按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
The fear of the Lord dwelt in the heart of Luther； enabling him to maintain
his steadfastness of purpose and leading him to deep humility before God。 He
had an abiding sense of his dependence upon divine aid； and he did not fail
to begin each day with prayer； while his heart was continually breathing a
petition for guidance and support。 〃To pray well；〃 he often said； 〃is the
better half of study。〃 D'Aubigne； b。 2； ch。 2。
While one day examining the books in the library of the university； Luther
discovered a Latin Bible。 Such a book he had never before seen。 He was
ignorant even of its existence。 He had heard portions of the Gospels and
Epistles； which were read to the people at public worship； and he supposed
that these were the entire Bible。 Now； for the first time； he looked upon
the whole of God's word。 With mingled awe and wonder he turned the sacred
pages； with quickened pulse and throbbing heart he read for himself the
words of life； pausing now and then to exclaim： 〃O that God would give me
such a book for myself！〃Ibid。； b。 2； ch。 2。 Angels of heaven were by his
side； and rays of light from the throne of God revealed the treasures of
truth to his understanding。 He had ever feared to offend God； but now the
deep conviction of his condition as a sinner took hold upon him as never
before。
123
An earnest desire to be free from sin and to find peace with God led him at
last to enter a cloister and devote himself to a monastic life。 Here he was
required to perform the lowest drudgery and to beg from house to house。 He
was at an age when respect and appreciation are most eagerly craved； and
these menial offices were deeply mortifying to his natural feelings； but he
patiently endured this humiliation； believing that it was necessary because
of his sins。
Every moment that could be spared from his daily duties he employed in
study； robbing himself of sleep and grudging even the time spent at his
scanty meals。 Above everything else he delighted in the study of God's word。
He had found a Bible chained to the convent wall； and to this he often
repaired。 As his convictions of sin deepened； he sought by his own works to
obtain pardon and peace。 He led a most rigorous life； endeavoring by
fasting； vigils； and scourgings to subdue the evils of his nature； from
which the monastic life had brought no release。 He shrank from no sacrifice
by which he might attain to that purity of heart which would enable him to
stand approved before God。 〃I was indeed a pious monk；〃 he afterward said；
〃and followed the rules of my order more strictly than I can express。 If
ever monk could obtain heaven by his monkish works； I should certainly have
been entitled to it。 。 。 。 If it had continued much longer； I should have
carried my mortifications even to death。〃Ibid。； b。 2； ch。 3。 As the result
of this painful discipline he lost strength and suffered from fainting
spasms； from the effects of which he never fully recovered。 But with all his
efforts his burdened soul found no relief。 He was at last driven to the
verge of despair。
When it appeared to Luther that all was lost； God raised up a friend and
helper for him。 The pious Staupitz opened the word of God to Luther's mind
and bade him look away from himself； cease the contemplation of infinite
punishment for the violation of God's law； and look to Jesus； his
sin…pardoning Saviour。 〃Instead of torturing yourself on
124
account of your sins； throw yourself into the Redeemer's arms。 Trust in Him；
in the righteousness of His life； in the atonement of His death。 。 。 。
Listen to the Son of God。 He became man to give you the assurance of divine
favor。〃 〃Love Him who first loved you。〃Ibid。； b。 2； ch。 4。 Thus spoke this
messenger of mercy。 His words made a deep impression upon Luther's mind。
After many a struggle with long…cherished errors； he was enabled to grasp
the truth； and peace came to his troubled soul。
Luther was ordained a priest and was called from the cloister to a
professorship in the University of Wittenberg。 Here he applied himself to
the study of the Scriptures in the original tongues。 He began to lecture
upon the Bible； and the book of Psalms； the Gospels； and the Epistles were
opened to the understanding of crowds of delighted listeners。 Staupitz； his
friend and superior； urged him to ascend the pulpit and preach the word of
God。 Luther hesitated； feeling himself unworthy to speak to the people in
Christ's stead。 It was only after a long struggle that he yielded to the
solicitations of his friends。 Already he was mighty in the Scriptures； and
the grace of God rested upon him。 His eloquence captivated his hearers； the
clearness and power with which he presented the truth convinced their
understanding； and his fervor touched their hearts。
Luther was still a true son of the papal church and had no thought that he
would ever be anything else。 In the providence of God he was led to visit
Rome。 He pursued his journey on foot； lodging at the monasteries on the way。
At a convent in Italy he was filled with wonder at the wealth； magnificence；
and luxury that he witnessed。 Endowed with a princely revenue； the monks
dwelt in splendid apartments； attired themselves in the richest and most
costly robes； and feasted at a sumptuous table。 With painful misgivings
Luther contrasted this scene with the self…denial and hardship of his own
life。 His mind was becoming perplexed。
At last he beheld in the distance the seven…hilled city。
125
With deep emotion he prostrated himself upon the earth； exclaiming： 〃Holy
Rome； I salute thee！〃Ibid。； b。 2； ch。 6。 He entered the city； visited the
churches； listened to the marvelous tales repeated by priests and monks； and
performed all the ceremonies required。 Everywhere he looked upon scenes that
filled him with astonishment and horror。 He saw that iniquity existed among
all classes of the clergy。 He heard indecent jokes from prelates； and was
filled with horror at their awful profanity； even during mass。 As he mingled
with the monks and citizens he met dissipation； debauchery。 Turn where he
would； in the place of sanctity he found profanation。 〃No one can imagine；〃
he wrote； 〃what sins and infamous actions are committed in Rome； they must
be seen and heard to be believed。 Thus they are in the habit of saying； 'If
there is a hell； Rome is built over it： it is an abyss whence issues every
kind of sin。'〃Ibid。； b。 2； ch。 6。
By a recent decretal an indulgence had been promised by the pope to all who
should ascend upon their knees 〃Pilate's staircase；〃 said to have been
descended by our Saviour on leaving the Roman judgment hall and to have been
miraculously conveyed from Jerusalem to Rome。 Luther was one day devoutly
climbing these steps； when suddenly a voice like thunder seemed to say to
him： 〃The just shall live by faith。〃 Romans 1：17。 He sprang to his feet and
hastened from the place in shame and horror。 That text never lost its power
upon his soul。 From that time he saw more clearly than ever before the
fallacy of trusting to human works for salvation； and the necessity of
constant faith in the merits of Christ。 His eyes had been opened； and were
never again to be closed； to the delusions of the papacy。 When he turned his
face from Rome he had turned away also in heart； and from that time the
separation grew wider； until he severed all connection with the papal
church。
After his return from Rome； Luther received at the University of Wittenberg
the degree of doctor of divinity。 Now he was at liberty to devote himself；
as never before； to the
126
Scriptures that he loved。 He had taken a solemn vow to study carefully and
to preach with fidelity the word of God； not the sayings and doctrines of
the popes； all the days of his life。 He was no longer the mere monk or
professor； but the authorized herald of the Bible。 He had been called as a
shepherd to feed the flock of God； that were hungering and thirsting for the
truth。 He firmly declared that Christians should receive no other doctrines
than those which rest on the authority of the Sacred Scriptures。 These words
struck at the very foundation of papal supremacy。 They contained the vital
principle of the Reformation。
Luther saw the danger of exalting human theories above the word of God。 He
fearlessly attacked the speculative infidelity of the schoolmen and opposed
the philosophy and theology which had so long held a controlling influence
upon the people。 He denounced such studies as not only worthless but
pernicious； and sought to turn the minds of his hearers from the sophistries
of philosophers and theologians to the eternal truths set forth by prophets
and apostles。
Precious was the message which he bore to the eager crowds that hung upon
his words。 Never before had such teachings fallen upon their ears。 The glad
tidings of a Saviour's love； the assurance of pardon and peace through His
atoning blood； rejoiced their hearts and inspired within them an immortal
hope。 At Wittenberg a light was kindled whose rays should extend to the
utte