Luther Before the Diet
133
yourselves a frightful deluge of insurmountable dangers, of present
disasters, and eternal desolation.... I might quote many examples
from the oracles of God. I might speak of the Pharaohs, the kings
of Babylon, and those of Israel, whose labors never more effectually
contributed to their own destruction than when they sought by counsels,
to all appearance most wise, to strengthen their dominion. ‘God
removeth mountains, and they know it not.’”—Ibid., b. 7, ch. 8.
Luther had spoken in German; he was now requested to repeat the
same words in Latin. Though exhausted by the previous effort, he
complied, and again delivered his speech, with the same clearness and
energy as at the first. God’s providence directed in this matter. The
minds of many of the princes were so blinded by error and superstition
that at the first delivery they did not see the force of Luther’s reasoning;
but the repetition enabled them to perceive clearly the points presented.
[160]
Those who stubbornly closed their eyes to the light, and determined
not to be convinced of the truth, were enraged at the power of Luther’s
words. As he ceased speaking, the spokesman of the Diet said angrily:
“You have not answered the question put to you.... You are required to
give a clear and precise answer.... Will you, or will you not, retract?”
The Reformer answered: “Since your most serene majesty and your
high mightinesses require from me a clear, simple, and precise answer,
I will give you one, and it is this: I cannot submit my faith either to
the pope or to the councils, because it is clear as the day that they have
frequently erred and contradicted each other. Unless therefore I am
convinced by the testimony of Scripture or by the clearest reasoning,
unless I am persuaded by means of the passages I have quoted, and
unless they thus render my conscience bound by the word of God, I
cannot and I will not retract, for it is unsafe for a Christian to speak
against his conscience. Here I stand, I can do no other; may God help
me. Amen.”—Ibid., b. 7, ch. 8.
Thus stood this righteous man upon the sure foundation of the
word of God. The light of heaven illuminated his countenance. His
greatness and purity of character, his peace and joy of heart, were
manifest to all as he testified against the power of error and witnessed
to the superiority of that faith that overcomes the world.
The whole assembly were for a time speechless with amazement.
At his first answer Luther had spoken in a low tone, with a respectful,
almost submissive bearing. The Romanists had interpreted this as