Basic HTML Version
110
From Here to Forever
it upon him. In bitterness of soul he asked, “Can such, then, be the
end of this great work of the Reformation?” Again, as he wrestled
with God in prayer, peace flowed into his heart. “The work is not
mine, but Thine own,” he said. But he determined to return to
Wittenberg.
He was under the ban of the empire. Enemies were at liberty to
take his life, friends forbidden to shelter him. 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 truth. In a letter to the elector Luther
said: “I am going to Wittenberg under a protection far higher than
that of princes and electors. I think not of soliciting your highness’s
support, and far from desiring your protection, I would rather protect
you myself. ... There is no sword that can further this cause. God
alone must do everything.” In a second letter, Luther added: “I am
ready to incur the displeasure of your highness and the anger of the
whole world. Are not the Wittenbergers my sheep? And ought I not,
if necessary, to expose myself to death for their sakes?
The Power of the Word
It was soon noised through Wittenberg that Luther had returned
and was to preach. The church was filled. With great wisdom and
gentleness he instructed and reproved:
“The mass is a bad thing; God is opposed to it; it ought to be
abolished. ... But let no one be torn from it by force. ... God’s ...
word must act, and not we. ... We have a right to speak: we have not
[120]
the right to act. Let us preach; the rest belongs unto God. Were I
to employ force, what should I gain? God lays hold upon the heart;
and when the heart is taken, all is won... .”
“I will preach, discuss, and write; but I will constrain none, for
faith is a voluntary act. ... I stood up against the pope, indulgences,
and papists, but without violence or tumult. I put forward God’s
word; I preached and wrote—this was all I did. And yet while I was
asleep, ... the word that I had preached overthrew popery, so that
neither prince nor emperor has done it so much harm. And yet I did
nothing; the word alone did all.
The Word of God broke the spell
5
Ibid., bk. 9, ch. 8.
6
Idem.