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thought themselves competent to revive and control the work of the
Reformation succeeded only in bringing it to the verge of ruin. The
Romanists now regained their confidence and exclaimed exultingly:
“One last struggle, and all will be ours.”—Ibid., b. 9, ch. 7.
Luther at the Wartburg, hearing of what had occurred, said with
deep concern: “I always expected that Satan would send us this
plague.”—Ibid., b. 9, ch. 7. He perceived the true character of those
pretended prophets and saw the danger that threatened the cause of
truth. The opposition of the pope and the emperor had not caused
him so great perplexity and distress as he now experienced. From the
professed friends of the Reformation had risen its worst enemies. The
very truths which had brought him so great joy and consolation were
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being employed to stir up strife and create confusion in the church.
In the work of reform, Luther had been urged forward by the Spirit
of God, and had been carried beyond himself. He had not purposed
to take such positions as he did, or to make so radical changes. He
had been but the instrument in the hand of Infinite Power. Yet he often
trembled for the result of his work. He had once said: “If I knew
that my doctrine injured one man, one single man, however lowly and
obscure,—which it cannot, for it is the gospel itself,—I would rather
die ten times than not retract it.”—Ibid., b. 9, ch. 7.
And now Wittenberg itself, the very center of the Reformation, was
fast falling under the power of fanaticism and lawlessness. This terrible
condition had not resulted from the teachings of Luther; but throughout
Germany his enemies were charging it upon him. In bitterness of soul
he sometimes asked: “Can such, then, be the end of this great work
of the Reformation?”—Ibid., b. 9, ch. 7. Again, as he wrestled with
God in prayer, peace flowed into his heart. “The work is not mine,
but Thine own,” he said; “Thou wilt not suffer it to be corrupted by
superstition or fanaticism.” But the thought of remaining longer from
the conflict in such a crisis, became insupportable. He determined to
return to Wittenberg.
Without delay he set out on his perilous journey. He was under
the ban of the empire. Enemies were at liberty to take his life; friends
were forbidden to aid or shelter him. The imperial government was
adopting the most stringent measures against his adherents. But he
saw that the work of the gospel was imperiled, and in the name of the
Lord he went out fearlessly to battle for the truth.