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From the Diet of Worms to the Augsburg Confession - James Aitken Wylie

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withdrew.<br />

Being now alone with <strong>the</strong> men <strong>of</strong> Orlamunde,<br />

Lu<strong>the</strong>r proceeded with <strong>the</strong> business <strong>the</strong> Elec<strong>to</strong>r had<br />

sent him <strong>to</strong> transact, which was <strong>to</strong> remove <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

iconoclast prejudices, and quiet <strong>the</strong> agitation <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong>ir city. "Prove <strong>to</strong> me," said Lu<strong>the</strong>r, opening <strong>the</strong><br />

discussion, "prove <strong>to</strong> me by Scripture that images<br />

ought <strong>to</strong> be destroyed."<br />

"Mr. Doc<strong>to</strong>r," rejoined a councillor, "do you<br />

grant me thus much–that Moses knew God's<br />

commandments?" Then opening a Bible he read<br />

<strong>the</strong>se words: "Thou shalt not make <strong>to</strong> thyself any<br />

graven image, or <strong>the</strong> likeness <strong>of</strong> anything." This<br />

was as much as <strong>to</strong> say, Prove <strong>to</strong> me from Scripture<br />

that images ought <strong>to</strong> be worshipped.<br />

"That passage refers <strong>to</strong> images <strong>of</strong> idols only,"<br />

responded Lu<strong>the</strong>r. "If I have hung up in my room a<br />

crucifix which I do not worship, what harm can it<br />

do me? "<br />

This was Zwingli's ground; but Lu<strong>the</strong>r was not<br />

134

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