and the old errors of the church； we should reject the former。〃 Said
Melanchthon： 〃Every day； in full assembly； Faber casts some new stone at us
gospelers。〃Ibid。； b。 13； ch。 5。
Religious toleration had been legally established； and the evangelical
states were resolved to oppose the infringement of their rights。 Luther；
being still under the ban imposed by the Edict of Worms； was not permitted
to be present at Spires； but his place was supplied by his colaborers and
the princes whom God had raised up to defend His cause in this emergency。
The noble Frederick of Saxony； Luther's
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former protector； had been removed by death； but Duke John； his brother and
successor； had joyfully welcomed the Reformation； and while a friend of
peace； he displayed great energy and courage in all matters relating to the
interests of the faith。
The priests demanded that the states which had accepted the Reformation
submit implicitly to Romish jurisdiction。 The Reformers； on the other hand；
claimed the liberty which had previously been granted。 They could not
consent that Rome should again bring under her control those states that had
with so great joy received the word of God。
As a compromise it was finally proposed that where the Reformation had not
become established； the Edict of Worms should be rigorously enforced； and
that 〃in those where the people had deviated from it； and where they could
not conform to it without danger of revolt； they should at least effect no
new reform； they should touch upon no controverted point； they should not
oppose the celebration of the mass； they should permit no Roman Catholic to
embrace Lutheranism。〃 Ibid。； b。 13； ch。 5。 This measure passed the Diet；
to the great satisfaction of the popish priests and prelates。
If this edict were enforced； 〃the Reformation could neither be extended 。 。
。 where as yet it was unknown； nor be established on solid foundations 。 。 。
where it already existed。〃 Ibid。； b。 13； ch。 5。 Liberty of speech would be
prohibited。 No conversions would be allowed。 And to these restrictions and
prohibitions the friends of the Reformation were required at once to submit。
The hopes of the world seemed about to be extinguished。 〃The
re…establishment of the Romish hierarchy 。 。 。 would infallibly bring back
the ancient abuses；〃 and an occasion would readily be found for 〃completing
the destruction of a work already so violently shaken〃 by fanaticism and
dissension。Ibid。； b。 13； ch。 5。
As the evangelical party met for consultation； one looked to another in
blank dismay。 From one to another passed the inquiry： 〃What is to be done？〃
Mighty issues for the world were at stake。 〃Shall the chiefs of the
Reformation
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submit； and accept the edict？ How easily might the Reformers at this crisis；
which was truly a tremendous one； have argued themselves into a wrong
course！ How many plausible pretexts and fair reasons might they have found
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
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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；
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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；