served as a restraint upon the impulsive spirit of Jerome , who , with true humility , perceived his worth , and yielded to his counsels . Under their united labors the reform was more rapidly extended .
God permitted great light to shine upon the minds of these chosen men , revealing to them many of the errors of Rome ; but they did not receive all the light that was to be given to the world . Through these , His servants , God was leading the people out of the darkness of Romanism ; but there were many and great obstacles for them to meet , and He led them on , step by step , as they could bear it . They were not prepared to receive all the light at once . Like the full glory of the noontide sun to those who have long dwelt in darkness , it would , if presented , have caused them to turn away . Therefore He revealed it to the leaders little by little , as it could be received by the people . From century to century , other faithful workers were to follow , to lead the people on still further in the path of reform .
The schism in the church still continued . Three popes were now contending for the supremacy , and their strife filled Christendom with crime and tumult . Not content with hurling anathemas , they resorted to temporal weapons . Each cast about him to purchase arms and to obtain soldiers . Of course money must be had ; and to procure this , the gifts , offices , and blessings of the church were offered for sale . ( See Appendix note for page 59 .) The priests also , imitating their superiors , resorted to simony and war to humble their rivals and strengthen their own power . With daily increasing boldness Huss thundered against the abominations which were tolerated in the name of religion ; and the people openly accused the Romish leaders as the cause of the miseries that overwhelmed Christendom .
Again the city of Prague seemed on the verge of a bloody conflict . As in former ages , God ' s servant was accused as " he that troubleth Israel ." 1 Kings 18:17 . The city was again placed under interdict , and Huss withdrew to his native village . The testimony so faithfully borne from his loved chapel of Bethlehem was ended . He was to speak from a wider stage , to all Christendom , before laying down his life as a witness for the truth . To cure the evils that were distracting Europe , a general council was summoned to meet at Constance . The council was called at the desire of the emperor Sigismund , by one of the three rival popes , John XXIII . The demand for a council had been far from welcome to Pope John , whose character and policy could ill bear investigation , even by prelates as lax in morals as were the churchmen of those times . He dared not , however , oppose the will of Sigismund . ( See Appendix .)
The chief objects to be accomplished by the council were to heal the schism in the church and to root out heresy . Hence the two antipopes were summoned to appear before it ,
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