The Reformation and Its Heroes (Sketches). (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1886. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VIII. LUTHER BURNS THE POPE'S BULL. 1520. This was a very important event in the life of the great Reformer, Martin Luther. You remember that as he was going up what are called the Holy Stairs at Rome he started, when about half way up, because he seemed to hear a voice saying to him, "The just shall live by faith." That, as we said, was a turningpoint in Luther's life. From that time his views of religion became clearer than ever they had been before. If you look through a window of stained glass you can see nothing plainly. But if you look through a clear glass window you can see everything distinctly. Up to that time Luther's mind had been like a stained glass window, and all his views of the gospel of Jesus were dim and cloudy. But then his mind became clear, and for the first time in his life he began to understand what the gospel is, and how men are saved by it. Now we come to the second turning-point in Luther's history. The first referred to a great change that took place in his thoughts and feelings; but this refers to a change that took place in his life and actions. 1. What is meant by the Pope's bull? You know that in the autumn of every year the President of the United States publishes a letter to all the people of that country, appointing a particular day (generally the last Thursday in November) as a day of public thanksgiving to God for all his mercies to them. This letter is called the President's proclamation. And so the Pope of Rome sometimes sends out a letter or proclamation to the people belonging to his Church in all parts of the world. In this letter he tells them to do or not to do certain things; to believe or not to believe certain doctrines. And this letter or proclamation of the Pope is called his "bull." This name com...