Menno Simons (1496-1561) was the most outstanding Anabaptist Christian leader of the Low Countries during the 16th century. His followers became known as Mennonites (Mennisten). Menno Simons was a prolific expounder of Christian and specifically Anabaptist doctrines and teachings and here you can read a collection of his thoughts and explanations on a number of crucial subjects and problems of

1. Preliminary Since our oral teaching and testimony can and may not be given, we are led and constrained to publish in writing our answer that by our written defence those of God-fearing, upright heart and conscience, be they magistrates or citizens, learned or unlearned, may know that we, as concerns the aforementioned accusations, are guiltless and are slandered and

6. The Incarnation Faithful reader, observe; just as I do not comprehend the almighty, only and eternal God in His divine nature, in the dominion of His glory, in the creation and preservation of His creatures, in the recompensation of both the good and the evil, and in many of His works, yet I do truly believe in Him as

11. Repentance Behold, dear reader, such repentance we teach, namely to die to the old sinful life and to live no longer according to the lusts of the flesh, but do as David did: When he was reproved by the prophet for his sin, he wept bitterly, cried to God, forsook evil and committed such sinful abominations no more. Peter

16. Predestination Zwingli taught that the will of God actuated a thief to steal and a murderer to kill, and that their punishment was also brought about by the will of God - which in my opinion is an abomination above all abominations. What shall I say, dear Lord? Shall I say that thou hast ordained the wicked to wickedness,

21. Infant Baptism Since, then, we do not find in all Scripture a single word by which Christ has ordained the baptism of infants, or that His apostles taught and practiced it, we say and confess rightly that infant baptism is but a human invention, an opinion of men, a perversion of the ordinance of Christ. I do not doubt

26. The Washing of the Saints' Feet The third ordinance is the washing of feet of the saints which Jesus Christ has commanded His disciples (John 13:4-17), and this for two reasons : The first is that He would have us know that He Himself must cleanse us after the inner man and that we must by Him be washed

31. The Dangers and the Right Use of Riches Since then the Lord himself, as also His faithful servants James and Paul, have in so clear words set forth the dangers of riches and of high station, and experience teaches how high they exalt themselves, as may be deduced from their titles, houses, shields, clothes, servants, horses and dogs, and

36. Duties toward the Magistracy In temporal things we teach and exhort that the emperor, king, lords and princes, yes all in authority, are to be sincerely obeyed in all their laws and regulations as far as they are not contrary to God's word. (Rom. 13:1-3). Therefore we pray you through the mercy of God, O ye great ones of