the great controversy-第29章

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listen　graciously　to　the　defense　of　a　cause　which　I　am　assured　is　just　and
true。　If；　through　ignorance；　I　should　transgress　the　usages　and　proprieties
of　courts；　I　entreat　you　to　pardon　me；　for　I　was　not　brought　up　in　the
palaces　of　kings；　but　in　the　seclusion　of　a　convent。〃Ibid。；　b。　7；　ch。　8。

Then；　proceeding　to　the　question；　he　stated　that　his　published　works　were
not　all　of　the　same　character。　In　some　he　had　treated　of　faith　and　good
works；　and　even　his　enemies　declared　them　not　only　harmless　but　profitable。
To　retract　these　would　be　to　condemn　truths　which　all　parties　confessed。　The
second　class　consisted　of　writings　exposing　the　corruptions　and　abuses　of
the　papacy。　To　revoke　these　works　would　strengthen　the　tyranny　of　Rome　and
open　a　wider　door　to　many　and　great　impieties。　In　the　third　class　of　his
books　he　had　attacked　individuals　who　had　defended　existing　evils。
Concerning　these　he　freely　confessed　that　he　had　been　more　violent　than　was
becoming。　He　did　not　claim　to　be　free　from　fault；　but　even　these　books　he
could　not　revoke；　for　such　a　course　would　embolden　the　enemies　of　truth；　and
they　would　then　take　occasion　to　crush　God's　people　with　still　greater
cruelty。

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〃Yet　I　am　but　a　mere　man；　and　not　God；〃　he　continued；　〃I　shall　therefore
defend　myself　as　Christ　did：　'If　I　have　spoken　evil；　bear　witness　of　the
evil。'　。　。　。　By　the　mercy　of　God；　I　conjure　you；　most　serene　emperor；　and
you；　most　illustrious　princes；　and　all　men　of　every　degree；　to　prove　from
the　writings　of　the　prophets　and　apostles　that　I　have　erred。　As　soon　as　I　am
convinced　of　this；　I　will　retract　every　error；　and　be　the　first　to　lay　hold
of　my　books　and　throw　them　into　the　fire。

〃What　I　have　just　said　plainly　shows；　I　hope；　that　I　have　carefully　weighed
and　considered　the　dangers　to　which　I　expose　myself；　but　far　from　being
dismayed；　I　rejoice　to　see　that　the　gospel　is　now；　as　in　former　times；　a
cause　of　trouble　and　dissension。　This　is　the　character；　this　is　the　destiny；
of　the　word　of　God。　'I　came　not　to　send　peace　on　earth；　but　a　sword；'　said
Jesus　Christ。　God　is　wonderful　and　terrible　in　His　counsels；　beware　lest；　by
presuming　to　quench　dissensions；　you　should　persecute　the　holy　word　of　God；
and　draw　down　upon　yourselves　a　frightful　deluge　of　insurmountable　dangers；
of　present　disasters；　and　eternal　desolation。　。　。　。　I　might　quote　many
examples　from　the　oracles　of　God。　I　might　speak　of　the　Pharaohs；　the　kings
of　Babylon；　and　those　of　Israel；　whose　labors　never　more　effectually
contributed　to　their　own　destruction　than　when　they　sought　by　counsels；　to
all　appearance　most　wise；　to　strengthen　their　dominion。　'God　removeth
mountains；　and　they　know　it　not。'〃Ibid。；　b。　7；　ch。　8。

Luther　had　spoken　in　German；　he　was　now　requested　to　repeat　the　same　words
in　Latin。　Though　exhausted　by　the　previous　effort；　he　complied；　and　again
delivered　his　speech；　with　the　same　clearness　and　energy　as　at　the　first。
God's　providence　directed　in　this　matter。　The　minds　of　many　of　the　princes
were　so　blinded　by　error　and　superstition　that　at　the　first　delivery　they
did　not　see　the　force　of　Luther's　reasoning；　but　the　repetition　enabled　them
to　perceive　clearly　the　points　presented。

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Those　who　stubbornly　closed　their　eyes　to　the　light；　and　determined　not　to
be　convinced　of　the　truth；　were　enraged　at　the　power　of　Luther's　words。　As
he　ceased　speaking；　the　spokesman　of　the　Diet　said　angrily：　〃You　have　not
answered　the　question　put　to　you。　。　。　。　You　are　required　to　give　a　clear　and
precise　answer。　。　。　。　Will　you；　or　will　you　not；　retract？〃

The　Reformer　answered：　〃Since　your　most　serene　majesty　and　your　high
mightinesses　require　from　me　a　clear；　simple；　and　precise　answer；　I　will
give　you　one；　and　it　is　this：　I　cannot　submit　my　faith　either　to　the　pope　or
to　the　councils；　because　it　is　clear　as　the　day　that　they　have　frequently
erred　and　contradicted　each　other。　Unless　therefore　I　am　convinced　by　the
testimony　of　Scripture　or　by　the　clearest　reasoning；　unless　I　am　persuaded
by　means　of　the　passages　I　have　quoted；　and　unless　they　thus　render　my
conscience　bound　by　the　word　of　God；　I　cannot　and　I　will　not　retract；　for　it
is　unsafe　for　a　Christian　to　speak　against　his　conscience。　Here　I　stand；　I
can　do　no　other；　may　God　help　me。　Amen。〃　Ibid。；　b。　7；　ch。　8。

Thus　stood　this　righteous　man　upon　the　sure　foundation　of　the　word　of　God。
The　light　of　heaven　illuminated　his　countenance。　His　greatness　and　purity　of
character；　his　peace　and　joy　of　heart；　were　manifest　to　all　as　he　testified
against　the　power　of　error　and　witnessed　to　the　superiority　of　that　faith
that　overcomes　the　world。

The　whole　assembly　were　for　a　time　speechless　with　amazement。　At　his　first
answer　Luther　had　spoken　in　a　low　tone；　with　a　respectful；　almost　submissive
bearing。　The　Romanists　had　interpreted　this　as　evidence　that　his　courage　was
beginning　to　fail。　They　regarded　the　request　for　delay　as　merely　the　prelude
to　his　recantation。　Charles　himself；　noting；　half　contemptuously；　the　monk's
worn　frame；　his　plain　attire；　and　the　simplicity　of　his　address；　had
declared：　〃This　monk　will　never　make　a　heretic　of　me。〃　The　courage　and
firmness　which　he　now　displayed；　as　well　as　the　power　and　clearness　of　his
reasoning；　filled　all　parties　with　surprise。

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The　emperor；　moved　to　admiration；　exclaimed：　〃This　monk　speaks　with　an
intrepid　heart　and　unshaken　courage。〃　Many　of　the　German　princes　looked　with
pride　and　joy　upon　this　representative　of　their　nation。

The　partisans　of　Rome　had　been　worsted；　their　cause　appeared　in　a　most
unfavorable　light。　They　sought　to　maintain　their　power；　not　be　appealing　to
the　Scriptures；　but　by　a　resort　to　threats；　Rome's　unfailing　argument。　Said
the　spokesman　of　the　Diet：　〃If　you　do　not　retract；　the　emperor　and　the
states　of　the　empire　will　consult　what　course　to　adopt　against　an
incorrigible　heretic。〃

Luther's　friend；　who　had　with　great　joy　listened　to　his　noble　defense；
trembled　at　these　words；　but　the　doctor　himself　said　calmly：　〃May　God　be　my
helper；　for　I　can　retract　nothing。〃Ibid。；　b。　7；　ch。　8。

He　was　directed　to　withdraw　from　the　Diet　while　the　princes　consulted
together。　It　was　felt　that　a　great　crisis　had　come。　Luther's　persistent
refusal　to　submit　might　affect　the　history　of　the　church　for　ages。　It　was
decided　to　give　him　one　more　opportunity　to　retract。　For　the　last　time　he
was　brought　into　the　assembly。　Again　the　question　was　put；　whether　he　would
renounce　his　doctrines。　〃I　have　no　other　reply　to　make；〃　he　said；　〃than　that
which　I　have　already　made。〃　It　was　evident　that　he　could　not　be　induced；
either　by　promises　or　threats；　to　yield　to　the　mandate　of　Rome。

The　papal　leaders　were　chagrined　that　their　power；　which　had　caused　kings
and　nobles　to　tremble；　should　be　thus　despised　by　a　humble　monk；　they　longed
to　make　him　feel　their　wrath　by　torturing　his　life　away。　But　Luther；
understanding　his　danger；　had　spoken　to　all　with　Christian　dignity　and
calmness。　His　words　had　been　free　from　pride；　passion；　and
misrepresentation。　He　had　lost　sight　of　himself；　and　the　great　men
surrounding　him；　and　felt　only　that　he　was　in　the　presence　of　One　infinitely
superior　to　popes；　prelates；　kings；　and　emperors。　Christ　had　spoken　through
Luther's　testimony　with　a　power　and　grandeur　that　for　the

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time　inspired　both　friends　and　foes　with　awe　and　wonder。　The　Spirit　of　God
had　been　present　in　that　council；　impressing　the　hearts　of　the　chiefs　of　the
empire。　Several　of　the　princes　boldly　acknowledged　the　justice　of　Luther's
cause。　Many　were　convinced　of　the　truth；　but　with　some　the　impressions
received　were　not　lasting。　There　was　another　class　who　did　not　at　the　time
express　their　convictions；　but　who；　having　searched　the　Scriptures　for
themselves；　at　a　future　time　became　fearless　supporters　of　the　Reformation。

The　elector　Frederick　had　looked　forward　anxiously　to　Luther's　appearance
before　the　Diet；　and　with　deep　emotion　he　listened　to　his　speech。　With　joy
and　pride　he　witnessed　the　doctor's　courage；　firmness；　and　self…possession；
and　determined　to　stand　more　firmly　in　his　defense。　He　contrasted　the
parties　in　contest；　and　saw　that　the　wisdom　of　popes；　kings；　and　prelates
had　been　brought　to　nought　by　the　power　of　truth。　The　papacy　had　sustained　a
defeat　which　would　be　felt　among　all　nations　and　in　all　ages。

As　the　legate　perceived　the　effect　produced　by　Luther's　speech；　he　feared；
as　never　before；　for　the　security　of　the　Romish　power；　and　resolved　to
employ　every　means　at　his　command　to　effect　the　Reformer's　overthrow。　With
all　the　eloquence　and　diplomatic　skill　for　which　he　was　so　eminently
distinguished；　he　represented　to　the　youthful　emperor　the　folly　and　danger
of　sacrificing；　in　the　cause　of　an　insignificant　monk；　the　friendship　and
support　of　the　powerful　see　of　Rome。

His　words　were　not　without　effect。　On　the　day　following　Luther's　answer；
Charles　caused　a　message　to　be　presented　to　the　Diet；　announcing　his
determination　to　carry　out　the　policy　of　his　predecessors　to　maintain　and
protect　the　Catholic　religion。　Since　Luther　had　refused　to　renounce　his
errors；　the　most　vigorous　measures　should　be　employed　against　him　and　the
heresies　he　taught。　〃A　single　monk；　misled　by　his　own　folly；　has　risen
against　the　faith　of　Christendom。　To　stay　such　impiety；　I　will　sacrifice　my
kingdoms；　my　treasures；

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my　friends；　my　body；　my　blood；　my　soul；　and　my　life。　I　am　about　to　dismiss
the　Augustine　Luther；　forbidding　him　to　cause　the　least　disorder　among　the
people；　I　shall　then　proceed　against　him　and　his　adherents　as　contumacious
heretics；　by　excommunication；　by　interdict；　and　by　every　means　calculated　to
destroy　them。　I　call　on　the　members　of　the　states　to　behave　like　faithful
Christians。〃Ibid。；　b。　7；　ch。　9。　Nevertheless　the　emperor　declared　that
Luther's　safe…conduct　must　be　respected；　and　that　before　proceedings　against
him　could　be　instituted；　he　must　be　allowed　to　reach　his　home　in　safety。

Two　conflicting　opinions　were　now　urged　by　the　members　of　the　Diet。　The
emissaries　and　representatives　of　the　pope　again　demanded　that　the
Reformer's　safe…conduct　should　be　disregarded。　〃The　Rhine；〃　they　said；
〃should　receive　his　ashes；　as　it　had　received　those　of　John　Huss　a　century
ago。〃Ibid。；　b。　7；　ch。　9。　But　princes　of　Germany；　though　themselves　papists
and　avowed　enemies　to　Luther；　protested　against　such　a　breach　of　public
faith；　as　a　stain　upon　the　honor　of　the　nation。　They　pointed　to　the
calamities　which　had　followed　the　death　of　Huss；　and　declared　that　they
dared　not　call　down　upon　Germany；　and　upon　the　head　of　their　youthful
emperor；　a　repetition　of　those　terrible　evils。

Charles　himself；　in　answer　to　the　base　proposal；　said：　〃Though　honor　and
faith　should　be　banished　from　all　the　world；　they　ought　to　find　a　refuge　in
the　hearts　of　princes。〃　Ibid。；　b。　7；　ch。　9。　He　was　still　further　urged　by
the　most　bitter　of　Luther's　papal　enemies　to　deal　with　the　Reformer　as
Sigismund　had　dealt　with　Hussabandon　him　to　the　mercies　of　the　c