The Great Controversy The Great Controversy | Page 125

account of your sins, throw yourself into the Redeemer’s arms. Trust in
Him, in the righteousness of His life, in the atonement of His death....
Listen to the Son of God. He became man to give you the assurance of
divine favor.” “Love Him who first loved you.”—Ibid., b. 2, ch. 4. Thus
spoke this messenger of mercy. His words made a deep impression upon
Luther’s mind. After many a struggle with long-cherished errors, he was
enabled to grasp the truth, and peace came to his troubled soul.
Luther was ordained a priest and was called from the cloister to a
professorship in the University of Wittenberg. Here he applied himself
to the study of the Scriptures in the original tongues. He began to lecture
upon the Bible; and the book of Psalm, the Gospels, and the Epistles
were opened to the understanding of crowds of delighted listeners.
Staupitz, his friend and superior, urged him to ascend the pulpit and
preach the word of God. Luther hesitated, feeling himself unworthy to
speak to the people in Christ’s stead. It was only after a long struggle
that he yielded to the solicitations of his friends. Already he was mighty
in the Scriptures, and the grace of God rested upon him. His eloquence
captivated his hearers, the clearness and power with which he presented
the truth convinced their understanding, and his fervor touched their
hearts.
Luther was still a true son of the papal church and had no thought that
he would ever be anything else. In the providence of God he was led to
visit Rome. He pursued his journey on foot, lodging at the monasteries
on the way. At a convent in Italy he was filled with wonder at the wealth,
magnificence, and luxury that he witnessed. Endowed with a princely
revenue, the monks dwelt in splendid apartments, attired themselves in
the richest and most costly robes, and feasted at a sumptuous table. With
painful misgivings Luther contrasted this scene with the self-denial and
hardship of his own life. His mind was becoming perplexed.
At last he beheld in the distance the seven-hilled city.

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