LUTHER BEFORE CAJETAN.

On foot he undertook the journey, believed by all to be a journey to his death.  But Maximilian, then in the neighborhood of Augsburg, gave him a safe-conduct, and Cajetan was obliged to receive him with civility.  He even embraced him with tokens of affection, thinking to win him to retraction.  Luther was much softened by these kindly manifestations, and was disposed to comply with almost anything if not required to deny the truth of God.

The interviews were numerous.  Luther was told that it was useless to think that the civil powers would go to war for his protection; and where would he then be?  His answer was:  “I will be, as now, under the broad heavens of the Almighty.”  Remonstrances, entreaties, threatenings, and proposals of high distinction were addressed to him; but he wanted no cardinal’s hat, and for nothing in Rome’s power would he consent to retract what he believed to be the Gospel truth till shown wherein it was at variance with the divine Word.  Cajetan’s arguments tripped and failed at every point, and he could only reiterate that he had been sent to receive a retraction, not to debate the questions.  Luther as often promised this when shown from the Scriptures to be in the wrong, but not till then.

CAJETAN’S MORTIFICATION.

Foiled and disappointed in his designs, and astounded and impatient that a poor monk should thus set at naught all the prayers and powers of the sovereign of Christendom, the cardinal bade him see his face no more until he had repented of his stubbornness.

At this the friends of the Reformer, fearing for his safety, clandestinely hurried him out of Augsburg, literally grappling him up from his bed only half dressed, and brought him away to his university.  He had answered the pope’s summons, and yet was free!

Cajetan was mortified at the result, and was upbraided for his failure.  In his chagrin he wrote angrily to the Elector not to soil his name and lineage by sheltering a heretic, but to surrender Luther at once, on pain of an interdict.  The Elector was troubled.  Luther had not been proven a heretic, neither did he believe him to be one; but he feared collision with the pope.

Luther said if he were in the Elector’s place he would answer the cardinal as he deserved for thus insulting an honest man; but, not to be an embarrassment to his prince, he agreed to leave the Elector’s dominions if he said so.  But Frederick would not surrender his distinguished subject to the legate, neither would he send him out of the country.  It is hard to say which was here the nobler man, Luther or his illustrious protector.

PROGRESS OF EVENTS.

The minds of men by this time were much aroused, and Luther’s cause grew and strengthened.  The learned Melanchthon, Reuchlin’s relative and pupil, was added to the faculty at Wittenberg, and became Luther’s chief co-laborer.  The number of students in the university swelled to thousands, including the sons of noblemen and princes from all parts, who listened with admiration to Luther’s lectures and sermons and spread his fame and doctrines.  And the feeling was deep and general that a new and marvelous light had arisen upon the world.[8]