The Great Controversy The Great Controversy | Page 199

council; but no sooner had the dangers passed which secured this
concession, than the emperor summoned a second Diet to convene at
Spires in 1529 for the purpose of crushing heresy. The princes were
to be induced, by peaceable means if possible, to side against the
Reformation; but if these failed, Charles was prepared to resort to the
sword.
The papists were exultant. They appeared at Spires in great numbers,
and openly manifested their hostility toward the Reformers and all who
favored them. Said Melanchthon: “We are the execration and the
sweepings of the world; but Christ will look down on His poor people,
and will preserve them.”—Ibid., b. 13, ch. 5. The evangelical princes in
attendance at the Diet were forbidden even to have the gospel preached
in their dwellings. But the people of Spires thirsted for the word of God,
and, notwithstanding the prohibition, thousands flocked to the services
held in the chapel of the elector of Saxony.
This hastened the crisis. An imperial message announced to the Diet
that as the resolution granting liberty of conscience had given rise to
great disorders, the emperor required that it be annulled. This arbitrary
act excited the indignation and alarm of the evangelical Christians. Said
one: “Christ has again fallen into the hands of Caiaphas and Pilate.” The
Romanists became more violent. A bigoted papist declared: “The Turks
are better than the Lutherans; for the Turks observe fast days, and the
Lutherans violate them. If we must choose between the Holy Scriptures
of God and the old errors of the church, we should reject the former.”
Said Melanchthon: “Every day, in full assembly, Faber casts some new
stone at us gospelers.”—Ibid., b. 13, ch. 5.
Religious toleration had been legally established, and the evangelical
states were resolved to oppose the infringement of their rights. Luther,
being still under the ban imposed by the Edict of Worms, was not
permitted to be present at Spires; but his place was supplied by his
colaborers and the princes whom God had raised up to defend His cause
in this emergency. The noble Frederick of Saxony, Luther’s

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