lity of Bohemia and Poland presented a petition to the emperor and council, wherein they desired that doctor Huss might be set at liberty, as he had been seized and imprisoned contrary to the safe conduct of his imperial majesty. The Bohemians presented a writing to the council, wherein they maintained, that the propositions, which the enemies of Huss had drawn out of his books, were mutilated, and falsified, on purpose to put him to death: They prayed the council to set him at liberty, that he might be heard for himself, and offered to give bond for his appearance. The patriarch of Antioch answered, int the name of the council, that they could not set Huss at liberty; but would send for him, and give him a favourable hearing. The lords of Bohemia then addressed the emperor, who had sent him there to defend that kingdom from a charge of heresy, and was now one of his perse

cutors.

The fourteenth session was held on the fifth of June, when it was resolved, that, before they sent for doctor Huss, the articles drawn out of his books should be examined, and condemned, even without hearing his vindication. This was so strongly opposed by the nobles of Bohemia, that the emperor told the council, they must hear Huss, before they condemned him; upon which they sent for him, ordered him to acknowledge his books, and read the first articles of his accusation. These were about thirty *, drawn from the writings of Wickliffe, and some of them he freely admitted; such as, that there was one, only, • universal church, which is a collection of all the elect. That the apostle Paul was never a member of the devil, ⚫ which he proved from the testimony of St Augustin. • That a predestinate person always continues a member of the church; because although he may sometimes fall ⚫ from that grace which is adventitious to him, yet never from the grace of predestination. That no member of the true church apostatizes from it, because the grace of God, which establishes him, never fails. That St Peter never was, nor is, the head of the catholic church, ⚫ because this is the peculiar prerogative of Christ. That ⚫ the condemnation of the forty-five articles of Wickliffe

‹ was

*The reader, who is defirous more particularly to examine the acts and proceedings against this good man, together with fome of his letters to friends, may find them at large in the first volume of Fox's Acts and Monuments. And for a more minute account, he may perufe an excellent hiftory of Hufs, Jerom, Zisca, &c. written in a very masterly manner by the Rev. Mr Gilpin.

was irrational and unjust. That there was no colour of < reason, that there should be a spiritual head always visibly ⚫ conversant in the church, and governing it.'

Mr Toplady, in his very able performance, entitled, Historic Proof of the Doctrinal Calvinism of the church of England, states the following articles, for which, among others, this excellent man was put to death. "There is "but one holy, universal, or catholic church, which is the "universal company of ALL the PREDESTINATE. I do con"fess," said Huss," that this proposition is mine; and "[it] is confirmed by St Augustin upon St John."

"St Paul was NEVER any member of the devil, albeit that "he committed and did certain acts like unto the acts of the «malignant church" [i. e. St Paul prior to his conversion, acted like a reprobate, though he was, secretly, and in reality, one of God's elect.] "And likewise St Peter, who fell "into an horrible sin of perjury, and denial of his Master; it "was by the PERMISSION of God, that he might the more firmly and steadfastly rise again and be confirmed." To this charge, Huss replied, "I answer, according to St Austin, "that it is expedient that the elect and predestinate should "sin and offend *."

"No part or member of the church doth depart, or fall away, at any time, from the body: Forsomuch as the cha"rity of FREDESTINATION, which is the bond and chain of "the same, doth never fall." Huss answers; This pro"position is thus placed in my book: As the reprobate of "the church procede cut of the same, and yet are not as parts " or members of the same: forsomuch as no part or member of "the same doth FINALLY fall away: Because that the charity of PREDESTINATION, which is the bond and chain of the same, doth never fall away. This is proved by 1 Cor. ❝ xiii. and Rom. viii. All things turn to good, to them that "love God; Also, I am certain that neither death nor life "can separate us from the charity and love of God, as it is "more at large in the book."

Another article objected against him, was, his being of opinion that "The PREDESTINATE, although he be not "in the state of grace according to the present justice, yet is "ALWAYS a member of the universal church." He answers: "Thus it is in the book about the beginning of

* Let not the reader imagine (says Mr Toplady) that I approve of the unguarded manner, in which Mr Huss here expreffes himself. I only give his answer, faithfully, as I and it. His meaning I doubt not, was this: That, by the incomprehenfible alchymy of God's infinite wisdom, even moral evil itself fhall be finally over-ruled to good."

D

"the

"the fifth chapter, where it is declared, that There be "divers manners or sorts of being in the church: For there

are some in the church, according to the mis-shapen "faith; and other some according to PREDESTINATION: "As Christians predestinate, now in sin, SHALL RETURN "AGAIN unto grace." The good man added: "Predes"tination doth make a man a member of the universal "church; the which [i. e. Predestination] is a preparation "of GRACE for the present, and of GLORY to come : And "not any degree of" [outward]" dignity, neither elec❝tion of man" [or, one man's designation of another to some office or station], "neither any sensible sign,” [i. e. Predestination does not barely extend to the outward signs, or means of grace: But includes something more and higher] For the traitor Judas Iscariot, notwithstand"ing Christ's election" [or appointment of him to the apostleship ;]" and the temporal graces which were given "him for his office of apostleship, and that he was reputed "and counted of men a true apostle of Jesus Christ; yet "was he no true disciple, but a Wolf covered in a sheep's "skin, as St Augustin saith."

" A REPROBATE man is never a member of the holy church. "I answer, It is in my book, with sufficient long pro"bation out of the xxvith Psalm, and out of the vth "chapter to the Ephesians: And also by St Bernard's "saying, The church of Jesus Christ is MORE plainly and

evidently HIS BODY, than the body which he delivered for "us to death. I have also written, in the fifth chapter of "my book, that the holy church," [i. e. the outward, visible church of professing Christians, here on earth]" is the

barn of the Lord, in which are both good and evil, pre"destinate and reprobate: The good being as the good corn, "or grain; and the evil, as the chaff. And thereunto is "added the exposition of St Austin."

"Judas was NEVER a true disciple of Jesus Christ.—I "answer, and I do confess the same. They came out from "amongst us, but they were none of us.-He knew, from the "beginning, who they were that believed not, and should betray "him. And therefore, I say unto you, that none COMETH "unto me, except it be GIVEN him of my Father."

Such were some of the allegations brought against this holy man by the council of Constance; and such were his answers, when he stood on his public trial, as a lilly among thorns, or a sheep in the midst of wolves. How easy is it for a man to write in defence of those inestimable truths, which (through the goodness of divine providence)

have

have now, in our happy land, the sanction of national establishment! But with what invincible strength of grace was this adamantine saint endued, who bore his explicit, unshaken testimony to the faith, in the presence and hearing of its worst foes, armed with all the terrific powers of this world!

These are doctrines which, even in the purest ages of the church, have received countenance, and Huss boldly acknowledged them. But one circumstance bore more hard against him, which was, wishing his soul to be with the happy spirit of Wickliffe. Doctor Huss had too generous, too open a nature, to deny what he thought; nor did he imagine that life was worthy prevarication. He freely confessed, he was so charmed with Wickliffe's books, that he wished his spirit might enjoy the same fate with his hereafter. A great many other false and frivolous objections were raised against him, which he refuted with a manly eloquence, and recommending himself, and his cause to God, he was carried off.

He was no sooner gone, than the emperor, whose subject he was, and who shewed a peculiar zeal in his fate, rose, and told the assembly, That, in his opinion, every ' tenet he had then held, deserved death. That if he did not abjure, he ought to be burnt: And that all his followers, especially Jerom of Prague, should be exem'plarily punished.' But we are told, that the emperor and the cardinal of Chambre, exhorted doctor Huss to submit to the decision of the council. The next day, he was brought again before the assembly, where eighty-nine articles were read to him, which were said to be drawn out of his books, and he was advised to abjure them all : But he replied, that there were many of those propositions which he had never maintained, and he was ready to explain his opinion regarding the others. After many disputes, he was sent back to prison; and a resolution was then taken to burn him as a heretic, if he would not retract,

The emperor, on the tenth of June, sent four bishops, and two lords, to the prison, to prevail on Huss to make a recantation. But that pious divine, with truly Christian simplicity, called the great God to witness, with tears in his eyes, that he was not conscious of having preached, or written any thing against the truth of God, or the faith of his orthodox church. The deputies then represented the great wisdom and authority of the council. "Let "them, said Huss, send the meanest person that can con

"vince me, by arguments, from the word of God, and F "will submit my judgment to him." This Christian and

pious answer had no effect; because he would not take the authority and learning of the council upon trust, without the least shadow of an argument offered; and the deputies parted in high admiration of his obstinacy!

While this good confessor was in bonds, he wrote letters to incite his countrymen to persevere in the doctrines he had taught; and expressed his own firm resolution of never departing from them while he had life.

Doctor Huss, on the seventh of July, was conducted to the place where the fifteenth session of the council was held. He was required to abjure, which he refused: And the bishop of Londi, in a bloody, persecuting sermon, about the destruction of heretics, pronounced the prologue of his fate, by exhorting the emperor, who seemed ready enough of himself, to exterminate the growing heresy, that (as he was pleased to pervert the scripture) the body of sin might be destroyed. He told Sigismund, that he ought to destroy all errors and heresies, and especially the obstinate heretic Huss before him, since by his • wickedness and mischief, many places of the world were infected with most pestilent and heretical poison, and, by his means and occasion, almost utterly subverted and 'destroyed. And that then the emperor's praises would be celebrated for evermore, for having overthrown such, and so great enemies of the faith.' A most honourable testimony for Dr Huss from the traducing mouth of a virulent adversary! In fine, the proctor of the council demanded that the process against Huss should be finished; the condemned articles of Wickliffe were read, and the thirty articles alledged against Huss, who explained some, and defended others. Many other articles of accusation were also read, which were proved by witnesses against him. His fate was determined, his vindication disregarded, and judgment was pronounced. His books were thereby condemned, and he was declared a manifest heretic, convicted of having taught many heresies and pernicious errors; of having despised the keys of the church, and ecclesiastical censures; of having seduced and given scandal to the faithful by his obstinacy; and of having rashly appealed to the tribunal of Christ: The council, therefore, censured him for being obstinate and incorrigible; and ordained, That he should be degraded from the priesthood, his • books publicly burnt, and himself delivered to the secular 'power.'

Doctor