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danger. I saw that God in His wise providence prepared him in this
way that he might not forget in whom to trust, and that he should not
rush on presumptuously into danger. As His own instrument, God was
fitting him for the great work before him.
Luther’s prayer was heard. His courage and faith returned as he
met his enemies. Meek as a lamb he stood, surrounded by the great
men of the earth, who, like angry wolves, fastened their eyes upon
him, hoping to awe him with their power and greatness. But he had
taken hold of the strength of God and feared not. His words were
spoken with such majesty and power that his enemies could do nothing
against him. God was speaking through Luther, and He had brought
together emperors and professed wise men that He might publicly
bring to nought their wisdom, and that they all might see the strength
and firmness of feeble man when leaning upon God, his eternal Rock.
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The calm bearing of Luther was in striking contrast to the passion
and rage exhibited by those so-called great men. They could not
frighten him into a recantation of the truth. In noble simplicity and
calm firmness he stood like a rock. The opposition of his enemies, their
rage and threats, like a mighty wave, surged against him and broke
harmless at his feet. He remained unmoved. They were chagrined that
their power, which had caused kings and nobles to tremble, should
be thus despised by a humble man, and they longed to make him feel
their wrath by torturing his life away. But One who is mightier than
the potentates of earth had charge of this fearless witness. God had a
work for him to do. He must yet suffer for the truth. He must see it
wade through bloody persecutions. He must see it clothed in sackcloth
and covered with reproach by fanatics. He must live to justify it and to
be its defender when the mighty powers of earth should seek to tear
it down. He must live to see it triumph and tear away the errors and
superstitions of the papacy. Luther gained a victory at Worms which
weakened the papacy, the news of which spread to other kingdoms and
nations. It was an effectual blow in favor of the Reformation.
Ministers who are preaching present truth were held up to me
in contrast with the leading men of the Reformation; especially was
Luther’s devoted, zealous life placed beside the lives of some of our
preachers. He proved his undying love for the truth by his courage,
his calm firmness, his self-denial. He encountered trials and sacrifices,
and at times suffered the deepest anguish of soul, while standing in