# The First Letter, Which Matthias Servaes Wrote From Prison To H. K., His Brother In The Lord, And Also To His Other Fellow Members. · Page 3 of 5

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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.



## Original source

[Read this passage on Project Gutenberg](https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/65855/pg65855-images.html#Page_663)

[Edition details](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/65855)

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