Page:Complete Works of Menno Simons.djvu/706

406 AN EPISTLE TO MARTIN MICRON. you boldly proclaim to the public, that he is not; that he had no father, according to his humanity; that he is of the flesh and seed of Mary, of earth, and the natural son or seed of Abraham and David.

Observe and see if you are not one of the false teachers and prophets who forsake the Lord who bought them, 2 Pet. 2: 1. Dear Micron, reflect and see if it is not the truth that I write.

Thirdly, it is manifest that by your writ- ing you make false witnesses of the heav- enly messenger, the angel of the Most High, Luke 1 : 31 ; of the humble, plain Nathaniel in whom was no guile, Jn. 1 : 47 ; of John the Baptist, the holiest born of woman. Matt. 11:11; of Martha, the hostess and servant of the Lord, Luke 10: 38; of Peter the faithful shepherd, Jn. 21: 6; John the apostle whom Jesus loved, Jn. 13: 23; 21 : 20; and of Paul the chosen vessel, Acts 9: 15. For they all unanimously testify, and that without any division whatever as to human- ity and divinity that Christ Jesus is the Son of God; and you publicly proclaim that he is not according to his humanity. Observe, and see whether you are not a servant of the abominable beast which opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name and his taber- nacle, and them that dwell in heaven, Rev. 13: 6. Dear Micron reflect, and see if I do not write the truth.

Fourthly, it is manifest that you have made such witnesses of your own brethren who were present at the discussion (and, who, alas, did not know much about the matter), as those were who testified against Christ, Stephen, and Naboth (that is, if your brethren agree with your unjust, par- tial charges; which I hope they do not); for as those testified, out of hatred of the truth, against the righteous, to please Jeze- bel and the Scribes, thus these, out of hatred of the truth, testify against me, to please you and those of your faith (I speak of the guilty ones), to defame me thus, notwith- standing that they heard your confession concerning the seed of woman, on which foundation your whole doctrine is built; also, concerning the two Sons in Christ, that the crucified one should have had no father; again, that you could not success- fully maintain the purity of your Christ; that you could make no reply to the Script- ures we have read; that you tried to shelter behind an unscriptural question, which we answered in such a manner, that all your refuge was cut oft", and that you had to turn from one thing to another. One would reasonably suppose, if they were people of common self-respect who sought the honor of God, and your salvation, as we supposed them to be at first meeting them, that they must charge you before all men that you have, out of mere hatred and envy, spoken partial, devilish falsehoods, and not the impartial, godly truth, to defame your neighbors, and that you have done so to your own eternal shame. But it is an old proverb: "As the shepherd goes, the sheep follow." Chi-ist truly says, "If the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch," Matt. 15: 14. Dear Micron reflect, and see if I do not speak the truth. Fifthly, it is manifest that you lamenta- bly deceive all your readers and hearers who believe your writing, and that you kill their poor souls. For it is known to the Lord, who has eyes as a flame of fire, to yourself, and to us all who were present, that in fact your cause was lost; yet you console them with devised lies, as is the way with all false prophets, whereby you rob them, according to John, of both the Father and the Son, 1 Jn. 2: 23; keep them under the wi-ath and curse, Jn. 3: 36; where- by you keep them out of God, and God out of them, 1 Jn. 4: 15, so that they do not overcome the world, 1 Jn. 5:4; for they do not believe that Jesus is the Son of God. Observe and see if you are not one of those who shut up the kingdom of heaven against men, as the Lord says. Matt. 23: 13. Dear Micron reflect, and see whether it is not the truth I write.

Sixthly, it is manifest that you have, with your writing acted toward some of us, and also toward myself personally, not as an honest, virtuous, godly, pious christian, but rather as a dishonest, shameless, indis- creet and blood-thirsty Corycceus, or inform- er. For it is a fact that you have, without the truth, registered a poor, innocent man (whom you well knew), as a teacher, who is no teacher, nor apt ever to become one,