Foundation of Christian Doctrine

92 Pages·2014·1.91 MB·English

Foundation of
Christian Doctrine, 1539
Menno Simons
“For other Foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is
Jesus Christ” (I Corinthians 3:11).
Salutation
Dear God-fearing reader: I perceive that our work, which I published a few years ago under the
title, Foundation of Christian Doctrine, has through the grace of God, to whom be eternal praise and
thanks, been productive of much good to some. God’s holy Word which was obscured for such a
long time has through our little talent been brought back to light. Many well-disposed children have
affectionately requested me to see it through the press again, diligently to revise and correct the
faulty parts, which were abused by the carelessness of the printer, so hiding the sense from the
reader. I allowed myself to be prevailed upon. Here and there I made additions, explained that
which was vague, corrected what was spoiled, and omitted what was not needed. The style and
language I have improved in order to be better suited :o aid the kind reader and to make the
despised truth known and acceptable
to many.
Not that I have changed the original doctrines and contents; by no means. I have not changed them
but improved their form, and it seems to me, given them more force and clarity. He who fears God
may judge. But the former edition as well as this is God’s Word. All that the first teaches, this
teaches also. May the almighty merciful Father grant that through His grace our little work, so
lightly esteemed, may produce endless fruit in countless thousands. Amen.
Menno Simons
Preface
To all magistrates and men of whatever condition, class, or rank they may be, Menno Simons
wishes the illumination of the Spirit, and the pure knowledge of the kingdom of God, from our
heavenly Father, and His Son Jesus Christ, our Lord, who has loved us and washed us from our sins
with His blood. To Him be praise, honour, glory, and thanksgiving forever. Amen.
Dear sirs, friends, and brethren: We learn from the Scriptures and from experience that the
prediction of the prophets of Christ, and of the apostles concerning the terrible oppression, misery,
want, persecution, danger, anxiety, and false doctrine of the last days is being accomplished fully
and so violently that unless the merciful Father graciously shortens these days no flesh will be
saved.
Therefore, we poor miserable men entreat and admonish everyone through the mercy of the Lord to
please read our doctrine carefully and to understand it correctly. We would have you know exactly
what kind of doctrine we hold to, what kind of faith we have, what kind of life we lead, and how we
are disposed—the things on account of which we have to hear and suffer so much, be imprisoned,
exiled, robbed, derided, defamed, and slain as poor, innocent sheep. This we would have you know
in order that you may sincerely lament and weep over your former bloody deeds before God and
with greater circumspection guard and keep yourselves from such things and from now on be a
pious, reasonable, yes, a God-fearing magistracy; not oppressors and destroyers, but fathers and
guardians of all miserable and wretched persons; not exterminators but defenders of righteousness;
not persecutors but followers of Christ and His Word.
Therefore, anoint your eyes with eyesalve that you may see and understand what the right way, the
truth, and the life are, the way which is so straight and narrow and is found of few; the truth which
is known to none except those who are taught of the spirit of the Lord, illuminated and drawn by the
Father; the life which is to know God the Father as the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom He
has sent. Know this so that you may see Him whom you have so savagely pierced, and that you may
with Saint Paul humble yourselves before the Lord with all your heart, with much fasting and
weeping; clothing yourselves in sackcloth and tunic of hair, rending your hearts and not your
garments so that you may find grace in His sight. For He is long-suffering, gracious, and merciful,
and pardons the transgressions of all who sincerely repent and seek His grace. Do not be Jeroboam,
Ahab, and Manasseh any longer, but be David, Hezekiah, and Josiah so that you need not because
of your office be ashamed in the great and dreadful day of the Lord, in that day which shall burn as
an oven, and shall' burn up as stubble all who have dealt unrighteously and have used violence upon
the earth.
We entreat you for the sake of the merits of Christ to ponder and reflect upon our doctrine, faith,
and intention, and not to esteem us worse than you do thieves and murderers whom you do not
condemn without having certain knowledge of their case. Our enterprise is not that of robbers, nor
does it have to do with perishable possessions, but with God and His Word, our bodies and souls,
eternal life or eternal death. Therefore be not intent upon the usages and customs of the fathers, nor
upon the worldly wise and the learned ones, for it is deeply hidden from their eyes. They have ever
been those who from the beginning have rejected the wisdom of God through their own wisdom and
have trampled it in the mire. For the wisdom of God which we teach is a wisdom which none may
understand except those who are desirous of living and walking according to the will of God. It is
that wisdom which is not to be brought from afar nor taught in colleges. It must be given from
above and be learned through the Holy Ghost. As Paul says, Say not in thine heart, Who shall
ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) Or, Who shall descend into the
deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) But what saith it? The word is nigh thee,
even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt
confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him
from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Therefore, be intent upon God’s Word, the testimony and
example of the holy prophets, the Lord Jesus Christ and His apostles. Let these be your doctors and
teachers in the matter and not the ambitious preachers of this world. Then you will perceive whether
we are in the truth or not. May the almighty and eternal God give you such hearts and minds. To
Him be honour, praise and gratitude, dominion, power, and majesty forever. Amen.
Seeing then that Satan can transform himself into an angel of light, and sow tares among the Lord’s
wheat, such as the sword, polygamy, an external kingdom and king, and other like errors on account
of which the innocent have to suffer much, therefore we are forced to publish this our faith and
doctrine. And we desire for Jesus’ sake that we might obtain at least so much grace that they would
not treat and judge us except according to the Word of God, even as is reasonable and just. But if
we cannot obtain that much grace, we have to commend it to the Lord who is the only helper of
every one in need. We will, nevertheless, through the grace of God, abide in the Word of the Lord,
and comfort ourselves with the Scriptures, which say, Thus saith the Lord that created thee, O
Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, fear not; for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by
thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the
rivers, they shall not overflow thee; when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned;
neither shall the flame kindle upon thee; for I am the Lord thy God, the Holy one of Israel, thy
Saviour.
Fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings; for the moth shall eat them
up like a garment and the worm shall eat them like wool. I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who
art thou that shouldst be afraid of a man that shall die, and the son of man which shall be made as
grass. Christ also said, Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul; but rather
fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 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. With the heart, says Paul,
man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Since then the Scripture insists so strongly that we both believe and confess, and so kindly comforts
us against the raging and raving of men, therefore we also desire to continue in it until death and we
testify before you in Christ Jesus that we neither have, nor know any other positions, faith, or
doctrine than that which may be plainly read, heard, and understood in the following from the Word
of God. Amen.
[I.] Call To A Biblical Faith
[A.] The Day of Grace
In the first place we teach that which Jesus the teacher from heaven, the mouth and word of the
Most High God taught (John 3:2), that now is the time of grace, a time to awake from the sleep of
our ugly sins, and to be o£ an upright, converted, renewed, contrite, and penitent heart. Now is the
time sincerely to lament before God our past reckless and willful manner of life, and in the fear of
God to crucify and mortify our wicked, sinful flesh and nature. Now is the time to arise with Christ
in a new, righteous, and penitent existence, even as Christ says, The time is fulfilled, and the
kingdom of God is at hand: repent and believe the gospel.
The time is fulfilled, that is, the promised day of grace approaches; the time of the appearance of the
promised seed, the time of redemption, the time of the sacrifice by which all things were to be
reconciled in heaven and on earth; the time for the fulfillment of all figurative transactions into a
new, spiritual reality and an abiding truth; the time for which the fathers hoped: Jacob, Moses,
Isaiah, Daniel, David, etc., with all the patriarchs and prophets, and which they desired with many
tears, which through faith they saw from afar, and in which they comforted themselves. Yes, it was
to them such a high and happy consolation that good old Simeon desired to live no longer when he
beheld that time and had seen the Redeemer. He said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in
peace, according to thy word, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared
before the face of all people.
The time is fulfilled, the predictions of the prophets and promises of the fathers are fulfilled
gloriously; the vow is accomplished; Israel has received its King David, its Prince and Chief, who
has arisen as a mighty one to prepare His course. His going forth is from the heavens; the Anointed
who was the desire of all nations has come, girded about His loins with the sword of the Spirit and
prepared for battle.
The Gospel of the kingdom, the Word of His Father, He has proclaimed; He has taught and left unto
His followers an example of pure love, and a perfect life. He has conquered the mighty one,
destroyed the power of the devil, has borne our sins, abolished death, reconciled the Father. He has
earned for all the chosen children of God, grace, favour, mercy, eternal life, the kingdom, and peace.
And He has been ordained by His eternal and mighty Father as an omnipotent King over the holy
mountain of Zion, as the Head of the Church, a Provider and Dispenser of heavenly blessings; yes,
an almighty Sovereign over all, in heaven and on earth. This is what Christ meant when He said,
The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand.
Out of sympathy and a sincere heart I exhort you with the holy Paul to take heed to this day of
grace, and be mindful of the Word of God which says, I have heard thee in a time accepted and in
the day of salvation I have succored thee; behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day
of salvation. And let us as Paul give no offense in anything that the ministry be not blamed. But in
all things approving ourselves as ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in
distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults (that is, tumults that arise concerning us), in
labours, in watchings, in fastings; by pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the
Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of
righteousness on the right hand and on the left, by honour and dishonour; by evil report and good
report; as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live;
as chastened and not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as
having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
Oh, dear sirs, friends and brethren, my mouth is open unto you, my heart is enlarged toward you;
for your sakes I am much grieved that you are so altogether careless, and do not even observe of
what kind of people these plain and intelligible Scriptures were written. You so completely despise
the Word of the Lord, so shamefully let the precious time of grace which God gives to you, and to
us all, for the amending of our ways, pass away and regard nothing except to live wholly according
to the impure and wicked lusts of your flesh, bowing the knees before dumb idols.
Alas, it is about time to awake! Remember that the angel of Revelation has sworn by the eternal and
living God who made heaven and earth that after this time, there shall be time no more. From the
Scriptures we cannot conclude but that this is the last festival of the year, the last proclamation of
the holy Gospel, the last invitation to the marriage of the Lamb, which is to be celebrated,
published, and sanctified before the great and terrible day of the Lord. With it, it seems, the summer
will pass away and the winter come forth. They who, like the foolish virgins, neglect to prepare
their lamps will come too late, knock in vain, and be excluded. Therefore comfort not one 1 another
with senseless comfort and uncertain hope, as some do who think that the Word will yet be taught
and observed without the cross. I have in mind those who know the Word of the Lord, but do not
live according to it. Oh, no! it is the Word of the cross and will in my opinion remain that unto the
end. It has to be declared with much suffering and sealed with blood. The Lamb is slain from the
foundation of the world; He did not only suffer in His members, but also by way of the cross and
death has entered into that glory which He, for a time, had left for our sakes. If the Head had to
suffer such torture, anguish, misery, and pain, how shall His servants, children, and members expect
peace and freedom as to their flesh? If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, why not
those of his household? All that will live godly in Christ Jesus, says Paul, shall suffer persecution.
Christ says, Ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake.
Therefore, tear from your hearts the harmful thought that you may hope for another time, lest you
be deceived by your vain hopes. I have known some who waited for a time of freedom, but did not
live to see it. Had the apostles and fathers waited for it, the Gospel of the kingdom would to this day
have been silent, and the Word of the Lord unpreached.
Oh, that you were Christians and the people of God as you boast yourselves to be, then you would
be able to say with Paul, Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? For then the flesh, the devil,
sin, hell, and death would all have been conquered, and there would then be no desire to remain
longer in this bewildered, bad, and bloody world. Then we would boast of nothing save the cross of
Christ, and with Paul desire heartily to be delivered from this tabernacle and to dwell in Christ.
I earnestly desire that you might awake, not hoping nor waiting for a different time. If, however, the
merciful Father will give us a bit of freedom and peace, that we will gladly receive with all
thankfulness from His gracious hand. But if not, His great name shall be praised forever.
We have already received the acceptable time of grace. The day of salvation is here. Now let us not
be like ungrateful, disobedient, bloodthirsty Jerusalem which so perversely rejected the divine
grace, the heavenly grace, and the merciful calling. But let us awake, be sober, and give ear to the
inviting voice, and in this accepted time arise from the deep slumber of our loathsome sin, for the
Lord is at hand. The night is far spent, the day is at hand; let us therefore cast off the works of
darkness and let us put on the armour of light; let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and
drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying: but put ye on the Lord
Jesus Christ and make not provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof. Let everyone be
vigilant, and sleep not. Let him watch in the time which God has graciously given for repentance.
Ecce nunc tempus acceptum, ecce nunc dies salutis (Behold, now is the accepted time, behold, now
is the day of salvation).
[B.] Of Genuine Penitence
In the second place we exhort you with Christ: Repent ye, and believe the Gospel. O faithful Word
of grace, O faithful Word of divine love, thou art read in books, sung in hymns, preached with the
mouth as to life and death, proclaimed in many countries, but unwanted in thy power. And wha: is
more, all those who rightly teach and receive thee are made free booty for all. Ah, dear sirs, it will
not help a fig to be called Christians, boast of the Lord’s blood, death, merits, grace, and Gospel, so
long as we are no: converted from this wicked, immoral, and shameful life. It is in vain that we are
called Christians, that Christ died, that we are born in the day of grace, and baptised with water, if
we do not walk according to His law, counsel, admonition, will, and command and are not obedient
to His Word.
Therefore, awake, and observe how men live everywhere. Verily you see nothing anywhere but
unnatural carousing and drinking, pride as that of Lucifer, lying, fraud, grasping avarice, hatred,
strife, adultery, fornication, warring, murder; everywhere hypocrisy, patent blasphemy, idolatry, and
false worship. In short, nothing but a mighty opposition to all that God teaches and commands.
Who can tell the terrible and alarming nature of this present world? Still men want to be called the
holy Christian church. Oh, no! They who do such things, saith Paul, shall not inherit the kingdom of
God.
Gentlemen, awake and beware, for the mouth of the Lord says, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except
ye be born from above, ye shall not see the kingdom of God. Also, Verily, verily, I say unto thee,
Except a man be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. Verily, I say
unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom
of heaven. What does it profit to speak much of Christ and His Word, if we do not believe Him, and
refuse to obey His commandments? Again I say, awake and tear the accursed unbelief with its
unrighteousness from your hearts, and commence a pious, penitent life as the Scriptures teach; for
Christ says, Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish. Do not apply this to such repentance as is
taught and practised by a world that has lost its way consisting only in an outward appearance and
human righteousness, such as hypocritical fastings, pilgrimages, praying and reading lots of Pater
Nosters and Ave Marias, hearing frequent masses, going to confessionals, and like hypocrisies—
things of which Christ and His holy apostles did not say a single word and therefore cannot be a
propitiatory sacrifice. Such things will be a provocation rather to stir up divine displeasure. These
are empty and vain commandments of men, the accursed and magic wine of the Babylonian harlot,
which those who have dwelt upon the earth have drunk for so many centuries, through the just
anger of God. But we are referring to a penitence possessed of power and works, such as John the
Baptist taught, saying: Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance, and think not to say within
yourselves, we have Abraham to our Father. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees;
every tree, therefore, which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire.
Notice, dear reader, such is the penitence which we teach, to die unto sin, and all ungodly works,
and to live no longer according to the lusts of the flesh, a penitence as that of David. When he was
reproved by the prophet for his adultery, and for numbering the people, he wept bitterly, cried to
God, forsook the evil, and committed these sinful abominations no more. Peter erred mortally once,
and not again. Matthew, after his call, did not return to his former conversation. Zacchaeus and the
sinful woman did not go back to their impure works of darkness. Those who had been wronged by
Zacchaeus he reimbursed, and the poor and needy were comforted with the half of his goods. The
woman wept very bitterly and washed the feet of the Lord with her tears, and wiped them with the
hair of her head; anointed them with precious ointment, and sat humbly at! Christ's feet, to listen to
His blessed words.
These are the noble fruits of repentance, acceptable to the Lord. Therefore, it was said to David, that
the Lord had taken away his sins. To Peter it was announced that the Lord was risen from the dead.
Matthew was accepted as an apostle. Zacchaeus was told that he had become a son of Abraham, and
Mary Magdalene,1 that she had chosen that good part which would not be taken away from her. To
the adulterous woman Jesus said, Go and sin no more.
Such a repentance we teach and no other, namely, that no one can or may piously glory in the grace
of God, the forgiveness of sins, the merit of Christ, unless he has truly repented. It is not enough
that we say, we are Abraham’s children, that is, that we are known as Christians. We must do the
works of Abraham, that is, we must walk as all true children of God are commanded by His Word,
as John writes: If we say we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the
truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the
blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanseth us from all sins.
I ask all my readers if they have ever read in the Scriptures that an impenitent, obstinate man who
fears not God nor His Word, who is earthlyminded, sensual, devilish, and lives according to his
lusts, can be called a child of God, and a joint heir of Christ. I believe that you will have to say, no.
But he that with all his heart turns from evil and learns to do well, to him the grace of the Lord is
proclaimed throughout the whole Scriptures. As the prophet says, Wash you, make you clean; put
away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; learn to do well; seek
judgement, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us
reason together, saith the Lord. Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;
though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. Again, If the wicked will turn from all his
sins that he hath committed, and keep my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall
surely live, he shall not die; all his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be
mentioned unto him. Read and search the whole Scriptures, the true doctrine and testimony of the
holy prophets, evangelists, and apostles, and you will discover most clearly that this godly
1 Menno confuses, perhaps absent-mindedly, Mary Magdalene with Mary of Bethany.
repentance is to be earnestly received and practised, and that without it no one can receive grace,
enter into the kingdom of heaven, nor have any hope forever.
In short, this matter we teach from the Word of God as much as in us is, in order to restrain those
carnal lusts which war against the soul. We are to crucify the flesh with the affections and lusts, not
to conform to this world, to put off the works of darkness and put on the armour of light; not to love
the world, neither the things that are in the world. We must put off the old man with his deeds, and
put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him. It
requires that we put off the old Adam with his whole nature and deceitful lusts, such as pride,
avarice, unchastity, hatred, envyings, gluttony, drinking, idolatry, and put on the new man, which
after God is created in righteousness and true holiness, whose fruits are faith, love, hope,
righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. We must be patient in suffering, merciful,
compassionate, chaste, sincerely hating and rebuking all sin, having a sincere love and zeal for God
and His Word. I repeat, this repentance we teach sincerely to be fruitful and acceptable to the Lord,
according to the instructions of His Word. He that receives this repentance in sincerity and
continues in it to ±e end, let him rejoice and thank God. The end thereof is eternal life. But he that
rejects and detests it, let him take warning, for the end thereof is eternal death.
Beloved sirs, friends, and brethren, do take it to heart what it is and what the consequences will be
so willfully to transgress the commandments of the Lord and so haughtily to sin against the Word of
God. Adam and Eve ate but once of the forbidden tree, therefore the earth was cursed. In the sweat
of his face he was to eat his bread all the days of his life. Eve and her daughters had to bring forth in
pain, and be in subjection to their husbands. They were driven from Paradise, and with all their race
had to return to the dust from whence they were taken. There was no forgiveness nor consolation of
grace to be had unless the eternal Word, God’s eternal San, should come from high heaven, become
man, suffer hunger, temptation, misery, torture, the cross and death, as the Scriptures teach.
O Lord, if this single transgression was so great before God, what will happen to those who so
proudly all their days despise the holy Word, covenant, will, and commandment of the Lord, who
do not once confess their sins and transgressions though they are full of iniquity from the crown of
their heads to the soles of their feet? Cain was cursed and became a fugitive upon the earth as long
as he lived because he so enviously slew his innocent brother Abel; alas! what about those who
daily without compassion or justice so unmercifully persecute, plunder, and murder the pious
children of Abel, who with fervent hearts seek Christ and eternal life ?
The whole earth perished in the waters of the flood, because the sons zz God looked upon the
daughters of men that they were fair, and took to themselves wives of all which they chose, and also
because they would not be reproved by the Spirit of God, for every imagination and thought of their
nearts was evil continually. Reflect upon the lusts with which the marriages of the world at the
present time are begun, yes, how men blaspheming and grieving the Holy Ghost are become like
unto the horse and mule; how they all walk in the sinful way, the end of which is hell, eternal
damnation, and death.
Sodom and Gomorrah, with the surrounding cities were, because of their pride, excesses, cruelty,
and abominable crimes, burnt up with the fire of the furious wrath of God and sunk to the depth of
hell. Ah, what will befall those miserable men in the great and terrible day when the Lord will
appear in His glory, men whose pride and pomp, excess, gluttony, tyranny, bloodthirstiness,
adultery, fornication, and papal abominations, no heart can conceive, no tongue express, no pen
describe?
Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, though they were of the seed of Abraham and some of them born of
Levi, yet because they revolted against Moses and Aaron, and sought to enter into the priestly office
without a call, they and all their company were swallowed up alive by the earth. Consider what will
ultimately happen to our sons of Korah, whom God never knew, much less sent, and whose office,
calling, and service is not from God or His Word, but as the Scriptures teach: from the pit, the
dragon, and the beast; from men who mislead so many poor, miserable souls with their seducing
doctrines, Babylonian sorceries, and hypocritical lies, and not only despise, but also persecute,
crucify, and kill the true Moses and Aaron and Christ.
If Moses, the faithful servant of God, could not enter the promised land because he upon occasion
doubted the Word of the Lord, how shall this unbelieving, crooked, and obstinate generation enter
the eternal land of promise and glory? For it is a generation that not only disbelieves and despises
the Word of the Lord, the blessed Gospel of Christ Jesus, but also bitterly hates and persecutes it,
tramples the blood of Christ underfoot, and stops its ears against the truth. It refuses to be taught by
any means, whether with the truth, the unblamable lives of the saints, or the innocent blood of the
martyrs of Jesus which has been shed liberally as water in many lands.
O wretched man, you who stand so wholly deformed and miserable before your God, take heed to
the Word of the Lord, cleanse your bloody hands and your impure and unbelieving hearts, and mock
no longer the grace of God with your vain boastings. Say not that Abraham is your father, that you
are the children of God; that Christ died for you, or that you will trust in His mercy. Trust ye not in
lying words, says Jeremiah, the prophet; say not, This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the
Lord, the temple of the Lord. It avails nothing that Christ died and that we appropriate His name, if
we do not have a sincere, regenerating, vigorous faith in Christ Jesus; pure, unfeigned love; willing
obedience, and a pious and irreproachable life. God’s mercy, says the Scripture, is to His saints, and
He cares for His elect; but the hope of the wicked is vain. The eyes of the Lord are upon the
righteous, and His ears are open unto their cry. Ye are my friends, says Christ, if ye do whatsoever I
command you. Therefore we pray and exhort you once more to repent. He is still the same
unchangeable God. He hates, destroys, and sternly punishes all wickedness. Yes, He is a righteous
Judge of all ungodliness and of every evil work. He visits the iniquities of the fathers upon the
children unto the third and fourth generation. On the other hand, He is compassionate, kind, and
merciful unto all that do right and fear His name; to many thousands who love Him and keep His
commandments.
O reader, precious reader, it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God! The time is
fulfilled; now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation. The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Do you want to inherit it and enter into it? Then you must repent, not only in appearance as the
hypocrites do, but as true penitents with all your heart and all your power, and you must bring forth
good fruit. Otherwise, you must be cast out, into the fire of His fierce wrath. Except ye repent, ye
shall all likewise perish. Luke 13:3.
[C.] Faith
In the third place we teach with Christ and say, Believe, the Gospel. That Gospel is the blessed
announcement of the favour and grace of God to -.is, and of forgiveness of sins through Christ
Jesus. Faith accepts this Gospel through the Holy Ghost, and does not consider former
righteousness or unrighteousness, but hopes against hope (Rom. 4:18), and with the whole heart
casts itself upon the grace, Word and promises of the Lord, since it knows that God is true, and that
His promises cannot fail. In this the heart is renewed, converted, justified, becomes pious,
peaceable, and joyous, is horn a child of God, approaches with full confidence the throne of grace,
and so becomes a joint heir of Christ and a possessor of eternal life.
Such persons awaken in time. They hear and believe the Word of the Lord. They weep over their
past vain lives and conduct. They desire help md aid for their sick souls. To such, Christ who is a
comforter for all troubled hearts says, Believe the Gospel, that is, fear not; rejoice and be
comforted; I will not punish nor chastise you, but will heal you, comfort you, and give you life. A
bruised reed will I not break, and smoking flax will I tot quench. I will seek that which was lost and
bring back again that which was driven away and will bind up that which was broken and will
strengthen that which was sick. I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. By
the kindness of my heavenly Father, I am come into the world, and by the power of the Holy Ghost,
I became a visible, tangible, and dying man; in all points like unto you, sin excepted. I was born of
Mary, the unpolluted mother and pure virgin; I descended from heaven, sprang from the mouth of
the Most High, the first-born of every creature, the first and last, the beginning and the end, the Son
of the Almighty God; anointed with the Holy Ghost to preach the Gospel to the poor, to bind up the
brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, to give sight to the blind, to open the prison to
them that are bound, and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. Believe the Gospel. I am the
Lamb that was sacrificed for you all. I take away the sins of the whole world. My Father has made
me unto you wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. Whosoever believeth on me
shall not be ashamed; yea, all that believe that I am He, shall have eternal life.
You see, dear sirs, friends, and brethren, they who believe this are those of whom the Scriptures say,
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. These are
they who are justified by faith and have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom
also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of
God; and all this, as Paul says, of grace and love. All have sinned and come short of the glory of
God, being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God
has set forth to be a propitiation through faith.
There is none that can glory in himself touching this faith, for it is the gift of God. All who receive
it from God receive a tree loaded with all manner of good and delicious fruit. Happy is he to whom
God gives this gift, for it is more precious than gold, silver, or precious stones. Nothing can be
compared with it. He that receives it receives Christ Jesus, forgiveness of sins, a new mind, and
eternal life. For true faith which is acceptable before God cannot be barren; it must bring forth fruit
and manifest its nature. It works ceaselessly in love, enters willingly into righteousness, mortifies
flesh and blood, crucifies the lusts and desires, rejoices in the cross of Christ, renews and
regenerates. It makes one active, confident, and joyful in Christ Jesus, Such a faith, I say, is the gift
of God by which the righteous according to the Scriptures are to live as did Abel, Enoch, Noah,
Abraham, Moses, Rahab, and all the saints. Every good tree bringeth forth good fruit after its kind.
Every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit although loaded with leaves, must be subjected to the
curse and consumed by fire. A fruitless, impotent faith, the kind the whole world has, and which
does not work by love, be it ever so learned, wise, eloquent, fine-appearing, and miraculous, is in
the sight of God unclean, dead, and accursed.
Therefore we exhort you with Christ Jesus, Believe the Gospel, that is, believe the joyful news of
divine grace through Jesus Christ. Cease from sin; manifest repentance for your past lives; submit
obediently to the Word and will of the Lord; and you will become companions, citizens, children,
and heirs of the new and heavenly Jerusalem, free from your enemies, hell, death, sin and the devil,
if only you walk according to the Spirit and not according to the flesh. Rom. 8:6. That is, he that
believeth on the Son of God hath everlasting life.
2
[D.] Request to the Magistracy
We poor, wretched people, left without human help and comfort; we who like innocent shepherdless
sheep have become a prey to the lions roaring in the thicket, and the wild beasts of the field; a
spectacle and reproach to the whole world, we have to endure daily the tyrannical sword of lords
and princes, the inhuman scoff and scorn of the learned ones, the abominable lying and mocking of
the common people. We humbly intreat the Imperial Majesty, kings, lords, princes, magistrates, and
officers, everyone in his calling, dignity, and rank, and all our dear and gracious rulers by the
crimson tlood and wounds of our blessed Lord Jesus Christ, that you would at long last lay aside all
ill will and bad opinion concerning us. With proper pity be at least somewhat concerned about the
inhuman and heavy oppression, misery, distress, cross, and torture of your sad and innocent
subjects. For the great Lord before whom we stand, the Searcher of every heart, to whom all things
are opened and revealed, knows that we seek nothing upon this earth but that we with a good
conscience might live according to His holy commandments, ordinances, Word, and will. But if
there are some harmful sects as alas in our day there have been, they will no doubt in due time
become manifest.
Therefore condescend to read our writings diligently and ponder them, and that with a God-fearing
and unbiased heart, so that you may know with certainty why you are unable to frighten us from our
doctrine, faith, and practice by coercion, poverty, misery, persecution, and death. Ponder the truth at
some length and let no more innocent blood come upon you. Be pleased to show some natural
reasonableness and human charity toward your poor subjects. Call to mind that we poor and
forsaken men, as to the flesh, are not of wood and stone. Together with you we are descended from
the father, Adam, and from one mother, Eve, created by the same God. Having a common entrance
into this mortal life. We are clothed with the same nature, yearning for rest and peace, for wives and
children, as well as you, and by nature fearful of death as are all creatures.
Therefore humble yourselves in the name of Jesus, that your poor souls may be excused. Examine, I
say, our doctrine, and you will find through the grace of God that it is the pure and unadulterated
doctrine of Christ, the holy Word, the Word of eternal peace, the Word of eternal truth, the Word of
divine grace, the Word of our salvation, the invincible Word, against which no gates of hell shall
ever prevail; the two-edged sword that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord, the sword of the
Spirit by which all must be judged that dwell upon the earth.
O dear sirs, sheathe your sword. For as the Lord liveth you do not fight against flesh and blood, but
against Him whose eyes are as a flame of fire; who judgeth and contends in righteousness; who is
crowned with many crowns; whose name no one knoweth but Himself; who is clothed with the
vesture dipped in blood; whose name is the Word of God; who rules the nations with a rod of iron;
who treads the wine press of the fierceness and wrath of almighty God; who hath on His vesture and
on His thigh a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.
O illustrious lords and princes, it is against Him that you in this manner contend with your counsel
and sword and weapon. Remember what the great prophet of the Lord, Zechariah, said concerning
the children of God in this world always suffering: he that touches you touches the apple of mine
eye. It is a frightful abomination and raging terror thus miserably to garrote, to kill, and wipe out
those who with such ardent hearts seek the Lord and eternal life, and who would not touch a hair of
anyone upon the earth. Precious in the sight of the Lord, David says, is the death of His saints. It is
Jesus of Nazareth whom ye persecute and not us. Therefore awake, desist, fear God and His Word.
For you and we shall all be called to appear before one Judge, before whom neither power, rank,
splendour, fine speech, nor talents will count. For righteous sentence will there be passed upon all
2 In the Dutch original the full title reads: An Admonishing Request to the Magistracy.