Page:The Net of Faith.pdf/81

25 the writings of Thomas of S̄ti̍tny̍. Their study left a deep imprint in Chelc̄icky̍'s spiritual life. S̄ti̍tny̍'s works, written in the vernacular, introduced him to the intellectual world of the Middle Ages, and the author's religio-ethical essays encouraged his alert mind to ponder and meditate over the basic Christian truths, to compare the ideals of the Church of the days of the Apostles and Fathers with the realities of the Christian Society of his own time, and to come to rather distressing and uncomplimentary conclusions.

The other three great influences on the intellectual development of Peter were John Hus and John Wyclif and the Waldensian tradition. It is still a mooted question whether Chelc̄icky̍ ever met Hus in person but this we know for sure: he was thoroughly conversant with the writings of the great Czech reformer; similarly he knew the teachings of Wyclif with whose thought he became acquainted through various Thomas of S̄ti̍tny̍ ( 1331–1401?), a nobleman and litte̍rateur. Influenced by John Milic̄ he became an eloquent preacher and a brilliant religio-ethical essayist. Through the critical study of the Bible he endeavored to discover the ideal Christian life. Desiring to share his discoveries with the larger masses, he wrote his books in the Czech vernacular. To the university professors, his teachers who objected to this practice of his, he replied, "A Czech is as dear to God as a Latinist." In his books (which could be translated as "Fireside Talks") and  ("Sunday and Holy Day Sermons), he interprets the basic Christian ethics and condemns the abuses of the privileged classes. His style is lucid and witty. (Frantisek Götz,, Brno: U̍SJU, 1939, 65th ed., p.7.

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