in every thing which they acknowledged as the truth. If they had acknowledged more they would, doubtlessly, have died for the sake thereof as well as for that which they did, at the time, acknowledge.
If our opponents are of the same spirit then they may boast. But their fruits openly testify that that they are, alas, very different.
Again, he writes, that the fruits of an outward life, alone, avail in our sight, &c. Do not our sore oppression, trials, great tribulation, misery, possessions, and blood; besides, our open and frank confession, openly testify that he makes this assertion without all truth. Yea, that he openly slanders and wrongs us? O malitiosam calumniam ac perversitatem, (O malicious calumny and perversity).
My kind reader, observe that all Scriptures and the power of true faith constrain us zealously to teach an upright, pious, godly and penitent life; for Jesus Christ says, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works." Paul, also teaches, "That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ." That we might walk worthy of the Lord and his gospel. Peter says, "Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles;" and John says. That we should walk even as Christ walked, Matt. 5: 6; Phil. 1: 10; Col. 1: 10; 1 Pet. 2: 12; 1 John 2: 6.
Since Scripture, on every hand, enjoin upon us a pious life, as has been heard; therefore it is reasonable and just, if we believe the word of God, that ye zealously follow, in our weakness, that which the Spirit of the Lord has so clearly taught and enjoined in his holy word.
But his assertion, that such fruits, only, avail in our sight comes, alas, from an impure heart. For, I presume, he well knows, that we plainly teach that we cannot be saved by outward works, however great and glorious they may appear or that we can thus entirely please God; for they are ever mixed with imperfection and weakness and, therefore, through the corruption of the flesh we cannot acquire the righteousness required in the commandments; therefore we point, alone, to Christ Jesus who is our only and eternal Righteousness, Reconciliation, and Propitiator with the Father, and do not at all trust in our works. My reader, I write the truth in Christ Jesus, and lie not.
O, that Gellius would quit his unguarded talk, and speak no more than that which is true, for a liar is a disgrace and shall not inherit the kingdom of God; and that he could once feel what a true, Christian faith is, what it requires in its nature and what it produces in power; he would then know what it is that brings forth such a pious, penitent, and unblamable life which he has in times gone by, so disgracefully slandered and upbraided as devilish fruits, hypocrisy, and a new mockery; and, as appears, would yet upbraid, if it was not for the experience of many and the great quantity of innocent blood which has been shed.
Behold, dear reader, now you can see how they adorn and deck their abominable hypocrisy and fruitless, impenitent church-service with writing, translating, singing, &c., although generally alone without repentance and regeneration, as heard; and how they basely construe and explain the sincere, pious fruits of true faith which are taught and represented by all the Scriptures, ceremonies and sacraments; that they may daub the wall with untempered mortar and console the poor, miserable people in their disregard of the word of the Lord. But when the Lord's hurricane, flood and great hailstones shall come with a great noise, then they will break down the wall that they have daubed with untempered mortar and bring it to the ground so that the foundation thereof shall be discovered, &c., Ezekiel 13: 13, 14.
In the third place, Gellius writes that the office of a preacher consists of two parts, namely, in rooting out, destroying, and opposing; also in sowing and building, &c., and boasts that their fruits, especially as regards the first part, cannot be denied in many kingdoms and principalities; and that the Lord Jesus Christ (as he says), has, through their services, planted sincere repentance and such true Christian faith in many hearts, that the small community at Emden, in sure expectation of a reward in heaven, willingly supports several hundreds of poor people by their alms, &c.
Answer. We admit that the first part of a preachers office consists in rooting out, destroying and opposing, and the other of sowing and building up, and this is a proof for
