from the most holy and immaculate Mother Church for following and teaching the word of God. This only seemed to increase the number of those who took sides with him. If he could not now preach he could write and talk, and in both of these ways he continued to labor for the advancement of Christ's kingdom. While thus engaged he was summoned to appear before the famous Council of Constance. The Emperor Sigismund gave him a safe conduct to go and return, relying upon which he appeared before the fathers of the Romish Church. There he was accused of being a heretic, to which he made a most powerful. defense. They urged him to recant; but he replied that he would rather die than knowingly preach what was not true. One day, as he was seated in the gallery suspecting no danger, for the pope had promised him liberty and protection as well as the emperor, he was suddenly seized by a party of guards, and carried to a lonely monastery on the banks of the Rhine, where he was confined. This imprisonment was long and painful,, and so manifestly unjust that even liberal Roman Catholics endeavored to procure his acquittal. On the 7th of July, 1415, when about forty years of age, he was condemned. The bishops immediately stripped him of his priest's robes, and put a paper cap on his head, on which devils were painted, with the inscription, “A Ringleader of Heretics;" saying as they placed it on him, "Hereby we commit thy soul to the devil." He was then thrown, sick, exhausted, and hungry, into a cold dungeon. Being brought forth to the place of execution he was chained to the stake, and was surrounded by fagots ready for the match. All this time he seemed serene and happy. The wood was kindled, and burned up all around his body; and as it burned they heard him singing in the midst of the fire. And he sang so loudly and cheerfully that his voice was distinguished above the crackling of the flames and the noise of the multitude. At last the smoke and flames blew in his face. When the wind cleared them away, his body, half burned, was hanging over the iron chain that bound him by the waist. His sufferings were over, and he was, no doubt, home at last. Jerome of Prague was brought before the same council, and thrown into prison. He was there tortured, and exposed to want of food, until a dangerous sickness set in. Then, when he was weak in body and prostrated by illness, the priests gathered around him and in various ways endeavored to make him deny his principles. He continued for some time immovable, but in an unguarded moment, and probably when overcome by suffering, weakness, and hunger, he said that he believed Wiclif and Huss were in error, and that he was a firm believer in the Church of Rome. Their triumph however was not long. Smitten by his conscience, he soon came back to his old position, declared that he had done wrong, and asked for a trial. There he manfully defended the doctrines for which Huss had died, and seemed to be perfectly fearless of death. He was led to the stake; the fagots were kindled around him, and in the year 1416, like his friend Huss, he died singing in honor of Christ. It was not in vain that Huss and Jerome gave their lives for the truth. Their countrymen rose in all parts, and with sword and pen fought bravely for their religious rights. Though a hundred years before the time of Luther, yet in Bohemia the doctrines of reform made wonderful progress. Called sometimes Taborites, sometimes Hussites, until a portion of them took the name of Bohemian brethren, they successfully opposed the Emperor Sigismund, and gained national rights for themselves, which produced the double effect of disseminating greatly the truth, and preparing the way for the times of Luther. Two hundred congregations of such men, who had borne all the persecutions and resisted all the encroachments of Romanism, existed in the beginning of the sixteenth century, only a few years before Luther raised his voice against the indulgences of Tetzel. CHAPTER III. LUTHER A BOY- -A MONK- -A PREACHER. THE Bohemian brethren thus prepared the way for Luther and the principles which he advocated. More than three hundred years ago a poor boy, fourteen years of age, was seen begging for food in Germany. From house to house he went, sometimes repulsed, and sometimes receiving the coarse fare he sought, until at last he returned to his home. This was the school of Magdeburg, where he was seeking an education, and in the intervals intended for recreation employed in obtaining bread. A year afterward the same boy, scantily clad, might be recognized at the distinguished seminary of Eisenach. Perhaps a stranger might not notice him at first, but on looking closer he would be struck by the deep seriousness and earnestness which marked his features. Decision is on his lip, and notwithstanding its calm gaze the fires of impetuous feeling sleep in The wood was kindled, and burned up all around his body; and as it burned they heard him singing in the midst of the fire. And he sang so loudly and cheerfully that his voice was distinguished above the crackling of the flames and the noise of the multitude. At last the smoke and flames blew in his face. When the wind cleared them away, his body, half burned, was hanging over the iron chain that bound him by the waist. His sufferings were over, and he was, no doubt, home at last. Jerome of Prague was brought before the same council, and thrown into prison. He was there tortured, and exposed to want of food, until a dangerous sickness set in. Then, when he was weak in body and prostrated by illness, the priests gathered around him and in various ways endeavored to make him deny his principles. He continued for some time immovable, but in an unguarded moment, and probably when overcome by suffering, weakness, and hunger, he said that he believed Wiclif and Huss were in error, and that he was a firm believer in the Church of Rome. Their triumph however was not long. Smitten by his conscience, he soon came back to his old position, declared that he had done wrong, and asked for a trial. There he manfully defended the doctrines for which Huss had died, and seemed to be perfectly fearless of death. He was led to the stake; the fagots were kindled around him, and in the year 1416, like his friend Huss, he died singing in honor of Christ. It was not in vain that Huss and Jerome gave their lives for the truth. Their countrymen rose in all parts, and with sword and pen fought bravely for their religious rights. Though a hundred years before the time of Luther, yet in Bohemia the doctrines of reform made wonderful progress. Called sometimes Taborites, sometimes Hussites, until a portion of them Two hundred congregations of such men, who had CHAPTER III. LUTHER A BOY-A MONK-A PREACHER. THE Bohemian brethren thus prepared the way for More than three hundred years ago a poor boy, fourteen years of age, was seen begging for food in Germany. From house to house he went, sometimes repulsed, and sometimes receiving the coarse fare he sought, until at last he returned to his home. Thie was the school of Magdeburg, where he was seeking an education, and in the intervais intended for recrew tion employed in obtaining bread. A year afterward the same bor, scantily clad, be recognized at the distinguished seminary of £ nach. Perhaps a stranger might not notice & # first, but on looking closer he would be etrusk deep seriousness and earnestness V2 21 1ake features. Decision is on his 21. BL1 Lot Durand y its calm gaze the fires of impet le e ;) ied. ruck nina ollows |