“You ask me what I shall do if I am called by the emperor. I will go even if I am too sick to stand on my feet. I f Caesar calls me, God calls me. If violence is used, as it may well be, I commend my cause to God. He lives and reigns who saved the three youths from the fiery furnace of the king of Babylon, and if He will not save me, my head is worth nothing compared with Christ. This is no time to think of personal safety. I must take care that the gospel is not brought into contempt by our fear o confess and seal our teaching with blood.”

Martin Luther, December 1520