. Enemies, vigilant and cruel, were plotting his
destruction. Would he escape the snares prepared for him? Those were
moments of anxiety and earnest prayer. He reached a small gate in the wall
of the city. It was opened for him, and with his guide he passed through
without hindrance. Once safely outside, the fugitives hastened their
flight, and before the legate learned of Luther's departure, he was beyond
the reach of his persecutors. Satan and his emissaries were defeated. The
man whom they had thought in their power was gone, escaped as a bird from
the snare of the fowler.

At the news of Luther's escape, the legate was overwhelmed with surprise
and anger. He had expected to receive great honor for his wisdom and
firmness in dealing with this disturber of the church; but his hope was
disappointed. He gave expression to his wrath in a letter to Frederick,
the elector of Saxony, bitterly denouncing Luther, and demanding that
Frederick send the Reformer to Rome or banish him from Saxony.

In defense, Luther urged that the legate or the pope show him his errors
from the Scriptures, and pledged himself in the most solemn manner to
renounce his doctrines if they could be shown to contradict the word of
God. And he expressed his gratitude to God that he had been counted worthy
to suffer in so holy a cause.

The elector had, as yet, little knowledge of the reformed doctrines, but
he was deeply impressed by the candor, force, and clearness of Luther's
words; and until the Reformer should be proved to be in error, Frederick
resolved to stand as his protector. In reply to the legate's demand he
wrote: " 'Since Doctor Martin has appeared before you at Augsburg, you
should be satisfied. We did not expect that you would endeavor to make him
retract without having convinced him of his errors. None of the learned
men in our principality have informed me that Martin's doctrine is
impious, antichristian, or heretical.' The prince refused, moreover, to
send Luther to Rome, or to expel him from his states."(184)

The elector saw that there was a general breaking down of the moral
restraints of society. A great work of reform was needed. The complicated
and expensive arrangements to restrain and punish crime would be
unnecessary if men but acknowledged and obeyed the requirements of God and
the dictates of an enlightened conscience. He saw that Luther was laboring
to secure this object, and he secretly rejoiced that a better influence