Luther voices his profound reverence for the Scriptures in innumerable places throughout his writings.  “The Holy Scriptures,” he says, “did not grow on earth.” (7, 2094.) Again:  “When studying the Scriptures, you must reflect that it is God Himself who is speaking to you.” (3, 21.) Again:  “The Scriptures are older and possess greater authority than all Councils and Fathers.  Moreover, all the angels side with God and the Scriptures. . . .  If age, duration, greatness, multitude [of followers], holiness, are inducements to believe something, why do we believe men who live but a short time rather than God, who is the Oldest, the Greatest, the Holiest, the Mightiest of all?  Why do we not believe all the angels, since a single one of them has greater authority than the Pope?  Why do we not believe the Bible, when one passage of Scripture outweighs all the books in the world?” (19, 1734.) Again:  “The Bible alone is the true lord and master over all writings on earth.  If this is not so, of what use is the Bible?  Then let us cast it aside, and be satisfied with the books and teachings of men.” (15, 1481.) Again:  “All Scripture is full of Christ, the Son of God and Mary.  Its sole object is to teach us to know Him as a distinct person, and that through Him we may in eternity behold the Father and the Holy Ghost, one God.  The Scriptures are ajar to him who has the Son, and in the same proportion as his faith in Christ increases the Scriptures become clear to him” (3, 1959.) How little Luther would have in common with the destructive higher critics of the Bible in our day, we can gather from the following statement:  “If cutting and tearing the Bible to pieces were a great art, what a famous Bible would I produce!  Especially if I were to lay my hand on the important passages, those on which the articles of our faith rest. . . .  My position, then, is this:  In view of the fact that our faith is supported by Holy Writ, we must not depart from its words as they read, nor from the order in which they are placed. . . .  Otherwise, what is to become of the Bible?” (20, 213.)

22.  Luther a Preacher of Violence against the Hierarchy.

In his fight against papal supremacy Luther discovered that the Roman priesthood was the Pope’s chief support.  The principle of community of interests had knitted both the higher and the lower clergy, the cardinals, archbishops, bishops, abbots, priors, parish priests, monks, etc., together into one firmly compacted society.  All its members understood that they were working in a common cause, and kept in constant and close rapport with one another:  What concerned one concerned all the rest.  Each aided and abetted the other, and all strove jointly to exalt their master, the Pope.  Like a huge net the rule of priests was spread over mankind, and all men, with their spiritual and secular interests, were caught in this net.  The system was called a hierarchy, that is, a holy government.  The priesthood and