The European Continent Summary and Analysis

St. Bernard writes in "A Second Crusade" that laws no longer carry any weight with the people who do whatever they please, regardless of what is morally right. St. Bernard goes on to call the righteous to arms in the name of God. In "Before the Diet of Worms," Martin Luther addresses his judges at his trial, saying that he hopes they are willing to listen to his defense. He goes on to say that he welcomes criticism of his doctrine which provides the basis of Protestantism.

In "On Suffering Persecution," John Calvin writes that God has just cause to punish people daily if they are judged solely on their actions, and that the punishment would be severe. He says that to die with Jesus as one's savior is a reward but that people "do all we...