Dangers and Duty of Ministers
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unless he was shut in with God. With broken cries he sends up his
agonizing prayer to God. His spirit at times seemed to faint, as his
enemies, in his imagination, multiplied before him. He trembled at
his danger. I saw that God in his wise providence prepared him in this
way that he might not forget in whom to trust and that he should not
rush on presumptuously into danger. As his own instrument God was
fitting him for the great work before him.
Luther’s prayer was heard. His courage and faith returned as he
met his enemies. There he stood, meek as a lamb, surrounded by the
great men of the earth. Like angry wolves they fastened their eyes
upon him, hoping to awe him with their power and greatness. He had
taken hold of the strength of God, and feared not. His words were
spoken with such majesty and power his enemies could do nothing
against him. God was speaking through Luther. And he had brought
together emperors, and professed wise men, that he might publicly
bring to naught their wisdom, and that they all might see the strength
and firmness of feeble man who is leaning upon God, his eternal rock.
The calm bearing of Luther was a striking contrast to the passion
and rage exhibited by those so-called great men. They could not
frighten him into a recantation of the truth. In noble simplicity and
calm firmness he stood like a rock. The opposition of his enemies,
their rage and threats, would, like the mighty wave, surge against him,
and break harmless at his feet. He remained unmoved. They were
chagrined to have their power, which had caused kings and nobles
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to tremble, thus despised by a humble man. They longed to make
him feel their power by torturing his life away. But no, a mightier
power than potentates of earth had charge of this fearless witness. God
had a work for him to do. He must suffer yet for the truth. He must
see it wade through bloody persecutions. He must see it clothed in
sackcloth, and covered with reproach by fanatics. He must live to
justify it, and be its defender, when the mighty powers of earth should
seek to tear it down. He must live to see it tear away the errors and
superstitions of papacy, and triumph. Luther gained a victory at Worms
which weakened the papacy, and the news of which spread to other
kingdoms and nations. It was an effectual blow struck in favor of the
Reformation.
Ministers who are preaching present truth were held up to me in
contrast with the leading men of the Reformation, and especially was