The First Letter, Which Matthias Servaes Wrote From Prison To H. K., His Brother In The Lord, And Also To His Other Fellow Members.

O brother, beware of contentious tongues. Where-ever you go, there make peace, if it can be done by the grace of God. O my dear brother, how greatly I am grieved on account of what was done in the upper country. Not, that you should think that I am doubtful; O no, my brother; for I am still of the same mind as indicated in the letter which I wrote to them; but I am fearful simply of the discord, by which many who would like to see it remedied, and are innocent, might perish. I do not know what account can be given for this before God. O that those who are found guilty in this matter might fall down with weeping before God, and repent of their sins! Thus I am also concerned about the lower country, and should like to see them helped, and put under good order, for I find them still wanting in many things; yet I sincerely love them, but I should like to see them yet put off much of their pride, and that they would consider what kind of people they ought to be, and to what they are called, so as to govern themselves accordingly, and that the elders do not stay at home when meeting is held. I do not say that it can be remedied right away. Do you also heartly receive it. O my dear brethren, be little and low in your own eyes, and be not self-complacent, so as to think: I have done this, and the like. It is nothing; the Lord, and he alone, does all things, and this by man. Hence, give him alone the praise. And let no one esteem himself better than others; yea, let each esteem other better than themselves. And let all submit one to another, and in lowliness of mind let each serve the other. Philip. 2:3; Eph. 5:21. And I desire of all brethren and sisters, that they beware of all those who leave the church. And if you can tell L. to advise with himself in the time of Grace; for how shall he be able to give an account in the day of judgment? For his own conscience, if he properly considers the matter, will accuse him. O L., O L., come back; for you are not in the best way. O my brethren, how much I had to suffer on account of the many factions! Hence beware of divisions. Seek peace, if you can, and ensue it. 1 Peter 3:11.

O my dear brethren, what liars I have had before me! Cassander, a man little and feeble of body, who led astray Joachim Suycherbacker, visited me, and laid many little snares, to take captive my mind. He read to me a book printed in Latin, which stated that infant baptism was considered a clear commandment and a unanimous practice throughout the whole world, no one gainsaying it, and he declared, though not with power of divine Scripture, that they had received it from the apostles; and when I denied this with the New Testament, they asked me, how, if I denied and did not believe this, I could believe that the New Testament was true; for, said he, we had the latter from them, who recognized infant baptism as right; and that there had been many other writings that were also called apostolical, but were nevertheless not acknowledged as authentic, but rejected by them; but that they testified that all teachers confessed that this (namely, the New Testament,) was the true apostolical doctrine, as also their baptism. They wanted to know, how, if we meant to reject one, we would maintain the other; for, said they, you must believe it from them, else you could not know it. Thus, also with baptism; and he further said that if we were right, it would follow from it, that there was no church for 1,500 years.