Basic HTML Version
80
The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 4
thus prepared the way for the great work about to be accomplished.
Martin Luther was not present; but the voice of One greater than
Luther had been heard in that assembly.
The council now demanded the Reformer’s appearance before
them. Notwithstanding the entreaties, protests, and threats of Ale-
ander, the emperor at last consented, and Luther was summoned
to appear before the Diet. With the summons was issued a safe-
conduct, insuring his return to a place of security. These were borne
to Wittemberg by a herald, who was commissioned to conduct him
to Worms.
The friends of Luther were terrified and distressed. Knowing
the prejudice and enmity against him, they feared that even his
safe-conduct would not be respected, and they entreated him not to
imperil his life. He replied: “The papists have little desire to see me
at Worms, but they long for my condemnation and death. It matters
not. Pray not for me, but for the word of God.... Christ will give
me his Spirit to overcome these ministers of Satan. I despise them
while I live; I will triumph over them by my death. They are busy at
Worms about compelling me to recant. My recantation shall be this:
I said formerly that the pope was Christ’s vicar; now I say that he is
the adversary of the Lord, and the apostle of the devil.”
Luther was not to make his perilous journey alone. Besides
the imperial messenger, three of his firmest friends determined to
accompany him. A multitude of students and citizens, to whom the
gospel was precious, bade him farewell with weeping, as he departed.
[126]
Thus the Reformer and his companions set out from Wittemberg.
On the journey they saw that the minds of the people were
oppressed by gloomy forebodings. At some towns no honors were
proffered them. As they stopped for the night, a friendly priest
expressed his fears by holding up before Luther the portrait of an
Italian reformer who had suffered martyrdom for the truth’s sake.
The next day they learned that Luther’s writings had been condemned
at Worms. Imperial messengers were proclaiming the emperor’s
decree, and urging all men to bring the proscribed works to the
magistrates. The herald, in alarm, asked the Reformer if he still
wished to go forward. He answered, “I will go on, though I should
be put under interdict in every town.”