Now at last he was forced to raise the standard of revolt, at least against Rome, the recognized head of the church.

He had begun by appealing from indulgence-seller to pope, then from the pope to a universal council; now he declared that a great council had erred, and that he would not abide by its decision.

The issue was a clear one, though hardly recognized as such by himself, between the religion of authority and the right of private judgment.
His opposition to the papacy developed with extraordinary rapidity.
His study of the Canon Law made him, as early as March, 1519, brand the pope as either Antichrist or Antichrist's apostle.

He {70} applauded Melancthon, a brilliant young man called to teach at Wittenberg in 1518, for denying transubstantiation.

He declared that the cup should never have been withheld from the laity, and that the mass considered as a good work and a sacrifice was an abomination.