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

purpose, at no time had Luther been so defenseless
as now. His protector, the Elector Frederick, whose
circumspection approached timidity, but whose
purpose was ever resolute and steady, was now
dead. The three princes who stood up in his room–
the Elector John, Philip, Landgrave of Hesse, and
Albert of Prussia–were new to the cause; they
lacked the influence which Frederick possessed;
they were discouraged, almost dismayed, by the
thickening dangers–Germany divided, the Ratisbon
League rampant, and the author of the Edict of
Worms placed by the unlooked-for victory of Pavia
at the head of Europe.
The only man who did not tremble was Luther.
Not that he did not see the formidable extent of the
danger, but because he was able to realize a
Defender whom others could not see. He knew that
if the Gospel had been stripped of all earthly
defense it was not because it was about to perish,
but because a Divine hand was about to be
stretched out in its behalf, so visibly as to give
proof to the world that it had a Protector, though
"unseen," more powerful than all its enemies.
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