Huss and Jerome
85
yielded to his counsels. Under their united labors the reform was more
rapidly extended.
God permitted great light to shine upon the minds of these chosen
men, revealing to them many of the errors of Rome; but they did
not receive all the light that was to be given to the world. Through
these, his servants, God was leading the people out of the darkness
of Romanism; but there were many and great obstacles for them to
meet, and he led them on, step by step, as they could bear it. They
were not prepared to receive all the light at once. Like the full glory of
the noontide sun to those who have long dwelt in darkness, it would, if
presented, have caused them to turn away. Therefore he revealed it to
the leaders, little by little, as it could be received by the people. From
century to century other faithful workers were to follow, to lead the
people on still farther in the path of reform.
The schism in the church still continued. Three popes were now
contending for the supremacy, and their strife filled Christendom with
crime and tumult. Not content with hurling anathemas, they resorted
to temporal weapons. Each cast about him to purchase arms and to
obtain soldiers. Of course money must be had; and to procure this,
all the gifts, offices, and blessings of the church were offered for sale.
The priests also, imitating their superiors, resorted to simony and war
to humble their rivals, and strengthen their own power. With daily
increasing boldness, Huss thundered against the abominations which
were tolerated in the name of religion; and the people openly accused
the Romish leaders as the cause of the miseries that overwhelmed
Christendom.
Again the city of Prague seemed on the verge of a bloody conflict.
[104]
As in former ages, God’s servant was accused as “he that troubleth
Israel” [
1 Kings 18:17
.] The city was again placed under interdict, and
Huss withdrew to his native village. The testimony so faithfully borne
from his loved chapel of Bethlehem was ended. He was to speak from
a wider stage, to all Christendom, before laying down his life as a
witness for the truth.
To cure the evils that were distracting Europe, a general council
was summoned to meet at Constance. The council was called, at the
desire of the emperor Sigismund, by one of the three rival popes, John
XXIII. The demand for a council had been far from welcome to Pope
John, whose character and policy could ill bear investigation, even by