celebrated in an unknown language, and that many evils
and heresies had arisen from not observing this rule."(125) Thus Rome
decreed that the light of God's word should be extinguished, and the
people should be shut up in darkness. But Heaven had provided other
agencies for the preservation of the church. Many of the Waldenses and
Albigenses, driven by persecution from their homes in France and Italy,
came to Bohemia. Though they dared not teach openly, they labored
zealously in secret. Thus the true faith was preserved from century to
century.

Before the days of Huss, there were men in Bohemia who rose up to condemn
openly the corruption in the church and the profligacy of the people.
Their labors excited widespread interest. The fears of the hierarchy were
roused, and persecution was opened against the disciples of the gospel.
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."(126)
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 gift 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 deport