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！
having some appearance of pride； and without being accused of exciting
quarrels？ 。 。 。 Why were Christ and all the martyrs put to death？ Because
they seemed to be proud contemners of the wisdom of the time； and because
they advanced novelties without having first humbly taken counsel of the
oracles of the ancient opinions。〃
Again he declared： 〃Whatever I do will be done； not by the prudence of men；
but by the counsel of God。 If the work be of God； who shall stop it？ if it
be not； who can forward it？ Not my will； nor theirs； nor ours； but Thy will；
O holy Father； which art in heaven。〃Ibid。； b。 3； ch。 6。
Though Luther had been moved by the Spirit of God to begin his work； he was
not to carry it forward without severe conflicts。 The reproaches of his
enemies； their misrepresentation of his purposes； and their unjust and
malicious reflections upon his character and motives； came in upon him like
an overwhelming flood； and they were not without effect。 He had felt
confident that the leaders of the people； both in the church and in the
schools； would gladly unite with him in efforts for reform。 Words of
encouragement from those in high position had inspired him with joy and
hope。 Already in anticipation he had seen a brighter day dawning for the
church。 But encouragement had changed to reproach and condemnation。 Many
dignitaries； of both church and state； were convicted of the truthfulness of
his theses； but they soon saw that the acceptance of these truths would
involve great changes。 To enlighten and reform the people would be virtually
to undermine the authority of Rome； to stop thousands of streams now flowing
into her treasury； and thus greatly to curtail the extravagance and luxury
of the papal leaders。 Furthermore； to teach the people to think and act as
responsible beings； looking to Christ alone for salvation； would overthrow
the pontiff's throne and eventually destroy their own authority。 For this
reason they refused the knowledge tendered them of God and arrayed
132
themselves against Christ and the truth by their opposition to the man whom
He had sent to enlighten them。
Luther trembled as he looked upon himselfone man opposed to the mightiest
powers of earth。 He sometimes doubted whether he had indeed been led of God
to set himself against the authority of the church。 〃Who was I；〃 he writes；
〃to oppose the majesty of the pope； before whom 。。。 the kings of the earth
and the whole world trembled？ 。。。 No one can know what my heart suffered
during these first two years； and into what despondency； I may say into what
despair； I was sunk。〃Ibid。； b。 3； ch。 6。 But he was not left to become
utterly disheartened。 When human support failed； he looked to God alone and
learned that he could lean in perfect safety upon that all…powerful arm。
To a friend of the Reformation Luther wrote： 〃We cannot attain to the
understanding of Scripture either by study or by the intellect。 Your first
duty is to begin by prayer。 Entreat the Lord to grant you； of His great
mercy； the true understanding of His word。 There is no other interpreter of
the word of God than the Author of this word； as He Himself has said； 'They
shall be all taught of God。' Hope for nothing from your own labors； from
your own understanding： trust solely in God； and in the influence of His
Spirit。 Believe this on the word of a man who has had experience。〃Ibid。；
b。 3； ch。 7。 Here is a lesson of vital importance to those who feel that God
has called them to present to others the solemn truths for this time。 These
truths will stir the enmity of Satan and of men who love the fables that he
has devised。 In the conflict with the powers of evil there is need of
something more than strength of intellect and human wisdom。
When enemies appealed to custom and tradition； or to the assertions and
authority of the pope； Luther met them with the Bible and the Bible only。
Here were arguments which they could not answer； therefore the slaves of
formalism and superstition clamored for his blood； as the Jews had clamored
for the blood of Christ。 〃He is a heretic；〃
133
cried the Roman zealots。 〃It is high treason against the church to allow so
horrible a heretic to live one hour longer。 Let the scaffold be instantly
erected for him！〃Ibid。； b。 3； ch。 9。 But Luther did not fall a prey to
their fury。 God had a work for him to do； and angels of heaven were sent to
protect him。 Many； however； who had received from Luther the precious light
were made the objects of Satan's wrath and for the truth's sake fearlessly
suffered torture and death。
Luther's teachings attracted the attention of thoughtful minds throughout
all Germany。 From his sermons and writings issued beams of light which
awakened and illuminated thousands。 A living faith was taking the place of
the dead formalism in which the church had so long been held。 The people
were daily losing confidence in the superstitions of Romanism。 The barriers
of prejudice were giving way。 The word of God； by which Luther tested every
doctrine and every claim； was like a two…edged sword； cutting its way to the
hearts of the people。 Everywhere there was awakening a desire for spiritual
progress。 Everywhere was such a hungering and thirsting after righteousness
as had not been known for ages。 The eyes of the people； so long directed to
human rites and earthly mediators； were now turning in penitence and faith
to Christ and Him crucified。
This widespread interest aroused still further the fears of the papal
authorities。 Luther received a summons to appear at Rome to answer to the
charge of heresy。 The command filled his friends with terror。 They knew full
well the danger that threatened him in that corrupt city； already drunk with
the blood of the martyrs of Jesus。 They protested against his going to Rome
and requested that he receive his examination in Germany。
This arrangement was finally effected； and the pope's legate was appointed
to hear the case。 In the instructions communicated by the pontiff to this
official； it was stated that Luther had already been declared a heretic。 The
legate was therefore charged 〃to prosecute and constrain without
134
any delay。〃 If he should remain steadfast； and the legate should fail to
gain possession of his person； he was empowered 〃to proscribe him in every
part of Germany； to banish； curse； and excommunicate all those who are
attached to him。〃Ibid。； b。 4； ch。 2。 And； further； the pope directed his
legate； in order entirely to root out the pestilent heresy； to excommunicate
all； of whatever dignity in church or state； except the emperor； who should
neglect to seize Luther and his adherents； and deliver them up to the
vengeance of Rome。
Here is displayed the true spirit of popery。 Not a trace of Christian
principle； or even of common justice； is to be seen in the whole document。
Luther was at a great distance from Rome； he had had no opportunity to
explain or defend his position； yet before his case had been investigated；
he was summarily pronounced a heretic； and in the same day； exhorted；
accused； judged； and condemned； and all this by the self…styled holy father；
the only supreme； infallible authority in church or state！
At this time； when Luther so much needed the sympathy and counsel of a true
friend； God's providence sent Melanchthon to Wittenberg。 Young in years；
modest and diffident in his manners； Melanchthon's sound judgment； extensive
knowledge； and winning eloquence； combined with the purity and uprightness
of his character； won universal admiration and esteem。 The brilliancy of his
talents was not more marked than his gentleness of disposition。 He soon
became an earnest disciple of the gospel； and Luther's most trusted friend
and valued supporter； his gentleness； caution； and exactness serving as a
complement to Luther's courage and energy。 Their union in the work added
strength to the Reformation and was a source of great encouragement to
Luther。
Augsburg had been fixed upon as the place of trial； and the Reformer set out
on foot to perform the journey thither。 Serious fears were entertained in
his behalf。 Threats had been made openly that he would be seized and
murdered on the way； and his friends begged him not to venture。 They
135
even entreated him to leave Wittenberg for a time and find safety with those
who would gladly protect him。 But he would not leave the position where God
had placed him。 He must continue faithfully to maintain the truth；
notwithstanding the storms that were beating upon him。 His language was： 〃I
am like Jeremiah； a man of strife and contention； but the more their threats
increase； the more my joy is multiplied。 。 。 。 They have already destroyed
my honor and my reputation。 One single thing remains； it is my wretched
body： let them take it； they will thus shorten my life by a few hours。 But
as for my soul； they cannot take that。 He who desires to proclaim the word
of Christ to the world； must expect death at every moment。〃Ibid。； b。 4；
ch。 4。
The tidings of Luther's arrival at Augsburg gave g