Reply to Martin Micron

“This is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent,” Jn. 17: 3.

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

To the well-disposed Reader:

It is manifest, honorable reader, that as Satan, the envier of the divine honor and of our salvation, in the beginnning of creation, used the serpent as an instrument to lead Adam and Eve off the way of life, and thus to lead them into death, as he actually did, Gen. 3: 19, he now uses his false authors and preachers to do so, some of whom he clothes with an angelic appearance of innocence, by using many garbled Scriptures, philosophy, sophistry, words of human wisdom, and by leading a reasonable, private life, whereby he detains and ensnares the poor, bound souls in their great blindness and abominations, and robs them by his many wiles of their only means of salvation, which is Jesus Christ.

For the serpent said unto Eve, “Ye shall not surely die.” Thus, now, our opponents say, Should Christ be the Son of God? No, he is not. The man Christ has no father, and like expressions. For from the beginning, the devil neither did nor could confess the true faith in Christ Jesus, namely, that we should acknowledge him to be the true Son of God, as may be plainly understood from 1 Jn. 2: 22; 4: 3; 2 Jn. 7. “Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God,” 1 Jn. 4: 15. In short he has life everlasting. Such destroy the dominion of the devil and the kingdom of falsehood. Yea Christ himself had to suffer death because he confessed himself to be the Son of God, Matt. 26: 64; Mark 14: 62, Jn. 5: 18; 19: 7.

If Satan, then, did not confess such faith, in the beginning, as was heard, how shall he now suffer, as by the righteous judgment of God, he is arisen, through anti-christ and his servants, to full dominion, for the sake of sin, and has bound all earth by his deceitful doctrine, explanations, flatterings, statutes, commandments, idolatry, tyranny and violence?

We see clearly, since Christ Jesus, by his grace, has shown himself through the clouds so that we, with Peter, and with all the Scriptures confess him in power and truth to be the Son of the true and living God, and submissively seal this faith with the sign of the holy baptism, as did the Ethiopian, Acts 8:36, according to his command, because we would, in our weakness, walk according to his commandments and be saved by his grace; how terribly we are upbraided, slandered, belied, accursed, persecuted and murdered by this wicked, perverse, blind, and carnal generation, on that account. For Satan, never, from the beginning confessed true faith in Christ Jesus, nor submissively sealed it by true baptism. Nor will he ever do so, unto the end.

The apocalyptical Apollyon has so corrupted things by the locusts of the bottomless pit, that but little truth remains with man; for it is manifest that not only the Turks and the Papists are inimical to the clearness of the most holy birth of Jesus Christ in which consists true faith, to the nature, power, fruit, impression and sealing of faith, but also those of whom we should expect better things, as may be seen by the writings of our opponents.

Oh! oh! how very little these poor children have and know of the kingdom of God, and of the power of his holy word, although they may think, perhaps, that they understand a great deal. For it is very clear that an earthly, carnal minded heart, an ambitious, proud mind, a spiteful, envious person, and an untrue and false tongue is not of the good, but of the evil one, 1 Jn. 3: 8; that the writings of our opponents were prompted by an earthly, carnal, hateful and false heart; that they did not seek the glory, name and honor of God, but their own; and that they are partial and untruthful, can be easily deduced from the fact that from begnining to end they do not speak a kind word about me nor our beloved brethren; that they are quite silent upon the favor, faithfully rendered them in need; nor once mention that they were so often silenced and could not present any excuses, something which I do not mention to our honor, but to the praise of the Lord; also, that they did not at all in their writings touch upon their confession which they made before us all, that woman has no seed, * * * whereby, in fact, his whole cause was already lost. Again, that there were two persons in Christ; and that the crucified one was not the Son of God; something which does not become an impartial writer who does not seek his own honor, but sincerely seeks the honor of God; also, that they call me quite ignorant, yea, as a cuckoo (as he also calls me) which always sings the same song, and passes himself for a spiritual master, versed in Scripture, while, before God and his angels and before all present, it was actually found to be quite different, as, by the grace of God, will be found and clearly seen from my following writings, if judged according to the divine truth. Very little, alas, have they meditated upon the Scripture of Paul, saying, that we should not be desirous of vain glory, Gal. 5: 26. Inasmuch as they give such an untrue account of the discussion, and as they have so lamentably profaned the Father and his Son, and their precious, dear, powerful and true word and all their confessors as also, our beloved brethren who daily, piously suffer and die for the sake of the Lord’s word, and who are slandered as if their whole life and death were but madness, and their forsaking possessions and kindred, were but heresy; therefore I am impelled, as in duty bound, and for the love of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and his holy church (not urged by wrath; for this I leave to him who in due time shall judge us all without respect of person), faithfully and truthfully to annotate all that which Micron has willfully suppressed, to the dishonor of Christ and his holy word. Besides also, how slanderously he has blasphemed the Father and the Son, the Word and its confessors, and how wrongfully he opposes our faith and doctrine concerning the incarnation of Christ, which is taught and testified to throughout the Scriptures in incontrovertible power and clearness.

I therefore beseech all readers, for the Lord’s sake, to peruse this my explanation, with impartial hearts, to consider well the foundation and to pray the Lord for grace and understanding. I trust to be able to show and explain it, by the aid of God, with such power and clearness of the holy Scriptures, that it will be plainly seen that anti-christian deceit is on the side of our opponents and that the clear ground of truth is on our side. Therefore I would have the judicial term, Alteram partem audito, that is, hear also the other party, applied, and to compare my writings with theirs and not be mistaken through prejudice as do the partial.

I also beseech you not to think hard of my having to use such terms as, seed of man, seed of woman, &c.; God knows how unwillingly I do so; but necessity forces me to make use of such terms, that the glory of Christ Jesus may not be obscured with many, and that the heavenly brightness of his most holy birth may not remain obscured by the anti-christian flattering and sophisty of the breath of Micron.

I can not sufficiently wonder at the man’s heart and mind that he dares publish such absurd fables to the world, and that he dares show himself so ambitious and proud (something which, before God, I must deduce from his writings), as it will doubtlessly be read by many an intelligent person; for what else does he do all through his writings, but exalt himself, and trample me in the dust as is the nature of all the ambitious, something which I would not have written if it only touched me, and not the honor of God, while so many god-fearing, pious men were present who heard the discussion from beginning to end. Yet besides, it is well known, perhaps, to thousands, as I presume, to whom it is known through my printed writings which are daily read here and there, that I have frequently solicited a public discussion, at the risk of being burned if I could not maintain my faith and doctrine by virtue of the Scriptures; but which, alas, has never been accepted.

If I, now, were so entirely ignorant, as must be understood from his writing, it would be very curious why such a discussion should have been so long denied me, as he might thereby have gained many a soul, might have redeemed many a child, if we were wrong; and as he might have won such a fame and reputation, if he had been successful, among those of high standing and also among the whole world. But Micron has not yet forgotten how they were situated with us, notwithstanding he wrote thus sneeringly. If Micron and Herman had feared God as they pretend by their sheep’s clothing, they would not have acted so foolishly as they have done by their writings. But I presume that the one who urged Pharaoh to persecute Israel (notwithstanding he had seen such miracles in Egypt by the hands of Moses and Aaron), and found his punishment in the Red Sea, Ex. 7: 25; 8: 2; 9: 6; 10: 14; 11 : 5; 14 : 28; who urged Antiochus to turn Jerusalem into a death-pit, and on his way met the punisher; that this same one has urged Micron and Herman to write thus, that their covert hypocrisy, their many gross falsehoods, ambitious partiality (I call it as I judge them before the Lord), ingratitude, slander, adulteration and willful garbling of the holy, divine word, their corrupting flatterings, sophistical philosophy, miserable deceit of the poor, despised souls, abominable, anti-christian doctrine, blasphemy of both the Father and his blessed Son, palpable blindness, and their vain, carnal hearts, may once be made manifest through this our explanation; and that thus the hearts which are bound by their snares through the falsehoods which they publish against us, by the fine appearance they put on, and by the garbled Scriptures which they teach by smooth, flattering words, may be unbound and delivered, to the glory of the Lord.

I do not know what else to say or think of the matter. For, more than two years ago I warned him by a man of considerable name and one of his fellow-believers, that if he would put it in print (for I was told that he intended to do so), and would not tell the tale just as it truthfully happened, for I observed that he did not spare falsehood, I should reply to him, if I lived and the Lord granted it. But he was aware that if he did not tell it differently from what it was, he would have acquired but little fame and honor with the world; for it would have sounded: Micron lost it all; something that conceited, proud flesh does not like to hear.

Yet, I would never, in my life, have thought that he was of such extremely ambitious, partial, untrue, infamous, and shameless mind, if I had not been convinced thereof in our discussion and by this writing of his. I thought that his intellect would have told him, even without the warning of any one, that if he should do as he did, while I am yet living, that it would produce him nothing but shame and dishonor with all reasonable readers and auditors. But Micron had to speak, as his heart was full.

But perhaps, he hoped or thought that I might, in the mean time, die, and that he might thus acquire fame and honor, unrebuked, with the world. He was also aware that he could not offend the world, who gladly accept and hear false consolations and slanders, by abusing me; for whosoever can best belie, defame, upbraid, and depict me and my brethren in evil colors, is, with them, a great prophet, and a pleasing preacher. Let them run their course until hindered by the Lord! John says, “They are of the world, and therefore they speak of the world, and the world hear them,” 1 Jn. 4: 5. If possible, the beloved Lord grant them grace. Let the reader take due notice of the following reply, that he may learn to know Christ, do right, and be saved.

In the year 1553, a little before midwinter, it happened that it was told the brethren that a ship-load of people had arrived from Denmark, who, on account of their faith, were driven from England, and that they lay a short distance from the shore, frozen up in the ice.

When the brethren heard of this, they were moved by christian mercy on their account, as was proper. They counseled together and concluded to lend them their assistance to help them out of the ice and properly escort them to the city, without any commotion, as they also did; although they conjectured that it might cause trouble with their governments, as was also the fact.

They met them with wheat bread and wine, so that if there should be any sick among them, they might refresh and stimulate them therewith. And after they had escorted them into the city they made a collection of twenty-four thalers out of their poverty, and presented that sum to the leading ones of them, to be distributed among the needy if such there should be among them. They refused the money, and said they had enough; but would like that labor might be procured for some of their number; in which our brethren assisted them as much as they could.

One of our number offered to take the children of John A’Lasco into his house, and to do the best he could for them. To which Herman Backereel answered: No, this can not be granted; for John A’Lasco is a man who has dealings with lords, princes and other high personages. It might (oh! reader observe) injure his reputation if his children should sojourn with such people. On hearing this, I observed that we had not met with the true, plain and humble pilgrims of Jesus Christ.

Behold, thus was their arrival and reception by us; and such faithful love have our brethren shown them, which was, not long afterward, taken quite amiss by ungrateful Herman; and as appears, is not touched upon in Micron’s account, merely out of hatred of the truth and out of disfavor to the brethren, lest piety should be ascribed to them.

After they had been a few days in the city, Herman and his followers called some of us together and desired a discussion with them, and after many broad assertions he said unto them, “I am a teacher, and would like to have a teacher put against me; for I have heard that Menno was to be in the city. Therefore I would have him or some other teacher to discuss with me. For I have had discussions with hundreds of yours, and when they would be vanquished they would invariably appeal to their teachers.” Behold, thus he spoke! I might here write a good deal about his false pretensions and ambitious expressions; also about his infamous talk behind my back, and seeking if he could not find a splinter about me to magnify into a beam and to tie this upon my back as a sign of shame. Also, how he inquired of an unconscious child about my secret shelter, &c. But, as it can not be serviceable to the reader, therefore I will commend it to the Lord, and leave the shame of Herman untouched, that the reader may not think that I wish to retaliate evil with evil, from which may the Lord forever save me. Yet it is my heart’s desire that he would be more truthful, and more impartial of heart, and that he would fear the Lord, his God, more.

The discussion was agreed upon with Herman and his fellows upon this condition: That they were to tell none where the discussion took place (as I was a poor, weak man, hated of all the world). Upon which they, on their part, gave our brethren their hands that they would never tell it. But how they kept their word their deeds have shown. For it was but a short time until it was known in the streets of Emden where Menno lived, and that Micron and his fellows had a discussion with him. And besides, they have published it in print, to all the world. If honorable, pious persons are not bound to respect their word and pledge (which is considered the same as an oath by all reasonable people) better than this, I will leave to the judgment of all readers, both those for and against me. But there are many who think that they cannot misuse us.

In the same manner they have been ungrateful to the city which showed more mercy to them than all Eastland and Denmark, when in midwinter they knew not where to find shelter; as they, with their unsalted, partial writings, have made the city suspicioned by lords, princes and other cities, that the city maintained us; while the city knew no more of my sojourning than they knew of the hour of their death.

Lastly, they registered the names of some good persons who had not merited such treatment, that they might be known in all countries to which they might move. A reward of thousands has been offered for the apprehension of one and his little children, who have rendered them such great services if the Lord, by his grace, do not prevent it. If they had now, in all this considered the unfeigned, pure love (which wishes harm to none, much less does it), common honesty, and their word and honor, since such a course instructs none upon the earth, nor makes them better in God, and appears more like the work of a traitor, than of a pious man; then, according to my opinion, the evangelical, christian character, spirit, discipline and reasonableness would have been more uniform than it now is. The Lord’s word is true: The fruit shows what the tree is, Matt. 12: 33. Behold, thus have they acted who pretend to be christians and say that we are heretics; who call upon God as their witness and judge that they have faithfully described the discussion, while they are well aware that the first sentence they wrote was a falsehood. And how quite untrue it is, will, by the grace of the Lord, be shown by self-evident truths from my following explanation of the discussion between Herman and myself.

It happened when we met for the purpose of a discussion, that I briefly admonished them in regard to the suffering, oppression, tribulation, persecution and cross of the true christians. To which he immediately answered: “That I wished to make his doctrine suspected.” Something of which I had not thought of in the least. I then quit, and said, Well Herman, I presume you would rather discuss the question of the incarnation? He answered in the affirmative. Then, I said, confess your faith. When he had made his confession, I said, Beloved Herman, take heed of your words. For behold, all these inconsistencies follow from your belief. And enumerated eight of them.

And behold, when I had finished my discourse there was one among them (J. M. whose name is frequently referred to in Micron’s writings), who asked me if I could prove that to be the fact, according to Scripture? thinking that I had thus spoken in regard to my own faith. I told him that he might ask Herman, as it was his faith and doctrine. On hearing this he dropped his head and was silent. I told him thrice, successsively, to get Herman to prove it to him, according to the Scriptures. I have yet to receive his answer.

When I observed such partiality, I was very sorry. I said, Great God, are we thus to treat the word of the Lord. O shame! When you thought that it was my doctrine you wanted Scripture; but since you find that it is the doctrine of Herman, now you have Scripture enough! O, friend, I said, repent and be ashamed before God; for you do not treat his word, as becomes a true christian. And this is one of the principal, impartial witnesses, as Micron wrongfully boasts.

Afterward Herman replied and said, “I will scatter these inconsistencies as the wind scatters the dust.” Dear Herman, I said, do not speak so boldly, it does not become a christian. I know you can not do it. And, praise to the Lord for his grace, it is verified to the present time as I can plainly see by Micron’s Appendix, notwithstanding they have revolved the matter in their heads for more than two years.

The inconsistencies remained unreplied to, and it was mostly granting that could be heard from him. So at last I said, My dear sir, show me, where do you find it written that he took on him our flesh or our human nature, as you claim? He then answered: Paul teaches us that Christ “took on him the form of a servant,” Phil. 2: 7.

When he had finished his discourse I asked him whether or not he agreed with John A’Lasco, in doctrine? He answered in the affirmative. I replied: Well, A’Lasco has made an antithesis of this Scripture of Paul “In the form of God,” and, “the form of a servant.” That as he was in a divine form and thereby truly was God, he has thus, also, taken upon himself our sinful form and was thereby, truly, made man, “but” (he says), “the sins, on account of which we are called servants in Scripture, he did not have.”

From which antithesis one of two things must be true. Either, if he had the sinful form and not the sin, that he then, by virtue of the antithesis, also, must have had the divine form; but he did not have the divine form. Or if he had, and therewith the divinity also, that he, also, must have had the sinful form, and therewith sin; else the antithesis is false and can not stand, in fact. In this view of the matter one of two things is true, that Christ Jesus was either a sinner, or else he was not God. And how such doctrine agrees with the Scriptures, I will leave to your own judgment.

Then he replied: “The Scriptures testify that he was without sin.” It is true, I said. Therefore it is manifest that this antithesis of A’Lasco is false, and that you can not maintain your doctrine by this Scripture. But if the Scripture is to remain unbroken, then this is the true antithesis; as Christ was in the godly form, and was thereby truly God, as he humbled himself and did not take on himself the form of a potentate, emperor, or king, whom we should serve, but the form of a poor servant, because he wanted to serve; for as he has been truly God in God, and with God his Father, from eternity; thus he became our true servant, in due time, Isa. 7: 15; 9: 5; 40 : 28; Jer. 23 : 5; 33 : 15; Jn. 1 : 2; Rom. 9: 26; 1 Jn. 5: 5; Matt. 12: 18; 20: 28.

He then abandoned that Scripture, and said, “There is another one much plainer, which has it that,” “He has taken on him the seed of Abraham,” Heb. 2: 16. Not so Herman, I said. We should not thus adulterate the Scriptures. For it does not read that he has taken on him the seed of Abraham, but it reads that he took it on himself. Which taking on shall last unto the end.

He then took the words of the same chapter and said, “That Christ had taken upon himself the children’s flesh and blood, and is thus, on account of the flesh, called our brother.”

On hearing this I replied: That that was again an adulteration of the Scriptures; for it is written that he took upon himself flesh and blood; but not the flesh and blood of children. Therefore let us get at the meaning of these words at the start, lest we adulterate the Scriptures. Thus Paul says, “He that sanctifieth, and they who are sanctified, are of one.” Now I ask, to whom has it reference? To God or to Adam? He replied: “To Adam.” Then it follows, I said, incontrovertibly, that all ungodly children of the devil, such as thieves, murderers, drunkards, haters, idolaters, whores and rogues, are Christ’s brethren and sisters. He frankly admitted this to be the case.

It would further follow, if we were Christ’s brethren and sisters on account of the flesh, then also we would be his children on account of the flesh; for Paul says, “Behold, I and my children,” &c. From which it would surely follow that the one brother had generated the other, and the children their father, according to the flesh. And I will leave you to study out how such a generation could be, according to the Scriptures, and according to the ordinance of God.

After passing some other words concerning the partaking of, I asked him if Adam had not partaken of flesh and blood? He answered in the affirmative. Well, said I, of whose flesh and blood did he partake, if we are to understand participation as you do? Therefore beloved Herman, take heed. Your learned ones deceive you. Thus Paul says, “He that threshes in hope, should be partaker of his hope,” that is, that he may obtain that for which he hopes. Again, in the same chapter: “If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather?” 1 Cor. 9: 10, 12, that is, if others have this power. Again, “We are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end,” Heb. 3 : 14. Not that we partake partly but wholly.

Therefore, beloved Herman, I warn you, let the Scripture remain Scripture and do not garble it to suit your opinion. For Paul does not say that the unsanctified, such as, liars, haters, proud, adulterers, and the children of the devil are one with Christ, our Savior, but that the sanctified are of one with him, that is, those who, with him are born of one God. On account of which birth of God, and not of Adam, we are his brethren; for the regenerated with him, have one Father, as he is the first begotten Son of God, thus he is also the firstborn among many brethren, Heb. 1: 6; Rom. 8: 29.

As holy Paul, then, teaches us that he is thus the first-begotten among the brethren; therefore it is very plain that he is not our brother of Adam, but of God; for he was not the first-begotten of Adam, therefore Adam’s children must, through regeneration by faith, also become the children of God, Jn. 1: 12, and thus be Christ’s brethren, Matt. 12: 50; Mark 3: 35; Luke 8: 21; Heb. 2: 11.

Behold, he is not ashamed to call his brethren, such regenerated and sanctified ones who, with him, have one Father (no whores, rogues and children of the devil), saying, Thy name (he means his Father’s name and not Adam’s) I will promulgate to my brethren. Again, I will trust in him (namely, in the Father, and not in Adam). Again, behold, “I and the children which God (not Adam) hath given me.” Inasmuch as it is very plain that his children are not the carnal, but the spiritual children (for he had no carnal children) then his brethren must be spiritual brethren; or else one Scripture must be understood spiritually and the other carnally, then, also sister Mary must have generated her brother Christ, in the flesh. This is incontrovertible.

Although now such regenerated, the sanctified, are his brethren and sisters they yet have, contrary to their own will, communion with flesh and blood, through the inherent sinful nature; they frequently sin, stumble and transgress, and are thus through the beforementioned communion, conscious of guilt according to the law which requires perfect righteousness. And behold, therefore he is their Savior, first-begotten Brother, and Father Christ, who in like manner, has partaken of flesh and blood, not of the children, for it does not read so, and in that case he must have been one of two sons, one of whom was of heaven, eternal and immortal, the other of earth and mortal, but the Word itself (I add some words for explanation) is become flesh, that is, a truly passive, mortal man, in Mary, as John says, “The word is become flesh,” like unto his sanctified brethren in all things, except sin, that he might fulfill the law in his innocent flesh and not by our guilty flesh; that he might take away the deserved death by his innocent death; destroy the devil who had the power of death; bruise the Serpent’s head; sanctify us unto God, his Father, by virtue of his precious blood; and assist us in all our temptations and besetting sins which result from our wicked flesh and the inspirations of Satan. Behold, this is the proper explanation of Heb. 2 : 14. And by such explanation Christ remains the undivided Son of God, the Scripture remains unbroken, Christ remains the Sanctifier and we are the sanctified. Brethren and children, there is not a single Scripture which contradicts this, while Herman’s confession and faith are very inconsistent as has been heard.

When I again touched upon the inconsistencies, he asked me to confess my faith, as he had done his; and he was going to show, he said, more inconsistencies (although he had not yet heard it) in my faith than I had shown in his. And when I had made my confession, he said, “This is too long for me; I can not reply to it.” I then made a brief statement. Yet I was shown no inconsistency.

Behold, worthy reader, these are the principal points and Scriptures which Herman and I discussed concerning the incarnation of Christ. I say the principal ones; for to repeat all the words which passed between us, is impossible.

After meal time we came to the discussion of pedo-baptism, which he tried to make right by the assertion, that the children, as he said, are accounted as believing, by the Scriptures, and that Zaccheus (he insisted upon Zaccheus, notwithstanding I told him that it was not Zaccheus), and his whole house were baptized.

Kind reader, if I were to give an account of the discussion as it happened it would seem to some readers as if I were partial; again, to others, who know me, that it was very foolish of him to challenge us while he did not know more of Scripture. I told him twice, dear Herman, you are too young; you will have to learn a great deal before you ought to try to defend your cause. What is become of all your bold assertions which you made at the start? Yet, Micron writes that some of their weak brethren were very much strengthened by Herman during the discussion. I will leave the matter here. Thus they hoodwink the reader that he may not observe that Herman acted so childish, to their shame.

I know to a certainty that Micron was written to immediately after the discussion, as his own writing implies. For their brethren who were with us were in great need, inwardly and outwardly. What he means by ‘inwardly’ I will leave the reader to judge.