Foundation and Plain Instruction: Counter Arguments of Babylon and Its Builders

Beloved reader, we have clearly shown you the difference between true and false preachers, and why we should not hear them, and we hope that the God-fearing, who acknowledge the word of the Lord to be true, may fully grasp this Ground and Truth. Still, we find some among those preachers who partly know that their cause cannot stand the test of the Scripture.

Nevertheless, not being born of God, nor fearing him, but seeking unlawful gain, the world and ease, they have twisted a variety of scriptural passages, by which they persuade the simple, those who dread the cross of Christ, that it is lawful to hear their doctrine and attend their church services. And this they do in order to live at ease and enjoy good times.

In the first place, they say that Christ said, “The Scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: all, therefore, whatever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not do after their works,” Matthew 23, verse 3. From this they conclude as follows. The Scribes and Pharisees sat in the seat of Moses and mixed leaven with the unleavened lump, of which Christ warned his disciples, and yet he said, All therefore whatever they bid you observe, that observe and do. In the same way, they say, they themselves now sit in Christ’s seat, although in their doctrine and lives they are not upright and free from guilt; and that therefore we are to hear them, so far as they preach the word of God, but not to do after their works.

To this we reply: First we ask them whether they and the Pharisees are one or not. If they answer yes, they must then be their own judges, and decide that they are of those who crucified Christ, stoned Stephen, beat the apostles and persecuted the saints, and that they are of those who are threatened with eternal woe; then they may well be afraid and fear the Lord and his judgments. If they answer no, then they can prove nothing with this passage.

Secondly, we reply: They bring forward this passage quasi argumentum assimili, that is, as it were an argument of similitude, and say that to sit in Moses’ seat is to preach and carry out Moses’ law rightly, with its ceremonies. This the Scribes and Pharisees did; they left the law and ceremonies entire and altered nothing in them, although they practiced some superstition with them, as may be seen from Matthew 15, verse 3. For had they altered the law and ceremony, they would not have been sitting in Moses’ seat.

But just as the Scribes and Pharisees did sit in Moses’ seat, these men will then also have to show that they sit in Christ’s seat. That is, they must prove that they preach Christ’s gospel, baptism, Supper and separation, and preach and practice all things correctly; otherwise the argumentum assimili cannot stand. If this is the case, we may then ask counsel of the Scriptures: why do they allow the traditions of men to be added to these things? But we well know that the Scriptures are silent on this subject.

Thirdly, we reply: as long as the Scribes and Pharisees sat in Moses’ seat, and practiced the ceremonies and taught the law, which pointed to Christ, as related before, so long did Christ direct his disciples and the people of that time to them. For the law was not yet fully accomplished; the perfect sacrifice, which was to abolish all the sacrifices that were types and figures, had not yet been offered; the veil of the temple was not yet torn; the figures and shadows were not yet changed into the new and lasting reality. After it had all been accomplished according to the Scriptures, and all things made new in Christ, he did not then send out the Scribes and Pharisees with Moses’ law, but his disciples with his own doctrine, and said, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature,” Mark 16, verse 15, “teaching them to observe all things whatever I have commanded you,” Matthew 28, verse 20.

Since, then, all things are new in and through Christ: as the people of Moses were directed by Christ, before his death, to Moses’ preachers, to those who sat in Moses’ seat and rightly taught the law and ceremonies, in the same way in the New Testament, after the death of Christ, we are directed to those preachers who sit in Christ’s seat, teaching his words blamelessly and using his sacraments as the Scriptures teach.

But the Scriptures abundantly warn us about those who corrupt Christ’s doctrine, misuse his sacraments, seduce the people, and lead dissolute and wanton lives. Such people we are to shun, avoid and abandon, and not admit them into our houses, for they sit in antichrist’s seat and not in Christ’s, as has been said, Matthew 7, verse 15.

Secondly, they bring forward what Paul says, “Quench not the spirit; despise not prophesyings; prove all things; hold fast that which is good; abstain from all appearance of evil,” First Thessalonians 5, verses 19 to 22.

I answer: Paul himself explains, in our opinion, of what spirit and prophecy he was speaking. For if the apostle had meant that we should go to houses where this open seduction and idolatry are carried on, and there test their spirit and doctrines, Paul would have contradicted himself, since he says that we are to separate from them, shun them and flee from them. For we know for certain that they corrupt the word and sacraments of the Lord, seek nothing but a good living, and are without the spirit and doctrine of Christ.

O no, Paul did not write this of such preachers as the Scribes and Pharisees were, nor of the idolatrous priests of Egypt and Babylon (understand well what I mean). He said it concerning the prophets, pastors and teachers in the Church of Christ: that we are not to quench their spirit, but test their doctrine and hold fast to what is good; and if they taught anything not in accordance with the Scriptures and the true faith, we are to avoid it. If any man prophesies, let him prophesy according to the proportion of faith, Romans 12, verse 6. And this is what John urges on his disciples, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but try the spirits, whether they are of God,” First John 4, verse 1. And this passage, Abstain from all appearance of evil, may be understood as not properly referring to what has just been mentioned.

My good reader, we have tested your preachers so thoroughly, both as to their spirit and their doctrine, that we may say with a clear conscience that they are not of God and his word, but of the bottomless pit, of the dragon and of the beast. Tell me, dear reader, how shall we acknowledge as teachers those who so wantonly fight against the word of God? What communion has light with darkness? What concord has Christ with Belial? First Corinthians 6, verse 14. The greater part of their teaching and action is delusion and hypocrisy. My reader, do not twist these words, for what I write is the truth, and I can prove it to the whole world from their doctrines, lives and sacraments. [Note 1]

Thirdly, they ask, Why will we not hear them, when the wise men from the East paid heed to what Herod said?

Answer: To bring forward this passage seems to me so childish that it is not worth a reply at all. For Herod did nothing else than point out to the wise men, on the instruction of the scribes, the town in which the king of the Jews was to be born; and he did it with a bloodthirsty heart, as the act that followed shows. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search diligently for the young child, and when you have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also,” Matthew 2, verse 8.

Herod was afraid, when he heard that a king had been born to the Jews, that he might lose his kingdom and glory. Therefore he spoke with the wise men out of pure hypocrisy and slyness, for he wanted the child dead, to prevent it from becoming king. But when he saw that his hypocrisy had failed, he became very much enraged and showed his fierce, tyrannical, ungodly disposition. He sent out and killed all the children that were in Bethlehem and in all its borders, from two years old and under, so that by killing all the innocent children he might also destroy the newborn king, as may be seen from Matthew 2, verse 16.

O my good reader, how fittingly they appeal to this hypocritical, lying, ambitious and tyrannical Herod, for the greater part of them are of the same spirit and disposition. They are so much pained that Christ is born again through his word. They practice hypocrisy like Herod; they lie, and say that they are sincere. But they fear for their unlawful gain, their rich and lazy life, lest Christ should rule, just as Herod feared he would lose his kingdom. And they are ready to destroy the pious, as Herod was set on the blood of Christ, as you have heard.

Since, then, they are plainly hypocritical liars and earthly-minded, and also intent on blood, as may be seen in some places, we will also take as our example in this matter the wise men, who, being warned by a heavenly inspiration, did not return to Herod. Through the grace of God we will faithfully observe the Lord’s inspiration, counsel, doctrine and admonition, and turn to those who point out Christ in full power and practice, and teach in the truth, according to the spirit.

Fourthly, some of them say, Even if the devil were to preach the word of God, why should we not hear him?

In the first place, I reply to these vain, slanderous accusers that it would be good for them to learn to distinguish rightly between the spirit and disposition of the devil and the spirit and nature of Christ, before they utter such untimely, blasphemous words before the poor people.

The devil was a liar from the beginning, and will undoubtedly always be one. Since, then, he is a liar, and lying is his nature, disposition and work, as the Lord says, how can he sincerely and rightly teach and preach the word of God, which is truth and is directly opposed to his lying disposition and nature? And even if he did teach the truth correctly and give Christ his praise, he still does so with a false heart, for he is a devil and the truth is not in him.

He confessed Christ rightly and according to the contents of his word when he said, You are Christ, the holy one of God; you are Christ, the Son of God. However, Christ did not want his confession, but rebuked him and said, Hold your peace, and come out of him; for his confession was made with a devilish heart, as has been said.

Secondly, I say: if anyone wants to hear the voice of the devil, he need not go far; alas! he can hear him everywhere. All who speak lies speak of the devil. In the beginning he spoke through the serpent; in Israel, through the false prophets; and now through his preachers, in order to deceive the people of the world and turn them away from the truth, so that they can never be saved.

Since, then, he has been a lying spirit from the beginning and still is, an adversary of God, a falsifier of the Scriptures and a murderer of souls, and will be such eternally, one who can neither teach nor endure anything good, because he is by nature unclean, a liar and a deceiver, always the enemy of everything that is good, we will therefore, through God’s grace, stop our ears and not hear such blasphemous speaking. We will turn our backs on the devil with all his lying preachers, as the Scriptures teach; and we will sincerely believe the Scriptures, which direct us to Christ, to hear him. Christ directs us to his disciples, and they direct us to such teachers as are blameless in doctrine and life, as related. May the merciful and gracious Lord eternally preserve all pious hearts against this Herodian generation and against the devil’s preachers. Amen.

Fifthly, some also say that we may hear them, provided we do not let ourselves be deceived by them.

I answer: The reader should observe how the people of God were always separated from the world, from the days of Abraham on; and especially since the days of Moses they have had their own particular preachers, teachers, ceremonies, ordinances and services, as may be abundantly read and seen in all the books of Moses.

Secondly, that Israel was commanded by God that if a false prophet were to rise up among them, even if he were to do wonders and signs, he should die, Deuteronomy 13, verse 4.

Thirdly, Israel was not allowed to teach or to receive any doctrine or worship from any of the foreign nations around them, but was to keep closely to the law and testimonies.

Fourthly, when there arose ungodly kings, such as Jeroboam, Ahab, Manasseh and many others, who loved their own righteousness and idolatry more than the word and right worship of the Lord, and when the false prophets multiplied, who turned the people from the Lord and his law, then the Lord also raised up true prophets, such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, and so on, to reprove the disobedient, idolatrous kings and false prophets and to warn the people faithfully against them. And he said, “Do not listen to the words of the prophets that prophesy to you; they make you vain; they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord,” Jeremiah 23, verse 16. These prophets all pointed gloriously to Christ, to his kingdom and reign.

Fifthly, that Christ, as well as Moses, ordained and appointed in his kingdom, community or church, prophets, preachers, teachers, ceremonies and ordinances, which are to be observed by all true Christians forever.

Sixthly, the holy apostles teach, advise and admonish us to separate ourselves, in doctrine and in worship, from those, whether baptized or not, who do not agree with the spirit, doctrine, regulations and examples of Christ.

Seventhly, that the whole world, with its spirit, doctrine, sacrament, worship and conduct, is far from Christ’s spirit, word, sacrament, worship and example, and, alas! is nothing but a new Sodom, Egypt and Babel, Revelation 11, verse 8.

Eighthly, that all those who acknowledge God’s word and are partakers of his Spirit are called on to let their lights shine out of darkness and give light to the world; to reprove all ungodliness by word, deed, life and death; to confess the Lord’s holy name, word and will; and to confirm it by a pious and blameless life, according to the Scriptures.

Ninthly, that “whoever shall offend one of these little ones who believe in me (Christ), it would be better for him that a millstone were hung around his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea,” Matthew 18, verse 6.

Tenthly, that we consider well why, or for what reason, we are not to hear such preachers. If we do hear them and desire to be taught by them, then we seek the truth among lies and life among the dead. But if we will not be taught by them, but use our liberty, as they call it, we must confess that such hearing is no hearing, but trifling and hypocrisy. By it we despise the spirit, doctrine, ordinances, counsel, admonition, community and church of Christ; we strengthen the seducing abominations, the idolatry and the kingdom of antichrist; we conform to the world in all appearance of evil, act the hypocrite, grieve and vex many a pious child of God, cause strife among the pious, and think lightly of the innocent blood that is shed in many places on this account.

See, my readers, all who fear the Lord, and rightly examine and judge these ten articles, here briefly stated, by the Spirit and word of the Lord, will not waver here. They will faithfully heed the counsel and admonition of the Holy Spirit, reprove the world both by works and doctrine, avoid every appearance of evil, and walk blamelessly in the house of the Lord.

But concerning the false worship, the light-minded comfort one another and say: Children may be baptized, for the child is clean, the water is clean, and to wash and to bathe is also clean, and so on. We may also receive the Supper of the Lord at the hands of these preachers, even though it is in idolatrous houses; Christians no longer have any idols, they only use bread and wine as such, which is pure to the pure; Paul says, To the pure all things are pure. They appeal to the case of Naaman, the Captain of the king of Assyria, and to the house of Rimmon, and say, We do not care about the idolatry of the priests, but we worship Him who made heaven and earth.

I answer: If a single passage can be brought from the Scriptures saying that uncleanness, sin, falsifying the ordinances of God, idolatry, disobedience to the word and hypocrisy are all pure to the pure, that is, to the true believers, then we might give it a little thought. But we know for certain that not a single passage can be brought forward.

O my reader, if the men of God had understood the Scriptures the way these poor people do, the three valiant young men would by no means have let themselves be cast into the fiery furnace. The upright Eleazer, the God-fearing, pious mother with her seven sons, the holy prophets, apostles and pious witnesses of God would have saved their lives and escaped the cruel tortures and pains, and would have said, To the pure all things are pure; we will gladly comply.

O no! my good reader, no: the clean are not to touch the unclean. Do not touch the unclean thing, says the Spirit of God through Isaiah and Paul, that is, what the Scriptures forbid. If someone washed himself after touching a dead body and then touches it again, what good is his washing? Is it not folly for any man to wash his clothes and afterwards tread them into the mire again? The Scriptures plainly teach that “the just shall live by faith,” and that a “good tree brings forth good fruit.” We certainly know that a humble, lowly-minded soul will never array itself magnificently in gold, pearls or other costly clothing; that those who fear the Lord will be honest, chaste and sober; they will not talk, drink, sing and dance with dishonorable women, for the knowledge, fear and love of God and his word forbid them. And if one does so, we know that his light is darkness and his conduct not in agreement with the Scriptures. So too it is unfitting for those who boast of the word, and would reprove by the Scriptures the seduction, idolatry and abominations of the preachers, to associate with them all the same in their doctrine, sacraments and false service; for words without actions profit nothing. “Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them,” Ephesians 5, verse 11.

It is true that to the pure all things are pure that are not contrary to the Spirit and word of God. For none are called pure in the Scriptures except those who conform to the Spirit and word of the Lord. To all who agree with the word, all lawful, pure things are pure, such as eating, drinking, clothing, houses, estates, land, gold, silver, wives, children, goods, food, waking, sleeping, speaking, being silent, and all the things God has given us as necessities. Because they are pure, they will also use all lawful, pure things purely, namely, in the fear of God, with thanksgiving and moderation, to the praise of God and in the service of their fellow man, which is the end for which God gave these things for the use of men.

All things forbidden by God, such as hypocrisy, unfruitful works, conformity to the world, living in luxury and splendor, and living in idolatry, are by all means impure to the pure, to the faithful, obedient children of God; and the pure can never through all eternity use things impurely, according to the will of God, for the Spirit of God and his word forbid them.

Adam was allowed by God to eat of all the plants and fruits of the earth for his food, except of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; for if he ate of it, he must die. All the fruits and creatures God allowed were pure to pure Adam, but one tree was impure to him through the command of God. He ate of it, and he, with all his seed, fell under the power of death.

And just as all things are pure to the pure and are for the good of the pious, so also to the impure all things are impure, and to the evil all things are evil. Because they are impure, they use all the creatures of God impurely. They eat and drink to excess; they dress gorgeously and indulge in lewdness; they raise their children to idleness; they greedily hoard gold, silver, houses and lands; and there is nothing they use purely according to the will of God. For they are impure, sensual, disobedient to the word and earthly-minded, as the Scriptures say.

Further, what some claim and say is also an abominable slander and seduction: that outward idolatry cannot defile and make one impure if the heart does not consent to it.

My good reader, if that were true, all the passages would have been spoken to no purpose which say, Neither be idolaters, as some of them were; have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness; avoid all appearance of evil, and so on. Then the offense of the cross would also have ceased. No, no, it is fitting for a true Christian to be wholly pious, and to glorify God both in body and spirit.

Aaron, a high priest called by God, a type of the Lord Jesus, when he was pressed by the people to make gods for them that would go before them, was so overcome through the weakness of the flesh that he gave in to the idolaters and made them a golden calf. Aaron did not worship it in his heart, for he well knew that it was not the God who led them through the Red Sea, but a creature made of gold. Nevertheless this guilt was charged to Aaron, for Moses said, “What did this people do to you, that you have brought so great a sin upon them?” Exodus 32, verse 21. Yes, the Lord would have destroyed him had not Moses interceded for him, Deuteronomy 9, verse 20.

We wish that all founders of sects and erring spirits, whose rejection of the cross, love of ease, carnal minds and hypocrisy are cloaked under the appearance of the word of God, would reflect well on the history of Aaron. I trust they would then no longer cover their nakedness and disgrace with fig leaves, but would clothe themselves with the true coat of skins, with Jesus Christ, made of God. For by their ungodly dealings, which they call liberty, they comfort and encourage the poor, ignorant people in their idolatry and faith, grieve the pious to death, and discourage and offend the poor, wavering souls, of whom it is written, “Whoever shall offend one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for him that a millstone were hung around his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea,” Matthew 18, verse 6.

What Christian liberty is, and how it is to be used according to the will of God, is fully explained in Romans, chapter 14.

Tell me, beloved, how can we count as Christian liberty what is so openly committed against so many passages of the Scriptures, against brotherly love, and contrary to all the examples of so many saints, as has been said?

O, if those who bring in such subtle arguments were pure in heart, and would only love Christ supremely above everything, how soon they would know that what they maintain is contrary to the spirit and word of God! But I fear they are those of whom it is written, “There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet are not washed from their filthiness,” Proverbs 30, verse 12.

Concerning Naaman, we must note carefully the following points.

First, that Naaman was neither a Jew nor a proselyte, but a foreigner, who was not included in the doctrine, ceremonies, ordinances and righteousness of Israel. Although he would no longer serve idols, and would serve God and offer to him, he had not yet received the sign, namely, circumcision.

Secondly, that he was the servant of his master, on whom the king leaned, and therefore had to attend to the service of his master when the king worshiped in the house of Rimmon; and he would worship no other than the true God who had cleansed him.

Thirdly, that we cannot conclude with certainty from the answer of the prophet how far he did or did not comply.

Fourthly, that the house of Rimmon and its service are not the same as our temple and its services. For in the house of Rimmon the name of God, the laws, the ordinances and ceremonies were not abused, for they were not known there. But what abuses, disgrace, scoffing, abomination and blasphemy are carried on in our temples under the name of Christ, all reasonable men may judge by the Scriptures.

But if anyone says, Why do you concern yourselves about the doings of the priests? Worship God as Naaman did, this sounds to us like this: “See, your pious father will often be slanderously mocked, insulted, reviled and much abused; do not let such things move you or confound you, but be unconcerned and contented. Submit quietly, but in your heart honor your father, and so on.” Tell me, beloved, what reasonable and upright child could bear to see his father attacked like this and still keep silent?

Since, then, we see with unclouded eyes how miserably they treat our eternal Father, who loved us so greatly, in their houses of abomination, and how they behave toward his son, Jesus Christ, who bought us with such a precious price; and again, how they quench his Holy Spirit, hate his will and his word, abuse his sacraments, reject his ordinances and commands, revile and reproach his children, deceive poor souls and rob Christ of his glory; and with all this they want us to unite with such open enemies of God, to act the hypocrite with them, and to listen to their ungodly seductions and abominations: if we did, we would be very ungrateful children, and without love. This is undeniably true.

No, such is not the way of pious Christians. Christ defends his church and is not ashamed of her; he enlightens her by his Holy Spirit and word, comforts her in all her distresses, strengthens her in sufferings, and endows her with power and wisdom before lords and princes, the wise and learned, and before the whole world, so that all have to be silent and ashamed in the presence of a poor, humble Christian; and in the day of judgment he will acknowledge her before his Father and will give her the eternal kingdom. In the same way the spirit and love of Christ also demand of us that we confess before men his divine honor, word, will, ordinances and commands, and that we testify to it besides by our works, possessions, blood, life and death; and that we do not secretly frequent such houses of abomination, where his great and adorable name is so miserably dishonored and slandered, and where we neither hear the truth nor learn any piety. For it is nothing but hypocrisy that they teach, although they disguise it with the word of the Lord, as may plainly be seen by their works.

All, teachers and hearers, run, says the prophet, like a frantic heifer; they all hate reproof and instruction, and live recklessly according to their own lusts. They do not desire God’s word; therefore I fear the scourge is ready and the avenging sword of the Lord is drawn, so that soon one ungodly man will devour another and many of them will be destroyed, for these foolish people will be punished.

Fifthly, we must observe that in the New Testament we are directed only to the Spirit, word, counsel, admonition and practices of Christ. What he allows us we may do, but what he forbids we dare not do. It is fitting for all true Christians to conform to this, and not to such doubtful histories and obscure passages, from which we can draw no sure ground, and which teach the very reverse of what the Lord’s apostles publicly taught.

Here I would faithfully admonish the sincere reader not to let himself be deceived by such words, but at all times to keep and remain in the unchangeable and sure ground which the faithful witnesses of Christ, the holy apostles, have left us and taught us plainly in their writings. For the deceivers seek only to confuse the wavering and to be free from the cross of Christ.

But, they say, We think it better to do so sometimes, so that we may provide for our wives and children and serve the poor, than to abandon the preachers entirely and so make all our possessions a prey.

To this we reply, in the first place: The first commandment teaches, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” Where the name of the Lord is profaned and his word violated, it is your duty, in all love, to reprove such things by the word of God with a blameless life, and to defend the praise of God as far as you are able. Think of what the Lord says: Whoever loves father, mother, brother, sister, wife, children, possessions and life more than me cannot be my disciple, Luke 14, verse 26.

Secondly, that all who believe that God made heaven and earth, sustained Israel forty days with bread from heaven and water from the rock, and sent Elias his necessary food by a raven, and who gives the birds in the air, the fish in the water and the creeping things on the earth their food, will not doubt the goodness, power and promise of their Lord Jesus Christ, who says, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you,” Matthew 6, verse 33. For if the countenance of his grace is in this matter over those who reject him, how much more over those who fear him and keep his commandments.

Thirdly, that the Almighty, bountiful God, God Almighty, who is all-sufficient to support the poor and needy without any idolatry, hypocrisy and service of the devil, because he has no delight in such offerings and gifts of unrighteousness; as the prophet says, Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams; for rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry, First Samuel 15, verses 22 and 23.

All, therefore, who say that they do this on account of their wives and children and for the sake of the poor ought to know that they love their wives and children more than God, belittle the arm and power of God, and lie to the Lord. They should know that under such pretense they only cover and adorn their laziness, their dislike of the cross, their unbelief, earthly-mindedness and hypocrisy. Let everyone take heed to himself and fear God, who has eyes like flaming fire, which pierce heaven and earth and cannot be blinded by fair words.

Again, they further claim that Paul purified himself according to the custom of the Jews, and that Timothy was circumcised. This is quite different, for these were things which God had commanded, although they ended in Christ. The reason Paul consented to them was that he might preach the word with more freedom to the Jews, as he says, “To the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain those who are under the law,” First Corinthians 9, verse 20.

And since these works did not originate with antichrist but with God, and Paul would not offend the weak Jews with them, as explained, how can we then show by them that we are at liberty to hear false preaching, receive the baptism and partake of the supper of antichrist, and take part with the world in open idolatry and blasphemy? Even if this is not done with the heart, it is at least done in appearance. Otherwise we must consider the works of the law, which were of God, to be as unclean and ungodly as the works and abominations of darkness, which are of the devil; and value the renouncing of the cross of Christ as highly as the zeal with which Paul undertook to teach the Jews the Gospel of Christ.

O my faithful reader, if you do not want to lose your poor soul, then do not dishonor Christ. Seek his praise rightly, obey his Spirit, doctrine, counsel, admonition and example, and you will never be put to shame. You will soon discover that the purification of Paul and the circumcision of Timothy are different from the doings, abominations, idolatry and blasphemy of antichrist, which have been practiced from time to time in the name of Christ, even to the present day. May the gracious, merciful God grant that you may all come to the knowledge of his truth and walk in it. Amen.

Lastly, they say that we are still prisoners in Babel, and that we may therefore do the works of Babel in appearance; and they cite the sayings of Baruch, “You shall see in Babylon gods of silver, and of gold, and of wood, carried on shoulders, which cause the nations to fear. Beware, therefore, that you in no way become like the strangers, nor be afraid of them, when you see the multitude before them and behind them worshiping them; but say in your hearts, O Lord, we must worship you,” Baruch 6, verses 4 and 5.

Answer: Here we must first observe what is shown by the Babylonian captivity. When the Israelites did not serve God rightly in their own country, they were scattered among the heathen nations, according to the prediction of Moses, by the righteous and gracious judgment of God, and were led captive under the dominion of Babylon. So it is with those who boast that they are the spiritual Israel. Because they became unfaithful to the Lord, rejected his word, and turned their ears to preachers of lies, the Babylonian king, antichrist, has taken advantage of them, deprived them of the true doctrine, ceremonies and services, led them captive under his dominion, and bound them miserably with the cords of error and idolatrous abominations.

But all those who are again enlightened by the Spirit and word of the Lord, who are born of God and die to the old man, to sin, who forsake all human misleadings and rightly use the holy sacraments of the Lord, his ordinances and divine services, are freed from spiritual Babylon, that is, from sin, hell, death and the devil, from the doctrines and commands of men, from all idolatry and abominations. As Paul says, There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk after the flesh, but after the Spirit; for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death, Romans 8, verses 1 and 2.

All, then, who say that they are still captives of Babylon testify that they have not been set free from their sins by the Cyrus (Jesus Christ), and have not come from Chaldea to Jerusalem, Isaiah 24, verse 28; Ezra 1, verses 1 to 4. [Note 2]

Secondly, that Israel is not commanded here to conform to the Gentiles. Rather, when they saw them carry their idols, just as we may see on the days of papist processions and abominations, even though we are not in their temple, they were then to worship God only and give him the honor. For if God had commanded them to conform in all things to the Babylonian idolatry and serve the Lord only secretly with their hearts, then Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego acted foolishly in refusing to worship the great golden idol, for which they risked their lives. O no! the miraculous work God showed them testifies that they acted rightly. All, then, I say, who teach that true believers are not released from Babylon thereby deny the merits, death and blood of Christ, deny faith with its power and the Holy Spirit with his liberty, and wholly despise the innocent blood of the free witnesses of the free children of God, which is shed so abundantly.

Let everyone look well to what he believes and teaches, for I fear that the one who sheds blood and the one who despises it are equally guilty. My good reader, examine the Scriptures well, and you will find that no liberty as to the flesh is promised to the free children of God here on earth. For Christ says, “You shall be hated by all nations for my name’s sake,” Matthew 24, verse 9. Again, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me,” Matthew 16, verse 24. Again, “Whoever kills you will think that he does God service,” John 16, verse 2. “All who will live godly in Christ Jesus,” says Paul, “must suffer persecution,” Second Timothy 3, verse 12. And “through much tribulation we must enter into the kingdom of God,” Acts 14, verse 22. For the liberty of the spirit is to be kept amid much misery, tribulation, persecution, bonds, fear and death. “The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord; it is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord,” Matthew 10, verse 24.

See, beloved sirs, friends and brothers, here you have the leading parts and chief articles of a Christian Ground and Foundation, with a plain instruction and exposition of the antichristian abominations and Babylonian acts by which the true apostolic foundation was for a long time corrupted and razed to the ground. We have set light against darkness and truth against falsehood, so that the whole truth may be made plain by our seeking, doctrine and belief, our undertaking and weak attempts.

And I hope by the grace of God that you will readily receive it, if you are at all honestly disposed, read it with a sincere heart, fear God and acknowledge Christ as the true head; and that you will see that we are grounded on the only eternal cornerstone, that we walk in the right way, although in weakness, and that we have the plain truth; and that there is no other ground, way or truth to be found in the Scriptures that can stand before God than this which we have pointed out, and which we maintain and defend on every occasion in so much tribulation.

I have served you all with this small gift, as I received it from my God. I would gladly serve you longer with great and abundant grace, to the praise of the Lord. For this I have renounced praise, honor and ease, forsaken all, and willingly submitted to the pressing cross of my Lord Jesus Christ, which often weighs very heavily on my weak flesh. I seek neither gold nor silver (the Lord knows this), but am ready with faithful Moses to suffer affliction with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; and I count the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt, for I know what the Scriptures have promised us. And this is my only joy and the desire of my heart: that I may extend the borders of the kingdom of God, publish the truth, reprove sin, teach righteousness, feed the hungry with the word of the Lord, lead the stray sheep into the right path, and win many souls to the Lord through his Spirit, power and grace; and so act in my weakness as he taught me who bought me, a miserable sinner, with his crimson blood, and gave me this mind by the gospel of his grace, namely, Jesus Christ. To him be praise and glory and the eternal kingdom. Amen.