Master Bernard, however, evaded his obligation by holding meetings in private houses at night, to which his followers were summoned by the discharge of a gun.[123] Considering that it was now necessary that his adherents should have their articles of belief, or rather of disbelief, as a bond of union and of distinction between themselves and the Lutherans, he drew up a profession of faith in nineteen articles. That which he had published nine months before was antiquated, and represented the creed of the Lutheran faction, against which he was now at variance. [123] Kerssenbroeck, p. 453 _et seq._ This second creed contained the following propositions:-- The baptism of children is abominable before God. The habitual ceremonies used at baptism are the work of the devil and of the Pope, who is Antichrist. The consecrated Host is the great Baal. A Christian (that is, a member of Rottmann's sect) does not set foot in the religious assemblies of the impious (_i.e._, of the Catholics and Lutherans). He holds no communication and has no relations with them; he is not bound to obey their authorities; he has nothing in common with their tribunals; nor does he unite with them in marriage. The Sabbath was instituted by the Lord God, and there is no scriptural warrant for transferring the obligation to the Sunday. Papists and Lutherans are to be regarded as equally infamous, and those who give faith to the inventions of priests are veritable pagans. During fourteen centuries there have been no true Christians. Christ was the last priest; the apostles did not enjoy the priestly office. Jesus Christ did not derive His human nature from Mary.[124] [124] This is corroborated by the Acta, Handlungen, &c., fol. 385. "_The Preachers_: Do you believe that Christ received His flesh off the flesh of Mary, by the operation of the Holy Ghost? _John of Leyden_: No; such is not the teaching of Scripture." And he explained that if the flesh had been taken from Mary, it must have been sinful, for she was not immaculate. Every marriage concluded before re-baptism is invalid. Faith in Christ must precede baptism. Wives shall call their husbands lords. Usury is forbidden. The faithful shall possess all things in common. The publication of this formulary of faith, if such it may be called, which is a string of negative propositions, increased the alarm of the more sober citizens, who, feeling the insecurity of property and life under a powerless magistracy, prepared to leave the town. Many fled and left their Lutheranism behind them. Lening, one of the preachers sent by the Landgrave of Hesse, ran away. Fabricius had more courage. He preached energetically against Rottmann, assisted by Dr. Johann Westermann, a Lutheran theologian of Lippe.[125] [125] Kerssenbroeck, p. 456; Sleidan, p. 411.