Hus Prepares for Death.
Hus had about a month after the trial to await the end. He remembered
his and his friends' forebodings, and wrote bitterly: "Put not your
trust in princes. I thought the Emperor had some regard for law and
truth; now I perceive that these weigh little with him. Truly did they
say that Sigismund would deliver me up to my adversaries: he has
condemned me before they did. Would that he could have shown me as much
moderation as the heathen Pilate."
He wrote a touching farewell letter to his beloved flock in the
Bethlehem Chapel and another to the University at Prag.
After Hus had left Prag, Jacobellus of Mies began to give the cup as
well as the bread to the lay communicants. The General Council on June
15, admitted Christ had instituted the Lord's Supper in the two species
of bread and wine, yet it decreed to burn as heretics all who did as
Christ commanded.
Hus on June 21, writes to Gallus (Havlik), preacher at the Bethlehem
Chapel: "What wickedness! Behold, they condemn Christ's institutions as
heresy!"
Till the end of June they made many efforts to get Hus to recant; he
firmly refused: "I cannot recant; in the first place, I would thereby
recant many truths, and in the second place, I would commit perjury and
give offence to pious souls. I stand at the judgment-seat of Christ, to
whom I have appealed, knowing that He will judge every man, not
according to false witness, but according to the truth and each one's
deserts." Against the authority of men Hus asserted the authority of
his conscience enlightened by the Holy Scriptures.
On July 1, Hus was brought out again to recant his heresies. He replied
in writing: "I, John Hus, fearing to sin against God, and fearing to
commit perjury, am not willing to abjure ... any of them."
On July 5, a deputation of some of the most eminent members of the
Council made a final effort to get Hus to recant. Wenzel of Duba said:
"Behold Master John, I am a layman and cannot give advice. Consider then
if thou feelest thyself guilty of any of the things of which thou art
accused. If so, do not hesitate to accept instruction and recant. But if
thou dost not feel guilty of these things that are brought forward
against thee, be guided by thy conscience, do nothing against thy
conscience, nor lie before the face of God; rather hold unto death to
the truth as thou hast understood it."
Hus answered in tears: "Be it known to you that if I knew I had written
or preached anything against the law and holy Mother Church, I would
humbly recant; may God be my witness to this; but I always desired that
they should show me doctrines better and more credible than those I have
written and taught. If such be shown me, I will gladly recant."