the great controversy-第31部分

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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　impending；　that　overwhelmed　him　with　its　terror。　He
had　come　to　the　crisis；　and　he　felt　his　insufficiency　to　meet　it。　Through
his　weakness　the　cause　of　truth　might　suffer　loss。　Not　for　his　own　safety；
but　for　the　triumph　of　the　gospel　did　he　wrestle　with　God。　Like　Israel's；　in
that　night　struggle　beside　the　lonely　stream；　was　the　anguish　and　conflict
of　his　soul。　Like　Israel；　he　prevailed　with　God。　In　his　utter　helplessness
his　faith　fastened　upon　Christ；　the　mighty　Deliverer。　He　was　strengthened
with　the　assurance　that　he　would　not　appear　alone　before　the　council。　Peace
returned　to　his　soul；　and　he　rejoiced　that　he　was　permitted　to　uplift　the
word　of　God　before　the　rulers　of　the　nations。

With　his　mind　stayed　upon　God；　Luther　prepared　for　the　struggle　before　him。
He　thought　upon　the　plan　of　his　answer；　examined　passages　in　his　own
writings；　and　drew　from　the　Holy　Scriptures　suitable　proofs　to　sustain　his
positions。　Then；　laying　his　left　hand　on　the　Sacred　Volume；　which　was　open
before　him；　he　lifted　his　right　hand　to　heaven　and　vowed　〃to　remain　faithful
to　the　gospel；　and

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freely　to　confess　his　faith；　even　should　he　seal　his　testimony　with　his
blood。〃Ibid。；　b。　7；　ch。　8。

When　he　was　again　ushered　into　the　presence　of　the　Diet；　his　countenance
bore　no　trace　of　fear　or　embarrassment。　Calm　and　peaceful；　yet　grandly　brave
and　noble；　he　stood　as　God's　witness　among　the　great　ones　of　the　earth。　The
imperial　officer　now　demanded　his　decision　as　to　whether　he　desired　to
retract　his　doctrines。　Luther　made　his　answer　in　a　subdued　and　humble　tone；
without　violence　or　passion。　His　demeanor　was　diffident　and　respectful；　yet
he　manifested　a　confidence　and　joy　that　surprised　the　assembly。

〃Most　serene　emperor；　illustrious　princes；　gracious　lords；〃　said　Luther；　〃I
appear　before　you　this　day；　in　conformity　with　the　order　given　me　yesterday；
and　by　God's　mercies　I　conjure　your　majesty　and　your　august　highnesses　to
listen　graciously　to　the　defense　of　a　cause　which　I　am　assured　is　just　and
true。　If；　through　ignorance；　I　should　transgress　the　usages　and　proprieties
of　courts；　I　entreat　you　to　pardon　me；　for　I　was　not　brought　up　in　the
palaces　of　kings；　but　in　the　seclusion　of　a　convent。〃Ibid。；　b。　7；　ch。　8。

Then；　proceeding　to　the　question；　he　stated　that　his　published　works　were
not　all　of　the　same　character。　In　some　he　had　treated　of　faith　and　good
works；　and　even　his　enemies　declared　them　not　only　harmless　but　profitable。
To　retract　these　would　be　to　condemn　truths　which　all　parties　confessed。　The
second　class　consisted　of　writings　exposing　the　corruptions　and　abuses　of
the　papacy。　To　revoke　these　works　would　strengthen　the　tyranny　of　Rome　and
open　a　wider　door　to　many　and　great　impieties。　In　the　third　class　of　his
books　he　had　attacked　individuals　who　had　defended　existing　evils。
Concerning　these　he　freely　confessed　that　he　had　been　more　violent　than　was
becoming。　He　did　not　claim　to　be　free　from　fault；　but　even　these　books　he
could　not　revoke；　for　such　a　course　would　embolden　the　enemies　of　truth；　and
they　would　then　take　occasion　to　crush　God's　people　with　still　greater
cruelty。

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〃Yet　I　am　but　a　mere　man；　and　not　God；〃　he　continued；　〃I　shall　therefore
defend　myself　as　Christ　did：　'If　I　have　spoken　evil；　bear　witness　of　the
evil。'　。　。　。　By　the　mercy　of　God；　I　conjure　you；　most　serene　emperor；　and
you；　most　illustrious　princes；　and　all　men　of　every　degree；　to　prove　from
the　writings　of　the　prophets　and　apostles　that　I　have　erred。　As　soon　as　I　am
convinced　of　this；　I　will　retract　every　error；　and　be　the　first　to　lay　hold
of　my　books　and　throw　them　into　the　fire。

〃What　I　have　just　said　plainly　shows；　I　hope；　that　I　have　carefully　weighed
and　considered　the　dangers　to　which　I　expose　myself；　but　far　from　being
dismayed；　I　rejoice　to　see　that　the　gospel　is　now；　as　in　former　times；　a
cause　of　trouble　and　dissension。　This　is　the　character；　this　is　the　destiny；
of　the　word　of　God。　'I　came　not　to　send　peace　on　earth；　but　a　sword；'　said
Jesus　Christ。　God