Luther’s Separation from Rome
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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 Witten-
berg without delay, and that the utmost caution should be observed in
order to conceal his intentions. He accordingly left Augsburg before
daybreak, 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 be escape the snares pre-
pared 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 out-
side, the fugitives hastened their flight, and before the legate learned 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
his hope was disappointed. He gave expression to his wrath in a letter
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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,