The Great Controversy The Great Controversy | Page 130

repent and reform their 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

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