s the Jews had
clamored for the blood of Christ. "He is a heretic," cried the Roman
zealots. "It is high treason against the church to allow so horrible a
heretic to live one hour longer. Let the scaffold be instantly erected for
him!"(179) But Luther did not fall a prey to their fury. God had a work
for him to do, and angels of heaven were sent to protect him. Many,
however, who had received from Luther the precious light, were made the
objects of Satan's wrath, and for the truth's sake fearlessly suffered
torture and death.

Luther's teachings attracted the attention of thoughtful minds throughout
all Germany. From his sermons and writings issued beams of light which
awakened and illuminated thousands. A living faith was taking the place of
the dead formalism in which the church had so long been held. The people
were daily losing confidence in the superstitions of Romanism. The
barriers of prejudice were giving way. The word of God, by which Luther
tested every doctrine and every claim, was like a two-edged sword, cutting
its way to the hearts of the people. Everywhere there was awakening a
desire for spiritual progress. Everywhere was such a hungering and
thirsting after righteousness as had not been known for ages. The eyes of
the people, so long directed to human rites and earthly mediators, were
now turning in penitence and faith to Christ and Him crucified.

This wide-spread interest aroused still further the fears of the papal
authorities. Luther received a summons to appear at Rome, to answer to the
charge of heresy. The command filled his friends with terror. They knew
full well the danger that threatened him in that corrupt city, already
drunk with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. They protested against his
going to Rome, and requested that he receive his examination in Germany.

This arrangement was finally effected, and the pope's legate was appointed
to hear the case. In the instructions communicated by the pontiff to this
official, it was stated that Luther had already been declared a heretic.
The legate was therefore charged "to prosecute and constrain without any
delay." If he should remain steadfast, and the legate should fail to gain
possession of his person, he was empowered "to proscribe him in every part
of Germany; to banish, curse, and excommunicate all those who are attached
to him."(180) And further, the pope directed his legate, in order entirely
to root out the pestilent heresy, to excommu