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С˵£º the great controversy ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ4000×Ö

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The¡¡priests¡¡were¡¡alarmed¡¡at¡¡the¡¡thought¡¡that¡¡the¡¡common¡¡people¡¡would¡¡now¡¡be
able¡¡to¡¡discuss¡¡with¡¡them¡¡the¡¡precepts¡¡of¡¡God's¡¡word£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡their¡¡own
ignorance¡¡would¡¡thus¡¡be¡¡exposed¡£¡¡The¡¡weapons¡¡of¡¡their¡¡carnal¡¡reasoning¡¡were
powerless¡¡against¡¡the¡¡sword¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Spirit¡£¡¡Rome¡¡summoned¡¡all¡¡her¡¡authority
to¡¡prevent¡¡the¡¡circulation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Scriptures£»¡¡but¡¡decrees£»¡¡anathemas£»¡¡and
tortures¡¡were¡¡alike¡¡in¡¡vain¡£¡¡The¡¡more¡¡she¡¡condemned¡¡and¡¡prohibited¡¡the
Bible£»¡¡the¡¡greater¡¡was¡¡the¡¡anxiety¡¡of¡¡the¡¡people¡¡to¡¡know¡¡what¡¡it¡¡really
taught¡£¡¡All¡¡who¡¡could¡¡read¡¡were¡¡eager¡¡to¡¡study¡¡the¡¡word¡¡of¡¡God¡¡for
themselves¡£¡¡They¡¡carried¡¡it¡¡about¡¡with¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡read¡¡and¡¡reread£»¡¡and¡¡could
not¡¡be¡¡satisfied¡¡until¡¡they¡¡had¡¡committed¡¡large¡¡portions¡¡to¡¡memory¡£¡¡Seeing
the¡¡favor¡¡with¡¡which¡¡the¡¡New¡¡Testament¡¡was¡¡received£»¡¡Luther¡¡immediately
began¡¡the¡¡translation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Old£»¡¡and¡¡published¡¡it¡¡in¡¡parts¡¡as¡¡fast¡¡as
completed¡£

Luther's¡¡writings¡¡were¡¡welcomed¡¡alike¡¡in¡¡city¡¡and¡¡in¡¡hamlet¡£¡¡¡¨What¡¡Luther
and¡¡his¡¡friends¡¡composed£»¡¡others¡¡circulated¡£¡¡Monks£»¡¡convinced¡¡of¡¡the
unlawfulness¡¡of¡¡monastic¡¡obligations£»¡¡desirous¡¡of¡¡exchanging¡¡a¡¡long¡¡life¡¡of
slothfulness¡¡for¡¡one¡¡of¡¡active¡¡exertion£»¡¡but¡¡too¡¡ignorant¡¡to¡¡proclaim¡¡the
word¡¡of¡¡God£»¡¡traveled¡¡through¡¡the¡¡provinces£»¡¡visiting¡¡hamlets¡¡and¡¡cottages£»
where¡¡they¡¡sold¡¡the¡¡books¡¡of¡¡Luther¡¡and¡¡his¡¡friends¡£¡¡Germany¡¡soon¡¡swarmed
with¡¡these¡¡bold¡¡colporteurs¡£¡¨¡¡Ibid¡££»¡¡b¡£¡¡9£»¡¡ch¡£¡¡11¡£

These¡¡writings¡¡were¡¡studied¡¡with¡¡deep¡¡interest¡¡by¡¡rich¡¡and¡¡poor£»¡¡the¡¡learned
and¡¡the¡¡ignorant¡£¡¡At¡¡night¡¡the¡¡teachers¡¡of¡¡the¡¡village¡¡schools¡¡read¡¡them
aloud¡¡to¡¡little¡¡groups¡¡gathered¡¡at¡¡the¡¡fireside¡£¡¡With¡¡every¡¡effort¡¡some
souls¡¡would¡¡be¡¡convicted¡¡of¡¡the¡¡truth¡¡and£»¡¡receiving¡¡the¡¡word¡¡with¡¡gladness£»
would¡¡in¡¡their¡¡turn¡¡tell¡¡the¡¡good¡¡news¡¡to¡¡others¡£

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡195


The¡¡words¡¡of¡¡Inspiration¡¡were¡¡verified£º¡¡¡¨The¡¡entrance¡¡of¡¡Thy¡¡words¡¡giveth
light£»¡¡it¡¡giveth¡¡understanding¡¡unto¡¡the¡¡simple¡£¡¨¡¡Psalm¡¡119£º130¡£¡¡The¡¡study¡¡of
the¡¡Scriptures¡¡was¡¡working¡¡a¡¡mighty¡¡change¡¡in¡¡the¡¡minds¡¡and¡¡hearts¡¡of¡¡the
people¡£¡¡The¡¡papal¡¡rule¡¡had¡¡placed¡¡upon¡¡its¡¡subjects¡¡an¡¡iron¡¡yoke¡¡which¡¡held
them¡¡in¡¡ignorance¡¡and¡¡degradation¡£¡¡A¡¡superstitious¡¡observance¡¡of¡¡forms¡¡had
been¡¡scrupulously¡¡maintained£»¡¡but¡¡in¡¡all¡¡their¡¡service¡¡the¡¡heart¡¡and
intellect¡¡had¡¡had¡¡little¡¡part¡£¡¡The¡¡preaching¡¡of¡¡Luther£»¡¡setting¡¡forth¡¡the
plain¡¡truths¡¡of¡¡God's¡¡word£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡the¡¡word¡¡itself£»¡¡placed¡¡in¡¡the¡¡hands¡¡of
the¡¡common¡¡people£»¡¡had¡¡aroused¡¡their¡¡dormant¡¡powers£»¡¡not¡¡only¡¡purifying¡¡and
ennobling¡¡the¡¡spiritual¡¡nature£»¡¡but¡¡imparting¡¡new¡¡strength¡¡and¡¡vigor¡¡to¡¡the
intellect¡£

Persons¡¡of¡¡all¡¡ranks¡¡were¡¡to¡¡be¡¡seen¡¡with¡¡the¡¡Bible¡¡in¡¡their¡¡hands£»
defending¡¡the¡¡doctrines¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Reformation¡£¡¡The¡¡papists¡¡who¡¡had¡¡left¡¡the
study¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Scriptures¡¡to¡¡the¡¡priests¡¡and¡¡monks¡¡now¡¡called¡¡upon¡¡them¡¡to
come¡¡forward¡¡and¡¡refute¡¡the¡¡new¡¡teachings¡£¡¡But£»¡¡ignorant¡¡alike¡¡of¡¡the
Scriptures¡¡and¡¡of¡¡the¡¡power¡¡of¡¡God£»¡¡priests¡¡and¡¡friars¡¡were¡¡totally¡¡defeated
by¡¡those¡¡whom¡¡they¡¡had¡¡denounced¡¡as¡¡unlearned¡¡and¡¡heretical¡£¡¡¡¨Unhappily£»¡¨
said¡¡a¡¡Catholic¡¡writer£»¡¡¡¨Luther¡¡had¡¡persuaded¡¡his¡¡followers¡¡to¡¡put¡¡no¡¡faith
in¡¡any¡¡other¡¡oracle¡¡than¡¡the¡¡Holy¡¡Scriptures¡£¡¨D'Aubigne£»¡¡b¡£¡¡9£»¡¡ch¡£¡¡11¡£
Crowds¡¡would¡¡gather¡¡to¡¡hear¡¡the¡¡truth¡¡advocated¡¡by¡¡men¡¡of¡¡little¡¡education£»
and¡¡even¡¡discussed¡¡by¡¡them¡¡with¡¡learned¡¡and¡¡eloquent¡¡theologians¡£¡¡The
shameful¡¡ignorance¡¡of¡¡these¡¡great¡¡men¡¡was¡¡made¡¡apparent¡¡as¡¡their¡¡arguments
were¡¡met¡¡by¡¡the¡¡simple¡¡teachings¡¡of¡¡God's¡¡word¡£¡¡Laborers£»¡¡soldiers£»¡¡women£»
and¡¡even¡¡children£»¡¡were¡¡better¡¡acquainted¡¡with¡¡the¡¡Bible¡¡teachings¡¡than¡¡were
the¡¡priests¡¡and¡¡learned¡¡doctors¡£

The¡¡contrast¡¡between¡¡the¡¡disciples¡¡of¡¡the¡¡gospel¡¡and¡¡the¡¡upholders¡¡of¡¡popish
superstition¡¡was¡¡no¡¡less¡¡manifest¡¡in¡¡the¡¡ranks¡¡of¡¡scholars¡¡than¡¡among¡¡the
common¡¡people¡£¡¡¡¨Opposed¡¡to¡¡the¡¡old¡¡champions¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hierarchy£»¡¡who¡¡had
neglected

196

the¡¡study¡¡of¡¡languages¡¡and¡¡the¡¡cultivation¡¡of¡¡literature£»¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡were
generous¡­minded¡¡youth£»¡¡devoted¡¡to¡¡study£»¡¡investigating¡¡Scripture£»¡¡and
familiarizing¡¡themselves¡¡with¡¡the¡¡masterpieces¡¡of¡¡antiquity¡£¡¡Possessing¡¡an
active¡¡mind£»¡¡an¡¡elevated¡¡soul£»¡¡and¡¡intrepid¡¡heart£»¡¡these¡¡young¡¡men¡¡soon
acquired¡¡such¡¡knowledge¡¡that¡¡for¡¡a¡¡long¡¡period¡¡none¡¡could¡¡compete¡¡with¡¡them¡£
¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡Accordingly£»¡¡when¡¡these¡¡youthful¡¡defenders¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Reformation¡¡met¡¡the
Romish¡¡doctors¡¡in¡¡any¡¡assembly£»¡¡they¡¡attacked¡¡them¡¡with¡¡such¡¡ease¡¡and
confidence¡¡that¡¡these¡¡ignorant¡¡men¡¡hesitated£»¡¡became¡¡embarrassed£»¡¡and¡¡fell
into¡¡a¡¡contempt¡¡merited¡¡in¡¡the¡¡eyes¡¡of¡¡all¡£¡¨Ibid¡££»¡¡b¡£¡¡9£»¡¡ch¡£¡¡11¡£

As¡¡the¡¡Romish¡¡clergy¡¡saw¡¡their¡¡congregations¡¡diminishing£»¡¡they¡¡invoked¡¡the
aid¡¡of¡¡the¡¡magistrates£»¡¡and¡¡by¡¡every¡¡means¡¡in¡¡their¡¡power¡¡endeavored¡¡to
bring¡¡back¡¡their¡¡hearers¡£¡¡But¡¡the¡¡people¡¡had¡¡found¡¡in¡¡the¡¡new¡¡teachings¡¡that
which¡¡supplied¡¡the¡¡wants¡¡of¡¡their¡¡souls£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡turned¡¡away¡¡from¡¡those¡¡who
had¡¡so¡¡long¡¡fed¡¡them¡¡with¡¡the¡¡worthless¡¡husks¡¡of¡¡superstitious¡¡rites¡¡and
human¡¡traditions¡£

When¡¡persecution¡¡was¡¡kindled¡¡against¡¡the¡¡teachers¡¡of¡¡the¡¡truth£»¡¡they¡¡gave
heed¡¡to¡¡the¡¡words¡¡of¡¡Christ£º¡¡¡¨When¡¡they¡¡persecute¡¡you¡¡in¡¡this¡¡city£»¡¡flee¡¡ye
into¡¡another¡£¡¨¡¡Matthew¡¡10£º23¡£¡¡The¡¡light¡¡penetrated¡¡everywhere¡£¡¡The¡¡fugitives
would¡¡find¡¡somewhere¡¡a¡¡hospitable¡¡door¡¡opened¡¡to¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡abiding£»
they¡¡would¡¡preach¡¡Christ£»¡¡sometimes¡¡in¡¡the¡¡church£»¡¡or£»¡¡if¡¡denied¡¡that
privilege£»¡¡in¡¡private¡¡houses¡¡or¡¡in¡¡the¡¡open¡¡air¡£¡¡Wherever¡¡they¡¡could¡¡obtain
a¡¡hearing¡¡was¡¡a¡¡consecrated¡¡temple¡£¡¡The¡¡truth£»¡¡proclaimed¡¡with¡¡such¡¡energy
and¡¡assurance£»¡¡spread¡¡with¡¡irresistible¡¡power¡£

In¡¡vain¡¡both¡¡ecclesiastical¡¡and¡¡civil¡¡authorities¡¡were¡¡invoked¡¡to¡¡crush¡¡the
heresy¡£¡¡In¡¡vain¡¡they¡¡resorted¡¡to¡¡imprisonment£»¡¡torture£»¡¡fire£»¡¡and¡¡sword¡£
Thousands¡¡of¡¡believers¡¡sealed¡¡their¡¡faith¡¡with¡¡their¡¡blood£»¡¡and¡¡yet¡¡the¡¡work
went¡¡on¡£¡¡Persecution¡¡served¡¡only¡¡to¡¡extend¡¡the¡¡truth£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡fanaticism
which¡¡Satan¡¡endeavored¡¡to¡¡unite¡¡with¡¡it¡¡resulted¡¡in¡¡making¡¡more¡¡clear¡¡the
contrast¡¡between¡¡the¡¡work¡¡of¡¡Satan¡¡and¡¡the¡¡work¡¡of¡¡God¡£




¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡£¨197£©

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Chapter¡¡11

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Protest¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Princes


One¡¡of¡¡the¡¡noblest¡¡testimonies¡¡ever¡¡uttered¡¡for¡¡the¡¡Reformation¡¡was¡¡the
Protest¡¡offered¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Christian¡¡princes¡¡of¡¡Germany¡¡at¡¡the¡¡Diet¡¡of¡¡Spires¡¡in
1529¡£¡¡The¡¡courage£»¡¡faith£»¡¡and¡¡firmness¡¡of¡¡those¡¡men¡¡of¡¡God¡¡gained¡¡for
succeeding¡¡ages¡¡liberty¡¡of¡¡thought¡¡and¡¡of¡¡conscience¡£¡¡Their¡¡Protest¡¡gave¡¡to
the¡¡reformed¡¡church¡¡the¡¡name¡¡of¡¡Protestant£»¡¡its¡¡principles¡¡are¡¡¡¨the¡¡very
essence¡¡of¡¡Protestantism¡£¡¨D'Aubigne£»¡¡b¡£¡¡13£»¡¡ch¡£¡¡6¡£

A¡¡dark¡¡and¡¡threatening¡¡day¡¡had¡¡come¡¡for¡¡the¡¡Reformation¡£¡¡Notwithstanding¡¡the
Edict¡¡of¡¡Worms£»¡¡declaring¡¡Luther¡¡to¡¡be¡¡an¡¡outlaw¡¡and¡¡forbidding¡¡the¡¡teaching
or¡¡belief¡¡of¡¡his¡¡doctrines£»¡¡religious¡¡toleration¡¡had¡¡thus¡¡far¡¡prevailed¡¡in
the¡¡empire¡£¡¡God's¡¡providence¡¡had¡¡held¡¡in¡¡check¡¡the¡¡forces¡¡that¡¡opposed¡¡the
truth¡£¡¡Charles¡¡V¡¡was¡¡bent¡¡on¡¡crushing¡¡the¡¡Reformation£»¡¡but¡¡often¡¡as¡¡he
raised¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡to¡¡strike¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡forced¡¡to¡¡turn¡¡aside¡¡the¡¡blow¡£¡¡Again
and¡¡again¡¡the¡¡immediate¡¡destruction¡¡of¡¡all¡¡who¡¡dared¡¡to¡¡oppose¡¡themselves¡¡to
Rome¡¡appeared¡¡inevitable£»¡¡but¡¡at¡¡the¡¡critical¡¡moment¡¡the¡¡armies¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Turk
appeared¡¡on¡¡the¡¡eastern¡¡frontier£»¡¡or¡¡the¡¡king¡¡of¡¡France£»¡¡or¡¡even¡¡the¡¡pope
himself£»¡¡jealous¡¡of¡¡the¡¡increasing¡¡greatness¡¡of¡¡the¡¡emperor£»¡¡made¡¡war¡¡upon
him£»¡¡and¡¡thus£»¡¡amid¡¡the¡¡strife¡¡and¡¡tumult¡¡of¡¡nations£»¡¡the¡¡Reformation¡¡had
been¡¡left¡¡to¡¡strengthen¡¡and¡¡extend¡£

At¡¡last£»¡¡however£»¡¡the¡¡papal¡¡sovereigns¡¡had¡¡stifled¡¡their¡¡feuds£»¡¡that¡¡they
might¡¡make¡¡common¡¡cause¡¡against¡¡the¡¡Reformers¡£¡¡The¡¡Diet¡¡of¡¡Spires¡¡in¡¡1526
had¡¡given¡¡each¡¡state¡¡full¡¡liberty¡¡in¡¡matters¡¡of¡¡religion¡¡until¡¡the¡¡meeting
of¡¡a¡¡general

198

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£º¡¡¡¨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£º
¡¨Christ¡¡has¡¡again¡¡fallen¡¡into¡¡the¡¡hands¡¡of¡¡Caiaphas¡¡and¡¡Pilate¡£¡¨¡¡The
Romanists¡¡became¡¡more¡¡violent¡£¡¡A¡¡bigoted¡¡papist¡¡declared£º¡¡¡¨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
Melanch

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