Notice To The Christian Reader, Concerning The Following Sentences.

Furthermore, if he remained immortal, it can not be said, that we are reconciled to God by the death of his Son, contrary to Paul, where he says, that we are reconciled to God by the death of his Son. Rom. 5:10. Nor can it be said that the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin. It can only be said that the flesh and blood of Mary cleanses us from all sin, contrary to the teaching of John, where he says, that the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. Nor can it be said, that God raised up his child Jesus; for if he did not die, he did not raise him up, contrary to the teaching of Paul, 1 Thessalonians 1:10; Acts 2:24; 10:40. Now if some one should ask us, whether we believe, that the Son of God was changed; we answer, that we believe, that the Son of God for our sakes was changed so much that he became what he was not, namely, he, who before was rich, for our sakes became poor. And he, who was in the form of God, became man; for the Word became flesh, so that it was seen with the eyes and handled with the hands. And he, who before was invisible, became visible; and arose from the dead; and ascended up where he was before. For he that descended is the same also that ascended; and he sits on the right hand of the Majesty on high, and is our advocate, our mediator, and ever lives to reconcile us. See, my friend, thus confess we the love which God has shown toward us. So that Jesus Christ humbled himself for our sakes, became lower than the angels, and was found in fashion as a man. Phil. 2:8; Heb. 2:7. Behold, my friend, this is the answer to the remark that the child grew up in wisdom. For when he became like unto man, as Paul teaches, he became in all things like unto his brethren. Heb. 2:17. Now, another man grows up in wisdom; therefore the Son of God humbled himself, put himself in our stead before God his Father, and took upon him our sins, and paid for them in our stead, so that in our place he cried to God with strong crying and tears, and offered up [prayers and supplications] unto him that was able to save him from death. Heb. 5:7; Matt. 27:46. Not, my friend, that he needed to be saved on the part of his own person. Now if some one should ask us, whether by such an incarnation as you have confessed here he did not lose his Sonship, and unity with God, we answer: We have proven above by the Scriptures, that Jesus Christ was the Son of God before every creature (Col. 1:15), and was with the Father before the foundation of the world; whose goings forth are from the beginning and from eternity. And he did not lose his Sonship by his incarnation; for, while he was man, the Father confessed him as his Son. Matt. 3:17; 17:5; Mark 1:11; 9:7; Luke 3:22. And Christ said, that he was the Son of God. John 10:36. Likewise did Peter. Matt. 16:16. John the Baptist, Nathanael, Martha, and Thomas confessed him as their Lord and God. And Christ said: I and the Father are one. From these words it is easy to understand, that by his incarnation he did not lose his first identity and unity; for the Son of God could become man, so that he died; but nevertheless remain God and the Son of God. For we read concerning the first man Adam, who was a figure of Christ, that God made him of the earth, so that Adam became a living soul, flesh and blood, capable of suffering and dying, and yet remained earth; for God said: Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. Rom. 5:14; Gen. 1:19; Sir. 17:1. Abraham also confessed, that he was dust (earth). Gen. 18:27. Now, when the word earth is named, everything is comprised in it, that is earth and takes its origin from the earth. Now Adam and Abraham, who were earth died, and all men who are of the earth, will be able to die; but the earth on which we walk can not die. Nevertheless, both are earth, and both are comprehended in the term earth. Now, when the word God is named, everything is comprised in it, that is God, and all that has its origin from and with God; namely, with the word God, we express Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Now the Scriptures testify, as we have abundantly stated above, that the Son of God became man, so that he was seen, and that he died; but the Father and the Holy Ghost did not die. Nevertheless, God reconciled the world, and purchased his church by his blood; for God was made manifest in the flesh. Read Baruch 4:22. For God is man’s Savior. Read Isaiah 43:11; 1 Tim. 1:15; Tit. 1:4. Now if Christ’s body were of the earth, in which body our propitiation lies, as Peter teaches, that we were healed by his stripes, and Isaiah, that we are healed by his stripes; and Paul, that we are reconciled by his death; then the earth must be our savior, and not God; and John must have spoken falsely, when he said, that the Word, which he called God, became flesh. And before we will believe that Christ’s body is of Mary’s blood, we want to see this assertion pointed out to us in the Scriptures, word for word, and we will say nothing against it: for we must believe as the Scriptures teach us. John 7:38. And if any one wishes to accept our faith, we will show him word for word where this is written, namely, that the Word became flesh. Farewell. Read with the understanding.