er appeal he said, "I consent to renounce my safe-conduct. I place
my person and my life in the emperor's hands, but the word of
God--never!"(234) He stated his willingness to submit to the decision of a
general council, but only on condition that the council be required to
decide according to the Scriptures. "In what concerns the word of God and
the faith," he added, "every Christian is as good a judge as the pope,
though supported by a million councils, can be for him."(235) Both friends
and foes were at last convinced that further effort for reconciliation
would be useless.

Had the Reformer yielded a single point, Satan and his hosts would have
gained the victory. But his unwavering firmness was the means of
emancipating the church, and beginning a new and better era. The influence
of this one man, who dared to think and act for himself in religious
matters, was to affect the church and the world, not only in his own time,
but in all future generations. His firmness and fidelity would strengthen
all, to the close of time, who should pass through a similar experience.
The power and majesty of God stood forth above the counsel of men, above
the mighty power of Satan.

Luther was soon commanded by the authority of the emperor to return home,
and he knew that this notice would be speedily followed by his
condemnation. Threatening clouds overhung his path; but as he departed
from Worms, his heart was filled with joy and praise. "The devil himself,"
said he, "guarded the pope's citadel; but Christ has made a wide breach in
it, and Satan was constrained to confess that the Lord is mightier than
he."(236)

After his departure, still desirous that his firmness should not be
mistaken for rebellion, Luther wrote to the emperor. "God, who is the
searcher of hearts, is my witness," he said, "that I am ready most
earnestly to obey your majesty, in honor or in dishonor, in life or in
death, and with no exception save the word of God, by which man lives. In
all the affairs of this present life, my fidelity shall be unshaken, for
here to lose or to gain is of no consequence to salvation. But when
eternal interests are concerned, God wills not that man should submit unto
man. For such submission in spiritual matters is a real worship, and ought
to be rendered solely to the Creator."(237)

On the journey from Worms, Luther's reception was even more flattering
than during his progress thither. Princely ecclesiastics welcomed the
ex