Page 55 - 08 Luther Before the Diet

Earnest efforts were made to obtain Luther's

consent to a compromise with Rome. Nobles

and princes represented to him that if he

persisted in setting up his own judgment

against that of the church and the councils he

would soon be banished from the empire and

would have no defense. To this appeal Luther

answered: “The gospel of Christ cannot be

preached without offense.... Why then should

the fear or apprehension of danger separate

me from the Lord, and from that divine word

which alone is truth? No; I would rather give

up my body, my blood, and my life.”—

D'Aubigne, b. 7, ch. 10.

Again he was urged to submit to the

judgment of the emperor, and then he would

have nothing to fear. “I consent,” said he in

reply, “with all my heart, that the emperor,

the princes, and even the meanest Christian,