Dr. Luther,
Yesterday, you admitted these writings were yours.
Will you tell us now:
Do you persist in what you have written here?
Or are you prepared to retract these writings,
and the beliefs they contain?
I ask pardon if I lack the manners
that befit this court.
I was not brought up in kings' palaces,
but in the seclusion of a cloister.
I am asked to retract these writings,
but they are of different kinds.
In some, I discuss faith and good works;
If I were to retract these,
I should be denying accepted Christian truths!
In others, I attack Popery,
And assail men who have afflicted the Christian world
and ruined the bodies and souls of other men.
If I were to retract those,
I should be like a cloak that covers evil!
Most Serene Emperor, Illustrious Princes, Noble Lords,
I am only a man, and not God.
But I must defend myself, as did Jesus Christ, when He said,
as I say now:
"If I have spoken evil, bear witness against me."
Martin Luther, you have not yet answered the question.
Give us a simple answer:
Will you recant, or will you not?
You ask for a simple answer. Here it is.
Unless you can convince me by Scripture--
And not by Popes, or Councils
who have often contradicted each other--
Unless I am so convinced that I am wrong,
I am bound to my beliefs by the Text of the Bible!
My conscience is captive to the Word of God!
To go against conscience, is neither right, nor safe!
Therefore, I cannot and I will not recant!
Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me.
Amen.
