06.03.2019 Views

In Germany to the Leipsic Disputation - James Aitken Wylie

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Staupitz watched <strong>the</strong> career of <strong>the</strong> young<br />

professor with peculiar and lively satisfaction. He<br />

was even now planning a yet wider usefulness for<br />

him. Why, thought Staupitz, should Lu<strong>the</strong>r confine<br />

his light within <strong>the</strong> walls of <strong>the</strong> university? Around<br />

him in Wittemberg, and in all <strong>the</strong> <strong>to</strong>wns of<br />

<strong>Germany</strong>, are multitudes who are as sheep without<br />

a shepherd, seeking <strong>to</strong> satisfy <strong>the</strong>ir hunger with <strong>the</strong><br />

husks on which <strong>the</strong> monks feed <strong>the</strong>m; why not<br />

minister <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong>se men also <strong>the</strong> Bread of Life? The<br />

Vicar-General proposed <strong>to</strong> Lu<strong>the</strong>r that he should<br />

preach in public. He shrank back from so august an<br />

office – so weighty a responsibility. "<strong>In</strong> less than<br />

six months," said Lu<strong>the</strong>r, "I shall be in my grave."<br />

But Staupitz knew <strong>the</strong> monk better than he knew<br />

himself; he continued <strong>to</strong> urge his proposal, and at<br />

last Lu<strong>the</strong>r consented. We have followed him from<br />

<strong>the</strong> cell <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> professor's chair, now we are <strong>to</strong><br />

follow him from <strong>the</strong> chair <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> pulpit.<br />

Lu<strong>the</strong>r opened his public ministry in no proud<br />

ca<strong>the</strong>dral, but in one of <strong>the</strong> humblest sanctuaries in<br />

all <strong>Germany</strong>. <strong>In</strong> <strong>the</strong> center of <strong>the</strong> public square<br />

59

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