PREFACE.

instruction; The text continues mid-sentence from the previous page: "We ask this... to be instructed." Our cause is no thief's business, nor does it concern perishable money and goods; rather, it concerns God and God’s word, our body and soul, and either eternal life or eternal death. Therefore, do not look to the habits and customs of the fathers, nor to the wise and learned of this world. For these things lie deeply hidden from their eyes; throughout history, they have been the ones who, through their own wisdom, have pushed out God’s wisdom and trodden it into the ground. For God’s wisdom, which we teach, is a wisdom known by no one except those who desire to live according to the will of God. It is a wisdom that is not fetched from far-off lands, nor learned in high schools A "high school" here refers to a university or theological academy. Menno often contrasted "book-learning" with spiritual enlightenment.. It must be given from above and taught by the Holy Spirit, just as Paul says: Do not say in your heart: "Who shall ascend into heaven?" (that is, to bring Christ down). Or "Who shall descend into the abyss?" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But that word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart—that is the word of faith which we preach: namely, if you confess the Lord Jesus with your mouth and believe in your heart that God has raised him, you shall be saved. Original: "so gy den Heere Jesum met uwen monde bekent... so sult gy saligh worden." Quoting Romans 10:6-9. Therefore, look to God’s word, to the testimony and example of the Holy Prophets, of the Lord Christ, and of his Apostles. Let them remain your doctors and teachers in this matter, and not the honor-seeking, scholarly preachers of this world; then you will soon perceive whether we are within or outside of the truth. May the almighty, only, and eternal God help and guide all your hearts and minds toward this truth. To him be honor, praise, and gratitude, kingdom, power, and majesty, into eternity.

Since then, beloved, Satan can transform himself into an Angel of Light and sow weeds among the Lord’s wheat—such as the sword, the plurality of wives A reference to the Münster Rebellion (1534-1535), where radical Anabaptists practiced polygamy and took up arms. Menno Simons spent much of his career distancing his followers from these "errors.", an outward kingdom, and similar delusions for which many innocent people must also suffer—we are therefore compelled to bring this demonstration of our Faith and Teaching to light. And we desire herewith, for Jesus’ sake, that we might obtain so much grace that people would judge us by no other standard than God’s Word, as is fair and right. But if we cannot obtain such grace, then we must commend it to the Lord, who is the only helper in times of need for all the wretched. We will, nonetheless, by God’s grace, remain by the Lord’s word and find comfort in the Scriptures, which say: Thus says the Lord God, who created you, Jacob, and formed you, Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are mine. If you go through the water, I will be with you, and the streams shall not drown you; and if you go through the fire, you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you; for I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior." Original: "so gy door dat water gaet... de vlamme en sal u niet verslinden." Quoting Isaiah 43:1-3. Likewise: Fear not when people revile you, and do not be terrified when they make you dismayed. For the moths shall eat them like a garment, and the worms shall consume them like a woolen cloth. I am your comforter; who are you then, that you fear men who must die, and the children of men, who shall perish like hay? Also, Christ says: Fear not those who kill the body and cannot kill the soul. But fear him much more, who can destroy both body and soul in Hell. Whoever confesses him before men, him he will confess before his heavenly Father. But whoever denies him before men, him he will also deny before his heavenly Father. With the heart, Paul says, one believes unto righteousness, but with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation.

Since the Scripture urges us so strongly both to believe and to confess, and comforts us so sweetly against the wrath of men, we desire to remain steadfast in this until death. And we testify herewith before you in Christ Jesus, that we have and know no other foundation, no other faith, and no other teaching than what you may read, hear, and understand in the following text, with good and clear explanation from the Lord's word.