ad obeyed the decree issued against Luther at
Worms to continue to observe it, and to prohibit other States from
attempting any further innovation in religion till the meeting of a
general council. The Elector of Saxony, with the heads of other
principalities and free cities, entered a solemn "protest" against this
decree, as unjust and impious. On that account they were distinguished
by the name of Protestants.

At Augsburg, where priests and statesmen met together in 1530, the
Protestant form of religion was established. The reformers issued
there a "confession" of their faith, known as the Augsburg Confession,
and which placed them for ever apart from the old Roman Catholic
Church. A zeal for religion had seized on men excited by their own
freedom to find the truth for themselves. Luther lamented the strife
that of necessity followed, often wondering whether he had not been too
bold in opposing the ancient traditions of Rome. For he had aimed at
purification rather than separation, and would have preferred to keep
the old Church rather than to set up a new one in its place. "He was
never for throwing away old shoes till he had got new ones." Naturally
reformers of less moderate nature did not love him. He detested
argument for {62} argument's sake. There was nothing crafty or subtle
in his nature. He poured out the honest convictions of his heart
without regard to the form in which he might express them.

In 1546, Luther had promised to settle a dispute between two nobles,
and set out on his journey, feeling a presentiment that the end of
worldly strife was come for him. On the way, he visited Eisleben,
where he had been born, and there died. His body was taken to
Wittenberg, the scene of his real life-work.

Germany had been restless before the reforms of Martin Luther,
disinclined to believe all that was taught by monks and inculcated by
tradition. The authority of the Pope had kept men's souls in bondage.
They hardly dared to judge for themselves what was right and what was
wrong. If money could free them from the burden of sins, they paid it
gladly, acquitting themselves of all responsibility. Now conscience
had stirred and the mind been slowly awakened. Luther declared his
belief that each was responsible to God for his own soul, and there was
a universal echo. "I _believe_ in the forgiveness of sins." The truth
which had shone on the troubled monk was the truth to abide for ever
with his f