the great controversy-第51章
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temporize to secure favor with the world； it would have been untrue to God
and to itself； and would thus have ensured its own destruction。 The
experience of these noble Reformers contains a lesson for all succeeding
ages。 Satan's manner of working against God and His word has not changed； he
is still as much opposed to the Scriptures being made the guide of life as
in the sixteenth century。 In our time there is a wide departure from their
doctrines and precepts； and there is need of a return to the great
Protestant
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principlethe Bible； and the Bible only； as the rule of faith and duty。
Satan is still working through every means which he can control to destroy
religious liberty。 The antichristian power which the protesters of Spires
rejected is now with renewed vigor seeking to re…establish its lost
supremacy。 The same unswerving adherence to the word of God manifested at
that crisis of the Reformation is the only hope of reform today。
There appeared tokens of danger to the Protestants； there were tokens； also；
that the divine hand was stretched out to protect the faithful。 It was about
this time that 〃Melanchthon hastily conducted through the streets of Spires
toward the Rhine his friend Simon Grynaeus； pressing him to cross the river。
The latter was astonished at such precipitation。 'An old man of grave and
solemn air； but who is unknown to me；' said Melanchthon； 'appeared before me
and said； In a minute officers of justice will be sent by Ferdinand to
arrest Grynaeus。'〃
During the day； Grynaeus had been scandalized at a sermon by Faber； a
leading papal doctor； and at the close； remonstrated with him for defending
〃certain detestable errors。〃 〃Faber dissembled his anger； but immediately
after repaired to the king； from whom he had obtained an order against the
importunate professor of Heidelberg。 Melanchthon doubted not that God had
saved his friend by sending one of His holy angels to forewarn him。
〃Motionless on the banks of the Rhine； he waited until the waters of that
stream had rescued Grynaeus from his persecutors。 'At last；' cried
Melanchthon； as he saw him on the opposite side； 'at last he is torn from
the cruel jaws of those who thirst for innocent blood。' When he returned to
his house； Melanchthon was informed that officers in search of Grynaeus had
ransacked it from top to bottom。〃Ibid。； b。 13； ch。 6。
The Reformation was to be brought into greater prominence before the mighty
ones of the earth。 The evangelical princes had been denied a hearing by King
Ferdinand； but they were to be granted an opportunity to present their cause
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in the presence of the emperor and the assembled dignitaries of church and
state。 To quiet the dissensions which disturbed the empire； Charles V； in
the year following the Protest of Spires； convoked a diet at Augsburg； over
which he announced his intention to preside in person。 Thither the
Protestant leaders were summoned。
Great dangers threatened the Reformation； but its advocates still trusted
their cause with God； and pledged themselves to be firm to the gospel。 The
elector of Saxony was urged by his councilors not to appear at the Diet。 The
emperor； they said； required the attendance of the princes in order to draw
them into a snare。 〃Is it not risking everything to go and shut oneself up
within the walls of a city with a powerful enemy？〃 But others nobly
declared； 〃Let the princes only comport themselves with courage； and God's
cause is saved。〃 〃God is faithful； He will not abandon us；〃 said
Luther。Ibid。； b。 14； ch。 2。 The elector set out； with his retinue； for
Augsburg。 All were acquainted with the dangers that menaced him； and many
went forward with gloomy countenance and troubled heart。 But Luther； who
accompanied them as far as Coburg； revived their sinking faith by singing
the hymn； written on that journey； 〃A strong tower is our God。〃 Many an
anxious foreboding was banished； many a heavy heart lightened； at the sound
of the inspiring strains。
The reformed princes had determined upon having a statement of their views
in systematic form； with the evidence from the Scriptures； to present before
the Diet； and the task of its preparation was committed to Luther；
Melanchthon； and their associates。 This Confession was accepted by the
Protestants as an exposition of their faith； and they assembled to affix
their names to the important document。 It was a solemn and trying time。 The
Reformers were solicitous that their cause should not be confounded with
political questions； they felt that the Reformation should exercise no other
influence than that which proceeds from the word of God。
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As the Christian princes advanced to sign the Confession； Melanchthon
interposed； saying： 〃It is for the theologians and ministers to propose
these things； let us reserve for other matters the authority of the mighty
ones of the earth。〃 〃God forbid；〃 replied John of Saxony； 〃that you should
exclude me。 I am resolved to do what is right； without troubling myself
about my crown。 I desire to confess the Lord。 My electoral hat and my ermine
are not so precious to me as the cross of Jesus Christ。〃 Having thus spoken；
he wrote down his name。 Said another of the princes as he took the pen： 〃If
the honor of my Lord Jesus Christ requires it； I am ready 。 。 。 to leave my
goods and life behind。〃 〃I would rather renounce my subjects and my states；
rather quit the country of my fathers staff in hand；〃 he continued； 〃than
receive any other doctrine than that which is contained in this Confession。〃
Ibid。； b。 14； ch。 6。 Such was the faith and daring of those men of God。
The appointed time came to appear before the emperor。 Charles V； seated upon
his throne； surrounded by the electors and the princes； gave audience to the
Protestant Reformers。 The confession of their faith was read。 In that august
assembly the truths of the gospel were clearly set forth； and the errors of
the papal church were pointed out。 Well has that day been pronounced 〃the
greatest day of the Reformation； and one of the most glorious in the history
of Christianity and of mankind。〃Ibid。； b。 14； ch。 7。
But a few years had passed since the monk of Wittenberg stood alone at Worms
before the national council。 Now in his stead were the noblest and most
powerful princes of the empire。 Luther had been forbidden to appear at
Augsburg； but he had been present by his words and prayers。 〃I am
overjoyed；〃 he wrote； 〃that I have lived until this hour； in which Christ
has been publicly exalted by such illustrious confessors； and in so glorious
an assembly。〃Ibid。； b。 14； ch。
7。 Thus was fulfilled what the Scripture says： 〃I will speak
of Thy testimonies 。 。 。 before kings。〃 Psalm 119：46。
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In the days of Paul the gospel for which he was imprisoned was thus brought
before the princes and nobles of the imperial city。 So on this occasion；
that which the emperor had forbidden to be preached from the pulpit was
proclaimed from the palace； what many had regarded as unfit even for
servants to listen to was heard with wonder by the masters and lords of the
empire。 Kings and great men were the auditory； crowned princes were the
preachers； and the sermon was the royal truth of God。 〃Since the apostolic
age；〃 says a writer； 〃there has never been a greater work or a more
magnificent confession。〃D'Aubigne； b。 14； ch。 7。
〃All that the Lutherans have said is true； we cannot deny it；〃 declared a
papist bishop。 〃Can you refute by sound reasons the Confession made by the
elector and his allies？〃 asked another of Dr。 Eck。 〃With the writings of the
apostles and prophetsno！〃 was the reply； 〃but with those of the Fathers
and of the councilsyes！〃 〃I understand；〃 responded the questioner。 〃The
Lutherans； according to you； are in Scripture； and we are outside。〃Ibid。；
b。 14； ch。 8。
Some of the princes of Germany were won to the reformed faith。 The emperor
himself declared that the Protestant articles were but the truth。 The
Confession was translated into many languages and circulated through all
Euro
