The Conversion and Renunciation of the Church of Rome

Beloved Reader, we are falsely accused by our opponents of following the teachings of Munster concerning the king, the sword, rebellion, retaliation, polygamy and other abominations. But, my kind readers, know that I have never in my life accepted any of these doctrines; on the contrary, I have opposed them for more than seventeen years, and to the best of my abilities I have warned all mankind against this abominable error. I have also, through the word of God, led some onto the right way. Never in my life have I seen Munster, nor have I been in the communion of that sect. I also hope, through God’s grace, neither to eat nor drink with such people (if there are such), as the scripture teaches me, unless they confess their error with all their heart, bring forth fruits fitting for repentance, and follow the Gospel in the right manner.

MENNO SIMON.

My Reader,

I write to you the truth in Christ, and do not lie. In the year 1524, being then in my twenty-eighth year, I took up the duties of a priest in my father’s village, called Pingjum, in Friesland. Two other men of about my age also served in the same station. The one was my pastor and was partly well learned; the other succeeded me. Both had read the scriptures in part; but I had never touched them in my life, for I feared that if I read them they would mislead me. See! Such a stupid preacher was I for nearly two years.

In the first year after that, a thought came to me, as often as I handled the bread and wine in the mass, that they were not the flesh and blood of the Lord. I thought it was a suggestion of the devil, to lead me away from my faith. I confessed it often, sighed and prayed, yet I could not be freed from this thought.

Those two young men I have mentioned and I spent our time daily in playing, drinking, and all kinds of frivolous amusements, alas, as is the fashion and way of such useless people. And when we were to discuss scripture a little, I could not speak a word with them without being scoffed at, for I did not know what I was asserting. So hidden was the word of God from my understanding.

At length I resolved to examine the New Testament attentively. I had not gone far in it before I discovered that we were deceived. My conscience, which was troubled over the sacramental bread I have mentioned, was soon greatly relieved, without any human aid or advice; though I was encouraged by Luther in the belief that human authority cannot bind anyone to eternal death.

Through the illumination and grace of the Lord I continued daily to examine the scriptures, and was soon considered by some, though undeservedly, to be an evangelical preacher. Everyone sought my company; the world loved me and had my affections; yet it was said that I preached the word of God and was a fine man.

Afterwards it happened, before I had ever heard that the brothers existed, that a God-fearing, pious man named Sicke Snyder was beheaded at Leeuwarden for being rebaptized. It sounded strange to me to hear a second baptism spoken of. I examined the scriptures diligently and meditated on them earnestly, but could find nothing in them concerning infant baptism. After I had discovered this, I talked with my pastor about it; and after much discussion he had to admit that there was no scriptural foundation for infant baptism. In spite of all this, I did not dare trust my own understanding, but consulted several ancient authors. They taught me that children were to be washed from their original sin by baptism. I compared this doctrine with the scriptures and found that it made baptism take the place of the blood of Christ.

Afterwards, wanting to know the grounds for infant baptism, I went and consulted Luther. He taught me that children were to be baptized on account of their own faith. I saw that this also was not in accordance with the word of God.

Next I consulted Bucer. He taught that infants were to be baptized so that their baptism would make those who had charge of their training more careful to bring them up in the way of the Lord. I saw that this doctrine, too, was without foundation.

I then consulted Bullinger. He directed me to the covenant and circumcision. This I found could not be supported by scripture.

Having seen in this way that the authors differed greatly among themselves, each following his own opinion, I became convinced that we were deceived about infant baptism.

Shortly after, I went to the village where I was born, called Witmarsum. Covetousness and a desire to make a great name for myself were what led me to that place. There I spoke much about the word of the Lord, without spirituality or love, as all hypocrites do, and by this means I made disciples of my own kind, vain boasters and light-minded babblers, who, alas, like myself, cared very little about these matters. Although I had by now acquired considerable knowledge of the scriptures, I wasted that knowledge through the lusts of my youth in an impure, sensual, unprofitable life without any fruit, and sought nothing but gain, ease, the favor of men, splendor, reputation and honor, as all generally do who sail in the same ship.

In this way, my reader, I obtained a knowledge of baptism and the Lord’s supper through the illumination of the Holy Spirit, through much reading of the scriptures and meditating on them, and through the gracious favor and gift of God, but not by means of the service of misleading sects, as it is reported of me. I hope that I write the truth and do not seek vain glory. Though some, no doubt, may have helped me in my pursuit of the truth, yet for this I will give thanks to the Lord forever.

Meanwhile it happened, when I had lived there about a year, that quite a number broke in upon baptism; but where the first beginners came from, or where they lived, or who they really were, is unknown to me to this hour, and I have never seen them.

Afterwards the sect of Munster made inroads, and by them many pious hearts in our region were led into error. My soul was much troubled, for I saw that though they were zealous, they erred in doctrine. I used my feeble efforts, as far as I was able, to oppose them by preaching and exhortations. I conferred twice with one of their leaders, once in private and again in public; but my admonitions accomplished nothing, because I myself did what I well knew was not right.

The report spread far and wide that I could readily silence these people. Everyone looked to me. I saw that I was the leader and defender of the impenitent, who all depended on me. This pained my heart; I sighed and prayed, “Lord, help me, so that I do not make myself a partaker of other men’s sins.” My soul was troubled, and I reflected on where my doings would end: namely, that if I should gain the whole world and live a thousand years, and at last have to endure the wrath of God, what would I have gained?

Afterwards the poor straying flock, who wandered like sheep without a shepherd, after many severe edicts and slaughters, assembled near the place where I lived, called Oude Klooster, and, alas, through the ungodly doctrines of Munster, and against the Spirit, the word and the example of Christ, drew the sword to defend themselves, the sword which the Lord commanded Peter to put back into its sheath.

After this had happened, the blood of the slain, although it was shed in error, grieved me so sorely that I could not endure it. I could find no rest in my soul. I reflected on my carnal, sinful life, my hypocritical doctrine and idolatry, in which I continued daily under the appearance of godliness. I saw that these zealous children willingly gave their lives and their possessions for their doctrine and faith, though they were in error. And I was one of those who had exposed some of their abominations, and yet I myself remained content with my unrestrained life and known defilements. I wished only to live comfortably and without the cross of Christ.

As I reflected on these things my soul was so grieved that I could no longer endure it. I thought to myself: I, miserable man, what shall I do? If I continue in this way and do not live according to the word of the Lord, according to the knowledge of the truth which I have obtained; if I do not rebuke, to the best of my limited ability, the hypocrisy, the impenitent, carnal life, the perverted baptism, the Lord’s supper and the false worship of God which the learned teach; if I, through bodily fear, do not show them the true foundation of the truth, nor use all my powers to direct the wandering flock, who would gladly do their duty if they knew it, to the true pastures of Christ—oh, how their shed blood, though shed in error, will rise against me at the judgment of the Almighty and pronounce sentence against my poor, miserable soul!

My heart trembled in my body. I prayed to God with sighs and tears that he would give me, a troubled sinner, the gift of his grace and create a clean heart within me; that through the merits of the crimson blood of Christ he would graciously forgive my unclean walk and unprofitable life, and give me wisdom, Spirit, candor and fortitude, so that I might preach his exalted and adorable name and holy word unperverted, and make his truth known to his praise.

I began in the name of the Lord to preach publicly from the pulpit the word of true repentance; to direct the people into the narrow path; through the power of the scripture to reprove all sin and ungodliness, all idolatry and false worship; and to present the true worship, and also baptism and the Lord’s Supper according to the doctrine of Christ, to the extent that I had at that time received grace from God.

I also faithfully warned everyone about the abominations of Munster concerning kings, polygamy, dominion, the sword, and so on, until, after about nine months had passed, the gracious Lord granted me his fatherly Spirit, help and power. Then I voluntarily renounced all my worldly honor and reputation, my unchristian conduct, masses, infant baptism and my unprofitable life, and at once willingly submitted to distress and poverty and the cross of Christ. In my weakness I feared God; I sought out the pious, and though they were few in number, I found some who were zealous and held to the truth. I talked with the erring, and through the help and power of God, with his word, I reclaimed some from the snares of damnation and won them for Christ, while the hardened and rebellious I commended to the Lord. See, my reader, how the God of mercy, through the kind working of his abounding grace upon me, in my heart, a miserable sinner, produced in me a new mind, humbled me in his fear, taught me to know myself in part, turned me from the way of death, and graciously called me into the narrow path of life, into the communion of his saints. To him be praise forevermore. Amen.

About one year after that, while I was secretly exercising myself in the word of God by reading and writing, it happened that six, seven or eight persons came to me who were of one heart and one soul with me in their faith and life, and as far as man can judge were blameless, and, according to the testimony of the scriptures, separated from the world and subdued to the cross. They sincerely abhorred not only the sect of Munster but the anathemas and abominations of all other worldly sects. For the sake of those pious souls who were of the same mind and spirit both with them and with me, they kindly and with much earnestness asked me to consider the great sufferings and need of the poor, oppressed souls (for the hunger was very great and the faithful stewards were very few), and to put to good use the talents which I had, without deserving them, received from the Lord.

When I heard this my heart was greatly troubled. Trouble and fear were on every side. For on the one hand I was aware of my limited talents, my great ignorance, my weak nature, the timidity of my flesh, the boundless wickedness, perversity and tyranny of the world, the powerful sects, the subtlety of different minds, and the heavy cross that would weigh on me if I granted their request; and on the other hand I saw the miserable, starving condition and need of these God-fearing, pious children, for I saw plainly that they were straying like innocent sheep which have no shepherd.

At last, after much prayer, I laid myself and these circumstances before the Lord and his church, so that we might pray earnestly to the Lord for a time: if it was in accord with his acceptable and holy will that I could or might labor to his praise, that he would give me such a mind and heart as would enable me to say with Paul, “Woe is me if I do not preach the Gospel”; and if not, that he would provide a way to prevent it. For Christ says, “If two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it shall be done for them by my Father who is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them,” Matthew 18, verses 19 and 20.

So, my reader, see: I was not called to serve among the followers of Munster, nor of any other seditious sect (as is falsely reported about me), but I have been called, unworthy as I am, to this office by a people who were ready to receive Christ and his word, who led a penitent life in the fear of God, served their neighbors in love, bore the cross, sought the welfare and salvation of all men, loved righteousness and truth, and abhorred wickedness and unrighteousness. This shows pointedly that they were not such perverted people as they are slanderously reported to have been. They were true Christians, though unknown to the world, if we believe in any way that Christ’s word is true and his blameless, holy life and example infallible.

In this way I, a miserable sinner, have been enlightened by the Lord, converted to a new mind, have fled from Babel, entered into Jerusalem, and finally, though unworthy, been called to this high and arduous service.

When the persons I have mentioned did not stop their pleading, and my own conscience made me somewhat uneasy (although in weakness), because I saw the great hunger and need already referred to, I surrendered myself, soul and body, to the Lord and committed myself to his grace. In due time I began, according to the contents of his holy word, to teach and to baptize, to labor in the vineyard of the Lord with my limited talents, to build up his holy city and temple, and to repair the broken-down walls. Through our humble service, doctrine and unlearned writings, together with the careful service, labor and help of our faithful brothers, the great and mighty God has made known and revealed the word of true repentance, the word of his grace and power, together with the saving use of his holy sacraments, in many towns and countries. He has done this to such an extent, and has made the condition of his churches so glorious, and given them such a subduing power, that many exalted and proud hearts not only became humble, the unclean pure, the drunken sober, the greedy generous, the fierce mild, and the ungodly pious, but they also faithfully gave up their possessions and blood, bodies and lives, for the blessed testimony they had, as may still be seen daily. These are not the fruits and evidences of false doctrines, in which God is not a co-worker. Nor could they endure so long under such grievous misery and oppressive crosses if it were not the power and word of the Almighty that sustains them. Indeed, more than that, the Lord endowed them with such grace and wisdom, as Christ has promised to all his children in their trials, that all the worldly-wise and renowned teachers, together with the blood-guilty, daring tyrants, who, O God, boast that they are Christians, were vanquished and put to shame by these invincible champions and pious witnesses of Christ. Those ferocious people knew no other weapons or refuge to turn to than banishing, seizing, punishing, burning, murdering and destroying, as has always been the custom of the old serpent from the beginning, and as may still, alas, be seen daily in many places of our Netherlands.

See, this is our calling, our doctrine and the fruit of our labor, on account of which we are so grievously slandered and so maliciously persecuted. Whether or not all the prophets, apostles and faithful servants of God have endured similar sufferings on account of their faithfulness, we willingly leave all the pious to judge.

But as regards my poor, weak and imperfect life, I freely confess that I am a poor, wretched sinner, conceived in sin, of sinful seed, and sinfully brought forth. I can say with David that my sins are ever before me. My thoughts, words and actions convict me. I see with holy Paul “that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwells no good thing,” Romans 7, verse 18. Nevertheless, I must be allowed to boast this much in my weakness: if this wicked, desolate world would hear our doctrine (not ours, but the doctrine of Christ) with patience, and follow it submissively in the true fear of God, this would undoubtedly be a more Christian and better world than, alas, it now is.

I thank God, who has made me willing with holy Paul to hate the evil and follow the good; and I would willingly, with my own blood, reclaim this wicked world from ungodly and evil works and win it for Christ. Through the grace of God it is my desire to fear the Lord with all my heart; to love, seek and serve him, to do right before him, and to be a blameless, pious Christian.

I hope, through the mercy and help of the Lord, that no one on earth may have reason to accuse me of leading a greedy and luxurious life. Money and wealth I do not have, nor do I desire them, although, alas, some, from a perverted heart, say that I eat more roast than they eat boiled, and drink more wine than they drink beer. My Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, was also called a winebibber and a glutton. I trust that through the grace of the Lord I am innocent in this matter and stand acquitted before God.

He who bought me with the blood of his love, and called me, unworthy as I am, to his service, knows me, and knows that I do not seek wealth, nor possessions, nor luxury, nor ease, but only the praise of the Lord, my salvation, and the salvation of many souls. For this, I and my poor, feeble wife and children have for eighteen years endured extreme anxiety, oppression, affliction, misery and persecution, and at the peril of my life have been forced everywhere to live in fear and hiding. Indeed, while the ministers rest on easy beds and soft pillows, we generally have to hide ourselves in secluded corners; while they at weddings and feasts play the pipe and beat the drum and boast loudly, we must look out when the dogs bark, in case the captors are at hand. While they are greeted by everyone as doctors, lords and teachers, we have to hear that we are Anabaptists, hedge preachers, deceivers and heretics, and must be greeted in the name of the devil. In short, while they are gloriously rewarded for their services with large incomes and easy times, our reward and portion must be fire, sword and death. [Note 1]

See, my faithful readers: in such fear, poverty, misery and danger of death I, a wretched man, have carried out the service of the Lord to this hour without change, and I hope through his grace to continue in it to his glory as long as I remain in this earthly tabernacle. What I and my faithful co-workers have sought, or could have sought, in carrying out these hard and dangerous duties of ours is plain to all the well-disposed, who may readily judge from the works and their fruits.

I will here humbly ask the reader, for Jesus’ sake, to accept in love this confession of mine concerning my enlightenment, conversion and calling, and to meditate on it. I have made it out of urgent necessity, for the information of the pious reader, because I was slandered by the clergy and am accused, without any foundation of truth, of being called and ordained to this service by a seditious and heretical sect. Let whoever fears God read and judge.

MENNO SIMON.