Page:Complete Works of Menno Simons.djvu/723

423 A HUMBLE PRAYER TO THE READER. 423 But now, as I hear, it is claimed that it was not on account of faith, but on account of disobedience. As the foundation is quick- sand so are their assertions. Let the rulers command things in keeping with the gos- pel of Christ and neighborly love; and if we refuse to obey them, then we are culpa- ble. I will leave it to the judgment of all reasonable rulers, as before God in Christ, whether it is in accordance with, or contra- ry to the Scriptures, to expatriate the poor souls because they fear God; confess the crucified Christ to be God's Son; receive the holy baptism according to the command- ment of the Lord and the doctrine of the apostles; affirm their testimony by yea or nay, in accordance with Christ's command, and because they lead a penitent, pious life in righteousness, &c. I am aware that there are many unsus- pecting hearts who look more to John A'Lasco and to the learned than they do to Christ and his apostles; therefore I have also referred to his errors in regard to this matter that all godfearing readers may see what kind of writers and teachers they are who are so highly esteemed and whose names are considered so worthy. Tliirdly, I pray that none will accept my saying that I will no longer soliint a public discussion, in such a sense as meaning that I have no courage to do so. This is not the meaning I wish to impart. But I do not desire, to discuss publicly nor privately with such people as those to whom I referred in my epistle; nor with such as dishonestly adulterate, change, break and misinterpret my words and testimony, and slander us as did Micron from the beginning to the end of his v/riting. For I generally find myself deceived by them on all hands, as it is the nature which would lead an easy life and not take up the cross of the Lord. But if any rulers should be troubled at heart concerning the Scriptures and be sus- picious of their preachers and teachers, and would ask me to a public discussion for the sake of finding out the truth, it would be as glad a tiding to me as I could hear on earth; nor would I, I trust, be dissuaded nor prevented by the godfearing, to whose hands and counsel I always willingly com- mend myself. For we are sure that we I have the Scriptures and truth on our side. Fourthly, I pray them not to take it as upbraiding and slandering that I sometimes handle Micron roughly, according to the truth. It was done for no other purpose than that he and his followers may ac- knowledge their deceiving, lying spirit, through such earnest admonitions which are in keeping with the foundation of Script- ure, that they may take a dislike to their abominable doings, and thus renounce their evil ways; as, also, that all the unsuspect- ing, good hearts which are bound by their snares of unrighteousness, may be delivered to the praise of the Lord. It was done in the same spirit which actuated the holy apostles and prophets, which actuated Christ himself, in their sev- eral reproaches. If any one now should reprove me of pithiness, they must first re- prove Christ and his messengers. For it is they who have, in the Holy Scriptures, thus taught me and all teachers who follow and uphold the right. All those who have a scriptural under- standing, know that where we find mention made in the Scriptures of the despising of, and blasphemy against God we also find added the sentence and sharp rebuke of the Holy Ghost. Inasmuch as it is manifest that Micron is not ashamed to fasten one falsehood upon another, to make a translation to suit him- self; to deny the testimony of God, the Fa- ther of Christ Jesus, his blessed Son, of the angel Gabriel, together with that of all the other witnesses of the New Testament; to flatter the rulers; to seek the favor of men, and to deceive the poor souls for which the Lord's blood was shed; therefore it suiely is not wrong to call him by such names as are applied to him in the Scriptures by the Holy Ghost. The truth must have its course, and does not respect emperor nor king; much less a false prophet or teacher, who advocates the cause of the serpent; perverts the testimony of God into false- hood; and, for the sake of vain honor, and of his lusts, strengthens the ungodly, and troubles the saints. Whosoever has sound judgment and knows the way of the Holy Ghost in the Scriptures, must say that I am right.