preserve Luther from the wrath of his enemies , nor even to afford him a season of quiet for these important labours , that God had withdrawn His servant from the stage of public life . There were results more precious than these to be secured . In the solitude and obscurity of his mountain retreat , Luther was removed from earthly supports and shut out from human praise .
He was thus saved from the pride and self-confidence that are so often caused by success . By suffering and humiliation he was prepared again to walk safely upon the dizzy heights to which he had been so suddenly exalted . As men rejoice in the freedom which the truth brings them , they are inclined to extol those whom God has employed to break the chains of error and superstition . Satan seeks to divert men ' s thoughts and affections from God , and to fix them upon human agencies ; he leads them to honour the mere instrument and to ignore the Hand that directs all the events of providence . Too often religious leaders who are thus praised and reverenced lose sight of their dependence upon God and are led to trust in themselves . As a result they seek to control the minds and consciences of the people , who are disposed to look to them for guidance instead of looking to the word of God . The work of reform is often retarded because of this spirit indulged by its supporters . From this danger , God would guard the cause of the Reformation . He desired that work to receive , not the impress of man , but that of God . The eyes of men had been turned to Luther as the expounder of the truth ; he was removed that all eyes might be directed to the eternal Author of truth .
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