regards music and art generally the somewhat puritanic views of Wycliffe were directly antagonistic to those of the Bohemians. This, as Dr. Nejedly writes, is a matter by no means devoid of importance if we consider the arguments of those who attempted to prove that Hus was a mere copyist and imitator of Wycliffe. The theories on which the two opponents of Rome agreed were mainly common property of all mediæval opponents of the Church of Rome, while the natures and characters of Hus and Wycliffe were in most respects different, even antagonistic. The somewhat pedantic and matter-of-fact nature of Wycliffe, devoid of artistic instincts, contrasts absolutely with the enthusiastic and fanciful character of Hus, who fully possessed the fondness for vocal and instrumental music that is so characteristic of his countrymen.
Hus has in his works frequently expounded his views with regard to singing in church. He declares that song is one of the three forms of devotion which constitute the religious services of the heavenly temple in our home (heaven). The religious services of the temples of the soul and the body should conform to this. The song of those who dwell in our celestial home consists of praise of God and of thanksgiving.[1] Elsewhere Hus mentions that Christ sang a hymn of thanksgiving when He proceeded with His disciples to the Mount of Olives.[2] In yet another passage of his writings he advised the mournful to expel the plague of sorrow from their hearts by the sweetness of song.[3] Many other passages could be quoted to prove the importance which Hus attached to devotional music. Hus's appointment to the Bethlehem chapel afforded
- ↑ “Sunt tria pertinentia ad officium templi coelestis in patria, quibus debet se conformare officium templi in anima et officium templi corporalis extra in materia, scilicet cantus, cultus et visio vultus. Cantus templi coelestis habitatorum in patria consistit in divina laude et gratiarum actione.” Explicatio in psalmum cxviii. (Hus Opera, 1715, vol. ii. p. 456.)
- ↑ “Et hymno dicto—id est gratiarum actione Deo—exierunt in montem Oliveti.” Passio Christi ex quatuor evangelistis (Hus Opera, 1715, vol. ii. p. 17).
- ↑ “Crebra psalmodiae dulcedine nocivam tristitiae pestem de corde pellat.” Explicatio in epistola Jacobi (Hus Opera, 1715, vol. ii. p. 230).
