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

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furious; he saw the prey about to be plucked from his very teeth. But the emperor submitted with a good grace. "Convince this assembly," said the politic monarch to the impatient nuncio. It was agreed that Aleander should be heard before the Diet on the 13th of February. It was a proud day for the nuncio. The assembly was a great one: the cause was even greater. Aleander was to plead for Rome, the mother and mistress of all churches: he was to vindicate the princedom of Peter before the assembled puissances of Christendom. He had the gift of eloquence, and he rose to the greatness of the occasion. Providence ordered it that Rome should appear and plead by the ablest of her orators in the presence of the most august of tribunals, before she was condemned. The speech has been recorded by one of the most trustworthy and eloquent of the Roman historians, Pallavicino The nuncio was more effective in those parts of his speech in which he attacked Luther, than in those in which he defended the Papacy. His 86
charges against the Reformer were sweeping and artful. He accused him of laboring to accomplish a universal ruin; of striking a blow at the foundations of religion by denying the doctrine of the Sacrament; of seeking to raze the foundations of the hierarchy by affirming that all Christians are priests; of seeking to overturn civil order by maintaining that a Christian is not bound to obey the magistrate; of aiming to subvert the foundations of morality by his doctrine of the moral inability of the will; and of unsettling the world beyond the grave by denying purgatory. The portion of seeming truth contained in these accusations made them the more dangerous. "A unanimous decree," said the orator in closing his speech, "from this illustrious assembly will enlighten the simple, warn the imprudent, decide the waverers, and give strength to the weak... But if the axe is not laid at the root of this poisonous tree, if the death-blow is not struck, then... I see it overshadowing the heritage of Jesus Christ with its branches, changing our Lord's vineyard into a gloomy forest, transforming the kingdom of God into a den of wild beasts, and reducing Germany into that state 87
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IN GERMANY FROM THE LEIPSIC DISPUTA
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from a throne, the greatest then in
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who had not forgiven his discomfitu
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outcry which had been raised agains
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discoursed together at his table. H
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It would complete his glory, and re
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ecome emperor? Most historians have
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Frederick of Saxony had declined wh
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it will operate spiritual effects o
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most; masterly picture of the Roman
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These, to use Luther's metaphor, we
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The instant remedies which he urged
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doctrine of man's inability and God
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who held them in bondage. They have
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nor all the great ones of earth cou
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ages. Rebel kings, proud heresiarch
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Meanwhile rumors reached Luther of
Page 35 and 36: assembly of all the saints, holy Ch
Page 37 and 38: eyes. The Pope advanced with excomm
Page 39 and 40: his career by going into permanent
Page 41 and 42: in the faith of the recipient. Fait
Page 43 and 44: cannot help looking to you, O Leo,
Page 45 and 46: even before you could try any remed
Page 47 and 48: two poles of that liberty he descri
Page 49 and 50: position in the eyes of the world,
Page 51 and 52: these many piles of Eck and Aleande
Page 53 and 54: of the monk. A more peaceful exit a
Page 55 and 56: life of the Christian, that it will
Page 57 and 58: Hills, and flung it back at her fro
Page 59 and 60: man; there we see it bringing with
Page 61 and 62: Luther was honored to be the instru
Page 63 and 64: Charles was crowned on the 23rd of
Page 65 and 66: hitherto been in vain, or rather ha
Page 67 and 68: Pharisee, however, for certainly he
Page 69 and 70: It was clear that before making pro
Page 71 and 72: his master the Pope, who had excomm
Page 73 and 74: would speed all the better if Leo o
Page 75 and 76: themselves, was to bring Luther to
Page 77 and 78: Muller, "the art of dissimulating,
Page 79 and 80: actually inflicted by a new bull, f
Page 81 and 82: From the general eulogium pronounce
Page 83 and 84: and armies at his back. The spiritu
Page 85: Chapter 4 Luther Summoned to the Di
Page 89 and 90: himself to the assembly. His words
Page 91 and 92: specified abuses. The Diet did not
Page 93 and 94: patiently wait and obediently liste
Page 95 and 96: Scriptures, and required the Pope t
Page 97 and 98: Scripture, emancipated him complete
Page 99 and 100: Chapter 5 Luther's Journey and Arri
Page 101 and 102: growing more intolerable, would be
Page 103 and 104: y the magistrates, waited to bid hi
Page 105 and 106: cowl, and goes bare-foot; another d
Page 107 and 108: Maine, Luther suffered from sicknes
Page 109 and 110: It was ten o'clock in the morning o
Page 111 and 112: though doubtless a wholly undesigne
Page 113 and 114: taken possession of his lodgings wh
Page 115 and 116: Chapter 6 Luther Before the Diet at
Page 117 and 118: courtiers and their friends, to the
Page 119 and 120: Archduke Ferdinand; six electors of
Page 121 and 122: is not to be confounded with the Dr
Page 123 and 124: The Chancellor Eck advanced to the
Page 125 and 126: all the time he stood in his presen
Page 127 and 128: only by his feeling that-to use Mel
Page 129 and 130: "Lord, where stayest thou?... O my
Page 131 and 132: the Diet in deep deliberation. When
Page 133 and 134: admit-truths which are essential to
Page 135 and 136: ecclesiastical profession; but alth
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wise, to strengthen their dominion.
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Unless, therefore, I am convinced b
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assembly read the stern, indomitabl
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Chapter 7 Luther Put Under the Ban
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instantly dispersed, and the city w
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they submitted one insidious propos
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indignation. The extreme men of the
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checking the Pope, which he found h
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the startling affirmation that "thi
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they came under the walls of a cast
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have seen, to revolve its lessons,
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In Germany from the Leipsic Disputation to the Diet at Worms - James Aitken Wylie

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