With such weapons the advocates of truth in every age have been attacked . The same arguments are still urged against all who dare to present , in opposition to established errors , the plain and direct teachings of God ' s word . " Who are these preachers of new doctrines ?" exclaim those who desire a popular religion . " They are unlearned , few in numbers , and of the poorer class . Yet they claim to have the truth , and to be the chosen people of God . They are ignorant and deceived . How greatly superior in numbers and influence is our church ! How many great and learned men are among us ! How much more power is on our side !" These are the arguments that have a telling influence upon the world ; but they are no more conclusive now than in the days of the Reformer .
The Reformation did not , as many suppose , end with Luther . It is to be continued to the close of this world ' s history . Luther had a great work to do in reflecting to others the light which God had permitted to shine upon him ; yet he did not receive all the light which was to be given to the world . From that time to this , new light has been continually shining upon the Scriptures , and new truths have been constantly unfolding . The legate ' s address made a deep impression upon the Diet . There was no Luther present , with the clear and convincing truths of God ' s word , to vanquish the papal champion . No attempt was made to defend the Reformer . There was manifest a general disposition not only to condemn him and the doctrines which he taught , but if possible to uproot the heresy . Rome had enjoyed the most favourable opportunity to defend her cause . All that she could say in her own vindication had been said . But the apparent victory was the signal of defeat . Henceforth the contrast between truth and error would be more clearly seen , as they should take the field in open warfare . Never from that day would Rome stand as secure as she had stood .
While most of the members of the Diet would not have hesitated to yield up Luther to the vengeance of Rome , many of them saw and deplored the existing depravity in the church , and desired a suppression of the abuses suffered by the German people in consequence of the corruption and greed of the hierarchy . The legate had presented the papal rule in the most favourable light . Now the Lord moved upon a member of the Diet to give a true delineation of the effects of papal tyranny . With noble firmness , Duke George of Saxony stood up in that princely assembly and specified with terrible exactness the deceptions and abominations of popery , and their dire results . In closing he said : " These are some of the abuses that cry out against Rome . All shame has been put aside , and their only object is . . . money , money , money , … so that the preachers who should teach the truth , utter nothing but falsehoods , and are not only tolerated , but rewarded , because the greater their lies , the greater their gain . It is from this foul spring that such tainted waters flow . Debauchery stretches out the hand to avarice …. Alas , it is the scandal caused by the clergy that hurls so many poor souls into eternal condemnation . A general reform must be effected ." -- Ibid ., b . 7 , ch . 4 .
A more able and forcible denunciation of the papal abuses could not have been presented by Luther himself ; and the fact that the speaker was a determined enemy of the Reformer ' s gave greater
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