the great controversy-第30部分

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！


are　not　only　tolerated；　but　rewarded；　because　the　greater　their　lies；　the
greater　their　gain。　It　is　from　this　foul　spring　that　such　tainted　waters
flow。　Debauchery　stretches　out　the　hand　to　avarice。　。　。　。　Alas；　it　is　the
scandal　caused　by　the　clergy　that　hurls　so　many　poor　souls　into　eternal
condemnation。　A　general　reform　must　be　effected。〃Ibid。；　b。　7；　ch。　4。

150


A　more　able　and　forcible　denunciation　of　the　papal　abuses　could　not　have
been　presented　by　Luther　himself；　and　the　fact　that　the　speaker　was　a
determined　enemy　of　the　Reformer's　gave　greater　influence　to　his　words。

Had　the　eyes　of　the　assembly　been　opened；　they　would　have　beheld　angels　of
God　in　the　midst　of　them；　shedding　beams　of　light　athwart　the　darkness　of
error　and　opening　minds　and　hearts　to　the　reception　of　truth。　It　was　the
power　of　the　God　of　truth　and　wisdom　that　controlled　even　the　adversaries　of
the　reformation；　and　thus　prepared　the　way　for　the　great　work　about　to　be
accomplished。　Martin　Luther　was　not　present；　but　the　voice　of　One　greater
than　Luther　had　been　heard　in　that　assembly。

A　committee　was　at　once　appointed　by　the　Diet　to　prepare　an　enumeration　of
the　papal　oppressions　that　weighed　so　heavily　on　the　German　people。　This
list；　containing　a　hundred　and　one　specifications；　was　presented　to　the
emperor；　with　a　request　that　he　would　take　immediate　measures　for　the
correction　of　these　abuses。　〃What　a　loss　of　Christian　souls；〃　said　the
petitioners；　〃what　depredations；　what　extortions；　on　account　of　the　scandals
by　which　the　spiritual　head　of　Christendom　is　surrounded！　It　is　our　duty　to
prevent　the　ruin　and　dishonor　of　our　people。　For　this　reason　we　most　humbly
but　most　urgently　entreat　you　to　order　a　general　reformation；　and　to
undertake　its　accomplishment。〃Ibid。；　b。　7；　ch。　4。

The　council　now　demanded　the　Reformer's　appearance　before　them。
Notwithstanding　the　entreaties；　protests；　and　threats　of　Aleander；　the
emperor　at　last　consented；　and　Luther　was　summoned　to　appear　before　the
Diet。　With　the　summons　was　issued　a　safe…conduct；　ensuring　his　return　to　a
place　of　security。　These　were　borne　to　Wittenberg　by　a　herald；　who　was
commissioned　to　conduct　him　to　Worms。

The　friends　of　Luther　were　terrified　and　distressed。　Knowing　the　prejudice
and　enmity　against　him；　they　feared　that　even　his　safe…conduct　would　not　be
respected；　and　they　entreated　him　not　to　imperil　his　life。　He　replied：　〃The
papists　do　not　desire　my　coming　to　Worms；　but　my

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　151

condemnation　and　my　death。　It　matters　not。　Pray　not　for　me；　but　for　the　word
of　God。　。　。　。　Christ　will　give　me　His　Spirit　to　overcome　these　ministers　of
error。　I　despise　them　during　my　life；　I　shall　triumph　over　them　by　my　death。
They　are　busy　at　Worms　about　compelling　me　to　retract；　and　this　shall　be　my
retraction：　I　said　formerly　that　the　pope　was　Christ's　vicar；　now　I　assert
that　he　is　our　Lord's　adversary；　and　the　devil's　apostle。〃Ibid。；　b。　7；　ch。
6。

Luther　was　not　to　make　his　perilous　journey　alone。　Besides　the　imperial
messenger；　three　of　his　firmest　friends　determined　to　accompany　him。
Melanchthon　earnestly　desired　to　join　them。　His　heart　was　knit　to　Luther's；
and　he　yearned　to　follow　him；　if　need　be；　to　prison　or　to　death。　But　his
entreaties　were　denied。　Should　Luther　perish；　the　hopes　of　the　Reformation
must　center　upon　his　youthful　colaborer。　Said　the　Reformer　as　he　parted　from
Melanchthon：　〃If　I　do　not　return；　and　my　enemies　put　me　to　death；　continue
to　teach；　and　stand　fast　in　the　truth。　Labor　in　my　stead。　。　。　。　If　you
survive；　my　death　will　be　of　little　consequence。〃　Ibid。；　b。　7；　ch。　7。
Students　and　citizens　who　had　gathered　to　witness　Luther's　departure　were
deeply　moved。　A　multitude　whose　hearts　had　been　touched　by　the　gospel；　bade
him　farewell　with　weeping。　Thus　the　Reformer　and　his　companions　set　out　from
Wittenberg。

On　the　journey　they　saw　that　the　minds　of　the　people　were　oppressed　by
gloomy　forebodings。　At　some　towns　no　honors　were　proffered　them。　As　they
stopped　for　the　night；　a　friendly　priest　expressed　his　fears　by　holding　up
before　Luther　the　portrait　of　an　Italian　reformer　who　had　suffered
martyrdom。　The　next　day　they　learned　that　Luther's　writings　had　been
condemned　at　Worms。　Imperial　messengers　were　proclaiming　the　emperor's
decree　and　calling　upon　the　people　to　bring　the　proscribed　works　to　the
magistrates。　The　herald；　fearing　for　Luther's　safety　at　the　council；　and
thinking　that　already　his　resolution　might　be　shaken；　asked　if　he　still
wished　to　go　forward。　He　answered：　〃Although　interdicted　in　every　city；　I
shall　go　on。〃Ibid。；　b。　7；　ch。　7。

152


At　Erfurt；　Luther　was　received　with　honor。　Surrounded　by　admiring　crowds；　he
passed　through　the　streets　that　he　had　often　traversed　with　his　beggar's
wallet。　He　visited　his　convent　cell；　and　thought　upon　the　struggles　through
which　the　light　now　flooding　Germany　had　been　shed　upon　his　soul。　He　was
urged　to　preach。　This　he　had　been　forbidden　to　do；　but　the　herald　granted
him　permission；　and　the　friar　who　had　once　been　made　the　drudge　of　the
convent；　now　entered　the　pulpit。

To　a　crowded　assembly　he　spoke　from　the　words　of　Christ；　〃Peace　be　unto
you。〃　〃Philosophers；　doctors；　and　writers；〃　he　said；　〃have　endeavored　to
teach　men　the　way　to　obtain　everlasting　life；　and　they　have　not　succeeded。　I
will　now　tell　it　to　you：　。　。　。　God　has　raised　one　Man　from　the　dead；　the
Lord　Jesus　Christ；　that　He　might　destroy　death；　extirpate　sin；　and　shut　the
gates　of　hell。　This　is　the　work　of　salvation。　。　。　。　Christ　has　vanquished！
this　is　the　joyful　news；　and　we　are　saved　by　His　work；　and　not　by　our　own。　。
。　。　Our　Lord　Jesus　Christ　said；　'Peace　be　unto　you；　behold　My　hands；'　that
is　to　say；　Behold；　O　man！　it　is　I；　I　alone；　who　have　taken　away　thy　sin；　and
ransomed　thee；　and　now　thou　hast　peace；　saith　the　Lord。〃

He　continued；　showing　that　true　faith　will　be　manifested　by　a　holy　life。
〃Since　God　has　saved　us；　let　us　so　order　our　works　that　they　may　be
acceptable　to　Him。　Art　thou　rich？　let　thy　goods　administer　to　the
necessities　of　the　poor。　Art　thou　poor？　let　thy　services　be　acceptable　to
the　rich。　If　thy　labor　is　useful　to　thyself　alone；　the　service　that　thou
pretendest　to　render　unto　God　is　a　lie。〃Ibid。；　b。　7；　ch。　7。

The　people　listened　as　if　spellbound。　The　bread　of　life　was　broken　to　those
starving　souls。　Christ　was　lifted　up　before　them　as　above　popes；　legates；
emperors；　and　kings。　Luther　made　no　reference　to　his　own　perilous　position。
He　did　not　seek　to　make　himself　the　object　of　thought　or　sympathy。　In　the
contemplation　of　Christ　he　had　lost　sight　of　self。　He　hid　behind　the　Man　of
Calvary；　seeking　only　to　present　Jesus　as　the　sinner's　Redeemer。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　153


As　the　Reformer　proceeded　on　his　journey；　he　was　everywhere　regarded　with
great　interest。　An　eager　multitude　thronged　about　him；　and　friendly　voices
warned　him　of　the　purpose　of　the　Romanists。　〃They　will　burn　you；〃　said　some；
〃and　reduce　your　body　to　ashes；　as　they　did　with　John　Huss。〃　Luther
answered；　〃Though　they　should　kindle　a　fire　all　the　way　from　Worms　to
Wittenberg；　the　flames　of　which　reached　to　heaven；　I　would　walk　through　it
in　the　name　of　the　Lord；　I　would　appear　before　them；　I　would　enter　the　jaws
of　this　behemoth；　and　break　his　teeth；　confessing　the　Lord　Jesus
Christ。〃Ibid。；　b。　7；　ch。　7。

The　news　of　his　approach　to　Worms　created　great　commotion。　His　friends
trembled　for　his　safety；　his　enemies　feared　for　the　success　of　their　cause。
Strenuous　efforts　were　made　to　dissuade　him　from　entering　the　city。　At　the
instigation　of　the　papists　he　was　urged　to　repair　to　the　castle　of　a
friendly　knight；　where；　it　was　declared；　all　difficulties　could　be　amicably
adjusted。　Friends　endeavored　to　excite　his　fears　by　describing　the　dangers
that　threatened　him。　All　their　efforts　failed。　Luther；　still　unshaken；
declared：　〃Even　should　there　be　as　many　devils　in　Worms　as　tiles　on　the
housetops；　still　I　would　enter　it。〃Ibid。；　b。　7；　ch。　7。

Upon　his　arrival　at　Worms；　a　vast　crowd　flocked　to　the　gates　to　welcome　him。
So　great　a　concourse　had　not　assembled　to　greet　the　emperor　himself。　The
excitement　was　intense；　and　from　the　midst　of　the　throng　a　shrill　and
plaintive　voice　chanted　a　funeral　dirge　as　a　warning　to　Luther　of　the　fate
that　awaited　him。　〃God　will　be　my　defense；〃　said　he；　as　he　alighted　from　his
carriage。

The　papists　had　not　believed　that　Luther　would　really　venture　to　appear　at
Worms；　and　his　arrival　filled　them　with　consternation。　The　emperor
immediately　summoned　his　councilors　to　consider　what　course　should　be
pursued。　One　of　the　bishops；　a　rigid　papist；　declared：　〃We　have　long
consulted　on　this　matter。　Let　your　imperial　majesty　get　rid　of　this　man　at
once。　Did　not　Sigismund　cause　John　Huss　to　be　burnt？　We　are　not　bound　either
to　give　or　to

154

observe　the　safe…conduct　of　a　heretic。〃　〃No；〃　said　the　emperor；　〃we　must
keep　our　promise。〃Ibid。；　b。　7；　ch。　8。　It　was　therefore　decided　that　the
Reformer　should　be　heard。

All　the　city　were　eager　to　see　this　remarkable　man；　and　a　throng　of　visitors
soon　filled　his　lodgings。　Luther　had　scarcely　recovered　from　his　recent
illness；　he　was　wearied　from　the　journey；　which　had　occupied　two　full　weeks；
he　must　prepare　to　meet　the　momentous　events　of　the　morrow；　and　he　needed
quiet　and　repose。　But　so　great　was　the　desire　to　see　him　that　he　had　enjoyed
only　a　few　hours'　rest　when　noblemen；　knights；　priests；　and　citizens
gathered　eagerly　about　him。　Among　these　were　many　of　the　nobles　who　had　so
boldly　demanded　of　the　emperor　a　reform　of　ecclesiastical　abuses　and　who；
says　Luther；　〃had　all　been　freed　by　my　gospel。〃Martyn；　page　393。　Enemies；
as　well　as　friends；　came　to　look　upon　the　dauntless　monk；　but　he　received
them　with　unshaken　calmness；　replying　to　all　with　dignity　and　wisdom。　His
bearing　was　firm　and　courageous。　His　pale；　thin　face；　marked　with　the　traces
of　toil　and　illness；　wore　a　kindly　and　even　joyous　expression。　The　solemnity
and　deep　earnestness　of　his　words　gave　him　a　power　that　even　his　enemies
could　not　wholly　withstand。　Both　friends　and　foes　were　filled　with　wonder