The Great Controversy The Great Controversy | Page 98

Chap. 6 - Huss and Jerome
The gospel had been planted in Bohemia as early as the ninth
century. The Bible was translated, and public worship was conducted,
in the language of the people. But as the power of the pope increased,
so the word of God was obscured. Gregory VII, who had taken it upon
himself to humble the pride of kings, was no less intent upon enslaving
the people, and accordingly a bull was issued forbidding public worship
to be conducted in the Bohemian tongue. The pope declared that “it was
pleasing to the Omnipotent that His worship should be celebrated in an
unknown language, and that many evils and heresies had arisen from
not observing this rule.”—Wylie, b. 3, ch. 1. Thus Rome decreed that
the light of God’s word should be extinguished and the people should
be shut up in darkness. But Heaven had provided other agencies for
the preservation of the church. Many of the Waldenses and Albigenses,
driven by persecution from their homes in France and Italy, came to
Bohemia. Though they dared not teach openly, they labored zealously
in secret. Thus the true faith was preserved from century to century.
Before the days of Huss there were men in Bohemia who rose up
to condemn openly the corruption in the church and the profligacy of
the people. Their labors excited widespread interest. The fears of the
hierarchy were roused, and persecution was opened against the disciples
of the gospel.

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