The Life, Sufferings, and Martyrdom of John Huss (1)

John Huss was a Bohemian by birth, born in the village of Hussinetz, about the year 1380. His parents gave him the best education they could bestow and, having acquired a tolerable knowledge of the classics at a private school, he was sent thence to the University of Prague where he soon became conspicuous by his talents and industry.

Trithemius speaks of him as “a man of very great note for his judgment, subtlety, eloquence, and knowledge of the Scriptures.” The Jesuit Balbinus—who was certainly not prejudiced in Huss’ favor—gives him the following character in his Epitome of the History of Bohemia: “John Huss,” says that Jesuit, “was more subtle than eloquent: but the modesty and severity of his manners; his unpolished, austere, and entirely blameless life; his pale, thin visage; his good nature, and his affability to all, even to the meanest persons, were more persuasive than the greatest eloquence.” [Bohemia makes up much of the Czech Republic today, which is east of mid-southern Germany–Ed.]

In 1408, Huss commenced his Bachelor of Divinity and was afterwards successively chosen pastor of the Church of Bethlehem, in Prague, and rector of the university. These trusts he discharged with great fidelity and became, at length, so celebrated for his preaching and his bold utterance of truth that he soon attracted the notice and excited the malignity of the Pope and his creatures.

The principal cause which aroused the indignation of Huss was a Bull published by Pope John XXIII, promising remission of sins to all who would join his forces against Ladislaus, King of Naples, who had now invaded the States of the Church. When this Bull was published in Prague, Huss could not refrain from preaching against it as repugnant to the spirit of the Christian religion. The Pope, therefore, summoned him to Rome and, upon his refusing to comply, excommunicated him, and forbade divine service being performed in all the churches of Prague except one, so long as Huss remained in the city. To avoid disturbances, Huss retired to Hussinetz and no longer appealed to the Pope but to Jesus Christ.

The English Reformer, Wycliffe, had so kindled the light of the Reformation that it began to pierce the darkest corners of popery. His doctrines were received in Bohemia with eagerness and zeal by great numbers of people, and especially by John Huss and his friend and fellow martyr, Jerome of Prague.

The influence of Huss in the university was very great, not only on account of his learning, eloquence, and exemplary life, but also on account of some valuable privileges he had obtained from the king on behalf of the Bohemians in that seminary.

Sincerely attached to the doctrines of Wycliffe, Huss strenuously opposed the decree of the archbishop, who obtained a Bull from the Pope authorizing him to prevent the publishing of Wycliffe’s writings in his province. By virtue of this Bull, the archbishop condemned the writings of Wycliffe. He also advanced against four doctors who had not delivered up some copies and prohibited them to preach against these proceedings. Dr. Huss, with some other members of the university, protested and entered an appeal from the sentences of the archbishop. The Pope no sooner heard of this than he granted a commission to Cardinal Colonna to cite John Huss to appear at the court of Rome, to answer accusations laid against him of preaching both errors and heresies. From this appearance Dr. Huss desired to be excused—and so greatly was he favored in Bohemia—that King Winteslaus, the queen, the nobility, and the university desired the Pope to dispense with such an appearance, as also that he would not suffer the kingdom of Bohemia to lie under the accusation of heresy but permit them to preach the gospel with freedom in their places of worship.

Three proctors appeared for Dr. Huss before Cardinal Colonna. They pleaded an excuse for his absence and said they were ready to answer in his behalf, but the cardinal declared him contumacious and, accordingly, excommunicated him. On this the proctors appealed to the Pope, who appointed four cardinals to examine the process. These commissioners confirmed the sentence of the cardinal and extended the excommunication, not only to Huss but to all his friends and followers. Huss then appealed this unjust sentence to a future council but without success; notwithstanding, the result was a severe decree and an expulsion from his church in Prague. This is when he retired to Hussinetz where he continued to promulgate the truth, both from the pulpit and with the pen.

In the month of November, in the year 1414, a general council was assembled at Constance, Germany, for the purpose of determining a dispute then existing between three persons who contended for the Papal throne. These were: John, proposed and set up by the Italians; Gregory, by the French; and Benedict, by the Spaniards. The council continued four years, in which the severest laws were enacted to crush the Protestants. Pope John XXIII was deposed and obliged to flee, more than forty crimes being proved against him, among which were his attempt to poison his predecessor, his being a gamester, a liar, a murderer, an adulterer, and guilty of unnatural offences. The author of the memorial containing the accusations against Pope John XXIII closes it with these words: “He is universally looked upon, as will be found upon the slightest inquiry, as the sink of vice, the enemy of all virtue, the mirror of infamy, and all who know him speak of him as a devil incarnate.” If we contrast the character of these two chief actors, we shall see that it was, as it has ever been, vice persecuting virtue. John Huss was summoned to appear at this council. To dispel any apprehensions of danger, the emperor sent him a safe conduct, the wording being, “You shall let John Huss pass, stop, stay, and return freely without any hindrance whatever.” On receiving this information, John Huss told the persons who delivered it that he desired nothing more than to purge himself publicly of the imputation of heresy, and that he esteemed himself happy in having so fair an opportunity of it as at the council to which he was summoned to attend. On his way he met with every mark of affection and reverence from people of all descriptions. The streets, and even the roads, were thronged with people whom respect, rather than curiosity, had brought together. He was ushered into the towns with great acclamations, and he passed through Germany in a kind of triumph. “I thought,” said he, “I had been an outcast. I now see my worst friends are in Bohemia.”

Notwithstanding the promise of the emperor to give him a safe conduct to and from Constance, no regard was paid to the imperial pledge. Instead, according to the maxim of this same council that “faith is not to be kept with heretics,” when it was known Huss was in the city, he was arrested and imprisoned in the palace. This breach of faith was noticed by one of Huss’ friends who pleaded the imperial safe conduct, but the council replied that they had not granted any such thing nor was he bound by the obligations of the emperor.

(To be continued)

Deze tekst is geautomatiseerd gemaakt en kan nog fouten bevatten. Digibron werkt voortdurend aan correctie. Klik voor het origineel door naar de pdf. Voor opmerkingen, vragen, informatie: contact.

Op Digibron -en alle daarin opgenomen content- is het databankrecht van toepassing. Gebruiksvoorwaarden. Data protection law applies to Digibron and the content of this database. Terms of use.

Printen