Absolution
(Jörg) His [list of] shortcomings have been heard in fact, but there is a further deficiency, namely this: the following after was mentioned only in the community of sin; among whom were many unrepentant, etc. Specifically: when wrong doers have denied life, then they were promised the Kingdom of God and that they should not die as a murderer according to the Scriptures.
Butzer: When one says: I repent of my sins, then he is given absolution; but they can’t see into his heart. And although everyone should watch that he doesn’t escape suffering due to murder and robbery, etc., even if that is the situation with him, he should carry his pain like the thief on the cross and seek grace of the Lord, which he will certainly find, as the thief found it. And Butzer asked Jorg if he had something further.
Jörg: No, but if Master Adam and others found shortcomings in them, they should cite them.
(Butzer) The defect they found in them was that they separated themselves from us without cause. For we do not want to set church discipline aside, nor justify usury; we proclaim a repentant life; we maintain the sacraments according to the meaning of Scripture and according to the confession delivered at Augsburg. Prayed that they and Jorg should let it be known if they would again join us in all Christian matters.
Jörg answered they would think it over.
There followed the examination of Leonhard of Maastricht. And the same Leonhard said that as his brethren had answered to the articles, in them he saw other deficiencies and will demonstrate it as simply as possible and with evidence from the Bible. First he asked Mr. Butzer from whence came his calling to preach according to the rule of Christ.
(Butzer) Whoever can serve the church, he serves as best he is able. Now the church has called those here who can preach; and Paul commanded Titus to occupy the city with capable people (Titus 1:15). And even so are our preachers provided.
(Leonhard) But he hasn’t thereby sufficient evidence as to who sent them.
Butzer: No one can preach except he be sent, Romans 10:15. With whatever one has one should serve the church.
Leonhard: When I see you come with such signs as Christ commanded of them, namely that they should be born again, joined to Christ with the death of sins, then I will believe in you.
Butzer: Him whom they may convict, that he isn’t at one with Christ, we will not allow to be a preacher.
Leonhard: Christ said John 3:7, “unless ye be born again,” etc. Now I know none who has been resurrected in such a rebirth through falling away of the first life; I find that they take the opposite position, do not gather with Christ but rather scatter.
(Butzer) He should demonstrate in what particular.
(Leonhard) His complaint has been heard, that they won’t have the abomination stopped and have become accomplices of the pope through infant baptism; in this [practice] they have abandoned the good in order to build up the abomination.
(Butzer) Infant baptism was given them by God’s ordinance, by it the children of God are accepted. Hezekiah, Isaiah, etc., and others too renewed the covenant of God, but nevertheless did not circumcise the people again. In the Old Testament the covenant of the Lord was renewed with the paschal lamb. And our preachers have done the same with the Lord’s Supper. And because they confess the faith we must recognize them as Christians even though they haven’t renewed the baptism.
Leonhard: I feel that you don’t have a living word for which God sent his beloved Son to us; you have a dead word, as evidenced by your fellowship, else you would draw away from the evil.
Butzer: You complain because you aren’t highly thought of.
Butzer asked Leonhard whether their elders had an act or a living word.
(Leonhard’s answer) They have a living word that can bring the people from evil to good and totally renew them.
Butzer: Would God that Münster and all of them had a living word that could kill the Old Adam in us all! Pour out your living word on all of us here and all men, that we might be pious indeed. And since now you can’t do that and think nevertheless that you have a living word, then permit the word of Christ, of the apostles and that now preached, which is a word, a living word indeed, whether they are immediately improved in a special way when called to life or not.
Leonhard: I find no one who has been converted from his previous stained life. And thereby he cannot see that they have a living word.
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