In Germany to the Leipsic Disputation - James Aitken Wylie

page as Columbus may be supposed to have gazed
on the plains and mountains of the New World,
when the mists of ocean opened and unveiled it to
him. Meanwhile, a change was passing upon
Luther by the reading of that book. Other books
had developed and strengthened his faculties, this
book was awakening new powers within him. The
old Luther was passing away, another Luther was
coming in his place. From that moment began
those struggles in his soul which were destined
never to cease till they issued not merely in a new
man, but a new age – a new Europe. Out of the
Bible at Oxford came the first dawn of the
Reformation: out of this old Bible at Erfurt came
its second morning.
It was the year 1503. Luther now took his first
academic degree. But his Bachelorship in Arts had
nearly cost him his life. So close had been his
application to study that he was seized with a
dangerous illness, and for some time lay at the
point of death. Among others who came to see him
was an old priest, who seems to have had a
presentiment of Luther's future distinction. "My
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