g these steps, when suddenly a voice like thunder seemed
to say to him, "The just shall live by faith."(165) He sprung to his feet,
and hastened from the place in shame and horror. That text never lost its
power upon his soul. From that time he saw more clearly than ever before
the fallacy of trusting to human works for salvation, and the necessity of
constant faith in the merits of Christ. His eyes had been opened, and were
never again to be closed, to the delusions of the papacy. When he turned
his face from Rome, he had turned away also in heart, and from that time
the separation grew wider, until he severed all connection with the papal
church.

After his return from Rome, Luther received at the University of
Wittenberg the degree of Doctor of Divinity. Now he was at liberty to
devote himself, as never before, to the Scriptures that he loved. He had
taken a solemn vow to study carefully and to preach with fidelity the word
of God, not the sayings and doctrines of the popes, all the days of his
life. He was no longer the mere monk or professor, but the authorized
herald of the Bible. He had been called as a shepherd to feed the flock of
God, that were hungering and thirsting for the truth. He firmly declared
that Christians should receive no other doctrines than those which rest on
the authority of the Sacred Scriptures. These words struck at the very
foundation of papal supremacy. They contained the vital principle of the
Reformation.

Luther saw the danger of exalting human theories above the word of God. He
fearlessly attacked the speculative infidelity of the schoolmen, and
opposed the philosophy and theology which had so long held a controlling
influence upon the people. He denounced such studies as not only worthless
but pernicious, and sought to turn the minds of his hearers from the
sophistries of philosophers and theologians to the eternal truths set
forth by prophets and apostles.

Precious was the message which he bore to the eager crowds that hung upon
his words. Never before had such teachings fallen upon their ears. The
glad tidings of a Saviour's love, the assurance of pardon and peace
through His atoning blood, rejoiced their hearts, and inspired within them
an immortal hope. At Wittenberg a light was kindled whose rays should
extend to the uttermost parts of the earth, and which was to increase in
brightness to the close of time.

But light and darkness cannot harmonize. Between truth and error th