Chapter 7—Luther, a Man for His Time
Among those called to lead the church from Rome's darkness into the light of a purer faith, Martin Luther is chief. Having no fear but the fear of God, and acknowledging no foundation for faith but the Holy Scriptures, Luther was the man for his time.
LF 54.1
Luther spent his early years in the humble home of a German peasant. His father wanted him to become a lawyer, but God intended to make him a builder in the great temple that was rising slowly through the centuries. Hardship, poverty, and severe discipline were the school in which Infinite Wisdom prepared Luther for his life mission.
LF 54.2
Luther's father was a man of active mind. His unfailingly good sense led him to distrust the monastic system. He was unhappy when Luther entered a monastery without his permission. It took two years before the father reconciled with his son, and even then his opinions remained the same.
LF 54.3
Luther's parents tried to instruct their children in the knowledge of God. Earnestly and constantly they worked to prepare their children to live useful lives. Sometimes they were too strict, but the Reformer himself found more to approve than to condemn in their discipline.
LF 54.4
At school Luther was treated harshly and even with violence. He often suffered from hunger. That era's gloomy, superstitious ideas of religion filled him with fear. He would lie down at night with a heavy heart, constantly terrified at the thought of God as a cruel tyrant rather than a kind heavenly Father.
LF 54.5
When he entered the University of Erfurt, the future looked brighter than in his earlier years. By thrift and hard work his parents had become well-to-do, and they were able to give him all the help he needed. And wise, caring friends to some extent reduced the gloomy effects of his earlier training. With good influences, his mind developed rapidly. Consistent attention to his studies soon placed him in the top rank among his associates.
LF 54.6
Luther did not fail to begin each day with prayer; his heart continually breathed a request for guidance. “To pray well,” he often said, “is the better half of study.”1
LF 54.7
One day in the library of the university he discovered a book he had never seen—a Latin Bible. He had heard portions of the Gospels and Epistles, and he had thought that these were the entire Bible. Now, for the first time, he was looking at the whole of God's Word. With awe and wonder he turned the sacred pages and read for himself the words of life, pausing to exclaim, “O that God would give me such a book for myself!”2 Angels were by his side. Rays of light from God revealed treasures of truth to his understanding. Like never before, the deep conviction that he was a sinner took hold of him.
LF 54.8
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Love Under Fire
[{"para_id":"12269.2","title":"Foreword","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0003_eng_m_foreword_12269_9.mp3#duration=246&size=2097443"},{"para_id":"12269.20","title":"Lifting the Veil on the Future","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0004_eng_m_lifting_the_veil_on_the_future_12269_20.mp3#duration=1072&size=8709066"},{"para_id":"12269.56","title":"Chapter 1\u2014A Forecast of the World's Destiny","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0005_eng_m_chapter_1_a_forecast_of_the_world_s_destiny_12269_56.mp3#duration=1349&size=10918801"},{"para_id":"12269.111","title":"Chapter 2\u2014The First Christians Loyal and True","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0010_eng_m_chapter_2_the_first_christians_loyal_and_true_12269_111.mp3#duration=671&size=5495228"},{"para_id":"12269.137","title":"Chapter 3\u2014Spiritual Darkness in the Early Church","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0012_eng_m_chapter_3_spiritual_darkness_in_the_early_church_12269_137.mp3#duration=1092&size=8863143"},{"para_id":"12269.184","title":"Chapter 4\u2014The Waldenses Defend the Faith","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0016_eng_m_chapter_4_the_waldenses_defend_the_faith_12269_184.mp3#duration=1238&size=10033075"},{"para_id":"12269.244","title":"Chapter 5\u2014The Light Breaks in England","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0023_eng_m_chapter_5_the_light_breaks_in_england_12269_244.mp3#duration=1211&size=9822101"},{"para_id":"12269.305","title":"Chapter 6\u2014Two Heroes Face Death","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0028_eng_m_chapter_6_two_heroes_face_death_12269_305.mp3#duration=1900&size=15332711"},{"para_id":"12269.394","title":"Chapter 7\u2014Luther, a Man for His Time","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0038_eng_m_chapter_7_luther_a_man_for_his_time_12269_394.mp3#duration=1880&size=15170387"},{"para_id":"12269.485","title":"Chapter 8\u2014A Champion of Truth","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0046_eng_m_chapter_8_a_champion_of_truth_12269_485.mp3#duration=2067&size=16668321"},{"para_id":"12269.586","title":"Chapter 9\u2014Light Kindled in Switzerland","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0056_eng_m_chapter_9_light_kindled_in_switzerland_12269_586.mp3#duration=921&size=7498817"},{"para_id":"12269.630","title":"Chapter 10\u2014Progress in Germany","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0060_eng_m_chapter_10_progress_in_germany_12269_630.mp3#duration=881&size=7178382"},{"para_id":"12269.677","title":"Chapter 11\u2014The Protest of the Princes","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0065_eng_m_chapter_11_the_protest_of_the_princes_12269_677.mp3#duration=847&size=6908609"},{"para_id":"12269.720","title":"Chapter 12\u2014Daybreak in France","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0069_eng_m_chapter_12_daybreak_in_france_12269_720.mp3#duration=1963&size=15832207"},{"para_id":"12269.816","title":"Chapter 13\u2014The Netherlands and Scandinavia","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0080_eng_m_chapter_13_the_netherlands_and_scandinavia_12269_816.mp3#duration=579&size=4763526"},{"para_id":"12269.845","title":"Chapter 14\u2014Truth Advances in Britain","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0083_eng_m_chapter_14_truth_advances_in_britain_12269_845.mp3#duration=1413&size=11431057"},{"para_id":"12269.919","title":"Chapter 15\u2014France's Reign of Terror: Its True Cause","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0093_eng_m_chapter_15_france_s_reign_of_terror_its_true_cause_12269_919.mp3#duration=1761&size=14218526"},{"para_id":"12269.1006","title":"Chapter 16\u2014Seeking Freedom in a New World","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0102_eng_m_chapter_16_seeking_freedom_in_a_new_world_12269_1006.mp3#duration=688&size=5633418"},{"para_id":"12269.1045","title":"Chapter 17\u2014Promises of Christ's Return","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0107_eng_m_chapter_17_promises_of_christ_s_return_12269_1045.mp3#duration=1385&size=11207836"},{"para_id":"12269.1108","title":"Chapter 18\u2014New Light in the New World","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0113_eng_m_chapter_18_new_light_in_the_new_world_12269_1108.mp3#duration=1986&size=16023294"},{"para_id":"12269.1200","title":"Chapter 19\u2014Why the Great Disappointment?","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0126_eng_m_chapter_19_why_the_great_disappointment_12269_1200.mp3#duration=820&size=6688816"},{"para_id":"12269.1237","title":"Chapter 20\u2014Love for Christ's Coming","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0130_eng_m_chapter_20_love_for_christ_s_coming_12269_1237.mp3#duration=1449&size=11726780"},{"para_id":"12269.1310","title":"Chapter 21\u2014Reaping the Whirlwind","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0140_eng_m_chapter_21_reaping_the_whirlwind_12269_1310.mp3#duration=1120&size=9090450"},{"para_id":"12269.1366","title":"Chapter 22\u2014Prophecies Fulfilled","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0147_eng_m_chapter_22_prophecies_fulfilled_12269_1366.mp3#duration=1051&size=8537334"},{"para_id":"12269.1415","title":"Chapter 23\u2014The Open Mystery of the Sanctuary","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0154_eng_m_chapter_23_the_open_mystery_of_the_sanctuary_12269_1415.mp3#duration=1137&size=9229433"},{"para_id":"12269.1472","title":"Chapter 24\u2014What Is Christ Doing Now?","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0162_eng_m_chapter_24_what_is_christ_doing_now_12269_1472.mp3#duration=669&size=5482165"},{"para_id":"12269.1504","title":"Chapter 25\u2014God's Law Unchangeable","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0167_eng_m_chapter_25_god_s_law_unchangeable_12269_1504.mp3#duration=1398&size=11312581"},{"para_id":"12269.1573","title":"Chapter 26\u2014Champions for Truth","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0175_eng_m_chapter_26_champions_for_truth_12269_1573.mp3#duration=528&size=4352939"},{"para_id":"12269.1601","title":"Chapter 27\u2014How Successful Are Modern Revivals?","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0178_eng_m_chapter_27_how_successful_are_modern_revivals_12269_1601.mp3#duration=1336&size=10818515"},{"para_id":"12269.1663","title":"Chapter 28\u2014Facing Our Life Record","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0186_eng_m_chapter_28_facing_our_life_record_12269_1663.mp3#duration=1065&size=8653528"},{"para_id":"12269.1715","title":"Chapter 29\u2014Why Was Sin Permitted?","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0195_eng_m_chapter_29_why_was_sin_permitted_12269_1715.mp3#duration=925&size=7525929"},{"para_id":"12269.1756","title":"Chapter 30\u2014Satan and Humanity at War","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0200_eng_m_chapter_30_satan_and_humanity_at_war_12269_1756.mp3#duration=345&size=2890664"},{"para_id":"12269.1773","title":"Chapter 31\u2014Evil Spirits","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0203_eng_m_chapter_31_evil_spirits_12269_1773.mp3#duration=581&size=4777631"},{"para_id":"12269.1798","title":"Chapter 32\u2014How to Defeat Satan","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0208_eng_m_chapter_32_how_to_defeat_satan_12269_1798.mp3#duration=939&size=7645617"},{"para_id":"12269.1846","title":"Chapter 33\u2014What Happens After Death?","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0215_eng_m_chapter_33_what_happens_after_death_12269_1846.mp3#duration=1326&size=10739511"},{"para_id":"12269.1908","title":"Chapter 34\u2014Who Are the \u201cSpirits\u201d in Spiritualism?","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0225_eng_m_chapter_34_who_are_the_spirits_in_spiritualism_12269_1908.mp3#duration=778&size=6355822"},{"para_id":"12269.1948","title":"Chapter 35\u2014Liberty of Conscience Threatened","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0231_eng_m_chapter_35_liberty_of_conscience_threatened_12269_1948.mp3#duration=1220&size=9889702"},{"para_id":"12269.2011","title":"Chapter 36\u2014The Approaching Conflict","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0240_eng_m_chapter_36_the_approaching_conflict_12269_2011.mp3#duration=761&size=6213750"},{"para_id":"12269.2042","title":"Chapter 37\u2014Our Only Safeguard","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0243_eng_m_chapter_37_our_only_safeguard_12269_2042.mp3#duration=577&size=4743885"},{"para_id":"12269.2072","title":"Chapter 38\u2014God's Final Message","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0247_eng_m_chapter_38_god_s_final_message_12269_2072.mp3#duration=725&size=5931673"},{"para_id":"12269.2108","title":"Chapter 39\u2014The Time of Trouble","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0252_eng_m_chapter_39_the_time_of_trouble_12269_2108.mp3#duration=1468&size=11877764"},{"para_id":"12269.2174","title":"Chapter 40\u2014God's People Delivered","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0261_eng_m_chapter_40_god_s_people_delivered_12269_2174.mp3#duration=1351&size=10941854"},{"para_id":"12269.2230","title":"Chapter 41\u2014The Earth in Ruins","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0269_eng_m_chapter_41_the_earth_in_ruins_12269_2230.mp3#duration=730&size=5969865"},{"para_id":"12269.2260","title":"Chapter 42\u2014Eternal Peace: The Controversy Ended","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0272_eng_m_chapter_42_eternal_peace_the_controversy_ended_12269_2260.mp3#duration=1471&size=11900978"}]