Testimony against John van Leyden, Part 2

Therefore, as truly as Christ is the first-begotten Son of God, so truly is he the servant David whom the Father anointed with the holy oil, that is, with his Holy Spirit.

Again, the Lord says concerning his servant David, “My mercy I will keep for him forevermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him. His seed also I will make to endure forever, and his throne as the days of heaven,” Psalm 89, verses 28 and 29. This seed is the children; for it reads further: If his children forsake my law. Now it is manifest that this should not be understood as referring to the carnal children of the figurative David; for they gave themselves over to idolatry and wholly forsook the law of God. For this they were often punished, and at last they were cut from the olive tree as unfruitful branches, Romans 11, verse 21.

Nor did the worldly kingdom of David remain unbroken; it was destroyed, as the holy patriarch Jacob and other prophets prophesied. And to understand it as referring to the carnal children of David is contrary to Paul’s epistle to the Romans, for he says there, “For they are not all Israel, who are of Israel. Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, in Isaac shall your seed be called. That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted for the seed,” Romans 9, verses 6 to 8. Therefore we should not understand this seed as referring to the carnal children, but to the spiritual seed, of which it is written: When my servant shall have given his life as a sacrifice, then he shall have seed and live long. This seed is all the true children of God, who are born again, “not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God,” First Peter 1, verse 23.

Christ says, “Behold, I and the children whom God has given me,” Hebrews 2, verse 13. And these children of God abide in eternity; eternal joy and peace shall be upon them; they shall always reign with Christ, and Christ their King has an eternal kingdom, and his throne shall be as the days of heaven. This psalm agrees fully with the words of the prophet Nathan, which he spoke to David when he promised him Solomon. We must not understand the words of the prophet Nathan as referring to Solomon alone, but rather as referring to Christ (although in the literal sense the words are spoken of Solomon). In the same way we should not understand the words of the psalm as referring to the carnal David alone, but rather to the true David, Christ Jesus. And the text that follows strongly implies this, for it speaks of the peace of Christ. This is our confession of the promised David.

By the grace of God we could write a great deal more to show that Christ is our promised David; but we presume that enough has been written for the intelligent. We do not serve the contentious. Let them cry out. Let them make themselves a different king; Christ will still remain the eternal King, reigning in his believing church. He is the Lord. He will not give his glory to another. He will have incense which shall be sanctified to him. And whoever makes such incense for himself, his soul shall be rooted out from Israel, Exodus, chapter 5. [Note 1]

No one shall succeed in exalting himself to Christ and opposing the truth. They may stir up a disturbance, but Moses and Aaron will gain the victory. Jannes and Jambres must give way and be put to shame, Second Timothy 3, verse 8. Korah, Dathan and Abiram may rise up against Moses, but they shall perish with their confederates, Numbers 16, verse 32.

A proud Uzziah may rise up and take to himself the glory that is not due him, but he will be struck by God, Second Chronicles 26, verse 16.

Hophni and Phinehas may for a time make the people transgress and turn them from the true religion, but they shall receive their reward, First Samuel 2, verse 12; First Samuel 4, verse 11. Let everyone take heed and remain in Christ. Enough of this.

By the grace of God we will also write a little about warfare: that Christians are not allowed to fight with the sword, so that we may with one accord leave the armor of David to the carnal Israelites, and the sword of Zerubbabel to those who build the temple of Zerubbabel in Jerusalem, which was a figure of them and a shadow of things to come. For the body itself is in Christ, as Paul says, Colossians 2, verse 9. [Note 2]

Now we should not think that the figure of the Old Testament is applied to the truth of the New Testament in such a way that flesh is understood as referring to flesh. Rather, the figure must answer to the truth: the image to the being, and the letter to the Spirit.

If we take this view of it, we shall easily understand with what kind of arms Christians should fight, namely, with the word of God, which is a two-edged sword, of which we will, with the help of God, say a few words, Hebrews 4, verse 12; Ephesians 6, verse 17.

The eternal God has raised up his Son Christ as a Prophet for us, whom we shall hear; and Christ testifies of himself that he is our only Master. Therefore it is beyond dispute that we dare not accept any other doctrine but the doctrine of Christ. No strange doctrine that is contrary to the doctrine of Christ and to what the apostles by the Holy Spirit have written and taught us, I say, do we dare to accept, Deuteronomy 18, verse 15; Acts 3, verse 22; Acts 7, verse 37; Matthew 23, verse 9. For no strange fire may be offered to God. Christ will not tolerate the leaven of the Pharisees, Leviticus 10, verse 1; Matthew 16, verse 8.

Moses had to make the cherubim of pure gold, Exodus 25, verse 18. “The words of the Lord are pure words, as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times,” Psalm 12, verse 6.

The Lord does not allow his doctrine to be adulterated; he punishes all false doctrine, as he spoke about Jerusalem, “Your silver has become dross, your wine mixed with water,” “and I will turn my hand upon you and purely purge away your dross,” Isaiah 1, verses 22 and 25. Thus God hates all false doctrine. And therefore the apostles admonish us to abide in God’s word alone, as John says, “Let that therefore abide in you which you have heard from the beginning. If what you have heard from the beginning remains in you, you also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father,” First John 2, verse 24. Paul says that we should beware of those who stir up contentions and are offended at the doctrine which he preached, and that they should be separated. Indeed, Paul urges his doctrine so strongly that he says, “If any man preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed,” Galatians 1, verse 8. Thus Paul teaches in all his epistles that we should beware of a strange gospel and abide in the doctrine which is not his, but the Holy Spirit’s, according to the words of Christ, “For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.” Now the Spirit of God speaks thus through Paul, “My brothers, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Therefore take to yourselves the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand. Stand, therefore, having your loins girded about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Above all, taking the shield of faith, with which you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,” Ephesians 6, verses 10 to 17; First Thessalonians 5, verse 8. In another place: “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; and being in readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled,” Second Corinthians 10, verses 4 to 6. Whoever is not blind will understand with what weapons the Christian is to fight, namely, with the word of God; with this Christians should be well armed. For thus speaks the holy church: “Behold, his bed, which is Solomon’s; sixty valiant men are about it, of the valiant of Israel; they all hold swords, being expert in war; every man has his sword upon his thigh because of fear in the night,” Song of Songs 3, verses 7 and 8. That is, each one is armed with the sword of the Spirit against all the wiles of the devil, against all false doctrine. Concerning Christ it is written, “Gird your sword upon your thigh, O most Mighty, with your glory and your majesty. And in your majesty ride prosperously, because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and your right hand shall teach you terrible things. Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the king’s enemies, by which the people fall under you,” Psalm 45, verses 3 to 5.

Here the Scriptures say that Christ shall have a sword. What sword, then, shall Christ have? He himself tells us in the Revelation, in these words, “Repent; or else I will come to you quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth,” Revelation 2, verse 16.

If Christ fights his enemies with the sword of his mouth, if he strikes the earth with the rod of his mouth and slays the wicked with the breath of his lips, and if we are to be conformed to his image, how then can we fight our enemies with any other sword? Does not the apostle Peter say, “For even to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow his steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: who, when he was reviled, did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but committed himself to him who judges righteously?” First Peter 2, verses 21 to 23; Matthew 16, verse 24. This agrees with the words of John, who says that he who abides in Christ walks as Christ walked. Christ himself says, “Whoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me,” Mark 8, verse 34; Luke 9, verse 23. Again, “My sheep hear my voice … and they follow me,” John 10, verse 27. And this is the voice of Christ: “You have heard that it has been said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, that you do not resist evil: but whoever shall strike you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also.”

Again, “You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy. But I say to you, Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you; that you may be the children of your Father who is in heaven, for he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the publicans do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the publicans do so? Be therefore perfect, even as your Father who is in heaven is perfect,” Matthew 5, verses 39 and 43 to 47; Romans 12, verse 20; First Peter 3, verse 9; Luke 6, verse 34; First Peter 1, verse 15. See, this is the voice of Christ. All who are his sheep will hear his voice. But those who are not his sheep will not hear his voice, as Christ said to the Pharisees, “You do not believe, because you are not of my sheep.” The Pharisees thought they had Moses and the prophets; they also had a semblance of holiness; but they did not hear the voice of Christ, and therefore it was all in vain. So it is with all who do not submit themselves to the commandments of Christ.

It is not in the leaves of the tree, but in the fruit. And Paul clearly testifies which is the right kind of fruit, saying, “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance,” Galatians 5, verses 22 and 23. Here we are not taught to take up the carnal sword or to repay evil with evil, but rather, as Paul says in another place, “Repay no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as lies in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, do not avenge yourselves; but rather give place to wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord. Therefore if your enemy hungers, feed him; if he thirsts, give him drink; for in so doing you shall heap coals of fire on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good,” Romans 12, verses 17 to 21. And how can Christians fight with the implements of war? Paul plainly says, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus,” Philippians 2, verse 5. Now, Christ Jesus was minded to suffer; and so all Christians must be minded likewise.

Christ did not allow Peter to defend him with the sword; how then can a Christian defend himself with the sword? Christ would drink the cup which the Father had given him; how then can a Christian refuse to drink it? Matthew 26, verse 51; Luke 22, verse 50; Mark 14, verse 47; John 18, verse 11.

Or does anyone expect to be saved by other means than those which Christ has taught us? Is not Christ the way, the truth, and the life? Is he not the door to the fold, so that no one can enter the fold except by him? John 10, verse 9; John 14, verse 6.

Is he not the Shepherd of his sheep, whom the sheep should follow? Is he not our Lord and Prince? And who is it that would be above his Master, but he who would not suffer as his Master has suffered? Who is it that would be above his master, but he who is not satisfied with his Master’s doctrine? Let everyone take heed. It is forbidden to us to take up arms, Matthew 10, verse 24; John 13, verse 16; John 15, verse 20.

Paul says, “Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness to all men,” Titus 3, verses 1 and 2. And the holy apostle James says, “Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and has long patience for it, until he receives the early and latter rain. Be patient also; establish your heart; for the coming of the Lord draws near. … Take, my brothers, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering, affliction, and of patience. Behold, we count them happy who endure. You have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very compassionate, and of tender mercy,” James 5, verses 7 to 11. If we are to be long-suffering until the coming of the Lord, then it is surely forbidden to fight, since the Lord has not yet come.

And if we are to take the prophets as an example in bearing persecution, then we must put on the apostolic armor, and the armor of David must be left behind. How would it agree with the word of God that one who boasts of being a Christian should lay aside the spiritual weapons and take up the carnal ones? For Paul says, “The servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle to all men, apt to teach, patient; in meekness instructing those who oppose themselves; if God perhaps will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will,” Second Timothy 2, verses 24 to 26.

All of you who would fight with the sword of David and yet be the servants of the Lord, consider these words, which show how a servant should be minded. If he is not to strive, how can he make war? If he is to be gentle to all men, how can he then hate them and do them evil? If he is to be apt to teach, how can he lay aside the apostolic weapons? If he is to teach, he will need them. If he is to instruct in meekness those who oppose, how can he destroy them?

If he is to instruct in meekness those who oppose the truth, how can he angrily punish those who do not yet acknowledge the truth? Paul says, if God perhaps will give them repentance. But some will not wait for that; and even if they do it with good intentions, they still lay their hands on the ark of God, as Uzzah did. Therefore I fear that it will not go unpunished. And even if, like Saul, they spared the best beasts of the Amalekites for sacrifices to God, it still will not please the Lord, for it is contrary to his word. He takes pleasure in obedience and not in sacrifices.

But now some say that the Lord wants to punish Babylon, and to do it by his Christians; they must be his instruments. O God! It would be well if we would leave the Lord to do his own works, and remember the words of Ecclesiasticus: “Do not seek out the things that are too hard for you, nor search out the things that are above your strength. But what is commanded you, think on that with reverence; for it is not needful for you to see with your eyes the things that are secret. Do not be curious in unnecessary matters,” Ecclesiasticus 3, verses 21 to 23.

For many things are shown to men that are above their understanding, and presumption has caused many to fall and has held their understanding in vanity. It would also be well for those who ask, with the disciples of the Lord, when the kingdom of Israel is to be restored, to observe the Lord’s answer: “It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father has put in his own power,” Acts 1, verse 6. But this they forget, and they cry out: God will shortly punish and destroy Babylon, and to do this the Christians must be his instruments. And they make the simple believe this; for which reason we will bring forward some Scriptures. It is true that God will punish Babylon, but not by his Christians; for thus speaks Jeremiah: “The Lord has raised up the spirits of the kings of the Medes; for his device is against Babylon to destroy it; because it is the vengeance of the Lord, the vengeance of his temple.” Again: “Prepare against her the nations, with the kings of the Medes, its captains, and all its rulers, and all the land of his dominion. And the land shall tremble and sorrow: for every purpose of the Lord shall be performed against Babylon, to make the land of Babylon a desolation without an inhabitant,” Jeremiah 51, verses 11, 28 and 29.

I am aware that this was fulfilled against Babylon in the country of the Chaldeans, though the Roman Babylon shall not escape the same plague. But I have brought this forward for the sake of the advocates of the sword, who want to prove by this Scripture of Jeremiah that the Christians shall punish Babylon, while the prophet clearly testifies that God has done this by heathen hands, and that it is his will that it be done by such, as is shown by Revelation 17, verse 16: “The ten horns which you saw upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. For God has put it in their hearts to fulfill his will, and to agree, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.”

Thus it may be plainly understood from these words that the Babylonian whore shall be destroyed, but not by Christians, and also that Christians should not destroy. A Theudas may rise up and cause a disturbance, but he shall not succeed, Acts 5, verse 36. A Judas of Galilee may rise up and cause a riot, but he shall perish, and all his followers shall perish and be scattered. Let every person beware and diligently observe the Scriptures, and he shall see that the Lord himself will destroy at his coming again, and will punish all his enemies who will not submit to him. For Luke says, “It came to pass, that when he had returned, having received the kingdom, he commanded these servants to be called to him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.” And when his servants had given an account, he said, “But those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring here, and slay them before me,” Luke 19, verses 15 and 27.

This Scripture clearly testifies that the Lord Christ must first come again before all his enemies are punished. And how Christ will come again he himself testifies, saying, “For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works,” Matthew 16, verse 27. Again, “For as the lightning comes out of the east, and shines even to the west, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” “And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory,” Matthew 24, verses 27 and 30; Mark 13, verse 26; Luke 17, verse 24. The two angels also testified how Christ would come again, saying, “You men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as you have seen him go into heaven,” Acts 1, verse 11. From this it is plain to everyone how Christ shall come. Therefore, when you see Christ come in this manner, then you may rest assured that all the enemies of God will be punished. And do not suppose that it shall be so before his coming again, for you will find yourselves mistaken; otherwise God’s word would have to be false, which is impossible. Luke also says that the Lord had received the kingdom.

Of this Daniel says, “I saw in the night visions, and behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one which shall not be destroyed,” Daniel 7, verses 13 and 14. Here observe from whom Christ receives this kingdom, so that you may see what abominable deceit it is when some say that John Van Leyden would take the kingdom, and that he who has taken it will give it to Christ, as David gave the kingdom to Solomon.

Further, the evangelist says that Christ will settle accounts with his servants, which will not be until the day of judgment. Paul says, “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that everyone may receive the things done in his body, according to what he has done, whether it is good or bad,” Second Corinthians 5, verse 10. Jesus says, “That for every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account of it in the day of judgment,” Matthew 12, verse 36. Then the faithful servants shall enter into the kingdom of their Lord; then shall the wicked be punished, and all whose names are not found written in the book of life will be cast into the lake of fire; for they would not confess Christ to be their king, but worshiped the beast and his image, Revelation 20, verse 15; Revelation 13, verse 8.

This parable some adulterate, saying, “The enemies of God must be destroyed before the coming of Christ, and therefore we will be the instruments to do it.” But they must come to shame; “For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and you would not. But you said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore you shall flee; and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore those who pursue you shall be swift,” Isaiah 30, verse 15. O that the advocates of the sword would observe these words! Yes, those who would be angels to root up the tares! Yet Christ told the parable with a different meaning, saying, “The good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; the enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels,” Matthew 13, verses 38 and 39. Since the Christians are the good seed, how then can they be the angels or reapers? Or if they are the reapers, how can they be the seed? These two are quite different things, the seed and the reapers; this is so plain that it is beyond dispute.

It is true that Christians are sometimes called angels. But when we read of angels, we cannot always understand it as meaning the believers. There are also other angels, of whom it is written: “Who makes his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire,” Psalm 104, verse 4; Psalm 103, verse 20; Hebrews 1, verse 7. With these angels Christ will come, as Paul says, “The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ,” Second Thessalonians 1, verses 7 and 8. These angels will be the reapers who, at the end of the world, that is, in the day of judgment, will root up all the tares and cast them into the lake of fire. Until that time the tares will be left among the good seed. Let no one think that we should root up the tares now, or that we should now separate the goats from the sheep. “When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he shall sit upon the throne of his glory: and before him shall be gathered all nations; and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats: and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left,” Matthew 25, verses 31 to 33.

These words are as clear as the sun, yet some do not understand them, so that we may well say to them, “O foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ has been clearly set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn from you”: whether you were baptized on the sword or on the cross? “Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now made perfect by the flesh? Have you suffered so many things in vain? If it is indeed in vain,” Galatians 3, verses 1 to 4.

What does it avail you to have left Egypt if you look back to Egypt again, that is, to darkness, and leave the true light, indeed, if you long for the flesh of Egypt, that is, human doctrine, and are not satisfied with the bread from heaven? Exodus 14, verse 11; Numbers 14, verse 2.

What does it avail that you have gone away from Pharaoh, if you are slain by Amalek because of your disobedience, that is, because you fight against the will of the Lord? What does it profit that you have gone through the Red Sea with the children of Israel, if you do not enter the promised land with Joshua and Caleb by firm faith in God’s word? And how we are to enter the promised land, the eternal kingdom of God, is testified by Paul and Barnabas, who taught the churches that they had to enter the kingdom through many tribulations.

Christ did not take his kingdom with the sword, but entered it through much suffering. Yet they mean to take it by the sword! O, the blindness of man! But so it must be: those who will not confess Christ to be their only Shepherd, so that they may be pastured by him, will have to eat of the pastures that have been trampled; and those who will not draw the clear, crystal water from the fountain of the Savior will have to drink the impure water which the false shepherds have fouled with their feet. And that is because they have done a double evil to the children of Israel. They have forsaken the Lord, the living fountain, and have made fountains of their own, which look beautiful but give no water. Therefore I admonish all beloved brothers, indeed, I pray you by the mercy of God our Lord Jesus Christ, to give heed to the word of God and not to forsake it; for you have seen your Master Christ with the eye of faith, and you have heard his voice saying, This is the true way, walk in it; turn neither to the right hand nor to the left.

Let every one of you guard against all strange doctrine, of the sword, of resistance, and of other such things, which is nothing but a fine covering under which lies hidden an evil serpent that has blown its venom into many. Let everyone beware of it!

Let everyone conduct himself according to the example of the divine word which he has received from the apostles, in faith and love. Let everyone remember that Christ was taught to him in no other way than through tribulation. Abide in it. For in Christ is an upright being; he is the light of the world; he who follows him shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life, Psalm 67, verse 1. May God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, be gracious to us and enlighten us, that we on earth may acknowledge his way, and his salvation among the Gentiles.

All you who have tasted the kindness of the Lord, love him. The Lord upholds the upright. Be of good cheer, and do not doubt; for the Lord will strengthen your souls, you who patiently wait for his coming. “The Lord reigns; let the people tremble; he sits between the cherubim; let the earth be moved,” Psalm 99, verse 1. This King the Jews scorned, and they became blind.