Page:Letters of John Huss Written During His Exile and Imprisonment.djvu/93

 Meditate on these things, dearly-beloved, and allow no schisms, or treachery, or jealousy, or violence, to spring up amongst you. Should any obstinate disseminator of disturbance and discord arise amongst you, warn him like a brother, but do not enter into any disputes before the judges or courts of law; for that would cause the destruction alike of your fortune, body, and soul. Study to avenge the insults offered to God, rather than your own. Alas! it is in this point that the whole world is mistaken; for all men are more ready to avenge their own injuries than those of God. And that is the broad path opened by Antichrist; and, above all, dangerous to us who are priests, and who desire to see the ordinances of men more rigorously observed than the commandments of God. Such, or such a priest, monk, or prelate, is a fornicator or adulterer with impunity, and yet he insists on having his own ordinances observed, under pain of excommunication! In like manner, they do not inflict punishment on the laity who sin against God; but should one of them presume to say—“My brethren, you have unjustly condemned me!” they at once strike with the sword, because any one has raised his voice against the injustice of his clerical judge.

I have full confidence that the Lord will keep you free from these evils, so that you may observe his word rather than the ordinances of men. As long as you observe his word, no one can do you harm. Wherefore,