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of the gospel。 But let no one be torn from it by force。 We must leave the
matter in God's hands。 His word must act； and not we。 And why so？ you will
ask。 Because I do not hold men's hearts in my hand； as the potter holds the
clay。 We have a right to speak： we have not the right to act。 Let us preach；
the rest belongs unto God。 Were I to employ force； what should I gain？
Grimace； formality； apings； human ordinances； and hypocrisy。 。 。 。 But there
would be no sincerity
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of heart； nor faith； nor charity。 Where these three are wanting； all is
wanting； and I would not give a pear stalk for such a result。 。 。 。 God does
more by His word alone than you and I and all the world by our united
strength。 God lays hold upon the heart； and when the heart is taken； all is
won。 。 。 。
〃I will preach； discuss； and write； but I will constrain none； for faith is
a voluntary act。 See what I have done。 I stood up against the pope；
indulgences； and papists； but without violence or tumult。 I put forward
God's word； I preached and wrotethis was all I did。 And yet while I was
asleep； 。 。 。 the word that I had preached overthrew popery； so that neither
prince nor emperor has done it so much harm。 And yet I did nothing； the word
alone did all。 If I had wished to appeal to force； the whole of Germany
would perhaps have been deluged with blood。 But what would have been the
result？ Ruin and desolation both to body and soul。 I therefore kept quiet；
and left the word to run through the world alone。〃Ibid。； b。 9； ch。 8。
Day after day； for a whole week； Luther continued to preach to eager crowds。
The word of God broke the spell of fanatical excitement。 The power of the
gospel brought back the misguided people into the way of truth。
Luther had no desire to encounter the fanatics whose course had been
productive of so great evil。 He knew them to be men of unsound judgment and
undisciplined passions； who； while claiming to be specially illuminated from
heaven； would not endure the slightest contradiction or even the kindest
reproof or counsel。 Arrogating to themselves supreme authority； they
required everyone； without a question； to acknowledge their claims。 But； as
they demanded an interview with him； he consented to meet them； and so
successfully did he expose their pretensions that the impostors at once
departed from Wittenberg。
The fanaticism was checked for a time； but several years later it broke out
with greater violence and more terrible results。 Said Luther； concerning the
leaders in this movement：
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〃To them the Holy Scriptures were but a dead letter； and they all began to
cry； 'The Spirit！ the Spirit！' But most assuredly I will not follow where
their spirit leads them。 May God of His mercy preserve me from a church in
which there are none but saints。 I desire to dwell with the humble； the
feeble； the sick； who know and feel their sins； and who groan and cry
continually to God from the bottom of their hearts to obtain His consolation
and support。〃Ibid。； b。 10； ch。 10。
Thomas Munzer； the most active of the fanatics； was a man of considerable
ability； which； rightly directed； would have enabled him to do good； but he
had not learned the first principles of true religion。 〃He was possessed
with a desire of reforming the world； and forgot； as all enthusiasts do；
that the reformation should begin with himself。〃Ibid。； b。
9； ch。 8。 He was ambitious to obtain position and influence； and
was unwilling to be second； even to Luther。 He declared that the Reformers；
in substituting the authority of Scripture for that of the pope； were only
establishing a different form of popery。 He himself； he claimed； had been
divinely commissioned to introduce the true reform。 〃He who possesses this
spirit；〃 said Munzer； 〃possesses the true faith； although he should never
see the Scriptures in his life。〃Ibid。； b。 10； ch。 10。
The fanatical teachers gave themselves up to be governed by impressions；
regarding every thought and impulse as the voice of God； consequently they
went to great extremes。 Some even burned their Bibles； exclaiming： 〃The
letter killeth； but the Spirit giveth life。〃 Munzer's teaching appealed to
men's desire for the marvelous； while it gratified their pride by virtually
placing human ideas and opinions above the word of God。 His doctrines were
received by thousands。 He soon denounced all order in public worship； and
declared that to obey princes was to attempt to serve both God and Belial。
The minds of the people； already beginning to throw off the yoke of the
papacy； were also becoming impatient under the restraints of civil
authority。 Munzer's revolutionary
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teachings； claiming divine sanction； led them to break away from all control
and give the rein to their prejudices and passions。 The most terrible scenes
of sedition and strife followed； and the fields of Germany were drenched
with blood。
The agony of soul which Luther had so long before experienced at Erfurt now
pressed upon him with redoubled power as he saw the results of fanaticism
charged upon the Reformation。 The papist princes declaredand many were
ready to credit the statementthat the rebellion was the legitimate fruit
of Luther's doctrines。 Although this charge was without the slightest
foundation； it could not but cause the Reformer great distress。 That the
cause of truth should be thus disgraced by being ranked with the basest
fanaticism； seemed more than he could endure。 On the other hand； the leaders
in the revolt hated Luther because he had not only opposed their doctrines
and denied their claims to divine inspiration； but had pronounced them
rebels against the civil authority。 In retaliation they denounced him as a
base pretender。 He seemed to have brought upon himself the enmity of both
princes and people。
The Romanists exulted； expecting to witness the speedy downfall of the
Reformation； and they blamed Luther； even for the errors which he had been
most earnestly endeavoring to correct。 The fanatical party； by falsely
claiming to have been treated with great injustice； succeeded in gaining the
sympathies of a large class of the people； and； as is often the case with
those who take the wrong side； they came to be regarded as martyrs。 Thus the
ones who were exerting every energy in opposition to the Reformation were
pitied and lauded as the victims of cruelty and oppression。 This was the
work of Satan； prompted by the same spirit of rebellion which was first
manifested in heaven。
Satan is constantly seeking to deceive men and lead them to call sin
righteousness； and righteousness sin。 How successful has been his work！ How
often censure and reproach are cast upon God's faithful servants because
they
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will stand fearlessly in defense of the truth！ Men who are but agents of
Satan are praised and flattered； and even looked upon as martyrs； while
those who should be respected and sustained for their fidelity to God； are
left to stand alone； under suspicion and distrust。
Counterfeit holiness； spurious sanctification； is still doing its work of
deception。 Under various forms it exhibits the same spirit as in the days of
Luther； diverting minds from the Scriptures and leading men to follow their
own feelings and impressions rather than to yield obedience to the law of
God。 This is one of Satan's most successful devices to cast reproach upon
purity and truth。
Fearlessly did Luther defend the gospel from the attacks which came from
every quarter。 The word of God proved itself a weapon mighty in every
conflict。 With that word he warred against the usurped authority of the
pope； and the rationalistic philosophy of the schoolmen； while he stood firm
as a rock against the fanaticism that sought to ally itself with the
Reformation。
Each of these opposing elements was in its own way setting aside the Holy
Scriptures and exalting human wisdom as the source of religious truth and
knowledge。 Rationalism idolizes reason and makes this the criterion for
religion。 Romanism； claiming for her sovereign pontiff an inspiration
descended in unbroken line from the apostles； and unchangeable through all
time； gives ample opportunity for every species of extravagance and
corruption to be concealed under the sanctity of the apostolic commission。
The inspiration claimed by Munzer and his associates proceeded from no
higher source than the vagaries of the imagination； and its influence was
subversive of all authority； human or divine。 True Christianity receives the
word of God as the great treasure house of inspired truth and the test of
all inspiration。
Upon his return from the Wartburg； Luther completed his translation of the
New Testament； and the gospel was soon after given to the people of Germany
in their own
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language。 This translation was received with great joy by all who loved the
truth； but it was scornfully rejected by those who chose human traditions
and the commandments of men。
The priests were alarmed at the thought that the common people would now be
able to discuss with them the prece