THE MENNONITE BROTHERHOOD IN RUSSIA (1789 - 1910), P. M. Friesen, 1911

aptism becomes the golden calf 109 according to Menno Simons, Complete Works, page 290. 6. “But why should one hobble around the baptism of John in regard to the form of external baptism and entirely bypass the teaching of Christ [?!] simply because it contains no support for immersion baptism, for we do not find a single example of the submersion of the entire body during baptism in the New Testament? Nor do we have a single instance in which baptism was carried out except where instruction was given either, which itself bears witness to the fact that baptism occurred according to a form which could be practiced everywhere and so could always remain in accord with John’s words, ‘I baptized you with water!’ John indeed testified clearly and lucidly concerning the purpose of his work, the extent to which it had validity, and that he was now decreasing and Christ was increasing, according to John 1:28-34. There is no proof in the New Testament of the teaching of ‘ imm ersion in water’ baptism; the latter rests only on suppositions. But for baptism by pouring one can find numerous proofs [?!] everywhere, as Baptism by Immersion 309 I have abundantly demonstrated in this letter, and want to conclude the matter finally by saying that in my life of faith I do not stand on the side of the universal Christian Church 110 but on the side of the little flock of Christ, of which Christ said, Luke 12:32, it is the Father’s good pleasure to give it His Kingdom. During all ages, this small flock endured contempt and scorn while the large churches, under the appearance of piety, accomplished great things, and that in the name of Jesus. In regard to them, Christ’s words have been fulfilled: ‘Many are called but few are chosen,’— in order that they might never belong to the class described in Matthew 7:21-23. For Christ says that at the time of His return it shall be as it was in the days of Noah and Lot, Matthew 24:37-39 and Luke 17:28-29. Then it shall be as Christ indicates in Luke 18:8. Amen. Isaak Peters. Please accept this in love, as it was written.” [Received together with a letter dated March 18, 1910.) c) Three days later, in connection with a letter sent by us to him, Father Peters sent us a treatise, an essay confuting the teaching concerning the millennium. We quote here (in connection with Brother Peters' precise definition of that which according to his understanding is Mennonite , — from a scriptural point of view— and that which is non-Mennonite) his final conclusions in that treatise, although this is really not the place to discuss the question of the “kingdom." Perhaps, if space permits, we can present this very interesting and very acute essay under the title "Mennonite Confession of Faith.” The venerable, grey -haired bishop writes, in conclusion: “On earth Christ has no earthly kingdom, but a spiritual kingdom of grace consisting of His believers. But He possesses a heavenly kingdom of glo