Reply to Gellius Faber: Of the Mission or Calling of the Preachers, Part 2

But we give praise to God that some of them have sacrificed their blood for the sake of the testimony which they had, and with James we count them happy; indeed, they are joint heirs in the sufferings of Jesus Christ, for their deeds have proven that they sought God and were faithful as far as they were enlightened. But what will that avail these others, while they close their hearts to the light of truth, contend against the Spirit, word and will of God, preach lies, pervert and abuse the sacraments, and console and encourage the wild, wicked world in its impenitent, reckless life? This the faithful heroes did not do, for they were faithful in everything which they acknowledged as the truth. If they had acknowledged more, they would doubtless have died for its sake as well as for what they did acknowledge at the time.

If our opponents are of the same spirit, then they may boast. But their fruits openly testify that they are, alas, very different.

Again, he writes that only the fruits of an outward life avail in our sight, and so on. Do not our sore oppression, trials, great tribulation and misery, our possessions and blood, and besides these our open and frank confession, openly testify that he makes this assertion without any truth at all? Indeed, that he openly slanders and wrongs us? O malitiosam calumniam ac perversitatem (O malicious calumny and perversity).

My kind reader, observe that all the Scriptures and the power of true faith constrain us to teach zealously an upright, pious, godly and penitent life. For Jesus Christ says, “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works.” Paul also teaches, “That you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ”; and that we should walk worthy of the Lord and his gospel. Peter says, “Having your conduct honest among the Gentiles”; and John says that we should walk just as Christ walked, Matthew 5, verse 6; Philippians 1, verse 10; Colossians 1, verse 10; First Peter 2, verse 12; First John 2, verse 6. [Note 1]

Since the Scriptures on every hand enjoin a pious life upon us, as has been heard, it is therefore reasonable and just, if we believe the word of God, that we zealously follow, in our weakness, what the Spirit of the Lord has so clearly taught and enjoined in his holy word.

But his assertion that only such fruits avail in our sight comes, alas, from an impure heart. For I presume he knows well that we plainly teach that we cannot be saved by outward works, however great and glorious they may appear, nor entirely please God by them; for they are always mixed with imperfection and weakness, and therefore, through the corruption of the flesh, we cannot attain the righteousness required in the commandments. Therefore we point to Christ Jesus alone, who is our only and eternal Righteousness, Reconciliation and Propitiator with the Father, and we do not trust in our works at all. My reader, I write the truth in Christ Jesus and do not lie.

O, that Gellius would give up his unguarded talk and speak nothing but what is true, for a liar is a disgrace and will not inherit the kingdom of God; and that he could for once feel what a true Christian faith is, what it requires by its nature and what it produces in power. Then he would know what it is that brings forth such a pious, penitent and unblamable life, which in times gone by he so disgracefully slandered and reviled as devilish fruits, hypocrisy and a new mockery; and which, as it appears, he would revile still, if it were not for the experience of many and the great quantity of innocent blood which has been shed.

See, dear reader, now you can see how they adorn and deck out their abominable hypocrisy and fruitless, impenitent church service with writing, translating, singing and so on, although for the most part without repentance and regeneration, as you have heard; and how basely they construe and explain the sincere, pious fruits of true faith which are taught and represented by all the Scriptures, ceremonies and sacraments; so that they may daub the wall with untempered mortar and console the poor, miserable people in their disregard of the word of the Lord. But when the Lord’s hurricane, flood and great hailstones come with a great noise, then they will break down the wall that they have daubed with untempered mortar and bring it to the ground, so that its foundation will be laid bare, and so on, Ezekiel 13, verses 13 and 14.

In the third place, Gellius writes that the office of a preacher consists of two parts, namely, rooting out, destroying and opposing, and also sowing and building, and so on. And he boasts that their fruits, especially as regards the first part, cannot be denied in many kingdoms and principalities; and that the Lord Jesus Christ (as he says) has through their services planted sincere repentance and such true Christian faith in many hearts that the small congregation at Emden, in sure expectation of a reward in heaven, willingly supports several hundred poor people by their alms, and so on.

Answer. We admit that the first part of a preacher’s office consists in rooting out, destroying and opposing, and the other in sowing and building up; and this is a proof to us that they are not the preachers to serve in such a capacity. For although in different cities and countries they have renounced some abuses and idolatries (for which we praise the Lord), which were so gross that they could be plainly seen to be abominations even without the Scriptures, yet the root of all deceit remains untouched, namely, the false doctrine and unscriptural sacraments with which they console the world and encourage it in its impenitence and its natural state, or Adamic heart, which is the source of all unrighteousness, as may, alas, be seen on every hand by the fruits.

If, then, they are the true preachers they pretend to be, let them carry out the first part: namely, to break in pieces with the hammer of the divine word the proud, obstinate hearts, the impure, avaricious hearts, the bloodguilty, tyrannical hearts and so on, of whom it is written that they are worthy of death; to humble them by the eternal judgment and punishment of Almighty God; to uncover to them, by the strength of the commandments, their ungodly and corrupt nature and flesh; so that they may learn to know themselves and see their shame, and so, with sorrowing and repenting hearts, in fear of the coming wrath and eternal punishment of the just and great God, may sincerely and tremblingly repent and die to their sins, crucify their flesh, smother their lusts, and walk before their God with broken and humbled hearts. See, this is the true and principal rooting out, destroying and opposing to which, the Scriptures say, the true preachers are called.

Then let them take such moved and humbled hearts, such penitent and sighing sinners, who with Peter and Magdalene are heartbroken and weep bitterly, and with David confess their guilt, and point them to the only and eternal seat of grace, Christ Jesus. Let them teach them the eternal mercy, love, favor and grace of God according to the Scriptures, console them with the gospel of peace, and carefully anoint their wounds, made by the sharp and smarting wine, with the oil of the joyful promises of Christ; so that through faith they may rise with Christ from the death of their abominable sins into the new life of all virtue; that in true faith and in pure, unfeigned love they may always walk without any offence, according to the example of Christ and of all the pious; and that they may give thanks to the Lord for his manifest love. See, this is how all true preachers sow and build who are called by the Spirit of the Lord and are fit for his service.

Dear reader, observe: Gellius and the preachers, then, are not such destroyers and builders, rooters and planters, as their deeds testify. They destroy what is good and build up what is bad; they root out truth with their offensive doctrine and plant falsehood with their false sacraments and easy life. Therefore our assertion cannot be disputed, that they are not the servants of Christ nor his true messengers.

He writes “that the Lord, through their service, has planted true repentance and such a true Christian faith in many hearts that the small congregation at Emden was comforted in expectation of a heavenly reward.”

Answer. If this were indeed true, as he writes, it would be attested by the fruits and made manifest by the works. Paul says, “The kingdom of God is not in word, but in power,” First Corinthians 4, verse 20. Let nobody boast falsely; we will be judged by one before whom nothing is hidden. No one knows what true Christian faith and true repentance are except the one who has truly received them and felt their power. If God, then, plants repentance in so many hearts, as Gellius pretends, why are he and preachers like him still so impenitent, so hostile and refractory to the truth, and so offensive and blamable in wholesome doctrine? If those of whom he speaks are of the same mind as he, which we trust they are not, then he has not written the truth; this is too plain to be denied.

Those hearts in which God has planted true repentance and an ardent, true Christian faith cannot long be hidden, especially in these times of manifest truth, nor remain without the cross promised by the Holy Scriptures, even if it is their own preachers and relatives who must persecute them. For if they would testify to their faith by a frank confession, by a pious life and by works, which are the fruits of true and ardent faith, they would soon find that they have to bear the cross with Christ their Lord. However much Gellius may garble it in his writings, the word of Christ is and remains the word of the cross; all who accept the word in power and in truth must be prepared for the cross. This both Scripture and experience abundantly teach us.

This had to be said, lest we be consoled with a false boast and notion, and lest the word of the Lord spoken to the false prophets should apply to us, which says, You promise life to those souls to whom you should not promise it, “by your lying to my people who listen to your lies,” Ezekiel 13, verse 19.

Notwithstanding, many are tolerated in their churches who live wantonly in pomp, splendor, carousing and avarice, and according to the lusts of the flesh; and a true and faithful preacher, through whose service God works, does not allow this, if the evangelical Scriptures and the apostolic ordinances and doctrine are to avail and are true.

But as to the alms and support of the poor, I would say that it is a good and praiseworthy work, and I heartily approve of it. I would say also that many pious heathen philosophers, such as Aristotle, Plato and so on, have considered it right and just. But we deny that sincere and true repentance, or the true seed and foundation of sincere love, which is a fruit of true faith, consists in this; for we may give in hypocrisy as well as in love, as may be seen in the Scribes and Pharisees, in the open heathen, and daily still in the papists.

Paul also agrees with this, saying, “And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profits me nothing,” First Corinthians 13, verse 3. Therefore let everyone take heed for what purpose and with what heart he gives his alms. For the love which is of God and of a divine nature hates all boasting and hypocrisy, and does not even know them; of this I am convinced.

If Gellius points to the support and service of the poor, which I consider praiseworthy, as a fruit of true repentance, then I would ask in the first place whether he finds a lack of alms in our church, although its people are exiled to foreign countries, live in poverty and misery, and have partly been robbed of their possessions.

In the second place I would say that if he wants to boast of true repentance, he should begin first with the repentance of such a faith as brings forth the love and fear of God, and not with alms for the poor. For the Lord’s own mouth says that love is the keeping of his commandments; indeed, that it is the greatest commandment, Deuteronomy 6, verse 5.

Yes, my reader, if he and his people could fully comprehend sincere, true repentance and true Christian faith, which he thinks has been planted in their hearts, O, how heartily would they fear their God, love him and thank him for his favors and loving-kindness, and how willingly would they follow and obey his holy word! But how they do love and thank him for his loving-kindness, and how they obey and follow his word, their actions and fruits, alas, testify all too plainly.

If they love God, and if a true, living faith and genuine repentance have been planted in their hearts, as he boasts, why then do they still walk after the manner of the Gentiles, in pomp and splendor, in the lusts of their eyes, in the adorning of their bodies and houses, in avarice, carousing and so on? And why do they not heed the words of Paul, namely, “If you live according to the flesh, you will die,” Romans 8, verse 13?

If they love their neighbors, as the Scriptures command and true repentance brings forth, why then are they so usurious, avaricious and treacherous among themselves? Why do they go to law? Hatred, envy, lying, deceit, backbiting and defamation still prevail among his followers; besides this they curse, swear, brawl, fight, make war, destroy, rob, and some of them are fornicators, perjurers and so on; to say nothing of their disgraceful reviling, profaning and defaming of all those who seek and fear the Lord. What sort of repentance and faith it is that he boasts of so loudly, you may consider in the fear of God.

O, my kind reader, it never fails: where true faith is, there also is the righteousness of faith; where there is unfeigned Christian love, there also is obedience to the holy word; and where there is true, sincere repentance, there also is an unblamable life according to the truth. This cannot be disputed.

Is it not a false assertion to say that the giving of alms shows true repentance, since we do not know whether it is done in sincerity of heart or in hypocrisy and vanity, while he can plainly see that those who give alms are generally merely of the world and the flesh, indeed, without regeneration and repentance?

It would be well if he could take to heart what stands written: The alms (gifts) of the ungodly do not please the Most High, and sins are not forgiven by much offering; he who offers of the possessions of the poor does just as if he slaughtered the Son in the sight of the Father. But to keep God’s commandments is a pleasing offering, and to do according to the commandment, this is an offering which avails. “To depart from wickedness is a thing pleasing to the Lord, and to forsake unrighteousness is a propitiation.” Again, “To obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen, than the fat of rams,” Ecclesiasticus 35, verse 3; First Samuel 15, verse 22. [Note 2]

I would say further that it is my settled opinion that the above-mentioned alms he boasts of are not the two mites or pennies of the widow’s living, but only a small crumb of their abundance, riches and wealth. This I frankly assert, and I have not the least doubt that if they would apply to the support of the poor their silk and damask and the superabundance of clothes in which they go splendidly dressed, the ornaments of their houses, the golden and silver rosaries, the useless, costly ornaments, gold rings, chains, silvered and gilded swords, and besides these the plunder taken from the persecuted which may be found in the houses of some, then the poor would not suffer want in the least.

O, my reader, yet by him this must be called true repentance and a work much to be boasted of. If such boasting of outward works were heard from our side, how soon we would hear that we are work-saints and want to be saved by our own merits!

O Lord! O dear Lord! This is how the ignorant people are deceived and consoled in their impenitent, reckless life with their own works and merits. I think that such preachers may justly be called peace-preachers, pillow-makers and false daubers of the Spirit of the Lord, since they praise such a carnal people as penitent and blessed according to the prophetic word, while they are still entirely earthly and carnally minded, as their daily walk openly testifies before the whole world.

My faithful reader, observe the word of the Lord and take heed; for what the children of the world, who are inclined to walk upon the broad way, sometimes teach and present as true faith and sincere repentance is not always a true Christian faith nor sincere repentance. But this is true faith: which heartily accepts all the words of God, the threatening commandments as well as the consoling gospel, and trusts in them as the sure and true word of God, and so on. From such faith, which Paul calls a gift of God, springs the fear of God, which drives out sin, and the true love, which gladdens, enlivens and cheers the heart and leads it into obedience to the word.

Where there is such a faith, one which brings forth a new, converted and changed mind; which makes us dead to sin and leads us into a new life; changes us from Adam to Christ; puts off the old man with all his works and puts on the new man with his works, and so conforms all one’s thoughts, words and works to the Spirit, word and ways of the Lord; see, there is true repentance, to which the holy prophets, John the Baptist, Christ Jesus, together with all the apostles and pious servants, have so earnestly pointed us and so faithfully admonished us.

All those who would rightly preach this faith and this genuine repentance, and would bring forth fruits by it, must first themselves truly believe and sincerely repent; this is too obvious to be denied. And that Gellius and preachers like him do not yet believe and sincerely repent in power and truth, I will leave to be judged by their own writings and fruits, both here on earth and before the throne of God and Christ.

Gellius further writes and says, If it were true that many of our hearers turn the preaching of the holy gospel into lasciviousness, as in Jude, verse 4, and that our preaching avails but little (although many pious, penitent hearts prove the contrary beyond dispute), then the old lamentation of the prophet Isaiah would only be fulfilled, which says, Who has believed our report? and so on. He also points to the saying of Christ, namely, If they have kept my word, they will also keep yours; by which he doubtless means to say, As the world has not kept my doctrine, so it will not keep your doctrine.

He also refers to the four kinds of seed and four kinds of ground, Matthew 13, verses 8, 19 and 23.

Answer. God has never from the beginning preached repentance through the impenitent. The mouth and wisdom of God say, “Do men gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles?” Matthew 7, verse 16.

It is clear that Gellius and preachers like him remain so earthly and carnally minded, and are driven by such an unmerciful, tyrannical and slandering spirit, which is in truth the inborn spirit, nature and fruit of the old serpent. How, then, can they rightly preach the penitent, pious life and the fruitful, merciful, kindly spirit, nature and disposition of Christ, which they not only do not acknowledge but revile as hypocrisy, and which they sincerely hate in all the pious?

In the second place, I say that the preaching of peace and the pillow-making of the learned, as they practice it, will bring forth but few truly repentant persons. For although the world is so wicked and wild that we should reasonably be terrified at its very great wickedness, yet they are so comforted and consoled by their preachers with their infant baptism, Supper and alms, and with the merits, grace, death and blood of the Lord, that they presume themselves to be the Lord’s chosen holy church and people.

In the third place I would say this, because he speaks doubtfully, saying, If it were true that many of his hearers turn the preaching of the word into lasciviousness, and little fruit were brought forth by it, something which he nevertheless does not admit, and so on: the reader should mark well how diligently they defend the world and the church of antichrist, saying, If it were true, and so on. Yet the whole German nation has degenerated into such a wild and reckless freedom through the preaching of their free gospel that if we reasonably admonish and reprove them for their open unchastity, carousing, pomp and splendor, cursing and swearing, and lascivious and foul words, we must immediately hear that we are conspirators, vagabonds, fanatics, heaven-stormers, Anabaptists, and other indecent, disgraceful slanders.

But in regard to the complaint of Isaiah and the saying of Christ, If they have kept my saying, and so on, John 15, verse 20, with which he wishes to cover and adorn his unscriptural practices and doctrine of impenitence, I would ask him whether Christ and the apostles received as their disciples those who lived after the lusts of their flesh, such as drunkards, railers, extortioners, the avaricious, fornicators, adulterers and so on, as long as they had not sincerely repented.

If he answers yes, then he speaks contrary to all Scripture. For Paul says that we must not eat with such a one, even if he calls himself a brother, First Corinthians 5, verse 11, and that such will not inherit the kingdom of God, First Corinthians 6, verse 11. If he answers no, then I would ask again why they receive them as disciples, when they are not disciples of Christ but are, by his own words, of the world.

If he answers that they do not receive them, then I would ask him why they baptize their children before they let them partake of the Supper, and whether it would not be better if he separated them, according to the Scriptures, from the communion of those whom he considers pious. If he answers that he does not know of any such, which he can by no means truthfully say, then I would lastly ask whether he does not know a tree by its fruits, and whether he cannot see a light that shines in darkness, as all true Christian lights are called in the Scriptures, nor a city which is built upon a high mountain, Matthew 5, verse 14.

Gellius and all the preachers receive and tolerate such impenitent persons, whom he himself calls of the world, as you have heard, in the communion of their churches, against the practice of Christ and of the apostles. Therefore by doing so they must acknowledge that Christ’s church is of the world, or the world of Christ’s church; that, contrary to apostolic doctrine, ordinance and example, they dispense the sacraments to the world as well, though according to the Scriptures they belong properly to the penitent alone, who have placed themselves in the church of the Lord in obedience to the word; that they thereby include the penitent (if there are any) in the communion of the impenitent; and that they are open flatterers and enemies of the cross of Christ, Philippians 3, verse 18, who act hypocritically with the upper classes and flatter the world lest they lose its favors; and so openly and faithlessly transgress the Lord’s word and ordinance for the sake of their bellies, and reject it as powerless and discouraging.

Again, as to his reference to the Lord’s parable, I would say that I would have him take a better look at it and not console himself with it. For it refers to the true preachers and disciples who have been put to the trial of the cross of Christ in obedience to the word, and not to the cross-fleeing preachers and the world, as may be learned not only from the Scriptures but also from experience.

For some reject the truth they have received and seen, and the sown seed is devoured by the birds of the air and does not bring forth fruit. Some are withered by the scorching sun of the cross, oppression and misery, which proves them to be wood, hay and stubble, First Corinthians 3, verse 12.

Others are smothered by the cares of this world and by deceitful riches and the lusts of the flesh, so that the knowledge they received dies in them, and the lusts and love of this world prevail; which in our times, as well as in the times of the early church, is all too often the case with those who, alas, like Demas, grasp again at the love of the world.

But the last receive it in a sincere, pious heart and meekly bring forth fruit with patience. Although they are much tempted by all kinds of trials, anxiety, oppression and deadly perils, yet by the gracious help of God they are so armed with true faith, love, hope and patience or longsuffering, and are so confirmed in God, that neither can the fire of tribulation consume them (for they are gold, silver and precious stones), nor can sword and pain frighten them or turn them aside from the ways of the Lord, Romans 8, verse 38.

That the parable mentioned above refers to such Christians and not to the world and its preachers is too clear to be disputed or denied. And Gellius and preachers of the world like him remain defenders of unrighteousness, comforters of the impenitent and servants of the kingdom of antichrist, who pitifully deceive not only their own souls but also those of their church, and who support and defend them in their gross abominations and impenitent carnal lives, by their perversion of the Scriptures and useless consolations, to their eternal destruction.

In the fifth place it should be observed what the preachers’ desire and seeking should be. The Scriptures teach that Moses and Jeremiah, Exodus 4, verse 10, accepted the service reluctantly when they, Jeremiah 1, verse 6, were called and sent by God, as Jeremiah laments when the cross bore heavily upon him, Exodus 4, verse 10; Jeremiah 1, verse 6; Jeremiah 20, verse 8.

All that the prophets, apostles and faithful servants of God ever sought and desired was nothing else than that they might proclaim the name of their God and point their neighbors to the way of peace. They did not seek money, gold, honor and an easy life; but they carried out the office to which they were appointed, which, alas, the heedless people did not value, under many sore trials, miseries, anxieties, tribulations, beatings, poverty, oppression and tortures, and even at the risk of life, as sacred and secular histories teach in many instances. But why the preachers of the world have refused the service until now and still refuse it, and what they seek by it, experience and the Holy Spirit plainly teach us, saying that they promise death to the pious and life to the wicked for the sake of a handful of barley or a piece of bread; that they seek the fat and the wool, the milk and the flesh; that they eat the Lord’s sheep but do not feed them, Ezekiel 34, verse 3; that they preach peace for their bellies’ sake (that is, if they are well paid), and war if they are not well fed, and so on. [Note 3]

The facts openly testify that it is true that they do not seek the salvation of souls but a careless, easy life; for never in all our life have we seen preachers living where there were no rents or liens. And that Gellius too does not seek the salvation of his sheep but the rents, he has testified when he left Norden, where he had been called by the same calling, and moved to Emden, where the annual income was greater; something which the fathers in times gone by considered unjust in their councils and decrees, and punished with excommunication.

If he sought the salvation of their souls and not the rents, as befits a good and faithful shepherd according to the example of Jesus Christ and of all faithful servants, why then did he make void his first calling, which by his own assertion was divine, and leave the first sheep, who were no less redeemed by the death of the Lord and bought with his precious blood than the last ones, of whom he now has charge? O hypocrisy and pretense!

Again, Gellius says in regard to the support of the preachers that they care little how the congregation, of which the magistracy is a part, provides them with the necessities of life, since it is certain that if they serve the gospel, as he says, they will also live by the gospel; and he cites Matthew 10, verse 10; Luke 10, verse 7.

Answer. If Gellius and the preachers were such servants as are referred to in these Scriptures, then it is plain that the support of the gospel was promised them. But if anybody goes into the service and uselessly wastes and ruins the Lord’s goods, if he is faithless, seeks himself in all things and does the things which are contrary to the will and honor of the Lord, should such a faithless servant receive the reward which is reasonably due to the faithful, diligent laborer? I think you will answer no, and say that he should rather receive the displeasure and punishment of the Lord. For he says, “When therefore the lord of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants? They say to him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard to other tenants, who will render him the fruits in their seasons,” Matthew 21, verses 40 and 41.

We acknowledge that support has been promised by the Scriptures to the true and faithful servants. But Gellius and preachers like him are unfaithful servants who waste the Lord’s goods, steal his gain, scatter his sheep and do not gather them; who, alas, fearlessly lead his precious treasure, namely the poor, miserable souls, to hell in great numbers, as those who are truly regenerated can judge scripturally by the testimony of their open deeds. Therefore their support is not the support of true preachers, but an unreasonable, shameful gain, an unbecoming livelihood and the price of deceived souls. This all of sound understanding must acknowledge and admit.

O, my faithful reader, remember: as long as the world gives such splendid houses and large incomes to its preachers, the false prophets and deceivers will be numerous.

They claim to justify by Scripture all heresy, deceit, idolatry, pomp, hypocrisy, tyranny and drunkenness, together with their unreasonable and shameful service of the flesh and the world, and they make the ignorant and blind world believe that it is right.

But I testify openly, I testify it without reserve, that the preachers of the world, taking them all in all, are Balaamites who love the reward of unrighteousness and serve for the sake of a handful of barley and a piece of bread, by which they profane the name of God, Ezekiel 13, verse 19. They are “prophets who eat at Jezebel’s table,” First Kings 18, verse 20; servants and defenders of Maaz, First Chronicles 2, verse 27, who are honored with great rewards by Antioch, that is, antichrist; Ahabites who, for the sake of a field, stone the pious Naboth, First Kings, chapter 21; that is, who by their speeches, writings, backbiting, complaints and permission advise and urge the world to the killing of many an innocent, pious child of God.

Again, they are priests of Jeroboam, who, contrary to the example of Christ Jesus and his holy apostles, hire themselves out for an annual stipend to an unevangelical service of impenitence, which is carried on in every respect without power, spirit, repentance and regeneration, as may be openly seen. Their service is vain labor and mockery, and besides that an unbecoming speculation.

O, how distinctly the Holy Spirit has portrayed them before our eyes, if we would only see, saying, “And through covetousness they will, with feigned words, make merchandise of you.” Again, “Having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage,” Second Peter 2, verse 3; Jude, verse 16; and other such sayings. For that they have sought unreasonable gain and an easy life from their youth, and still seek it, is so obvious that it cannot be denied at all.