The European Union in Prophecy The EU in Prophecy I | Page 111

The European Union in Prophecy
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 favorable 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 favorable 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 influence to his words. Had the eyes of the assembly
been opened, they would have beheld angels of God in the midst of them, shedding
beams of light athwart the darkness of error and opening minds and hearts to the
reception of truth. It was the power of the God of truth and wisdom that controlled
even the adversaries of the reformation, and thus prepared the way for the great work
about to be accomplished. Martin Luther was not present; but the voice of One greater
than Luther had been heard in that assembly.
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