having　some　appearance　of　pride；　and　without　being　accused　of　exciting
  quarrels？　。　。　。　Why　were　Christ　and　all　the　martyrs　put　to　death？　Because
  they　seemed　to　be　proud　contemners　of　the　wisdom　of　the　time；　and　because
  they　advanced　novelties　without　having　first　humbly　taken　counsel　of　the
  oracles　of　the　ancient　opinions。〃
  Again　he　declared：　〃Whatever　I　do　will　be　done；　not　by　the　prudence　of　men；
  but　by　the　counsel　of　God。　If　the　work　be　of　God；　who　shall　stop　it？　if　it
  be　not；　who　can　forward　it？　Not　my　will；　nor　theirs；　nor　ours；　but　Thy　will；
  O　holy　Father；　which　art　in　heaven。〃Ibid。；　b。　3；　ch。　6。
  Though　Luther　had　been　moved　by　the　Spirit　of　God　to　begin　his　work；　he　was
  not　to　carry　it　forward　without　severe　conflicts。　The　reproaches　of　his
  enemies；　their　misrepresentation　of　his　purposes；　and　their　unjust　and
  malicious　reflections　upon　his　character　and　motives；　came　in　upon　him　like
  an　overwhelming　flood；　and　they　were　not　without　effect。　He　had　felt
  confident　that　the　leaders　of　the　people；　both　in　the　church　and　in　the
  schools；　would　gladly　unite　with　him　in　efforts　for　reform。　Words　of
  encouragement　from　those　in　high　position　had　inspired　him　with　joy　and
  hope。　Already　in　anticipation　he　had　seen　a　brighter　day　dawning　for　the
  church。　But　encouragement　had　changed　to　reproach　and　condemnation。　Many
  dignitaries；　of　both　church　and　state；　were　convicted　of　the　truthfulness　of
  his　theses；　but　they　soon　saw　that　the　acceptance　of　these　truths　would
  involve　great　changes。　To　enlighten　and　reform　the　people　would　be　virtually
  to　undermine　the　authority　of　Rome；　to　stop　thousands　of　streams　now　flowing
  into　her　treasury；　and　thus　greatly　to　curtail　the　extravagance　and　luxury
  of　the　papal　leaders。　Furthermore；　to　teach　the　people　to　think　and　act　as
  responsible　beings；　looking　to　Christ　alone　for　salvation；　would　overthrow
  the　pontiff's　throne　and　eventually　destroy　their　own　authority。　For　this
  reason　they　refused　the　knowledge　tendered　them　of　God　and　arrayed
  132
  themselves　against　Christ　and　the　truth　by　their　opposition　to　the　man　whom
  He　had　sent　to　enlighten　them。
  Luther　trembled　as　he　looked　upon　himselfone　man　opposed　to　the　mightiest
  powers　of　earth。　He　sometimes　doubted　whether　he　had　indeed　been　led　of　God
  to　set　himself　against　the　authority　of　the　church。　〃Who　was　I；〃　he　writes；
  〃to　oppose　the　majesty　of　the　pope；　before　whom　。。。　the　kings　of　the　earth
  and　the　whole　world　trembled？　。。。　No　one　can　know　what　my　heart　suffered
  during　these　first　two　years；　and　into　what　despondency；　I　may　say　into　what
  despair；　I　was　sunk。〃Ibid。；　b。　3；　ch。　6。　But　he　was　not　left　to　become
  utterly　disheartened。　When　human　support　failed；　he　looked　to　God　alone　and
  learned　that　he　could　lean　in　perfect　safety　upon　that　all…powerful　arm。
  To　a　friend　of　the　Reformation　Luther　wrote：　〃We　cannot　attain　to　the
  understanding　of　Scripture　either　by　study　or　by　the　intellect。　Your　first
  duty　is　to　begin　by　prayer。　Entreat　the　Lord　to　grant　you；　of　His　great
  mercy；　the　true　understanding　of　His　word。　There　is　no　other　interpreter　of
  the　word　of　God　than　the　Author　of　this　word；　as　He　Himself　has　said；　'They
  shall　be　all　taught　of　God。'　Hope　for　nothing　from　your　own　labors；　from
  your　own　understanding：　trust　solely　in　God；　and　in　the　influence　of　His
  Spirit。　Believe　this　on　the　word　of　a　man　who　has　had　experience。〃Ibid。；
  b。　3；　ch。　7。　Here　is　a　lesson　of　vital　importance　to　those　who　feel　that　God
  has　called　them　to　present　to　others　the　solemn　truths　for　this　time。　These
  truths　will　stir　the　enmity　of　Satan　and　of　men　who　love　the　fables　that　he
  has　devised。　In　the　conflict　with　the　powers　of　evil　there　is　need　of
  something　more　than　strength　of　intellect　and　human　wisdom。
  When　enemies　appealed　to　custom　and　tradition；　or　to　the　assertions　and
  authority　of　the　pope；　Luther　met　them　with　the　Bible　and　the　Bible　only。
  Here　were　arguments　which　they　could　not　answer；　therefore　the　slaves　of
  formalism　and　superstition　clamored　for　his　blood；　as　the　Jews　had　clamored
  for　the　blood　of　Christ。　〃He　is　a　heretic；〃
  133
  cried　the　Roman　zealots。　〃It　is　high　treason　against　the　church　to　allow　so
  horrible　a　heretic　to　live　one　hour　longer。　Let　the　scaffold　be　instantly
  erected　for　him！〃Ibid。；　b。　3；　ch。　9。　But　Luther　did　not　fall　a　prey　to
  their　fury。　God　had　a　work　for　him　to　do；　and　angels　of　heaven　were　sent　to
  protect　him。　Many；　however；　who　had　received　from　Luther　the　precious　light
  were　made　the　objects　of　Satan's　wrath　and　for　the　truth's　sake　fearlessly
  suffered　torture　and　death。
  Luther's　teachings　attracted　the　attention　of　thoughtful　minds　throughout
  all　Germany。　From　his　sermons　and　writings　issued　beams　of　light　which
  awakened　and　illuminated　thousands。　A　living　faith　was　taking　the　place　of
  the　dead　formalism　in　which　the　church　had　so　long　been　held。　The　people
  were　daily　losing　confidence　in　the　superstitions　of　Romanism。　The　barriers
  of　prejudice　were　giving　way。　The　word　of　God；　by　which　Luther　tested　every
  doctrine　and　every　claim；　was　like　a　two…edged　sword；　cutting　its　way　to　the
  hearts　of　the　people。　Everywhere　there　was　awakening　a　desire　for　spiritual
  progress。　Everywhere　was　such　a　hungering　and　thirsting　after　righteousness
  as　had　not　been　known　for　ages。　The　eyes　of　the　people；　so　long　directed　to
  human　rites　and　earthly　mediators；　were　now　turning　in　penitence　and　faith
  to　Christ　and　Him　crucified。
  This　widespread　interest　aroused　still　further　the　fears　of　the　papal
  authorities。　Luther　received　a　summons　to　appear　at　Rome　to　answer　to　the
  charge　of　heresy。　The　command　filled　his　friends　with　terror。　They　knew　full
  well　the　danger　that　threatened　him　in　that　corrupt　city；　already　drunk　with
  the　blood　of　the　martyrs　of　Jesus。　They　protested　against　his　going　to　Rome
  and　requested　that　he　receive　his　examination　in　Germany。
  This　arrangement　was　finally　effected；　and　the　pope's　legate　was　appointed
  to　hear　the　case。　In　the　instructions　communicated　by　the　pontiff　to　this
  official；　it　was　stated　that　Luther　had　already　been　declared　a　heretic。　The
  legate　was　therefore　charged　〃to　prosecute　and　constrain　without
  134
  any　delay。〃　If　he　should　remain　steadfast；　and　the　legate　should　fail　to
  gain　possession　of　his　person；　he　was　empowered　〃to　proscribe　him　in　every
  part　of　Germany；　to　banish；　curse；　and　excommunicate　all　those　who　are
  attached　to　him。〃Ibid。；　b。　4；　ch。　2。　And；　further；　the　pope　directed　his
  legate；　in　order　entirely　to　root　out　the　pestilent　heresy；　to　excommunicate
  all；　of　whatever　dignity　in　church　or　state；　except　the　emperor；　who　should
  neglect　to　seize　Luther　and　his　adherents；　and　deliver　them　up　to　the
  vengeance　of　Rome。
  Here　is　displayed　the　true　spirit　of　popery。　Not　a　trace　of　Christian
  principle；　or　even　of　common　justice；　is　to　be　seen　in　the　whole　document。
  Luther　was　at　a　great　distance　from　Rome；　he　had　had　no　opportunity　to
  explain　or　defend　his　position；　yet　before　his　case　had　been　investigated；
  he　was　summarily　pronounced　a　heretic；　and　in　the　same　day；　exhorted；
  accused；　judged；　and　condemned；　and　all　this　by　the　self…styled　holy　father；
  the　only　supreme；　infallible　authority　in　church　or　state！
  At　this　time；　when　Luther　so　much　needed　the　sympathy　and　counsel　of　a　true
  friend；　God's　providence　sent　Melanchthon　to　Wittenberg。　Young　in　years；
  modest　and　diffident　in　his　manners；　Melanchthon's　sound　judgment；　extensive
  knowledge；　and　winning　eloquence；　combined　with　the　purity　and　uprightness
  of　his　character；　won　universal　admiration　and　esteem。　The　brilliancy　of　his
  talents　was　not　more　marked　than　his　gentleness　of　disposition。　He　soon
  became　an　earnest　disciple　of　the　gospel；　and　Luther's　most　trusted　friend
  and　valued　supporter；　his　gentleness；　caution；　and　exactness　serving　as　a
  complement　to　Luther's　courage　and　energy。　Their　union　in　the　work　added
  strength　to　the　Reformation　and　was　a　source　of　great　encouragement　to
  Luther。
  Augsburg　had　been　fixed　upon　as　the　place　of　trial；　and　the　Reformer　set　out
  on　foot　to　perform　the　journey　thither。　Serious　fears　were　entertained　in
  his　behalf。　Threats　had　been　made　openly　that　he　would　be　seized　and
  murdered　on　the　way；　and　his　friends　begged　him　not　to　venture。　They
  135
  even　entreated　him　to　leave　Wittenberg　for　a　time　and　find　safety　with　those
  who　would　gladly　protect　him。　But　he　would　not　leave　the　position　where　God
  had　placed　him。　He　must　continue　faithfully　to　maintain　the　truth；
  notwithstanding　the　storms　that　were　beating　upon　him。　His　language　was：　〃I
  am　like　Jeremiah；　a　man　of　strife　and　contention；　but　the　more　their　threats
  increase；　the　more　my　joy　is　multiplied。　。　。　。　They　have　already　destroyed
  my　honor　and　my　reputation。　One　single　thing　remains；　it　is　my　wretched
  body：　let　them　take　it；　they　will　thus　shorten　my　life　by　a　few　hours。　But
  as　for　my　soul；　they　cannot　take　that。　He　who　desires　to　proclaim　the　word
  of　Christ　to　the　world；　must　expect　death　at　every　moment。〃Ibid。；　b。　4；
  ch。　4。
  The　tidings　of　Luther's　arrival　at　Augsburg　gave　g