the great controversy-第24章

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confident　that　the　leaders　of　the　people；　both　in　the　church　and　in　the
schools；　would　gladly　unite　with　him　in　efforts　for　reform。　Words　of
encouragement　from　those　in　high　position　had　inspired　him　with　joy　and
hope。　Already　in　anticipation　he　had　seen　a　brighter　day　dawning　for　the
church。　But　encouragement　had　changed　to　reproach　and　condemnation。　Many
dignitaries；　of　both　church　and　state；　were　convicted　of　the　truthfulness　of
his　theses；　but　they　soon　saw　that　the　acceptance　of　these　truths　would
involve　great　changes。　To　enlighten　and　reform　the　people　would　be　virtually
to　undermine　the　authority　of　Rome；　to　stop　thousands　of　streams　now　flowing
into　her　treasury；　and　thus　greatly　to　curtail　the　extravagance　and　luxury
of　the　papal　leaders。　Furthermore；　to　teach　the　people　to　think　and　act　as
responsible　beings；　looking　to　Christ　alone　for　salvation；　would　overthrow
the　pontiff's　throne　and　eventually　destroy　their　own　authority。　For　this
reason　they　refused　the　knowledge　tendered　them　of　God　and　arrayed

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themselves　against　Christ　and　the　truth　by　their　opposition　to　the　man　whom
He　had　sent　to　enlighten　them。

Luther　trembled　as　he　looked　upon　himselfone　man　opposed　to　the　mightiest
powers　of　earth。　He　sometimes　doubted　whether　he　had　indeed　been　led　of　God
to　set　himself　against　the　authority　of　the　church。　〃Who　was　I；〃　he　writes；
〃to　oppose　the　majesty　of　the　pope；　before　whom　。。。　the　kings　of　the　earth
and　the　whole　world　trembled？　。。。　No　one　can　know　what　my　heart　suffered
during　these　first　two　years；　and　into　what　despondency；　I　may　say　into　what
despair；　I　was　sunk。〃Ibid。；　b。　3；　ch。　6。　But　he　was　not　left　to　become
utterly　disheartened。　When　human　support　failed；　he　looked　to　God　alone　and
learned　that　he　could　lean　in　perfect　safety　upon　that　all…powerful　arm。

To　a　friend　of　the　Reformation　Luther　wrote：　〃We　cannot　attain　to　the
understanding　of　Scripture　either　by　study　or　by　the　intellect。　Your　first
duty　is　to　begin　by　prayer。　Entreat　the　Lord　to　grant　you；　of　His　great
mercy；　the　true　understanding　of　His　word。　There　is　no　other　interpreter　of
the　word　of　God　than　the　Author　of　this　word；　as　He　Himself　has　said；　'They
shall　be　all　taught　of　God。'　Hope　for　nothing　from　your　own　labors；　from
your　own　understanding：　trust　solely　in　God；　and　in　the　influence　of　His
Spirit。　Believe　this　on　the　word　of　a　man　who　has　had　experience。〃Ibid。；
b。　3；　ch。　7。　Here　is　a　lesson　of　vital　importance　to　those　who　feel　that　God
has　called　them　to　present　to　others　the　solemn　truths　for　this　time。　These
truths　will　stir　the　enmity　of　Satan　and　of　men　who　love　the　fables　that　he
has　devised。　In　the　conflict　with　the　powers　of　evil　there　is　need　of
something　more　than　strength　of　intellect　and　human　wisdom。

When　enemies　appealed　to　custom　and　tradition；　or　to　the　assertions　and
authority　of　the　pope；　Luther　met　them　with　the　Bible　and　the　Bible　only。
Here　were　arguments　which　they　could　not　answer；　therefore　the　slaves　of
formalism　and　superstition　clamored　for　his　blood；　as　the　Jews　had　clamored
for　the　blood　of　Christ。　〃He　is　a　heretic；〃

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cried　the　Roman　zealots。　〃It　is　high　treason　against　the　church　to　allow　so
horrible　a　heretic　to　live　one　hour　longer。　Let　the　scaffold　be　instantly
erected　for　him！〃Ibid。；　b。　3；　ch。　9。　But　Luther　did　not　fall　a　prey　to
their　fury。　God　had　a　work　for　him　to　do；　and　angels　of　heaven　were　sent　to
protect　him。　Many；　however；　who　had　received　from　Luther　the　precious　light
were　made　the　objects　of　Satan's　wrath　and　for　the　truth's　sake　fearlessly
suffered　torture　and　death。

Luther's　teachings　attracted　the　attention　of　thoughtful　minds　throughout
all　Germany。　From　his　sermons　and　writings　issued　beams　of　light　which
awakened　and　illuminated　thousands。　A　living　faith　was　taking　the　place　of
the　dead　formalism　in　which　the　church　had　so　long　been　held。　The　people
were　daily　losing　confidence　in　the　superstitions　of　Romanism。　The　barriers
of　prejudice　were　giving　way。　The　word　of　God；　by　which　Luther　tested　every
doctrine　and　every　claim；　was　like　a　two…edged　sword；　cutting　its　way　to　the
hearts　of　the　people。　Everywhere　there　was　awakening　a　desire　for　spiritual
progress。　Everywhere　was　such　a　hungering　and　thirsting　after　righteousness
as　had　not　been　known　for　ages。　The　eyes　of　the　people；　so　long　directed　to
human　rites　and　earthly　mediators；　were　now　turning　in　penitence　and　faith
to　Christ　and　Him　crucified。

This　widespread　interest　aroused　still　further　the　fears　of　the　papal
authorities。　Luther　received　a　summons　to　appear　at　Rome　to　answer　to　the
charge　of　heresy。　The　command　filled　his　friends　with　terror。　They　knew　full
well　the　danger　that　threatened　him　in　that　corrupt　city；　already　drunk　with
the　blood　of　the　martyrs　of　Jesus。　They　protested　against　his　going　to　Rome
and　requested　that　he　receive　his　examination　in　Germany。

This　arrangement　was　finally　effected；　and　the　pope's　legate　was　appointed
to　hear　the　case。　In　the　instructions　communicated　by　the　pontiff　to　this
official；　it　was　stated　that　Luther　had　already　been　declared　a　heretic。　The
legate　was　therefore　charged　〃to　prosecute　and　constrain　without

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any　delay。〃　If　he　should　remain　steadfast；　and　the　legate　should　fail　to
gain　possession　of　his　person；　he　was　empowered　〃to　proscribe　him　in　every
part　of　Germany；　to　banish；　curse；　and　excommunicate　all　those　who　are
attached　to　him。〃Ibid。；　b。　4；　ch。　2。　And；　further；　the　pope　directed　his
legate；　in　order　entirely　to　root　out　the　pestilent　heresy；　to　excommunicate
all；　of　whatever　dignity　in　church　or　state；　except　the　emperor；　who　should
neglect　to　seize　Luther　and　his　adherents；　and　deliver　them　up　to　the
vengeance　of　Rome。

Here　is　displayed　the　true　spirit　of　popery。　Not　a　trace　of　Christian
principle；　or　even　of　common　justice；　is　to　be　seen　in　the　whole　document。
Luther　was　at　a　great　distance　from　Rome；　he　had　had　no　opportunity　to
explain　or　defend　his　position；　yet　before　his　case　had　been　investigated；
he　was　summarily　pronounced　a　heretic；　and　in　the　same　day；　exhorted；
accused；　judged；　and　condemned；　and　all　this　by　the　self…styled　holy　father；
the　only　supreme；　infallible　authority　in　church　or　state！

At　this　time；　when　Luther　so　much　needed　the　sympathy　and　counsel　of　a　true
friend；　God's　providence　sent　Melanchthon　to　Wittenberg。　Young　in　years；
modest　and　diffident　in　his　manners；　Melanchthon's　sound　judgment；　extensive
knowledge；　and　winning　eloquence；　combined　with　the　purity　and　uprightness
of　his　character；　won　universal　admiration　and　esteem。　The　brilliancy　of　his
talents　was　not　more　marked　than　his　gentleness　of　disposition。　He　soon
became　an　earnest　disciple　of　the　gospel；　and　Luther's　most　trusted　friend
and　valued　supporter；　his　gentleness；　caution；　and　exactness　serving　as　a
complement　to　Luther's　courage　and　energy。　Their　union　in　the　work　added
strength　to　the　Reformation　and　was　a　source　of　great　encouragement　to
Luther。

Augsburg　had　been　fixed　upon　as　the　place　of　trial；　and　the　Reformer　set　out
on　foot　to　perform　the　journey　thither。　Serious　fears　were　entertained　in
his　behalf。　Threats　had　been　made　openly　that　he　would　be　seized　and
murdered　on　the　way；　and　his　friends　begged　him　not　to　venture。　They

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even　entreated　him　to　leave　Wittenberg　for　a　time　and　find　safety　with　those
who　would　gladly　protect　him。　But　he　would　not　leave　the　position　where　God
had　placed　him。　He　must　continue　faithfully　to　maintain　the　truth；
notwithstanding　the　storms　that　were　beating　upon　him。　His　language　was：　〃I
am　like　Jeremiah；　a　man　of　strife　and　contention；　but　the　more　their　threats
increase；　the　more　my　joy　is　multiplied。　。　。　。　They　have　already　destroyed
my　honor　and　my　reputation。　One　single　thing　remains；　it　is　my　wretched
body：　let　them　take　it；　they　will　thus　shorten　my　life　by　a　few　hours。　But
as　for　my　soul；　they　cannot　take　that。　He　who　desires　to　proclaim　the　word
of　Christ　to　the　world；　must　expect　death　at　every　moment。〃Ibid。；　b。　4；
ch。　4。

The　tidings　of　Luther's　arrival　at　Augsburg　gave　great　satisfaction　to　the
papal　legate。　The　troublesome　heretic　who　was　exciting　the　attention　of　the
whole　world　seemed　now　in　the　power　of　Rome；　and　the　legate　determined　that
he　should　not　escape。　The　Reformer　had　failed　to　provide　himself　with　a
safe…conduct。　His　friends　urged　him　not　to　appear　before　the　legate　without
one；　and　they　themselves　undertook　to　procure　it　from　the　emperor。　The
legate　intended　to　force　Luther；　if　possible；　to　retract；　or；　failing　in
this；　to　cause　him　to　be　conveyed　to　Rome；　to　share　the　fate　of　Huss　and
Jerome。　Therefore　through　his　agents　he　endeavored　to　induce　Luther　to
appear　without　a　safe…conduct；　trusting　himself　to　his　mercy。　This　the
Reformer　firmly　declined　to　do。　Not　until　he　had　received　the　document
pledging　him　the　emperor's　protection；　did　he　appear　in　the　presence　of　the
papal　ambassador。

As　a　matter　of　policy；　the　Romanists　had　decided　to　attempt　to　win　Luther　by
an　appearance　of　gentleness。　The　legate；　in　his　interviews　with　him；
professed　great　friendliness；　but　he　demanded　that　Luther　submit　implicitly
to　the　authority　of　the　church；　and　yield　every　point　without　argument　or
question。　He　had　not　rightly　estimated　the　character　of　the　man　with　whom　he
had　to　deal。　Luther；　in　reply；　expressed　his　regard　for　the　church；　his
desire　for

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the　truth；　his　readiness　to　answer　all　objections　to　what　he　had　taught；　and
to　submit　his　doctrines　to　the　decision　of　certain　leading　universities。　But
at　the　same　time　he　protested　against　the　cardinal's　course　in　requiring　him
to　retract　without　having　proved　him　in　error。

The　only　response　was：　〃Retract；　retract！〃　The　Reformer　showed　that　his
position　was　sustained　by　the　Scriptures　and　firmly　declared　that　he　could
not　renounce　the　truth。　The　legate；　unable　to　reply　to　Luther's　arguments；
overwhelmed　him　with　a　storm　of　reproaches；　gibes；　and　flattery；
interspersed　with　quotations　from　tradition　and　the　sayings　of　the　Fathers；
granting　the　Reformer　no　opportunity　to　speak。　Seeing　that　the　conference；
thus　continued；　would　be　utterly　futile；　Luther　finally　obtained　a　reluctant
permission　to　present　his　answer　in　writing。

〃In　so　doing；〃　said　he；　writing　to　a　friend；　〃the　oppressed　find　double
gain；　first；　what　is　written　may　be　submitted　to　the　judgment　of　others；　and
second；　one　has　a　better　chance　of　working　on　the　fears；　if　not　on　the
conscience；　of　an　arrogant　and　babbling　despot；　who　would　otherwise
overpower　by　his　imperious　language。〃Martyn；　The　Life　and　Times　of　Luther；
pages　271；　272。

At　the　next　interview；　Luther　presented　a　clear；　concise；　and　forcible
exposition　of　his　views；　fully　supported　by　many　quotations　from　Scripture。
This　paper；　after　reading　aloud；　he　handed　to　the　cardinal；　who；　however；
cast　it　contemptuously　aside；　declaring　it　to　be　a　mass　of　idle　words　and
irrelevant　quotations。　Luther；　fully　aroused；　now　met　the　haughty　prelate　on
his　own　groundthe　traditions　and　teachings　of　the　churchand　utterly
overthrew　his　ass