THE KNIGHT WHO DID ROYAL SERVICE; OR, MAKING A NATION AS WELL AS A BOOK.
“For the book of life unfolded,
Lifted up and set on high;
For the lamp of truth relighted
"Never more to fade or die.”
“Stars are poor books and oftentimes do miss—
This book of stars lights to eternal bliss.”
‘Doing what the Lord will please
By His grace, we wield the keys
Fellow-prisoners to release,
And the heavenly kingdom ope.”
ALL Germany is perplexed to know what has become of you, Doctor," said Jonas, as he and Luther sat in the room in which Luther resided in the Castle of Wartburg, on a hill a few miles south of Eisenach. "I myself should not have known you in this dress.”
“Yes; I have left the monk behind me. I am now the knight George, and the armor is as comfortable as the black gown. I should not wonder if I do not get married, as some of my friends have done. The devil bothers me a lot. He makes awful noises in the night time, as if a hundred hogsheads were being rolled along at once. At another time he comes as a black dog, and gets into my bed. But how are they doing at Wittemberg?”
“Why, we were all terrified," said Jonas: "we feared that you were slain, but after a while, when your letters came, we were delighted. But we could not imagine where you were hidden, and you used to date your letters `from the air,' and other strange places. Then, you remember, how men calling themselves prophets came to Wittemberg, and much distressed the people with their foolish predictions. It is strange that men will heed such follies rather than the Bible.”
“Yea, they go at them like a pig at a sack of oats. But I have been busy upon the Scriptures since I came here. By God's grace, I will render the Bible into good German, so that the poorest shall read the Word of God, as well as he that knows Latin. This will settle all things rightly.”
“'Tis strange work for a knight," said Jonas, "but it is service worthy a king to give the Bible to the people. God be praised for your thinking about it.”
“When I wandered through the glades and listened to the songs of the birds, I yearned for the many that were dying without knowledge or a friend to guide them into life; and I stood beneath the moss-grown rocks, that nigh close over head, and listened to the gurgling water, and said—' By God's grace they shall not die of thirst; I will carry the water of life to them.' It was May 4, 1521, when I came here, and 'tis now March, 1522.”
“Wittenberg misses you sadly Hot spirits are not content to let events shape themselves, but they are throwing off all restraint, and madly plunging into all 'rinds of excess and riot. Then, too, the peasants, who have been cruelly treated, talk of rebellion.”
“Poor creatures," said Luther, "it grieves me when I know how cruelly their lords treat them I Fancy sober, decent men called off from earning their daily bread to hunt snails and gather wild berries for the amusement of their lords—day after day hunting flies or gathering flowers, and then compelled to do what they themselves required in the rain I Some lords seem to think that poor men are made like asses to be ridden and beaten without mercy.”
“But if they dare ask for their rights," said Jonas, "men will reproach thee for it.”
“I know it," said Luther, "but I cannot help their doing so. The Gospel is a message of freedom to all But surely these poor creatures will not fight?”
“They mean to do so," said Jonas. "Would that you could go among them and point out how hopeless such a struggle is! The Pope's monks are inciting the people to rebel, for, say they, then the new doctrines will be discredited.”
“I will return to Wittemberg and go among the poor misguided creatures. Alas I that they should be so foolish as to hope to conquer the armies of Germany.”
“But, doctor, Duke George will attempt your life. I wish 1 had not counseled you to come," said Jonas.
“I will go if it rain twenty Duke Georges every second, and each one a thousand times more malicious than the Elector's cousin: so say no more."
Accordingly, next morning, the two friends started, riding slowly towards Wittemberg. As evening came a terrible storm burst upon them, and they took shelter in the town of Jena. In the Black Bear Inn they sat at dinner, when seeing two youths enter Luther invited them to share his meal.
With many thanks the two young men accepted the invitation, saying, as they sat down to the table, “We are Swiss, and are going to Wittemberg.''
“You will meet Dr. Schruff there then, a countryman of yours," said Luther.
“Can you tell us where Dr. Luther is at present?”
“I know for certain that he is not at Wittemberg; but he will be there shortly," said Luther.
“If God spares us we will not leave Wittemberg until we have seen and heard Luther," said one of the young men. "What do they think of Luther in Switzerland?
“Oh, opinions differ; some say that he deserves to die "Ah! priests no doubt," said Luther.
“But forgive us, not many knights talk as you do; and I see that your book is the Hebrew Psalter!”
His companion at the moment whispered," The other man has told me that we have been talking to Luther himself." "Nonsense! you make a mistake," was the reply.
“Perhaps I did, but let us go.”
“When you reach Wittemberg," said Luther to the two youths, "salute Dr. Schruff for me.”
“Willingly; but what name shall we give?”
"Say, he that is to come salutes you," said Luther, as he quitted the room.
Luther's danger was now indeed very great, for he had been outlawed, and whoever met him might lawfully seize him. Yet he reached Wittemberg safely, and at once succeeded in pacifying the people. On 21st September his translation of the New Testament was published in the vulgar tongue. Notwithstanding its high price, the book was speedily sold out, and a second edition was called for within a very short period.
At imminent risk of his life, Luther now went among the peasants who were excited by intolerable cruelty and engaged in a hopeless warfare against the forces of the princes. Headed by a madman, the infuriated mob swept across the country, committing terrible outrages even upon women and children. When at length they were conquered, it was with circumstances of cruelty that Luther did not approve.
Luther's friend and protector, Frederick the Wise, Elector of Saxony, died at this time, at a juncture when his sagacity seemed indispensable to the Reformed Church. Rome, with the Emperor as her bond slave, was panting for the blood of the so-called heretics; on the other hand the reformers were not agreed among themselves, their cause being further discredited by the atrocities of the peasants.
“Oh, bitter death to those he leaves behind I" said Luther, when tidings came of the prince's death. "Yet, thank God, he died in the faith In his will he declared that he relied for salvation upon the merits of the Lord Jesus alone. We shall miss him. Duke George imagines that he will triumph now Frederick is dead. But Christ reigns in the midst of His enemies; in the end He shall conquer.”
“There is another difficulty, Doctor," said Cranoch; "Nine nuns from Nimptsh have left their convent, and as their parents fear to receive them, they have come here for protection and shelter.”
“Well, we can't turn them away or deliver them up to their enemies," said Luther; "but why did they leave the convent?”
“They were forced into it in early life, before they knew their own minds," replied Cranoch; "and now that they have begun to read the Bible for themselves, they feel that they dare not live in the convent. Two of our people have brought them in wagons to Wittemberg and they are coming hither.”
“'Tis not my doing," said Luther. "Surely some of our friends will receive them into their homes.”
“I am sure many will. I will take one," replied Cranoch, "my wife will make her comfortable." Others did the same, and in a short period all the nine nuns were provided with homes among the worthy citizens 'of Wittemberg.”
Luther meanwhile pursued his course of bold teaching assailed by envy and hatred, but persisting in his duty, when two events occurred which altogether changed the current of his life and thoughts.