, and dignity that surprised and
disappointed his adversaries, and rebuked their insolence and pride.

The next day he was to appear to render his final answer. For a time his
heart sunk within him as he contemplated the forces that were combined
against the truth. His faith faltered; fearfulness and trembling came upon
him, and horror overwhelmed him. Dangers multiplied before him; his
enemies seemed about to triumph, and the powers of darkness to prevail.
Clouds gathered about him, and seemed to separate him from God. He longed
for the assurance that the Lord of hosts would be with him. In anguish of
spirit he threw himself with his face upon the earth, and poured out those
broken, heart-rending cries, which none but God can fully understand.

"O almighty and everlasting God," he pleaded, "how terrible is this world!
Behold, it openeth its mouth to swallow me up, and I have so little trust
in Thee.... If it is only in the strength of this world that I must put my
trust, all is over.... My last hour is come, my condemnation has been
pronounced.... O God, do Thou help me against all the wisdom of the world.
Do this, ... Thou alone; ... for this is not my work, but Thine. I have
nothing to do here, nothing to contend for with these great ones of the
world.... But the cause is Thine, ... and it is a righteous and eternal
cause. O Lord, help me! Faithful and unchangeable God, in no man do I
place my trust.... All that is of man is uncertain; all that cometh of man
fails.... Thou hast chosen me for this work.... Stand at my side, for the
sake of Thy well-beloved Jesus Christ, who is my defense, my shield, and
my strong tower."(217)

An all-wise Providence had permitted Luther to realize his peril, that he
might not trust to his own strength, and rush presumptuously into danger.
Yet it was not the fear of personal suffering, a dread of torture or
death, which seemed immediately impending, that overwhelmed him with its
terror. He had come to the crisis, and he felt his insufficiency to meet
it. Through his weakness the cause of truth might suffer loss. Not for his
own safety, but for the triumph of the gospel did he wrestle with God.
Like Israel's, in that night struggle beside the lonely stream, was the
anguish and conflict of his soul. Like Israel, he prevailed with God. In
his utter helplessness his faith fastened upon Christ, the mighty
deliverer. He was strengthened with the assurance that he would not appear
alone befo