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soon after his departure； and the emperor's decree received the sanction of
the Diet。 Now the Romanists were jubilant。 They considered the fate of the
Reformation sealed。
God had provided a way of escape for His servant in this hour of peril。 A
vigilant eye had followed Luther's movements； and a true and noble heart had
resolved upon his rescue。 It was plain that Rome would be satisfied with
nothing short of his death； only by concealment could he be preserved from
the jaws of the lion。 God gave wisdom to Frederick of Saxony to devise a
plan for the Reformer's preservation。 With the co…operation of true friends
the elector's purpose was carried out； and Luther was effectually hidden
from friends and foes。 Upon his homeward journey he was seized； separated
from his attendants； and hurriedly conveyed through the forest to the castle
of Wartburg； an isolated mountain fortress。 Both his seizure and his
concealment were so involved in mystery that even Frederick himself for a
long time knew not whither he had been conducted。 This ignorance was not
without design； so long as the elector knew nothing of Luther's whereabouts；
he could reveal nothing。 He satisfied himself that the Reformer was safe；
and with this knowledge he was content。
Spring； summer； and autumn passed； and winter came； and Luther still
remained a prisoner。 Aleander and his partisans exulted as the light of the
gospel seemed about to be extinguished。 But instead of this； the Reformer
was filling his lamp from the storehouse of truth； and its light was to
shine forth with brighter radiance。
In the friendly security of the Wartburg； Luther for a time rejoiced in his
release from the heat and turmoil of battle。 But he could not long find
satisfaction in quiet and repose。 Accustomed to a life of activity and stern
conflict； he could ill endure to remain inactive。 In those solitary days the
condition of the church rose up before him； and
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he cried in despair。 〃Alas！ there is no one in this latter day of His anger；
to stand like a wall before the Lord； and save Israel！〃Ibid。； b。 9； ch。 2。
Again； his thoughts returned to himself； and he feared being charged with
cowardice in withdrawing from the contest。 Then he reproached himself for
his indolence and self…indulgence。 Yet at the same time he was daily
accomplishing more than it seemed possible for one man to do。 His pen was
never idle。 While his enemies flattered themselves that he was silenced；
they were astonished and confused by tangible proof that he was still
active。 A host of tracts； issuing from his pen； circulated throughout
Germany。 He also performed a most important service for his countrymen by
translating the New Testament into the German tongue。 From his rocky Patmos
he continued for nearly a whole year to proclaim the gospel and rebuke the
sins and errors of the times。
But it was not merely to preserve Luther from the wrath of his enemies； nor
even to afford him a season of quiet for these important labors； that God
had withdrawn His servant from the stage of public life。 There were results
more precious than these to be secured。 In the solitude and obscurity of his
mountain retreat； Luther was removed from earthly supports and shut out from
human praise。 He was thus saved from the pride and self…confidence that are
so often caused by success。 By suffering and humiliation he was prepared
again to walk safely upon the dizzy heights to which he had been so suddenly
exalted。
As men rejoice in the freedom which the truth brings them； they are inclined
to extol those whom God has employed to break the chains of error and
superstition。 Satan seeks to divert men's thoughts and affections from God；
and to fix them upon human agencies； he leads them to honor the mere
instrument and to ignore the Hand that directs all the events of providence。
Too often religious leaders who are thus praised and reverenced lose sight
of their dependence upon God and are led to trust in themselves。 As
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a result they seek to control the minds and consciences of the people； who
are disposed to look to them for guidance instead of looking to the word of
God。 The work of reform is often retarded because of this spirit indulged by
its supporters。 From this danger； God would guard the cause of the
Reformation。 He desired that work to receive； not the impress of man； but
that of God。 The eyes of men had been turned to Luther as the expounder of
the truth； he was removed that all eyes might be directed to the eternal
Author of truth。
（171）
Chapter 9
The Swiss Reformer
In the choice of instrumentalities for the reforming of the church； the same
divine plan is seen as in that for the planting of the church。 The heavenly
Teacher passed by the great men of the earth； the titled and wealthy； who
were accustomed to receive praise and homage as leaders of the people。 They
were so proud and self…confident in their boasted superiority that they
could not be molded to sympathize with their fellow men and to become
colaborers with the humble Man of Nazareth。 To the unlearned； toiling
fishermen of Galilee was the call addressed： 〃Follow Me； and I will make you
fishers of men。〃 Matthew 4：19。 These disciples were humble and teachable。
The less they had been influenced by the false teaching of their time； the
more successfully could Christ instruct and train them for His service。 So
in the days of the Great Reformation。 The leading Reformers were men from
humble lifemen who were most free of any of their time from pride of rank
and from the influence of bigotry and priestcraft。 It is God's plan to
employ humble instruments to accomplish great results。 Then the glory will
not be given to men； but to Him who works through them to will and to do of
His own good pleasure。
A few weeks after the birth of Luther in a miner's cabin in Saxony； Ulric
Zwingli was born in a herdsman's cottage among the Alps。 Zwingli's
surroundings in childhood； and
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his early training； were such as to prepare him for his future mission。
Reared amid scenes of natural grandeur； beauty； and awful sublimity； his
mind was early impressed with a sense of the greatness； the power； and the
majesty of God。 The history of the brave deeds achieved upon his native
mountains kindled his youthful aspirations。 And at the side of his pious
grandmother he listened to the few precious Bible stories which she had
gleaned from amid the legends and traditions of the church。 With eager
interest he heard of the grand deeds of patriarchs and prophets； of the
shepherds who watched their flocks on the hills of Palestine where angels
talked with them； of the Babe of Bethlehem and the Man of Calvary。
Like John Luther； Zwingli's father desired an education for his son； and the
boy was early sent from his native valley。 His mind rapidly developed； and
it soon became a question where to find teachers competent to instruct him。
At the age of thirteen he went to Bern； which then possessed the most
distinguished school in Switzerland。 Here； however； a danger arose which
threatened to blight the promise of his life。 Determined efforts were put
forth by the friars to allure him into a monastery。 The Dominican and
Franciscan monks were in rivalry for popular favor。 This they endeavored to
secure by the showy adornments of their churches； the pomp of their
ceremonials； and the attractions of famous relics and miracle…working
images。
The Dominicans of Bern saw that if they could win this talented young
scholar； they would secure both gain and honor。 His extreme youth； his
natural ability as a speaker and writer； and his genius for music and
poetry； would be more effective than all their pomp and display； in
attracting the people to their services and increasing the revenues of their
order。 By deceit and flattery they endeavored to induce Zwingli to enter
their convent。 Luther； while a student at school； had buried himself in a
convent cell； and he would have been lost