But, before this event, he had begun an education of a
far more real and profound character than any that the
university could impart to him. One day, as he was turn-
ing over the books in the university library, he fell upon a
copy of the Vulgate. He beheld with astonishment that
there were more gospels and epistles than in the lection-
aries. A new world opened upon him ; he returned again

1 ■ House-Postils Walch, xiii. 635; quoted by Worsley, Life of Luther, i. 41.
16 LEADERS OF THE REFORMATION.
and again with avidity to the sacred page, and, as he read,
his heart burned within him. Several circumstances served
to deepen these feelings, — a dangerous sickness, which
brought .him near to the point of death, and the. decease
of a friend of the name of Alexis, accompanied, or at least
somehow deeply associated in his mind, with a dreadful
thunder storm, to which he was exposed on his return to
Erfurt, after a visit to his parents. This latter event
especially made a powerful impression upon him. The
common version of the story 1 is, that the lightning struck
his friend by his side as they journeyed together, and that
Luther was so appalled by the disaster that he fell upon
his knees in prayer, and resolved, if spared, to dedicate
himself to the service of God. The story is at least a fair
tribute to the child-like piety that now and always ani-
mated him. He kept his resolve, silent and apparently
unmoved for some time, yet cherishing it in his heart.
