bryng vp their scholers vertuously, and to teach them faithfully: first to learne to feare God: then for the glory of god, and the publicke vtilitie of the common wealth, and theyr owne health, and not for auarice or for worldly honour, to employ their myndes to honest artes. I beseech the students of the vniuersitie and all other scholes, in all honest things to obey their maisters, and to follow them, and that with all diligence, they wil study to bee profitable both to the setting forth of the glory of God, and to the soules health, as well of themselues, as of other men. Together I besech and pray you all, that you will yeld most harty thankes to the right honorable Lords, MarginaliaA note for all noble mē.the Lord Wencelaus de Duba, Lord Iohn de Clum, Lord Henry Lumlouio, Lord Vilem Zagecio, lord Nicolas, and other Lordes of Boheme, of Morauia and Polony: that their diligence towardes me, may be gratefull to all good men: because that they lyke valiaunt champions of Gods truth, haue oftentymes set themselues agaynst the whole Councell for my deliueraunce, contendyng and standyng agaynst the same to the vttermost of their power: but especially Lord Wencelaus de Duba, and L. Iohn de Clum. What so euer they shall report vnto you, geue credite vnto them: for they were in the Councel when I there aunswered many. They knowe who they were of Bohemia, and how many false and slaunderous thinges they brought in agaynst me, and how that Councell cryed out agaynst me, and how I also aunswered to all thynges whereof I was demaunded. I beseeche you also that ye will pray for the kyng of Romaynes, and for your kyng, and for hys wife your Queene, that God of his mercy would abyde with them and wyth you, both now and henceforth in euerlasting life. Amen.
[Back to Top]This Epistle I haue written to you out of prison and in bandes, lokyng the next day after the writing hereof, for the sentence of the Councell vpon my death, hauyng a full trust that he wil not leaue me, neither suffer me to deny his truth, and to reuoke the errours, which false witnesses maliciously haue deuised agaynst me. How mercifully the lord GOD hath delt with me, and was with me in meruelous temptations, ye shall knowe, when as hereafter by the helpe of Christ, we shall all meete together in the ioy of the worlde to come. As concernyng M. Hierome my dearely beloued brother and fellow, I heare no other but that he is remaynyng in straight bands, loking for death as I do: and that for the fayth which he valiantly maintained amongest the Bohemians. Our cruell enemies of Boheme, haue geuen vs into the power and handes of other ennemies, and into bands. I besech you pray to God for them.
[Back to Top]Moreouer, I besech you, namely you of Prage, that you will loue the temple of Bethelem, and prouide, so long as God shall permit, that the word of God may be preached in the same. For, because of that place, the deuil is angry, and agaynst the same place, he hath stirred vp priestes, and Canons, perceyuing that in that place his kyngdome should be disturbed and diminished. I trust in God that he wyll kepe that holy Church so long, as it shall please him, and in the same shall geue greater encrease of his word by other, then he hath done by me a weake vessell. I beseech you also, that ye will loue together, and withholding no man frō the hearing of gods worde, ye wil prouide and take care that good men be not oppressed by any force and violence. Written at Constance, the yeare of our Lord. 1415.
[Back to Top]Yet I exhort you agayn, to be circūspect about our letters: for Michael hath takē such order that none shalbe suffered to come into the prison: no nor yet the keepers wiues are permitted to come to me. O holy God, how largely doth Antichrist extend his power and crueltie?MarginaliaA prophecy of Iohn Hus.But I trust that his power shalbe shortned, & his iniquitie shalbe detected more and more amongest the faithfull people.
[Back to Top]Almighty God shall cōfirme the hartes of his faithfull, whom he hath chosen before the cōstitution of the world, that they may receaue the eternall crowne of glory. And let Antichrist rage as much as he will, yet he shall not preuayle agaynst Christ, which shal destroy him with the spirit of his mouth, as the Apostle saith: And then shall the creature be deliuered out of seruitude of corruption, into the libertie of the glory of the sonnes of God, as saith the Apostle in the wordes following: we also within our selues doe grone, wayting for the adoption of the sonnes of God, the redemption of our body.
[Back to Top]I am greatly comforted in those woordes of our Sauiour: happy bee you when men shall hate you and shall separate you, and shall rebuke you, and shall cast out your name as execrable, for the sonne of mā. Reioyce & be glad, for behold, great is your reward in heauē, Luke. 6. O worthy, yea O most worthy consolation, which not to vnderstand, but to practise in time of tribulation, is a hard lesson.
[Back to Top]This rule S. Iames with the other Apostles, did well vnderstand, which sayth: count it exceeding ioy my brethren, when ye shall fall into diuers tentations, knowyng that the probation of your fayth worketh patience: let patience haue her perfecte worke. For certeinely it is a great matter for a man to reioyce in trouble, and to take it for ioye to be in diuers tentations. A lyght matter it is to speake it and to expounde it: but a great matter to fulfill it: MarginaliaThe example of Christ.For why, our most patient and most valiaunt champion hym selfe knowyng that he shoulde ryse agayne the thyrde day, ouercommyng hys enemyes by hys death,
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