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The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 4
ignorant alike of the Scriptures and of the power of God, priests and
friars were totally defeated by those whom they had denounced as
unlearned and heretical. “Unhappily,” said a Catholic writer, “Luther
had persuaded his followers that their faith ought only to be founded
on the oracles of Holy Writ.” Crowds would gather to hear the truth
advocated by men of little education, and even discussed by them
with learned and eloquent theologians. The shameful ignorance of
these great men was made apparent as their arguments were met by
the simple teachings of God’s word. Women and children, artisans
and soldiers, had a better knowledge of the Scriptures than had
learned doctors or surpliced priests.
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As the Romish clergy saw their congregations diminishing, they
invoked the aid of the magistrates, and by every means in their power
endeavored to bring back their hearers. But the people had found
in the new teachings that which supplied the wants of their souls,
and they turned away from those who had so long fed them with the
worthless husks of superstitious rites and human traditions.
When persecution was kindled against the teachers of the truth,
they gave heed to the words of Christ, “When they persecute you in
this city, flee ye into another. [
Matthew 10:23
.] The light penetrated
everywhere. The fugitives would find somewhere a hospitable door
opened to them, and there abiding, they would preach Christ, some-
times in the church, or, if denied that privilege, in private houses
or in the open air. Wherever they could obtain a hearing was a
consecrated temple. The truth, proclaimed with such energy and
assurance, spread with irresistible power.
In vain were both ecclesiastical and civil authorities invoked to
crush the heresy. In vain they resorted to imprisonment, torture,
fire, and sword. Thousands of believers sealed their faith with their
blood, and yet the work went on. Persecution served only to extend
the truth; and the fanaticism which Satan endeavored to unite with
it, resulted in making more clear the contrast between the work of
Satan and the work of God.
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