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thofe of them, who had been inclined to have recourse to the fword, were gradually convinced, that patient faith and perfeverance in prayer are the proper arms of a chriftian foldier. Never indeed was there a more ftriking inftance of the inefficacy of carnal weapons in defending the church of Chrift. The Bohemians had carried on war for thirteen years, often with great fuccefs, and always with undaunted courage and fortitude; and in the end, they gained only two privileges, merely of an external nature in the adminiftration of the Lord's fupper. With these the majority of the people remained content, and ftill adhered to the papal abominations, while the real chriftians were expofed as much as ever to the perfecutions of the church of Rome, and were not only abandoned, but also cruelly treated by their brethren.

In the mean time the council of Bafil fucceeded that of Conftance. But the reader who has with me examined the motives which appear to have influenced the last mentioned council will not perhaps be difpofed to take the fame pains with that of Bafil, which was conducted on a fimilar plan of fecular intrigue and ambition. Among its other objects, the reduction of Bohemia to the papal fyftem was not forgotten; and Rokyzan, a Calixtine, was allured, by the hopes of the archbishopric of Prague, to fecond the views of the papal party. He A. D. was elected archbishop in 1436, and laboured to 1436. induce the Bohemians to be content without the cup, and in all other things to conform to the Romish doctrine and worship.

The genuine followers of Hufs, were, however, not without hopes of engaging him to promote a more complete reformation. His fifter's fon, Gregory, who was in a great measure the founder

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of the unity of the Huffite brethren, folicited him in the most preffing manner to promote vital godliness. But Rokyzan, though he had light enough to approve of the pious intentions of his nephew, could not, through fear of lofing his archiepifcopal dignity, be prevailed on to oppose the Romish corruptions; yet, he advised the Huffites, to edify one another in private, and gave them fome good books for that purpose. He also obtained for them, permiffion to withdraw to the lordship of Lititz, on the confines of Silefia and Moravia, and there to regulate their plan of worship according to their own confciences.

1453.

About the year 1453, a number of Huffites A. D. repaired to Lititz; and chofe Michael Bradazius for their minifter. He with fome affiftants, under the direction of Gregory, held a conference in 1457, in A.D. which the plan of the Huffite church, or that of the 1457. united brethren was formed, idolatrous rites were prohibited, and a strictness of difcipline, refembling that of the primitive chriftian church, was instituted. Difcipline indeed, was a favourite object of this people; and if their attention to this fubordinate circumtance had been connected with what is of much greater moment,-an accurate and luminous fyftem of chriftian doctrine,-far more falutary confequences would have enfued.-In this the Huffites were certainly defective, though by no mean fundamentally fo; and hence, while they were pursuing a matter of inferior importance, they failed to promote the spirit of godlinefs in fo great a degree as they had expected. The inward life and vigour of their church correfponded not with the purity of its external fyftem, nor could diftreffed confciences find among them that comfort and liberty which are so neceffary to propagate godliness to any great extent. In one point, however, they proved themfelves R 3

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the genuine followers of Chrift; they determined to make use of no carnal weapons for the defence of religion; and no more to fuffer the name of Huffites to be difgraced by fuch unchriftian methods, as it formerly had been.

They were foon called to the exercife of that paffive courage, which they profeffed. The increase of their congregations in Bohemia and Moravia, was beheld with fufpicion both by Romish and Calixtine priests, and they were accufed of an intention to renew the Taborite tumults and to feize the government. Those profeffors of godlinefs, who have been fo far mifled by false zeal, or the love of the world, as to take the fword in defence of religion, little know the injury which they do to the cause which they undertake to fupport. Profane minds are always malicious, and will be ever apt to charge all who profefs the fame truths, with the fame feditious fpirit, of which they have once feen fome inftances. The Huffites therefore, loaded with the infamy of their predeceffors, had now no remedy. Even George Podiebrad, who A. D. was elected king of Bohemia in 1458, and who 1458. had hitherto protected them, now confented to perfecute the united brethren.

They had hoped for fupport in Rokyzan, whose miniftry had formerly been useful to their fouls. With a degree of evangelical light, this man ftill followed the world, and lived in miferable grandeur, dearly purchased at the expence of a good confcience. The following is an extract of a letter, which the brethren wrote to him while they laboured under the imputations of promoting needlefs divifions. It will give the reader fome idea of their principles and fpirit*. "Your fermons have been highly

Joachim Camerarius de Ecclefiis in Bohemia et Moravia, p. 61. I have confulted this treatife, and made use of it as my guide in this chapter, in connection with Crantz's history of the brethren, published by La Trobe.

highly grateful and pleasant to us. You earnestly exhorted us to flee from the horrible errors of anti. chrift, revealed in thefe laft days. You taught us that the devil introduced the abufes of the facraments, and that men placed a falfe hope of falvation in them. You confirmed to us, from the writings of the Apoftles and from the examples of the primitive church, the true doctrine of thofe divine inftitutions. Being diftreffed in our confciences, and diftracted by the variety of opinions, which prevailed in the church, we were induced to follow, your advice, which was to attend the miniftry of Peter Chelezitius, whofe difcourfes and writings gave us a clearer infight into chriftian truths, infomuch that when we faw that your life and practice were at variance with your doctrine, we were conftrained to entertain doubts concerning your religious character. When we converfed with you on this occafion your answer was to this effect, “I know that your fentiments are true; but if I should patronize your caufe, I muft incur the fame infamy and difgrace which you do." Whence we understood, that you would defert us, rather than relinquish the honours of the world. Having now no refuge but in God, we implored him to make known to ús the mystery of his will. As a gracious Father, he hath looked upon our afflictions, and hath heard our prayers. Trufting in our God, we have affembled ourselves in the unity of the faith by which we have been juftified through Jefus Chrift, and of which we were made partakers in conformity to the image of his death, that we might be the heirs of eternal life. Do not imagine, that we have separated ourselves from you on account of certain rites and ceremonies instituted by men ; but on account of evil and corrupt doctrine. For if we could, in connexjon with you, have preserved the true faith in Jefus Chrift

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Christ our Lord, we never fhould have made this feparation."

Thus does it appear that the Huffite brethren were not mere fchifmatics, but properly reformed Proteftants, who feparated from the church of Rome on account of the effentials of godliness, and because, in that church, they could not preferve the genuine faith of the gospel, and purity of worship. And the conftancy, with which they endured perfecution, fhewed, that they had not received the grace of God in vain. For now they were declared unworthy of the common rights of fubjects; and, in the depth of winter, were driven out of the cities and villages, with the forfeiture of all their effects. The fick were thrown into the open fields, where many perished with cold and hunger. Various forts of torture were inflicted on the brethren: numbers were barbarously murdered; and many died in the prifons.

During these melancholy fcenes Gregory, the nephew of Rokyzan, was distinguished by his zeal, fortitude, and charity. To thefe virtues he added prudence and difcretion, of which he gave a remarkable inftance*. The governor of Prague apprehending danger to the brethren to be at hand, had the kindness to warn Gregory to withdraw from Prague, which he did accordingly. Some of the brethren were difgufted at this conduct, and boasted, that the rack was their breakfast, and the flames their dinner. Part, however, of these men failed on the trial, and recanted, to fave their lives; though of

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*It is not easy to give a regular account of these transac tions according to the order of time. There is, I find, fome diverfity in this refpect, between the two authors whom I follow. But I retain the fubftance of the narrative, collected from both.

Joachim Camer. p. 85.

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