opposed to the Scriptures being made the guide of life as in the sixteenth century . In our time there is a wide departure from their doctrines and precepts , and there is need of a return to the great Protestant principle--the Bible , and the Bible only , as the rule of faith and duty . Satan is still working through every means which he can control to destroy religious liberty . The antichristian power which the protesters of Spires rejected is now with renewed vigour seeking to re-establish its lost supremacy . The same unswerving adherence to the word of God manifested at that crisis of the Reformation is the only hope of reform today .
There appeared tokens of danger to the Protestants ; there were tokens , also , that the divine hand was stretched out to protect the faithful . It was about this time that " Melanchthon hastily conducted through the streets of Spires toward the Rhine his friend Simon Grynaeus , pressing him to cross the river . The latter was astonished at such precipitation . ' An old man of grave and solemn air , but who is unknown to me ,' said Melanchthon , ' appeared before me and said , In a minute officers of justice will be sent by Ferdinand to arrest Grynaeus .'" During the day , Grynaeus had been scandalized at a sermon by Faber , a leading papal doctor ; and at the close , remonstrated with him for defending " certain detestable errors ." " Faber dissembled his anger , but immediately after repaired to the king , from whom he had obtained an order against the importunate professor of Heidelberg . Melanchthon doubted not that God had saved his friend by sending one of His holy angels to forewarn him .
" Motionless on the banks of the Rhine , he waited until the waters of that stream had rescued Grynaeus from his persecutors . ' At last ,' cried Melanchthon , as he saw him on the opposite side , ' at last he is torn from the cruel jaws of those who thirst for innocent blood .' When he returned to his house , Melanchthon was informed that officers in search of Grynaeus had ransacked it from top to bottom ." -- Ibid ., b . 13 , ch . 6 . The Reformation was to be brought into greater prominence before the mighty ones of the earth . The evangelical princes had been denied a hearing by King Ferdinand ; but they were to be granted an opportunity to present their cause in the presence of the emperor and the assembled dignitaries of church and state . To quiet the dissensions which disturbed the empire , Charles V , in the year following the Protest of Spires , convoked a diet at Augsburg , over which he announced his intention to preside in person . Thither the Protestant leaders were summoned .
Great dangers threatened the Reformation ; but its advocates still trusted their cause with God , and pledged themselves to be firm to the gospel . The elector of Saxony was urged by his councillors not to appear at the Diet . The emperor , they said , required the attendance of the princes in order to draw them into a snare . " Is it not risking everything to go and shut oneself up within the walls of a city with a powerful enemy ?" But others nobly declared , " Let the princes only comport themselves with courage , and God ' s cause is saved ." " God is faithful ; He will not abandon us ," said Luther . -- Ibid ., b . 14 , ch . 2 . The elector set out , with his retinue , for Augsburg . All were acquainted with the dangers that menaced him , and many went forward with gloomy countenance and troubled heart . But Luther , who accompanied them as far as Coburg , revived their sinking faith by singing the
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