8—Ulutere Phambi Kweentlanganiso Ezinkulu

Ukumkani omtsha, uCharles V, wahlala etroneni yaseJamani, abathunywa baseRoma bakhawuleza ukumthumela izincomo zabo, baye becela ukuba ukumkani asebenzise igunya lakhe ukulwa uHlaziyo. Kwelinye icala, uMnyuli waseSaxony, awasizuza ngaye isikhundla sokulawula uCharles, wamkhunga ukuba angathabathi nyathelo ngakuLutere ade abe uzinike ithuba lokumphulaphula kuqala. Waya wadideka kakhulu ukumkani, enalo nodano. Abobupopi babengasayi kwaneliseka kungakhange kuphume umyalelo wobukumkani wokuba uLutere agwetyelwe ukufa. UMnyuli wayelikhuphe latsola elithi, uDr. Lutere kufuneka enikwe incwadi yokuhamba ngokukhululekileyo phantsi kwenkuseleko, ukuze aye kuma kwinkundla yabagwebi abafundileyo, abamhlonelayo uThixo, nabangakhethi cala.”--D'Aubigne, b. 6, ch. 11.IE18 132.1

Ingqalelo yawo onke amaqela yabhekiswa kwintlanganiso yeziteyiti zaseJamani eyayibizwe eWorms [Vems] ngako nje ukuba uCharles anyulelwe ebukumkanini. Yayikho imiba ebalulekileyo yezopolitiko kwakunye neyayitsala umdla ekwakufuneka iqwalaselwe liqumrhu lesizwe; kwaye kuza kuba kokokuqala iinkosana ziza kuhlangana nokumkani oselula kwintlanganiso eyayiza kuhlalela imicimbi. Izikhulu zebandla nesizwe zaphuma kulo lonke elo. Iinkosi zomhlaba, abazelwe zizinhanha, abanamandla, nabanekhwele ngamalungeloelifalabo; abahloniphekileyo benkonzo, bezaliswe kukuqonda ubukhulu babo ngamanqwanqwa negunya; amagorha awawongwayo ekunye nababakhusele ngezigalo; bonke baqokelelana eWorms. Phofu, kweso sihlwele sikhulu, umba owawunika umdla kakhulu yayingumsebenzi womHlaziyi waseSaxon.IE18 132.2

Ngaphambili uCharles wayemyalele umnyuli ukuba eze noLutere eNtlanganisweni, emqinisekisa ngokhuseleko, ethembisa ngengxoxo ekhululekileyo, kunye nabantu abawaziyo umcimbi, wemiba ekuxoxwa ngayo. ULutere wayekulangazelela kakhulu ukuya kuvela phambi kukakumkani. Ngeli xesha impilo yakhe yayiphazamiseke kakhulu; kodwa wambhalela uMnyuli, wathi: “Ukuba andikwazi ukuya eWorms ndisempilweni entle, ndiya kuthwala ukusiwa apho, ndigula ndinje. Kaloku ukuba ukumkani undibizile, andikwazi ukuthandabuza ukuba olo lubizo lukaThixo ngokwaKhe. Ukuba bafuna ukuba ndlongondlongo ngakum, nto leyo enokwenzeka (kuba asikokwabo ukundibiza ndiye phambi kwabo), umcimbi ndiwubeka ezandleni zeNkosi. Usaphila, kwaye usalawula Lowo wakhusela amadodana amathathu ezikweni lomlilo ovuthayo. Ukuba uthe akandisindisa, ubomi bam abubalulekanga kangako. Thina masikhusele igospile ekuhlazisweni ngabakhohlakeleyo, siphalaze igazi lethu ngenxa yayo, ngokoyikisela ukuba hleze babe noloyiso. Asikokwam ukwazi ukuba, mhlawumbi ubomi bam okanye ukufa kwam akungeke kube negalelo elikhulu ekusindisweni kwabo bonke. . . . Ungalindela nantoni kum . . . ngaphandle kokubaleka nokurhoxa. Ukubaleka kona, andingeke, andisathethi ke ngokurhoxa, [libala].”-- D'Aubigne, b. 7, ch. 1.IE18 132.3

Zathi zakuthi saa eWorms iindaba zokuba uLutere uza kuvela phambi kweNtlanganiso, kwabakho ihlombe kumntu wonke jikelele. UAleander, ummeli kaPopi, owawunikelwe esandleni sakhe ngendlela eyodwa umcimbi, wothuka wanomsindo. Waba nento ethi, iziphumo ziya kuba nobungozi kumsebenzi woPopi. Ukwenza uphando kumba uPopi asele ebeke isigwebo sokubulawa kuwo kwakuza kwenza ukuba kubekho ukudelelwa kwegunya lolawulo oluzimeleyo likaPopi. Ngaphezu koko, wayenoloyiko hleze ubuciko neengxoxo ezinamandla zale ndoda zizijike iingqondo zeenkosana ezininzi kwindlela kaPopi. Ke ngoko, ngokukhawuleza okukhulu, wakuchasa ukuba uCharles avumele uLutere ukuba aze eWorms. Ngeli xesha isaziso sikaPopi sokugxothwa kukaLutere ebandleni sasisele sipapashiwe; kwaza oku, kuhlangene nokuthethwe ngummeli, kwamnyanzela ukumkani ukuba avume. Wabhalela uMnyuli ngelithi, ukuba uLutere akanako ukurhoxa, kuza kufuneka ahlale eWittenberg. IE18 133.1

Wathi enganelisekanga lolu loyiso, uAleander wazama ngamandla akhe onke nangobuqhophololo anako ukuqinisekisa ukubulawa kukaLutere. Ngokuzingisa okufanele indlela engcono, wawunyanzelisa lo mcimbi kwiinkosana, koobhishophu abakhulu, nakwamanye amalungu entlangano, etyhola umHlaziyi “ngokulahlekisa, uvukelo, ukungahloneli Thixo, nokunyelisa.” Noko kunjalo, amandla nemvakalelo eyabonakalaliswa ngummeli yaya yaveza ngokucace kakhulu umoya owawumqhuba. “Uqhutywa ngumoya wentiyo nempindezelo,” batsho njalo abantu, “ngaphezu kolangazelelo novelwano.-- D'Aubigne, b. 7, ch. 1. Isininzi kwababekho eNtlanganisweni [eWorms] babekekelele ekuwuthandeni umsebenzi kaLutere.IE18 133.2

UAleander wawaphindaphinda amandla okunyanzelisa kukumkani uxanduva lokwenza ngokwemiyalelo kaPopi. Sekunjalo, phantsi kwemithetho yaseJamani, oku kwakungenako ukwenziwa kungakhange kubekho ukuvumelana neenkosana; waza wathi, ngokoyiswa kukujoka kommeli kaPopi, uCharles wamcela ukuba aze awubeke umcimbi wakhe phambi kweNtlanganiso. “Yaba yimini yoloyiso olukhulu kummeli kaPopi. Intlanganiso yayinkulu: umcimbi wona wawumkhulu kakhulu. UAleander wayeza kuthethela iRoma, . . . unina nesithandwa sawo onke amabandla.” Wayeza kungqinela ukuba yinkosi kukaPetros phambi kwezilawuli zobukumkani bobuKristu ezazihlanganisene. “Waye eliciko, waza wabetha kwavokotheka kweso siganeko. Ukubonelela kukaThixo kwenza ukuba iRoma imelwe ithethelwe sesona sithethi esinesakhono kwezona ntlanganiso zamatyala zinkulu, elalihlaselwa phambi kwazo.” Bathi benganelisekanga abo babexhasa umHlaziyi, balindela ifuthe lentetho ka-Aleander. Umnyuli waseSaxony wayengekho, kodwa ngokuyalelwa nguye, abanye babacebisi bakhe babekho ukuba bacholachole amanqaku entetho yommeli kaPopi. Wathi ngawo wonke amandla emfundo nobuciko, uAleander wazimisela ukuyibhukuqa inyaniso. Wabeka isityholo emva kwesityholo ngakuLutere zokuba ulutshaba lwebandla nesizwe, kwabaphilileyo nakwabafileyo, kwisifundisi nasebazalwaneni, kumaqumrhu nakumaKristu wonke. Watsho esithi, “Kwiimposiso zikaLutere kwanele,” okunokwenza ukuba kube nokutshiswa “amakhulu amawaka abalahlekisi.” IE18 134.1

Wathi xa egqiba, wazama ukwenza ukuba kujongelwe phantsi bonke abazayamanisa nenkolo yohlaziyo: “Bayintoni bonke aba balandeli bakaLutere? Isipha sezifundiswa ezisileyo, abapristi abakhohlakeleyo, oonongendi [abangamadoda] abangcolileyo, abomthetho abangazi nto, nezikhulu ezihlazekileyo, nomxukuxela wabantu ababalahlekisileyo babagqwetha. Likhulu kangakanani ngaphaya kwabo iqela leKatolika ngokwamanani, ngesakhono, nangegunya! Umthetho ekuvunyelwene ngalinye kuwo kulo mhlangano ubalulekileyo uya kunika ukukhanya kwabangqondo zibuthakathaka, ulumkise abahlakaniphileyo, uveze abathandabuzayo, ubomeleze abaswele amandla.”--D'Aubigne, b. 7, ch. 3. IE18 134.2

Izixhobo ezinjalo zisetyenziswe ukuhlasela abavakalisi benyaniso kuzo zonke izizukulwana. Zona ezo ntetho zisasetyenziswa ukuchasa bonke abanesibindi sokumisa, ngokuchasene neemposiso ezimiliselweyo, iimfundiso ezicacileyo nezitsolileyo zelizwi likaThixo. “Ngoobani aba bashumayeli beemfundiso ezintsha?” batsho abo bafuna inkolo kawonke-wonke. “Abafundanga, bambalwa ngamanani, baludidi oluhluphekileyo. Kanti ke, bathi banenyaniso, nokuthi bangabantu abanyuliweyo bakaThixo. Abazi nto kwaye bakhohlisiwe. Khangela ubukhulu ngaphaya kokuqonda ngokwamanani nempembelelo kwebandla lethu! Khangela ukuba banjani ukuba bakhulu nokufunda abantu abafundileyo phakathi kwethu! Mangakanani ukuba makhulu amandla angakwicala lethu!” Ziintetho ezi ezinempembelelo evakalayo emhlabeni; kodwa azikho ntweni namhlanje njengoko zazinjalo nangemihla yomHlaziyi.IE18 135.1

UHlaziyo aluzange luphele ngoLutere, njengoko abaninzi becinga. Kufuneka luqhubekile kude kuse ekupheleni kwembali yehlabathi. ULutere wayenomsebenzi omkhulu ekwakufuneka ewenzile ekutyhileni kwabanye ukukhanya uThixo awakuvumela ukuba kukhanye kuye; kanti ke,akazangeakuzuze konkeukukhanya ekwakufunekakunikwe ihlabathi. Ukususela kwelo xesha ukuza kweli, ukukhanya okutsha kuthe rhoqo kuqhubeka ukukhanya eziBhalweni, kwaye kuzingisile ukutyhileka kweenyaniso ezintsha.IE18 135.2

Intetho yommeli kaPopi eNtlanganisweni [eWorms] yaba negalelo elikhulu. Wayengekho uLutere, owaye eneenyaniso ezicacileyo nezoyisayo zelizwi likaThixo, awayeza kuloyisa ngazo igorha likaPopi. Akuzange kubekho nzame yokukhusela umHlaziyi. Kwasuka kwavela icala lokuhlasela, kungekuphela yena neemfundiso awayezifundisa, kodwa, ukuba kwakukho indlela, nokunyothula ulahlekiso. IRoma yaxhamla elona thuba lihle lokukhusela umsebenzi wayo. Konke eyayinokukuthetha ukuzikhusela kwathethwa. Phofu, oku kwakubonakala kululoyiso yayiluphawu lokoyiswa. Ukususela ngoko umahluko phakathi kwenyaniso nemposiso wawuza kubonakala ngokucacileyo ngakumbi, njengoko zaziza kungqubana ethafeni kwidabi elivulekileyo. Ukususela ngaloo mini, iRoma yayingasayi kuphinda ime ikhuselekile njengoko yenzayo ngoko. IE18 135.3

Nangona ayeliqela amalungu eNtlanganiso awayengasokuze alibazise ukwayama ngakuLutere ukuziphindisela kwiRoma, amaninzi kuwo abubona abuthiya ubukho bobubi ebandleni, aza anqwenela ukucinezelwa kokuphathwa gwenxa okwakuphezu kwabantu baseJamani okwakusisiphumo senkohlakalo nokubawa kumagunya awongamileyo. UMmeli kaPopi wayebeke umgaqo kaPopi ngendlela ecace neyamkeleke kakhulu. Ngoku iNkosi yasebenza kwilungu leNtlanganiso ukuba linike ingcaciso enyanisileyo yegalelo lenkohlakalo kaPopi. Ngokuqina kwamadoda amakhulu, uDuke George waseSaxony wasuka wema kuloo mhlangano wamadoda aphetheyo wazibalula ngokuchaneke ngendlela etsolileyo neyoyikekayo iinkohliso namasikizi obupopi, kwaneziphumo zabo ezibi. Wathi xa egqibezela intetho yakhe: IE18 135.4

“Zikho nezinye izikhalo ezivakalayo ngenxa yobugwenxa baseRoma. Iintloni zonke zibekelwe bucala, eyona njongo iphambili ngoku yimali, imali, imali, . . . kangangokuba abashumayeli abafanele ukuba bafundisa inyaniso ngoku akukho nto bayithethayo ngaphandle kobuxoki, kanti ke, akwanelanga nje ukuba banyamezelwe, kodwa bayavuzwa, kuba okona bubukhulu ubuxoki babo okona ibankulu nenzuzo. Kulapha kulo mthombo wobubi apho kuphuma khona amanzi angcolileyo. Ubuxumbululu bolulele isandla ekubaweni. Yeha! inkohlakalo eyenziwa sisifundisi ejulela uninzi lwemiphefumlo elusizi ekugwetyweni kwaphakade. Kufuneka kwenziwe uhlaziyo jikelele.”-- D'Aubigne, b. 7, ch. 4.IE18 136.1

Ukuhlasela okwakunamandla nokunyanzelisayo kokuphatha gwenxa kobupopi babungeke kubekwe ngcono nanguLutere ngokwakhe; kangangokuba, into yokuba owathetha la mazwi yayilutshaba oluzimiseleyo lomHlaziyi, yanika impembelelo enkulu kumazwi akhe, uLutere.IE18 136.2

Ukuba amehlo entlangano ayevuliwe, ngebazibona iingelosi zikaThixo phakathi kwabo, zithulula imitha yokukhanya egxotha ubumnyama bempazamo, zivula iingqondo neentliziyo ukuba zamkele inyaniso. Yayingamandla kaThixo wenyaniso nobulumko awalawula nabona bachasi bohlaziyo, ngaloo ndlela alungisela indlela umsebenzi omkhulu owawuza kufezwa. UMartin Lutere wayengekho; kodwa ilizwi laLowo mkhulu kunaye waviwa kuloo ntlangano.IE18 136.3

Ikomiti yanyulwa kwangoko yiNtlanganiso ukuba icwangcise iingcinezelo zobupopi ezazinzima kakhulu kubantu baseJamani. Uludwe, olwaluquke izinto ezibambekayo ezifika ekhulwini, lwanikwa ukumkani, zikhatshwa sisicelo sokuba athabathe amanyathelo akhawulezileyo ukulungisa ezo zenzo zenkohlakalo. “Ilahleko engako yemiphefumlo yamaKristu,” batsho abaceli, “imbuqo enjalo, ukucudiswa okunjalo, ngenxa yamahlazo ejikelezwe ngawo intloko yolawulo lobuKristu! Ngumthwalo wethu ukuthintela ukutshabalala nehlazo labantu bethu. Ngenxa yeso sizathu, ngokuzithoba okukhulu, kodwa nangokukhawulezileyo, siyakubongoza ukuba, uyalele ukuba kubekho uhlaziyo jikelele, nokuba uqinisekise ukufezwa kwalo.”-- D'Aubigne, b. 7, ch. 4.IE18 136.4

Iqumrhu ngoku lanyanzelisa ukuba umHlaziyi avele phambi kwalo. Nangona kwakukho izicengo, ukwala, nezoyikiso zika-Aleander, ekugqibeleni ukumkani wavuma, waza uLutere wabizwa ukuba ayokuma phambi kweNtlanganiso. Ekubizweni kwakhe kwakhutshwa nemvume yokuhamba phantsi kwenkuseleko, eyayiqinisekisa ukubuyela kwakhe kwindawo yenkuseleko. Ezi zinto zasiwa eWittenberg ngomthunywa, owayalelwa ukuba ahambe naye ekhuselekile ukuya eWorms.IE18 137.1

Abahlobo bakaLutere boyika banoxinzelelo olukhulu. Ngokwaziintiyo nobutshaba obulwa naye, boyikela ukuba nemvume leyo yokuba ahambe ekhuselekile inokungahlonitshwa, baza bamcenga ukuba angabubekiengoziniubomibakhe. Waphendula, wathi: “Abantu bobupopi, Abakunqweneli ukuya kwam eWorms, kodwa ukugwetywa nokufa kwam.IE18 137.2

Akunamsebenzi. Musani ukuthandazela mna, kodwa [thandazelani] ilizwi likaThixo. . . . UKristu uya kundinika uMoya waKhe ukuba ndiboyise aba balungiseleli bemposiso. Ndiye ndabadela ndisaphila; ndiya kuboyisa ngokufa kwam. Baxakeke eWorms ngokundinyanzela ukuba ndirhoxe; ngoko ke, ndiza kuthetha ndithi xa ndirhoxa: Ndithe ngaphambili, uPopi wayengummeli kaKristu; ngoku ndimisa ukuthi ungumchasi weNkosi yethu nompostile wongendawo.”-- D'Aubigne, b. 7, ch. 6. IE18 137.3

ULutere wayengazi kuba yedwa kuhambo olunengozi. Ngaphandle komthunywa wasebukhosini, isithathu sabona bahlobo bakhe abaqinileyo bazimisela ukuba bahambe naye. UMelanchton wayelangazelela kakhulu ukuhamba nabo. Intliziyo yakhe yayiqhogene kakhulu nekaLutere, waza wanqwenela kakhulu ukumlandela, ukuba kukho isidingo, ukuya entolongweni nasekufeni. Izicengo zakhe azizange zamkeleke. Ukuba uLutere angatshabalala, amathemba oHlaziyo kufuneka azinze kosebenzisana naye oselula. Wathi umHlaziyi xa esahlukana noMelanchton: “Ukuba andibuyi, zaza iintshaba zam zandibulala, qhubeka ufundisa, ume uqine enyanisweni. Sebenza endaweni yam. . . . Ukuba uyasinda, ukufa kwam koba yinto encinane.”-- D'Aubigne, b. 7, ch. 7. Abafundi nabemi abaye behlanganisene ukuza kumbona uLutere ehamba, bachukumiseka kakhulu. Isihlwele, esintliziyo zazo zachukunyiswa yigospile, samkhapha ngeenyembezi. Kwaba njalo ukuya kukamHlaziyi nabamkhaphayo eWittenberg. IE18 137.4

Eluhambeni babona ukuba iingqondo zabantu zazicinezelwe kukulindela ubumnyama obuzayo. Kwezinye iidolophu akukho mbeko bayenzelwayo. Bathi bakumisa kwenye indawo kuba kusebusuku, umpristi onobubele waluxela uloyiko lwakhe ngokuphakamisa phambi kukaLutere umfanekiso womHlaziyi waseItaly owabulawelwa ukholo lwakhe. Ngemini elandelayo, bafumanisa ukuba konke okwakubhalwe nguLutere kwagxekwa eWorms. Abathunywa basebukhosini babevakalisa umthetho ophuma kukumkani othi, abantu mabazise imisebenzi ezingelwayo kubalawuli. Umthunywa, esoyikela inkuseleko kaLutere phambi kwequmrhu, ecinga nokuba isigqibo sakhe sinokuba sigungqile, wabuza ukuba angaba usafuna na ukubheka phambili. Waphendula: “Nangona ndithintelwe kuzo zonke izixeko, ndiza kuqhubeka.”-- D'Aubigne, b. 7, ch. 7.IE18 137.5

E-Efurt, uLutere wamkelwa ngembeko. Erhangqwe zizihlwele ezimbungezelelayo, wacanda izitrato awayekholisa ukuzicanda ephethe ingxowa yokungqiba. Waya kwisisele sendlu yakhe yeemonk, wakhumbula amadabi ekwathi ngawo ukukhanya okugubungele iJamani kwawa emphefumlweni wakhe. Wacengwa ukuba ashumayele. Wayekwalelwe ukuba akwenze oku, kodwa umthunywa wamnika imvume, waza umfundisi owayenziwe indinisa yendlu yeemonk ngoku wakhwela epulpitini. IE18 138.1

Kuloo ntlangano yayixinene, wathetha ecaphula amazwi kaKristu, “Uxolo malube phezu kwenu.” “Iinzulu-lwazi, oogqirha, nababhali,” watsho, “bazamile ukufundisa abantu indlela yokuzuza ubomi obungunaphakade, kodwa abaphumelela. Ngoku ndiza kunixelela ngayo: . . . UThixo wavusa indoda kwabafileyo, iNkosi uYesu Kristu, ukuze ikubhangise ukufa, isitshabalalise isono, iwavale amasango esihogo. Lo Ngumsebenzi wosindiso. . . . UKristu woyisile! Zindaba zovuyo ezi; kwaye sisindiswe ngomsebenzi waKhe, bonani izandla zam; oko kukuthi, Bona mntu! Ndim mna ndedwa, osuse isono sakho, ndakuthenga; ngoku unoxolo, itsho iNkosi.” IE18 138.2

Waqhubeka, ebonisa ukuba ukholo lwenene luya kubonakalaliswa ngobomi obungcwele. “Kususela ukuba uThixo esisindisile, masiyilungise imisebenzi yethu ukuze ibe nokwamkeleka kuYe. Ingaba usisityebi? Iimpahla zakho mazabelwe iimfuno zamahlwempu. Ingaba ulihlwempu? Inkonzo yokusebenza kwakho mayamkeleke kwabazizityebi. Ukuba ukusebenza kwakho kululutho kuwe kuphela, inkonzo owenza ngokungathi uyenzela uThixo ibubuxoki.”-- D'Aubigne, b. 7, ch. 7.IE18 138.3

Abantu baphulaphula ngokwabathabathekileyo. Isonka sobomi sasiqhekezwa kuloo miphefumlo ilambileyo. UKristu waphakanyiswa phambi kwabo njengongaphezu koPopi, abameli babo, abalawuli nookumkani. ULutere akazange athethe nto ngemeko yengozi akuyo. Akazange afune ukuzenza ixhoba leengcinga okanye lokusizelwa. Ekucingeni ngoKristu walahlekwa kukuzibona yena. Wazimela emva kweNdoda yaseKalvari, efuna kuphela ukubeka uYesu njengoMhlanguli womoni.IE18 138.4

Njengokuba umHlaziyi wayeqhubeka nohambo lwakhe, kuyo yonke indlela kwabonakala umdla omkhulu. Isihlwele esasinolangazelelo olukhulu sabuthelana ngakuye, aza amazwi anobubele amlumkisa ngenjongo yamaRoma. “Baza kukutshisa,” batsho abanye, “bawenze ube luthuthu umzimba wakho, njengoko benzayo kuJohan Huss..” ULutere waphendula, “Nokuba bangabasa umlilo kuyo yonke indlela ukusuka eWorms ukuya eWittenberg, amalangatye awo ayokufika ezulwini, bendiza kucanda kuwo egameni leNkosi; bendiza kuvela phambi kwabo; bendiza kungena emihlathini yeli gongqongqo ndiwaphule amazinyo alo, ndiyivuma iNkosi uYesu Kristu.”-- D'Aubigne, b. 7, ch. 7. IE18 139.1

Iindaba zokuza kwakhe eWorms zenza kwakho ukuxokozela okukhulu. Abahlobo bakhe bangcangcazela ngenxa yenkuseleko yakhe; iintshaba zoyika ngenxa yempumelelo yomsebenzi wazo. Imizamo enzima yeenziwa ukumenza ukuba angangeni esixekweni. Ngenxa yokoyikisa kwabo ubupopi wakhuthazwa ukuba angene kwinqaba legorha elinobubele, apho kwathiwa, zonke iinzima zingalungiswa ngobubele. Abahlobo bazama ukuvusa uloyiko lwakhe bechaza iingozi ezazimzela. Amalinge abo onke awa phantsi. ULutere, esemi engagungqi, wathi, “Nokuba ubuninzi beedemon eWorms bungalingana namatye [tiles] afulele izindlu, bendiza kungena khona.”-- D'Aubigne, b. 7, ch. 7. IE18 139.2

Wathi akufika eWorms, isihlwele esikhulu sangungela emasangweni ukuza kumamkela. Ongako ukuba mkhulu umkhosi ongahlanganelanga ukuba ubulise nokumkani ngokwakhe! Ukukhathazeka kwakunzulu, kwathi phakathi kweso sixuku, kwavakala ukunkenteza kalusizi kwelizwi elalihlabela ingoma yomngcwabo njengesilumkiso kuLutere ngengozi eyayimlindele. “UThixo uya kuba ngumkhuseli wam.” Watsho, esihla enqweleni yakhe.IE18 139.3

Abobupopi babengazange bakholwe ukuba uLutere wayeza kuba naso isibindi sokuza eWorms, kwaza ukufika kwakhe kwabazalisa ngexhala. Ukumkani wakhawuleza wayalela abacebisi bakhe ukuba bacinge ukuba bangenza ntoni. Omnye weebhishophu, umlandeli kaPopi ongqongqo, wathi: “Kudala sibonisene ngalo mcimbi. Ohloniphekileyo ukumkani makayisuse ngokukhawuleza le ndoda. AsinguSigismund na owenza ukuba uJohn Huss atshiswe? Asinyanzelekanga ukuba sinike okanye siyihloniphe imvume yokuba umlahlekisi ahambe ngokukhululekileyo phantsi kokhuseleko.” “Hayi,” watsho ukumkani, “kufuneka sisibambe isithembiso sethu.”-- D'Aubigne, b. 7, ch. 8. IE18 139.4

Isixeko sonke sasinga singayibona le ndoda ibalaseleyo, saza isihlwele seendwendwe sakhawuleza sazalisa apho ahlala khona. ULutere wayengekaphili ncam ekuguleni awayesanda kuba phantsi kwako; wayedinwe luhambo, olwaluthabathe iveki ezimbini zonke; kufuneka elungiselele ukuhlangana neziganeko ezikhulu zemini elandelayo, ngoko edinga indawo ethuleyo nokuphumla. Lwaba lukhulu kakhulu ulangazelelo lokumbona kangangokuba wayesaphumle nje iiyure ezimbalwa ngexesha amadoda amakhulu, amagorha awawongwayo [knights] abapristi nabanye abahlali beqokelelene bemngqongile. Phakathi kwaba, ayekho amadoda amakhulu awayefune ngesibindi kukumkani ukuba kubekho uhlaziyo kwimpatho gwenxa yenkonzo. La madoda, ngokutsho kukaLutere, “ayekhululwe yigospile yam,”--Martyn, page 393. Iintshaba, kunye nabahlobo, beza kuyikhangela le monk ingenaloyiko; yabamkela ngokuzola okungagungqiyo, ibaphendula bonke ngembeko nobulumko. Ukuziphatha kwayo kwakuqinile, kunesibindi. Ubuso bayo obufipheleyo nobubhityileyo, buneempawu zokusebenza nzima nokugula, babunembonakalo yokonwaba nochulumanco. Isidima nokunyaniseka okunzulu kwamazwi akhe kwamnika amandla awenza ukuba neentshaba zakhe zingakwazi ukumelana naye ngokupheleleyo. Abahlobo bakhe neentshaba zakhe bonke bazaliswa kukukhwankqiswa. Abanye baboyisakele ukuba impembelelo yezulu inaye; abanye bathi, njengokuba benjenjalo abaFarisi ngokubhekiselele kuYesu: “Unedemon.” IE18 140.1

Ngemini elandelayo, uLutere wabizelwa ukuba aye eNtlanganisweni. Igosa lasebukhosini lanyulwa ukuba limkhokelele kwigumbi lengxoxo; kodwa kwakunzima ukuba ayokufika kuloo ndawo. Zonke iindlela zazixinene ngababukeli ababelangazelela ukuyikhangela imonk eyayinesibindi sokumelana negunya likaPopi. IE18 140.2

Wathi xa kanye aza kungena phambi kwabagwebi bakhe, injengele endala, igorha kumadabi amaninzi, yathetha naye ngobubele isithi, “Monke elusizi, Monk elusizi, ngoku uza kuma ngendili enkulu kunokuba mna okanye nawuphi umphathi [womkhosi] wakha wema kwelona dabi lizaliswe ligazi kwawona madabi ethu. Noko kunjalo, ukuba umsebenziwakho ulungile, kwayeuqinisekilengawo, bhekaphambili egameni likaThixo, ungoyiki nto. UThixo akasayi kukushiya.”--D'Aubigne, b. 7, ch. 8. IE18 140.3

ULutere wema ixesha elide phambi kwequmrhu. Ukumkani wahlala esihlalweni sakhe. Wayengqongwe ngabona bantu babalulekileyo kakhulu ebukumkanini. Akuzanga kwavela mntu phambi kwentlangano enjalo ukoyikeka ngaphambili kunaleyo ekwakufuneka uLutere aphendule ngenkolo yakhe kuyo. “Le mbonakalo, yona ngokwayo, yayingumqondiso woloyiso phezu kobupopi. UPopi wayemgwebile lo mntu, waye ngoku emi phambi kwenkundla eyathi, kanye ngesi senzo, yazibeka ngaphezu kukaPopi. UPopi weyembeke phantsi kwesithintelo, wamnqumla kuko konke ukuhlangana nabantu; kanti wabizwa ngentetho enentlonipho, wamkelwa phambi kweyona ntlangano ihloniphekileyo emhlabeni. UPopi wayemgwebele ukuba athule ngonaphakade, ngoku waye eza kuthetha phambi kwamawaka abaphulaphuli abamamelisileyo behlangane ndawonye besuka kwezona ndawo zikude zobuKristu. Uvukelo olukhulu luye lwenzeka ngesixhobo sikaLutere. IRoma yayisele isihla esihlalweni sayo, ililizwi lemonk elenza oku kuhlaziswa.”-- D'Aubigne, b. 7, ch. 8.IE18 141.1

Phambi kwaloo ntlangano inamandla nehloniphekileyo, umHlaziyi othobekileyo wabonakala enoloyiko ephoxekile. Iinkosana eziliqela, ngokubona imvakalelo yakhe, zeza kuye, enye yasebeza yathi: “Ningaboyiki abo babulala umzimba, kodwa bengenako ukuwubulala wona mphefumlo.” Enye yathi: “Xa uthe wasiwa phambi kwabalawuli nookumkani ngenxa yam, uya kunikwa nguMoya kaYihlo oya kukuthetha.” La mazwi kaKristu aziswa ngamadoda amakhulu ehlabathi ukunika umkhonzi waKhe amandla ngexesha lokulingwa.IE18 141.2

ULutere wakhokelelwa kwindawo eyayijongene ngqo nesihlalo sikakumkani. Kwabakho inzolo enkulu kwisihlwele sonke entlanganisweni. Lasuka lema igosa likakumkani lathi, lisalatha kwingqokelela yokwakubhalwe nguLutere, lafuna ukuba umHlaziyi aphendule imibuzo emibini—ukuba uyakuvuma na ukuba kokwakhe, nokuba ucebaukuzirhoxisa iimbono ezibekwe apho kuko.Zathizakubaizihloko zeencwadi zifundiwe, uLutere waphendula ngelithi, ngokubhekiselele kumbuzo wokuqala, uyazivuma iincwadi ukuba zezakhe. “Ngokubhekiselele kowesibini,” wathi “njengokuba ingumbuzo onento yokwenza nokusindiswa kwemiphefumlo, nekubandakanyeka kulo ilizwi likaThixo, eyona ndyebo inkulu nexabisekileyo emhlabeni nasezulwini, ndingaba ndenza ngobudenge ukuba ndiphendula ndingakhange ndicinge. Ndingaqinisekisa nganeno kokuba imeko ifuna, okanye ngaphezulu kokuba inyaniso ifuna, ndize ndone ngakwintetho kaKristu, ethi: ‘Osukuba ke eya kundikhanyela phambi kwabantu, ndiya kumkhanyela nam phambi koBawo osemazulwini.’ [Mateyu 10:33.] Ngenxa yesi sizathu, ndibongoza ohloniphekileyo kum kanye, ngako konke ukuzithoba, ukuba undinike ixesha, ukuze ndiphendule ngaphandle kokona ngaselizwini likaThixo.”-- D'Aubigne, b. 7, ch. 8. IE18 141.3

Ekwenzeni esi sicelo, uLutere wenza ngobulumko. Indlela yakhe yayoyisela intlangano ekuthini wayengaqhutywa yimfesane okanye imvakalelo. Ukuzola nokuzilawula okunjalo, okwakungalindelekanga kumntu owayebonise ukuba nesibindi nokungabi bhetyebhetye, kongeza kwigunya lakhe, kwamenza ukuba emva koko akwazi ukuphendula ngokuhlakanipha, ngesigqibo, ngobulumko, nendili eyamangalisa yadanisa abachasi bakhe, yakukhalimela ukusa kwabo nekratshi labo. IE18 142.1

Ngemini elandelayo, wayeza kuvela phambi kwabo ukuba anike impendulo yakhe yokugqibela. Kwaba lixesha intliziyo yakhe izikile ngaphakathi kwakhe xa wayecinga ngemikhosi eyayihlangene ukuba ichase inyaniso. Ukholo lwakhe lwagungqa; ukoyika nokungcangcazela kwamfikela, wagutyungelwa lunkwantyo. Zabonakala zininzi iingozi phambi kwakhe; kwaba ngathi iintshaba ziza koyisa, aze amagunya obumnyama oyise. Amafu amngqinga abangathi ayamahlula kuThixo. Wanga angazuza isiqinisekiso sokuba uYehova wemikhosi wayeza kuba naye. Ngomoya obuhlungu waziphosa ngobuso emhlabeni wathulula isikhalo sesingqala esikrazula intliziyo, ekungekho onokuziqonda ngokupheleleyo ngaphandle kukaThixo.IE18 142.2

“Somandla, Thixo ongunaphakade,” wathandaza, “libi kakhulu eli hlabathi! Khangela, livule umlomo walo ukuba lindiginye, kwaye kuncinanekakhulu ukuthembela kwamkuWe. . . . Ukuba bendingathembela kuphela nje kumandla alo mhlaba, bekuya kuba kuphelile. . . . Thixo, ndincede undikhusele kubo bonke ubulumko balo mhlaba. Kwenze oku, . . . Wena wedwa; . . . kuba lo asingumsebenzi wam, kodwa ngowaKho. Akukho nto ndinokuyenza apha, akukho nto ndingalwela yona nezi zikhulu zehlabathi. . . . Umsebenzi wona ngowaKho, . . . kwaye ungumsebenzi olungileyo nongunaphakade. Nkosi, ndincede! Thixo othembekileyo ongaguqukiyo, andilibekanga mntwini ithemba lam. . . . Konke okwabantu akuqinisekanga; konke okuphuma emntwini kuwa phantsi. . . . Undinyulele lo msebenzi. . . . Yima ecaleni kwam, ngenxa kaYesu Kristu intanda yaKho, ongumkhuseli wam, ikhaka lam, nenqaba yam ende.”-- D'Aubigne, b. 7, ch. 8.IE18 142.3

Ukubonelela kukaThixo okunabo bonke ubulumko kwamvumela uLutere ukuba ayiqonde ingozi awaye kuyo, ukuze angathembeli kwawakhe amandla aze angxamele engozini ngobuganga. Kanti ke, yayingekuko ukoyika ukubulaleka kwesiqu sakhe, ukoyika ukungcungcuthekiswa okanye ukufa, okwakubonakala kukufuphi, okwamenza azaliswe kukoyika. Wayefikelele kwindawo eyingozi, waza waziva engakufanelanga ukuqubisana nayo. Ngokungabi namandla kwakhe, umsebenzi wenyaniso wawungaba nelahleko. Kwakungengasizathu senkuseleko yakhe, kodwa ukuze igospile yoyise, okwenza ukuba abambane noThixo. NjengoIsrayeli, ngobusuku bokulwa ngasemthonjeni awayeyedwa kufuphi kuwo, yayinjalo intlungu nedabi lomphefumlo wakhe. NjengoIsrayeli, wamoyisa uThixo. Ngokungabi nako ukuzinceda, ukholo lwakhe wabambelela ngokuqinileyo kuKristu, uMhlanguli onamandla. Waya womelezwa sisiqinisekiso sokuba akayi kuba yedwa phambi kwequmrhu. Uxolo lwabuyela emphefumlweni wakhe, wanovuyo kuba wavunyelwa ukuba aliphakamise ilizwi likaThixo phambi kwabalawuli bezizwe. IE18 142.4

Wathi ingqondo yakhe izinze kuThixo, uLutere wacinga icebo lempendulo yakhe, wahlola iindawo kokwakubhalwe nguye, wathabatha kwiziBhalo Ezingcwele iindawo ezifanelekileyo ukuba zizixhase iindawo awayemi kuzo. Wathi, ebeke isandla sakhe sasekhohlo phezu koMqulu Ongcwele, owawuvulekile phambi kwakhe, wasiphakamisela ezulwiniisandlasasekunene,wabhambathisa ukuba “uya kuhlala ethembekile kwigospile, aze ayivume ngokukhululekileyo inkolo yakhe, nokuba kungathetha ukuba uya kubutywina ngegazi lakhe ubungqina bakhe.”-- D'Aubigne, b. 7, ch. 8. IE18 143.1

Wathi akuphinda angeniswe phambi kweNtlanganiso, imbonakalo yakhe ayabonakalalisa koyika okanye ukuphoxeka. Ezolile ezele luxolo, ukanti enesibindi nendili ngokukhulu, wema njengengqina likaThixo phakathi kwabakhulu basemhlabeni. Igosa lasebukumkanini laya lafuna ukuba enze isigqibo ngokuba uyalangazelela na ukuzirhoxisa iimfundiso zakhe. ULutere waphendula ngeliphantsi nelithobekileyo, engekho ndlongondlongo okanye enemvakalelo enzulu. Ukuziphatha kwakhe kwakungekuko okokuzithemba yena kodwa kukwanayo intlonipho; kanti wabonakala enesibindi novuyo, nto leyo eyayikhwankqisayo intlanganiso.IE18 143.2

“Kumkani ohlonipheke kakhulu, zinkosana ezibalulekileyo, balawuli ababekekileyo,” watsho uLutere, “Ndimi phambi kwenu ngale mini, ngokuvumelana nomyalelo endiwunikwe izolo, ngeenceba zikaThixo, ndibongoza ukuba ingangamsha nezikhulu ezongamileyo zikuphulaphule ngomonde ukukhuselwa komsebenzi endiqinisekileyo ukuba ulungile ukwayinyaniso. Ukuba, ngokungazi, ndithe ndagqitha ngaphaya kokusetyenziswa namalungelo eenkundla, ndiyangxengxeza ukuba nindixolele; kuba ndandingakhuliswaga kumabhotwe ookumkani, kodwa kubomi obusecaleni bendawo yoonongendi.”-- D'Aubigne, b. 7, ch. 8.IE18 143.3

Emva koko, engena emxholweni, waxela ukuba imisebenzi yakhe epapashiweyo yayingafani yonke. Kweminye, wayethetha ngokholo nemisebenzi elungileyo, kangangokuba neentshaba zakhe zayivuma ukuba, ayanelanga nje ukungabi nabungozi, kodwa iluncedo. Ukuyirhoxisa le mibhalo kungaba kukuhlasela iinyaniso ezazivunywa ngabo bonke. Udidi lwesibini lwalunemibhalo etyhila inkohlakalo nokuphatha gwenxa kobupopi. Ukuyisusa le misebenzi kuya kuba kukomeleza ubungqwabalala beRoma nokuvula gengelele ucango ukuba kungene ukungamoyiki uThixo okuninzi nokukhulu. Kudidi lwesithathu lweencwadi zakhe, wayehlasele abantu ababekhusela ububi obabukho. Ngokubhekiselele kwaba, wavuma ngokukhululekileyo ukuba waba nokuba rhabaxa kunokuba kwakufanelekile. Akazange athi wayemsulwa kwimpazamo; kodwa nezi iincwadi wayengenako ukuzisusa, kuba ikhondo elinjalo laliya kuzinika isibindi iintshaba zenyaniso, zize zisebenzise elo thuba ukunyhasha abantu bakaThixo ngenkohlakalo engaphezulu.IE18 144.1

“Njengoko ke, nam ndingumntu nje, ndingenguye uThixo,” waqhubeka; “ngoko ke, ndiya kuzikhusela njengoko wenjenjalo uKristu: ‘ukuba ndithethe okubi, bungqineleni ububi.’ . . . Ngeemfefe zikaThixo, ndiyakukhunga kumkani ohloniphekileyo, nani, zilawuli ezibalulekileyo, nabo bonke abantu bawo onke amanqwanqwa, ukuba kuboniswe ezincwadini zabaprofeti nabapostile ukuba ndiphazamile. Ngako nje ukuba ndoyisakale ngoku, ndiya kuyirhoxisa yonke imposiso, ndibe ngowokuqala ukuthabatha iincwadi zam ndiziphose emlilweni.IE18 144.2

“Oku ndisanda kukuthetha, kubonisa ngokuphandle, ndiyathemba, ukuba ndiye ndakunonophela ukukulinganisa ndazicingisisa iingozi endizibeka kuzo; kodwa, lee ekubeni ndimangaliswe, ndiyavuya ukubona ukuba igospile ngoku, njengemihla yangaphambili, ingunobangela wenkathazo nongquzulwano. Yimo le, sisiphelo esi, selizwi likaThixo. UYesu wathi, ‘Andizisanga luxolo, koko ndizise ikrele.’ UThixo uyamangalisa, esoyikeka kumacebiso aKhe; lumkani hleze nithi ngobuganga bokucima iimbambano, nibe nitshutshisa ilizwi elingcwele likaThixo, nize nizihlisele phezu kwenu unogumbe owoyikekayo weengozi ekunzima ukuziqabela, zeentlekele zeli xesha, nentshabalalo nokuphanza okungunaphakade. . . . Ndingacaphula imizekelo kwiintetho zikaThixo. Ndingathetha ngooFaro, ngookumkani baseBhabheli, nabo bakwaIsrayeli, abamisebenzi yabo engazange ibe negalelo ngempumelelo kwintshabalalo yabo kunaxa babethe bafuna, ngeengcebiso, ezazibonakala zilumke kakhulu, ukunika amandla obabo ubukumkani. ‘[UThixo] ushenxisa iintaba, zingazi.’”-- D'Aubigne, b. 7, ch. 8.IE18 144.3

ULutere wayethethe ngesiJamani; ngoku wacelwa ukuba awaphinde amazwi akhe ngesiLatina. Nangona wayediniwe lilinge elalidlule, wavuma, wayiphinda intetho yakhe, esacace nenamandla njengakuqala. Ukubonelela kukaThixo kwakhokela kulo mcimbi. Iingqondo zeenkosana ezininzi zazimfameke yimposiso neenkolo kangangokuba kwintetho yokuqala azizange ziwaqaphele amandla okuzathuza kukaLutere; kodwa ukuphinda kwenza ukuba zikwazi ukuziqonda ngokucacileyo iingongoma awayezibeka. Abo bawavala ngenkani amehlo abo ngasekukhanyeni, bazimisela ukuba bangoyiswa yinyaniso, babanomsindo ngenxa yamandla amazwi kaLutere. Wathi xa eyeka ukuthetha, isithethi seNtlanganiso, ngomsindo, sathi: “akuwuphendulanga umbuzo obuzwe wona. . . . Kulindelwe ukuba unike impendulo ecacileyo etsolileyo. . . . Uyarhoxa na okanye akurhoxi?” IE18 145.1

UmHlaziyi waphendula: “Njengoko ohloniphekileyo nezikhulu zakhe befuna kum impendulo ecacileyo, elula, netsolileyo, ndiyaninika, yiyo le: Andikwazi ukulunikela ukholo lwam kuPopi okanye kumaqumrhu, kuba kucace njengemini ukuba bathe rhoqo ukuphazama nokuchasana omnye nomnye. Ngaphandle kokuba ndingoyiselwa ekuqondeni ukuba, ngobungqina beziBhalo okanye ngezona zizathu zicace kakhulu, ngaphandle kokuba ndoyiswe ngeendawo endizicaphuleyo, nangaphandle kokuba zisiveza isazela sam siqanyangelwe lilizwi likaThixo, andikwazi ndaye ndingasokuze ndirhoxe, kuba akukhuselekanga ukuba umKristu athethe ngokuchasene nesazela sakhe. Ndimi apha, andinakwenza ngakumbi; wanga uThixo angandinceda. Amen.” --D'Aubigne, b. 7, ch. 8. IE18 145.2

Yema njalo le ndoda ililungisa phezu kwesiseko esiqinileyo esililizwi likaThixo. Ukukhanya kwezulu kwayikhanyisa imbonakalo yakhe. Ubukhulu bakhe nobunyulu besimilo sakhe, uxolo novuyo lwentliziyo, kwabonakalaliswa kubo bonke ngexesha engqina echasa igunya lemposiso ekwangqina ngokongama kokholo oloyisa ihlabathi.IE18 145.3

Kwathi nzwanga eNtlanganisweni yonke okomzuzu ngenxa yokukhwankqiswa. Kwimpendulo yakhe yokuqala, uLutere wayethethe ngelizwi eliphantsi, ngentlonipho, engathi unokunyamezela okunendawo evumayo. AbobuRoma bakubona oku njengokubonakala kokungathi kukuqala kokuhla kwesibindi sakhe. Basithabatha isicelo sokulibazisa njengesiqalelo sokurhoxa kwakhe. Yena uCharles, ephawule ngendlela enendawo edelelayo, ukuthi woxo komzimba kanongendi, isinxibo sakhe esiqhelekileyo, nobulula bentetho yakhe, waya wathi: “Lo nongendi akakwazi ukundenza ndiyibone ngolunye uhloboinkolo yam.” Isibindi nokuqina awakubonisayo ngeli xesha, kwanamandla nokucaca kokuzathuza kwakhe, kwabamangalisa bonke ababekho. Ukumkani, efikelwe kukuncoma, wakhuza: “Lo nongendi uthetha ngentliziyo engoyikiyo nesibindi esingagungqiyo.” Abaninzi kubaphathi baseJamani bamkhangela bezaliswe ngamabhongo novuyo lo mmeli wesizwe sabo.IE18 145.4

Abecala laseRoma benyela; umsebenzi wabo wabonakala ugqwaliseke kakhulu. Bazama ukuligcina igunya labo, phofu bengayanga eziBhalweni, kodwa ngokubhenela kwizoyikiso, eziyiingxoxo yaseRoma engawiyo phantsi. Othethela iNtlanganiso wathi: “Ukuba akurhoxi, ukumkani nemimandla yobukumkani baya kubonisana ukuba yintoni emayenziwe ngakulo mlahlekisi ungalungisekiyo.” Abahlobo bakaLutere, ababeyiphulaphule ngovuyo olukhulu intetho enendili yokuzikhusela kwakhe, bangcangcazela ngala mazwi; yena ugqirha, ngokuzola, wathi: “Wanga uThixo angangumncedi wam, kuba akukho nto ndikwazi ukuyirhoxisa.”-- D'Aubigne, b. 7, ch. 8. IE18 146.1

Wayalelwa ukuba akhe aphume eNtlanganiseni lo gama abaphathi behlanganise iintloko. Kwakungathi kukho isihikahika sentlekele esihlileyo. Ukuzingisa ukwala kukaLutere ukuzinikela kwakuza kuba negalelo kwimbali yebandla kuzo zonke izizukulwana. Kwagqitywa ukuba anikwe elinye ithuba lokuba arhoxe. Wabuyiselwa okokugqibela entlanganisweni. Kwaphindwa ukubekwa kombuzo wokuba, angaba uza kuziyeka na iimfundiso zakhe. “Ayikho enye impendulo endiza kuyinika,” watsho, “ngaphandle kwaleyo sele ndiyenzile.” Kwakucacile ukuba akakwazi ukunyanzelwa, nokuba kungezithembiso okanye izoyikiso, ukuba avumelane negunya laseRoma. Iinkokeli zobupopi zadana kuba igunya lazo, elalingcangcazelisa iikumkani nezikhulu, lidelelwe ngolo hlobo ngunongendi nje ophantsi; zalangazelela ukumenza ukuba ayive ingqumbo yazo ngokumngcungcuthekisa ade afe. Sekunjalo, uLutere eyiqonda ingozi akuyo, wayethethe kubo bonke ngesidima nokuzola ngokomKristu. Amazwi akhe ayengenakratshi, engenantiyo, engenabugqwetha. Wayengasaziboni, yena namadoda amakhulu awayemjikelezile, kodwa eziva kuphela ukuba uphambi kwaLowo wongame ngokupheleleyo ngaphaya kooPopi, oobhishophu abakhulu, ookumkani, nabalawuli. UKristu wayethethe ngobungqina bukaLutere ngamandla nakakuhle kangangokuba ngokwelo xesha kwazalisa bonke, abahlobo neentshaba, ngoloyiko nokukhwankqiswa. UMoya kaThixo wawukho kwelo qumrhu, usebenza ezintliziyweni zeenkokeli zobukumkani. Abaninzi kubaphathi babuvuma ngesibindi ubulungisa bomsebenzi kaLutere. Abaninzi boyisakala yinyaniso; kodwa kwabanye, iimbono ababanazo azizange zihlale thuba lide. Lwalukho olunye udidi olungazange luzivakalise ngelo xesha iimbono zalo, kodwa lwathi, lwakuba luziphengulule ngokwalo iziBhalo, ngexesha elilandelayo lwaba ngabaxhasi boHlaziyo, abangenaloyiko.IE18 146.2

Umnyuli uFrederick wayekulindele ngomdla ukuvela kukaLutere phambi kweNtlanganiso, waza wayiphulaphula ngemvakalelo enzulu intetho yakhe. Ngovuyo nebhongo, wasibona isibindi, ukuqina, nokuzinza, nokuzimisela ekumeni ngokuqinileyo ekuzikhuseleni kukagqirha, uLutere. Wathelekisa amaqela awayekho kolo khuphiswano wabona ukuba ubulummko booPopi, nookumkani, noobhishophu abakhulu baphanziswa ngamandla enyaniso. Ubupopi boyiswa ngendlela eyayiza kuvakala kuzo zonke izizwe kuzo zonke izizukulwana.IE18 147.1

Wathi ummeli kaPopi akubona ifuthe lentetho kaLutere, wanoloyiko ngaphezu kwakaphambili, ngenxa yenkuseleko yegunya lobuRoma, waza wagqiba ukuba enze konke okusemandleni akhe ukuba oyiswe umHlaziyi. Ngabo bonke ubuciko nobulumko, izinto awayesaziwa etshatshele ngazo, wabubeka kukumkani oselula ubudenge nengozi yokuncama, ngenxa yomsebenzi kanongendi ongabalulekanga, ubuhlobo nenkxaso kaPopi waseRoma onamandla.IE18 147.2

Amazwi akhe awazange abuye ephaca. Ngemini elandela impendulo kaLutere, uCharles waqinisekisa ukuba kufika isigidimi eNtlanganisweni, esazisa ngokuzimisela kwakhe ukwenza ngokwenkqubo yababephambi kwakhe yokugcina nokukhusela inkolo yobuKatolika. Kususela ukuba uLutere walayo ukushiya iimposiso zakhe, awona manyathelo aqatha kufuneka ethatyathiwe ngakuye kunye nolahlekiso awayelufundisa. “Unongendi omnye nje kuphela, olahlekiswe bubuyatha bakhe, uvukele inkolo yobukumkani bobuKristu. UkuphelisaukungamhloneliuThixo okunjalo, ndiya kuncama izikumkani zam, indyebo yam, abahlobo bam, igazi lam, umphefumlo wam, nobomi bam. Ndiza kumgxotha uAugustine Lutere, ndimalele ukuba enze nesona sincinane isidubedube phakathi kwabantu; ndiza kuthi ngoko ndiza kumsukela, yena nabahambisana naye, njengabalahlekisi abaneenkani, ngokubagxotha ebandleni, ngomyalelo obalelayo, nangazo zonke ezinye iindlela eziza kubatshabalalisa. Ndinika umngeni kuwo onke amalungu eziphaluka [iziteyiti] ukuba aziphathe njengamaKristu athembekileyo.”-- D'Aubigne, b. 7, ch. 9. Kanti ke, kuthe sekunjalo, ukumkani wavakalisa ukuba imvume kaLutere yokuhamba ngokukhuselekileyo kufuneka ihlonitshiwe, nokuba, ngaphambi kokuba kwenziwe nantoni echasene naye, kufuneka ayekwe ayokufika ekhayeni lakhe ekhuselekile.IE18 147.3

Ezi mbono zimbini ziphikisanayo zaya zanyanzeliswa kumalungu eNtlanganiso. Abathunywa nabameli bakaPopi baphinda bafuna ukuba imvume yokuhamba ekhuselekile kufuneka ingakhathalelwa. “Umlambo, iRhine,” bathi, “kufuneka wamkele uthuthu lwakhe, njengoko wenjenjalo ukwamkela olukaJohn Huss kwinkulungwane eyadlulayo.” D'Aubigne, b. 7, ch. 9. Abaphathi baseJamani, nangona nabo babe ngabobupopi, bayilwa into enjalo ukutenxa kwinkolo yasesidlangalaleni, njengeya kubeka ibala kwimbeko yesizwe. Baya balatha kwiintlekele ezalandela ukufa kukaHuss, batsho besithi, abakwazi ukubizela iJamani, naphezu kwentloko kakumkani wabo oselula, ukuphindwa kobo bubi boyikekayo. IE18 148.1

Yena uCharles wathi, ukuphendula kwicebiso eliphantsi: “Nangona imbeko nenkolo kufuneka ziphelisiwe kuwo wonke umhlaba, kusafuneka zifumene indawo yokukhuseleka ezintliziyweni zabaphathi.”-- D'Aubigne, b. 7, ch. 9. Wayesanyanzelwa ngamandla zezona ntshaba zinobukrakra zikaLutere ukuba amphathe umHlaziyi ngohlobo uSigismund awaphatha uHuss ngalo—ukumnikela ezandleni zebandla; kodwa wathi akukhumbula umbono kaHuss ekwintlanganiso yasesidlangalaleni esalatha kumatyathanga awayebotshwe ngawo emkhumbuza ukumkani ngemeko embi yokholo lwakhe, uCharles V wathi: “Andingeke ndithande ukuba neentloni njengoSigismund.”--Lenfant, vol. 1, p. 422.IE18 148.2

Kanti ke uCharles wazala ngabom iinyaniso ezazibekwa nguLutere. “Ndigqibe ngokuqinisekileyo ukuba ndiwulinganise umzekelo wamanyangeam,” wabhalanjalo ukumkani. -- D'Aubigne, b. 7, ch. 9.IE18 148.3

Wayegqibe ukuba akayikuphuma ecaleni endleleni yesiko, nokuba kukuhamba ezindleleni zenyaniso nobulungisa. Ngenxa yokuba ooyise benza njalo, wayeza kubuphakamisa ubupopi, nayo yonke ingqumbo nenkohlakalo yabo. Ngenxa yoko, wema endaweni yakhe, esala ukwamkela nakuphi ukukhanya okungaphambi koko ooyise bakwamkelayo, okanye enze nawuphi umsebenzi abangazange bawenze.IE18 148.4

Baninzi ngale mihla yethu ababambelela kumasiko nezithethe zoyise babo. Ithi xa iNkosi ibathumela ukukhanya okongeziweyo, bale ukukwamkela, kuba, bengakubonanga kunikwa ooyise, nabo bangakwamkeli. Asibekwanga kwindawo ababe kuyo oobawo; kukwanje ngokuba imithwalo noxanduva lwethu alulunye nolwabo. Asisayi kwamkeleka kuThixo ngokukhangela kumzekelo woobawo bethu ukwenza isigqibo ngomsebenzi wethu endaweni yokuziphandela ngokwethu ilizwi lenyaniso. Umthwalo wethu mkhulu kunowoobawo bethu. Siza kuziphendulela ngokukhanya abakufumanayo, abaya babudlulisela kuthi kulilifa, kwaye siza kuziphendulela nangokukhanya okongeziweyo ngoku okukhanya kuthi kuphuma elizwini likaThixo.IE18 148.5

UKristu wathi ngamaYuda angakholwayo: “Ukuba bendingezanga ndathetha kubo, ngebengabanga nasono; ngoku abanasikhuselo sesono sabo.” Yohane 15:22. Ikwa lelo gunya linye lezulu eli lalithetha ngoLutere elalithetha kukumkani nakubaphathi baseJamani. Njengokuba ukukhanya kwakukhanya kuphuma elizwini likaThixo, uMoya waKhe wawubongoza okokugqibela kwabaninzi apho kulo ntlanganiso. NjengoPilato, kwiinkulungwane zangaphambili, owavumela ikratshi nokuthandwa ukuba kuyivale intliziyo yakhe ngakuMhlanguli wehlabathi; njengoFelix owayengcangcazela wayalela umthunywa wenyaniso, ngelithi: “Hamba okwakalokunje: ke ndakuzuza ithuba, ndokubiza uze;” njengoAgrippa owayenekratshi owavumayo, wathi, “Ngokuncinane undeyisela ukuba ndibe ngumKristu” (IZenzo 24:25; 26:28), kwathi kunjalo bajika basishiya isigidimi esithunyelwe liZulu—ngokunjalo, uCharles V, ngokuziyekela kulawulo lwekratshi nemithetho yehlabathi, wagqiba ekubeni akwale ukukhanya kwenyaniso.IE18 149.1

Amarhe okucetywa kokuchasa uLutere asasazeka kuyo yonke indawo, esenzaukuba kuvuke inkxalaboenkulu kusosonke isixeko. UmHhlaziyi wayedale abahlobo abaninzi abathi, ngokwazi inkohlakalo engathembekanga yeRoma ngakubo bonke ababa nesibindi sokubeka elubala iinkohlakalo zayo, bagqiba kwelokuba akanako ukwenziwa umbingelelo. Baba baninzi abasihlasela ekuhleni isigidimi sokubekwa kokuvuma okungavakaliyo kwigunya leRoma. Emasangweni ezindlu nakwiindawo zikawonke-wonke, kwabekwa amaxwebhu, amanye ehlasela amanye exhasa uLutere. Kwelinye lawo kwakubhalwe nje amazwi abalulekileyo endoda esisilumko: “Yeha, wena lizwe likumkani ungumntwana.” Intshumayeli 10:16. Inzondelelo eqhelekileyo kaLutere kuyo yonke iJamani yoyisa ukumkani neNtlanganiso ukuba nabuphina ubulungisa obubonisiweyo buya kululimaza uxolo lobukumkani kude kulimaze nenzolo yetrone.IE18 149.2

UFrederick waseSaxony, wazithulela wathi cwaka, ezifihle ngononophelo olukhulu ezakhe izimvo ngakumHlaziyi, lo gama ngelo xesha linye emqaphele ngokuphaphama okungapheliyo, ekhangele zonke iihambo zakhe nabo bonke abo bazintshaba zakhe. Babebaninzi phofu abangazange bazame ukulufihla ukuvelana kwabo noLutere. Wahanjelwa ngabaphathi, izidwangube ezithile, iinduna, nabanye abantu abaphezulu, kubazalwana nasezikhundleni zebandla. “Igunjana elingelikhulu likagqirha,” uthi uSpalatin, “lalingakwazi ukuzanela iindwendwe ezezayo.”-- Martyn, vol. 1, p. 404. Abantu bamqwalasela ngokungathi wayengaphaya kokuba ngumntu. Nabo babengakholelwa kwiimfundiso zakhe abazange bakwazi ukungakuthandi ukugqibelela okuphakamileyo okwamkhokelela ekubeni abe nesibindi akudele ukufa endaweni yokulimaza isazela sakhe. IE18 150.1

Kwazanywa ngenkuthalo ukuba kwenziwe ukuvumelana phakathi kukaLutere neRoma. Amadoda amakhulu nabaphathi babeka phambi kwakhe into ethi, ukuba uyaqhubeka nokumisa eyakhe imbono ngokuchasene naleyo yebandla namaqumrhu, kungekudala uya kugxothwa kubukumkani aze angabi nalo ukhuselo. Kwesi sibheno, uLutere waphendula, wathi: “Igospile kaKristu ayikwazi ukushunyayelwa kuze kungabikho kukhubeka. . . . Kuthenile ntouloyiko nokuxhalelaingozi kuza kundahlulamnaeNkosini, nakwilizwi elililokuphela eliyinyaniso? Hayi, ndikhetha ukunikela umzimba wam, igazi lam, nobomi bam.”-- D'Aubigne, b. 7, ch. 10.IE18 150.2

Waphindwa ukucengwa ukuba amkele imbono kakumkani, kuba akayi koyika nto. “Ndiyavuma,” watsho ukuphendula, “ngentliziyo yam yonke, ukuba ukumkani, abaphathi, noyena mKristu uphantsi, kufuneka bayihlole benze isigqibo ngayo imisebenzi yam, konke oko, phantsi kwemeko enye, eyokuba baya kulamkela ilizwi likaThixo njengomgangatho wabo. Akukho nto kufuneka beyenzile abantu ngaphandle kokulithobela. Isazela sam masigcinwe simsulwa kubundlobongela, kuba sibotshwe saqanyangelwa kwiziBhalo Ezingcwele.”--D'Aubigne, b. 7, ch. 10.IE18 150.3

Kwesinye isibheno wathi: “Ndiyavuma ukuyincama imvume yam yokuhamba ngokukhululekileyo ndikhuselekile. Ndizibeka mna nobomi bam ezandleni zikakumkani, kodwa ilizwi likaThixo—andingeke!”-- D'Aubigne, b. 7, ch. 10. Wakuxela ukulungela kwakhe ukuvumelana nesigqibo sentlanganiso enkulu, kodwa phantsi kwemeko ethi, kufuneka ukuba iqumrhu ligqibe ngokweziBhalo. “Kwinto enokwenza nelizwi likaThixo nenkolo,” wongeza, “wonke umKristu ungumgwebi olungileyo njengoPopi, nangona yena exhaswa zizigidi zamaqumrhu, anokuba ngabagwebi endaweni yakhe.”--Martyn, vol. 1, p. 410. Bonke, abahlobo neentshaba, ekugqibeleni, boyisakala kukuba koba lilize ukuphinda kuzanywe uxolelaniso.IE18 150.4

Ukuba umHlaziyi wayevume nokuba yingongoma enye, uSathana nemikhosi yakhe ngebazuza uloyiso. Ukuzinza kwakhe aqine angagungqi kwaba yindlela yokulikhulula ibandla ebukhobokeni, nesiqalo sexesha elitsha, nelingcono. Impembelelo yale ndoda inye, eyakwazi ukucinga yenze ngokwayo kwimiba yenkolo, yayiza kuba lulutho ebandleni nasemhlabeni, kungekuphela ngexesha layo, kodwa nakuzo zonke izizukulwana ezilandelayo. Ukuzinza nokuthembeka kwayo kwakuza kuba nika amandla bonke ababeya kudlula kumava afanayo, kude kuye ekupheleni kwexesha. Igunya nobungangamsha bukaThixo bema babonakala ngaphezu kwecebo labantu, ngaphezu kwegunya elinamandla likaSathana. IE18 151.1

ULutere wayalelwa kwangoko ligunya likakumkani ukuba abuyele ekhaya, waza wazi ukuba esi saziso siza kulandelwa ngokukhawuleza kukugwetywa kwakhe. Amafu awoyikisayo ayelengalenga phezu kwendlela yakhe, kodwa wathi xa eyishiya iWorms, intliziyo yakhe yaba izaliswe luvuyo nokudumisa. “Ongendawo ngokwakhe,” watsho, “wayaluse inqaba kaPopi; kodwa uKristu wenze ithanda elikhulu kuyo; waye uSathana enyanzelekile ukuba avume ukuba iNkosi inamandla kunaye.”--D'Aubigne, b. 7, ch. 11.IE18 151.2

Emva kokuhamba kwakhe, esanqwenela ukuba ukuqina kwakhe kungaphazanyiswa ngovukelo, uLutere wabhalela ukumkani. “UThixo ongumphengululi weentliziyo, ulingqina lam,” watsho ngembeko, “yokuba ndikulungele ngokunyanisekileyo kakhulu ukukuthobela kumkani, ekunikweni imbeko okanye ekuhlazisweni, ebomini okanye ekufeni, kuko konke ngaphandle nje kwelizwi likaThixo, umntu aphila ngalo. Kuyo yonke imicimbi yobu bomi, ukunyaniseka kwam akuyi kushukunyiswa, kuba apha ukulahlekwa okanye ukuzuza akuthethi nto elusindisweni. Kuthi ke, xa kufikwa kwimicimbi engunaphakade, uThixo angavumi ukuba umntu azinikele emntwini. Kaloku ukuzinikela okunjalo kwimicimbi yasemoyeni, lunqulo lwenene, kwaye kufuneka lunikwe uMdali kuphela.”-- D'Aubigne, b. 7, ch. 11. IE18 151.3

Kuhambo olubuya eWorms, ukwamkelwa kukaLutere lwalukhohlisa ngaphezulu kunokuya kwakhe apho. Abaphathi benkonzo bamamkela unongendi ogxothiweyo ebandleni, abalawuli boburhulumente bayihlonipha indoda ukumkani ayithobileyo. Wacengwa ukuba ashumayele, sekukho isalelo esihleliyo esiphuma emthethweni, waphinda kwakhona wakhwela epulpitini. “Andizange ndibhambathise mna ngokwam ukuliqamangela ilizwi likaThixo,” watsho, “ndaye ndingasokuze ndikwenze oko.”--Martyn, vol. 1, p. 420.IE18 151.4

Akubanga kudala engekho eWorms, ukumkani woyiswa ngabobupopi ukuba akhuphe umyalelo omchasayo. Kulo mthetho, uLutere wagxekwa ngelithi “unguSathana uqobo phantsi kwemo yomntu, enxibe ingubo yemonk.”-- D'Aubigne, b. 7, ch. 11. Kwakhutshwa umyalelo wokuba, ngako nje ukuba iphelelwe imvume yokuhamba ngokukhululekileyo ekhuselekile, kufuneka kuthatyathwe amanyathelo okuwumisa umsebenzi wakhe. Bonke abantu balelwa ukuba bamgcine, [kwathiwa] aze anganikwa ukutya okanye into eselwayo, kungathethwa okanye kwenziwe nto naye, esidlangalaleni okanye ngasese, aze angancediswa okanye akhuthazwe. Kwakuza kufuneka abanjwe nokuba uphi, asiwe emagunyeni. Abalandeli bakhe nabo babeza kuvalelwa entolongweni, yonke impahla yabo ithinjwe. Konke awakubhalayo kwakufuneka kutshatyalaliswe, ekugqibeleni, bonke abenza ngokunxamnyenalo mthetho babequkwe kwisigwebo sawo. UMnyuli waseSaxony nabaphathi ababe nobuhlobo kakhulu bayishiya kwangoko iWorms emva kokuba esukile yena, waza umthetho kakumkani wavunywa yiNtlanganiso. Ngoku amaRoma ayezele yimincili, asithabatha ngokuba sitywiniwe [siqinisekile] isiphelo soHlaziyo.IE18 152.1

UThixo wayenomsindleko wendlela yokuphumela komkhonzi waKhe ngeli xesha lengozi. Iliso elihlala liphaphamile lalandelana nazo zonke iintshukumo zikaLutere, yaye intliziyo enyanisileyo nenendili yaba nesigqibo sokumsindisa. Kwakucacile kona ukuba akukho nanye into enokuyanelisa iRoma ngaphandle kokuba afe; kwakuza kuba ngokufihlwa kwakhe kuphela okunokumsindisa ekuqwengweni yingonyama. UThixo wanika uFrederick waseSaxony ubulumko bokuba enze icebo lokumgcina umHlaziyi. Kwaba ngokusebenzisana nabahlobo benene okwenza ukuba injongo yoMnyuli ibe nokwenziwa, kwayimpumelelo ukufihlwa kukaLutere, angaziwa zizihlobo neentshaba. Wathi xa ekuhambo lwakhe olugodukayo waxhwilwa wahlulwa kwabo babemnjongile wagxagxanyiswa kwacandwa naye ihlathi waya kufakwa kwinqaba yaseWartburg; inqaba emi yodwa entabeni. Kokubini, ukuthatyathwa nokufihlwa kwakhe, kwaba yimfihlelo, kangangokuba noFrederick ngokwakhe waba nexesha elide engazi ukuba wasiwa phi. Oku kungazi kwakungekho ngaphandle kwecebo; lo gama uMnyuli engazi nto ngokuba wayephi uLutere, kwakungekho nto wayenokuyiveza. Yena waneliseka nje kukwazi ukuba umHlaziyi ukhuselekile, waza waneliswa lolo lwazi.IE18 152.2

Intlakohlaza, ihlobo, ukwindla, onke la maxesha adlula, kwafika ubusika, uLutere eselibanjwa. UAleander nabakunye naye bavuya xa kubonakala ngokungathi ukukhanya kwegospile kucinyiwe. Phofu endaweni yoku [kucinywa], umHlaziyi yena wayezalisa isibane sakhe kuvimba weenyaniso; kwaye ukukhanya kwaso kwakuza kuqaqamba kakhulu ngokuphinda-phindiweyo.IE18 153.1

Kwinkuseleko esebubeleni yaseWartburg, uLutere, okwethuba elithile, wakonwabela ukophulwa kwakhe kubushushu nesiphithiphithi sedabi. Noko kunjalo, wayengayikuba naxesha lide lokuphola kwindawo ezolileyo nepholileyo yokuphumla. Kuba eqhelene nobomi bokusebenza nokungquzulana okukhulu, kwakunzima ukunyamezela ukuhlala angenzi nto. Ngezo ntsuku zokuba yedwa, waba nombono wemeko yebandla, waza wakhala, elahl’ ithemba: “Awu! Akukho bani ngale mihla yokugqibela yomsindo waYo, omakame njengodonga phambi kweNkosi asindise uIsrayeli!”-- D'Aubigne, b. 9, ch. 2. Kwakhona, iingcinga zabuyela kuye, wakoyika ukumangalelwa ngobugwala ngokuphuma edabini. Waya wazingcikiva ngobuvila nokuzonwabisa yena. Kanti ke, kwangelo xesha linye, yonke imihla wayesenza okungaphezulu koko kwakunokwenziwa ngumntu omnye. Usiba lwakhe aluzange luyeke ukusebenza. Lo gama iintshaba zakhe zizixokisa ngelithi uvalwe umlomo, zakhwankqiswa zadideka bubungqina obuphathekayo bokuba usasebenza. Imfumba yamaphetshana [iitreks] aphuma kusiba lwakhe athi saa kuyo yonke iJamani. Waya wabenzela nomnye umsebenzi obalulekileyo abantu bakubo ngokuguqulela iTestamente eNtsha kulwimi lwesiJamani. Kuloo Patimo yakhe yamatye, wahlala phantse unyaka wonke ukuba avakalise igospile, ekwakhalimela izono neempazamo zaloo maxesha.IE18 153.2

Kanti ke, kwakungekuphela nje kokusindisa uLutere kwingqumbo yeentshaba zakhe, nokumnika ixesha elizolileyo ukuba enze le misebenzi ibalulekileyo, okwenza kuba uThixo amsuse umkhonzi waKhe kwiqonga lobomi basesidlangalaleni. Kwakukho iziphumo ezixabiseke ngaphezu kwezo ekwakufuneka zizuziwe. Ekubeni yedwa nakwinkuseleko kwindawo yophumlo yasentabeni, uLutere wasuswa kwinkxaso yomhlaba wafihlwa ekunconyweni ngabantu. Ngaloo ndlela, waba usindiswe kwikratshi nokuzithemba, izinto ezo ezikholisa ukuziswa yimpumelelo. Ngokuphatheka kakubi nokuthotyelwa phantsi, walungiselwa ukuba aphinde ahambe ekhuselekile ukunyuka amaqhina anxilisa ingqondo awakhawuleza wanyuselwa kuwo ngesiquphe.IE18 153.3

Bathi abantu xa bezaliswe luvuyo ngenxa yenkululeko abayiphathelwe yinyaniso, basuke bathande ukuphakamisa abo uThixo abasebenzisileyo ukuqhawula amatyathanga emposiso neenkolo. USathana uzama ukuzijija iingcinga zabantu nokuthanda kwabo uThixo, azimilisele ezo zinto kwizenzeleli ezingabantu; [abantu] ubenza ukuba bazukise isixhobo bangasihoyi iSandla esikhokela zonke iziganeko zokubonelela kukaThixo. Amaxesha amaninzi, zithi iinkokeli zenkolo eziye zinconywe zihlonitshwe ziye zilahlekwe ngumbono wokuxhomekeka kwazo kuThixozize zizifumanezithembele kwiziqu zazo. Isiphumo soko siye sibe kukuba zizame ukulawula iingqondo nezazela zabantu, abasesichengeni sokuba bakhangele kuzo ukuba zibakhokele endaweni yokukhangela elizwini likaThixo. Umsebenzi wohlaziyo ukholisa ukulityaziswa ngenxa yalo moya ongenwe kubaxhasi bawo. Kule ngozi, uThixo wayewukhusela umsebenzi woHlaziyo. Wayenga ungamkela, hayi uphawu lomntu, kodwa olukaThixo. Amehlo abantu ajikwa abhekiswa kuLutere njengomcacisi wenyaniso; waya wasuswa ukuze onke amehlo abhekiswe kwiMbangi engunaphakade yenyaniso.IE18 154.1