Foundation and Plain Instruction: The Conduct of Preachers

As you have just heard the basis of the calling and doctrine of the preachers, we will go on, and through the grace of God point out from the Scriptures how the true apostles, bishops, teachers and pastors in the church of Christ should conduct themselves in their behavior and lives. It is not enough that a man appears to speak much of the word of the Lord; what he says must also be upheld by a devout and blameless conduct, as the Scriptures teach.

So Paul says, “But I keep my body under, and bring it into subjection; lest by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway,” First Corinthians 9, verse 27. If it is fitting for the hearers and disciples to lead a blameless life, how much more is it fitting for teachers, because they rule the hearers and are their overseers. As Paul says, “Remember those who have the rule over you, who have spoken to you the word of God; whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation,” Hebrews 13, verse 7. [Note 1]

He also urges Timothy to this, and says, “Let no man despise your youth; but be an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity,” First Timothy 4, verse 12. In all things showing yourself a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, and so on, Titus 2, verse 7. For it is undoubtedly right that anyone who teaches and reproves others should first himself be rightly taught and blameless, as Paul teaches: “If a man desires the office of a bishop, he desires a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach; not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; one that rules his own house well, having his children in subjection with all gravity; for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God? Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride, he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must have a good report of those who are outside; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. He must be sober, just, holy, temperate; holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things,” First Timothy 3, verses 1 to 11; Titus 1, verses 8 and 9.

See, dear reader, every preacher and teacher who would rightly govern and rule in the church of God must be qualified in this way. For if anyone were to reprove and teach others while he himself is not blameless and is ignorant, he will justly have to hear: Why do you teach others and not teach yourself first? You teach that a man should not steal, and you steal. You say a man should not commit adultery, and you commit it. You abhor idols, yet you commit sacrilege. You boast of the law of God, and dishonor God by breaking the law, Romans 2, verses 21 to 23.

All who are called in this way, who are sound in doctrine and blameless in life, may teach, exhort, reprove, root up and build in the name of the Lord. Their labors will not be fruitless, as may be seen in the case of Moses, Samuel, Elias, Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Peter, Paul, John, and all the true prophets, apostles and servants of God, who preached the word blamelessly in the power of the Spirit.

Their doctrine cuts like a sharp-edged sword, for it has power; it is fruitful, and has spirit and energy, as the prophet says, “As the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and does not return there, but waters the earth, and makes it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth; it shall not return to me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing to which I sent it,” Isaiah 55, verses 10 and 11.

Yes, all those who enter the vineyard of the Lord with such a sending or calling, and with such a spirit, doctrine and conduct as described, are the shepherds of whom it is written, “I will give you pastors according to my heart, who shall feed you with knowledge and understanding,” Jeremiah 3, verse 15.

They are the teachers who turn many to righteousness, and they shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, as the stars forever, Daniel 12, verse 3.

They are the spiritual streams and the rivers of the paradise of Christ, which flow from the fountains of the paradise of God to water and enrich the whole country, Genesis 2, verses 10 to 14.

They are the spiritual posts and pillars in the court of the tabernacle of Moses, with hangings of fine twined linen, Exodus 27, verse 9.

They are the sixty valiant men, of the valiant of Israel, who are around Solomon’s bed. They all hold swords, being expert in war; every man has his sword upon his thigh because of fear in the night, Song of Songs 3, verses 7 and 8.

They are the seven horns or trumpets of the golden years, before whose sound, teaching and preaching the walls of Jericho fell. That is, all false doctrine, all powers and dominions raised up against the true Joshua, Jesus Christ, and his people, are brought low, Joshua 6, verse 10.

They are the beautiful messengers of peace, who preach the gospel of grace, favor, mercy, love and peace, and bring glad tidings of good things to us poor, miserable, troubled sinners, Isaiah 52, verse 7; Romans 10, verse 15.

They are seven mighty mountains on which roses and lilies grow, whose sweet scent refreshes with joy all who fear the Lord, Second Esdras 2, verse 19.

They are the splendid crown of twelve stars of the woman who is with child and in labor, Revelation 12, verses 1 and 2.

They are the walls of the new and heavenly Jerusalem, resting on the twelve foundations, that is, on the ground and doctrine of the twelve apostles, Revelation 21, verse 14.

See, worthy reader, with such and similar glorious images and parables all the pious pastors and teachers are honored in the Scriptures, whom the Holy Spirit has ordained as bishops and overseers in his church, congregation and house.

These may say with holy Paul, Follow us as we follow Christ, “for our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile; but as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, who tries our hearts. For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak of covetousness; God is witness. Nor did we seek glory from men,” Second Thessalonians 2, verses 3 to 6. [Note 2]

I repeat it: these are the ones who gather with Christ what has been scattered, bind up the wounded and heal the sick, for they are moved by the Spirit of the Lord and urged on by sincere love. They are watchful and diligent in carrying out the duties entrusted to them. They fight daily with the weapon of obedience. They tear down, break and destroy all that is against the word of God, not by outward power, with sword and spear, but by the preaching of the holy word, in power and spirit, with the word of the Lord. They till, sow, water and plant. They cut down what is ripe. They gather their grain and sheaves and carry them into the Lord’s barn, and their fruits will last to eternal life.

Since the Scriptures require such teachers as described above, it is necessary that we weigh the conduct of your preachers in the balance and test their actions by the plumb line of the divine word, before your own eyes. Then you may discover how far they fall short, in their conduct, of the pattern of the true bishops, preachers and pastors that Paul set out to Timothy and Titus, in all their lives and actions; and that they are the very reverse, people who, without spirit, word, work or truth, are called so by the world in appearance only.

It is plain, beloved reader, that they have changed the meek office of a true bishop, preacher and pastor, which is an office of Christian service, and, if rightly carried out, an office full of labor, poverty, trouble, care, reproach, misery, tribulation, cross and affliction, into ungodly showiness and princely glory. They have done this so that they may be greatly respected and feared by those whose names are not written in heaven. To this end they appear in splendid robes and are dressed in shining garments, Revelation 13, verse 8; they are called by pompous names, and use in their services crosses, ointments, caps, togas and unclean purifications, and have cloisters, chapels, bells, organs, music, masses, offerings, and so on, of which not a word is to be found in the Scriptures. Under these splendid trappings the sly, crouching wolf can plainly be seen, the earthly, sensual mind, the antichristian seductions and bloody abominations. For they seek nothing but the favor of men, honor, splendor, venery, idleness, self, gold, silver, gluttony, and so on, and let themselves be called spiritual doctors, teachers, lords, abbots, guardians, fathers and priors. [Note 3]

Alas! how vastly they differ from the prophets and apostles in their office, services, examples, customs, lives and in all they did. These entered the vineyard of the Lord without purse, without money, without much clothing; they were made a spectacle to the whole world, and for Christ’s sake were killed all the day long and counted as sheep for the slaughter, as may be seen from the Scriptures.

But these have their chests and coffers full; they have grown rich through the abundance of the Babylonian sorcery, and have become princes on earth, Revelation 18, verse 15. In all things they are blameworthy. They violate the chastity of women, and carry it on so shamelessly that it cannot be told. They are unchaste, unmerciful, malicious, scorners, unfriendly, unrighteous, liars, drunkards, and full of disordered desires. Their tables are full of uncleanness, as Isaiah the prophet says. Their hearts are full of greed, and they are malicious toward those who will not contribute to their support. They even prepare war against them, as Micah teaches. They are full of adultery, sit with harlots in their houses, and father children outside of marriage. They are unbelieving, rebellious, proud and ambitious; they do not obey the word of the Lord; they are bound with the cords of the devil, and there are many who have not known the truth and are a scandal and disgrace to the world. Their dreadful, abominable fruits make this plain to all. They fight against Christ and his word, hate all the pious, and speak reproachfully of all who seek, love and fear the Lord with all their hearts. In short, it is impossible to tell all their abominable crimes, lewdness, ungodly deeds, private and public vices, infamy and abominations.

O dear Lord! how much more have they become the reverse of the upright and true bishops, overseers and pastors, although this proud generation boasts that they can bring Christ down from heaven, reconcile God, forgive sins, and that they are the true pillars, heads and eyes of the church.

Although I have written this especially of the Roman priests, the reader should know that I cannot in any way acquit those who boast of the word. For, except for adultery and fornication and a few of the abuses of the bread, which are not found among them, they seek and desire unreasonable gain in the common walks of life; they make idols of baptism and the Holy Supper, and oppress, backbite and slander the pious, much as the others do.

Therefore I fear that all who preach for money and flatter the world are the spiritual sorcerers of Egypt, Second Timothy 3, verse 8; priests of the groves, servants of Baal and prophets of Jezebel; destroyers of the Lord’s vineyard, Jeremiah 12, verse 10; defilers of the land, Jeremiah 23, verse 11; blind watchmen and dumb dogs, spoilers of the good pastures. They trouble the clear waters; they are devourers of souls, Ezekiel 22, verse 27; false prophets and ravening wolves, devourers of widows’ houses, thieves and murderers, enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things, Philippians 3, verses 18 and 19; false teachers, founders of sects, cursed children, wandering stars, withered trees without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots, foaming out their own shame, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever, Jude, verse 13; antichrists, locusts that rose from the bottomless pit and came to hurt those who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads, Revelation 9, verse 4. In short, if they will not repent, they are already condemned according to the Scriptures, Titus 3, verse 11; Revelation 21, verse 8.

Not that I would judge anyone, my good reader. I well know that it is written, Do not judge, that you may not be judged; do not condemn, and you shall not be condemned. But they are judged by him who says, “The word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day,” John 12, verse 48.

Those who do such things and the like, says Paul, shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But if anyone does the works of which Paul speaks, he will not be judged by me, nor by any other man, but by the word of the Lord. Therefore we urge you to measure the conduct of your preachers by the Scriptures, and you will find by whom they are judged.

O miserable preachers, whose blindness we may well lament, how much better it would be for you never to have been born! For when you have finished your short, perishable, pleasure-seeking and idle life, and have not repented, as stated above, your portion will be God’s eternal wrath, punishment and judgment in the torments, pains and burnings of hell. Woe and death shall be your end, as the Scriptures threaten, Philippians 3, verse 19.

The reason is that you reject Christ and despise his word, which is everlasting food for the soul, on which we must live eternally. You despise his word because it reproves your vain and frivolous conduct, showing that you are indeed sensual, of the world and of the devil, as is evident; and because you so miserably deceive poor souls, and so cruelly hate, lie about, reproach and betray all who sincerely seek the salvation of their souls; you take their property and rob them of honor and life, these who in great love admonish your deceiving teachers by the word of God and reprove their ungodly deeds with all discretion, Deuteronomy 8, verse 3; Matthew 4, verse 4.

O Balaam, Balaam, how long will you so mercilessly kick and beat the poor donkey that has to suffer all the reproach, scorn and disgrace for the sake of his master’s testimony? And will you never listen kindly as he answers you with a human voice and reproves your great folly and error, telling you that he is driven by an angel with a drawn sword, namely, by the Spirit and word of the Lord, so that he can no longer carry (endure) you in your ungodly deeds?

Well then! seed of Cain, Korah and Balaam, prepare your defense. Lie, cheat, censure, blaspheme, hate, root up, disgrace and murder as much as you can. Cite all the councils, authors and learned teachers there have been for centuries; appeal to all the lords and princes, emperors, kings and the mighty of the earth. Use all the power, skill and cunning you can command; it will do you no good. The Lamb will conquer and gain the victory; the people of God will triumph, not with physical weapons, but in patience, with the Spirit and Word of God. Jerusalem and the temple must be built up, although the Azotus and Sanballat may try to hinder it; not with lifeless stones, which are now trodden upon in every street by your unclean feet, Nehemiah 4, verse 6. Although all the gates of hell may resist, Babel must be destroyed and laid waste. The ten kings will and must perform their service. You will gnaw your tongues for pain, cry and weep bitterly over the torments of Babel, and say, Alas! alas! that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! For in one hour such great riches have come to nothing; for her sins have reached up to heaven, and the Lord has remembered her wickedness, Revelation 18, verse 16.

The gospel will and must be heard; lies must be exposed, and your blind folly made known to all men. Although I and my brothers may be called away by death before this takes place, yet it will undoubtedly happen at the appointed time, which the Holy Spirit so plainly foretold and taught through the worthy disciple John.

O stiff-necked and evil generation, how long will you resist the Holy Spirit? How long will you revile the truth and prefer lies? How long will your hands drip with the blood of the innocent? Reform your wicked lives, fear God with all your hearts, renounce all your glossy, sensual and carnal doctrine, come forward with us, and deal with us according to the word of God, so that the gospel may be rightly preached and upheld by a pious and blameless life. O, if you would do this, no innocent blood would be shed, and the truth would be made known.

But we are afraid it will be as the prophet said, “The wicked shall do wickedly, and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand,” Daniel 12, verse 10. For it is the custom of all the sects who are outside of Christ and his word to defend their foundations, faith and actions with the sword. The Romans, the Arians, the Circumcellions, the Lutherans, the Zuinglians and the Munsterites are our witnesses; but Christ’s people suffer and bear it.

Is it not a grievous error that these poor people want to be called Christians, and yet are guilty of such abominable things as exterminating, robbing, arresting, burning, torturing, murdering, and so on, on the pretense that the kingdom of Christ, the glory of the Lord, the word and truth of God, were to be defended and upheld by such horrible disgrace?

Alas, no! you miserable men, no. All who are moved by the spirit of Christ know of no sword but the word of the Lord. Their weapons are powerful, fervent prayer, a long-suffering and patient heart, strong, immovable faith, a living hope and a blameless life; by these the gospel of the kingdom, the word of peace, is to be spread abroad and defended against the gates of hell.

Beloved reader, if you have the fear of God, then learn to know your bishops, prophets, pastors and teachers rightly, and remember what is written, “Come out from among them, and be separate, says the Lord, and do not touch the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and I will be a Father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty,” Second Corinthians 6, verses 17 and 18; and again, “Come out of her, my people, that you be not partakers of her sins, and that you receive not of her plagues,” Revelation 18, verse 4. Consider that the mouth of the Lord said, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. You shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?” Matthew 7, verses 15 and 16. They are the salt that has lost its savor, and is from then on good for nothing but to be thrown out and trodden under foot by men, as the Lord says, Matthew 5, verse 13.

In short, they are those of whom Paul warned when he said, “Know this also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those who are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying its power; from such turn away,” Second Timothy 3, verses 1 to 5.

Again, you see, then, that your preachers are such persons as described, and that the Scriptures abundantly admonish and command us to forsake them, fear them, avoid them, flee from them, and so on. And this is why we openly teach not to hear their seducing doctrines, not to use their sacraments, and to have nothing to do with their false worship.

Rather say: What godliness can Israel bring from Assyria, Egypt or Babylon?

How can the true service be found among the priests of Baal? How can you be taught in divine things to righteousness by those who are ignorant of them themselves?

How can you learn Christ from antichrist, and the word of God from false prophets?

How can you be blessed by the cursed, and be rightly led by the blind?

How will you draw water from dry fountains, and gather fruit from withered trees? Second Peter 2, verse 17.

How can you be partakers of the Lord’s table and of the table of devils?

How can you drink both the Lord’s cup and the devil’s cup, and be in the communion of Christ and of antichrist? Second Corinthians 10, verse 21. [Note 4]

You cannot serve two masters who are opposed to each other; you must love the one and hate the other, or else you will hold to the one and despise the other. You must be for Christ or against him; you will gather with him, or destroy in opposition to him, Matthew 6, verse 24.

Since we, by the grace of God, so plainly see how your preachers are sent, and see their doctrine and lives, how they go without being called, falsify the word of God, lead a wanton, sensual life and deceive the poor people; and since we are so abundantly admonished by the Scriptures to forsake, avoid and shun such preachers, because they are so directly opposed to Christ and his word; and since we desire to obey the voice of our shepherd in this matter, as is fitting for all the pious of Christ, for the kingdom is promised to the obedient, as the Scriptures say, “Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of my Father,” Matthew 7, verse 21.

And we also, in agreement with God’s word, have departed from their doctrine, sacraments and service. This we testify both by word and deed, with possessions and blood, before lords and princes, in cities and in the country, before you and the world, as an admonition, doctrine and instruction, so that all of you, both teachers and hearers, might awaken, reflect on the truth, repent, and come out from the kingdom and fellowship of antichrist and enter the kingdom and communion of Christ; and so free your poor souls from the snares of unbelief, that you may be rescued, preserved and eternally saved.

For we would sooner endure in our mortal bodies misery, poverty, tribulation, hunger, thirst, heat, cold, bonds and death, and hold to the word of the Lord, than lead secure, easy lives with the world and, for the sake of a short and temporal life, ruin our souls.

We think with holy Peter that we should obey God rather than man; and with virtuous Susanna, that it is better to fall into the hands of man than into the hands of God. All who fear the Lord may read and judge.