Luther’s Separation From Rome
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As a matter of policy, the Romanists had decided to attempt to win
Luther by an appearance of gentleness. The legate, in his interviews
with him, professed great friendliness; but he demanded that Luther
submit implicitly to the authority of the church, and yield every point
without argument or question. He had not rightly estimated the char-
acter of the man with whom he had to deal. Luther, in reply, expressed
his regard for the church, his desire for the truth, his readiness to an-
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swer all objections to what he had taught, and to submit his doctrines
to the decision of certain leading universities. But at the same time
he protested against the cardinal’s course in requiring him to retract
without having proved him in error.
The only response was: “Retract, retract!” The Reformer showed
that his position was sustained by the Scriptures and firmly declared
that he could not renounce the truth. The legate, unable to reply to
Luther’s arguments, overwhelmed him with a storm of reproaches,
gibes, and flattery, interspersed with quotations from tradition and the
sayings of the Fathers, granting the Reformer no opportunity to speak.
Seeing that the conference, thus continued, would be utterly futile,
Luther finally obtained a reluctant permission to present his answer in
writing.
“In so doing,” said he, writing to a friend, “the oppressed find
double gain; first, what is written may be submitted to the judgment of
others; and second, one has a better chance of working on the fears, if
not on the conscience, of an arrogant and babbling despot, who would
otherwise overpower by his imperious language.”—Martyn, The Life
and Times of Luther, pages 271, 272.
At the next interview, Luther presented a clear, concise, and
forcible exposition of his views, fully supported by many quotations
from Scripture. This paper, after reading aloud, he handed to the car-
dinal, who, however, cast it contemptuously aside, declaring it to be
a mass of idle words and irrelevant quotations. Luther, fully aroused,
now met the haughty prelate on his own ground—the traditions and
teachings of the church—and utterly overthrew his assumptions.
When the prelate saw that Luther’s reasoning was unanswerable,
he lost all self-control, and in a rage cried out: “Retract! or I will
send you to Rome, there to appear before the judges commissioned
to take cognizance of your cause. I will excommunicate you and all
your partisans, and all who shall at any time countenance you, and
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