Page 44 - 07 Luther's Separation from Rome

despot, who would otherwise overpower by

his imperious language.”—Martyn, The Life

and Times of Luther, pages 271, 272.

At the next interview, Luther presented a

clear, concise, and forcible exposition of his

views, fully supported by many quotations

from Scripture. This paper, after reading

aloud, he handed to the cardinal, who,

however, cast it contemptuously aside,

declaring it to be a mass of idle words and

irrelevant quotations. Luther, fully aroused,

now met the haughty prelate on his own

ground—the traditions and teachings of the

church—and utterly overthrew his

assumptions.

When the prelate saw that Luther's reasoning

was unanswerable, he lost all self-control,

and in a rage cried out: “Retract! or I will

send you to Rome, there to appear before the