The Great Controversy The Great Controversy | Page 99

Driven to worship in the forests and the mountains, they were hunted by
soldiers, and many were put to death. After a time it was decreed that all
who departed from the Romish worship should be burned. But while the
Christians yielded up their lives, they looked forward to the triumph of
their cause. One of those who “taught that salvation was only to be found
by faith in the crucified Saviour,” declared when dying: “The rage of the
enemies of the truth now prevails against us, but it will not be forever;
there shall arise one from among the common people, without sword or
authority, and against him they shall not be able to prevail.”—Ibid., b.
3, ch. 1. Luther’s time was yet far distant; but already one was rising,
whose testimony against Rome would stir the nations.
John Huss was of humble birth, and was early left an orphan by the
death of his father. His pious mother, regarding education and the fear of
God as the most valuable of possessions, sought to secure this heritage
for her son. Huss studied at the provincial school, and then repaired to
the university at Prague, receiving admission as a charity scholar. He
was accompanied on the journey to Prague by his mother; widowed and
poor, she had no gifts of worldly wealth to bestow upon her son, but as
they drew near to the great city, she kneeled down beside the fatherless
youth and invoked for him the blessing of their Father in heaven. Little
did that mother realize how her prayer was to be answered.
At the university, Huss soon distinguished himself by his untiring
application and rapid progress, while his blameless life and gentle,
winning deportment gained him universal esteem. He was a sincere
adherent of the Roman Church and an earnest seeker for the spiritual
blessings which it professes to bestow. On the occasion of a jubilee he
went to confession, paid the last few coins in his scanty store, and joined
in the processions, that he might share in the absolution promised. After
completing his college course, he entered the priesthood, and rapidly
attaining to eminence,

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