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Luther, a Man for His Time
75
Truth on Pilate’s Staircase
An indulgence had been promised by the pope to all who should
ascend upon their knees “Pilate’s staircase,” said to have been mirac-
ulously conveyed from Jerusalem to Rome. Luther was one day
climbing these steps when a voice like thunder seemed to say, “The
just shall live by faith.”
Romans 1:17
. He sprang to his feet in shame
and horror. From that time he saw more clearly than ever before the
fallacy of trusting to human works for salvation. He turned his face
from Rome. From that time the separation grew until he severed all
connection with the papal church.
After his return from Rome, Luther received the degree of doctor
of divinity. Now he was at liberty to devote himself to the Scriptures
that he loved. He had taken a solemn vow to preach with fidelity
the Word of God, not the doctrines of the popes. He was no longer
the mere monk, but the authorized herald of the Bible, called as a
shepherd to feed the flock of God that were hungering and thirst-
ing for truth. He firmly declared that Christians should receive no
other doctrines than those which rest on the authority of the Sacred
Scriptures.
Eager crowds hung upon his words. The glad tidings of a
Saviour’s love, the assurance of pardon and peace through His aton-
ing blood rejoiced their hearts. At Wittenberg a light was kindled
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whose rays should increase in brightness to the close of time.
But between truth and error there is conflict. Our Saviour Him-
self declared: “I came not to send peace, but a sword.”
Matthew
10:34
. Said Luther, a few years after the opening of the Reformation:
“God ... pushes me forward. ... I desire to live in repose; but I am
thrown into the midst of tumults and revolutions.
Indulgences for Sale
The Roman Church made merchandise of the grace of God.
Under the plea of raising funds for the erection of St. Peter’s at
Rome, indulgences for sin were offered for sale by authority of the
pope. By the price of crime a temple was to be built for God’s
worship. It was this that aroused the most successful of the enemies
7
D’Aubigne, bk. 5, ch. 2.