Should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God has willed
His truth to triumph through us.
From "A Mighty Fortress is Our God"
Across the centuries, these words from the pen of Martin Luther testify mightily of the courage and faith of their author. God's grace transformed him from a fearful monk in anguish about his soul's salvation into a giant of the Faith who shook Europe by declaring boldly once again the words of the apostle Paul: "The just shall live by faith."
Luther's story was never better told than by Swiss historian Jean Henri Merle d'Aubigné. The liveliness of Merle's style, his extensive and remarkable use of original quotations, and the rich biographical color of his work make it enjoyable to read. More than that, Merle's evangelical fervor, his commitment to biblical truth, and his fundamental sympathy with the spirit of the Reformation strike a responsive chord in the heart of the Christian.