Said Christ of the unbelieving Jews : " If I had not come and spoken unto them , they had not had sin : but now they have no cloak for their sin ." John 15:22 . The same divine power had spoken through Luther to the emperor and princes of Germany . And as the light shone forth from God ' s word , His Spirit pleaded for the last time with many in that assembly . As Pilate , centuries before , permitted pride and popularity to close his heart against the world ' s Redeemer ; as the trembling Felix bade the messenger of truth , " Go thy way for this time ; when I have a convenient season , I will call for thee ;" as the proud Agrippa confessed , " Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian " ( Acts 24:25 ; 26:28 ), yet turned away from the Heaven-sent message--so had Charles V , yielding to the dictates of worldly pride and policy , decided to reject the light of truth .
Rumours of the designs against Luther were widely circulated , causing great excitement throughout the city . The Reformer had made many friends , who , knowing the treacherous cruelty of Rome toward all who dared expose her corruptions , resolved that he should not be sacrificed . Hundreds of nobles pledged themselves to protect him . Not a few openly denounced the royal message of evincing a weak submission to the controlling power of Rome . On the gates of houses and in public places , placards were posted , some condemning and others sustaining Luther . On one of these were written merely the significant words of the wise man : " Woe to thee , O land , when thy king is a child ." Ecclesiastes 10:16 . The popular enthusiasm in Luther ' s favour throughout all Germany convinced both the emperor and the Diet that any injustice shown him would endanger the peace of the empire and even the stability of the throne .
Frederick of Saxony maintained a studied reserve , carefully concealing his real feelings toward the Reformer , while at the same time he guarded him with tireless vigilance , watching all his movements and all those of his enemies . But there were many who made no attempt to conceal their sympathy with Luther . He was visited by princes , counts , barons , and other persons of distinction , both lay and ecclesiastical . " The doctor ' s little room ," wrote Spalatin , " could not contain all the visitors who presented themselves ." -- Martyn , vol . 1 , p . 404 . The people gazed upon him as if he were more than human . Even those who had no faith in his doctrines could not but admire that lofty integrity which led him to brave death rather than violate his conscience . Earnest efforts were made to obtain Luther ' s consent to a compromise with Rome . Nobles and princes represented to him that if he persisted in setting up his own judgment against that of the church and the councils he would soon be banished from the empire and would have no defense . To this appeal Luther answered : " The gospel of Christ cannot be preached without offense . . . . Why then should the fear or apprehension of danger separate me from the Lord , and from that divine word which alone is truth ? No ; I would rather give up my body , my blood , and my life ." -- D ' Aubigne , b . 7 , ch . 10 .
Again he was urged to submit to the judgment of the emperor , and then he would have nothing to fear . " I consent ," said he in reply , " with all my heart , that the emperor , the princes , and even the
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