Brief and Clear Confession

“If you continue in my word, then are you my disciples indeed; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free,” John 8, verses 31 and 32.

“For no one can lay any other foundation than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ,” First Corinthians 3, verse 11.

Menno Simon wishes the learned John A’Lasco and his fellows, and all the people of East Friesland, of whatever class or condition in life they may be, true faith, true light and knowledge, the Holy Spirit, the lovely fear and pure love of the Lord, a blameless life, and the eternal life of God our heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, his beloved Son, our Lord, who has loved us and washed us in his blood. To him be the glory, honor, praise, kingdom, power and majesty forever and ever. Amen.

Beloved friends and brothers, in the latter part of the first month of the year 1543 I met you at Emden, having been invited by letter to come, to discuss with you for three or four days the disputed articles of our faith and religion: first, the incarnation of our beloved Lord Jesus Christ, to which, as you well know, you forced me against my will; secondly, infant baptism. We did not agree on this, and you let me depart in peace at our parting, desiring, however, that I should send you by U. L. the foundation of my faith, compiled in writing, within a stipulated period, which was three months; so that you might show your God-called rulers our faith, diligence, desire, seeking and life (which, however, is very weak), and on what foundation, Scriptures and reasons our intended doctrine, faith and life were founded. I hope and trust, by the grace of the Lord, that you desired and required this of me without any malice or bad intention.

Therefore I promised to fulfill your kind bidding and desire, and rejoiced in spirit; because through U. L. our faith, doctrine and life could also best be explained to those of high social standing to whose care the carnal sword was entrusted, and so the suspicion might be removed which is held against us because of the pernicious uproar and shameful doctrine and practice of the false prophets, who under a holy appearance always creep into society, to the hindrance of the wise and intelligent. For before God, who knows our hearts, we are certainly clear of all their abominable doctrine, uproar, mutiny, bloodshed, polygamy and similar abominations. Indeed, we hate them and fight against them with sincere affection, as acknowledged heresy, as snares to the conscience, as deceit, seduction and fraud, and as pestilential doctrine accursed by all divine Scripture. For how should the true brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ, the well-disposed children of God, teach rebellion of any kind? They are born, with Christ Jesus, of God the Father and of the powerful seed of the divine word in Christ Jesus; they are regenerated by Christ, partake of his Spirit and nature, are conformed to him, and are Christian and heavenly minded; and they are always prepared, according to the measure of their faith, to do the will of the eternal Prince of peace, who has taught his disciples nothing but patience and eternal peace, saying, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you,” John 14, verse 27. Again, “Peace be with you.” For his kingdom is a kingdom of love, of unity, of peace and of reformation, and not of hatred, rebellion, blood, unrest and destruction. Again, In peace we are called of God; peace should rule in our hearts toward him by whom we are called. Again, Blessed are the peacemakers. Paul says, “The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,” Romans 15, verse 13. I am aware, kind reader, that the Scriptures cited refer for the most part to the inward peace which comes through Christ; yet whoever has this inward, Christian peace in his heart will never be found guilty, before God and the world, of rebellion, treason, mutiny, murder, robbery or such unbecoming acts. For the Spirit of Christ which is in him seeks no evil, but good; no destruction, but healing; no ruin, but help; and seeks to live everywhere in peace with all people, as far as possible. He follows “peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man can see the Lord,” Hebrews 12, verse 14; John 14, verse 17; John 21, verse 15; Romans 14, verse 19; First Corinthians 7, verse 15; Colossians 3, verse 15; Matthew 5, verse 9; Romans 15, verse 13.

See, beloved friends and brothers, by these and other Scriptures we are taught and warned not to take up the literal sword, nor ever to give our consent to it, Excepto ordinario potestatis gladio, indebitum usum verso; but to take up the two-edged, powerful, sharp sword of the Spirit, which goes out of the mouth of the Lord, namely, the word of God. By this we intend to destroy the kingdom of Satan, to urge all the world to regeneration and salvation, and to bruise, crush and pierce all petrified and obstinate hearts. We desire, I say, by the grace, Spirit and power of the Lord, to circumcise with it all flesh, high, low, rich, poor, learned or unlearned, of all pride, vain show, pomp, greed, usury, smuggling, lies, deceit, robbery, shedding of innocent blood, hatred, envy, adultery, fornication, unchastity, unnatural desires, gluttony, wine-bibbing, drunkenness, debauchery, cursing and swearing, blindness, vanity, and the fearful, unbecoming idolatry; so that all of them, no matter who they are, may by the pure fear of the Lord, from which comes the sure knowledge of the judgment of God, first become inwardly humble before him; and then, by the sure knowledge of his blessings so abundantly shown to us, be refreshed and consoled by Christ Jesus; and so, by the power of their faith working through love, willingly renounce their own wisdom, intelligence, philosophy, sophistry, unwillingness, sloth, evil lusts, unbelief, disobedience, and the very erroneous, carnal, mad life of this world, and enter into all divine wisdom, truth, love, zeal and soberness, the true sacraments and true religion, in full obedience to God and Christ, and in all the Christian fruits which flow from a pure heart, a good conscience and unfeigned faith, Titus 2, verse 7; First Peter 1, verse 23; Ephesians 6, verse 7; Hebrews 4, verse 12; Revelation 1, verse 16; Revelation 19, verse 15.

So we do not contend with carnal but with spiritual weapons, with patience and with the word of the Lord, against all flesh, world and devil, trusting in Christ. Nor will any other weapons ever be found with us. Therefore do not be afraid of us (see, in Christ Jesus I do not lie); for we do not desire your destruction, but your regeneration; not your condemnation, but your everlasting salvation; not your flesh and blood, but your spirit and soul. For the sake of this I have these seven years suffered, and still suffer, slander and scorn, anxiety, suspense, persecution, and great peril of being imprisoned.

The more the word of the Lord spreads, by the grace of God, to the reformation of some persons, who are, however, few, the more hatred and bitterness increase against me; so that up to this hour I have not been able to find, in all the country, where, alas, mere boasting of the divine word is a great deal more plentiful than the fear of God, a cabin or hut (blessed be the Lord) in which my wife and little children can safely stay for a year or two. O cruel, unmerciful Christians! Oh, that all magistrates and princes, and also all the wise and learned, knew the seeking, intention and desire of my heart, and also of my beloved brothers, who by the grace, Spirit and word of God are converted into a new spirit or new birth! If they rightly understood our teaching, how soon their hearts and minds would be changed to a different view! But since all of them, with only a few exceptions, are nothing but earth and flesh and are not gifted with the Spirit of Christ, therefore, alas, we hear nothing from them but upbraiding and slander, and can expect nothing from them (I mean the evil-minded) but the stake, water, fire, wheel and sword, as a reward of gratitude for having sought, and still seeking, our conversion, salvation and eternal life, and that of the whole world, with such diligence, care, pains and labor from our inmost heart. For I strive after nothing, as God is my witness, except that the God of heaven and of earth, through his blessed Son Jesus Christ, may have the glory and praise of his blessed word; that all men may be saved; that they may awake in this acceptable time of grace from their deep sleep of sinfulness; that they may lay aside every clinging sin and the damnable works of darkness; that they may put on the armor of light; and that they may so become with us, by true penance, faith, baptism, Supper, ban or separation, love, obedience and true life, one holy, Christian church and body in Christ Jesus. This is something the whole world still opposes today with all its strength, with both shoulders and horns, not being willing that Christ Jesus, forever blessed, should reign over them. Indeed, they persecute, banish, burn, murder and destroy all those who willingly teach and uphold the glory, praise, honor, will and commandments of the Lord. De bis satis, Hebrews 12, verse 15; Romans 13, verse 11; Hebrews 12, verse 2; Romans 13, verse 12; Luke 3, verse 3; Matthew 3, verse 1; Matthew 28, verse 19; Mark 16, verse 15; Acts, chapter 2; Matthew 18, verse 17; First Corinthians 5, verse 5; Second Thessalonians, chapter 3; First Timothy 1, verse 20; Luke 19, verse 47. [Note 1]

In this matter I do your kind bidding by briefly compiling in writing my doctrine, faith and seeking, as I did before by word of mouth, which I am always prepared to do for all people, according to the doctrine of Peter, as was said above. Therefore I ask of you, as dear as Christ is to you, that you do not look on this my confession, which is the word of God, with carnal, blind eyes, as the mad, unintelligent world does, which wants to have everything taught according to its own fancy and will under the name of Christianity; that you will not measure and judge it in the carnal way, with logical questions and other such human wisdom; but that you will look at it and judge it according to the word and truth of the Lord, as those would who understand spiritual matters: as blameless, regenerated Christians who are full of the knowledge, love and fear of God, who are moved by the Holy Spirit, and who do not seek human favor, praise and honor, self and carnal welfare, but only the honor and glory of God and the eternal salvation of their brothers. For only such can judge spiritual matters, and not the carnally minded, First Corinthians 14, verse 29. The Spirit of God teaches, judges and understands all things. Paul says, “What man knows the things of a man, except the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God no man knows, but the Spirit of God,” First Corinthians 2, verse 11. Therefore test your intention and the inmost part of your hearts, as before God, who sees all things. Search yourselves thoroughly and open your hearts before the Lord. If you still seek any carnal liberty, lusts, honor and profit, then without doubt your judgment in spiritual matters (especially as regards the mere confession) will be quite carnal, selfish, partial, unjust and false; you will also garble and pervert the plain testimony of the Holy Scriptures by logic and false reasoning, to free yourselves and to please the world. Beware that you do not do so, and so bring the terrible wrath of the Lord on you. I know why I write this. I am in doubt about your sincerity. Remember what I mean. And if your hearts are sincere, clean and pious before God, as I hope, and if you truly desire the truth, then you will confess, by the grace of God, that our humble, plain doctrine, faith and sacraments, and the life of nearly all of us, particularly the outward, blameless, Christian, evangelical life, are in keeping with the Spirit and word of God.

And if God by his loving kindness should grant that you sincerely acknowledge it in your inmost soul as the unchangeable word and will of God, and as the Spirit and power of God, then I pray you by the precious blood of our Lord Jesus Christ to receive it with gladness and gratitude of heart, and let it be examined by your ordained rulers and by all men, and let them know what your heart, spirit or conscience testifies concerning our doctrine, faith, sacraments and lives. Do not fear the exalted position of any man, nor despise his lowliness. Go on the king’s highway, speaking the truth to all people with a clear conscience, so that you do not teach, judge or testify contrary to your inward understanding, judgment and conviction, to your everlasting condemnation. For you are certainly taught by the word of the Lord that whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come, Matthew 12, verse 32; Luke 10, verse 12; Mark 3, verse 28. Therefore, most beloved, search your spirits. If you are spiritual, then your judgment will doubtless be spiritual, just and right. If you are not, and you judge spiritual matters according to your own will, woe to you! I speak to you as one whose soul I seek and love with all my strength. Although you are more learned than I am, yet I teach and admonish you to judge justly in all things, without carnality or partiality. For I am afraid that there were not a few, some of them famous men excelling in learning, who, under a show of fearing God, for the sake of shameful gain, worldly honor and carnal lusts, have shamefully written, judged and taught the blessed word of the Lord by garbling the Scriptures, against their own consciences, to the despising of the cross of Christ, in order to please those who are in authority.

Be that as it may, let every soul seek the pure Christian truth in purity of heart, and strive after it with all diligence, and he will succeed. Jesus says, “If you continue in my word, then are you my disciples indeed; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Again, those who trust in him shall understand the truth, and the faithful in love shall be pleasing to him. Again, “The secret of the Lord is with those who fear him; and he will show them his covenant,” John 8, verses 31 and 32; Psalm 25, verse 14.

May the Almighty Father, through his blessed Son Jesus Christ, give you all, in all things, a true understanding and clear vision to judge rightly in all things, and to distinguish rightly between what is holy and what is unholy, between good and evil, right and wrong, and between the clean and unclean, according to the evangelical truth; so that all those of you who have renounced gain, honor and fame for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ may from now on be taught by the sure and true confession of Scripture, be moved by the Holy Spirit, and enter into all divine wisdom, truth, righteousness and obedience to him who has taught us by his powerful word, drawn us by his Spirit, and bought and delivered us by his precious blood, that is, Christ Jesus. Amen.

Judge rightly, and confess the truth.

Beloved lords, friends and brothers, when this matter of the incarnation of our beloved Lord Jesus Christ was first mentioned by the brothers, I was terrified at heart on hearing it, lest I should err in the matter and be found before God in pernicious unbelief. Because of this article I was often so troubled at heart after receiving baptism that for many days I abstained from food and drink through the overanxiety of my soul, beseeching and praying God in extreme need that the kind Father, by his mercy and grace, would disclose to me, a poor sinner who, although in extreme weakness, desired to do his blessed will and pleasure, the mystery of the incarnation of his blessed Son, as far as was necessary for the glorification of his holy name and for the consolation of my afflicted conscience.

So, wandering about for days, weeks and months, I frequently asked some of you your opinion or belief on this matter, which weighed so heavily on my heart. Yet none of them could instruct me well enough to quiet my conscience. For I found in them a gross misunderstanding of some Scriptures which they brought forward as proof of your assertion, not only in my opinion but according to the meaning of the Scriptures. So at last, after much fasting, weeping, praying, tribulation and anxiety, I became, by the grace of God, quiet and refreshed at heart, firmly acknowledging and believing, assured by the infallibly sure testimony of the Scriptures understood in the Spirit, that Christ Jesus, forever blessed, is the Lord from heaven, First Corinthians 15, verse 47; the promised spiritual seed of the new and spiritual Eve, Genesis 3, verse 15, namely, the eternal Truth, John 14, verse 16; the powerful Conqueror of the serpent and his seed, Genesis 3, verse 15; Luke 11, verse 21; John 16, verse 33; Hebrews 2, verse 14. This promised seed is the eternal Truth and Word of God, and in the fullness of time it was sent forth from the Almighty and merciful Father, Galatians 4, verse 4, into a pure virgin, Mary, Isaiah 7, verse 14, conceived by the Holy Spirit and the power of the Most High. She heard and believed the heavenly message and pleasure of the Father, which was brought to her by Gabriel, Luke 1, verse 28. This eternal Word of God has become flesh; it was in the beginning with God and was God, John 1, verse 2. He was conceived and begotten of the Holy Spirit, Matthew 1, verse 18; formed and nourished in Mary, as a natural child is by its mother; a true Son of God and a true son of man, born of her, truly flesh and blood, suffering, hungry, thirsty, capable of suffering, mortal according to the flesh, immortal according to the Spirit; like us in all things, yet without sin, Hebrews 2, verse 9; Hebrews 4, verse 15. Truly God and man, man and God. Not divided or separated, as being half heavenly and half earthly, half of the seed of man and half of God, as some express it; but one unmixed, whole Christ, namely, spirit, soul and body, as Paul says all men are: “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation, and took on him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself” (note: humbled himself), Philippians 2, verses 6 to 8. He who was more exalted than the angels was made a little lower than they are. For as he was subject to death, he became flesh and blood, Hebrews 2, verse 9. [Note 2]

I believe and confess without a doubt that he was in this way, according to the flesh, conceived and come of the Holy Spirit, born of the seed or lineage of David and of Abraham, and made of a woman, made under the law, Galatians 4, verse 4; circumcised the eighth day, obedient to his parents, growing and becoming strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon him, Luke 2, verse 40.

This same man, Christ Jesus, preached, was crucified, died, was buried, arose, and ascended to heaven, and is seated there at the right hand of his Almighty Father, according to the testimony of all the Scriptures; and from there he will return to judge the sheep and the goats, the good and the evil, the living and the dead, Second Corinthians 5, verse 10; Second Timothy 4, verse 1.

So I believe and confess that the pure Word of God, Christ Jesus, the Creator and Commander of Adam and the one who cursed him, put himself in Adam’s place, that is, under his wrath, death and curse, and by his great compassion, love and mercy took on himself the accursed burden of his erring creatures; that he himself became like Adam in the flesh. And so by his death he has given life again; and by humbling himself, by his righteousness and obedience, he has reunited and fulfilled the eternal righteousness of the righteous God, as he speaks through David, “I restored what I did not take away,” Psalm 69, verse 4.

God has not reconciled the world to himself by Adam’s flesh, for by God’s righteousness it was subject to the wrath and curse. And what can be reconciled by wrath and curse? But he has done it by himself, by mere grace, by his eternal Word, that is, by his blessed Son, who became like the first Adam in all things except unrighteousness, disobedience and sin; so that all honor and praise should belong to God, and not to us or to Adam. Indeed, “Christ Jesus, who of God is made to us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: that, according as it is written, He that glories, let him glory in the Lord,” First Corinthians 1, verses 30 and 31.

See, beloved lords, friends and brothers, so I believe that God has sent “his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin (which he conquered, or for which he was offered) condemned sin in the flesh; that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit,” Romans 8, verses 3 and 4. Again, “He has made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him,” Second Corinthians 5, verse 21. And so he has become our only offering and sacrifice, fulfillment and requirement, by whom God the Father is reconciled, by whom his righteousness is fulfilled, the curse removed, the devil, sin and everlasting death conquered, and eternal life restored; yes, grace, favor, mercy, peace and eternal life. Paul says, “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” Romans 8, verse 32.

So I believe and confess that “God was manifest in the flesh,” First Timothy 3, verse 16; “that God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself,” Second Corinthians 5, verse 19; that he has blotted out our sins and has again seated himself at the right hand of the Majesty on high, and all the angels of God worship him there, Hebrews 1, verse 6. And all scriptural testimony and truth agree with this doctrine of the conception and incarnation of Christ.

First, Paul says, “What is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things,” Ephesians 4, verses 9 and 10. Again, Christ himself says, “No man has ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.” Again, “He that comes from above is above all; he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaks of the earth: he that comes from heaven is above all, and what he has seen and heard, that he testifies; and no man receives his testimony,” John 3, verses 31 and 32. Again, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” “Does this offend you? What if you shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?” John 6, verses 51, 61 and 62. Again, “I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world; again, I leave the world and go to the Father,” John 16, verse 28. Again, “Father, I will that they also, whom you have given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which you have given me, for you loved me before the foundation of the world,” John 17, verse 24. Again, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the word of life (for the life was manifested),” First John 1, verse 1; and also many other Scriptures, particularly of John.

All those who by the grace of God clearly and intelligently see into and confess this doctrine of the incarnation of our beloved Lord Jesus Christ will rightly confess and comprehend the unspeakable grace, favor, compassion and mercy, and the inexpressibly great love, of God the Father, expressed and manifested in Christ Jesus, as he himself says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life,” John 3, verse 16. Again, “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins,” First John 4, verses 9 and 10. For how could God show greater fatherly love to us than by so humbling his eternal Wisdom and Truth, his pure, powerful Word, his blessed Son, by whom he created all things, who was like him in form, the image of his blessed being, that he became less than the angels, a poor, despised, mortal man or servant, capable of suffering, who alone had to bear the trouble, labor, transgression, curse and death of the whole world? He so humbled him that he became the most miserable of men, First Peter 2, verse 24; Isaiah 53, verse 6, “a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people,” Psalm 22, verse 6. And so the innocent, the true, the wise, the righteous, the obedient and the pure Christ Jesus had to wash off, blot out and satisfy the guilt, falsehood, foolishness, unrighteousness, disobedience and uncleanness of all men. Tell me, beloved, who ever heard of greater love?

Beloved, holy father and brother, this is before God my doctrine, faith and confession of the consoling incarnation of our beloved Lord Jesus Christ, which in my opinion is very strong and cannot be refuted by the Holy Scriptures. Nor can I therefore be convinced by any view of the matter, or by any of the reasonings and writings you have so far advanced against our doctrine, faith and confession, since you turn and explain them according to a natural and carnal sense, and not according to the true explanation and sense of the Holy Spirit. This doubtless should not be the case in this matter, since this glorious work of the incarnation of Christ was wrought and accomplished by God through his Holy Spirit, above all natural causes, solely in faith, as the pleasure of God directs.

I repeat, this is my confession to those who desired to hear my belief and feeling on this article. Yet I never teach it so profoundly in my ordinary admonitions to the brothers and friends; nor have I ever taught it so profoundly before, as I told you by word of mouth. But I simply teach that the blessed Christ Jesus is truly God and man, a Son of God and a son of man, conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, a poor, despised man, like us in all things except sin; that it is he who was promised in the law by the prophets, and is our true Messiah, Christ, King, David, Prophet, Bishop and Priest, the Deliverer, Savior, Sacrifice, Reconciliation, Fulfiller, Shepherd, Teacher, Example, Mediator, Advocate, Ruler, Commander, Bridegroom, Light of the world, the true Door to the fold, the eternal Wisdom, the image of God, the Father’s Word, the right Way, Truth and Life, and so on. For I know full well that there are few who can understand this particular matter, even after it is explained to them. Therefore, I say, I consider it unnecessary for me and for all teachers to teach this matter of the incarnation of Christ any further than simply for the teaching of the regeneration of the church, for love, for consolation, for sanctification, and for living and acting according to his holy doctrine and life. Would to God that we were all of such a mind! But if someone wants to search further and inquire into this matter, if it is fitting for him to know and his understanding reaches far enough, it will not be hidden from him; if not, it will be said to him, A litora te ne quaesieris, Ecclesiasticus 3, verse 21. [Note 3]

Well, though this is our doctrine and understanding, not otherwise than according to the testimony of the Scriptures, as we can best understand and comprehend it by the grace of God, we still fear that our explanation from the word of God will not satisfy and convince you to unite with us in this matter, but that you will persist in the reasonings and arguments you have adopted and try to explain it literally, naturally and in a human way; not observing that Isaiah, Matthew, Luke and John clearly testify that it was brought about in Mary by faith, by the power of the Holy Spirit, as was said above.

Oh, let us not humble the Almighty Father in his mercy! Let us not rob the blessed Son of God of his glory. Beloved brothers, the Scripture remains eternal and unbroken. Take heed, lest you err. So Isaiah speaks: “Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son,” Isaiah 7, verse 14. Again, the angel of the Lord said to Joseph, “That which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit,” Matthew 1, verse 20. Again, when Mary asked the angel about the manner of the conception, how it should be, he answered: “The Holy Spirit shall come upon you, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow you,” Luke 1, verse 35. Again, this is the sure testimony of John, the servant of God and of Christ, concerning the incarnation of Jesus Christ: “The Word was made flesh,” John 1, verse 14. He does not say, The Word took flesh to itself.

See, dear brothers, however irrefutable these reasons and Scriptures may be by which we try to establish our assertion, yet I fear that because of this article we will be judged and considered sectarian, heretical and deceitful; although there may be many among us who fear the Lord from their inmost hearts, who never in their lives heard a word spoken about the mystery of this matter as it has been expressed above with great clearness, nor ever inquired into it; besides, they neither knew nor understood anything about it. But they are satisfied with the Father’s favor through Christ; they obey his holy word, follow his example, love, doctrine and life, and rejoice solely in the remission of sins, freedom of the Spirit, grace, favor, promise, mercy and eternal life which they have received through him. Oh, that all the wise and learned, indeed all the men of this world, would be satisfied with the plain, humble teaching of Jesus Christ and his apostles, not climbing higher nor remaining lower; would seek God with purity of heart, and firmly believe, fear, love and obey his blessed word! Oh, what precious talents and what glorious gain would then, by the grace of God, be gathered into the treasury of the Lord! But as it is, there are many, alas, whose faith and knowledge are not in their hearts but only on their lips and tongues, non loquor ad erubescentiam proborum; who find pleasure in foolish and useless questions and in disputation; who are versed more in the wisdom of man than in the wisdom of God; who are of broken minds, always learning and never coming to the true knowledge of the eternal truth. And whoever contradicts them and reproves them by the plain word of the holy gospel of Jesus Christ, out of mere brotherly love, is from that moment considered by them a shameful sectarian or a wicked, perverse heretic, Ipsi judicate, an ne verum sit quod dico? And this although their own unbelieving hearts are quite earthly, carnal and devilish, and their whole life is nothing but mere flesh, pride, vanity, laziness, unchristian greed, hatred, cruelty, bloodthirstiness, drunkenness, flattery; in short, nothing but sin and shame. Oh, that I might be lying and not telling the truth! [Note 4]

Nevertheless, let them slander and upbraid as much as they please; we will willingly bear it. We will all be judged by one Judge, who will scrupulously try and reward their doctrine, faith, zeal, seeking and life, as well as ours. Then it will appear who have anxiously sought the everlasting truth of God, the praise and honor of the Lord, and the everlasting salvation of all people. Brothers, beware, lest you become like these fruitless disputers. Take heed, if you would save your souls, that you sincerely seek, desire, believe, receive and live according to the saving truth of God. Amen.