Martin Luther - Ellen White Defend

your partisans, and all who shall at any time countenance you, and will cast them out of the
church. Full power has been given me for this purpose by the holy apostolic see. Think you
that your protectors will stop me? Do you imagine that the pope can fear Germany? The
pope's little finger is stronger than all Germany put together."
"Condescend," replied Luther, "to forward the written answer I have given you to Pope
Leo X., with my most humble prayers." In a haughty and angry tone, the cardinal replied,
"Retract, or return no more."
Luther bowed, and retired with his friends, leaving the cardinal and his supporters to
look at one another in utter confusion at the unexpected result of the discussion. The cardinal
and the Reformer never met again.
Luther's efforts on this occasion were not without good results. The large assembly
present at the conference had opportunity to compare the two men, and to judge for
themselves of the spirit manifested by them, as well as of the strength and truthfulness of their
position. How marked the contrast! Luther, simple, upright, firm, stood up in the strength of
God, having truth on his side; the pope's representative, self-important, overbearing, haughty,
and unreasonable, was without a single argument from the word of God, yet vehemently
crying, "Retract, or be sent to Rome for punishment." Yet the legate was deeply impressed by
his interviews with the Reformer, and he afterward changed his own views, and himself
retracted his errors.
Luther remained in Augsburg but a few days after his last meeting with the cardinal.
Before leaving the city, however, he drew up a respectful letter to the legate, stating that it was
useless for him to prolong his stay, as he had been denied a further hearing unless he should
retract. "Thus I again set out in the name of the Lord, desiring to find some place where I may
live in peace." He closes by stating that he had committed no crime, and ought therefore to
have nothing to fear. This letter was intrusted to his friends, who after his departure delivered
it to the legate.
Luther set out from Augsburg at night, on horseback, and accompanied only by a
guide furnished him by the magistrate. With many forebodings he secretly made his way
through the dark and silent streets of the city. Enemies, vigilant and cruel, were plotting his
destruction. Would he escape the snares prepared for him? Those were moments of anxiety
and earnest prayer. He reached a small gate in the wall of the city. It was opened for him, and
with his guide he passed through without hindrance. Now they were beyond the limits, and
putting their horses to a full gallop, they soon left the city far behind them. Satan and his
emissaries were defeated. The man whom they had thought in their power was gone,
escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowler.
Signs of the Times: July 19, 1883 Luther's Royal Protector.
- By Mrs. E. G. White.
At the news of Luther's departure from Augsburg, the papal legate was overwhelmed
with surprise and anger. He had expected to receive great honor for his wisdom and firmness
in dealing with this disturber of the church, but now this hope was disappointed. He gave
expression to his wrath in a letter to the elector, bitterly denouncing Luther:--
"Since Brother Martin cannot be brought by parental measures to acknowledge his
errors, and continue faithful to the Catholic Church, I request your highness to send him to
Rome, or to banish him from your territories. Be assured that this complicated, evil-intentioned
affair cannot be long protracted, for as soon as I shall have informed our most holy lord of all
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