Early Writings
by Ellen G. White
The Reformation
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Raising his voice against the errors and sins of the papal church, Martin Luther endeavored to break the chain of darkness which had confined thousands and caused them to trust in works for their salvation.
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Review and Herald Publ. Assoc. |
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Notwithstanding all the persecution of the saints, living
witnesses for God's truth were raised up on every hand. Angels of the Lord were
doing the work committed to their trust. They were searching in the darkest
places and selecting out of the darkness men who were honest in heart. These
were all buried up in error, yet God called them, as He did Saul, to be chosen
vessels to bear His truth and raise their voices against the sins of His
professed people. Angels of God moved upon the hearts of Martin Luther,
Melanchthon, and others in different places, and caused them to thirst for the
living testimony of the Word of God. The enemy had come in like a flood, and
the standard must be raised against him. Luther was the one chosen to breast
the storm, stand up against the ire of a fallen church, and strengthen the few
who were faithful to their holy profession. He was ever fearful of offending God.
He tried through works to obtain His favor, but was not satisfied until a gleam
of light [223] from heaven drove the darkness from his mind
and led him to trust, not in works, but in the merits of the blood of Christ.
He could then come to God for himself, not through popes or confessors, but
through Jesus Christ alone. {EW
222.1}
Oh, how precious to Luther was this new and glorious light
which had dawned upon his dark understanding and driven away his superstition!
He prized it higher than the richest earthly treasure. The Word of God was new.
Everything was changed. The book he had dreaded because he could not see beauty
in it, was now life, eternal life, to him. It was his joy, his consolation, his
blessed teacher. Nothing could induce him to leave its study. He had feared
death; but as he read the Word of God, all his terrors disappeared, and he
admired the character of God and loved Him. He searched the Bible for himself
and feasted upon the rich treasures it contained; then he searched it for the
church. He was disgusted with the sins of those in whom he had trusted for
salvation, and as he saw many others enshrouded in the same darkness which had
covered him, he anxiously sought an opportunity to point them to the Lamb of
God, who alone taketh away the sin of the world. {EW 223.1}
Raising his voice against the errors and sins of the papal
church, he earnestly endeavored to break the chain of darkness which was
confining thousands and causing them to trust in works for salvation. He longed
to be enabled to open to their minds the true riches of the grace of God and
the excellence of salvation obtained through Jesus Christ. In the power of the
Holy Spirit he cried out against the existing sins of the leaders of the
church; and as he met the storm of opposition from the priests, his courage
failed not; for he firmly relied upon the strong arm of God, and confidently
trusted in Him for victory. As he pushed [224] the
battle closer and closer, the rage of the priests was kindled still hotter
against him. They did not wish to be reformed. They chose to be left in ease,
in wanton pleasure, in wickedness; and they desired the church also to be kept
in darkness. {EW 223.2}
I saw that Luther was ardent and zealous, fearless and bold,
in reproving sin and advocating the truth. He cared not for wicked men or
devils; he knew that he had One with him mightier than they all. Luther
possessed zeal, courage, and boldness, and at times was in danger of going to
extremes. But God raised up Melanchthon, who was just the opposite in
character, to aid Luther in carrying on the work of reformation. Melanchthon
was timid, fearful, cautious, and possessed great patience. He was greatly
beloved of God. His knowledge of the Scriptures was great, and his judgment and
wisdom excellent. His love for the cause of God was equal to Luther's. The
hearts of these men the Lord knit together; they were inseparable friends.
Luther was a great help to Melanchthon when in danger of being fearful and
slow, and Melanchthon in turn was a great help to Luther when in danger of
moving too fast. Melanchthon's farseeing caution often averted trouble which
would have come upon the cause had the work been left alone to Luther; and
ofttimes the work would not have been pushed forward had it been left to Melanchthon
alone. I was shown the wisdom of God in choosing these two men to carry on the
work of reformation. {EW
224.1}
I was then carried back to the days of the apostles and saw
that God chose as companions an ardent, zealous Peter and a mild, patient John.
Sometimes Peter was impetuous, and often when this was the case the beloved
disciple would check him. This, however, did not reform him. But after he had
denied his Lord, repented, and been converted, all he needed [225]
to check his ardor and zeal was a mild caution from John. The cause of Christ
would often have suffered had it been left to John alone. Peter's zeal was
needed. His boldness and energy often delivered them from difficulty and
silenced their enemies. John was winning. He gained many to the cause of Christ
by his patient forbearance and deep devotedness. {EW 224.2}
God raised up men to cry against the existing sins of the
papal church and carry forward the Reformation. Satan sought to destroy these
living witnesses; but the Lord made a hedge about them. Some, for the glory of
His name, were permitted to seal with their blood the testimony they had borne;
but there were other powerful men, like Luther and Melanchthon, who could best
glorify God by living and exposing the sins of priests, popes, and kings. These
trembled before the voice of Luther, and his fellow laborers. Through those
chosen men, rays of light began to scatter the darkness, and very many joyfully
received the light and walked in it. And when one witness was slain, two or more
were raised up to take his place. {EW 225.1}
But Satan was not satisfied. He could only have power over
the body. He could not make believers yield their faith and hope. And even in
death they triumphed with a bright hope of immortality at the resurrection of
the just. They had more than mortal energy. They dared not sleep for a moment,
but kept the Christian armor girded about them, prepared for a conflict, not
merely with spiritual foes, but with Satan in the form of men whose constant
cry was, "Give up your faith, or die." These few Christians were
strong in God, and more precious in His sight than half a world who bear the
name of Christ, and yet are cowards in His cause. While the church was
persecuted, its members were united and loving; they were strong in God.
Sinners were not permitted to [226] unite with the church. Those
only who are willing to forsake all for Christ could be His disciples. These
loved to be poor, humble, and Christlike. {EW 225.2}
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