Letters of John Huss Written During His Exile and Imprisonment/Letter 39, To the Lord Haulikon

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
For other English-language translations of this work, see Letter of Jan Hus to Gallus, preacher in Bethlehem.

LETTER XXXIX.[1]

TO THE LORD HAULIKON.

[Huss invites him not to oppose administering the blood of Jesus Christ to laymen under the form of wine.]

As a preacher of the word of Christ, my very dear brother, do not oppose the administering of the Cup, it being a Sacrament instituted by Jesus Christ and his apostles. No text of Scripture is opposed to it, but only custom; and I think that this was established only through negligence and forgetfulness. But it is not custom which we should follow, but the example of Christ. The Council, alleging custom as a motive, has declared the Communion of the Cup by layman to be an error, and has ordained, that whosoever should practise it, shall be punished as a heretic, if he did not amend this practice. Already, then, has the malice of men condemned as an error an institution of Christ. I conjure you, by the love of God, not to attack Master Jacobel, that there may not be any division amongst the faithful, and that Satan may not find a new subject for joy. Prepare yourself as quickly as possible, my dear brother, to suffer for the Communion of the Cup. Lay aside all fears which is unworthy of you, and remain firm in the truth of Christ, exhorting the other brethren by the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. I think that they will give you, in support of the Communion of the Cup, what I have written at Constance. Salute the faithful in Christ.

Written in irons, on the eve of the day of the Ten Thousand.

  1. Hist. et. Monum. Johann. Huss, Epist. xvi.