GOD spoke very loudly to Luther during his serious illness. The words of the old priest proved true, that the sickness was not unto death. He was soon raised up again, but on his recovery Luther was no longer quite the same man. The Bible, his illness, and the words of the old priest seemed to present to him a new call.
In 1505 Luther was made Doctor of Philosophy, and the event was celebrated by a great festival. But though rejoicing in his successes in learning, he was far from being really happy. His heart never ceased to urge upon him that godliness is the one thing needful, and that before all other things he ought to be assured of his salvation. He knew that God had testified His anger against sin: he recollected the punishments which the Word denounces against the sinner: and he asked himself with alarm whether he was sure of possessing the Divine favor. His conscience told him, No! He resolved to do his utmost to assure himself a firm hope of immortality. While in this state of anxiety two events successively contributed to shake his soul and precipitate his purpose.
The first was the sudden death (some accounts say the assassination) of his dear friend Alexis. Luther was greatly agitated. He was terror-stricken. “What would become of me,” he asked himself, “if I received such a call?” The second was the storm that overtook him, when near Erfurt, and returning from a visit to his parents. The thunder rolled and the lightning fell around him. He threw himself on his knees; he thought that his last hour was come. Death, judgment, and eternity stood in dread array around him. Overwhelmed with anguish and the fear of death, he vowed that if the Lord would deliver him he would abandon the world and devote himself entirely to God. And when we see how wonderfully God took care of Luther, we should be thankful, because of the great good that came to the Church and to the world through his spared life. The storm passed over, but not his agitation and deep soul exercises. Self-examination made his case seem even blacker. How could he who was so unholy meet and stand face to face with a holy God? He thirsted after holiness, as he had thirsted after knowledge. Knowledge he had obtained at the University; but where could he obtain holiness? He must go to a cloister, and find salvation in a monkish life.
With that purpose unshaken, he invited his University friends to an evening repast, and there and then made known his purpose, to their utter consternation and profound regret. That same night, carrying with him only two books, he knocked at the door of the monastery of the hermits of St. Augustine, and craved admission. The door opened and shut him in, separated from parents, genial companions, and the world. This took place on 17th August, 1505, when he was twenty-one years and nine months old.