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courageous bearing, the kindly and joyous expression upon his
countenance, and the solemn elevation and deep earnestness that
gave to his words an irresistible power. Some were convinced that a
divine influence attended him; others declared, as had the Pharisees
concerning Christ, “He hath a devil.”
On the following day, Luther was summoned to attend the Diet.
An imperial officer was appointed to conduct him to the hall of
audience; yet it was with difficulty that he reached the place. Every
avenue was crowded with spectators, eager to look upon the monk
who had dared resist the authority of the pope.
As he was about to enter the presence of his judges, an old
general, the hero of many battles, said to him kindly, “Poor monk!
poor monk! thou art now going to make a nobler stand than I, or any
other captains, have ever made in our most bloody battles. But if thy
cause is just, and thou art sure of it, go forward in God’s name, and
fear nothing! He will not forsake thee.”
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At length Luther stood before the council. The emperor occupied
the throne. He was surrounded by the most illustrious personages
in the empire. Never had any man appeared in the presence of a
more imposing assembly than that before which Martin Luther was
to answer for his faith.
The very fact of that appearance was a signal victory for the
truth. That a man whom the pope had condemned should be judged
by another tribunal, was virtually a denial of the pontiff’s supreme
authority. The Reformer, placed under ban, and denounced from
human fellowship by the pope, had been assured protection, and was
granted a hearing, by the highest dignitaries of the nation. Rome
Luther Before the Diet
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had commanded him to be silent; but he was about to speak in the
presence of thousands from all parts of Christendom.
In the presence of that powerful and titled assembly, the lowly-
born Reformer seemed awed and embarrassed.
Several of the
princes, observing his emotion, approached him, and one of them
whispered, “Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill
the soul.” Another said, “When ye shall be brought before governors
and kings for my sake, it shall be given you, by the Spirit of your
Father, what ye shall say.” Thus the words of Christ were brought by
the world’s great men to strengthen his servant in the hour of trial.
Luther was conducted to a position directly in front of the em-
peror’s throne. A deep silence fell upon the crowded assembly.
Then an imperial officer arose, and, pointing to a collection of
Luther’s writings, demanded that the Reformer answer two ques-
tions,—whether he acknowledged them as his, and whether he pro- [130]
posed to retract the opinions which he had therein advanced. Luther
replied that as to the first question, he acknowledged the books to
be his. “As to the second,” he said, “seeing it is a question which
concerns faith, the salvation of souls, and the word of God, which
is the greatest and most precious treasure either in Heaven or earth,
it would be rash and perilous for me to reply without reflection. I
might affirm less than the circumstances demand, or more than truth
requires; in either case I should fall under the sentence of Christ:
‘Whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before
the Father which is in Heaven.’ For this reason I entreat your impe-
rial majesty, with all humility, to allow me time, that I may answer
without offending against the word of God.”
In making this request, Luther moved wisely. His course con-
vinced the assembly that he did not act from passion or impulse.
Such calmness and self-command, unexpected in one who had
shown himself bold and uncompromising, added to his power, and
enabled him afterward to answer with a prudence, decision, wisdom,
and dignity, that surprised and disappointed his adversaries, and
rebuked their insolence and pride.
The next day he was to appear to render his second answer. For
a time his heart sunk within him as he contemplated the forces that
were combined against the truth. His faith faltered as his enemies
seemed to multiply before him, and the powers of darkness to prevail.
84
The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 4
Clouds gathered about him, and seemed to separate him from God.
He longed for the assurance that the Lord of hosts would be with
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him. In anguish of spirit he threw himself with his face upon the
earth, and poured out those broken, heart-rending cries which none
but God can fully understand. In his helplessness, his soul fastened
upon Christ, the mighty deliverer. It was not for his own safety,
but for the success of the truth, that he wrestled with God; and he
prevailed. He was strengthened with the assurance that he would
not appear alone before the council. Peace returned to his soul, and
he rejoiced that he was permitted to uphold and defend the word
of God before the rulers of the nation. An all-wise providence had
permitted Luther to realize his peril, that he might not trust to his
own strength and wisdom, and rush presumptuously into danger.
God was preparing his servant for the great work before him.
As the time for his appearance drew near, Luther approached a
table on which lay the Holy Scriptures, placed his left hand upon the
sacred volume, and, raising his right hand to Heaven, he vowed to
adhere constantly to the gospel, and to confess his faith freely, even
though he should be called to seal his testimony with his blood.
When he was again ushered into the presence of the Diet, his
countenance bore no trace of fear or embarrassment. Calm and
peaceful, yet grandly brave and noble, he stood as God’s witness
among the great ones of the earth. The imperial officer now de-
manded his decision as to whether he desired to retract his doctrines.
Luther made his answer in a subdued and humble tone, without
violence or passion. His demeanor was diffident and respectful; yet
he manifested a confidence and joy that surprised the assembly.
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He stated that his published works were not all of the same
character. In some he had treated of faith and good works, and
even his enemies declared them not only harmless but profitable. To
retract these would be to condemn truths which all parties confessed.
The second class consisted of writings exposing the corruptions and
abuses of the papacy. To revoke these works would strengthen the
tyra
In the third class of his books he had attacked individuals who had
defended existing evils. Concerning these he freely confessed that
he had been more violent than was becoming. He did not claim to