Luther’s Separation From Rome
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In an appeal to the emperor and nobility of Germany in behalf
of the reformation of Christianity, Luther wrote concerning the pope:
“It is a horrible thing to behold the man who styles himself Christ’s
vicegerent, displaying a magnificence that no emperor can equal. Is
this being like the poor Jesus, or the humble Peter? He is, say they,
the lord of the world! But Christ, whose vicar he boasts of being, has
said, ‘My kingdom is not of this world.’ Can the dominions of a vicar
extend beyond those of his superior?”—D’Aubigne, b. 6, ch. 3.
He wrote thus of the universities: “I am much afraid that the uni-
versities will prove to be the great gates of hell, unless they diligently
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labor in explaining the Holy Scriptures, and engraving them in the
hearts of youth. I advise no one to place his child where the Scriptures
do not reign paramount. Every institution in which men are not unceas-
ingly occupied with the word of God must become corrupt.”—Ibid., b.
6, ch. 3.
This appeal was rapidly circulated throughout Germany and ex-
erted a powerful influence upon the people. The whole nation was
stirred, and multitudes were roused to rally around the standard of
reform. Luther’s opponents, burning with a desire for revenge, urged
the pope to take decisive measures against him. It was decreed that his
doctrines should be immediately condemned. Sixty days were granted
the Reformer and his adherents, after which, if they did not recant,
they were all to be excommunicated.
That was a terrible crisis for the Reformation. For centuries Rome’s
sentence of excommunication had struck terror to powerful monarchs;
it had filled mighty empires with woe and desolation. Those upon
whom its condemnation fell were universally regarded with dread and
horror; they were cut off from intercourse with their fellows and treated
as outlaws, to be hunted to extermination. Luther was not blind to the
tempest about to burst upon him; but he stood firm, trusting in Christ
to be his support and shield. With a martyr’s faith and courage he
wrote: “What is about to happen I know not, nor do I care to know....
Let the blow light where it may, I am without fear. Not so much as a
leaf falls, without the will of our Father. How much rather will He care
for us! It is a light thing to die for the Word, since the Word which was
made flesh hath Himself died. If we die with Him, we shall live with
Him; and passing through that which He has passed through before