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journey to Worms in good health, I will be carried there, sick as I
am. For, since the emperor has summoned me, I ca
it is the call of God himself. If they intend to use violence against
me, as they probably do, for assuredly it is with no view of gaining
information that they require me to appear before them, I place the
matter in the Lord’s hands. He still lives and reigns who preserved
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Luther Before the Diet
77
the three Israelites in the fiery furnace. If it be not his will to save
me, my life is of little consequence. Let us only take care that the
gospel be not exposed to the scorn of the ungodly, and let us shed
our blood in its defense rather than allow them to triumph. Who
shall say whether my life or my death would contribute most to the
salvation of my brethren?” “Expect anything from me but flight or
recantation. Fly I ca
As the news was circulated at Worms that Luther was to appear
before the Diet, a general excitement was created. Aleander, the
papal legate to whom his case had been specially intrusted, was
alarmed and enraged. He saw that the result would be disastrous to
the papal cause. To institute inquiry into a case in which the pope
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had already pronounced sentence of condemnation, would be to cast
contempt upon the authority of the sovereign pontiff. Furthermore,
he was apprehensive that the eloquent and powerful arguments of this
man might turn away many of the princes from the cause of the pope.
He therefore, in the most urgent ma
against Luther’s appearance at Worms. He warned, entreated, and
threatened, until the emperor yielded, and wrote to the elector that if
Luther would not retract, he must remain at Wittemberg.
Not content with this victory, Aleander labored with all the power
and cu
a persistence worthy of a better cause, he urged the matter upon the
attention of princes, prelates, and other members of the assembly,
accusing the Reformer of sedition, rebellion, impiety, and blasphemy.
But the vehemence and passion manifested by the legate plainly
revealed that he was actuated by hatred and revenge rather than by
zeal for religion. It was the prevailing sentiment of the assembly
that Luther was i
With redoubled zeal, Aleander urged upon the emperor the duty
of executing the papal edicts. Overcome at last by this importunity,
Charles bade the legate present his case to the Diet. Rome had few
advocates better fitted, by nature and education, to defend her cause.
The friends of the Reformer looked forward with some anxiety to
the result of Aleander’s speech.
There was no little excitement when the legate, with great dignity
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and pomp, appeared before the national assembly. Many called to
mind the scene of our Saviour’s trial, when A
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before the judgment-seat of Pilate, demanded the death of him “that
perverted the people.”
With all the power of learning and eloquence, Aleander set him-
self to overthrow the truth. Charge after charge he hurled against
Luther as an enemy of the Church and the State, the living and the
dead, clergy and laity, councils and private Christians. “There is
enough in the errors of Luther,” he declared, “to warrant the burning
of a hundred thousand heretics.”
In conclusion, he endeavored to cast contempt upon the ad-
herents of the reformed faith: “What are all these Lutherans?—A
motley rabble of insolent grammarians, corrupt priests, dissolute
monks, ignorant lawyers, and degraded nobles, with the common
people whom they have misled and perverted. How greatly superior
is the Catholic party in numbers, intelligence, and power! A unani-
mous decree from this illustrious assembly will open the eyes of the
simple, show the unwary their danger, determine the wavering, and
strengthen the weak-hearted.”
With such weapons have the advocates of truth in every age
been attacked. The same arguments are still urged against all who
dare to present, in opposition to established errors, the plain and
direct teachings of God’s word. “Who are these preachers of new
doctrines?” exclaim those who desire a popular religion. “They
are unlearned, few in numbers, and of the poorer class. Yet they
claim to have the truth, and to be the chosen people of God. They
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are ignorant and deceived. How greatly superior in numbers and
influence are our denominations! How many great and learned men
are in our churches! How much more power is on our side!” These
are the arguments that have a telling influence upon the world; but
they are no more conclusive now than in the days of the Reformer.
The Reformation did not, as many suppose, end with Luther. It
is to be continued to the close of this world’s history. Luther had
a great work to 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 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
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God’s word, to vanquish the papal champion. No attempt was made
to defend the Reformer. There was manifest a general impulse to
root out the Lutheran heresy from the empire. Rome had enjoyed
the most favorable opportunity to defend her cause. The greatest of
her orators had spoken. 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.
The majority of the assembly were ready to sacrifice Luther to the
demands of the pope; but many of them saw and deplored the existing
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depravity in the church, and desired a suppression of the abuses
suffered by the German people in consequence of Rome’s corruption
and greed of gain. 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 tyra
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 but a few of the abuses which cry out against Rome