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his own groundthe traditions and teachings of the churchand utterly
overthrew his assumptions。
When the prelate saw that Luther's reasoning was unanswerable； he lost all
self…control； and in a rage cried out： 〃Retract！ or I will send you to Rome；
there to appear before the judges commissioned to take cognizance of your
cause。 I will excommunicate you and all your partisans； and all
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who shall at any time countenance you； and will cast them out of the
church。〃 And he finally declared； in a haughty and angry tone： 〃Retract； or
return no more。〃D'Aubigne； London ed。； b。 4； ch。 8。
The Reformer promptly withdrew with his friends； thus declaring plainly that
no retraction was to be expected from him。 This was not what the cardinal
had purposed。 He had flattered himself that by violence he could awe Luther
to submission。 Now； left alone with his supporters； he looked from one to
another in utter chagrin at the unexpected failure of his schemes。
Luther's efforts on this occasion were not without good results。 The large
assembly present had opportunity to compare the two men； and to judge for
themselves of the spirit manifested by them； as well as of the strength and
truthfulness of their positions。 How marked the contrast！ The Reformer；
simple； humble； firm； stood up in the strength of God； having truth on his
side； the pope's representative； self…important； overbearing； haughty； and
unreasonable； was without a single argument from the Scriptures； yet
vehemently crying： 〃Retract； or be sent to Rome for punishment。〃
Notwithstanding Luther had secured a safe…conduct； the Romanists were
plotting to seize and imprison him。 His friends urged that as it was useless
for him to prolong his stay； he should return to Wittenberg without delay；
and that the utmost caution should be observed in order to conceal his
intentions。 He accordingly left Augsburg before day…break； on horseback；
accompanied only by a guide furnished him by the magistrate。 With many
forebodings he secretly made his way through the dark and silent streets of
the city。 Enemies； vigilant and cruel； were plotting his destruction。 Would
he escape the snares prepared for him？ Those were moments of anxiety and
earnest prayer。 He reached a small gate in the wall of the city。 It was
opened for him； and with his guide he passed through without hindrance。 Once
safely outside； the fugitives hastened their flight； and before
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the legate learned of Luther's departure； he was beyond the reach of his
persecutors。 Satan and his emissaries were defeated。 The man whom they had
thought in their power was gone； escaped as a bird from the snare of the
fowler。
At the news of Luther's escape the legate was overwhelmed with surprise and
anger。 He had expected to receive great honor for his wisdom and firmness in
dealing with this disturber of the church； but his hope was disappointed。 He
gave expression to his wrath in a letter to Frederick； the elector of
Saxony； bitterly denouncing Luther and demanding that Frederick send the
Reformer to Rome or banish him from Saxony。
In defense； Luther urged that the legate or the pope show him his errors
from the Scriptures； and pledged himself in the most solemn manner to
renounce his doctrines if they could be shown to contradict the word of God。
And he expressed his gratitude to God that he had been counted worthy to
suffer in so holy a cause。
The elector had； as yet； little knowledge of the reformed doctrines； but he
was deeply impressed by the candor； force； and clearness of Luther's words；
and until the Reformer should be proved to be in error； Frederick resolved
to stand as his protector。 In reply to the legate's demand he wrote： 〃Since
Dr。 Martin has appeared before you at Augsburg； you should be satisfied。 We
did not expect that you would endeavor to make him retract without having
convinced him of his errors。 None of the learned men in our principality
have informed me that Martin's doctrine is impious； anti…christian； or
heretical。' The prince refused； moreover； to send Luther to Rome； or to
expel him from his states。〃 D'Aubigne； b。 4； ch。 10。
The elector saw that there was a general breaking down of the moral
restraints of society。 A great work of reform was needed。 The complicated
and expensive arrangements to restrain and punish crime would be unnecessary
if men but acknowledged and obeyed the requirements of God and the dictates
of an enlightened conscience。 He saw that
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Luther was laboring to secure this object； and he secretly rejoiced that a
better influence was making itself felt in the church。
He saw also that as a professor in the university Luther was eminently
successful。 Only a year had passed since the Reformer posted his theses on
the castle church； yet there was already a great falling off in the number
of pilgrims that visited the church at the festival of All Saints。 Rome had
been deprived of worshipers and offerings； but their place was filled by
another class； who now came to Wittenberg； not pilgrims to adore her relics；
but students to fill her halls of learning。 The writings of Luther had
kindled everywhere a new interest in the Holy Scriptures； and not only from
all parts of Germany； but from other lands； students flocked to the
university。 Young men； coming in sight of Wittenberg for the first time；
〃raised their hands to heaven； and praised God for having caused the light
of truth to shine forth from this city； as from Zion in times of old； and
whence it spread even to the most distant countries。〃Ibid。； b。 4； ch。 10。
Luther was as yet but partially converted from the errors of Romanism。 But
as he compared the Holy Oracles with the papal decrees and constitutions； he
was filled with wonder。 〃I am reading；〃 he wrote； 〃the decrees of the
pontiffs； and 。 。 。 I do not know whether the pope is antichrist himself； or
his apostle； so greatly is Christ misrepresented and crucified in
them。〃Ibid。； b。 5； ch。 1。 Yet at this time Luther was still a supporter of
the Roman Church； and had no thought that he would ever separate from her
communion。
The Reformer's writings and his doctrine were extending to every nation in
Christendom。 The work spread to Switzerland and Holland。 Copies of his
writings found their way to France and Spain。 In England his teachings were
received as the word of life。 To Belgium and Italy also the truth had
extended。 Thousands were awakening from their deathlike stupor to the joy
and hope of a life of faith。
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Rome became more and more exasperated by the attacks of Luther； and it was
declared by some of his fanatical opponents； even by doctors in Catholic
universities； that he who should kill the rebellious monk would be without
sin。 One day a stranger； with a pistol hidden under his cloak； approached
the Reformer and inquired why he went thus alone。 〃I am in God's hands；〃
answered Luther。 〃He is my strength and my shield。 What can man do unto
me？〃Ibid。； b。 6； ch。
2。 Upon hearing these words； the stranger turned pale and
fled away as from the presence of the angels of heaven。
Rome was bent upon the destruction of Luther； but God was his defense。 His
doctrines were heard everywhere〃in cottages and convents； 。 。 。 in the
castles of the nobles； in the universities； and in the palaces of kings；〃
and noble men were rising on every hand to sustain his efforts。Ibid。； b。
6； ch。 2。
It was about this time that Luther； reading the works of Huss； found that
the great truth of justification by faith； which he himself was seeking to
uphold and teach； had been held by the Bohemian Reformer。 〃We have all；〃
said Luther； 〃Paul； Augustine； and myself； been Hussites without knowing
it！〃 〃God will surely visit it upon the world；〃 he continued； 〃that the
truth was preached to it a century ago； and burned！〃Wylie； b。 6。 ch。 1
In an appeal to the emperor and nobility of Germany in behalf of the
reformation of Christianity； Luther wrote concerning the pope： 〃It is a
horrible thing to behold the man who styles himself Christ's vicegerent；