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
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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
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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 would thus have ensured its own destruction。 The
experience of these noble Reformers contains a lesson for all succeeding
ages。 Satan's manner of working against God and His word has not changed； he
is still as much opposed to the Scriptures being made the guide of life as
in the sixteenth century。 In our time there is a wide departure from their
doctrines and precepts； and there is need of a return to the great
Protestant
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principlethe Bible； and the Bible only； as the rule of faith and duty。
Satan is still working through every means which he can control to destroy
religious liberty。 The antichristian power which the protesters of Spires
rejected is now with renewed vigor seeking to re…establish its lost
supremacy。 The same unswerving adherence to the word of God manifested at
that crisis of the Reformation is the only hope of reform today。
There appeared tokens of danger to the Protestants； there were tokens； also；
that the divine hand was stretched out to protect the faithful。 It was about
this time that 〃Melanchthon hastily conducted through the streets of Spires
toward the Rhine his friend Simon Grynaeus； pressing him to cross the river。
The latter was astonished at such precipitation。 'An old man of grave and
solemn air； but who is unknown to me；' said Melanchthon； 'appeared before me
and said； In a minute officers of justice will be sent by Ferdinand to
arrest Grynaeus。'〃
During the day； Grynaeus had been scandalized at a sermon by Faber； a
leading papal doctor； and at the close； remonstrated with him for defending
〃certain detestable errors。〃 〃Faber dissembled his anger； but immediately
after repaired to the king； from whom he had obtained an order against the
importunate professor of Heidelberg。 Melanchthon doubted not that God had
saved his friend by sending one of His holy angels to forewarn him。
〃Motionless on the banks of the Rhine； he waited until the waters of that
stream had rescued Grynaeus from his persecutors。 'At last；' cried
Melanchthon； as he saw him on the opposite side； 'at last he is torn from
the cruel jaws of those who thirst for innocent blood。' When he returned to
his house； Melanchthon was informed that officers in search of Grynaeus had
ransacked it from top to bottom。〃Ibid。； b。 13； ch。 6。
The Reformation was to be brought into greater prominence before the mighty
ones of the earth。 The evangelical princes had been denied a hearing by King
Ferdinand； but they were to be granted an opportunity to present their cause
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in the presence of the emperor and the assembled dignitaries of church and
state。 To quiet the dissensions which disturbed the empire； Charles V； in
the year following the Protest of Spires； convoked a diet at Augsburg； over
which he announced his intention to preside in person。 Thither the
Protestant leaders were summoned。
Great dangers threatened the Reformation； but its advocates still trusted
their cause with God； and pledged themselves to be firm to the gospel。 The
elector of Saxony was urged by his councilors not to appear at the Diet。 The
emperor； they said； required the attendance of the princes in order to draw
them into a snare。 〃Is it not risking everything to go and shut oneself up
within the walls of a city with a powerful enemy？〃 But others nobly
declared； 〃Let the princes only comport themselves with courage； and God's
cause is saved。〃 〃God is faithful； He will not abandon us；〃 said
Luther。Ibid。； b。 14； ch。 2。 The elector set out； with his retinue； for
Augsburg。 All were acquainted with the dangers that menaced him； and many
went forward with gloomy countenance and troubled heart。 But Luther； who
accompanied them as far as Coburg； revived their sinking faith by singing
the hymn； written on that journey； 〃A strong tower is our God。〃 Many an
anxious foreboding was banished； many a heavy heart lightened； at the sound
of the inspiring strains。
The reformed princes had determined upon having a statement of their views
in systematic form； with the evidence from the Scriptures； to present before
the Diet； and the task of its preparation was committed to Luther；
Melanchthon； and their associates。 This Confession was accepted by the
Protestants as an exposition of their faith； and they assembled to affix
their names to the important document。 It was a solemn and trying time。 The
Reformers were solicitous that their cause should not be confounded with
political questions； they felt that the Reformation should exercise no other
influence than that which proceeds from the word of God。
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As the Christian princes advanced to sign the Confession； Melanchthon
interposed； saying： 〃It is for the theologians and ministers to propose
these things； let us reserve for other matters the authority of the mighty
ones of the earth。〃 〃God forbid；〃 replied John of Saxony； 〃that you should
exclude me。 I am resolved to do what is right； without troubling myself
about my crown。 I desire