116
The Great Controversy 1888
Scriptures are not regarded as the rule of life. Every institution where
the Word of God is not diligently studied, must become corrupt.”
This appeal was rapidly circulated throughout Germany, and ex-
[141]
erted a powerful influence upon the people. The whole nation was
stirred, and multitudes were roused to rally around the standard of
reform. Luther’s opponents, burning with a desire for revenge, urged
the pope to take decisive measures against him. It was decreed that his
doctrines should be immediately condemned. Sixty days were granted
the reformer and his adherents, after which, if they did not recant, they
were all to be excommunicated.
That was a terrible crisis for the Reformation. For centuries Rome’s
sentence of excommunication had struck terror to powerful monarchs;
it had filled mighty empires with woe and desolation. Those upon
whom its condemnation fell, were universally regarded with dread
and horror; they were cut off from intercourse with their fellows, and
treated as outlaws, to be hunted to extermination. Luther was not blind
to the tempest about to burst upon him; but he stood firm, trusting in
Christ to be his support and shield. With a martyr’s faith and courage
he wrote: “What is about to happen I know not, and I care not to
know.” “Wherever the blow may reach me. I fear not. Not so much as
a leaf falls without the will of our Father; how much rather will he care
for us! It is a light matter to die for the Word, since this Word, that
was made flesh for us, hath himself died. If we die with him, we shall
live with him; and, passing through that which he has passed through
before us, we shall be where he is, and dwell with him forever.”
When the papal bull reached Luther, he said: “I despise it, and
resist it, as impious and false.... It is Christ himself who is condemned
therein.” “I glory in the prospect of suffering for the best of causes.
Already I feel greater liberty; for I know now that the pope is antichrist,
and that his throne is that of Satan himself.”
Yet the mandate of Rome was not without effect. Prison, torture,
and sword were weapons potent to enforce obedience. The weak and
superstitious trembled before the decree of the pope, and while there
was general sympathy for Luther, many felt that life was too dear to
[142]
be risked in the cause of reform. Everything seemed to indicate that
the reformer’s work was about to close.
But Luther was fearless still. Rome had hurled her anathemas
against him, and the world looked on, nothing doubting that he would