Newspaper Page Text
No 7 Vol. VII.]
THE BURNING OF JOHN HUSS.
In “ The Lollard#—a Tale,” founded on
persecutions which marked the early
si'iri of the fifteeutb century—a work of
considerable value and interest,—there are
j-orne impressive descriptions of the cele
Wnted Christian Reformer, John Huss.
the account of his martyrdom cannot fail
io arouse deep attention. The age of per
iiecutioo by tire and faggot is passed, but
here is an instauce of its destructive, sweep
’ heartless severity, while it lasted.
The following extracts from the work, des
criptive ot the burning of John Hus*, we
think it is impossible for any one to read
without the tnoet painful emotions
V“ The procession moved on—Huss, ab
-orbed in pious meditufious, was only awake
■o joyful hope; and the momentary weak
ness which had come over him in the
church has given place to the most settled
i'orlitiide. Arriving at the gate of the Epis
copal palace, he saw a pile of wood, and be
lieved that he was already at the place of
‘execution. He wa soon undeceived, for
the wood being tired, he saw his writings
brought forward, and successively thrown
;ato the flames. A smile played on his fea
tures, which he tried but in vain to smother
[while be witnessed this vain experiment;
■old turning to the crowd with the utmost
composure, he declared that his writings
•vere consumed, not for the errours which
hey contained, but to gratify the ignoble
T age of his adversaries
u The ?un shone bright, but a shower of
rain had fallen, and within the circle to
which Htiss was admitted to view the des
truction of his books, he saw a large earth
worn, in his path. He stepped a little aside
to avoid treading on it. Oue of his guards,
who observed this, placed his foot on the
reptile with an air of bravado.
“ ‘ I would call the worm my brother,’
said the martyr, ‘and truly we are brothers
in mir-lortiioe, for we peri-h by the 9ame
cruelty.’
“ He now approached a large area, which
had been cleared from the crowd, who still
anxiou-lv pre-sed forward wherever tin* vi
gilance of the guards was relaxed. It was
opposite the gate ot Gottlebian, and between
the gates and gardens of the suburbs. In
the centre he saw an accumulation of fag
gots amidst which a strong post was erect
ed. Several men were employed in carry
ing more wood in the open space, and four
large bundles of straw were placed beside
■the faggots. A man of ferocious aspect
stood near the post about which the fag
gots were being piled, lie was engaged in
disentangling the coils of a rope, which had
been recently immersed in water, and two
or three chains were laid across a bench,
will, an appearance of careful arrangement.
Hnss had no difficulty in recognising in this
mat. ni? executioner; and in the place to
which he had now been conducted, the spot
on which he was to die.
u Though the unfortunate Hus? was sur
rounded by beings who had wrought them
selves up to suppose that the torture and
death of a virtuous mm would be an accep
table spectacle lo a God of merev, there
were many among the crowd, whose piety
fell far short ol that zeal which could con-
template the meditated sacrifice without
shuddering liorrour. These now made
their voices heard, remarking, that in what
ever way the sufferer had before offended,
he prayed most devoutly, and some wished
he ovght he indulged with a confessor.
Bat a priest who had been present at Hit*
council, anj wa now tiding within the cir
cle, called out, on perceiving the impres
sion which the martyr’s words bad made,
that being a convicted hereiick, those en
trusted wish ihe punishment his offences
ought nni to sutler him lo be heard. At the
same time, lie declared that no confessor
could be allowed lo approach one so accnr
sed—cut off from, and already dead to the
Church.
“ The executioner then took from bi
j)er.-on a white coat, in honour of hi* anii
-1 cipated deliverance. A frock, prepared
with pitch and tar, was brought to hiin, and
wearing this, he was conducted to the slake.
His hands were bound, and two faggots,
with straw intermixed, were placed beneath
his feet. A wet rope was put round him,
and this was tied to the stake, when a par
tial murmur ran through those who had
been admitted within the guarded space.
Jluss started. An idea crossed his mind
that possibly Sigimuod had relented; hut
this was immediately dismissed, when the
priest, who had before spoken to reprove
the cries of the crowd, advanced to give ex
presjnin to the feeling which bad just man
ifested itself.
“ Hass was first tied round the middle
with r.ord. A chain was passed over these,
nd chains were fastened to hi* left leg and
Iris neck. Thus securely bound to the
eta&e, the faggots provided for the occasion,
were piled to thsmhio; straw was placed
beneath and between them, where it was
thought likely must effectually to contribute
to the fierceuess of the blaze.
“A moment of awful expectation follow
ed. The executioner approached with a
lighted torch; when the Duke of Bavaria
rode up to Muss, and loudly called to him,
demanding lb.#’ he should now renounce hi- -
errours; at the same time reminding him
THE MISSIONARY.
that in a few moments it would be out of
his power to do so.
“ ‘ I thought the danger already passed
he replied, ‘but happily, I am nothing
tempted to gainsay what I have heretofore
advanced. I have taught the truth, and
am now ready to seal it with my blood.
Ultimately it shall prevail, though I may
not see it. This day you kindle the flame 9
of persecution about a poor and worthless
sinner; but the spirit which animates me,
■'hall, phoenix like, ascend from my ashes,
soar majestically on high through many suc
ceeding ages, and prove to all the Christian
world, how vain this persecution, how im
potent your rage.’
“ The martyr turned as far ns hi bands
would admit, and looked towards the exe
cutioner, who now approached to kindle the
tire. His movement caused some of the
outer faggots to fall. Upon this the (lam
ing torch was laid down, till the wood could
be replaced. The Bohemian saw the torch
resumed, and in the same instant he beard
the crackling of the lighted straw The
rapidly extending blaze spread round the
pile; while, seizing the last moments that
remained to him on earth, Huss prayed
aloud. He was proceeding when the rising
flame seized his beard, eves, and eyebrows,
and an involuntary start threw the cap from
hi* head His voice was again heard above
the roaring of the volume of fire, which
now burst from the top of the pile behind
the stake. Utterance tailed him ; hut his
uplifted eyes evinced, in (hat awful moment,
that his heart was still awake to devotion,
though his tongue is mute forever. His
face became violently distorted, and bowing
down his head he was seen to expire.
Enough wood-had not been provided, and
•he fire tailed before the mortal remains of
the martyr were more than half consumed.
His clothes had been thrown on tiie pile in
aid ot the faggots; but all was insufficient,
and new supply of wood was necessary.
1 he burning being at length complete, his
ashes were carefully collected, carried
away in a cart, and thrown into a neigh
bouring river, that tile admirers of the Bo
hemian might possess nothing to recall the
memory ol their martyr.”
From the Family Visitor.
CHRISTIAN OBSERVANCE OF THE
SABBATH
Every Christ lan muwt Lnow how th* *
Sabbath should be kept ; for the proper
observance of this holy day is inculcated
both in the Law and the Gospel. Tin
frequent neglect of a divine command so
“tiemnly enforced, cannot then arise from
ignorance. It may therefore be useful to
investigate the sources of this lamentable
deficiency in Christian practice. Many
persons are content with a slight adhrrane.e
to those dinne precepts which enjoin re
slraints upon their natural inclinations ; but
it would seem that a permission to rest
from the toils of Ide, could not fail to be
acceptable to tbe weary and heavy la
den.
If we owed the institution of the Sab
bath to some human benefactor, and could
look back upon tlfe time when mankind
were without this privilege, we should
perhaps appreciate if properly. We
should doubtless celebrate it as we now do
our National festivals, with tributes ol
prai9e to its author, and a thankful remem l
brance ol other blessings derived from his
hand But we owe this benefit to one
from whose gooduess we have received so
much, that we are apt in our cureless es
timate of His mercies to oimt tume of Iran
sceodent value to our souls. At leat it
may fairly be inferred, that we think light
ly of those things,that we may he accused
of slighting the giver, when we reject the
advantages of his gifis. But the general
misuse of our appointed season of rest, may
be attributed to a misconception of it 4 * du
ties and privileges. The word “ res?,” in
its wordly acceptation, means nothing more
than a cessation from bodily labour. But
the scripture sense is of far dearer signifi
cation. The people of God are promised
au “ entrance into his rest,” when they are
released from the thraldom of the flesh;
and tbe sabbmb on earth, may be consider
e.d as a type of that emancipation from the
bondage of sin, which is to be enjoyed in
Heaveu. Some divines have been ofopin
ion that the Angels themselves have their
appointed seasons of more solemn devotion
and greater rejoicing when accordmg to
the beautiful expression of Job “ The morn
ing stars sing together, and all the Sons of
God shout for joy !” The injunction to re
frain from bodily labour on the Sabbath,
includes an obligation to release our minds
from worldly thoughts and cares. If we
pursue our temporal concerns in imagina
tion, we are virtually guilty of a breach of
the fourth commandment. The services
which we are required to render to our
Maker on His own holy day, must engage
our thoughts and feelings to the exclusion
of every other subject. His requisitions
extend to the heart* of his people, and they
mu9t lay aside the petty interests of this
life while engaged with the awful consider
ations ot Eternity. The Sabbath does not
properly belong to this life—lt is the day
on which tbu care shaken soul of man is in
vited to renew its hold on heaven. It
should be spent in unbroken holiness and
nru a ■ j . *l° ye ‘. n . t 0 ? n the wor,d > nd preach the Gospel to every creature.- -Jetvt Christ
all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperhy, iteligior and Morality are indispensable supports— Washington.
MOUNT ZION, (HANCOCK COUNTY, GEORGIA,) MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1825.
stillness of reflection, and the turmoil of
other days should be remembered no more.
If this portion of our time was scrupulous
ly set apart for the exercises of religion,
we thould find it easier to keep alive a de
votional spirit during the tumults insepara
ble from our weekly occupation*. It is
difficult to maintain a pious frame es mind
amidst the disturbance of worldly emotions;
but this discipline of the heart is essential
to our spiritual welfare, and a proper oh
servance of the sabbath will aid us greatly
in its attainment.
Among many professing Christians, the
habit of paying visits on the day of rest, is
most perniciously indulged. They think
themselves absolved from further duty,
when they have joined in the exercises of
the sanctuary. Their persons have been
carefully decorated to assist in the cer
emonial of religions worship, apd the same
preparation will suffice for other observan
ces of ceremony. They gtide with pliant
spirits from the formal rile? of the temple,
to the less irksome requisitions of the social
circle. Some slight pretext i perhaps as
signed for an apparent departure from cus
tomary restrictions. It i* not, they say,
the usual practice of any indtvidul, but cir
cumstances sometimes make such little de
viations necessary. A stranger has arrived
in the neighbourhood and the luifiness of
the week has prevented the attentions that
hospitality dictates. It is one of our social
duties to welcome the new comer, and
what time is more proper for such good of
fices, than the unappropriated fragment of
a leisure day ? This familiar denomination
is applied by many religions professors to
that day’ which the almighty Being “ bles
sed and hallowed,” and commanded hi 9
creatures to keep holy !
It is by no means uncommon to hear the
head of a family declare, that he shall not
have a leisure moment, until Sunday , when
he will think over the subject in question
and give his opinion ; this is perhaps said
in the presence of his children, who of
course infer, that thoughts cjn vvordly sub
jects are not among the prohihted occopa
tions ot the sabbath. It is not altogether
unusual for members of the Christian
Church to give the sanction of their exam
pie to certain questionable modes of filling
up their vacant hours on the days of rest.
They rigorously enforce the observances
<t |ilblick wnrahip, Stnß liorbapa u
period for private devotion ; but when
these essential duties have been regularly
performed, there is still some heavy time
to dispose of, which is generally made light
by idle conversation, or frivolous reading.
Sunday has been said by worldly people In
be the longest day in the week, and Chris
tians have found means to protract it, hv
their languid and joyless appropriation of
it privileged hours. The true reason why
this alloted period of spiritual enjoyment
is so little appreciated, is, that spiritual
pleasures are little coveted in this world,
even by thoe who have admission through
faith to the fountain from whence they flow.
The wjrdly man denies his belief in their
existence ; the Christian asserts their pre
eminence over all earthly pleasures, and
yet willingly exchanges (hem for subordi
nate gratifications. He repeats periodical
ly, “ one day in thy courts is better than a
thousand,” and yet’ that day passes more
wearily with him, than a thousand spent in
the “ tents of ungodliness.” Christians
should be rigid in tbeir self-examinations
on this head, and if they find no pleasure
in spiritual communion with ‘he most High,
on His own appointed season for such
exercises, they must take heed lest their
faith be insufficient for they- salvation. “If
any man love ’me he will keep my com
mandments,” and “ my father will love him,
and we will come unto him, and abide with
him.”—Surely thisgraciour pmmie should
rouse us to a stricter observance of those
commandments which eternal Wisdom has
instituted as rules for our conduct.
It might perhaps havea beneficial effect
for the ministers of the Gospel to enforce
frequently from the pulpit, a full and per
feet adherence to the fourth command
ment. It is true that the general tenor of
sabbath discourses is calculated to awaken
the heart to spiritual enjoyment; but the
too frequent indulgence of bgbi thoughts
and feelings after the sertrwn, disturbs the
faint impression made by Divine truth. Os
the numbers who throng the temple on the
Lord’s day, there are few who carry from
its sacred precincts the lasting fervours of
devotion, or any abiding impression of the
reality of holy things Many who are scru
pulous in tbeir attendance on Divine wor
ship, consider their religious obligations
discharged by Ibis conformity to the ways
of the righteous. They bold all farther
exercises of the mind to be supeifluens, and
wonder at the “ fanaticism” of those who
seclude themselves with the Bible for a
whole day. To such persons the duties of
the sanctuary are irksome, because they
are merely duties. Whei they are consid
ered as blessed privilege*, confertpd by a
merciful Father upon tb* children of His
love, —adapted by his wiidom to the neces
sities of His forlorn ones on earth, then in
deed there can be do Wish to abridge one
moment of the allotted season of spiritual
enjoyment—of heavenly communion with
Him, whom, not seeing we love ’
MR. WOLFF AT NINEVAH & BAGDAD.
In a late number of our paper we gave a
brief abstract of the Journal of this extra
ordinary maD, while at Moossul. From
this place he crossed the river Tigris which
he says is the Hiddekel (Gen. ii. 14) to Nu
nia, built, as is supposed, on the site of an
cient Nineveh. Here he saw a mound,
which is in possession of the. Turks, and
visited by the Jews as the tomb oftbe pro
phet Jonah. On his way to Bagdad Mr.
Wolff parsed through Karkush, where there
are neither Jews oor Mussulmans, but some
hundred Syrian Catholicks. Two priests,
to whom he had a letter ot introduction from
the Syrian bishops at Moossul, desired Bi
hies and Testaments. The language of the
place is a corrupted Syriac. In three days
he arrived at Arbel, the ancient Arbella,
where Alexander defeated the army of
Darius. The language is Persia’u. There
are no Christians in this place, but a few
Jews. The Rabbi listened attentively to
Mr Wolff", and inquired, ■when shall tribuia
tions pass from Israel, and when will our cap
tivity end ?” There are also 10,000 Kurds
here, hut very different from those iu Mes
opotamia, being friendly and hospitable.—
The name of Mr. Rich is well known here.
At Karkuk, a place three days journey from
Arbel, Mr. Wolff found 200 families of Jew,
but was too much fatigued and indisposed
to have any conversation with them. In
the castle is shown the sepulchre of the
prophet Dauiel. At Duzkhormat, where
are 40 families of Jews, they informed Mr.
W. that the Messiah had arrived at Calcut
ta, two months ago.
On the Bth April, 1C24, sixty four days
after his departure from Aleppo, Mr. Wolff
entered Bagdad the city of the Khaliffs, in
the land of Babylon. This city is supposed
to be built on the site of the aocienl Selucia.
It was founded in the year 766, and <"or
300 yeais was the residence of the Khaliff*
and the capital of the Moslem empire. In
the 9th Century it is supposed to have con
tained 2 million inhabitants. At present
they are estimated at 80,000; Arabs, Turks,
Jews and Christians. The city is built on
both sides of the Tigris, 210 miles from
Moussul, 300 from Bassora, and 1350 from
Constantinople; in Lat. 32 deg. 20 min. N.
Though meanly built, it is a place of great
wealth and trade, and a noted emporium for
the products of Arabia. India,'and Persia.
it supplies all Asia Minor, Syria, and part of
Europe, with Indian commodities, which are
imported at Bassora, transported up the Ti
gris in boats to Bagdad, thence in Caravans
to Tocat, Constantinople, Aleppo, and Da
mascus.
On his arrival at Bagdad, Mr. Wolff was
very hospitably received by the British
agent, an Armenian, at whose house he met
several English gentlemen, who, although
they had never seen him, treated him with
great cordiality, and revived his spirits.
From them he first heard of the death of
Mr. Ward—whom be (hu9 mentions in his
Journal:
“1 knew thee well,dear Ward; thou hast
(ought the good fight ■ thou hast finished
thy course ; thou hast kept the faith ; Ihou
ba9t now obtained a crown of righteousness;
thou art now at Jerusalem; thou art now
upon Sion, aDd dost view all her palaces;
the time of singing is now come to thee !”
There are, say 9 Mr. Wolff, about 500
Christian houses at Bagdad, consisting of
Armenians, Armenian Catholicks, Syrians,
Syrian Catholicks, and Chaldean Catholicks.
The Propaganda of Rome has a convent
which is occupied by one Carmelite friar,
and one French Bishop who is also French
consul at Bagdad.
Mr. W ‘lff was informed that there are
about 1,500 families of Jews at Bagdad, and
that the whole commerce and business of
the Pacha is in their hands. They shewed
him the burial place of the prophet Ezekiel ,
and that of Joshua the High priest, the son
of Josedek, Hag. i. 1. Mr. W. had letters
of introduction from two Jew consuls at
Aleppo to Saul, the prince of the captivity
at Bagdad, who received him kindly. The
following dialogue between Mr. W. and the
High priest took place in the presence of
the Prince:
W. I see that yon have here a worthy
prince of the captivity.
High Priest We must have some prince,
for it is w ritten, “ The sceptre shall not de
part from Judah, nor a lawgiver from be
tween hi feet, until Shiloh come!”
’ As the prince of the was pres
ent, delicacy on my part was necessary, I
therefore confined myself to the three fol
lowing questions: and after they had been
answered nnsati-fariorily. I turned the con
versation to another subject,
1. Has the prince of Ihe captivity, in
whose company I have now the honour to
be, royal power?
2. May he enact laws ?
3. Is be of the tribe of Judah ?
High Priest. No, our prince has no roy
al power, he is a prince of the captivity ;
he has, however, a little, little, little power
—be cannot enact laws, and we do not
know our tribes.
The prince of the captivity then gave
orders that their synagogues should be
shonD to me. They have four beautiful
synagogues, they showed me their Sepher
Torah, and desired me to read it; thev
have two colleges.
[We extract one other passage from the
journal.]
I found here among the Jews, to my
great astonishment, books, bibles, testa
ments and tracts, which I gave to the Jews
at Jerusalem, with my name written in
them ; my name and the object of my mis
sion, were therefore already become known
to them.
Another Jew, who called on me, Morde
cai by Dame, read the New Testament in
my room, iu the British consulate, for a
long time, and told me that be had read
this hook before, in the house of the rich
Jew Ezechiel, at Baora. A Jew named
Obadiah, read the New Testament in my
house, with two other Jews, and seemed
struck with the Sung of the angels, and the
praises oftbe heavenly host. “ Glory to
God in the highest, and on earth peace,
good will toward men I”
I gave away among very respectable
Jews, ten Hebrew New Testaments in one
day ! On the 16th of this month, more (ban
twenty Jews called on me at tbe residence
of the British agent, and conversed with me
more than nine hours ; they read upwards
of ten chapters of the Gospel of Matthew.
COLONY OF SIERRA LEONE.
The followim; extract from the London Quarter
ly Review will have the charm of novelty to
those who have never seen any beneficial re
sult from missions.
IJy the official return? in August, 1822,
it appears that the population of Sierra Le
one, consisted of 16,671 souls, of whom
more Ibau 11,000 were negroes, rescued
by our cruisers from slavery. Perhaps so
much happiness and unmingled good w-erc
never before produced by the employment
of a naval force. Eleven thousand human
being® had then been rescued from the
horrors of the mid-lie passage, (horrors,
be it remembered, which have been aggra
vated by the abolition of rhe slave-trade,
such is the remorseless villainy of’those
who still carry on that infamous traffiefc,)
though the mortality among them when
they are first landed, arising from their
treatment on board the slave-ships, has
been dreadful. They are serttlcd in villa
ges, under the -superintendence of mission
aries or schoolmasters, sent out from this
country, and of native teachers and assis
tants, whom the settlement now begins to
supply. The effect of this training has
been such, that though, when the popula
tion of the colony was only 4000, there had
been forty cases in Ibe calender for trial,
ten years after, shea the population was
upwards of 16,000, there were only six;
and net a single case from any of (be villa
ge? under the management of a missionary
or schoolmaster. It is affirmed that the
authority of the word ot Ged, in connexion
with Christian discipline, supercedes among
them almost all necessity for human laws.’
‘ Most of those with whom I live,’ says a
missionary, (whose life has since been sa
crificed in this good cause,) * 1 have seen
brought from the holds of slave-ships I
have seen them rise from the chains of
the slave*dealer to become industrious men
and women, pious Christians, affectionate
husbands and wives, lender fathers and
mothers, and peaceful neighbours. Con
sidering these thing?, I have always thought
myself among the happiest of men, in serv
ing in this way our Lord Jesus Christ.*
Would this true servant of his heavenly
Master have exchanged that feeling for alt
the victories of Buonaparte and all his pow
er, even if that power had been stable?
Could any success in the pursuit of fame or
fortune have given him a happiness equal
in kind or in degree, to that which he thus
deserved and obtained? Captain Sabine,
of (he Engineers, has authorized the Com
mittee to state his testimony (bat, ‘after
spending six week? in the colony, aod close
ly and repeatedly inspecting the state of
the liberated Africans, under the care of
Christian instructors, the representation of
their improved condition was perfectly true;
and that in reference to the largest assem
blage of ihrtn, at Regent’s Town, their spir
it and conduct are such, that he i? persoad
ed there i? not to be seen upon earth a
community of equal size so truly exempla
ry. A naval officer, who bad een much
of the negroes in slavery, was ?o struck
with the state ot these, that he could hard
ly believe they had been under instruction
only since the end of the year 1816. In
quiring what method bad been pursued to
bring them from the deplorable condition
in which ihey were received, to such a
state in so short a lime, Sir Charles M‘Car
tby replied, ‘no other than teaching them
the truth? of Christianity, which these gen
tlemen were sent lo propagate by the
Church Missionary Society. By this atone
they have ruled them, and have raised
them to a common level wuh other civiliz
ed people ; and believe me,’ he added,‘if
you admit Christian teachers into your is
land, yon will find your negroes soon be
come affectionate and faithful servants to
you.
PRAYER.
You may pray always, and yet not at*
ways be at prayer. secker.
FAITH.
Faith is abb to swim upon those deep
seas wilh delight, which the linejof reason
treold neper fathom-