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recoil before the torments that are prepared for me by my enemies and false
witnesses； who will one day have to render an account of their impostures
before the great God； whom nothing can deceive。〃Bonnechose； vol。 2； p。
151。
In self…reproach for his own denial of the truth； Jerome continued： 〃Of all
the sins that I have committed since my youth； none weigh so heavily on my
mind； and cause me such poignant remorse； as that which I committed in this
fatal place； when I approved of the iniquitous sentence rendered against
Wycliffe； and against the holy martyr； John Huss； my master and my friend。
Yes！ I confess it from my heart； and declare with horror that I
disgracefully quailed when； through a dread of death； I condemned their
doctrines。 I therefore supplicate 。 。 。 Almighty God to deign to pardon me
my sins； and this one in particular； the most heinous of all。〃 Pointing to
his judges； he said firmly： 〃You condemned Wycliffe and John Huss； not for
having shaken the doctrine of the church； but simply because they branded
with reprobation the scandals proceeding from the clergytheir pomp； their
pride； and all the vices of the prelates and priests。
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The things which they have affirmed； and which are irrefutable； I also think
and declare； like them。〃
His words were interrupted。 The prelates； trembling with rage； cried out：
〃What need is there of further proof？ We behold with our own eyes the most
obstinate of heretics！〃
Unmoved by the tempest； Jerome exclaimed： 〃What！ do you suppose that I fear
to die？ You have held me for a whole year in a frightful dungeon； more
horrible than death itself。 You have treated me more cruelly than a Turk；
Jew； or pagan； and my flesh has literally rotted off my bones alive； and yet
I make no complaint； for lamentation ill becomes a man of heart and spirit；
but I cannot but express my astonishment at such great barbarity toward a
Christian。〃Ibid。； vol。 2； pp。 151…153。
Again the storm of rage burst out； and Jerome was hurried away to prison。
Yet there were some in the assembly upon whom his words had made a deep
impression and who desired to save his life。 He was visited by dignitaries
of the church and urged to submit himself to the council。 The most brilliant
prospects were presented before him as the reward of renouncing his
opposition to Rome。 But like his Master when offered the glory of the world；
Jerome remained steadfast。
〃Prove to me from the Holy Writings that I am in error；〃 he said； 〃and I
will abjure it。〃
〃The Holy Writings！〃 exclaimed one of his tempters； 〃is everything then to
be judged by them？ Who can understand them till the church has interpreted
them？〃
〃Are the traditions of men more worthy of faith than the gospel of our
Saviour？〃 replied Jerome。 〃Paul did not exhort those to whom he wrote to
listen to the traditions of men； but said； 'Search the Scriptures。'〃
〃Heretic！〃 was the response； 〃I repent having pleaded so long with you。 I
see that you are urged on by the devil。〃 Wylie； b。 3； ch。 10。
Erelong sentence of condemnation was passed upon him。 He was led out to the
same spot upon which Huss had
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yielded up his life。 He went singing on his way； his countenance lighted up
with joy and peace。 His gaze was fixed upon Christ； and to him death had
lost its terrors。 When the executioner； about to kindle the pile； stepped
behind him； the martyr exclaimed： 〃Come forward boldly； apply the fire
before my face。 Had I been afraid； I should not be here。〃
His last words； uttered as the flames rose about him； were a prayer。 〃Lord；
Almighty Father；〃 he cried； 〃have pity on me； and pardon me my sins； for
Thou knowest that I have always loved Thy truth。〃Bonnechose； vol。 2； p。
168。 His voice ceased； but his lips continued to move in prayer。 When the
fire had done its work； the ashes of the martyr； with the earth upon which
they rested； were gathered up； and like those of Huss； were thrown into the
Rhine。
So perished God's faithful light bearers。 But the light of the truths which
they proclaimedthe light of their heroic examplecould not be
extinguished。 As well might men attempt to turn back the sun in its course
as to prevent the dawning of that day which was even then breaking upon the
world。
The execution of Huss had kindled a flame of indignation and horror in
Bohemia。 It was felt by the whole nation that he had fallen a prey to the
malice of the priests and the treachery of the emperor。 He was declared to
have been a faithful teacher of the truth； and the council that decreed his
death was charged with the guilt of murder。 His doctrines now attracted
greater attention than ever before。 By the papal edicts the writings of
Wycliffe had been condemned to the flames。 But those that had escaped
destruction were now brought out from their hiding places and studied in
connection with the Bible； or such parts of it as the people could obtain；
and many were thus led to accept the reformed faith。
The murderers of Huss did not stand quietly by and witness the triumph of
his cause。 The pope and the emperor united to crush out the movement； and
the armies of Sigismund were hurled upon Bohemia。
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But a deliverer was raised up。 Ziska； who soon after the opening of the war
became totally blind； yet who was one of the ablest generals of his age； was
the leader of the Bohemians。 Trusting in the help of God and the
righteousness of their cause； that people withstood the mightiest armies
that could be brought against them。 Again and again the emperor； raising
fresh armies； invaded Bohemia； only to be ignominiously repulsed。 The
Hussites were raised above the fear of death； and nothing could stand
against them。 A few years after the opening of the war； the brave Ziska
died； but his place was filled by Procopius； who was an equally brave and
skillful general； and in some respects a more able leader。
The enemies of the Bohemians； knowing that the blind warrior was dead；
deemed the opportunity favorable for recovering all that they had lost。 The
pope now proclaimed a crusade against the Hussites； and again an immense
force was precipitated upon Bohemia； but only to suffer terrible defeat。
Another crusade was proclaimed。 In all the papal countries of Europe； men；
money； and munitions of war were raised。 Multitudes flocked to the papal
standard； assured that at last an end would be made of the Hussite heretics。
Confident of victory； the vast force entered Bohemia。 The people rallied to
repel them。 The two armies approached each other until only a river lay
between them。 〃The crusaders were in greatly superior force； but instead of
dashing across the stream； and closing in battle with the Hussites whom they
had come so far to meet； they stood gazing in silence at those
warriors。〃Wylie； b。 3； ch。 17。 Then suddenly a mysterious terror fell upon
the host。 Without striking a blow； that mighty force broke and scattered as
if dispelled by an unseen power。 Great numbers were slaughtered by the
Hussite army； which pursued the fugitives； and an immense booty fell into
the hands of the victors； so that the war； instead of impoverishing；
enriched the Bohemians。
A few years later； under a new pope； still another crusade was set on foot。
As before； men and means were drawn
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from all the papal countries of Europe。 Great were the inducements held out
to those who should engage in this perilous enterprise。 Full forgiveness of
the most heinous crimes was ensured to every crusader。 All who died in the
war were promised a rich reward in heaven； and those who survived were to
reap honor and riches on the field of battle。 Again a vast army was
collected； and； crossing the frontier they entered Bohemia。 The Hussite
forces fell back before them； thus drawing the invaders farther and farther
into the country； and leading them to count the victory already won。 At last
the army of Procopius made a stand； and turning upon the foe； advanced to
give them battle。 The crusaders； now discovering their mistake； lay in their
encampment awaiting th