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by Munzer and his associates proceeded from no higher source than
the vagaries of the imagination, and its influence was subversive of
all authority, human or divine. True Christianity receives the word
of God as the great treasure-house of inspired truth, and the test of
all inspiration.
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Upon his return from the Wartburg, Luther completed his trans-
lation of the New Testament, and the gospel was soon after given
to the people of Germany in their own language. This translation
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was received with great joy by all who loved the truth; but it was
scornfully rejected by those who chose human traditions and the
commandments of men.
The priests were alarmed at the thought that the common people
would now be able to discuss with them the precepts of God’s word,
and that their own ignorance would thus be exposed. The weapons
of their carnal reasoning were powerless against the sword of the
Spirit. Rome summoned all her authority to prevent the circulation
of the Scriptures; but decrees, anathemas, and tortures were alike in
vain. The more she condemned and prohibited the Bible, the greater
was the anxiety of the people to know what it really taught. All
who could read were eager to study the word of God for themselves.
They carried it about with them, and read and re-read, and could
not be satisfied until they had committed large portions to memory.
Seeing the favor with which the New Testament was received, Luther
immediately began the translation of the Old, and published it in
parts as fast as completed.
Luther’s writings were welcomed alike in city and in hamlet. At
night the teachers of the village schools read them aloud to little
groups gathered at the fireside. With every effort, some souls would
be convicted of the truth, and, receiving the word with gladness,
would in their turn tell the good news to others.
The words of inspiration were verified: “The entrance of thy
words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.” [Psalm
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119:130.] The study of the Scriptures was working a mighty change in the minds and hearts of the people. The papal rule had placed
upon its subjects an iron yoke which held them in ignorance and
degradation. A superstitious observance of forms had been scrupu-
lously maintained; but in all their service the heart and intellect had
had little part. The preaching of Luther, setting forth the plain truths
of God’s word, and then the word itself, placed in the hands of the
common people, had aroused their dormant powers, not only purify-
ing and e
and vigor to the intellect.
Persons of all ranks were to be seen with the Bible in their hands,
defending the doctrines of the Reformation. The papists who had
left the study of the Scriptures to the priests and monks, now called
upon them to come forward and refute the new teachings. But,
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ignorant alike of the Scriptures and of the power of God, priests and
friars were totally defeated by those whom they had denounced as
unlearned and heretical. “Unhappily,” said a Catholic writer, “Luther
had persuaded his followers that their faith ought only to be founded
on the oracles of Holy Writ.” Crowds would gather to hear the truth
advocated by men of little education, and even discussed by them
with learned and eloquent theologians. The shameful ignorance of
these great men was made apparent as their arguments were met by
the simple teachings of God’s word. Women and children, artisans
and soldiers, had a better knowledge of the Scriptures than had
learned doctors or surpliced priests.
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As the Romish clergy saw their congregations diminishing, they
invoked the aid of the magistrates, and by every means in their power
endeavored to bring back their hearers. But the people had found
in the new teachings that which supplied the wants of their souls,
and they turned away from those who had so long fed them with the
worthless husks of superstitious rites and human traditions.
When persecution was kindled against the teachers of the truth,
they gave heed to the words of Christ, “When they persecute you in
this city, flee ye into another.” [Matthew 10:23.] The light penetrated everywhere. The fugitives would find somewhere a hospitable door
opened to them, and there abiding, they would preach Christ, some-
times in the church, or, if denied that privilege, in private houses
or in the open air. Wherever they could obtain a hearing was a
consecrated temple. The truth, proclaimed with such energy and
assurance, spread with irresistible power.
In vain were both ecclesiastical and civil authorities invoked to
crush the heresy. In vain they resorted to imprisonment, torture,
fire, and sword. Thousands of believers sealed their faith with their
blood, and yet the work went on. Persecution served only to extend
the truth; and the fanaticism which Satan endeavored to unite with
it, resulted in making more clear the contrast between the work of
Satan and the work of God.
Chapter 9—Protest of the Princes
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One of the noblest testimonies ever uttered for the Reformation
was the Protest offered by the Christian princes of Germany at the
Diet of Spires. The courage, faith, and firmness of these men of
God, gained for succeeding ages liberty of thought and of conscience.
Their Protest gave to the reformed church the name of Protestant;
its principles are the very essence of Protestantism.
A dark and threatening day had come for the Reformation. For
a season religious toleration had prevailed in the empire; God’s
providence had held opposing elements in check, that the gospel
might obtain a firmer foothold; but Rome had now summoned her
forces to crush out the truth. At Spires the papists openly manifested
their hostility toward the Reformers and all who favored them. Said
Melancthon, “We are the execration and the sweepings of the earth;
but Christ will look down on his poor people, and will preserve
them.” The evangelical princes in attendance at the Diet were for-
bidden even to have the gospel preached in their dwellings. But the
people of Spires thirsted for the word of God, and, notwithstand-
ing the prohibition, thousands flocked to the morning and evening
worship still held in the chapel of the Elector of Saxony.
This hastened the crisis. An imperial message a
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Diet that as the resolution granting liberty of conscience had given
rise to great disorders, the emperor declared it to be a
arbitrary act excited the indignation and alarm of the evangelical