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filled with horror at their awful profanity； even during mass。 As he mingled
with the monks and citizens he met dissipation； debauchery。 Turn where he
would； in the place of sanctity he found profanation。 〃No one can imagine；〃
he wrote； 〃what sins and infamous actions are committed in Rome； they must
be seen and heard to be believed。 Thus they are in the habit of saying； 'If
there is a hell； Rome is built over it： it is an abyss whence issues every
kind of sin。'〃Ibid。； b。 2； ch。 6。
By a recent decretal an indulgence had been promised by the pope to all who
should ascend upon their knees 〃Pilate's staircase；〃 said to have been
descended by our Saviour on leaving the Roman judgment hall and to have been
miraculously conveyed from Jerusalem to Rome。 Luther was one day devoutly
climbing these steps； when suddenly a voice like thunder seemed to say to
him： 〃The just shall live by faith。〃 Romans 1：17。 He sprang to his feet and
hastened from the place in shame and horror。 That text never lost its power
upon his soul。 From that time he saw more clearly than ever before the
fallacy of trusting to human works for salvation； and the necessity of
constant faith in the merits of Christ。 His eyes had been opened； and were
never again to be closed； to the delusions of the papacy。 When he turned his
face from Rome he had turned away also in heart； and from that time the
separation grew wider； until he severed all connection with the papal
church。
After his return from Rome； Luther received at the University of Wittenberg
the degree of doctor of divinity。 Now he was at liberty to devote himself；
as never before； to the
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Scriptures that he loved。 He had taken a solemn vow to study carefully and
to preach with fidelity the word of God； not the sayings and doctrines of
the popes； all the days of his life。 He was no longer the mere monk or
professor； but the authorized herald of the Bible。 He had been called as a
shepherd to feed the flock of God； that were hungering and thirsting for the
truth。 He firmly declared that Christians should receive no other doctrines
than those which rest on the authority of the Sacred Scriptures。 These words
struck at the very foundation of papal supremacy。 They contained the vital
principle of the Reformation。
Luther saw the danger of exalting human theories above the word of God。 He
fearlessly attacked the speculative infidelity of the schoolmen and opposed
the philosophy and theology which had so long held a controlling influence
upon the people。 He denounced such studies as not only worthless but
pernicious； and sought to turn the minds of his hearers from the sophistries
of philosophers and theologians to the eternal truths set forth by prophets
and apostles。
Precious was the message which he bore to the eager crowds that hung upon
his words。 Never before had such teachings fallen upon their ears。 The glad
tidings of a Saviour's love； the assurance of pardon and peace through His
atoning blood； rejoiced their hearts and inspired within them an immortal
hope。 At Wittenberg a light was kindled whose rays should extend to the
uttermost parts of the earth； and which was to increase in brightness to the
close of time。
But light and darkness cannot harmonize。 Between truth and error there is an
irrepressible conflict。 To uphold and defend the one is to attack and
overthrow the other。 Our Saviour Himself declared： 〃I came not to send
peace； but a sword。〃 Matthew 10：34。 Said Luther； a few years after the
opening of the Reformation： 〃God does not guide me； He pushes me forward。 He
carries me away。 I am not master of myself。 I desire to live in repose； but
I am thrown into
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the midst of tumults and revolutions。〃D'Aubigne； b。 5； ch。 2。 He was now
about to be urged into the contest。
The Roman Church had made merchandise of the grace of God。 The tables of the
money…changers （Matthew 21：12） were set up beside her altars； and the air
resounded with the shouts of buyers and sellers。 Under the plea of raising
funds for the erection of St。 Peter's Church at Rome； indulgences for sin
were publicly offered for sale by the authority of the pope。 By the price of
crime a temple was to be built up for God's worshipthe cornerstone laid
with the wages of iniquity！ But the very means adopted for Rome's
aggrandizement provoked the deadliest blow to her power and greatness。 It
was this that aroused the most determined and successful of the enemies of
popery； and led to the battle which shook the papal throne and jostled the
triple crown upon the pontiff's head。
The official appointed to conduct the sale of indulgences in GermanyTetzel
by namehad been convicted of the basest offenses against society and
against the law of God； but having escaped the punishment due for his
crimes； he was employed to further the mercenary and unscrupulous projects
of the pope。 With great effrontery he repeated the most glaring falsehoods
and related marvelous tales to deceive an ignorant； credulous； and
superstitious people。 Had they possessed the word of God they would not have
been thus deceived。 It was to keep them under the control of the papacy； in
order to swell the power and wealth of her ambitious leaders； that the Bible
had been withheld from them。 （See John C。 L。 Gieseler； A Compendium of
Ecclesiastical History； per。 4； sec。 1； par。 5。）
As Tetzel entered a town； a messenger went before him； announcing： 〃The
grace of God and of the holy father is at your gates。〃D'Aubigne； b。 3； ch。
1。 And the people welcomed the blasphemous pretender as if he were God
Himself come down from heaven to them。 The infamous traffic was set up in
the church； and Tetzel； ascending the
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pulpit； extolled the indulgences as the most precious gift of God。 He
declared that by virtue of his certificates of pardon all the sins which the
purchaser should afterward desire to commit would be forgiven him； and that
〃not even repentance is necessary。〃Ibid。； b。 3； ch。 1。 More than this； he
assured his hearers that the indulgences had power to save not only the
living but the dead； that the very moment the money should clink against the
bottom of his chest； the soul in whose behalf it had been paid would escape
from purgatory and make its way to heaven。 （See K。 R。 Hagenbach； History of
the Reformation； vol。 1； p。 96。）
When Simon Magus offered to purchase of the apostles the power to work
miracles； Peter answered him： 〃Thy money perish with thee； because thou hast
thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money。〃 Acts 8：20。 But
Tetzel's offer was grasped by eager thousands。 Gold and silver flowed into
his treasury。 A salvation that could be bought with money was more easily
obtained than that which requires repentance； faith； and diligent effort to
resist and overcome sin。 （See Appendix note for page 59。）
The doctrine of indulgences had been opposed by men of learning and piety in
the Roman Church； and there were many who had no faith in pretensions so
contrary to both reason and revelation。 No prelate dared lift his voice
against this iniquitous traffic； but the minds of men were becoming
disturbed and uneasy； and many eagerly inquired if God would not work
through some instrumentality for the purification of His church。
Luther； though still a papist of the straitest sort； was filled with horror
at the blasphemous assumptions of the indulgence mongers。 Many of his own
congregation had purchased certificates of pardon； and they soon began to
come to their pastor； confessing their various sins； and expecting
absolution； not because they were penitent and wished to reform； but on the
ground of the indulgence。 Luther refused them absolution； and warned them
that unless they should
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repent and reform their lives； they must perish in their sins。 In great
perplexity they repaired to Tetzel with the complaint that their confessor
had refused his certificates； and some boldly demanded that their money be
returned to them。 The friar was filled with rage。 He uttered the most
terrible curses； ca