Chapter 6—Huss and Jerome
The gospel had been planted in Bohemia as early as the ninth
century. The Bible was translated, and public worship was conducted
in the language of the people. But as the power of the pope increased,
so the Word of God was obscured. Gregory VII., who had taken it
upon him “to pull down the pride of kings,” was no less intent upon
enslaving the people, and accordingly a bull was issued forbidding
public worship to be conducted in the Bohemian tongue. The pope
declared that “God was pleased that his worship should be celebrated
in an unknown tongue, and that a neglect of this rule had given rise to
many evils and heresies.” Thus Rome decreed that the light of God’s
Word should be extinguished, and the people should be shut up in
darkness. But Heaven had provided other agencies for the preservation
of the church. Many of the Waldenses and Albigenses, driven by
persecution from their homes in France and Italy, came to Bohemia.
Though they dared not teach openly, they labored zealously in secret.
Thus the true faith was preserved from century to century.
Before the days of Huss, there were men in Bohemia who rose
up to condemn openly the corruption in the church and the profligacy
of the people. Their labors excited widespread interest. The fears
of the hierarchy were roused, and persecution was opened against
the disciples of the gospel. Driven to worship in the forests and the
mountains, they were hunted by soldiers, and many were put to death.
After a time it was decreed that all who departed from the Romish
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worship should be burned. But while the Christians yielded up their
lives, they looked forward to the triumph of their cause. One of those
who taught that “salvation was only to be found by faith in the crucified
Saviour,” declared when dying, “The rage of the enemies of truth now
prevails against us, but it will not be forever; there shall arise one from
among the common people, without sword or authority, and against
him they shall not be able to prevail.” Luther’s time was yet far distant;
but already one was rising, whose testimony against Rome would stir
the nations.
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