heroes and hero worship-第30节
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present； it was still as one light…point in an element all of darkness。 He says he was a pious monk； _ich bin ein frommer Monch gewesen_； faithfully； painfully struggling to work out the truth of this high act of his； but it was to little purpose。 His misery had not lessened； had rather； as it were； increased into infinitude。 The drudgeries he had to do； as novice in his Convent； all sorts of slave…work； were not his grievance： the deep earnest soul of the man had fallen into all manner of black scruples； dubitations； he believed himself likely to die soon； and far worse than die。 One hears with a new interest for poor Luther that； at this time； he lived in terror of the unspeakable misery； fancied that he was doomed to eternal reprobation。 Was it not the humble sincere nature of the man？ What was he； that he should be raised to Heaven！ He that had known only misery； and mean slavery： the news was too blessed to be credible。 It could not become clear to him how； by fasts； vigils； formalities and mass…work； a man's soul could be saved。 He fell into the blackest wretchedness； had to wander staggering as on the verge of bottomless Despair。
It must have been a most blessed discovery； that of an old Latin Bible which he found in the Erfurt Library about this time。 He had never seen the Book before。 It taught him another lesson than that of fasts and vigils。 A brother monk too； of pious experience； was helpful。 Luther learned now that a man was saved not by singing masses； but by the infinite grace of God： a more credible hypothesis。 He gradually got himself founded； as on the rock。 No wonder he should venerate the Bible； which had brought this blessed help to him。 He prized it as the Word of the Highest must be prized by such a man。 He determined to hold by that； as through life and to death he firmly did。
This； then； is his deliverance from darkness； his final triumph over darkness； what we call his conversion； for himself the most important of all epochs。 That he should now grow daily in peace and clearness； that； unfolding now the great talents and virtues implanted in him； he should rise to importance in his Convent； in his country； and be found more and more useful in all honest business of life； is a natural result。 He was sent on missions by his Augustine Order； as a man of talent and fidelity fit to do their business well： the Elector of Saxony； Friedrich； named the Wise； a truly wise and just prince； had cast his eye on him as a valuable person； made him Professor in his new University of Wittenberg； Preacher too at Wittenberg； in both which capacities； as in all duties he did； this Luther； in the peaceable sphere of common life； was gaining more and more esteem with all good men。
It was in his twenty…seventh year that he first saw Rome； being sent thither； as I said； on mission from his Convent。 Pope Julius the Second； and what was going on at Rome； must have filled the mind of Luther with amazement。 He had come as to the Sacred City； throne of God's High…priest on Earth； and he found itwhat we know！ Many thoughts it must have given the man； many which we have no record of； which perhaps he did not himself know how to utter。 This Rome； this scene of false priests； clothed not in the beauty of holiness； but in far other vesture； is _false_： but what is it to Luther？ A mean man he； how shall he reform a world？ That was far from his thoughts。 A humble； solitary man； why should he at all meddle with the world？ It was the task of quite higher men than he。 His business was to guide his own footsteps wisely through the world。 Let him do his own obscure duty in it well； the rest； horrible and dismal as it looks； is in God's hand； not in his。
It is curious to reflect what might have been the issue； had Roman Popery happened to pass this Luther by； to go on in its great wasteful orbit； and not come athwart his little path； and force him to assault it！ Conceivable enough that； in this case； he might have held his peace about the abuses of Rome； left Providence； and God on high； to deal with them！ A modest quiet man； not prompt he to attack irreverently persons in authority。 His clear task； as I say； was to do his own duty； to walk wisely in this world of confused wickedness； and save his own soul alive。 But the Roman High…priesthood did come athwart him： afar off at Wittenberg he； Luther； could not get lived in honesty for it； he remonstrated； resisted； came to extremity； was struck at； struck again； and so it came to wager of battle between them！ This is worth attending to in Luther's history。 Perhaps no man of so humble； peaceable a disposition ever filled the world with contention。 We cannot but see that he would have loved privacy； quiet diligence in the shade； that it was against his will he ever became a notoriety。 Notoriety： what would that do for him？ The goal of his march through this world was the Infinite Heaven； an indubitable goal for him： in a few years； he should either have attained that； or lost it forever！ We will say nothing at all； I think； of that sorrowfulest of theories； of its being some mean shopkeeper grudge； of the Augustine Monk against the Dominican； that first kindled the wrath of Luther； and produced the Protestant Reformation。 We will say to the people who maintain it； if indeed any such exist now： Get first into the sphere of thought by which it is so much as possible to judge of Luther； or of any man like Luther； otherwise than distractedly； we may then begin arguing with you。
The Monk Tetzel； sent out carelessly in the way of trade； by Leo Tenth；who merely wanted to raise a little money； and for the rest seems to have been a Pagan rather than a Christian； so far as he was anything；arrived at Wittenberg； and drove his scandalous trade there。 Luther's flock bought Indulgences； in the confessional of his Church； people pleaded to him that they had already got their sins pardoned。 Luther； if he would not be found wanting at his own post； a false sluggard and coward at the very centre of the little space of ground that was his own and no other man's； had to step forth against Indulgences； and declare aloud that _they_ were a futility and sorrowful mockery； that no man's sins could be pardoned by _them_。 It was the beginning of the whole Reformation。 We know how it went； forward from this first public challenge of Tetzel； on the last day of October； 1517； through remonstrance and argument；spreading ever wider； rising ever higher； till it became unquenchable； and enveloped all the world。 Luther's heart's desire was to have this grief and other griefs amended； his thought was still far other than that of introducing separation in the Church； or revolting against the Pope； Father of Christendom。The elegant Pagan Pope cared little about this Monk and his doctrines； wished； however； to have done with the noise of him： in a space of some three years； having tried various softer methods； he thought good to end it by _fire_。 He dooms the Monk's writings to be burnt by the hangman； and his body to be sent bound to Rome；probably for a similar purpose。 It was the way they had ended with Huss； with Jerome； the century before。 A short argument； fire。 Poor Huss： he came to that Constance Council； with all imaginable promises and safe…conducts； an earnest； not rebellious kind of man： they laid him instantly in a stone dungeon 〃three feet wide； six feet high； seven feet long；〃 _burnt_ the true voice of him out of this world； choked it in smoke and fire。 That was _not_ well done！
I； for one； pardon Luther for now altogether revolting against the Pope。 The elegant Pagan； by this fire…decree of his； had kindled into noble just wrath the bravest heart then living in this world。 The bravest； if also one of the humblest； peaceablest； it was now kindled。 These words of mine； words of truth and soberness； aiming faithfully； as human inability would allow； to promote God's truth on Earth； and save men's souls； you； God's vicegerent on earth； answer them by the hangman and fire？ You will burn me and them； for answer to the God's…message they strove to bring you？ You are not God's vicegerent； you are another's than his； I think！ I take your Bull； as an emparchmented Lie； and burn _it_。 _You_ will do what you see good next： this is what I do。It was on the 10th of December； 1520； three years after the beginning of the business； that Luther； 〃with a great concourse of people；〃 took this indignant step of burning the Pope's fire…decree 〃at the Elster…Gate of Wittenberg。〃 Wittenberg looked on 〃with shoutings；〃 the whole world was looking on。 The Pope should not have provoked that 〃shout〃！ It was the shout of the awakening of nations。 The quiet German heart； modest； patient of much； had at length got more than it could bear。 Formulism； Pagan Popeism； and other Falsehood and corrupt Semblance had ruled long enough： and here once more was a man found who durst tell all men that God's…world stood not on semblances but on realities； that Life was a truth； and not a lie！
At bottom； as was said above； we are to consider Luther as a Prophet Idol…breaker； a bringer…back of men to reality。 It is the function of great men and teachers。 Mahomet said； These idols of y
