the great controversy-第20章

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When　the　body　of　Huss　had　been　wholly　consumed；　his　ashes；　with　the　soil
upon　which　they　rested；　were　gathered　up　and　cast　into　the　Rhine；　and　thus
borne　onward　to　the　ocean。　His　persecutors　vainly　imagined　that　they　had
rooted　out　the　truths　he　preached。　Little　did　they　dream　that　the　ashes　that
day　borne　away　to　the　sea　were　to　be　as　seed　scattered　in　all　the　countries
of　the　earth；　that　in　lands　yet　unknown　it　would　yield　abundant　fruit　in
witnesses　for　the　truth。　The　voice　which　had　spoken　in　the　council　hall　of
Constance　had　wakened　echoes　that　would　be　heard　through　all　coming　ages。
Huss　was　no　more；　but　the　truths　for　which　he　died　could　never　perish。　His
example　of　faith　and　constancy　would　encourage　multitudes　to　stand　firm　for
the　truth；　in　the　face　of　torture　and　death。　His　execution　had　exhibited　to
the　whole　world　the　perfidious　cruelty　of　Rome。　The　enemies　of　truth；　though
they　knew　it　not；　had　been　furthering　the　cause　which　they　vainly　sought　to
destroy。

Yet　another　stake　was　to　be　set　up　at　Constance。　The　blood　of　another
witness　must　testify　for　the　truth。　Jerome；　upon　bidding　farewell　to　Huss　on
his　departure　for　the　council；　had　exhorted　him　to　courage　and　firmness；
declaring　that　if　he　should　fall　into　any　peril；　he　himself　would　fly　to　his
assistance。　Upon　hearing　of　the　Reformer's　imprisonment；　the　faithful
disciple　immediately　prepared　to　fulfill　his　promise。　Without　a　safe…conduct
he　set　out；　with　a　single　companion；　for　Constance。　On　arriving　there　he　was
convinced　that　he　had　only　exposed　himself　to　peril；　without　the　possibility
of　doing　anything　for　the　deliverance　of　Huss。　He　fled　from　the　city；　but
was　arrested　on　the　homeward　journey　and　brought　back　loaded　with　fetters
and　under　the　custody　of　a　band　of　soldiers。　At　his　first　appearance　before

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the　council　his　attempts　to　reply　to　the　accusations　brought　against　him
were　met　with　shouts；　〃To　the　flames　with　him！　to　the　flames！〃Bonnechose；
vol。　1；　p。　234。　He　was　thrown　into　a　dungeon；　chained　in　a　position　which
caused　him　great　suffering；　and　fed　on　bread　and　water。　After　some　months
the　cruelties　of　his　imprisonment　brought　upon　Jerome　an　illness　that
threatened　his　life；　and　his　enemies；　fearing　that　he　might　escape　them；
treated　him　with　less　severity；　though　he　remained　in　prison　for　one　year。

The　death　of　Huss　had　not　resulted　as　the　papists　had　hoped。　The　violation
of　his　safe…conduct　had　roused　a　storm　of　indignation；　and　as　the　safer
course；　the　council　determined；　instead　of　burning　Jerome；　to　force　him；　if
possible；　to　retract。　He　was　brought　before　the　assembly；　and　offered　the
alternative　to　recant；　or　to　die　at　the　stake。　Death　at　the　beginning　of　his
imprisonment　would　have　been　a　mercy　in　comparison　with　the　terrible
sufferings　which　he　had　undergone；　but　now；　weakened　by　illness；　by　the
rigors　of　his　prison　house；　and　the　torture　of　anxiety　and　suspense；
separated　from　his　friends；　and　disheartened　by　the　death　of　Huss；　Jerome's
fortitude　gave　way；　and　he　consented　to　submit　to　the　council。　He　pledged
himself　to　adhere　to　the　Catholic　faith；　and　accepted　the　action　of　the
council　in　condemning　the　doctrines　of　Wycliffe　and　Huss；　excepting；
however；　the　〃holy　truths〃　which　they　had　taught。Ibid；　vol。　2；　p。　141。

By　this　expedient　Jerome　endeavored　to　silence　the　voice　of　conscience　and
escape　his　doom。　But　in　the　solitude　of　his　dungeon　he　saw　more　clearly　what
he　had　done。　He　thought　of　the　courage　and　fidelity　of　Huss；　and　in　contrast
pondered　upon　his　own　denial　of　the　truth。　He　thought　of　the　divine　Master
whom　he　had　pledged　himself　to　serve；　and　who　for　his　sake　endured　the　death
of　the　cross。　Before　his　retraction　he　had　found　comfort；　amid　all　his
sufferings；　in　the　assurance　of　God's　favor；　but　now　remorse　and　doubts
tortured　his　soul。　He　knew　that　still　other　retractions　must　be　made　before
he　could　be　at　peace　with　Rome。　The　path　upon

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which　he　was　entering　could　end　only　in　complete　apostasy。　His　resolution
was　taken：　To　escape　a　brief　period　of　suffering　he　would　not　deny　his　Lord。

Soon　he　was　again　brought　before　the　council。　His　submission　had　not
satisfied　his　judges。　Their　thirst　for　blood；　whetted　by　the　death　of　Huss；
clamored　for　fresh　victims。　Only　by　an　unreserved　surrender　of　the　truth
could　Jerome　preserve　his　life。　But　he　had　determined　to　avow　his　faith　and
follow　his　brother　martyr　to　the　flames。

He　renounced　his　former　recantation　and；　as　a　dying　man；　solemnly　required
an　opportunity　to　make　his　defense。　Fearing　the　effect　of　his　words；　the
prelates　insisted　that　he　should　merely　affirm　or　deny　the　truth　of　the
charges　brought　against　him。　Jerome　protested　against　such　cruelty　and
injustice。　〃You　have　held　me　shut　up　three　hundred　and　forty　days　in　a
frightful　prison；〃　he　said；　〃in　the　midst　of　filth；　noisomeness；　stench；　and
the　utmost　want　of　everything；　you　then　bring　me　out　before　you；　and　lending
an　ear　to　my　mortal　enemies；　you　refuse　to　hear　me。　。　。　。　If　you　be　really
wise　men；　and　the　lights　of　the　world；　take　care　not　to　sin　against　justice。
As　to　me；　I　am　only　a　feeble　mortal；　my　life　is　but　of　little　importance；
and　when　I　exhort　you　not　to　deliver　an　unjust　sentence；　I　speak　less　for
myself　than　for　you。〃Ibid。；　vol。　2；　pp。　146；　147。

His　request　was　finally　granted。　In　the　presence　of　his　judges；　Jerome
kneeled　down　and　prayed　that　the　divine　Spirit　might　control　his　thoughts
and　words；　that　he　might　speak　nothing　contrary　to　the　truth　or　unworthy　of
his　Master。　To　him　that　day　was　fulfilled　the　promise　of　God　to　the　first
disciples：　〃Ye　shall　be　brought　before　governors　and　kings　for　My　sake。　。　。
。　But　when　they　deliver　you　up；　take　no　thought　how　or　what　ye　shall　speak：
for　it　shall　be　given　you　in　that　same　hour　what　ye　shall　speak。　For　it　is
not　ye　that　speak；　but　the　Spirit　of　your　Father　which　speaketh　in　you。〃
Matthew　10：18…20。

The　words　of　Jerome　excited　astonishment　and　admiration；　even　in　his
enemies。　For　a　whole　year　he　had　been

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immured　in　a　dungeon；　unable　to　read　or　even　to　see；　in　great　physical
suffering　and　mental　anxiety。　Yet　his　arguments　were　presented　with　as　much
clearness　and　power　as　if　he　had　had　undisturbed　opportunity　for　study。　He
pointed　his　hearers　to　the　long　line　of　holy　men　who　had　been　condemned　by
unjust　judges。　In　almost　every　generation　have　been　those　who；　while　seeking
to　elevate　the　people　of　their　time；　have　been　reproached　and　cast　out；　but
who　in　later　times　have　been　shown　to　be　deserving　of　honor。　Christ　Himself
was　condemned　as　a　malefactor　at　an　unrighteous　tribunal。

At　his　retraction；　Jerome　had　assented　to　the　justice　of　the　sentence
condemning　Huss；　he　now　declared　his　repentance　and　bore　witness　to　the
innocence　and　holiness　of　the　martyr。　〃I　knew　him　from　his　childhood；〃　he
said。　〃He　was　a　most　excellent　man；　just　and　holy；　he　was　condemned；
notwithstanding　his　innocence。　。　。　。　I　alsoI　am　ready　to　die：　I　will　not
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　p