7—Ukwahlukana Kukalutere Neroma

Phambili kwabo babebizwe ukuba bakhokele ibandla ukuphuma ebumnyameni bobupopi liye ekukhanyeni kokholo oluhlambuluke kakhulu, kwakugqame uMartin Lutere. Enenzondelelo, eshushu, ezinikele, engoyiki nto ngaphandle kukaThixo, engamkeli siseko simbi senkolo ngaphandle kweziBhalo Ezingcwele, uLutere wayeyindoda efanele ixesha layo; ngaye uThixo wenza umsebenzi omkhulu wokuhlaziya ibandla nokukhanyiselwa kwehlabathi.IE18 109.1

Njengabavakalisi bokuqala begospile, uLutere waphuma kwizintlu zobuhlwempu. Iminyaka yakhe yasekuqaleni yachithwa kwikhaya eliphantsi lomlimi womhlaba waseJamani. Ngokusebenza nzima yonke imihla njengomsebenzi wasemgodini, uyise wayezuza okuncinane ukuze amfundise. Wayenga angaba ngumntu womthetho [igqwetha]; kodwa uThixo wayenenjongo yokumenza umakhi wetempile yaKhe enkulu eyayikhula ngokucotha okukhulu ezinkulungwaneni. Ubunzima, ukubandezeleka, nokuqeqeshwa ngqongqo, yayisisikolo apho uBulumko Obungenamda bamlungiselela khona uLutere umsebenzi obalulekileyo wobomi bakhe. IE18 109.2

Uyise kaLutere wayeyindoda enengqondo ebukhali, enomqolo, enyanisekileyo, emayo elizwini layo, nethetha ngqo, ingajikelezi. Wayenyanisekile koko akubambileyo engqondweni ngoko kungumthwalo wakhe, nokuba iziphumo bezingathini. Ingqondo yokulunga kwakhe okungagungqiyo kwamenza ukuba angayamkeli kakuhle inkqubo yobumonk. Akazange aneliseke kakhulu xa uLutere, ngaphandle kwemvume yakhe, wangenela ukuba ngunongendi; kwaza kwaba yiminyaka emibini phambi kokuba avumelane nonyana wakhe, kanti ke nangoko, iingcinga zakhe zahlala zihleli zingajiki. [120]IE18 109.3

Abazali bakaLutere babe kukhathalele kakhulu ukubafundisa nokubaqeqesha abantwana babo. Bazama ukubafundisa ukuba bamazi uThixo nokuba baphile ngendlela efanelekileyo yobuKristu. Umthandazo kayise wawusoloko unyuka esiva unyana wakhe khon’ ukuze unyana wakhe alikhumbule igama leNkosi aze ngenye imini ancedise ekuhambiseleni phambili inyaniso yaYo. Konke okuhle kokuziphatha okanye kokukhuliswa kwengqondo okwakufumaneka ukuba bakuxhamle ebomini babo bokusebenza nzima, kwaphuhliswa ngenzondelelo ngaba bazali. Imizamo yabo yayinyanisekile izingisile ukulungiselela abantwana babo ubomi obungcwele nobululutho. Ngokuqina kwabo namandla esimilo, ngamanye amaxesha babethanda ukubangqongqo kakhulu; kodwa yena umHlaziyi, nangona wayeqonda ukuba, kwezinye iindawo, noko babephazama, wafumana kwingqeqesho yabo okuninzi okunokwamkelwa kunokugxekwa.IE18 109.4

Esikolweni, apho waya noko eselula kakhulu, uLutere waphathwa qatha ngamanye amaxesha kude kube ndlongondlongo, noko. Intlupheko yakowabo yayigquba kangangokuba wayethanda ukuthi xa esiya esikolweni kwenye idolophu, angene kwizindlu ngezindlu ecula ukuze afumane into etyiwayo, kuba wayelamba kakhulu. Ukungacaci kakuhle, iimbono ezineenkolo zenkolo ezazikho ngelo xesha, zamenza wazala luloyiko. Wayelala ngokuhlwa enentliziyo ebuhlungu, athi akuba nombono wexesha elizayo angcangcazele kuba elibona limnyama, esoloko enoloyiko kuba embona uThixo njengomgwebi ongqongqo ongenalo nosizi, isikhohlakali sesibhovubhovu, kunokuba abe nguBawo onobubele osemazulwini. IE18 110.1

Kanti ke, phantsi kwezityhafiso ezikhulu kangako, uLutere wanyanzelisa ngokuzimisela wabheka phambili kumgangatho ophezulu wokuziphatha nokutshatshela kwengqondo nto leyo eyawutsalayo umphefumlo wakhe. Wanxanelwa ulwazi, saza isimilo sakhe esinenzondelelo nesisebenzayo sengqondo yakhe samkhokelela ekunqweneleni izinto eziqinileyo nezinolutho kuneendawo zokuzibonakalalisa nezingazinzanga. IE18 110.2

Wathi, xa eneshumi elinesibhozo ubudala, engena kwiyunivesithi yase-Erfurt, yaba imeko yakhe ingcono namathuba akhe enentwana yokukhanya kuneminyaka yakhe yasekuqaleni. Abazali bakhe bathi ngethamsanqa nokukhuthala bakwazi ukuba nengeniso eyenzaukubabakwaziukumxhasakuzo zonke izidingo zakhe.IE18 110.3

Impembelelo yabahlobo abakhutheleyo yakunciphisa ukuba mfiliba kweziqhamo zengqeqesho yangaphambili. Wazimisela ukufunda abona babhali baphucukileyo, ekhuthalele ukuzigcina ezona ngcamango zinamandla, ubulumko bezilumko ebenza obakhe. Kanti ke, naphantsi kwengqeqesho elukhuni yabafundisi bakhe bokuqala, wayebonakalalise ukuthembisa ngokubalasela, kwathi, ngeemeko ezivumayo, ingqondo yakhe yakhawuleza ukuhluma. Ingqondo egcinayo, ingcamango ephilileyo, amandla aqinileyo okuzathuza, nokuzinikela ekusebenzeni ngokungadinwayo, konke kwakhawuleza kwambeka kwinqanaba eliphambili kumahlakani akhe. Ukuqeqesheka kobuchopho kwayivuthiswa ingqiqo yakhe kwakuvusa ukusebenza kwengqondo nobunzulu bembono, izinto ezazimlungiselela amadabi obomi bakhe.IE18 110.4

Ukoyika uYehova kwahlala entliziyweni kaLutere, kwamenza ukuba ayigcine injongo ezinzileyo kukwamkhokelela ekuzithobeni okunzulu phambi kukaThixo. Wayenengqondo ehleliyo yokuxhomekeka kwakhe kuncedo lwezulu, akaze asilele ukuyiqala imini nganye ngomthandazo, lo gama intliziyo yakhe yayithe rhoqo iphefumla izibongozo zenkokelo nenkxaso. “Ukuthandaza kakuhle,” wayethanda ukuthi, “kulicala elikhulu lokufunda.”-- D'Aubigne, b. 2, ch. 2.IE18 111.1

Wathi ngenye imini ehlola iincwadi kwithala leencwadi eyunivesithi, uLutere wafumana iBhayibhile yesiLatini. Incwadi enjalo wayengazanga wayibona ngaphambili. Wayengazi nto ngobukho bayo. Wayeziva iindawo ezicatshulwayo zeeVangeli neeLeta [iiNcwadi], ezazifundelwa abantu emithandazweni yabantu bonke, waza wacinga ukuba ezi zaziyiBhayibhile epheleleyo. Ngoku, okokuqala, wabhekana nalo liphelele ilizwi likaThixo. Ngokothuka okuxutywe nokumangaliswa, wawaphengulula amaphepha alo angcwele; uvalo lubetha ngamandla nentliziyo ingongoza, wazifundela amazwi obomi, emana esima ekhuza: “Akwaba uThixo ebengandinika incwadi enje ibe yeyam!”--D'Aubigne, b. 2, ch. 2. Iingelosi zezulu zazisecaleni kwakhe, imitha yokukhanya kukaThixo yazityhila iindyebo zenyaniso kwingqiqo yakhe. Wayesoloko esoyika ukumkhubekisa uThixo, kodwa ngoku ingqondo enzulu yemeko yakhe njengomoni yamthimba ngaphezu kokuba yakha yenjenjalo ngaphambili.IE18 111.2

Umnqweno ozondelele ukukhululeka esonweni nokuba noxolo noThixo, ekugqibeleni, kwamkhokelela emzini woonongendi, wazinikela kubomi bokuba ngunongendi. Apha kwakufuneka enze owona msebenzi uphantsi nokuhamba engqiba kumakhaya ngamakhaya. Wayekwiminyaka ekuthi kubaweleke kakhulu ukuhlonitshwa nokuxatyiswa, yaza le misebenzi iphantsi yayixhela kakhulu imvakalelo yakhe yemvelo; kodwa wakunyamezela ngomonde oku kuthotyelwa phantsi, ekholelwa ukuba kwakufuneka ngenxa yezono zakhe.IE18 111.3

Umzuzu ngamnye awayewufumana kwimisebenzi yakhe yemihla ngemihla, wayewuchitha ngokufunda, ezivimba ubuthongo elilela nexesha alisebenzisa ekutyeni loo ntwana wayeyifumana. Ngaphezu kwezinto zonke, wayesonwabela ukufunda ilizwi likaThixo. Wafumana iBhayibhile ibotshelelwe ngetyathanga eludongeni lomzi woonongendi ababhinqileyo, wathanda ukusoloko esiya kuyo. Zathi ngokuya ziba nzulu iimbono zakhe zokuba nesono, wafuna ukuzuza ukuxolelwa noxolo ngeyakhe imisebenzi. Waphila ubomi obuxakeke kakhulu, ezama ukuzila, ukuthandaza ubusuku bonke, ukuzohlwaya ukuba oyise ububi bendalo yakhe, obungazange bukwazi ukumkhulula kubo ubomi bokuba ngunongendi. Akazange arhoxe nakokuphi ukuzibingelela okwakunokumenza afikelele kobo bunyulu bentliziyo obabunokumenza akwazi ukuma phambi kukaThixo. “Ngokwenene ndandingunongendi omhlonelayo uThixo,” watsho kamva, “ndilandela ngqongqo imithetho yohlelo lwam ngendlela endingakwazi nokuyichaza. Ukuba ubomi bokuba ngunongendi bebunokulizuza izulu ngemisebenzi yokuba ngunongendi, ngokuqinisekileyo, bendiya kuba nebango kulo. . . . Ukuba babuqhubeke ithutyana elide, ndandiya kuya kungena ekufeni nokuzohlwaya kwam.”-- D'Aubigne, b. 2, ch. 3. Isiphumo soku kuziqeqesha kubuhlungu saba kukuba alahlekwe ngamandla, wathanda ukuhlaselwa sisathuthwane, angazanga waphuncuka ngokupheleleyo kwiziphumo zaso. Sekunjalo, kuwo onke amalinge akhe, umphefumlo wakhe osindwayo awuzange ufumane ukuphumla. Ekugqibeleni wafikelela kwimeko yokuphelelwa lithemba.IE18 111.4

Wathi uLutere akufikelela kwiqondo lokuba athi konke kulilize, uThixo wamvusela umhlobo nomncedi wakhe. UStaupitz, omhlonelayo uThixo, wamvulela uLutere ilizwi likaThixo, wamkhuthaza uba awasuse amehlo akhe kwisiqu sakhe, ayeke ukucamngca ngokohlwaywa okungenasiphelo ngenxa yokwaphula umthethokaThixo, akhangele kuYesu, uMsindisi oxolela izono.IE18 112.1

“Endaweni yokuzithuthumbisa kwakho ngenxa yezono zakho, zilahlele ezingalweni zoMhlawuleli wakho. Thembela kuYe, kubulungisa bobomi baKhe, kucamagushelo lokufa kwaKhe. . . . Mphulaphule uNyana kaThixo. Waba ngumntu ukuze akunike isiqinisekiso sothando lwezulu.” “Mthande Lowo wakuthandayo kuqala.”--D'Aubigne, b. 2, ch. 4. Wathetha njalo umthnywa wenceba. Amazwi akhe aba negalelo elikhulu engqondweni kaLutere. Emva kwamadabi amaninzi neempazamo ekukade enazo, wakwazi ukuyibamba inyaniso, wafumana uxolo kumphefumlo wakhe owawukhathazekile.IE18 112.2

ULutere wathanjiselwa ukuba ngumpristi waza wabizwa kumzi wakhe kanongendi ukuba abe yiprofesa kwiyunivesithi yaseWittenberg. Apha wazinikela ekufundeni iziBhalo ngolwimi lwazo lokuqala. Waqala ukufundisa ngeBhaybhile; incwadi yeeNdumiso, iiVangelil, neeLeta zatyhileka engqondweni yezihlwele zabaphulaphuli ababe nochulumanco. UStaupitz, umhlobo wakhe nongentla kwakhe, wamkhuthaza ukuba akhwele epulpitini ashumayele ilizwi likaThixo. ULutere waziziliza, eziva engafanelekanga ukuba athethe ebantwini endaweni kaKristu. Ngelo xesha, wayesele enamandla eziBhalweni, lwaza ubabalo lukaThixo lwaphezu kwakhe. Ubuciko bakhe babathimba abaphulaphuli bakhe, ukucaca namandla awayibeka ngawo inyaniso kwayoyisa ingqiqo yabo, baza ubushushu bakhe bazichukumisa iintliziyo zabo.IE18 113.1

ULutere wayesengunyana othembekileyo webandla lobupopi, engenayo ingcinga yokuba angaze abe yenye into. Ngokubonelela kukaThixo, kwenzeka ukuba ahambele eRoma. Waluhamba ngeenyawo uhambo lwakhe, elala kwimizi yoonongendi endleleni. Kwelinye ikhaya eItaly, waba nokumangala bubutyebi, ubuhle, nobuyokoyoko awabubonayo. Betyetyiswe yingeniso entle, oonongendi babehlala kumagumbi amahle kakhulu, bezinxiba ngezona zintle nezelona xabiso likhulu izambatho ezinde, bezondla kwiitafile zezibiliboco. Ngokungakholelwa okubuhlungu, uLutere wawuthelekisa lo mboniso nokuzilandula nobunzima bobakhe ubomi. Ingqondo yakhe yadideka.IE18 113.2

Ekugqibeleni,wasibona sikudeisixeko esineenduli ezisixhenxe. Ngemvakalelo enzulu, wazithoba phantsi emhlabeni, esithi: “Bhota, Roma eNgcwele!”-- D'Aubigne, b. 2, ch. 6. Wangena esixekweni, wahambela amabandla, waphulaphula amabali eentsomi amangalisayo athethwa ngabapristi noonongendi [abangamadoda], besenza zonke iinkonzo ezifunekayo. Kuyo yonke indawo wayebona imibono eyamkhwankqisayo neyoyikekayo. Wabubona ubugwenxa ukuba bukho kuzo zonke iindidi zobufundisi. Weva iziqhulo ezingcolileyo ziphuma koobhishophu abakhulu, wanamasikizi ziintetho zabo zonyeliso ezoyikekayo, nangexesha lomthendeleko. Ukuhlangana kwakhe noonongendi nabahlali wajongana norheletyo nobuxumbululu. Nokuba wayengabheka ngaphi, endaweni yobungcwele wafumana unyeliso. “Akukho noyedwa onokuba nombono,” wabhala, “wezono nezenzo ezihlazisayo ezenziwayo eRoma; kufuneka ziboniwe, ziviwe ukuze zikholelwe. Kungoko benomkhwa wokuthi, ‘Ukuba sikhona isihogo, iRoma yakhiwe phezu kwaso: ingumhadi apho kukho lonke uhlobo lwesono.’”-- D'Aubigne, b. 2, ch. 6. IE18 113.3

Ngomyalelo omtsha kaPopi, uYekelelo [lwezono] lwaluthenjisiwe nguPopi kubo bonke ababeya kunyuka behamba ngamadolo “kwizinyuko zikaPilato,” ekuthiwa kwehla kuzo uMsindisi wethu xa wayeshiya inkundla yamatyala yaseYerusalem, kwanokuba zathatyathwa ngomlingo ukusuka eYerusalem ukuya eRoma. ULutere ngenye imini, kwathi enyuka ezi zinyuko ngokuzinikela, kwavakala ngequbuliso ilizwi lisithi kuye: “Olilungisa ke uya kudla ubomi ngokokholo.” Roma 1:17. Waxhuma wema ngeenyawo wakhawuleza ukusuka kuloo ndawo eneentloni esoyika. Loo ndima ayizange ilahlekwe lulwamvila lwayo emphefumlweni wakhe. Ukususela ngelo xesha, wayibona ngokucacileyo kunangaphambili imposiso yokuthembela emisebenzini yomntu ukuzuza usindiso, nokufuneka kokholo oluzingisileyo kokuhle kukaKristu. Amehlo akhe avuleka, awaze abuye avaleke kwakhona, kulahlekiso lobupopi. Wathi akuyifulathela iRoma, waba uyifulathele nangentliziyo yakhe, kwaza kwathi ukususela ngelo xesha, ukwahlukana kwaya kusiba banzi kakhulu, wada waluqhawula uqhagamshelano nebandla lobupopi.IE18 114.1

Emva kokuba ebuyile eRoma, uLutere wazuza isidanga sobugqirha kwizifundoezingobuThixo, kwiyunivesithiyaseWittenberg.Ngoku, wayekhululekile ukuba azinikele, ngaphezu kwakuqala, kwiziBhalo awayezithanda. Wayenze isifungo esinendili sokuba uya kufunda ngocoselelo, alishumayele ngokunyanisekileyo ilizwi likaThixo, kungabi ziintetho neemfundiso zooPopi, yonke imihla yokudla kwakhe ubomi. Wayengasenguye unongendi nje okanye iprofesa, kodwa wayengumvakalisi weBhayibhile onegunya. Wayebiziwe ukuba abe ngumalusi ondle umhlambi kaThixo, ozimvu zazilamba zinxanelwe inyaniso. Wavakalisa ngokuqinileyo ukuba amaKristu amele ukuba angamkeli zimfundiso zimbi kunezo zimile phezu kwegunya leziBhalo Ezingcwele. La mazwi abetha kanye esisekweni sokongama kobupopi. Ayequlathe umthetho-siseko ongundoqo woHlaziyo. IE18 114.2

ULutere wayibona ingozi yokuphakamisa iimbono zomntu ngaphezu kwelizwi likaThixo. Engenaloyiko, wakuhlasela ukunganyaniseki kokucingela kwamadoda emfundo, wabuchasa ubulumko nemfundo ngoThixo eyaba nempembelelo elawula phezu kwabantu ixesha elide. Wazihlasela izifundo ezinjalo, kungekuphela nje ngokungabi naxabiso, kodwa nangokuba nengozi, waza wazama ukuzibuyisela iingqondo zabaphulaphuli bakhe kwiintsomi zabanolwazi nabafunde ngoThixo, ukuba ziye kwiinyaniso ezingunaphakade ezabekwa ngabaprofeti nabapostile.IE18 114.3

Sasixabisekile isigidimi esasikumazwi akhe awayesisa kwizihlwele ezazilinde ngolangazelelo. Azizanga zakha zafikelela ngaphambili ezindlebeni zaso iimfundiso ezinjalo. Iindaba zovuyo zothando loMsindisi, ingqiniseko yokuxolelwa noxolo ngokucamagushela ngegazi laKhe, kwazivuyisa iintliziyo zabo kwavusa ngaphakathi kwabo ithemba elingafiyo. EWittenberg kwaphenjwa ukukhanya okumitha yako kwakuza kunabela nakwezona ndawo zikude zomhlaba, nokwakuza kukwandisa ukukhanya kuse ekupheleni kwephakade. IE18 115.1

Phofu ke, ukukhanya nobumnyama abuvumelani. Phakathi kwenyaniso nemposiso kukho ukungquzulana okungapheliyo. Ukuphakamisa nokukhusela enye kukuhlasela nokubhukuqa enye. UMsindisi wethu Yena ngokwaKhe wathi: “Andize kungenisa luxolo, ndize kungenisa Ikrele.” Mateyu 10:34. Wathi uLutere, kwiminyaka embalwa emva kukuqala koHlaziyo: “UThixo akandikhokeli, undityhalela phambili. Undithwele ehamba nam. Andizilawuli mna ngokwam.Ndinqwenelaukuphilangokuphola;kodwa ndiphoswa enzulwini yengxwabangxwaba novukelo.” -D'Aubigne, b. 5, ch. 2. Ngoku wayesele eza kunyanzeleka ukuba angene edabini.IE18 115.2

IBandla laseRoma lenza ishishini ngobabalo lukaThixo. Iitafile zabananisi bemali (Mateyu 21:12) zazimiswe ecaleni kwezibingelelo, umoya uzaliswe yimikhwazo yabathengi nabathengisi. Phantsi kwesicengo sokwenza imali zokwakhiwa kwendlu yenkonzo iSt. Peter’s eRoma, uYekelelo lwesono kwathengiswa ngalo esidlangalaleni ligunya likaPopi. Ngexabiso lokwaphulwa komthetho, kwakufuneka kwakhelwe ukunqulwa kukaThixo itempile—ilitye lembombo labekwa ngomvuzo wobugwenxa! Zona ezo ndlela zamkelwa ukuze kwaneliseke iRoma zaligqebha elingophiyo igunya layo nobukhulu bayo. Yaba sesi senzo esavusa okona kukhulu ukuzimisela nempumelelo kwiintshaba zobupopi, sakhokelela kwidabi elashukumisa itrone kaPopi yasixikixa isithsaba esintlu-ntathu phezu kwentloko kaPopi. IE18 115.3

Igosa elalinyulelwe ukuba lithengise uYekelelo eJamani—uTetzel igama—wayekhe wabanjelwa ezona zityholo ziphantsi ekuhlaleni nangakumthetho kaThixo; kodwa kuba wasinda ekohlwayweni ngokwaphula kwakhe umthetho, waya wasetyenziswa kwiphulo likaPopi lokwenziwa kwemali ongasifuniyo isazela. Ngobuganga obukhulu, waziphinda iimposiso ezazigqame kakhulu, ebalisa nezona ntsomi zimangalisayo ukuze abalahlekise abantu abangaziyo, abakholelwa lula, nabaneenkolo. Ukuba babenalo ilizwi likaThixo, ngebabengazanga bakhohliswa ngolo hlobo. Yayiyindlela yokubagcina phantsi kolawulo lobupopi, ukuze kunyuke amandla nobutyebi beenkokeli ezinamabhongo, okwenza ukuba iBhayibhile bangayinikwa. (Bona: John C. L. Gieseler, A Compendium of Ecclesiastical History, per. 4, sec. 1, par. 5.)IE18 115.4

Wayesithi xa uTetzele engena edolophini, kuhambe umthunywa phambi kwakhe, esenza isaziso: “Ubabalo lukaThixo nolukabawo ongcwele lusemasangweni enu.”--D'Aubigne, b. 3, ch. 1. Abantu babemamkela lomkhohlisi unyelisayo njengoThixo ngokwaKhe ohle ephuma ezulwini wezakubo. Ukungenwakuphunywakwamiselwaenkonzweni, waza uTetzel yena akhwele epulpitini, aluphakamise uYekelelo [lwesono, awayeluthengisa] njengesona sipho sinexabiso sikaThixo. Wavakalisa ukuba, ngamandla eziqinisekiso zakhe zokuxolelwa kwazo zonke izono athi umthengi emva koko anqwenele ukuzenza, uya kuzixolelwa, kwanokuba, “akukho nenguquko efunekayo.”-- D'Aubigne, b. 3, ch. 1. Ngaphezu koko, wabaqinisekisa abaphulaphuli bakhe ukuba, uYekelelo lwalunamandla okusindisa, kungekuphela abaphilileyo kodwa nabafileyo; esithi, ngawo loo mzuzu, ukuba imali ingathi khenkce isiwa emazantsi ebhokisi yakhe, umphefumlo enikelwa ngenxa yawo uya kusinda entlambululweni wenjenjeya ukusinga ezulwini. (Khangela kuK. R. Hagenbach, History of the Reformation, vol. 1, p. 96.)IE18 116.1

Xa uSimon Magus wanikela ukuthenga kubapostile amandla okusebenza imimangaliso, uPetros wamphendula, wathi: “Isilivere yakho mayiye kutshabalala nawe; ngokuba ububa isipho sikaThixo singazuzwa ngemali.” IZenzo 8:20. Isipho sikaTetzel satsityelwa ngamawaka abantu abanolangazelelo. Igolide nesilivere zaba ngumsinga ukungena kuvimba wakhe. Usindiso olwaluthengwa ngemali kwakulula ukuluzuza kunolo lufuna inguquko, ukholo nokukhuthalela ukuzama ukumelana nokoyisa isono. (Bona ISIHLOMELO sephepha lama-59.)IE18 116.2

Imfundiso yoYekelelo yayichaswa ngabantu abafundileyo naboyika uThixo eBandleni laseRoma, baye bebaninzi abangakholelwayo kubuxoki obabuchasene kakhulu nengqiqo nentyilelo. Akukho noyedwa ummeli kaPopi owaphakamisa ilizwi ukuchasa le nkqubo ikhohlakeleyo; kodwa iingqondo zabantu zazisiya ziphazamiseka zingonwabi, baza abaninzi ngenzondelelo, bafuna ukuqonda ukuba ebengenako na uThixo ukusebenzisa esinye isixhobo ukuhlambulula ibandla laKhe. IE18 116.3

Nangona uLutere wayenobupopi obuthe tye, wayenamasikizi kakhulu ngamanyathelo abo babehambisa isiqinisekiso soxolelo. Abaninzi nakwawakhe amabandla babezithengile iziqinisekiso zoxolelo, baqala ukuza kumfundisi wabo, bevuma izono zabo ezahlukahlukeneyo, bathi belindele uxolelo, kungengakuba babeguqukile koko benqwenela ukuziyeka izono, kodwa ngenxa yephepha lesiqinisekiso. ULutere wala ukubakhululangoxolelo,wasuka wabalumkisa ngelithi, ngaphandle kokuba baguquke babutshintshe ubomi babo, baza kutshabalala ezonweni zabo. Bathi bekhwankqiseke kakhulu, babuyela kuTetzel benesikhalazo sokuba, lowo bavuma kuye izono wazilandula iziqinisekiso zabo zoxolelo, abanye, ngesibindi, bafuna kubuyele kubo imali yabo. Umfundisi [uTetzel] wazaliswa yingqumbo. Watsho ngezona zoyikekayo iziqalekiso, wenza ukuba kuphenjwe amaziko kwiindawo zikawonke-wonke, watsho esithi, “ufumene umyalelo kupopi ukuba abatshise bonke abakreqi abathabathe inyathelo lokuchasa isiqinisekiso sakhe soxolelo esingcwele kakhulu.”--D'Aubigne, b. 3, ch. 4. IE18 116.4

ULutere, ngeli xesha, wangena ngesibindi kumsebenzi wakhe njengetsha-ntliziyo lenyaniso. Ilizwi lakhe lavakala ezipulpitini lilumkisa ngendlela enyanisekileyo nenendili. Wabutyhila phambi kwabantu ubume bobubi besono, wabafundisa ukuba, akunako ukwenzeka ukuba umntu, ngeyakhe imisebenzi, acuthe ubutyala besono okanye asiphephe isohlwayo saso isono. Akukho nto inakho ukumsindisa umntu ngaphandle kwenguquko ngakuThixo nokukholwa kuKristu. Ubabalo lukaKristu alukwazi ukuthengwa; lusisipho esamkelwa ngesisa. Wabacebisa abantu ukuba bangazithengi iziqinisekiso zoxolelo, kodwa, ngokholo, bakhangele kuMhlawuleli owabethelelwa emnqamlezweni. Wachaza ngawakhe amava abuhlungu okuthi, ngelize, azame ngokuzithobela phantsi nokuvuma izono ukuzuza usindiso, ebaqinisekisa abamphulaphuleyo ukuba, kungokukhangela kude le kwisiqu sakhe, akholelwe kuKristu, okwenza ukuba akwazi ukufumana uxolo novuyo. IE18 117.1

Wathi xa uTetzel eqhubeka nokuhla enyuka ehambisa la mabango okungahloneli Thixo, uLutere wazimisela ukuliqinisa ngakumbi iphulo lokuchasa ezi zinyeliso zenzekayo. Laya lavela ithuba. Inkonzo eyinqaba yaseWittenberg yayineentsalela zezinto ekuthiwa zingcwele, ezazisithi ngemihla ethile engcwele zithiwe thaca phambi kwabantu, kuze ukuxolelwa okupheleleyo kwezono kunikwe bonke abathe ngelo xesha baya enkonzweni bazivuma izono. Ngenxa yaloo nto, ngezo ntsuku babebaninzi abantu ababesiza apho. Esinye sezona ziganeko zibalulekileyo kwezi, isikhumbuzo sabo bonke abangcwele (All Saints), sase sifikile. Ngosuku oluphambi kolu lwesikhumbuzo, uLutere, ehlangene nesihlwele esasisele sisiya apho enkonzweni, waxhoma iphepha elucangweni lwenkonzo leyo. Iphepha elo lalidwelise iziphakamiso ezingamashumi asithoba anesihlanu ezichasa imfundiso yeziYekelelo. Waya wavakalisa ukulungela kwakhe ukuzikhusela ezi ziphakamiso ngemini elandelayo eyunivesithi, kubo bonke ababona kufanelekile ukuba bazihlasele.IE18 117.2

Ezi ziphakamiso zakhe zazitsala umdla kubantu bonke. Zafundwa zafundisiswa, zaphindaphindwa zivelwa ngeenkalo zonke. Kwabakho umoya wolangazelelo olukhulu eyunivesithi nasesixekweni sonke. Kwezi ngongoma, kwakutyhilwe ukuba igunya lokunika uxolelo lwesono, nokunika isigwebo saso, alizanga lanikelwa kuPhapha nakuye nawuphi omnye umntu. Yonke le nto yayingumdlalo,--iqhinga lokutsala imali ngokudlala ngeenkolelo zabantu,--icebo likaSathana lokutshabalalisa imiphefumlo yabo bonke abaya kuthembela kubuxoki obubekwayo. Kwakukwacacisiwe ukuba igospile kaKristu ilelona gugu lixabisekileyo lebandla, nokuba ubabalo lukaThixo, olutyhilwe kuyo, lunikwa ngaphandle kwentlawulo kubo bonke abalufunayo ngokuguquka nangokholo.IE18 118.1

Iziphakamiso zikaLutere zazifuna undikho wengxoxo; kodwa akuzange kubekho usabelayo kuloo mngeni. Izinto awaziphakamisayo zayizalisa yonke iJamani ngeentsuku nje ezimbalwa, kwathi ngeeveki ezingephi zaba zikulo lonke elobuKristu. Abaninzi kumaRoma azinikeleyo, awayebubona, ekhala ngenxa yobugwenxa obabugquba ebandleni, kodwa bengazi ukuba bangenza ntoni ukukuqhiwula ngaphambili, bazifunda ngovuyo olukhulu iziphakamiso, bezibona njengelizwi likaThixo. Baya babona ukuba iNkosi ithe, ngemfesane, yolula isandla saYo ukuba ikubambe ukundlondlobala komsinga wenkohlakalo owawuphuma kwisihlalo sikaPhapha waseRoma. Iinkosana nabaphathi bavuyela emfihlakalweni kuba kwabakho into ekhalimela igunya elizigwagwisayo elalela lonke ilungelo lokuthetha ngokuphikisa izigqibo zalo.IE18 118.2

Kanti ke sekunjalo, izihlwele ezithanda isono nezineenkolelo zaya zoyika xa iintsomi ezazithomalalisa uloyiko lwazo zazitshayelelwa kude. Abaphathi benkolo abanobuqhophololo, bephazamisekile kumsebenzi wabo wokuvumela ukwaphulwa komthetho, bebona inzuzo yabo isengozini, bafutha ngumsindo, bakhuthazana ukuba bazibambe baziqinise izindululo zabo. UmHlaziyi kwakufuneka equbisene nabamangaleli abonakele kakhulu emoyeni. Abanye batyhola ngelithi ukhawuleze wenza engacinganga. Abanye bathi uye wanobuganga, ngelithi wayengakhokelwa nguThixo, kodwa wayeqhutywalikratshi nokuzigqatsa. “Ngubani ongaziyo,” waphendula, “ukuba kunqabile ukuba umntu eze nengcamango entsha aze angabonakali enendawana yokuzigwagwisa, angabi nakutyholwa ngokuqhwaya iingxabano? . . . Babulawa ngokuba kutheni, uKristu nabo bonke abafelukholo? Kungokuba babebonwa njengababedelela ubulumko bexesha elo, nangokuba babeveza izinto ezintsha bengathanga kuqala bazithoba bafumana icebiso kwiimbali zeengcamango zamaxesha angaphambili.” IE18 118.3

Uphinda kwakhona athi: “Nantoni na endiyenzayo, iya kwenziwa, kungengabulumko babantu, kodwa ngecebiso likaThixo. Ukuba umsebenzi lo ngokaThixo, ngubani oya kuwumisa? Ukuba awungowaKhe, ngubani ongawubhekisa phambili? Asiyiyo intando yam, ingeyiyo eyabo, ingeyiyo neyethu; kodwa yeyakho, Bawo Ongcwele, osemazulwini.”—D’ Aubigne, b. 3, ch. 6. IE18 119.1

Nangona uLutere wayeqhutywa nguMoya kaThixo ukuba awuqale umsebenzi wakhe, wayengazi kuwuqhubela phambili ngaphandle kwamadabi amakhulu. Izigculelo zeentshaba zakhe, ukuzibeka gwenxa iinjongo zakhe, nokusichaza ngendlela yenkohlakalo isimilo neenjongo zakhe, konke kwafika phezu kwakhe njengomsinga ogubungelayo; kwaye konke oko kunegalelo phezu kwakhe. Wayenombono oqinisekileyo wokuba, iinkokeli zabantu, ebandleni nasezikolweni, zaziza kuzimanya naye ngovuyo kwimizamo yokuhlaziya. Amazwi enkuthazo aphuma kwabo bakwizikhundla eziphezulu amkhuthaza ngovuyo nangethemba. Wayesele elindele ngethemba ukubona ukuvela kwemini entsha ebandleni. Noko kunjalo, inkuthazo yaguquka yaba lugculelo nokugxekwa. Izikhulu ezininzi, ebandleni nasesizweni, zazoyisakele bubunyaniso beziphakamiso zakhe; kodwa zabuya zabona ukuba, ukwamkela ezi ziphakamiso kuya kufuna iinguquko ezinkulu. Ukukhanyisela nokuhlaziya abantu kuya kuba kukuhlisela phantsi igunya leRoma ngokupheleleyo, kuya kuba kukuvala amawaka emisinga empompozela kwindyebo yayo [iRoma], ngenxa yoko kube kukuphelisa ukuthsafaza nobuyokoyoko beenkokeli zobupopi. Ngaphezu koko, ukufundisa abantu ukuba bacinge benze njengabantu abanokukwazi ukukwenza oko, balulindele kuKristu kuphela usindiso, kuya kuba kukubhukuqa itrone kaPopi, ekugqibeleni, kube kukutshabalalisa nelazo [izikhulu] igunya. Ngenxa yesi sizathu, zalwala ulwazi awazinika lona uThixo zaza zazimisela ukuba zimchase uKristu nenyaniso ngokuchasa indoda athe [uThixo] wayithuma ukuba izikhanyisele.IE18 119.2

ULutere wangcangcazela akuzikhangela—indoda enye ephikisana nawona magunya anamandla omhlaba. Maxa wambi wayethandabuza ukuba ngokwenene wayekhokelwa nguThixo ukuba ambeke ukuba achasane negunya lebandla. “Ndandingubani mna,” uyabhala, “ukuba ndiphikisane noPopi, ekuthi phambi kwakhe . . . ookumkani bomhlaba nalo lonke ihlabathi lingcangcazele? . . . Akakho owaziyo ukuba intliziyo yam yayisiva njani ngale minyaka mibini yokuqala, nokuba ndaphelelwa lithemba, mandithi, ndaphel’ amandla, ndafikelela phantsi kangakanani.”-- D'Aubigne, b. 3, ch. 6. Phofu akazange washiywa yedwa ukuze atyhafe ngokupheleleyo. Kwathi xa kusilela ukuxhaswa ngabantu, wakhangela kuThixo kuphela, wafunda ukuba unako ukwayama kwinkuseleko egqibeleleyo yengalo enamandla onke. IE18 119.3

ULutere, ebhalela umhlobo kuHlaziyo, wathi: “Asinako ukusiqonda isiBhalo ngokufunda okanye ngobuchopho [bethu]. Into yokuqala ekufuneka uyenzile kukuthandaza. Mbongoze uYehova ukuba akunike, kwinceba yaKhe enkulu, ukuba uliqonde ngokwenene ilizwi laKhe. Akakho omnye okwazi ukulichaza ilizwi likaThixo ingenguye umBhali walo eli lizwi, njengoko Yena ngokwaKhe athe, ‘Bonke baya kufundiswa nguThixo.’ Musa ukuthemba nto kwimisebenzi yakho, ekuqondeni kwakho: thembela kuphela kuThixo, nakwimpembelelo kaMoya waKhe. Kukholelwe oku okulilizwi eliphuma kumntu othe wanamava ayo.”-- D'Aubigne, b. 3, ch. 7. Esi sisifundo esibaluleke kakhulu kwabo baziva bebizwe nguThixo ukuba banike abanye iinyaniso ezinendili zeli xesha. Ezi nyaniso ziza kuxhokonxa ubutshaba bukaSathana nobabantu abathanda iintsomi azicebileyo. Kungquzulwano namagunya enkohlakalo, kudingeka okungaphezulu kwamandla obulumko bengqondo nobuntu. IE18 120.1

Zathi iintshaba zakubhenela kwisiko nesithethe, okanye kumabango negunya likaPopi, uLutere waqubisana nazo ngeBhayibile, iBhayibhile kuphela. Apha kwakukho ingxoxo ababengakwazi ukuziphendla; aza athi amakhoboka emigaqo neenkolo anxakamela igazi lakhe, njengamaYuda awayenxakamela igazi likaKristu. “Ungumlahlekisi,” batsho abanzondelelo yabo yayikubuRoma. “Lungcatsho olukhulu kumbuso webandla ukuvumela ukuba umlahlekisi ombi kangaka aphile nokuba ngumzuzu emva koku. Makamiselwe inqwanqwa ngokukhwuleza!” D'Aubigne, b. 3, ch. 9. ULutere akazange aqwengwe yingqumbo yabo. UThixo wayesambekele umsebenzi ekufuneka ewenzile, zaza iingelosi zasezulwini zathunyelwa ukuba zimkhusele. Abaninzi ababezuze kuLutere ukukhanya okuxabiso likhulu, benziwa bangamaxhoba engqumbo kaSathana, baza bathi, ngenxa yenyaniso, bathuthunjiswa babulawa bengoyiki nto.IE18 120.2

Iimfundiso zikaLutere zatsala ingqalelo kwiingqondo ezicingayo kuyo yonke iJamani. Kwiintshumayelo zakhe nawakubhalayo, kwaphuma imitha yokukhanya eyavusa yakhanyisela amawaka. Ukholo oluphilileyo lwaluthabatha indawo yomthetho wesiqhelo elalikade likhonkxwe nguwo ibandla. Yonke imihla abantu babelahlekwa kukuzithemba iinkolo zobuRoma. Imiqobo yentiyo yayisiwa. Ilizwi likaThixo, uLutere awayevavanya ngalo yonke imfundiso nawo onke amabango, lalifana nekrele elintlangothi-mbini, lihlaba lingene ezintliziyweni zabantu. Kuyo yonke indawo, kwakuvuka ulangazelelo lwenkqubela yasemoyeni. Kuyo yonke indawo, kwakukho ukulambela nokunxanelwa ubulungisa ngendlela engazanga yanjalo kwizizukulwana. Amehlo abantu, awayekade ebhekiswe kwiinkonzo zabantu nabathetheleli basemhlabeni, ngoku ajoliswa ekuzohlwayeni nasekukholelweni kuKristu, naYe ebethelelwe emnqamlezweni. IE18 120.3

Oku kunaba ngokubanzi ngakumbi komdla kwaluvusa kakhulu uloyiko kumagunya obupopi. ULutere wafumana umsila wengwe ukuba avele ematyaleni eRoma ukuze aphendule isityholo solahlekiso lwakhe. Umyalelo wabazalisa ngoloyiko abahlobo bakhe. Bayazi kakuhle ingozi eyayimzela kweso sixeko sikhohlakeleyo, nesasesinxilile ligazi labafelukholo lukaYesu. Baqhankqalaza bengafuni ukuba aye eRoma, baza bacela ukuba ityala lakhe lithethelwe eJamani.IE18 121.1

Ekugqibeleni, lo mzamo wenzeka, waza ummeli kaPopiwanyulwa ukuba aliphulaphule ityala. Kwimiyalelo eyathunyelwa nguPopi kwigosa lakhe, kwakuxeliwe ukuba sele kutshiwo ukuba uLutere ungumlahlekisi. Ummeli, ngoko, wayalelwaukuba “amtshutshise, amnyanzele, ngaphandle kokulibazisa.” Ukuba usemi, aze nommeli angakwazi ukumfumana ubuqu, wanikwa igunya lokuba “amenze abe lixhoba lokutolwa nakweyiphi indawo yaseJamani; aze agxothe, aqalekise, akhuphele ngaphandle kwesikhungu bonke abayame kuye.”-- D’ Aubigne, b. 4, ch. 2. Ngaphezu koko, uPopi wayalela ummeli wakhe ukuba, ukuze akwazi ukuncothula neengcambu isifo solahlekiso, kufuneka akhuphele ngaphandle kwesikhungu, nokuba bakwesiphi isikhundla ebandleni okanye embusweni, ngaphandle kukakumkani, bonke abakutyeshelayo ukumbamba uLutere kunye nabo bayame kuye, nokuba banikelwe kwimpindezelo yeRoma.IE18 121.2

Apha, kwaboniswa umoya wenene wobupopi. Kwakungekho nomgca womthetho-siseko wobuKristu, okanye ubulungisa nje obuqhelekileyo, obabubonakala kulo lonke uxwebhu. ULutere waye ekude kakhulu eRoma; wayengenalo nethuba lokuchaza okanye ukukhusela indawo awayemi kuyo; kanti ngaphambi kokuba liphandwe ityala lakhe, kwakuse kuxelwe ngokuphandle ukuba ungumlahlekisi, kwaza kwangaloo mini kanye, wayalwa, wamangalelwa, wagwetywa, wafunyanwa enetyala; konke oku kusenziwa nguntando ayiphikiswa, ubawo ongcwele, ekuphela kwakhe ophezu konke, igunya elingenako ukuphazama ebandleni okanye esizweni [uPopi]! IE18 121.3

Ngeli xesha, xa kanye uLutere wayedinga uvelwano necebiso lomhlobo wenene, uThixo, ngokubonelela kwaKhe, wathumela uMelanchthon eWittenberg. Eselula ngeminyaka, elulamile, engenakuzigwagwisa, enengqondo ephangaleleyo, uMelanchthon, enabile ngolwazi, eliciko elivakalayo, kuhlangene nobunyulu besimilo esingenabugwenxa, konke oko kwamenza wathandwa wahlonitshwa luluntu lonke. Ubukrelekrele bezakhono zakhe babungabonakali ngaphezu kokulunga kwenkangeleko yakhe. Wakhawuleza wangumfundi wegospile, noyena mhlobo othenjiweyo nguLutere; nomxhasi amxabise kakhulu; ububele bakhe, ukulumka, nokuba semgceni ngokuthe ngqo, konke kongeza kwisibindi namandla kaLutere. Ukumanyana kwabo emsebenzini kongeza amandla kuHlaziyo kwaza kwalithende lenkuthazo enkulu kuLutere. IE18 122.1

IAugsburg yamiselwa ukuba ibe yindawo yokuthethwa kwetyala, waza umHlaziyi wasuka ngeenyawo ethabatha uhambo olusinga apho. Kwabakho ukumsizela okukhulu. Izigrogriso zazenziwe ekuhleni kusithiwa uza kubanjwa abulawe endleleni, baza abahlobo bakhe bamcenga ukuba angaluqali olo hambo. Bada bambongoza besithi makhe ayishiye iWittenberg okwethutyana afumane ukhuselo kubantu abaza kukuvuyela ukumkhusela. Noko kunjalo, akazange avume ukuyishiya indawo apho uThixo ambeke khona. Kufuneka eqhubeke ngokuthembeka ukuyigcina inyaniso, nokuba iinkqwithela zazibetha phezu kwakhe. Intetho yakhe yayisithi: “Ndifana noYeremiya, indoda yongquzulwano nokulwa; kodwa okona izothuso zabo zisanda, okona uvuyo lwam luphindaphindwa. . . . Sele besitshabalalisile isidima sam negama lam. Inye kuphela into eseleyo; ngulo mzimba wam uludwayi: mabawuthabathe; ngaloo ndlela baya kubenza bufutshane ngeeyure nje ezimbalwa ubomi bam. Wona umphefumlo wam, abakwazi ukuwuthabatha. Lowo unqwenela ukuvakalisa ilizwi likaKristu emhlabeni, kufuneka alindele ukufa nangawuphi umzuzu.”-- D’ Aubigne, b. 4, ch. 4. IE18 122.2

Iindaba zokufika kukaLutere eAugsburg zamanelisa kakhulu ummeli kaPopi. Umlahlekisi onenkathazo owenza umtsalane kumhlaba wonke wabonakala ngeli xesha ephantsi kwegunya leRoma, waza ummeli kaPopi wazimisela ukuba angamyeki asinde. UmHlaziyi akazange akwazi ukufumana incwadi yokumkhusela. Abahlobo bakhe bazama ukumzuzela kukumkani. Ummeli wayezimisele ukumnyanzela uLutere, ukuba wayenako, ukuba arhoxe, okanye, ukuba akaphumeleli, enze ukuba asiwe eRoma, aze azuze oko kwazuzwa nguHuss noJerome. Ngenxa yoko, ngabathunywa bakhe, wazama ukumlukuhla uLutere ukuba angabi nayo incwadi yokumkhusela, emyekela ukuba abe sisisulu sakhe. UmHlaziyi wakwala ngokupheleleyo ukukwenza oku. Akazange avele phambi kommeli kaPopi wada waba ulufumene uxwebhu olumqinisekisa ngokhuseleko lukakumkani.IE18 122.3

Ngokwenkqubo, amaRoma ayegqibe ukuba azame ukumzuza uLutere ngokubonakalisa ububele kuye. Ummeli kaPopi, kudliwano ndlebe naye, wathi unobuhlobo obukhulu; kodwa wafuna ukuba uLutere azinikele ngokupheleleyo kwigunya lebandla; aziyeke zonke iindawo awayenazo ngaphandle kwengxoxo okanye umbuzo. Wayengasiqondanga kakuhle isimilo sendoda awayenento yokwenza nayo. Ukuphendula, uLutere waxela indlela alixabisengayo ibandla, ulangazelelo lwakhe lwenyaniso, ukulungela kwakhe ukuphendula kuko konke ukuchasa awakufundisayo, nokunikela iimfundiso zakhe kwisigqibo seeyunivesithi eziphambili. Kwangelo xesha linye, walala ikhondo elalilandelwa ngubhishophu omkhulu lokufuna ukuba arhoxe engakhange afunyanwe ekwimposiso.IE18 123.1

Impendulo ekuphela kwayo awayinikayo, yathi: “Ndirhoxe, ndirhoxe!” UmHlaziyi wabonisa ukuba indawo awayemi kuyo yayixhaswa ziziBhalo, waza watsho ngokuqinileyo ukuba akakwazi ukuyilahla inyaniso. Ummeli, engakwazi ukuziphendula iingxoxo zikaLutere, wamongamela ngentaphane yezigculelo, ukuhlekisa, nokuhanahanisa, kuxutywe nokucaphula kwisithethe neentetho zooFather [ooBawo], engamniki nethuba lokuthetha. Ngokubona ukuba xa ukuhlangana kwabo kuza kuqhuba ngolo hlobo kuya kuba lilize, uLutere, ekugqibeleni, wazuza nzima imvume yokuyinika impendulo yakhe ngokuyibhala.IE18 123.2

“Ngokwenza njalo,” watsho ebhalela umhlobo, “ocinezelweyo ufumana inzuzo ephindwe kabini; kuqala, oko kubhaliweyo kungabekwa phambi kokuhlolwa ngabanye; okwesibini, omnye unethuba elihle kakhulu lokuhlasela uloyiko, ukuba akukho kwisazela, somlawuli onekratshi nothetha kakhulu, onokuthi xa kungenjalo amoyise ngentetho yakhe egagamelayo.”--Martyn, The Life and Times of Luther, pages 271, 272.IE18 123.3

Kudliwano ndlebe olulandelayo, uLutere wanika intetho ecacileyo, emfutshane nenamandla yeembono zakhe, ixhaswa ngokupheleleyo zizicatshulwa zeziBhalo. Eli phepha, emva kokuba lifundwe kakhulu, waligqithisa kubhishophu omkhulu, owasuka walijula kude ngokulidela ngelithi liyimfungumfungu yamazwi angelutho nezicatshulwa eziphum’ ecaleni. ULutere, ecaphuka ngokupheleleyo, waqubisana nommeli oziphakamisileyo kwindawo emfaneleyo—izithethe neemfundiso zebandla—wazoyisa kwathi shwaka izinto awayemi ngazo.IE18 123.4

Wathi ummeli akubona ukuba kunzima ukuphendula ukuzathuza kukaLutere, waphulukana nako konke ukuzibamba, wathi evutha ngumsindo, wadanduluka: “Rhoxa! okanye ndikuthumele eRoma, uyokuma phambi kwabagwebi abayalelwe ukuba bawuqaphele umsebenzi wakho. Ndiza kukugxothaebandleni, wenanabo bonke abangakwicala lakho, nabo bonke abaya kuthi, nanini, babonakale besenza njengawe, ndibakhuphele ngaphandle kwebandla. Wathi ekugqibeleni, ngelizwi lokuziphakamisa nomsindo: “Rhoxa, okanye ungabe ubuye.”--D'Aubigne, London ed., b. 4, ch. 8.IE18 124.1

UmHlaziyi wasuka kwangoko nabahlobo bakhe, ngaloo ndlela evakalisa ngokuphandle ukuba akukho kurhoxa kumelwe ukulindelwa kuye. Asiyona nto wayejonge kuyo le ubhishophu omkhulu. Wayezikhohlise ngokucinga ukuba, ngobubhovubhovu angamoyikisa ukuba avume uLutere. Ngoku, esele yedwa nabaxhasi bakhe, bajongana omnye nomnye bedane kakhulu kukusilela ababengakulindelanga kwamacebo akhe.IE18 124.2

Amalinge kaLutere ngeli xesha awazange alambathe ukuba neziphumo ezihle. Iqela elikhulu elalikho laba nethuba lokuwathelekisa la madoda mabini, nokuba bazibonele ngokwabo umoya awubonakalalisayo, kwakunye namandla nobunyaniso beendawo ami kuzo. Umahluko ongako! UmHlaziyi olulamileyo, othobekileyo, ozinzileyo, wema esemandleni kaThixo, enenyaniso ngakwicala lakhe; abameli bakaPopi, bezibona behloniphekile, begagamela, beziphakamisile, bengazikisi ukucinga, bengenayo neyodwa indawo abayikhupha eziBhalweni, babe begadlela ngamandla ukuthi: “Rhoxa, okanye uthunyelwe eRoma ukuba uyokohlwaywa.” IE18 124.3

Nangona uLutere wayenayo incwadi yokumkhusela, amaRoma ayeceba ukuba ambambe amvalele entolongweni. Abahlobo bakhe bamnyanzela ngelithi, njengoko kwakungancedi nto ukwandisa ukuhlala kwakhe, kufuneka engalibazisanga ukubuyela eWittenberg, nokuba kufuneka kuqatshelwe kakhulu ukuzifihla iinjongo zakhe. Wenza ngolo hlobo ukuyishiya iAugsburg kwangonyezi, eqabele ihashe, ekhatshwa ngumkhokeli omnye kuphela, naye owayemnikwe ngumlawuli. Ngexhala elikhulu, wacanda kwizitrato ezimnyama nezizolileyo. Iintshaba, ziphaphamile zikhohlakele, zaziceba ukumbulala. Ingaba wayeza kusinda na kwimigibe awayebekelwe yona? Lawo yayingamaxesha exhala nomthandazo onyanisekileyo. Wafika kwisango elincinane eludongeni olubiyele isixeko. Wayelivulelwe, waza wadlula nomkhuseli wakhe bengathintelwanga. Ngako nje ukubabaphumelengaphandle bekhuselekile, abasabi bagqotsa, kwathi ngaphambi kokuba ummeli kaPopi ave ngokusaba kukaLutere, waba sele edlulele ngaphaya kokuba angafunyanwa ngabatshutshisi bakhe. USathana nezithunywa zakhe boyiswa. Umntu ababecinga ukuba uphantsi kwegunya labo wayemkile, esinde okwentaka kwisigu sabathiyeli bayo.IE18 124.4

Zathi zakuvakala iindaba zokuphuncuka kukaLutere, ummeli kaPopi wazala kukumangaliswa nangumsindo. Wayelindele ukuzuza ukuhlonitshwa okukhulu ngobulumko nokuqina kwakhe ekusebenzeni nalo mphazamisi mkhulu webandla; kodwa ithemba lakhe ladaniswa. Wawukhuphela umsindo wakhe kwincwadi awayibhalela uFrederick, ubhishophu owayenguMnyuli waseSaxony, emgxeka kakhulu uLutere ekafuna ukuba uFrederick amthumele uMhlaziyi eRoma okanye amgxothe eSaxony.IE18 125.1

Ekuzikhuseleni, uLutere wanyanzelisa ukuba ummeli okanye uPopi ambonise iimposiso zakhe ngokuphuma eziBhalweni, wabhambathisa ngolona hlobo lunendili ukuba uya kuzilahla iimfundiso zakhe ukuba zingavezwa zichasene nelizwi likaThixo. Wawuxela nombulelo wakhe kuThixo kuba ebalelwe ukuba ukufanele ukuva ubunzima kumsebenzi ongcwele ngolo hlobo. IE18 125.2

Ubhishophu onguMnyuli, ngokwelo xesha, wayesazi kancinane ngeemfundiso zohlaziyo, kodwa wathabatheka kakhulu kukuthethwa ngokuphandle, nangamandla, nangokucacileyo kwamazwi kaLutere; waza wagqiba kwelokuba uya kuma abe ngumxhasi womHlaziyi ade umHlaziyi afunyanwe enemposiso. Ukuphendula kokufunwa ngummeli kaPopi, wabhala wathi: “Njengoko uDr Martin ebevelile phambi kwakho eAugsberg, umele ukuba wanelisiwe. Besingalindelanga ukuba uza kuzama ukumenza ukuba arhoxe engakhange aboniswe, aze oyiswe, ziimposiso zakhe. Ayikho kumadoda afundileyo kolu lawulo lwethu endixeleleyo mna ukuba imfundiso kaMartin ayimhloneli uThixo, ichasene noKristu, okanye iyalahlekisa.” Inkosana yala, ngapha koko, ukumthumela eRoma uLutere, okanye ukumgxotha kwimimandla yayo.”--D'Aubigne, b. 4, ch. 10. IE18 125.3

Ubhishophu ongumnyuli wabona ukuba kukho ukusingelwa phantsi jikelele kokukwazi ukuziphatha emphakathini. Umsebenzi omkhulu wohlaziyo wawudingeka. Amalungiselelo anzima naxabisa kakhulu ukubamba nokohlwaya ukwaphulwa komthetho, awayi kufuneka ukubaabantubathi bakuvume bakuthobeleokufunwa nguThixo nokuyalelwa sisazela esikhanyiselweyo. Wabona ukubauLutere wayesebenza nzima ukuba afikelele kulo mgomo, waza wakonwabela ngasese ukuba impembelelo elunge kakhulu yayivakala ebandleni.IE18 125.4

Wabona kwakhona ukuba, kuba eyiprofesa eyunivesithi, uLutere wayenayo impembelelo egqamileyo. Kwakudlule umnyaka omnye kuphela kususela ukuba umHlaziyi wayexhome izimangalo zakhe kumnyango wenkonzo yenqaba, kanti ke, kwakusele kukho ukuphuma okukhulu kweqela labahambi elalihambele ibandla ngexesha lesikhumbuzo se“All Saints.” IRoma yayiphangwe abanquli neminikelo, kodwa indawo yabo yathatyathwa ngabanye bolunye udidi, abeza ngoku eWittenberg, bengengabo abahambi bokuza kubona iintsalela zezinto [ezazinqulwa], kodwa bengabafundi ababeze kuzalisa amagumbi okufunda. Imibhalo kaLutere yayiphembe, kuyo yonke indawo, umdla omtsha kwiziBhalo Ezingcwele, kungekuphela kuzo zonke iindawo zaseJamani, kodwa bephuma nakweminye imimandla, abafundi baba yimiqodi ukuya eyunivesithi. Amadodana, awayeyibona okokuqala iWittenberg, “aphakamisela izandla ezulwini, ambonga uThixo kuba enze ukukhanya kwenyaniso kukhanye kuphuma kwesi sixeko, njengokwakuphuma kwiZiyon ngamaxesha akudala, nokuba kwathi saa kwaya nakwawona akude amazwe.”-- D'Aubigne, b. 4, ch. 10. IE18 126.1

ULutere wayesaguquke kancinane kwiimpazamo zobuRoma. Wathi kodwa xa athelekisa imiYalelo Engcwele nemithetho nemigaqo yobupopi, wakhwankqiswa “Ndifunda imithetho yooPopi,” wabhala, “kwaye . . . andazi nokuba uPopi ungumchasi-Kristu na, okanye umpostile wakhe, ngenxa yendlela abekwe kakubi kakhulu nathe wabethelelwa ngayo uKristu.”-- D'Aubigne, b. 5, ch. 1. Kanti ke, ngeli xesha, uLutere wayesenguye umxhasi weBandla laseRoma, engekacingi ukuba angaze azahlule kulwalamano nalo.IE18 126.2

Imibhalo yomHlaziyi nemfundiso yakhe zazisiya kuzo zonke izizwe zobuKristu. Umsebenzi wayakufika eSwitzerland naseHolland. Iikopi zeencwadi zakhe zakwazi nokungena eFrance naseSpain. ENgilane iimfundiso zakhe zamkelwa njengelizwi lobomi. EBelgium naseItaly, nakhona zafikelela. Amawaka ayevuka kubuthongo bawo obabufana nokufa, evukela kuvuyo nethemba lobomi bokholo.IE18 126.3

IRoma yaya icaphuka ngakumbi nangakumbi kukuhlaselwa nguLutere, bada bathi abanye abangabachasi bakhe abayibaxayo, nabangoogqirha kwiiyunivesithi zeKatolika, nabanina onokuyibulala imonk engumvukeli, akayi kuba nasono. Ngenye imini kwafika umntu ongaziwayo, egushe ipistoli ngaphantsi kwesambatho eside, waya kumHlaziyi wambuza ukuba kutheni ehamba eyedwa. “NdisezandIeni zikaThixo,” waphendula uLutere. “Ungamandla am nekhaka lam. Angandenza ntoni na umntu?”-- D'Aubigne, b. 6, ch. 2. Wathi akuwava la mazwi, owasemzini wajika waba luthuthu ngenkangeleko wabaleka wemka phambi kwezithunywa zezulu.IE18 127.1

IRoma yayizimisele ukumtshabalalisa uLutere; kodwa uThixo waba lukhuselo kuye. Iimfundiso zakhe zazikho kuyo yonke indawo—“kwizindlwana nemizi yoonongendi, . . . kwiinqaba zamadoda amakhulu, eziyunivesithi, nakumabhotwe ookumkani;” aye amadoda amakhulu evika macaleni onke ukuba ayixhase imizamo yakhe.-- D'Aubigne, b. 6, ch. 2.IE18 127.2

Kwakungesi sithuba kanye apho uLutere wathi efunda imisebenzi kaHuss, wafumana ukuba inyaniso enkulu yokugwetyelwa ngokholo, yena awayefuna ukuba ayibambe ayifundise, yayibanjiwe ngumHlaziyi waseBohemia. “Thina sonke,” watsho uLutere, “uPawulos, uAugustine, nam, sibe singabalandeli bakaHuss, singayazi loo nto!” “UThixo ngokuqinisekileyo uya kulohlwaya ihlabathi,” waqhubeka, “kuba inyaniso iye yashunyayelwa kulo [ihlabathi] inkulungwane yonke eyadlulayo, aze alitshise!”--Wylie, b. 6, ch. 1.IE18 127.3

Isibheno esaya kukumkani nezikhakhamela zaseJamani egameni lohlaziyo lobuKristu, uLutere wabhala ngokubhekiselele kuPhapha: “Yinto embi kakhulu ukubona umntu ozimisa njengomi endaweni kaKristu, abonise ubungangamsha ekungekho kumkani unako ukulingana nabo. Ingaba oku kukufana nosizi olunguYesu, okanye ukuthobeka kukaPetros? Bathi uyinkosi yehlabathi! Yena uKristu, aqhayisa ngokuba ungummeli waKhe, uthe, ‘Ubukumkani bam asibubo obeli hlabathi.’ Ingaba izikumkani zommeli zingagqithela ngaphaya kwalowo ungaphezu kwakhe?”--D'Aubigne, b. 6, ch. 3.IE18 127.4

Wabhala oku ngeeyunivesithi: “Ndoyika kakhulu,hlezezingasuka iiyunivesithi zibe ngamasango amakhulu esihogo, ngaphandle kokuba zingasebenza ngokukhuthala ukuchaza iziBhalo, zizikrole ezintliziyweni zabantu abatsha. Ndicebisa ukuba kungabikho namnye obeka umntwana wakhe kwindawo apho iziBhalo zingahambi phambili ekulawuleni. Lonke iziko apho abantu bangaxakekanga ngamaxesha onke lilizwi likaThixo, liya konakala.” D'Aubigne, b. 6, ch. 3.IE18 127.5

Esi sibheno sakhawuleza safikelela kuyo yonke iJamani saza sanempembelelo enkulu ebantwini. Isizwe sonke saxokozela, zaza izihlwele zavumbuluka ukuba zixhase uhlaziyo olusemgangathweni. Abachasi bakaLutere, bevutha lulangazelelo lokuziphindezela, bamnyanzela uPopi ukuba athabathe amanyathelo angqongqo ngakuye. Kwenziwa umthetho wokuba iimfundiso zakhe zipheliswe ngokukhawuleza. UmHlaziyi nabayame ngakuye banikwa iintsuku ezimashumi mathandathu, ekwakuza kuthi emva kwazo, ukuba abarhoxi, bonke bagxothelwe ngaphandle kwebandla.IE18 128.1

Yaba yinto embi kakhulu leyo kuHlaziyo. Kwisithuba seenkulungwane, isigwebo sokugxothelwa ngaphandle kwebandla sazoyikisa iikumkani ezinamandla; sazalisa izikumkani ezinamandla ngosizi nokukhedama. Abo sasiwe phezu kwabo, kuyo yonke indawo babekhangelwe ngonkwantyo noloyiko; babesuswa kuko konke ukunxibelelana nabanye abantu, bephathwa njengamaxhama okuzingelelwa ukutshatyalaliswa. ULutere wayengasithelwanga sisaqhwithi esasiza kuvumbuluka phezu kwakhe; kodwa wema waqina, ethembele ekubeni uKristu uya kuba ngumxhasi nekhaka lakhe. Ngokholo lofelukholo nesibindi, wabhala wathi: “Oko kuza kwenzeka kum ngoku andikwazi, kwaye andikhathalele kukwazi. . . . Isithonga masitsho apho sinokutsho khona, andinaloyiko. Kunjengokuba igqabi lingawi, ngaphandle kwentando kaBawo wethu. Kukhulu kangakanani ukusikhathalela kwaKhe! Kuyintwana encinane ukufela uLizwi, njengoko uLizwi owenziwa inyama naYe ngokwaKhe wafa. Ukuba sifa kunye naYe, siya kuphila kunye naYe; sithi ngokudlula koko naYe wadlula kuko ngaphambi kwethu, siya kuba lapho akhoyo sihlale naYe ngonaphakade.”-- D'Aubigne, 3d London ed., Walther, 1840, b. 6, ch. 9.IE18 128.2

Sathi sakufika isaziso sikaPhapha kuLutere, wathi: “Ndisidela ndikwasihlasela, njengesingamhloneliyo uThixo, nesibubuxoki.. . . NguKristu ngokwaKhe ohlaselwayo apho kuso. . . . ndivuyiswa kukuthwala ububi obungaka ngenxa yeyona misebenzi ilungileyo. Sele ndisiva inkululeko enkulu kakhulu entliziyweni yam; kuba ndiyazi ukuba, ekugqibeleni, uPopi ungumchasi-Kristu, nokuba itrone yakhe yekaSathana ngokwakhe.”--D'Aubigne, b. 6, ch. 9. IE18 128.3

Kanti ke umyalelo waseRoma wawungayiswelanga impembelelo. Ukufakwa entolongweni, ukuthuthunjiswa, nekrele zizinto ezazinamandla okunyanzelisa intobelo. Ababuthakathaka nabaneenkolo babenkwantya phambi komthetho kaPopi. Kanti ke, nangona kwakukho uvelwano jikelele ngakuLutere, abaninzi bacinga ukuba ubomi babuxabiseke kakhulu ukuba bungabekwa engozini ngenxa yohlaziyo. Izinto zonke zazisalatha ekuthini umsebenzi womHlaziyi wawusele uza kuphela.IE18 128.4

Kanti ke uLutere wayengoyiki. IRoma yayimgibisela ngeziqalekiso ukumchasa, laza labukela ilizwe, lingayithandabuzi into yokuba uya kutshabalala okanye anyanzeleke ukuba oyisakale. Sekunjalo, ngamandla amakhulu, wasibuyisela kulo [ibandla] isigwebo sokubulawa, wakuvakalisa esidlangalaleni ukuzimisela kwakhe ukulishiya ngonaphakade. Phambi kwesihlwele sabafundi, oogqirha, nabemi bazo zonke iindidi, uLutere wasitshisa isaziso sikaPhapha, nayo yonke imithetho yeCawa, imimiselo, neminye imibhalo eyayixhasa igunya likaPopi. “Iintshaba zam zikwazile ukuzitshisa iincwadi zam,” watsho, “ukuze ziwuchithe umsebenzi wenyaniso ezingqondweni zabantu jikelele, ukuze itshabalale imiphefumlo yabo; ngenxa yeso sizathu, nam nditshisa ezabo ukuphindezela. Kwakuqale idabi elikhulu. Ukuza kufikelela kule ndawo, ndibe ndidlala nje noPhapha. Ndiwuqale lo msebenzi egameni likaThixo; uya kugqitywa ngaphandle kwam, ngamandla aKhe.”--D'Aubigne, b. 6, ch. 10. IE18 129.1

Kwizigculelo zeentshaba zakhe ezazimchukusha ngokungabi namandla kwendlela yakhe, uLutere waphendula, wathi: “Ngubani owaziyo, hleze kuthi kanti uThixo undinyule wandibiza, kuthi ukuba abayoyiki loo nto ngokuba bendidela, babe badele uThixo ngokwaKhe? UMoses waye yedwa ekuphumeni eYiputa; uEliya waye yedwa kulawulo lukaKumkani Ahabhi; uIsaya waye yedwa eYerusalem; uHezekile waye yedwa eBhabheli. . . . UThixo akazange amnyulele ukuba abe ngumprofeti umbingeleli omkhulu okanye nawuphi kubantu abakhulu; kodwa wanyula abantunje abaphantsi nabadelekileyo. Ngelinye ixesha yayingumalusi uAmos. Kwisizukulwana ngasinye, abangcwele kwafuneka bangxolise izikhulu, ookumkani, abathetheli, ababingeleli, namadoda azizilumko, bebeke ubomi babo engozini. . . . Anditsho ukuba ndingumprofeti; kodwa ndiyatsho ukuthi bamele ukuba boyike kanye kuba ndindedwa nokuba bona bebaninzi. Ndiqinisekile ngale nto, yokuba ilizwi likaThixo likho kum, nokuthi alikho kubo.”-- D'Aubigne, b. 6, ch. 10.IE18 129.2

Kanti ke, kwakungelula konke kuLutere ukuba enze isigqibo sokuba ekugqibeleni ahlukane kuphele nebandla. Kwakungeli xesha awaya wabhala, esithi: “Ndikuva imihla ngemihla ukuba nzima kokuba umntu ahlukane nobugocigoci awabubimbiliza wazizalisa ngabo kwasebuntwaneni. Hayi, indlela endivise ubuhlungu ngayo, nangona ndandinazo iziBhalo ngakwicala lam, into yokuba ndikwazi ukuzithethelela ngokuba ndibe nesibindi sokukwazi ukuba ndedwa ndichasane noPhapha, ndithi ungumchasi-Kristu! Yintoni ezingabanga yiyo iimbandezelo zentliziyo yam! Kukangaphi ndingazibuzanga ndingekho buhlungu emphefumlweni wam umbuzo ohlala ukho emilebeni yabalandeli bobupopi: ‘Nguwe wedwa na olumkileyo? Ingaba bonke abanye abantu bayaphazama? Ungathini ukuba, emva kwako konke oku, kuthe kanti nguwe ophazamayo, ube ufake kuloo mpazamo yakho imiphefumlo emininzi kangaka, eya kuthi ekugqibeleni ilahleke ngonaphakade?’ Belinjalo idabi phakathi kwam ngokwam kunye noSathana, wada uKristu, ngelizwi laKhe elingenako ukuphosisa, wayomeleza intliziyo yam ekulweni nezi ntandabuzo.”--Martyn, pages 372, 373.IE18 129.3

UPopi wathembisa ngokumkhuphela ngaphandle kwebandla uLutere ukuba akarhoxi, saza isithembiso eso sazaliseka. Kwenziwa umthetho omtsha, uvakalisa ngokwahlukana kokugqibela komHlaziyi neBandla laseRoma, umsingela phantsi njengoqalekisiweyo liZulu, kuqukwe koko kugwetywa bonke abazamkelayo iimfundiso zakhe. Kwaba kuqala idabi elikhulu [ngaloo ndlela].IE18 130.1

Inkcaso sisabelo sabo bonke abo uThixo abasebenzisa ukuba bavakalise iinyaniso ezihambelana ngokukodwa nexesha elo labo. Yayikho inyaniso yexesha lemihla kaLutere,--inyaniso eyayibaluleke ngendlela eyodwangelo xesha; ikho inyanisoyelixeshaenikwe ibandlanamhlanje.Lowo uzenza zonke izinto ngokwecebiso lentando yaKhe wanelisiwe kukubeka abantu phantsi kweemeko ezahlukeneyo nokubanika imithwalo ekhethekileyo efanele amaxesha abaphila kuwo neemeko ababekwe phantsi kwazo. Ukuba bebengakuxabisa ukukhanya abakunikiweyo, iimbono eziphangaleleyo zenyaniso beziya kuvulwa phambi kwabo. Kaloku inyaniso ayifunwa sisininzi namhlanje kanye njengoko kwakunjalo kubalandeli bobupopi ababechase uLutere. Kukho ukulungela okufanayo kokwamkelwa kweemfundiso nezithethe zabantu endaweni yelizwi likaThixo njengamaxesha angaphambili. Abo bathetha inyaniso yeli xesha akufuneki balindele ukwamkelwa ngobubele kunokuba kwakunjalo kubahlaziyi bangaphambili. Imbambano enkulu phakathi kwenyaniso nemposiso, phakathi kukaKristu noSathana, iza kuya ikhula ngokuqina kuse ekupheleni kwembali yeli hlabathi. IE18 130.2

UYesu wathi kubafundi baKhe: “Ukuba beningabehlabathi, ihlabathi linge likuthanda okwalo; ke ngokuba ningengabehlabathi, ndaninyulayo mna kulo ihlabathi, ngenxa yoko linithiyile ihlabathi. Likhumbuleni ilizwi endalithethayo mna kuni, elithi, Akukho mkhonzi umkhulu kunenkosi yakhe. Ukuba banditshutshisa mna, bonitshutshisa nani; ukuba ilizwi lam baligcina, nelenu boligcina.” Yohane 15:19, 20. Kwelinye icala, iNkosi yethu yathetha ngokucacileyo: “Yeha nina, xa bathe bathetha kakuhle ngani bonke abantu! kuba ooyise babo babesenjenjalo kubaprofeti ababuxoki.” Luka 6:26. Umoya wehlabathi awukwazi ukuvumelana nomoya kaKristu namhlanje kunamaxesha angaphambili, baye abo bashumayela ilizwi likaThixo ngobunyulu balo bengazi kuthandwa kakhulu kunaloo maxesha. Uhlobo lokuchasa inyaniso lungangafani, utshaba lube selubala nganeno ngenxa yokurhubuluza kakhulu kwalo; kodwa intiyo yona isekho kwaye iya kubonakalaliswa kude kube sekupheleni kwexesha.IE18 130.3