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JULY

    5, 1187 --Turkey. At Hattin, Saladin today completes the defeat of the Christian forces, thus ending the Third Crusade. Richard I will secure a treaty from Saladin granting pilgrims the right to visit the Holy Sepulcher in small, unarmed groups.

5, 1487 --Germany. Johannes Poliander is born. In 1519, he will act as amanuensis of Dr. Johann Eck at the disputation with Martin Luther and Carlstadt. As a result of Luther’s argument, he will go to the University of Wittemberg in the fall of the same year. Mr. Poliander and two friends, Mr. Paul Speratus and Mr. Johann Briesmann will establish Protestant foundations in Prussia. He will become one of the first Protestant hymn-writers.

5, 1503 --Czechoslovakia. Today the king passes a decree forbidding further toleration of the Bohemian Brethren within any Royal cities. These Hussites are cited as being Waldensians and are called such. Other names of derision are heaped upon them too: they are called Pickards and Begherds.

5, 1635 --England. In London, Richard Sibbes dies. He has been a staunch preacher of the Word of God, and has written some thirty-three books and sermons which are known. Richard Baxter will be converted through his Bruised Reed and Smoking Flax.

6, 1373 --Czechoslavakia. John Huss is born in Hussinetz. The name “Huss” means, “Goose”.
He will be converted through the influence of the Lollards—the followers of John Wycliffe, and will in turn bring to his nation knowledge of the Word of God.

6, 1415 --Czechoslovakia. John Huss has been condemned as a follower of the doctrines of John Wycliffe. Falling upon his knees he asks God in a low voice to forgive his enemies. He has been humiliated and scornfully entreated and is now to the suburbs of Constance, where he will be chained to a wooden stake and burned to death.
     When he arrives at the place of execution, he kneels down, spreads out his hands and prays aloud. Before the fire is kindled at his feet, he prophesies, “You may cook the Goose today, but God shall raise up a Swan and him you will not be able to roast.” The name “Huss” in Bohemian means “Goose”, and the name “Luther” in German comes from the root word meaning “Pure” or “Swan.”
      The fire is kindled and with uplifted voice he sings, “Christ, Thou Son of the Triune God, have mercy upon me.” This he sings three times before continuing, “Who art born of Mary the Virgin,” but the wind blows the flame into his face; his lips and head still move, then he dies of suffocation.
      The earth itself where Huss is executed will be dug up and carted to the Rhine River where his earthly ashes will be dumped. But the Rhine flows into the sea, and as his ashes will be scattered there, so will the doctrines he has discovered in God’s Word be disseminated throughout the whole continent of Europe.
      When Martin Luther stands before the Diet of Worms, some hundred years hence, he will declare, “I do not condemn all councils, but only that of Constance . . .for it condemned Huss for this point, ‘that the Church is made up of those predestinated to Heaven;’ and in condemning him for this it condemned this article of our creed, namely, ‘I believe in the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints.‘”

 

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