the great controversy-第26章

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were　weapons　potent　to　enforce　obedience。　The　weak　and　superstitious
trembled　before　the　decree　of　the　pope；　and　while　there　was　general　sympathy
for　Luther；　many　felt　that　life　was　too　dear　to　be　risked　in　the　cause　of
reform。　Everything　seemed　to　indicate　that　the　Reformer's　work　was　about　to
close。

But　Luther　was　fearless　still。　Rome　had　hurled　her　anathemas　against　him；
and　the　world　looked　on；　nothing　doubting　that　he　would　perish　or　be　forced
to　yield。　But　with　terrible　power　he　flung　back　upon　herself　the　sentence　of
condemnation　and　publicly　declared　his　determination　to　abandon　her　forever。
In　the　presence　of　a　crowd　of　students；　doctors；　and　citizens　of　all　ranks
Luther　burned　the　pope's　bull；　with　the　canon　laws；　the　decretals；　and
certain　writings　sustaining　the　papal　power。　〃My　enemies　have　been　able；　by
burning　my　books；〃　he　said；　〃to　injure　the　cause　of　truth　in　the　minds　of
the　common　people；　and　destroy　their　souls；　for　this　reason　I　consumed　their
books　in　return。　A　serious　struggle　has　just　begun。　Hitherto　I　have　been
only　playing　with　the　pope。　I　began　this　work　in　God's　name；　it　will　be
ended　without　me；　and　by　His　might。〃　Ibid。；　b。　6；　ch。　10。

To　the　reproaches　of　his　enemies　who　taunted　him　with　the　weakness　of　his
cause；　Luther　answered：　〃Who　knows　if　God　has　not　chosen　and　called　me；　and
if　they　ought　not　to　fear　that；　by　despising　me；　they　despise　God　Himself？
Moses　was　alone　at　the　departure　from　Egypt；　Elijah　was　alone　in　the　reign
of　King　Ahab；　Isaiah　alone　in　Jerusalem；　Ezekiel　alone　in　Babylon。　。　。　。　God
never　selected　as　a　prophet　either　the　high　priest　or　any　other　great
personage；　but　ordinarily　He　chose　low　and　despised　men；　once　even

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　143

the　shepherd　Amos。　In　every　age；　the　saints　have　had　to　reprove　the　great；
kings；　princes；　priests；　and　wise　men；　at　the　peril　of　their　lives。　。　。　。　I
do　not　say　that　I　am　a　prophet；　but　I　say　that　they　ought　to　fear　precisely
because　I　am　alone　and　that　they　are　many。　I　am　sure　of　this；　that　the　word
of　God　is　with　me；　and　that　it　is　not　with　them。〃Ibid。；　b。　6；　ch。　10。

Yet　it　was　not　without　a　terrible　struggle　with　himself　that　Luther　decided
upon　a　final　separation　from　the　church。　It　was　about　this　time　that　he
wrote：　〃I　feel　more　and　more　every　day　how　difficult　it　is　to　lay　aside　the
scruples　which　one　has　imbibed　in　childhood。　Oh；　how　much　pain　it　has　caused
me；　though　I　had　the　Scriptures　on　my　side；　to　justify　it　to　myself　that　I
should　dare　to　make　a　stand　alone　against　the　pope；　and　hold　him　forth　as
antichrist！　What　have　the　tribulations　of　my　heart　not　been！　How　many　times
have　I　not　asked　myself　with　bitterness　that　question　which　was　so　frequent
on　the　lips　of　the　papists：　'Art　thou　alone　wise？　Can　everyone　else　be
mistaken？　How　will　it　be；　if；　after　all；　it　is　thyself　who　art　wrong；　and
who　art　involving　in　thy　error　so　many　souls；　who　will　then　be　eternally
damned？'　'Twas　so　I　fought　with　myself　and　with　Satan；　till　Christ；　by　His
own　infallible　word；　fortified　my　heart　against　these　doubts。〃Martyn；
pages　372；　373。

The　pope　had　threatened　Luther　with　excommunication　if　he　did　not　recant；
and　the　threat　was　now　fulfilled。　A　new　bull　appeared；　declaring　the
Reformer's　final　separation　from　the　Roman　Church；　denouncing　him　as
accursed　of　Heaven；　and　including　in　the　same　condemnation　all　who　should
receive　his　doctrines。　The　great　contest　had　been　fully　entered　upon。

Opposition　is　the　lot　of　all　whom　God　employs　to　present　truths　specially
applicable　to　their　time。　There　was　a　present　truth　in　the　days　of
Luther；a　truth　at　that　time　of　special　importance；　there　is　a　present
truth　for　the　church　today。

144

He　who　does　all　things　according　to　the　counsel　of　His　will　has　been　pleased
to　place　men　under　various　circumstances　and　to　enjoin　upon　them　duties
peculiar　to　the　times　in　which　they　live　and　the　conditions　under　which　they
are　placed。　If　they　would　prize　the　light　given　them；　broader　views　of　truth
would　be　opened　before　them。　But　truth　is　no　more　desired　by　the　majority
today　than　it　was　by　the　papists　who　opposed　Luther。　There　is　the　same
disposition　to　accept　the　theories　and　traditions　of　men　instead　of　the　word
of　God　as　in　former　ages。　Those　who　present　the　truth　for　this　time　should
not　expect　to　be　received　with　greater　favor　than　were　earlier　reformers。
The　great　controversy　between　truth　and　error；　between　Christ　and　Satan；　is
to　increase　in　intensity　to　the　close　of　this　world's　history。

Said　Jesus　to　His　disciples：　〃If　ye　were　of　the　world；　the　world　would　love
his　own：　but　because　ye　are　not　of　the　world；　but　I　have　chosen　you　out　of
the　world；　therefore　the　world　hateth　you。　Remember　the　word　that　I　said
unto　you；　The　servant　is　not　greater　than　his　Lord。　If　they　have　persecuted
Me；　they　will　also　persecute　you；　if　they　have　kept　My　saying；　they　will
keep　yours　also。〃　John　15：19；　20。　And　on　the　other　hand　our　Lord　declared
plainly：　〃Woe　unto　you；　when　all　men　shall　speak　well　of　you！　for　so　did
their　fathers　to　the　false　prophets。〃　Luke　6：26。　The　spirit　of　the　world　is
no　more　in　harmony　with　the　spirit　of　Christ　today　than　in　earlier　times；
and　those　who　preach　the　word　of　God　in　its　purity　will　be　received　with　no
greater　favor　now　than　then。　The　forms　of　opposition　to　the　truth　may
change；　the　enmity　may　be　less　open　because　it　is　more　subtle；　but　the　same
antagonism　still　exists　and　will　be　manifested　to　the　end　of　time。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　（145）

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　8

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Luther　Before　the　Diet


A　new　emperor；　Charles　V；　had　ascended　the　throne　of　Germany；　and　the
emissaries　of　Rome　hastened　to　present　their　congratulations　and　induce　the
monarch　to　employ　his　power　against　the　Reformation。　On　the　other　hand；　the
elector　of　Saxony；　to　whom　Charles　was　in　great　degree　indebted　for　his
crown；　entreated　him　to　take　no　step　against　Luther　until　he　should　have
granted　him　a　hearing。　The　emperor　was　thus　placed　in　a　position　of　great
perplexity　and　embarrassment。　The　papists　would　be　satisfied　with　nothing
short　of　an　imperial　edict　sentencing　Luther　to　death。　The　elector　had
declared　firmly　that　〃neither　his　imperial　majesty　nor　any　other　person　had
shown　that　Luther's　writings　had　been　refuted；〃　therefore　he　requested　〃that
Dr。　Luther　should　be　furnished　with　a　safe…conduct；　so　that　he　might　appear
before　a　tribunal　of　learned；　pious；　and　impartial　judges。〃D'Aubigne；　b。
6；　ch。　11。

The　attention　of　all　parties　was　now　directed　to　the　assembly　of　the　German
states　which　convened　at　Worms　soon　after　the　accession　of　Charles　to　the
empire。　There　were　important　political　questions　and　interests　to　be
considered　by　this　national　council；　for　the　first　time　the　princes　of
Germany　were　to　meet　their　youthful　monarch　in　deliberative　assembly。　From
all　parts　of　the　fatherland　had　come　the　dignitaries　of　church　and　state。
Secular　lords；　highborn；　powerful；　and　jealous　of　their　hereditary　rights；
princely

146

ecclesiastics；　flushed　with　their　conscious　superiority　in　rank　and　power；
courtly　knights　and　their　armed　retainers；　and　ambassadors　from　foreign　and
distant　lands；all　gathered　at　Worms。　Yet　in　that　vast　assembly　the　subject
that　excited　the　deepest　interest　was　the　cause　of　the　Saxon　Reformer。

Charles　had　previously　directed　the　elector　to　bring　Luther　with　him　to　the
Diet；　assuring　him　of　protection；　and　promising　a　free　discussion；　with
competent　persons；　of　the　questions　in　dispute。　Luther　was　anxious　to　appear
before　the　emperor。　His　health　was　at　this　time　much　impaired；　yet　he　wrote
to　the　elector：　〃If　I　cannot　go　to　Worms　in　good　health；　I　will　be　carried
there；　sick　as　I　am。　For　if　the　emperor　calls　me；　I　cannot　doubt　that　it　is
the　call　of　God　Himself。　If　they　desire　to　use　violence　against　me；　and　that
is　very　probable　（for　it　is　not　for　their　instruction　that　they　order　me　to
appear）；　I　place　the　matter　in　the　Lord's　hands。　He　still　lives　and　reigns
who　preserved　the　three　young　men　in　the　burning　fiery　furnace。　If　He　will
not　save　me；　my　life　is　of　little　consequence。　Let　us　only　prevent　the
gospel　from　being　exposed　to　the　scorn　of　the　wicked；　and　let　us　shed　our
blood　for　it；　for　fear　they　should　triumph。　It　is　not　for　me　to　decide
whether　my　life　or　my　death　will　contribute　most　to　the　salvation　of　all。　。
。　。　You　may　expect　everything　from　me。　。　。　except　flight　and　recantation。
Fly　I　cannot；　and　still　less　retract。〃Ibid。；　b。　7；　ch。　1。

As　the　news　was　circulated　at　Worms　that　Luther　was　to　appear　before　the
Diet；　a　general　excitement　was　created。　Aleander；　the　papal　legate　to　whom
the　case　had　been　specially　entrusted；　was　alarmed　and　enraged。　He　saw　that
the　result　would　be　disastrous　to　the　papal　cause。　To　institute　inquiry　into
a　case　in　which　the　pope　had　already　pronounced　sentence　of　condemnation
would　be　to　cast　contempt　upon　the　authority　of　the　sovereign　pontiff。
Furthermore；　he　was　apprehensive　that　the　eloquent　and　powerful　arguments　of
this　man　might　turn　away　many　of　the　princes　from　the　cause　of　the　pope。　He
therefore；　in　the　most

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　147

urgent　manner；　remonstrated　with　Charles　against　Luther's　appearance　at
Worms。　About　this　time　the　bull　declaring　Luther's　excommunication　was
published；　and　this；　coupled　with　the　representations　of　the　legate；　induced
the　emperor　to　yield。　He　wrote　to　the　elector　that　if　Luther　would　not
retract；　he　must　remain　at　Wittenberg。

Not　content　with　this　victory；　Aleander　labored　with　all　the　power　and
cunning　at　his　command　to　secure　Luther's　condemnation。　With　a　persistence
worthy　of　a　better　cause；　he　urged　the　matter　upon　the　attention　of　princes；
prelates；　and　other　members　of　the　assembly；　accusing　the　Reformer　of
〃sedition；　rebellion；　impiety；　and　blasphemy。〃　But　the　vehemence　and　passion
manifested　by　the　legate　revealed　too　plainly　the　spirit　by　which　he　was
actuated。　〃He　is　moved　by　hatred　and　vengeance；〃　was　the　general　remark；
〃much　more　than　by　zeal　and　piety。〃Ibid。；　b。　7；　ch。　1。　The　majority　of　the
Diet　were　more　than　ever　inclined　to　regard　Luther's　cause　with　favor。

With　redoubled　zeal　Aleander　urged　upon　the　emperor　the　duty　of　executing
the　papal　edicts。　But　under　the　laws　of　Germany　this　could　not　be　done
without　the　concurrence　of　the　princes；　and；　overcome　at　last　by　the
legate's　importunity；　Charles　bade　him　present　his　case　to　the　Diet。　〃It　was
a　proud　day　for　the　nuncio。　The　assembly　was　a　great　one：　the　cause　was　even
greater。　Aleander　was　to　plead　for　Rome；　。　。　。　the　mother　and　mistress　of
all　churches。〃　He　was　to　vindicate　the　princedom　of　Peter　before　the
assembled　principalities　of　Christendom。　〃He　had　the　gift　of　eloquence；　and
he　rose　to　the　greatness　of　the　occasion。　Providence　ordered　it　that　Rome
should　appear　and　plead　by　the　ablest　of　her　orators　in　the　presence　of　the
most　august　of　tribunals；　before　she　was　condemned。〃　Wylie；　b。　6；　ch。　4。
With　some　misgivings　those　who　favored　the　Reformer　looked　forward　to　the
effect　of　Ale