kill false prophets, we reply: That if we, in this time of the New
Testament, were to kill all which God had commanded to kill in the Old
Testament, we should have to kill not only the false prophets, but
also the adulterers, whoremongers, and those who take the name of the
Lord in vain and curse, and other like transgressors. Leviticus 20:10;
Deut. 22:21; Lev. 24:14. And if they would wink at these, and allege
against us only the commandment concerning the false prophets, in order
to be rid of us, do at least rightly consider the word of the Lord, by
what sign false prophets shall be known. For thus does God speak by
Moses: “If a prophet or dreamer say to you: Let us go after strange
gods, which you know not, that prophet shall die.” Deut. 13. But we do
not teach to go after strange gods, neither have we a heretical faith
which is contrary to the word of Christ. But we believe in one God,
Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his
only begotten Son, our Lord, who was conceived of the Holy Ghost, born
of the pure virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified,
died, and was buried; on the third day he rose from the dead, ascended
up to heaven, and is now sitting at the right hand of God the almighty
Father, whence he must come again, to judge the quick and the dead. We
believe in the Holy Ghost. We believe that Christ Jesus is true God and
man.
Neither do we seek salvation in our works, as is reported of us; but
we believe that we shall be saved only through the merits of our Lord
Jesus Christ.
Nor do we boast of being without sin, but confess ourselves every
moment as sinners before our God. But from presumptuous sins we must
refrain, if we would be saved: as namely, from adultery, fornication,
sorcery, sedition, shedding of blood, cursing and swearing, lying and
cheating, pride and drunkenness, anger and strife, hatred and envy.
These are the sins of which the Scripture says: “They which do such
things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” Gal. 5:21.
That they also say that we will not hear the word of God, because we do
not hear the preachers in church, to that we reply: That we do not hear
the preachers, to this the word of our God constrains us, as they are
not fit persons to administer such an office. For Paul teaches Timothy
and says: “The things that thou hast heard of me by many witnesses, the
same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others
also.” 2 Tim. 2:2. For he that would reprove and teach another must
be unblamable himself. But if the preachers were according to the
apostolic doctrine, we would gladly hear them from the depths of our
hearts, and would also be the first and the last in church.
But if it be said to us, that Jesus Christ says: “The scribes and the
Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: all therefore whatsoever they bid you
observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works” (Matt.
23:2,3); we answer: If the preachers are the scribes and Pharisees,
then they are the ones who have crucified Jesus Christ, and then also
will come upon them all the woes that follow hereafter. But if they
are not the scribes, then are also the preceding words, that we are
to do according to their words, and not after their works, not spoken
of them. Again, they that sat in Moses’ seat, were from the tribe of
Levi, like Moses, teaching the people of Israel: All that the priests
and Levites teach you, and as they command you, that shall ye observe,
and do according to it. Deut. 17:10. The prophet says: “The priest’s
lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth.”
Mal. 2:7. Since Christ did not come to destroy the law or the prophets,
but to fulfill them; therefore he taught his apostles thus. But that
this should be an argument from the word of Christ (Matt. 23), to hear
the preachers, cannot be; since the preachers are not of the tribe of
Levi, whom Israel had to hear, but from the Gentiles. Besides, it must
be considered, that when Christ Jesus had fulfilled the law in every
respect, by his bitter death and the shedding of his sacred blood, he
ordained another priesthood that should teach his holy law, namely, his
gospel, when he said to his disciples: “As my Father hath sent me, even
so send I you.” John 20:21.
These holy messengers of Christ directed us to hear, not blamable
teachers, but such as are unblamable; who are not given to wine, not
self-willed, not soon angry, no brawler, not covetous, not given to
filthy lucre; but given to hospitality, kind, sober, just, holy,
temperate; holding fast the faithful word. And let the deacons also
first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found
blameless. 2 Pet. 3:2; 1 John 4:1; 1 Tim. 3; Tit. 1; Rom. 2:21; 16:17.
Hence we dare not regard the preachers as the persons that are to wait
on the office of the ministry; nor dare we hear them, because they,
according to Paul’s teaching, are blamable and unfit thereto. When it
is therefore said of us, that we will not hear the word of God, great
injustice is done us; for to hear the word of God is the greatest joy
that can come to us upon earth, for it is the comfort of our hearts.
That they would also accuse us of being disobedient to the magistracy,
because we do not have our children baptized, to this we reply: “We
desire to obey the magistracy in all things not contrary to the word
of God. That we do not have our children baptized by the priest, this
we omit not from stubbornness or presumption, but through the fear of
God, because Christ commanded to baptize believers, and the messengers
of Christ did not baptize infants, who were unable to speak, but
reasonable persons, upon confession of their sins, and of their faith,
as may be read, Matt. 3:16; Mark 1:9; Luke 3:21; John 3:22; Acts 2:28;
9:37; 8:18; 10:48; 16:33; 18:8; 19:5; 22:16. Thus did Christ and the
apostles teach concerning baptism as we may read, Matt. 28:19; Mark
16:16; John 3:23; Rom. 6:3; Gal. 3:27; Eph. 4:5; Col. 2:12; Tit. 3:5;
1 Peter 3:21; Heb. 6:2. These are the Scriptures that testify of the
baptism of believers. But of baptizing infants devoid of reason or
speech, upon the faith of the fathers, and exorcising the devil from
them, of this the Scriptures do not say one word. Hence we dare not
consent to such a baptism, because God has commanded, that one shall
neither add to nor take away from his words. Nor dare we do what seems
right to any one, but only that which he commands. It is further
written: “Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou
be found a liar.” Prov. 30:6.
The Scriptures declare in many places, that they will be most
grievously punished by God who forsake his word, and follow their own
opinion, even as Saul the first King of Israel; Uzzah, who touched
the ark of the Lord; the two sons of Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, who did
that which was not commanded them, wherefore they were also punished.
1 Samuel 15:24; 2 Sam. 6:6; Lev. 10:2. These are to us remarkable
examples, that we dare use no religious rites or ceremonies without
a command from God. For Christ says: “Every plant which my heavenly
Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.” Matthew 15:13. And Martin
Luther, commenting on the third chapter of Daniel, writes: “Divine
worship without the word is always idolatry.”
That they say that the children believe themselves and that God is
almighty, so that he can easily give the children faith, since faith
is the gift of God, to this we reply: That God is almighty, and can
easily give the children faith, and not only faith, but also speech,
and works, whereby faith is also confessed (for faith is not without
confession or good works), but now does God give the children neither
speech nor works, to say nothing of faith.[339] Paul says: “How shall
they believe in him of whom they have not heard?” Rom. 10:14. It is
certainly evident to every one, that infants can neither hear nor
understand, as also the Scripture openly declares. And even though the
Scriptures did not teach us this, yet experience teaches us, that they
must be guarded and kept from all sharp and dangerous instruments,
from water and fire, whereby they prove that there is neither faith
nor understanding in them. And as they are not willing to permit that
infants should receive the sacrament, they thereby prove themselves,
that they do not regard their speechless children as believers.
[339] Thus writes Martin Luther in his preface to the Epistle to the
Romans.
That they also claim that their children are filled with the Holy Ghost
in their mother’s womb, as was John the Baptist; if this be true,
how comes it then that they exorcise the unclean spirits from their
children, when they baptize them; if they have previously had the Holy
Spirit?
That they also adduce the words of Christ: “Suffer the children to come
unto me, for of such is the kingdom of God,” as a proof for baptizing
the children, we answer: That the kingdom of God is theirs we heartily
admit; but that they are therefore to be baptized, we do not admit, for
the reason that Christ did not baptize the children that were brought
to him, nor did he command that they should be baptized; but they are
saved through grace, without any ceremonies, through the blood of
Christ, even as the children which died without circumcision in Israel.
That they also assert that we must be born again of the water and the
Spirit, or we cannot enter into the kingdom of God, and would conclude
that children must be baptized, because water precedes the Spirit; or
they will not be saved: to this we reply, in the first place: That
Christ here does not speak of children, but to an adult person, that
came to him by night, to whom Jesus said: “Verily, verily I say unto
thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter
into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and
that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” John 3:5,6. In the second
place, Christ speaks of a regeneration before the water (v. 3), which
regeneration cannot be effected except through faith in Jesus Christ,
as the Scriptures teach. This also Martin Luther writes,[340] that
faith is a divine work in us, which changes and renews us by the power
of God, mortifies the old Adam, makes of us entirely different beings
in heart, mind and every power, and brings the Holy Ghost with it.
[340] In the preface to the Epistle to the Romans.
These words do in no respect concern innocent children, for they do
not have the old birth, from the original sin which condemns them, as
some would prove, because David says: I was begotten of sinful seed;
and in sin did my mother conceive me. This psalm David made, when he
had committed adultery with Bathsheba, and was reproved by the prophet
Nathan. Then he lamented on account of the inborn sin from Adam, but
it was not accounted unto his condemnation, because of the promised
seed which had been promised to Adam and Eve, namely, Christ Jesus,
who reconciled Adam’s transgression and took the original sin upon
himself, as Paul says: “As by the offense of one judgment came upon all
men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift
came upon all men, unto justification of life.” Rom. 5:18. Thus also
Martin Luther declares, writing on the fifteenth chapter of John: “That
original sin was taken away through Christ, and that since Christ’s
advent it does no more condemn any one. Since, then, original sin was
taken away through Christ, and no longer condemns any one, there is
also no sin can condemn infants if they die without baptism: for the
children shall not die for the iniquity of the father, saith the Lord.”
Deuteronomy 24:16; 2 Kings 14:6; 2 Chronicles 25:4; Ezekiel 18:20.
Hence it is a great sin before God, to demand that the children be
baptized for the sake of original sin, or that they shall not be saved.
Those who demand this, esteem Adam’s sin greater than the merits of
Christ: they also seek salvation more in the water than in the blood of
Christ, which is openly contradicting the Scriptures, since it is so
clearly declared “that the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ cleanseth us
from all sin.” 1 John 1:7; Col. 1:14; 1 Pet. 1:19; Rev. 1:5; Heb. 9:12.
That they also want to argue, that circumcision is a proof for the
validity of infant baptism; this can not be. Reason, if children
were to be baptized as they were circumcised, only the male children
would have to be baptized, and not the female, for the female children
were not circumcised, but only the male children. Paul does not apply
circumcision to baptism, but to the circumcision of the heart, which
is a circumcision of the spirit. Rom. 2:29; Col. 2:11; Philip. 3:3.
God commanded Abraham to use circumcision on the eighth day; this
commandment Israel kept until Christ came, and they did not change it,
whether in little or in much, but adhered to the eighth day, and did
not want to follow their reason and say: that when children die before
the eighth day without circumcision they are damned; but they would
obey God and his commandments and would not follow their own wisdom. In
this manner we in the New Testament are also to use baptism: Namely,
at the time Christ commanded it; that is, on believers, and we are not
to follow our own opinion in the matter of baptism, that we should use
it before the proper time on speechless and unreasonable children;
because God has not commanded it, and it has not been his will. Had it
been the will of God, that infants should be baptized, as they were
circumcised when they were eight days old, God would doubtless have
commanded it with an express command, that children should be baptized,
even as well as he commanded to circumcise the children. Christ would
also have received baptism in his infancy, as well as that he was
circumcised when he was eight days old. But now this was not the will
of God; hence he did also teach otherwise, and received it himself in a
different manner. For Christ came to John, and desired that he should
baptize him, as he also did. By this he teaches us, and has shown us
by examples, that they who are to be baptized must have a desire for
baptism.
That the preachers assert that Origenes received infant baptism from
the apostles, this cannot be; for Origenes lived a hundred years
after the time of the apostles, as history testifies. But it is very
surprising that the learned are trying to prove any thing by Origenes,
since Martin Luther so strenuously rejects him. They write and say
what some Romish bishops or popes instituted, and proved the same from
the historian Platina. They write thus: “That Pope Innocent commanded
to baptize children as soon as they were born.” The same is contained
in a book printed at Magdeburg, entitled a “Prayer Book, new from the
holy Scriptures.” Again, Sebastian Franck’s _Chronika_, and Adriaen
van Bergen write that Ignius the tenth Pope instituted the sponsors in
baptism. This is the reason why we cannot see the propriety of infant
baptism: because it is instituted and commanded by men, and the holy
Scripture does not know such a baptism, but knows only the baptism that
is taught upon faith, as said before.
We are also branded as profaners of the sacrament and forgetters of
God. To this we reply: We neither profane nor forget the sacrament of
our Lord Jesus Christ, but hold it in great gratitude, and remember,
whenever we observe it, the great love which Christ showed us on the
cross, when he suffered his body to be broken, and shed his sacred
blood for our sakes; and thus we show forth the death of the Lord, as
Paul says: “As often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do
shew the Lord’s death till he come.” 1 Cor. 11:26. This is our faith
concerning the sacrament. That we do not receive it from the preachers,
and observe it with their church, is for three reasons.
The first reason is: That the minister or dispenser must be blameless
according to the teaching of Paul; he must rule well his own house,
and have his children in subjection, and his wife must be faithful in
all things. 1 Tim. 3:2; Tit. 1:6. In the second place, the church that
is to eat of the bread must be a blameless church (Eph. 5:27), as Paul
says: “For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: therefore
let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven
of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity
and truth.” Paul further says: “I wrote unto you in an epistle not to
company with fornicators: yet not altogether with the fornicators of
this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters;
for then must ye needs go out of the world. But now I have written
unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a
fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or
an extortioner; with such a one no not to eat.” 1 Cor. 5:7–11. Since we
openly find such works in their church, the word of God forbids us to
observe the Lord’s sacrament with them.
The third reason is: because they do not observe their sacrament
according to the practice of Christ and his apostles, for they took
bread, and break it, and gave it to the people. Matt. 26:26; 1
Corinthians 10:16; 11:23; Acts 2:42; 20:11. But the priests break no
bread, but give unbroken wafers. The wafers were instituted by Pope
Alexander. Christ commands it to be done in remembrance of him (1
Cor. 11:24); the priests say that it is to be done, partly, for the
forgiveness of sins. These are the reasons why we dare not observe it
with them, through the fear of God, for we dare do nothing but what the
word of God teaches us. And we observe it with a blameless dispenser,
in a blameless church who fear God, with bread and wine, according to
the practice of the Lord and his apostles, in the houses, as Christ and
the apostles did.
This is our faith and confession concerning holy baptism: that it may
be given to none other but adults that believe, and know themselves
what they are receiving, even as they who eat of the bread of the Lord
must have understanding and faith, and must examine themselves. Because
we thus rightly observe these two sacraments according to the command
of Christ, hence it partly comes, that the preachers are so exceedingly
hostile to us. It grieves them, that they should lose their profit.
They know not what evil things they can falsely tell the authorities
and the common people, in order that they should not tolerate us in any
city or country. They pretend that there are so many thousands of us
in the country, who want to take possession of countries and cities;
whereas no such thoughts have entered into our hearts, for it is
impossible to take possession of countries and cities without violence
and bloodshed. And if we had such a liberty as would permit us to
commit murder, and to deprive an other of his property, we would also
have liberty to let our children be baptized by the priests; then we
would not need to allow ourselves to be driven from our possessions and
paternal inheritances, from our ease into great misery, as a reproach
to all. If we had such a heart as is reported of us, we would suffer
all this in vain, for they who do such things shall not inherit the
kingdom of God, as Paul says. Gal. 5:21. “A lie,” says Sirach, “is a
foul blot in a man, yet it is continually in the mouth of the untaught.
A thief is better than a man that is accustomed to lie.” Sir. 20:24,25.
For they had also invented this lie against Paul, that he had made
an uproar, and had brought from the wilderness four thousand secret
murderers. Acts 21:38. But with regard to us they have still magnified
the lie, and speak of many thousands as being of our faith. We have
not so easy a faith, that they flock to us in crowds; only here and
there may be a household, which are very solitary and few, as a sparrow
alone upon the housetop, like the pelican of the wilderness, an owl of
the desert, a lily among thorns, and the apple tree among the trees of
the wood, which brings forth good fruit (Ps. 102:7,6; Cant. 2:2,3; Ps.
1:3), as a penitent life, to deny one’s self, and to hate his own life,
otherwise he cannot be Christ’s disciple. Luke 14:26. They that are
Christ’s, crucify the flesh with the affections and lusts. Gal. 5:24.
He that says he abides in Christ ought himself also to walk, even as
Christ walked. 1 John 2:6. Christ says that there are few that walk in
his way, in the way which leads unto life, and that find it. It is hid
from the scribes and wise of this world. Base things, and things which
are most despised, hath God chosen, and things which are not, to them
it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God. Thus Christ
and his apostles declare that there are few who have the true faith,
and know the way. As also the prophet laments: “The faithful fail from
among the children of men.” Psalm 12:1. For iniquity abounds, so that,
if it were possible, the very elect should fall into error, as Christ
himself says: “When the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on
the earth?” Luke 18:8. Hence there will be few believers at Christ’s
coming, and have also been few from the beginning of the world. As
namely, in the time of Noah, only eight believing souls. In Lot’s time,
there were only three believers. In the time of Israel, there were
eight hundred false prophets against one. Also, four hundred false
prophets, to one [true] prophet. 1 Kings 18.
Thus the perverse have always outnumbered the righteous. This is our
open confession before God and all men: that the faith and heart of
every one of us is of such a nature, that we do not desire in any wise
to injure our enemies that persecute us, or to wish them evil; but we
desire from the depths of our hearts, to pray for them, and if they
should need us, we would most heartily serve them according to our
ability, for they know not but that they are right, and are therein
doing God great service. John 16:2. Even as they will hereafter have
to confess, as it is written in the fifth chapter of Wisdom; but it
shall then be too late for them. For this reason the promise of eternal
salvation is ours; as Christ himself said: “Blessed are ye, when men
shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil
against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for
great is your reward in heaven.” Matt. 5:11,12. This promise have
they that are persecuted here. But to those that persecute here, woe
is prophesied, as Christ says: “Woe unto you, scribes, who kill the
prophets; fill up the measure of your fathers.” The apostle says:
“Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl, for your miseries that shall
come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth
eaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be
a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye
have heaped treasure together for the last days. Ye have condemned and
killed the just; and he doth not resist you.” James 5;1–3,6. If it be
replied, that they do not want to shed our blood, but only order us out
of their cities and countries, we answer: Though there is no where a
place for us, still we must certainly live some where; hence we must
for this reason go to bloody countries, whence we fled, partly, because
of the great tyranny, where the blood of the saints is poured out like
water. But when that great day of the Lord will come, when men shall
say: “Ye mountains and hills, fall on us, and hide us from the face of
him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb;” then
it shall be found how guilty they have been of our blood. For they
shall have judgment without mercy, that have shewed no mercy. For with
what measure a man has meted, it shall be measured to him again.
Hence we request and pray, for the sake of Jesus Christ, that what we
have written be received in good part, since it has been done out of
pure love, for a warning against the punishment of the Lord, lest you
sin against us; since we are the true strangers and people of God,
who are persecuted for the true doctrine of Jesus Christ and his holy
apostles. May the eternal and merciful God look with gracious eyes upon
all his afflicted children, who are hated by so many, and not give to
the beasts the souls of thy turtle doves, for his great and holy name’s
sake. Ps. 74:19.
O Lord, shorten the days, and look upon the reproach of thy people,
which they must suffer every day for the sake of the holy testimony of
the Gospel, through thy dear Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
(_End of the first letter._)
_As then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born
after the Spirit, even so it is now. Gal. 4:29._
* * * * *
Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he
is faithful that promised. Heb. 10:23.
ANOTHER LETTER OF THE PRISONERS: IN WHICH WE VINDICATE OURSELVES OF
THAT WHICH IS REPORTED OF US, AND BRIEFLY NOTICE THE PRINCIPAL POINTS
OF OUR FAITH, AS IS STATED MORE FULLY BELOW.