Luther’s Separation From Rome
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“that a man rarely puts forth any new idea without having some appear-
ance of pride, and without being accused of exciting quarrels? ... Why
were Christ and all the martyrs put to death? Because they seemed
to be proud contemners of the wisdom of the time, and because they
advanced novelties without having first humbly taken counsel of the
oracles of the ancient opinions.”
Again he declared: “Whatever I do will be done, not by the pru-
dence of men, but by the counsel of God. If the work be of God, who
shall stop it? if it be not, who can forward it? Not my will, nor theirs,
nor ours; but Thy will, O holy Father, which art in heaven.”—Ibid., b.
3, ch. 6.
Though Luther had been moved by the Spirit of God to begin his
work, he was not to carry it forward without severe conflicts. The
reproaches of his enemies, their misrepresentation of his purposes, and
their unjust and malicious reflections upon his character and motives,
came in upon him like an overwhelming flood; and they were not
without effect. He had felt confident that the leaders of the people, both
in the church and in the schools, would gladly unite with him in efforts
for reform. Words of encouragement from those in high position had
inspired him with joy and hope. Already in anticipation he had seen a
brighter day dawning for the church. But encouragement had changed
to reproach and condemnation. Many dignitaries, of both church and
state, were convicted of the truthfulness of his theses; but they soon
saw that the acceptance of these truths would involve great changes.
To enlighten and reform the people would be virtually to undermine
the authority of Rome, to stop thousands of streams now flowing
into her treasury, and thus greatly to curtail the extravagance and
luxury of the papal leaders. Furthermore, to teach the people to think
and act as responsible beings, looking to Christ alone for salvation,
would overthrow the pontiff’s throne and eventually destroy their own
authority. For this reason they refused the knowledge tendered them
of God and arrayed themselves against Christ and the truth by their
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opposition to the man whom He had sent to enlighten them.
Luther trembled as he looked upon himself—one man opposed
to the mightiest powers of earth. He sometimes doubted whether he
had indeed been led of God to set himself against the authority of the
church. “Who was I,” he writes, “to oppose the majesty of the pope,
before whom ... the kings of the earth and the whole world trembled?