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Luther’s Separation from Rome
69
hour longer! Away with him at once to the scaffold!” But Luther
did not fall a prey to their fury. God had a work for him to do, and
angels of Heaven were sent to protect him. Many, however, who had
received from Luther the precious light, were made the objects of
Satan’s wrath, and for the truth’s sake fearlessly suffered torture and
death.
Luther’s teachings attracted the attention of thoughtful minds
throughout all Germany. From his sermons and writings issued
beams of light which awakened and illuminated thousands. A living
faith was taking the place of the dead formalism in which the church
had so long been held. The people were daily losing confidence
in the superstitions of Romanism. The barriers of prejudice were
giving way. The word of God, by which Luther tested every doctrine
and every claim, was like a two-edged sword, cutting its way to the
hearts of the people. Everywhere there was awakening a desire for
spiritual progress. Everywhere was such a hungering and thirsting
after righteousness as had not been known for ages. The eyes of the
people, so long directed to human rites and human mediators, were
now turning, in penitence and faith, to Christ and him crucified.
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This wide-spread interest aroused still further the fears of the
papal authorities. Luther received a summons to appear at Rome to
answer to the charge of heresy. The command filled his friends with
terror. They knew full well the danger that threatened him in that
corrupt city, already drunk with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.
They protested against his going to Rome, and requested that he
receive his examination in Germany.
This arrangement was finally effected, and the pope’s legate was
appointed to hear the case. In the instructions communicated by the
pontiff to this official, it was stated that Luther had already been
declared a heretic. The legate was therefore charged to prosecute
and reduce him to submission without delay. If he should remain
steadfast, and the legate should fail to gain possession of his person,
he was empowered to proscribe him in all places in Germany, to
put away, curse, and excommunicate all who were attached to him.
And further, the pope called upon his legate, in order entirely to
root out the pestilent heresy, to excommunicate all, of whatever
dignity in Church or State, except the emperor, who should neglect