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FOUNDATION

AND

PLAIN INSTRUCTION

OF THE

Sabing Doctrine of Our Lord Jesus Christ,

BRIEFLY COMPILED FROM THE WORD of god.

TRANSLATED FROM THE DUTCH LANGUAGE INTO THE GERMAN,

TOGETHER WITH OTHER

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INSTRUCTIVE TREATISES, WRITTEN BY THE AUTHOR OF THIS FOUNDATION,'
WHICH WERE FORMERLY PUBLISHED SEPARATELY, BUT HERE
APPENDED, AND THE WHOLE ARRANGED AS A
COMMON MANUAL.

BY MENNO SIMON.

TO WHICH AN INDEX IS ADDED, IN ORDER THAT ALL THE POINTS,
ARTICLES, PASSAGES, AND ADMONITIONS HEREIN CONTAINED,
MAY BE READILY FOUND.

For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
1 Cor. iii. 11.

PRINTED IN EUROPE, A. D., 1565.

TRANSLATED INTO THE ENGLISH BY I. DANIEL RUPP,
Author of "Der Maertyr Geschichte," &c., &c.

PUBLISHED BY ELIAS BARR & CO,

No. 6 EAST KING STREET, LANCASTER, PA.

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JOHN HERR'S PREFACE.

BELOVED READER: We live in a period of time, in which many writings are circulated among the people, which, generally are more injurious than beneficial, since the greater part contain not the pure and uncorrupted truth of the gospel, although it is the only rule, in accordance with which every thing should be regulated, written and taught, as St. Paul testifies: Though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. (Gal. 1.) If its directions were followed, there would not be so many scorners of the christian religion; for, by the pious, virtuous, and godly life of its professors, they would be convinced, that something true and substantial is in its composition; as Paul teaches, that the gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation, to every one that believeth. (Rom. 1.) Yea, it is so powerful an operator in all those who truly believe, that their hard hearts become softened, renewed, and enlivened, so that, as they were formerly carnally minded, so they have now become spiritual and heavenly-minded; and as they have been proud, imperious, envious, and implacable against those, who may have aggrieved them, so they are now humble, mild, condescending, patient, peaceable, and forgiving towards their opponents, according to the example of their Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and the instructions of his word. But this salutary influence is to be found and perceived in so small a degree among the present christians, that the reverse is much more in vogue, from which circumstance, it, consequently, arises that atheism, the rejection of all revealed religion advances with such rapid strides. For, say its advocates, were the professors of christianity firm believers in the truth of scripture, they would conduct their lives according to its tenor, as Christ and his apostles have inculcated; but since this conformity is but seldom evinced, they conclude it to be the work of man, and a fabric of imposture, and exclaim: Our bonds are in twain and we are free, we will none of us go without his part of our voluptuousness, for this is our portion, &c. Such things do they imagine, and are deceived; for their own wickedness hath blinded them, so that the mysteries of God they know not; neither hope they for the wages of righteousness, nor discern a reward for blameless souls. (Wis. 2.) Oh! how deplorable that so many profess Christ with the lips, but yet by their works deny both him and his doctrine, whence, in the eyes of God, they are not better than the manifest scorner of his word, although comforting themselves, and being comforted by their unregenerated preachers with the belief that they are christians, because they have an outward profession.

The dark vapours of false and perverted doctrine, have so much obscured the clear light of the gospel, that oftimes, sincere souls scarcely know how to distinguish between right and wrong. For this reason, I and my brethren, out of love to mankind, and particularly to serious minds, have been induced to publish, in the English language, in which they never before appeared, the works of the zealous and heaven-devoted Menno Simon. And since I sincerely believe, and from the word of God acknowledge, that therein is contained the pure and unadulterated truth, according to the testimony of the Holy Scriptures; and as I myself, by the grace of God, have derived much benefit from the reading of this book, it is my hope, that to those who, in these confused times, when unbelief, universalism, the despising of God and his word, and the denial of our Lord, Jesus Christ, some by their lips and others by their conduct, is so extensively prevalent, impartially read and compare it with the word of God, it may be serviceable for their illumination and the advancement of their salvation. Yea, dear reader, in the writings of this zealous and godly man, you will find how sincerely and fearlessly he exhibited to every one the powerful and undefiled truth. He feared neither emperor nor king, neither high nor low, neither pope nor monks, neither life nor death. He sought the glory of God, and he exerted himself to extricate poor mankind from the darkness of popery and deliver them from all false doctrine. In zeal for God, and his rightful worship he was not inferior to Josiah, king of Judah. (2 Kings, 23.) With the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God, (Eph. 6,) he went forth, breaking down the strange altars, and overthrowing the inventions of papacy with which the ignorant people from time to time were burdened, and the errors, which Luther and other reformers overlooked, he laid aside, namely the human instituted baptism of infants with other erroneous usages. Thus he again introduced and built up the true and apostolic service of God, so that a large people, as a pure and chaste virgin, were led to Christ, and many erring sheep were gathered together, which formerly were compelled to drink the impure water of false doctrine, which their shepherds defiled; and thus were founded many communities, in many places in Friesland, Holland, Groningen, East Friesland, Brabant, and on the border of the Baltic Sea, and likewise in Germany, in the Palatinate, in Alsace, Bavaria, Suabia, Switzerland, Austria, Moravia, &c. The word of the Lord spread itself by his instrumentality, so powerfully, in defiance of all the tyranny and persecution of priests and governments, that it was evidently seen, how the strong hand of God, whom he glorified, rescued him from the power of his enemies. For by a bloody decree issued in 1543, he was declared an outlaw, and a sum of money was offered for his body, at the same time, that it was forbidden under pain of death to harbor him. Even criminals and murderers, as historians show, were promised the emperor's pardon, in case they would deliver him into prison; so that he was continually in danger of his life. But he was not discouraged, on the contrary, he untiringly prosecuted the labors which God imposed upon him. The hand of the Lord conducted him, until, at length, after long combatting, and great victory, he terminated his career at Fresenburg, and died the death of the blessed, January the 31st, in the year 1561, at the age of sixty-six years. Beloved

reader, in our author's writings, you will find, if impartial, with what simplicitly and energy he proclaimed the gospel, in its correct sense and scope; how he defended Christ the crucified, and his saving doctrine, against false principles and perverted teachers, with whom he dealt sharply and keenly, and represented to them the dreadful judgments of God with which the scriptures threaten all deluding ministers, and which he well perceived would be their lot if they were not converted. Indeed, he might well say with the apostle, he knew none according to the flesh, "he reproved, threatened and exhorted," as Paul teaches, without respect to persons, he, sought not good will or honor among men, but instead his zeal in the Lord's. house was so strong and ardent that every thing besides was deemed of no importance; he showed every one that there was no other way to happiness, than through self-knowledge and true self-denial and the acceptation of Christ through faith, together with his righteousness, which he merited for us, out of pure love, grace and mercy by his blood and death. He further taught, that whosoever believes this, and experiences this love and elevated grace, in his soul, will, through them be induced to imitate Christ in every thing, and to place himself with childlike obedience, under the guidance of his doctrine and commandments; but, those, on the contrary, who are not obedient to him in all that he taught, and follow not daily after him, plainly evince, that they, likewise, are not partakers with himwith his cross and death, and have not in possession that righteousness, which is acceptable to God, or if they had received a portion, they have again lost it by deviating from the holy commandment." Hence, he never flattered such with hopes of peace, nor comforted them with soft pillows; but, with the force of scripture, spread before them, the eternal doom, and destruction of their miserable souls, so that, they might, possibly, reflect, and be converted ere it would be too late.

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Further, it will easily be perceived by all those, into whose hands this book may fall, and who will read it with consideration, that the doctrine which I profess and teach, and that, of this godly reformer, entirely agree. He acknowledges Christ as the only foundation of our salvation; so likewise do I. He confesses, that he who has thus found Christ, will follow him in all that he has commanded, (Matt. 28) will be of the same mind as he was, (Philip, 2, 1) he will love his enemies, do good to those that hate him, overcoming evil with good, and thus heap coals of fire on their heads. (Matt. 1; Rom. 12.) The same do I inculcate, as my writings plainly show. He teaches, that in the kingdom of Christ, and in his church, no other sword is used, than the sword of the spirit, and no other regulation, than the regulation of Christ and his apostles, and that this church can not be kept in a state of purity, without bringing to bear, upon all ungodly scorners, and perverse and apostate members, all apostolic excommunication; and that, then it is necessary to avoid the intercourse, without respect to persons with them, so as to induce a feeling of shame and self reproach; all of which he clearly points out in this. work, and which I also confess. Menno exhorted all believers, with scripture testimony, to abjure all false doctrine, to refrain from hearing corrupt teachers, to shun them, and separate themselves from them, as Christ's doctrine sets forth, (Matt. 7; Jer. 23, 16;

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