For I fear that the German nation is going too far, so that it will finally meet the fate described in the last chapter of the Fourth Book of Kings. Those people killed the prophets so long that God forsook them and they found themselves beyond help. Thus I am afraid that the German nation will also receive its just deserts in the end. It condemned the gospel first in Constance, where it shed the innocent blood of Huss and Jerome; then in Worms and in Heidelberg, that of Dramsdorf and several others; also in Mainz and Cologne. The entire Rhine is bloody and will not be cleansed of the blood, but unceasingly fetes the murderers of Christians, the inquisitors, until God intervenes, and then the time of help will be past. The nation is tempting God too often. At present it again stands condemned at Worms in me. Even if they did not shed my blood, they did not lack the will and determination to. In their hearts they are continually murdering me. You unhappy nation! Why must you more than others be the Antichrist’s jailer and his hangman of God’s saints and prophets? (Luther’s Works, v.43, p.69)
Art. XIIII Das in der kirchen niemand offentlich ohne beruff lehren od Sacrament reichen sol.
“That no one in the church should provide the sacraments or teach publicly without a calling.”
Rom. 10, v. 15 ; And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!”
Heb. 5, v. 4 ; And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was.
[All of the pictures for this year’s posts are from an etching entitled “Augsburg Confession” by Wenceslaus Hollar (1607-1677) and found in the Royal Collection Trust.]