Page:Complete Works of Menno Simons.djvu/379

Rh are earthly and carnally minded, and seek nothing but world, ease, honor, belly, and gain, Phil. 3: 19; Rom. 16: 17.

O, reader, how the greatest and highest esteemed preachers of our day, whose names have become wide spread, seek the poor, naked, and crucified Christ Jesus, and the souls of men with their gospel, may, alas, be educed from the accursed, ungodly pomp and splendor about their houses, and from the vain and curious ornaments, chains, rings, silk, and satin, of their women and children. Notwithstanding their doctrine is called the evangelical theology, and they, the servants of the holy word.

In the fifth place, it should be observed that the church of Christ is begotten by the Spirit and word of Christ. For as an honorable woman can bring forth no legitimate children but from the seed of her lawful husband, so, also, the bride of Christ, namely, the church, can bring forth no true Christians but from the legitimate seed of Christ, that is, from the unadulterated word, rightly preached through the Holy Spirit, and conceived in the heart of the hearers. Paul says, "In Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel," 1 Cor. 4: 15; James says, "Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth," Jas. 1: 18; also read Rom. 10; 1 Pet. 1.

On the other hand the church of anti-Christ is begotten of deceiving doctrine, through the spirit of error. Paul says, "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy," 1 Tim. 4: 1. Yea, reader, what else has the church of Christ abolished, and the church of anti-Christ re-established, but the false doctrines of the learned, the many inconsistent concilions, decrees, statutes, doctrines, and commands of men? What else blinds the German nation, to-day, and what else retains them in their ungodliness, but the light-minded doctrine of the preachers, the ungodly, infant baptism, the unscriptural, idolatrous supper, and the neglect of the Lord's ordinance (separation), as it was practiced by the apostles?

The prophets on every hand complained that Israel inclined their ears to false preachers, Isaiah 30: 9; Jer. 8: 8; 14: 14.

Christ Jesus, and his holy apostles faithfully warn in many Scriptures against false prophets; for they deceive you, says Christ; they serve their bellies and not the Lord Christ, says Paul; they promise others liberty and are themselves servants of corruption, says Peter. They turn the grace of God unto lasciviousness, Jude 4, and they are of anti-Christ. Matt. 7: 15; 16: 9; 2 Pet. 2: 19. O reader, reflect diligently on what I write.

In the sixth place it should be observed that the church of Christ is begotten for the purpose of hearing the Lord, to fear, love, serve, praise, honor, and thank God sincerely, as Moses says, "And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul; to keep the commandments of the Lord, and his statutes," Deut. 10: 12.

Again, "Ye shall walk after the Lord your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him," Deut. 13: 4. Peter says, "Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light," 1 Peter 2: 9.

Behold, the church of Christ is begotten that his great miracles, his Almighty Majesty, his inextinguishable love, and his adorable, high, and holy name may be eternally glorified.

But the church of anti-Christ despises, hates, and reviles God, as the prophet says, They transgress my covenant, as Adam did, by which they despise me. Yea, all who reject the Lord's will, word, advice, admonition, chastening, grace, and love, hate him, and will not be ruled by him. They do not his will, but their own; they say in their hearts: Depart from us, we will know nothing of thy ways; who is this Most High, that we should serve him? Behold, thus they boldly despise the Almighty, eternal God, who is the Creator, Messiah and Lord of all the world. May the dear Lord grant them