Complete Theological Works

God, who regards not high-minded vanity
But saves His wisdom for the humble race,
Has made MENNO spark through the fire of His spirit,
And granted him the sunbeam of His grace:
A ray that enlightened and so kindled his dark brain,
That he broke through darkness and heavy mists.
Through mists, which provided a dark night for his heart;
Egypt's plague A reference to the biblical Plague of Darkness in Exodus 10:21-23, which the author compares to spiritual blindness. only touched the eye, but this covered his Soul.
Roman superstition had blinded his understanding
For he let himself be led like an innocent child.
He who served the people as a Scholar of Scripture and Law
Led them while he himself was blind, and they seeing nothing.
Thus he fed the ignorant people and raised them on dross; original: draf. Meaning livestock feed or husks, used here as a metaphor for spiritually empty rituals.
Devoid of God's spirit, he gave chaff instead of wheat.
But now enlightened, he went to the God-consecrated books
To search them godly with a burning zeal,
After he had many times, with tears and prayers,
Besought God, who enlightens all, with great fervor.
He found that true pearl, the way to eternal life,
Along which a blessed Soul must strive toward the blessed Kingdom:
Therefore he then turned his back on the seat of the Roman faction;
God’s revealed will and truth made him swift
To fly out from sinful Babel Anabaptist writers frequently used "Babel" or "Babylon" as a pejorative term for the Roman Catholic Church. as if with an Eagle's fast wings:
The Divine light never allowed itself to be confined
Within the Cloister's walls; He went out voluntarily
Like Abraham out of Chaldea, incited by the Just One
Against the Spiritual authority at which they gaped,
Of Popes, Bishops, Monks, and Priests,
Who put a price on the Man's likeness, the luster of Silver money,
Which cruelty had set upon his defenseless Body,
To make the raging Mob watch like wolves,
To surprise the Lamb on mountain, in valley, and in forests;
Yet the Lamb was so protected by the Lion of Judah, A title for Jesus Christ (Revelation 5:5).
That the bloodthirst never quenched itself on his blood.
Envy never got his flesh in her tearing teeth,
Though often desired; but you, O Tyrants!
You presumptuous ones, say how many souls has God snatched away,
Who in their design had merely suppressed Him?
Heaven will not always tolerate Tyranny;
He preserves the Pious as the apple of His eye.
It was then a futile struggle for him who even his own head,
Should this prey escape him, had promised to the law:
Another sees the booty and can utter no words;
God can enclose the Pious in a circle of Angels,
Who are a Bulwark for them against the storms of Envy,
Which gnawed her heart out of spite from her very marrow,
Because she saw so many Heretics The author uses "heretic" ironically here, referring to the growing number of Anabaptists viewed as such by the state church. growing from one;
One must, she spoke, root out the fruit at its birth;
And she flew as if mad with her snaky head,
And gave all of Spain of her wicked poisonous draught,
That, swelling with spite, persecuted them wrathfully,
Those who follow Christ their Lord in defenselessness; The term weereloosheydt (defenselessness/non-resistance) is the core Anabaptist principle of pacifism, refusing to use force even in self-defense.
But fear not, holy Flock! though one dooms you to fall,
You follow herein God's Son, and the Blessed Eleven. The "Blessed Eleven" refers to the original Apostles of Jesus, excluding Judas Iscariot.
But you, honorable Man, and Father of the Congregation!
Your soul rests now with God, in the earth rest your bones;
That which is mortal, Death, the enemy of Nature,
Has dismantled years ago; but the Divine fire,
That shone in your eyes, still shines in your Writings
Like the Midday Sun, whose rays make us sift
As through a fine sieve the true Faith from the false:
We wear it like a string of Pearls around the neck;
The luster of Pearls, Sapphires, and Rubies
Must vanish before Faith in God, God's Son, and Spirit;
I seek neither Delphos nor Athens; The author rejects classical pagan wisdom (the Oracle of Delphi and Athenian philosophy) in favor of biblical revelation. the Oracle of God's mouth
Is founded on these pages on firmer ground.
If Christ’s little Ship must then endure storm upon storm here,
One shall steer it with this Compass toward the Heavenly Canaan.
He who carries Christ through Faith across the World’s Sea
Shall finally anchor in Heaven’s safe harbor.