Signs of the Times, Book 1 - Ellen G. White

Luther and his friends knew that he could not hope for justice at Rome.
They knew that there would be no safety for him on the journey to Rome,
and no safety after his arrival. The Romists had not been sparing in their
denunciations of him, and once in their grasp no human power could release
him. His friends were unanimous in the desire that he should receive his
examination in Germany.
This arrangement was finally effected, and the pope's legate was
appointed to hear the case. The instructions communicated by the pontiff to
this official were as follows:
"We charge you to compel Luther to appear before you in person; to
prosecute and reduce him to submission without delay, as soon as you shall
have received this our order, he having already been declared a heretic by
our dear brother Jerome, Bishop of Asculan." "If he should return to a sense
of his duty, and ask pardon for so great an offense, freely and of his own
accord, we give you power to receive him into the unity of the holy mother
church." "If he should persist in his stubbornness, and you fail to get
possession of his person, we give you power to proscribe him in all places in
Germany; to put away, curse, and excommunicate all those who are attached
to him, and to enjoin all Christians to shun his society."
The pope goes still farther, and calls upon his legate, in order entirely to
root out the pestilent heresy, to excommunicate all, of whatever dignity in
church or State except the emperor, who shall "neglect to seize the said
Martin Luther and his adherents, and send them to you under proper and safe
authority."
Here is displayed the true spirit of Romanism. Not a trace of Christian
principle, or even of common justice, is to be seen in the whole document.
Luther is at a great distance from Rome; he has had no opportunity to explain
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