The European Union in Prophecy The EU in Prophecy I | Page 116

The European Union in Prophecy
tribunal which, by this very act, set itself above the pope. The pope had laid him under
an interdict, and cut him off from all human society; and yet he was summoned in
respectful language, and received before the most august assembly in the world. The
pope had condemned him to perpetual silence, and he was now about to speak before
thousands of attentive hearers drawn together from the farthest parts of Christendom.
An immense revolution had thus been effected by Luther's instrumentality. Rome was
already descending from her throne, and it was the voice of a monk that caused this
humiliation."-- Ibid., b. 7, ch. 8.
In the presence of that powerful and titled assembly the lowly born Reformer
seemed awed and embarrassed. Several of the princes, observing his emotion,
approached him, and one of them whispered: "Fear not them which kill the body, but
are not able to kill the soul." Another said: "When ye shall be brought before governors
and kings for My sake, it shall be given you, by the Spirit of your Father, what ye
shall say." Thus the words of Christ were brought by the world's great men to
strengthen His servant in the hour of trial. Luther was conducted to a position
directly in front of the emperor's throne. A deep silence fell upon the crowded assembly.
Then an imperial officer arose and, pointing to a collection of Luther's writings,
demanded that the Reformer answer two questions--whether he acknowledged them
as his, and whether he proposed to retract the opinions which he had therein
advanced. The titles of the books having been read, Luther replied that as to the first
question, he acknowledged the books to be his. "As to the second," he said, "seeing
that it is a question which concerns faith and the salvation of souls, and in which the
word of God, the greatest and most precious treasure either in heaven or earth, is
involved, I should act imprudently were I to reply without reflection. I might affirm
less than the circumstance demands, or more than truth requires, and so sin against
this saying of Christ: 'Whosoever shall deny Me before men, him will I also deny before
My Father which is in heaven.' [Matthew 10:33.] For this reason I entreat your
imperial majesty, with all humility, to allow me time, that I may answer without
offending against the word of God."-- D'Aubigne, b. 7, ch. 8.
In making this request, Luther moved wisely. His course convinced the assembly
that he did not act from passion or impulse. Such calmness and self-command,
unexpected in one who had shown himself bold and uncompromising, added to his
power, and enabled him afterward to answer with a prudence, decision, wisdom, and
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