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 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.
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 n
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.
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 the battle closer and
closer, the rage of the priests was kindled still hotter against
him. They did not wish to be reformed. The chose to be left in
ease, in wanton pleasure, in wickedness; and they desired the
church also to be kept in darkness.
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.
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 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.
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.
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 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. -