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Protestantism and Martin Luther
No discussion of the Protestant Reformation is complete
without at least the mention of Martin Luther. In her book The Great
Controversy, Ellen White dedicated four chapters to the story of Martin
Luther and the Protestant Reformation in Germany, and she mentions his name in
at least a dozen other chapters as well. We will share a few samples of Mrs.
White’s account of Martin Luther:
Foremost among those who were called to lead the church from the
darkness of popery into the light of a purer faith, stood Martin Luther.
Zealous, ardent, and devoted, knowing no fear but the fear of God, and
acknowledging no foundation for religious faith but the Holy Scriptures, Luther
was the man for his time; through him God accomplished a great work for the
reformation of the church and the enlightenment of the world.
Like the first heralds of the gospel, Luther sprang from the
ranks of poverty. His early years were spent in the humble home of a German
peasant. By daily toil as a miner his father earned the means for his
education. He intended him for a lawyer; but God purposed to make him a builder
in the great temple that was rising so slowly through the centuries. Hardship,
privation, and severe discipline were the school in which Infinite Wisdom prepared
Luther for the important mission of his life. . . .
While one day examining the books in the library of the
university, Luther discovered a Latin Bible. Such a book he had never
before seen. He was ignorant even of its existence. He had heard portions of
the Gospels and Epistles, which were read to the people at public worship, and
he supposed that these were the entire Bible. Now, for the first time, he
looked upon the whole of God’s word. With mingled awe and wonder he turned the
sacred pages; with quickened pulse and throbbing heart he read for himself the
words of life, pausing now and then to exclaim: “O that God would give me such
a book for myself!”—J. H. Merle D'Aubigne, History of the Reformation of the
Sixteenth Century, b. 2, ch. 2. Angels of heaven were by his side, and rays
of light from the throne of God revealed the treasures of truth to his
understanding. He had ever feared to offend God, but now the deep conviction of
his condition as a sinner took hold upon him as never before.
An earnest desire to be free from sin and to find peace with God
led him at last to enter a cloister and devote himself to a monastic life.
. . .
Every moment that could be spared from his daily duties he
employed in study, robbing himself of sleep and grudging even the time spent at
his scanty meals. Above everything else he delighted in the study of God’s
word. He had found a Bible chained to the convent wall, and to this he
often repaired. As his convictions of sin deepened, he sought by his own works
to obtain pardon and peace. . . . But with all his efforts his
burdened soul found no relief. He was at last driven to the verge of despair.
. . .
Luther was still a true son of the papal church and had no
thought that he would ever be anything else. In the providence of God he
was led to visit Rome. He pursued his journey on foot, lodging at the
monasteries on the way. At a convent in Italy he was filled with wonder at the
wealth, magnificence, and luxury that he witnessed. Endowed with a princely
revenue, the monks dwelt in splendid apartments, attired themselves in the
richest and most costly robes, and feasted at a sumptuous table. With painful
misgivings Luther contrasted this scene with the self-denial and hardship of
his own life. His mind was becoming perplexed.
At last he beheld in the distance the seven-hilled city. With
deep emotion he prostrated himself upon the earth, exclaiming: “Holy Rome, I
salute thee!”—J. H. Merle D'Aubigne, History of the Reformation of the
Sixteenth Century, b. 2, ch. 6. He entered the city, visited the churches,
listened to the marvelous tales repeated by priests and monks, and performed
all the ceremonies required. Everywhere he looked upon scenes that filled him
with astonishment and horror. . . . Turn where he would, in the place
of sanctity he found profanation. “No one can imagine,” he wrote, “what sins
and infamous actions are committed in Rome; they must be seen and heard to be
believed. Thus they are in the habit of saying, ‘If there is a hell, Rome is
built over it: it is an abyss whence issues every kind of sin.’ ”—J. H.
Merle D'Aubigne, History of the Reformation of the Sixteenth Century, b.
2, ch. 6.
By a recent decretal an indulgence had been promised by the
pope to all who should ascend upon their knees “Pilate’s staircase,” said
to have been descended by our Saviour on leaving the Roman judgment hall and to
have been miraculously conveyed from Jerusalem to Rome. Luther was one day
devoutly climbing these steps, when suddenly a voice like thunder seemed to say
to him: “The just shall live by faith.” Romans 1:17. He sprang to his feet and
hastened from the place in shame and horror. That text never lost its power
upon his soul. From that time he saw more clearly than ever before the
fallacy of trusting to human works for salvation, and the necessity of constant
faith in the merits of Christ. His eyes had been opened, and were never again
to be closed, to the delusions of the papacy. When he turned his face from Rome
he had turned away also in heart, and from that time the separation grew wider,
until he severed all connection with the papal church.
The Great Controversy, pp. 120-125
Go to Martin Luther, part 2, “The 95 Theses” . . .
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