Luther prepared for a yet bolder step. He had warned his people in the confessional, he had preached from the pulpit to his congregation; he would now speak as a theologian, addressing all those who, like himself, were teachers of the Word of God. The feast of All Saints drew near, a very important day at Wittenberg, especially for the church which Frederick had built and filled with relics. On this day these relics, ornamented with gold, silver, and precious stones, were exhibited to the people, and whoever then visited the church, and made confession, obtained a rich indulgence.
On the day preceding the festival, October 31, 1517, Luther walked boldly toward the church, and in the presence of all who were assembled, posted on the church door a paper containing ninety-five short sentences, called theses, against the doctrine of indulgences. Three of them were: “They preach mere human follies who maintain that as soon as the money rattles in the strong box the soul flies out of purgatory.”
“They are the enemies of the Pope and of Jesus Christ, who, by reason of the preaching of indulgences, forbid the preaching of the Word of God.”
“The indulgence of the Pope cannot take away the smallest daily sin, as far as regards the guilt or the offense.”
Great was the attention excited. The Theses were read and spoken of on all sides. In a fortnight they were in every part of Germany, and in a month they had found their way to Rome. Somewhat later they were translated into Dutch and Spanish, and a traveler sold them in Jerusalem. Many were delighted with them; monks in their cells and peasants in their cottages rejoiced that they had heard the voice of truth. The Emperor Maximilian read them, and wrote to the Elector of Saxony, “Take great care of the monk Luther, for the time may come when we shall have need of him.” Even the Pope was more amused than angry, and when urged to burn him as a heretic, replied, “Brother Martin Luther is a very fine genius, and all that is said against him is mere monkish jealousy.”
But some were fearful of the results that would follow. The Elector was uneasy, and the principal men of Luther’s own convent were alarmed. They came to his cell trembling, and begged him not to bring disgrace upon their order. He nobly replied, “Dear fathers, if this work be not of God, it will come to naught; but if it be, let it go forward.”
Tetzel prepared some theses in reply to those of Luther. Not content with this, he stated his hope and belief that the heretic would be burned. As a sign he caused the reformer’s Theses to be cast into the flames — an act which was afterward repaid by the students of Wittenberg, who burned his own theses in the market place of that town.
Luther was much grieved when he heard of this revenge having been taken. He wished for peace and order, and always maintained that the cause of God was not to be advanced by any recourse to force or arms.
About this time he published his sermons on the Ten Commandments and his Explanation of the Lord’s Prayer. These works were issued with the object of carrying the truth to the homes of the people.
The contest continued. The Dominicans were especially fierce in their assault. The Bishop of Brandenburg said, “I will not lay my head down in peace until I have thrown Martin into the fire like this brand,” (he threw a piece of wood into the fire). But the most violent in his attack was one who had been a friend, Dr. Eck, of Ingolstadt. Luther wrote him a letter of affection, but to this he received no reply. Rome now began to take part in the combat; Prierio, the Roman censor, attacked the reformer’s Theses, employing by turns ridicule, insults, and menaces.
In the spring of 1518, Luther was called to take part in an important meeting of the Augustine order, held at Heidelberg. Here he so ably defended some theses which he had written that he won much applause. Better still, he was the means of bringing many to see the light — one of whom was Bucer, who afterward wrote many good books which were made a great blessing to England.
On his return from Heidelberg, Luther wrote an explanation of his Theses, firmly upholding the truth, but softening down some passages that had given offense. He sent this book, which he called “Resolutions,” to the Pope through his friend Staupitz, with a letter full of humility, respect, and submission.
Luther wished for peace, and supposed that Leo X was a just man and a sincere lover of the truth. In this we shall see that he was mistaken.
But while he was looking to the Pope for justice, Rome was planning vengeance against him. The first effort made was to draw away the powerful support of the Elector, but this failed. The next step was to cite him to Rome. The Emperor Maximilian had written a letter to the Pope concerning the reformer, in which he said, “We will take care that whatever your Holiness may decree in this matter, for the glory of God shall be enforced throughout the empire;” and Leo X began to consider it was time to put forth his strength and to crush the poor Augustine monk who had dared to preach against his indulgences.
Having sent his letter to the Pope, Luther left the matter in the hands of God, and quietly awaited the result. Only two days had elapsed, however, when he received a summons to appear at Rome to answer charges made against him.
“At the very moment I was expecting a blessing,” he said, “I saw the thunderbolt fall upon me. I was the lamb that troubled the water the wolf was drinking. Tetzel escaped, and I was to permit myself to be devoured.”
His friends were filled with alarm. If he went to Rome, he went, as they saw, to certain death, while if he refused to appear he would be condemned for disrespect of the Pope’s authority. Luther felt that only the Elector could save him, but he was unwilling to involve his kind prince in trouble. The University of Wittenberg wrote a letter of entreaty to the Pope, and also to his chamberlain, Charles Miltitz. They said, “The weakness of Luther’s frame and the dangers of the journey render it difficult, and even impossible, for him to obey the order of your Holiness.” The Elector also wrote to the Emperor concerning him.
Finally it was arranged that the reformer should appear in Augsburg, a German city, instead of at Rome; and the Pope ordered his legate, Cardinal Cajetan — otherwise known as De Vio — to try the matter there. This was not done by the Pope out of any compassion for Luther. His writ was cruel, and authorized the legate to prosecute the Wittenberg doctor without delay, to invoke the aid of the Emperor and princes of Germany, to keep the reformer in safe custody, and to excommunicate all those who adhered to his cause. He was proceeded against by the Bishop of Ascoli, and declared a heretic, unheard.
Luther was at this time much cheered by the arrival at Wittenberg of a young man of great ability and much gentleness. It was Philip Melancthon, who became a very dear friend, and was destined to take a leading part with him in the work of the Reformation. Melancthon had been invited by the Elector to become professor of ancient languages at the University of Wittenberg. He was then twenty-one years of age.
The Pope wrote a very flattering letter to the Elector, in which he urged him to watch over the honor of his name, and to deliver Luther into the legate’s hands. The good Elector did not yield, but sent him letters of recommendation to some of the principal councilors of Augsburg, and furnished him with money for his journey.
The citation to Rome having been changed to a summons to appear at Augsburg, Luther resolved to obey it, although entreated by many of his friends not to do so, and informed that several powerful lords had determined to strangle or drown him on his way. Staupitz was much alarmed, and wrote begging Martin to come and live with him, so that both might live and die together.
But Luther feared nothing but sinning against God. The words of Scripture continually sounded in his ears, “Whosoever shall confess me before men, him will I also confess before my father which is in heaven.”
Soon, and forever! the work shall be done,
The warfare accomplished, the victory won;
Soon, and forever! the soldier lay down
His sword for a harp, and his cross for a crown;
Then droop not in sorrow, despond not in fear,
A glorious tomorrow is brightening and near.