et he was summoned
in respectful language, and received before the most august assembly in
the world. The pope had condemned him to perpetual silence, and he was now
about to speak before thousands of attentive hearers drawn together from
the farthest parts of Christendom. An immense revolution had thus been
effected by Luther's instrumentality. Rome was already descending from her
throne, and it was the voice of a monk that caused this humiliation."(214)

In the presence of that powerful and titled assembly, the lowly-born
Reformer seemed awed and embarrassed. Several of the princes, observing
his emotion, approached him, and one of them whispered, "Fear not them
which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul." Another said,
"When ye shall be brought before governors and kings for My sake, it shall
be given you, by the Spirit of your Father, what ye shall say." Thus the
words of Christ were brought by the world's great men to strengthen His
servant in the hour of trial.

Luther was conducted to a position directly in front of the emperor's
throne. A deep silence fell upon the crowded assembly. Then an imperial
officer arose, and pointing to a collection of Luther's writings, demanded
that the Reformer answer two questions,--whether he acknowledged them as
his, and whether he proposed to retract the opinions which he had therein
advanced. The titles of the books having been read, Luther replied that as
to the first question, he acknowledged the books to be his. "As to the
second," he said, "seeing that it is a question which concerns faith and
the salvation of souls, and in which the word of God, the greatest and
most precious treasure either in heaven or earth, is interested, I should
act imprudently were I to reply without reflection. I might affirm less
than the circumstance demands, or more than truth requires, and so sin
against this saying of Christ: 'Whosoever shall deny Me before men, him
will I also deny before My Father which is in heaven.'(215) For this
reason I entreat your imperial majesty, with all humility, to allow me
time, that I may answer without offending against the word of God."(216)

In making this request, Luther moved wisely. His course convinced the
assembly that he did not act from passion or impulse. Such calmness and
self-command, unexpected in one who had shown himself bold and
uncompromising, added to his power, and enabled him afterward to answer
with a prudence, decision, wisdom