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returned to them。 The friar was filled with rage。 He uttered the most
terrible curses； caused fires to be lighted in the public squares； and
declared that he 〃had received an order from the pope to burn all heretics
who presumed to oppose his most holy indulgences。〃D'Aubigne； b。 3； ch。 4。
Luther now entered boldly upon his work as a champion of the truth。 His
voice was heard from the pulpit in earnest； solemn warning。 He set before
the people the offensive character of sin； and taught them that it is
impossible for man； by his own works； to lessen its guilt or evade its
punishment。 Nothing but repentance toward God and faith in Christ can save
the sinner。 The grace of Christ cannot be purchased； it is a free gift。 He
counseled the people not to buy indulgences； but to look in faith to a
crucified Redeemer。 He related his own painful experience in vainly seeking
by humiliation and penance to secure salvation； and assured his hearers that
it was by looking away from himself and believing in Christ that he found
peace and joy。
As Tetzel continued his traffic and his impious pretensions； Luther
determined upon a more effectual protest against these crying abuses。 An
occasion soon offered。 The castle church of Wittenberg possessed many
relics； which on certain holy days were exhibited to the people； and full
remission of sins was granted to all who then visited the church and made
confession。 Accordingly on these days the people in great numbers resorted
thither。 One of the most important of these occasions； the festival of All
Saints； was approaching。 On the preceding day； Luther； joining the crowds
that were already making their way to the church； posted on its door a paper
containing ninety…five propositions against the doctrine of indulgences。 He
declared his willingness
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to defend these theses next day at the university； against all who should
see fit to attack them。
His propositions attracted universal attention。 They were read and reread；
and repeated in every direction。 Great excitement was created in the
university and in the whole city。 By these theses it was shown that the
power to grant the pardon of sin； and to remit its penalty； had never been
committed to the pope or to any other man。 The whole scheme was a farce；an
artifice to extort money by playing upon the superstitions of the people；a
device of Satan to destroy the souls of all who should trust to its lying
pretensions。 It was also clearly shown that the gospel of Christ is the most
valuable treasure of the church； and that the grace of God； therein
revealed； is freely bestowed upon all who seek it by repentance and faith。
Luther's theses challenged discussion； but no one dared accept the
challenge。 The questions which he proposed had in a few days spread through
all Germany； and in a few weeks they had sounded throughout Christendom。
Many devoted Romanists； who had seen and lamented the terrible iniquity
prevailing in the church； but had not known how to arrest its progress； read
the propositions with great joy； recognizing in them the voice of God。 They
felt that the Lord had graciously set His hand to arrest the rapidly
swelling tide of corruption that was issuing from the see of Rome。 Princes
and magistrates secretly rejoiced that a check was to be put upon the
arrogant power which denied the right of appeal from its decisions。
But the sin…loving and superstitious multitudes were terrified as the
sophistries that had soothed their fears were swept away。 Crafty
ecclesiastics； interrupted in their work of sanctioning crime； and seeing
their gains endangered； were enraged； and rallied to uphold their
pretensions。 The Reformer had bitter accusers to meet。 Some charged him with
acting hastily and from impulse。 Others accused him of presumption；
declaring that he was not directed of God； but was acting from pride and
forwardness。 〃Who does not
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know；〃 he responded； 〃that a man rarely puts forth any new idea without
having some appearance of pride； and without being accused of exciting
quarrels？ 。 。 。 Why were Christ and all the martyrs put to death？ Because
they seemed to be proud contemners of the wisdom of the time； and because
they advanced novelties without having first humbly taken counsel of the
oracles of the ancient opinions。〃
Again he declared： 〃Whatever I do will be done； not by the prudence of men；
but by the counsel of God。 If the work be of God； who shall stop it？ if it
be not； who can forward it？ Not my will； nor theirs； nor ours； but Thy will；
O holy Father； which art in heaven。〃Ibid。； b。 3； ch。 6。
Though Luther had been moved by the Spirit of God to begin his work； he was
not to carry it forward without severe conflicts。 The reproaches of his
enemies； their misrepresentation of his purposes； and their unjust and
malicious reflections upon his character and motives； came in upon him like
an overwhelming flood； and they were not without effect。 He had felt
confident that the leaders of the people； both in the church and in the
schools； would gladly unite with him in efforts for reform。 Words of
encouragement from those in high position had inspired him with joy and
hope。 Already in anticipation he had seen a brighter day dawning for the
church。 But encouragement had changed to reproach and condemnation。 Many
dignitaries； of both church and state； were convicted of the truthfulness of
his theses； but they soon saw that the acceptance of these truths would
involve great changes。 To enlighten and reform the people would be virtually
to undermine the authority of Rome； to stop thousands of streams now flowing
into her treasury； and thus greatly to curtail the extravagance and luxury
of the papal leaders。 Furthermore； to teach the people to think and act as
responsible beings； looking to Christ alone for salvation； would overthrow
the pontiff's throne and eventually destroy their own authority。 For this
reason they refused the knowledge tendered them of God and arrayed
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themselves against Christ and the truth by their opposition to the man whom
He had sent to enlighten them。
Luther trembled as he looked upon himselfone man opposed to the mightiest
powers of earth。 He sometimes doubted whether he had indeed been led of God
to set himself against the authority of the church。 〃Who was I；〃 he writes；
〃to oppose the majesty of the pope； before whom 。。。 the kings of the earth
and the whole world trembled？ 。。。 No one can know what my heart suffered
during these first two years； and into what despondency； I may say into what
despair； I was sunk。〃Ibid。； b。 3； ch。 6。 But he was not left to become
utterly disheartened。 When human support failed； he looked to God alone and
learned that he could lean in perfect safety upon that all…powerful arm。
To a friend of the Reformation Luther wrote： 〃We cannot attain to the
understanding of Scripture either by study or by the intellect。 Your first
duty is to begin by prayer。 Entreat the Lord to grant you； of His great
mercy； the true understanding of His word。 There is no other interpreter of
the word of God than the Author of this word； as He Himself has said； 'They
shall be all taught of God。' Hope for nothing from your own labors； from
your own understanding： trust solely in God； and in the influence of His
Spirit。 Believe this on the word of a man who has had experience。〃Ibid。；
b。 3； ch。 7。 Here is a lesson of vital importance to those who feel that God
has called them to present to others the solemn truths for this time。 These
truths will stir the enmity of Satan and of men who love the fables that he
has devised。 In the conflict with the powers of evil there is need of
something more than strength of intellect and human wisdom。
When enemies appealed to custom and tradition； or to the assertions and
authority of the pope； Luther met them with the Bible and the Bible only。
Here were arguments which they could not answer； therefore the slaves of
formalism and superstition clamored for his blood； as the Jews had clamored
for the blood of Christ。 〃He is a heretic；〃