按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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 final answer。 For a time his
heart sank within him as he contemplated the forces that were combined
against the truth。 His faith faltered； fearfulness and trembling came upon
him； and horror overwhelmed him。 Dangers multiplied before him； his enemies
seemed about to triumph； and the powers of darkness to prevail。 Clouds
gathered about him and seemed to separate him from God。 He longed for the
assurance that the Lord of hosts would be with 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。
〃O almighty and everlasting God；〃 he pleaded； 〃how terrible is this world！
Behold； it openeth its mouth to swallow me up； and I have so little trust in
Thee。 。 。 。 If it is
157
only in the strength of this world that I must put my trust； all is over。 。
。 。 My last hour is come； my condemnation has been pronounced。 。 。 。 O God；
do Thou help me against all the wisdom of the world。 Do this； 。 。 。 Thou
alone； 。 。 。 for this is not my work； but Thine。 I have nothing to do here；
nothing to contend for with these great ones of the world。 。 。 。 But the
cause is Thine； 。 。 。 and it is a righteous and eternal cause。 O Lord； help
me！ Faithful and unchangeable God； in no man do I place my trust。 。 。 。 All
that is of man is uncertain； all that cometh of man fails。 。 。 。 Thou hast
chosen me for this work。 。 。 。 Stand at my side； for the sake of Thy
well…beloved Jesus Christ； who is my defense； my shield； and my strong
tower。〃Ibid。； b。 7； ch。 8。
An all…wise Providence had permitted Luther to realize his peril； that he
might not trust to his own strength and rush presumptuously into danger。 Yet
it was not the fear of personal suffering； a dread of torture or death；
which seemed immediately impending； that overwhelmed him with its terror。 He
had come to the crisis； and he felt his insufficiency to meet it。 Through
his weakness the cause of truth might suffer loss。 Not for his own safety；
but for the triumph of the gospel did he wrestle with God。 Like Israel's； in
that night struggle beside the lonely stream； was the anguish and conflict
of his soul。 Like Israel； he prevailed with God。 In his utter helplessness
his faith fastened upon Christ； the mighty Deliverer。 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 uplift the
word of God before the rulers of the nations。
With his mind stayed upon God； Luther prepared for the struggle before him。
He thought upon the plan of his answer； examined passages in his own
writings； and drew from the Holy Scriptures suitable proofs to sustain his
positions。 Then； laying his left hand on the Sacred Volume； which was open
before him； he lifted his right hand to heaven and vowed 〃to remain faithful
to the gospel； and
158
freely to confess his faith； even should he seal his testimony with his
blood。〃Ibid。； b。 7； ch。 8。
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 demanded 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。
〃Most serene emperor； illustrious princes； gracious lords；〃 said Luther； 〃I
appear before you this day； in conformity with the order given me yesterday；
and by God's mercies I conjure your majesty and your august highnesses to
listen graciously to the defense of a cause which I am assured is just and
true。 If； through ignorance； I should transgress the usages and proprieties
of courts； I entreat you to pardon me； for I was not brought up in the
palaces of kings； but in the seclusion of a convent。〃Ibid。； b。 7； ch。 8。
Then； proceeding to the question； 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 tyranny of Rome and
open a wider door to many and great impieties。 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 be free from fault； but even these books he
could not revoke； for such a course would embolden the enemies of truth； and
they would then take occasion to crush God's people with still greater
cruelty。
159
〃Yet I am but a mere man； and not God；〃 he continued； 〃I shall therefore
defend myself as Christ did： 'If I have spoken evil； bear witness of the
evil。' 。 。 。 By the mercy of God； I conjure you； most serene emperor； and
you； most illustrious princes； and all men of every degree； to prove from
the writings of the prophets and apostles that I have erred。 As soon as I am
convinced of this； I will retract every error； and be the first to lay hold
of my books and throw them into the fire。
〃What I have just said plainly shows； I hope； that I have carefully weighed
and considered the dangers to which I expose myself； but far from being
dismayed； I rejoice to see that the gospel is now； as in former times； a
cause of trouble and dissension。 This is the character； this is the destiny；
of the word of God。 'I came not to send peace on earth； but a sword；' said
Jesus Christ。 God is wonderful and terrible in His counsels； beware lest； by
presuming to quench dissensions； you should persecute the holy word of God；
and draw down upon yourselves a frightful deluge of insurmountable dangers；
of present disasters； and eternal desolation。 。 。 。 I might quote many
examples from the oracles of God。 I might speak of the Pharaohs； the kings
of Babylon； and those of Israel； whose labors never more effectually
contributed to their own destruction than when they sought by counsels； to
all appearance most wise； to strengthen their dominion。 'God removeth
mountains； and they know it not。'〃Ibid。； b。 7； ch。 8。
Luther had spoken in German； he was now requested to repeat the same words
in Latin。 Though exhausted by the previous effort； he complied； and again
delivered his speech； with the same clearness and energy as at the first。
God's providence directed in this matter。 The minds of many of the princes
were so blinded by error and superstition that at the first delivery they
did not see the force of Luther's reasoning； but the repetition enabled them
to perceive clearly the points presented。
160
Those who stubbornly closed their eyes to the light； and determined not to
be convinced of the truth； were enraged at the power of Luther's words。 As
he ceased speaking； the spokesman of the Diet said angrily： 〃You have not
answered the question put to you。 。 。 。 You are required to give a clear and
precise answer。 。 。 。 Will you； or will you not； retract？〃
The Reformer answered： 〃Since your most serene majesty and your high
mightinesses require from me a clear； simple； and precise answer； I will
give you one； and it is this： I cannot submit my faith either to the pope or
to the councils； because it is clear as the day that they have frequently
erred and contradicted each other。 Unless therefore I am convinced by the
testimony of Scripture or by the clearest reasoning； unless I am persuaded
by means of the passages I have quoted； and unless they thus render my
conscience bound by the