instance has Christ and the apostles ever done, recommended or
   commanded this I

   Christ says, "Beware of false prophets;" and Paul commands that we
   shall shun an heretic after one or two admonitions; John teaches that
   we shall not greet nor receive the transgressor into our houses, who
   does not bring the doctrine of Christ, Matt. 7: iG; Tit. 3:10; 2 .John
   1:9; they say not: Down with the heretics, accuse them before the
   magistrates, imprison, exile and cast them into the fire or water, as
   the Romans have done for many years, and as many of you would do, you
   who pretend to preach the word of God.

   Fourthly, we would sincerely pray you, for Christ's sake, to consider
   and examine whether your spirit accords with the Lord's Spirit, and
   whether your faith accords with his holy word; whether the Spirit of
   the Lord, and the love of your neighbor constrain you to the service,
   or whether it is the love of gain and the temporary sustenance of your
   bodies; whether you preach the pure word of God in sincerity of heart,
   use his sacraments aright, and whether you lead a pious and unblamable
   life, as the Scriptures teach; andwhetheryoushun open transgressors,
   the pompous, drunkards, misers, extortioners, liars, deceivers,
   contenders, adulterers, fornicators, swearers and unrighteous, and
   separate them from the communion, without respect to persons, according
   to the word of the Lord. For we see such living and acting, O, Lord, as
   if neither prophet, apostle, Christ, nor the word of God, was ever upon
   earth. Nevertheless you men, want to be called the holy christian
   church, and preachers of sound doctrine, as if Christ did not require
   more of his church than mere reading, singing, crying, infant baptism,
   breaking of bread, and calling themselves after his name; and, as if
   spirit, knowledge, faith, love, repentance, righteousness, works, power
   and truth were no longer necessary.

   No, no; dear men, no. This is required of the church of Christ, to
   preach his unadulterated word in the power of the Spirit, to believe it
   sincerely, and to obey it in every particular; to use hikr holy
   sacraments, such as baptism and the Holy Supper, according to his own
   command and ordinance; to seek, fear, love and serve God sincerely; to
   be born of God; to love, serve, console, help and protect his neighbor;
   to shun all false doctrines and works of darkness; to die unto carnal
   lusts, which are contrary to the word of God; to forsake ourselves and
   the world; to lead a pious, peaceable, chaste, sober and humble life,
   in righteousness, according to the truth. In short, to be of one mind
   with Christ Jesus. For it is incontrovertible, that where these are,
   there are also the kingdom and church of Christ. But the deceivers,
   hateful, liars, slanderers, backbiters, rebellious, bloodthirsty,
   avaricious, unmerciful, cruel, proud and impenitent, are of the wicked
   one. The Scriptures teach that their part shall be weeping and gnashing
   of teeth, eternal death and everlasting fire, prepared for the devil
   and his angels, John 15:12; 3: fi; Mark 7:15; Tit. 3: S; 2 John 9;
   Matt. 16:23; 13:42.

   O men and brethren, if you would take to heart this brief reference, in
   the sincere fear of God, and would reflect thereon, and judge according
   to the Spirit of the Lord, you would doubtless find such a great beam
   in your own eye, that you would not regard the small splinter which
   may, perhaps, be in your brother's eye (for we are all of Adam's seed).
   But to know ourselves is understanding, and to conform ourselves in all
   things to the Lord's word, is a salutary understanding and wisdom.

   Inasmuch as we are thus indiscreetly and falsely accused by you, and as
   you boast to be servants of God who teach his word anti works,
   therefore we would pray you all, for the sake of the blood of Christ,
   with which we are besprinkled, to consider how you treat us, poor,
   afflicted ones, that you no more sin by such open falsehoods and
   tyrannies, as you have hitherto done; but that you may show such a
   paternal disposition as conforms to the divine operation, and to the
   christian name; for we testify before him who knows our hearts, before
   you, and before the whole world, verbally and by writing, by our
   possessions, and blood, life and death, that we, in our weakness, are
   prepared and willing to obey the word and will of God, from the
   innermost of our souls; and we shall ever be prepared as we ever have
   been from the commencement of our faith and actions, willingly to hear
   and obey any one who can instruct us in a more powerful spirit and
   truth, and who can point out a more godly life; but if he can not
   instruct us for the better, then we ask again, for Christ's sake, to
   leave us undisturbed in the truth, and not persecute and afflict the
   pious who walk in it. We hereby give notice to you all, that we are
   desirous to meet, at any acceptable time and place, with one or two of
   our members (no matter whether teachers or not), with you before a full
   assembly, or before twenty or thirty reasonable and pious witnesses,
   just as you choose, to discuss the following points (for herein we
   differ), according to the point's word, life, example, command,
   prohibition, usage and ordinance of God, in sincerity of heart, namely:

   Of the right evangelical preachers and teachers?how they should,
   according to the word of God, be minded and fitted, before they can
   rightly preach the word of God and serve his sacraments.

   Of the doctrine of Christ and his apostles?that it does not change, but
   must remain unchanged until his coming again.

   That Christ is a perfect teacher, and that his offer is a perfect
   offering.

   Of true regeneration; what it is, of whom it is, and what are its
   natural fruits and disposition.

   Of true evangelical faith and love; their proper qualities, power and
   operation.

   Of God's commandments and their keeping.

   Of true ehristian baptism?how it was commanded of the Lord, and how
   taught and practiced by the apostles.

   Of the Lord's Holy Supper?what it is?by whom it was instituted and
   ordained, and what it implies and represents.

   Of the true apostolic Ban or Separation?its proper fruits and
   usefulness.

   Of the pious christian life which is of God.

   If you have anything else to discuss, you may present it, and have it
   criticized according to the word of God.

   Behold, dear men and brethren, this is what we would gladly have you
   accept, if it can be obtained in sincerity of heart, under safe
   conduct, without any trickery and strategy, according to the rules of
   christian love, and the word of God, as Origen, Augustin, Hilarius and
   others have done in their times, with those who were suspected in their
   doctrine. You can not think hard of us for asking safe conduct and
   freedom, for it is evident that they cry vindictively and madly against
   us, on every side.

   If you are servants of Christ, and seek the praise of the Lord and the
   salvation of your brethren, as Isaiah, Jeremiah, Peter and Paul, did in
   their times, then you would rejoice; praise the Lord; again restore our
   respect with the people; and henceforth leave off such slanderous
   language, as has been mentioned; you would reform your life, accept,
   and advise and aid in the offered discussion, in christian faith;
   because we do not propose to have the discussion judged according to
   human philosophy, wisdom and ideas, as some do, but according to
   Christ's own Spirit, word, command, prohibition, ordinance, usage and
   example. But, in case you reject and refuse it, and still continue in
   your bitterness, falsehoods, slanders; upbraiding, backbiting, and
   disgrace as you have hitherto done, then we poor, miserable souls, must
   leave it to the Lord, as has been hitherto done; and possess our souls
   in patience; suffer ourselves to be punished, and console ourselves
   with this saying, "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and
   persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely,
   for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward
   in heaven," Matt. S:11, 12. But you must fill the measure of your
   fathers, and make yourselves manifest, that you seek not the sheep, but
   merely their milk, wool and fat, Ezek. 34:3. There are but two ways
   open, namely, You must either cease your false accusations, and
   slandering, and enter into a discussion with us, or you must
   acknowledge that you are not the true teachers, and 'let go your gospel
   fame and christian name.

   We would herewith commend you all to the Lord, and desire to say that
   none should take offense at this; for we have done so for the
   advancement of the holy word, and for the defense of our
   respectability, and we would reiterate, that we are, at all times,
   prepared, and willing for the discussion, on the conditions mentioned.

   May the merciful Lord grant you all a sincere, pious heart to love the
   saving truth of Christ, and to walk in accordance therewith, to the
   praise of God, and to the salvation of your souls. Amen.
     __________________________________________________________________

  DESCRIPTION OF A TRUE PREACHER.

   "A bishop, then, must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant,
   sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach." He "must
   be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry,
   not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre. But a lover
   of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
   holding fast the faithful word, as he hath been taught, that he may be
   able by sound doctrine, both to exhort, and to convince the
   gainsayers," 1 Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:7?9.

   By us despised strangers and scattered christians, for the sake of
   God's word and its testimony. A. D. 1552.

   A
     __________________________________________________________________

  A

  TREATISE ON,

  AND

  Scriptural Explanation

  OF

  EXCOMMUNICATION,

  FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL PIOUS AND GOD FEARING CHILDREN.

  BY

  MENNO SIMON.

  "Evil men understand not judgment; but they that seek the Lord understand all
  things," Prov. 28:6.

  "Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved; but he that is perverse in his ways
  shall fall at once," Prov. 28:18.

  "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus
  Christ," 1 Corinthians 8:11.

  ELKHART, INDIANA:

  PUBLISHED BY JOHN F. FUNK AND BROTHER.

  1871. blank page
     __________________________________________________________________

  A SCRIPTURAL EXPLANATION

  OF EXCOMMUNICATION.

   Menno Simon wishes to all fellow?believers, brethren and sisters in
   Christ Jesus, the grace and peace of Clod our heavenly Father, through
   Christ Jesus his beloved Son, our Lord, who loved us and has cleansed
   us of our sins in his blood. To him be the honor, praise, kingdom,
   power, and glory, for ever and ever, Amen.

   Dear brethren, since I find. that, for some time, much strife has been
   occasioned in regard to the ban, and this so violently and
   indiscreetly, therefore, I fear brotherly love, christian peace and
   unity, with some, are more diminished than augmented, as was the case
   in olden times; and it appears that some, through ambition and
   self?conceit, are desirous of such corrupting disputation, that they
   entertain the opinion, in this matter that not the 'banned ones
   themselves should be shunned, but only their false doctrine and
   offensive life, not observing that they have already become entangled
   in false doctrine; for thereby they nullify the plain ordinance of
   Christ, " Let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican," and
   also the plain words of the holy apostles, Matt. 18:17; Rom. 16:16; 2
   Thess. 3:14; Tit. 3:10.

   Others think that the ban should not be practiced, further than that
   which pertains to the evangelical usages, as the breaking of bread and
   the kiss of peace; and garble the plain sayings of the Scriptures, to
   make their opinions good, namely: Do not keep company with such; with
   such not eat; "Let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican,"
   and other like sayings, 1 Cor. 6:10; Matt. 18:17.

   Again, there are some who acknowledge the ordinance of Christ, and the
   doctrine of the holy apostles, in regard to excommunication, as right
   and just, yet they do not observe it; some, I presume, from being lake
   warm, some from motives of carnal love and favor of the .apostates, and
   others on account of being neighbors, or relatives, or perhaps on
   account of former attachments and favors.

   And, since the express ordinance of Christ and his holy apostles, in
   regard to excommunication, is lamentably weakened, obscured and
   garbled, by the first mentioned, and visibly transgressed and
   dishonored by the latter, and thus the door is opened wide to all
   corruption, and since they thus act against all love; First, against
   the love of God and Christ, for they thereby despise and disobey his
   holy word, will and ordinance; Secondly, against brotherly love: For by
   such perverseness and disesteem, they offend and afflict their
   brethren; Thirdly, against the love of their own souls: For, thereby,
   they willfully expose themselves to the danger of being corrupted;
   Fourthly, against the love of those deserving the ban: For they despise
   the advice of the Holy Spirit, and do not seek to shame them unto
   repentance; Fifthly, also against common love: For, by communing with
   the apostates, they make the worldlings suspicious that we are one and
   the same people with the apostates and perverse; and, since the
   precious word of God and his holy church, is thus blasphemed and
   profaned by many, on account of their recklessness and disobedience
   ?therefore, in a christian spirit and brotherly love (of which God is
   my witness), I have endeavored to explain, for the benefit of my
   beloved brethren and fellow believers in Christ Jesus, the proper
   grounds of the ban, according to divine truth; how the ban is
   instituted of Christ; how it was taught and explained by his holy
   apostles, and what its fruits and benefits are. But this explanation I
   will leave to the judgment of those who seek and fear God with all
   their hearts, and who are enlightened and taught by the Spirit of God.
   Whoever seeks God and the good of his neighbor, will acknowledge that
   this explanation is in accordance with the foundation, meaning, word
   and will of God.

   Dearly beloved brethren and sisters in Christ Jesus, I, your poor,
   unworthy servant and co?partner in the faith and tribulation of Christ,
   trust and pray, for the sake of the precious blood of my Lord Jesus
   Christ, and, for the sake of love to all, that none willfully, and
   knowingly contend against Christ Jesus, and against his holy word; nor
   against his own conscience, for the sake of maintaining his error, so
   that he may avoid the disapprobation and shame of the world.

   I trust that they, as christians, grudge not one against another, but
   that they seek to win again to Christ their erring brethren. In the
   same manner, that if the God fearing errs, he is anxious to return
   again to the right way; if he falls, he is desirous to rise, and if
   wounded he would be again healed, James G:19; and if, by the grace of
   God, he be again delivered from his error and misunderstanding, through
   the word of the Lord, he is not ashamed, but is exceedingly glad, and
   praises and thanks his God that he is led from the crooked to the right
   way, and from his error to a true and sound understanding. He earnestly
   seeks to deliver and disentangle those whom he has formerly led astray
   and deceived by his false doctrine and misunderstanding; for true love
   does not seek self, but God and her neighbor. Whosoever has ears to
   hear, and a mind to understand, let him hear and understand what the
   word of the Lord teaches us in respect to excommunication, in great
   clearness.

   Christ Jesus says, " Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against
   thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone; if he shall
   hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother; but if he will not hear thee,
   then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three
   witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to
   hear them, tell it unto the church; but if he neglect to hear the
   church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican. Verily I
   say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in
   heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth, shall be loosed in
   heaven," Matt. 18:16??18.

   Here, faithful brethren, stands the firm foundation of God, as an
   immovable rock or mountain, at which all will be wounded and hurt, who
   try to overturn and nullify it, namely: That we shall shun and avoid
   the apostates, if they take no heed to all the brotherly services and
   admonitions which have, in faithfulness of heart, been rendered unto
   them, according to the doctrine of Christ, and the dictates of pure
   love, if they obstinately continue in their errors, as the Jews ~
   shunned and avoided the heathen and publicans, at the time of Christ.

   In the first place, the Jews did not admit the uncircumcised heathen to
   their Passover, by command of the Lord, through Moses; nor to their
   divine service, as appears from the acts of the apostles, for they were
   strangers to the citizenship of Israel, and Israel was alone the
   church.

   In the second place, they so avoided daily intercourse with them, that
   they considered it as impure for them to enter their houses, or to eat
   and drink with them. This also applied to the publicans. As the Jews,
   then, did not admit such heathen and publicans to their worship, nor to
   their daily intercourse, but shunned and avoided them, so also, would
   Christ have us shun and avoid an apostate, unrepenting brother, as was
   said above. And that this is the proper and natural foundation of these
   words of Christ, as well explained by holy Paul, 1 Cor. 2, of which
   more will be heard hereafter.

   Behold, brethren in the Lord, all who would rightly understand the
   meaning of the words of Christ, above cited, should know that Christ
   does not point to the Jewish custom, in regard to the heathen and
   publicans in the time of Moses and of the prophets, but to the custom
   of his own times; and, he should first, make a distinction between the
   heathen and publicans, and not consider them as one people; and then
   well consider, and judge according to the Scriptures, how those two
   classes were dealt with at the time of Moses and the prophets, before
   the scepter was taken from them, and they were placed under the yoke of
   the Romans.

   In the first place, it is incontrovertible, that the heathen were not
   of the seed of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; that they were uncircumcised,
   without God and religion, and without law, nay, a people that was no
   people, as Moses says, Dent. 32:27. Thus it is, in the second place,
   incontrovertible that the publicans and sinners were of the Jews. For
   Luke says, That the publicans came to John, that they might be
   baptized. Again, That the publicans justified God, and that they were
   baptized with the baptism of John. Again, All the publicans and sinners
   came to Jesus to hear him, but the heathen did not come to John and to
   Christ. Therefore it is manifest that the publicans and sinners were
   not heathen, but Jews. It is also apparent from the case of the sinful
   woman and from the publican, Matthew, who was chosen an apostle of the
   Lord; and no apostles were chosen from the heathen. This is manifestly
   true, Eph. 2:12; Luke 3:2; 7:29; 15:1.

   Inasmuch as the Gentiles and Publicans were two distinct people as has
   been said, and we should turn to the law to ascertain the freedom of
   the Jews, in regard to the Gentiles, then we must also, in the same
   manner, ascertain the action of the Jews in regard to the Publicans,
   after the law; for the one word is as valid as the other, because they
   are both produced and attested by the mouth of the eternal Wisdom.

   We are aware, beloved brethren, that Moses, in his law, allowed a great
   deal of liberty to the outward Israel; to have intercourse with the
   Gentile nations, as in buying, trading and usury. But, besides, we also
   know, that he rigorously judges the willful and open transgressors, by
   ?the testimony of two or three witnesses, unto death, without mercy,
   according to his law, Dent. 17:6; 2 Cor. 13:1. If we were to understand
   the beforementioned words of Christ, Matt. 18, as being of the same
   nature and rigor as those of the law of Moses, then it would follow,
   first, from the word heathen that we were at liberty to deal with the
   apostates, as far as regards daily intercourse, as Israel was at
   liberty to deal with the heathen. And secondly, from the word publican
   it would follow that we should stone and kill the apostates when their
   apostasy was established by two or three witnesses. But it would not be
   proper to take too much liberty with them, and to put them to death.
   Taking life, is also quite inconsistent with the nature and doctrine of
   .Christ, "For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to
   save them," Luke 9:56.

   Let every one take heed; for if he take the word heathen alone, and
   judge that according to the law of Moses, and except the word publican,
   then he does not wrong man, but the Son of God, and disgracefully
   annuls his holy word and truth. For he says not, Let him be unto thee
   as a heathen, but " as a heathen man and a publican." Christ says,
   "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away."
   Therefore it is very advisable not to break the word of Christ Jesus;
   but to set aside human understanding; to acknowledge the truth; give
   heed to Christ Jesus; and believe and obey him; for then he will be
   likened unto the wise builder; if not, his house will fall, and "great
   will be the fall thereof."

   Further, most beloved brethren, we understand that there are some who
   comprehend these words of Christ, so that we are not bound to shun an
   apostate and impenitent brother, further than the Gentiles now shun the
   Gentiles, or fornicators shun adulturers and drunkards, whom they,
   perhaps, call the publicans. Such, I would earnestly beseech and
   exhort, first, to consider this matter well, before they accept,
   believe and teach it as a true foundation; to consider to what class of
   people Christ was sent from the beginning, and among what class he
   commenced building and establishing his church. This, Christ
   sufficiently explains; saying, "I am not sent, but unto the loss sheep
   of the house of Israel," Matt. 15:24, Paul, also says, "Now I say that
   Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to
   confirm the promises mad( unto the fathers." Since he then, was, from
   the beginning, sent unto the Jews, and preached unto them and taught
   them, and not to the heathen, therefore these words of Christ should
   not be understood as meaning that we should deal with an apostate as
   the believing heathen now deal with an unbelieving heathen, but to deal
   with them as the literal Jews dealt with them at the time of Christ.
   For Christ, I say, did not preach unto the heathen, but unto the Jews;
   and therefore he did not point them; by these words, but to the Jewish
   ban; namely, how they shunned the heathen and open sinners in his
   times.

   In the second place, I pray that every God?fearing heart consider what
   the word Gentile implies; and see if not all fornicators, adulterers,
   avaricious, unbelievers, perjurers, idolators, murderers and drunkards
   are included in the word Gentile, Yea, Paul says that they are without
   Christ; have no God, are dead in sins, and that they are children of
   wrath, Eph. 2:11, Since, then, all sinners and Gentiles are expressed
   in the word " Gentile," for the Gentiles who have not Christ, are also
   sinners; and without grace, and since Christ her( speaks as well of
   open sinners, as of Gentiles, and, moreover, as every word of Christ
   has its full weight and measure?therefore, the word of Christ can not
   be explained as meaning that we should deal with an apostate brother as
   we would with other Gentiles, who never received nor acknowledge the
   word of the Lord.

   In the third place, I hope that no true brother, who is called after
   the name of the Lord, will knowingly and willfully adulterate the word
   of the Lord, but that he will give it its due praise and honor, and
   acknowledge that these publicans and sinners, of whom the evangelists
   speak, were not of the Gentiles, but of the Jews, as is apparent from
   Matt. 9:10; Mark 2:17. Since it is incontrovertible that the
   beforementioned publicans and sinners were of the Jews, and were
   adjudged to death, according to the law; and since Christ points us as
   well to the publicans, as to the Gentiles, therefore it must follow
   that it should not be explained as having reference to the times when
   Israel yet exercised their liberties with the heathen, which liberties
   were allowed to them, by Moses, in his law; for at that time the
   transgressors, on proof, were adjudged unto death, according to the
   law. It would also follow that the lives of the apostates, on proof,
   should be taken at our hands. O, no, for we know that such a bloody ban
   is an abomination before God, neither is it known to christians, much
   less practiced.

   If any one should assert that it applies to the present time, that is,
   of treating an apostate as we now treat a Gentile, and not to the time
   of Christ, as the Jews then treated a Gentile, he must also
   re?establish the Jewish people with their law and religion, and their
   open transgressors, which is impossible. This every one must confess.

   Since the word Gentile can not be understood as applicable to the time
   when the Gentiles were not yet so strictly shunned by the Israelites,
   for then we should have to adjudge the apostates unto death, according
   to the word "manifest transgressors;" nor as applicable to the present
   time, for now we have not the Jewish transgressors?therefore no one can
   successfully contradict, according to God's truth, otherwise than that
   it applies to the time of Christ, at which time they did not put
   transgressors to death, but separated and avoided both the publicans
   and heathen alike, by means of the same ban.

   Having sufficiently proven to the pious and God fearing, by the above
   mentioned reasons, that Christ spoke those words as applying to his own
   times, and to no other, we will now show in plain language, first, the
   proper cause why they so scrupulously avoided the heathen, and,
   secondly, why they shunned the open transgressors, and did not inflict
   capital punishment upon them.

   It is well known to all readers of the Bible, that the Lord God
   faithfully warned Israel that they should not make an alliance, nor
   terms of friendship, with the Canaanites, Hittites, and others; nor to
   intermarry with them, lest they should be led astray by them, and
   follow strange Gods, Deut. 7. Joshua says, "Take good heed therefore,
   unto yourselves, that ye love the Lord your God. Else, if ye do in any
   wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these
   that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in
   unto them, and they to you; know for a certainty that the Lord your God
   will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they
   shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and
   thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the
   Lord your God hath given you," Josh. 23:11,13.

   Israel, not taking to heart this paternal warning of God, but, contrary
   thereto, befriended and intermingled with these strange nations, the
   menace of the Lord God threatened through his faithful servants, Moses
   and Joshua, was verified. They became quite degenerated by the strange
   women and idols, with which they intermingled, and were severely
   scourged and punished of the Lord. Yea, so that the talented Solomon,
   whose wisdom was far?famed, was so enchanted by the heathen women, that
   he became unfaithful to the Lord, his God, (who twice appeared unto
   him), and inclined his heart to strange gods. I think, beloved
   brethren, this is the just recompense of those who despise the counsel
   of the Lord.

   And they, deceived by the artfulness of the heathen, often sinned
   against their God, and being, therefore, so often chastised of God,
   with his just punishment, they, at last, took to heart the warning of
   God, given through Moses and Joshua, more than they had formerly done;
   they quit their intercourse with the heathen, altogether, so that they,
   as appears, also abandoned some liberties, which Moses had allowed
   them, Yea, so that they considered it as improper to enter into their
   houses, or to eat with them, as may be plainly observed. And this, for
   the purpose that they should not, as formerly, be led astray, and
   turned away from their God. For this reason, the Jews so entirely
   avoided intercourse with the heathen. If this reason was of weight,
   every theologian may judge and weigh with the words of God, Num. 33:35;
   Judges 3:13; 1 Kings 11:1; 3:12; 9:2.

   Again, the reason why they shunned the public sinners, and did not
   punish them with death, is this: Because the prophecy of the patriarch
   Jacob was now verified that the royal scepter, taken from Judah by
   Pompey, the great, was now in the hands of the Romans, and that they
   had officers of their own in Judea, who obeyed their superior; and
   therefore, the Jews did not punish with death, according to their law,
   those who willfully transgressed; for they were, at that time, subject
   to the scepter of the Romans. That this is the truth, the Jews declared
   before Pilate, when they said, "It is not lawful for us to put any man
   to death." According to the law they were permitted; nay, it was
   strictly commanded them; but the lost scepter, now, made it unlawfal;
   for the Roman servants, Herod, Pilate, &c., who, at that time, swayed
   the scepter in behalf of the Romans, did not want to judge according to
   the law of the Jews, but according to the rights and statutes of the
   Romans, in whose name they ruled, and to whom they were bound by oath.
   When any Jew trespassed the law of Moses, and not the Roman morals, the
   beforementioned functionaries did not inflict capital punishment,
   because the law of Moses required it. And since the Jews were not
   allowed to punish him according to the law, for the above mentioned
   reasons, they separated him from their communion, and excommunicated
   him from their synagogue and shunned him.

   Behold, faithful brethren, for the beforementioned reasons, the Jews,
   at the time of Christ, shunned both the heathen and the jewish
   publicans. They shunned the heathen, lest they should be led. astray
   and deceived; but the publicans, because, according to the law, were
   deserving of death, Gen. 49:10, and yet were not allowed to kill and
   destroy them on account of the Roman dominion: Perhaps some will ask,
   Why then, did they scourge the apostles I Stone Stephen

   and why were many saints put to death?by Scull Why was their community
   destroyed, since they were not allowed capital punishment 8

   To this I answer: That all this did not transpire without the consent
   of the Romans, for they, themselves, confessed before Pilate, saying,
   "It is not lawful for us to put any man to death," John 18:31. The
   stoning of Stephen was not done lawfully; but merely in a riot, as Luke
   declares, saying, Exclamaantes autem voce magna, continuerunt cures
   suss, and impetwm fecerunct unanimiter in mm; and this the Zurichans
   have also thus translated into the German: "They cried with a loud
   voice, and stopped their ears and ran upon him with one accord," as
   they also intended to do with Christ, and also with Paul, Acts 7:57;
   10:31; 21:30; 23:12; 28:10; Luke 4:29. Again, that Saul or Paul
   destroyed the church, and put to death many of the saints, as he
   related before Agrippa, we may be sure that he did not do so without
   the consent of the magistracy; for it is manifest and incontrovertible,
   that the scepter did not allow them to put any one to death, and, for
   this reason they said, "It is not lawful for us to put any man to
   death;" the scepter was taken from them, and came into the hands of the
   Romans, as has been explained above. If they had been allowed to
   practice their own law of blood, they would not have delivered Christ
   unto Pilate; Lucius would not have taken Paul from the tumultuous Jews;
   Herod would not have imprisoned Peter, nor killed John the baptist, and
   James; for this would not do; in the worldly adjudication, for one to
   grasp the jurisdiction of another; such a policy would, doubtlessly,
   soon fail, Acts 21:2740; 24:7.

   We are well aware, beloved brethren, that there are some who call this
   Jewish shunning, or ban, to which Christ has directed us, a pharisaic
   leaven, and frankly say, We do not want to be pointed to a leaven,
   without the Scriptures. Whosoever these may be, we pray them for the
   Lord's sake, first, to consider well what they say; for, in my opinion,
   they do not understand their own words. Does not Moses say, "Whosoever
   does not hearken unto my (God's) words, which he shall speak in my
   name, I will require it of him," Dent. 18:19. Does not Jeremiah say,
   That he "shall execute judgment and justice in the earth p" Does not
   the Father from high heaven, say, "This is my beloved Son in whom I' am
   well pleased; hear ye him 9" Does not Paul say, "In whom (Christ) are
   hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge q" Jer. 23:5; Matt. 17:5;
   Col. 2:3. I am sure that the word and teaching of Christ is Scripture
   enough for all the pious. He it is, I say, and not I, who points his
   believers to the use of the ban. Tu quis es, qui ex adaerso respondes
   Deog That is, Who art thou that wouldst answer God with perverseness

   If there be any brother under the whole canopy of heaven, who can show,
   by the divine truth, that these words of Christ apply to any other time
   than to the time of Christ, without violating the Scriptures, then I
   will gladly hear him, and open my ears to the truth; for I desire not
   to contend against the truth, which is my testimony, but I desire to
   uphold it. For, for the sake of truth, I have had to hear and suffer
   much, these many years; and am yet prepared unto death, by the grace of
   the Lord, to testify to the truth. But I know, and am convinced, that
   it can not apply to any other time, without violating the word and
   Scriptures of Christ, as we have sufficiently ehown and proven, to the
   reader, above, by abundance of reasons and Scriptures.

   Secondly, I desire, for God's sake, that my beloved brethren will weigh
   with the balance of the Scriptures, what leaven is, and what the
   Scriptures mean by it, before they call this beforementioned ban, to
   which Christ directs? us, a pharisaic leaven. It implies, first, the
   word and its power, or rather, faith and its power. Secondly, it
   signifies a corrupting, ungodly being or man. Thirdly, a deceiving,
   leavened, corrupting doctrine. If the Jewish ban and shunning, to which
   Christ points us; was a leaven, as some mistakenly assert, then they
   must show, by virtue of the Scriptures; what leavening and corruption
   it has caused in the pure word, and in the hearts of the

   Jews; for, although God, the Lord permitted some liberties to Israel,
   through Moses, in their temporal transactions, as said at the
   beginning, yet he did not expressly command that they should deal with
   the heathen, but rather warned the Jews against them. They now
   scrupulously observed the faithful warning of God, being taught them
   through many perils, and for that reason, probably, they did not make
   use of the privileges granted them, in regard to dealing with them,
   lest, by these means, they should be ensnared and corrupted in their
   hearts by the heathen. Let the spiritual judge, now, whether it can be
   called leaven, by the Scriptures, since they did not neglect the law
   and command of God thereby, but, in fact, left it unchanged and whole
   and were thus shielded against the corrupter.

   Sincerely beloved brethren, if we are to esteem as a leaven, this oft
   mentioned jewish ban, to which Christ directs us, because they, for
   their consciences' sake, abandoned some of these liberties (for
   liberties are of a nature that we can enjoy them, or not, at our
   option; else they would not be liberties), not contrary to the law, but
   rather in conformity with the faithful warning, advice and admonition
   of God, contained in the law?then the holy prophet Jeremiah might, for
   good reasons, have reproved the Rechabites as leaven, because they, on
   account of the command of their father Jonadab, would not drink wine,
   plant vineyards, sow the soil, nor build houses, although all this was
   free to them, according to the law of God; for to them, with Israel,
   were the possession of the land, and the other blessings promised, Jer.
   35:14. O, no, the Lord did not reckon it as leaven unto them, but it
   was accounted to their honor to have honored the command of their
   father, and thereby they obtained? the promise of the Lord.

   I would further say, that if it is to be called leaven, if we do not
   partake of our freedom for conscience' sake, or for the sake of the
   brethren?then freedom cannot be called freedom, and Paul must have been
   an impure leaven to have taught that we should, if necessary, deny
   ourselves the liberty, for the sake of the brethren, Rom. 14:14;1 Cor.
   8:13; 9:14; 10:23.

   From all this, it is evident, according to my understanding of the word
   of the Lord, that it is a frightful blasphemy, unknown to a God?fearing
   christian, thus to undertake to master and instruct Christ, the eternal
   Wisdom of God, how he should teach us, and what he should command us;
   and to call that which, he commands us, leaven, although it is a strong
   and consolatory shield against corruption and deceit; and therefore,
   not contrary to the law, but in conformity therewith; of this we are
   convinced, for if it were leaven, contrary to the law, as some say it
   is, then Christ Jesus would, by no means have approved of it, commanded
   it and .said, "Let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican,"
   since he, in other places, has diligently warned his followers against
   the leaven.

   Some, perhaps, will contradict me by saying that the shunning of the
   heathen by the Jews, that is, not to eat with them, when the victuals
   were clean, was openly contrary to the express command of the law. For
   Moses had commanded Israel that they should keep the feast of the
   weeks, and the feast of the tabernacles, unto the Lord their God, with
   a tribute of free?will offering of their hands, which they should give
   unto the Lord, their God, &c., and that they should rejoice before the
   Lord, their God, they, and their sons, and their daughters, and their
   man?servants, and their maidservants, and the Levite that was within
   their gates, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that
   were among them. To such, I would reply, that these strangers also had
   to keep the Sabbath; to enjoy the tenths of the third year, the first
   fruits of the land, the gleanings of the field, olive trees and
   vineyards with the Levites, the widows and orphans.

   The stranger also had, with Israel, an offering for their sins of
   ignorance; also, the same punishment with Israel; they had to hear the
   reading of the law every seventh year, in the solemnity of the year of
   release. Therefore, it follows from these and other like Scriptures,
   that these beforementioned strangers were citizens among the
   Israelites, and not uncircumcised heathen. For they were already among
   the Israelites at the time they yet journeyed in the wilderness.

   Moses says, " Ye stand this day, all of you, before the Lord your God;
   your captains of your tribes, your elders, and your officers, with all
   the men of Israel; your little ones, your wives, and thy stranger that
   is in thy camp, from the hewer of thy wood unto the drawer of thy
   water, that thou shouldest enter into covenant with the Lord thy God,
   and into his oath, which the Lord thy God maketh with thee this day,"
   Dent. 5:14; 16:13, 14; Ex. 20:10; 23:12; Dent. 14:29; 24:19; Num.
   16:27; Lev. 4:13; Num. 9:14; Dent. 29:10?12.

   I think, brethren, that the cited passages sufficiently show and prove
   that they were called strangers, because they were not of the seed of
   Israel, and had no part in the distribution of the land; therefore,
   Moses commanded the Israelites to allow them the right to the tenths of
   the third year, to the gleanings of the field, of the olive trees and
   vineyards, and the first fruits of the land, as we have shown and
   explained from the writings of Modes.

   In the second place, it might be asked, why we should shun the
   apostates, since Christ said, "Let him be unto thee as a heathen man
   and a publican," and since it is manifest that Christ, himself, did eat
   with the publicans. To this I reply: What kind of sinners they were,
   with whom Christ ate, is well explained by the evangelists. For, when
   the Pharisees murmured, Christ said, "They that be whole need not a
   physician, but they that are sick; but go ye and learn what that
   meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice; for I am not come to
   call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." What kind of sinners
   Matthew, the sinful woman, and Zaccheus were, after they had heard
   Christ is not a mystery, Matt:9:12, 13.

   Again, Luke says, that all the publicans and sinners came to Christ to
   hear him, and with such did he eat, and therefore did he say to the
   murmuring Pharisees, " What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he
   lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine," &c., Luke 15:4.

   Again, that he ate with the Samaritans, is no wonder at all, for they
   received his word and believed on him; but that he should have sought
   hospitality in a Samaritan city, is not rightly translated, according
   to the Latin text. Thus it reads in Latin: Misit nunciosante conspectwm
   scum, and ewntes intraverwnt in civitatum, Scvmaritanorwm, ut pararent
   iLZi and non receperwnt ewm, quia facies ejus erat ewntis Hierosolymam.
   Which being translated reads, He "sent messengers before his face, and
   they went and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready
   for him, and they did not receive him, because his face was as though
   he would go to Jerusalem," Luke 9:52.

   What kind of preparation is hereby meant, may, in my opinion, be
   clearly learned from the case of the seventy, related in Luke 10:1;
   whom he sent before his face by two and two, to make preparation for
   him in all the cities and countries whither he himself would come, not
   to prepare a place for sojourning, but for the teaching of the kingdom
   of God. But here they did not receive him. He says not that the master
   of the house did not receive him, but they, that is, the inhabitants of
   the city, to whom he had sent them to preach, did not receive him;
   because, as Luke says, he was going to Jerusalem; for the Samaritans
   and the Jews always have had a severe strife between them in regard to
   worship and religious matters. Yea, so much so, that the Samaritans
   were considered by the Jews as being deserving of the ban, John 4:9;
   and if it were true, that he desired to find a lodging?place, yet it is
   apparent that the Samaritans were not Gentiles, but a remnant of the
   ten tribes of Shalmaneser; for the Samaritan woman said unto Christ,
   "Art thou greater than our father, Jacob?" That Jacob was not the
   father of the Gentiles, is manifest. She also looked for the Messiah,
   whom the Gentiles did not know, she said, "I know that the Messiah
   cometh, which is called Christ," John 4:26. Again, after Stephen was
   stoned, Philip came into a Samaritan city and preached Christ unto
   them; and at that time they could not yet conscientiously preach the
   gospel unto the Gentiles and go amongst them. From this it may be
   safely educed that the Samaritans, who claimed the patriarch Jacob to
   be their father, who looked for the Messiah, and to whom they had
   already preached the gospel, before they were conscientiously at
   liberty to go among the Gentiles, were not heathen, but a remnant of
   the Israelites, as said before; therefore it is no wonder that he
   requested to sojourn with them. Neither did he say, Let him be unto
   thee as a Samaritan, but as a "heathen man and a publican."

   Behold, dearly beloved brethren, however we turn these words of Christ,
   they cannot be made to apply to any other time than that of Christ;
   namely, that, as the Jews at that time dealt with a heathen and
   publican?so we may also, now treat an apostate who, either through
   false doctrine, or through an unclean, shameful life, dishonors,
   rejects and disgraces Christ Jesus and his holy word. I wish, most
   beloved brethren, that every christian would diligently consider, since
   we have given our understanding of these words of Christ, whether not
   also Paul understood these words as meaning the same as we have
   explained. Yea, he who closely considers this matter, will find that
   Paul, in his doctrine of separation, has, in every way conformed to
   this rule of Christ.

   Thus Paul says, " It is reported commonly, that there is fornication
   among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the
   Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. And ye are puffed up,
   and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be
   taken away from among you," 1 Cor. 5:1, 2.

   In another place, Paul teaches how Christ loved the church, and gave
   himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing
   of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious
   church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it
   should be holy and without blemish, Eph. 5:25. If we admit such open
   profaners as this fornicator, and, moreover, adulterers, drunkards,
   contentious, avaricious, upbraiders and idolaters, and do not shun
   them, then we must ever hear this reproof of Paul, that we are "puffed
   up" and do not rather mourn to separate such open transgressors from
   us. O, brethren, brethren! I fear that this admonition of Paul is not
   sufficiently weighed by some. Paul says further, " For I verily, as
   absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I
   were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed. In the name
   of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit,
   with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, to deliver such a one unto
   Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in
   the day of the Lord Jesus," I Cor. 5:3, 4, 5.

   These words of the apostle teach us three things: First, The great love
   of the faithful servant, Paul, toward his disciples and children; for
   although he was not present there, yet as present in spirit, he was
   paternally solicitous for them, and ever taught, admonished and advised
   them to their own good.

   Secondly, In whose name, how, and by whom this separation, shall be
   practiced, namely, in the name, that is, by virtue of the command and
   ordinance of our Lord Jesus Christ. For Paul did not undertake to do
   any thing that he had not first received of Christ, as he says. Yea, if
   Christ had not first instructed Paul to do so, he would not have dared
   to command the Thessalonians, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
   that they should separate themselves from every brother who walked
   disorderly, and not according to his ordinances. For this may well be
   called doing things in the name of Christ, when it is done in
   conformity to his holy word and will.

   Again, It shall be practiced by the church; that is, every one shall
   not separate at his own pleasure; but it should be done by the
   congregation of God, after proper admonition in love, diligence and
   faithfulness, with the power of Christ, that is, with the binding or
   closing key of the Holy Spirit. For if it be practiced without the word
   and Spirit, without love and brotherly affability, whether it is
   through bitterness, anger, or a false report, not conformable to the
   word, for reasons not deserving of the ban, then it is not a work of
   God, no medicine to the soul, nor fruit of pure love; but a contention
   of satan, a corruption and pestilence to the soul, and a manifest fruit
   of the flesh: In short, a curse, abomination and stench before God. Let
   every person well weigh these words of Paul, and he will, by the grace
   of God, find how rigidly this separation is commanded in the
   Scriptures, and how orderly it should be practiced in the church, with
   the power of the word and Spirit of Christ.

   Thirdly, That we should deliver an unrepenting transgressor unto satan.
   Not, brethren, that he was not of satan before separation, for as soon
   as he turned his heart away from the Lord and became ungodly, he became
   the subject of satan, even as a penitent sinner is a subject of Christ.
   But now the voice of man, through the church, tells him that he is
   deprived of the communion of Christ and his church, and that he is now
   delivered unto satan until he again brings forth true fruits of
   repentance, before God and his church, that his adulterous, avaricious,
   refractory and idolatrous flesh may be brought to reflection and become
   ashamed and repentant by such judgment and shunning of the pious, that
   he may thus suppress and die unto his flesh, that is, the lusts of his
   flesh, and that he may by these means be brought to repentance and his
   soul be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

   Here the godfearing reader may observe in these words of Paul, the
   first reason why the Holy Spirit ordained this ban to be practiced in
   the house of God, namely; for repentance and not for corruption; that,
   if the transgressor rejects as null and void, all fraternal services
   and admonitions of faithful love that are shown to him, and remains
   unrepentant?that, then, according to the advice of the Holy Spirit, the
   judgment passed upon him, should, with sorrowfulness, be made known
   unto him in the church and that he is separated from the church that he
   may thus become ashamed unto repentance.

   Again, about this shame, the apostle speaks in another place, "If any
   man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man and have no
   company with him, that he may be ashamed," 2 These. 3:14.

   Take notice, brethren, that true, evangelical separation is an express
   fruit of unfeigned love, and not a law of hatred, as some, very
   wrongly, complain and pretend.

   Ah, faithful brethren, if we rightly understood God, if we were
   enlightened with the Holy Spirit, and loved our neighbors with divine
   love, how diligently we would be engaged in this matter, to follow the
   faithful advice of the Holy Spirit, in all reasonableness and love,
   without respect of persons; no matter whether it concerns father,
   mother, sister, brother, husband, wife, child, or any relative or
   friend; for how can we show more spiritual love towards them i But as
   it is, a great many do not seek that which is of the Spirit, but that
   which is of the flesh; not their neighbors, but themselves. If they do
   so through ignorance, then may the merciful Father enlighten them with
   his Holy Spirit, and guide them into all truth; but if they do so
   through willful perverseness, then we know that it is written, "To be
   carnally minded is death," Rom. 8:6.

   In the third place, Paul says, " Your glorying is not good. Know ye not
   that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump 1 Purge out therefore the
   old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even
   Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the
   feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and
   wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth," 1
   Cor. s: s?7.

   Again, with these words Paul reproves, first, the Corinthians, and,
   also, all other churches with them, who glory in being the church of
   Jesus Christ and the spiritual house of Israel, and yet tolerate such
   shameful, corrupting leaven, as the Corinthians and the like defilers,
   in their communion. For how can we glory in the piety of the church and
   reprove other churches on account of their ungodly doctrine and life,
   so long as we tolerate the like leaven of doctrine and life among us,
   without expelling it? If we are unleavened, Why are we not fearful of
   the leaven? since the apostle tells us that " a little leaven leaveneth
   the whole lump."

   Secondly, He here gives us the outward Israel as an example. For when
   they kept the passover, they did not= keep leavened bread in their
   houses for seven days. Yea, if it was found in any house the souls
   thereof had to be rooted out from among Israel. Neither was an
   uncircumcised or unclean one to eat thereof. Oh, brethren, if the
   figure and shadow were to be so pure how much more should the reality
   be pureg For our passover is not a quadruped, but it is the spotless
   Lamb of God, Christ Jesus. Nor does our passover last seven days, as
   did the passover of Israel, but it lasts forever, namely, from the
   offering of Christ until the last day; neither is it kept by unleavened
   bread, baked of flour, but by the unleavened bread of righteousness and
   by the word of eternal truth.

   Therefore, beloved brethren, let us keep this passover holy and
   unspotted, to the best of our ability, and let us, in the name of our
   Lord Jesus Christ, separate from us the corrupting leaven, that is, all
   those that walk in the foreskin of their hearts, and all impure in life
   (understand, open, known transgressors), that we may be the holy Israel
   of God, besprinkled with the blood of the lamb, free from the scourging
   angel of God, and that we may thus rejoice before the Lord, in
   sincerity and truth, and celebrate and serve it all the days of our
   lives.

   Further, all the pious may learn from these words of Paul, "Know ye not
   that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?" the second reason, why
   this separation is so necessary and useful to the house of God, and
   that it can not stand without it. This has been shown in Israel. Moses,
   the faithful servant of God, strictly commanded the people of God, that
   they should, without mercy, destroy from among them the wilful
   transgressors, when proven by two or three witnesses; also, that if any
   prophets should arise among them, with signs and miracles to lead them
   to other gods, they should not hear them, but destroy them. Again, the
   father should not excuse his child, the husband his wife, &c., but
   their hand should be the first upon them. Also, they should level and
   destroy any city which went after other gods, that Israel might hear
   these things, fear God and no more practice such evil. I think this was
   a rigid separation which was commanded Israel. If they had stood firm
   and immutable in this, and had they followed the command, counsel,
   teachings and admonition of God, according to the Scriptures, and
   destroyed the false prophets and idolators, they would never have
   become so estranged from God, and come to such deadly whoring and
   degeneration (understand this as in the law). For the rejection of the
   counsel and will of God will never go unpunished, Deut. 13: G, 7;
   17:11; 19:15; Heb. 10:18.

   But at present, the Holy Spirit does not teach us to destroy the
   wicked, as did Israel, but that we should reluctantly separate them
   from the church, and that in the name of the Lord, by the power of
   Christ and the Holy Spirit; for a little leaven leaveneth the whole
   lump. It is a common saying, One scabby sheep mars the whole flock. The
   lepers were not allowed among the healthy, in Israel; but had to be
   separated until cured. O, brethren in the Lord! the leprosy of the
   soul, is a leprosy above all diseases, whether it is in doctrine, or in
   life. It eats like a cancer, and, as Paul says, "leavenis the whole
   lump." Therefore the Holy Spirit has abundantly taught us to separate
   such from among us; not to hear the words of the false prophets, for
   they deceive us; to separate from such who, contrary to apostolic
   doctrine, cause offense and contention; to shun those who are not
   pleased with the salutary words and doctrine of our dear Lord Jesus
   Christ, but are contentious and desirous of quarreling, &c.; to guard
   against dogs and artful laborers and the selfish; to flee the voice of
   strangers; to shun an heretic or a master of sects, after having been
   once or twice admonished; not to greet nor receive in our houses him
   who does not teach the doctrine of Christ; and to withdraw from every
   brother who acts disorderly and walks not according to the apostolic
   doctrine. O, says Paul, that they be cut off who disturb you, Lev.
   13:2; Jer. 23:16; Titus 3:10; 2 John 10; 2 Thess. 3:6.

   I think, beloved brethren, the Holy Spirit of God has done well, and
   fully performed the duties of his office, and his faithful service of
   divine love toward his chosen people by admonishing, warning, teaching
   and commanding, in Moses and the prophets, in Christ and the apostles,
   in regard to the Shunning of heretics and apostates; but, if we through
   obstinacy or perverseness, still associate with the leprous, against
   the faithful counsel, teaching and admonition of God and intermingle
   with them, then we will also be infected with the same disease. It is
   the recompense of those who know the nature of the disease, and yet
   neither fear nor avoid it.

   Say, most beloved, is it not the greatest foolishness and recklessness
   willfully and knowingly to run into the hands of the murderer, by
   opening unto him your house and office; for what else can you expect
   but stealing, robbing and murdering 3

   O, that the pious reader would receive the command, teaching, counsel,
   and admonition, so faithfully given by the Holy Spirit. Shun all
   hereti: s (I refer to those who ?have been of us), and apostates,
   according to the word of the Lord; whether it is father, mother, wife,
   child, relative or friend, or whoever will try to turn you from God and
   his word, and to corrupt you by doctrine or by life. Whosoever loves
   any thing more than his God, cannot be the disciple of the Lord, Matt.
   10:37; Luke 14:26. Therefore, believe Christ Jesus, and sincerely fear
   him in his word, and you will follow his counsel and teaching; but if
   you be offended thereat, then await your punishment, for, by the grace
   of God, I know what it is to despise the word and will of God, and what
   I have felt and seen in this respect.

   In the fourth place, Paul says, " I wrote unto you in an epistle not to
   company with fornicators. Yet not altogether with the fornicators of
   this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters;
   for then must ye needs go out of the world. But now I have written unto
   you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother, be a
   fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or
   an extortioner; with such a one no not to eat," 1 Cor. 5:9?11.

   From these words of the apostle we observe that he had on a former
   occasion, admonished the Corinthians, in an epistle, that they should
   shun the fornicators, covetous, &c., but they had also understood it as
   meaning the fornicators of this world. In this epistle, Paul admonishes
   them that this was not his meaning; for if they should shun such, and
   not have any dealings with them, they must needs go out of the world.
   But he meant those who are called brethren, as he shows in plain
   language, saying, "If any man that is called a brother be a fornicator,
   or covetous," &c., with such an one do not eat; just as the Jews did
   not eat with the Gentiles and publicans, at the time of Christ; neither
   did they keep their company; for Christ and Paul are one and no
   divided, John 4:9.

   I think, brethren, that this text is so plain and clear that it admits
   of no controversy; notwithstanding some violate and garble it:

   First, they say, "Paul had no authority to burden us with any laws when
   it was not first taught and commanded him of Christ." To this we
   answer: Let every one rightly reflect upon, divide and consider the
   words of Christ, "Let him be unto you as a heathen man and a publicans"
   and he will find, by the grace of God, whether or not Paul first
   received this doctrine of Christ.

   Secondly, they say, " Since Paul makes mention here of. the Jewish
   passover, and adds that we should keep the passover, not in the old
   leaven," &c., so this passage, and also his sayings, "With such do not
   company, with such do not eat," must be understood as meaning a
   spiritual intermingling or communion. To such, we answer: Israel had a
   passover of seven days, but we have an eternal passover. And, as the
   Lamb of our Passover is eternal, and his offering eternal, so we must
   now, perpetually sanctify and celebrate it, ever partake of its flesh;
   ever be sprinkled with its blood, and ever be diligently guarding
   against the ungodly, corrupting leaven of both doctrine and life. If
   our feast and Passover then, is spiritual and not literal, eternal and
   not temporal, how can this then be applicable to the Lord's Supper,
   which eating does not last but for an hour or so?

   In the second place, we answer: If these words were spoken of a
   spiritual communion then it should read in the Greek text, choinonia,
   and in the Latin, communicatio, for that signifies a spiritual
   communion, as Christ communes with us, and the members of Christ
   commune with Christ; also, community of property. But in the Greek text
   is a different word, and in Latin it reads: conumiscemz siri
   commerciuarz habere, which does not imply a spiritual communion at all,
   but an outward, temporal communion; and it appears=the clearer from
   these words of Paul that he here speaks of the temporal communion and
   company, and not of spiritual. For he has prohibited this communion
   with the apostates and allows the communion with the world, which has
   no spiritual communion with us, nor can they have. This is
   incontrovertible. Yea, if the communion or intermingling with the world
   were prohibited, then we could not make use of the necessaries of life,
   but we would have to eke out our life in poverty, destitution,
   tribulation and misery, 1 Cor. 10:3; Acts 2:44; 1 Tim. 6:18; Heb.
   13:16.

   Thirdly,, we reply: That Paul had reference to common eating, and not
   to the Lord's Supper; for he calls it in Latin, cibum capere (to take
   food), and not, panwm frangere (to break bread); and it is manifest
   that the Lord's Supper is, nowhere in the Scriptures, called cibwm
   capere. And if it were spoken in reference to the Supper, as some very
   mistakenly assert, then it would incontrovertibly follow that we are at
   liberty to invite the world to the Lord's Supper, to greet them with
   the kiss of peace and to be one body with them; for this intercourse,
   unclean and prohibited with an apostate brother, is, according to Paul,
   clean and allowable with the world. O, no, but as the Jews at that time
   would not eat a common meal with the heathen and publicans, and Christ
   having pointed his followers to that usage, so Paul follows the
   doctrine and command of his Lord and master, Jesus; and says that we
   shall not eat with such.

   I think that it has been sufficiently shown to the pious, that these
   words of Paul should not be understood as referring to spiritual
   communion, nor to the Lord's Supper, but only to daily intercourse and
   common eating. If, now, it is not allowed in outward or carnal
   communion, it will be less so in inward or spiritual communion.

   Dear brethren in the Lord, I would here pray and admonish you all, in
   humility, to consider well what the proper meaning is of this word
   commercium (intercourse), of which Paul speaks, and how we should
   understand it, that you may not give too much liberty to the reckless
   souls, to their own destruction, and that you do not too closely bind
   the narrow minded, since you have no binding word. For I hear and see,
   and have, alas, seen too much of it, these many years, that some, on
   every hand, use no weight nor measure in this matter; and the result
   is, that there is much dispute and trouble about this separation. May
   the Lord grant his divine grace to the peace, unity and edification of
   his holy church. Amen.

   Inasmuch as I am an unworthy and humble servant, called into the house
   of God, and sincerely seek the good of my beloved brethren and
   co?workers; therefore I will briefly present my views concerning this
   communion or intermingling, according to my talent, with which I desire
   to appear before the throne of my Lord Jesus Christ, at the day of
   judgment, and will leave it to the criticism of God's word, and all
   theologians. Therefore, my understanding of commisceri or commercium
   habere, (that is, to mix with or to commune), of which Paul here
   speaks, is, that it implies daily communion, company, walk,
   intercourse, presence, usage, conversation and dealing, and that it
   does not mean accidental conversation, or necessary dealings, such as
   dividing a legacy, liquidating debts, and such like incidental
   dealings, or to be serviceable in times of need; for the word
   commercium does not imply anything so strong. Therefore, in my opinion,
   some err not a little by attaching the same strength to the phrase
   "have no company with them," that they attach to "thou shalt not steal,
   and thou shalt not commit adultery," of which Paul testifies that those
   who are guilty thereof, shall not inherit the kingdom of heaven. Their
   argument is, That nay is nay; yea, brethren, if this were the case, who
   could stand before his God

   Again, if the word commercium, which in our language, means an
   intermingling or communion, is to be explained, that we are not to
   speak a word with an apostate, not to have any necessary dealings with
   him; then the word commercium would be violated; many a pious child be
   retarded, many an unscriptural action done, and the faithful Paul would
   be rejected. For he says, "Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish
   him as a brother," 2 Thess. 3:15. Besides, it would make an evil report
   of the gospel of Christ.

   It is also incontrovertible, that the publicans and some heathen lived
   in Judea, as, Herod, Pilate, Philip, Sisanius, Testes, &c., before whom
   they had to appear at times. Again, they also had to pay tribute to the
   Romans; and, therefore, were obliged sometimes, to speak to them, and
   had necessary dealings with them; although they diligently shunned
   their daily company, conversation, intermingling, eating, &c.

   Dear brethren, take heed, and do not become masters and despisers of
   the Holy Spirit, that you do not, through the good opinions of men,
   make the way narrower nor broader, than the word, Spirit and example of
   the Lord makes and limits it.

   In the fifth place, Paul says, "What have I to do to judge them also
   that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that
   are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that
   wicked person," 1 Cor. 6:12, 13. Here Paul explains his former words,
   that he did not apply them, in his first epistle, to those that are
   without; for God judges them, and not we. We ought to put away from
   among us the wicked persons, arid commend the world to God.

   Behold, faithful brethren, how unanimously Christ and Paul agree in the
   shunning of the apostates. And also, how earnestly Paul has taught and
   maintained this separation. Yea, that he has six times enjoined to
   practice this ban, in such a short chapter.

   "Ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done
   this deed might be taken away from among you."

   "To deliver such an one unto Satan."

   "Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump."

   "I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators."

   "With such an one, no not to eat."

   "Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person," 1 Cor.
   6:2, 6, 7, 9, 11,13.

   All these are found in one short chapter; besides what he has taught,
   commanded and admonished in this respect to the Romans, Galatians,
   Philippians, Thessalonians, Timothy and Titus. John also has explained
   himself briefly. I do not see how a godfearing heart can have doubts in
   regard to this matter and how he can contradict it, since there are
   such good fruits and utility derived from this shunning. But it seems
   that this vine must have its worms.

   Again, the refractory make another objection, and say, "When one is
   separated from the church it is not necessary any more to shun him, for
   he is no longer called a brother." To such we reply: That they should;
   in the first place, consider that if such an one, who has acknowledged
   the Lord's word and truth, and, for a time, led a pious, evangelical
   life, and has thus received baptism, becomes apostatized and afterwards
   sincerely repents, he is not rebaptized; for the Scriptures teach but
   one baptism. But if those who are of the world repent they are baptized
   after repentance; for before; they neither confessed word, penitence,
   faith, righteousness nor baptism; and therefore it is a different
   matter. At the day of judgment, it will also be more strictly required
   of them than of the world, Luke 9:6; 2 Pet. 2:20; Matt. 24:48.

   In the second place we say that the world, notwithstanding, esteem them
   as brethren, and many of them would gladly be greeted as brethren;
   therefore it is very necessary to shun them, that both the world and
   they may know and understand that we can not accept such as brethren
   who are so unclean and blamable in doctrine or in life, lest the word
   of the Lord and his church be despised by the world, on their account.

   In the third place we say, That Israel did not shun their open
   transgressors, nor the Corinthians their fornicators until they were
   separated from the church. It is neither a custom nor usage in the
   Scriptures, to shun anybody so long as he is suffered in the church;
   and therefore we should not shun any one, before separation; or else we
   practice a ban neither known nor mentioned in the Scriptures.

   In the fourth place we say, That if we commune and associate with an
   apostate, after separation, then we show in fact that we despise the
   word, command, counsel, teaching and admonition of God; that we do not
   seek the reasonable shame of the apostate, which is to lead him to
   repent; and also, that we do not guard against the corruption of our
   own souls.

   I trust that this is sufficient to appease every godfearing heart, in
   regard to the words of Christ, Matt. 18:18, and in regard to the fifth
   chapter of the first epistle to the Corinthians, and that no more
   useless garbling, objections and artful excuses be made to turn it to
   the lusts of the flesh, for they can stand no better than stubble
   before the fire, and ice before heat. Yea, from these same words of
   Christ and of Paul it appears clearly how, when, where, with what
   spirit, of whom, on whom, and for what purpose this ban should be
   practiced. I think this foundation to be so powerful that it cannot be
   broken by christian reasonableness nor by divine truth. Let every one
   fear and love his God with all his heart, and he will, doubtlessly,
   receive the true knowledge of this matter, and will rightly follow the
   scriptural and God pleasing usage.

   blank page
     __________________________________________________________________

  A CLEAR

  INCONTROVERTIBLE CONFESSION

  AND

  DEMONSTRATION

  FOUNDED ON THE POWER OF THE

  HOLY SCRIPTURES,

  THAT THE ENTIRE CHRIST JESUS, GOD AND MAN. MAN AND GOD, IS GOD'S

  OWN, ONLY AND FIRST BEGOTTEN SON; NOT DIVIDED NOR SEPARA

  RATED, BUT AN ONLY, UNDIVIDED PERSON, SON AND CHRIST; GOD'S

  WORD DULY MANIFESTED IN THE FLESH, TOGETHER WITH

  A THOROUGH CONFUTATION, REPLY TO, AND SOLUTION OF

  THE PRINCIPAL POINTS OF THE DEFENSE OF JOHN

  A'LASCO AGAINST US.

  BY

  MENNO SIMON.

  "I am the living bread which came down from heaven; If any man eat of this
  bread, he shall live for ever; and the bread that I will give, is my flesh,
  which I will give for the life of the world," John 6:51.

  " For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus
  Christ," 1 Cor. S:11.

  ELKMART, INDIANA:

  PUBLISHED BY JOHN F. FUNK AND BROTHER.

  1871 blank page
     __________________________________________________________________

  PREFACE.

   To THE IMPARTIAL READER:?I see and observe, honest reader, that many
   books, printed in Latin and also written German books, are circulated
   and read, concerning the incarnation of the Lord, which, in my opinion,
   so slander our reputuation, that those who read or hear them read, shut
   their noses and mouths at our approach; therefore I feel myself
   compelled, First, to reply to some accusations of John A' Lasco,
   wrongfully preferred against me. Secondly, to advance my confession and
   faith of Christ Jesus, the Son of God; and, Thirdly, to solve and
   criticise according to divine truth, as far as the grace of God is
   given me, his principal points with which he refutes our foundation and
   faith. This I do not for my own sake, for I am well aware that my
   truths, with him, are lies, and that I will remain, as did all the holy
   apostles and prophets, the learned heretics and importers, even if
   Christ spake in and through me, poor, ignorant creature, with the same
   power as that with which he spake formerly through the apostles and
   prophets. But I do this from the pure love of our Lord and Savior,
   Jesus Christ, and his holy word; from love for my beloved brethren, and
   also, from a heart inclined towards my opponents, that Christ Jesus the
   Son of the Almighty and great God, may be made manifest as a true Son
   of his heavenly Father; that the Scriptures may remain unbroken; and
   that the afflicted, hungering consciences, which would gladly follow
   the right, may see and know it and thus thank the Almighty and eternal
   Father with cheerful hearts, through his first and only begotten Son,
   Christ Jesus; that, also, the God fearing reader may know through whom
   he is reconciled with his God; and that we establish our foundation not
   otherwise than by the clear and positive Scriptures and
   incontrovertible truth.

   Behold, for this reason have I yet undertaken this labor before my
   death. I, who in my weakness, every day look for the dissolution of
   this earthly tabernacle with resignation; that I may leave behind me a
   sure testimony and memento, how honestly or dishonestly, how highly or
   how triflingly, how greatly or how insignificantly I have esteemed the
   Lord Jesus Christ, my only and eternal Surety, Consolation, Refuge,
   Deliverer and Savior, during the period of my service; for I am aware
   how we are upbraided and slandered.

   Therefore have 1 divided this book in three parts. The first part is a
   reply to some articles and accusations without regard to the foundation
   of our actions of which John A'Lasco accuses and blames us, without any
   truth whatever.

   The second part, is my confession of the origin and descent of the
   flesh of Christ, demonstrated according to the power of the Scriptures.

   The third part contains the principal objections, particularly of John
   A'Lasco to our foundation, which are overwhelmingly answered according
   to the word of God. I have so divided it, that the reader may not
   become confused, but may obtain a better and more intelligent
   understanding and sense of our writings.

   I desire and pray all my readers, for the sake of Jesus, whether they
   are learned or unlearned, favorable or unfavorable, to read my writings
   with an unprejudiced , mind and attentively and intelligently; to read
   them frequently; to compare them with the Scriptures, and weigh them in
   the balance of the Scriptures; I pray them to believe the Scriptures,
   and not the long and many writings, teachings and ? the colorings of
   the learned; that they will examine the foundation without bitterness,
   and believe the surest truth, and follow it in the fear of God, and
   give him due praise, as becomes all reasonable people, according to the
   christian name. I doubt not but that all those who read them with due
   attention, will soon find that the foundation, doctrine and faith of
   our opponents concerning Christ, the Son of God, is deceiving and
   erroneous, and that our foundation is the foundation and testimony of
   the Holy Scriptures; yea, that it is the power and the truth.

   I would further pray, that the reader do not think hard of it if I call
   falsehood, lies; and rebuke evil?doing. I trust, by the grace of God,
   to do so without any bitter feeling, and with as temperate words as
   possible; and further, not to become impatient if I sometimes repeat
   the same words and matter, when necessary; and also that at the end, he
   will not judge me without consideration and intelligence; and thus
   become angry with me. For I do nothing more than reasonable purging,
   according to the truth; nothing more than prove my faith and hope, to
   be in accordance with the Scriptures, and uphold the honor and praise
   of my Lord and Savior?something which I am? not only called to do
   verbally, and with my pen, but also with my life?blood, if his glory
   demand it.

   May the beloved Lord, the faithful Son of the true and living God, to
   whom be all honor and praise, grant all kind and discreet readers a
   mind desirous to examine diligently, and enlighten the intelligent
   hearts to understand rightly. Amen.
     __________________________________________________________________

  A CLEAR,

  INCONTROVERTIBLE CONFESSION, &C.

  PART FIRST.

   In the first place, John A'Lasco writes, "That I have magnified his
   name so that I might, on account of the correspondence I had with him,
   obtain greater honor, more consideration and authority among ours" (as
   he calls them).

   Answer. It is true that I called him the noble and highly?learned, &c.,
   in my confession to him and the preachers; but I did this for no other
   reason than simply to be polite. I did not picture him in such hateful
   colors as he did me; he calling me a doctor or teacher of anabaptists.
   Nor have I called him by such high names as he calls himself?Polonim
   Baro. I have not sought through his name what alas, he ascribes to me.
   I know, thanks be to the Lord, with holy Paul, that I can not be the
   servant of Christ, if I seek to please men, Gal. 1:10. If I should
   become more honored in the name of man, be it a king or emperor, than
   in Christ, it would not be well with me in the end. For if I seek mine
   own honor, and not the honor of God, it will not be my honor. But I
   hope to obtain honor which will remain with me forever; men may judge
   me as they will, they must confess before their God, in the day of
   Christ. He who has eyes like aflame of fire, knows what I seek and do,
   my coming in and my going out, my rising up and my sitting down. If he
   knew nothing better of me than that which I am judged by man, then I
   might justly exclaim: Woe unto me, that I was born:

   In the second place, he Writes, "That I have unjustly attacked his
   reputation, and profaned their church service."

   Answer. I trust that nobody can truthfully show that I have said
   anything but truth about John A'Lasco or his abettors and followers.
   But if they feel hurt at the truth, of which he thinks so hard, for
   this they may blame the truth and not me. I am willing to leave it to
   the judgment of all reasonable people, whether I wrote justly or
   unjustly, too much or too little in regard to his doctrine, sacraments,
   church service, church or community, or that of the preachers of his
   kind. If their doctrine and church service is of God and his word, why
   are not their unreasonable and reckless disciples converted from their
   ungodly ways and doings 3 For, according to the contents of the
   Scriptures, it is infallible that the doctrine and service which is of
   God, has her power and influence, Isaiah 65. But it is too evident from
   their fruits, that there is nothing threshed from them but chaff. My
   conscience tells me nothing but that I have j done them and their
   church justice; for I have reproved them, with zeal, of the things
   which all the prophets, apostles and faithful witnesses of God have
   diligently done before me, namely: I have reproved their carnal,
   impenitent lives, as is manifest before all the world. If I have done
   wrong in this regard, then I may justly accuse Moses and the prophets
   together with Christ and the apostles, of it, for they have earnestly
   commanded me, unworthy creature, and all God fearing preachers to do
   so, for which we, miserable creatures, have to suffer so much in this
   wild, excited world. He who has created me, knows that I have done so
   in sincere love to the conversion o1 their poor souls.

   In the third place, he writes, '° I have been obliged to deliver our
   doctrine of your slander, by authority of the divine word, which
   doctrine you may garble among your followers, by your crying, but which
   you cannot refute by authority of the Scriptures, notwithstanding your
   boasting that you do so."

   Answer. If it can be called slander to rebuke wrong, according to the
   Spirit and word of God? Then not only have I slandered, but also
   Isaiah, Jeremiah, and all the prophets, and also Christ Jesus, together
   with all his apostles. I have rebuked their cause according to the word
   of God; and by the grace of God, shown them that they are not the true
   messengers of God, nor their church, the true one. But it will be hard
   for John A' Lasco to show that our doctrine, which is not ours, but
   Christ's doctrine, is wrong, and also that our rebuke according to the
   Scriptures, is slander; and to prove before his Good, who judges all
   things aright, that his doctrine is right in regard to the incarnation,
   the baptism of infants, the calling of their preachers, their
   separation and the unrestrained, reckless life of his church, I fear
   that we will find plenty of philosophy, invention and coloring, but
   little scriptural power, foundation, and truth. Yea, kind reader, I am
   sure that if the violence of the world was ever withstood, as it
   doubtlessly should be, we would soon find where the victory of the
   Scriptures would stand.

   In the fourth place he says, "If we prove our doctrine by virtue of the
   divine word, then it will be manifest that we were innocently
   slandered; and our innocence will be made manifest."

   Answer. If he has proven his doctrine and sacraments to be right, by
   virtue of the divine word, as he boastingly asserts, I will acknowledge
   that I have unreasonably and wrongfully reproved them in this regard.
   But it is nothing but consoling the poor people with falsehood, and
   keeping them on the broad way by fictitious promises. Even if he could
   prove his doctrine and sacraments, which, however, he can not do, to be
   in accordance with the Scriptures, then his cause would still not be
   half way right; for the doctrine and sacraments are useless if the
   fruitful; active faith, and the pious, unblamable life, are not there;
   for which purpose the doctrine was promulgated, and the sacraments
   ordained. And what kind of life is generally led by their followers,
   and also by the greater part of their preachers themselves, I will
   leave to the judgment of those who can observe their daily actions and
   walk, and who have an understanding of the Holy Scriptures.

   In the fifth place he says, "If you would have sent your writings to us
   all, as you promised to do, we might have answered you alone; but you
   have circulated them first among your own, before sending them to us."

   Answer. I do not recollect that I have promised them this; nor can I
   see why I should have made such a promise, as I had nothing to write
   but what was my proper faith and foundation; which I desire not only to
   testify by writing in secret, but also with my life;?blood, before the
   whole world, if only the Lord strengthen and uphold me by his grace.

   But, as to his writing that I should have circulated it first amongst
   ourselves, I would say, that he has said too much; for as soon as I had
   withdrawn myself from them, I went to a secret place, as I have had to
   do these many years, for the sake of the testimony of Christ and my
   conscience, and simply compiled my faith and foundation in writing, and
   without any delay, after our conversation, sent it to them. However,
   out of respect, I handed it to M. H. G., he being, at the time, Baliff
   or Burgomaster (Mayor). The Great Lord is my witness that this is the
   truth, and since it is a fact as related, how could I have circulated
   it among ours before it was sent to them, as he accuses me of doing;
   and, even if I had done as he accuses me, were he and his followers
   thereby wronged? Since it is not alone my foundation, but the
   foundation and faith of us all, as is known to many.

   But his own reason convinced him that it would seem unreasonable to the
   reader to write such an infamous, bitter book, without cause, and
   therefore he must pretend something, so that his writing against the
   mute Menno, who, on account of the great tyranny, cannot answer before
   the world, might seem reasonable. But whether it will stand before the
   impartial Judgment seat of Christ, will be made manifest in his
   declaration. May the beloved Lord not reckon it as sin; for I know that
   I am not guilty.

   In the sixth place he writes, "Your followers were the cause, that I
   must publicly treat with you, for they have steadily circulated the
   report in west Friesland, and also, in a great part of Holland, that
   you are at liberty to teach your doctrine in our churches; and that we
   are certainly conquered, and have nothing wherewith to gainsay."

   Answer. I never heard a word of this until I read so in his writing; if
   some of us have thus boasted, as he writes (which I cannot believe),
   then it is evident that they have not spoken the truth in that regard,
   but falsehood; which falsehood is a shameful thing, yea, it is of the
   devil, and destroys the soul, John 8:45, 55.

   If he has it from hearsay, it was not right in him to listen to such
   partizans and liars, and to publish it in a book, to the everlasting
   remembrance of all the world, and the great injury of his neighbors.
   But if he did it of his own accord, and not from the persuasion of
   others, which I do not presume he did, then he dishonors his famous
   name and ruins his soul. For lying, I say, is a shameful thing, and
   will not find a place in God's city.

   Again I say, I do not presume that he wrote this of his own accord, but
   I imagine that he was too desirous to listen to the liar, too quick to
   hear, and too hasty to write. Be this as it may, I know that, according
   to christian reasonableness and love, it does not apply to me; let him
   adorn it as much as he can. The great Lord will make manifest in due
   time what each one of us seeks and pretends, yea, maintains, teaches,
   does and defends.

   In the seventh place he accuses me and says, ' ° That I made light of
   two Latin syllogisms which he communicated to me; that I despised
   learning and the skill of languages; that I upbraided them as
   philosophers, and passed myself for simply a theologian, whereby I
   catch the unlearned and simple, and cause myself great consideration.
   That, however, my want of excellence is no meanness but rather
   ignorance. Yea, he has set me forth in such colors that my remembrance,
   although, alas, not much to my honor, will perhaps be with man as long
   as the world endures."

   Answer. The reason why he applies these epithets to me, is, because I
   wrote to him and his abettors thus: Let us not controvert these things
   with subtle syllogisms, nor with sharp, human cavilings, for we do not
   profess them, but we contradict them alone by the clear, convincing
   word which cannot be garbled by eloquence, nor broken by human
   invention. These are my words, A. D. 1543, in my confession written to
   him and his .preachers. Let those of a pious disposition judge now
   whether .I deserve such bitter treatment. But I am aware that I did not
   earn this crown on account of these words, just mentioned, but for the
   sake of the poor, despised truth. Reader, do not misunderstand me.
   Never in my life, have I despised learning and skill in languages, but
   from my youth, honored and loved them. Although, alas, I never acquired
   them, yet (thanks be to God), I am not so bereft of my senses, that I
   should therefore despise or ridicule the knowledge of languages through
   which the precious word of divine grace came to our knowledge. I wish
   that all pious minded persons possessed this knowledge, if we would but
   humbly use it to the praise of our God, and the service of our
   neighbors, in the pure fear of God.

   Is it not a shameful thing that they regard truth so little, and
   continually try, although unreservedly, to reflect such falsehood upon
   me. Yea, dear reader, if I would repay evil with evil, as the law of
   nature teaches me, I would collect some false hoods, some of which were
   spoken, and some of which were written against me, of which neither he,
   nor any other man, can ever convict me. Whether this can be called just
   and right, I will leave to the judgment of all impartial, reasonable
   minds.

   Would to God that he and all our opponents, would not act differently
   with me, than I do with them, for I trust they do not desire my blood,
   or at least the greater part of them. I rebuke and admonish them of all
   the short?comings which I see, as love for them requires, although they
   think hard of that. But that I should write falsehoods against them,
   from this may the Lord save me. For I am well aware from which impure
   fountain falsehood flows, and what will be the end of it. I am also
   aware that it is not the seed from which we shall beget God's children,
   and gather unto Christ a church. I would have them do the same (and not
   differently), if I should, humanlike, fail in some things; that they
   would admonish and reprove me according to the truth; that they would
   uphold their truth (if they had any, which, alas, they have, not), by
   force of the Scriptures; and that they would let. the seed of the
   serpent use his falsehood, and the seed of Cain his violence, Gen. 3:4.

   But as to my ignorance, of which he so bitterly accuses me, I am not
   ashamed to acknowledge before all the world, that I am not only
   ignorant, but altogether unlearned, and very little versed in the
   languages. Yea, dear reader, I freely admit, as did Socrates, that I
   only know one thing, as regards human skill and wisdom, and that is,
   that I know nothing. But as regards heavenly wisdom, I am so far taught
   of God, through the grace of the Lord, that I sincerely confess that my
   Redeemer and Savior, Christ Jesus, is the only and first begotten Son
   of God; that whosoever believeth in him hath everlasting life; that he
   that believeth not is condemned; that a liar is of the devil; that
   "whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer;" that unless ye repent, ye
   shall all perish; that "the wages of sin is death," John 3:8; 1 John
   3:15; Luke 13:6; Rom. 6:23. And from this unregarded wisdom (eternal
   praise be to the Lord), I have obtained so much fear in my poor soul,
   that my earthly, carnal mind is converted into a better; and that I am
   so sorry that I cannot walk in Christ Jesus, with all my strength,
   according to the will of God, and be a sincere, unblamable christian;
   that I cannot bring the whole world from its obdurate, ungodly state,
   into a new, repentant, christian life, with the Spirit, power, and word
   of the Lord. For this is my only joy and ardent desire, that we may
   rightly preach Christ Jesus, according to his holy word; that we may
   seek, fear, love and serve his holy name. Yea, that we may become the
   city of the living God, the glorious kingdom, to his honor, and the
   temple of his Holy Spirit, 2 Cor. 6:16.

   And this same wisdom which produces. such power and fruit, I esteem as
   being the most worthy of all wisdom imaginable; even if taught and
   restored by an unlearned cart?driver or coal?carrier?yea, it is the
   only joy and desire of my afflicted heart; the only amelioration of my
   misery; and will be to the end, by the grace of God, the glorious
   ornament and crown of my honor. Of this noble, highly learned wisdom
   and philosophy read in Solomon's proverbs, also Sirach and the Book of
   Wisdom, and you will find which is its proper virtue, work and power.

   Behold, reader, for the sake of this philosophic sweetness, honor,
   virtue, fruit, love and' beauty, which I have not learned of famous
   doctors nor in high schools, and for the sake of filling my soul with
   its living power, I have rather chosen to be the ignorant and unlearned
   fool of the world, that I may be found wise before my God, than to be
   one of the most famous of the world, and at last be found a fool before
   the wise God. And this is my short answer and excuse to his charges and
   bitter upbraidings.

   I say again, that in the simplicity of my heart I wrote the words "
   subtile syllogism," and " sharp cavilings," without, at all, despising
   science, and that I did not mean thereby to despise or curtail any one.
   I praise science when justly used to the glory of God. But above all I
   praise the humble, virtuous science and wisdom which is from above, for
   it will never perish, but in glorious honor remain with all. the pious,
   into eternal life.

   This, now, is the first part of this book, and I would have preferred
   to remain silent upon these things, if they bad not been published to
   embitter some, to hinder the word, and to the affliction of the God
   fearing. But as it is, circumstances have rendered it necessary for me
   to do so. May the beloved Lord grant us his grace. Amen.
     __________________________________________________________________

  OUR CONFESSION.

  PART SECOND.

   THE reason why we do not admit the foundation, doctrine and faith of
   the learned, in regard to the incarnation of the Lord, but refute it
   with the Scriptures and truth, is this: Because we clearly see and
   palpably feel that they deprive us entirely of Christ, the Son of God,
   and point us to an earthly, sinful creature, and a man of the impure
   and sinful flesh of Adam; because their doctrine and pretensions are
   quite inconsistent with the ordinance of God, and also with nature, the
   Scriptures and the properties of the names, father, mother and son, and
   because so many inconsistencies must necessarily be included in Christ,
   as hereditary sin, condemnation, curse and death; because he would be
   half man, if the woman, according to their confession, contributed as
   much to the fruit as does the man; because there would be two
   persons?one divine and one human, which they call two natures or two
   parts; because there would be two sons?one the Son of God without
   mother, and not subject to pain; the other Mary's son without a father,
   and subject to suffering.

   Again, because that if God shall be called a Father of the man, Christ,
   he must be a creating and not a begetting Father of his Son, and Christ
   must not be a born, but a created Son of his Father; because he would
   be the offspring of Adam and his seed, not through the word by which
   all must stand, but through his own flesh, which was subject to
   condemnation and death, with which the word clothes him, and in whom
   (while on earth), it has lived, and because of other gross
   inconsistencies. Therefore I have deemed it necessary, before I proceed
   with the confutation and dissection of the controversy, to propose to
   the reader our faith and confession of Christ the Son of God, according
   to the wholesome, genuine Scriptures, that he may find and understand
   that the Lord Jesus Christ is not an unclean, divided Christ of two
   persons and sons?but an undivided, pure Christ, an only person, yea,
   God's first begotten and only Son. Let him who is of an understanding
   mind, and who fears God, read and judge.

   In the first place I advance the ordinance of God, Gen.l:28; 9:1, to
   which John A'Lasco himself refers me, namely, "Be fruitful and
   multiply," and prove from this same ordinance that the production of
   man is brought about from the seed of man, through the woman, 1 Cor.
   11:11, as will be enlarged upon hereafter.

   To establish this assertion I would first refer to the conception of
   Sarah, when the Lord spake unto Abraham, saying, I will bless thy wife
   Sarah, and she shall bear thee a son; and thou shalt call his name
   Isaac, Gen. 17:19. To understand these words rightly and also Gen. 1,
   the reader should observe that Sarah, as she herself said, was .old and
   it ceased to be with her after the manner of women, Gen. 18:11.
   Nevertheless, through faith, she conceived and brought forth unto
   Abraham a son in her old age.

   This blessing of Sarah, according to my humble understanding, was that
   she was made fruitful by the power of God, according to the promise
   through the faith of Abraham. Behold, thus Isaac was conceived by Sarah
   of the seed of his father, and a son was born unto Abraham, according
   to the ordinance of God, Gen. 1:28; 21:2.

   To this add the proverbs of Philon, of rather of the wise Solomon,
   which reads thus: "I myself also am a mortal man, like to all, and the
   offspring of him that was first made of the earth," &c., Wisdom 7:1.

   Again, the Lord said unto Jacob, "Be fruitful and multiply; a nation,
   and a company of nations shall be of thee; and kings shall come out of
   thy loins," Gen. 35:11.

   Again, Levi was yet in the loins of his father when Melchisedec met
   Abraham, Heb. 7:10. Other clear proofs might also be added.

   I now leave the philosophers to philosophize, and the students of
   nature to argue as much as they please over this matter. God's
   ordinance, the example of Abraham and Sarah; and the abundant testimony
   of the Scriptures are sufficient proof for me on this point.

   Again, I advance the words of the holy angel Gabriel, when he told Mary
   that she should conceive and bring forth a son. " Then said Mary unto
   the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel
   answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and
   the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee; therefore also that
   holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God,"
   Luke 1:34, 3O. Behold, here is the testimony of a true messenger, that
   God the Father is a true Father of our Lord, Christ. I think that God's
   own angel has here reproved the falsehood of those who say that the
   crucified Christ Jesus has had no father.

   Since we find from God's own ordinance and from so many sayings of the
   Scriptures, that a true child takes its origin from the seed of the
   father according to God's ordinance, as has been related; and since we
   are so clearly instructed all through the Scriptures that God the
   Father is the true Father of his Son, Jesus Christ; therefore we say
   that we believe and confess, that the eternal Word of God, which is
   also called the seed, in the Scriptures, came down from heaven, through
   the overshadowing of the divine power, descended into Mary and
   miraculously became, above all human understanding, through the working
   of the Holy Ghost, a true, palpable, passive and mortal but
   imperishable man, according to the immutable will and gracious promise
   of the Almighty and heavenly Father; as John, both in his gospel and
   epistles clearly testifies. A man, I say, like unto us in all things
   except sin. Not, my reader that he came from the unclean seed and flesh
   of Adam, and was, through the power of God, preserved from sin, as the
   learned assert, without the word of God, for that which never knew sin
   is the seed and origin of his flesh, as John says, "The word was made
   flesh," John 1:14. Besides examine the passages of the Scriptures which
   testify that Jesus Christ is God's first born and only begotten Son,
   and you will find how grossly they err who dare say the man Christ has
   no father, as they do.

   Again of Mary, the Lord's mother, we believe and confess that the
   Almighty, eternal God and Father graciously prepared her virgin body,
   as he also did that of the aged Sarah, by the power of his Holy Spirit,
   to receive his precious, eternal Word, through faith, according to the
   promise of the angel, and that this same word became man; and thus
   human?like, as Isaac, was nourished and fed on natural food, as a
   natural fruit, to the certain testimony that he was a true man and no
   phantasm; in due time, he was born into the world, an undivided and
   true Son of God and Mary, as a natural child of its father and mother,
   the carnalis intercursm alone excepted, as the Scriptures testify, Luke
   8:10; 1:27; John 1:14; 1 John 1:2; Heb. 2:14; Phil. 2:7.

   And behold, with such understanding we believe and confess that he is
   the seed of the woman, of the seed of Abraham and David, who was given
   of God the Father unto the whole world, through particular favor and
   grace, for salvation and deliverance, as the highest surety and certain
   testimony of his divine love, through faith, according to the sure word
   of his promise; and that the above mentioned virgin, ordained of God,
   conceived, as above stated, the Savior of the whole world, in Nazareth,
   according to the word of the angel, and was delivered of him at
   Bethlehem, according to the word of the prophets, Luke 7.:31; Micah
   s:2.

   Faithful reader, observe that Matthew and Luke show that Mary was made
   fruitful through the Holy Spirit of God, yet they do not particularly
   point out his genealogy, Mic. g; Luke?1:31. In the meantime some
   sectarians arose in the church, as Cerinthus and Ebion, who, according
   to history, have instituted gross deceptions.

   Finally, John, at the prayer of the bishops of Asia, has written a
   clear account of the origin of Christ. the Son of God, and that not
   alone of his eternal divinity, as the learned say, but also of his holy
   humanity, as may be clearly noticed on all sides, in his writings. And
   he has, in clear and pointed words, written and incontrovertibly shown,
   who and what he has been from eternity, saying, " The word was made
   flesh." He says not; The word was made a man of our, or Mary's flesh,
   and has installed itself therein, as our opponents say. Besides he
   shows us whence he came, what he has taught, and what example he left
   us; what we have received through him, and where he again went to, &c.
   Whosoever, now, rightly believes the testimony of John, of Christ, the
   Son of God, has life everlasting through his name, John 1:14.

   But he who does not believe it, and rejects it, is not of God, and has
   neither Father nor Son, but is an anti?christ and deceiver; and this is
   our humble and plain confession of Christ, God's Son, as has been
   heard, 2 John 7, 8, 9.

   As I now enlarge upon our doctrine, faith and confession, the reader
   should know that the Scriptures show on every hand that God, the
   Almighty Father has created all things through his Word, Jn. 1:1; Ps.
   33:6; that he rules all things, and upholds and maintains all things
   thereby, Col. 1:16, and as it is manifest that Adam was created by this
   same Word, and that he, through his disobedience was condemned, by the
   justice of God, to damnation and death, together with all his
   descendants; and that he of himself and through himself, could not be
   restored again, he being, together with all his seed, corrupted in
   nature, and condemned by the justice of God; therefore the eternal love
   of God, if Adam and his seed were not to remain eternally cursed, had
   to restore Adam and his descendants, by the same Word through which he
   created him, from his deadly fall, condemnation and curse, that to him
   alone be the honor, and that through his Word and Son, Christ Jesus,
   his inexpressibly great love and grace be eternally praised. For if the
   restoration had been brought about by any other means than the word, we
   might reasonably give thanks and praise thereto. Behold, with this; our
   confession, foundation and faith, the whole Scriptures accord, as, by
   the grace of God, you will clearly see from the quoted Scriptures.

   Thus speaks John, " In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was
   with God and the Word was God," "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt
   among us (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of
   the Father), full of grace and truth," John 1:1, 14. This testimony we
   believe to be true; we therefore leave it unbroken, that the whole
   Christ remain, the Son of God; for we see with open eyes that it
   accords, and agrees, as far as regards this subject, with all the
   Scriptures.

   We truly believe and doubt not the least, that the Holy Spirit, which
   seeks to lead us into all truth, did not mean otherwise than he here
   spoke through this faithful, plain fisherman, John. For if the beloved
   messenger of the holy peace had not meant it, as he here writes, his
   writing would not have pacified the churches, which, at that time, were
   very much troubled about this matter; but it would have still more
   estranged them than before, and would have pointed us, poor descendants
   to an obscure and uncertain foundation. Oh no! His testimony is true
   and plain; and will remain so in eternity. The word has become flesh.

   This, our confession, is also authorized by the Lord himself, saying, "
   I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any man eat of
   this bread, he shall live forever; and the bread that I will give is my
   flesh, which I will give for the life of the world," John 6:51.

   Faithful reader, mark the word of your Lord. Christ says, that his
   flesh came from heaven, and the learned say that it descended from
   Adam's flesh. Here they are directly opposite. What now will the
   Godfearing mind do H If he hold to the testimony and word of Christ,
   then he must be the deceiver and heretic of the learned. But if he hold
   to the testimony and word, then he makes Christ a liar. Since we surely
   know that Christ and the learned are so antagonistic, and since we know
   to a certainty, that Christ is the undeceiving truth, and that all men
   are liars, therefore we must not turn from truth to falsehood, but from
   falsehood to truth. Whatsoever the judgment of man may be, God's word
   will remain forever, Ps. 116:,11; Rom. 3:4; Isaiah 40:8; 1 Peter 1:26.

   Perhaps our opponents will here seek an excuse and say, Christ speaks
   of his more honorable part, for his divinity is from heaven, and has
   taken Adam's flesh. I answer: Let them read and believe the word and
   testimony of Christ, and they will find that they explain it according
   to their own inclination, and not according to the sense and truth of
   Christ; for thus he speaks, "I am the living bread which came down from
   heaven." Mark, he says, "Came down from heaven," " and the bread that I
   will give, is my flesh." Mark again, He does not say, It is my
   divinity, but "my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."

   I think that Christ himself, has here sufficiently explained his words,
   and therefore we do not need the explanation and garbling of the
   learned. For Christ and John could not have expressed themselves more
   plainly, in regard to the descending of his holy flesh, than they did
   in the two mentioned Scriptures. Therefore let every one beware how he
   garbles. For whosoever falsifies these dear, fundamental evidences,
   does not falsify the word of a human being but the word of God. Neither
   does he reject us, but the Son of God, together with his Holy Spirit,
   and the exalted apostle John, who have left them behind, and taught
   them in such clear and plain words.

   Christ still farther declares this our confession, saying, "And now, O
   Father, glorify thou me with thine own self, with the glory which I had
   with thee before the world was," John 17:5.

   I think this also is dear evidence that Christ humbled himself, and,
   that he, for our sake, abdicated for a time his divine dominion, right
   and glory. For, although he was Justice and eternal Blessedness, he did
   not refuse to become a sacrifice for sin, and a curse for us, Phil.
   2:7; 1 Cor. 1:29; Gal. 3:13; 2 Cor. G:19.

   Yea, kind reader, if he had remained in his first estate, impassive and
   unchanged, as John A'Lasco and his followers assert; and if he had just
   surrounded himself with a strange tabernacle of Mary's flesh, then he
   would not have lost that which he again desired from his Father, while
   he would have remained, not humbled, but unchanged in his first estate.

   But now it is manifest that the eternal, indescribable and
   inexpressibly glorious word, which from eternity has been with and in
   the Father in eternal glory and clearness, but in an illegible manner,
   has in due time left his glory, for a season, for our service, and
   become a poor, despised, mortal man, and has died a bitter death for
   us. And thus he again desired his first glory, which he had with his
   Father before the world began, and which he had, for a time left, for
   our sakes. This Scripture is too clear to be obscured by acuteness.
   Therefore believe the word of your Lord, trust in truth and you will
   not be deceived.

   This our confession also accords with holy Paul, for he says, "Now that
   he ascended, what is it but that he also descend!, ed first into the
   lower parts of the earth 8 He that descended is the same also that
   ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things," Eph.
   4:9, 10.

   By the side of this plain saying of Paul place also the word and
   testimony of Christ, which he himself testifies in regard to his
   descension. For he says, " No man hath ascended up to heaven, but he
   that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven,"
   John 3:13.

   Ponder diligently upon these words of Paul. For if he spoke these words
   alone in regard to his divinity, and not of his humanity, how would it
   then accord with the testimony of Christ, just mentioned, who says, "
   No man has ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven,
   even the Son of man which is in heaven."

   My reader, remember, Christ here calls himself the son of man, and
   says, "That he came down from heaven." The son of Mary, whom the
   learned say is of her flesh, did not come down from heaven, but must be
   of the flesh of Adam, if the foundation of the learned were right. Oh
   no. But the word came down from heaven, is become flesh or man, in the
   lower parts of the earth, and afterward ascended' up far above all
   heavens where he first was.

   Inasmuch then, as Christ not only speaks in this Scripture passage of
   his divinity, but also of, his humanity (since he says The son of man),
   therefore it is manifest that the man Christ is not originally from
   earth, but from heaven, for according to his eternal divinity, if that
   should have been left thus unchanged, as the learned say, he cannot be
   called the son of man. Again, according to his humanity, he could not
   be in heaven at the time he spoke these words, if he was of Mary's
   flesh and not of heaven. Therefore we must accept these Scriptures as
   regarding the whole Christ, that is, both of his divinity and humanity.
   From which it forcibly follows that the whole Christ Jesus, God and
   man, man and God, is from heaven and not of earth, as also John
   testifies at another place, and says, "He that cometh from above is
   above all; he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the
   earth; he that cometh from heaven is above all," John 3:31. Again,
   Christ says, "I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world;
   again, I leave the world and go to the Father," John 18:28'.

   From these it follows (if we will accept the testimony of Christ, John
   the baptist and Paul, as true) that the Word came down from heaven,
   became flesh in Mary, dwelt among man, fulfilled the Scriptures, again
   ascended and sat down at the right hand of his Father, and is adored by
   all the angels of God. Mark, reader, how the one Scripture exactly fits
   the other, and ? how exactly Christ, John and Paul agree. Sure and
   immutable stands the testimony, that the Word is become flesh.

   Paul still further explains our confession, and says, "The first man is
   of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the
   earthy, such are they also that are earthy; and; as is the heavenly,
   such are they also that are heavenly," 1 Cor. 16:4'7. Reader observe.
   Although Paul properly speaks of the resurrection of the dead, and of
   its future clearness, yet he testifies by this same Scripture, the
   coming again, and the difference between the first and the second Adam,
   when he says, " The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man
   is the Lord from heaven." For, as the first man, Adam, is called earthy
   on account of his being of the earth; so, also, the second man, Christ,
   is called heavenly because he is from heaven.

   If any one should contradict this and say, That Christ here is called
   heavenly on account of his divinity, you should know that Paul rebukes
   them with these significant words: The second man, he says "The second
   man is the Lord from heaven." I cannot see how the great witness could
   express himself more plainly. And since he is, then, such a heavenly
   Being, and, be, sides, since he is again glorified of God his heavenly
   Father, with his eternal glory which he had before the beginning of the
   world, with God, therefore the holy apostle also calls all his true
   members, after the resurrection, heavenly. Not that they are from
   heaven, as Christ is from heaven, but because, by grace, through the
   power of God, in the resurrection, they will partake of the heavenly
   glory and of the nature of the angels, as Christ says, " The glory
   which thou gavest me, I have given them" (his disciples), John 1'7:22.

   Again, Paul says; "Our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we
   look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who shall change our vile
   body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according
   to the working, whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto
   himself," Phil. 3:20, 21. Read also what Christ says of such, Luke 20;
   1 John 3.

   For this reason Paul calls them heavenly and says, "As we have borne
   the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly,"
   "For this corruptible must put on incorruption and this mortal must put
   on immortality;" " Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in
   the kingdom of their Father" and as the stars of heaven in brightness
   forever; yea, when we shall be like unto the Lord, and shall see him
   face to face, as he is, 1 Cor. 1s:49; Matt. 13:43; 1 Cor. 13:12.

   Again, at another place the Scriptures say of Christ, I am the First
   and the Last, and the living One, and I was dead, and behold, I live
   from eternity to eternity Rev. 1:8; Isa. 41:4; 44:6. In this instance
   the Holy Spirit brings forward another indissoluble testimony, at which
   all sharp disputers and famous masters of this world are made ashamed.
   If they want to pervert this clear and plain Scripture according to
   their own notion, by their deceitful reasoning, as they do the
   Scriptures of John 1:14, and all the Scriptures, then they should know
   that we do not follow and believe the sophistry of man, but the?word of
   the Lord. If they leave it undisturbed, then their cause is already
   lost, for the Holy Spirit testifies that the First and the Last, and
   the living One, died.

   That Mary's flesh was not the first and the last all intelligent
   persons must admit. If then the man Christ had been of Mary's flesh, as
   the learned say it is, which neither is nor can be the first and last,
   and if it had thus died, then the Spirit of God, which is the Spirit of
   truth, would not have spoken rightly. Yea, neither Christ himself, who
   says, "I am the First and Last," was dead, and behold I am alive.

   I would further say, That if the man Christ Jesus was a natural
   offspring of Mary, and if the eternal Word only lived therein, as our
   opponents say it did, and if this same man died, and the Word remained
   unchanged, then Mary's flesh must be the First and Last; this is too
   plain to be denied.

   Since it is evident that Mary's flesh neither is nor can be the First
   and Last, as has been heard, and since it is true, according to the
   testimony of the Holy Spirit, that the First and Last has died,
   therefore I conclude therefrom that the explanation of our opponents,
   by which they point us to Mary's flesh, is deceitful and false, and
   that the learned are badly mistaken when they say that the Son of God
   remained unchanged,?and that the son of Mary died. I say again, the
   word stands immutable, " The Word is become flesh."

   Again, with this our confession, foundation and belief, all the.
   prophets who have spoken of Christ, the Son of God, through the Holy
   Spirit, agree. Micah says, "But thou Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be
   little among the thousands of Judah, yet of thee shall he come forth
   unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been
   from of old, from everlasting," Micah G:2. Observe, Isaiah says,
   "Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his
   name Immanuel," which signifies God with us, Is. 7:14; Matt. 1:23.

   He further says, " Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and
   the government shall be upon his shoulders, and his name shall be
   called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The everlasting Father,
   The Prince of Peace," Isa. 9:6.

   At another place he says, " Say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your
   God." Again, Jeremiah says, "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord,
   that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign
   and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In
   his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely; and this
   is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS,"
   Jer. 23:6, 6.

   My reader, observe, Since the descension of this Prince has thus been
   from eternity, as has been related, and his name is called, by the
   Spirit of the Lord, Immanuel, The Mighty God, The everlasting Father,
   Our Righteousness, &c.; and since the prophets describe him with such
   significant words, as also the apostles, whence, who, and what he is;
   therefore I conclude therefrom that the man, Christ Jesus, is not of
   unclean, sinful flesh, but of the unspotted, pure seed and word of God,
   his Father, as John says, " The word is become flesh." This, then, is
   our proper faith and confession of Christ, the Son of God, namely: That
   we are all created in Adam our father through the ineffable word, and
   that we, in the same Adam, have become of a sinful nature and subject
   to death; that we also, by means of this eternal, ineffable word, and
   not by means of the sinful flesh of Adam, are graciously accepted of
   God and mercifully called unto life everlasting, as Christ says, that "
   God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
   whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting
   life," Ps. 33:6; Rom. 5:12; 1 Cor. 15:3; John 3:16.

   All Scriptures force us that we dare not divide Christ, the Son of God,
   after the pretensions of the learned; but to confess him as being
   entirely the true Son of the true and living God. The angel testified
   of Christ, the Son of Mary, saying, "That holy thing which shall be
   born of thee, shall be called the Son of God," Luke 1:35.

   Again, the Father testified, "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well
   pleased," Matt. 17:5; Luke 9:35.

   Again, John the Baptist says, "He that sent me to baptize with water,
   the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending
   and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy
   Ghost; and I saw it and bare record that this is the Son of God," John
   1:33.

   Again, "Nathaniel saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God. thou
   art the King of Israel," John 1:49.

   Again, when Jesus asked his disciples, "Whom say ye that I am? Peter
   answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God,"
   Matt. 16:15, 16.

   Again, Martha said, "I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of
   God, which should come into the world," John 11:27.

   Again, the disciples, together with the others said, Verily, thou art
   the Son of God.

   Again, Christ said to the blind man, "Dost thou believe on the Son of
   God? He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on
   him; and Jeans said unto him, Thou hast both seen him and it is he that
   talketh with thee," John 9:37.

   Again, when the centurion, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the
   Ghost, he said, " Truly, this man was the Son of God," Mark 15:39.

   Again, Saul was with the disciples at Damascus, and preached Christ in
   the synagogues, that he is the Son of God, Acts 9:20.

   Again, John says, "We have seen and do testify that the Father sent the
   Son to be the Savior of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus
   is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God," 1 John 4:9.
   Besides many other clear passages.

   Inasmuch as the Scriptures so abundantly testify that also the man
   Christ is the Son of God, therefore it is manifest that M. M. and those
   of his mind, do fearfully err when they say, " The man Christ was not
   the Son of God; he had no Father; but there are two sons in Christ?the
   one the Son of God without mother, and impassive?and the other the son
   of mankind, or the son of Mary without father, and he passive," &c. I
   think this may be called rejecting the Son of God, in the face of all
   these plain Scriptures, and pointing us to a divided Christ, yea, to an
   unclean, sinful flesh and creature, guilty of death, whom the
   Scriptures never knew and still less taught. , O detestibilem
   blasphemiam (O detestable blasphemy).

   !!!All who can be convinced rightly to believe that the word did not
   take unto itself a man of Mary's flesh, but that, according to the
   testimony of John, it is become flesh, have a true understanding of
   Christ. They will not argue per Synecdocken, de parte ad totuwm, neqw
   de toto ad partem. They will not point to the worthiest part in Christ,
   nor to the communication or communion of the names; neither will they
   unite two persons and sons in one person and son, as our opponents do,
   but they will leave the Scriptures ungarbled in their place, and
   acknowledge with John the Baptist, John 1:15; with Matthew 18:16; with
   Martha, John 11:27; and with the whole Scriptures, that Christ Jesus is
   God's first?begotten and only Son; an only and undivided Christ, God
   and man, man and God, an only person and Son, who, in his flesh, has
   fulfilled the handwriting of the law for us, as we could not, in our
   flesh, on account of our weakness; and is, at last, judged and
   condemned, as an innocent, spotless Lamb, to die on the cross for our
   sins and guilt.

   Behold, this is our foundation, faith and confession of the most holy
   incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Mary; on
   account of which, alas, we are so much upbraided by our opponents, and
   have to pass for deceivers and heretics; and that for the reason, I
   say, because we teach and testify with the Scriptures that the Lord,
   Christ Jesus, is God's own and true Son, as has been heard.

   Well, since it is so with them they must run their course; we cannot
   prevent it until they are met by the angel of the Lord, and rebuked by
   the ass, Num. 22; 2 Peter 2. They had, however, better beware, lest
   they stumble too hard on the Rock of offense, Isaiah 8:14; Rom. g:33.
   The time to give an account will soon arrive. As for me, I care not how
   they judge me.

   I trust to find my consolation in the Lord who has taken me by the
   right hand, and who knows all my desires, intentions anddoings. He will
   execute our cause to his honor; for he knows that we do not desire to
   seek our praise, but his own. Therefore he will protect his own honor.
   It might doubtlessly happen that through their writing and slandering
   against us, and through their manifestly erring doctrine, in regard to
   Christ the Son of God, it might be made manifest to some that they are
   doubly what they would like to make us. May the great God grant them
   grace, Amen.
     __________________________________________________________________

  THE CONFUTATION,

  PART THIRD.

   BEFORE I proceed to the confutation of the arguments of our opponents,
   I would first faithfully admonish the kind reader that he do not
   mistake the shining clearness of the eternal God?head, through his high
   soaring genius, and not have the audacity to undertake to fathom this
   ineffable profundity?lest he, when he thinks that he has fathomed it,
   at once dazzle his eyes and suddenly fall down the precipice. For it is
   manifest that many smart and acute genii have been mistaken and made
   fools of themselves by their high?soaring intellect.

   The Tritheists held and taught that there were three Gods.

   Arius divided the second as being the least of the first substances.

   Macedonius said that the third being, namely: The Holy Ghost, was no
   God; but a servant of God and the Son.

   Etius and Eunomius taught that the Father, Son and Holy Ghost were
   different things or beings.

   The Origenists held that the Son could not see the Father, and the Holy
   Ghost could not see the Son.

   Maziminus feared that the Father was a part of God, and each person was
   one?third of the trinity.

   The Metangismonites said that the second person was in the first, as a
   small vessel in a larger.

   The Allogians said that John uttered a falsehood when he said that God
   was the Word; because they could not comprehend the mystery of the
   Word.

   The Monarchians as also the Prageans and Victorians said that the
   Almighty Father was Jesus Christ, and that he had placed himself at his
   right hand.

   The Sabellians made the person and the names of Christ and of the
   Father, one; and are called Patripassiants; for they believed that the
   Father had suffered. Behold thus, those save who undertake to search
   things incomprehensible, and who want to soar higher than the
   Scriptures teach.

   Again Erasmus Roterod says, The Word was God. It was Almighty, out of
   the Almighty, with the Father, not brought forth for that time, but for
   all time. Thus proceeding from the paternal heart, and never leaving
   it. He further says, That the Father has begotten unto himself, the Son
   like unto himself in every respect; from eternity, to eternity. Again
   he says in suo ecclesiaste, Christ is the word of God, Almighty, which,
   without beginning and without end, ever comforth from the heart of the
   Father.

   Martin Luther says, The word is that which God speaks in himself, and
   which remains in him and is never separated from him. We do not
   controvert the testimony of Erasmus and of Luther; but we cited them
   for the reason that it might be observed what diversity of opinion
   exists.

   Philip Mel. says, The word is begotten in thought, and is called the
   image of God, for that which is thought is the image of the thing
   thought of. Say, beloved reader, who dare build his conscience upon
   such foundation and reasoning

   Again, some councils resolved that there were three persons in the
   Trinity, that is, three real substances, and these same were Homusii,
   that is, of the same nature (co?essential); both of these, namely, the
   persons and their natures have been suspected.

   Behold, thus they follow their own opinions and inclinations, build
   upon vapor and wind, look at each other, and not at the word of the
   Lord, confuse the simple minds who are not versed in the Scriptures,
   proclaim their opinions and not the word; and whoever cannot agree with
   and follow them, is called a deceiver and heretic, by them; therefore I
   pray you, for Jesus' sake, not to climb higher in this ineffable
   Majesty than you have steps, and not to search farther than the word of
   the Lord has taught, while many a piercing eye has been, and is yet
   daily dazzled by this adulation. For you can understand as little of
   the unspeakable beauty and conception, how, and in what manner it was
   brought about from eternity, as you can form an idea of the
   indescribable Father himself.

   Therefore let not the opinion and flattery of the learned be the
   foundation upon which you build your faith; but let the undeceiving,
   plain word of God and the testimony of holy John be a sure foundation
   whereon to build your faith.

   He says, " In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
   and the Word was God," "All things were made by him; and without him
   was not any thing made that was made," John 1:1, 3.

   This same Word, which was from the beginning and which, in the course
   of time became flesh, is called by Paul the Son, Christ Jesus, and the
   first begotten of all creatures, Col. 1:15.

   Yea, dear reader, if the learned had left unbroken the testimony of
   John which he spoke of his eternal divinity; and if they had inclined
   their intellects to the word of God, there would never have been such
   dark confusion in the world, in regard to Christ, the Son of God.

   Therefore I advise you in faithful love, take heed and beware; for the
   testimony of John is too clear to be obscured by flattery, and too
   strong to be broken by philosophy. Whosoever would rather drink the
   precious, clear wine of divine truth, than the impure waters of human
   adulation, let him hold to the word of the Lord, and let him abandon
   the unscriptural, destructive explanations, garblings, opinions and
   ideas of the learned:

   This is sufficient of the eternal and ineffable divinity of Christ.
   Now, by the grace of !i God, we will proceed, and maintain by the power
   of the Scriptures, that those abominably err, who say, The word is not
   become flesh, but it has taken unto itself our flesh or a man of our
   flesh, as will be briefly and clearly shown in the following:

   In the first place John A' Lasco writes, and says, "Divine justice
   requires that that which we broke, through our flesh, included in
   Adam's loins, should be punished in the same flesh. Or, as some say,
   that the nature which inflicted sin, should be punished for such sin,
   and that that which incurred death should also destroy it."

   Answer. Since he and his followers would uphold their cause with the
   justice of God, and pretend to say that the inflictor and institutor
   should suffer punishment, then they should, by right, not use the words
   "our flesh and nature," but "Adam aid Eve," in their writings (for they
   were the first inflictors and institutors), and not the flesh and
   nature of their descendants, as may be openly seen, Gen. 3:6.

   The nature of man was first created pure and good; but was corrupted
   through Adam's disobedience. And as he was thus corrupted in his
   nature, so all his children were born corrupted; nevertheless, the
   children were not the inflictors and institators, but Adam and Eve
   were. If the justice of God, then, requires the punishment of the
   inflicter and institutor, it would be but right, according to justice
   that not any of the children should be punished; for they were not the
   first that disobeyed; but Adam and Eve should receive the punishment,
   fog they were the first that transgressed.

   O, no, Adam? and all his seed could not be justified, through the
   weakness of his flesh. They were guilty above measure, and had not a
   penny wherewith to pay, but it was liquidated for Christ's sake, who;
   through his eternal love and mercy (as Adam and his could not be
   justified in themselves), appearing in the shape and form of sinful
   man, fulfilled the justice of the Father, and tore to pieces the hand
   writing of the law, and has effaced and paid for all that which Adam
   had inflicted and broken by his transgression, by the sacrifice of his
   precious blood, Rom. 8:3; Eph. 2:15.

   Since they point to the justice of God, 7 deem it necessary to treat on
   this a little further, that the intelligent reader may learn that this
   assertion of theirs is quite powerless, nay, in every respect without
   foundation in the Scripture.

   It is manifest, kind reader, that Adam and Eve, together with their
   descendants tempted by the serpent, fell into condemnation and death,
   by the justice of God, Gen. 3: g: and that nothing can be born of them
   but that which is condemned and guilty of death, Rom. 5:12; 1 Cor. 15.

   Since Adam and all his seed, on account of his disobedience, became
   condemned and guilty of death by the eternal justice of God: and if the
   Lord Christ, according to his holy humanity, were a natural fruit of
   the flesh of Adam, as they pretend, then the man Christ must be again
   condemned and guilty of death, on account of his human birth. This is
   too clear to admit of denial, or else our opponents must take back
   their own argument, and acknowledge that God's justice is not eternal.

   O, no, the flesh of Christ is holy, pure, spotless, knows no sin, makes
   pious and saves, is a true bread of souls, as is the word, which, in
   the latter days, according to the intention and purpose of the Father,
   became a true, passive man, for the salvation and eternal deliverance
   of all; and who died an innocent death for us.

   It avails in no manner that they say that Mary was blessed, and that
   her fruit was saved from sin by the power of God. We confess that Mary
   was blessed, and that the fruit was without sin; but we deny that Mary
   was without sin in consequence of the blessing; for Paul says, " The
   Scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of
   Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe," Gal. 3:22.

   Again, if the man Christ were a flesh of Mary's flesh, then Mary would
   have been blessed through her own flesh; and Adam would have been
   reconciled through his own flesh; the justice of God would have been
   broken, and our condemnation, curse and death be dissolved and requited
   through flesh, condemned, cursed and guilty of death.

   O, no, the Scripture teaches plainly that we have all become sinners in
   Adam, and that we have all, through sin, fallen under the judgment,
   wrath, and condemnation of God, and become subject unto death, Rom.
   5:6; 1 Cor. 15:22. And of Christ it testifies that he is the Lamb
   without spot; that he has not known sin, and in his mouth no guile is
   found. Inasmuch then as it is manifest that the Scripture entirely
   concludes Adam and his descendants in sin, and entirely absolves
   Christ, therefore the discreet and right minded reader may conclude
   therefrom, that the holy man, Christ Jesus, is not of the unclean flesh
   of Adam, but that he is the holy and pure word of God, John 1; and that
   this saying of the learned, that the justice of God requires, &c., is
   not the sure testimony and word of God, but merely human flattery and
   fiction.

   Oh, I wish that our opponents would once ponder what the justice of
   God, in this respect, requires according to the Scripture. I trust they
   would henceforth not hold so strongly to their foundation as they have
   hitherto done; neither would they say that if any one does not accept
   their doctrine he sins against the Holy Ghost; or at least think that
   they might be mistaken.

   In the second place he intimates that we should understand the
   conception of Mary, of which Matthew and Luke speak, as far as regards
   the mother, as is naturally due her, according to the ordinance of God,
   Gen. 1.

   Answer. It is surprising to me that a man as learned as he is, reasons
   so indiscreetly, and dares ascribe the conception of Mary to nature,
   while it is clearly shown all through the Scriptures that the
   conception of Mary was brought about by supernatural causes, a
   particular miracle of the Most High, and a glorious sign of the Lord
   our God; as Isaiah says, "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a
   sign: Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call
   his name immanuel," Isaiah 7:14; Matt. 1:23; Luke 1:31.

   Again, Matthew writes concerning the conception of Mary, thus, "When as
   his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she
   was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph, her husband, being
   a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to
   put her away privily; but while he thought on these things, behold, the
   angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou
   son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife; for that which
   is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a
   son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus; for he shall save his people
   from their sins," Matt. 1:18?21.

   Again the angel said to Mary, " Thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and
   bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus; he shall be great,
   and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give
   unto him the throne of his father David; and he shall reign over the
   house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then
   said Mary unto the angel, "How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?"
   And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come
   upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee;
   therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be
   called the Son of God," Luke 1:31?35.

   From all these it is very evident that the conception of Mary was
   supernatural and a sign and miracle of the Lord; therefore it is all to
   no purpose that the learned philosophize it as being caused by nature,
   for it is irrelevant to the matter.

   And if the conception of Mary were ascribed, in part, to nature, in the
   face of these clear Scriptures, then, still it is apparent from the
   ordinance of God and of nature, that the material, or origin of the
   child is of the Father and not of the mother, as has been sufficiently
   explained above in the confession, and also in my writing against
   Gellius Faber. Therefore these innovations are nothing but philosophy
   and human genius, without Scripture, and not worthy of an answer; but I
   have briefly criticised them, and pray you not to despise my
   references; but let a trial be given before the accusation, lest you
   mistake yourselves, as Sirach says.

   They further advance that the Scripture speaks of the Savior being
   promised of the seed of woman, of Abraham and the fruits of the loins
   of David.

   Answer. In the first place I say that he who deduces from these
   Scriptures that the man Christ was flesh of a woman, nay, the natural
   seed of Abraham and David, who all descended from the unclean flesh of
   Adam, must also add the unrighteousness, curse and sin of Adam.

   If they should assert that he was free from the unrighteousness, curse
   and sin of Adam, I again answer: That he was not of the natural seed of
   Adam; for the seed of Adam was unclean, sinful and accursed therefore
   nothing but unclean, sinful and accursed flesh could be begotten
   therefrom; or else the unclean must beget the clean, the sinful the
   holy, and the accursed the blessed; and therefore the hereditary
   uncleanness, curse and condemnation be changed. This is too plain to be
   controverted.

   Yea, reader, if the incarnation of the Lord was, as our opponents say
   it was, then it would be manifest that Christ Jesus was not so pure in
   his incarnation as was Adam in the first creation. For if it is
   asserted, as is true, that Christ was conceived in the virgin Mary,
   then Adam had no other father on earth but God?wherefore he is also
   called a Son of God, by Luke. Yet, Adam would, nevertheless have been
   created of purer nature, and of God; but Christ, if he was of the
   unclean seed of Adam, must be of less clean nature, that is, of an
   unclean, human and earthly seed. This is too clear to be controverted.

   In the second place I say, If the man Christ were a natural fruit and
   seed of the impure, sinful flesh of Adam, then he would also be guilty,
   through the eternal justice of God, of the judgment and death. And if
   he was guilty, how could he redeem and liquidate ours 8 Or else we must
   admit that God's justice was ended; and that the sinful had taken away
   and atoned for the sinful; the condemned for condemnation, and he that
   was guilty of death had taken away death.

   O, no: No unclean animal was permitted to be offered as an offering of
   reconciliation in Israel; but it must be without blemish. And if the
   symbolic had to be entirely. clean and without blemish, how much more
   so should be the true one, whereby the eternal reconciliation is
   brought about??and whereby all symbolic offerings are fulfilled and
   finished, Heb. 9:10; Exodus 12: S; Deut. 16:21; Mal. 1:8.

   In the third place I would say, He who asserts that the man Christ is a
   natural fruit and seed of Adam, Abraham, David and of woman, also
   asserts thereby that there are two persons in Christ, two sons; the
   father is no true father, the mother no true mother, and the son no
   true son, as has been said before.

   In the fourth place I say, If the man Christ was of the flesh and blood
   of Mary, then it is manifest that he was not God's Son, but a created
   creature, since he would not be begotten of the Father, but of the
   flesh and blood of Mary, according to nature, as has been sufficiently
   shown.

   In the fifth place I say, If the man Christ, were of the flesh and
   blood of Mary, as they pretend, then it is very evident that the birth
   of man, according to the ordinance of God, can not be without father
   and mother; and also that a child does not proceed from the mother, but
   of the father; and ii the man Christ came without a father, from the
   body of the mother, against the ordinance of God, then a new creation
   must have taken place in Mary, which creation could not have occurred
   without the Word. If such a creation did occur, then it is manifest
   that the one half or part of Christ must be created by the other;
   Mary's son by God's Son; and that the two, namely, the Creator and the
   creature, thus became one person and Son. Dear reader, observe what
   abominations they advance.

   In the sixth place I say, As all men have both father and mother, and
   as each has his generation?the father and the mother ?so, also, had
   Christ Jesus both father and mother. His Father was an incomprehensible
   Spirit from eternity, and will remain so to eternity; therefore he
   could have no genealogy on the side of the Father; but the mother, who
   was the true daughter of Adam, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, conceived him
   in her virgin womb through the Holy Ghost, by his Father's word; and
   she begat a true man in due time. Her genealogy was counted in the
   Scripture; for when he became incarnate in a human being, he must have
   a genealogy, of which he was born. And this is the word which Paul
   speaks, Born of the seed of David according to the flesh, Gen. 22:18;
   Ps. 132: il; Rom. 1:3; 9:5; Acts 13:23. Not that there were two sons in
   Christ, the one without father, and the other without mother; one the
   Son of God, and the other the son of man, as our opponents pretend. But
   he who was God's Son also was the son of man; and he who was the son of
   man, was also the Son of God. Not two, but an only and undivided Son,
   as the ordinance of God, and the whole Scriptures teach and imply.

   If you cannot understand this, then mark this parable: Charles the
   Fifth is a son of Austria; he is also a son of Spain; not that he is,
   therefore, one of two sons?but he is an only and undivided son. On the
   side of the father he is a son of Austria, and on the side of the
   mother he is a son of Spain. Thus also, is Christ Jesus a Son of God
   and a son of man; the Son of God on the side of his Father, and the son
   of man on the side of his mother. Not one of two sons ?but an only and
   undivided Son. The Son of God and of Mary, as has been shown.

   Again, if you are yet in doubt about the fruit of the loins of David, I
   would first refer you to my "Confession," which I wrote to John A'Lasco
   and his preachers, A. D. 1543, thereby admonishing you, to observe how
   the throne and the Kingdom of David, were promised to Christ, by Isaiah
   and the angel Gabriel; which was, however, not literally fulfilled in
   Christ, but in Solomon, who was a figure and symbol of Christ, as were
   also Isaac, Moses, Aaron, Joshua and Joseph.

   Since the whole Scriptures teach us that his kingdom and throne are not
   literal but spiritual, therefore we must, in the same manner, judge the
   fruit and the king who shall sit upon the throne and reign; or else the
   one word must be understood literally, and the other spiritually. This
   is too plain to be controverted.

   Secondly, observe what Christ asked of the Pharisees in regard to
   Christ the Son of David, and how he answered them, Matt. 22:42.

   Thirdly, observe that if the man Christ were a natural fruit of the
   loins of David, all the insolvable, gross inconsistencies would be
   included in him, which we have partly pointed out above, and upon which
   we will enlarge if God permits.

   Fourthly, observe that all the properties of God are alike perfect in
   him. And therefore his perfect, eternal love and justice require it, as
   Christ says, "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten
   Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have
   everlasting life." Yea, says John, therein God's love appeared that he
   sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we, through him might
   live; for as he adjudged Adam and all his seed unto death, by his
   eternal justice, on account of his disobedience, so, also, has he, on
   account of the obedience of Christ, by his eternal love, promised life
   to all who believe in him; for as his righteous punishment of the sins
   of Adam's descendants who reject Christ, lasts forever, thus also his
   paternal love to forgive sin through Christ, lasts forever to all those
   who believe in Christ, and accept and obey the word of his grace, John
   3:16.

   In the third place, I find that it is said that my foundation is, that
   Christ was begotten of the Holy Ghost.

   Answer. It is very unreasonable that I am ever blamed of things of
   which I am not guilty. In my first "Confession" I have plainly and
   clearly shown in Latin letters that 'l do not believe that Christ was
   conceived in Mary of the Holy Ghost, but through the Holy Ghost. Yet I
   must hear that I teach that Christ was begotten of the Holy Ghost.

   O, dear Lord, how lamentably I am slandered! What else do they against
   me than the Scribes did unto Jeremiah, when they counseled about him,
   and said: Come, and let us devise devices against him, and not regard
   his reasoning, Jer. 18:18. Yea, I think that I am born to turn my ear
   to the slanderer, and my back to the scourger. Nevertheless, I hope, by
   the grace of the Lord, that the time will come when some of them will
   yet awaken and acknowledge, in all humility, with penitent hearts that
   they have not despised me, but the word of God, and that they have
   scorned his Spirit.

   In the fourth place he intimates "That I teach that the Word changes
   itself into human flesh and blood in the womb of the virgin."

   Answer. I presume that it will never be proven by virtue of the truth
   that I have ever, at any place, said or written so; nevertheless they
   dare say and write so of us. I have spoken thereof as the high apostle
   has taught me, that the " Word became flesh." That testimony I leave
   unbroken; and leave it to the Incomprehensible, to him, who, through
   his omnipotent power so arranged it for the salvation of us all, how
   much, and what was changed. Yet, I would, in my simplicity, add (if
   they explain the testimony of John to which I. alluded in unchanged
   letters, and conclude therefrom: Menno teaches, with John, that the
   "Word became flesh," therefore his foundation must be that it was
   changed into flesh, &c.), that they should know that change does not
   always take away the first nature of the substances of which something
   is wrought.

   Adam was a man created of the earth; he was a man of the earth, and
   remained of earth, as the Lord said, "Dust thou art and unto dust shalt
   thou return," Gen. 3:19.

   Again, in the resurrection of the dead, all those who have again
   returned to earth, shall, through the power of God, be resurrected from
   the earth. It is manifest that at first we were earth, afterward we
   became flesh of the earth, again we became earth of the flesh, and
   lastly we became flesh of the earth, out of the first flesh, but in
   glory and brightness, as the Scriptures testify; and thus the first
   substance, al. though changed, of which the thing changed was wrought,
   remains, as has been heard

   Reader, understand me rightly. I do not present this parable for the
   purpose of asserting that the Word was changed into flesh and blood,
   the same as the earth of which Adam was made was changed into human
   flesh, but I have presented it for the purpose of showing to the reader
   that, although if the Word was changed in being incarnated, it yet
   remained the word, John 1:14; 8:23; 1 John 1:2; Rev. 19:13.

   In the fifth place he writes, " The Lord Christ was a Spirit from the
   beginning, unchangeable, holy and eternal. If he, then, was spirit and
   unchangeable, how, then, has he changed his substance or his being, and
   become flesh."

   Answer. If I understand him aright, in Letter E, page five, he says,
   That he has not yet rightly comprehended my meaning of the phrase
   "factum est," f. e. become. If, now, he has not rightly comprehended
   me, then I cannot see why he should blame me of such doctrine, unless
   he cannot understand the testimony of John in any other way,
   notwithstanding his flattery and corruption; as I have merely testified
   to the same thing literally and unchanged.

   Inasmuch as they verbally and in writing blame me of believing in such
   change, from the testimony of John (although they never heard such
   doctrine from my lips, nor read it in my writings), therefore I would
   pray the reader, for Christ's sake, not to blame me of any thing in
   regard to the change of the eternal Word than of what I hereby confess
   and explain in plain words: I believe and confess that there is an
   Almighty, eternal and incomprehensible God, Father, Word, and Holy
   Ghost, who has lived in eternal glory and shall live so forever. And
   that this same Almighty, eternal Father, before all creatures, yea,
   from the beginning and from eternity, begets of himself this his
   Almighty, eternal Word, in a divine and therefore incomprehensible
   manner; and that this, his Almighty, eternal Spirit proceeds or flows
   from him through the Word or Son; but I do not comprehend it.

   I also believe and confess in the same manner, that this Almighty,
   eternal Father, through his Almighty, eternal Word, which is the Son,
   has, in the power of his Almighty, eternal Spirit, created heaven and
   earth with their fullness, and that he, thereby, forever preserves and
   maintains all things created therein and thereby, but I do not
   comprehend it.

   I further believe and confess that all human nature (at the sound of
   the last trump), through the power of the Almighty and everlasting God,
   shall again arise from the earth with a glorified body; and that the
   children of God, who, here on earth, have walked before him in a firm
   faith and in meekness, shall receive the glorious, promised kingdom of
   honor, at the hands of the Lord?that, on the other hand, those who have
   rejected the Lord and his word shall be eternally tormented with
   unquenchable, everlasting fire, with the devil and his angels, under
   the fearful, unbearable judgment of the Almighty and great God; but I
   do not comprehend it.

   Faithful reader, observe, that although I do not comprehend the
   Almighty, only and eternal God in his eternal, divine being, in the
   dominion of his glory, in the creation and preservation of his
   creatures, in the reward of both the good and the evil, and in many of
   his works, yet I do truly believe it, and for this reason: Because the
   Scripture teaches so; in like manner I can not comprehend how, or in
   what manner the incomprehensible, eternal Word became flesh or man in
   Mary; nevertheless I do truly believe that he became man, because the
   Scripture teaches so. I know that it is a work that was done by the
   Lord, and is a miracle before our eyes. Nap, it is such a work that
   intellect cannot fathom, nor accuteness comprehend. Truly it is said,
   Who shall tell of his birth I

   Inasmuch as I clearly find that it is an exalted and incomprehensible
   miracle of the Almighty and great God which the Almighty, eternal
   Father, through the omnipotence of the power of the Holy Ghost, has
   wrought in Mary; and inasmuch as I know how very perilous and
   solicitous it is for one to search into the incomprehensible profundity
   and divine mystery with one's foolish earthly understanding; and to
   garble the plain testimonies of the Holy Ghost, by deceitfulness and
   human smartness Therefore it is that I dare not believe, nor teach more
   nor less of the holy incarnation than the holy prophets of the Lord,
   Christ Jesus, and also John, Peter and Paul, teach me on every hand in
   the Scriptures, with such incontrovertibly clear testimonies; all of
   which are surer and wiser witnesses to me than all the learned who have
   been, are, or shall ever be on earth; although, I repeat it, I cannot
   comprehend the ineffable mystery, with my dull, earthly understanding.
   Sirach says, Inquire not into the things which you cannot bear; and
   that which is too great or too exalted for you do not search.

   Again, as to the saying of Malachi, "For I am the Lord, I change not,"
   Mal. 3:6, and to the question of John A' Lasco, "If He is eternal how
   could He die?"

   Answer. Malachi does, not here speak of God's substance or being, but
   of his intention, counsel, resolution and will. From which I confess
   that God's intention, counsel, will, purpose, promise and love are
   eternal and unchangeable and must come to pass as he will and has
   resolved upon in his wisdom.

   Inasmuch as it is manifest that the Almighty, eternal and unchangeable
   Father rules, and does all things according to his eternal,
   unchangeable intention, counsel, will and purpose, and as he had,
   through his eternal, unchangeable love, provided his eternal holy Word,
   or Son, that he, according to his firm and unchangeable intention,
   should become the Paschal lamb, as Peter says, Therefore this must
   happen that the Word, in due time, became flesh, although we cannot
   comprehend it; for it was the gracious intention, counsel, resolution,
   providence and will of his Almighty and everlasting Word which will
   forever stand firm, and which, according to the prophetic word, can
   never be changed, as has been heard.

   Behold, honorable reader, this is my reply to the three questions: If
   he is a Spirit how could he become flesh? Is he God, how could he
   change I and if he is Eternal how could he die? as I, before my God,
   believe and confess. I trust, by the grace of God, to remain firmly
   therein unto death.

   I have not counseled with nature and my intellect in this respect, but
   with the word of the Lord, which is the true light to my feet, which
   shows me in plain words that the conqueror, the promised seed of woman
   from the loins of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah and of David, born
   according to the flesh, who is the Blessing, Messiah, Christ, King and
   Savior of all the world, is not of unclean, sinful flesh, but of the
   pure seed of his heavenly Father; the word of God conceived of the Holy
   Ghost, in the virgin Mary, and in her became flesh, as John says.
   Christ himself also says that he is from above, that he is the bread
   from heaven, and that he went forth from the Father, John 16. And Paul
   says that he is the Lord of heaven; descended from above; that he is
   the Alpha and Omega; our Immanuel, 1 Cor. 16; Eph. 4:10; Rev. 1:8; Isa.
   7:14. And, besides, as I plainly see that our opponents dare not
   advance these and such plain Scriptures, but garble them by their
   intellect with many exceptions and flatterings; therefore I repeat it,
   that I turn away from intellect and nature, bind my faith and
   conscience to the word of the Lord, and truly and firmly believe and
   trust, that this great miracle of God was thus produced in Mary;
   although I cannot comprehend it.

   Behold, kind reader, whosoever testifies or writes any thing else of
   me, in regard to the change of the eternal Word, but that which I
   hereby confess, is a liar and does not testify to the truth. The
   testimony to which I 'refer is firm and binding:. "The word is become
   flesh." But how far it was changed he knows who in his eternal love has
   so arranged it for the salvation and everlasting deliverance of us all,
   through his Omnipotence. Praise be to God forever, Amen.

   Here I will perhaps be asked, if then, the Father is not of divine
   nature 8 and whence has Christ derived his humanity? To this I answer:
   From whence came the abundance of water which flowed from the hard
   rock? The rock was no water nor watery substance. Was it not produced
   by the omnipotence of God, to whom nothing is impossible, above all
   human understanding and comprehension

   Again, how did a virgin conceive otherwise than through the power of
   God, and the operation of the Holy Spirit, above the comprehension of
   all philosophers I Nay, above the comprehension of Mary herself, for
   she said, "How shall this be, seeing I know not a man $ and the angel
   answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and
   the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee; therefore also that
   holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God."
   He does not say, that holy thing which shall come from thy flesh and
   blood, as say our opponents.

   If they should further say, that if the Word became flesh, and did not
   take unto itself our flesh, then it did not remain God's Word; as when
   Lot's wife became a pillar of salt, she did no longer remain man or
   woman; and when the water became wine it did no longer remain water. I
   would reply: The Scripture says that Lot's wife became a pillar of
   salt, and that the water became wine. This the Scripture says, and
   therefore it is also true. But the Scripture says not that Lot's
   housewife took unto herself a pillar of salt, and that water took unto
   itself wine. In the same manner the Scriptures also testify that the
   Word became flesh; but does not testify, that the Word took unto
   himself our flesh.

   I would further say, that if some Scriptures could be produced to prove
   that "becoming" is taking unto one's self; or that two persons and sons
   of different natures and minds can be one person and son; or that there
   was a true Son from the beginning who had not both father and mother;
   or that a son can be his father's son, who is not of the father's seed,
   then we might ponder upon their foundation a little further. But since
   they never produce such Scriptures, neither are they able to produce
   them; and since the Scriptures testify that Jesus Christ is the Son of
   God, therefore the testimony of John remains firm and immutable: "The
   Word is become flesh," however much philosophers may dispute this.

   Lastly I would say, That if the Word did not become flesh, but only
   took unto himself a man of Mary's flesh, as our opponents assert, and
   if the same was used as an instrument to suffer for us, then it is
   manifest that Jesus Christ, a Son of his Father in truth (as John calls
   him), did not come in the flesh (corporatus as Castalion says), for
   were he to suffer himself, and not another in his stead, then he must
   come in the flesh, otherwise he could not have suffered. This is too
   clear to be contradicted. All those who deny this, are deceivers and
   anti?christs, 2 John 1:7.

   He further writes, "If he is holy why was he condemned for the sake of
   sin in the judgment of the Father?" At another place he also writes:
   "Christ partook of no other flesh than that which was subject to sin
   and death, that he might be tempted."

   Answer. If we are to understand his words as they read, then Christ,
   together with his holy flesh was subject to sin and death; this is
   incontrovertible. For he says, If he is holy why was he then condemned
   for sin under the judgment of the Father. Just as if he, was unholy,
   and guilty of death under the judgment, and deserving of the wrath and
   punishment of God. But this must be so too if we are to assert that the
   flesh of Christ was of Mary's flesh. Therefore it is manifest from his
   words that the sin by which he was tempted dwelt in his flesh; and that
   thus he did not die, out of grace for us, but as one guilty, for
   himself. For the wages of sin is death.

   O, dear Lord, If the poor Menno was to speak of the Son of God thus
   blasphemously, and were to include him in sin, O, what an unpleasant,
   bitter song would be sung about him! But whatever the learned dream and
   philosophize, must be accepted as right and good.

   This, then, is my short reply to his words just cited, namely: Isaiah
   and Peter testify of him that he did not know sin, and that guile was
   not found in his mouth. Yea, dear reader, he was holy before his
   incarnation, holy in his incarnation, and will remain holy forever. For
   it was needful, that we should have such a high priest, who is holy,
   innocent and spotless, and who became higher than the heavens; for if
   he were not innnocent and holy, he could not have requited for our sins
   and guilt, but must have suffered for his own imperfections and guilt.
   But now the Scriptures testify that he was braised for our iniquities
   and was stricken for our transgression, Is. 63: G, 8.

   In the sixth place he writes and says, "The comparison of the words of
   Paul, The form of pod and the form of a servant, teaches us that by
   which (plod is known to be God, and nothing else, than the immeasurable
   power and the brightness of his light and glory to which none can
   aspire; that we must also understand it as that by which a servant is
   known to be a servant, and that it is nothing else but our human flesh,
   and that through the disobedience of our first parents it was forfeited
   under the servitude of sin; nevertheless he writes that .we must so
   understand it that he took upon himself our flesh, but not the
   servitude .thereof," Hac ille.

   Answer. Here I will leave the reader to choose whether to explain this
   form of a servant as having reference to a servile form, or, as John
   A'Lasco thinks, to a sinful form. If it has reference to a servile, and
   not to a sinful form, then it does not support the assertion that the
   Word has taken unto himself our flesh. But if it is explained, as John
   A'Lasco explains it, as having reference to a sinful, and not to a
   servile condition, then it must necessarily follow that that is also in
   Christ, on account of which we are called servants, namely, on account
   of sin, or else the adduced antithetical form is not in place and can
   not stand, as you will hereafter, by the grace of God, clearly hear and
   see.

   I deny that I misinterpreted the Latin phrase Bxinanivit semetipsum, as
   John A'Lasco accuses me of doing; although at one place 1 ?wrote, ,He
   has humbled himself, I trust I have not written it wrongly. At another
   place I wrote, The Son, the Word, was humbled, went beneath himself;
   was made lower than the angels. But nowhere have I written that he went
   out from himself, as John A'Lasco wrongfully accuses me. I will leave
   it to the judgment of all grammarians whether or not I have written
   correctly.

   I think Christ has greatly humbled himself, since he is the Almighty,
   eternal Word, Wisdom and Power of God, and became such a poor, weak,
   despised man. He also went much beneath himself, since he was in divine
   form and became such a despised servant. Yea, reader, that Paul here
   speaks (Phil. 2:7, 8), of the servile and not of the sinful condition,
   we may well deduce from the following Scriptures. "Behold," says
   Isaiah, "my servant, whom I uphold; mine Elect, in whom my soul
   delighteth," Is. 42:1. Matthew is my witness that the prophet speaks
   this of Christ; and therefore is he called the servant of his Father,
   because he has performed the work and service of his Father here on
   earth, for us poor sinners, as he says, "Even as the Son of man came
   not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a
   ransom for many," Matt. 20:28.

   Therefore, I repeat it. Paul here speaks of the servile and not of the
   sinful condition which Christ took upon himself for our salvation. For
   if he here spoke of the sinful and not of the servile condition, then
   Christ must also have assumed the form of a servant, that is sin; else
   the phrase The form of a servant, and The form of God could not exist
   together. For as the phrase form of God testifies to his true divinity,
   so also, the form of a servant must testify to his true servile form;
   or it must follow from the argument of John A'Lasco, that, although
   Christ wag in divine form, yet he lacked the divinity, the same as he
   had the form of a servant but the servility, i. e. sin he had not.

   O, no, it is not so. He was in God?form, and was therein truly God;
   thus he also took upon himself the form of a true servant, and was
   therein a true servant; as may be deduced from Isaiah, Matthew and the
   words of Christ. And in this sense the antithesis, the form of Clod and
   the form of a servant, exists, and does not require the exception which
   John A'Lasco here made. And this is the proper cause and reason why
   Paul wrote to the Philippians about this, that they should not be
   contentious one with another, nor seek their own vain, carnal honor, or
   any thing selfish, but that they should, after the example of Christ,
   humble themselves one towards another, and walk in love; for although
   Christ was in the form of God, yea "equal with God, but made himself of
   no reputation and took upon him the form of a servant," and not the
   exalted form of a mighty emperor or king. He came to minister unto us
   and not to be ministered unto, Matt. 20:28. Yea, " He was in all points
   tempted like as we are yet without sin," Heb. 4:15. He sought not his
   own but that which was ours; and for our sakes "became obedient unto
   death, even the death of the cross," Phil. 2:8. Thus the assertion of
   John A'Lasco, that the Word took unto himself our flesh or a man of our
   flesh, remains unproven.

   But his point that while Christ was here upon earth he still was also
   in heaven, that his face shone as the sun, that his raiment was white
   as the light, that he healed the sick, raised the dead, and by his word
   remitted sin, which power alone belongs to God, does not prove that he
   received his holy flesh from our sinful flesh; but it rather proves
   that he still remained God and his word, notwithstanding he, for a
   time, so humbled himself and went beneath his divine splendor,
   attributes, right and glory, for our sakes. Whosoever sincerely fears
   God, let him consider and judge, Matt. 17:2; Luke 7:21.

   In the seventh place he asserts it as his foundation that the Word did
   not become flesh, but that he took unto himself our flesh of Mary, and
   confirms this with the Scripture Reb. 2:14; which reads thus,
   "Forasmuch then as the children 'are partakers of flesh and blood, he
   also himself likewise took part of the same," and says, "° The word was
   made flesh;" not that he has in any manner changed his first estate, or
   form, but he has taken unto himself our flesh and has therewith covered
   his divinity while here upon earth.

   Answer. All those who desire a scriptural and correct understanding of
   the Scriptures quoted, and also of Christ, the Son of God, should well
   observe that God, the Almighty, eternal Father, the true Creator, who
   wills and works, is the only source of all good; and that he ineffably
   before all creatures, begat of himself his Almighty, eternal and
   ineffable Word, and has, through the same created all things, . and
   thereby governs, maintains and preserves them; and that he in his
   eternal justice, love, and in all his attributes, together with his
   ineffable Word and Holy Spirit, is an eternal and perfect God, and
   beside him there is none other; and that he is eternal and unchangeable
   in his counsel, purpose, will and conclusion, as was said before, Mal.
   3:6

   And, that this Almighty, eternal Father, through his Almighty, eternal
   Word, in the power of his Almighty, eternal Spirit, has, according to
   his divine purpose, counsel, will and conclusion, created Adam and Eve,
   the parents of us all, as righteous, good and pure creatures, unto
   eternal life, nay, after his own image and likeness, as the Scriptures
   testify; that he gave unto them the command of life and death, that
   they might fear, love, praise, thank and serve him, and live according
   to his will, Gen. 1.

   Behold, this is the Creator that created Adam and Eve; it also shows
   through what he created them, how and for what purpose he created them;
   what he permitted and what he forbid them to do; what he promised them
   if they obeyed him, and what he threatened if they should disobey him;
   and thus the glory of God began to shine, Ps. 33:5; John 1:10.

   In this piety, holiness and righteousness, Adam and Eve remained so
   long as they did not deviate from the counsel, word, will and command
   of God, in which all things have, and must have their being. But man
   was left in the hands of his counsel, Sirach 15:14. But through the old
   serpent, the cunning reptile and envier of the honor of God, and all
   good, caused the glorious, noble creature of life to be led from the
   favor and grace of his Creator into condemnation and death, and
   obscured the glory of God. He began with Eve, the weaker vessel, to
   tempt her with the desires of her appetite; for the woman saw, says
   Moses, that the tree was good for food and pleasant to the eyes. He
   falsified the word of the Lord, and said, " Ye shall not surely die,"
   and made glorious promises, saying, "In the day ye eat thereof then
   your eyes shall be opened; and ye shall be as Gods, knowing good and
   evil."

   Adam and Eve disobeyed the command of their God and Creator, by which
   alone they must live; believed the promise of the serpent; ate, and
   through the justice of God, fell into the threatened curse,
   condemnation end death, and thus the deceiving serpent established the
   kingdom of hell and of death. There, now lay the miserable, accursed
   Adam and his wife, Eve, in the power of the devil, poisoned "from the
   sole of the foot even unto the head," both within and without, with his
   impure, deadly venom, and became subject unto sin and death. According
   to the justice of God, there was now no way of escape, for Adam and all
   his descendants; for the word of life was rejected; the holy command of
   God was transgressed, the venom of the serpent was taken. Alas, all was
   lost to them I Their eyes were opened, the shame was acknowledged, the
   gnawing worm was in the disobedient, self?accusing ?conscience; there
   was nothing but shaking and trembling, sighing and remorse. They fled
   before the face of the Lord and knew not where to hide from his wrath;
   for the justice of God pointed to the word, " For in the day that thou
   eatest thereof thou shalt surely die."

   Here the counsel, purpose, will and conclusion of the Almighty, eternal
   God were unchanged. He would make manifest his glory and have a man
   after his own image and likeness.

   Inasmuch as this was resolved upon and provided for with God, as has
   been said; and as with poor Adam, all was lost, as also with all his
   descendants, for at heart he was full of venom and abashed before his .
   God, therefore should the unchangeable, will, counsel and resolution of
   the unchangeable God be executed, there must be another who was like
   the corrupted Adam before his fall; for upon such a man, God's will had
   resolved; and with Adam all was lost.

   Therefore the ineffable, eternal Word, by which Adam and Eve were
   created, by which all things are and must forever remain; the Almighty
   power and wisdom of God, must become man, that he might bruise the head
   of the deceiving serpent, for the salvation of the condemned Adam and
   all his descendants; that temptation might be overcome; that the holy
   and unchangeable will of the Father might be fulfilled; that the
   dominion and power of the devil might be destroyed; and that he might,
   by his willing obedience and spotless offering, discharge and put away
   the guilt and deserved death of Adam, by his innocent death.

   Behold, this joyous gospel, and these glad tidings of the divine grace,
   which God declared to the poor, afflicted and fugitive, Adam. He
   accepted them through faith; consoled himself therewith, and sincerely
   rejoiced in his grace, Gen. 3:15; 22:18; Jer. 23:6; Luke 1:28.

   And this is the Messiah who, I say, was promised Adam, of a woman, the
   salvation of all the world; promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; the
   glorious Branch, Rod, Plant and Fruit of David, symbolized in Solomon,
   the natural fruit of his loins; who shall sit on his throne and reign
   in Israel forever. All who believe on him shall receive the mercy,
   grace and peace of God; but whosoever does not believe on him, on him
   remaineth the wrath of God, John 3:36.

   From all this it follows that as Adam was created, in the beginning and
   we in him, through the Word, he and also we are again quickened of God
   through this same Word, and accepted in grace. John says, "In the
   beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God; and the Word was
   God; the same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by
   him, and without him was not any thing made that was made," &c. "And
   the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory,
   the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and
   truth." Behold, in such plain words testifies the Spirit of God, that
   both the creation and the restoration of Adam and his seed, was brought
   about by no other means than through the Word, as has been heard, Matt.
   3:11; John 1; Col. 1:10.

   And to the? better explanation of this, and also to learn to understand
   rightly how entirely sinful, impure, poisoned, powerless, and as
   nothing we all have become in Adam, I would point you, with Paul, to
   the law and the Scriptures; ?they will depict to you the impure,
   powerless nature and sinfulness of our flesh so plainly, that you are
   forced to acknowledge that the holy, glorious and spotless Messiah,
   through whom we all are pacified and reconciled with God, could not be
   of such impure, sinful and accursed seed and flesh as the learned teach
   us, and pretend with their philosophic reasoning, without the
   Scriptures.

   Thus speaks Moses, Thou shalt not covet, or thou shalt not desire.
   Reader, observe: In these few words is properly represented the first
   righteousness in which Adam was created in the beginning; and which is
   yet claimed of God according to his righteousness, by his descendants.
   Ponder diligently on these words of Moses and examine yourself closely,
   before your God, who tries the hearts and reins, whether or not you
   sometimes do not, against the law, find such forbidden lusts in your
   flesh.

   If you imagine yourself free from these, you convert God into a liar, 1
   John 1:10; and thereby you also shame all the Hghteous of God, who were
   from the beginning; for they have all unanimously complained of their
   evil?disposed, wicked flesh, and have, alas, too unanimously shown it
   in their fruits. The Scriptures testify that I speak the truth,

   Yea, reader, if any man, born of the sinful flesh of Adam, had
   completely fulfilled the law, then for such the commanded yearly
   sin?offering, which was offered by the high priest in the Holy of
   Holies, was useless and fruitless. Neither would it have been necessary
   for the Son of the Most high, the eternal word of God to become man;
   for such 'a person could have done all this and fulfilled the required
   righteousness. But as it was, there was neither prophet nor any man of
   God, born of Adam, so holy, or so pious, but who had to console himself
   with the promise of God in regard to Christ, also symbolized in the
   offering, and with the divine grace, through faith.

   But if you find that you do not as the law requires, but that you. are
   not alone ever fought by the lusts which dwelt in your flesh, but that
   you are also often involuntarily conquered thereby, then you must
   acknowledge that you are already condemned to death by the law of
   righteousness. For the law says, "Cursed be he that confirmeth not all
   the words of this law to do them; and all the people shall say, Amen,"
   Deut. 27:26.

   Behold, kind reader, if you would rightly know and acknowledge how
   miserable, naked, powerless, impotent, unclean, sinful and poisoned all
   of Adam's seed is become in him, through his transgression, and how his
   seed is fallen, through the just righteousness of God, into his wrath,
   judgment, curse, condemnation and death, then, I say, search the law
   diligently; for it points out to you, First, the obedience to God and
   righteousness required of you; and also the weakness of your sinful
   flesh, your impure and evil disposed nature; and that you are already
   condemned to death, according to the rigor of the above mentioned
   righteousness, since you, through your inherent, weak nature and evil
   disposed flesh, do not walk in the required righteousness as God has
   commanded and required of you in his law, as you will clearly notice by
   your own unction if you but rightly observe.

   Inasmuch as Adam and his seed are se entirely corrupted; as by nature
   he was created pure and clean, and became wholly impure and evil
   disposed, and thus fell in the righteous judgment of God; and since
   every thing is involved in sin; therefore, if this venom was to be
   weakened in its power: if the corrupted nature of Adam was to be
   delivered from the curse and judgment o1 sin; if the righteousness of
   God was to be appeased; if the power of the devil was to be disturbed;
   if curse, wrath, condemnation and death were to be taken away; if the
   hand writing of the law, which required such righteousness of Adam's
   children, was to be broken to pieces; if the eternal providence,
   counsel, will and determination of God were to be fulfilled; if his
   kingdom and glory were to be acknowledged; and if there was to be such
   a man as the counsel, will, and determination of God required, as has
   been heard; then the everlasting love of God would require that there
   should be another man, who, conquering the devil, should disturb his
   power, fulfill the righteousness of God, promulgate his glory, make a
   clean sacrifice, and who should thus, out of love and compassion, be
   innocently accursed and condemned to death; not of Adam, but for the
   everlasting salvation of Adam and his seed; that thus the corrupted and
   condemned Adam, together with his corrupt and condemned seed, should be
   again accepted in grace, through his name, and be again delivered from
   their great fall, Gal. 3; Gen. 3:17; Luke 11:21; John 14:30; Col. 1:14.

   It could not, I repeat it, be a man of Adam's flesh; for the corrupted
   flesh of Adam could not beget fruit which could fulfill this, while it
   was so thoroughly corrupted and condemned before God; but it must be a
   man who was free from the deserved curse, condemnation and death of
   Adam, and also from all his venom, sin and unrighteousness, as has been
   sufficiently heard.

   Observe, my faithful reader, and here learn to know your God in his
   grace and love. For although the whole Scriptures conclude Adam and
   Eve, together with all their descendants, entirely under the sin,
   curse, condemnation and death, according to justice, yet it does not
   leave in hell the solicitous, afflicted conscience, which has been so
   far taught and directed by the law, that it feels its wounds and
   stripes, and acknowledges that it is deserving of eternal death and
   condemnation; but the Scriptures show in consoling words and symbols,
   where and of whom to get the healing medicine, namely: of Christ Jesus.
   For it is he, who with all his righteousness, merit, cross, blood and
   death, was graciously given of God our heavenly Father to the fallen
   and condemned Adam and his posterity, for their eternal salvation and
   reconciliation.

   I think this may well be called a joyous gospel, and glad tidings to
   all afflicted and lamenting souls, who having become subject to sin and
   death under the law, so fearfully tremble at the righteous judgment and
   wrath of God, that the Almighty, eternal God and Father has so loved us
   miserable, trifling and condemned sinners who are so far estranged from
   him and,, according to his righteous judgment, are deserving of eternal
   death, that he sent into this miserable world, his Almighty, eternal
   and ineffable Word, his only, eternal and beloved Son, the brightness
   of his glory; and who was like unto Adam before the fall, as a proof
   and means of his divine grace; and that this One has, through his
   perfect righteousness, willing obedience and innocent death, led us
   from the kingdom and dominion of the devil into the kingdom of his
   divine grace and eternal peace.

   Inasmuch as the 'Scriptures pronounce the first Adam and all his seed
   to be such an impure, sinful, accursed and condemned Adam, and
   pronounce Christ, the second Adam, free from all impurity, sin, curse
   and condemnation, therefore the impartial reader may well deduce
   therefrom that such a precious, glorious fruit could not be plucked
   from an elder or thorn bush; but should be begotten from some other
   source, namely: from him who is the only cause and eternal source of
   all good things, as has been said.

   That the holy and saving flesh of Christ was not of the sinful and
   condemned flesh of Adam may be plainly observed from the following
   passages and figures of the Holy Scripture.

   Isaiah says, "All we like sheep, have gone astray; we have turned every
   one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us
   all. He hath done violence to no one; neither was any deceit in his
   mouth. , Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him," Isa. 53:6, 9, 10.

   I must pay, says the Psalmist, in the person of Christ that which I had
   not taken. He "bare our sins in his own body on the tree," and by his
   stripes we were healed, 1 Pet. 2:24.

   For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might
   be made the righteousness of God in him," 2 Cor. 5:21. Again, we are
   all sinners and come short of the glory of God; but are made righteous,
   without merit, by his grace, through the deliverance which is in
   Christ.

   Again, The Scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by
   faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe," Gal. 3:22.

   Ye know, says John, that the Son of God "was manifested to take away
   our sins;" and in him is no sin, 1 John 3: S. Read also all these
   Scriptures, Isa. 7:9 and 40; Jer:23; Mica 5; John 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10,
   11, 14, 16, 17; 1 Cor. 15; Acts, 20; Eph. 4; 1 Tim. 3; 1 John 1, 2, 3,
   4, G; Heb. 1, 2, 3, "l; Rev. 1:19.
     __________________________________________________________________

  SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES UPON THE FOREGOING SUBJECT.

   He is the spiritual tree of life in the midst of the paradise of God,
   which is not planted by the hands of man, but of God himself Rev. 2:7;
   all those that shall eat the fruits of this tree, with pure hearts,
   shall live for ever; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of
   the nations, Rev. 22:3.

   He is the spiritual, brazen serpent, sym bolized in the Mosaic serpent,
   Num. 21:9; which was erected for us miserable sinners, by the Father,
   in the wilderness of this world, as a healing sign, which had the
   venomous form of the venomous serpent, yet had not its venomous nature.
   All those who believe on him are delivered from the curse, condemnation
   and death caused by the serpent; but whosoever does not believe on him,
   on him the wrath of God remains, and he must eternally bear and suffer,
   according to God's eternal justice, the threatened curse, death and
   condemnation, John 3:38.

   He is the spiritual mercy seat, which is not, like the ark made of
   Shittim wood, but of fine, pure gold, from which God graciously hears
   us and speaks unto us through his Spirit and word, Ex. 25:10; Rom.
   3:24; Heb. 4:13. He is the spiritual Paschal Lamb, which is without
   spot, and in the sprinkling and sanctification of whose blood the
   chosen Israel of God was ever graciously saved from the destroying
   angel, and from the .wrath of God, in the midst of the cruel, dark
   Egypt of this world, Ex. 12:23; Num. 9:16.

   He is the true bread from heaven, which is not made of natural corn or
   wheat, I mean, of our sinful flesh, but is begotten of the dew of the
   eternal Word, which is the only and true food for our souls, by which
   we shall live forever, if we only eat of him through true faith, Ex.
   16:5; Num. 11:18.

   He is the Rock which was torn from the mountain, without hands, that
   is, without human, assistance, which Nebuchadnezzar saw in a dream; and
   to which Daniel was referred as being the one who should waste and
   destroy the iron, clay, silver and gold; yea, all the kingdoms of this
   world; for he has all power in heaven and upon earth; he is a powerful
   King over all; and to his kingdom there shall be no end, nor pass to
   other people, Dan. 2:44.

   Behold, kind reader, judge from the above mentioned Scriptures and
   figures, if you fear God, if such doctrine is based upon the
   Scriptures, which claims that this righteous, holy, spotless, obedient
   and saving Messiah was born of the unrighteous, sinful, impure,
   disobedient and accursed flesh or seed of Adam, and that it took its
   humanity therefrom. O, no. This pure, clear water, with which all our
   blemishes were to be washed away, could never be drawn from such an
   impure, stagnated pool. Let every body reflect what the word of the
   Lord teaches him.

   Now we will, by the grace of the Lord, enlarge upon the Scriptures of
   Heb. 2, that we may rightly comprehend the foundation and truth
   thereof; and that, too, that our opponents may not boast that we do not
   satisfy them; I would first refer you to the first chapter of Hebrews,
   and have you observe what is said there of Christ.

   In the first place it reads, that "God hath in these last days spoken
   unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom
   also he made the worlds."

   In the second place it reads, that this same Son is "the brightness of
   his glory, and the express image of his person."

   Thirdly, that he has purged our sins by himself.

   Fourthly, that he is the first begotten Son of God, and that all the
   angels shall worship him.

   Fifthly, that he is God, and that his kingdom and throne shall endure
   forever.

   Sixthly, that he laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are
   the work of his hands.

   I think that if you earnestly ponder on these Scriptures and rightly
   observe them, you will soon perceive from whence Christ came, who and
   what he is. For these plain evidences clearly teach that the world was
   made by him; that he is the brightness of the glory of God; that he
   hath purged our sins by himself; that he is the first begotten Son of
   God, that he is God, and that he has laid the foundations of the earth.
   This could not be of Mary's flesh, Gen. 1:1; Ps. 33:6; Eph. 3:9; 1:9;
   Col. 1:1.6; Heb.1:2; Ps. 102:26; 1 John 1:7; Col. 1:15.

   If they should say that these Scriptures are not spoken in regard to
   the Son of Mary, but in regard to the Son of God, then they confess
   thereby a divided Son, two persons, two sons; besides, we are convinced
   by these very Scriptures that they are spoken of the whole Christ; for
   he has spoken with us as a man, and we are also cleansed of our sins
   through his human suffering and death, as the Scripture teaches, 1 John
   1:7; 1 Pet. 1:19.

   But if they should call to their support the sinecdoche, or commonness
   of the names, then I would answer in brief, plain, words, that the
   plain, faithful souls, Peter and John the fishermen, Martha the
   servant, and the plain Nathaniel, knew nothing at all of such satanic
   testimony and human cunning; but they have given praise to the visible
   and tangible Christ, and confessed that he was the Son of God, Matt.
   16:15; Jn. 6:69; 11:27.

   This is still further declared in the second chapter in these words:
   "What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that
   thou visitest him? Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou
   crownedst him with glory and honor," Heb. 2:6, 7.

   Here I would faithfully admonish the faithful reader, to observe that
   both Erasmus and Hieronymus, in their Latin translations, have
   translated this thus: " Thou madest him a little lower than the
   angels;" and the Hebrew Psalm also has it: " Thou madest him inferior
   to God; with praise and honor thou crownedst him," Heb. 2:7; Ps. 8:5.

   This agrees with the word of Paul, where he says, "Who being in the
   form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made
   himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant;"
   Phil. 2:7. At another place he says, "Though he was rich, yet for your
   sakes he became poor," 2 Cor. 8:9. This also agrees with the words of
   Christ, "Now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self, with the
   glory which I had with thee, before the world was," Jn. 17:6. I think
   these plain Scriptures and clear testimonies prove fully that the
   teachings of our opponents are unscriptural and erroneous, when they
   say that the Son of God remained in his first form and estate, and was
   not bruised for our iniquities.

   This same man, who, for our sake, was thus humbled and made less than
   God and the angels, we see is Christ, who for suffering death was
   crowned with praise and honor; for as he, for the purpose of obedience,
   humbled himself to the lowest, for our service, therefore he was again
   exalted to the highest, by the Father. And thus he was innocently put
   to death for the sake of Adam and all his posterity, by the grace of
   God; for Adam and his posterity could not be otherwise delivered from
   the power of death. For it became him, for whom and by whom are all
   things, who has brought many children unto glory, to make the Prince
   and Captain of their salvation perfect through suffering, as both the
   Sanctifier, Christ, and those who are sanctified through him, the
   regenerated, are all of one, that is, of God, Phil. 2:9; Heb. 2:10.

   Thus the sanctified together have one Father with their Sanctifier, as
   John says, "As many as received him, to them gave he power to become
   the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name; which were born
   not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but
   of God;" and therefore our Savior "is not ashamed to call them (the
   sanctified), brethren, saying, I will declare thy name unto my
   brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee,"
   John 1:12; Heb. 2:11, 12. Yea, dear reader, if the flesh of Christ was
   of Adam's flesh, and if we were called his brethren on that account, as
   is the doctrine of the learned, then one brother must beget the other,
   besides, then all the ungodly, yea, whores and knaves, must also be
   Christ's brethren and sisters. This is too plain to be controverted.

   O, no. Who his brethren are, he has himself plainly declared, Matt.
   12:59; Mark 3:35; Luke 8:21. And he not only calls them his brethren,
   but also, his children, and says, "Behold, I and the children which God
   hath given me." They are called his children for the reason that he has
   begotten them unto God his Father, by the word of his grace, through
   the power of his Holy Spirit, in the besprinkling of his precious
   blood. At another place he also calls them his mother, bride, flesh and
   bones; which, according to the flesh, they could not be.

   Yea, dear reader, if he had received his flesh from the flesh of his
   children, as John A'Lasco and his followers claim that he has, then the
   children must have begotten the father. Christ, the new Adam, would say
   to his new Eve: I am flesh of thy flesh?and not: "Thou art flesh of my
   flesh." If you fear God, then reflect and judge, Heb.2:13; Gen. 2: 23.

   As the children partake of flesh and blood, so he, in the same manner
   partook of the same, that he might, through death, take the power from
   him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver those
   who, of necessity, were in servitude all their lives; for he does not
   accept the seed of angels, but of Abraham; therefore he must become
   like unto his brethren in all things.

   Behold, this is the strongest and most important saying wherewith John
   A'Lasco (in regard to this subject), disputes the whole Scriptures,
   divides Christ and makes him into two persons and sons, and, as he
   thinks, joins together his whole work, arguments, sayings and
   flatterings. And this is his proper foundation and meaning: "As the
   children are partakers of flesh and blood, so, also, has the Word, or
   Son of God received or partaken of this flesh and blood from the flesh
   and blood of the children; and has thus vanquished hell, sin, death and
   devil in our flesh, Heb. 2; Phil. 2: 7; Hosea 13: 14; 1 Cor.16: 54;
   Col. 2:15; 2 Tim. 1: 10.

   Inasmuch as he so strenuously insists on the above,; saying, therefore
   have I by adducing so many Scriptures, so enlarged upon the inherent,
   unclean, sinful flesh and nature of the children, and their deserved
   death and condemnation on the one hand, i and the pure, holy flesh and
   nature of Christ, his undeserved death and judgment

   on the other, that the reader might thereby rightly understand and
   comprehend that the Lord Jesus Christ could not be of such unclean
   flesh and seed of the children, nor partake of such a man; for the
   flesh of the children is unclean and sinful, but the flesh of Christ is
   pure and holy.

   Since his pure flesh could not be of the unclean flesh of the children,
   as has been said, and since our opponents so strenuously insist upon
   it, on account of this Scripture, therefore I will diligently examine
   it word for word, and, by the grace of God, I will attach to each word
   its wholesome and right meaning.

   First, observe that the word children has reference to none other than
   those who, above, are called Christ's brethren, namely, those who
   believe in him, and who are born of God by the living power of his
   Spirit and word, as said.

   Secondly, observe what the Scriptural meaning of leaving communion with
   flesh and blood is; that it is not simply having flesh and blood, as
   some have interpreted it; but that it also means, to intermix with
   flesh and blood, and to do the things which are forbidden of God,
   through the lusts of our flesh, Rom. 7: 7; 3: 20.

   Thirdly, observe that since the children of God are partakers of sinful
   flesh and blood and are subject to such human weakness by which they
   involuntarily ever struggle and fail?therefore they must have such a
   High Priest who could have compassion with their human failures; as he
   was tempted in the same manner, although without sin, as said.

   Fourthly, observe that the adverb simiZiter (that is, in the same
   manner), here expresses a true human nature in Christ, it is true, but
   not a natural conception as John A'Lasco claims and argues; for it is
   manifest all through the Scriptures that the conception of Mary was
   supernatural; that it was brought about by the Holy Ghost, through
   faith, as has been shown above.

   Fifthly, observe that the expression "partaking of flesh and blood"
   means nothing else than having flesh and blood; since his children and
   brethren, also have flesh and blood, as Sebastian Castalion, also, has
   rendered it, but with such difference that his flesh was holy and knew
   no sin, and therefore experienced no decay; but the flesh of his
   brethren and children is sinful, and therefore also subject to decay, 1
   Cor. 15:53; 5:4.

   Sixthly, observe that Paul does not at all times use the words
   partaking of flesh cured blood, in the same sense. In one place, 1 Cor.
   9:12, he writes, "If others be partakers of this power over you," that
   is, If others have this power over you; again," He that thresheth in
   hope should be partaker of his hope," that is should receive that which
   he hopes to get. Again in the 10th, 17th and 21st of the same epistle,
   it is used for enjoying.

   Inasmuch as the word partaking has not, every where in Scripture, one
   meaning therefore, wherever it is found, it should not be explained
   otherwise than according to the true nature and meaning of the
   Scriptures, or else the whole Scriptures must be broken ?and garbled
   for the sake of such a word.

   Seventhly, observe that the word eorundem (that is, of the same), has
   reference to the words flesh and blood, but not to the flesh and blood
   of the children, for that is unclean, sinful, guilty and condemned; if
   it had reference to the flesh and blood of the children, as John
   A'Lasco and M. M. claim, and that the Son of God took unto himself a
   perfect man, body and soul, of the flesh of the children, then it is
   incontrovertible that all the following and indissoluble
   inconsistencies must exist:

   In the first place an impure, sinful, accursed, and death?guilty
   Christ, as is the flesh of the children of whom he should have partaken
   his flesh; for wherever the flesh of the children is, there, also, is
   the sin and curse of the children; this cannot be controverted, or else
   justice must have been changed and the curse taken away and ended by
   our own flesh. To which M., in the first conversation I had with him,
   thus replied: " Christ was pure and without sin, and that because Mary
   did not conceive him of the seed of man." I answered: I must
   understand, then, that sin is because of the mixture, which is the
   ordinance of God, and not because of the transgression of Adam. He
   answered: No, it was because of the justice of God that he became of a
   corrupted nature. I asked, how? He answered: "Because God had said,
   That in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." I then
   replied: then God was the cause of the sin of Adam; and the threatened
   death must not only be punishment of sin, but sin itself. I said,
   Martin, do observe what reasoning you bring forward.

   In the second place it follows that .there must be a divided Christ, of
   whom one half must be of heaven and the other half of earth.

   In the third place that there must be two persons in Christ; one divine
   and one human. To which Martin in our second conversation, thus
   replied: "There were not two persons in Christ, but one person; for,
   although the word was one person from eternity, yet it was no person
   which was conceived in Mary." He further said, "Although each human
   being is one person, and although the man, Christ, was one man as any
   other man, yet the man, Christ alone was no person." I am ashamed to
   touch upon such inconsistent things. Paul justly said, abi disputator
   seculi AKjus? "Where is the disputer of this world"

   In the fourth place that there are two Sons in Christ?the Son of God
   without mother, and he impassive; and the son of man without father,
   and he passive; something which M. M., both in our first and also in
   our second conversation, several times openly admitted before us all,
   in plain language. O God, what strange things we hear!

   In the fifth place, that not the first begotten and only Son of God,
   but the fatherless Son of Mary, of the accursed, sinful flesh of Adam,
   died for us?something which is directly contrary to Christ, John, Paul
   and the whole Scriptures.

   In the sixth place, that the eternal offering of reconciliation, once
   offered for the sins of the whole world, was not the spotless Lamb, but
   an unclean, blemished offering which was subject to sin and death, as
   may also be unmistakably deduced from the writings of A'Lasco, John
   3:16; Rom. 8:31.

   In the seventh place, the angel Gabriel, Peter, and the Lord himself,
   acknowledge that the man, Christ Jesus, is the Son of God. Thomas
   acknowledges him as his Lord and God; besides the whole Scriptures
   teach that he is our Advocate, Reconciler, Mediator, High Priest,
   Deliverer and Messiah?and if he is yet to be of the unclean sinful
   flesh and seed of Adam, then it is manifest that a created creature and
   man of the sinful flesh of Adam, is our Messiah, Deliverer,
   Reconciliator, Advocate, High Priest, Yea, Lord and God; something
   which is not alone an abomination and idolatry, but also open blasphemy
   against God.

   ****

   In the tenth place, if the eternal Word, by which every thing was
   created, had partaken of such a, carnal son of the flesh of the
   children, or of Mary, and had thus united himself into one person and
   son, then the Creator and the creature, the Son of God without mother,
   and the sun of Mary without father, must have become one, undivided
   person and son. This is incontrovertible.

   In the eleventh place, if the Word has partaken of such flesh as that
   of Mary, and if it did not become man, then God is not the true Father
   of Christ, Mary no true mother, and Christ no true son of both his
   father and mother; besides, the whole Scriptures are denied which
   testify that Christ is the Son of God.

   I think that all these indissoluble inconsistencies, sufficiently show
   you that John A'Lasco has not given the Scriptural meaning to the word
   eorundem.

   Eighthly, observe why Christ, the Prince of our salvation, became man,
   namely, that he might destroy the prince of death, the devil, by his
   innocent death, and that he might thus deliver and free his poor,
   enslaved, timorous brethren and children from the accusing law, from
   the judgment of sin and the terror of death.

   Ninthly, observe that the passage, "He takes' not on him the nature of
   angels, but he takes' on him the seed of Abraham," should not be
   understood as having any reference to the taking on of human flesh, as
   the learned explain it, but to the partaking of grace, by which we are
   accepted; for he uses the word take in the present tense and angels in
   the plural number, and says, "He takes not on him the nature of angels,
   but he takes on him the seed of Abraham," the children of the promise,

   'Rom. 9:8; the believers, Gal. 3:29; his i brethren and children. He
   accepts them, in grace, to the praise of his Father, Rom. 15:7; prays
   for their failings and weaknesses, Rom. 8:7; Heb. 5:10. For they can
   never be freed from the inherent, impure, wicked nature of their
   sinful?fiesh, in this life.

   Tenthly, observe that a thing which is like unto another, is not
   necessarily the same thing which it resembles; and, therefore it cannot
   be maintained by this passage, "Wherefore in all things it behooved him
   to be made like unto his brethren," that the holy, pure flesh of Christ
   is of the unclean, sinful flesh of Adam.

   Behold, dear reader, if you consider well the explanation of the
   Scripture, ?Heb. 2, and weigh it in the balance of the Scriptures, you
   will very plainly find that this is the meaning of the above mentioned
   Scripture; that although Christ, the Prince of our salvation, has led
   us to his glory, and has thus accepted us as brethren and children in
   faith, yet we are, 'in our first Adamic birth, so poisoned by the
   serpent, and so corrupted by nature, that we can nevermore become free
   of our unclean sinful flesh, so long as we dwell in this tabernacle;
   but oftentimes (although involuntarily) mix and soil ourselves
   therewith; and become, therefore, convinced by the hand writing, that
   we are guilty of death, according to the eternal justice, Rom. 7:7;
   3:20; Col. 2:13.

   Since we are ensnared by such wicked, sinful, disobedient and death
   guilty flesh, as all the pious children of God have, from the
   beginning, dolefully complained of, and could not be entirely freed
   from the inserted sting of the serpent; therefore it is that our
   Prince, Savior, Brother and Father, Christ, in his extremely great
   love, has given himself according to the counsel, purpose, will and
   determination of his everlasting Father, and in accordance partook of
   flesh and blood; not of the flesh of the children, for they are sinful
   and unclean, but as John says, "The Word was made flesh," John 1:14;
   Deut. 32:15; Isa. 64:4; Job 15:14; Ps. 143:2; Gal. 2:17; 3:11; 1 John
   1:3; Heb. 2:14; Phil. 2:7. Yea, a despised, afflicted, tempted and
   mortal man; and is thus voluntarily come forward to battle for his
   associates, sanctified brethren and children; has placed himself
   heroically in their defense, and has abashed the tempter in his
   temptation; vanquished him in his power; taken his stronghold; bruised
   his head; fulfilled and blotted out the hand writing; blotted it out
   with his precious blood; requited our guilty and deserved death by his
   innocent and unmerited death, to the fulfilling of the prophetic word,
   " death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction!"
   and he has thus delivered and freed his chosen, his saints, his
   brethren and children from servitude and the penalty of the law; from
   the judgment of sin, and from the fearful terrors of the threatened
   death in such a manner that their human weaknesses and involuntary
   mistakes, for his sake, will no more be counted against them as sin, if
   they will but walk before him with penitent believing hearts, and will
   steadily cling to his word with positive, assured consciences, Gen.
   49:10; Isa. 2:5; Luke 11:21; Col.. 2:14; Hosea 13:14; Rom. 8:2, 3.

   Behold, thus Christ, the Son of God, has accepted the seed of Abraham
   and liberated it, to the praise of his Father; and .has therefore
   appeared in person, and become, in all things, like unto his poor,
   weak, afflicted brethren in all manner of poverty, misery, affliction,
   need, fear of death and mortality; that he might thus be a
   compassionate, merciful and faithful High Priest to reconcile the sins,
   defects and errors of his saints before God his Father; for, as he has
   walked with them in the same temptation, battle, misery, anxiety and
   fear of death, therefore he can also come to the rescue of all those
   who are tempted of the world, hell, sin, devil and death. This is my
   reply to the construction which John A'Lasco and his class put upon the
   Scripture, Heb. 2. If you fear God then read and judge.

   In the eighth place he explains the testimony of John and says, "The
   Word, the Son of God, commenced being of the seed of David, Rom. 1, of
   the virgin Mary, Matt. 1, flesh, man, Christ, Immanuel," Sic. Again,
   "The Word has accepted our flesh." Again, "The Word, which from the
   beginning alone was God, is become (that is, it commenced being
   together) flesh (that is, man), and has dwelt (that is, it has taken
   its abode) in us (that is, in our flesh) through its participation," as
   Paul says. These are his words in regard to the Scripture John 1.

   O dear reader, what is so clear that it cannot be obscured by human
   intellect, and what so straight that it can not be bent? If he does it
   through a misconception he may yet be corrected; but if he does it for
   other reasons, then it will not be well with his poor soul.

   I am surprised that he dares publish such inconsistent explanations, in
   print, when he well knows that there are to be found so many learned
   theological men. O, dear Lord! How frightful it is to mix God's clear
   wine, and the high testimony of the Holy Spirit with such impure water,
   and thus to corrupt it by earthly wisdom. He has so treated with this
   plain Scripture, that it would have removed all doubt and given me new
   courage, if I had had any doubt of my faith and foundation, which,
   thank God, I have none.

   Inasmuch as he so fearfully belittles the wonderful, glorious work of
   divine grace and love, which the Almighty, eternal Father has so
   graciously shown us poor, miserable sinners, through his eternal Word
   and Son; and as he would rather break the holy word and testimony of
   the Lord, than doubt his own intelligence, therefore I pray every body,
   for God's sake, not to think hard of me, that I, unlearned man, oppose
   this and confute his unscriptural explanations with the clear, plain
   Scriptures and reasoning, and thus lay the foundation of truth.

   I trust that no reasonable and impartial person can, in any way, think
   hard of me, for publicly replying to him, and defending the praise of
   the Lord, since he has publicly written against me and fearfully
   violated the word of God, as I understand it.

   I would undoubtedly have excused him and not have mentioned his name,
   if only he and his followers would leave the Scriptures unbroken, and
   would not so indiscreetly war against the clear, pure truth, both
   verbally and in writing. But my conscience and the word of God
   constrain me to protect the praise of my Lord and my faith.

   I say First, that he, by his explanation, has broken the testimony of
   the Holy Ghost, and adulterated the Scriptures; for he writes, " The
   Word, the Son of God has, of the seed of David, Rom. 1:3, of a woman,
   Gal. 4:4, of the virgin Mary, commenced being flesh, man. In Rom. 1:3,
   it reads, "Made of the seed of David according to the flesh;" Gal. 4,
   born of a woman; and "That which is conceived in her, is of the Holy
   Ghost," Matt. 1:20. Inasmuch as he has not left the Scriptures in their
   natural sense, but has garbled and turned them to his own advantage;
   and, instead of born of and conceived of he writes commenced being,
   therefore he shows thereby clearly that he cannot prove his explanation
   by the Scriptures, but merely decorates it, in semblance, by adducing
   mutilated Scriptures and palms them off as true.

   Secondly, I say that there is not a letter to be found in all the
   Scriptures that the Word accepted our flesh, which he so oftentimes
   writes; or that the divine nature miraculously united itself with our
   human nature; or that the Son of God should have remained unchanged and
   took on him the son of Mary; or that the Son of God should have
   bestowed all his Attributes on the son of man, and that one person was
   made of two, as John Brent says; or that the son of man should be the
   chosen Son of God, as Pomeranus says; or that the Word, the Son, should
   have taken on him a perfect man of the flesh of Mary; or that the blood
   of Mary was concreted in her womb, as the servants of the barbarous
   churches of London say; or that he put on our flesh; or that he should
   have dwelt therein; or that he was flesh of our flesh; or that our
   flesh should sit at the right hand of the Fathertherefore I say that
   they are wrong in all particulars, yea more, that they are
   anathematized. For they are a strange gospel and new doctrine which is
   not derived from the Spirit and word of God, but is invented of flesh
   and blood, Gal. 1:8.

   Thirdly, I say that his explanation is inconsistent in every
   particular. For he says, The word commenced being man, and also, that
   it dwelt in our flesh. If it became man, as it truly did, as the
   testimony of John, when not adulterated, clearly shows?how could it
   then, yet dwell. in the flesh of man? For to commence being a house and
   to dwell in a house, are widely different. This all reasonable people
   must admit.

   Fourthly, I say that this explanation of his is inconsistent in itself.
   For if the word commenced being man, then it did not remain unchanged
   in its first state. But if it remained unchanged, then it did not
   commence being man, but it commenced taking on a man of our flesh and
   thus it commenced to dwell in one of our flesh, let him turn the matter
   as he pleases. Therefore I will not let John A' Lasco be the expounder,
   but will let the faithful and plain John himself explain his own words.
   He writes, " That which was from the beginning, which we have heard,
   which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our
   hands have handled, of the Word of Life, for the life was manifested,
   and we have seen it," 1 John 1:1, 2.

   Inasmuch as his explanation is inconsistent in itself, and is both
   contrary to nature and the Scriptures; and inasmuch as John shows me
   such a plain foundation therefore I will not establish my foundation
   and faith on such uncertain, dark and colored flatterings, but I will
   establish them on the certain, clear and undeceivable testimony of
   John; for I know that his testimony is true, yea, that it is the
   unbroken truth and pure word of God.

   Fifthly, I say that his explanation of the verb habitavit, that is, has
   dwelt, is false, for he says and claims that the Word and our flesh, or
   the son of Mary, taken on by the Word, are one person and one Christ;
   and here he claims that the Word, which is the Son of God, has taken
   its abode in our flesh, and refers to Xenophon. From which one or the
   other must follow, either that Xenophon and his domicil are one being
   and thing, the same as the Son of God and the son of Mary. (understand,
   according to his explanation) are one person and Christ-- or, if
   Xenophon and his domicil are two separate things, as they really are,
   that then, also, the Son of God and the son of Mary, in whom God's Son
   should have dwelt, according to his explanation, are two separate
   persons and Christs; for, the one who dwells in a house and the house
   are two different things, is too self?evident to be denied.

   Further I say, that his explanation of the verb habitavit is not at all
   founded in fact. For the evangelist uses the verb to dwell in the
   perfect tense, and says, Has dwelt; from which it is evident that John
   does not here speak of dwelling in our flesh, but of his dwelling among
   men, as all intelligent translators have rendered it. For if he should
   have spoken it with such a meaning as John A'Lasco explains it, then he
   would have said dwell, in the present tense, or we must acknowledge
   that the word did not dwell in the man Christ longer than while he
   walked here on earth, which to my understanding, would be a gross
   abomination and a great error.

   Sixthly, I say that the explanation can not be maintained in any
   manner; for the whole Scriptures in regard to Christ would contradict
   themselves. There would be two persons and sons in Christ?a sinful and
   death?guilty Messiah?the father no true father, the mother no true
   mother, and the son no true son. The prophets, Gabriel, the angel of
   the Lord, Christ Jesus, John 'and Paul, would all be false witnesses,
   as has been previously heard.

   Lastly, I say as before, that John wrote his gospel and testimony of
   Christ, the Son of God, in a very contentious time. If he had not meant
   just as he wrote, but if he had written it in such a confused and
   strange sense as John A'Lasco explains it?then he would not have abated
   the dispute there by, but would rather have given new energy thereto.

   O no. John has simply, clearly and plainly given his testimony,
   foundation and faith concerning Christ Jesus, the Son of God, and our
   only and eternal Messiah, and has testified, without duplicity, that
   the Word of God, which was from the beginning, became flesh, and that
   this same incarnated Word has dwelt amongst us. But he did not write a
   syllable that he accepted our flesh, or that he dwelt in a man of the
   flesh of Mary, as, alas, John A'Lasco, by his human wisdom obscures his
   simple, plain word and clear testimony, mutilates and controverts it.

   Inasmuch as he, in his defense and explanation, has so frightfully
   broken the Scripture, and has so indiscreetly varied from the truth, as
   you may plainly see from the cited extracts?therefore I felt
   constrained by the pure love to God and your souls, to discover unto
   you his great misunderstanding and gross errors; that the glory of the
   Lord may be maintained and that you may be led to the right, true
   confession of your God and of his beloved Son Jesus Christ.

   But I am grieved to mention his name in such a connection, and that I
   must publish his errors, although he has given me an ill reputation and
   hateful name with many by his writing. I commend him to the Lord.
   Perhaps he thinks that he has thereby done rightly. Whatever I do, I do
   for conscience' sake, to the glory of my Lord and Savior, Christ; for
   his glory I love far more than the honor of all creatures?and him I
   must seek with all my strength, even at the cost of my life.

   I am sure that if John A'Lasco seeks the praise of God more than his
   own; if he loves his neighbor as the Scriptures require, and sincerely
   seeks after truth, he will not be angry with me, but will love and
   thank me, for not excusing him in this regard, but faithfully showing
   him his errors, for maintaining my faith and doctrine according to the
   truth, for warning my fellow?men against corruption, and most of all
   for protecting and defending by the word of my Lord, my Lord's glory
   and great name, as much as is in my power, according to the testimony
   of the Scripture and my conscience. But if it be considered offensive
   in me, as I fear it will be, then I must commend it to the Lord who, in
   his great love, has, to this hour, stood by me in all my needs, with
   his paternal faithfulness, and who has so graciously succored me in all
   my temptations. Behold, dear reader, here you may see how far we differ
   with our opponents in the confession, doctrine and faith of Christ, the
   Son of God. Now judge, if you fear God, which of the two parties has
   the strongest Scriptures and foundation.

   If you would have the Scriptures, which they call contradicting in this
   respect, rightly explained, then you must let go of the foundation of
   our opponents and cling to ours. For it can never, never be explained
   by divine truth in the meaning which they attach to them. For every
   intelligent person who will not wilfully combat the plain truth and
   reject the Holy Spirit, must acknowledge that from their doctrine it
   follows that the Lord, Christ, must be an unclean, sinful, accursed,
   condemned and death guilty Christ: that there are two persons in
   Christ, the one divine, the other human; two sons?the one the Son of
   God without mother, the' other the son of Mary, or the son of man
   without father; not God's first begotten and only, own Son, but the son
   of the unclean flesh of Adam, died for us. Besides, all the prophets,
   Christ, and the apostles must be false witnesses; this is too plain to
   injure by any writing, or dissipate by flattery.

   But whosoever rightly understands our foundation, and confines his
   reasoning within the limits of the word of God?who believes the
   testimony of John, to which he testifies in his first chapter,
   concerning the incarnation, as just and true, and does not injure it;
   who attributes nothing more to Mary, the mother of our Lord, than what
   is attributed to a true mother in Gen. 1, and who leaves God, the
   Father, a true father of his Son, Christ; Mary a true mother, and
   Christ a true Son, both of his Father and mother; to him all the
   Scriptures in this respect are plain. He does not require the flattery
   of any one; for there is not a sentence in all the Scriptures which
   contradict him; he has an undivided, clean and innocent Christ; the Son
   of God, and the son of Mary; an only person, of all of which I trust,
   you have been fully convinced in the foregoing synopsis founded on the
   power of the Scriptures; and which, by the grace of God, you will see
   by the following brief collection of references.

   The eternal Word of God, by which all things were created, John 1;
   which is the First and the Last, Rev. 1:8; which, in due time, in the
   city of Nazareth, according to the providence of God, 1 Pet. 1:20,
   according to the will of God, Eph. 1:4, according to the promise of
   God, Gen. 3:15, through' the Holy Ghost, was conceived in the virgin
   Mary, who knew no man, Luke 1:2'7, 28; Matt. 1; Jn. 1:14. According to
   which flesh conceived in Mary, through the Holy Ghost, of the eternal
   Word of the eternal Father, he, in due time, was born of the seed or
   generation of David, Acts 2:13; Rom. 1:4, of a woman, Gen. 3:15; Gal.
   4:4, of the virgin Mary, Matt. 1:21; Luke 2:21, in Bethlehem, an only
   begotten Son of God, Jn. 3:16; 4:9; 5:13; Rom. 8:32; according to the
   promise and the generation of the mother, also, of Abraham, of David
   and of the seed of the woman, fruit, and son, Gen. 3:15; Matt. 1:21;
   Luke 1:31; a Savior of the world, Luke 2:11; the Lord himself from
   heaven, 1 Cor. 15:47; the bread which came down from heaven, Jn. 6:58;
   Immanuel, Isa. 7A:14; Matt. 1:23; the mighty Prince, Isa. 9:6; our God,
   Isa. 40:9. The Lord Our Righteousness, Jer. 23:6;.33:15.

   Behold, faithful reader, here you have our proper foundation, doctrine
   and confession of Christ, the Son of God; how he is become flesh in
   Mary, and how he came into the world, as we, before our God, believe
   and teach our., brethren. And we would hereby pray and faithfully
   admonish every one, gratefully to accept this noble and precious ~ Son
   of God, with a sincere desire to hear, love, and serve him in gladness
   of heart, and faithfully follow in his footsteps; walk unblamably in
   his word and ways; freely promulgate his honor and praise, glorify his
   holy name, and humbly and obediently bend their hearts before his
   majesty, since the merciful Father has shown us such great love as to
   give us, poor, miserable sinners, his only, eternal and beloved Son;
   for he it is who has victoriously led us poor children, through the
   merits of his precious blood and bitter death, according to the
   gracious resolution, counsel, will and purpose of God, his heavenly
   Father, from the kingdom of hell and from eternal death into the
   glorious kingdom of his divine honor and eternal peace. Eternal praise
   be to his illustrious, wonderful, high and glorious name, Amen.
     __________________________________________________________________

  CONCLUSION.

   CHRIST Says, "This is eternal life, that they might know thee, the only
   true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent," John 17:3. At another
   place he says, "If ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your
   sins," John 8:24. John also says, "Whosoever shall confess that Jesus
   is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God," 1 John 4:16.
   Again, " Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ V
   He is anti?christ, that denieth the the Father and the Son. Whosoever
   denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father," 1 John 2:22, 23.

   O, that our opponents would rightly take to heart these and the like
   Scriptures, and would learn to know who and what the Son of God is, and
   from whence he came, then they might yet be delivered from the chains
   of the deceiver and be led into the light of the true doctrine. But so
   long as they do not confess Christ it will always be wrangling and
   disputation, changing falsehood into truth and truth into falsehood.
   Yea they will be so estranged and blinded that all those who, with the
   angel Gabriel, with the eternal Father, with John the baptist, with
   Peter, Paul, Martha, Christ, and with the whole Scriptures, confess
   Christ Jesus as the true Son of the true and living God, must, alas, be
   called by them, deceivers and heretics. , dear Lord, how long will this
   great abomination continue!

   , that they might yet awaken in time while it is yet to?day, and that
   they could give just praise unto Christ! Could they see their accursed
   hypocrisy, idolatry; the lamentable deceit of the poor and miserable
   people, and the ignorant, reckless life of the wicked world, that they
   could renounce and quit it, what a blessing it would be to their poor
   souls! But I fear that so long as the spiritual Antioch complacently
   stretches the idle life, and Jezebel sets the delicious tables, the
   accursed Moaz will retain his sway; and that the world will not be in
   want of false teachers and deceivers.

   Kind reader, ponder well what I write. I warn you in faithful love,
   watch, look and observe well what you believe and what you uphold; for
   your preachers deceive you. Watch and pray; the day is at hand, yea, at
   hand, that we must all stand before the impartial judgment seat of our
   God, who judges without respect of person, and will reward every one
   according to his works, be he emperor or king, doctor or licentiate,
   rich or poor, man or woman.

   In short, this is my reply to the defence of John A'Lasco. With this I
   will not only appear on earth, before man, but also, in the day of my
   Lord Christ. According to the word of his promise, will I, by his
   grace, appear before the eyes of his majesty.

   If you are of reasonable disposition and not blinded by the spirit of
   the envious partisans, or led away by bitter zeal, then judge between
   us and our opponents; who of us most glorifies Christ Jesus, the Son of
   the true and living God; who has most wholesomely adduced the
   Scriptures; and who has broken and turned them to suit his own
   professions. But beware of judging according to the flesh; but judge in
   purity of heart, even as if before your God, according to truth.

   From my innermost soul I wish you a true and unfeigned faith, a true
   confession of God and Christ, the unction and love of God, a pious,
   penitent, cheerful heart, an unblamable, christian life, and a true
   understanding and a good judgment, Amen.

   OBSERVE: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten
   Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have
   everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn
   the world; but that the world through him might be saved; he that
   believeth on him is not condemned; but he that believeth not is
   condemned already; because he hath not believed in the name of the only
   begotten Son of God," Jn. 3: ig, 17.

   MENNO SIMON. blank page
     __________________________________________________________________

  A

  CONFESSION

  OF THE

  Triune, Eternal and True

  GOD, FATHER, SON, AND HOLY GHOST.

  BY

  MENNO SIMON

  Originally published in the Dutch Language, A.D. 1597. Republished in 1600,
  and 1681.

  "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus
  Christ," 1 Cor. 8:11.

  ELKHART, INDIANA

  PUBLISHED BY JOHN FUNK AND BROTHER.

  1871. blank page
     __________________________________________________________________

  PREFACE.

  Menno Simon wishes all his beloved brethren and sisters in the Lord, grace and
  peace,

  an unbroken, pure and firm faith, unfeigned brotherly love, a sure and living
  hope, and

  a God pleasing, 2unblamable walk, confession and life, from God our heavenly
  Father,

  through his beloved Son, Christ Jesus, in the power of his Holy Ghost, Amen.

   WE know, dear brethren and sisters in Christ Jesus, that we are
   condemned, by the whole world, to water, fire and sword, for the
   testimony of Christ and our consciences; and that we are the spectacle
   of, and regarded as the offscouring of all mankind. Besides, we know
   also that the true Prince of Peace, the blessed Christ Jesus, has
   summoned and taken us into the mansion of peace through the word of
   peace; and that he has given and left his followers such a glorious
   sign by which we shall know them to be his disciples, namely, Love.
   Therefore it is reasonable and christian?like that we, poor, outcast
   bearers of the cross, should be united in the perfect bonds of true
   love, and that we should cling together as the members of one body,
   "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body and made to drink
   into one Spirit," 1 Cor. 12:13. But now we see plainly how the prince
   of darkness, who from the beginning was a murderer, seeks, with all
   diligence, to disturb this same peace in the house of God, to rend this
   bond in twain, and thus to make odious to many the dear gospel of our
   Lord Jesus Christ, our cross and confession, and all the christian
   societies; and thus thoroughly to destroy it, John 8:44. Since his
   acute attacks are so well known to us, therefore it is necessary ever
   to be aware, to repent, to seek each other in true christian love, to
   resuscitate that which has been corrupted, to cure and make healthy
   that which is diseased, with the oil of the divine word; for during the
   last four years, alas, christian love and peace have materially
   decreased with some, on account of much pernicious upbraiding and
   !disputing about the ineffable depths of the divinity of Christ and of
   the Holy Ghost; also, about angels and devils, and about the ban; and
   this has always been the case where such disputes were in sway. May the
   Lord not count it as sin against those who have used the ban. I see
   this plainly, and as I have been troubled not a little by some about
   this matter?and since I naturally hate such upbraiding and disputing,
   for I have these fifteen years never found any use in it, because I
   love peace and unity, which are in conformity with the word of God,
   more than my own life. I trust that I speak no lie, for, because of
   that, my heart is very much troubled, mournful and afflicted, yea, more
   so than I can write.

   Would to God that I could, at the cost of my life?blood, help all
   afflicted consciences and could lead them to God; for I love nothing
   more on earth, nor do I seek any thing, before God, than the glory of
   my Lord Jesus Christ, and the everlasting salvation of my beloved
   brethren. And therefore I have, at the risk of my poor, diseased body,
   placed at your disposal and service my firm faith and confession of the
   eternal, Triune Clod, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, as taken from the
   sure word of Clod; wherewith I will, unwaveringly, live and die before
   my God, and will appear therewith in his grace, at the day of judgment,
   trusting hereby to make pleasant and worthy to many, the noble and
   desirable peace and unity in Christ, and to restore love.

   Brethren, there has been enough of disputing, upbraiding, and complaint
   of one another. I think it is time to discountenance the disturbers of
   the peace, and to cordially seek scriptural peace and unity. But I
   desire no peace outside of Christ. I ardently desire and pray all my
   beloved brethren and sisters in the Lord, to read, hear and understand
   this my admonishing confession, without any partisan bitterness or
   spitefulness towards? God?fearing, pure hearts, as I have written it in
   purity of heart, as before God, in Christ Jesus, without hatred or
   malice. I doubt not but that, if you do this, brethren, I mean the
   unpeaceable and troubled ones, disquiet, dispute and disunion will far
   recede from the peace?mountain of the Lord; and peace, love and unity
   will again install themselves.

   I sincerely desire that it may be so read and taken to heart, that the
   Almighty, eternal Father, with his blessed Son, Christ Jesus, and with
   the Holy Spirit may remain unchanged in their true, divine being; and
   that the afflicted, mournful, wavering consciences may find succor,
   consolation and strength. The beloved Father grant his grace, Amen.
     __________________________________________________________________

  A CONFESSION

  OF THE

  TRIUNE, ETERNAL, AND TRUE GOD, FATHER, SON, AND HOLY GHOST.

   WE believe and confess with the Holy Scriptures, that there is an only,
   eternal and true God, who is a Spirit. One God, who created heaven and
   earth, the sea, and all that is therein. Such a God, whom heaven and
   the heaven of heavens cannot comprehend. Whose throne is heaven and
   earth his footstool; who measures " the waters in the hollow of his
   hand;" who spanneth the heavens; who comprehendeth the dust of the
   earth in a measure, and weigheth the mountains in scales and the hills
   in a balance; who is as high as heaven, deeper than hell, lower than
   earth and broader than the sea; "Who only hath immortality, dwelling in
   the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor
   can see;" who is an Almighty, powerful and an over?ruling King, in the
   heavens above and in the earth beneath; whose strength, hand and power
   none can withstand. A " God of Gods, and a Lord of Lords;" there is
   none like unto him, but he is a mighty, holy, terrible, praiseworthy,
   wonderful, and consuming fire; whose kingdom, power, dominion, majesty
   and glory is eternal, and shall endure forever, and besides this only,
   eternal, living, Almighty over?ruling God and Lord we know no other;
   and since he is a Spirit so great, terrible, and invisible, he is also
   inexpressible, incomprehensible and indescribable, as may be deduced
   and understood from the following Scriptures, Deut; 4:35; 6:4; 7:6;
   10:17; 32:39; Jn. 4:24; 1:18; Gen. 1:1; Ps. 33:6; Col. 1:18; Isa.
   43:11; 44:6; 48:13; 40:12; Job 11:8; 1 Tim. d:16; Eccl. 1:7; Matt.
   11:27; Rev. 17:14; 19:16; Heb. 12:29; 1:8, 10.

   This only, eternal, Omnipotent, ineffable, invisible, inexpressible and
   indescribable God, we believe and confess with the Scriptures, to be
   the eternal, incomprehensible Father, with his eternal,
   incomprehensible Son, and with his eternal, incomprehensible Holy
   Spirit. The Father, we believe and confess to be a true Father, the
   Son, a true Son, and the Holy Spirit, a true Holy Spirit; not carnal
   and comprehensible, but spiritual and incomprehensible, for Christ
   says, "God is a Spirit." Inasmuch as God is such a Spirit, as it is
   written, therefore we also believe and confess of the divine generation
   of the heavenly Father, and of his begotten Son, Christ Jesus
   (brethren, understand my writing well), that they are spiritual and
   incomprehensible, as is also the Father who begat them; for like begets
   like: This is incontrovertible, Matt. 3:17; 28:18, 19; Mark 1:7, 11;
   Luke 3:16; Jn. 14:9; 15:26; 1 Cor. 12:11. And this same
   incomprehensible, inexpressible, spiritual, eternal, divine Being,
   which is begotten of the Father, before every creature, divine and
   incomprehensible, we believe and confess to be Christ Jesus, the first
   and only begotten Son of God. "the first?born of?every creature," the
   eternal Wisdom, the power of God, the everlasting Light, the eternal
   Truth, the everlasting Life, Jn. 14:6, the eternal Word, Jn. 1:1. Do
   not understand this as a literal word; for it is divine and spiritual,
   and not carnal and literal; for a literal word is but a passing breeze,
   comprehended in the letter, beginning and ceasing; and then, Christ
   Jesus, before his incarnation, must have been a literal word. O, no I
   But he is the eternal, wise, Almighty, holy, true, living and
   incomprehensible Word, which in the beginning was with God, and was God
   (mark), by whom all things were made, and without whom not any thing
   was made that was made, and which will endure forever. And therefore he
   says, "Before Abraham was I am" Again John the baptist says, "After me
   cometh one who was before me," John 1:1, 15; 3:36; 8:12; Luke 7:29, 35;
   1 Cor. 1:9; Heb. 1:2. Yea he had this glory of the divine being with
   the Father, before the foundation of the world was laid. He thought it
   not robbery to be equal with God, his Father; therefore, we confess
   with John the Baptist, Nathaniel, Martha, and Peter that he is the Son
   of the living God, Jn. 1; 17; Phil. 2; Matt. 16:16 , Jn. 11:27; 9:37;
   6:69.

   Dearly beloved brethren understand me rightly. He is the eternal
   Wisdom, the sterna: Power. For, as we believe and confess that the
   Father was from eternity and will eternally remain; yea, that he is the
   First and the Last, so we may also freely believe and confess that his
   wisdom, his power, his light, his truth, his life, his Word, Christ
   Jesus, has been eternally with him, in him and by him; yea, that he is
   the Alpha and Omega; or else, we must admit that this begotten,
   incomprehensible, true, divine being, Christ Jesus (whom the fathers
   have called a person), through whom the eternal Father has made all
   things, has had a beginning like a creature; which all true christians
   admit and look upon as a terrible blasphemy, curse and abomination. The
   gracious, beloved Father will ever protect and uphold all his beloved
   children in the right and true confession of his beloved Son Jesus
   Christ.

   Beloved brethren in the Lord, we believe and confess that this same
   eternal, wise, Almighty, holy, true, living and incomprehensible Word,
   Christ Jesus, which in the beginning was with God, and which was God,
   incomprehensible?born of the incomprehensible Father, before every
   creature, is in the fullness of time, become, according to the
   unchangeable purpose and true promise of the Father, a true, visible,
   passive, hungry, thirsty and mortal man, in Mary, the pure virgin,
   through the operation and overshadowing of the Holy Spirit, and is thus
   born of her. Yea, that he was like unto us in all things except sin;
   that he grew up as other men; and at the appointed time was baptized
   and entered upon his ministerial office, the office of grace and love,
   which was enjoined upon him from the Father, and which he obediently
   fulfilled; that he effaced the hand writing, that is, the law, against
   us; and has at last, through the eternal Spirit of his heavenly Father,
   offered himself in this his human flesh, nature tend weakness, in
   which, also, hehas sighed, wept, and prayed unto the Father, has
   sweated water and blood, and thus purified our hearts of the deadly
   works, that we should serve the true and living God; and all who
   believe on him, have received, through him grace, mercy, remission of
   sins, and eternal life; and that, by means of his precious blood which
   he has, in his great love, offered and shed for us poor sinners on the
   cross, according to the good pleasure of the Father, he is thus become
   our only and eternal High Priest, Reconciler, Mercy?seat, Mediator, and
   Advocate, with God his Father. For, as God, the Almighty Father,
   through his Almighty Word, Christ Jesus, had created Adam and Eve, so
   he, also, would again thereby restgre them and make them pious, when
   seducted by the serpent, together with all their descendants?that we
   should give no one the praise of our salvation, neither in heaven nor
   on earth, but to the .only and eternal Father, through Christ Jesus,
   and that through the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit. This is
   sufficient of the incarnation, Matt. 1:16, 25; G:4; Mark 15:37; Luke
   2:7, 40; 22:67; 23:46; Jn. 15:9, 10; 12:13; 11:26; Phil. 2: C, 7; Col.
   2:14, 12; 1:13, 16; Heb. 3:2; Eph. 2:12; 1:7; Rom. 8:32; 3:24,25;
   5:11,12; Isa. 53:12; 1 Pet. 1:19; Rev. 1:8; 2 Cor. S:14.

   Further, beloved brethren, we believe and confess Christ Jesus to be
   the true God with the Father; and this because of the divine glory,
   operation and attributes, which are found in such abundance with him,
   as may be clearly deduced and understood from the following Scriptures.
   Say, beloved I Is it not the only and true God who has made heaven and
   earth, and whose kingdom shall endure forever? Doubtlessly, yes. Paul
   says, "Unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O ?God, is forever and ever;
   a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom. Thou hast
   loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God
   hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness, above thy fellows. And,
   thou, Lord, in the beginning hash laid the foundation of the earth; and
   the heavens are the works of thine hands," Heb. 1:8, 9, 10.

   Is it not the only God, who alone is "King of kings, and Lord of
   lords?" and who reigns in heaven and on earth? Most assuredly. And the
   Spirit speaks in Rev., that Christ is "King of kings and Lord of
   lords." Christ himself says, "All power is given unto me in heaven and
   in earth." Paul says, "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
   of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth,
   and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord," Phil.
   2:10.

   Is it not the only God who saith, "I the Lord, the first and with the
   last; I am he?" Isa. 41:4. And Christ says, "I am Alpha and Omega; the
   beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and
   which is to come; the Almighty." And "Fear not; I am the first and the
   last; I am he that liveth and was dead; and behold, I am alive for
   evermore," Rev. 1:8, 17, 18.

   Is not this the only God who "trieth the hearts and reins?" Without
   doubt it is. Christ saith, "All the churches shall know that I am he
   which searcheth the reins and hearts; and I will give unto every one of
   you according to your works," Rev. 2:23.

   Is it not the only God, whom alone we should serve and worship? Yes.
   Christ says, "That all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the
   Father." Of divine service Paul says, "He that in these things serveth
   Christ, is acceptable to God," and "Let a man so account of us as of
   the ministers of Christ," Rom. 14:18; 1 Cor.4:1.

   Paul was a servant of Christ, as may be generally seen at the
   commencement of all his epistles. Of his worship Luke says, that when
   Christ had ascended to heaven they worshipped him, and returned to
   Jerusalem. Also Stephen, in his last prayer, says, "Lord Jesus, receive
   my spirit." Paul also saith, "Let all the angels of God worship him,"
   also the murderer on the cross, " Lord, remember me when thou comest
   into thy kingdom," Acts 7:68; Heb. 1:6; Luke 23:42; 24:52. Is it not
   the only God which is true; and every man a liar? Oh, yes. The prophet
   says" There was not any deceit in his mouth." Christ himself says, "I
   am the truth," "To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into
   the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth," Ps.116:11; Rom.
   3:4; Isa. 63:9; Jn. 14:6; 18:37.

   Can any one forgive sins and bestow everlasting life except the only
   and eternal God? O, no I Christ says, "Know that the son of man hath
   power on earth to forgive sins;" and, to the sinful woman, " Thy sins
   are forgiven." "I give unto them eternal life," Ps. 103:3; Matt. 9:6;
   Luke 7:48; Jn. 10:28.

   Should we believe in any one but alone on the only God? Not at all. For
   Christ says, "He that believeth on me hath everlasting life." "Ye
   believe in God, believe also in me," Jn. 6:47; 14:1.

   Is it not the only God who is the judge of all the world? who will
   raise the dead and at the last day sit in judgment? Assuredly, yes. And
   Christ says, " For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth
   them, even so the Son quickeneth whom he will." " He was ordained of
   God to be the Judge of quick and dead;" and at his coming he will judge
   and sentence, Jn. 5:21; Acts 10:42; Matt. 26:31?46.

   Behold, .beloved brethren, as the throne of Christ is an eternal
   throne, and as the Scriptures are not ashamed to confess him to be God,
   and also testify that he founded heaven and earth, that he has all
   power in heaven and on earth; that he is the first and last; that he
   searcheth the hearts and reins; whom we should serve and worship; who
   is truth; who forgives sin, and bestows eternal life; in whom we must
   believe, and who at the last day will raise us from the dead and judge
   us, as has been said; so it is incontrovertible that Christ Jesus also
   with his Father, must be the true God; for God gives his glory to none
   other; and these are all glories, powers and attributes which belong to
   no one in heaven nor upon, earth, except alone, the only, eternal, and
   true God; this all taught of God, must fully admit and confess.

   Besides, beloved brethren, we believe and confess Christ Jesus, with
   his heavenly Father, to be truly God; and that because of the plain
   testimony of the holy prophets; evangelists and apostles, as we may
   learn from the following Scriptures, and also from some other texts.
   Isaiah says, " Unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the
   government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called
   Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, the everlasting Father, the
   Prince of peace," Isa. 9:6. Again, " Say unto the cities of Judah,
   Behold your God! Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand, and
   his arm shall rule for him I . Behold, his reward is with him and his
   work before him; he shall feed his flock like a shepherd; he shall
   gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall
   gently lead those that are with young," Isa. 40:9?11. Read also Ezek.
   34:11.

   Jeremiah says, "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will
   raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a king shall reign and
   prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his
   days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely; and this is
   his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGIHTEOUSNESS ,"
   Jer. 23:5, 6; 33:15.

   Micah says, " But thou Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among
   the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me
   that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of
   old, from everlasting," Micah 5:2. Read also Heb. 7:3, 4; Isa. 44:6;
   Rev. 1:8; 22:13. John says, " In the beginning was the Word, and the
   Word was with God, and the Word was God," Jn. 1:1. The Lord said unto
   Thomas, " Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach
   hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side; and be not faithless, but
   believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord, and my God!
   Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast
   believed; blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed,"
   Jn. 20:27 ?29.

   Paul says, "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock,
   over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church
   of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood;" "Whose are the
   fathers, and of whom, as concerning the flesh, Christ came; who is over
   all, God blessed for ever." Again, "God was in Christ, reconciling the
   world unto himself," Acts 20:28; Rom. 9:5; 2 Cor. 5:19. Read also John
   14; Col. 22; 1 Tim. 3. Again, "Who being in the form of God, thought it
   not robbery to be equal with God. But made himself of no reputation,
   and took upon him the form of a servant," Phil. 2:6.

   John says, "We know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an
   understanding, that we may know him that is true; and we are in him
   that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and
   eternal life," 1 Jn. 5:20. Besides, read the whole gospel of John and 1
   Cor. 10:15; Eph. 4; Heb. 1:3; ?'; 11; 12; 13; and you will, by the
   grace of God, find a sure and firm foundation.

   Behold, faithful brethren, here you have the incomprehensible birth of
   Christ, his divine glory, operation and power; and a number of precious
   and plain testimonies of the holy prophets, evangelists and apostles,
   all of whom with an invincible power, testify and point out, with such
   clearness, the true, ineffable divinity of our Lord, Jesus Christ. I am
   convinced and doubt not the least, that a pious, humble, God?fearing
   conscience will herewith be satisfied, and not search into this
   incomprehensible depth any further; and if any one desires to search
   and dispute further, to him I prophesy that he will surely search and
   dispute all his lifetime, and yet never have a settled mind nor a firm
   foundation. Therefore, beloved brethren, be warned. Watch and beware.

   As we have now pointed out and made known our faith and confession of
   the true divinity of Jesus Christ; so we will also, now, by the grace
   of God, set forth in few words, our faith and confession of the Holy
   Ghost. Let the God fearing judge. We believe and confess the Holy Ghost
   to be a true, real, or personal Holy Ghost; and that in a divine
   way?even as the Father is a true Father, and the Son a true Son; which
   Holy Ghost is a mystery to all mankind, incomprehensible, inexpressible
   and indescribable (as we have shown above of the Father and the Son);
   divine with his divine attributes, going forth from the Father through
   the Son, although he ever remains with God and in God, and is never
   separated from the being of the Father and the Son. And the reason that
   we confess him to be such a true and real Holy Spirit, is because we
   are impelled to this by the Scriptures, for he descended upon Christ at
   his baptism in the bodily shape of a dove, and appeared unto the
   apostles as cloven tongues like as of fire; because we are baptized in
   his name as well as in the name of the Father and of the Son; because
   the prophets through him, prophesied, performed miracles and works, had
   dreams and saw visions; for he is a distributer of the gifts of God,
   ljhd that according to his will. Mark well. He moved Zachariah, the Son
   of Barachiah, he moved John the Baptist while yet in his mother's womb,
   and he said to Simeon, "That he should not see death before he had seen
   the Lord's Christ." "The Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and
   Saul." And to Peter, "Behold, three men seek thee." He guides us into
   all truth; he justifies us; he cleanses, sanctifies, pacifies,
   consoles, reproves, cheers and assures us; he testifies to our spirit
   that we are the children of God. This Spirit all receive who believe on
   Christ: Paul admonishes us, not to grieve him. Whosoever sins against
   this Spirit (says Christ), unto him it shall not be forgiven. David
   desired that God might not take from him this Spirit, for all that have
   not this spirit are not of Christ, Acts 2:26; Luke 3:22; John 1:33;
   Acts 2:3; Zach. 7:12; Jude 14; Joel 2:29; 2 Cor. 12:4; Luke 2:25; Acts
   13:2; 10:19; Jn. 14:26; 15:26; Eph. 4:30; Rom. 8:16; Matt. 8:13; Ps.
   51:11; Rom. 8:9. Yea, my brethren, from these plain Scriptures,
   testimonies and references, and a great many other texts which are too
   lengthy to mention, and which may be found in abundance in the
   Scriptures and read, we believe [the [Holy Spirit to be the true,
   essential Holy Spirit of God, who adorns us with his heavenly and
   divine gifts, and through his inspirations, according to the good
   pleasure of the Father, frees us from sin, makes us cheerful, peaceful,
   pious, satisfies our s and minds, and makes them holy in Christ Jesus.
   And thus we believe and confess before God, before his angels, before
   all our brethren, and before all the world, that these three names,
   operations and powers, namely, the Father, Son and Holy Ghost (which
   the fathers called three persons, by which they meant the three, true,
   divine beings) are one incomprehensible, indescribable, Almighty, holy,
   only, eternal and sovereign God, as John says, "There are three that
   bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost; and
   these three are one." Read also Matt. 28:18; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:8; John
   14:16; 15:26; 1 Cor. 12:11. And although they are three, yet in
   Godliness, will, power and operation they are one, and can no more be
   separated from each other than the sun, brightness and warmth; for the
   one cannot exist without the other; yet incomprehensible from the
   incomprehensible Father, even as the brightness and heat of the sun.
   The one must exist with the other, or else the whole divinity is
   denied; for all the Father does and has wrought from the beginning, he
   works through his Son, in the power of his holy and eternal Spirit.
   This Son does not work without the Father and the Holy Spirit. Neither
   doeth the Holy Spirit any thing without the Father, and the Son.
   Therefore the one must remain with the other, or else there must be an
   imperfect God; for if we deny the divinity of Christ, or the true
   existence of the Holy Ghost, then we counterfeit and depict unto
   ourselves a God who is without wisdom, power, light, life, truth, word,
   and without the Holy Spirit.

   Brethren, understand all this in a divine and spiritual sense, and not
   in a human or carnal manner I Then you will be satisfied with the
   plain, clear and simple testimony of the prophets, evangelists and
   apostles, concerning this deep mystery. Let every one see to it with
   fear and trembling, lest he put his hand in the consuming fire.

   Cordially beloved brethren and sisters in Christ Jesus I mark well the
   following: Since the eternal God is such a great and terrible God, as
   you have read; since Christ was thus born of the Father as said, and as
   the attributes of God so richly abound in Christ; and, also, as the
   prophets, evangelists and apostles so strongly declare, preach and
   teach him as God; and as the Scriptures so abundantly teach and testify
   of the Holy Spirit and confess that the eternal Father, with his
   eternal Son and Holy Spirit, in their divine state, power, glory and
   sovereignty are ineffable, inexpressible and incomprehensible, as may
   be plainly understood from the cited Scriptures (for it is' all Spirit
   and God, and therefore beyond human understanding); therefore it is
   that I pray, admonish and desire all my beloved brethren and fellows in
   Christ Jesus, with all that men can pray, not to allow and consent to
   flatterings, innovations nor human explanations, be it by whom it may,
   concerning this incomprehensible majesty; ever fearing, ye who seek
   God, with all your powers, that ye do not, by such high soaring
   thoughts and human conjecture, mistake the ineffable God who makes all
   human wisdom, which is contrary to him, foolishness; lest ye, through
   your vain searching and musing of such unfathomable matters, fall into
   his hands, and be consumed by the fire of his wrath.

   Brethren, I, for myself confess that I would rather die than to
   believe, and teach unto my brethren, a single word or letter concerning
   the Father, Son and Holy Ghost (behold, before God I lie not),
   differing from the express, testifying word of God which so clearly
   points out and teaches through the prophets, evangelists and apostles.

   , my pious, God fearing, faithful brethren I let us all, one with
   another, be thus minded; then the desolated cities may be again
   rebuilt; the strong may remain firm; the wavering be again
   strengthened; and thus peace, love, and unity be again restored. I know
   certainly and truly that if any one wants to go further than we here
   testify and admonish from the word of God, he will fall into error; or
   mount too high, or deviate from side to side; he will miss the right
   course and will act no more intelligently than he who would try to pour
   or confine the river Rhine or Meuse in a quart bottle. But those who
   abide simply and humbly by the word of .God, the testified,
   prophetical, evangelical and apostolical word, and firmly believe it,
   although they, neither do nor can? fully comprehend it, and take heed
   to all human investigation, disputations, flatterings, explanations,
   turning and conjecture in these incomprehensible abysses, will, in all
   temptations, stand firmly, by the grace of God, and walk all their
   lives before their God with penitent and cheerful minds. I sincerely
   wish that all the brethren were of like mind with me in this respect;
   for I have been at enmity with human sophistry and flattery for fifteen
   years, and I am still; I expect to remain so, and, by the help of God,
   to take heed not to offer the blood of the Lord with leaven; but I
   desire, solely, to enter into the sanctuary of God, that is, into his
   holy church, with the unleavened bread of the unalloyed word of God,
   overspread with the oil of the Holy Spirit.

   , brethren I were they all, who are called brethren, thus minded with
   me, how soon then would the sad, afflicted hearts find consolation and
   cheerfulness, and the divided, restless minds unity and peace. , Lord
   Jesus I Have mercy upon thy poor, afflicted sheep, and let every hungry
   and thirsty soul find thy verdant pastures and limpid waters, Amen.

   Beloved brethren and sisters in Christ Jesus I Receive this with the
   same mind with which I have written it to you; read it plainly to all
   the brethren, and understand it in a christian manner; and beware,
   beware, yea, BEWARE of all disputation, discord and division. This I
   desire from my inmost soul, for the Lord's sake. The sincere,
   evangelical peace be with all my beloved brethren and sisters in Christ
   Jesus, Amen.

   MENNO SIMON.

   Sept. 9th, A. D. 1550.
     __________________________________________________________________

  AN

  EXPLANATION

  OF

  Christian Baptism

  !!! IN THE WATER,

  FROM THE WORD OF GOD.

  IN WHAT MANNER IT WAS COMMANDED BY CHRIST JESUS, AND HOW

  IT WAS TAUGHT AND PRACTICED BY HIS HOLY APOSTLES.

  BY

  MENNO SIMON.

  "Fur other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Chnst"
  1 Cor. 3:11.

  ELKHART,, INDIANA:

  PUBLISHED BY JOHN F. FUNK AND BROTHER.

  1871
     __________________________________________________________________

  MENNO SIMON'S SALUTATION.

   READ and consider carefully the words which I speak, ye learned, who
   appear to be distinguished in mind and doctrine above others. I have
   added this my little German work for the celebration of the rite of
   Baptism. For I am not well able to promote this cause in Latin, and if
   able, am unwilling that this, my labor, should perish in the hands of
   the few, but desire that it may become known to every christian and
   yield the greater advantage. That there are, in this work, no
   interpolations of Scripture, nor satires, nor falsehoods, judge for
   yourselves. Moreover I know it is not the spirit of a christian to lead
   in any way deceitfully, especially in an affair so serious. Indeed the
   christian does not know deceit. It becomes the evangelical teacher to
   set before himself nothing except these most illustrious precepts of
   the evangelist?such as faith, charity, patience, life, gentleness,
   peace, mildness, truth, moderation, and finally to so live that no one
   is able with justice to thrust against him any taint of baseness, that
   he may teach not only by word, but also by example, following the
   teachings of Paul who says, "I keep under my body, and bring it into
   subjection; lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I
   myself should be a castaway," 1 Cor. 9:27. And elsewhere, "Having your
   conversation honest among the Gentiles; that, whereas they speak
   against you as evil doers," "they may be ashamed that falsely accuse
   your good conversation in Christ," 1 Pet. 2:12; 3:16. For in the midst
   of these things it behooves one to repress such ignorance and
   stupidities, lest that saying of the Savior be turned against us which
   says, "Cast out first the beam out of thine own eye," Luke 6:42. For
   how can I induce others to become christians when I myself am not a
   christian.

   Read therefore, and if anything be found in this work that has not the
   flavor of evangelical purity and spirit, I am confounded, not you. For
   I have written from a sense of pion s affection, not that I may injure
   any one, but for the benefit of all men. Nevertheless, such are my
   thanks from you for this my kindness toward you, that I know it is not
   enough except I, with my sanctified Leader, having indeed received
   Christ as my reward, endure all evil, ignominy and tortures. No wonder.
   They indeed do not spare me while I seek the truth and declare openly
   the offered sacrifice, when almost all teachers of righteousness, who
   were from the beginning, have yielded to death in the same way. This is
   indeed gratitude, when the world displays its subjection to God. Would
   that in very truth they were christians who persuade themselves that
   they are christians. May grace abound with all the diligent through our
   Lord Jesus Christ, with sincerity.
     __________________________________________________________________

  PREFACE.

   BELOVED readers, in our first publication of the writings concerning
   Baptism, we have, with christian truth, satisfied the desire of every
   pious christian. Yet, there are some light minded, rebellious,
   contentious and carnal persons who, without cause and Scripture, and in
   every respect without the fear of God, teach, write, admonish and cry
   out against us, with partial hearts, saying, "It is heresy and deceit;
   for it is written and taught adverse to the learned, and against the
   doctrine of the holy, christian church." Although I had not intended to
   reply to such perverse, rebellious, disobedient and contentious
   persons, according to the word of the Lord, Matt. 7, but solely to
   write to the humble, meek, God?fearing and penitent. For the wise will
   hear wisdom; will love it and become wiser; but the fool will hear
   folly, praise it, persist and die in it?yet to such contenders and
   gainsayers, who speak so hard against the word of God, I would ask two
   questions; and request them to examine and ponder them well, and return
   a discreet and becoming reply to me. In the first place: What are
   properly heretics and deceivers? Secondly, Who are they that admonish
   and teach against the doctrine of the holy church? If they answer these
   questions fairly, they must themselves pronounce the sentence, that
   with us the Upright truth of Jesus Christ is found and not with them;
   on the contrary, that all manner of heresy, deceit and false doctrine
   are abundantly taught and practiced by them, and not by us. Which of
   the two parties, then, are heretics and imposters, I will leave to the
   judgment of the reader. For hereticus means: one who sorts out, one who
   chooses, one who gleans. Quia heresis Grece ab electione vocatur,
   inquit Beda super acts Apostolor~, one who selects such as will suit
   his own opinion. If these, then, are truly heretics, who, according to
   their own meaning, without Scripture, form themselves a faith, then I
   truly do not know where to find more miserable and more deplorable
   heretics than those who ever combat, upbraid, betray and persecute us,
   poor, scattered and rejected christians, as damnable heretics. For
   there is no worse, br more abominable heresy under heaven than is found
   among our gainsayers and contenders; while they so shamefully change
   and garble the word and the perfect ordinance and institution of our
   beloved Lord Jesus Christ, as to baptize such things which God has
   neither commanded nor ordained to be baptized, namely: The little,
   unconscious children and bells; and do not baptize those whom God has
   commanded to be baptized, namely: Those who believe, while they worship
   and honor a mouthful of bread and a drink of wine as the Son of God;
   while they ascribe to themselves, without the word of God, the power
   over the living and the dead; and while they place ?in Christ's stead a
   sinful man, a child of perdition, whose natural pride, pomp, greed,
   cruelty, uncleanliness and idolatry are beyond description, 2 Thess.
   2:4.

   Truly, I do not know how a worse. heresy could be invented.
   Notwithstanding these miserable men cruelly cry against us, Heretics,
   heretics, drown them, slay and burn them. And this for no other reason
   than that we teach, according to the holy gospel of Jesus Christ, the
   new life, Baptism on the confession of faith, the Supper as
   representing both a holy and unblamable church; because we rebuke all
   false doctrine, idolatry and the accursed carnal life; and point alone
   to the blessed Christ Jesus, and to no other means of salvation,
   neither in heaven nor on earth.

   If this is heresy, beloved reader, then, in deed, the true Being is not
   in Christ; then he is not the true way, the truth, and the life, John
   14:6. Be not frightened by their upbraiding and slandering; for from
   the beginning it has been the case that the unbelieving, hate, slander
   and persecute the believing; the wicked, the good; the unrighteous, the
   righteous; the carnal, the spiritual; the heretics, the christians. It
   was the case with Cain and Abel, Ishmael and Isaac, Esau and Jacob and
   with the false prophets and the true prophets; as Christ Jesus has told
   us before namely: "Ye will be hated of all nations, for my name's
   sake," Matt. 24:9. If they were the true disciples of Christ Jesus as
   they boast themselves to be, they would persecute, betray or murder no
   body for the sake of their faith; but with Christ Jesus; they would
   diligently seek to reclaim that which was lost, Matt. 18:11, if we were
   lost, as they claim. If they were the bride of Christ, they would not
   be spiteful, cruel and blood thirsty, but meek, mild and merciful, yea
   be thus minded as is the good and faithful bridegroom, Christ Jesus.
   But they plainly manifest themselves, by their works, not to be the
   bride of Jesus Christ, but rather to be the bride of him, who, from the
   beginning was a murderer, that is, the devil, Jn. 8:44.

   If they were the body of Christ, they would not crucify and persecute
   any one for the sake of the truth of the Lord, but would themselves,
   with Christ Jesus, and his church, be crucified and persecuted for the
   sake thereof, Matt. 5:11; Jn. 16:1, 2; 2 Tim. 3:12. For the innocent
   ?lamb does not kill, but from the beginning it was killed. Behold, kind
   readers, what miserable, bloody, tyrannical and murderous heretics our
   gainsayers, opponents and persecutors are found to be before God, in
   all their teachings, admonitions, instructions, life and tyranny. But
   this they do not acknowledge. For it would not do to acknowledge this.
   If they did, how could they then crucify and persecute the chosen
   children of God, the children of the kingdom and promise, the brethren
   and sisters of Jesus Christ, the angels of peace, and the children of
   the eternal, imperishable life.

   But now their minds are so obscured, their eyes are so bedimmed, their
   ears are so closed up that they cannot understand; for their evil?doing
   and wickedness have obscured and blinded them. The table of the divine
   word is to them " a snare, and a trap, and a stumbling block, and a
   recompense," Rom. 11:9. . The righteous judgment and awful wrath is
   come upon them, because they so industriously seek falsehood, and so
   obstinately combat and reject the lovely truth of Jesus Christ.

   Christ Jesus says, "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after
   righteousness; for they shall be filled," Matt. 5:6. But these hunger
   and thirst after unrighteousness, with which they, according to Paul,
   are abundantly filled, 2 Thess. 2:12.

   Christ Jesus says, "Every one that asketh receiveth; and he that
   seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened," Luke
   11:9. But these seek diligently, night and day, not after the right
   way, but after the wrong; hoping yet to find something, either in the
   word or in our lives, which may be so twisted, bent or applied as to
   trample upon and nullify, the right, evangelical truth, even as if the
   eternal Truth, the blessed Jesus had spoken and taught with two
   tongues; and if they can find any errors in our walk, as there often
   are (for we are all of the sinful, failing flesh of Adam); then the
   evangelical truth is all deceit, as if we had no help from God but only
   human aid. Inasmuch as they so assiduously seek after unrighteousness
   and delight in falsehood, therefore God smites them with such great
   blindness that they can neither comprehend nor judge of the teachings
   of God; yet they desire to clothe their cause, however shameful it is,
   in the garment of the Scriptures, that they may, under this scriptural,
   holy appearance, the better deceive the foolish, ignorant populace that
   desire to be deceived and seduced. And thus they remain, both teacher
   and disciple, in the service of their perishable flesh which they have
   chosen as their God, Phil. 3:18; Rom. 16:17.

   Again, kind reader, they cry and foam with rage against us, saying that
   we write against all the doctors, and also against the teachings of the
   holy christian church.

   I affectionately and freely admit and ac knowledge that we write
   against the greater part of the doctors or the learned men, For
   whenever or wherever they write, admonish and teach contrary to the
   word, ordinances, statutes and institutions of Jesus Christ, we do not
   consider their famous names and have nothing to do with their human
   philosophy. But if they teach rightly we do not contradict nor write
   against them.

   I trust, by the most merciful grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that the
   oldest, most pious, most upright, truest and most able doctors of the
   church of Jesus Christ, who were long before all other doctors, are
   received and believed by me and my beloved brethren, in every word and
   doctrine. These are, Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, David, Christ Jesus,
   Matthew, Mark, Luke, 'John, Paul, Peter, James and Jude. If any body
   can show me a word in all my writing that I have taught or written
   contrary . to the doctrine of these doctors, then I am willing to be
   abashed, instructed and taught better; but I trust that it can never be
   truthfully done. If I should write and teach against these pious,
   unblamable doctors, then my writing and teaching would be against the
   teachings and admonitions of the christian body, community or holy
   church.

   I acknowledge and know well that I admonish, teach, instruct and write
   contrary to the instructions and teachings of some communities and
   churches, in regard to some articles, such as the Papists, Dztherans;
   and the corrupted sects; but not contrary to the teachings of the holy,
   christian church. May the merciful Father, whose divine will I
   industriously seek to obey, save me from teaching, instructing and
   writing contrary to the doctrine of the holy church; for else woe would
   be unto my soul forever.

   Lest you be ensnared by the word holy church, you shall learn and know
   from the word of God that the holy, christian church is no collection
   of unbelievers, carnal or willful sinners; notwithstanding they falsely
   claim to be of Christ Jesus, and think themselves to be the true,
   christian church. No, kind readers, no. They are not all Abraham's seed
   who are born of Abraham, " But the children of the promise are counted
   for the seed," Rom. 9:8. Thus, also, the holy, christian church must be
   a spiritual seed, an assembly of the righteous, and a community of the
   saints; which church is begotten of God, of the living seed of the
   divine word, and not of the teachings, institutions, and fictions of
   man. Yea, they are those who are regenerated, renewed and converted;
   who hear, believe, and fulfill all the commandments and will of God;
   who "have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts;" who "are
   all one in Christ Jesus." "Joint heirs with Christ," and heavenly and
   spiritually minded with him, Gal. 5:24; 3:28; Rom. 8:17.

   These are the holy, christian church, the community of God, the body
   and the bride of Christ, whom he hath trusted, cleansed and sanctified;
   but "they that are in the flesh cannot please God." This holy,
   christian church has a spiritual Prince over her who rules her with the
   unbroken rod of his divine word; a Master, or Teacher who teaches the
   commandments of eternal life; and a Bridegroom whose voice she is ever
   ready to hear, that is, Christ Jesus, 1 Cor. 6:11; Rom. 8:8; Ps. 2:9;
   Jn. 6:68; 3:29.

   If, now, I contend against his scepter, trample upon his commandments
   and teach or write aught against his heavenly doctrine, then I teach
   and write against the doctrine of the holy, christian church. For this
   holy, christian church has but one doctrine which is fruitful and
   godly, which is the limpid, pure and unmixed word of God, the lovely
   gospel of the grace of our beloved Lord Jesus Christ, Matt. 28:19; Mark
   16:15; 1 Pet. 1:26. All teachings and decrees which do not accord with
   the doctrine of Christ, are but teachings and commandments of men, be
   they teachings and opinions of doctors, decrees of popes, councils or
   anything else; they are doctrines of the devil, and are accursed, Matt.
   15:9; 1 Tim. 4:1; Gal. 1:8, 9. Since we write and teach nothing but the
   pure, heavenly word, and the perfect ordinances of the holy gospel of
   Jesus Christ and of his apostles; therefore we do not teach and write
   against the teachings of the holy church, but we sustain them.

   Beloved readers, let the light minded ran their course to the end,
   which is certain death. They will nevermore concede the truth, however
   powerfully they are vanquished, but they will ever delight in hatred,
   upbraiding, discord and disputation and never be satisfied, because
   they will not go into the strait way of the Spirit; taught of Jesus
   Christ and his holy apostles; notwithstanding they want to be
   considered the children and the church of God, without obedience. Not
   so kind readers. Ever remember that there is no holy church of Christ
   other than the assembly of the righteous, and the church of the saints,
   which ever acts in harmony with the word and ordinances of the Lord,
   and to no other doctrine. She neither will nor can accept any other
   doctrine or ordinances in divine matters, forever.

   Because, beloved brethren, the divine ordinance of baptism in the water
   has thus been destroyed for many centuries, and as a strange baptism
   has been practiced, contrary to the true doctrine of the holy,
   christian church, namely, contrary to the word of God, from which evil
   custom so much false doctrine, disbelief and fruitless, carnal life
   have resulted?therefore I have again clearly pointed out from the holy
   gospel, how we should practice the true, scriptural, christian baptism;
   that the hearts and faith of the wise may be affirmed and assured, and
   the mouths of the fools may be stopped, and that God may have the glory
   in his holy word. Read and see if we have not rightly taught and
   written according to the meaning of Jesus Christ. And because the
   whole, wide world so shamefully blaspheme and oppose the word of God,
   and despise his commandments and ceremonies as useless, saying, What
   good can water do us? never considering that the kingdom of God and the
   will of God do not consist in external ceremonies, but in the willing
   obedience to the word of God?therefore we have, in the following
   writings, so extensively shown from the holy Scriptures, who should be
   baptized, according to the word of God, namely, the believing, or the
   regenerated, Mark 16:18; Jn. 3: G; Tit. 3: C.

   Besides we have also shown how very weak, useless and groundless all
   the arguments of the world are, by which they defend infant baptism,
   that the beforementioned despisers of God may know and understand that
   they are not baptized according to the evangelical commandment of our
   beloved Lord Jesus Christ. From which it follows that they are not in
   obedience to the divine word, and if they are not in the obedience
   which has the promise (I speak of those of understanding minds), then
   they cannot inherit nor obtain the promise, so long as they do not
   believe the word of God, and obediently fulfill it in all respects. Let
   every one beware, and save his own soul; for our God is a consuming
   fire.

   May the merciful Father, through his blessed Son, Jesus Christ, our
   Lord, grant you all a true knowledge, and his affection ate grace for
   your edification, Amen.
     __________________________________________________________________

  CHRISTIAN BAPTISM.

   Hex ye, O, illustrious, noble, wise lords and princes! Hear ye all
   judges of the land, where the sword of God is given to the destruction
   of the evil doers, to the protection of the good, and to the punishment
   of the wicked I Hear, ye wise and intelligent, you, who think that you
   bear the vessels of the Lord! Hear ye, all people, of whatever state,
   condition, trade or class, who call yourselves christians, and who
   boast of his bitter death and precious blood I Rom. 13:1; Tit. 3:4; 1
   Peter 2:13, 14.

   Since we, for the sake of baptism, are so miserably profaned, slandered
   and persecuted by all mankind, and as we are ever suspicioned by the
   ungodly sects (who are to you very shameful, perilous and abominable,
   as may be plainly seen); therefore we say and testify in Christ Jesus,
   before God, before his holy angels, before you, and before the whole
   world, that we are solely urged by a God fearing faith which we have in
   the word of God, to baptize and to be baptized, as the only means; nor
   will it be found otherwise neither in this life, nor in death, nor in
   the last judgment of God.

   Beloved, we verily seek nothing in this baptism other than to obey our
   beloved Lord Jesus Christ, who has taught and commanded us this with
   his own blessed mouth, Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:16. Consider, once, we pray
   you, that we cannot possibly seek carnal profit in this our actions;
   neither gold, nor silver, nor honor, nor ease, nor long life on earth.
   For you may plainly see that we are made a prey to the world on account
   of it. But we are urged solely by the love of God, by an upright,
   fruitful faith, which faith industriously examines all the words of
   Christ, giving ourselves in willing obedience to God; knowing to a
   certainty that if we oppose, and do not obey that which our Lord has
   commanded, we can never receive nor inherit the heavenly blessing and
   divine promise. For through obedience every thing is received, as has
   been mentioned in the preface, Matt. 3:6; Acts 19:18; 2:38; 9:6; 10:48;
   16:30.

   How could Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, together with all the beloved
   fathers and patriarchs, have obtained the consoling promise of God, if
   they had not done, be it ever so little, that which God had commanded
   them through his holy word? But they heard the word of God; firmly
   believed and obeyed it; and therefore they became joint heirs of
   righteousness, Heb. 11:8.

   On the contrary, however, all those who did not obey God, undoubtedly,
   must have borne the punishment of the Lord, as did Adam and Eve; Nadab
   and Abihu; Korah, Dathan and Abiram; as Saul; as the man of God who
   reproved Jeroboam the king, for his idolatry, and was deceived by the
   old prophet in Bethel, and other instances, which may be read of in
   Moses and other scriptural writings, Gen. 3:17; Lev. 10:2; Num. 16:32;
   1 Sam. 15:23.

   Since we are so pitiably opposed by all mankind in our doctrine and
   practice of the christian baptism, and since they do not realize that
   their opposition tends to eternal death, for they oppose Christ and his
   word; therefore I will again briefly show them and all persons, from
   the word of God who shall read, see or hear these my writings, how
   wonderfully, powerfully, nay, how incontrovertibly this our doctrine
   and practice are contained and founded on the holy gospel of Jesus
   Christ, although we have fully shown and proven this before, in our
   writings on baptism.

   Most beloved, there are necessarily three reasons why our faith accepts
   this baptism under such a heavy cross and anxiety.

   First, because of the divine .commandment of our beloved Lord Jesus
   Christ, which can never be broken. Secondly, because of the teaching of
   the holy apostles. Thirdly, because of the practice of these same
   apostles. And first of the commandment: After Christ Jesus had risen
   from the power of death and was going to ascend to his heavenly Father,
   he thus commanded his disciples, saying, "Go ye therefore, and teach
   all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son,
   and of the Holy Ghost," Matt. 28:19. Again, at another place, " Go ye
   into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature, he that
   believeth and is baptized, shall be saved," Mark 16:15, 16. While, now,
   Jesus Christ, the eternal wisdom who cannot err, the eternal truth who
   cannot lie, has commanded this, namely, that we shall first preach the
   gospel, from the hearing of which comes faith, Rom. 10, and that we
   shall baptize those who believe, who will or who can, now, explain this
   divine commandment otherwise, or make it of more value than the
   eternal, wise, perfect, blessed Christ Jesus, has made and commanded
   it?

   Brethren, it was not allowed to apply one single word of the Mosaic
   ceremonies different from what they were contained in the law. For the
   Almighty God will not that we should follow our own inclinations with
   regard to the ceremonies which he has commanded us, but alone desires
   us to observe his good will and pleasure; for that purpose he has
   commanded them. In the outward ceremonies alone God finds no pleasure;
   but he has commanded them because he requires of us faithful obedience.
   His wrath has often come on those who practiced his ceremonies
   differently from the commandment, as in the case of Nadab and Abihu and
   many others. For he will, yea, he will that we should not follow our
   own opinion, but that we should hear, believe and obey his holy voice,
   Jer. 7:5?7.

   If God would have his ceremonies under the law (which were numerous,
   and in one respect attended with trouble and expense, and which he
   commanded not through Christ, his Son, but through his servant Moses),
   kept thus strictly and unchanged until the time of Christ; how much
   more so will he have the few ceremonies of the New Testament kept
   strictly and unchanged, which are but two in number, being baptism and
   the Supper, which he has commanded, not through his servant but through
   his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ; and which are neither attended
   with trouble nor expense.

   Consider how troublesome and expensive it was to the Israelites to
   travel a long distance over hill and dale, to appear two or three times
   a year before the Lord, at Jerusalem, with their offerings of bullocks,
   rams, goats and tenths, which they were bound to offer of all their
   goods, to the Lord. But the christian .ceremonies of the New Testament,
   baptism and Supper, which are commanded us of God, are not at all
   attended with trouble or expense; although the meaning or
   representation of these ceremonies to true believers, is attended with
   great vexation to the flesh. This however is not caused by the
   ceremonies themselves, but alone through the faith which leads us to
   these ceremonies, out of love and obedience to the divine word. Most
   beloved, since the ordinance of Jesus Christ is unchangeable and the
   only one that is acceptable to the Father; and since he has commanded
   that we shall first preach the gospel and then baptize those who
   believe; it follows that all those who baptize and are baptized,
   without the teaching of the gospel and without faith, baptize and are
   baptized, on their own opinion, without the doctrine and the ordinance
   of Jesus Christ, and therefore it is idolatry, useless and vain. For
   had Israel circumcised their females because it was not expressly
   forbidden, they would yet have circumcised without the ordinance of
   God, for he had commanded that the males were to be circumcised, Gen.
   1'7:10. The same it is in this instance. If we baptize the unconscious
   children, although Scripture has not expressly forbidden it, just as it
   was not forbidden to circumcise the females, we yet baptize without the
   ordinance of Jesus Christ; for he commanded to baptize those who should
   hear and believe his holy gospel, Gen. 1'7:10; Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:16;
   Acts 2:38; 9:18; 10:48; 16:33.

   It avails nothing that some say that these words of Matthew and Mark
   extend the holy church to the Gentiles, and that thereby the baptism of
   infants is not excluded. Beloved reader, it is true by this commandment
   the holy church is also extended to the Gentiles, to the fulfillment of
   the prophetic Scriptures which long before had seen this through the
   Spirit, as Paul proves, Rom. 15. Yet the word stands firmly with regard
   to both Jews and Gentiles, namely, whosoever believeth and is baptized,
   shall be saved. Faith is before baptism. For faith is the beginning of
   all righteousness which avails before God, from which faith, baptism is
   the result as a sign and token of obedience. If the children, then,
   have faith, their baptism is not forbidden by the alleged words of
   Matthew and Mark.

   Again, neither does it avail any thing that some allege and say, that
   the resurrection of the dead was not expressly written in the books of
   Moses, yet it was implied as Christ Jesus proved to the Sadducees from
   Exod. 3:6, namely: I am the God of Abraham, of Isaac and of Jacob. As
   in these words of Moses the resurrection is not expressed, yet it is
   implied, as God is no God of the dead but of the living, as Christ
   teaches, Matt. 22:32; thus they say, infant baptism is not expressed in
   the gospel, yet it is implied. To this we reply: That the resurrection
   of the dead is no outward ceremony which God has commanded us to do;
   but it is something which God himself will accomplish in us by his
   Almighty power, therefore it is an invisible consolation in the hearts
   of all believers, which is comprehended by faith alone. But the baptism
   of unconscious children is an outward ceremony. If, then, it is an
   ordinance and word of God which has the promise, it must be plainly
   expressed in the Scriptures. If not, it cannot be called a ceremony of
   Christ.

   Thirdly, neither does it avail that some allege and say, "Although the
   believing women have no express word of invitation to the Lord's
   Supper, neither were they at the celebration of the last Supper of the
   Lord, yet they are, for good reasons, admitted to the Supper, and it is
   the same with unconscious children. Although there is no express
   command for their baptism, neither were they baptized of the Lord nor
   of his disciples so far as we can learn from the Scriptures; yet they
   are, for good reasons, admitted to baptism, the same as the believing
   women are admitted to the Supper."

   Kind reader, this is a very crafty argument to deceive the simple and
   ignorant, for it savors highly of subtlety, but is not at all according
   to the example of Jesus Christ. Because the Holy Supper represents the
   death of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of our neighbors; both of
   which are known and practiced by the believing women as well as the
   believing men. If, then, the unconscious children have that which is
   represented by baptism, namely, death unto sin, the new life, Rom. 6:4;
   the new birth, Jn. 3, the putting on of Christ, Gal. 3:27, the moving,
   quickening Spirit by which we are baptized into the body of Christ, 1
   Cor. 12:13, and a good conscience, 1 Pet. 3:16, as have the believing
   women of what is represented in the Holy Supper, then they should be
   baptized for the same reason that believing women are admitted to the
   Supper; but it neither will nor can ever be found in unconscious
   children.

   Fourthly, it avails nothing that some allege from Ecclesiasticus 1:14,
   that " To fear the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and it was created
   with the faithful in the womb," and will be with the chosen women. If
   then, they say, "The fear of the Lord is created with the believing in
   the mother's womb, which fear is a fruit of faith, and as the fruit can
   not be before the tree, therefore the children from their mother's womb
   have a fruitful faith; if they have faith, then their baptism cannot be
   hindered according to the Scriptures." Not so, beloved reader, but
   judge every thing according to the word of God and his Spirit. For I do
   not doubt but that you will confess that the faith which avails with
   God, is a gift of God, from whence all righteousness proceeds, comes by
   the hearing of the divine word. If, now, it comes by hearing the divine
   word, as Paul teaches, how will it be found in unconscious children;
   for it is plain that they can not be taught, admonished or instructed,
   nay, they are more senseless and helpless at their birth than the
   irrational creatures; so unconscious that they cannot be taught any
   thing about carnal things, until their hearing, comprehension and
   understanding have commenced to develop themselves. If they cannot be
   made to understand any thing visible, how can they, then, prematurely,
   that is, before they can comprehend things, be taught and instructed in
   invisible, celestial matters of the Spirit?

   Secondly, you know and acknowledge that where there is a true faith
   there is the true knowledge of the difference between good and evil;
   the fear of God, the love of God and also of our neighbor, and the
   obedience to God and the desire after righteousness. It can not be
   otherwise than that a good tree bringeth forth good fruit. Faith works
   all manner of righteousness, as it is written, " The just shall live by
   faith," and " Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence
   of things not seen," Matt. 7:18; Rom. 1:17; Heb. 11:1.

   Say, dear reader, If faith ever begets good fruits, all manner of
   righteousness is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of
   things not seen?what fruits and righteousness do our little children
   beget, which are evidence of faith, and what do they hope for, and seek
   after but eating, drinking, laughter, crying, warmth, play, &c., as has
   been the nature of children from the beginning. Besides, they often
   show the growth of the evil, Adamic seed; and as they advance in youth
   they manifest it still more; but the fruits of faith, or of the new
   birth they do not show, as may be plainly observed, and if you do not
   observe it by daily experience, then believe the word of God, which
   will never deceive you. Thus Moses says, " Your children, which in that
   ?day had no knowledge between good and evil," &c., Deut.1:39. They had
   no knowledge between good and evil, as it appears where, then, is their
   faith which has the knowledge between good and evil?

   Thirdly, you will acknowledge that all righteousness comes by faith as
   our controverters themselves allege and adduce in their opposition,
   Rom. 4: G. Without faith there is no godly righteousness; therefore
   Paul says to the Hebrews (speaking of those of understanding years),
   that " Without faith it is impossible to please God," Heb. 11: g.
   Inasmuch as the children, then, have no faith by which they can realize
   what God is and that he is a rewarder of both good and evil, as they
   plainly show by their fruits?therefore they have not the fear of God,
   and consequently they have nothing upon which they should be baptized,
   yet they have the promise of everlasting life, out of pure grace. This
   is all that the Scriptures accord to them, and all that the word of God
   says of them, as will be shown below.

   Inasmuch, then, as faith must be first and afterwards the righteous
   fruits which come by faith?such as the fear of God, the love of God,
   &c., which fruits do not appear in unconscious children, as has been
   often said; therefore we must presume that Ecclesiasticus does not
   teach that the fear of God is not in little children immediately after
   conception; but we are taught here that the fear of God is to the
   believing in the womb, that it will be given them in due time; because
   his eyes of fire, those eyes which from the beginning to the end
   foresaw all things; foresaw when they were yet in their mother's womb,
   that they in time would hear his holy voice, truly believe, and through
   faith fear God; and become righteous before him; for true faith cannot
   be without its fruits, as has been often proven.

   If then, faith were in the little, unconscious children from
   conception, as our opponents say, it would be a fruitless faith, for
   they do not bring forth fruits; and therefore their preaching in this
   regard is in vain. For, if that were the case, faith would come by the
   creation, or conception, of the believing, and not by the preaching of
   the divine word. Not so, beloved reader. This is a sure, eternal,
   imperishable and an enduring rule of the divine truth, to fulfill all
   righteousness, namely: First, the true preaching of the holy gospel of
   Jesus Christ. Secondly, a desire to hear and understand. Thirdly, to
   cordially believe this gospel and i to fulfill it in fruit. This being
   the case, it follows that the little, unconscious children have no
   faith, for they can not understand and learn. If they have no faith,
   they cannot have the fear of God. Therefore our opponents cannot prove
   the justice of baptizing little, unconscious children, from this
   passage of Ecclesiasticus; but they must wait according to God's word
   until they can understand the holy gospel of grace, and sincerely
   confess it; then it is time, no matter how young or old they are, to
   receive christian baptism, as the infallible word of our beloved Lord
   Jesus Christ has taught and commanded all true believers, in his holy
   gospel, Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:16. If they die before maturity, that is
   in childhood, before they have come to years of understanding and
   before they have faith, then they die under the promise of God, and
   that by no other means than the precious promise of grace, given
   through Christ Jesus, Luke 18:16; and if they become of understanding
   minds and have faith, they should then be baptized. But if they do not
   accept or believe the word when they shall have arrived at the years of
   understanding, .no matter whether they are baptized or not, they will
   be damned, as Christ himself teaches, Mark 16:16.

   I know that there are a great many, who will ask, " Why I, unlearned
   man, am not satisfied in regard to this matter with the doctrine of
   Martin Luther and other renowned doctors, who are versed in the
   Scriptures and many tongues and sciences ?.who teach, and particularly
   Luther, that faith lies dormant in little children the same as in a
   sleeping believer?"

   To this I answer: In the first place, if there were such a dormant
   faith in little children (which, however, is nothing but invention),
   then it would not be proper to baptize such children so long as they
   would not verbally confess it and show it by their fruits. For the holy
   apostles did not baptize any believers while they were asleep, as we
   have shown in our former writings.

   Secondly, I acknowledge and confess from my inmost heart, before you,
   and the whole world, that they and many others are well gifted with
   learning, eloquence, subtlety, languages and science, and that I, poor,
   ignorant man, am in comparison to them, as a fly is to an elephant;
   therefore I am heartily ashamed to write and speak against them, with
   my dull pen and awkward speech. Yet every reader should know that
   however learned the beforementioned philosophers are, and however
   ignorant I am, yet our opinions avail the same with God and before him,
   for, without the command of the holy Scripture, nothing righteous can
   be done and nothing pleasing to God can be practiced, let him be
   whosoever he may. The?holy Scriptures do not refer us to them nor to
   any other learned person, but to Christ Jesus, alone. Whenever such
   highly renowned men, by their subtle acuteness and artful philosophy
   try to take from us and garble the plain ordinances of Jesus Christ and
   of his apostles, we must, surely, consider their doctrine, in that re=
   spect, as doctrine of men and false; for Christ Jesus is not under
   them, but above them. Neither has he received his holy doctrine from
   them, but from his wise Father, Jn. 7:24; 8:26; 12:46; 16:13.

   Since they, by their philosophy, assert that there is a dormant,
   unfruitful faith in unconscious children, evidently against all
   Scripture and truth, and that the children should be baptized upon such
   human phantaey; now, judge for yourselves, you who oppose me, which of
   the two I would better do?hear the holy word and ordinance of Christ
   Jesus, to whom the Father, together with all the prophets, have pointed
   me, or hear the learned, who, against his holy word and ordinance,
   would have me follow their opinion, which they have formed by garbling
   the Scriptures. Eradicate from your carnal hearts all partisanship and
   contention so that you can fairly judge of spiritual matters. God grant
   that all the learned and those that are taught of them, may acknowledge
   and teach truth, and fulfill it in their works, Amen.

   Inasmuch as Christ Jesus has commanded his holy apostles that they
   should first teach the holy gospel of grace and then baptize those who
   should believe; we are, for the same reasons, urged by the love of God,
   to teach this christian baptism according to the word of God, and
   afterwards obediently receive it, and, by the grace of the Lord, to
   save it, to the honor of God, both in life and death; notwithstanding
   all the world opposes us.
     __________________________________________________________________

  TEACHINGS OF THE HOLY APOSTLES CONCERNING BAPTISM IN THE WATER.

   Again, we are urged by the pure, chaste teaching of the holy apostles
   thus diligently to teach and receive this christian baptism: First,
   because it is written, "Now when they heard this, they were pricked in
   their heart, and said unto Peter," "Men and brethren what shall we do?
   Then Peter said unto them, Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in
   the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall
   receive the gift of the Holy Ghost,'' Acts 2:37, 38.

   Most beloved, bear in mind, now and all the days of your lives, not
   only concerning baptism, but concerning all doctrine you may hear, lest
   you be deceived by false teaching, namely, as all the true prophets of
   God, who were between Moses and Christ, conformed their teaching to the
   doctrine of Moses, so the holy apostles, also, conformed their teaching
   to the doctrine of Christ Jesus, as he had commanded them, saying,
   "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you,"
   Matt. 28:20.

   Therefore consider and ponder well that which shall be taught you, by
   the grace of the Lord, from the word of God, and you will clearly
   perceive from these words, of Peter, how the words of Jesus to
   Nicodemus, concerning the new birth, should be understood thus, "
   Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of
   the Spirit, he can not enter into the kingdom of God," Jn. 3: G.
   Beloved brethren, the new birth came to pass through the word of God.
   When this word was taught on the day of Pentecost, by Peter at
   Jerusalem, the multitudes heard it from his mouth and from the mouth of
   the other apostles; their hearts were pierced, for, by faith, they
   accepted these words, and therefore they said, " Men and brethren, what
   shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every
   one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and
   ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." The same as Christ said
   to Nicodemus, when he first taught of the birth from above, saying,
   "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of
   the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."

   Behold, my chosen brethren I how harmonious are both master and
   disciples in their teachings, namely: First, the birth from above by
   which we become children of God. Secondly, the water by which the
   obedience of the children of God is shown. Thirdly, the communion of
   the Holy Ghost by which we are assured in our hearts of the grace of
   God, of the remission of sins, and of everlasting life through Christ
   Jesus our Lord, Jn. 1:14; 3:2.

   Inasmuch as the holy Peter, who is the apostle of God, a true witness,
   sent by Jesus Christ with the word of everlasting life, enlightened and
   taught by the Holy Ghost, has thus taught and commanded us, namely,
   that we shall suffer ourselves to be baptized upon the confession of
   faith according to the command of the Lord, Mark 16:16; in the name of
   Christ for the remission of sin, therefore we must receive this baptism
   the same as is commanded us in the Holy Scriptures, or else we cannot
   obtain remission of sins nor the Holy Ghost. For who has ever received
   remission of sins, contrary to the word of God? Surely, it is
   impossible that we can rob God of the remission of sins and of his Holy
   Ghost. If we, then, desire the remission of our sins and the Holy
   Ghost, we must do and fulfill all that which God, the Almighty Father
   has taught and commanded us through Christ Jesus his beloved Son, and
   through his holy apostles, in all spiritual matters.

   Here it avails nothing that some teach and say, contrary to the holy
   Scripture, "That the little children are born of Adam, with a sinful or
   wicked nature, and that therefore they should be washed of their
   inherent guilt and sin, by baptism." To teach and believe thus, my
   brethren, is first, a fearful idolatry, and abominable blasphemy
   against the blood of Christ. There is no remedy, in heaven nor on
   earth, for our sins, whether they are inherent or worldly, but the
   blood of Christ alone, as we have often shown in our first writings, 1
   Pet. 1:19; 1 Jn. 1:7; Eph. 1:7. If we ascribe the remission of sins to
   baptism and not to the blood of Christ, then we mould a golden calf and
   place it in the stead of Christ. For if we could be washed or cleansed
   by baptism, then Christ Jesus and his merits would be of none effect;
   otherwise we must admit that there are two means for the remission of
   sin which is not, nor ever can be; first, baptism; second, the blood of
   Christ. For the most holy and most precious blood of our beloved Lord
   Jesus Christ must and shall have the praise, as has been so clearly
   prophesied and testified of all the true prophets and apostles,
   throughout the Scriptures.

   The believing receive remission of sins not through baptism, but in
   baptism, in this manner: as they now, sincerely believe the lovely
   gospel of Jesus Christ which has been preached and taught to them,
   which is the glad tidings of grace, namely, of the remission of sin, of
   grace, of peace, of favor, of mercy and of eternal life through Jesus
   Christ our Lord,. so they become of a new mind, deny themselves,
   bitterly lament their old, corrupted life, and look diligently to the
   word of the Lord, who has shown them such great love; to fulfill all
   that which he has taught and commanded them in his holy gospel,
   trusting firmly in the word of grace, in the remission of their sins
   through the precious blood and through the merits of our beloved Lord
   Jesus Christ.

   They therefore receive the holy baptism as a token of obedience which
   proceeds from faith, as proof, before God and his church, that they
   firmly believe in the remission of 'their sins through Christ Jesus, as
   was preached and taught them from the word of God; therefore they
   receive remission of their sins in baptism, as the lovely promise of
   grace proclaims and represents; the same as the literal Israelites
   received remission of their sins by their offerings. For in case that
   we only sought outward baptism and trusted in the literal practice, and
   would yet continue in our old, corrupted walk, then indeed, all would
   be in vain, the same as it was in such case, a vain offering, amongst
   the ungodly and carnal Israelites. For the Lord of lords so often
   complained through his holy prophets, that their offering was not
   pleasing to him, that it was nothing but a corrupt abomination and
   stench, before his holy eyes; inasmuch that they despised the law, love
   and the commandments of God, and lived according to the lasts of their
   flesh, Isa. 66:4, 5; and other passages.

   Secondly, we are not cleansed, in baptism, of our inherited sinful
   nature which is in our flesh, so that it is entirely destroyed in us,
   for it remains with us after baptism; but since the merciful Father,
   from whom are all good and perfect gifts, has graciously given us the
   most holy faith, so we manifest in the baptism we receive, that we
   desire to die unto the inherent, sinful nature, and destroy it, so that
   it will not any longer be master of our mortal bodies, Rom. 6:12.
   Although such true believers are often overcome by sin, as John
   observes, "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed
   remaineth in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God," 1 Jn.
   3:9.

   Brethren, I repeat it, as the Israelites received remission of their
   sins, through the promise, with which were associated their offerings,
   when they offered with contrite hearts, not through the offering
   itself, for then it would be merit, but alone through the word of
   promise; for it is grace and not merit?so we receive remission of our
   sins, when we are true believers and are washed and cleansed in
   baptism, through the promise; not, I say, through the washing of water,
   for it is not merit, but through the promise, for it is grace, with
   which promise the Holy Spirit of God has associated the baptism of the
   believing, in the gospel, as Paul teaches, saying, " Christ also loved
   the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse
   it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to
   himself a glorious church," Eph. G:2G?27.

   Behold, most beloved, from this it is plain that we are not cleansed by
   the washing of water, but by the word of the Lord, as the holy Paul
   clearly teaches us in the beforementioned words. Inasmuch as the
   little, unconscious children, by reason of their incapability of
   comprehending and understanding the preaching of the holy gospel, by
   which, alone, comes faith, Rom. 10:17; by which faith, alone, God
   ?purifies our hearts, Acts 15:9, and not by the outward baptism, as has
   been said before, and, inasmuch as the express command and word of God,
   which associates the promise with baptism, solely refers to those who
   are begotten of this same word and are thus cleansed in their hearts by
   faith, it therefore follows incontrovertibly therefrom; that these
   little children, notwithstanding that they are baptized under a false
   pretension and false explanation of the divine word, are not cleansed
   thereby, if they ever were unclean, which however is not the case. Why?
   Because the promise is not associated with their baptism. Therefore
   their baptism is not done according to the word; but in every respect
   contrary to the word. For the word requires faith, and they have no
   faith. Therefore their baptism is without doubt a baptism of their own
   choice, without God, without promise, yea, idolatrous, useless and in
   vain.

   Whosoever now wants to oppose this, and does not want to believe the
   ordinance and word of God, let him take heed to what he does. For by
   infant baptism he nullifies the command of the Lord; tramples upon his
   precious blood (for he seeks righteousness in this baptism), and he
   establishes, contrary to the immutable ordinance of God, and of his own
   carnal choice, a false baptism which God never commanded. Therefore it
   neither is his holy will, as has been said above and as will be shown
   more extensively below.

   Again the apostle Peter writes, As Noah, in his day, was saved in the
   ark from the waters of the deluge, so "even baptism doth also now save
   us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a
   good conscience toward God), by the resurrection of Jesus Christ," 1
   Pet. 3:21.

   By this passage of Peter, the baptism of the believing is again clearly
   affirmed and the baptism of infants nullified. For it is impossible
   that any one can have a good conscience but those, alone, who believe,
   and whose hearts are regenerated and converted; who acknowledge the
   divine word which teaches that God the Almighty Father, whose enemies
   we were before, Rom. 5:10, is now again reconciled through Christ
   Jesus, his beloved Son; that henceforth, through the merits of our
   beloved Lord, neither hell, devil, past sins, eternal death, nor the
   wrath of God will hurt or hinder us. All those who truly believe this,
   shall receive and obtain a joyous mind and good conscience by the
   resurrection of Jesus Christ as Peter says; because he has so
   gloriously triumphed over all his enemies, visible and invisible, to
   our profit; and has again seated himself in heaven, at the right hand
   of his Father. Such, are first inwardly baptized with the Spirit and
   fire, according to the word of God, and are thus taught in their hearts
   by this Spirit, and are led in all divine truth, righteousness,
   obedience, and evangelical fruits and works. They are inwardly so
   enkindled with this fire of love, having become conscious, by the word
   of God, that such great grace, I repeat it, grace, has been bestowed on
   them through Christ Jesus, that they regard neither lords, princes,
   philosophers, learned men, councils, long usages, women, children,
   flesh, blood, decrees, nor any other threats; neither life nor death,
   but remain glad in Spirit, maintain, at the risk of home, not only the
   outward baptism, but also all the works of love and the fruits of
   righteousness, which the true mouth of the Lord Jesus Christ has taught
   and commanded us in his holy gospel, either himself or through his holy
   apostles.

   Behold, beloved brethren, in this manner baptism saves us, as Peter
   teaches; not the outward literal baptism, but the inward, spiritual
   baptism, which as obedient children of God, has led us through the
   power of faith, to the outward literal baptism; for the outward,
   literal baptism is nothing more than obedience to the divine word, and
   thus it is a seal or proof of the righteousness from whence the true,
   fruitful faith comes; the same as was the literal circumcision to the
   believing and obedient Abraham, Rom. 4:10, 11.

   Since Christ Jesus has commanded that we should baptize the believing,
   Mark 16:18?therefore holy Peter followed the commandment in his
   teachings; and has taught baptism to be a work of faith, namely, the
   answer of a good conscience toward God, which answer none can
   experience but those alone who have faith. Inasmuch as there is but one
   literal baptism taught in Scripture, which baptism shows and is proof
   of the answer of a good conscience toward God, as Peter teaches, and
   thus by this Scripture of Peter, infant baptism is prohibited; for they
   cannot have this consciousness like the believing. Therefore take heed,
   kind reader, whosoever you are, lest you offend God. For all those who
   thus lamentably oppose this evangelical baptism of the believing, which
   baptism is so pointedly commanded of Jesus Christ, and is thus taught
   and practiced by .his holy apostles, either by doctrine, word or sword,
   must confess and acknowledge that they were hitherto neither right
   believing, regenerated, obedient, nor inwardly baptized with the Spirit
   and fire. Again, let every one of you beware and take heed for it does
   not concern anything temporal, but it concerns your poor, naked souls
   which have been so dearly bought and delivered by such a precious
   treasure.

   Beloved children in the Lord, however incontrovertibly our cause is
   confirmed and founded in the word of God, yet some are not ashamed,
   persistently and continually to write, talk, and slander against us;
   advising and exciting persecution, slaughter and blood?shed against us;
   in part I presume from ignorance, partly out of partiality, and because
   they are enemies of the cross of Christ and because they do not desire
   the lovely, spiritual life which is of God; and say, "Although infants
   have not ?the answer of a good conscience, as the believing have, yet
   this should be no cause of not administering baptism to them; but they
   ought to be baptized, that they may the better receive instruction in
   the word and commandments of God."

   Most beloved brethren, when an idolatrous, refractory and disobedient
   person has not the word of God wherewith to defend his cause, he yet
   acutely invents something wherewith he can so beautify and adorn his
   invention and carnal righteousness with a semblance of divinity and
   holiness, that it seems quite right, just, spiritual, holy, divine and
   unblamable in the sight of those who are not versed in spiritual
   matters of faith; and the more so because their unchristian hearts and
   carnal minds are prone to trust in outward works, yea, through their
   own choice and opinion, as I understand it. If I write wrongly, then
   rebuke me according to the word of God; for the greater part of them
   have always sought righteousness in wrought ceremonies, and not in
   Christ, as is evident from the fact that, as now, the unintelligent
   teachers and bishops in the days of the apostles, or soon after,
   commenced the practice of infant baptism, contrary to the command of
   God and the doctrine of the holy apostles, as may be readily perceived
   in the book of Tertullian, called "Corona Milites." He writes that
   among the ancients almost invariably the adults were baptized with the
   washing of regeneration. Understand me rightly brethren. Tertullian
   lived one hundred and eight years after Christ, some say one hundred
   and forty years. As early as in the days of these ancient writers, the
   true, evangelical baptism, which was commanded by Christ and taught and
   practiced by his holy apostles, had become degenerated with many, which
   baptism he clearly testifies that the ancients almost invariably
   practiced upon adults. If now, brethren, it were so that the ancients,
   who were before him, already baptized infants, as it appears, and to
   which we consent, because he says almost invariably; and in another
   place in the same book, as the Strasburgian philosophers write of him,
   he says, "That in the same fount or water?bath, both children and
   adults were baptized." Nevertheless, infant baptism was no apostolic
   institution nor practice, nor a divine command; for if Christ had
   commanded it, and the holy apostles had taught and practiced it, then
   the ancestors of Tertullian would not have baptized some infants, but
   all the infants of upright, believing parents, indiscriminately.

   That it is no divine command nor apostolic institution, was well known
   and shown by the beloved, aged father, Alexander, bishop of Alexandria,
   who was a particular opponent of Arrius; for he, so long after the days
   of the apostles, did not baptize the infants of his church, as may be
   plainly seen and understood from the Church History of Eusebius, Vol.
   10, Chap. 14, translated by Ruffinis, on "The play of Children," by
   Anthanasius. Therefore the intelligent and learned Erasmus, of
   Rotterdam, as Sebastian Franck writes of him, who had perused and
   understood all the noteworthv writers of the world say, That the
   ancient fathers disputed about infant baptism, but never settled it.

   Behold, kind reader, inasmuch as the ancients, from the beginning, were
   not unanimous in this matter; and inasmuch as they did not all practice
   infant baptism, as appears from Tertullian and Alexander; and as those
   who practiced infant baptism have ever sought righteousness therein, as
   may be seen by their writings?therefore we will not place our
   foundation upon that which is uncertain, but upon that which is
   certain, which is Christ's word. Neither will we seek our righteousness
   in the outward baptism nor in any other works, as does the world, but
   in Christ Jesus, as all the Scriptures teach us. Herewith we desire to
   present our cause to the consideration and judgment of all the world
   and let them tell whether they have ever read in the word of God, I sap
   in the word of Clod or in his gospel, that Christ Jesus and his holy
   apostles taught two different baptisms in the water, namely, that one
   baptism should be administered to the believing, which baptism
   represents death unto sin, a new life, the answer of a good conscience
   toward God, and the washing of regeneration, Rom. 6:12; Col. 2:12; 1
   Pet. 3:21; Tit. 3: C; and that the other baptism should be administered
   to infants, which signifies nothing only that they should be outwardly
   washed with water.

   Brethren, judge rightly and do not deceive your souls. We know that
   they first say "That infants are cleansed of their inherent sins and
   that therefore their baptism is not in vain." To this we reply with the
   word of God: That such belief is abominable idolatry; for in this case
   the blood of Christ avails, and not the outward baptism, as has been
   shown above.

   In the second place they say, "That thereby they are accepted into the
   covenant of God." To this we reply again: That this is not because of
   baptism, but alone through the mild election of grace, Eph. 1:6; for it
   is grace and not merit, Rom. 11:6.

   In the third place they say, "That children should be baptized that
   they may the better be trained in the word of God and his commandments"
   To this we reply again: That we desire to know where such is expressed
   and written in the holy Scriptures. Give a discreet answer, we pray
   you, who assert infant baptism to be right, just and necessary, and who
   so lamentably slander and profane us on account of baptism, that we may
   no longer be deceived in our hearts; but that we may assuredly know by
   the word of God where to find this infant baptism. For however
   industriously we may search day and night, we yet find but one baptism
   in the water, pleasing to God, which is expressed and contained in his
   word, namely: Baptism on the confession of faith, commanded by Christ
   Jesus, taught and administered by his holy apostles, which is
   administered and received for the forgiveness and remission of sins in
   such a manner, as we have fully proven above by the words of Peter,
   Acts. 2:38. But of this other baptism, that is, infant baptism, we find
   nothing.

   Because this infant baptism is nowhere commanded nor implied in the
   divine word, therefore we take issue with you and all the world, that
   we regard it not only as vain, but we believe and proclaim it as
   idolatrous, useless, and unavailable, not only by words merely, but at
   the cost of our lives, as has been proven by events in many countries
   of Germany. The reason is this, because it is administered without the
   word and commandment of God; because righteousness is sought therein;
   and because the true baptism of the believing must be so lamentably
   rejected and trampled upon, by the whole world, as an heretical
   baptism, as far as the name of Christ is mentioned. Therefore,
   brethren, it is nothing but opinion and human righteousness, to teach,
   without the word of God, that infants should be baptized, that they may
   be the better trained in the word of God and his commandments; as we
   find to the contrary that, although these parents have their infants
   baptized, they yet, from youth on, are trained by these same parents in
   this Adamic nature, in all manner of pride, pomp, avarice, vanity,
   lying, cursing, swearing, dancing, singing, foolishness, artfulness,
   hatred, enmity, revengefulness and to the accursed life of this world,
   the same, as from the beginning the heathen have done who never
   confessed God.

   What profits such baptism as they have received? Is it not merely
   folly, deceit, mockery and shame in the sight of God? Certainly.
   Beware. There can be no greater hypocrisy, mockery or blasphemy in his
   sight. Inasmuch as, perhaps, the secret awfulness which is hidden in
   infant baptism, is not yet rightly understood by you ?therefore I will
   briefly present the matter, that you may the better distinguish between
   truth and falsehood. I will present to you that which for many
   centuries, as all men may have seen, has been of daily occurrence and
   which, alas, yet occurs daily.

   In the first place, we will imagine an extremely corrupted, ungodly,
   carnal knave who is yet called a priest, pastor, vicar or prebendary by
   the world. This same unchaste man, full of all manner of roguery and
   deceit, covers his condemnable knavery with such a pleasant semblance
   that none suspicion him, as does the ravening wolf in sheeps clothing,
   Matt. 7:5. His head is frequently shaven, perhaps, as proof that he
   wants thus violently to shave off and destroy all lusts and desires of
   his wicked, sinful flesh; he desires to walk in long robes, as Christ
   says, Luke 20:40, as if he were pious, holy and venerable; he daily
   reads his prayers with folded hands and uncovered head, as if he were
   very ardently inspired; he kneels and burns incense before stone and
   wooden blocks, which he calls Peter, Paul, Mary and the worthy crucifix
   of the Lord. I tell this verily without facetiousness, of which God is
   my witness. Judge now whether this is not the case.

   Besides he buys a hundred wafers for a stiver, takes one at a time,
   consecrates it as he savs, and that mentally, without saying a word,
   nods to it, worships, implores and eats it; and this same thing he
   believes and teaches to be the true flesh and blood of our beloved
   Lord, Jesus Christ, the Son of the Almighty and living God. Besides he
   must be so pure and chaste in his walk that he is not allowed to have a
   legitimate or wedded consort, although the Holy Scriptures allow it,
   but the Pope has forbidden it. All these and other abominations he
   calls and teaches to be the holy worship, and the most holy, christian
   faith. Such fruits are begotten and produced by this evil tree, by the
   faith that is within him; and after he has orderly, sumptuously and
   well performed his carnal holiness, he proves his inward holiness, by
   seeking the best female company, wine and beer; drinks, sings, dances,
   laughs, shouts, scolds, fights, curses, swears, boasts, plays, courts
   and defiles himself with his female servant, his neighbors daughter, or
   wife whose husband perhaps is at sea, or some other place, trying to
   earn a livelihood by the labor of his hands. Thus he lives in shameful
   adultery until, by the fruits thereof, it can no longer be concealed,
   when the blame is cast upon some one else, and the fruit . (understand
   what I write), is disposed of, and by falsehood and deception their
   shame and adultery are concealed.

   Behold, brethren, they of whom such illegitimate children are born,
   have been baptized in their infancy, claiming thereby to be christians;
   they boast of Jesus Christ and of his precious blood. But we may see by
   their fruits what kind of christians they are, and what kind of faith
   they have.

   Therefore I tell you these things, O kind reader, that you may know in
   the first place, what kind of christian parents these are, what kind of
   faith they have, of whom some children are born who are,
   notwithstanding all this, carried to the baptism and are baptized on
   the faith of their hypocritical parents, and are therefore called
   christians. O, abominable mockery!

   In the second place, I find at many places, throughout the world,
   numbers of vain and abandoned characters, some of them sanctified,
   others not, some claiming nobility, in a worldly sense, some of large
   means, some of mediocrity, some poor, in short, of all classes, who, in
   the same manner, live in all manner of debauchery, vanity, inebriety
   and uncleanliness, according to their shameful, inordinate lusts and
   devilish desires, and in all? manner of fornication and adultery. Th ey
   seduce all they can, notwithstanding they are baptized. And when they,
   by their recklessness, have succeeded in accomplishing the ruin of such
   simple and uncircumspect souls who are also born of Adam, and who are,
   perhaps, deceived by, false promises and gifts, and led thereto by
   their accursed actions, then yet, it must be considered by those of
   their class as a great honor and respectability, as the prophet says.
   Yet, notwithstanding all this, these same persons alike carry the
   children who are thus illegitimately born of such profaners, rogues and
   abandoned women, to the baptism, that they may be called christians and
   be trained up in the same works and fruits as their adulterous parents,
   in whom and by whom they are conceived, and begotten in accursed and
   damnable adultery. , unbelief!

   In the third place, I find almost universally, both among men and women
   of whatever class or condition they are, noble, rich, poor, citizen or
   yeoman, who were baptized in infancy, and on that account are called
   christians, yet they lead such sinful lives that we can form no idea
   thereof. Their pride, unchastity, avarice, fraud in buying and selling,
   quarreling, hatred, unrighteousness, unmercifulness towards the tenant
   and the , poor, their cursing, swearing, lying, cheating, pomp,
   debauchery, drinking, vanity, foolery, blood?thirstiness, cruelty,
   hypocrisy, tyranny, transgressions, idolatry and all manner of
   wickedness know no bounds.

   If there are some who are not guilty of all the beforementioned vices,
   on account of their natural indisposition thereto, it must be admitted
   that there is not one in a thousand who industriously seeks and desires
   to walk according to the commandments of God, or to live according to
   his blessed will. Nor do they ask for the right way to eternal life
   that they may be saved; yet they must be called the right, christian
   church. Thus has God, the righteous judge, obscured the understanding
   and natural intellect of those who reject his holy word, and who make
   and honor things of their own choice, as an idol.

   Notwithstanding the heathenish life of both father and mother, yet
   their infants which are born of them must, without the word of God and
   merely out of their own choice, be conjured, blessed, rubbed with
   spittle, anointed, crucifixed and baptized, and after this has been
   done at the instance of their parents, although contrary to the
   commandment of God, they are called believing,, christian people, no
   matter how ungodly, inhuman and devilish a life they lead; and are
   admitted and received into the church as full and proper members.

   , Lord, Father, how very broad, easy and pleasing to the flesh is the
   entrance into this miserable, carnal church; for it is all as said, no
   matter who, or what, or how he is, it is all right, if he has but been
   sworn before a fountain, and washed and baptized in it by an idolater.
   But how wonderfully narrow, Lord, is thy way, and how very strait is
   the gate which leadeth into thy poor and holy church. Yea, so narrow
   that on its posts are stripped off gold and possessions, flesh and
   blood and all the lusts and inclinations of those who desire and
   sincerely seek to enter in at this narrow gate; and thus, by thy grace,
   to rest and remain forever in thy holy church, Matt. 7? 13.

   Behold, kind readers, I have referred to this in this manner, ?first,
   that you may the better conceive and understand what kind of
   christians, those are, what kind of faith they have, and what kind of
   life they lead, to whom infant baptism has been administered and who
   now have it administered to their children, that the true, divine
   knowledge may multiply in you, that you may rightly comprehend, by the
   word of God, what abominable mockery and hypocrisy infant baptism is
   before the Almighty God; and that there is no other fruitful, pleasing
   and available baptism before God, than alone the baptism which is
   administered and received according to the command of Christ, Mark
   16:16; namely, the baptism upon the confession of faith, as has been
   frequently remarked. Secondly, I must refer you, in the same manner, to
   how wonderfully far the custom of the godfathers, who lift the child
   upon the basin and answer their confession of faith, is different from
   the Spirit, commandment and word of Christ, that by all these facts,
   falsehood, unbelief, abuse, and satanic imposture may appear to you and
   be demolished; and that, on the other hand, truth, faith, the right
   practice and the divine will may be made known and acted upon.

   Inasmuch as Christ commanded that the baptized should first believe,
   Mark 16:16, before baptism should be administered, Acts 8:38, and as
   the world well knew that infants had no faith; and as they,
   notwithstanding this, would have unconscious infants baptized, as human
   righteousness ever has looked upon, profaned, persecuted, despised and
   rejected the righteousness of God as useless, imperfect and foolish;
   therefore the ninth or tenth pope, named Higinius, without any
   commandment of God, hit upon a happy idea, with which the world has
   hitherto been well satisfied, and by means of which they baptized their
   infants, and those who feared God more, and therefore understood the
   word of God better, were for the greater part thereby excommunicated as
   heretics. This means was this: That some should be chosen from the
   church, whom they called godfathers, who should lift the children up to
   the fountain, to be baptized, and who should care for and answer to the
   faith of the child. Most beloved reader, it is true this matter has a
   fine appearance and show, but is not in accordance with Christ's Spirit
   and meaning because the practice of godfathers is a human institution,
   as history plainly shows; therefore I am at a loss to know why it is
   that all the learned of the upper and eastern countries yet have this
   practice of godfathers, since they have so bravely and incessantly
   written, taught and battled with the word of God, against all human
   institutions and teachings; for nowhere in the divine word are we
   taught the practice of such godfathers, in any manner whatever; but
   every where in the Scriptures where baptism is spoken of, it is shown
   in very plain characters that the baptized must believe for themselves,
   must confess it verbally and by their works, and thus desire and
   receive baptism as a commandment of God, Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38; 8:36;
   10:48; 16.:33; and other passages.

   Again, if it were even so that the practice of godfathers was in
   accordance to the word of God or the commandment of Christ, which
   however is not so, O, how extensively and closely, and with what great
   care we would have to search, in city and country, for a suitable
   person to discharge the duties of such an office. For, How can one
   blind man lead another I How can one fool make another wise $ How can
   one poor person be surety for another? Understand what I write. In the
   same manner one unbelieving person can be no surety for the faith of
   another; "For every man shall bear his own burden," Gal. 6:6. Neither
   can he teach nor advocate the faith of another so long as he himself
   has no true, christian faith; for whatever I am to teach another I must
   understand myself; and prayer must be the prayer of faith, Jas. G:16,
   in Spirit and in truth, Jn. 4:24.

   As the unbelieving cannot be surety, before God, for the faith of
   another, nor teach him faith, nor advocate it, even if the practice of
   godfathers were founded on the ordinance of God, which however it is
   not, so it must be acknowledged and admitted, that the practice of
   godfathers in infant baptism is entirely vain, useless and unavailable.
   I will leave every intelligent christian to judge what faith there is
   in the godfathers.

   I know that I will be asked if there are no right, believing
   godfathers, who with good consciences, hold the infants to the basin 8
   To this I briefly answer: No. For, in the first place, it is human
   righteousness, contrary to the word of God, and without the ordinance
   of Christ; and therefore it can not be practiced with a good
   conscience. In the second place I admit that there are godfathers who
   are honorable and virtuous; but, truly, I do not know that they are
   truly believing; for if they were true believers it would be impossible
   that they could ever be led to practice such abominable shame with
   infants, without the word of Christ. For there is no word to be found
   in all the apostolic Scriptures which in any manner teaches and
   commands us such a thing; not to say any thing about the impurity,
   avarice, pomp, ignorance concerning divine matters, idolatry,
   foolishness, vanity, refractoriness against God and his blessed word,
   and of the accursed, carnal life of most of those who are called to
   this office by the church, that the faith of the parent and of the
   godfathers alike, upon which they baptize these infants and through
   which they are thought to acquire faith themselves, may go over on
   them; as we have too often seen that the one adulterous knave calls
   upon the other; one drunkard on the other; or one proud person upon the
   other. By their works they show plainly that it is not of God; but that
   it is deceit, devilish hypocrisy, human righteousness, blasphemy,
   mockery, destruction of the ordinances of Christ, and, in every respect
   contrary to the blessed word of God.

   Behold, worthy brethren, in the course of time they have thus subtlely
   converted and changed the heavenly doctrine, and lovely ordinance of
   our beloved Lord Jesus Christ into such unclean mocking, abuse and
   shameful practice. O, Lord, Father of grace, that this fearful and
   abominable snare and imposture to our miserable souls, might once be
   destroyed, Amen.

   In the third place, as we have first shown you the faith and life of
   the parents; second, the command, faith and life of the godfathers, we
   will now show you who those are whose office it is to baptize these
   infants and thus to make christian people out of them, and will point
   you, faithful reader, to your ? own pastor, vicar, prebendary or
   chaplain, as you call their. Yea to all the priests round about you;
   that you may closely scrutinize them according to the word of God, and
   see if there is one amongst all of them, I say one, however many there
   may be, who is called of an unblamable, christian church, who is moved
   by the Spirit, and who is unblamable in both doctrine and life: O,
   brother, not one, no, not one, however far you may travel, and however
   industriously you may search. Their calling is of the dragon and of the
   beast. They have nothing which forces them to this office, but, solely,
   their lazy, greedy, avaricious, proud and gluttonous flesh. Their
   teaching for the? greater part, is merely deceit; their worship is all
   idolatry, spiritual enchantment of the bottomless pit and a cause for
   shedding innocent blood. Besides, their daily walk is so shameful,
   unclean, sodomic, adulterous, lustful, greedy, avaricious, backbiting,
   envious, unmerciful, treacherous, ambitious, blind, ungodly, fearful
   and so abominable that all reasonable men, the angels of God and the
   heavens must be astounded and ashamed thereat.

   Say, kind reader, is it not so? Have you, ever found greater pride,
   avarice, gluttony, adultery, fornication, spitefulness, hypocrisy,
   mockery and shame than is found amongst them? I am aware that they are
   not all alike unchaste and shameful in their daily walk; yet there is
   not one amongst them, however finely he appears before the world, but
   his worship and life is of the flesh?of the devil; contrary to God and
   his blessed word.

   Worthy, beloved brethren, he who knoweth all things, knows that I do
   not write this with hatred or with bad intentions. Therefore, judge for
   yourselves all things according to the word of God, and according to
   your rational, natural understanding; as you may daily perceive these
   things amongst them. You will without doubt acknowledge that I have
   discovered and presented to you nothing but the truth, out of love for
   your salvation. Say, have I done wrong to discover and present unto you
   the wiles of a thief or murderer? Pluck from your eyes this accursed
   and abominable blindness, and look to the truth of your Lord; root all
   unbelief from your obscured hearts, and believe the word of God.
   Behold, the holy apostle Paul says, " Not to keep company, if any man
   that is called a brother, be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater,
   or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such a one no not
   to eat." A proof that, although they call themselves brethren or
   christians, they are not in the church of Christ on account of their
   dis* reputable life. For the church of Christ is holy, pure and
   unblamable. In another place he teaches that such shall not inherit the
   kingdom of God, Rom. 1:32; 1 Cor 5:11; Gal. 5:22; Eph. 5:6.

   Now if they are not in the church of Christ, and if they cannot inherit
   the king dom of God, tell me what things divine, or christian can then
   be served or practiced by them in the house of the Lord, that is, in
   the church of Christ? Notwithstanding that we should not keep the
   company of such, nor eat with them, and notwithstanding they have not
   the promise of salvation according to Paul, on account of their
   unbelief and their terrible, wicked, beastly life, yet the world is so
   blinded by them and so estranged from God that they look upon, honor
   and accept them as true shepherds, teachers and pastors who have power
   from God to do anything they please while they only make their
   pretensions under the false cover of christianity and of the holy,
   christian church, as they call it. O, blindness!

   These are they, O ye men, who yet this day are allowed to mislead the
   whole world by their false doctrine, and to uselessly bless, conjure
   and baptize infants, without the word or command of God,
   notwithstanding that the most holy gospel of Jesus Christ opposes and
   rebukes such things.

   As these spiritual fathers or teachers are, so also are their children
   who are begotten of them, that is, those whom they teach and baptize as
   they plainly prove and verify by their fruits.

   Behold, brethren, by no? other means than by these beforementioned
   teachers; and infant baptists, the church of Christ is converted into
   such a work of hypocrisy, shame, mockery, deceit, degeneration, knavery
   and prostitution. O, misery of misery!

   Now you have presented to you, first, the parents of whom the children
   are born, with their unbelief and carnal life; secondly, the papal
   godfathers, together with their abuse, unbelief and evil fruits, who
   lift the children to the basin for baptism, and answer their
   confession. Thirdly, the teachers, or baptizers together with their
   sending, calling, doctrine, idolatry, unbelief, and ungodly works, who
   baptize the infants, and, as they call it; cleanse and wash them of
   their inherent sins; all of which parties, namely, parents, godfathers
   and baptizers, themselves feel in their hearts neither knowledge,
   faith, truth, love, fear of God, gospel, christian fruits, obedience,
   remission of sins, peace of mind, prayer, promise, God, Christ, Spirit,
   nor eternal life; but are only nominal christians. These deliberately
   claim to make a christian out of a child just taken from the mother's
   womb, which can neither stand, walk, hear, speak, nor comprehend; which
   for lack of understanding, is as the irrational animals; which cannot
   distinguish between good and evil; without the word and without faith
   by no other means than by crucifixes; breathing, salt, oil, crisma,
   candles, clothing, useless questions and answers; blessings, conjuring,
   baptizing, offering, and such like abominations, and when this noisy,
   idolatrous hypocrisy has been practiced upon the infants, then they are
   christian people, as the nurses tell the mother after these things .
   have been performed, saying, we have received from you a heathen but a
   christian we return and deliver to you again.

   The next thing in order, is setting the table. Victuals and drink are
   prepared, the neighbors and friends partake thereof, and the parents
   are well satisfied with their baptized infant. And from that hour it is
   trained in all manner of foolishness, unbelief, vanity, sin, shame,
   wickedness, idolatry and all manner of carnal and devilish works; in a
   manner, that no knowledge, faith, fear, and love of God, evangelical
   truth and life can ever take root in it. And should anything occur that
   something christian?like would spring up in it, then it will have to
   suffer much and bear the cross of Christ. I repeat it, because of this
   baptism it is henceforth considered a christian person, no matter how
   it acts. Behold, beloved brethren, they call this the holy church of
   to?day, and in this manner one of these christians begets the other,
   until the world is full of them.

   Honored reader, understand rightly what I have written unto you, for I
   have treated so extensively of this matter that you may be convinced of
   what a secret, hidden snare and what a terrible, fearful idol, infant
   baptism is against God; and how very useless and idolatrous it is to
   teach that infants should be baptized that they may be the better
   trained in the word and commandments of God. Thus human doctrine ever
   puts on a fine and holy air, but in fact it is, verily nothing but
   hypocrisy, falsehood and a deadly venom.

   Those who do not depend on this autichristian, infant baptism, but
   practice the true, christian baptism which was commanded of Christ
   Jesus and taught and practiced by his holy apostles, take care of the
   salvation of their children. Therefore they train them in the fear of
   God by teaching, admonishing and chastising them, and with an example
   of an unblamable life, that when they become of mature years, they may
   hear, believe and accept the most holy gospel of Jesus Christ, and
   receive the holy, christian baptism, as Jesus and his holy apostles
   have taught all the believing of God, in divers places of the New
   Testament.

   In the third place, Paul, also, teaches us so, saying, " Know ye not,
   that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ, were baptized
   into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death;
   that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the
   Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life," Rom. 6:3, 4.

   Here the baptism of the believing is again undeniably confirmed, and
   infant baptism is made void. For as Christ Jesus commanded that we
   should baptize the believing, Mark 16:16, so, also, it is evident from
   these words of Paul that baptism represents and signifies something
   which none can realize but those, alone, who are believing, namely, it
   represents death unto sin or a burying of the old life, and a
   resurrection into newness of life.

   Since Paul says, This christian baptism is such a death unto sin, and a
   raising up into a new life, therefore they must confess and admit that
   none can die unto, and bury his shameful lusts and desires, his
   inordinate, carnal, ungodly life; and that none can raise up into a
   pious, unblamable, godly life but those, alone who, as obedient
   children of God, are taught and regenerated by the word of the Lord;
   which spiritual death, burial and resurrection are represented in holy
   baptism. At another place Paul calls it the spiritual circumcision,
   saying, "Ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands;
   in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of
   Christ; buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him
   through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the
   dead," Col. 2:11, 12.

   Inasmuch as it clearly appears that the believing alone die unto their
   sins, and burp them, and, with Christ, enter into, and are raised up
   into the new, godly life; and as little children cannot do this because
   they have no faith by which God operates in his children, therefore it
   must be acknowledged and admitted, whether they are willing or not,
   that infant baptism is not commanded by the Lord Jesus Christ, nor
   taught or implied in the apostolic doctrine.

   Kind reader, it is sometimes alleged that other apostles also left
   Scripture behind them; which Scriptures Pope Gelasius has selected, and
   that perhaps infant baptism was expressed and implied in them.

   Beloved reader, if our opponents build their cause upon the selected
   Scriptures of the apostles and have no certainty therefrom, but only
   presuming that infant baptism may have been expressed therein, we would
   discreetly answer, and ask, first, since they refer to the apostolic
   Scriptures which we do not have, we would like to know of them what
   thgse apostles have taught ?and commanded concerning infant baptism

   Secondly, as they seek to establish their doctrine by uncertain
   Scriptures which they do not have, and that only on presumption, they
   show thereby that they are unable to verify their doctrine at all by
   the apostolic Scriptures which we now have.

   Thirdly, we say that we should not. teach and practice the ceremonies
   of the Lord, namely: The holy baptism, upon presumption and adventure,
   but on certainties.

   Fourthly, we say that the apostles have all written, taught and
   preached in one spirit. Inasmuch as Christ Jesus has commanded baptism
   on the confession of faith, Mark 16:16, and as Peter, Paul and Philip
   taught and practiced, according to the commandment of Christ, the
   baptism of the believing, and not of infants, therefore you may surely
   deduce therefrom that it was not taught and practiced differently by
   the other apostles whose Scriptures we do not have; even if they had
   written and published six hundred volumes. For if infant baptism was an
   apostolic institution it would appear so in their Scriptures. Nor would
   Tertullian, who lived not long after the days of the apostles, have
   written, that among his ancestors, almost invariably adults were
   baptized, as has been said above. Also would Alexander, bishop of
   Alexandria, have baptized the infants of his church; and the ancients
   would not have disputed about it; as all those who feared God would act
   according to the Scriptures and not deviate therefrom; for what
   Godfearing person would dare to despise, oppose, or in any manner
   contradict an apostolic institution or practice?

   Those who did not rightly confess Christ, but sought their
   righteousness and placed their trust in outward ceremonies, got the
   upper hand of the world; and therefore it was not necessary that this
   infant baptism should be confirmed by any papal decree or council, as
   it gradually and of its own accord stole its way into all classes,
   nations and tongues and took its full sway; for the whole church, after
   the demise of the apostles, through the ignorant teachings of the
   bishops, gradually degenerated from the trust in Jesus Christ to the
   trust in outward ceremonies, as may be plainly seen.

   Again, brethren, however plain this passage of Paul, Rom. 6, applies to
   the believing, yet the learned of this barren world have inverted and
   explained it as confirming and asserting infant baptism, saying, That
   infants should be baptized that they may become partakers of the death
   and holy blood of Christ Jesus; and that when they become. of mature
   age, they may die unto sin and walk righteously before God.

   My beloved children in Christ Jesus, if it would do thus to bend, twist
   and garble, of our own choice, and carnal fancy, the plain truth and
   will of God and the most holy and glorious gospel of our beloved Lord
   Jesus Christ, then verily, I do not see why we could not so adorn and
   beautify almost any abomination or idolatry as.to give it a good
   appearance in the sight of the, ignorant. No, most beloved, no. The
   eternal, omnipotent, and saving word of God, must be taught, explained
   and understood according to the true meaning of the Holy Spirit. For
   they baptize before that which is represented by it (namely, faith,) is
   found in us. This is no more sensible than to place the cart before the
   horse, to sow before we have plowed, to build before ?we have the
   lumber at hand, or to seal the letter before it is written. Would this
   not be ridiculed by all the world as foolishness? Yes, certainly.
   Therefore the Holy. Spirit of God did not imply infant baptism in this
   beforementioned Scripture of Paul. Yet they are partakers of the death
   and blood of Christ by the precious promise which was graciously given
   of God through Christ Jesus our Lord, and not through baptism, Luke
   18:16. But this passage of Paul speaks and teaches of those who, in
   their baptism, through their new birth from above and through their
   fruitful, operating faith, have died unto and buried their old, sinful
   life, as Christ Jesus once died in his flesh and was buried. For
   whosoever thus died with Christ, is already justified of his sins, and
   is thus victoriously raised up, with Christ, from the power of sin, to
   the praise of the Lord, in. a new, just, godly, and unblamable life,
   which is by no other means than through God's word alone, which is
   accepted and believed by them through faith, as has been alleged above,
   and is written " Ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without
   hands, in putting off the body of the sins. of the flesh by the
   circumcision of Christ; buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are
   risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath
   raised him from the dead," Col. 2:11, 12.

   O, beloved brethren, open the eyes of your hearts and understanding and
   take heed; for he who will not willfully battle against his God, or his
   holy word, certainly, can not mistake these plain words of Paul. Yet
   Henry Bullenger and many others, on the strength of this epistle to the
   Colossians, have taught _ baptism to have taken the literal place of
   the Israelitic circumcision, although without a good reason and without
   the Scriptures, yet not without a good deal of blasphemy and
   vituperation. For what reason they have done so, I . do not know;
   perhaps because Paul has so closely placed together and so intimately
   connected both the spiritual circumcision and the baptism of the
   believing or upright christians.

   O, Lord, thy divine, blessed word is ever garbled into a shelter for
   'all manner of false doctrine, heresy and wrong doing, so that the
   Bible is called by some the book of heresy I Notwithstanding their
   opposition and subtle lying and philosophizing, the eternal truth of
   God shall obtain and triumph in the chosen children of God who
   sincerely desire and seek the same.

   I repeat it that I am heartily ashamed to write or speak one single
   word against such highly renowned and learned men. But what will we do?
   It will never do to be robbed, by these learned men, of God's eternal
   truth which leads to eternal life, and which was so plainly? taught us
   by Jesus Christ our Lord, and by his holy apostles. For, verily. I find
   nowhere that we should follow and obey such learned men rather than
   Christ and. his holy apostles. If it should be said that they are wise
   and pious, I say that Christ is the most wise and pious; and if it be
   said that they are versed?in many tongues and sciences, I rejoin,
   briefly, that the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ is not bound by
   tongues and science. Therefore the most holy and invincible truth of
   God must be defended and maintained by us, not only against them, but
   against all the gates of hell, by the most holy word of God, in so far
   as God has bestowed on us grace, mercy and knowledge..

   For this reason I will refer all my readers to Col. 2:12, and would
   humbly beseech them to judge impartially whether we find in this or any
   other divine Scriptures that the eircumcisioia of the Israelites was
   the prototype of infant baptism. It is incontrovertible that Paul, in
   this passage and also in Rom. 2:29, taught that the literal
   circumcision was a figure of the spiritual circumcision and not of
   infant baptism, which circumcision cannot be applied to any but the
   believing as may be plainly inferred from the figurative, literal
   practice; for the literal circumcision was to be performed with [6]
   stone knives on the foreskin, Josh. 5:2, 3; Gen. 17':23. This spiritual
   Rock is Jesus Christ, 1 Cor. 10:4, the knife with which the believing
   are circumcised is his holy word. Brethren, understand it well. If we
   wish to remain with believing, circumcised Abraham in the covenant with
   God?into which covenant we are all graciously accepted, young and old,
   male and female, through Christ Jesus and not through any sign?then our
   earthly, carnal birth which is of the earthly, carnal Adam, must be
   circumcised with this same, stone knife, which is Christ Jesus and his
   holy word. Therefore examine the beforementioned words of Paul to the
   Colossians, and judge whether they are spoken in regard to the
   believing or to unconscious infants: Say, who is it that is circumcised
   by the circumcision of Christ? Is it not the believing? Who is it that
   has put off the body of sin by the circumcision of Christ? Is it not
   the believing? Who is it that is buried in baptism with Christ? Is it
   not the believing? Who is it that is raised up into a new life by the
   faith of the operation of God? Is it not the believing? Yea, they are
   those who hear the word of God and believe it; and not the little
   infants. Never.

   Kind reader, since the infant baptizers seek to prove their cause by
   the circumcision of Abraham and by his promise, therefore observe and
   ponder how unreasonably they make this assertion; and observe and
   ponder also on that which will be briefly taught and presented by us,
   from Scriptural truth.

   In the first place, as we said before, we are all accepted into the
   covenant with God, not by any signs but by grace, and have obtained the
   promise by it, if we accept them by faith and walk according to the
   will of the giver; as Abraham was accepted of God by grace, from
   amongst the nations, and was made glad with the promise of grace; for
   he accepted it by faith, and walked according to the will of him who
   had accepted him as the Scriptures say, He believed in the Lord, and it
   was counted to him for righteousness, Gen. 16:6; Rom. 4:3; Gal. 3:6;
   Jas. 2:23.

   To all those who are thus, by faith, graciously accepted of God into
   the covenant of peace with Abraham, God has given his ceremonies and
   figurative signs. Not that they should thereby be justified (for if it
   were by the signs it would not be grace, Rom. 11:6), but that they
   should be justified by faith; be children of God, children of the
   promise, &c., that they should show their obedience to the commandments
   of God who has graciously called, accepted and consoled them by his
   promise. For those that are obedient unto God, are his friends, Jn. 15.

   Behold, brethren, this is one reason why God commanded his ceremonies,
   as is plainly shown in the case of Abraham; for Abraham was already in
   the covenant with God, before he was circumcised; as Paul shows, that
   his faith was already counted for right eousness when he was yet
   uncircumcised; and because he was in the covenant with God, justified
   by faith therefore God commanded him the circumcision, in itself a
   useless and dishonorable ceremony. First, it was in itself quite
   useless, because it did not benefit any neighbor. Secondly,
   dishonorable, for it is performed upon the most dishonorable member of
   the body. And it was commanded him that the believing father, Abraham,
   should deny himself and not live according to his own desires, but
   according to the will of him, alone, who, by grace, had accepted him
   and chosen him from among the nations; and thus he sealed, by this
   performance, which was dishonorable in itself, that his faith was true
   and fruitful before God. Why these ceremonies were again commanded,
   will be shown hereafter, if God please.

   Behold, kind reader, in this manner Abraham was circumcised, and thus
   we are baptized; because it is thus commanded by God. Whosoever
   'disobeys and opposes the voice of the Lord commanding these
   ceremonies, and despises the performance of them because of their
   uselessness and trifiingness, not observing that it was commanded by
   God, excludes himself from the precious covenant of grace, by his
   disobedience; neither does he prove his faith to be fruitful and
   living, but on the contrary he proves that it is unfruitful and dead
   before God. For he hears not the voice of his Lord nor lives in
   accordance therewith, but despises it as powerless, vain and useless.
   Therefore observe and know that we are not accepted into the covenant
   by an outward sign, but alone by grace through Christ Jesus. And
   because we are in the covenant by grace, therefore he has given and
   commanded us his signs, that we shall perform them upon those on whom
   he has commanded them to be performed, namely, upon the faithful; for
   if it were possible that we could come into the covenant with God by
   any signs or ceremonies, then the merits of Christ were vain, and grace
   was ended. No, brethren, no. Abraham was already chosen, accepted and
   justified by God, through faith, before he was circumcised; and because
   he was faithful, and justified through faith, therefore the
   circumcision was commanded him of God that he should thereby seal his
   faith. Again, as Abraham and all his seed born of Isaac, together with
   others, were already included in the covenant with God, women as well
   as men, and as the promise was given to both sexes, yet it was not
   commanded that the females should be circumcised, but the males.

   Observe well, beloved reader, had they obtained the covenant with God
   by the sign and not by grace, then the females must have been excluded
   and without the promise. Not so, it .was by grace, it is by grace, and
   it ever will be by grace. If they had been disobedient to the word of
   God, and not circumcised their males on the appointed day; or if they
   had done differently from the commandment of God, and circumcised their
   females, then they would have had to bear the punishment of their
   disobedience in their children, Gen. 17:14, excluded them from the
   covenant with the Lord, and not have obtained the gift of his, grace.
   For God, the Almighty Father, whose voice, will and commandment all
   creatures, both in heaven and earth, should obey, will have the
   commanded ceremonies performed as it pleases him and as he has
   commanded them to be performed, for therefore he has commanded them. If
   we do not perform them or perform them differently, we have, by our
   disobedience, neither covenant nor j promise. This is the right,
   scriptural meaning of Abraham's covenant, circumcision and promise.
   Whosoever teaches you differently deceives your soul; for he points you
   to merits and works, and not to Christ Jesus through whom alone are
   received the eternal covenant of peace and promise of grace, given of
   God.

   O brethren, brethren, how long will you oppose the Holy Gnost I Give
   the word of God its due praise, and observe that little infants are not
   buried with Christ in baptism; nor are raised into newness of life: for
   if they did die, and were buried in baptism, then sin, would be so
   destroyed in them that it would never more vanquish their spirit.
   Inasmuch as sin, after their baptism, so powerfully, and so abundantly
   flourishes in them as they begin to come to understanding, as may be
   plainly seen, therefore the infant baptizers must acknowledge anal
   confess that they bury the children alive, which should not be; or else
   that they baptize them all without faith, and contrary to the ordinance
   of Christ, therefore useless and vain.

   For this reason, learn once, beloved reader, that infant baptism is not
   of God nor through him. But whosoever rightly acknowledges the love of
   God for himself through Christ Jesus and is baptized upon his own faith
   through true love of God, according to the doctrine of Christ, Peter,
   Paul and Philip, is rightly circumcised in his heart with the
   circumcision of Christ, as Paul teaches; he is buried with Christ
   Jesus; he has died unto sin, and is again raised up by a fruitful faith
   with Jesus Christ in a new life, Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12,

   In opposition to this, the infant baptizers have still another point,
   saying, Because Paul, in this passage, has not forbidden infant
   baptism, therefore it is right. To this we reply by asking: Whether
   infant baptism is commanded in this or any other Scripture`s They must
   own the truth and answer, no. If it is not commanded of God, then it is
   not his ordinance, and therefore it has no promise. Again, if it is not
   commanded of God, then it is not his ordinance; if it is not his
   ordinance, then it has no promise; and if it has no promise, it is
   doubtlessly useless and vain.

   Again, we ask them, Where in the word of God it is expressly forbidden
   to baptize bells? They must own the truth, and answer, nowhere. If it
   is, then, not expressly forbidden to baptize bells, is therefore
   bellbaptism just and right? Not at all.

   Thirdly, Israel was not forbidden to circumcise the females. Now, would
   it have been right if they had circumcised their females? Far from it.
   For the Scriptures commanded that the males should be circumcised
   therefore they considered that it was forbidden to circumcise their
   females.

   In the same manner Christ Jesus commands us to baptize the believing,
   and that which is represented by baptism is only found in the
   believing, as may be plainly seen from Peter and Paul, therefore we
   infer that infant baptism is sufficiently forbidden; for they have no
   faith and do not understand the representation of baptism which comes
   by faith.

   I repeat it, If the infant baptists assert that by this Scripture of
   Paul, infant baptism is not forbidden, and that therefore it is right,
   that it is not expressly forbidden in the holy Scriptures to bless (as
   they call it), holy water, candles, palms, goblets and robes; to hold
   mass, and other ceremonies; yet we pointedly say that it is wrong.
   First, because trusf is put in it. Secondly, because it is done without
   the ordinance of God, for he has not commanded us a word thereof; and
   there is no ordinance in which his holy, blessed word is not expressed
   and implied either in spirit or letter.

   Since Christ Jesus has commanded baptism upon the confession of faith,
   Mark 16:16; since the apostles have thus taught and practiced it, and
   as the meaning of baptism Rom. 6:3; Col. 2:12; Tit. 3:6; Gal. 3:27; 1
   Cor. 12:13;.1 Pet. 3:21, cannot be applicable but to .the believing,
   therefore it is sufficiently forbidden by this divine ordinance, to
   baptize infants; for there is no faith in them nor do they understand
   the meaning thereof; notwithstanding that infant baptism commenced soon
   after the time of the apostles, or perhaps yet in their time, and thus
   it has been practiced many centuries; for length of time can not
   prevail against the word of God, as we have sufficiently shown the
   pious, god?fearing reader, above.

   Fourthly, Thus says the holy apostle Paul, " The? kindness and love of
   God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which
   we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of
   regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost," Tit. 3:4, G.

   Most beloved brethren, if we rightly and thoroughly examine this
   passage of Paul, with spiritual eyes, and weigh it with the Scriptures,
   then the infant baptizers, by force of the Scriptures, must acknowledge
   that the christian baptism which is commanded by God, pertains alone to
   the believing, according to the commandment of Christ, Mark 16:16, and
   not to those who are naturally unable to hear, speak and understand,
   namely, infants; for it is a washing, of regeneration as holy Paul has
   taught and testified to by the above words.

   My worthy, kind brethren, because the holy, christian baptism is a
   washing of regeneration, according to the doctrine of Paul, therefore
   none can be washed therewith, to the pleasure and will of God, but
   those alone who are regenerated through the word of God; for we are not
   regenerated because of baptism, as may be perceived in the infants who
   have been baptized; but we are baptized because we are regenerated by
   faith in God's word, as regeneration is not the result of baptism, but
   baptism the result of regeneration. This cannot well be controverted by
   any man, by force of the Scriptures. Therefore all should be shamed by
   this passage of Paul, let them be ever so learned; the learned, who so
   shamefully teach and make the unsuspecting populace believe that
   infants are regenerated by baptism. .Beloved reader, such teaching and
   belief is, verily, nothing but fraud and deceit. For if the infants
   were regenerated, as the learned say, then their whole course would be
   humility, longsuffering, mercy, pure and chaste love, true faith;
   certain knowledge, sure hope, obedience to God, spiritual joy, inward
   peace, and an unblamable life; for these are the true and natural
   fruits of the new, heavenly birth; but what fruits are found in infants
   every intelligent reader may judge from every day experience.

   Do you think, most beloved, that the new birth consists in nothing but
   io. that which the miserable world hitherto has thought that it
   consists in, namely, baptism ff or in the expression, I baptize thee in
   the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost 8 No,
   worthy brother, no. The new birth consists, verily, not in water nor in
   words; but it is the heavenly, living and quickening power of God in
   our hearts, which comes from God, and which, by the preaching of the
   divine word, if we accept it by faith, quickens, renews, pierces and
   converts our hearts, so that we are changed and converted from unbelief
   into faith, from unrighteousness into righteousness, from evil into
   good, from carnality into spirituality, from the earthly into the
   heavenly, from the wicked nature of Adam into the good nature of Jesus
   Christ; and of such Paul spoke in the alleged Scripture.

   Behold, those who are of such a nature are the truly regenerated
   children of God; those are the beloved brethren and sisters of Jesus
   Christ, who are born with him from above of one Father, namely, of God,
   Jn. 1:13; Heb. 2:13. And these regenerated are those to whom, alone, he
   has taught and commanded the holy, christian baptism, as a seal of
   faith, Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:1C, by which they receive remission of sin;
   Acts 2:38, and not the unconscious infants, as has been frequently
   shown above, from the word of God. Therefore the holy apostle Paul
   teaches us by this Scripture that God sanctifies the regenerated by the
   baptism of regeneration; because they are regenerated by the word of
   God, they deny themselves by the power of their regeneration and have
   obediently taken upon themselves all that. which God, the Almighty
   Father, in his holy word, has taught and commanded his chosen children,
   through his beloved Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, and through all his
   true servants and messengers. Therefore I repeat that the baptism by
   which God sanctifies us, belongs to the believing or regenerated, as
   Paul teaches. And in this manner: First, there must be the preaching of
   the gospel of Christ, Matt. 28:19; Secondly, The hearing of the divine
   word, Rom. 10:17; thirdly, faith, by hearing the word, Rom. 10:17;
   fourthly, there must be the new birth, by faith; fifthly, baptism, by
   the new birth, Tit. 3:6, in obedience to God's word, and, lastly, the
   promise follows.

   If we do not desire willfully to oppose the Holy Ghost and reject the
   grace of God, it is impossible to believe that a true faith can be
   without regeneration and obedience, and that this obedience can be
   without the promise. For the eternal truth, the blessed Jesus Christ,
   will never fail nor deceive us in his holy word; and it is he who
   taught this: First, to preach the holy gospel, saying, Go ye into all
   the; world, and preach the gospel to every creature; therefrom follows
   faith, saying, And whoever shall believe; from faith follows baptism,
   saying, And be baptized; and from these follows the promise, saying,
   ,Shall be saved, Mark 16.

   Inasmuch as the ordinance of Jesus Christ thus reads, and as the one
   follows from the other, therefore Paul here teaches us that God
   sanctifies us by the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the
   Holy Ghost; for in case true faith and obedience be separated from each
   other, as is sometimes the case, such as grieving the Holy Ghost and
   sinning against him, then such faith does not profit us; for it has no
   promise, on account of disobedience and is, besides, useless and dead
   before God, Jas. 2.

   To all those, who, of their own choice., and contrary to the
   Scriptures, assert the regeneration of infants, because they were
   baptized, notwithstanding there are no fruits in them, as may be
   plainly seen, I reply: First, that he does not know what the new birth
   is. Secondly, with the same propriety and reasonability, bells are
   baptized. God in his word has no more commanded the one than the other,
   for according to their nature, there is as little faith and fruits in
   the one as there are in the other. O, Lord! when will this awful
   abomination once cease to be practiced. When will those who now call
   themselves christians be christians ? Yea, when will the blessed Lord
   Jesus Christ be acknowledged as wise, true and perfect in his holy word
   ~ I fear, never. The false teaching, unbelief and opinion is esteemed
   and loved by these miserable, carnal men, far above the same doctrine
   of Jesus Christ and his holy apostles. Notwithstanding we say in Christ
   Jesus, let them baptize their infants as much as they will, let them
   teach it as long and as strong as they will, and let them assert it on
   the strength of the garbled Scriptures, of learned men, and of long
   usage?yet it is all vain and useless before God; for the regeneration
   of infants cannot be maintained by virtue of the word of God.

   Chosen brethren, let them freely cry out against us, let them adduce
   all doctors, learned and famous men who have lived centuries ago, let
   them console themselves with long usage, even from the apostles' time;
   yet where there is no new birth there can be no baptism administered in
   accordance with the commandment of Jesus, for baptism is the washing of
   regeneration, Tit. 3; which regeneration none have but the believing,
   alone, as we have shown our readers before.

   Therefore I would admonish all my belovedreaders in the Lord, not to
   heed the philosophy of the learned, nor to look at the long usage, but
   to the plain and unmixed word of God, and you will surely find by this
   Scripture of Paul, and others, that, according to the commandment of
   Christ, the christian baptism should be, administered to none but those
   who, by grace have become believing and regenerated through the word of
   God. As long as baptism .is, administered to infants, it is no washing
   of regeneration. For the new birth is of the word of God, as has been
   often said, which word infants cannot hear and understand; therefore
   they cannot be born again as long as they are minded as a child. All
   that which the Father has not planted should be plucked from the heart
   by the word of God, Matt. 15. God's word shall stand forever, and
   according to the divine word, every pious christian shall and must
   build the structure of his faith, if his work shall be pleasing before
   God; and should not build it according to his own pleasure. For God,
   the Almighty Father, who rules all things by his word, will not be
   honored by human doctrine and commandments, Matt. 15:9; Mark 7:7; Col.
   2:22; Jer. 29:8.

   In the fifth place holy Paul teaches us saying, For ye are all children
   of God by faith in Christ Jesus. " For as many of you as have been
   baptized into Christ, have put on Christ," Gal. 3:27; Rom. 8:3.

   My beloved children in Christ Jesus, you are aware that all the world,
   by their blind and foolish unbelief, have hitherto whored with outward
   works and ceremonies. Yet you should not do likewise. But you should
   know that the righteousness which avails before God, consists nut in
   any ceremonies and outward works, but solely in a true, pious and
   fruitful faith and in nothing else, in this manner. For the faith which
   comes by the word of God cannot be without fruit only in those who sin
   against the Holy Ghost, as said above, but it leads into all manner of
   righteousness, it willingly submits itself in all obedience and it
   cheerfully complies not only with baptism, but with all the words and
   ceremonies which God, the gracious Father, through his blessed Son, has
   so clearly taught and commanded in his holy gospel.

   Therefore true faith is the fullness of righteousness, Rom. 3 and 6;
   yea, it is the true begetter of all christian virtues; and by reason of
   this, the word of God ascribes to it righteousness, Rom. 3:23, the
   blessing, salvation, and life everlasting, Jn. 3:36; 17:4, and does not
   ascribe these to ceremonies. If ceremonies are commanded by him, it is
   not because of these ceremonies, but it is because of the faith which
   compels us to observe these ceremonies for they are commanded of God.
   Therefore you should know, kind reader, that when the ceremonies in
   God's word are coupled with the promise, as the Israelitic offerings in
   the law, and baptism under the gospel, then it is not because of
   ceremonies, but it is by virtue of faith, which obediently and in love
   fulfills not alone the commanded ceremonies, but also all that which
   God has commanded, as has been said above.

   For this reason holy Paul taught the Galatians that they were become
   the children of God through faith and not by baptism, saying, "Ye are
   all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." And again, because
   they were the children of God by faith, they showed obedience to his
   word, and therefore Paul said unto them, "As many of you as have been
   baptized into Christ, have put on Christ." Therefore the principal
   thing is in faith, and not in ceremonies. Bat this godly, fruitful
   faith, in which all consists, together with its chrisn tian fruits, is
   not known to many, and for that reason they ever seek their
   righteousness in outward ceremonies, yea, also in the most useless
   ceremonies of human invention which are neither taught nor commanded of
   God, as they have shown, these many centuries, in baptizing infants.
   Read what we told you above? about the parents, godfathers and
   baptizers and you will see that all the world is led into a false trust
   by infant baptism; has become estranged from God, and is blinded in
   regard to all christian matters. And to give their false pretensions a
   beautiful, holy and divine appearance, they mutilate and twist the
   precious word of God to suit them, as they fully show in this case;
   for, by this Scripture of Paul, and other garbled Scriptures, they have
   fooled and deceived the poor, ignorant people these many years;
   teaching them that infants put on Christ in baptism, plainly showing by
   such doctrine that they do not know what regeneration is, nor what it
   is to put on Christ Jesus.

   Most beloved brethren, verily it is the nature of all heretics to tear
   a fragment from the holy Scriptures and thereby to prove their chosen
   worship; never observiug what is written before or after, by which we
   may ascertain the right meaning, as in this instance they have so
   plainly shown. For this sentence: "as many of you as are baptized have
   put on Christ," they pick out to give their infant baptism an
   appearance; but the foregoing sentence: "Ye are all the children of God
   because you believed on Christ Jesus," from which, as we have shown
   above, all the rest must follow, that they seem not to have noticed;
   and thus they, seek merit in ceremonies and not through faith in Jesus
   Christ.

   Besides, inasmuch as they are not clothed with Christ nor have put him
   on, either actively or passively, and have not tested his heavenly,
   spiritual nature and Spirit, because they are carnally minded?therefore
   they do not understand, however much they write and teach, what it
   means to put on Christ Jesus, I repeat, either actively or passively.

   That we may convince all gainsayers of the word of the Lord, and that
   we may neither stumble nor err in these words, therefore I would refer
   all my readers to holy Paul. He shows who they are that put on Christ,
   and what fruits they manifest, by which we may know that they have put
   on Christ, thus saying; "If Christ be in you, the body is dead because
   of sin; but the spirit is life because of righteousness," Rom. 8:10;
   6:5.

   Kind reader, however dexterously the scribes and infant baptizers may
   controvert under a false semblance of the divine word, yet none can
   deny that Christ dwells in those who have put on Christ. Since the
   truly baptized put on Christ Jesus, he is in them; and if he is in them
   then the body is dead unto sin and the spirit is life because of
   righteousness; this being the case, I again call on all reasonable
   persons to judge impartially for themselves, whether it is found in
   truly believing persons, or in infants? If they say, in the believing,
   their judgment is right; for Christ Jesus dwells in the hearts of the
   believing, Eph. 3:17. But if they say in infants, then I would again
   ask by what means we may find this out, inasmuch as in these infants
   the death unto sin and the spiritual life are not shown nor found?

   For all of them, from infancy, so long as they do not believe the word
   of God, notwithstanding their baptism, are not alone prone to evil, but
   also to disobedience, as daily experience openly shows in all those
   baptized of this world.

   Therefore I conclude from this Scripture of Paul, and say, If the
   infant baptists remain constant in their opinion and belief, that by
   their baptism, infants put on Christ, that they must come to the
   conclusion by virtue of the word of God, that Christ Jesus is
   unbelieving, proud, ambitious, envious, vain, drunk, adulterous,
   refractory and disobedient to the word of God; for whosoever has put on
   Christ Jesus does not live himself, but Christ lives in him. If they,
   then, have put on Christ by their baptism, as they claim, and as,
   according to Paul, Christ lives in them and rules their actions, so it
   must follow that Christ is vain and useless in them, or that their
   accursed works are begotten of Christ, for they yet live in all manner
   of carnality and ungodliness, and it therefore follows that they have
   not put on Christ.

   No, verily, no. For Christ Jesus cannot be without fruits; but
   whosoever has put on the humble, long?suffering, merciful, amiable,
   peaceable, sober, chaste and obedient Christ, in such an one the
   beforementioned accursed works are not found; for whosoever has put on
   Christ, is dead unto sin and lives in righteousness, Rom. 8; is led by
   the Holy Spirit, born with Jesus, from above, of the Father; and
   therefore he lives according to the will of the Father, and cannot sin
   because he is born of God, 1 Jn. 3:9; 5:18.

   Inasmuch as all those who are baptized without faith, prove the
   contrary by their life and do not manifest the nature and virtues of
   Christ whom they have put on, as they falsely claim; but they manifest
   in their whole walk the nature and vices of the flesh and of Satan;
   therefore it proves clearly that they have not put on Christ who is
   from heaven; but that they have put on the devil, who is from hell; for
   it is he who actuates and leads them at will, as may be plainly seene
   as all their thoughts and works of the flesh and of Satan are natural,
   inherent fruits which are found all over the world, in all men; no
   matter of what state, trade, condition, class or sect they are.

   Beloved reader, you will acknowledge that every tree brings forth
   fruits after its own kind, and that by the fruit we may know the tree,
   Matt. 7:20; 12:33. Therefore it can not fail but that where Christ
   Jesus is, there are the good fruits of life everlasting; but where the
   devil is, there are the wicked fruits of eternal death. Yea, whosoever
   has put on Christ, in him the works of the devil are not found. On the
   contrary, where the devil is, there Christ is not; the one must give
   place to the other; for they are two princes so very different that it
   is impossible for them to dwell in one heart, or for the two to be
   conceived and included in one human heart, Matt.. 6:24; Eph. 2:2.

   For this reason I would admonish all God fearing christians in the Lord
   to ponder well upon these words of Paul, and tounderstand them
   according to the divine truth, and you will plainly see that Paul
   taught by this Scripture just what Christ had commanded, Mark 16:16.
   The believ ing, alone, put on Christ Jesus in their baptism, and they
   alone bring forth true fruits, and not the infants, as we have here,
   and also in our first writings sufficiently proven to all the pious and
   true believers.

   Most beloved brethren, let the infant baptizers, to their own
   condemnation, thus scornfully ridicule such plain Scriptures, and let
   them subtlely garble and twist them as much as they please, yet this
   Scripture will ever remain unbroken by them; it will remain so firm and
   binding that they will stumble thereon, be shamed thereby and will have
   to stand back, notwithstanding all their flattering. If they would but
   rightly look into the matter and then judge according to the word of
   God, what it means according to Paul, what it implies, to put on
   Christ, whether spoken in the active or in the passive (for all those
   who are not content with the active may apply the passive to Rom. 13,
   although it is in the active by Paul, according to the translation of
   Erasmus), they would soon perceive that it makes no difference in this
   matter whether it is used in the active or in the passive. But what
   will it benefit? If the learned have nothing wherewith to obscure the
   truth they garble things before the ignorant, simple populace, by
   strange tongues, false explanations, lies, and ?high?sounding
   philosophical reasons. O how justly Christ Jesus said unto the
   Pharisees, "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites I for ye
   shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for ye neither go in
   yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in," Matt.
   23:13.

   In the sixth place,. Paul teaches, saying, "For by one Spirit are we
   all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we
   be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit," 1
   Cor. 12:13.

   By these words of Paul the baptism of the believing is again plainly
   taught and confirmed, and, on the other hand, the anti?christian,
   infant baptism is rejected and made of none effect, because God, the
   merciful Father, in his holy gospel, points us to faith, alone, through
   Jesus Christ, and to the new birth. Because the believing or
   regenerated act rightly before God, and diligently seek and fulfill his
   holy will according to the grace they have received?therefore we must
   forcibly acknowledge that we cannot be led to this godly gift of faith
   and of regeneration, otherwise than by the word of God, through his
   Holy Spirit. All writing, reading, and teaching is in vain, when the
   Holy Spirit of God, the true Teacher of all righteousness, does not
   quicken, pierce and turn the hearts of the disciples or hearers, by the
   only means for this purpose given of God, which is his word.

   Since we are baptized by one Spirit into one body, according to the
   teaching of Paul, and since this same Spirit must quicken and turn the
   hearts by the word of God therefore it incontrovertibly follows that
   none should be baptized but those alone whose hearts are quickened and
   turned by this Spirit through the word of God.

   All those, then, who hear the holy gospel of Jesus Christ and sincerely
   believe it and are thus inwardly quickened and pierced ', by the Holy
   Spirit (let them be of whatever nation or sex), are baptized by this
   quickening Spirit into one holy, spiritual body, of which Christ is the
   head,?that is into the church. And thus Paul has taught by this
   Scripture in conformity to the command of Christ, Mark 16: le.

   Beloved reader, as those should be baptized who are urged by faith and
   forced by the Spirit, as Paul teaches, so I will again leave it to your
   judgment who they are that are led and impelled by this Spirit. Whether
   they are the believing or whether they are the infants? If you say the
   believing, your answer is right. For the believing die unto their
   flesh, lusts and desires, Gal. S:24; they put off the old man and all
   his works, Eph. 4:23; seek Christ Jesus in purity of heart; bring forth
   the precious fruits of the Spirit which is in them, and show outwardly
   and inwardly in all their actions that they are taught, led and
   impelled by this Holy Spirit, Gal. 5:18; Rom. 8:14. But if you answer,
   the infants, then I would ask you, Where are their spiritual fruits

   As nothing appears in a child but their childish actions, as we said
   above. Yet they are baptized and called christians, without doctrine,
   faith and commandment, from which follows that in all the baptized of
   the world nothing is found but abominable blindness, idolatry,
   hypocrisy, evil thoughts, vain words, madness against the truth,
   disobedience, blasphemy, trickery and a very wicked life contrary to
   God and his blessed word.

   I am aware, brethren, that children have spiiritum ritalem, that is,
   the spirit by which they live, which God breathed into Adam and into
   all flesh that they might live, Gen. 2:7; Acts 17:25. But they have not
   the Spiritwm Justifccantum, aut innovantem, that is, the spirit which
   sanctifies or regenerates. For if the latter spirit was in them it
   would surely be manifested in the fruits, as it is impossible that the
   Holy ? Spirit of God, which of itself is awake, living and fruitful,
   and by which all true christians are justified, taught, led and urged,
   should be idle, dormant, and fruitless in those in whom it dwells. Let
   the infant baptists controvert this as mach as they please, no matter
   whether they are old, learned, or of high renown, yet it will never be
   proven by the word of God, that the Holy Spirit of God is ever idle,
   useless and without fruits. I am aware that one may stumble,
   notwithstanding he has the Spirit of God, as is shown in the case of
   the pride, adultery, and manslaughter of David; the hypocrisy of Peter,
   and the quarrel of Paul and Barnabus; they will not long continue
   therein, but will be immediately admonished to repentance, either by
   the kind admonition of the brethren or by the Spirit. For it is
   impossible that those, in whom is the spirit of love and the fear of
   God, can long continue in a shameful sin and transgression. If the
   baptized infants, now, have the Holy Spirit, as the infant baptists
   affirm, then they must admit that it is a dead, unfruitful and
   powerless spirit which can beget neither faith, love, fear of God,
   obedience; nor any evangelical, divine righteousness, in these
   children.

   Because they have, of their own choice, contrary to all scriptural
   truth, and by their own righteousness, taught infant baptismtherefore
   they subtlely seek to clothe and adorn it with a garbled form of the
   divine word, that the adulterous, enchanting wine which is in the
   goblet of the Babylonian whore, may be swallowed as a good and pure
   wine, Saying: "That infants should be baptized that they may be the
   better trained in the word and commandments of God; cleansed of their
   inherent sins; buried in the death of Christ; regenerated and put on
   Christ Jesus, yea, baptized into the body of Jesus Christ and thus
   become partakers of the Holy Spirit." Which teaching is, verily,
   nothing but open deceit, lies, garbling of the Scriptures and a
   deception of satan. For in all the baptized of the world we find the
   very contrary in their fruits, all through their lives, as every
   intelligent christian may plainly observe.

   Most beloved brethren in the Lord, never let such shameful and
   abominable lies find place in your hearts, but examine all things
   rightly and according to the word of God, that you may rightly
   understand all evangelical truth. For thus to ornament infant baptism
   with the virtues which only belong to the baptism of the believing, is
   just as reasonable as it is to clothe an ape in purple and silk, as the
   common saying of the learned implies, which reads, Simia semper manet
   simia, etiamsi induatur purpwra; which means: an ape is an ape though
   he be clothed in purple. In the same manner infant baptism will remain
   a stench and abomination before God, however finely it be ornamented
   with garbled Scriptures, by the learned; for an infant, so long as it
   is in its infancy, will remain ignorant, simple and of childish mind,
   notwithstanding it be baptized a hundred times and its baptism be still
   more subtlely asserted by six times a hundred garbled Scriptures; as it
   is plain to all intelligent persons that with infants are found neither
   doctrine, faith, spirit, fruits nor idea of God's commandment; and that
   therefore they should not be baptized; that is, if we believe that the
   word of God is true and will ever remain true, as we have abundantly
   proven in our first writings concerning baptism, as also in this.

   O, kind reader! Verily, if it were not that this bitter, cancerous,
   lime spittle of false doctrine and long usage had so deeply eaten into
   the eyes of your hearts, you would acknowledge at once that this large
   church, in its young days, was not embodied into the pure, chaste,
   god?serving, and unblamable body of Jesus Christ, by the office of a
   clean and christian spirit, but rather into the adulterous, idolatrous
   and blamable body of anti?christ, by an unclean and anti?christian
   spirit.

   For if it were the case that they were incorporated into the most holy
   body of Jesus Christ, as they persistently boast, they should prove by
   their works that they are serviceable, and fruitful members of that
   body into which they are incorporated.., For we plainly see that there
   is no member of the human body created but for some use and purpose, be
   it ever so small and trifling; but it is in its way profitable and
   useful to the body to which it belongs. But how useful the
   beforementioned infants are to the body of Christ Jesus will be
   perceived by all those taught of the spirit.

   From this it incontrovertibly follows, that if they are the body of
   Christ, as they claim, and that Christ is the head of his church, that
   Christ is the head of the unbelieving, the avaricious, perjurious,
   gamblers, drunkards, adulterers, fornicators, Sodomites, thieves,
   murderers, liars, idolaters, disobedient, blood?thirsty, traitors,
   tyrants, proud, and of all rogues and knaves. For where is there one in
   the whole church of those who were baptized in infancy; that walks
   unblamably in all the commandments of our beloved Lord Jesus, Christ,
   and who, either inwardly or openly, is not guilty before God, in some
   or many of the beforementioned crimes. O no, kind reader, no. The most
   holy and glorious body of Jesus Christ is wonderfully far different
   from such a cruel, ungodly, refractory, disobedient, carnal, bloody and
   idolatrous body.

   Most beloved brethren, since they plainly are such transgressors,
   blasphemers, and willful sinners, judge for yourselves from these and
   other scriptural reasons, what kind of a body they are; by whose
   doctrine, commandment and practice; by what Spirit they were and are
   yet daily incorporated into this very horrible body; yea, such a body
   that has neither gospel, faith, christian baptism, supper, nor
   christian life; and therefore neither God, prayer, promise mor eternal
   life; but only false doctrine, false faith, false sacraments, false
   promise, ungodly life and eternal death. O, Lord, save all thy beloved
   children from such an abominable, bloody body.

   But in the most holy body of Jesus Christ is a true and orderly state
   of things according to the word of God, as the true doctrine, faith,
   baptism, supper, love, life, worship and true excommunication; and
   therefore also grace, favor, mercy, remission of sins, prayer, God's
   promise and eternal life. Behold, brethren, where these are, there
   also, is the true body of Jesus Christ, of which Christ Jesus is the
   head. They are the true brethren of Jesus Christ who with him are born
   of God the Father; the spiritual Mount Zion which will never be moved;
   the spiritual house of Israel which is wisely ruled by Christ Jesus our
   only King, according to the Spirit, with the unbroken scepter of his
   divine word; the spiritual Jerusalem in which the great King, the
   blessed Christ Jesus has placed the glorious, kingly throne of his
   honor; the spiritual temple of the LOr(I. in which his holy name is
   sincerely glorified; the spiritual ark of the covenant with his
   heavenly bread; blooming, red and stone tables upon which the throne of
   mercy, the blessed Christ Jesus is found under the two cherubims of his
   testaments according to his promise. Yea, the lovely bride of Jesus
   Christ; flesh of his flesh, and bone of his bone, Eph. 5:30; which he
   placed in his chamber, Cant. 1:4, and kissed with the mouth of his
   eternal peace, Col. 1; Eph. 1. Therefore no one can be a profitable
   member in this most holy, glorious and pure body of Christ, who is not
   believing, regenerated, converted, changed and renewed; who is not
   amiable, mild, meek, obedient, merciful, chaste, sober, humble,
   forbearing, peaceable, just, constant, and who are heavenly and
   spiritually minded with Christ; for it is impossible, according to
   Scripture, that Christ Jesus will or can be a Prince or head of those
   who do not conform themselves to him, that is, of those who do not
   sincerely seek, hear, believg and serve him; but rather trample upon,
   blaspheme and resist him.

   But those who hear and believe the word of God, are, by the Holy Spirit
   which has taught, begotten and enlightened them, baptized into the body
   of Christ, on their own faith, according to the commandment of Christ;
   for these are regenerated of the word of God; bury their sins and are
   raised up with Christ into new life; have a good conscience; receive
   remission of sins; put on Christ Jesus; become true members of the most
   holy body of Jesus Christ, which are fruitful, useful and serviceable
   according to their strength, 1 Cor. 12:13; Rom. 6:5; 1 Pet. 3:21; Acts
   2:38; Gal. 3:27. On all such are the affectionate eyes of the Lord, the
   heavenly blessing, and the merciful mind, protection and solicitude of
   the eternal Father; because they have sincerely and fully denied
   themselves, and have obediently followed the will of God to live
   according to the will of him who has graciously called them, Christ
   Jesus. Beloved reader, since infants have not this mind, and as the
   Holy Spirit does not operate, nor show itself to be in them, and since
   they cannot serve in the body of Christ as is required by the word of
   God, since it is plain to all intelligent persons, they should not be
   baptized; for without the quickening Spirit of God, none should be
   baptized, as we have abundantly proven to all the pious children of
   God, from his word.

   Therefore I conclude in regard to this matter of baptism, with these
   plain words

   Inasmuch as Christ Jesus, the true Teacher, sent of the Father, has
   commanded us to baptize the believing, Mark 16:16, and as the holy
   apostles have, in the above adduced Scriptures, so explained that which
   is represented by baptism as pertaining to none but the believing, and
   as infant baptism is no such baptism because it is evident that they
   have no faith nor its fruits, which faith and fruits are the true
   representation of baptism?therefore we are again necessarily forced by
   the word of the Lord, by faith and by the love of God, diligently to
   teach and receive the baptism of the believing, and to assert it to the
   praise of the Lord before lords, princes, and the whole world, at the
   risk of life and goods as true witnesses of Jesus Christ.
     __________________________________________________________________

   [6] German translation of the Bible.
     __________________________________________________________________

  HOW THE HOLY APOSTLES PRACTICED BAPTISM IN THE WATER.

   IN the third and last place we are forced to assert the christian
   baptism of the believing, even at the risk of life and blood for the
   reason, that the holy apostles of God baptized none but those alone who
   desired to be baptized, as Christ expressly and plainly commanded them,
   saying, " Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every
   creature; he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved," Mark
   16:15. This commandment the apostles received from the mouth of the
   Lord and have proclaimed the holy gospel, the glad tidings of grace,
   throughout the world, Rom. 10, and preached it to every creature which
   was under the heavens, Col. 1. They baptized all who accepted this
   gospel by faith, and no others as is shown and perceived in many
   Scriptures treating of the acts of the apostles; some of which
   Scriptures I shall place before the reader, by which all the rest of
   the Scriptures will be easily explained.When Philip was led by the
   angel of the Lord, to the chariot of the eunuch, who was come from the
   land of Ethiopia, and read the gospel of Jesus Christ from Esaias the
   prophet, "Philip preached unto him Jesus and as they went on their way,
   they came unto a certain water; and the eunuch said, See here is water;
   what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest
   with all thine heart thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe
   that Jesus Christ is the Son of God," Acts 8:35 ?37.

   My chosen, beloved brethren, If all the earth were full of learned
   orators or highly renowned doctors, and these were, by sharp subtlety
   and human philosophy, exalted as high as the stars; yet, by the grace
   of God, the word will never be wrung from us, namely this: That where
   there is no faith, no baptism should be administered, according to the
   word of God; or else we must admit, first, that the command of Christ
   Jesus is wrong: Secondly, that the holy apostles have taught
   wrongfully; thirdly, that the holy Philip here asked wrongfully;
   fourthly, that the eunuch was concerned about this matter more than all
   the rest of humanity.

   No, kind reader, no. But as Peter and Paul, together with all the pious
   witnesses of Christ always had their eyes fixed upon the commandment of
   the Lord Jesus Christ and did not act in opposition thereto, so also,
   the holy Philip, the true servant of God who preached and taught with
   the same spirit, would not baptize until the illustrious and famous man
   had sincerely confessed his faith; for it was thus commanded him of
   Christ Jesus, his true Master, our Redeemer and Savior, Matt. 28:19;
   Mark 16:15.

   As the holy apostles required of those that were to be baptized, first,
   to make a confession of their faith before baptism, so I ask you,
   beloved reader, How can we require a confession of faith of infants
   before they are baptized, and who shall confess for them? If you should
   say the godfathers, then I would reply, that the godfathers were first
   gotten up by pope Higinius, as we have shown above. Inasmuch as
   Higinius is the getter up of them, and as infant baptism has been
   practiced ever since the time of the apostles as Origen and Augustine
   write, and as I believe, because those who do not rightly confess
   Christ, ever seek their righteousness in wrought ceremonies,
   notwithstanding it is no divine command nor apostolic usage, as may be
   particularly proven by the holy Scriptures, and also by Tertullian and
   Ruffinus and others?therefore I verily do not see who, by the faith of
   infants, has answered for them in their baptism which were baptized
   during the period between the apostles and pope Higinius, inasmuch as
   the godfather were first gotten up by Higinius who was either the ninth
   or tenth pope, and as the infants which were before him had as little
   doctrine, hearing, voice or understanding as the children of the
   present day, as they plainly prove by their fruits.

   Observe, kind reader, that all their doing with children, such as
   catechism, godfathers, baptism, crisma, and such like things, is
   nothing but open hypocrisy, human righteousness, idolatry, useless
   fantasy and opinion.

   Inasmuch as Christ Jesus has commanded but one baptism on the
   confession of faith, and as the apostles have taught and practiced
   it?therefore the infant baptists must consent and admit, by virtue of
   the word of God, that infant baptism is not by the commandment of
   Christ, not by the teaching and practice of the holy apostles, but by
   the doctrine of anti?christ and by the practice of his preachers.

   I repeat that the holy apostles baptized none but those that desired
   it, or those who confessed the most holy faith either verbally or
   proved it by their walk, as did holy Peter; for although he was
   previously informed by a heavenly vision that he might go amongst the
   Gentiles to teach them the gospel, yet he refused to baptize the pious,
   noble and godly centurion and his consorts, so long as he did not see
   that the Holy Spirit was descended upon them, that they spoke with
   tongues, and glorified God. But when Peter plainly saw that they were
   truly believing and that the Spirit was descended on them, he said,
   "Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized which have
   received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be
   baptized in the name of the Lord," Acts 10:47, 48.

   Behold, kind reader, here you are plainly taught that Peter commanded
   that those only should be baptized who had received the Holy Ghost; who
   spoke with tongues and glorified God, which only pertains to the
   believing and not the unconscious infants. Thus the practice of Peter
   was in accordance with the commandment of Christ, Mark 16:16. Therefore
   Peter did not command infant baptism; for the Holy Ghost does not
   operate in them, as may be plainly seen. This may also be understood
   from a passage of Paul; for he says, "When they believed Philip
   preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of
   Jesus Christ, they were baptized both men and women," Acts 8:12.
   Observe, nothing is said of infants.

   Paul, a preacher and apostle, also baptized upon the confession of
   faith and truth.

   He required faith before baptism to such perfection that he regarded
   the baptism of the holy John the baptist, as useless and vain among the
   disciples at Ephesus, because they knew not the Holy Ghost, saying, "
   Unto what then were ye baptized? And they, said Unto John's baptism.
   Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance,
   saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should
   come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they
   were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his
   hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them, and they spake with
   tongues and prophesied; and all the men were about twelve," Acts
   19:3?7.

   Hear, most beloved readers; for I would here present to you and to all
   the world three points, which you should impartially consider and judge
   according to the word of God. First, Was the baptism of John not of God
   8 I know you will give an affirmative reply. If now the baptism of John
   is of God, as it is indeed, and if Paul yet considered this baptism
   which was from above, as insufficient and imperfect in these disciples
   because they did not acknowledge the Holy Ghost, and as he, after
   preaching to them Christ, again baptized them with the baptism of Jesus
   Christ, as is mentioned in Luke, for what purpose must we consider the
   baptism of children that are naturally unable to understand the divine
   word, and therefore they acknowledge neither Father, Son, nor Holy
   Ghost; neither can they distinguish between truth and lies,
   righteousness and sinfulness, good and evil, right and wrong 9 Does not
   this prove infant baptism to be useless, vain and unfruitful? and as
   administered and received without the ordinance of God? and if we
   acknowledge this by the word of God through faith, is it therefore not
   necessary to be baptized with the baptism of Jesus Christ as Christ has
   commanded and as Paul has administered to these disciples I I say,
   verily, if we do not, there is, according to the word of God, neither
   faith, regeneration, obedience, nor Spirit in us, and therefore no
   eternal life, as we have frequently shown above.

   Let all the learned garble this invincible Scripture and practice of
   Paul as subtlely as they please, yet it will never be asserted by
   virtue of the word of God but that these disciples, notwithstanding
   that they were baptized with the baptism of John, were again baptized,
   after they were taught by Paul, with the baptism of Jesus Christ;
   because they knew not that there was a Holy Ghost; that is, if baptism
   is to be baptism according to the word of God. But, brethren, the
   preaching of the cross is ever opposed because it is to them that
   perish, foolishness, 1 Cor. 1:18.

   Again, judge for yourselves kind readers, since Christ Jesus himself
   and also the holy apostles, Peter, Paul and Philip, have commanded and
   taught no other baptism in all the Scriptures of the New Testament, but
   upon the confession or proof of faith, and as the whole world in
   opposition thereto, teaches and practices a different baptism, which is
   founded neither in the command of Jesus nor in the teaching and
   practice of the holy apostles, namely, infant baptism, and asserts it
   not by the word of God, but solely by the opinion and long usage of the
   learned; and forces it upon the world by the cruel, bloody sword;
   therefore judge, I say, which of the two we should follow. The divine
   truth of Christ Jesus, or the lies of the ungodly world? If you answer,
   Christ, your judgment is right; but the consequence according to the
   flesh, is anxiety, being robbed, apprehension, banishment, poverty,
   water, fire, sword, the wheel, shame, cross, suffering and temporal
   death; yet in the end eternal life. . But if you answer, the world,
   then you verily judge wrongfully; notwithstanding, on the contrary
   according to the flesh, the consequence is honor, peace, ease, liberty,
   temporal life and such perishable advantages; yet the end is eternal
   death.

   Thirdly and lastly, judge rightly whether the ordinance of Jesus Christ
   which he commanded into his church, and which the holy apostles learned
   and administered from his blessed mouth, can ever be changed and broken
   hp human wisdom or excellency. If you answer in the affirmative, you
   must prove it by the divine and evangelical Scriptures or else we
   should not believe it. But if you answer in the negative, as it should
   be, you must acknowledge that those, no matter who they are, whether
   they lived at the time of the apostles, and were even their disciples,
   who say that the apostles baptized infants, shamefully misrepresent the
   apostles and load falsehood upon them, yea, that they speak their own
   opinion and not the word of God, for the most holy apostles, the true
   witnesses of christian truth, never taught two different baptisms in
   the water; neither did they act contrary to the command and ordinance
   of Christ, nor administer it contrary to their own doctrine.

   O, had the educated and learned men, Origen, Augustine, Jeronimus,
   Lactantius and others, not soared so high in their smartness and
   philosophy; and had they been satisfied with the clear, chaste, and
   plain doctrine of Jesus Christ and his apostles, and had they conformed
   their intelligence and subtle reasoning to the word of God, then the
   heavenly doctrine and unchangeable ordinance of our beloved Lord Jesus
   Christ would not have been subjected to such shame and change I And in
   particular has the great Origen, by his philosophy and self?conceit, so
   shamefully treated with the Holy Scripture that Martin Luther in his
   book called Sermum Arbitrium, calls him Spercissimus scripturarwm
   interpres, that is: The falsest explainer of the Scriptures. And
   besides, it is annotated in the Lutheran New Testament, that this
   Origen is the great star which fell from heaven, burning like a lamp,
   and that his name is Wormwood, Rev. 8:11. Therefore we will leave it to
   God who and what he is. Notwithstanding he has treated the word of God
   so shamefully and has erred so terribly, yet, because he pleases the
   world in regard to infant baptism?the holy doctrine of Christ Jesus and
   the apostles must stand back; and Origen is heeded, accepted and
   followed as a sure testimony to this idolatrous ceremony. O, abominable
   blindness! O, shameful foolishness! That we do not believe the sure
   word of our Lord Jesus Christ, the word of truth, and the true
   witnesses who were sent by him I but that we would rather follow, to
   the loss of our souls, those who teach to please us, notwithstanding it
   is plain from their writings that they have so often stumbled and
   erred, and been mistaken in regard to the truth of Almighty God!

   Therefore I beseech you all, beloved brethren in the Lord, by the grace
   of God to open your understanding, that you may be no longer deceived,
   and that you may perceive, you who are made uneasy by the writings of
   the learned, that all the writers, both ancient and modern, have ever
   sought righteousness in wrought ceremonies, which we should only seek
   in Christ Jesus. And again, that, because they have not the word of God
   on their side they do not follow the same path in regard to this
   matter, do not speak of one accord nor write unanimously. For as their
   writings show, some seek the washing away of inherent sin. Others teach
   that they should be baptized on account of their faith. Again, to train
   them in the word and commandments of Clod. Still others, to have them
   included into the covenant with Clod; and, again, to baptize them into
   the church of Christ. Behold, kind readers, thus each of the
   beforementioned writers follows his own course, and does not follow the
   same way. If they were supported by the word of God, in regard to this
   matter, they would all be unanimous. But because they have not the word
   of God?each one follows his own inclination, thinking that he can,
   under a scriptural appearance, palm off pernicious falsehood as being
   the truth. Yea, lie tickles his vision so long with garbled Scriptures,
   that his mind becomes so obscured that he can no more conceive that he
   teaches, follows and administers accursed falsehood for the blessed
   truth of God.

   Thus, most beloved children, because the learned have ever sought and
   yet seek righteousness in infant baptism, you can easily surmise that
   these infant. baptista have, by that means, made this innovation. For
   with the ancients it was not the common practice, I say common, as may
   be deduced from Tertullian, Ruffin and others; but as appears, just
   after the demise of the apostles or perhaps yet in their times, they
   commenced to abuse the true, christian baptism, which solely belongs to
   the believing. As some of the Corinthians already in the time of Paul
   suffered themselves to be baptized for the dead, 1 Cor. 15:29, so,
   also, through the false doctrine and opinions of foolish bishops, the
   abominable serpent of infant baptism crept in, and was so confirmed by
   long usage that, at last, it was thought and accepted by all the world
   as an apostolic institution for the sake of righteousness which they
   all seek therein. Therefore you must acknowledge, beloved brethren, not
   withstanding infant baptism is of old date, that it is still not by the
   command of Jesus Christ, and by the teaching and practice of the holy
   apostles; and is therefore idolatrous, useless and vain.

   And because the true, christian baptism has such a great promise,
   namely, the remission of sins, and other promises, Acts 2:38; Mark
   16:16; 1 Cor. 12:13; 1 Pet. 3:21; Eph. 4:5, the pedo?baptists apply the
   same baptism to infants; never once observing that the beforementioned
   promises are solely to those who show obedience to the word of God; for
   Christ Jesus has so commanded it. Inasmuch as pedo?baptism is not
   commanded, therefore it is not required of children as obedience. For
   where there are no commandments there are no transgressions. Again,
   baptism is not commanded to infants, by God; and therefore they have no
   promise in their baptism, from which it follows that infant baptism is
   idolatrous, vain, useless and void, before God, as was said above; for
   God, the Lord, has no pleasure in the ceremonies, unless they are
   administered according to his divine and blessed word.

   But the little children, and particularly those of christian seed, have
   a peculiar promise which was given them of God without any ceremony,
   but out of pure grace, through Christ Jesus our Lord, who says," Suffer
   little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me; for of such is
   the kingdom of heaven," Matt. 19:14; Mark 10:14; Luke 18:16. This
   promise makes glad and assures all the chosen saints of God, in regard
   to their children or infants; being assured that the true word of our
   beloved Lord Jesus Christ can never fail. Inasmuch as he has shown such
   great mercy towards the children that were brought to him, that he took
   them up in his arms, blessed them, laid his hands upon them, promised
   them the kingdom of heaven and has neither done nor commanded them any
   thing more; therefore they have in their hearts a sure and firm faith
   in the grace of God, concerning their beloved children, that they are
   children of the kingdom, of grace, of the promise and of eternal life
   through Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom alone be the glory; and not by
   any ceremony. Yea, by this same promise they are assured that their
   beloved children, so long as they are not of understanding years, are
   clean, holy, saved and pleasing unto God, be they alive or dead.
   Therefore they give thanks to the eternal Father through Jesus Christ
   our Lord, for his inexpressibly great love to their children, and train
   them in the love of God and in wisdom, by correcting, chastising,
   teaching and admonishing them, and by walking before them with an
   unblamable life until they may hear the word of God, believe it and
   fulfill it in their works. Then is the time, of whatever age they may
   be, that they should receive the christian baptism which Christ Jesus
   has commanded, in obedience to his word, to all christians; and which
   his apostles have thus practiced and taught.

   Behold, brethren, if it should be said that we thus rob the children of
   the promise and of the grace of God, you will observe that they
   contradict us out of hatred and envy, and do not tell the truth. Say,
   who has the strongest ground and hope of the salvation of their
   children? Is it he who places his hopes upon an outward sign? or is it
   he who bases his hopes upon the promise of grace, given and promised of
   Christ Jesus? Still the evangelical truth must, in all respects, be
   blasphemed and belied by the ignorant and light minded. But,
   notwithstanding this, the just and impartial Judge, Christ Jesus, will
   some time pass the true sentence between them and us, although they do
   not fear it now. I am forced to think that then it will be acknowledged
   by many, too late, that they did not believe and follow the truth of
   Christ Jesus but the falsehood of anti?christ. Take .heed and watch.

   Again, it is sometimes, and very foolishly too, asserted by the
   pedo?baptists, " That the apostles baptized whole households, as the
   household of Cornelius, Acts 10:48; the household of Stephanus, 1
   Cor.1:13; the household of Lydia, and of the jailer, Acts 16:15, 33;
   from which, they say, it may be presumed that there were also small
   children among them." From this allegation, beloved brethren, they
   show, although not intentionally, that they can not produce Scriptures
   to prove infant baptism. For whenever we must follow (build on)
   presumption, there is evidently no proof of the assertion.

   To such opponents I would reply, in plain language, thus: Three
   households, namely, of Cornelius, Stephanus and of the jailer, were all
   believing. Of the first household it is written, " There was a certain
   man in Cesarea, called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the
   italian band; a devout man and one that, feared God with all his house,
   which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always," Acts
   10:1, 2. If they all served and feared God, as Luke writes, then they
   were not baptized without faith, as is plainly shown in the same
   chapter; for Peter commanded that those should be baptized who had
   received the Holy Ghost, as they had who spoke with tongues and
   glorified God; which are all fruits of faith, as every intelligent
   person will admit.

   Again, of the household of Stephanus it is written, " I beseech you,
   brethren (ye know the house of Stephanus, that it is the first fruits
   of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of
   the saints); that ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that
   helpeth with us, and laboreth," 1 Cor. 16:15, 16. I repeat it to serve
   the saints is a work of faith. Since the house of Stephanus served the
   saints, as Paul writes, therefore they showed by their fruits that they
   had faith.

   Again, of the house of the jailer it is written that Paul and Silas
   spake unto him and said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou
   shalt be saved and thy house; and they spake unto him the word of the
   Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he (the jailer) took them
   the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized,
   he and all his, straightway. And when he had brought them into his
   house, he set meat before them and rejoiced believing in God with all
   his house,"Acts 16:31?34; or as Erasmus says, "He has rejoiced because
   he believed in God with all his house." Beloved reader, observe first,
   that they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in
   his house. Secondly, he rejoiced with all his house. To hear the word
   is something which pertains to those of understanding minds, and
   spiritual rejoicing is a fruit of the believing or of the spiritual,
   Gal. 5:18. Inasmuch as they all heard the word and rejoiced in God,
   therefore it incontrovertibly follows that the holy apostles did not
   baptize them without faith.

   In the fourth place, in regard to the house of Lydia, I reply: Because
   the world tries to establish their cause on presumption, therefore we
   would say first, that presumption ought not to establish faith; and if
   it were so that it could avail before God, then still the presumption
   in the case of the house of Lydia would not be in favor of the world
   but against it; because it is the custom in the Holy Scriptures and
   also with the world, that a house is named after the man and not after
   the woman, so long as the husband lives, because the husband is the
   lord of his wife and household. As in this case the house is named
   after the woman, and as there is no mention made of the man, therefore
   it follows that she, at the time, was not married. If she was a young
   woman or widow, as appears, then the presumption of the world is
   contradictory; and it is probable that she had no children and still
   more probable, that she had no infants, since she at that time had no
   husband.

   Again, we would further say in reference to this Scripture, that if it
   were that Lydia had infants, they would not be counted among the
   baptized of the house. For Christ commanded that the believing should
   be baptized and the holy apostles taught and practiced such baptism;
   from which it may be safely deduced that when the holy Scriptures speak
   of houses being baptized, or houses being subverted that it has
   reference to those of understanding years, who may be taught or
   subverted, as Paul shows in another Scripture, that some "subvert whole
   houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake,"
   Tit. 1:11.

   If you take the term whole houses as applying also to infants; and as
   whole houses were subverted, as Paul says, then it would follow that
   infants were subverted by false doctrine. No, beloved reader, no. An
   infant without understanding can be neither taught nor subverted;
   therefore they are not counted in the number of baptized, or those who
   were subverted, of which the Scriptures speak. But the Holy Scripture
   teaches and admonishes, both by words and sacraments, as they are
   called, those alone who have ears to hear and minds to understand, as
   we have frequently shown above.

   If any one would like to have more information about the ceremony of
   baptism and about the objections made to it, let him read our first
   treatise on baptism which we published; and by the grace of the Lord,
   he will be enlightened upon the subject from the word of God.

   Brethren, I conclude this treatise on baptism in the water in these
   words: Inasmuch as God, the merciful Father, has graciously sent into
   this miserable, blind and erring world his chosen, beloved Son, Christ
   Jesus, who has taught us the holy will of his Father, in great
   clearness; and as he has, in his great love, offered up his precious
   and most holy flesh and blood for us, and as to him the eternal Father
   has not only pointed us through his holy prophets, but also from high
   heaven, saying, "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased; hear
   ye him," Matt. 1'7: G; therefore we say and testify that we should hear
   this Christ Jesus; that we should believe in him and follow him in all
   things which he has taught and commanded us; and that we should also
   hear and follow his holy apostles who by his own divine command were
   sent out with. the most precious word of grace, namely, with the holy
   gospel?or else we have neither God, promise, nor eternal life, as is
   plain and intelligible to all mankind, from the New Testament.

   As this Christ Jesus has given us this express and incontrovertible
   command in this wise: First to teach the gospel and then to baptize
   those who believe, and those that are thus baptized shall be saved,
   Mark 16:16; Matt. 28:19; Acts 19:5; 2:38; 10:48; 16:33. And as the holy
   apostles have taught and used no other baptism than baptism on faith,
   according to the command of Christ, as shown and proven by many reasons
   from Acts 2; 8; 10; 16; 19; Rom. 6:4; Col. 2; 1 Cor. 12:13; Tit. 3:6; 1
   Pet. 3:21; therefore we again declare before you, before all the world
   and before God, that we are prompted by nothing bat by the fear of God,
   being so taught by his word, thus to teach this christian baptism, and
   thus to receive it upon the confession of faith, for the remission of
   sins, Acts 2:38, as said before, and are thus baptized with the washing
   of water, by the word, Eph. fi:26; and by a Holy Spirit which quickens
   our hearts, into one body, 1 Cor. 12:13; of which body Christ Jesus is
   the head, Col. 1:18; Eph 1:22. Nor do we know of any other baptism, of
   which God is a witness, than this alone; of which, by the grace of God,
   we have so much taught and written.

   I herewith beseech you, kind reader, not to do like the angry, blind
   and bloody world, who condemn everything from an envious, rebellious,
   refractory and raving heart before they have thoroughly perused and
   understood it; who reject all good, christian doctrine and usage;
   sometimes because of fashion, again, because of the cross, and
   sometimes because of the plainness of the person. Do not thus; but
   judge this and all our writings according to the Spirit and holy word
   of the Lord, and you will plainly see whether we have written and
   taught you truth or falsehood; whether we teach two baptisms or one;
   whether we seek to save your souls or destroy them; whether we seek the
   praise and honor of the Lord, or his dishonor. For I trust, by the
   grace of God, if you are desirous of your own salvation, and if you
   peruse what we have written and judge it with a spiritual judgment,
   that you will find nothing in it but the teaching which is of God; the
   eternal, heavenly, true and saving will of God, and the very strait way
   of truth which the ever blessed Jesus Christ and his apostles have, in
   the most holy gospel taught and shown all mankind.

   Take heed, ye illustrious, noble and pious lords I Take heed ye judges
   and keepers of the law, against whom your cruel,

   bloody sword is sometimes sharpened and drawn. I tell you in Christ
   Jesus that we seek nothing but what we have here told you, as you may
   clearly see by many, namely, that there is not a false syllable nor
   deceitful word heard from their mouths or found in them, and these are
   forced and led by you to the sword, fire and water, as poor, innocent
   sheep to the slaughter. And if you should point me to the abominable
   actions of the corrupted sects, and say that you must therefore oppose
   baptism, by the sword, that such ungodly doings may be averted and
   hindered; then I would again reply, first: Christian baptism belongs
   not to corrupted sects; but it is the word of God. Secondly, the holy,
   christian baptism does not cause mutiny nor shameful actions; but it is
   caused by the false teachers and fallse prophets who boast themselves
   to be baptized christians, and yet, before God, are not such. Thirdly,
   there is nothing under heaven at which I am more alarmed than I am at
   the ungodly actions of the false, corrupted sects. They frighten me
   more than death; for I know that all men must once die, Heb. 9:27. More
   than the tyrannical sword; for if they take my body, it is all they can
   do, Matt. 10:28. More than Satan; for I have vanquished him through
   Christ. But in case the terrible doctrine of the corrupted sects
   adhered to me, then I would verily, be lost; eternal woe would be to my
   poor soul. Therefore I would rather die the temporal death (that he
   knows who knows all things) than to eat, drink, commune, greet or
   converse with such, if I knew that they would not be helped by my
   conversation or admonition; for it is forbidden in the word of Christ
   to keep the company of such, Matt. 7:16; 1 Cor. 5:11; 2 Thess. 3:14;
   Phil. 3. And, by the grace of God, I know to a certainty, that they are
   not in the house of the Lord, in the church of the living God and in
   the body of Jesus Christ. Therefore I say, if you find in me or in my
   teachings, which is the word of God, or among those who are taught by
   me or by my brethren, any thieving, murdering, perjury, mutiny,
   rebellion or any other criminal acts, as were formerly, and are yet
   found among the corrupted sects?then punish all of us; as we would be
   culpable if this were the case. I repeat, if we are disobedient to God
   in religious matters, we are willing to be instructed and corrected by
   the word of God; for we mean diligently to do and fulfill his most holy
   will. Or if we are not obedient unto the emperor in matters belonging
   to him as he is called and ordained of God, I say in matters belonging
   to him, then we will willingly submit to such punishment as you may
   inflict upon us. But if we sincerely fear and seek our Lord and God, as
   I trust we do, and if we are obedient unto the emperor in temporal
   matters, as we should be according to the word of God, Matt. 22:21;
   Rom. 13:7; 1 Pet. 2:13; Tit. 3:1, and are yet to suffer and be
   persecuted and crucified for the sake of the truth of the Lord?then we
   should consider that "the disciple is not above his master nor the
   servant above his lord. * * If they have called the master of the house
   Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household l" Matt.
   10:24, 26. Yet you should know and acknowledge, O ye beloved, noble,
   illustrious, pious lords, ye judges and keepers of the law, that as
   often as you take, condemn and put to the sword such people, that you
   put your tyrannical sword into the blessed flesh of the Lord Jesus
   Christ, and that you break the bones of his holy body; for they are
   flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone, Eph. 6:30; they are his
   chosen, beloved brethren and sisters, who are with him, born from
   above, of one Father, Jn. 1:13; they are his sincerely beloved children
   who are born of the seed of his holy word; they are his holy, spotless
   and pure bride whom he, in his great love has wedded as his consort.
   Why? Because they have, by the operation of their faith, and led by the
   Holy Spirit, cordially committed themselves to the service of our
   beloved Lord Jesus Christ, and do not live any more according to their
   lusts, but agreeably to the will of God, alone, according to the
   direction of his holy, blessed word. Yea, they would rather surrender
   every thing which they possess, and suffer envy, slander, scourging,
   persecution, anxiety, famine, thirst, nakedness, cold, heat, poverty,
   imprisonment, banishment, water, fire, sword or any other punishment
   than to forsake the gospel of grace and the confession of God and be
   separated from the love of Christ Jesus, Rom. 8:35. But they will never
   accept the vain doctrine and commandments of men.

   Therefore we pray you, as our beloved and gracious rulers according to
   the flesh, by the grace of God, to consider and realize, if there is
   any reasonableness about you, in what great anxiety and suspense we
   poor, miserable people are placed. For if we abandon Christ Jesus and
   his holy word, we fall into the wrath of God; and if we remain firm in
   his holy word, we are put to your cruel sword. O, Lord! if it were true
   that this large church were thy holy church, bride and body, as they
   boast it to be, then we might truthfully assert that thou art the
   prince, bridegroom and head of an abominable, detestable band of
   murderers, who thirst after the innocent blood of those who sincerely
   seek, fear, love and serve God. For the ignorant, blind people go about
   like a backsliding heifer, as the prophet says, seeking nothing but the
   persecution, imprisonment and destruction of God's saints and children.

   All the priests and monks, who seek and fear nothing but their
   gluttonous, greedy belly, and their avaricious, pompous flesh, do
   nothing but upbraid, slander, lie and persecute; the judges and
   magistrates, who seek to live of the bloody labor of the miserable;
   take them and deliver them into the hands of the tyrants, that they may
   become favorites of the rulers, as the prophet says, Mic. 7; "The
   prince asketh and the judge asketh for a reward." The lords and keepers
   of the law, as a body, are after nothing but the favor and friendship
   of their prince to whom they are sworn; after authority, good wages and
   aggrandizement. They are those who torture, banish, confiscate and
   murder, as the prophet says, "Her princes within her are roaring lions;
   her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the
   morrow," Zeph. 3:3. At another place, "Her princes in the midst thereof
   are like wolves, ravening the prey to shed blood, and to destroy souls,
   to get dishonest gain," Ezek. 22:27. O, how just was the revelation of
   holy John, when he saw that the Babylonian woman was drunk with the
   blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus, Rev.
   17:6

   O, beloved lords and judges of the land, observe once, how all the
   righteous, the prophets, Christ Jesus himself, together with his holy
   apostles and servants, have been treated from the beginning; and to?day
   yoga still treat those thus, who in purity of heart seek the truth and
   life eternal. Therefore we must run the risk; for in case you do not
   fear God, and do not sheathe your murderous sword against Christ Jesus
   and against his holy church, then we esteem it of less consequence to
   fall in the hands of worldly princes and judges, than to fall into the
   hands of God. I repeat it, take heed, awake, and be converted, that the
   innocent blood of the pious children of God, which calls for vengeance
   in heaven, may never more be found on your hands.

   Take heed, also, ye wise and learned and ye common people! For such a
   people are they and such is their doctrine and faith whom you daily
   ridicule and mock as fools; whom you slander as heretics and deceivers;
   and whom you take and deliver, and murder in your hearts, as thieves,
   murderers and criminals. Yet, God's word shall never be broken, 1 Pet.
   1:24; Jas. 1:10; Ps. 90: e. O ye miserable people, what will !, become
   of you! that you are not ashamed daily to mock and ridicule the blessed
   Christ Jesus; to trample upon him and thus ravingly tear to pieces his
   most holy and glorious body, notwithstanding you boast of his divinity,
   word, death, grace, mercy and blood.

   Say, beloved, if you are the church of Christ, why are you not obedient
   unto him? If you are the body of Christ why destroy its holy members?
   If you are the children of God why trample upon your brethren? If you
   are the servants of Christ, why not do the things he has commanded? If
   you are the bride of Christ why not hear his holy voice? If you are the
   truly regenerated where are, then, the fruits? If you are the true
   disciples of Christ, where is your love? If you are the true christians
   where are your christian ordinances of baptism, Supper, deacons, ban
   and life as commanded in his word? If you are the truly baptized ones
   of Christ where is your faith, your new birth, your death unto sin,
   your unblamable life, your good conscience, your christian body into
   which you were baptized, and your Christ whom you have put on?

   O beloved brethren, error has been rampant long enough I Christ Jesus
   will be no longer mocked as a fool. I tell you as truly as the Lord
   lives, that so long as you .are thus earthly, carnally and
   devilishlyminded; so long as you oppose God and his holy word; so long
   as you live without the fear of God, according to the lusts of your
   flesh, so long you are not the true church of Christ, even if it were
   that you were using the true sacraments, which, however is far from
   being so. Beloved brethren, First our hearts must be cleansed and
   afterward our outward actions will show; or? else it is hypocrisy
   before the eyes of God. I repeat it, so long as you live thus ungodly,
   as you have done hitherto, Christ Jesus was, verily, born in vain, died
   in vain, arose and ascended in vain. He is no Lord, Deliverer or Savior
   of the willful; obdurate, unrepenting and disobedient sinners, but he
   is a Lord, Deliverer and Savior of those who willingly hear his divine
   word; who sincerely renounce evil, .and walk diligently according to
   his holy commandments, all the days of their lives.

   May God, the gracious Father, who lives in mercy forever, grant you all
   true knowledge to comprehend all divine truth; and a heart, mind and
   will to fulfill that which you now confess by faith from the word of
   God, through Christ Jesus our beloved Lord. To him be the honor,
   praise, kingdom, power and glory forever and ever, Amen.

   Let the bride of Christ rejoice.

   HEREIN, reader, you have most devoutly what the mode of God's baptism,
   which perished through the long degeneracy of the ages, in the church
   ought to be, being restored whole by the unspeakable gift of. God.
   Therefore let the writers oppose as they please; let the learned oppose
   by their shrewdness as they know how; let all the world under the
   heavens oppose in every way in which they are able, this is the only
   mode of baptism which Christ Jesus himself instituted and the apostles
   taught and practiced.

   The invincible truth will ever abide, although powerfully opposed by
   many. He who reads the teachings of christianity and considers well,
   will welcome this divine truth, of Christ, though for many ages lost,
   and now thus made to appear, because it is not without merit by its
   favor toward us.

   May the reader give thanks to the infinitely great and good God.

   Mayest thou be well, be humble, read, obtain, believe and live, and may
   the Lord be with thee.
     __________________________________________________________________

  A LETTER OF CAUTION ON DISCORD.

  To the brethren in Groeningen, and the country thereabout, copied and sent by
  the faithful brother John Aertsen. Receive it in love.

   Grace and Peace: Since, beloved brethren, it is known to all churches,
   that in the southern countries, great trouble exists in regard to the
   divinity of Christ, and the Holy Spirit, whereby much unbelief, discord
   and division have been caused in some bodies, to the great affliction
   of all the saints; and, since it sometimes happens that this one or
   that one, who comes from those countries, is affected thereby and
   causes trouble with some?therefore lovehas constrained me to write the
   following to the churches, and for these reasons

   First, that the unaffected and sound hearts may beware of such
   frightful disputations and incomprehensible murmurings, lest their
   hearts, to their eternal loss, drown in such bottomless profoundness,
   and become forever ashamed before their God.

   Secondly, that all those who ignorantly and unwittingly err and are
   bound in their consciences, and pet fear God, and walk under the cross,
   may be saved and freed, through this our service and christian warning,
   to the eternal praise and glory of God and to the joy of all the
   saints. I have written it to all my beloved brethren and fellows out of
   sincere love and compassion If but one afflicted, wavering, doubting
   soul could be helped thereby, I would esteem ii the dearest thing under
   heaven. My children, beware of all discord and division, that ye may
   thrive and multiply in Christ Jesus. Avoid all those who disturb you
   and excite you to disunion; all those who would institute something
   novel and peculiar whereby they might weaken and destroy the christian,
   evangelical love, peace and unity. O, my sincerely beloved brethren and
   sisters in the Lord! Consider diligently that which I write to you,
   that God the heavenly Father with his blessed Son Christ Jesus, and
   with his Holy Spirit, may retain their divine honor. Peace be with you.

   Note. To write with my own hand such long writings and send them to
   each particular church, I can not do.

   MENNO SIMON.
     __________________________________________________________________

  ANOTHER LETTER..

   My very faithful brother in Christ, grace and peace with thee.

   Chosen brethren in the Lord, I have nothing particular to write to you,
   but that I wish you would write to me how far the choosing of the
   brethren in Waterhorne and of Lebe Pieters has progressed. Not that I
   desire to impede the choosing of Lebe; but I would have been glad to
   have had a conversation with him, before his entering upon the office
   of bishop; for my soul is troubled about that which passed between us
   last year.

   O, brother Rein, that I could speak with you half a day, and make known
   to you a little of my affliction, sorrow and sadness, and also of my
   great solicitude which I yet bear for the future of the church; what an
   ameliorating, pleasing application that would be to my sorrowful soul!
   As it is I must bear it all myself. If the omnipotent God had not
   preserved me last year, as well as now, I would already have been
   deprived of my mind; for there is nothing upon earth which my heart
   loves more than it does the church; and yet I must live to see this sad
   affliction upon her. I think much, yet I write and say but little. Help
   me pray that I may find refreshment, and may yet see a gracious result,
   with all afflicted souls.

   Brethren, beware of discord; foster love and unity with sincerity;
   accompany the peaceful; make use of few words, and in, every respect
   show yourselves to be children of God. , chosen brethren I Come and
   unite your ardent prayers for me in my great affliction. I pray you for
   Jesus' sake, let my affliction be buried with you; but if you should
   speak about it to any one, then know with whom you speak. If all hearts
   were pure, all tongues seasoned with salt, and all the mistakes of last
   year were honestly and truly acknowledged, how soon would I be found a
   cheerful man. Now, now the Lord will be my Comforter. May the poor
   church be saved! brethren, let us pray! I trust that you will not be
   offended at the writing in my last, to a private brother, concerning
   the sixty dollars annually. I took the liberty of so writing, for I do
   need it annually. The merciful Lord will send them to me. He knows
   where. Greet the pious with the peace of the Lord. My daughters greet
   you. The God of all grace be with you most beloved brother, and with
   all the pious, forever, Amen.

   If something should be sent to my assistance, send it the first
   opportunity; for slaughtering time will soon be at hand and I have
   little wherewith to buy. , brethren, do not think hard of it; it is
   necessity which compels me to do so.

   Your unworthy and affectionate brother,

   MENNO SIMON.

   September lst.
     __________________________________________________________________
     __________________________________________________________________

  THE REASON

  MENNO SIMON

  DOES NOT CEASE

  TEACHING AND WRITING.

  WRITTEN BY HIMSELF.

  " Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke,
  exhort, with all longsuffering and doctrine," 2 Tim 4:2.

  "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus
  Christ," 1 Cor. 9:11.

  ELKHART, INDIANA:

  PUBLISHED BY JOHN F. FUNK AND BROTHER.

  1871. blank page
     __________________________________________________________________

  THE REASON WHY MENNO SIMON

  DOES NOT CEASE TEACHING AND WRITING.

   FOR Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I
   will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness,
   and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth; and the Gentiles
   shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory," Isa. 62:1,? 2.

   I am well aware, most beloved readers, that we are, on account of our
   teaching and writing, cursed, envied, hated, slandered, persecuted and
   condemned to death, by innumerable persons of both high and low
   stations in life. As roaring lions they gnash their teeth at us. Lords,
   princes, learned and ignorant people, no matter of what station in
   life, exercise their tyranny over us, as may at all times be seen; not
   solely upon us, but also upon all those who accept and fulfill, by
   their works, this our doctrine, with believing, faithful, obedient and
   resigned hearts. Not that we claim it to be our doctrine, understand,
   but it is the eternal, heavenly and unchangeable doctrine of our
   beloved Lord Jesus Christ, which he himself has carried from high
   heaven, from the bosom of his Father, to earth with his own blessed
   mouth which cannot lie; which he has taught, and proclaimed to the
   world by his faithful witnesses, the holy apostles, which he had chosen
   for that purpose. Whosoever does not believe that our doctrine is the
   pure, undefiled and saving doctrine of Jesus Christ, may piously
   examine the rest of the plain Scriptures of the New Testament and he
   will come to the conclusion and acknowledge that it is the pure
   doctrine, testimony and Spirit of Christ Jesus, however much his
   reluctant, lazy, rebellious, refractory, selfish and disobedient flesh
   may oppose, frighten, tremble and be awe?stricken thereat. Yet, however
   incontrovertible our cause appears, so much so that it can not be
   controverted or refuted by the Scriptures, still it must be persecuted
   by this ignorant, blind world as an abominable crime and treated as
   heresy. The prophet says, "I have written to him the great things of my
   law, but they were counted as a strange thing." Hosea 8:12.

   O, worthy, beloved reader, if you would consider and realize how
   earnestly the righteous God ever enforces his holy word, and how
   terribly his wrath has ever been enkindled against those who did nut
   abide firm in his divine word, you would, without doubt, in case you
   are not within the word of God, tremble, and be frightened in your
   inmost soul before God, on account of your disobedience! Did you never
   read that the parents of all mankind, Adam and Eve, who were, by the
   power of the divine Word created by God himself and punished by him on
   account of their disobedience; banished from paradise; subjected to
   manual labor; that the earth was accursed in them, and that all their
   daughters must suffer and give birth to their children in perilous
   travail and excrutiating pain; not to mention that they would be
   subject to eternal death, if the new Man of grace, the blessed Christ
   Jesus, had not, by grace, prevented this? Why was it? For no other
   reason than that. they did not abide in the true word of the living
   God, but lived according to their lusts, contrary to the word of God,
   trusting in the deceit of the lying serpent rather than in the warning
   of the true God, who, by grace, had created them, wise, righteous and
   incorrupt, and placed them as lords of all creatures, Gen. 2:26.

   Again, do you not know that all the creatures under the heaven, both
   rational and irrational, were destroyed by water, through the righteous
   judgment of God, except those that were in the ark with Noah, because
   they became corrupt and lived according to their lusts, and in my
   opinion, because they did not acknowledge the Spirit of the Lord, as
   their judge 9 Gen. 6; 7; 8. O do consider these things, and
   doubtlessly, you will hereafter sincerely fear your God, and ever abide
   in his holy word I

   Besides, you must have often heard, and perchance read for yourselves
   about Sodom and Gomorrah, Gen. 18; 20; 19:4; Er and Onan, Gen. 38:7?9;
   the idolaters, Ex. 32:5; the man who gathered sticks upon the Sabbath
   day, Num. 15:32?36; Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, Num. 16; about the
   murmurers, Num. 21:5; Zimri and the other adulterers, Num. 25:14, 15;
   Nadab and Abihu, Lev. 10:2; those who hid the forbidden things, Joshua
   7; King Saul, 1 Sam. 15:17?22; Jeroboam, Manasseh and the other kings,
   priests and prophets who did not abide in the true worship and in
   obedience to the divine word, which was given through Moses, but taught
   and practiced either more or less or something quite different from the
   law of the Lord; how terribly and in how many different ways they and
   their followers were punished and smitten by God, who desires to have
   his will obeyed. Some suddenly died; some were pierced with the sword,
   Ex. 32:27; Num. 25:5; some were stoned to death, Num. 15:36; Josh.
   7:25; some were swallowed up by the earth, Num. 16:32; some were bitten
   by serpents; Num. 21:6; some were hanged, Num. 25:4; some were consumed
   by the fire, Lev. 10:2; Saul's kingdom was taken from him, 1 Kings
   15:28; and put to death with the sword; the house of Jeroboam and Achab
   were taken from the earth; the eyes of Zedechias were put out; Manasseh
   was captured; and all Israel was in exile in foreign countries, as in
   Assyria, Babylonia, and Egypt as recorded in Chronicles, Kings, and the
   prophets. I repeat, why was it V Solely because they did not abide in
   the law of their God, but either by their own choice or else out of
   disrespect for the law, transgressed it, establishing without the
   command of God, images, temples and altars, in many countries and
   cities, Jer. 2; Hosea 10; in many mountains and under large trees,
   Hosea 4:13; notwithstanding, as may be seen by the writings of many
   prophets, that Moses so strenuously commanded them as also was
   commanded their fathers, thus, "What thing soever I command you,
   observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto nor diminish from it,"
   Deut. 12:32. At another place, that on all those who do not abide by
   the works of the covenant, ', which are written in the Book, all the
   plagues will come, and on the contrary, all the blessings will be to
   all those who abide thereby, Deut. 28:58, 59. The children of Israel
   did not always abide by the express, commanding word of him who had, by
   his powerful hand, brought them out of the land of Egypt; but suffered
   themselves to be misled by ungodly princes and false prophets, and
   chose for themselves, without the divine commandment, places for divine
   worship; carved for themselves images and built themselves temples. All
   this by their own choice, and not by divine command; besides, they
   committed all manner of idolatry. This the Holy Spirit, in divers
   Scriptures, has called shameful whoredom, perjury, accursed idolatry
   and despising the Lord. The prophet says, "Woe unto them, for they have
   fled from me; destruction unto them I because they have transgressed
   against me; though I have redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies
   against me," Hosea 7:13.

   As Israel deviated from the law of their God, and committed themselves
   to the service of Baal, not being content with the law, doctrine and
   service which God had commanded them through Moses, which Baal with his
   altars they however erected to the service of the living God, as it
   appears; so God in his grace and paternal love which he bore to Israel
   for the sake of their fathers, again sent his faithful servants, the
   prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Elias, Ezekiel, and others, who sharply
   reproved, in behalf of God, the degenerated princes, false prophets and
   the miserable, confused people; and again returned them to the true
   worship and ceremonies of the law which God had commanded, and which
   they had forsaken.

   Besides, they prophesied famine, pestilence, failures, drought, war,
   conflagration, robbery, imprisonment and destruction, as plagues on
   account of their sins? and disobedience. And also concerning the divine
   grace, salvation, deliverance, peace, mercy, and the eternal glory,
   which in the latter days will so gloriously appear unto all the world
   through Christ Jesus our Lord, who is the only promised prophet, Deut.
   18:15. The truly anointed of the Lord; the spiritual King David, Ezek.
   3'7:24; who establishes his kingdom by right and righteousness, Isa.
   9:7; the true Shepherd who leads us into the pastures of eternal life,
   Ezek. 34:14; whose name is Emmanuel, that is, God with us, Isa. 7:14;
   Matt. 1:23; and the Lord who makes us righteous, who shall reign over
   the house of Jacob forever, Luke 1:33; and this was the peculiar work
   of the holy prophets who were graciously sent of God the Lord, to the
   carnal Israel. But what did it avail, dear reader? They preached both
   mildly and harshly, punishment and grace, judgment and mercy; yet it
   was all in vain, as God plainly proclaimed by these same prophets,
   saying, "I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious
   people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own
   thoughts," Isa. 65:2.

   Again, "Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah and in the
   streets of Jerusalem, saying," "Obey my voice. Yet they obeyed not, nor
   inclined their ear, but walked every one in the imagination of their
   evil hearts; therefore I will bring upon them all the words of this
   covenant which I commanded them to do; but they did them not," Jer.
   11:6, 7, 8. Again, "O Ephraim, thou committest w boredom and Israel is
   defiled; they will not frame their doings to turn unto their God; for
   the spirit of whoredoms is in the midst of them, and they have not
   known the Lord," Hosea 5. Again, at another place, "The Lord has
   testified against Israel and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by
   all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my
   commandments, and my statutes, according to all the law, which I
   commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants, the
   prophets. Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their
   necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the
   Lord their God," 2 Kings 1'7:13, 14. Again, "Thus speaketh the Lord of
   hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and show mercy and compassions
   every man to his brother; and oppress not the widow, nor the
   fatherless, the stranger, nor the pour, and let none of you imagine
   evil against his brother, in your heart; but they refused to hearken,
   and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should
   not hear. Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they
   should hear the law, and the words which the Lord of hosts bath sent in
   his Spirit by the former prophets; therefore came a great wrath from
   the Lord of hosts," Zech. 7:9?12.

   Yea, most beloved reader, they have so stopped their ears and so
   hardened their hearts that they would not only not hear, but all of
   them, as a general rule, and particularly most of the kings, princes,
   prophets and priests, wittingly thirsted after the innocent blood of
   the true witnesses of God, who, by an inextinguishable fire of love
   fraternally reproved them of their sins, called them to repent and turn
   to God, and they proclaimed and taught the way of the Lord in
   righteousness.

   Thus the mad, blind world has thanked and rewarded the faithful
   servants of God, the true prophets and true teachers of the divine
   truth, who sincerely seek their salvation, by upbraiding, imprisoning,
   beating, banishing and slaying them. For the obdurate, ignorant,
   whoring, refractory people will not be reproved as may be read in the
   fourth chapter of Hosea, and of the men of Anathoth to Jeremiah,
   saying, "Prophesy not in the name of the Lord that thou die not by our
   band," Jer. 11:21; and "As for the word which thou hast spoken unto us
   in the name of the Lord, we will not hearken unto thee," Jer. 44:18.

   The selfish and lustful teachers will not suffer themselves to lie
   reproved or admonished; they boast of their wisdom, and say, " We are
   supported by the Holy Scriptures: although all that the scribes say and
   teach is falsehood."

   Above all, the proud, carnal, worldy, idolatrous and tyrannical
   princes, who do not acknowledge God, I speak of the evil princes, who
   do not want to be right in all their mandates, projects and
   undertakings, however much they may be at variance with God and his
   blessed word; as if the Almighty Father, the Creator of all things, who
   holds heaven and earth in his hands, who rules all things by the word
   of his power, had given them the privilege not only to command, rule
   and administer according to their will in temporal government, but also
   in the celestial kingdom of Jesus Christ. O no, beloved, no. This is
   not the intention of God; but it is an abomination in his blessed sight
   when mortal man substitutes himself in his stead. And when he raised up
   and sent his beloved servants, the prophets who, fraternally reproved
   and admonished all the princes, prophets, priests and common people
   from the mouth of God; the princes destroyed them as seditious persons,
   and the learned and common people as deceivers and heretics; as was the
   case with Zechariah, the son of Berechiah; with Isaiah, Jeremiah,
   Uriah, Kiriathaim and others, as may be read in history.

   However ravenously the princes and the learned tyranized and opposed
   the law and its followers, yet the law and word of God remained
   immutable until Christ Jesus; so that every one who desired to be saved
   had to regulate and conform himself according to the law and his
   conscience, if he would see the dawn of day. For God is an eternal God
   and his will can never be changed and diverted by man. In this case
   neither prince nor learned man can avail. God alone, has dominion over
   man; he will keep them in all eternity.

   Therefore all things which they instituted and practiced as holy
   worship without the command of God, or against it (not withstanding it
   was in honor of the living God who had so gloriously led their fathers
   and them from the land of Egypt), was nothing less than open idolatry,
   spiritual whoredom, perfidy, degeneracy, blasphemy and an awful
   abomination, as we have above briefly shown the reader from the
   prophetic Scriptures. God is a God who does not need our aid and
   offerings, because he has made all things. Mine, he says, are the
   cattle, upon a thousand hills. What then can I offer? He will take no
   other sacrifices than those alone which are commanded in his holy word,
   as Samuel spake unto Saul, "Behold to obey is better than sacrifice."
   The Lord God of Israel spake through Jeremiah, saying, "Obey my voice,
   and do them, according to all which I commanded you, so shall ye be
   my.. people, and I will be your God," Jer. 11:4; 2 Cor. 8:17.

   All those, beloved reader, who sought a different way of salvation than
   the one which God had commanded, either did not esteem God as wise
   enough to teach the right way; or else that he would. deceive them by
   his word. They despised the commanding voice of their God; they honored
   and exalted their own opinions and deceiving wisdom far above the
   wisdom of God; and they transgressed the precious covenant which God,
   by mere grace and mercy, had entered into with them and their fathers;
   for the most shameful obduracy, and the worst disesteem of God, is not
   to abide by his divine word, as the Scriptures say, They transgress the
   covenant, as did Adam, and thereby they despise and abhor me.

   O, had Israel acknowledged the most glorious promise of grace which was
   given them and their fathers in regard to the promise of the seed,
   land, kingdom and glory? And had they considered the beneficences of
   God, so abundantly shown to them and their fathers, in miraculously
   leading them from the land of Egypt, and letting them pass through the
   Red Sea, Ex. 14:22; that "He went before them by day in a pillar of a
   cloud to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire," Ex.
   13:21; that he gave them bread from heaven, E x. ! 16:4; that he gave
   them to drink from the ! rock, Ex. 17: (>; that their clothes nor
   their shoes did not wax old, Deut. 29:5; that he ' scattered the giants
   from before them; that he led them into the promised land over; flowing
   with milk and honey; that he gave to them the strongly fortified cities
   and well I built houses full of gold and silver, which they had not
   built; that he gave them the vineyards they had not planted, Deut.
   6:11; that he gave them these not for their righteousness' sake, but by
   grace, and because he would fulfill his promise which he had sworn to
   Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Yea he gave it as a permanent possession, if
   they should abide by his holy word and should walk in his divine
   commands, statutes and righteousness, as Moses the faithful servant
   had, in divers instances, taught and commanded. Besides, that he gave
   them corn, oil, wine, peace, freedom, religion, and fame above all the
   people round about; for there was no people under all the heavens which
   was like unto them, Deut. 4. He led them by the hand, as a young child;
   carried them in his blessed arms; and girded himself round about them
   as a lancer, as Jeremiah says; raising up among them his righteous men
   and prophets who spake unto them the words of the Lord, fraternally
   reproving all disobedient transgressors, and mildly consoling the pious
   hearts with the gracious promise of both temporal and eternal life.

   O, had the children of Israel sincerely realized all these favors and
   many others, they would never have deviated so shamefully from the
   word, law, will and commandments of God their Savior and Deliverer, who
   in every respect treated them with such a paternal spirit. But because
   they did not acknowledge the gracious beneficences which the Lord
   showed unto them, and because they did not fear the righteous judgments
   against them, therefore the wicked, blind flesh and the adulterous
   spirit of idolatry has so misled them, so estranged them from God, and
   made them so drunk and mad that they acted worse than the Gentiles
   which were before them, whom God had, on account of their sinfulness,
   rejected and scattered, as the holy prophets in divers Scriptures show
   and proclaim.

   O, fearful wrath of God! We can never escape it. If we do not desire
   grace, light, truth, righteousness, salvation, true religion, life, the
   kingdom, blessing and God himself, we must, by his righteous judgment,
   doubtlessly, inherit disgrace, darkness, falsehood, unrighteousness and
   idolatry, and hereafter eternal damnation, death, hell, malediction,
   and the devil himself.

   Sincerely beloved readers, God know that I love you with pure love in
   Christ Jesus. Inasmuch as I find in proof of many Scriptures how
   severely God has, from the beginning of the creation, ever punished all
   transgression of his divine word and disobedience thereto, as every
   intelligent reader may clearly understand from the history of Israel;
   and as I clearly see that the whole world, from east to west, from
   south to north, in the course of time, has been misled by ignorant
   teachers and preachers, who seek nothing but carnality, aided by
   unfaithful lords and princes, and that they have lost their faith in
   and knowledge of our beloved Lord Jesus Christ, the ever blessed
   Savior, his holy gospel and sacraments, true religion and the pious,
   unblamable life which is of God; and as they are falsely led, under the
   name of Christ, to put faith in a man of proud, unclean, idolatrous and
   ungodly flesh, in useless fables, doctrines and human commandments; in
   an idolatrous baptism and supper; in images, wood, stone, gold, silver,
   water, bread and wine; in a shameful idolatry; in mere vain, false and
   useless promises, so that it has gone so far among those who boast of
   the name of Christ, that there is nothing left them, neither in regard
   to faith, love, sacraments, nor in their life of which it can be
   truthfully said that it comports to the life and doctrine of Christ,
   judge for yourselves whether or not I speak the truth; and although
   some of them, to?day, boast of the holy gospel of Christ, yet there is
   nothing preached but that is useless and vain, and this no stronger
   than the temporal lords and princes allow them to do; and, as the
   princes are, so are the preachers; and, as the preachers are, so are
   the people; and as by this we are asked to abandon Christ and his holy
   apostles and humble them in their doctrine and believe and adhere to
   the princes and?the learned, if we do not want to be tortured or
   burned, at their hands, or be murdered by some other tyrannical means;
   as if the preachers were sent by the princes, and not of Christ
   ?therefore, for the sake of the chosen of Zion and of Jerusalem, I can
   no longer hold i my tongue, but must tell the truth; that ' their
   righteousness may go forth as alight, and their salvation burn as a
   torch; and that thus all mankind may acknowledge the righteousness of
   the Lord, and all tongues, generations and people confess his glory;
   although I have sometimes, with Jeremiah, thought not to teach any more
   in the name of the Lord, because so many thirst after my blood. Yet, I
   can no longer hold my ton ?tie; for I am, with the prophet, very mach
   troubled at heart; my heart trembles in my bosom; all my joints shake
   and quake, with the idea that the whole world, lords, princes, learned
   and ignorant people, males and females, bond and free, are so widely
   estranged from Christ Jesus, from evangelical truth and from life
   eternal.

   When I think to find a magistrate who fears God, rightly performs his
   office and uses his sword, I verily find, as a general thing, nothing
   but a wine bibbing Lucifer, Antioch, or Nero; for they place themselves
   in Christ's stead so that their decrees must be respected above the
   word of God. Whosoever does not regulate himself according to their
   contents: does not serve Baal; maintains the ceremonies of Christ and
   fulfills the word of God in fruits, must be taken and suffer as a
   rogue, his property be confiscated, and the poor, innocent orphans who
   have now lost their faithful parents because of the testimony of the
   Lord, must be cast out and find their way begging through the land. But
   the idolaters, deceivers of souls, whoremongers, knaves, adulterers,
   fornicators, blasphemers, perjurers, drunkards and like transgressors,
   are not persecuted, but can live at liberty and peace, under their
   protection, I. do not here speak of the good magistrates, who are few;
   but of the evil ones, which are numerous. Besides, we have their
   unseasonable pomp, pride, greed, uncleanness, lying, robbing, stealing,
   burning, hatred, envy, avarice and idolatry. Yet they want to be called
   christian princes and gracious lords. O, Lord! Of what little benefit
   will these hypocritical, lying titles and false boasting be to them
   before Christ, when he shall appear I

   Again, when I think of finding true teachers, such as are sent of God,
   quickened by the Holy Spirit; who sincerely seek the salvation of their
   brethren; who are not earthly minded, but preach the saving, wholesome
   word of our beloved Lord Jesus Christ, in purity of heart, and who are
   quite unblamable in their doctrine and life, I find myself altogether
   mistaken. But instead, I find all over the world and among most of the
   sects, nothing but robbers of the glory of God, and murderers of souls;
   deceivers, blind watchmen, mute dogs, masters of sects who are
   carnally, earthly and devilishly minded; enemies of the cross; serving
   their bellies instead of serving God; false prophets, idolaters, vain
   talkers, liars, and wizards. If any person does not believe my words,
   let him prove their walk by the word of the Lord; let him compare their
   doctrine, sacraments, spirit, object, walk and life with the doctrine,
   sacraments, spirit, object, walk and life of Christ, and common sense
   will teach you, without, even the word of God, of whom they are sent;
   how, what and why they teach and what fruits their teachings bear.

   In the third place, when I think of finding an unblamable church
   without spot and blemish, which serves the Lord with all its power and
   which conforms itself to his word ?I verily find such an ungodly,
   abominable, corrupted and confused people; so carnal, idolatrous,
   whoring, cruel, ungodly, unbelieving, ignorant, blood?thirsty,
   unmerciful, drunken, pompous, luxurious, proud, avaricious, greedy,
   envious, adulterous, false, deceiving, sodomitic, refractory,
   disobedient, rebellious, vain, and so devilish, that ' a godfearing
   soul must stand dumbfounded and be ashamed thereat. Yet they claim to
   be the true bride, the believing church of Christ. O no, dear reader,
   no. Christ Jesus does not own such a bride or church. But his bride is
   flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone, Eph. fi:30; she conforms to
   him, Rom. 8:29; is created after his image, Col. 3:10; partakes of his
   nature, 2 Pet. 1:4; is minded as he is, Phil. 2:6; seeks nothing but
   heavenly things where Christ Jesus is, sitting at the right hand of his
   Father, Col. 3:1; yea in God's church nothing is heard, seen or found
   but the true doctrine of our beloved Lord Jesus Christ and his holy
   apostles, according to the Holy Scripture. But in the beforementioned
   churches it is mostly doctrines, flatterings, comments, councils and
   commandments of men. Here is faith, truth, obedience, baptism of the
   believing, according to the word of God, true fraternal love, sad the
   service of our neighbors; yonder is unbelief, falsehood, disobedience,
   infant baptism without God's word, hatred, envy, tyranny, cruelty,
   shedding blood, quarreling, lawsuits, backbiting, cheating, stealing,
   robbing and murdering; here is teaching, admonition, consolation,
   reproof in righteousness?there, mere corruption, heresy, upbraiding and
   slandering; here, blessing, praise and thanksgiving?there, cursing and
   swearing by the suffering of the Lord, by his wounds, sacraments,
   flesh, blood and judgment; here, longsuffering?there, inflammable
   temper; here, humility?there, pride; here, mercy?there, mercilessness;
   here, true religion?there, idolatry; here, spirit and spiritual
   wisdom?there, flesh and foolishness; here is prayer in spirit and in
   truth?there, mockery with many powerless words; here is prayer for the
   Lord's truth?there the righteousness of the Lord is persecuted; here is
   faith in Christ ?there, idolatrous ceremonies; in short, here is Christ
   and God?there, anti?Christ and the devil. Yea, most beloved brethren,
   the pure, chaste and spotless bride of our Lord Jesus Christ (judge for
   yourselves) is quite different from this carnal, unclean, adulterous
   and shameful cause.

   Verily, they are not the true church of Christ who merely boast of his
   name. But those are the true church of Christ, who were converted, who
   are born from above of God, who are of a regenerated mind and by the
   operation of the Holy Spirit from the hearing of the divine word have
   become children of God; who obey him, and live, unblamably in his holy
   commandments and according to his holy will, all their days, or after
   their calling.

   Inasmuch as the worldly church is no such amiable, obedient bride, but
   has left her lawful husband, Christ, and follows after strange
   adulteries, as may be plainly seen, and all this through blindness,
   ignorance and the deceit of their teachings therefore I seek to
   accomplish nothing by my writing and teaching, according to the talent
   God was pleased to give me, but to reclaim this adulterous bride, the
   erring church, from her adulterous actions and again to return her to
   her first husband, Christ Jesus, to whom she was so unfaithful,
   notwithstanding he did her such great service, showing and declaring to
   all sects, nations and individuals who desire to read or hear our
   doctrine, writings and admonitions, not by flatterings and my own
   opinion, but by the express word of God, which alone avails, that there
   is no salvation on earth or in heaven otherwise than in Christ Jesus,
   that is, in his doctrine, faith, sacraments, obedience and walk. All
   doctrine which is contrary to his word or without his command, is vain,
   such as, in the papa church, purgatory, false promises, differences in
   places, in victuals and in days, pilgrimages, false sacrifices, &c.
   Again, in Me German churches, the availability of infant baptism.
   Again, with the corrupted sects, the third David; the carnal kingdom;
   that every thing is clean to the clean, such as to show to idols
   outward honor and reverence, to baptize infants, polygamy, shameful
   confession, to make indecent show of person, not to believe in angels
   or the devil; that a more perfect doctrine will be proclaimed than was
   taught by Christ Jesus, Paul and the other apostles, and more like
   abominations.

   Again, all the sacraments not comprised in the word of God, as the
   idolatrous baptism of infants, the false supper in a church which
   neither seeks, knows, fears nor loves its God; which believes that the
   bread is actual flesh and the wine actual blood; also, the
   confirmation, the holy oil, as they call it; again, all the services
   which are neither taught nor commanded by Christ nor his apostles, such
   as holy water, altars, images, masses, vigils, absolution, the
   invocation of the departed, monkhood, pilgrimages and the like
   abominations. Again, the private and public life which does?not comport
   with the Spirit and life o Jesus Christ; such as unclean, vulgar
   thoughts, evil desires, unbecoming, shameful words; uncleanness,
   adultery, fornication, drinking to, excess, hatred, envy, the shedding
   of blood contrary to the ordinance of God, avarice, pride, lying,
   cheating, backbiting, jesting, theft, usury, murder, swearing and
   fighting. All these matters and articles, such as doctrines,
   sacraments, worship and life, which are here noted, and others which
   are not, every reader can easily understand by the inward unction of
   God, that they, not being comprised, expressed, nor commanded in his
   word and in the wholesome doctrine of our beloved Lord Jesus Christ,
   but most of them being diametrically contrary to the Word, therefore we
   deem them, according to the sentence of the Holy Scriptures, as nothing
   else than false doctrine, deceit and fantasy; as false and garbled,
   idolatrous sacraments, as abominable idolatry, spiritual whoredom,
   degeneracy, and as carnal, earthly and deadly life, of which the Holy
   Spirit of God has so abundantly testified through Paul and John that
   those who commit these things shall not inherit the kingdom of God,
   Rom. 1:22; 1 Cor. 6:8; Gal. 5:21; Eph. 3:5; Rev. 22:5.

   For if the literal Israel was so severely punished and crushed by God,
   because they did not abide by the law, commandments, statutes and
   righteousnesses of their God, and because they did not hear and receive
   the reproving, admonition and teachings of their faithful prophets who
   spoke to them through the inspiration of God, but stoned them, put them
   to the sword, killed, upbraided and blasphemed them; following a
   worship to suit their own taste, as has been shown above?O, what must
   we, then, expect from God, if we do not abide by the wholesome doctrine
   of grace, by the right holy sacraments, by the works of love which are
   pleasing to God and by the pious, unblamable life which no Moses,
   prophet, angel, nor creature has taught us, but which the eternal Son
   of God, the eternal wisdom and truth, the eternal love and mercy, the
   blessed Christ Jesus has taught us by his own blessed mouth, by the
   command of his Almighty Father, which command is eternal and immutable,
   whose love for us is ineffable, who has confirmed it by virtue of
   miracles and at last sealed it with his precious blood; and has
   proclaimed the same to all the world by his faithful testimony, his
   holy apostles, in incomprehensible power of the Spirit; which doctrine
   is nothing else, nor will it ever be any thing else, than the precious
   gospel of peace, the glad tidings of grace, the remission of sin, the
   victory over death, hell and the devil; besides, grace, peace, freedom
   and admission to the Father; and all this out of love and grace?not by
   works or merit of our own; but by means of Christ Jesus alone.

   Again, these are the sacraments which Christ Jesus has instituted and
   taught: First, the holy baptism of the believing, in which we bury our
   sinful flesh and take unto ourselves a new life, seal and confess our
   faith, testify to the new birth and good conscience; and thus we enter
   into the obedience of Jesus Christ, who has taught and commanded us
   thus himself and also in his Holy Spirit through his disciples.
   Secondly, the Holy Supper, in which is represented the death of the
   Lord, who died for us in his great love; and in which is represented
   true, brotherly love; and also the righteous, unblamable, christian
   life which must be lived inwardly and outwardly in full measure of
   death unto sin and unfeigned love, conformable to the word of God.

   Behold, worthy reader, since the whole world, yea, all tongues, tribes
   and people have become degenerated, according to the righteous sentence
   of God, in the doctrines, sacraments anti life which is pleasing to
   God, for they prefer falsehood to truth, unrighteousness to,
   righteousness; as, they have committed themselves to all manner of
   false teachings, false ceremonies and carnal life, so that we may
   consider them rather as brutes than human beings, rather as devils than
   christians, as every reasonable being can easily, even without the word
   of God, comprehend and understand; and as the learned and preachers,
   who, we should reasonably expect to reprove such things, themselves are
   committed to such false doctrine, unbelief and abominable idolatry and
   lead, even, a more beastly and infernal life?yea, as these learned
   people diligently lead and force all mankind to such idolatry,
   unbelief, transgression and accursed life, both by their teaching and
   example, as most of the learned have done from the beginning, as they
   are ever earthly, carnally and devilishly minded, and as they ever
   reject the spiritual and heavenly wisdom and will of Jesus Christ which
   tempers the carnal lusts, as a displeasure and inconvenience, Col. 3:5;
   1 Pet. 2:11; Rom. 13:14; therefore, since I clearly see this awful
   disesteem of the holy word of God, and the condemnation of innumerable
   thousands of souls whom Christ Jesus has so dearly bought and ransomed
   by his precious blood, for outside of the obedience to the divine word
   there is no salvation, therefore I cannot be silent; for the honor and
   praise of my Lord and God are at stake, and it avails the salvation of
   a poor, erring brother?although, perchance, it may be at the risk of my
   life.

   Who knows but that God, through me and through my beloved brethren who
   are and who shall be, has chosen and provided in his grace, that some
   of those who now unwittingly err, may yet acknowledge and confess the
   right way, doctrine, truth and life, and walk unblamably in Christ,
   before God and before all the world all the days of their lives. ,
   Lord, that it might be so, Amen.

   Behold, most beloved reader, inasmuch as the Babylonian king, namely,
   the antichrist, has, through his servants, that is, through the false
   prophets and teachers, demolished the disobedient Jerusalem, the temple
   of the Lord, and has thus imprisoned Israel these many years?therefore
   I and my brethren in the Lord desire nothing but that we may, to the
   honor of God, so labor at his fallen city, temple and imprisoned
   people, according to the talent received of him, that we may rebuild
   that which is demolished, repair that which is damaged and free those
   who are imprisoned, with the word of God, by the power of the Holy
   Spirit, the same as it was before the fall, that is, in freedom of the
   Spirit, on the doctrines, sacraments, ceremonies, love and life of
   Jesus Christ and of his holy apostles.

   For this reason I am not ashamed to write down, publish and loudly
   proclaim my faith, doctrine, seeking and desire, before all mankind who
   will hear, no matter who they are. Yea, I doubt not but if those could
   see my inmost heart who now assiduously seek my life, they would change
   their hatred against me and my brethren, into love for us.

   In the first place we desire, according to the word of God, that no
   bishop, pastor or teacher shall be admitted into the church of the
   Lord, to teach and administer the sacraments of the Lord, other than
   those who are comprised in the doctrine, ordinance and life of our Lord
   Jesus Christ?unblamable in all things, 1 Tim. 3:2; Tit. 1:6; Lev. 21:7;
   Ezek. 44:21; for the word of the Lord is truth, Jn.17:17; it is Spirit
   and life, Jn. 6:63; therefore they can not be administered by the
   carnal minded; by no children of death, nor by liars; but by the
   truthful, by the spiritual minded, and by those who rightly confess
   Christ Jesus; who surely feel the life eternal in their hearts, and who
   live unblamably before God and walk in Christ Jesus, so that they may
   truthfully say with Paul, "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of
   Christ," 1 Cor.11:1.

   In the second place we desire with ardent hearts, even at the cost of
   life and blood, that the holy gospel of Jesus Christ and his apostles,
   which alone is the true doctrine, and will remain so until Jesus Christ
   will reappear in the clouds, may be taught and preached through all the
   world, as the Lord Jesus Christ commanded his disciples at the last
   moments while he was on earth, Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:15.

   In the third place we seek, teach and desire a true faith and christian
   life conformable to the doctrine of Jesus Christ and his apostles; for
   the doctrine of the preachers is all vain and useless if the word which
   is preached is not accepted by faith, Heb. 4:2; and faith is vain, and
   dead before God when it does not work by love, Jas. 2:20.

   In the fourth place, we teach, seek and desire a right, christian
   baptism; first, with Spirit and fire, Luke 3; 16; afterward in the
   water, in obedience to faith; for thus has Christ Jesus commanded all
   the believing; and thus the holy apostles have taught and administered
   it, Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:15; Acts 2:38; 9:5; 16:31; 10:47.

   In the fifth place, we teach, seek and desire such a Supper as Christ
   Jesus himself has instituted and administered, Matt. 26:19; Mark 14:22;
   Luke 22:19; first, to a church which is outwardly without spot and
   blemish, that is, without any considerable transgression and
   wickedness; for the church can only judge as to the visible; but what
   is inwardly wicked and not outwardly apparent to the church, as the
   betraying of Judas, of that God is to judge, for he alone tries the
   hearts and reins, and not the church. Secondly, in both forms, namely,
   bread and wine; thirdly, to the remembrance of the Lord's death.
   Fourthly, as a renewal and proof of brotherly love, as this supper was
   also called amongst the ancients, a brotherly supper, as Tertullian
   writes.

   In the sixth place we seek and desire that all strange ceremonies and
   manners of worship which are without the word of God, or instituted
   contrary thereto and tend to abominable idolatry, such as holy water,
   oral confession, infant baptism, masses, matins, vespers, images,
   altars, false promises and the like ceremonies, may be abolished, not
   by force of arms, but peaceably by the word of God, that the poor,
   ignorant populace may no longer be deceived by such vain works which
   are nothing short of idolatry; but that they may put their faith in the
   living God and in the merits of our ever blessed Lord Jesus Christ and
   that they may cordially walk in his divine commandments, not varying to
   the right. or the left; for in him is life everlasting, Jn. 12:60, and
   in none other.

   In the seventh place we seek, desire, teach and preach, that all
   magistrates, emperors, kings, dukes, counts, barons, mayors, knights
   and other officers may be so taught and trained by the Spirit and word
   of God, that they may sincerely seek, honor, fear and serve Christ
   Jesus, the true head of all lords and potentates; that they may rightly
   administer their office, and use the sword given them of God, in his
   fear and in brotherly love, to the praise of God, to the protection of
   the good and to the punishment of the evil, according to the intent of
   the word of God, Rom. 13:3; 1 Pet. 2:13; as did the men of God, as
   Moses, Joshua, David, Ezekiel, Josiah and others. Read also Deut. 17:2,
   3, and you will clearly understand what God has commanded all
   magistrates to do.

   Besides, we teach the true love and fear of God, the true love of our
   neighbor, to aid and assist all mankind and to injure none; to crucify
   the flesh and its lusts; to circumcise the beart, mouth and the whole
   body with the knife of the divine word, of all unclean thoughts,
   unbecoming words and actions. Now consider whether these things are not
   the will of God, the true doctrine of Jesus Christ, the true
   ministering of the sacraments and the true life which is of God;
   although all the gates of hell may willfully oppose them.

   Behold, dear brethren, against these doctrines, sacraments and life no
   imperial decrees, no papal bulls, no councils of the learned, no long
   usage, no human philosophy, no Origen, Augustine, Luther, Bucer,
   prison, banishment or murder can prevail; for it is the eternal,
   imperishable word of God; it is, I repeat, the eternal mord of Good,
   and will remain immutable forever. Etiamsi rumpantur ills codro.
   Whosoever yet opposes and wars against these things, either at heart,
   verbally or by the sword, does not war against flesh? and blood, that
   is, against man, but he wars against the Lamb, against him who has all
   power, and who by a word created heaven and earth and the fullness
   thereof. Nay, against him who lifts up his hand and says, " 1 live
   forever," Dent. 32:40.

   As this is the true doctrine of Jesus Christ which alone leads to life
   eternal, and as there is no other true doctrine beside; therefore I
   might be asked by the reader why it is that so very few men sincerely
   believe and fulfill it in works? In my opinion there are four reasons
   for this. First, because all lords, preachers and common people are
   carnal and earthly minded; therefore they cannot admit the lovely
   doctrine of the Holy Ghost, the doctrine of eternal peace. Secondly,
   because they are drunk and full of the enchanting wine of the
   Babylonian whore, exceedingly rich and not in want of any thing, Rev.
   1'7:2; 3:1'7. Thirdly, because they do not fear the awful judgment and
   fearful wrath of God against all disobedience and transgression, yea,
   so utterly disregard the word of God, as if the Holy Ghost was merely
   jesting, when threatening temporal or eternal punishment. Fourthly,
   because they do not acknowledge the great beneficence of God toward
   them in Christ Jesus; for in case they did acknowledge the works of
   divine love toward them, namely, that God has created heaven and earth
   and the fullness thereof for their

   I benefit; that he formed them after his own image from the dust of
   earth; placed them at the head of all creation; gave them gold, silver,
   land, house and home and all the necessaries of life; gave them his
   divine word; first, the law of nature, then Moses and the prophets, and
   afterward his only begotten Son, his wisdom, his power, Christ Jesus,
   who has taught them the will of his Father in great clearness; opened
   heaven and closed hell; vanquished death, sin and the devil for them;
   fulfilled the cumbersome, threatening law on the cross, and acquired
   for them grace, favor, mercy, peace, freedom, deliverance, remission of
   sins and eternal life with the Father, if they in truth believe, seek
   and desire it, besides calling them daily to repentance, regeneration
   and the glory of the chosen children of God; desiring to draw them
   forth from the darkness of the world and deliver them into the kingdom
   of his beloved Son; not letting his righteous judgment come on them as
   it did on Sodom and Gomorrah; giving them day and night, sun and moon,
   rain and drought; again, blessing them with wisdom and understanding,
   wife, children, cattle and fruits; if they did cordially acknowledge
   these rich gifts of his abundant grace, then all the tyrants under
   heaven would not separate them from the doctrine, love, sacraments,
   life and confession of Jesus Christ even if it were possible that they
   could testify to and assert it by a thousand deaths. Yea, they would
   say with the apostle Paul, "Vno shall separate us from the love of
   Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or
   nakedness, or peril, or sword?" Rom. 8:35.

   But because they do not acknowledge the God of all grace in his divine
   word, judgments and beneficences; and do neither acknowledge the
   Spirit, power, will and life which was in Christ Jesus whom we should
   follow, according to the word of God; therefore they so wrongfully
   oppose and persecute the heavenly doctrine of Jesus Christ, and
   diligently follow, teach and protect all manner of falsehood, deceit,
   fraud and idolatry. Again I repeat, If they rightly acknowledged and
   believed the paternal heart, mind and love, protection, favor, will,
   solicitude and affection of the .Al, mighty God in Christ Jesus, they
   would doubtlessly accept and cordially fulfill his blessed word and
   admonition; but as they do not rightly acknowledge Christ Jesus and his
   Father?the Savior said, " God so loved the world, that he gave his only
   begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but
   have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to
   condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He
   that believeth on him is not condemned; but he that believeth not, is
   condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only
   begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come
   into the world and men loved darkness rather than light because their
   deeds were evil," Jn. 3:1(i?19.

   Take heed, O ye miserable, erring mend! For here the eternal wisdom of
   the blessed Christ Jesus has expressed, why you do not believe his
   precious word, and do not fulfill his divine will, because you prefer
   the damnable darkness to the saving light. Yea, I repeat, that if you
   sincerely accepted and believed the divine goodness, mercy, and the
   ineffable love of our beloved Lord Jesus Christ toward you, namely,
   that by his ardent love he became an humble mortal man for you; came
   down from high heaven into these lower parts of the earth, taught and
   preached unto you the eternal kingdom of God, performed miracles,
   prayed, suffered tribulation, anxiety, apprehension and prison; that he
   was beaten, mocked, derided, spit upon, scourged, crowned with thorns,
   drenched with gall and vinegar, blasphemed, crucified and that he died
   and was buried for you; was again raised up, ascended to heaven, seated
   at the right hand of the Father; and that by his precious blood he
   became your faithful Servant, Reconciler, Deliverer, Mediator and
   Advocate; that by love he sent to you and the whole world, his faithful
   servants, the holy apostles, with the word of grace if you believe all
   this, you would, doubtlessly, love him who has shown you such great
   love and grace without any merit on your part; and if you would return
   the love with which lie has loved you and yet loves you, you would,
   verily, not tire of seeking and following him, so that you might live
   unblamably according to his blessed will, and walk all your life in his
   divine commandments, as he himself says, ".He that hath my
   commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me," Jn.14:21.

   Behold, most beloved reader, thus true faith or true knowledge begets
   love, and love begets obedience to the commandments of God. Therefore
   Christ Jesus says, "He that believeth on him is not condemned." Again
   at another place, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth my
   word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and
   shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death into life,"
   Jn. S:24. For true evangelical faith is of such a nature that it cannot
   lay dormant; but manifests itself in all righteousness and works of
   love; it dies unto flesh and blood; destroys all forbidden lusts and
   desires; cordially seeks, serves and fears God; clothes the naked;
   feeds the hungry; consoles the afRicted; shelters the miserable; aids
   and consoles all the oppressed; returns good for evil; serves those
   that injure it; prays for those that persecute it; teaches, admonishes
   and reproves with the Word of the Lord; seeks that which is lost; binds
   up that which is wounded; heals that which is diseased and saves that
   which is sound. The persecution, suffering and anxiety which befalls it
   for the sake of the truth of the Lord, is to it a glorious joy and
   consolation.

   All those who have a faith as is here mentioned, namely, a faith that
   makes desirous to walk in the commandments of the Lord, to do the will
   of the Lord, and which shows itself in all righteousness, love and
   obedience, also acknowledge that the word and will of our beloved Lord
   Jesus Christ is true wisdom, truth and life, yea, unchangeable and
   immutable until Christ Jesus shall reappear in the clouds of heaven at
   the judgment day; they do not scoff at God's word as if it were a
   vapor, as do the ignorant world, saying, "What can water avail me?" but
   they will diligently try to obey the word of Jesus Christ in every
   particular, even at the risk of death according to the flesh.

   Behold, beloved brethren, I speak frankly with a certain and sure
   conviction not by any revelation or heavenly inspiration, but by the
   express, definite word of the Lord, and from my inmost heart I am
   convinced that this doctrine is not our doctrine, but the doctrine of
   him who sent us, that is Christ Jesus. All those who are desirous of
   doing his will, will acknowledge that this doctrine is of God; and that
   we do not preach our own opinion, dreamings, and visions. But those who
   do not fear God; do not believe on Christ Jesus; who trample upon his
   word, and do not do his will; who love darkness rather than light; by
   those, all evangelical truth must be called damnable heresy and
   considered and treated as deadly treason. Notwithstanding all this, the
   word of God shall remain unbroken until the judgment day.

   Woe unto such I For in them are lost the abundant gifts of grace, the
   heavenly word of peace, the mild admonitions, the hard and bitter
   labor, the precious treasure, which is the precious blood and bitter
   death of our Lord Jesus Christ. Again, woe, woe unto them! For it can
   never be that we can be saved without faith, love and obedience to our
   Lord Jesus Christ. I speak of those of understanding age. Paul says,
   "With. out faith it is impossible to please him (God)," Heb. il:6. "He
   that believeth not is condemned," Jn. 3:18.

   As the literal law of Moses could not, at any time, be changed by the
   tyranny of princes, the accnteness of the learned, or by the madness of
   the common people; and as there could be nothing added to, nor taken
   from it, it had to remain unchanged until the coming of Christ. Yea, as
   all who did not abide by this law were the children of the wrath and of
   death; so, also, it is today. If all the deceased apostles should be
   raised up and should teach us differently from what they did at the
   time of their ministration; and besides these, Moses and the prophets,
   all the angels of heaven and as many eloquent and miraculous prophets
   as we have hairs on our heads; and if besides these, all the princes
   should roar like devouring lions and ravening wolves, and if every
   learned tongue should cut as a razor, it would yet be impossible that
   those could be saved who do not abide by the wholesome doctrine,
   sacraments, obedience and life of Jesus Christ. Yea they are the
   children of wrath, the curse and of death eternal, as Christ himself
   says, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into
   the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is
   in heaven," Matt. 7:21. At another place he says, "If ye continue in my
   word then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and
   the truth shall make you free," Jn. 8:31, 32. From this follows the
   opposite, beloved brethren, namely, that if we do not abide in Christ's
   word, we cannot be his disciples; that we do not acknowledge the truth;
   and if we do not acknowledge the truth how can we then be made free
   thereby? And if we are not freed by truth, woe unto us that we were
   ever born; for then we are yet in sin, under the curse, wrath, children
   of hell, of the devil and of eternal death. O, misery, misery I Fear
   with all your heart, faithful reader 1 For this will never be found
   otherwise.

   If the bloodthirsty, tyrannical lords and princes had, from the
   beginning, acknowledged this, and would now acknowledge it, namely,
   that the word is eternal and will remain unchangeable and that it
   cannot be changed by the most exalted of men, never would they thus
   have opposed and murdered the professors of the divine word.

   If the Roman bishop and his learned fellows had taken this matter to
   heart, he would never have taken from Italy her emperor, and from
   Christ Jesus the spiritual reign. But he would, doubtlessly, have
   bidden adieu to his worldly glory, pomp, luxury, idolatry, false
   doctrine, easy life, garbled sacraments, sodomitic uncleanness,
   councils, statutes and decrees and would have contented himself with
   the immutable, heavenly doctrine of the only, true Shepherd, Teacher
   and Bishop of our souls, Christ Jesus.

   As the whole burden of our salvation is included and comprised in
   Christ Jesus and his holy word, and in no one else, nor in any other
   doctrine?therefore I warn every godfearing soul, by the word of God;
   through nothing but brotherly love, not to be shaken and misled, either
   by the exalted position of man, or by old age, learning; eloquence,
   finely gotten up ceremonies, dreams, prophesies, visions, signs and
   jugglery. For there can never be a wiser, truer, more diligent, more
   righteous, god pleasing, unblamable, powerful, perfect, higher or
   holier Prophet than the ever blessed Christ Jesus. Every thing, too,
   has testified this of him, both in heaven and upon earth. In the first
   place God testified this to Adam; afterward to Moses, David, Isaiah,
   Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, Zechariah, and to most of the prophets; to
   the angel Gabriel; to the angels at his birth; by the star of heaven;
   by the wise from the east; the learned at Jerusalem; John the Baptist.
   Again at his baptism by the Father and the Holy Ghost; afterward by the
   multitudes, the devils; by the healing, the raising up of the dead; by
   changing water into wine; commanding the storm to cease; by the loaves,
   fishes, fig?tree, and the children on palms?day; at his death; by the
   murderer; the firmament of heaven; the whole earth; the curtains of the
   temple; the stones; the deceased dead, and the centurion under the
   cross, Ps. 22:7; Isa. 53:5; Dan. 9:25. Say, what is there that has not
   testified to Christ Jesus 8 Yea he is the one, as he himself says, who
   after his resurrection again ascended to heaven, to whom all power is
   given of the Father both in heaven and in earth, Matt. 28. Therefore it
   is just and right, yea it is absolutely required, if they do not want
   to be lost, that all magistrates bow themselves under his scepter; all
   reason and sagaciousness place themselves under his heavenly wisdom;
   all flesh lay at his blessed feet; and that every tongue confess that
   he is the Lord, to the honor and praise of his Father. Therefore I pray
   all godfearing readers in the Lord, by the merits of our blessed Lord
   Jesus Christ, to whom be the kingdom, the praise and honor; not to
   consider me any higher than a mere, humble servant of Jesus Christ and
   as a dispenser of his mysteries, according to the faith given me of
   him. I, miserable sinner that I am, on account of my unclean, greedy,
   proud, vain, idolatrous and carnal life which I formerly led, and on
   account of my yet often sinning and transgressing before my God, who am
   not worthy to be the least servant in the house of my Lord! Yet, by his
   grace I am that I am.

   Brethren, I tell you the truth and lie not. I am no Enoch, no Elias, I
   have no visions, am no prophet, who can teach and prophesy differently
   from what it is written in the word of God and whosoever tries to teach
   something else will soon miss the right way and be deceived in his
   learning. I trust that the merciful Father will keep me in his word so
   that I shall write or speak nothing but that which I can prove by
   Moses, the prophets, the evangelists or by other apostolic Scriptures
   and doctrines, explained in their true sense, Spirit and intent of
   Christ. Judge ye that are spiritually minded. Again, I have no visions
   nor angelic inspirations, neither do I desire such, lest I be thereby
   deceived. The word of Christ, alone, is sufficient for me. If I do not
   follow his testimony, then, verily, all that I do is useless. And even
   if I had such visions and inspirations, which is not the case, even
   then it would have to be conformable to the word and Spirit of Christ,
   or else it would be mere fantasy, deceit and satanic temptation. For
   Paul says, "Let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith," Rom.
   12:6. Nor am I a third David, as some have falsely passed themselves
   and yet pass themselves for. There are but two Davids comprised in the
   word of God. The first, a literal and figurative, namely, the son of
   Jesse; and the second, the spiritual, the only begotten Son of God,
   Christ Jesus. Whosoever, now, passes himself for the third, is a
   falsifier and blasphemer. Let every soul take heed, lest he err in his
   faith.

   According to my first birth I am nothing but unclean slime and dust of
   earth, conceived and born in sin from my mother's womb, and educated
   all my life in all manner of ignorance, sin and blindness, until the
   clear light of grace and knowledge appeared unto me from high heaven
   and which has given me such a heart, will and desire, that I willingly
   seek after that which is good, and strive, with holy Paul to " follow
   after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of
   Christ Jesus," Phil. 3:12.

   O, most beloved reader, I repeat that I have formerly acted shamefully
   against God and my neighbors; and yet I do, sometimes think, speak and
   act recklessly, of which however I sincerely repent. What am I that I
   should boast of, seek and teach any thing else than the ever blessed
   Christ Jesus alone, his word, sacraments, obedience and his
   god?pleasing, virtuous and unblamable life. He is the only one of whom
   it is written: That he was begotten of the Holy Ghost; that he knew no
   sin; that guile was not found in his mouth, that his doctrine, word,
   will, and commandments are life eternal, Matt. 1:25; Luke 1:31; 1 Pet.
   2:22; Isa. 53:12.

   Therefore take heed and save your soul. For thus every christian must
   be minded in regard to Christ Jesus, his Savior and in regard to his
   holy word; nor must he think himself more exalted, no matter what gifts
   he has received, if he would not rob Christ Jesus of his glory; and
   remain in a humble walk before God, in the right measure of his faith
   as becomes him in Christ. I advise all not to deceive themselves. Let
   spiritual pride, and vain boasting be far from you, "For God resisteth
   the proud, and giveth grace to the humble," 1 Pet. 5:5.

   Inasmuch as I daily see the perils which have surrounded us from the
   beginning; and as so many souls are deceived by false prophesies,
   smooth words, seeming holiness, lying, jugglery, boasting and false
   promises of the anti?christians and the false prophets who are ever
   intent upon their own honor, fame and gain, under a semblance of God's
   word, as was the case with the popes of Rome, with John of Leyden, the
   Munsterites, and others?therefore I deem it essential and well,
   sincerely to warn and admonish all beloved readers in the Lord, not to
   accept my doctrine as the gospel of Jesus Christ until they have
   weighed it in the balance with the Spirit and word of God, that they
   may not place their faith in me, nor in any teacher or writer, but,
   solely in Christ Jesus. For if they should accept it for my sake, and
   should not first compare it with the word of the Lord, and should, thus
   depend upon me or any other man, and not upon Christ Jesus, they would
   be like unto the culpable Corinthians, whom Paul severely reproved
   because there were dissensions among them; some were of Paul, some of
   Apollos, and not all of Christ Jesus, 1 Cor. 1. They would be like unto
   those of whom it is written, "Cursed be the man that trusteth in man,
   and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord,"
   Jer. 17:5.

   If I should, by my teaching, gain disciples for myself and not for
   Christ Jesus, seeking my own gain, praise and honor, then, indeed, woe
   unto my soul! No brethren, no. The Lord be blessed I seek not that
   which Judas, Gallio and Theudas sought. By the grace of God I am not
   minded like those who, in their imagination soar above the clouds and
   want to be like unto the Most High, Acts 5:37. But I repeat it. I am a
   poor, miserable sinner, who must daily fight with my flesh, the world
   and the devil, and daily seek the mercy of the Lord; and who, with holy
   Paul boasts of nothing but of Christ Jesus alone; and that he was
   crucified for us.

   My writing and preaching is for nothing but for the sake of Christ
   Jesus; for I seek and desire nothing (this the Lord knows) but that the
   most glorious name, the divine will, and the glory of our beloved Lord
   Jesus Christ may be acknowledged throughout the world. I desire and
   seek sincere teachers, true doctrines, true faith, true sacraments,
   true worship and an unblamable life; for which I must pay with much
   tribulation, trouble, uneasiness, labor, watching, fear, anxiety,
   sorrow, envy, shame, heat and cold, and perhaps, at last by torture,
   yea by my blood and death. For my reward, according to the flesh, must
   be that of him who, from the beginning, in his great love, has sought
   the salvation of the world. I say with holy John the Baptist; Christ
   Jesus must increase, but I must decrease, Jn. 3:30; he lives forever
   and ever, but I shall again return to the dust from whence I came, as
   all the children of men.

   Therefore I beseech you again, by the grace of God, and for the
   salvation of your souls, that you may weigh my doctrine and the
   doctrine of all mankind, who have been from the times of the apostles,
   are now, and shall yet be, with the gospel balance of Jesus Christ and
   the doctrine of his holy apostles, lest you be deceived by me or by any
   other man, no matter whether he be a prince, learned or unlearned, holy
   in appearance, or miraculous. If it be the word of God which I teach,
   accept it in the name of the Lord, if ye would not be lost. But if it
   be human doctrine, then let it be accursed of God. "For other
   foundation can no man lay than that is laid (by the apostles) which is
   Jesus Christ," 1 Cor. 3:11.

   No doctrine is profitable or serviceable to our salvation but the
   doctrine of Christ Jesus and his holy apostles, as he himself says,
   "Teach them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you,"
   Matt. 28:19.

   All Scripture, both of the Old and New Testaments, rightly explained
   according to the intent of Christ Jesus and his holy apostles, is
   profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction
   in righteousness, 2 Tim. 3:16; but whatever is taught contrary to the
   Spirit and doctrine of Jesus is accursed of God, Gal. 1.

   Inasmuch as there is but one corner stone laid of God, the Almighty
   Father, in the foundation of Zion, which is Christ Jesus, Isa. 28:16;
   Rom. 9:33; 1 Pet. 2: B; upon whom alone we should build conformable to
   his word, and upon none other; and as the whole world, to the contrary,
   have built upon strange corner stones, such as popes, councils,
   doctors, doctrines and commandments of men; upon wrong practices of
   long standing, and still continue to build upon pretending prophets;
   and as they thus so shamefully reject the only, noble and finished
   corner stone, the ever blessed Christ Jesus?therefore I can not be
   restrained, but must warn all godfearing souls in the Lord, by my
   writings, wherever they shall be taken, read and heard, that from this
   moment they may awaken, if they desire to be saved (whether I live or
   die by so doing), and that they may without delay, enter upon the
   wholesome doctrine, sacraments, obedience and life of our beloved Lord
   Jesus Christ; for in him alone is life eternal, as has been frequently
   said above.

   Beloved reader, verily, I can not but wonder at the obduracy, deafness
   and blindness of the world, inasmuch as they are not ashamed to bear
   the name of Christ, and to boast of his merits, blood and death, while
   nothing is found among them at all by which they prove the good will
   and nature of Christ Jesus. O ye vain boasters, if you are the true
   christians in whom God is pleased, as you pretend, where then, is your
   christian baptism in which you have buried your sins and put on the new
   life? Where is your true Supper in which you proclaim the death of the
   Lord and show your brotherly love I Where is your love and fear of God
   H your love of your neighbors? Your humility of heart B Your
   mercifulness towards the needful? Your obedience to the commandments of
   God V Your new birth from above, from which results a new life which
   should be unblamable before God, and before all the world? Jas. 1:27.
   Where is the living, holy and pleasing sacrifice of your own body,
   which you should ever be ready to present for the sake of the Lord's
   truth q We find nothing amongst you but unbelief and its evil fruits;
   an anti?Christian baptism, idolatrous supper; unclean love of flesh,
   unmercifulness, pride, avarice, disobedience in all divine matters,
   carnal birth, earthly mindedness, and the old blamable life, led
   according to the will of him who, from the beginning, was a proud,
   false, deceitful, cruel and bloody murderer.

   We find amongst you no worship but only a self?begotten set of rites
   which are pleasing to the flesh, such as, bells, organs, singing,
   celebration, ornamented churches, beautiful images, differences in
   victuals and in days, false purification and promises, reading many
   psalms and pater nosters with the mouth and not spiritually,
   adulteration of the sacraments, and a destruction and garbling of all
   that which Christ Jesus has taught and commanded in his holy gospel.
   All of which are, verily, no works of regenerated christians; but
   rather the works of Satan or of the foolish, blind and ignorant flesh.
   For by these works neither the word nor righteousness of God is taught:
   no flesh is crucified; no neighbors are served; and above all they are
   not pleasing to God. Therefore they can not be considered, according to
   Scripture, services of God, but rather an abominable, fearful and
   terrible service of idols. For by such means the ignorant, trusting
   populace is led away from the true faith and trust in Christ Jesus and
   is led into a false trust in ceremonies, yea, in such ceremonies as the
   eternal wisdom, the blessed Christ Jesus, has never commanded. By which
   ceremonies they plainly show that they believe at heart that Christ
   Jesus is imperfect, foolish, and unclean. For in case they believed him
   to be wise and perfect how could they thus shamefully adulterate,
   break, despise and garble his perfect, evangelical word and ordinances?
   And if they acknowledged him to be spotless why do they seek their
   salvation in such impure and strange means, and not in the only pure
   sacrifice, which is Christ Jesus?

   But because true religion opposes your carnal mindedness, pride,
   avarice, uncleanness, vanity, ease and the lusts of your flesh,
   therefore you have chosen for yourselves a vain and strange religion by
   which you think to be saved, although you do not live according to the
   word and will of God. O, no, dear reader, no. I repeat it, if all
   creatures under the heavens were devouring swords, fire and water; if
   all men were cruel, horrible and bloody tyrants; and if the acuteness
   of the learned, ruled all the people, yet all would be vanity. If you
   would enter into life, you must be born again, Jn. 3: S, you must be
   regenerated and in malice you should be children, 1 Cor. 14:20; yea,
   you must keep the commandments which were taught and commanded of Jesus
   Christ, Matt. 18. Nothing can be devised as a substitute; for there
   will never be a way to salvation other than Christ Jesus.

   It is too plain, and indiscreet blindness to think that we could be
   saved and at the same time be avaricious, spiteful, envious, proud,
   adulterous and idolatrous, as all the Scriptures too plainly show and
   teach that such shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Did you ever find
   falsehood with God? I think not. Holy Paul says that God is one "that
   can not lie," Tit. 1:2. Christ Jesus says, " Thy word is truth," Jn.
   17:17. If he be, then, a God that can not lie; and if his holy word be
   truth; .O, ye miserable, then all is lost with you. For his doctrine
   and truth is, that the unbelieving, refractory, disobedient,
   avaricious, vain, lying, whoring, greedy, obdurate, idolatrous,
   adulterous, ambitious, bloodthirsty and carnal man shall not enter into
   the kingdom of heaven; but his portion shall be "everlasting
   destruction," 1 Thess. 1:9, eternal darkness and eternal death.

   As you are such ungodly, obdurate and willful sinners, therefore you
   are, according to the word of Christ which can not lie, and according
   to the doctrine of the apostles who spoke in like Spirit, deprived of
   the glorious revelation of the children of God, and of the future life;
   and must remain forever, by the wrath of God, in the lake which burns
   with fire and brimstone, Rev. 21:8.

   And if you, notwithstanding this, trust to be saved while you do not
   sincerely repent of your old life, then, verily, your trust is vain.
   For by such trust you make God a liar, because you trust to acquire
   life contrary to his holy word.

   What I Do ye think, O ye perverse, that we shall surprise, blind and
   bribe the Almighty, wise and just God? Do you think that the eternal
   truth shall become falsehood for your sake? No, beloved reader, no.
   Beware. The irrepressible sentence of God was passed, irrepealably more
   than fifteen hundred years ago, namely: "If ye live after the flesh, ye
   shall die," Rom. 8:13. This word is sure and firm.

   O world, world, that you thus despise as vain and useless, the calling
   and inviting voice of your God who is as faithful to you as a faithful
   Father to his beloved children ! And that you speak in your hearts,
   with beautiful Tyrus, "I am of perfect beauty," Ezek. 2'7:3; and with
   proud Babel, "I am, and none else besides me; I shall not sit as a
   widow, neither shall I know the loss of children," Isa. 47:8. Yea,
   although you now say, as do the ignorant, It is peace and freedom; yet
   I tell you, as Ezekiel said unto Tyrus, Thou art nothing; nothing wilt
   thou be forever; and as Isaiah said unto Babel, Thou shalt fall and not
   rise again; and with Paul, " That the day of the Lord so cometh as a
   thief in the night," and, " as travail upon a woman with child; and
   they shall not escape," 1 Thess. 6:2, 3; and although you may now, with
   Capernaum, be exalted unto heaven yet you will be brought down to hell,
   unlooked for, Matt. 11:23. You eat, drink, dress, grab, hoard, and you
   act in all your transactions as if you would ever remain in this
   tabernacle of clay; and you never reflect that soon the word will be
   heard by all of us, " Give an account of. thy stewardship; for thou
   mayest be no longer steward."

   The precious word of grace and of eternal peace, which is the most holy
   gospel of Jesus Christ, you account for nothing more than a fable, nay,
   as accursed heresy; for you drown, burn, persecute, and murder those
   who teach, admonish and reprove you by this word, and who by a strong
   power of the Spirit are sent to you of God, by grace; just as the mad
   synagogue of the Jews did; so that they did not only persecute and
   destroy the chosen children of God, the holy prophets, but also the
   only begotten Son of God himself; who by the ineffable love of the
   merciful Father was sent to them for their own, eternal salvation. What
   did they say? "This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us
   seize on his inheritance," Matt. 21:38.

   How long will you continue in your damnable blindness, your refractory
   obduracy and your pernicious madness? Reflect upon the abundant,
   ineffable works of grace which Christ Jesus has shown you, and if his
   great love cannot move you to withdraw from your idolatry, disobedience
   and accursed life, then remember his rigid judgments which, from the
   beginning of the creation; came upon all those who did not abide in his
   blessed word and obedience, that you may by such fear, since you are
   not moved by his love, be drawn away from all evil.

   Behold the weeping eyes, O, miserable world, and hear the tender voice
   of our beloved Lord Jesus Christ, how he wept for obdurate Jerusalem,
   and said unto them, "If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this
   thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! But now they are hid
   from thine eyes," Luke 19:42. At another place, "Behold, I send unto
   you prophets and wise men and scribes; and some of them ye shall kill
   and crucify; and some of them ye shall scourge in your synagogues, and
   persecute them from city to city: That upon you may come all the
   righteous blood shed upon the earth; from the blood of righteous Abel
   unto the blood of Zacharias, son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the
   tem.

   pie and the altar. Verily, i say unto you, All these things shall come
   upon this generation: O, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the
   prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I
   have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her
   chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left
   unto you desolate," Matt. 23:34?38. ,

   O, sincerely beloved readers, in case you would rightly take to heart
   these words of Christ, your bones would become dry by fear; they would
   )shake and tremble; for it is with you, even, as it was with Jerusalem
   and Judah. You willfully deny that Christ Jesus is your Lord. You do
   not desire the true knowledge of his ways. But you desire to do as all
   gentiles have done from the beginning, namely, worship wood, stone,
   gold, silver, bread, wine and the works of your own hands. Besides your
   earthly, carnal and corrupt life, which, so to speak, does not conform
   in the least to the word and will of him who, by grace, created you, to
   his honor.

   Indeed, you have so entirely rejected Christ Jesus and cast him from
   you in mockery, that there is no doctrine, sacraments or any thing left
   you which conforms to his word; but you have instituted selfbegotten
   doctrines, sacraments, ceremonies and commandments, as if Christ Jesus,
   the only begotten Son and Wisdom of the Almighty Father, were not the
   true Messenger. And all those who, about this damnable, deadly error,
   fraternally admonish and mildly reprove you and seek to return you to
   Christ Jesus and to his blessed word, must be taken and suffer as
   rebellious heretics, in all cities and countries.

   Behold, kind reader, as you have ever been and yet are so unthankful
   for his paternal grace, God has shut out from you his mercy, and has
   brought his just judgment upon you so that there is neither right,
   godfearing truth, nor true teachers, nor deacons, nor gospel, nor
   faith, nor christian baptism, nor christian Supper, nor christian life,
   nor knowledge, nor truth, nor spiritual wisdom, nor judgment, nor ban,
   nor love, nor piety left upon earth. Thus the house of which Christ
   Jesus has spoken, is entirely destroyed and the well `prepared vineyard
   of the Lord is without fruit, and is become useless, as the prophet
   says, '? Now will I sing to my well beloved a song of my beloved
   touching his vineyard. My well beloved hath a vineyard in a very
   fruitful hill; and he fenced it and gathered out the stones thereof,
   and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst
   of it, and also made a wine?press therein; and he looked that it should
   bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. And now, O
   inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt
   me and my vineyard. What could have been done more to my vineyard, that
   I have not done in it ~ wherefore, when I looked that it should bring
   forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? And now, go to; I will tell
   you what I will do to my vineyard. I will take away. the hedge thereof,
   and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall
   be trodden down; and I will lay it waste; it shall not be pruned nor
   digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command
   the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. For the vineyard of the Lord
   of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant
   plant; and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for
   righteousness, but behold a cry," Isa. C:1?7.

   Behold, dear brethren, as this judgment came first upon Israel, so it
   also has come upon us. For all flesh has corrupted his way, from the
   lowest to the highest. The heavens are iron, and earth is metal. There
   are found in the vineyard of the Lord no dew, no moisture nor ripe
   fruits; there is no digger, no pruner nor tender. Every where it is
   accursed; the walls and hedges are trampled down; it is laid waste to
   be trampled upon by all men; strangers have dominion thereof. The
   Gentiles have entered into the sanctuary, and have soiled the temple of
   the Lord. Our princes are to us devouring lions; our fathers are our
   betrayers; our pastors are our deceivers; our shepherds are our wolves;
   our watchmen are the thieves and murderers of our so al s. We find
   nothing but thistles and thorns; it is all plundered and robbed; it is
   all torn up and broken down wherever we turn.

   And all this on account of our sinfulness; this we must confess before
   our God.

   Yea, dearest reader, compare our transgressions with those of Sodom and
   Gomorrah and the other cities which God has destroyed on account of
   their sinfulness, and see how far they stand above us yet. For if we
   will rightly look into the matter we can conceive of no sinfulness
   greater than that of our, time; no matter how great a sin it is, as
   pride, avarice, fornication, adultery, idolatry, backbiting, hatred,
   envy, greediness, treason, murder, disobedience to God, refractoriness,
   lying, stealing, hypocrisy or any other ungodliness, as may be plainly
   seen.

   Besides, flesh is accounted Spirit; falsehood, truth; sinfulness,
   righteousness; and Satan is accounted as Christ, by this miserable,
   blind, erring world. Anti?christ is seated in the temple of God.
   Pharaoh arms himself against Israel. The powerful miracles and the
   beseeching voice of the Lord are neither seen nor heeded. Thus has this
   abominable darkness covered the whole land of Egypt. I repeat, thus the
   fearful judgment of God is come upon us because of our sinfulness, as
   the prophet says, "Your iniquities have separated between you and your
   God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
   For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity;
   your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.
   None calleth fur justice, nor any pleadeth for truth; they trust in
   vanity and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth
   iniquity. They hatch cockatrice' eggs, and weave the spider's web: he
   that eateth of their eggs dieth, and that which is crushed breaketh out
   into a viper. Their webs shall not become garments, neither shall they
   cover themselves with their works; their works are works of iniquity,
   and the act of violence is in their hands. Their feet run to evil, and
   they make haste to shed innocent blood; their thoughts are thoughts of
   iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths. The way of peace
   they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made
   them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know
   peace.Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake
   us. We wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we
   walk in darkness. We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as
   if we had no eyes: we stumble at noon?day as in the night; we are in
   desolate places as dead men. We roar all like bears, and mourn sore
   like doves; we look for judgment but there is none; for. salvation, but
   it is far off from us. For our transgressions are multiplied before
   thee, and our sins testify against us; for our transgressions are with
   us; and as for our iniquities, we know them: In transgressing and lying
   against the Lord, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression
   and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.
   And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off:
   for truth is fallen in the street, and equity can not enter. Yea, truth
   faileth; and he that departeth from evil, maketh himself a prey: and
   the Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment. And
   he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no
   intercessor," Isa. 69:2?16.

   Most beloved, thus has God, the just judge, sent his fearful judgment
   into this wicked world, although you do not feel it. For inasmuch as
   you trample upon the Son of God, deem the blood of the New Testament as
   unclean, grieve the Holy Spirit of grace?therefore you are under the
   terrible judgment and have fallen into the hands of the living God, so
   that you prefer falsehood to truth, obscurity to light, death to life;
   and therefore God has sent you error, and deprived you of his holy
   word, faith, knowledge and truth, so that you have, in this world,
   neither light nor way, nor spiritual wisdom, nor prayer, nor God, nor
   Christ, nor promise, nor righteousness, nor peace, nor conscientious
   freedom, nor inward joy nor hope; notwithstanding you so highly boast
   of the name, mercy, merits, death and blood of the Lord. For since you
   say that you acknowledge God, and yet do not honor and thank him as
   God, therefore he has suffered you to be deceived by your sensual
   thoughts, and your foolish heart is become obscured, 1 Jn?1:6; Jn.
   1;10; Rev.

   22:15; Jn. 9:31; Eph. 4:18; Rom. 1:18, 22. Besides, you deem it but
   mockery to acknowledge God, therefore God has delivered you to a
   perverse mind, to do the things you should not do; "Being filled with
   all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness,
   maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity;
   whisperers; backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters,
   inventers of evil things, disobedient to parents, without
   understanding, covenant?breakers, without natural affection,
   implacable, unmerciful," Rom. 1:29 ?31.

   Behold, beloved reader, thus mysteriously God punishes by his righteous
   judgment. For God, the Mighty Lord visits this world in many different
   ways, on account of the sinfulness thereof. As with bondage, war,
   bloodshed, drought, famine, pestilence and many other diseases; at
   which plagues and chastisements the world is horror?stricken. But above
   all, the most terrible wrath of God is his depriving us of his divine
   word. For the first mentioned plagues, such as pestilence, famine,
   sword, &c., only punish us according to the flesh, and are
   chastisements for our correction, as the prophet says, which he
   inflicts that his children may learn wisdom; but when he deprives us of
   his word, then all is lost. For if we have not the word, we verily,
   have nothing but unbelief, blindness, error, disobedience, conceit,
   acrimony, an unclean, foolish and adulterous spirit, and eternal death.
   But how few, yea, how very few are horrorstricken at these plagues,
   however abundantly they have come upon them.

   If we should desire to put out a man's eyes, cut off his ears, take his
   life or take from him the inheritance of his natural father, would not
   such an one use all his reason, wit and wisdom to prevent such pain,
   shame, danger, and damage? And to?day the whole world have eyes and see
   not, ears and hear not, life and yet are dead; and, above all, bereft
   of the eternal inheritance of the merciful Father, but do not mind it.
   O, if they acknowledged their own misfortune how diligently they would
   seek him who gives sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, and true
   wisdom to the unlearned, which is Christ Jesus, Ps. 94:9.

   But the finely attired woman has so enchanted you, and the whoring
   spirit of the spiritual whoredom has so kept you under its wings, that
   I fear, indeed, that, your abominable unbelief, obscurity, blindness,
   falsehood and madness will never more be taken from your hearts, but
   that the wrath of God will remain upon you to the end; so that in this
   earthly life you will err, without any piety, from one unclean thing to
   another until the time that we shall be placed before the just judge,
   where every one shall receive his reward according to his works. Then,
   when too late, your blind eyes will be opened amidst sighs and
   unavailing remorse, acknowledging that you have not walked in the ways
   of righteousness to life eternal, but in the dark ways to death
   eternal. O misery, where will you then hide yourselves from the wrath
   of God? Then you will cry in terror: Ye mountains fall upon us and ye
   hills cover us, Rev. 6:16. For then there can not be found a place of
   prayer, of mercy, nor of repentance for the sinner. But the awful
   sentence of the just God against all the wicked, unbelieving, willful
   and disobedient sinners will then be pronounced, "Depart from me, ye
   cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels,"
   Matt. 25:41. O, how well it would be for such if they had never been
   born.

   Therefore I will not cease, while I live, to teach and admonish both
   verbally and by writing, so far as God, the merciful Father, by his
   ineffable kindness, is giving me knowledge, spirit, grace and wisdom,
   to all those that seek the truth; that they may awaken while it is yet
   time and seek the Lord while he may yet be found, and call upon him
   while he is near, that their righteousness may go forth as a light and
   their salvation burn like a torch; which consists in nothing but
   casting off the works of darkness and putting on the armor of light,
   which is to renounce all false doctrine, sacraments, false religion and
   the unbecoming, dishonest, carnal life, and again to enter into the
   divine doctrine, the evangelical !, sacraments, the services and works
   of love and the sincere, christian life, as it was taught, instituted
   and practiced by Christ Jesus, our only Deliverer and Shepherd himself,
   according to the will of his Father, Isa. SS:6; 62:2; Rom. 13:12.

   Thus I labor and strive, according to the small talent given me of God,
   of which God is my witness, after nothing else than that the Day?star,
   the blessed Christ Jesus, the ever shining Light may arise in your
   heart and enlighten you in all divine truth; knowledge, spiritual
   understanding and. wisdom, unto life eternal. Amen, 2 Pet, 1:19.

   Most beloved reader, herewith I beseech you all, whether you be lord,
   prince, learned or unlearned, to peruse these and all my writings, with
   the fear of God in your hearts, and I have no doubt but you will
   clearly find that our doctrine, which is the doctrine of Jesus Christ
   and his holy apostles, does not tend to mutiny, discord, treason and
   rebellion; but rather, yea surely, to true, christian love, unity and
   peace. For Christ Jesus whom we preach, is the true Prince of eternal
   peace, and not of discord, Isa. 9. Say, whom have we curtailed? Whom
   have we injured ? We sincerely seek nothing but that we may save all
   mankind. Not only at the cost of our chattels, shelter, gold, silver,
   and labor, but also (understand it in an spiritual sense) at the cost
   of our life?blood.

   Verily, verily, I say, If all lords and princes and their subjects who
   boast of the name of Christ, would acknowledge the beforementioned
   doctrine of Jesus Christ as right and true, and were minded as the
   doctrine, life and Spirit of Christ require, then it would not be
   necessary to fortify cities and towns; to keep cavalry and inafntry,
   nor to manufacture deadly weapons such as guns, swords and spears. I do
   not here speak of the sword of justice which is given as a punishment
   to the wicked and protection of the good. But it would be as the
   prophet says, "They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their
   spears into pruning?hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against
   nation, neither shall they learn war any more." " But they shall sit
   every man under his vine and under his fig tree," Isa. 2:4; Micah 4:3,
   4. For it is impossible that those who have committed themselves to the
   doctrine, life, body and church of Jesus Christ and remain therein,
   should seek or desire any thing but divine love, peace and unity; to
   suppress all evil, and protect all good, as becomes us in Christ Jesus.
   But we do not abet the false prophets of the corrupted sects which in
   many actions transgress the doctrine, rule and measure of Christ.

   Herewith we commend you to the Lord, ,, faithful readers. And now judge
   for yourselves according to the word of the Lord, whether or not I
   have, by his grace pointed out to you the truth of our beloved Lord
   Jesus Christ. (Trace, peace, mercy, true knowledge and life eternal be
   to all who, in truth, love Christ Jesus, Amen. Do not hide the praise
   of God. But let it be read, and heard by all who diligently seek and
   desire it.

   Beloved brethren, do not deviate from the doctrine and life of Christ.

   blank page
     __________________________________________________________________

  A FUNDAMENTAL

  CLEAR CONFESSION

  OF THE

  POOR AND DISTRESSED CHRISTIANS

  CONCERNING

  JUSTIFICATION, THE PREACHERS, BAPTISM, THE LORD'S SUPPER, AND

  THE SWEARING OF OATHS; ON ACCOUNT OF WHICH WE ARE

  SO MUCH HATED, SLANDERED, AND BELIED, FOUNDED

  UPON THE WORD OF GOD.

  BY

  MENNO SIMON.

  A. D., 1552.

  "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also
  before my Father which is in heaven; but whosoever shall deny me before men,
  him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven," Matt. 10:32, 33.

  "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus
  Christ," 1 Cor. 8:11.

  ELKHART, INDIANA:

  PUBLISHED BY JOHN F. FUNK. AND BROTHER.

  1871. A TRUE knowledge of the divine word, a fruitful faith in Christ Jesus,
  unfeigned love, and a pious, penitent, unblamable life I sincerely wish to all
  those who shall see, read or hear this our confession, of God our heavenly
  Father through Christ Jesus our Lord, who has loved us and cleansed us of our
  sins with his blood. To him be the honor, praise, kingdom, power and glory,
  forever and ever, Amen.

   Christ saps, " Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them,
   I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock;
   and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and
   beat upon that house; and it fell not, for it was founded upon a rock.
   And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not,
   shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the
   sand; and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew,
   and beat upon that house; and it fell; and great was the fall of it,"
   Matt. 7:24?27.
     __________________________________________________________________

  PREFACE.

   Horror reader, the reason why we write is this: Because we and our
   ancestors, for many centuries, have sought the light in obscurity, the
   truth in falsehood, life in death, and the way among the deceivers; and
   have wandered about like a flock of sheep without a shepherd; and,
   alas, there was none who pointed us to the way of life and led us into
   the pasture of the Lord. The accursed doctrine of anti?christ had so
   drawn the shameful smoke of deceit from the bottomless pit; had so
   obscured the glorious dazzling of the divine word, nay, the just
   judgment of God was come upon this reckless world, on account of its
   sinfulness, so that, alas, there was neither true doctrine nor true
   knowledge of God and Christ, nor faith, baptism, Supper, ban in
   accordance with God's word, nor love, nor righteousness found among
   men, and of which very little is found as yet; for all over the world
   we find false teachers, hypocritical deceivers, and enemies of the
   cross, who diligently serve their own bellies, who by their tickling,
   erring doctrine proclaim peace to those who know of no peace, and thus
   strengthen the hands of the wicked so that none converts himself from
   his wickedness, as the prophet says.

   Yea, they have carried on their wrangling, writing and preaching so far
   that they adjudge the Lord's express ordinances of baptism, Supper and
   ban, as commanded by him, and as taught, practiced and testified to by
   his holy apostles, not only as heretical, but also fiend?like, they
   upbraid and persecute those who keep them, as may be plainly seen; and
   have instituted a new baptism, which the Scripture knows not, which is
   more pleasing to the flesh than the baptism of Christ; a new Supper
   which is a false consolation to t