o the times in
which they live, and the conditions under which they are placed. If they
would prize the light given them, broader views of truth would be opened
before them. But truth is no more desired by the majority to-day than it
was by the papists who opposed Luther. There is the same disposition to
accept the theories and traditions of men instead of the word of God as in
former ages. Those who present the truth for this time should not expect
to be received with greater favor than were earlier reformers. The great
controversy between truth and error, between Christ and Satan, is to
increase in intensity to the close of this world's history.

Said Jesus to His disciples: "If ye were of the world, the world would
love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you
out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I
said unto you, The servant is not greater than his Lord. If they have
persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept My saying,
they will keep yours also."(196) And on the other hand our Lord declared
plainly: "Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did
their fathers to the false prophets."(197) The spirit of the world is no
more in harmony with the spirit of Christ to-day than in earlier times;
and those who preach the word of God in its purity will be received with
no greater favor now than then. The forms of opposition to the truth may
change, the enmity may be less open because it is more subtle; but the
same antagonism still exists, and will be manifested to the end of time.

8. LUTHER BEFORE THE DIET.

[Illustration: Chapter header.]

A new emperor, Charles V., had ascended the throne of Germany, and the
emissaries of Rome hastened to present their congratulations, and induce
the monarch to employ his power against the Reformation. On the other
hand, the elector of Saxony, to whom Charles was in great degree indebted
for his crown, entreated him to take no step against Luther until he
should have granted him a hearing. The emperor was thus placed in a
position of great perplexity and embarrassment. The papists would be
satisfied with nothing short of an imperial edict sentencing Luther to
death. The elector had declared firmly that "neither his imperial majesty
nor any other person had shown that Luther's writings had been refuted;"
therefore he requested "that Doctor Luther should be fu