conflicts would opposition launch them ! Who knows what opportunities the future may bring ? Let us embrace peace ; let us seize the olive branch Rome holds out , and close the wounds of Germany . With arguments like these might the Reformers have justified their adoption of a course which would have assuredly issued in no long time in the overthrow of their cause .
" Happily they looked at the principle on which this arrangement was based , and they acted in faith . What was that principle ? It was the right of Rome to coerce conscience and forbid free inquiry . But were not themselves and their Protestant subjects to enjoy religious freedom ? Yes , as a favour specially stipulated for in the arrangement , but not as a right . As to all outside that arrangement , the great principle of authority was to rule ; conscience was out of court ; Rome was infallible judge , and must be obeyed . The acceptance of the proposed arrangement would have been a virtual admission that religious liberty ought to be confined to reformed Saxony ; and as to all the rest of Christendom , free inquiry and the profession of the reformed faith were crimes , and must be visited with the dungeon and the stake . Could they consent to localize religious liberty ? to have it proclaimed that the Reformation had made its last convert ? had subjugated its last acre ? and that wherever Rome bore sway at this hour , there her dominion was to be perpetuated ? Could the Reformers have pleaded that they were innocent of the blood of those hundreds and thousands who , in pursuance of this arrangement , would have to yield up their lives in popish lands ? This would have been to betray , at that supreme hour , the cause of the gospel and the liberties of Christendom ." --Wylie , b . 9 , ch . 15 . Rather would they " sacrifice everything , even their states , their crowns , and their lives ." --D ' Aubigne , b . 13 , ch . 5 .
" Let us reject this decree ," said the princes . " In matters of conscience the majority has no power ." The deputies declared : " It is to the decree of 1526 that we are indebted for the peace that the empire enjoys : its abolition would fill Germany with troubles and divisions . The Diet is incompetent to do more than preserve religious liberty until the council meets ." -- Ibid ., b . 13 , ch . 5 . To protect liberty of conscience is the duty of the state , and this is the limit of its authority in matters of religion . Every secular government that attempts to regulate or enforce religious observances by civil authority is sacrificing the very principle for which the evangelical Christian so nobly struggled .
The papists determined to put down what they termed " daring obstinacy ." They began by endeavouring to cause divisions among the supporters of the Reformation and to intimidate all who had not openly declared in its favour . The representatives of the free cities were at last summoned before the Diet and required to declare whether they would accede to the terms of the proposition . They pleaded for delay , but in vain . When brought to the test , nearly one half their number sided with the Reformers . Those who thus refused to sacrifice liberty of conscience and the right of individual judgment well knew that their position marked them for future criticism , condemnation , and persecution . Said one of the delegates : " We must either deny the word of God , or --be burnt ." - - Ibid ., b . 13 , ch . 5 .
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