Medieval Reformers
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dence and joy that surprised the assembly.—
The Great Controversy,
158
.
Courage and Firmness—The courage and firmness which he now
displayed, as well as the power and clearness of his reasoning, filled
all parties with surprise.—
The Great Controversy, 160, 161
.
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In the Presence of God—The papal leaders were chagrined that
their power, which had caused kings and nobles to tremble, should be
thus despised by a humble monk; they longed to make him feel their
wrath by torturing his life away. But Luther, understanding his danger,
had spoken to all with Christian dignity and calmness. His words had
been free from pride, passion, and misrepresentation. He had lost sight
of himself, and of the great men surrounding him, and felt only that
he was in the presence of One infinitely superior to popes, prelates,
kings, and emperors. Christ had spoken through Luther’s testimony
with a power and grandeur that for the time inspired both friends and
foes with awe and wonder....
The elector Frederick had looked forward anxiously to Luther’s
appearance before the Diet, and with deep emotion he listened to
his speech. With joy and pride he witnessed the doctor’s courage,
firmness, and self-possession, and determined to stand more firmly in
his defense.—
The Great Controversy, 161, 162
.
Clear Reasoning—The contrast between the two disputants
[Oecolampadius and Eck] was not without effect. The calm, clear rea-
soning of the Reformer, so gently and modestly presented, appealed
to minds that turned in disgust from Eck’s boastful and boisterous
assumptions.—
The Great Controversy, 184
.
The Wesleys and Whitefield
Justification and Renewal—Wesley’s life was devoted to the
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preaching of the great truths which he had received—justification
through faith in the atoning blood of Christ, and the renewing power of
the Holy Spirit upon the heart, bringing forth fruit in a life conformed
to the example of Christ.
Whitefield and the Wesleys had been prepared for their work by
long and sharp personal convictions of their own lost condition; and
that they might be able to endure hardness as good soldiers of Christ,
they had been subjected to the fiery ordeal of scorn, derision, and