Page:The Net of Faith.pdf/47

10 We shall deal with the life of Chelčický elsewhere; this thesis centers around his largest and most celebrated work, the. Chelčický was, however, a prolific writer reacting to all major issues of the day.; the subjects of his books and treatises show the universality of his keen mind: they range from discussing theft and civil law to interpretations of the Lord's Prayer, of St. Matthew's Gospel, or of the Sacraments, and from a condemnation of the caste system to Sunday meditations.

Still, the remains his most mature work. This has become, in many respects, the most important work of the Czech Reformation. Its language makes no easy reading and, so far, it has been translated only into two other languages, Russian and German.

The writer of this thesis has felt that this work should be made available to the english speaking public, especially to the student of Church history and religious thought.

It is with a sense of great humility that he responded to the challenge of faith and assumed the task of translation.

A.N. Pypin, quoted on the jacket of by Petr Chelčický, edited by Emil Smetánka, rev. ed. of 1929.

, (in the series of "The Novels and Other Works or L.N. Tolstoi"), New York: Scribner's, 1900, pp. 19–22.

T.G.Masaryk,, Praha: Orbis, 1925, p.602.

Ernest Denis,, Paris: Leroux, 1930, p. 463.

Ernest Denis,, I, "Georges de Podiebrad," Paris: Leroux, 1930, p. 303.

Denis,, p. 464. Following is the translation of the French passages just quoted:"Chelčický was a sensitive and pious soul, full of faith, enthousiasm and love. One could not have known him without loving him The adoration of God, that quality which opens the heavens, cannot be imposed; love cannot be commanded. And so Chelčický condemns in the most emphatic way all violence and all tyranny.""Few men have caused so many studies and controversies as Chelčický. From all these trials, investigations, and polemics, he has emerged greater. As one knows him better, one is bound to feel for him a sort of tender veneration. In him everything speaks to the heart, because everything comes from the heart, both knowledge and eloquence.""History knows perhaps no more touching spectacles than that of the communities marching together through the centuries, without a thought of rebellion or a word of anger."

Matthew Spinka, "Peter Chelčický, Spiritual Father of the Unitas Fratrum,", XII (December, 1943), p.271.

See the list of Chelčický's works in the bibliography at the end of the thesis.

. Translated into Russian by J.S. Annenkov. Moscow: Posrednik, 1907.

, Translated into German by Carl Vogel. Dachau, 1924.

See the list of Chelčický's works in the bibliography at the end of the thesis.

. Translated into Russian by J.S. Annenkov. Moscow: Posrednik, 1907.

, Translated into German by Carl Vogel. Dachau, 1924.