Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1843-01-21

sons obtained admission with him, for every
one was desired to hear his answer The
| Princes having taken their seats, and Luther
being sga,n in presence of Charles V. The
Chancellor of the Eprtor of Treves broke si-
/ irncc. and said
Martin ihinrr, you requested yesterday
delay which is nov, expired Certainly the
/ Diet vas NOT bound IN Justice to nccede TO
your desire, since every man should he so
| grounded IN his faith ms to be able at all times
To give sn answer to those who ask him; much
more one who is an eminent and learned doc
tor in the Scriptures, Now, therefore, answer
the enquiry OF his Majesty, who has manifest
ed so much Indulgence. Are you prepared to
| defend all that your writings contain, or do
| YOU wish TO retract any pert Of them >
After having spoken these words, the Chan
celor repeated them in German.
'llereupon,' says the Acts of Worms, Doc
tor Martin Luther made answer in low and
humble tone, without any vehemence or vo-
lence, but with gentleness and mdncss, and in
manner full of respect and diffidence, yet
with much Joy and Christian firmness'
Most Serene Emperor, and you illustrious
Princes and gracious Lords said Luther,
turning towards Charles, and looking round the
assembly, Il this day appear before you in all
humility, according to your command and
implore your Majesty and your august Higti.
nesses, by the mercies of God, 10 listen with
favor to the defence of a cause which | am
well assured is just and right. ask pardon,
If by reason of my ignorance, | am wanting in
the manners ,ha, beht a court; for have not
been brought up in Kings palaces III
the secluson Of cleister.
Two questions were yesterday put to me by
| his Imperial Majesty the first, whether | was
the author of the books whose titles were read
the second, whether wished to revoke OF de-
fend the doctrines5 have taught. | answered
the first, and adhere to the answer
'As to the second, | have composed writings
on very different Subjects. In some have
discussed Faith and Good Works, in a spirit at
once so pure, clear, and Christian that even
my adversaries themselves, far from finding
anything to censure, confess that these writ
ings are profitable, and deserve to be perused
by devout persons. The Pope's bull, violent
as it itis-ackRowledge sthis. What then should
be doing if were now 20 retract these writ
ings! Wretcbed man l alone, Of all men
living, should be abandoning truths approved
by the unanimous voice of friends and enc
mics, and opposing doctrines that the whole
world glories in confessing.
Il have composed, secondly, certain works
against Popery, wherein / have attacked such
as by false doctrines, irregular lives, and scan
dalous examples, atfiictthe Christian world, and
ruin the bodies and souls of men. And is not
this confirmed by the grief of all who fear God
Is i, not manifest that the laws and human doc
trines of the Popes entangle vex, and distress
the consciences of the faithful, whilst the cry
ing and endless extortlons Of Rome engulf the
property and wealth o: Christendouh and more
particularly Of this illustrious nation ?
ill were to revoke what had written on
that subject, what should | do bnt strengthen
this tyranny. aud open wider door to so many
and fragrant impletleS Bearing down all re-
sistance with fresh tlry, we should behold
these proud men swell, ;oan, and rage more
than ever And not merely would the yoke
which now weighs down Christians be made
more grinding by my retraction,-it would
thereby become, so to speak, Lawful, for by
nv retraction, it would receive confrnation
from your most Serene Majesty and all the
States OF the Empire, Great God should
thus be like TO an infamous cloak, used to hide
and cover over every kind OF malice and tyran
ny.
in the third and last place. have writer
some books against private individuals, VIII,
had undertaken to cefend the tyranny Of Rom,
by destroying the faith. ! freely Confess tina
may have attacked such peraons with mor,
violence than was consistent Wnh my proies
sion as an ecceslastlc do moi think mysel
as saint,--but neither can retract thesI
books, because should, by SO doing, sanction
the impieties ofmy opponents and they woul,
thence take occusion to crush Gods people
with still more cruelty.
Yet, as ! am mere man, and not Tod,
, viii defend myself after the example of Jesu'
Christ who said M hare spoken erit, beai
pitness against me- Dohn xviii, 23) How
much more should |, who am bat dust anC
ashes, and so prone to error desire that every
a one should bring forward what he can agains