16 - Hus Prepares for Death
Chapter XVI - Hus Prepares for Death
Hus had about a month after the trial to await the end. He remembered his and his friends’ forebodings, and wrote bitterly: “Put not your trust in princes. I thought the Emperor had some regard for law and truth; now I perceive that these weigh little with him. Truly did they say that Sigismund would deliver me up to my adversaries: he has condemned me before they did. Would that he could have shown me as much moderation as the heathen Pilate.”
He wrote a touching farewell letter to his beloved flock in the Bethlehem Chapel and another to the University at Prag.
After Hus had left Prag, Jacobellus of Mies began to give the cup as well as the bread to the lay communicants. The General Council on June 15, admitted Christ had instituted the Lord’s Supper in the two species of bread and wine, yet it decreed to burn as heretics all who did as Christ commanded.
Hus on June 21, writes to Gallus (Havlik), preacher at the Bethlehem Chapel: “What wickedness! Behold, they condemn Christ’s institutions as heresy!”
Till the end of June they made many efforts to get Hus to recant; he firmly refused: “I cannot recant; in the first place, I would thereby recant many truths, and in the second place, I would commit perjury and give offence to pious souls. I stand at the judgment-seat of Christ, to whom I have appealed, knowing that He will judge every man, not according to false witness, but according to the truth and each one’s deserts.” Against the authority of men Hus asserted the authority of his conscience enlightened by the Holy Scriptures. On July 1, Hus was brought out again to recant his heresies. He replied in writing: “I, John Hus, fearing to sin against God, and fearing to commit perjury, am not willing to abjure ... any of them.” On July 5, a deputation of some of the most eminent members of the Council made a final effort to get Hus to recant. Wenzel of Duba said: “Behold Master John, I am a layman and cannot give advice. Consider then if thou feelest thyself guilty of any of the things of which thou art accused. If so, do not hesitate to accept instruction and recant. But if thou dost not feel guilty of these things that are brought forward against thee, be guided by thy conscience, do nothing against thy conscience, nor lie before the face of God; rather hold unto death to the truth as thou hast understood it.”
Hus answered in tears: “Be it known to you that if I knew I had written or preached anything against the law and holy Mother Church, I would humbly recant; may God be my witness to this; but I always desired that they should show me doctrines better and more credible than those I have written and taught. If such be shown me, I will gladly recant.” A bishop sneered: “Wilt thou then be wiser than the whole Council?”
Master Hus replied: “I do not claim to be wiser than the whole Council, but, I beg you, give me the least man at the Council that he may instruct me out of the word of God, and I am ready to recant at once.”
“Behold, how obstinate he is in his heresy!”