Testimonies for the Church Vol 1 - Lansing SDA Church

Dangers and Duty of Ministers 353danger. I saw that God in His wise providence prepared him in thisway that he might not forget in whom to trust, and that he should notrush on presumptuously into danger. As His own instrument, God wasfitting him for the great work before him.Luther’s prayer was heard. His courage and faith returned as hemet his enemies. Meek as a lamb he stood, surrounded by the greatmen of the earth, who, like angry wolves, fastened their eyes uponhim, hoping to awe him with their power and greatness. But he hadtaken hold of the strength of God and feared not. His words werespoken with such majesty and power that his enemies could do nothingagainst him. God was speaking through Luther, and He had broughttogether emperors and professed wise men that He might publiclybring to nought their wisdom, and that they all might see the strengthand firmness of feeble man when leaning upon God, his eternal Rock. [375]The calm bearing of Luther was in striking contrast to the passionand rage exhibited by those so-called great men. They could notfrighten him into a recantation of the truth. In noble simplicity andcalm firmness he stood like a rock. The opposition of his enemies, theirrage and threats, like a mighty wave, surged against him and brokeharmless at his feet. He remained unmoved. They were chagrined thattheir power, which had caused kings and nobles to tremble, shouldbe thus despised by a humble man, and they longed to make him feeltheir wrath by torturing his life away. But One who is mightier thanthe potentates of earth had charge of this fearless witness. God had awork for him to do. He must yet suffer for the truth. He must see itwade through bloody persecutions. He must see it clothed in sackclothand covered with reproach by fanatics. He must live to justify it and tobe its defender when the mighty powers of earth should seek to tearit down. He must live to see it triumph and tear away the errors andsuperstitions of the papacy. Luther gained a victory at Worms whichweakened the papacy, the news of which spread to other kingdoms andnations. It was an effectual blow in favor of the Reformation.Ministers who are preaching present truth were held up to mein contrast with the leading men of the Reformation; especially wasLuther’s devoted, zealous life placed beside the lives of some of ourpreachers. He proved his undying love for the truth by his courage,his calm firmness, his self-denial. He encountered trials and sacrifices,and at times suffered the deepest anguish of soul, while standing in