Menno Simons · 71 of 109

A HUMBLE AND CHRISTIAN DEFENSE. · Part 4

It is also well known to the honorable reader, and to all who are acquainted with us, that we are called rebels and mutineers every where by the learned, notwithstand­ing that we are ever quiet and act justly with all mankind; and, if we now, should publicly teach the word of the Lord in the face of the upbraidings of the learned, of the mandates, of the rulers and of the mad cries of the populace, some of them would cry, rebels! rebels!! although we are, thank the Lord, clear of all rebellion and bloodshed, as has been heard.

Others would say, and not unjustly, that we killed ourselves by unlimited zeal, as we were well aware what was, in places, re­solved against us, and we yet in the face of it publicly taught our doctrine.

We further desire the reasonable reader to take into consideration that a true teacher who preaches the word of the Lord unblamably cannot, at the present time, safe­ly dwell in any kingdom, country or city under heaven, so far as our knowledge goes, if he be known. If he be not allowed to dwell safely, how can he safely preach and teach?

Besides, we plainly see that the innocent sheep must suffer and be led to the slaugh­ter though they are no teachers, and should the teachers then, who are blamed for all, and who with Christ are hated above all evil‑doers, yet go before the public in these mad, fearful times of all evil and tyranny? It would be foolishness; for to do so is not taught by common sense nor by the Script­ures.

And although we do not teach at public meetings where all classes assemble, yet the truth is not kept silent but is preached here and there both by day and by night, in cities and country, verbally and in writ­ing, at the peril of life. This is testified to by judges, tormentors, prisons, fetters, wa­ter, fire, sword and stake.

Also must Flanders, Brabant, Holland, Gelderland, &c., confess at the last judg­ment that the word was preached to them, for they, on account of the word being preached, have shed innocent blood like water; it is so preached in these countries that we may well say with holy Paul, "If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost; in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not," 2 Cor. 4:3, 4.

Besides, I have, about the year 1545 or 1546, asked of the preachers of Bon a pub­lic meeting and discussion, under bishop Herman of Cologne, on condition of safe conduct.

I have also twice asked this in writing of those of Emden, and once of those of Wesel, on the same condition.

But, although those of Bon and also those of Wesel had offered this to some of the brethren, still, when they found that I was willing to do so, it was, under a false pretense of necessity, refused by those of Bon as also by those of Emden.

Those of Wesel wished that the devil might treat with me.

Again, I have also offered to discuss with them for many years, in print; but it was not accepted.

Behold, kind reader, thus we have from the beginning of our service, been prepared and ready to give an account of our faith to every person who desired it in good faith, no matter whether he were ruler or citizen, learned or unlearned, rich or woor, man or woman. And we are to‑day ready to do so as far as possible; we are not ashamed of the gospel of the glory of Christ. If one desire to hear from us, we are pre­pared to teach; if one desires to know our foundation, we sincerely desire to explain it clearly, if our writings do not suffice. If any one desires to discuss with us, no mat­ter who he be (except those who have re­nounced us after scriptural exhortation was exhausted in their case), in sincerity of heart, the matter of our faith, without philosophy, flattery and garbling, and ac­cording to the unadulterated, evangelical doctrine and truth, the commandments, prohibitions, usage, Spirit and example of Christ and of his disciples, and that With­out any trickery, deceit or roguery, as did, in their time, Hilarius and Augustin and others, with some who were suspected in their doctrine; we will not, by the grace of the Lord, refuse to do so, if we possibly can before a public meeting or before twenty or more impartial, reasonable witnesses. For our most ardent desire is that the truth may be made manifest. But the bloody murder of anti‑christ must be omitted; for it is dev­ilish and unbecoming in a christian, Rev. 17:18; Jn. 8:44.

Inasmuch as our adversaries and oppo­nents make our life and doctrine suspicious with many, by saying, that if truth be on our side we should come out in public (al­though they say so out of mere vindictive­ness for they know very well that we can not do so, as there are tyrants and blood­shedders every where, as may be seen); therefore we give them this discreet answer.

Further, I would say, that if the truth be on the side of our opponents and not with us, as they claim, and, as they can freely go abroad before the whole world (under­stand each sect in its way) to preach their doctrine, faith and life; and, as we have to be subjected daily to suffering and torture they should, therefore, show enough of reason and love toward us, poor creat­ures, to obtain liberty for us from the mag­istracy whom they have, by their crying and slander against us, caused to be so bitterly opposed to us (something which does not become reasonable men, not to say christians), that we may thus, in their pres­ence, before a public assembly or before twenty or more impartial, reasonable wit­nesses, as was said before, cause our foun­dation, doctrine and faith to be heard and explained according to the sure and true testimony of the Holy Scriptures. If they, then, have any thing to advance against our foundation, doctrine and faith, let them do so in the name of the Lord. Truth shall bear the crown. If not, let them lay their hands upon their mouths and keep silent and never more blaspheme that which is right and just.

Kind reader, if this could be accomplished many hard words would be saved; many miserable souls which are now kept by them in such accursed blindness, would be deliver­ed from the snares of hell; and the noble, glo­rious truth, now so very much hated and despised by the world, would be made man­ifest in splendor and beauty. But so much discretion has not been found up to the present time.

As we are not allowed a public discussion, in a christian manner, as we have anxious­ly, and at different times asked of them, and as the ignorant and unversed yet cry, If they be right why do they not come out publicly; therefore we will leave it to the consideration and judgment of the intelli­gent reader, from what motives they thus cry; what kind of faith, love, gospel and truth they have, and by what kind of a spirit they are urged. For, whosoever has the truth will never come to shame; for truth is great, stronger than wine, kings and women.