the great controversy-第40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！


for　submission！　The　Lutheran　princes　were　guaranteed　the　free　exercise　of
their　religion。　The　same　boon　was　extended　to　all　those　of　their　subjects
who；　prior　to　the　passing　of　the　measure；　had　embraced　the　reformed　views。
Ought　not　this　to　content　them？　How　many　perils　would　submission　avoid！　On
what　unknown　hazards　and　conflicts　would　opposition　launch　them！　Who　knows
what　opportunities　the　future　may　bring？　Let　us　embrace　peace；　let　us　seize
the　olive　branch　Rome　holds　out；　and　close　the　wounds　of　Germany。　With
arguments　like　these　might　the　Reformers　have　justified　their　adoption　of　a
course　which　would　have　assuredly　issued　in　no　long　time　in　the　overthrow　of
their　cause。

〃Happily　they　looked　at　the　principle　on　which　this　arrangement　was　based；
and　they　acted　in　faith。　What　was　that　principle？　It　was　the　right　of　Rome
to　coerce　conscience　and　forbid　free　inquiry。　But　were　not　themselves　and
their　Protestant　subjects　to　enjoy　religious　freedom？　Yes；　as　a　favor
specially　stipulated　for　in　the　arrangement；　but　not　as　a　right。　As　to　all
outside　that　arrangement；　the　great　principle　of　authority　was　to　rule；
conscience　was　out　of　court；　Rome　was　infallible　judge；　and　must　be　obeyed。
The　acceptance　of　the　proposed　arrangement　would　have　been　a　virtual
admission　that　religious　liberty　ought　to　be　confined　to　reformed　Saxony；
and　as　to　all　the　rest　of　Christendom；　free　inquiry　and　the　profession　of
the　reformed　faith　were　crimes；　and　must　be　visited　with　the　dungeon　and　the
stake。　Could　they　consent　to　localize　religious　liberty？　to　have　it
proclaimed　that　the　Reformation　had　made　its　last　convert？　had　subjugated
its　last　acre？　and　that　wherever　Rome　bore　sway　at　this　hour；　there　her
dominion　was　to　be　perpetuated？　Could　the　Reformers　have　pleaded　that　they
were　innocent　of　the　blood　of　those　hundreds　and　thousands　who；　in　pursuance
of　this　arrangement；　would　have　to　yield　up　their

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　201

lives　in　popish　lands？　This　would　have　been　to　betray；　at　that　supreme　hour；
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；

202

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

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　203

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

204

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　woul