Page:Complete Works of Menno Simons.djvu/121

 be not ruinously and shamefully demolished and abandoned. Thus it must be with all true christians; they must have, in their hearts, such a sure and solid foundation that the}'^ may stand unshaken in the build- ing of their faith, against all the raging tempests, rains and floods, which will try them not a little, so that they may success- fully accomplish, by the help of the Lord, their xmdertaken work and building ; so that they may not again depart from the right road, to the everlasting shame and in- jury of their poor souls. Paul says, "If any man draw back, my soul shall have net pleasure in him," Heb. 10: 38.

Faithful brethren, take heed : This pre- cious, and only well adapted corner-stone, ground and foundation in Zion, prepared for us by the Father, upon which we have to build the edifice of our faith, is Jesus Christ. ^Vll who are founded upon this ground, will not be consumed by the fire of tribulation; for they are living stones in the temple of the Lord, they are like gold, sil- ver and precious stones, and can never be prevailed against by the gates of hell, such as false doctrine, flesh, blood, world, sin, devil, water, fire, sword, or by any other means, if ever so sorely tried; for they are founded upon Christ, confirmed in the faith and assured in the word tlirough the Holy Ghost that they are not to be turned away from the pure and wliolesome doctrine of Christ by all the fmious and bloody Neros luider the heavens, with all their cruel tyr- anny; they are not to be diverted from an imblamable and pious life, which is of God, as we have seen in many places for more than twenty years past; for they are as im- moveable as Mount Zion, as firm pillars, brave soldiers, and as pious, valiant wit- nesses of Christ; they have fought till death, and do daily fight for the word and trutli of the Lord (God be eternally praised ). I speak t>f those who have the Spirit and word of the Lord.

Yea, that stone lies firm in their hearts, and is so sealed by faith in them, that in their greatest need they regard neither fath- er nor mother, wife nor child, money nor possessions, life nor death; for they are so constrained by veneration to God in their hearts, because Christ says. "Whosover i therefore shall confess me before men, him is in heaven; but whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my I Father which is in heaven," Matt. 10: 32, 33; that they are not allowed to speak a false word, even to escape the hands of the blood- thirsty and the dangers of death; as may be seen.
 * will I confess also before my Father which

But I fear, yea, indeed it is found to be I the case, that the greater part of all those who call these poor innocent sheep, accursed i heretics ; who betray, catch, banish, take t their lives and possessions, are not ashamed, nor tremble before their God who hates all ] lies, to use, for the sake of a stiver, yea for nay, and nay for yea, and yet dare boast of Christ and call themselves after his name. If they are such liars and so unfaithful in ! small things, what they would do in greater things where life and possessions come into requisition, as is the case with these poor
 * sheep, may be easily imagined.

' O reader, reflect. If the old, crooked ser- pent, with all liis deception, falsehood and lies, lived in the christian hearts, as is the case with their persecutors, their goods would not be plundered, and their blood woirld not be shed. And they would not only conceal the truth, but they Avould with all the children of the devil hate and oppose it. All who are born of the truth, hate lies. Again, all who are born of lies, hate the truth. If they hate the truth, how can thej^ speak it ? especially when life and posses- sions are at stake. If our rulers and judges v.ish to be assured of tliis difference, let them call some of their evil doers before the judgment seat, who are guilty of death, and (examine them in relation to things whereof they are accused; but without punishing them, what does it avail, though they would freely confess their giiilt, for which they are to die, as these innocent children do in their faith? Yea, what is more, lot Aour most high-renowned monks, in their profession, caps, &c., .your most accomplished priests in their terms and masses, be as severely tested as you do these, in their faith; then we will see what vdW become of all their professions, caps, terms and masses. But ! the common proverb is: The wolf escapes, but the lamb has to suffer.