There is Martin Luther standing up in the minds of the Diet of Worms; there are the kings and the princes, and there are bloodhounds of Rome with their tongues thirsting for his blood-there is Martin rising in the morning as comfortable as possible, and he goes to the Diet, and delivers himself of the truth, solemnly declares that the things which he has spoken are the things which he believes, and God helping him, he will stand by them till the last. There is his life in his hands; they have him entirely in their power. The smell of John Huss’s corpse has not yet passed away, and he recollects that the princes before this have violated their words; but there he stands, calm and quiet; he fears no man, for he has nothing to fear; “the peace of God which passeth all understanding” keeps his heart and mind through Jesus Christ (see Philippians 4:7). There is another scene; there is John Bradford in Newgate. He is to be burned the next morning in Smithfield, and he swings himself on the bedpost in very glee, and delights, for tomorrow is his wedding day; and he says to another, “Fine shining we shall make tomorrow, when the flame is kindled.” And he smiles and laughs, and enjoys the very thought that he is about to wear the blood-red crown of martyrdom. Is Bradford mad? Ah, no; but he has got the peace of God that passeth all understanding.
– C. H. Spurgeon