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

"the more they were afflicted, the more they multiplied and grew."
Luther's writing were eagerly read alike in the city and in the hamlet. At
night the teachers of the village schools would read aloud to little groups
gathered at the fireside. With every effort some souls would be convicted of
the truth, and, receiving the word with tears of gladness, would in their turn
tell the good news to others.
The words of inspiration were verified, "The entrance of thy words
giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple." The study of the
Scriptures was working a mighty change in the minds and hearts of the
people, not only reforming the morals, but arousing the intellectual powers to
a strength and vigor heretofore unknown. The papal rule had placed upon the
people an iron yoke which held them in ignorance and degradation. All their
instruction and discipline had been of a character to encourage a
superstitious observance of forms; the prescribed routine of worship was
scrupulously maintained, but in all their service the heart and intellect had
little part. Yet many of these worshipers possessed dormant powers that
needed only to be awakened and called into action. The preaching of Luther,
setting forth the plain truths of God's word, and then the word itself, placed
in the hands of the common people, had not only purified and ennobled the
spiritual nature, but had imparted a new life to the intellectual powers.
Persons of all ranks were to be seen with the Bible in their hands,
defending the doctrines of the Reformation. The papists who had left the
study of the Scriptures to the priests and monks, now called upon them to
come forward and refute the new teachings. But ignorant alike of the
Scriptures and of the power of God, priests and friars were totally defeated
by those whom they had denounced as unlearned and heretical. Unhappily,"
says a Catholic writer, "Luther had persuaded his followers that their faith
ought only to be founded on the oracles of Holy Writ." Crowds would gather
to hear the truth advocated by common men, and even discussed by them
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