Page:Complete Works of Menno Simons.djvu/35

Rh wlio jiidgeth and maketli war in rigliteons- ness; who is crowned with many crowns, wlaose name no one knowetli but himself; w&o is clothed with a vesture dipped in blood; whose name is called the AVord of God; who rules the nations with a rod of iron ; who treads the winepi-ess of the lierce- ness and wrath of almighty God; who hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OP LORDS, Rev. 19: 11—16.

O, ye highly renowned lords and princes, it is against this Being that you are in this manner contending with yoiu' counsel and sword. Remember what the great prophet of the Lord, Zechariah, said concerning the children of God, who, in this world are ever subject to suffering, "He that toiicheth you, toucheth the apple of mine eye," Zecli. 2: 8. It is a fearful al^omination, and l^itter enmity, thus miseralily to murder, destroy and exterminate those, who with such warm hearts, seek the Lord and eternal life, and who would not molest any one upon the earth. "Precious in the sight of the Lord," David says, "is the death of his saints," Ps. 116:15. It is Jesus of Nazareth whom ye per- secute. Acts 9: 5, and not irs; therefore awake, forbear, fear God and his word, for we shall all be called to appear before one Judge, before whom neither power, exalta- tion, comeliness, fine speech nor talents will avail. Judgment will there be passed in righteousness ujjon all flesh, impartially and without respect to persons; the op- pressed will then receive justice, and the crucified Jesiis with his elect, released from the power of death, and the hands of tyrants, will enter into his promised inheritance,; kingdom and glory.

Seeing then that you deal so unjustly and tyranically, according to the evil intentions of your hearts, without the sanction of scripture and mercy, with the helpless and God-fearing, how can you expect any grace and mercy in the day of the Lord? when we shall all have to stand before the impartial judgment seat, where every one wll be re- warded according to his deeds, 2 Cor. 5 : 10.

We desire not such favors as the evil-doers of this world; for we have not sinned in this our doctrine, faith and practice, although we have to suffer so miich; but we, only with the word of the Lord, as the scriptures direct us, resist the anti-christian doctrines, ordinances and life. We resist neither the emperor, theking, nor any aiithorit}' to which they are called of God; l)ut we are ready to obey till death, in all things which are not contrary to God and his word, and well know what the scriptures teach and enjoin concerning this matter, Rom. 13: 1 — 8. But we desire so much mercy, that under your gracious protection we may live, teach, labor, and serve the Lord, according to the dictates of our consciences, so that to you and many with you, the gospel of Christ may be rightly preached, and the gate of life opened. Alas! if the learned had the word of God, and we had it not, how glad- ly would we be taught by them. But since we have it, and they do not, therefore we pray, for Jesus' sake, do not lu-geus to leave Christ and join anti-christ; to go from tnith to error; from life to certain death.

Oh, ye renowned lords and princes, who are appointed of God, to be heads and ru- lers, consider well and believe on the word of the Lord; for if you will not desist from unrighteousness, fear God and do right, it would be better for you if you had never been born. The innocent blood of Abel calls unto heaven, and will be strictly de- manded at yoiu- hands at the last day. Again we say, awake, fear God's word; for God, the Lord himself, will rule in heaven, in his kingdom, that is, in the hearts of men. He will permit none to detract from his glory, or become exalted above him. Lucifer, the fair angel of God, desired to exalt himself to the Most High, and was cast out of heaven into the abyss of hell; and is retained in chains of darkness till thejudgementof the last day, Isa. 14: 12 — 15; Rev. 12:7— 9; Pet. 2:4.

Beloved Sirs, receive it in love, and be not offended, for the truth must be made knovni. Your pride has arisen to heaven; look to Christ and his word, his example and his life; judge impartially, and you wiU find this to be true. The Almighty, eternal Fa- ther, through his eternal Wisdom, Christ Jesus, has instituted and commanded all things in his kingdom, that is, in his church, relating to doctrines, sacraments and life, according to his divine counsel, will and