p. 234 | The Missionary by Stephen Nelson Haskell

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Apr 9, 1885

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 15.

The Missionary.

By Stephen Nelson Haskell

Huss Immovable.

IN 1410 Huss prepared a masterly document under twelve carefully-drawn heads, in which he appealed to the pope, showing the unlawfulness of the burning of his books, and the attempt to close the Bethlehem Chapel. The chapel had been built some twelve or fifteen years before by a wealthy citizen of Prague. A merchant gave the ground upon which it was located. The object of these men was to provide a place where the word of God could be preached in their native tongue. It was therefore an independent church devoted to this one object. Huss was selected by these men to preach in it, and he continued to occupy it as long as he remained in Prague.

The proceedings of the archbishop in burning the books, etc., raised a cry of indignation throughout Bohemia. The queen wept, and the king stormed and cursed. The people were on the point of insurrection. Huss continued to preach with great power. "Fire," said he, "does not consume truth. Only little minds vent their anger upon inanimate objects."

The final result of this appeal of Huss, was a summons for him to appear at Rome and defend himself before the pope. All could foresee the dark clouds that were gathering over the fearless reformer. His friends protested against this injustice. It was a journey of twelve hundred miles to Rome, and through a country swarming with personal enemies. The king and queen took a lively interest in the case, and they charged the whole matter back upon the archbishop. Huss finally, through the influence of his friends, decided not to go, but continued to preach as usual. He declared that he would obey God rather than man.

When the time for his appearance expired, the archbishop excommunicated him; but to all this Huss paid no attention. Then the archbishop put an interdict upon the city. This was the most powerful and dreaded weapon of the Romish Church in early times. While it lasted, no person except a clergyman, beggar, or child under twelve, could receive Christian burial. There could be no public services in the churches, no church bells could be rung, and communion could only be administered to the dying. This brought matters to a crisis. The king now interfered and appointed a commission to which the whole matter was referred.

A decision was rendered that the interdict must be withdrawn. The archbishop was glad to withdraw from the contest, and was never afterwards known to come in open collision with Huss. The words of Huss resounded far and near. To every attack he replied publicly. "What they call order," said Huss, "is nothing else but confusion." It is said that the archbishop died broken-hearted. One of his last acts was to write to the pope by order of the king that there were no more errors in Bohemia, and that the difficulties between himself and Huss had been arranged.

History represents Pope John XXIII. as having been a pirate in his youth, whose vile character was no secret, and there was reason for charging to him the crime of poisoning his predecessor to make room for himself. Gibbon calls him "the most profligate of mankind." Huss was summoned before the papal legate. "Will you obey the apostolical mandates?" asked the legate. "I am ready," said Huss, "with all my heart to obey the apostolical mandates." "Do you see the master is quite ready to obey," said the gratified legate. "But, my lord," rejoined Huss, "understand me well. I call the apostolical mandates the doctrines of the apostles of Christ, and so far as the papal mandates agree with this, so far I will obey them most willingly; but if I see anything at variance with these, I shall not obey, even though the stake were staring me in the face."

His attacks upon the pope became more violent, and as he carried the battle forward, friend after friend forsook him. Finally, when one intimate friend forsook him, he said: "Paletz is my friend; truth is my friend; and both being my friends, it is my sacred duty to give the first honor to truth." Paletz afterwards became his fiercest enemy, and sought his destruction.

Huss placed posters and placards upon the door of his chapel, and in public places, announcing that he was prepared to hold public discussions on doctrines contrary to the word of God. "I place myself upon the immovable foundation, the corner-stone, which is the truth, the way, and the life,—our Lord Jesus Christ. Let the pope follow the example of Christ; let him pray for his enemies; let him say, 'My kingdom is not of this world;' let him show kindness; let him bless those that curse him. The pope, of all men, should exhibit in his conduct the highest degree of perfection, after the example of Christ and Peter."

Huss always maintained that the sentence of the pope was not final; that Christ was the highest expounder of his own law. Jerome stood by Huss in this time of conflict. Numerous sympathizing crowds cried out to Huss, "Do not desert us; stand firm."

S. N. HASKELL.