the great controversy-第23部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


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。

116


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

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　117

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　the　onset。　As　the　sound　of　the　approaching　force　was
heard；　even　before　the　Hussites　were　in　sight；　a　panic　again　fell　upon　the
crusaders。　Princes；　generals；　and　common　soldiers；　casting　away　their　armor；
fled　in　all　directions。　In　vain　the　papal　legate；　who　was　the　leader　of　the
invasion；　endeavored　to　rally　his　terrified　and　disorganized　forces。　Despite
his　utmost　endeavors；　he　himself　was　swept　along　in　the　tide　of　fugitives。
The　rout　was　complete；　and　again　an　immense　booty　fell　into　the　hands　of　the
victors。

Thus　the　second　time　a　vast　army；　sent　forth　by　the　most　powerful　nations　of
Europe；　a　host　of　brave；　warlike　men；　trained　and　equipped　for　battle；　fled
without　a　blow　before　the　defenders　of　a　small　and　hitherto　feeble　nation。
Here　was　a　manifestation　of　divine　power。　The　invaders　were　smitten　with　a
supernatural　terror。　He　who　overthrew　the　hosts　of　Pharaoh　in　the　Red　Sea；
who　put　to　flight　the　armies　of　Midian　before　Gideon　and　his　three　hundred；
who　in　one　night　laid　low　the　forces　of　the　proud　Assyrian；　had　again
stretched　out　His　hand　to　wither　the　power　of　the　oppressor。　〃There　were
they　in　great　fear；　where　no　fear　was：　for　God　hath　scattered　the　bones　of
him　that　encampeth　against　thee：　thou　hast　put　them　to　shame；　because　God
hath　despised　them。〃　Psalm　53：5。

118


The　papal　leaders；　despairing　of　conquering　by　force；　at　last　resorted　to
diplomacy。　A　compromise　was　entered　into；　that　while　professing　to　grant　to
the　Bohemians　freedom　of　conscience；　really　betrayed　them　into　the　power　of
Rome。　The　Bohemians　had　specified　four　points　as　the　condition　of　peace　with
Rome：　the　free　preaching　of　the　Bible；　the　right　of　the　whole　church　to　both
the　bread　and　the　wine　in　the　communion；　and　the　use　of　the　mother　tongue　in
divine　worship；　the　exclusion　of　the　clergy　from　all　secular　offices　and
authority；　and；　in　cases　of　crime；　the　jurisdiction　of　the　civil　courts　over
clergy　and　laity　alike。　The　papal　authorities　at　last　〃agreed　that　the　four
articles　of　the　Hussites　should　be　accepted；　but　that　the　right　of
explaining　them；　that　is；　of　determining　their　precise　import；　should　belong
to　the　councilin　other　words；　to　the　pope　and　the　emperor。〃　Wylie；　b。　3；
ch。　18。　On　this　basis　a　treaty　was　entered　into；　and　Rome　gained　by
dissimulation　and　fraud　what　she　had　failed　to　gain　by　conflict；　for；
placing　her　own　interpretation　upon　the　Hussite　articles；　as　upon　the　Bible；
she　could　pervert　their　meaning　to　suit　her　own　purposes。

A　large　class　in　Bohemia；　seeing　that　it　betrayed　their　liberties；　could　not
consent　to　the　compact。　Dissensions　and　divisions　arose；　leading　to　strife
and　bloodshed　among　themselves。　In　this　strife　the　noble　Procopius　fell；　and
the　liberties　of　Bohemia　perished。

Sigismund；　the　betrayer　of　Huss　and　Jerome；　now　became　king　of　Bohemia；　and
regardless　of　his　oath　to　support　the　rights　of　the　Bohemians；　he　proceeded
to　establish　popery。　But　he　had　gained　little　by　his　subservience　to　Rome。
For　twenty　years　his　life　had　been　filled　with　labors　and　perils。　His　armies
had　been　wasted　and　his　treasuries　drained　by　a　long　and　fruitless　struggle；
and　now；　after　reigning　one　year；　he　died；　leaving　his　kingdom　on　the　brink
of　civil　war；　and　bequeathing　to　posterity　a　name　branded　with　infamy。

Tumults；　strife；　and　bloodshed　were　protracted。　Again　foreign　armies　invaded
Bohemia；　and　internal　dissension

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　119

continued　to　distract　the　nation。　Those　who　remained　faithful　to　the　gospel
were　subjected　to　a　bloody　persecution。

As　their　former　brethren；　entering　into　compact　with　Rome；　imbibed　her
errors；　those　who　adhered　to　the　ancient　faith　had　formed　themselves　into　a
distinct　church；　taking　the　name　of　〃United　Brethren。〃　This　act　drew　upon
them　maledictions　from　all　classes。　Yet　their　firmness　was　unshaken。　Forced
to　find　refuge　in　the　woods　and　caves；　they　still　assembled　to　read　God's
word　and　unite　in　His　worship。

Through　messengers　secretly　sent　out　into　different　countries；　they　learned
that　here　and　there　were　〃isolated　confessors　of　the　truth；　a　few　in　this
city　and　a　few　in　that；　the　object；　like　themselves；　of　persecution；　and
that　amid　the　mountains　of　the　Alps　was　an　ancient　church；　resting　on　the
foundations　of　Scripture；　and　protesting　against　the　idolatrous　corruptions
of　Rome。〃Wylie；　b。　3；　ch。　19。　This　intelligence　was　received　with　great
joy；　and　a　correspondence　was　opened　with　the　Waldensian　Christians。

Steadfast　to　the　gospel；　the　Bohemians　waited　through　the　night　of　their
persecution；　in　the　darkest　hour　still　turning　their　eyes　toward　the　horizon
like　men　who　watch　for　the　morning。　〃Their　lot　was　cast　in　evil　days；　but　。
。　。　they　remembered　the　words　first　uttered　by　Huss；　and　repeated　by　Jerome；
that　a　century　must　revolve　before　the　day　should　break。　These　were　to　the
Taborites　＇Hussites＇　what　the　words　of　Joseph　were　to　the　tribes　in　the
house　of　bondage：　‘I　die；　and　God　will　surely　visit　you；　and　bring　you
out。'〃　Ibid。；　b。　3；　ch。　19。　〃The　closing　period　of　the　fifteenth　century
witnessed　the　slow　but　sure　increase　of　the　churches　of　the　Brethren。
Although　far　from　being　unmolested；　they　yet　enjoyed　comparative　rest。　At
the　commencement　of　the　sixteenth　century　their　churches　numbered　two
hundred　in　Bohemia　and　Moravia。〃Ezra　Hall　Gillett；　Life　and　Times　of　John
Huss；　vol。　2；　p。　570。　〃So　goodly　was　the　remnant　which；　escaping　the
destructive　fury　of　fire　and　sword；　was　permitted　to　see　the　dawning　of　that
day　which　Huss　had　foretold。〃Wylie；　b。　3；　ch。　19。





（120）

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　7

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Luther's　Separation　From　Rome


Foremost　among　those　who　were　called　to　lead　the　church　from　the　darkness　of
popery　into　the　light　of　a　purer　faith；　stood　Martin　Luther。　Zealous；
ardent；　and　devoted；　knowing　no　fear　but　the　fear　of　God；　and　acknowledging
no　foundation　for　religious　faith　but　the　Holy　Scriptures；　Luther　was　the
man　for　his　time；　th