The Great Controversy The Great Controversy | Page 201

submit, and accept the edict? How easily might the Reformers at this
crisis, which was truly a tremendous one, have argued themselves into a
wrong course! How many plausible pretexts and fair reasons might they
have found for submission! The Lutheran princes were guaranteed the
free exercise of their religion. The same boon was extended to all those
of their subjects who, prior to the passing of the measure, had embraced
the reformed views. Ought not this to content them? How many perils
would submission avoid! On what unknown hazards and conflicts would
opposition launch them! Who knows what opportunities the future may
bring? Let us embrace peace; let us seize the olive branch Rome holds
out, and close the wounds of Germany. With arguments like these might
the Reformers have justified their adoption of a course which would have
assuredly issued in no long time in the overthrow of their cause.
“Happily they looked at the principle on which this arrangement was
based, and they acted in faith. What was that principle? It was the
right of Rome to coerce conscience and forbid free inquiry. But were
not themselves and their Protestant subjects to enjoy religious freedom?
Yes, as a favor specially stipulated for in the arrangement, but not as a
right. As to all outside that arrangement, the great principle of authority
was to rule; conscience was out of court; Rome was infallible judge, and
must be obeyed. The acceptance of the proposed arrangement would
have been a virtual admission that religious liberty ought to be confined
to reformed Saxony; and as to all the rest of Christendom, free inquiry
and the profession of the reformed faith were crimes, and must be visited
with the dungeon and the stake. Could they consent to localize religious
liberty? to have it proclaimed that the Reformation had made its last
convert? had subjugated its last acre? and that wherever Rome bore
sway at this hour, there her dominion was to be perpetuated? Could the
Reformers have pleaded that they were innocent of the blood of those
hundreds and thousands who, in pursuance of this arrangement, would
have to yield up their

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