book from Luther had yet been published.

In 1515 he was chosen district vicar of the Augustinian monasteries of
Meissen and Thuringia. It was a laborious office, but it gave him new
experiences, familiarized him still more with the monks, brought him
into executive administrations, and developed his tact in dealing with
men.

One other particular served greatly to establish him in the hearts of
the people. A deadly plague broke out in Wittenberg. Citizens were
dying by dozens and scores. At a later period a like scourge visited
Geneva, and so terrified Calvin and his ministerial associates that
they appealed to the Supreme Council, entreating, "Mighty lords,
release us from attending these infected people, for our lives are in
peril." Not so Luther. His friends said, "Fly! fly!" lest he should
fall by the plague and be lost to the world. "Fly?" said he. "No, no,
my God. If I die, I die. The world will not perish because a monk has
fallen. I am not St. Paul, not to fear death, but God will sustain
me." And as an angel of mercy he remained, ministering to the sick and
dying and caring for the orphans and widows of the dead.


COLLISION WITH THE HIERARCHY.

Such was Luther up to the time of his rupture with Rome. He knew
something of the shams and falsities that prevailed, and he had
assailed and exposed many of them in his lectures and sermons; but to
lead a general reformation was the farthest from his thoughts. Indeed,
he still had such confidence in the integrity of the Roman Church that
he did not yet realize how greatly a thorough general reformation was