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The Great Controversy 1888
With redoubled zeal, Aleander urged upon the emperor the duty of
executing the papal edicts. But under the laws of Germany this could
not be done without the concurrence of the princes, and, overcome
at 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.” 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
councillors attended, to take notes of the nuncio’s address.
With all the power of learning and eloquence, Aleander set himself
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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. “There is enough in the
errors of Luther,” he declared, “to warrant the burning of a hundred
thousand heretics.
In conclusion, he endeavored to cast contempt upon the adher-
ents of the reformed faith: “What are all these Lutherans?—A motley
rabble of insolent grammarians, corrupt priests, dissolute monks, ig-
norant lawyers, and degraded nobles, with the common people whom
they have misled and perverted. How greatly superior is the Catholic
party in numbers, intelligence, and power! A unanimous decree from
this illustrious assembly will open the eyes of the simple, show the
unwary their danger, determine the wavering, and strengthen the weak-
hearted.”
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