this time Luther was still a supporter of the Roman Church , and had no thought that he would ever separate from her communion . The Reformer ' s writings and his doctrine were extending to every nation in Christendom . The work spread to Switzerland and Holland . Copies of his writings found their way to France and Spain . In England his teachings were received as the word of life . To Belgium and Italy also the truth had extended . Thousands were awakening from their deathlike stupor to the joy and hope of a life of faith .
Rome became more and more exasperated by the attacks of Luther , and it was declared by some of his fanatical opponents , even by doctors in Catholic universities , that he who should kill the rebellious monk would be without sin . One day a stranger , with a pistol hidden under his cloak , approached the Reformer and inquired why he went thus alone . " I am in God ' s hands ," answered Luther . " He is my strength and my shield . What can man do unto me ?" -- Ibid ., b . 6 , ch . 2 . Upon hearing these words , the stranger turned pale and fled away as from the presence of the angels of heaven . Rome was bent upon the destruction of Luther ; but God was his defense . His doctrines were heard everywhere-- " in cottages and convents , . . . in the castles of the nobles , in the universities , and in the palaces of kings ;" and noble men were rising on every hand to sustain his efforts . -- Ibid ., b . 6 , ch . 2 .
It was about this time that Luther , reading the works of Huss , found that the great truth of justification by faith , which he himself was seeking to uphold and teach , had been held by the Bohemian Reformer . " We have all ," said Luther , " Paul , Augustine , and myself , been Hussites without knowing it !" " God will surely visit it upon the world ," he continued , " that the truth was preached to it a century ago , and burned !" --Wylie , b . 6 . ch . 1 In an appeal to the emperor and nobility of Germany in behalf of the reformation of Christianity , Luther wrote concerning the pope : " It is a horrible thing to behold the man who styles himself Christ ' s vicegerent , displaying a magnificence that no emperor can equal . Is this being like the poor Jesus , or the humble Peter ? He is , say they , the lord of the world ! But Christ , whose vicar he boasts of being , has said , ' My kingdom is not of this world .' Can the dominions of a vicar extend beyond those of his superior ?" -- D ' Aubigne , b . 6 , ch . 3 .
He wrote thus of the universities : " I am much afraid that the universities will prove to be the great gates of hell , unless they diligently labour in explaining the Holy Scriptures , and engraving them in the hearts of youth . I advise no one to place his child where the Scriptures do not reign paramount . Every institution in which men are not unceasingly occupied with the word of God must become corrupt ." -- Ibid ., b . 6 , ch . 3 . This appeal was rapidly circulated throughout Germany and exerted a powerful influence upon the people . The whole nation was stirred , and multitudes were roused to rally around the standard of reform . Luther ' s opponents , burning with a desire for revenge , urged the pope to take decisive measures against him . It was decreed that his doctrines should be
81