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07 - Luther's Seperation from Rome - The Great Controversy · Sacred Texts Archive

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Chapter seven Luther's separation from Rome. Foremost among those who were called to lead
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the Church from the darkness of popery into the light of a purer faith stood
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Martin Luther. Zealous, ardent, and devoted, knowing no fear but the
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fear of God, and acknowledging no foundation for religious faith but the Holy scriptures.
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Luther was the man for his time. Through him, God accomplished a
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great work for the reformation of the Church and the enlightenment of the world.
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Like the first heralds of the Gospel, Luther sprung from the ranks of poverty.
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His early years were spent in the humble home of a German peasant.
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By daily toil as a miner, his father earned the means for his education.
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He intended him for a lawyer, but God purposed to make him a
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builder in the great Temple that was rising so slowly through the centuries. Hardship,
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privation, and severe discipline were the school in which infinite wisdom prepared Luther
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for the important mission of his life. Luther's father was a man of strong
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and active mind and great force of character. Honest, resolute, and straightforward.
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He was true to his convictions of duty, let the consequences be what
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they might. His sterling good sense led him to regard the monastic system with
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distrust. He was highly displeased when Luther, without his consent, entered a
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monastery, and it was two years before the father was reconciled to his son,
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and even then his opinions remained the same. Luther's parents bestowed great care
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upon the education and training of their children. They endeavored to instruct them in
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the knowledge of God and the practice of Christian virtues. The father's prayer often
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ascended in the hearing of his son, that the child might remember the name
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of the Lord and one day aid in the advancement of his truth. Every
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advantage for moral or intellectual culture, which their life of toil permitted them to
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enjoy, was eagerly improved by these parents. Their efforts for earnest and persevering
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to prepare their children for a life of piety and usefulness. With their firmness
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and strength of character, they sometimes exercised too great severity. But the reformer
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himself, though conscious that in some respects they had erred, found in their
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discipline more to approve than to condemn. At school where he was sent at
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an early age, Luther was treated with harshness and even violence. So great
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was the poverty of his parents that, upon going from home to school in
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another town, he was for a time obliged to obtain his food by singing
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from door to door, and he often suffered from hunger. The gloomy,
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superstitious ideas of religion, then prevailing, filled him with fear. He would
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lie down at night with a sorrowful heart, looking forward with trembling to the
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dark future, and in constant terror at the thought of God as a stern,
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unrelenting judge, a cruel tyrant rather than a kind, heavenly father.
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Yet under so many and so great discos ris, Luther pressed resolutely forward toward
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the high standard of moral and intellectual excellence which attracted his soul. He thirstooed
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for knowledge, and the earnest and practical character of his mind led him to
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desire the solid and useful rather than the showy and superficial. When at the
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age of eighteen he entered the University of Eyrfurt, his situation was more favorable
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and his prospects were brighter than in his earlier years. His parents, having
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by thrift and industry, acquired a competence. They were able to render him
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all needed assistance, and the influence of judicious friends had somewhat lessened the gloomy
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effects of his former training. He applied himself to the study of the best
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authors, diligently treasuring their most weighty thoughts and making the wisdom of the wise
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his own. Even under the harsh discipline of his former instructors, he had
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early given promise of distinction, and with favorable influences, his mind rapidly developed
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a retent memory, a lively imagination, strong reasoning powers, and untiring application
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soon placed him in the foremost rank among his associates. Intellectual discipline ripened his
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understanding and aroused an activity of mind and a keenness of perception that were preparing
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him for the conflicts of his life. The fear of the Lord dwelt in
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the heart of Luther, enabling him to maintain his steadfastness of purpose and leading
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him to deep humility before God. He had an abiding sense of his dependence
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upon divine aid, and he did not fail to begin each day with prayer.
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While his heart was continually breathing a petition for guidance and support. To
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pray well, he often said, is the better half of study. While
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one day examining the books in the library of the university, Luther discovered a
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Latin Bible. Such a book he had never before seen. He was ignorant
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even of its existence. He had heard portions of the Gospels and Epistles which
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were read to the people at public worship, and he supposed that these were
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the entire Bible. Now, for the first time, he looked upon the
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whole of God's word with mingled awe and wonder. He turned the sacred pages
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with quickened pulse and throbbing heart. He read for himself the words of life,
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pausing now and then to exclaim, Oh, that God would give me
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such a book for myself. Angels of Heaven were by his side, and
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rays of light from the throne of God revealed the treasures of truth to his
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understanding. He had ever feared to offend God. But now the deep conviction
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of his condition as a sinner took hold upon him as never before. An
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earnest desire to be free from sin and to find peace with God led him
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at last to enter a cloister and devote himself to a monastic life. Here
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he was required to perform the lowest drudgery, and to beg from house to
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house. He was at an age when respect and appreciation are most eagerly craved,
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and these menial offices were deeply mortified to his natural feelings. But he
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patiently endured this humiliation, believing that it was necessary because of his sins.
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Every moment that could be spared from his daily duties he employed in study,
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robbing himself of sleep and grudging even the time spent at his scanty meals.
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Above everything else, he delighted in the study of God's word. He had
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found a Bible changed to the convent wall, and to this he often repaired.
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As his convictions of sin deepened, he sought by his own works to
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obtain pardon and peace. He led a most rigorous life, endeavoring by fasting
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vigils and scourgings to subdue the evils of his nature, from which the monastic
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life had brought no release. He shrank from no sacrifice by which he might
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attain to that purity of heart which would enable him to stand approved before God.
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I was indeed a pious monk, he afterwards said, and followed the
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rules of my order more strictly than I can express. If ever Monk could
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obtain Heavin by his monkish works, I should certainly have been entitled to it.
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If it had continued much longer, I should have carried my mortifications even
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to death. As the result of this painful discipline, he lost strength and
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suffered from fainting spasms, from the effects of which he never fully recovered.
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But with all his efforts, his burdened soul found no relief. He was
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at last driven to the verge of despair. When it appeared to Luther that
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all was lost, God raised up a friend and helper for him. The
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pious Staupitz opened the word of God to Luther's mind and bade him look away
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from himself, cease the contemplation of infinite punishment for the violation of God's law,
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and looked to Jesus, his sin pardoning Savior. Instead of torturing yourself
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on account of your sins, throw yourself into the Redeemer's arms. Trust in
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him in the righteousness of his life, in the atonement of his death.
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Listen to the Son of God he became man to give you the assurance of
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divine favor. Love him who first loved you. Thus spoke the Messenger of
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Mercy. His words made a deep impression upon Luther's mind. After many a
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struggle with long cherished errors, he was enabled to grasp the truth, and
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peace came to his troubled soul. Luther was ordained a priest and was called
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from the cloister to a professorship in the University of Wittenburg. Here he applied
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himself to the study of the scriptures in the original tongues. He began to
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lecture upon the Bible and the Book of Psalms. The Gospels and the Epistles
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were open to the understanding of crowds of delighted listeners. Staupitz, his friend
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and superior, urged him to ascend the pulpit and preach the word of God.
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Luther hesitated, feeling himself unworthy to speak to the people in Christ's stead.
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It was only after a long struggle that he yielded to the solicitations of
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his friends. Already he was mighty in the scriptures, and the grace of
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God rested upon him. His eloquence captivated his hearers. The clearness and power
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with which he presented the truth convinced their understanding, and his fervor touched their
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hearts. Luther was still a true son of the papal Church and had no
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thought that he would ever be anything else. In the providence of God,
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he was led to visit Rome. He pursued his journey on foot, lodging
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at the monasteries on the way. At a convent in Italy, he was
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filled with wonder at the wealth, magnificence, and luxury that he witnessed.
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Endowed with a princely revenue, the monks dwelt in splendid apartments, attired themselves
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in the richest and most costly robes, and feasted at a sumptuous table with
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painful misgivings. Luther contrasted this scene with the self denial and hardship of his
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own life. His mind was becoming perplexed. At last he beheld in the
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distance the seven hilled city. With deep emotion, he prostrated himself upon the
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earth, exclaiming, Holy Rome, I salute thee. He entered the city,
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visited the churches, listened to the marvelous tales repeated by priests and monks,
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and performed all the ceremonies required. Everywhere he looked upon scenes that filled
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him with astonishment and horror. He saw that iniquity existed among all classes of
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the clergy. He heard indecent jokes from prelates, and was filled with horror
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at their awful profanity. Even during Mass, as he mingled with the monks
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and citizens, he meant dissipation, debauchery. Turn where he would in the
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place of sanctity, he found profanation. No one can imagine. He wrote,
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what sins and infamous actions are committed in Rome. They must be seen
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and heard to be believed. Thus they are in the habit of saying,
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if there is a hell, Rome is built over it, it is an
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abyss. Whence issues every kind of sin by a recent a credle an indulgence
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had been promised by the Pope to all who should ascend upon their knees.
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Pilot's staircase, said to have been descended by our Savior on leaving the Roman
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Judgment Hall, and to have been miraculously conveyed from Jerusalem to Rome. Luther
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was one day devoutly climbing these steps, when suddenly a voice like thunder seemed
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to say to him that just shall live by faith. He sprung to his
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feet and hastened from the place in shame and horror. That text never lost
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its power upon his soul. From that time he saw more clearly than ever
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before the fallacy of trusting to human works for salvation, and the necessity of
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constant faith in the merits of Christ. His eyes had been opened and were
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never again to be closed to the delusions of the papacy. When he turned
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his face from Rome, he had turned away also in heart, and from
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that time the separation grew wider, until he severed all connection with the papal
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Church. After his return from Rome, Luther received at the University of Edinburgh
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the degree of Doctor of Divinity. Now he was at liberty to devote himself
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as never before, to the scriptures that he loved. He had taken a
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solemn vow to study carefully and to preach with fidelity the Word of God,
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not the sayings and doctrines of the popes, all the days of his life.
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He was no longer the mere monk or professor, but the authorized herald
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of the Bible. He had been called as a shepherd to feed the flock
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of God that were hungering and thirsting for the truth. He firmly declared that
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Christians should receive no other doctrines than those which rest on the authority of the
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sacred Scriptures. These words struck at the very foundation of papal supremacy. They
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contained the vital principle of the Reformation. Luther saw the danger of exalting human
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theories above the word of God. He fearlessly attacked the speculative infidelity of the
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schoolmen, and opposed the philosophy and theology which had so long held a controlling
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influence upon the people. He denounced such studies as not only worthless but pernicious,
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and sought to turn the minds of his hearers from the sophistries of philosophers
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and theologians to the eternal truths set forth by prophets and apostles. Precious was
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the message which he bore to the eager crowds that hung upon his words.
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Never before had such teachings fallen upon their ears. The glad tidings of a
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saviour's love, the assurance of pardon and peace through his atoning blood, rejoiced
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their hearts and inspired within them an immortal hope. At Wittenburg, a light
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was kindled whose rays should extend to the uttermost parts of the earth, and
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which was to increase in brightness to the close of time. But light and
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darkness cannot harmonize. Between truth and error, there is an irrepressible conflict.
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To uphold and defend the one is to attack and overthrow the other. Our
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Savior himself declared, I came not to send peace but a sword, said
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Luther a few years after the opening of the Reformation. God does not guide
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me. He pushes me forward, he carries me away. I am not
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master of myself. I desire to live in repose. I am thrown into
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the midst of tumults and revolutions. He was now about to be urged into
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the contest. The Roman Church had made merchandise of the grace of God.
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The tables of the money changers were set up beside her altars, and the
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air resounded with the shouts of buyers and sellers. Under the plea of raising
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funds for the erection of Saint Peter's Church at Rome, indulgences for sin were
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publicly offered for sale by the authority of the Pope by the price of crime.
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A temple was to be built up for God's worship the cornerstone laid with
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the wages of iniquity. But the very means adopted for Rome's aggrandizement provoked the
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deadliest blow to her power and greatness. It was this that aroused the most
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determined and successful of the enemies of Pokery, and led to the battle which
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shook the papal throne and jostled the triple crown upon the Pontiff's head. The
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official appointed to conduct the sale of indulgences in Germany, Tetzel by name,
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had been convicted of the basest offenses again society and against the law of God,
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But having escaped the punishment due to his crimes, he was employed to
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further the mercenary and unscrupulous projects of the Pope. With great effrontery. He
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repeated the most glaring falsehoods and related marvelous tales to deceive an ignorant, credulous,
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and superstitious people. Had they possessed the Word of God, they would
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not have been thus deceived. It was to keep them under the control of
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the papacy in order to swell the power and wealth of her ambitious leaders.
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That the Bible had been withheld from them, as Tetzel entered a town,
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a messenger went before him, announcing, the grace of God and of the
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Holy Father is at your gates, and the people welcomed the blasphemous pretender as
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if he were God himself come down from heaven to them. The infamous traffic
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was set up in the church, and Tetzel, ascending the pulpit, extolled
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indulgences as the most precious gift of God. He declared that by virtue of
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his certificates of pardon, all the thinds which the purchaser should afterward desire to
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commit, would be forgiven him, and that not even repentance is necessary.
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More than this, he assured his hearers that the indulgences had power to save
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not only the living, but the dead, that the very moment the money
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should cling against the bottom of his chest, the soul on whose behalf it
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had been paid, would escape from purgatory and make its way to Heaven.
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When Simon Magus offered to purchase of the apostles the power to work miracles,
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Peter answered him, thy money perish with thee because thou hast thought that the
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gift of God may be purchased with money, but Tetzel's offer was grasped by
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eager thousands. Gold and silver flowed into his treasury. A salvation that could
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be bought with money was more easily obtained than that which requires repentance, faith,
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and diligent effort to resist and overcome sin. The doctrine of indulgences had
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been opposed by men of learning and piety in the Roman Church, and there
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were many who had no faith in pretensions. So, contrary to both reason
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androv, no prelate dared lift his voice against the iniquitous traffic. But the
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minds of men were becoming disturbed and uneasy, and many eagerly inquired if God
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would not work through some instrumentality for the purification of his church. Luther,
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though still a papist of the straightest sort, was filled with horror at the
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blasphemous assumptions of the indulgence mungers. Many of his own congregation had purchased certificates
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of pardon, and they soon began to come to their pastor, confessing their
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various sins and expecting absolution, not because they were penitent and wished to reform,
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but on the ground of the indulgence Luther refused them absolution and warned them
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that unless they should repent and reform their lives, they must perish in their
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sins. In great perplexity, they repaired to Tetzel with the complaint that their
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confessor had refused his certificates, and some boldly demanded that their money be returned
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to them. The Friar was filled with rage. He uttered the most terrible
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curses, caused fires to be lighted in the public squares, and declared that
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he had received an order from the Pope to burn all heretics who presumed to
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oppose his most holy indulgences. Luther now entered boldly upon his work as a
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champion of the truth. His voice was heard from the pulpit in earnest solemn
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warning. He set before the people the offensive character of sin, and taught
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them that it is impossible for man, by his own works to lessen its
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guilt or evade its punishment. Nothing but repentance toward God and faith in Christ
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can save the sinner. The grace of Christ cannot be purchased. It is
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a free gift. He counseled the people not to buy indulgences, but to
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look in faith to a crucified redeemer. He related his own painful experience in
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vainly seeking by humiliation and penance to secure salvation, and assured his hearers that
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it was by looking away from himself and believing in Christ that he found peace
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and joy. As Tetzel continued his traffic and his impious pretensions, determined upon
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a more effectual protest against these crying abuses. An occasion soon offered. The
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Castle Church of Wittenburg possessed many relics, which on certain holy days were exhibited
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to the people, and full remission of sins was granted to all who then
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visited the church and made confession accordingly. On these days, the people in
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great numbers resorted thither. One of the most important of these occasions, the
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Festival of All Saints, was approaching. On the preceding day, Luther,
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joining the crowds that were already making their way to the church, posted on
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its door a paper containing ninety five propositions against the doctrine of indulgences. He
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declared his willingness to defend these theses next day at the university, against all
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who should see fit to attack them. His propositions attracted universal attention. They
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were read and re read, and repeated in every direction. Great excitement was
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created in the university and in the whole city. By these it was shown
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that the power to grant the pardon of sin and to remit its penalty had
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never been committed to the Pope or to any other man. The whole scheme
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was a farce, an artifice to extort money by playing upon the superstitions of
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the people, a device of Satan, to destroy the souls of all who
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should trust to its lying pretensions. It was also clearly shown that the Gospel
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of Christ is the most valuable treasure of the Church, and that the grace
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of God therein revealed is freely bestowed upon all who seek it by repentance and
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faith. Luther's theses challenged discussion, but no one dared accept the challenge.
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The questions which he proposed had in a few days spread through all Germany,
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and in a few weeks they had sounded throughout Christendom. Many devoted Romanists,
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who had seen and lamented the terrible iniquity prevailing in the Church, but had
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not known how to arrest its progress, read the propositions of great joy recognizing
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in them the voice of God, they felt that the Lord had graciously set
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his hand to arrest the rapidly swelling tide of corruption that was issuing from the
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See of Rome. Princes and magistrates secretly rejoiced that a check was to be
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put upon the arrogant power, which denied the right of appeal from its decisions.
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But the sin loving and superstitious multitudes were terrified as the sophistries that had
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soothed their fears were swept away. Crafty ecclesiastics, interrupted in their work of
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sanctioning crime, and seeing their gains endangered, were enraged and rallied to uphold
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their pretensions. The reformer had bitter accusers to meet. Some charged him with
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acting hastily and from impulse. Others accused him of presumption, declaring that he
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was not directed of God, but was acting from pride and forwardness. Who
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does not know? He responded that a man rarely puts forth any new idea
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without having some appearance of pride, and without being accused of exciting quarrels.
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Why were Christ and all the martyrs put to death? Because they seemed to
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be proud contemners of the wisdom of them time, and because they advanced novelties
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without having first humbly taken counsel of the oracles of the ancient opinions. Again,
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he declared, whatever I do will be done not by the prudence of
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men, but by the counsel of God. If the work be of God,
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who shall stop it? If it be not, who can forward it?
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Not my will, nor theirs, nor ours, but Thy will,
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O, Holy Father, which are in heaven. Though Luther had been moved
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by the spirit of God to begin his work, he was not to carry
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it forward without severe conflicts. The reproaches of his enemies, their misrepresentation of
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his purposes, and their unjust and malicious reflections upon his character and motives came
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in upon him like an overwhelming flood, and they were not without effect.
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He had felt confident that the leaders of the people, both in the church
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and in the schools, would gladly unite with him in efforts for reform.
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Words of encouragement from those in high position had inspired him with joy and hope.
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Already in anticipation, he had seen a brighter day dawning for the church.
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But encouragement had changed to reproach and condemnation. Many dignitaries of both church
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and state were convicted of the truthfulness of his theses, but they soon saw
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that the acceptance of these truths would involve great changes. To enlighten and reform
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the people would be virtually to undermine the authority of Rome, to stop thousands
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of streams now flowing into her treasury, and thus greatly to curtail the extravagance
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and luxury of the papal leaders. Furthermore, to teach the people to think
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and act as responsible beings looking to Christ alone for salvation, would overthrow the
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Pontiff's throne and eventually destroy their own authority. For this reason, they refused
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the knowledge tendered them of God and arrayed themselves against Christ and the truth.
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By their opposition to the man whom He had sent to enlighten them. Luther
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trembled as he looked upon himself, one man opposed to the mightiest powers of
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earth. He sometimes doubted whether he had indeed been of God to set himself
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against the authority of the Church. Who was I, he writes, to
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oppose the majesty of the Pope, before whom the kings of the earth and
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the whole world trembled. No one can know what my heart suffered during these
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first two years, and into what despondency I may say, into what despair
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I was sunk. But he was not left to become utterly disheartened. When
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human support failed, he looked to God alone and learned that he could lean
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in perfect safety upon that all powerful arm. To a friend of the Reformation,
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Luther wrote, we cannot attain to the understanding of scripture either by study
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or by the intellect. Your first duty is to begin by prayer. Entreat
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the Lord to grant you, of his great mercy the true understanding of his
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word. There is no other interpreter of the Word of God than the author
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of this word. As He himself has said, they shall all be taught
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of God. Hope for nothing from your own labors, from your own understanding.
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Trust solely in God and in the influence of His spirit. Believe this
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on the word of a man who has had experience. Here is a lesson
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of vital importance to those who feel that God has called them to present to
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others the solemn truths. For this time, these truths will stir the enmity
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of Satan and of men who love the fables that He has devised. In
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the conflict with the powers of evil, there is need of something more than
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strength of intellect and human wisdom. When enemies appealed to custom and tradition,
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or to the assertions and authority of the Pope, Luther met them with the
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Bible. And the Bible only here were arguments which they could not answer.
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Therefore, the slaves of formalism and superstition clamored for his blood, as the
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Jews it clamored for the blood of Christ. He is a heretic, cried
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the Roman zealots. It is high treason against the Church to allow so horrible
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a heretic to live one hour longer. Let the scaffold be instantly erected for
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him. But Luther did not fall a prey to their fury. God had
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a work for him to do, and angels of heaven were sent to protect
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him. Many, however, who had received from Luther the precious Light,
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were made the objects of Satan's wrath, and for the Truth's sake fearlessly suffered
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torture and death. Luther's teachings attracted the attention of thoughtful minds throughout all Germany.
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From his sermons and writings issued beams of light which awakened and illuminated thousands.
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A living faith was taking the place of the dead formalism in which the
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Church had so long been held. The people were daily losing confidence in the
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superstitions of Romanism. The barriers of prejudice were giving way. The Word of
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God by which Luther tested every doctrine and every claim, was like a two
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edged sword cutting its way to the hearts of the people. Everywhere there was
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awakening a desire for spiritual progress, everywhere, with such a hungering and thirsting
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after righteousness as had not been known for ages. The eyes of the people,
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so long our directed to human rights and earthly mediators, were now turning
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in penitence and faith to Christ and him crucified. This widespread interest aroused still
27:10
further the fears of the papal authorities. Luther received a summons to appear at
27:14
Rome to answer to the charge of heresy. The command filled his friends with
27:18
terror. They knew full well the danger that threatened him in that corrupt city.
27:22
Already drunk with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus, they protested against
27:26
his going to Rome, and requested that he receive his examination in Germany.
27:33
This arrangement was finally affected, and the Pope's legate was appointed to hear the
27:37
case. In the instructions communicated by the Pontiff to this official, it was
27:42
stated that Luther had already been declared a heretic. The legate was therefore charged
27:48
to prosecute and constrain without any delay. If he should remain steadfast, and
27:52
the Legate should fail to gain possession of his person, he was empowered to
27:56
prescribe him in every part of Germany, to banish, curse and excommunicate all
28:02
those who are attached to him. And further, the Pope directed his legate
28:07
in order entirely to root out the pestilent heresy, to excommunicate all of whatever
28:11
dignity in church or state, except the Emperor, who should neglect to seize
28:15
Luther and his adherents and deliver them up to the vengeance of Rome. Here
28:22
is displayed the true spirit of popery. Not a trace of Christian principle or
28:26
even of common justice is to be seen in the whole document. Luther was
28:30
at a great distance from Rome. He had had no opportunity to explain or
28:34
defend his position. Yet before his case had been investigated, he was summarily
28:40
pronounced a heretic, and in the same day exhorted, accused, judged,
28:44
and condemned, and all this by the self style Holy Father, the only
28:48
supreme infallible authority in church or state. At this time when Luther so much
28:55
needed the sympathy and counsel of a true friend, God's providence sent Melancthon to
28:59
theis Wittenburg. Young in years, modest and diffident in his manners. Melengthon's
29:04
sound judgment, extensive knowledge, and winning eloquence, combined with the purity and
29:10
uprightness of his character one universal admiration and esteem. The brilliancy of his talents
29:15
was not more marked than his gentleness of disposition. He soon became an earnest
29:21
disciple of the Gospel and Luther's most trusted friend and valued supporter, his gentleness,
29:27
caution, and exactness serving as a compliment to Luther's courage and energy.
29:32
Their union in the work added strength to the Reformation and was a source of
29:36
great encouragement to Luther. Augsburg had been fixed upon as the place of trial,
29:42
and the Reformers set out on foot to perform the journey thither serious fears
29:48
were entertained in his behalf. Threats had been made openly that he would be
29:52
seized and murdered on the way, and his friends begged him not to venture.
29:56
They even entreated him to leave Wittenburg for a time and find safety with
30:02
those who would gladly protect him. But he would not leave the position where
30:06
God had placed him. He must continue faithfully to maintain the truth, notwithstanding
30:11
the storms that were beating upon him. His language was, I am like
30:17
Jeremiah, a man of strife and contention. But the more their threats increase,
30:22
the more my joy is multiplied. They have already destroyed my honor and
30:26
my reputation. One single thing remains. It is my wretched body. Let
30:30
them take it. They will thus shorten my life by a few hours.
30:34
But as for my soul, they cannot take that. He who desires to
30:38
proclaim the word of Christ to the world must expect death at every moment.
30:45
The tidings of Luther's arrival at Augsburg gave great satisfaction to the papal legate,
30:49
the troublesome heretic, who was exciting the attention of the whole world seemed now
30:53
in the power of Rome, and the Leggate determined that he should not escape.
30:59
The former had failed to provide himself with a safe conduct. His friends
31:03
urged him not to appear before the Legate without one, and they themselves undertook
31:07
to procure it from the Emperor. The Legate intended to force Luther, if
31:11
possible, to retract, or, failing in this, to cause him to
31:15
be conveyed to Rome, to share the fate of huss and Jerome. Therefore,
31:21
through his agents he endeavored to induce Luther to appear without a safe conduct,
31:26
trusting himself to his mercy. This the reformer firmly declined to do.
31:30
Not until he had received the document pledging him the Emperor's protection did he appear
31:36
in the presence of the papal ambassador. As a matter of policy, the
31:41
Romanists had decided to attempt to win Luther by an appearance of gentleness. The
31:45
Legate, in his interviews with him, professed great friendliness, but he demanded
31:49
that Luther submit implicitly to the authority of the Church and yield every point without
31:56
argument or question. He had not rightly estimated the care of the man with
32:00
whom he had to deal. Luther, in reply, expressed his regard for
32:05
the Church, his desire for the truth, his readiness to answer all objections
32:08
to what he had taught, and to submit his doctrines to the decision of
32:13
certain leading universities. But at the same time he protested against the cardinal's course
32:19
in requiring him to retract, without having proved him in error. The only
32:22
response was retract. Retract. The reformer showed that his position was sustained by
32:29
the scriptures and firmly declared that he could not renounce the truth. The legate,
32:35
unable to reply to Luther's arguments, overwhelmed him with a storm of reproaches,
32:38
gibes, and flattery, interspersed with quotations from tradition and the sayings of
32:44
the fathers, granting the reformer no opportunity to speak. Seeing that the conference
32:49
thus continued would be utterly futile, Luther finally obtained a reluctant permission to present
32:54
his answer in writing. In so doing, said he writing to a friend,
33:00
the oppressed find double gain. First, what is written may be submitted
33:04
to the judgment of others, and second, one has a better chance of
33:07
working on the fears if not on the conscience of an arrogant and babbling despot
33:12
who would otherwise overpower by his imperious language. At the next interview, Luther
33:17
presented a clear, concise and forcible exposition of his views, fully supported by
33:22
many quotations from scripture. This paper, after reading aloud, he handed to
33:28
the cardinal, who, however, cast it contemptuously aside, declaring it to
33:32
be a mass of idle words and irrelevant quotations. Luther, fully roused,
33:37
now met the haughty prelate on his own ground, the traditions and teachings of
33:42
the church, and utterly overthrew his assumptions. When the prelate saw that Luther's
33:47
reasoning was unanswerable, he lost all self control, and in a rage,
33:52
cried out retract Or, I will send you to Rome, there to appear
33:55
before the judge's commission to take cognizance of your cause. I will excommunicate you
34:00
and all your partisans and all who shall at any time countenance you, and
34:05
will cast them out of the church. And he finally declared, in a
34:08
haughty and angry tone, retract or return no more. The reformer promptly withdrew
34:15
with his friends. Thus declaring plainly that no retraction was to be expected from
34:19
him. This was not what the cardinal had purposed. He had flattered himself
34:23
that by violence he could all Luther to submission. Now left alone with his
34:28
supporters, he looked from one to another in utter chagrin at the unexpected failure
34:32
of his schemes. Luther's efforts on this occasion were not without good results.
34:38
The large assembly present had opportunity to compare the two men and to judge for
34:43
themselves of the spirit manifested by them, as well as of the strength and
34:47
truthfulness of their positions. How marked the contrast. The reformer, simple,
34:53
humble, firm, stood up in the strength of God, having truth on
34:57
his side. The Pope's representative, self important, overbearing, haughty and unreasonable,
35:02
was without a single argument from the scriptures, yet vehemently crying retract or
35:07
be sent to Rome for punishment. Notwithstanding Luther had secured a safe conduct,
35:13
the Romanists were plotting to seize and imprison him. His friends urged that as
35:17
it was useless for him to prolong his stay, he should return to Wittenburg
35:22
without delay, and that the utmost caution should be observed in order to conceal
35:25
his intentions. He accordingly left Augsburg before daybreak on horseback, accompanied only by
35:32
a guide furnished him by the Magistrate. With many forebodings, he secretly made
35:37
his way through the dark and silent streets of the city. Enemies vigilant and
35:42
cruel were plotting his destruction. Would he escape the snares prepared for him?
35:46
Those were moments of anxiety and earnest prayer. He reached a small gate in
35:51
the wall of the city. It was opened for him, and with his
35:54
guide, he passed through without hindrance. Once safely outside, the fugitives hastened
36:00
their flight, and before the Legate learned of Luther's departure, he was beyond
36:04
the reach of his persecutors. Satan and his emissaries were defeated. The man
36:08
whom they had thought in their power was gone, escaped as a bird from
36:13
the snare of the fowler. At the news of Luther's escape, the Legate
36:16
was overwhelmed with surprise and anger. He had expected to receive great honor for
36:22
his wisdom and firmness in dealing with this disturber of the Church, but his
36:25
hope was disappointed. He gave expression to his wrath and a letter to Frederick,
36:30
the Elector of Saxony, bitterly denouncing Luther and demanding that Frederick send the
36:36
Reformer to Rome or banish him from Saxony. In defense, Luther urged that
36:40
the Legate or the Pope show him his errors from the scriptures, and pledged
36:45
himself in the most solemn manner, to renounce his doctrines if they could be
36:49
shown to contradict the word of God. And he expressed his gratitude to God
36:52
that he had been counted worthy to suffer in so holy a cause. The
36:58
Elector had as yet little knowledge of the Reformed doctrines, but he was deeply
37:02
impressed by the candor, force, and clearness of Luther's words, and until
37:07
the Reformer should be proved to be an error, Frederick resolved to stand as
37:10
his protector. In reply to the Legate's demand, he wrote, since doctor
37:15
Martin has appeared before you at Augsburg, you should be satisfied. We did
37:21
not expect that you would endeavor to make him retract without having convinced him of
37:24
his errors. None of the learned men in our principality have informed me that
37:29
Martin's doctrine is impious, anti Christian, or heretical. The Prince refused,
37:34
moreover to send Luther to Rome or to expel him from his states. The
37:38
elector saw that there was a general breaking down of the moral restraints of society.
37:44
A great work of reform was needed. The complicated and expensive arrangements to
37:47
restrain and punish crime would be unnecessary if men but acknowledged and obeyed the requirements
37:53
of God and the dictates of an enlightened conscience. He saw that Luther was
37:59
laboring to secure this object, and he secretly rejoiced that a better influence was
38:02
making itself felt in the church. He saw also that as a professor in
38:07
the university, Luther was eminently successful. Only a year had passed since the
38:14
reformer posted his thesis on the Castle Church, yet there was already a great
38:17
falling off in the number of pilgrims that visited the church at the Festival of
38:22
All Saints. Rome had been deprived of worshippers and offerings, but their place
38:27
was filled by another class who now came to Wittenburg, not pilgrims to adore
38:30
her relics, but students to fill her halls of learning. The writings of
38:36
Luther had kindled everywhere a new interest in the Holy scriptures, and not only
38:39
from all parts of Germany, but from other lands. Students flocked to the
38:44
university. Young men coming inside of Wittenburg for the first time raised their hands
38:50
to Heaven and praised God for having caused the light of truth to shine forth
38:53
from this city, as from Zion in times of old. And whence it
38:58
spread even to the most distance and countries. Luther was as yet but partially
39:04
converted from the errors of Romanism. But as he compared the Holy Oracles with
39:08
the papal decrees and constitutions, he was filled with wonder. I am reading
39:13
he wrote the decrees of the Pontiffs, and I do not know whether the
39:16
Pope is Antichrist himself or his apostle, so greatly as Christ misrepresented and crucified
39:22
in them. Yet, at this time Luther was still a supporter of the
39:27
Roman Church, and had no thought that he would ever separate from her communion.
39:31
The reformers writings and his doctrine were extending to every nation in Christendom.
39:37
The work spread to Switzerland and Holland. Copies of his writings found their way
39:40
to France, and Spain. In England, his teachings were received as the
39:45
word of life. To Belgium and Italy. Also, the truth had extended.
39:50
Thousands were awakening from their deathlike stupor to the joy and hope of a
39:53
life of faith. Rome became more and more exasperated by the attack of Luther,
40:00
and it was declared by some of his fanatical opponents, even by doctors
40:04
and Catholic universities, that he who should kill the rebellious monk would be without
40:08
sin. One day, a stranger with a pistol hidden under his cloak,
40:13
approached the reformer and inquired why he went thus alone. I am in God's
40:17
hands, answered Luther. He is my strength and my shield. What can
40:21
man do unto me? Upon hearing these words, the stranger turned pale and
40:25
fled away, as from the presence of the angels of heaven. Rome was
40:30
bent upon the destruction of Luther. But God was his defense. His doctrines
40:35
were heard everywhere, in cottages and convents, in the castles of the nobles,
40:39
in the universities, and in the palaces of kings and noble Men were
40:44
rising on every hand to sustain his efforts. It was about this time that
40:49
Luther, reading the works of huss found that the great truth of justification by
40:53
faith, which he himself was seeking to uphold and teach, had been held
40:57
by the Bohemian reformer. Of all, said Luther, Paul, Augustine and
41:01
myself been Hussites without knowing it. God will surely visit it upon the world.
41:07
He continued that the truth is preached to it a century ago and burned.
41:12
In an appeal to the Emperor, a nobility of Germany in behalf of
41:15
the Reformation of Christianity, Luther wrote, concerning the Pope, it is a
41:20
horrible thing to behold the man who styles himself Christ's viceturant, displaying a magnificence
41:25
that no emperor can equal. Is this being like the poor Jesus or the
41:29
humble Peter? He is? Say they the lord of the world. But
41:32
Christ, whose vicar he boasts of being, has said, my kingdom is
41:37
not of this world. Can the dominions of a vicar extend beyond those of
41:40
his superior? He wrote thus of the universities, I am much afraid that
41:46
the universities will prove to be the great gates of Hell unless they diligently labor
41:51
in explaining the Holy Scriptures and engraving them in the hearts of youth. I
41:55
advise no one to place his child where the Scriptures do not reign paramount.
42:00
Every institution in which men are not unceasingly occupied with the Word of God must
42:05
become corrupt. This appeal was rapidly circulated throughout Germany and exerted a powerful influence
42:12
upon the people. The whole nation was stirred, and multitudes were roused to
42:16
rally around the standard of reform. Luther's opponents, burning with a desire for
42:22
revenge, urged the Pope to take decisive measures against him. It was decreed
42:27
that his doctrines should be immediately condemned. Sixty days were granted the reformer and
42:31
his adherents, after which, if they did not recant, they were all
42:36
to be excommunicated. That was a terrible crisis for the Reformation. For centuries.
42:42
Rome's sentence of excommunication had struck terror to powerful monarchs. It had filled
42:46
mighty empires with woe and desolation. Those upon whom its condemnation fell were universally
42:52
regarded with dread and horror. They were cut off from intercourse with their fellows
42:58
and treated as outlaws to be high to extermination. Luther was not blind to
43:02
the tempest about to burst upon him, but he stood firm, trusting in
43:07
Christ to be his support and shield. With a martyr's faith and courage,
43:10
he wrote, what is about to happen, I know not, nor do
43:15
I care to know. Let the blow light where it may. I am
43:17
without fear, not so much as a leaf falls without the will of our
43:22
father. How much rather will he care for us. It is a light
43:25
thing to die for the Word, since the Word which has made flesh,
43:29
hath himself died. If we die with him, we shall live with him,
43:34
and, passing through that which he has passed through before us, we
43:37
shall be where he is and dwell with him forever. When the papal bull
43:42
reached Luther, he said, I despise and attack it as impious false.
43:46
It is Christ himself who is condemned. Therein I rejoice in having to bear
43:51
such ills for the best of causes. Already I feel greater liberty in my
43:54
heart, for at last I know that the Pope is Antichrist, and that
43:59
his throne as that of Satan himself. Yet the mandate of Rome was not
44:04
without effect. Prison, torture and sword were weapons potent to enforce obedience.
44:09
The weak and superstitious trembled before the decree of the Pope, and while there
44:14
was general sympathy for Luther, many felt that life was too dear to be
44:17
risked in the cause of reform. Everything seemed to indicate that the reformer's work
44:22
was about to close, but Luther was fearless. Still. Rome had hurled
44:28
her anathemas against him, and the world looked on nothing, doubting that he
44:31
would perish or be forced to yield. But with terrible power, he flung
44:37
back upon herself the sentence of condemnation and publicly declared his determination to abandon her
44:43
forever. In the presence of a crowd of students, doctors, and citizens
44:46
of all ranks, Luther burned the Pope's bull with the canon, laws,
44:51
the decretals, and certain writings sustaining the papal power. My enemies have been
44:55
able by burning my books, he said, to injure the cause of truth
45:00
in the minds of the common people and destroy their souls. For this reason
45:04
I consumed their books in return. A serious struggle has just begun hitherto I
45:09
have been only playing with the pope. I began this work in God's name.
45:15
It will be ended without me and by His might. To the reproaches
45:19
of his enemies, who taunted him with the weakness of his cause, Luther
45:22
answered, who knows if God has not chosen and called me, and if
45:27
they ought not to fear that by despising me, they despise God himself.
45:30
Moses was alone at the departure from Egypt, Elijah was alone in the reign
45:36
of King Ahab, Isaiah alone in Jerusalem, Ezekiel alone in Babylon. God
45:40
never selected as a prophet either the high priest or any other great personage,
45:45
but ordinarily he chose low and despised men once, even the shepherd Amos.
45:51
In every age, the saints have had to reprove the great kings, princes,
45:54
priests, and wise men at the peril of their lives. I do
45:58
not say that I am a pro but I say that they ought to fear,
46:01
precisely because I am alone, and that they are many. I am
46:06
sure of this, that the Word of God is with me, and that
46:07
it is not with them. Yet it was not without a terrible struggle with
46:13
himself that Luther decided upon a final separation from the church. It was about
46:17
this time that he wrote, I feel more and more every day, how
46:21
difficult it is to lay aside the scruples which one has imbibed in childhood.
46:25
Oh, how much pain it has caused me. Though I had the scriptures
46:29
on my side to justify it to myself, that I should dare to make
46:32
a stand alone against the Pope and hold him forth as Antichrist? What have
46:37
the tribulations of my heart not been? How many times have I not asked
46:40
myself, with bitterness, that question which is so frequent on the lips of
46:45
the papists. Art thou alone? Wise? Can everyone else be mistaken?
46:50
How will it be if, after all it is thyself who art wrong,
46:52
and who art involving in thy error so many souls who will then be eternally
46:55
damned. Twas so I fought with myself and with Satan, till Christ,
47:00
by his own infallible word, fortified my heart against these doubts. The Pope
47:06
had threatened Luther with excommunication if he did not recant, and the threat was
47:09
now fulfilled. A new bull appeared, declaring the reformer's final separation from the
47:15
Roman Church, denouncing him as accursed of heaven, and including in the same
47:20
condemnation all who should receive his doctrines. The great contest had been fully entered
47:24
upon opposition is the lot of all whom God employs to present truths specially applicable
47:31
to their time. There was a present truth in the days of Luther,
47:36
a truth at that time of special importance. There is a present truth for
47:39
the Church to day. He who does all things according to the council of
47:44
His Will has been pleased to place men under various circumstances, and to enjoin
47:49
upon them duties peculiar to the times in which they live and the conditions under
47:52
which they are placed. If they would prize the light given them, broader
47:57
views of truth would be opened before them. But truth is no more desired
48:01
by the majority to day than it was by the papists who opposed Luther.
48:06
There is the same disposition to accept the theories and traditions of men instead of
48:09
the word of God as in former ages. Those who present the truth for
48:15
this time should not expect to be received with greater favor than were earlier reformers.
48:21
The Great controversy between truth and error, between Christ and Satan is to
48:24
increase in intensity to the close of this world's history, said Jesus to his
48:30
disciples. If he were of the world, the world would love his own.
48:35
But because he are not of the world. But I have chosen you
48:37
out of the world. Therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that
48:42
I said unto you, the servant is not greater than his lord. If
48:45
they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they have kept
48:51
my saying, they will keep yours also. And on the other hand,
48:54
our Lord declared plainly, woe unto you, when all men shall speak well
48:59
of you, for so did their fathers to the false prophets. The spirit
49:04
of the world is no more in harmony with the Spirit of Christ to day
49:07
than in earlier times, And those who preach the Word of God and its
49:10
purity will be received with no greater favor now than then. The forms of
49:15
opposition to the truth may change, the enmity may be less open because it
49:20
is more subtle, but the same antagonism still exists and will be manifested to
49:24
the end of time. End of Chapter seven