IV. Faithful Unto Death for Prophetic Faith

1. Huss SUMMONED TO CONSTANCE; SAFE-CONDUCT VIOLATED

The Council of Constance (1414-1418), one of Christendom’s most brilliant councils, was summoned by Sigismund, king of Hungary and emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, to end the Great Schism of the West-there were now three popes, John XXIII, Benedict XIII, and Gregory XII-to repress heresy, and to reform the church in its head and members. ^{52Schroeder, op. cit., p. 443.} Huss had been cited, in 1413, to appear before the council, to make answer to certain charges. Having been granted a safe-conduct and given assurance of a fair hearing by the emperor, he was nevertheless arrested in direct violation of the imperial safe-conduct, shortly after his arrival at Constance, was charged with heresy, and committed to prison, where he was ill for two months. The council persuaded the emperor that, as a heretic, Huss was beyond civil protection. ^{53David S. Schaff, The Middle Ages, part 2, pp. 371-374; David S. Schaff, John Huss, p. 186.} The trial lasted for months, ^{54Workman, Dawn of the Reformation, vol. 2, p. 303.} during which Huss was harassed by private interrogations.PFF2 114.1

The same commission appointed to handle Huss was likewise to deal with the writings of Wyclif. ^{55Loserth, op. cit., p. 172} Wyclif was declared by them, “to have been, while he lived, a notorious heretic,” and the forty-five Wyclif articles that had been issued in 1403 and 1408, by the University of Prague, were condemned. His writings were ordered to be burned, and his remains to be disinterred and removed from consecrated ground. ^{56Schroeder, op. cit., p. 449; original in Mansi, op. cit., vol. 27, cols. 632-636.} In all, 305 heretical Wyclif propositions were condemned by the council. ^{57Schroeder, op. cit., p. 449.} This condemnation of Wyclif practically sealed the fate of Huss. ^{58Workman, Dawn of the Reformation, vol. 2, p. 307; Loserth, op. cit., pp. 172, 173.}PFF2 114.2

2. HUSS CONDEMNED AS HERETIC; ORDERED DEGRADED

Asked if he acknowledged the books charged to him, Huss defended some, disowned others falsely attributed to him, and adhered steadfastly to his opinions. ^{59Schroeder, op. cit., p. 449.} He declared that if any proposition could be shown contrary to God’s Word, he would retract. The basic issue was the supremacy of the Word. But none could persuade him, and his fate was sealed. He was brought before the council for sentence and doom. It was a tumultuous hearing, with hostile cries of “Recant.” Then a list of thirty-nine articles preached and taught by Huss were condemned as heretical, seditious, deceitful, and offensive. His books were ordered burned. ^{60Wilhelm Moller, History of the Christian Church in the Middle Ages, p. 509.} After the recital of his heresies Huss was condemned to be degraded and turned over to the secular arm, to perish at the stake. ^{61Schroeder, op. cit., p. 449; Landon, op. cit., vol. 1, p. 180.}PFF2 115.1

The ignominious ceremonies known as the degradation and deconsecration then took place. Huss was placed on a platform and clad by seven bishops in full ecclesiastical vestments; then the vestments were one by one stripped from him. ^{62Workman, Dawn of the Reformation, vol. 2, p. 330; Count Franz Lutzow, The Life & Times of Master John Huss, p. 282.} The chalice and paten were put into his hand, and then taken away. His tonsure was effaced. They put a high conical paper cap on his head, painted with devils “clawing his soul with their nails,” and bearing the word “heresiarch” (a leader in heresy). This done, and his soul having been delivered over to the devil, his body was surrendered to the secular arm. ^{63Creighton, op. cit., vol. 1, p. 354; Trench, op. cit., pp. 329, 330.}PFF2 115.2

3. BURNED AT STAKE FOR PROPHETIC FAITH

Accompanied by a guard of a thousand armed men and a vast crowd of spectators, Huss was led out of the council precincts. As he passed through the churchyard, Huss saw a bonfire of his books in the public square. Reaching the execution ground, called the“Devil’s Place,” Huss knelt and prayed. His hands were tied behind him, and he was bound to the stake, facing the west. A rusty chain was wound round his neck. Straw and wood were piled around him, and rosin sprinkled upon them. The offer of life was renewed if he would recant, but he refused. Then the lighted fagots were applied. Huss began to sing, but the wind swept the flames into his face and silenced his words. Only his lips moved—until they too were stilled in death for his stand against the Antichrist of Bible prophecy. Then his persecutors stirred his bones with a stick, split open, his skull, and flung it back into the flames, with the unconsumed portions of his garments. Thus his body was reduced to ashes, which were gathered up and cast into the Rhine. ^{64Workman, Dawn of the Reformation, vol. 2, pp. 330-332; David S. Schaff, The Middle Ages, part 2, pp. 382, 383.}PFF2 115.3