I am bound by the scriptures br By the Word of God, br My conscience is held captive, br By that divine measuring rod. br Here it is that I stand, br That is all I can do, br Because I am convinced, br That the scriptures are true. br It’s neither safe nor right, br To change my defense, br My conscience stands fast, br And I will make no pretense. br br Gary Bryson br 12505 br br br ”Unless I am convinced by the testimonies of the Scriptures or by evident reason (for I believe neither pope nor councils alone, since it is manifest they have often erred and contradicted themselves) , I am bound by the Scriptures I have quoted, and my conscience is held captive by the word of God; and as it is neither safe nor right to act against conscience, I cannot and will not retract anything. Here I stand; I cannot otherwise; God help me. Amen”.[These were Luther’s concluding words in making his defense at the Diet of Worms, Germany, in April of 1521.