Germany。　Inquiries　concerning　him　were　heard　everywhere。　The　wildest　rumors
  were　circulated；　and　many　believed　that　he　had　been　murdered。　There　was
  great　lamentation；　not　only　by　his　avowed　friends；　but　by　thousands　who　had
  not　openly　taken　their　stand　with　the　Reformation。　Many　bound　themselves　by
  a　solemn　oath　to　avenge　his　death。
  The　Romish　leaders　saw　with　terror　to　what　a　pitch　had　risen　the　feeling
  against　them。　Though　at　first　exultant　at　the　supposed　death　of　Luther；　they
  soon　desired　to　hide　from　the　wrath　of　the　people。　His　enemies　had　not　been
  so　troubled　by　his　most　daring　acts　while　among　them　as　they　were　at　his
  removal。　Those　who　in　their　rage　had　sought　to　destroy　the　bold　Reformer
  were　filled　with　fear　now　that　he　had　become　a　helpless　captive。　〃The　only
  remaining　way　of　saving　ourselves；〃　said　one；　〃is　to　light　torches；　and　hunt
  for　Luther　through　the　whole　world；　to　restore　him　to　the　nation　that　is
  calling　for　him。〃D'Aubigne；　b。　9；　ch。　1。　The　edict　of　the　emperor　seemed
  to　fall　powerless。　The　papal　legates　were　filled　with　indignation　as　they
  saw　that　it　commanded　far　less　attention　than　did　the　fate　of　Luther。
  The　tidings　that　he　was　safe；　though　a　prisoner；　calmed　the　fears　of　the
  people；　while　it　still　further　aroused　their　enthusiasm　in　his　favor。　His
  writings　were　read　with　greater
  186
  eagerness　than　ever　before。　Increasing　numbers　joined　the　cause　of　the
  heroic　man　who　had；　at　such　fearful　odds；　defended　the　word　of　God。　The
  Reformation　was　constantly　gaining　in　strength。　The　seed　which　Luther　had
  sown　sprang　up　everywhere。　His　absence　accomplished　a　work　which　his
  presence　would　have　failed　to　do。　Other　laborers　felt　a　new　responsibility；
  now　that　their　great　leader　was　removed。　With　new　faith　and　earnestness　they
  pressed　forward　to　do　all　in　their　power；　that　the　work　so　nobly　begun　might
  not　be　hindered。
  But　Satan　was　not　idle。　He　now　attempted　what　he　has　attempted　in　every
  other　reformatory　movementto　deceive　and　destroy　the　people　by　palming　off
  upon　them　a　counterfeit　in　place　of　the　true　work。　As　there　were　false
  christs　in　the　first　century　of　the　Christian　church；　so　there　arose　false
  prophets　in　the　sixteenth　century。
  A　few　men；　deeply　affected　by　the　excitement　in　the　religious　world；
  imagined　themselves　to　have　received　special　revelations　from　Heaven；　and
  claimed　to　have　been　divinely　commissioned　to　carry　forward　to　its
  completion　the　Reformation　which；　they　declared；　had　been　but　feebly　begun
  by　Luther。　In　truth；　they　were　undoing　the　very　work　which　he　had
  accomplished。　They　rejected　the　great　principle　which　was　the　very
  foundation　of　the　Reformationthat　the　word　of　God　is　the　all…sufficient
  rule　of　faith　and　practice；　and　for　that　unerring　guide　they　substituted　the
  changeable；　uncertain　standard　of　their　own　feelings　and　impressions。　By
  this　act　of　setting　aside　the　great　detector　of　error　and　falsehood　the　way
  was　opened　for　Satan　to　control　minds　as　best　pleased　himself。
  One　of　these　prophets　claimed　to　have　been　instructed　by　the　angel　Gabriel。
  A　student　who　united　with　him　forsook　his　studies；　declaring　that　he　had
  been　endowed　by　God　Himself　with　wisdom　to　expound　His　word。　Others　who　were
  naturally　inclined　to　fanaticism　united　with　them。　The　proceedings　of　these
  enthusiasts　created　no　little　excitement。
  187
  The　preaching　of　Luther　had　aroused　the　people　everywhere　to　feel　the
  necessity　of　reform；　and　now　some　really　honest　persons　were　misled　by　the
  pretensions　of　the　new　prophets。
  The　leaders　of　the　movement　proceeded　to　Wittenberg　and　urged　their　claims
  upon　Melanchthon　and　his　colaborers。　Said　they：　〃We　are　sent　by　God　to
  instruct　the　people。　We　have　held　familiar　conversations　with　the　Lord；　we
  know　what　will　happen；　in　a　word；　we　are　apostles　and　prophets；　and　appeal
  to　Dr。　Luther。〃Ibid。；　b。　9；　ch。　7。
  The　Reformers　were　astonished　and　perplexed。　This　was　such　an　element　as
  they　had　never　before　encountered；　and　they　knew　not　what　course　to　pursue。
  Said　Melanchthon：　〃There　are　indeed　extraordinary　spirits　in　these　men；　but
  what　spirits？　。　。　。　On　the　one　hand；　let　us　beware　of　quenching　the　Spirit
  of　God；　and　on　the　other；　of　being　led　astray　by　the　spirit　of
  Satan。〃Ibid。；　b。　9；　ch。　7。
  The　fruit　of　the　new　teaching　soon　became　apparent。　The　people　were　led　to
  neglect　the　Bible　or　to　cast　it　wholly　aside。　The　schools　were　thrown　into
  confusion。　Students；　spurning　all　restraint；　abandoned　their　studies　and
  withdrew　from　the　university。　The　men　who　thought　themselves　competent　to
  revive　and　control　the　work　of　the　Reformation　succeeded　only　in　bringing　it
  to　the　verge　of　ruin。　The　Romanists　now　regained　their　confidence　and
  exclaimed　exultingly：　〃One　last　struggle；　and　all　will　be　ours。〃Ibid。；　b。
  9；　ch。　7。
  Luther　at　the　Wartburg；　hearing　of　what　had　occurred；　said　with　deep
  concern：　〃I　always　expected　that　Satan　would　send　us　this　plague。〃Ibid。；
  b。　9；　ch。　7。　He　perceived　the　true　character　of　those　pretended　prophets　and
  saw　the　danger　that　threatened　the　cause　of　truth。　The　opposition　of　the
  pope　and　the　emperor　had　not　caused　him　so　great　perplexity　and　distress　as
  he　now　experienced。　From　the　professed　friends　of　the　Reformation　had　risen
  its　worst　enemies。　The　very　truths　which　had　brought　him　so　great　joy　and
  188
  consolation　were　being　employed　to　stir　up　strife　and　create　confusion　in
  the　church。
  In　the　work　of　reform；　Luther　had　been　urged　forward　by　the　Spirit　of　God；
  and　had　been　carried　beyond　himself。　He　had　not　purposed　to　take　such
  positions　as　he　did；　or　to　make　so　radical　changes。　He　had　been　but　the
  instrument　in　the　hand　of　Infinite　Power。　Yet　he　often　trembled　for　the
  result　of　his　work。　He　had　once　said：　〃If　I　knew　that　my　doctrine　injured
  one　man；　one　single　man；　however　lowly　and　obscure；which　it　cannot；　for　it
  is　the　gospel　itself；　I　would　rather　die　ten　times　than　not　retract
  it。〃Ibid。；　b。　9；　ch。　7。
  And　now　Wittenberg　itself；　the　very　center　of　the　Reformation；　was　fast
  falling　under　the　power　of　fanaticism　and　lawlessness。　This　terrible
  condition　had　not　resulted　from　the　teachings　of　Luther；　but　throughout
  Germany　his　enemies　were　charging　it　upon　him。　In　bitterness　of　soul　he
  sometimes　asked：　〃Can　such；　then；　be　the　end　of　this　great　work　of　the
  Reformation？〃Ibid。；　b。　9；　ch。　7。　Again；　as　he　wrestled　with　God　in　prayer；
  peace　flowed　into　his　heart。　〃The　work　is　not　mine；　but　Thine　own；〃　he　said；
  〃Thou　wilt　not　suffer　it　to　be　corrupted　by　superstition　or　fanaticism。〃　But
  the　thought　of　remaining　longer　from　the　conflict　in　such　a　crisis；　became
  insupportable。　He　determined　to　return　to　Wittenberg。
  Without　delay　he　set　out　on　his　perilous　journey。　He　was　under　the　ban　of
  the　empire。　Enemies　were　at　liberty　to　take　his　life；　friends　were　forbidden
  to　aid　or　shelter　him。　The　imperial　government　was　adopting　the　most
  stringent　measures　against　his　adherents。　But　he　saw　that　the　work　of　the
  gospel　was　imperiled；　and　in　the　name　of　the　Lord　he　went　out　fearlessly　to
  battle　for　the　truth。
  In　a　letter　to　the　elector；　after　stating　his　purpose　to　leave　the　Wartburg；
  Luther　said：　〃Be　it　known　to　your　highness　that　I　am　going　to　Wittenberg
  under　a　protection　far　higher　than　that　of　princes　and　electors。　I　think　not
  of　soliciting　your　highness's　support；　and　far　from　desiring　your
  protection；
  189
  I　would　rather　protect　you　myself。　If　I　knew　that　your　highness　could　or
  would　protect　me；　I　would　not　go　to　Wittenberg　at　all。　There　is　no　sword
  that　can　further　this　cause。　God　alone　must　do　everything；　without　the　help
  or　concurrence　of　man。　He　who　has　the　greatest　faith　is　he　who　is　most　able
  to　protect。〃Ibid。；　b。　9；　ch。　8。
  In　a　second　letter；　written　on　the　way　to　Wittenberg；　Luther　added：　〃I　am
  ready　to　incur　the　displeasure　of　your　highness　and　the　anger　of　the　whole
  world。　Are　not　the　Wittenbergers　my　sheep？　Has　not　God　entrusted　them　to　me？
  And　ought　I　not；　if　necessary；　to　expose　myself　to　death　for　their　sakes？
  Besides；　I　fear　to　see　a　terrible　outbreak　in　Germany；　by　which　God　will
  punish　our　nation。〃Ibid。；　b。　9；　ch。　7。
  With　great　caution　and　humility；　yet　with　decision　and　firmness；　he　entered
  upon　his　work。　〃By　the　word；〃　said　he；　〃must　we　overthrow　and　destroy　what
  has　been　set　up　by　violence。　I　will　not　make　use　of　force　against　the
  superstitious　and　unbelieving。　。　。　。　No　one　must　be　constrained。　Liberty　is
  the　very　essence　of　faith。〃Ibid。；　b。　9；　ch。　8。
  It　was　soon　noised　through　Wittenberg　that　Luther　had　returned　and　that　he
  was　to　preach。　The　people　flocked　from　all　directions；　and　the　church　was
  filled　to　overflowing。　Ascending　the　pulpit；　he　with　great　wisdom　and
  gentleness　instructed；　exhorted；　and　reproved。　Touching　the　course　of　some
  who　had　resorted　to　violent　measures　in　abolishing　the　mass；　he　said：
  〃The　mass　is　a　bad　thing；　God　is　opposed　to　it；　it　ought　to　be　abolished；
  and　I　would　that　throughout　the　whole　world　it　were　replaced　by　the　supper
  of　the　gospel。　But　let　no　one　be　torn　from　it　by　force。　We　must　leave　the
  matter　in　God's　h