Page:Letters of John Huss Written During His Exile and Imprisonment.djvu/160

safe keeping?” Oh! certainly I suffered much to-day. One bishop said to me, “You have established a new law:” another, “You have preached all these articles;” and I replied warmly and strongly, with the aid of God, and concluded by asking, “Why do you overwhelm me with insults?”

Write nothing to me of the witnesses cited to appear, for no step has been taken about them, either by themselves, or by the king, or by the citizens of Prague.

 

---

 

LETTER XXVIII.^[1]

 

[Huss replies to Peter the notary, who had encouraged him to give proofs of constancy. This letter, says Luther, is a noble testimony in support of the saying of the Apostle Paul, that virtue will improve in affliction, and God brings forth fruits in us by temptation.]

 

May salvation come to thee from Jesus Christ! I dare not rashly say, with St Peter, since my fervour and courage are infinitely inferior to his, that “though all men shall be offended because of Christ, yet will I never be offended.”

Jesus Christ has never, in express terms, declared me to be blessed like Peter, and has not promised me such

 

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