Exurge Domine to Christian Nobility, on the Babylonian captivity and the Freedom of the Christian. Where we have justification by faith affirmed. On December 10th, 1520, Luther burns the Exurge Domine in a bonfire. The questions of Exurge Domine were burned. On January 3rd, 1521, Decet Romanum Pontificem is delivered to Luther. For the full rejection of opulent religious order and heresy.
Luther was handed over to the Imperial Diet, a collective meeting of rulers of the empire. About 300 princes and rulers with the emperor at the time. All to meet in the city of Worms.
On April 18th, 1521, Luther arrived at the city of Worms to go before the Diet. When he entered the room before the rulers and princes, before Johann Maier von Eck and before Gasparo Contarini, his written works were sitting in view of everyone. Luther is asked to confirm that those are his works. Upon acknowledgment, Eck insists Luther must recant everything he has written. To which Luther requests one night to think about it.
Luther spends the night in prayer. Am I Alone Wise? He asks repeatedly. A night of doubt, yet he becomes reassured and confident. To which the next day, he returns to examination before the rulers and princes. Luther is asked yet again, “are these your books?” Eck demands Luther to recant and rescind his views to save Luther’s life.
Alone and steadfast, Luther proclaims:
“Unless I am convinced by scripture and plain reason. I do not accept the authority of Popes and Councils. For they have contradicted each other. My conscience is captive to the word of God. I cannot and will not recant anything. For to go against conscience is neither safe nor wise. Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me.”
In open defiance and by offering his life if they want to take it, he responds. He as much said you have to convince him that he is wrong. Even as he told them that he knows he is right, because Scripture says so, he in full view of everyone acknowledges that they intend to kill him for it.
On May 25th, 1521, Luther was made an outlaw. He is banished with a bounty put on him. Once his safe-conduct passage for trial expires, he will become sought and hunted for arrest and execution. Emperor Charles, by intentional delay, allows Luther to flee.
After that, Frederick the Wise, who saw the diet outcome as unjust, ordered several of his men to kidnap Luther and hide. Knowing he would be compelled to reveal where Luther was hidden, he ordered his men not to tell him where they hid Luther. In distress, it eventually came about where Frederick rightfully told authorities He had no idea where Luther was.
Luther was hidden at a castle in Wartburg. He assumes the name Junker George. Excommunicated from the Catholic church, he solidified his convictions and began the Protestant movement. He translated the Bible from Hebrew, Greek, and Latin to German. By doing so, with the newly invented Gutenberg Printing Press, he put the Bible into the hands of common people. In an effort to break down the medieval understanding of the Catholic church. It was to take society from the dark ages to an ordained understanding of our Holy God and His church.
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