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hope。 At Wittenberg a light was kindled whose rays should extend to the
uttermost parts of the earth； and which was to increase in brightness to the
close of time。
But light and darkness cannot harmonize。 Between truth and error there is an
irrepressible conflict。 To uphold and defend the one is to attack and
overthrow the other。 Our Saviour Himself declared： 〃I came not to send
peace； but a sword。〃 Matthew 10：34。 Said Luther； a few years after the
opening of the Reformation： 〃God does not guide me； He pushes me forward。 He
carries me away。 I am not master of myself。 I desire to live in repose； but
I am thrown into
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the midst of tumults and revolutions。〃D'Aubigne； b。 5； ch。 2。 He was now
about to be urged into the contest。
The Roman Church had made merchandise of the grace of God。 The tables of the
money…changers （Matthew 21：12） were set up beside her altars； and the air
resounded with the shouts of buyers and sellers。 Under the plea of raising
funds for the erection of St。 Peter's Church at Rome； indulgences for sin
were publicly offered for sale by the authority of the pope。 By the price of
crime a temple was to be built up for God's worshipthe cornerstone laid
with the wages of iniquity！ But the very means adopted for Rome's
aggrandizement provoked the deadliest blow to her power and greatness。 It
was this that aroused the most determined and successful of the enemies of
popery； and led to the battle which shook the papal throne and jostled the
triple crown upon the pontiff's head。
The official appointed to conduct the sale of indulgences in GermanyTetzel
by namehad been convicted of the basest offenses against society and
against the law of God； but having escaped the punishment due for his
crimes； he was employed to further the mercenary and unscrupulous projects
of the pope。 With great effrontery he repeated the most glaring falsehoods
and related marvelous tales to deceive an ignorant； credulous； and
superstitious people。 Had they possessed the word of God they would not have
been thus deceived。 It was to keep them under the control of the papacy； in
order to swell the power and wealth of her ambitious leaders； that the Bible
had been withheld from them。 （See John C。 L。 Gieseler； A Compendium of
Ecclesiastical History； per。 4； sec。 1； par。 5。）
As Tetzel entered a town； a messenger went before him； announcing： 〃The
grace of God and of the holy father is at your gates。〃D'Aubigne； b。 3； ch。
1。 And the people welcomed the blasphemous pretender as if he were God
Himself come down from heaven to them。 The infamous traffic was set up in
the church； and Tetzel； ascending the
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pulpit； extolled the indulgences as the most precious gift of God。 He
declared that by virtue of his certificates of pardon all the sins which the
purchaser should afterward desire to commit would be forgiven him； and that
〃not even repentance is necessary。〃Ibid。； b。 3； ch。 1。 More than this； he
assured his hearers that the indulgences had power to save not only the
living but the dead； that the very moment the money should clink against the
bottom of his chest； the soul in whose behalf it had been paid would escape
from purgatory and make its way to heaven。 （See K。 R。 Hagenbach； History of
the Reformation； vol。 1； p。 96。）
When Simon Magus offered to purchase of the apostles the power to work
miracles； Peter answered him： 〃Thy money perish with thee； because thou hast
thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money。〃 Acts 8：20。 But
Tetzel's offer was grasped by eager thousands。 Gold and silver flowed into
his treasury。 A salvation that could be bought with money was more easily
obtained than that which requires repentance； faith； and diligent effort to
resist and overcome sin。 （See Appendix note for page 59。）
The doctrine of indulgences had been opposed by men of learning and piety in
the Roman Church； and there were many who had no faith in pretensions so
contrary to both reason and revelation。 No prelate dared lift his voice
against this iniquitous traffic； but the minds of men were becoming
disturbed and uneasy； and many eagerly inquired if God would not work
through some instrumentality for the purification of His church。
Luther； though still a papist of the straitest sort； was filled with horror
at the blasphemous assumptions of the indulgence mongers。 Many of his own
congregation had purchased certificates of pardon； and they soon began to
come to their pastor； confessing their various sins； and expecting
absolution； not because they were penitent and wished to reform； but on the
ground of the indulgence。 Luther refused them absolution； and warned them
that unless they should
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repent and reform their lives； they must perish in their sins。 In great
perplexity they repaired to Tetzel with the complaint that their confessor
had refused his certificates； and some boldly demanded that their money be
returned to them。 The friar was filled with rage。 He uttered the most
terrible curses； caused fires to be lighted in the public squares； and
declared that he 〃had received an order from the pope to burn all heretics
who presumed to oppose his most holy indulgences。〃D'Aubigne； b。 3； ch。 4。
Luther now entered boldly upon his work as a champion of the truth。 His
voice was heard from the pulpit in earnest； solemn warning。 He set before
the people the offensive character of sin； and taught them that it is
impossible for man； by his own works； to lessen its guilt or evade its
punishment。 Nothing but repentance toward God and faith in Christ can save
the sinner。 The grace of Christ cannot be purchased； it is a free gift。 He
counseled the people not to buy indulgences； but to look in faith to a
crucified Redeemer。 He related his own painful experience in vainly seeking
by humiliation and penance to secure salvation； and assured his hearers that
it was by looking away from himself and believing in Christ that he found
peace and joy。
As Tetzel continued his traffic and his impious pretensions； Luther
determined upon a more effectual protest against these crying abuses。 An
occasion soon offered。 The castle church of Wittenberg possessed many
relics； which on certain holy days were exhibited to the people； and full
remission of sins was granted to all who then visited the church and made
confession。 Accordingly on these days the people in great numbers resorted
thither。 One of the most important of these occasions； the festival of All
Saints； was approaching。 On the preceding day； Luther； joining the crowds
that were already making their way to the church； posted on its door a paper
containing ninety…five propositions against the doctrine of indulgences。 He
declared his willingness
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to defend these theses next day at the university； against all who should
see fit to attack them。
His propositions attracted universal attention。 They were read and reread；
and repeated in every direction。 Great excitement was created in the
university and in the whole city。 By these theses it was shown that the
power to grant the pardon of sin； and to remit its penalty； had never been
committed to the pope or to any other man。 The whole scheme was a farce；an
artifice to extort money by playing upon the superstitions of the people；a
device of Satan to destroy the souls of all who should trust to its lying
pretensions。 It was also clearly shown that the gospel of Christ is the most
valuable treasure of the church； and that the grace of God； therein
revealed； is freely bestowed upon all who seek it by repentance and faith。
Luther's theses challenged discussion； but no one dared accept the
challenge。 The questions which he proposed had in a few days spread through
all Germany； and in a few weeks they had sounded throughout Christendom。
Many devoted Romanists； who had seen and lamented the terrible iniquity
prevailing in the church； but had not known how to arrest its progress； read
the propositions with great joy； recognizing in them the voice of God。 They
felt that the Lord had graciously set His hand to arrest the rapidly
swelling tide of corruption that was issuing from the see of Rome。 Princes
and magistrates secretly rejoiced that a check was to be put upon the
arrogant power which denied the right of appeal from its decisions。
But the sin…loving and superstitious multitudes were terrified as the
sophistries that had soothed their fears were swept away。 Crafty
ecclesiastics； interrupted in their work of sanctioning crime； and seeing
their gains endangered； were enraged； and rallied to uphold their
pretensions。 The Reformer had bitter accusers to meet。 Some charged him with
acting hastily and from impulse。 Others accused him of presumption；
declaring that he was not directed of God； but was acting from pride and
forwardness。 〃Who does not
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know；〃 he responded； 〃that a man rarely puts forth any new idea without
having some appearance of pride； and without being accused of exciting
quarrels？ 。 。 。 Why