The Complete Works of Menno Simon Volume 2 72HOW CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD, IS ALSO THE SON OF ABRAHAM AND DAVID, ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES.

IF we would have the true understanding of Christ being also the son of Abraham and David, and not break or go beyond the Scriptures, then we must keep in view the ordinances of God, and as it is manifest that Christ-Jesus is not in truth confessed to be the Son of Joseph, but the Son of God, by the Scriptures, therefore it may be easily discerned how or in what manner Christ is also the Son of Abraham, and of David, and why he is thus called in Scripture, because of his human birth, as Paul says, "To Abraham and his seed (that is, his sons), were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds; as of many; but as of one, and to thy seed, which is Christ," Gal. 3:16 ; Rom. 1:3 ; 9 : ti; 2 Tim. 2:8 .

In the same manner we should consider also that both the evangelists, Matthew and Luke, count the genealogy up to Joseph, and not to Mary. Luke makes no mention at all of Mary, but says, "Being (as was supposed), the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli,". &c., Luke 3:23 . Mark what the evangelists mean. From this it is plain that they do but show the generation of which, according to the promise, is born he who is forever the Jehovah, Immanuel, Savior, and Lord of the world.For, if such a man as was Christ, should have been begotten of human seed, as our opponents say he is, who was to be the Deliverer of the whole world, as is Christ Jesus, then the Scriptures would point to the one of whom he was generated and originally came, and not to the one of whom he was not. For the Holy Ghost is a Spirit of truth, which teaches and instructs rightly. According to the foundation of the learned, our salvation would not be attached to the Scriptures, but to an uncertain meaning. For it is manifest that there is not a word found in them, which shows that Mary was of David's generation. Luke says that she was a cousin to Elisabeth who was a daughter of Aaron, Luke 1:5 , 36 .

Kind reader, understand me. I do not mean that Mary was not a daughter of David, but I say that the Scripture does not say so: But, inasmuch as our opponents found their whole structure upon the ground that the man Christ was to be a natural seed and son of David, and that by Mary, therefore they must have the sure testimony of the Holy Scriptures whereby they can prove it to be as they assert, before one can accept such an importaut thiug concerning the salvation of all the chosen. Since it is founded on mere presumption and not on the Scriptures, it may be that she was a daughter of David, and again, it may be that she was not, inasmuch as they did not follow one rule in regard to marriage, as may be seen by sacred history, and whereas it has nothing to do with the matter, and was, according to the evangelists sufficient that she was the wife of a son of David, that the promise might be fulfilled in the generation to which it was promised, as was frequently said, therefore I do not contradict it in the least that she was a daughter of David. But a sure testimony of the Holy Scriptures, on which the foundation of eternal salvation should be built, they can not adduce, to prove their doctrine.

If they should say that it was to be a virgin, according to. the word of-the prophet, and that therefore, it could not be of the seed of man, then I would answer in plain words that they thereby pronounce their own sentence that Christ was not the natural seed and son of Abraham and David, but their supernatural and promised seed. For he was not of one of Abraham and David's sons, but of one of their daughters, who was a virgin, and knew no man, but was promised to one of David's sons, begotten of the ineffable, eternal word of the Almighty, great God, which she conceived by faith, Jn. 1:14 . Being the first and only begotten, true Son of God, on account of his eternal Father, and the promised, given, .and born son of Abraham, Judah and David, on account of his mother, who was a daughter of Abraham, and the wife of Joseph, the son of David, as heard, Heb. 1:2 ; Jn. 1:14 ; 3:16 ; 1 Jn. 4:16 .

I will now conclude all the passages of the Holy Scriptures which treat about the seed, fruit and branch of Abraham and David, with the following remarks. Inasmuch as the Savior, King, Prince, Conqueror, and Prophet, graciously promised to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah and David, Gen. 12:3 ; 18:18 ; 22:18 ; 26:4 ; 28:14 ; 49:20 ; 2 Sam. 7:12 , was, in due time, born a true man of one of their daughters, according to the promise, Luke 2:7 , to whom the kingdom and throne of David was promised beforehand by Isaiah, and again at his conception, when it was already fulfilled in the letter by the angel, that he was to reign forever therein, Isa. 9:6 ; Luke 1:29 , which kingdom and- throne he did not receive literally, but spiritually, for it was then all ready fulfilled; his kingdom is eternal, Luke 19 ; and shall not be left to other people, Dan. 2:44 ; and as he is acknowledged all through the Scriptures as the first and only begotten Son of God, which he could not be if he were generated of impure human seed, as our opponents say, and not of God; and as his house or temple which he builds, is not a literal house, of literal wood, stone, metal, gold, and silver, as was the perishable house of Solomon; but as it is built of living precious stones, of the imperishable gold and silver, 1 Cor. 3:12 , upon the immutable foundation of the holy apostles and prophets, put together by the Holy Ghost, Eph. 2:19 ; 1 Pet. 2:4 , 19 , therefore it is thereby manifest that the promise made to David, should be understood in the old, literal form, as fulfilled in Solomon, and in the new spiritual being, Christ, 1 Kin. 6:5 ; Ps. 89:37 ; 132:11 ; for if we measure the genealogy of his blessed flesh the most minutely, in the line of David, then we find that he was no more than the son of the daughter of David, while there is not a word in all the Scriptures to prove that she actually was one of David's daughters.

Behold, such a foundation has the strong argument of Micron, as he boasts, that the gates of hell will not prevail against it, something which they, doubtlessly, will not; for they would rather strengthen and aid him in such a cause; it is the strongest fortification and shield of hell, as may be clearly seen by John. But it takes a heavenly gate to prevail against it, the strong Spirit and word of the Lord, against which neither the gates of hell, nor the devil can prevail.

Whosoever desires to have more information upon this subject may examine our reply to John A'Lasco, impartially, and by the grace of God, he will find the true foundation and meaning thereof.

And behold, thus our foundation and doctrine remain firm and invincible; that Jesus Christ is the only, first-born, and undivided Son of God, Heb. 1:6 ; Jn.1:49; 3:16; 1 Jn. 4:9 ; Rom. 8:32 , by whom he has created heaven and earth, and the sea with their fullness, Gen. 1:1 ; Ps. 33:9 ; Jn. 1:1 ; Eph. 3:9 ; Col. 1:16 ; and that he is not the impure, sinful, accursed, earthly seed of Abraham and David, as our opponents philosophize it.

Truly, he is the new Melchisedec, the King of perfect righteousness and of eternal peace, whose Father, mother, and generation, according to the true foundation of the Holy Scriptures are unknown to the whole world, the glorious Prince and wise Lord, the peaceful Solomon, who is seated upon the spiritual throne of his father David, prepared for him by his eternal Father, In eternal glory, and shall reign forever over the house and kingdom of Jacob, Isa. 9:6 , 7 ; Luke 1:29 . Consider whether we do not rightly teach you in accordance with the Scriptures.