THE

HARBINGERS

OF THE

REFORMATION;

OR

A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

OF

WICKLIFFE, HUSS, AND JEROME.

ᅡ

BY THE AUTHOR OF

THE "HISTORY OF THE REFORMATION," &c.

Willi

sime

"I send unto you Prophets-and some of them ye shall kill."

MATTH. xxiii. 34.

BOSTON:

PERKINS & MARVIN, 114, WASHINGTON STREET.

1829.

State Historical Society

OF WISCONSIN

MADISON - WIS.

DJ ·3W9 S2

PREFACE.

IT has been justly observed, that the "rise," as well as progress of the Reformation from Popery, "must ever be regarded as presenting one of the most important and striking objects which has occurred in the revolutions of the human mind, and in the history of the world." Previous to that ever memorable era, when Zuinglius, Luther, Calvin, Knox, and others, were raised up by Divine Providence to be the honored instruments of delivering a great portion of Europe from the domination of Papal tyranny, there were not a few illustrious servants of Christ to be found, who nobly and successfully

" contended for the faith once delivered to

Though

the saints." Among these, none were more eminent than WICKLIFFE in England, and HUSS and JEROME in Bohemia. the efforts of these three zealous champions, for the truth were inadequate completely to dispel the moral darkness which then covered the Church, yet they served not only to announce, but to usher in, the dawn of the bright and glorious day of the Reformation.

The design of this little volume, is not to "lavish encomiums on the exploits of ambitious and bloody wide-wasting conquerors;" but to lay before the reader a plain narrative of the lives and actions of men, who, though

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persecuted for righteousness sake,” were indefatigably diligent, zealous, and faithful, in diffusing the gospel of peace and salvation among an ignorant and idolatrous people. Neither was the effect of their labors con

fined to the age or the countries in which they lived. Like the forerunner of the Messiah, they "prepared the way" for the coming of a period still more eventful, and were the harbingers" of what may be justly denominated, the day of" deliverance for Zion," and the time when God's Israel should "possess their possessions."

In the History of the Reformation, already published, the writer of the following pages has stated a few particulars concerning Wickliffe, Huss, and Jerome; but he conceived that a more minute account of these persecuted saints, might not only be acceptable to his readers, but serve as an appropriate introduction to that work.

Whatever imperfections may be in these memoirs, it has been the aim at least of the writer, to give a faithful outline of the character and sentiments of the men concerning