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

came to speak of the "new religion" which the
Germans had invented. "Why," exclaimed he, "the
Senate and people of Rome, though Gentries and
the worshippers of false gods, never failed to
avenge the insults offered to their rites by fire and
sword; but ye, O Germans, who are Christians, and
the worshippers of the true and omnipotent God,
contemn the rites of holy mother Church by
leaving unpunished the great audacity and unheardof
wickedness of enemies. Why do ye rend in
pieces the seamless garment of the Savior? why do
you abandon the doctrine of Christ, established
with the consent of the Fathers, and confirmed by
the Holy Ghost, for a devilish belief, which leads to
every buffoonery and obscenity?" But the sting of
this address was in its tail. "Sharpen thy sword, O
magnanimous prince," said he, turning to the
emperor, "and smite these opposers. Peace there
never will be in Germany till this heresy shall have
been utterly extirpated." Rising higher still he
invoked the Apostles Peter and Paul to lend their
powerful aid at this great crisis of the Church.
The zeal of the Papal nuncio, as was to be
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