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At length Luther stood before the council。 The emperor occupied the throne。
He was surrounded by the most illustrious personages in the empire。 Never
had any man appeared in the presence of a more imposing assembly than that
before which Martin Luther was to answer for his faith。 〃This appearance was
of itself a signal victory over the papacy。 The pope had condemned the man；
and he was now standing before a tribunal which； by this very act； set
itself above the pope。 The pope had laid him under an interdict； and cut him
off from all human society； and yet he was summoned in respectful language；
and received before the most august assembly in the world。 The pope had
condemned him to perpetual silence； and he was now about to speak before
thousands of attentive hearers drawn together from the farthest parts of
Christendom。 An immense revolution had thus been effected by Luther's
instrumentality。 Rome was already descending from her throne； and it was the
voice of a monk that caused this humiliation。〃Ibid。； b。 7； ch。 8。
In the presence of that powerful and titled assembly the lowly born Reformer
seemed awed and embarrassed。 Several of the princes； observing his emotion；
approached him； and one of them whispered： 〃Fear not them which kill the
body； but are not able to kill the soul。〃 Another said： 〃When ye shall be
brought before governors and kings for My sake； it shall be given you； by
the Spirit of your Father； what ye shall say。〃 Thus the words of Christ were
brought by the world's great men to strengthen His servant in the hour of
trial。
Luther was conducted to a position directly in front of the emperor's
throne。 A deep silence fell upon the crowded assembly。 Then an imperial
officer arose and； pointing to a collection of Luther's writings； demanded
that the Reformer answer two questionswhether he acknowledged them as his；
and whether he proposed to retract the opinions which he had therein
advanced。 The titles of the books having
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been read； Luther replied that as to the first question； he acknowledged the
books to be his。 〃As to the second；〃 he said； 〃seeing that it is a question
which concerns faith and the salvation of souls； and in which the word of
God； the greatest and most precious treasure either in heaven or earth； is
involved； I should act imprudently were I to reply without reflection。 I
might affirm less than the circumstance demands； or more than truth
requires； and so sin against this saying of Christ： 'Whosoever shall deny Me
before men； him will I also deny before My Father which is in heaven。'
＇Matthew 10：33。＇ For this reason I entreat your imperial majesty； with all
humility； to allow me time； that I may answer without offending against the
word of God。〃 D'Aubigne； b。 7； ch。 8。
In making this request； Luther moved wisely。 His course convinced the
assembly that he did not act from passion or impulse。 Such calmness and
self…command； unexpected in one who had shown himself bold and
uncompromising； added to his power； and enabled him afterward to answer with
a prudence； decision； wisdom； and dignity that surprised and disappointed
his adversaries； and rebuked their insolence and pride。
The next day he was to appear to render his final answer。 For a time his
heart sank within him as he contemplated the forces that were combined
against the truth。 His faith faltered； fearfulness and trembling came upon
him； and horror overwhelmed him。 Dangers multiplied before him； his enemies
seemed about to triumph； and the powers of darkness to prevail。 Clouds
gathered about him and seemed to separate him from God。 He longed for the
assurance that the Lord of hosts would be with him。 In anguish of spirit he
threw himself with his face upon the earth and poured out those broken；
heart…rending cries； which none but God can fully understand。
〃O almighty and everlasting God；〃 he pleaded； 〃how terrible is this world！
Behold； it openeth its mouth to swallow me up； and I have so little trust in
Thee。 。 。 。 If it is
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only in the strength of this world that I must put my trust； all is over。 。
。 。 My last hour is come； my condemnation has been pronounced。 。 。 。 O God；
do Thou help me against all the wisdom of the world。 Do this； 。 。 。 Thou
alone； 。 。 。 for this is not my work； but Thine。 I have nothing to do here；
nothing to contend for with these great ones of the world。 。 。 。 But the
cause is Thine； 。 。 。 and it is a righteous and eternal cause。 O Lord； help
me！ Faithful and unchangeable God； in no man do I place my trust。 。 。 。 All
that is of man is uncertain； all that cometh of man fails。 。 。 。 Thou hast
chosen me for this work。 。 。 。 Stand at my side； for the sake of Thy
well…beloved Jesus Christ； who is my defense； my shield； and my strong
tower。〃Ibid。； b。 7； ch。 8。
An all…wise Providence had permitted Luther to realize his peril； that he
might not trust to his own strength and rush presumptuously into danger。 Yet
it was not the fear of personal suffering； a dread of torture or death；
which seemed immediately impending； that overwhelmed him with its terror。 He
had come to the crisis； and he felt his insufficiency to meet it。 Through
his weakness the cause of truth might suffer loss。 Not for his own safety；
but for the triumph of the gospel did he wrestle with God。 Like Israel's； in
that night struggle beside the lonely stream； was the anguish and conflict
of his soul。 Like Israel； he prevailed with God。 In his utter helplessness
his faith fastened upon Christ； the mighty Deliverer。 He was strengthened
with the assurance that he would not appear alone before the council。 Peace
returned to his soul； and he rejoiced that he was permitted to uplift the
word of God before the rulers of the nations。
With his mind stayed upon God； Luther prepared for the struggle before him。
He thought upon the plan of his answer； examined passages in his own
writings； and drew from the Holy Scriptures suitable proofs to sustain his
positions。 Then； laying his left hand on the Sacred Volume； which was open
before him； he lifted his right hand to heaven and vowed 〃to remain faithful
to the gospel； and
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freely to confess his faith； even should he seal his testimony with his
blood。〃Ibid。； b。 7； ch。 8。
When he was again ushered into the presence of the Diet； his countenance
bore no trace of fear or embarrassment。 Calm and peaceful； yet grandly brave
and noble； he stood as God's witness among the great ones of the earth。 The
imperial officer now demanded his decision as to whether he desired to
retract his doctrines。 Luther made his answer in a subdued and humble tone；
without violence or passion。 His demeanor was diffident and respectful； yet
he manifested a confidence and joy that surprised the assembly。
〃Most serene emperor； illustrious princes； gracious lords；〃 said Luther； 〃I
appear before you this day； in conformity with the order given me yesterday；
and by God's mercies I conjure your majesty and your august highnesses to
listen graciously to the defense of a cause which I am assured is just and
true。 If； through ignorance； I should transgress t