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The Great Controversy 1888
When he was thus arrayed, the prelates devoted his soul to Satan.
Huss, looking heavenward, exclaimed, “I do commend my spirit into
thy hands, O Lord Jesus, for thou hast redeemed me.”
He was now delivered up to the secular authorities, and led away
to the place of execution. An immense procession followed, hundreds
of men at arms, priests and bishops in their costly robes, and the
inhabitants of Constance. When he had been fastened to the stake,
and all was ready for the fire to be lighted, the martyr was once more
exhorted to save himself by renouncing his errors. “What errors,” said
Huss, “shall I renounce? I know myself guilty of none. I call God
to witness that all that I have written or preached has been with the
view of rescuing souls from sin and perdition; and, therefore, most
joyfully will I confirm with my blood that truth which I have written
and preached.”
When the flames kindled about him, he began to sing, “Jesus, thou
Son of David, have mercy on me,” and so continued till his voice was
silenced forever.
Even his enemies were struck with his heroic bearing. A zealous
papist, describing the martyrdom of Huss, and of Jerome, who died
soon after, said: “Both bore themselves with constant mind when their
last hour approached. They prepared for the fire as if they were going
to a marriage feast. They uttered no cry of pain. When the flames rose,
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they began to sing hymns; and scarce could the vehemence of the fire
stop their singing.”
When the body of Huss had been wholly consumed, his ashes,
with the soil upon which they rested, were gathered up and cast into
the Rhine, and thus borne onward to the ocean. His persecutors vainly
imagined that they had rooted out the truths he preached. Little did
they dream that the ashes that day borne away to the sea were to be
as seed scattered in all the countries of the earth; that in lands yet
unknown it would yield abundant fruit in witnesses for the truth. The
voice which had spoken in the council hall of Constance had wakened
echoes that would be heard through all coming ages. Huss was no
more, but the truths for which he died could never perish. His example
of faith and constancy would encourage multitudes to stand firm for
the truth, in the face of torture and death. His execution had exhibited
to the whole world the perfidious cruelty of Rome. The enemies of