As the news was circulated at Worms that Luther was to appear before the Diet, a general excitement was created. Aleander, the papal legate to whom the case had been specially entrusted, was alarmed and enraged. He saw that the result would be disastrous to the papal cause. To institute inquiry into a case in which the pope had already pronounced sentence of condemnation would be to cast contempt upon the authority of the sovereign pontiff. Furthermore, he was apprehensive that the eloquent and powerful arguments of this man might turn away many of the princes from the cause of the pope. He therefore, in the most urgent manner, remonstrated with Charles against Luther ' s appearance at Worms. About this time the bull declaring Luther ' s excommunication was published; and this, coupled with the representations of the legate, induced the emperor to yield. He wrote to the elector that if Luther would not retract, he must remain at Wittenberg.
Not content with this victory, Aleander labored with all the power and cunning at his command to secure Luther ' s condemnation. With a persistence worthy of a better cause, he urged the matter upon the attention of princes, prelates, and other members of the assembly, accusing the Reformer of " sedition, rebellion, impiety, and blasphemy." But the vehemence and passion manifested by the legate revealed too plainly the spirit by which he was actuated. " He is moved by hatred and vengeance," was the general remark, " much more than by zeal and piety."-- Ibid., b. 7, ch. 1. The majority of the Diet were more than ever inclined to regard Luther ' s cause with favor.
With redoubled zeal Aleander urged upon the emperor the duty of executing the papal edicts. But under the laws of Germany this could not be done without the concurrence of the princes; and, overcome at last by the legate ' s importunity, Charles bade him present his case to the Diet. " It was a proud day for the nuncio. The assembly was a great one: the cause was even greater. Aleander was to plead for Rome,... the mother and mistress of all churches." He was to vindicate the princedom of Peter before the assembled principalities of Christendom. " He had the gift of eloquence, and he rose to the greatness of the occasion. Providence ordered it that Rome should appear and plead by the ablest of her orators in the presence of the most august of tribunals, before she was condemned."--Wylie, b. 6, ch. 4. With some misgivings those who favored the Reformer looked forward to the effect of Aleander ' s speech. The elector of Saxony was not present, but by his direction some of his councilors attended to take notes of the nuncio ' s address.
With all the power of learning and eloquence, Aleander set himself to overthrow the truth. Charge after charge he hurled against Luther as an enemy of the church and the state, the living and the dead, clergy and laity, councils and private Christians. " In Luther ' s errors
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