Luther's Student Days.
1. LUTHER IN MAGDEBURG. When Luther was fourteen years of age he bade
farewell to his parents and home and, with his friend Hans Reinecke,
went to Magdeburg; for his father wished to give him a thorough
education. Having received no spending money from home, they were forced
to live upon the alms gathered on the way from charitable hands. In
Magdeburg Luther attended the high school, a noted school of that day.
But here, as everywhere, the false doctrines of popery prevailed, and
the sweet comfort of the Gospel was not preached. The poor pupils were
directed to perform such works and penances as the Roman church
considered meritorious. Luther relates the following incident as
illustrating the monastic sanctity of those days: "With these my eyes I
saw a Prince of Anhalt in a friar's cowl begging for bread in the
streets, and bending under the sack like an ass. He looked like a
specter, nothing but skin and bones. Whoever saw him smacked with
devotion and had to be ashamed with his secular calling."--In bodily
things also little Martin had to endure much hardship. It is true, lodge
and shelter were supplied by the city, and the instruction, given by the
monks, was free of charge, but the pupils themselves had to provide
their support. Because of his father's poverty Luther received but
little assistance from home and was compelled to sing for his daily
bread at the doors of the citizens. He relates the following story of
his experiences at that time: "During the Christmas holidays we made
excursions into the neighboring villages and sang at the doors the
Christmas carols in four parts in order to obtain our living. At one
time a peasant came out of his house and called to us in a rough tone of
voice, 'Boys, where are you?' This so terrified us that we scattered in
all directions. We were so frightened that we did not notice the sausage
in his hand, and it required no little coaxing to recall us."
While at Magdeburg Luther was taken sick with a violent and distressing
fever. Although he suffered great thirst he was forbidden to drink
water. But on a certain Friday, when all had gone to church, his thirst
became so unendurable that he crept upon his hands and knees into the
kitchen, seized a vessel filled with fresh water, and drank it with
great relish. Then he dragged himself back to his bed, went soundly to
sleep, and when he awoke the fever was gone.--Lack of support forced him
to leave Magdeburg at the end of the year.
2. LUTHER IN EISENACH. After a short stay under the parental roof Luther
complied with the wish of his parents and attended the high school at
Eisenach. His mother had many relatives there, and hoped that they would
do something for poor Martin. But these hopes were disappointed, and,
therefore, at Eisenach also he lived in great poverty. Again he had to
gain his daily bread by singing and saying prayers before the houses.
The gifts so received were called particles, that is, crumbs. In
after-years Luther said: "I have also been such a beggar of 'particles,'
taking my bread at the doors, especially in Eisenach, my beloved city."
At times, however, his poverty so depressed him that he determined to
return to his parents and help his father in the mines. But at last God
graciously provided for him. For some time already his earnest singing
and praying had won for him the heart of a pious matron, Frau Cotta. One
day, therefore, when, together with other scholars, he was again singing
at her door she took him into her house and gave him a place at her
table. Thus by God's wonderful providence he was relieved of this care
for his daily bread and could now joyfully devote himself entirely to
his studies. Luther never forgot his benefactress, Mrs. Cotta, and in
later years, when her son studied at Wittenberg, he received him into
his house.
[Illustration: Frau Cotta Taking Luther into Her Home.]
Luther delighted in attending the Latin school at Eisenach. He was
especially fond of the principal of the school, John Trebonius, who
treated his scholars with the greatest love and consideration. Upon
entering the schoolroom he would remove his academical cap, and did not
replace it till he had taken his seat at the desk. To the other teachers
he said, "Among these young pupils sit some of whom God may make our
future mayors, chancellors, learned doctors, and rulers. Although you do
not know them now, it is proper that you should honor them." Luther
outranked all his fellow pupils, and when, at one time, the celebrated
Professor Trutvetter of Erfurt visited Eisenach Luther, being the most
fluent Latin orator of the school, was called upon to deliver the
address of welcome. After the reception Trutvetter said to Trebonius,
"Sir, you have a good school here. It is in excellent condition. Keep an
eye on that Luther. There is something in that boy. By all means,
prepare him for the university and send him to us at Erfurt." Thereupon
he patted Luther on the back and said, "My son, the Lord has bestowed
special gifts upon thee; use them faithfully in His service. When thou
art ready and wishest to come to us at Erfurt remember that thou hast a
good friend there, Doctor Jodocus Trutvetter. Appeal to him, he will
give thee a friendly reception."
3. LUTHER IN ERFURT. At the expiration of four years Luther finished his
studies at Eisenach and, in 1501, seventeen years of age, he
matriculated at the celebrated university at Erfurt, where he found a
fatherly friend in Trutvetter. God had now so blessed his father's
persevering diligence and economy that Luther had to suffer no want at
Erfurt. In later years Luther said in praise of his father: "He
supported me at the University of Erfurt with great love and fidelity,
and by his arduous labor he helped me to attain my present position."
His father wished Martin to become a jurist, wherefore Luther zealously
devoted himself to the study of jurisprudence. Although he was naturally
of a wide-awake and cheerful disposition he, nevertheless, began his
studies every morning with fervent prayers and attendance at mass. His
motto was: Diligent prayer is the half of study. Here at Erfurt, in the
library, he found the book of all books, the Bible, which he had never
seen before. He was surprised to see that it contained more than the
Epistles and Gospels which were usually read at church. While turning
the leaves of the Old Testament he happened upon the story of Samuel and
Hannah. He read it hurriedly with great interest and joy, and wished
that God might some day give him such a book and make of him such a
pious Samuel. This wish was abundantly fulfilled--it is true, after
enduring manifold tribulations and trials.
While at the university Luther was seized with a severe illness and he
thought he was about to die. An old priest came to see him and comforted
him with these words: "My dear bachelor, be of good cheer. You will not
die of this illness. God will yet make a great man of you, who will
comfort many people. For whom God loveth and whom He would make a
blessing to his fellow men, upon him He early lays the cross; for in the
school of affliction patient people learn much." Luther, however, soon
forgot this comfort. Not long after this, while on a journey to his home
with a companion, and not far from Erfurt, he accidentally ran his
rapier, which after the custom of the students hung at his side, into
his leg, severing the main artery. His friend hurried back to call a
physician. In the mean time Luther endeavored to stanch the flow of
blood lying on his back, compressing the wound. But the limb swelled
frightfully, and Luther, beset with mortal fear, cried out, "Mary, help
me!" In the following night the wound began to bleed afresh, and again
he called upon Mary only. Later in life he said: "At that time, I would
have died trusting in Mary." Not long after, death suddenly robbed him
of a good friend, and this also tended to increase his melancholy. In
such periods of depression he would often exclaim, "Oh, when wilt thou
become really pious and atone for thy sins, and obtain the grace of
God?" With increasing power he then heard a voice within him saying:
Over there rise the peaceful walls of the Augustinian cloister; they are
beckoning you and saying, Come to us! Here, separated from the noise of
the world, your trembling soul will find rest and peace. What was he to
do?--For the sake of recreation Luther, in 1505, paid a visit to his
parents. Upon his return, in the vicinity of Erfurt, a terrible storm
suddenly broke upon him. The lightning, followed by a fearful crash of
thunder, struck close beside him, and, overcome and stunned, he fell to
the ground, crying out, "Help, dear St. Ann, I will immediately become a
monk!" For it was only in this manner that he hoped to appease God and
to find peace and rest for his soul.