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The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 4
Clouds gathered about him, and seemed to separate him from God.
He longed for the assurance that the Lord of hosts would be with
him. In anguish of spirit he threw himself with his face upon the
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earth, and poured out those broken, heart-rending cries which none
but God can fully understand. In his helplessness, his soul fastened
upon Christ, the mighty deliverer. It was not for his own safety,
but for the success of the truth, that he wrestled with God; and he
prevailed. He was strengthened with the assurance that he would
not appear alone before the council. Peace returned to his soul, and
he rejoiced that he was permitted to uphold and defend the word
of God before the rulers of the nation. An all-wise providence had
permitted Luther to realize his peril, that he might not trust to his
own strength and wisdom, and rush presumptuously into danger.
God was preparing his servant for the great work before him.
As the time for his appearance drew near, Luther approached a
table on which lay the Holy Scriptures, placed his left hand upon the
sacred volume, and, raising his right hand to Heaven, he vowed to
adhere constantly to the gospel, and to confess his faith freely, even
though he should be called to seal his testimony with his blood.
When he was again ushered into the presence of the Diet, his
countenance bore no trace of fear or embarrassment. Calm and
peaceful, yet grandly brave and noble, he stood as God’s witness
among the great ones of the earth. The imperial officer now de-
manded his decision as to whether he desired to retract his doctrines.
Luther made his answer in a subdued and humble tone, without
violence or passion. His demeanor was diffident and respectful; yet
he manifested a confidence and joy that surprised the assembly.
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He stated that his published works were not all of the same
character. In some he had treated of faith and good works, and
even his enemies declared them not only harmless but profitable. To
retract these would be to condemn truths which all parties confessed.
The second class consisted of writings exposing the corruptions and
abuses of the papacy. To revoke these works would strengthen the
tyranny of Rome, and open a wider door to many and great impieties.
In the third class of his books he had attacked individuals who had
defended existing evils. Concerning these he freely confessed that
he had been more violent than was becoming. He did not claim to
be free from fault; but even these books he could not revoke, for