by which we can be freed from guilt and the dominion of sin, than through faith in God's grace, faith in Christ, and Him crucified. And this "theology of the cross" Luther defended with such power that the Dominicans did not succeed in forcing him to deviate even a hair's breadth from his convictions. The brethren of his own order did not even think of insisting on a revocation, but in part even took sides with him.
Upon his return from Heidelberg to Wittenberg, Luther, in the beginning of June, published a defence and a careful exposition of his theses in Latin and sent a copy to the pope in order that he might be able to judge correctly if Luther really were a heretic. In an accompanying letter to the pope Luther contended that the fact that he was a Doctor of Divinity, an honor bestowed upon him through papal power, gave him the privilege to take part in public disputations on all great questions. He also made mention of the flagrancies of the indulgence preachers who, in the way they carried on their traffic, only seriously harmed the Church. Out of all this the Roman authorities heard but the one word, "I cannot recant." Meanwhile Luther appealed to the whole nation in a tract written in German, in which he insisted that he ought not be denounced as an heretic before his case had been carefully investigated and closed in these words, "I am not so presumptuous that I place my opinion above that of all others, nor am I so unmindful of my duty that I would sacrifice God's Word for the sake of the fables of men. Jesus Christ lives and reigns yesterday, today and forever." This confirmed the Roman authorities in their unwillingness to make even the smallest concession. The Dominicans again pressed their charges against Luther before the Papal See and insisted upon prompt
