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the cause of the gospel and the liberties of Christendom。〃Wylie； b。 9； ch。
15。 Rather would they 〃sacrifice everything； even their states； their
crowns； and their lives。〃D'Aubigne； b。 13； ch。 5。
〃Let us reject this decree；〃 said the princes。 〃In matters of conscience the
majority has no power。〃 The deputies declared： 〃It is to the decree of 1526
that we are indebted for the peace that the empire enjoys： its abolition
would fill Germany with troubles and divisions。 The Diet is incompetent to
do more than preserve religious liberty until the council meets。〃Ibid。； b。
13； ch。 5。 To protect liberty of conscience is the duty of the state； and
this is the limit of its authority in matters of religion。 Every secular
government that attempts to regulate or enforce religious observances by
civil authority is sacrificing the very principle for which the evangelical
Christian so nobly struggled。
The papists determined to put down what they termed 〃daring obstinacy。〃 They
began by endeavoring to cause divisions among the supporters of the
Reformation and to intimidate all who had not openly declared in its favor。
The representatives of the free cities were at last summoned before the Diet
and required to declare whether they would accede to the terms of the
proposition。 They pleaded for delay； but in vain。 When brought to the test；
nearly one half their number sided with the Reformers。 Those who thus
refused to sacrifice liberty of conscience and the right of individual
judgment well knew that their position marked them for future criticism；
condemnation； and persecution。 Said one of the delegates： 〃We must either
deny the word of God； or be burnt。〃Ibid。； b。 13； ch。 5。
King Ferdinand； the emperor's representative at the Diet； saw that the
decree would cause serious divisions unless the princes could be induced to
accept and sustain it。 He therefore tried the art of persuasion； well
knowing that to employ force with such men would only render them the more
determined。 He 〃begged the princes to accept the decree；
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assuring them that the emperor would be exceedingly pleased with them。〃 But
these faithful men acknowledged an authority above that of earthly rulers；
and they answered calmly： 〃We will obey the emperor in everything that may
contribute to maintain peace and the honor of God。〃Ibid。； b。 13； ch。 5。
In the presence of the Diet the king at last announced to the elector and
his friends that the edict 〃was about to be drawn up in the form of an
imperial decree；〃 and that 〃their only remaining course was to submit to the
majority。〃 Having thus spoken； he withdrew from the assembly； giving the
Reformers no opportunity for deliberation or reply。 〃To no purpose they sent
a deputation entreating the king to return。〃 To their remonstrances he
answered only： 〃It is a settled affair； submission is all that
remains。〃Ibid。； b。 13； ch。 5。
The imperial party were convinced that the Christian princes would adhere to
the Holy Scriptures as superior to human doctrines and requirements； and
they knew that wherever this principle was accepted； the papacy would
eventually be overthrown。 But； like thousands since their time； looking only
〃at the things which are seen；〃 they flattered themselves that the cause of
the emperor and the pope was strong； and that of the Reformers weak。 Had the
Reformers depended upon human aid alone； they would have been as powerless
as the papists supposed。 But though weak in numbers； and at variance with
Rome； they had their strength。 They appealed 〃from the report of the Diet to
the word of God； and from the emperor Charles to Jesus Christ； the King of
kings and Lord of lords。〃Ibid。； b。 13； ch。 6。
As Ferdinand had refused to regard their conscientious convictions； the
princes decided not to heed his absence； but to bring their Protest before
the national council without delay。 A solemn declaration was therefore drawn
up and presented to the Diet：
〃We protest by these presents； before God； our only Creator； Preserver；
Redeemer； and Saviour； and who will one day be our Judge； as well as before
all men and all creatures； that we； for us and for our people； neither
consent
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nor adhere in any manner whatsoever to the proposed decree； in anything that
is contrary to God； to His holy word； to our right conscience； to the
salvation of our souls。〃
〃What！ we ratify this edict！ We assert that when Almighty God calls a man to
His knowledge； this man nevertheless cannot receive the knowledge of God！〃
〃There is no sure doctrine but such as is conformable to the word of God。 。
。 。 The Lord forbids the teaching of any other doctrine。 。 。 。 The Holy
Scriptures ought to be explained by other an clearer texts； 。 。 。 this Holy
Book is； in all things necessary for the Christian； easy of understanding；
and calculated to scatter the darkness。 We are resolved； with the grace of
God； to maintain the pure and exclusive preaching of His only word； such as
it is contained in the biblical books of the Old and New Testaments； without
adding anything thereto that may be contrary to it。 This word is the only
truth； it is the sure rule of all doctrine and of all life； and can never
fail or deceive us。 He who builds on this foundation shall stand against all
the powers of hell； while all the human vanities that are set up against it
shall fall before the face of God。〃
〃For this reason we reject the yoke that is imposed on us。〃 〃At the same
time we are in expectation that his imperial majesty will behave toward us
like a Christian prince who loves God above all things； and we declare
ourselves ready to pay unto him； as well as unto you； gracious lords； all
the affection and obedience that are our just and legitimate duty。〃Ibid。；
b。 13； ch。 6。
A deep impression was made upon the Diet。 The majority were filled with
amazement and alarm at the boldness of the protesters。 The future appeared
to them stormy and uncertain。 Dissension； strife； and bloodshed seemed
inevitable。 But the Reformers； assured of the justice of their cause； and
relying upon the arm of Omnipotence； were 〃full of courage and firmness。〃
〃The principles contained in this celebrated Protest 。 。 。 constitute the
very essence of Protestantism。 Now this Protest opposes two abuses of man in
matters of faith： the first is
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the intrusion of the civil magistrate； and the second the arbitrary
authority of the church。 Instead of these abuses； Protestantism sets the
power of conscience above the magistrate； and the authority of the word of
God above the visible church。 In the first place； it rejects the civil power
in divine things； and says with the prophets and apostles； 'We must obey God
rather than man。' In presence of the crown of Charles the Fifth； it uplifts
the crown of Jesus Christ。 But it goes farther： it lays down the principle
that all human teaching should be subordinate to the oracles of
God。〃Ibid。； b。
13； ch。 6。 The protesters had moreover affirmed their right to
utter freely their convictions of truth。 They would not only believe and
obey； but teach what the word of God presents； and they denied the right of
priest or magistrate to interfere。 The Protest of Spires was a solemn
witness against religious intolerance； and an assertion of the right of all
men to worship God according to the dictates of their own consciences。
The declaration had been made。 It was written in the memory of thousands and
registered in the books of heaven； where no effort of man could erase it。
All evangelical Germany adopted the Protest as the expression of its faith。
Everywhere men beheld in this declaration the promise of a new and better
era。 Said one of the princes to the Protestants of Spires： 〃May the
Almighty； who has given you grace to confess energetically； freely； and
fearlessly； preserve you in that Christian firmness until the day of
eternity。〃Ibid。； b。 13； ch。 6。
Had the Reformation； after attaining a degree of success； consented to
temporize to secure favor with the world； it would have been untrue to God
and to itself； and would thus have ensured its own destruction。 The
exper