07.03.2019 Views

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

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

Prince <strong>of</strong> Darkness had brought all hell behind him.<br />

He wrote texts <strong>of</strong> Scripture upon <strong>the</strong> walls <strong>of</strong> his<br />

apartment, upon his door, upon his bed–"I will lay<br />

me down in peace and sleep; for thou, O Lord, only<br />

makest me <strong>to</strong> dwell in safety." Within this<br />

"fortress" he felt he could defy <strong>the</strong> Prince <strong>of</strong> Spain<br />

and <strong>the</strong> Prince <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Power <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Air.<br />

Three hours <strong>of</strong> every day did Lu<strong>the</strong>r devote <strong>to</strong><br />

prayer; <strong>to</strong> this he added <strong>the</strong> assiduous perusal <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Scriptures. These were <strong>the</strong> fountains at which he<br />

refreshed his soul, and whence he recruited his<br />

strength, Nay, more, <strong>the</strong> intercessions that<br />

ascended from <strong>the</strong> Coburg came back, we cannot<br />

doubt, upon his friends in <strong>Augsburg</strong> in needed<br />

supplies <strong>of</strong> wisdom and courage, and thus were<br />

<strong>the</strong>y able <strong>to</strong> maintain <strong>the</strong> battle in <strong>the</strong> presence <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong>ir numerous and powerful adversaries. For days<br />

<strong>to</strong>ge<strong>the</strong>r Lu<strong>the</strong>r would be left without intelligence<br />

from <strong>the</strong> <strong>Diet</strong>. Post after post arrived from<br />

Augburg. "Do you bring me letters? " he would<br />

eagerly inquire. "No," was <strong>the</strong> answer, with a<br />

uniformity that severely tried his patience, and also<br />

his temper. At times he became a prey <strong>to</strong> fear–not<br />

421

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!