Men Divinely Prepared for Crises

There was the same satanic effort to crush the Reformation that there had been to prevent it from coming to fruition. Forbiddings, summonings, excommunications, interdicts, imprisonments, hangings, and burnings were continued by the papists as long and as fiercely as it was possible wherever there were reformers. For a full century and more there was need of men of clear vision, divine leadings, and dauntless courage.AGP 223.2

Just such men in large numbers were raised up by the Lord in Germany, England, France, Italy, Switzerland, Bohemia.—indeed, in all nations where the Reformation took root.AGP 223.3

It was in the providence of God that the princes of Germany were so entirely won to the Reformation, and were led at a critical moment to sign the Protestant Confession of Faith, thus declaring their faith and purpose to the Diet of Augsburg, and through it to all Christendom. Thus the Lord, who foresaw the dangers, had made full preparation to meet them. What joy would have filled the hearts of the forerunners of the reformatory movement if they could have foreseen all that took place at this Diet!AGP 223.4

This great triumph of the reformers, including the German princes, was a profound surprise to the emperor, the pope, and the whole papal hierarchy. It filled them with serious apprehension regarding the future of this strange movement. In threeAGP 223.5

tests—the Diet of Worms, 1521; the Diet of Spires, 1526; and the Diet of Augsburg, 1530—that mighty hierarchy had utterly failed to accomplish what it had convoked those three formidable councils to do; namely, to rid the world of so-called heretics, and end the agitation.AGP 224.1

But Rome never acknowledges defeat; she never quits. The emperor, the cardinals, the bishops, and the Catholic priests left Augsburg to persecute more fiercely, to erect more scaffolds for hanging, and to light more fires for burning. In this they could and did succeed. The records are distressing and sickening. It seems impossible that human beings could mete out to other mortals such inhuman treatment.AGP 224.2

It is appropriate to say again that the reformers during the post-Reformation years were in as great need of the divine Presence, of the guidance and instruction of the Holy Spirit, as were leaders in pre-Reformation times. It has been confidently declared by Christian writers and historians that the prophetic gift appeared among them at divers times and places.AGP 224.3