InthepresenceofthatpowerfulandtitledassemblythelowlybornReformerseemedawedandembarrassed。Severaloftheprinces，observinghisemotion，approachedhim，andoneofthemwhispered:\"Fearnotthemwhichkillthebody，butarenotabletokillthesoul。\"Anothersaid:\"WhenyeshallbebroughtbeforegovernorsandkingsforMysake，itshallbegivenyou，bytheSpiritofyourFather，whatyeshallsay。\"ThusthewordsofChristwerebroughtbytheworld’sgreatmentostrengthenHisservantinthehouroftrial。
Lutherwasconductedtoapositiondirectlyinfrontoftheemperor’sthrone。Adeepsilencefelluponthecrowdedassembly。Thenanimperialofficeraroseand，pointingtoacollectionofLuther’swritings，demandedthattheReformeranswertwoquestions——whetherheacknowledgedthemashis，andwhetherheproposedtoretracttheopinionswhichhehadthereinadvanced。Thetitlesofthebookshaving156
beenread，Lutherrepliedthatastothefirstquestion，heacknowledgedthebookstobehis。\"Astothesecond，\"hesaid，\"seeingthatitisaquestionwhichconcernsfaithandthesalvationofsouls，andinwhichthewordofGod，thegreatestandmostprecioustreasureeitherinheavenorearth，isinvolved，IshouldactimprudentlywereItoreplywithoutreflection。I
mightaffirmlessthanthecircumstancedemands，ormorethantruthrequires，andsosinagainstthissayingofChrist:’WhosoevershalldenyMebeforemen，himwillIalsodenybeforeMyFatherwhichisinheaven。’
[Matthew10:33。]ForthisreasonIentreatyourimperialmajesty，withallhumility，toallowmetime，thatImayanswerwithoutoffendingagainstthewordofGod。\"——D’Aubigne，b。7，ch。8。