Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - June/76

Contributor - Harvey Van Farowe

Title - John Huss - A Martyr for the Truth

Topic - Church History

The truth of the Scriptures finds acceptance among all peoples. The truth that John Wyclif of England discovered - last month's article in this series was about Wyclif - came, in, God's providence, to another John, John, Huss of Bohemia. Bohemia is now a province in the country of Czechoslovakia.

A student from Bohemia, Jerome of Prague, who studied at Oxford in England, brought Wyclife's famous book, Trialogus, to Huss. This reforming book taught that where the Scriptures and the church did not agree, the Scriptures should be followed. John Huss was teaching and preaching in Prague at the time he received Wyclife's book. He had come to Prague from the village of Husinec in southern Bohemia where he was born in 1369. Huss apparently possessed an early faith for when his widowed mother told him "there's no money" to go to the university he replied, "there's God" (Bailey). And he was enabled to go and graduated, also securing a bachelor of divinity degree.

The young preacher and teacher was stirred by the book. He sensed that it agreed with the Bible and endorsed it for himself. He also "translated it in Czech" and strongly defended its truths though leaders of his church condemned them' and ordered them destroyed. Conflict ensued. Huss also opposed indulgences, the payment of money for a cause like a "holy war" which payment supposedly assured temporary forgiveness of sins. Huss affirmed to live badly". He was also willing that forgiveness could only come when a person turned from sin. He also did not stop preaching when he was so ordered and did not comply with a ecclesiastical order to give over Wyclife's books to be burned.

Excommunication soon followed and the whole city of Prague came under a ban because there were many there who now followed the more evangelical faith. Huss left Prague at the urging of King Wenzel of Bohemia who wanted the excitement and potential for trouble quieted down. However, away from the city, Huss did not stop writing and preaching. Schaff, a historian, for whom I am again indebted for information for this article, wrote that his most important writing was his treatise on the church, De ecelesia. In it he declared that the church "is the body of or congregation of all the predestinate" and "the unity of the church is . . . a unity of faith, charity, and grace". He denied the "infallability" of both the church visible and of the pope, he repudiated the t.eaching that any man can forgive sins, and he taught that a pope in "mortal sin" does not have the "right to authority" or rule. In this he- cited the case of King Saul of the Old Testament who was rejected by God as king for gross disobedience and willfulness.

Huss realized that he might suffer dearly for what he wrote and taught. But he said, "we dare not sin to avoid the punishment of death. It is better to die well than to appear before the Council of Constance in Germany to which he was summoned by King Constance Sigismund of the Romans. He was willing to go and appear though he was not unaware of the possible consequences. Scholars point out that he could have declined to go and been protected inside the castles of friendly noblemen. One of those noblemen, John of Chlum said, "there are numbers of great nobles who love him and have strong castles where they could keep him as long as they wished . . ." But Huss was very willing to go and he did receive a safety pledge from the king. He also had hopes of God's deliverance from martyrdom as God delivered Daniel from the lions and Jonah from dying in the great fish. Yet he also prayed that, if death was necessary, it would "glorify God".

At Constance the odds were strongly against him. His enemies, in preparing for the trial, twisted words that he had written and were merciless throughout the ordeal. His verdict wasn't sealed immediately. In fact he was imprisoned three different places as the trial dragged on. In prison he suffered from "headache, toothache, and near starvation" and even his Bible was taken away. Yet, providentially, he was able to keep his pen and again he put it to use. He penned tracts on such topics as the Ten Commandments and the Lord's Prayer for his jailor. He proved himself useful in imprisonment as did the Apostle Paul and as, no doubt, many Christians are doing today behind the various "curtains" of the world.

The long trial was coming to an end. John Huss was told in no uncertain terms to recant or else. This he knew he couldn't do and be true to the Scriptures and to his conscience. His close friend, John of Chlum, who faithfully stood with him, was also a great strength for though not advising him what to do encouraged him "if he felt sure of his cause to stand fast even to death, rather than to lie against God". This Huss did and he was judged guilty and delivered over to the state.

A devil's cap was put on his head and he was committed to Satan. In turn, Huss, Stephen-like, said, "and I commit myself to the most gracious Lord Jesus". After he was chained to the stake and death was near, the martyr was heard to say "I shall die with joy today in the faith of the gospel I have preached". The end came soon after.

Huss did not die or live in vain. Much to the contrary. The Encyclopedia Americana reported that "the Hussite movement became a spiritual source of national strength". It changed the complexion of Bohemia. But more than that it had a great effect internationally. Martin Luther was infused with new courage through reading of Huss's life and death. Luther saw clearly, in Huss's case, that "ecumenical councils also may err" and was astounded that a man of his biblical viewpoint was put to death.

Schaff speaks significantly about three medallions in the Prague library that tell of Wyclif, Huss, and Luther. The first describes Wyclif lighting sparks from a stone. The second symbolizes Huss setting a fire from the sparks. The third depicts Luther lifting up a flaming torch. May you and I, through God's all-abounding grace and Spirit, continue to keep that fire burning brightly.

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