〃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
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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。
Some were convinced that a divine influence attended him； others declared；
as had the Pharisees concerning Christ： 〃He hath a devil。〃
On the following day Luther was summoned to attend the Diet。 An imperial
officer was appointed to conduct him to the hall of audience； yet it was
with difficulty that he reached the place。 Every avenue was crowded with
spectators eager to look upon the monk who had dared resist the authority of
the pope。
As he was about to enter the presence of his judges； an old general； the
hero of many battles； said to him kindly： 〃Poor monk； poor monk； thou art
now going to make a nobler stand than I or any other captains have ever made
in the bloodiest of our battles。 But if thy cause is just； and thou art sure
of it； go forward in God's name； and fear
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nothing。 God will not forsake thee。〃D'Aubigne； b。 7； ch。 8。
At length Luther stood before the council。 The emperor occupied the throne。
He was surrounded by the most illustrious personages in the empire。 Never
had any man appeared in the presence of a more imposing assembly than that
before which Martin Luther was to answer for his faith。 〃This appearance was
of itself a signal victory over the papacy。 The pope had condemned the man；
and he was now standing before a tribunal which； by this very act； set
itself above the pope。 The pope had laid him under an interdict； and cut him
off from all human society； and yet he was summoned in respectful language；
and received before the most august assembly in the world。 The pope had
condemned him to perpetual silence； and he was now about to speak before
thousands of attentive hearers drawn together from the farthest parts of
Christendom。 An immense revolution had thus been effected by Luther's
instrumentality。 Rome was already descending from her throne； and it was the
voice of a monk that caused this humiliation。〃Ibid。； b。 7； ch。 8。
In the presence of that powerful and titled assembly the lowly born Reformer
seemed awed and embarrassed。 Several of the princes； observing his emotion；
approached him； and one of them whispered： 〃Fear not them which kill the
body； but are not able to kill the soul。〃 Another said： 〃When ye shall be
brought before governors and kings for My sake； it shall be given you； by
the Spirit of your Father； what ye shall say。〃 Thus the words of Christ were
brought by the world's great men to strengthen His servant in the hour of
trial。
Luther was conducted to a position directly in front of the emperor's
throne。 A deep silence fell upon the crowded assembly。 Then an imperial
officer arose and； pointing to a collection of Luther's writings； demanded
that the Reformer answer two questionswhether he acknowledged them as his；
and whether he proposed to retract the opinions which he had therein
advanced。 The titles of the books having
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been read； Luther replied that as to the first question； he acknowledged the
books to be his。 〃As to the second；〃 he said； 〃seeing that it is a question
which concerns faith and the salvation of souls； and in which the word of
God； the greatest and most precious treasure either in heaven or earth； is
involved； I should act imprudently were I to reply without reflection。 I
might affirm less than the circumstance demands； or more than truth
requires； and so sin against this saying of Christ： 'Whosoever shall deny Me
before men； him will I also deny before My Father which is in heaven。'
＇Matthew 10：33。＇ For this reason I entreat your imperial majesty； with all
humility； to allow me time； that I may answer without offending against the
word of God。〃 D'Aubigne； b。 7； ch。 8。
In making this request； Luther moved wisely。 His course convinced the
assembly that he did not act from passion or impulse。 Such calmness and
self…command； unexpected in one who had shown himself bold and
uncompromising； added to his power； and enabled him afterward to answer with
a prudence； decision； wisdom； and dignity that surprised and disappointed
his adversaries； and rebuked their insolence and pride。
The next day he was to appear to render his final answer。 For a time his
heart sank within him as he contemplated the forces that were combined
against the truth。 His faith faltered； fearfulness and trembling came upon
him； and horror overwhelmed him。 Dangers multiplied before him； his enemies
seemed about to triumph； and the powers of darkness to prevail。 Clouds
gathered about him and seemed to separate him from God。 He longed for the
assurance that the Lord of hosts would be with him。 In anguish of spirit he
threw himself with his face upon the earth and poured out those broken；
heart…rending cries； which none but God can fully understand。
〃O almighty and everlasting God；〃 he pleaded； 〃how terrible is this world！
Behold； it openeth its mouth to swallow me up； and I have so little trust in
Thee。 。 。 。 If it is
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only in the strength of this world that I must put my trust； all is over。 。
。 。 My last hour is come； my condemnation has been pronounced。 。 。 。 O God；
do Thou help me against all the wisdom of the world。 Do this； 。 。 。 Thou
alone； 。 。 。 for this is not my work； but Thine。 I have nothing to do here；
nothing to contend for with these great ones of the world。 。 。 。 But the
cause is Thine； 。 。 。 and it is a righteous and eternal cause。 O Lord； help
me！ Faithful and unchangeable God； in no man do I place my trust。 。 。 。 All
that is of man is uncertain； all that cometh of man fails。 。 。 。 Thou hast
chosen me for this work。 。 。 。 Stand at my side； for the sake of Thy
well…beloved Jesus Christ； who is my defense； my shield； and my strong
tower。〃Ibid。； b。 7； ch。 8。
An all…wise Providence had permitted Luther to realize his peril； that he
might not trust to his own strength and rush presumptuously into danger。 Yet
it was not the fear of personal suffering； a dread of torture or death；
which seemed immediately im