Page:Complete Works of Menno Simons.djvu/184

172 Therefore, I admonish and entreat you, as those whom my soul loves, repent! re- pent ! ! delay not; "The axe is laid unto the root of the trees ; therefore, every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the tire," Matt. 3: 10. Watch over your poor eouls, that have ^een bought with a precious price, and be no longer com- forted with open lies, nor be fed upon chaff; for behold, I tell you, there is nothing under heaven that can, or will stand before God, but the new creature, "and faith which works by love," "and the keeping of the commandments."

My faithful reader, do not only believe me, but believe the word, to which, by the grace of God, I directed you with my small talents; for as true as the Lord liveth, all who teach othenvise than we have shown from the word of the Lord, whosoever they be, are prophets who deceive you, who place pillows under your arms, and cushions un- . der your heads; who whitewash the wall with delusions, and speak peace to the wicked, but not out of the mouth of the Lord. For as certain as it is that the peni- tent and regenerated are the true christians, who have obtained God's truth, the true light, pardon of their sins, and the sui-e promise of eternal life, so certain also it is, that the sensual and impenitent are false christians, and have serpentine lies, dark- ness, propensity for sin, and the certain promise of eternal death. That this is the truth, vnll be found so in eternity before Almighty God; of this his word is to me a true witness ; and I am confidently assured of it through his grace.

Now, perhaps, some may answer : Om- belief is, that Christ is the Son of God, that his word is truth, and that he purchased us with his death and blood, and that we were regenerated in baptism, and received the Holy Ghost, therefore, we are the true church and congregation of Christ. We reply: If your faith is as you say, why do you not do the things which he has commanded j^ou in his word? His command is, Refokm. Be ye coxT5iiTED. Keep Tira coMMAND^rENTS. Nov/ it is evident that you are becoming worse daily ; that vnru/M- eousness is your father, and wickedness^ your mother, and the express command of the [ Lord is foolishness and derision to you. Since you will not do as he commands, or would have you do, but act as you choose, it proves sufQciently that you do not believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, although you say so. Nor do you believe that his word is truth; for faith and its fruits are inseparable, this you will all have to con- fess by the gi-ace of God. O, you poor, blind men! be silent and blush, let Christ Jesus Avith his Spirit and word be your teacher and example, youi- way and your mirror. Do you think it will do only to ac- knowledge Chi'ist according to the flesh? Or if you but say that you believe on him and are baptized; that you are christians, and that you are purchased with the blood and death of -Christ? Ah no! I have told you often, and tell you again, you must be born of God; in your life you must be so convert- ed and changed that you become new creat- ures in Clu'ist, that Christ be in you, and you in Christ, or you can never be chris- tians, for, "If any man be in Christ he is a new creature," 2 Cor. 5 : 17.

If you believe rightly in Christ, as you boast, then manifest it by your lives that you believe; for "The just shall live by faith," as the Scriptiu-es say. That this is all true has been fully testified and shown by the works of Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abra- ham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Caleb, Samuel, David, Matthias, Zaccheus, Magdalene,, Paul, and all the pious children of God, who were from the beginning and to this day. But how you conduct your- selves in your faith, and how you are mind- ed, may be plainly seen hj your excessive lies, fraud, avarice, lioaf ding, cursing, swear- ing, pride and wantonness; for jowc hearts burn in unrighteousness ; you fear neither God nor his word; nevertheless, you boast that you believe on Christ, have his word, and that you are chi-istians, &c. I repeat it ; Reform, or hold your peace and be ashamed.

Further, you imagine that you were regenerated in your baptism and received the Holy Ghost. Faithful reader, remember, that if it even had been so unto you as you say, you will have to acknowledge that your regeneration then took place without hearing the word, without the faith and