the great controversy-第33节

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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。

150


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。

152


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