examine and judge my works； but on one condition； that they take the word of
God for their standard。 Men have nothing to do but to obey it。 Do not offer
violence to my conscience； which is bound and chained up with the Holy
Scriptures。〃 Ibid。； b。 7； ch。 10。
To another appeal he said： 〃I consent to renounce my safe…conduct。 I place
my person and my life in the emperor's hands； but the word of
Godnever！〃Ibid。； b。 7； ch。 10。 He stated his willingness to submit to
the decision of a general council； but only on condition that the council be
required to decide according to the Scriptures。 〃In what concerns the word
of God and the faith；〃 he added； 〃every Christian is as good a judge as the
pope； though supported by a million councils； can be for him。〃Martyn； vol。
1； p。 410。 Both friends and foes were at last convinced that further effort
for reconciliation would be useless。
Had the Reformer yielded a single point； Satan and his hosts would have
gained the victory。 But his unwavering firmness was the means of
emancipating the church； and beginning a new and better era。 The influence
of this one man； who dared to think and act for himself in religious
matters； was to affect the church and the world； not only in his own time；
but in all future generations。 His firmness and fidelity would strengthen
all； to the close of time； who should pass through a similar experience。 The
power and majesty of God stood forth above the counsel of men； above the
mighty power of Satan。
Luther was soon commanded by the authority of the emperor to return home；
and he knew that this notice would be speedily followed by his condemnation。
Threatening clouds overhung his path； but as he departed from Worms； his
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heart was filled with joy and praise。 〃The devil himself；〃 said he； 〃guarded
the pope's citadel； but Christ has made a wide breach in it； and Satan was
constrained to confess that the Lord is mightier than he。〃D'Aubigne； b。 7；
ch。 11。
After his departure； still desirous that his firmness should not be mistaken
for rebellion； Luther wrote to the emperor。 〃God； who is the searcher of
hearts； is my witness；〃 he said； 〃that I am ready most earnestly to obey
your majesty； in honor or in dishonor； in life or in death； and with no
exception save the word of God； by which man lives。 In all the affairs of
this present life； my fidelity shall be unshaken； for here to lose or to
gain is of no consequence to salvation。 But when eternal interests are
concerned； God wills not that man should submit unto man。 For such
submission in spiritual matters is a real worship； and ought to be rendered
solely to the Creator。〃Ibid。； b。 7； ch。 11。
On the journey from Worms； Luther's reception was even more flattering than
during his progress thither。 Princely ecclesiastics welcomed the
excommunicated monk； and civil rulers honored the man whom the emperor had
denounced。 He was urged to preach； and； notwithstanding the imperial
prohibition； he again entered the pulpit。 〃I never pledged myself to chain
up the word of God；〃 he said； 〃nor will I。〃 Martyn； vol。 1； p。 420。
He had not been long absent from Worms； when the papists prevailed upon the
emperor to issue an edict against him。 In this decree Luther was denounced
as 〃Satan himself under the form of a man and dressed in a monk's frock。〃
D'Aubigne； b。 7； ch。 11。 It was commanded that as soon as his safe…conduct
should expire； measures be taken to stop his work。 All persons were
forbidden to harbor him； to give him food or drink； or by word or act； in
public or private； to aid or abet him。 He was to be seized wherever he might
be； and delivered to the authorities。 His adherents also were to be
imprisoned and their property confiscated。 His writings were to be
destroyed； and； finally； all who should dare to act contrary to this decree
were included in its condemnation。
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The elector of Saxony and the princes most friendly to Luther had left Worms
soon after his departure； and the emperor's decree received the sanction of
the Diet。 Now the Romanists were jubilant。 They considered the fate of the
Reformation sealed。
God had provided a way of escape for His servant in this hour of peril。 A
vigilant eye had followed Luther's movements； and a true and noble heart had
resolved upon his rescue。 It was plain that Rome would be satisfied with
nothing short of his death； only by concealment could he be preserved from
the jaws of the lion。 God gave wisdom to Frederick of Saxony to devise a
plan for the Reformer's preservation。 With the co…operation of true friends
the elector's purpose was carried out； and Luther was effectually hidden
from friends and foes。 Upon his homeward journey he was seized； separated
from his attendants； and hurriedly conveyed through the forest to the castle
of Wartburg； an isolated mountain fortress。 Both his seizure and his
concealment were so involved in mystery that even Frederick himself for a
long time knew not whither he had been conducted。 This ignorance was not
without design； so long as the elector knew nothing of Luther's whereabouts；
he could reveal nothing。 He satisfied himself that the Reformer was safe；
and with this knowledge he was content。
Spring； summer； and autumn passed； and winter came； and Luther still
remained a prisoner。 Aleander and his partisans exulted as the light of the
gospel seemed about to be extinguished。 But instead of this； the Reformer
was filling his lamp from the storehouse of truth； and its light was to
shine forth with brighter radiance。
In the friendly security of the Wartburg； Luther for a time rejoiced in his
release from the heat and turmoil of battle。 But he could not long find
satisfaction in quiet and repose。 Accustomed to a life of activity and stern
conflict； he could ill endure to remain inactive。 In those solitary days the
condition of the church rose up before him； and
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he cried in despair。 〃Alas！ there is no one in this latter day of His anger；
to stand like a wall before the Lord； and save Israel！〃Ibid。； b。 9； ch。 2。
Again； his thoughts returned to himself； and he feared being charged with
cowardice in withdrawing from the contest。 Then he reproached himself for
his indolence and self…indulgence。 Yet at the same time he was daily
accomplishing more than it seemed possible for one man to do。 His pen was
never idle。 While his enemies flattered themselves that he was silenced；
they were astonished and confused by tangible proof that he was still
active。 A host of tracts； issuing from his pen； circulated throughout
Germany。 He also performed a most important service for his countrymen by
translating the New Testament into the German tongue。 From his rocky Patmos
he continued for nearly a whole year to proclaim the gospel and rebuke the
sins and errors of the times。
But it was not merely to preserve Luther from the wrath of his enemies； nor
even to afford him a season of quiet for these important labors； that God
had withdrawn His servant from the stage of public life。 There were results
more precious than these to be secured。 In the solitude and obscurity of his
mountain retreat； Luther was removed from earthly supports and shut out from
human praise。 He was thus saved from the pride and self…confidence that are
so often caused by success。 By suffering and humiliation he was prepared
again to walk safely upon the dizzy heights to which he had been so suddenly
exalted。
As men rejoice in the freedom which the truth brings them； they are inclined
to extol those whom God has employed to break the chains of error and
superstition。 Satan seeks to divert men's thoughts and affections from God；
and to fix them upon human agencies； he leads them to honor the mere
instrument and to ignore the Hand that directs all the events of providence。
Too often religious leaders who are thus praised and reverenced lose sight
of their dependence upon God and are led to trust in themselves。 As
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a result they seek to control the minds and consciences of the people； who
are disposed to look to them for guidance instead of looking to the word of
God。 The work of reform is often retarded because of this spirit indulged by
its supporters。 From this danger； God would guard the cause of the
Reformation。 He desired that work to receive； not the impress of man； but
that of God。 The eyes of men had been turned to Luther as the expounder of
the truth； he was removed that all eyes might be directed to the eternal
Author of truth。
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Chapter 9
The Swiss Reformer
In the choice of instrumentalities for the reforming of the church； the same
divine plan is seen as in that for the planting of the church。 The heavenly
Teacher passed by the great men of the earth； the titled and wealthy； who
were accustomed to receive praise and homage as leaders of the people。 They
were so proud and self…confident in their boasted superiority that they
could not be molded