letter, indicating his fears on this point, and asking his pardon, if he had needlessly offended him. He made no concessions, however, in respect to doctrines.

To this communication the cardinal returned no answer; but observed a studied and portentous silence in regard to Luther. No one was able to learn his intentions, or to fathom his designs. It was now that the friends of Luther became alarmed for his safety and urged him to depart. Every moment, they thought, was replete with danger, as the cardinal was, in all probability, meditating some dark design against his liberty, or his life. Staupitz and some others, who had accompanied the reformer to Augsburg, were already gone, and he was left in the midst of his enemies, comparatively alone. Besides, he could think of no good object to be answered by his remaining longer, and his duties imperiously called him away. In these circumstances, he drew up an earnest appeal from the pope ill informed respecting his case, to the pope when he shall be better informed. He wrote a letter, also, to the cardinal, to be delivered after his departure; and on the morning

of the 18th of October, before day-break, under the conduct of a faithful guide, he left Augsburg. He rode on horseback, without a bridle, and without boots, spurs, or arms. When he had got fairly out of the city, and began to breathe the open air, and traverse the fields and villages of his native land, he could not help singing aloud, in the language of David. "Our soul is escaped, as a bird out of the snare of the fowler. The snare is broken, and we are delivered. Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth."

Luther rode near fifty miles the first day. The remainder of the journey he travelled more leisurely, and arrived at Wittemberg, October 30. The latter part of his journey seemed almost like a triumph. He was returning without having given up any thing to Rome. Such a victory, gained by a poor mendicant friar over the proud representative of the pope, filled every heart with astonishment.

When the cardinal heard of Luther's depart ure, he was greatly vexed. He had been ambitious of the honour of healing the wounds of the church and of re-establishing the declining nfluence of the pope in Germany; but the

heretic was gone, without his having so much as humbled him. He immediately wrote an angry letter to the Elector Frederic, demanding that Luther should be sent to Rome; or, at least, that he should be banished out of his territories. "Be assured," said he, "that this complicated, evil-intentioned and mischievous affair cannot be long protracted. As soon as I shall have informed our most holy lord the pope of all this malice, he will bring it to a speedy end."

CHAPTER VI.

Cajetan angry at Luther's departure-Luther on the point of being ordered away from Wittemberg-A new bull in favour of indulgences-Luther appeals to a general council-Cajetan blamed at Rome-Miltitz sent to negotiate with Luther-Miltitz enraged against TetzelLuther's first interview with Miltitz-Second interview, when a truce is agreed upon-Tetzel's disgrace and death-Luther's great popularity as a teacher-His works published at Basle-Miltitz embarrassed--The truce broken by Dr. Eck--Dispute at Leipzic between Eck and Carlstadt-Luther takes part in it-Important results of the dispute-Melancthon's history-Effect of the dispute on his mind-Luther's commentary on the Galatians.

It was while Luther was on his return from Augsburg, that he first got sight of the pope's brief, or commission to Cardinal Cajetan, empowering him to act in reference to his case. It was now that he learned, for the first time, that he had already been adjudged a heretic, at Rome. The knowledge of this fact, not only filled him with indignation, at the palpable unfairness with which he had been treated, but also perplexed him as to his duties and

prospects. For being condemned as a heretic at Rome, he could scarcely hope to be permitted to continue in his professorship at Wittemberg, or to find an asylum in a convent, or to dwell anywhere in peace and safety. The protection of the elector might, perhaps, avail him; but he was far from being sure of that. However, it seemed to him clear that he ought to return to Wittemberg, and there wait to see what the eternal and merciful God would do. with him. Meanwhile, he busied himself in publishing an account of his conference with the legate. Whatever might come in future, he resolved that this should remain, as a memorial of the struggle between himself and Rome.

We have already spoken of the legate's angry letter to the elector. After a suitable time, the elector replied, expressing strong disapprobation of the manner in which Luther had been treated at Augsburg, and declining either to send him to Rome, or, for the present, at least, to drive him from his territories. This decision of the elector was a great comfort to Luther, as it afforded him, if no more, a little respite; and it was by such respites