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Higher History

Who Was Martin Luther? Part 27

Frederick the Wise
Frederick and Spalatin protected Luther

by Rev. Donavon Riley

As the written attacks against Luther increased, the Wittenberger was also confronted with the very real possibility that Elector Frederick would capitulate to Rome’s demands to drag his star professor before the Pope in chains. And yet, despite his anxiety, Luther wrote to his friend, Spalatin, that he was prepared to receive his chains if need be because, “like Abraham I know not where, nay, most certainly, where, because God is everywhere.”

However, rather than sit passively, awaiting his fate, Martin wrote a letter to Frederick arguing his case. He referred to himself as “a shabby little monk” and begged Frederick to allow him to plead his case to the Elector. He included a blow by blow account of what occurred between himself and Cajetan at Ausburg. At that time, he explained, “Cajetan was not able to produce even a syllable from the Scriptures against me.” Finally, Luther wrote, “Truly excellent Prince… concerning my response [to Cajetan], let whatever will be, be; if it false… if it is damnable or to be recanted, then I will do all this if it should be so.” After this, if Frederick would not receive his appeal, then Luther was prepared to accept whatever judgment was laid on him.

When Frederick read Luther’s letter he was moved to continue his protection of the shabby little monk in spite of pressure from Rome. The Elector wrote to Cajetan on December 7, 1518 that “we have fulfilled our promise to you” by delivering Luther to Augsburg. Likewise, “there are now many learned people in our principalities and lands, both in the universities and elsewhere, but in fact to this very moment we are unable to become firmly and unquestionably any more certain that the learning of Martin is impious and not Christian but heretical…” Finally, unless Luther was convicted of heresy, Frederick would not turn him over to the papists.

Unfortunately for Martin, he did not know about the Elector’s letter to Cajetan. Therefore, he was already, on December 20, planning to flee to France. “Pray for me,” he wrote to Spalatin, because “I am in the hands of God and my friends.” In response, Spalatin urged Luther to come to Salzburg instead, that they “may live and die together.”

But, by the time his friend’s letter arrived, Luther had learned about Frederick’s decision. “Good God,” Luther wrote to Spalatin, “with what joy I read and reread” the letter that declared the Elector’s decision about me. “He is the sort of man whose grasp extends to politics and learning at the same time.”

Next time, we will examine the fallout from Frederick’s decision to defend Luther.

Rev. Donavon Riley is the pastor of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Webster, Minnesota.

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Higher History

Who Was Martin Luther? Part 26

Cajetan and Luther

by Rev. Donavon Riley

After days of back and forth between Martin Luther and the papal representatives, Elector Frederick finally urged his now infamous professor to write an appeal to Rome, to “the pope badly informed to the pope better informed.” At the same time, Luther’s colleague Staupitz encouraged him to write a final summary of his position to Cardinal Cajetan. In both letters Luther summed up his position saying he could not recant any of his teachings because that would, in effect, be creating new articles of faith. The Wittenberger could not recant, he argued, because what he taught was biblical and thus the very Word of God which could not err.

Once the letters had been sent, Luther and Staupitz met in private to talk about what would happen next. Martin’s position was clear. He was in mortal danger. He would have to flee under cover of darkness if he wanted to save his life. To this end, Staupitz released Martin from his monastic vows. He was no longer bound to obey the rules of his order or his superiors. After this was done, Staupitz and Luther’s companions fled Augsburg. Now Luther was alone.

Luther, for his part, snuck out through a hole in the city wall, left his monk’s cowl behind, climbed up on an old nag, and made his way to Wittenberg undetected. Later, upon reflection, Martin said that when he arrived at the gates of the city and dismounted he could barely stand he was so exhausted, overcome as he was by feelings of fear and hope. Emotions that would hound him for many days and months afterwards.

Cardinal Cajetan, learning of Luther’s escape, wrote to Frederick, promising the Elector that Rome would not so easily forget what had happened in Augsburg and the Elector’s part in all of it. The matter would be prosecuted and the glory of Rome would not be allowed to suffer blemish. Frederick either sent Luther to Rome in chains or, at the least, he must publicly reject Martin’s teachings. Whatever the case, the Cardinal was clear; turn over Luther or suffer the full power of Rome crashing down on Wittenberg.

Next week, we will examine more of the attacks on Luther after Augsburg and their consequences.

Rev. Donavon Riley is the pastor of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Webster, Minnesota.

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Higher History

Who Was Martin Luther? Part 25

Cajetan and Luther

by Rev. Donavon Riley

While friends, colleagues, and supporters of Martin Luther worked to secure him safe passage to Augsburg, and the freedom to move about the city once there, he was visited by representatives of Cardinal Cajetan. They encouraged Luther to repent of his teaching, then everything would be forgiven and forgotten. Luther was even asked if his motives were less than serious, and whether he intended to turn the meeting into a sporting event.

Cajetan, for his part, took Luther’s teaching deadly serious. He had read numerous published works by Luther, and had written lengthy responses to the pillars of Luther’s teaching. This was no small thing, especially for Rome, since the cardinal was widely considered to be one of the greatest minds of his generation. That Cajetan criticizing the young German professor meant Luther’s theology was a threat to the church that was not to be taken lightly. He attacked Luther’s positions on whether a Christian can build up merits to earn his way into heaven, whether one had to have true faith to be justified and receive grace, and whether the Pope had the authority to grant indulgences.

Cajetan had been charged by his superiors in Rome not to debate with Luther, but to secure a one word answer from the monk: “I recant.” That is, Luther was to repent of his teaching and return to the papal fold. Ironically, the meeting between Cajetan and Luther happened in the Fuggar house, who was the primary banking family in Europe who money had been a large part of the Indulgence Controversy.

When they finally met, Cajetan said, “First, repent of your errors and recant them. Second, promise never to teach them again. Finally, do not again do anything to upset the peace of the church.” Luther asked, “which errors?” Cajetan answered Luther specifically and this was the mistake in judgement that undid the meeting altogether. Cajetan had been ordered not to debate Luther, but it seems the greatest theologian of his generation could not resist taking Luther’s bait.

The two men went back and forth at each other from across the table, even though the exchange was calm and cordial. By the end of the day the discussion had settled on the authority of the Pope. They agreed to come back the next day to continue their discussion. Cajetan demanded Luther acknowledge that the Pope had the God-given authority to issue indulgences. Martin asked if he could have time to think and formulate a written answer. The cardinal said, “I will be pleased to hear what you have to say…”

The third time, then, that Luther appeared before Cajetan, written response in hand, he was also shadowed on his left and right hand by two of Elector Fredrick’s lawyers. Cajetan read Luther’s lengthy answer to the question of papal authority. He read it, then said, “Now, it’s time for you to recant.” And that’s when a full-blown debate erupted between them so violent that by the end, Cajetan threatened to have Luther dragged away in chains to Rome and that he would excommunicate anyone who had anything to do with Luther. Finally, Cajetan yelled at Luther, “Get out, and don’t appear before me again unless you are ready to recant.”

After he had left the house Luther rejoiced and laughed at his good fortune. He said to his friends, Spalatin and Cajetan, that he had shattered Cajetan’s confidence. He concluded saying, “I will not become a heretic by denying the understanding through which I have been made a Christian.”

Next week we will examine how Luther’s debate with Cajetan and other events in Augsburg served to put Luther in even greater danger.

Rev. Donavon Riley is the pastor of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Webster, Minnesota.

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Higher History

Who Was Martin Luther? Part 23

Frederick orders Luther to Augsburg

by Rev. Donavon Riley

As Luther began to prepare himself to travel to Rome, at which time he would appear before papal lawyers to be charged with heresy, a letter arrived in Wittenberg. Luther was informed that he would not be required to show up in Rome after all. Instead, he was instructed in the papal letter to appear before Cardinal Cajetan in Augsburg. Martin was to offer his confession to Cajetan, repent of his heretical teachings, and then be led to Rome in chains.

Fortunately for Luther, Frederick the Wise also received a similar letter from Rome. Frederick was unimpressed by the papacy’s demand that he turn over Luther or bring “everlasting shame” on himself. The elector also happened to be in Augsburg with Cajetan at the imperial diet when the letter reached him, along with everyone else of political power and influence in Germany.

What Luther didn’t know until much later is that Frederick and the other German politicians were stirred up about Rome’s endless fund-raising campaigns in their lands. At the diet, Frederick, on behalf of all the nobles gathered in Augsburg, read aloud their grievances and stated they would in no way compromise or bend to papal pressure until something was done to relieve the financial burden put upon the German people by Rome. This also meant, then, that Frederick was not in a mood to allow Luther to turn himself over to the papal authorities for any reason, especially since no one had yet proved the elector’s favorite theologian was guilty of an actual heresy.

However, to put on a show of faithfulness for the papacy, Frederick ordered Luther to appear in Augsburg at the same time that the elector was drawing up plans to rescue him from being dragged off to Rome for execution.

Luther, when he received the message that Frederick was ordering him to appear before Cajetan, was overcome by despair. Even though Frederick promised Luther would not be arrested upon appearing before the diet, this did little to reassure Luther that his life wasn’t soon to meet a grisly end. Luther knew from his history lessons at school what awaited him at the diet.

A century before, the reformer Jan Hus was promised safe passage to a diet at which he was to defend his teachings. What Hus failed to note though is that the Pope did not promise him safe passage home from the diet. When Hus left the diet he was immediately arrested and executed as a heretic. Luther had no hope that the outcome at Augsburg would be any different.

This weighed heavy on Luther as he made arrangements to travel to the diet. Thus, he prepared himself not so much to defend his teachings against the false accusations of Cajetan or papal theologians, but to go to his death.

Next week we will examine Luther before the diet at Augsburg.

Rev. Donavon Riley is the pastor of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Webster, Minnesota. He is also the online content manager for Higher Things.