Basic HTML Version
Chapter 6—Two Heroes Face Death
As early as the ninth century the Bible had been translated and
public worship was conducted in the language of the people of
Bohemia. But Gregory VII was intent upon enslaving the people,
and a bull was issued forbidding public worship in the Bohemian
tongue. The pope declared that “it was pleasing to the Omnipotent
that His worship should be celebrated in an unknown language.
But Heaven had provided agencies for the preservation of the church.
Many Waldenses and Albigenses, driven by persecution, came to
Bohemia. They labored zealously in secret. Thus the true faith was
preserved.
Before the days of Huss there were men in Bohemia who con-
demned the corruption in the church. The fears of the hierarchy
were roused, and persecution was opened against the gospel. After a
time it was decreed that all who departed from the Romish worship
should be burned. But the Christians looked forward to the triumph
of their cause. One declared when dying, “There shall arise one
from among the common people, without sword or authority, and
against him they shall not be able to prevail.
Already one was
rising, whose testimony against Rome would stir the nations.
John Huss was of humble birth and was early left an orphan by
the death of his father. His pious mother, regarding education and
the fear of God as the most valuable of possessions, sought to secure
this heritage for her son. Huss studied at the provincial school, then
repaired to the university at Prague, receiving admission as a charity
scholar.
[62]
At the university, Huss soon distinguished himself by his rapid
progress. His gentle, winning deportment gained him universal
esteem. He was a sincere adherent of the Roman Church and an
earnest seeker for the spiritual blessings it professes to bestow. After
completing his college course, he entered the priesthood. Rapidly
1
Wylie, bk. 3, ch. 1.
2
Ibid., bk. 3, ch. 1.
59