Menno Simons · 69 of 109

A HUMBLE AND CHRISTIAN DEFENSE. · Part 2

Beloved reader, I, poor, miserable man (do not think hard of it), in my weakness have been writing these seventeen years; have feared the word of the Lord, and served my neighbors, and, I have unwaveringly borne his scorn and cross, with much mis­ery, anxiety, tribulation and peril; and, I trust by his grace I will to the end continue to testify with a good conscience, his holy, worthy word, will and ordinance, verbally, by writing and at the peril of life, as much as is in me; and should I then yet at heart be a disquiet, rebellious, vengeful and bloody murderer? May the Most High save his poor servant from that!

Again, in Brabant, Flanders, Friesland and Gelderland the godfearing, pious hearts are, daily led to the slaughter as innocent sheep, and are tyrannically and inhuman­ly martyrized! Their hearts are full of spir­it and strength; their mouths flow like the rivulets; their fruits scent like holy spices; their doctrine is powerful and their life is unblamable. Neither emperor nor king, fire nor sword, life nor death can frighten or separate them from the word of the Lord! And should their hearts yet be ensnared by bitterness, rebellion, vengeance, robbery, hatred and bloodshed? If so, what vain suffering it would be!

O, no, reader, no. Learn to know what a true christian is, of whom he is born, how he is minded, what is, properly, his inten­tion and seeking, and you shall find that they are not rebels, murderers, and robbers, as the learned accuse them of, but that they are a godfearing, pious, peacea­ble people, as the Scriptures teach.

The other prince is the prince of dark­ness, anti‑christ, and Satan. This prince is a prince of all evil, as rebellion, bloodshed, uproar and murder, which agree with his proper nature, arts, and doings, Jn. 8:44, his commandments and teachings and his kingdom, body and church are of the same nature, 1 Jn. 3. Here we need not much Scripture. Seeing, hearing and daily oc­currences and experience prove the truth.

Our opponents charge that we are intent upon rebellion; something of which we never thought. But we say, and that truth­fully, that they and their ancestors for more than a thousand years have been that of which they accuse us. If we search his­tory we will be convinced of this assertion. All those who placed themselves in oppo­sition to their shamefulness, dishonor and evil‑doing, had to suffer for it. Even so to­day.

For what they have done these last few years by their writings, teachings and cries, cities and countries prove. How wily they have placed potentate in antagonism to po­tentate and said to them, Since the sword is placed in your hands you may maintain the word of the Lord thereby, until they prevailed on them, and have shed human blood like water, torn the hearts from each other's body and made innumerable forni­cators, rogues, widows and orphans; have eaten up and plundered the innocent civil­ian, and destroyed and ruined cities and countries. In short, they have done as if neither prophet, nor Christ nor apostle nor the word of God had ever been upon earth. Notwithstanding, they wish to be called the holy, christian church and body. O, dear Lord, how lamentably is thy holy, worthy word mocked, and thy glorious works de­rided! as if thy divine and powerful doings in thy church were nothing but reading, crying, water, bread, wine and name; and as if all rebellion, warring, robbing, murder and devilish works were allowable. Be­loved reader, behold, and observe and learn, once to know this kingdom and body. For, if they, with such actions and doings, were the kingdom and body of Christ, as the learned pretend, then Christ's holy, glo­rious kingdom, church and body, would be an inhuman, cruel, rebellious, bloody, rob­bing, crying, unmerciful and unrighteous people; this is incontrovertible. O, dam­nable error! O, dark blindness!!

And, yet, it does not suffice that they, by their light minded, licentious doctrine, lead the whole world into corruption and misery; and rob their own members of their prop­erty, welfare, doctrine, life and soul; but, besides, in their madness, they must lay hands upon the innocent, peaceable and humble kingdom and body of Christ, which will do no harm to the least upon earth. They continually lie, blaspheme, upbraid, betray and rebel, that we may well say with holy Peter, that they are born to tort­ure and corruption; for their hearts, mouths and hands drip and reek with blood.

O, how exactly the Holy Spirit has de­picted them, saying, "I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the martyrs of Jesus;" "And in her was found the blood of the prophets, and of the saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth," Rev. 1:6; 18:20.

Behold, kind reader, thus you will ob­serve that they fall by their own sword which they drew against us, as the prophet says. For we may with clear consciences appear before the world (eternal praise be to the Lord) and truthfully maintain that we, from the time of our confession until the present moment, have harmed no one, have desired none of the property of others, much less laid hands upon it; that we have not sought the destruction, or blood of any, either by word or deed; and which, by the grace of God, we never shall do. But what they have done by their rebellious upbraid­ing, lying, slander, crying, writing and treason we will commend to the judgment of the Lord.

The merciful and gracious Lord grant and give you and them wisdom, that you may learn to know of what spirit and kingdom you are the children, what you seek, what prince you serve, what doctrine you main­tain, what sacraments you have, what fruits you produce, what life you lead, and in what kingdom, body and church you are incor­porated. This is our sincere wish.

Kind reader, earnestly reflect upon this our brief treatise on the two princes and their kingdoms, and by the grace of God, it will give you no mean insight into the Scriptures.

In the fourth place, some of them charge that we have our property in common.

Answer. This charge is false and with­out truth. We do not teach and practice the doctrine of having goods in common. But we teach and maintain by the word of the Lord, that all truly believing christians are members of one body and are baptized by one Spirit into one body, 1 Cor. 12:13; that they are partakers of one bread, 1 Cor. 10:18; that they have one Lord and one God, Eph. 4:5, 6.

Inasmuch as they are thus one, therefore it is christian and reasonable that they divinely love one another, and that the one member be solicitous for the welfare of the other, for thus both the Scripture and nat­ure teach. The whole Scriptures speak of mercifulness and love; and it is the only sign whereby a true christian may be known, as the Lord says, "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples (that is, that ye are . christians), if ye .have love one to another," Jn. 13:35.

Beloved reader, it is not customary that an intelligent person clothes and cares for one part of his body and leaves the rest destitute and naked. O, no. The intelli­gent person is solicitous for all his mem­bers. Thus it should be with those who are the Lord's church and body. All those who are born of God, who are gifted with the Spirit of the Lord, and who, according to the Scriptures, are called into one body of love in Christ Jesus, are prepared by such love, to serve their neighbors, not only with money and goods, but also after the example of their Lord and Head, Jesus Christ, in an evangelical manner, with life and blood. They show mercy and love, as much as they can; suffer no beggars amongst them; take to heart the need of the saints; receive the miserable; take the stranger into their houses; console the afflicted; as­sist the needy; clothe the naked; feed the hungry; do not turn their face from the poor, and do not despise their own flesh, Isa. 58:7, 8; Rom. 12:13.

Behold such a community we teach. And not, that the one should take and possess the land and property of the other, as many falsely charge. Thus Moses says, "If there be among you a poor man, of one of thy brethren, within any of thy gates, in thy land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother." Tobias says, "Give of thy bread to the hungry, and of thy garments to them that are naked." Christ says, "Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful." "Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy." Paul says, "Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mer­cies," &c., "For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth, against judgment," Deut. 15:7; Tobit 4:16; Luke 6:36; Matt. 3:7; Col. 3:12; Jas. 2:13; Matt. 18:33; 25:38.

Again, this mercy, love and community we teach and practice and have taught and practiced them for seventeen years, so that, glory be to God, notwithstanding our prop­erty has to a great extent been taken from us, and is yet daily taken; many a pious father and mother are put to the sword or fire and we are not allowed the free enjoy­ment of our homes, as is manifest, and, be­sides, we have dear times and famine, yet none of the pious nor any of their children who commit themselves to us, have been forced to beg. If this is not christianity, then we may well abandon the whole gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, his holy sacraments and christian name, and say that the love‑like, merciful life of all saints is mere fantasy and dreams. O, no, "God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him," 1 Jn. 4:16.

This I write to shame our backbiters, be­cause of their envy; they are so blinded that they are not ashamed thus shamefully to slander us, and wickedly to convert good into evil. For although we, in accordance with all Scripture, teach mercy and love and serve the godfearing poor by the sweat of our brow, and would not let them suffer for want, yet we must hear That we teach community of goods; that every person should beware of us; for that we would reach into the chests and pockets of others. While they well know that it is written, "He shall have judgment without mercy, that has shewed no mercy," Jas. 2; and, "He that loveth not his brother, abideth in death," 1 Jn. 3:14; and while they also plainly see that we daily, and freely sacrifice our goods for the testimony of Jesus Christ and our consciences.

O reader, it would be well for your souls that you would once take notice and learn to know your preachers. For how can they teach you that which is good, while they can hear no mercy?

Is it not terrible hypocrisy that these poor people boast of having the word of God, and of being the true, christian church, never remembering that they have entirely lost their sign of true christianity? For, al­though many of them have plenty of every thing, go about in silk and velvet, gold and silver, and in all manner of pomp and splendor, ornament their houses with all manner of costly ornaments, have their cof­fers filled and live in voluptuousness—yet they suffer many of their poor, afflicted members (notwithstanding they are fellow believers, have received one baptism and partaken of the same bread with them), to ask alms; and poor, hungry, suffering, old, lame, blind and sore people to beg their bread at their doors.

O, teachers, teachers! Yea, beloved teachers, where are the fruits of the gospel you preach? Where is the signification of the supper you administer? Where are the fruits of the spirit you have received? And where is the righteousness of your faith which you so beautifully adorn before the poor, ignorant people? Is it not all hypocrisy that you preach, maintain and assert? Be ashamed at the vain preaching and bread‑breaking of your easy gospel which you have these many years practiced with your doctrine and sacraments which you have preached to your needy, miserable members of the streets, notwithstanding the Scripture plainly teaches and says, "Whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion for him, how dwell­eth the love of God in him?" Also Moses, There shall be no beggars among you, 1 Jn. 3:17; Deut. 15:8.

Behold, kind reader, thus his charge is false and wrong in fact, as are also their other charges. For although we know that the apostolic churches, from the beginning have practiced it, as may be seen by the acts of the apostles, yet we may observe from their epistles that it went down, in their times, and (perhaps not without cause) was not practiced. Since we do not find that it was continually practiced by the apostles as we said, therefore we also leave it behind and have never taught nor practiced community of goods. But we diligently and earnestly teach and admon­ish assistance, love and mercy, as the apos­tolic Scriptures abundantly teach us this. Behold, in Christ we tell you the truth and lie not.

And, even if we did teach and practice community of goods, as we are charged, we would but do that which the holy apos­tles, full of the Holy Spirit, did in the prim­itive church at Jerusalem, although after­ward abolished, as was said.

But the reason why our opponents charge us with it may be easily immagined. For generally, their hearts are filled with ava­rice, as Peter says, and they know that their disciples are intent upon the lusts of the flesh, money and goods. They are all cov­etous, as the prophet says, and therefore they make the charge, that thus the pre­cious gospel, the limpid truth of our Lord Jesus Christ, which now springs up in many places, may become a stench and abomina­tion to all. Behold the arts and wiles of the serpent!

Reader, beware; let not such liars deceive you. Adam and Eve believed the deceiv­er, and thereby so wickedly sinned against their God. Israel was miserably deceived by the false prophets. And what good things they have done in the gospel times and yet do, their deeds and fruits openly show.

In the fifth place some of them falsely charge, That we believe in poligamy; that we have our women in common; that we say to each other, Sister, my spirit desires your flesh.

Answer. As to poligamy we would say, The Scriptures show that before the law, some of the patriarchs had many wives. Yet they did not take the same liberty un­der the law and before the law. For Abra­ham, who was before the law, had his own sister for wife, as he himself testifies before Abimeleck, the king, saying, "And yet she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother," Gen. 20:12. Jacob had two sisters for wives, Leah and Rachel, the daughters of Laban, his mother's brother, Gen. 22. These liberties to marry their own sister and to marry two sisters at once, were afterwards strictly forbidden Israel under the law, Lev. 18.

As each period has had its particular lib­erty and usage according to the Scriptures; and as we now, under the New Testament, are not pointed by the Lord to the usage of the patriarchs before the law nor under the law, in the matter of marriage, but to the beginning of creation, to Adam and Eve (which word we sincerely desire to obey); therefore we teach, practice and con­sent to no other than the one which was in the beginning in Adam and Eve, namely, one husband and one wife, as the Lord's mouth has ordained, Matt. 19.

We say one husband and one wife, and not one husband and two, three, or four wives, and these counted as one, as many, alas, charge us without any truth. These two, one husband and one wife, are one flesh, and cannot be separated from each other, to marry again, otherwise than for adultery, as the Lord says, Matt. 5:19; Mark 10; Luke 16.

Behold, this is our proper foundation, doc­trine and practice concerning marriage, as we here confess by the Holy Scriptures, and by the grace of God, it will ever remain the foundation of all pious souls, no matter what false charges and slander may be pre­ferred against us. For we know and con­fess truly, that it is the express ordinance, command, intent and unchangeable, plain word of Christ.

But as to the charge of the shameful licen­tiousness of having our wives in common; we reply with Solomon: "Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit," Prov. 26:4, 5.

Kind reader, I am heartily ashamed to touch upon such accursed charges of licen­tiousness and roguishness before the ears of blushing, pious persons. For they are not only in opposition to the Scriptures but also to all rationality, intelligence and virtue. But as they not only charge us hereby with shameful roguery and knavery, but also with the worst of doggery, and as the pious, virtuous hearts who, if possible, would rather die ten deaths than commit such abominations, may see how they are spit upon by some indiscreet slanderers; therefore it is no more than reasonable to do so for the purpose of defending our rep­utation in a christian manner to the praise of the Lord, and to ward off such slander from us, to the extent possible.

We hereby testify, now and forever, in this place, before God, that we, with the angel of the church of Ephesus, hate the words of the Nicolaitans, which, also, God hates, Rev. 2. We teach, as from the mouth of the Lord, "That whosoever looketh on a wo­man to lust after her, hath committed adultery with her already in his heart," Matt. 5:28. And with Paul, That the adulterers and for­nicators cannot inherit the kingdom of God, 1 Cor. 6.

As we are thus so plainly taught by the Scriptures, and as, by the grace of the Lord, we not only believe so, but also teach oth­ers so by virtue of the divine word, and be­sides, as we are in constant danger of appre­hension, prison and death; are tied to the stake by threes and fours, by sixes and sev­ens; are tortured, burned or drowned, and thus unmercifully murdered, therefore judge whether we would yet practice such terrible abominations and shame, at which every reasonable person should stand astounded, and which, according to many Scriptures, are rewarded by everlasting death and eter­nal, unquenchable, hell fire. O, what miser­able men we should be! It is shameful slan­der! No, no. We trust, that in our weak­ness, by the grace of the Lord we have rear­ed our bodies and members for a temple and dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, accor­ding to our received gift. We trust, by the grace and assistance of the Lord, that we shall never commune with adulterers and fornicators, understand, if they do not re­pent, Rom. 1; 1 Cor. 6; Gal. 5; Eph. 5; Heb. 13; Rev. 21.

But how our slanderers and backbiters are minded; into what body they have incor­porated their bodies and members, and by what kind of spirit they are urged, their intolerable lies and slander plainly show. Christ says, "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh," Matt. 2:34. Every tree beareth fruit after its own kind. Seneca says, "As the man, so is his word." Yea, if these vain men were christians, and if they had but a little of the Lord's word and a spark of his Holy Spirit, as they boast of having, they would never think of such abominable slander against their neighbors who, as is plain, sincerely seek and fear the Lord, much less would they mock and deride them.

O, Ye indiscreet slanderers (I mean all those who are guilty of the shamefulness), Do you think that we are irrational creat­ures? and that there is no rationality left in us? Be ashamed of your inhuman lies and slander. This disreputable report and bad repute is saddled upon us who are innocent, by many who are guilty of this very thing. If my writing is wrong, then I am willing to bear the punishment. It is manifest and undeniable that many of your fellow‑be­lievers miserably defile their own members. For, by their deception, sleekness of tongue, promises and gifts, they seduce many a young maiden, who is, by one baptism, faith and supper incorporated into one body with them. In your brotherhood, many an honorable man's bed is defiled! many a shameful adulterer is found! many an un­suspecting soul is deceived! and many an illegitimate child is born! We will leave it to the judgment of all pious persons if that is not adultery, and a desire to have the women in common.

Beloved reader, judge aright and know the truth. Is not your church full of such debauchees, defilers, perjurers, and adulter­ers? are there not others that are keepers of houses of prostitution? Can we not hear and see unchaste women sing and drink, throng and act indecorous in allies and streets? Do they not live in city and coun­try in open prostitution? Your answer must be, yes; for it cannot be denied. And all these are your fellows in faith, members of your body; grains of your bread. O, vain doctrine and faith! O, fruitless baptism and supper! O, unclean body and church!!

Behold, kind reader, if you are reason­ably minded you must admit that our slan­derers are guilty of the things with which they charge us. My friend, beware lest you commit violence against the godfearing, with these slanderers. Syrach says, Who­soever accustoms himself to evil saying and whoring will never reform. For as we hate all abominations which are contrary to the word of God, and not only reprove them by our teaching, but also at the risk of life, how much more, then, this abomination? For it is not alone contrary to God's word, but also contrary to reasonableness. O, dear Lord, thus are those slandered who sincerely glorify thy name, who walk in thy ways, and sacrifice property and life for the sake of thy holy word.

In the sixth place they falsely charge, That if one, after he has made confession and received baptism, again falls into his sins, we refuse such an one all penance and grace.

Answer. This charge, if true, would be a fine excuse for the licentious to persecute the truth. But, happily, it is false and wrong in fact, as are their other charges, and can never be substantiated.

Inasmuch as the charge is false, and as there might be some among the pious who are not acquainted in the matter, therefore I will present my foundation and confession, as taken from the word of the Lord, of the nature of different sins; which will be for­given and which are unpardonable. And thus present it to the pious and godly read­er, to ponder diligently upon it.

In my opinion the Scripture speaks of different kinds of sin. The first kind is the corrupt, sinful nature, namely, the lust or desire of our flesh, contrary to God's law, and contrary to the first righteousness, which is inherited at birth by all descend­ants and children of corrupt, sinful Adam; and is not inaptly called inherent sin. Of this sin, David says, "Behold, I was shap­en in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me." Again, the Lord said unto Noah, "The imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth." Again, Paul says, "We were, by nature, children of wrath, even as others," Ps. 511:5; Gen. 8:21; Eph. 2:3.

Yea, kind reader, as we are all stained by this evil, we would all have abided in death, if the righteousness, intercession, death and blood of Christ Jesus were not given us as a reconciliation to God our heavenly. Father, Rom. 6:8. But now, for Christ's sake, it is not accounted as sin, Rom. 3:6, 6, 8.

The second kind are the fruits of the first sin, and are not inaptly called actual sins, by the learned. They are these: Adultery, fornication, avarice, debauchery, hatred, envy, lying, theft, murder and idolatry. These are also called works of the flesh, by Paul, Gal. 6; and that, because they have their origin in the flesh which is born of Adam, corrupt and sinful, Rom. 5; Eph. 6.

But if inherent sin which is the mother, and actual sin, which is the fruit, are con­nected together, there is no forgiveness nor promise of life; but there wrath and death abide, unless they are repented of, as the Scriptures teach.

If this inherent sin is to loose its effect, and actual sin be forgiven, then we must believe the word of the Lord, be regenerated by faith, and thus, by virtue of the new birth, by true repentance, resist the inherent sin, die unto actual sin, and be pious.

For, as the carnal birth which is of Adam, is unclean and sinful and begets all evil and unrighteousness unto death, at the instance of the devil‑thus, on the other hand the heavenly birth which is of God, is clean and pure, and begets all righteousness and piety unto life, according to the will of God, Rom. 5; 1 Jn. 3:5.

The third kind are human frailties, er­rors and stumblings which are yet daily found among the saints and regenerated; such as untempered thoughts, careless words and rashness in our actions. These al­though they spring from those sins men­tioned, as the sins of the unbelieving and impenitent, are yet not of the same kind; and have this difference: the unbelieving which are yet unchanged in their first birth, commit sin unrestrainedly and fearlessly, because of the blindness of their corrupt nature they do not realize the wickedness of their sins; and besides, they do not con­sider their actions sinful. For sin is not made manifest unto them by the law, be­cause of their unbelief.

But those who are born from above are fearful of all sin; they know by the law that all which is contrary to the first, right­eousness, is sin, be it inwardly or outward­ly, important or trifling; and therefore they daily fight, in spirit and faith with their weak flesh; sigh and lament about their errors, which they, with Paul, sincerely abhor. For, they know them to be contra­ry to the first righteousness and God's law, and are, therefore, sins; they daily ap­proach the throne of grace with contrite hearts, and pray: Holy Father, forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those that tres­pass against us. And thus, they are not rejected by the Lord on account of such transgressions, which are not committed willfully and intentionally, but contrary to their will, out of mere thoughtlessness and frailty. Yea, even as Peter, although he thrice denied the Lord; for they are un­der grace, and not under the law, as Paul says. The seed of God, faith in Christ Je­sus, the birth which is of God, and the unc­tion of the Holy Spirit abide in them. They exercise themselves continually in warring against their flesh; die unto their lusts; watch and pray incessantly and, although they are such poor, weak children, they rejoice in the sure trust of the merits of Christ, and praise the Father for his grace, Heb. 4; Matt. 6; Luke 12; Rom. 6; 1 Jn. 3:6; Job 7; Eph. 6; 2 Tim. 2; Gal. 5; 2 Cor. 6; 1 Pet. 5.

Behold this deficient and weak nature all the saints have ever lamented; and hence John says, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us; if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness," 1 John 1:8, 9.

The fourth kind is, that after one is en­lightened in his heart by the heavenly luster of the everlasting truth; has received the true knowledge of Christ and his holy word, has tasted the heavenly gifts, the kindness of the Lord, and the enjoyment of the future world, has partaken of the Holy Ghost and is born of God; he again, by stubbornness, malice and willfulness, con­trary to his heart, mind and spirit which is in him, renounces all knowledge and grace; rejects the Spirit and word of God; ejects the sweet, new wine; hates and blasphemes all truth willfully with the Pharisees and scribes; ascribes it to the devil, notwith­standing his conscience convinces him that it is the will, word, power and work of God; returns to the broad way and says at heart with all evil disposed, I will not submit. What kind of sin this is, I will leave to the sentence of the word of the Lord, Num. 15; Matt. 12; Mark 3; Luke 12;1 Jn. 6; Heb. 6.

Kind reader, understand me. I do not speak of such persons as are overtaken in a fault, even though their transgressions were as great as the fall of David (from which the great Lord save all his), who was so miserably deceived by the lusts of the flesh, but I speak of those who, out of mere petu­lance, willfully trample upon the Son of God, deem the blood of the New Testament unclean, and profane the Spirit of grace.