Testimony against John van Leyden, Part 1

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

Grace, peace and mercy from God the Father, through Jesus Christ, be with all the true brothers and companions scattered here and there.

May the eternal, merciful God, who has called us out of darkness into his marvelous light, indeed, who has brought us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, Jesus Christ, keep us on the right way, so that Satan does not deceive us by his wiles, and no root of bitterness springs up among us to cause confusion, and many are made unclean by it, as is, alas, now the case to some extent. And so it must be that sects arise among us, so that the tried may be made manifest, First Peter 2, verse 9; Colossians 1, verse 13; Hebrews 11, verse 15; Deuteronomy 29, verse 18; First Corinthians 1, verse 18.

Let no one be offended at this. But let all give heed to the word of God and abide by it, so that they may be delivered from the strange woman, as Solomon says (by which woman we should understand all the false teachers), “Even from the stranger who flatters with her words; who forsakes the guide of her youth, and forgets the covenant of her God,” Proverbs 2, verse 16; Proverbs 4, verses 6 and 7. This is the true nature of all false teachers.

First, they forget the pure doctrine of Christ and choose a strange doctrine. They enchant others so that they cannot believe the truth, and they use smooth talk, as Paul says: “By good words and fair speeches they deceive the hearts of the simple,” Romans 16, verse 18.

Secondly, they leave their Master, Christ, whom alone they should hear, as the Father testifies of him, saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear him,” Matthew 17, verse 5; Mark 9, verse 7; Luke 9, verse 35. But all false teachers forget this voice from the Father and leave their only Master, Christ Jesus; for since they are not of his sheep, they do not hear his voice, Matthew 23, verse 9; John 10, verse 26.

Thirdly, the false teachers forget the covenant of God, and pay no attention to what we should heed most, as Christ said reprovingly to the Pharisees: “You pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy and faith: these you ought to have done, and not to leave the other undone. You blind guides, who strain at a gnat and swallow a camel,” Matthew 23, verses 23 and 34; and as Paul said, “The end of the commandment is charity, out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned; from which some, having swerved, have turned aside to vain jangling, desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor what they affirm,” First Timothy 1, verses 5 to 7. So all false teachers forget the covenant of God by which they are bound to him, as is, alas, the case with many at present, who have forgotten all that they were baptized upon, namely, the cross, and would recommend and use the sword. May almighty God save all true Christians from this, and give them wisdom and understanding to keep the covenant of God, and to be always mindful of what kind of spirit Christ wants his disciples to be of, Luke 9, verse 55.

May they beware of this strange woman; for her house inclines to death, and her ways to corruption. None who go in to her come out again, nor do they find the way of life. And this strange woman now reigns far and wide, and deceives many, as the prophetess Jezebel did and still does, and as the serpent deceived Eve. Therefore, by the grace of God, we will uncover some things, so that those who are still blind may see, and that when they recognize antichrist as an abomination standing in the holy place, they may see through all deceit, Revelation 2, verse 20; Genesis 3, verse 13; Matthew 24, verse 15; Mark 13, verse 14; Luke 21, verse 7; Daniel 9, verse 17; Revelation 17, verse 18. And that, as they will not drink of the cup of the Babylonian whore, they may beware of the venom of the serpent; and that if they are bitten by the serpent, they may become aware of it and be rid of the venom by looking on the true serpent, and so be cured. May God give us all this, Numbers 21, verse 6; John 3, verse 14.

We would not have written, but it has become necessary: partly because we cannot tolerate the shameful deceit and blasphemy against God of a man being put in Christ’s place; partly because we are not allowed a spoken, scriptural defense against such deceit and abominable heresy concerning the promised David and other articles. But it is the nature of all impostors and erring spirits to flee from the word of God, as Christ says: “For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he who does truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God,” John 3, verses 20 and 21. Therefore he who flees from the light, that is, from the word of God, shows that his deeds are not wrought in God.

But if there are some who cannot yet see this, they need the eyesalve spoken of in the Revelation of John, Revelation 3, verse 18. O God, what perilous times these are! How the prophet Baal conspires with the Moabite king against the Israel of God! Numbers, chapters 24 and 25. [Note 1]

The Egyptian sorcerers, how they stand against the true Moses! Exodus, chapter 6.

The lying Pashur, how he is heeded, because he prophesies prosperity, none of which comes to pass! Jeremiah, chapter 20; Second Timothy, chapter 3.

How the false Hananiah deceives the pious children of Israel and makes them trust in falsehood! Jeremiah, chapter 28.

Almighty God will raise up a Jeremiah to reprove the deceiver of the people, who will speak nothing but what God commands him to speak; and the Lord will put his word in the mouth of this Jeremiah as a fire, and all false teachers as stubble, so that the truth may prevail, Jeremiah 1, verse 17.

And however many prophets of Baal are raised up, the Lord will still leave behind a Micron, who will proclaim the true word of the Lord. But enough of this. We will begin the matter, to the honor of God and the edification of the church. [Note 2]

In the first place: it is beyond dispute that almighty God has made his Son, Christ Jesus our Lord, King of all the earth and of his faithful church. That Christ is the King of all the earth is abundantly testified by the Scriptures, particularly by the prophet David, who says, “The Lord most high is terrible; he is a great king over all the earth,” Psalm 47, verse 2; and, “God has gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet. Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth: sing praises with understanding. God reigns over the heathen; God sits upon the throne of his holiness,” Psalm 47, verses 2 and 5 to 8.

Therefore, as truly as Christ is God, so truly is he King of all the earth.

Paul testifies this to the Ephesians, saying that God the Father “raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come. And he has put all things under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church,” Ephesians 1, verses 20 to 22.

Christ testifies of himself that he is a mighty King, saying, “All power is given to me in heaven and in earth,” Matthew 28, verse 18. Paul says that Christ is the express image of God, upholding all things by the word of his power, Hebrews 1, verse 3.

So Christ is the King of all the earth, even though the wicked may deny it. Therefore the prophet says, “The Lord reigns; let the people tremble; he sits between the cherubim; let the earth be moved,” Psalm 99, verse 1. Still, they can do nothing more than the Lord allows them, John 19, verse 11; and no one can withstand him. The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, the ruler of all the earth, Psalm 97, verse 5.

Further, that Christ is King of his believing church is clearly testified by the Scriptures. So Isaiah speaks: “To us a child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end,” Isaiah 9, verse 6.

The house of Jacob is the believing church, as is generally understood. Of this Christ is King, as the angel clearly testified, and as Jeremiah says concerning Christ, that he would be a king who would reign and prosper, Jeremiah 23, verse 5. Isaiah also says, “Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment,” Isaiah 32, verse 1.

Since Christ is King both of all the earth and of his believing church, as we have shown by the plain Scriptures according to the grace received from God, how can John Van Leyden now call himself a joyous king of all, who has become the joy of the miserable?

If he would be our king, our Lord, then Paul and Isaiah must stand back. Paul says, “For though there are those that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth (as there are gods many, and lords many), yet to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him,” First Corinthians 8, verse 5. Isaiah says, “The Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king,” Isaiah 33, verse 22.

See, as truly as Christ is our judge, and as surely as he is our lawgiver, so surely is he our king. Where now is John Van Leyden? O abominable blasphemy against God, that a man should call himself the joyous king of all! For it is written, “O Lord, Lord God, Creator of all things, who are fearful, and strong, and righteous, and merciful, and the only and gracious King,” Second Maccabees 1, verse 24; who alone are good, who alone are a mighty king, who alone are righteous, almighty and eternal, who deliver Israel from all evil. Paul says, “I charge you in the sight of God, who quickens all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession, that you keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ; which in his time he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords,” First Timothy 6, verses 13 to 15. Again, it is the greatest blasphemy a man can speak, that John Van Leyden asserts that he has become the joy of the miserable.

Christ became our joy at his birth, according to the testimony of the angel to the shepherds, saying, “Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For to you is born this day, in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord,” Luke 2, verses 10 and 11. With this the words of David agree: “Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart. Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness,” Psalm 97, verses 11 and 12. “Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all you lands. Serve the Lord with gladness; come before his presence with singing. Know that the Lord, he is God: it is he who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture,” Psalm 100, verses 1 to 3. “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, rejoice,” Philippians 4, verse 4. So all the Scriptures admonish us to rejoice in Christ our Lord; for it is he of whom the patriarch Jacob prophesied that he would be the expected one of the people, that is, the one for whom the people of God should look with great desire; as Christ also testifies, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; and he saw it, and was glad,” John 8, verse 56.

Christ is the true Melchisedec, king of Salem, that is, the king of peace, who has made peace between God the Father and the human race, Hebrews 7, verse 1. He is the pious Isaac who by his sacrifice has reconciled us with his heavenly Father, and his sacrifice remains worthy forever, Hebrews 10, verse 10; Hebrews 9, verse 12. He is the true David, who has slain the great Goliath and has taken away the blasphemer of Israel, First Samuel 17, verse 49; Ecclesiasticus 47, verse 4. Indeed, he has caused great rejoicing, as it is written, “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me (says Christ), because the Lord has anointed me to preach good tidings to the meek; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to appoint to those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness,” Isaiah 61, verses 1 to 3; Luke 4, verses 18 and 19. See, how clearly it is shown here that Christ has become the joy of the miserable, in whom all pious Christians rejoice, saying, Rejoicing we will rejoice in the Lord; our souls shall rejoice in the Lord; for he has clothed us in garments of righteousness and wrapped us in the mantle of righteousness, as a bride adorned with bracelets. To this the prophet Zechariah admonishes us, saying, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem; behold, your King comes to you; he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt, the foal of an ass,” Zechariah 9, verse 9; Matthew 21, verse 2. And the king’s prophet David says, “Sing to the Lord a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints. Let Israel rejoice in him who made him; let the children of Zion be joyful in their king. Let them praise his name in the dance; let them sing praises to him with the timbrel and harp,” Psalm 149, verses 1 to 3. [Note 3]

So did all the saints of God, as David did, who says, “Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name,” Psalm 33, verses 20 and 21. And, “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us; this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation,” Isaiah 25, verse 9. By this we may see how all the saints have rejoiced in God. And how can we rejoice in man, when it is written, “Do not put your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. His breath goes forth, he returns to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish. Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God,” Psalm 146, verses 3 to 5; who helps the miserable and raises up the crushed. “He is their mighty protection and strong stay, a defense from heat, and a cover from the sun at noon, a preservation from stumbling and a help from falling. He raises up the soul and lightens the eyes; he gives health, life and blessing,” Ecclesiasticus 34, verses 16 and 17. [Note 4]

Since Christ has become our joy, everyone may judge for himself what an abomination it is in the sight of God that a man would be what our Savior Christ is. Is it not an abomination standing in the holy place? And what is worse yet, this John Van Leyden is not satisfied with passing himself off as the joyous king of all, who has become the joy of the miserable; he also claims to be the promised David of whom all the prophets testify, and does not admit that Christ is the one who was promised.

Of such a mind are all false prophets and antichrists: they have on their heads names of blasphemy, and crowns like gold, by which pride is meant, as may be seen in the Babylonian whore, who was arrayed in scarlet, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication; for she says in her heart, I sit a queen, and shall see no sorrow, Revelation 17, verse 4; Revelation 18, verse 7. But the Lord cannot tolerate it, and says, “Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees’ excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah,” Isaiah 13, verse 19. Therefore her plagues shall come in one day, Revelation 18, verse 7. And not Babylon alone, but also all antichrists, together with their deceit and false writings, shall be destroyed, as Christ says, “Every plant which my heavenly Father has not planted shall be rooted up,” Matthew 15, verse 13.

And no greater antichrist can appear than the one who passes himself off as the promised David; for the promised David is Christ, as the Scriptures abundantly testify. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

First, the prophet Hosea says, “For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without a teraphim. Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the Lord their God, and David their king, and shall fear the Lord and his goodness in the latter days,” Hosea 3, verses 4 and 5.

It is beyond dispute that this king David can be none other than Christ Jesus, whom all must seek who want to be saved, as it is written, Seek the Lord and you shall live, Amos 5, verse 4. Isaiah says, “Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near,” Isaiah 55, verse 6. For this reason David says, “I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears,” Psalm 34, verse 5. And Christ, the wisdom of God, says, He who finds me finds life, and shall have the pleasure of the Lord. And what other king should the children of Israel have than Christ Jesus, the true Melchisedec, king of Salem, that is, King of peace? Hebrews 7, verse 1; of whom the whole number of the disciples testified like this: “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord; peace in heaven, and glory in the highest,” Luke 19, verse 28; Luke 2, verse 14.

The Jews despised this King, Christ, and therefore they were blinded; yet they shall return and come to Christ, their King David, as Paul testifies, saying, “That blindness in part has happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. For this is my covenant with them, when I shall take away their sins,” Romans 11, verse 26; Isaiah 59, verse 20. Since Israel is yet to be converted to Christ, it follows beyond dispute that the King David whom Israel shall seek can be no other than Christ.

Therefore every righteous person will understand in what terrible error those are who do not believe that by David we should understand Christ, but take it to be another man. Of such Christ says, “I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not receive me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive,” John 5, verse 43. But those who, like Jerusalem, will not receive Christ will also be destroyed with it; and those who, like the Pharisees, oppose Christ and yet think they are enlightened will also be blinded with the Pharisees. Let all pray to God for wisdom, and they will understand that Christ is the true David, Luke 19, verse 7; Isaiah 6, verse 10; John 9, verse 12.

Again, Jeremiah says, “It shall come to pass in that day, says the Lord of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off your neck, and will burst your bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him; but they shall serve the Lord their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up to them,” Jeremiah 30, verses 8 and 9.

Now the commandment of the Lord is, “You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve,” Matthew 4, verse 10. Therefore this king David is none other than Christ, whom the Father has raised up for us, saying, Yet I have set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. And the Christian church acknowledges no other king and no other Lord but Christ. Therefore all the saints say, “The Lord is our defense, and the Holy One of Israel is our King,” Psalm 89, verse 18. Now who is the Holy One but he of whom Isaiah testifies, saying, “For thus says the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy,” Isaiah 57, verse 16. And, “These things says he who is holy, . . . . he who has the key of David,” Revelation 3, verse 7. So Jeremiah speaks concerning Babylon: “Recompense her according to her work; according to all that she has done, do to her; for she has been proud against the Lord, against the Holy One of Israel,” Jeremiah 50, verse 29.

So the Holy One of Israel is none other than the true God and Lord, Christ Jesus; therefore no one but Christ can be the King of his believing church, as the Spirit of God testifies through the prophet Micah, saying, “The Lord shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even forever,” Micah 4, verse 7. Who else is this Shepherd but Christ, of whom it was prophesied, “Behold, the Lord God will come with a strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. He shall feed his flock like a shepherd; he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young,” Isaiah 40, verses 10 and 11.

Christ testifies of himself that he is this shepherd, for he says, “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep,” John 10, verse 11. Christ truly pastures his sheep; he is the door of the sheepfold; all who enter the fold through him shall be saved; he shall go in and out and find good pasture. Therefore David says, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside the still waters,” Psalm 23, verses 1 and 2; and the apostle Peter says, “For you were as sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls,” First Peter 2, verse 25. Further, the Lord God says, My servant David shall be a Prince among them. Let no one be offended that God the Father calls his Son Christ a servant, saying, “Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my elect, in whom my soul delights,” Isaiah 42, verse 1; and in another place, “Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased,” Matthew 12, verse 18; and in still another place the Father speaks concerning Christ, “By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many,” Isaiah 53, verse 11.

Therefore this servant David is Christ, and he is the Prince of the Christians. And who else should be a prince of the church of Christ but Christ, as Paul testifies that he alone is the Prince; and as the prophet says, “You, Bethlehem Ephratah, though you are not the least among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall he come forth to me who is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting,” Micah 5, verse 2.

The Lord further speaks through the same prophet: “So shall they be my people, and I will be their God, and David my servant shall be King over them; and they all shall have one Shepherd,” Ezekiel 37, verse 24. We have already proved clearly by the Scriptures that God the Father has placed no other king over Zion than his Son Jesus Christ, and that he gave him an eternal kingdom; therefore it is needless to go over this again. And that God the Lord says, “David my servant shall be King over them, and they all shall have one shepherd,” is also understood to be said of Christ; for no man can be our only shepherd. And although God gives “some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,” Ephesians 4, verse 11, yet the only Shepherd is Christ and nobody else, as may be plainly understood from the words of Christ: “Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold and one shepherd,” John 10, verse 16.

All the believers are the sheep of Christ, and there is only one fold, of which Christ is the Shepherd. From this it must follow that Christ is the only Shepherd, and that no one else can be the only Shepherd. For this reason Peter calls Christ the chief Shepherd; and Paul says, “Now the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will,” Hebrews 13, verse 20; First Peter 5, verse 4.

So Christ is the only Shepherd; for all the believers must hear his voice and the voice of no other. From this it follows beyond dispute that he is also the promised David, according to the words of the Lord, “David my servant shall be King over them; and they all shall have one Shepherd.” Besides this God says, “My servant David shall be their Prince forever.” I trust that no one is so ignorant (unless he is mad and accursed) as to understand these words as referring to some man, as if a man were to be our eternal Prince. For it is written that God alone is eternal, and alone immortal, and that he dwells in a light that no one can approach. No man can be our eternal Prince; but Christ is our eternal Prince, and his kingdom is an eternal kingdom, as it is written, “Your throne, O God, is forever,” Psalm 45, verse 6; Hebrews 1, verse 8. Paul and Peter say that Christ’s kingdom is eternal; and the angel said to Mary, “The Lord God shall give him the throne of his father David, and he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there shall be no end,” Luke 1, verse 33. Again the prophet says, “His seed shall endure forever, and his throne as the sun before me. It shall be established forever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven,” Psalm 89, verses 36 and 37. From this all must be convinced that our eternal Prince is none other than Christ; therefore our promised David is none other than Christ.

Fourthly, it reads like this in one of the Psalms: “Then you spoke in vision to your Holy One, and said, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people. I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him,” Psalm 89, verses 19 and 20. Who is this mighty one on whom God laid help but Christ Jesus, who has all power in heaven and on earth, to whom God has subjected all things, and to whom are committed all things pertaining to the church? Matthew 28, verse 18; Hebrews 2, verse 8; Ephesians 1, verse 22.

On this Christ almighty God has laid help; for we are helped and saved by him, as Christ says, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed,” John 8, verse 36; and Paul says, “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh,” Romans 8, verse 3.

Christ is the strong Samson who broke the jawbones of the lion; he is the pious David who slew the great Philistine whom none of the Israelites dared to fight; he is the chosen one, whom the Father has chosen as his own Son, saying, “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen,” Matthew 12, verse 18. This chosen one the Father has exalted out of the people, in that he has set him as King of his holy mount Zion, as the Prince who shall rule his people. For this reason the church acknowledges him to be its head and the most exalted of men on earth, saying, “As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste,” Song of Songs 2, verse 3. Further the Lord says, “I have found my servant David; with my holy oil have I anointed him,” Psalm 89, verse 20.

This anointed David is Christ; for he is the truly anointed of the Lord, to whom God the Father speaks: “Your throne, O God, is forever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your kingdom; you have loved righteousness and hated iniquity; therefore God, even your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.” Christ says, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me.” Peter also says, “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power,” Hebrews 1, verses 8 and 9; Psalm 45, verses 6 and 7; Luke 4, verse 18; Acts 10, verse 38.

If anyone should still be in doubt (which is impossible in view of such plain Scripture), let him consider the following words: “He shall cry to me, You are my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation. Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth,” Psalm 89, verses 26 and 27. Christ is the first-begotten Son of God, as Paul says: God the Father has predestined us to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And to the Hebrews: “When he brings in the first-begotten into the world, he says, And let all the angels of God worship him,” Hebrews 1, verse 6; Romans 8, verse 29.