The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-09-22

under constant surveillance.
A Second Visit
We made a second visit to the Wart-
burg, on lovely afternoon just before
sunset, but this time onfoot, for our little
party are great pedestrians AS we
climbed the wooded hill and walked the
paths he trod, every place possessed
sanctity for us; the image of the great
and good man seemed to rise more dis
tinctly before our mental vision, and we
blessed the kind Providence who had
raised up such noble spirit Just at that
time to bless humanity and to battle so
nobly for religion and the truth. We
walked again about the battlements tax
ing in all the varied panorama from the
four sides, specially the one on which
Luther must so often have looked from
his little rounded window-frame. Then
we sat down on the seats placed so near
the jutting cliffs overlooking Eisenach
and the wooded dells of the Marienthal,
and fell to musing. Never shall we for
get the scene the almost twilight time
with its gorgeous hues of blue and red
and gold, together with the eventful CO.
incidence of the full-orbed moon shining
silvery in the East, and the king of day,
in fiery splendor, still lingering in the
West: the quietness of the fortress and
the sentinel on duty walking the ram
parts. Most of all, we think of Luther,
and by the aid of little sketch written
about him, we sum up the chief events of
his life and their momentous results
We look over at Eisenaeh and remember
that he went about there as little char
ity boy, singing from door to door, but
it was an overruling Providence that de-
cided his destiny. A lady of rank and
influence grew interested in him and his
future education; and house there
stands marked as the one in which he
spent many happy days under her pro
lection. Then we find him at school
OF the Franciscans, and further on, at the
college of Erfurt, studying diligently.
On one occasion in the University library
he comes across a copy of the Bible, and
is startled and delighted to find so much
more OF the apostles and evangelists than
is even given in Missals: desire to pos.
sess this greatest of all books, and study
for himself, takes possession of his heart,
and he never rests contented until he
owns the sacred treasure. The sudden
taking away by lightning, of his intimate
student friend Alexis, with whom he was
walking, caused him to resolve to become
monk; much to the distress of his
father, who had great expectations of his
brilliant intellect. We see him in i'm
agination, knocking at the door of the
Augustln Monastery, late at night, all
his worldly effects sent home, (including
his Maglster rlng), save copy Of Plautus
and Virgil under his arm. Still he prs-
sessed not Bible, but instead were given
to him broom and beggar's walletothe
brethren deeming this greater. source of
revenue than hours of study and medi-
tatlon. So CALLING to his spirit and yet
so meekly borne; bat he afterwards
learned that the sinful power within was
not to he destroyed by ever so much
Psalm-singing and fasting, and that holi-
ness of mind and Gods good-pleasure
were not to be obtained by sanctity of
a0orkS alone. God was preparing him
gradually for his future career. By the
influence of powerful friends, he obtained
a Professors chair in the Wittenberp
University, and though still living in the
cIolster ne was prevailed upon to preach
In the Wittenberg church. Boldly he
set forth the doctrines in which he so
fully believed, and the ninety-fve Theses,
nailed openly upon that church door, will
ever remain a brave deed in religious
history. The whole world seemed against
him, except few steadfast friends the
greatest among them the Elector of Sax
ony. Then the Romish Church was hurl
ing its anathemas against his devoted
head, but he still held firmly up for the
right and truth being summoned to the
learned councils of Augsburg and He;dle-
berg, and the Diets Of Spires and Worms.
Hear him bravely saying to Spalatin, "I
shall 60 to Worms in spite Of all the
gates of hell, and the princes of the air.
so confident was he that the truth would
ultimately prevail At the close of his
hard struggling life, full of useful lebors
of which his various works and his
translation of the Bible give abundant
proof-behold him crying out in his fa-
vorite tongue, Domino, IN naa,aals ta1as
con1n1e1ado spjritun mse1ln1." 20 Lord
into thy hands commit my spirit. ) !
Jonas bent over him and asked, "Wor |
thy Father, do you die in the faith you
preached?' Luther distinctly answered. |
Yes. " And thus the man of God fell
asleep, whose spirit will always live in