would be opened before them。 But truth is no more desired by the majority
today than it was by the papists who opposed Luther。 There is the same
disposition to accept the theories and traditions of men instead of the word
of God as in former ages。 Those who present the truth for this time should
not expect to be received with greater favor than were earlier reformers。
The great controversy between truth and error； between Christ and Satan； is
to increase in intensity to the close of this world's history。
Said Jesus to His disciples： 〃If ye were of the world； the world would love
his own： but because ye are not of the world； but I have chosen you out of
the world； therefore the world hateth you。 Remember the word that I said
unto you； The servant is not greater than his Lord。 If they have persecuted
Me； they will also persecute you； if they have kept My saying； they will
keep yours also。〃 John 15：19； 20。 And on the other hand our Lord declared
plainly： 〃Woe unto you； when all men shall speak well of you！ for so did
their fathers to the false prophets。〃 Luke 6：26。 The spirit of the world is
no more in harmony with the spirit of Christ today than in earlier times；
and those who preach the word of God in its purity will be received with no
greater favor now than then。 The forms of opposition to the truth may
change； the enmity may be less open because it is more subtle； but the same
antagonism still exists and will be manifested to the end of time。
（145）
Chapter 8
Luther Before the Diet
A new emperor； Charles V； had ascended the throne of Germany； and the
emissaries of Rome hastened to present their congratulations and induce the
monarch to employ his power against the Reformation。 On the other hand； the
elector of Saxony； to whom Charles was in great degree indebted for his
crown； entreated him to take no step against Luther until he should have
granted him a hearing。 The emperor was thus placed in a position of great
perplexity and embarrassment。 The papists would be satisfied with nothing
short of an imperial edict sentencing Luther to death。 The elector had
declared firmly that 〃neither his imperial majesty nor any other person had
shown that Luther's writings had been refuted；〃 therefore he requested 〃that
Dr。 Luther should be furnished with a safe…conduct； so that he might appear
before a tribunal of learned； pious； and impartial judges。〃D'Aubigne； b。
6； ch。 11。
The attention of all parties was now directed to the assembly of the German
states which convened at Worms soon after the accession of Charles to the
empire。 There were important political questions and interests to be
considered by this national council； for the first time the princes of
Germany were to meet their youthful monarch in deliberative assembly。 From
all parts of the fatherland had come the dignitaries of church and state。
Secular lords； highborn； powerful； and jealous of their hereditary rights；
princely
146
ecclesiastics； flushed with their conscious superiority in rank and power；
courtly knights and their armed retainers； and ambassadors from foreign and
distant lands；all gathered at Worms。 Yet in that vast assembly the subject
that excited the deepest interest was the cause of the Saxon Reformer。
Charles had previously directed the elector to bring Luther with him to the
Diet； assuring him of protection； and promising a free discussion； with
competent persons； of the questions in dispute。 Luther was anxious to appear
before the emperor。 His health was at this time much impaired； yet he wrote
to the elector： 〃If I cannot go to Worms in good health； I will be carried
there； sick as I am。 For if the emperor calls me； I cannot doubt that it is
the call of God Himself。 If they desire to use violence against me； and that
is very probable （for it is not for their instruction that they order me to
appear）； I place the matter in the Lord's hands。 He still lives and reigns
who preserved the three young men in the burning fiery furnace。 If He will
not save me； my life is of little consequence。 Let us only prevent the
gospel from being exposed to the scorn of the wicked； and let us shed our
blood for it； for fear they should triumph。 It is not for me to decide
whether my life or my death will contribute most to the salvation of all。 。
。 。 You may expect everything from me。 。 。 except flight and recantation。
Fly I cannot； and still less retract。〃Ibid。； b。 7； ch。 1。
As the news was circulated at Worms that Luther was to appear before the
Diet； a general excitement was created。 Aleander； the papal legate to whom
the case had been specially entrusted； was alarmed and enraged。 He saw that
the result would be disastrous to the papal cause。 To institute inquiry into
a case in which the pope had already pronounced sentence of condemnation
would be to cast contempt upon the authority of the sovereign pontiff。
Furthermore； he was apprehensive that the eloquent and powerful arguments of
this man might turn away many of the princes from the cause of the pope。 He
therefore； in the most
147
urgent manner； remonstrated with Charles against Luther's appearance at
Worms。 About this time the bull declaring Luther's excommunication was
published； and this； coupled with the representations of the legate； induced
the emperor to yield。 He wrote to the elector that if Luther would not
retract； he must remain at Wittenberg。
Not content with this victory； Aleander labored with all the power and
cunning at his command to secure Luther's condemnation。 With a persistence
worthy of a better cause； he urged the matter upon the attention of princes；
prelates； and other members of the assembly； accusing the Reformer of
〃sedition； rebellion； impiety； and blasphemy。〃 But the vehemence and passion
manifested by the legate revealed too plainly the spirit by which he was
actuated。 〃He is moved by hatred and vengeance；〃 was the general remark；
〃much more than by zeal and piety。〃Ibid。； b。 7； ch。 1。 The majority of the
Diet were more than ever inclined to regard Luther's cause with favor。
With redoubled zeal Aleander urged upon the emperor the duty of executing
the papal edicts。 But under the laws of Germany this could not be done
without the concurrence of the princes； and； overcome at last by the
legate's importunity； Charles bade him present his case to the Diet。 〃It was
a proud day for the nuncio。 The assembly was a great one： the cause was even
greater。 Aleander was to plead for Rome； 。 。 。 the mother and mistress of
all churches。〃 He was to vindicate the princedom of Peter before the
assembled principalities of Christendom。 〃He had the gift of eloquence； and
he rose to the greatness of the occasion。 Providence ordered it that Rome
should appear and plead by the ablest of her orators in the presence of the
most august of tribunals； before she was condemned。〃 Wylie； b。 6； ch。 4。
With some misgivings those who favored the Reformer looked forward to the
effect of Aleander's speech。 The elector of Saxony was not present； but by
his direction some of his councilors attended to take notes of the nuncio's
address。
148
With all the power of learning and eloquence； Aleander set himself to
overthrow the truth。 Charge after charge he hurled against Luther as an
enemy of the church and the state； the living and the dead； clergy and
laity； councils and private Christians。 〃In Luther's errors there is
enough；〃 he declared； to warrant the burning of 〃a hundred thousand
heretics。〃
In conclusion he endeavored to cast contempt upon the adherents of the
reformed faith： 〃What are all these Lutherans？ A crew of insolent
pedagogues； corrupt priests； dissolute monks； ignorant lawyers； and degraded
nobles； with the common people whom they have misled and perverted。 How far
superior to them is the Catholic party in number； ability； and power！ A
unanimous decree from this illustrious assembly will enlighten the simple；
warn the imprudent； decide the waverers； and give strength to the weak。〃
D'Aubigne； b。 7； ch。 3。
With such weapons the advocates of truth in every age have been attacked。
The same arguments are still urged against all who dare to present； in
opposition to established errors； the plain and direct teachings of God's
word。 〃Who are these preachers of new doctrines？〃 exclaim those who desire a
popular religion。 〃They are unlearned； few in numbers； and of the poorer
class。 Yet they claim to have the truth； and to be the chosen people of God。
They are ignorant and deceived。 How greatly superior in numbers and
influence is our church！ How many great and learned men are among us！ How
much more power is on our side！〃 These are the arguments that have a telling
influence upon the world； but they are no more conclusive now than in the
days of the Reformer。
The Reformation did not； as many suppose； end with Luther。 It is to be
continued to the close of this world's history。 Luther had a great work to
do in reflecting to others the light which God had permitte