University of Prague caused the withdrawal of hundreds of German students。
Many of them had received from Huss their first knowledge of the Bible； and
on their return they spread the gospel in their fatherland。
Tidings of the work at Prague were carried to Rome； and Huss was soon
summoned to appear before the pope。 To obey would be to expose himself to
certain death。 The king and queen of Bohemia； the university； members of the
nobility； and officers of the government united in an appeal to the pontiff
that Huss be permitted to remain at Prague and to answer at Rome by deputy。
Instead of granting this request； the pope proceeded to the trial and
condemnation of Huss； and then declared the city of Prague to be under
interdict。
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In that age this sentence； whenever pronounced； created widespread alarm。
The ceremonies by which it was accompanied were well adapted to strike
terror to a people who looked upon the pope as the representative of God
Himself； holding the keys of heaven and hell； and possessing power to invoke
temporal as well as spiritual judgments。 It was believed that the gates of
heaven were closed against the region smitten with interdict； that until it
should please the pope to remove the ban； the dead were shut out from the
abodes of bliss。 In token of this terrible calamity； all the services of
religion were suspended。 The churches were closed。 Marriages were solemnized
in the churchyard。 The dead； denied burial in consecrated ground； were
interred； without the rites of sepulture； in the ditches or the fields。 Thus
by measures which appealed to the imagination； Rome essayed to control the
consciences of men。
The city of Prague was filled with tumult。 A large class denounced Huss as
the cause of all their calamities and demanded that he be given up to the
vengeance of Rome。 To quiet the storm； the Reformer withdrew for a time to
his native village。 Writing to the friends whom he had left at Prague； he
said： 〃If I have withdrawn from the midst of you； it is to follow the
precept and example of Jesus Christ； in order not to give room to the
ill…minded to draw on themselves eternal condemnation； and in order not to
be to the pious a cause of affliction and persecution。 I have retired also
through an apprehension that impious priests might continue for a longer
time to prohibit the preaching of the word of God amongst you； but I have
not quitted you to deny the divine truth； for which； with God's assistance；
I am willing to die。〃Bonnechose； The Reformers Before the Reformation；
vol。 1； p。 87。 Huss did not cease his labors； but traveled through the
surrounding country； preaching to eager crowds。 Thus the measures to which
the pope resorted to suppress the gospel were causing it to be the more
widely extended。 〃We can do nothing against the truth； but for the truth。〃 2
Corinthians 13：8。
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〃The mind of Huss； at this stage of his career； would seem to have been the
scene of a painful conflict。 Although the church was seeking to overwhelm
him by her thunderbolts； he had not renounced her authority。 The Roman
Church was still to him the spouse of Christ； and the pope was the
representative and vicar of God。 What Huss was warring against was the abuse
of authority； not the principle itself。 This brought on a terrible conflict
between the convictions of his understanding and the claims of his
conscience。 If the authority was just and infallible； as he believed it to
be； how came it that he felt compelled to disobey it？ To obey； he saw； was
to sin； but why should obedience to an infallible church lead to such an
issue？ This was the problem he could not solve； this was the doubt that
tortured him hour by hour。 The nearest approximation to a solution which he
was able to make was that it had happened again； as once before in the days
of the Saviour； that the priests of the church had become wicked persons and
were using their lawful authority for unlawful ends。 This led him to adopt
for his own guidance； and to preach to others for theirs； the maxim that the
precepts of Scripture； conveyed through the understanding； are to rule the
conscience； in other words； that God speaking in the Bible； and not the
church speaking through the priesthood； is the one infallible
guide。〃Wylie； b。 3； ch。 2。
When after a time the excitement in Prague subsided； Huss returned to his
chapel of Bethlehem； to continue with greater zeal and courage the preaching
of the word of God。 His enemies were active and powerful； but the queen and
many of the nobles were his friends； and the people in great numbers sided
with him。 Comparing his pure and elevating teachings and holy life with the
degrading dogmas which the Romanists preached； and the avarice and
debauchery which they practiced； many regarded it an honor to be on his
side。
Hitherto Huss had stood alone in his labors； but now Jerome； who while in
England had accepted the teachings of Wycliffe； joined in the work of
reform。 The two were
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hereafter united in their lives； and in death they were not to be divided。
Brilliancy of genius； eloquence and learninggifts that win popular
favorwere possessed in a pre…eminent degree by Jerome； but in those
qualities which constitute real strength of character； Huss was the greater。
His calm judgment served as a restraint upon the impulsive spirit of Jerome；
who； with true humility； perceived his worth； and yielded to his counsels。
Under their united labors the reform was more rapidly extended。
God permitted great light to shine upon the minds of these chosen men；
revealing to them many of the errors of Rome； but they did not receive all
the light that was to be given to the world。 Through these； His servants；
God was leading the people out of the darkness of Romanism； but there were
many and great obstacles for them to meet； and He led them on； step by step；
as they could bear it。 They were not prepared to receive all the light at
once。 Like the full glory of the noontide sun to those who have long dwelt
in darkness； it would； if presented； have caused them to turn away。
Therefore He revealed it to the leaders little by little； as it could be
received by the people。 From century to century； other faithful workers were
to follow； to lead the people on still further in the path of reform。
The schism in the church still continued。 Three popes were now contending
for the supremacy； and their strife filled Christendom with crime and
tumult。 Not content with hurling anathemas； they resorted to temporal
weapons。 Each cast about him to purchase arms and to obtain soldiers。 Of
course money must be had； and to procure this； the gifts； offices； and
blessings of the church were offered for sale。 （See Appendix note for page
59。） The priests also； imitating their superiors； resorted to simony and war
to humble their rivals and strengthen their own power。 With daily increasing
boldness Huss thundered against the abominations which were tolerated in the
name of religion； and the people openly accused the Romish leaders as the
cause of the miseries that overwhelmed Christendom。
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Again the city of Prague seemed on the verge of a bloody conflict。 As in
former ages； God's servant was accused as 〃he that troubleth Israel。〃 1
Kings 18：17。 The city was again placed under interdict； and Huss withdrew to
his native village。 The testimony so faithfully borne from his loved chapel
of Bethlehem was ended。 He was to speak from a wider stage； to all
Christendom； before laying down his life as a witness for the truth。
To cure the evils that were distracting Europe； a general council was
summoned to meet at Constance。 The council was called at the desire of the
emperor Sigismund； by one of the three rival popes； John XXIII。 The demand
for a council had been far from welcome to Pope John； whose character and
policy could ill bear investigation； even by prelates as lax in morals as
were the churchmen of those times。 He dared not； however； oppose the will of
Sigismund。 （See Appendix。）
The chief objects to be accomplished by the council were to heal the schism
in the church and to root out heresy。 Hence the two antipopes were summoned
to appear before it； as well as the leading propagator of the new opinions；
John Huss。 The former； having regard to their own safety； did not attend in
person； but were represented by their delegates。 Pope John； while ostensibly
the convoker of the council； came to it with many misgivings； suspecting the
emperor's secret purpose to depose him； and fearing to be brought to account
for the vices which had disgraced the tiara； as well as for the crimes which
had secured it。 Yet he made his entry into the city of Constance with great
pomp； attended by ecclesiastics of the highest rank and followed by a train
of courtiers。 All the clergy and dignitaries of the city； with an immense
crowd of citizens； went out to welcome him。 Above his head was a golden
canopy； borne by four of the chief magistrates。 The host was carried before
him； and the rich dresses of the cardinals an