Account of Excommunication, Part 3

Here we would entreat all pious hearts, for Jesus’ sake, to make a distinction between those who err in ignorance and those who willingly go in the way of death, so that the word of James is not construed to become a false comfort and support to wanton and benighted sinners; for it is clear that these are already condemned to death by the Scriptures, as we have often observed. But when any of our Father’s little ones, Christ’s sheep, go astray and begin to turn their ears to false doctrine adorned with fair words; when they allow themselves through their lusts to be led from the truth, begin to set their feet on the broad way, and bow their hearts again to covetousness, pride, haughtiness and so on; when they entertain inordinate desires for the property, wives, daughters or maids of their neighbors, or for their ungodly, vain company; when they become old and weak in their faith, dislike the truth and err grievously, and yet suppose that they are going on the right way—such erring ones we should not allow to be lost, but should seek them with all our power and might, not with one or two admonitions only, as is done with heretics, Titus, chapter 3, nor only three times, as in a dissension between brother and brother, Matthew, chapter 18, but as often as the Lord gives spirit and grace, until they again conform in all things to the truth, depart from their errors and enter on the right way, or until they become like ravening, biting dogs or unclean swine. Yes, my brothers and sisters, whoever can with the truth reclaim such a poor, erring sinner, lead him from the way of error and bring him back to the fold of Christ, rescues his soul from death and covers a multitude of sins with which, alas, he was already too much stained. From whom? From men, or from God? Not from men, but from God; for it is impossible to hide from men what they see and what happens before them, such as adultery, fornication, murder, open idolatry, drunkenness and so on. The idolatry of Aaron with the golden calf, the misconduct of David with Uriah and Bathsheba, and the denial of Peter are examples. For although they repented and their sins were covered from the sight of God, yet they were manifest to the whole world as admonitions and warnings, and as examples of his grace over all who truly repent. Of this covering of sin David spoke: “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity,” Psalm 32, verses 1 and 2.

I will now leave it to the godly to consider whether these words of James, as expounded here, are not wholesome; for those worthy of exclusion would be excluded, the erring would be sought, love would exert its full power, and the penitent would be rescued from death. Both their open and their secret sins would be covered before God, and everything would proceed according to the Scriptures. In true love, observe what the mind of the holy word is.

11. How the latter part of the twelfth chapter and the beginning of the thirteenth chapter of the second epistle to the Corinthians are to be understood. We find from Paul’s epistle to the Corinthians that there were many parties and sects among that people. Some boasted that they were of Cephas, others of Paul, and others again of Apollo. On this account Paul reproved them in love and admonished them to be one in Christ. He also writes in the eleventh chapter of the same epistle, “When you come together in the church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and I partly believe it; for there must also be heresies among you, that those who are approved may be made manifest among you.” There were also some among them who said there was no resurrection, First Corinthians 11, verses 18 and 19; First Corinthians 15, verse 12. Therefore he also feared that when he came he would not find them as he wished, nor would they find him as they wished; lest more dissension than unity, more malice than love, more wrath than meekness, more strife than peace, more whispering than rebuking of wickedness, more pride than humility, more tumult than quiet should be found among many. Such is commonly the condition where the high and proud of heart, who neither know nor love the peaceful, humble Spirit of Christ, are highly esteemed and have gained authority over the plain, simple people—people who regard the adornment of words more than spirit and power. This I write in upright, undisguised love, without regard to party. God grant us grace to enable us to perceive it.

Again, we find that there were some impenitent people among them, such as the selfish, the covetous, the contentious, fornicators, the incontinent and the unchaste. Therefore he feared that when he came he would have great sorrow on account of those who had already sinned before and had not repented of their lewdness and unchastity. For it is plain that lewdness was so prevalent among the Gentiles at that time that the holy apostles admonished and counseled the brothers among the heathen in a common council, as may be seen from Acts, chapter 15; Romans, chapter 1; First Corinthians, chapters 5, 6 and 7.

It is evident that at that time some were very little concerned about the lewdness and dissensions, which were so prevalent that the apostolic excommunication was not very strictly enforced. This may be seen from Paul’s own words and reproof, namely, “You are puffed up,” and so on, First Corinthians 5, verse 2.

Through their heedless disobedience they allowed the good and the evil to remain together among them, so that the faithful man of God upbraided them sharply, saying, “This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established. I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present the second time; and being absent now, I write to those who have sinned before, and to all others, that if I come again I will not spare,” Second Corinthians 13, verses 1 and 2. These hard words of Paul testify clearly that at that time, although such wicked persons as fornicators, the unchaste, sectarians and so on were kept in communion, they did not regard his writings concerning the ban; for it is plain, if the historian testifies rightly, that some years had passed before Paul made his last journey to them, and it is against all Scripture and reason to suppose that in the meantime they admitted these persons with Paul’s consent. It is plain that he rebuked all iniquity both by word and by writing, and directed them to the ban, as has been related; yet they did not put away the foul leaven which was against the holy, divine word and which disgraced the church. He wrote and expressed his meaning in these words: that as for all those who had often sinned and had not repented, and those who had sinned more recently, if he came the second time and found one or the other testified against by two or three witnesses as guilty of ungodliness, he would not then spare him. Observe this.

It is also plain that he did not write this rebuke privately to this one or that one, but openly to a whole church in a common epistle, so that the disobedient might be rebuked, just as we, unworthy as we are, at times write and teach the word of the Lord; and there is not a syllable that tells us to admonish such people once, twice or three times, but to reprove them in plain terms, telling them that if he came he would make known to them their deserved punishment. His words are firm and immovable, that we shall not eat or have fellowship with fornicators, idolaters and so on. O! reflect on what the Scriptures say, First Corinthians, chapter 5.

12. It is our duty to pass the sentence and judgment of Christ blamelessly, according to the Scriptures, and to use his keys in a proper manner. Chosen brothers and sisters in the Lord, I have seen in my day much ignorance and misunderstanding displayed by many on this point; some of them, in my humble opinion, were too rigorous, while others were too lenient and lax, and as a result some of our members have been affected, alas, with no little sorrow. And since I have now faithfully explained the true apostolic excommunication in pure, unadulterated love, without partiality, I am further moved by the same love to offer a few remarks on the keys and their proper use, insofar as they pertain to excommunication; so that no one, misled by ignorance, may with antichrist presumptuously place himself in Christ’s seat, or follow and carry out his own judgment, design and resolution, instead of those of Christ his Lord and the doctrine, ordinance and commandment of the holy apostles, without any regard to the flesh, party or self-wisdom; lest he reject him whom God saves by his grace, and retain him whom God in his righteousness rejects; for to him alone belongs the right of binding and loosing, as we shall hear more fully in what follows. Therefore, consider our quotations.

It is to be observed, in the first place, that there are two heavenly keys, namely, the key of binding and the key of loosing; even as the Lord said to Peter, “I will give you the key of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven,” Matthew 16, verse 19. At another time, after his resurrection from the dead, he spoke in a similar manner to his disciples: “Receive the Holy Spirit; whosever sins you remit, they are remitted to them; and whosever sins you retain, they are retained,” John 20, verses 22 and 23.

In the second place, we must observe that the key of binding is nothing else than the word and righteousness of God, the directing, demanding, constraining, terrifying and condemning law of the Lord, by and through which all are locked up under the curse, sin, death and the wrath of God who do not by faith receive Christ, the only and eternal means of grace, hear his voice, and follow and obey his will.

Again, on the other hand, the key of loosing is the abundantly cheering and delightful word of grace, the pardoning, consoling and unbinding gospel of peace, by and through which all those are delivered from the curse, sin, death and the wrath of God who, with regenerated, new, converted, willing, rejoicing and believing hearts, receive Christ in power, and with a firm confidence in his innocent blood and death fear, love, hear, follow and obey him.

In the third place, it is to be observed that this binding key of Christ is given to his ministers and people for this purpose, namely, that by and through it they shall, in the power of the Spirit, set before all earthly, carnal, obstinate and impenitent persons their great sins, unrighteousness, blindness and wickedness, together with God’s righteous wrath, judgment, punishment, hell and everlasting death, and so make them contrite, dismayed, humble, broken, penitent, dejected and sorrowful of heart before God, and little in their own eyes. Therefore it is compared in its power and virtues to the rod of the oppressor, a hard hammer, the north wind, a sorrowful singing, and sharp, cleansing wine, Isaiah 9, verse 4; Jeremiah 23, verse 29; Song of Songs 4, verse 16.

Again, on the contrary, the key of loosing is given so that with it the ministers and people of God may direct such contrite, troubled, dejected, sorrowful and broken hearts as mentioned above—hearts which are enabled by the first key to feel and see their deep, mortal wounds, their great defects and the profound enchantment in which they were held—to the spiritual brazen serpent; to the throne of grace; to the open fountain of David; to the merciful, compassionate High Priest, our only and eternal Offering of reconciliation, Christ Jesus; and so heal their dangerous, malignant and deadly abscesses, stripes and the venomous wound of the infernal serpent. It is therefore likened in strength and virtue to the cheering olive branch of Noah’s dove, the balm of Gilead, the voice of truth, the south wind, the joyful pipe, and sweet, soothing oil, Genesis 8, verse 11; Jeremiah 8, verse 22; Song of Songs 4, verse 16; Luke 10, verse 34.

In the fourth place, it must be observed that these keys are given to us from heaven by him who created heaven, earth and the sea with all their fullness, the eternal power, word and wisdom of the Almighty Father; the King of all glory, our only and eternal Redeemer, Intercessor, Bridegroom, Prophet and Teacher, Christ Jesus. We may therefore with the greatest propriety be careful, with fear and trembling, in regard to the ban, and not be influenced by flesh and blood, hatred or love, favor or disfavor, enmity or friendship, strife, dissension or partiality; but we should carry it out in the fear of the Lord, as the earnest, heavenly command, word and will of our Savior, with an upright, clear conscience, without respect of persons. For without doubt they are precious keys, since they are given us from heaven as a present from such an illustrious friend. Ah! allow yourselves to be told.

In the fifth place, it is to be observed that these keys are given to and bestowed on none but those who are anointed by the Holy Spirit, even as Christ says, “Receive the Holy Spirit,” and so on. From this it is evident that they must be a believing, true, penitent, sober, chaste, humble, upright, friendly, obedient, devout, peaceful and spiritual people; observe, a people dead to sin, a regenerated people, who sit with the apostles in the seat of righteousness and pronounce with them the righteous judgment of the Lord against all stiff-necked, ungodly sinners; and who teach, admonish, chastise, punish, and in real power judge or bind with the word and Spirit of the Lord the unbelieving, impenitent, earthly-minded, drunken, adulterous, lecherous, unchaste, proud, haughty, unrighteous, perverse, disobedient, quarrelsome, carnal sinners. For it is evident that a carnal man cannot understand the things of the Spirit of God; but those who are spiritual examine and judge all things rightly, yet they themselves are judged by no one. Yes, my brothers and sisters, it is utterly impossible for one carnal-minded man or one quarrelsome person to teach, instruct or chasten another correctly through the Spirit of Christ, or in the power of his word justly to separate him from his church according to the will of God. For their fruits plainly testify that both are impenitent, destitute of the Spirit, nature and disposition of Christ, and subject to death and the curse.

Therefore fear God, and know how and what you judge. For if one should sentence a person who deserves the ban, such as a fornicator, a drunkard or any other carnal transgressor, to excommunication, while he himself was wrathful, greedy, proud, haughty, puffed up, ambitious, unchaste, lying, quarrelsome, impure, envious or false-hearted, and secretly continued in his wickedness, then according to Paul he would be sentencing his own soul; for he says, “You are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judges; for in that in which you judge another you condemn yourself,” Romans 2, verse 1.

I therefore counsel and admonish all the pious generally who sit in judgment on a sinner who is to be excommunicated, that they first examine well their own conscience, heart and mind, and see whether they have the Spirit of Christ, whether they sit in the apostles’ seat, and also whether they do it out of pure fear of God, in obedience to his word and out of sincere love for the brothers, or out of flesh and blood, through hypocrisy, to please men. For if they do not have the Spirit of Christ, do not sit in the seat of the apostles and do not carry the keys of heaven, their judgment cannot be of God, and will tear down more than it builds up. In reality it is nothing but a sore judgment against their own souls. But if they have the Spirit of Christ, sit in the apostles’ seat and use the keys of heaven, their judgment will doubtless be righteous and will agree with the judgment of Christ, and they will by no means make themselves guilty in passing judgment on the transgressor. Let those who are born of Christ judge what I put forward.

In the sixth place, it is to be observed that these keys must not be used except in the name of Him who committed them to us, and by his power, that is, with his Spirit and word; for He alone is the King and Prince of his church, the Shepherd, Teacher and Master of our souls, before whose sceptre we must all bow and whose voice we must hear if we wish to be saved, as has been heard.

Since, then, he is both the Ruler and the Giver of this, and both the binding and the loosing are in his hand and must therefore be done in his name, with his Spirit and word alone, as related, we may well take heed lest through our profaneness, inclination or foolish purpose we loose those whom he himself has bound in heaven, or bind those whom he himself has loosed in heaven, as the son of perdition and the man of sin, together with all his deceiving and impure prophets, O God, have done for many centuries. O children, take heed.

As far as the binding key of this gospel ban is concerned, it is clear that when an open fornicator or adulterer, convicted by two or three witnesses, or an abuser of himself, or an idolater, or a drunkard, or an envious person, or a perverse, self-willed disputer, or an impenitent, contrary, lazy, fastidious and idle glutton, or a blasphemer, thief, robber or murderer is brought before the church, they have the judging word of the Scriptures, by which they may separate and exclude him and announce to him by the Spirit of Christ that he is no longer a member of the body of Christ and has no more promise, but that he shall endure everlasting death and fall short of the kingdom of grace. In short, that his final part and lot, unless he sincerely repents, shall be the burning lake of fire, hell and the devil. For his works show plainly that he is of the wicked one.

See, such are those over whom the first key has power. For the righteous judgment of God and his firm, binding word take hold of them, since they again forsake Christ, despise his holy word and covenant, live according to the flesh, stir up strife and dissension, break the bond of love, separate the pious, disquiet those of a gentle, peaceable disposition, and bring in and establish offenses and slanders, as the plain facts have often taught, and as is known, alas, to many others as well as to me. Ah me! what a severe stroke he receives who is bound by the people of God with this dreadful key and punished by his righteous Spirit with this dreadful curse. O Father, grant them your grace.

The same applies to the key of loosing in this use of the ban. For if a poor, proscribed sinner humbles himself again before his God, broken-hearted and penitent; groans and weeps bitterly; feels heartfelt sorrow for his sins and an earnest longing for the truth; hates the perverse paths of the ungodly and walks again in the path of the pious; in short, if he conducts himself in his whole life so that we cannot perceive anything in him except that the Spirit of the Lord has anointed him again, received him into his grace, and would have him counted among the Lord’s people—then they have the cheering word of promise, by which they may bring him again to the altar of the Lord, sprinkle him with the spiritual hyssop of God, announce to him the grace of Christ, receive him again as a beloved brother in Christ Jesus, and greet him with the greeting of his holy peace. For, says the prophet, “Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? says the Lord God, and not that he should return from his ways and live?” Ezekiel 18, verse 23.

It is plain and established that Jesus Christ alone has the key of David; that he unlocks heaven for the truly penitent, unties the knot of unrighteousness, and forgives and remits their sins; and again, that it is he who closes heaven against impenitent, carnal sinners, binds them under his judgment and retains their sins; and that we are nothing more than heralds, ministers and messengers in his name, and can make it neither longer nor shorter, narrower nor wider than his Spirit has taught us and his word has commanded us, as heard. Therefore it is evident that they greatly err who, in the pride of their ignorance, allow themselves to think that they have power to retain or remit the sins of any man; or who with perverse, thoughtless minds dare to separate or excommunicate anyone out of carnal motives, hatred or bitterness, and not purely and solely through the Spirit and word of Christ; or, on the other hand, retain him through natural affection, friendship or partiality, contrary to the word of God, and comfort him with uncertainties in his sins, winking at them. For with such conduct, after the example of the false prophets, they strengthen the hands of the ungodly, since they retain them and appear to award them life, though without true repentance they shall not live. Ah! brothers, beware.

I would therefore, brothers and sisters, in the love of Christ, have you all faithfully admonished in God that no one attempt, in this weighty, important and spiritual matter, to act higher or lower, more severely or more mildly than the word and Spirit require, whether it be with the binding of the first key in righteousness unto eternal death, or with the loosing of the second key in grace unto eternal life; lest by passing an unscriptural judgment he offend against God and his neighbor, and so be compelled to undergo the punishment of his pride along with the angel of the bottomless pit. Observe this!

Ah! most beloved brothers and sisters, how amazingly, in my opinion, is that man taught by God who is able in this matter to keep the true, royal highway, so that he can properly use the keys entrusted to him in devout, heavenly wisdom, and correctly pass and impose his Lord’s judgment with a sure, sealed conscience, in true apostolic measure, to the edification of all the pious. Let all who are born of God, who are impartial and pure in heart, reflect with the anointing of their spirit on the grounds of my writing and admonition.

See, beloved brothers and sisters, with much trouble, pains and anxiety I have now, in the weakness of my declining years, added another small gift to the treasury of the Lord—not of the price of a dog, nor of the hire of a harlot, which was forbidden to Israel, but of the abundant blessing of my God, namely, from the settled principles of his truth. Though it is not to be compared in value or worth with the gold, silver, metal, silk or precious stones of the offering, yet if it is reckoned with the rams’ skins, goats’ hair and shittim wood, I have already attained my wish. For my prayer and desire before God and his church is that the living building of the heavenly tabernacles may advance with the greatest speed to its intended splendor and magnificence. For this cause I have suffered no little hardship, affliction, sadness, poverty and reproach, so that I hope I may boast in my weakness with all the pious of God, apostles and prophets, indeed, with Christ Jesus himself, that the zeal of the Lord’s house has eaten me up.

I would therefore earnestly ask all the pious who, with a pure, unadulterated conscience, have drunk the water of love out of the fountain of God, not to despise this gift, but with candid and discerning minds to examine, as in the presence of God in Christ Jesus, its nature, principles, vigor, force and virtuous tendency; and having thus passed a sound, impartial judgment on it, that you leave it unbroken in all its parts. For it is my farewell, which I now offer as I take my leave of you all in this part on the ban and retire to rest.

In this I have not sought to gain human favor or honor, to indulge the flesh or to promote party purposes; but I have set forth the principles of truth, confirmed the holy ordinance of the apostles, and given due praise to the justice and mercy of God, assigning to each its part. I have added nothing new, nor departed in the least from the principles of my plan, except that, as a result of much conversation with the pious and meditation on certain writings, and also on account of great dangers, actual occurrences and heinous abominations, and in order to put a stop in some measure to all offensive, disgraceful actions, I have considered more deeply the excluding sentence on the flagrant carnal sinner, and in this way placed it on a more certain basis, as may be seen.

Since we are well convinced that the depths of Satan are only partially known and manifest to some, and that as a consequence he does great injury by means of his subtle, pernicious wrangling and disputation, as may be seen, my first earnest request to all who are named after the name of Christ is that they reflect soberly, judiciously and discreetly on the nature, character, heart, mind, Spirit and disposition of Christ, and consider that everything he has commanded, left and taught his followers is nothing but pure righteousness, truth, patience, love and peace. Also, that they bow their knees before him and have received the sign of his most holy covenant; that they should bury their former sinful life in his death, circumcise their hearts with his sharp word and Spirit, follow him, walk in all his ways, and be one with him in both the inward and the outward man, as taught in Scripture; and also that they reflect on the high promise and follow his word and will in power and in truth. For he is such a God that he does not take pleasure in outward shadows, ceremonies, types, bread, wine, water and nominal service, but in spirit, deed and truth.

My second request is that, on the other hand, they consider the nature, character, heart, spirit, mind and work of Satan: that he is from the beginning a shrewd, cunning deceiver, an impudent, wanton liar and a revengeful murderer, a malicious envier of the honor and truth of God, a falsifier of his holy word and a deadly enemy of pious souls; seditious, factious, unruly, schismatic, envious, perverse and destitute of love; incapable of conceiving and bringing forth anything but hatred, backbiting, lies, deception, jealousy, impurity of heart, vice and shame, and all in the semblance of the truth. In the semblance of the truth, I repeat; for although he is the infernal Satan, Beelzebub, Belial, Behemoth, Leviathan, the angel of the bottomless pit, the prince of darkness, the old serpent and the very devil himself, yet it is plain, nevertheless, that he has the power of transforming himself into an angel of light, as Paul tells us.

Nothing of an outward nature is oppressive or vexing to him if he can only take possession of the citadel of our hearts and drive out of it Christ’s nature, disposition, Spirit and power; if he can do this, he has already won the prize of his craftiness. Indeed, if a man had even been baptized by Peter or Paul himself, had received the bread of the Holy Supper from the hand of the Lord, and would never again take part in papist idolatry, yet if he kept even one of the fruits of the devil, whether hatred or party spirit, envy, bitterness, greed, revengefulness, pride, unchastity or any other vice, we must declare with the Scripture that his spirit is devilish and his life hypocrisy. For it is very evident that the whole man must be regenerated, sincere, unaffected, spiritually minded, godly, holy, devout, united and subject to Christ; as James says, “Whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, is guilty of all,” James 2, verse 10.

Yes, worthy brothers and sisters, those who are so far taught by God that they are able well and truly to distinguish between Christ and the devil with regard to their nature, disposition, doctrine and works, and so perceive that the disposition of Christ produces life and the disposition of the devil produces death, shall and undoubtedly will separate and depart entirely from all vain and unprofitable disputation, schism, separation, contention, dissension, sedition and sectarianism, and also from all deadly abominations, sins and shameful actions; of this I am fully convinced by the grace of God.

My third request is that they all, with candor and sincerity of heart, meditate on the glorious and illustrious names with which they are honored in the Scriptures, namely: children of God, saints and beloved of God, chosen of God, regenerated seed and children of Abraham, seed of peace, plants and shoots of righteousness, fruitful grafts of Christ, members of the body of Christ, flesh and bone, mothers, sisters, brothers, disciples, guests, friends, sons, daughters, maiden, virgin, bride and spouse of Christ, his holy vineyard, camp, city, Jerusalem, temple, ark, house, dwelling, chosen people, citizens of heaven, living stones, companions of the saints, apostles and prophets, household of God, kings and priests, doves, sheep, the light of the world and the salt of the earth, and so on; to the end that by such meditation their conduct, inwardly and outwardly, privately and publicly, may be such in all their ways, words and works, before God, in the presence of the church and before the whole world, that they may by grace, with the pious, walk worthily of all such glorious names in love, peace and harmony, and by his fatherly bounty forever escape the severe curse of excommunication mentioned before; that they may not, with the goats on the left hand, hear the stern sentence, Depart from me, you cursed, but with the sheep on the right hand hear the cheering words, Come, you blessed; and that they may not be numbered in eternity with those who are bound by the ban of the word in the power from God, and called in Scripture a cursed, ungodly race, cursed children, children of wrath and of the devil, servants of sin and perdition, mockers, revilers, wicked, carnal, perverse, unrighteous, ungodly, stiff-necked sinners, dogs and swine, for whom the eternal woe, death, fire, lake and torment of hell are reserved. O, brothers and sisters, take heed!

My fourth request is to all those to whom the charge of the word of the Lord is committed, who are fellow laborers with me in the ministry, that in all their actions they so conduct themselves before God and his church that no one can truthfully censure or speak evil of them: as sincere ministers of Christ; faithful and true in all things; men full of the Holy Spirit, born of the incorruptible seed of God; surrounded with heavenly light; transplanted into the good disposition of Christ; partakers of his grace; taught and anointed by God; having their minds on eternal things; hating their own fame, vainglory and impure, carnal lusts; lowly and little in their own eyes; of a meek and gentle spirit; compassionate, merciful, fatherly, long-suffering, friendly, humble, chaste, given to hospitality, submissive, mild, courteous and peaceful; well versed in sound doctrine; seeking and acting in accordance with the good nature, disposition, character, heart, mind and example of Christ; confirmed in spirit; blameless shepherds, taking oversight of the flock of God, not by constraint but willingly; not for filthy lucre’s sake, nor for the sake of their own bellies, but with a ready mind; neither as lords nor rulers, but as examples to the church of Christ; so that as a result of their faithful ministry they may run in fullness of joy on the mountain of the Lord without fear or shame, and escape unharmed the mouths of fierce, ravenous wolves.

Yes, my brothers, if we could all proceed by this rule in unity of spirit, without the destructive foxes, how soon the bride of the Lamb would shine forth in costly and many-colored apparel, adorned in white and glittering robes, splendid bracelets, earrings and necklaces (understand by this the beauty and ornament of her virtues), and by the brilliance of her appearance excite the admiration of the whole world; whereas now, because of deceitful workers, cunning wranglers and sowers of dissension, she must sit at times in rags and tatters and, O God, be the scorn and derision of multitudes.

The anguish of my soul is often so great that I am unable to write; God Almighty, strengthen me. And this because I see that the house of the Lord has to endure so many offenses, not only from without but, alas, from within as well. O men! men! arm yourselves! for the words of Paul are true, that the ministry of the New Testament is not a ministry of the letter but of the Spirit. Its duties therefore cannot be truly carried out to the glory of God by the proud, the arrogant, the ambitious or the self-willed, who wish to do everything after their own mind, humor and inclination; for they pull down more than they build up, and do more harm than good. This necessarily follows, since according to the tenor of Paul’s doctrine this ministry is neither the depth of wisdom nor eloquence, nor a dead letter, with which they are generally filled, but it is God, Spirit, truth, power and life, of which they are entirely destitute. O take heed.

Arm yourselves, I repeat; for true teachers are called in Scripture the angels of the Lord and valiant soldiers; so be manly; keep the commandment of God; hold fast and do not waver. They are called watchmen and trumpeters; blow your trumpet with the right sound; watch over the city of God; watch wisely, I say, and neither slumber nor sleep. They are called spiritual pillars; O be steadfast in the truth; bear your burden willingly; do not waver or grow faint. They are called messengers of peace; Ah, brothers, live up to your name and justify it; walk in peace, maintain it and do not break it. They are called bishops and overseers; O take great care of the flock of Christ; take great care of them, I say, and see that you neither destroy nor neglect them. They are called shepherds; O keep and feed the lambs of Christ, and do not leave them to pine away. They are called teachers; make known the word and truth of Christ; publish it abroad and do not conceal it. They are called spiritual nurses and fathers; O nourish and cherish your young children; do not vex them or cast them away. They should be like the parent bird to her young; gather together the young and tender ones in Christ, and do not scatter them or hurt them. They are called the stewards of God; O perfect the mystery of the name; do not abuse it or disgrace it. They are called the light of the world; shine and glitter in full glory, and do not conceal the brightness of your virtue. They are called the salt of the earth; O let the salt penetrate through and through, and do not be ill-savored. They are ministers in Christ’s stead; Ah, brothers, serve, but do not rule; let no one glory in any gift, I beg you. We are receivers, not givers, of grace—not of ourselves, observe; we are servants and not lords. Ah, brothers, bow down and submit. My chosen ones in love and truth, the joy and delight of my soul, so long as you stand fast in the Lord, abide in the way of peace and are faithful to your brothers. Walk worthy of the calling to which you are called; fear your God with all your heart; love the brothers; carry out faithfully the duties of your ministry; he from whom you will receive your reward is rich. Watch and pray. Pray, I say, and do it with confidence, and then the Giver of every good and perfect gift will not withdraw his grace, Spirit, love and wisdom from you. Do not doubt, and do not be afraid. Let the glorious, typified breastplate of Aaron, Christ Jesus, decorated with its beautiful colors, its twelve pearls, its Urim and Thummim, be bound fast to the breast of your conscience with the two golden chains of the two testaments and with the two yellow laces of pure faith and unadulterated love. Wash the feet of your affections; purify them in the spiritual laver, Christ Jesus, with the living water of his eternal and Holy Spirit; take of the blood of his spotless offering, and in a true spirit put it on the tip of your right ear, in order rightly to understand his word, and on the thumb of your right hand and on the great toe of your right foot, in order to act and walk uprightly before him and in the presence of his congregation. Have your spiritual mitres, girdles and garments made for glory and for beauty, so that, like green olive trees and luxuriant vines, and like burning torches and brilliant lights in the firmament of the holy word, you may serve in fullness of glory with all the faithful servants of Christ day and night in his holy temple, to the glory of God and the reformation of Israel; bring forth abundance of fruit; and when he appears with all his chosen saints, apostles and prophets, you shall receive the promised reward in everlasting joy. Sweet, gracious and full of consolation is the word which the Lord speaks: “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many; enter into the joy of your Lord,” Matthew 25, verse 21. Ah, brothers, let us be admonished from our hearts to be faithful to Christ and his church.

Brothers and sisters, I will now in the peace of Christ commit you all with one accord into the hand of the King of peace, and with Paul I entreat you from my heart: “If there is therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, fulfill my joy, that you be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind; let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves,” Philippians 2, verses 1 to 3. For you know well by whom and to what we are called. Reflect on this. So that no one may lose himself on account of the shameful actions and abominations of another, nor destroy the good works of Christ, disturb the peaceable, grieve the pious, offend the weak, give an excuse to the wanton, drive the wavering back to the world, bring reproach on the word of the Lord and his church, bring revilers into repute and encourage the bloodthirsty; but that we be careful in all things to finish our course in Christ Jesus with joy and magnify his holy name, refresh one another in the peace of Christ, strengthen our sick and weak members and young brothers and sisters, reprove the disorderly, publish abroad the truth of the Lord, and show all people a blameless Christian example. To this end may the eternal, almighty God grant us all, collectively and individually, the active spirit of his grace, with perfect obedience and love in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen. Ah, chosen children! God knows this is my final farewell to you all. Love the brothers and sisters, and beware of dissension.