Confession of the Poor and Distressed Christians

“Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven; but whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven,” Matt. 10: 32, 33.

“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ,” 1 Cor. 3: 11.

A true knowledge of the divine word, a fruitful faith in Christ Jesus, unfeigned love, and a pious, penitent, unblamable life I sincerely wish to all those who shall see, read or hear this our confession, of God our heavenly Father through Christ Jesus our Lord, who has loved us and cleansed us of our sins with his blood. To him be the honor, praise, kingdom, power and glory, forever and ever, Amen.

Christ says, “Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock; and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not, for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand; and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell; and great was the fall of it,” Matt. 7: 24—27.

Honored reader, the reason why we write is this: Because we and our ancestors, for many centuries, have sought the light in obscurity, the truth in falsehood, life in death, and the way among the deceivers; and have wandered about like a flock of sheep without a shepherd; and, alas, there was none who pointed us to the way of life and led us into the pasture of the Lord. The accursed doctrine of anti-christ had so drawn the shameful smoke of deceit from the bottomless pit; had so obscured the glorious dazzling of the divine word, nay, the just judgment of God was come upon this reckless world, on account of its sinfulness, so that, alas, there was neither true doctrine nor true knowledge of God and Christ, nor faith, baptism, Supper, ban in accordance with God’s word, nor love, nor righteousness found among men, and of which very little is found as yet; for all over the world we find false teachers, hypocritical deceivers, and enemies of the cross, who diligently serve their own bellies, who by their tickling, erring doctrine proclaim peace to those who know of no peace, and thus strengthen the hands of the wicked so that none converts himself from his wickedness, as the prophet says.

Yea, they have carried on their wrangling, writing and preaching so far that they adjudge the Lord’s express ordinances of baptism, Supper and ban, as commanded by him, and as taught, practiced and testified to by his holy apostles, not only as heretical, but also fiend-like, they upbraid and persecute those who keep them, as may be plainly seen; and have instituted a new baptism, which the Scripture knows not, which is more pleasing to the flesh than the baptism of Christ; a new Supper which is a false consolation to the ungodly; also a ban which serves for nothing but the destruction of the pious, and which is not founded on anything reasonable; for if they are not banished from city and country, they are sentenced to the stake or water; nor is it practiced sparingly upon the pious in many places.

In short, they have so led the common world from God, and so estranged them by their carnal doctrine and false sacraments, and led them into such unbelief and heathenish life, that all heaven must be afflicted and ashamed thereat. Say reasonable reader, who can enumerate the accursed, ungodly pride, pomp, adultery, fornication, idolatry, Roman and Spanish abominations, unfaithfulness, fraud, avarice, usury, unrighteousness, debauchery, luxury, hatred, envy, murder, thefts, robbery, incendiarism, treason, blood-shed, unmannerly, obscene words, the terrible lying, shameful diseases, lameness, suffering and wounds, which are found with this wicked, reckless world. Yet they claim to be the church of Christ. Yea, every thing is in such a condition that we may well say with the prophet Hosea, “There is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land; but swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery; they break out, and blood toucheth blood,” Hosea 4: 1, 2; with Jeremiah, that “A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land,” Jer. 5: 30; with John, that “The whole world lieth in wickedness,” Jn. 5: 19; and with John the divine that their “sins have reached unto heaven,” Rev. 18: 5. O, faithful reader, it is worse than I can express. Whosoever is reasonably disposed may realize the truth.

Inasmuch as the brightness of the sun has not shone for so many years; as heaven and earth have been as copper and iron; as the brooks and springs have not run, nor the dew dropped from heaven; as the beautiful trees and verdant fields have been dry and barren (I mean spiritually); but, inasmuch as, in these latter days, the gracious, great Lord, by the rich treasures of his love, has again opened the windows of heaven, and let drop the dew of his divine word, so that the earth once more produces its green branches and plants of righteousness, as before, which bear fruit unto the Lord and glorify his adorable name; and inasmuch as the holy word and sacraments of the Lord again lift up their heads from the ashes, by means of which the blasphemous deceit and abominations of the learned are made manifest—therefore all the infernal gates are opened in opposition; foam and rave, and that with such subtle deceit, blasphemous falsehood and tyranny that if the strong God did not interpose with his gracious power, no man could be saved. But they will never wrest from him his chosen ones.

Inasmuch as they so fearfully teach and strive against the truth, weigh out dross for silver, and, besides, accuse us of all manner of shame, blasphemy, roguery and profanity, as they did from the beginning to all those who fear the Lord—therefore we are forced, and constrained by the true love of the divine word and the salvation of your souls, to explain briefly to you according to the word of the Lord, the sure, divine foundation, and the pure, immutable truth of Justification, of the Preachers, of Baptism, of the Supper, and of the swearing of oaths, on account of which we are so much hated and slanderously belied by every person, and especially of the learned, that you may thereby acknowledge what the Holy Scriptures clearly teach us in regard to these articles; and to show whether we are such useless, ungodly people, as the learned incessantly cry against us and tell the people. If you have ears to hear, then hear the word of the Lord; and if you have understanding hearts, take heed, and follow the truth.

Honored reader, it is plain and manifest that Adam and Eve, the father and mother of us all, were, in the beginning, created after the image of God by Christ, pure, good, without sin, righteous and incorrupt, as the Scripture teaches, Gen. 1: 27; 5: 1; 2: 7; Acts 17: 24; Eccl. 17: 9. And that they remained pure and righteous until they sinned against their Creator’s word and commandment. For God had said unto them, “Of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil thou shalt not eat of it; for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die;” as also it happened. For as soon as Adam and Eve, deceived by the serpent, ate of the forbidden fruit they became impure, unrighteous, corrupt, of sinful nature, children of death and of the devil; and thus, by their disobedience they lost their being children of God, and the purity in which they were created; and must have forever remained, with all their descendants, in sin, under the curse and servitude of death and devil, if God, the merciful Father whose love endures forever, had not again comforted and raised them up by the promise of Christ whom he promised to send in the future to bruise the Serpent’s head; for whose sake he would be gracious unto them, would forgive their transgression, would show them mercy and favor, so far as they should believe.

When Adam and Eve heard these glad tidings of grace, the gospel of peace, from the mouth of the Lord, they joyfully accepted and believed it as the immutable truth of God, anxiously cleaved to it, and consoled themselves therewith as a sure foundation of salvation. And thus Adam and Eve were again accepted of God through Christ Jesus, justified and delivered from the eternal death and curse; for they, according to the promise of God, believed and trusted in him and looked for him in latter days as the Conquerer, Savior and means of grace to eternal reconciliation.

But had they despised this means and not accepted it by faith, they would have suffered eternal death; this is incontrovertible, as Christ himself says, “He that believeth not, is condemned already;” again, John the Baptist says, “He that believeth on the Son, hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son, shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him,” Jn. 3: 18, 36.

As Adam and Eve, then, were bitten and poisoned by the infernal serpent, and became of sinful nature, and would have been subject to eternal death if God had not again accepted them in grace through Christ Jesus, so we, their descendants, are also born of sinful nature of them, poisoned by the serpent, inclined to evil, and by inherent sin, children of hell, of the devil and everlasting death; and cannot be delivered therefrom (we speak of those who have come to years of understanding, and hence to sinful works) unless we accept Christ Jesus the only and eternal means of grace, by true and unfeigned faith, and thus conscientiously look upon the brazen serpent which is erected by God, our heavenly Father, as a sign of salvation; for without him there is no help for our souls, no reconciliation nor peace; but disgrace, wrath and eternal death can only be expected, as was said before. But those who accept this Christ by a true faith which, according to the doctrine of Paul, was given us of the Father for the purpose of wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and deliverance, are in grace for Christ’s sake, and God is their Father; for by faith they are born of him; he forgives them all their sins; has compassion on all their human failings and weaknesses; turns them from the curse, wrath and eternal death; accepts them as his beloved children, and gives them Christ Jesus, together with all his merits, fastings, prayers, tears, sufferings, tribulation, cross, blood and death; besides, also, his Spirit, inheritance, kingdom, glory, joy and life; not, we say, by our own merits and works, but by grace through Christ Jesus, as Paul says, “God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loves us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ (by grace ye are saved); and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus; that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace, in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them,” Eph. 2: 4—10.

Behold, kind reader, thus we do not seek our salvation in works, words or sacraments, as do the learned, although they blame us therefor, but we seek them alone in Christ Jesus and in no other means in heaven or earth. In this only means we rejoice and in no other. We trust, by the grace of God, to abide therein unto death.

But that we abhor the carnal works and desire to suit ourselves to his word and commandment, according to our weakness, we do because he has so taught and commanded us. For, whosoever does not walk according to his doctrine, proves in fact, that he does not believe on him nor knows him, and that he is not in the communion of the saints, 1 Jn. 3: 10; 5: 10; 2 Jn. 1: 6.

All those, now, who accept this means of divine grace, Jesus Christ, with believing hearts, and enclose him in their consciences, believe and confess that their sins are forgiven through his sacrifice, death, and blood; that his wrath and damnation will not be upon them forever; that he accepts them as his beloved sons and daughters, and gives them life eternal. All such become of peaceable and joyous spirit, and give thanks to God, with renewed hearts; for the power of faith quickens and changes them into newness of life, and they walk thus, by the gift and grace of the Holy Spirit in the power of their new birth, according to the measure of their faith, in obedience to their God who has shown them such great love; they diligently watch lest they fall from the grace and favor of God by licentiousness and ungodliness. They acknowledge by the Scriptures that Adam and Eve, the antediluvian world, Sodom and Gomorrah, and the patriarchs in the wilderness were severely punished of God on account of their sins; that the wages of sin is death; and that, also, Christ Jesus, the innocent Lamb of God who knew no sin, was so deeply humiliated and tortured on account of our sinfulness, Gen. 3: 7; 19: 9, 10; Lev. 10: 1—4; Rom. 6: 23; 1 Pet. 1: 19.

Inasmuch as they believe the word of the Lord which says, that to be carnally minded is death—if thou livest according to the flesh thou shalt die—adulterers, fornicators, drunkards, the avaricious, proud, liars, &c., shall not inherit the kingdom of God—and besides, believe that God is truth; that none can be saved contrary to his word; that he will judge in accordance with his word, because he is truth and cannot lie, as the Scriptures testify, Rom. 8: 6, 13; 1 Cor. 5: 10; 6: 10; Gal. 5: 21; Eph. 5: 5; Rev. 22: 15; therefore it is that they sincerely fear the Lord, and by fear die unto their flesh, crucify their lusts and desires, and shun and abhor the unclean, ungodly works which are contrary to the word of the Lord.

Besides this they acknowledge the abundant grace, favor and love of God towards us, as shown in Christ Jesus, and therefore, in return they love their God, for he first loved us, and stand prepared by this love to obey, in their weakness, his holy word, will, commandments, advice, doctrine and ordinances, according to the talent received; and thus they show, in fact, that they believe, they are born of God, and are spiritually minded; they lead a pious, unblamable life before all men; suffer themselves to be baptized according to the commandment of the Lord, as proof that they bury their sins in the death of Christ, and are prepared to walk with him in newness of life; they break the bread of peace with their beloved brethren as proof and testimony that they are one in Christ and his holy church and that they have, or know no other means of grace and remission of their sins, neither in heaven nor in earth, than the innocent flesh and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ alone, which he once, by his eternal Spirit in obedience to the Father, sacrificed and shed upon the cross for us poor sinners; they walk in all love and mercy, and serve their neighbors. In short, they suit themselves, in their weakness, to all words, commandments, ordinances, Spirit, rule, example and measure of Christ, as the Scripture teaches; for they are in Christ and Christ is in them; and therefore they live no longer in the old life of sin after the first earthly Adam (weakness excepted), but in the new life of righteousness which comes by faith, after the second and heavenly Adam, Christ; Paul says, I do not now live, “But Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me,” Gal. 2: 20. Christ says, “If ye love me, keep my commandments,” Jn. 14: 15.

Think not beloved reader, that we boast of being perfect and without sins. Not at all. I for myself confess that often my prayer is mixed with sin and my righteousness with unrighteousness; for by the grace of God I feel, by the unction which is in me, when I compare my weak nature to Christ and his commandments, what kind of a flesh I inherited from Adam. Yea, if God should judge us according to our worthiness, righteousness, works and merits, and not according to his great goodness and mercy, then I confess with holy David that no man could stand before his judgment, Ps. 143: 2; 130: 3. Therefore it should be far from us that we should console ourselves with any thing but the grace of God through Christ Jesus; for it is he, alone, and none other, who has perfectly fulfilled the righteousness required by God. We are also aware, by the grace of God, that all saints, from the beginning, have lamented the corruption of their flesh, as may be seen by the writings of Moses, David, Job, Isaiah, Paul, James and John.

But for Christ’s sake we are in grace; for his sake we are heard; and for his sake our failings and transgressions, which are committed involuntarily, are remitted. For it is he who stands between his Father and his imperfect children, with his perfect righteousness, and with his innocent blood and death; and intercedes for all those who believe on him and who strive by faith in the divine word, to turn from evil, follow that which is good and who sincerely desire, with Paul, that they may attain the perfection which is in Christ, Phil. 3: 12.

Mark, beloved reader, that we do not believe nor teach that we are to be saved by our merits and works, as the envious accuse us of without truth; but that we are to be saved solely by grace, through Christ Jesus, as has been said before. By grace man was created, through Christ Jesus, Gen. 1: 27.

By grace he was again accepted through Christ when he was lost. By grace Christ was sent to us of the Father, Jn. 3: 34. By grace he has sought the lost sheep, Luke 15: 4, taught them repentance and remission of sins. Died for us when we were yet ungodly, and enemies, Rom. 5: 6; by grace we receive faith. By grace the Holy Ghost was given us, in the name of Jesus, Jn. 14:16. In short, by grace we receive eternal life through Christ Jesus, Rom. 6: 8.

Behold, kind reader, this is, concerning this article of our faith and confession, namely: That we can not obtain salvation, grace, reconciliation nor peace of the Father, otherwise than through Christ Jesus, as he himself says, “No man cometh unto the Father but by me,” Jn. 14: 6. Peter also says, “There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” than the name of Jesus; and that all those who accept this grace in Christ, preached by the gospel and accepted by a firm faith, and cordially adhered to by the power of the Holy Ghost through faith, and become new men, born of God; changed in their hearts, renewed and of a different mind; yea, transferred from Adam unto Christ; and thus walk in newness of life, as obedient children, in the grace which is manifested unto them; for they are renewed; have become humble minded, meek, merciful, compassionate, peaceable, patient, hungry and thirsty after righteousness; they strive firmly by good works after eternal life, for they are believing, born of God, are in Christ and Christ in them; they are partakers of his Spirit and nature, and thus live according to the word of the Lord by the power of Christ which is in them. And this is, according to Scripture, to be believing; to be a christian; and to be in Christ and Christ in us.

Again, that all those who disregard this preached grace and do not accept Christ Jesus by faith; who reject his holy word, will, commandments and ordinances, and hate and persecute them; who live according to their lusts and licentiously, are lost, and that it will avail them nothing before the Lord to boast of their faith, new creature, Christ’s grace, death and blood; for they do not believe; they remain in their first birth, namely, unchanged in their earthly, corrupted nature, impenitent, carnally minded, nay, utterly without Spirit, Word and Christ; and therefore are children of death, as Scripture teaches; for they know not Christ in whom is life, as John says, “This is the record that God hath given to us eternal life, and that this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life,” 1 Jn. 5: 11, 12.

Behold, worthy reader, this now is our foundation and confession of justification, as you have here read. Judge for yourself whether the preachers act rightly in so slanderously belying us, saying that we expect to be saved by our merits and works; and that we boast to be without sin.

May the Lord forgive them that they so fiendishly belie us with such shameful lies. O, that these miserable men would once take to heart that the backbiters, slanderers and liars are of the devil and worthy of death; that God abhors all liars; that they shall have no part in his kingdom; and that a lying mouth killeth the soul, Jn. 8: 44; Rom. 1: 32; Ps. 5: 7; Rev. 21: 27; 22: 15.

This, I say, is our foundation, and, by the grace of God, it will ever remain our foundation, for we truly know and confess that it is the invincible word and truth of the Lord; therefore we testify before you and before all the world that we do not agree with those who teach and institute a dead faith, which they gather from profane history: First, that without change, there can be Spirit, power and fruits. Secondly, that we can be saved by our own merits and works, for reasons above stated.

May the merciful, gracious Father, through his beloved Son Jesus Christ our Lord, grant us all the gift of his Holy Spirit, that we may sincerely believe and confess this beforementioned grace in and through Christ; and that we may walk and abide therein firmly and faithfully unto the end, to the eternal praise and glory of God, Amen.

It is a well known fact, kind reader, that, on account of this article, principally, we are so hated and persecuted by the learned, and that all the world cries against us and complains, That we will not hear God’s word. Therefore we are necessarily impelled, inasmuch as it concerns the praise of God and the salvation of our souls, to assign the reason according to the word of God (which we would gladly omit if we were not required by Scripture), to assign the reason why we do not hear them, and conscientiously dare not listen to them; on account of which we have to suffer so much pain and tribulation. Jesus said to Nicodemus, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he can not see the kingdom of God.” Paul also says, “If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his,” and John says, “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God,” Jn. 3: 3; Rom. 8: 9; 1 Jn. 1: 9.

Honored reader, consider the word of the Lord. That the preachers of the world are not born again and have not the Spirit of Christ, and do not abide in his word, their fruits abundantly prove; for it is manifest that they pitiably adulterate the word of the Lord and walk according to the flesh, as will be clearly shown in the following:

First, I am convinced that you never saw that the preachers, who are one with their church, have ever converted an avaricious person from his avarice; a drunkard from his inebriety or a proud person from his pride and luxury, which are plainly works of the flesh, and, according to Scripture punishable with eternal death, if not repented of. Inasmuch as they convert none as it appears, therefore it is plain that their doctrine is nothing but vain prattle without power and fruit; which, alas, is clearly shown and proven by all the world by their unbecoming life.

Secondly, the reckless people are chained to and consoled in their unbelief and licentious, carnal life by their light minded doctrine, sacraments and easy life; for they preach and teach you, “There are none that can truly believe; we are all sinners—therefore none can rightly keep the commandments of God. In your baptism (they say) you became a regenerated christian and received the Holy Ghost. Although you could not understand the word; although you have no faith in Christ Jesus nor knowledge of good or evil, nor any change or renewing of heart, because you were an unconscious child, and like false consolations.” You hear their absolutions, and receive their bread, as if that were sufficient; and never mind that you are yet an impenitent, avaricious, proud, drunken, unclean, envious and idolatrous man. We will leave you to judge whether these can be called preachers of peace who make arm cushions and pillows for the people and preach such things as are pleasing to them, Deut. 1: 39; Ezra 13: 18.

Inasmuch as none are made better by their doctrine and sacraments but are more and more comforted in unrighteousness—therefore it must be acknowledged that they strengthen you in your evil doing, shut unto you the kingdom of heaven, lead you into the ditch, and rob and murder your souls, Jer: 23; 14; Matt. 15: 14.

O, kind reader, they have so enchanted the ignorant people who so gladly walk upon the broad road, with their light minded doctrine that we may well exclaim with Jeremiah, that “No man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done?” Jer. 8: 6; or who enquires after a pious, penitent or godly life? What is worse, they have carried it so far, that alas, those must be called work-saints and heaven-stormers who, with faithful hearts hear, believe, fear, love, and, according to the measure of their faith, obey the word of the Lord. Behold, thus entirely has the smoke of the pit darkened the sun and sky, Rev. 9: 2.

As to their sacraments, it is manifest that they do not have the sacraments of Christ; but self-begotten abominations and idols, only a semblance of the Lord’s sacraments. For they baptize infants; of which Christ has not taught nor commanded a single word in the whole New Testament, and are therefore called christians, notwithstanding that such baptized persons generally, walk in perverse ways all their lives, and not only not confess Christ Jesus together with his holy word, but also hate him and oppose the word.

Again, their supper must be called the Lord’s flesh and blood; while the Scripture, at many places testifies that he ascended up to heaven, Mark 16: 19; Luke 24: 51; Acts 1: 9; Eph. 4: 8; and is seated at the right hand of his Father, while common sense, besides the Scripture, teaches us that he cannot be chewed with teeth nor consumed by the stomach. Besides, it is administered by some as for the remission of sins. Behold they have so entirely forsaken the Lord who has purchased them with his blood, that they have changed his praise and honor into such a weak creature. If this cannot be called serving Baal and moulding calves you may judge according to Scripture.

Lastly, How they conform their lives according to the doctrine of Paul you may best deduce from their fruits and life. That they do not walk in humility of heart before the Lord, their looks and names prove. They suffer themselves to be greeted as lords and masters; notwithstanding it is forbidden by the mouth of the Lord. Say kind reader, did you ever hear or read that the holy apostles and prophets were covetous of such high, vain names as are the learned and the preachers of the world. It is true the word Rabbi or Master was applied to the ambitious Scribes and Pharisees, but not to the apostles and prophets. For we do not read of Doctor Isaiah, of Master Ezekiel and of Lords Paul and Peter. No, no. All those who have rightly taught the word of the Lord, were in their time not honored with such high-sounding names. This I write that you may know that such ambitious, proud spirits can never rightly teach you the humble word of the cross.

Besides, also, consider their avarice, and solicitude for their appetite; for they do not preach nor render services without pay, as if the office of a preacher and shepherd were a profession or trade. Jude says, They honor the persons for the sake of profits. Where there are no liens and rents there we find no preachers; but where liens and rents are abundant there is no want of preachers.

Again, they are in part usurers, in part fornicators or adulterers, greedy, liars, irascible, proud, hateful, lustful, vain, and lazy, envious, cruel, treacherous and rebellious toward all those who sincerely seek and fear God. In short, if you rightly confess the Lord and his word, then you must acknowledge that the best and most pious of them are yet far outside of Christ and his word in regard to doctrine, sacraments and also to their walk.

Inasmuch as all of them, in doctrine, sacraments and walk are so diametrically opposed to the Spirit, word and walk of the Lord, as appears, and inasmuch as Christ says, “Every tree is known by his own fruit,” Luke 6: 44; therefore it is plainly proven that they see not the kingdom and glory of God; are not of the Lord, and have not God, as was said before.

If they see not the kingdom of God as Christ speaks, how, then, can they rightly preach it and teach it to others?

If they have not the Spirit of the Lord and are not of him (as appears), how then, can they be true ministers and servants of the spiritual office?

And if they have not God, how can they, then, rightly teach and point out his precious word unto righteousness? Inasmuch as it is well known to all theologians that they do not understand the kingdom of God and his glory; are not of the Lord, and have no God, as was said, therefore we conclude therefrom, and that truly, that their sending, calling, office and service is not of God and his word; but they are of the bottomless pit, and of the dragon and beast, Rev. 9: 2. By this we do not mean this one, or that one; but all preachers in general who do not act according to the word of God; no matter of which denomination or sect. We do not judge according to their boasting and appearance, but truthfully, according to doctrine, sacraments, fruits and life; for we are sure that the high and holy office, which should be filled in the power of the Spirit, can never be filled by the avaricious; neither by the proud and unrighteous, the carnal and earthly minded, nor by drunkards and the lustful who serve their appetites before their God, as Paul says; nor by slanderers nor by vain prattlers, nor liars, nor soothsayers, nor hirelings, nor by those who adulterate, hate and oppose the Spirit, will, word, ordinances and commandments of the Lord, and who are ignorant and blind in all spiritual and evangelical matters; for the Spirit and word of God do not know such shepherds and teachers, but the Scripture portrays them with many terrible names and calls them profane, blind watchmen and greedy dogs, blind leaders, consumers of souls, false daubers, fools who seek not the Lord, preachers of peace, of whom it is written, “The prophets prophesy lies in my name; I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them; they prophesy unto you false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart,” Jer. 23: 11; Matt. 15: 14; Ezek. 13: 10; Jer. 10: 8; 14: 14. In short, they are the teachers against whom the word of the Lord has faithfully warned us. Read here and there in the prophets, particularly Jer. 23: 13; Matt. 7: 15; 15: 14; 16 : 12; 24 : 11; Mark 12 : 38; Luke 12 : 1; 20: 45.

Say, kind reader, did you ever read in the Scriptures of any proud, avaricious, unclean, lying, inebriated and idolatrous prophets, apostles and shepherds who were pleasing unto the Lord? Or of such who, to please the world, have adulterated, changed and abused the word, ordinances and commandments of the Lord? Or, of such who said to cities, districts or towns, If you will care for our necessaries of life; or, if you will give us so much money or income, we will teach you the word of the Lord? O no, reader, no. It never was nor never will be the way of the holy prophets, apostles or servants of Christ. Of this we are sure.

The teachers and preachers who are sent of God are born of God, are of godly nature, and are prompted by the Spirit of the Lord; they acknowledge the kingdom of heaven; are forced into the vineyard of the Lord by pure, unfeigned love of God and of their neighbors; seek not the gifts of Balak, nor the tables of Jezebel; but they seek the praise of God and the salvation of your souls and commend their carnal cares to him, who, according to the word of his promise, furnishes the necessaries of life to all creatures upon earth, Matt. 13:25; Num. 22: 28; 2 Pet. 2: 16.

They teach the word of the law in the power of the Spirit, to the remission of sins and the denial of all flesh by the gospel of grace to the consolation, peace and joy of all the godfearing, pious hearts, who before disregarded the law and so greatly feared the wrath and judgment of the Lord.

They reprove and shun all false doctrine, deceit, abuse, idolatry and licentious reckless life, which is of the flesh and contrary to the word of the Lord; they use baptism, Supper, ban and all the ordinances of God as is commanded them by the word of the Lord, be it unto life or death; they admonish lords and princes, learned, unlearned, male and female, so far as they possibly can, if they are favored with a hearing; for the word of God excuses neither emperor nor king, doctor nor master, rich nor poor; all must follow the word of the Lord who wish to be saved, Matt. 28: 19; Acts 2: 38; 9: 6.

They lead their lives in the fear of the Lord; they daily die, with holy Paul, for the sake of their brethren; they are pointed at by all the world; are slandered, persecuted and deemed the sap and substance of all knaves and rogues, notwithstanding they are ever ready to show their love and faithfulness to all, as was formerly the case with Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Zechariah the son of Berechiah, John the Baptist, the apostles and Christ himself; and how the pious are thanked and rewarded at the present time, for their love and services, the burning, the sword, the stake and the wheel show, 1 Cor. 15: 32. Carefully observe and understand me, kind reader. Since the sending, calling, doctrine, sacraments and life of the preachers do not conform to this beforementioned rule, and are therefore not of God, as was said; for they, generally, do not enter but to destroy, steal and murder, as the Lord says; to adulterate and garble the precious word and the holy sacraments, to gratify their appetites; to exclude the word of God and institute their own; to kill the souls which would have eternal life; and promise life to those that will die the eternal death; and for the sake of a handful of barley and a mouthful of bread, as the prophet says; rule but do not serve; deceive but do not lead; corrupt but do not teach; weaken but do not cure; scatter but do not gather; shut the kingdom of heaven against man and freely lead all poor souls to hell. Behold, therefore it is that we do not hear them, neither can we conscientiously hear them; for the word of the Lord every where admonishes and commands us that we should be aware of them, flee and shun them, and not hear them, as was said before, Ezek. 13: 14; 34: 1; Jer. 5:26; Phil. 3: 17; 1 Tim. 6: 4; Tit. 3: 8; 2 Jn. 1: 8.

Judge now, kind reader, whether these reasons are not sufficient to shun the preachers. We have not here presented to you philosophical words, garbled flatterings, nor falsehood; but we have pointed you to such facts as you may daily observe and hear of among your preachers. This is what our much beloved brethren and sisters in Christ Jesus—fellow-partakers of the tribulation, kingdom and obedience of Christ, the faithful children of God, have for many long years, so frankly confessed, and so heroically asserted before this idolatrous, bloody world, in excessive measure of poverty, by preaching and writing, at the peril of life, property, blood, prison, banishment, water, fire, chains, gallows, wheels and the stake; but preachers remain preachers and the world remains the world. They, as appears, will never be converted. They, so firmly adhere to their idolatry, that they do not suffer themselves to be converted, Jer. 8.

Honored reader, we pray you for Christ’s sake that you will rightly understand this our confession; do not think that we have written this out of bitter feelings or hatred, inasmuch as it so openly reproves, discovers and points out the shame of the preachers. O, no. We testify before you and before the Lord who has created us, that there is no hatred or bitterness in our hearts; for we know and confess that they are works of the flesh and will be rewarded by death. But we have written in purity of heart, as before him, who tries the hearts and reins, to the service of you and all mankind, no matter whether they be our opponents or not, learned or unlearned; to the service of all those who seek the truth: that we may so discover the judgment of the Babylonian whore, the covert wiles of the learned, by such expositions, that you and all godfearing hearts, by such exposition, may tire of the inhuman abominations, and so understand the word and truth of the Lord, and with all your hearts seek and obey the same, that you may be saved, Rom. 1: 32; Gal. 5 : 21; 1 Cor. 6 : 10; Eph. 5 : 5; Rev. 17: 1.