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The Great Controversy 1888
boldly to attack the Hussites, they stood as if spell-bound, silently
gazing upon them. Then suddenly a mysterious terror fell upon the
host. Without striking a blow that mighty force broke and scattered,
as if dispelled by an unseen power. Great numbers were slaughtered
by the Hussite army, which pursued the fugitives, and an immense
booty fell into the hands of the victors, so that the war, instead of
impoverishing, enriched the Bohemians.
A few years later, under a new pope, still another crusade was set
on foot. As before, men and means were drawn from all the papist
countries of Europe. Great were the inducements held out to those
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who should engage in this perilous enterprise. Full forgiveness of the
most heinous crimes was insured to every crusader. All who died in the
war were promised a rich reward in Heaven, and those who survived
were to reap honor and riches on the field of battle. Again a vast
army was collected, and crossing the frontier they entered Bohemia.
The Hussite forces fell back before them, thus drawing the invaders
farther and farther into the country, and leading them to count the
victory already won. At last the army of Procopius made a stand, and,
turning upon the foe, advanced to give them battle. The crusaders, now
discovering their mistake, lay in their encampment awaiting the onset.
As the sound of the approaching force was heard, even before the
Hussites were in sight, a panic again fell upon the crusaders. Princes,
generals, and common soldiers, casting away their armor, fled in all
directions. In vain the papal legate, who was the leader of the invasion,
endeavored to rally his terrified and disorganized forces. Despite his
utmost endeavors, he himself was swept along in the tide of fugitives.
The rout was complete, and again an immense booty fell into the hands
of the victors.
Thus the second time a vast army, sent forth by the most powerful
nations of Europe, a host of brave, warlike men, trained and equipped
for battle, fled without a blow, before the defenders of a small and
hitherto feeble nation. Here was a manifestation of divine power. The
invaders were smitten with a supernatural terror. He who overthrew
the hosts of Pharaoh in the Red Sea, who put to flight the armies
of Midian before Gideon and his three hundred, who in one night
laid low the forces of the proud Assyrian, had again stretched out his
hand to wither the power of the oppressor. “There were they in great
fear, where no fear was; for God hath scattered the bones of him that