Stephen: of whom Christ, nay St. Stephen also, saith: They know not what they do.[1] Am I hurt at all because in a blasphemous back-hand fashion they preach a crusade against me,[2] make a covenant with Judas, throw stones at the Host, and so beget vexation for themselves? May the Lord God grant that they do not excommunicate themselves. They planned out these devices in order to frighten the simple and lead them away just as they pleased; but the Lord Almighty will give the faithful to know what it all means, so that they may recognise that it is a mere invention of their minds and not a command from the
Lord: so that also they may pray for those who are in error and proclaim that they will be excommunicated of God: only they must not behave in God’s temple in this blasphemous way towards those who do them no harm. They pick up stones not knowing what they mean by so doing; but they throw stones, as is recorded in their own writings,[3] in memory of the eternal damnation of Dathan and Abyron,[4] who thrust themselves into the priesthood, though of inferior dignity; and who therefore by their over throw foreshadow the overthrow of all priests that have thrust themselves into the priesthood for the sake of riches, luxuries, and honours. They make a covenant with the sons of Judas, so that they become notable sons of Judas themselves. They are all guilty of simony, excommunicated of God, Who looks upon those whose own downfall will be caused
- ↑ Luke xxiii. 34; cf. Acts vii. 59.
- ↑ Quod blaspheme modo retrogrado crucem deferunt. The meaning is obscure, but seems determined by a complaint of Jesenicz written December 18, 1412; see Mon. i . 331a, Repetitio pro defens. Hus.
- ↑ P.: in cutibus; read codicibus.
- ↑ Sic, as in Vulgate, Numb. xvi. 1.
