Historical account of the origin and progress of St. Thomas's hospital, Southwark / By Benjamin Golding.

  • Golding, Benjamin, 1793-1863.
Date:
[1835?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Historical account of the origin and progress of St. Thomas's hospital, Southwark / By Benjamin Golding. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by King’s College London. The original may be consulted at King’s College London.

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    pious and good, now received 'a salutary check by the intrepidity of a few individuals, whose names will con- tinue immortal to the remotest ages; who, after repre- senting the unchristian-like tendency of that faith which encouraged every species oi sensual enjoyment, pointed out a more exemplary practice of devotion. They failed not to obtain converts to the religious sentiments they promulgated, which were more consonant to reason and moral law, less clouded by preposterous tenets, and, unlike the Catholic doctrines, replete with lasting bene- fits to mankind. The objects pointed out by Wickliffe in the fourteenth century, and which the barbarity of succeeding ages prevented others from pursuing with effect till the reign ot llenry VIII. were now followed up by Luther, who is to be considered as the most formidable enemy to the Romish church, and the most strenuous opposer of the Catholic persuasion that ever existed.* Whilst the te- * John Htiss, the celebrated divine and martyr, may be looked upon as one who contributed, in no small degiee, to the Reformation ; and it is probable that, had he lived contemporaiy with Wickliffe, that important change would not have been left for Luther to com- plete. Huss was born in Bohemia 1376, and educated at Prague. The writings of Wickliffe converted him from the superstitions of Rome, and with eloquent zeal he preached against the power of the Pope. His efforts proved so successful, that the papal authority began to be slighted in Bohemia ; but the Archbishop of Prague issued two man- dates against the heresies of Wickliffe and the labours of Huss, and these were soon succeeded by a bull from Rome, for the suppression of all tenets offensive to the holy see. Huss exclaimed against these pro- ceedings; and, though summoned to Rome to answer for his conduct, he, suppotted by the favour of Wenceslaus, king of Bohemia, disre- garded the Pope’s authority, and was excommunicated ; and soon after his adherents were included in the same interdict. After causing, by his opposition, various tumults in Prague and Bohemia, he was pre- . vailed upon to appear at the Council of Constance. The Emperor Sigismund granted him his protection, and ensured security to his person, but when he reached Constance [1114], he was seized as a heretic and imprisoned; and, after a confinement of severe hardship for six months, he was condemned without a hearing, and, upon re- fusing to recant his errors, he was tumultuously sentenced to be burnt. The emperor complained, though unavailingly, of the contempt shewn to his authority, and of the perfidy used towards the delinquent. Huss was inhumanly dragged to execution ; he was stripped of his sacer- dotal habit, deprived of his degrees, and, with a paper crown on his