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political power, and their word is heard issuing from the high places of authority of the foremost nation upon the continent as it is to-day.

Never was the hand of God more evident in overruling the schemes of men, than in bringing about this wonderful result. Certainly it is a glorious fulfillment of the prophetic words: "AND THEY (the resuscitated witnesses) HEARD A GREAT VOICE FROM HEAVEN SAYING UNTO THEM, COME UP HIther. AND THEY WENT UP INTO HEAVEN IN THE CLOUD; AND THEIR ENEMIES BEHELD THEM."

In thirty-eight years, from a stillness that seemed like death, the witnesses have advanced with irresistible might, till Rome in fear and shame beholds them seated, as if upon a cloud, in the very zenith of political ascendency. When, before or since, was so mighty a revolution wrought in so brief an interval? The mighty hand of God was manifest throughout, stretched forth for his people's deliverance. It was indeed as if they had heard a voice from heaven calling them to a new position among the powers of the world, and saying in words of triumph:

"Daughter of Zion, from the dust

Exalt thy fallen head;

Again in thy Redeemer trust,

He calls thee from the dead.

Awake, awake, put on thy strength,
Thy beautiful array;

The day of freedom dawns at length,
The Lord's appointed day.

Rebuild thy walls, thy bounds enlarge,
And send thy heralds forth;

Say to the South, 'Give up thy charge,
And keep not back, O North.'

Thus though the universe shall burn
And God his works destroy,

With songs thy ransomed shall return,
And everlasting joy."

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n the 19th of April, 1529, an event occurred which has given a name to the better portion of Christendom; a name that seems likely to endure to the end of the age. It was in the City of Spires, Germany, where the Diet had assembled by command of the Emperor Charles V. Charles had acted a double part. Only three years previous, incensed with Pope Clement VII. because the latter opposed some of his ambitious schemes, he had sided with the friends of Luther, and called the German princes to the welcome task of humbling the warlike Pontiff.

A terrible campaign followed. The brave Freundsberg, who had patted Luther on the shoulder as he went before the Diet of Worms, led his troops by an unaccustomed path over the icy Alps, and being joined by the Spanish troops, pressed on to Rome; and on the morning of the 6th of May, 1526, two German soldiers scaled the wall and opened the gates, and the whole army rushed in, and the seven-hilled city was given up to pillage. The cruelties she had so often inflicted on others under the sanction of the Pope were now returned in double fury upon her own head, and the treasures of gold and silver that she had

wrung from oppressed Christendom by the subtle arts of priestcraft became the booty of those whom she would gladly have destroyed as heretics. For ten days the scourge was mercilessly applied. Neither age, rank, nor sex was spared. From five to eight thousand victims perished, and ten millions of golden crowns filled the pockets of the soldiery. The Pope, compelled to yield himself a prisoner, renounced his alliance. against Charles and paid as a ransom the sum of four hundred thousand ducats. So signal a judgment astonished the world, and men expected the complete overthrow of the Papacy.

But God's time had not come. The twelve hundred and sixty years of its foretold sway were not yet accomplished. This judgment, striking as it seemed, was but the faintest hint of the tremendous overthrow that surely awaits it. It was in fact, but a brief check, giving to the Reformation a needed respite of nearly three years in which to gather strength for the inevitable conflict.

Charles, having humbled the Pope, soon deemed it for his own. interest to join hands with him, and the suppression of the reform was again resolved upon. This was to be the work of the Diet. The Papists mustered in great numbers, and with unrelenting purpose. They denounced the reformers, called them worse than Turks, heaped reproaches and maledictions upon them, and in spite of all argument and entreaty, passed a decree restoring the papal supremacy throughout the empire.

Had the German princes yielded to this decree, as their political interests seemed to demand, all had been lost. But with a noble unselfishness that can never cease to be admired they determined to brave all perils rather than desert the Gospel

of Christ. Four of the princes and the deputies of fourteen free cities united in a solemn declaration or protest in which they said in reference to the decree: "We cannot consent. Firstly, because we believe that his imperial majesty is called to maintain firmly what has been unanimously and solemnly resolved (referring to a previous agreement of toleration).

"Secondly, because it concerns the glory of God and the salvation of our souls, and that in such matters we ought to have regard, above all, to the commandment of God, who is King of kings, and Lord of Lords; each of us rendering account for himself without caring the least in the world about majority or minority, ***Now seeing ** *that there is no sure doctrine but such as is conformable to the Word of God; that the Lord forbids the teaching of any other doctrine; that each text of the holy Scriptures ought to be explained by other and clearer texts; that this holy book is in all things necessary for the Christian, easy of understanding, and calculated to scatter darkness; we are resolved, with the grace of God, to maintain the pure and exclusive preaching of this only word, such as is contained in the Biblical books of the Old and New Testament, without adding anything thereto that may be contrary to it. This word is the only truth; it is the sure rule of all doctrine and of all life, and can never fail or deceive us. He who builds on this foundation shall stand against all the powers of hell, whilst all the human vanities that are set up against it shall fall before the face of God.

"For these reasons *** we earnestly entreat you to weigh carefully our grievances and our motives. If you do not yield to our request we PROTEST by these presents before God our only

Creator, Preserver, Redeemer, and Savior, and who will one day be our judge, as well as before all men and all creatures, that we, for us and for our people, neither consent nor adhere, in any manner whatsoever, to the proposed decree, in anything that is contrary to God, to His Holy Word, to our right conscience and to the salvation of our souls."

And on account of this emphatic and solemn Protest, they and all who hold with them against Rome, have ever since been called Protestants.

This renowned Protest formed more than an era in the work of Reform. It marked also a mighty epoch in the history of Europe and of the world. Hitherto the new movement had caused no external political division in Christendom. This Protest accomplished a separation and opened a gulf that has never been closed. At just this moment the Reformation comes forth to view in its true character as something far more than a new school of theology, even as a great insurrection of the human mind against spiritual despotism, a mighty revolution destined to shake the whole civilized world. Germany rocked to her deepest foundations; and the Protestant princes meeting at Smalcald entered into a solemn league of mutual help and defense.

Switzerland was shaken. Even while Luther was nailing his theses to the church door, Zwingle, the Swiss Luther, was proclaiming the truth with irresistible power. Around him gathered Oswald Myconius, Leo Juda, Farel, Lambert, Ecolompadius, Haller, and others of sacred memory, the inevitable division appeared, and the Helvetian hills echoed with the sounds of a bloody conflict. Zwingle himself fell in a fierce battle; but the truth did not fall.

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