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

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prepared for battle. The leader <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> peasant army,<br />

Munzer, addressed <strong>the</strong>m in an enthusiastic and<br />

inflamma<strong>to</strong>ry harangue, bidding <strong>the</strong>m not fear <strong>the</strong><br />

army <strong>of</strong> tyrants <strong>the</strong>y were about <strong>to</strong> engage; that <strong>the</strong><br />

sword <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Lord and <strong>of</strong> Gideon would fight for<br />

<strong>the</strong>m; and that <strong>the</strong>y would this day experience a<br />

like miraculous deliverance as <strong>the</strong> Israelites at <strong>the</strong><br />

Red Sea, as David when he encountered Goliath,<br />

and Jonathan when he attacked <strong>the</strong> garrison <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Philistines. "Be not afraid," said he, "<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir great<br />

guns, for in my coat will I catch all <strong>the</strong> bullets<br />

which <strong>the</strong>y shall shoot at you. See ye not how<br />

gracious God is un<strong>to</strong> us? Lift up your eyes, and see<br />

that rainbow in <strong>the</strong> clouds; for, seeing we have <strong>the</strong><br />

same painted on our banner, God plainly declares<br />

by that representation which he shows us from on<br />

high that he will stand by us in <strong>the</strong> battle, and that<br />

he will utterly destroy our enemies. Fall on <strong>the</strong>m<br />

courageously."<br />

Despite this assurance <strong>of</strong> vic<strong>to</strong>ry, <strong>the</strong> rebel host,<br />

at <strong>the</strong> first onset, fled in <strong>the</strong> utmost confusion.<br />

Munzer was among <strong>the</strong> first <strong>to</strong> make his escape. He<br />

<strong>to</strong>ok refuge in a house near <strong>the</strong> gate, where he was<br />

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