meanest Christian , should examine and judge my works ; but on one condition , that they take the word of God for their standard . Men have nothing to do but to obey it . Do not offer violence to my conscience , which is bound and chained up with the Holy Scriptures ." -- Ibid ., b . 7 , ch . 10 . To another appeal he said : " I consent to renounce my safe-conduct . I place my person and my life in the emperor ' s hands , but the word of God--never !" -- Ibid ., b . 7 , ch . 10 . He stated his willingness to submit to the decision of a general council , but only on condition that the council be required to decide according to the Scriptures . " In what concerns the word of God and the faith ," he added , " every Christian is as good a judge as the pope , though supported by a million councils , can be for him ." --Martyn , vol . 1 , p . 410 .
Both friends and foes were at last convinced that further effort for reconciliation would be useless . Had the Reformer yielded a single point , Satan and his hosts would have gained the victory . But his unwavering firmness was the means of emancipating the church , and beginning a new and better era . The influence of this one man , who dared to think and act for himself in religious matters , was to affect the church and the world , not only in his own time , but in all future generations . His firmness and fidelity would strengthen all , to the close of time , who should pass through a similar experience . The power and majesty of God stood forth above the counsel of men , above the mighty power of Satan .
Luther was soon commanded by the authority of the emperor to return home , and he knew that this notice would be speedily followed by his condemnation . Threatening clouds overhung his path ; but as he departed from Worms , his heart was filled with joy and praise . " The devil himself ," said he , " guarded the pope ' s citadel ; but Christ has made a wide breach in it , and Satan was constrained to confess that the Lord is mightier than he ." --D ' Aubigne , b . 7 , ch . 11 . After his departure , still desirous that his firmness should not be mistaken for rebellion , Luther wrote to the emperor . " God , who is the searcher of hearts , is my witness ," he said , " that I am ready most earnestly to obey your majesty , in honour or in dishonour , in life or in death , and with no exception save the word of God , by which man lives . In all the affairs of this present life , my fidelity shall be unshaken , for here to lose or to gain is of no consequence to salvation . But when eternal interests are concerned , God wills not that man should submit unto man . For such submission in spiritual matters is a real worship , and ought to be rendered solely to the Creator ." -- Ibid ., b . 7 , ch . 11 .
On the journey from Worms , Luther ' s reception was even more flattering than during his progress thither . Princely ecclesiastics welcomed the excommunicated monk , and civil rulers honoured the man whom the emperor had denounced . He was urged to preach , and , notwithstanding the imperial prohibition , he again entered the pulpit . " I never pledged myself to chain up the word of God ," he said , " nor will I ." --Martyn , vol . 1 , p . 420 . He had not been long absent from Worms , when the papists prevailed upon the emperor to issue an edict against him . In this decree Luther was denounced as " Satan himself under the form of a man and dressed in a monk ' s frock ." -- D ' Aubigne ,
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