The Great Controversy The Great Controversy | Page 100

he soon became attached to the court of the king. He was also made
professor and afterward rector of the university where he had received
his education. In a few years the humble charity scholar had become the
pride of his country, and his name was renowned throughout Europe.
But it was in another field that Huss began the work of reform.
Several years after taking priest’s orders he was appointed preacher of
the chapel of Bethlehem. The founder of this chapel had advocated,
as a matter of great importance, the preaching of the Scriptures in the
language of the people. Notwithstanding Rome’s opposition to this
practice, it had not been wholly discontinued in Bohemia. But there was
great ignorance of the Bible, and the worst vices prevailed among the
people of all ranks. These evils Huss unsparingly denounced, appealing
to the word of God to enforce the principles of truth and purity which he
inculcated.
A citizen of Prague, Jerome, who afterward became so closely
associated with Huss, had, on returning from England, brought with
him the writings of Wycliffe. The queen of England, who had been a
convert to Wycliffe’s teachings, was a Bohemian princess, and through
her influence also the Reformer’s works were widely circulated in her
native country. These works Huss read with interest; he believed their
author to be a sincere Christian and was inclined to regard with favor the
reforms which he advocated. Already, though he knew it not, Huss had
entered upon a path which was to lead him far away from Rome.
About this time there arrived in Prague two strangers from England,
men of learning, who had received the light and had come to spread
it in this distant land. Beginning with an open attack on the pope’s
supremacy, they were soon silenced by the authorities; but being
unwilling to relinquish their purpose, they had recourse to other
measures. Being artists as well as preachers, they proceeded to exercise
their skill. In a place open to the public they drew two pictures. One
represented the entrance of Christ into Jerusalem,

99