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calmness。 His words had been free from pride； passion； and
misrepresentation。 He had lost sight of himself； and the great men
surrounding him； and felt only that he was in the presence of One infinitely
superior to popes； prelates； kings； and emperors。 Christ had spoken through
Luther's testimony with a power and grandeur that for the
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time inspired both friends and foes with awe and wonder。 The Spirit of God
had been present in that council； impressing the hearts of the chiefs of the
empire。 Several of the princes boldly acknowledged the justice of Luther's
cause。 Many were convinced of the truth； but with some the impressions
received were not lasting。 There was another class who did not at the time
express their convictions； but who； having searched the Scriptures for
themselves； at a future time became fearless supporters of the Reformation。
The elector Frederick had looked forward anxiously to Luther's appearance
before the Diet； and with deep emotion he listened to his speech。 With joy
and pride he witnessed the doctor's courage； firmness； and self…possession；
and determined to stand more firmly in his defense。 He contrasted the
parties in contest； and saw that the wisdom of popes； kings； and prelates
had been brought to nought by the power of truth。 The papacy had sustained a
defeat which would be felt among all nations and in all ages。
As the legate perceived the effect produced by Luther's speech； he feared；
as never before； for the security of the Romish power； and resolved to
employ every means at his command to effect the Reformer's overthrow。 With
all the eloquence and diplomatic skill for which he was so eminently
distinguished； he represented to the youthful emperor the folly and danger
of sacrificing； in the cause of an insignificant monk； the friendship and
support of the powerful see of Rome。
His words were not without effect。 On the day following Luther's answer；
Charles caused a message to be presented to the Diet； announcing his
determination to carry out the policy of his predecessors to maintain and
protect the Catholic religion。 Since Luther had refused to renounce his
errors； the most vigorous measures should be employed against him and the
heresies he taught。 〃A single monk； misled by his own folly； has risen
against the faith of Christendom。 To stay such impiety； I will sacrifice my
kingdoms； my treasures；
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my friends； my body； my blood； my soul； and my life。 I am about to dismiss
the Augustine Luther； forbidding him to cause the least disorder among the
people； I shall then proceed against him and his adherents as contumacious
heretics； by excommunication； by interdict； and by every means calculated to
destroy them。 I call on the members of the states to behave like faithful
Christians。〃Ibid。； b。 7； ch。 9。 Nevertheless the emperor declared that
Luther's safe…conduct must be respected； and that before proceedings against
him could be instituted； he must be allowed to reach his home in safety。
Two conflicting opinions were now urged by the members of the Diet。 The
emissaries and representatives of the pope again demanded that the
Reformer's safe…conduct should be disregarded。 〃The Rhine；〃 they said；
〃should receive his ashes； as it had received those of John Huss a century
ago。〃Ibid。； b。 7； ch。 9。 But princes of Germany； though themselves papists
and avowed enemies to Luther； protested against such a breach of public
faith； as a stain upon the honor of the nation。 They pointed to the
calamities which had followed the death of Huss； and declared that they
dared not call down upon Germany； and upon the head of their youthful
emperor； a repetition of those terrible evils。
Charles himself； in answer to the base proposal； said： 〃Though honor and
faith should be banished from all the world； they ought to find a refuge in
the hearts of princes。〃 Ibid。； b。 7； ch。 9。 He was still further urged by
the most bitter of Luther's papal enemies to deal with the Reformer as
Sigismund had dealt with Hussabandon him to the mercies of the church； but
recalling the scene when Huss in public assembly had pointed to his chains
and reminded the monarch of his plighted faith； Charles V declared： 〃I
should not like to blush like Sigismund。〃Lenfant； vol。 1； p。 422。
Yet Charles had deliberately rejected the truths presented by Luther。 〃I am
firmly resolved to imitate the example of my ancestors；〃 wrote the
monarch。D'Aubigne； b。 7； ch。 9。 He had decided that he would not step out
of the path of
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custom； even to walk in the ways of truth and righteousness。 Because his
fathers did； he would uphold the papacy； with all its cruelty and
corruption。 Thus he took his position； refusing to accept any light in
advance of what his fathers had received； or to perform any duty that they
had not performed。
There are many at the present day thus clinging to the customs and
traditions of their fathers。 When the Lord sends them additional light； they
refuse to accept it； because； not having been granted to their fathers； it
was not received by them。 We are not placed where our fathers were；
consequently our duties and responsibilities are not the same as theirs。 We
shall not be approved of God in looking to the example of our fathers to
determine our duty instead of searching the word of truth for ourselves。 Our
responsibility is greater than was that of our ancestors。 We are accountable
for the light which they received； and which was handed down as an
inheritance for us； and we are accountable also for the additional light
which is now shining upon us from the word of God。
Said Christ of the unbelieving Jews： 〃If I had not come and spoken unto
them； they had not had sin： but now they have no cloak for their sin。〃 John
15：22。 The same divine power had spoken through Luther to the emperor and
princes of Germany。 And as the light shone forth from God's word； His Spirit
pleaded for the last time with many in that assembly。 As Pilate； centuries
before； permitted pride and popularity to close his heart against the
world's Redeemer； as the trembling Felix bade the messenger of truth； 〃Go
thy way for this time； when I have a convenient season； I will call for
thee；〃 as the proud Agrippa confessed； 〃Almost thou persuadest me to be a
Christian〃 （Acts 24：25； 26：28）； yet turned away from the Heaven…sent
messageso had Charles V； yielding to the dictates of worldly pride and
policy； decided to reject the light of truth。
Rumors of the designs against Luther were widely circulated； causing great
excitement throughout the city。 The
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Reformer had made many friends； who； knowing the treacherous cruelty of Rome
toward all who dared expose her corruptions； resolved that he should not be
sacrificed。 Hundreds of nobles pledged themselves to protect him。 Not a few
openly denounced the royal message of evincing a weak submission to the
controlling power of Rome。 On the gates of houses and in public places；
placards were posted； some condemning and others sustaining Luther。 On one
of these were written merely the significant words of the wise man： 〃Woe to
thee； O land； when thy king is a child。〃 Ecclesiastes 10：16。 The popular
enthusiasm in Luther's favor throughout all Germany convinced both the
emperor and the Diet that any injustice shown him would endanger the peace
of the empire and even the stability of the throne。
Frederick of Saxony maintained a studied reserve； carefully concealing his
real feelings toward the Reformer； while at the same time he guarded him
with tireless vigilance； watching all his movements and all those of his
enemies。 But there were many who made no attempt to conceal their sympathy
with Luther。 He was visited by princes； counts； barons； and other persons of
distinction； both lay and ecclesiastical。 〃The doctor's little room；〃 wrote
Spalatin； 〃could not contain all the visitors who presented themselves。〃
Martyn； vol。 1； p。 404。 The people gazed upon him as if he were more than
human。 Even those who had no faith in his doctrines could not but admire
that lofty integrity which led him to brave death rather than violate his
conscience。
Earnest efforts were made to obtain Luther's consent to a compromise with
Rome。 Nobles and princes represented to him that if he persisted in setting
up his own judgment against that of the church and the councils he would
soon be banished from the empire and would have no defense。 To this appeal
Luther answered： 〃The gospel of Christ cannot be preached without offense。 。
。 。 Why then should the fear or apprehension of danger separate me from the
Lord； and from that divine word which alone is truth？ No； I
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would rather give up my body； my blood； and my life。〃 D'Aubigne； b。 7； ch。
10。
Again he was urged to submit to the judgment of the emperor； and then he
would have nothing to fear。 〃I consent；〃 said he in reply； 〃with all my
heart； that the emperor； the princes； and even the meanest Christian； should
examine and judge my works； but on one condition； that they take the word of
God for their standa