THE "NET OF FAITH"
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author of the preface to the first printed edition [1521] : — "The first part," he writes, "explains whence and how such fearful corruption entered the Holy Church, and also states that he who would dig out its true ground and foundation, which is Jesus, must first remove much rubbish, which has been brought into the Church by man ; and then only will you find its true foundation." "The second part of the book explains how 'bands'^ addicted to various and manifold learning and unchristian religious practices sprung up and mightily increased ; and all these bands form a great obstacle to the true knowledge of the creed of our Lord Jesus, for they have clothed themselves with the spirit of haughtiness, and are thus as adverse as possible to the humble and poor Lord Jesus." The first part of the work, as stated above, deals with the corruption into which Christianity had fallen, and at the same time formulates Chelcicky's ideal Christianity more clearly than the writer has done elsewhere. In chapter xi. Chelcicky writes of the primitive Church : " Therefore, if we consider these early Christians, we will see that they were sufficiently guided in their faith by the Apostles according to the law of Christ ; for that law in itself is useful for the purpose of directing God's people to salvation ; for only by means of the direction given by that law can God's people be led to that true innocence which God loves in them ; they should in' The Bohemian word rota is not easy to interpret. It can be translated by "bands" or "classes," but it has an invidious signification which the English word "classes" does not render. The word is frequently used by ChelCicky CheWicky with reference to the aristocracy and higher clergy. rotdch Cesk^ch, but it has not been preserved. wrote a separate treatise,
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