Departure for the Diet of Worms--Luther's Adieu--His Condemnation Published--Cavalcade near Erfurt--Meeting of Jonas and Luther--Luther in his old Convent--Luther Preaches at Erfurt--Incident--Faith and Works--Concourse of People--Luther's Courage--Luther to Spalatin--Halt at Frankfort--Fears at Worms--Plan of the Imperialists--Luther's Firmness. [Sidenote: DEPARTURE FOR THE DIET OF WORMS.] The 2nd of April had arrived, and Luther behoved to take leave of his friends. After writing a note to Lange to intimate that he would spend the following Thursday or Friday at Erfurt,[467] he bade adieu to his colleagues. Turning to Melancthon he said to him, in a tone which betrayed emotion, "If I do not return, and my enemies put me to death, O, my brother, cease not to teach, and remain firm in the truth. Labour in my stead, since I shall not be able to labour any longer for myself. If you live, it matters little though I perish."[468] Then, committing himself to the hand of Him who is faithful and true, Luther took his seat and quitted Wittemberg. The town council had provided him with a modest carriage with a cloth covering which might be put on or off at pleasure. The imperial herald, clad in his insignia, and wearing the imperial eagle, was on horseback in front, followed by his servant. Next followed Luther, Schurff, Amsdorff, and Suaven in their carriage. The friends of the gospel, the citizens of Wittemberg, in deep emotion, were invoking God, and shedding tears. Such was Luther's departure. [467] "Omnem nunc Germaniam quasi ad genua provolutam tibi ..." (L. Op. Lat. ii, p. 184.) [468] L. Ep. i, p. 580. [Sidenote: LUTHER'S CONDEMNATION PUBLISHED.] He soon observed that the hearts of those whom he met were filled with gloomy forebodings. At Leipsic no honour was paid to him. He only received the usual present of wine. At Naumburg he met a priest, probably J. Langer, a man of stern zeal, who carefully preserved in his study the portrait of the famous Jerome Savonarola of Ferrara, who was burnt at Florence in 1498, by order of pope Alexander VI, as a martyr to liberty and morality, as well as a confessor of evangelical truth. Having taken the portrait of the Italian martyr, the priest came up to Luther, and held out the portrait to him without speaking. Luther understood what the dumb figure intimated, but his intrepid soul remained firm. "It is Satan," said he, "who, by these terrors, would fain prevent a confession of the truth from being made in the assembly of the princes, because he foresees the blow which this will give to his kingdom."[469] "Adhere firmly to the truth which thou hast perceived," said then the priest to him gravely, "and thy God will also adhere firmly to thee."[470] [469] "Terrorem hunc a Sathana sibi dixit adferri...." (Melch. Adam., p. 117.)