The Great Controversy The Great Controversy | Page 161

Those who stubbornly closed their eyes to the light, and determined
not to be convinced of the truth, were enraged at the power of Luther’s
words. As he ceased speaking, the spokesman of the Diet said angrily:
“You have not answered the question put to you.... You are required to
give a clear and precise answer.... Will you, or will you not, retract?”
The Reformer answered: “Since your most serene majesty and your
high mightinesses require from me a clear, simple, and precise answer,
I will give you one, and it is this: I cannot submit my faith either to the
pope or to the councils, because it is clear as the day that they have
frequently erred and contradicted each other. Unless therefore I am
convinced by the testimony of Scripture or by the clearest reasoning,
unless I am persuaded by means of the passages I have quoted, and
unless they thus render my conscience bound by the word of God, I
cannot and I will not retract, for it is unsafe for a Christian to speak
against his conscience. Here I stand, I can do no other; may God help
me. Amen.”—Ibid., b. 7, ch. 8.
Thus stood this righteous man upon the sure foundation of the word
of God. The light of heaven illuminated his countenance. His greatness
and purity of character, his peace and joy of heart, were manifest to all
as he testified against the power of error and witnessed to the superiority
of that faith that overcomes the world.
The whole assembly were for a time speechless with amazement. At
his first answer Luther had spoken in a low tone, with a respectful, almost
submissive bearing. The Romanists had interpreted this as evidence
that his courage was beginning to fail. They regarded the request for
delay as merely the prelude to his recantation. Charles himself, noting,
half contemptuously, the monk’s worn frame, his plain attire, and the
simplicity of his address, had declared: “This monk will never make a
heretic of me.” The courage and firmness which he now displayed, as
well as the power and clearness of his reasoning, filled all parties with
surprise.

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