14 OUR HYMNS :
Erfurth, where his father hoped he would pursue the study of the law. At Erfurth, Luther made great attainments, graduated M.A. and Doctor, of Philosophy, and was admired for his genius by the whole University. There, too, he was much moved by meet ing for the first time with the Bible. Books were rare in those days, and he had been content with the portions of Scripture he had heard read in public worship. But in the library at Erfurth he met with the whole Scriptures, and read them with deep thought and great wonder and delight. Providence also spoke to him by severe illness, by a dangerous wound received accidentally from his own sword, by the reported assassination of his companion Alexis, and by a violent storm in which his life seemed to be threatened. The effect of all these stirring events on the mind of Luther was, that before reaching the age of twenty-two, he disappointed the hopes of his father, and entered the monastery of St. Augustine, at Erfurtb. There, during three years, Luther was passing through important spiritual conflicts, from which he at length emerged into evangelical rest and peace. In these struggles he was greatly assisted by Staupitz, the vicar-general of the Augustines, who knew and loved the evangelical doctrine, and was able to speak from his own experience of the way of deliverance.
In 1508, on the invitation of the Elector of Saxony, Luther undertook the office of Professor of Philosophy in Wittenberg University. And soon after he became Bachelor of Divinity, and was called to expound the Scriptures daily to the University. This work was engaged in by Luther with all his heart. Speak ing, not in a cold and formal manner, but experimentally, and heeding Scripture for more than tradition, his lectures attracted crowds of hearers, and produced a great impression. He was invited to preach, and then appointed chaplain to the Council of Wittenberg. Thus he began to be the leader of the Reforma tion, though without as yet seeing all that was to follow.
Soon after, Luther was appointed to go on an important mis sion to Rome. Full of holy zeal, he anticipated his visit with
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