sacrifice by which he might attain to that purity of heart which would enable him to stand approved before God . " I was indeed a pious monk ," he afterward said , " and followed the rules of my order more strictly than I can express . If ever monk could obtain heaven by his monkish works , I should certainly have been entitled to it . . . . If it had continued much longer , I should have carried my mortifications even to death ." -- Ibid ., b . 2 , ch . 3 . As the result of this painful discipline he lost strength and suffered from fainting spasms , from the effects of which he never fully recovered . But with all his efforts his burdened soul found no relief . He was at last driven to the verge of despair .
When it appeared to Luther that all was lost , God raised up a friend and helper for him . The pious Staupitz opened the word of God to Luther ' s mind and bade him look away from himself , cease the contemplation of infinite punishment for the violation of God ' s law , and look to Jesus , his sin-pardoning Saviour . " Instead of torturing yourself on account of your sins , throw yourself into the Redeemer ' s arms . Trust in Him , in the righteousness of His life , in the atonement of His death . . . . Listen to the Son of God . He became man to give you the assurance of divine favour ." " Love Him who first loved you ." -- Ibid ., b . 2 , ch . 4 . Thus spoke this messenger of mercy . His words made a deep impression upon Luther ' s mind . After many a struggle with long-cherished errors , he was enabled to grasp the truth , and peace came to his troubled soul .
Luther was ordained a priest and was called from the cloister to a professorship in the University of Wittenberg . Here he applied himself to the study of the Scriptures in the original tongues . He began to lecture upon the Bible ; and the book of Psalms , the Gospels , and the Epistles were opened to the understanding of crowds of delighted listeners . Staupitz , his friend and superior , urged him to ascend the pulpit and preach the word of God . Luther hesitated , feeling himself unworthy to speak to the people in Christ ' s stead . It was only after a long struggle that he yielded to the solicitations of his friends . Already he was mighty in the Scriptures , and the grace of God rested upon him . His eloquence captivated his hearers , the clearness and power with which he presented the truth convinced their understanding , and his fervour touched their hearts .
Luther was still a true son of the papal church and had no thought that he would ever be anything else . In the providence of God he was led to visit Rome . He pursued his journey on foot , lodging at the monasteries on the way . At a convent in Italy he was filled with wonder at the wealth , magnificence , and luxury that he witnessed . Endowed with a princely revenue , the monks dwelt in splendid apartments , attired themselves in the richest and most costly robes , and feasted at a sumptuous table . With painful misgivings Luther contrasted this scene with the self-denial and hardship of his own life . His mind was becoming perplexed . At last he beheld in the distance the seven-hilled city . With deep emotion he prostrated himself upon the earth , exclaiming : " Holy Rome , I salute thee !" -- Ibid ., b . 2 , ch . 6 . He entered the city , visited the churches , listened to the marvellous tales repeated by priests and monks , and performed all the ceremonies required .
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