The Great Controversy The Great Controversy | Page 193

teachings, claiming divine sanction, led them to break away from all
control and give the rein to their prejudices and passions. The most
terrible scenes of sedition and strife followed, and the fields of Germany
were drenched with blood.
The agony of soul which Luther had so long before experienced
at Erfurt now pressed upon him with redoubled power as he saw
the results of fanaticism charged upon the Reformation. The papist
princes declared—and many were ready to credit the statement—that
the rebellion was the legitimate fruit of Luther’s doctrines. Although this
charge was without the slightest foundation, it could not but cause the
Reformer great distress. That the cause of truth should be thus disgraced
by being ranked with the basest fanaticism, seemed more than he could
endure. On the other hand, the leaders in the revolt hated Luther because
he had not only opposed their doctrines and denied their claims to divine
inspiration, but had pronounced them rebels against the civil authority.
In retaliation they denounced him as a base pretender. He seemed to
have brought upon himself the enmity of both princes and people.
The Romanists exulted, expecting to witness the speedy downfall of
the Reformation; and they blamed Luther, even for the errors which he
had been most earnestly endeavoring to correct. The fanatical party, by
falsely claiming to have been treated with great injustice, succeeded in
gaining the sympathies of a large class of the people, and, as is often the
case with those who take the wrong side, they came to be regarded as
martyrs. Thus the ones who were exerting every energy in opposition
to the Reformation were pitied and lauded as the victims of cruelty and
oppression. This was the work of Satan, prompted by the same spirit of
rebellion which was first manifested in heaven.
Satan is constantly seeking to deceive men and lead them to call sin
righteousness, and righteousness sin. How successful has been his work!
How often censure and reproach are cast upon God’s faithful servants
because they

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