The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1883, Page 42

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le) gs i iia ana Oi

The Lutheran Pioneer.

Luther and the Count Erbach.

At night-fall on the 18th of April, 1518,
Count Eberhard, mounted on his steed, crossed
the bridge of his castle at Erbach. The object
of the Count’s rage and consequent outset was
this:

In the Fall of the previous year, God had
caused His long-forgotten Word to be inscribed
on the portals of the church at Wittenberg by
the Augustinian monk, Dr. Martin Luther.

‘In the course of a fortnight this Word sped its
way through the length and breadth of Chris-
tendom, and high and low hailed it with joy.
But many of the wise and noble of this world
‘sought ‘to kick against the pricks.’””? Count
Eberhard of Erbach belonged to this class.
He threatened the entertainers of the ‘“‘new
Jearning” with severe punishments, and his
Romish chaplain infuriated him to such an ex-
tent, that he resolved to take Luther by sur-
prise, and either force him to recant, or hide
him in some dungeon, where his doctrines
would be heard and thought of no more. And
on this evening the chaplain had received news
that Luther was on his way to preach at Mil-
tenberg, and succeeded in persuading him to
make sure work of the arch-heretic Luther.
The plan was well Jaid. The intention was
to seize Luther on the following morrow when
about to leave Miltenberg. Every road he
could possibly take was carefully guarded by a
concealed force of men, and the Count himself
rode into Miltenberg, where Luther tarried
over night, so as to be nigh at hand and cut off
his escape. Mad with rage he entered the
gates. The evening was far spent, and multi-
tudes flocked up and down the streets, discus-
sing the powerful sermon Luther had delivered
that day. The Count stopped at the Inn of
the Sword, in the neighborhood of which Lu-
ther was said to have taken lodgings for the
night. ‘“‘Why, Sir Count,’’ said the host, ‘I
‘should never bave thought that Luther could
have brought out your Grace!’’? The Count,
fatigued by his long ride, retired to rest, and
casting himself upon his couch, soon fell into a
deep sleep. After sleeping several hours he
awoke and went to the window.
Presently a light was struck in the room of
a neighboring house, and a deep, sonorous voice
rendered plainly audible by the stillness of
night, was heard to repeat the words, “In the
Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Ghost, Amen.” The Count, occupying
an upper apartment, could see into the cham-
ber of the neighboring house, and though the
curtain was let down, he distinctly traced the
dark figure of a man, who, as it seemed, humbly
knelt in prayer. For a while he appeared to
be turning over the leaves of a book, and then
resumed his prayer: ‘‘O Lord my God, in
_ Thee dol put my trust: save me from all them
that persecute me: lest he tear my soul like a
lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none

_ todeliver.’? The Count had never heard any-

ray like this before: the words were like

mighty blows at the door of heaven, especially
the last: ‘‘My defense is of God, which saveth

the upright in heart. Behold, he travaileth
with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, but
shall bring forth a failure.’’? These words were
spoken with such confidence and power, that
the Count could not help feeling an interest in
the stranger, and admitting that he truly had
a better shield and sword than himself. And
when he prayed for the welfare of all Christen-
dom on earth—that God would be pleased to
enlighten it with the bright beams of His Holy
Gospel—that He would direct the hearts of
princes as the rivers of water, bring all men to
a knowledge of the truth—it was done with
such unction, that when he made an end, the
Count, with folded hands and tears trickling
down his cheeks, heartily exclaimed, Amen,
Amen.

The Count paced to and fro in his room, and
only one concern filled his soul—a desire to
meet the praying man face to face. Lost in
these reflections, it was sometime before he ob-
served that the sun was already shining into
his room. He summoned the host. He im-
mediately appeared. The Count hastily ad-
dressed him, ‘‘Can’t you tell me who the man
is that lives yonder in the chamber in which
the curtain is let down?’”?—*‘’Tis Luther, the
arch-heretic,”’ replied the host; ‘‘his light has
already been burning for some hours.’’ ‘‘Lu-
ther?’’ exclaimed the Count as if struck by
lightning.—‘‘Yes, Dr. Martin Luther,’’ said
the host.

For a long time the Count stood as if rooted
to the spot. Then, without touching his break-
fast, he hastened to the neighboring house. In
a moment he stood before Luther. At his en-
trance, the latter rose from his chair, and en-
quiringly approached the stalwart man, who in
full armory with sword at his side, stood in his
presence without ability to utter a word. Lu-
ther finally enquiring after the object of his
coming in a kindly manner, the Count sank
upon his knees and exclaimed: ‘‘Man, you are
better than I! God forgive me that I intended
to do you evil.’’ Then he related with what
evil designs he had come, how he had heard
him pray, and how he had been overcome by
his word. ‘‘ Not my Word,” said Luther, ‘but
the Lorp’s Word, which I, poor, unworthy
man am called to restore to honor in the Ger-
man lands. Go your way in peace, Sir Count.
He who hath begun the good work in you will
also accomplish it. His Word they cannot
stifle. For the Word of the Lory endureth for-
ever.

At the gate, the soldiers were awaiting the
commands of the Count. He rode by, and
waving his hand, bade them “Go home in
peace, the Word of the Lorn endureth forever.”

Henceforth the Count zealously promoted
the Word which aforetime he had persecuted
with all his might. :

re

Do you wish to learn how to give anything?
Then fancy yourself in the place of the receiver.

Luther in the Garden and in the Field.

With all his great labors Luther still found
time to refresh himself in the contemplations
of nature in his garden and in the open country.
He saw the hand of God in all the works of
nature and discovered wonders and impressive
lessons in everything. He rejoiced when the
rain came to nourish the growing crops and
said: ‘‘Now God is giving us hundreds of thou-
sands of dollars’ worth; now it is raining wheat,
and oats, and barley, and wine, and onions,
and grass, and milk.’’ Upon seeing the herds
on the pasture, he remarked: ‘‘There go our
preachers, the producers of milk and _ butter,
and cheese and wool, who are preaching to us
every day and exhorting jus to depend upon
God as our father.’’ He was especially inter-
ested in birds. One evening at sunset a little
bird had perched for the night, and Luther
said: ‘That little bird has had its supper and
now folds its little wings and goes trustfully to
rest there as in its home. It takes no thought
for the morrow, but sits quite satisfied upon its
little twig and lets God take care of it.”? He
also kept a dog, which, he said, had ‘‘looked
at many books.’”” He commended the dog as
a faithful animal, saying: ‘“‘The dog is the
most faithful animal we have, and it would be
highly valued if it were not so common; the
most useful gifts of God are the most common.”’
He was fond of standing and looking at the
bee-hives; -he admired their industrious ways,
and said, ‘‘The bee is such a delicate little
creature, it can not endure any unsavory smell,
it is so cleanly in its work, so complete in its
police, so loyal and devoted to its king.”’” The
beauties of earth reminded him of the far
greater beauties of heaven. He said: ‘If °
God has made this fleeting world so beautiful,
how much more beautiful will He make that
world that shall endure forever. O, that we
could confide in Him with the whole heart.
As God has given us so much to delight in, in
this state of our pilgrimage, what may we ex-
pect in the life that is to come?”’

Luther’s Writings.

These were one of the chief means by which
the Lord carried on the work of the great Re-
formation. Says one, in referring to the period
of time after the Reformer had left the Wart-
burg Castle: ‘‘The writings of Luther were
now spread far and wide. Three presses were
fully at work printing them. His books passed
from hand to hand: they were carried into
quiet valleys, and over some of the highest
mountains. They were read in the palaces of
princes, in places of learning, and in the homes
of the poor. Ships carried them over wide
seas, and they were reprinted in Switzerland,
France, England, and other lands, until thou-
sands of people were made to rejoice in the
good news of salvation.’’