Page:Complete Works of Menno Simons.djvu/720

420 420 AJSr EPISTLE TO MARTIN MICRON. relate all the incidents which in my time befell the enemies of the saints, it would re- quire a separate volume. Therefore I ad- vise 3^ou in sincerit}^ of heart, no longer to oppose such a strong and avenging God and Lord. I tell you in Christ that it will be too hard, j'es, too hard for you to kick against the pricks. Acts 9: 5. For his name is Sovereign Lord, Mighty Prince, Isa. 9: 6. "Who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders ?" Es. 15: 11. His arrows never miss, and when he calls we must appear. None can escape from him, and avoid his wrath. O, Micron, take heed. Good friend, if your battle was against me, as you perhaps think it is, you would already have won it. For the whole world, in this matter, is on your side, nay, the serpent himself, and against me; for this foundation is the only weapon, according to the doctrine of John, which is to conquer his kingdom, the world. But the battle is not against me, but against the truth itself, against the Father and his blessed Son, against the wliole Scriptures, and against those who d>.vell in heaven. Therefore take heed. For, although the reckless, rough world may say amen to j'our cause, yet it will not be the case with the Most High, whose glory, honor, truth and testimony I, according to my small talent, uphold, by his grace and assistance. And if you do even deprive me of my honor, reputation, body and life, which I have already long deemed of little conse- quence, for Christ's sake, in the sight of the world, which are not concluded ' under Christ's praj^er, Jn. 17: 9, though, thank God, I have never harmed you, nor wished you any harm. Still, God the Father will remain the true Father of Christ, and Christ the true Son of God; and you will have to turn from your impure, anti-christian doc- trine to the unadulterated, pure doctrine of Christ, or else you will be one of those of whom it is written: "He that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten j Son of God," Jn. 3: 18. Neither partizan- ' ism nor disputing will prevail against God and his word. He is the one who will have ' the praise, and Ms word is the doctrine j which will remain the truth. If you do not believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that his testimony and word are true, and that his ordinances are the true ordinances; if you be not born of God; do not become of divine disposition and nature; are not urged by and possessed of the Holy Gho^; do not sincerely repent; if you be not in Christ, nor Christ in you, then, according to the doctrine of John, you are one of those who have no God, 1 Jn. 2: 23. But if you have Christ, if you actually believe that he is the true Son of God, then you have both the Father and the Son, 1 Jn. 2: 24; and yon will walk as he walked, you will not willfully tell a falsehood; for you are born of the truth ; you will not hate ; you will not defame; you will not inform against your neighbors;, and you will wrong no person. You will seek the sal- vation of others, and not their corruption; you vrill reprove their sins; you will right- ly teach, and not deceive them, for the spirit of love which does justly by God and man will dwell in you and prompt you. If you have Christ, in truth, you will walk in the light, Jn. 3: 21 ; 8: 12; you will fol- low the true shepherd, and will enter in at the right door, Jn. 10: 2; you will walk upon the true road; remain in the truth, in the right vineyard, Jn. 15: 1; build iipon the true rock, Eph. 2: 20; 1 Pet. 2:5; you will not adulterate the word of God; for your spirit is one with the Spirit of Christ; your faith will be one with his word, and yoiir life, though in weakness, one with his life. You will seek the praise and honor of the Lord, and not your own; you will con- fess Christ as your Savior, at the risk of life or death by all the world; all your ])leasure will be in the law of the Lord, and your whole life in his fear; your thoughts will be pure, and all your vrords well-sea- soned; your daily combat will be against the world, the devil, and your own evil flesh; and you will, by your honest, virtu- ous life, set an example to all the world; the cross, taken upon yourself for the sake of the Lord's word and testimony, you will patiently bear; and, if you should thought- lessly think, say or do any thing wrong, you will sincerely lament it. In short, you