A History of the Reformation in the 16th
Century
Book 7 - The Diet of Worms (1521,
January to May)
History
Of The Reformation Of The Sixteenth Century: Book 7, Chapter 1
The rod of God was moving swiftly through Germany and its destiny
was to triumph over all who stood in its way.
There was no class that stood apart from the struggle of the Word
moving in its affects and changing the course of history; princes,
nobles, knights, citizens, clergy, laity, town and country were all part
of the great struggle for or against reformation.
A Diet was about to take place before the emperor in order to
establish the validity of Luther’s testimony to the Word of God and
his written works. The Diet
would have been held in Nuremberg, but the city was suffering from an
acute case of the plague. As
a result, Worms was chosen. Charles,
not but 19, opened the Diet on January 28th, 1521.
He demanded that Luther be present in order to face the charges
set against him for heresy. A
letter was sent to Wittenberg requesting Luther’s presence, but he was
ill and Frederick counseled that he ought no to go.
Luther desired it but was overruled.
Frederick went to Worms without Luther.
He did not believe the Diet would have favorable results and was
resolved to see what he could do there for the sake of the Gospel.
Aleander consistently solicited various members of the legate at
Worms to condemn Luther at the opportune time.
He was attempting to undermine Luther’s position before Luther
ever made it to the floor of the hall.
Rome had condemned all the actions of Luther, the Reformation,
and any who would side with the German Reformer.
History
Of The Reformation Of The Sixteenth Century: Book 7, Chapter 2
The political ramifications of Europe were more important to
Charles than simply operating a Diet to condemn a German monk.
It was the inevitable conclusion that he would have to go to war
with France, and as a result of the foreseen battleground (Italy)
Charles would desire the Pope’s support and not his refusal to support
him. This made
ecclesiastical tensions around the Diet of Worms very important; not
that Charles was necessarily interested in the monk, but decisions
surrounding him as a heretic would gain Charles the upper hand in the
Pope’s favor.
There was a ploy by the emperor’s consulate that desired to
trap Luther in a compromise in order to win over him for political
reasons. Melancthon saw
this as secretly working in the dark, for darkness hides sinful actions,
at least to the gaze of men. John
Glapio took this scheme to task and possessed the full confidence of the
emperor to make such a scheme successful.
Glapio spoke politically and cordially through a chancellor with
the elector Frederick – he complemented Luther on his earlier
writings, but disdained the Babylonian Captivity as being too
heavy and forceful (he felt as though he was taking blows to the head
while reading it.) Glapio
wanted to meet with Luther to change his mind, and Frederick relayed
that it would be impossible. In
return Glapio simply wanted to keep the reformer silent, and tried
politically to procure this.
Meanwhile, Aleander procured a hearing before the Diet on
February 13 in order to plea his case before the emperor, in hopes of
turning the princes to his agenda concerning the German monk and the
papal bull.
History
Of The Reformation Of The Sixteenth Century: Book 7, Chapter 3
Aleander stood before the Diet and princes upon the day of the
hearing in order to condemn the German monk.
He spoke for three hours and attempted to lay out the main
doctrines of dispute and the Catholic truth.
Luther’s works and the papal bull had been laid before him, and
he began speaking once the level of noise died down in the hall.
First Aleander justified purgatory, and demonstrated Luther’s
error on this. Secondly, he
attempted to justify Rome and the tradition of the church.
Then he attacked the moral character of the reformation and the
morality of the people. He
slandered them and boiled the emperor’s blood towards them.
He made a lasting and deep impression of everyone in the hall.
Why would Charles desire to side with a raving monk who is
charged with heresy, when, all long, Luther was in error in comparison
to the foundational doctrines of the mother church?
The Diet seemed to be convinced that Aleander was correct, and
that this pseudo victory was the standing ground of the formality of
bringing this to Luther’s attention once Charles arranged to have him
stand before the court. It
was as though they decided his fate before he ever reached the Diet, and
Aleander had enflamed their passion against Luther.
Though the Diet has sided with Aleander, and been convinced by
his rhetoric, this would not be a decisive blow to the Reformation.
Rather, it was a false assurance to the things which would
ultimately take place when Luther would be summoned before them all to
testify to his works, and to the papal bull.
History
Of The Reformation Of The Sixteenth Century: Book 7, Chapter 4
Aleander was superficially successful: the princes were ready to
sacrifice Luther for their cause. Upon
this same note, Duke George, who was not favorable to Luther at all,
gave a speech that caused the princes to be reminded about the
grievances they had with Rome. The principle problem Duke George voiced
was Rome’s hunger for money, when the preachers should be out caring
for the people. Ultimately
George made a list and handed this in order to have, on record, the
problem that the princes saw Rome needed to correct, no matter how much
they disagreed with a theological difference with Luther, and Duke
George certainly disdained Luther.
The Diet appointed a committee in order to draw up all the
grievances that George, and others, voiced during this particular
hearing. They totaled one
hundred and one. Charles
was still as concerned as he was before about the need to reform the
Catholic Church, however, not as Luther may have liked this to be done.
Even if Luther stood condemned, and was executed by burning,
Charles would still be under obligation to reform the abuses of the
Catholic Church.
With all that Luther heard in receiving news of the affairs of
the Diet thus far, he was not moved, but trusted in God and all that He
would do for the cause of His Word.
Spalatin provided Luther with a list of retractions the Diet
would expect of him, and feared for Luther.
Luther, however, knew he would not retract a single proposition.
All his works uncovered the harlotry of Babylon and the
recantation would simply become a cloak for covering up the evil that he
had exposed.
History
Of The Reformation Of The Sixteenth Century: Book 7, Chapter 5
Charles could not help but to summon Luther to the Diet.
It was the only way that the turmoil surrounding the political
and ecclesiastical issues at hand could be rectified.
Charles promised Luther safe conduct, and he was directed to take
his journey though Duke George’s territory as well as the Landgrave of
Hesse. March 6, 1521 Luther was officially summoned by Charles to
appear in order to stand trial for his works.
Luther’s friends were doubtful as to whether Luther would
actually make the journey and comply with the request.
While Charles was summoning Luther, Rome was attacking him again.
On March 28th Rome restated the excommunication of
Luther. They held a solemn
assembly and a special service for this.
At the end of the service, many in the crowd were agitated at the
nonsense of the Roman pontiff and the ecclesiastical anathema he was
placing on Luther. Some
even forcibly caused derision. When
Luther heard of this service, he immediately wrote against it although
it would not be published for some time after.
While the Pope was spewing forth ecclesiastical maledictions in
his excommunication service, Luther demonstrated Scriptural accuracy and
honor to the Word of God for its truth in his writings against it.
History
Of The Reformation Of The Sixteenth Century: Book 7, Chapter 6
Though the stir of Rome against Luther was building in its fury,
Luther was still composed and exemplifying courage.
He did not desire prayer for himself, but rather for the Word of
God to be victorious in its course throughout all of Christendom in its
conversion of people from error to truth.
Luther was even more resolved at this point in believing that the
Pope has demonstrated to the world that he was not the vicar of Christ,
but the antichrist of the devil. Knowing
full well that he had set out on a right course, Luther was not afraid
to speak the truth with valor.
Like Melancthon, another man would become the friend of Luther
for life. His name was
Bugenhagen, a priest from Pomerania.
He had always attracted the youth of the town around him and
studied the Holy Scriptures diligently in order to teach them, and the
nobles of the town, the doctrines of the Bible.
His conversion to Protestantism came about when he read The
Babylonian Captivity of the Church.
He came to Wittenberg and was heartily received by Luther.
When Luther left for Worms, Bugenhagen was appointed to preach in
the church from the Psalms, and a year later, he was placed at the head
of the church here as pastor. Even
Luther referred to him as The Pastor.
Ulrich
of Hutten wrote to Charles V in order to persuade him that the
Reformation taking place under Luther was exactly what Germany needed.
He exhorted the emperor not to follow Rome, who was not really
out after the interests of the empire, but out for its own interest.
However, the emperor did not even read the letter.
He was not a German and did not have the passion that Ulrich had
for his home country.
History
Of The Reformation Of The Sixteenth Century: Book 7, Chapter 7
On April 2 Luther left for the Diet by the summons of Charles V.
He was concerned for the work of Reformation that would take
place, and so pressed Melancthon to take up the torch of this work if he
were to meet death. However,
divine providence has given men to Luther that would continue the work
with him for years to come: Melancthon, Amsdorff, Bugenhagen and Jonas
(rector of the university at Erfurth, and one who accompanied Luther to
worms).
Upon
his journey he stopped in Erfurth and preached to the Augustinians as
well as the towns people. He
proclaimed that faith is the cause of the sinner’s justification, and
Christ’s work the cause. Works are only the manifestation of the justified sinner.
In continuing his journey to Worms, he also stopped at Gotha and
preached another sermon of this likeness.
He also traveled to Frankfort, where he wrote to Spalatin
updating him on the journey, as well as visiting the school of William
of Nesse. He traveled
through Oppenheim where he only had three days left on his safe conduct
allowance.
In
Worms, Spalatin was nervous for Luther. Many people were saying that
safe-conduct should not be honored to a heretic.
Even while Luther was approaching Worms Spalatin sent a messenger
to him that he should not come for fear of his life.
However, Luther was resolved and sent the messenger back telling
Spalatin that even if there were thousands of devils in Worms, he would
still enter it for the glory of God’s Gospel.
When the cause is good, how can a man turn back from that which
God has appointed for him? Luther
pressed on to the city without reservation.
History
Of The Reformation Of The Sixteenth Century: Book 7, Chapter 8
On
April 16th Luther arrived at Worms.
Throngs of people surrounded him and an armed escort, lead by
Bernard of Hirschfeldt and Albert of Lindenau, accompanied him into the
city. Though the emperor
had summoned him to trial, he was received in the city as a hero.
Charles honored the safe-conduct and would not allow Luther’
demise, though many, like Modo, said that offering safe-conduct to a
heretic is not lawful. However,
in God’s providence, Charles kept his word.
Luther
was summoned to the Diet. John
Eck, not to be confused with the theologian Eck, asked Luther on behalf
of Charles, two questions: if the works presented on the table were in
fact his, and secondly, would he recant them?
Luther acknowledged the first question after the titles of the
works were read, but could not answer the second since the works were of
various kinds and he could not overthrow accepted Christian truths by
denying them. Instead he
asked for some time in order to answer properly.
He was granted one night. Though
he was set against retracting anything that contradicted the Word of
God, he desired some time to gather his thoughts to answer the
questions.
Luther
prayed through the night and asked the help of Christ in dealing with a
steadfast answer. His
prayer was answered, for as he was summoned again the next day, he
addressed the court in both Latin and German and pronounced his
steadfastness. He could not
recant anything unless he was instructed differently by the Word of God.
He could not recant of accepted truth, nor could he retract
writings against the church lest he continue to help evil prosper
against the people. It was
there Luther stood, resolved upon the Word of God, bound by conscience
to its truth against the Emperor and Rome.
History
Of The Reformation Of The Sixteenth Century: Book 7, Chapter 9
After
Luther’s stand at the Diet, he was led back to his hotel, wearied, but
triumphant in battle. His
friends surrounded him, and Duke Eric of Brunswick also called on him to
encourage him. Frederick
called Spalatin from Luther’s side, and the elector commented
graciously on how well Luther had done at the Diet, and that in the
future he would be well protected by him.
Aleander
wasted no time in attempting to overthrow this “victory” of Luther
by stirring up the princes and people.
His violent propositions against Luther, though, were rejected by
the Diet. The overwhelming
majority throughout Worms were deeply impressed by the Reformer’s zeal
and ardency, and violence would lead to political upheaval.
Charles had a letter drawn up and read to the Diet the next day
stating that Luther had been drawn away into folly, and that he had an
impiety railing against Christendom that should not be tolerated.
Those opposed to Luther said that his safe-conduct should be
retracted. Yet, even though
Charles did not agree with Luther, and deemed him heretical, he could
not go back on his word and retract such an oath to give the monk safe
passage.
The
sword of the reformation, Phillip of Hesse, met Luther for the first
time after that momentous day at the Diet.
Hearing Luther’s speeches he desired to have a closer look at
him and greeted him with kindness. If Luther was in the right, Phillip wanted to see his cause
move forth for the glory of God. This
first meeting was not the last, since here we had the Word of God
stretching forth by Luther’s mouth, and the sword of the Reformation
stretching forth by Phillip’s hand.
History
Of The Reformation Of The Sixteenth Century: Book 7, Chapter 10
Mediation
between Luther and the King was accomplished by Richard of Greiffenklau,
archbishop of Treves, by the command of the King.
Luther was summoned to meet with some of the princes and
electors. They desired to
exhort Luther to keep to the truth, not to despise him.
They desired to see clearly the aim and path of the reformer, and
Luther encouraged them to take the Word of God as their standard, not
the dictates of men in any form. The
archbishop returned to the Diet to report on whether such a meeting was
helpful, but to the demise of Rome, Luther simply held his ground and
relied on the Word of God.
Luther
desired to debate – which was the reason he came to Worms, not to
stand trial for Christian publications.
Cochloeus gave Luther this option, and Luther had to make a
decision as to whether he would now engage in public debate.
Among those standing by when this offer was given was Vollrat of
Watzdorf, a lord, pushed Cochloceus out of the room and answered for
Luther. It seems Vollrat
knew that Luther would simply be placing himself in extreme danger to
again assemble before all the magistrates and princes for a public
debate on something they already condemned him for.
Luther
was given instruction by Charles’ chancellor to return home in the
space of twenty-one days, and not to “disturb the public” on his
way. Luther took this as a
threat and thought his condemnation would come about while traveling
back home. He was
accompanied by throngs of people out of the city, and he prayed that
God’s will be done no matter what that will may be, even at the hands
of his adversaries.
History
Of The Reformation Of The Sixteenth Century: Book 7, Chapter 11
Luther
reached Frankfurt unharmed and praised God that he had made it out of
Worms alive. He traveled to Freidberg after a short rest and time to write
a letter to the emperor, and then wrote to the princes of the empire.
He addressed another letter to Spalatin and instructed him to
deliver his previous two letters. Later that day he reached Eisenach where he met with numerous
friends. He preached there
and addressed the town, against the edicts of Charles who desired him
not to disturb any along the way.
While
Luther was disturbing the public, Aleander took the opportunity to
petition Charles and lay out an edict as to what should be done with
Luther. His edict pleased
Charles, and the next day he was given leave to read it before the Diet.
His writings were deemed blasphemous, and Luther was to be seized
by anyone, anywhere they may find him in order to be brought to justice.
This edict was more powerful than the papal bull previously
sentenced by Leo X since the emperor ratified it and the Diet had
decreed its validity. They
thought they had triumphed by this over the Reformer.
Luther
left the town with Amsdorff and entered into the forests of Thuringia.
Here masked bandits captured Luther and rode away with him placing a bag
over his head. His traveling party was overwhelmed by a number of masked
bandits, and they thought at this point that Luther had fallen into the
hands of his enemies based on the edict that the Diet had placed on
Luther’s head. Phillip of
Hesse, Spalatin and Frederick had conspired that Luther would be in
danger. In order to save
him they captured him even without his consent and made him a prisoner
of Wartburg castle, dressed him as a knight, and he was known, from that
time forward for a time, as Knight George
.
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