Menno Simons · 40 of 109

TEACHINGS OF THE HOLY APOSTLES CONCERNING BAPTISM IN THE WATER. · Part 1

Again, we are urged by the pure, chaste teaching of the holy apostles thus diligent­ly to teach and receive this christian bap­tism: First, because it is written, "Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter," "Men and brethren what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost,'' Acts 2:37, 38.

Most beloved, bear in mind, now and all the days of your lives, not only concerning baptism, but concerning all doctrine you may hear, lest you be deceived by false teaching, namely, as all the true prophets of God, who were between Moses and Christ, conformed their teaching to the doctrine of Moses, so the holy apostles, also, con­formed their teaching to the doctrine of Christ Jesus, as he had commanded them, saying, "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you," Matt. 28:20.

Therefore consider and ponder well that which shall be taught you, by the grace of the Lord, from the word of God, and you will clearly perceive from these words, of Peter, how the words of Jesus to Nicode­mus, concerning the new birth, should be understood thus, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he can not enter into the kingdom of God," Jn. 3:5. Beloved breth­ren, the new birth came to pass through the word of God. When this word was taught on the day of Pentecost, by Peter at Jeru­salem, the multitudes heard it from his mouth and from the mouth of the other apostles; their hearts were pierced, for, by faith, they accepted these words, and there­fore they said, "Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the remis­sion of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." The same as Christ said to Nicodemus, when he first taught of the birth from above, saying, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."

Behold, my chosen brethren! How har­monious are both master and disciples in their teachings, namely: First, the birth from above by which we become children of God. Secondly, the water by which the obedience of the children of God is shown. Thirdly, the communion of the Holy Ghost by which we are assured in our hearts of the grace of God, of the remission of sins, and of everlasting life through Christ Jesus our Lord, Jn. 1:14; 3:2.

Inasmuch as the holy Peter, who is the apostle of God, a true witness, sent by Jesus Christ with the word of everlasting life, en­lightened and taught by the Holy Ghost, has thus taught and commanded us, name­ly, that we shall suffer ourselves to be bap­tized upon the confession of faith according to the command of the Lord, Mark 16:16; in the name of Christ for the remission of sin, therefore we must receive this baptism the same as is commanded us in the Holy Scriptures, or else we cannot obtain remis­sion of sins nor the Holy Ghost. For who has ever received remission of sins, contra­ry to the word of God? Surely, it is impos­sible that we can rob God of the remission of sins and of his Holy Ghost. If we, then, desire the remission of our sins and the Holy Ghost, we must do and fulfill all that which God, the Almighty Father has taught and commanded us through Christ Jesus his beloved Son, and through his holy apostles, in all spiritual matters.

Here it avails nothing that some teach and say, contrary to the holy Scripture, "That the little children are born of Adam, with a sinful or wicked nature, and that therefore they should be washed of their inherent guilt and sin, by baptism." To teach and believe thus, my brethren, is first, a fearful idolatry, and abominable blasphemy against the blood of Christ. There is no remedy, in heaven nor on earth, for our sins, whether they are inherent or worldly, but the blood of Christ alone, as we have often shown in our first writings, 1 Pet. 1:19; 1 Jn. 1:7; Eph. 1:7. If we ascribe the remission of sins to baptism and not to the blood of Christ, then we mould a golden calf and place it in the stead of Christ. For if we could be washed or cleansed by baptism, then Christ Jesus and his merits would be of none effect; oth­erwise we must admit that there are two means for the remission of sin which is not, nor ever can be; first, baptism; second, the blood of Christ. For the most holy and most precious blood of our beloved Lord Jesus Christ must and shall have the praise, as has been so clearly prophesied and tes­tified of all the true prophets and apostles, throughout the Scriptures.

The believing receive remission of sins not through baptism, but in baptism, in this manner: as they now, sincerely believe the lovely gospel of Jesus Christ which has been preached and taught to them, which is the glad tidings of grace, namely, of the remission of sin, of grace, of peace, of favor, of mercy and of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord, so they become of a new mind, deny themselves, bitterly lament their old, corrupted life, and look diligently to the word of the Lord, who has shown them such great love; to fulfill all that which he has taught and commanded them in his holy gospel, trusting firmly in the word of grace, in the remission of their sins through the precious blood and through the merits of our beloved Lord Jesus Christ.

They therefore receive the holy baptism as a token of obedience which proceeds from faith, as proof, before God and his church, that they firmly believe in the re­mission of their sins through Christ Jesus, as was preached and taught them from the word of God; therefore they receive remis­sion of their sins in baptism, as the lovely promise of grace proclaims and represents; the same as the literal Israelites received remission of their sins by their offerings. For in case that we only sought outward baptism and trusted in the literal practice, and would yet continue in our old, corrupted walk, then indeed, all would be in vain, the same as it was in such case, a vain offer­ing, amongst the ungodly and carnal Isra­elites. For the Lord of lords so often com­plained through his holy prophets, that their offering was not pleasing to him, that it was nothing but a corrupt abomination and stench, before his holy eyes; inasmuch that they despised the law, love and the commandments of God, and lived according to the lusts of their flesh, Isa. 66:4, 5; and other passages.

Secondly, we are not cleansed, in bap­tism, of our inherited sinful nature which is in our flesh, so that it is entirely destroyed in us, for it remains with us after baptism; but since the merciful Father, from whom are all good and perfect gifts, has gracious­ly given us the most holy faith, so we man­ifest in the baptism we receive, that we desire to die unto the inherent, sinful nature, and destroy it, so that it will not any longer be master of our mortal bodies, Rom. 6:12. Although such true believers are often over­come by sin, as John observes, "Whoso­ever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him; and he can­not sin, because he is born of God," 1 Jn. 3:9.

Brethren, I repeat it, as the Israelites received remission of their sins, through the promise, with which were associated their offerings, when they offered with contrite hearts, not through the offering itself, for then it would be merit, but alone through the word of promise; for it is grace and not merit‑so we receive remission of our sins, when we are true believers and are washed and cleansed in baptism, through the prom­ise; not, I say, through the washing of water, for it is not merit, but through the promise, for it is grace, with which promise the Holy Spirit of God has associated the baptism of the believing, in the gospel, as Paul teaches, saying, "Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the wash­ing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church," Eph. 5:25-27.

Behold, most beloved, from this it is plain that we are not cleansed by the washing of water, but by the word of the Lord, as the holy Paul clearly teaches us in the before­mentioned words. Inasmuch as the little, unconscious children, by reason of their incapability of comprehending and under­standing the preaching of the holy gospel, by which, alone, comes faith, Rom. 10:17; by which faith, alone, God purifies our hearts, Acts 15:9, and not by the outward baptism, as has been said before, and, in­asmuch as the express command and word of God, which associates the promise with baptism, solely refers to those who are be­gotten of this same word and are thus cleansed in their hearts by faith, it there­fore follows incontrovertibly therefrom, that these little children, notwithstanding that they are baptized under a false pretension and false explanation of the divine word, are not cleansed thereby, if they ever were unclean, which however is not the case. Why? Because the promise is not associa­ted with their baptism. Therefore their baptism is not done according to the word; but in every respect contrary to the word. For the word requires faith, and they have no faith. Therefore their baptism is with­out doubt a baptism of their own choice, without God, without promise, yea, idola­trous, useless and in vain.

Whosoever now wants to oppose this, and does not want to believe the ordi­nance and word of God, let him take heed to what he does. For by infant baptism he nullifies the command of the Lord; tram­ples upon his precious blood (for he seeks righteousness in this baptism), and he es­tablishes, contrary to the immutable ordi­nance of God, and of his own carnal choice, a false baptism which God never command­ed. Therefore it neither is his holy will, as has been said above and as will be shown more extensively below.

Again the apostle Peter writes, As Noah, in his day, was saved in the ark from the waters of the deluge, so "even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), by the res­urrection of Jesus Christ," 1 Pet. 3:21.

By this passage of Peter, the baptism of the believing is again clearly affirmed and the baptism of infants nullified. For it is impossible that any one can have a good conscience but those, alone, who believe, and whose hearts are regenerated and con­verted; who acknowledge the divine word which teaches that God the Almighty Fa­ther, whose enemies we were before, Rom. 5:10, is now again reconciled through Christ Jesus, his beloved Son; that hence­forth, through the merits of our beloved Lord, neither hell, devil, past sins, eternal death, nor the wrath of God will hurt or hinder us. All those who truly believe this, shall receive and obtain a joyous mind and good conscience by the resurrection of Jesus Christ as Peter says; because he has so gloriously triumphed over all his enemies, visible and invisible, to our profit; and has again seated himself in heaven, at the right hand of his Father. Such, are first inward­ly baptized with the Spirit and fire, accord­ing to the word of God, and are thus taught in their hearts by this Spirit, and are led in all divine truth, righteousness, obedience, and evangelical fruits and works. They are inwardly so enkindled with this fire of love, having become conscious, by the word of God, that such great grace, I repeat it, grace, has been bestowed on them through Christ Jesus, that they regard neither lords, princes, philosophers, learned men, coun­cils, long usages, women, children, flesh, blood, decrees, nor any other threats; neither life nor death, but remain glad in Spirit, maintain, at the risk of home, not only the outward baptism, but also all the works of love and the fruits of righteous­ness, which the true mouth of the Lord Jesus Christ has taught and commanded us in his holy gospel, either himself or through his holy apostles.

Behold, beloved brethren, in this manner baptism saves us, as Peter teaches; not the outward literal baptism, but the inward, spiritual baptism, which as obedient chil­dren of God, has led us through the power of faith, to the outward literal baptism; for the outward, literal baptism is nothing more than obedience to the divine word, and thus it is a seal or proof of the right­eousness from whence the true, fruitful faith comes; the same as was the literal circum­cision to the believing and obedient Abra­ham, Rom. 4:10, 11.

Since Christ Jesus has commanded that we should baptize the believing, Mark 16:18‑therefore holy Peter followed the commandment in his teachings; and has taught baptism to be a work of faith, name­ly, the answer of a good conscience toward God, which answer none can experience but those alone who have faith. Inasmuch as there is but one literal baptism taught in Scripture, which baptism shows and is proof of the answer of a good con­science toward God, as Peter teaches, and thus by this Scripture of Peter, infant bap­tism is prohibited; for they cannot have this consciousness like the believing. There­fore take heed, kind reader, whosoever you are, lest you offend God. For all those who thus lamentably oppose this evangeli­cal baptism of the believing, which baptism is so pointedly commanded of Jesus Christ, and is thus taught and practiced by his holy apostles, either by doctrine, word or sword, must confess and acknowledge that they were hitherto neither right believing, regenerated, obedient, nor inwardly bap­tized with the Spirit and fire. Again, let every one of you beware and take heed for it does not concern anything temporal, but it concerns your poor, naked souls which have been so dearly bought and delivered by such a precious treasure.

Beloved children in the Lord, however in­controvertibly our cause is confirmed and founded in the word of God, yet some are not ashamed, persistently and continually to write, talk, and slander against us; ad­vising and exciting persecution, slaughter and blood‑shed against us; in part I pre­sume from ignorance, partly out of par­tiality, and because they are enemies of the cross of Christ and because they do not de­sire the lovely, spiritual life which is of God; and say, "Although infants have not the answer of a good conscience, as the believing have, yet this should be no cause of not administering baptism to them; but they ought to be baptized, that they may the better receive instruction in the word and commandments of God."

Most beloved brethren, when an idola­trous, refractory and disobedient person has not the word of God wherewith to de­fend his cause, he yet acutely invents something wherewith he can so beautify and adorn his invention and carnal right­eousness with a semblance of divinity and holiness, that it seems quite right, just, spiritual, holy, divine and unblamable in the sight of those who are not versed in spiritual matters of faith; and the more so because their unchristian hearts and carnal minds are prone to trust in outward works, yea, through their own choice and opinion, as I understand it. If I write wrongly, then rebuke me according to the word of God; for the greater part of them have always sought righteousness in wrought ceremonies, and not in Christ, as is evident from the fact that, as now, the unintelligent teachers and bishops in the days of the apostles, or soon after, commenced the practice of in­fant baptism, contrary to the command of God and the doctrine of the holy apostles, as may be readily perceived in the book of Tertullian, called "Corona Milites." He writes that among the ancients almost in­variably the adults were baptized with the washing of regeneration. Understand me rightly brethren. Tertullian lived one hun­dred and eight years after Christ, some say one hundred and forty years. As early as in the days of these ancient writers, the true, evangelical baptism, which was com­manded by Christ and taught and practiced by his holy apostles, had become degener­ated with many, which baptism he clearly testifies that the ancients almost invariably practiced upon adults. If now, brethren, it were so that the ancients, who were before him, already baptized infants, as it appears, and to which we consent, because he says almost invariably; and in another place in the same book, as the Strasburgian phi­losophers write of him, he says, "That in the same fount or water‑bath, both children and adults were baptized." Nevertheless, infant baptism was no apostolic institution nor practice, nor a divine command; for if Christ had commanded it, and the holy apostles had taught and practiced it, then the ancestors of Tertullian would not have baptized some infants, but all the infants of upright, believing parents, indiscrimi­nately.

That it is no divine command nor apos­tolic institution, was well known and shown by the beloved, aged father, Alexander, bishop of Alexandria, who was a particu­lar opponent of Arrius; for he, so long after the days of the apostles, did not baptize the infants of his church, as may be plainly seen and understood from the Church History of Eusebius, Vol. 10, Chap. 14, translated by Ruffinis, on "The play of Children," by Anthanasius. Therefore the intelligent and learned Erasmus, of Rotter­dam, as Sebastian Franck writes of him, who had perused and understood all the noteworthy writers of the world say, That the ancient fathers disputed about infant baptism, but never settled it.

Behold, kind reader, inasmuch as the ancients, from the beginning, were not unanimous in this matter; and inasmuch as they did not all practice infant baptism, as appears from Tertullian and Alexander; and as those who practiced infant baptism have ever sought righteousness therein, as may be seen by their writings‑therefore we will not place our foundation upon that which is uncertain, but upon that which is certain, which is Christ's word. Neither will we seek our righteousness in the out­ward baptism nor in any other works, as does the world, but in Christ Jesus, as all the Scriptures teach us. Herewith we desire to present our cause to the consideration and judgment of all the world and let them tell whether they have ever read in the word of God, I say in the word of God or in his gospel, that Christ Jesus and his holy apostles taught two different baptisms in the water, namely, that one baptism should be administered to the believing, which baptism represents death unto sin, a new life, the answer of a good conscience toward God, and the washing of regeneration, Rom. 6:12; Col. 2:12; 1 Pet. 3:21; Tit. 3:5; and that the other baptism should be administered to infants, which signifies nothing only that they should be outward­ly washed with water.

Brethren, judge rightly and do not deceive your souls. We know that they first say "That infants are cleansed of their in­herent sins and that therefore their baptism is not in vain." To this we reply with the word of God: That such belief is abomina­ble idolatry; for in this case the blood of Christ avails, and not the outward baptism, as has been shown above.

In the second place they say, "That thereby they are accepted into the covenant of God." To this we reply again: That this is not because of baptism, but alone through the mild election of grace, Eph. 1:6; for it is grace and not merit, Rom. 11:6.

In the third place they say, "That chil­dren should be baptized that they may the better be trained in the word of God and his commandments" To this we reply again: That we desire to know where such is expressed and written in the holy Script­ures. Give a discreet answer, we pray you, who assert infant baptism to be right, just and necessary, and who so lamentably slander and profane us on account of bap­tism, that we may no longer be deceived in our hearts; but that we may assuredly know by the word of God where to find this infant baptism. For however industriously we may search day and night, we yet find but one baptism in the water, pleasing to God, which is expressed and contained in his word, namely: Baptism on the confes­sion of faith, commanded by Christ Jesus, taught and administered by his holy apos­tles, which is administered and received for the forgiveness and remission of sins in such a manner, as we have fully proven above by the words of Peter, Acts. 2:38. But of this other baptism, that is, infant baptism, we find nothing.

Because this infant baptism is nowhere commanded nor implied in the divine word, therefore we take issue with you and all the world, that we regard it not only as vain, but we believe and proclaim it as idolatrous, useless, and unavailable, not only by words merely, but at the cost of our lives, as has been proven by events in many countries of Germany. The reason is this, because it is administered without the word and commandment of God; be­cause righteousness is sought therein; and because the true baptism of the believing must be so lamentably rejected and tram­pled upon, by the whole world, as an heret­ical baptism, as far as the name of Christ is mentioned. Therefore, brethren, it is nothing but opinion and human righteous­ness, to teach, without the word of God, that infants should be baptized, that they may be the better trained in the word of God and his commandments; as we find to the contrary that, although these parents have their infants baptized, they yet, from youth on, are trained by these same parents in this Adamic nature, in all manner of pride, pomp, avarice, vanity, lying, cursing, swearing, dancing, singing, foolishness, artfulness, hatred, enmity, revengefulness and to the accursed life of this world, the same, as from the beginning the heathen have done who never confessed God.

What profits such baptism as they have received? Is it not merely folly, deceit, mockery and shame in the sight of God? Certainly. Beware. There can be no greater hypocrisy, mockery or blasphemy in his sight. Inasmuch as, perhaps, the secret awfulness which is hidden in infant bap­tism, is not yet rightly understood by you therefore I will briefly present the matter, that you may the better distinguish between truth and falsehood. I will present to you that which for many centuries, as all men may have seen, has been of daily occurrence and which, alas, yet occurs daily.

In the first place, we will imagine an ex­tremely corrupted, ungodly, carnal knave who is yet called a priest, pastor, vicar or prebendary by the world. This same un­chaste man, full of all manner of roguery and deceit, covers his condemnable knavery with such a pleasant semblance that none suspicion him, as does the ravening wolf in sheeps clothing, Matt. 7:5. His head is frequently shaven, perhaps, as proof that he wants thus violently to shave off and de­stroy all lusts and desires of his wicked, sinful flesh; he desires to walk in long robes, as Christ says, Luke 20:40, as if he were pious, holy and venerable; he daily reads his prayers with folded hands and un­covered head, as if he were very ardently inspired; he kneels and burns incense be­fore stone and wooden blocks, which he calls Peter, Paul, Mary and the worthy crucifix of the Lord. I tell this verily with­out facetiousness, of which God is my wit­ness. Judge now whether this is not the case.

Besides he buys a hundred wafers for a stiver, takes one at a time, consecrates it as he says, and that mentally, without say­ing a word, nods to it, worships, implores and eats it; and this same thing he believes and teaches to be the true flesh and blood of our beloved Lord, Jesus Christ, the Son of the Almighty and living God. Besides he must be so pure and chaste in his walk that he is not allowed to have a legitimate or wedded consort, although the Holy Scriptures allow it, but the Pope has for­bidden it. All these and other abomina­tions he calls and teaches to be the holy worship, and the most holy, christian faith. Such fruits are begotten and produced by this evil tree, by the faith that is within him; and after he has orderly, sumptuously and well performed his carnal holiness, he proves his inward holiness, by seeking the best female company, wine and beer; drinks, sings, dances, laughs, shouts, scolds, fights, curses, swears, boasts, plays, courts and defiles himself with his female servant, his neighbors daughter, or wife whose husband perhaps is at sea, or some other place, trying to earn a livelihood by the labor of his hands. Thus he lives in shameful adultery until, by the fruits thereof, it can no longer be concealed, when the blame is cast upon some one else, and the fruit (understand what I write), is disposed of, and by false­hood and deception their shame and adultery are concealed.

Behold, brethren, they of whom such ille­gitimate children are born, have been bap­tized in their infancy, claiming thereby to be christians; they boast of Jesus Christ and of his precious blood. But we may see by their fruits what kind of christians they are, and what kind of faith they have.

Therefore I tell you these things, O kind reader, that you may know in the first place, what kind of christian parents these are, what kind of faith they have, of whom some children are born who are, notwith­standing all this, carried to the baptism and are baptized on the faith of their hyp­ocritical parents, and are therefore called christians. O, abominable mockery!

In the second place, I find at many places, throughout the world, numbers of vain and abandoned characters, some of them sancti­fied, others not, some claiming nobility, in a worldly sense, some of large means, some of mediocrity, some poor, in short, of all classes, who, in the same manner, live in all manner of debauchery, vanity, inebriety and uncleanliness, according to their shame­ful, inordinate lusts and devilish desires, and in all manner of fornication and adul­tery. They seduce all they can, notwith­standing they are baptized. And when they, by their recklessness, have succeeded in accomplishing the ruin of such simple and uncircumspect souls who are also born of Adam, and who are, perhaps, deceived by false promises and gifts, and led there­to by their accursed actions, then yet, it must be considered by those of their class as a great honor and respectability, as the prophet says. Yet, notwithstanding all this, these same persons alike carry the children who are thus illegitimately born of such profaners, rogues and abandoned women, to the baptism, that they may be called christians and be trained up in the same works and fruits as their adulterous parents, in whom and by whom they are conceived, and begotten in accursed and damnable adultery. O, unbelief!

In the third place, I find almost univer­sally, both among men and women of what­ever class or condition they are, noble, rich, poor, citizen or yeoman, who were baptized in infancy, and on that account are called christians, yet they lead such sinful lives that we can form no idea there­of. Their pride, unchastity, avarice, fraud in buying and selling, quarreling, hatred, unrighteousness, unmercifulness towards the tenant and the poor, their cursing, swearing, lying, cheating, pomp, debauch­ery, drinking, vanity, foolery, blood‑thirsti­ness, cruelty, hypocrisy, tyranny, trans­gressions, idolatry and all manner of wick­edness know no bounds.

If there are some who are not guilty of all the beforementioned vices, on account of their natural indisposition thereto, it must be admitted that there is not one in a thou­sand who industriously seeks and desires to walk according to the commandments of God, or to live according to his blessed will. Nor do they ask for the right way to eternal life that they may be saved; yet they must be called the right, christian church. Thus has God, the righteous judge, obscured the understanding and natural in­tellect of those who reject his holy word, and who make and honor things of their own choice, as an idol.

Notwithstanding the heathenish life of both father and mother, yet their infants which are born of them must, without the word of God and merely out of their own choice, be conjured, blessed, rubbed with spittle, anointed, crucifixed and baptized, and after this has been done at the instance of their parents, although contrary to the commandment of God, they are called be­lieving, christian people, no matter how ungodly, inhuman and devilish a life they lead; and are admitted and received into the church as full and proper members.

O, Lord, Father, how very broad, easy and pleasing to the flesh is the entrance into this miserable, carnal church; for it is all as said, no matter who, or what, or how he is, it is all right, if he has but been sworn before a fountain, and washed and bap­tized in it by an idolater. But how won­derfully narrow, Lord, is thy way, and how very strait is the gate which leadeth into thy poor and holy church. Yea, so narrow that on its posts are stripped off gold and possessions, flesh and blood and all the lusts and inclinations of those who desire and sincerely seek to enter in at this narrow gate; and thus, by thy grace, to rest and remain forever in thy holy church, Matt. 7‑13.