Luther Before the Diet
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last by the legate’s importunity, Charles bade him present his case to
the Diet. “It was a proud day for the nuncio. The assembly was a great
one: the cause was even greater. Aleander was to plead for Rome,
... the mother and mistress of all churches.” He was to vindicate the
princedom of Peter before the assembled principalities of Christendom.
“He had the gift of eloquence, and he rose to the greatness of the
occasion. Providence ordered it that Rome should appear and plead
by the ablest of her orators in the presence of the most august of
tribunals, before she was condemned.”—Wylie, b. 6, ch. 4. With some
misgivings those who favored the Reformer looked forward to the
effect of Aleander’s speech. The elector of Saxony was not present,
but by his direction some of his councilors attended to take notes of
the nuncio’s address.
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With all the power of learning and eloquence, Aleander set himself
to overthrow the truth. Charge after charge he hurled against Luther as
an enemy of the church and the state, the living and the dead, clergy
and laity, councils and private Christians. “In Luther’s errors there is
enough,” he declared, to warrant the burning of “a hundred thousand
heretics.”
In conclusion he endeavored to cast contempt upon the adherents of
the reformed faith: “What are all these Lutherans? A crew of insolent
pedagogues, corrupt priests, dissolute monks, ignorant lawyers, and
degraded nobles, with the common people whom they have misled and
perverted. How far superior to them is the Catholic party in number,
ability, and power! A unanimous decree from this illustrious assembly
will enlighten the simple, warn the imprudent, decide the waverers,
and give strength to the weak.”—D’Aubigne, b. 7, ch. 3.
With such weapons the advocates of truth in every age have been
attacked. The same arguments are still urged against all who dare
to present, in opposition to established errors, the plain and direct
teachings of God’s word. “Who are these preachers of new doctrines?”
exclaim those who desire a popular religion. “They are unlearned, few
in numbers, and of the poorer class. Yet they claim to have the truth,
and to be the chosen people of God. They are ignorant and deceived.
How greatly superior in numbers and influence is our church! How
many great and learned men are among us! How much more power
is on our side!” These are the arguments that have a telling influence