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enemies of the truth now prevails against us； but it will not be forever；
there shall arise one from among the common people； without sword or
authority； and against him they shall not be able to prevail。〃 Ibid。； b。
3； ch。 1。 Luther's time was yet far distant； but 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； and then repaired to the university
at Prague； receiving admission as a charity scholar。 He was accompanied on
the journey to Prague by his mother； widowed and poor； she had no gifts of
worldly wealth to bestow upon her son； but as they drew near to the great
city； she kneeled down beside the fatherless youth and invoked for him the
blessing of their Father in heaven。 Little did that mother realize how her
prayer was to be answered。
At the university； Huss soon distinguished himself by his untiring
application and rapid progress； while his blameless life and gentle； winning
deportment gained him universal esteem。 He was a sincere adherent of the
Roman Church and an earnest seeker for the spiritual blessings which it
professes to bestow。 On the occasion of a jubilee he went to confession；
paid the last few coins in his scanty store； and joined in the processions；
that he might share in the absolution promised。 After completing his college
course； he entered the priesthood； and rapidly attaining to eminence；
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he soon became attached to the court of the king。 He was also made professor
and afterward rector of the university where he had received his education。
In a few years the humble charity scholar had become the pride of his
country； and his name was renowned throughout Europe。
But it was in another field that Huss began the work of reform。 Several
years after taking priest's orders he was appointed preacher of the chapel
of Bethlehem。 The founder of this chapel had advocated； as a matter of great
importance； the preaching of the Scriptures in the language of the people。
Notwithstanding Rome's opposition to this practice； it had not been wholly
discontinued in Bohemia。 But there was great ignorance of the Bible； and the
worst vices prevailed among the people of all ranks。 These evils Huss
unsparingly denounced； appealing to the word of God to enforce the
principles of truth and purity which he inculcated。
A citizen of Prague； Jerome； who afterward became so closely associated with
Huss； had； on returning from England； brought with him the writings of
Wycliffe。 The queen of England； who had been a convert to Wycliffe's
teachings； was a Bohemian princess； and through her influence also the
Reformer's works were widely circulated in her native country。 These works
Huss read with interest； he believed their author to be a sincere Christian
and was inclined to regard with favor the reforms which he advocated。
Already； though he knew it not； Huss had entered upon a path which was to
lead him far away from Rome。
About this time there arrived in Prague two strangers from England； men of
learning； who had received the light and had come to spread it in this
distant land。 Beginning with an open attack on the pope's supremacy； they
were soon silenced by the authorities； but being unwilling to relinquish
their purpose； they had recourse to other measures。 Being artists as well as
preachers； they proceeded to exercise their skill。 In a place open to the
public they drew two pictures。 One represented the entrance of Christ into
Jerusalem；
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〃meek； and sitting upon an ass〃 （Matthew 21：5）； and followed by His
disciples in travel…worn garments and with naked feet。 The other picture
portrayed a pontifical processionthe pope arrayed in his rich robes and
triple crown； mounted upon a horse magnificently adorned； preceded by
trumpeters and followed by cardinals and prelates in dazzling array。
Here was a sermon which arrested the attention of all classes。 Crowds came
to gaze upon the drawings。 None could fail to read the moral； and many were
deeply impressed by the contrast between the meekness and humility of Christ
the Master and the pride and arrogance of the pope； His professed servant。
There was great commotion in Prague； and the strangers after a time found it
necessary； for their own safety； to depart。 But the lesson they had taught
was not forgotten。 The pictures made a deep impression on the mind of Huss
and led him to a closer study of the Bible and of Wycliffe's writings。
Though he was not prepared； even yet； to accept all the reforms advocated by
Wycliffe； he saw more clearly the true character of the papacy； and with
greater zeal denounced the pride； the ambition； and the corruption of the
hierarchy。
From Bohemia the light extended to Germany； for disturbances in the
University of Prague caused the withdrawal of hundreds of German students。
Many of them had received from Huss their first knowledge of the Bible； and
on their return they spread the gospel in their fatherland。
Tidings of the work at Prague were carried to Rome； and Huss was soon
summoned to appear before the pope。 To obey would be to expose himself to
certain death。 The king and queen of Bohemia； the university； members of the
nobility； and officers of the government united in an appeal to the pontiff
that Huss be permitted to remain at Prague and to answer at Rome by deputy。
Instead of granting this request； the pope proceeded to the trial and
condemnation of Huss； and then declared the city of Prague to be under
interdict。
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In that age this sentence； whenever pronounced； created widespread alarm。
The ceremonies by which it was accompanied were well adapted to strike
terror to a people who looked upon the pope as the representative of God
Himself； holding the keys of heaven and hell； and possessing power to invoke
temporal as well as spiritual judgments。 It was believed that the gates of
heaven were closed against the region smitten with interdict； that until it
should please the pope to remove the ban； the dead were shut out from the
abodes of bliss。 In token of this terrible calamity； all the services of
religion were suspended。 The churches were closed。 Marriages were solemnized
in the churchyard。 The dead； denied burial in consecrated ground； were
interred； without the rites of sepulture； in the ditches or the fields。 Thus
by measures which appealed to the imagination； Rome essayed to control the
consciences of men。
The city of Prague was filled with tumult。 A large class denounced Huss as
the cause of all their calamities and demanded that he be given up to the
vengeance of Rome。 To quiet the storm； the Reformer withdrew for a time to
his native village。 Writing to the friends whom he had left at Prague； he
said： 〃If I have withdrawn from the midst of you； it is to follow the
precept and example of Jesus Christ； in order not to give room to the
ill…minded to draw on themselves eternal condemnation； and in order not to
be to the pious a cause of affliction and persecution。 I have retired also
through an apprehension that impious priests might continue for a longer
time to prohibit the preaching of the word of God amongst you； but I have
not quitted you to deny the divine truth； for which； with God's assistance；
I am willing to die。〃Bonnechose； The Reformers Before the Reformation；
vol。 1； p。 87。 Huss did not cease his labors； but traveled through the
surrounding country； preaching to eager crowds。 Thus the measures to which
the pope resorted to suppress the gospel were causing it to be the more
widely extended。 〃We can do nothing against the truth； but for the truth。〃 2
Corinthians 13：8。
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〃The mind of Huss； at this stage of his career； would seem to have been the
scene of a painful conflict。 Although the church was seeking to overwhelm
him by her thunderbolts； he had not renoun