Page 36 - 07 Luther's Separation from Rome

was awakening a desire for spiritual

progress. Everywhere was such a hungering

and thirsting after righteousness as had not

been known for ages. The eyes of the people,

so long directed to human rites and earthly

mediators, were now turning in penitence

and faith to Christ and Him crucified.

This widespread interest aroused still further

the fears of the papal authorities. Luther

received a summons to appear at Rome to

answer to the charge of heresy. The

command filled his friends with terror. They

knew full well the danger that threatened

him in that corrupt city, already drunk with

the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. They

protested against his going to Rome and

requested that he receive his examination in

Germany.