The Pope's flattering letter to the Elector, to induce him to withdraw his protection from Luther.

them publicly or secretly, directly or indirectly, assistance and advice, we lay an interdict on these princes, communities, universities and potentates, with their towns, boroughs, countries, and villages; as well as on the towns, boroughs, countries, and villages, where the said Martin shall take refuge, as long as he shall remain there, and three days after he shall have quitted the same."

§ 84. While Rome was thus arming the Legate with her thunders, she was endeavoring, by soft and flattering speeches, to detach from Luther's interest the prince whose power she most dreaded. The same day (the 23d of August, 1518), the Pope wrote to the elector of Saxony. He had recourse to the practised policy of Rome with powerful princes, and sought to flatter the prince's vanity. "Dear Son," said the Roman Pontiff, "when we think of your noble and worthy family; of you who are its ornament and head; when we remember how you and your ancestors have always wished to uphold the Christian faith and the honor and dignity of the Holy See, we cannot believe that a man who abandons the faith can rely on your highness's favor, and recklessly give the rein to his wickedness. And yet reports have reached us from all quarters, that a certain brother Martin Luther, a monk of the order of St. Augustine, acting the part of a child of iniquity and a despiser of God, has forgotten his habit and his order, which require humility and obedience, and boasts that he fears neither the authority nor the chastisement of any man, assured, as he declares himself, of your favor and protection. But, as we are sure that he is, in this, deceiving himself, we have thought it good to write to your Highness, and to exhort you, according to the will of God, to be jealous of your honor as a Christian prince, the ornament, the glory, and the sweet savor of your noble family,-to defend yourself from these calumnies, and to clear yourself, not only from the commission of so great a crime as that which is imputed to you, but also from the very suspicion which the rash presumption of this monk tends to bring upon you."

Before this letter of the Pope had yet reached Germany, and while Luther was still fearing that he should be obliged to appear at Rome, a fortunate circumstance occurred to comfort his heart. He needed a friend into whose bosom he could pour out his sorrows, and whose faithful love should comfort him in his hours of dejection. God sent him such a friend in Melancthon, who, at the early age of twentyone, arrived at Wittemberg to enter upon the duties of his professorship, on the 25th of August, just two days after the Pope had signed the brief institutions to cardinal Cajetan, and the letter to the elector of Saxony.

§ 85.-The order for Luther's appearance at Augsburg, before the Cardinal legate, at length arrived. It was now with one of the princes of the Roman Church that Luther had to do. All his friends besought him not to set out. They feared that a snare might be laid for him on his journey, or a design formed against his life. Some set about finding a place of concealment for him, and others from

Luther goes to Augsburg to appear before the Pope's legate, Cardinal Cajetan.

different quarters gave him the most alarming information. Count Albert of Mansfeldt sent him a message to abstain from setting out, because some great nobles had bound themselves by an oath, to seize and strangle, or drown him. But nothing could shake his resolution. Everywhere, in the history of Luther, and of the reformation, do we find ourselves in the presence of that intrepid spirit, that elevated morality, that boundless charity, which the first establishment of Christianity had exhibited to the world. "I am like Jeremiah," said Luther, at the moment we are speaking of,-"a man of strife and contention;' but the more they increase their threatenings, the more they multiply my joy. My wife and children are well provided for. My lands and houses and all my goods are safe. They have already torn to pieces my honor and my good name. All I have left is my wretched body;-let them have it; they will then shorten my life by a few hours. But as to MY SOUL,-they shall not have that. He, who resolves to bear the word of Christ to the world, must expect death at every hour."

In accordance with this self-sacrificing spirit, Luther set out on foot, on his perilous journey to Augsburg, accompanied by two faithful friends, Link and Leonard, and arrived at the monastery of the Augustins in that city, on the 7th of October. On the following day, a crafty Italian courtier named Serra Longa, paid Luther a visit, to persuade the reformer to submission, or to prepare him for his interview with the Cardinal legate. The instructions given to Luther by this courtier of Rome are curious. "Remember," said he, “that you are to appear before a PRINCE OF THE CHURCH! I will myself, conduct you to him. But first let me tell you how you must appear in his presence. When you enter the room where he is sitting, you must prostrate yourself with your face to the ground; when he tells you to rise, you must kneel before him, and you must not stand erect till he orders you to do so."

$86.-Luther had neglected to provide himself with a safe-conduct. His friends advised him, by no means to appear before the Legate without one, as he would then be at the mercy of Cajetan. But should he obtain such a document, the Legate could not imprison or harm him, without persuading the emperor Maximilian to violate his faith. They took upon themselves the task of obtaining the necessary safe-conduct from the Emperor. Cajetan's plan was, no doubt, to compel Luther, if possible, to retract; and if he failed in that, to secure his person, and have him conveyed to Rome, where he would doubtless have shared the fate of Huss and of Jerome. Hence he was in hopes that Luther would apply for no safe-conduct, but entrust himself entirely to his mercy.

Serra Longa offered to accompany Luther before the Legate, but the reformer told him of the advice of his Augsburg friends to procure a safe-conduct. "Beware of asking anything of the sort," replied Serra Longa quickly, "you have no need of it whatever. The Legate is well disposed toward you, and quite ready to end the affair amicably. If you ask for a safe-conduct, you will spoil

Fruitless efforts of the papists to persuade Luther to trust himself without a safe-conduct.

all." "My gracious lord, the elector of Saxony," replied Luther, "recommended me to several honorable men in this town. They advise me not to venture without a safe-conduct: I ought to follow their advice. Were I to neglect it, and anything should befall me, they would write to the Elector, my master, that I would not hearken to them." Luther persisted in his resolution; and Serra Longa was obliged to return to his employer, and report 'to him the failure of his mission, at the very moment when he fancied it would be crowned with success.

The agents of the Cardinal, who was exceedingly desirous to get Luther into his power without a safe-conduct, soon renewed their importunities. "The Cardinal," said they," sends you assurances of his grace and favor: why are you afraid?" And they endeavored by every possible argument to persuade him to wait upon the Legate. "He is so gracious, that he is like a father," said one of these emissaries. But another, going close up to him, whispered, "Do not believe what they say. There is no dependence to be placed upon his words." Luther persisted in his resolution. On the morning of Monday, the 10th of October, Serra Longa again renewed his persuasions. The courtier had made it a point of honor to succeed in his negotiations. The moment he entered, he asked in Latin, "Why do you not go to the Cardinal ? He is expecting you in the most indulgent frame of mind. With him the whole question is summed up in six letters-REVOCA—retract. Come, then, with me; you have nothing to fear."

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Luther thought within himself that those were six very important letters: but, without further discussion, he replied, “ As soon as I have received the safe-conduct I will appear." Serra Longa lost his temper at these words. He persisted-he brought forward additional reasons for compliance. But Luther was immovable. The Italian courtier, still irritated, exclaimed, “You imagine, no doubt, that the Elector will take up arms in your favor. and risk, for your sake, the loss of the dominions he inherits from his ancestors." "God forbid!" replied Luther. "When all forsake you," asked the Italian, "where will you then take refuge ?" "Where?" said Luther, smiling and looking upwards with the eye of faith, "UNDER HEAVEN!" Serra Longa was struck dumb by this sublime and unexpected reply; he soon left the house, leaped into his saddle and visited Luther no more.

§ 87. Having soon after obtained his safe-conduct, Luther appeared before the Legate. On entering the room where the Cardinal was waiting for him, Luther found him accompanied by the apostolical nuncio and Serra Longa. His reception was cool, but civil: and, according to Roman etiquette, Luther, following the instructions of Serra Longa, prostrated himself before the Cardinal; when the latter told him to rise, he knelt; and when the command was repeated, he stood erect. Several of the most distinguished Italians of the Legate's household entered the room, in order to be present at the interview, impatient to see the German monk humble him

Luther's first appearance before the Cardinal Legate.

self before the Pope's representative. The Legate was silent. He expected, says a contemporary, that Luther would begin his recantation. But Luther waited reverently for the Roman Prince to address him. Finding, however, that he did not open his lips, he understood his silence as an invitation to open the business, and spoke as follows:-" Most worthy father, upon the summons of his Holiness the Pope, and at the desire of my gracious Lord, the elector of Saxony, I appear before you, as an humble and obedient son of the Holy Christian Church; and I acknowledge that it was I who published the propositions and theses that are the subject of inquiry. I am ready to listen with all submission to the charges brought against me, and, if I am in error, to be instructed in the truth."

The Cardinal, who had determined to assume the tone of a kind and compassionate father towards an erring child, answered in the most friendly manner, commended Luther's humility, and expressed the joy he felt on beholding it, saying:-"My dear son, you have filled all Germany with commotion by your dispute concerning indulgences. I hear that you are a doctor well skilled in the Scriptures, and that you have many followers; if, therefore, you wish to be a member of the church, and to have in the Pope a most gracious lord;-listen to me.' After this exordium, the Legate did not hesitate to tell him all that he expected of him, so confident was he of his submission: "Here," said he, " are three articles which, acting under the direction of our most holy Father, pope Leo X., I am to propose to you:First, you must return to your duty; you must acknowledge your faults, and retract your errors, your propositions, and sermons. Secondly, you must promise to abstain for the future from propagating your opinions. And, thirdly, you must engage to be more discreet, and avoid everything that may grieve or disturb the church." "Most worthy father," replied Luther, "I request to be permitted to see the Pope's brief, by virtue of which you have received full power to negotiate this affair."

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§88.-Serra Longa and the rest of the Italians of the Cardinal's train were struck with astonishment at such a demand, and although the German monk had already appeared to them a strange phenomenon, they were completely disconcerted at so bold a speech. Christians familiar with the principles of justice desire to see them adhered to in proceedings against others or themselves; but those who are accustomed to act according to their own will are much surprised when required to proceed regularly and agreeably to form and law. "Your demand, my son," replied Cajetan, "cannot be complied with. You have to acknowledge your errors; to be careful for the future what you teach; not to return to your vomit; so that you may rest without care and anxiety; and then, acting by the command and on the authority of our most holy father the Pope, I will adjust the whole affair." Deign then," said Luther, "to inform me wherein I have erred."

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Points which the Legate required Luther to yield.

At this request, the Italian courtiers, who had expected to see the poor German fall upon his knees and implore mercy, were still more astonished than before. Not one of them would have condescended to answer so impertinent a question. But the Legate, who thought it scarcely generous to crush this feeble monk by the weight of all his authority, and trusted, moreover, to his own learning for obtaining an easy victory, consented to tell Luther what he was accused of, and said :-" My beloved son! there are two propositions put forward by you, which you must, before all, retract: 1st, The treasure of indulgences does not consist of the merits and sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ;-2dly, the man who receives the holy sacrament must have faith in the grace offered to him.'"

Both these propositions did indeed strike a death-blow at the commerce of Rome. If the Pope had not power to dispose at will of the Saviour's merits,-if, on receiving the paper in which the brokers of the church traded, men did not acquire a portion of that infinite righteousness, this paper currency lost its value, and men would count it no better than a mere rag. And thus also with the sacraments. The indulgences were, in some sense, an extraordinary branch of commerce with Rome; the sacraments made part of her ordinary traffic. The revenue they yielded was by no means small. But to assert that faith was necessary to make them productive of any real benefit to the soul of the Christian, was to rob them of their attraction in the sight of the people. For faith is not in the Pope's gift; it is beyond his power, and can come from God alone. To declare its necessity was, therefore, to snatch from the hands of Rome both the speculation and the profits attached to it. In assailing these two doctrines, Luther had followed the example of Christ himself. In the very beginning of his ministry, he had overturned the tables of the money-changers, and driven the dealers out of the temple. "Make not my Father's house a house of merchandize." Cajetan continued: "I will not bring forward the authority of St. Thomas, and the other scholastic doctors, to confute these errors; I will rest entirely on the Holy Scriptures, and speak to you in perfect friendship."

§ 89.-Nevertheless, when he proceeded to bring forward his proofs, he departed from the rule he had laid down. He combated Luther's first proposition by an Extravagance or Constitution of pope Clement; and the second, by all sorts of opinions from the scholastic divines. The discussion turned at its outset upon this constitution of the Pope in favor of indulgences. Luther, indignant at hearing what authority the Legate attributed to a decree of Rome, exclaimed: "I cannot receive such constitutions as sufficient proofs on subjects so important. For they wrest the Holy Scriptures, and never quote them to the purpose."

"The Pope," said the Legate," has authority and power over all things." "Save the Scriptures," replied Luther with some warmth. "Save the Scriptures!" exclaimed Cajetan. "Do not you know