The Diet of April 18 1521

Luther prayed the prayer below, on the eve of his famous "Here I stand speech" because on the day of the eve of that prayer when called before the diet to answer the charges against him, his answer was so timid it was hardly audible, and he felt that God was not with him. Now this was on the eve of the speech that started the Reformation proper, and the main actor in the drama, the man whose shoulders the whole weight of it bore down upon to represent God's truth and His cause, God left him; this should be some solace, for those of you, who if like me, feels at times God's desertion in the hours we feel we most need him. Yet Luther went to God, like a picture of godly King David under desertions in the Psalms, also going to God in prayer.

Almighty, eternal God, what a contemptible thing this world is! Yet how it causes men to gape and stare at it! How small and slight is the trust of men in God. How frail and sensitive is the flesh of men, and the devil so powerful and active through his apostles and the ‘wise’ of the world! How soon men become disheartened and hurry on, running the common cause, the broad way to hell, where the godless belong! Their gazes fixed on what is splendid and powerful, great, and mighty! If I too were to turn my eyes to such things, I would be undone! The verdict would already have been passed against me, and the bell that is to toll my doom would already have been cast.

O God, O God, O Thou my God, my God, help me against the reason and wisdom of all the world! Do this! Thou must do it, Thou alone, for this cause is not mine, but Thine! For myself, I have no business here with these great lords of the world! Indeed, I too desire to enjoy days of peace and quiet and to be undisturbed. But Thine, O Lord, is this cause, and it is righteous and of eternal importance! Stand by me, Thou faithful eternal God. I rely on no man! Futile and vain is all; lame and halting all that is carnal and smacks of the flesh. God, O God, dost Thou not hear me, my God? Art Thou dead? Nay, Thou canst not die! Thou art merely hiding Thyself. Hast Thou chosen me for this task? I ask Thee!

I am sure Thou hast. Were so, let it be, then. Thy will be done. For never in my life did I intend to oppose such great lords. Never had I resolved to do this! O God, stand by me in the Name of Thy dear Son, Jesus Christ, Who shall be my protector and defender, yea, my mighty fortress, through the might and the strengthening of Thy Holy Spirit. Lord, where tarriest Thou? O Thou my God, where art Thou? Come, O come! I am ready to lay down my life for this cause, meek as a lamb, for the cause is righteous and it is Thine. I will not separate myself from Thee forever. Be that decision made, in Thy Name!

The world must leave my conscience unconquered even though it were full of devils and though my body, the work and creation of Thy hands, should be utterly ruined! But Thy Word and Spirit are a good compensation to me, and after all, only the body is concerned. The soul is Thine, and belongs to Thee, and willingly it will remain eternally. Amen. God help me. Amen.

Returning next day, Luther made a bold speech, and owned his writings which were called heretical, and this bold speech was repeated in Latin for Charles V, by Luther. But they still asked of him to recant. And finally, after such eloquence as a few minutes previously, to Eck and then in Latin to Charles V the holy roman emperor he put it simply, and plainly, so that no one could doubt that he meant what he said.

He was demaned of to answer candidly and without horns, did he repudiate the errors which his books contained. And Luther's famous reply, which gives me goosebumps, was as below.

Since your Majesty and your Lordship's desire a simple replyI will answer, without horns and without teeth. Unless I am convicted by Scripture and plain reason, I do not accept the authority of the Popes and counsils for they have frequently erred and contradicted themselves. My conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot, I will not, recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me, Amen.

That is the great heritage of all Reformed Christians; let us also vow in word and by deed, to not squander our heritage and that our consciences be bound by the Word of God, and no other will ever do. Let us not drop the baton that Luther handed down to us, but let us run with it!

Happy Reformation Day!