al party were convinced that the Christian princes would adhere
to the Holy Scriptures as superior to human doctrines and requirements;
and they knew that wherever this principle was accepted, the papacy would
eventually be overthrown. But, like thousands since their time, looking
only "at the things which are seen," they flattered themselves that the
cause of the emperor and the pope was strong, and that of the Reformers
weak. Had the Reformers depended upon human aid alone, they would have
been as powerless as the papists supposed. But though weak in numbers, and
at variance with Rome, they had their strength. They appealed "from the
report of the Diet to the word of God, and from the emperor Charles to
Jesus Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords."(295)

As Ferdinand had refused to regard their conscientious convictions, the
princes decided not to heed his absence, but to bring their Protest before
the national council without delay. A solemn declaration was therefore
drawn up, and presented to the Diet:

"We protest by these presents, before God, our only Creator, Preserver,
Redeemer, and Saviour, and who will one day be our Judge, as well as
before all men and all creatures, that we, for us and for our people,
neither consent nor adhere in any manner whatsoever to the proposed
decree, in anything that is contrary to God, to His holy word, to our
right conscience, to the salvation of our souls."

"What! we ratify this edict! We assert that when Almighty God calls a man
to His knowledge, this man nevertheless cannot receive the knowledge of
God?" "There is no sure doctrine but such as is conformable to the word of
God.... The Lord forbids the teaching of any other doctrine.... The Holy
Scriptures ought to be explained by other and clearer texts; ... this holy
book is, in all things necessary for the Christian, easy of understanding,
and calculated to scatter the darkness. We are resolved, with the grace of
God, to maintain the pure and exclusive preaching of His only word, such
as it is contained in the biblical books of the Old and New Testaments,
without adding anything thereto that may be contrary to it. This Word is
the only truth; it is the sure rule of all doctrine and of all life, and
can never fail or deceive us. He who builds on this foundation shall stand
against all the powers of hell, while all the human vanities that are set
up against it shall fall before the face of God."

"For this reason we re