the great controversy-第33章
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for the blood of Christ。 〃He is a heretic；〃
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cried the Roman zealots。 〃It is high treason against the church to allow so
horrible a heretic to live one hour longer。 Let the scaffold be instantly
erected for him！〃Ibid。； b。 3； ch。 9。 But Luther did not fall a prey to
their fury。 God had a work for him to do； and angels of heaven were sent to
protect him。 Many； however； who had received from Luther the precious light
were made the objects of Satan's wrath and for the truth's sake fearlessly
suffered torture and death。
Luther's teachings attracted the attention of thoughtful minds throughout
all Germany。 From his sermons and writings issued beams of light which
awakened and illuminated thousands。 A living faith was taking the place of
the dead formalism in which the church had so long been held。 The people
were daily losing confidence in the superstitions of Romanism。 The barriers
of prejudice were giving way。 The word of God； by which Luther tested every
doctrine and every claim； was like a two…edged sword； cutting its way to the
hearts of the people。 Everywhere there was awakening a desire for spiritual
progress。 Everywhere was such a hungering and thirsting after righteousness
as had not been known for ages。 The eyes of the people； so long directed to
human rites and earthly mediators； were now turning in penitence and faith
to Christ and Him crucified。
This widespread interest aroused still further the fears of the papal
authorities。 Luther received a summons to appear at Rome to answer to the
charge of heresy。 The command filled his friends with terror。 They knew full
well the danger that threatened him in that corrupt city； already drunk with
the blood of the martyrs of Jesus。 They protested against his going to Rome
and requested that he receive his examination in Germany。
This arrangement was finally effected； and the pope's legate was appointed
to hear the case。 In the instructions communicated by the pontiff to this
official； it was stated that Luther had already been declared a heretic。 The
legate was therefore charged 〃to prosecute and constrain without
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any delay。〃 If he should remain steadfast； and the legate should fail to
gain possession of his person； he was empowered 〃to proscribe him in every
part of Germany； to banish； curse； and excommunicate all those who are
attached to him。〃Ibid。； b。 4； ch。 2。 And； further； the pope directed his
legate； in order entirely to root out the pestilent heresy； to excommunicate
all； of whatever dignity in church or state； except the emperor； who should
neglect to seize Luther and his adherents； and deliver them up to the
vengeance of Rome。
Here is displayed the true spirit of popery。 Not a trace of Christian
principle； or even of common justice； is to be seen in the whole document。
Luther was at a great distance from Rome； he had had no opportunity to
explain or defend his position； yet before his case had been investigated；
he was summarily pronounced a heretic； and in the same day； exhorted；
accused； judged； and condemned； and all this by the self…styled holy father；
the only supreme； infallible authority in church or state！
At this time； when Luther so much needed the sympathy and counsel of a true
friend； God's providence sent Melanchthon to Wittenberg。 Young in years；
modest and diffident in his manners； Melanchthon's sound judgment； extensive
knowledge； and winning eloquence； combined with the purity and uprightness
of his character； won universal admiration and esteem。 The brilliancy of his
talents was not more marked than his gentleness of disposition。 He soon
became an earnest disciple of the gospel； and Luther's most trusted friend
and valued supporter； his gentleness； caution； and exactness serving as a
complement to Luther's courage and energy。 Their union in the work added
strength to the Reformation and was a source of great encouragement to
Luther。
Augsburg had been fixed upon as the place of trial； and the Reformer set out
on foot to perform the journey thither。 Serious fears were entertained in
his behalf。 Threats had been made openly that he would be seized and
murdered on the way； and his friends begged him not to venture。 They
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even entreated him to leave Wittenberg for a time and find safety with those
who would gladly protect him。 But he would not leave the position where God
had placed him。 He must continue faithfully to maintain the truth；
notwithstanding the storms that were beating upon him。 His language was： 〃I
am like Jeremiah； a man of strife and contention； but the more their threats
increase； the more my joy is multiplied。 。 。 。 They have already destroyed
my honor and my reputation。 One single thing remains； it is my wretched
body： let them take it； they will thus shorten my life by a few hours。 But
as for my soul； they cannot take that。 He who desires to proclaim the word
of Christ to the world； must expect death at every moment。〃Ibid。； b。 4；
ch。 4。
The tidings of Luther's arrival at Augsburg gave great satisfaction to the
papal legate。 The troublesome heretic who was exciting the attention of the
whole world seemed now in the power of Rome； and the legate determined that
he should not escape。 The Reformer had failed to provide himself with a
safe…conduct。 His friends urged him not to appear before the legate without
one； and they themselves undertook to procure it from the emperor。 The
legate intended to force Luther； if possible； to retract； or； failing in
this； to cause him to be conveyed to Rome； to share the fate of Huss and
Jerome。 Therefore through his agents he endeavored to induce Luther to
appear without a safe…conduct； trusting himself to his mercy。 This the
Reformer firmly declined to do。 Not until he had received the document
pledging him the emperor's protection； did he appear in the presence of the
papal ambassador。
As a matter of policy； the Romanists had decided to attempt to win Luther by
an appearance of gentleness。 The legate； in his interviews with him；
professed great friendliness； but he demanded that Luther submit implicitly
to the authority of the church； and yield every point without argument or
question。 He had not rightly estimated the character of the man with whom he
had to deal。 Luther； in reply； expressed his regard for the church； his
desire for
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the truth； his readiness to answer all objections to what he had taught； and
to submit his doctrines to the decision of certain leading universities。 But
at the same time he protested against the cardinal's course in requiring him
to retract without having proved him in error。
The only response was： 〃Retract； retract！〃 The Reformer showed that his
position was sustained by the Scriptures and firmly declared that he could
not renounce the truth。 The legate； unable to reply to Luther's arguments；
overwhelmed him with a storm of reproaches； gibes； and flattery；
interspersed with quotations from tradition and the sayings of the Fathers；
granting the Reformer no opportunity to speak。 Seeing that the conference；
thus continued； would be utterly futile； Luther finally obtained a reluctant
permission to present his answer in writing。
〃In so doing；〃 said he； writing to a friend； 〃the oppressed find double
gain； first； what is written may be submitted to the judgment of others； and
second； one has a better chance of working on the fears； if not on the
conscience； of an arrogant and babbling despot； who would otherwise
overpower by his imperious language。〃Martyn； The Life and Times of Luther；
pages 271； 272。
At the next interview； Luther presented a clear； concise； and forcible
exposition of his views； fully supported by many quotations from Scripture。
This paper； after reading aloud； he handed to the cardinal； who； however；
cast it contemptuously aside； declaring it to be a mass of idle words and
irrelevant quotations。 Luther； fully aroused； now met the haughty prelate on
his own groundthe traditions and teachings of the churchand utterly
overthrew his assumptions。
When the prelate saw
