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

or defend his position; yet before his case has been investigated, he is
summarily pronounced a heretic, and in the same day, exhorted, accused,
judged, and condemned; and all this by the self-styled holy father, the only
supreme, infallible authority in church or State! The spirit of the dragon,
"that old serpent, which is the devil and Satan," is seen in this transaction.
Notwithstanding his cunning, he has in his rage forgotten to be wise.
Augsburg had been fixed upon as the place of Luther's trial, and thither
the Reformer went. Serious fears were entertained in his behalf. Threats had
been made openly that he would be waylaid and murdered on the way, and
his friends begged him not to venture. Staupitz entreated Luther to come and
take refuge with him until the storm should subside. "It seems to me," he
wrote, "that the whole world is up in arms and combined against the truth.
Even so was the crucified Jesus hated. I see not that you have anything else
to expect than persecution. Your most prudent course is to leave Wittenberg
for a time and come and reside with me. Then let us live and die together."
But Luther would not leave the position where God had placed him. He
must continue faithfully to maintain the truth, notwithstanding the storms
that were beating upon him. His language was, "I am like Jeremiah, a man of
strife and contention; but the more they increase their contentions, the more
they multiply my joy. My wife and children are well provided for, my lands
and houses and all my goods are safe. They have already torn to pieces my
honor and my good name. All I have left is my wretched body; let them have
it; they will then shorten my life by a few hours. But as to my soul, they shall
not have that. He who resolves to bear the word of Christ to the world, must
expect death at every hour."
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