Luther’s Separation From Rome
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all his efforts his burdened soul found no relief. He was at last driven
to the verge of despair.
When it appeared to Luther that all was lost, God raised up a
friend and helper for him. The pious Staupitz opened the word of
God to Luther’s mind and bade him look away from himself, cease
the contemplation of infinite punishment for the violation of God’s
law, and look to Jesus, his sin-pardoning Saviour. “Instead of torturing
yourself on account of your sins, throw yourself into the Redeemer’s
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arms. Trust in Him, in the righteousness of His life, in the atonement
of His death.... Listen to the Son of God. He became man to give you
the assurance of divine favor.” “Love Him who first loved you.”—Ibid.,
b. 2, ch. 4. Thus spoke this messenger of mercy. His words made
a deep impression upon Luther’s mind. After many a struggle with
long-cherished errors, he was enabled to grasp the truth, and peace
came to his troubled soul.
Luther was ordained a priest and was called from the cloister to a
professorship in the University of Wittenberg. Here he applied himself
to the study of the Scriptures in the original tongues. He began to
lecture upon the Bible; and the book of Psalm, the Gospels, and the
Epistles were opened to the understanding of crowds of delighted
listeners. Staupitz, his friend and superior, urged him to ascend the
pulpit and preach the word of God. Luther hesitated, feeling himself
unworthy to speak to the people in Christ’s stead. It was only after a
long struggle that he yielded to the solicitations of his friends. Already
he was mighty in the Scriptures, and the grace of God rested upon
him. His eloquence captivated his hearers, the clearness and power
with which he presented the truth convinced their understanding, and
his fervor touched their hearts.
Luther was still a true son of the papal church and had no thought
that he would ever be anything else. In the providence of God he
was led to visit Rome. He pursued his journey on foot, lodging at the
monasteries on the way. At a convent in Italy he was filled with wonder
at the wealth, magnificence, and luxury that he witnessed. Endowed
with a princely revenue, the monks dwelt in splendid apartments,
attired themselves in the richest and most costly robes, and feasted
at a sumptuous table. With painful misgivings Luther contrasted this
scene with the self-denial and hardship of his own life. His mind was
becoming perplexed.