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The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 4
course should be pursued toward Luther. One of the bishops, a
rigid papist, declared: “We have long consulted on this matter.
Let your majesty get rid of this man at once. Did not Sigismund
bring John Huss to the stake? We are under no obligation either to
give or to observe the safe-conduct of a heretic.” “Not so,” said the
emperor; “we must keep our promise.” It was therefore decided that
the Reformer should be heard.
All the city were eager to see this remarkable man, and he had
enjoyed but a few hours’ rest when noblemen, knights, priests, and
citizens gathered about him. Even his enemies marked his firm,
courageous bearing, the kindly and joyous expression upon his
countenance, and the solemn elevation and deep earnestness that
gave to his words an irresistible power. Some were convinced that a
divine influence attended him; others declared, as had the Pharisees
concerning Christ, “He hath a devil.”
On the following day, Luther was summoned to attend the Diet.
An imperial officer was appointed to conduct him to the hall of
audience; yet it was with difficulty that he reached the place. Every
avenue was crowded with spectators, eager to look upon the monk
who had dared resist the authority of the pope.
As he was about to enter the presence of his judges, an old
general, the hero of many battles, said to him kindly, “Poor monk!
poor monk! thou art now going to make a nobler stand than I, or any
other captains, have ever made in our most bloody battles. But if thy
cause is just, and thou art sure of it, go forward in God’s name, and
fear nothing! He will not forsake thee.”
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At length Luther stood before the council. The emperor occupied
the throne. He was surrounded by the most illustrious personages
in the empire. Never had any man appeared in the presence of a
more imposing assembly than that before which Martin Luther was
to answer for his faith.
The very fact of that appearance was a signal victory for the
truth. That a man whom the pope had condemned should be judged
by another tribunal, was virtually a denial of the pontiff’s supreme
authority. The Reformer, placed under ban, and denounced from
human fellowship by the pope, had been assured protection, and was
granted a hearing, by the highest dignitaries of the nation. Rome