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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
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71
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 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, “Recant, recant.” The Reformer showed
that his position was sustained by the Scriptures, and firmly declared
that he could not renounce the truth.
When the prelate saw that Luther’s reasoning was unanswerable,
he lost all self-control, and in a rage cried out: “Retract, or I will
send you to Rome, there to appear before the judges commissioned
to take cognizance of your case. I will excommunicate you and
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all your partisans, and all who shall at any time countenance you,
and will cast them out of the church.” And he finally declared, in a
haughty and angry tone, “Retract, or return no more.”
The Reformer retired with his friends, leaving the cardinal and
his supporters to look at one another in utter confusion at the unex-
pected result of the conference.
Luther’s efforts on this occasion were not without good results.
The large assembly present had opportunity to compare the two men,
and to judge for themselves of the spirit manifested by them, as well
as of the strength and truthfulness of their positions. How marked
the contrast! The Reformer, simple, humble, firm, stood up in the
strength of God, having truth on his side; the pope’s representative,
self-important, overbearing, haughty, and unreasonable, was with-
out a single argument from the Scriptures yet vehemently crying,
“Retract, or be sent to Rome for punishment.”
Notwithstanding Luther had secured a safe-conduct, the Roman-
ists were plotting to seize and imprison him. His friends urged that
as it was useless for him to prolong his stay, he should return to
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The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 4
Wittemberg without delay, and that the utmost caution should be
observed in order to conceal his intentions. He accordingly left
Augsburg before daybreak, on horseback, accompanied only by a
guide furnished him by the magistrate. With many forebodings he
secretly made his way through the dark and silent streets of the city.
Enemies, vigilant and cruel, were plotting his destruction. Would he
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escape the snares prepared for him? Those were moments of anxiety
and earnest prayer. He reached a small gate in the wall of the city. It
was opened for him, and with his guide he passed through without
hindrance. Once beyond the limits, he soon left the city far behind.
Satan and his emissaries were defeated. The man whom they had
thought in their power was gone, escaped as a bird from the snare of
the fowler.
At the news of Luther’s departure, the legate was overwhelmed
with surprise and anger. He had expected to receive great honor for
his wisdom and firmness in dealing with this disturber of the church;
but his hope was disappointed. He gave expression to his wrath in a
letter to Frederick, the elector of Saxony, bitterly denouncing Luther,
and demanding that Frederick send the Reformer to Rome or banish
him from Saxony.
In defense, Luther urged that the legate or the pope show him
his errors from the Scriptures, and pledged himself in the most
solemn ma
contradict the word of God. And he expressed his gratitude to God
that he had been counted worthy to suffer in so holy a cause. These
words made a deep impression upon the elector, and he resolved to
stand as Luther’s protector. He refused to send him to Rome, or to
expel him from his territories.
The elector saw that there was a general breaking down of the
moral restraints of society. A great work of reform was needed.
The complicated and expensive arrangements to restrain and punish
crime would be u
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the requirements of God and the dictates of an enlightened con-
science. He saw that Luther was laboring to secure this object, and
he secretly rejoiced that a better influence was making itself felt in
the church.
He saw also that as a professor in the university, Luther was
eminently successful. From all parts of Germany, students crowded
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73
to Wittemberg to listen to his teachings. Young men, coming in sight
of the city for the first time, would raise their hands toward heaven,
and thank God that he had caused the light of his truth to shine forth
from that place as in former ages from Jerusalem.
Luther was as yet but partially converted from the errors of Ro-
manism. But as he compared the holy oracles with the papal decrees
and constitutions, he was filled with wonder. “I am reading,” he
wrote, “the decretals of the popes, and ... I know not whether the
pope is antichrist himself, or whether he is his apostle, so misrep-
resented and even crucified does Christ appear in them.” Yet at this
time Luther was still a supporter of the Roman Church, and had no
thought that he would ever separate from her communion.
The Reformer’s writings and his doctrine were extending to
every nation in Christendom. The work spread to Switzerland and
Holland. Copies of his writings found their way to France and
Spain. In England his teachings were received as the word of life.
To Belgium and Italy also the truth had extended. Thousands were
awakening from their deathlike stupor to the joy and hope of a life
of faith.
Rome became more and more exasperated by the attacks of
Luther, and it was secretly declared by some of his fanatical oppo- [116]
nents, that he who should take his life would be without sin. One