Page 18 - 08 Luther Before the Diet

I do not return, and my enemies put me to

death, continue to teach, and stand fast in the

truth. Labor in my stead.... If you survive, my

death will be of little consequence.”—Ibid., b.

7, ch. 7. Students and citizens who had

gathered to witness Luther's departure were

deeply moved. A multitude whose hearts had

been touched by the gospel, bade him

farewell with weeping. Thus the Reformer

and his companions set out from Wittenberg.

On the journey they saw that the minds of the

people were oppressed by gloomy

forebodings. At some towns no honors were

proffered them. As they stopped for the night,

a friendly priest expressed his fears by

holding up before Luther the portrait of an

Italian reformer who had suffered

martyrdom. The next day they learned that

Luther's writings had been condemned at