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The Great Controversy
will cast them out of the church.” And he finally declared, in a haughty
and angry tone: “Retract, or return no more.”—D’Aubigne, London
ed., b. 4, ch. 8.
The Reformer promptly withdrew with his friends, thus declaring
plainly that no retraction was to be expected from him. This was
not what the cardinal had purposed. He had flattered himself that by
violence he could awe Luther to submission. Now, left alone with
his supporters, he looked from one to another in utter chagrin at the
unexpected failure of his schemes.
Luther’s efforts on this occasion were not without good results.
The large assembly present had opportunity to compare the two men,
and to judge for themselves of the spirit manifested by them, as well
as of the strength and truthfulness of their positions. How marked
the contrast! The Reformer, simple, humble, firm, stood up in the
strength of God, having truth on his side; the pope’s representative,
self-important, overbearing, haughty, and unreasonable, was without a
single argument from the Scriptures, yet vehemently crying: “Retract,
or be sent to Rome for punishment.”
Notwithstanding Luther had secured a safe-conduct, the Romanists
were plotting to seize and imprison him. His friends urged that as it
was useless for him to prolong his stay, he should return to Wittenberg
without delay, and that the utmost caution should be observed in order
to conceal his intentions. He accordingly left Augsburg before day-
break, on horseback, accompanied only by a guide furnished him by
the magistrate. With many forebodings he secretly made his way
through the dark and silent streets of the city. Enemies, vigilant and
cruel, were plotting his destruction. Would he escape the snares
prepared for him? Those were moments of anxiety and earnest prayer.
He reached a small gate in the wall of the city. It was opened for him,
and with his guide he passed through without hindrance. Once safely
outside, the fugitives hastened their flight, and before the legate learned
[138]
of Luther’s departure, he was beyond the reach of his persecutors.
Satan and his emissaries were defeated. The man whom they had
thought in their power was gone, escaped as a bird from the snare of
the fowler.
At the news of Luther’s escape the legate was overwhelmed with
surprise and anger. He had expected to receive great honor for his
wisdom and firmness in dealing with this disturber of the church; but