Page 16 - 07 Luther's Separation from Rome

never lost its power upon his soul. From that

time he saw more clearly than ever before

the fallacy of trusting to human works for

salvation, and the necessity of constant faith

in the merits of Christ. His eyes had been

opened, and were never again to be closed, to

the delusions of the papacy. When he turned

his face from Rome he had turned away also

in heart, and from that time the separation

grew wider, until he severed all connection

with the papal church.

After his return from Rome, Luther received

at the University of Wittenberg the degree of

doctor of divinity. Now he was at liberty to

devote himself, as never before, to the

Scriptures that he loved. He had taken a

solemn vow to study carefully and to preach

with fidelity the word of God, not the sayings

and doctrines of the popes, all the days of his