Page 17 - 08 Luther Before the Diet

Spirit to overcome these ministers of error. I

despise them during my life; I shall triumph

over them by my death. They are busy at

Worms about compelling me to retract; and

this shall be my retraction: I said formerly

that the pope was Christ's vicar; now I assert

that he is our Lord's adversary, and the

devil's apostle.”—Ibid., b. 7, ch. 6.

Luther was not to make his perilous journey

alone. Besides the imperial messenger, three

of his firmest friends determined to

accompany him. Melanchthon earnestly

desired to join them. His heart was knit to

Luther's, and he yearned to follow him, if

need be, to prison or to death. But his

entreaties were denied. Should Luther perish,

the hopes of the Reformation must center

upon his youthful colaborer. Said the

Reformer as he parted from Melanchthon: “If