Page:Guide to the Bohemian section and to the Kingdom of Bohemia - 1906.djvu/94

74 valuable of them a copy in the Museum and another in the University-library in Prague. The first known print is dated Norumberg 1563, and then 1592, a third one in Prague 1564.

The Postilla of Chelčický is beside the „De regulis“ of Mathew Janovský, the most remarkable product the Bohemian mind has ever yielded. Its terse diction, the cutting brachiology, the deep insight into the human heart, the profound awe before God and his Word, the thorough submission to Jesus Christ, the stirring appeals to man and his need of regeneration, the scorn of oppression and the love of the oppressed, the buyant hope of the victory of Christ’s Kingdom, all this made it another Apokalypsis to the nation. It was printed in 1522 and 1532.

The bohemian evangelical Hymnbook of the XVI. and XVII. century is then the response of the nations soul to the Word of God, both an account and a proof of its envitalizing power.

The time prior to the reformation of John Huss knew no hymnsinging in the native tongue at the worship. John Huss was the first, who introduced it in the Bethlehem Chapel in Prague. The people welcomed this innovation with enthusiasm and since that time the hymns, sung by the whole congregation in the national tongue („cantus bohemicus“), became a part of the worship and the collections of hymns, called „Kancionály“ (hymnals) are next to the Bible the most important books in devotinal use. The Unity of the Bohemian Brethren especially took the utmost pains in the outfitting of its hymnbooks, which consequently belong to the most precious monuments not only of the literature, but also of the art of printing and book-ornamentation.

From the Hymnals („the evangelical Hymns“ is their title) of the Bohemian Unity of the Brethren are exhibited:

The Hymnal of Šamotuly from 1561, a folio-volume with tunes, with ornaments on each page and rich initials. It was printed in Šamotuly (Poland) and edited by a commission, which the Brethren appointed in 1555 to prepare a new (fifth) edition of their Hymnal. The most prominent member of that commission was brother Jan Blahoslav,