The sixteenth century is one of the outstanding moments in the
history of mankind. In this century, in the age of Luther, man was
set free in heart and mind, in conscience, judgment, and intelli-
gence. This spiritual and intellectual emancipation was climaxed
in two revolutionary movements, the Renaissance and the Reforma-
tion, both so powerful, that with them the modern era was born.
The incentive to this book has been the desire to contribute in
some measure to a clearer understanding of the releasing energy
active in effecting modern man's emergence from bondage to the
Middle Ages.

By examination of the intellectual and spiritual forces at work
in this century, this book describes the part played by Europe in
general, by Germany in particular, in the deliverance of the human
spirit. A general survey of the age in Europe provides the back-
ground for orienting the momentous agitations and movements
astir in it, and for analysis of its great personalities.

In the first part of the volume the essential characteristic of the
revival of letters and art known as the Renaissance, and its offspring,
Humanism, are reviewed. The study of eminent representatives in
art, literature, philosophy, and science considers their individual
approach to God and man, and thereby brings into focus the
humanistic Weltanschauung of each. Thus the meaning of the in-
tentions and goals proclaimed by Renaissance and Humanism is
made clear: the emancipation of man as a human, rational being.

The second and larger part of this book is devoted to the Prot-
estant interpretation of Christian theology, to the principles under-
lying the religious revolution called the Reformation. This latter
movement in its turn proclaims the emancipation of man as a
spiritual being. It is the major objective of this research to concern-
trate upon the struggle for the freedom of the Christian, to exam-
ine the new concept of God and His relation to man as experienced
by the founder of Evangelical Christianity--Martin Luther. In
order that the humanistic as well as the Evangelical definition of

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