The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1827-10-03
A4CtG8tOuS.
From Optc's !" Illustrations of Lying"
JEROME or PRAGUE

! FfO"t OP1e'S : illustrations of Lying"
JEROME or PRAGUE.
" He was born at the close of the tHir-
teenth century; and in the year I4I5, after
having spent his youth in the pursuit OF
knowledge at the greatest Universities in
Europe,-namely, those of Prague, Paris,
Heidelbergh, and Cologne,-we find him
visiting Oxford, at which place he became
acquainted with the works of Wickliffe :
and at his return to Prague he not only
protested himself an open favorer of the
doctrines of that celebrated reformer: but.
finding that John Huss was at the head of
4 Wickliffe's party in Bohemia, he attached
himself Immediately to that powerful lead
er. 1t were unnecessary for me. to follow
him through the whole of his polemical
career, as it is the close of it only which is
fitted for my purpose; suffice, that hav-
ing been brought before the Council of
Constance, in the year l415, to answer
for what they deemed heresies, a thous-
and voices called out, even after his
examination, away with him burn him
burn him burn him' On which, little
doubling that his power of virtuous resis-
lance could ever fail him in time Of need,
jerome replied, looking round on the as
sembly with dignity and confidence, since
nothing can satisfy you but my blood,
Gods win be Cone ?
Seventies of a most uncommon nature
were now inflicted on him, in order to con
strain him to recant, q point Of which the
council were excessively DESTROYS. So
rigorous was his confinement, that at
length it brought upon him a dangerous
illness, in the course of which he entreat-
ed to have confessor sent to him; but he
was given to understand, that only on GER
tain terms would this Indulgence be grant
ed; Notwithstanding, he remained inmove-
able. The next attempt on his faithfulness
4 was after the martyrdom of Huss when
all its affecting and appalling details were
made known to him, he listened, however,
without emotion, and answered in lam
guGge SO resolute and determined, that
they had certainly no hope of his sudden,
\ conversion But, whether, too confident IL
his own strength, he neglected to seek, as
he had hitherto done, that only strength
(which cometh from above it is certain
that his constancy at length gave way.
He withstood," says Gilpin, in his Lives of
the Retormers, the SIMPLE fear of death j;
but imprisonment, chains, hunger, sickness,
and torture, through a succession of
months, was more than human nature could
stand for the truth, when brought three
times before the Infatuated council, he be-
gan at last to waver, and to talk obscurely
of his having misunderstood the tendency
of some Of the writings of IIuss. Promis-
es and threats were now redoubled upon
him, till, at last, he read aloud an ample
recantation of all the opinions that he had
recently entertained, and declared himself
! in PVprV article firm halIavor xr,tb
church of Rome.
But with heavy heart he retired from
! the council; chains were removed from his
body, but MS mind was corroded by chains of
| his conscience, and his soul was burthened
with load till then unknown to it. Hith-
erto, the light of an approving conscience
had cheered the gloom of his dungeon but
now all was dark to him both without and
within.
But in this night of moral despair, the
dayspring from on high was again permit
ted to visit him, and the penitent was once
more enabled to seek assistance from his
God. Jerome had long been apprized that
he was to be brought to second trial, upon
some new evidence which had appeared
and this was his only consolation in the
midst of his painful penitence. At length,
the moment so ardently desired by him ar
rived and rejoicing at an opportunity OF
publicly retracting his errors, and deplora
ing his unworthy falsehood, he eagerly
obeyed the summons to appear before the
council in the year I4l6 There after de-
livering an oraUiuI, which vvoo, it is said, :
model of pathetic eloquence, he ended by
, declaring before the whole assembly, that
though the fear of death, and the preva.
lence of human iniirmity, had induced hin
, to retract those opinions with his lips which
had drawn on him the anger and vengeance
of the council, yet they were Then and still
the opinions in which he alone believed
and for which he was ready, and even glaC
to die" cit was expected" says PoggC
the Florenhne, who was present at his ex
, animation, "that he would have retracteC
his errors or, at least, have apologizet
} for them; but he plainly declared that h,
had nothing to retract." After launchn,
forth into the most eloquent encomums OF
) Huss, declaring him to be a wise and hol,
man, and lamenting his unjust and crue
) death, he avowed that he had armed him
: self with firm resoluGon to follow tn
steps of that blessed martyr, and suffer wit
consistency whatever the malice of his enc
, mics should infict; and he was mercilull
: enabled to keep his resolution.
When brought to the stake, and whe
. tho wood was beginning to blaze, he SAN
: hymn, which he continued with grea
|, fervency, till the fury of the fire scorche
him, he was heard to cry out, 60 Lor
God have mercy on me !" and little al
: forwards, thou knowest," he cried, "ho,
d ! have loved thy trpth"' and ho continue