whose “Geschichte von Boehmen” has now reached nine volumes, and forms the most learned and exhaustive work which has ever appeared upon that subject. Both these writers consider them of paramount importance for the history not only of the Brethren, but of Bohemia in general,[1] and hence Gindely is now having them copied entire for the National Archives at Prague.[2] Nor have they failed to make use of them. The seventh, eighth and ninth volumes of Palacky’s History contain frequent references to them; while Gindely, who has taken up the history of the Bohemian Brethren, in spite of his Romish views, with an enthusiasm which can be explained from the stand-point of a fellow-nationality only, says that his Geschichte der Boehmischen Bruder” (Prague, 1857) is based substantially upon these records. This work, of which two large octavo volumes have appeared and a third is expected, is the most complete history of the Brethren that has been published in ancient or modern times, although its Romish bias greatly mars its value.[3] This is not the case, however, with its supplemental volume, entitled “Quellen zur Geschichte der Boehmischen Brueder vornehmlich ihren Zusammenhang mit Deutschland betreffend” (Sources of the History of the Bohemian Brethren particularly in relation to their correspondence with Germany): for it consists of a literal publication of many of the Latin, and of German versions of a number of the Bohemian manuscripts of the Lissa Folios. Dr. Gindely deserves the thanks of the whole Church for this magnificent contribution to her literature.[4]
- ↑ Gindely’s Geschichte d. Bœhmischen Brueder, Preface, p. iv: also his Quellen, Preface, p. vii.
- ↑ Palacky’s Gesch. v. Bœhmen, vol. ix, p. 132, note 335.
- ↑ The thorough research upon which this history is based, is worthy of all praise, but the mode of representation is often faulty in the extreme. Nor can it be otherwise. Gindely occupies, as the article, in Herzog’s Encyclopaedia, on the Renewed Brethren’s Church well says, a standpoint which is inwardly and therefore fundamentally foreign to that of the Brethren.
- ↑ Besides these two works, Gindely has also written a Life of Bishop Amos Comenius; the Dogmatical views of the Bohemian and Moravian Brn., with some notices respecting the history of their origin (1854); and the “Dekreten der Brueder Unitæt” (Prague, 1865). With these works, which we have not yet been able to procure, we are not acquainted. Hence Gindely, having devoted no less than five works, one of them of three vols., to the Bohemian Brethren, might well be called their historian
