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The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 4
The appointed time came to appear before the emperor. Charles
Fifth, seated upon his throne, surrounded by the electors and the
princes, gave audience to the Protestant Reformers. The confession
of their faith was read. In that august assembly the truths of the
gospel were clearly set forth, and the errors of the papal church were
pointed out. Well has that day been pronounced “the greatest day
of the Reformation, and one of the most glorious in the history of
Christianity and of the world.”
But a few years had passed since the monk of Wittemberg stood
alone at Worms before the national council. Now in his stead were
the noblest and most powerful princes of the empire. Luther had
been forbidden to appear at Augsburg, but he had been present by
his words and prayers. “I am overjoyed,” he wrote, “that I have lived
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until this hour, in which Christ has been publicly exalted by such
illustrious confessors, and in so glorious an assembly. Herein is
fulfilled what the Scripture saith, ‘I will declare thy testimony in the
presence of kings.’”
In the days of Paul, the gospel for which he was imprisoned
was thus brought before the princes and nobles of the imperial city.
So on this occasion, that which the emperor had forbidden to be
preached from the pulpit, was proclaimed in the palace; what many
had regarded as unfit even for servants to listen to, was heard with
wonder by the masters and lords of the empire. “Kings and great
men were the auditory, crowned princes were the preachers, and the
sermon was the royal truth of God.” “Since the apostolic age,” says
a writer, “there has never been a greater work, or a more magnificent
confession of Jesus Christ.”
“All that the Lutherans have said is true, and we cannot deny it,”
declared a papist bishop. “Can you by sound reasons refute the Con-
fession made by the elector and his allies?” asked another, of Doctor
Eck. “Not with the writings of the apostles and prophets,” was the
reply; “but with the Fathers and councils I can.” “I understand, then,”
responded the questioner, “that the Lutherans are entrenched in the
Scriptures, and we are only outside.” Some of the princes of Ger-
many were won to the reformed faith. The emperor himself declared
that the Protestant articles were but the truth. The Confession was
translated into many languages, and circulated through all Europe,