LUTHER AND HIS DYING MOMENTS
ACCOMPANIED by his sons and his friend, Dr. Jonas, Luther had now reached Eisleben, the place of his birth. Though his health was fast failing he preached there four times, besides engaging in other services, but towards evening on the 17th February he complained much of oppression of the chest, and had himself rubbed with warm cloths. This somewhat relieved him, and he walked down stairs in company with his son. "There is no pleasure in being alone," he said. "Nothing frightens the devil so much as when two or three Christian people get together and sing and are happy in the Lord.”
All through the evening meal he chatted and instructed the company after his usual manner. He retired early to his room and prayed fervently. After a time he became anxious and troubled, and was once more rubbed with warm cloths.
“Give me my medicine," he said; "it is nearly nine o'clock, and nothing vexes the devil so much as when preachers go early to bed. When he can keep the parson awake late at night he worries him with the wicked things that people say about him. Early to bed and pray yourself to sleep, and the preacher wakes up to praise God.”
He lay down upon a couch and slept until half-past ten.
With the words, "Into Thy hands I commend my spirit, for Thou hast redeemed me, O Thou God of truth," he rose and went into the adjoining room. Retiring to bed, he slept peacefully until nearly one. He then awoke and bade his servant heat the room.
“It is warm, master.”
“Then this cold is death. How ill I am; I shall die in this house where I was born.”
He returned to the adjoining room and lay down upon the couch. There he was rubbed again with warm cloths.
“Thank God, he is beginning to perspire. It will relieve him," said Count Albert.
“No. It is the cold sweat of death," replied Luther. Then he broke out into a fervent cry“ O mighty God! I confess myself a sinner, trusting solely upon the atonement of the Lord Jesus. He is my only salvation. O Christ! in Thee have I trusted. O Lord Jesus Christ! in Thee do I trust.”
Then he repeated—
“Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil," adding, after a pause, with tearful energy, "FOR THOU ART WITH ME!”
Then he said, "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
“Take this medicine," said his friend Cölius.
“I am going, and shall soon render up my spirit," said Luther, repeating three times, "Father, into Thy hands I commend my spirit, for Thou has redeemed me, Thou God of truth!”
He then lay quite still, making no reply to the questions of those about him until, after rubbing his pulse with strengthening waters, Dr. Jonas said in his ear—
“Reverend father, will you stand by Christ and the doctrine you have preached? Does it stand the agony of death?”
“Yes! yes! a thousand times yes!" cried Luther, and turning upon his side he fell asleep.
In less than a quarter of an hour his feet grew cold. Between one and two o'clock in the morning of February 18th, 1546, he drew a deep sigh and passed away. Thus, as the night was passing into morning in Eisleben, Luther entered into the brightness which knows no sunset.
There are sunsets that have no sunrise; there are sunsets preceding eternal day. Will thy sun go down to set no more, or wilt thou close thine eyes upon earth to open them in the beauty of the King?
Hundreds came to view the body, a deep smile of peace resting upon the worn face. On the following day, Saturday, the 19th of February, a solemn procession accompanied the body to Wittemberg, where it arrived on the 22nd.
Along the route the bells of the churches were tolled, and amid national mourning they laid his body in the Castle church, upon the doors of which he had nailed his famous theses.
“He was taken away from the evil to come," said Melanchthon. "I dreaded his old age; but oh, to have him back again! I leaned upon him as the ivy does upon the oak tree. Alack, there are none like him now!”
“But his work will go on," said Cranoch, the artist. "It is like one of my paintings: once done, they speak when we are silent and gone. I should not wonder if even England and Scotland will be affected by his influence, and the time may come when every country in Europe will be delivered from the tyranny of the Pope.”
Luther's wife did not long survive him. In 1552 she died at Torgau, 20th December, being buried in the great church there.
“Children," she said, "your father appeared to me, and his eyes were more brilliant than ever; he carried his head even more erect than he did during life; and his voice, that I have pined to hear many and many a day, was even sweeter than when it used to make the roof ring with its laugh. The age is wicked, dear Kate,' he said. Men did not receive the Word of God from my lips, and they must suffer the horrors of war until they are better persuaded. But come thou quickly, and bid the children to come speedily to us both in heaven.' I am going to him through the merits of Christ. Oh, come all of you, and let us be a family complete in heaven.”
So saying, she closed her eyes, and opened them to look upon the Christ whom, not having seen, she had loved.