The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-11-12

ole writer's. BellarmnO saws: Before the rise
of the Lutheran and Calvanstic heresles there
was almost an entire abandonment of eqmty
in the eccesiasical Judgments; IN morals no
discipline; religion was almost extinct" The
world WIS ruled by the Meljci, and life alternat-
ed between sacrament ana sIn. The church had
drunk Of The B2bylonlsh cap of Roman medi-
Rvalism to the full. Holy men everywhere
were stirred at sight of the worlds religion,
TOO superstitiuus," like ST. PAM AT Athens.
The formal movement in England began in
1909 when OXfor sent an appeal for reforma-
ton to the council al Pisa. The appeal was re-
newed at the council of Constance. in ID D.
France joined the next appeal at Basic, 1925.
In 1494 even Spain, through Isabella, moved by
A!mehes' demanded reform, En5lahd, once
more united under Henry VIII, felt her nation
ALLY and church life so strong that she said,
| finally, TO the Pope, 'Gou have no further iurs-
dictiOn in THIS realm. in ecclesiastical a Il hrs.
Stay in Italy," The constitution, doctrines and
( services of the church were restored to Their
apostolic simplicity ana purity, as we have
them to-day. The b shop OF Rome, aat first only
OF Rome, had usurped authority during the
dark ages, and, being bishop of the mis-
tress of the world, he had assumed
to he the master of the world.
This was bad for the world His power
ended in England, other nations struggled for
the same freedom. Luther did not begin the
protest in Germany, AS we nave seen, bur, born
in 1888, he WAS ready, at tue fuilness of his
great manhood, to throw himself into the
mighty work. He was one of The hottest % men.
and great in the highest sense of that word. He
had broad human sympathies, massive energy,
manly ana afecjlonate simplicity, and rich
spiritual genius.
"A
by early training and by Gods special gifts for
his titanic task. He focused the reforming
movement in Germany. His doctrines, and the
history of the Lutheran sect, leave, and simply
suggest the practical lessons from his life.
/. The training of the boy made the man. His
parents were humble people. hut they were re-
ligious. They brought up their son according 10
the Bible rule of NOT sparing the rod. Between
the Old-tashl0ned scnO0masrer and his
father he got fifteen tloggings uHy;
hut his father loved him tenderly and would not
let him go wrong HIS father carried HIM IN his
own arms to school. His study was made thor
ough He was trained for me law, but reading
the Bible one day in the library at Erfurt, his
heart was touched ar what he found in the COS
peis, and he devoted himself TO "a religious life
He passed through great struggle with SIM
and found peace in forgiveness, through the
grace aud mercy of Jesus Christ, in Cnrsi's own
way. "Ths new monk will puzzle our DOCTORS"
said the head OF the university, ana he did. For
20 the man had the courage of his convictions
When he preached This words were not born Oh
his lips. but i'll his soul" At Rome he saw the
abuses of the papacy in their tulness Return
ing nome, he assaIled that creature of the Pope,
john Tetzel for selling pardons for sin. God
willing" ne Cried 81 will beat hole III his drum"
He drew up nuety-tive denials of the Pope's
right to issue such indulrences or to have them
sold; preached on them and nailed them to the
door of the church in Wittenberg. The hour of
reformatiO struck for Germany, and il seemed as
II the angels carried The sOnnd to The ears of all
men. The Emperor Charles summoned him
to the Diet Worms. All Germany was moved
by his he roism; racked with pain and feeble In
BODY, the threats of enemies ana the anXieties
OF friends could not move nlm. Before the king
ana po'entates lie admitted that the condemned
books were his. He exclaimed: IF neither
nor dare retract anything, for my conscience 10
a captive to Gods word. Here [ take my stand
SO help me God Amen"
ask then, in conclusion, is the present loose
way OF letting boys come up going to make
Luthers of theml Can You make men of marx
and character and principle and power unless
you train your boys vigorously in Gods way and
keep them down to their wOrk2 is there any refor-
NATION needed in our day? If men to know
their fun duty must they NOT study the things of
God as Luther did2 Above all, need men who
have convictions about religion and know the
value of Gods truth; men whose conscience is
Gods voice within them, their guide always;
men who will defend the facts of history ana
the faith of the apostles in the church against
the world; men who know what sin means by
having overcome its power in their own hearts
through the mercy of Christ; men who
consecra ted TO their Savior, and know His pow
er to save, and the worth OF the immortal soul.
God, give us such men in all our churches!
Amen.