6—Uhuss Nojerome

Igospile yayityaliwe eBohemia kwangesithuba senkulungwane yethoba. IBhayibhile yaguqulwa, kwaqhutywa nonqulo lwasesidlangalaleni, ngolwimi lwabantu. Kwathi kodwa ngokwanda kwamandla kaPopi, kwaba njalo nokusithwa kwelizwi likaThixo. UGregory VII owayekuthabathele kuye ukuthoba ikratshi lookumkani, wayengayekelelanga ukukhobokisa abaphantsi, laza iphepha lomthetho kaPopi lakhutshwa, lisala ukuba unqulo lwasesidlangalaleni luqhutywe ngolwimi lwaseBohemia. UPopi wenza isindululo esithi, kwakumkholisa uSomandla ukuba ukunqulwa kwaKhe kwenziwe ngolwimi olungaziwayo, nokuba oomoya abangcolileyo abaninzi nokulwa nenkonzo kuthe kwabakho ngenxa yokungathotyelwa kwalo mgaqo.”--Wylie, b. 3, ch. 1. Ngoko ke, iRoma yenza umthetho wokuba, ukukhanya kwelizwi likaThixo kufuneka kucinyiwe baze abantu bavalelwe ebumnyameni. Phofu iZulu lakhupha ezinye izenzeleli ukuze kugcinwe ibandla. Abaninzi kumaWaldensi nama-Albigensi, beqhutywa yintshutshiso kumakhaya abo eFrance naseItaly, beza eBohemia. Nangona bengazange bafundise ekuhleni ngesibindi, basebenza ngenzondelelo emfihlakalweni. Ngoko ke, inyaniso yagcinwa ukusuka kwinkulungwane ukuya kwezinye.IE18 88.1

Ngaphambi kwemihla kaHuss, babekho abantu eBohemia abaphakamayo bayihlasela esidlangalaleni inkohlakalo ebandleni kwanokuthsafazakwabantu. Ukusebenzakwabokwavusa umdla kuyoyonkeindawo. Uloyiko lwamanqanaba olawulolwavuswa, yaza yavuleleka intshutshiso ngakubafundi begospile. Bakuba begxothelwe ekubeni banqule emahlathini nasezintabeni, bazingelwa ngamasoldati, baza abaninzi babulawa. Emva kwexesha, kwawiswa umthetho wokuba, bonke abalushiyayo unqulo lwaseRoma kufuneka batshiswe. Ngeli xesha, athi xa amaKristu ebuncama ubomi bawo, akhangela phambili ekoyiseni komsebenzi wawo. Omnye wabo “owafundisa ukuba usindiso lwalufumaneka kuphela ngokholo kuMsindisi owabethelelwayo; wathi xa afayo, “Ingqumbo yeentshaba zenyaniso ngoku iyasoyisa, kodwa oko akusayi kuba kokwaphakade; kukho oya kuvuka phakathi kwabantu nje abaphantsi, ngaphandle kwekrele okanye igunya, kwaye abayi kuba nako ukumoyisa.”--Wylie, b. 3, ch. 1. Ixesha likaLutere lalise kude; kodwa waye sele ekho ovukayo, obungqina bakhe ngokuchasa iRoma, babuza kuzishukumisa izizwe.IE18 88.2

UJohn Huss wayephantsi ngokuzalwa, waza washiywa eyinkedama kukufa kukayise eselula. Unina owayemoyika uThixo, wayithabatha imfundo nokoyika uThixo njengezinto ezizezona zibalulekileyo kwizinto anazo, wazama ukumzuzela eli lifa unyana wakhe. UHuss wafunda esikolweni sePhondo, waza waya kwiyunivesithi yasePrague, esamkelwa apho njengomfundi oyimbedlenge. Wakhatshwa ngunina kuhambo oluya ePrague; engumhlolokazi ohluphekileyo, nowayengenazo izipho zobutyebi behlabathi zokumnika unyana wakhe, kodwa, bathi xa besondela kweso sixeko sikhulu, wathoba waguqa ngakule ntwana ingenaye uyise, wayicelela intsikelelo kuBawo osemazulwini. Akazange aqonde loo mama ukuba umthandazo wakhe wawuza kuphendulwa njani. IE18 89.1

Eyunivesithi, uHuss wazibalula ngokuzinikela engadinwa nokuqhubela phambili ngokukhawuleza, lo gama ubomi bakhe obungenabala, bokululama, ukuziphatha okunoloyiso, kwamzuzisa ukuxatyiswa ngumntu wonke. Waye engonamathele ngokunyanisekileyo kwiBandla laseRoma, ezifuna ngenzondelelo iintsikelelo elithi liyazinika. Kwisiganeko sokukhumbula amashumi amahlanu eminyaka, waya kwimvumo-zono, wahlawula inkozo zokugqibela anazo kuvimba wakhe owayengenanto, wangenela kwimingcelele, ukuze azuze kuxolelo oluthenjisiweyo. Emva kokugqiba izifundo zakhe zasekholejini, wangenela ububingeleli, wathi ngokukhawuleza, wafikelela kwinqanaba elihloniphekileyo, wakhawuleza wasetyenziswa kwibhotwe likakumkani. Waya wenziwa iprofesa, kwathi emva koko wangumphathi weyunivesithi apho wayeyifumene khona imfundo yakhe. Ngeminyaka nje embalwa, umfundi othobekileyo oyimbedlenge waba ligugu lesizwe sakhe, laza igama lakhe lababazwa kuyo yonke iYurophu.IE18 89.2

Kwaye kukwenye inkalo apho uHuss waqala ukusebenza ukuhlaziya. Sekuyiminyaka eliqela emva kokuthabatha imiyalelo kampristi, wanyulelwa ukuba abe ngumshumayeli kwindlu yenkonzo yaseBhetelehem. Umseki wale nkonzo wayekuvakalise njengomcimbi obaluleke kakhulu ukushunyayelwa kweziBhalo ngolwimi lwabantu. Nangona kwakukho inkcaso yaseRoma kwesi senzo, sasingazanga sayekwa ngokupheleleyo eBohemia. Noko kunjalo, kwakukho ukungayazi okukhulu iBhayibhile, baye obona bubi bukhulu busenziwa ngabantu bawo onke amanqwanqwa. UHuss wabuhlasela obu bubi akashiya nto, ebhenela elizwini likaThixo ukunyanzelisa imithetho-siseko yenyaniso nobunyulu awayimiliselayo.IE18 89.3

Umhlali wasePrague, uJerome, nowathi kamva waqhogana kakhulu noHuss, wathi, ekubuyeni kwakhe eNgilane, weza ephethe uncwadi olubhalwe nguWycliffe. Ukumkanikazi waseNgilane, owayeguquke kwiimfundiso zikaWycliffe, wayeyinkosazana yaseBohemia, kwathi ngempembelelo yakhe, nemisebenzi yabahlaziyi yasasazwa ezweni lokuzalwa kwakhe. Le misebenzi, uHuss wayifunda ngomdla; wakholwa ukuba umbhali wayo wayengumKristu onyanisekileyo waza wazifumana ewathanda amanyathelo ohlaziyo awayewavakalisa. Ngaloo ndlela, engazi yena, uHuss wayesele engene kwindlela eyayiza kumkhokelela kude neRoma. IE18 90.1

Kuthe ngeli thuba, kwafika ePrague abahambi ababini baseNgilane, amadoda afundileyo, nawo, ekwamele ukukhanya awayeze kukusasaza kwizwe elikude. Asuka aqala ngokuhlasela ukongama kukaPopi, aza akhawulezelwa ukuthuliswa ngabasemagunyeni; kodwa athi, ngokungabi nantumekelelo yokuyilahla injongo yawo, abhenela kwezinye iindlela. Athi kuba engamachule abazobi kwanabashumayeli, aqhubeka nokusebenzisa ubuchule bawo. Aya kwindawo evuleke kuwonke wonkeaqala azoba imifanekiso emibini. Omnye wawumele ukungena kukaKristu eYerusalem, “enobulali, ehleli phezu kwe-esile” (Mateyu 21:5), elandelwa ngabafundi baKhe ababeneengubo ezigugileyo bengenazo neembadada ezinyaweni. Omnye umfanekiso wawuzotywe umngcelele wobupopi—uPopi evathe iingubo ezinde zexabiso ethwele isithsaba esintlantlu —ntathu, ephezu kwehashe elihlotyiswe ngokumangalisayo, ekhokelwa ngababethi bamaxilongo belandelwa zizikhakhamela zabafundisi noobhishophu bekwezimakhazikhazi izambatho.IE18 90.2

Le yayiyintshumayelo eyathimba iingqondo zazo zonke iindidi zabantu. Izihlwele zeza zayibuka le mizobo. Kwakungekho unokuyiphosa imfundiso equlathiweyo, baza baba baninzi abathabathekayo ngumahluko phakathi kobulali nokuthobeka kukaKristu iNkosi kwakunye nekratshi nokuziphakamisa kukaPopi, ozibiza ngokuba ungumkhonzi waKhe. Kwabakho ingxwabangxwaba enkulu ePrague, baza abasemzini, emva kwexesha, bakufumana kufanelekile ukuba, ngenxa yenkuseleko yabo, mabayishiye. Sona isifundo abasifundisayo asizange silibaleke. Imifanekiso yangena nzulu engqondweni kaHuss yamsondeza ngakumbi ekuyifundeni iBhayibhile nemibhalo kaWycliffe. Nangona wayengakulungelanga, ngokwa ngoko, ukwamkela lonke uhlaziyo olwaluthethwe nguWycliffe, wayibona ngokucace gca eyona meko iyiyo yobupopi, waza wathi, ngenzondelelo enkulu, walihlasela ikratshi, amabhongo, nokonakala kwamanqwanqwa aphethe ibandla.IE18 90.3

Ukusuka eBohemia, ukukhanya kwanabela eJamani, kuba izixholoxholo kwiYunivesithi yasePrague zabangela ukurhoxa kwamakhulu abafundi bamaJamani. Abaninzi kubo babezuze kuHuss ulwazi lwabo lokuqala lweBhayihile, baza bathi ekubuyeni kwabo bayisasaza igospile kwelakubo lokuzalwa. IE18 91.1

Iindaba zomsebenzi wasePrague zahamba zaya kufika eRoma, waza uHuss wabizwa ngokukhawuleza ukuba aye kuma phambi kukaPopi. Ukuthobela kwakuza kuba kukuzibeka esichengeni sokufa. Ukumkani nokumkanikazi baseBohemia, iyunivesithi, amalungu ahloniphekileyo, namagosa karhulumente bonke bamanyana kwisibheno esiya kuPopi sokuba, uHuss avunyelwe ukuba ahlale ePrague aphendulane neRoma ngommeli. Endaweni yokusamkela esi sicelo, uPopi waqhubeka nokuhlalela ityala nokumgweba uHuss, waza emva koko isixeko sasePrague wasibeka phantsi kwemiqathango yoluleko.IE18 91.2

Ngelo xesha, esi sigwebo, ngako nje ukuba sivakaliswe, sasidala unxunguphalo olukhulu. Iinkonzo ezazihamba naso zonke zazilungiselelwe ukuba zidale uloyiko olukhulu kubantu ababembona uPopi njengommeli kaThixo ngokwaKhe, ophethe izitshixo zezulu nesihogo, nonegunya lokubiza izigwebo zasemhlabeni nezakwamoya. Kwakukholelwa ukuba amasango ezulu ayevaliwe ngakummandla onikwe imiqathango yoluleko; nokuba, kude kukholeke kuPopi ukususa ukugxothwa, abafileyo babevalelwe ngaphandle kwamasango olonwabo olukhulu. Kumzekelo oluphawu lwale ntlekele yoyikekayo, zonke iinkonzo zenkolo zazimiswa [zixhonywa]. Iinkonzo zazivalwa. Imitshato yayingcwaliswa eyadini yenkonzo. Abafileyo, balelwe ukuba bangcwatywe kumhlaba ongcwalisiweyo, babefakwa, ngaphandle kwenkonzo yomngcwabo, kwimigodi okanye emadlelweni. Ngolo hlobo, imiqathango eyayizalisa iingcinga, iRoma yayiyenza ukuze ilawule izazela zabantu.IE18 91.3

Isixeko sasePrague sazaliswa yingxushungxushu. Iqela elikhulu labantu lamgxeka uHuss njengonobangela wazo zonke iinzima zabo baza banyanzelisa ukuba aziyekele kwimpindezelo yaseRoma. Ukuthulisa isaqhwithi, umHlaziyi waya kuhlala okwethutyana kwilali yakubo. Ebhalela abahlobo bakhe awayebashiye ePrague, wathi: “Ukuba ndisukile phakathi kwenu, kukulandela umyalelo nomzekelo kaYesu Kristu, ukuze kunganikwa ithuba abo bangqondo zigulayo ukuba bazizisele ukugwetya kwaphakade, nokuze ungabi yimbangi yokuthuthunjiswa nokutshutshiswa kwabangcwele. Ndirhoxa kodwa ndinoloyiko lokuba abapristi abangengcwele baza kuqhubeka ixesha elide besalela ukushunyayelwa kwelizwi likaThixo phakathi kwenu; kodwa andinishiyanga ukuze ndiyikhanyele inyaniso engcwele, endithi, ngoncedo lukaThixo, ndikulungele ukuyifela.”--Bonnechose, The Reformers Before the Reformation, vol. 1, p. 87. UHuss akazange akuyeke ukusebenza kwakhe, kodwa wahamba kulo lonke elijikelezileyo, eshumayela kwizihlwele ezinolangazelelo. Ngaloo ndlela, kwenzeka ukuba, amanyathelo awabhenela kuwo uPoopi okuyinyhasha igospile, ayenza ukuba indlondlobale ukukhula inabe ngokubanzi kakhulu. “Asinakwenza nto ngokuchasa inyaniso, sinokwenzela inyaniso.” 2 Korinte 13:8.IE18 91.4

“Ingqondo kaHuss, ngeli xesha kubizo lwakhe, yayinokudideka okubuhlungu. Nangona inkonzo yayifuna ukumongamela ngeendudumo, wayengalishiyanga igunya layo. IBandla laseRoma lalisengumfazi kaThixo kuye, noPhapha esengummeli nosendaweni kaThixo. Into awayelumkisa ngakuyo uHuss, yayikukusetyenziswa gwenxa kwegunya, kungenguwo umthetho-siseko ngokwawo. Oku kwazisa ungquzulwano olukhulu phakathi kweembono zokuqonda kwakhe namabango esazela sakhe. Ukuba igunya lalinobulungisa, likwanokungabi nakona, njengoko wayekholelwa ukuba linjalo, wayesenziwa yintoni ukuba azive enyanzelekile ukuba angalithobeli? Ukuthobela, wabona, yayikukona; kodwa yintoni unobangela wokuba ukuthobela ibandla elingenako ukona kukhokelele kwingxaki engako? Yingxaki le awayengakwazi ukuyisombulula; yintandabuzo le eyayihleli imthuthumbisa lonke ixesha. Eyona nto isondeleyo kwisisombululo awayesiqikelela yile yokuba yayiphinda ukwenzeka, njengoko yakha yenzeka ngaphambili kwimihla yoMsindisi, le yokuba ababingeleli bebandla baba ngabantu abakhohlakeleyo baye besebenzisa igunya labo elisemthethweni ukufeza okungekho mthethweni. Oku kwamkhokelela ekubeni azenzele esakhe isikhokelo, nokushumayela kwabanye okukokwabo, umthetho wokuba imiyalelo yesiBhalo, eziswe ngokuqonda, kufuneka isilawule isazela; ngamanye amazwi, xa inguThixo othetha eBhayibhileni, ingelilo ibandla elithetha ngobubingeleli, kuphela kwesikhokelo esingenako ukuphosisa.” —Wylie, b. 3, ch. 2.IE18 92.1

Kwathi emva kwexesha, ubushushu ePrague bathotha, uHuss wabuyela enkonzweni yaseBhetelehem, ukuya kuqhubeka ngenzondelelo nesibindi esikhulu ukushumayela izwi likaThixo. Iintshaba zakhe zazisebenza zinamandla, kodwa ukumkanikazi nezinye izikhakhamela babe zizihlobo zakhe, baza abantu, ngobuninzi babo bangakwicala lakhe. Xa babethelekisa iimfundiso zakhe eziphakamisela phezulu kwanobomi obungcwele kunye neemfundiso ezazishunyayelwa ngamaRoma, kwakunye nokurhwaphiliza norheletyo awayekwenza, abaninzi bakubona kuyinto enkulu ukuba ngakwicala lakhe.IE18 92.2

Ukuza kufikelela kule ndawo, uHuss wayemi yedwa ekusebenzeni nzima kwakhe; kodwa ngoku, uJerome, owathi ngexesha aseNgilane wamkela iimfundiso zikaWycliffe, wangenelela kumsebenzi wohlaziyo. Aba babini ukususela emva koko babumanya ubomi babo, baye bengenakwahlulwa nasekufeni. Ubukrelekele bobuchopho, ubuciko nokufunda—izipho ezenza kubekho ukuthandwa—waye enazo ngokubalaseleyo uJerome; kodwa kwezo zakhono ezenza kubekho amandla enene esimilweni, uHuss wayemgqwesile. Ukubona kwakhe okuzolileyo kwaba ziziqhobosho kumoya ongxama ngobushushu kaJerome, owayesithi, ngokuzithoba kwenene, alibone ixabiso lakhe, aze aziyekele kwiingcebiso zakhe. Phantsi kokusebenza kunye, uhlaziyo lwakhawulezisa kakhulu ukwanda. IE18 93.1

UThixo wavumela ukukhanya okukhulu ukuba kukhanye ezingqondweni zaba bantu banyuliweyo, kubakhanyisele iimposiso ezininzi zaseRoma; kodwa abazange bakufumane konke ukukhanya okwakuza kunikwa ihlabathi. Ngabo aba bakhonzi baKhe, uThixo wayeza kukhokela abantu ukuba baphume ebumnyameni bobuRoma; kodwa zazizininzi zizikhulu izithintelo ekwakufuneka behlangene nazo, waza wabakhokela, inyathelo ngenyathelo, kangangoko benokukuthwala. Babe ngakulungelanga ukwamkela konke ukukhanya ngexesha elinye. Njengobuqaqawuli obupheleleyo belanga lasemini emaqanda kwabo babekade behleli ebumnyameni, kwakuya kuthi, ukuba kutyhiliwe, kubenze ukuba babuye umva. Ngoko ke, wakutyhila ezinkokelini kancinane kancinane, kangangoko kunokwamkelwa ngabantu Ukusuka kwinkulungwane ukuya kwenye, abanye abasebenzi abanyanisekileyo balandela, ukuze babakhokelele abantu phambili kwindlela yohlaziyo.IE18 93.2

Uqhekeko enkonzweni lwaqhubeka. OoPopi abathathu ngoku babesilwa ngokuba phezulu, kwaza ukukruthakruthana kwabo kwabuzalisa ubuKristu ngokwaphulwa komthetho nengxwabangxwaba. Bathi benganeliswanga kukugibiselana ngezithuko, babhenela nakwizixhobo zasemhlabeni. Elowo waziphosa ekuthengeni izixhobo nasekuzuzeni amasoldati. Phofu kwakufuneka benayo imali; baza bathi ukuze bayifumane, bathengisa ngezipho, izikhundla, neentsikelelo zebandla. (Bona inqaku lesISIHLOMELO lephepha 59.) Nabo abapristi, belinganisa abangentla kwabo, babhenela ekungcatsheni nasemfazweni ukuze babathobele phantsi abo bachasene nabo nokuba baqinise awabo amagunya. Ngokuya eba nesibindi imihla ngemihla, uHuss wawakhalimela ngamandla amakhulu amasikizi awayenyamezelwe egameni lenkolo baza abantu bazigxeka ekuhleni iinkokeli zobuRoma njengezibangele iinkathazo ezagubungela abuKristu bonke.IE18 93.3

Saphinda isixeko sasePrague sabonakala sikumngcipheko wongquzulwano wokuphalazwa kwegazi. Njengakwizizukulwana zangaphambili, umkhonzi kaThixo watyholwa ngelithi “uwahlisele intlekele amaIsrayeli.” 1 Kumkani 18:17. Isixeko saphinda sabekwa phantsi komqathango woluleko, waza uHuss wabuyela kwindawo yokuzalwa kwakhe. Ubungqina obabufumaneka kwinkonzo yakhe enyaniseke kakhulu yaseBhetelehem baphela. Kwakuza kufuneka ethethe kumgangatho ophangaleleyo, kumaKristu onke, phambi kokuba abubeke phantsi ubomi bakhe njengengqina lenyaniso.IE18 94.1

Ukunyanga ububi obabuyiphazamisa iYurophu, kwabizwa intlanganiso efuna onke amalungu equmrhu ukuba ihlangane eConstance. Le ntlanganiso yabizwa ngenxa yolangazelelo lukakumkani uSigismund, ngomnye wooPopi abalwayo, uJohn XXIII. Into eyayifunwa yintlanganiso yayikude kakhulu koko kwakwamkelekile kuPopi John, okuziphatha kwakhe nenkqubo yakhe yayingenako ukunyamezela ukuphandwa, nangoobhishophu abakhulu ababeziyekelele kakhulu ekuziphatheni kwanjengokuba kwakunjalo nakumadoda ebandla aloo maxesha. Sekunjalo, wayengakwazi kodwa ukuyichasa intando kaSigismund. (Bona ISIHLOMELO).IE18 94.2

Izinto eziphambili ekwakufuneka zifeziwe liqumrhu yayikukungciba uthanda ebandleni nokunyothula imfundiso elahlekisayo. Yayisisizathu esi sokuba nabanye aba ooPopi babini babizwe ukuba bavele phambi kwalo, kwakunye nophambili ekutyaleni ezi mbono zimbini, uJohn Huss. OoPopi ababini, ngenxa yokoyikisela inkuseleko yabo, abazange beze buqu, kodwa bamelwa ngabathunywa babo. UPopi John, nangona wayebonakala ngokungathi nguye obize intlanganiso, weza kuyo enokuthingaza, ekrokrela injongo efihlakeleyo kakumkani yokumsusa esihlalweni, esoyika nokuhlonywa amatyala ngobubi obabuhlazisa isithsaba sikaPhapha, kwakunye nolwaphulo-mthetho olwalumgcine esihlalweni. Noko kunjalo, wangena esixekweni saseConstance ngobuyokoyoko bemivuyo, ekhatshwa zizikhulu zenkonzo ezazilandelwa ngumqokozo wamagosa. Sonke isifundisi nezikhulu zesixeko, nenyambalala yabahlali baphuma ukuba bamhlangabeze. Ngaphezu kwentloko yakhe kwakukho isigubungelo esiluphahla lwegolide esasithwelwe ngabane kubaphathi abaphambili. Lo ubamemileyo wayethwelwe phambi kwakhe, zaye iingubo zexabiso zabafundisi abakhulu nezihandiba zamadoda zingumbono omhle ovelele wonke loo mboniso.IE18 94.3

Ngelixeshalinye, omnye umhambi wayefikaeConstance. UHuss wayeziqonda iingozi ezazimlindele. Wemka kubahlobo bakhe ngokungathi akasokuze aphinde ahlangane nabo kwakhona, wahamba uhambo lwakhe esiva ukuba lumkhokelela ekutshisweni. Nangona wayefumene iphepha lokumkhusela kukumkani waseBohemia, wakwafumana nelinye kukumkani uSigismund ngexesha esendleleni, wenza onke amalungiselelo ngokusingisele kwinto ethi angafa.IE18 95.1

Kwileta eya kubahlobo bakhe ePrague, wathi: “Bazalwana bam, . . . ndiyahamba ndiphethe iphepha lokundikhusela elivela kukumkani ukuze ndihlangane neentshaba zam ezininzi nezinokufa. . . . Ndithembele ngokupheleleyo kuThixo onamandla onke, kuMsindisi wam; ndithembe ukuba uya kuyiphulaphula imithandazo yenu ezingisileyo, nokuba uya kuzalisa ngobulumko nokuhlakanipha kwaKhe emlonyeni wam, ukuze ndikwazi ukumelana nazo; nokuba uya kundeza ngoMoya waKhe Ongcwele ukuba ndiqine enyanisweni yaKhe, ukuze ndikwazi ukuthi ngesibindi ndijongane nezihendo, intolongo, kanti, ukuba kunyanzelekile, nokufa okukhohlakeleyo. UYesu Kristu waphatheka kakubi ngenxa yeentandane zaKhe; ngoko ke, simelwe kukumangaliswa na thina kuba esishiye nomzekelo waKhe, ukuze nathi ngokwethu sinyamezele ngomonde zonke izinto ngenxa yosindiso lwethu? UnguThixo, thina sizizidalwa zaKhe; uyiNkosi, thina singabakhonzi baKhe; uyiNkosi yomhlaba, thina sizizinto ezidelekileyo ezinokufa—kanti kunjalo, weva ubunzima! Kungani ke ngoko, ukuba thina singabuva ubunzima, ngakumbi xa ubunzima obo bukukuhlanjululwa kuthi? Ngoko ke, zintanda, ukuba ukufa kwam kunokuba nento okuyenzayo kuzuko lwaKhe, thandazelani ukuba kuze ngokukhawuleza, nokuba abe nako ukundixhasa kubo bonke ububi endijongene nabo ngamaxesha onke. Ukuba ke kodwa kube kuhle ukuba ndibuye ndize phakathi kwenu, masithandaze kuThixo ukuba ndibuye ndingenabala—oko kukuthi, ndingacinezeli nalinye isuntswana lenyaniso yeendaba ezilungileyo, nokuba kufuneka ndibashiyele abazalwana bam umzekelo omhle kakhulu ukuba bawulandele. Mhlawumbi, ke ngoko, anisayi kuphinda nibubone ubuso bam ePrague naphakade; kodwa ukuba ithe intando kaThixo uSomandla yenza ukuba indibuyisele kuni, masibheke phambili ngentliziyo eyomeleleyo ekuwazini nasekuwuthandeni umthetho waKhe.”—Bonnechose, vol. 1, pp. 147, 148.IE18 95.2

Kwenye ileta eya kumpristi owaba ngumlandeli wegospile, uHuss wathetha ngokuzithoba okukhulu ngezakhe iziphoso, ezityhola “ngokuziva “ngokuzi ethanda ukunxiba iimpahla zexabiso nokuchitha iiyure engenzi nto ibalulekileyo.” Waya wongeza ezi ziyalo zichukumisayo: “Lwanga uzuko lukaThixo nosindiso lwemiphefumlo lungahlala engqondweni yakho, kungabi kukuzuzwa kweembeko namafa. Kulumkele ukuhombisa indlu yakho ngaphezu komphefumlo wakho; ngaphezu kwako konke, khathalela isakhiwo somoya wakho. Yiba ngcwele uzithobe kunye nabantu abangamahlwempu, ungazigqibi izinto onazo ngezidlo. Ukuba akuthanga wabulungisa ubomi bakho, wazinxwema kubutyebi obuninzi, ndiyoyika, hleze ungohlwaywa qatha, njengoko kunjalo kum. . . . Uyayazi imfundiso yam, ukuba ufundisiwe ndim kwasebuntwaneni bakho; kulilize, ke ngoko, kum ukukubhalela ngaphezu koku. Sekunjalo, ndiyakukhunga, ngeemfefe zeNkosi yethu, ukuba ungalinganisi mna nakweziphi izinto ezingenamsebenzi ondibone ndisiwa kuzo.” Kwiqweqwe leleta, wongeza: “Ndiya kukhunga, mhlobo wam, ukuba ungalivuli eli tywina ude ube ufumene isiqinisekiso sokuba ndifile.”—Bonnechose, vol. 1, pp. 148, 149. IE18 96.1

Kuhambo lwakhe, uHuss wabona kuyo yonke indawo iziboniso zokusasazeka kweemfundiso zakhe nothando othe waphathwa ngalo umsebenzi wakhe. Abantu bangungelana ukuza kuhlangana naye, kuthi kwezinye iidolophu abaphathi bamkhathalela ngokusebenzisa izitrato zabo.IE18 96.2

Wathi akufika eConstance, uHuss wanikwa inkululeko epheleleyo [yesixeko]. Kwimvume yokuhamba angabanjwa awayinikwa ngukumkani, kongezwa isiqinisekiso eyayiza kwenziwa nguPopi ngokwakhe. Noko kunjalo, ngokwaphulwa kwala mazwi anendili nathe aphindaphindwa, umHlaziyi, ngexesha nje elingeni, wabanjwa, wathi, ngomyalelo kaPopi noobhishophu abakhulu, waphoswa kumgxobhozo othiyekileyo. Kamva, wasiwa kwinqaba eyomeleleyo ngaphesheya komlambo iRhine, wagcinwa apho elibanjwa. UPopi, ezuze kancinane ngobuxoki bakhe, naye wavalelwa kwakuyo loo ntolongo. Bonnechose, vol. 1, p. 247. Waya wafunyanwa phambi kwentlanganiso yequmrhu enamatyala odidi oluphantsi kakhulu, ngaphandle kokubulala, ukungcatsha, nokukrexeza, “izenzo ezingafanele kukhankanywa.” Ngoko ke iqumrhu ngokwalo lavakalisa, waza ekugqibeleni wahluthwa isithsaba wagityiselwa entolongweni. Abachasi booPopi nabo basuswa ezihlalweni, kwaza kwanyulwa uPopi omtsha.IE18 96.3

Nangona uPopi ngokwakhe wayenetyala ngokwaphula umthetho okukhulu kunoko uHuss wayekumangalela kubapristi, nawathi ngenxa yako wathi makubekho uhlaziyo, kwalona elo qumrhu linye elamhlisayo uPopi esikhundleni laqhubeka nokumtyumza umHlaziyi. Ukuvalelwa kukaHuss kwavusa ingqumbo enkulu eBohemia. Amadoda amakhulu anamandla akuvakalisa kwiqumrhu ukuthimla kwawo ukuchasa le ngqumbo. Ukumkani, owayengakuthandi ukuvumela ukwaphulwa kwenkuseleko, wayichasa inkqubo echasene naye. Noko kunjalo, iintshaba zomHlaziyi zaba nolunya nokuzimisela. Babhenela kwiintiyo zokumkani, kuloyiko lwakhe, nakwinzondelelo yakhe ngebandla. Babeka iingxoxo ezinde kakhulu ukubonisa ukuba “ukholo akufuneki lugcinwe nabalahlekisi, okanye abantu abakrokrelwa ukuba banolahlekiso, nangona benikwe imvume yokuhamba bangabanjwa evela kukumkani okanye kookumkani. nenkohlakalo zaye zizimisele.”--Jacques Lenfant, History of the Council of Constance, vol. 1, p. 516. Ngaloo ndlela baba bayoyisa.IE18 97.1

Eqotywe amandla nakukuvalelwa entolongweni,--kuba ukufuma, nomoya omdaka womhadi awaye kuwo kwazisa umkhuhlane owaphantsa wambulala,--uHuss, ekugqibeleni, waziswa phambi kwequmrhu. Wathi esindwa ngamatyathanga, wema phambi kukakumkani, oluzuko lwakhe nomoya omhle kwakuthenjiswe ngawo ukuba uya kukhuselwa. Ngexesha elide lokuvavanywa, wama waqina enyanisweni, wathi, phambi kwezikhulu zebandla nezesizwe ezihlangeneyo, wakhalima ngendili nokuthembeka ngenxa yenkohlakalo kumanqwanqwa okuphatha. Kwakuthiwa makakhethe phakathi kokurhoxa kwiimfundiso zakhe okanye abulawe, wamkela ukufela ukholo.IE18 97.2

Ubabalo lukaThixo lwamxhasa. Ngexesha leeveki zobunzima ezaya zadlula phambi kokuba kuwiswe isigwebo sakhe sokugqibela, uxolo lwezulu lwawuzalisa umphefumlo wakhe. “Ndibhala le leta,” watsho kumhlobo, “ndisesiseleni sam, ndinamatyathanga esandleni, ndilindele isigwebo sam sokufa ngomso. . . . Ukuba kuthe, ngoncedo lukaYesu Kristu, sabuya sahlangana sikuxolo olunencasa kubomi obuzayo, uya kwazi ukuba uThixo onenceba uzibonakalalise njani kum, nendlela enempumelelo aye wandixhasa ngayo phakathi kwezihendo nezilingo zam.”--Bonnechose, vol. 2, p. 67.IE18 97.3

Kubumnyama bentolongo awayekuyo yangaphantsi komhlaba wabona kwangaphambili uloyiso lokholo lwenene. Ebuyela esemaphupheni akhe kwinkonzo yasePrague apho wayeshumayela ivangeli khona, wabona uPopi neebhishophu zakhe besonakalisa imifanekiso kaKristu awayeyizobe ezindongeni zayo. “Lo mbono wamxinzelela: kodwa ngemini elandelayo wabona abazobi abaninzi bexakekile bebuyisela imizobo imininzi kakhulu inemibala eqaqambe kakhulu. Ngako nje ukuba bawugqibe umsebenzi wabo, abazobi, ababengqongwe sisihlwele esikhulu, baduma, ‘Ngoku ooPopi noobhishophu mabeze; abasokuze bayonakalise kwakhona!” Wathi umHlaziyi, xa elibalisa iphupha: “Ndimi koku ngokuqinisekileyo, ukuba umfanekiselo kaKristu awusokuze wonakaliswe. Bebenqwenela ukuwutshabalalisa, kodwa uya kuzotywa ube mtsha kuzo zonke iintliziyo ngabashumayeli abangcono kakhulu kunam.”--D'Aubigne, b. 1, ch. 6. IE18 98.1

UHuss waziswa phambi kwequmrhu, okokugqibela. Yaye iyintlanganiso enkulu nechubekileyo—ukumkani, iinkosana zobukumkani, abameli basebukhosini, oobhishophu abakhulu, oobhishophu, nabapristi kwakunye nendimbane enkulu eyayize njengababukeli beziganeko zaloo mini. KumaKristu onke, kwakuqokelelwe amangqina alo mbingelelo mkhulu wokuqala kwidabi elide ekwakuza kuthi ngalo kuzuzwe inkululeko yesazela.IE18 98.2

Akuba ebizelwe ukuba enze isigqibo sakhe sokugqibela, uHuss wavakalisa ukwala kwakhe ukufungela ukujika, waza wathi, emilisele amehlo akhe agqobhozayo kukumkani ozwi lakhe lesithembiso lagqithwa ngokungakhathali, wathi: “Ndazimisela, ngokuzithandela kwam, ukuvela phambi kweli qumrhu, phantsi kokhuseleko lwasesidlangalaleni nokukholelwa kukumkani okhoyo apha.”--Bonnechose, vol. 2, p. 84. Waya wababomvu ebusweni uSigismund xa amehlo onke entlanganisweni ejika ekhangela kuye. IE18 98.3

Sathi sakuba siwisiwe isigwebo, yaqala inkonzo yokuhlaziswa. Oobhishophu bamnxibisa umbanjwa wabo ngokwesithethe sabapristi, wathi xa ethabatha ingubo ende yobupristi, wathi: “INkosi yethu uYesuKristu wambathiswa ingubo ende emhlophe, ngenjongo yokumgculela, xa uHerode wathi makasiwe kuPilato.”--Bonnechose, vol. 2, p. 86. Wacenga kwakhona ukuba arhoxe, kodwa waphendula, ejike wakhangela ebantwini, wathi: “Kungobuphi ubuso, ke ngoko, endingawabona ngayo amazulu? Ndingazijonga njani ezo zihlwele zabantu endishumayele kubo igospile enyulu? Hayi; ndixabise ukusindiswa kwabo ngaphezu kwalo mzimba ulusizi, obekelwe ukufa ngoku.” Iingubo zakhululwa nganye nganye, ubhishophu ngamnye ethetha isiqalekiso ngexesha esenza eyakhe indawo kule nkonzo. Ekugqibeleni “babeka phezu kwentloko yakhe umnqwazi okanye isithsaba sephepha esinokumila kwepyramid, ekwakuzotywe kuwo imizobo eyoyikekayo yeedemon, enombhalo obonakala ngokucace kakhulu apha ngaphambili, othi, ‘Umlahlekisi omkhulu.’ ‘Ngovuyo olukhulu,’ wathi uHuss, ‘ndiza kusinxiba esi sithsaba sehlazo ngenxa yaKho, O Yesu, owathi ngenxa yam wanxiba isithsaba sameva.’”IE18 98.4

Wathi akuba enxityiswe ngolo hlobo, “oobhishophu bathi, ‘Ngoku siwunikela umphefumlo wakho kongendawo [kuSathana].’ ‘Mna ke,’ wathi uJohn Huss, ephakamisela amehlo akhe ezulwini, ‘ndiwunikela umoya wam ezandleni zaKho, Awu, Nkosi Yesu, kuba undihlawulele.’”--Wylie, b. 3, ch. 7. IE18 99.1

Ngoku wanikelwa kumagunya asemhlabeni waza wasiwa kwindawo yokubulala. Umqodi omkhulu walandela, amakhulu amadoda axhobileyo, abapristi noobhishophu bekwizambatho zabo zexabiso, nabahlali baseConstance. Wathi akuba ebotshelelwe emthini wokutshiswa, konke kwakulungele umlilo ukuba ulunyekwe, ifelukholo laphindwa ukucengwa ukuba lizisindise ngokushiya iimpazamo zalo. “Zeziphi iimpazamo,” watsho uHuss, “emandizishiye? Ndizazi ndingenatyala leempazamo. Ndibiza uThixo ukuba abe lingqina lokuba konke endikubhalileyo ndakushumayela kube kungenjongo yokuhlangula imiphefumlo esonweni nakwintshabalalo; ngoko ke, ngovuyo olukhulu ndiyiqinisekisa ngegazi lam loo nyaniso ndiyibhalileyo ndayishumayela.”-- Wylie, b. 3, ch. 7. Athi xa evutha amalangatye amjikelezileyo, waqala ukucula, “Yesu, Nyana kaDavide, ndenzele inceba,” waqhubeka njalo lada ilizwi lakhe lathula ngonaphakade. IE18 99.2

Neentshaba zakhe zachukumiseka bubukroti bakhe. Umpopi onentshiseko, echaza ukufelukholo kukaHuss, nokukaJerome, owafa kungekudala emva koko, wathi: “Bobabini baziphatha ngengqondo ezinzileyo kwakuba kufika iyure yabo yokugqibela. Bawulungiselela umlilo ngokungathi baya kumsitho womtshato. Abazange bakhale ngeentlungu. Athi akunyuka amalangatye, baqala ukuvuma iingoma; awazange amandla omlilo akwazi ukubayekisa ukuvuma kwabo.”-- Wylie, b. 3, ch. 7.IE18 99.3

Wathi wakuba utshe waphela umzimba kaHuss, uthuthu lwakhe, kunye nomhlaba obeluphezu kwawo, waqokelelwa waphoswa kumlambo iRhine, ngaloo ndlela lwaba lusiwa elwandle. Abatshutshisi bakhe, kwaba lilize ukucinga kwabo ukuba bazinyothule iinyaniso awazishumayelayo. Abazange bayiphuphe into yokuba uthuthu ngaloo mini olwathwalwa lwasiwa elwandle lwaluza kuba yimbewu esasazwe kuwo onke amazwe omhlaba; nokuba, kwimimandla engekaziwa, yayiza kuthwala isiqhamo esininzi ngamangqina enyaniso. Ilizwi elathetha kwiholo yequmrhu laseConstance lavusa intlokoma eyayiza kuvakala nakwizizukulwana ezizayo. UHuss wayengasekho, kodwa iinyaniso awafela zona zazingasokuze zitshabalale. Umzekelo wakhe wokholo nokuma kwakuza kukhuthaza izihlwele ukuba ziyimele ziqine inyaniso, phambi kokuthuthunjiswa nokufa. Ukubulawa kwakhe kwabonakalalisa kumhlaba wonke ubuxoki benkohlakalo yeRoma. Iintshaba zenyaniso, nangona zazingazi, zazihambisela phambili umsebenzi ababezama ngelize ukuwutshabalalisa.IE18 99.4

Kanti ke kunjalo, elinye iziko lokubulala laliza kumiswa eConstance. Igazi lelinye ingqina kufuneka lingqine ngenyaniso. UJerome, ngokuvalelisa kuHuss xa wayeshiya iqumrhu, wamcenga ukuba abe nesibindi nokuqina, esithi ukuba kufuneka awe nakweyiphi ingozi, yena ngokwakhe uya kubaleka azise uncedo. Wathi akuva ngokuvalelwa komHlaziyi, umfundi othembekileyo wakhawuleza walungiselela ukuzalisekisa isithembiso sakhe. Engenayo nemvume yokuhamba ekhuselekile, wasuka, enehlakani elinye, waya eConstance. Akufika apho waqonda ukuba uye wazibeka engozini, engakwazanga kwenza nto ukuhlangula uHuss. Wabaleka wasishiya isixeko, kodwa wabanjwa ekuhambo olugodukayo wabuyiselwa emva ethwaliswe amatyathanga ephantsi kogcino lwebutho lamasoldati. Ekuveleni kwakhe kokuqala phambi Kwequmrhu, imizamo yakhe yokuphendula izityholo abekwa zona yahlangatyezwa ngemikhwazo, “Mseni emalangatyeni! Emalangatyeni!”--Bonnechose, vol. 1, p. 234. Waphoswa kwintolongo yangaphantsi, eqanyangelwe ngendlela eyayimenza ave ubuhlungu obukhulu, wondliwa ngesonka namanzi. Emva kweenyanga eziliqela, iinkohlakalo zokuvalelwa kwakhe zamzisela uJerome ukugula okwakusondele ekumbulaleni, zaza iintshaba zakhe, ngokoyika ukuba angasuka alahleke kubo, zakucutha ukumphatha kakubi, nangona wahlala entolongweni umnyaka.IE18 100.1

Ukufa kukaHuss akuzange kube neziphumo ezazilindelwe ngabantu bakaPopi. Ukwaphulwa kwemvume yokuhamba phantsi kwenkuseleko, kwavusa uqhushululu lwengqumbo, yathi indlela ekhuselekileyo, ngokugqiba kwequmrhu, endaweni yokumtshisa uJerome, yaba kukumnyanzela, ukuba kunokwenzeka, ukuba arhoxe. Waziswa phambi kwentlanganiso, wanikwa ukuba akhethe phakathi kokurhoxa, okanye afe ngomlilo wokutshiswa ebotshelelwe. Ukufa ekuqalekeni kokuvalelwa kwakhe entolongweni kwakuya kuba yinceba xa kuthelekiswa nokubulaleka okubuhlungu awakufumanayo; kodwa ngoku, ephele amandla ngenxa yokugula, nokuphatheka kakubi kwisisele sentolongo, ukuthuthunjiswa lixhala nokuhlala elindile, ukwahlukana nabahlobo bakhe, ukuba buhlungu ngokufa kukaHuss, ukuqina kukaJerome kwanikezela, waza wavuma ukuziyekela kwiqumrhu. Wabhambathisa ngokuba uya kunamathela kwinkolo yeKatolika, wasamkela isigqibo sequmrhu sokugxeka iimfundiso zikaWycliffe noHuss, ngaphandle, phofu, “kweenyaniso ezingcwele ababezifundisile.--Bonnechose vol. 2, p. 141. IE18 100.2

Ngeli thuba alifumeneyo, uJerome wazama ukuthulisa ilizwi lesazela aze asinde kwintshabalalo yakhe. Wathi kodwa xa eyedwa esiseleni sakhe, wayibona ngokucacileyo into ayenzileyo. Wacinga ngesibindi nokuthembeka kukaHuss, wacingisisa ethelekisa ngokwakhe ukuyikhanyela inyaniso. Wacinga ngeNkosi yezulu awayebhambathise ukuyisebenzela, neyathi ngenxa yakhe yanyamezela ukufa komnqamlezo. Phambi kokurhoxa kwakhe, wayefumene intuthuzelo, kwisiqinisekiso sothando lukaThixo, phakathi kwako konke ukubulaleka kwakhe; kodwa ngoku ukuzisola neentandabuzo zawuthuthumbisa umphefumlowakhe.Waya wazi ukubakusekhookunyeukurhoxaekufunekakwenziwe Phambi kokuba axolelane neRoma. Indlela awayeqala ukungena kuyo yayingaphelela ekukreqeni okupheleleyo. Isigqibo sakhe sasenziwe: Wayengayi kuyikhanyela iNkosi yakhe, ukuze asinde kwixesha elincinane lokubulaleka. IE18 101.1

Kungekudala, waphinda waziswa phambi kwequmrhu lentlanganiso. Awayekuthethile akuzange kwabanelisa abagwebi bakhe. Ukunxanelwa kwabo igazi, okwalolwa kukufa kukaHuss, kwanxanelwa amaxhoba amatsha. Kwakungokuyiyeka inyaniso ngaphandle kwamathidala kuphela awayenokukwazi ngako uJerome ukubusindisa ubomi bakhe. Noko kunjalo, wayezimisele ukuluvuma ukholo lwakhe aze alandele umzalwana wakhe owafelukholo ukuya emalangatyeni.IE18 101.2

Wakulahla ukurhoxa kwakhe kwangaphambili waza wathi, njengendoda efayo, ngesidima, wafuna ithuba lokuzikhusela. Besoyika isiphumo samazwi akhe, oobhishophu abakhulu banyanzelisa ukuba makaqinisekise nje okanye akhanyele inyaniso yezityholo abekwa zona. UJerome wayala inkohlakalo nentswelo-bulungisa enjalo. “Nindigcine nindivalele iintsuku ezingamakhulu amathathu anamashumi amane kwintolongo eyoyikekayo,” watsho, “engcolileyo, eyonyanyekayo, enukayo, ndiswele yonke into; emva koko nindizisa phambi kwenu, nithi nakuba niphulaphule neva konke kwiintshaba zam ezingabantu abanokufa, niyala ukundiphulaphula nindive. . . . Ukuba ningamadoda alumkileyo ngenene, nikukukhanya kwezwe, lumkani ningaboni ubulungisa. Mna ngokwam, ndingumntu onobuthakathaka onokufa; ubomi bam abubalulekanga kangako; naxa ndinikhunga ukuba ningenzi isigwebo esingekho mthethweni, oko kubhekisa kancinane ngakum kunokuba kubhekisa ngakuni.”—Bonnechose, vol. 2, pp. 146, 147.IE18 101.3

Isicelo sakhe ekugqibeleni samkeleka. Phambi kwabagwebi bakhe, uJerome waguqa phantsi wathandaza ukuba uMoya kaThixo ulawule iingcinga zakhe namazwi akhe, ukuze angathethi ngokuchaseneyo nenyaniso okanye ngokungafanelekanga ngeNkosi yakhe. Kuye, loo mini yazalisekisa isithembiso sikaThixo kubafundi bokuqala: Niya kusiwa phambi kwabalawuli nookumkani ngenxa yam. . . . xa sukuba beninikela, ize ningaxhaleli ukuba nothetha ngakuphi na, nokuba nothetha ntoni na; kuba niya kunikwa ngelo lixa oko nothetha khona. Kuba asinini abathethayo, nguMoya kaYihlo othethayo ngaphakathi kwenu.” Mateyu 10:18-20.IE18 102.1

Amazwi kaJerome avusa ukukhwankqiseka nokuncoma, nakwiintshaba zakhe. Umnyaka wonke wayevalelwe esiseleni esingaphantsi komhlaba, engakwazi kufunda okanye ukubona, ekwimbulaleko enkulu ngokwasemzimbeni, ekwanoxinzelelo engqondweni. Kanti sekunjalo, ukuzithethelela kwakhe kwabekwa ngokucace kakhulu nangamandla ngokungathi wayenethuba lokufunda elingazange liphazanyiswe. Wabakhombisa abo babe phulaphule kumlibo omde wamadoda angcwele awagwetywa ngabagwebi abangenabo ubulungisa. Phantse kuso sonke isizukulwana babekho abo bathi, nangona befuna ukuphakamisa abantu bexesha labo, basuka bagculelwa balahlelwa phandle, kodwa kwathi ngamaxesha amva, kwabonakala ukuba babefanelwe yimbeko. NoKristu ngokwaKhe, wagwetywa njengomenzi wobubi kwinkundla engenabo ubulungisa. IE18 102.2

Ekurhoxeni kwakhe, uJerome wayevumelene nobulungisa besigwebo sokubulala uHuss; waza ngoku wavakalisa inguquko yakhe waza wanika ubungqina kubumsulwa nokuba ngcwele kokufelukholo. “Ndandimaze kwasebuntwaneni,” watsho. “Wayeyindoda ebalasele kakhulu, elungileyo nengcwele; wabulawa, nangona wayemsulwa enjalo. . . . Nam — ndikulungele ukufa: Andisayi kubuya mva phambi kokuthuthunjiswa okulungiselwe mna zintshaba zam namangqina axokayo, ekuza kuthi ngenye imini kufuneke anike ingxelo ngobuxoki bawo phambi kukaThixo omkhulu, ekungekho nto inokumkhohlisa.”--Bonnechose, vol. 2, p. 151.IE18 102.3

Ekuzohlwayeni kwakhe ngokuyikhanyela inyaniso, uJerome waqhubeka wathi: “Kuzo zonke izono endazenzayo kususela ebutsheni bam, asikho esisinda ingqondo yam kakhulu, nesindenza ndibe nokuzisola okubuhlungu kakhulu, njengeso ndisenze kule ndawo yokufa, xa ndivumelana nesigwebo esikhohlakeleyo esanikwa uWycliffe, kunye nefelukholo elingcwele uJohn Huss, inkosi yam nomhlobo wam. Ewe! Ndisivuma ngentliziyo yam, ndaye ndivakalisa ngentlungu ukuba ndankwantya ngokuhlazisayo xa, ngokoyika ukufa, ndazihlasela iimfundiso zabo. Ngenxa yoko, ndiyambongoza . . . uThixo uSomandla ukuba azithobe andixolele izono zam, ngokukodwa esi sisesona sikhohlakele kakhulu kuzo zonke.” Esalatha kubagwebi bakhe, ngesibindi wathi: “Nababulala uWycliffe noJohn Huss kungengakuba bechukumise imfundiso yebandla, kodwa nje kuba bazibiza ngegama bezigxeka izenzoezibi ezenziwa sisifundisi—ubuyokoyoko babo, ikratshi labo, nabo bonke ububi boobhishophu abakhulu nabapristi. Izinto nabo abazivumileyo, nezingenako ukuphikwa, nam endizicingayo nendizivakalisayo njengabo.IE18 103.1

Amazwi wakhe aphazanyiswa. Oobhishophu abakhulu, bengcangcazela ngumsindo, bakhwaza: “Busafuneka ngantoni obunye ubungqina? Sizibonela ngawethu amehlo oneyona nkani umlahlekisi!” IE18 103.2

Engashukunyiswa sisaqhwithi, uJerome wadanduluka: “Intoni! Nicinga ukuba ndiyakoyika ukufa? Benindigcine kwisisele esoyikekayo, esibi ngaphezu kokufa. Niye nandiphatha ngenkohlakalo ngaphezu komntu waseTurkey, umYuda, okanye umhedeni, inyama yam yabola yasuka emathanjeni am ndiphilile; ukanti andikhalazi, kuba ukulila kuyenza mbi intliziyo nomoya; kodwa andikwazi ukukubeka ukukhwankqiseka kwam bubukrwada obukhulu kangako ngakumKristu.”--Bonnechose, vol. 2, pp. 151-153.IE18 103.3

Kwaphinda kwavumbuluka isaqhwithi sengqumbo, uJerome wakhawuleziswa ukusiwa esiseleni. Babakho kodwa abathile apho emhlanganweni amazwi akhe aba negalelo elinzulu kubo nabaya banqwenela ukubusindisa ubomi bakhe. Wahanjelwa zizikhulu zebandla wanyanzelwa ukuba azinikele kwiqumrhu. Wabekelwa amathemba amakhulu kakhulu phambi kwakhe awayeza kuba ngumvuzo wokuyeka kwakhe ukungqubana neRoma. NjengeNkosi yakhe, xa yayinikwa uzuko lomhlaba, uJerome wema waqina. “Ndiboniseni nithabatha eziBhalweni eziNgcwele ukuba ndiyaphazama,” watsho, “ndiya kurhoxa phantsi kwesifundo.”IE18 103.4

“IziBhalo Ezingcwele!” watsho omnye wabalingi bakhe, “ingaba yonke into kufuneka igwetywe zizo? Ngubani onokuziqonda lingakhange ibandla lizichase?”IE18 104.1

“Ingaba izithethe zabantu zinexabiso elukholweni ngaphezu kwegospile yoMsindisi wethu?” waphendula uJerome. “UPawulos akazange abakhuthaze abo wayebabhalela ukuba baphulaphule izithethe zabantu, kodwa wathi, ‘Ziphengululeni iziBhalo.’”IE18 104.2

“Mlahlekisi!” yatsho impendulo, “Ndiguquka ngokuchitha ixesha elide kangaka ndicengana nani. Ndiyabona ukuba ninyanzelwa ngongendawo.” -- Wylie, b. 3, ch. 10. IE18 104.3

Kuthe kungekudala, isigwebo sokuba abulawe sawiswa phezu kwakhe. Wakhokelelwa kwakula ndawo uHuss wanikela ubomi bakhe kuyo. Wahamba ecula endleleni yakhe, imbonakalo yakhe yayikhanya luvuyo noxolo. Amehlo wakhe wayewamilisele kuKristu, kwaza ukufa kuye kwalahlekwa kukoyikeka kwako. Wathi umbulali xa sele eza kuqhwitha atshise, walandela apha emva kwakhe, ixhoba lokufela ukholo ladanduluka: “Yiza ngaphambili ngesibindi; wuphose umlilo apha ebusweni bam. Ukuba bendisoyika, ngendingekho apha.”IE18 104.4

Amazwi wakhe okugqibela, ethethwa ngexesha amalangatye enyuka macala kuye, ayengumthandazo. “Nkosi, Bawo Somandla,” ekhala, “yiba nenceba ndim, undixolele izono zam; kuba uyazi ukuba bendihleli ndiyithanda inyaniso yaKho.”--Bonnechose, vol. 2, p. 168. Ilizwi lakhe layeka, kodwa imilebe yaqhubeka ishukuma ethandaza. Wathi wakuba umlilo uwenzile umsebenzi wawo, uthuthu lofelukholo, nomhlaba olwalukuwo, lwaqokelelwa, kwanjengolo lukaHuss, lwaya kulahlwa kumlambo iRhine.IE18 104.5

Batshabalala njalo ke abathwali-kukhanya bakaThixo abathembekileyo. Kona ukukhanya kweenyaniso ababezivakalisa—ukukhanya komzekelo wabo wobugorha—kwakungenakuze kucinywe. Ngekwaba kuhle ukuba abantu babezame ukubuyisa umva ilanga kwindlela yalo ukunqanda ukusa kwemini neyayiseyiqhekeka phezu komhlaba ngelo xesha. IE18 104.6

Ukubulawa kukaHuss kwaphemba ilangatye lengqumbo nenkohlakalo eBohemia. Isizwe sonke saba noluvo lokuba ube lixhoba lenkohlakalo yabapristi nokungcatshwa ngukumkani. Ngaye kwathiwa, ube eyititshala ethembekileyo yenyaniso, lathi iqumrhu ebelimisele ukufa kwakhe lamangalelwa ngetyala lokubulala. Iimfundiso zakhe zaya zatsala ingqwalaselo enkulu kunangaphambili. Ngemithetho kaPopi, okwakubhalwe nguWyclife kwaphoswa emalangatyeni. Kwathi okwasindayo entshabalalweni kwakhutshwa apho bekufihlwe khona kwafundwa kuhlanganiswa neBhayibhile, okanye nezinye indawo zayo ezo abantu babekwazi ukuzifumana, baza baba baninzi abakhokelelwa ekwamkeleni inkolo ehlaziyiweyo.IE18 104.7

Ababulali bakaHuss abazange bame bazole babukele uloyiso lomsebenzi wakhe. UPopi nokumkani bamanyana ukuba bayinyhashe intshukumo, yaza imikhosi kaSigismund yayingenela iBohemia.Kwathi kunjalo, kwanyuswa umhlanguli. UZiska owathi nje emva kokuqala kwemfazwe, waba yimfama ngokupheleleyo. Kanti waye eyeyona njengele inesakhono ngexesha lakhe, waba yinkokeli yabantu baseBohemia. Wayethembele kuncedo lukaThixo nokulunga komsebenzi wabo, nokuba abantu bangamelana neyona mikhosi inamandla enokuziswa ukuba ilwe nabo. Waphindaphinda ukumkani, evusa imikhosi emitsha, ehlasela iBohemia, kodwa oyiswe ngendlela ehlazisayo. Abalandeli bakaHuss, banyuselwa ngaphaya kokoyika, kwaye kungekho nto inokuma phambi kwabo. Kwiminyaka embalwa emva kokuba kuqale imfazwe, uZiska olikhalipha, wafa; kodwa indawo yakhe yathatyathwa nguProcopius, owayelingana nenjengele ngokukhalipha nangobuchule, ade kwezinye iindawo abe yinkokeli enesakhono.IE18 105.1

Iintshaba zabantu baseBohemia, ngokwazi ukuba igorha lokulwa eliyimfama lifile, zabona ilithuba elifanelekileyo lokuba zibuyise konke okwazilahlekayo. UPopi ngoku wamisela iphulo lokulwa namaHuss [abalandeli bakaHuss], waphinda kwakhona umkhosi omkhulu wayingenela iBohemia, kodwa woyiswa kakubi. Kwenziwa elinye iphulo. Kuwo wonke amazwe obupopi aseYurophu, abantu, imali, nezixhobo zokulwa imfazwe zaphakanyiswa. Izihlwele zabalekela phantsi kwebhanile kaPopi, ziqinisekisiwe ukuba, ekugqibeleni, isiphelo sabalahlekisi bakaHuss siza kubakho. Iqinisekile ngoloyiso, imfumba yomkhosi yangena eBohemia. Abantu bahlangana ukuba bayigxothe. Le mikhosi mibini yakhawulelana yada yahlulwa ngumlambo phakathi kwayo. “Amajoni emfazwe yomnqamlezo [amakruseyida] ayemaninzi kakhulu ngokwamanani ekwanamandla, kodwa, endaweni yokukhawuleza awele umsinga, aligqibe idabi namaHuss, la ebesuke kude ukuba aqubisane nawo, asuka ema ejamile, ethe cwaka, ekhangelene naloo madoda okulwa.”--Wylie, b. 3, ch. 17. Ngequbuliso loo mkhosi wafikelwa luloyiko olungaqondakaliyo. Wathi ungenzanga nomda, loo mkhosi mkhulu waqhekeka wathi saa ngokungathi uchithwe ligunya elingabonwayo. Iqela elikhulu labulawa ngumkhosi wamaHuss, owazisukelayo iimbacu, kwabakho intimbo enkulu ewela ezandleni zaboyisi, kangangokuba imfazwe, kunokuba yenze amahlwempu, yabatyebisa abantu baseBohemia.IE18 105.2

Kwiminyaka embalwa emva koko, phantsi koPopi omtsha, elinye iphulo lama ngeenyawo. Njengakuqala, abantuneempahla, nemali baphuma kuwo onke amazwe obupopi aseYurophu. Zaba zikhulu izicengo ezazinikwa abo bangenayo kweli dabi linobungozi. Uxolo olupheleleyo lokona kophulwa komthetho neyona ndlela imbi lwaqinisekiswa kuye wonke olwela umnqamlezo [ikruseyida]. Bonke abafela emfazweni bathenjiswa umvuzo otyebileyo ezulwini, baze abo basindayo bavune uzuko nobutyebi ebaleni ledabi. Kwakhona, kwaqokelelwa umkhosi omkhulu, wanqumla umda, wangena eBohemia. AmaHuss ahlehla phambi kwawo, ngaloo ndlela ewutsalela ngaphakathi elizweni ngakumbi nangakumbi, ewenza ukuba ulubale uloyiso osele uloyisile. Ekugqibeleni, umkhosi kaProcopius wema, wajika waya elutshabeni ukuba ulwe nalo. Aqala amakruseyida ayiqonda impazamo yawo, alalela kwinkampu zawo alindela ukuhlaselwa. Sathi sakuvakala isandi sokusondela komkhosi, engekabonakali amaHuss, aphinda afikelwa luloyiko amasoldati amaKruseyida. Iinkosana, iinjengele, namasoldati angaphantsi, bonke baziphosa kude izixhobo zabo, bathi saa babheka macal’ onke. Kwaba lilize kummeli kaPopi ukuzama ukuhlanganisa imikhosi yakhe eyoyikayo nephasalakileyo. Seyikho njalo eyona mizamo mikhulu yakhe, yena ngokwakhe watshayelwa nomsinga wabasabayo. Intsabo yaba yegqibeleleyo, aphinda kwakhona amaxhoba amaninzi awela ezandleni zaboyisileyo.IE18 106.1

Kwabanjalo, okwesibini, umkhosi omkhulu, owathunyelwa zezona zizwe zinamandla amakhulu zaseYurophu, umkhosi wamadoda anesibindi nafanele imfazwe, aqeqeshwe axhotyiselwa imfazwe, abaleka engaphosanga negada phambi kwabakhuseli besizwe esincinane nesasingenawo amandla ukuza kuthi ga ngoku. Apha, kwakubonakaliswe amandla ezulu. Abahlaseli babethwa ngoloyiko lwangaphezu kwendalo. Lowo woyisa imikhosi kaFaro kuLwandle oluBomvu, owaphaphathekisa imikhosi yamaMidiyan phambi kukaGidiyon namakhulu amathathu wakhe, owathi ngobusuku obunye wabeka phantsi imikhosi yama-Asiriya awayezidla, waphinda wasolula isandla saKhe ukubonisa amandla omcinezeli. “Apho bankwantya benkwantyile phofu kungekho nto inkwantyisayo; ngokuba uThixo wawathi saa amathambo omngqingi wakho; wabadanisa, ngokuba uThixo ebebacekisile.” Ndumiso 53:5.IE18 106.2

Iinkokeli zobupopi, ziphelelwe lithemba lokoyisa ngamandla, ekugqibeleni zabhenela ekusebenziseni ubuchule. Kwangenwa kwisivumelwano, sokuba, lo gama kusithiwa kuza kunikwa abantu baseBohemia inkululeko yesazela, ngokwenene kwabathengisa kwigunya laseRoma. AmaBohemia ayebeke iingongoma ezine ekwakuza kwakhelwa phezu kwazo uxolo neRoma: ukushunyayelwa ngokukhululekileyo kweBhayibhile; ilungelo lebandla lonke ukuba lithabathe isonka newayini emthendelekweni, nokusetyenziswa kolwimi lwenkobe ngexesha lentshumayelo enkonzweni; ukungathabathi nxaxheba kwabafundisi kuzo zonke izikhundla namagunya asemhlabeni; kuze kuthi kwiimeko zolwaphulo-mthetho, kongame iinkundla zasemthethweni phezu kwabafundisi nabazalwana ngokufanayo. Amagunya obupopi ekugqibeleni “avuma ukuba zonke iingongoma zamaHuss zamkeleke, kodwa ilungelo lokuzichaza, oko kukuthi, ukwenza isigqibo ngokona kubaluleka kwazo, kufuneka kube kokwequmrhu-ngamanye amazwi, lelikaPhapha nokumkani.”—Wylie, b. 3, ch. 18. Senziwa isivumelwano phezu kwesi siseko, yaza iRoma yazuza ngamaqhinga nobuqhetseba oko yasilela ukukuzuza ngemfazwe; kuba, ngokufaka eyayo ingcaciso phezu kwengongoma zamaHuss, njengaphezu kweBhayibhile, yakwazi ukuyigqwetha intsingiselo yazo ukulungiselela iinjongo zayo.IE18 107.1

Iqela elikhulu eBohemia, lakubona ukuba lizingcatshile iinkululeko zalo, alizange likwazi ukuwuvumela umnqophiso. Kwavuka ukungavani nokwahlukana, kwakhokelela kwimbambano nokuphalala kwegazi phakathi kwabo. Koku kulwa, ohloniphekileyo uProcopius wawa [ukufa], zaza iinkululeko zeBohemia zatshabalala.IE18 107.2

USigismund, umngcatshi kaHuss noJerome, ngoku waba ngukumkani waseBohemia, kwathi, nangona wayefungile ukuba uza kuwaxhasa amalungelo abantu baseBohemia, waqhubeka nokumisela ubupopi. Phofu wazuza okuncinane ngokuzithoba kwakhe kwiRoma. Kwaba ngamashumi amabini eminyaka ubomi bakhe buzaliswe kukusebenza nzima neengozi. Imikhosi yakhe yachithwa neendyebo zakhe zabhokoxwa lidabi elide elingenaziqhamo; waza ngoku, emva kokulawula unyaka omnye, wafa, eshiya ubukumkani bakhe busecicini lwemfazwe yekhaya, washiyela inzala yakhe igama elaziwa ngenkohlakalo.IE18 107.3

Ingxwabangxwaba, ukulwa, nokuphalala kwegazi kwatsala ixesha elide. Yaphinda imikhosi yasemzini yahlasela iBohemiya, nokungavani kwangaphakathi kwaqhubeka kusiphazamisa isizwe. Abo bahlala bethembekile kwigospile baba phantsi kwentshutshiso embi kakhulu. IE18 107.4

Njengabazalwana babo bangaphambili, ukungena kumnqophiso neRoma, basele kwiziphoso zayo, abo babambelela kwinkolo yakudala bazenza balibandla elahlukileyo, besebenzisa isaci u-“United Bretheren.” Esi senzo sabazisela izishwabulo eziphuma kwiindidi zonke. Kanti ke, ukuqina kwabo akuzange kwashukunyiswa. Ngokunyanzeleka ukuba bafune indawo zokuphephela emahlathini nasemiqolombeni, baqhubeka behlangana ukufunda ilizwi likaThixo bamanyane, ekumnquleni uThixo.IE18 108.1

Ngabathunywa abathunyelwa emfihlakalweni kumazwe awahlukeneyo, bafunda ukuba apha naphaya kwakukho “abamkela inyaniso ababodwa, abambalwa, kwesi sixeko nabambalwa kwesiya, amaxhoba entshutshiso njengabo; nokuba ezintabeni zeAlps kwakukho ibandla lakudala, limi phezu kweziseko zesiBhalo, lichasene nenkohlakalo yonqulo lwezithixo lwaseRoma.”—Wylie, b. 3, ch. 19. Olu lwazi lwamkelwa ngovuyo olukhulu, kwaza kwavulwa imbalelwano namaKristu angamaWaldensi.IE18 108.2

Bemi ngokuthe nkqi kwigospile, abantu baseBohemia bayilindela ubusuku bonke intshutshiso yabo, ngelona lixa limnyama besawakhangelise emehlo abo elundini njengabantu abakhangele intsasa. “Babe yinxalenye yabantu abanemihla emibi, kodwa . . . bakhumbula amazwi awaqala ukuthethwa nguHuss, aza aphindwa nguJerome, athi inkulungwane kufuneka ijikeleze kuqala, kwandule ukuba kubekho ukusa. KumaTabori [amaHuss] la mazwi afana namazwi kaYosefu kwiintlanga ezazisendlwini yobukhoboka: ‘Ndiza kufa; uThixo okunene uya kunivelela, aninyuse.’” --Wylie, b. 3, ch. 19. “”Ixesha lokuphela kwenkulungwane yeshumi elinesihlanu laba nokwanda okucothayo kodwa okuqinisekileyo kwamabandla aBazalwana [Bretheren]. Nangona kwakukude ekubeni angaphathwa dlakadlaka, kodwa abanayo intwana yophumlo. Ekuqalekeni kwenkulungwane yeshumi elinesithandathu amabandla abo ayengamakhulu amabini eBohemia naseMoravia.”--Ezra Hall Gillett, Life and Times of John Huss, vol. 2, p. 570. “Sasisihle isisalela esathi, sakusinda kwingqumbo etshabalalisayo yomlilo nekrele, savunyelwa ukuba sikubone ukusa kwaloo mini uHuss wayixela kwamhla mnene.”--Wylie, b. 3, ch. 19.IE18 108.3