THE COMPLETE WORKS OF MENNO SIMON,

TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL DUTCH OF HOLLAND.

Volume 1 Contains Renunciation of Popery, Foundation and Plain Instruction, The True Christian Faith, Concerning the New Birth, Cross of Christ, Pleasing Meditation on the Twenty-fifth Psalm, The Spiritual Resurrection, Excommunication, The Education of Children and Letters.

Volume 2 Contains Reply to Gellius Faber, A Supplication to Christians, Apology, Reply to John A’Lasco, The Triune, Eternal and True God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Christian Baptism, Reason Why, A Confession, Reply to Zylis and Lemmekes, Replication, The Incarnation, Reply to Martin Micron, Jesus, the True Scriptural David, Letters, etc.

Volume One.

“The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, and his tongue talks of Judgment.  The Law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.”  Psalm 7:30, 31.

“Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.”  Hebrew 13:7.

Elkhart, Indiana

Published by John F. Funk and Brother,

1871

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.

 

 

MENNO SIMONS.

Born in Witmarsen, in Friesland, Holland, in the year 1496, and died in Woestevelt, formerly called Oldeslohe, on the 13th of January 1561, in the 66th year of his age.

The Complete Works of Menno Simon,  Volume 1

Menno Simons’ prominence as a leader of the Anabaptist movement came somewhat as a result of his prolificacy.  Being one of the few Radical Reformers who did not suffer an early martyr’s death, he had much more time to write and develop his ideas.  His complete works include his magnum opus: The Foundation of Christian Doctrine, plus essays, devotionals, letters, and tracts.  Even a brief skim of his work can lead to much greater appreciation and understanding of both early Anabaptism and the contemporary Mennonite tradition.

Kathleen O’Bannon

CCEL Staff

Digital Versions

Restored, Corrected and Reset

by

Bruce Armstrong

Central Highlands Congregation of God

3rd September, 2023

Published by

Central Highlands Christian Publications

PO Box 236 Creswick Vic 3363 Australia

info@chcpublications.net

chcpublications.net

Digital Edition Foreword

It is almost 500 years since Menno Simon wrote this material, and 150 years since the English translation was printed, but his work remains valuable for God’s children to read and understand.  From the moment Menno decided to truly walk with Christ, his life was in constant danger, and many of his fellow believers were cruelly murdered for their faith.  This edition has been ‘translated’ into modern English, as it seems inappropriate to leave it in the archaic King James Bible style English which the 1871 translators chose, rather than contemporary language, like the Dutch used by Menno.

As Menno stressed many times, we too need to hold fast to Christ, study his Word, and follow His Instructions to the end of our days.  Menno taught baptism was only for believers, our need for the indwelling of the Holy spirit, non-violence, obedience to Christ and then secular rulers, separation from the unbiblical myths and traditions of Catholicism and Protestantism and the exclusion of unrepentant sinners from their congregations.  May Menno’s work inspire you to deepen and strengthen your faith, especially if you find yourself threatened with the viciousness the early Mennonites faced in the coming Great Tribulation.

Bruce Armstrong

Central Highlands Congregation of God

Contents

PUBLISHERS’ PREFACE.

THE CONVERSION of MENNO SIMON,

AND HIS RENUNCIATION OF THE CHURCH OF ROME,

TO THE READER.

Menno Simon’s Renunciation

AN ACCOUNT of the SEVERE PERSECUTIONS of MENNO SIMON,

Menno Simon died about thirty years after he left the church of Rome.  During this time he taught and proclaimed the gospel, purified of Roman idolatry and superstition.  His last exhortation was given on his deathbed, while the hand of death seemed already to rest upon him, showing his unquenchable zeal.  He, however, partially recovered and was better for several days, but on the day of the anniversary of his renunciation of popery, he suddenly became worse, though well taken care of, and the next day, being Friday the 13th of January, 1561, he calmly fell asleep in Jesus, in the sixty-sixth year of his age, and was buried in his own garden, which according to Hoornbeck, was also customary with the primitive Christians under the persecutions of the pagans.

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NOTE 1. Although the “Martyrs’ Mirror,” page 59, and T. J. van Braght in his “Bloody Theatre” and others, write that Menno Simon died on the 13th of January 1559, yet we are led to think that he died in 1561, for the following reasons:

The old biography of Menno Simon mentions 1561 as the year of his death, which statement we deem correct; also on the 23rd of January 1559, he wrote a tract (see his Reply to Zylis and Lemmekes in this book), and sent it to the German teachers, Zylis and Lemmekes.  Now, if he died on the 13th of January 1559, he must have written this ten days after his death.

NOTE 2.The reader should know that although some old biographies mention 1505 as the year of his birth, yet we will take 1496; for, the “Martyrs’ Mirror,” “The Bloody Theatre,” “The Decline of Tyrants” and “Annals,” all mention that he died in his sixty-sixth year.  If Menno, then, died in 1561, he necessarily was born in 1496, or else he died in the fifty-sixth year of his age.

 

 

A

FOUNDATION

PREFACE.

THE DAY OF GRACE.

SINCERE AND TRUE REPENTANCE.

Therefore awake, and behold the doings of the world.  On every hand you see nothing but sensuality, wine-bibbing, infernal pride, lying, fraud, avarice, hatred, strife, adultery, fornication, war, murder, hypocrisy, open blasphemy, idolatry, and false worship, Hos. 4:11; Mic. 6:14; Gal. 5:19-21; in short, nothing but a powerful persecution of all that God teaches, commands and enjoins.  Who can relate the terrible and alarming condition of the world at the present time? Yet they (the wicked) want to call themselves the holy christian church.  Oh, no! They who do such things, says Paul, shall not inherit the kingdom of God, 1 Cor. 6:.9,10; Gal. 5:19; Eph. 5:5.  Oh, you men, awake and see for yourselves, for thus says the word of the Lord, “Truly, truly, I say unto you, except you be born from above you shall not see the kingdom of God,” Jn. 3:3.  Also, “Truly, truly, I say unto you, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God,” Jn. 3:5, and again, “Truly, I say unto you, except you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven,” Matt. 18:3.  What does it profit to speak much of Christ and his word, if we do not believe him and obey his commandments?  Again, I say, awake and banish the accursed unbelief with all unrighteousness from your hearts, and live a pious, penitent life, according to the scriptures; for Christ says, “Except you repent, you shall all likewise perish,” Luke 13:5.  Here do not understand such repentance as is taught and practiced by an erring world, which consists only in an outward appearance and human righteousness, such as hypocritical fastings, pilgrimages, praying and reading Pater Nosters and Ava Marias, hearing frequent masses, auricular confessions, and the like hypocrisies which Christ and his  apostles did in no way teach and command.  Hence it cannot be a propitiatory sacrifice, but rather will be a provocation, and tend to excite the divine displeasure.  Such doctrines are unavailing and fruitless commands of men, the accursed and enchanted wine of the Babylonian whoredom, which those who have dwelt upon the earth, through the just anger of God, have drunk for so many ages, Rev. 17:2.  But we speak of a repentance possessed of power and works, as John the Baptist teaches, saying, “Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance, and do not think to say within yourselves, we have Abraham for our father,” Matt. 3:8.  “And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees; every tree, therefore, which does not bring forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire,” Luke 3:9.

Behold, dear reader, the repentance we teach is to die unto sin, and all ungodly works, and no longer live according to the lusts of the flesh, even as David did, 2 Sam. 13:12; 18:1.  When he was reproved by the prophet on account of his adultery, and for numbering the people, he wept bitterly, called upon God, forsook the evil, and committed these sinful abominations no more.  Peter sinned very grievously but once, and no more.  Matthew, after being called by the Saviour, did not again return to his ways of life.  Zaccheus and the sinful woman did not again return to their impure works of darkness.  Zaccheus made restitution to those whom he had defrauded, and gave half of his goods to the poor and distressed.  The woman wept very bitterly, and washed the feet of the Lord with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; she anointed them with precious ointment, and sat humbly at his feet, to listen to his blessed words.

These are the precious fruits of that repentance, which is acceptable to the Lord; therefore, it was said to David, that the Lord had put away his sins from him; to Peter it was proclaimed that the Lord had arisen from the dead; Matthew was called to be an apostle; Zaccheus was told that he had become a son of Abraham, and Mary, that she had “chosen that good part which shall not be taken away from her,” Luke 10:42.  To the adulterous woman, Christ said, “Go, and sin no more,” Jn. 8:11.

Such a repentance we teach, and no other, namely, that no one can glory in the grace of God, the forgiveness of sins, the merits of Christ; and count himself pious, unless he has truly repented.  It is not enough that we say we are Abraham’s children, that is, that we are called christians and esteemed as such, but 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 (God) and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not do 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, cleanses us from all sins,” 1 Jn. 1:6, 7.

The ancient world was drowned in the waters of the flood, because the sons of 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 hearts were evil continually.  Reflect upon the lusts with which the marriages of the world at the present time are contracted, yes, like dumb beasts; how the Holy Spirit is reviled, slandered and grieved, and how they all walk in their perverted ways which lead to hell, yes, to eternal damnation and death.

Sodom and Gomorrah, with the surrounding cities, on account of their pride, wantonness, cruelty, and abominable crimes, were burned up with the fire of the furious wrath of God, and cast into the abyss of hell.  [CHCoG: Gen 19.  The inhabitants of these cities were burnt up, there is no account of them also being cast into hell (the grave) then.]  Alas, alas, what will befall those miserable men in the great and terrible day when the Lord will appear in his glory, [to those] whose pride, excess, debauchery, pomp, tyranny, blood-thirstiness, adultery, fornication, and papal abominations, no heart can conceive, no tongue express, no pen describe! Rom. 1:24.

Koran, Dathan and Abiram, though they were of the seed of Abraham, and some of them were born of Levi, yet because they revolted against Moses and Aaron, and sought to enter into the sacerdotal office, without being called, they and all their company were swallowed up by the earth alive, Num. 16:32.  Consider what will ultimately happen to our Korites, whom God never acknowledged, much less were sent by him, and whose office, calling and service are not from God and his word, but as the scriptures teach, from the bottomless pit, the dragon and the beast, Rev. 9:1; 13:4; 20:1-3, who mislead so many poor, miserable souls with their seducing doctrines, Babylonian sorceries and hypocritical lives, and not only despise, but also rail [against], persecute, crucify and kill Christ, the righteous Moses and Aaron.  If Moses, the faithful servant of God, could not enter the promised land because he once doubted the word of the Lord, how much less shall this unbelieving, perverted and obdurate generation enter the everlasting land of promise and glory, that not only disbelieve and despise the word of the Lord, the acceptable gospel of Jesus Christ, but also bitterly hate and persecute it, trample the blood of Christ under foot, stop their ears against the truth, and refuse to be taught by any means, either with the truth, the unblameable lives of the saints, or the innocent blood of the witnesses of Jesus, which has been shed, and in many countries flowed like water.

O, you miserable men, who are so entirely depraved and miserable before God, take heed to the word of the Lord, cleanse your bloody hands, and your impure and unbelieving hearts, and no longer despise the grace of God with your vain boastings, and do not say Abraham is your father, Jn. 8:39; that you are the children of God; that Christ died for you, or that you will also confide in his mercy.  “Do not trust in lying words,” says Jeremiah, the prophet; “do not say, here is the temple of Jehovah, the temple of Jehovah, the temple of Jehovah,” [Jer. 7:4] for it avails nothing that Christ died, and that we are called by his name, if we do not possess a sincere, regenerating, vigorous faith in Jesus Christ, pure, unfeigned love, willing obedience, and a pious and irreproachable life.  God’s mercy, we read, is to his saints, and he has care for his elect, but the hope of the wicked is vain, Wis. 3:9; 5:15.  “The eyes of Jehovah are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry,” Psm. 34:15.  “You are my friends,” says Christ, “if you do whatsoever I command you,” John 15:14.  Therefore, we pray and exhort you again to reform; he is still the same unchangeable God, Mal. 3:6.  He is a strict, jealous and rigid punisher of all wickedness; yes, 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 generations of them that hate him, Exo. 20:5.  On the other hand, he is compassionate, kind, and merciful unto all that do righteously, and fear his name, to many thousands who love him and keep his commandments. [Exo. 20:6].

O, reader, reader, beloved reader, it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God! [Heb 10:31]  The time is fulfilled, now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation.  The kingdom of heaven is at hand; if you would inherit and enter into it, you must repent, not only in appearance, as the hypocrites do, but as sincere penitents, with all your hearts, and all your powers, and bring forth good fruit.  If not, you must be cut off and cast into the fire of his fierce wrath, John 15:6; Luke 3:9.  Imo nisi resipuerite, omnes similiter peritites, i.e., “Except you repent, you shall all likewise perish,” Luke 13:3.

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FAITH.

Therefore, we exhort you, with Christ Jesus, “Believe the gospel;” that is, believe the joyful news, the message of divine grace through Jesus Christ; leave off sinning, manifest repentance for your past life, submit to the word and will of the Lord; then you will become heirs and joint heirs, citizens and children of the new and heavenly Jerusalem, made free from your enemies, hell, sin, death and the devil, and walk according to the Spirit, and not according to the flesh, Rom. 8:6.  Quid credit filio dei habet vitan aeternam, i.e., He that believes in the Son of God has everlasting life, John 3:36.

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A SUPPLICATION TO THE MAGISTRACY.

CONCERNING BAPTISM.

For as the death of our Lord would not have profited us, had he not risen from the power of death to the praise of his Father, neither will it avail us anything to bury our sins in baptism, if we do not arise with Christ Jesus from the power of sin, unto a new life, to the praise of the Lord.  “For in that he (Christ) died, he died unto sin once,” says Paul, “but in that he lives, he lives unto God; likewise, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God, through Jesus Christ.” And, “As you have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and iniquity, unto iniquity; even so now yield your members, servants to righteousness and holiness.” “For being made free from sin, you became the servants of righteousness, and have your fruit unto holiness, and in the end, everlasting life,” Rom. 6:10, 11, 18, 19, 22.

Here observe, intelligent reader; you who desire to know the truth, and seek the salvation of your soul, what the great and holy apostle Paul has taught you.  If you believe his word, doctrine and testimony to be true, you will no doubt readily perceive, from these instructions, and from many other passages in the Scriptures, that baptism is no more applicable to infants than circumcision was to the females of the Israelites; for we are no more commanded to baptize infants than Israel was to circumcise female children.  It is also impossible for little children to die to sin, as long as they have not been made alive to it; neither can they rise to a new life, as long as they are not born by God through faith, and by the Spirit of God led into righteousness.  Therefore beware, for the intent of baptism is to bury sin, and to rise with Christ into a new life, which can by no means be the case with infants; therefore, consider well what the word of the Lord teaches you on this subject.

Again, Paul calls baptism “the washing of regeneration.”  Lord, how lamentably your Holy Word is abused.  Is it not greatly to be lamented that men are attempting, notwithstanding these plain passages, to maintain their idolatrous invention of infant baptism, and set forth that infants are regenerated thereby, as if regeneration was simply a pressing into the water? O, no, regeneration is not such a work of hypocrisy, but is an inward change, which converts a man by the power of God, through faith, from evil to good, from carnality to spirituality, from unrighteousness to righteousness, out of Adam into Christ, which can in no way take place with infants.  The regenerated live by the power of the new life; they crucify the flesh with its evil lusts; they put off the old Adam with his deeds; they avoid every appearance of evil; they are taught, governed and influenced by the Holy Spirit, Rom. 1:17.

Behold, this is true regeneration, with its fruits, of which the Scriptures speak, and comes through faith in the word of God, without which no one who has arrived to the years of understanding can be saved; as Christ says, “Truly, Truly, I say unto you, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God,” Jn. 3:3: Yes, it is all in vain, if one were even baptized by Peter, or Paul, or Christ himself, if he were not baptized from above with the Holy Spirit and with fire, Matt. 3:11.  As Paul says, “In Christ Jesus neither circumcision avails anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature,” Gal. 5:6; 2 Cor. 5:17.  All who are thus born by God, changed and renewed in the inner man, and translated from Adam into Christ, are ready to obey the word of the Lord, and say with holy Paul, “Lord, what will you have me do?”  They deny themselves with all their minds and hearts; they submit to the word and ordinances of the Lord, without dislike or opposition; they receive baptism according to the command of the Lord, Matt. 28:19.  They become and manifest themselves as fruitful branches of Christ, the true Vine, and joint heirs in the church of the Lord, John 15:6.  They receive forgiveness of their sins, and the gift of the Holy Spirit; they put on Christ; enter the ark of safety, and are secured from the dreadful flood of wrath, which, like a net, will come upon all them that dwell upon the earth.  This, however, is not effected by the power of the water or the sign, but by the power of the divine word, received through faith; for where there is no faith, which through love works obedience (we again speak of those who have come to the years of understanding), there is no promise.  “He that does not believe the Son, shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him,” Jn. 3:36.

The holy apostle Peter also explains the same and says that “even baptism does also now save us; not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God (or the covenant of a good conscience toward God), by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,” 1 Pet. 3:21.

Here Peter teaches us how the inward baptism saves us, by which the inner man is washed, and not the outward baptism by which the flesh is washed; for only this inward baptism, as already stated, is of value in the sight of God, while outward baptism follows only as an evidence of obedience which is of faith; for if outward baptism could save without the inner washing, the whole of Scripture which speak of the new man, would be spoken to no purpose.  The kingdom of heaven would be bound to elementary water; the blood of Christ would be shed in vain, and no one that is baptized could be lost.  No, no! Outward baptism avails nothing so long as we are not inwardly renewed, regenerated, and baptized by God, with the heavenly fire and the Holy Spirit.  But when we receive this baptism from above, we will be constrained through the Spirit and word of God, by a good conscience, which we thereby obtain, to believe sincerely in the merits of the death of the Lord, and in the power and benefits of his resurrection; and henceforth, because we are inwardly cleansed by faith, and the spiritual strength which we have received, we submissively covenant with the Lord, through the outward sign of baptism, which is enjoined on all the believers in Christ, even as the Lord has covenanted with us in his grace, through his word, that we will no longer live according to the evil, unclean lusts of the flesh, but walk according to the witness of a good conscience before him.

Behold, this is the only and true foundation of baptism maintained by the Scriptures, and none other.  This we teach and practice, though all the gates of hell rise against us; for we know it is the revealed word of the Lord, and his divine ordinance, from which we do not dare take away, nor add to this, lest we be found disobedient and false before God (who alone is the Lord and God of our consciences), for, “every word of God is pure; he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him,” Prov. 30:5.

Oh God, what are the learned and highly learned masters of this world doing, who are so earnestly engaged in derogating from God’s word and wisdom, and ingeniously urging their own vain reason and wisdom?  They will not prosper; God will not give his honor to another, for he is Jehovah; that is his name, and beside him there is no other, Isa. 42:8.  Conquering, he will conquer them.  He will turn wisdom to folly and their reason to disgrace, for he “knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain,” 1 Cor. 3:20.

Luther writes that children should be baptized on account of their own faith, and adds, “If children had no faith, then their baptism would be blaspheming the sacrament,” &c.  It appears to me, to be a great error in this learned man, through whose writings at first the Lord effected much good, that he maintained that children, without knowledge and understanding, had faith, while the Scriptures teach so plainly, that they do not know good from evil, that they cannot discern right from wrong, and he (Luther) says that faith is dormant and concealed in children even as in a believing person who is asleep, till they arrive at the years of understanding.  If Luther writes this as his sincere opinion, he writes much in vain concerning faith and its power, but if he writes to please men, may God have mercy upon him, for I know of a truth it is only human reason and the invention of men; but it shall not make void the word and ordinance of the Lord.  We do not read in Scripture that the Apostles baptized a single believer while asleep.  They baptized those who were awake, and not the slumbering.  Then why do they baptize their children before that sleeping faith awakes and is confessed by them?

Bucer does not thus support this doctrine, but he maintains infant baptism differently, namely, not that children have faith, but that they, by baptism, may be added to the church of the Lord, and instructed in his word.  He admits that infant baptism is not expressly commanded, nevertheless he maintains that it is right.  O, Lord! How lamentably they do err, who court the favor and honor of men, and seek not the favor and honor of God.  Since infant baptism is not expressly commanded by God, as he acknowledges, it cannot be acceptable to the Lord, Et per consequence, i.e., and by consequence, no promise can follow.  Therefore, the reader should know that true christians ought not to be governed in this matter, by the opinions and traditions of men, but by the word and the ordinances of God.  For we have but one Lord and Master of our conscience, Christ Jesus, whose word, will, command and ordinance, it becomes us, as his willing disciples, to follow, even as the bride rejoices greatly to hear the bridegroom’s voice, John 3:29.

Since we have not a single command in the Scriptures that infants are to be baptized, or that the apostles did practice it; we modestly confess, with a good conscience, that infant baptism is but human invention; a selfish notion; a perversion of the ordinance of Christ; a manifest abomination, standing in the holy place, where it ought, properly, not to be, Matt. 24:15.

Beloved sirs, how little the word of the Lord is regarded, which says, You shall not do after that which is right in your own eyes, but observe whatsoever I command you, Deu. 12:8.  Did not the Father testify from heaven and declare, “This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased; hear him.”? Matt. 17:5.  Does not the whole of Scripture direct us to Christ? Are we not baptized in his name, that we should hear his voice, and be obedient to his word?  Do you not boast to be the apostolic church?  Then why do you depart from Christ and adhere to anti-christ; and go from the apostolic doctrine and practice to the doctrine and practice of the ‘educated’?  Do observe how severely and frequently God punished men for the self-formed opinions which they maintained as works of holiness and divine worship.

Nadab and Abihu, because they offered strange fire before Jehovah, were suddenly destroyed by fire, before the altar, through the wrath of God. Num. 3:4.

Saul had mercy on Agag, the king of the Amalekites, and prompted by his good intentions, spared the best sheep and oxen, to sacrifice unto the Lord, contrary to the word of the prophet.  That seeming act of mercy and laudable zeal was punished, as were the sins of witchcraft and idolatry, because he acted according to his own judgment, and not according to the word of the prophet.  He was reproved by Samuel, smitten with a pestilence, his kingdom taken from him, and given to a more faithful one, 1 Sam. 15:9 &c.

Manasseh, the king of the Jews, and others in Israel, made their children pass through fire.  They built temples and altars in all the high places, also in cities and countries, with good intentions; for they were desirous thereby to honor the Almighty and eternal God, as may be plainly seen, 2 Kings 21:3-6.  This glorious and holy choice was so offensive before God, that [even after Manasseh’s death], Jeremiah refused to intercede for the people.

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[CHCoG: The above paragraph is bizarre, but it is likely that Menno was being sarcastic, and thus comparing Manasseh to the popes.  Let us read what the Bible actually says here:

And he [Manasseh] did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, after the abominations of the nations whom Jehovah cast out before the children of Israel.  For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he reared up altars for Baal, and made an Asherah, as did Ahab king of Israel, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.  And he built altars in the house of Jehovah, of which Jehovah said, In Jerusalem will I put my name.  And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of Jehovah.

And he made his son to pass through the fire, and practised augury, and used enchantments, and dealt with them that had familiar spirits, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of Jehovah, to provoke him to anger.

There was nothing Mannaseh did at this time that was intended to be either good or holy in Jehovah’s eyes.  He was totally dedicated to promoting paganism, and blatantly inserting it even within God’s temple.  And as a result:]

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Israel was desolated, Jerusalem and the temple burnt; the people and the holy vessels were carried into a foreign land, 2 Kings 25:9; 2 Chr. 36:16-19.  Therefore, says God by the prophet, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people; and walk in all the ways that I have commanded you; not those of your own choice; that it may be well with you, Jer. 7:23.

What advice then, my beloved friends, shall be given in relation to such wilful deceivers, who so presumptuously do violence to the expressed word of the Lord, and so shamefully slander the Almighty, the Most High God, and teach that it is the word of God; though such things he never proposed, much less commanded, and never will.

How awful it is thus to sin against God, and so lamentably to pervert his holy and precious word!  Yes, they shall be severely punished by the Lord with heavy judgments, they shall not escape the ire of his fierce wrath, if they do not repent and reform; for God is an enemy to all liars.  They have neither part nor lot in his kingdom; but their portion is eternal destruction, in the lake of fire, 2 Thes. 2:8; Rev. 20:10; 19:20.

In the second place, it is evident that infant baptism is an accursed, abominable and idolatrous institution; for all those who are baptized in infancy are called christians and are accounted partakers of the Lord’s grace, merits, death and blood, and are called his people, although the whole course of their lives is entirely heathenish, wild and dissolute; yes, they indulge in nothing but gluttony, drinking, gaming, whoring, cursing and swearing, as though the water in baptism could make and preserve them as christians.  O, no!  Paul declares, “He that does not have the Spirit of Christ, is not his,” Rom. 8:9.  Yes, the helpless, innocent children, though baptized with the blood of the Lord, and having the sure promise of the kingdom of God, if not baptized with their baptism, must be buried outside the grave yard as accursed.  What infamy!─what blindness!  We will say nothing of godfathers, of crossing, breathing upon, sprinkling with salt water, anointing, spitting upon, and their abominable exorcism, all of which are nothing else than open blasphemy, and not commanded by God.  What abominable, detestable idolatry these things are.

In the third place, we are informed by historians, ancient and modern, and also in the decrees, that baptism was changed both as to its mode and time of administering.  In the beginning of the holy church, persons were baptized in common water on their first profession, upon their own faith, according to the Scriptures.  Afterwards a change was made; they were examined seven times before being baptized; after that, they were baptized at two stated periods; namely, at Easter and Whitsuntide.  Higinius, the tenth pope, instituted godfathers, in the year A.D. 146.  Finally, Luther tells us that in the year A.D. 407, Pope Innocent confirmed infant baptism by a decree, and it is to be feared that it will not be abrogated, except at the expense of much innocent blood of the saints and children of God; even as the prophets, in their days, reproved the accursed abominations and idolatry of the kings, priests and people, not by admonition only, but also with their blood, as we read in both sacred and profane history.

If infant baptism was commanded by God, in his word, why did Innocent add his decree?  How can baptism as practiced by the world, be right, since it has been so frequently changed?  We entreat you, for Jesus’ sake, to reflect that Christ Jesus and not the ‘learned’, is King and Lord of his Church; and rules over it with his sceptre, Spirit and word, Matt. 11:27.  As it is said, He is made unto us Wisdom, and none can instruct him; he appeared in order that he might testify to the truth.  They that love the truth hear his voice and believe his word; and not that of the learned, for his word is truth; but the word of the learned, in this respect, is seduction; for Christ commands that believers should be baptized; but in relation to infants, that are without understanding, he gave no command.  But the learned say he that does not have his children baptized, and is himself baptized upon his faith, as Christ commanded, is a fanatic, anabaptist and heretic.

We have here given you the principal reasons why we oppose infant baptism, not only in doctrine, but also to the sacrifice of our lives and possessions.  For we well know, by the grace of God, that there is not one word in the Scriptures in its support.  We tell you the truth and do not lie.  Is there anyone under the canopy of heaven who can show us, by divine truth, that Jesus Christ, the Son of Almighty God, the Eternal Wisdom and Truth, whom alone we acknowledge as the Lawgiver, and Teacher of the New Testament, has given a single command that children should be baptized; or that his holy apostles ever so taught, or practiced?

What need is there to urge this upon us by tyranny and punishment?  Only show it to us in the word of God, and the difficulty is removed.  For God, who is omniscient, knows that in our weakness, we humbly seek to walk according to the divine ordinances, word and will, for which we, poor miserable men, are shamefully reviled, banished, robbed and slain by every one in many countries, like innocent sheep; but the Lord be eternally praised!  We are esteemed as unworthy of heaven or earth, even as Christ said, “They shall deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you; and you shall be hated by all nations for my name’s sake,” Matt. 24:9.

It is our determination, in this matter as in all other matters of conscience, in view of the wrath of Almighty God, that we will not be influenced by lords and princes, nor by doctors and teachers of schools, nor by the influence of the [church] fathers, and long established customs, for in this matter, neither emperors, nor kings, nor doctors, nor licentiates, nor councils, nor proscriptions against the word of God, will avail.  We do not dare be bound to any person, power, wisdom or times, but we must be governed only by the expressed and positive commands of Christ, and the pure doctrines and practices of his holy apostles, as remarked above; for if we do so, we neither deceive any one in this matter, nor are we deceived.  Alas! Woe to him, woe to him, who departs from this foundation, or is compelled to do so, either through the infirmities of the flesh or tyranny, or by false doctrine; and will not testify of the word of his Lord until death, unto this wicked and sinful generation, both in word and deed, Matt. 10:38; 16:24.

Observe, all of you who persecute the word of the Lord and his people, this is our instruction, doctrine and belief concerning baptism, according to the instruction of the words of Christ; namely, we must first hear the word of God, believe it, and then upon our faith be baptized; we are not seditious or contentious; we do not approve of polygamy; neither do we seek nor wait for any kingdom upon earth.

O, no! no! To God be eternal praise; we know well what the word of the Lord teaches us and testifies to on this subject.  The word of the Lord commands us that we, with a sincere heart, desire to die to sin, to bury our sins with Christ, and with him to rise to a new life, even as baptism is a figure of it.

That we seek to walk humbly and uprightly in Christ Jesus, in the covenant of his grace, and his everlasting peace, and with an approved conscience before God, even as the mouth of our Lord has commanded; as he has testified by his example, and as we are taught by the pure doctrines and practices of the apostles, 1 Pet. 3:21.

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COUNTER ARGUMENTS WITH THEIR REPLICATIONS.

In the second place, they teach that the children of Israel under the Old Testament, were admitted into God’s covenant and church through circumcision; but now, our children are admitted through baptism.  To this, in accordance with Scripture, we reply, No.  Whoever reads the Scriptures understandingly, will clearly perceive that Abraham was in covenant with the Lord many years before he was circumcised.  And that the children were circumcised on the eighth day, although they had been in the covenant before.  For it is evident, that we do not become the children of God through any outward rites, but through the paternal and gracious choice, through Christ Jesus.  But an outward sign was required of Abraham as a seal of obedience and faith.  And likewise of his seed, that they should circumcise the male children on the eighth day; not sooner nor later, and not the female children.  Had the covenant depended upon the sign, and not upon the assurance of grace, what would have become of the females, and the males that died uncircumcised before the eighth day?

Beloved reader, give heed to the word of God.  Although the women and female children were not circumcised, they had the promise in common, in the promised seed, the holy land, the kingdom and glory.  They were no less the seed of Abraham and subject to the covenant of God, and the things signified by the sign of it, than the circumcised men and male children.  From which it is evident that the children of Israel were not in the Lord’s covenant on account of circumcision, as pedo-baptists assert, but through the divine choice of grace.

And even as Abraham and the children of Israel, the female as well as the male children, were in the covenant not through the sign, but through the divine choice, so also are our children in the covenant of God, although not baptized.  The word of Paul is incontrovertible.  He (God) has chosen us in him, before the foundation of the world, and has ordained us as his children through Jesus Christ, Eph. 1:4.

Again, children are entitled to the kingdom of heaven, and are under the promise of the grace of God through Christ; as has been said; and therefore we truly believe that they are blessed, holy and pure, acceptable to God; are under the covenant, and in his church, but by no means through any external sign; for there is not a word in all the Scriptures by which to maintain that children should be admitted into the covenant and the church by such a sign.  Besides, it is very evident that they cannot be taught or admonished by word or sacrament, as long as they are without the ability to hear and understand.

Therefore, the signs are not to be used for any other purpose than that for which they were instituted and commanded by the Lord.  Since Christ has ordained and commanded us to baptize believers; and has not said a word about infant baptism, we believe and teach that the baptism of believers is from God and his word, and infant baptism is from the dragon and the beast.

All the rites ordained by God, both of the Old and New Testament, are ordained to exercise our faith and to show our obedience.  Therefore we should not use and change them at our pleasure; but we must use them as the Lord himself has ordained and commanded, if we would escape being punished by the fierce wrath of God, as were Nadab and Abihu, Lev. 10:2.

Since Christ has commanded that believers should be baptized, and not infants, and the holy apostles taught and practiced thus, in accordance with the instructions and commands of Christ, as may be seen in many places of the New Testament, all reasonable-minded men must admit that infant baptism, although alas, practiced by nearly the whole world, and maintained by tyranny, is nothing less than a ceremony of anti-christ: open blasphemy, an enchanting sin, a molten calf; yes, abomination and idolatry.

We also well know how they apply circumcision as a figure of baptism, and adduce the saying of Paul in proof of it, namely, “In whom also you are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, &c., Col. 2:11.  He that will attempt to prove by this passage that infant baptism is right, does violence to holy Paul, and falsely perverts his testimony.  For he does not teach that external circumcision is a figure of baptism, but alludes to inward circumcision.  For even as actual circumcision of the foreskin was performed with a knife of stone, so also must our inbred and carnal nature be cut off with that spiritual knife of stone, and circumcised with a circumcision made without hands.  The stone is Christ.  The knife is the word of God, 1 Cor. 10:4; Heb. 4:12.  It is with this circumcision that believers, not children, are circumcised, as Paul evidently intends to teach by this scripture, “In Him you were circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of sins through the circumcision of the Messiah, and you were buried with Him in immersion, in which you also arose with Him because you believed in the power of God, who raised Him from the house of the dead.” Col. 2:11-12 [CHCoG version].  It appears to me, that these words plainly show that Paul did not speak in relation to the baptism of infants; but in regard to the inner circumcision of the believers.  Read also what we said above concerning Romans 6.

In the third place, they say that children are regenerated, put on Christ, and receive the Holy Spirit in baptism.

To this we reply: To be regenerated, to put on Christ, and to receive the Holy Spirit, is one and the same thing; and according to its power, inseparable.  Have you the one, you have the other also.  But that does not at all concern infants; for regeneration takes place through faith, through the word of God, and is a change of heart, or of the inward man, as said above.  To put on Christ is to be transplanted into Christ, and to be like-minded with him.  To receive the Holy Spirit is to be a partaker of his gifts and power, to be taught, assured and influenced by him, as the Scriptures teach.  This cannot take place with infants, for they do not have ears to hear the word of the Lord, as they do not have the understanding to comprehend it; for through the word and the understanding of the word all this is accomplished.

Here it may be asked, whether God is not powerful enough to work faith in children: because John the baptist, yet unborn, leaped for joy in his mother’s womb.

We reply to this, that we are not speaking of the power of God; he made aged and barren Sarah fruitful, and caused Balaam’s ass to speak.  But it does not follow that all old, barren women will become fruitful, and that all asses are to speak.  He does not at all times do all that could be done, or has power to do; we speak only of the precept of the Scriptures; what they teach and command us concerning this matter.

Because infants do not understand, they cannot believe, and because they do not believe, they cannot be born again.  Reason teaches us that they cannot understand the word of God.  That they do not believe and are not regenerated, is evident from their actions.  Whether they are baptized or not, their inbred nature is prone to evil from their youth.  They know no difference between Christ and satan; between good and evil; between life and death.  Whereby then shall we know their faith, regeneration, or that they possess Christ and his Spirit? The regenerating word must first be heard and believed with a sincere heart, before regeneration, the putting on of Christ and the influences of the Holy Spirit follow.

Behold, thus we are taught by the word of the Lord.  He that does, therefore, not desire the palatable bread of the divine word, upon which our souls have to live, may satisfy himself with the husks that the swine eat, Luke 15:16; we cannot forbid him.  I trust that the gracious Father will protect and preserve us forever, through his great mercy, from their anti-christian doctrines and Pharisaical leaven.

In the fourth place, they say that although infants are not so washed from original sin in baptism, that there are no remains of it still, for the sake of baptism it shall not be imputed to them as sin.

To this we reply: Thus to teach and believe is open blasphemy against Christ and his blood.  I have proved more than once by the word of the Lord, that Christ is the only remedy for our sins, and that there is forever none other, Isa. 43:25; Matt. 1:21; Acts 4:12.  If men will not believe the word of God, there is no human help for them.  But the way or manner in which believers receive the remission of sins, in baptism, is fully explained above, and he that reads it understandingly, will give the Lord Jesus the praise due him, and not ascribe the remission of his sins to rites and elements.

In the fifth place, they say that Christ has cleansed and sanctified his church with the washing of water by the word.  Children, they say, belong to the church, therefore they must be cleansed with the washing of water by the word, Eph. 5:26.

To this we reply: Paul does not speak of infants, but of those who hear and believe the word of the Lord, and thus by faith, are sanctified and cleansed in their hearts; for such are cleansed by the washing of water, as the mouth of the Lord has commanded.

Since infants have not this pure, sanctifying faith, nor the means to this (that is, the understanding), and are not commanded in Scripture to be baptized; how can they then be cleansed with the washing of water by the word, having no faith in the word, and no washing of water by the word?  Therefore, all pedo-baptists should know that their infant baptism does neither cleanse nor sanctify, but that it is idolatry in toto, without promise, pernicious, and contrary to the word of the Lord.

We have before shown that the remission of sins, or reconciliation, was connected with, and consequent upon, the Jewish offerings, if performed according to the instructions of Moses.  But when not thus performed, they did not obtain reconciliation, but made themselves the more guilty, as Saul, Uzziah, Nadab, Abihu and others.  In like manner is the church sanctified and cleansed, with the washing of water, by the word, if it is done in every respect according to the instruction of the word.  But if it is not done so, we are not cleansed but commit much more sin.

And although infants have neither faith nor baptism, do not think therefore that they are damned.  Oh no! They are blessed; for they have the Lord’s own promise of the kingdom of God; not through any elements, ceremonies and external rites, but only by grace, through Jesus Christ, Matt. 19:13-15.  And therefore, we do truly believe that they are under grace, acceptable to God, pure, holy, heirs of God and eternal life, and on account of this promise, all sincere christian believers may assuredly rejoice and comfort themselves in the salvation of their children.

In the sixth place, they say that infants are to be baptized on account of the promise made them, as above stated; although Christ did not baptize the children brought to him, nor had them baptized; but they say that he had infant baptism taught and practiced after his death.

To this we reply: This is a false doctrine, and does not have the word of God to sanction it; indeed, it cannot be supported by a single word in the Scriptures.  We rejoice with all our heart that they have this promise; the Scriptures, however, do not teach that they should, therefore, be baptized; and that they were not baptized before Christ’s death, gives us greater assurance of this still, and for this reason: We certainly know that he taught no other word, no other doctrine, no other baptism, nor did he give another Spirit, or another promise, nor did he instruct others to teach differently after his death, than he did before that event.  That he commanded his holy apostles, after his death and ascension, to teach and practice infant baptism can never be proved by the word of the Lord.

Oh Human Nature!  You are not ashamed to charge lies upon Jesus Christ and his apostles, and to practice infant baptism under the semblance of the divine word, as if the Lord had taught it, although he never did.  How much you are like those who say, “Jehovah says; although I have not spoken,” Eze. 13:7; thus says the Lord Jehovah.

As often as the question is put to us, Why shall infants not be baptized, since they are in the church of God, and partakers of his grace, covenant and promise? We answer: Because the Lord neither taught nor commanded it.

In the seventh place they say, The Scriptures inform us that the apostles baptized whole families, from which we may readily conclude that there were infants among them.

To this in the first place, we reply: Since they endeavor to maintain their position with uncertain conjectures, they acknowledge by their own arguments that they have no scriptural authority for this doctrine.

In the second place, we answer: In things of such importance, we do not dare build upon uncertain suppositions, but upon the sure word, which is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path, Psm. 119:105.

In the third place, we answer: Four families are mentioned in the Scriptures as having been baptized; namely, that of Cornelius, of the Jailer, of Lydia and of Stephanas, Acts 10:48; 16:15; 16:33 & 1 Cor.1:16.  The Scriptures plainly show that three of these were all believers; namely, the family of Cornelius, of the Jailer, and that of Stephanas.  But touching the family of Lydia, although the Scriptures say nothing definitely concerning it, the reader should know that it is not usual in Scripture, nor the common custom of the world, to call the family by the woman’s name, as long as the husband is living.  Since then, Luke mentions the family by the name of the woman, reason teaches us that Lydia was at that time either a widow or a virgin.  Of the probability as to whether there were infants in her house or not, we shall let the pious reader judge.

In the fourth place, we answer: The word household, or houses, does not include the minor children as mentioned in the Scripture; for Paul speaks of vain talkers who subvert whole houses.  Now it is incontrovertable that an infant cannot be subverted by any false doctrine.  Therefore, by the word house or houses, no others can be understood than those who have ears to hear, and hearts to understand.

In the last place, they appeal to Origen and Augustine, and say that these assert that they have received infant baptism from the apostles.

To this we answer and inquire, Can Origen and Augustine prove this by the Scriptures?  Have they done so?  We desire to know; if not, then must we hear and believe Christ and his apostles, and not Augustine and Origen.

That this is not the case may readily be seen from Cyprian, because he neither enjoined nor condemned infant baptism, if those who for many years past have been preachers at Norlingen, have rightly informed me in their church records, and not deceived me in the meaning of the word Liberum.

If infant baptism is apostolic, why does Tertullian write and say, “They who are to be baptized, confess for a considerable time in the church, before the overseer, that they renounce the devil, his pomp and angels.  After that they are,” &c.

Revanus annotates on this passage and says: That it was the custom of old, that adults (grown persons) be baptized by the washing of regeneration.

That infant baptism was not apostolic may be distinctly seen from the insipid remarks of Athanasius, as Rufinus plainly shows; see Eusebius, 10 Libro Ecc. His., Cap. 14.

Remember also how the early writers contended about infant baptism.  Had it been apostolic, and found in the gospel, why should they have thus wrangled?

Read also Erasmus Rotterod, in sua concion, i.e., in his public orations, Sebastus Frank’s Chronicle, Ulrich Zuingli, in his book of Articles, Martin Cellarius, de immensis operi, Dei, i.e., Concerning the immense works of God, and you will find that infant baptism is not the doctrine and practice of the apostles.

Behold, beloved reader, I admonish and advise you, if you seek God with all your heart, and do not wish to be deceived; do not depend upon men and their doctrine, no matter however old, holy and excellent they may be esteemed; for the ‘divines,’ both ancient and modern, are opposed to each other; but put your trust alone in Christ and his word, in the sure instruction and practice of his holy apostles, and you will, through the grace of God, be perfectly safe from all false doctrines and the power of the devil; and may walk with a free and pious mind before God.

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AN ADMONITION ADDRESSED TO THE SCORNERS OF THE WORD CONCERNING BAPTISM.

All who, by the grace of God, have been translated from Adam into Christ, and become partakers of the divine nature, and are baptized by God, with the Spirit and fire of heavenly love, will not contend so deridingly with the Lord, and say: My beloved, what can water avail?  But they say, with trembling Paul, “Lord, what will You have me to do?”  And with the penitents on the day of Pentecost, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”  They will renounce their own wisdom, and willingly obey the word of the Lord, for they are influenced by his Spirit, and through faith, with willing, obedient hearts, perform all things commanded to them by the Lord.

But as long as their minds are not renewed, they are not of the same mind with Christ; and are not washed in the inner man with clean water from the living fountain of God, they may well say, ‘What can water avail us?’  For as long as they are earthly and sensually minded, the whole ocean would not cleanse them.

It appears to me that you may readily conclude from the language which we have used that we desire no other water than that which the word of the Lord has commanded.  For since we believe that Christ is the true Messiah, to whom the law and the prophets pointed, whom all the righteous fathers and patriarchs desired; that he came from heaven and testified to the truth, and that his command is eternal life, we must, therefore, hear his voice and obey his word.  If not, we actually show that we do not believe, but that we reject his counsel and word, and are ungrateful towards him, for his love.

I know well, that many of you will say, We were baptized once in the name of God, and we are satisfied with that.  To which we reply: If you fear God with all your heart, and acknowledge that his word and ordinances are just and good, you must decide that you are not baptized in the name of God, but contrary to it.  It is true that the adorable, exalted name of [the Son of] God was pronounced over you, but not otherwise than it is pronounced over church bells, churches, altars, consecrated water, tapers and palms.  All anti-christian idolatry and abominations, alas, are performed under the semblance of the divine name; although they are not done by virtue of, but against his name, for they are done contrary to his word and will.

My dear reader, reflect well upon these words and judge them by the word of God, and you will find that the baptism which you have received is outside the command of God’s word; that it originated through self-righteousness, and was invented by man, and therefore it must be accursed of God, who alone will reign and rule in his church.  If you would rejoice in the promise and be partakers of the church of Christ, you must believe the word of the Lord, be obedient to, and follow his counsel, will and ordinances.  But if you refuse, and follow your own, and not the Lord’s counsel and will, you cannot comfort yourselves with any scriptural promise, for “he that does not believe,” says Christ, “is condemned already.” John 3:18.

Therefore, do not comfort yourselves any longer with such vain comfort, and say, We have been baptized once; for at heart you are yet entirely unbelieving; yes, rebellious and unclean.  Your whole life is earthly and carnal, your baptism anti-christian, and without the sanction of the word of God.  Therefore, awaken, repent, believe in Christ, seek, fear and love God with all your heart, then the word of the Lord and his anointing will teach you what is proper for you to do or not to do, in this matter.  And do not say, as some do, ‘I will renounce the church and idolatry; I will serve my neighbor, &c., but I do not wish to be baptized.’

O, you blind men!  Do you think that the Lord is pleased with your staying away from that church, or with your alms, or any thing of the kind, if you reject his counsel and word?  No! No!!  He desires your obedience, but not sacrifice.  He desires the whole heart, the entire man.  With him, neither church nor alms will avail, neither words nor deeds, as long as you do not manifest a new heart and life.  “For in Christ Jesus,” says Paul, “neither circumcision avails anything, nor uncircumcision, but faith which works by love, a new creature, and the keeping of the commandments of God,” Gal. 5:6; 6:15; 1 Cor. 7:19.

And whosoever is renewed in Christ and born by God, he lives no more, as Paul says, but Christ Jesus lives in him.  In all his ways he conforms to the word of the Lord, for that powerful, active faith constrains him to all obedience, and to every good work.  But where this new life is not, there fair words may indeed be, but in truth, there is only unbelief, disobedience, wantonness, presumption, and perverseness.

I hereby entreat and admonish you, beloved reader, not to be so obstinate against the Lord, and say, What can water avail us?  But do reflect that Christ Jesus himself was baptized, Matt. 3:13, although he was without sin, neither was guile found in his mouth, 1 Pet. 2:22; yes, who was himself righteousness, the way, the truth, and the life.  Tell us then, what could water avail Christ, who was all in all things? The disciples also at Ephesus were rebaptized by Paul, because they knew nothing of the Holy Spirit, although they had been baptized with the baptism of John.  If Christ himself was baptized, who was without sin, and others were rebaptized by Paul, who had been baptized with the baptism of John, which was also from heaven, why do you then despise the Lord’s baptism, you who are poor, miserable sinners, who were baptized without knowledge and faith, with the baptism of the dragon and the beast?

Cyprian, the Martyr, with his entire council in Africa, resolved that those who were baptized by heretics should be rebaptized with the christian baptism, and for this reason, that they maintained that the baptism of heretics could not be the baptism of Christ.  Reflect a little, kind reader, who they were that baptized you; by whom they were sent; what kind of faith they had; what kind of lives they led; with what doctrine and practices you were baptized.  If you will seriously reflect upon this, I hope by the grace of God, if you desire true peace and liberty of conscience, you will soon be aware that you never knew either the external or internal baptism, much less received it.

Behold, beloved reader, here you have the true foundation and scriptural instructions of the baptism of Christ, and an explanation of the baptism of anti-christ.

Pray to the Lord, the Most High God, for a sound and clear understanding, that you may sincerely know the right and blessed truth, believe, and in the fear of the Lord, faithfully observe it.  Cease from all useless disputing and gainsaying; for whosoever will dispute and gainsay with the determination to remain in the broad way, will ruin his soul, never walk with a good and sure conscience before God, and always find occasion to dispute and wrangle.

Therefore, do examine, believe, and obey the word of God with a sincere and devout heart, and do not be deceived by being led into the appearance of godliness, by fair speeches, and you will certainly obtain the sure doctrine of the saving truth, and the consoling promise of grace.  The Lord Jesus Christ grant you his grace, Amen.

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THE LORD’S HOLY SUPPER.

Behold, worthy reader, all those who sincerely believe in this glorious love of God, this abundant, great blessing of grace in Christ Jesus, manifested toward us, are more and more renewed through such a faith; their hearts overflow with joy and peace; they break forth with joyful hearts, in all manner of thanksgiving; they praise and glorify God with all their hearts, because they, with a good conscience have received the Spirit; they believe and know that the Father loved us, so that he gave us poor, wretched sinners, his own and Eternal Son, with his merits, as a gift and an eternal ransom, as Paul says, The grace and love of God, our Savior, appeared not on account of the works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Spirit; which he shed on us abundantly, through Jesus Christ our Savior, “That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life,” Tit. 3:7.

Here it is proper to observe how the Righteous died for the unrighteous, when we were yet sinners and enemies; how the spotless Lamb was prepared for us, in the fire of affliction, suffered upon the cross, and was offered as an eternal propitiation for our sins; how the Creator of all things was bruised for our sakes, and he, who was above all the children of men, became the most unworthy, and was counted with evil doers; how the Innocent bore the sins of the whole world, blotted out all our transgressions, and redeemed us with his crimson blood, as the Scriptures declare, “I restored that which I did not take away,” Psm. 69:4.  In short, Jesus Christ, through his obedience, delivered Adam and all his seed from the consequences of disobedience, and by his painful death, again restored life.

The apostle Paul acknowledged this great and glorious work of divine love, broke forth and said, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword, as it is written, For your sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.  For I am persuaded that 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 us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord,” Rom. 8:35-39.

And this is what John says, Let us love him for he first loved us. 1 John 4:19.  Nature teaches us to love those who love us.  And this is the first fruit of the Holy Sacrament, if rightly celebrated.

In the third place we have to observe that by the Lord’s Supper we are reminded of, and admonished to christian unity, love, and peace, after which all true christians should seek and strive.  “For we being many,” says Paul, “are one bread, and one body; for we are all partakers of that one bread,” 1 Cor. 10:17.

Just as natural bread is made of many grains, broken by the mill, and kneaded together with water, and baked by the heat of the fire; so is the church of Christ made up of many true believers, broken in their hearts with the hammer of the divine word, and are baptized with the water of the Holy Spirit, and with the fire of pure, unfeigned love, into one body, 1 Cor. 12:13.  And as the natural body is in harmony and peace with all its members, and as each member naturally discharges its duty to promote the good of the whole body; thus it also becomes the true and living members of the body of Christ, to be in harmony, of one heart, one mind and one soul; not quarrelsome and unpeaceable, not spiteful and envious, not cruel and hateful, not malicious, not obstinate or rancorous, one toward another, like the ambitious, covetous, and the proud of this world; but in all things, one toward another, be long suffering, friendly, peaceable, ever ready in true christian love to serve his neighbor in all things possible; by exhortation, by reproof, by comforting, by assisting, by counselling, with deed and with possessions, yes, with bitter and hard labor, with body and life.  Ready to forgive one another, as Christ forgives and serves us with his word, life and death, as Paul says, “Put on, therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, tender mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any; even as Christ forgave you, so also do you; and above all things, put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness; and let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you are called in one body; and be thankful,” Col. 3:12-15.

And again; as in the natural body, the more honorable members, such as the eye, the ear, the mouth, &c., do not despise the less honorable members, on account of their inferiority; and as the inferior members do not envy the superior members, on account of their superiority, but as every member in its place, is peaceable, and contributes to the good of the whole body, be its functions high or low; so it is also in the church of the Lord.  Paul says, some he appointed apostles; some prophets; some evangelists; some pastors and teachers.  Let every one be mindful that he does not boast of what he is, has, or possesses, for it is all the grace and gift of God.  Let every one attend to his duty, “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. 4:12, 13.

This is also set forth in the Holy Supper; but how the world, calling themselves christians, live up to this is shown by their fruits and actions.

In the fourth place, we have to observe that the Holy Supper is the communion of the body and blood of Christ, as Paul says, “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ?  The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?” 1 Cor. 10:16.

Since it is a communion, as said, we would fraternally exhort all of you, that you would earnestly examine yourselves, whether you have been made partakers of Christ?  Whether you are flesh of his flesh, and bone of his bone?  Whether you are in Christ, and Christ is in you?  For all who would worthily eat of this bread, and drink of this cup, must be changed in the inner man, and converted and renewed in their minds, through the power of the divine word and the operation of faith; and become new creatures, born by God, and translated from Adam into Christ; be of a christian disposition, long suffering, peaceable, merciful, affectionate, truly humble, and obedient to the word of the Lord.  The proud, ambitious, selfish and carnal heart must be circumcised; the evil eye must be plucked out; the ear that delights to hear evil, must be closed; the unprofitable, backbiting tongue must be bridled; the unclean, bloody hand must be cleansed; the impure, unchaste flesh must be restrained, &c.  They must lead a crusade against the world, the flesh and the devil; their loins must be girded about with truth; having on the breastplate of righteousness; their feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.  They must be armed with the shield of faith; with the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit.  They must be led by the Spirit of God, that they may become sincere christians; and strive with all their powers, that they, in their weakness, may be like-minded with Christ Jesus, Rom. 8:14.

When Christ instituted and celebrated the Holy Supper with his beloved disciples, he said, With desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. Luke 22:15.  Then he took the bread, and broke it, and said, Take, eat this is my body which is broken for you.  Likewise also the wine, This cup is the New Testament in my blood.  This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 1 Cor. 11:24, 25.  It was as if he had said, Behold, dear children, so far has that love which I have had for you and the whole human family, and ever shall have for you, constrained me, that I left the glory of my Father, came into this world of affliction, and am as a poor, miserable servant, to serve you, for I beheld that you all belonged to Satan, and there was none to redeem you; that you had all gone astray, like erring sheep, and there was none who cared for you; that you were a prey to devouring wolves, and there was none to ransom you; that you were wounded with death, and there was none that could heal you.  Therefore, I came from heaven, and became a poor, weak, and dying man, in all things like unto you, sin excepted.  In my great love I zealously sought you, and I found you helpless, loathsome, and miserable, yes, half dead.  The services of my love I have so cordially manifested toward you; your sores I bound up; your blood I wiped off; I poured wine and oil into your putrid wounds; set you free from the jaws of the bears and lions of the pit; I laid you upon my shoulders, and led you into the tabernacles of peace; your nakedness I covered; had compassion on you in your misery; I fulfilled the law for you; I took away your sins; I proclaimed to you the peace, the grace and favor of my Father; I made known to you his good will; I pointed out the way of truth; and I have powerfully testified to you, by my unheard of signs and great miracles, that I am the true Messiah, the promised Prince and Savior.

Behold, beloved children, so long have I been with you, taught my Father’s Word, admonished, reproved and comforted you in his name; but now my hour is at hand; this night I shall be betrayed.  All that the prophets said of me has come to an end.  But since I can serve you no longer with my doctrine and life, I will, at last, serve you with my painful sufferings, body, blood, cross, and death.

And this is the reason why I called you to this Supper, so that I might institute a memorial for you in the use of bread and wine, that you might occasionally come together after my death, and commemorate the gracious favors of my ardent love, so abundantly manifested towards you; and especially, that I loved you so dearly that I offered my body and shed my blood for you.  Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.  I have by my death obtained for you everlasting reconciliation, grace, mercy, favor and peace with my Father, as I told you, namely, “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life as a ransom for many,” Matt. 20:28.

Beloved reader, take notice of the word of the Lord and this institution.  For where this Holy Supper is celebrated with such faith, love, devotion, peace, harmony, and so much sincerity of heart, there Jesus Christ is present with his grace, Spirit, and promise, and with the merits of his sufferings, misery, flesh, blood, cross and death; as he himself says, “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them;” Matt. 18:20.  But where the pure knowledge of Christ, living faith, the new life, christian love, peace and harmony do not exist, there is not the Lord’s Supper, but a despising and mocking of the blood and death of Christ, a consolation of the impenitent, a seducing hypocrisy, and open blasphemy and idolatry as, alas! we know and see in the world.

Oh! Delightful assembly and christian banquet, commanded and ordained by the Lord himself, where there are no carnal pleasures to gratify the flesh and appetites, but where are set forth, sought for, and desired by all true christian believers, the glorious and holy mysteries, by the visible signs of bread and wine.

Oh! Delightful assembly and christian banquet, where there is no unseasonable, slanderous mockery, and where no trivial songs are sung; but where the pious christian life, peace, and harmony among all the brethren; besides the joyful word of divine grace, his gracious kindness, favor, love, service, tears, prayers, cross and death are set forth, and taught with cordial thanksgiving and devout joy.

Oh! Delightful assembly and christian banquet, to which the impenitent and proud despisers, according to Scripture, are not invited; such as whore-mongers, rogues, adulterers, debauchees, the giddy, robbers, liars, defrauders, tyrants, shedders of blood, idolators, slanderers, &c., for such are not the people of the Lord; but those who are born by God, the true christians, who have buried their sins, and walk with Christ in a new and godly life; those who crucify their flesh; who are led by the Holy Spirit; who sincerely believe in God; who seek, fear, and love him, and in their weakness, willingly serve and obey him; such are members of his body; flesh of his flesh, and bone of his bone.

Oh! Delightful assembly and christian banquet, where neither gluttonous eating and drinking is practiced, nor the impious vanity of piping and drumming is heard; but where the hungry consciences are filled with the heavenly bread of the divine word, and with the wine of the Holy Spirit; and where the peaceful, joyful souls are singing melodies before the Lord.

Awaken, O, you who sit in darkness and walk in the region and shadow of death.  Awaken, I say, and observe that the supper, which you have held to the present, is not the supper of Christ, but of anti-christ; not the table of the Lord, but the table of the devil.  For it is generally dispensed only by open deceivers, and worshippers of idols; and received by a people who are as yet entirely obstinate and carnally minded, disbelieving and rebellious against the word of God.  And moreover, they believe it to be the real body and blood of the Lord, and celebrate it with such unbecoming, heathenish pomp and splendor.  O! abomination and idolatry!!

Beloved reader, I bear witness to the truth in Christ and do not lie, that the Holy Supper of Christ is not to be dispensed by a deceiver, nor to be received by an impenitent and obstinate sinner.  It does not require such a gorgeous and splendid array, as that in which the world is wont to celebrate it; neither golden vessels, nor hypocritical semblance of confessions, absolution, bowing, and smiting upon the breast, &c., but it must be celebrated with a broken heart, true penitence, a humble mind, with unfeigned, ardent love, with peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.  Again I say, awaken, and reflect upon what I write.  God’s work is not imitating a dead letter; it is not trifling; nor is it the sounding of many bells and organs, and of singing; but it is a heavenly power, a living moving of the Holy Spirit, which warms the heart and mind of the believers; pervades, comforts, anoints, encourages, awakens and enlivens them; makes them joyful and happy in God.  For this is the true nature and power of the Lord’s word, if it is rightly preached, and of his Holy Sacraments, if rightly used.

We do, therefore, admonish all those desiring to celebrate this Supper, that they would rightly learn to know what the true Supper is, what it signifies, how and wherefore it is to be used, and who are to be partakers of it.  And then also to examine themselves well, as Paul teaches, before they eat of this bread and drink of this cup; that they do not comfort themselves with the visible sign, and err in regard to the reality represented by the signs; for they who do not know Christ and his righteousness, do not believe him and his word, and do not walk according to this; but according to the superstitious doctrines and commands of men, and partake of the Lord’s table, eat and drink damnation to themselves.

All who have received the word of the Lord through faith, acknowledged it to be true, and have again transgressed it, and have not continued to walk in the acknowledged truth, but are walking again in the broad way, have returned to the love of the world, and are rejecting Christ and his word, and depending upon the seducing doctrines, the interpretations and false promises of the learned; such have no part at the Lord’s table, for they are without God, as John says, “Whosoever transgresses, and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ, does not have God,” 2 John 1:9.

All who walk in the pride of their hearts, despise their neighbor on account of poverty, distress and affliction, and do not know that they themselves are poor mortals, seed of Adam, food for worms, and a wilting flower; yes, dust and earth, whether they are emperor, king, rich, or learned, and all who thus sit at the Lord’s table with a proud heart, eat and drink damnation to themselves.

All who boast of the Lord’s Spirit, name, covenant, word, knowledge, merits, grace, blood and death, yet reject his holy counsel, doctrine, command, ordinance and his unblameable example, despise and grieve his Holy Spirit, hate, defraud and speak falsely against their neighbor, and sit at the Lord’s table, eat and drink damnation to themselves.

All who love houses, lands, possessions, friends, children, the world, favor, ease of the body, honor and this life, more than they do Christ and his word, and attend the Lord’s table, eat and drink damnation to themselves.  Christ says, He that loves any thing more than me, is not worthy of me, and cannot be my disciple, Matt. 10:37; Luke 14:26.

And this is the sum of the whole matter, that all those who would sit at the Lord’s table, with the disciples and guests of Christ, whether rich or poor, high or low, must be sound in the faith, and unblameable in conduct and life.  None are excepted; neither emperor nor king, prince nor earl, knight nor nobleman.  Yes, as long as they err in doctrine and faith, and are in their lives carnal and blamable, they are by no means to be permitted, with the pious, to partake of the communion of the Holy Supper; for they are not in Christ, and therefore must remain without, till they are truly converted to Christ; walk in the ways of the Lord, are of one spirit and one faith with Christ and his church.  For the Lord’s Supper is a communion of the flesh and blood of Christ, which is not to be given to the ungodly and obdurate, but to the sincere, penitent, christian believers, as a pledge of reconciliation.

If any one has a good appearance before men, and is inwardly proud, avaricious, carnal and without the Spirit of God, he is not judged by the church, but by the Lord himself, the Searcher and Trier of men’s hearts and reins, as the Scripture says.  We do, therefore, admonish all those who would go to the Lord’s table, to examine themselves before they partake of it; for all who eat this bread and drink this wine unworthily, eat and drink damnation to themselves, 1 Cor. 11:29.

Thus, beloved sirs, friends and brethren, does the Holy Supper instruct and admonish us: First, The bread, as the body of Christ, which he offered for us, and the cup, the blood of Christ which he shed in great love, for the remission of our sins.

In the second place, we are admonished to union, love; and peace, which must be among all true christians, according to the spirit, doctrine and example of Christ; for Paul says, “We being many are one bread, and one body,” &c.

In the third place, we are admonished to a pious and unblameable life, to true regeneration, which is from God; to all righteousness, thanksgiving, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.  For it is a communion of the blood and body of Christ, of which no one is a partaker, nor can be, unless he becomes a humble, peaceable, pious christian, dead unto sin, and born by God according to his word; one who is in Christ, and Christ is in him; flesh of his flesh, and bone of his bone, is a true partaker of the body and blood of Christ; as Paul says, “We are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end,” Heb. 3:14.

Behold, beloved readers, here you have the true instructions concerning the Lord’s Holy Supper, with its significations, fruit, power, nature, and the guests, as the mouth of the Lord has ordained, and the holy apostles have left and taught us; and with what knowledge, faith, love, unity, peace, piety, and according to what usage and ordinance it should be celebrated in the church of God.

Compare this with the supper of the world, and you will learn to know which is the true one; what an abomination anti-christ has made of it, what enchantments he practices with it, and how we poor sinners, with all our forefathers, have, as idolatrous Israel of old, for hundreds of years, offered incense unto the brazen serpent, and danced before the golden calf.  O!  My faithful reader, fear God, with sincerity examine the Scriptures, and believe the truth.

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THE CORRUPTION OF THE HOLY SUPPER.

They have brought it so far with this ungodly seduction that they have arrogated to themselves all power in heaven, upon earth, and in hell; they therefore break the bread into three pieces.  With the first, they [claim to] reconcile God; with the second, they intercede for the world; and with the third, as they pretend, they pray for the souls in purgatory.

Through their accursed infamy they rose so high in honor, that they are above all the potentates of earth, whom they made their own servants.  By their hypocritical service and enchanting idolatry, they have hoarded money, goods, gold, silver, land, rents, cloisters, cities, principalities and the dominions of this world; because [almost] every one loved this splendid service as a holy and divine work; and honored and feared their exalted and pompous names as the messengers of God.

By this ingenious and subtle magic, the Roman anti-christ has gained such respect and authority, that even the imperial majesty, the highest sovereignty on earth, whom we are commanded by God to respect and fear, had to humble himself and kiss his feet; yes, what is still worse, Frederick Barbarossa, a great and renowned emperor, could not be reconciled with Pope Alexander III., until he humbled himself at Venice, before the church, and suffered the Pope to tread upon him with his feet!

Behold, thus anti-christ has enchanted the whole world with his offering.  The gracious Father be eternally praised, that he has, through his paternal grace, delivered us, his poor children, from this enchanting offering, and made known to us the only and eternal offering of his Son, Jesus Christ, who, according to the order of Melchizedek, is ordained as everlasting High Priest over the house of God; who, in the days of his flesh, offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears, unto him that was able to save from death, and was heard, because he honored God.  This one, I say, offered an acceptable offering, a sweet smelling sacrifice of eternal worth, by which he appeases the Father’s wrath, reconciles the human race, opens heaven, closes hell; makes peace between heaven and earth; and sits now, and henceforth, at the right hand of his Father, till his enemies are made his footstool; yes, with this one offering, he has perfected forever all those who are sanctified. Heb 10:12-14.  This cannot be denied, whether by emperor or king, doctor or teacher, angel or devil.  His word stands firm and immovable.  He has with one offering, I say with one offering, perfected for ever those who are sanctified.

O, my beloved reader! I now mean all those who are yet without the Spirit of Christ and his word, Take heed to what the word of the Lord teaches you, and observe the true doctrine of Christ, the true teachers, the true sacraments, the true church, and the true christian life, which is of God, so that you may learn what kind of pastors feed you; what kind of baptism and supper you practice; by what kind of offering you are reconciled; what kind of lives you lead, and of whose body you are members.

O, how long, says Solomon, will you simple ones love simplicity?  And you scorners delight in scorning?  How long will you remain under the heavy bondage of sin?  How long will you remain in the communion of the devil, and allow yourselves to be dragged down to the abyss of hell by the cords of unbelief?  Awake, and ransom your poor souls!  Come out from among them.  Flee from all false doctrine; avoid every appearance of evil; believe in Christ Jesus; repent and lead an unblameable life; follow Christ with a sincere heart; enter into the house and covenant of his everlasting peace, into the communion of his flesh and blood.  Take upon you his easy yoke and light burden, and you will find rest for your souls; you may then of a truth say that you are christians; that you have obtained the remission of your sins, by the grace of God, through the merits of Christ; and that you are joint heirs of the eternal kingdom.  May God grant unto you all his grace and mercy, Amen.

In the second place, they ‘made’ the bread in the Holy Supper into the real flesh, and the wine into the real blood of Christ, and understood the words of Christ literally.  Take, eat, this is my body, &c., and did not observe that Christ, in John 6, does fully instruct us how we are to eat his flesh and drink his blood; and says that it would profit nothing to really to eat his flesh, and to drink his blood, for this could not be done, because he was about to ascend to heaven where he was before.  We are therefore not to understand this eating his flesh, and drinking his blood literally; but spiritually, as he himself says, “The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” John 6:63.  All those who thus understand this from the Scriptures, are reproached as accursed heretics and profaners of the sacrament by many, and must suffer for it by water, fire and the sword.

O, dear Lord!  Is this not an ungodly error, and great blindness, to teach and to believe that a piece of bread, and a drink of wine should be changed into the real and essential flesh and blood of the Son of God, by which we may be delivered from hell, the devil, sin and death, and are made children of grace?  O, horrible heresy!

O, miserable, blind people, believe the words of Christ, when he says that it profits nothing to eat his visible and real flesh; and that his words are spirit and life, John 6:63; believe that he ascended up to heaven and sits at the right hand of his Father; therefore he cannot be eaten and confined in the body by any one, nor can he be consumed by age, fire, or worms, as may be plainly seen, is the case with the visible bread and wine.

But where the Lord’s church, [composed of] the beloved disciples of Christ, have met in Christ’s name to partake of the Holy Supper in true faith, love and obedience, there the outward perishable man eats and drinks perishable bread and wine; and the inner, the imperishable spiritual man eats (in a spiritual sense) the imperishable body and blood of Christ, which can not be eaten nor consumed, as said above.  Like is profited by like; this is incontrovertible.  The visible man is nourished upon visible food, and the invisible man is fed upon invisible bread, as we may plainly learn from the word of the Lord.

Therefore, all who are in Christ and have believing, penitent hearts, rely upon the pure offering of the body and blood of Christ, and know that it is the only ablution and reconciliation for their sins, the only and eternal medium of grace; and eat the true flesh and drink the true blood of Christ, not with their mouths, but spiritually, by faith, as said before.

The reader may readily observe from these words, that the bread is not flesh, and that the wine is not blood; for if they were flesh and blood, as the idolators pretend and teach the poor people, one of two consequences must