Luther’s Separation From Rome
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his hope was disappointed. He gave expression to his wrath in a letter
to Frederick, the elector of Saxony, bitterly denouncing Luther and
demanding that Frederick send the Reformer to Rome or banish him
from Saxony.
In defense, Luther urged that the legate or the pope show him his
errors from the Scriptures, and pledged himself in the most solemn
manner to renounce his doctrines if they could be shown to contradict
the word of God. And he expressed his gratitude to God that he had
been counted worthy to suffer in so holy a cause.
The elector had, as yet, little knowledge of the reformed doctrines,
but he was deeply impressed by the candor, force, and clearness of
Luther’s words; and until the Reformer should be proved to be in error,
Frederick resolved to stand as his protector. In reply to the legate’s
demand he wrote: “Since Dr. Martin has appeared before you at
Augsburg, you should be satisfied. We did not expect that you would
endeavor to make him retract without having convinced him of his
errors. None of the learned men in our principality have informed
me that Martin’s doctrine is impious, anti-christian, or heretical.’ The
prince refused, moreover, to send Luther to Rome, or to expel him
from his states.”—D’Aubigne, b. 4, ch. 10.
The elector saw that there was a general breaking down of the
moral restraints of society. A great work of reform was needed. The
complicated and expensive arrangements to restrain and punish crime
would be unnecessary if men but acknowledged and obeyed the re-
quirements of God and the dictates of an enlightened conscience. He
saw that Luther was laboring to secure this object, and he secretly
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rejoiced that a better influence was making itself felt in the church.
He saw also that as a professor in the university Luther was emi-
nently successful. Only a year had passed since the Reformer posted
his theses on the castle church, yet there was already a great falling off
in the number of pilgrims that visited the church at the festival of All
Saints. Rome had been deprived of worshipers and offerings, but their
place was filled by another class, who now came to Wittenberg, not
pilgrims to adore her relics, but students to fill her halls of learning.
The writings of Luther had kindled everywhere a new interest in the
Holy Scriptures, and not only from all parts of Germany, but from
other lands, students flocked to the university. Young men, coming in
sight of Wittenberg for the first time, “raised their hands to heaven,