The Great Controversy The Great Controversy | Page 151

A more able and forcible denunciation of the papal abuses could not
have been presented by Luther himself; and the fact that the speaker
was a determined enemy of the Reformer’s gave greater influence to his
words.
Had the eyes of the assembly been opened, they would have beheld
angels of God in the midst of them, shedding beams of light athwart the
darkness of error and opening minds and hearts to the reception of truth.
It was the power of the God of truth and wisdom that controlled even the
adversaries of the reformation, and thus prepared the way for the great
work about to be accomplished. Martin Luther was not present; but the
voice of One greater than Luther had been heard in that assembly.
A committee was at once appointed by the Diet to prepare an
enumeration of the p apal oppressions that weighed so heavily on the
German people. This list, containing a hundred and one specifications,
was presented to the emperor, with a request that he would take
immediate measures for the correction of these abuses. “What a
loss of Christian souls,” said the petitioners, “what depredations, what
extortions, on account of the scandals by which the spiritual head of
Christendom is surrounded! It is our duty to prevent the ruin and
dishonor of our people. For this reason we most humbly but most
urgently entreat you to order a general reformation, and to undertake
its accomplishment.”—Ibid., b. 7, ch. 4.
The council now demanded the Reformer’s appearance before them.
Notwithstanding the entreaties, protests, and threats of Aleander, the
emperor at last consented, and Luther was summoned to appear before
the Diet. With the summons was issued a safe-conduct, ensuring his
return to a place of security. These were borne to Wittenberg by a herald,
who was commissioned to conduct him to Worms.
The friends of Luther were terrified and distressed. Knowing the
prejudice and enmity against him, they feared that even his safe-conduct
would not be respected, and they entreated him not to imperil his life.
He replied: “The papists do not desire my coming to Worms, but my

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