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。
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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
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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。
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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； through him God accomplished a great work for the
reformation of the church and the enlightenment of the world。
Like the first heralds of the gospel； Luther sprang from the ranks of
poverty。 His early years were spent in the humble home of a German peasant。
By daily toil as a miner his father earned the means for his education。 He
intended him for a lawyer； but God purposed to make him a builder in the
great temple that was rising so slowly through the centuries。 Hardship；
privation； and severe discipline were the school in which Infinite Wisdom
prepared Luther for the important mission of his life。
Luther's father was a man of strong and active mind and great force of
character； honest； resolute； and straightforward。 He was true to his
convictions of duty； let the consequences be what they might。 His sterling
good sense led him to regard the monastic system with distrust。 He was
highly displeased when Luther； without his consent； entered a monastery； and
it was two years before the father was reconciled to his son； and even then
his opinions remained the same。
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Luther's parents bestowed great care upon the education and training of
their children。 They endeavored to instruct them in the knowledge of God and
the practice of Christian virtues。 The father's prayer often ascended in the
hearing of his son that the child might remember the name of the Lord and
one day aid in the advancement of His truth。 Every advantage for moral or
intellectual culture which their life of toil permitted them to enjoy was
eagerly improved by these parents。 Their efforts were earnest and
persevering to prepare their children for a life of piety and usefulness。
With their firmness and strength of character they sometimes exercised too
great severity； but the Reformer himself； though conscious that in some
respects they had erred； found in their discipline more to approve than to
condemn。
At school； where he was sent at an early age； Luther was treated with
harshness and even violence。 So great was the poverty of his parents that
upon going from home to school in another town he was for a time obliged to
obtain his food by singing from door to door； and he often suffered from
hunger。 The gloomy； superstitious ideas of religion then prevailing filled
him with fear。 He would lie down at night with a sorrowful heart； looking
forward with trembling to the dark future and in constant terror at the
thought of God as a stern； unrelenting judge； a cruel tyrant； rather than a
kind heavenly Father。
Yet under so many and so great discouragements Luther pressed resolutely
forward toward the high standard of moral and intellectual excellence which
attracted his soul。 He thirsted for knowledge； and the earnest and practical
character of his mind led him to desire the solid and useful rather than the
showy and superficial。
When； at the age of eighteen； he entered the University of Erfurt； his
situation was more favorable and his prospects were brighter than in his
earlier years。 His parents having by thrift and industry acquired a
competence； they were able to render him all needed assistance。 And the
influence of
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judicious friends had somewhat lessened the gloomy effects of his former
training。 He applied himself to the study of the best authors； diligently
treasuring their most weighty thoughts and making the wisdom of the wise his
own。 Even under the harsh discipline of his former instructors he had early
given promise of distinction； and with favorable influences his mind rapidly
developed。 A retentive memory； a lively imagination； strong reasoning
powers； and untiring application soon placed him in the foremost rank among
his associates。 Intellectual discipline ripened his understanding and
aroused an activity of mind and a keenness of perception that were preparing
him for the conflicts of his life。
The fear of the Lord dwelt in the heart of Luther； enabling him to maintain
his steadfastness of purpose and leading him