the great controversy-第35章

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pressed　upon　him　with　redoubled　power　as　he　saw　the　results　of　fanaticism
charged　upon　the　Reformation。　The　papist　princes　declaredand　many　were
ready　to　credit　the　statementthat　the　rebellion　was　the　legitimate　fruit
of　Luther's　doctrines。　Although　this　charge　was　without　the　slightest
foundation；　it　could　not　but　cause　the　Reformer　great　distress。　That　the
cause　of　truth　should　be　thus　disgraced　by　being　ranked　with　the　basest
fanaticism；　seemed　more　than　he　could　endure。　On　the　other　hand；　the　leaders
in　the　revolt　hated　Luther　because　he　had　not　only　opposed　their　doctrines
and　denied　their　claims　to　divine　inspiration；　but　had　pronounced　them
rebels　against　the　civil　authority。　In　retaliation　they　denounced　him　as　a
base　pretender。　He　seemed　to　have　brought　upon　himself　the　enmity　of　both
princes　and　people。

The　Romanists　exulted；　expecting　to　witness　the　speedy　downfall　of　the
Reformation；　and　they　blamed　Luther；　even　for　the　errors　which　he　had　been
most　earnestly　endeavoring　to　correct。　The　fanatical　party；　by　falsely
claiming　to　have　been　treated　with　great　injustice；　succeeded　in　gaining　the
sympathies　of　a　large　class　of　the　people；　and；　as　is　often　the　case　with
those　who　take　the　wrong　side；　they　came　to　be　regarded　as　martyrs。　Thus　the
ones　who　were　exerting　every　energy　in　opposition　to　the　Reformation　were
pitied　and　lauded　as　the　victims　of　cruelty　and　oppression。　This　was　the
work　of　Satan；　prompted　by　the　same　spirit　of　rebellion　which　was　first
manifested　in　heaven。

Satan　is　constantly　seeking　to　deceive　men　and　lead　them　to　call　sin
righteousness；　and　righteousness　sin。　How　successful　has　been　his　work！　How
often　censure　and　reproach　are　cast　upon　God's　faithful　servants　because
they

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will　stand　fearlessly　in　defense　of　the　truth！　Men　who　are　but　agents　of
Satan　are　praised　and　flattered；　and　even　looked　upon　as　martyrs；　while
those　who　should　be　respected　and　sustained　for　their　fidelity　to　God；　are
left　to　stand　alone；　under　suspicion　and　distrust。

Counterfeit　holiness；　spurious　sanctification；　is　still　doing　its　work　of
deception。　Under　various　forms　it　exhibits　the　same　spirit　as　in　the　days　of
Luther；　diverting　minds　from　the　Scriptures　and　leading　men　to　follow　their
own　feelings　and　impressions　rather　than　to　yield　obedience　to　the　law　of
God。　This　is　one　of　Satan's　most　successful　devices　to　cast　reproach　upon
purity　and　truth。

Fearlessly　did　Luther　defend　the　gospel　from　the　attacks　which　came　from
every　quarter。　The　word　of　God　proved　itself　a　weapon　mighty　in　every
conflict。　With　that　word　he　warred　against　the　usurped　authority　of　the
pope；　and　the　rationalistic　philosophy　of　the　schoolmen；　while　he　stood　firm
as　a　rock　against　the　fanaticism　that　sought　to　ally　itself　with　the
Reformation。

Each　of　these　opposing　elements　was　in　its　own　way　setting　aside　the　Holy
Scriptures　and　exalting　human　wisdom　as　the　source　of　religious　truth　and
knowledge。　Rationalism　idolizes　reason　and　makes　this　the　criterion　for
religion。　Romanism；　claiming　for　her　sovereign　pontiff　an　inspiration
descended　in　unbroken　line　from　the　apostles；　and　unchangeable　through　all
time；　gives　ample　opportunity　for　every　species　of　extravagance　and
corruption　to　be　concealed　under　the　sanctity　of　the　apostolic　commission。
The　inspiration　claimed　by　Munzer　and　his　associates　proceeded　from　no
higher　source　than　the　vagaries　of　the　imagination；　and　its　influence　was
subversive　of　all　authority；　human　or　divine。　True　Christianity　receives　the
word　of　God　as　the　great　treasure　house　of　inspired　truth　and　the　test　of
all　inspiration。

Upon　his　return　from　the　Wartburg；　Luther　completed　his　translation　of　the
New　Testament；　and　the　gospel　was　soon　after　given　to　the　people　of　Germany
in　their　own

194

language。　This　translation　was　received　with　great　joy　by　all　who　loved　the
truth；　but　it　was　scornfully　rejected　by　those　who　chose　human　traditions
and　the　commandments　of　men。

The　priests　were　alarmed　at　the　thought　that　the　common　people　would　now　be
able　to　discuss　with　them　the　precepts　of　God's　word；　and　that　their　own
ignorance　would　thus　be　exposed。　The　weapons　of　their　carnal　reasoning　were
powerless　against　the　sword　of　the　Spirit。　Rome　summoned　all　her　authority
to　prevent　the　circulation　of　the　Scriptures；　but　decrees；　anathemas；　and
tortures　were　alike　in　vain。　The　more　she　condemned　and　prohibited　the
Bible；　the　greater　was　the　anxiety　of　the　people　to　know　what　it　really
taught。　All　who　could　read　were　eager　to　study　the　word　of　God　for
themselves。　They　carried　it　about　with　them；　and　read　and　reread；　and　could
not　be　satisfied　until　they　had　committed　large　portions　to　memory。　Seeing
the　favor　with　which　the　New　Testament　was　received；　Luther　immediately
began　the　translation　of　the　Old；　and　published　it　in　parts　as　fast　as
completed。

Luther's　writings　were　welcomed　alike　in　city　and　in　hamlet。　〃What　Luther
and　his　friends　composed；　others　circulated。　Monks；　convinced　of　the
unlawfulness　of　monastic　obligations；　desirous　of　exchanging　a　long　life　of
slothfulness　for　one　of　active　exertion；　but　too　ignorant　to　proclaim　the
word　of　God；　traveled　through　the　provinces；　visiting　hamlets　and　cottages；
where　they　sold　the　books　of　Luther　and　his　friends。　Germany　soon　swarmed
with　these　bold　colporteurs。〃　Ibid。；　b。　9；　ch。　11。

These　writings　were　studied　with　deep　interest　by　rich　and　poor；　the　learned
and　the　ignorant。　At　night　the　teachers　of　the　village　schools　read　them
aloud　to　little　groups　gathered　at　the　fireside。　With　every　effort　some
souls　would　be　convicted　of　the　truth　and；　receiving　the　word　with　gladness；
would　in　their　turn　tell　the　good　news　to　others。

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The　words　of　Inspiration　were　verified：　〃The　entrance　of　Thy　words　giveth
light；　it　giveth　understanding　unto　the　simple。〃　Psalm　119：130。　The　study　of
the　Scriptures　was　working　a　mighty　change　in　the　minds　and　hearts　of　the
people。　The　papal　rule　had　placed　upon　its　subjects　an　iron　yoke　which　held
them　in　ignorance　and　degradation。　A　superstitious　observance　of　forms　had
been　scrupulously　maintained；　but　in　all　their　service　the　heart　and
intellect　had　had　little　part。　The　preaching　of　Luther；　setting　forth　the
plain　truths　of　God's　word；　and　then　the　word　itself；　placed　in　the　hands　of
the　common　people；　had　aroused　their　dormant　powers；　not　only　purifying　and
ennobling　the　spiritual　nature；　but　imparting　new　strength　and　vigor　to　the
intellect。

Persons　of　all　ranks　were　to　be　seen　with　the　Bible　in　their　hands；
defending　the　doctrines　of　the　Reformation。　The　papists　who　had　left　the
study　of　the　Scriptures　to　the　priests　and　monks　now　called　upon　them　to
come　forward　and　refute　the　new　teachings。　But；　ignorant　alike　of　the
Scriptures　and　of　the　power　of　God；　priests　and　friars　were　totally　defeated
by　those　whom　they　had　denounced　as　unlearned　and　heretical。　〃Unhappily；〃
said　a　Catholic　writer；　〃Luther　had　persuaded　his　followers　to　put　no　faith
in　any　other　oracle　than　the　Holy　Scriptures。〃D'Aubigne；　b。　9；　ch。　11。
Crowds　would　gather　to　hear　the　truth　advocated　by　men　of　little　education；
and　even　discussed　by　them　with　learned　and　eloquent　theologians。　The
shameful　ignorance　of　these　great　men　was　made　apparent　as　their　arguments
were　met　by　the　simple　teachings　of　God's　word。　Laborers；　soldiers；　women；
and　even　children；　were　better　acquainted　with　the　Bible　teachings　than　were
the　priests　and　learned　doctors。

The　contrast　between　the　disciples　of　the　gospel　and　the　upholders　of　popish
superstition　was　no　less　manifest　in　the　ranks　of　scholars　than　among　the
common　people。　〃Opposed　to　the　old　champions　of　the　hierarchy；　who　had
neglected

196

the　study　of　languages　and　the　cultivation　of　literature；　。　。　。　were
generous…minded　youth；　devoted　to　study；　investigating　Scripture；　and
familiarizing　themselves　with　the　masterpieces　of　antiquity。　Possessing　an
active　mind；　an　elevated　soul；　and　intrepid　heart；　these　young　men　soon
acquired　such　knowledge　that　for　a　long　period　none　could　compete　with　them。
。　。　。　Accordingly；　when　these　youthful　defenders　of　the　Reformation　met　the
Romish　doctors　in　any　assembly；　they　attacked　them　with　such　ease　and
confidence　that　these　ignorant　men　hesitated；　became　embarrassed；　and　fell
into　a　contempt　merited　in　the　eyes　of　all。〃Ibid。；　b。　9；　ch。　11。

As　the　Romish　clergy　saw　their　congregations　diminishing；　they　invoked　the
aid　of　the　magistrates；　and　by　every　means　in　their　power　endeavored　to
bring　back　their　hearers。　But　the　people　had　found　in　the　new　teachings　that
which　supplied　the　wants　of　their　souls；　and　they　turned　away　from　those　who
had　so　long　fed　them　with　the　worthless　husks　of　superstitious　rites　and
human　traditions。

When　persecution　was　kindled　against　the　teachers　of　the　truth；　they　gave
heed　to　the　words　of　Christ：　〃When　they　persecute　you　in　this　city；　flee　ye
into　another。〃　Matthew　10：23。　The　light　penetrated　everywhere。　The　fugitives
would　find　somewhere　a　hospitable　door　opened　to　them；　and　there　abiding；
they　would　preach　Christ；　sometimes　in　the　church；　or；　if　denied　that
privilege；　in　private　houses　or　in　the　open　air。　Wherever　they　could　obtain
a　hearing　was　a　consecrated　temple。　The　truth；　proclaimed　with　such　energy
and　assurance；　spread　with　irresistible　power。

In　vain　both　ecclesiastical　and　civil　authorities　were　invoked　to　crush　the
heresy。　In　vain　they　resorted　to　imprisonment；　torture；　fire；　and　sword。
Thousands　of　believers　sealed　their　faith　with　their　blood；　and　yet　the　work
went　on。　Persecution　served　only　to　extend　the　truth；　and　the　fanaticism
which　Satan　endeavored　to　unite　with　it　resulted　in　making　more　clear　the
contrast　between　the　work　of　Satan　and　the　work　of　God。




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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　11

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Protest　of　the　Princes


One　of　the　noblest　testimonies　ever　uttered　for　the　Reformation　was　the
Protest　offered　by　the　Christian　princes　of　Germany　at　the　Diet　of　Spires　in
1529。　The　courage；　faith；　and　firmness　of　those　men　of　God　gained　for
succeeding　ages　liberty　of　thought　and　of　conscience。　Their　Protest　gave　to
the　reformed　church　the　name　of　Protestant；　its　principles　are　〃the　very
essence　of　Protestantism。〃D'Aubigne；　b。　13；　ch。　6。

A　dark　and　threatening　day　had　come　for　the　Reformation。　Notwithstanding　the
Edict　of　Worms；　declaring　Luther　to　be　an　outlaw　and　forbidding　the　teaching
or　belief　of　his　doctrines；　religious　toleration　had　thus　far　prevailed　in
the　empire。　God's　providence　had　held　in　check　the　forces　that　opposed　the
truth。　Charles　V　was　bent　on　crushing　the　Reformation；　but　often　as　he
raised　his　hand　to　strike　he　had　been　forced　to　turn　aside　the　blow。　Again
and　again　the　immediate　destruction　of　all　who　dared　to　oppose　themselves　to
Rome　appeared　inevitable；　but　at　the　critical　moment　the　armies　of　the　Turk
appeared　on　the　eastern　frontier；　or　the　king　of　France；　or　even　the　pope
himself；　jealous　of　the　inc