One of the principles most firmly maintained by Luther was that there should be no resort to secular power in support of the Reformation , and no appeal to arms for its defense . He rejoiced that the gospel was confessed by princes of the empire ; but when they proposed to unite in a defensive league , he declared that “ the doctrine of the gospel should be defended by God alone .... The less man meddled in the work , the more striking would be God ’ s intervention in its behalf . All the politic precautions suggested were , in his view , attributable to unworthy fear and sinful mistrust .”— D ’ Aubigne , London ed ., b . 10 , ch . 14 .
When powerful foes were uniting to overthrow the reformed faith , and thousands of swords seemed about to be unsheathed against it , Luther wrote : “ Satan is putting forth his fury ; ungodly pontiffs are conspiring ; and we are threatened with war . Exhort the people to contend valiantly before the throne of the Lord , by faith and prayer , so that our enemies , vanquished by the Spirit of God , may be constrained to peace . Our chief want , our chief labor , is prayer ; let the people know that they are now exposed to the edge of the sword and to the rage of Satan , and let them pray .”— D ’ Aubigne , b . 10 , ch . 14 .
Again , at a later date , referring to the league contemplated by the reformed princes , Luther declared that the only weapon employed in this warfare should be “ the sword of the Spirit .” He wrote to the elector of Saxony : “ We cannot on our conscience approve the proposed alliance . We would rather die ten times than see our gospel cause one drop of blood to be shed . Our part is to be like lambs of the slaughter . The cross of Christ must be borne . Let your highness be without fear . We shall do more by our prayers than all our enemies by their boastings . Only let not your hands be stained with the blood of your brethren . If the emperor requires us to be given up to his tribunals , we are ready to appear . You cannot defend our faith : each one should believe at his own risk and peril .”— Ibid ., b . 14 , ch . 1 .
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