the great controversy-第34章

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A　student　who　united　with　him　forsook　his　studies；　declaring　that　he　had
been　endowed　by　God　Himself　with　wisdom　to　expound　His　word。　Others　who　were
naturally　inclined　to　fanaticism　united　with　them。　The　proceedings　of　these
enthusiasts　created　no　little　excitement。

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The　preaching　of　Luther　had　aroused　the　people　everywhere　to　feel　the
necessity　of　reform；　and　now　some　really　honest　persons　were　misled　by　the
pretensions　of　the　new　prophets。

The　leaders　of　the　movement　proceeded　to　Wittenberg　and　urged　their　claims
upon　Melanchthon　and　his　colaborers。　Said　they：　〃We　are　sent　by　God　to
instruct　the　people。　We　have　held　familiar　conversations　with　the　Lord；　we
know　what　will　happen；　in　a　word；　we　are　apostles　and　prophets；　and　appeal
to　Dr。　Luther。〃Ibid。；　b。　9；　ch。　7。

The　Reformers　were　astonished　and　perplexed。　This　was　such　an　element　as
they　had　never　before　encountered；　and　they　knew　not　what　course　to　pursue。
Said　Melanchthon：　〃There　are　indeed　extraordinary　spirits　in　these　men；　but
what　spirits？　。　。　。　On　the　one　hand；　let　us　beware　of　quenching　the　Spirit
of　God；　and　on　the　other；　of　being　led　astray　by　the　spirit　of
Satan。〃Ibid。；　b。　9；　ch。　7。

The　fruit　of　the　new　teaching　soon　became　apparent。　The　people　were　led　to
neglect　the　Bible　or　to　cast　it　wholly　aside。　The　schools　were　thrown　into
confusion。　Students；　spurning　all　restraint；　abandoned　their　studies　and
withdrew　from　the　university。　The　men　who　thought　themselves　competent　to
revive　and　control　the　work　of　the　Reformation　succeeded　only　in　bringing　it
to　the　verge　of　ruin。　The　Romanists　now　regained　their　confidence　and
exclaimed　exultingly：　〃One　last　struggle；　and　all　will　be　ours。〃Ibid。；　b。
9；　ch。　7。

Luther　at　the　Wartburg；　hearing　of　what　had　occurred；　said　with　deep
concern：　〃I　always　expected　that　Satan　would　send　us　this　plague。〃Ibid。；
b。　9；　ch。　7。　He　perceived　the　true　character　of　those　pretended　prophets　and
saw　the　danger　that　threatened　the　cause　of　truth。　The　opposition　of　the
pope　and　the　emperor　had　not　caused　him　so　great　perplexity　and　distress　as
he　now　experienced。　From　the　professed　friends　of　the　Reformation　had　risen
its　worst　enemies。　The　very　truths　which　had　brought　him　so　great　joy　and

188

consolation　were　being　employed　to　stir　up　strife　and　create　confusion　in
the　church。

In　the　work　of　reform；　Luther　had　been　urged　forward　by　the　Spirit　of　God；
and　had　been　carried　beyond　himself。　He　had　not　purposed　to　take　such
positions　as　he　did；　or　to　make　so　radical　changes。　He　had　been　but　the
instrument　in　the　hand　of　Infinite　Power。　Yet　he　often　trembled　for　the
result　of　his　work。　He　had　once　said：　〃If　I　knew　that　my　doctrine　injured
one　man；　one　single　man；　however　lowly　and　obscure；which　it　cannot；　for　it
is　the　gospel　itself；　I　would　rather　die　ten　times　than　not　retract
it。〃Ibid。；　b。　9；　ch。　7。

And　now　Wittenberg　itself；　the　very　center　of　the　Reformation；　was　fast
falling　under　the　power　of　fanaticism　and　lawlessness。　This　terrible
condition　had　not　resulted　from　the　teachings　of　Luther；　but　throughout
Germany　his　enemies　were　charging　it　upon　him。　In　bitterness　of　soul　he
sometimes　asked：　〃Can　such；　then；　be　the　end　of　this　great　work　of　the
Reformation？〃Ibid。；　b。　9；　ch。　7。　Again；　as　he　wrestled　with　God　in　prayer；
peace　flowed　into　his　heart。　〃The　work　is　not　mine；　but　Thine　own；〃　he　said；
〃Thou　wilt　not　suffer　it　to　be　corrupted　by　superstition　or　fanaticism。〃　But
the　thought　of　remaining　longer　from　the　conflict　in　such　a　crisis；　became
insupportable。　He　determined　to　return　to　Wittenberg。

Without　delay　he　set　out　on　his　perilous　journey。　He　was　under　the　ban　of
the　empire。　Enemies　were　at　liberty　to　take　his　life；　friends　were　forbidden
to　aid　or　shelter　him。　The　imperial　government　was　adopting　the　most
stringent　measures　against　his　adherents。　But　he　saw　that　the　work　of　the
gospel　was　imperiled；　and　in　the　name　of　the　Lord　he　went　out　fearlessly　to
battle　for　the　truth。

In　a　letter　to　the　elector；　after　stating　his　purpose　to　leave　the　Wartburg；
Luther　said：　〃Be　it　known　to　your　highness　that　I　am　going　to　Wittenberg
under　a　protection　far　higher　than　that　of　princes　and　electors。　I　think　not
of　soliciting　your　highness's　support；　and　far　from　desiring　your
protection；

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I　would　rather　protect　you　myself。　If　I　knew　that　your　highness　could　or
would　protect　me；　I　would　not　go　to　Wittenberg　at　all。　There　is　no　sword
that　can　further　this　cause。　God　alone　must　do　everything；　without　the　help
or　concurrence　of　man。　He　who　has　the　greatest　faith　is　he　who　is　most　able
to　protect。〃Ibid。；　b。　9；　ch。　8。

In　a　second　letter；　written　on　the　way　to　Wittenberg；　Luther　added：　〃I　am
ready　to　incur　the　displeasure　of　your　highness　and　the　anger　of　the　whole
world。　Are　not　the　Wittenbergers　my　sheep？　Has　not　God　entrusted　them　to　me？
And　ought　I　not；　if　necessary；　to　expose　myself　to　death　for　their　sakes？
Besides；　I　fear　to　see　a　terrible　outbreak　in　Germany；　by　which　God　will
punish　our　nation。〃Ibid。；　b。　9；　ch。　7。

With　great　caution　and　humility；　yet　with　decision　and　firmness；　he　entered
upon　his　work。　〃By　the　word；〃　said　he；　〃must　we　overthrow　and　destroy　what
has　been　set　up　by　violence。　I　will　not　make　use　of　force　against　the
superstitious　and　unbelieving。　。　。　。　No　one　must　be　constrained。　Liberty　is
the　very　essence　of　faith。〃Ibid。；　b。　9；　ch。　8。

It　was　soon　noised　through　Wittenberg　that　Luther　had　returned　and　that　he
was　to　preach。　The　people　flocked　from　all　directions；　and　the　church　was
filled　to　overflowing。　Ascending　the　pulpit；　he　with　great　wisdom　and
gentleness　instructed；　exhorted；　and　reproved。　Touching　the　course　of　some
who　had　resorted　to　violent　measures　in　abolishing　the　mass；　he　said：

〃The　mass　is　a　bad　thing；　God　is　opposed　to　it；　it　ought　to　be　abolished；
and　I　would　that　throughout　the　whole　world　it　were　replaced　by　the　supper
of　the　gospel。　But　let　no　one　be　torn　from　it　by　force。　We　must　leave　the
matter　in　God's　hands。　His　word　must　act；　and　not　we。　And　why　so？　you　will
ask。　Because　I　do　not　hold　men's　hearts　in　my　hand；　as　the　potter　holds　the
clay。　We　have　a　right　to　speak：　we　have　not　the　right　to　act。　Let　us　preach；
the　rest　belongs　unto　God。　Were　I　to　employ　force；　what　should　I　gain？
Grimace；　formality；　apings；　human　ordinances；　and　hypocrisy。　。　。　。　But　there
would　be　no　sincerity

190

of　heart；　nor　faith；　nor　charity。　Where　these　three　are　wanting；　all　is
wanting；　and　I　would　not　give　a　pear　stalk　for　such　a　result。　。　。　。　God　does
more　by　His　word　alone　than　you　and　I　and　all　the　world　by　our　united
strength。　God　lays　hold　upon　the　heart；　and　when　the　heart　is　taken；　all　is
won。　。　。　。

〃I　will　preach；　discuss；　and　write；　but　I　will　constrain　none；　for　faith　is
a　voluntary　act。　See　what　I　have　done。　I　stood　up　against　the　pope；
indulgences；　and　papists；　but　without　violence　or　tumult。　I　put　forward
God's　word；　I　preached　and　wrotethis　was　all　I　did。　And　yet　while　I　was
asleep；　。　。　。　the　word　that　I　had　preached　overthrew　popery；　so　that　neither
prince　nor　emperor　has　done　it　so　much　harm。　And　yet　I　did　nothing；　the　word
alone　did　all。　If　I　had　wished　to　appeal　to　force；　the　whole　of　Germany
would　perhaps　have　been　deluged　with　blood。　But　what　would　have　been　the
result？　Ruin　and　desolation　both　to　body　and　soul。　I　therefore　kept　quiet；
and　left　the　word　to　run　through　the　world　alone。〃Ibid。；　b。　9；　ch。　8。

Day　after　day；　for　a　whole　week；　Luther　continued　to　preach　to　eager　crowds。
The　word　of　God　broke　the　spell　of　fanatical　excitement。　The　power　of　the
gospel　brought　back　the　misguided　people　into　the　way　of　truth。

Luther　had　no　desire　to　encounter　the　fanatics　whose　course　had　been
productive　of　so　great　evil。　He　knew　them　to　be　men　of　unsound　judgment　and
undisciplined　passions；　who；　while　claiming　to　be　specially　illuminated　from
heaven；　would　not　endure　the　slightest　contradiction　or　even　the　kindest
reproof　or　counsel。　Arrogating　to　themselves　supreme　authority；　they
required　everyone；　without　a　question；　to　acknowledge　their　claims。　But；　as
they　demanded　an　interview　with　him；　he　consented　to　meet　them；　and　so
successfully　did　he　expose　their　pretensions　that　the　impostors　at　once
departed　from　Wittenberg。

The　fanaticism　was　checked　for　a　time；　but　several　years　later　it　broke　out
with　greater　violence　and　more　terrible　results。　Said　Luther；　concerning　the
leaders　in　this　movement：

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〃To　them　the　Holy　Scriptures　were　but　a　dead　letter；　and　they　all　began　to
cry；　'The　Spirit！　the　Spirit！'　But　most　assuredly　I　will　not　follow　where
their　spirit　leads　them。　May　God　of　His　mercy　preserve　me　from　a　church　in
which　there　are　none　but　saints。　I　desire　to　dwell　with　the　humble；　the
feeble；　the　sick；　who　know　and　feel　their　sins；　and　who　groan　and　cry
continually　to　God　from　the　bottom　of　their　hearts　to　obtain　His　consolation
and　support。〃Ibid。；　b。　10；　ch。　10。

Thomas　Munzer；　the　most　active　of　the　fanatics；　was　a　man　of　considerable
ability；　which；　rightly　directed；　would　have　enabled　him　to　do　good；　but　he
had　not　learned　the　first　principles　of　true　religion。　〃He　was　possessed
with　a　desire　of　reforming　the　world；　and　forgot；　as　all　enthusiasts　do；
that　the　reformation　should　begin　with　himself。〃Ibid。；　b。
9；　ch。　8。　He　was　ambitious　to　obtain　position　and　influence；　and
was　unwilling　to　be　second；　even　to　Luther。　He　declared　that　the　Reformers；
in　substituting　the　authority　of　Scripture　for　that　of　the　pope；　were　only
establishing　a　different　form　of　popery。　He　himself；　he　claimed；　had　been
divinely　commissioned　to　introduce　the　true　reform。　〃He　who　possesses　this
spirit；〃　said　Munzer；　〃possesses　the　true　faith；　although　he　should　never
see　the　Scriptures　in　his　life。〃Ibid。；　b。　10；　ch。　10。

The　fanatical　teachers　gave　themselves　up　to　be　governed　by　impressions；
regarding　every　thought　and　impulse　as　the　voice　of　God；　consequently　they
went　to　great　extremes。　Some　even　burned　their　Bibles；　exclaiming：　〃The
letter　killeth；　but　the　Spirit　giveth　life。〃　Munzer's　teaching　appealed　to
men's　desire　for　the　marvelous；　while　it　gratified　their　pride　by　virtually
placing　human　ideas　and　opinions　above　the　word　of　God。　His　doctrines　were
received　by　thousands。　He　soon　denounced　all　order　in　public　worship；　and
declared　that　to　obey　princes　was　to　attempt　to　serve　both　God　and　Belial。

The　minds　of　the　people；　already　beginning　to　throw　off　the　yoke　of　the
papacy；　were　also　becoming　impatient　under　the　restraints　of　civil
authority。　Munzer's　revolutionary

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teachings；　claiming　divine　sanction；　led　them　to　break　away　from　all　control
and　give　the　rein　to　their　prejudices　and　passions。　The　most　terrible　scenes
of　sedition　and　strife　followed；　and　the　fields　of　Germany　were　drenched
with　blood。

The　agony　of　soul　which　Luther　had　so　long　before　experienced　at　Erfurt　now
pressed　upon　him　with　redoubled　power　as　he　saw　the　results　of　fanaticism
charged　upon　the　Reformation。　The　papist　princes　declaredand　many