Menno Simons · 63 of 73

EXPLANATION OF THE TRUE APOSTOLIC SEPARATION OR EXCOMMUNICATION. · Part 1

1. What is meant by Separation or Ex­communication? Sincerely faithful children in the Lord, whom I love in truth, Since I have undertaken, in paternal fidelity, this very critical task, for the benefit of you and all the pious generally, I say a critical task, for I am well aware that it has caused much grief among the humble for some time; and I fear that all is not over yet, I, therefore, entreat you all in general, both the afflicted and unafflicted, by the bloody wounds of Jesus, all of you, who with me bow your knees before the Almighty, great God, I ex­hort you by the righteous judgment, which he will hold at his future coming in the clouds of heaven, in flaming fire, with his mighty angels, that you would be pleased to judge this my work impartially, and with a pure heart of peace; read article after article, nay, every word, with sincere, christian discretion, in impartial, true love, according to the rule and foundation of truth; and, in the first place, well observe what Excommunication of the church of Christ is in power, which was left and taught us in the word by the Lord's holy apostles, so that you despise none ignorantly, nor say with scorners, Let them freely excommuni­cate; their excommunication is not danger­ous, and similar unguarded expressions. I tell the truth in Christ, and lie not, that I would sooner suffer myself to be cut into pieces, till the day of judgment, if it were possible, than to suffer myself to be excom­municated, according to the Scriptures, by the servants of the Lord, from his church. O brethren, beware!

All that was cursed in Israel according to the ordinances of the law, whether man or beast, had to die, and the accursed goods had to be burnt with fire. This was a dread­ful and severe curse. But in the kingdom and government of Christ, if we rightly view it in its true character; if repentance follow not, it is still more dreadful; it is not now a bodily extermination or the death of our flesh, as Moses' curse or excommunication was, nor is it an exclusion from a temple or synagogue, even as is the excommunication of the Jews or of the world; but it is a true declaration of the eternal death of the soul, made through the sincere servants of Christ, against all offending, carnal sinners, and stubborn wranglers; a delivering over to satan; yea, a common renouncing, excom­municating or separating from the congre­gation, church, body and kingdom of Christ, and that in the name of Christ, with the binding efficacy of his Holy Ghost and pow­erful word.

Since, then, this is such a dreadful and severe anathema, as related, then may every one see well to it, that he walk and conduct himself so before God and his church, as not to be eternally smitten with such a curse, either of Christ or his church that he must be an excommunicant out of the holy con­gregation, body, city, temple, church, king­dom and house of Christ. For all who are out of the congregation and church of Christ, must be in that of anti‑christ; this is incon­trovertible. And what the award of such will be, if they will not repent, may be plainly read in Rom. 1:32; 8:23; (Gal. 5: 21; Rev. 21:8. Ah! children, beware; be careful with all your powers; watch assidu­ously; pray fervently and be prepared; for God's judgments are terrible; "It is a fear­ful thing to fall into the hands of the living God," Heb. 10:31.

2. Over whom this Apostolic Excommuni­cation is to be used. We find in many places of the holy Scriptures, that the truly believ­ing church is the spiritual body, bride, camp, city and temple of Jesus Christ, our only spiritual Head, Bridegroom, King and High Priest, prefigured by the literal Eve, Rebec­ca, and the camp, city and temple of Israel. In the political dominion of Israel, no leper, none that had an issue, nor those who were defiled by the dead, were suffered to come into camp as long as they were not healed and purified according to the law; none were allowed to ease themselves within the camp; neither an uncircumcised, nor an unclean person, was allowed to eat of the passover; all those (here observe well Israel's Ban) had to die without mercy, on the testimony of two or three witnesses, who despised the word of the Lord and set aside his com­mandments; those who were guilty of abom­ination in Israel, and served strange gods. For, says Moses, they were to be a holy people to the Lord. Num. 5:2; Ex. 12:48; Deut. 17:6; Ex. 19:6.

And thus it is in the Christian dispensa­tion; for his church is a congregation of saints, or an assembly of the righteous, even as the Nicean fathers some centuries ago, did confess with us; and, as Adam had but one Eve, who was flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone, Isaac but one Rebecca, who was of his own family, and Christ but one body, which was heavenly and from heaven, and was perfect and holy in all its mem­bers; thus has he also, spiritually, but one Eve, but one new Rebecca, who is his spirit­ual body, spouse, church and bride, name­ly, the believers, the regenerated, meek, mer­ciful, dead to sin, righteous, peaceable, ami­able and obedient children in his kingdom and house of peace; pure, chaste virgins in the Spirit, holy souls, who are of his divine family, and holy flesh of his flesh, and bone of his bone.

From which, according to the doctrine of the holy apostles, it is evident that the ob­stinate disturber or sectary who causes, con­trary to the doctrine of godliness, offence and discord, and those who do not abide in the doctrine of Christ, who lead an offensive life, or the over‑curious, inquisitive and lazy, who live at the expense of others, shall not be suffered in the holy house, camp, city, temple, church and body of Christ, which is the church; but that we, with one accord, should exclude and shun them, ac­cording to Scripture, to our salvation, and their reformation. Faithful children, be you warned. Terrible is the word which John utters, "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God," 2 John 1:9. And in another place, "He that committeth sin, is of the devil," 1 John 3:8.

3. The reason why this Excommunication is commanded in the Scriptures. John teach­es and says, That God is love. Since, then, as God is love, so does he also manifest the nature, of that which he is, namely, love. That this is the truth, may be readily per­ceived from the creation and preservation of all his creatures; the restoration of Adam and Eve; the preservation of Noah and his sons from the flood with an ark; in blessing Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; in ransoming Israel from Egypt; in sending Moses and the prophets; and more especially in the holy incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God; in his gracious, efficacious doctrine, miracles, prayers, weeping, cross, blood and death; also, in the effusion of his Holy Spirit, and sending forth his holy apostles.

Since then it is evident that God is love, and will be forever, who in the beginning manifested the glorious fruit of love towards his children, he now likewise does this by his exclusion or separation, although it is terrible and severe, and notwithstanding that it has such a terrible consequence with the stubborn and unconverted sinner, as heard; and since he is the wise and omnis­cient God, who with his flaming eyes sees into the inmost recesses of the hearts and reins of men, who judges their ways and knows us best, who are his feeble creatures and workmanship, what weak vessels we are; yea, who knows that some of us can scarcely withstand a gentle breeze of deception,

but suffer ourselves to be led away im­mediately; or that we are soon polluted with the pernicious, abominable life of the wicked; for this reason he has, through his paternal love and great mercy, given us, his poor, weak children, this means of Separation, approved it by the Holy Spirit and word in the beginning, and commanded it to this end, that we should exclude the restless, stubborn wranglers and schismatists, to­gether with the offensive, carnal and lewd, from his holy congregation, church and house of peace; and, according to the Scriptures, avoid and shun them till they repent, in order that they move us not, through fair words, in the confident hope we have in the truth of Christ, for their false doctrine eats as a canker, 2 Tim. 2:17; nor that the abominable with their impure, car­nal life pervert us, nor give us a bad name among those without; this is the first reason why the Spirit of the Lord so earnestly com­manded and taught Excommunication in his holy word. Whether this reason is not a special work of the love of Christ, which is of great usefulness, service, power and fruit to all the pious, I will let all the faith­ful consider in the fear of God.

The other reason is, that all those who again forsake the holy word and true way and go astray in the world, despise the holy covenant, make void their received baptism and the promise of righteousness; again hear the false prophets, love the world, walk the broad way of the flesh, or cause contention, schisms and sects and perverse things among the pious, may be deterred by means of this excommunication, and brought to repentance, seek union and peace, and thus be set free before the Lord and his church, from the satanic snares of their strife, or from their ungodly life. Be­hold, this is the other reason why the Spirit of the Lord so earnestly recommended and taught excommunication in his holy word. And whether this is not a special work of his love, and of like power, usefulness, ser­vice and fruit to the impious, if they will by any means observe it in fear, as the first is to the pious; upon this I will leave the faith­ful to reflect in the fear of God. Yea, who­ever can rightly understand and see, in my opinion, the aforementioned reasons, ac­cording to the Scriptures, has already found the true ground of the holy excommunica­tion.

Since we know, then, that this our excom­munication or separation is commanded us in the Scriptures, for two such highly im­portant reasons, as related, therefore, we have reason enough, if we rightly boast of the Christian name, regularly to teach the evident and direct command, doctrine and ordinance of the Lord and his holy apos­tles, as a highly useful and good work of great love; and obediently to follow it; and besides, it is also evident, that those sin heinously against the word of the holy apos­tles, and their great love, and the fidelity and love of the church, and especially against their own souls, who call this useful, divine ordinance, in the perverseness of their sinful flesh, a contentious work of the devil, and thus trample it so shamefully under the unhallowed feet of their impious calumny, into the mire; haughty is that man who would rebuke his God, or gainsay and censure his word. Reflect upon that in which we have instructed you.

4. The true Apostolic Excommunication has no respect to persons. Undoubtedly, it is well known to us all, dear brethren, that it is so strongly and earnestly commanded in the Scriptures, nay, it is one of the chief commands, that we are to honor father and mother, and that all had to die according to the law of Moses, who cursed and dis­obeyed them. And also, that the bond of undefiled, honorable matrimony is so un­changeably bound in the kingdom and gov­ernment of Christ, that neither a man nor woman can forsake one the other, and take another, understand rightly what Christ says, except it be for fornication, Matt. 19:9. And Paul also holds the same doctrine, that they shall be bound to each other, and that they are to live in union; that the man has not power over his own body, nor the woman over hers, 1 Cor. 7:4.

Both these rules, the first in relation to parents, and the second in relation to wed­lock, stand fast and unbroken, and can never be altered or infringed by any man, so long as we can, in God and with God, in a good conscience, observe and keep them, as the aforementioned rules require, without transgressing the holy word; but if this cannot be done thus, the spiritual must not, in that case, yield to the carnal, but the car­nal must yield to the spiritual; this is in­controvertibly true.

I, therefore, entreat all the pious, for the Lord's sake who are sanctified with us unto Christ Jesus, through the Spirit of peace, and through faith in his precious blood, that they will impartially and spiritually examine these following grounds or reasons, which so urgently engage our attention, with God‑fearing and understanding hearts, and learn, that we should unreservedly pro­claim this ground with christian discretion, to such of our fellow‑believers, whose lot it may be, to be thus situated, from which God preserve them, and that we should inculcate it in faithful love to the salvation of their souls, without giving offence to the young and tender minds. All who fear God, I will let judge what we teach.

The first reason is, that we truly know through the Spirit and word of God, that the heavenly espousal, between Christ and our souls, is made by faith, through his in­nocent death and precious blood, and must be voluntarily kept unbroken, in obedience to the only and eternal bridegroom, and that, therefore, a man shall not, for the sake of father, mother, son, daughter, husband or wife, in life or death, be disobedient to his word, in the smallest matter, or yield in the least; for God, the Lord will, shall and must alone be the God of our consciences, and the only Lord of our souls; and not our father, mother, husband or wife, as we may plainly see from Deut. 13:6.

The second reason is, that the faithful apostles, John and Paul, implicitly teach us, that in the first place, we are to shun the apostates, lest they contaminate us with the impure, deceiving doctrine, and with their ungodly, carnal lives; that we do not par­take of their unfruitful works, and for the reasons above assigned; and since we plain­ly see, that none can sooner contaminate and pollute us, than our own fathers, moth­ers, husbands, wives or children, if they are corrupted, and especially on account of the daily intercourse with, and natural love for them, which of necessity is existing between them; and moreover, since husband and wife are one flesh, I scarcely know, how they will escape the snares of death, if they do not especially observe the holy word and counsel of the Lord in this respect; for now they pray and sigh, and anon they rage and quarrel. Now they slander and de­fame, then they weep and lament. Ah! chil­dren, take warning. Their tears are croco­dile's tears, and their tongues are set on fire from hell, as James says. I forbear to men­tion that some of them run after idolatry and false prophets, violently revile the holy word, sacraments and ordinances of Christ, and highly recommend the abominations of anti‑christ, besides, the conduct of some of them is nothing but sheer avarice, pride, wantonness, eating and drinking to excess; and how scandalously some of them live with their poor wives, especially when they are intoxicated, I will leave the Lord to judge. And that any one could live in the midst of such wanton, carnal, ungodly abomina­tions, and not be hurt in his faith, love and unction, and have intercourse with such abominable unclean, adhesive pitch vessels, and not be polluted in his conscience, I will leave all who have an understanding of the holy word, to reflect upon with the unction of the Spirit.

The third reason is, because Paul teaches us that we are, in the second place, to avoid the apostate, that he may be led to reflect upon, and to repent of his wicked life or sectarian doctrine, through the shame of such shunning. Knowing then, that this is the ground and object of the Holy Spirit, in regard to excommunication, as related; therefore it is also proper, and according to the Scriptures, that we, in this matter, im­plicitly follow his divine counsel, love, doc­trine, good will and earnest commands, and obediently follow him and observe it, in true love, towards our most beloved father, mother, husband, wife and children, rather than towards others, because, I say, they are our dearest friends; yea, our own flesh and bone, and we cannot by any other sal­utary means, lead them from evil, and again lead them in the way of the saints. Reflect upon what we teach you.

The fourth reason is, because we certainly know that there is but one excommunication in the Scriptures, which does not only extend to the spiritual communion, such as the Lord's Supper, and the hand and kiss of peace; but it extends also to the bodily communion, such as eating, drinking, daily actions and conduct, 1 Cor. 6:10,11, and that if the father is to shun the son, or the son the father, the husband his wife, or the wife the husband, only in the spiritual com­munion, and not in natural communion, in that event there would be two kinds of ex­communications in the Scriptures; the one would only extend to the spiritual commun­ion, and the other, both to the spiritual and natural communion; this is clear as daylight. Again, reflect upon what we teach you.

The fifth reason is, because pious parents, as well as the church, consent and approve of the excommunication of the apostate children; and the pious children consent that the apostate parents should be excom­municated; and the husband consents that the apostate wife should be excommuni­cated, and the pious wife, that the apostate husband be excommunicated, and that they be severally dealt with according to the Scriptures; and if they would then after­wards shun them only in spiritual com­munion, they would make void their own sentence, which they in common with the church pronounced; and thus they would not seek the salvation of their dearest friends with that spiritual love and zeal with which the word and Spirit of the Lord command them, and they would still be in great danger of perdition. In order, unmolestedly to es­cape this, their excommunication has been commanded, taught and left on record in the word of the Lord, to every man, woman and child, without exception. Again, I say, reflect upon what we teach you.

The sixth reason is, because I have known no less than three hundred married persons in my time who did not observe the ordi­nance, counsel, doctrine, will and command of the Lord and his apostles concerning shunning, and thus run together into perdi­tion. We stand dismayed, O God!, at the thought that such an evil may in part be ascribed to our silence. We will, therefore, endeavor to so act, in the future, while the care of the church is unworthily entrusted to us, as to prevent, in a measure, all corruption and apostasy, according to apostolic doctrine and counsel; and freely, purely and fully teach and maintain the ordinance of excom­munication, as well between parents and children, man and wife, as among others; to all our brethren, if circumstances require it, in order that we, in the first place, clear our own souls, and thus stand acquitted before God and his saints in the great day of Christ; and secondly, So that none can excuse himself and say, It was never told me.

Behold, chosen brethren in the Lord, these are the important articles and principal reasons which urge us most that we willingly teach this doctrine, and put it into practice. Is there now a single individual under the canopy of heaven, learned or unlearned, young or old, without or among us, man or woman, who can truthfully teach us that the espousals of the spirit, made with Christ, through faith, should yield to human wed­lock? Or that a husband cannot deceive or corrupt his wife, or a woman her husband? Or that a pious man is not bound according to the Scriptures, to promote the salvation of his unconverted wife, or the wife, of her un­converted husband? Or that there are two excommunications in the Scriptures; that the one only extends to the spiritual church, and the other both to the spiritual and tem­poral? Or that the pious husband dare not vote with the church to exclude his im­penitent wife, or the wife against the hus­band in excluding him? Or that there is an exception in the whole Scriptures of man or wife, parents or children, in this respect? Or that spiritual love has to yield to conju­gal love? If so, then we desire with all the heart to abandon this our doctrine, and ac­knowledge our error, and with great zeal teach the contrary before the whole world, as is christian‑like and right; for we regard neither slander, nor praise, honor, nor dis­grace; but we have only regard for the hon­or of God and Christ, and the eternal salva­tion of your souls; on account of which, we are considered by many as the off‑scourings and filth of the world.

But if this cannot be done, as it never can, then in the first place, my sincere prayer, and fraternal admonition, is to all who might have erroneous views of this matter, that they would not improperly meddle through impure and perverted minds, by slandering the chief stone and the builders; nor that they would persuade any to diso­bey the word, or keep them in the dangers of apostacy and perdition, lest they make themselves guilty of other men's sins; but that they would give the good will and ordi­nance of the Lord, due honor and praise in this respect; pluck out the offending eye of their misunderstanding, and pass a sound judgment according to truth; avert sin from the church, and thus observe the incontro­vertibly clear word, counsel and command of the Lord, with all the pious, and assist with all deliberation to maintain it.

Secondly, I entreat all who might be at all concerned about the slanders of the irration­al, that they would view the matter impar­tially in a divine light, and consider that not only excommunication is hated by the world but also all the doings of Christ, such as the true evangelical baptism, Lord's Supper, life and the whole divine service; yea, they are considered as an abomination, scandal and disgrace, and they, out of mere hatred of truth, are not ashamed to call all the pious, accursed heretics, anabaptists, ringleaders, whores and knaves; and in many places de­prive them of possessions and life, as may be seen, although the pious are so much honored of God, that he acknowledges and adopts them as his chosen children, as his sons and daughters; as the apple of his eye; as his bride and spouse; and endues them with the gift of eternal life. For there is nothing under the canopy of heaven, that they love more than their God, as they fully testify and make known by their actions. And thus it is in this matter. For how can there be a greater love for God, and how can there be found a more praise‑worthy confession, than where one is willing and ready, not only to give up his temporal goods, ease, honor and happiness, but also to shun his dearest friends upon earth in full health, out of sincere regard to Christ, in obedience to his eternal and holy truth? No abominable slander nor disgrace be­comes the pure knowledge of God nor the unfeigned obedience of his most holy word.

Thirdly, I entreat all dear brethren in general, that they would always consider with wise and sober minds, to what end they bent their shoulders under the pleasing yoke of the living and Almighty God, so that they may act and walk in a becoming manner, in the most holy covenant of grace, before Him and all mankind; and live and walk with their consorts in such piety, love, union and peace; and with such fidelity and care, observe that hereafter in eternity, we have not to hear of excommunication or ex­clusion; but of sincere, christian piety, de­light and divine joy. Reflect upon these things which we teach you.

Fourthly, I entreat all, whose lot it should be at any time, to be afflicted with this sore punishment, that they would wisely exam­ine themselves in the pure fear of God, that they would not seek the solicitous, selfish, lazy and idle flesh above Christ, nor cover it with fig‑leaves, lest the wrath of the Lord who hates all lies, hypocrisy and subtle roguery, punish them with blindness and perversion, and assign them their portion with hypocrites; but that they might, by virtue of true faith in Christ Jesus, valiantly overcome themselves, and obediently and fully observe what the Holy Spirit of the love of Christ has commanded and taught by his holy word in this regard. Ah! let us reflect upon this.

Finally, I entreat elders, teachers, minis­ters and deacons, in the love of Christ, that they would not teach this whole matter care­lessly and irrationally; but teach and incul­cate it in the full fear of God, and with chris­tian deliberation and paternal solicitude, in a true, apostolic manner; not too hastily, nor too slowly; not too rigidly nor too le­niently; lest they seethe a kid in its mother's milk; but that they take of the first green ears of their land, dry them by the heaven­ly fire of pure, unfeigned love, and beat them into pieces in the mortar of the holy word, and pour upon them the oil of the Holy Ghost, which makes us willingly obe­dient unto Christ; pour upon them the sweet smelling frankincense of a sincere and firm faith from which all must result, to be a sweet savor to the Lord; and thus bring Him an acceptable meat‑offering in his holy temple. Lay to heart, in true love, the ground of my admonition.

5. That we are to put away from the church the openly offensive, carnal sinners, and excommunicated of God, and thus di­rect them to true repentance with the Script­ures. BEFORE I proceed to explain this ar­ticle, I would earnestly admonish the read­er, that about eighteen years ago, I pub­lished an admonition, in which I made no distinction of sin; but through my inexpe­rience, directed them without discrimination, to three different admonitions. I say inex­perience; for to the best of my knowledge, I neither heard nor knew at that time, any thing of fornication, adultery, and suchlike, among the brethren; it appeared to me im­possible, that those who entered with us upon the paths of righteousness, should have any desire or will to such gross abom­inations, and therefore, I did not earnestly reflect upon the matter. See, before God it is the truth which I write.

I likewise wrote a book in 1549, in reply to those who would only extend excommu­nication to the spiritual church, and who charged us on all sides with slanderous words, that we practiced a rigid, cruel, un­merciful and Pharisaic excommunication.

Finally, I wrote a few words against Gel­lius Faber; and to this day I have made no particular distinction thereof, in my writ­ings, nor could I have made it. This I ac­knowledge openly; for my information of it was too limited, so long as the matter was not disputed and did not again present itself to me for reconsideration. But now, having heard the ground of dispute, and having care­fully weighed all the circumstances connect­ed with it, in the balance of the holy, divine word, the six following reasons have given me such a powerful assurance in the matter, the Helper of all distressed souls be praised for his grace, that we are to exclude from the holy church of the Lord, all offensively carnal sinners, such as fornicators, adulter­ers, drunkards, &c.; and that all these ought to be put to open shame and reproof, with their ungodly works, without previous­ly admonishing them, by virtue of the holy, divine word; that they may be led to repent­ance, I say by virtue of the word, for, in the first place, it is evident, as Paul teaches, that "neither fornicators nor idolators, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God," 1 Cor. 6:10, but that their portion will be eternal death in the lake of fire.

Since then, it is clear, that the condem­nation of God is already pronounced against them by his eternal Spirit and powerful word, both in heaven and upon the earth; that they have excluded themselves, and by their ungodly works, forsaken the church, that they are not as they were before, flesh of Christ's flesh, and members of his holy body, but have become carnal and devilish; yea, as dogs and swine, and again servants of sin; therefore we would, in fact, declare as void and unjust, the righteous judgment of the great and Almighty God, pronounced by his own Spirit and word, through his holy apostles, against such abominable de­filers, if we would still admonish those who are already the children of the devil, hold them as brethren, and salute them with the peace of the Lord, and treat such miserable wretches as the children of God, and joint heirs of Christ, at the mere promise to do better, without any evidence of true repent­ance. I desire, that we might all impar­tially, and in the fear of God, reflect how such a great despising of Christ and his righteous judgment, could stand according to the Scriptures.