166 The Great Controversy Between Christ and Satan
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Two conflicting opinions were now urged by the members of the Diet. The emissaries and representatives of the pope again demanded that the Reformer ' s safe-conduct should be disregarded.“ The Rhine,” they said,“ should receive his ashes, as it had received those of John Huss a century ago.” 224 But princes of Germany, though themselves papists and avowed enemies to Luther, protested against such a breach of public faith, as a stain upon the honor of the nation. They pointed to the calamities which had followed the death of Huss, and declared that they dared not call down upon Germany, and upon the head of their youthful emperor, a repetition of those terrible evils.
Charles himself, in answer to the base proposal, said,“ Though honor and faith should be banished from all the world, they ought to find a refuge in the hearts of princes.” 225 He was still further urged by the most bitter of Luther ' s papal enemies to deal with the Reformer as Sigismund had dealt with Huss,— abandon him to the mercies of the church; but recalling the scene when Huss in public assembly had pointed to his chains and reminded the monarch of his plighted faith, Charles V. declared,“ I should not like to blush like Sigismund.” 226
Yet Charles had deliberately rejected the truths presented by Luther.“ I am firmly resolved to imitate the example of my ancestors,” 227 wrote the monarch. He had decided that he would not step out of the path of custom, even to walk in the ways of truth and righteousness. Because his fathers did, he would uphold the papacy, with all its cruelty and corruption. Thus he took his position, refusing to accept any light in advance of what his fathers had received, or to perform any duty that they had not performed.
There are many at the present day thus clinging to the cus-
224 Ibid. 225 Ibid. 226 See Lenfant,“ History of the Council of Constance.” Vol. I. p. 422.
227 Ibid.