the doctrines of Wycliffe and Huss , excepting , however , the " holy truths " which they had taught . -- Ibid , vol . 2 , p . 141 .
By this expedient Jerome endeavored to silence the voice of conscience and escape his doom . But in the solitude of his dungeon he saw more clearly what he had done . He thought of the courage and fidelity of Huss , and in contrast pondered upon his own denial of the truth . He thought of the divine Master whom he had pledged himself to serve , and who for his sake endured the death of the cross . Before his retraction he had found comfort , amid all his sufferings , in the assurance of God ' s favor ; but now remorse and doubts tortured his soul . He knew that still other retractions must be made before he could be at peace with Rome . The path upon which he was entering could end only in complete apostasy . His resolution was taken : To escape a brief period of suffering he would not deny his Lord .
Soon he was again brought before the council . His submission had not satisfied his judges . Their thirst for blood , whetted by the death of Huss , clamored for fresh victims . Only by an unreserved surrender of the truth could Jerome preserve his life . But he had determined to avow his faith and follow his brother martyr to the flames . He renounced his former recantation and , as a dying man , solemnly required an opportunity to make his defense . Fearing the effect of his words , the prelates insisted that he should merely affirm or deny the truth of the charges brought against him . Jerome protested against such cruelty and injustice . " You have held me shut up three hundred and forty days in a frightful prison ," he said , " in the midst of filth , noisomeness , stench , and the utmost want of everything ; you then bring me out before you , and lending an ear to my mortal enemies , you refuse to hear me . . . . If you be really wise men , and the lights of the world , take care not to sin against justice . As to me , I am only a feeble mortal ; my life is but of little importance ; and when I exhort you not to deliver an unjust sentence , I speak less for myself than for you ." -- Ibid ., vol . 2 , pp . 146 , 147 .
His request was finally granted . In the presence of his judges , Jerome kneeled down and prayed that the divine Spirit might control his thoughts and words , that he might speak nothing contrary to the truth or unworthy of his Master . To him that day was fulfilled the promise of God to the first disciples : " Ye shall be brought before governors and kings for My sake . . . . But when they deliver you up , take no thought how or what ye shall speak : for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak . For it is not ye that speak , but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you ." Matthew 10:18-20 .
The words of Jerome excited astonishment and admiration , even in his enemies . For a whole year he had been immured in a dungeon , unable to read or even to see , in great physical
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