The European Union in Prophecy The EU in Prophecy I | Page 95

The European Union in Prophecy
lives, they must perish in their sins. In great perplexity they repaired to Tetzel with
the complaint that their confessor had refused his certificates; and some boldly
demanded that their money be returned to them. The friar was filled with rage. He
uttered the most terrible curses, caused fires to be lighted in the public squares, and
declared that he "had received an order from the pope to burn all heretics who
presumed to oppose his most holy indulgences."-D'Aubigne, b. 3, ch. 4.
Luther now entered boldly upon his work as a champion of the truth. His voice
was heard from the pulpit in earnest, solemn warning. He set before the people the
offensive character of sin, and taught them that it is impossible for man, by his own
works, to lessen its guilt or evade its punishment. Nothing but repentance toward God
and faith in Christ can save the sinner. The grace of Christ cannot be purchased; it is
a free gift. He counseled the people not to buy indulgences, but to look in faith to a
crucified Redeemer. He related his own painful experience in vainly seeking by
humiliation and penance to secure salvation, and assured his hearers that it was by
looking away from himself and believing in Christ that he found peace and joy.
As Tetzel continued his traffic and his impious pretensions, Luther determined
upon a more effectual protest against these crying abuses. An occasion soon offered.
The castle church of Wittenberg possessed many relics, which on certain holy days
were exhibited to the people, and full remission of sins was granted to all who then
visited the church and made confession. Accordingly on these days the people in great
numbers resorted thither. One of the most important of these occasions, the festival
of All Saints, was approaching. On the preceding day, Luther, joining the crowds that
were already making their way to the church, posted on its door a paper containing
ninety-five propositions against the doctrine of indulgences. He declared his
willingness to defend these theses next day at the university, against all who should
see fit to attack them.
His propositions attracted universal attention. They were read and reread, and
repeated in every direction. Great excitement was created in the university and in the
whole city. By these theses it was shown that the power to grant the pardon of sin,
and to remit its penalty, had never been committed to the pope or to any other man.
The whole scheme was a farce,--an artifice to extort money by playing upon the
superstitions of the people,--a device of Satan to destroy the souls of all who should
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