the great controversy-第37章

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Redeemer；　and　Saviour；　and　who　will　one　day　be　our　Judge；　as　well　as　before
all　men　and　all　creatures；　that　we；　for　us　and　for　our　people；　neither
consent

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nor　adhere　in　any　manner　whatsoever　to　the　proposed　decree；　in　anything　that
is　contrary　to　God；　to　His　holy　word；　to　our　right　conscience；　to　the
salvation　of　our　souls。〃

〃What！　we　ratify　this　edict！　We　assert　that　when　Almighty　God　calls　a　man　to
His　knowledge；　this　man　nevertheless　cannot　receive　the　knowledge　of　God！〃
〃There　is　no　sure　doctrine　but　such　as　is　conformable　to　the　word　of　God。　。
。　。　The　Lord　forbids　the　teaching　of　any　other　doctrine。　。　。　。　The　Holy
Scriptures　ought　to　be　explained　by　other　an　clearer　texts；　。　。　。　this　Holy
Book　is；　in　all　things　necessary　for　the　Christian；　easy　of　understanding；
and　calculated　to　scatter　the　darkness。　We　are　resolved；　with　the　grace　of
God；　to　maintain　the　pure　and　exclusive　preaching　of　His　only　word；　such　as
it　is　contained　in　the　biblical　books　of　the　Old　and　New　Testaments；　without
adding　anything　thereto　that　may　be　contrary　to　it。　This　word　is　the　only
truth；　it　is　the　sure　rule　of　all　doctrine　and　of　all　life；　and　can　never
fail　or　deceive　us。　He　who　builds　on　this　foundation　shall　stand　against　all
the　powers　of　hell；　while　all　the　human　vanities　that　are　set　up　against　it
shall　fall　before　the　face　of　God。〃

〃For　this　reason　we　reject　the　yoke　that　is　imposed　on　us。〃　〃At　the　same
time　we　are　in　expectation　that　his　imperial　majesty　will　behave　toward　us
like　a　Christian　prince　who　loves　God　above　all　things；　and　we　declare
ourselves　ready　to　pay　unto　him；　as　well　as　unto　you；　gracious　lords；　all
the　affection　and　obedience　that　are　our　just　and　legitimate　duty。〃Ibid。；
b。　13；　ch。　6。

A　deep　impression　was　made　upon　the　Diet。　The　majority　were　filled　with
amazement　and　alarm　at　the　boldness　of　the　protesters。　The　future　appeared
to　them　stormy　and　uncertain。　Dissension；　strife；　and　bloodshed　seemed
inevitable。　But　the　Reformers；　assured　of　the　justice　of　their　cause；　and
relying　upon　the　arm　of　Omnipotence；　were　〃full　of　courage　and　firmness。〃

〃The　principles　contained　in　this　celebrated　Protest　。　。　。　constitute　the
very　essence　of　Protestantism。　Now　this　Protest　opposes　two　abuses　of　man　in
matters　of　faith：　the　first　is

204

the　intrusion　of　the　civil　magistrate；　and　the　second　the　arbitrary
authority　of　the　church。　Instead　of　these　abuses；　Protestantism　sets　the
power　of　conscience　above　the　magistrate；　and　the　authority　of　the　word　of
God　above　the　visible　church。　In　the　first　place；　it　rejects　the　civil　power
in　divine　things；　and　says　with　the　prophets　and　apostles；　'We　must　obey　God
rather　than　man。'　In　presence　of　the　crown　of　Charles　the　Fifth；　it　uplifts
the　crown　of　Jesus　Christ。　But　it　goes　farther：　it　lays　down　the　principle
that　all　human　teaching　should　be　subordinate　to　the　oracles　of
God。〃Ibid。；　b。
13；　ch。　6。　The　protesters　had　moreover　affirmed　their　right　to
utter　freely　their　convictions　of　truth。　They　would　not　only　believe　and
obey；　but　teach　what　the　word　of　God　presents；　and　they　denied　the　right　of
priest　or　magistrate　to　interfere。　The　Protest　of　Spires　was　a　solemn
witness　against　religious　intolerance；　and　an　assertion　of　the　right　of　all
men　to　worship　God　according　to　the　dictates　of　their　own　consciences。

The　declaration　had　been　made。　It　was　written　in　the　memory　of　thousands　and
registered　in　the　books　of　heaven；　where　no　effort　of　man　could　erase　it。
All　evangelical　Germany　adopted　the　Protest　as　the　expression　of　its　faith。
Everywhere　men　beheld　in　this　declaration　the　promise　of　a　new　and　better
era。　Said　one　of　the　princes　to　the　Protestants　of　Spires：　〃May　the
Almighty；　who　has　given　you　grace　to　confess　energetically；　freely；　and
fearlessly；　preserve　you　in　that　Christian　firmness　until　the　day　of
eternity。〃Ibid。；　b。　13；　ch。　6。

Had　the　Reformation；　after　attaining　a　degree　of　success；　consented　to
temporize　to　secure　favor　with　the　world；　it　would　have　been　untrue　to　God
and　to　itself；　and　would　thus　have　ensured　its　own　destruction。　The
experience　of　these　noble　Reformers　contains　a　lesson　for　all　succeeding
ages。　Satan's　manner　of　working　against　God　and　His　word　has　not　changed；　he
is　still　as　much　opposed　to　the　Scriptures　being　made　the　guide　of　life　as
in　the　sixteenth　century。　In　our　time　there　is　a　wide　departure　from　their
doctrines　and　precepts；　and　there　is　need　of　a　return　to　the　great
Protestant

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principlethe　Bible；　and　the　Bible　only；　as　the　rule　of　faith　and　duty。
Satan　is　still　working　through　every　means　which　he　can　control　to　destroy
religious　liberty。　The　antichristian　power　which　the　protesters　of　Spires
rejected　is　now　with　renewed　vigor　seeking　to　re…establish　its　lost
supremacy。　The　same　unswerving　adherence　to　the　word　of　God　manifested　at
that　crisis　of　the　Reformation　is　the　only　hope　of　reform　today。

There　appeared　tokens　of　danger　to　the　Protestants；　there　were　tokens；　also；
that　the　divine　hand　was　stretched　out　to　protect　the　faithful。　It　was　about
this　time　that　〃Melanchthon　hastily　conducted　through　the　streets　of　Spires
toward　the　Rhine　his　friend　Simon　Grynaeus；　pressing　him　to　cross　the　river。
The　latter　was　astonished　at　such　precipitation。　'An　old　man　of　grave　and
solemn　air；　but　who　is　unknown　to　me；'　said　Melanchthon；　'appeared　before　me
and　said；　In　a　minute　officers　of　justice　will　be　sent　by　Ferdinand　to
arrest　Grynaeus。'〃

During　the　day；　Grynaeus　had　been　scandalized　at　a　sermon　by　Faber；　a
leading　papal　doctor；　and　at　the　close；　remonstrated　with　him　for　defending
〃certain　detestable　errors。〃　〃Faber　dissembled　his　anger；　but　immediately
after　repaired　to　the　king；　from　whom　he　had　obtained　an　order　against　the
importunate　professor　of　Heidelberg。　Melanchthon　doubted　not　that　God　had
saved　his　friend　by　sending　one　of　His　holy　angels　to　forewarn　him。

〃Motionless　on　the　banks　of　the　Rhine；　he　waited　until　the　waters　of　that
stream　had　rescued　Grynaeus　from　his　persecutors。　'At　last；'　cried
Melanchthon；　as　he　saw　him　on　the　opposite　side；　'at　last　he　is　torn　from
the　cruel　jaws　of　those　who　thirst　for　innocent　blood。'　When　he　returned　to
his　house；　Melanchthon　was　informed　that　officers　in　search　of　Grynaeus　had
ransacked　it　from　top　to　bottom。〃Ibid。；　b。　13；　ch。　6。

The　Reformation　was　to　be　brought　into　greater　prominence　before　the　mighty
ones　of　the　earth。　The　evangelical　princes　had　been　denied　a　hearing　by　King
Ferdinand；　but　they　were　to　be　granted　an　opportunity　to　present　their　cause

206

in　the　presence　of　the　emperor　and　the　assembled　dignitaries　of　church　and
state。　To　quiet　the　dissensions　which　disturbed　the　empire；　Charles　V；　in
the　year　following　the　Protest　of　Spires；　convoked　a　diet　at　Augsburg；　over
which　he　announced　his　intention　to　preside　in　person。　Thither　the
Protestant　leaders　were　summoned。

Great　dangers　threatened　the　Reformation；　but　its　advocates　still　trusted
their　cause　with　God；　and　pledged　themselves　to　be　firm　to　the　gospel。　The
elector　of　Saxony　was　urged　by　his　councilors　not　to　appear　at　the　Diet。　The
emperor；　they　said；　required　the　attendance　of　the　princes　in　order　to　draw
them　into　a　snare。　〃Is　it　not　risking　everything　to　go　and　shut　oneself　up
within　the　walls　of　a　city　with　a　powerful　enemy？〃　But　others　nobly
declared；　〃Let　the　princes　only　comport　themselves　with　courage；　and　God's
cause　is　saved。〃　〃God　is　faithful；　He　will　not　abandon　us；〃　said
Luther。Ibid。；　b。　14；　ch。　2。　The　elector　set　out；　with　his　retinue；　for
Augsburg。　All　were　acquainted　with　the　dangers　that　menaced　him；　and　many
went　forward　with　gloomy　countenance　and　troubled　heart。　But　Luther；　who
accompanied　them　as　far　as　Coburg；　revived　their　sinking　faith　by　singing
the　hymn；　written　on　that　journey；　〃A　strong　tower　is　our　God。〃　Many　an
anxious　foreboding　was　banished；　many　a　heavy　heart　lightened；　at　the　sound
of　the　inspiring　strains。

The　reformed　princes　had　determined　upon　having　a　statement　of　their　views
in　systematic　form；　with　the　evidence　from　the　Scriptures；　to　present　before
the　Diet；　and　the　task　of　its　preparation　was　committed　to　Luther；
Melanchthon；　and　their　associates。　This　Confession　was　accepted　by　the
Protestants　as　an　exposition　of　their　faith；　and　they　assembled　to　affix
their　names　to　the　important　document。　It　was　a　solemn　and　trying　time。　The
Reformers　were　solicitous　that　their　cause　should　not　be　confounded　with
political　questions；　they　felt　that　the　Reformation　should　exercise　no　other
influence　than　that　which　proceeds　from　the　word　of　God。

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As　the　Christian　princes　advanced　to　sign　the　Confession；　Melanchthon
interposed；　saying：　〃It　is　for　the　theologians　and　ministers　to　propose
these　things；　let　us　reserve　for　other　matters　the　authority　of　the　mighty
ones　of　the　earth。〃　〃God　forbid；〃　replied　John　of　Saxony；　〃that　you　should
exclude　me。　I　am　resolved　to　do　what　is　right；　without　troubling　myself
about　my　crown。　I　desire　to　confess　the　Lord。　My　electoral　hat　and　my　ermine
are　not　so　precious　to　me　as　the　cross　of　Jesus　Christ。〃　Having　thus　spoken；
he　wrote　down　his　name。　Said　another　of　the　princes　as　he　took　the　pen：　〃If
the　honor　of　my　Lord　Jesus　Christ　requires　it；　I　am　ready　。　。　。　to　leave　my
goods　and　life　behind。〃　〃I　would　rather　renounce　my　subjects　and　my　states；
rather　quit　the　country　of　my　fathers　staff　in　hand；〃　he　continued；　〃than
receive　any　other　doctrine　than　that　which　is　contained　in　this　Confession。〃
Ibid。；　b。　14；　ch。　6。　Such　was　the　faith　and　daring　of　those　men　of　God。

The　appointed　time　came　to　appear　before　the　emperor。　Charles　V；　seated　upon
his　throne；　surrounded　by　the　electors　and　the　princes；　gave　audience　to　the
Protestant　Reformers。　The　confession　of　their　faith　was　read。　In　that　august
assembly　the　truths　of　the　gospel　were　clearly　set　forth；　and　the　errors　of
the　papal　church　were　pointed　out。　Well　has　that　day　been　pronounced　〃the
greatest　day　of　the　Reformation；　and　one　of　the　most　glorious　in　the　history
of　Christianity　and　of　mankind。〃Ibid。；　b。　14；　ch。　7。

But　a　few　years　had　passed　since　the　monk　of　Wittenberg　stood　alone　at　Worms
before　the　national　council。　Now　in　his　stead　were　the　noblest　and　most
powerful　princes　of　the　empire。　Luther　had　been　forbidden　to　appear　at
Augsburg；　but　he　had　been　present　by　his　words　and　prayers。　〃I　am
overjoyed；〃　he　wrote；　〃that　I　have　lived　until　this　hour；　in　which　Christ
has　been　publicly　exalted　by　such　illustrious　confessors；　and　in　so　glorious
an　assembly。〃Ibid。；　b。　14；　ch。
7。　Thus　was　fulfilled　what　the　Scripture　says：　〃I　will　speak
of　Thy　testimonies　。　。　。　before　kings。〃　Psalm　119：46。

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In　the　days　of　Paul　the　gospel　for　which　he　was　imprisoned　was　thus　brought
before　the　princes　and　nobles　of　the　imperial　city。　So　on　this　occasion；
that　which　the　emperor　had　forbidden　to　be　preached　from　the　pulpit　was
proclaimed　from　the　palace；　what　many　had　regarded　as　unfit　even　for
servants　to　listen　to　was　heard　with　won