The European Union in Prophecy The EU in Prophecy I | Page 101

The European Union in Prophecy
if not on the conscience, of an arrogant and babbling despot, who would otherwise
overpower by his imperious language."--Martyn, The Life and Times of Luther, pages
271, 272. At the next interview, Luther presented a clear, concise, and forcible
exposition of his views, fully supported by many quotations from Scripture. This paper,
after reading aloud, he handed to the cardinal, who, however, cast it contemptuously
aside, declaring it to be a mass of idle words and irrelevant quotations.
Luther, fully aroused, now met the haughty prelate on his own ground--the
traditions and teachings of the church--and utterly overthrew his assumptions. When
the prelate saw that Luther's reasoning was unanswerable, he lost all self-control,
and in a rage cried out: "Retract! or I will send you to Rome, there to appear before
the judges commissioned to take cognizance of your cause. I will excommunicate you
and all your partisans, and all who shall at any time countenance you, and will cast
them out of the church." And he finally declared, in a haughty and angry tone:
"Retract, or return no more."--D'Aubigne, London ed., b. 4, ch. 8. The Reformer
promptly withdrew with his friends, thus declaring plainly that no retraction was to
be expected from him. This was not what the cardinal had purposed. He had flattered
himself that by violence he could awe Luther to submission. Now, left alone with his
supporters, he looked from one to another in utter chagrin at the unexpected failure
of his schemes.
Luther's efforts on this occasion were not without good results. The large
assembly present had opportunity to compare the two men, and to judge for
themselves of the spirit manifested by them, as well as of the strength and
truthfulness of their positions. How marked the contrast! The Reformer, simple,
humble, firm, stood up in the strength of God, having truth on his side; the pope's
representative, self-important, overbearing, haughty, and unreasonable, was without
a single argument from the Scriptures, yet vehemently crying: "Retract, or be sent to
Rome for punishment." Notwithstanding Luther had secured a safe-conduct, the
Romanists were plotting to seize and imprison him. His friends urged that as it was
useless for him to prolong his stay, he should return to Wittenberg without delay, and
that the utmost caution should be observed in order to conceal his intentions. He
accordingly left Augsburg before day-break, on horseback, accompanied only by a
guide furnished him by the magistrate.
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