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From Here to Forever
claiming to have been treated with injustice, gained sympathy and
came to be regarded as martyrs. Thus the ones in opposition to the
Reformation were pitied and lauded. This was the work of the same
spirit of rebellion first manifested in heaven.
Satan is constantly seeking to deceive men and lead them to
call sin righteousness, and righteousness sin. Counterfeit holiness,
spurious sanctification, still exhibits the same spirit as in the days of
Luther, diverting minds from Scripture and leading men to follow
feelings and impressions rather than the law of God.
Fearlessly did Luther defend the gospel from attack. With the
Word of God he warred against the usurped authority of the pope,
while he stood firm as a rock against the fanaticism that sought to
ally itself with the Reformation.
Each of these opposing elements set aside the Holy Scriptures,
exalting human wisdom as the source of truth. Rationalism idolizes
reason and makes this the criterion for religion. Romanism, claiming
an inspiration descended in unbroken line from the apostles, gives
opportunity for extravagance and corruption to be concealed under
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the “apostolic” commission. The inspiration claimed by Münzer
proceeded from the vagaries of the imagination. True Christianity
receives the Word of God as the test of all inspiration.
Upon his return from Wartburg, Luther completed his translation
of the New Testament, and the gospel soon afterward was given to
the people of Germany in their own language. This translation was
received with great joy by all who loved the truth.
The priests were alarmed at the thought that common people
would now be able to discuss with them God’s Word and that their
own ignorance would thus be exposed. Rome summoned all her
authority to prevent the circulation of the Scriptures. But the more
she prohibited the Bible, the greater was the anxiety of the people
to know what it really taught. All who could read carried it about
with them and could not be satisfied until they had committed large
portions to memory. Luther immediately began the translation of
the Old Testament.
Luther’s writings were welcomed alike in city and in hamlet.
“What Luther and his friends composed, others circulated. Monks,
convinced of the unlawfulness of monastic obligations, but too igno-