Luther
wrote this song in times of blackest threatenings, which,
however, could in no sense become a time of despair. In these
tones, rugged and broken as they are, do we hear the accents
of that summoned man, who answered his friends' warning not to
enter Worms, in this wise: - 'Were there as many devils in Worms
as these tile roofs, I would on'; of him who, alone in that
assemblage before all emperors and principalities and powers,
spoke forth these final and forever memorable words, - 'It is
neither safe nor prudent to do aught against conscience. Till
such time as either by proofs from holy Scripture, or by fair
reason or argument, I have been confuted and convicted, I
cannot and will not recant. Here I stand - I cannot do
otherwise - God be my help, Amen.' It is evident enough that to
this man all popes, cardinals, emperors, devils, all hosts and
nations were but weak, weak as the forest with all its strong
trees might be to the smallest spark of electric fire."
In a very different style of language, but in a like strain of
eulogy, writes Dr. Merle d'Aubigne, in the third volume of his
History of the Reformation: "The church was no longer composed
of priests and monks; it was now the congregation of believers.
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