Recently our faith was put to a still harder test. Satan, who always mingles with the children of God [Job 1:6], has made fine sport of us, mainly of me, in Wittenberg. He has permitted our adversaries to indulge their hatred against us. He opened his mouth wide to vilify the gospel. All my foes, including all devils, no matter how viciously they (often) attacked me, have never hit me as hard as our own people did now. I must confess that the smoke sorely smarts my eyes and makes me heartsick. Here, the devil thought, “I will depress Luther’s courage and break his strong spirit. He will neither understand nor overcome what is done.” (Luther’s Works, v.43, p.64-65)
Picture: Revelation 14:6-7, “Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people—saying with a loud voice, ‘Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.’”
[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.]