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only render them the more determined. He begged them to accept the
decree, assuring them that such an act would be highly gratifying to
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the emperor. But these faithful men acknowledged an authority above
that of earthly rulers, and they answered calmly, “We will obey the
emperor in everything that may contribute to maintain peace and the
honor of God.”
In the presence of the Diet, the king at last announced that the
decree was about to be published as an imperial edict, and that the
only course remaining for the elector and his friends was to submit
to the majority. Having thus spoken, he withdrew from the assembly,
giving the reformers no opportunity for deliberation or reply. In vain
they sent messengers entreating him to return. To their remonstrances
he answered only, “It is a settled affair; submission is all that remains.”
The imperial party were convinced that the Christian princes would
adhere to the Holy Scriptures as superior to human doctrines and
requirements; and they knew that wherever this principle was accepted,
the papacy would eventually be overthrown. But, like thousands since
their time, looking only “at the things which are seen,” they flattered
themselves that the cause of the emperor and the pope was strong,
and that of the reformers weak. Had the reformers depended upon
human aid alone, they would have been as powerless as the papists
supposed. But though weak in numbers, and at variance with Rome,
they had their strength. They appealed from the decision of the Diet to
the Scriptures of truth, and from the emperor of Germany to the King
of Heaven and earth.
As Ferdinand had refused to regard their conscientious convictions,
the princes decided not to heed his absence, but to bring their Protest
before the national council without delay. A solemn declaration was
therefore drawn up, and presented to the Diet:—
“We protest by these presents, before God, our only Creator, Pre-
server, Redeemer, and Saviour, and who will one day be our Judge,
as well as before all men and all creatures, that we, for us and our
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people, neither consent nor adhere in any manner whatever to the pro-
posed decree in anything that is contrary to God, to his Word, to our
right conscience, or to the salvation of our souls.... We cannot assert
that when Almighty God calls a man to his knowledge, he dare not
embrace that divine knowledge.... There is no true doctrine but that
which conforms to the Word of God. The Lord forbids the teaching of