these theses next day at the university , against all who should see fit to attack them . His propositions attracted universal attention . They were read and reread , and repeated in every direction . Great excitement was created in the university and in the whole city . By these theses it was shown that the power to grant the pardon of sin , and to remit its penalty , had never been committed to the pope or to any other man . The whole scheme was a farce , --an artifice to extort money by playing upon the superstitions of the people , --a device of Satan to destroy the souls of all who should trust to its lying pretensions . It was also clearly shown that the gospel of Christ is the most valuable treasure of the church , and that the grace of God , therein revealed , is freely bestowed upon all who seek it by repentance and faith .
Luther ' s theses challenged discussion ; but no one dared accept the challenge . The questions which he proposed had in a few days spread through all Germany , and in a few weeks they had sounded throughout Christendom . Many devoted Romanists , who had seen and lamented the terrible iniquity prevailing in the church , but had not known how to arrest its progress , read the propositions with great joy , recognizing in them the voice of God . They felt that the Lord had graciously set His hand to arrest the rapidly swelling tide of corruption that was issuing from the see of Rome . Princes and magistrates secretly rejoiced that a check was to be put upon the arrogant power which denied the right of appeal from its decisions .
But the sin-loving and superstitious multitudes were terrified as the sophistries that had soothed their fears were swept away . Crafty ecclesiastics , interrupted in their work of sanctioning crime , and seeing their gains endangered , were enraged , and rallied to uphold their pretensions . The Reformer had bitter accusers to meet . Some charged him with acting hastily and from impulse . Others accused him of presumption , declaring that he was not directed of God , but was acting from pride and forwardness . " Who does not know ," he responded , " that a man rarely puts forth any new idea without having some appearance of pride , and without being accused of exciting quarrels ? . . . Why were Christ and all the martyrs put to death ? Because they seemed to be proud contemners of the wisdom of the time , and because they advanced novelties without having first humbly taken counsel of the oracles of the ancient opinions ." Again he declared : " Whatever I do will be done , not by the prudence of men , but by the counsel of God . If the work be of God , who shall stop it ? if it be not , who can forward it ? Not my will , nor theirs , nor ours ; but Thy will , O holy Father , which art in heaven ." -- Ibid ., b . 3 , ch . 6 .
Though Luther had been moved by the Spirit of God to begin his work , he was not to carry it forward without severe conflicts . The reproaches of his enemies , their misrepresentation of his purposes , and their unjust and malicious reflections upon his character and motives , came in upon him like an overwhelming flood ; and they were not without effect . He had felt confident that the leaders of the people , both in the church and in the schools , would gladly unite with him in efforts for reform . Words of encouragement from those in high position had inspired him with joy and hope .
75