the great controversy-第25章

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his　own　groundthe　traditions　and　teachings　of　the　churchand　utterly
overthrew　his　assumptions。

When　the　prelate　saw　that　Luther's　reasoning　was　unanswerable；　he　lost　all
self…control；　and　in　a　rage　cried　out：　〃Retract！　or　I　will　send　you　to　Rome；
there　to　appear　before　the　judges　commissioned　to　take　cognizance　of　your
cause。　I　will　excommunicate　you　and　all　your　partisans；　and　all

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who　shall　at　any　time　countenance　you；　and　will　cast　them　out　of　the
church。〃　And　he　finally　declared；　in　a　haughty　and　angry　tone：　〃Retract；　or
return　no　more。〃D'Aubigne；　London　ed。；　b。　4；　ch。　8。

The　Reformer　promptly　withdrew　with　his　friends；　thus　declaring　plainly　that
no　retraction　was　to　be　expected　from　him。　This　was　not　what　the　cardinal
had　purposed。　He　had　flattered　himself　that　by　violence　he　could　awe　Luther
to　submission。　Now；　left　alone　with　his　supporters；　he　looked　from　one　to
another　in　utter　chagrin　at　the　unexpected　failure　of　his　schemes。

Luther's　efforts　on　this　occasion　were　not　without　good　results。　The　large
assembly　present　had　opportunity　to　compare　the　two　men；　and　to　judge　for
themselves　of　the　spirit　manifested　by　them；　as　well　as　of　the　strength　and
truthfulness　of　their　positions。　How　marked　the　contrast！　The　Reformer；
simple；　humble；　firm；　stood　up　in　the　strength　of　God；　having　truth　on　his
side；　the　pope's　representative；　self…important；　overbearing；　haughty；　and
unreasonable；　was　without　a　single　argument　from　the　Scriptures；　yet
vehemently　crying：　〃Retract；　or　be　sent　to　Rome　for　punishment。〃

Notwithstanding　Luther　had　secured　a　safe…conduct；　the　Romanists　were
plotting　to　seize　and　imprison　him。　His　friends　urged　that　as　it　was　useless
for　him　to　prolong　his　stay；　he　should　return　to　Wittenberg　without　delay；
and　that　the　utmost　caution　should　be　observed　in　order　to　conceal　his
intentions。　He　accordingly　left　Augsburg　before　day…break；　on　horseback；
accompanied　only　by　a　guide　furnished　him　by　the　magistrate。　With　many
forebodings　he　secretly　made　his　way　through　the　dark　and　silent　streets　of
the　city。　Enemies；　vigilant　and　cruel；　were　plotting　his　destruction。　Would
he　escape　the　snares　prepared　for　him？　Those　were　moments　of　anxiety　and
earnest　prayer。　He　reached　a　small　gate　in　the　wall　of　the　city。　It　was
opened　for　him；　and　with　his　guide　he　passed　through　without　hindrance。　Once
safely　outside；　the　fugitives　hastened　their　flight；　and　before

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the　legate　learned　of　Luther's　departure；　he　was　beyond　the　reach　of　his
persecutors。　Satan　and　his　emissaries　were　defeated。　The　man　whom　they　had
thought　in　their　power　was　gone；　escaped　as　a　bird　from　the　snare　of　the
fowler。

At　the　news　of　Luther's　escape　the　legate　was　overwhelmed　with　surprise　and
anger。　He　had　expected　to　receive　great　honor　for　his　wisdom　and　firmness　in
dealing　with　this　disturber　of　the　church；　but　his　hope　was　disappointed。　He
gave　expression　to　his　wrath　in　a　letter　to　Frederick；　the　elector　of
Saxony；　bitterly　denouncing　Luther　and　demanding　that　Frederick　send　the
Reformer　to　Rome　or　banish　him　from　Saxony。

In　defense；　Luther　urged　that　the　legate　or　the　pope　show　him　his　errors
from　the　Scriptures；　and　pledged　himself　in　the　most　solemn　manner　to
renounce　his　doctrines　if　they　could　be　shown　to　contradict　the　word　of　God。
And　he　expressed　his　gratitude　to　God　that　he　had　been　counted　worthy　to
suffer　in　so　holy　a　cause。

The　elector　had；　as　yet；　little　knowledge　of　the　reformed　doctrines；　but　he
was　deeply　impressed　by　the　candor；　force；　and　clearness　of　Luther's　words；
and　until　the　Reformer　should　be　proved　to　be　in　error；　Frederick　resolved
to　stand　as　his　protector。　In　reply　to　the　legate's　demand　he　wrote：　〃Since
Dr。　Martin　has　appeared　before　you　at　Augsburg；　you　should　be　satisfied。　We
did　not　expect　that　you　would　endeavor　to　make　him　retract　without　having
convinced　him　of　his　errors。　None　of　the　learned　men　in　our　principality
have　informed　me　that　Martin's　doctrine　is　impious；　anti…christian；　or
heretical。'　The　prince　refused；　moreover；　to　send　Luther　to　Rome；　or　to
expel　him　from　his　states。〃　D'Aubigne；　b。　4；　ch。　10。

The　elector　saw　that　there　was　a　general　breaking　down　of　the　moral
restraints　of　society。　A　great　work　of　reform　was　needed。　The　complicated
and　expensive　arrangements　to　restrain　and　punish　crime　would　be　unnecessary
if　men　but　acknowledged　and　obeyed　the　requirements　of　God　and　the　dictates
of　an　enlightened　conscience。　He　saw　that

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Luther　was　laboring　to　secure　this　object；　and　he　secretly　rejoiced　that　a
better　influence　was　making　itself　felt　in　the　church。

He　saw　also　that　as　a　professor　in　the　university　Luther　was　eminently
successful。　Only　a　year　had　passed　since　the　Reformer　posted　his　theses　on
the　castle　church；　yet　there　was　already　a　great　falling　off　in　the　number
of　pilgrims　that　visited　the　church　at　the　festival　of　All　Saints。　Rome　had
been　deprived　of　worshipers　and　offerings；　but　their　place　was　filled　by
another　class；　who　now　came　to　Wittenberg；　not　pilgrims　to　adore　her　relics；
but　students　to　fill　her　halls　of　learning。　The　writings　of　Luther　had
kindled　everywhere　a　new　interest　in　the　Holy　Scriptures；　and　not　only　from
all　parts　of　Germany；　but　from　other　lands；　students　flocked　to　the
university。　Young　men；　coming　in　sight　of　Wittenberg　for　the　first　time；
〃raised　their　hands　to　heaven；　and　praised　God　for　having　caused　the　light
of　truth　to　shine　forth　from　this　city；　as　from　Zion　in　times　of　old；　and
whence　it　spread　even　to　the　most　distant　countries。〃Ibid。；　b。　4；　ch。　10。

Luther　was　as　yet　but　partially　converted　from　the　errors　of　Romanism。　But
as　he　compared　the　Holy　Oracles　with　the　papal　decrees　and　constitutions；　he
was　filled　with　wonder。　〃I　am　reading；〃　he　wrote；　〃the　decrees　of　the
pontiffs；　and　。　。　。　I　do　not　know　whether　the　pope　is　antichrist　himself；　or
his　apostle；　so　greatly　is　Christ　misrepresented　and　crucified　in
them。〃Ibid。；　b。　5；　ch。　1。　Yet　at　this　time　Luther　was　still　a　supporter　of
the　Roman　Church；　and　had　no　thought　that　he　would　ever　separate　from　her
communion。

The　Reformer's　writings　and　his　doctrine　were　extending　to　every　nation　in
Christendom。　The　work　spread　to　Switzerland　and　Holland。　Copies　of　his
writings　found　their　way　to　France　and　Spain。　In　England　his　teachings　were
received　as　the　word　of　life。　To　Belgium　and　Italy　also　the　truth　had
extended。　Thousands　were　awakening　from　their　deathlike　stupor　to　the　joy
and　hope　of　a　life　of　faith。

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Rome　became　more　and　more　exasperated　by　the　attacks　of　Luther；　and　it　was
declared　by　some　of　his　fanatical　opponents；　even　by　doctors　in　Catholic
universities；　that　he　who　should　kill　the　rebellious　monk　would　be　without
sin。　One　day　a　stranger；　with　a　pistol　hidden　under　his　cloak；　approached
the　Reformer　and　inquired　why　he　went　thus　alone。　〃I　am　in　God's　hands；〃
answered　Luther。　〃He　is　my　strength　and　my　shield。　What　can　man　do　unto
me？〃Ibid。；　b。　6；　ch。
2。　Upon　hearing　these　words；　the　stranger　turned　pale　and
fled　away　as　from　the　presence　of　the　angels　of　heaven。

Rome　was　bent　upon　the　destruction　of　Luther；　but　God　was　his　defense。　His
doctrines　were　heard　everywhere〃in　cottages　and　convents；　。　。　。　in　the
castles　of　the　nobles；　in　the　universities；　and　in　the　palaces　of　kings；〃
and　noble　men　were　rising　on　every　hand　to　sustain　his　efforts。Ibid。；　b。
6；　ch。　2。

It　was　about　this　time　that　Luther；　reading　the　works　of　Huss；　found　that
the　great　truth　of　justification　by　faith；　which　he　himself　was　seeking　to
uphold　and　teach；　had　been　held　by　the　Bohemian　Reformer。　〃We　have　all；〃
said　Luther；　〃Paul；　Augustine；　and　myself；　been　Hussites　without　knowing
it！〃　〃God　will　surely　visit　it　upon　the　world；〃　he　continued；　〃that　the
truth　was　preached　to　it　a　century　ago；　and　burned！〃Wylie；　b。　6。　ch。　1

In　an　appeal　to　the　emperor　and　nobility　of　Germany　in　behalf　of　the
reformation　of　Christianity；　Luther　wrote　concerning　the　pope：　〃It　is　a
horrible　thing　to　behold　the　man　who　styles　himself　Christ's　vicegerent；
displaying　a　magnificence　that　no　emperor　can　equal。　Is　this　being　like　the
poor　Jesus；　or　the　humble　Peter？　He　is；　say　they；　the　lord　of　the　world！　But
Christ；　whose　vicar　he　boasts　of　being；　has　said；　'My　kingdom　is　not　of　this
world。'　Can　the　dominions　of　a　vicar　extend　beyond　those　of　his　superior？〃
D'Aubigne；　b。　6；　ch。　3。

He　wrote　thus　of　the　universities：　〃I　am　much　afraid　that　the　universities
will　prove　to　be　the　great　gates　of　hell；

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unless　they　diligently　labor　in　explaining　the　Holy　Scriptures；　and
engraving　them　in　the　hearts　of　youth。　I　advise　no　one　to　place　his　child
where　the　Scriptures　do　not　reign　paramount。　Every　institution　in　which　men
are　not　unceasingly　occupied　with　the　word　of　God　must　become　corrupt。〃
Ibid。；　b。　6；　ch。　3。

This　appeal　was　rapidly　circulated　throughout　Germany　and　exerted　a　powerful
influence　upon　the　people。　The　whole　nation　was　stirred；　and　multitudes　were
roused　to　rally　around　the　standard　of　reform。　Luther's　opponents；　burning
with　a　desire　for　revenge；　urged　the　pope　to　take　decisive　measures　against
him。　It　was　decreed　that　his　doctrines　should　be　immediately　condemned。
Sixty　days　were　granted　the　Reformer　and　his　adherents；　after　which；　if　they
did　not　recant；　they　were　all　to　be　excommunicated。

That　was　a　terrible　crisis　for　the　Reformation。　For　centuries　Rome's
sentence　of　excommunication　had　struck　terror　to　powerful　monarchs；　it　had
filled　mighty　empires　with　woe　and　desolation。　Those　upon　whom　its
condemnation　fell　were　universally　regarded　with　dread　and　horror；　they　were
cut　off　from　intercourse　with　their　fellows　and　treated　as　outlaws；　to　be
hunted　to　extermination。　Luther　was　not　blind　to　the　tempest　about　to　burst
upon　him；　but　he　stood　firm；　trusting　in　Christ　to　be　his　support　and
shield。　With　a　martyr's　faith　and　courage　he　wrote：　〃What　is　about　to　happen
I　know　not；　nor　do　I　care　to　know。　。　。　。　Let　the　blow　light　where　it　may；　I
am　without　fear。　Not　so　much　as　a　leaf　falls；　without　the　will　of　our
Father。　How　much　rather　will　He　care　for　us！　It　is　a　light　thing　to　die　for
the　Word；　since　the　Word　which　was　made　flesh　hath　Himself　died。　If　we　die
with　Him；　we　shall　live　with　Him；　and　passing　through　that　which　He　has
passed　through　before　us；　we　shall　be　where　He　is　and　dwell　with　Him
forever。〃Ibid。；
3d　London　ed。；　Walther；　1840；　b。　6；　ch。　9。

When　the　papal　bull　reached　Luther；　he　said：　〃I　despise　and　attack　it；　as
impious；　false。　。　。　。　It　is　Christ　Himself　who

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is　condemned　therein。　。　。　。　I　rejoice　in　having　to　bear　such　ills　for　the
best　of　causes。　Already　I　feel　greater　liberty　in　my　heart；　for　at　last　I
know　that　the　pope　is　antichrist；　and　that　his　throne　is　that　of　Satan
himself。〃D'Aubigne；　b。　6；　ch。　9。

Yet　the　mandate　of　Rome　was　not　without　effect。　Prison；　torture；　and　sword
were　weapons　potent　to　enforce　obedience。　The　weak　and　superstitious
trembled　before　the　decree　of　the　pope；　and　while　there　was　general　s