Eight years have passed away since Luther stood before the Diet of Worms, and another Diet is about to meet in the city of Spires.
The Reformation has continued to spread, until not only the Elector and the young Landgrave of Hesse are faithful to its cause, but other princes, and thousands of the people, hold the truth dear to their hearts.
The papal party have made great efforts to get the Edict of Worms enforced against Luther and his associates; but through the fearless courage of the reforming princes their plans have been foiled, and it has been decided instead that until a General Council meets, the gospel alone shall be preached.
The Diet of Spires was opened on June 29, 1526. Ferdinand, King of Bohemia, and brother of the Emperor, presided. The friends of the gospel were outnumbered by the partisans of Rome, but their courage was unshaken. They opened the halls of their palaces for preaching the Word of God, and thousands congregated to hear the truth.
The Emperor had furnished Ferdinand with a decree, three months before, requiring that the “Church customs should be everywhere observed, and that the Edict of Worms should be confirmed.” When this decree was laid before the assembled princes, many declared it was quite beyond their power to enforce it, and, although published, it was not carried out. The followers of Luther feared that persecution was about to begin again; but just as the Pope and the Emperor seemed on the point of uniting to crush the Reformation, they quarreled. The forces ready to march against Germany then, turned aside to Rome, which city was sacked amidst fearful carnage in May, 1527.
The Edict of Worms was suspended, and a season of rest ensued. Each State was allowed to act in religious matters as it thought right, giving account to God and the Emperor alone.
During this peaceful interval Luther, Melancthon, Spalatin, and another named Thuring, went throughout the country visiting the churches, teaching, admonishing, establishing new schools, and instructing the teachers.
In 1529, Luther issued his Catechism, which, next to his translation of the Bible, was his most useful work. In 1530, he wrote to the Elector, “Our youth now grow up so well instructed in the Scriptures and catechism, it does my heart good to see and hear them. Young boys and little maidens learn to believe and understand more of God and Christ than was formerly known in our cloisters and schools.”
Peace having been concluded between the Pope and the Emperor, the Diet reassembled in March, 1529. A resolution was passed, by twenty votes against fourteen, by which the power granted three years ago to each State to regulate its own religious affairs was revoked, and all changes in the public religion were declared to be unlawful until the decision of the General Council should be known. This prevented the Reformation from being extended.
“Let us reject this decree,” said the Lutheran princes. “In matters of conscience the majority have no power.”
On April 18, Ferdinand appeared in the Diet, thanked the Romanists for their fidelity, said that the resolution, having been passed by a majority, would become an Imperial edict, and told the Elector and his friends that their part was submission. They retired to consult together, but Ferdinand would not wait. All entreaties were useless. “I have received an order from His Imperial Majesty,” he said. “I have executed it. All is over.”
But all was not over. The reforming princes drew up a formal protest, or declaration of their opinions, in which they appealed from the Diet to the Word of God, and from the Emperor Charles to Jesus Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords. This protest they read before the Diet, and sent a copy to Ferdinand, who refused to accept it.
From that day the name Protestant has been given to all those who hold the truth in opposition to the Church of Rome.
The Protest of Spires was followed in 1530 by the Confession of Augsburg, and, after a season of warlike preparation and great anxiety, peace was concluded between the Emperor and the Protestants in 1532, when Germany enjoyed a season of quietness for several years.
Now as to the closing scenes of the reformer’s life. In 1529, the discussion was held at Marburg between Luther and Zwingli — the Swiss reformer — upon the presence of Christ’s body in the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. Soon afterward, feeling the need of rest, he requested permission to retire into the country. The Elector preferred that he remain at Wittenberg, and he resided in that town until a few weeks before his death.
In 1527 he was attacked by severe illness, and his life was despaired of. Thinking then that his end was near, he took leave of his wife and his little son; but he was not yet destined to die. From this time, however, he was frequently subject to a painful disease, which affected his head, and, toward the end, impaired his sight. Notwithstanding his increasing infirmities, he undertook a journey, in the winter of 1546, from Wittenberg to Eisleben, in the hope of settling a dispute which had arisen between the Dukes of Mansfeld and their subjects.
He set out on January 23 attended by his three sons. He reached Halle, but was so weak that his friend, Doctor Jonas, accompanied him for the rest of the journey. At Eisleben he was much worse, yet he preached four times, administered the Lord’s Supper twice, and ordained two ministers. Until February 16 he attended all the meetings held for the purpose of arranging the debate and said, “If I can but succeed in restoring harmony amongst my dear princes and their subjects, I will cheerfully return home and lay me down in the grave.”
On the 17th his illness increased. He spoke often of death and eternity, and prayed much. At night he complained of great oppression on his chest, and, feeling death approaching, he prayed, saying, “I beseech Thee, my Lord Jesus Christ, receive my soul. O Heavenly Father, though I be snatched out of this life, yet know I assuredly that I shall dwell with Thee forever.”
Then he exclaimed three times, “Father, into Thy hands I commit my spirit.”
Doctor Jonas, said, “Venerable father, do you die firm in the faith you have taught?” He distinctly answered, “Yes.”
Between two and three o’clock in the morning of February 18, 1546, he died. He had gone to be with the Saviour whom he loved so well.
His body was brought back to Wittenberg, and buried in the Church of All Saints. Dukes and nobles followed him to the grave.
Besides his widow, Catherine, he left behind him three sons and two daughters.
More than four hundred years have passed since Luther died, but he being dead yet speaketh. His firm adherence to the truth, his dauntless courage, his prayerful spirit and solemn regard for divine things, his faith in God, and his zeal in pursuing that which was right, speak to us from afar. His memory will ever be venerated by those whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and whose aim it is to do His will.
In 1821, William III, King of Prussia, ordered a monument to be erected to Luther in the market-square of Wittenberg, and in 1868 a magnificent memorial was inaugurated in the city of Worms. But Luther’s best memorial exists in the noble work which he was called to accomplish, in the faithful translation of the Scriptures which he gave to Germany, in his beautiful hymns, and in the loving gratitude of tens of thousands of Christian hearts.
Servant of God, well done!
Rest from thy loved employ;
The battle o’er, the victory won,
Receive thy crown with joy.