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

equally distant from the Roman Catholic position of works righteousness as he was from the frivolous Protestant position of salvation by faith alone without a sanctified life. e) On the question of the relationship of church and state, Menno was a resolute opponent of the state church or state Christianity. Christ is the only kind and chief shepherd of the church. The state rightly has jurisdiction over the entire civic, social and ethical sphere of life; it is in this regard that the Christian owes absolute obedience to the state in so far as its laws do not go against God’s Word. The only discipline to be practiced by the church is admonition and separation (to put under the ban) . Only those who live by the faith described above may be a part of the church and enjoy its blessings of salvation and grace. Only these may be baptized and take part in Holy Co mmuni on. “As long as a person errs in faith and doctrine and retains a carnal mind, he may under no circumstances be admitted to the body of the God-fearing and penitent.” Foundation, vol. 1, p. 121 of the old Deknatel edition. f) He rejected the swearing of oaths. From the general tenor of his writings, some have drawn the conclusion that he deemed it unlawful for a Christian to serve in the military or government, while others deny this. We do not wish, at this point, to make a premature judgment, but only quote a few of the most characteristic passages from his "Exhorting Supplication to Magistrates”: "Christ wishes to remain the sole head of His church, the only teacher in His school, the only king to judge His kingdom, and that not by man-made laws or teachings nor by strangling and murder, but by His Holy Spirit, power, grace and Word. Therefore we, who recognize you as our gracious lords in all matters temporal, beg you, who by God’s mercy are the foundations of the earth, to allow the eternal and almighty king Jesus Christ to be the only Saviour, Lord and Authority of our poor souls, as God the Father has ordained it. And that you might fulfill the duties and obligations of the temporal office to which you are called; for we desire with all our hearts to give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God's. Matt. 22:21. We petition you, give serious consideration to our teaching. ...” In the treatise “Confession of the Distressed Christians,” we read: "Dear Lords, seek God, fear Him and serve Him with all your strength; do justice to widows, orphans, strangers, the distressed and all the sorrowing; cleanse your hands of blood, rule your lands with wisdom and in peace [he does not say: leave your post, turn all your thoughts, words and deeds to the crucified Christ and follow in His footsteps, therefore he must deem it possible for magistrates to become disciples of Christ, otherwise why 18 ORIGINS should he admonish them!] For, though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow, etc. Is. 1:18, Ezek. 33:11, 18:32. May th