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stopped for the night； a friendly priest expressed his fears by holding up
before Luther the portrait of an Italian reformer who had suffered
martyrdom。 The next day they learned that Luther's writings had been
condemned at Worms。 Imperial messengers were proclaiming the emperor's
decree and calling upon the people to bring the proscribed works to the
magistrates。 The herald； fearing for Luther's safety at the council； and
thinking that already his resolution might be shaken； asked if he still
wished to go forward。 He answered： 〃Although interdicted in every city； I
shall go on。〃Ibid。； b。 7； ch。 7。
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At Erfurt； Luther was received with honor。 Surrounded by admiring crowds； he
passed through the streets that he had often traversed with his beggar's
wallet。 He visited his convent cell； and thought upon the struggles through
which the light now flooding Germany had been shed upon his soul。 He was
urged to preach。 This he had been forbidden to do； but the herald granted
him permission； and the friar who had once been made the drudge of the
convent； now entered the pulpit。
To a crowded assembly he spoke from the words of Christ； 〃Peace be unto
you。〃 〃Philosophers； doctors； and writers；〃 he said； 〃have endeavored to
teach men the way to obtain everlasting life； and they have not succeeded。 I
will now tell it to you： 。 。 。 God has raised one Man from the dead； the
Lord Jesus Christ； that He might destroy death； extirpate sin； and shut the
gates of hell。 This is the work of salvation。 。 。 。 Christ has vanquished！
this is the joyful news； and we are saved by His work； and not by our own。 。
。 。 Our Lord Jesus Christ said； 'Peace be unto you； behold My hands；' that
is to say； Behold； O man！ it is I； I alone； who have taken away thy sin； and
ransomed thee； and now thou hast peace； saith the Lord。〃
He continued； showing that true faith will be manifested by a holy life。
〃Since God has saved us； let us so order our works that they may be
acceptable to Him。 Art thou rich？ let thy goods administer to the
necessities of the poor。 Art thou poor？ let thy services be acceptable to
the rich。 If thy labor is useful to thyself alone； the service that thou
pretendest to render unto God is a lie。〃Ibid。； b。 7； ch。 7。
The people listened as if spellbound。 The bread of life was broken to those
starving souls。 Christ was lifted up before them as above popes； legates；
emperors； and kings。 Luther made no reference to his own perilous position。
He did not seek to make himself the object of thought or sympathy。 In the
contemplation of Christ he had lost sight of self。 He hid behind the Man of
Calvary； seeking only to present Jesus as the sinner's Redeemer。
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As the Reformer proceeded on his journey； he was everywhere regarded with
great interest。 An eager multitude thronged about him； and friendly voices
warned him of the purpose of the Romanists。 〃They will burn you；〃 said some；
〃and reduce your body to ashes； as they did with John Huss。〃 Luther
answered； 〃Though they should kindle a fire all the way from Worms to
Wittenberg； the flames of which reached to heaven； I would walk through it
in the name of the Lord； I would appear before them； I would enter the jaws
of this behemoth； and break his teeth； confessing the Lord Jesus
Christ。〃Ibid。； b。 7； ch。 7。
The news of his approach to Worms created great commotion。 His friends
trembled for his safety； his enemies feared for the success of their cause。
Strenuous efforts were made to dissuade him from entering the city。 At the
instigation of the papists he was urged to repair to the castle of a
friendly knight； where； it was declared； all difficulties could be amicably
adjusted。 Friends endeavored to excite his fears by describing the dangers
that threatened him。 All their efforts failed。 Luther； still unshaken；
declared： 〃Even should there be as many devils in Worms as tiles on the
housetops； still I would enter it。〃Ibid。； b。 7； ch。 7。
Upon his arrival at Worms； a vast crowd flocked to the gates to welcome him。
So great a concourse had not assembled to greet the emperor himself。 The
excitement was intense； and from the midst of the throng a shrill and
plaintive voice chanted a funeral dirge as a warning to Luther of the fate
that awaited him。 〃God will be my defense；〃 said he； as he alighted from his
carriage。
The papists had not believed that Luther would really venture to appear at
Worms； and his arrival filled them with consternation。 The emperor
immediately summoned his councilors to consider what course should be
pursued。 One of the bishops； a rigid papist； declared： 〃We have long
consulted on this matter。 Let your imperial majesty get rid of this man at
once。 Did not Sigismund cause John Huss to be burnt？ We are not bound either
to give or to
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observe the safe…conduct of a heretic。〃 〃No；〃 said the emperor； 〃we must
keep our promise。〃Ibid。； b。 7； ch。 8。 It was therefore decided that the
Reformer should be heard。
All the city were eager to see this remarkable man； and a throng of visitors
soon filled his lodgings。 Luther had scarcely recovered from his recent
illness； he was wearied from the journey； which had occupied two full weeks；
he must prepare to meet the momentous events of the morrow； and he needed
quiet and repose。 But so great was the desire to see him that he had enjoyed
only a few hours' rest when noblemen； knights； priests； and citizens
gathered eagerly about him。 Among these were many of the nobles who had so
boldly demanded of the emperor a reform of ecclesiastical abuses and who；
says Luther； 〃had all been freed by my gospel。〃Martyn； page 393。 Enemies；
as well as friends； came to look upon the dauntless monk； but he received
them with unshaken calmness； replying to all with dignity and wisdom。 His
bearing was firm and courageous。 His pale； thin face； marked with the traces
of toil and illness； wore a kindly and even joyous expression。 The solemnity
and deep earnestness of his words gave him a power that even his enemies
could not wholly withstand。 Both friends and foes were filled with wonder。
Some were convinced that a divine influence attended him； others declared；
as had the Pharisees concerning Christ： 〃He hath a devil。〃
On the following day Luther was summoned to attend the Diet。 An imperial
officer was appointed to conduct him to the hall of audience； yet it was
with difficulty that he reached the place。 Every avenue was crowded with
spectators eager to look upon the monk who had dared resist the authority of
the pope。
As he was about to enter the presence of his judges； an old general； the
hero of many battles； said to him kindly： 〃Poor monk； poor monk； thou art
now going to make a nobler stand than I or any other captains have ever made
in the bloodiest of our battles。 But if thy cause is just； and thou art sure
of it； go forward in God's name； and fear
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nothing。 God will not forsake thee。〃D'Aubigne； b。 7； ch。 8。
At length Luther stood before the council。 The emperor occupied the throne。
He was surr