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In Germany from the Leipsic Disputation to the Diet at Worms - James Aitken Wylie

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peal of thunder it rang <strong>from</strong> side <strong>to</strong> side of<br />

<strong>Germany</strong>. It sounded <strong>the</strong> knell of Roman<br />

domin<strong>at</strong>ion in th<strong>at</strong> land. The movement was no<br />

longer confined <strong>to</strong> Wittemberg; it was<br />

henceforward truly n<strong>at</strong>ional. It was no longer<br />

conducted exclusively by <strong>the</strong>ologians. Princes,<br />

nobles, burghers joined in it. It was seen <strong>to</strong> be no<br />

b<strong>at</strong>tle of creed merely; it was a struggle for liberty,<br />

religious and civil; for rights, spiritual and<br />

temporal; for <strong>the</strong> gener<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>the</strong>n living, for all <strong>the</strong><br />

gener<strong>at</strong>ions th<strong>at</strong> were <strong>to</strong> live in <strong>the</strong> future; a<br />

struggle, in fine, for <strong>the</strong> manhood of <strong>the</strong> human<br />

race.<br />

Lu<strong>the</strong>r's thoughts turned n<strong>at</strong>urally <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> new<br />

emperor. Wh<strong>at</strong> part will this young potent<strong>at</strong>e play<br />

in <strong>the</strong> movement? Presuming th<strong>at</strong> it would be <strong>the</strong><br />

just and magnanimous one th<strong>at</strong> became so gre<strong>at</strong> a<br />

prince, Lu<strong>the</strong>r carried his appeal <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> foot of <strong>the</strong><br />

throne of Charles V. "The cause," he said, "was<br />

worthy <strong>to</strong> come before <strong>the</strong> throne of heaven, much<br />

more before an earthly potent<strong>at</strong>e." Lu<strong>the</strong>r knew<br />

th<strong>at</strong> his cause would triumph, whichever side<br />

Charles might espouse. But though nei<strong>the</strong>r Charles<br />

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