# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_Februar 1858_S51
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Menius and Flacius in Their Dispute over Ministry and Priesthood. 51

"But to come closer to the matter: it is a praiseworthy and Christian custom that in case of necessity women too may baptize. Likewise, Dr. Martinus, of blessed memory, has abundantly proven — in "De Captivitate Babylonica," in the little book "Of the Three Walls of the Papacy," likewise "On the Epistle of St. Peter," and in the little book "De instituendis ministris" — that all Christians are true priests, that they too may use the keys, and judge all doctrine, etc. Yet all this is to be understood in terms of great and extreme necessity, and provided that no disorder or destruction occur in the Church; for everything must indeed serve edification."

"I have done nothing more than that, in such great and perilous necessity, at my own great peril, I have confessed the truth in writing and proven it from Scripture, and in turn rebuked and refuted falsehood, and admonished the people to persevere in the truth and to avoid lies and errors."

"This many an unconsecrated or unordained person has done in former times as well as in our own, etc."

"I know nothing else — though I do not wish to argue the point — than that Philip too was at first called solely to the lectureship in Greek*), for which reason the citizens and peasants of Wittenberg also called him 'the Greek'; and yet he also began to lecture on theology, indeed even to ordain preachers, though he himself was never ordained to church ministry — which, to be sure, is not customary in other churches."

"It is easy enough now for Menius to cry out and write about the calling; but in the time of the Interim and of Adiaphorism, there was scarcely anyone — however solemnly consecrated and anointed, however skilled or however highly learned — who was willing to confess God's truth plainly, to condemn and refute the various Interims, and patiently to suffer for it, etc."

So it is necessity, then, which can occasion one's taking up teaching and admonition from God's Word; but the inner impulse, the right, and the power in such a case is given by one's belonging to Christ — the priestly dignity of Christians.

"First, all Christians renounce, in baptism, the devil and all his works, and in turn give and bind themselves to Christ, that they will serve him alone, seek his honor and their neighbor's welfare as best they ever can, and that they will fight and contend most vehemently for Christ's honor against the devil and all his power."

"Yes, says Menius, baptism does not entail that you should exalt yourself above all churches and preachers and govern and reform them at your own pleasure.

*) Melanchthon was not appointed Bachelor of Theology until September 19, 1519, and admitted as such into the theological faculty. But already during the preceding year he lectured on the Epistle to Titus. See Matthes, Ph. Melanchthon, p. 35.