11—Uvukelo Lwabaphathi

Obunye bobona bungqina obuhle obakha bavakaliswa ngoHlaziyo, yayiluvukelo olwenziwa ziinkosana zamaKristu aseJamani kwiDiet of Spires ngowe-1529. Isibindi, ukholo, nokuqina kwaloo madoda kaThixo kwazizuzela izizukulwana ezilandelayo inkululeko yengcinga nesazela. UVukelo lwawo lwalinika ibandla elihlaziyiweyo igama lobuProtestanti, imithetho-siseko yalo “ingoyena ndoqo wobuProtestanti.”--D'Aubigne, b. 13, ch. 6.IE18 178.1

Imini emnyama neyoyikekayo yayilufikele uHlaziyo. Nangona senziwa isigqibo eWorms (Edict of Worms) esasisithi uLutere ungumqhekeki omakalelwe ukufundisa okanye, kungakholelwa kwiimfundiso zakhe, ukuza kufika ngoku, ukunyamezelana ngenkolo kwakusekho ebukumkanini [baseRoma]. Ukubonelela kukaThixo kwakuyithintele imikhosi eyayichasa inyaniso. UCharles V wayezimisele ukulunyhasha uHlaziyo, kodwa, lonke ixesha ephakamisa isandla ukuba agalele, waya wanyanzeleka ukuba atsho ecaleni. Kwaba kaninzi ibonakala iqinisekile intshabalalo yabo babenesibindi sokuziveza bechasa iRoma; kodwa ngelona xesha lalilibi, imikhosi yamaTurks yabonakala kumda waseMpuma, okanye ukumkani wamaFrench, okanye uPopi ngokwakhe, walwa kunye nabo; ngaloo ndlela, phakathi kwedabi nesiphithiphithi sezizwe, uHlaziyo lwalusiya lusomelela, lukhula ngokukhula. IE18 178.2

Ekugqibeleni, izikumkani ezixhasa ubupopi zawacinezelela phantsi amadabi azo, ukuze zikwazi ukuba negalelo elibumbeneyo ukulwa abaHlaziyi. Kwintlanganiso yaseSpires ngowe-1526, isizwe ngasinye sanikwa inkululeko epheleleyo kwimiba yenkolo kude kuse kwithuba lokubanjwa kwentlanganiso kawonke-wonke; kodwa ngako nje ukuba zidlule iingozi ezenza kubekho esi sivumelwano, ukumkani wabiza uMhlangano wesibini eSpires ngowe-1529, umxholo ikukunyhashwa kokreqo. Iinkosana kwakufuneka zinyanzelwe, ngeendlela ezinoxolo, ukuba kunokwenzeka, ukuba zimelane noHlaziyo; kodwa kuthi ukuba oku kuyasadalala, uCharles alungele ukuya ezigalweni.IE18 178.3

Abobupopi bavuya. Beza ngobuninzi babo eSpires, babubonakalisa ekuhleni ubutshaba babo ngakubaHlaziyi nabo bonke abahambisana nabo. Wathi uMenchthon: “Silizothe nenkunkuma yehlabathi; kodwa uKristu uza kulugqala usizi olungabantu baKhe, abagcine.” D’ Aubigne,-- b. 13, ch. 5. Iinkosana zeenkonzo zovangelo ezazikho ekukhutshweni kwesiphakamiso [iDiet] zalelwa kwaukushumayela iVangeli ezindlwini ezihlala kuzo. Bona abantu baseSpires babelinxanelwe ilizwi likaThixo, kwathi nangoku sekukho eso sithintelo, amawaka azalisa iinkonzo ezaziqhutyelwa kwindlwana yenkonzo kaBhishophu waseSaxony. IE18 178.4

Oku kwayikhawulezisa inkathazo. Isigidimi sasemthethweni esavakalisa kwiQumrhu njengesisombululo esinika inkululeko yesazela savusa isiphithiphithi esikhulu, ukumkani wafuna ukuba sichithwe. Esi senzo sobuqhinga savusa umsindo nokukhwankqiswa kumaKristu ovangelo. Wathi omnye: “UKristu uphinde wawela ezandleni zikaKayafa noPilato.” AbangamaRoma bathi chatha ukuba ndlongondlongo. Umpopi ongungantweni wathi: “AmaTurk angcono kunamaLutere; kaloku amaTurk agcina iintsuku zozilo, amaLutere ayazingcolisa. Ukuba kufuneka sikhethe phakathi kweziBhalo Ezingcwele zikaThixo neemposiso ezindala zebandla, kufuneka silahle [iziBhalo.” Wathi uMelanchthon: “Imini nganye, kwintlanganiso epheleleyo, uFaber [wentsomi engokulibazisa] ugibisela ilitye elitsha kuthi bantu beVangeli.”-- D’Aubigne, b. 13, ch. 5.IE18 179.1

Ukuyinyamezela inkolo kwamiselwa ngokusemthethweni, zaza iindawo zovangelo zagqiba ukuba zikuchase ukugxojwakwamalungelo azo. ULutere, esephantsi kokuvalwa umlomo ngokwesigqibo saseWorms, akazange avunyelwe ukuba abekho eSpires: kodwa indawo yakhe yathatyathwa ngasebenza kunye nabo kunye nabaphathi uThixo awabavusa ukuba bakhuseleumsebenziwaKhengelixeshalibi. OhloniphekileyouFrederickwaseSaxony, owayesakubangumkhuseli kaLutere, wayesuswe kukufa; kodwa uDuke John, umntakwabo, owamlandelayo, walwamkela ngovuyo uHlaziyo, wathi ngexesha asengumhlobo woxolo, wabonakalalisa amandla nesibindi esikhulu kuyo yonke imicimbi eyayame kwizinto zenkolo.IE18 179.2

Abapristi banyanzelisa ukuba iziteyiti [States] ezazamkele uHlaziyo mazizinikele ngokupheleleyo kulawulo lweRoma. AbaHlaziyi, kwelinye icala, babanga inkululeko ababeyinikwe kwixesha eladlulayo. Babengakwazi ukuvuma ukuba iRoma iphinde ifake phantsi kolawulo lwayo iziseyiti ezazilamkele ngovuyo olukhulu ilizwi likaThixo. IE18 179.3

Ukuze kubekho ukuvumelana, ekugqibeleni kwaphakanyiswa ukuba, apho uHlaziyo lwalungekamili khona, okugqitywe eWorms kufuneka kunyanzeliswe ngamandla; nokuba “apho abantu babeye baphuma ecaleni kuko, nalapho babengakwazi ukuvumelana nayo ngaphandle kwengozi yovukelo, akufuneki baqalise uhlaziyo olutsha, kufuneka bangachukumisi indawo exoxisayo, kufuneka bangakuchasi ukwenziwa komthendeleko [ngokwaseRoma], kufuneka bangavumeli ukuba kubekho mntu weRoma Katolika owamkela ubuLutere.”-- D’Aubigne, b. 13, ch. 5. Eli nyathelo laphumelela kwiNtlanganiso, baza baneliseka kakhulu abapristi nabameli boobhishophu abakhulu bobupopi.IE18 179.4

Ukuba lo mthetho wawunyanzelwe, “uHlaziyo lwalungayi kunaba . . . luye apho lwalungekaziwa khona, lungayi kumiselwa phezu kweziseko eziqinileyo . . . apho sele lukhona.”-- D’Aubigne, b. 13, ch. 5. Inkululeko yokuthetha yayalelwe. Iincoko zazingavunyelwanga. Kwakufuneka abahlobo boHlaziyo beyamkele kwangoko le miqathango nezalelo. Amathemba omhlaba abonakala ngathi aphelile. “Ukumiselwa ngokutsha kolawulo lweRoma . . . kwakuza kubuyisa ngendlela engaphazamiyo ubugwenxa bakudala;” kwaye kwakuza kubakho isizathu “sokugqitywa ngokukhawuleza ukutshatyalaliswa komsebenzi owawusele ugungqiswe ngamandla” bubutsha-ntliziyo nalukreqo.-- D’Aubigne, b. 13, ch. 5. IE18 180.1

Lathi xa iqela levangeli lihlangene ukuba libonisane, bajongana bengenanto yakuthetha. Babuzana bathi: Kuza kuthiwani?” Imiba emikhuluyomhlabayayisengozini. “IngabaiinkokelizoHlaziyoziza kuvuma, zamkele lo mthetho? Kwakunokuba lula kangakanani kubaHlaziyi abakule ngxaki, kuba ngokwenene yayinkulu, ukuzithethelela bade bathabathe ikhondo elingelilo! Zingaphi izizathu ezincomekayo nezizathu ezilungileyo ebabe nokuba nazo zokuba bavume! Abaphathi bamaLutere baqinisekiswa ukuba bayiqhube ngokukhululekileyo inkolo yabo. Sona eso sipho sinye sanikwa bonke abo babelawulwa ngabo ababethe, ngaphambi kokuba kwenziwe eli nyathelo, baba sele bezamkele iimbono zohlaziyo. Kwakungamele ukubanelisa oku? Zazingaphi iintlekele ezinokuphetshwa ngokuvuma! Zeziphi iingxaki namadabi ekwakuya kungenwa kuwo ngokuchasa! Ngubani owaziyo ukuba ikamva lingeza nantoni? Masamkele uxolo; masamkele le nceba siyinikwa yiRoma, sivale amanxeba eJamani. Ngeengxoxo ezilolu hlobo, abaHlaziyi babe nako ukuthethelela ukwamkela ikhondo elaliza kuthi, ngokuqinisekileyo, kungekudala libe nesiphumo sokoyiswa komsebenzi wabo.IE18 180.2

“Ngovuyo, bakhangela umthetho-siseko olwakhelwe phezu kwalo olu hlelo, basebenza ngokholo. Wawusithini umthetho-siseko? Yayililungelo leRoma ukunyanzela isazela nokwala ukubuza okukhululekileyo. Ke bona nabantu babo abangamaProtestanti babengayi kuyonwabela na inkolo ekhululekileyo? Ewe, njengenyoba evuliweyo kolu hlelo, kodwa engelilo ilungelo. Njengakubo bonke abangaphandle kolo lungiselelo, umthetho-siseko omkhulu wegunya kwakufuneka ulawule; isazela sasingangeni ndawo; iRoma yayingumgwebi ongaphazamiyo, kwaye kufuneka ithotyelwe. Ukwamkelwa kohlelo olucetyiweyo kwakuya kuba kuvuma ukuba inkululeko yenkolo kufuneka iphelele kwiSaxony enohlaziyo; kuthi kubo bonke obunye ubuKristu, ukubuza okukhululekileyo kube kukwaphula umthetho, okufuneka kuqutyiswane nako ngesisele okanye ngesibonda somlilo. Bangakuvumela na ukugcina ndawonye inkululeko yenkolo? Kungenzeka na ngayo ukuba kuthiwe uHlaziyo luye lwazuza owokugqibela ukuguquka? Kungatshiwo na ukuthi luwunyathele umhlaba walo wokugqibela? Kungatshiwo na ukuthi, naphina apho iRoma ilawula khona ngoku, apho ulawulo lwayo luya kuba ngumphelo? Babengatshoyo na abaHlaziyi ukuthi bonabamsulwangegazilamakhulunamawaka awayeza kuthi, ngokulandela olu hlelo, kufuneke abuncame ubomi bawo kumazwe obupopi? Oku kwakuza kuba kukungcatsha, ngelo xesha liphakamileyo, umsebenzi wegospile neenkululeko zobuKristu.”--Wylie, b. 9, ch. 15. Endaweni yoko babeza “kuncama yonke into, neziteyiti zabo, nezithsaba zabo, kwanobomi babo.”--D'Aubigne, b. 13, ch. 5. IE18 180.3

“Masiwale lo mthetho,” batsho abaphathi. “Kwimicimbi yesazela isininzi asinagunya.” Abameli bathi: “Thina samkele umthetho wowe-1526 woxolo lobukumkani: ukuwuchitha kuya kuyizalisa iJamani ngeenkathazo neeyantlukwano. INtlanganiso ayikwazi ukwenza ngaphaya kokuyigcina inkululeko yenkolo lide lihlangane iQumrhu.”--D’Aubigne, b. 13, ch. 5. Ukukhusela inkululeko yesazela luxanduva lwesizwe, kwaye lo ngumda wegunya laso kwimicimbi yenkolo. Bonke oorhulumente basemhlabeni abazama ukulawula okanye ukunyanzelisa ukugcinwa kwenkolo ngamagunya olawulo anikela ngomthetho-siseko kanye lo awulwela ngokubalaseleyo amaKristu evangeli. IE18 181.1

Abobupopi bazimisela ukuyilalisa ngophotho into ababesithi “yinkani enesibindi.” Baqala ukuzama ukuba kubekho uqhekeko phakathi kwabaxhasi boHlaziyo nokuboyikisa bonke abangazange bakuxele esidlangalaleni ukuluxhasa kwabo. Abameli bezixeko ezikhululekileyo, ekugqibeleni, babizelwa phambi kweNtlanganiso kwathiwa mabaxele ukuba bayayivuma na imiqathango eyayicetyiwe. Bacengela ukuba kubekho ukulibazisa, kodwa batsho phantsi. Bathi bakuncinwa, yasisiqingatha senani labo kuphela esaba ngakwicala labaHlaziyi. Abo bakwalayo ukuncama inkululeko yesazela nelungelo lokuzibonela okanye lokuzikhethela bazi kakuhle ukuba inyathelo labo lalibaphawulela ukugxekwa kwexesha elizayo, ukugwetywa, nokutshutshiswa. Wathi omnye wabathunywa: “Kufuneka silikhanyele ilizwi likaThixo, okanye—sitshiswe.”-- D’Aubigne, b. 13, ch. 5.IE18 181.2

Ukumkani uFerdinand, ummeli kakumkani eNtlanganisweni, wabona ukuba umthetho uza kwenza ukwahlukana okubi ngaphandle kokuba iinkosana [abaphathi] zinokunyanzelwa ukuba ziwamkele, ziwuxhase. Wazama, ke ngoko, ubuchule bokuzoyisela, esazi kakuhle ukuba ukusebenzisa amandla kumadoda anjalo kungawenzaukubaazimisele ngakumbi. “Wazicenga iinkosana ukuba ziwamkele umthetho, eziqinisekisa ukuba ukumkani uya kukholiswa ngokugqithisileyo zizo.” La madoda athembekileyo avuma igunya elingasentla kwelo labalawuli basemhlabeni, aza aphendula ngokupholileyo: “Siya kumthobela ukumkani kuyo yonke into enokuthi incede ekugcineni uxolo nozuko lukaThixo.”-- D’Aubigne, b. 13, ch. 5.IE18 182.1

Phambi kweNtlanganiso, ukumkani, ekugqibeleni wazisa uMnyuli nabahlobo bakhe ukuba umthetho “wawusele uza kwenziwa ngokohlobo lomthetho wasebukumkanini,” nokuba, “into eyodwa enokwenziwa, kukuvumela isininzi.” Akuba etshilio, waphuma emhlanganweni, engabaniki thuba abaHlaziyi ukuba bathetha-thethane okanye baphendule. “Noko kwakungancedi nto, bathumela abathunywa ukuba bacenge ukumkani ukuba abuye.” Ekucengeni kwabo, wasuka waphendula, wathi: “Umcimbi ugqityiwe; kukuvuma kuphela okuseleyo.”- D’Aubigne, b. 13, ch. 5. IE18 182.2

Iqela lasebukhosini laloyisakele kukuba, iinkosana ezingamaKristu zaziza kuhlala kwiziBhalo Ezingcwele njengezingaphezulu kwiimfundiso zabantu, nokufunwa ngabantu; kwaye zazisazi ukuba, kuyo yonke indawo apho lo mthetho-siseko wamkeleke khona, ekugqibeleni ubupopi buya koyiswa. Sekunjalo, njengamawaka awakhangela “kwizinto ezibonwayo,” kususela kwixesha lazo, umsebenzi kakumkani nokaPopi wawunamandla, nokuba owabaHlaziyi wawubuthakathaka. Ukuba abaHlaziyi babeye baxhomekeka kuncedo lwabantu kuphela, ngebaswela amandla, ngokokucinga kwabobupopi. Phofu, nangona babengenawo amandla ngokwamanani, kwaye bengavani neRoma, ayekho amandla abanawo. Babhenela “ekusukeni kwingxelo yeNtlanganiso baye elizwini likaThixo, nokuba basuke kukumkani uCharles baye kuYesu Kristu, uKumkani weekumkani neNkosi yeenkosi.”-- D’Aubigne, b. 13, ch. 6. IE18 182.3

Njengoko uFerdinand wayalile ukuziqwalasela iingcamango zabo, abaphathi bagqiba ukuba bangakuhloneli ukungabikho kwakhe, kodwa bazise isikhalazo sabo phambi kwequmrhu lesizwe ngaphandle kokulibazisa. Isaziso esinendili senziwa sabekwa phambi kweNtlanganiso: IE18 182.4

“Siyakhalima, ngezi zinto sizibekayo, phambi kukaThixo, uMdali wethu ekuphela kwaKhe, uMgcini, uMhlanguli, noMsindisi, noya kuthi ngenye imini abe ngumgwebi wethu, naphambi kwabo bonke abantu, nazozonke izidalwa, sisithi thina, ngokwethu nabantubethu, asivumi, saye singabambeleli nangaluphi uhlobo, nokuba kunjani, kumthetho ocetyiweyo, nakweyiphi into echasene noThixo, nelizwi laKhe elingcwele, nesazela sethu esilungileyo, nokusindiswa kwemiphefumlo yethu.” IE18 183.1

“Intoni! Siqinisekisa lo mthetho! Sithi, xa uThixo uSomandla ebizela umntu ekumazini, lo mntu unako ukungakwamkeli ukumazi uThixo!” “Ayikho imfundiso eqinileyo ngaphandle kwevumelana nelizwi likaThixo. . . . INkosi iyakwala ukufundiswa kwayo nayiphi enye imfundiso. . . . IziBhalo Ezingcwele kufuneka zicaciswe ngezinye iindima ezicace kakhulu; le Ncwadi iNgcwele, ifuneka kuzo zonke izinto zomKristu, kulula ukuyiqonda, yaye imiselwe ukugxotha ubumnyama. Sizimisele ukuba, ngobabalo lukaThixo, sikugcine kunyulu kumi kodwa ukushunyayelwa kwelizwi laKhe kuphela, njengoko lifunyanwa kwiincwadi zeBhayibhile zeTestamente eNdala neNtsha, kungongezwanga nanye into enokuchasana nalo. Eli lizwi kuphela kwenyaniso; ngumgaqo oqinisekileyo wayo yonke imfundiso nabo bonke ubomi, yaye ingasokuze isilele okanye isikhohlise. Lowo wakha phezu kwesi siseko, uya kumelana nawo onke amagunya esihogo, lo gama konke ukungabi nto kwabantu okumiswa ukuba kumchase kuya kuwa phambi kobuso bukaThixo.”IE18 183.2

“Ngenxa yesi sizathu, siyayala idyokhwe ebekwa phezu kwethu.” “Kwangelo xesha linye, sithemba ukuba ohloniphekileyo ukumkani uya kuziphatha ngakuthi njengomphathi ongumKristu othanda uThixo ngaphezu kweento zonke; sikwavakalisa ukuba sikulungele ukukuhlawula, nakuni zinkosi ezibekekileyo, lonke uthando nentobelo, okungumthwalo wethu olungileyo nosemthethweni.”.”--D’Aubigne, b. 13, ch. 6.IE18 183.3

Kwenziwa uphawu olukhulu kwiNtlanganiso. Isininzi sakhwankqiswa sothuka ngenxa yesibindi sabaqhankqalazi. Ikamva labonakala linoqhwithelo nokungaqiniseki. Ukungavani, imbambano, nokuphalala kwegazi kwakungathi kuqinisekile. Noko kunjalo, abaHlaziyi, beqinisekile ngobulungisa bomsebenzi wabo, bexhomekeke kwingalo kaSomandla, “babezele sisibindi nokuqina.”IE18 183.4

“Imithetho-siseko eyayikho koku kuvukela [kuprotesta] kwakusenziwa,. . . yayingoyena ndoqo wobuProtestanti. Ngoku, oku kukhalaza kuchase ukuphathwa gwenxa komntuokukabini kwimicimbi yokholo: okokuqala kukungenelela komlawuli woburhulumente, okwesibini iligunya lebandla elikhetha icala. Endaweni yoku kuphatha gwenxa, ubuProtestanti bubeka igunya lesazela ngaphezu komlawuli, negunya lelizwi likaThixo ngaphezu kwebandla elibonakalayo. Endaweni yokuqala, abulufuni ulawulo loburhulumente kwizinto ezingcwele, lusithi kunye nabaprofeti nabapostile, ‘Simele ukuthobela uThixo endaweni yomntu.’ Phambi kwesithsaba sikaCharles V [wesihlanu], buphakamisa isithsaba sikaYesu Kristu. Kuyadlula apho: bubeka phantsi umthetho-siseko wokuba konke ukufundisa komntu kumele ukuba ngaphantsi kwemiyalelo kaThixo.”--D’Aubigne, b. 13, ch. 6. Ngapha koko, abachasi baqinisekisa ilungelo labo lokuzixela ngokukhululekileyo iingcinga zabo ngenyaniso. Babengayi kwanela nje ukukholwa nokuthobela, kodwa nokufundisa oko kubekwa lilizwi likaThixo, baza balilandula ilungelo lokungenelela kompristi okanye umlawuli. INkcaso yaseSpires yayibubungqina obunendili kumba wokunganyamezelwa kwenkolo, nokuvunywa kwelungelo labo bonke abantu ukuba banqule uThixo ngokokuyalelwa zizazela zabo.IE18 184.1

Isindululo sasenziwe. Sasibhalwe kwinkumbulo yamawaka yagcinwa ezincwadini zezulu, apho kungekho mzamo womntu unokusicima. Yonke iJamani yevangeli yayamkela iNkcaso njengesiboniso senkolo yayo. Kuyo yonke indawo, abantu babona kwesi sindululo isithembiso sexesha elitsha nelingcono. Yathi enye inkosana kumaProtestanti eSpires: “Akwaba uSomandla, oninike ubabalo lokumvuma ngamandla, ngokukhululekileyo, nangokungoyiki, anganigcina nikoko kuqina kobuKristu kude kube yimini kanaphakade.”--D’Aubigne, b. 13, ch. 6.IE18 184.2

Ukuba uHlaziyo, emva kokuba luzuze indima yempumelelo, lungavuma ukuzuza okwexeshana ukuthandwa lihlabathi, lungaba belungenako ukunyaniseka kuThixo nakulo ngokwalo, lube ngaloo ndlela luqinisekise intshabalalo yalo. Amava aba bahlaziyi bahloniphekileyo aquke isifundo sazo zonke izizukulwana ezilandelayo. Indlela yokusebenza kukaSathana ukuchasa uThixo nelizwi laKhe ayiguqukanga; usakuchasile nangoku ukuba iziBhalo zenziwe isikhokelo sobomi njengakwinkulungwane yeshumi elinesithandathu. Ngeli lethu ixesha, kukho ukumka okukhulu kwimfundiso nemimiseloyazo,kwaye sikhoisidingosokubuyela kumthetho-siseko omkhulu wobuProtestanti—iBhayibhile, neBhayibhile kuphela, njengomgaqo wokholo nomsebenzi. USathana usasebenza ngazo zonke iindlela anokwenza ngazo ukuba alawule ukuze ayitshabalalise inkululeko yenkolo. Igunya lobuchasi-Kristu elaliwa ngabachasi baseSpires ngoku, ngamandla awenziwe ngokutsha, lizama ukumisela ngokutsha ubunganga balo obalahlekayo. Oko kungagungqi kunye kwilizwi likaThixo okwabonakalaliswa ngexesha lobunzima loHlaziyo kuko ekuphela kwethemba lohlaziyo namhlanje.IE18 184.3

Kwabonakala imiqondiso yengozi kumaProtestanti; yayikwakho imiqondiso, yokuba isandla esingcwele sasivuliwe ukuba sibakhusele abanyanisekileyo. Kwakungeli xesha awathi “uMelanchthon wakhawuleza wakhokela kwizitrato zaseSpires umhlobo wakhe uSimon Grynaeus [Grinewo] esinga kumlambo iRhine, emnyanzela ukuba awuwele umlambo. USimon wothuswa kukugxagxanyiswa okunjalo. ‘Indoda endala yandinika umoya onesidima nonendili, kodwa ongaziwayo ndim,’ watsho uMelanchthon, ‘wavela phambi kwam wathi, Ngomzuzu nje, amagosa obulungisa aza kuthunyelwa nguFerdinand ukuba abambe uGrinewo.’”IE18 185.1

Emini, kwathethwa kakubi ngoGrinewo entshumayelweni kaFaber, ugqirha owayephambili kubupopi; kwathi ekupheleni [kwayo] wamchasa ngokukhusela “iimpazamo ezithile ezithiyekileyo.” “UFaber wawufihla umsindo wakhe, waza emva koko wakhawuleza wathetha nokumkani, awayefumene kuye umyalelo wokuchasa uprofesa waseHeidelberg onenkathazo. UMelanchthon akazange akuthandabuze ukuba uThixo uye wamsindisa umhlobo wakhe ngokuthumela enye yeengelosi zaKhe ezingcwele ukuba imlumkise kwangaphambili.IE18 185.2

“Engashukumi kwiindonga zomlambo iRhine, walinda ada amanzi aloo msinga amhlangula uGrynaeus [Grinewo] kubatshutshisi bakhe. ‘Ekugqibeleni,” wakhala uMelanchthon, xa embona kwelinye icala, ‘Ekugqibeleni uhlangulwe kwimihlathi ekhohlakeleyo yabo banxanelwe igazi elingenatyala.’ Wathi akubuyela endlwini yakhe, uMelanchthon waxelelwa ukuba amagosa afuna uGrinewo ayigqogqe indlu ukusuka phezulu ukuya ngaphantsi.”-- D’Aubigne, b. 13, ch. 6.IE18 185.3

UHlaziyo lwaluza kwenziwa lubaluleke kakhulu phambi kwezikhulu zasemhlabeni. Iinkosana zevangeli zazalelwe ukuba ziphulaphulwe ngukumkani uFerdinand; kodwazanikwa ithuba lokubaziwubeke umcimbi wazo phambi kokumkani nezikhulu zebandla nesteyiti ezazihlangene. Ukuphelisa ukwahlukana okwakuphazamisa ubukumkani, uCharles V, ngomnyaka olandela uQhankqalazo lwaseSpires, wabiza kwakhona intlanganiso eAugsburg, awaya wayixelela injongo yakhe yokuyihlalela ngokwakhe. Zaya zabizelwa khona apho iinkokeli zamaProtestanti. Iingozi ezinkulu zaziluzela uHlaziyo; kodwa abavakalisi balo babesawubeke kuThixo umsebenzi wabo, baza babhambathisa ukuba baya kuqina kwigospile. UMnyuli waseSaxony wanyanzelwa ngabacebisi bakhe ukuba angalibeki eNtlanganisweni. Bathi, ukumkani wayefuna kubekho iinkosana ukuze akwazi ukuzitsalela emgibeni. “Asikuko ukubeka yonke into esichengeni ukuya kuzivalela komntu phakathi kweendonga zesixeko notshaba olunamandla?” Abanye, ngemeko, bathi, “Mayibe ziinkosana zodwa emazivumelane ngesibindi, umsebenzi kaThixo uya kusinda.” “UThixo uthembekile; akasayi kusishiya,” watsho uLutere.”--D’Aubigne, b. 14, ch. 2. UMnyuli waphuma nokrozo lwakhe, besiya eAugsburg. Bonke babeqhelene neengozi ezazimhlupha, baza abaninzi bahamba phambili benobuso obulusizi nentliziyo ekhathazekileyo. Yena uLutere, wahamba nabo ukuya kufika eCoburg, waluvuselela ukholo lwabo olwaluzika ngokuvuma ingoma awayibhala kolo hambo, “Uyinqaba eyomeleleyo uThixo wethu.” Ukuxhalela okuzayo okwakukuninzi kwagxothwa, iintliziyo ezininzi ezazisinda zenziwa khaphukhaphu, yakutsho ingoma eyayiyinkuthazo. IE18 185.4

Iinkosana ezazihlaziyekile zaya zazimisela ukuba iimbono zazo zibhalwe phantsi ngendlela ecwangcisiweyo, nenobungqina obuphuma eziBhalweni, ukuze bayibeke eNtlanganiseni; waza umsebenzi wokuyilungisa wabekwa phezu kukaLutere, noMelanchthon, namaqabane abo. Olu Vumo lwamkelwa ngamaProtestanti njengokuchazwa kwenkolo yawo, aza ahlanganisana abhala amagama awo kolo xwebhu lwalubalulekile. Yayililixa elizukileyo nelovavanyo. AbaHlaziyi babefuna ukuba umsebenzi wabo ungabandakanywa nemiba yopolitiko; babenoluvo lokuba uHlaziyo akufuneki lusebenzise enye impembelelo kunaleyo ephuma elizwini likaThixo. Zathi xa iinkosana zamaKristu zibheka phambili ukuya kusayina uVumo, uMelanchthon wangenelela, esithi, “Kokwabafunda ngoThixo nabafundisi ukuceba ezi zinto; masiligcinele eminye imicimbi igunya labanamandla basemhlabeni.” “UThixo makale,” waphendula watsho uJohn waseSaxony, “ukuba undikhuphe ecaleni mna. Ndigqibe ukuba ndenze okulungileyo, ndingazihluphi ngesithsaba sam. Ndinqwenela ukuyivuma iNkosi. Umnqwazi wam wokuba nguMnyuli nomnweba wam azinto zixabisekileyo kum ngaphezu komnqamlezo kaYesu Kristu.” Akuba ethethe wenjenjalo, wabhala phantsi igama lakhe. Yathi enye inkosana xa ithabatha usiba: “Ukuba uzuko lweNkosi yam uYesu Kristu lufuna oku, ndikulungele . . . ukuba ndizishiye iimpahla zam nobomi bam ngasemva.” “Kuhle ukuba ndincame abantu endibaphetheyo nesteyiti sam, ndilishiye ilizwe loobawo ndiphethe intonga kuphela esandleni,” yaqhubeka yatsho, kunokuba ndifumane enye imfundiso kunaleyo iqulathwe kwesi siVumo.”-- D’Aubigne, b. 14, ch. 6. Lwaba njalo ukholo nesibindi saloo madoda kaThixo.IE18 186.1

Laya lafika ixesha elalimisiwe lokuma phambi kukakumkani. UCharles V, wahlala etroneni yakhe, ejikelezwe ngabaNyuli neenkosana, wabanika indlebe abaHlaziyi bamaProtestanti. Isivumo senkolo yabo safundwa. Kuloo ntlangano inkulu, iinyaniso zegospile zazibekwe ngokucacileyo, zathi neempazamo zebandla lobupopi zaboniswa. Kuthethwa kakuhle ngaloo mini, xa kusithiwa “yeyona mini inkulu kuHlaziyo, nenye yezona ziqaqambileyo kwimbali yobuKristu neyoluntu.”-- D’Aubigne, b. 14, ch. 7.IE18 187.1

Kwakudlule iiminyaka embalwa kususela ukuba imonk yaseWittenberg yayimi yodwa phambi kwequmrhu lesizwe eWorms. Ngoku endaweni yayo kwakukho izikhakhamela zabaphathi bobukumkani. ULutere kwaliwa ukuba aye eAugsburg, kodwa wayekho ngamazwi nemithandazo yakhe. “Ndinovuyo olukhulu,” wabhala watsho, “kuba ndiphile kwada kwaleli lixa, apho athe uKristu wabhengezwa ekuhleni ngabavumi ababaluleke kangako, kwintlanganiso ebaluleke kangako.”--D’Aubigne, b. 14, ch. 7. Kwaba kuyazaliseka okuthethwa sisiBhalo: “Ndothetha ngezingqino zakho phambi kokumkani.” Ndumiso 119:46.IE18 187.2

Ngemihla kaPawulos, igospile awabanjelwa yona yaziswa ngaloo ndlela phambi kwabaphathi namadoda amakhulu esixeko sobukumkani. Ngoko ke nakwesi isiganeko, oko athe wakwalela ukumkani ukuba kushunyayelwe epulpitini, kwavakaliswa ebhotwe; oko abaninzi bakubona kungafanelekanga ukuba kumanyelwe ngabakhonzi, kwaviwa kwamangalwa ziinkosi nabalawuli bobukumkani. Ookumkani namadoda amakhulu ayezindlebe wonke, iinkosana ezibekiweyo zazingabashumayeli, yaye intshumayelo iyinyaniso yobukumkani bukaThixo “Kususela kwixesha labapostile,” uthi umbhali, “awuzanga wakho umsebenzi omkhulu okanye woVumo olubalasele njengolo.”--D'Aubigne, b. 14, ch. 7. IE18 187.3

“Konke okuthethwe namaLutere kuyinyaniso; asinako ukukuphika,” watsho ubhishophu wompopi. “Ningakwazi ukuphikisa ngezizathu ezivakalayo isiVumo esenziwe nguMnyuli namahlakani akhe?” wabuza omnye kuDr. Eck. “Ngeencwadi zabapostile nabaprofeti--hayi!” yatsho impendulo; kodwa ngezooBawo namaqumrhu--ewe!” “Ndiyaqonda,” waphendula obebuza. “Ngokukokwakho, amaLutere asesiBhalweni, thina singaphandle.”-- D’Aubigne, b. 14, ch. 8.IE18 187.4

Abanye babaphathi baseJamani bazuzelwa kwinkolo ehlaziyiweyo. Ukumkani ngokwakhe wavuma ukuba amanqaku amaProtestanti ayinyaniso. Eso siVumo, esaguqulelwa kwiilwimi ezininzi, sasasazwa kuyo yonke iYurophu, kwaye yamkelwe zizigidi kwizizukulwana ezilandelayo njengokuxelwa yinkolo yazo.IE18 188.1

Abakhonzi bakaThixo abathembekileyo babengasebenzi nzima bodwa. Ngeli xesha izilawuli namagunya nemimoya ekhohlakeleyo kwiindawo eziphezulu yayihlangana ukuba ibachase, iNkosi ayizange ibashiye abantu baYo. Ukuba amehlo abo ayengavulwa, babeya kubona ubungqina obukhulu bobukho bezulu noncedo njengoko lwanikwa umprofeti wakudala. Xa umkhonzi kaElisha wabonisa inkosi yakhe umkhosi okhohlakeleyo owawubangqingile uwasuse onke amathuba okusinda, umprofeti wathandaza: “Yehova, khawuwavule emehlo akhe, abone.” 2 Kumkani 6:17. Khangela, nantso intaba izele ziinqwelo namahashe omlilo, umkhosi wezulu umi ukuba uyikhusele indoda kaThixo. Zenjenjalo iingelosi ukukhusela abasebenzi kumsebenzi woHlaziyo.IE18 188.2

Omnye wemithetho-siseko awawubamba ngamandla kakhulu uLutere yayingowokuba angabheneli kumagunya asemhlabeni ukuba kuxhaswe uHlaziyo, akacela zixhobo ukuba alukhusele. Waba novuyo xa igospile yayisamkelwa ngabaphathi basebukumkanini; kodwa bathi bakuceba ukumanyana babeyibumba yokukhusela, wathi, “imfundiso yegospile imelwe kukukhuselwa nguThixo yedwa. . . . Ukuba abantu bangabuya kancinane ekugxuphulekeni emsebenzini, okona kuya kubonakala kakhulu ukungenelela kukaThixo kuwo. Onke amanyathelo opolitiko awayecetywa, ngokubona kwakhe, ayenegalelo kuloyiko olungafanelekanga, nesono sokungabikho kwethemba.”--D'Aubigne, London ed., b. 10, ch. 14.IE18 188.3

Xa iintshaba ezinamandla zimanyana ukuba zoyise inkolo yohlaziyo, aze amawaka amakrele abonakale ngokungathi aza kurholwa kwizingxobo zawo ukuba alwe nayo, uLutere wabhala, wathi: “USathana uyikhuphe yonke ingqumbo yakhe; ooPopi abangahloneli Thixo bayaceba; thina sizelwa yimfazwe. Bavuselele abantu ukuba bame ngokukhalipha phambi kwetrone kaYehova, ngokholo nangomthandazo, ukuze iintshaba zethu, zithi ngokoyiswa nguMoya kaThixo, zinyanzeleke ukuba zifune uxolo. Eyona ntswelo inkulu yethu, owona msebenzi mkhulu wethu, ngumthandazo; abantu mabazi ukuba ngoku basesichengeni sobukhali bekrele nakwingqumbo kaSathana, ngoko mabathandaze.”-- D'Aubigne, b. 10, ch. 14.IE18 188.4

Kwakhona, ngexesha elilandelayo, ebhekisa kwimbumba eyayicetywa ngabaphathi boHlaziyo, uLutere wavakalisa ukuba, isixhobo ekuphela kwaso esasisetyenziswa kule mfazwe kufuneka ibe “likrele loMoya.” Wabhalela kuMnyuli waseSaxony: “Asikwazi thina ngokwethu kwisazela sethu ukuvumelana nembumba ecetywayo. Kungakuhle sife kalishumi kunokuba sibone igospile yethu isenza ukuba kuphalale nokuba lithontsi elinye legazi. Eyethu indawo yeyokuba sifane neemvana eziya ekuxhelweni. Umnqamlezo kaKristu kufuneka uthwelwe. Umhlekazi makangoyiki. Siza kwenza lukhulu ngemithandazo yethu kunokwenziwa yiyo yonke imikhosi ngokuzigwagwisa kwayo. Ntonje wena, musa ukuvuma ukuba izandla zakho zidyojwe ligazi labazalwana bakho. Ukuba ukumkani ufuna ukuba sinikelwe kwiinkundla zakhe, sikulungele ukuya kuvela apho. Akunako ukulukhusela ukholo lwethu: elowo kufuneka akholwe ngokuzibeka yena esichengeni nasengozini.”-- D’Aubigne, b. 14, ch. 1.IE18 189.1

Kwindawo efihlakeleyo yokuthandaza, kwafika amandla awashukumisa ihlabathi ngoHlaziyo oluKhulu. Apho, kwinzolo engcwele, abakhonzi beNkosi bazimisa iinyawo zabo phezu kweliwa lezithembiso zaYo. Ngexesha lokulwa eAugsburg, uLutere “akazange adlulise neyodwa imini enganikelanga, ubuncinane, iiyure ezintathu ekuthandazeni, kwaye yayiziiyure ezinyulwe kwezo zazilungele kakhulu ukufunda.” Kwisithe legumbi lakhe elisemfihlakalweni, wayeviwa ewuthulula umphefumlo wakhe phambi kukaThixo ngamazwi “azele yindumiso, ukoyika, nethemba, njengaxa athetha nomhlobo.” “Ndiyazi ukuba unguBawo wethu noThixo wethu,” wayesitsho, “nokuba uza kubachitha abatshutshisi babantwana baKho; kuba Wena usengozini kunye nathi. Wonke lo mcimbi ngowaKho, kwaye kuphela ngokunyanzelwa nguWe esithi sizibeke kuwo izandla zethu. Sikhusele, ke ngoko, Bawo!”-- D’Aubigne, b. 14, ch. 6.IE18 189.2

Ebhalela uMelanchthon, owayebulaleka phantsi komthwalo wexhala noloyiko, wathi: “Ubabalo noxolo kuKristu--kuKristu, nditsho, kungekuko ehlabathini. Amen. Ndiwathiye ngeyona ntiyo enkulu kakhulu loo maxhala anigqibayo. Ukuba umsebenzi awunabo ubulungisa, wuyekeni; ukuba umsebenzi unabo ubulungisa, kungani ukuba sixoke ngezithembiso zaLowo wayalela ukuba silale ngaphandle kokoyika? . . . UKristu akasayi kuswela emsebenzini wobulungisa nenyaniso. Uyaphila, uyalawula; siza kuba naloyiko lwantoni?”-- D’Aubigne, b. 14, ch. 6.IE18 189.3

UThixo wakuphulaphula ukukhala kwabakhonzi baKhe. Wabanika abaphathi nabafundisi imfesane nesibindi sokuba bayikhusele inyaniso kubalawuli bobumnyama beli hlabathi. Ithi iNKosi: “Yabona, ndibeka eZiyon ilitye lembombo, elinyuliweyo, elinqabileyo; lowo ukholwayo kuye akayi kukha adaniswe.” 1 Petros 2:6. AbaHlaziyi bamaProtestanti bakha phezu kukaKristu, aye amasango esihogo engeze akwazi ukuboyisa.IE18 190.1