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do in reflecting to others the light which God had permitted to shine upon
him； yet he did not receive all the light which was to be given to the
world。 From that time to this； new light has been
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continually shining upon the Scriptures； and new truths have been constantly
unfolding。
The legate's address made a deep impression upon the Diet。 There was no
Luther present； with the clear and convincing truths of God's word； to
vanquish the papal champion。 No attempt was made to defend the Reformer。
There was manifest a general disposition not only to condemn him and the
doctrines which he taught； but if possible to uproot the heresy。 Rome had
enjoyed the most favorable opportunity to defend her cause。 All that she
could say in her own vindication had been said。 But the apparent victory was
the signal of defeat。 Henceforth the contrast between truth and error would
be more clearly seen； as they should take the field in open warfare。 Never
from that day would Rome stand as secure as she had stood。
While most of the members of the Diet would not have hesitated to yield up
Luther to the vengeance of Rome； many of them saw and deplored the existing
depravity in the church； and desired a suppression of the abuses suffered by
the German people in consequence of the corruption and greed of the
hierarchy。 The legate had presented the papal rule in the most favorable
light。 Now the Lord moved upon a member of the Diet to give a true
delineation of the effects of papal tyranny。 With noble firmness； Duke
George of Saxony stood up in that princely assembly and specified with
terrible exactness the deceptions and abominations of popery； and their dire
results。 In closing he said：
〃These are some of the abuses that cry out against Rome。 All shame has been
put aside； and their only object is 。 。 。 money； money； money； 。 。 。 so that
the preachers who should teach the truth； utter nothing but falsehoods； and
are not only tolerated； but rewarded； because the greater their lies； the
greater their gain。 It is from this foul spring that such tainted waters
flow。 Debauchery stretches out the hand to avarice。 。 。 。 Alas； it is the
scandal caused by the clergy that hurls so many poor souls into eternal
condemnation。 A general reform must be effected。〃Ibid。； b。 7； ch。 4。
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A more able and forcible denunciation of the papal abuses could not have
been presented by Luther himself； and the fact that the speaker was a
determined enemy of the Reformer's gave greater influence to his words。
Had the eyes of the assembly been opened； they would have beheld angels of
God in the midst of them； shedding beams of light athwart the darkness of
error and opening minds and hearts to the reception of truth。 It was the
power of the God of truth and wisdom that controlled even the adversaries of
the reformation； and thus prepared the way for the great work about to be
accomplished。 Martin Luther was not present； but the voice of One greater
than Luther had been heard in that assembly。
A committee was at once appointed by the Diet to prepare an enumeration of
the papal oppressions that weighed so heavily on the German people。 This
list； containing a hundred and one specifications； was presented to the
emperor； with a request that he would take immediate measures for the
correction of these abuses。 〃What a loss of Christian souls；〃 said the
petitioners； 〃what depredations； what extortions； on account of the scandals
by which the spiritual head of Christendom is surrounded！ It is our duty to
prevent the ruin and dishonor of our people。 For this reason we most humbly
but most urgently entreat you to order a general reformation； and to
undertake its accomplishment。〃Ibid。； b。 7； ch。 4。
The council now demanded the Reformer's appearance before them。
Notwithstanding the entreaties； protests； and threats of Aleander； the
emperor at last consented； and Luther was summoned to appear before the
Diet。 With the summons was issued a safe…conduct； ensuring his return to a
place of security。 These were borne to Wittenberg by a herald； who was
commissioned to conduct him to Worms。
The friends of Luther were terrified and distressed。 Knowing the prejudice
and enmity against him； they feared that even his safe…conduct would not be
respected； and they entreated him not to imperil his life。 He replied： 〃The
papists do not desire my coming to Worms； but my
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condemnation and my death。 It matters not。 Pray not for me； but for the word
of God。 。 。 。 Christ will give me His Spirit to overcome these ministers of
error。 I despise them during my life； I shall triumph over them by my death。
They are busy at Worms about compelling me to retract； and this shall be my
retraction： I said formerly that the pope was Christ's vicar； now I assert
that he is our Lord's adversary； and the devil's apostle。〃Ibid。； b。 7； ch。
6。
Luther was not to make his perilous journey alone。 Besides the imperial
messenger； three of his firmest friends determined to accompany him。
Melanchthon earnestly desired to join them。 His heart was knit to Luther's；
and he yearned to follow him； if need be； to prison or to death。 But his
entreaties were denied。 Should Luther perish； the hopes of the Reformation
must center upon his youthful colaborer。 Said the Reformer as he parted from
Melanchthon： 〃If I do not return； and my enemies put me to death； continue
to teach； and stand fast in the truth。 Labor in my stead。 。 。 。 If you
survive； my death will be of little consequence。〃 Ibid。； b。 7； ch。 7。
Students and citizens who had gathered to witness Luther's departure were
deeply moved。 A multitude whose hearts had been touched by the gospel； bade
him farewell with weeping。 Thus the Reformer and his companions set out from
Wittenberg。
On the journey they saw that the minds of the people were oppressed by
gloomy forebodings。 At some towns no honors were proffered them。 As they
stopped for the night； a friendly priest expressed his fears by holding up
before Luther the portrait of an Italian reformer who had suffered
martyrdom。 The next day they learned that Luther's writings had been
condemned at Worms。 Imperial messengers were proclaiming the emperor's
decree and calling upon the people to bring the proscribed works to the
magistrates。 The herald； fearing for Luther's safety at the council； and
thinking that already his resolution might be shaken； asked if he still
wished to go forward。 He answered： 〃Although interdicted in every city； I
shall go on。〃Ibid。； b。 7； ch。 7。
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At Erfurt； Luther was received with honor。 Surrounded by admiring crowds； he
passed through the streets that he had often traversed with his beggar's
wallet。 He visited his convent cell； and thought upon the struggles through
which the light now flooding Germany had been shed upon his soul。 He was
urged to preach。 This he had been forbidden to do； but the herald granted
him permission； and the friar who had once been made the drudge of the
convent； now entered the pulpit。
To a crowded assembly he spoke from the words of Christ； 〃Peace be unto
you。〃 〃Philosophers； doctors； and writers；〃 he said； 〃have endeavored to
teach men the way to obtain everlasting life； and they have not succeeded。 I
will now tell it to you： 。 。 。 God has raised one Man from the dead； the
Lord Jesus Christ； that He might destroy death； extirpate sin； and shut the
gates of hell。 This is the work of salvation。 。 。 。 Christ has vanquished！
this is the joyful news； and we are saved by His work； and not by our own。 。
。 。 Our Lord Jesus Christ said； 'Peace be unto you； behold My hands；' that
is to say； Behold； O man！ it is I； I alone； who have taken away thy sin； and
ransomed thee； and now thou hast peace； saith the Lord。〃
He continued； showing that true faith will be manifested by a holy life。
〃Since God has saved us； let us so order our works that they may be
acceptable to Him。 Art thou rich？ let thy goods administer to the
necessities of the poor。 Art thou poor？ let thy services be acceptable to
the rich。 If thy labor is useful to thyself alone； the service that thou
pretendest to render unto God is a lie。〃Ibid。； b。 7； ch。 7。
The people listened as if spellbound。 The bread of life was broken to those
starving souls。 Christ was lifted up before them as above popes； legates；
emperors； and kings。 Luther made no reference to his own perilous position。
He did not seek to make himself the object of thought or sympathy。 In the
contemplation of Christ he had lost sight of self。 He hid behind the Man of
Calvary； seeking only to present Jesus as the sinner's Redeemer。
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As the Reformer proceeded on his journey； he was everywhere regarded with
great interest。 An eager multitude thronged about him； and friendly voices
warned him of the purpose of the Romanists。 〃They will burn you；〃 said some；
〃and reduce your body to ashes； as they did with John Huss。〃 Luther
answered； 〃Though they should kindle a fire all the way from Worms to
Witt