Huss does not, however, contest great privileges to the Roman Church, because St Peter founded it; and he does not oppose the Pope and the cardinals holding the principal rank in the Church, provided they follow the example of Jesus Christ, and that, stripping themselves of pomp and ambition, they serve with humility the common mother of all believers.
Yet the Roman Church can hardly be termed a universal one, because, in reality, it is a particular Church; the first and most ancient being that of Jerusalem, and the second that of Antioch, of which the faithful were the first called Christians.[1]
As to faith, Huss distinguishes several kinds. “The true faith,” says he, “is faith formed by charity.[2] This, when persevered in, is the foundation of all the other Christian virtues; it ought necessarily to be founded on truth, which enlightens the understanding, and on authority, which strengthens the soul. This authority can be only that of God speaking by his word. If the Christian is convinced that a truth has been dictated by the Holy Ghost in the Scriptures, he ought, without hesitation, to declare his opinion, and expose his life for it. The obli-
- ↑ De Eccles., p. 258. Compare this opinion with that of Gerson on the same subject. Gers. Opera, v. 11.—De modis uniendi ac reform. Eccles. en Concil. See also the Reformers before the Reformation, Introduction, sect. v.
- ↑ Unde quicumque habuerit fidem charitate firmatam in communis sufficit cum virtute perseverantiæ, ad salutem.
