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Simons Simony THE NEW SCHAFF-HERZOG 428 aware of it. He says, " Soon after the death of the such as choosing a king and what they taught con apostles, through the influence of the unenlightened cerning the kingdom, the sword, polygamy, worldly bishops, trust in outward works was permitted to conformity, and the like abominations and infamy take the place of trust in Jesus Christ " (Wercken, p. we reject and hate with all our soul " (i. 197). " So 51, Amsterdam, 1681). " The understanding of the it is in your instance, 0 ye mad ones," he addresses holy gospel, which was lost for many centuries, has them, " (forgive me, for it is the truth that I write). been found again." " May the holy city and temple The prophets you read according to Jewish under which lay desolate for many centuries, be again standing, the doctrine of Christ and the apostles, rebuilt," etc. Menno never mentions the Waldenses. you say, is all fulfilled and pretend that there is Dirk Philips makes mention of them in his En- now another dispensation," etc. (i. 97). " They chiridion, but his observations show that he was have justified open adultery under the cloak of the not well informed concerning their teachings. custom of the Jewish fathers, together with other Concerning Menno Simons' relation to the Man- infamy of which a true Christian must be appalled sterites (see MUENSTER, ANABAPTISTS IN) it is first and ashamed " (i. 227). " Is it not a grievous error of all to be noted that not all Anabaptists of the that you suffer yourselves to be so wretchedly be Netherlands who disregarded the principle of non- witched by such worthless men, and so lamentably resistance were followers of John of Leyden (see misled from one corrupt sect into another; first ANABAPTISTS; MUENSTER, ANABAPTISTS IN). Of Minsterite, then of Batenburg, now Davidist [fol his own brother, who in many histor- lowers of Jan David Joris (q.v.)], and thus from g. Relation ical works figures as a Manaterite, Beelzebub to Lucifer and from Belial to Behemoth " to Milnater Menno says: " My poor brother has (i. 94). How many innocent hearts have they Anabaptists. erred only in this, that he undertook deceived l How many poor souls have * they ae to defend his faith with the fist and duced I . What great shame have they brought upon to oppose violence by violence " (Works, ii. 101). God's Wordl What abominations have some of It must be remembered that an unprecedented per- them committed under a pious appearancel How secution was waged against the dissenters. The great cause have they given to the poor, blind law of the empire demanded that all who had sub- magistrates who have, alas! no understanding of mitted to rebaptism and were unwilling to recant the holy word, to shed innocent blood " (i. 96). must die, and this law dates from the year 1529 After Menno's renunciation of Romanism and -about four years prior to the rise of the Man- his identification with the religious body which he sterites. Very many had lost their lives. The Ana- so well represented, it was impossible for him to baptists were in continuous danger of death and labor in public. He was an outlaw and a fugitive under temptation to take the sword in self-defense. although, through the leniency of local authorities, While Menno was yet a priest a large number of he found it possible to sojourn com dissenters, among them his brother, sought refuge lo. Victim paratively long in a few places. Had, in the " Old Cloister " near Bolaward and defended of however, any appointment for a meet it against a contingent of troops. " The poor er- Intolerance. ing in which he or one of his friends ring flock," says Menno, " which erred because they was to appear been publicly announced, had no true shepherds, after many severe edicts, he would unfailingly have been apprehended at the killing and slaughter, came together near my place appointed place. In a number of instances the local of residence, in a place called Old Cloister, and, authorities would apparently have tolerated him alas, through the godless doctrine of Minster, and his friends, had they not feared the vengeance contrary to Christ's spirit, word, and example, of the provincial or imperial government. Menno drew the sword to defend themselves, which the knew full well that only as long as such magistrates Lord commanded Peter to put up into the sheath " could urge the excuse that they did not know of (i. 4). Although these people followed the Man- his whereabouts would they refrain from putting steritea to the extent of taking the sword, they must forth efforts to have him apprehended. He had a not be held responsible for the highly offensive few private discussions with Zwinglian theologians, practises originated by " King " John of Leyden such as Johannes a Lasco, Martinus micronius at Minster; in fact even many of those who had (qq.v.), and Gellius Faber, who had obligated them accepted the latter's leadership and had gone to selves to observe strict silence concerning these con Minster were loath to follow him all the way. When ferences. In several of his books Menno asks his John, after long and persistent effort, had persuaded Protestant friends to arrange for a public debate Bernhard Rothnlann and the other preachers in with him, obtaining for him a safe conduct from Minster (see MUENSTER, ANABAPTISTS IN) that po- the government, but this desire was never granted lygamy was the Scriptural course for the " New him. Even Count von Ahlefeldt, who permitted Israel," a rebellion occurred among his followers him to live on his estate at Wiistenfelde in Holstein within the walls of the besieged city. Mollenhecke, (where Menno died in peace), would in all probabil the leader of the resisting party, and his adherents ity, had the matter been brought to the attention were mercilessly put to the sword by " King " of the imperial authorities, not have admitted that John. Of Minaterite teaching and practise Me., he knowingly gave shelter to this " heresiarch." speaks invariably in severest terms of condemns- Toleration for Menno and his people prevailed tion. He denounced John of Leyden as a blas- neither on Roman Catholic nor Protestant terri phemer, seducer, and worthless character, notwith- tory. He complains bitterly that " not only among standing his unusual gifts as a leader. He says of Papists and Turks, but among those who boast of the Mansterites: " Their seditious abominations, the holy word 11 and " in their first writings said