Castaway57
Born Twice
Luther was a wise man, ahead of his time - however there is a wide difference between "motes" and errors.Thanks Cast.![]()
To his opponents Luther replied,
"'We can always see the MOTE in our brother's eye, but we overlook the BEAM in our own. Who does not know that a man rarely puts forth any new idea without having some apperance of pride, and without being accused of exciting quarrels? IF HUMILITY HERSELF SHOULD UNDERTAKE SOMETHING NEW, HER OPPONENTS WOULD ACCUSE HER OF PRIDE! Why were Christ and all the martyrs put to death? Because they seemed to be proud contemners of the wisdom of the time, and because they advanced novelties, without having first humbly taken counsel of the oracles of the ancient opinions.
Do not let the wise of our days expect from me humility, or rather hypocrisy, enough to ask their advice, before publishing what duty compels me to say. Whatever I do will be done, not by the prudence of men, but by the counsel of God. If the work be of God, who shall stop it? if it be not, who can forward it? Not my will, nor theirs, nor ours; but thy will, O Holy Father, which art in Heaven.'--
What courage, what noble enthusiasm, what confidence in God, and above all, what truth in these words, and what truth for all ages!" D'Aubigne's History of the Reformation of the Sixteenth Century, p.103.
Today:
"Those to whom the message of truth is spoken seldom ask, 'Is it true?' but 'by whom is it advocated?' Multitudes estimate it by the numbers who accept it; and the question is still asked,'Have any of the religious leaders believed?' Men are no more favorable to real godliness now than in the days of Christ. They are just as intently seeking earthly good, to the neglect of eternal riches; and it is NOT AN ARGUMENT AGAINST THE TRUTH that large numbers are not ready to accept it, or that it is not received by the world's great men, or even by the relgious leaders." Desire of Ages,459,460.
"A nation's sin and a nation's ruin were due to the religious leaders." Desire of Ages,738.
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