Page:The Net of Faith.pdf/91

30 Of course, Chelc̄icky̍ was sought by these philosophers and theologians only after he had established his reputation as an independent thinker in 1419 when many of the more radical Hussites, the Taborite priests, impatient with the coming of the Kingdom of God "beyond history" and restive under chillastic hopes, began to realize the Kingdom "in history" with sword in hand. It was then that Chelčický made public his first disagreement with the official position of Taborite Hussitism. We shall deal in the next chapter with the history of his estrangement from the ussite movement; however, A.D. 1419 marks a decisive turn in Chelčický's life and deserves a closer study.

In that year it became apparent that an armed conflict between the supporters of Rome and the followers of Hus was inevitable. Together with other travelers from southern Bohemia, Chelčický went to Prague to take part in a popular gathering held in a place called "na Kr̄i̍z̄ka̍ch." When we examine the records of this gathering which bears all the earmarks of a popular referendum or town-hall meeting, we cannot but be impressed by the concern the delegates of southern Bohemia felt about the whole question of jusrificationjustification [sic] of war. They asked whether it is permissible for Christians to  Holinka,, p.11.