PREFACE.

To all Authorities, and all people, of whatever quality, state, condition, and office they may be, M. S. M. S. stands for Menno Simons (c. 1496–1561), the former Catholic priest who became a leader of the Anabaptist movement. wishes enlightenment of the Spirit, and the pure true knowledge of the Kingdom of God from God our Heavenly Father, and his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who has loved us, and has washed us from our sins with his blood. To him be praise, honor, glory and gratitude into eternity.

Dear Lords, Friends, and Brethren, seeing that we learn from the Scriptures, and find through investigation, how the prophecies of the Prophets, of Christ, and of the Apostles—concerning those terrible pressures, miseries, needs, persecutions, perils, anxieties, and false doctrines of the last times—are in their full force, and that so violently, that the merciful Father must graciously shorten these days, or no flesh shall be saved. A reference to Matthew 24:22, a common theme in Anabaptist writing which often viewed their era of persecution as the "end times." Therefore it is that we, poor miserable men, pray and exhort everyone, and that by the mercy of the Lord, that you would at last thoroughly read our foundation and Faith, take it well to heart, and rightly understand it, so that you may precisely know what doctrine we practice, what Faith we hold, what life we lead, and how we are minded, regarding which we must hear and suffer so much: being imprisoned, banished, robbed, reviled, lied about, and slaughtered like innocent poor sheep. We ask this so that you may, from the heart, weep for and lament the handling of this shed blood before your God, and in all prudence guard and watch against more of the same, and may thus from now on be found a pious, reasonable, indeed God-fearing Authority—not as injurers and destroyers, but as Fathers and Guardians of all miserable, sorrowing hearts; not as uprooters, but as planters of righteousness; not as persecutors, but as followers of Christ and his word.

For this reason, anoint your eyes now with eye salve, A biblical allusion to Revelation 3:18, calling for spiritual insight. so that you may see rightly and recognize which is the true way, truth, and that Life. The way that is narrow and small, and is found by few people; the truth, which is known to no one except those who are taught by the Lord’s Spirit, enlightened and drawn by the Father. That Life, which is to know God the Father alone as the true God, and him whom he has sent, Jesus Christ. This is so that you may see whom you have so furiously pierced, and may thus humble yourselves with all your heart before the Lord like the holy Paul, with much fasting and weeping; clothe yourselves with sackcloth and with hair shirts, rend your hearts and not your garments, so that you may find mercy with him. For he is long-suffering, gracious, and merciful, and forgives the transgressions of all those who perform true repentance and seek his grace. Be no longer Jeroboam, Ahab, and Manasseh These are kings of Israel and Judah cited in the Bible for their wickedness and idolatry., but David, Hezekiah, and Josiah These kings are cited as models of righteousness and religious reform.: so that you are not ashamed of your called office on the great and terrible day of the Lord, which shall burn like a glowing furnace, and which shall consume like straw and dry stubble all those who have acted with injustice and violence here on Earth. This is why we, in all humility, desire of you—indeed, pray by the merits of Christ—that you would thoroughly consider our Faith, Doctrine, and intent, and that you would not regard us as worse than you do thieves and murderers, whom you do not condemn nor judge in harder matters without certain knowledge;